Evening Star Newspaper, May 31, 1893, Page 7

' THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D. ©, WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1893—TWELVE PAGES. DISCUSSING THE CASE. Expressions of Opinion by Members of the New York Presbytery. SPEECHES FOR AND AGAINST DR. BRIGGS AT LAST SIGHT'S SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY—WuAT WAS SAID IX DEFENSE OF THE ACTION OF THE PRESBYTERY. At the opening of Inst evening's session an | Attempt was made to reacha vote before ad- journment of that session, but it was unsuc- ceasful, Dr. Young moved that an hour anda half be allowe commissioners of the pres- bytery of New York to present their views, and that at the expiration thereof the vote be taken Without further delay. ‘The assembly, how. ever, by a great majority refused to change the regular order and Prof. Brown took the stand. Taking up the various grounds of appeal and their several specifications serciatim, he laid particular stress on the fact that Dr. Briggs had denied the charges against him and insisted that be should not be pressed to trial after this denial. The charge that he (Prof. Brown) and others voted to acquit Dr. Briggs after mani- festations of prejudice in the conduct of the ease was untrue. So far ae the violation of his ordination vow was concerned Prof. Brown said that Dr. Briggs had been merely required at ordination to accept the system of doctrine— nothing less, nothing more. When Prof. Brown concluded he was asked by scommissioner for information on the ex- Pression of the presbyterythat “without ex- Pressing approval of the critical or theological Views embodied im the inaugural address” it Scquitted Lim. Prof. Brawn said this point would be expiataed by another speaker, but he Wouid say generally that the presbytery meant that every man was entitled to certain views Which ali did not hold in common, but that the Presbytery was no: prepared to pass upon these {ies hich individual men were entitled to DR. BOOTH SPEAKS. Rev. R. B. Booth spoke next and regretted the necessity of appearing in opposition to the Presbytery of New York. It had been said the United States Senate was the best club in the world; in the past, and not very long ago, the New York presbytery was the happiest presby- tery in the world. He protested against the judgment of the presbytery, because it was Teached by a body that at the close of the long trial was very different from that which entered upon the trial The judgment was illegal. be- cause when the defendant accepted as of legal force and effect the charges mae agaiust him case was proved. judgment of the resbytery. while in form acquitting Prof. riggs, held up bis teachings to the whole ebureh. Dr. Booth protested against it at the time, he said, because he wouldn't treat an enemy +0, much less a friend. Dr. Booth said the burch could n>t accept and preach Dr. Briggs’ acknowledged doctrines upon the divine authority of the Bible. church and reason, and of the inspiration of the Bible. Upon the latter point Dr. Booth read the senti- ments of Kev. Hears 5. Smith, expzessed ina Sermon delivered to the synod of New Jersey and New York (new school) in 1855. Those scutiments have been the ground work of the writings of church writers ever since. The union of the two branches would never have been made. said Dr. Booth, ‘if the teachings adirmed by the New York presbytery bad been known to be the teachings of the church.” REV. GEORGE ALEXANDER. The next speaker was Rev.George Alexander, who supported Dr. Briggs. He cenied the im- putation of prejudice in favor of Dr. Briggs in the presbytery and then proceeded to explain the meaning of the presbytery coupling its uc- quittal of Dr. Briggs “without expressing ap- proval of the critical or theological views embodied in the inaugural address.” The prosecution, he said, had endeavored to shift the burden of responsibility by urging the presbyters to convict by saying that “if you acquit you do ailirm the views of Dr. Brizgs, and it was to meet this attempt that the non- expressal of approval was asserted. An ap- peal was made by Dr. Alexander to give ac- ceptance to the views of the defendant and mes senept the poeceention’s interpretation of them. Kev. George L. Spinning said he wanted to say a few words calmly and dis- passionately cc ng the prejudice im- puted to members of the New York presbytery. The usual newspaper trial, he said, accompanied the progress of the ‘case before the presbytery, but more rapiéily reach- ing « conclusion and a verdict bef either side had finished itscase. Dr. Spinning said he would not deny that prejudice existed in the New York presbytery. The prosecuting com- mittee were but human; might not they be tinged with that with which they said the i bytery was saturated? Dr. Spinning said he could not vote for conviction, becanse le believed that the charges not been proved. It made no difference whether or not Dr. Briggs was guilty. In conclusion Dr. Spinning pleaded for peace and quiet and generous treatment of Dr. Briggs. whom he ed as one of the foremost scholars in the world, than whom, in his opinion, there was no man on the Soor of the house who would sooner or more gladly lay down his life for the Bible a3 tho infallible word of God. Dr. Spinning’s close was greeted with applause. REY. Du. THOMPSON. Rev. Charles L. Thompson, D.D., spoke in resistance of the appea! and begged the as- sembly to work away to the heart of the ques- tion at issue and to put aside ali technical qnes- tions. He pressed the commissioners when they came to vote to consider only the views of | Dr. Briggs contained within the covers of his inaugural, for the charges deait with what the appellee had aid in that address. Dr Thomp- son explained his views on the expressions of Dr. Briggs’ belief. and contended that they were understandable and inly not hereti- cal, although some of the illustrations were un- fortunate. “It will be a bad day for us, breth- 2,” he said, “when bad logic and lame metaphor become matters for discipline in the Presbyterian Church.” Rev. James Chambers called attention to the fact that the delegation from the New York resbyterr, which stood 8 to 6 in favor of the judgment in the Briggs case, now stands 8 to 6 against it. Two conservative alternates were elected to take the places of two principals on the other side. One of these alternates, Dr. Chambers said, received the highest vote cast in the election. Passing to a consideration of the cizcumstances surrounding the rendering of the judgment, Dr. Chambers said he protested agaiust the judgment because it did not _repre- sent the views of a majority of the presbytery. ‘There was such aconilict between the eviderme and the verdict. said Dr. Chambers, that this general assembly, however reluctant it might be to do so, should reverse the judgment. THE ELDERS SPEAK. Elder Robert Beggs of Rev. John Hall's Fifth Avenue Church contended that the judgment of the presbytery in acquitting Dr. Briggs was ‘contrary to the Word of God. He thought it was important that in the seats of learning the ebureh should secure only men who are cepable of using ‘he English language so that they may be understood, and be so careful in their teach ings that when one sat down to read the Bible he will not have to go, as has been said, to the higher critics to know what part of it was God's word and what part was not. Elder George T. Sterry was the next speaker who took a directly personal line of discussion. He said the question was a very plain one. A | Presbyterian minister was accused of teaching | an unbiblical theology; be admitted it, and said | further that he was going to continue it. The | presbytery acquitted bim. “If youare going to confirm that kind of judgment,” said Mr | ow'll open up a fine. large field of | a * ‘The defendant had taczht an unbiblical theolog: taught in the P seemed to Mr. ‘h to inform ger wanted in the Pres- éteriam cormunion. The speaker said he had | been informed that when the investigation was | began the defe said he woul! keep th exso in court six years. And he had done | pretty well in that direction in the opinion of | Mr. Sperry. An incident of the fruitaze of the | teachirg of the defendant was relatively speaker, as coming within his own obser A young minister, he caid, who had been structed under the defendant was foun have abandoned the use of the word Je | bis services. He was asked why he did not ap- proach the throne of the Fatker through and | im the of His Son. “0, I'ma Briggite,” | was the response and sole response. | The last speaker was Elder James Yereance, and he spoke «: Dr. Briggs, He laid great st that the ma- | ority ©: Laie Serie rectly wit that institution, and asked the as- sembly to reverse the verdict of acquittal. At 10 o'clock the assembly adjourned until