Evening Star Newspaper, November 3, 1894, Page 17

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1894-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. JAPAN’S PREMIER hie SBP eae A Talk With the Real Head of the Mikado’s Government. A GRAPHIC PEN SKETCH OF THE MAN The Reform Movement in Corea and Its Character. penne aee =? eee ABOUT JAPANESE FINANCES pic ataes (Copyrighted, 1894, by Frank 4. Carpenter.) HE NEW JAPA- ual nese parliament is \ now sitting at Hiro- shima, and Count Ito, the Japanese pre- mier, again has things all his own way. A year ago the members of both houses were more or less against the gov- ernment, and the em- peror had to per- emptorily dissolve the parliament last Spring. The whole country was in an un- settled state. Riots had broken out in many of the election precincts, and had it not been for the fact that the constitution of Japan provides that when a parliament is dissolve’ the budget of appropriations for the year before shall be continued in force without the act of parliament, the emperor would not have had the means to run his government. This was the condition when the war was declared. This solidified the people, and today they are, to a man, in fa- vor of almost everything that the adminis- tration proposes. All this was largely brought about by Count Ito, who is, per- haps, the brainiest man in the whole Japa- nese empire, and whose master mind is directing the war against China. He is the Li Hung Chang of Japan, and he ts the Power behind the throne which passes upon measures of state policy, and which, it is whispered, Is, to a large extent, the cause of the present war. Still, the world knows but little about him. He is modest and re- tiring by nature, and he prefers to do rather than to bluster or talk. It ts by no means easy for a foreigner to get access to him, and during his stay in Tokyo, when the war clouds were gathering over Asia, the doors to his palace were closed even more tightly. than usual. Still, my letters from the cabinet ministers at Washington, and a special introduction from the Japa- nese minister at our rational capital, gave mean appointment, and I had a chance to see something of him and to chat with him about the condition of the Japanese people. Count Ito’s Romantic Career. But first, let me tell you something about Ccunt Ito. His history reads like a romance, and it is closely associated with that of Count Inouye, who has just gone to Corea to preside over the introduction of western civilization into that land. The mest of the story of Count Ito’s life I got from himself, and other parts were told me by an English officer connected with the Japanese government, as we sat to- gether one night in the Roku Meikwan Club in Tokyo. It is wrapped up in the history of modern Japan, in which Ito and Inouye have been the chief actors. They came of good families, and their fathers were soldiers, and they expected to serve in the army of the Shoguns themselves. ‘This was in the days when the Tycoon or Sh governed the country. He had a swell establishment at Tokyo, and the Daimics and Samurai made up his army. ‘They swelled about the country with big swords at their sides, acting very much ike the “bad man of Bitter Creek,” and they considered other people as having no rights which they were bound to respect. In the meantime, the mikado was kept in- side the walls of his palace at Kioto, a sort of a sacred puppet, surrounded hy his wives and his servants. Commodore Perry had made his treaty, with gunboats to back him, and there were foreign and anti-for- eign parties in Japan. Among the anti- foreigners were Ito and Inouye. They thought that these pale-faced barbarians would ruin the country. They did not know much about them, but they understood they were at Yokohama, and they conspired to get up a party and go there and clean the foreigners from the face of Japan. Without letting their superiors and parents know it about 100 of them sneaked out one dark night end left Tokyo to go to Yokohama. They had gotten half way when they found them- selves surrounded by soldiers. They fought their way out and returned to Tokyo. They scon learned, however, that the killing of the foreigners at Yokohama would only be the beginning of a great war with them. They went to the seacoast and saw our warships, as they floated in the harbor beside their Japanese junks, and they saw that Japan could not successfully fight such things on the sea. Ito and Inouye were in the service of the Prince of hiu, who was the chief of the anti- foreign faction, and the question of how to get rid of the foreigners was discussed everywhere. At last, the two boys con- cluded that the only safety for the country was in ter having good ships and good guns, and they went to their prince and told him that they wanted to go to Eng- land with three other picked youths of their band. They said that they would there study English customs, would go into the gun works, and would master the great secret of naval supremacy, and bring it back to Japan. The Japanese could then build ships of their own, and they could put these guns over the country so that they could drive the hated foreigners away from their coasts. The prince was pleased with the idea, and he gave them $8,000 and arranged with the British consul to ship them to Shanghai, from whence they were to go on to England. A Midnight Eseape. Now, it was contrary to the commands of the Shogun for any Japanese to leave the country without permission, and they feared they would be detained, so they took a small boat one dark, rainy night, and were taken on a ship just about to depart for China. It took them some days to get to Shanghai, their money having been sent on, in the meantime, to one of the big English trading houses there, with orders to ship them to England. The orders were not very definite, and as Ito and Inouye could not speak English, the merchants misunder- stood them, and when they said over and over again the only two English words that they knew “Navigation” and “London,” the mevcrants thought they wanted to be- come sailors and go off to L n, and in- stead ot sending them to London as pas- senge vith instructions that they be sent to a gcod naval school, they were shipped as common sailors cn a sailing ship which went arcund the Cape of Gocd Hope. They had only a small amount of money with them, the rest having been sent on by draft, and this they spent during their voyage. Count Ito's Adventures in London. The English officer told me of their trou- bles in London. “The most of them,” sald he, “occurred on the day that they landed. And I venture the darkest day of Count Ito’s life was when he found himself wand2ring through the siums of the city without a cent in his pocket. The way it happened was this: The moment the vessel