.EiiDmrdPMALs
OPINIONS OF G7EAT PAPERS ON IMPORTANT SUBJECTS
Will the Panama Canal Pay?
AN stteuipt has been made by Colonel George Earl
Church. In tbe Journal of the Royal Geographical
Society In London, to show that the Panama Canal
wI!lBot4Mijr.HoJtsfflnahjr.awwrtla ihat- tbe pro
jected waterway could not hope to gain any of the
commerce now panning between Europe, on the one band,
sad Asia and Africa on the other. Tbe figures seem cone-lustre
on thin point. The dlstauce from the English sea
port Plymouth to Yokohama in Japan Is 1,7:25 miles less by
Rues than by Panama. Even by the way of the (.'ape of
Good Hope, Plymouth Is nearer to Shanghai by 745 miles
than It would be by a Panama canal. As regards the trade
between Europe aud Australia, there is a slight difference
In favor of Panama on some of the routes, but this, accord
ing to Colonel Church, would be more than counterbalanced
by the csuiil tolls. With reference to the went const of
South America, we are reminded that the most valuable
part of Its freight traffic comes from the nitrate deposits
f Chile. It la, In tbe first place, uncertain how long the
nitrate traffic will last, owing to the doubt concerning tbe
depth of the deposits; and, even as things are now, It is
questionable whether the nirrnte trade, more than three
fourths of which goes on sailing vessels, would tuke the
Panama route, owing to the fact that an extensive region
of calms adjoins the western terminus.
trade of our own Pacific slope is not
Church, but he believes that the greater
tlnue to be conveyed across the'eontinent
no doubt that our transcontinental
seded the Cape Horn route, which used
fleet of clipper-ships, and they have practically absorbed
"the trade which used to cross the Isthmus by the Tanama
Railroad. In the traffic between New York and San
Francisco via the Panama. Hallway
000,000, but ten years later It had
$5,000,00.-. Harper's Weekly.
New Names for Old
to
action
reality
one for which we should try
flrcuniHtftnces;" to persuade ourselves.
seldom anything more than at worst
In lotno cases It Is white to all Intents
HE tendency of the age Is
I suade ourselves that an
I looks detestably bad Is In
1 community ought to punii
financier organizes a gigantic swindle, or a clever woman
ruins a hundred men, no vindictive punishment follows; It
Is decided to bo Inconvenient to prosecute, or men find
themselves laughing that there are still so many fools in
the world. If a woman kills her paramour, or a man In a
passion stabs a nagging wife, the first thought may be of
the rope, but the second Is of a petition to the Home Secre
tary. Ijist, If the marriage tie Is broken especially in high
places there Is an Immediate tendency to Invest with a
mist of romance and pretext finding what Is nothing better
than weakness and vulgarity. Is the tendency good or
bad?
If the people decide that they are only going- to hang
men and old or ugly women, you come perilously near the
floctrino that before a woman commits a murder she must
took In the glass. Murder and swindling are ugly words,
but no nation has ever been, or ever will be, the better for
using plensnnter synonyms for crime. London Spectator.
Railroad Accidents and Their Causes.
DURING the past year on all the railroads of the
Untied Slates, 107 persons were killed in railroad
accidents (collisions, derailments, boiler explosions,
etc.! and 3,5W1 passengers were injured. During the
same- period on British roads nut a single passenger
ivsh killed sind only -jfi were injured In railroad accident.
If It be argued that we have nearly jmyMMj miles of track
!ti this country as against '2.iHt In (ireut Britain, it must
be answered that the liability to railroad accidents In
creases with the density of traffic. Thnt Is to say, the risks
of collision, etc., are greater the greater the tmnilier of
ESCAPED A SPY'S FATE.
Georgia Conitrmnman Mad a ( loe Call
for Hia Life In War Time.
