Evening Star Newspaper, March 7, 1896, Page 22

22 THE EVENING STAR; SATURDAY, MAROH 7, 1896-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. - ARMY IN FRANCE All French Boys Must Serve Their Country as Soldiers. WHEN YOUNG MEN REACH TWENTY Then They Are Liable to Three Years’ Duty as Recruits. —_—__+—__—_. TRYING. ORDEAL we SES THE Bpecial Cor spondence of The Evening Star. PARIS, February 25, 1896. E VERY FRENCH- man owes his country a personal military service of twenty-five years. The French child sees his brothers go- ing off “beneath the > flag." He knows his own turn must come, and that neither mon- ey nor influence can save him from It. Not even infamy can save a French- man from his forced military duties. Those sentenced to prison for above two years re- at the disposition of the minister of marine. se who have only had three months’ prison or two condemnations for shorter terms must be fncorporated in the light tofantry of Africa. These twenty-five years of personal mil- itary service are made up of three years in the active army, ten years in the reserve of the active army, six years in the territorial army and six years in the reserve of the territorial army. three years’ active service which the brother of soldier who has ‘permanently injured in active t off because of that brother's Young men who have contracted ten-year engagements with the government to serve as public school professors, tutors or in- structors need only serve one year in the active army, because they are otherwise A Beloved Son. bound to work for their country. With these are included young men studying for the ministry or priesthood of such denomi- rations as are officially acknowledged by the state. Univ y students who are on the way to obtaining degrees get off with one year, hecause univ y degrees mean so much in France. They are given only by the government; and it is as if West Point and Annapolis had to be passed through by every youth desiring to engage in a profes- ertheless the university student must obtain his degree, the public school teacher must continue to teach, and the ecclesiastic raust remain in his holy calling, or each will be nt hack to do his further two years’ barracks work. Lastly, young men certified to be the actual support of their parents or brothers and sisters are let off with one year’s army service. But the strictest inquiry is made into every case, and no township may cer- y to over a certain percentage of these last exceptions yearly. One year’s men or three years’ men, they are all “blues;” that is, new conscripts. A few-days more of liberty und the red pan- taloons will level all their outward social ard financial differences. These days pass ali too quickly. There are tearful good- ON THE WAY TO THE BARRACKS. 4s dreaded by youth and wept over in fam- The young man recoils from the pris- nement and routine; his father regrets the loss of time; his mother dreads the contamination of his morals, and his ers know it means a scrimping from their dots. equent ten years in the reserve of the y? In time of peace —twenty-eight t mo: good | nd’s fat. The ve appear to bring down a hrs! and its re cence, in the midst row him into a godless erious matter. S of every can- ‘on, to hat is thori draw up their lists of rs of age. When the to be acted on, it h function, you may be - boys and their parents are pr i of the lottery draw- a z fit for serv’ to the standard he put off by all must dr eir places, by r, in which el not up er development are » period of th > and territorial and many ic hall of of young men twenty who are he figure drawn f Ky or unlucky. It is true that tl ders the priv of the Ts offer a chaz ar the m comme aside a c may ertain number be sent bac! “SETTING” j bers that he how byes at the mayor's office, where a corporal waits to march them to the railway sta- cn. Down to the railway station they march, for they leave their native district me other part of France. They march though as yet without uniforms, art students, law students, budding doc- tors and priests, clerks and shopkeepers’ S, ung aristocrats and stock brokers’ working boys, artisans and loafers, to meet on terms of equality with the fisher boys of the coast, the factory boys of the towns, the shepherd boys of the of the nS and the peasant boys morning after his arrival at the bar- Ss the new conseript wakes to the sound of the clarion. He remembers the railway In carriage the sergeant drank d ate his ham, for friendship's barracks the new ng in the cantine | treating all the “old ones” of their dormi- to gain their good will. He remem- hes to show t In rea erable. a “bine” and he knows it. In the night he heard the cries and com- ints of certain “blues” of his dormitory, zs wuse of stinginess or poverty at cantine. No one has dismantled his. d or thrown water on him. He resolves to continue the swect habit of treating. C who sleeps beside him y initiates him into making his bed. here, blue! Do you notice that big . i's for your bayonct and your The two little pegs are for your mind you keep the soles shiny, or it's the bloc (barracks prison). Remem- Ler, never keep your tobacco in the toes of He is UP DRILL. army, the budget and the population. Nev- ertheless, it is a distinct chance. There are several other classes of young men who may get off with one year’s active rvice Instead of three. Prior to 1803 the Payment into the treasury of $300 would re- duce the actual barracks life to one year. Such men were called “conditionals,” but that fs all pest now. There were so many conditionals that the army became embar- rassed for second and third-year recruits, ¥ parent who valued his boy's time at $150 a year and could afford it felt tempted to pay the price. Today every young French- . ho matter what his position or fortune, tnust serve his full three years unless