Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, February 13, 1888, Page 4

. .THE DAILY BEE. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. —— TRRMS OF SUDSCRIPTION. Edition) including Sunday, ? S 1 OmAnA Orrice, Ne NEw YORK Orrr 0OMS 4 AND BUNE gmv.m-o. WASHINGTON Orricy, No. 613 'OURTERNTH BTREET. ' CORRESPONDENCE. {di 1 leations relating to news and edi- Ao, TG B A OF THE BEE. BUSINESS LETTERS. All business letters and remittances shonld be addressed to THE HEE PUBLISHING COMPANY, OMAHA. Drafts, checks and ce orders to be mude payable to the order of the company, Tue Bee Publishing Company. Proprictors E. ROSEWATER, Editor. THE DAILY BEE. Sworn Statement of Circulation. Bpactionas,, fus (oot Tomehtick: ecretary of The Bes Dub- shing com Y, tual circulution of the Daily ending Fob, 10 588, was as Lollows does solemnly swear thut the for the week ursds ay, Average... » Eworn to and subscribed in my “‘mum thits 11th day of February, A. D,, 1888, N. P, FEI Notary Public. Btatoot Nebraska, |, County of Douglass, | %8 Geo. B, Tzschuck, being first duly sworn, de- 4 and says that he i3 secretary of The Bee Bibishing compapy, that ihe actual avorige dutly circilation of the Daily Tiee for the month Anuary, coplen: for February, TN 1887, 1400 coptes , 14,0 cople: for Beptember, I Betemier 197, 0,01 copions cember, 187, 16,041 copies. GEO. B. TZSCHUCK. Fworn and subscribed to in’ my presence this 2d day of January, A, . 188. N. P. FEIL, Notary Public. THE cable announces that Paris is overrun with American thieves. And yet this country has not noticed the loss. e —— It will not be Sullivan’s fault if he does not have a go with every aspiring pugilist of England. He seems disposed to accommodate them pretty much on their own te A urrTLE affair like the killing of a moonshiner or revenue collector is not noticed in Arkansas now. Such bloody affrays have become s0 common that they do not attract any attention unless attended by unusual circumstances. ‘TiE militia forcesof the United States wero considerably increased during the past year, the actual organized strength as given in the report sent to congress a few days ago being 100,837. The in- crease has been chiefly in the southern states, where the military spirit scems to be more active than in the north. THE Bald Knobbers of Missouri are not quite so exempt from law now as formerly. Two leaders have just been arrested for simply threatening citizens with death. A year ago it was consid- ered o deadly offense for an officer toar- rest a Bald Knobber even for murder. Missouri, however, is now rapidly be- coming civilized. ———— THE good effects of high license could not have a stronger illustration than is furnished from Chicago in the fact that while under low license the proportion of saloons to population was about one . %0 102, under the present high license law it is but one to 228. In other re- spects the testimony of the officiafls of Chicago is entirely favorable to high li- cense. No ONE appears to be able to def- initely locate the Hill boom, but there are people who insist that there is one. A homeless boom cannot be regarded as a very dangerous affair, but Hill's may settle down somewhere between now and the meeting of the national demo- cratic convention. It is doubtless safer when tramping around. If it should find a lodgement somewhere Mr. Cleve- land might sit down on it and smash it. THE tone of recent cable advices would indicate that “Unser Fritz” is nearing hisend. The belief begins to prevail that recovery is impossible. The health of this personage is a matter of great importance in Europe, inasmuch asthe heir presumptive to the throne of Prussia, in the eventof the crown prince’s death, is a youth who must 8oon assume imperinl power because of the extreme age of Emperor William, Twenty-three when invested with power ond fired with the ambition of a soldier, is apt to be inimical to the peace of the continent. PreorLE who discuss the mossibility of President Cleveland receiving only a divided support from the New York democrats in the next national conven- tion should not bank upon that as malk- ing his renomination impossible. It must not be forgotten that when he was first nominated he was far short of the golid support of the New York delega- tion. It required the unit gag rule to secure his nomination by his own state, and it was the demand of outside states for him which made his selection inevit- able. A like condition will prevail next summer, even should Hill capture the New York delegation. EeE——— Tordemand for better mail service in the west has already had its effect, and the first step in the direction of im- proyement is one which the peoplg of thissection will welcome. Under the present postal arrangements the fast mail service is required six times a week on a schedule of sixteen hours west. Itis announced that the post- mastor general has concluded a con- tract with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, to take efleet March 13, for a daily-fast mail service east and west on @& schedule of fourteen and one-half hours. This gain of one hour and a half will be especially appreciated by business men, who, it is promised, may have their mail communications turther expedited by a reduction of time be- tween Chicago and the east. A mail every day 1n the week will also be an important improvement. When . the proposed change is established it will mlr to remove the existing causes of plaint agaiust the mail service in his section. Business is Walting. The general business of the country is not active. Industrial enterprises in all departments are being oconducted with more than ordinary caution. There is a good deal of uncertainty regarding the future. Business is waiting to as- certain what congress will do for the reduction of the revenues of the govern- ment and for disposing of the surplus. This state of suspense is depressing and damaging to all interests. The e v-try expects areduction of tariff taxation, but it is important that business should know to what extent this is to be done and what interests are to be affeeted. 