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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 7, 1897)
TUB ( XMLAHA DAILY KBB : HUNDAY MAUOU 7 , 1807. 18 MEBRASKANS FOR THE SAYY The StBto's Quota of Oadets Far Below the Number Allowed. LIFE AT THE ANNAPOLIS ACADEMY Stringent flute * niul I The Sfitlftit. of Stnillffi neil AVorl.-lMir Uccnril * of. Xe- lirnitlui Cnilcln. ANNAPOLIS , Md , , March - ( Correspondence ence of The Bee. ) Nebraska was madii n territory of the United States May 20 , 1851 , and a alate March 21 , 1S67. From that dale it was entitled to have a representative at the Naval academy , to be odurated for an official position In the United Stales navy. No one took acUauUgo ot this favorably opening until 1SOS , ( then Edeon Webster fiutpheu , born In Ohio , wan appointed a mid- ohlpman from Ncbrnaka , Ho graduated In 1S32 , No. fi , In order ot scholastic merit In a class ot thirty-woven. June SO , 1SDO , Mr. S'ltphen re-signed , when he held the rank ot cimlgn In the United States navy. Ths next cadet In the Nuvat academy from Nebraska was Matt Howland'Slgnor , who entered May 21 , 1SSC. Guy Terrell Scott , the third No- brr. I < an In fie navy , entered Scplcmbci 7 , 18i > 3. N xt came Arthur Cllynn Kavanngh May 20 , 1890. After him was Amen Bronson , Jr. , September SO , ISM , then Alfred Warren 1'rvBsy. May 10 , If SO , who \\ns followed Sep tember C , 14 3 , by Luther Martin Overstrcet , and then caino Zeno Eveictt DrlRgs , Septem ber 22 , 1S9I , Ralph Ellis I'opc , May 20 , 1835 , and the last Paul Daxtcr Dugan , September C , 1S95. Tlicro wcro ten In nil when the state could Tiavo had twenty-five , or more , to have edu cation free and then , It found proficient , to have received a commission nn an officer of the United Stairs nnvy. The great wist has been alow to realise that every congressional district Is entitled to send , every six years , a cmlot to the United States Naval academy , and that thiii cadet Is paid $000 annually to bo educated for service In the American navy , at a still higher rate ot compensation , and ono that brings rani ; and Increased com pensation as the years roll on , with the oppor. tunlty for an undying famrj that comes from ekill and success In arms In the American navy. The curriculum of the Naval academy Is the only door that gives entrance to an ofllclal position In the American navy. This cur riculum la severe , but It has produced n coipa of bravo and competent olllccrs who rcfhct credit on the nation and are worthy BUCCC-S- nora ot Hull , Balnbrldgo ami Porter. What it takes to equip a naval cadet , for that Is the ofllclal appellation of the student at the Naval academy. In the mental armor that will make an elllclcnt soldier In the service , few Americans have any reasonable Idea. NEBRASKA CADETS. Naval Cadet Tcrrlll Scott did not remain In the academy more than a. year and re- elgned. The next Nebraska cadet was an Interest ing character. He was Arthur Glynn Kava- nagh , who entered May 20 , 1890. Kavanngh was the very man the cadets wcro looking for ever slnco the army which had been no In- glorlously defeated In 1890 at foot ball , had turned tables on the cadets In 1891. The navy wanted to redeem Itself. The young Ncbraskan was destined to play a leading part in the reversal of fortune. Ho had from the deck of the San tee , heard the shouts of triumphal victory from the army as they fairly swept the navy from the gridiron Held , but ho did not sec the battle ho was In durance vllo with several comrades for being too strict In his education of the "plebs" and was paying for this Infringement of reg ulation. But ono year hence ho was a lion In the camp of the navy , for ho had held the center ot tbo army , and though older and heavier than the naval eleven , the sturdy players of West Point , on their own grounds , had been beaten 12 to 4. It was a glorious day for the navy. The next year Cadet Kavanagh was captain of the academy eleven. It was a wise choice The army came to Annapolis with more eclonco than over , with great tall soldiers to do their fighting on the gridiron arena , and with a grim determination to win back their lost laurolH. At the first shock It looked llko the navy wore to them as fine dust In the balance , but down on the ground laid the navy and stopped the on.wnrd progress of "West Point's triumphant boat , and when the score was counted It stood Navy. 0 ; Army , I Cadet Knvanagh 'before entering the navy was at school at St. Benedict'sMlwourl , at St. Vincent's In Pennsylvania , and at the "University of Nebraska. Ho Is an oven- tempered and sensible young officer , not car ried off his feet either by victory or defeat , and wears all his honors modestly. When a player , he was good-tempered and quiet and talked freely of contests past or approaching preaching and always gave a good account of himself when the battle was on. He ban dark black eyes that shine out brilliantly over his full-set stubborn cheek bones. IIIH great breadth of back , strength ot body , and unniflled disposition , maclo him a