Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, November 20, 1892, Page 13

A WOMAN AND HER MILLIONS Hetty Gresn Tells How Shs Accunulatel a Vast Fortane. OF A PHENOMENAL WONAN THE CARELR Mow She 1 ot yoks, Lives and Dresees--Her Many rests and Iny the Remurk bl weters of Amerie Char appearcd & th of the n it was & her in the stors, & Rocke. woman 1a the United indi~1dual right, at least by her own talents, is Hetty Howland TRob- ison Green, Her estato 1s valued at $40, 000,000, 13ut tho trath 1s, that neither shte nor anybody ¢lse can estimate its full value, and sho who knows botter than auy one elso approximately ¥ho 18 worth 18 adroit in aeciiniing to make an estimate Recently a friond of Mrs said her, “Will you tell ufo how you made fortune? Mrs, C wno is far more woman of actions than of words, was at first wary aud reluctant, but when satistied, sho speedily was, that the question was 1u good faith, and that her repiy to it would be empioyed honovably and truthfully, sho consented to tell what surealy a romark able tale, the more absorbing because Mrs. Green never bofore uted to tell tho tale herself. As it was not taken down 1n shorthand, but is given substantially from memory, 1t may orr in unimportant particu lars. In tho wain it 1s avsolutely authontic. Tho other day woalthiost America woman. Thoso who pr oatogory woro Vande feiler. Tuae richest States, if not 1n he lst Seve biits, what to your Gireen en as put con A Phenomenal W '8 Looks. Mus, Green, 1t may be well to state bofors the story itself bogins, is a phenomenal woman, Her head 1 shapely, strong and compact. It is singuiarly square. ‘The aver- age woman's nead is low above the brows, broud across the oyes, BArrow at tho tips of the clieck bones, rouud at tho blending of check with ctin, dimpled and bubble like at the chin itself, bowlike in the lips, with ful ness and ess, where poats del t to find chorries parted to show pearls. Thenverage woman's heud 18 more round than square; and tho portion phrenologists designate the temporal ridge of the frontal bouc —that is, the sides of tho head from tho eyes to the hair line aud en iuch or two under that, is gonorally well cxpanded. Hetty Howland Robinson Gireen’s lead diffors essentially from the head of the typical woman, It possusses nothing indeed of that sentimental and wsthetic conformation which sculptors havo handed down from Gree duys us the 1deal feminine head—round, mild, delicate, and it extremoly beautiful in perlection o mold nud symmetry of lines suggestive of imagination and taste, likely also 1o suzgost indecision, if not feobiencss. Mrs. Gireen’s head 18 shapely, but ltis square. 1t 1s almost reculiucar. Take & block of good proportions: take a keen batchet, square the sidos, {ront aud back, square tho chin, acoentuate tho tips of tte cheek boues, square the bumps indicating roasoning powors and resoiution, omit t awelling on either side of tho upper part, supposed to suggest imagination, give this square head a firm, straight nose, a little broader nt the nostrils than straight noses generally are; thin out the lips, but leave them ruddy; insert sharp gray eves, sotting them buck well under the bony gables; mako them furtive, watchful, perhaps suspicious: develop the percoptive lines across the eves; square the entire head now to these thin lips, keen oyes and high cheek bonos, and tlioro 15 the richest woman iu the Ulited States, perfeetly preserved, brown 1n her hair begiuning to gray; hor ave, say b5, flow She Drosses. How was she dressed, with all her woalti? As there is searcely a civil court from Salom 1o San [Prancisco in which Mrs. Geeen bas not been plaintiff or defendant, lier costumes are familiar less to women of society than to practitioners at the bar, judgos on the bench and talesmen in a panel Wuen the ques tiou was put to Mrs, Green, “How aid you make your foriune!” had sno been perfoctly frank ber instant reply would have been, By novspending it Ior Mrs. Green in hor apoarel, in her dietarv, 1n her lodgings, in hor moans and modo Of trausportation and in all her wethods of transacting busi- uess and living life 1s priwarily a saving woman, Her dress in cold woather 1s gener- erally a simple woolen fabrio fitting hightly to & good, almost stalwart figure, for Mrs, (Gireen is well built, not stout but robust, and can wear w shopmude drcss wors comforta- bly than most women who are above or below medium provortions, It is scarcely slikely tnat Mrs. Groow's ordinary gown costs wore than $10, Aud it lasts an uucommonly long time, for ber ousy braia aud deft fin- gers huvo somothing olse 1o do besides look- ing after the latest fashions and exawiniog willinery in shop windosws. The Story of Her Fortune, “How did 1 make my fortune?” Mrs. Green said with aminble aud yet abstracted inter- est. *Well, to ve candia, I did not mako it. I inherited o large part of it. My ancestors were Knglish Quukers, A Robinson was “Pory governov of Mussichusetts Bay, ana [ have the silver seal that attested the 'ofticial desds of his oftice, 1 own the house not far from New Bedford which he built on ground e bought directly from tho [ndians. 