ne falls into one of four classes; and these are 1 classes, their members being. rot privile considered to their A Good-Bye. only or eldest son of a widow or of a father who is blind or in his seventieth year are though! to have imperative duties to their families, whose performance the law en- forces. The only or cidest son of a family of seven children is shown favor because of the fruitfulness of his parents. And the brother of a soldier already under the flag, your slippers, or it will get lost. Tobacco often gets lost here. Above all, do not hang your pantaloons, your coat or your cloak cn the hooks, or it's the bloc, too! Keep them on the shelf at the head of your bed there, folded like mine.” The “blue” looks at the neat, square package despairingly. “Your package must not be out of regu- larity a half inch, or it's the consigne This shelf is your bread shelf. Never leave your bread on your bed after eating, or it's the bloc! This is how you make your bed. Attention.” The “blue” amazement. The daily confinement and routine of the Larracks is like that of a prison. There is the reveil at 6 a.m. The morning “coffee” and the daily loaf of rye-and-bran bread are served immediately in the dormitories. Various military exercises take up the time till 9 a. m.. the hour fcr the “soup.” It is a mcat and vegetable stew, served in tin pans. Frm 9 till 11 a.m. the men are free to le around their rooras, smoking, read- ing, chattirg or sleeping. to loaf in the cantine drinking, or to skylark in the open court of the barracks. Thes re the hours for reciting military “theory” by those who are studying to become non-commissioned officers. At 11:30 a.m. there is the guard reunion, with the nominaticns for guard work and ccrvees of the next day. From 1 till 3 p.m. there are military and gymnas- tic exercises. The men are then free until 430 p.m., the hour of the second “soup,"” which is the last meal of the day. Twice a week the routine is varied by a long “military promenade” in the country. At 5 p.m. the clarion sounds for the sortie generale, when ail not on duty or under penishment may quit the barracks until 9 Pm., at which hour they must be back in their beds. This pregram gives more ease in ap- pearance than in fact. A good portion of the free time must be given to daily care of arms and clothing. ‘he soldier must ask himself each morning: “Am I of the guard today? Am I of the corvee or the fire watch If the barracks are in a ccuntry town, like Blois, there will be lt- tle standing guard outside the barracks themselves. In a city like Paris, on the other hand, there is an immense amount of this monotorous work, at the various ministries, at the Elysee, the bank, the prisons, and what not. The corvee is the daily dirty work of the barracks, the lift- watches his dexterity with ing, hauling, cleaning and carrying. Some one must peel the potatoes, keep the fires, do the ‘laundry work and all the ‘house- keeping. Guard work and corvees come in due rotation to each man, and the paying out of money can only alleviate, not abol- ish, it for the well-to-do youth. Again, young men of the learned professions only doing ete year’s service are frequently required to put in the two hours from 5 p.m. till 7 p.m. in the study of theory and tactics. Lastly, the ccnsigne (interdiction to leave the barracks) and the bloc (or police hall) are purishments which cut into even the most exemplary conscripts time. A young man with money can lighten his burdens by hiring a fellow-soldier to act as valet. The practice is in full force. His non-commissioned officers will be ten- der with him because of his cigars, drinks, Pewspapers and cash disbursements. They and all the poorer men will screen him and be ready to take his blame on themselves. He may eat the most expensive dinners in town every evening and trequent cafes not patronized by officers. He may divert him- self socially where there are no officers. But after this there is the barrier. The poor young man has an abominably hard time of it. He has no pocket money and no way of gaining it except by be- coming the body servant of a richer con- script. The government gives him one cent a cay pocket money and a small ra- tion of tobacco every five days. In order to distract his mind, the poor conscript may undertake the studies which lead to the grade of corporal and sergeant. ‘These non-commissioned officers have pri ileges; they order men about; they receive Presents from the wealthy. He may try to get into the band and be relieved from hard work. He may become an officer’s orderly, eat stclen dainties from a fat kitchen and receive the smiles of flirting servant maids. But however he may manage he finds the time long, the amusements few, the punish- ments frequent. The sergeant bullies the corporal, the ser- geant-major bullies the sergeant, the ad- jutant bullies the sergeant-major, the sub- Keutenant bullies the adjutant, the lieu- tenant bullies the sub-lieutenant and the captain bullies the lieutenant. It is well enough for the subaltern ofiicers, for they have chosen their profession. But all bully the unhappy conscript—who has not chosen to be a soldier. STERLING HEILIG. ——— GLASS’ MOSAICS, A Table That Was Made of 96,320 Separate Pieces of Wood. From the Milwaukee Sentinel. Peter Glass, living in the town of Scott, has during the past year made for his daughter, Miss Rose Glass of Sheboygan, a mosaic workstand. It is made of natural and colored woods and consists of 5,102 pieces, so arranged as to form a design of birds, fruits, flowers and foliage, each ar- ticle represented being given in its natural color. So exactly are the parts joined tnat it seems almost impossible that the top is not one piece of wood with the design painted upon it. Mr. Glass, who has been at work during the year upon three similar tables, is