splendid player and reliable captain. Whenever tho. opportunity occurs , Kuvanagh will acquit himself well xvhen skill and courage are de manded on the fleldu of severer battle. When In his 22d year ho was 5 feet , 10V4 inches In height. Cadet Kavanagh was finally graduated from the Naval academy In 1895 , and was appointed ensign In July , ISflC. ISflC.Naval Naval Cadet Luther Martin Ovciatreet who entered the Naval academy from Ne braska , September G , 1S93 , Is a member of thla year's graduating class , and , at the last annual examination stood No. 18 In order of merit In a clnta of 5fi. He has his host marks In mechanical drawings , standIng - Ing third In his clasx ; In clllency I , In sum mer practical work In steam engineering 11. Cadet Overatrcet has the althletlc turn. Ho rowed last year In the academy eight-oar shell that won povcral races and which did y- splendid work. Ho Is also a candidate for thla season's crew. Three seasons ho has been In the crow every year that ho hai : been at the academy. Last year ho was sub stitute right guard on the crack academy football team , and gave Fischer the guard , a hard rub for the position. He Is of large frame , weighing 1G8 pounds , and stands C feet , 10 Inches In height. Ho Is ono of the cadet Junior lieutenants of the academy battalion , a position of credit and respon sibility , He Is a man ot broad views and the uevero discipline of the academy has not destroyed his Individuality , Naval Cadet Alfred Warren Prc-ssy , of the first class , Is the boat student of the Nebraska cadets. He stands No. 8 In the Graduating class , which has fltty-thrco mom- lHr . He was born at Broken Bow , Cluster county , and entered the navy May 19 , 1893 , when he wan 19 years old , Ho was appointed from the Sixth congressional district , by Most torturing and dttflgurlng of Itching , burning , tcaly skin and tralp humors Ii In. atantly relict cd by a warm bath with Curl- CUUA KOAP , a alnglo application of CITICUIU ( ointment ) , the gir.it akin cure , and a full ilojo of CUTICLUA UKMILVE.NT , greatest of blood jiuriflors and humor cures , when all eUe falls. I. told tfcrooibout th world. POTT 1 1 Dire MD Cum. Conr. , 1'tcf. , Uotom * How la Cun Silt IUnuni"ft . FALLING HAIR " 31 un4 lijr CvticviA . Suir. ' Colllni' VolUlo KUctrlo Pluter * IT'S ate sure to relieve torn lung * , weak backs , kidney palm , and SURE rheuuuuliui , when all other ten fcud ] > &iu liloTlators fM' , CongrcsMman O. M. Kem. The father of Cadet Pretiy l Henry T. Pressy of Broken Dow. Cadet Pres y wns educated in the public schools ot hl.i unlive place and In New Jersey , He docs not toke to athlctlco , although be ii of sturdy build. NavM Cadet Ralph E. Popr , another of Nebraska's representatlviM at the N val academy , l it member of the third clano , that body ot young men who , when any edu cation of ths fourtu rlawmcn , the new cadets who hMO Just entered the arailcmy , l to bo fclrcn that does act come within the regular curriculum ot Uie academy , always perform the task with tklll and ability , which sys- tarn in known In the outside world "haz ing. " Cadet Pop * has novcr figured In these proceedings nH nr. nctnr but lias probably had hli eharc of It when n. youngster. Ha comex from Red Clcud In WebMor county , Fifth turpreulcnal district , and was np- potnlftl lo the academy by Congressman W. A. McKclghnn. Cadet Pope was educated before c-imlnc to the academy at the Red Cloud high iifibool. Naval C-tdot Paul 'Baxter Dungan. another member of the thltd class from Nebraska , Is also of the Fifth congressional district. This In an anomaly , because only ono cadet at a tlmo in allowed at the academy from a congressional district , but the cadotshlps from Nebraska In some way became mixed tip and wcro clralghtcncd out by an act of congress , which allowed two cadets this term to the Fifth district. Cadet Dungm * Is acquitting himself well as a scholar , standIng - Ing above the middle of Iho class In a class of plxty-flvo members. He was appointed to the academy by Hon. William E. Andrews. Cadet Dungon halls from Hastings and be fore enlerlrig the naval academy was edu cated at the Hastings High school. Ho makes his bent mark In efficiency. Naval Cadet Zouo Hvcrctl BrlggH ot the second class Is alno n Nebraskan , who has done well as n scholar. Ho stood at the last annual examination No. 10 In order of scholastic merit In a class of fifty-live. Ho was appointed to the naval academy from the Third congressional district by Hon. George D. Melklejohn. Ho Is a cltls-en of West Point , Neb. , where his father , Emory llrlgga , lives. Cadet Btlggs , before entering the naval academy , was a student at the University ot Nebraska. Ho was admitted to the academy September 22 , 1894 , and Is now 19 years old. Ho ntands No. 4 In mechanical drawing , which Is the best mark ho received In his studies. In conduct he stood No. 5. HULKS AND REGULATIONS. It x\lll bo observed that several of the Nebraska cadota stand nell In conduct. That icdounds much to their credit as good sol- dlois. In this department , the