Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 1894)
10 THE GREATEST BANKRUPT SALE OF THE AGE , THREE MONSTER BANKRU STOCKS AX.X , O3ST SALE AT < SOTCE TOMORROW , AT N. W. Cor. 16th and Douglar Omaha , Neb. DRY THE GOODS GREAT BANKRUPT AND STOCK SHOES OP , c. CB : ETT : of council WHICH WAS SOLD TO BOSTON STORE , OMAHA , BY THE SHERIFP , AHD AM , THE GOODS RSPLSVIHSD BY THE SHBBXFP FROM A Resulting Climax of Hard Times. Three Immense Dry Goods Stocks Thrown on the Market Without Warning , at Never-to-be-Forgotten Prices. The Power of Boston Store's Ready Cash Strikingly Proved. Three Stocks Bought by Boston Store Without Competition Bouaht " at Our Own Price. And on Sale Now at the Smallest Prices and Greatest Bargains Ever Chronicled in the Wo"rld. SPECIAL From"ies'"hr < ! 0 $181i06s-for 25c Ladies' and Men's IN OUR BASEMENT BARGAINS Bankrupt stocks - , Shoes , which Ben nett sold for S4/5O On the first bargain square In the shoo and S5.OO , go at -i All the Fine Figured department all the odds and wo place Ono lot Ten THE Dollar FROM ends in women's ' slippers , children's 1iO SATEENS Chenille From the Council Bluffs Stock. shoos and infants'shoos ' , which Ucnnott I s sold up to 81 , go at 12oc at Boston Store. ' 81 which stocks , .sold go at for Ojc. 2oc , in these Portieres Men's ' $1 $ Shirts for 25c At The Boston i Store. Divided Into Pour Awful Bargain Lobs. A P.xir. ' $2 $ S1108S for SOc. In this line you will find men's fine All the men's ovorshirts , in outing . calf custom made lace , congress and All the finest 25c French fancy llannel , chovlot , etc. , which sold mucher shoes , in all the now styles of Buys Buys for 31 , go at iGc ! , tees , and ladies' imported fine Howeil All the high-priced On this counter will find hundreds Seventy- GINGHAMS you shoos , kid and button imported dongola ' Fiffcy dreds of Indies' fine dongola button Five BLANKETS WMtelliirts shoes , oxford ties , slippora , men's good ton and Inco shoes , in opera , common Cent from the bankrupt stocks worth up to 57.60 a pair , SOc solid working shoos , boys' shoos , chil sense and nil other latest style lasts , in Cent which sold at "oc , go at lOc. in whi.te , brown and , dren's shoes , Indies' warm lined slip all widths from O to Kfi , all of which Dress Dress scarlet , go at $2.50. All Bennett's $ I.2o fine white laundered pers , children's line warm lined Goodyear Bonnet sold for up to $5 , " uo in this sale dered shirts at 50o. at the Boston Store for "S2.50 a pair. go glove Alasicas ; in this lot Goods. year many Goods. Also all the shot silk evening slippers All the 125c worth up to $2 a pair ; your choice 60c , in delicate shades. All the odd bolts of dross poods in nil In this lot wo place all the 75c wool MUSLINS All Kinds 20c grade Men's ' $27ants $ 69c. at Boston Store. those bankrupt stocks , which soH up to plaids , storm sorjrca , etc. , in navy blue , . 60o a yard , in ono lot at loc a yard. and all colors , at the ridiculous price of Crash Toweling ' ' go . from these stocks , no matter All Bennett's men's cassimoro and 25c a vard. what brand , go at 6c yard. On our main floor , other sold at Htroncr $2 , go , at sensible C9o a pair. pants , which ho $2.25 $ Shoes for 79c. Buys ' lTloves An immense line m misses' fine don We will sell all the Hinety- Buys All the lOc grade All the Fast-Colored Men's $ 39c. gola and goat button shoes , ladies' don Shoes for ladies Dollar , gola shoos , women's heavy shoos , boys' which Flannel Eight Cotton or gentlemen RED TABLE DAMASK C. C. Bennett's entire bankrupt stock shoos , children's shoes , men's arctics Cent and a of men's lined and unlined" leather and men's beautifully embroidered vel Bennett sold in the , Quarter bleached and unbleached from . which sold in Council Bluffs gloves an < l mitts of all kinds , which ho vet slippers , worth up to $2 , your choice Bluffs up to $6.OO , in lot at Ojc. Goods. Dress all stocks , go ono for ollc , goes at lou yard. sold for SI , go at 39c a pair. 79c at Boston store. This includes the finest lace and congress gross shoos of all kinds which ho hnd in In this lot , which \vo plnco on our bar Goods. 