2 THE OMAHA DAITjY BEE : SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 11 , 1807.
THE FOUR PRESIDENTS , |
lly W L. ALDKN.
vt i * jfe i v itt . ! > a t i t Jid A i ite. Ste Jilt ji v V * Arti } / .
( Cop-yrlsht. 1897 , by W. I * Alu > n. )
"It wns along back In the year 1SG1 , " said
Ihc American ambassador , "that t was appointed -
pointed American minister to Torrlzonla ,
Which , as you probably know , was at that
ilmo nn Independent Central American re
public , though since then It has been an
nexed by one of Its neighbors. There wns
only one town In Torrlzonla of any sire , anil
that was the capital and principal seaport.
The government sent me out In n frigate ,
and when we arrived nt 1'orto Nucvo , and
I wns on the point of going ashore , the cap
tain , who V.BH n particularly good fellow ,
said he'd He at anchor for n few days , so
ns to be icndy 111 case I should need any
protection , You FCC there was mont gen
erally a revolution In progress In Torrlzonla ,
and the captain , being n thoughtful man ,
calculated that In case I should be acciden
tally shot he could bombard the town and
make a big reputation at home for energy
oiid patriotism.
"I wad 'put ashore In one of the frigate's
lioats , and nfter I had convinced an Indian
custom house officer , who didn't wear shoes ,
nnd who couldn't rend my passport , that I
wasn't dangerous , I gave iny trunku to a
couple of potters and walked up to the
liotel. There was only one hotel In the
place , and that was kept by n man who lind
icon "d waiter nt n San Francisco hotel , and
poke Kngllah pretty near as well as mo or
you. It was a small hotel , and I had It nil
to myself , except for the barroom , where
part of the Torrb.onlan army was ahvays
drinking Itselt crnzy. I had n fnlrlsh sort
of dinner , nnd after I had started In to
Rmokc the landlord came In and talked with
jno In a sociable sort of way , though ho was
careful not to sit down In the presence of a
great man like myself.
"I had told the landlord that I was the
How American minister , and 1 asked him If
the president was In town , for I wanted to
present mycelf to the president ns soon as
possible , and to get to work , providing there
should he any work for a minister to do. "
" Trcs Almonte Is here. ' raid the land
lord , 'but the other presidents are In dif
ferent parts of the country. '
" 'How many president ® does this country
require ? ' said I. 'The United States Is n
middling big country , but wo contrive to get
along with ono president at a time. '
" 'There are four of them Just now , sir , '
replied the landlord , 'but of course they'll
bo thinned out considerably when they get
to lighting. There's Pros Almonte , whose
term expired six months ago , but who Is
holdingon to olllco tilt he can collect some
more taxes. He's got t > 00 men and all the
artillery In the grounds of ( ho presidential
mansion , and he'll niako a good fight for 11
before he's turned out.
" 'Then there's General Gs'cla , who was
elected president at the Tnst election , but
has never been able to get Into the presi
dential mansion. He's got about 1,500 men
with him , and he's In camp about live miles
ifrom here.
" 'Then thcie's P cs Alvarez , who
was vice president under Almonte , and con
siders that ho ought to have been elected In
place of Garcia. He Is supposed to have
1,000 men In his camp , which Is , say , ten
miles north of here.
" 'Pros Del Vallo has about the same num
ber of men with him , and he's homewhere
to the south of us , though I can't say pre
cisely where. He was the senior olllcer of
the army , and he set up as president be
cause he said that neither of the three other
presidents were Justified In starting revolu
tions , end that It was his duty as a patriot
to punish them. Most people here think that
old Almonte , having all the artillery with
him , has the best right to the presidency ,
but nobody knows how the thing will end ,
when once the fighting gets fairly started. '
"Now , this news didn't suit me at nil.
lYou sec 1 had -present my credentials til
the president of Torrizorila before I could
act as minister and earn my salary. Hut
how was I to know which of the four
rascals was the genuine and only presi
dent ? Moreover , It was a ticklish business
for mo to select a president and stick to
him. By so doing , I recognized his govern
ment , and became , so to speak , responsible
( or him.
"At first I was. Inclined to recognize Al
monte , who was within handy reach , and
who had certainly bee'i president up to the
time of the last election , whatever might
be the legality of his present position. But ,
then , In case I called on Almonte and pre
sented my papers I should bo treating the
chap who had been elected president with
gross Injustice. There would have been no
use In writing to Washington for Instruc
tions , for the mall for the United States
left Torrlzonla only once in two months , and
It had left the day before I arrived. I saw
I should have to act on my own responsi
bility , and I didn't lilts It at all.
"You see that I couldn't afford to spend
three or four months waiting for the presi
dents to thin one another out , for my salary
didn't become due until I had been regularly
received by the lawful president. Of course ,
being a practical man , I knew that any one
of the presidents would be mighty glad to
bo recognized by me , fltid that If I should st
CALM ; ! ) ON THE DOCTOH. "
them bUlillng against one another , anil agree
to rccoRnlzo the highest bUlilor , I could make
n handsome thing out of It , Hut that
'Wouldn't Imvo been honorable , considering
that Iva In the diplomatic pervlce.
"I'd always been an active politician , ami
I had always held that a politician \\orthy
of Ills hire , as the psalmist soys , but a dip
lomatic cinctT U illfTorent. Ho Is bouriil tn
obey the regulations , and I considered then ,
as I do no u' , that a diplomatic ofllcer who
Bhould RO In for making money wouldn't bo
acting In a way worthy of his IilKh olllce ,
"I thought over the situation that nlsht ,
and when morning eama I called on the doc
tor , who was at the head of the. hospital , and
told him that I wanted to BOO the differences
between the four presidents amicably settled.
In a place like Porto Nuevo the head of the
hospital Is always the most Influential uuu j
In town , with the exception of the president '
and the chief of police. You see that when
ever a revolution breaks out , and the partloi
to U begin to shoot , the hospital nils up
pretty rapidly , and the wounded men ure
mighty an.xlous to be on good terms with the
doctor , so that ho won't try any carving
experiments on them ,
"This particular doctor was tlio most level
headed man In TorrUoula , and when lie and
I had ( alked thing ! over wo agreed that thu
best thing to do would bo for me to arrange
nn Interview with the four presidents , aii.l
induce them ( o compromise their difference * .
