Evening Star Newspaper, July 25, 1898, Page 11

THE EVENING STAR, MONDAY, JULY 25, 1898-12 PAGES. MARYLAND BANKERS —__+—__—_ They Meet by the Breakers at Ocean City. COMBINE BUSINESS AND PLEASURE ——_-+—_— William T. Dixon’s Views on the Financial Situation. PROSPECTS ARE CHEERING a jal Prom a Staff Correspondent. N CITY, Md., July 23, 1898. bankers have invaded Ocean number of a hundred or two past two days in attendance Sp Mar} jand to the the third annual convention of their upon assoc and, after spending their mornings considering questions of grave import in the cafe of the Atlantic Hotel, they have scooted for the bath houses like so many boys and surged into the surf, ap- pe )livious that such things as over- jon, ently ¢ drawn accounts or dishonored drafts ever had existence. They have cracked jokes with an abandon that is gay and juvenile, and it would have been an excellent lesson we for a capitalist, wealth and probity hating list to have seen*how human the ogres his imagination really are. pop a The had admirable opportunity also to renew and strengthen personal ac- aintanceship and to indulge in inter- of views sure to result edvan- to the business circles of the and the papers read in the two sessions were fuil of wise 4 thoughtful propositions. Chief, mong the subjects considered dianapolis monetary movement and the proposed national legislation on banking and currency. In the interview given below the consensus of the opinion of the entire convention on the latter sub- Ject will be found. Gold the Only Standard. At the closing session yesterday a reso- lution was passed. It was to the effect that “we are unalterably opposed to the free coinage of silver and to every debasement of our currency, in whatsoever form it may be presented; that we firmly and honestly believe that the true interests of our coun- try will be best served by its rigid ad- herence to the gold standard of value, the continuance of which will nut only pre- nancial integrity and the future f its citizens. from the wage earn- er apitalist, but will insure through the prompt restoration of confidence that rapid development of its resources which will e ually place it first among the commercial nations of the earth.” A Significant Incident. During the consideration of this matter a significant incident occurred. A member moved an amendment recommending that in all future Issues of government bonds there should be inserted a clause declar- ing that the bonds should be paid in gold coin The motion did not even get a second; no one spoke on It, and {t was withdrawn, the propeser realizing that his colleagu all regarded it as ill-advised and as calculated to cast doubt upon the validity of the re- nption of the former issu2s of govern- bonds in gold coin. The election of officers resulted in the otce of Dr. J. W. Herring, cashier of the jon National Bank of Westminster, M4., presid-nt: William Marriott, cashier of Western National Bank of Baltimore, treasurer, and Lawrence Kempt, president Comm. al and Farmers’ Bank of Balthnore, secretary. Th2 two latter were d. Ao Eminent Financier. In such an assemblage the opportunity to Fecure really authoritative opinion on nditions of the financial world was too excellent to be disregarded, and it was my good fortune last night to have an ex- ceedingly interesting talk with Mr. William T. Dixon. president of the National Ex- change Bank, chalrman of the executive ccmmittee of the Baltimore clearing house, f directer of the Baltimore Consolidated RR. R. anc other corporations, and presi- dent of Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is a man whcse views on all subjects affecting oommt y interests are eagerly sought. because of the profound judgment he ex- ercises in considering them, and standing as he does in the front rank of American financiers his opinions are valuable. In recording them I have been careful to ob- serve the confidence he imposed in The Star, recognizing it, as he said, not only as a great paper, but a great public edu- eator. I asked Mr. Dixon {ff the bankers re- @arded the early settlement of the cur- rerey question by Congress as probable, and what by he hought of the bill reported the majority of the Houge committce on banking and currency, and that pre- pared by Chairman Walker of that com- mittee Favors the Committee Bill. “We are very hopeful that the important question will be settled on the Ines laid down bill of the majority,” replied Mr. Dixon in response to my questions. “The government, at present, is in paradox: ondition of being in the bank- and at the same time of not The committee bill is, per- ruse in some particulars, but it is rehension. ied it more d any piece of proposed legisla- but I covid not comprehend majority bill, which provic yanks shall uphold the re- certain proport heir unds in gold, and the ion for © demands of in Various sections of ‘the y in the mat- ion is, I feasible. The ing for ation during also acceptable. It would et its requireme! high tax rate on ireulation would soon retire It ss returned to normal condi- Small Banks Inadvisable- not approve, however, of the idea the establishment of large »f small banks,” continued Mr. would be better to authorize stable banks to establish They would have in a greater sermi degree the confidence of communities. The head institution would then be able to send money here, for instance, at once if there stringency, or to Frederick if such a existed there. The authorization banks would have the tendency, of leading the inexperienced to » business, and this would not be for many reasons, as you can eive: rable readily pr “Taking it all in all, however,” said Mr. Dixon I think the committee bill, with a few changes, will meet the approval of the financial world, and I strongly hope it may be passed as soon as it is preperly pruned and a few of {ts unnecessary fea- tures eliminated.” ‘The Public and Financial Heresies. “What are the future prospects in the financial world?” I inquired. “We believe they are promising,” said Mr. Dixon. “There seems to be a very general and a very gratifying tendency to draw away from the financial heresies that have threatened to not only sap the very foundations of the government itself, but of busir 8 well. The rise in wheat lest spring and the accompanying fall in silver Was a very convincing object lesson to those who had thoughtlessly subscribed to the pet theory of the silver advocates that the price of wheat and the white metal rose or fell in harmony. I am nearly sure that In Maryland the democracy this year will ignore silver. Confidence, that was so sadly stricken in 1896, is recovering itself and a more hopeful feeling is everywhere apparent. “When we were considering our gold res- olution today,” he continued, “a member of the convention proposed an amendment recommending that in all future issues of government bonds the word ‘gold’ should be inserted before the word ‘coin’ in the clause providing for the bonds’ redemption. It was not considered, of course, because the government, under both republican and democratic administrations, has already conclusively decided that coin means gold. The adoption of such an amendment might have indicated that we had some doubt about the course heretofore pursued. Our government securities in this respect are like the Bank of England notes. They say that the bearer will be paid £5 ‘here or at Manchester.’ There is no mention of the character of the money to be tendered in such payment, but the whole world knows it means gol What Bryan's Candidacy Meant. The conversation turned on the incidents of the campaign of 1896 and the deep fear felt over the possible election of. Bryan. 1 remarked that from investigation made professionally and information received from trustworthy sources I was convinced that if Bryan, instead of McKinley, had been elected there would have been a gen- eral suspension of business and great finan- «ial distress and disaster. ‘That would have been undoubtedly the se," said Mr. Dixon, with emphasis. The subjects of the war tax and the war bonds were next touched upon. Mr. Dixon was quite emphatic in his criticism of the collateral inheritance tax of 15 per cent. “I am inclined to think,” he remarked, “that the inscrtion of the collateral in- heritance tax was something in the na- ture of a sop to the populistic element that is so bitter against wealth. You know I am president of Johns Hopkins Hospital. If that tax had been a law when Johns Hop- kins died his estate would have been com- pelled to pay the government over $4,000,- 000. Another instance is more recent. Six monthe ago one of our directors died, leav- ing about $2,000,000., Had he lived five months longer $300,000 of the estate would have gone to the government.” The War Bonds. Regarding the war bonds, Mr. Dixon thought it would have been much wiser if the “measure authorizing their issue had permitted their sale to the highest bidders. “The government would have received four or five million dollars more from the premfums,”’ he remarked, ‘‘and in time of © war, especially, this is an item. The na- banks would have largely taken them as a basis of circulation, as the bord» that are now chiefly held by them for tuis purpose mature in 1904 and 1907 to the amount, at both periods together, of between six hundred and seven hundred million dollars. Today I received word from New York that the war bonds were 104 3-8. That makes them relatively higher 4 per cents at 110. ‘Mr. Dixon paid a very high compliment to Secretary Gage, declaring that he was the right man in the right piace. and wa: particularly emphatic in his praise of the splendid system adopted and now in prog- ress in apportioning the bonds. CLUSKEY CROMWELL. ——— GAZED ON THE MIKADO. Unintentional Offense by an American Girl Traveling in Japan. From the Chicago Chronicle. Numerous stories are told of the un- abashed behavior of free-born American girls in the presence of royalty. Uncle Sam’s daughters calmly assume that princes, kings and emperors are never any better than—seldom as good as—her brothers in the land of the free, and as she has no special reverence for the men at home she falls to see why those she meets abroad should be treated any more defer- entially. Miss Kate Garrison, a Buffalo girl, now traveling in the orient, writes home detail- ing as follows a unique experience she had in Japan: “Today I went to see the temple of Kwannon. She is the goddess of mercy, and by paying a few sen one is shown her colossal statue. The guide book says it is fifty feet high, made of wood, gilded. It is a dark place and Nghted by candles. I had an amusing experieace. The temple is up on a side hill overlooking the plain of Kamakura, and is reached by many steps. 1 rested frequently on ascending, and then sat down in a little tea house on top before looking at the temple. I closed my eyes, smelled my salts, etc. Suddenly I was aroused by a policeman coming very near me and glaring into my face. He said: “Io- day, pritz.” I turned around and saw a gorgeously robed priest, followed by an old man, holding @ little girl of about eight years by the hand. Several ladies followed. I looked, and supposed the policeman meant I could not visit the temple because of some priests’ functions. Another policeman came up and glared, and I had no idea of doing any wrong. The aforesaid party des- cended the steps close by, and I naturally watched them, thinking, ‘What a delicate looking Mttle girl, and what a fine looking old man! The guard leading turned on reaching the first landing and glared at me again. “When I reached the hotel and told about it the people nearly burst themselves laughing over it. I had had the effrontery to look upon royalty. That was the cause of the glares. Then my most awful sin was watching them go down the steps, as I was higher than they and looking down upon them. My ignorance of the language and customs had carried me through. The two little princesses are now in Kamakura, and it they walk on the beach the whole place is cleared. No common eye is allowed to see. It is so with the whole family. If the crown prince has gone to look at a river on the mountains the whole road is shut off. The empress has no children, but the emperor has twelve other wives, and these fldren are theirs. There is but one son daughters; aN are very deli- are taken away from the Y soon, and brought up in dif- nt palaces, with noble ladies in wait- The mothers are ‘not in it.’ So you * what an awful thing your Ameri- ‘born child did today.” —- EXAMINING THE RECRUITS. mother ve: ferei ing. The City Man Appears to Be Losing His Grip. From the Medical Record. ‘The numerous discussions hearing on the physical degeneration of the average up-to- €cte American citizen have recently had a vury practical demonstration of fact in t number of rejections for unfitness for mili- tary service, as the result of test examina- ticns cf recruits. Lieut. Col. Mans, U. S. A., who charge of the enlisting bureau, fcund that it was necessary to examine seventeen thousand applicants in order to obtain twelve thousand who were fit for field duty. The results show in the main that the ordinary militiaman who repre- s the average metropolitan is by no means up to the requirements of a first- class soldier. In other words, it would ap- pear that the best is done with the ma- terial at hand. The Influences of city life in causing a lack of physical development and vital power are plainly manifested in contrasting the number of