1 was solo heir on both father's, grandfather's, mother’s, and erandmother’s sides. I was born in New Bedford, aud went to scbool to Mrs. Lowell in Boston, Mrs. Lowell was wife 10 the brotner of James Russell Lowell, Beingmy father's ouly child, aud living alcne with bim and my grandiather, I grad ually fell into the babit of reading his busi uess lettors to him and writing answers at his dictation; and Tacquired quite without thinking over it knowledgo of the many kinds ot investment in whicu he was con cerned. We lived when I was wrowing up in Salom, on Iederal strect, near the gov ernment building.” Mrs, Green's friend said vivaciously, ““I'hen you must have often seen Hawthorre, or your father must have kuowu bim in the custom house Mrs, Green shook hor bead. She had not heard her falbor mention uny one of that name; she dia not know any Hawthorno in Salem. You Hawthorne should bhave known this anughtor and sole heir of a line of Puri tan Quakers. Another “‘moss” might have grown on an “old munse.” 1y father was one of tho pioneers of the industries of the Pacitic coast, und built the first street railroad in Sun Prancisco, was lurgely interosted also in commer wAany of Lie ships that came in aud w avSalem lio owned or scot off with cargoes, I marrled Eaward Heovy Green, whom [ met through my father's connection with svngoluy investments. Mr. Green [wno 1s still living| was in the East Tudia trado and bind a large fortune of his own. His father was @ judgo and a great friend of Captain Marryaty A1 said Mrs. Groen’s friend; *“then you can tell me something of interest'about {hat delightful romuneer 0" roplica Mrs. Greon, square bead, “1 dou't know peclally interosting about merciul o uirs,” Mrs, & brief pause, “uaturaily wok us frequently to New York. 1 was warried, iodeed, from the house of Henry Grinnell, in Boud 'street pretty fur down town now. Lady Irank- lin lived thore for u time while the expadi- tion wus gone in search of Sir Jobn Frank i AN sald Mrs. Green's friond, again do lighted at tho prospect of au engagiug per- sonal remiuiscence; Yyou saw a beautiful and churmlug Woman at w tiwe when rave pathos must bave been added to & perso ality otherwise deeply uitractive. Do you recollect unything about her! How did she appear! What did she wear! How did she taik! Was she tn—but, of course, she was sufferiug the keenest torture concorning the fate of her Lusbaud. You saw ber fre quently 1" #Y.¢3,” auswered Mrs. Green, surprised AL tho agerness of Lhe questions wa'nl much uoticeablo avout her 's 1 ver'’—for Mrs. Green 1s unaficoted 10 her ianguaxe, aud drops unconsciously now and then wto Nantucket und Cupe Cod dialeot. Not Foud of Lawyers. “Qur commercial intorests wore lurge ana shaking her wuytbivg es bim. Our com- cen went ou, Bfter coverad pretty nearly everything that money could be putinto, My husband was cou- uected with Russell & Sturges, and it wa: convenient for us toliva forutimein Lonaon. We spent seven years there, and 1 losked after our intercsts through Baving Br Ouvr ship went pretty much all ovor the glov d woe suffered a great deal frow privateer- ing during the war. We placed a great many claims with Evarts, Sonthma,/d & Choate’ and Mrs. Graen does ot speak of these emi- nent counselors with unqualitied affection. Indeca, sho fecls doepiy aggrieved toward 1d was disposed to think that she shontd be permitted to state her reasous, but ner discreet interlocutor declined to permit her to do so for publicati +My father was ill for a long time his acath,” Mrs. Gireen wenton after com vosing her emotions, **Ho died at 14 West I'wenty-sixth street, Now York city. le was able to keep his own band on his affaivs until within a year or so, but, of course, Lis business becamo very much entaugled, owing to misrepresentations and deceit. He was resolved to provide for his chila, and would have left everything in my hands bad ho been permitted to'do 50, As it was he made heavv purchases, espdcially 1n realty, for my children, and [ bave just been out in Chicego looking