Evening Star Newspaper, December 14, 1895, Page 15

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1895—TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. 15 NEW PUBLICATIONS. NEW PUBLICATIONS. T THE RIGHT TOPICS, i) fil North American Review Always Contains BY THE RIGHT MEN, AT THE RIGHT TIME. Among special features of extraordinary importance which the NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW has in preparation for 1896 is a series of articles by the Rt. Hon. W. E. GLADSTONE THE FUTUR E STATE, And the Condition of Man in it. The series will begin in the January number. TYPICAL EXTRACTS from the VERDICT OF THE PRESS. Ahead of any magazine this count: seen in the importance of the topics di the eininence of ts contributors.— Alba » athe azine in the world irly presents the opinions of the leading and thinters on ail questions of public Inte Boston Journal In its diseusstons of current toples by distin- Writers It has no rival In the country. a. “abreast of the world.—Springfleld “oldest, best of our Re- hester Post E ‘There ts no other ms New York Sun. tnt the praas, ine that approaches 1t.— Cannot ve Ignored by the reader who ki with current discussion.—Indianapolis Jouraa Continues to grow in’ Interest. Its discussions of topics of present concern are marked Ly ability ¢ the highest order, the most emiuent representatives 2 both sides ‘being chosen to expound thelr cories.—St. Paul (Minn.) Globe. Numbers among its writers a larger list of men and women distinguished in the religiona. iterary am politlea! world than any other periodical of the kind. It should find a place in every honsebold.— Ellendale (N.D.) Leader, ‘This Review is alive, and could almost be de- geribed as a Vreview.—The Christian Advocate, New York. Published Monthly, 50 Cents a Copy, $5.00 a Year. "HE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW, 3 3 3 E. 14th st., ——<———— Latest Book by BRANDER MATTHEWS HIS FATHER’S SON. A’Story of New York Commercial and Social Life. Illustrated by T. De Thul- strup. Post 8vo, Cloti, Orna- ments, $1.50. The dialogue in “His Father's Son’ is remarka- bly good, and the satiric touches are admicable.— Providence Journa A valuable novel. Notable for keen, centrated characterization.—Loston Journal. A very interesting tale, drawn with power and Sraphicness.—Brooklyn Standard-Union. A wonderfully truthful picture of certain phases of life in the American metropolis, and {ts plot is as simple and direct as that of a Greek play.— Boston Saturday Evening Gazette. OTHER BOOKS BY MR. MATTUEWS: VIGNETTES OF MANHATTAN, Ilustrated by W. T. SMEDLEY. Post Svo., Cloth, Ornamental, $1.50. From the coilection a vivid Picture may be drawn of the great city.—N. Y. Evening Post. THE STORY OF A STORY, and Other Storles. Justrated. 16mo, Cloth, Oraamental, $1.25. They are stamped with an exquisite refinewent of the art of story-telling.—Boston Transcript. STUDIES OF THE STAGE. With Portrait. 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.00. Mr, Matthews writes of the stage intelligently and appreciatively.—Philadelpbia ‘Times. AMERICANISMS AND BRITICISMS, with Other Es- con- n- Suys on Uther Isms. With Portrait. 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.00. Fair criticism, genuine wit, literary grace.—Con- gregationalist. THE ROYAL MATINE. An Idyl of Narragansett Pier. Tilustrated. 82mo, Cloth, Ornamental, fatthews’ dialogue is eminently natural and spurkling.—Hartford Courant. THIS PICTURE AND THAT. A Comedy. Tlus- tratel. 32mo, Clot Ornamental, 50 cents. THE DECISION OF THE COURT. A Comedy. I- lustrated. 82u.0, Cloth, Ornamental, 50 cents. ZN THE VESTIBULE LIMITED. A Story. Tlus- trated. 32mo, Cloth, Ornamental, 50 cents. , HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK. MRS. HOWELL ACQUITTED. Declared Not the Poisoner of Libbie Knapp. Mrs. Churlctte Howell was last night, at Wellsboro, Pa., acquitted of the charge of murder—the poisoning of Libbie Knapp. The verdict of the jury was greeted with uproarious applause in the court room. Mrs. Howell remained calm until her rela- tives stepped up to congratulate her; then her eyes filed with tears for a moment, but she dashed them away and was herself again. The Messrs. Dutton of New York, her two brothers, and fer sister and a few other friends clustered about her as she arose from her chair a free woman. She quietly accepted the hands offered. and when two or three of the jurors approached to be presented to her, she met them in a dignified and modest manner and with no demonstration of emotion. For the first time In four months she ate her scpper outside of the jail walls last night. Major Merrick, one of her counsel, took her and her family to his home for tea, and they will remain there until today, when they vill go back to Tioga. oe THE MUSICIAN'S COMPLAINT. He is Called on to Help Out the Artists on the Stage. From the Chieago Record. The first trombone has a “roar” coming. He may carry his grievance before the Musical Union. For several years he has played in the orchestra at a vaudeville theater. His complaint {s that the management and