thie morning. Chancellor von Caprivi and Freiherr Mai chall von Bicberstein,German imperial minister | reign affairs, received Mr. Theodore Rum © new fed American minister, in | Lerlin yesterday. | tes crgument made by Dr. Lampe, COL. McCOOK’S ADDRESS. ‘The Close of the Final Argument at the Af- ternoon Session Yesterday. [From yesterday's Assembly edition. ] When the assembly convened after recess Dr. Briggs resumed the stand. He first answered a question that had been sent to him, asking that he give’ his interpretation of the word “fountain.” He said that he thought he had already given ths meaning in which he used this word. He did uot mean it as an original — source, because he be- lieved that God was the original source. But he used the word as synonymous with channel. The Bible, the reason and the churen he maintained were the channels through which God comes to men. = He then resumed his argument, addressing himself to the errors with which he’ is charged with asserting in the Bible. He said that he ait not say absolutel there were errors, but that there may be errors in the original autographs. He refused to accept the dogma that the onginal autographs were inerrant. He characterized the dogma of inerrancy as unbistoric aud unstable. He quoted a number of the older divines as well as those now living who recognized errors in the Sermptures. But he maintsined those errors did not effect the Bible as a rule of faith and practice. The best writers admit the er- rors, but claim that they are immaterial motes in the sunbeam. Inspiration of the Scriptures. ‘The Scriptures are immediately inspired by God, but that inspiration did not muke them inerrant in matters of science. They are suffi- cient to give that knowledge of God and His will which is necessary unto salvation, but they are not sufficient to give that knowiedge of astronomy and botany. They are the ouly infallible rule of faith and practice, but they are not the only infallible rule of agriculture and navigation, of com- merce and trade, of war and finance. The Scriptures are pure and errorloss so far as their own purpose of grace is concerned, as the only infallible rule of the holy religion, the holy doctrine and the holy life. He then turned to the subject of the higher criticism, and said that it had only to do with the form of Scriptures, not the substance. He claimed that the fruits of the higher criti- c1sm was to give the Bible a greater hold upon the human mind. Prof. Brown read at Dr. Briggs’ juest an extract from the “Who Wrote the Pentateach?” giving a discussion of the scope of higher wit- icism. Also an extract from his book, “The Bible, the Church and Reason. By these extracts from his writings Dr. Brij evidently desired to show that he held to inion that the higher criticism is constructi and not destructive of the biblical teachings, and that it has given vastly more than it has taken away. It has showed a continuity in the Scriptares and has brought to light many beauties and truths that would otherwise not have been discovered. A QUESTION ANSWERED. “Ihave been asked by a member of the as- sembly, “said Dr. Briggs, “what I have to say as to Christ's statement that Isaiah was the author of the book that bears his name. I will swer thet by reading some extracts from the ‘Bible, the Church and the Reason.’” He said that it was the common opinion that David wrote the Psalter, but opinion was Zed as to who wrote the Pentateuch. But why Judge Jesus by the errors of the time? If we said that Jesus did not know that Moses wrote the Pentateuch, any more than he knew the time of his own advent. He denied that Jesus’ language misied anyone. It was unfair to judge Jesus by the ertors of his contemporaries. He da rebuke slavery, but he was not for that reason as the slave holders used_to say, a supporter of slavery. The book of Esther is not used because she wrote the book. The same may be said of Ruth. Tho Epistles of Hebrews speaks of David as writing the Psalms. There was no more reason for ing that Moses wrote the Pentateuch or the books that bear his name. Reverting to the subject of redemption after death Dr. Briggs said that he would ask Dr. Brown to read some extracts from his evidence so far as it related to his article “Redemption Aiter Death” in the Magazine of Christian Lit- erature. PROGRESSIVE SANTIFICATION. He spoke of progressive santification and combatted the idea thata man who leaves the world so imperfect as the best do should ina moment of time leap to this perfection of prac- tice. Some, be thought, who held the theory of immediate santification at death are not thinking of the santification set forth in the Scripture, but a merely negative santification, suck as consists in the absence of sin. This doctrine of progressive sanctification en- ables us to understand the doctrine of the uni- versal salvation of infants and incapables and it also relieves the doctrine of the salvation of some of the Desthon and of the heathen ae He spoke of the practical importance of t paseces filling > the middie state with an attractive industricus life. We see our babes growing in divine life. Death loses its terrors and becomes only a gateway into a better country, into a brighter and purer life. It incites to holy endeavors. There would have been no martyrs if the church had been built on the foundation of immediate sanctification. At half-past 3 Dr. Briggs inquired how much of his time remained. He was informed that he had still twenty-seven minutes. He then said that it would be nece to re- ply tosome statements made by Dr. Duffield. As he was proceeding the moderator inter- rupted and asked if the matters he proposed to discuss were in the record. Dr. Briggs said that they wore not. “Then, ’ replied the moderator. “if you remem- ber, the quotations made by Dr. Duftield were ordored to be stricken out and are not before this court.” Dr. Briggs said that he would not discuss them, and then proceeded to make his closing remarks, which were spoken extemporo. He asked the court to judge him fairly and justly, according to the evidence before them. His peroration was brief, but was delivered with a good deal of force. A brief recess was then taken, in order that the members of the court might rest from the long session. THE CLOSING ADDRESS FOR THE PROSECUTION. Col. MeCook then made the closing address for the prosecution. ‘The moderator stated that the time romain- ing of the present xession represented tho re- mainder of the allowance of time granted to the prosecution. If Col. McCook was allowed to speak without interuption, the arguments of the parties fin the case would be completed at the close of the present session. Col. McCook then took the floor and explained the form of the charges and specificatious. He said that in drawing them up an effort was made to meet the criticisms made by Dr. Briggs at the former trial. They had tried to “make them plain and as far as sible had used the words of the appellee in the charges and specifications. In this way the question of fact bad largely been elimi- nat Yet the appelice had said that while he admmitted the words he did not admit the {nets that the words convey. He characterized this as a quibble. Col. McCook then took up the charge that Dr. Briggs taught the atdeath. He quoted the words of the cate- chism which used the words “immediately after death.” He claimed that this doctrine, as an- nounced by Dr. Bricgs, was conirary to the standards of the church. He then said that the charges and specifica- tions were drawn in strict conformity with the ‘onstitution of the church, which they had worn to protect. He argued that that the words of the appellee were opposed to the standards and institutions of the church. The church in such a ease did not have to show that ita standards were right, but the do- fendant was called upon to show that his teachings were in accordance with such stand- ards. NOT A CRIMINAL CASE. He had always maintained that this was not # criminal trial, but one rather of a violation | of contract, Ifa man offending against a civil statue pleads guilty yet denies that the law is nota good one he said that sucha plea would not stand a minute in the civil court. He referred to the specifications of errors and said that they desired to make them briefer, but the lower court compelled them to go into this matter in detail. As to the doctrinal matters, Col. MeCook said that he would leave that phase of the case with lated to the non-tulfillment of Mes- cy. and that the processes of re- ‘tend to the world to come. Col. MeCook claimed that the argument made by br. Briggs against his taking the oath was ment in favor. He believed that [oath bed been administered then the diselaim- d have beer® more effective. He then touched upon the introduction of evidence in the record of the