Subscribers enjoy higher page view limit, downloads, and exclusive features.
IR LR R B iy THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SUNDAY. JANUARY 6, 1878—SIXTEEN PAGES. . BUSINESS CHAXCES. The Great Golden Butter Com- pound Looked Into. fhe Dicbarred Goodrich Tarzs Out ‘to Have a Finger in the Pie, The Jewelry Firm of C. G. Horton & Co. Disowned by Their References. . Mr. 0, A, Long Explains His Way of Carry- ing on the Tea Business. J. GOODRICH & CO. GREAT GOLDES BUTTER COMPOUND. Onpee 1nore the benefactor of mankind steps {o the tront with an invaluable invention; once more he uses the United Stazes mail to carry forth over the continent the story of his wondrous discovery; and, sad tahave it told, onee more the inquisitive newspaper reporter carries disgust to the soul of the bencvolent one by wanting to know what the thing is made of. This case is a trifle more interesting thanthe ordinary run, for the reason that the present dispenser of ‘*‘the lgreatest boon to the puman family that scientific rescarch has dis- covered 7 (see circular for further psrticulars) brings to bear upon the question a breadth of Jegal taient unhapoily Dot appreciated in his own country and umong his own people. Tar TISUNE yesterday received a circular getting forth the wmerits ol the **Great Golden Dutter Compound.” ft purported to issue from the oflice of J. Goodrich & Co., 124 Dear- Yorn_street, Chicago. * What do_vou think of this?” 35 the startling beadline, foliowed by 1he cqually startling inforation that * Butter ‘an be made for less than four cents per pound, and of a superior quality. This butter cannot be detected, cither in appearance, taste, orcelor; from (sic) aby butter made purely from cream, 2nd 1o one will know the differeice unless told ofit. 1t can be made in tive minutes with no opplianees but what every kitchen can furnish,” and, best of all, the compound contains _rothing but “pure, bealthtul ingredieuts.”! Tnen follows a couple of pages of pathetic appeal to agents, who are de- sired to cowe forward™ and buy the litile Joxes which sell for $1 at the rate of $6 per dozen, or §33 per eross. Thus does the fricnd of humauity appeal o the lover of gain to assist ‘}im 1o the freod work. By thedozen at 50 vents, by the gross at less thsn 25 ceuts a box; retail price, §1. Who would not undertake to beacfit ‘maokind on such terns, particularly as, accord- ing to the circular, “tne present hard times are «n absolute benetit ” to the agent. ‘Tue only 1bing which is cajulated fo stand in the way of thp.enterprising agent is that “THE MEAD OF OUR FiRM," who has expended almost a fortune in adver- tising the *Compoua,” demands, * in justice to the firm, that one-fourth of the amount shall ‘be cent with the order. the balance to be col- Jected.” He will not even sead C. 0. D. unless ‘this very reasonadle condition has been com- lied with, tor, though a public benefactor, Le dous not feel like paying harzes both ways. To convince the m eptical, the last page of the circular provides vo less toun X testimonials. Ezrom Kgapp, of Clark Mulls, Wis., takes his peu in hand March 7, 18 10 say that he has made another trial of the Compound, that it is a sucess, and that he will £end in for a larre order ** this_monty, without ail.” Maj. P. Matthews, of Jeffersonvilie, Ind., informs the firm, under date of Fub.35, 15, that everything 15 1ovely in bis section, escept that certain persons {rom Marion, U.. and Pitis- Turg are compeung with bim, and offering infe- rior _goods. e tricd the Compound in all’ shapes, having made from nall a pound in a bowl 10 tea pounds in a patent churn, and in his particuiar lexicon the word fail had been omitted. Finully, and to conciude, he had taken rancid butier unfit for table use and made it as fresh and sweet 8s when first churned. Forintormation of dwellers in the rural districts, the names und addresses of the oLher sizna‘ures are apoended, so persons living in their respective vianitie Jearn by word of mouth the virtues of the won- derful Butter Compound. Here are the wit- S. Brttain, Springfield, I3 Fred Parpshviile, N. Y.5 E."B. Smullin, Put- ile, Pa.s and B. P. Stacey, Austin, Tex. lereiy to be Loped that nune of them hiave moved away. ‘The civeular was put in the hands of are- porter, who s a firm believer in the Kecley nioter, the cundurango curt, and thie truth of Jules Verne's Journey to the Moon, and who felt curious to see the mos nt humanita- rian. He cailed at the aadress wiven, but no (aunting door-plate blazoned jorth the virtues of the Compound. “Ab,” quoth the reporter to lnmself, *ment is wodest and retirng; I will Jook around the building.” The searc ruitless, but on ascending the scribe saw upon the door of Room 1 the sign of A. GOODRICI, NOTARY FUBLIC. Remarkable coincidence, thousht ie. I will go in and ask Alphonso tie Brave if be knows asy- thing about it. He entered the room and found there the obtainer of divorces with- out publicity, a young maa sitting by the stove, 20 a colored boy. *1s this the oflice of J. Goodrich & Co. 2" «Tris; sivdown for & minute,” and Mr. G. procecded to read over en atliduvit, aud o ad minisier the oath to a gentlewan who at that moment brught in the document. When he had wot through with his business, the reporter ofenea fire aguin. . “Arc you the proprietor of the Golden But- ter compound of which tuis cireular treats?” “Iam,” was the renly. **What doyou wish?” 1 am a reporter of TE TRISUNE, aud would like to know about this discoven *Qb, that was all written up a vear or £0 ago. A reporter from the Jater-Ocean, I thiuk it was, came here. He was getting up an article ou 5 that otber stutf,—oleomarzarine, I think they call it,—and he asked about this.” What is tle provesst™ “That is the secret. A man who supplies oneofthe county hospitals or the Poor-House oflered Patierson, from whom we bought the wapound, §500 for the privileze of e it “Your circular_says that a $1-box will make 100 pounds of butter. It would surcly have been cheaper for hiw to buy the compound at wholesale. and make it according to the direc~ 3 Five bundred dollars would buy 2 lot * “Well, be would not get the rizht to make the compound for o dollar; I guess that be wanted the rigbt to malke § * Huve you tried the compound you; “{ertafniy, and proved it a succes: take a pound of butter and a pound of the ‘ma- teriel! follow the imstructious and use the Proper quantity of compouud, and you will get %0 pounds ot~ butter, as good and sweet table butter as you would wish to see. It does not matter if you use rancid butter as a basis, the Tecult is the same.” “YOU SPEAE OF THE ‘MATERIAL’ EMPLOTED. Is it new or skitn mills i ‘\,cll,lsupposfl it would have to be new il *You allow nothine for wastage. Is there % lb;algtuy 10 water to throw away " = “Nong whatever. One hundred pounds of Dutter, 100 pounds of milk, and a box of the compound make 200 pounds of first-class table butter.” “‘You say that the product costs four cents Per pound; now one-balf of it1s butter for which you must pay the market price, say fil- tecn cénts per pound.” “Tte excra * product costs four cents per lI;armd: that is, for the milk and the compound. utter of cource must be bought at the market fiq&- Butter made by this process 15 exactly mke ordinary butter, except for the absence of e grain. !t The young man sitting by the stove beinz Sppealed 1o by Mr. Alphonso Goodrich oo this It testified "that the best butter don’t have !‘f! n. Thesame was trucof the “product.” 