va- rious traveling artists are compelling him to do more than his share of the work. ‘It's getting worse all the time,"gsaid he. “We have to do ail sorts of things to help out the acts on the stage. For instance, this week we have to join In the chorus of a song, and also do a lot of talking with a comedian. “You see, one of these single-turn actors has to talk to somebody to make his ‘gags’ go, and he takes It out on the orchestra. It used to be that these fellows would talk to the leader, but now they want the whole orchestra to come in. “I don’t like to have some fresh comedian call me ‘Louie’ or ‘Julius,’ and then make some crack and have the whole house Jaugh at me. “In one act last week the whole orches- tra had to stand up and throw bricks at a team on the stage. Another time we had to shout at a sketch team. They expect us to allow these rough teams to smash us over the heads with bladders, call us all Kinds of nan and ask us if we belong to the unio n there's that old ‘gag’ of the serio. leaning over the footlights to make lov to you. “The worst of it is, we have to come around ind have extra rehea If it keeps on we'll be giving the whole show.” 200 Ex-Congressman H. S. Bundy died at his ence at Wellston, Ohio, Thursday af- pon. ‘He had been a sufferer from kid trouble, and for its relief had recently ‘gone a surgical operation. estminster Abbey AND THE ‘Cathedrals of England: ® BY DEANS FARRAR, MILMAN, STANLEY . AND OTH ° With views of ¢ als and 2 . . rtraits of the KECENT PH Prepaid to any (Frou 9 ble Ledger, Phila.) muptuous volume. of per and covering, Mews of the . . be nits ‘follow. < és . DL : g nity, aud both 2 : both trom ® $ ints of view. As . : ENT ON ¢ * APPLICATION, ° ¢ JOHN C. WINSTON & CO, ¢ It PUELISH PHILAD! . NEW PUBLICATIONS. BIOGRAPHY OF JAME Hamilton. Norwich, Publishing Company. ore. G. BLAINE. By Gail Coon.: ‘The Henry 11 Washington: R. Al Dins- Never did biographer have a more diffi- cult task than that which makes modest display of completion in this unassuming volume. For more than thirty years James G. Blaine was conspicuous among the na- tion’s great, and his activities bad many directions, but the mosaic of unquestiona- bly accurate narrative has been skillfully nesembled and presents to all who love that which is best in Americanism a pleasing portrait of an American whose name will thrill men’s hearts for generations to come, just as his utterances have been the Inspiration of millions. The biographer’s difficulty was not in giving to the world a sketch of Mr. Blaine’s life—for with all the necessary material at hand that was easy— it was rather in the selection of a reasona- ble and profitably publishable quantity of matter from a vastly capacious store house Med to overflowing by the mental and physical energy of one who, had he cared for his own interests as loyally as he served his country, would probably be alive today and numbered among the commerial monarchs of the century. The reader who expects to find in this book anything like dispassionate discussion of the public life of Blaine will be disappointed; every page testifies to the fact that Its production was a labor of love. Therefore is it that the historian who, fifty years hence, will find it Tecessary to know the great statesman as he appeared to those whose lives were bound up in his, will be grateful to Gail Hamilton for what she has done, and will respect the affection which fearlessly and consistently champions her hero's causes throughout the whole of his career. Interesting to students of heredity will be the opening chapters, in which Mr. Blaine’s ancestry is plainly set forth, principally in connection with colonial history. People long since departed, places modernized by civilization, and events over which the years have thrown their glamor, are de- lightfully described tn the introductory pages, which lead up to the fact that to Ephraim and Maria Blaine, on January 31, 1830, at Brownsville, Pa., “from all the sturdy strength, the inconquerable will, the joyous vigor, the civic virtues, the patriotic passion, the home sanctities of all the Gal- braiths and Blaines and Armstrongs and Lyons and Gillespies, a boy was born”— James Gitlespie Rlaine. The growth and education of that boy are deait with in a fashion which suggests that Mr. Blaine .d a more than perfunctory Interest in this story of his early days: throughout it is testimony to the happiness of that period of Blaine’s existence which preceded entry into the political arena. Only es- caping a government clerkship through the dissuasion of Secretary Ewing (who was a relative) Blaine went out into the work- aday world as a teacher of languages and mathen es, but with ever-evident inter- est in national government. Seven years of that life added to his mental breadth and depth, and then came migration to Maine and rapid movement toward that suprem- acy which even in the bitterest Mours of defeat was undisputed, and which Is insist- ed upon to the end of the volume. Critics of the purely literary sort may object to the frequent and in places lengthy quota- tions from the