1t evident that the burden of taxation which the business and the people of the country are now carrying must be materially lightened or the country will encounter serious teouble in the not far future. The government caunot go on drawing money from the enterprises and industries of the people and hoarding it in the treasury without in time bringing general disaster. The policy necessary to give relief is plain. The oppressive taxation must be re- duced and the excessof revenue already derived from it and locked in the vaults of the treasury must be returned as speedily as can be practicably and wisely done to the uses of the people. It is to be supposed the committee of ways and means understands the situa- tion, but its very slow progress in fram- ing a measure of revenue reduction does not show that it is strongly impressed with the importance to the businessof the country of having this matter disposed of. After nearly two months of labor in preppring a bill the indications ave that another month may pass before a meas- ure will be ready for presentation to the house. This is due largely to the un- necessary consideration given to the demands of local interests. If the proper course had been pursued of considering only the general interest there is no good veason why a bill might not have been submitied a month ago, so that now the business of the country would have a pretty clear understanding of what to expect. The trouble is that the politicians in con- grossare governed by considerations of party interest rather than by an honest and patriotic solicitude for the welfare of the people. m— Incapable Committees. It seems that the special committees appointed by Speaker Carlisle to invest- igate the mining troubles in Pennsyl- vania and the trust combinations have already given the impression that they are not competent fto thoroughly and efficiently perform the duties required of them. The first of these committees is composed wholly of men of advanced age, all but one of whom is without ex- perience in thissort of work and will not be likely to devote themselves to it with much energy or zeal, The committee should have been made up of younger men with the interest and energy to push Jthe investigation with thoroughness and vigor. The other committee appears to have gone about the preliminaries of 1ts task in a not very practical way, and so as to warrant the apprehension that its labors will not. have satisfactory results. 1t is to be regretted that this 1s so. Both of the authorized investigations are important, and that relating to the character, mothods and effects of trusts and similar combinations is especially 80, Granting that there may be a rea- sonabie question asto the necessity or propriety of a_congressional investiga- tion of the Reading strike and the | mining troubles, there certainly can be none respecting the investigation of trusts. These monopolistic combina~ tions need to be fully understood before it can be determined what legislation is necessary regarding them, or if they can be repressed or regulated by na- tional legislation. There is no other way in which such information can be s0 well obtained as by a congressional investigation, The responsibility of these ill-consti- tuted committees being with Speaker Carlisle, it is pertinent to inquire what motive he has for such obvious careless- ness. It may be that he has no sympa- thy with the objects, and this is rather more than likely. Butif Mr. Carlisle has permitted his prejudices to control his action in this matter the consequences may be unfortunate to his political rep- utation. It clearly would have been the part of wisdom for him to make these committees as strong as possible. Facts For Farmers. The farmers of Illinois are exhibiting a very earnest interest in the subject of tariff reform, and if the sentiment shown at the recent session of the Farm- ers’ institute of that state may be ac- cepted as indicating the general senti- ment the agriculturists of Illinois arve largely in favor of reducing tariff taxa- tion, They have come at last to see, after a good deal of hard experience, that there is absolutely no protection for the farmer in a tariff such as the country now has, and they have some very tangible facts in evidence of this, It was said by one of the speakers at the institute that agriculture in Illinois is suffering a blight, and he estimated the loss from the decline in values of farm lands in the state at $200,000,000. . Thus while all other pursuits have prospered and [llinois has been steadily acquiring industrianl enterprises, building up cities and towns, and otherwise advancing in wealth and prosperity, the condition of the farming class has been on the de- cline and their property growing stead- ily less valuable, This apparently anomalous