THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : TUESDAY. DECEMBER 27. 1898. THE OMAHA DAILY BEE. E. IlOSEWATCn , Editor. PUBLISHED EVEIVY. MORNING. TEUM8 OF HUDHCJUPTION. Dally Boo ( without Sunday ) , One Year.S.Uo Dally Hcc mid Sunday , Ono Year 80) blx MonlhH , . . . . , 400 Tliroo Months 200 Sunday life , Ono Year 200 Saturday Dec , Onr > Year. . . . . 1.60 Weekly Doc , Ono Year 63 OFFICES. Omnha. The. Bee Building. South Omnha : Singer Block , Corner N and Twenty-fourth StrcctB. Council IJlufTH' 10 Pfnrl Street. Chicago : Stock Exchange Dldg. Now York : Temple Court. Washington : Ml Fourteenth Street. COnilESPONDENCE. ' 'ommunlrutlons relating to news nnd cd'tqrliil mutter should bo addressed : To the Editor. BUSINESS LETTERS. tluBlne H letters und remittances Bhould bt nddrcnpl ; to The Hoe PubllHhlng Com pany. Omnha. Drnfts , ihecka , express and poatofllco money orders to be , made payable to the order of the company. THE DE13 PUBLISHING COMPANY. STATEMENT OP CUMULATION. State of Ne'jraakn , Douglas County , ea.i QCOTRO n. Tzschuck , secretary of The Dee Publishing company , being duly sworn , says thnt the u < tual number of full and complete copies of The Dally. Morning , Evening and Sunday Use. printed during the month of November 1S53 , was as fol lows : QEOltaE B. TZSCHUCK. Sworn to before me and subscribed In my presence this 20th day of November , 1393. N. P. FBIL , Notary Public. Coinmlsxnry General KRAII wnnts General Miles 'to explain ami General Miles turns up his llomnii nose. When will this cruel war be over ? Governor-elect Itoosevelt Is wrestling with , the most perplexing problem of his life. In iilllng the state olllcos ho Is expected to lit : i bunch of political square pegs Into round boles. Chicago's charter makers propose to fix the term of the mayor at four years nnd make him Ineligible to an Immedi ate second term. The Idea of a one- term municipal executive Is by no means original with Chicago , but the experiment remains to bo tried. The United States , at a great cost of money and still more precious lives , has given the Cubans a Christmas present beyond compulation In money liberty. With the gift goes the Blncero wish the recipients will know how to use It that It may be a blessing for nil time to come. , ' .Tudga Day explodes the story that the peace commissioners or any of them nro to receive $100,000 each for their services. Now that this absurd story has served their purpose the sensation- nlists will probably Incubate another In which there is no greater clement of truth. Judge Day announces that his polit ical career Is ended and that from now on ho wjll devote his time to his pro fession. The game of high politics Is too expensive for an honest man to play at unless he either has means of his own or Is wining to sacrifice the fu ture for the sake of honors. It Is one tiling to project railroads and another thing to build them. Air line paper railroads operated by wind power , reaching' from nowhere to no where , have been projected from Omaha to the Gulf and from Omaha to Alaska time and again , but they have never raised the value of real estate or added to the volume of Its business. The tempers of the Spanish and Cu bans In Havana > appear to bo Hot on a hair trigger , making the slightest un pleasant Incident the signal for a fu- slllado of rifle shots. The position of those In authority during the next two weeks Is not an enviable oue and if serious disorders are avoided they will certainly be entitled to praise. If you have been a little alow In re ceiving your Christmas presents forwarded - warded through the mall do not grumble at itho postal department , whoso em ployes have done the best they can. Just charge the delay up to General Prosperity , who has enabled so many people to scud presents this year that the postal department has been swamped. The only hope for the future which the fusion leaders pretend to see is that the coming republican legislature will bo as extravagant and Idle as Its populist predecessors. It would In deed be a calamfty If Nebraska votora were compelled to march under polit ical banners whoso only claim for al legiance was the cry , "The other fellow Is Just as bad as I am. " Will the re publican legislature by Its acts reduce the voter to such a choice ? The mem bers of that body can open up a good , broad highway to republican success In ' ( ho future , paved with good works Instead of good Intentions , and The Bee believes they will. The Nicaragua Canal commission is not by any means certain as to the cor rectness of its estimate of the cost of the ditch. While tlie report places the flguro at $135.000,000 , the members frankly stu'te there are so many contingencies ' tingencies 'duo 'to climatic and other conditions which cannot be guaided against , such aa earthquakes and epi demics among the laborers. Manifestly the successful completion of the canal cannot be reckoned on by private en- tcrprlso unless It enters upon the task with a guaranty of financial backing by 'the ' United States. But If Uncle Sam ii to furnish the sinews of war , the only safe course to pursue Is gov ernment ownership. TUB nE/irr. Trustworthy Information from Wash ington Is to th * effect that no steps have yet been taken looking to negotiations for the modification or abrogation