The doctor said that they would agree to
anything provided the consideration was
largo eitough , and he thought that If the four
preildentg wcro to form a syndicate and gov
ern tlio country In partnership It would be
a satlfit.'ictary arrangement all round.
"I went back to the hotel and wrote an
invitation to each of the presidents to dine
with mo on thu next day but one , promising
lo send an escort of United States marines
to bring each president to the hotel , and to
ECO him cafe back to nil camp. Then I went
aboard the frigate and arranged with the
captain ( or the use of ( our deiacliiueuU ol
trmrlncR , consisting of four men each , I got
the correct addresses of the four presidents
unit started each detachment In time to reach
KB particular Riicst anil to bring him to the
hotel at 6 o'clock sharp. I ordered the best
dinner thnt the landlord could get up , and
I borrowed a dozen of champagne from the
ciptaln of the frigate , hnvlng sampled It on
my way from the United States , and knowing
that It was flril class In every respect.
"Of course I wasn't so foolish as to let ono
president know that I had Invited any of his
rivals , Each man supposed that ho was the
only guest and naturally came to the con
clusion tint I meant to recognize him as the
only lawful president. This made It reason
ably certain that every ono of the four
would como to dinner , and I calculated
when 1 had got them comfortably full of the
captain's champagne they would bo ready to
listen to reason. ) -
"Kor the llrst Klmc In the history of Cen
tral America myInvited guests arrived
promptly nt the hour specified. This wasn't
tholr fault , for If they could hive had their
way they would bavo straggled In at nil
hours , from G to 10. Uut the midshipmen
that were In command of the different escorts
knew their business and being ordered to
deliver the presidents to me at tun minutes
before C , had them on hand at the precise
moment. How they did this I never In
quired. Ono of the presidents 1 think It
was Garcia complained that It was con
trary lo tlio law of nations for American
marines to prod Central America presidents
In the back with bayonets , but I didn't take
any notice of , what he said , knowing that It
would be Impopslblo to convince a Central
American of the yaluo of punctuality.
"When the .four presidents met they were
considerably surprised , and there would very
likely have been a difficulty then and there
If I hadn't made them a little speech , and
game of 'clraV oirhand with unlimited stakes
and a straight Hush barred. .
"I sat at-the end of the table smoking a
clear , and' rfaylng to myself that I was a born
diplomatic/ and tiad made a splendid begin
ning as minister to Torrlzonla. Say what you
will of the presidents , they wore gentlemen
so far as their manners went , and nobody
could Imvo been'more pnllte than they were
tn one another , Uy and by old Almonte
( milled sweetly to.Garcia , and remarked that
Inasmuch aa Garcia hxd revolted , or dom
something "equivalent to icvoklng , he was
beaten , and must consider himself out of tht
tame. ' - '
"I novqr In all my life saw a man pill
his gun quicker than Garcia pulled his , bui
quick as he was. ho had got In only ono she !
when all the otljer three presidents were or
their feet and blazing away promiscuously al
one another. Naturally I dropped under tin
table , for It would have been contrary t (
diplomatic etiquette fcv me to take a ham
In the shooting. All the fame I hated to b <
nut of It. for It was one of the liveliest UK' '
flcultles I ever struck. It didn't last ovei
four or five minutes , and by the end of thai
time all fourpcldents were lying on tin
floor. Then Tgot tip and called the landlord
and after wo had found that nobody wai
killed , though every man had from two ti
flvo bullets in bllji , 1 called up the marines
'and they carried' tlio ( residents to tlin hoa
ultal In a sort pf procession ,
"My little plan for settling the presldentl !
dispute hadn't panned out qulto as I ex
pcctcd , hut 't ' wasn't my fault , I saw Ir
Moreno after ho had examined the woundei
men , and be told me ( liat they would al
recover , though they would probably have ti
remain In the hospital for teveral weeks , II
said that the government would bo ciirrlci
on In the name of President Almcnte , tha chai
who had occupied the presidential mansion
until fiicli time as all the four claimant
were discharged from the hospital ,
" 'I shall take the best of care of then
and maintain a strict neutrality , ' said tin
doctor , 'and I shall recommend you to di
the same hereafter. You've tried to arrangi
things without bloodshed , and you've failed
and now your best plan Is to let those foui
fellows fight their quarrel out according ti
the laws and customs of Torrlzonla.1
"Tho four presidents lay In the hosplta
exactly six weeks , None of them was severe ! ;
wounded , and they might all have been dis
charged after ten davs pr a fortnight , bu
the doctor auta that not a man should stli
until his woun.d had entirely healed. I wen
lo see the prelil ntB every day and got ti
bo quite frleuJly with the whole gang o
them. I found out , by their own confessions
that each man wan bribing the doctor ti
keep the others In the hospital. You see tha
! If ono of the llrcsUlentb could have got ou
of the hospital a day or two In advance o
the others lie would have bad a tree field
and could have seized the presidency without
any opposition.
"According to their account , those four
men must have paid the doctor an average
of J 1,000 . > ach In bribes , nnd each ono
thought that he was Retting bis money's
worth nnd stealing a march on his rivals.
The doctor , being a practical man , took all
the money that was offered him , and earned
It honeitly by keeping the men In the hos
pital. Whenever one of the presidents com
plained that he was being kept In longer
than was necessary , the doctor would tell
him that there were certain complications
In his case that made It necessary for him to
remain In bed n short time longer , but at
the game time ho promised that under no
circumstances would ho allow any one of his
rivals to Icavo the hospital In advance of
him.
him."Being Spanish-American , with a native
talent for lying In bed , and feeling sure that
the doctor would keep his word about not
letting nny of the other men out of hos
pital too early , each president was mid
dling well satisfied with the way things
. shaped themselves. They were all so sure
I of the presidency that they constantly both-
' cred mo to recognize them then and there ,
but I always put them off by Baying that
I had written homo for Instructions , and
felt sure that my government would direct
mo to recognize the best man. Every ono
of the four told me confldentlnlly that he
wns to bo discharged three days before any
of the others , and that he expected to seize
the presidency and shoot his rivals the
moment they came out of the hospital.