department ot discipline , are tried the soldierly habits ot order and punctuality of the cadets. De merits tell against and freedom from de merits for violations of discipline works well for the naval cadets. Bach demerit takes ono and flftcon-hundrcdtha oft the final ag gregate , which Is 760. The averages of the leading cadets In a clana never differ more than ono or two points , so that It does not take many demerits to materially affect a graduate's standing. Graduate standing Is not an empty honor at the naval academy , but has Us Influence on the graduate all through his career as a naval officer. A cadet who stands No. 1 In his class will reach the grade of captain flvo years before a cadet who stands No. 10. Demerits fall as fast as leaves In autumn. It seems that some cannot possibly avoid them. They are as signed for , seemingly , the merest trivial ities , but nil Is necessary In military train ing. They are reported for not having books piled straight , for rubbers not at the eamo anglo under the bed , for having their coat collars turned up , coat uubrushed or trousers muddy at the bottom , for an open ward robe door , a p lcco of paper on the floor , matches or plus on the window sills and a thousand and ono other offenses. The number of demerits assigned for such of fenses are from ono to five and a larger number up to seventy-five Is assigned for other delinquencies. One- hundred and fifty Is the limit for a year In the first class , when the delinquent Is dropped from the navy. Ono of the most extraordinary cases of as signment ot demerits took place on the sum mer's cruise three years ago. One of the cadets , while engaged In seamanship prac tice In the rigging , fell overboard. It looked as though ho were going to a watery grave , but he was rescued to receive a report for "lubberly conduct. " It Is to bo presumed that If the unfortunate young man had been drowned ho would have been dismissed from the service. The gentleness and beauty ot the natural environments of the naval academy are In strong contrast to the * rigor of the curric ulum. From the moment n cadet enters the academy ho finda himself In HIP grasp of an Iron hand. Ho must sleep , eat. rise , dress and go to church under the direct orders of the head of the academy. Ho must even think wisely , for If there bo no direct regu lation and ho act contrary to good form It Is an offense worthy of a demerit , and de merits count , for a cadet Is dismissed froXi the school If he receives over the allotte- * number In a year. At C n. m. the cadet rises to the sound of the reveille gun andl btiglo call. The officer of Inspection at that hour opens his room Ooor and sees that he has risen. He dresses and turna down his bedclothes for airing. At 7 ho goes down to formation , roll call and breakfast. These over ho returns to quarters , makes up hla bed and puts his room In. order for Inspection. Woe bo to him If anything Is lacking In the perfect order of the room. Then the cadet moves olt In hlo section under military leadership , the rankIng - Ing c.ulot In scholastic standing having com mand of the squad. If a cadet has no reel- tattont ) at that hour , he lemalns In his room and studios. Ho dare not leave It except for special and permitted causes. The bugle calls for dinner formation at 1 o'clock , the battalion Is formed again and the roll call of the four companies Is mado. After dinner recitations commence again at 2 , nnd end at 4 p. m. , when exercises begin. In summer out of doors , with Infantry and artillery and baits In flotilla drills with steam , oars and sails In the Chcaapeako Bay. Bay.Tho exercises are Indoors In winter , nnd consist In testing the strength and elasticity of metals , or tlcing ropes In cunning knots , running the dynamo , or handling great guns under cover. The cadet gets his first long breathing spell at twenty minutes after C and ho has liberty to roam the grounds at will , or If a particularly well-behaved lad , ho may put on bis brat uniform and go Into Annapolis which Is accomplished by taking one stop outsldo the academy gate. At 1mlf- past C he must report for supper formation and another roll rail. The cadets may sometimes call the half- hour after supper thotr own , but too often there are orders for many of the cadets" to icpalr to the armory for the "setting up drill. " This la a system dovlsed to give a military bearing. This Is particularly bur- ilensomo to a cadet who Ins been a year or two In the academy. It la not only an ardu ous duty , but a reflection upon his soldierly bearing. At half-past 7 the bugle calls "study hours. " and until half-past 9 the student must keep to his rooms and his hooka. " At half-pint 9 the gun fires nnd quarters buzz with lively animated humanity for a half- hour , when "taps" beat , "and lights out" sound through the quarters and absolute silence must reign. Tills routine goto on every day In the year that the academy Is In session , except on Saturdays and Sundays , on which days there Is some relaxation , It goes without saying that an occasional naughty cadet breaks In on these rigid rules , and manages to evade hero and there a regu lation , but , as a whole , the cadets are sturdy and obedient young men , fired by a noble ambition to exoell and to reap all the ad vantages of a peculiarly favorable oppor tunity. KLIHU S. HILKY. Miittlivw Ariuilil AM School nxumliier. Of Matthew Arnold as a school examiner the author of the Cornhlll "Pages From a Private Diary" has this to say : "Arnold's reports are very good reading , but his meth ods of examinations were sometimes highly poetical. I remember a tale told by a fol low Inspector of a class of girl pupil teachers that he asked Arnold to examine for him , Arnold gave them all the excellent mark. 