The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 16, 1904, Page 8

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 1904. The Ame n Mining Congress will assemble at Portland, Or., on August 22. Irwin Mahon, the secretary of the | congress, has sent out a pamphlet or circular letter in which he gives| “nineteen pertinent and most prac- theal business ons why Oregon should be active and liberal in making the coming session a success.” These est other portions of the voast outside of Oregon, because cer- ain assumptions are made that will be open to question. 1 about to become, next year, the scene of the Lewis and Clark Exposi- tion and that a little preliminary fan- ons int fare ¢ more than exc at ground, it is still not in | with the facts that “Ore- jses to be the greatest ucing State or Territtory the Union.” There i every reason o suppose that Oregon is surpassed by Califo n variety of minerals roduced commercially at values nineral de- e is a great advantage that r conservatively and im in comparison with any » art of the Pacific Coast. This so and there is no mag! that the mineral of California are even fairly d when the magnitude of what ered. Mahon's more products tory in Mr. Mahon is ignorant way course. this or else mear California contains products.” This is not to eputation of Oregon, n urces, mineral other ways; uch statements as are sent out broadcast as an advertisement for the coming Mining Congress 1 to ascertainable facts. ahon’s enthusiasm has one will take excep- should conf Probably Mr. 3 misled him. N tion to concluding paragraphs of Mr. Ms s energetic appeal to the | mine; ) Oregon at large to make the Mining Congress what it ought to be to command attention “Because entenprise, energy push and bus tact, the mine must remain closed upon its hidden treas- ures; without it the stamp mill and | the smelter must remain idle; without it the puddling furnace chilled and the rolling mill rest upon its sleeping cogs: without it the music of the anvil will na more be heard and the sparks of grinding wheels no more be seen without it mno fiery, strained engine will dash across the earth, steel rafls lie to sfford t safe transit; without it no steaming monarch of the ocean will bid de- fiance to angry waves and carry to dis- tant lands happy beings who laugh at its fury; without it no instantaneous spark will flash, either its good or evil news across continents, or illuminate our streets and homes; without it no busy hives of industry will be filled with thrifty workmen, no loom weave or spindie spin, no art adorn or science enlighten; without it all industries lan- guish and commerce perish. Attention is called to the represent- ations of Mr. Mahon, not because they are more unusual in kind than any statements made public in behalf of mining States and Territories; on the contrary they are just of the sort that has been made familiar by reiteration. Capital being attracted to mines by having their riches known and the same applying verily to any mining section as a whols alifornia should be pushed o the front on merit as a mineralized area. Nearly every county in this State produces some mineral profitably. The placer period has passed away to 2 great extent. but this does not by any means indicate that the greatest record of the State for mineral output has yet been made. Ancient river channels promise great additions to the world’s weailth when California exploits them thoroughly. The quartz mining along the mother Jode and on mountain ranges that are hundreds of miles in length is yet small in extent compared to what it will be. The cheaper methods, electrical. power, cheap petroleum fuel to take the place of wood and other factors enter into the consideration. Copper, gold, iron, quicksilver, petroleum-—these alone make up a great array in behalf of California and they represent only a #hare of the mineral wealth of thie State. or Illustrative of the energy with which mining is naw pursued in this State and of the profits that are de- rived therefrom; when the business is carefully considered and economically handled, there might be noted scores of mines that are known all over the world for the wealth that they have afforded and for what they still con- tain. An example of the interest now attaching to mining in California is afforded by the continuous acquisi- tion of Jands along the river banks in certain logalities for dredger mining ground. One California county is op- erating successfully more than two score expensive dredger gold mining ts. W. P. Hammon, the father of gold dredging in this State, has recently placed contracts for the con- struction of two great dredgers to delve for goid in the Yuba River, above Marysville. As the Government ng apart the fact that Portland | | proposes to build barriers on the Yuba |at and above Daguerre Point and as Mr. Hammon knew that the ground was good for