The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 14, 1895, Page 6

6 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 1895. ~ STRUCK DOWN IN THE SHADOW OF THEALTAR Minnie Williams Mur- dered in Emmanuel Church. HACKED WITH A KNIFE. Suspicion Falls on Theodore | Durrant, a Medical Student. HE IS SOUGHT FOR IN VAIN. The Missing Man Seen With Her Saturday Night—He and She Knew Blanche Lamont. One of the most atrocious murders ever committed in San Francisco was brought to light yesterday in the Baptist church on Bartlett street, between I'wenty-second and Twenty-third. William Herman Nolt and two or three of the Sunday-school girls st to make the horrible discov- 5 found nothing to aro their spicions until they reached a small room | off the library. Entering it they found lying on its back, | 90 pounds, and could have made no resist- ance to her assailant’s attack. Miss Minnie Williams and her sister Augusta were members of the First Bap- tist Church of Alameda, and Minnie was only in S8an Francisco to attend the Easter services at Emanuel Church. She was to have been in the Bible class conducted by Superintendent P.D. Code | to-day. The golden text is “Take my | yoke upon you and learn of me for Iam meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Miss Williams had evidently been studying this in connection with the Easter season asa well thumbed card with points on the lesson was found in her pocket. A memorandum, “For Jennie Tuits, 2824 Mission street, class 10, Miss Turner.” was also found in her pocket. Mrs. Tufts, the mother of the little girl, knew very lit- tle about the murdered girl. She had heard that she and Durrant were friends fora considerable time, but had fallen out over some insulting remark he made to her. He wrote asking her to meet him last iday, but she refused. Durrant rode a ycle and was also a great friend of Miss Lamont. Durrant, Dr. Gibson and young King were all fond of music, and the cler- gyman is said to have a fine voice. The trio were inseparable, and King and Gib- son are both supposed to know where Durrant is. iy DURRANT HAS DISAPPEARED. Ciroumstances Which Connect Him With the Murdered Girl. As soon as Chief Growley was informed D MINNIE WILLIAMS, THE MURDERED GIRL. [From a photograph.] covered with blood and with clothing dis- arranged, the body of a girl. She had been stabbed in several places. Her right hand was almost cut off and there was a horrible gash on the forehead. Some of the cloth- fng had been torn from the body, and ap- pearances all pointed to an outrage fol- lowed by murder. It was soon ascertained that the mur- dered girl was Miss Minnie Williams of Alameda, a Sunday-school classmate of the missing Blanche Lamont. The closet in which she was found is in the front part of the church. The body lay in such a | position that the right arm outstretched was in sight from the library entrance. A broken caseknife, with which the mur- der bad been committed, lay near the body. There was no evidence of a strug- gle, and the chances are that the assault ‘was a complete surprise to the victim. The wounds were frightful to gaze upon. There was a gash extending from between the eyes to the right, two slashes on the breast where the dress had been torn open, and the probably fatal wound on the right wrist. A stab in the right breast brokea piece of the blade off the knife and it remained embedded in the flesh. Another portion was found in a second wound and a third is missing, but is supposed to be embedded in the body. Dr. Thomas A. Vogel was summoned by the Rev. J. George Gibson, pastor of the church, and he examined the dead girl in the presence of the Coroner's deputies. He had done some dental work for her, and when her mouth was pried open in order that he might be certain it was Miss ‘Williams another horrible discovery was made. A white substance was seen pushed into | the throat. It wasa portion of her under- of the murder he put all the detectives available on the case, and instructed Ser- geant Burke to detail as many men as pos- sible also on the case. Minnie Williams formerly lived on the corner of Twenty-second and Howard streets. Abouta year ago her family was | stricken down with diphtheria and three | of its members died. Minnie and her sister Augusta survived. Afterward the father and mother separated and the members of the Emanuel Baptist Church assisted the mother and children in their effort to reach their relatives in the East. Shortly afterward they returned to Cali- fornia, and Minnie went to live with H. C. Morgan, president of the California Casket Company, in his home at Alameda, She did not give up her connection with the Emanuel Baptist Church, how- ever, and occasionally came over