state of af- fairs is not peculiar to Illinois. It exists throughout protected New England, while the fine farming regions of New York, Pennsyl- vania and Ohio are marked by dilapida- tion. Certainly, if the high tariff is a beneofit to agriculture, as 1ts defendants proclaim, the proof should be found in these states, where protection has had its most complete trial. The evidence, however, is most convincingly against the high tariff advocates. It would very likely not be an overestimate to say that the decline in the value of farm lands in these states during the past ten or twe!ve yesrs has expeeded a thousand million dollars. In most of the New England states farming, except in and the yeur to year llving a hand-to-mouth ex- istence, with the outlook growing stead- ily more unpromising. The situation is certainly not so bad as this in Ohio and Illinois, but the conditions in these states are of a nature to show very conclu- sively that agriculture is deriving no advantage from the tariff. The farmers of the west, whose pro- ducts have for fifteen years kept the balance of trade in favor of this coun- try, will not be deceived by the specious claim that the high tariff beneilts agri- culture. They know it has been no ad- vantage to them, but on the contrary has exacted an enormous tribute that has largely gone into the pockets of the eastern manufacturers, and they will give its due weight to such testimony as comes from the states of the east, where protection has had its fullest develop- ment, us to the condition of agriculture there. No greater fallacy was ever preached than that which claims that the existing tariff has been a benefit to the farmers of the country. ——— General Miles' Ambition. General Miles’ friends have™ been called upon to deny his connection with a petitidn circulated at Washington which asked for his promotion to a major-generalship assoon as Genera Terry should be retired. The report that such a petition had been passed around among the Pacific coast delega- tion naturally excited great indignation among army officers. It was an unpre- cedented attempt to forestall public sentiment. General Terry, while still universally believed tobea very sick man, has not yet made any application for retirement. Even if he had done so and a vacancy was imminent, General Miles should be the last man to urge his presumed claims to the position. No general officer of the army has re- ceived the favorable consideration in late wears that has been awarded to General Miles. His promotion from a captaincy at the close of the warto a brigadier-generalship in the regular army has been a phenomenal instance of the power of private and senatorial influence at the national capjal. Other officers equally meritorious, and whose record has been none the less worthy of praise than that of General Miles, are still low in the list of lieutenant colonels while General Miles is secondon that of brigadier generals. Here he should be satisfied to remain until promoticn comes to him in the natural course of events. g The unseemly haste of General Miles’ friends to advance his interests at this time has been particularly distasteful to those who know that in case of success General George Crook, who has every claim, both by seniority of rank and length and brilliancy of service, would be set aside. We apprehgnd that when the time comes for the making of an- other major general the officer selected will be taken from headquarters not very far distant from Omaha. ANOTHER attack on Jefferson square has been organized. The new proposi- tion is to erect the city hall there, with rooms for the school board and the pub- lic library. The persistent efforts of certain parties to destroy this small breathing place in the heart of the city can have no other than a wholly selfish motive. No one seriously con- cerned for the public comfort and wel- fare would urge the abandonment of this square. Every such person desires that it shall be made what it was in- tended to be, an inviting spot where during the season of out-of-door enjoy- ment the people who have not thein own spacious grounds could go for pleas- ant and healthful relief and recrea- tion—a spot at once ornrmental to the city and useful to the citizens. ‘Were Omaha well provided with con- venient parks there might be n fair ex- cuse for closing up this oasis in the city’s center, but as it is not, and is not likely to be fot years to come, there is not the slightest justification for the at- tempts to destroy Jefferson square. The great majority of the people are cer- tainly opposed to these attempts, and if their wishes were regarded the square would be placed in a condition, before the close of the present year, that would be both a credit and an advantage to the city. THE city council proposes to ask the county commissioners to pay the city’s share of the necessary street grading this year. This would be one-half the expense, the other half being paid by the property owners, The reason for asking the county to do this is that the city pays seven-ninths of the county taxes. Uuless the county does this there will be no grading in Omaha this year. This would be a serious blow to public improvements, and ought to be averted if possible. The plan suggested Dby the council seeems to afford a way out of the difficulty, and it strikes us that it would be no more than fair. It isclaimed that there is wothing to prevent the commissioners from submitting a