gold @redging, he has | agreed to build a bank 100 feet at | the base and twenty feet below high | water mark and forty feet wide at the | {crown. The ground above Daguerre | Point, so says Mr. Hammon, will re- | quire more powerful dredgers than | | have hitherto been operated, because | of the debris to be cut through. The two machines that have been ordered | will dredge sixty feet below the water | line and will excavate from 2000 to 2500 vards daily. The dredgers will be in operation by June next. Even- | tually there will probably be as many dredgers in the Yuba district as there are in" the Oroville district. Two | dredgers will soon be operating on the | Bear River near Wheatland. | A large tract of land for gold dredg- |ing has been sold in the last fort- | nignt, 200 acres in all, situated about two miles south of Oroville. The sale | !“us made to a foreign syndicate at the rate of $200 per acre, or $160,000 for | the entire tract. The land is one mile | from the Feather River. Several properties of some size are| | reported to have been just sold. In this | Jist are included the Sierra Buttes mine in Sierra County, which passes into the | possession of a company including E.| | A. and J. O. Hayes of San Jose; the Three Stars mine, in Placer County, | including acres of land, twenty | seven original mining locations, | a twenty-stamp mill, etc., for all of | which, so reports the Placer Heraldp| about $200,000 was paid. The Mountain | King mine, in Calaveras County, near | Hodson, has been sold to Allen & Lit-| tlefield of San Francisco. - The local | papers of that place say that a sixty-| stamp mill will be erected at the mine. A San Francisco company has bought | the Punch Creek mine, on Humbug! Creek, in Siskiyou County, which was recently purchased by G. W. Grayson. | The .Yreka Journal s at the price is between $60,000 and $70,000. There have have been several sales of frac- | tional interests in mother lode proper- ties in the past few weeks. There is] general activity in the California camps and interest is thereby stimulated. AR Additional space for the exhibition | of the California mineral display at St. Louis has been secured, thirty-five feet more length, so that the total exhibi- tion space in the Mines and Mining building to be occupied by the min-| , mining ‘'machinery and fillustra-| mineral structures of California, including the great arch, is 145x43 feet. A letter has been received from State | Mineralogist Aubury announcing that fact. Mr. Aubury also writes that the outlook is good for California bhaving | a better mining show at St. Louis than any of its rival mineral States. The in- stallation of exhibits has only begun. | According to the Rampart Forum | | hydraulic plants will be large factors | hereafter in the development of fining {in the Rampart district. Rhode Island Creek will be worked by the hydraulic | process. The Big Minook Mining Com- | pany is putting in hydraulic apparatus. » creeks have been worked in the | Rampart district during the past win- | ter than in any previous season. Late numbers of the Nome Nugget | report that there are about 100 men on | | Candle Creek. The Nugget says that | the contributing cause for the falling | off in the gold production of the Sew- | ard peninsula in Alaska last year was | “The falling off in the | production, while it is to be regretted, | is no reflection upon the gold-producing | capabilities of this section. The mining | | man has much to contend with in these | | high altitudes. An early spring and a| late fall mean an increased gold output, | and a late spring and an early fall will | | inevitably bring a reduction in the out- | put of the yellow metal. These fluc- | tuations will always be found, notwith- | | standing the improved methods of min- |ing which are rapidly being adopted | |and the construction of many new { ditch systems. The gold is here; we| |know that; and it will be taken out.” Speaking again of the conditions that led to the falling off in the gold output of Seward peninsula last year, the| Nugget says that “the preceding winter | was severe, there was an unusually heavy fall of snow and heavy glaciers accumulated in many creeks. Mining | operations were late in starting up. For | these reasons mining men generally | predicted a decrease in the' output last | il‘all at the close of operations, which, | too, was somewhat early.” oo - i Large values in gold are reported to have been taken out in new gravel mines at Calaveras County. At Doug- las Flat a main channel has been en- countered, according to local report, at | a depth of 150 feet. Other gravel claims | may be opened in the same locality. The substitution of electrical power | for steam has reduced the number of men employed at the Keswick smel- ters of the Mountain Copper Company by seventy-five. Five furnaces are in operation, each needing the services of forty