One of the most popular members of
Congress Is Representative Livingston,
of Georgia, a former Confederate sol
dier who was thor
o u g h I y "recon
structed" soon aft
er the last gun of
the conflict had
been fired, writes
a Washington cor
respondent. II e
was telling, In the
A pproprlstlous
Committee ro o in
at the Capitol, the
story of his nar
MR. LIVINGSTON.
row escape from
Yankee soldiers during operations at
Atlauta. He and a Texas scout were
Kent on a perilous mission In citizens
clothes. "1 knew verj path leading
to the city and the streets as well as
I did the bog paths around my own
farm, and General Hardee directed me
to ascertain Information about the en
emy, which I believed I could do from
a woman living In the city," suud Mr.
Livingston.
"We rode up to the back gate, but
to our astonishment the Yankees were
In her bouse. I sprang back Into my
addle aud we galloped away, the Yan
kees hot after us. Years afterward,
tbe late General Cogswell, of Massa
chusetts and I met here In this com
mittee room, and I happened to learn
that lie was the military commander
at Atlanta at that time. Then I told
ti I tn tny story.
"When I finished tailing It General
Coggswell put hi arm on my shoul
der and said: '
" 'Let us bo frlenda through life. I
aiii mighty glad the boys did not catch
you. . Ah n soldier, yoo know what
would have been your fata under the
circumstances, and we never wonld
have met under inch delightful condi
tions.' "From that day until hia death Gen
eral Coggswell and myself were at
fast friends ai any two men who aver
wore the bine and the fray. I waa
one af bia pallbearers and aaw him
laid to rest among tka people he earred
so well."
Congressman Livingsta somes of
-7
trains that pass
time. Now, here
traffic over English
own, so that when
we .find that tbe
marked than the.
ber of persons killed
density of traffic
It Is obvious to
railroads that,
worth very little
ference In results
me fact that In
ployes generally,
at one particular
of service, and.
accuracy. Traffic
The value of the
disputed by Colonel
rush attendant on
part of it will con
by rail. There Is
porary employes
railways have super
rush season Is over.
to eroploya huge
c
ORN Is tbe
worlds king
was valued at $70,
believing that
shrunk to less than
Vices.
find excuses; to per
Europe had little
which at first sight
ing It freely. There
not one which the
the world that last
h severely and swiftly, but
to find "extenuating
In fact, that black Is
dark gray, and that
and purposes. If a
farming can add
T
HE removal
breaking was
good lighting stock, his grandfather,
who was born In Ireland, having
served under Washington In the revo
lutionary war. Before entering public
life he followed the pursuits of a farm
er and was vice president and presi
dent respectively for eleven and four
years of the Georgia State Alliance
Por many years he has been a power
In tbe Democratic politics of Georgia.
He was elected to the Fifty second
Congress and has sat In that body
ever since.
THE OLD WOOD FIRE.
How It Was Built and Kept Alive by
an KsperU
After "the evening chores were done
my father would appear In the door
way with the big black log coated
with anow, often of ampler girth than
himself, and fully breast-high to him
as he held It upright, canting In one
way and another, and walking it be
fore him on Its wedge-shaped end. Ho
would perhaps stand It against the
chlmuey while be took a breathing
spell and planned his campaign. Then,
the audlrous hauled forward on the
hearth, and the bed of half-burnt
brands and live coals raked open, the
Icy log was walked Into the chimney,
where a skillful turn would lay it
over, hissing and steaming, In Its lair
of hot embers, says a writer In the
Atlantic Monthly. It seemed a thing
alive, and Its vehement sputtering and
protesting mado a dramatic moment
for at least one small spectator. The
tout shovel and tongs, or, -rliaps, a
piece of firewood used as a lever,
would force It against the 'chlu'iney
backj then a good sized stick, called
a "back-stick," was laid on top of It,
and tbe andirons were set In place.
Across tho andirons another good sized
stick was laid, called a "fore-stick,"
and In Die Interspace smaller sticks
were crossed and thrust, and piled, all
quickly kindled by the live coals and
brands. In very cold weather a fire
was kept burning all night, our father
getting up once or twice to replenish
It, Even In summer the coals rarely
became extinct. A good heap of
them, covered with ember at bed
time, would be found alive when raked
pea In tbe morning.