'But , ' said the other Inspector , Purely they are not all as good as they can be ; some must bo better than others. ' 'Perhaps that ls so , ' replied Arnold , 'but then , you see , they are all such very nice girls. ' " lliiokliii'M Arulcu Salve. The best salve In the world for cuts , bruises orea , ulcers , salt rheum , fever eoros , tetter , chapped hands , chilblains , corns and all skin eruptions , and positively cures plica , or no pay required. It is guaranteed to give per fect satisfaction or money refunded. Price , 25 cents per box. For Bale by Kuhn & Co. . Omiha , Nehruk * . BANKS MADE BURGLAR PROOF Marvelous Electrical Appliances fbi Oat- witting Knights of tha Jimmy. BANK ROBBERIES RENDERED IMPOSSIBLE A Sritcm I r Menu * of AVIiloh the Hank * nnil Safety Vnnlli of a AVholc City Mnr He CSunrdcd lija Pcvr Men. During a recent experiment made In Cin cinnati , O. , Is was proved conclusively that any person capable of safely handling two ordinary Hvo electric wires can burn a large hole In a steel safe In lews than ten min utes. The feat was accomplished by brin ing together two ends of a street circuit and making an arc. The arc was allowed to play against the steel door of a large "burg lar ptoot" safe , and It fused Its way through , as ono spectator remarked , "at the rate of a cubic Inch per minute. " Any burglar could thus take advantage of the lighting facilities of a bank building and bum his way Into the vault. But the expert bank robber docs not need this * Information to help him In his calling , for ho can carry enough tools In an ordinary handbag to en able him to break Into any safe or vault after two hours of uninterrupted work. In spite of these facts , which merely prove that no safe or vault Is burglar proof , the daya of big bank robberies are over. In Inrso cities at least such a thing as a wholesale bank robbery could not happen. This state ment Is made without reserve. The banks themselves could bo broken easily enough , but the united system of protection which surrounds them Is not only practically per fect , but the mechanical features of Its make-up render It absolutely Incorruptible. It may be also said Incidentally that wcro tha United States government to Invest Its prisons with the same system of protection eucli a thing aa a jail delivery would be un heard of. ' SURROUNDED BY ELECTRIC CURRENTS. Although the prime thing cxlsto In nearly every largo city In the United States , the TOOLS USED BY SAFE BURGLARS. banks composing the New "York Clearing IIouso association comprise the best example of what a protection syndicate Is like. Ssventy-five banks , moat of which belong to the association , are represented at a cn- tral station , In which electrical Instruments kecp sllent though efficient tab on all that may occur within those seventy-five walls. Watchmen are not needed In the bank build ings , yet not a latch can be lifted , not _ a bolt drawn , nor a window raised without the fact being at once recorded In the cen tral station. Delicate galvanometer needles are constantly pointing out what Is going on In the banks and these needles never fall of their oince. It Is of no use to the burglar to understand the system. The more he understands It the more will he become convinced of the futility of his calling. It Is of no USB for him to try to circumvent the system. The least disarrangement Is pointed out by the needles and an alarm Is at once sounded. It Is literal truth to say that the bank buildings are surrounded by a continuous current of elactrlclty. What Is known ai > a "closed circuit" Is used. The difference be tween this and an "open circuit" must he explained. An open circuit alarm system Is ono In which the opening of a door or window , the sliding of a bolt , or In fact the operation of any movable contrivance turns on an electric circuit and senfe In an alarm In closed circuit work the current In kept flowing all the time. It passes through the wires connected to every bolt , bar , window , etc. . and 19 so delicately adjusted In Its path that tbo disarrangement of any movable part of the building will cut off the current and thus send In an alarm. The very walls and partitions of the bank buildings are lined with wires and strlra of tin foil through which the electricity Is kept constantly flow- Ing. Therefore If the burglar merely bores a small bole through the