proceedings of Congress and the many letters written by Mr. Blaine and others, but there is good reason for their appearance; without them much that is generally eulogistic would by many persons be deemed almost fulsome; with them there can be no mistake as to the character of him who since Lincoln has been general- ly regarded as the ideal American. Those whose ‘ndulgence in anti-Blaine campaign literature shaped their ideas as to the character of “the plumed knight” owe it to themselves to read the record spread in this biography. The honorless condition of @ prophet in his own country ,is generally admitted, but Pennsylvania and Maine have never wearied of singing the praises of the son to whom both laid claim; their adoration is recorded. Particularly should the young ™en read this book. The com- Lined clergy of Augusta, Me., said of their tcwnsman: ‘We have known him in every relation of life, closely and intimately, and in every relation of life, we say in the presence of his daily associates, Mr. Blaine has had a spotless career. * * * In per- sonal morals, in habits of temperance and uprightness, In steadfast devotion to all as well as extraordinary duties, Mr. Blaine has been a pattern to our young men. His word Is as good as his bond. This whole community will attest his abso- lute integrity and liberality. The necess!- ties of a political campaign may tempt mud throwers to assail Mr. Blaine’s char- acter; but against all such efforts we pre- sent a man who has the universal respect, cenfidence and attachment of the neighbors who have known him throughout his whole career, and who know that he has been the center of good and not of evil all the days of his lize.” It is the history of such a man Gail Hamilton has given us. Washingtonians generally should read the biography, for Mr. Blaine thought much of Washington. On that score the authoress say “Every day, often two or three times a day, he delighted (in the winter of 1882-83) to stroll over the hills of Kalorama, and in the sunny winter weather, relieved from heavy responsibill- ty, full of the joy of life and love and con- genial work. his rich imagination, stimu- lated by contemplation of the past, looked into the future as far as human eye could see, and made the capital city, already beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth. With a free hand he would stretch its parks among the woods, its avenues along the river, rear its architectural glories, and garner its intellectual wealth. The old idea of founding a great university in Washington had been one of his dreams of the presidency. When the new library building was decided on, he watched it as one stone was laid upon another, closely as he had ched the going up of his own house, and found nothing too beauti- ful or too costly for the adornment of the city, which represents the loyalty of the people to the government of the people,. by the people. for the people.” Two THE ALABAM. Sine Mustrat Boston: 1 Ih Lieut. Sinciair’s work supplemenis that of Commander Semmes, whose history of the Alabama cruise was strictly confined to the limits of legal and professional state- nent. In “Two Years on the Alabama” the reader finds a detailed story of life on that vessel from the pen of onegwho had intimate acquaintance with both ward ‘com and forecastle There is a good deal of new matter about the personnel of the Ajabama’s crew, and the author throws a good deal of di interest into his diary- like account of the thrilling scenes through which this celebrated cruiser passed. Lieut. Sinclair's description of the fight with the Ke ‘ce off Ch urg is comparatively and he shows a gallant disposition to do justice to his enemies who caused the s ction of his vessel. He is particular to excuse Commander Winslow from any charge of lack o gallantry in firing upon the Alabama after her colors were struck, and he concludes that this was the result of the great obscurity of the atmosphere. The portraits contained In the book are of in- terest. eTHCDS MIND-TRAINING. Concentrated METitention and Memory. By. Catharine “Aiken, New : Harper & Brothers. Washington: Woodward & Lothrop. Miss Aiken’s methods of teaching have at- tracted the attention of instructors in a marked manner during the past few years. This, however, is the first publication by volume bearing upon the results that she has obtained by a method which is based upon nothing more than entire concentra- tion of mind. She trains the memory by small beginnings and gradually increases the tasks put upon it until pupils of tender years are able to perform feats of compre- hension that are little less than marvelous. ‘There is no limitation to the fields that can be entered by a teacher who adopts such a method and carefully pursues it. In mak- ing mathematical calculations, in reading difficult literary selections at sight with complete understanding, reading music and drawing from memcry difficult and unusaal feats are accomplished. Miss Aiken asserts and demonstrates by this system that 1s founded on the certain fact that a mind trained to perform perfectly the task {m- mediately