75c Unlaundered Shirts 29c his stock for men , as wo'.l ' as everything gain square , " you will lind nil the OSc All the 25c quality All the dollar graflo bleached , ho had in Indies'shoes , including cloth dress Roods of these stocks , such ns ex In bargain lot No. 4 Wo plnco all the and unbleached and Turkey $2.50 $ Shoes for $1 $ top luce shoes , .Tuliottcs , now bluchers , tra Heavy Ja.ioy reps Uncut hop acldng3 , SI and 31.125 imported novelty clotha and Table Oil Cloth End Scotch DA-MASK in Bennett's entire stock of men's unlaundered - , imported Vienna kid button shoos , all N , basket clotha and wool changeable plain silk finished honricttas of these these stocks goes at 30o a laundered white shirts , all-linen bosom , worth up to $0 , go at $3 a pair at Bos- i1" * " I serges. Your choice of the lot for 35c , stocks , and put a 50c bargain price for goes in one Jot at lOc. yard. double bands , which ho marked 75c , go An immense lot of men's calf shoes , ton Store , Omaha. worth OSc. your choice. at SOc. ladies' dongola shoos , ladies' warm lined Ladies' tailor-made overgaitors.worth laced and congress shoes , boys' extra 75o , go at 2oc at Boston Store , Omaha. high cut shoes and warm lined slippers Misses' spring heel , warm lined Good of all kinds , worth up to $2.50 , for $1 a year glove low overshoes , 59c , worth $1 , pair at Boston Store. at Boston Store , Omaha. BOSTON STORE OMAHA , HELMS FOR THE LOOTERS A Few Ooppars and Oostly Experience for the Victims. THE EXTENT OF THE PUBLIC PLUNDER Dlinrnslonn of the Numerical Ilonil Swindle S trim clod by the , Poitul Authorities Unnrmoiis 1'rollts of thu 1'roinotcrs. An inventory of t io remains of numerical bond companies , though incomplete. Justi fies the condemnation which their opera tions evoked. Words but Tcebly measure the breadth and depth ol this gigantic swindle which counts its victims by the tens of thousands. Vv'hilo other financial bubbles collapsed at the first breath of depression , bond lottery schemers scorned to thrive on poverty. Their operations were confined largely to a class that can ill-afford the loss. To them wcro hold out Inducements In the shnpo of bewildering profits. The South Sea bubble in Its palmy days could not equal on paper the money making powers of the lottery bond. It was a mint created to abolish poverty and overspread the ruins with the expansive lap of aluuenco. Around this glowing golden magnet the gullible flocKcd hko electric bugs on a July evening. They came from all sections and poured their dollars Into the coffers of the promoters , who , for a satisfactory rake-off , agreed to sol In motion the magic wheels which would convert dimes into dollars. The wheels operated successfully In ono ro- epcct , The promoters secured the money , , while the victims have the experience. I * The exposure of this shallow and monda- 1 clous pretense In Tun Bun and oilier news papers , followed by warnings and denuncia tions by state authorities , cheeked its growth. But these agencies wcro Insuffi cient. State laws afforded no weapons to meet the emergency , and recourse was had to other means. The promised relief was furnished by the postal authorities. The federal law prohibiting the use of the malls by lottery schemers was invoked most effect ively , and In about six months has practi cally squelched the swindle and the swin dlers. The cfilcaey of the law Is shown In the gratifying record of convictions and ar rests and the rigid exclusion of lottery III- vraturo and letters from the malls. Three convictions of leading promoters were hud In Chicago , arrests have been made In Cros- v ton mid Council Bluffs , la. , and in Denver , Salt l.ako City , Ogden and San Francisco. Ulght and left offices have been closed and the promoters have down to avoid the wrath of Justice and of buncoed victims. A Miuclmen | l.ooti Following the conviction of the head of- fleers of the Guarantee Investment company In Iho federal court of Chicago lust Novem ber , a receiver was appointed to wind up the affairs of the concern. During the trial the defendants assorted the company wai sol vent nncl fully capable of fulfilling its prom ises. The report of the receiver Hied lu court last weak tells an altogether different story nnd affirms the Justice of the Jury's verdict. The report shows the company's liabilities wcro J55,000OCO that Is , there wcro 55,000 bonds outstanding. To nay off these bonds the receiver found $ -111) ) In cash , 75 cents lu multilatcd coin , and an assortment of ofllco furniture with nn adhesive