banking house wall ho disarranges the circuit and sends In an alarm. MODERN BANK ROBBERY IMPOSSIBLE. Even this IB not all of the system. It la merely the principle upon which It Is founded. The expert electrician ( and many burglais are experts In this line ) might claim to be able to pass through a door or window which was part of a closed circuit , without disarranging the latter , but hero Is where the system takes on the bond ot perfec tion. If the alarm was merely the ringing of a bell , the claim might bo made good , but the amount of current passing through the wires cuts a very Important figure. While It might bo possible to break Into a bank without entirely breaking the cir cuit , by. for Instance , stretching certain wires so as to enable a man to pass between them , It could not bo done without changing tbu rate of flow of the current , and this would be pointed out at once by the galvanometer needle- . The operators In the central sta tion can , by using resistance wlicd , change the amount ot current .flowing through the wires every hour , so that the burglar can never by previous observation know the amount which should flow through at a given time. Thus , even an Intimate knowl edge of electricity Is of no use to him. By means of Instruments of precision the watch man In the central station can tell whether any disarrangement of wires has occurred Inside or outside of the bank. This often saves trouble and much unnecessary alarm , as the \vlrra In tbo conduits under the streets are often apt to become disarranged. GUARDED BY AN ELECTRICAL CABINET But If the- bank buildings are guarded electrically ; what hall we say of the vaults themselves ? The strong vault of every one of tha seventy-five banks mentioned above Is surrounded by in electrical cabinet. ThU cabinet Is made of wood and contains In the space between It and the walls of tbo vault a perfect network of wires and ap paratus. Not a panel of this wooden cab inet can be moved without disarranging the apparatus within and causing the telltale needle In the central station to point out the fact. Even If the vault was left un locked the cabinet would be protection enough. Tills , however , Is only a supposi tions case , because the olllclals of the dank would not be allowed to leave the building If any bolt or bar was out of place. As a matter of fact , the system Is , from the point of view of the central station , In perfect working order only when every bolt and bar Is In Its proper place. At the closing time every day a private signal Is trans mitted to the central station. The current Is turned on , but If any window or door bo rpcn. or.bolt drawn , a bell rings and the galvanometer necdlo points to tha fact. Word Is signaled back that something Is wrong , and whatever1 It Is must be rectified. When everything la finally In its place the bell stops ringing , the needle comesto a rest , and the circuit Is complete. Thus many a forgotten skylight or transom U closed when It would otherwise have been left open all night. Quito a difference from the old-timo systems , wherein tha cutting of a wire would prevent any signal or alarm be ing sent In. In this case tbo cutting of the wlru Eends In the alarm , WATCHMEN IN THE BANKS GUARDED. Aa though the banks wore not well enough protected with all this , nearly every ono of them employs a watchman. In the midst ot fauIcd security these men are not al lowed to doze off , as la dayi of yoro. They We are Going to Sell a Carload of Chamber Furniture mi TIT i This Week BBHH i EDS Dressers Commodes and Chiffon iers to match either single or in suits This car of furniture will be sold at prices that will es tablish beyond question the values we propose to give The prices of the guits in this carload range from $10 to $50. You'U miss one of the best 100 pairs m 98 Genuine things of thc season if you Irish Point Lace Curtains. m don't see the special sale of goods in Portieres. pair Many closed out Saturday. You can pick up 25 pieces 30 inch 1 Swiss Muslin some genuine bargains among them , There are yard Silk , Damask , Tapestry , Chenille sometimes one , 25 pieces 36 inch 1 C sometimes of kind. Some lots Swiss Muslin. two pairs a new in 2 yard larger quantities. Choice new designs. CO. . , 1414-1416-1418 DOUGLAS STREET. are kept almost constantly on the move. In various parts of thtfliullding _ are placed push buttons. The jivat.ch.man on guard must push these buttons , in regular order. The time that each button 'Is ' pushed Is re corded on a tlmo recorder' In the central office. If thn buttons are. , pushed out of their regular turn , 9r' If the watchman Is before or behind time''in pushing them , a special polheman Is at once dispatched to Inquire the cause. Whenthe | policeman ar rives at the bank \vatchman has to sign a printed blank 'elating1 - whe'h , how and why the dereliction of duty occurred. This card signing system often leAds to curious re sults. ' ' The protection syndicate system , which Is under the charge of Edwin Holmes , Its Inventor , also takes chargeqf.leading Jewelry - olry