" - * - f A : ?
Sayx ; DISASTER OUT WEST.
Trrific Explosion of Fire Damp Thirteen
Men Instantly Torn to Vlcces.
One ol the most serious and horrifying
fire-damp explosions in tho history o !
Roclcy Mountain coal mining , says tho
. Omaha Republican , occurred last Thursday
night in the Union Pacific's mines at Alma ,
a point four miles northwest of Evanston ,
Wyoming. The affair , however , was not
known here until yesterday , and last eveu-
ing a reporter called at General Manager
Callaway's residence to learn from him any
of the shocking particulars that ho might
be in possession of. He , however , had not
been able to ascertain very much informa
tion , but with what ho readily gave to the
reporter and what could be gathered from
telegraphic advices , the startling story may
be related in these lines. It seems that
shortly after the night shift of miners went
to work there was a terrific explosion of
fire-damp down in the mine.
Occuring when it did , at night , when only
a light force of miners were at work , the
death roll was limited to thirteen ooula ,
but had it taken place during the day tho
loss of life must have run into hundreds ,
lor every person in tho mines at the timo
met with instant death. Tho whole faco of
the country and that portion of the settle
ment fronting the slope gives evidence of
the force of tlie explosion. The weigh and
fan houses were totally demolished , and
the engine house wrecked , while residences
and business houses lost fronts , windows ,
doors and chimneys. Tho mouth qf tho
slope has the appearance of a huge funnel ,
from which fully a thousand cubic yards of
rock have been torn and distributed over
tho adjacent country. A train of thirteen
cars going down into the mine at the ex
plosion was broken into fragments and
shot out as though from the mouth of a
cannon. William and Josepli Evans , pas
sengers thereon , were most terribly muti
lated , tho former being blown over the
engine-house and a portion of the town.
The body was found 700 feet from the
mouth of the tunnel minus the head and
arms and the contents of the stomach. It
had bounded and rolled fully thirty yards
after striking the ground. Timbers and
track for seventy feeb inside tho slope
were torn up and scattered over the sur
rounding country , and the ground for
fully half a mile from the mouth of the
mine was covered with pieces of cars ,
tics , timbers , and other debris. Every
airshaft was blown away leavinghuge pits.
All of the victims save two were Mormons ,
married , and leave large families. Many
people living near the mine narrowly es-
raped death. Huge timbers crashed
through the roof Supt. Faulk's residence ,
i50 yards from the slope , and fell between
two beds occupied at the time by himself
I. : md family. John Smith lives in a house
in front of the air-shaft mouth of the mine.
3Iere the force of the explosion tore a great
. hole in the earth twenty feet in diameter ,
and : t rock weighing over a ton fell through
the roof into the kitchen , demolishing the
* iovc. The store of Beckwith , Quiiin &
Co. , two hundred feet away , bursb its
Iront , and some good goods were damaged.
The wheel from the pit-car passed through
an out-house near by , as if thrown from a
catapult. The mines are worked by Beck
with , Quinn & Co. , under contract with the
Union Pacific , who are making every effort
to recover the bodies in the mine.
Thoso at work therein at the time of the
explosion were : Enoch Thomas , Prank
Mason , John Peake , Ellis Gridgerman ,
John Hunter. Joseph and William Evans ,
John Pearson , John Hood , Henry Norn-
muck. William Hasseley , Alex. Jones , Hen
ry Milliken.
The bodies of the last .two we.-e found
Friday morning in the eleventh level. Only
one , that of John Peake , was burned seri
ously. The remainder were evidently
killed instantly by the force of the concus
sion.
2TETTS
Evangelist Moody loves houses and drives
in a pell-mell style.
When Chauncey Denew was counsel for
the Vanderbilt railroads he got § 30,000 a
year.
Louia Kossuth is in failing health. He
has arrived at Sorranto , where he will pass
the winter.
George Bancroft at eighty-five does al
most"as much work each day as he did at
thirty-five.
Mrs. Frank Unger , the bright journalist
of the Pacific coast , will spend the winter
in New York.
George Horace K. Porter , a great after-
dinner wit , is now accused of repeating
stale jokes on convivial occasions.
Mrs. Carlisle the wife of the speaker of the
house , has resumed her Wednesday recep
tions at the Riggs house. She is very
popular.
Mrs. Fanny Yillard , wife of Henry Vil-
lard , declined recently to play the part of
an English barmaid at a fancy fair in Ber
lin , although requested to do so by the
crown princess of Germany.