from Alameda to attend concerts and special services given in the church. A meeting of the Young People’s Chris- tian Endeavor of the church was held last Friday night in the honse of Dr. James A. Vogel, 2602 Howard street. It was fol- lowed by an entertainment, and both Min- nie Williams and W. H. T. Durrant, the li- brarian of the church, were to be present. | Minnie left her home {n Alameda at 4 p. w. Friday and arrived at the house of Mrs. Boyes, 1707 Howard street, an hour later. intended staying a week orso and intended taking part in the Easter service being held in the church to-day. She left Mrs. Boyes about 7:30 p. M. in order to be at Dr. Vogel's about 8 o’clock, and from that time up to noon yesterday nothing was heard from her. W. H. T. Durrant, the medical student who is mentioned in connection with the | disappearance of Miss Lamont, and who is MRB. WILLIAMS, THE GRIEF-STRICKEN FATHER, HEARING THE TERRIBLE STORY AT THE CORONER’S QFFICE. [Sketched by a “Call” staff artist.) clothing, which had been torn off and used as a gag. The supposition is that when the couple entered the church the man made an in- sulting proposal to tne girl.' She repelled him and he persisted. She ran into the littleroom and he forced it open, breaking the lock in the attempt. ‘While securing an instrument with which to break open the door from the church kitchen, he also secured the knife and hav- ing'murdered the girl finished his bloody work with it, She was a frail girl, weighing only about | also said to have been a friend of Miss Williams, has disappeared. H.F. Wynne, the druggist at the corner of Twenty-sec- ond and Folsom streets, knew him well. He says that if rumor is to be believed Durrant wrote to Miss Williams asking her to meet him last Friday, She refused, but said she would be at the church social at Dr. Vogel’s residence. Between 8 and 8:30 | P. M. Charles Hills of 2031¢ Bartiett street saw a couple whose description tallies with that of Durrant and Miss Williams standing on the corner of Twenty-third and Bartlett streets. They were in earnest She had ber trunk with her, as she |~ conversation. The man was neard to say, “QOh, come along; what are you afraid 0f?” and presently they moved toward the church. The man produced a key, opened the basement door and the two entered, clos- ing the door after them. The man is de- scribed as being about 5 feet 8 inches high, shaved clean, save a dark mustache, wore a soft, slouch hatand a long, dark over- coat. According to Dr.Vogel, Mr. Durrant arrived at the social about 10:30 p. »., but Miss Williams did not put in an appear- ance. Officer John McGreevy, who lives at 137 | Bartlett street, also saw the couple stand- ing on the corner of Twenty-third and Bartlett, and his description tallies with that of Mr. Hills. Whether the murder was committed between the hours of 8:30 and 10:30 p. M. remains to be proven. One thing is certain—the blood on the floor was in a liquid state when the body was found yesterday. A number of people had keys to the church. Among them were the Rev. Dr. Gibson, the pastor; W. H. T. Durrant, the librarian; Frank A. Sademan, the janitor; P. D. Code, the superintendent of the Sun- day-school, and or two others. There is a bedroom adjoining the pastor’s study, and when Dr. Gibson was detained very late preparing a sermon he would sleep there. Durrant also used the room ou occasions and was frequently in the habit of running 1 and out of the building at night. He disappeared yesterday morning, and Dr. Gibson told all inquirers that he had gone to Mount Diablo with the signal service corps. The police say this is not true, and are now anxiously looking for the missing man. A. E. Williams of 716 Bush street, the murdered girl’s father, did not learn of the horrible fate of his daughter till 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon. He at once hastened to the Morgue, and when he saw her mu- tilated body he was convulsed with grief. He went to police headquarters and Officer Moffitt went with him to Mrs. Boye's house. They examined the girl’s trunk, and took all her letters to police head- quarters. “My daughter,”” said Mrs. Williams, “was 21 years of age. I saw her last about | a week ago, when I took her to the theater. She was a good girl, a bright girl, and never bad an enemy. Mr. Morgan's fam- ily treated her as one of themselves. She | did not keep company with any one that I know of. Everybody was her friend. “She had been a member of Emanuel Church for six or seven years. Her mother and one other child are in Canada. We were divorced about four years ago and Minnie preferred to remain here’ instead of going | to Canada with-her mother. I donotknow how I am to break the news