0t it was solid as you could wish for, sweet as 2out, and fit for anybody’s table. In fact, ho- tels and restaurants were using it, and their guwmurs never kmew the differcuce. The bel had been torn off the box which was held :’a‘:fur inspection, and which_was apparently nognlv oue]v.hcn m‘sblock. It looked some- ke a large pill-box. Up to this pomt everything had gone along th the utmost smoothuess, the beucfactor o Taokind submitting himself to the pumping a;nccss with the docility of a Jamp. He said a8t J. Goodrich is broiher, but when asked who coustituzed 9 T0E “CO.," :'nldlhe thin veneering of courtesy drooped off, 2d Mr. A Goodrich burst out with a torreat % mineled profanity and threats. I would € L0 know what tie h—} business it is of THE mluwxz Yo came over here to write this g up as a swindle, and you will write it up 1 swindle whatever may be £aid to you, I Khow You — — regorters, and have had lots e Guaroand here. They all_misrepresented 2rran¢ you will dothe same. But I bave made 2P mr mind to punch the head of the next — Word cporter who writes me un. You write one i moud or bad, about me; just you try to B represent me, and 1 will punch your d—d i c‘I cando it” L 5 0 if you are big enough,” said the ;‘gggm ““but you might as well wait and see eryou are misrepresented or pot.” He bad an abiding f>ith that telling the truth about Mir. G. would be about cnouseh, and Gidn's pro- Dose to fuvite the penalty threatened to those who misrepresent. 41 ain’t 80 big as vou, but I can doit,and 1 will if you write me up. — — the news- papers, THRY ARE ALWAYS AFTER ME,” thundered forth the offended and offensive luminary of the Utan Bar. *I won’t bave any- thinz to do with reporters.” Clearly there was no more information to he obtained as 1o the ** Great Golden Butter Com- puund ** fu this direction, But it was learnt on authority that A. Goodrich claimed tobea partner in the firm of J. Goodrich & Co., and that mail-matter addressed to the firm was left with him. J. Goodrich is said to be a_ticket- scalper at No. 87 Clark street, and has fallena victiin to the existing crusade against that cuergetic profession. Mr. Alpbonso Goodrich is well known, and has ouce or twice received a considerable amount of frec advertisine. In the carly part of February, 157, Mr. Justice Breese, of the Iltinois Suoreme Court, wrote him out 2 testitmonial. it The particular oecasion which called forth this unsoliited tribute to manly worth aod legal avility was that the Bar Association of Cook County nad applied to the Supreme Court to have Gaodrich disbarred for unprofessional conduct. He bus claimed to be able to obtain divorces in Utahon the ground of “incompatibility,” but utteriy faled to show any license to pract in that Territory. Com- menting upon the advertisements of this coun- selor learned in the Jaw, JUSTICE BREESE SAID: “Such shameless effrontery has never before, to vur knowledgze, been wanifested by any member of this cr any other Bar, and it should stigmatize their author with enduring shame and contumely.” And in conelusion the learned Judzesaid: “\We are satisfied the defendant has dishonored the profession of the law nud his position as one of its ministers, and that bhe ought to be, and is from this time forth, dis- barred. His name will be stricken irom the roll of attorneys of this Court.” ‘To all of which tie reporter, to whom fell the agrecable task of asking Mr. Goodrich a few civil questions,will 2dd that, as he is unwarried, ne is not likely to want a Utah divoree,just yet; that he has no iden of roingiuto the butter busi- ness, and no special desire to bave bis head punched. 'For these reasons he is not ikely, for 1be present at , to require the services of Mr. Goodrich in any one of bis thri i of lawyer, butter manufacturer, or would-be pugilist. By the way, why does not Gov. Cullom take notice of Goodrich havi { vz peen distarred, and revoke his commission as Notary Publict C. G. IIORTON & CO. THEIR REFERENCES GO BACK ON THEM. A man named Peterson, who lives in Trunke- ville, Pa.. writes to Tue Trisusr, inclosinga circulur, and asking whether toe firm are re- spousible or not. He ordered two watches of them, but neither would go, and they were therefore worthiess. The headine of the circular is as follows: €. G. HORTON & CO. 5 Publishers, mapufacturers, whol dealers in booke. stationers, staple goods, and Boveltice. Ageuis’ supply depor,+105 and 107 Clark etreet. Chicazo, 111 This is followed by cuts of witch and chains, and then come the descriptions and prices of articles of “jewelrs™; for instance: Ladies’ Coral Bar Set—Consisting of brooch and ear drops. 1t has a kalid zold front with coral bar atiached fo the face of pinand drope. ~Price, post- 5 per set. " Medallion Sct—This is no imitation, but 1 medallion heads, cut from solid stone, Warranted to Yrice, post- they a fel in heavy rolled gold plates. wear as well and aslong as sohid gold. piatd, §3 per set. Lugics' Crystal Set—Mode of mason gold with Jorze stone setung, wlite, red, yellow, biue. o7 preen. In ordering etate whal Coior you want. Warranted not to tarnish, and connot be told from pure gold, Price, by mail, postsze pud, S1. Ludies' Plain Made ‘of wmason goid, beauti- fally engraved. It is sure to please, ana is =old at the astonishing low price of 50 cents, postpaid. “Mason? gold bracelets are quoted at from £1.25 to §3 a nair; eleeve-buttons. same wate- rial, at from 50 cents to S3; vest-chaias from 25 cents to §2; and “ladies’ opera long-neck chains, with slide and tassel, made of Mason looks to gold chains that cost ,” areoflered at from 31.25 to$3. o this document Wwas a portion ed by Horton & Co., which reads of anuvther 35 follows otn TE It is a well-cstablished principle in businessithat cashis the only thing for which £oods can be Eup- pliel ou 2 emall maram. Therefore, without re- fiectinz on the credit or honesty of any ose, we make our terms cask. On ail arders amounting to S2 or less, we require cash i advance. On a1l C. O. D. orders we shall require $2 in ad- vange (o insure us from loss by cxpress charges. provided the guods are ot taken, th Ualaace to il o 2 age. Wewill mive y every doliar you send us with your order. W be responsible for all woney =ent us by rezistered st-ofice_order, or bank draft. We will to supply you with goods’cheaper than you will take hold and push tuc ivery. you nothing for boxing or cart- ¢ you £1,05 worth of goods nfi wil Postoze stamps will be_received the same as car- rency 1 any awouant, excepting Canada stamps, which canuot be used in tae Stat In ordering n quanty of goods at one time. espe- cialiy where they have to be trausported 3 lonz distance, we should adyise you to remit the fuil amount With order. and have your zoads shipped by fast freignt. Tie diference in time will be but atraile, and the freizht-charzes will nét amonnt to one-quarter as much ax express would cost. And, asa furiher inducement, we wifl atlow you o dis connt of 5 per cent on vonr order, which in most cases would be sufiiciedt to cover all the costs of transportation. As this catalogue will doubtless reach marf who buve never heard of us,—althourh wd have done an extensy iness for the last ten years,—we aive the address of a few prominen ibusiness Touses who will vouch for our Lionesty and re- sponsibllity. ~CHICAG ok, American X} cacr & Gmbden- Tnited States Exprés Adams Express Co. nson & s Co. Co., PaperCo., Van “chaaci, Reld. Recolleet, we make itapoint not to be undersold, We ssue # special Tlustrated Catulozue and le- duced Price List_of Chromos. Frames, “ana Photo- graphs, —the mest elaborate and comprehensive of any cver before otfere | 1o the public, which we will il free to the address of any onc who wishesa copy- N A reporter was instructed 'to HUNT GP TUE FIRM and sce what they had to say about the watches that woulan't ruu. Ile n went to Nos. 105 ana 107 Clark street (the Methodist Church Biok), but no such parties have an office taere. ‘Fhe janitor believed ke had beard the name of Horton, but_that wasall he could say. As Aere is a 107 North Clark street the reporter went over there, and was also unsuccessiul, as he was at No. 105, THE REFERENCES given would surcly know the whereabouts of the firm, so fnguiry was made of them: Said Mr. Seaten, of the American Express Company: *1 don't Kpow them; vever heard of them; they have no authority to uwame. The fact that they have dorne so out permissfon in prima sacie evidence that they are snide. No one has any autlfority to use our Company for reference. 