"About six weeks after my dinner party
I was waited up one morning by the sound
of rifles. I heard what was clearly a volley
fired somewhere near the hotel , followed
by three or four single shots. Then I
heard the noise of heavy wooden shutters
being closed In a hurry , and I knew that
a revolution , or a riot , had broken out. I
got up and dressed , and was going out to
see what was to bo seen , but I found the
front door locked and barred , and war/ , /
obliged to hunt up the landlord and ask :
him for Information , He hadn't much to
tell me , except that there had been a revo-
'NATURALLY ' I DUOPPE D UNDER THE TABLE. "
begged them to observe the laws of hospi
tality and to abstain from shooting on the
premises. They saw the force of what I said
and concluded to keep the peace. Each man
gave the other a dignified salute , but not a
word would ono of them speak to another
I until dinner was about half over. They ( lien
J gradually began to ask one another to pass
the salt , or to circulate the bottle , and In a i
; llttlo while they were all talking together
as fast as so many monkeys. '
"When the coffee was brought in and we
were all OB sociable as If none of us had
ever heard of politics , I got up and said :
'Gentlemen ! I have asked you to meet to
gether In order to settle your differences ,
and enable mo to find out which president
my government ought , to recognize. You
can't help seeing that this country is too
small Jo . furnish n decent living for four
(
presidents. You'll have to go on fighting
till there's only ono of you left , and It's a |
mere matter of chance which one that will
be. You're playing a game In which you
j stake your lives against the presidency , and ,
I though I can't say what you value your
lives at , It's my opinion that the stakes are
far too high.
" 'Now , I propose that you settle this
business by a friendly game of cards. I
don't know your Spanish games , but you can
easily chooce _ some game In which each man
that Is beaten goes out , and leaves the
others to play , The man who finally wins Is
| to take the presidency , nnd the others are
to agree to support him for , say , two years ,
at the end of ; which they shall be nt liberty
to start a revolution If they feel so disposed.
You will arrive at the same sort of result
by playing a game of cardn that you will by
fighting and Raising cain for the next year or
two , and tjjo men who lose will only lose
their expectations of being president. In
stead of loslns both their expectations and
their lives. Now , gentlemen , here are the
cards. Will you take my advice and settle
your differences like Christians , or will you
fight like barbarians ? '
"The presidents' listened to my speech In a
very respectful way. and when It was ended ,
old Almonte , who , ao I afterward learned ,
was the biggest card snarp in Tornzoma ,
s.iUl that he cordially agreed with- all his
excellency , , Uio United States minister , had
said , ami that he" was quite ready to play the
other three gentlemen for the presidency.
The other three * didn't seem very anxious to
play , but first one of them and then another
said that whilehe had perfect confidence In
the Justice of hls clulm. he would adopt my
proposal , feeling i certain that the blessed
Virgin would sec him through all right. The
upr-hot was that' ' they all sat down to some
unearthly Spanish-American sort of game
that I never pretended to understand , anJ
presently. ' they' wore playing as quietly as
vnll nnil'mfil WOllld IllBV If WO llttd a llttlO
lutlon , and that Dr. Moreno had Installed
himself lu the presidential mansion and
hod placarded the town with proclamations ,
sajlng that he had resolved to put nn end
to the era of revolutions In Torrlzonla and
to give the people peace and security.
"The landlord said that the revolution had
opened at precisely 11 o'clock In the evening
and that there had been no resistance to
Moreno , who had already received the sub
mission of all the troops belonging to the
four presidents. I was a little astonished to
hear the news , for the doctor was the last
man In Torrlzonla whom I would have sus
pected of taking part In politics. However ,
he was a very popular man , and I was , on
the whole , glad to remember that he had
all hla rivals safe In the hospital and could
tnreaten them with amputation of the legs
If they didn't submit to him and withdraw
their claims to the presidency.
" 'Have you heard , ' said I to the landlord ,
'whether the new president has made any
anangumcnts with the presidents In the hos
pital ? '
| " 'Certainly he has , ' said the landlord.
| 'Didn't you hear the rifle shots a little while
ago ? '
I " 'Of course I did. ' said I ; 'but what had
i that to do with the four presidents1
| " 'Only this , ' replied the landlord. 'Pres
ident Moreno discharged them from the hos
pital at 7 o'clock this morning , stood them up
against the front wall and had them shot
five minutes after they were discharged. You
, can trust the good doctor to make a clean
job of anything he undertakes. He Is a great
man , and ho will make the best president
we have ever had. '
"I called on President Moreno that morning
and congratulated him. Take him by anJ
large , as he was far and away the cleverest
I man I ever met In Central America , and he
held on to his ofllce for nearly eight years
i before he was assassinated by the general
in chief of the army. I was sorry when ho
I was killed , for I like a man who understands
! practical politics , and while I don't deny tint
ho must have disappointed the four presidents
, considerably , he did what was the only thing
I for a practical politician to do. "
A Coiiduetor'N Advice.
"Let me glvo you a pointer , " said MF. .
Grceg , a popular conductor on the Missouri
Pacific railroad. "Ho you know that Cham
berlain's Colic , Cholera and Diarrhoea rem
edy cures you when you have the stomach
ache ? Well , It doss. " And after giving
I this friendly bit of advice the Jolly conduc-
I tor passed on down the aisle. It Is a fact
that thousands of railroad and traveling
men never take a trip without a bottle of
this remedy , which Is the best cure In the
world for bowel disorders.
SO.MK MJ\V IXVK.VI'IOXS.
For church nnd grave decoration , a hollow
sectional cross is used as a flower bolder , the
Interior being divided Into a number of
water-tight compartments , with orifices to
support the stems of the flowers In the
1 water , thus keeping them fresh.
A new tool case for cyclers consists of a
rectangular box to bo strapped on to the
frame of the bicycle , with both sides hinged
at the bottom to drop down and bring the
tools in vlow , each of which slides Into a
rubber sheath to prevent It from rattling.