prop- osition to vote 830,000 bonds to defray one-half the expense of the necessary grading. The commissioners and coun- cil will hold a conference on this matter next Tuesday evening. — ALMOST every day adds to the evi- dence that the south is steadily moving forward in the matter of public educa- tion. There is an active and earnest in- terest in this subject in every southern state that is certain to grow, and with its growth the sentiment becomes stronger that the southern people gan and should provide their own adequate school spstem, without government or other aid. Itis extraordinary that sen- ators who cannot be ignorant of these facts should continue to advocate that most unjustifiable measure, the Blair educational bill, the effect of which, if it becomes a law, would be more likely to injure than to help the development of the worthy spirit now growing in the south, ——— THe bituminous coal men say that the renewel of the 75 cent tariff rate would muke no difference with them, but strunge a8 it may seem they want the duty retained. The lumber lords also claim that if the duty on lumber were abandoned they would uot be- MONDAY, FEBRUA affected so'far as the price of their pro- duct is concernied; yet they demand that the duty shall not be interfered with. The people Would like to have a demonstration of; whether the removal of these duties would affect the price to consumers, and this ular desire lh(’llldbe&l‘ tif s pop STATE AND TERRITORY. Nebraska Jottings. The Salvation army is searching for mineral in Ponea. > Kennard MVT’*I for a cross-cut lawyer. The tolvn,has a surplus of smooth bores. McCook has perfected plans for a [ #5,000 conrt house and a school house to cost 815,000. Both will be built next season. Speculators are picking choicest South Sioux City lots, turn them over at a neat profit next summer. The Butler county fair is already booked for September 4 to 7. C. H. Walker is president of the association and Morris J. Jones secretary. Nebraska City appears to be unani- mous for the Clark street railway fran- chise, and the advent of the bob-tail one-horse car isassured for the summer. The farmers around North Bend have dowged the elevator monopoly and secured from the Union Pacific a site for an elevator with a guarantee of equal privileges with existing firms. McCook papers report that Hon. Tom Majors is in that neighborhood, canvass- ing his chances for congressional hon- ors in the Big First. Distance lends enchantment to the perspective. ‘The Blair Pilot sees danger to the in- terests of the town if the Omaha & Yankton road gives it the go-by, and advises the residents to bestir them- selves or engage quarters in the ceme- tery. The West Point Republican thinks the roposition of the commissioners of Jouglas county is fair and reasonable, and that the Omaha & Yankton railroad company should lose no time in accept- ing it. L The Valley Enterprise scooped its metropolitan competitors with the news that a ten-foot vein of good coal has been discovered nine miles south of Omaha. The find lacks nine feet twelve inches of being true. Crystal lake, a fine body of water be- tween South Sioux City and Dakota City, will be boosted as a summer resort next season. A syndicate of Bostonians, who own 120 acres adjoining, propose to put it in shape for boating, bathing, ete., at a cost of $100,000. Nebraska City has information that the Burlington will build from that city to Ashland to connect with the wain line to and from Omaha, and thus offset the growing influence of the Mis- souri Pacitic. It is even said that the contract for grading the entire distance has been let to John Fitzgerald, and work is to begin early in April. North Bend developed a reeking case of scandal lust week and crowded the local court with' salacious admirers of the rural ballet. 'A thasher caused the ruction, shatterad the hearthstone of his emsloyer, separated the family and secured a sixty day lay-off in the county juil as a vagrant and thief. The pruri- ent details brought out in court were trifling compared to the filth poured out }ry the lawyers in an effort to earn their ees. A superb map of Crete has been is- sued by Messrs. Daugherty and Craig. It is printed on heavy toned paper, sur- rounded by a large {llustrated border. Among the pictures are Doane college grounds, the Chautauqua assembly grounds, (T'lhnpwes of the Blue river, the roller mills and several handsome resi- dences. The engraving and presswork are elegant specimens of the args, and the grouping of the whole effective and admirable. The map is a_splendid ad- vertisement of the city and a credit to the publishers. A legal hair pull between two young women has developed in the courts of Beatrice, which promises interesting if not sensational results. Flora McMa- hon swore out a search warrant, alleg- ing that Dellie Burroughs had stolen and concealed her bonnet and some jewelry. The Burroughs house was searched, but the missing ar- ticles were not found. Miss Burroughs at once reciprocated by causing the arrest of Miss McMahon on the charge of criminal libel. The hearing was deferred forten days. and court loungers anticipate a lively *‘scrap.” lowa Items. Storm Lake is brightened with electric llght. Davenport’s cannery packed 800,000 cans of goods last year. Chris Reinhart, a Blue Grass bach- elar, suicided because a girl refused to marry him. The drivers of beer wagons in Sioux City are now receiving the undivided attention of