presbytery a: which the prosceuting committee |p He touched upon the allegations Brought against the “New York presb; He referred especially to Rev. Dr. Hastings, who as member of the board of directors of the Union Semivary had taken action to stand by Dr. Briggs after the board had examined the de- of rejadice which the prosecuting committee several members of doctrine that sanctification was not completed | fondant upon the charges, made. He though that Dr. Hastings could hardly be said to be. subsequent to this action, an unprejudiced member of the Presbytery when Dr. Briggs case came up for trial. He then went on to argue that if the words as uoted were admitted by the defendant, then the case was made up, and all that was left for the presbytery to do was to bring in a verdict of guilty. ‘The lower court, he said, was not called upon to express an optnt mas to the standards and constitutions of the church, but merely to ren- der a verdict on the facts before them. THE BRIGGS’ DOCTRINES. He then discussed the three fountains of Divine authority as stated in the inaugural ad- dress. He argued against the distinction made by Dr. Briggs based on the word ‘‘contained’ used in the catechism. Col. McCook claimed that it meant that the Bible was the Word of God and did not merely contain the Word of God. He touched briefly upon the doctrine of sanctification after death. He said that the only question was weather the doctrines of the inaugural address, which were the bi charges, were in harmony with the the church. In conclusion he said he placed this issue in the hands of the church. They laid down their work as they took it up with the only motive that the character of the doctrines in the address be determined. He said that he would not emer into questions of liberty and criticism. All they asked was a verdict on the issues brought before the church. He spoke of the distinguished authorities quoted by Dr. Briggs and said that there were in foreign universities men who advocated monarchy, but he did not feel called upon to give up ix ideas as an American or as a Presby- terian ingobedience to the dictates of foreign doctrinai' Col. McCook concluded his argument at twenty minutes before 4 o'clock. A motion to adjourn as a court until 7:45 this evening was adopted. A LEGISLATIVE SESSION. The assembly then went into legislative ses- sion. Rev. Dr. Graham presented a resolution recognizing the patriotic character of the day, which was commemorated today as national holiday. Some of the commissioners wanted to hold ial services, and one proposed that hymn be sung. The moderator said the hymn could be sung and recognized a delegate who protested that the rules governing the assembly did not per- mit them to pass such a resolution, as it did not relate to their business, The point of order was not sustained, and ‘then the assembly arose and sang “America” with an ample display of lung power which showed that their patriotic ardor not been dissipated in the Briggs caso. A PRAYER FOR THE PRESIDENT. ‘The moderator said his attention had been called to the fact that during the sessions of the assembly spocial prayer had not been of- fered for tho -Prosident of the United States. He then called on Prof. Brown to offer such a ayer. which was done in simple but striking nguage. This brought the brief patriotic service of the day to a close. Dr. Herrick Johnson was recognized and read a report on the work of Rev. Do Kerr, » medi- cal missionary at Centon, China, who wanted rmission to raise monoy to erect a hospital lum there. A resolution was recommended that the matter he referred to the board for them to exercie a wise d nn giving ther sanction and nasistance. No general canvass was to be permitted. Rev. Mr. Reed of the Canton presbytery spoke in behalf of the important work done by Dr. Kerr and he hoped the foreign board would give Dr. Kerr generous aid. Dr. Booth spoke of the importance of having some arrangement in time for these members of the New York presbytery who wished to speak this evening. Dr. Baker said he understood that only four wanted to speak for the Presbytery and six agninst. He stated that Dr. Roberts said that at the last meeting of the assembly the roll of the delegates for the presbytery of New York were called, and the speeches followed this order. Without determining the matter the assem- bly adjourned until this evening. a EPISCOPAL CONVENTION. ‘The One Hundred and Tenth Annu: ing of the Maryland Diocese, ‘The 110th annual convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the diocese of Maryland opened this morning at Emmanuel Charch, Bal- timore. ‘The clerical delegates to the convention are: Thomas G. Addeson, Wm. A. Alrich, John C. Anderson, John A. Aspinwall, Thos. 8. Bacon, Samuel R. Bailey, David Barr, Frank H. Bige- low, C. W. Bispham, George F. Bragg, jr., Wm. F. Brand, Wm. Brayshaw, James Briscoe, Lewis B. Browne, Joseph G. Bryant, James A. Buck, Clarence Buel, Wm. C. Butler, Charies E. Buck, H. P. Chapman, John W. Chesley, Thomas 8. Childs, James Chipchaee, James W. Clarke, George M. Clickner, W. A. Cosle, E. A. Col burn, H. C. E. Costelle, Steuart Crockett, Alex- ander Crummell, C. George Currie, Charles J. Curtis, F. W. Clampett, W. M. Dame, J. M. Dashicll, W. G. Davenport, G. F. Dudley, H. Page Dyer. J. A. Evans, J. H. Eccleston, Henry Edwards, John H. Elliott, Neilson Falls, Joseph Fletcher, Alex. Galt, Theo. C. Gambrall, J. G, Gantt, W. F. Gardner, Chas. Gauss, Frank M2 Gibson, Frederick Gibson, Julius E. Grammar, Charles C. Griffith, H. A. Grifith, W. P. Griggs, B. B. Griswold, C. A. Hensel, R. C. Hall, A. Hiliiken, Alfred Harding, Hall Harrison, Haverstick, E. T. Helfenstein, Jesse Higgins, F. W. Hilliard, J. 8. B. Hodges, Frederick Humphrey, George Howell, E. fH.’ Ingle, 0s- borne Ingle, A. 8. Johns, Thomas A. Johnstone, Joseph C. Jones, J. C. Coon, Wm. H. Laird. J. Ww. omen, E._ T. Lawrence, Geo. A. Leakin, J. H. Logie, DeWitt C. Loop, E. McGill, Ogle Marbury. David May, W. A. Mitch Dunean MeCulloh, J. M. E. McKee, It. H. McKim. A. De- Rosset Meares, F. J. C. Moruni, E. M. Mott, R. H. Murphy, John W. Nott, T. J. Packard, C.R. Page, Meet- Jas. J. Page, Robert H. Paine, W. P. Painter, T. E. Pattiron, J.B. Perry, A. ‘fT. Pindell, M. 1. Poffenberger, Jus. E.’ Poindexter, R. A. Poole, Arthur C. Poweib, W. W. H. Powers, T.W. Pun nett, J. B. Purcell, A. M. Mich, Arthur J. Rich, Laweon C. Rich, J. M. Sterret E. Smith, Hobart Smith, L. J.'Sothoron, Southgate, C. 8. Spencer, A. F. Steele, L Stokes, Geo. B. Stone. C.F. Sontag, A.'R. Stu- art, F.H. Stubbs, John M. Todd, A. M. Smith, ‘Thos. 0. Tongue, I. L. nell, M. H. Vaughn, V Wall, Geo. K.” Warner, Richard Whittingham, F. jams, Edward W. Wroth, Peregrine Wroth, ‘Thos. J. Wyatt, W. R. Webb, R. 8. W. Wood. The convention also embraces 126 lay dele- gates. — ARRESTED IN PITTSBURG, A Jockey for Stealing From His Employer at Benning. ‘Thomas Gallagher has two horses at the Ben- ning track. Ho brought them here from New York,and with him came Tom English, a jockey who was to ride one of the horses and cure for both animals. Early yesterday morning Tou asked his employer for 10 cents, saying he wanted a drink, and Gallagher handed over the dime. Just at that time he had occasion to leave the room and English followed him, Gallagher thought he was going out to get, the drink, but when he returned to the room a few minutes later bo discovered that £165 had been taken from beneath his pill phone message was sent to police he and soon afterward Mr. Gallagher det affair to Detective Carter and gave him a de- scription of English. Upon investigation the ofticer learned that a man answering the de- scription ot English had purchased a ticket and started for Chica ‘Telegrams were sent to Pittsburg and Chi- cago notifying the officers 10 arrest Englisi, and last night a telegram was reccived from Chief Roger O'Mera of Pittsburg stating that the man was under arrest in that city. Detect- ive Carter will probably go to Pittsburg to bring English back here on a charge of grand larceny. From Truth. “Last night an actor came on and said: ‘Mo | Lord, a womun is waiting without.’ ‘Without what?’ was the reply, and the audience howled.” “Pretty good; at whut theater did you hear that?” “I heard it at three different ones: by that time it got to be too late to go to the others.”