We don't bellave we ever knaw aay
one who waa mat all right la User.
over a given stretch of line In a glvei
again statistics prove that the density ol
roads Is far greater than that over oui
we have taken this Into consideration,
difference in --:i'ifv-f travel is even more
mere statement of the relative total num
and Injured would suggest.
Two of the most prolific causes of accident are the nw
of single track for trains traveling In opposite directions (It
was on single track that the recent collision occurred) and
that most unreliable system of safeguarding a stopping
train by sending back a rear flagman. The first condition
we can only hope to remove gradually as the Increase In
warrants the laying of double track; but
the most unobservant passenger upon our
half the time, rear-flag safeguarding - Is
in protection against rear collisions.
If American railroad men arc asked to explain tbe dif
between the two countries, they point to
Great Britain signalmen, and railroad em
remain In the service of the company and
class of work for many consecutive years
consequently, attain remarkable skill and
conditions in Great Britain, moreover, are
less variable, whereas In this country the volume of traffic
varies greatly with the season of the year, and during the
the moving of Western crops, for In
stance, It Is necessary to take on a large number of tern
whose services are discontinued when the
Scientific American.
Great future of Corn.
great American crop, Is it to become th
of cereals? There Is some reason for
corn has entered upon n career unci
ampled heretofore In the history of grain production
and consumption. A recent report based on the
latest developments in this direction notes the significant
change that has come about. Until within a few years
use for corn, but now is buying and eat
Is so great a demand from all parts of
year s crop, enormous as It was, Is likely
to bo pretty thoroughly consumed. Of course this sustains
prices, and the corn grower profits accordingly. The belief
Is now expressed that the American farmer can never again
raise corn enough to congest the market, and that prices are
likely to be sustained at a high level. This must stimulate
corn production, and there Is plenty of ground where It
may spread. The "corn belt" Is a wide one, extending
across tho continent, and new methods of cultivation, the
utilizing through Irrigation of millions of acres now un
tllled and the increased yield coming from more skillful
enormously to the output. Troy Times.
More Indians than Ever.
of 3,000 Choctaws from Mississippi an4
Louisiana to the Indian Territory, which Is now In
progress, need Inspire no eloquence about red tuen's
wrongs and "palefaces' broken treaties." The treaty
on the other aide; these members of
the tribe are descended from those who failed to move
West in 18.10 as they agreed, and they are exchanging a
precarious aud hard existence for comparative affluence.
Our Indians do not now fare badly. Far from dying
out, they are Increasing in number. The census of 1890
reported 249,000 of them; Secretary Hitchcock's recent re
port shows an Increase to 2!9,0O0. Allowing for Indian ad
mixture In men reckoned as whites, there is more Indian
blood In the country to-day than when the Pilgrims landed.
Then tbe tribes were decimated by disease and wasted by
wars; greut tracts of uninhabited forests lay between
them, and they could not hold lauds so much wider than
they used. Now their descendants mainly dwell In compact
communities, usually civilized and prosperous.
The rise In value of their lands has made most of the
Indians well-to-do, the richest tribes being three or four
times as wealthy as the same number of average whites.
New York World.
SAGE DROVE BARGAIN.
Then Made .Neighbor Pay for Hide In
Work of Hired Man.
Russell Sage has not squandered
very much on clothes and personal lux
uries during bis long life, still he has
spent some pretty large sums on
horses, his love of which has amount
ed to almost u passion. Some time
ago he paid $10,000 for a team of trot
ters for use at bis country, place on
Long Islund, and the first time he was
to drive them he asked Frank Til ford,
who was a neighbor of his, to go with
him. How LVtcle Russell made the ro
tund Til ford pay for his outing Is still
told with greut glee throughout tho
countryside.
After driving a little . way a team
was seen approaching drawing a load
of salt hay out from the meadows
along the shore. Immediately said
Sage:
"I am paying too much money for
bedding for my horses. Now we'll see
what this man wants for his load of
hay."
So the stranger was stopped and tho
aged financier began negotiations.