stores , silk -warehouses and dealers In other goods coveted by thieves. These firms , when opening their places of business In the morning. Invariably transmit to thc central station a private signal. If this sig nal , however satisfactorily It may be trans mitted. Is sent lu an hour , or even , half an hour , before the presrlbed time , a special policeman Is sent at once to see If every thing is all right. Thc signature of the per son or persons who should open thc store Is kept on record In the central olllce. This i& carried along by the ipeclal policeman , who asks the person at the store to sign hh name. If It does not correspond with thc recorded signature , the person found on the latlons to their city homes. Of course the watchmen get out of the dilemma In as diplomatic a mannsr as possible under the circumstances. In ono case a woman gave her house In charge of the protective as sociation , with the express understanding that her husband be not admitted. There was a sccns some time afterward , but ho did not go In. Fine AND WATER. GUARDED AGAINST. , Both fire and water are guarded against by the annunciators. The fire will fuse the wires in the walls and thus send In an alarm , and the water will short-circuit the current and cause the annunciator needle to perform sundry acrobatic feats. Thousands of dollars of loss were recently saved to a silk merchant In whose store water had be gun to leak down from the upper floors of the next building. In fact , If the annunci ators had not told the tale when they did all of his stock would have been ruined. This system does away with any Intricate locking methods for bank vaults. It Is a good thing to so complicate the combination of a safe that no Irregularity can occur can cel nlng It. Some Now York banks , how ever , use such systems. In the clearing house the vault Is opened on three combina tions , each one in the hands of three sets of bank officials. Crypto ramatlc combina tions. In which a changeable key would bo needed to work them out , have also been tried. It has also been suggested that the : tJerqa . ? L rl\t ! > rTV * = aagu OFFICE ANSWERING SIGNALS. . premises Is Immediately tsien Into custody. Many thieves have been , .captured In this manner , but so also iioVe a few Innocent persons employes whbiUhrlvo been overzealous - zealous In morning pmjpJHallty. They have. In several cases , Btorimm and pronounced their arrest an outragtbVlt , as they were merely detained at the ( central olllco until identified , the logic ol .thf system finally forced Itself uuon them. , PRIVATE HOUSES 'PIJOTKCTBD. ' Private houses are j'roYecteJ ' by the hun dreds during the suminnviinonths , moat of the residents giving tbo , ke , s to the central office and giving their ivlntpf homes directly in charge of the watchmen at the annun- clatora. If keepertt are left In charge of the houses , their signature * are kept on fib at the central station. If anything goes wrong at the houses , policemen are dispatched to them with a copy of the signature. If the one asked for corresponds to the ono on record all Is well , but If not , an arrest fol lows. If the family Is out of town only authorized members ot It capable of proving their Identity by mcam of recorded signatures are allowed to enter a house while It la In , charge ot the watchmen. Complications sometimes occur , but the owner of the bouse hi in tie If would not .be allowed to enter his own house If ho could not provo his signa ture. Members of families have appeared , and with a show of bluster , demanded that tl y be allowed to enter the residence of their father , or brother , or uncle , as tbo cata may be , but they did not go in without the necessary sanction. Very often the controlling members ot a family have given orders not to admit certain of their re- conioliiailonti of all the banks In the clear ing housg association bo operated by elec tricity capable of being worked only from the central protective station , This would bo combination turning at long range Indeed. An Instrument for carrying out such a scheme has actually been Invented. It was on exhibition In New York. Tbo operating machine had the appearance of a piano keyboard. Connecting wires led from this to the cafe door. On pressing certain keyn electro-magnets were operated , causing the bolts and bars to move back and forward at the proper moment. APPLIED TO PRISONS. But the great moral of this method of bank protection lies outside of the department In which it Is already used. The Inference to bo drawn In- thin ; It It will keep burglars outsldo of banks It will keep them Inside of prlions. The question of Jail deliveries Is not Inconsiderable , If the moral structure of the community Ii to bo considered , and hero at last 1 a system that will absolutely pre vent any prisoner escaping from jail , A unique scheme wad suggested a few years ago. It wa.i to constructtho cell walls anil doors of Iron tubes Instead of Iron bars. These tubes were to be filled with compressed air or else a vacuum waa to be made In them. The theory was that