to her mother. Oh, my God! Itisawful! My poor girl.” As he said this his broke and he walked away MISSING BLANCHE LAMONT. Is There Any Connection Between Her Oase | and the Marder? Owing to certain circumstances the fear- | ful murder of Minnie Williams brings for- ward more conspicuously the case of Blanche Lamont, the young girl who dis- appeared several days ago, and who, it has been thought, met with foul play. wrapped three rings known to have been the property of the missing girl. ‘Written in lead pencil on the margin of the newspaper was the name, “George R. King,” and the name, “Shernstein.” King is the son of Dr. King of 521 Capp street. He is a member of the choir of the same church, and knew both Durrant and Miss Lamont intimately. Detective Anthony saw him and he said he knew nothing about the girl's disap- pearance or the return of the rings. Shern- stein isan old man and was Miss Lam- bert’s music teacher. MISS WILLIAMS A DOMESTIC. Bhe Was About to Leave This City for Tacoma. Minnie Williams was well known in Ala- meda, where she had acted asa domestic in several families. Gossips are now tell- ing tales about the butchered girl, but the fact remains that wherever she was known she was highly respected and was deemed & pure and modest young woman. Miss Williams has generally lived as one of the family of C. H. Morgan, secre- tary of the California Casket Company, especially when she was out of work. She was engaged in making shrouds in this city for the California Casket Company for three months in the latter partof last year. She had also been employed as a domes- tic by J. N. Young of 2128 Alameda avenue, and Mrs. N. R. Lipman of 1547 Everett street, Alameda. The Morgan family lived for a long time at 1220 Ver- sailles avenue, but recently moved to the house of A. Q. Gott, the jeweler, of 2232 Pacific avenue, Alameda. The parents of Mamie or Minnie Wil- liams are well known tn Alameda. They resided there three years ago on Santa Clara avenue, near Walnut. Her father and mother could not live happily to- gether and they separated. Minnie Wil- liams then became a domestic. It may have been that the murderer of Minnie Williams was wildly infatuated with her, and knowing thai she was about to leave for Tacoma, preferred to kill her rather than let her go away from him. It is also possible that he attempted to more securely bind her to him by assaulting | her. Mr. Morgan has severed his connection with the California Casket Company to ac- cept & position in a similar firm in Ta- coms. He was to have left for Tacoma to- day, and Miss Williams was to have accompanied his family. o Miss Williams left Alameda Friday at5 p. M. The last seen of her in Alameda was when she left the Morgan home, ostensibly to visita friend living on Howard street, | in this city, and also to attend the enter- tainment of the Baptist chureh. VIEWED BY A FRIEND. Thinks Durrant’s Well-Known Piety Precludes Such a Thing. George R. King, in speaking of the mat- ter, said: “I cannot believe that young Durrant is guilty of so foul a crime. I have known him a nnmber of years, and he cer- tainly was a most exemplary young man. It has been stated that my son saw Dur- rant and the murdered girl walking in front of the church Friday night about 9 o’clock. “But that is a mistake, for my son at- It isonly a surmise that there is any that his name should be mixed up in the unfortunate affair, and I am sure it would not have been but for the mysterious dis- appearence of Blanche Lamont. He was & good friend of the gitl, but that is all. ““He did not even know that she had dis- appeared until the Sunday following the Wednesday she dropped from view. He came home and told me then that he had heard it at church. Theodore will be able to exonerate himself when he returns, but I think it an outrage that he should be accused without the slightest evidence. It has been said that the murdered girl was at the reception, but that is a mistake.” RESULT OF THE AUTOPSY. Wild @rief Displayed by the Father Over the Awful Tragedy. The remains reached the Morgue about 2 p. M., and the news of the horrible murder having spread like wildfire, there was a larger crowd of morbid curiosity-seeekers than usual awaiting the arrival of the wagon. The body wasat once removed to the autopsy-room and a post mortem examin- ation held. The physicians were unable to state precisely what caused death, so their verdict was “hemorrhage due to lacerated wounds and asphyxiation due to strangu- lation.” About an hour after the autopsy had been held the father of the girl arrived at the Coroner’s office. He was completely overcome when the details of the murder were told him, and bewailed the loss of his child in heart-broken