chattel mortgage attached. Notwithstanding the collapse of the concern - . corn and the conviction of the chief swin dlers , many victims are paying their install ments , expressing faith In ultimately receiv ing the promlsca.roward , whllo others , com prehending the situation , forward piteous appeals for the money they foolishly paid in. A great many of the bondholders are wldowa , orphans , working Rlrls , street car conductors , railway employes and others In similar walks of Ufa who Imvo Invested the havlnws of years to make the first payment on a few of the company's bonds nnd who , It appear * , have deprived themselves of the nccctiarica of life to keep up the monthly assessments. Pitiful scenes are by no means rare In the receiver's office as these people como In and rcallzo they have been swindled out of their hard-earned money. Tlio I'liimlerod. ThoChicagoTribunerolatcs that a modest , dignified young woman of refined manner walked into the ofllco ono day to find out what hope there was of realizing upon ten bonds she held. She said she was a typewriter - writer and her sister was a saleswoman. They had been raised in easy circumstances , but their parents died and loft them noth ing. They went to work to support them selves and lo educate a younger brolher. It was a hard struggle and lo make it easier they had scraped together S100 to make the first payment on ten bonds , hoping that when they matured they would have enough to complete the education of the brother. Another victim , who sat , in the office ami heard this story , received hut scant sym pathy. In fact the disinterested bystanders treated It as a rich Joke and laughed uproar iously , for this viclim had money nnd could bear Iho loss , oven if it were rather hard. Ho was a merchant from a Wisconsin town and had como in to see the receiver upon an important business matlor. They were in terrupted by the entrance of the young woman. Evidently the Wisconsin merchant then heard for the first time that the Guar antee Investment company was in the hands of a rcceivor.for he turned palo. leaned back in his chair , nnd fairly gasped. When the young woman hnd gene ho turned to * Mr. Hurley and Inquired : "Do you know where I could hire a real strong man to kick mo for a few hours ? . ' "Why ? " "Well , I hold 211 of these bonds ; that's ' all. O , thinkof ill Two thousand one hun dred and leu dollars in cold cash and S2G.'i a month afterward and nothing to show for It ! O , mo I O , my ! " Many prominent Chicago citizens hold largo numbers of these bonds , many of them holding 100 apieco. The agents had a scheme for selling bands In blocks of fifty by rcpro- scnllng that by the multiple system , llvo being the multiple , any ono who held fifty bonds was absolutely certain to got at least ono bond cashed every ten drawings. But stranger still is the fact that bondholders como In every day nnd insist on paying their assessments and express undying faith that "tho company will bo nil right pretty soon. " They do not stop to consider thai , there bolng 1)5,000 , bonus outstanding they have ono chance in 55,000 of realizing on tholr in vestment when a drawing is hold ; nor do they seem to think it strange that a concern which had received $550,000 in cash as first payments on bonds , not a cent of which was used for Iho redemption of bonds , and 'J5 cents premium on each bond every month , should bo obliged to mortgage ofilco furni ture , and they go away with hearts filled with bitterness against the receiver because ht will not take their money. The receiver expects to secure a portion of the $100.000 In good bonds filed with the secretary - rotary of state of Missouri , but this involves considerable litigation. Even if realized upon promplly it would not pay a tithe of the pending claims. Ouiiiitlnc the Cost. What was the harvest of the promoters ? According to the facts adduced at the trial of the Guarantee officers the company ills- posed of M,000 bonds. For these the pur chasers paid a total of * 5. > 0,000 In Iho slmpo of prclimlnaVy fees , or $10 a bond. This enormous sum was pocketed by iho ugonls. A good rustling agent could mauo anywhere from $50 to $503 tv day , nnd ono struck an extra streak of luck In Chicago and pocketed $1'JOO profits in a day. The fee of the actual managers was 25 cents out ot each monthly