acceptances from country regiments as compared with those from the large cities. It has long been admitted that the best blcod comes to us from the rural districts, where healthful surroundings, outdoor life and moderate living make the sum and substance of that vital resistance to degen- erative influences which ts capable of mest- ing all the ordinary strains of modern civi- lization. This is one reason why the coun- try lad makes his mark and succeeds where | the city-bred youngster fails. In a genera- tion or two the enervating influences of city life tell in an unmistakable way upen the physical development of the sturdy yeoman, who then becomes narrow chest- ed, weak kneed, short sighted, and is no longer in the fore in the race. This fact is strikingly exemplified in the alarming proportion of rejections in city regiments, to which reference has been made. From stich a point of view, it is quite evident that the city man is losing his physical grip, for reasons obvious to all who study Bis habits and note the ultimately per- nicious influences of his depressing environ- ment. (= 0 The great damage inflicted by “Old Iron- sides” upon her adversaries in battle, with Pmnergeir 6 ‘gen injury to herself, rought forth following comment from the London Times in 1813: “The fact seems but too clearly established that the Amer- jeans have some superior mode of firing.” CROKER COMING BACK Alarmed at the Importance Ex-Sena- tor Hill Has Developed. HE WANTS 10 BE SENATOR Some Prominent Republican Gu- bernatorial Candidates. THE PROBABLE TICKET Special Correspondence of The Evening Star. NEW YORK, July 24, 1898. The Cunarder Lucania is plowing across the ccean freighted with the most precious thing, politically, to Tammany’s heart. There is joy in the wigwam, for Richard F. Croker is aboard. Of course, he will be met down the bay by a few of his chiefs, taken aboard a chartered tug and pawed over to his utmost delight. When the “Boss went away things were running smoothly, but during his absence there has been a cyclone in the police depart- ment, an earthquake in the legislature and now there’s a threatening cloud up state. in the vicinity of Wolfert’s Roost, that looks as if it were pregnant with much danger to the pet schemes of this import- ant politician and his followers. When Croker gets back there has got to be a heap-big-talk between that gentleman, Murphy, Hill, McLaughiin and other lead- ers before the party policy is fully decided upon. In view of this fact the state com- mittee meeting, which was slated for the ecming week, has been postponed, some say until the first Wednesday in August, and others the second week in August, but really until Croker is ready. Murphy will be the first one to have a go at the “Boss.” Murphy is recognized by the “Boss” as the democratic leader of the state. This pair will probably hie them away to Richfield Springs, where they can bor- row each others’ ears without fear of echoes. It is the one political retreat in the north where echoes never betray cou- versations. It is the northern counterpart of Thomaston in Georgia. The Attack on Hill. While a number of the rank and file en- thuse over the olive Eranch, the suggestion of ways and means to evade the Black bill offered by Hill the leaders are as silent as sphinxes. They are waiting for Croker. They regard Hill as “out of politics,” to use Croker’s expression, and predict his overthrow. And Hill isn’t saying a word. He went to Normandie-by-the-Sea Satur- dey, after talking with former Lieut. Gov. William F. Sheehan and Chairman Dan forth of the democratic state committee on the legal contest against the election law. Before he left he reiterated his belief that with wise management the democrats would carry the state this year. There is evidence that Hill's opponents in the democratic party are encouragirg the free silver men to guerrilla warfare upon him. There is a nominal silver organiza- tion in nearly every city in the state. ‘The most active are in Buffalo, in Rochester and in Albany. These organizations are mere shells and have no political weight worth considering, but they are able to make noise and they are taking advantage of the fact. While neither Senator Mur- phy nor Richard Croker believes that free silver should be made a part of the plat- form, they must be chuckling at the re- marks made by the silverites about Hull. In passing it may be remarked that it is noticeable that no reflections have been n.ade upon Mr. Croker, who remained out of the country during the campaign of 1896, and who has refrained carefully from expressing any opinion which might be construed as favoring the Chicago plat- form. Croker Wants to Be a Senator. In Brooklyn, where Hill is pretty well re- garded, it is said that the real purpose of Hill's visit is to take an active part in ar- ranging for the state convention. » Hugh McLaughlin, the leader of the democrats in Kings, has quietly packed his tackle and jack knife and gone off to fish at James- port. Not so far, however, that Hill can- not easily reach him for conference. It may be said that no plans of importance will be made this year without expression from McLaughlin. For the opinion of the veteran leader of Kings county Senator Hill has an abiding respect, and his coming here at this time is more to hear Mc- Laughlin’s views on present conditions aud the framing of politics to meet them in the campaign than for any other purpose. Why Croker is coming back may be told in one word—Hill. A very prominent member of the German American Reform Union is re- sponsible for the statement that Croker's ambition is to go to the United States Sen- ate as Murphy's successor. Says the leader in question: “The German American Re- form Union is disposed this year to be for the democratic party, but the party must not reaffirm its faith in silver, nor can it nominate an ordinary man for governor. We don’t mind taking a man for silver merely to be c ent in the party, but we will not go in with the denfocracy s0 long as it makes an out-and-out declara- tion for silver. I understand that there will be no silver plank. That program would suit us to a dot. The only draw- back would be the possibility, if a demo- ri legislature would result from the election, of Richard Croker being named for the United States Senate. Some of our members wouldn't touch Croker under any circumstances and would not care to giv him the instrument in a democratic legis lative majority for his personal elevation. ill, I am inclined to think that the next senator, if democrats control, will be Mur- phy himself or David B. Hill, Possibiy Croker has heard Hill’s name mentioned in conn n with the senator- ship, who can tell? Something is bringing him home a month earlier than the