A handy hose holder for sprinkling lawns
has a pointed rod to be pushed Into the
ground and support n revolving metal disk
which has loops through which the hose
nozzle Is passed and held by means ct
thumb screws which tighten the loops ,
Massachusetts man has Invented a tumbler
brush and chimney washer which will lit
any size glass , the bristles being sot In
opposite sides of n double pivoted stem ,
which has handles to open the brushes out
ward until they strike the glass.
To glvo an alarm In case of a flro two
convex corrugated metal plates are set in
sockets with their edges together and carryIng -
Ing contact points which are brought to
gether by the expansion of the plates by
tlui heat of a flro to complete an electric
circuit.
To draw a measured quantity of fluid from
a receptacle a new faucet ! ian a double-
acting valve which closes one outlet an soon
as the other Is open , thus preventing thu
pouring of the liquid Into the measuring
glass while the discharge pipe Is open.
In holding two sections of drain pipe to
gether whllo cementing , a newly patented
core will be found useful , the device being
divided Into three wedge-shaped sections ,
which force thu pipes to align and can bo
withdrawn after the cement hardens by
means of a handle or cord ,
Horseshoes which can be attached to the
hoot without the use of nails have n broad
Btet-1 band attached to the front and sides
of the shoo , endlni ; In screw sockets at the
rear to draw the band tight over the hoer
by means of screws Inserted In the rear of
the shoe.
A California woman has patented a cover
for milk cans which Is perforated around
Its sides near the bottom , BO It can be
closed tight to prevent spilling of the milk
and can be pulled up a short distance In tlio
can to allow ventilation without Insects get
ting Inside.
No man or woman can enjoy lite or ac
complish much In thle world while turftrlni ;
from a torpid liver. DeWltt'e Little Early
Risers , the pills that cleanse that or.gaa ,
quickly.
THE FIELD OF [ ELECTRICITY
Growing Demand for. Electrical Power at
Niagara Falls.
POINTERS FOR STREET RAILWAY MANAGERS
l > Ii-to-l > ntc 1'VatiiroN that Srrtc lo
Fatten Dividend * ! luti'rovInK Hlru-
trlc Car Trap lion Oilier
Before the clone of the present year the
Electrical Power company , which has
larncssed a smallipart of Niagara falls , will
mvo at Its disposal AUotal of 60.000 electrical
lorso power. Thla Immense amount of
) ropolllng force Is made necessary by the
steadily growing demand for electrical power
In the various industries at the falls and at
Buffalo.
The additional amount of power mentioned
will bo made available through the extension
of the plant of tho'NIagara Falls Tower com
pany , and this Worle Is one of the most
Interesting In engineering line now In
[ irogress In Ncwi'York state. The present
power station of Ithls company has three
5,000 horse-power generators In operation ,
making 16,000 horso'powcr In all , and when
the extension Is completed there will be a
total of ten great 5,000 horse-power turbines
and the same number of generators of the
same capacity at work turning out their In
visible force to glva life to the factories nnd
railroads for miles around ,
The powerhouse nt Niagara Is a big build
ing ns It stands today , but Its proportions
will bo greatly enlarged by the addition ,
which will cover the wheel pit and afford
room for the Installation of seven more 5,000
horso-powcr generators. The same style of
architecture which has made the power
house so much admired will bo closely
adhered to , nnd when It Is completed It will
be onoof the most Impressive and Imposing
structures at the falls. Its entire line of
roof will bo unbroken by a single chimney ,
as the powerhouse will be heated entirely by
electricity , the name as the old building.
It means much to the scientific , Industrial
and engineering worlds that the Niagara
Kails Power company has thus early seen
the advisability of extending nnd enlarging
the capacity of their great power-producing
plant. When the Idea was first conceived ,
nnd It was announced that the development
would be undertaken , the electric field was
far more limited than it Is today , llecent
years have been years of wonderful progress ,
and the movement of the Niagara Falls
Power company and Its research In many
fields have been material factors In develop
ing electrical matters.
SUCCESS OF 'KLECTHICIAL ' , RAILWAYS.
An observant correspondent , writing to an
electrical publication , says that many / electric
tric railways that have not been paying good
dividends have to thank their policy for their
want of success. They act on the principle
that all they have to do Is to lay down the
line and equip It with cars and working
staff , nnd tha business will come Itself.
This policy Is entirely out of date. The
regular customers should be enough to
guarantee the operating expenses of the
road ; but the profit or success of a railway
lies In the additional people who can be In
duced to become patrons , and thereby In
crease the normal revenue. This may be
done In many ways. The company should ,
In the first place , advertise , and let the In
habitants know there Is an electric railway
In town ; that Its business Is to carry thVm
from place to place comfortably and quickly ,
and that they cannot afford to walk ;
that the time saved In riding will more than
pay the fare. The handsomely Illustrated
booklet , with description of the attractive
features of the district , is most valuable to
strangers and tourists. A specially illumi
nated car for trolley parties Is a good In
vestment , nnd the effect of the colored
lights along the line , as the car passes , is
very pleasing. Many electric railway com
panies establish : paries at the end of one or
more of their lines , and either provide
amusements in the ) way of concerts , etc. ,
or make concessions In the way of Issuing
coupon tickets for admission to some one
who thoroughly understands the entertain
ment of crowds. . In the writer's opinion the
selection of employes has more to do
with the success of an electric railway than
almost anythlngt'olse will be generally In
dorsed. The ridiculous airs of many con
ductors on the regular steam railroads are
not now regarded with altogether the
amount of submission that they used to be ,
and In the extension of general traveling
facilities the public arc beginning to rcalbe
that ordinary clvjllty Is a part of the return
they should get < for paying their money.
Before long they will insist on having it ,
and railroads will not be able to afford to
maintain a staff of surly , careless and ig
norant servants. Conductors , motormen
and inspectors have the power to earn or
lo&o money , make the railway popular or
odious with the public , and keep claims for
damages at a minimum. The growing de
mand of the public for better accommoda
tion and luxury In the matter of travel and
speed must be met by giving them better
cars , more comfortably and expensively fur
nished , and more carefully selected car'
hands , and the company which does this
will bo the one to secure commercial suc
cess.
ELECTRIC OAR TRACTION.