It is just as well to avoid uncompliment
ary references to the marriage of Sarah
Althca Hill. The gentlem who has the dis
tinguished honor to be the husband of this
accomplished lady has killed his man.
Gen. Sheridan , presiding at army of the
Cumberland reunion , will wield a gavel
made of wood from Chicamauga , with a
handle from Mission Ridge. A rifle bullet
is imbedded in the head. It wa * presented
to him by Gen. J. D. Wilder , of Chatta
nooga.
"Diamond Joe" Reynolds is one of the
millionaire curiosities of Chicago. He in
variably wears a plain gray suit without
an overcoat , a hat several seasons behind ,
prunella gaiters that have been out of style
for years , and always has in his shirfc-frout
a , first-water diamond as large as a filbert
and as brichfc as a dewdrop.
THE SIAXWET.T. ZAKD GRdLAT.
Washington special : The sub-committee
of the private land claim committee of tlie
house met and organized to-day. Mr.
Dorsey. of Nebraska , is chairman and Mr.
Hall , of Iowa , is a member. The famous
Maxwell land grant of New Mexico has
biseu referred to this sub-committee. Nearly
2,000,000 acres of land were wrongfully
natented to the company , of whish Steve
Elkins was a prominent member. The
company sold out to a Dutch syndicate.
Several thousand innocent settlers whom
the syndicate is trying to oust have peti
tioned congress for relief , and tho sub-com
mittee is investigating the cigantic fraud.
THE T.E.IGUE ORGANIZED.
Tlio AVesteru Base Ball league organized
at St. Joseph on the ISth , with St. Joseph ,
Lcavcnwortli. Topcka , Omaha , Lincoln ,
Denver and Pueblo. E. E. Murphy , of
Leavenworth , was elected president. It is
expected it will be self-sustaining , as the
members will pay visiting club * a stipu
lated guarantee , and the home club will
take all gate receipts. The next meeting
will bo held in Omaha in March.
\
8UDDET DEATH OF SUBS BAYARD.
Die Eldest Daughter of Secretary Bayard
SnddeJily Expires from Disease of tlie
Heart.
Washington dispatch of the IGth : Miss
Kate Bayard , eldest daughter of the secre
tary of state , died suddenly about 3 o'clock
this afternoon. The reception at the white
house wan suspeaded immediately on tho
news of her death.
Miss Bayard had accepted an invitation
to assist Miss Cleveland at her reception
this afternoon , and that lady and her
juests , Miss Utley and Miss Lone , who were
also to assist at the reception , were await
ing Miss Bayard's arrival when they re
ceived the news of her death. It was just
about five minutes to 3 o'clock and tho
reception was to begin on the hour. Tho
Marine band was stationed in the main
vestibule and the leader was conversing
with Col. J. M. Wilson with regard to play
ing a tune as the signal for the opening of
the reception. Many callers had already
arrived and were waiting for the doors of
tho blue room to be thrown open. The
presidentwas engaged in conversation with
a visitor in the library and Miss Cleveland
and her guests were chatting with Col. La-
mont in the parlor on tho second floor ,
prior to descending to the "blue room"
where tho reception was to take place.
The absence of Miss Bayard was com
mented on as singular , us she was usually
very prompt in such matters ami was
momentarily expected to arrive. While
they were wondering at her delay a mes
senger notified Col. Lamont that Harry
Bryan , private secretary to Secretary Bay
ard , was in his office and had "something
important" to communicate to the presi
dent. Col. Lamont excused himself and
went to see Bryan. That gentleman in
formed him that Miss Bayard was dead
and Secretary Bnyard had instructed him
to communicate the fact to the president.
Col. Lamont at once informed the presi
dent , who was very much shocked at the
unexpected intelligence and the two gentle
men joined the ladies and announced tho
sudden death of their friend. Orders were
at once issued to close tho house. Tho
band was dismissedaiid thcpaople in wait
ing notified that the reception had bean
postponed. Ushers were stationed ab the
main door and at the carriage-entrance to
inform all callers that the house was closed
for the day. The news spread quickly
throughout the city and universal regret ;
was expressed at the sad occurrence. Tho
president , upon receipt of the message from
Secretary Bayard announcing the death of
his daughter , recalled the invitations to a
dinnerhich he had intended to give on
Monday evening in honor of Mr. and Mrs.
Erastus Corning.