now in his seventy-second year. He has made some tables which have been most favorably mentioned wherever ex- hibited, and has received three medals and a diploma. Mr. Glass was born in Bavaria, Germany, and learned the cabinetmaker’s trade be- fore coming to America. He settled in Leo- minster, Worcester county, Mass., in 1844. One day while in Boston he saw a mosaic table made of a few pieces of wood in their natural color. He conceived the idea of making a table with a much more elabor- ate design. At the time he was employed during the day in a factory, so that he could spend only his evenings and Sundays at the work, but he became so interested that he often spent nearly the entire night laboring at the table. He was not content- ed with using the woods in their natural color, but determined to see if he could not color white wood so that it would be the tints of flowers and birds which he wished to copy. As there were no dyes then made for col- oring wood, he invented some. He drew his own designs for the tables, and made his own patterns. His first table was fin- ished in 1850, and It was sold to Isaac Davis, mayor of Worcester, Mass., for £ He next made a center table containins OW pieces, which was bought by Mr. Gates of Worcester, the price being about 1,400. Both of the tables were on exhibi- tion at Horticultural Hall, Worcester, when they were sold in 1855, ‘and at the time much was said by the eastern papers about them and the maker. In 1853 Mr. Glass made a table in the manufacture of which he used 45,000 pieces of wood. ‘This he brought with him when he moved to Bar- ton, this state. In 1858 this was sold to a Mr. Fuller of Waukesha for $550. Mr. Glass next made an eight-cornered center table of 20,000 pieces, and a work- stand of 24W) pieces. These were exhibited in| Milwaukee and Chicago, and we spoken of by one of the Chicago papers a being “the most velous articles of handiwork ever exhibited in this or any other country.” It was the maker's inten- tion to present the tables to, President and Mrs. LincoIn, but at the time of the a ation of the President they were still on exhibition in Chicago. However, a few months after Mr. Glass gave the tables to the Lincoln family. and received a letter of acceptance and thanks from Robert T. Lincoln. The tables are now with the Lin coln relics at the National Museum, Wash- ington. The next table made consisted of 96,320 i nd Mr. Glass took it to the Pa fon of 1867 and remained there with r. He hoped, while there, to seil it for a good price, but not being offered what he considered it worth, he brought it back with him. After he returned he was not able to sell the table, so in 172 it was raffled off, John O’Hearn of this county be- ing the winner. It was afterward sold to Mr. Hoffman of Sheboygan, who sent it to Philadelphia to the centennial, but in un- loading the exhibit at the grounds the top, in its box, was supposed to be a wheel, and was taken to the machinery depart- ment, where the mistake was not discover- ed until nearly the close of the exposition. It is now believed to be in some public mu- seum in Philadelphia. On the tables which Mr. Glass exhibited in the east he received a silver medal and diploma from the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics’ Association in 1850, a bronze medal and diploma from the New York American Institute In 1856, for the table exhibited in Paris an honorable diploma from the Paris exposition, and for tke same table a silver medal from the Wis- consin Agricultural Society In 1868. oo A Moving Mountain in France. From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. An object of the greatest interest to con- tinental Europe at this minute is a walk- ing mountain in Gard, France, which is moving toward the river of the same name at the rate of fifteen feet a day. In its ad- vance it has destroyed the machinery and pits of the Grand Combe Colliery, and has also destroyed nesrly a mile of the Alais railway. A great thing, which must be done now, is to prepare new channels for the Gard and Gardon rivers, which are sure, when the landslide comes, to be com- pletely choked up. Six hundred persons have been cbliged to leave their homes at Grand Combe. The lower strata of the mountain, which rises sheer from the val- ley, are grit and green mart. Both have given way, owing to the infiltration of rain. Recently a large number of persons went from Nimes to see the-moving moun- tain from the range fronting it. The noise it makes is frightful, and there are wide cracks in all directions. Nobody is suffer- ed to go on the mountain or into the yal- ley on which it advances. — French Dressing. From Life, SOME BANK: FRAUDS How Millions Have Been Lost Through Dishongst Officials, SCHEME OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Companies Organized for the Making of Promissory Notes. RECENT BIG SWINDLES (Copyrighted, 1896, by Frank G. Carpenter.) WRITE TODAY OF the losses of millions. Our national banks are considered the safest of invest- ments. Still, in them fortunes have been stolen, rich uven have been made paupers, and the widow and the orphan have again and again Icst their little all. Gi- gantic frauds have i been _ perpetrated through them, and the stories of many of them are full of romance and adventure. During the past few weeks, with the as- sistance of Mr. James H. Eckels, the con- troller of the currency, I have looked into some of the biggest swindles perpetrated by dishonest persons who have gotten con- trol of national banks, and the matter which follows is, perhaps, the first true statement given as to the great failures of which it treats. It is made from rotes for me by the receivers of the various banks, at the request of the controller, and it may be relied upon as authentic. How Ferdinand Ward Stole Millions, ‘st, take