men, twenty for each shift. Between twenty and twenty-five men are steadily employed on a desert mine | that is twenty-two miles north of Bar- stow, to which it is necessary to haul water a distance of four miles. Gold and copper are found in the ores at this point. A mill has been ordered by the Red Mountain Gold.and Copper Company, which is operating the prop- erty. An electric lighting plant of 150 lights has been installed at the Soulsby mine in Tuolumne County, the lights to be psed underground and also on the sur- face. The Allen mine on Rogue Creek, in Oregon, is reported to have been sold to Charles d'Autremont of Duluth for $750,000. C. J. Allen of Portland, with associates, has worked the property several years. According to the Port- land Oregonian, $600,000 is paid in cash; the remainder will be paid later. Just north of Sonora, Tuolumne County, is a deposit of marble that has been bonded by W. J. Holmes. A quarry may be developed at that point if the stone is perfectly white. | the lack of rain. “I wish 1 had last year back again,” said the penitent prisoner, whom the Judge had just sentenced to twelve iths in prison. ell, you can’t have that,” respond- ed the Judge, kindly: “but you can ‘re- turn’ next year, you know, after you have done with it.”—Chigago Tribune, THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL JOHN D. SPRECKELS, Proprietor . ... ... ... Address All Communications to JOHN McNAUGHT, Manager PUDHCAtOD OMICE - .evvevnererssnenmesascssenses @ ‘iereeeessesies....Third and Market Streets, S. F. - A MORMON DEFENSE. SATORDAY . oiessogabs vosbianssaessaainssfosios ot shas HE revelations in the Smoot investigation have put T the Mormon hierarchy on the defemsive. = the church there was developed a spirit of revolt on the part of the young men and women that was alarming to the leaders; This revolt was in the form of opposition to the pol§¥gamous teachings of the church and the polygamous practice of President Smith and some of the Apostles. an appeal to these uneasy members of the church, which is indirectly a defense of polygamy, by declaring that the opposition to it in the Gentile world is produced by immoral practices among Gentiles. If the church can demonstrate to its faithful members that polygamy is moral because those who oppose it are guilty of immoral_practices, it may check the spirit of schism in its own ranks. The fact that the defense is of this character is evidence of the strait in which the leaders find themselves, When President Smith returned from Washington and was gnet by his five wives and thirty-two of his forty-two children, there was a public acknowledgment following the admissions in his testi- mony that he is the head of a harem. While the enthusiasm of his fellow rulers of the Mormon world was unabated and they hailed him as a Teligious hero, a considerable part of the membership did not share in these ascriptions to the leader. These look upon polygamy as an unnatural condition and their association with the growing Gentile population makes them ashamed of it. It becomes necessary then to im- press them that the Gentile society with which they | associate is unworthy of their respect and that they should not permit their conduct to be influenced by its opinions. If this plan succeed they are driven back into sympathy with the church and all that it teaches, and to a firm support of the leaders and all that they practice. . The Deseret News, the church organ, has undertaken this work and carries it on by what we believe to be a thorough misrepresentation of Gentile sentiment. In its discussion the News says: “‘Refined society’ was much more shocked at the number of President Smith's children than even over the fact that he acknowledged the wives whom he wedded previous to the issuance of ‘the manifesto.” So with the course of other ‘Mor- mons’ in the same status, The objectionable thing is that children are born to those plural wives: Punish- ment for this increase is the demand of modern moral- ists of the school of suppression.” This is not true. If the mothers of President Smith’s children have an equal number of children it would be but little over eight to each. Families of eight children | in the Gentile world are common. They are no curios- ity, nor is their presence in “refined society,” or out of it, a cause of criticism or offense. The President of the United States has a family of six children, anq if this Mormon defense is true society should be shocked at it, but it is not. The numerous children of Senator Hale of Maine and the large families of other Senators and Representatives, in some cases numbering more than the children of President Smith’s individual wives, shock no one and cause no other than a feeling of admira- tion that such public men find their official duties con- sistent with the proper care of many children. Indeed, among the Gentiles, husbands and