The immediate cause of Miss Bayard's
death was disease of the licart > She had
been troubled with weakness of that organ
and had been treated by the family physi
cian at intervals for several years. At .a
reception at her father's house last night it
was remarked thatMissBayard was unusu
ally animated and taxed herself to the ut
most to enter tain the guests. It is pre
sumed that the undue exertion may have
precipitated the fatal attack. The young
lady retired about 1 o'clock , expressing a
wish to be left undisturbed till noon. Be
tween 1 and 2 o'clock this afternoon her
sister endeavored to awake her , and struck
by the peculiar expression of her face ,
called for assistance. As soon as the fa.m-
ily recovered from the consternation into
which it had been thrown , physicians were
summoned and powerful restoratives , in
cluding electricity , were applied , but in
vain. The physicians expressed the opin
ion that Miss Bayard had been dead for
several hours when the attempt was made
to awaken her. The interment will take
place probably on Tuesday nest , at Wil
mington , Del. , where Secretary Bayard's
parents are buried. The news of Miss Bay
ard's sudden death caused a profound sen
sation throughout the city , and for a time ,
in the absence of any definite details , a
"umber of wild rumors were circulated.
The farts , however , as stated above , are
trom aii unquestionable source.
COWBOYS THRASHED XT MEXICANS.
A dispatch from Eagle Pass says. A fight
took place yesterday fifteen miles above
hero between twenty Mexican custom
guards and ten Texan herders. The Mexi
cans had seized a couple of hundred head
if cattle belonging to an American named
Klemans , for an alleged violation of the
custom laws , and Klemans. with nine herd
ers , attempted to bring the cattle out of
Jifexico at night. They were overtaken by
the guards on an island in the Rio Grande.
Several of the Mexicans were wounded in
the melee. The Americans were routed and
fled to Texas , leaving the cattle in tho
hands of the Mexicans.
THE MARKETS.
OMAHA.
WHEAT-NO. 2 Gl
BAULKY No. 2 51
RYE No. 2 44
CORN No. 2 mixed 22 @
OATS-NO. 2 21 @ 7J-J
BUTTEII Fancy creamery. . 25 @ 10
BUTTER Choice roll 13 @ 22
EGGS Fresh 20 @ 22
CHICKENS Dressed per Ib. . . . 0 @ 10
TaiiKEYs Dressed perlb. . . . 12 @ 14
DUCKS Dressed perlb 8 @ 10
GEESE Dressed per Ib 9 @ 10
LEMONS Choice 025 @ G 50
APPLES Choice 3 00 @ 3 50
ORAXOES Mesina 4 00 @ 4 75
BEANS Navys 1 25 @ 1 50
ONIONS Per bushel 70 @ 75
POTATOES Per bushel 45 @ 50
GUEEN APPLES Per bbl. . . . 2 75 @ 3 24
SEEDS Timothy 2 30 @ 2 40
SEEDS Blue Grass 1 75 @ 2 00
HAY Baled , per ton 5 00 @ 0 00
HAY Tn bulk 600 @ 075
Hor.s Mixed packing 3 50 @ 4 50
BEEVES Butchers , . . 3 00 @ 3 25
NEW YORK.
WHEAT No. 2 red 88U@ 80
WHEAT Ungraded red 84 ; @ 90
COIIN No. 2 48 @ 48M
OATS Mixed western 3GJ4 ® 30
PORK 10 25 @ 10 75
LARD G 50 @ G 52
CHICAGO.
FLOUR Choice winter 440 @
FLOUR Spring extra 3 70 @
WHEAT Pcrbnsliel 78
COHN Per bushel 30 ®
OATS Per bushel 20
PORK 10 03
LARD G 00
HOGS Packing & shipping. 3 90
CATTLE Stockers 2 70
SHEEP Western 2 20
ST. LOUIS.
WHEAT No. 2 red 88 " ®
CORN Perbushel 30
OATS Per bushel 27 @
Hoos Mixed packing 375-
CATTLE Stockers & feeders 275
SHEEP Common to choice 2 50 @
KANSAS CITY.
WHEAT Perbushel G5
CORN Per bushel
OATS Per bushel 26
CATTLE Exports 4 90
HOGS Good to choice 3 85
SHEEP Common to good. . 1 00
James Kelly , of Potsdam , N. Y. .
while intoxicated wandered into a
ilasomc lodge-room at Prqscott , Ont ,
the o'her evening , and fell asleep. He
was locked up when discovered , and
made to pay an initiation fee of $11.
ZEaiSZATTTE VEWS AND KOTES.
A Record of ProceedingBotf * Braneltet
of the V. 8. Congress.
