The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 4, 1898, Page 10

10 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1898 . MRS. MENTEL NOT CENSURED BY THE.JURY Strange Story of. the Young - Wife and Her Deadly Revolver. Friends of the Deceased Tell of the Secret Marriage and the Subsequent Troubles of the Couple. who shot her hus- y the Cor- Anna Mentel, Al We, the jury, do find that thename of the deceased was William F. Men- tel, aged about 28 years, and that he came to his death on Santa Clara avenue, near Union street, Alameda, Cal., at about 6:45 p. m., December i, 1898, and that death was causec by = bullet wound in the head inflicted by the hand of a woman giving the name of Mrs. Anna Mentel. E. J. Bevan (foreman), J. A. Mon- ro, W. H. Walter, A. Kist, E. B. Dun- ning, W. J. Kane, F. Furrey, G. F. Weeks, W. G. Vallmar, George Clark. the body that the s who sa f le E: ling to show that he t under his left a . the woman that de- act of choki the fatal shot ol showed th shots at Arthur J d, tes I have shot mv 1 wish you would take God, m) me somewhere. , with his head in the direc- e. He was still alive a > blood was aming from is nead. He.fc 100k his ri ticular and -we - pa in_his nants pocket. test amination of t, but begged to’ her husband. me was s the wife r to a e doctor the influ- of the man sh question of said the woman was not unde: e of liquor. a flesh wound, caused death, rib and imb bullet glanced on a it shoul- in his opinfon anding to the r time of the shooting, and the shattered. It w. | tha d the pistol | yants in the affair. from the » bullet, must e been stand- ¥ i The 'bullet that went | yugh the head penetrated the brain. doctor found that the skull of d night, | Would see him go fentel's feet and would use her gun on him if he tried rad asked the woman who y from her. He had to go home shooting and_ she answ t :da, where he lived, and she was She_was jous to know her | determined to go across the bay with him. | ndition, and implored the of- | She d to keep him from talking with | to go to him and him to fo . and followed him around the gfore. e her before he dled. Conrad also te: ¢ told me that it was the samé old ed that when he examined the man he | row over his going East to Dr. d’Evelyn. notice of -the fact that| She thought if he left the State he would d that he | price of her fare from the doctor. to make any | saw of poor Billy 4| a4 completel fractured in a manner that e had never known of before, and of which he could find no parallet case in any medical work. The least fracture was where the bullet ente he entire back part of the skull wa$ splintered. The doctor ¥aid this might have been produced by a broad, blunt:instrument, or have ted from t ng the sidewalk, althoug hignty fmprobable. .All the wounds were powder m i, and the clothing of deceased was powder burned, indicating that the shots Were fired at close range. None of tne p Mentel were present estimony was introduced | n the verdict of the d surprise. Mentel, -the man who w fe in Alameda e number ak of the d s. To se cret of his mar- e, roubles. In 1 that his wife ce and gave him- no re with her ce mportunities. To his bosom frie: Dixon, of 206 Mason gtreet. he said that she had driven him to marry her at the point of her dead: revolver and had been flourt him r since the ceremony. M says the woman shot Mentél because he expected - to .join Dr. D'Evelyn, who is now traveung ‘in the st lecturing. He had ‘written to the young man a few wee 20 stating that he would nd him money to'pay his way as soon as certain arrangem. had perfected, and Mentel w looking this summons every Mrs. Mentel objected to her ng the State or going with- is sald to have threatened @ m; husband of Dixon | Clara Moody filed suit yesterday for a | fire.