after tueir interests in tho Grant Locomotive works section that unprincipled people aro trying to steal from me. Chicago is an awful place, Mrs. Green continued, “You can’t trust aoybody, no lawyers and few judges and no juries. Thoy just want to get everything out of you they can.” Mrs. Green was specific in her character ization of lawyers she aistrusted aud judges sho was cortkin were wurchasablo, and she excepted only ono ou the Uuited States vench and one in the stute circuit court. As ner experience 10 litigation in that city was not suflicient to give her personal grounds for suspicious views of the jugiciary, it secmed ghat bor feclings had for the moment ot tho botter of her usually calm and rea- sonable judgment, Indeed,” Mrs. Green is prone to take a dejected view of the judiciary of the United States geuerally, snd of American lawyers she thinks ovou less than the judges when she loses actions. “Haw N “Mrs, Green,” soid her interlocutor, *‘will vou tell me in what you have your miilions ! ‘And, by the way, 18 1t proper to usk how many millions you have (" A fain flushtof personnl interest overspread Mrs, Green's countenance. “Well, I ain't woing to say how much [ am worth, It ain't necessary for any one to tell things he don't want to and enemies might turn ageinst him. No,"” said the richest woman in tho country, lowering her voico lest s word snould be ovorheard—*no, I don't tell any- boay how much [ am worth. Men that have 00 right to know it are mousiug 1nto my af fairs ull the time, ana I am not going to fur rish them with any information thoy will 0 1o hurt me aud my ckildren,” “Your children aro with you, Mrs, “Yes, two of 'em; that is all there is Henry Rtowland aud my daughter.” Mrs. Green's devotion to her only son, who 1s slightly crippled, is intense. Both ber children have reached maturiiy, ana neither i3 permitted to wasto the fortune that will be theirs to do as they bl thin u fow yeara, The young man is vather good looking, disposed 10' take life more ngrocably than bis wother, and will cuta wide swath when he ¢o into his share of her mill jons “\What son, Mes, 1y Millions Have You do do with your d the friendiy calior. the simple, terse aud you propose to 2on " as “Business. was comprehensive reply. *Has ho special tratning for business (' “liless you, no. Justoutof ihe uuiversity Don't know a thing. Youne Mr. Green is a graduate of Yale *You are eolug to bring bim uv now business (" “Yes; he's 2U; will.» *What particular business ao you propose Mr, Green shal) follow (' “Beginning now with & Chicago.” “Then a carrage factory Is properties *Yes," said Mrs. Gireen, softening as she coutemplated the great field of her \uterests. [ ought to settle down a'age factory in ruong your Owas & Carrlage Faotory. *“Mrs, Groen, how did you come to own & riage factory 1" “Mawgage. Leat money to It befo' the Chicago liro. ' rvinea everybody out there. No $2,000 ca'ages bought tuere for a yoar or two. Had to take ca'age fact'ry L0 save my mawgage. ‘Ned,' savs I, *hero’s o nickel for you' sireet ca' fare. You Ko out to the ca'age fact'ry and look futo its affuirs. Door out there needs palotin’. You buy a little paiat, put it 1o an old tin can—lois of 'em Oul Lhere; buy Lhe uheapest brush you can tiud, sud palat Lhat aoor, ou know bow ca bafora | \ , areadfully out thore r: | say about such things. LOW PRICES. The enormous quantity of goods sold by us during the past two months, has convinced us of the ‘‘wonderful power of price.” We have therefore decided to sell all our goods hereafter at one half our former margins, expecting the incrc We are daily receiving a complete new stock and all new be marked at the low This policy of sellu ise in sales will more than offset the decrease in profits, 8 :st possible percentage of profits, goods placed on our floors will everything at a small profit with price as the leading feature, and maintaining a good quality of goods, will make our storc more than cver before the most pro. fitable place to buy furniture, All goods marked in plain figures. arles Shiverick & Co., Furniture, Carpets, Draperies. 1206, 1208, 1210 Farnam St, mu ch the paint cost, you know how much the brush cost. You can watch how loug it takes to paint that do'. Then you will know what paintin’ & door ought to cost. You see, Af wo don't look alter these things they run away with a lot o' money. Men swindied me pairin’ 8 ohimbley Liei: * vont out and attended to it myself, and now Vs all right.” “Did Mr. Grosu Lake kindly to the carriage factory (" O, bless you, he a'n’t got anything to 3 Heo does what 1 toll T look after everything Ned went out’ thers first follss said tho anarchists would kill him bocause hois & rich woman’s son. [ sad, *Ned don’t you be afraid. Mind you’ own business: nnarchists mind theirs. Pay for everything you want, and don't spend a cent on what a'n't of value to vou.’ Got on first rate. Wuy, alter iie was out there six months in that ward, way out. on front yard of Chicago, among rollin’ mills and vailvoud tracks, they wanted to ruu him for alde man, Has @ Littlo of Everyth “Your other investments, Mys. Gireen?’ *Protty well scattered,’ said Mrs, Green, who seemed to dream ploasantly in enumer- ating then—‘‘coul, iron, copper, lead, tin, cotton, land, especially on margins of cities and growiig towns, where it is easy to hold it until time brings it into town, vil- lages, and all their plants, railroads, ship- ping--in fact, evervthing 1t is prudent to put money in, but especially real estate. I UWn asqlare mile to the west of Chicago, and those miseratle people have veen trying to steal it from mo. To improve it I had better train service put on bevween it and the city, for you know you ean’t get nice peopis to ride in‘cars that u'n’t nice, and in overy way possibie | made that property worth keevin’ for my chitdren. Now these people claim that tho titlo was nob ciear, and that my Tather bad no claim upon it, and I have bid to fight that for years, and | i going to keop up the fight 1o tho last court.” Mrs. Green is well kaown us a litigant. She knows as much law s her uttorneys gonerally do, and sits at their table during a Urial 1o keep'them on the right tack. “*Your investume are widely distributed, Murs. Groen ¢ “Yes; and she smiled agnin as she saw in her wind’s eye the arcaof the globe they cover—+Catifornia, Colorado, North Caro- lLina, Massachusetts, Chicago, Michigan, Ver mout, Ainbama, Georgia, Florida, New York, Englaud, Todid, South America—on, protty much everywhere monoy can go aud feteh back somothing.” Ihe richest woman in tno United States wears 1o rings, except & counle of antiauated oands with smatl and not valuable jewels in them. No bracflews adorn nher arms. No dismonds tlasu in brooch or hair. She lives, whou west, iu the choapest botels, and on tho highest tioor in the cheapest room. lu New York she is well known in many board- ing houses that are not expaosive. ‘Thatshe has heen for many ars a formidable figure in Wall streer goes without sayin, Wil you tell me some of your experisnces on Wall ‘street!’ asked her interested uc quaintance. ), | never speculate!” instantly replied Mrs, Green, with a forty-million-dollar twin klo in her gray eve, as sho looked down on ter well worn $10°g0wn, I'vom which it soppears tnat the richest woman in the Unitad States is uot altogeter without humor, Mps, Green, you wust take wonderful delight in your gigantic business affairsf ©0b, no, indeed. 1 hate business, | attond to it for my children’s sake @ great deal rather bo a society - i Pe hiin. Big concern jn it myself. When Just [ would woman,' Ty sions, The invaiid pension law of 1890 has by 10 moans lost its vitality, Duriag th quarter ending September 80 38,813 names were addaed to the pension rolls under it, the total of the first payments being #3,250,000. During the same period 12,124 cases avising under the general law were nlso passed on favor ubly, the total of first payments being about $750,000. The number of pension- ers on the rolls August 81, I892, was 804,550, while June 30, 1801, it was 676, 160, This great incrense wus due to the law of 1890. But for it there would bave been a reduction, While 60,057 new names were put on the rolls during the quarter mentioned the increase in tho total number of pensioners belwcen June 80 nud Soptember 1 was but 18,500, T'nis shows that the losses by death will soon exceed the gains undér tho new law, and that in ten years or o & steady decroase in the number of pensioners and tho gross amount paid them will begin, aud that fifty or sixty years hene the number will be below 100,000—all widows. ELECIRIC LIGHT OWNERSHIP Muaicipal Control and Oper Advancing. ion Steadily LEGISLATIVE ACTION IN SEVERAL STATES How the Monopolics Combined to Advance nte and Check Unfavorable Legistation—Vatuable ave Thoir Sts ranchises Sold foru Song 1L Victor Rosewater in New Yol Indepondent, Favorable legislation has of late played no swall part in the impetus given to muvicipal ownorshipof eloctric lighting. General laws allowiug municipal corporations to embark in theso projects exist in Pennsylvania and Nebraska and various other states; particu- larly, New York. Illinois