SENATE. Voorhces presented memorials
from citizens of Montana praying that tho
territory may bo admitted as a state into
the union , and also introduced a bill pro
viding for eucli admission. The judicial
salary bill was placed before thewjnate ,
came to vote , and was passed. It gives
the United States district judges § 5,000 a
veav aad prohibits them all from appoint
ing their relatives to office in their courts.
Among the reports submitted from com
mittees was one by Cullom from the com
mittee appointed to investigate the subject
of the regulation of freight and passenger
rates on railroads and water-routes. With
the report Culloni presented a bill regulat
ing inter-state commerce , which he asked
might be referred back to the committee
and thatthe committee bo continued. The
request was granted and a resolution
pafesed ordering 5.000 copies to be printed
of the committee's report and the testi
mony taken before it.
Bills were introduced : By Senator Voor-
hees Providing for the admission of the
territory of Montana into the union of
states with one representative in congress
until the next general census. By Senator
Van Wyck To give receivers of failed na
tional banks authority to buy property
upon which the bank holds mortgages
when the property is to be sold under
decree of the court.
HOUSE. In tho house bills were intro
duced : By Toole , of Montana For the ad
mission of Montana as a state. By Nel
son , of Minnesota Authorizing the use ol
certain unexpended balances for the rcliel
of the Northern Cheyenne Indians in Mon
tana. Ke erred * o tlie committee of the
whole. By Joseph , of New York Defining
the powers of the commissioner of the gen
eral land ollice in respect to acquiring titles
to land in western states and lerritories.
By Glover , of Missouri To provide for
carrying on the work of improvement ol
rivers and harbors by contract. By His-
cock , of New York To icpeal all internal
revenue taxes on domestic tobacco. _ By
Herman , of Oregon Declaring forfeited
certain lands granted to the Northern Paci
fic railway. By LaFollett , of Wisconsin
To protect depositors in national banks ,
and pun sh any officer of such bank who
receives a deposit when tho bank'is in
solvent' .
SENATE. Hawley , from the committee on
military affairs , reported a joint resolution
appointing Gen. John F. Hnrtranft , of
Pennsylvania , as one of the managers of
the National Soldiers' home in place of
Gen. McClellan , deceased. Tho resolution
was passed. Ingalls offered a resolution ,
which , without debate , was agreed to , di
recting the secretary of the treasury to in
form the senate as to what amount of sil
ver bullion had been purchased for coinage
since July 1,1885. in what market thesamo
has been purchased in each case , and from
whom and the price paid ; also , whether , in
any instance , all bids have' been rejected
and if so , for what reasons and in what
money or currency the payment for such
silver bullion has been made. The presi
dential count bill was placed before thcseu-
ate.-but informally laid aside. Ingalls' res
olutiou was placed before the senate , call *
ing on the secretary of the treasury for in
formation as to what proportion of the-
§ 10,000,000 bond call for February 1st
was held by the national banks , and how
much by each bank. Ingalls modified his
resolution by withdrawing the clause re
quiring the naming of specific banks. Ho
did this , he said , at the request of persons
interested in some banks whose bonds had
been called for payment on the 1st of Feb
ruary and who feared that the publication
of the fact might interf jro with or impair
their credit.
HOUSE. Bragg reported a bill for the re
lief of Fitz John Porter. Placed on the
house calendar. It authorizes the presi
dent to appoint Fitz John Porter to a
position of colonel in the army and , in his
discretion , to place him on the retired list
of that grade , providing Fitz John Porter
snail receive no pay , compensation or
allowance whatsoever prior to his appoint
ment under this act. Harrison , from the
committee on judiciary , reported back the
bill to prevent claims of war taxes under
the act of August 5 , 1SG1 , by the United
States being set off against states having
claims against the United States. In the
morning hour , Nelson , of Minnesota , on be
half of the committee on Indian affairs ,
called up the bill authorizing the use of
certain unexpended balances , amounting
to$12,000. _ for tho relief of the Northern
Cheyenne Indians in Montana. Nelson
stated that the object of the bill was to re
lieve about 700 Cheycnues on the Rosebud
and Tongue rivers , who were in a destitute
condition , with their annuities entirely ex
hausted. The house then proceeded to the
senate resolution accepting the statue of
President James A. Garlield , presented by
the state of Ohio. The resolution was
adopted. _
BY THE CABLE.
Greece and Servia aro negotiating for aii
alliance against Bulgaria.
Count Rascon has been appointed Span
ish minister to London in place of Marquis
Ie Casa Laiglssiar , who has been trans
ferred to Washington.
Thekiug of Bavaria has forbidden the
Cabinet to interfere with his exchequer.