time scheduled, and the logical deduction is that it is Hill. The Democratic Conference. That the cable brought some word from Croker to check Hill is evident from the re- sult of the meeting held here last week. Other democrats besides Croker, it seems, regard Murphy as the real democratic leader of the state, for Murphy's presence at the Hoffman House at the meeting re- ferred to resulted in a democratic confer- ence at which Hill’s plans were thwarted. Hill, through his man, Elliott Danforth, chairman of the democratic state commit- tee, has suggested several times that the democratic state convention ought to be held earlier than usual this year, and Chairman Danforth intimated, some time ago, that the plan was to hold the con- vention about the third week in August. ‘There have been rumors, too, for the past few days that Danforth was preparing to call a meeting of the state committee right away to formulate Hill's plan. Murphy, accordingly, was appealed to by Tammany, for the Tammany men want the considera- tion of the campaign deferred until Crok- er’s return. Murphy conferfed with An- thony Brady of Albany, one of the “Huc- kleberry Big Four,” William F. Sheehan, former Heutenant governor; Mr. Danforth, John B. Stanchfield of Elmira, who has as- pirations for the governorship “some other year; James W. Hinkley, former chairman of the state committee and a Hill man, and Colonel John G. Gaynor of Syracuse, a member of the state committee. John F. Carroll, Croker’s proxy, was not present. At the meeeting there was a general dis- cussion of campaign plans. Senator Mur- phy declared flatly for a late convention, after the republicans held theirs. The new metropolitan elections law, it is said, would be tested in the courts before that time, on constitutional grounds, and the demo- crats hope to get some campaign material out of this contest. = After the conference was over and Sena- ter Murphy had started for his train, the information was given out by one of the Jeaders who had been present that no man who had been unfaithful to Bryan and the ticket of 1896 would be nominated for governor. It was further said that the party would make its fight on state of which the new elections law would be the foremost. ‘Ihe question of indorsing the Chicago platform came up, it was’ said, end a decision had been reached. Th claim was that the leaders had practically come to an agreement by which the na- tional platform would be merely peraeness of the organization and that the field was an open one. There will be at least twelve candidates for the nomiaation. Gubernatorfal Candidates. Speaking of gui torlal candidates, there is a small béom fér “Teddy” Roose- velt. Campaign button’ have been struck off, and several clubs have indorsed him. ‘The boom has beew traced back to ex-Ex- cise Commissioner! Joséph Murray, who was custodian of “the ‘New York custom house when Col. Roosgyelt was a United States civil service cémmissioner, under Presideat Harrisom Col. Roosevelt has been a political district (protege of Murray and Murray has bepn iy turn a protege of Roosevelt. Murray is very friendly to Roosevelt and would take any reasonable steps to bring abgut Roosevelt's political advancement. Prominent republicans say, however, that they cannot see how Col. Roosevelt can break into the situation at this time. They speak in glowing terms of his career as a soldier at Santiago and they admit that in the daily walks of life: they had met many voters who said they-would like to vote for Col. Roosevelt, as-a_re- publican candidate for governor. They said that he was just ‘ther style—free and dashing and exhilarating, but nevertheless and notwithstanding all this the republican authorities do not appear to be ready to be taken off their feet by the talk for Roose- or Platt is quoted as saying that the “republican candidate for governor may come out of the * The demo- cratic hero from New York has not ma- terialized to the satisfaction of Senator Murphy, though he may be in the ranks of the boys in blue now on their way to Porto Rico. One republican hero has been disclosed—Theodore Roosevelt. But he and Platt are said to detest one another. Roosevelt never did suffer the machine lash to be applied to-him, and his admirers say, much as he would like the governor- ship, he would never take orders from the Tiogan. On the way to Porto Rico or about to start is Gen. Frederick D. Grant. Should Grant, before the convention, per- form de2ds of valor similar to these of which Rooseveit acquitted himelf at Santi- ago, and come out alive, those in the con- fidence of Senator Platt assert that the son of the hero of Appomattox will stand a good chance of being presented to the repiblican state convention as the candi- date of the machine, and receive all the support Platt can command. Probable Republican Ticket. This, of course, if Platt has decided to break the present slate—Black and Wood- ruff. And there is no indication on the surface, other than the merest gossip, that he has decided to do any such thing. Wm. Brookfield, who probably shas as much in- fluence as any other man in the independ- ent republican organization, says: ‘Col. Roosevelt would make a good governor, no doubt. He would be elected, too, if nomi- nated as the candidate of the republican party. But he won't be nominated. Gov- ernor Black’s renomination, I think, is assured, despite some reports to the con- trary. Nor am I ready to jump in and denounce the governor for having the new election law passed without regard to other legislation, some of which he made pos- sible, some, luckily, impossible.” “You can write it down as a positive fact,” says Walter B. Atterbury, chair- man of the republican general committee of Kings county, “that the republican state ticket will be headed by Black and Woodruff. I have talked with many prominent leaders in the party in the state, and that is the almost unanimous expression. Talk to the contrary is the result of dyspepsia, ee THE SUN DANCE OF THE UTES. aba Religious Ceremony Which Has Lost Its Ancient Birbarities. From the Omaha Bee. ‘The “social event’? of Ute society took place last week cn the reservation at Fort Duchesne. It is known as the sun dance, and is undoubtedly one of the most inter- esting of the Amegican, Indians’ peculiar performances, This 4s the first time for years that th have keen permitted to hold the dance, it having been prohibited cn account of the tendency toward in- humanity and self-tortdre on the part of the performers. In fact, a comparatively few years ago It was Conducted in the most berbarous manner pessible, and was the test or “graduating exercise” of the young bucks to show their courage and endur- ance. If they withstcod the ordeal they could then join