prohibition constables. The gas monopoly of Creston has ad- vanced prices from $2.46 to $3. Candles and coal oil is the only alternative. An inhuman brute tied a horse in a deserted barn in the outskirts of Bur- Engtou and let the poor animal starve to death, The palace fever is spreading, Sioux City has a corn palace, Oskaloosa a coal {mlacu and Algona threatens a baled hay palace. The grand jury at Des Moines recently indicted three druggists for gambling. The grounds for the charge were that they gave tickets to purchasers which entitled them to a chance in a drawing. Extensive preparations are being made for a grand re-union of all the bands in the northwest, at Sioux City in June. It is expected a consolidated band of over 500 musiciaus will be one of the many attractious. Bishop Perry,of the Episcopal church, writes to the Jowa Messenger that a Ro- man Catholic priest joining *‘the Amer- ican church” *‘has'only to pass through a few formalities, not in any sense of the nature of reordination, but only such as would be expected in the change of con- nection from what we recognize as one branch of the holy Catholic church to another. Episcopal ordination once re- ceived cannot canonically be repeated.” The explanation was made to refute statements that the Iowa priest who re- cently Eoined the Episco, church was reordained. 1 erbimy Dakota. Another discovery of coal is reported at Rapid City. Alexandria will have a new creamery with a capacity of 2,000 pounds a day. Father Collins tells Fargo that if that city is selected as the headquarters of the Catholic see of north Dakota, that he will guarantee that buildings costing 200,000 will be erected within five years. A bachelors’ club has broken out in Deadwood. The members are under oath to shoot any fair or homely damsel encroaching on their privileges. A royal stag %nnq‘uel is booked for the 29th inst. Last week a farmer near Cavour, named Besserud, put some snow on tho coal fire to smother it, and thon went to bed, The fumes and gas awoke him, when he found his youngest child dead and his wife so near death that it re- qQuired a physician to save her life. th :gd wifi ) MARVEL OF TELECRAPHY Speaking 'fllfl::'l‘tn Thousand Miles of Wire. — CONVERSATION ACROSS OCEANS, The Operators at San Franciseo Send Greetings to Their Brethren at Cairo, London, Lisbon and Other Places. San Francisco Call: One of the mar- vels of telegraphy was fuliy demons strated last Sunday morning, when op- erators in the Western Union office in this city carried on an interesting con- versation over hill and dale, over mountains capped with snow, through valleys of perennial green, under tho Atlantic ocean with its uwuexplored se- crets, over the vine-clad regions of Europe and under the Meditterranean, with Cairo, in the land of the Pnaes aohs. The time was 3 o'clock in the morning, just after a heavy night's work, ‘‘good night” having been re- ceived on the last press dispatch. The dramatis personz were three operators, and the way the affair came about was as follows: Chief—All clear. Bob? Bob—You bet; but I'll keep it."” b Chief—You will? Who are you work- ln’% with, Tom? om—Chicago. I've old Fox here, He's going to turn on the cable office, aud by the mortal Frost I'll speak with Valentia or bust. *Co, Co, Co,Ch," rattled off the sounds, and “I, I, I, Co came in response. “‘There is the cable office,” said the {Jhic.x.xgo operator, ‘'go for him, old fel- ow. ““Ha! thanks; oldsly,” Tom rattled off. Who is it?"” T sign V,” responded C'o, “Say, can you tell me if H is at the Tor Bay yet? “Yes. Do you want him? “If it is not too much trouble.” “None at all. It is Sunday and bus- iness is light. Here he is; call T. B.” Tom having raised T B, asked: *‘Is Mr. Paget in the office?” “Yes; he is testing the cables; wait a > and I'll call him here.” After a minute or two Mr. Paget callee the San Francisco man aske “Who wants'me across the contineunt! “Hello, old codfish, good mornin e you? Say,-can you giveus Val- ? There ave thre¢ owls here in San Francisco who would like to -speak with London.” “Good morning; glad to see you. I cannot, as you know, but I will® trans- late for you what he says and vice versa. Only two of the cables are busy; go ahead.” Tom thereupon signaled to Valentia: “God save Ireland. California seuds greetings. What time is it there? It is 8:30 here Sunday morning.”, “Your gruetiugs heartily retruned,” responded Valentia. *It is5 minutes past 11 here. It isa great pleasure to meet you. We hear a great deal of California in this country.” Tom then hailed Limerick with: “Good morning; is ‘Bohir Bhue’ and Wellesley bridge in the same place? We send you greetings from Cali- fornia.” “Oh! ‘Tower of Tvory’—California did ou say? Well; I'm glad to see you. I’ve cousins in San Francisco, and a big man there, His name is Nealon— mine is Hartigan.” To Valentin—Let us have London now, please—Tor Bay. Valentia to Loundon —Here is San Franci Cal., who wants to speak with you. r Bay is doing the cable trens- ations. London to San Francisco—Delighted to meetypu by wire. Itis juststriking noon by St. Paul’s clock, and very foggy as usual, How is the weather there? “This is wonderful,” responded San Francisco. *‘It is 4:03 o’clock standard time here, and not yet daylight. We receive many cable from London, but never had the pleasure of meeting you before. An[v]v Americans there? It is raining slightly. There are plenty of mushrooms on the hills, and the boys