the great swindle perpetrated through the name of Gen. Grant by the firm of Grant & Ward. This is, perhaps, the most notorious bank failure of our his: tory. It occurred on the 6th day of May, 1884. The bank was known as the Marine National Bank. It had a capital stock of | Jan. H. Eckeln. $400,000, On the day ft failed it had debts amounting to more than five million dollars. The Marine Bank had been in existence for twenty years, but atoug, the time Gen. Grant came into it in it was reorgan- ized, and the chief proprietors of the bank were then James D. Fish! Ferdinand Ward. Gen. Grant and Ulyssés 8. Grant, jr. Grant put $100.0 into the bank. He got the mon which the citizens of him after the war was over as a token of their love and esteem: Grant was then at the height of his fame. ‘We had just re- turned from his trip afound the world, and was talked of as the'third-term cundidate for the presidency. James D. Fish had long been ‘the president of the bank. He ‘waa then sixty old, and he was, it is be- eve, to a large extent innocent of fraud. The arch hend of the conspiracy was Ferdi- aD. Ward, who, at the time the bank ed, was still under thirty. inted with Fish by deposit- ank, and also through his ma with a daughter of one of Fish riends. It was Ward who manipulated ail the swindles. It was he who got Grant into the bank and made him believe that ke could make a fortune in it. As soon as the hank was thoroughly organized Ward brought forward his celebrated scheme of “government contracts which never exist- ed.” He would pretend, for instance, that he had secured a centract calling for $200,000, on which there was a sure profit of from 3 to 5 per cent. He would take $100,002 worth of the stock for Grant & Ward nd would then bring in other capitalists to take the balance. Fish thought the con- tracis were genuine and he urged the other parties to go in. The money of the capital- ists was paid into the Marine Bank, and Ward would give notes on the bank, in- dor: by Fish, bearing the legal rate of interes: separate guarantee for @ certain amount of profit within a cer- tain time. When the notes became due he would check against the account of Grant & Ww he kept up this scheme of mpanies until the bank fail- His transactions lasted for a year and a half, and during this time he received reinvested the enormous amount of 000,000. When the bank’s affairs were wound up it was found that Grant knew practically nothing of the working of the institution. He knew no more about the accounts than Ward did about military campaigns, and he was immensely tickled at the large showing of profits which Ward placed to his credit. Gen. Sheridan said that Grant used to poke him in the sides and say: “You thought I was a good general, but you never thought I could do this.” When the bank failed Grant gave up everything he had. Popular sentiment for a time was against him, and he sank under the storm and was attacked by a mortal disease. He then rallied and wrote his memoirs, out of which his fam- fly have alreacy realized more than $500,- 000. Fish was sent to the penitentiary for ten years, but was pardened out after two years’ imprisonment by President Cleve- land. Ward was also sent to prison for ten years. He is, I am told, still living, but he Is out of prison. Fidelity National Bank Failure. One of the biggest wheat corners of his- tory was manipulated through a national bank. It burst, and bota wheat anc pank stock went sky high. This was the Fidelity National Bank of Cincinnati. It failed in 1887. The arch fiend of this swindle was a man named Harper, who has since served a term in the penitentiary, who was pardon- ed out, and who is now again acting as a broker in Cincinnati. Harper was one of the chief organizers gf the bank. He was supposed to be worth pbdht two million and a half dollars at the time the organization was effected, and he had interes:s in sicel works and other things. The bank was founded in 1886. In iis Oi had $3,000,000 is it is said, fromthe sale of the house Ph adelphia gav in deposits, and of t! »800,000 was due to more than six hundred banks and bank- ers covering all parts of the United States. Harper was the vice president of the bank, and he practically controlled everything. The directors were gcod men, but they had confidence in Harper, gnd they allowed him to do as he pleased. Within ten months after being made vife president Harper had drawn out $400, for his own use. He then got the idea! of cornering wheat, and he began to buy-in the Chicago mar- ket. He had a you lady clerk, a Miss Josie Holmes, in the bank, through whom he worked, and in connection with her, the paying teller and the exchange clerk he manipulated worthless checks to the amount of more than a million dollars. This money was also sent on to Chicago and invested in wheat. It was not, how- ever, enough, and he borrowed from out- side banks. He got $400,000 from the First National Bank of New York, $300,400 from the Chemical National Bank and $200,000 from the Western National Bank of New York. This money he threw into Chicago, but still he needed more. He then proposed that the capital stock of the bank be in- creased one million dollars. To this the stockholders agreed, supposing that it was for a legitimate banking business. Five hundred thousand dollars was paid in, and Harper at once shipped this off to Chicago, so that by the 10th of June, 1887, he had borrowed more than two milion dollars and had put it into wheat. Harper Suspected, In the meantime these purchases began to materially affect the market. No one knew who was buying the wheat, but it was finally found that the money came from Cincinnati. Harper was suspected and a circular was sent around asking as to his credit. This soon got to the banks who had deposits in tha Fidelity. They be- gan to telegraph