an escaping prisoner. In attempting to file through hla cell walls , would spring a leak la the tubea , and thus sound an alarm. But the defect of this system was that tbo tubea were sure to leak. Under the bank protection system , however , the prisoner could not move a bar without having It ehow on ( he needlca. Each evil would be connected with Its own ealva- noraetQr , every door , window , scuttle or other mode of exit would be constant y under surveillance. To bribe a keeper would not avail. Ono prison official would bo un- ahlo to aid In an escape without the fact being known at onco. It should bo adopted In every prison , and It was offered In New York state , but the official who heard the plea of the inventor listened patiently while the latter explained the system , then ho de livered himself thus : 'Your Invention , sir , Is all right from a mechanical and an elec trical standpoint. I think It would effec tually stop the escape of prisoners , but It has ono Insurmountable difficulty It cannot vote. " n OUT OF Tlin OHUIXAUY. The 500,000 telephones In the United States are used 2,000,000 times dally. Last year the people of thc United States consumed 4,000,000 bunches of bananas. The public debt of Franco Is the largest in the world and amounts to about $8,000,000- 000. Fifteen million cows are required for the milk trade of this country and they are fed on the produce of 60,000,000 acres of land. A Machlasport ( Mo. ) man wanted a tooth pulled badly enough to walk thirty-six miles out of the woods to a dentist , one day last week. It Is stated that slxty-savcn dally news papers have been started ind have died In Now York City alone within the last sixty years , Involving a loss of over $25,000,000. The man who Invented the cone-shaped glass lemon-squeezer mad < ! $30,000 out of It and WES lately offered $100,000 for four other Inventions of the same simple and practical kind. kind.A A Russian recently won aboiit $40,000 at Monte Carlo at ono sitting. He-won the maximum for twenty consecutive "coupa , " and In doing so broke the bank twice that Is , he forced It to suspend until another sup ply of money could be obtained. The dolly consumption of water In Now York City Is now put at an average of 225,000,000 gallons. The department ot pub- lie works claims to have a storage capacity on the Croton watershed sufficient to last 150 days , Thc aqueduct commissioners put it ot 101. In Lille , Franco , It Is all work and no ylay for the poor dogs. The socialists have Just passed an ordinance that flogs may ho uscil for hauling purposes , claiming that It Is not true socialistic doctrine for any part of the community to have all tbo privileges and not contribute to the expense. Ono hundred and thirty women of Balti more , of assured social position , young and middle-aged , married and Hlnglc , have signed un agreement with the Rainy-Day club to wear short skirts in bad weather after March 1. A rule of the club requires that the skirt must not bo more than ulx Inches above thc giound nor less than five. This Is dress reform on common-scnso lines. In the past sixty yrins the forests ot America have produced the enormous quan tity of 821,000,000,000 feet , anil the value estimated at more thnn $25,000,000,000. It Is a curious reflection that the forests , once regarded as an Impediment to the country's settlement and growth , to bo felled and burned as rapidly as possible , should so soon become ono of Its chief sources of wealth , to bo considered and protected by every means known to modern science and law. The dome of the magnificent new congres sional library building In Washington has been plated with gold leaf , for economic ai well as esthetic reasons. Thus finished It will bo a beautiful and attractive feature , and the gliding Is expected to outlast by many generations any kind of paint. There are but few gold-plated domes In the coun try , that of the Indiana state house being ono of them , The gliding on the Indiana dome looks as bright and fresh as It did when new , and It should ha good for many years to come , The Connecticut state house dome Is an bright today as It was when the gold was put on , sixteen years ago. CO\XUIIAMTIJS. The young earl of Shaftesbury la to marry a fair Australian an exceedingly wealthy young woman , Miss Mary Clarke , The matrimonial statistics of Berlin for 1896 attest that in that year twenty-one Bsrllners were married who had passed the ripe age of 74 years. New York's court of appeals lias decided that an actual proposal Is neceesary OB a condition precedent to a cult for breach of promise of marriage. The girls of Hagentown , Md , , are on the right track. They cave organized a club , the confessed primary object of which 1s a de lightful co-operation In the pleasant task ot advancing the matrimonial Interests of Its member * , In San Francisco , last week , Mies Lizzie Madron , 10 years of age , was Joined In holy wedlock to the head carpenter of the bark Coluia , Mr. J. J. Qutescn. IT yearn of age , both very handsome. They wcro married by Rev. Mr. Suomalalnen