before It can accomplish far more than that which it habited to loose methods of application and attention. AN ACCIDENTAL ROMANCE AND OTHER STORIES. By William Sidney “Itossiter. New York: The Republic Press. Mr. Rossiter was at one time a resident of Washington, and his present work is cer- tain to be read with interest by those who knew him here. He has gathered five short tales together in this handsome little volume and they are all so clever and freshly treat- ed that it is difficult to choose one as better than the rest. The story of “An Accidental Romance” hinges on the whereabouts of en ivory-handled umbrella, which travels about the country in an exasperating man- rer, and finally leads to the union of two fond hearts In a fashion that will unques- tionably delight the reader. RECOLLECTIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, | 1847- 1865. By Ward Hill Lamon, Edited by Do- rothy Lamon. Chicago: A. C. MeClurg & Co. Washington: Robert Beall. Mr. Lamon’s position as law partner of Mr. Lincoln before the latter’s election as Presiient and as his confidential friend dur- ing his official career gave him an excep- tional point of view from which to judge the characteristics of the martyred Presi- dent. His daughter notes in her preface that some of the materlai used in the book that she now presents has been taken from @ manuscript found among her father's papers which he intended for a work of history, but which he never complet HILL-CREST. By Julia Colliton Flewellyn, Bos- tou: Arena Publishing Co. STORIES OF AMERICAN LIFE AND ADVEN- TURE. Eclectic School Readiazs, Third Reader de. By Edward Eggleston, author of Stories of Great Americans for’ Little Amer- fcans,"" “A First Book in American History, and “A History of the United States and {ts People for the use of Schools.” New York: American Book Co. STORIES OF GREAT AMERICANS FOR LITTLE AMERICA Second Reader Grade. By Ed- ward Eggleston, author of “True Stories of American Life and Adventure,” &c. New York: American Book Co. THE COMEDY OF AS YOU LIKE if. By Willlam Shakespeare. New York: American Book Co. THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. By Oliver Gold- smith. New York: American Book Co. WENTH ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STA’ EVs OF RAILWAYS IN THUS UNITED STATES For the Year Ending June 30, 184. Prepared by the Statistician to the Interstate Commerce Commiesioa shington: Government Print- ing Office. THE SHE! WHITE SLAVE. Being an Account of the Unravelling of the Mysteries of the Temple of Djaramos, the City of the Desert. By Raymond Raife. New York: Lovell, Coryell & Co, Washington: Woodward & Lothrop. HOW TO BUY LIFE INSURANCE. The Eaxen- tials to be Considered in az a Sompans: Policy Restrictions and Privileges. ith ‘Tables. Denver: J. H. Lewis. VAILIMA LETTERS. Being Correspondence ad- dressed by Robert Louis Si won to Sidney Colvin. In Two Volume ago: Stone & Kimball, L OF A SPY IN PARIS DURING OF TERROR. January-July, 1704. By Raoul Hesdin, New “York: Harper & Brothers, Washington: Woodward & Lothrop. ENS! A Sketch from Paso Del 3 By jason Austin. Tlustrated. | 3 ork: Brothers. Washingtot Woodward & ————— FOUND HIS MOTHE! Re She Was Clother in Beggar's Rags, but He Acknowledged Her. ‘rom the Cincinnati Enquirer. Mr. Morris H. Spillard, one of our best- known citizens, has a son, L. H., In San Marta, department of Magdalena, Colom- bia, South America. The young man has been in business there for several years, and is doing well. In a recent letter to his father young Spillard, in a postscript, re- marks: “I shall now recount to you a fact that is stranger than fiction.” He then goes on to state that he was in the sitting room of a hotel in San Marta recently and witnessed the occurrence he details. Three general officers of the Colombian army, then on a tour of inspection, were also in the hotel sitting room. Soon a poor wo- man came into the apartment asking for alms. Her condition was most pitiful, and, to add to her sad condition, her head was bound up, hiding a cancer on the forehead. She approached the three officers and begged aid. ‘Two of the officers gave her 20 cents each. The third one handed her $1. En- couraged by the munificence of the be- quest, she respectfully requested the names of her benefactors. The one who gave her $1 said his name was Gen. Hlias Rodriguez. Said the poor old mendicant: “T had a son of that name, and if he Is alive he is about your age.” This state- ment interésted the officer, and after a lengthy conversation, in which the beggar woman recounted her history, it was as- certained-that Gen. Rodriguez had given alms to his own mother. In brief, the gen- eral at once took her in charge, provided liberally for her, and she is now the happy and respected guest of honor in his own house. This story is literally true, and young Mr. Spillard by chance was a wit- ness to this strange and romantic meeting of mother and son. SE NINETEEN YEARS DISTANT. According to a Missouri Prophet the Millennium is Near at Hand. From the St. Louls Globe-Democrat. Not many miles frcm Ponce de Leon, in