"What do you want for that load of
hay?"
"Five dollars," was the reply.
"Five dollars?" said Sage. "Why, It
Is not worth a ceut more than three.
It does not cost you anything; all you
have to do Is to cut It."
"Well," replied tho farmer, "It takes
a good half day's work, and the use
of my horse and wagon."
Hut Sage would not pay $5, so a com
promise was made for $4 for the load
delivered.
"Where shall I leave it?" said the
farmer.
"At Frank Tllford's," said Undo
Russell, and, turning to Tllford, as
they drove on, he said:
"You see,, Frank, If he knew that
bay was for Russell Sage he would
not let It go for less than $7. And, by
tho way, when he leaves It at your
place, Just let your man bring It over
to my burn." Mall nnd Express.
The School for ftcandal.
"Look at the crowd of women go
ing late airs. Gabble's house. Wbat'a
the attraction r
"Detraction. The sawing circle meets
than ta-sajr." Philadelphia Press.
HUMOR OF THE WEEK
TORIES TOLD BY FUNNY MEN
OF THE PRESS.
Odd, Cnriooa and Laughable Phaaea
of Human Nature Graphically Por
trayed by Eminent Word Art lata of
Our Own Day A Budget of Fun.
Tom (who has been away) Did you
and that girl you were engaged to get
married?
Jack Yes; but we are not living to
gether.
Tom Why? What's the trouble?
Jack Oh, no trouble at all. She
married another man and I married
another girl.
Faat, All Bight.
"Did yon sell Mrs. Stuckumgood that
piece of goods and guarantee the col
ors to be fast?"
"Why, ye-ye-yes, sir. Wh-wha
what's th' matter?"
"Nothing, only she's developed palpi
tation of the heart trying to catch 'em
since they started to ruu." Baltimore
News.
The Hoy Giienited Right.
"Now, Johnny, can you tell me who
built the ark?"
"No."
"That's right, Johnny It was Noah.
Ella, give Johnny the prize picture
card." Baltimore News.
Prime and i'octry.
"What is more welcome than a full
moon?" whispered the poetic young
man.
"Why, a full coal scuttle," replied
the practical girl, and then he said no
more.
Pop Knew,
Tommy Say, pop, what's the differ
ence between a pessimist and an op
timist? His Pop One's married and the oth
er Is single.
Wasn't Unite Snre.
Mrs. Nextdoor Your daughter has
Improved wonderfully In her piano
playing.
Mrs. Homer I'm glad to hear you
ay so if you are really sincere.
Mrs. Nextdoor Why, what do yon
mean?
Mrs. Homer Well, you see, we
didn't know whether she was Improv
ing or whether we were merely getting
used to It.
, Frequent Occurrence.
"A woman has been arrested for dis
figuring her children."
"Why, thousands do that and are
never molested."
"Disfigure their children?"
"Yes cut their hair."
After the Heceptlon.
Krnie Her costume that night cap
tivated him. The papers described It
as a "fetching gown."
Kdith - -Probably because It "fetch
d" her a husband.
The New Conductor.
"This rustic youth wants me to get
him on bis feet," said tho street rail
way ollicial.
"Make him conductor," replied the
brother ollicial, "and he will get on
other people's feet."
dimmed Con it itlnnn.
Green I understand you live In
very quiet part of the town.
Brown We did until recently.
Green Then you have moved?
Brown No. Twins.
All he Needed.
"I need some money to go shopping
with," announced the fond wife.
"It would be better for your health
If you walked back and forth,'1 suggest
ed the Indulgent husband, handing her
the 10 cents for car fare.
Hia Very Flrat Appearance.
The Villain Were you troubled with
Htago fright when you made your first
appearance?
The Comedian I guess so. Mother
says I set up a howl and refused to ut
ter a word.
Fully P.qulpped.
lie Are you sure that you are fit
ted to be a poor man's wife?
Sim Sure! Why, my love, I know
every bargain counter In town. New
York Week I v.
When the Ho Peases.
Roderick Tho good and bad go to
church.
Van Albert I don't understand.