It was recently stated that the possibilities
of electric railroading would be powerfully
Influenced by developments of n radical
nature which were then In progress. These
developments have now been made public
by their Inventor , Frank J. Sprague , as cm-
bodied in his "multiple unit" system of car
traction. The keynote of this system Is the
Individualizing of cars In all details. Its
object Is so to control them that they can
be connected together at will , and , when
so connected , operated from either end of
any car In the whole train. This Is distinct
from the two ordinary systems of electric
car traction , the Individual car equipment
rnd the locomotive car equipment. The first
of these Is seen In the ordinary * street serv
ice , In the trojley car , which runs Itself
oaly , and the second Is seen on the Nan-
tasket line ami elsewhere , where the loco
motive pulls a number of trail cars. In the
now system the motorman stands ! m a vesti
bule of original construction , which either
completely Isolates him or Is thrown open
for the entrance and exit of passengers , ac
cording to the conditions required , and his
controlling levers , which are of the simplest
description , " are under his hand , while the
controlling mechanism occupies the unique
position of a space Insldo the canopy , over
nls head , where an Inspector can reach It
without entering the car. The coupling or
uncoupling of the ear Is accomplished in an
Instrrit. If the motorman wishes to keep
thu car In motion ho must keep his hand
on the starting levrr. If ho lets go of thltl
the power is cut off from the car , which
comes to a atop. An automatic arrangement
la made for regulating the "acceleration ; "
that Is to Fay , If a sudden speeding up Is
desired and ono car is .Influenced for a mo
ment before the rest 'by the Increase Of
current' turned on , that car Is automatically
hold In check until all Die other care are
being actuated by n similar amount of cur
rent. The consequence Is that there IK no
Jostling or unevenncsB of progression. Tiio
whole train of two , four , six or more cars
moves like rne car. Should there ha a
burn-out or a cut-out on any ono of the
cars it makes nn difference to Iho traveling
of the train. The braking of the train Is
accomplished by airbrakes ; but there In no
doubt whatever that this method of braking
will soon to a great extent bo supersede
by n more modern' system. It "Is dtltlcillt
to say Just where the multiple unit nysterri
of traction will bo 'found ' most useful Rx-
porlmco alone can .determine thai , but It IK
gate to say that'll Will prove most valuable
In Intcrnrhan trafflo. where trains of vary
ing lengih have tb ho run nt quick Interval
and the rar unite quickly changed to meet
the requirement * ' of the hour. For Bticli
service the speed attainable will more- than
sutllce. Already-six- have been drawn
by ono motor at the rate of thirty-three-
mllfH an hour , 'nil much higher upeod In
possible. It Is ticllovcd by some engineer *
that the now system will play not a less
Important part la elevated railroad service.
It Is to be Installed for that purpose on an
extensive line In Chicago , and It IB under-
'utood that several large roads are very
shortly to be equipped with It ,
EFFECT OF ARO LIGHT ON RYnS.
An English electrician , In a letter on the
subject of the recently described effects of
the arc In electric drilling experienced by
two ship stokers , who watched the process
for only three minutes , and subsequently
felt Intense pain and wore partially blind
for awhile , says he h d a similar experience
some years HBO , which may serve ns a
warning to young electricians. Ho did not
then know much about arc lamps , and ex
perimenting ono day with two or three that
were naked , he stood close up to them and
watched them with uncovered eyes. Ho suf
fered no special Inconvenience until ntter
he had cot to sleep that night. Waking
tip In great ngony , nnd partially blind , ho
jumped out of bed nnd tried almost alto
gether In vain to alleviate the pain by
plunging his head Into water. Hla eyes wnt-
eted very much , nnd It wns n day before ho
could return to the works. Lamp testers
almost Invariably have n similar experience
to this until they use dark glass shields
regularly.
ELECTRICITY AND SONC1 H1RDS.
An English Journal has become alarmed
! nt the relation of electricity to song birds ,
I which It maintains Is closer than that of
cats and fodder crops. How many of us , It
' asks , foresee that electricity may extirpate
1 the song bird ? Yet , unless some unknown
I factor Intervene , the chain of cause and
I effect would seem to he far simpler than
that of the cat that kills the field mice
1 that would rifle the nests of the bumble
bi'cs ' that ought to fertilize the red clover.
With the exception of the finches , all the
Enlglsh Kong birds may bo said to bo In
sectivorous , nnd their diet consists chiefly
of vast numbers of very small Insects ,
which they collect from the grass and herbs
before the' dew Is dry. As the electric
I light Is finding Its way for sticct llluml *
I nation Into the country parts of England ,
, these poor winged atoms arc slain by thou
sands at each light every warm summer
evening , battering themselves ngnlnst the
globes until the ground beneath Is strewn
with them , The fear Is expressed that when
England Is lighted from ono end to the other
with electricity the song birds will die out
from the failure of their food supply. Amer
icans have long been familiar with the de
struction of Insects wrought by are lights
In the wnrm months , but It Is not on record
that the naturalists In this country have
given themselves nny particular concern
about Jtpr that It has reacted to any seri
ous extent against nny other part of the
animal kingdom.
A PECULIAR OPTICAL ILLUSION.
The correspondent of a photographic
lournnl. In speaking of the special Interest
that attaches to the Roentgen rays among
photographers , who often nro not In a posi
tion to Invest in elaborate nnd expensive sotn
of appa-atus. says It IB not generally known
that by means of a very simple optical
Illusion , nn almost perfect Imitation of the
wonders of radiography can bo shown , with
out the trouble and expense of Induction
cells , tubes or fluorescent screens. All that Is
necessary Is to take n small feather from a
pheasant or turkey , and , holding It close to
the eye. look through the radiating ribs at
the end of the fiather nt the lingo's of the
hind held up toward the sky , or against the
window. The flesh of the fingers will then
appear to the transparent , with the opaque
bone runlng down in the center , as shown
by the tme radiography. If It Is desired to
exhibit the phenomenon by gaslight , n plcco
of ground glass must bo held in front of
the fiamo to diffuse the light.
EARLY TELEGRAPHY WITHOUT WIRES.
Wireless telegraphy Is the next thing on
the prog-am. But It Is not so new after all ,
MVS the Toronto Mall. Aeneas , the Grecian
general , first thought of it. Thla worthy
telegraphed to his assistants on the field by
means of a system of his own Invention.