will be selling violets on the street cor- ners to-day. If you wish to speak with France I'll put you on. The French- men are idle, and most of our force also. The Lisbon cable is free also. Waita minute until I see.” Tor Bay signaled to San Francisco— London has Calais, but the overland lines to Marseilles are temporarily in- terrupted; here in Lisbon. London to Lisbon—The operators in San Francisco, Cal., U. S., are on direct, and send greeting totheir breth- ren in Lisbon. Lisbon to San Francisco—We felici- tate you on this achievement and hear- tily return greetings. The wonders of California ave like fairy tales to us. 1f you desire, we will translate any mes- sages from you to Pernambuco, Brazil, We have a direct cable. Or would you prefer Port Said, Cairo or Aden, The San Francisco manipulator of lightning responded: *“This is a pro- found pleasure. We thank you sincere- ly. Extend our kindest regards to St. Augustine, Pernambuco, and we will only trespiss on your kindness i put us on with Cairo. Au revo London, having secured a signal from Cairo, wrote; ‘‘San Francisco, is on here and sends greetings. They want to connect the wonderland of the new world with prehisto Egypt.” Cairo—Say to San Francisco that it is a pleasure to span half the globe to speak with them. “The pleasure is mutual,” signaled Tom from the Western Union operating room. “The Pacific speaking with the Nile, through the- Atlantic, the Bay of Biscay aud the Mediterranean sea' is a wonderful feat. Are there any Ameri- cans visiting the Nile ju v? Cairo—Yes, several parties have gone to the cascades. They will cross the desert from Berber on a pilgrimage to Tel-El-Kabir. Thereare several Amer- ican vessels and yachts at Rosetta, on the Rao of Aboukir, and Mr. Vander- bilt’s yacht was at Damietta, the east- ern arm of the Nile, a few weeks ago. Suez is seventy-five miles from here, There is a caravan route from Heliopo- lis. The ruins of Memphis and the p\'rnmids are further up, in Middle Cgypt, while the ruius of Thebes are in Upper Egypt, Cosier, on the Red Sea, and Koft on the Nile, being the nearest towns of proummence to Thebes. Old Cairo has the Seven Towers, ‘The Granary of Joseph.” On the south side are the tombs of the Mamelukes, and on the north the obelisk of Heliopolis. Boulac, about two miles down is the port of this nile;. “We have heard of your grent trees and wheat flelds,” coutinued Cairo, ‘'vast mountains and gold mines, and fancy it must be a fabulous country.” San Francisco to Cairo: *‘You have set us an incentive to study your won- derland. Will you give us your name and we will send you photographic views of California. Thanks for your great kindness. Furew@ll.” Cairo responded: “The telegraph clerks, postoffice department, Cairo, Egypt, and profoundly rnmlul we will be to get them. Good-bye.” Loudon then signaled to San Fran- Have you a cigar, rry Paget ed Tom, eisco: “Yohn Wright, an old American sends regards to Operator 0 was there when last heard Edwin Reese is still here," answered Tom., “One of us knew Jack Wright in Sherbrooke, Canada. We are very thankful, Mr. Cartwright, for your kindness, and if you will take Jack Wright and your eferks who have aided us in this conversation to ‘Dirty Dick's’ Bishop Gate (within), open the best he has and we will remit." “Agreoed,” London responded. “We will go. Never mind the remittance. The pleasure of moeting you is pay enough. -by.” Valentine next rattled off to San Fracisco: * ‘Bana Clath.” I'll not for- get the dillisk.” Tor Bay to San Francisco: *‘Well, boys, are you satisfied?” ““Paget, you are a prince,” was there- sponse from Tom, “and a basket of Cali- fornia wine will go by the first express. This bas been a ‘red-letter day’ to us. Farewell,” iy On account of the many repetitions from lines to cables and vice versa, the foregoing just occupied two hours’ time, covering a space of over 10,000 miles. It demonstrates what fraternity exists between *“Telegraphers of all countries. They have no regurd for distance, and if o cable was laid from China or Austra- lia to San Francisco they could put ‘a girdle around about the earth, in less than forty minutes.” *‘There were two routes open to us,” said one of the operators.” *“‘The one we had to Aden, thence cables to Bomn- bay, overland to Madras, cable agdin through the Indian ocean to Australia. Or we could have had Calais, Marseil- les. Constantinople, Jask, on the Per- sian, gulf and so un.” *‘It was a lubor of love,” continued he, ‘“We did notexpect a8 much when we started in. The European operators are educated gentlemen. It is a pity they are not paid as we are.” In reply toa question he said, “Oh, yes. Lvery station thathad quadruplex repeaters on the copper wire overland could hear every word of it,Sacramento, Ogden, Cheyenne, Omaha, ('hlcnfiu, Bugalo, New York and cable offices. BOOKS AN MAGAZINES. The Century's articles on ‘‘Ranch Life in the F: West,” which began in the February number,are not only writ- ten, but illustrated also, by experts. Theodore Roosevelt has experienced all he writes about in the ‘‘great grazing lands” and Frederic Remington, the artist has led the life of a cowboy for yearson the western plains. Among Remington’s- illustrations in the first number are a full page picture of an at- tack upon a company of cowboys by the Indians, “A Row in a Cattle Town,” **Cowboy Fun,” ““Pulling a Cow Out of the Mud,” and another full page picture of *‘Broneo Busters Saddling.’ * * The February numberof *“The Science Monthly” is at high water mark in re- spect to the interest and solid merits of its articles. The list is opened with one of ex-President Wgite's “New Chapters in the Warfare of Science,” which exhibits some of the most curi- ously absurd views that have been set forth by theologians respecting geologi- cal phenomena, and efforts, not always graceful, at backing down as the progress of investigation and the appli- cations of common-sense methods have made their positious untenable. TLieu- tenant Charles C. Rogers, of the United States navy. presents an account, with a colored map, of the progress that has been made in the work of the Panama canal, which have been prepared after observations made by himself on the spot. Dr. Mary T. Bissell, writing on *‘Emotions versus Health in Women,” insists upon the training of young women to think and be useful as the most effectual safeguard against future erils from excessive nervousness. Simple methods for detecting adultera- tion in milk are described by Prof. C. Hanford Henderson. Dr. Robert T. Morris explains some ‘‘Recent Views respecting Cancer.” The address of Prof. £. S. Morse at the recent meet- ing of the American association, on ‘*What American Zoologists have done for Evolution,” is concluded. Mr. J. McK. Cattell records the results of an experimental measurement of ‘‘The Time it takes to Think.” A portrait and biographical sketch are given of Sir Joseph . Whitworth, an eminent English engineer, New York: D. Ap- pleton & company. * *x Among the writers for the early num- bers of the Forum-in 1898 will be Frof. Johu Tyndall, of England; Justice Sam- uel F. Miller, of the United States su- preme court; Prof. Emile de Lavelye, of Belgium; Judge Pitman, of Massa- chusetts; Canon Wilberforce, of Eng- land; Prof. John Stuart Blackie, of Scot- land; Andrew D. White, ex-minister to ' Germany: Dr. Henry Maudsley, of Eng- land; William Crookes, the English chemist; Prof. Edward A. Freeman, the English historian: W. H. Mallock, the author of “‘Is Life Worth Living?"; Prof. G. J. Romanes, of Scotlun Wilkie Collius, the English novelist; Senators Dawes and Cullom and Edward Everett Hale. February Wide" x\mkc has come; bright with pictures and full of enter- tainment and wisdom for young folks. *. *'% The chief interest of the unique Feb- ruary Magavine of American History centres about the writings and the por- traits of the illustrious Washington. Tt is substantially a Washington number —a striking birthday tribute to Wash- ington’s memory. Twenty-eight un- published Washington letters grace ity wges, twenty-six having been copied rom originals in the British Museum and edited by Mr. William Henry Smith of the Associated Press, who shows with much skill, in pa allel columns, how Sparks al- tered and amended lett of Wash- ington which he partially printed. Major-General Schuyler Bamilton con- tributes an able paper on “*The Stars in our Flag,” Another theme of the first interest, particularly to lawyers, is pre- senfed in a terse correspondence be- tween Judge Charles J. McCurdy and David Dudley Field, are numerous short contributions of eurious and eresting Washingtonia—every department seems to have caught the patriotic inspira- tion, The portraits and other illustra- tions are excellent. The froutispicce represents George Washington in full velvet costume; it is a copy of Stuart’s greut pointing, and there is u copy of Jumes Peale’s in the uumber, both of h are in the gallery of Lenox li- y. Published at 743 Broadway,New York city. e “The Writer’s Signature,” *“*Short- haud in Journalism,” “Should Repor- i ipinious?” “Writing as a Voeation or an Avocation,” *'That Bug- bear, Plagiarism,” “What Readers Want,” *Editor and Contributor,” and *“The Literary Workshop,” are a few of the many toples interesting to literary workers that are discussed in the Feb- ruary number of that bright Boston magazine, The Writer. In the depart- ment of “*Queries” u dozen questions of special interest to writers are answered, and in the “Helpful Hints and Sugges- tions™ id are given that will make any writer's work easier. The Writer isnow in its second volume, und has come to be regarded as an indispensa~ ble id to literary workers. ‘Tts.prios I One year, $1; one number, 10 cents. Ad« dross, Tho Writer, P, O, Box 1005, Bose ton, Mass. ) 3 **A Baton for a Heart," 1s a romance of American student life in Paris, by “Besval." The book might by called & “realistic romance,” in that 1t is a cave+ ful portrayal of the life of American art umécn'a in Paris, built around aboautie ful and pathetic iove story. No Ameri- can contemplating the study of art in Paris should fail to read ‘A Baton for " and no lover of an interestin story, well told, will lay it down_unt) the last chapter has been read. Rand, MeNully & Co., (‘lu}lugu. publishers. Y ““First Steps in Electricity,” by Charles Barnard, is a recent issue. The aim of thig book is to give a sories of simplo and inexpensive experiments that will illustrate the general laws underlyin, the manifestation of the force calle electricity, The experiments can be easily performed at home or in school most of them with materials to be found in every household. and are arranged to show the historical development of this science, and at the same time to ex- lllnin the methods by which electricity s made of use in the arts, manufactures and business. particularly in connection with the telegraph, the