The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 23, 1895, Page 16

16 ABRAHAM THE SAN FRA CISCO CALL, SUNDAY, JUNE 23, 1895 LincoLns Crosest [FRIEND. HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED REMINISCENCES OF JOSHUA FRY SPEED. BY JOHN GI Abraham Lincoln’s one close .and inti- mate personal friend was Joshua Fry Bpeed of Kentucky. Allofthebiographers of Lincoln appear to agree as to this. The friendship began in 1837 and lasted throughout Lincoln’s life. Mzr. Speed, who died in 1852, w man of great reserve, and though often asked to write about Lincoln always refused upon the ground | that he had not the literary capacity to do justice to such a subject. He was, how- ever, consulted by the biographers care- ful enongh to seek original sources of in- formation, and usually gave tc such in- quirers what facts and documents he had in his possession. Once, however, in 1874, 1 think, Mr. Speed prepared a lecture on Lincoln to be read before some of his friends, and from this I shall' make ex- tracts and so let him tell the particulars of the friendship so far as possible. *“In the spring of 1836,” wrote Mr. Speed, “I first saw Abraham Lincoln. He had been a laborer,a flatboatman, a deputy surveyor and for onme term a member of the Legislature. -1 heard him spoken of by those who knew_ him asawonderful character. They boasted t he could outwrestle any man in the county and could beat any lawyer in Springfield speak- ing. In 1836 he v a candidate for re- election to the Legislature, and I believe I heard the first speech he ever made at the county seat. An Unhappy Effort to Take Young Abe Lincoln Down. “At the time there were but two parties, ‘Whig and Democrat. Lincoln was a Whig and the leading man upon the ticket. I was then fresh from Kentucky and had heard many of her great orators. Itseemed 1o me then, as it seems to me now, that I never heard a more effective speaker. He carried the crowd with him and swayed them as he pleased. So deep an impres- sion did he make that George Forgt man of much celebrity as a sarcastic speaker, and with a great throughout the State a: orator, rose anc ed the people to hear him. He began his speech by saying that this young man would have to be taken down, and he was sorry that the task devolved upon hir He made what was slasher-gaff speeches, dealing much in rid- icule and sarcasm. Lincoln stood near him with his arms folded, never interrupt ing him. When Forquer was done Linc in walked to the stand and replied so fully and eompletely that Ius friends bore him from the Courthouse on his shoulders. “So deep an impression did this first speech make upon me that I remember its conclusion now after a lapse of thirty-eight years. Said he 1tleman commenced his speech that this young man will have en” down, and he was sorry the upon ‘him. I am not so voung in yvears as I am in the tri and trades of a politician, but live long or die young, I would rather die now than, like ithe gentleman, change my politics, and simultaneously receive with the change an office worth $3000 and then have to erect a lightring rod over my house to protect guilty conscience from an of- ended God.’ *“To understand the point of this it must be explained that Forquer had been a Whig, but had changed his politics ard balbin pointed Register of the Land OGe Pand over Mt Tt wase the only lightning rod in the town or county. Lin- coln had seeén the lightning-rod forthe first time on the day beiore. Not understand- i he made it a study that book, bought for the pur- w all about ii. quality of mind made him look into and understand all he saw. No matter how ridiculous his ignorance upon any subject might make him appear, he was never ashamed to acknowledge it; but he imme- diately addressed himself to the task of be- ing ignoraut no longer.” Lincoln’s First Lodging in Springfield. At the time of which Mr. Speed speaks, Lincoln did not live in Springfield, nor had he yet bepn admitted to the bar. He was studying law, however, at kis humble home on the banls of the Sangamon, from books | borrowed from John T. Stuart, who was afterward his partner. “It was in the spring of 1837, said Mr. Speed, *and on the very day that he obtained his license that our intimate acquaintance began. He had ridden into town on a borrowed horse, with no earthly property save a pair of saddle-bags containing a few clotf)‘e I was a merchant at Springfield, and ept a large country store, embracing dry goods, roceries, hardware. books, medicines, eaclothes, mattresses, in fact everything that the country needed. Lincoln came into the store with his saddle-bags on his arm. He said he wanted to buy the furni- ture for a single bed. The mattress, blankets, sheets, coverlet and pillow, ac- cording to the fizures made by me, would cost §17. He said that perhaps that was cheap enough; but small a he was unable to payit. But if I would credit him till Christmas, and his experi- ment as a lawyer was a success, he would ay then, saying in the saddest tone, ‘If 1 ail in this, I do not know that I can ever pay you.” As I looked up athim I thought then, and I think now, that I never saw a sadder face. *‘1 said to him: *You seem to be soc much pained at contracting so small a debt, I think I can suggest a plan by which you can avoid the debt and at the same time attain your end. I have a large room with a double bed upstairs which you are very welcome to share with me.’ ** *Where is your room ? “ “Upstairs,"said 1, winding stairs which my room. said he. from the store to #:"He took his saddle-bags on his arm, | went upstairs, set them down on the floor and came down with the most changed expression of countenance. pleasure, he exclaimed : “ “Well, Speed, I am moved!’ At that time Mr. Lincoln was 27 vears old, “a lawyer without a client, no money, and all his earthly wealth consisting of the clothes he wore anu the contents of his saddle-bags.” Lincoln’s Rapid Rise as Lawyer and Politician. Mr. Speed was Lincoln’s junior by four ¥years, a man of some inherited means and a merchant with a prospering business. They lived thus intimately and together for four years, during which time. Lin- coln’s affairs were a little mended though not much, During this time there existea an intimate friendship singuiar.in the lives of both men, for neither of them in after life was ever unreservedly intimate with any other man. They appear to have had no concealments frem . one another and to have discussed affairs of the most sacredly personal -nature.. To no other erson did Mr. Lincoln ever unburaen imself with such’ aureserve. They ¢on- tessed to each other their. sentimental per- lexities, and of these, as is well known, incoln had more than a full share. . To return to Mr. Speed’s narrative of the early years in Springtield. *As a Jawyer,” he says, “after his first year he was uacknowledged amony the best in the State. His analytical , powers were marvelous. He always resolved every question into its primary elements and gave up every point on his own side that did not seem’ invul- nerable. One wowid think to hear him argue a case in court he was givinig his case away, Hewould concede point after point reputation | ed one of his | same | inting to a pair of | Beaming with | LMER SPEED. to his adversary until it would seem his case was conceded entirely away. But he always reserved a point upon which he claimed a decision in his favor, and his concessions magnified the strength of his ciaim, He rarely failed in gaining his cases in court. Mr. Lincoln was a social man, though he did not seck company; it sought him. i After he made his home with me, onevery winter’s night at my store, by a big wood fire, no matter how inclement the weather, eight or ten choice spirits assembled, with- out distinction of party. It was a sort of social club without organization. They came here because they were sure to find Lincoln. His habit was to engage in con- versation upon any and all subjects except politics, A Forerunner of the Lincoln and Douglas | Debate. “One evening a political argument sprang up between Lincoln and Douglas, which for a time ran high. Douglas sprang to his feet and said: ‘Gentlemen, this is no place to talk politics; we will discuss the questions publicly with you.’ “A few days aiterwards the Whigs held | a meeting and challenged the Democrats to a joint debate. The challenge was ac- | cepted, and Douglas, Lamborn, Calhoun and Jesse Thomas were selected by the Democrats. Logan, Baker, Browning and Lincoln were selected by the Whigs. Such intellectual giants of course drew a t crowded house. The debate took place in Joshua F. Speed. the Pregbyterian church, and lasted for i Dts, each speaker taking one e true knights they came to | fight in intellectual armor clad.” They all stood high, and each had his followers, adherents and adamirers. is was in | January, 1840. The conclusion of that | speech, as an evidence of Lincoln’s style at that early day, is, 1 think, worth re- | peating here. | ¢ ‘If ever I feel the soul within me ele- | vate and expand to those dimensions not + wholly unworthy of its Divine Architect, it | is when I contemplate the cause of my | | country, deserted by ail the world beside, and 1, standing up boldly and alone, hurl: ing defiance at her victorious oppressors, | Here,without contemplating consequences, before heaven and in the face of the world, I swear eternal fealty to the just cause, as T deem it. of the land of my 'life, my lib- | erty and my love, And who, that thinks | with me, will not fearlessly adopt the oath | I take! Let noue falter who thinks he is right and we may succeed. But if, after all, we shall fail, be it so, we will have the proud consolation of saying tb our eon- | sciences and to the departed shade of our country’s freedom that the cause approved l of our judgments and adored of our hearts | we never faltered in defending.’ " This speech was considered at the time to be the best of the series, and some even doubted, according to Herndon and Lamon, two of Lincoln’s biographers, that | { Lincoln could bave prepared 1t without tance. . Lamon says jn his book, written in 1872: “To this day there are some who believe he had assisfance in the preparation of it. Even Mr. Herndon ac- cused Speed of having had a hand in it, land got a flat denial for his answer. At all events, the speech was a popular success.” An Illustration of Lincoln’s Tenderness of Heart, Here is an incident related by Mr. Speed: *Lincoln had the tenderest heart for any one in distress, whether man, beast or { bird. Many of the gentle and touching | sympathies of his nature which flowered | sofrequently and beautifully in the humble citizen at home fruited in the sunlight of | the world when he had place and power. | the price was | He carried from his home on the prairies | With it he is either assured or warned of an | to Washington the same gentleness of dis- position and kindnessof heart. Six gentle- men—Hemgone, Lincoln, Baker, Hardin and two others whose names I do not now recall—were riding along a country | road. We were strung along the road, itwo and two together. We were! passing through a thicket of wild | plum and apple trees. A violent wind- storm had just occurred. Lincoln and | Hardin were behind. There were two young birds by the roadside too young to fly. They had been blown from the nest by the storm. The old bird was flut- tering about and wailing, as a mother ever does for her babes. Lincoln stopped, hitched bis horse, caught the birds, bunted the nest and placed them init. The rest of us rode on to acreek, and while our | our horses were drinking Hardin rode up. { “Where is Lincoln? asked one. ‘Oh, {when I saw him last he had two little birds in his hand looking for their nest.’ In an hour, perhaps, he came. They laughed at him. He said with emphasis: ‘Gentlemen, you may laugh, but I could not have slept swell to-night if I had not saved those birds, Their cries would have rung in my ears.'”’ Lincoln’s Religious Opinions. ! “I have oftcn been asked,” said Mr. | Speed further, “‘what were Mr. Lihcoln’s religious opinions, When I knew him in early life he was a skeptic. He had tried hard to be a believer, but his reason could { not grasp and solve the great problem of redemption as taught. ' He was very cau- tious never to give expression 1o any thought or sentiment that wonld grate harshly upon a Christian’s ear. Fora sin- cere Clizistian be had great respect. He ‘You are wrong, Speed. Take all of this book upon reason that you can and_ the balance on faith and you will live and die & happier man.’” One of Lincoln’s Deeds of Mercy. “The last time I saw him was about two weeks before his assassination. He sent me word by my brother James, then in his Cabinet, that he desired to see me before I went home. I went into his office about 11 o’clock. He looked jaded and weary. I stayed in the room till his hour for call: ers was over; he ordered the door closed, and looking over to where I was sitting asked me to draw up my chair. Butin- stead of being alone, as he supposed, in the opposite direction from where I sat and across the fireplace from him, sat two humble-looking women. Seeing them there seemed to provoke him and he said: ‘Well, ladies, what can I do for you? One was an old woman, the other yonng. They both commenced talking at once. The President soon comprehended them. ‘I suppose,’ said he, ‘that your son and your nusband is in prison for resisting the draft in Western Pennsylvania. Where is your petition?’ “The old lady replied: ‘Mr. Lincoln, I have no petition; I went toa [awyer to get one drawn and I had not the money to 2y him and come here, too, so I thought would just come and ask you to let me have my bo; *“ *And itisyour husband you want? zaid he, turning to the young woman. ‘ *Yes,’ said she. “He rang his bell and_called his servant, and bade him to go and tell General Dana to bring him the list of prisoners for resist- ing the dralt in Western Pennsylvania. ““The general soon came, bringing a pack- age of papers. The President opened it, and counting the names said, ‘General, there are twenty-seven of these men. Is there any difference in the degree of their guilt?’ “*No,’ said the general; ‘it is a bad case and a merciful finding. **‘Well,” said the President, looking out of the window and seemingly talking to himself, ‘these poor fellows have, I think, suffered enough’; they have been in prison fifteen months. I have been thinking so for some time and have said so to Stanton, and he always threatened to resign if they were released. But he has said so about other matters and never did, so now while I have the paper in my hand I will turn out the lock.” So he wrote, ‘Let the pris- oners named in the within page be dis- charged,’ and signed it. The general made his bow and left. Then turning fo the la- dies he said, ‘Now, ladies, you can go. Your son, madam, and your husband, madam, is free.’ “The young woman ran across to him and began to kneel. He took her by the elbow and said impatiently. ‘Get up, get up; none of this.’ But the old woman walked to him, wiping with her apron the tears that were coursing down her cheek She gave him her hunfi and Jooking into his face, said, ‘Good by, Mr. Lincoln. We will never meet again till we meet in heaven.’ 7 ‘A change came over 'his sad and weary face. He (fi:\sped her hand in both of his and followed her to the door, saying as he went, ‘With all T have to cross me iere, I am afraid I will never get there, but your wish that you will meet me there has fully paid me for all I have done for you.’ “We were thenalone. He drew his chair to the fire and s peed, I am a littie alarmed about my. just feel my hand.’ It was cold and clammy. He pulied off his boots, and putting his feet to the fire the heat made them steam. I said overwork was producing nervousne: ‘No,’ said he, I am not tired.” I said, ‘Such a scene as have just witnessed is enough to make you nervous.” ‘How much you are mistaken,’ said he, ‘T have made two people happy to-day. I have given a mother herson and a wife her husband. That young woman is a counterfeit, but the old womanisa true mother.’ "’ Copyright, 1895, by S. 8. McClure, limited. st ey PROTECTION OF CREDITS, Merchants to Form an Asso- ciation to Effect That End. Names of Those Who Expect by This Means to Prevent Abuses. A call has been issued for a meeting at the rooms of the Board of Trade next ‘Wednesday afternoon for the purpose of organizing *The Merchants’ Credit Asso- ciation of California,” described as “an in- stitution formed among the merchants for mutual protection of credits.” In a preliminary circular the obiects of the proposed association are thus further explained: For years the wholesale merchants of San Francisco have suffered heavily from the abuse of the credit they extend to their customers. Many retail merchants take advantage of-com- petition to extend the limit usually given for the payment of goods, and, dealing with sev- eral wholesale houses in the same trade, be- conte indebted far beyond their means of re- covery. This in the end results in failure, and & consequent 10ss to the wholesale merchant. Itis the purpose now of the wholesale trade to prevent much of this loss by means of an as- sociation which, by the system of inquiry among the members, will ascertain the indébi- edness and credit standing of a retail mer- chant. This information is confidentially given to each member in the aggregate, and applicant for credit. The tone of the retail trade willbe raised as another result of this association, and it is confidently hoped that its effect will be felt throughout the State. The wholesale grocers were the first to see the necessity of establishing such an organiza- tion and after cighteen months of practical demonstration among themselves they en- deavored to extend it to kindred lines, and the Merchants’ Credit Association is the outcome. jxe membership roll for organization now in: cludes the wholesale grocers, tea, coffee and spice houses, tobacco, provision, flour and the Wholesals Liquor Asseciation, and all are en. thusiastic over the prospcets of this protection 10 their profit-and-loss account. It is expected all other wholesale lines will join and perfect the organization, A commitice of prominent merchants have framed a constitution and by-laws and in a few days & meeting will be called, to which all wholesale lines will be invited, to adopt a constitution and by-lawsand take steps toward incorporation. Similar associations were formed some time past in Eastern cities and in every case have proven successful in saving a very large per. centege of loss falling o the lot of the whole- salers. Those eligible to membership in this organiz- ation are wholesale dealers, manufacturers and commission houses. A ))erlc\'lk)' working system has already been inaugurated and the future, as explained to our reporter, certeinly is bright for the San 1If correspondents neglect to give correct names and ‘addresses they must not be disappointed if there is no answer to the communication. ‘The names are not for publication, but for reference. Questious will be answered us soon as possible after they are received. Sometimes an answer cannot be had sooner than three weeks after start- ing the inquiry. Questions the answers to which will amount to an advertisement of any business or article will not be answered. g Questions ‘agking for the standing of any in- diyidual or firm will not be answered. Xo questions in arithmetic, algebra or geometry will be answered. Material for debaters will not be furnished, Religious questions respectfully declined. W. H. Haxox. Forecast Official. CHARGES AGAINST A VESSEL N. L. R., Selma, Fresno County, Cal. From the time that a ves- sel enters the port of San Francisco until she leaves she is subject to the following charges: On entering, survey, §3; entry, $250: official certificate and oath, 20 cents; general order, 20 cents. Clearance: Clearance papers, $2 50; officiel certificate and oath, 20 cents; post en- try, if any, $2; tonnage tax on vessels from any foreign port in North America, north of the southern part of the isthmus of Darien or any port of Newfoundland, the West Indies or the Hawaiian Islands, 3 cents per ton; on ves- sels from other foreign ports, 6 cents per ton; pilotage on vessels over 500 tons, $5 per foot draught and 4 cents per register ton: towage from sea to anchorage varies from. $100 to $250, according to_distance and condition of the weather. Under ordinary - circumstances ibe charges against a vessel of 2000 tons for harbor work would be us follows: Docking at the city front, $30; to Port Costa to load, $130; Port Costa to stream, $130; stream to sea, $110. _ Dockage on & vessel of 2000 tons regis. ter is #17 50 for twenty-four hours. Nocharge is made by the customs officers for weighing cargo. Stevedores' rates for unloading are: General merchandise. weight or measure, 3714 cents per fon; coal, pig iron or ballast, same; steel blooms, glass, sheet or bar iron, 50 cents; sulphur or shale, when over 50 tons, ' 50 cents; railroad irom, coke or brick, 70 cents; scrap iron, $1. Loading: Wheat and flour in begs, per ton of 2240 pounds, 3714 cents; barley, per ion of 2000 pounds, 3725 cents; salmon and fruits, in cases per ton of 2240 pounds, 50 cents; orchil- la, cotton and pulp, in small