Roderick Why, good .peoplu and
bad money.
Land of Midnight Bun.
! Rodrick Yos, that lust polar expe
dition almost starved.
Vnn Albert And yet you say the
li ill three meals per day?
, Itiidrick Yei, but tbe days up thors
are tlx uioulbe leag. .
Mot Bare of Him.
"Why are you to sure that he lovea
you?"
"Because be stays away from me
in hopes he can overcome the fascina
tion of my presence. And there la only
one thing that bothers me I fear be
will succeed." Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Beat Way.
Wlfey This flat doesn't exactly suit
me. There are some things very nice
about It, and others I don't like.
Hubby Well, my dear; you must
learn to take the bitter with the suite
Philadelphia Bulletin.
Not a Whole One.
She Ain't your little sister verj
small for her age?
He She's jlst er half sister.
From Kxperience.
O.stend Paw, what is "nelghborlj
congeniality?"
Paw Lending out your scythe and
shovel and getting a saucer of prunes
over the fence in return. Philadelphia
Bulletin.
Matter of Sex.
.Man wants but little here below,
Hut women folk lire oncer!
They want the big, round earth, becaust
lhey think it s woman sphere.
Quite Appropriate.
He I wonder why Sirs. Splugg
dresses so loud?
She Oh, her husband Is quite deaf,
Appropriate, She Thinks.
"She says she's got tired of making
cake for church sociables."
"Yes, I noticed that she always
promises the committee a 'spongs
cake.' "Philadelphia Bulletin.
Between Frlenda.
"I'm getting tired of boarding
houses," said the young, man who parti
his hair in the middle. "I've half
mind to get married!"
"Of course," growled the old bach
elor. "It takes Just about that amouui
of mind to think of such a fool thing.'
Knew Her Business.
Softleigh Are you quite sure MIsj
Banks Is not In?
The Maid Of course I am. She gav
me one of your photographs In ordei
to make me doubly sure.
Mixed In the Order.
First Fellow Very poor servl
here.
Second Fellow Yaas; the other day
I ordered fried eggs and when the
waiter got back he brought me sprlns
chicken.
The Perversity of Politics.
"They say he hag run through a for
tune trying to get elected to ofllce."
"Yes; aud now his money's gone ht
can't even get a job as walking delo
gate." Philadelphia Bulletin.
His Only Chance.
Weeks I called my wife down thli
morning.
Meoks What for?
Weeks Because she was upstairs.
An Artful Dodger.
Miss Elderlelgh I never yet
the man I would marry.
sat
Miss Younguu Indeed! But then 1
suppose he saw you first.
Two Pointa of View.
He Did you ever notice how higl
Miss Neurlch carries her head?
She Yes, poor girl; she has a neel
tike a giraffe.
A Rurrler.
. "What have you In the way of beet
steak to-day?" asked the cheerful cus
tomer who hadn't paid his bill.
"Well," replied the frank butcher, "1
reckon about the only thing In the waj
Is Its price." Baltimore News.
Patience Rewarded.
Smith I hear Short, the coal
man
has come Into a large fortune.
Jones Well, he's entitled to It
Smith Oh, he Is, eh?
Jones Yes. He's been lying
weight for it a good many years.'
On the Link.
First Caddie 1'vo got a snap.
Second Caddie What doln'?
First Caddlt Chaperotiln', De old
man give me a $1 to tell him every tlim
de dude kissed bis daughter, on' di
dude give me f 1 not lo tell.
Pnrodoxical.
The Humorist I can't think
of
single joke.
The Puragrnpher That's funny.
Friendly Comment.
Myer Meeker's wife buys all hh
ties for him. What do you think el
her taste?
Oyer Not much; bat I admin
Meeker's nerve in wearing them.
ORGAN GRINDER3 BETTER OFF.
Helped by Concentration of Papain
tlon, an Old Gentleman Finda.