the warriors’ band; if not, they were placed with the squaws and compelled to perform the most menial labor which fell to their lot. However, the sun dance of today is quite changed from that of ten years ago. If the agent refuses to permit them to hold the dance near the agency, they are likely to go to some out-of-the-way place in the mountains ond hold it. Consequently he concluded it better to let them hold it where {t coald be watched, and, if neces- sary, regulated. They constructed a sort of framework for a large tent or pagoda, about 100 feet across. Wita the exception of a large en- try-way, the sides were covered with bushes, the ‘op being open. The perform- ers were stationed around about one-haif the inclosure, part of the balance of the space being occupied by the “orchestra The dancers (fifty-four entered) were at- tired in a gee-string, their bodies painted in varied colors. some copper color, others yellow and others nearly white, to which were added «dd stripings and markings of face and body in other bright shades. Their hair was neatly combed, and, as usual, parted in the middle and braided in two ig strands, which were adorned with thers of varied ccicrs. Each wore a small apron of some brilliant color, worked with beads in odd designs, also adorned with feathers. Each had an oddly con- structed whistle with a tuft of feathers at- tached. ‘The orchestra (not exactly a Theodore Thomas organization, but one which seem- ed to please those most concerned) con- sisted of a big tom-tem, upon which seven or eight strong bucks delivered a mized assault with clubs, accompanie: the dulcet voices of several squaws, wh at the same time might be imagined a keeping time by waving branches. The celebrated Midway Piaisance orchestra was not to be compared with this. The music starts up and each performer takes his whistle in his mouth, and during the performance with each breath adds to the Giscord. With feathers in each hand he starts from his place, and by short. suff jumps, with feet together, goes t: ward the ceater pole, upon which 1s hung a banner with a crude picture of a buffalo, at which he intently gazes and to which he seems to be appealing. When the cen- ter is reached the return is made by the same kangaroo-like jumps backward. This is kept up fifteer or twenty minutes, and if some should not go forward or backward each time they never éease jumping up and dewn and swinging their heads while re- maining in one place. When the music, or, mcre properly speaking, the outlandish jargon of sounds, eeases, each performer usually drops down and makes the best of the short rest, for it is only a few mo ments before they must begin again an3 Keep it up jay and; night without other than those short rests, and without food or drink during the whole :time—three days and three nights. «> 1s With performers "+ gtchestra and the hundreds of Indiangibt #f1 ages and modes of attire present, a thulygnovel and interest- ing spectacle is presented, especialiy at night, when the campfiremadds much to the weird picture and ie oly te little for the imagination to caugfohe to feel that he is a part of the seeges go vividly pictured in the yellow-covesed 1J0-cent: novel of years ago. It is impessible to get an intel- ligent explanation f=the full meaning of the peculiar perforgant It_is evident, however, that undoi foc a number of ob- jects are in view. The buffalo banner and their actions towarddit stiow that they are appear to the mofiaréh of the plains to return. ‘The one who can)twittstand the ordeal and be at the finish is fully empowered to be a high-class m e man, and has the additional honor of: giving a pony and blenkets tu others of the tribe, which he does after he had sprinkled his gifts with earth and gone through odd incantations over them. Nearly ‘all remained through the contest, but it may be ——— upon that not one will be caught doing a stroke of work for the whole of the next year. Yet he can do but little less than any of the others do. 2 A Calculating Wife. From Life. x < Ex-Servant.—My husband's been beatin’ me again, Miss Mary, and I'd twenty minds to have him arrested.” Miss Mary.—“Why didn’t you?” Es “Well, I was thinkin’, too, with me so- lame and him not workin’, how'd I ever get the money to pay the fine!” NO MILITARY AIR The Pomp and Circumstances of War Lacking Here. NO GUARDS AT THE DEPARPHENTS The Adjutant General a Hard- Working Man. Ces INFLUENCE A military people would be puzzled at the aspect of things in this city. There is no clatter of saber and clink of spur. There is very little of the trappings and the show of war. Instead of the grim visaged front there is a rather sad benevolent counte- nance, which finds it difficult to hold an ex- pression of sternness. We are not used to being harsh and have few of the habits of war. We haven't even got any style about us—we are utterly deficient in military air. The French martinet would tear his hair in rage that the noble art of looking a sol- dier should be so disregarded, and the war lord of Europe, could he be here, would say: “Yes, surely they are snopkeepers and contractors. They haven't even the air of a soldier off duty." Then he would think of Manila, the bloody waters and shattered ships near the harbor of Santiago, of San Juan Hill and Santiago, and ponder. The easy, neglige way with which a private sol- dier walks into the War Department—the war office, the center of dignity and dis- cipline—the awkward attempt of the volun- teer to salute his superior, the lack of all pomp and show, would make the war lord ponder and wonder how it could be. No Military Ceremony. It took an order by the Secretary of War to make the army officers on duty here to wear their uniforms, just as a matter of convenience in the: transaction of bifSiness. The officers of the navy on duty at Wash- ington do not wear uniforms. The clank of a sword is not heard in the War De- partment. There is no military guard over the White House. No sentry stands at the entrance of any public ouilding. The ordinary civilian “messengers sit at the White House. The ordinary civil- ian messengers sit at the doors of the Secretary of War, of the headquarters of the general commanding the army, of the adjutant general, of the Secretary of the Navy and at the door of the office of the war board. They are not there to block the way, but simply to take in cards or to answer questions or to respond to the call to carry a message from one room to an- other. The ante rooms are open to every= body, and the men who are conducting a war may be seen leaning over their desks working like clerks. Any one having busi- ness can walk into the presence of the great military chiefs in his turn, without hindrance or ceremony. The general com- manding