lots of 2240 pounds per ton, 50 cents; lumber according to size, from $1 to $1 25 per M. These charges are subject to reduction of from 15 to 28 per cent under contract. Drydock: On vessels over 2000 tons, 20 cents per day for every ton Tegistered, 20 dents for lay days, the maximum not to exceed %50 per day for cleaning and painting only, 20 cents for the first day and 10 cents each lay day. The cargo is charged the same as tonnage, but no charge is made for ballast. The cost for eleaning and painting a 1700-ton vessel is , if the contractor fur- nishes the materials, but if the ship furnishes them the cost is but $150. A ship's clerk is paid $6 a day, ballast costs 80 cents a ton of 2000 pounds, water is half a cent per gall A detalled account of a ship of 1825 tons in the harbor 52 days, which unloaded 2750 tons of cement and loaded 2825 tons of wheat, shows that all the charges, which include port charges of every description and the fittin out of the vessel, amount to $9395 77. Another vessel of 2278 tons register in port 60 days and loaded with tons of wheat out- ward bound had en account which footed up $8228 13. THE CAMERA CLUB—A. N.. City. The initia- tion fee of the California Camera Club is $10 for active members and the dues $1 per month. Lady 1elatives of the active members may be- come members, known as “assistants,” upon payment of dues in the sum of 50 cents a month. Active and assistant members are en- titled to all the benefits of the literature in the clubrooms, the use of dark-rooms and appli- ances for developing negatives and the use of portrait cameras, which are of the class known as 11x14. Those members who desire to take exterior views must furnish their own cameras for that purpose. Subseribing members do not have the privileges that are extended to active and assistant members, but they are aiiowed a certain number of tickets to the exhibitions given by the club. An amateur who joins has the benefit of all the latest information of pho- tography and the use of the rooms and appli- ances for developing pictures, also an oppor- tunity to see slides sent by like organizations in other cities, KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS—A. J. L., Irvington, Alameds County, Cal. One who wishes 10 be- come a successtul kindergartner must, first of all, have & good, substantial common school education; but if there has been a thor- ough high school, collegiate or university course it 1s so much the better. There must be good moral character, sincere love for children and en enthusiasm for teaching. The appli- cant for a course in kindergarten work should possess musical ability, as special trainicg in music is an important feature in a kinder- garten course of instruction. A kindergarten student needs all her strength and time to pur- sue her studies. A communication addressed to Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper of the Golden Gate Free Normal Training School, San Franeisco, will be responded to with all the information desired about the training of kindergartners, TELEGRAPHING—H. M., City. A dispatch of 1000 words sent through & Morse instrument in good condition from this City to Sacramento would take about twenty minutes. It would 0 1o New York on & straight wire in the same fi'nglh of time and without greater exertion on the part of the operator. If the message had to be repeated at Chicago it would take a tew minutes more. A ten-word message would take but a few seconds to go from here to New York for electricity travels at the rate of 15,000 miles per second. - The name of the winner of the Epsom Derby, June 4, 1890, was received in New York from London at 10:08 a, M., or 3:08 P. M., Greenwich time. As that was the time the message was handed in at the London ?lfiue the time In transmission was infinites- mal. THE NAVAL RESERVES—O. O. Y. 8., City. The same qualifications that are required of those Who wish to enlist in the National Guard of this State are required of those who wish to join the Naval Reserves. The only difference between 1he two orgunizations is_that in the guard the men enlist_while_in the reserves they are shipped. The applicant must be & citizen of the United States, a resident of the county in which he desires to ship, must be between 18 and 45 years of age, and i under 21 must have the consent of parent or guardian to ship. An application may be sent o any of the com- pubies of the battalion and it will be acted upon. A PoricEMAN'S RiGHT—C. F,, City. A police- man has no right to inflict physical punish- ment on a person guilty of & crime instead of arresting him. If a policeman detects a person in the act of committing a crime, or has rea- sonable grounds to believe thatsuch & person has commitied a felony, it is his duty te arrest Francisco and Sacramento business man—the latteralso is to be invited to join this enter- prise. The jobbing business in California will thus bein 2 way to improve the condtion of trade over the large extent of territory it governs, as well as immediately protectdtself from the loss it heretofore has experienced. Among the merchants who have already signified their willingness to participate in the organization of the association are: Haas Bros., Wellman, Feck & Co., Mau, Sad- ler & Co., William Cluft Conh[‘um , Hooper & lenulnfia, Coghill & Bohn, M. Ehrman & Co., Harris Br 0. & Co,, M. & C. Mmfe'h,’F. Peter- son & Co., F. Daneri & Co., Tillmann & Ben- often said that the most ambitions man might live to see every hope fail, but no Christian _could live to see his fail, be- ‘| cause fulfiliment could only come when life ended. But this was a subject we nev- er discussed. The only evidence I have of any change was in the summer before he was killed. T was invited out to the Sol- diers” Home to spend the night. As I en- tered the room near night he was sitting near a window intently reading his Bible. Avproaching him 1 said, “I am glad to see you so profitably engaged.” . = .