tones. He said a purer and brighter daughter never breathed than hisgirl, and his curses on the villain who had killed her were hot and heavy. No date has been set for the inquest, but it will probably be held next Wednesday. In the meantime the police are hot on the trail of the murderer. A BULLET IN HIS BRAIN, C.Calmon Kills Rene Lefevre in a Jackson-Street Lodg-~ ing-House. The Dead Man Had Been Intimate With the Wife of the Mur~ derer. C. Calmon, proprietor of the White House, 520 Jackson street, shot and in- stantly killed Rene Lefevre, a shoemaker, and an ex-convict, living at the Contra Costa House, 14 Jackson street, on the stairway of the lodging-house, 520 Jack- son street, shortly before 10 o’clock last night. Calmon was arrested, and ad- mitted the crime, but he pleads self-de- fense. According to Calmon’s statement Lefevre has been too intimate with Mrs. Calmon. The dead man had been living at the house conducted by Calmon until two weeks ago. He had been found in a com- promising position, and was told to leave the house. He did so, but has been back several times, although repeatedly warned by Calmon to keep away. tended the Tivoli with a friend, returning EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH, BARTLETT STREET, BETWEEN | certain figures distinctly inscribed on the TWENTY - SECOND AND TWENTY - THIRD, WILLIAMS WAS MURDERED. IN WHICH MINNIE connection between the two cases, but in working up clews in a case of such fright- ful nature as that of yesterday, the police | are not inclined to oyerlook anything. Minnie Williams and Blanche Lamont were members of the same class in the Sunday-school of which P. D. Code is su- perintendent. Durrant is a dental student and lives at 421 Fair Oaks street. He is librarian of the Sunday-school. He often slept in the church, and is a friend of Rev. Dr. Gibson, the pastor. Pretty Blanche Lamont, who disappeared from the home of her aunt, Mrs. Noble, at 209 Twenty-first street, is now supposed to have died in some private house or hos- pital in this city. How her body was disposed of is not known, but it is supposed that it met with similar treatment to that of the unfortu- nate Addie Gilmour, who was cut up by Dr. West. W. H. Duorrant answers the description of the young man who was with Blanche Lamont when she was last seen on a Powell-street car, nearly two weeks ago. He is about 25 years of age; has a black mus- tache, and is of the build of the man de- scribed. He was often seen in company with both Blanche Lamont and Minnie Williams. Blanche had been attending the Normal Bchool with the intention of becoming a teacher. She had come from Montana, where her mother lives, to secure a good education here. She was of a romantic turn of mind. Her sister, Maud Lamont, is a teacher in the schools of this city. Blanche was a brown-haired girl of 21 years, but she ap- peared much younger. She had large, brown eyes, a girlish smile and acted like a young woman of inexperience, The belief that Blanche Lamont has met her death as the result of an operation is s@rengthened by the fact that the three rings she used to wear were received in a somewhat mysteri 3 ORIy "hy;. rious manner by Mrs. Mrs. Noble received by mail yesterday morning a newspaper in which was home about 11 o’clock. The whole affair is shrouded in mystery, but I think Dur- rant is innocent of the crime. It would be very hard for me to believe thata man of such regular habits could do so foul a deed.” MRS. DURBANT'S STATEMENT. She Is Confident That Her Son Can Prove His Innocence. Mrs. Durrant, mother of the man who is supposed to know more about the mur- dered girl than any one else, said last night: “My son came home Friday afternoon 2bout 5 o’clock, bringing with him his uni- form, as he intended to leave for Mt. Diablo yesterday morning. He left home about 7:30 o’clock to go to Dr. Perkins’ for some articles of clothing needed in the expedition. “Of course, after leaving the house I know nothing of his movements except what has been told me, and which I know to be correct. There was a church recep- tion at Dr. Vogel’s Friday night, and Theodore, being a prominent member of the young people’s society, was present. “From what I can learn through those at the reception the entertainment broke up about 11 o’clock, and my son, in company with Henry Wolf, escorted Miss Mariam Lloyd home. Of course, what might have been done after that I can only surmise— that is, Mr. Wolf and my son parted at Twenty-second street, near Howard, the latter coming directly home. “Anyway, my son came in at 11:30, though I did not see him. He is a mem- ber of the Signal Corps, and he left yester- day morning at 20 minutes of 7 for his station. 