—Cincinnatti Enquirer. to use her ready revolver before she importance of Mr. Dixon's state- ent demands that it be told in his own = ‘I have known Billy Mentel for years. He was born in tuis city almost 27 years ago, his father, William Mentel, being an old r, who once kept a grocery store @ r) of Broadway and Stockton young fellow was honest, in- ustrious and as mild as a lamb, as all of is employers have testified. Soon after Fsth he told me of his fond- . but on account of her almost temper he was afraid of ten told me that she threat- nd that she had on ibited the revolver words. He appeared her, and I rallied him on his lack e before a girl. He would stand hands in his pockets—his habit- —and shake his head doubtfully. ovember 2 he came into my place d me that Luey were going to get She was up on the next corner, ting for him, with her pistol, I him if he ‘backed out. He didn’t have a cent, and she had driven him down to my piace to horrow money for trip to San Jose, where they in- tended to have the ceremony performed. “He pleaded with her, he said, telling her that he wa but she was inexorable and s matter could be pt secret and she could live with her foiks till affairs were in better shape. He also stated that she would surely do as | > thre ed, and to save trouble or, at | . scandal, on the name of his four s he would marry her then. I gave $ d-they went to San Jose. The T not the third Miss Mentel day, f the mar- anxious to as has been s ing envelope to Justice J. W. Gass, g that official to use a printed pe. His mall al and his wife from him ssing 5 hairdresser's. The name Man -d in the papers is a mere typograph- or. ays came to my ne here far Tror. can state from my own knowledge Mrs. Mentel shot her husband in a | 21 over the fact that he was going to d yn in the East. He told had threatened to kill him if d to leave the State or if ne About 4 o’'clock of that | ernoon they were both in my S nervous and worried, and | £ him like a hawk. he privately that she was armed | told me turn, and she wanted him to get the They and that is the last I Mentel alive.” not left for the ferr: Charity Bazaar Features. There an increased attendance at the Charity Bazaar in the Pavilion last night. The little folks had been there in force in the afternoon, and the excellent ical programme furnished by Noah ndt's orchestra and Miss Pearl Noble called _out the elders last night. Miss Nina de St. Hubert again led tne orches- tra in the rendition of her new march, “Greater America,” which was repeatedly encored. An entirely unique feature was the exhibition of ~rapid sketching by Charles Beale, the first number in the ketching contest between five pictorial tists of this city. To-morrow afternoon Santa_Claus wil Imake his appearance. He will be a tvpical California Santa Claus and will add some new features to the time-honored superstition. In the v ng the formal opening of the bazaar will occur, when all the -~hibits will be in A fine musical programme will be presented by Brandt's orchestra, isted y rs. Noah Brandt. who makes her appearance as a pianiste. —_———————— All the Places Promised. Charles F. Curry, Secretary of State- clect, has received 4300 applications for the positions at his disposal as Secretary and member of the Board of Capitol Com- issioners and State Board of Examiners. taff of assistants has been selected, therefore he cannot respond favor- place. and bly to further requests for official favor. R S G M i A Chanucah Festival. This evening 1 the Congregation Beth nd will hold a Chanu- nna street. Great 3 = been made by Cantor els and cholr for the event. Con- gressman-elect Julius Kahn will lecture on ancient and modern his Lucius L. Solomon will also deliver an address. e s e Divorce Suits Filed. James E. Miller has ®applied for a dai- vorce from Theresa Miller, alleging de- sertion_and infidelity as causes of action. divorce from L. A. Moody. The plaintiff alleges failure to provide as a cause of complaint. —_—————— THE TOP IS GOOD ENOUGH THEN. Able Furst—There's no use talking, it's always best to begin at the bottom of the ladder. Charley Tibbles—Yes, that's all right, unless vou happen to be escaping from a NAIL FILES bossed handl t-inch, sterling em- Button Hook to matc] 5e Shoehorn to match . Boe NAIL BU ERS—Fine chamois skin bodies, sterling _sllver top _and | handle.75¢, $1.00, $1.50, $1.75, $2.00 MUCILAGE . BOTTLES—Cut_ g with sterling siiver tops....$1.00, $1.50 INK WELLS—Cut glass, sterling sil- ver top, extra large........ $1.5 CELLULOID POCKET TABL: Finished with sterling silver orna. ments . Soe, 75¢, $1.00 GLOVE STRETCHERS—Finely em- bossed, sterling silver handles, $1.25 PEN KNIVES—Steel blades, sterling handles. 25¢, 40¢, 50c, T5ec, $1.00 POCKET STAMP BOXES—Sterling silver,. nicely engraved..... 4 75¢, $1.00, , $1.50 ‘H.ATCH BOXES—Sterling.$1.00 to $5.00 WILL& FINCK CO o] iA-F‘ew of Many Good Things in Silver Novelties at Small Prices! HAIR BRUSHES—Real bristle, ster- ling silver, back and_handle em- bossed. 50, $3.00, $3.50 -HAT BRUSHES—Real live bair, sterlin, er backs. S0e¢, 90e, $1.25, 8. 