telephone, clec- tric light and railway. The book is written in a clear and interesting style, which will make it useful as a roading and text book in schools.as well as a good volume to {mt in the lfbrary. Charles E. Merrill & Co., publishers, 743 Broadway, New.l;nrk. » *“Thompson's Political Economy™ 1s a work possessing especial interest at the resent time. The questions’of ‘“Free 'rade” and *‘Protection” are now more directly before us than at any earlier period in history. While a large por- tion of the thinking minds of the country approve of the national system of encouragement to American in- dustry, it is remarkable that the text books in use in our schools and colleges teach doctrines of a totally different character. Prof. Thompson believes in the policy of protection to American industry, and makes his appeal to his- tory in defence of that polfcy, showing that wherever a weaker or less ad- vanced racticed free trade Aith on richer, the former has lost its industries as well as its money, and has beeome economically dependent on the latter. The metho of the book is, therefore, historical. It is no series of dry and abstract reason- ings, such as repel readers from books of this class, Porter & Contes, publish- ers, 138 and 140 Wabash avenue, Chi- cago, IlL & 0 Amanda B. Harris has writter entitled “American Authors for Folks.”” Ttisa valuable acquisition to young people’s. literature. D. Lothrop Co., publishers, Boston. ' “The Indiau's Side of the Indian Question,” by William Barrows, D. D., is a recent issue. The author believes the Dawes bill brings such opportunity as never before existed for saving the Indian peoples and and making self- sustaining, self-reliant, capable citizens of them. But he believes that the law will amount to nothing without the sys- tematic, persistent and watchful co- operation of friendly Americans. They are not the Indian’s neighbors. The Indian’s neighbors are not his friends. Frontiersmen have got to be held in check by the law and public opinion be- hind the law. With a view to bringing about that accord, he reviews the whole history ot Indian management briefly and in a business-like manner, with continual citing of authorities, This is Indian history with a purpose; and this short book is a means of intel- ligence @n the whole question, which within a year has taken on so new a phase that it needs to be studied anew. The book is the readiest means of fn- formation we know of. D. Lathrop Co., Boston, publishers. AR THE HOURS TUGMAN WORKS. The Men Have Plenty of Time For Sleep—A Tug's Safety. Chicago Tribune: The Chicago tug- men do not attach much’ importance to the clause in the Cummings bill now bhefore congress which aims at shorten~ ing the hours of men employed in this braach of marine service. In summer when these tugs are busiest, it is usual to have a crew sufficiently large to allow each man at least twelve hours a day rest. When dispat¢hed out on the lake for the purpose of towing vessels into port the crew isdivided into two watches alternating every six hours, so that the longest trip means no extra hardship to the men A tug captain speaking to a Tribune reporter on the subject said: “Itisa strange thing that in every other busi- noss but this men are supposed to be best informed according to the length of their experience. Iu the tug busi- ness, however, everybody seemsto think ho knows just what is right, and sets up to teach us. As regards the men being worked too long, T can give you my own experience, and 1 have worked on a tugbont for nearly thirty vears. Wo get much more sleep in summer when We are supposed to be worked to death than we do in winter en our boats lie idle and we have practically nothing o0do.” ‘“‘There is one thing, however, I would like to mention as illustrating the wis- dom of the authorities who make laws for us poor unfortunate fellows. A tug- boat is the handiest lifeboat you could have. You see it can turn round in its own length and, except that it can't dive, it’s as quick as a duck on the water. The chances of a man falling overboard from a tug and being drowned are thercfore very slim, yet we are compelled to carry a certain number of life buoys and I don't know what else besides, for the simple reason that we have a steam engine aboard, Now, on the other hund, you may take the worst old tub of a v 21 on_ the laxes and if she is a sa vessel she Mmay carry as many passengers as she can hold, and there is no law compell- ing her to carry as much in the shape of a life ‘;une' as would save a rat. ot course it’s absurd, but it's the law, just the same.” e A lake in the country seat of the em- peror of Austria, near Vienna, is used as a skating park, and the other day & Vianese went skating there with an ink bottle attached to the back of his skate, k adjusted so as to allow the ink out in o regular stream. With that writing appuratus he sketched the name of the erown princess in lines thas a writing master might envy county, Ohio, was one 111 y maiden name was Murgaret Kiser. had six brothers and two sisters. brothers ave all dead. Hor sisters are still alive—one in lowa and one in Da- kota. They, too, are remarkable for their longevity, Oneof them is 100und the other is 108, Both are in good Lealth. e Elopements are treated seriously in Russia. A young woman has been sent 1o prison for four months and will lose her share iu the family property becsuse she murried without the pateroal cons sent