reached the docks, the officers and crew departed and left the two Japanese boys to take care of them- selves. They were dazed with the din and the sights and the confysion of the great city. In the center of millions of people, they krew not which way to turn, nor whither to go. The cook was gone, and the locker was shut, and there was not a bit of food to be had. They waited some time, ex- pecting that the merchants might send for them, but after a while they grew so hun- gry that they decided to go out and buy something to eat. They had three dollars left, but they did not know the value of money in England. They thought, however, that this would buy them some boiled rice end a gcod meal of raw fish. Taking a pa- with them, Count Inouye marked on it stam of the route as they went in or- der that they might find their way back to the ship, and after devious wanderings they came at last to a bakery. There were loaves of bread on the counter, and Ito, who was carrying the money. not knowing the price, leld down his three dollars and picked up a loaf. He had no idea now much it was worth, and he suppos2d that the baker would give him some change. The baker saw he was a foreigner and swept the whole of the three dollars into the till. The boys then started to go back to the ship, but Count Inouye found that he had lost the diagram. They walked the streets ef London for hon and t was dusk be- fore thoy pot to the wharves. They ate their bread, however, and the next day a messenger from the merchant to whom their meney was consigned came for them and took them ‘n charge. They used their time well. They spent some time in study- ing English manners and customs. They looked into the army and navy, and their bright minds soon grasped the fact that Japan could never make a successful strug- gle against such wealth, and such a mighty nation as that about them. ‘They considered it their duty to go back and tell the prince what they had iearned. Attempted Assassination of Count Inouye. “The two boys had some trouble in getting back to Japan, and they finally made their way into the presencé of their prince and told him their story. It was by no means well received, for he was fighting the for- eigners at the time, and his hatred of them was great. The soldiers were exceedingly angry at the suggestion that the foreigners were stronger than they and equally brave, and when Inouye left the castle one night he was set upon by a mob and slashed and hacked and left for dead by the roadside. He recovered consciousness and was able to crawl to his mother's house, and it was only by careful nursing that he was brought back to life, and he bears on his face today the scars of the wounds he re- ceived during that night. Shortly after this time the Shogun was put down, and the revolution was organized by which the mikado again became the real ruler of the people, and the western civilization gradu- ally worked its way in. In every move- ment toward modern progress both Ito and Inouye have been in the front, and it is due largely to them that Japan now stands shoulder to shoulder with any modern na- tion on the globe. Count Ito has long been the most influential and powerful of all the Japanese statesmen, and he is now pushing the civilization of which he got his first knowledge in this romantic way into the land of Corea, and there is no telling but that his ambition may be the eventual rev- olutionizing of China itself. He ts certain- ly a most remarkable man, and all the dip- lomats who have met him speak of his won- derful ability. He had an interview with Li Hang Chang not long ago, and during It Li changed his views of Japan, which he had thought up to that time was danger- ous to China, but Ito told him that Japan and China should be friends, and that it was to their interest to work together. I am told that Ito at this time really be- lieved this to be the case, but he has since evidently changed his opinion. A Talk With Count Ito. I arranged, strange to say, for my talk with Count Ito by telephone. Think of it! Telephones in the land of Japan. I called up his private secretary, and was told that the count had gotten my letter, and would receive me at 4 o'clock sharp that after- noon. In a jinriksha, with two men to haul me, I rode along the edge of the moats which surround the palace grounds, passed the new parliament buildings, and on up by the American legation, into what is now the most fashionable part of the Japanese capital. It is made up of modern buildings surrounded by large yards, so walled in that they look Itke the fashionable suburbs of a European capital. Count Ito’s house was a large one, of two stories, built of brick, with a great porte cochere running out above the front door. A Japanese but- ler, m brass buttons and European clothes, received my card, and showed me into a parlor as ‘arge as the blue room of the White House. It was furnished in foreign style, and was, to my eyes, not half so pretty as many of the pure Japanese Homes. I waited a moment, when a dark-faced, heavy man of perhaps fifty years entered the room. He had a long body, but rather short legs, and he was dressed in a frock coat of black and dark pantaloons, while his shoes were evidently imported from England. It was Count Ito. He is, I judge, about five feet six inches high, and he weighs about one hundred and sixty pounds. He 1s well formed and muscular. His eyes are a bright black, and not so almond in shape as the average Japanese type. His forehead is high, his nose rather thick, and his mouth, which shows through rather thin mustache and whiskers of black, is strong and yet pleasing. He shook my hand in American fashion, and ad- dressed me in English, He chatted with me about the growth of Japan, and he told me that he thought the country was just on the edge of its development, and that it had a great future. He referred to the Japanese troops which he was then sending into Corea, and when I asked him as to whether he thought that there might be a war between Japan and China, he shrug- ged his shoulders, and said: “Who can tell? We are sending our soldiers to Corea to take care of our people, and if the Coreans should ask us to help them put down the rebellion, we might possibly consent. There is one thing that is certain, and that is that if our soldiers are attacked they will fight, and, it is now, China has already been the aggressor. But, you know, I can hardly talk on this subject just now. The situation is critical, and no one can tell whether there will be war or not.” Did Ito Plan the Wart This was three weeks-before the war was declared, and there is no doubt but that Count Ito at that time had all his plans laid, and he gave me to understand during the interview that it would take very little provocation to bring his men into