3 CLOTH BRUSHES—A1 bristls ling_ silver backs. $1.50, ES' BONNET BR ling silver handles, with live halr..8$1.25 TOOTH .AND FINGER NAIL BRUSHES—Sterling silyer handles. . coneenn.B0C, T8C, $1.00 WHISK BROOMS—Sterling _silver handles, extra fine brown straw.... 75¢ LADIES' AND GENT'S TOILET COMES—TItalian shell, extra heavy sterling silver tops to match hair brush........50e, e, 75¢, 90¢, §1.00 GARTERS—Fine silk elastic and sterling silver buckle. % . .. -.$1.50, $2.00, $2.50 SUSPENDERS—Fine silk webbing, sterling silver mountings...$2.00, $2.50 + 818-820, o9 Market Street. ings Bank. in high places two years ago. to date. 00000000000000000000000000000OOO0O00O0000O 000000000000 0OD0O00O00OO0O0O0O00OOCOO0000000O0 PEOPLE'S BANK DEPOSITORS APPRECIATE CALL ENTERPRISE SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., Dec. 3, 1898. Editor Call: On behalf of the thirteen thousand depositors of the de- funct People’s Home Savings Bank we wish to express our appreciation of the good work done by The Call in giving wide publicity to the vil- lainy connected with and preceding the failure of the People's Home Sav- ‘Whether the expose proves financially beneficial to the depositors or not this committee feels a sense of satisfaction and vindication in the fact that the general public will now have a better struggle we have had during the past four and a half years in the en- deavor to rescue the remaining assets ‘The public will also see the animus that caused our persecution by those ‘We hope The Call will continue the expose of the bank’s affairs up Bad as were the wreckers of the bank we think the human vul- tures who would feast upon the remains of the wreck are more despicable. The same evil influences that came in power after the bank’s failure have a controlling interest in the stock to-the expose of the bank’s affairs up the remaining rascals from power the depositors will ever feel grateful. Depositors’ Committee of the People's Home Savings Bank. 00000000000000000000QO00000000000O0 understanding of the from corrupt management. T. H. McCARTHY, E. F. KENDALL, T. S. WILLIAMS JR., BENJ. LUCY, A. L. CASAVAW, F. H. QUALMAN, G. B. CONANT, ©0000000000000009H00000000000000000000000 EXAMINATION PAPERS WERE SOLD FOR COIN Board of Examiners in the Market. BANTEL AS A PURCHASER GRAND JURY SHOWS UP MORE SCHOOL CROOKEDNESS. Six Aspirants Who Obtained Their Teachers’ Certificates for $50 Each—Supplies Secured ‘Without Requisition. Contrary to all 'precedent the latest Grand Jury = investigation into School Board crookedness is prolific of results. Jobbery in all its profitable variety, mean, petty larcenies and graver thefts have been unearthed by the delving that has been done these past three weeks into the books and affairs of certain men who have for two years made merry and waxed fat over the sack of the public schools. . So far as the Board of School Direct- ors is concerned it is the old, old story— the selling of teachers’ billets at fat prices, the manipulation of department | stores, julcy contracts let to members of the combine and a dozen and one lesser affairs of profit that, in the constant light of larger propositions, have become too insignificant to have general interest. But the overhauling that the books and numerous witnesses have had at the hands of the jury’s experts has involved others than the Directors. That august and virtuous body the Board of Exam- iners, which is supposed to: pass impar- tially upon the examination papers ot the ‘'sweet girl graduates who aspire to hold teachers' certificates and the chance to ultimately yield up $500 to the Direct- ors for a job, havebeencaught in the drag n and if unlimited evidence and proper law go for aught the jury's investigation may land the culprits where they belong. The average well-regulated ~Director “don’t like no cheap man.” His minimum is—or w; 500; but it’s the last of the season now, and he has dropped the rate to $400 per single job. However, $400 is a high pile when stacked up next to two twenties and a ten, and $50 was the maxi- mum of the untutored and inexperienced operator of the examining board. The recent teachers’ examination gave the Board of Examiners its maiden oppor- tunit. Fhe applicants were many and anxious, and the word went out th zh the medium of a Mills building broker” that many of them were burdened with a surplus of expense money. The