The members will resign. The king's debts
amount to 15,000,000 marks.
President Grevy has signed a decree
granting amnesty to persons convicted of
political offences since 1870 , and reducing
tho sentences of many offenders agaiust
common law.
The London Daily Telegraph says tho
government introduce a bill abolishing
the viceroy of Ireland. It is known that : t
Is this fact that induces the Earl Carnar-
vuii to resign the lord lieutenancy.
It is stated on good authority that Mr.
Gladstone and his colleagues have become
reconciled ; that Earls Spencer , Granvillc ,
and the Marquis of Hartington have given
nnsent to a course of tactics suggested by
Mr. Gladstone , and that he will take tho
first chance to overthrow the conservative
government.
Archbishop Walsh , in an address at Dub
lin , said Parnell hoped to obtain a settle
ment of the Irish question from Gladstone.
The speaker trusted "the hope would bo
realized and that sad results would not bo
witnessed by desperate men , despairing of
Eccuring freedom by constitutional meana
having recourse to dynamite imd tho dag
ger of the assassin.
Tlie Emperor William opened the Prus
sian diet. In his speech his majesty said :
"I am grateful for the care and fidelity ol
my people , and for the benevolent sym
pathy which has been extended to me by
foreign countries. Our foreign relations
are friendly , and support fully our beliel
that the peace of Europe is sure to con
tinue. "
Traveling mesmerists are said to be
accompanied by "subjects" who have
been trained to resist , the ordinary tests
oi ourninj ; and prickling , and can thus
simulate the hyponotic sleep. Tney
are known to the professional mes
merist as "horses. "
AFRICA'S GOLDEN SANDS.
A California Miner's Experience In
tlio Land of the Boers Tlio Fa
mous Diamond Fields.
A gentleman identified with mines
and mining on this coast for tho past
tweuty-fivo years , has just arrived in
this city , says The San Francisco Alia ,
"
from a two"years' trip through South
Africa , exploring and prospecting that
'
country in search of some'of the .rich
mines that have been reported to exist
there. An Alta reporter called on the
gentleman last evening at the Baldwin
hotel , and learned from him something
of the extended tour he has just com
pleted. He left here in January , 1881 ,
traveling direct to England , sailing
from Southampton on board a packet
for Cape Town. Tho trip down the
coast of Africa he describes as having
been extremely pleasant , especially
while passing through the group of
Canary islands. The first stop made
was at Funehal Madeira , an island in
habited exclusively by Portuguese , the
only industry apparently being wine-
culture and wine-making. Leaving the
Canary group and the towering peak of
Teneriffe to the north , the packet hug
ged the western coast of Africa closely
until Cape Verde was sighted. From
there the land was lost sight of until
their arrival at the island of St. Helena ,
at which point a stop of a few hours
was made. .
The stay was long enough to enable
those who desired to visit Longwood ,
the last home of Napoleon , and the
tomb which held his remains for twenty
years. The.traveler . gave a very inter
esting account of this historic spot ,
showing that the place is still cared for
and preserved.
"Longwood , " said the gentleman ,
"hardly bears the marks of its age and
it looks as fresh as if but recently built.
Leaving the island we proceeded direct
ly south to Cape Town , a distance of
1,200 miles , where wo arrived in a few
days. Cape Town is a place of 35,000
inhabitants , the Dutch or beers predomi
nating. There are many modern build
ings there , including the new parlia
ment building constructed this year by
the English government. This place
reminded me somewhat of an old Span
ish settlement , much of the apathy of
that race of people existing among the
residents of Cape Town. There are
several banks in the town which are
substantial institutions , and the hotels
are well built and furnish fair accom
modations. The suburbs of the city are
very handsome , especially the drive to
Highconstantia , which is a broad road
lined on either side with tall , heavy oak
trees , which arch the road and entirely
exclude the burning rays of the sun.
The climate of this place is similar to
that of Los Angeles , with tho exception
of the heavy southeast winds , which
prevail at certain seasons of the year.
" After remaining in Cape Town a
few days I took a steamer and went np
the east coast of the continent to Mos-
sel Bay , a town of one thousand inhabi
tants. The coast here is similar to that
of Lower California , and is rather bar
ren , bleak and unproductive. The next
place we touched at was Port Elizabeth ,
a city of twelve or fifteen thousand in
habitants , and rivals Cape Town as an
exporting point for wools , hides , and os
trich feathers. The population consists
principally of English and German. A
narrow-gauge railroad leads from the
town three hundred miles into the inter
ior , and connects with a lino running
from Cape Town northward to Hope
Town , on the Orange river , on the
southerly boundary of the Orange Free
States , a Dutch republic. The road is
to bo extended during the coming year
to Kimberly , the principal town in the
diamond fields. The next place we
touched at was East London , which
contains ten thousand whites and a
large native population. This section
of the country is the most fertilo and
productive of any in the Capo colony.