- o 'Ye;s.' said he, ‘I am profitably en- aged. **‘Well," said I, ‘if you have recovered from your skepticism I am sorry to say that I have not.’ “Looking me earnestly in the face and placing his hand on my shoulder he said: del; Jones & Co., Wheston, Breon & Co., Dodge, Sweeney & Co,, The Wemmmer Co., Esberg, Bachman & Co., M. Blasko er & Co., Michalitschke Bros, &'Co., Rensldo) Bros. & Co., Willard Bros., William Lewis & Co., Op- fienhe(mm’ & Bros,, Sideman, Lachiman & Co., orn & Co., J.:A. Folger & Co.;_ A Sehilling & Co., Castle "Bros,, M. J. Brandenstein & Cou Pni. Bros., W. 1. Miner & Co,, Stockton: Miii: n g Compan: ,Bgny_fl‘l_on; Company, Deming, Palmer Milling Company, Del Monte Millf Company and the wholesale. liquor trade. Experiments with the great cannon mag- net at Willet's Point show that the body g} a person standing in front of it will sup- port iron bars standing out ataright angle, While the nerves are wholly unconscious of the magnetic force. This great magnet has been chiefly studied by electricians, but clearly physiologists also have much to learn from it. , such person agd take him forthwith before the nearest and most accessible magistrate, but as a magistrate is not always to be found the offi- cer is required to take his prisoner to a place of detention for safe keeping. It isonly when a golicemln strikes in self-defense that his Tight to inflict phci'sical punishment on a pris- oner is recognized. SHIPPING GoLD—Marines, Mare Island, Solano County, Cal. Five millions in gold might be shipped from San Francisco to London in such & way, that there would not be any loss in weight. That is if it were packed so that there would ngt hsAx‘liy friction of pieces, and so no Joss. It the gold were %‘ twenty-dollar pieces nd these were packed in sucli a way that on e voyage they wou'd chafe each other, each coin o chl.f!(l would lose a trifle in weight, but what that would be corld not be told with- out weighing. The effect would be the same s coin carried for a long time in the pocket, In time it becomes worn so that a perceptible ifference in weight can be discerned. To YosEMITE—E. W., City. Ifa person in the city of Stockton wished to tramp to the Yo- ‘| semite Valley it would be wisest for him to take the train to Milton, and from there follow the old stage road, which will give him an op: Portunity to enjoy as much_ scenery as he will care for.” There is no more danger in tramping lone over that road than there is over any of the roads of the State. 1rIsH-AMERICAN—J. H. M., City. The latest definition of Irish-American is that to be found in the Century Dictionary of 1890 and in the Standard Dictionary of the English NEW TO-DAY. . WOULDN’'T YOU LIKETO - HELP YOUR SWEET WIFE? No one knows better than a husband does how many ailments there are which the weaker sex have to which the stronger half of humanity is not prone. And it has been asserted and is probably true that the hardest problem that ever confr'ontetl a physician was to produce a medieine which women could take at all times with per- fect safety, and which at the same time would do their delicate- systems unmixed good. But DR. HENLEY most completely solved the matter when he produced the grand combination of Celery, Beef and Iron, which bears his name. efficient tonic and stimulant on earth, and you ought to get a case You will never regret it, so much good will it do her. - IF YOU LOVE It is the most for your wife. Take no substitute under any consideration, for no matter WHAT any one may tell you, there is nothing so good. Language, edition of 1893. The former says: “Pertaining to persons of Irish birth or descent living in the United States; a person of Irish birth settled in the United States, or a native American of Irish parentage.” The latter say: “‘Irish-American—pertaining to Irish who live in America; a native of Ireland settled in America; sald universally of citizens of the United States who are of Irish birth or parentage.” THE CuP DEFENDER—Broadway, City. The following are the dimensions of the cup de- fender Vigilant: Length loadwater line, 86.19 fect; end of main hoom to forward side of mast, 99.37 ; fore side of mast to jibstay, 73.80; fore side of mast to jibstay topsail, 75.90; fore side of mast to forward }ib of measure- ment, 74.85; fore side of mast to outer end of spinnaker boom, 74.62; deck to upper side of main boom, 3.08! deck to top side of halliard- block, 125.96: deck to hounds, 69.08; length of topmast, 56.88; length of gaff, 54.76: sail aren, 11,272; square root of sail area, 106.17; racing length, 96.75. THE TIpES—A. T. M., Edna, San Luis Obispo County, Cal. If you live five miles inland, but desire to keep posted upon the rise and fall