bait took, and after three days of clever dickering six well-meaning but ill-advised young women of this city yielded up to the go-between $50 each. In return they were Instructed to apply to the Sresxding prineipal, from whom-they would receive copies of the questions that would be pro- pounded at the coming examinations. No paper changed hands on the trans- action and no other evidence of the job, cheap as it was, would have existed had | not one of the fair aspirants, whose name is for the present withheld flpplled to the wrong principal for her tip. The startied professor was not one of the well informed and he at once instituted an investigation in which he persisted until called down by his superiors. Facts ascertal ned by him finally came into the hands of lhed:resent Grand Jury ch, through a rigid comparison of the examination papers, discovered the names of the six who gnld for advanced infor- mation. With these names in their pos- session the jurymen have -been biding their time against the day when one of them should appear on the pay roll of the department. Not until Thursday was their attention attracted by any unusual action on the art of the board. On the morning of that ay a young lady, fresh from the presence of Secretary Welch, appeared at Moulder High School and informed the principal, Miss K. Brogan, that Schoot Director Hammond had sent her out with instruc- tions to Miss Brogan to place her name upon her reports as one of the teachers at the school, and ..at her name would henceforth appear regularly on the sub- stitute list, which it now graces. Miss Brogan declined to receive the new-made substitute on_any such irregular order and sent her back to Director Hammond, from whom she shortly returned with a peremptory order to include her name on the regular reports. Although the name of the new Moulder pedagogue made its sudden appearance on the substitute list, the Grand Jury ex- pert has a copy of the list taken last week, and if the two do not compare summary action will be taken. Mean- while close watch is being kept upon the names of the half-dozen in hand., It was known to the jury that an attempt was to be made at the last meeting of the board to railroad into the department a fresh bunch of substitutes, but prompt action prevented. It is anticipated, as the time grows shorter in which the board must realize its largest profits, an effort will be made to stock the substitute rolls, as there is 2 large number of anxious and willing aspirants who must be placed before January 1, in order that no pledges shall be broken. The investigation that Professor Kil- patrick has carried into the stores de- partment has disclosed a condition of affairs that goes a long way to account for the $300,000 deficit that the board will leave as a legacy to its mewly elected successor. It likewise puts Director Ban- tel in a decidedly unenviable position. As the duties of Mr. Bantel in the un- salaried capacity of School Director and chairman of the committee that does the buying having increased, he has found it necessary to sell out his modest baks on Larkin street and retire to private life in a handsome flat at 1837 McAllister street. ¢ For nearly six months past Mr. Bantel's sole duties have been the purchasing of school su&pliefl and guessing the winners at Ingleside. ! ‘With what success he has acted in the first capacity is demonstrated by the amount of school supplies which Professor Kilpatrick has found stored in every nook and available corner in the buildings of the department. And for none of this sur- plus has a bill been rendered since the Grand Jury’s investigation began; and to all_demands for bills Mr. Bartel has re plied with a characteristic, “Go to —." His plan, as developed by the Grand Jury, has been to honor a requisition for fifty desks with seventy-five or 100 of that article of furniture. A requisition for forty-three typewriters at $70 each he re- plied to with eighty-three typewriters at the same price. The machines needed fix- ing, and three or four operators have in- formed the jury that they offered to do the work for $3'for each machine; yet the bill came in for §17 each, and in two cases the repairs cost $65 for ‘each machine, or just 35 less than the price of @ new one. To the sewing classes Director Bantel has been particularly attentive. The young idea in San Francisco is_taught to sew, as well as shoot, by hand. Sewing