battle. A few days later the Japanese transports were carrying thousands of troops into Corea, and the condition of the Japanese army ‘shows that Japan had long had war in sight. The military department was so th ughly organized that 100,000 troops were shipped out of the country without creating more than a ripple upon the wa- ters of the social and business life of the Japanese empire, and the troops which were sent to Corea were thoroughly equipped,both for fighting and for reforming the country. ‘They carried telephonic and telegraphic ma- terial, and while the Chinese tried to live off of the people, they carried all of their own provisions and took coolies with them by the thousand to aid them in transport- ing their baggage. In connection with Count Ito and the different parties of the Japanese empire, it is curious to state that both the administration and the opposition parties delegated men to go along to report on the actual occurrences in order that they might use the same as political capital, and all of the newspapers sent corps of re- porters. A few days after my interview, however, Count Ito made the censorship of the press even more rigid than it had been im the past, and the papers were warned that any comments upon or news of the war which might be published without first going through the hands of the censors would subject the paper to immediate sus- pension, and its editors to fines and impris- onment. This has been the policy of Count Ite throughout the struggle, and the little talk that I had with him ts probably the last that will be given to any newspaper man until the war closes. I have received letters from Japan within the past few days, saying that no news whatever is given out to correspondents, and that It is almost impossible to get anything authentic regarding the war. The Japanese outside of Count Ito and his confidential officials know practically nothing, and as for the Chinese, they systematically Me in regard to such matters as reports of their battles. Japan's Industrial Development. During my conversation with Count Ito the question of Japan's industrial develop- ment came up, and he spoke of the growth of Osaka an+ of its cotton mills. He said that most foreigners in estimating Japan’s Possibilities forgot to put in the women, who are equal with the men in almost all manufactures, and who practically double the working force of the Japanese nation. They do @ great deal of work in the cotton mills and they have a hand in the making of nearly everything that is shipped to America. As to cotton, Count Ito told me that Japan had thirty years ago about 5,000 spirdles at work, and that this number had risen in 1883 to over 40,000. Within five years from that it had doubled, having then 58,000 spindles. This was in 1888, and there were twenty-four mills then at work. Four years later the spindles numbered 400,000, and there are now forty-six great modern mills, with 600,000 spindles, It is impossible to estimate the growth of Japan's modern manufactures, and the greater part of her cotton now comes from America, though much of it first goes to London, and is thence shipped to Japan. During the talk Count Ito referred very kindly to the Uni- ted States, saying that he had spent some in Washington looking into our mone- system, and that he had been awarded ry facility by the Treasury Department. the financial situation in Japan, telling me that the country was in splendid condition, notwithstanding the fall in silver. and he referred with satisfaction to the prospect of the treaties being revised within a very short time. Since then Eng- land has made a new treaty with Japan, and it is probable that the other countries will follow within a short time. Japan every day rises higher and higher among the ranks of the nations, and the day has passed when she could be considered any- thing else than the equal of any of the countries of Europe. —— ae TRAVELING INCOGNITO. Not Many Sovereigns Take Nightly Rambies Among Their Subjects. From Youth's Companion. The example of the Caliph Haroun al Raschid, who used to go nightly in dis- guise among his people in order to see how the laws were being enforced, is not often followed by modern European sovereigns. Photography has made the features of mon- archs so familiar to the people that a dis- guise 1s practically impossible; and, more- over, assassins lurk at every corner. Nevertheless, there are heads of state, even in Europe, who go about unattended. The Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria, who is probably as little in danger of assas- sination as any potentate in Europe, is one of these. Another is M. Casimir-Perier, president of the French republic, who has not, since his election, given up his practice of walk- ing alone on the boulevards in the midst of his Parislans. During the recent summer, Just befsre the president’s departure for his chateau in the country at Pont Sur Seine, a plain-looking ian, with a parcel wrapped in. a news- paper, cime into a toy shop on one of the boulevards and began to undo his package. “Mademoiselle,” he said to a young wo- man at the counter, “I have here a little phonographic doll which has been slightly crushed in. n it be repaired?” The girl looked at it. “Certainly, sald. d can it be sent to me in the coun- sir,” try “Yes, sir, “Monsieur Seine, Aube.” The girl at the counter, who did not dream that she was dealing with the pres!- dent of the republic, was so much over- come that she fainted on the spot. The proprietor and others came rushing up, and the unfortunate president for the moment wished that he were @ little more obscure. The King of Italy sometimes makes sim- lar excursions in Rome. On one of these he was heavily run into by an intoxicated man, who, however, immediately recognized the king, and fell upon his knees, half- sohered and stammering excuses. The king, instead of having the drunkard arrested, did what he could for him, think- ing, possibly, to turn him from his evil habits. What is the address?” Casimir-Perier, Pont Sur —-0ee- AG FOR FOOT BALL. TRA Best Way to Condition the Big Fel- lows for the Rush Line. From Outing. ‘There is always a cry for heavy men for the rush line, particularly in and near the center. These big fellows, with their al- dermanie proportions and over two hundred pounds, are generally used up very soon in attempting to do as much as men who begin in fairly good condition. If they are to be of velue in the big games they must be han- dled with great care. While they must work hard to get rid of their fat they should not be put in the line every day. They should be played’ but part of the time every day—tive minutes one day, ten another, back to five the next, and so on, gradually increasing the time as condition improves. Big men out of condition have