one of the mcst mcuntainous parts of the Missourl Ozarks, Hves a quaint character known to the country rourd as Parson Meare. He poses as both prophet and priest, and while in creed he professes to be what is called a millennialist—that small sect who are now looking for the second coming of the Messiah—yet Parson Mease claims that he never received his doctrine from any man, nor learned it from any book. He ts directly inspired, he says, and his knowledge of the future came to him in a vision at night, revealing the meaning of Bible prophecies when a lad many years ago. Christ is now here,” he says. ‘He came in the year 1573; but he will not disclose his presence, except to a little band of follow, ers, until the year 1914, and then will burst the kingdom of heaven cn earth and the reign of glory and peace and happiness long promised by prophets and seers. Then Christ will be seen and recognized by all, and the devil's sentence of 1,00 years in chains will commence. But,” and Parson Mease solemnly shakes his head as he ut- ters it, “what an awful time the world will witness between now and then! Nations will be torn asunder in revolutions and wars, and the fearful battle of Armaged- don will be waged around the globe. Ter- ror will prevail for a while, till the Messiah shall sit upon his throne and proclaim peace to the world.” ———+e+____ Crude Oil at Crown Point, Ind. An oil well at Crown Point, Ind., is a possibility. A Chicago firm is engaged in putting in a system of water works there, and an eight-inch wel! ts being driven fifty feet north of the Pan Handle tracks at the depot. Last right the well was down to a depth of 200 feet, and a fairly good supply of crude oil has been struck, with excellent prospects of securing it In paying quanti- ties. Little water has been encountered so far, aud the intention of the men engaged on the plant is to go down until a sufficient flow uf either water, gas or crude oll is ob- tained. ———_-+e0-____ Ex-Controller A. B. Hepburn of the Third National Fank of New York gave a dinner Thursday night in honor of James H. Eckles, centroller of the currency. There were but twenty guests present, most of whom were local bankers, MAKERS OF TARIFFS The Ways and Means Committee and Its History. PRECEDENTS AS.T0 10S CONSTITUTION An Interesting Review of the Rec- ord of Fifty-three Congresses. ABOUT THE CHAIRMANSHIP ——— Written for The Evening Star. In an interesting paper on “The Origin of the Standing Committee System in American Legislative Bodies," published in the annual report of the American Histor- ical Association for 1898, Prof. J. Franklin Johnson directs attention to the fact that the transaction of business through stand- ing committees is one of the leading pecu- Marities of American legislative bodies, as compared with the English legislative. ‘The First Congress cf the United States, which convened in New York on March 4, 1789, bad but two standing committees— both in the House of Representatives—viz. Elections, appointed April 13, and ways and means, on July 24, 1769, no standing committee being appointed by the Senate until the Sixth Congress (1800), when the committee on privileges was appointed. The several committees on ways and means of the House of Representatives have raised, and—until the Thirty-ninth Congress—appropriated the revenues for the support of the government since its foun- dation—from their first establishment as standing committees to the present time. Until the Thirty-ninth Congress all ap- propriations for the support of the govern- ment, save certain permanent and indefin- ite appropriations, such as interest on the public debt, &c., were made in gross sums in one bill—to be expended by the several executive departments—and reported by the committee on ways and means. In that Congress the committee on appropria- tions—created in the preceding Congress— was first appointed and assigned the duty of reporting the general appropriation bills —then ten in number. In subsequent Con- gresses various appropriation bills were distributed among other committees. Of especial interest now, perhaps, is the history of the ways and means committee since the time when the republicans took control of the House just before the war, as it has brought forth the tariff legisla- tion that has become such an important element in modern American politics. During and Since the War. John Sherman of Ohio, republican, was chairman of the ways and means committee of the Thirty-sixth Congress that reported the bill which became the Morrill tariff act of March 2, 1861. In the subsequent Con- gresses the following served successively as chairman of the committee: Thirty-sev- enth and Thirty-eighth Congresses, Thad- deus Stevens of’ Penfisjivania, republican; Thirty-ninth, Justin 'S,"Morrill of Vermont, zepublican; Fortleth and Forty-first, Robert C. Schenck of Ohio,republican; Forty-second and Forty-third, Henry L. Dawes of Mas- sachusetts, cepublicah; Forty-fourth, Wm. R. Morrison of MHiixols, _, democrat; Forty- fifth and Forty-sixth, Fernando Wood cf New York, democrat; Forty-seventh, Wm. D. Kelley 