1 did not see him before he left, though he will be back to-morrow night. “This will all be news for him, for he can easily prove his whereabouts every minute of time from leaving this house at 7:30 and returning at 11:30o’clock. Why he scarce- ly knows the girl, and as for being at all intimate with her, that is not the case and can be proved, v “I am very much distressed and grieved Last evening Lefevre called at the White House, but was told by Calmon not to come up the stairs. According to Calmon’s story Lefevre said he would go, but that he added: *“I willdo you upin less than a week.” Lefevre then left the house, but a few moments later returned. As he came up the stairs Calmon called out to him to stop or he would kill him. When four or five steps from the top of the stairs Cal- mon fired. The ball struck Lefevre over the left eye and he fell back dead on the landing midway on the stairs. Calmon made ne effort to escape. Word was taken to the old City Hall police sta- tion by two eye-witnesses of the affair, and Calmon was slz\ced under arrest by Offi- cers Littleand Love. He showed no rei:et over the affair, claiming that he lieved Lefevre in- tended to kill him, but that he shot first. ‘When the body of the dead man was searched at the Morgue no wea;wn of any kind was found. A few cards of Attorne; P. B. Nagle and a letter crediting him wit authority to solicit for 8. Ronda, merchant tailor, 11 Ellis street, comprised his effects. Lefevre is known to the police. He was sent to San Quentin about two years ago for burglary. He wasa young man and rather prepossessing. Since his release he has given the police no trouble and has evidently been working right along. FIGURES ON THE RETINA, Strange Discovery in a Belgian Hos- pital. The legendary belief that the eye of a murdered man might retain a permanent image of his destroyer has just received something like scientific confirmation. According to the Revue des Questions Scientifiques, Drs. Deneffe and Clayes of Ghent University recently had their atten- tion directed by a medical student to the curious appearance presented by the eyes of a woman under treatment in the hos- pital. The student declared that he had found surface of both eyes. Dr, Deneffe was in- | credulous, and suggested that if any such marks existed they must merely be the chance result of some injury, and that the resemblance to figures was probably im- aginary. Next day, however, he examined the atient himself, and was astonished to Fmd that the left iris bore the number *“10” and the right “45,” these figures being traced with caligraphic perfection. The eyes were photographed, and on the enlarged proof the numbers ‘10" and 45" stood out with unmistakable clearness. Nor is this all. Although the origin of these particular impressions cannot be as- certained, it has been proved that their ac- uisition may be hereditary. The'woman’s flaughwr has the same peculiarity in her eyes, but with a much less degree of regu- larity and distinctness. The girl’s right eyeis found to bear a feeble reproduction of the number “10,” while in the left iristhe figures 20" take the place of the mother’s *‘45.” Here, then, is a pleasing puzzle for the hysiologists. It would be strange, at this ime of day, to discover that the eye, under certain confiitionl, could reall rfom the functions of the camera.— Westminster Gazette. Degrees in Honesty. A couple of pickpockets had “pinched” a hne gold watch from a victim, who offered a reward of $100 for its recovery and no questions asked. The notice fell under the eyes of one of the gentry before the watch had been dhpmes of, and he took it to his pal, says the New York Re- SOy, BIlL"” he sald, " h 1 say, ,”’ he sal ere's a chan for us to get $100 for the ticker."” i “It's worth $400," replied Bill, “Yes, but you see we get this §100 and no questions asked. 1 the balance?” suggested ‘“‘And we lose "hfl Pthr‘il"y Wélli: B 100 ‘erhaps; but we straight.’” «And that ain’ wh‘::"n wmt." Bill’s pal rubbed his chin and contem- pl‘ntyed 13 £l pam:):rd l:rlciualy. i “You're a g eal worse than 1 Bl‘l}i" he said ntt‘l'ut. i:: a utdon% fi{ IOH'DV.’fn. uess nof Totes L eIt nhr}n{d-gofl hn'.’wfién \ll’l." Tee s “Not muc responded the pal; willing to be l;onenp:hnn I geu?u P but you ain’t.” “I'm chance, ———— It is considered not improbable that some specimens of Chinese poetry were written as loug as 3000years ago. AN AFRICAN METAL KING, How a Circus Clown Became Worth Six Hundred Mil- lion Francs. A MOST WONDERFUL CAREER. Notwithstanding Hls Vast Wealth He Is a Quiet and Unassuming Man. Paris has a king within its walls to-day, one whose subjects do him homage throughout the world of business, for the monarch is none other than Barnato, the king of mines, who