of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty , but late advices from London Indicate that the subject Is comnmudlnj : some attention from the British government and It Is Intimated that there Is a strong disposition to accede to the wishes of the United States In the matter. This , however , Is ques tionable , unless this country la prcpnrva to make some ! iiix ] > rtant concessions. One report states that the canal qucsI tlon has entered Into the discussions of the Anglo-American oommlBslon and It Is believed that reciprocity with Canada Is the price named for compliance of the Brltlwh government with the wish of the United States regarding the treaty. This Is not altogether Improbable , though It would be on extraordinary course to pursue. The opinion Is also held In Washington that Great Britain does not really cure much about the treaty and would bo perfectly willing > lo let Uio United States bear the cx- ponse nnd trouble of constructing the Nicaragua cntml nnd maintaining it alone for the benefit of British shlpplug. The Initiative In anything that may be done lies with our government and Whenever It shall be decided to propose negotiations they undoubtedly will look to the abrogatloi of the treaty. Noth ing less will be satisfactory to the coun try , It being unquestionably the prac- ) tieally unanimous seu'tlment ' of the j American people that this arrangement , entered into nearly half a century ago , under circumstances and conditions en tirely different from those now existing , should be annulled. It may be admitted that when the Clnyton-Bulwer treaty was negotiated there was mutual ad vantage , bti't ' It Is held , at least on the part of the United States , that this Is not the case now. At all events , the treaty has been a source of more or less IrrUatlug controversy and is likely to continue to be BO long as it remains in effect. Thus It Is a menace to the friendly relations between the two coun tries , which * Great Britain appears to be more anxious 1han ever before to pre serve and strengthen. It Is this atti tude of the British government that gives rise to the belief that It will as- Bern to the abrogation of the treaty and thereby remove an impediment to the construction by the United States of an Isthmian canal. The vital point Is In regard to neu tralizing the canal , so 'that ' It should be open to the ships of all nations In peace and In war. This was the main purpose of the treaty and It Is certainly a good deal to ask of Great Britain that she surrender it. Still she inny be willing to do so with a view to strengthening the bond of friendship between the two countries , trusting to the United Stanes to recognize the international custom as exemplified In the Suez canal. The Im portance of this matter Is fully appre ciated la both countries and there la reason to expect an amicable and satis factory settlement at no distant day. FUTURE OF THE CHINESE UMPIRE. It would bo well for American states men to study the views of the statesmen of Japan In regard to the future of the Chinese empire. These men , who have brought Japan Into a fair state of mod ern civilization and who have carefully studied Chinese character , do not give an encouraging view of the position and prospects of China. The prevailing view of the statesmen of Japan appears to be tint the Chinese empire Is past saving as a united and enduring independent country. They think that the great hulk must break up or fall under outside domina tion. The Chinese are too nu merous and their country too vast to be reached early enough toy the agencies which might revive the power and quicken the life of the natlom This view finds support in the indifference of the Chinese , even of the governing class , in one province or part of the empire , to what happens in other per tions. A very largo part of the Chinese people knew nothing whatever of the war with Japan. The future of this vast empire , with- Its swarming millions of people , Is cer tainly n matter worthy of the most serious consideration of the civilized world nnd Americans may well concern themselves with the question as to what part this country Is to play In shaping that future. That wo cannot be wholly Indifferent to It Is certain. Oup * com mercial Interests forbid that. But to what extent wo may safely go In shap ing the political destiny of the Chinese empire Is a question for earnest con sideration. If the view Is correct that China Is Inevitably doomed to partition and outside domination , shall this bo left to the accomplishment of the pow ers of Europe or will the United States 'become a party to It ? Thu expansion policy upon which this country has entered - tered stems to unmistakably point to the possibility of our occupation , sooner or later , of Chinese territory. This seems the logical outconve of territorial acquisition In the far oast. OOLD AND PAVER CVHRENUr. Last Saturday the gold reserve of the treasury reached the highest point In the financial history of the country , the amount being nearly $247,000,000. It Is stated that the treasury Is experiencing some embarrassment from the surplus of gold nnd the scarcity of paper. A Washington dispatch saya that the treasurer at New York flnds the re sources of his clerical force taxed to the utmost In counting , sorting and test- lug the quantities of gold which dally