to carry from ten to twenty-five, and possibly more, pounds of useless weight. Their muscles are being just as much overtaxed and n.ore liable to injury. They will, of course, need work other than that they get during their short time in the daily practice to bring them down to proper weight. This work should be mainly running, not several miles on a stretch, or even one mile, but short spurts of about fifty yards, followed by walks of bout the same distance. The rate of speed in the run should not be a man’s best, yet it should be much faster than a long distance gait. The walk be- tween the runs gives the muscles a chance to rest, allows the exercise to be kept up longer, thus increasing perspiration and re- duction of weight. It also tends to develop speed, which the long, slow run does not, and it is nearer like the work in football, with its sudden rushes and its correspond- ing rests between. While it is tiring, there is not the danger of sprains, which are al- ways double with heavy men early in the season. As the special object with these men is to get off weight, and as the ma- jority of the young fellows eat from one- quarter to one-third more than they need, it would be well to eat less, not paying so much attention to the quality as the quan- tity. This can be done without loss of strength, and is a great help in reducing. I have seen big men, who might have been of value, played so long each day that they were of no use when needed. coe THE COCKROACH NUISANCE, An Ingenious Device for Ri House of These Pest The cockroach is one of the torments of the housewife, for which there seems to be no permanent cure. They are like ants. You may rid yourself of them for a time, but back they come as soon as you have ceased to be vigilant. The cockroach hides itself In the daytime, and comes out only at night. It will not come then if there is a light in the room, for it detests light. About the best way to get rid of them is to have for each room infected a large tin pan, smooth and shining and with high sides. In the bottom of this pan put some bits of cake or pie, or smear the bottom with mo- lasses, Set it where the roaches are most troublesome and lay a bit of lath from the table or floor to the edge of the pan. The roaches are fond of sweets, and they will run up the lath to the pan, into which they tumble, and are then unable to climb up the smooth sides. When you rise in the morning cremate the catch, and keep it up till none are left. Be sure the sides of the pan are perpendicular and deep, for they can climb a short distance. Old lard cans are excellent for this purpose, ant old tin buckets, but they must not be rusty, as the roaches can then climb up and get away. Several women have cleared their houses of roaches in this way. It takes.time and pa- tience, but when you are once rid of them you can keep rid by this method. soe Shooting Sturs. From the New York Telegram. Almost every one has noticed on some clear night the shooting of a luminous body across some part of the heavens, the path being generally indicated by a light streak. There is probably never a night when there is neither moonlight nor clouds that such a phenomenon may not be seen, but there are many persons that have no idea what these shooting stars really are. The real stars are off in space at distances so in- conceivably vast that no mind can grasp the billions of miles that separate the nearest ones from our earth. They have no such trains of light, and, however swift may be their flight, from where they are they could not cover the degrees of space on the celestial concave that are covered by these momentary torches that the gen- eral mind considers aa flying stars. From the very best information possessed this phenomenon must be attributed to bodies entering the atmosphere. While there is within the controlling energy of the sun a system of spheres known as the planets, and while these planets have also in some cases attending satellites, all of which exhibit a recognized periodicity of move- ment, there evidently fields made up of myriads of small bodies that do not come within any kind of telescopic sight and which circulate in zones or orbits around the sun. Some of these zones intersect the elliptic path of the earth’s orbit and thus, coming within the terrestrial tnfluence, hurl themselves into the earth's atmosphere. It is these generally very small bodies that make what we popularly call shooting stars, and those we generally see are stragglers disconnected from the main body or in its remote outskirts. It is the friction that these bodies encounter when they impact themselves into the atmospheric envelope, which thus serves as a bomb-proof and that generates the heat that consumes them. There are two periods in every year when the chances are much in to observe these so-called stars. These periods are about August 18 and November 13. OFFICIAL ‘SYMPATHY International Condolences on the Occasion, of 4 Royal Death. INFORMED Of THE CUAR'S DECEASE t Announceménts jof One Nation to Another of Marriages and Deaths. £ SOME ODD LETTERS Written for The Evening Star. HE DEATH OF THE czar and the mar- Tlage of the czaro- vitch will necessari- ly be the occasion of certain communtica- tions of announce- ment, condolence and congratulation be- tween the govern- ments of Rnssia and the United States. Such letters are al- ways exchanged be- tween the powers when rulers or members of their tmmediate families pass away, or when a birth or wedding occurs in a reigning household. If President Cleveland should die, the event would be made the subject of correspon- dence with the various nations in the world. His marriage and the birth of little Esther were not thus reported, though both of these happenings took place at the White House, because such is not the usage of the United States. The Department of State receives about twenty-five of these “ceremonial letters,” as they are called, every year. As is shown by their quaint forms of speech, they are a sort of survival of antique diplomatic eti- quette. Diplomacy, like religion, does not readily change its established forms, and today its laws embrace ever so many ar- chaic usages which involve an immense ex- penditure of red tape. The letters described are invariably signed with the actual auto- graph of the monarch or other head of gov- ernment. Those of royalties always begin pale en assertion of their divine right to rule. For example, a letter from her British majesty commences: Victoria, by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India, ete., etc., etc.” It is only Humbert of Italy who is king “bj the grace of God and the will of the nation.” The words We, Us, Our and Your are re- quired to be written with capital letters. King Humbert writes: “The Queen and We have received with