* a They'll Be Safe. From Truth. First burglar—‘Here comes a policeman. How can we get rid of him?” Second burglar—“Let’s pretend to be fight- ing.” see A Mistake. From Puck. Mrs. H.Hunter—“I like the flat because it has #0 many nice closets in it.” Agent—“Great Scott, madam! Those are not closets—they are bed rooms.” RAPID-FIRE GUNS. The Final Program for a Series of Tests and Competitive Trials. The final program for a series of tests of rapid-fire guns for the use of the army has been arranged by the ordnance bureau of the War Department and the competitive trials will take place during next month. They will be conducted by a board of ordnance experts, and will be of great interest to the army, being the first trials of the kind in this country. They will be practical and thorough in order to de- termine the best all-around gun for the army. Among the guns to be tried are the Hotchkiss, the Drigzs-Shroeder gun and the Seabury gun. The Sponsel gun, which recently withstood severe tests at Indian Head, may also be given a tris ‘The tests will cover a series of firings of 1,500 rounds, under the numerous and varied cireum- stances necessary to fully develop the compara- tive merits of the guns. The number of parts of the breech mechanism in each, their strength, their simplicity and certainty of action is to be noted; also the ease, safety and certainty of ac- tion of the breech mechanism. Especiat atten- tion is to be paid to the action of the firing pin and extractor and the maximum outward posi- tion of the cartridge when it can be pushed home by the breech lock. It is proposed dur- ing the examination to fire fifty rounds from each gun. Five rounds from each gun are to be fired to determine the velocity; ten rounds are to be fired at each range of 1,000 yards, one mile and 3,000 yards, the same conditions of aiming being repeated at each round with the guns, respectively, and the same deviation de- termined. ‘To demonstrate the rapidity of the guns with accurucy ten aimed shots will be fired as rap- idly at the 1,000 yards and one mile targets as the guns can be loaded and discharged. ‘Ten aimed shots are also to be fired at targets in the sume line and ranges of 500 and 1,000 yards al- ternately; also, ten shots alternately ‘at about 500 vards range, placed seventy-five feet apart. While the guus are under fire the mechanism of each gun is to be exposed to a blast of tine dust in such a manner as to be well, uniforml; and equally covered with the dust, after whic twenty rounds are to be fired from each gun as rapidly as possible. To determine the press- ure of excessive charges each gun is to be fired with five charges, giving gradually increased pressures up to 45,000 pounds per square inch, Af such pressures are obtainable. The board, in its discretion, may make any number of additional tests as a result of cir- cumstances developed during the trials. ~ ALONG THE WHARV Many Items of Interest Picked Up About the Docks, A literary discovery was made in the river yesterday. The steam launch C. W. Ridley of Alexandria sighted a sack of mail abreast of Alexandria and just within the District line. The fact was reported to the hurbor police and the Joe Blackburn took the package on board. It contained a number of delivered letters ad- dressed to George W. Alberta of tae sixth auditor's office. The matter was neatly bound with rubber bands and had evidently not been in the water long. In the sack were several account books. ‘The police think that an at- tempt was made to destroy the letters and books by throwing them from a steamer, but that they failed to sink. They wore turned over to police headquarters. The accuracy of several steamboat men’s watches was called in question this morning. Capt. William E. Luckett of the Pentz, Capt Bell of the River Queen and Capt Hoss’ of the Charles Macalester backed the veracity of their timepieces, Agent Betts of the Marshall Hall and Mount Vernon Company telephoned to the observatory. Capt. Luckett was twenty-five minutes fast, Capt Bell was one-half hour siow 1d Capt. Ross discovered that his watch had stopped. here ism rumor to the effect that Capt. Leory, is to succeed Capt, Bell in the command of the River Queen. ‘Randall has retired from the cap- tainoy of the Pentz and Capt. W. E. Luckett has been given complete possession. He has hipped Capt. Frederick Posey. late of the steamer W. W. Coit, as Capt. Randall ilot. will henceforth be officially known as commo- dore. There is a project fu the air to have Mr. Patsy Mann deodorize his soap boiling busi- ness. It is thought that the matter will be brought to the attention of the Washington harbor of the Pilots and Masters’ Association and that a monster petition pre- sented to the proper authority condemning the place complained of as n nuisance. ‘The propeller John E. Tygert is up today. It is proposed to put a new schedule in operation on this route, but the Washington agents can- not name the date when it will be adopted and ut in force. The weekly of the Sue will e continued as at present, but the Tygert will emi-weekly trips, touching the whole river route, with especial reference to the lower Potomac landings. ‘There is a strong proba- bility that the Maryland and Virginia Company may attempt to give the people of Leonardtown and Breton’s bay ports what they claim they want, that is, better service with Washington. Commodore Bela’ Colgrove gave a private excursion to Marshall Hali and River View yesterday aboard his fast flying yacht, the Ella, The trip was replete with the neual picnic features, enndwiches, summer girls and c pagne. ‘One of the young ladies lost her hat in agust, and Capt. Raiily went over for 1t, while | the commodore bronght the Ella to. The Spary of Alexandria went down to Smith’s creek yesterday with an excursion e-laden schooner Bibber, from the Kennebee for the Independent IceCompany with 1,250 tons of last winter's ice, has been stopped at Alexandria and will discharge there. —— The President's Fishing Trip. President Cleveland, accompanied by L. Clark Davis of Philadelphia, left on the 5:40 train yesterday afternoon for Hog Island, Va.,to fish for drum and sca trout. Dr. Bryan of New York joined the party at Wilmington. The President is expected to remain until Saturday. dA cara Transfers of Real Estate. Deeds in fee have been filed as follows: M. Ashford et al. to J. M. Hall, lots 43 and 44, sq. 297; 21,900. Blanche Carter to W. T. Gill, 53, sq. 918; 2—. E. Cotterili to Esther L, Adozy, part sub A, sq. 275; &—. Adory to Ella ©. Cotteri'l, same property F.H. Nowell to Adelaide Saunders, part 179, P's sub Mt. Pieavant; @—. C. V. Trott to F. {. Finley, sub 131, 'sq. 585; $2,800. B. Walker to John H. Albertzart, subs £4 to 95, sq. 1034; $—. John H. Albertzart to H. 8. Wal- ters, same proj $—. W. J. Dudley to Mary A. Demonet, sub 6, #q. 8. of 562; 8—. L. A.Barr to R. E. L. Lewis, pt. 55, blk. 13, Le Droit Park: J. Massie to Nellie 5. Ward, lo’ : . to Brookland; $450. W. H. West to J. B.'MeCarthy, sub 52, 6q. 35, Georgetown; £3,200. E. A. Newman to A. Newman, pt. 3, C Mills’ ext: Lucy Holmes to M. M. Holland, 38, bik 7, 'T. & B.'s sub Mt. Plearant, &c. ; 8615, E. Stahl to D. H. Turner, sub 16, 0q. 793; $2,200. $2,041.80, rustee, sub es Colorsd Masons, Last evening there was a meeting of mem- bers of the colored Masonic orders held at the hall corner of 13! and E streets, at which the Masonic Building Association was organized. Officers were elected as follows: Dr. 8 R. | Watts, president; Henry Coleman, vice presi dent; L. C. Bailey, treasurer; R. H. Gleaves, financial secretary: W. H. Severson, recording cecretary, and C. H. Lemas, auditor. Trustees and board of directors were also elected. ee Wemen and the Fair. The women of the District at any rate will be well reprevented at the world’s fair, if all the to the credit of the city. Mrs. Mary Lockwood for the past few weeks nas been working bard 1n completing the arrangements for the publi- cation of the paper which will represent the ibrary in connection with this exhibit is to be | permanent, and will constitute a splendid mon- ument to the brains of the fair sex. ae Runaway in Hyattsville. White Edwin Baukhages was returning to his home in Hyattsville in his father’s dayton yes- terday afternoon the horse became frightened at an object in the road and, running away, ground, demolishing the Baukhages fortunately ‘y‘and the frightened animal was soon cazght. This makes the fifth runaway that has occurred in that village during the past week. Beachum, at one time master of the George | work done by Washington ladies can be placed | | board of Indy managers. Mrs, Lockwood ha lust returned to the city, and speaks enthi usticaliy of the exhibit to be made by the women. She is chairman of the committee whieh has charge of the exhibition of women’s | books and of women’s work on the press. ‘The A BUST OF JUSTICE MILLER Presented to the Garfield Memorial Hospital by His Daughter. Yesterday was the first anniversary of the dedication of the Miller wing of the Garfield Memorial Hospital and it was made the occasion of an interesting ceremony. A number of members of the board of directors and of the Ladies’ Aid Society of the hospital assembled in the reception room of the hospital in the afternoon and witnessed the presentation of a