0f Pennsylvania, republican; For- ty-eighth and Forty-ninth, Wm. R.' Mor- rison, democrat; fiftieth, Roger Q. Mills of Texas, democrat; Eifty-first, Wm. McKinley of Ohio, repyblican; Fifty-second, Wm. M. Springer of Tllinois,-democrat; Fifty-third, Wm. L. Wilson of West Virginia, democrat. In the Forty-fourth Congress Mr. Mor- riscn's committee reported the bill known as the “Morrison horizontal reduction bill,” which was never considered but one da: In the Forty-seventh Congress Mr. Kelley's committee reported the “tariff commission bill, but was obliged to abandon It and ac- cept the Senate amendments to an internal revenue bill. In the Forty-eighth Congress Mr. Morrison’ reported a bill to reduce im- port duties and tariff taxes, that fail. ed to pass the House. Agatn in the Forty- ninth Congréss Mr. Morrison reported a similar bill, which met a similar fate. In the Fiftleth ‘Congress Mr. Mills reported and the House passed the bill knawn as the “Mills bill,” but it filled to pass the Sen- ate. The Fifty-first Congress passed the so-called “McKinley” bill, framed by Mr. McKinley's committee. In the Fifty-second Congress Mr. Springer’s committee re- ported and the House passed several bills, popularly known as “pop-gun" tariff bills, but none of them passed the Senate. In the Fifty-third Coneress Mr. Wilson reported and the House passed the “Wilson” Dill, the character of which was changed by Senate amendments, finally accepted by the House. The bill became a law without the President's approval. The Constitution of the Committee. A careful examination of the record dis- clcses some interesting facts. First, it ap- pears that in the early Congresses the com- mittee was first formed of representatives from each state, and that, subsequently, for many years, when the committee was’ limited to seven, and then to nine members, only the Icading revenue-producing states— so to speak—were represented. As the country developed and new states were ad- mitted, the membership of the House stead- ily increased, and that of the committee kept pace with it—not fully—but in a large degree. It is also made evident by the record that no fixed rule of membership of the committee has‘ever been observed or followed, save that in the Congresses where the democratic party held the House. the majority of the membership of the ways and means committee came from southern states. In the days of whig supremacy it was more evenly divided, while since the Thirty-seventh Congress (1860), during the periods when the republican party held the House, the majority of the membership has been from northern states. In the Sixteenth Congress, for instance, five of the seven members were from the south, viz., Mary- land, Kentucky, Georgia and two from Vir- ginia. In the following Congress all save one were from the south, while in the Fif- tieth Congress six of the eight democratic members were from southern states, viz. Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky Georgia and West Virginia. Another noti able fact is that the three states of Penn- sylvania, New York and Massachusetts have almost uniformly been represented on this committee, Pennsylvania sometimes having two and in one Congress (Forty-sev- enth) three members. The Rule of Seniority. « Another noticeable fact is that the rule of seniority which exists in the Senate has never prevailed in the Hbuse as an estab- lished rule or pyinciple. To follow it strictly would leave. the: Speaker without discretion. The Speaker has always se- lected chairmen upén lines or principles of his own, which must’ necessarily be op- posed to those of hts prédecessor of oppo- site political faith, or evgn on the lines of his predecessor of hls own party. In emer- gencies, or under ynuswdl conditions, he has chosen entirely ‘new men without pre- vious service on the confimittee, as in the case of Millard Fillmore of New York, Bayly of Virginia, Glaney Jones of Penn- sylvania, Campbell, Sherfnan and Schenck of Ohio, Dawes of Massaghusetts and Mor- rison and Springer 9f IlQois, while in two instances the cha’ of ways and means has been taken from the Speaker's own state, viz: John Randolph of Virginia by Speaker Stevenson in the Twentieth Congress and Thaddeus Stevens of Penn- sylvania by Speaker Grow In the Thirty- seventh Congress. The following states | have had the chairmanship of ways and means during the number of Congresses stated, it being remembered that until the Twenty-seventh Congress the committee was occasionally appointed for a single session only: South Carolina, 10; Virginia, 8; Ohio, Pennsylvania, 5; New York, 5; Illinois, Massachusetts, 8; Maryland, Delaware, Tennessee, North Carolinu, Ala- bama, each twice, and Connecticut, Mis- sourl, Texas and West Virginia, each once. Each and every Speaker of the House is, so to speak, a “law unto himself” in the composition of the committees of the House, and in the very nature of things it must necessarily be so. The ever changing conditions of economical, industrial, finan- cial and political affairs make this an un- written law. Why should it be otherwise? HENRY