wives who have no children are much more the objects of pity than those who have are the objects of aversion. The objection to President Smith is not that he has forty-two children, but runs to the number of his wives. The results of such a system of plural marriage are well known in Utah. The nurture and admonition a father owes tc his children cannot be given by him to such groups of families. During his testi- mony he was obliged to ask for time to refer to memo- randa to answer either how many children a particular wife had, or the date of their birth. It is certain that these children are without the joint care which those receive who are reared in a home daily and continually ruled by the presence of the father and the mother. President Smith’s five wives live in five separate houses. On his return from Washington, after his gen- eral reception, he paid visits of courtesy to eac¢h of these five homes of his forty-two children. If the Deseret News thinks that “refincd” or any othes form of society has no objection to that spectacle it is mistaken. If the young Morman will choose to think he will learn which | that that which in the Gentile world is regarded as vice is taught by the church to be heaven inspired virtue, Non-Mormon society is by no means free of offenses and vices, but its conscience stamps them as such. The Mormon conscience, on the other hand, is taught to regard those very offenses and vices as moral and elevat- ing when they are enjoined by “revelation” and practiced by the hierarchy. Inside | The nearest succor is the shadowy Vladivostok fleet, The defense runs, therefore, to | been destroyed in a quick two months. —_—_— A Salt Lake baby possessing the usual attraction chil- drey have for a varied diet swallowed a nail. The family multiple colors. doctor, however, also had an attraction of his own in the shape of a2 magnet, which he let down the infantile throat ‘on a wire and removed the lunch. ' men, has stunned Russia and elicited the sympathies of all the nations, whether they favor the arms of the Czar RUSSIAN DISASTERS. or not. This sudden snuffing out of the lives of hun- | Women in Victoria, B. C., was forbidden by the police. dreds of brave men, not through the shock of battle, but by the terrible agency of their own engines, turned | ¢4l culture i woman is commendable there is a point at against themselves, has nothing, of the halo of a glorious | Which man is justified in calling a halt for his own pro- defeat after manful struggle, but is the grim essence of tection. pure mischance. When the Japanese torpedo-boats stole into the harbor of Port Arthur and dealt their terrible blows to the Russian fleet on the night of February 8, the world could not but applaud their daring, even though part of the world tempered this applause with more or less of commiseration for the loss to Russian, arms. Whes the gallant crews of the cruiser Variag and e gun- boat Koseitz sailed out of Chemulpo harbor on the same day to meet certain destruction at the hands of the overwhelming Japanese fleet, admiration for the Heroic, which is the same the world over, puised in g H measure for the men who could say: “Tell them at home | in that we did our best.” But the trusted vice admiral of | that State and kisses are not HE news of the destruction of the Russian battle- | although he was nearly drowned in consequence by the ship Petropavioysk, which carried to the bottom | flooding of the magazine. It is by acts like this that the with it Vice Admiral Makaroff and a crew of 8oo’| record of the American navy stands unblemished. Muscovite activity on the sea. A fleet of forty Japanese vessels patrols the Yellow Sea, keeping the remnant of the Czar’s ships in their harbor like rabbits in a hole. blockaded also by the iron walls of Japan. The width of a hemisphere separates the forlorn hope from another vessel bearing the imperial crosses of the Czar's fleet. Russia will have to strive long and earnestly to re- trieve her prestige on the sea which has thus suddenly She cannot speedily regain her poise, for the loss of their leader, the terrible fatality which seems to be following them, and the unknown terror which lurks in a harbor full of their own uncharted mines, must have severely shaken the morale of men and officers of the ill-fated fleets. i The Butte miner who is being put in shape to make a “Roman holiday” with Jeffries acknowledges the latter has the advantage of ring experience, hitting power and weight, but that “otherwise” they are evenly matched. Some people can thrive on mighty little consolation. T the Sunday Call Magazine are the names that give it such a high literary tone, such names of world- wide fame, indeed, as are not to be found together at one time in any other magazine, daily, weekly or month- THE SUNDAY CALL MAGAZINE. HE most noticeable feature in the popularity of ly, anywhere else on earth for two or