at the lowest computa- tion is worth 600,000,000 of francs. The name of Barnato says little to those people who do not follow events in South- ern Africa,and yet the king is popular not only at the Cape but in London, where he is a great power and where he makes the sun to shine or the rain to descend on the mining market. If he were only a fortu- nate speeulator he would not be particu- larly interesting, however, but his life is as curious as a romance. Twenty years ago a circus, which had traveled, goodness knows how, from Eng- land to South Africa, arrived at Kimberley. It was not a big circus, in fact it was only composed of the manager, the mana- er’s wife, a clown and two trained mules. t that epoch Kimberley was not the dia- mond town that it has become since. The circus did poor business, and one morning the director and the directress fled, leaving the clown with two mules and thirty sbil- lings in his pocket, which is not much in Europe, but which is still less at the Cape of Good Hope. What could be done with mules at Kimberley? Go outriding? That was what Mr. Barnato, the hero of this story, did. 5 During his second ride in the outskirts of Kimberley he found in the fields traces of diamonds; he took some stones, showed them to a miner, and entering into partner- ship witk him, went to sell them in the town. Then, without divulging his dis- covery he bought the field where he had made his find, only took out a very few stones, for fear of arousing suspicion, bought other fields, and found himself at last a large landholder. This first period lasted three years, and it was with these fields that the famous society of Beers was created, of which Mr. Barnato is now gov- ernor, with Sir Cecil Rhodes and another, each of these three gentlemen now receives an annual salary of $125,000 from the com- ny. Atthe time of its formation Mr. arnato was only a millionaire. He wanted more, and he found it. When the first gold mines were dis- covered at Johannesburg Mr. Barnato rushed there. He recommenced _the strategy that had so well succeeded at Kimberley, bought as much land as he could find, organized societies on_the London market and became king of the mines. He also wentin for politics, and although not a follower of Sir Cecil Rhodes’ policy he caused himseli to be elected deputy to the British Parliament from the Cape of Good Hope. That was certainly a good deal of ground to get over in twenty years. Now Mr. Barnato lives in London and only goes to the Cape for the Parlia- mentary sessions; that is why he will sail on May 7. If he were Conservative candidate at the next election he would be returned, for the English take merit when they find it, and every one who meets Mr. Barnato is struck with his intelligence. He is a little man, about 45 years old; wearing a slight mustache. In’his dress he is very simple, and behind a pince-nez mounted in Fold (it is the only trace on his person of the metal king) he has two eyes of an incredible vivacity. He does not speak a word of French, and he says that during the two weeks he has been in swell and very dignified man of the world. He is a boy only on the mornings when he arrives at the offices of the Central long be- fore the clerks. On other mornings he usually rides. The boyishness, not un- mixed with triumph, still twinkles in his eoys when he asks his private secretary, Mr. Du Val, to compliment him on his en- terprise. If Mr. Depew lives to be 100 years of age he will not be old. ————————— THE DEBTS OF EUROPE. France Leads in the Per Capita Amount, Portugal Second. It will probably be news to most people that according to the latest statistics every baby born in France is from the very hour of its birth 922 francs 50 centimes in debt, says the New York World. The national debt of France is greater than that of any other country in the world, amounting in round numbers to 35,425,000,000 francs, of which about 4,000,000,000 are departmental or communal debts, while the rest, strictly speaking, is owed by the state itself, of which each of the 38,250,000 inhabitantsisa part. After France the gay nation of Por- tugal has the largest per capita debt, each little Portuguese being 609 francs wor :e off than nothing when it comes into the world, while every subject of King Hum- bert of Italy is burdened with 405 francs of national obligations. It may be thought that, as France carries a heavier financial burden than any other country, it is nearer the verge of ruin. But figures, which are said not to lie, are sometimes deceiving, Italy and Portugal, though their national debts are much less, are more nearl solvent, for they are almost entirely debted to other countries, while the people of France are the creditors of