satisfaction, etc.” A re- cent letter from the King of Corea is in the shape of a large thin book bound in crimson silk and fastened together at the back with blue silk cord. , Sorrow in Official Phrase. Before very lng a‘letter announcing the death of the czer will be received at the Department of, State in Washington. It will be signed by his successor and will read as follows: ” ‘ “We, Nicolas, Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias,-of Moscow, Kiow, Vladimir, Novgorod, Czan‘of Casan, Czar of Astra- khan, Czar of Siberia, Czar of the Cherson ese, Czar of Géorgia, Lord of Plescow and Grand Duke of olensk, Lithuania, Vo- lynia, Podolla and of Finland, Duke of Li- vonia, of Courland ahd Semigalle, of Bialo- stock, Perm, Viatka and other provinces, Lord ‘and Grand Duke of Lower Novgorod, of Czernigo, Polotsk, Rostow, Iaroslaw, Be- lovsersk, Oudors ‘Obdor and Witepsk, Ruler of all the country of the North, Lord of Ar- menia, Hereditary’ Prince and Sovereign of the Princes of ircassia.and other Princes of the Highlands, Lord of Turkestan, ete., hl thus identified himself fully and satisfactorily, he will go on to say: “It has seemed good to the All Powerful to chasten ovr Imperial House with a pro- found grief. Our beloved father, His Ma- jesty Alexander III, Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias, died on such and such a date after a long and painful illness, In in- forming You of this sad event, We are per- suaded that You will sincerely sympathize with Us for the cruel loss We have sus- tained. We pray God that He will keep You and the United States of America in His holy keeping.” ‘This letter, of course, will be addressed to the President of the United States. It will not be sent directly to Mr. Cleveland, nor, in fact, will he ever see it. It will be for- warded by the foreign office at St. Peters- burg to Prince Cantacuzene, the Russian minister in this city. The original docu- ment, signed by Nicholas himself, will be in the Russian language, but a copy in French will accompany it. Both of these will be delivered by Prince Cantacuzene to Secretary Gresham. Mr. Cleveland's Condolence. This, however, will not be the first official notification of the death of the czar received from Russia by the United States. When the sad event occurred our minister at St. Petersburg immediately notified the De- partment of State by telegraph. Secretary Gresham then telegraphed a reply, re- questing our diplomatic representative to convey to the bereaved imperial family as- surances of Mr, Cleveland's sympathy. Our minister will write a note to the for- eign office at St. Petersburg, saying that the President of the United States has learned, with profound regret, ete., ete., and desires to express to the imperial family his sympathy, and so forth. The formal letters on the subject are ex- changed later. They are absolute formulae,the wording scarcely varying atall. Mr. Cleve- land’s reply is written at the Department of State by an expert in chirography,whose pen- manship resembles copperplate ' engraving. It is indited on a special kind of paper, big- ger than foolscap, of the finest quality and with gilt edges. ‘The letter is sent over to the White House by a messenger, to be signed by the President, after which it is brought back and a copy of it is made. ‘The original letter, signedeby the President and countersigned by the Secretary of State, is sealed with the great seal of the United States. It is inclosed, together with the copy, in a second envelope, which is for- warded by the mail to our minister at the foreign capital. The minister is di- rected to transmit the copy to the foreign office at St. Petersburg and to deliver the original to the new emperor “in such fash- ion as may be most agreeable.” As a mat- ter of fact, for the sake of greatest con- venience, both :copies are placed in the hands of the minister’for foreign affairs. A Royal Baby's Advent. Births and marriages in reigning families are not reported by telegraph. Letters of announcement om sueh subjects are sent to the various powérs. Perhaps it may be permitted to look so far ahead as the birth of an heir to the young Czar Nicolas... Notice of the event will be addressed to the President of the United States iri th¢ same fashion as al- ready described,” saying: “We, Nicolas, ‘etc., “with a page of titles, have the pleasure of announcing that her imperial majesty, the Empress of all the Russias, was happily delivered of a_son on October 7 last at St. Petersburg. Feel- ing assured, etc.” The President will.. reply: have recelyed your letter announcing the birth of a son to your imperial house. I cordially participate in the pleasure which this happy event has afforded to your majesty and your majesty’s imperial fam- ily. May God have you in His wise keep- ing. Your good friend, etc.”” Ceremonial letters invariably begin with the words, “Great and Good Friend,” wind- ing up with the words, “Your Good Friend.” Such missives are sent out usual- ly by newly chosen presidents of repub- lies, announcing their election. This is the practice of the republics of South Cen- tral America and of France. It is not fol- lowed by the United States. Only the other day a communication of this sort was re- ceived from Casimir-Perier. Mr. Cleveland replied: “T have read your letter announcing your election to the high office of president of the republic of France, I cordially recipro- cate the sentiments which you essed: for the continuance of those rela- tions which have hitherto existed between the United States and France, and I am glad of the opportunity to assure you of my best wishes for your personal pros- perity.” Great Seal of the United States, Every nation writes its ceremonial letters in its own language. The Corean docu- ments in crimson silk, already described,are composed of Chinese characters scattered over many pages in quaint fashion. The mest extraordinary hen tracks are the Per cten, which are so elaborate as to afford an epportunity for decorative effects in chirog- raphy, such as are scarcely possible with any other Russia, Norway, Sweden, China Japan furnish coples of their letters in French. Corea sends a copy in English always. The great seal of the United States for affixing to such letters is not made in wax, It is simply stamped on a circular piece of paper, so as to form a sort of embossed design. This paper disk is then attached with mucilage so as to hold the flap of the envelope. It is about two and a hal: inches in diameter. At the Department o! State the utmost care is taken to prevent anybody from obtaining an impression of the great seal, which would be worth a good deal of money from the point of view of collectors. Most other nations use sim- ilar impressions for their seals on communt- cations of this