I + icu man had a vessel containing water. In
the vessel a huge cork floated , and from the
cork rose a stick , divided into sections , each
of which represented a given order , the pur
pose of which was commonly understood.
Taps wcrc attached to the vessels. When
Aeneas lighted his torch the other warrior
having one of the vessels llglited his also.
Then Aeneas extinguished his torch and per
mitted the water to flow through the tap.
The other warriors followed. Immediately
that Aeneas relighted his torch the taps were
turned off , and the section of the uprising
stick which was even with the top of the
vessel contained the order Aeneas desired to
clve. It was a primitive arrangement , but
there were no wires.
IF YOU SEE IT IX THIS MOO.Y.
Xo Matter AVIint it IN , Von Will Have
Some Sort of r.uelc.
"If you BOO the new moon over your right
shoulder It's good luck nil the month" over
the left shoulder being bad luck , of cour/o.
"If you meet the new moon face to face with
money in your pocket , you will have that kind
of money In your pocket for a month" and
BO on , this last being taken from nn old
black-letter treatise on "things worth know-
Ins. " Everywhere in the world , rays the
Chicago Times-Herald , the idea prevails
among those who lack scientific training that
anything falling to the lot of man when the
moon Is waxing will likewise Increase , simi
larly decreasing while the mocn wanes. The
Hindu troubled with warts looks at the new
moon , picks up a pinch of dust from beneath
his left foot , rubs the wart with It and
when the moon goes , so docs the wart. II
you fall 111 you can be cured by herbs gath
ered In the full of the moon.
The moslems In the kingdom of Oudh
cure insomnia , palpitation of the heart , nerv
ous prostration , and similar evils by station
ing the sufferer with n basin of water In his
hands In the light of the full moon In such
a way that Its refulgent Image shines directly
from the liquid into his eyes Then , without
moving his gaze , he Is required to Hwallow
the water at a d'augut.
In northern India the people lay out foo.l
In the full moon that comes In the months
conespondlng to our September and October ,
half of each , and give It to their friends as a
means of Insuring longovlty. That same
night the girls pour water in the moonlight
saying they are getting rid of the cold
weather.
It was long ago noted that the Yorkshlie
maids "do worship the now moon on theli
bare knees , kneeling upon an earth-fast
stone , " and Lady Wilde says that the Irish
damsels drop on their knees when they rhst
catch sight of the now moon , and say : "Oh ,
moan , leave us as well as you have found
us ! " In India the natives take seven threads
from the ends of their turbans nnd give
them to the now moon with a prayer.
The spots on the moon are caused by many
perr.ons or things. Sometimes It Is a man
with n fagot on his back , sent thither for
[ licking up sticks on the Sabbath. Chaucer
calls him a thief and puts a thornbush on
his shoulders , Dante Bays It Is no less a
criminal than Cain. Shakespeare provides
a dog to keep htm company , Hindoos keep ,
not a man , but a hare In the moon , and the
well-known connection In the minds of the
man of the moon and Insanity may account
for the statement regarding the March hare ,
and possibly the thornbush may be the dis
tinctive covering of the hatter at any rate ,
this IB as good guessing as a lot of the mm
myth pcoplo have done ; while Dearlng-Gould
Identifies the moon children , 1)111 and Hlukl
of the northern mythology , with Jack and
Gill of the nursery rhyme.
The Greenland Eskimo believes that the
sun and moon wore originally brother and
ulstur. She , being teased by him past ordi
nary endurance , seized some lampblack and
tubbed It on Ills face. Then she ran , her
brother after. Finally she went so fast she
rose up Into the air and became the sun ,
while her sooty-faced brother turned Into
the moon. In Samoa when a great famine
oppressed thu people the moon rose one
night , big and round , like a bread fruit. A
patient mother , unable to quiet the pangs
of her llttlo ono , looked up and ad. | "Why
don't you coma down and lot my baby have
a bite of you ? " Tills made the moon f > o
angry that she simply picked up both mother
and child and they have been there over
slncu.
All Bailers are certain that Bleeping In
tropical moon rays will either make them
cross-eyed or blind. On the American vessel
El Capltan n > ear ago a number of the crow ,
disregarding the advice of their fellows dur
ing a bpell of hot weather , slept on the deck
In the mooullKht , and BOOH after went com
pletely blind at night , though they cou J fceo
as well In the daytlmo us ever. The skipper
of the BUip icported the occurrence , and
with It made a statement to the effect that
up to that time he had been a disbeliever
in the so-called moon blink. Paul Eve
Stevenson reports that he , tun , nan huirledly
awakened on hla way to New York from the
llaliamna with the assurance from the cap
tain that all sorts of things would happen
to him If ho slept in moonlight. This Is a
disease unknown to the medical profession
Running ore ; , Indolent ulcers and flmllai
-troublie. even though of many year * ' stand-
Ine , may be cured by using DeWitt's Wltcli
Hazel Salve. It soothes , strengthens and
heals. It la the great pile cure ,
IMM.t.Y'S l > A > l > r.lt I'P.
Indntitpil nt tlic' Slulit of an OfTrimlvr
Illril on n Vllor'n ' lint ,
A brld l couple , who "put In several days
recently taking In the sights of the capital ,
relates the W/whlngton Post , enjoyed them
selves Immensely until the day preceding
their departure. It ihcn occurred to the
bride that she hid not called upon "Dear
Fanny , " who had been her chum during her
days at the seminary. Now , Fanny was still
enjoying single blessedness , and this may
havn had something to do with the anxiety
of the brldo to cnll upon her maiden chum.
Gecrgc demurred feebly , but nt last con
sented .to pay n formal call. The bride'
dressed herself In n fetching gown nnrt
placed upon her saucy head a Parisian dream
In the way of n hnt. The lint was ono of
those Indescribable -creations of the mil
liner's art , n mass of fioweis with n bird or
two partially concealed In the foliage , so to
speak.