of the tides in your vieinity, consult the “Time Tables for the Pacific Coast,” a Government publication, which may be had by inclosing 25 cents to the Government Printing Office, Wash- ington, D. C. Itisa book of over 200 pages, prepared under the direction of tne Chief of the Tidal Division of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. THE SUTRO BATHS—G. W. H., Sebastopol, So- noma County, Ci The size of the Sutro Baths is 500x275 feet. There are six tanks. The largest is in the shape of an L, measuring 275x150 feet. There is another 75x50 feet and four tnat- measure 75x28 feet. It- takes 1,000,000 gallons to fill the tanks. There are between -150 and 500 dressing-rooms. In the smaller tanks the water is heated, in the four smaller ones it being graduated. It is esti- mated that the baths when complete will cost over $750,000. THE SAN JOAQUIN Roap—C. Y., Livermore, Alameda County, Cal. When the San Joaquin Valley Railroad will be ready to run trains none but the most experienced in railroading will be employed.. There will not be any com- petitive examination for positions such as bag- gage clerk, messenger's clerk or conductor. Any one who wishes to apply for a position can send a writien application to the main office in g}“s City and it will be placed on the regular e THE FENCE LAW—Mrs. C. D., City. The law does not permit the putting up of fences of whatever material to & greater height than ten feet. That has been the law since 1885, and it is general, but there is an ordinance of this City that requires that in the fire limits fences built of brick or stone or concrete “shall not be less than twelve inches in thickness for a height of eight feet, and shall be increased four inches more in thickness for every four feet or part thereof of additional height.” SAN FraNcisco Forts—H. D. M., City. Fort Winfield Scott at Fort Point has been con- demned, and is no longer looked upon as a part of the fortifications to protect the harbor. The fort on Alcatraz Island is in good condi- tlon. The several batteries that have been erected on both shores of the bay are of the best class, the one that is located above Fort Winfield Scott being the most powerful. There nredgood batteries on Alcatraz and Angel Isl- ands, SILVER FOR PENSIONERS—J. W. McK., Ocean View, San Francisco County, Cal. There is nothing to prevent a -pensijoner from receiving his pension in silver if he desires to have the white metal instead of gold. If all pensions were. Ynd in silverinstead of gold,-the amount of yellow metal the Government coyld retain for other purposes would amount to many mil- lions ina vear. The disbursements for pen- sions in 1894 amounted to $140,772,163 7£e Pory, TAX—M. C. M., Fresno, Cal. The As- sessor of this County, whose Quty it is to col- Ject poll tax, holds that it is the duty of the employer to furnish a list of all-men in his employ; that the Assessor must make a per- sonal demana on each - individual before he can serve a notice of garnishment on the em- ployer, that is if the party liable for the tax refuses to pay. The same rule applies to road WILLIS AND DIXON—Abe Willis and George Dixon fought on the 28th of July, 1891. 'Willig" record and the chronological record of the rize ring for seven years fails to show that Willis ever gave battle'to Danny Mahoney. ETIQUETTE—Ignorance, City. Writers on eti- quette say thata formal call on a lady should be mede in the evening never later than 9 ;)'eloe';, undothn it should never be prolonged ater than 10 o'clock. In making such a call gentleman should carry his hat, gloves lna cane into_the parlor and hold them in_his hands unless requested by the lady to lay them aside and spend the evening. Etiquette” holds that umbrella, rubbers and: overcoat, when worn, must be left in the hall. If the gentle- man intends to make a brief cail he may be al- lowed toTetain his hat and cane in his hand. CONFEDERATE STATES—T. C. J., Oakland, Cal. The following shows the population of each of the Confederate States at the time of the War of the Rebellion: Alabama, 964,201; Arkansas 485.450; Florida, 140,124 ; Georgia, 1,057,25¢ Louisiana, 708,002 issippi, 791,305; North Carolina, 992,622; South Cardlina, 703,708; Tennessee, 1,109.801; Texas, 604, 215, and Virginia, 1,596,318. SMOOTH Cors—Marines, Mare Island, Solano County, Cal. The United States does not re- deem smooth or short-weight coin at its face value. Such coins may be taken to the wint, where 1t will be exchanged for new,coin, but the amount atlowed will be what the coin offered weighs, as bullion, and bullion rates will be allowed for it. The mint will not pur- chase less than $100 worth of such bullion at atime. % RELIGIOUS QUESTION—S., City. At the head of the Query Column is printed the announce- ment that “Religious questions are respectfully deciinea,” ana as your question is one the an- swer to which would lead to a controversy, it 15 “respectfuily declined.” If you will go to the free library you can consult the several encyclopedias thére and gain information on | the subject. SHOVELFUL—W. H. R., City. The Query Column is unable to state who it is thatis re- sponsible for the error of orthography that ap- pears in the inscription on thestatue erected to commemorate the turning of the first shovel- ful of earth at the Midwinter Fair grounds “Shovelfull” is not