machines do not enter into_the scholastic economy, vet Professor Kilpatrick has discovered that the benevolent Bantel has scattered them broadcast from his cor- nucopia of good thlnis, and in every case without requiring the formality of a requisition. Roller top desks and expen- sive upholstered chairs for night school teachers are other pet weaknesses of Mr. Bantel. Out at the Mission School the students as well as teachers are provided with dainty things in the chair line, some with back of bronzed Steel and leather cush- ions and no backs, but all of them ex- pensive. The contractor from whom they were bought got a dozen or so too many into his order and as a matter of foresight they were allowed to remaln and become art of the requisition. he extra stuff on hand, most of which has been ordered without requisition and for which no bills have been found in evidence, will foot up according to the evidence before the Grand Jury nelu'lg $100,000, and just now the question wit that body is the whyfore of the industri- ous and persistent buying of Mr. Bantel and whether the profits of his erstwhile bakery pay the expenses of the McAllis- ter flat and carfare to Ingleside. — e DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. A very charming St. Paul woman, who makes her summer home at White Bear, routed the police force of that village af- ter a very brief encounter recently. Mrs. B. rides a bike, of course, and when it became necessary for her to go to the grocery or the postoffice, or wher- ever it was that she had to go, she, of course, mounted her wheel. Now, at times, the streets in the village of White Bear are not the real thing' for wheeling, and the town authorities know the same. With a view to having fhe streets pressed out flat by bicyclists they have passed an ordinance forbidding any one riding on the sidewalk. Mrs. B. either did not know of this or she did not care; she took to the walk and rode downtown. She left her wheel outside and went into a store, and when she came out she found herself con- fronted by the dignitary who is the whole thing in police circles—the man who is to the Police Department what the lone mariner was to the Nancy brig. He said to the lad “You are under arrest.” She looked at him and made a dash for her wheel, which he had captured. He retired be. fore the onslaught in disorder and she got the wheel. “I am what?” she demanded. “Ii;(ou are under arrest for riding on the walk.” “But I won’t be under arrest,” she said. “But you are,” he said. “I am not anything of the kind. You mind your own business!” “But, mum, it is my business, and you must go to the Justice's office with me or promise that you will be there at 9 o'clock in the morning.” “I won't do anything of the kind.” “But I tell you 1 arrest you.” “And I tell you I won't be arrested. There you are. Now what are you going to do about {t?” “‘Oh, come on, now; come to the Jus- tice’s office.” 1 won't do it. TI'll pay a fine if that's what you want. How much is it?"” “I,don’t take the fine. You must go to the Justice,” said the unfortunate cop- per. “‘Where is the Justice, then?” ““He's down on the bridge fishin’, I Won't.you promise to be on hand in the morning *No, I won't.” “Then I'll have to arrest you.” “And I tell you I won't be arrested, and I'm going home.” The copper scratched his head and Yook- g(!lhas th(l-lugh }10‘)\1\‘1-15m oing sz make an- er sally on the e. . B. 5bo{,1rd of the wheel. S “You're a nasty, mean thing, and I’ going to tell my husband thatgyou smdn; was arrested,” she said, and she rode off, and the copper went down on the bridge [Cx:(](‘lwdh;';‘p(‘tdhlhle J\:f‘tlcefl fish, and the at_had gathered gave laugh.—St. Paul élobc. EHIo I gthe, ROSAS. For extraordinary, incredible, diabolic: wickedness the name of Rosas has becom&e‘ a proverb In South America. It is barely twenty years since he died; yet when the peoplé of the River Plate speak of him, we Seem to be hearing of some half-mad Ethiopian Sultan, or hero of the “Arabian Nights:” a creature of other clay than ordinary men; a being half devilish, half divine, slavishly worshiped by all, capri- clous, vindictive, ruthless, slaying in the dark by some mysterious power . his ene- mies, his refractory slaves and even those who dreaded and hated in silence; not to be caught unawares, proof against plots, free from ordinary human infirmities, knowing neither fatigue nor fear; violent, too, and