for their money, and Harper saw that he must quickly sell out his wheat or fall. He could not do this at once and he had to have more money. He Bathered together such bills receivable as he had in the bank and’ express- ed them to the Chemical National Bank in New York, telling them he would draw upon them for the amount of these bills. The bills aggregated $1,000,000. They ‘id not, of course, belong to Harper. He wired New York, however, that false rumors had been circulated about the bank and begged the Chemical to stand by him a few days. The Chemical replied that it would help him out, but it was not their business to aid in cornering wheat in Chi- cago. In the meantime, Harper sent a man to Chicago with four drafts on the Chem- ical bank for $100,000 each. He also sent a false letter of credit for $200,000, and he thought that through these amounts he could consummate his whezt deal. The money, however, was not deliverefl in time. It was one day late and wheat fell. It dropped from 90 cents to 70 cents, and Harper and the Fidelity Bank went up ‘with the bursting bubble. There was im- mense excitement. The bank examiners Were called in and the doors were closed. After a time Harper and his confederates were brought to trial. ‘Josie Holmes turned state's evidence and escaped. Harper was sentenced io ten years in the Ohio, peni- tentlary, but in 1893 President Harrison commuted his sentence and pardoned him on the ground that he was physically broken down. As above stated, he is again a broker in Cincinnat!. I am told that Asa Potter. the president of the Maverick Na- tional Bank of Boston, is now doing bu: ness in New York. This banlc was ruined through loans to its directors, and its fail- ure resulted In the loss of $2,000,000, #2,000,000 Loxt in Indianapolis. One of the biggest hypocrites among these national bank presidents who have fziled was Theodore P. Haughey, who was the President of the Indianapolis National Bank. Hatghey was a member of the Methotist Church and an active worker in the Sunday school, where he had a class which he called his “poor class.” He was a hypocrite of hypocrites, and was up to all sorts of rascality. His bank failed to the amount of about $2,000,000, and this money was seatte jong a great many small creditors. The bank had, all told, about 4,000 creditors, and jong these were many school teachers and poor chureh members. and Haughey boasted the friend of such organizations. rt of his swindles were carried on ymen, porters and clerks to zt notes, which he accepted nk and used as assets. At one time n he was about getting a drayman to sign one of these notes he overheard a young boy who had caught his finger in some machinery swearing. He had him at once called up and discharged, saying that he could jot have any one in’ his business who would use such language. Compantes Aid in Bank Stealings. The Indianapolis National Bank, of which this man was the president, was one of the first of the kind organized. It was in a bad way In ISS1, but at this time ft issued some new stock, and, among others, got ex-Vice President Colfax to put $27,500 into it. At this time Haughey's biggest swindles be- A large p by getting sign frauduk in b gan. He started several fictitious com- pante: * was a glue factory, of which his se w Haughey, was head. He also started a Schuyler} Neither of the is it known r works, and put another son, y, in charge of that. > enterprises ever paid, nor that they were expected to pay. Their chief busi yas the issuing of paper to be discoun| y the bank. The capital of the bank was $300,000, and the limit of the I to a single borrower un- der the law cent of this, or B00 Iiy this law neither of these fac- toi could borrow more than $30,000, They evaded th employes to m: however, by getting their ten e out notes for five o each, payable to the ughey would then take the hank, indorse them and get The employes, of course, received e of it, They were men of no respon- » and had neither money nor credit. drivers, day laborers and clerks this way Were used i to obtain targe amount Men working at a dollar a day notes for $10,000, and Lew Haughey would get them cashed. These notes generally ran ninety days, and the making and renewing of them was a large part of the business of the employes of the hair One in the a tates and Eng- ferent he United land. tie Gea: be sent in. The Ini pany would indorse them, er would be told th ey were good fness. This en the bubble 1 and the Indianap: ities of sets of about $00,099. of the Indianz the Cu Company 0,000 and as- li then had notes Company, cf : and of the Glue amounting, all told, to $315,000. Haughey and his 5 of course, ar- rested. ‘Their cases were set for trial in M, and Hatighey plead gui He was nt to the penitent is now serving out his term e. He is seventy-five years old, and is said to he much broken in healta. lew Haughey was acquitted, it is suppose] largely through the sympathy connected with his mother, who had no one else to care for her. The Keystone National Bank. The Keystone National Bank of Philadel- phia failed in 1891, with an indebtedness of nearly $2,000,000. There have now been more than four years of negotiailon and litigation, and less than $600,000 have been realized. This failure caused originally by one of the presidents of the bank, John T. Lucas, using the bank funds to invest in seashore real estate. He did this to the amount of 300,000, but died before he could replace the money. The next president of the bank was Gideon W. Marsh, who was at the head of the bank at the time of the failure. He saw that he could not withstand the storm, and fled to Brazil, where he is still at large. The assistant cashier did not receive a cent from the robbery of the bank. He merely tried to conceal the acts of others, and for this he was setenced to prison