recognized as the correct way of spelling that word. CAN BE ANNULLED—A., City. If a woman who adopted & girl at the age of 3 years forces that child to marry at the age of 15, that child canat any time within four years after the marriage have it annulled if she ean satisfya court of competent jurisdiction that her con- sentto such marriage was obtained by force, | and that after the mardage she did not freely cohabit with the men 10 whom she was mar- ried. —H. M., City. PRINTING AND TY Johannes Guttenberg is credited with being the first to 1 have invented the art of printing—that is, em- | ploying movable types in printing—in about 1452. Type founding originated about the same time 1n Germany, P. Shoeffer having sub- stituted types of cast metal for the original wooden ty’ How 10 GET FAT—A. K., Fruitvale, Alameda County, Cal. It is impossible to lay down any rule by which persons mey become fat, Cer- tain persons who arc adviséd toeat farinaceous food, food containing a great deal of sugar and starch, and pastry, take on flesh very rapidly, while others who are thin and partake of {he same diet, and in the same quantities, remain | as thin as ever. ROAD TAX—M. L. B., Summit, Plumas County, Cal. The law authorizes the Supervisors of every county in this State to impose & road tax on every male inhabitant of the county who is over 21 years and under 55 years of age, “‘ex- cepting “all persons who were honorably dis- charged from the service of the army or navy of the United States between the 1st of April, 1861, and the 1st of May, 1865.” THE ELECTION—J. J., Oal and, Cal. Accord- -ing to the majority rule California went Demo- cratic at the last ‘election for Presidential electors, as eight of the electors were for Cleve- land and one for Harrison, but according. to o technical rule it was neither Republican nor Demacratic, as the vote was divided. COLORS OF THE MACLEANS—O, §., Alameda, Cal. The color of the plaid of the Macleans is a red ground with green, and green bars, the colors given. The hose are of the same color. The bonnet is blye with a red togplnd ornamented | with three eagle feathers. The tunie is green. _UKIAH—A Reader, City.. The reason that ex~ g;nh:n tm;; Acll'e not run to Ukiah, Mendocino unty, on Sundays is that the com: y - trolling the .road finds that there )’:. :zz?m- ficient travel to warrant it in lar excursion trains. & R e0 rex DOLLARS AND BULLION—G. C., City. On th 21st inst. there were 1n the San Fransiscs afor, 86,763,042 &tandard silver dollars. The s, proximate eost of siiver bullion in the Mint o,; ihe same day, bought under thy 18500 w.dv,zo§ A er the act of July 14, - FLYING Durcraan—G. 8, City. The race be- tween the Flying Dutchm and Voltigeur was for the Doncaster cup, September, 1850, yellow, blue, yellow g in the” order | 1 Voltigeur won by half a length. That. is the | only inl’nrmn!{un the Query Column can obtain | on this subjec A Bologna 3750 Feet in Length. The revival of the trades after the long stagnation which. followed in the wake of | the crusaders was responsible for many fantastie procession freaks in the larger towns of Western Europe. For an instance we are told that in the councillor’s. procession, which took place at Nuremberg in 1487, the bakers of the town exhibited a loaf of bread weighing 1141 pounds, and that in the procession a | cheesemaker ~ exhibited a ‘“star-shaped i cheese which put three horsés on their mettle to pull it through the streets mounted on a goodly dray."” | The old account further-says that this bread and cheese, which was distributed free of charge among the merry-makers, | ““was dinner sufficient for upwards of 3000 persons.” Tn the New Year's procession at Konigsberg in 1558 a bologna sausage exhibited by the ‘‘butchermen” was feet in length and was carried on the | shoulders of 67 men and boys. The one } exhibited in the same city in the vear 1583 as over 1600 feet in length and “weighed | 434 pounds. But the giant of all sausages, | and perhaps the largest thing of the kind ever made, was exhibited b; | berg butchers on New Year y | when they paraded the stréets with a bo- | Togna 3750 feet in length and weighing | nearly 2000 pounds. It was carried on the shoulders of 187 men, the first and last in the column each having it wound around their necks.—St. Louis Republ! Buy your Shoes direct fromy | the manufacturer | and save the jobbers'’, drummers’ and agents’ pro. | fits. We retail shoes at wholesale prices, We | have the largest store, and by far the largest stock | to select srom. | - NOLAN BROS. SHOE COMPANY, PHELAN BUILDING, 812-814 MARKET STREET. TELEPHONE 5527. PIERCE'S GALVANIC : A | | | ArlE TIRED OF «ingand wish to ob- vermanent - cure, does the work | fall, glving life €nd. vizor to weak | m:‘x“g;o.m\:‘uh‘ny‘ magic.. Get an Electric ure o get o while P ot e geta good one while Arwg. | tain speedy reliet and.. 71\ | why ot try ELECTRICITY * when niédicines you ar Plerce's Belt is folly described in | our new English, French and German pamphiet. Sall or write for a free copy. Address MAGN BTIG | FRUSSCO. (Dr. Pierce), 704 Sacramento atreet, i San_Francisco. Office hours: 8 a. . U7 e Sundays from 9 0 10 a. ., only. ‘These tiny Capsules aresuperior, to Balsam' ‘of Copaiba, Injections. Cubebs and cure in 48 hours the same discases without any Venience, SOLD BY ALL DRUGGH 1Y