Ravlntola , a Rus sian Finn , who keeps a oaloon. A Vassar girl who wrote an essay on kissing for her college society gave , the manuscript to a gentleman friend for his Inspection and advice. The young man , who waa somenlmt pert , told her that ho could give her nn abstract of the paper In one smack. To which she replied that she did not care for a syllabus , and the young man Is still trying to see if ho can figure It out. Casslus Whlto , aged 23 , Is the son of a well-to-do land owner and has been regarded as a swell beau In Palntsvllle , Ky. Ho fell deeply In love with pretty Mnmlo Huff , aged 18. Ho made known his devotion to the parents of the young woman after winning the heart of Mamie. Tlmy objected. Ho waa dissipated nnd they would not consent for Manilo to risk her fortune with such a youth. Love could not bo put aside and laughed at reason. They planned to clopo and In telling mutual friends about the plan the girl's mother got an Inkling and as ho stole up in the moonlight to carry his prize away the mother lay in waiting with a broom stick and struck him a heavy blow , foiling him to the ground. She then publicly whipped the girl. A romantic elopement occurred at High land Park. Ky. , latt Saturday , In which John Wyllo , a young farmer , and Miss I' ranees Carr the , 18-year-old daughter of Edwin Car , figured. The elopement was arranged for Saturday night at 9 o'clock. At that hour Wylle wont to the house , and , creeping to the window , found Miss Carr drcrslng In the dark , and all prepared with the exception of her hat. She could not find her hatpin , and , dcclarliiK that It would bo utterly Impossible to go without being no- surnd that her lint was on straight , she struck a light. Mrs. Can , seeing the light , entered the room and screamed In dismay when she saw her daughter dressed to go out of doors and a man , whom she did not recognize , In the room. Miss Cnrr thought all was lent , but Wyllo proved equal to the occasion. Quickly extinguishing the light In Miss Carrs hand ho stepped forward and blow out the lamp held by her mother. Then while she screamed for assistance he Bclzed the girl around the waist ami carried her out the window and through the yard to the road , , where a buggy was In waiting. Tha couple drove hastily to the ferry , crossed te Jerfcisonvlllo , Ind. , mid wore mairled. Some years ago Rev. Dr. Crane , the father of Stephen Crane , the novelist , wrote a tract on popular amusements , In which ho condemned novel-fcading as ono of the vleea of the age. Mrs. Daniel Howard of JefTcrsonvllIo , Ind. , had her homo connected by telephone with tha Presbyterian church , being at tlmo pre vented by Illness from attending the service. The experiment was very Bucceraful. The Evangelist nays It Is a notable fact that , with the accepslon of Dr. Hull , nearly all the chairs In Union seminary are Illled by men who have been trained by Dr. Ilrlggs , and that there are no less than twenty-seven of his former pupils now occupying profes sors' chairs In different Institutions. Rev. Dr. Walker , nn advocate of the foreign missions , couldn't bring the congre gation of the Christian church at Kmlnenco , Ky. , to agree with him on the subject of mlrolonnry propaganda , and they stopped con- trllmtlnir to his salary. Then lie resigned. Rev. Solomon Stevens JUirlrson , a priest ami pioneer , who Is dying at Green Bay , WI . , was a Vermont editor , a doctor , a clcntbt and a soldier before ho became Bishop Whip- plo'a associate In missionary work. lie U greatly revered In the wfat , AH an example of hla generosity It is related that ho once received $25 for a year's work on the re- motn prulrltu ot Minnesota anil gave $23 of U to sufferers from the graeshoppcr ucourgo In Blue Earth , As matters now stand It costs a pretty penny to maintain the pomp of that church of which "the ( jiieen Is the supreme gov ernor on earth. " The salary ofj the primate ( archbishop of Canterbury ) Is the goodly um of $7D,000 per annum , punctually paid. The archbishop of York has $ BO,000 ; the bishop of London , $50,000 ; the bl hop of Dur ham , $35,000 ; the bl.ihcip of Winchester , $32- 600 ; the bishop of Banger , $21,000 ; the bishop ot Buth and Wclla , $25,000 ; the bishop of Kly. $27,600 ; of Gloucester , $25,000 ; of Cheater , $21,000 ; of Kxotcr , $21,000 ; ot Hereford - ford . Llchfiold , Liverpool , Llandaff , Man chester , Rlpon , St. Aeaph , $21,000 each ; of Carlisle , Lincoln , Norwich , Pftereborougli , St. Davids , $22,600 each ; Oxford , Salisbury , Worcheater , $25.000 each ; Newcastle , $16,000 ; Rochester , $19,000 ; St. Albana , $10,000 ; Seder and Man , $9,000 ; Southwell , $17,600 ; Truro , $16,000 ; Vakeneld , $15,000 ; and then think of the army * of ( loans , bahopa ! uf- fragan , canons , etc. , and ono may Infer that the Church of England Is an expensive Insti tution representing a very high average of coat for each t > oul brought to grace. The bricklayers of the country have un der consideration a proposition to establish a home for aged and disabled meinberu ot. tu craft.