reach the sub-treasury. Even the treas ury at Washington has recently been swamped with gold from the local banks , which have been ordered by their correspondents to make deposits , In return for shipments of currency. On the other hand the paper currency has | shrunk to the narrowest limits nnd the < treasury would bo helpless to meet the demand for small uolva If the crop- I moving season wcro not practically over. Every effort on the part of 'the treasury , to unload gold upon the banks receives prompt retaliation by the payment of tlw gold back Into the treasury Tor cus toms. The proportion of gold Included in the custom payment has twice re cently reached SO per cent of the total j payments. I The situation Is said to have strength ened sentiment In favor of more paper currency , on the ground that paper Is ' more acceptable to the agricultural pro- j ( lucers than metallic money nml.lt Is , apprehended that the treasury will DC [ no better equipped , when crop * are to be moved next autumn , for supplying paper currency , than It Is at present. Gold is likely to continue to come Into . I the country In settlement of the great I trade balance , nnd even If there were I not actual net Imports the domestic pro- I ductlon of the United States would keep I the mints busy converting now bullion Into coin for deposit in the treasury. While this undoubtedly strengthens the currency condition of the country , it Is the opinion In souio quarters thnt It will BO diminish the necessary supply or paper that serious stringency will oc cur. It seem * to UB that this condition furnishes n most cogent nrjrnartnt for the retention of the legal tender notes as a part of the currency. It may also be a tjootl reason for legislation that will permit the banks to Increase their issues on a basis other than the available bond supply , as proposed In the cur rency bill reported from the house com mittee on banking and currency , but manifestly this Is no time to agitate the retirement of the government notes , as even the most radical of the currency reformers must see. If there la danger under present circumstances of a strln- gency In the supply of paper money , what assurance could bo given that tno country would be borttor mfoguardfld against such n contingency if the banks were given a monopoly of the paper currency ? Meanwhile , much good IB HUely to re sult from the people becoming more familiar with the use of gold In dally business operations. The educational effect of such an experience cannot fall to be of great value. DECIDEDLY OPTIMISTIC. Although President McKlnley has not yet completed one-half of his first term , political weather prophets at the na tional capital nro already making fore casts of the electoral votes McKlnlcy is sure to receive in 1000. The popular ovations tendered the president during his recent tour of the south have left a rainbow Impression on the political horoscope which Is Interpreted as in suring for him the votes of at least five southern states In the next electoral college. Republicans who have banked on southern states in past presidential con tests are , however , not likely to be de ceived by ouch alluring pictures. Other republican presidents have extended the ollvo branch in the same direction , but failed to reconcile the rock-rooted democracy of that section sufficiently to break the solid south. Other presi dents might have been intoxicated by the Incense poured out when they set foot upon the sacred soil. General- Grant exhibited the most generous dis position toward the wayward sisters not only at Appomattox but at every stage of his presidential career , but for all that foiled lamentably in every or- fort to capture the electoral vote of the south excepting In the states where the negroes' votes were counted. The ex ample set by General Grant was 'emu lated by every republican occupant of tb white house , but no republican can didate has ever been able to place oe- pcndenco upon any state that belonged to the confederacy. The true Index of the sentiment In those states may be found In the con dition attached to the promised political conversion , namely the elimination of the race question. It is the fear of negro domination , we are told , which prevents such states as Georgia , Ala bama , Louisiana , North Carolina and Virginia from swinging into the re publican column. But how is the re publican party to guarantee that th negro shall foe barred from the ballot box ? Could any republican candidate who courted support on such conditions in Georgia , Alabama or Virginia carry Ohio , Massachusetts or- New York ? What would be the difference between democrat * and republicans If the car dinal principle of political equality maintained by a free ballot were anan- doned by the republican party ? What would be the rallying point for repub- Heans who icek no spoils of office and hare no other Interest in party success than the desire to give vital effect to the principles Cor which the party has stood from Us Inception to the present day ? As a matter of fact the political forecasters - castors are decidedly optimistic about the lasting effect of the pyrotechnic outburst during the recent presidential tour of the south upon the outcome of the campaign of 1000. The coming legislature will be asked no make a liberal appropriation for