life-size bust of the Inte Justice Miller, the gift of his daughter, Mra. Patty Miller Stocking. Jus- tice Miller was one of the founders of Garfield Hospital and to his efforts was largely due the erection of the wing of the building which was finished a year ago and bears his name. ‘MRS. STOCKING'’S PRESENTATION. ‘The meeting yesterday was presided over by Mr. H. A. Willard and after the assembly was called to order Mrs. Stocking presented the bust, with some well-chosen remarks, during which she said: “Just a year ago today the building which bears his name was dedicated, avd today tbat building is occupied with souls and bodies to whom healing and comfort are being admin- istered by willing hands, sympathetic hearts and trained ekill. It comforts us in his loss to know that from the ashes of his funeral pile has ‘sprung @ monument so lofty, extending the sphere of a work so pure and noble, which he in connection with you helped to inaugurate. It comforts me unspeakably to be associated with those among whom he labored in a work 80 dear to him.” She then referred to hor absence in Europe when her father died, to the fact that the late Justice Miller successfully practiced modicine before he commenced the study of law, and spoke most affectionately of the many noble traits of character of her distinguished father, continu- ing as follows: “Into the life of this man came grave cares and responsibilities, public and private. to make him serious—came storms and clouds, trials and bereavements, to make him grave. ‘Time was too precious not to make him ae tient of shams and dilletante members of his profession, or workers in any field who wasted Precious hours of his own and of others. To you who know him I need not tell how all these traits combined to round out a grand chai acter—one combined of gentleness and gravity, of impatience of all that was shuffling or fal but of infinite patience for weakness or en- deavor; one whose predominant feature was a joyousness, a geniality in the presence of friends, in the gratitude he felt for all the great mercies and favors that Providence had crowed him with, “He bowed his head to meet a blow he could not avert, but when it had he lifted up lis face to the sunlight again. He believed in cultivating the ‘glad heart that makes a cheer- ful countonance.’ He was a philosopher that might have walked hand in hand with Socrates or Plato. If he is herein spirit today he would not have us yield to its painful memories, but woald have the thought of him, the sight of his imaged featuros give us cheer and courage for the work yet to be done here. “And now, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, and, Imay add, board of lady managers, if in what Thave said today of one so near to me I have been — into egotism it is your words, spoken and written, engrafted into your first yearly report after his death, that have led me into it, and it is on those expressions of yours and on your tender memory of him I count for indulgence. It is with the hope that this clay image of him as it stands in the hall of this hos- Pital in the years to come may be to you in ever so smalla degree the inspiration you say his living presence wasthat I leave my humble gift in your hands.” JUDGE M'CAMMON'S ACCEPTANCE. Judge Joseph J. McCammon, in behalf of the board of directors, accepted the bust and ac- knowledged the gift in the following words: On behalf of the directors of the Garfield Memorial Hospital, I accept the bust of your honored father. our late lamented pi lent, Mr. Justice Samuel F. Miller. The remem: brance of the good works of Judge Miller. as ‘were exemplified by his devotion to the welfare of the hospital, will remain as long as the insti- tution itself exists, At the beginning of the work of establishing the hospital, although there were many capable persons willing to carry out the laudable ends of the project, the strength of character, hu- mane feelings ‘and large experience in affairs combined in Judge Miller caused the choice to. fall ou him. He had been trained early in life, as is well known, in the profession of medicine, and it was then he became profoundly impressed witn the self-sacrifice of the physician, who had done so much, he was accustomed to say, for the amelioration of the condition of humanity. ‘The natural bent of his mind toward the law induced him. however, to finally adopt it as a profession, but zmid his great labors as a lawyer and judge, mindful of his past, he was ever responsive to the call of duty in connection with the oppressed, the suffering and the sick. His very presence, heroic in mold, and strong in churucter, inspired the best efforts of others, and, as a leader in the work of the hospital, he had the most devoted assistants, who believed in hisdeep interest, his unerring judgment, and, added to these, his perfect charity in its widest sense. Others have fittingly spoken of Judge Miller's fame as a jurist, whose genius bas illumined our coustitutional history, and will be especially conspicuous in judicial annals, To us he w the embodiment of wisdom, as applied to administrative affairs, and the friend of man- king. You, madam, have conferred an inestimable favor on the frends of the hospital by | gift, for, although his recent associates will ever in their hearts recall the noble hneaments: of their departed friend, the bust will kerve for those wwho come after as amemorial to the large philanthropy and great heartedness of Ju: iller. What more appropriate eulogy of could be pronounced than that “he was a good man and just.” THE MILLER WING. The new Milicr wing is a valuable addition to the hospital and provides almost luxurious ac- commodation for the sufferers who may need hospital attention. It is equipped with all the modern conveniences of a hospital and is ar- runged upon the highcet sanitary principles, ‘The two lower floors of this wing are free wards, long, wide rooms with rows of single Deds, and are well lighted and ventilated. The third floor is divided into eight rooms, provid- ing accommodations for patients who can pay for privacy and additional comforts. Each room has been furnished by contributions of ladies and the rooms bear the names of the patrons. Mrs, W. P. Kellogg. Mra. La Grois Woodward, Mra, Emma La Forge, Mra P. M. Stocking, Mra. ‘Tucker, Mrs, W. C. Hill and Mrs. Ford Thompson have furnished rooms and the cighth one has been taken by the Metro- | politan M. E. Church. (elise Ss ANOTHER FALL RIVER TRAGEDY. Bertha Manchester Found Murdered in Her Own Home. Fall River, Mase., is in a state of intense ex- citement due to the discovery of an atrocious murder, rivaling in many respects those of Mr. and Mrs. Borden. The victim was Miss Bertha Manchester, aged twenty-two years, Miss Manchester lived at a farm house four miles from the city hall. She was last seen alive about 7:30 o'clock yesterday morning, | when her father, Stephen Manchester, left for the city, accompanied by his son and hired boy, to deliver milk on his regular route. | _ About 3 o’elock yesterday afternoon they a rived home. Freddie, his twelve-year-old boy, ran ahead into the house to get something to ent. He opened the kitchen door and saw his murdered sister lying in a pool of blood on the j floor. Horan back to the barn and told his father, who immediately notitied the police. Ahasty examination was made by the ofi- cers of the house and its immediate surround- hings. A bloody ax was found ina wood pile | near the back fence. ‘The examination of the body disclosed horri- | ble conditions. ‘The young girl was lying close | to the foot of the stove. Her right leg was | drawn under the body, her clothes were par- tially drawn from her’ hips and her head and face were frighifully mutilated, | of the head and the top of the ekull was crushed toa jelly. There were several cuts on the face | and nose and two of the girl's teeth were found on the floor beside her. Her loose hair was | matted with blood and her arms and face were covered with it. ‘On searching the house the police found that the girl’ its contents. This leads the police to believe that the motive of the awful butchery was robbery. Although they have reached a theory as to the | motive of the murder they are all at sea regurd- ing the identity or whereabouts of the assassins, The horror created in the community is something dreadful, and it is considered certain that if the murderer is discovered he will be lynched. The body of the murdered girl has been removed from the house to an undertaker's room. The house hes been vacated for the present by order of the police authorities, ‘There were four long deep cuts on the back | bed room had been ritled of some of | THEY WANT REGULAR TROOPS. States Are Anxious to Have Them Encamp With the Militia, The abandonment of the proposed encamp- ment of