the army did not wear his uni- form at all until he went to join General Shafter at the front. Nowhere is there any military display; nowhere is to be found the theatrical attitude of war. A Hard-Worked Man. Probably the hardest worked man in the United States at this time is Adjutant Gen- eral Corbin. Everything has to come under his ey. The head of every department of the service has his duties to perform, but all must come before General Corbin in the end. The work of the department is done through him. He connects the army in the field with the department service and the executive authority. His work begins short- ly afver 8 o'clock in the morning, and ends, sometimes, at 1 o'clock the next morning, but generally at 2 o'clock or laier. He receives dispatches, transmits orders, at- tends to the organization of the army, sees that ths needs of the army are provided for by the quartermaster general, th2 com- missary general, the surgeon general or the paymaster general, as the case may be; looks after th> matter of recruiting and tment, receives all visitors and lis- the appeals for favor or the anxious inquiries of friends as to the welfare of those to the front. Every detail of ihe war ccm?s under his observation. During the bours that the building is open to the pub- lie his office is nearly alwa rowded. There are senators and members of the House seeking commissions or asking favors for their proteges; officars awaiting instruc- tions, consulting about details of the cam- paign or petitioning for this or that assign- ment; there is the sister or the brother making anxious inquiries about “the boy at the front,” and the mother, with sobs and tears, pleading for a son who has fallen in disgrace and is under the shadow of the court-martial. Meanwhile there is a pile of telegrams more than a fcot high on the general’s desk,- to be carefully read and answered, letters to be written, orders to be given, delays and embarrassments to be overcom? and every demand of the serv- ice looked after. Attending to all this is a man in undress uniform, with a star on each shoulder, with almost unlimited power and the authority to command and to be harsh if he so willed. Yet the ofticer who ccmes to s2ek favor above his brother offi- cers is about the only one who is ever treated with severity. With work and worry almost enough to set an ordinary man crazy, General Corbin manages to maintain an equipoise and to transact business with- out losing his temper or his clever good judgment. It is not all dash end glory, this making war. For the most part It is right down drudgery for those who have respon- sibility. vil Influence. With us there fs a peculiar mixing of the civil and the military in the matter of mak- ing war. Civil suggestion cannot alway: be lightly set aside and civil influence is not to be dispised. The soldier who is a “eitizen” is not’ like the soldier wo is merely a “subject.” A degree of independ- ence goes with the ignorance of the raw recruit and there are many things to be considered that military discipline does not contemplate. A certain young man who has been favored with a commission has lingered about Washington a long while. At breakfast he has crumpled his morning paper at the table of his boarding house and with a frown and impatient curl of the lip complained of the spirit of inaction which kept him here while there was so much to be done at the front, and while, well, that which was being done might be better done if certain people—not named— could have a hand in it. It happened that a certain general officer of the regular army, unknown to the young volunteer, was among the boarders who were attracts ed by his impatient patriotism. This offi- cer has great influence in the department, and it occurred to him that he might be of service to the young man. Without men- tioning the subject, he went to some one high in authority and suggested that the ‘young man ought to be given a chance. “What? Who?” exclaimed the high au- thority. “Why, since the war began I have been trying to get him to the front. He is a personal appointee of and has more influence than I have. It is all being exerted to keep him out of the way of harm.” pe QUEER DELUSIONS. Some of the Fancies and Notious That Possess Persons. From the London Standard. It is almost inconceivable that there are persons living whose lives are dominated by the delusion that they have never been born. Yet a man died in Brighton asylum not long ago who had an idea that he was never born and would never die. The de- lusion took possession of him so strongly that he more than once attempted to take his life. At last he threw himself from a local station platform and was cut. to pieces by a train. His delusion was not a common one, and it is not unknown among doctors, and several similar instances. The most remarkable case of this kind, however, happened in Paris about a year ago. It is a singular fact that the victims of these delusions generally attempt to take their own lives, and the case in ques- tion came under public notice by the de- luded man throwing himself on the tram lines near the church of St. Augustine. Fortunately the man was rescued by a po- liceman, who, on making inquiries, was amazed to find that ,his prisoner was a nobleman of great wealth and a viscount in rank, who had suddenly gone mad under the delusion that he had become a pauper. It was explained by the viscount’s friends that it was impossible to induce him to accept money, which. he emphatically re- fused to carry. If bank notes were given him he invariably burned them, and gold pieces he as invariably threw out of the window, generally remarking something to the effect that he was “being made a fool of,” as he knew he was a pauper without a penny in the world. The poor man appears to have been amazingly con- scientious, for since overtaken by the delu- sion that he was a pauper he has refused to eat anything at all, and had been fast- ing two days when picked up on the tram lines. A girl in Worcester recently sacrificed her life to the delusion that wax candles are good for the complexion. She died in the local infirmary from the effects of eating the capdies. Her case was much more rare thin that of the servant maid at a continental hotel who some time ago set fire to her room and burned herself to death, declaring that the Almighty com- manded her to do it. The poor girl was the victim of religious mania, and her delusion was perhaps the most common of all. A London barrister was the victim of a much more unusual mania. He imagined that a crowd of people were throwing billiard balls at him, and at the inquiry into his death, not long ago, it was stated that on one occasion the deceased applied for po- lice protection, asserting