kind. The Persian seal, however, is in bronze, with a gold crown. The addresses on envelopes from Turkey are dusted while the ink is wet with bronze powder, so as to make the writing look like gold. The seals are commonly pro- tected in transit with a piece of tissue paper, to preserve the design. Siam has the oddest seal, with a white elephant and @ pagoda. The most recent ceremonial letters re- ceived from the queen regent of the king- dom of Pays-Bas are on paper, with a wide margin of black, the lady being in mourning. Pays-Bas is French for Neth- erlands, of course. The most remarkable royal signature is that of Emperor William of Germany. It is on a huge scale, thoroughly expressing the spirit of the great I am of the father- land. The most beautiful chirography ap- pears in the letters from South American republics. Often it is so exquisite that a glass is needed to distinguish the fact that it is not engraving. ‘Ihe Mnglish and Ger- man writing is comparatively poor and coarse, though very legible. —_—_—— GREATER NEW YORK. The Question That the Voters Wil Decide This Month. From the New York Herald, Voters within an area of 817 square miles of territory, including New York and its environs, will record on this coming election day their opinion as to the desirability of uniting in one vast city. This is all that the vote for or against consolidation signifies. The verdict of the election ts not final. It is merely to deter- mine the will of the people. The ballot cast in places other than New York will be tak- en as an expression of the citizens for or against the consolidation of that commu- nity with New York. Ballots cast in this city will be taken as an expression for or against the consolidation of the entire ter- ritory. Included within the area of 317 square miles are nearly twenty communities. The number was exactly twenty, excluding Ja- maica Bay, when the municipal consolida- tion inquiry commission was established in 1890. Since then the number has been de- creased by the union of Flatbush, Grave- send and New Utrecht with Brooklyn. In 1892 the population of this area was nearly 3,000,000, It is more than that today. What Greater New York Means. The communities interested, with their area and population, according to the state census of 1892, are: Square Popula- City_or Town. Miles. tlon. New York 38.85 1,801,739 7,163 625 stleton. Middletown. Northfield. Southfield. 35,745, 10,776 317.77 2,974,986 he legislature to permit the voters of these communities to record their opinion on consolidation, per- mission was granted to the citizens of Mount Vernon te do the same. And so at the coming election the residents of that pretty little city will vote on their own be- half, whether or not to come into Greater, New York, if that be an accomplished fact. Aun Expression of Opinion Wanted. While the popular verdict of November 6 will have no binding effect on the legisla- ture, it will naturally have an important in- fluence on the action of that body. In either event, the legislature will be free to act as it sees fit, but it is scarcely possible it would stand out against the people should they pronounce in favor of Greater New York. If the vote should be in favor of welding the communities together, and the iegisla- ture should reach a similar cenclusion, that body would then have to frame a new char- ter for the new municipality, protecting the inalienable rights granted under ancient charters. One system of government for all the cities and towns embraced in the con- solidation would have to be framed, and a vast amount of work would have to be done. A city of 317 square miles, including five counties, is neither unprecedentedly large nor would its formation be incongruous. Greater London, the London of commerce, has an area included within the netropoli- tan and city of London police district of 640 square miles, and embraces the counties of Middlesex, Essex, Surrey and Kent. The population of Greater New York would be approximately 3,000,000, London tn 1891 had 4,231,431, and Paris today has at least 2,447,957. coo ——__—_ Porterhouse and Tenderloin. From the New York Advertiser. A carcass of beef is cut into nineteen pieces, All the pieces and the names are in the dictionary. Look at the list and you will find the names “tenderloin” and “por- terhoute”—two names that the inexperienc- ed buyer has always on his lips. The por- terhouse is a delusion and a snare in a vast majority of cases. The tenderloin is the thick part of the sirloin after a few round bone steaks have been cut off, and is called the fillet de boeuf. It makes a choice piece for rcasting, but it not sold in a lump is cut into sirloin steaks of three grades. ‘The first and second grades are technically “hip sirloin steak” and “flat bone sirloin steak.” These are the steaks that the young housewife pays extra for. There aro not over six of each kind in one carcass, so the chances are that she pays her good morey for a third cut, or “round bone sir- loin,” which is in itself a capital steak. orterhouse steaks are cut from the small end sirloin steak, and one carcass contains but a few of them. Ingenious butchers un- derstand the knack of cutting the small end sirloin so as to include other portions of the beef, thus enabling them to sell both at porterhouse prices. Good beef has a juicy or sappy appear- ance, with a fine, smooth grain, which is easily noticed. The fat, both outside and through the muscles, presents a clear, straw-colored appearance. The flesh should be cherry red. When the meat rises quick- ly after being pressed it may be considered prime. When the dent made by pressing rises slowly or not at all, depend upon it the beef is poor. see —_-—_ ‘Two Yearly Newspapers. From the New York Times, ‘What would you think of a yearly news- paper—one that is only printed once through the twelvemonth? There are at least two such tn the world, and there may be more. One is called the Eskimo Bulletin. It is issued every year at Prince of Wales’ Cape, Bering Straits, on the arrival at that iso- lated place of the yearly steamer. This brings news from the outer world, and the paper then has something to print besides its local news, that everybody kno’ at any rate. The other paper is prin’ ia Paris, and it comes out once a year now, just to preserve its name, The Twentieth NEW PUBLICATIONS. agro Hepresentative in Congress from the Old Dominion—John Mercer Langston, Mlustrated. Hartford, Conn.; American Publishing Com- pany. Washington: E. B. Cooper. It would be impossible for any reasoning being to read Mr. Langston’s autobiography without being deeply impressed, for in the recital of facts is unimpeachable evidence as to the possibilities that are in waiting for the right kind of a man to come along and improve them. Few men have made more of