the nation. The German debt is only 2,131,000,000 francs, many times less than that of France. The French pay an average of 88 francs 20 centimes per capita in taxes for the support of the Government, while the German contribution is but 44 francs for each individual. This is accounted for by the fact that it costs the French people 377,000 francs per hour to be governed, while the monarchial machinery of Ger- many is much less expensive. Another reason is the constant and rapid in- crease of population in Germany, despite the steady and enormous emigration. Statistics show that the Germans are the most and the French the least prolific peoples of Europe. The )'rench are a na- tion of stay-at-homes, and do not adapt themselves in foreign lands so easily as the Germans, yet their population, instead of increasing, is _slowly diminishing. When Dr. Roux’s discovery of antitoxin as an antidote for diphtheria was made public he was hailed as the greatest benefactor of his age, as 3.6 per cent of the population of France fall each year victims to that dis- ease, and the saving of so many lives means that the population will begin to increase, or at least hold its own. L e e BEN, THE FIRE DOG. Death of a Pet of the New York Engine- Men. A spotted coachdog, known as Ben,which belonged ‘to engine 13 in Powers street, Williamsburgh, was shot by a policeman, after a doctor tried in vain to alleviate his sufferings. Ben wasrun over by the en- gine while going to a fire at Stagg and Humboldt streets, says the New York Sun. Four years ago the firemen got the dog from engine 34. Ben was a small pup and great interest was taken in him on account of his sagacity. The firemen trained him to lead the engine-horses to a water-trough and also to buy newspapers. The dog knew every signal on the gong, and when- ever the engine was called to a fire Ben would take his place in front of the team and never stop until the fire was reached. v Everybody in the neighborhood of the engine-house knew Ben and provided him with food when he appeared among them. The dog never went away more than a few yards from the engine-house, and on sev- eral occasions” he was known to jump through the basement windows of houses in the neighborhood of the engine-house when he heard the firegong ringing. Thomas Shanley, a blacksmith on Pow- ers street, near Graham avenue, got a big bulldog about two weeks ago to guard his Paris, occupying the Prince of Wales’ apartments at the Hotel Bristol, he has only had time to see the financiers. He refused to say why he has come, but when asked whether it was to sell his mines, he fairly bounded in the air. Sell his mines! He believes in the future of his Africa and his mines, and only sees one danger ahead, and that is “gambling.” Truly there was something intensely striking about this little man when he re- counteg his past and when he said he wished aris should know his credit,” and he added, “My mines are serious and business-like, I give you my word of honor.” He has not the serious and imposing calm of the miners of Western America, the Mackays and others who give one the impression of colossal crushers of min- erals and men—he is just 2 man who has made his niche in the world and who evi- dently finds himself cramped in his apart- ments in Paris that princes and kings gen- erally occupy. Paris isso far from Kim- berley and his gold fields.—Translated for the Carr from Jacques St. Cere in Le Figaro. BANKS ESTABLISHED BY WOMEN, The Penny Savings Bank of a New York Town. Mrs. George L. Norton read a paper be- fore the New York Society for political study on “Banking and the Clearing- house.” She commenced, says the New York Re- corder, by saying; ‘“Madam President and Fellow Citizens,” which caused a ripple of merriment around the room, then at once dipped into statistics, giving the total number of national, State and savings banks. The tabulated statement of the State Bank Department at Albany proves conclusively the popular favor enjoyed by savings banks as well as their great use- fulness. Mrs. J. Pierpont Morgan has successfully established at Highland Falls a penny savings bank, which has demonstrated its usefulness to the poor and frugal. Mrs! Brown of Washington knows more about mutilated money than any other person in the world, and it is a woman’s deit fin- gers also that are expert in detecting coun- terfeit money. The total transactions since the organi- zation of the Clearing-house, forty-two ears ago, show an amount so giganiic as 0 be appalling to think of. One trillion forty-five billion two hundred and forty- eight million seven hundred and thirty- e}gh% thousand dollars, all without the use of safes. place at night. The dog did not show any signs of