for seven years In the penitentiary of Phila- delphia. Anether man who suffered was the treasurer of Philadelphia, a man named Beardsley. Ieardsley had a large amount of state funds on hand, in addition to those of the city. He wanted to get interest on this money, and he loaned it to the bank. These funds amounted to more than a mil- lion dollars. The money was used by the bank for its own purposes, and when it failed Beardsley was arrested, and was given a sentence of fifteen years in the peni- tentlary, where he now Is. A New Way of Keeping Accounts. The way in which the Keystone Bank succeeded in fooling the bank examiners and in defrauding its creditors was by falsifying its books. For cight years it suppressed its liabilities and padded its assets. Some of the books showed that there were nearly fourteen hundred thou- sand dollars due to depositors, while the ledger statement showed only eleven hun- dred thousand dollars. In the year 1886 the books were fraudulently changed to the amount of $680,000, the bank apparent- ly being solvent when it was really that much behind. Two years later there was a difference of more than $600,000 between the false and true statements of the bank’s condition, and there was a fraud of more than $226,000 in the deposits. In 1889 the deposits were understated to the amount of $530,000 and the bank ex- aminer found several hundred separate items. The falsification of the accounts was done by dropping the thousands here and there. For instance, a balance of $1,584.26 appeared on the sheets as $534.26. Another balance of $1,647.30 as $617.30, and another of $11,503.81 as $503.81. The book- keepers were arrested, but it was found that the fraud had been committed by other parties. As the examiners continued their work all sorts of other frauds were found. Pages had been torn from the ledgers and entire accounts removed. In one year nearly four hundred pages were cut out, millions of dollars’ worth of false clearing house bills and certificates of de- posit were issued and other frauds of the most slovemly character were perpetrated. Money Saved by Receivers. In closing this article I wish to say that a large portion of the amounts thus stolen by the above banks have been recovered. Controller Eckels speaks in the highest terms of the work of the receivers, and for ears, and he has given me @ memorandum of the | tional Bank j Highest of all in Leavening Power— Latest U.S. Gov't Report Baking. Powder men in charge of these various banks and the amounts which have so far been real- ized. The Maverick Bank is in the charge of Mr. Thcmas P. Beal as receiver. It has already paid dividends to the amount of 89.05 per cent. The Keystone Bank, in the hands of Robert M. Yardley, receiver, has 80 far paid 17 cent. The Indianapolis Bank, Edward Hawkins, receiver, has paid 45 per cent. The Fidelity Bank, David Armstrong, receiver, has paid 58 per cent. The Marine Bank, Walicr S. Johnson, re- celver, has paid 83 per cent. Of all na- tional banks which have failed in the past Iam told that an average of more than 75 per cent of their indebtedness has been re- covered, and all-told the national banking system is the safest and most Teliable on record. FRANK G. CARPENTER. eS THE GAME OF PIN HOCKEY. A New Game Introduced First in a Providence Gymnasium. From the Boston Herald. The very latest game intended to combine the elements of active but not exhausting exercise and the employment of a certain amount of individual excellence in competi- tion is called pin hockey, and, so far as known, 1s only played in the gymnasium of the Providence (R.I.) Athletic Association, where it has proved to be highly popular with the members. Gymnasium Director Doldt is given the credit for making up the geme ard introducing it. He is an excel lent player himself, and is continually mak- ing improvements. Pin hockey in many respects resembles rink polo, being played with the same kind of bell and sticks, but the method of scor- ing is radically different and the oppor- tunities are mere numerous. In rink polo and basket ball there is but one way ¢ score a goal, y driving the ball into the cage in the first instance and by throwing it Into a suspended basket in the second. Whichever side scores the most goals with- in an egreed iength of time wi but in pin heckey whichever side makes eleven poinis first wins. The game can be played with fcur men, but it is more interesting with eight. The “fleld” is laid out upon the ficor of the gymnasium. * Upon dots are placed small Indian clubs, with which all well-appointed gymnasiums re supplied. They fill the same office as bowling; in fact, should the game y proportion in its development, it s that candle pins will be substi- tuted for the Indian clubs. The latter were naturally taken in the crude development of the game. ‘The purpose of the play is to knock down the pins of the opposing t with the ball, struck by the polo stick, which seems to be an easy thing to do, but which in reality is quite difficult. If the pins are struck fair or hard t sure to go down, but it is astonishing s imes how much room there is above and on both sides of them especially when a player has to play quick to prevent an opponent getting the ball, and so does not have time to properly gauge the stroke and direction of the drive. Then, too, the pins are not set tightly to- gether, but just far enough apart to permit the ball to pass through; and as the han- dies of the clubs a smalier than the kodies, a ball can be driven between them without knocking them down. There is no positive rule of distance -n setting out the “field,” it being naturally regulated hy the amount of flocr space at the command of the players. The larger the field, of course, the more difficult it is to score, although at the same time there is a gre opportunity for open