The pair went gayly forlh , and In n hotel
coupe wcio soon nt the door of Fanny's rcsl-
worn usheied Into the drawing room. While
awaiting the coming of her friend , the
bride's attention was , nttrnctcd to n large
c.ige containing n splendid pnrrot , She
chirruped coolngly totlio , Implsoned bird , nnd
wished she might take him out of his cage
nnd caress him. George remarked that he
looked tame enough , and suggested the open.
Ing of the door of the cage. Suiting action
with the word ho opened the door , nnd the
released bird calmly walked forth nnd
strutted nbout , blinking his bendy eyes
knowingly. The bride , with usual calls of
"Poll , pretty Poll , ' coaxed the bird toward
her , nnd Poll proceeded to climb up the
rounds of the chair upon which the lady )
was slttlng.'nnd perched herself upon the
arm of the chair. The parrot uttered gut
tural cries of "Polly , Polly , " this word seem
ingly comprising her entire vocabulary.
The bird accepted the caresses , and , appar
ently , all was Gcrcilc , but without an In
stant's warning she llUered n scream of
rage nnd flew at the lady's headgear , alight
ing fairly thereon , and' ' then for n few min
utes the nlr wns filled with flying feathers
nnd bits of flowers , while the. ntmosphcre
wns fractured by screams from the brldo
and discordant cries frpni the parrot. George
nttempted to como to the rescue , nnd had
his face badly scratched for his pains The
lady finally shook thd ? blrlfJ" loose from the
( lower garden she was'jVciJrlng upon her hat
and mndo one wild dasllftor the front door ,
followed closely by tho' bridegroom. Once
on the pavement they became somewhat
composed and dctcrmlni-p' b return to their
hotel to repair damaged They did not tnrry
long enough to sec "Hear Fanny. "
The sudden wrath > "bt the bird was evi
dently caused , GeorgoUhoURht upon reflection
during calmer moments , ' by the fact that
nmld the ( lowers In hla wife's hat there
nestled a bluffed Caroline parrnkeet , which
the parrot took to bo a real live rival and
proceeded forthwith to demolish. The bride
Is now n thorough convert to the teachings
of the Audubon society.
Dill "UU l.VCT
Try Electric flitters as a remedy for your
troubles ? If not. get n linttlc now and get
relief. Thla medicine has been found to be
peculiarly adapted to thu relief i'd cure
of all Female Complaints , exerting n won
derful direct Influence In giving strength
and tone to the organs. If you have loss of
A'ppetlte , Constipation , Headache , Fainting
Spells , or are Nervous , Sleepless , Excitable ,
Melancholy or troubled with Dizzy Spells ,
Electric Dlttcrs Is the medicine you need.
Health and strength are guaranteed by Its
use. Fifty cents nnd $1.01) at Kulin & Co.'s
Another IM - fop It.
Indianapolis Journal : "If business. " said
the senior partner , "doesn't pick up In our
line pretty soon , we will huvc to shut up
the shop. "
"I'll tell you , " said the junior partner , "I
will go out of town end jou ad\ertlse a
sale at below cost "
"The people will not bite at that old bait. "
"And then I will come back and get out an
injunction against you on the ground that
you nro ruining us. "
1 Stop Tobacco
SUDUK.VLY , to do BO Is injurious to the ncr-
vuU8 sybtem. llaco-Curo la the only cuic that
cures white you use tobacco. It Is sold with a
written yuarnntce Unit thico boxes \\ill cure nny
c.ifcC , no matter how bad. Haco-Curo Ise eta-
Llo nnd harmless ; It has cured tiousamlu , U will
cure } ou. At all UiUKglsts Fifty cents and } 1
per box ; 3 boxes ( nuaiunteeil cure ) J2.EO. Uooltlet
fiee. EUREKA CHKII. & UFO. CO. , La Crobse ,
Win.
For headache ( whether sick or nervous ) , tooth
ache , neuralgia , theumatlrm , lumtinsn. pains
nnd wenkneEB of the bade , , Eplnu nr kidneys ,
pains aiound the liver , plciirlsj , Huelllng of the
Joints and pains of all kinds , the application o (
nadnny'K Heady rf-ilcf will afford Immediate
ease , nnd Its continued use for a few days ef
fects a permanent cuic.
A Guru fur all
SUMMI2II COMPIi.UVI'S , SK.VTKIIY ,
IHAIIltliHA , CHOI,111 ! V MOI1 lll'.S.
Internally A half to n teat-profitl In half a
tumbler of water wll. | In a fnw minutes , cure
Clumps. Spasms. Sout Stoin'ncM , Nausea , Vom
iting. Heartbum , Slclt Ilentliichc , Flatulency and
all llonel pains. '
Malarlu In UK VarloiiH KorniN Cured
ami Priv * uteil.
There U not n itmodlal agent In the world
that will cure fever nnd iit'ue ami nil other
malarious , bllloUH and other fcveri" , aided by
J'.ADWAY'S 1'ILI.S , eo quickly np 11AU-
WAV'S HEADY niLinK.
J'rlec SOc per bottle. Sold by all driiKKlits.
lit : sum TO OUT "HAD\v.\vs. "
Itfunvay & Co. , Kew York City
Bearles
& Searles
Sl'MCIALISTin
Kcrvous , Chronic
nnd
Prlvavo Disease ?
SlIXUAhLV.
fv AlirrhuleUlHeaiui
.f' ff DlttorilerHiif Moil
Treatment liy nml I
L'oiiotiltiitloii rruo ,
SYRHUS
Cured tor lire and the polton tliuioujjlily
from tint njBieni.
Uptrmatorrm-j , iiemlnal WeukiitM. I-otl Man
hood , Night tmK.jlc.il , Dtcujeil Fiiculllea , Ft.
irmlc We > ikn isc and all delicate ilUoiijcm pe
n-liar iu eltnrr cex poslthely CUHM. I'tUUB ,
FISTULA and ItUCTAI. UL.UKUS UVUHO-
Cii.Kfci ANIJ VAftlCOCKLB , permanently and
r""rspful'y curea. Method n w nrd unfalllnf
Stricture and Gleet ltr.
by new method without pain or rutting. .omOtll
in or nddrccs with ntnmp ,
Dr.Searles &
IHDAPO
Tilt ( .HUT
HINDOO REMEDY
HlOIlUC-Kn THE AFIQVE
Itttulti in HO iaw < ' ' ! " \
all Nerrous Il ) s = , ii , FnllluilHomon '
1'iiroiU , Hleoj'loscnoiKi , NlRhtly I.mlc-
iloni , rta.cauiail bgr p > t aliubun , Kie
flitorondnlwi to ilininknn organi. u
enreli reitorn * t-oil Jitnnliooil In old ot . _ .