1t has heen done by these swindling coucerns to catel Grangers, and we hiave threatened to progecute them.” Said Mr. Gorton, of the Adams Express Com- pany: I don’t Know any:hmg about them; pever heard of them: their reference tous is without author.ty. This town is full of th men, and they bave used our name, and we have told them repeatedly if they didn’t stop it we Would commence leeal proceedings azainst them. Express companies nese to refer to them. It consent is asic fusea. We are carriers, and it is no part of our business to indorse such people.” Said Mr. Colvin, of the United States Com- pany: “ I don’t know them or anything about them. Itis possible that they iay bave had ‘permission to refer to us, but T don't recollect o™i Here, 7 and be called toa_ clerk, “ Do sou know,” £aid he to bim, *C. G. Horton & Tt W Yes, apswered the clerk; © They are 3 snide jewelrs firt, and they do lots of busi- Dess over our line.” e o 8 Can Seliack, Stephenson & Co.: & We don't know them; never heard of them. They have no authority ta refer 10 us.” Ssid Ben Allen &Co.: ¢ They are frauds.” Said J. W. Butier & Co.: * We never heard of them. They are not on our books. They may have bought roods of us. but they paid cash for them. e have had letters of inquiry about other parties who gave us as reference,— Tnen who ordered paper from manufacturers, but we knew tothing ahout them.” The other * references™ would doubtless have said the same things, but those scen hay- ine “vouched for the honesty and respecta- oility ” of C: G. Horton & Co.y the reporter dropped this line of investization and took up another. Hehad learncd that in June last the firm was located at the Morrison Buiing, X os. 175 and 127 Clark street. _Asking the agent for information, he saia they were tacre, but had moved their stuff out about a year azo. Where they had goue he didn't know for certain. He understood Hortou bad taken bis goods home. The Dircetory was then eearched fo: C.G. Horton, but the compilers bad skivped hir. Therc must be such a firm in the city, or they wouldn't bave sent Peterson the watches. Where their place ot busivess may be was & question the reporter was unable to answer aft- er a five-honr's search. Therefore, Peterson cannot be given the information ke seeks. He, howerer, can draw an inference from what the can indorse as reliable. C. A. LONG & CO. AN OPENING FOR AGENTS. The followinz coutract was mailed by the par- _ty of the sccond part to a gentleman in Ogdens- Y., aud by him forwarded to Tue & with a request that inquiry be made a5 to the responsibility of C. A. Long & Co. He had had no correspondence with them, and could not understana why the document had been sent him. Similar contracts have also been sent iu whicn were addressed, unsolicited, to persons living in Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Know all men by the presents : That C. A, Long & Co., of Chicago, IIL, of the firsL part do hereby covensnt aud ugreg 10 'pay unto —— ——, 0f Ogdensbure, N. Y., of the second part, the sum. of twelve Rundred 'dollars (S1,200) per vear,. in weive monthly instaliments of one hundred dol- lars (§160) each, together with ail hotel and trav- eling expenses (hot 1o exceed S3 per day) incurred during said term, wnuer the following terms, con- ditiong, and provielone, to-wit: : The snid party of the sccond part agrees within a period of fifiecn days from the receipt hercof to fend to the purty of the frst part for their enmple case and samules, €aid eamples to consiet of twen- ty-four diflerent varieties of tea, and is to take orders for the sule of suid teas from the dealers of his own county, or connties adjacent thereto, for & period of teu or fificen cays from the receiot of 2aid swmpley, o u trial or test of his ability. During Faid trial the pariy of the sccond part fs 1o use aue dilivence to further the interests of the said firm. and to advance the sale of their gooas, trial, is to sules, in writing, 1o the party of the tirst part, and i venr of sach trial and report being eatis- factory to the party of the brst part, they do here- hy agree to take him into their emplov fora period of one year, and to pay nim the salary and ex- ‘penses hereinbefore named. Suld money for ex- penses shall be ndvanced when on ssliry, on the first day of cach monta by the party of the first part, who farther agree to pay the party of the second part $100 as salary at the end of each month succeeding such eatisfactory trial. The party of the second part 1 to travel when on eatary, over the States of New York and Vermont and sell from sample to dealers, sending in his orders us [ast a8 received: and he' furtiior agrees, when on salary, if required, to report in person at the onice of the party of the frst purt in Chicago, Til., at least onee in every ninety days; the party of the first part bearing thie expenses. The party of the first part further agrees to for- ward to the party of the sccond part, the twenty- four samples of teas above named, together with suid sample case, ordef blanks, ull nccessary in- structions for taking orders, and full and complete price listand terms to dealers, which the eaid party of the second part ehail’ abide by unless otncryise Instructed by the party of the firet part. The party of the second part agrecs 1o gend to the party of the first part the sum of 51,15 in advance, with order for samples: in consideration of the receipt of which sum, the party of the tirst part asrees to send raid samples o the parly of the fecond part, tozetaer with n traveler’s complete bample case. The party of the Grst part further agrees to forward with the flrst month's salary, an umple certifled bond as secarity for promp pay- ment of galary for the year, and for the faithfal performance of their contract. Aud the party of the second part shall send to the yarty of the Hrst part with report of sales, two rood names for reference as to moral character, energy, and in- tegrity. During the term of trial above mentioned the party uf the fret part agrecs thee (ho party of tho £econd purt ehall receive as campensation for labor and sales he hay made, on saia trial, all the profit on sard sales above the importing price named in price list of the firm, but in cise of appomtment on Talary, then the amounts puid as protit 1o the party of the second purt arcto be refunded to the party of the firstpart, in waich event ealary shall date from commencement of trial, unless said profits are preferred 10 sulary. Tnwitness whereof we have_jointly signed these presents on the day aud date DElow given. Sivncd this 13th day of December, 1877, C. A.'Loxe & Co, "This firm occupy rooms 3 and 4, Fuller Bloclk, on Dearborn street between Madison and Mon- roc. Asthey etand on their own bottom, far- ‘nishing no references in their contracts, a re- porter called on them yesterday to Jearn who they were and whether they were apparently doing a legitimate business. NE FOUND ME. LONG inRoom 3. This is plainly fitted up, and was comfortable. Near the door was a table on which were half a dozen cups, some with tea drawn in them and others with the dry lcaves ready for the water. Ata desk near the win- How was a young lady addressing enveloncs. Stie was_evidently mailing contracts, of which there were Jarge bumbers in front of her. Mr. Lonzasked the reporter to take a chair, and he Qid £o, opening thie conversation wit “How long bave you been in business? About two months. We moved here from Cincinnati, o Much doing?” «Not very much. e have three or four ap- plications a day.” “Who compose the firm?? Myself, 8. A. Grant, of Cincinnati, and a gentleman who lives in St.Louis,—a silent part- Der, whose name I do not wish to divalge. He stands well there, and doesu’t want it known thag he is in the tea business, as it might hurt him.”