fantastic, striking astonishment and a kind of superstitious dread by his mad_freaks, his dangerous banter.and his fits of savage generosity or cruelty. Such is the Rosas of popular tradition; nor does the picture so drawn seem exag- erated in the light of authentic records. ut Rosas was more than this; he it was who gave the first real, solld government to a young nation which numbers to-day 4,000,000 souls and has the largest city of the Southern Hemisphere for its capital. He practically secured internal peace— with brief interruptions—to a country torn by incessant revolution and civil war, He was the creator of the Argentine Con- federation—by force, perhaps, but force was the order of the day: and he arose from among a crowd of caudillus, petty chiefs, half-soldiers, half-brigands, mostly as despotic in spirit, as regardless of law and restraint, as contemptuous of human life as Rosas himself. 0 him more than to any one it is due that Argentina is one gountryllns‘tewddof“conmlmng half a lozen rival an scordant T — Cornhill Magazine, wpablica, THE MATTER-OF-FACT GIRL. In the County of Wicklow lies the ple- turesque Vale of Avoca, famous in lopx}:'. Here is the confluence of two rivers, :he Avonmore and Avonberg, which bears the name of ‘The eeting of tae Waters.” Two British tourists chanced to meet at this spot a girl bearing a pitcher of water, of whom they inquired the name of the river. “The Meeting.” was the prompt reply. “Oh! we know that,” quoth the tourists. ‘“But what river is it?>—what name do Yyou call it by ?’ “Och!” said the girl, “I never call it at all; it always comes of f{tself.”"— From the Spectator. ——————— Advances made on furniture and planos, with or without removal. J. Noonan, 1017-1023 i MOCK AUCTIONS AGAIN BOTHER THE POLICE A Growing Evil to Be Suppressed. HOW THEY FLEECE VICTIMS SELL TWO-DOLLAR. WATCHES FOR A LONG PRICE. Many Visitors From the Country Help Support These Expensive Establishments on the Main Thoroughfares. . The mock auction stores, which had quite a vogue at one time, have been muitiplying of late, and complaints have recently been so frequent at police head- quarters from persons who have . been swindled that steps must soon be taken to suppress the evil. The establishments usually masquerade as jewelry stores, and are confined al- most entirely to Market and Kearny streets, where there is always a throng | of passers-by. The shrill voice of the auctioneer is heard at all times, whether he has a store full of customers or only two or three persons. Qne can see at a glance that the smaller the crowd the less interest they take in the proceedings. This is explained by the fact that they are the cappers, or confederates, of the auctioneer, and with no purchasers in at- tendance they have no duties to perform. The number of victims who are fleeced must be unusually large, as the rent of the stores is heavy, and a large corps of assistants is maintained. The goods are of the cheapest variety, so that it is evi dent on the face of it that the storekeep- ers are not seeking legitimate trade. One victim of a Kearny-street house had a ‘watch and chain which he secured there appraised. The chain and locket were valued at $150, and the ‘‘gold” watch at 2. The volunteer soldiers, especlally those from the backwoods, proved easy prey for the swindlers, and left some of their scant pay in the hands of these "sqx‘x’x;e thing” men. e manner of swindling, as explained by R. Griffiths to the poligce. is OXEE that would hardly catch men versed in the ways of the world, but might easily fool strangers from the interior. Mr. Griffiths was Induced to bid $20 on a watch “just | as a favor to the house, as they wanted the watch bid in.” He did so and the watch was handed to him. Almost imme- diately a man who had bid $15 on the watch created a disturbance, claiming it was not a genuine sale, and that as he was the highest bidder he was entitled to it, In order to save the valuable watch to the house the auctioneer asked Mr. Griffiths to pay for it and the money would be returned to him later. He had $15, which he turned over, and the sale was duly recorded. Shortly after the auctioneer disappeared and Mr. Griffiths tried to secure his money from the man who took his place. He denied all knowl- edge of the transaction, affirming the auctioneer had no right to promise the return of the coin, and that it was a legitimate sale. ater