and Obio have not been at ail backward in passing private bills granting their towns such powers. Mr. I3d- ward Bellamy has just claimed for himself and his followers tho credit of bhaving se- cured tho passage of the new Massachusetts law, but 1 do not think that he was war- rauted 1n 30 doing. Those who approve the muaicipalization of the monopolies of service cannot properly be called nationalists sim- ply because the nationalists also favor the same. ‘Ine distinetion lies In the fact that tnese monopolies require for their operation the exclusive uso of some portion of the pub lic highway and can never permaueatly bo competitive. But to effect this logislation the two classes have co-oporated aod, in this instauce, with success, In demandicg freedom from legislativo control, it was the fashion not long ugo to claim electiic lighting as the pacubar field for private enterprise, to point to our prog ress in that field and to England’s back- wardness, and to claim that freedom from iegislation was tho solo oxplanation. That the British electric nghting acts retaraed to some extent the breakuneck introduction of electricity into the United Kingdom, it is far from my purposo to deny. W nether this was & benefit or a detriment 13, howevor still & mooted question. Yeu sincs the amondatory act of 1888, the progress of clectric lighting in Graat' Britain has been po less ravked than our own, aud the move- ment toward municipal ownership is_even more woticeable. Prom the report of Mr. Proece, the electricisn of the British postal acpartinent to Lord Kuutsford, under date of Decomber, 1501, we Jearn that The tric light is being exte don wt tho rate of over b0 I'here 1s not a town in the Unite 1y size or consequence which hus o thit subject Into serious consideration, ton, Brighton, Barnet, Northauipton, 1 ton, Bath, Bucup, Burusiev, Lynton, Lynmouth, Okehampeon, Wokin Chielusford: Eastbou e, Gitlus Bluckpov!, Greenook, Neweas uth, Southawpton, 5 Tiastings, Cardiil, Exe tor, Edinburgh ana Keswios are lighted by clevtricity, Tho corpl loing tho work thomseives in i Blacipool, Baru ley, Bristol, Dubil penock, Glusgow, rddfor s, Nottinghuny Brighton, St Pancrus, NMunchestor and il From Gizity t 100 othior towns have seciired provisionul orders and are now consiqeriiz How best to carry out the powers thus atforded them. Lu this veport, which,.was oc the proposal 10 introduee Malta, Mr. Pre The reascns | Taun Louni- Fareham, teson Bra sioned by ectric ligat into e concludes fayor of tho Malteso govern- ut carrying out the work tnemselves aro contestuble The iustallation at St. Pancras has proved sucecessful beyond expectation, and the board are now contemplaticg fresh stations Lo sup ply otuer portions of the parish. On the continent less progress is found in the dis- tribution of electric lighting stations, but there are not a few in the smaller cities owned by the municipalities. ‘I'ne representatives of the eiectric light- g corporations frequently make two con- tragictory statements. lo the first pluce they clain that private companies are will ing'and able to take over Lo themselves the oxistiog municipal plants and to continue to furnish the same light av a cheaper rate. On the other hand, they constantly cowpiain that they are making no profits under their preseut contracts, How both statemeuts can be true at the same time is difiicult to comprebend. Aud the dificulty lies in this, that they tell différent stories whon seiling bouds ou the Slock exchange wod when secking contracts lu the city council cham- ber. Trastus Wiman recently read a paper in whicu he gave tha accounts of « comnany that had for several years cleared o hand- somo profit, and he maintained that the elec- tric light projectors were themselves largely to blamo for any losses by reason of miscal- culations of expeuses and depreciation. Ho Adds: Thoe future 1s full of promise for these ur dervikings, especiuliy in the value of the franch the abllity to furnish power in thelr combinatl with the zus industries of 1 ountry, which must only be . question ot vme, and in their ability to promote and to assist in_the application of eloctrieity to strect ruilwiny enternrises. Again, Sir Johu Pender, in his report as presidont to the directors of the Metropoli- tan Kleotrical Supply company, limited, of London said, a year ago: onr w i expenses in the past a At present arc, with fo it o all intents and purposes, be when w are glving our present maxi- mum supply of " 114900 lights, When 1 state to you that we have made o small profit on the out-turn of 52,000 lights, it does