installment , which , at the time of iho prosecution , netted $13,750 Dor month. ICstlmatlmr tha total number of bonds were paid on during half iho Ufa of the company , the profits from this source amounted to $105,000 la two years. This , however , noes not represent the whole of Iho promoters' rake off. On the same basis of calculation the Income , exclusive of the 25 cents , was fUi'iO.OOO. Out of this only $ ' . ' 00,000 was paid to holders of COO bonds , leaving SIM.OOO un accounted for. Is It any wonder Judge Grosscup char acterized iho scheme as public robbery ? When the postal authorities laid hands on the swindle there wcro 15'J companies known to exist. They spread over the country from the lakes to the Pacific and were multiplying at an amazing rate. Of these the looting Guarantee was the parent as well us the richest , huvlug agencies in a dozen states. None of the others approached it in extent of business. Two concerns In Missouri had issued together about 35.000 bonds , the remainder of the list ranging down lo a few hundred. The npgro- gale of bonds issued by these concerns at least equal the Guarantee's total. Applying the Guarantee ratio of income lo outgo to the whole , the receipts aggregated $2,750,000 , of which $412,000 was returned to the bond holders , leaving the enormous sura of $2,3IS- ! 000 as clean profits for the swindlers. The pity oC it is that nine-tenths of the swiri- Ulors'will go unwhipped of Justice. A .Tcxns Itcmr. The Texas commissioner of insurance , backed by the atlornoy general of the state , lias declared war on the bond frauds. His action roused the wrath of interested par- tics , nnd in an open letter he defends him self in this vigorous style : "I denounced and exposed the numerical bond companies because they were frauds pure and simple , in the interest of the people of this state , knowing if ihoy were not 'slrangled In In fancy1 iho people of Tcx.is would be merci lessly plundered and would soon lament the existence of such corporations , and would also have cause to censure officials whoso duty it was to warn and protect them against such speculative and deceptive schemes. It is frivolous to say these gauzy schemes , founded upon tha iloctrino of chance only , are attacked in the interest of life insurance , when it is n fact that every periodical wave of such frauds but strengthens the hold of life insurance upon the people and adds to its popularity , because - cause by experience and comparison the people learn to appreciate and admire the good. "Tho payment of the bonds of these in vestment companies is not determined by any law of nature or business as in the case of life Insurunco or other sound nnd honest institutions ot the land , but by lot or chance as in u lottery. In the contract no tlmo Is named when bonds mature , but a vague , Indefinite - definite maturity Is promised according to a mathematical lablo constructed by the com pany , which means , at best , that tl.o bond holders who wcro In at the first 'divide' of lucky numbers may bo paid and an occa sional late comer if the company can live lorn ; enough to catch suckers sufficient. "Tho only difference in any of the plans Is the scattering of Iho lucky numbers , which is done under a pretense of being fair , the real purpose being to "Hiiro nnd encourage late comers. Again , there is a so-called reserve - servo fund , which somoprovide , whllo others do not , which is a doluslvo incidental bene fit and insufficient to moot the promise ; ; of its creation , " . Minor IiiatallmontH. A Michigan man holding thlrty-ono bonds In the Columbian Bond Investment com pany of Saglnaw applied for and obtained an Injunction restraining the monthly draw ing. The plaintiff says the concern has re ceived more than $18,000 and paid out but 3.400 In four months , and that the whole scheme is n fraud. An Omaha promoter showed painful agita tion a few days ago. Slnco the mails wcro closed to ( ho concern ho represented , care was taken not lo vlolalo the ordor. By an oversight a bond purchased by a colored woman was forwarded to her address through the malls. As soon ns tha promoter discovered his mistake ho mailo a lively rus tle for the Incriminating envelope. As the woman was anxious lo recover her money the promoter saved himself by refunding. I'ho atlorncy general of Missouri has com