KMlly "arrlBd In ve t looKet. I'rlcn # / . package ,
Bli loifa.ouii-lth a vrltl n ouaranlrc lurureur
. ' IMITATION , but
inoiieu refundnl. DOV'T liDY AH
ln < i t m liarlnn INDAPO. f your druK Ut lu not
fat It , w wllUemllt prepa.
tll.MJUO UEHl.in 10. , FrupM , ffcle , g , III. or eur inotfc
KIIIIII .V Co. Cur 1Mb nml IKiimliua tils nnd J A
t'ullur A. Co . Itlll & Doiiulau , Ms. , Oil AHA NKJ >
'lMilM remedy licliiK < "
j..nt..i ( Urcrtly to the
Meat Of tllOHH ( llHCItNCM
of the Genlto-Drliiury
Organi * , n juroH no
elmnco of ( Hot. Cure
Kuaruntecd In 1 to { I
Htiyu. Kllillll plUlllI > ncl
BO. by mall. 81 , OO.
Hiit.l nt v ly
M > m-DIUon Drug Co. . 8. n. Cor ICth and Far-
nam Btreeti , Omaha , NeU
WHEH TRAVELING
HERE ES WHERE
YOU WILL FIND IT IN
THE PRINCIPAL CITIES-- *
BOSTON.
I'ulillo l.lli.'itry.
Ventluiue Hotel.
BUFFALO.
Gcncftce llut > l XOUM SCuiul ,
BILLfNGS
. ! W. Shearer.
BUTTE
Kcofo IlroH.
VV 111 I n in Shields , ,
CHEYENNE.
10. A. I.OKnll ,
ritojeiitioeu < Depot.
Chili.
CHICAGO.
Auditorium Hotel N . Stand.
Auditorium Auiu-v .NeuSlaiul. . f
OiM-nt Xorthern Hold XI-WN Stiiiul.
I'll line i- HOIINCO M .Stiiiul.
I'uNtolllee Sown Stand , Xo. U17 Heart
liom tjtri-et.
CLEVELAND :
\Veddoll HOIINC.
'I IKHolleiiden. .
Commercial Travelers' Association ,
.M n NO n I c Temple.
COLORADOSPRINGS
e Ilro * . , .No. : tt ) Smith Tojuu St.
CAMBRIDGE , MASS
Hurviiril "nler.lly Ill > rnry.
DENVER.
llroivii Hotel \I > UN Slantl.
Hamilton A : UeiiilrlcU.
Mel.aln , put ACn. . . MI5 Blxtcciitli St.
Pratt Mercantile- .
Tlii' Statlonci ) Co.
AVInil.sor Hotel \c\ts Sliuul.
DES MOINES ,
MONCH JncnliN , Illicit iMlniiil lcHlt.
J. \Vellniaii. . Klltli mill \\aliiut Sin ,
- HOT SPRINGS , S. D.
lliiill HarureiiM.
Ucoritt ! lilliiou.
HELENA.
W. A. Moore.
Helena Piilillc I.llirar.v.
KANSAS CITY.
Iloliert Hell ) .
LONDONrENGLAND
CtiarlcH A. iiillifv. N < > - < > Strum ! .
LOS A NGELES
Standard \CI\H C'o.
MINNEAPOLIS.
Public l.llirnrj.
West Hotel -Ncti Stand.
NEWYORK ,
Cooper I'nloii l.llprary.
Fifth Avenue llulelIMVN Stand.
I-'lftH Avenue Hotel Kcudlng Hooill.
lirooinc Street Library.
Holland HOIIHC Itcmliiif ? Ilooin.
HolViuaii lluiinc.
Imperial llulel : \ < MrH Stand.
Mc'uliiiuleN' t Trader * ' Free I.llirary ,
\o. IS iOliHt Sixteenth Struct.
WuNtiuiiixlor Hotel ItciidiiiR Itooill.
Windsor Motel ItcndliiKT Hooiu.
Y. M. C. A , . -tcl : Street anilIth Avenue.
1'rcMN Cluli , 1 O NIINKIIII S ( .
NASTTVILLE
Duncan Hotel NevtM Stand.
MlHHOiirl I'liclllo Itlilt ; . , HYIIO. Groundi ,
OCDEN.
McCartney A : Co.
W. We lib.
PARIS , FRANCE.
New York Herald IteailliiK Hooiu , 4O
Avc. du 1'Oin-rn.
POCATELLO
V. C. Hiifder.
PORTLAND , ORE ,
W. 12. JOIICN.
Portland Hotel MMVH Slaiul.
PHILADELPHIA.
Mercantile l < IIirnr > .
SACRAMENTO.
IMililh ; l.ilirin-y.
SAN FR"ANCISCO.
I'ulillc l.llirar.i.
SALT LAKE CITY.
I , , K. Hummel , lcciuu Theater.
Salt LaUi * NCMM to.
SEATTLE ,
C. O , Oywtou.
A. T. l.unilliei-K.
SIOUX CITY.
OarreltNoii Hotel .Veux Htaiul.
.Moiiilaiulii Hotel .Neutt Htaiul ,
Hotel Veiuloiiie AIM > H Hlanil ,
firorKU IHunt. .
I'lilille l.llirai-y.
SPOKANE
John W , ( raliiini.
ST. JOSEPH.
.Neun Stiiiul.
ST. LOUIS.
n. T. Jell ,
rinuterk * liotel % < Sliuul.
I'ulillu I.llirarj
WASHINGTON , D. C.
Wlllnril'x llulel Ni'UH Htiiiul.
ArlliiKlon Hotel ,
CoiiKreHNloiial l.llirn.-- .
ItlKKM HtiiiHi : .
AKHeiillural leiiiriueiit | ( Library.
Senate Heiullniv Iliiuni ,
When Traveling
The Bee.