play and chance to move around. If the availabl space is small, one pin can be set up in place of two, rendering it harder to sco: for if either or both pins are knocked down in the double-pin game it counts for one, making the chances of scoring substantial- ly double that of a single pin. The players, stick in hand, stand by their pins 19 guard them from disaster, and they can be guarded from the attack of the all hy either stick or body, the same as by the goal tenc in rink polo. He not only can guard his own pins, but also those of any one on his team who may have left his unpro: rsuit of the ball. he toss of a coin, the " then placing the bail the center and driving it to one of his urtners with ch a degree of force as he may sce fit to employ. Generally it is a light knock, and with an effort not to in- dicate in advance to his rivals just to Which partner he will send it. He is not permitted to make a drive from his op- penents’ pins at this time. Then the gam gces along as fast as possible, and vi icsely aiter the le of rink polo. When 2 peint is scored, counting one, there is cessarily a wait until the pins are re- placed. The mar. whose pins are down re- sets them, and has the privilege of putting the ball in play again from ccnter, as at the opening of the MODEL CAVALRY HORSE. Some of the Requirements for Admis- sion to Uncle Sam's Service. From the Philadelphia Times. The model cavalry horse is, in color, either bay, sorrel, black er gray, sound, well bred and of superior class, gentle un- der the saddle, free trem vicious habits, with free and prompt action at the walk, trot and gallop: without blemish or defect; of a kind disposilion and with easy mouth and gait. He must be a “geldin, (mares not taken under any cireumstances), of uniform and hardy color, in good condition, from fifteen and one-fourth to sixteen hands high; weight not less than 950 nor more than 1,150 pounds; forchead broad, eyes large and prominent; from four to eight years old; head and ears small, vision perfect in ev. respect; shoulders long and sloping well back; chest full, broad and deep; for2legs straight and standing well under; “barrel” large and increasing from girth toward flank; withers elevated; back short and siraight; loins and haunches broad and muscular; hocks well bent and under the horse; pasterns slanting, and feet small and sound. A horse under five years old will not be purchased unless he is an especially fine animal, well developed. Each norse is subjected to a rigid examination, and any animal that does not meet the re- quirements in every respect will not be purchased. So it can be seen that a horse which meets the cavalryman’s fastidious taste must indeed be a model of equine ex- cellerce. Much stress ie placed upon the intelligence manifested by the candidate, voth in expression and actio! ind there are certain peculiarities in the “face” and eyes of a horse which, to the expert, de- note the fool, the stubborn brute and the devilish animal. Another singular phase of the system is, that while the cavalry horse must be of perfect shape and faulticss con- formation, he is purchased at from $125 to $250, comparatively small sums for even desirable “‘roadsters.” This, however, is explained in a measure by the fact that the cavalry horse is useless for breeding purposes and, as a rule, not fast enough as a trotter to make a race horse. In the United States cavalry service there are ten regiments of twelve troops each, with sixty men to the troop, not counting officers, and there are cver seven thousand horses in the service. The average working life of the cavalry horse is about fifteen years, and about 10 per cent of those in the service die or are discarded every year. Aristocratic Wage-Earners. Many members of some of the oldest houses in France are, according to a writer in London Truth, row winning a livelihood as wage-earners and bear their lot with a cheerful philcsophy. Among them is a Marquis de Beaumanoir, whe carries grist to a mill near Nantes. Vicomte de St. Megrin is a cab driver. Comte de St. Pol makes out gas bills. Comte d’Auteroche is a gendarme. Mar- quis de Poligny is an omnibus conductor. Vicomte de Mousiiers is a searcher in a custom house. His colleague is Baron d@’Aubinals. “My man-servant,” says the writer, “is an authentic marquis. Emile is his nom de guerre. The real name is Gaspard. It required 1,200 years of monarchy and one century of revolutionary unheaval to make this valet.” People will have Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup. . J ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS. The Astor Library Has £200,000 Wort of Them—Gem of the Collection. From the New York World. There are $200,000 worth of ancient manus scripts In the Astor library, but the oldest of these is the Evangelisterium, which is’ said to have been expressly excctited for Charles the Bald, the grandson cf Chart magne. He was a patron of the f and was especially fond of emivcllished manuscripts. This rare and precious manu-! sccipt, which few people are aware is pos-! sessed by our city, is written on fine vel- lum and is an oblong quarto of 4% pages. The first four pages have splendid full- length miniatures of the four Evangelists, ! profusely illuminated with liquid cold and! emerald green, shaded with red aud white on an empurpled ground, the pictures cove ering the entire page. This superb manuscript was secured some fifte-n yeers ago by the late Mr. Astor from the famous London bibliophile. Ber- nard_ Quartrich, who catalogued it in Iss at $5,000, There are nore cost!y manu scripts in the Astor library—for instance, the Antiphonaire of Carles X, for which I am assured the late Mr. J. J. Astor paid $10,000, But this old manuscript of Charles the Bald has, as an antique, no rival. ——__+ 22+ ___ THE PINGREE PLAN. Method of Poor