menced proceeding bdforo Iho supreme court of the state to vacate the charters of iho Guarantee Bond Investment company of Nevada , Mo. , the Potlls County Investment company of Sedalla and the St. Louis Mutual Bond Investment company. The at torney general of Minnesota Is understood to bo contemplating similar action against bond Investment companies jn that state. Similar action ought to bo Instituted by the attorney general of Nebraska to annul the Incorporation of bond concerns in this stato. A comparison of their incorporation articles with the business conducted would convince any courl of their fraudulent character. Kan Francisco bond promoters nro doing Bomo lively Bprlntlmr to keep beyond tno reach of Iho postal authorities. The Insurance commissioner of Pennsyl vania denounces the Order of Solon as a huge fraud. It has a membership of 10,001 residing In six states. U resembles the Iron Hall. In four years it collected $555.000 , has outstanding contracts aggregating $5-lUOO ! | and the not available assets with ivhlch to meet these millions amount to Jl-H'Hy , CO- The Income Tax Bill and t'ao .Building-Loan . Associations. . * fc. EXEMPTION CHECKS A MIGHTY ROAR The Looting Methods of Chlcngo Nutloimls Looked Into by the Grand Jury Some Details of the Itoubcry Impor tant Court Decisions. What promised to develop into a mighty roar against , certain provisions of .tho pro posed income tax bill pending In congress has suddenly subsided. Building and loan associations arc specifically exempt from the proposed tax. When it became evident two weeks ago that an Income tax would ho incorporated In the revenue bill and that the Income of coi ? poralions would bo invited to stem the treasury deficit , well grounded fear was manifested in building association circles throughout the country. Unless an excep tion was made associations would necessa rily come in under the head of corporations , the dividends of which are to bo taxed 2 per cent. Horp and there a note of warning was sounded , but comparatively few real ized that such a step was contemplated. Up to last Monday Philadelphia associations hail not heard of the proposod-tax , and very few In HID west had an Inkling of what was on. Up to within a few hours of the in troduction of the hill associations wuro in cluded In the list of taxable corporations. The authors of the measure evidently real ized the Injustice of taxing the Incotno of these associations , anil added to section IS a proviso reading ns follows : "And provided further , that this act shall not apply to the Incomes or dividends re ceived or paid by iuch building anil loan as sociations which are organized under the laws of any state or territory and which do not make loans except to shareholders within the state whore such associations have been organized. " The exemption , iUwill bo sCcn , Is confined practically to locall associations which are really mutual In character. None of this class souk hUBlncss.bo.voiul thostatu in which they nro Incorporated and very seldom go beyond their rcspoctlvo counties , The na tional or interstate class will , if this provi sion becomes a lawbo obliged to limit their operations to stala boundaries or pay the tax. The action of the authors of the act removes what woulll have been a trouble some , organized opposition to the measure. Statistics compiled ) by the United States commissioner of labor show that at the close of 18UJ there wcru T > ,800 associations In the country with a membership of 1,055,450. The present number of associations cxcccus 0.000 and It is probable that the total membership is 2,000,00(1. ( Had these organizations been aroused against a direct government lax it Is certain thny would make a highly inter esting time for lulrocatcs of thu bill and curr.v their sentiments to the ballot box with emphasis. A Nutloimt Wreck. Later developments in thn affairs of the collapsed Chicago Nationals do not afford much comfort for the victims. In addition of $75,000 loan on property valued at ? 3,0)0 ! ) inado by the Is'ntloiml Building , Loan and Investment society , the Investigation of the state auditor shows that thu society's assets are impaired to the extent of $145,000. In presenting the case to court in support of an application for a receiver the attorney gen eral stated that tho.soeloty , since its organ- ! ration in 181K ) , collected an expense fund of IU cents a shitro per month. All this disap peared into the poekots of the managers and nn overdraft of * H,050 , limiting a total of $ . ' 10,000 gene whither no one knows. The necroUry droxv the snug salary of ? 