ag ricultural experiment stations , to be under the control and management of the Slate Board of Agriculture. It is pointed out that In Kansas this plan has been in successful operation for several years and the state receives much free advertising on account of ft. It should bo borne In mind , however , that the Kansas State Board of Agri culture bos always had something to show for the money appropriated , Its annual reports being models of sta tistical Information and invaluable ad juncts In developing and advertising the resources of the Sunflower state. The reports published by the Nebraska board are not much better than last year's almanac. If any considerable amount of money is to bo voted away for experimental stations under control of the State Board of Agriculture the condition precedent should bo a thor ough reorganization of the board upon lines that will make that body ac countable for every dollar It disburses. The people of Nebraska are not In a humor to have tbeJr taxes increased without an assurance of value received for their money. Two Pacific cable syndicates have locked horns. Ono claims to hold an exclusive concession granted by the Hawaiian provisional government before - , fore it euuffed itself out. Unless this concession Is ratified by January 2 by the United Stnten through the Stale department It will remain a dead letter. It Is to be hoped the exclusive cable concession will bo allowed to expire. There Is certainly no good reason why any private syndicate should be given exclusive cable privileges In Hawaii or any other part of the United States. If the projected Hawaiian cable Is a purely commercial venture , the right of wny should bo open to all competitors. i If It Is to be mipirartod by the govern ment , It should bo built and operated by the government This would by MO , means be the first ocean cable laid by the United Stales government The first cables laid on the Atlantic sea board were owned and operated by the government This precedent was estab lished In 1SG2 and ISO , ' ! atid there Is no good reason why It should not be followed In 1800 6r 1000. General Morrltt , who Is Just now rus ticating with Ills bride in Chicago , de clared to a reporter that the Filipinos nro unfit for Bult-goverument at this tlmo and quotes In support of his view the assertion of a rich Belgian resident of Manila that he would be forced to leave that city If Its government -\vero surrendered to Agulnaldo and the na tives. General Merrltt Is doubtless emi nently correct. .But the question is , Why should the United States be ex- pooled to maintain nn army and carry on military government In the Philip pines for the protection and benollt of 400 or 500 residents from foreign coun tries , in whose welfare the Uultcd States has no dlroet lu'terest ? Nebraska IB in good condition to keep up with the prosperity procession dur ing the year Just about to commence. An unusual amount of small grain was sown last fall ami 'the snows have kept It In splendid condition. The ground Is also In shape to give spring crops a good start Get out of the way of Ne braska , for It has struck Its old-time gait , has the pole and Is coming down the Stretch without a skip nt a pace which cannot be heuded. Smoked I.niircU of Fame. Philadelphia Kocord. A national : senator has had a ham named after him. In this connection It would be Interesting to know If those of his colleagues mixed up In certain stock have been sugar- cured. The Imperial Style. Detroit Free Press. It Is estimated that a standing army of 100,000 , with our annual pension bill , will make the military cetabflshment of the 1 United States the most costly In the world. In other words , the United States will take Its rightful imperial place among the mili tary expenditures of the gfobo. Complimentary to Judge Haker. Burt County Herald. Judge Baker In closing this term of court has left a record" that Is entirely satisfac tory to the county and a credit to himself , If the judge ever wants any votes from here for anything they will only be gauged by the number in the county. ' No one has ever given better satisfaction on the bench than Judge Baker haa.'ln tU Modesty Chastened bjr Fire. Chlcazo Tribune. The modesty of the Standard Oil company Implied In the burning ot Its .books U u impressive as it is considerate o other people's feelings. It is evident it did not wish to excite envious feelings In the breast * ot its neighbors by exposing its profit * to the rest of the world or do anything to pro mote class distinctions among those sup porting the government. Dtml January Gale * . Ne.iv York Mall and Express. AM both Bryan of Nebraska and Sulzer of Washington and the east Bide are to appear at the Jackson banquet in Chicago on Jan uary 7 and at a similar function in Omaha on January 9 , Chicago assumes that Bryan wishes Sulzer for a running mate in I960. Lot us correct that impression before it spreads further. U is Bulzer who wishes Bryan for a running mate. Justice must be done , though the heavens fall. A JarringHunsjestlon. . Chicago Chronicle , Our English friends , it appeari , are gradually coming < to the conclusion that it will be Just as well to consent to the abroga tion of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty , seeing J that It Is likely to be abrogated whether they consent or