"Durban , in the colon- Natal , was
our destination on the coast , and
shortly after we arrived there wo en
gaged mule teams and started for the
gold-fields in earnest. We traveled
' the of Na
through Maritzbm'g , capital
tal Colony , which is seventy-five miles
inland , and has a population of three
thousand. It is a fertile section , and
produces an abundance of hides and
wool for the European market. We
traveled from Maritzburg , Lydenburg ,
and through Solenso and Newcastle.
Here we reached an altitude of five
thousand feet , and were about fifty
miles south of the boundary between
the Natal and Transavaal colonies.
The country here is similar to the Platte
valley , is essentially a grassy but tree
less tract , and is well watered. The
Transvaal river running through it also
resembles the Platte river. .
"From Lydenburg to Pilgrim's Rest
is a distance of fifty miles , and at this
point are located the far-famed African
and here first dis
gold-mines , gold was
covered. The mines extend from Pil
grim's Rest to Mac Mac , distant eight
miles , and to Spitzkoop , a few nines
further. The diggings are entirely al
luvial or placer , and were first discov
ered in 1872. Since that time about
S2.000.000 in gold has been shipped
from them. They are located on the
eastern slope of the Daackensburg
range of mountains , and aro near to a
Eplendid stream of water. One hun
dred miles southeast of Pilgrim's Rest
are the Dckaap mines , from which has
been shipped during the same
"
period § 500,000. "The Dekaap
mines are quartz , and consist of an
oxidized deposit from twenty to forty
feet in width , developed by cross-cuts
and shifts for a distance of five hundred
feet in length and to a depth of fifty
feet , and will mill an ounce and a half
to the ton. These mines are the finest
I have seen for fifteen years past. Forty
miles south of here is a mine discovered
by an Englishman named MoodThis
man owned at the time of his discovery
thirteen farms , and since then has sold
a half interest for 20,000 sterling. The
mine is quartz , and mills from an ounce
to three ounces to the ton. There are
several quartz mills already built here
and more are contemplated.
"On my return trip I passed down
through the famous diamond fields.
Diamonds were first discovered on the
banks of the Vaal river , and the area
since worked extends for a distance of
fifty or sixty miles. The mines are
circular and are from 800 to 1,200 feet
across. The diamondiforous earth is
oxidized , or decomposed , and is of a
reddish brown color ; but after it has
been burned its color changes to blue ,
similar to the blue cement in onr gold
mines in this country. There are four
of these mines the Kimberley , T > e
Beers , Dutoits Pan , and Bultfontain.
From 1372 to 1880 there was annually
shipped from these mines $15,000,000
worth of diamonds , and since that time
the yield has been about $12,000,000 an
nually. They are owned and controlled
by English and colonial capital.
"The natives of this portion of Africa
the Zulus , Basntos , Swarzies and
Bechuanas , arc among the best races in
Africa ; they are exceedingly bright ,
have regular and handsome features and
small feet and hands , and arc at all
times friendly. They practice polygamy ,
buying and selling their wiveslike cattle ,
but do not allow the whites to mix with
them.
The living is extremely high through
the Cape Colony , and is altogether an
undesirable place to emigrate to , unless
one has an abundance of means. As
for myself , I am heartily glad to get
back to California. "
ReadingCharacter Leg-itimately.
An eminent literary light and a shrewd
observer of humanity once remarked in
my hearing , that he could immediately
tell the character of any female whose
stockings he might see. I have been ,
since then , wonderfully amazed at the
justice of this man's assertion. Not
the face , nor the eyes , nor the frock
gives half as clear an insight into the
feminine nature as the stocking ! Many
years of laborious study have I given to
the subject , and they only go to prove
the truthfulness of his remark. The
outcome of my studies ma } ' be given to
the public in the following brief state
ment.
Young men , beware of the owner of
the striped stockings ! The gaudier the
stripes , the more she should beshunned.
She is a lion , seeking whom she may
devour. She is the ice-cream girl , the
soda-water girl , the fried-oyster girl.
She is the girl who wants you to take
her to the theatre , to the skating rink ,
to the National llifles1 Fair. And if you
won't go with her , she will give youtho
Or. B. and go there with somebody else.