7,500 a year for work valued at Sl.MX ) . Other officer received round sums for llttlo erne no labor , the governing motive bolng to dis burse the receipts in the manner ocit calcu lated to enhance the prosperity of a clique of managers and relatives. JTnxIni ; raid-Up .Stock. The action of the Indiana State Board of Tax Commissioners in the matter of Duildlng and loan associations will be watched with interest , especially In those sections of the country where issues of paid-up assessments are popular. The board has had thn ques tion of paid-up stock assessments before it for some limo and has Just reached a de cision , by the terms of which such stock is to bo taxed at its par value. The board was unanimous in the opinion , it Is said , that money placed la paid-up shares was simply a loan to the associations , for which the lender received from 0 to 8 per cent , and in the end shared in the general profits of the association. The members did not bollovo that the law exempting the building and loan stock from taxation was intended to glvo immunity to such loans. Acting on this theory they de termined that this stock should bear its burden Just as other capital invested in an interest-paying business. Ail Iniportniit Question. The attorney general of Illinois proposes to test the question whether a building and loan association of the national variety can escape state scrutiny by appealing to the United States court. The American , nn Illinois association , the managers of which squandered hundreds of thousands on sand lots , variety theaters and museums , was de clared Insolvent by the state auditor , but to prevent the state from winding up Its affairs for the bcnollt of the victims thu managers applied to the federal court for a receiver , mid secured the appointment of a friend of the wreckers. The attorney general has asked that the order bo vacated and that thu state be permitted to deal with the con cern and the looters as the state law directs. Commenting on this , thu latest development of national crookedness , the Chicago Herald says : "Tho bankrupt associations , instead ot attempting to recover themselves under the conservative provisions of the state law , tiavo rushed into the United States court , confessed their insolvency and applied for a receiver of their own appointment. These proceedings boar the appear ance of collusion. The only pretext that the defaulting agents of the Illinois corporations hail for this course was the allegation that they Imd stockholders in other states. If this pretext Is good for tying up a case of the kind in the United States court the re sources of craft and fraud in similar com binations are almost , endless. Any coin-cm might donate a share of its stock to a citizen of Indiana or of Missouri , and then claim tin protection of the United States courts , through a collusive receivership , to oust the mate courts of Jurisdiction and defraud the vast majority ot Its stockholders. In holdIng - Ing these associations to strict account under their state franchises , Attorney Gen eral Molonoy Is performing an imperative public duty. Thuy are not interstate af fairs. They should bo hold accountable In the courts of the sfito from which their charters are derived. " DllllOllflioIIH OT Ilia I.IH > t. The reason for the American's appe.d to the federal court Is a consuming dcslro to protect the men who rioted with its funds. The report of the state auditor shows that the concern loaned over SWO.OOO In sums ranging from JT.,000 to $11,000 on property valued at 15,000. The plan which seemed to strlko the managers most easy for disposing of the receipts was to sot up a "dummy , " loan him the money nnd nockot It thorn- selves. Besides llfis outrageous robbery the ofllclals collected nn expense fund amounting to $1100,11'and membership fees aggregating ? 