not. But the London Chronicle probably expresses English rentl- ment when It Insists that Lord Salisbury "ought to get some concession in return for consenting to the abrogation. " This is the I true spirit of thrift , but doei It not Jar somewhat upon the sentiment of Anglo- Saxon unity ? Is it not rather selfish than i i brotherly something like the dictum ot j i that economic sage and philosopher , Mr. Samuel VV. Allerton.v "Don't never do somethln' for uotbln'T" UNTHAINBO DIPLOMATS. Necessity for Developing a Profes sional Consular Service. Kansas City Star. If the United States Is to seek the world's markets it will have to go forth after the business , end , if it reaches out for the wider commerce , there will have to be a regular ' consular service,1 and if a professional con sular service Is needed , therefrom should spring and become established a trained and experienced diplomatic service. The people have recently discovered that a professional' i army is far better than an amateur army , < and -there's nothing new about it , either. i ' All the private successes In this land are the work ot regular farmers and merchants and manufacturers. Amateurs have no place in medicine , law , finance or even in politics. On the other hand , untrained dip lomats have been the rule. While the history of the United States af fords several names linked with brilliant successes in diplomacy , this American sys tem of amateur diplomats has not been adopted elsewhere. Nations seeking advan tages In the great game have accepted Amer- I lean sleeping cars and armor plate and typewriters - ' writers , but have shown no disposition to abandon regular diplomats for the American Idea of amateur ambassadors , ministers and consuls. Meanwhile there Is a new ambas sador to appoint to St. Petersburg In place ] I of Ethan Allen Hitchcock. He will be a I distinguished American. Ho will also be without a day's experience in the delicate profession ot diplomacy. He will also bo unable to utter a word of Russian. He will also be unable to speak French , the lan guage of the profession he is suddenly called upon to practice. He will also return from his post and turn his attention to politics I or managing many trolley corporations. There are many who think that the United States ought to establish & regu lar consular service , to be not only a school of experience , but a school ot development , wherein the men of ability nd force may find promotion , It Is just as probable that men of high ability and attractiveness of personality , fitted for the rank and respon sibility of ambassador , could be found In a fixed consular service as among the poli ticians , and they would have the advantage of knowing their business. FflEB ADVICE TO l.EOISLATtinE. O'Neill Frontiers The Incoming legisla ture will endear Itself to the people of the Btato If it will do away with all sinecure jobs around the state capital. And wo believe that U wilt do It Blair Pilot ! It the next state legislature does ft * full duty , remembering fully the platform In the reduction ot salaries , ex penses and needed reforms , Nebraska will swing back into republican line for the next quarter of a century. Holdrege Citizen : We want to see a short businesslike session ot the legislature and the number of clerks kept down as IOAV as possible with the prompt dispatch "f business , The legislators should get down to business and keep steadily at It till they got their work done and then they can go homo to their constituents with a clean record and a clear conscience. Fairmont Chronicle : U Is well known that the statute books of Nebraska are lum bered up with a lot of usele s laws that never were sustained by public sentiment and we forgotten by those whou * duty It is to no ttwt the law * cr * enforced. On this account tae > next legislature should do * me "weeding out" rather than to pas more lana for which there Is no public demand. Lyons 9ua : The lost "reform" senate of 1S97 had oa ltd pay roll seventeen clerks ot standing committees who had no duties to perform. Some of the clerks held down jobs In the city a-t the same time , some at tended school while they wore drawing 43 per day from the state , and some war * just common loafers who made no Improvement of their time. We hope the coming repub lican senate will keep the pay rolls at a minimum. The future of < ho party In the state depends upon the record which the legislature will make. North Platte Tribune : As Is usually the case , there will be many applications for the positions of janitor , custodian , mes sengers , pages , etc. , in the coming session ot the legislature. It Is truly remarkable how many persons there are who desire these temporary and , on the whole , poor-paying positions ; and t > y reason of the swarm of applicants many nore are employed than are really neceosary , each legislator wishIng - Ing to accommodate es many of his friends as possible. The incoming legislature should cut down the number of employes to a minimum and thus lessen the expense of the session. Osccola Records The legislature can give the taxpayers a practical demonstration of real reform this winter by cutting off a large number of employes in the etate house and1 In state institutions , but it should begin the good work by eecdng that the' usual largo army of hangenon are