that a crowd fol- lowed him about assaulting him with bil- liard cues. In his chambers the unhappy man jumped about from one room to an- other, shouting that he had been turned out of his lodgings, and that “they had given him a box full of stones and straw and told him he was not fit to occupy a bed room.” More distinguished persons have been subject to delusions, as, for ex- ample, the explorer Ross, who “discovered” and actually named a range of mountains which never existed. Ross was in com- mand of an expedition to make the north- West passage through Davis strait, and on coming back reported that the mountains had blocked his way. MOVING ©: How a Landlord’s Tenants Who Did So Came to Grief. From the Lewiston (Me.) Journal, “There are lots of mysterious things about letting tenement houses,” said Col. J. T. Small. “I am not superstitious, but I would no more let a house on Saturday than I would set fire to it. In all the twenty or thirty years I have been letting tenements no one ever moved into a house of mine on Saturday who didn’t give me some trouble. “It used to happen again and again, till at last I got on to the freak of fortune and stopped it. Once a man moyed into one of my houses late on Saturady night. The next day he died, and I had to give his family three months’ rent. Another time a man moved in on Saturday, and in- side of a year committed suicide. Another time the house caught fire while a family was getting into gear on Sunday utter Moving in on Saturday. Sometimes the family that moves in on Saturday has scar- let fever, sometimes the wife dies of con- sumption, or some other wasting disease plays havoc among his tribe. “The other day—not many months ago, anyway—a man came to me one Friday and wanted to hire a house. He wanted it the worst kind, and when he said that I asked him when he intended to move in. ‘Tomorrow,’ said he. ‘Then you can’t have one of my house: said I, and all the folk who were prese laughed at me. The tenant laughed, too, but I stuck it out. I wouldn't let him move in on Saturday. ‘I should expect the devil to pay if you did it,’ I said, ‘for I have never known it to fail” “Well, he wanted to know if I cared if he moved in a few things on Saturday if he wouldn't go in with his family till Mon- day. I said, ‘No, 1 don't care,’ but as for his sleeping there Sunday and Saturady nights, having moved in Saturday, I wouldn't let him. ‘So he went away, promising; and, I vow, if that feilow didn't move ail ‘his things in on Saturady and slept there Sat- urday night. And inside of a week the factory where he worked was burned to the ground, and he iost his job and was out of work fer months. He owes me rent now, and he’s the last man who will ever move into one of my houses on Sat- urday. “I suppese the underlying principle of it all is that a man who will observe and keep holy the Sabbath will not move Sat- urday, because he knows he must do some work on Sunday, and a man who will rever give his landlord any trouble is the man who will not break the Lord's day.” Moral—Don’t move on Saturday. — ee THE WICKED KNORT. SATURDAY. t lie Makes More Trouble in Lap Than the Mosquito. From the Badminton Magazine. The sun was shining brightly through the window of the little wooden hut as I tum- bled out of bed cn August 10, last year. Three days’ tramp from the Norwegian ast, across rough fields and spongy bogs, one long day ofgrowing and shooting rapids, varied with spells of walking round the dangerous falls, Fad brought us late the night before to this little settlement in Lap- and. The dozen inhabitants, part Swedes, part Lapps, were already hard at work on their scanty harvest, at.d beyond the smail field I caught a climpse of the river, here videning out into a glittering jake, shining lke a sheet of silver, scarcely ruffied by a breath of wind. What a morning for a Lath! How gloriously refreshing to travel- tired limbs! “Look out!” cried Jack, “‘the*room’s full of them! Light up, qui H'sh; the air was suddenly shrill with the high-pitched, hurgry whistle of the mosquito. The win- dow I had observed before w tightly closed—indeed, would not open; the wide platform fireplace was stuffed up with green boughs. Perhaps my brother had opened the, door too boldly, and had been lost in admiration of the snow line moun- tains in the distance, or the creatures had worked a way down the chimney. At any rate, to the cover of the bedclothes I flew, and for five minutes nothing was heard from us but the steady puff-puff of our lips as we filled the room with clouds of stupe- fying tobacco smoke. One sometimes hears people who have only met the mosquito in its milder form, perhaps in Norway, or Central Sweden, or in southern countries, or possibly in Lap- land in favorable years, or late in the se: son, maintain that its terrors are much ex- aggerated. 1 have not found it so. The worst accounts that I had heard of it be- fore I visited the country did not come any- where near the reality. And even if the mosquito crop be a comparative failure in any season, there is a far more deadly in- sect waiting for you, a harmless-looking iittle sandfly, which the natives cajl a knort. The mosquito is a gentleman by comparison. He fights under the rules of civilized warfare; hostilities are openly de- clared, a shrill blare of trumpets heralds his approach. True, he descends upon you in overpowering hosts, but from the fierce blast when he first sights his foe to the savage thrust of his lance through your skin there is nothing secret or underhand about him. Not so the little knort. In ones and twos he creeps stealthily upon you; there is no whistling of wings, no parade of skirmishing round the victim. Quietly he works his way into your clothing, where he seems as much at home as any of the wingless vermin, which, fortunately, are comparatively rare in Lapland. His bite is practically painiess; you rarely notice it at the time, but on the second day it swells into a big burning wound, te rub or chafe which is intolerable agony. SLEEP-WALKING. Causes That Tend to Bring on This Nervous Malady. neither s0 common nor so entertaining a habit as readers of a certain kind of stories might be induced to believe. It is, as a lit- i } greatly restricted, in that the reasoning faculty is almost completely in abeyance, and everything the person does is purely automatic and performed under the influ- ence of a single idea. But the very fact that the mind, erinpled as its powers are, acts solely in one direc tion and ts not distracted by external im- pressions, makes =he person's actions more certain than they would be in a waking State. Thus a somnambulist may walk along the edge of a roof with perfec: stead- iness, while, if awake, he would certainl turn dizzy