Assistance as It Was Carried Out in Omaha. From the Omaha Bee. The Omaha garden enterprise, for ie w employcd and the poor, which w2 menced during April last, and wi carried out by the agricultural commission and the Associated Charities, considering that it was a first trial and a dry season, resulted in a ess which encourages @ continuation and extension of the plan for the coming season. Five hundred and enty-one families made application for gare den plots, of which number 283 were pro- vided with secd potatoes and sm and 288 families with small seeds providing their own seed potatoes. ‘ ver cultivated their gardens nor pli nted their seeds. About 400 acres were cultivated in plots of from one-ha acre each, a fow having a little m The outlay to the county comin rs (who donated 400 bushels of seed potatoca), agricultural commission and Associated! Charities was $1,150, and the result was as follows: Potatoes, 14,760 busheis; cabbages, 1,406 dezen; beets, S55 bushels; beans, 510) bushels; onion: ‘1 bushels; carrots, #13 beshels; turnip: 457 bushels; peas, 24 bush- els; cucumbers, 149 bushels; corn, Si push= els, besides a quantity of’ melons, lettuce and radishes, the estimated value of alb being $7,200. The donations of land by our land own= ers were far in excess of the applications, and the best thanks of our citizens are due to them for their Mberality in giving the use of their ground, and also to those few gentlemen who so kindly gave their money, to help the enterprise. The United States Department of Agri- culture supplicd all the small seeds, and quite a quantity were left over, which will be useful next season. = a INCREASING PARK AREAS. Extension in Size and Number of thy Pleasure Grounds of American Cities, From the New York Sun, At the me of the acquisition of the new and extensive parks in the annexed district (provided for by an act of the le; 1SS4 and 1 quired and pa 1889) New York city only 1,094 acres of park land, compared with an area of acres in Philadelphia and 3,000 in among Ameri: and 5,00) 4 es in Berlin, 8,000 in Vienna, 22,000 in london, 4 172,010 in Paris. The insuffic' York’s park area had led to the ap- tment of a special commission for the ition of new park lands, ani these were acquired to the extent of 3,Su0 addi- tional acres, at a total cost to the city of $9,800,000, exclusive of the sums pid for the smaller parks in the more thickly p: ated parts of the town, the last of these sites je- ing at Mulberry Bend and Corlears Hook, | With these sitions the park area of New York is res. ila in the park ties has been noti zo has four parks of each. ¥ of rea of d re- more eckson Park, the site s Washington P- vy far from it; Lincoln Park, in the end of town, and Humboldt Park west side. Cleveland has in a shi increased its park a by the pureha six dist of town. area of 2,100 ac: Philadelphia, omore, which ‘was ago, is now 911. including Dru one of the finest in the United States. j extension of the park system in Ameri cities has been so rapid of late that only four large cities had on January 1 more j than a thousand population to an acre of park area within their municipal limits, Of these four cities, one, Cleveland, acquired additional park land; an | dianapolis, has a large park for th. | its inhabitants a little beyond t and a third, Brookiyn, has a c authorized by an act of the legi. 1892, to acquire land for park pur = HAND SHAKE. Transatlantic Adoption of a Seco Rate Freak. j From the London Daily News. The new kind of hand shake, “in high seconde,” as the language of fencing goes, was, and perhaps is, popular with third- rate “smart people” who had a baronet for @ cousin or an uncle who was a colonel in the army. These brainless beings had prob- ably heard that some prince or princess shook hands, in high seconde, perhaps be- cause H. R. H. had hurt his royal arm, or for some such blameless reason. This theory of the origin of the high crook is a mere conjecture, but surely no less potent cause could have brought in the cus “raising the hand above the should or course, the custom has reached America, and being totally senseless in its in has been imitated by the citizens, gregariousness of human nature, it imitativeness, has never been illustrated than by the transatlantic tion of a second-rate freak of British €s and British “Johnnies.” The fact illy trates the old anecdotes of how rus were universally worn because a_ro had a scar on her neck. W course of folly takes its way, for a similar. vagary of New York would not soon de~ vastate this island. The old shake-hand is the only truq ke-hand, and it ought to be studic? and practiced, in all its delicacies, by the young. tu Doses, THE HIGH men who would succeed in life. He must know now to be bluff and hearty; how to be caressing and insinuating, yet “not too bold,” and he must never be lifeless and ine Aiferent, for people resent this attitude Probably Hazlitt was so much hat cause to shake hands with him grasping a cold boiled flounder. ees He Had Heard Her Say From the Louisville Evening Post. That It is only a step from th ime te the ridiculous is well iMustrated by the following amusing incident that happened a few Sabbaths ago in a well known church, and caused no little merriment’ among the teach The superintendent was telling the wee small folks of the custom in certain countries of chaining the prisoners’ hands and feet togethen “And,” she asked, “don’t you supose that if some one came and released them they, would be very happy and grateful?” 1 he. ke It was unanimeusly agreed that they would. “And,” continved the superintendent, coming to her point, “Jesus was sent ta the world to release people from their sing, Are any of you here bound with the chains of sin?” “No,” piped the four-year-old off- spring ef the minister, “I’m not, but my, grandmother is.”