not placed on the pay rolls as employes of the legislature. There has not been a session of the legislature for years and probably never in the history of the state that about two or three times as many people are not put on the pay roll , with soft berths , as are needed. Reforms , like charity , should be gin at homo and if the legislature starts out with itself and nda up with the state Institutions thousands of dollars can be saved to the etate. Nlobrara Pioneer : The republican legis lature has an opportunity during the com ing session to redeem the party. On the record made this winter will depend the future success of the state ticket two years hence. The redemption of character in the party must come from outside the old of fice-seeking class and probably between Senator Tburston and Mr. Melklejohn jobs within the new possessions may be found for a large number of this class of party screechers. A bold step for the betterment of the party was token last fall and it the good feeling then existing can be main tained by decent treatment and good legis lation , the Pioneer sees DO obstacle in the way of party success -In Nebraska. But the old , methods must be laid aside. Tecumseh Chlfetaln : The twenty-sixth session of the Nebraska legislature will con vene In Lincoln one week from next Tues day. The republicans will be in the ma jority In both houses end will be in a posi tion to outline and control all legislation that may be enacted. The future ot the party depends largely on the wisdom and. discretion which the republican legislators exhibit in the discharge of their duties. If I t they adopt a judicious system la the curtail I ment of unnecessary expenses , dispense with , useless employes , keep the appropriations ! down to the lowest possible notch consistent I ent with the absolute needs of the several | departments , repeal all laws that were enacted - ' , acted for the sole purpose ot creating soft j for such new' | ' maps pet politicians , enact lawa as there is recogsrlted public need for , i echow junketing trips and finish up all 1 business and adjourn within the sixty-day ! I i limit , the record wll b * one on which the party can stand in future ) campaigns and oofiidently expect a majority of the people to endorse. But if a reverse policy should r be follawfd tmere wwuld be little use ot namIng - j I Ing a rpifUloan ticket to tkls state i * 1900 , | for lt iefeat weald Ve practically assured , i However , ve have n tnlseivlmgs as to the I policy that Ute legislator * will pursue. The republican members ef keth branches have freely expresved IkemsMlTe * in favor of strict economy and a bmrtcmllke session and no doubt will conform their official actions to these expressed views. ' PERSONAL AND OTHERWISE. Brooklyn It waking up. Her social cir cles are becoming Intensely excited over "algebra bees , " which are unknown quanti ties in other cities. | E. J. Berwlnd , the coal king , will own I the finest residence In New York. It is to stand on East Blxty-elghth street One mantelpiece olqne costs 110,000 and the tapestries are valued at $16,000. j I Senator Eugene Hale of Maine has been In congreja since 1809 and before that he had held office for eleven years forty years of office holding. On top of that will come In January another term in the senate. A 'testimonial fund ot $100,000 has been raised for the family of Colonel Waring , the man who cleaned the streets of New York and lost bis life from yellow fever con- traded while examining the drainage ot Havana. | Stanley Richmond , a prominent Free Mason , nag compiled a Hat of famous Amer icans belonging to itbe fraternity , which In cludes all but four of the signers of the Declaration of Independence , Washington , Warren , Rtvcre. Franklin , Steuben. Jack son , Putnam , Lafayette , Randolph and many others of a later day. I Albert Trugett , a New York boy of 12 I years , who stole some canned goods from a stand in a grocery store , was sentenced by the judge to receive a sound whlppthg from hli mother. More than this his mother volunteered to see that Santa Claus did not visit Albert's home this year and the stern judge approved this added sentence also. | i It Is said that a private soldier found In a street at Omdurman the letter which Gor don wrote to the Mahal In answer to the demand for retreat or surrender. The let ter boa been examined by all the ablest experts and is pronounced to be in Gordon's handwriting. As might ba expected , all Idea of surrender Is scouted , the MnluU Is reminded ot tils evil doings and his destruc tion at the hands of Hngllth soldiers Is prophesied. CamJeu , N. J. , Is entitled to recognition for having Introduced a new \\capou ot of fence and defense to the field ot honor. Two members of a fashionable club hnil i disagreement and agreed to right It out with eggs. The battle ended , vto are told , with a couple of badly soiled dress suits , but with the honor ot each contestant fully maintained. It Is to bo hoped tint the hen fruit as fresh , otherwise \ho chiol might have loft one or both of the heroes In bad odor. LUOKl.