five times the price of the Sunday Call. The_Sunday Call = to-morrow will be a particularly pleasing and attractive confirmation of this fact. To begin with it will contain “The Lord of Chateau | Noir,” by A. Conan Doyle, whose Sherlock Holmes stories are not the most fascinating tales he has written, as this unique story from his pen will bear ample wit- ness. It is replete with adventure and ends as only A. Conan Doyle's thrilling stories can end—in the most unexpected manner possible, Another name.to be conjured with is that of the “Mark Twain of England,” the famous British humorist, Jerome K. Jerome, who will begin a series of his pungently witty articles in the Sunday Call to-morrow with one, entitled, “On the Drilling of a Modern Army,” a timely topic which this clever writer spits upon his sharp pen and grills to the Queen’s taste. There is also a per- sonal interview with this London literary idol, which gives a new view of the pathetic life struggle from which so much good fun has grown. Next in importance is the sgcond installment of “The Queen of Quelparte,” by Archer Butler Hulbert, in which both the author and his book are of exceptional value and absorbing interest at this time, not more be- cause Mr. Hulbert is such an excellent writer than that he knows so thoroughly the subject of which he writes, the superstitions of the Koreans and Russia's secret intrigue in the Far East, both of which have led to the present war with Japan. This novel is historically true, but it is more fascinating than history because of the thrilling love story that runs’ through it. Albert Sonnichsen is comparatively a new name in American literature, but it is a name that has already won wide praise as the author of the “Deep Sea Vaga- bond” tales now running in the Sunday Call. “The Saga of Trig Olafsen, the Swimming Mate,” in the Maga- zine to-morrow, will be found as strange, as fascinating and as all absorbing as its title. Add to this “His Own Heart,” by Oliver L. Mitchell; “Saral’s Strategy,” by C. B. Lewis, and “Over a Honey- suckle)” by A. M. Davies Ogden, and a truly high-class and entertaining fiction number is presented. However, the Sunday Call to-morrow contains many excellent features besides, notably, the “Czar’'s Wild | West in the Far East,” by Ivan Vannekoff, a writer famous in Russia; “How Admiral Togo Prepared for War,” by Toyohiko Turushima, an author equally famous in Japan, Together these two articles show why so many of the Russian ships are being lost at Port Arthur. Equa‘ly timely and an article that will create a furor among the sporting fraternity because of its expose of mcdern ring methods is “How Fighters Break Their Own Bones,” by Professor De Witt C. Van Court, box- ing instructor at the Olympic Club, a name that stands for special excellence in his own field. The photographs with this article are a remarkable feature in themselves. To make up a perfect artistic whole, the two sections of the Magazine have been beautifully bound between | two notable paintings—that on the front page of X\Irs.: Amy Talbott is the first of a series of exquisite pictures of Popular Society Women, painted from life by Mrs. Rosa Hooper Plotner. That on the front page of the second section is one of a series of large paintings that are now attracting attention at the Spring Exhibition of | the Hopkins Art Association. It is called “In Egypt” and is from the brush of Matilda Lotz. Both of these beautiful pictures are reproduced in A thrill of admiration is sent through every American at the exalted bravery of Chief Gunner's Mate Monson, who saved the battleship Missouri and the lives of over 600 men by jumping into an open magazine and closing the door behind him to keep the flames from the powder, — . A wrestling match to have taken place between two Qur British neighbors probably believe that while physi- A Russian anarchist in St. Petersburg had an infernal machine concealed in his trunk, which went off pre- maturely and blew him up. He is certainly to be con- gratulated upon the eminently successful character of his machine. ——— . ~ San Francisco voters are realizing the ifaportance of the coming primaries and are registering with unpre- cedented activity, 32,744 citizens having registered so far, as against 6574 for the same period of time in 1902. District. the Russian fleet and his hundreds of men who went | to office by the hard-hearted Southerners. down on the ill-starred Petropaviovsk had not the chance to die fighting. Russia is ‘down. The culmination to the since’ the first gun of the war was fired has numbed chain of | Parker in the Democratic disasters which has attended their fleet in the East | then a land e w Ao i ——— 1t looks now as if there would be a landslide for convention, and d for Roosevelt when the time comes for ‘to vote, | region, recognized as credentials | verde pounded to a pulp the upper Light on the