? + Poes Mr. Grant stand well?” Yes," and Mr. Long picked up Dun & Co.’s commereial reports and pointed out his rating— “D 23 wortl §75,000.” 5 *t\Vhat does Mr. Grant do?” «1le is a manufacturer of cnvelopes?”! « What is the rating of C. A. Long & Co?" «w1Vell, we baven’t heen here Jong enough yet to be rated.” < e Do you keep a stock of tea on hand?” “Yesn “\Where is it?” «]In the other room. Come in and gee.” And Mr. Lene led the reporter into No. 4, where were ten or fiftcen chests, most of which were haif full. In this room was a younglady shining up emall tin boxes; also a young man, who, while busy, Gidn’t appear to be doing mucn of angthing. + Js this all the stock you have?? %That is all we can carry under our lease.” Then Mr. Long ot his lease, and in it was the stipulution that the rooms should be used for the.wsplay of samples, and not as a store- house. On the way bacl into No. 3, Mr. Long tapped on some boxes not unlike those used for pack- ing svav in, and said, “Full of tea.” There were about twenty of them. When scated aeain, the reporter asked: «Where do you buy your tea?” «We bhave bought from Franklin MacVeagh & Go.” « Much?? « Half-a-dozen half chests. Ifwe getout ofa certaio kind we get it in town.” {“Then you have another place where you get it “Yes, our main place s in New York.” ¢ You buy cheaper there than here? ¢ Yes." w1Yill you let me see THE SANPLE CASE for which you charge $4.151” “Certainly.” And Mr. Long directed the voutb in No: 4 to fixone up. He presently came in with one. ‘The case was au imitation of moroceo,—very neat, and had a small steel lock. “They cost u: 50.” said Mr. Long. The reporter s his ignorance of such things, but, Wore he about to buy_one, he would not pay more than $1.25 for it.” Inside were twenty-four tin boxes, two and & half fnches long and one avd threequarters wide. * They cost us five cents avicce,” suid Mr. Longz. A tinsmith, thought the reporter, could perhaps be found who would make a large quantity for three cents each. i “Ihese are to hold sumples of tea, Isup- pose?” said the reporier. i “Yes. YThe twenty-four boxes hold about two poun At Mr. Long's firurcs the case and boxes cost 8%70. This would leave 45 cents_for the tea,—223¢ cents a pound. But Clem Periolat 7 used to furnish the Poor-House with tea at 20 cents a pound, 50 the 223¢ cent tea must be of o better quality. “¢Of course, you make 3 profit on the sample- caseful “Yes, a little profit.”” “The ealary vou offer—$100a month—is a pretty good one!” o a h in 1 «How maoy men have you in your employ to wwhom you pay 31,200 a year?” ploF « None.” “ How is that?! «Tiey don’t sell tea enough.” a ?h. l,sec. They et tired and quit!” “Yes? “What proportion don’t make it go?” “The majority.” “You make a profit also on the tea they seil at the start-off?"? Certainly.” “ What commission do you pay?"" ¢ Tuirty-toree and one-third per cent.” “H'u’w ‘much have your agents sold in the last week ! *Mr. Long looked over his order book and said, ** Between $690 and $700.”" “There scems to me to be money in this business?” “We hobe so. We have put money into it, but haven't got it out yet.” * Of course vou wouldn’t swindle anybody?” wXo, sir; we arc Straight. You can inquire of the tea man at Franklin MacVeagh & Co.’s.” Having satisfied himself, the reporter with- dred, and be hasn’t one word of comment to add 10 the interview, except that a heavy sale of samples would be a profitable business for the references say,—references which Tue TRIBUNE | BANKRUPTCY. What It Costs to Go Through and Come Out Free. How the Assets Are Consumed in Pay- ing Fees and Expenses. Some Interesting Figures from Register * Hibbard’s Books. It has been (frequently stated by political cconomists and others, who for years have ob- served the ups and downs of commercial life, that few men retire from the active pursuits of mercantile business with a competency sufficient to maintain them in comfort during their de- clining days: For years a paragraph has heen going the rounds of the press that about nivety out of every hundred fail durig the course of their carcers. In the large scaport citics of the country the signs along the docks that were famillar to the dwellers of twenty years azo have been replaced by new ones, and, with very few exceptions, there isnoia house now en- gaged in business that thirly years ago ‘had made for itsell a-name. For- tunes have been made and lost. Successful ventures in cotton, suzar, tobaceo, and cereals ere rewarded with milfions, but’ they did not last. Like the riches spoken of m the days of old, they took unto themseives wings and flew away. The same rule hoids good in_ the interfor. Few of the proprietors of avillaze’s petty stores remained in business or kad acquired 2 compe- teney when it began to put on urban airs. For a few years they dragued along, exchanging the luxuries of life for thic products of te farm, muaking a few dollars now and then, but withh the ussumption of metropolitan airs on the part of the village, along come truders with more capital, and the little operators were frozen out. In process of time the successful competitor s himself pusbed to the wall, and when 2n_inventory of his ailairs comes to be made up it is found that he. has spread himself all over the town and adjoining suburbs. THE REASON FOR THIS FATALITY amongz American traders of all clusses is the universal desire to become suddenly wealthy. 1t 16 a national disease, and has assuined duritig thelast ten or twelve years a condition that must challenge a searchung and analytical diarrnosis by the skilied band of the cconomist. Tue sudden accessions of wealth have frequent- 1y mumfested themsclves in the building up of a new scction of country, the thousands that have flowed into ~the coffers of the lucky discoverers of bomanza mines, the plethoric bank accounts resulting from a successful deal in wheat stocks or oil, and even the paper millions consequent upon laying out villaze lots in o swamp a mile or two from an unuecessary park aws boulevard,—all tliese have turned the head of the average trader, and in- duved him to rush headlong into speculative pursuits for which he was no by education or opuortunity fitted. The result has been, and of necessity will always be, ignomiuious failure. Occasionally the newspapers announce the fail- ure of & house with the world-wide reputation of n Jay Cooke for wealth and stability. It comes like a clap of thuuder from a clear sky. Aualyze the result, und the cause Wil be found to be a sell-possessed be- lief in a vpersonal infallibility. For a while it possessed the touch of Midas. Every- thing it buudled was turned into sparksing, vel- low gold, * bard to zet and bard to Lold,” or crisp new greenba This magic-lamp-like gift was not of Jong duration. The day of Sustifsing came along in the natural course of events, and what appeared to be solid gold and bright greeubacks proved to be candlestick Dbrags and brown paper. To regulate and preserve as far as possible the demands and rights of creditors, BANKRUPT COURTS have been instituted. Previons to the War the laws coucerning jusolvents were of State origin. There was no uniformity in either provisions or practice. Some of the States had them; others had not. To bring order out of chaos, and cnable citizens residing in_States other than that io which tne bankrupt lived, and who happened 1o be creditors, 1o obtain their just proportion of the asscats of the-insolyent, Congress passed the Baukrupt la sirtue of constitulional prerog: precedence of all State Jaws. It operation _some_ten years. As to its merits, lawyers differ. Some are of