-SU TOWARD Till : OFFICES. West Point Procress ( dcui. ) : Loula Dc- wald of Wiener Is after the position of oil Inspector. It seems to us , however , that If Governor Poynter has an ) patronage to throw around In this good democratic county of Cumlng a democrat dhouKl bo the recipient. Our populist frlemls cer tainly have had tholr noses In the ftx-'il bag to more than their merits. Crawford Tribune ( rep. ) : Much interest centers in the question of who shall bo speaker of the Nebraska hoUM of represent atives , says the Seward Reporter. Indica tions point strongly to the BUCC M of Cap tain Allen 0. Fisher of Chadron , who rep resents the Fifty-third district. Captain Fisher is a man possessing flno qualifica tions and his eelectlrn would Indicate that the members of the legislature are determined - mined to have the best men for their officers. Mlnden Gazette ( rep. ) : If the repub licans ot the legislature , or rather the lower house , get tangled up on a candidate for speaker , Kearney county can furnish a man who will make an Ideal speaker. He hasn't hid any lightning rod out In order to draw things toward himself , but he Is as available as any candidate who has been mentioned. Ho has had experience as the presiding officer over larger bodies of men than the house of representatives , he la quick and Intelligent , is a man who will readily "catch on" to jobs and schemes , and would make a splendid presiding officer. Gentlemen of the legislature , we present the name of George F. Mllbourn for your , consideration. | North Loup Loyalist ( pop. ) : ExSuperln - I tondent D. McCall Is a candidate for the ' position of commandant ot the Soldiers' home at Grand Island. Mr. McCall WDS a soldier and has always been an active ! G. A. R. man. Ills son Frank , who Is | I remembered as a former Valley county ' teacher , Is now .In the Philippines. The old , gentleman will have the support of every old soldier In this part of the country and Is well and favorably known abioad. Cer tainly it the "reward ot the faithful" Is meted out on earth the professor deserves the plum , for he baa been training In the populist ranks ever since there has been suoh a party , and bo has been the "noblest Roman of them all. " Bt. Paul Republican : Captain Allen G. Fisher will have < the hearty good wlahos of all the boys who spent the summer with him at Chlckamauga to his race for the speakershlp ot the house In the coming legislature. He was one ot the too few commteeloned officers in the Second Ne braska whose heads were not swelled by a little brief authority , and hli activity In pro tecting the rights ot his men led to con siderable comment among the aristocratic sticklers for "official dignity" who imagined that U was an eternal disgrace to treat a private soldier as a man and an equal. Cap tain Fisher possesses splendid qualifications tor the position to which he aspires and it ha is successful every member of the lower house will bo sure of fair treatment from the presiding officer. A "PAKE" EPIDEMIC. The "Grip" Scare Pronounced a Crasy Exaggeration. Philadelphia Record. Ever since humanity began to take in telligent Interest In and to seek remedies for the "Ills that flesh is heir to" the influ enza of the winter season , now somewhat absurdly styled the "grip , " has been reck oned with as an enemy of individual com- fort and well being. "La grippe , " which In Its original French signification means epl- demlc catarrh or Influenza , has been trans- planted Into the English vocabulary as a term descriptive of some novel and mystcrl- ous disorder only less dreadful and fatal than smallpox or the black death. The peo- pie In our large cities , who must face all sorts of weather as they go about their busl- ness , are gravely warned by official boards and sensatlon-mongerlng newspapers of the serious dangers which they run because of this liability to tall victims to "the grip. " To this more or less mysterious malady 1 attributed a large and undue share ot the minor discomforts of existence in an Inclem ent and variable climate. There waa a time , not many years ago , when the average American citizen would have scorned the notion of coddling hlm'aelf at home every time be took cold In the winter season or had a fit of Indigestion or an attack of the dumps or megrims. But ot late there baa been 10 much annual cackle and gabble by experts and Inexperts over the commonplace and well nigh universal influ enza Infliction that even careless men , who drlvo ahead with their affairs without think * Ing seriously on how bard It Is to keep alive , bavs been moved in numbers to seek the seclusion of their own flrwldea end to call In a dootor at the first sneeze or bone ache which announces the dreaded "grip. " Such is the Influence of Ignorant and diluted tom foolery spread with grave unction over pages of health board reports and running wild in the columa of sensational newspapers ! It ought not to be difficult for any man or woman of ordinary common sense to es cape the maleficent and benumbing influ ence ot this "grip" delusion. What Is "tho crip , " anyway ? Medical authorities diagnose it as a special and malignant form of Influ enza , which during Its early stages Is not distinguishable from the familiar Infliction known as a cold In the head. Ergo , for fear that every case of undue nasal irrita tion may terminate nerlously , the person attacked - tacked must go to bed at once and send for the doctor ! Nonsense ! The proper thing to do Is for our people to fight off their rhouras and colds In the good old-fashioned way , paying no attention to the whims and fantasies ( "la grippe" in Frtnch means also a passing and capricious fancy ) ot the ovorwlso or overcreduloua persons who may seek to scare them into contracting doctor * } ' bills. Influenza and catarrh wo have always with us in this northern and changeful cllmato ot ours , and shall continue to have with ua until the end of time. To distinguish throe ancient and familiar maladies by a now name , and to Impute to them dangers not fairly chargeable to them , Is merely a phaao of the sort of crazy exaggeration which has beocme a recognized American character istic. "La grippe" Is Drst of all a "fantasy , " as defined in the French lexicons ; and the only way In which it can be transformed Into a serious menace to tbo health of the community is by some sort of concerted effort to scare people out of their wlta. ROYAL BAKING 4MOUUTEE.'toiJ.tE Makes the food more delkfous and wholesome . . UO1U. MIUM Until CO i Nt YOlm. l'OM ! < mM TO A POINT. Detroit Journal : "I wonder where novelists ists- get matirlnl for all their Morlcst' , ' "At stationer1 , 1 fancy. " * " Kenton OlohP ! Clm | > pl 1 nsk you for the last llm to jmy me that J5 you owe. Cliolly Tlinnk Koodnens , there's nn end of that silly ' 1'iick : Flint t'rchln Hcv a cigar ! I pot a box of 'em nt UhrUliii l Hocond t'ri'hln Ycr illtl ? , Flrnt t'rchln Yes ; mo mudilcr jnvo 'cm to mo fmlder nnd IIP chucked 'cm tiway back uv dft woodshed 1 Clovolnml Plnln Urnlcr : "My theory , doc tor , l * that n mnn with n clenr conscience has no cnme to ( trend , the grip. You never had It , dia you ? " "Yo-e-CB. " Ilrooklyn Life : lll Grace Tlmt wns a pixpltul jokou told mo last week. 1 waa lunching over It yesterday. " 80 soeui ? " Cincinnati Knqulrtr : Mrs. Folclfjh Oh , John , Uio jMlicr la offerinc , ! \ prlrn for t\ iloscrlutlon of a model huibntul , Mr. Fo- lelith You want to tfiki"ii try nt it. 'V . " , please. . i "All rlcht. Ju t set the tKii , Ink and paper and I'll dlctnt to yon.- ' ' ' Wnihlntrton Stnr : "I want to KnowIm - ptrloiisly eaUl tlvn caller , "what you menn by miylng a boo ! ; luia n ri tful atmos- "I mt-nn. " answered the critic * without n , monicmt'H lu'Mtiitlon , "thnt there was noth ing windy about It. " Indianapolis Journal : "He's a very wise youns : man , " paid Alnuil. J "I don't know whether ho la or not , answered Mnmlr. "Ho lectured mo for ten minutra on mistletoe nnd yet hedoesn't seem to recognize It when hu BOOS It. " Chlcnffo Post : Jt wn the dny nftcr nho hnd locked him out because ohe tlul not think he Rot homo fiom the club as enrly ns ho should. ' "Evidently , " he snld , "you have not heard of the Intoit popular fml of this covmtry. " "Dear me , no , ' Mho cxcle'.moih "What Is "The opcn-dpor policy , " ho replied , A Diiillentt > ttninc. . C 111 en 1:0 Record. A Rnmo of whist ? Whtf coulfl resist ? The chnllenfro bold when you Inwlat ? And yet I'm told thnt , ontro nous , You alwhys hold tt trick or two Unknown to your antagonist. I own I am no nnnlynt Of maiden's \\nM > , nor Rrasp the < K'st ' Of halt thalr plujs-tluis I may. rue A game of whist But , llko nn nrdent optimist , I'll Rive the wheel of ohan.oo a. twist ; I'll play my hand und woujd It daTe To try to win your hand from you If hearts bo trumps ? Do you porslBt- A gnme of. whUt' YB 1'ATinM' EIHTOli. Denver Post. . Ho had rend the county pnpor slnco Its first nppenr.inco day , And had fed the tru&tlnff editor on prom- la's to pay , , . . , But hhd said on ench occasion , , when nu yearly bill was due That the. scribe could KO to hades , for ho didn't have a sou. . He would drop Into the sanctum and would never shut the door. . . , . . Smoke yo editor's tobacco , claW his fresh exchanges o'er , Eat the upplos and the doughnuts and the other thlnRS thnt nil. Bent by readers and ndmlrerswho nfad never Bhlrkcd a bill. But yo editor was patient ; though his soul rebelled , his tongue Not a word of HW earful chiding at the cheeky nuisance gwurtg , ' And when friends would mutter "roast html" ho. with n forgiving smile , Said ho guessed It would bo better Just to let him run awhile. Ono cold day he turned up missing , and the news was quickly spread That he'd Interviewed a snowslldo and was comfortably dead , ' And ye editor's big ledger showed his credit pngo was whlto Aa tno imow that slid upon him hiding him from mortal sight. Then again the people shouted : "Ilonst htm ! Ronst him good nnd strong ! Tell-hla neighbors what a bilker they have harliored here BO long ! t'3 You who shielded him .whlto living , roast him , now that ho IB dead I" But ye editor Btnllcd gladly and with Joyful shake of hcnd Made reply : "I think he's getting quite a roasting where he's at My esteemed contemporary , Satan , will at tend to that. " Argument The most convincing argument that we know in favor of our kind of cloth ing is the garments them selves. If you will ex amine them you will buy. If we can interest'you sufficiently to get you to pay us a visit , we have no misgivings about getting you to pay our prices. The fact is , if we 'do say it , that there is no better- made clothing than sours and very little that is as good. Wherever you find anything that is as good in quality and this 'means cloth , trimmings , fit , work manship and all you'll find that it costs more than we charge for the same thing.