regular troops at Chicago this summer because of the failure of the authorities of that city to provide suitable grounds has resulted in numerous applications to the War Department | for officers and soldiers to participate in the summer enampment of the National Guard in the different states. New Jersey and Wisconsin are early in the ficld. The former desires to have at Sea Girt this year the cavalry garrison | of Fort Myer, Va.,and the tatter desires the | third infantry at Fort Snelling to assist in the | coming state encampment at Camp Douglas. Gov. Russell of Massachusetts has also asked for the detail of Maj. M. P. Miller, fifth artillery, as inspector of the Massachusetts National Guard | encampment, Another proposition made to the department is that the artillery troops at Washington bar- racks and Fort “McHenry, Maryland, partici- pate in the reunion of the second army corps at Gettysburg during the summer, but this, like all the other propositions of a similar nature, has not been finally considered. NOT ALWAYS PRACTICABLE. Naturally it is sometimes impracticableorinex- pedient to have regulars in camp with the state troops, but whenever such arrangements can be made and are desired by the latter the War Department stands ready to forward the work of co-operation. The advantage secured in this respect is chiefly that of having an object lesson set before the citizen soldiers of the way that professionals are accustomed to perform field duty. In addition regular officers are often invited on such occasions to instruct or suggest or to supervise drills When the regulars and militia maneuver together the army officers get their full share of the benefit by having larger commands than they have been accustomed to. The advantages, indeed, are mutual in these joint encampment. Other states, instead of asking for regular troops, annually request the detail of one or more army officers to be present and ins} their camps. This year Massachusetts led off with such a request for her camp, which is to | be held at an unusualiy early date. ' The officer whose presence is asked is Maj. Miller of the fifth artillery, and if he can be spared from his duties at Fort Monroe he will be detailed. New York has for years had army officers at the Peckskil! encampment, and Inst summer it had there, including the President, the re- corder and a third member of the tactical board, so that it derived a great advantage in the practice of the new drill regulations. MANY PRECEDENTS. There are lots of precedents for the granting of the requests of the states in this matter. One suumer, for example, not only did the four companies of the nineteenth infantry encamp with the Michigan troops at Gognac Lake, but the entire ten companies of the second infantry from Fort Omaha were with the lowa National Guard throughout August at Cedar Rapids, Spirit Lake or Des Moiues. At Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania's encampment, a light battery of the third artillery went from Washington bar- racks, and another of the first from Fort Ham- ilton, with troops B of the fourth cavairy and B | of the sixtn from Fort Myor, and _ two compa- nies of the eleventh infantry from Madison bar- Tacks, near Sackett's Harbor. ‘That rame year acompany of the eleventh infantry went to the Vermont camp from Plattsburg barracks, the Texas militia had regulars of all three arms en- camping with them and the Fort Snelling gar- rison of the third infantry took part in the rifle practice at Camp Douglas in Wisconsin. THE The Engines Will Be Features in Them. ‘The most interesting features of the new gun- boats which are to be built this year are to be found in the engines, and while the plans do not present a radical departure from existing prac- tice, they nevertheless combine points which have heretofore been greatly desired in naval machinery without sacrificing any essential. ‘The greatest dificulty the naval engineers have had to contend with in running the large en- gines of war vessels 1s that they are very un- economical in cruising. The ain in the case of the new vessels bas been to reduce the coal consumption to a point approximating that which obtains in the best merchantmen without curtailing the ability of the vessel to make comparatively high speed in eases of emergency. Tosecure this end Chief Engineer Meiville has adopted quadruple expansion engmea for the new vessels. That means that they will have four cylinders for each engine and use the same steam over four times before condensing it and returning it to the boilers, None of the new naval ships have more than triple expan- sion engines except the little torpedo boat Cushing. For high speed all four of the eylin- ders will be used. the steam entering the ‘first ata pressure of 250 pounds. When slow and economical cruising is to be done one of the cylinders will, by means of a simple coupling, be thrown out of connection and the engines will run with three cylinders aia steam pres- sure of 150 poands, Two sets of bowlers will be used. one tubular to supply the high pres- sure and the other cylindrical to carry the low pressure, the steam fromthe latter by an ex- tension of new practice being delivered into the intermediate high pressure cylinder, unit- ing there with the exhaust steam from the first high pressure cylinder. Another new departure in the designs is the use in the evaporator of the water which has already becn used in the condenser, which is expecied to effect a considerable economy, as the water will have been previously raised thirty or forty degrees in temperature without ex- pense. The discharge water from the conden- sers will also be used to feed the boilers with fresh water if desired. The naval engineers say that never before in naval vessels has the attempt been made to sup ply steam direct from ey first receiver, but that it is really an extension of the practice, which hs proven sound, of ex- huusting steam trom auxiliaries into the re- ceivers. The difference is that in the gu boats the arrangement is thoroughly scientific and designed with due regard to economy. it is said to be impossible to state in advance just what economy at cruising speeds will be ob- tained, but there is reason to beiieve that it will be very great, and it should approach very nearly what is obtained in the case of mer- chantmen. In fact, it is expected that a horse power will be obtained from an expenditure of from 1.5 to 1.8 pounds of coal per hour. sea aa Sear To Escort the Caravels. In order to insure the safety of the Colum- bian caravels on their voyage from New York to the mouth of the St. Lawrence the Secretary of the Navy has directed that the cruisers Newark and Bennington accompany them that far on their journey to Chicago. No _uneasi- ness whatever is felt respecting the ability of the three Spanish ships to make the remainder of the trip without the least danger. The se- lection of the Newark and Bennington for this escort duty is specially fitting for the reason that those vessels had conveyed the caravels from Cadiz, Spain, which is the port from which they started on their voyage across the Atlantic over the route followed by their pro- totypes 400 years before. The arrangements for the present trip to Chicago were made by naval — = after —— with Capt. Fraguta Polan, commanding the caravel Santa Maria, —_-+e+____ Death of Mr. Robert Downing. Mr. Robert Downing, one of the best known citizens of this city, died suddenly Monday at his home, No. 802K street northwest, Mr. Down- ing was a yative of this city, having been born here February 12, 1826. He was a builder and contractor and had lived at Benning for some time, where his son, Robert Downing, the actor, now resides. Some time ago Mr. Down- ing suffered an attack of apoplexy and a second attack followed. While this alarmed his wife and children, the second atiack was so long ago that they believed he had fully recovered. Mr. Downing sold his country home to his son and had lived in the city fora while, but recently he thought he could get his much-needed exercise in the country, and so he purchased his old home from his son and had packed up his household effects preparatory to moving there this week. He was to have moved out Mond: but the rain prevented, and so he remained at his home on K street. “About 1 o'clock in the | day he was seated at the front window convers- ing with Mrs. Downing when suddenly his head fell forward and he would probably have fallen to the floor had not his wife caught him. A physician was called, but his services were of no avail, for death ensued in less than five minutes, | ilis funeral took place at 1 o'clock this after- noon from the Fourth Presbyterian Church on 9h street, Rev. Joseph pastor, officiat- ing. The pallbearers were Henry Hinke, Henry Jones. C.