in the day, In recounting his ex- perience to some friends, he found one of them had been swindled in the same man- ner, and that by tne aid of an attorney he had recovered the greater portion of his money and had what he thought was an order for the balance due him. Together they went to a well known lawyer, and Mr. Griffiths placed the matter in his hands. They went to the store, and after much parley the proprietor agreed to take back the watch, to return the unwilling purchaser $10 of his money and give him an order for $ more, to be paid when /e sells the watch for $10. Mr. Griffiths does not expect that the watch will be sold. ———— THE POPE'S VALET. Cavalier Pio Centra, the private serv- ant of Pope Leo XIII, hails from Car- pineto, the birthplace of his master. He is more even than a faithful and priv- ileged servant; he is a constant com- panion. This intimate connection with his Holiness dates pack even before the | ascension of Leo I to the Papal throne. Pio invariably sleeps in a small chamber next the bedroom of the Pope, and there is between the two so thin a partition that he can even hear the | Pontiff’s breathing. At all times he is | able to keep surveillance by the aid of a little glass window which is at the head of his bed. With the telephone he | is put in constant communication with the Pope’s doctor, Professor Lapponi, who lives out of the Vatican. Besides | this eminent physician there are two | assistant doctors, who live in the palace | and have the care of the health of the | 500 souls who comprise the population | of the Vatican. In the days of Pius IX there were many more who made their abode there. Even now that the Pontiff is so old and far from being robust he insists on rising early. About 6 o'clock Cava- lier Pio Centra knocks at his door, en- ters, opens the shutters, and retires im- mediately, as his Holiness has never liked assistance in his ordinary dress- ing, but lately he has had to give way somewhat, and his valet returns to buckle his shoes and tie the white sash he wears with his white robes. * At night very little military watch is maintained. There is only a Swiss guard at the door of the Papal apart- ments; the gendarmes in the courtyard of San Damaso at the foot of the stair- case leading to Leo XIII's quarters; a detachment of firemen and a Swiss guard at the famous bronze door. The watch is perhaps more strictly main- tained outside by the Italian police all along the Vatican walls. By an arrangement between the po- lice and the Papal authorities a window next the Papal apartments is kept open during the day and closed at night, but with a lighted lamp behind it. The shutting of the window in the day or the putting out of the light at night means that something unusual has happened, and that help is needed. In case of the illness of the Pope this singular sign would mean that he is dead. An Italian sentinel is continu- ally watching the window. However, this did not prevent the mistake of General Della Rocca, Under Secretary of State at the Home Office in the Crispi Cabinet in 1878, who announced in the House the death of Pius IX five hour before it took place. ——— PERU’S NEW MONEY SYSTEM. Our Lima correspondent, writing on June 11, after describing the state of the Peruvian currency previous to the pres- sent year and the determination of or Pierola’s Government to establish a fuld standard, says: *“The Government plans finally triumphed, although by a major- ity of only seven votes; and the follow- ng lAws were passed: One confirming the closure of the mint (to silver) and pro- hibiting the importation of coined silver; another ordering the collection of Custom- house duties either in gold or in silver lus a surcharge; another authorizing the xecutive to gradually convert its stock gg colined sfll;ler !nté) hul‘ dlwr aa.llel in E}‘xl- n exchange for gold, applying the nhgele-menuones surcharge to comx?.ime the loss caused by this operation; and, finally, another authorizi tihe Execu- tive fo coin national money of the same weight and fineness as English sovereigns and to admit them both in all Government offices as being equal to ten soles. With this series of measures, which have been ‘warmly_supported by the present Minis- ter of Finance, Don Ignacio Rey, Peru has entered on the regime of gold, the silver coin In existence being valued in relation to gold at 31 to 1, and its coin- age will consist of a gold ‘libra,’ | to the pound sterling, and a silver the tenth part of the ‘libra,’ worth 2s. It is almost certain that Congress will pass a law making the gold ‘libra’ the unit of Peru.”"