15li,0-0 , malting a total of over $000,000 stolen by Uio managers. It Is not Improbable that bo fore the receivership contest Is settled some of the robbers will have acquired quarters In the state prison. The grand Jury has taken hold of the robbcra. Validity of I'ulu-Ji | Stock. The court of appeals of Now YoHc has de cided that the hsuo of paid-up stock by a savings nnd loan association Is nut against the law. The cuso was ono brought by Charles S , Fauvhild , representing the Peter Cooper association of flow Voni , against the superintendent of the banking department. Superintendent I'rcston refused to ureopt the certificate of Incorporation of the Peler Cooper association because It announced Ita Intention of Issuing bingln payment stock. The court of appeals directs the court below to compel the department to approve the certificate. Interest on 1-romiumn. Vice Chancellor Van Fleet of Jersey City , N , J. , has decided that loan associations have a right to charge interest only on the amount advanced. The papers in the case showed that the Lincoln Building anil Loan association had advanced ? 7,000 to Charles Clark's Sons & Co 611 a premium bid of Sl.OOO , taking as security a mortgage for fS.OOO. The firm subsequently gave a second end mortgage on the property to the At lantic White Lead company , which moved to set aside the first mortgage. Vice Chan cellor Van Fleet hold that the association nan a right to charge a premium for its loans and to include the amount in the mort gage , but it had no right to collect , interest on the premium. lie also held that the as sociation's ' lines and penalties for default were legitimate charges i.gninst the prop erty. A few more such decisions will help to entirely retire the obsolete gross premium system. JIKLIGIUUS. Bishop-elect Hall of the Episcopal church will bo consecrated at Burlington , Vt. , Feb ruary 2. A chain of missions has been established across Central Africa from ocean to ocean in eighteen years. In nil Africa there arc 727 white mission aries , 1,01)0 ) native prcachera , 7700 adult native Christians , and 225.000 school chil dren , a grand total of 1,00-1,783 Christians. The publication of the statistics of both the Northern and Southern Presbyterian churches shows that their united strength is ! M synods , 293 presbyteries , 7,71:0 ministers , ftl.SSS cldors , U.OI4 churches , lHHtiCi ( ; com- mmiieants and a total of contributions amounting to $10y.VjSUl. The venerable Bishop Williams of Con necticut will deliver the sermon on the occa sion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the consecration of the Ulght Ituv. William Crosswoll Doano ns bishop of Albany Feb ruary 'J. A feature of the servlco will bo an offertory of.3,000 for a now chapter house. The People's church of St. Paul bus per formed the remarkable feat of lifting , within the past few weeks , a debt of 17- 7f > 0 ; In addition the church has raised $17- ! J'J5 this year for current expenses. The church has received much financial aid out- sldoof Its own mnmbershlp , hut practically all of this $17,000 came from within. Another clergyman who was drafted dur ing the late war Is reported In the person of the Hov. Warren h. Hayden , who was preaching at the tlmo In liuport , Vt. , but living In Siilom , N. Y. Uo was drafted in Salem , when ho went to Troy and paid a commutation , ns his society at Unpcrt would not flparo him. Mr. Hayden is now living In Klein , III. , as the pastor of a Campbelllte society there. The Protestant churchoa of Washington are busily engaged In preparations for a series of meetings to bu hold under the leadership and direction of Mr. Dwlght L. Moody , the well known evangelist , assisted by Mr. Sankoy , beginning February 7 nnd continuing ono mouth. Ono feature of the mooting ! * will bo a chorus of 1MX ) voices , the membership of which Is now nearly com plete. The work In Washington will bo'Alr. Moody'a last previous to sailing for London. Hov. O. Monroe Itoyee In tiio January Forum In attempting to account for the de cline of the American pulpit says that In 1H70 there wuro-1:1,000 : ordained ministers In the United States , and though this number had increased to 01,000 in IbbO , the reports show Lhcro wcro no more trained and educated men in the 01,000 than In the IU,000. , This Is strange when the number of great Institu tions ot learning and the Increasing legions of students attonulng them Is conaldcfcd. The Kev. O. J ) . Chambers of Luna. O. , has It-monHtratnil his ability to romonatrato vigorously and successfully with these who disturb hla meetings. A couple