Butter. There is a merchant of this city who has a nice suburban home, an amiable wife and a pretty little five-year-old daughter. This couple, togtheir morti- fication, a few evenings since at sup- per time learned that it is not wise to discuss domestic econpmy in the presence of the little one. They ex- pected company for supper and at the last moment the servant entered the room where the three members of the family were seated, awaiting the ar- rival of the company, and announced in a whisper something that seemed to astonish the lady. When the serv- ant retired the wife said to her hus- band, who was to act as host: “Dearie, you will have to go light on the butter to-night. Mary says there is only a thin slice in the house and it's too late and too far to send for a square.” After all had been seated and the supper had in part been discussed one of the guests requested another helping of butter, but before the host could comply with the request the little one exclaimed: “Here, go light on the but- ter. All that's in the house is that lit- tle piece on the dish.” The mother blushed, the host looked annoyed and said sharply to the child, “Now, miss, you go right up to your rocm.” The little one stepped down and out of the dining-room, leaving the host to offer an explanation; but a moment after he heard laughter outside the door and, looking through the window, saw his little daughter racing up the road on her little bicycle. Fearing that she might run away because she had been punished, he hur- riedly excused himself and, rushing outside, called to her. The little one wheeled back and then the father said to her sternly, “Didn’t I tell you to go to your room?”’ The child inno- cently replied: “Yes. papa; I went to my room, but you didn't tell me to stay there.” The father allowed the child to re- turn to the dining-room on her prom- ise not to speak another word. No More Damages. A well known San Franciseo journal- ist, whose hair has become white in the pursuit of his calling, showed his ready wit before a curious Market street crowd recently. The day was | stormy and the streets were wet and slippery. The newspaper man was coming to work shortly before 1 o’clock. As the car on which he was riding approached Lotta’s Fountain he jump- ed to the pavement with the intention of getting under cover as soon as pos- sible. But he struck a slippery spot on the asphalt and went down with a crash. His knee was wrenched, his umbrella was broken, his glasses were smashed, his coat was torn and alto- gether he looked like a wreck. A num- ber of people rushed to his assistance and soon a large crowd had collected. He arose unaided, however, and looked around him in a dazed sort of way. A spectator grasped him by the shoul- der, turning him toward the retreat- ing car. “Get the number and the names of the gripman and conductor. That's the only way you can get damages,” he shouted. . The journalist surveyed his destroyed property for a moment and then re- marked: “My friend, I do not know what you think about it, but it seems to me that I have had damages enough ‘What I need most at present is re- pairs.” A Gardening Bird. There is only one creature that we know of besides mankind which shows its appreciation of flowers and green foliage by adorning its home with {them, and that is thé “gardener bird” of New Guinea (Amblyornis inornatus), a member of the family of bower birds which are peculiar to the Australian including New Guinea. Some naturalists place these bower birds among the birds of paradise. The first account of this singular appreciation of floral beauty by birds was given by Signor Beccari, who says that they bLuild a hut about two feet in height, with a central support of a small tree growing in a glade or clearing in the dense forests. The roof, which slopes to the ground, is composed of the stems of the orchids placed in a radiating fashion. In the interior, access to which is by an angular opening, the central support is covered with moss in the form of a cone, so that a circular promenade is made between it and the sloping roof. But the extraordinary effort of this bird is evidenced outside this playhouse, for in front is laid out, with infinite care truly, a garden. Fresh moss is brought by the diligent occu- pants, and a verdant carpet, extending about six feet, is first prepared, on which are laid blossoms and berries of every variety in profusion to delight the eyes. As these wither or become unsightly they are removed and laid in a heap at the back of the hut, pre- sumably out of sight of these ultra- refined little birds, and upon the mossy lawn are placed continually fresh blooms. As far as is known each of these habitations is occupied only by one pair of birds, and it is not certain whether the tasteful decorations are arranged by the male only; it would be pleasant to think that it was so—that all this refined effort was but to show his devotion and to make some little reparation for his lack of beauty and dingy appearance.