—London’ Times. —_—— IN VARIOUS PLACES. Much interest has been aroused among numismatists by news from Rhodesia re- specting the discovery of ancient Vene- tian coins In proximity to one of the Mashonaland rivers. The coins in ques- tion have in the meantime been sent down to Natal and submitted to expert scruti- ny at Pietermaritzburg, with the result that casts of the originals are to be sent to London. The coins have been declared to be medals struck at Venice between 1570 and 1577 A. D. On one side is a figure of St. Mark, with the inscription: “This dukedom be thine, O Christ, and the giver be Thine,” while on the reverse are three figures, two in a kneeling. position. the other upright, with a halo, on which the inscription is: “The Doge Aloys Moceni- go, first magistrate of Venice.” An original form of advertisement comes from Russia, where a shopkeeper posted up the following announcement: “The reason why I have hitherto been able to sell my goods so much cheaper than anybody else is that I am a bachelor and do not need to make a.profit for the maintenance of a wife and children. It is now my duty to inform the public that this advantage will shortly be withdrawn from them, as I am about to be married. They will, therefore, do well to make their purchases at once at the old rate.” The result was that there was such a run on the shop that in the course of a few days this shopkeeper had made enough money to pay the expenses of his wedding on a very lavish scale. At Kroonstad in the Orange Free State it Is the custom to send a native handbell ringer around the village to announce what_entertainments are to take place. The Kaffir boys are not especially pro- ficient in English and usually their = re- marks are confined to_a repetition of the one word ‘“Good.” Recently a famous English concert hall singer was billed to appear there and the natice met her on the street and did not recognize her from her portraits. He wildly endeavored to make her attend her own performance. He was asked: ‘“‘Does she sing?” “Does she dance?” “Is she married?” and so on, to al lof which he grinned sweetly and an- swered “Good.” At last he trotted away -’ ringing ‘his bell vigorously with the. air of having done his whole duty. LAW’'S MAJESTY IN ATLANTA. They stood before the Recorder’s court in Atlanta, Ga., two mites of darkies with faces tear-stained d miserable. The Judge looked lem down at these small bundles of misery. Then he spoke: “Upon what charge are these prisoners brought here?” "ngming, sir’* answered a burly officer f the law. - 2 O'I'h(‘ Judge id a smile behind a hand- kerchief => e mopped his face. Then he again spoke and this time the sound of his ice brought terror to the hearts of the Qiminutive culprits. “Tall me about it,” and his upon the larger.of the two boys. The face of the prisoner took on.an ashen hue; then he stammered forth: “An’, Jedge,” here the small voice took on a tone of intense excitement, ‘““dis here niggah,.he come up ter me an’ he say, ‘Gimme piece er pie. Yer no gimme I tek hit” Den he come close ter me an’ stick out his han’ same es if he gwinter tek hit ves rested anyhow. I shov him off, Jedge, do's all 1 d. I clar ’fo’ gracious hit Den, Jes dis vere niggah he let his arm fly out an’ hit me on de mouf an’ mashed my pie all ober ma face. Fi’ cents worth er pie, Jedge, all mashed ober mn‘mce! Den, Jedge, 1 slung him down an’ bedt him good, fer I wuz pow'ful mad. Yer doan blame me, Jed »r “Is this’ true? looked at the other prisoner. “Yes, sah,” was the frightened reply. “How much money have you?’ and.the Jud, s eyes remained unmoved. “Ten cents, sah,” came the answer from prisoner number tw “Give it to that boy The voice of the court sounded stern and unrelenting. “Give the 10 cents to that boy, I said!” thundered the Judge. A very dirty pocket was pulled wrong side out in the successful search for the required dime. Then it exchanged own- ers, while black looks of baflled rage went with it. “Now, getl” sald the Tudge, » see you here again! lo’i‘kzgednsky)figures quickly disappeared.— New - York Sun. and never ADVERTISEMENTS.‘ B i WEAK / SS Dr. Meyers & Co. There are many good a successful physician. 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