and fall, So, to», in a totally Gark room, the sleep-walker will often Move about without stumbling against chairs or tables, or will seat himseif at a desk, or stand holding many objects with- out upsetting one. Although we do not know with certaty the condition of the brain in somnan: bulism, observation has taught us to recog- ze many of the causes which induce it, and so to control the habit in great meas- ure. These c:uses may be mental, such as worry, brooding over one idea, and hard study, especially late at night; or physical, such as late suppers, insufficient exercise and sleeping with the head too low Most sleep-walkers are either of a ner- vous constitution, or have received scme severe shock, great grief or inimodera Joy, which has temporart!y disturbed ther hervous equilibrium. The young of both sexes are most subject to sleep-walking, and when the habit is found in youth it 1s usually outgrown in a few years. The confirmed somnambulist should avold all the mental and physical causes abov« mentioned. The bed clothing <hould be light, the sleeping room of good size and well-ventilated. Much time should be pass ed in the open air, and ovcr-application to studies must be carefully avoided. In obstinate cases the patient should not be left alone at night, and doors and win dows should be securely fastened. If he discovered out of bed he should be gently guided back, and should not be wak=ned until once more lying down — HOOKED A DUCK. A Minnesota Sportsman Hi Experience While F From the Minneapolis Jonrnal. Messrs. Smith and Bi apolls were out fishing or two ago. The day fishing. A heavy rainfall of the day and night before had made the water roily and very cold. At such times the bass, even the spawning ones, seek deep water. Dill- gently the fisherman, under the direction of “Jim” Hall, cast the shores and coves, but after a hard day's work, with arms and wrists sore and tired from the exer- cise, the fishermen dropped down along the south shore toward the Grainwood House, with only fifteen bass. Stopping for a half hour in Candy Cove, where the rvshes 2nd rice grow far out into the water, they fished during the late evening. Mr. Bleithen was seated in the stern, and as twilight settled over the water, he was unable to gauge one of his casts, which carried the delicate bratded silk, hook, sinker, frog and all far into the rice beds, where “froggy” settled on a mossy bog. At this juncture Mr. Bleithen’s reel caught, and, through some misadven- ture, tangled up. Allowing his bait to rest where it lay among the rice, the angler began to clear his reel of the snarl. Meanwhile an old mallard duck, seated upon her nest, beheld the tempting frog hin a neck’s reach of her. Out shot her head, and with a delighted quack the mal- lard ‘bolted frog, hook, sinker and a yard of line. Now great tumult arose. Mr. Bleithen felt a terrific tug upon his rod The tip shot upward instead of downward. “Truly a most marvelous fish,” quoth Mr Bleithen. “One of the flying species, no doubt, from the Mediterranean.” The reel was now running a terrific pace. The game soared far away in the blue heavens. The lithe steel bent and straight- ened as the prey made wild lunges and plunges for freedom. Mr. Bleithen, with remarkable presence of mind, played his quarry, while the guide, whose surprised imprecations rent the air, stood upon the top of his seat, wildly swooping the land- ing net about in a desperate effort to land the game. All this time Mr. Bleithen was firm in his conviction that he had hooked a flying fish. Smith happens to be an old duck hunter, and the astounding sight so amazed him that his eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Twas a desperate struggle, but strength and skill finally won out, and the mallard, with one despairing quack, was entangled in the meshes of the landing net. Once the duck was taken, and Mr. Bleith- en was satistied of the genus of his cap- ture through the combined efforts of the other participants in the strange adven- ture, a question of vital importance arose. The closed season for aquatic fowl pre- vailed. ‘There had been no intention on the part of those concerned to break the game laws, but an unlawful act had been committed nevertheless, and to remedy the evil done the guide, after much difficulty, extracted the hook from the mallard’s throat without serious injury to her and tossed her into the air. She soared away, but the next morning was seen seated con- tentedly on her nest. of Minne- t Prior iake a day was not good for ithen THE BRAVE YANKEE TAR. He Sings and Whistles W ing at His Guns. From Leslie's Weekly. A half-naked man sticking his head out of the forward eight-inch gun turret on the Brooklyn, to get a breath of fresh air, said to me as a couple of big shells whistled over our heads and struck in the water be- yond: “Funny song they sing, sir,” then disappeared. In the two hot engagements in which I have watched the fighters closely, I have never seen anything indicative of fear. True, everybody has a curlous sensation as the first few shells of the enemy whistle rhead, and when one strikes, with its frightful ‘explosion, you look around anx- iously for an instant. If the smoke is le Work- and cleared from your ship you wil) a puff of smoke from a battery ashore. Then just as you have forgotten the smoke. about three seconds later, you hear a sound like a swarm of bees humming over your head. Pretty soon the shells begin to come faster and faster. They drop in the water on both sides of you. One hits the military mast, and the debris of steel and rope and wood comes tumbling about you. You look up wonderingly, but give {t merely an in- stant’s thought. Then your mind reverts to the terrible roar of your own guns, and then comes the single idea of keeping out- side the radius of fire, not of the enemy's guns, but those on your own ship, equally dangerous to your safety, the preservation of your ear drums and your life. I stood by Commodore Schley’s side, with Fiag Lieutenant Sears, during the two first bombardments of Santiago, and we ail found ourselves absolutely forgetful of peril, watching the shots from different turrets and telling the gunners whether to depress or raise the muzzle of the gun. We kept accurately the times of the move- ments, of opening fire, of good shots. of si- lenced batteries, and of “cease firing.” The balls whistle about you with a nasty whine, as if they deplored not being able to hit you, but half the time the roar of the fusillade of your own ships drowns the complaint of the enemy's missiles. You ex- perience at first a feeling of enjoyment not unmixed with terror. Then you grow ani- muted and discover a peculiar sort of charm in the danger and in the game of life or death. — BAD