—Westminster Ga- zette. Water From Cactus. F. V. Coville, In the National Geo- graphic Magazine for April (Washing- ton, D. C.), gives an interesting ac- count of how the Indians of the desert obtain drinking water from the barrel cactus. It was among the desert hills west of Torres, Mexico. The Indian cut the top from a plant about five feet high and with a blunt stake of palo or eight inches of white flesh standing trunk.. From this, handful by handful, he squeezed the water into bowl he had made in the mowl:mmmp ground. process two or three quarts of alightly salty and g taste, but of far better quality than some of the water a desert traveler is occasionally compelled to use. lee Papago, dipping this water up in his hands, drank it with evident pleasure, and said that his people were accus-, tomed, not only to secure their drink- ing water in this way in times of ex- cessive drought, but that they used it also to mix their meal preparatory to cooking it into bread. Persuasion. It deeply grieved Sereno E. Payne, the Republican floor leader, when Mr. Maddox of Georgia raised the peint of no quorum last Saturday and thus threatened to prevent the House from passing a lot of bills. With a heavy sigh Mr. Payne arose, steered his port- ly form across to the Democratic side and looked down on Mr. Maddox with a pained look. “Maddox,” said Payne in a seduc- tive tone, “why do you ball things up this way just as we are getting along so nicely? You have some secret rea- son, Maddox. Tell me what it is.” “Mr. Payne,” began Maddox with dignity. “Confidentially,” said Mr. Payne in a wheedling voice. “I won't breathe it to a soul.” “As I was about to say, Mr. Payne —'" resumed Mr. Maddox. “Just among us girls,” pleaded Mr. Payne. The grizzled, lean, bald-headed old Confederate looked up at the large form and white head above him and gasped a couple of times. Then he arose. “Mr. Speaker,” said Mr. Maddox, withdraw the point.”—Omaha Bee., “f Hermetically Sealed. An Americapized Russian has pate ented a new process of embalming, which consists in casting a selid block of glass around the subject to be pre- served, through which the features and outlines of the body will be perfeeliy visible. As no air can possibly enter, the remains are expected to last in- definitely, till some shock destroys the crystal block which encases them like so many flies in amber. The inventor hopes that the relics of great men will be preserved in this way, remaining to aftertime in their habit as they lived, with vast mausoleums in which to place them, entrance to which will be deemed an honor like that of burial in, Westminster or Santa Croce. The mechanical process by which all this is to be made possible, and on which the Government has issued a patent, is quite simple. The remains are first surrounded with a coating of sodium silicate, or water glass, which is al- lowed to dry. When the water has been sufficiently evaporated, the sub- ject is placed in a mold which is to determine the size of the glass block, and molten glass is poured in till it is filled. Answers to Queries. RUSSIAN EMPEROR—S. A. W, City. The Emperor of Russia, Nicholas 1I, was born May 18, 1868. INTEREST—Subscriber, City. No State of the Union has a lower legal rate of interest than 5 per cent. The highest is in Idaho, 10 per cent. SELLING BY SAMPLE—G. R.. Pet- aluma, Cal. A commercial traveler who sells by sample, but does not him- self deliver the goods, is not a peddler and is not required to take out a ped- dler’'s license. Courts have so held. FUNNEL MARKS—Two Subscribers, City. The difference between the fun- nel marks of the North German Lloyd and the White Star Line of trans- Atlantic steamers is that the funnels of 'the first named company are cream colored and those of the latter, cream with black top. HOMESTEAD LAWS—E. 8., Niles, Cal. This department has not the space to publish the homestead laws of the United States. Such can be found in the “Amierican Settlers’ Guide,” to be obtained through any first-class bookseller. SPANISH VESSELS — Subscriber, Dutch Flat, Cal. According to Bras- sey's for 1808, Spain had before the war with the United States the fol- lowing named cruising barbette ships: Almirante Oquendo, Cardinal Cesneros, Calabina, Infanta Maria Theresa, Prin- cessa de Austurias and Vizeaya and the following named cruiser: Pedro de Arragon. HIGHEST GRADE—J. N.. Citv. The highest grade In the navy is that of admiral. It is especially created by Congress' as a mark of appre- ciation for extraordinary service, The rank becomes extinct upon the death of the individual upon whom it was conferred by Congress, and remains so until again created. The rank was first conferred on Farragut in 1868, then on Porter after Farragut's death in 1870, and it became extinct in 1891.