not re- quire ngreat amonnt of jnazination to seo that it must be a very good husiness if wo can conduot 114,000 11ghts Wwith a comparatively small Ineredso (n working exponses. And Mr, B. F. Suuny, a loading olectrioal authority of Cuicago, adds his testimony as follows : E octrie lighting Is commorelal soven or thing to 1 aven ns, the same, us they will flrmly lodged enterprises, and has been for more years now. The tmportant got at is. how does 1ts rocord read front the investor's stanapoint? Does it rank WIth Witter Works, gas works, the telcgraph and the steam rallway as a producer of divi- donds? Unquestionanly it doos. Al who aro famiiar with the operitions of electeie ght- 2 plants ean bear testimony 10 the faot Wit notwithstanding grave mistakes that Buve been made in planning for and furnish- inz the service, and which havo materially lossencd the wet finaneial resulis, with oo possible excep of ‘the toephone, tho future of no business has been more eroatly underestiniated than the eiectric light From ull this I think we must conclude that the frauchised corporations, in spite of isolvency now and then, ave not in such a bad way as tuey would have us believe. There remains now*one more point to be considered—the cry of political corruption. Will the assumption of eloctric lighting by tho municipality, aud the consequeat increase in the number of ofticcholders, tend to furtver corvupt our city governinents! ‘The answer 15 that much of the prosent cor- ruption is the result of granting franchisos to private pacties, and tho municipal owuor- sbip will remove more debasing clements than it will introduce. ‘I'ne franchised cor- porations are never willing to lev well enough alone, Having sccured their privi- leges, thoy are constantly sceking new favors, and for this purpose require influence amoug, tho government officials, The city of Philudelphia assessed the corvorations using the atreets for overtisad wires$l per pole per year, logother with a tax of $5 for each now polo erectod. But even this slight return for their privilezes seemed to them too much, ‘The companies relused to pay, and were at last accounts fighting the imposition 1 the courts. The electrical commission, on in- quiry, found that the United States Electrio Light company, which hud baen rurnishing the city of Washinglon with 200 lamps, each at §219 per year, was contributing as taxas to tue locul treasury the wunificent sum of ansually, Siwilar inquiries in other cities would probably give similar results, “Tue people of the Gouniry are not geuer ally awaro of the extent and influcace of the tric lighting intevests, Thero is a uva tional association in which political purposes aro by no means lost sight of. OF its methods oand work it will be but faiv to lev Mr. A, R Foote, the fivst chairmun of its commities on legisiation, speak tor bimself in bis own words A year ago [1880] at the conventio National Klectrie Lighting question was disenssed of ship of electrie Hant piants. L result of the papers read at the time, 4 resolution was adopted croating what we torm the nations committes on legislution, of which | wis mid: chalrman. No 1nstruotions were given to that committeo. 1 was horized Lo appolnt ono wember from eact stute fn making up the ni- tonal committee. * * + In order Lo unify s electrie interosts so they could work for lrstate, we instituted @ movement to or- 120 stuto ussoolations. Tho mombership theso stute assoelations is confined exciu- sively 1o operating eoununies, and they are supposed to look “after lezisiation in - their owu states, buing assisted dn their work through tho work of the natlonal comuitice. * % %o far as glving Instructions to the commitieo 15 concerned, I do not think the ouimitieo needs any instructions. The voneral understanding Is that the committes 15 10 tuke cozulzance of all questions thit af foet your Interests, whether that legisiatio © nunicipal or state. * + * To provide fo NANCOS AN uSsessment {5 author zed 10 Do uado which varies from 'y to 44 of 1 per cont of the capitaiization. * * % Plis nssessment Is subject to the order of the oxeeutive com mittee of the assoclution. So it gives ther the e s of raising o fund, If thoy have use among of the 18500 ution the municipal ownor- tor it without wailin - 1o call w meetiug of the associution aud without muech delny. They can slmply Buve & weotlug of the executive committeo, order an nssossment and collect he funds. * So far is my observation has gone tnero hus been no disposition at all to bold back In the mattorof financos. * * * In my work I have tospend money and