Ah , my young friend , the Sirens should
be painted with striped stockings , and I
am surprised that Ulysses never said a
word about it in his narrative.
As a newspaper man I ought not to
say much against the bas bleu. The
blues have very little beauty as a rule ,
but they make up for it in their wit. If
you have a good level head and are not
slow in repartee , you may go with im
punity with the blues. Otherwise , yon
had much better stay away. You might
lose your heart to them twenty times
' "
over'and they would only laugh "at you.
You ma } * not find the fact mentioned in
Anthon , but it is my private belief that
Minerva wore stockings of a beautiful
a ure.
Just wait until you see "Nanon ! " At
present you are supposed to know noth
ing of the ballet or chorus girls.
About black or brown stockings I
have little to say. Their wearers are
good and modest , pure and relined wo
men. If Heaven sends you a black or
brown-stockinged angel in the matri
monial lottery , you ought to make the
rest of your life an uninterrupted
Thanksgiving Day.
No matter how nice your Dulcinea
may be , if she be partial to red stock
ings , she is as much to be dreaded as
the girl with red hair. If you , with the
characteristic blindness of young men ,
heed not this warning , remember it
when in due course of time you kick
against a new spring bonnet. In the
tempest that follows , and in the subse
quent calm , when 3-011 collect your re
mains together , remember this warning
and what it would have saved you. As
"
Anacreon but too truly says in "his little
"Song of the Broken Head. "
Of stockings red and auburn liair
I tell thce , Phocris be aware.
A white-stockinged woman is cither
an old maid or one who careth not for
the esteem of men. She who wears
white stockings has no poetry in her
soul. For her the soaring Hood of mu
sic from a quivering bird is as the chat
tering of a crow ; the glorious hues of a
crowded garden , inferior to the beau
ties of a gaudy bit of calico. The swirl
ing rush of fleecy clouds over the gaunt ,
appealing , naked arms of the moaning ,
shivering trees but a sign of a windy
day : The white stockinged woman is
soulless. Washington Hatchet.
An Appreciative Audience.
"What did you think of my playing ? ' '
asked an amateur piano performer of
Judge Pennybunker , who is a musical
critic.
"Splendid , perfectly lovely. There is
a magic spell about your music that is
simply indescribable. "
"Do you really think so ? "
' Why , it is so grand , so perfectly
magnificent , that you deserve an au
dience composed entirely of musicians
like Beethoven. "
"That's the highest compliment a
musician can receive. "
"Yes , but 3'ou deserve every bit of it.
Yes , sir , an audience composed of mu
sicians like Beethoven would appreciate
your piano recitals. "
After the performer had gone away
a gentleman asked Pcnnybunker what
he meant bsuch extravagant praise of
such poor music.
"I beg your pardon , I didn't praise
his music , " replied Pennybunker.
"You said he deserved an audience
comprised entirely of musicians like
Beethoven. "
"And so he does. Don't you know
that Beethoven was so deaf that he
could not hear a single note of the loud
est orchestra ? That's the kind of an
audience he deserves. " Texas Siflings.
The Design.
Mrs. Quickenalth's husband had given
her a fine dress of a new material and
new-design and she had it on at a swell
reception.
"That's a magnificent dress your wife
wears , " remarked a friend.
"Well yes , I thought so , he responded
pridefully.
"New design , too. "
"Yes , the latest. "
"What is the figure on it ? " continued
the friend putting on his eyeglasses fei
better examination.
"Twelve hundred dollars , " replied
the pleased husband and the conversa
tion stopped. Merchant Traveler.
THE VICE PRESIDENT'S ROOM.
Oao of tlio JJcst Appointed and 3Tur
iilsliect Rooms In tho Cnpltol.
Frobably tho best appointed and fur
nished room in the capitol is that occu
pied by the president of tho senate , and
known as "the vice president's room. "
It adjoins the celebrated marble room ,
in which visitors to senators are receiv
ed , and is intended as the private office
and retiring room of the vice president.
Two large windows facing north afford
a magnificent panorama , embracing
tho heights of Washington , among tho
features of which are 'the Soldiers'
home , Howard university , and the sweep
of country bordering Hock creek , madu
historic during the rebellion by a long
chain of fortifications and a canvas city
which was the temporary abiding placo
of hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
Lace curtains of an exquisite and rare
pattern partially conceal the bare out
lines of the window-frames , and the
heavy lambrequins are both costly and
masrnificent in design and material.