viciousness, and Shanley let him bave the freedom of the shop. When the flmg in the engine-house rang for a fire at umboldt and Stagg streets on Saturcay morning Ben, as usual, took his place in front of the engine, and when the doors were thrown open and the team started away he barked vigorously. The emgine went Bp Powers street to Graham avenue. Shanley’s dog heard Ben barking and ran out of the blacksmith shop. When the bulldog saw Ben he at- tacked him, burying his teeth in Ben’s throat. Both dogs fell, and while they were rolling over on the stones the engine came dashing along and ran over them. Shanley’s dog was instantly killed and Ben's back and one of his legs were broken. Ben was carried to the engine-house and a veterinary surgeon was called. Every- thing was done to help the dog, but the firemen decided yesterda{)e morning to have him shot. Ben will stuffed and g:ounted, and will be placed in the engine- ouse. BRAVERY OE AFGHANS. They Recognize It in Their Foes as Well. The courage and undaunted boldness of the Afghans will bear comparison with that of any nation, and many are the instances of personal bravery known to British officers. There lives in the Yusu- fzai country an old chieftain, the hero of many fights, who now enjoysa well-earned pension, with the village manor asa re- ward for honorable service, and who on more than one occasion risked his life to save that of his commanding officer. The present editor of the London Even- ing Globe records with gratitude the fact that thirty years ago his life was saved by Afzal Khan, the recent envoy to the Cabul court. Major Wigram Battye, whom I buried at Jellalabad, fell on the battlefield of Fattahabad in the conquestof Afghan tferritory, but they were Afghan soldiers of his own regiment who emos over his dead body m’lprotect it from insult. The mis- sionai uting was attacking the faith of the Moslem 1n the streets of an Afghan city, when his life was attempted by an assassin, but it was his Afghan servant who saved the preacher’s life even in the midst of popular tumult. Colin Mackenzie, one of the Cabul pris- oners of 1842, often told the story of that Afghan chivalry which protected the lives and honor of English ladies in the excite- ment of a national rebellion. Norare they slow to appreciate the quality of bravery in There is no Clearing-house in Paris, and their methods of exchange are clumsy and antiquated. Mrs. Blake, Mrs. Fay Pierce, Dr. Gunn and Mrs. Newton took part in the discussion. — AS LIVELY AS A BOY. Chauncey Depew Enjoys Life Like a Youngster. A funny sight, which costs you nothing, is Chauncey M. Depew coming down | Madison avenue in the early morning on his way to his office. There are few people on the street, and he seems to think that there is none at all. He thoroughly en- joys himself. He is little boy Chauncey and is having just barrels of fun. ‘In one of his hands he carries an umbrella, and he swings both hands with joyful aban- don, says the New York Press. Hisstrides are long and ungraceful; a roguish smile broadens his countenance; the lips which have made men roar with laughter and cheer like demons are wide apart, or else whistling some popular tune, as the twink- llrfi eyes gaze toward the heavens. is whole appearance suggests “I'll play i'tou marbles for keeps.”” Two hours later, 1;2111 see him 14:m tl:le st.reeit, hemwill be walking properly and carrying his cane daintily, and would be at once %aken fora others. In the frontier warof 1863, a young English officer was deserted by his native sepoys, and for some time held his own in the midst of a crowd of Afghan warriors. When the brave young sofdier fell, cov- ered with wounds, the very men who had cut him down bore testimony to the indom- itable pluck of the young Englishman, who, rather than run with his men, faced the foe and died like a man. They raised one united shout in the Afghan hnguage as he fell, “Bravo! BravoF There’s a brave young fellow I But they are revengeful and jealous.— Home and Country. The Century’s Close. The question whether the twentieth cen- tury will begin with the heglpmng or the end of the year 1900 bids fair to reach a stage of acute controversalism. Some people declare that the present century will end with the last day of 1899, while others are equnll{ certain that the century will not be complete until the year 1900 has passed. A 4 This latter view is mathematically cor- rect, as any one can prove when he knows that the, first vear of the Christian era ended at/the close of the year 1, and the first cenfury at the close of the year 100. If theXChristian era had begun with a year 0 then the centnrieswouuf have begun with th&t year and ended with the years 99, and 8o ‘on to 1899, o