then got it appropriated afterwards, so they have pretty good hold on mo. 1 always bring in a bill for what I spend. Mr. oote is candid. He calls for money and spends it as the emergeucy demands. Whether any aas beeu spent for illegitimate PUrposes is not & watter to be touckod unon bere. But it is ovident that the muchinery and funds aro always at hand, and that when mwoney is spent first and & warrant procured aftarwards the border line between legitimate and illegitimate lobbying, faint as it is when large interests are av stake, is more liable to be overstepped in the dark ness. I'he committee was particulorly active in its work agaiust tho Massachusetts bill granting mumeipal corporations power to undertake thewr electrie lightine. It sue- ceeded in burying the bill in the senate in 1500, but ronéwed agitation, together with the decision in the Peabody case, aroused the people and forced the law through the 1801 session. The report of the counsel to the Massachusetts state association for 1540 shows what was accomplished by that agonoy inone year, It read: Soveral compunles havo derfved speoial nd Individunlad vantagos by roason of thel moembership in tho ussoclution. One was saved from compotition with & new company which sought a specinl charter with spocial privilogos, und anothor from vantages derived from the action of gus com- missioners upon an appeal from the seluet- men, One or two other companies, thou :h not directly In the controversy would havo been ctod In procisoly the sunic way if the loglsiation sought had not been defoated. Tho orzanizad fobby has thus already sproad from the council cnamber to tho legis- tative halls, [vwill continue to grow and in- ereaso its activity so long as private corpora- tons have valuable franchises for which extonsions and exemptions may be sought. Governmental ownership of the monopolies of sorvice will ramove the cause and abolish such lezislative interference, 1t is unccessary to recapitulate the various advaatuges of municipal ownership of oloc- tric ighting, Even Mr. Foote, the corporato counsel wnom I have quoted, seems to have porceived that they areactual and existeut. Ho contends that no just comparison of privato and pubiic plants can bo made so Jong as the latter buve undoubted aavautazes over the former; thut the two systems can- not be weizhed side by side until they aro both placed upon the same piane. And 50 ho demanas for the private corporation “a per- petual, exclusiva and uutaxed franchise.” This s ndividualism run - wild, We might as well return 10 thoe feudal system of old as to begin magain to grant cxemptions from the exerciss of govern- mental powers, Our commonwealth goveruments have already been suffciently hampered by the doctrine that every grant of corporato powers is a contract,the impair- mont of which is prohibited by tho federal constitution. Kver simce the Dartmoutn cot Lego cuse,both the legmislatires and the courts have beon busily enzaged in restricting and devising means to evado the possible effocts of that farreacting decision. To grant feudal powers aud exemptions to any private COFpOrALIOn is, with us, eatively out of tho question. As yot only'a few have porceived what the most économical and eflicient opera uou of an electric lighting plant rests upon *a perpetusl, oxclusive und untaxed fran chise.” When the mass of the paople see the matter in this hight, whou they under. stand thal theso aro the conditions neessary for the best service, there will be little hesi- tation in deciding to whose hauds, public or private, such power should bodeiogated. To confer a frauchise of this character upon a private corporation woald run counter to ail our traditions, to all our republican iustitu- tions, Municipal ownership of elcetric light 10g is the ouly logical solution, —— IN THE BOTTOMS. loss of all ad- Work of Bedemption by the M worth Leag Tur Suspay Bee recently contained an ar- ticle by a reporter giving views afoot at and iu the vicinity of the dump, While it was true as far asit weut, the ground was not entirely covered either by the gentleman's article or feet, else the sign, hodist Ep- WML O Ui Epwoitn LEAGUE MissiOx, would have we. his gaze, as did the conspic- uous blooming of the morning glories 1o their fullness of boauty over an apoloey for a thouso, though wourished by what scemed unfertile soil. Perbaps it would have awakened like thoughts aud have provoked investigation s to whether sceds sown withiu those doors could take root in heurts waud, amid such unfavorable soll for religious growth, blossom in the form of beautiful