the opportunities they found or created than did John M. Langston, and al- though he had less to contend with in his boyhood days than stood in the pathway of others of his race who achieved greatness and leadership, he nevertheless came up through great tribulation to educational and official altitude that must more than repry him for the sufferings which darkened so many of his earlier days. Critics of the too-exacting sort may not be pleased at the exultant note that sounds through the vol- ume from title to “finis,”” but he who reads “with the spirit and with the understand- ing” will see how dark and stormy was the way, and will not wonder at the expressions of pride which are reiterated; the victory was of such magnitude that the victor should be pardoned for giving vent to the language of unconfined approbation; an ai tobiography withcut appearance of self-es- teem would be tame. .With Mr. Langston’s career during and since the war of <he re- bellion @ greai many residents of Washing- ton are familiar. He was deeply interested in the workings of the freedman’s bureau, active as to Howard University (especially as to the law department, of which he was the first dean); earnest in attending to his duties as a member of the District poard of health; an efficient minister to Haiti; a learned and accomplished educator and a Congressman and politician of no mean de- gree. The volume in which these and many other things receive mention abounds in detail often quite minute—evidence, though, of the thoroughness which is one of Mr. Langston’s prominent characteristics. CITY GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED STATES, By Alfred R. Conkilng, formerly Alderman of the City of New York ‘and Member of the As- sembly of the State of New York. New York: D. Appleton & Co. With the motto of the People’s Municipal League of New York—‘Municipal Govern- ment is Business, Not Politics”—as a text, Mr. Conkling proceeds to discuss lucidly and forcibly a topic to which more of at- tention is now being directed than has been the case heretofore. The varied forms of corruption that are too common in Ameri- can cities are uncovered fearlessly and comparisons are instituted with the cities of Europe that are more severe than they would have been were the critic a for- eigner. Washington is declared to be in some respects the best-governed munici- pality, but the un-American form of control does not seem to be regarded favorably by Mr. Conkling. He says of the national capital, however, that it, “with its cleaa and spacious streets, plentiful parks and fine public buildings, reminds the traveler of European capitals rather than of an American city.” Some of the local statistics quoted are a trifie ancient, and manifest in- justice is done Alexander R. Shepherd in the reference made to the wonderful work done by the city’s savior and best friend, but with these exceptions the book seems to be accurate and up to date. The closing sentences of the volume deserve all the publicity that can be given them. “Great cities,” says Mr. Conkling, “are the dan- ger points of our national life, and hence municipal government is best worthy of the careful thought of our citizens. Un- derneath all remedies that may be sug- gested for the better government of m nicipalities is the inculcation of the doctrine that they must be ruled on sound business principles, and that the questions of policy that divide the Lest men in national poll- tics have no place in the choice of munici- pal officers.” HOW TO GET WELL AND HOW TO KEEP . A Family Physician and Guide to Health. By Thomas A. Bland, M. D. I~ dent of the Eclectic Medical ‘Society "of | District of Columbia. Boston: Plymouth Ushing Company. In which the author makes frank con- fession that all doctors who are not eclec- tics are doing violence to themselves and thetr patients: that allopaths and homco- paths create disease and increase the num- ber of the afflicted. “The popular systems of medicine,” says Dr. Bland, “are false in theory and pernicious in practice. They ere pathological instead of being physiological, disease-producing and not disease-curing. They are inheritances an ignorant-and superstitious past; and they are protected and kept alive by powerful organizations composed of men (physicians whose selfish interest is promoted by a monopoly of pro- fessional privileges and profits." The doctor is opposed to all varieties of monopoly and does not hesitate to make public his ideas on that subject. He is an extreme anti-vac- cinationist. Aside from his caustic com- ments on those who do not agree with hi Dr. Bland ts moderate of language ani gives a great deal of good advice in such a manner that misunderstanding 1s not possi- ble even to ignorant folk. There is evidence of a genuine desire to benefit those who know little or nothing of their physical selves, and for his efforts to throw light into dark places the doctor deserves com- mendation. NAPOLEON, LOVER AND HUSBAND. By Fred- eric Masson. ‘Translated from the French by J. M. Howell. New York: The Merriam Com- pany. Washington: Woodward & Lothrop. The greatest of French warriors has never, up to this time, been historically conspicu- ous as one who had any particular regard for the female sex; generally he has been depicted as decidedly averse to such senti- mental and passionate amusement as was common in the France of his day, and is even now popular in more lands than those of the Gaul. M. Masson’s revelations com- pel destruction of the Napoleon hitherto known, and make necessary the creation of a :ew image, an image in wiich there is more of the average human being than was publicly apparent in him who, for a while, deficd the world. There is now a rage for Napoleonic legends and portraits; Frederic Masson has given us a series of photo- graphs, by closely examining which we find the weakness that wrought Napoleon's downfall—a weakness that afflicted mankind long before Samson and Delilah commenced to be; a weakness that must always exist. THREB YEARS OF ARCTIC SERVICE. An Ac- Bay Expedition of f the Farthest Licutenant the Fxpedition. N- rles Scribner's Sons. was given to the public by Lieut. Greely has been opportunely republished in a sec- ond edition, to which the author—now a brigadier general—has contributed a pre- face. Arctic exploration has occupied much of public attention the past few months and there is demand for recital of personal experiences in the polar regions. How Franklin and his party suffered before death brought relief is unknown, but of the records existing not one has in it so much of horror as is told with thrilling terse- ness by Gen. Greely. Liberally illustrated, the volume is likely to be appreciated by those who have grown to a reading-age since the first edition appeared, some eight years ago. iy Bibert Hub- . ‘orbes of Har- yard," &. New . P. Putnam's Sons. Washington: L. W. H. Lowdermilk & Co. A study of character. The story of a remarkable combination of good and bad in one man. The tragedy witn which it closes is very strong. G FOR LIFE. Labor's Side of the Labor fon. The Right of the Workingman to a Living. By John Swinton, editor of “John aper,”” author of Burning Questios .’ And Articles specially cou- tributed by Sam ident Amert- uel Gompers, Presi can Federation of Labor; rewe V. President American Railway Union, and John W. Hayes, General Secretary-Treasurer Knights Labor.” \ Mlustrated. Philadelphia: Hees Keller Co. VANDERGRIFT & 00.'8 HANDBOOK OF THE UNITED STATES TARIFF, Containing the tome Tariff Act of 1894, with Complete Schedules of Articles, with Proper Kates of Duty; also a Full Explanation of Customs Re- irements and of the Laws and Regulations with a List of ding Drawback, Articles on Which Drawback’ Rates Have Been Ushed. ¥. B. Vandergrift & Co. AN ELEMENTAL MANUAL OF CHEMISTRY. By F. i. r, Professor of Agricultural Chem- istry ‘in Harvard University, and W. Ii. Lind- General and Analytical Chem- say, of istry tm Dickinson College. Boing a Revision and Rewriting of Profeasor Nichols’ Abridgment of Eliot and Storer's Manual. New York: American Book Company. ELEMENTS OF ALGEBRA. A Course for Grammar ‘Sel Beginners _'n Public and Private iam J. Milne, Ph.D, LLD., tof New York State Normal 'Ooilege, : American Book Com- President Albany, N. Y. New York: MIS8 HURD: AN ENIGMA. By Anoe Katharine DO YOU KNOW YOURSELF? It is a Fact That Very Few People Do. ARE WE REALLY WISE? Nearly Every Man and Woman ia America Has a Tendency in One Direction— a victim to Bright's disease, | Hundreds of women who were if apparent bealth, but yet who “did not feel quite well,” who ba@ weak, nervous, depressed and down feel ,’ who longed for life aud yet who did net it, bave ‘passed and over the graves could be written the words,’ “Bright's disease.” children. Wao Mave’ peawel. tasenge eoeiet fever, which left its traces upon the eyute, whe had, ‘perhaps, some inberent traits of weakness, manbood and womanhoo@, att OF Bright's the roads of disease in ern civilization lead to this one great goal, \ iss Bright's disease, It ts sad but unfortunately 1 te rue. Do you ask what can be done? Manifestly guard yourself in time. There is no more danger from Bright’s disease ‘than there is from a cold if it kept away from the system by care, caution and forethought. ove remedy that has ever cam prevent it or cure it after it has been com tracted, but that remedy will do it promptly an® in every case. It ls known throughout. the clyii ized world as Warner's Safe Cure. tow. Mr. Edward B. Murphy, president Railway “Supply P1218 Filbert Fensatuats ites seteonead ta camera gy? be a victim of pan and has been ever since he If you, reader, are wise you will your eclt tnd sce ie what condition you, maybe take such care and precaution for the future oe any hould. wise man or woman #! N. Southworth, author “The Changed Brides, of “The Fetal Re “Self- SCHOONERS THAT BUMP ON THE BAR: Automatic Tow from Brest “soelety fobile: Gossip Printing Com; ELDENA. The Story of a John,” can Bo) New BUREKA ENTERTAINMENTS. Containing a wide variety of new and novel entertainments suit- ‘ork SHOPMAKER’S REST SELECTIONS FOR INGS AND RECITATIONS. Comptiog by Mae Tocaine Smanee. , Faledelepies Penn Pub- a Oo. Washington: W. H. Lowdermilk & THE WATER GHOST AND OTHERS. By Jobs Kendrick Bangs, author of ‘‘Coctee and Repar tee.” Tlustrated. New York: Hi a Brothers. Weshington: Woodward & Top. DAIRYING FOR PROFIT; Or, ‘The Poor Man's Cow. By Mrs. E. M.’ Jones, Judge of it World’ Exposit Products at Wor cago, 1898. Chicago: Bald POOR FOLK. Translated from the Russian of F. Dostoiveky by Lena Milman. With an fnew: duction George Moore. — Boston: Brothers. Washington: Woodward & Lothrop. THE BIRTH OF A SOUL. A Psychol " By Mra. A. Philippa, author of * pe Pr AY Chleago! Mand, McNally Gee A MAN WORTH AS MUCH AS A Some Independent Teoaghts, ‘opics. By Marcus A. Serial Publishing Co. PEAK AND ‘Book. nd od Is HORSB? Applied to Current ler. Chicago: Art PRAIRIE. From @ Colorado Sketch . By Anna Fuller, author of “A Literary Courtship,” “Pratt Portraits,” &e. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. ELEMENTARY LESSONS IN ALGEBRA. A Te; Book for Grammar Schools. By Stewart Sabin and Charles D. Lowry. New York: Amer- fean Book Co. of Country, Brass ba ta Vashington:; Wood- LITTLB MISS FAITH. The St Week at Falcons Height. Boston: Lee & Shepard. ward & Lothrop. LET POPPY AND OTHER STORIES. By t . New York: Ha & Brothers. Washington: W da bo the throp. THE MAN FROM THE WEST; Or, From Chapparal to Wall Street. By A ‘Wall Street Man. New York: J. 8. Ogilvie Publishing Go. THE MEDEA OF EURIPIDES. Translated from the Greek into English Verse. John Pat- terson, M. A. Louisville: Join P. Morton & Co. GRAY ROCKS. A Tale of the Middle-West. By Willis George Emerson. Illustrated by W. R. Goodall.” Chicago: Laird & Lee. THE LAST OF THE DANVERS. A Futalist. By Edward Lyman Bill. Illustrated. New York: Keynote Publishing Co. SINGLE HEART AND DOUBLE FACB. 4 Matter. gffact Romance. By Charles Heade. Sew York: Optimus Publishing Oo. CAVALRY LIFE IN TENT AND FIELD. | By Mrs. Orsemus Bronson Boyd. New York: J. Selwis Tait & Sons. ‘The Story of DOQTOR SERNOWITE AMD Vilich MONTROMS .. Sutro-Sebucking. TMlustrat: cago: Taird & Lee. “WHITER THAN SNOW.” By the author of “Juror No. 12," &c. New York: J. S. Ogilvie Publishing Oo. A HUSBAND OF NO IMPORTANCE. By Rita. New York: @. P. Putnam's Sons. Washington: Robert Beall. TALES OF THE SOUTH SEAS. By Thornton Jen- kins Hains. Portland: Brown Thurston Com- pany. LECTURES ON BIOLOGY. Catholic University of Ameri: Shufeldt. THE LAND OF HEART'S DESIRE. By W. B. Yeats. Chicago: Stone & Kimball. "8 NEW INTELLECTUAL ARITHMB- ‘TIC. New York: American Book Co. ‘THE UNTEMPERED WIND, By Joanua B. Wood. ‘New York: J. Selwin Tait & Sons. THE BOY CAPTAIX. By Captain Nautilus. Chi- Delivored before the . By Dr. B. W. ROBENSO: eago: C. Eldri MAGDALENA. From the of Ponslevi, Chicago: Rand, McNally & Co. ‘TRIED FOR HER LIFE. A Novel. By ED. & RK southworth, “New York: G. W. Dillingham. ‘THR RED ROSE OF SAVANNAH. A Novel. By 5. M. New York: G. W. Dillingham. COLN’S GRAVB. La A ga Thompson. Cam- ‘bridge: Stone & Kimball. coe Delicious Tea Tarts. If you have half a teacupful of ple crust left after making your pastry, don’t put it in the oven to bake and be thrown away, neither pitch it back into the flour bin to sour and taint the flour. Roll it out very thin, thin as paper, and cut with the bis- cult mold. Pick with a fork and bake half of them tn a bread tin. In each of the corners cut five holes with a thimble and bake the same way. Spread with