-T. Bowen, J. H. Bowen, William O'Donnell, Theodore Sheckells, Daniel J. Me- Carthy and J. H. McGill. ‘The ‘interment was made in Glenwood. The formal assignment of the embarrassed firm of Weaver, Goetz & Company of Chicago 7 SE EES ELECTRIC HEATING. A New Method in Germany Described in = Consular Report. Consul General Mason at Frankfort writes to the State Department of anew method of electric heating as follows: A discovery so original and so wide in its practical application that it is believed to open ® new and important chapter in the use of electricity for heating purposes has recently been announced fromBrussels and tested atBer- lin, The invention is the joint achievement of two Belgian scientists—Mra, Lagrange and and Hoho—who a few days ago applied to the imperial German patent office for patents on a new method of heating, melting and refining metals by means of electrical heat, The means, as designated in their claim, were so simple and the results as therein described so incrod- ible that the patent examiners demanded that before issuing the patent a practical demonstra- tion of the process should be made in their Presence. ‘The matter was referred to an em- inent and disinterested electrical expert in Berlin. who made the firstessays in his private laboratory and was so delighted with the result that he asked by telegraph permission of the inventors to repeat the demonstrations before the “electro-technical society at the German capital, Permission was readily granted, and the experiments were performed before a group of expert electricians with brilliant suc- cess. From the account given by one of the experts who was present at these domonstra- fions and from various other sources the fol- lowing report of the new been een Process has THE APPARATUS, ‘The apparatus consists of a glass or porcelain vase, which may be of any size conveniently adapted to the purpose, provided with a limng of lead, connected with a strong conductor of Positive electricity, The vase is filled to three- fourths its capacity with acidified water. A pair of iron tongs with inauiated handles is at- tached by a flexible conductor to the negative pole of an electrical current generated by an ordinary dynamo. With this simple and inex- pensive equipment the following phenomenon is produced: he electrical current having been switched on, a bar of wrought iron or other metal is taken up with the tongs and plunged into the Water within the vase. Immediately the water begins to boil at the point of contact; the im- mersed portion of the iron rises quickly toa red, then to a white heat, and emits a stream of brilliant white light’ In a few moments the heat becomes so intense that the iron melts and falls off in bubbies and sparks, leaving a clear. glowing surface in perfect condition for welding. The heating process has been so rapid that neither the water nor the end of the bar, held within the tongs, have been more than slightly warmed, and, the current being switched off, the bar, i end giowing, may be readil hand. If, instead of a bar of metal, a stick of carbon is used, the heat in a few minutes pro- duces detached fragments of amorphous car- bon. whic proves scientifically that a temper- ature of 4,000 degrees Celsius has been devel- oped. The rapidity of the heating and the limit of temperature to be reached are easily and accurately governed by the strength of the current employed. so thet the whole process is nder the absolute control of the operator. During the recent experiments at Berlin the asuring instruments registered a tension of 120 volts and sn energy of 220 amperes. It was estimated that fully 50 per cent of the current was directly utilized as heat, whereas the practical limit of such utility’ has not hitherto exceeded 20 per cent. It is stated by the inventors that by employing a still current a temperature of 8,000 degrees Celsius has beon developed. The mechanical import- ance of this fact will be apparent when. it is Temembered that this is a degree of heat nearly three times greater than that required to tract iron from the ores, the most refractory of which fuse at about 2,700 degrees. THE PROCESS, Divested of all merely technical p! and reduced to its simplest terms, the under consideration may be explained as fol- lows: One of the weil-known effects of elec tricity is to separate cumpoand fluid bodies through which it passes into their primiti elements, The current, passing through the | tongs and metallic bar into the water, decom- he latter into its two gaseous elements—+ exvgen an bydrogen. The oxygen is attracted, and gathered on the relatively large surf of the lead ining and produces no noticeable: effect. The hydrogen, on the other hand, gathers around the immersed portion of the bar. and. as this has a comparatively limited surface t is immediately surrounded with & close envelope or jacket of hydrogen, which, being a bad conductor of electricity, creates @ Powerful resistance to the passage of the cur- rent and thus develops the beat which causes the bar to glow and melt, It is merely an ap Plication of the weil-known law that friction’ or resistance to the passage of an electrical current causes heat, and the apparent paradox of ‘a piece of cold metal plunged inte cold Water rising rapidly to a melting glow is ag mply and clearly explained as the incandes, cence of a platinum coil in a vacuum bulb, It is as yet too early to form any definite timate of the practical range of this discovery or its commercial value. ‘Thus far it has been applied experimentally only to the welding of various metais, but with such success that 18 promises, in that special field, to inaugurate a complete revolution. Hitherto electrical energy transformed into heat has found but few successful applications in industry. For welding purposes it has been not only too ex- pensive for general adoption, but it has en- tailed certain technical defects which bave proven serious and difficult to overcome. As the temperatare of the electrical furnace bas been heretofore difficult to govern, the iron has often been overheated to the point of tial melting. This seriously affects its q as ity, n cooling the metal does not resume ite ginal fibrous texture, but becomes erystal- Line, with an important loss of tensile strei Another disadvantage has resulted from the fact that iron, when used for practical pur- Poses, is rarely or never entirely pure, but | contains more or less carbon. Steel’ and indrical boilers to the | Wrought iron contain less carbon than cast iron, and when heated in tho ordinary electri- cal furnace, where the hest is generated by the passage of the current between two carbon points, particles of loose carbon whith have been detached by the current combine with the, hot metal and convert it into something’ analogous to cast iron, DIFFICULTIES MASTERED, All these difficulties are apparently complete-| * ly mastered by the newly discovered process above described. For welding purposes it is pro- nounced perfect. The clean envelope of hydro- gen which surrounds the heated metal ¥ents oxidation. and the welding surface is left tree from the effects of sulphur and other im- purities, which are always present when iron is heated by acoal fire in an ordinary f The quality which entails the largest ties, aud which has been as yet only supertici- ally investigated, is the capacity of this process to heat quickly and to any desired rature the end or submerged face of ener iron while the remainder of the mass is left cooi and comparatively unaffected by the heat It is believed that this may lead to important re- sults in the hardening and tempering of armor plates and other objects in iron and soft steel in which great resistance to penetration or abra- sion by friction is requisite, while the interior tough and fibrous to resist concus- sion or strain, as in many parts of machinery. AtEasen Mesera, Krupp Sa scseuene: ing with it in the hardening of steel cannon; and it is believed that in chemistry this method of producing an intense and easily regulated temperature may lead to the successful manu- facture of diamonds, rubies and sapphires through the production of the larger forms of crystallized carbon. Whether it is applicable as an electrolytic asta ie the reduction metals seems to be sputed. One account claims that by it the cost of refining gold. platinum, copper, nickel and even iron will be reduced ty per cent, while otber authorities assert that, though me- tallic oxides may be successfully reauced by this method, no foreign stances contained in the metal will be eliminated by it. In any event, however, the discovery of the principle that has been already demonstrated must open a wido and interesting field of research to the electricians of all countries, coe The Chimney Swallow. From the Hartford Times. ‘They have come far to rear their