H. SMITH. IN MUSICAL CIRCLES The Choral Society's Ooming Presentation of Handel's “Messiah.” Features of Local Interest in the Performance—Movements of Dis- trict Musicians, The most important local musical event thus far this season will be the presenta- tion of the oratorio of the “Messiah” at Convention Hall next Tuesday evening. The Choral Society, which will give it, is the foremost musical society in the Dis- trict, and durirg its long career has pre- sented some rotable performances. Its aim has always been high, and it has given the people of Washington an opportunity to hear the highest form of sacred composi- tion sung in the best manner, both as to the choruses ard sclos. In the latter re- spect the most eminent singers of the coun- try have sung in connection with the Chor- al Society, and the names of Emma Juch, Mary Howe, Lillian Blauvelt, Italo Campa- nin, Wm. Lavin, Whitney Mockbridge, Gertrude Edwards, Katharine Fieming, Dr. Hopkinson and Emil Fischer will be well remembered by those who have been regu- lar attendants at the society's perform- ances. For several years it has been the custom of the society to give Handel's “Messiah” during the Christmas holidays, and tts presentation at that time Is pecu- Marly appropriate. This year the perform- ance comes somewhat exzrlier, on account of a misunderstanding with the Convention Hall management, but it is hoped that the same substantial support which has here- tofore been given to the society will be ex- tended now. Interest attaches’ to this performance in several respects. In the first place. the so- ciety will sing, forthe first time in many years, under the direction of Dr. Harry C. Sherman, who was the first leader of the society and who laid its foundation for its present excellence. The soloists will be Miss Charlotte Maconda, soprano; Miss Ruth Thompson, contralto; Mr. E. C. Towne, tenor, and Dr. Carl Duffi. Miss Thompson is a Washington girl, and her work in the choir of the First Congrega- tional Church and in concert here before she took up her residence in New York is well remembered. Her many friends here will be eager to hear her now that she has developed her fine contralto voice to its full possibilities. One of the most notable features of the “Messiah” will be the fact that the orches- tral accompaniment will be by the new Washington Symphony Orchestra, which has been formed by Mr. Herman Rakemann. Heretofore the Choral Society has been com- pelled to seek its orchestra from outside the city, but now it has a home organization that it is expected will be fully equal to any that has appeared here before. The seats are now on sale at Ellis’ music store, and it is hoped that every seat 'n the large hall will be occupied Tuesday evening. The concert in Washington by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, at Metzerott Music Hall, next Tuesday evening, will be the thirteen hundred and thirty-fifth perform- ance of this now national organization since its foundation, fourteen years ago. This remarkable total establishes a record that probably cannot be duplicated in the world. Some of the older European orchestras have been in existence many more years, and the New York Philharmonic Society, the parent orchestral organization of this country, can show, rising fifty years to its credit, but the lesser number of concerts given annually so reduces the total number that the Boston Symphony Orchestra undoubtedly heads the list. Seven hundred and nineteen perform- ances have been given in Boston and 615 in thirty-seven cities throughout the United States, from Maine to Minnesota. Cam- bridge, Mass., with a series of 97 concerts, which begun the first year of the orchestra's existence, and which are given under the auspices of Harvard College in their Me- morial Hall, heads the list of cities visited, and then come Philadelphia, 49; Providence, 47; New York, 44; Washington, 44. As- suming an average of five selections for cert, there have been between 6,000 ) numbers performed.- Over 1,000 soloists have appeared, something over one- half of them singers, and the balance divided among pianists, violinists and vio- As the Boston Symphony ts an organization’ founded and maintained by a private citizen, it has always been the policy of the management to refrain from the pub- Ueation of any financial details, but it is safe to assert that even a most moderate average of receipts would result in an enormous sum of money expended in the patronage bestowed upon these concerts. Seventeen states are represented in the cities in which performances have been given—excellent evidence that the Boston Symphony Orchestra is now a national or- ganization. All the church choirs are bury in prepa- ration of thelr Christmas music, and the choirs are working hard at rehearsals. Most of the programs are not yet made public, but at St. Patrick's Church Le Pre- vot's Mass will be given with full orches- tra, under the direction of Prof. Maina. On the last day of the year at this church there will he a grand thanksgiving service, at which Mgr. Satolli will officiate, and it is expected that Bishop Keane will preach the sermon. On this occasion a Te Deum, composed by Mr. Rufus Garland, in honor of Mgr. Satolli, will be sung under Prof. Maina’s direction, with full orchestral ac- companiment. It is understood that Mr. Herndon Mor- sell will again take charge of the choir of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. The excellent music rendered during the pe- riod that he formerly had centrol is a guarantee that in future the choir will be a credit to him and to the church. Mrs. Thomas C. Noyes will sing at the Calvary Baptist Church tomorrow at the morning service. 