Carpet of a Turkish combination covers
the floor , and its thickness is such that
not a footfall can be distinguished , no
matter how many people may tempor
the . Luxurious-look
arily occupy room. -
ing mahogany chairs , of a substantial
make and upholstered in red leather ,
similar to the fashion so prevalent in li
brary furniture , ornament tho niches
and corners , while a capacious blue-
cloth-covered table is the central object
of attraction. On the comfortable leather
lounge , which matches the chairs and is
placed at the left of the vice president's
table. Vice President Henry Wilson , of
Massachusetts , peacefully breathed hia
last , surrounded by his associates of the
upper house of the national legislature.
An open lire-place , in which a blazing
fire of oak logs is constantly maintained
during cold weather , adds to the cheer
ful aspect of this apartment , and when
the heat becomes too intense for the vice
president a Japanese three-winged
screen is placed in position behind his
revolving cane-scat-chair. When it be
comes necessary for night work light is
furnished by a drop from the giltbron/e ,
and crystal chandelier just over the ta
ble , and from the same source the vice
president's secretary obtains light for
his desk , which is placed at right angles
to the large table and close to the win
dow in the northeast extremity of the
apartment.
Over the marble mantelpiece is a
large plate-.glass mirror , occupying tho
entire space between the two windows ,
and the top of which touches the ceil
ing. This handsome piece of decora
tive furniture is ilankod on either side
by bronze figures of sworded cavaliers ,
and the whole is in strikirig contrast
to a simple gilt mirror , about four feet
long by two wide , which is the only
piece of antique furniture in tho room.
There is a history connected with this
mirror , however , and , although it cost
only a trifle over $40 when it was pur
chased , in the early days of the repub
lic , it was characterized in the senate
chamber as a "piece of shameless ex
travagance. " President John Adams
was the offender , and he brought the
mirror home from - Paris , and event
ually had it put up for his convenience
in the room used by him. At present
this mirror is in the compartment con
taining a stationary washstand , and its
time-worn surface is not very flattering
to those who avail themselves of it for
making an attractive toilet. Of all the
handsomely decorated and frescoed
rooms in the senate wing of the capitol
that assigned to the vice president is
the least conspicuous in this respect.
The walls are calsomined white , and tho
only relief to tho monotony is a smgli ;
line of green , not more than half an inch
wide. Visitors to this room are at
tracted by a large bust portrait of George
Washington , said to bo the best picture
extant of the Father of His Country. It
was painted by Rembrandt Peale , for
whom Washington sat , and tho artist
did the subject ample justice , if the be
nign countenance which looks down
from the canvas is any indication of the
character of the sage of Mount Vernnn.
It is amid such surroundings that tho
presiding officer of tho senate attends to
his affairs , and the books of reference
which he finds so much use for are
handily arranged in a tall mahagony
bookcase , the contents being protected
from dust and exposure by cardinal
plaited silk curtains and glass doors.
Near the door which leads into the
wash-room is planed a pillar of white
marble surmounted by a bust of the
late Lafayette F. S. Foster , formerly a
senator from Connecticut and president
pro tcmpore of tho senate. Strangers
who are taken into this room by the
capitol guides are charmed with inter
esting but not absolutely historical
stories about its former occupants , and
the bust of Foster his done duty as the
marbtc presentment of every vice presi
dent since tho independence of the
United States was declared. Washing
ton Post.
Life In a Snowflalce.
Some imaginative and wonderfully
learned German scholars tell us that ev
ery snowllake is inhabited by happy lit
tle beinjrs , who begin their existence ,
hold their revels , live long lives of hap
piness and delight , die and are buried ,
all during tho descent of the snowilake
from tho world of clouds to tho solid
land. These scholars aiso tell us that
oveiy square foot of air possesses from
twelve to fifteen millions of more or less
perfect little beings , and that at every
ordinary breath we destroy a million ,
"
more or less , of these happy"lives. . Tbe
"
sigh of a healthy lover is"supposed to
swallow up about fourteen million.
They insist that the dust , which will , as
all know , accumulate in the most secure
and secret places is merely the remains
of millions and billions of these little br
ings who have died of old age. All
this , of course , is mere guess work.
But I do know that tho snow in
some parts of the world is thickly inhab
ited. I have seen new snow in Idaho
black with little insects. People there
call them snow fieas. They are as live
ly as possible , and will darken your
footprints , walk as fast as you may.
They are found only in the high moun
tains and only in very fresh and very
deep snow. They , ofcourai , do not an
noy you in any w'ay. They aro infinite
ly smaller than the ordinary flea , but
they are not a whit less lively in their
locomotion St. Nicholas.