oharacters, Such, [am glad to say, is the caso. The First Mothodist Episcopal churoh Epworth league, composed of a local band of workers eager to grasp all opportunities for belping and elevating their unforttnate fol- low croatures, and knowing tho- great need of people to bo in the possession of Christian graces which fortify when tho ills of life would otherwise depress, held their first ser- vice among the inuabitants of ‘‘the vottom' in_the form of a Sunday school last Apr with seven teachers ana avout fifty dirty, ragged, bava-footed children wio have hearts no blacker, however, than some with a moro goodly oufside. That great interost was taken then and after is evidenced by the fact that an addition to the house was made uecessary. Older oncs joining tho ranks, it was deemed adyisable 10 hold a weokiy prayer meeting and Sunday sorvice, which’ are largely attended, and o not unfrequent occurrence 15 it Lo see one who ¢ame Lo scofl remain to pray. Revival sorvices, led by prominent minis- ters from the churches, have been held with great success, many attondanis cmbracing Caristisnity and showing conclusively that tho work was thorough. One young man, who had lead & sintul lifo, & fow days after his couversion was fatally injured by falling under a dirt wagon, His last words were a beautiful tostimony to a changed Lifo. Calls are mude nod the sick provided with medical attendance and spivitual encourago- ment, Work is procured for them as far as nossible. In this connection 1 might give an wccount of now ouo offer of & job was re- ceived. Living in what one could call but a small partly covered, passably kept pen, is & woman with a miracalously orvight child, cousidering the circumstances. A prowinent down-town dentist, fricndly to the causo, Kindly offered to use him as un oftice boy at a neat little stm per weok. A committeo was sent to inform tho mother of the glowing future dawning upon her boy; but her pirental bosom heaved with emotion ns she stated emplatically she could not part with hini thus, not “knowing with whom he was associating,” and she didu’t *propose to have her boy cut up for doctors’ medicine, no, sir!" Hubits of cloauliness and beiug suceossfuily instilled. One youngster, for example, instoad of coming to Sunday school with but oue suspender button, now has two. Another littlo 7-year-old fellow8 meutal equilibrium was oue day so disturbed as Lo invite iuguiry. He had lost his neck- tie. An old rog boing finally brought to light “and 1dentified by him as the much- loved ueoktie, his face was suffused with smiles, and it occasioned the thought that we, 100, often withhold our hand when we could 1mpart to others much happiness with very little exertion nd be bonefited our- selves. AllL who Joy wonld win Happines: tidinoss are must sl Was born i twin omploted at this 0 it Prevarations are about ato for the opening of a sowing school, in which @irls will ba tauzht in the simplest munner e cutting, making and Topairivg of wearing apparel, Owing to the proximity of the distilleries, the product of whish is liko s **vico seen 100 oft,” tho peonle embrace all opportuniries of baving o 5upply ou hacd ot their howes, nov only to drown sorrow at 1ho loss of a loved one, but they consider an invitation Lo par of it su act of warmest courtesy, It be pparent then that tho work i$ neces. savily slow, but pot discouragiog, Neéw fields are continunlly ovening, the importance of which cannot be overesti- mated, and itcan vo Leuly suid *'Lue haryesy 15 great, but the laborers are few.” It 18 & grand flold sud should bo warmly encour- a by all, either in person ur by generous atributions, that tho alrendy fruitful work begun may progress, bocome more oxtended in 1ts s00pe, and Lhat a solid foundation may ve luid for & permsuent church home, if not for their souls’ sake, then for humanity's sake, “Ln falth und Lope the world will alsagroo utall mankind’s concern Is charivy." A WoRKEm, > T et r There can be uothing more temptiug or elicious Lo serve your guests wilh than Cook’s Extra Dry Champagne. - Prof. L. B. Blake of the University of Koosas, 10 an article on “Safety from Eleotricity,” in thoe last lssue of the Klec wrical World says: “Ior builldings ie cities, except churches and othor highb structures, rods, | think, are unuecossary. Lighining strikes seldom in the cities compared with the country, vue reason being that the many electric wires, telephone und telegraph and olectric light, are really safoguurds, A building is safer with such wires over it than without. In the country, however, bulidings way necd protection,