3: Washington musical circles have an ad- dition In the person of Mr. Chas. P. Burton, who has removed here from Baltimore. He is.a musician of varied attainments, and @ good orchestral conductor. Ondricek, the violinist, was a fellow stu- dent in Prague with Prof. Josef Kaspar of this city, and the latter has many in- teresting stories to tell of the now fa- mous musician's early career. Prof. T. Williams Pearman’s second pop- ular concert will be given at the Univer- salist Church the 23d instant, and in har- mony with the season the program will be made up chiefly of carols. Some of, the best local talent will participate. A Mr. Leighter, the organist and director of Epiphany Church choir, has not yet de- termined- what cratorio will be presented this seascn, but it will be one in which his force -will be heard to advantage. The popular opera, “H. M. S. Pinafore,” will be produced early in February by Prof. Geo. W. Lawrence and his pupils. The rehearsals began last Tuesday even- ing under yery favorable circumstances. ‘The chorus will number about forty voices. At the next concert of the Washington String Orchestra the soloists will be Mrs. Ernest Lent, Aime La Chaume and Hi- varde, the great French violinist. The New York press has spoken very highly of Rivarde, some critics considering him’ the best violinist heard there since Sarasate, his style being said to be full of remark- able elegance and of poetry. Mr. Archibald Olmstead this afternoon gave the second of a series of monthly piano recitals by his pupils at the studio of Mr. N. Du Shane Cloward, 1114 F street north west. ——__ A Critical Study; Or, A Victim of His Vocation. From Filegende 12} ter, “But, professor, how wretched you look! Have you been sick?” “Not exactly. I have been writing ad- vance criticisms of a book (soon to be pub- dished) on the different customs of the peo- ple, and have been drawn into a fight, and handled quite severely THE CENTURY co’ Christmas Suesestions. What better gift than one which is a reminder of the giver twelve times a year? “THE CE) TURY stands at the head of the world’s periodicals,” says the Baltimore American. TURY never disappoints us," says the New York Times. by Mrs. Humphry Ward, the famous author of “Robert Elsmere,” ‘Marcell: “THE CE) will print a great serial novel ete., ete., with im- In 1896 it portant contributions from Howells, Mark Twain, Kipling, Henry M. Stanley, F. Hopkinson Smith, Marion Crawford, Kennan and many others. THE CHRISTIAS “CENTURY” Is a superb Christmas book in itself, containing the most wonderful series of pictures of the Life of Christ ever made. This number, now for sale everywhere, costs 35 cents. A year's subscription, $4.00. New eubseribers should begin with November (‘Anniversary Number"), im which are first chapters of Mrs. Ward's novel, etc. HOW TO USE “THE CENTURY” AS A GIFT. SPECIAL OFFER. Serd $4.00 to the publishers, have the November and Decem- ber numbers sent to YOU (to give at Christmas) and the subscrip- tion from Jannary entered in the name of the person who will recslve your gift. Or, send $5.00, and the publishers will send you ALL THE NUMBERS OF THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS from the eghining of Prof. loane’s “‘Life of Napoleon,” 28 well as November and December, 1895, ‘with a subscription from January,—TWO YEARS FOR $5.00. A Year’s Subscription to “St. Nicholas.” “The king of al’ publications for boys and girl ber. It will contain “Letters to a Boy,’ begins a great volume with the November num- by Robert Yous Stevenson; a splendid serial story of bos- aife at the time of the founding of Christianity, by W. O. Stoddard, with serials and short stories by J. T. Trowbridge, Rudyard Kipling, Sarah Orne Jewett, Mrs. Burton Harrison, Tudor Jenks, * John Burroughs and others. Everything illustrated. The Christmas “St. Nicholas” Is one of the most notatle publications ever issued for young folks. The table of contents 1s won- derfully rich, and the pages contain about 100 illustrations by the leading artists of the world. Do not miss it,—price, 25 cents, HOW TO USE “ST. NICHOLAS” AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT. Send the price of a year's sub- scription ($3.00) to the publishers, and they will forward a hand somely printed certificate, which yon can place among the presents on Christmas morning with the November and December numbers, the numbers from January belng sent to the reciplent of the gift. 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