the opinion that the'law as it pow stands affords faculities for desperate traders to commit fraudulent bank- ruptey; but the fact that several enterprising individuals of that character have buen sent to Jolict, and others have been obliced “to fly to the protecting wegis of the neighboring Domin- jou, indicates that those Who contravene its pro- Fisions subject tuemselves to the same pains and penalties as do the violators of the criminal code. Others think that it 1s not scarching enough in its character, und permits the delinquent debtor to put up 2 job whereby he may be pushed into * involuntary ” bank- ruptey, thus enabling him to get his discharge -gt the cxpense of those whom he does not pro- pose to favor. Aunocher objection, and it s probably the most serious onc, i3 THE EXPENSE ENTAILED in winding up the estate of the average bank- rupt who has anything left for his creditors. Congress bas preseribed a catalogue of fees, w are the perquisites of the Reister, the Clerk of the Court, the Marshal, and the Assignee, Thercis 80 much for each warrant issued, for services on cach day of weel ing, for ecach order of giviacud, for each bond, for every application for mecting, for each day . actuaily employed under special order of the Court. for depositions aud othier papers kuown only to those thor- oughly versed in the winutiz of the law, two sbillings here, a dollar there, and a hali clse- where, as prescribed in the Revised Statutes. Then there are the costs of the Cletk of the Court, which are of a somewhat indsterminate character, being based on the number of pavers issued from, or lines written in the ponderous towes of, his oflice. ‘The next geatleman who has the opportunity of cutting a swath through the assets of the pecumiary defuuct is the Ueitea States Murshal, who is allowed for sery: ing warrants, notices to creditors to prove ciaims, attend meetings, come and get their dividends, ete. And last, but not lcast, is the Assignee. His = fecs include clerk hire, remt, in cases where the insolvent Jeaves a stock of merchandise bebind him, and other expenses that may arise in disposing of the property. The Assizuce is entitled for Limself to 5 per cent on ali_sums up to $1,000; 2i¢ per cent on the next $4,00, aud 1 per cent o all sums sbove. besides the recipient of incidental fees for making out aceounts, notices, and other papers only known to those who aro familiar with the internal workiugs of the law. In this district the a age fee of the Register is 360, of the Clerk $30, and of the Marshal $30. TRE RECORDS OF REGISTER HIBBARD for two years show that S0 per cent of the bankrupties in bis jurisdiction, wereabsolutely bare of asscts. LThe petitivning insolvent eontented himself with returning u few articles of houschold furniture,wearing apparcl, and other impedimenta, which’ by State law are exempt. Of the other 20 per cent, about oue- half were compromised. The estates of the re- mainder passed throush the bandsof an As- signee. These insolvents, as o rule, should have been declared bankrupt years azo. The assets are geuerally composed of equities in mortgazed real estate, dubious aud desperate notes and book-aceounts, and a_miscellancous 1ot of traps that would fall to brizhten the sur- roundings of a junk-shop. To the creditor after the payment of expenses ,there comes o dividend varying from 1to 10cents on the dollar. Occasionally’ an _estate pans out from 50 to 73 vercent. In these cases it 1s generally found that the insolvent has endeavored to beat the creditors by forcing upon them a cOmposi- tion ranging from 25 to 50 cents. Of this qual- ity of insolvent is one H.F. Freemau, a boot and shoc dealer, who endeavored to force a set- tlement for 2 cents. Toe creditors indig- nantly refused to be treated in any such out- rageous manner. Scarcd at his temerity, he doubled hls bid. 1t was refused. Seeinz no hope, he consented to £o_through the ordeal of having another man administer his affairs. The result was that the creditors got a dividend of 7714 per cent. The expenses of converting the stock were about 10 per cent, showinga de- Dr!eclnuun of only 12} per cent on s forced sale. As tending to show the exnense of winding up the estateof the average bankrunt, the follow- iner cases selected seratim from ove volume of the Register’s docket are of interest: Amount realized. Ingolrent. 1 G. F. Farington. .. Newton Rappeleye Fred Hoendt. . .11 Montz. Thomas Hasti To newspaper_publishers the winding-up of the advertising firm of 4. 1. CHANDLER & CO. is peculiarly fnteresting. The creditors of the firm were scattered from the Atlantic even m the Pacific. Claims to the extent of some Srfl‘:’- were proved up against the insolvent. Rich- ard 8. Than was apnointed Assiznee. He pro- :‘gcdud tw rr:nll{"e;d &1;3 nlf]ter e had closed out e concern, su! the following rej the Register: kot c Open-book aceonnts... From oflice furniturc, From desperate acconnts. e DISBURSENESNTS. Marshal's fes ‘Autorness. Clerleal services.. Assignee’s servic Oilice rent Printing an Cash on hand.... v $3,420 Out of this sum another swath was follows: i o Remster's fees.. 5 Costsof proofs . . : 5 Clerk's fees....... 50 Preferred cinims. .. . 49 Cost of proofs outside cify. 82 To be divided between creditors... > %Rx; 3, Eighteen and three-fonrths per cent divi- n, cent divi. Cash on hard.... The last mentioned sum will | be devoted to paring the espeuses of the Recelverin closing upthe estate and givinz the bankrupts their discharge. In this case the cost of windiog up was $1,504.63, or a little over 30 per cent. of tho amount realized from the cstate. - The attorney employed by the Assignee took 20 per cent. of the expenses. ‘Two-thirds of the Marshal's bill was for moneys actually disbursed by him in paying for postare, envelopes, and printing. Tuat “the expenses were too high, no one can doubt. - They should not bave exceeded $750 all told. Indeed, there are plenty of collection agencies in the city that would eladly have en the joo at tuat price. The other cases cited above show about the same ratio of cost,— some above, others below. 1t is this excessive ratio of cost to dividend that hns caused this strong feeling of opposition 1o the law, and the present movement for itsre- peal. The petitions which are now in circula- tion, and will soon be, presented to Congress, owe most of their signatures to the belief that the law is so constructed as to altow of a third of the assets being swallowed up in fecs, legal cxpenses, ete. The Baukrupt Court is not, without ITS HUNOKOUS SIDE and some of the incidents related by the Mar- shat’s deputics arc of a very entertaining char- seter. About a year or s0 4o & concern on the West Side suspended payment. A writ of bankruptey was served, aud the Marshal took possession. A custodiun was put in. Among the assets was a lot of ice valued at some $600. The bunkruptey proceedings were contested. The case dragged along for some time, and finally an Assiznee was appointed. Meantime the Marshal expended some $674 in taking care of the property. A lot spell of weather came on. The custodian, clad in a linen duster, be- came frantic. The property in bis charee was gradially melting away, and before anything could be done to sccure or sell it, the huge blocks of erystal had gradually subsided into their original element. ~ Had the custodian been able to build acoffer dam-to inclose the water, be might by waiting uatil now, bave secured the original property in o new shape,—on the sume principle that & man renews himself every seven years. It is needless to eay the Marshal is snort his disbursements. _Somic months ago there wasa little seven-by- niue drug store on West Lake, near Halsted strect. The proprietor failed to meet his com- mercial paper at waturity, andsyas forced into bankruptey. A custodian was appointed. Expert drug clerks were brought in to count the grains of calomel, drops of laudanum; and ecmpty pill boxes. Several wecks were consumed in making an_foventory which could be sworn o as absolutely correct. The stufl was finally sold, and not enough was realized to pay the expenses. The Court issued an order on the complainants_to go_down in their pockets and fork over $180, which had g;.;xcn expended by the Marsbal. And they THE FOLLOWING STATISTICS compiled by Resister Hibbard, showing the completed business of his oflice for the two past fiscal years ending July 1, are of interest: . -+ Per cent. 1875-'76—Eleven involuntary bankraptcics yielded... o ... 