of hoodlums imuo a row at his meeting the other night mil ho remonstrated with them. Ho did It witn a poker , and ao oncrgotlcallv that ono of the mon will die. Then ho .vent home , mil the other hoodlum , with a company ol iih friends , followed him to continue the lUcusslon. This tlmo Chambers used a Miutjcun in hlsaivtuaiunt , and so effectively that ho utterly routed Inn antagonist , who ettrcd In prcclpluto disorder. Having concluded his engagement with Charley Mitchell. Mr Corbett will appearas ( juntlcman Juck lu Buaton Monday night. SU3IK O/ ' ' T/l/CAK JAYS. Prank L. .S'fuiitim lu Atlanta Conefuf ( ( ( < m. Some of these days all the skies will l ; brighter Some of these days all the burdens bu lighter ; Hearts will bo happier souls will 1 * whiter Some of these 'days I Some of these days , In the deserts upsprlnz- Ing , Foiintiilns shall Hash , while the joy-bells are ringing , . And the ivorld with Its sweetest of birds shall go slngliiK Some ot these duysl Some of these days ! Lot us bear with our sorrow row : Kulth In the future Its light may wo borrows There will bu | oy In the golden tomorrow Some of these diys ! / 2'll.lTIl.JS Or I'llK I'OUXdHTIUtS. Llttlo Mary has always been devoted to her Aunt May , and prays for her each night long and fervently. Ono day , however , dur ing a visit to her aunt's , iho child did some thing wrong and had lo bo punished. When evening came , and she knelt at her aunt's Unco to say her prayers , it was evident that the sere spot was Ihorc still. "Illcss papa and mamma , " began Iho childish voice.and then ihcro was an ominous silence , nflor which the prayer was con- eluded with no reference lo Aunt May. "Now , " remarked Miss Four-Year-Old , with Hashing eyesas she rose to her /cot , "what do you think of that for a prayer ? " Howard T. , who has lived all his short Ufa in a city , was taken recently to visit at n "real farm. " The child was in ecstasies. Every animal on the place was a delight to htm , but his affections especially centered about a Jersey calf. " 1 would llico to buy it , " ho said to the owner. "Hut what would you glva in oxohnngo ? ' * ho was asked. "My baby sister , " replied the child with the utmost gravity ; "wo Imvo a now baby nearly every year at our house and wo'vo never had a calf 1" Edward Junior ( aged 5) ) Is the son of the most devout of ministers. Ono day the min ister's wlfo was told that her llttlo boy hail _ been overheard swearing. Calling him to her. she told him what she had heard and asked If It wax true. "Who told youf" ho demanded. "Oh , " she replied , rather surprised , "a llttlo bird told inn , " "Well , " responded the youthful Impeni tent , "then it was ono of Ihoso darned spar- rows. " * The Inborn pride of ( Jhleagoans and Iholr neighbors In tholr city and nil that belongs to It , especially ainco the fair , la well Illus trated by a remark made by a youngster In Kvanston , III. , the other day. Hli mother overheard him talking with his little sister and discussing great questions , ns children do , with all the gravity of his ciders. Finally the llttlo girl asked , "Harry , where was the world madot" And Harry , with an nlr of superior wisdon , answered , "Why , don't you know , Uotty ? In Chicago. , . ofcoursol" j "Oh , Agnes ! " oxelalmod her younger brother , John , the other day , "there's a liolo In your stocking aa big as a dollar. You'd butter not lot mamma see It. " "How you do exaggerate , John , " replied Iho slalor , examining iho aforesaid arllelo of apiiarel. "It Isn't much larger than a halt doljar. " "That ain't much of nn exaggeration , then , replied iho brolhar. "A silver dollar's only worth about 70 cents now , BO you HOO , Binnrty , 1 was nearer right than you arc. " A Canadian Judge has decided that the chluf agent of n farcli'ii tnsuram-o company operating In Canada IB the proper person la make affidavit ns to the correctness of ths statements Hied In that , country. This seomi straugo to liuuiraiico agents , Inasmuch at iho chief agent c.in only know what tha officers choose to toll him , while the officers themselves have on-.in have absolute knowl- - edu'f of the company's affairs. WlllloCoillir , of "HOBS and Hoss" fame. / has decided to give up farce comedy ancj / * during Iho cumum spring will produce a now pl.'ii by lOUward 12. Kidder culled "A IJacIc Number. "