broods in this northern clime; farther, perhaps, than al- most any of the birds now here, for they come from the sunshine of the far Central America and from the West Indies—regions which are part of the world’s kichen, always warmed by the kitchen fire—and these happy birds leave it for their chosen breeding places in the green | spring flelds of the far north on the borders of the world's refrigerator. Only they do not seck the green fields for their nesting; they build their queer nests in unused chimneys. All the joy, all the life of these remarkable birds is in the air and in flight. All their vital functions are performed “on the wing:” even the dead twigs of which their strangely built nests are constructed are snipped off from the tree without the slightest pause in their flight. ‘Their happy chirruping voices are heard in the pleasant evening twilight of May and June as they dash forward in their zigzagging flight in pursuit of the swarms of minute insects in the has been fied. Liabuilitic scheduled at $250,000 aud assets at $20,000. B air. In several respects the a veral respects they are peculiar HE MADE ALLOWANCES. And as Farmer Said the Forrows Might Have Been San-Warped. From the Boston Transcript. A certain eminent clergyman, who is greatly loved for his gentleness and forbearance with offenders, recently maid that an experience of his own, in years long gone by, taught him the grace of ready excusing. When he was a boy he was a very poor boy, but he had already @ strong theological bent, and was studying hard during the winter and working ev harder during the summer trying to get « preparation for college, He wanted to be a cher.and the fact that he didn't seem to be good for anything else tended to convince him that he had not mis- taken his calling. One spring be was entirely out of money and had to get out of school and g0 to work. Not being able to find anythi to do in the small coliege town where he had been studying, the youth—call him Richard Vernon—went out among the farmers to see if he couid got work from them, He founda man who was very busy with his spring's work and in a hurry to get the furrows ploughed in big field for potato planting. ‘The weather was favorable for planting; the farmer's bovs would be home from school the next day, which was Saturday, to do the drop- ping and covering. He told Richard that be might mark out the field with the plow for the planting, and if he suited he might be hired for two or three months. Meantime the farmer saw that the boy was very anxious to stay and that he had evidently a good disposi- tion. So the young theologian went to work with tremendous vigor. He did not stop to take breath until he had marked off a large tract of Ground with deep furrows. Then came his employer from his work in another part of the farm and looked at the boy's work. and leaned Bp against the fence and laughed until he 00k. The potato ficid had been scraped and scalloped all over with the ridiculously irregu- lar and wabbly little ditches which Richard bad turned. There was not a clean. straight furrow im the lot; the ground looked as if an insane eler phant had tossed up the earth; the furrows Were of all depths and at all distances from one another, for Richard had driven the horse most of the time at a smart walk, and he had been »200 much occupied in keeping up and maintaining a precarious grasp upon the plow handles to be able to pay anv attention ‘othe regularity or evenness of his work. Richard erpon — too, as he stood and looked over the field. He wiped the sweat from his brow and looked Very anxiously at his employer. There was ng chance for regular work there, that was evir dent. His laughter faded away and there was certain faint twitch in the corners of his mouth as the boy said: guess you don't want any more of my work, sir?” “Oh, yes—yes, I do,” said the farmer, “Maybe ‘taint your fault thet the furrows arg crooked. You see, the sun's pretty hot today, and I reckou the heat warped the: SHE'D BEEN TO A FUNERAL. How the Girl in the Blue Mackintosh Eor joyed the Occasion. From the Buffalo Express. ‘The girl with the blue mackintosh was site ting pensively in the corner of a Niagara street car late yesterday afternoon. At the squares girl with « puff-sleeved coat got on and the girl with the blue mackintosh welcomed hor effusively. “Where have you been?” asked the girl with , the | uffed sleeves. “To « funeral,” replied the girl with the blue mackintosh, didn’t know anybody was dead.” Nobody is. That is, mi who is anys body to us, but Charley and I went to a funeral just the came.” “Tell me,” said the girl with the puffed sleeves imperatively.g ley 3 with the blue mackintosh enuggled up to her companion and «aid: “You know, since papa found out that Charley only gew #10 a week he won't allow me to have anything more to do with him, but I don't futond jo give him up Just because papa says so. and I have been meeting each other afternoous fora month and taking lovely long walks om the side streets. 'e took a walk this afternoon, and we went on a lot of little streets over on the west side. We were strolling along by a house that had lot of carriages standing iu front,when caught sight of paps coming round the corner 4 ima buggy. He is awfully smart, you know, | and he didn’t propose to get caught, so he just pulled me into one of the carriages. and we sut there until papa got by. Before we thought # met fp ee ed fuperal = ho oe and some * up on =e ot ap carriage ‘e stayed in and were driven to the comme= tery and played as mourners, Then the man drove us back to town and we had a lowi time. It was ever so much better than ing, for he could put his arm around me and there wasn't any chance of any one 3 * { e85] what we said. I never had a nicer afternoon, “Whose funeral was it?” asked the girl im the puffed sleeves. “Oh,” said the girl with the blue mackin- tosh, “I haven't any idea, but st was perfectig lovely, and I'm awfully obliged to the corpse. ——-e-_—___ “Lc. © EARs, Katie Could Not Bearto Hear Her Mistress. Abused and Spoke Up. Howard, in New York Recorder. The other evening when the L cars were crowded with parties returning from the theaters, a young and very short Irish gil boarded the train at 23d street. It was impos- sible for her to reach « strap, and a gentiemea rose and gave ber a scat, t Presently the young woman became a forced and not an uninterested listener to the conver=: sation which he was carrying on with the { friend who stood beside him. They were discussing the merits and weaknesses of cer-~ tain friends of theirs, whom we will cali Me. and Mrs. D. Mr. D. was benevolent and ridi: fond of his wi Mrs. D. was she was rel the incident to her “Lniver knew before how bad vez are. Her mistress laughed heartily, when the: faithfal girl resumed: THgave thim apace av me moiniL. When Tost’ Save onli ony tongee “Here's yer seat, sor, I've lived with thim paple ye're a-talkin’ av iver since I ould counthree, and Til not sit abused.’ ” Moral: L seats have ears. How Parrots Shaped America's Destiny. From the St, Louis Globe-Democrat_ A flight of birds, coupled with a railor's sty, Perstition, robbed Columbus of the honor discovering the continent. It is a curious historical fact. When Columbus sailed ward over the unknown Atlantic he to reach Zipangu (Japan). After several days" sail from Gomera, one of the Canary Le became uneasy at not which, sccording to his reckoning, choulll bere} east. been 216 nautica! miles more to the was good of flock of birds when e1 upon a voyage of: discovery—a wider ‘superstition ‘Spanish seamen of that day -and this change! in the great navigator's course curiously © ‘emplifies the influence of #mall and trivial events in the world’s history. If Jumbus had held to his course he would he entered the gulf stream, have reached Fi and then probably have been carried to Cage’ Hatteras and Virginia, The result would peas ably have given the present United States a. Roman Catholic Spanish population instead of a Protestant English one, @ circumstance of - nee. Never,” wrete, ‘had the flight of birds more iga- portant consequences.” ao Agony From Dropping of Water. From the London Daily News, A curious experiment is said to have been made on Wednesday in a plxce of entertatn= ment iz Vienna, An American acrobat bettwil a Vienna athlete a considerable sum that be could not bear having a liter of water fall upon his hand, drop by drop, from a height of opi three feet. ‘athlete has an enormous band, and everybody present believed that the Amer? ican must lose bis bet. When 300 drops bad fallen, however, the athlete's face became red, and he looked as if in pain. At the four bun= in any longer, his hend_was' swollen and tee ‘one place the kin had broken mand showed the flesh. Only small pers ion of the liter had goue to make up te 4a