24810 Thirty-seven involuntary ban rapicies yielded... ..., nothing Twenty-seven voluntary bank- ruptcies vielde weunes 20 2-10 200 voluntary yieided _. nothing 1876-'"77—Trwelve involuntary produced... 22 2-16 Thirts-five Involuntary prodac- ed... nothing Forty-two voluntars produced . 2614 165 voluntary prodaced.... .... nothing TWO SIDES. The Old Year's goinz! The sobbing wind 13 wailing ite requiem-moan. An old man sits by the dying fire, In his mansion-ome alone, Warching the embers' fitful Zlow, “'The darkiy-falling shades; Lower his head ¢roops on his breast— Fastor the fretight fades. 4 *Tis near! 'Tis near! The fair New Year! Tut Lwelcome it not,” he cries; +3nd gladly I'd Iy down my barden now, s tie OId Year's echo dies. i For I'm weary of living withall its din, Weary of sin and pain, cary of winning but Dead-Sea fruits, Of toiling for ehadows vain. Take me, Old Year, to your peaceful grave, ‘Where they've borne the friends of my life; Take me to rest, for I'm wearied now With my long, long day of strife.”™ +¢ Dying! Dying!” the breezes 80 ++Dead I now floats on their W The shadows grow darker, the irelight dim— The Old Year rests in its grave. The silence grows deeper; 3 peaceful light Rests on the old man's face; *The Old Year's dead. and he sleepeth, too— The last of an houored race. “*Farewell to the Old! Hail, hail to the New! The New of joy and mirtn! How can men bear to die and leave Their beautiful Mother-Earth; Fair, shininz World, with its wealth and fame, ‘And noble hearts and true; Bright, glorious life, who: Just ‘burst upon my view? Your battles I fear not, for I will be The victor on every feld: Long may I live to taste the sweets Your stores of bounty vield!” Tl speaks the youth of the eunny brow As he greets the New Ycar entering now. Tainbor-tints The werld o trusted will soon deceive; Then wilt thou be as glad to leave As the weaty man whose fiickerine light Went out o the Old Year's parting night. . FivELIs. ——— The Oyster Trade in Ealtimore. Baltimore Amerfcan. Oyster-dealers report a curious and somewhat startling fact about oysters this_season, which makes them very carcful in buying, lest they find themselves With 2 load on bhand which is afterward found tb be worthless. A great many of the oysters that resch Light-street wharf, When apened, loak ns It they had been cuzazed in a heated _family-quarrel, Tesulting in - blows, out of which they had come second best. Their appearance is decidedly unfavorable, presenting, as they do, a reddish and altogether uniositing aspeet. When cut behind the heart or between the gills withs a knife, blood spurts forth freely, coverine the handof the person holding them, as if it had been cut instead of the oyster. The Dlood thus produced reatly resembles that of a human being in color and substance. Oysters sometimes bave this peculiarity whea spawninz, but for them to have it at this time of the year is unusual and hardly acconatable. ‘A vrofient dealer says he has beara of otbers notieing it at dulerent periods, but he has not for the past fifteen years. It is confined mostly to oysters gathered in the waters bordering on the Western Shore, saving a few streams from Thomas' Point to Cape Heory. The Eastern Shore is not altogether exempt, 88 some oysters caught in Pocomoke Sound, Miles River. and around Sharp's Island bave the same appearance and pecaliarity. It is supposed that they were caught, in very deep water beforc the frast had time to touch them. Oysters when in this con- dition are worthless, and as soon as discovered they are sent back and deposited again in the water to remain until well touched with frost. They are then edible, and are taken up and broaght back to the market. The season thus far has been a good one for oysters. _They arc fat and poseess a delicious fiavor. Prices rauge from 40 cents to SL per bushel, thousl: vers good ones can be had from 75 to 80 cents. The oysters that are sold in chean saloous, twvelve and sixtcen fried inabox, including a bottle of catsup, for 25 cents, at 15 and 20 cents a bushel, and are known as freshowater snaps. They are mostly gatbered . in the river just outside” the city, where they abound fn larze quantitics. Most of the regu- lar dealers fgnore them altogether, saying they are not fit to eat, being apt to cause diarrhea. Quite a trade 1 carried on by women Who fre- quent the large packing. establishments, search- r among tne piles of shells for oysters thas escape the notice of the shucker o arc thrown away as worthless. With the aid of o little salt to flavor, and water to make them swell, they are quite presentable, and arc readily disposed of to hnusekeegers ata price much less than those sold by the regular dealers. THE SILVER DOLLAR. Remonetization Discussed by the ~Third Ward Republican Club. Speeches for and Ajainst—The Ques- tion to Be Agamn Considered. The Third Ward Republican Club met last evening in their hall, corner of Wabash avenue and Twenty-second street, Mr. A. N. Eddy in the chair. The call for the meeting set forth that it was to discuss the silver question. The resolution printed in the call was as follows: Resolced, That the Bland Silver bill, as passea Dy the Houte of Representatives, is hostile to the best interests of the country. Mr. Kirk Hawes said -that he was in favor of the remonectization of silver, but bad under- taken, in order to open the discussion, to speak in favor of the resolution, which was apparently opposed to remonettzation. Tacre was abrev- alent {dea that the men who wanted gold were capitelists, while the advocates of silver were mostly wpoor men. This idea was, however, an incorrect one, and the - subject was one which had divided the best minds of the country. It was a subject which required calm discussion, and nothingwas to be ained by vituperation or abuse. One arzument made at the Tabernacle meeting was that ope-b4lf of the currency had been swept out of existence by demonetization. This was Judee Miller’s argument, while Judge Doolittle sald that an amount equal to the en- tire value of the State of New York had been swept away. Figurcs did not lie, and according to those of Dr. Linderman the total coinage of gold and silver from 1702 to 1873 was 723 millions. But out of that amount the entire coinage of the *dollar of the fathers * was only eizht millions. That was the only coin demon- ctized fn 1873; the only one about which so much tatk Wwas made. The depreciation would_therefore only be one in ninety, while, when it was considered that there were not more than onc million of sflver dollars in exist- ence in 1573, the ut‘:rrechuon became almost nomiuval, if it existed at all. The only reason given by Mr. E. C. Larned for his support of the Bland bill was that the demonetization was effected by fraud. Mr. Aldrich was reported as baving eaid in Washingtou that, having exam- iued the record. he was satisfled thata FRAUD HAD BEEN COMMITTED, and that the people knew mnothing of the facts atthe time. That arzument ought not to be allowed to enter Into consideration. The ques- tion at issue was whether the bill was a good or a bad one. He had been at the tronble ot look- ing up the record, and found that the first re- hort in_relation'to it was made by John Jay nox, Comptroller of the Currency, to Con- gress in 1870. Jn that report particular atten- tion was paid to the fact that the silver dollar of 41234 graivs had been dropped from the list. The bill had in_reality passed both the Senate and the House twice. It was in- troguced into the Senate April 28, 1870, and passed in that body Jan. 10, 1871 by a vote of 36 to 14. In the House the_Repealing act was cham- ploned by William D. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, now one of the stronzest advocates of the dollar of our fathers. He enginecred it through com- mittees and the House, and was assisted by Mr. Hlooper, of Massachusetts. It was reported to the tinance Committee, and considered section by section. Finally, atter three vears' consid- cration in two successive Congresses, the bill became law Feb. 12,1573 Tt had been argued that the promoters of the bill had s sinister mo- tive in passing it. This the speaker denied, claiming also that so long as the bill was passed in the lezal manuer it made no difference whether the people knew of the fact at the time or what the motives of its supporters were. Dr, Linderman, the highest suthority on the subject, showed that from 1702 to 133{ the relation of silver to gold was 15to 1. The gold commanded & premium during the last half of this term and was conseguently exported. In 1584 Congress changed the valuation to 15 95100, and silver rose in value and was taken for export. To meet this difficalty Congress in 1853 reduced the value of the subsidiary coin- age, leaving the dollar undisturbed. Tt, however, became obsolete und did not circulate to any extent. On the gques- tion of Dp:\)‘ing the bonded . indebtedness of Llhe United States in silver, Mr. Hawes was @ silver msn. The bonds set forth on their face that they were payable in standard coin of the United States on Julv 4, 15870. He had little paticnce with men who could not see the lezal right to tender silver in payment of the bonds, for the silver dollar was the standard cofn at that time. The buyer kuew what he was about at the time he lent the money.. But Amcrica |WAS A BORROWING NATION, and when the bonds became due they would have to fund them, or. in plain English, to re- borrow the money. Was it worth while, then, as 2 matter of business, to insist on payinz the debt at the rate of Y1 or 92 cents on the dollar? If all the mints were set to work to-morrow they could not coin more than $24,000,000 in a year. In the Latin Union silver stood to zold in the ratio of 18 to 1, and if Congress decreed that its value in America should be 16 to1, Europe would send silver over here and et zold in exchangd It was well kuown that the cheaper money Would always drive out the dearer. To coin silver dollars of 412}¢ grains and decree that they should be equal to the gold dollar of 25 8-10 «rains, which is by statute the standard of the Unied States, would not make them so. That was only worth 91 ccuts on_the dollar, and, although it was argucd that silver swould appreuiate. it would pever get abuve 9 cents on the dollar. The damage which would result . to the country by the passage of the Bland billas it passed the House would be very great. Its passage would be very disastrous to every man who carns a dollar. Dr. Delos Mansficld said that he was pro- foundly convinced that in the present condition of the country the passage of the Bland bill was an absolute necessity. He did not care to 20 into a discussion of the means by which the silver dollar was demonetized. He was in favor of a return to specie payments, but wanted to consider wnether that end cou d be reachied by “dopting the monometallic theory. Gold and siiver, aithongh they had not always borne the same relations one to another, bad always goue side by side in_every civilized conntry. That was a Distorical fact. The decline in the value of real estate in New York had been not only one-half, but three-fourths, and this had been caused by the atiempt of the nation to return to specic paymeats. This process, which has been zoing forward for the past five years, was stiil going on, and cvery debtor Wwas liable to bave his equities in his property obiiterated en- tirely. Themoney and the property would be concentrated in few. hands, and all”those who Jabored with their hands would suffer. The ex- isting depression in business affairs would be intensificd as time went on. If the Silver bili passed, silver .would rise in value, and the speaker believed that the country needed and DEMANDED THE DOUBLE STANDAKD. Ald. Thompson. of. the Third Ward, sald that siiver had been the money of the United States from the foundation of the Republic uatil the year 1873. ‘The fact that the bill abolishing the sitver dollar was passed without the knowledge of the people threw upon the mouometallists the task of overturning the whole bistory of the world in regard to the use of silver. “The speaker agreed with Senator Christiancy, that When they aereed to pay the bonds issued in 1575 in cola of the United States, it would be a breach of faith to pay those bonds in any other coin than that which was the standard ‘at the time Bf their issue. He was in favor of the Bland bill with the Senate amendments. Mr. Peter Page said that the country haa prosperea to o wonderful extent.under a bt metallic currency. Mr. Hooper said that the repealing bill whilebefore the House Committee was revised by Mr. Erneést Seyd, 2 leading En- glish bullionist, and that the Committee on Mlints and Cofnage incorporated his suzcestions inthebill. The speaker had heard that Mr. Seyd was sent over by the bordholders aiter Sliver bad been demonctized in. Germany, France, and England, to obtain the same result bere, and that he was furnished with 100,000 stering for the of carrying _ out their Dvlans. could not “vouch for this story, but had readit. It was well known that Gen. Grant when be sien- ed the bl did not know that its object was to demonctize the silver dollar. It was claimed that injustice would be_done by restorinz the dotlar of 412} grains. Edmund Burke, who was a friend of the people sud a friend of America, said that the'claim of the citizen to the rrotcc- tion of his property was superior to the claim of the creditor. The Bland biil should be passed at once. The Government, seeing what poor success had attended the single standard,should revert to tieé double one. Mr. D. K. Tenney regarded the proposition to restor¢ the old-time dollar asa fraud anda humbug. Strangely enonzh, no _dishonest scheme was ever advanced but what found honest advocates. The epeaker ridiculed the story in regard to thé presence of an English agent in Washington, and characterzed it asa. newspaper “roorback.” ME. ELBRIDGE G KEITH interrupted the speaker for a moment to ex- plam that Mr. Seyd was a silver man and alway: bad been. ir. Tenney, resuming, said that there never +were any silverjloliars in this country to amount to anvthing. Gold was practically the standard, and there never were many silver doilars in cir- culation. They had Mexican: dollars and five-frane pieces, bur scarcely any American doliars. The speaker believed that when Congress passed the repealing act they had co ideas ou the subject at all. He was in_favor of remonetization of silver, but be wanted enough or it put into the dollar to make it equal m value to the gold dollar. That would be honest money, and every oue would take it. The real point of the acitation for the Silver bill was the swindling of the creditor,—not only of the bondhotder, but of every other crediter. No man ever had a debt paid to him ia silver before the War, and to keep faith toe United States must pay in the coln which the creditor under- stood . was In use at the time be lent the money. He did not dispate tno leual proposition that the bonds could be pad in silver dohars of 41234 graios, but it certainly would not be policy to do so. ‘I'he Bland biil was a p-oposition £0 Al the pockets of the Ne- ver-mine owners, of the Germans vho had $200,000,000 worth of silver to dispose of, and who were looking round for some nation green enough to take it off their hands. Mr. Page wanted to know why tne trade dol- lar of 420 grains ana the suosidiary coins of 347 zrains were passing side by side with currency. Was it not because the latter were a less tender in _ amounts of $5¢ The ' Loncon Times said that cven if the bondholders received their money ip. silver at its present value they would only lose about 7 per vent, while if silver was remonetized they would lose scarcely anything. Mr. Tenney eaid toe trade-dollar passed be- canse it was mew and shiny. It was a joke, and people took it because it looked pretty. As 1o the subsidiary coius, almost anything would pass for change. The shinplasters did that during the War. Mr. Hawds cxpressed the hooe that the Club would meet every two weeks for discussion of interesting subjects. AMr. Juhus Rosenthal explained that the trade dollar was made for forcign use. The way to test the value of the trade dollar or the subsid- fary coinage was to oifer them in quantity to the wholesale dealers. Any one who would read the German papers would find that the Germans hailed with delight the prospect of re- mognetization. On motion of Mr. J. H. Clough, the meeting adjourued to meet at the same place next Sat- urday cvening to continue the discussion. —————— SUBURBAN NEWS. EVANSTON. The annual declamation contest by certain students chosen by their classmates from the Junior and Sophomore classes to compete for the Mann prizes occurred Friday eveniug at the Baptist Church. Notwithstanding the extreme {rigidity of the weather. the audience was, but little smaller than those which usually witness the oratorical and elocutionary exhibitions by the embryo Pitts and Patrick Heorys of the University. There were ten of tho sufferers Friday nizht, and between their passions the Chicazo Quartette soothed their savage breasts and calmed the souls of the hearers. Tne speakers were J. E. Adams, M. F. Car- roll, E. C. Adams, Julia Watson, Lilly M. Brad- ley, Miss C. Shumway, M. W. Atwood, Emma Ninde, F. D. Sheets, ana F. W. Hobart. The judges, James H. Raymond, David Ca- van, Jobn W. Hamlige, Col. Wesléy Brainerd, and Prof. Pearson, retired to a back room to award the prizes, but couldn’t stand the tem- perature, and returned with the shivers to an- nonnce, through Prof. Marcy, who presided, that, with_the thermometer in such a stute of dejection, they must, forsooth, pestpone raeir judement. And it is still in suspenders. The question to be *debated” by the stu- dents contesting for the Gage prize, the tussle for which will ocearon the Lith, will be: _** Re- solved, That the Constitution of the United States is a better form of Government than that of England.” The persons appointed to debate itare: Affirmative—1W. amiiton, 779; Miss Jessie Moore, ’79; T. C. Warnngton, '80; nega- tive—J. T. Muserove, 779: Josépl Coombs, %50 Charles Michelet, 'S0, HYDE PARE. The Board of Trustces met at the Village Hall yesterday afternoon, all prescnt except Trustee Raynor. ‘he Commissfoners on the estimate of water- pipeon Stony Island avenue asked leave to withdraw their first report as there was an error in it, and then reported that the new estimate would be S11,600; amount of deficlency, $3,136; expensc of making the assessment, $250. Ap- proved. The Superintendent of the Water-Works asked that a joint meeting of Lake and Hyde Park be held at the office of A. H. Veeder fan. 8, at 2 o'clock, so that a time can be fixed iu which to try the works. 3 Attorney Willett announced that the case of Charles Creighton vs. The Village would come up Monday, and thst an important witness frow Des Molnes, Ia., was wanted, and he was allow ed $100 to procure him. ‘The Board then adjomrned, after: passing small bills. A. D. Waldron, who had a stroke of paralvsl some time ago, Is reported in abetter condition, though troubled witha pain in his head at night. The Mendelssoln Club gave their sccond re- union in the lecture-room of the Presbyteriar Charch last evening. PARK RIDGE- AMr. Powers’ family have Leen sadly afllictei in the death of their youngest son, Arthur, wht Bas been il for the past five weeks. His diseast was pneumonia- The funeral wiil take place to day at 2 p. m. at the residence of the family. The Rev. Dr. Willinz will preach bere this | evening, it beine the Quarterly Confercnce of the Methodist Church. PROF. SUMNER'S PSéJé’OS_ED GOLD LECT To the Editor of The Tridune. Ci1CAGO, Jap. 5.~I notice that Prof. Sumner, in response to au invitation, is expected to de- fiver a lecture next Monday evening at Farwell ‘Hall in this city, when he will probaby present the best, if not all, the reasons the advocates of the sinele (zold) standard have for opposing the remonetization of our time-honored silver dol~ lar. Asthe goldites canuot count in Chicago men cuough of their faith to fill one-fourth the seais in Farwell Hall, I wish to _ask the silver men to come out to Sumper’s lecture, and il up the hall sufficiently to give him an audience of respectable size, and then to attentively listen to the arguments he may present. If be should convince any of them that they are it ~rror, he will feel that he has done a good work, and they will be glad to have learned wisdom from him. But should they not be convinced by his reasoning, and should resolutions he fntroduced declariog his position and arguments to right and conclusive, I hope they will uot be too mml.elsL to vote in the negutive, s0as to be heard. The special purpose of this lecture may be to pass resolutions that may_be announced by telegrams to Washington, New York, Boston, and throushout the East, as the unanimons voice of Chicago in favor of continuinz the demonetizativn of the silver dollar. If such resolutions should he offercd, then, of course, every silver man must lct his negative be heard, that'no false reports as to unaunimity may re- matn witbout full contradiction. I call then upon eilver men to attend the Sumner lecture, to hear him attentively, to believe with him it they can, and if they cannot, then to vote lond- Iy ind respectfally against any eflort to make Tesolutions of » small number of the gmph: appear as the views of the citizens of Chicago on this vital question now agitated throughout our country. Vox P. S e YOU HAD A SMOOTH PATH. One morulag, when I went to sckaol, Ir the long-vanished Yesterday, 1 found the creek had burat jts banks, And spilicd its waters o'er my way. The little path was filled with mod; 1 tried to cross it on a log: My foot siipped, and I, helpless, fell 1Into & mass of miry bog. My clothes were pitifal to see: My hands and face were covered quite. The colldren laughed right heartlly, And jeered me when 1 came in sight. Sweei Jessie Brown, in snow-white dreas, Stood, smiling, by the teacher's desk, The while he, gravely as he might, Inquired the secret of my plight. Then Jessic shook her snos-white drese, And said, **What will you give o me For coming here 8o nice and clean? 3y very ssoes {rom dirt are free.” tator frowned, and aoswered her, ‘on werit no reward to-day; Your clothes and hands are clean hecause You had a smooth path all the way. " And 50,1 think, when children grown ‘Are white in grace, or black with sin, e shunld not judge aatil we know The path Fate had them travel in; For tome are led on sunoy bights, Beyond the power of Sin to sway: Whtle others grope In darksome paths, And face temptation all the way, Cuicago. AMuus C. PoxzroY. ——————— A Peansylyania boy gained a boliday for the whole school by dropping his rubbers down the heater, and cver since he has been enraged at himself for not economizing and dropping them one at a time. -