In these days of flats and tall tene
ments, with families living on floor
Jbove floor towering In fhe air, tbe
money for the hand-organ man is
thrown , down to hini wrapped up in
paper. -
"I should think," said a benevolent
appearing old gentleman woo was
walking along a South Side street the
other day, to an Italian organ grinder
who could speak English enough to be
understood: "I should think that the
money coining dawn, that way, all done
up so, would add greatly to the Inter
est of the business. You never know
just what you are going to get until
you actually open the papers. You
might find $5. There's a mystery la
every package."
"Notta much mystery," said the or
gan grinder, smilingly.
He was willing to admit that there
was a certain enjoyment in opening
the package it might contain large
money; but he had never come across
any gold there yet; people give the or
gan grinder now just what they used to
give, namely, cents.
"Well, then," said the benevolent old
gentleman, who appeared to be a man
who had time to stand around and talk,
"if they don't give any more thean they
used to, how can you afford to double
up on your plant like this? A big ex
pensive organ, and two men to ruu it,
Instead of one."
"More people," was the substance of
the organ mnu's 'answer; and, without!
undertaking to reproduce his dialect,
what he told the old gentleman was;
that in no end of blocks where there
used to be houses with one family
apiece there would now be found, in
flats or apartments, five or ten fami
lies; and that, while people might not
give Individually more than they did
years ago, there were ten times aS
many of them to give. So that even on
small puoflts the greater volume of
business nowadays made it possible td
do even tbe hand-organ business oil
the grander modern scale.
"Ye es," said the benevolent old
gentleman, turning as he spoke, and
wrapping up a coin In a piece of paper,
which, turning again, he handed to ths
suave organist, who smiled again as
he opened it.
It was not a great mystery that this
package contained, but it was greatci
than a cent. Chicago Inter Ocean.
AN ACCOMMODATING NEIGHBOR
Following: Conversation Between Two
Yonnc Women Overhe ird.
The following conversation of two
young ladies was overheard a few!
nights ago on a Sixth avenue clectrid
car:
"Do you know, I think she Is absot
lutely the meanest woman I evel
knew?"
"Why, what is the matter with her?"
"Matter? Why, everything. She
does nothing but borrow from morning
to night. You know. She has the
apartment just across the hall from us,
and the day she moved In she started
by borrowing an egg from mother. The
next day she borrowed a cup of sugar,
and since that time she has borrowed
everything from a piece of butter to
tho baby carriage, anil has never mado
any attempt to return a single thing.
I have often tolcl mother that I was '
going to borrow some of the things
back, but she has always forbidden
me. Last night, however, 1 had to
write some letters, and I had no Ink.
It was raining very hard, and mother
was out, so I resolved that, rather than
go out in the rain I would disobey or
ders and ask our neighbor to let me
have her ink. . I asked her, and what
do you think she said? 'I haven't any
Ink, but I'll let you take my shoe pol
ish. It Is just as good. It dries quick-)
ly, but you can write Just as well with
it' Oh, I never met a meaner woman
in my life." New York Times.
Paul's Smallest Audience.
Mme. Parti, whose one appearand
on the concert platform during a Lon
don season does not nearly satftrfy
the wishes of ber many admirers, tell
a story of the occasion when her andt-
ence was the smallest on record, con
slstlng as It did of only one person.
The lucky ludlvdual was a child. Dur
ing a tour some years ago In Aaserica
Mme. Patti was unable to sing at ens
of the concerts; the bad weather kept
her Indoors.
While she w as quietly resting hi hei
hotel, she heard a child crying, and
going Into the room where the cfcild
was, Mme. Patti found that the little
one was In trouble because her moth
er had gone to bear Mme. Parti atng.
She had wanted to go, but was not well
enough to be allowed out of doors.
Mme. Patti tried to console tbe child,
and at last she said she would atng to
ber. Tho child did not accept the of
fer very readily; she said she wanted
to hear Mme. Pattt slngl However,
before the first song was finished the
child bad recognized tbe great sinner,
and when the little Impromptn eon
cert was over, the audience waa su
premely happy. Golden Penny. '
Bcheme that Failed.
"I have a question for you," aald tht
bashful young man.
"Turn It loose," replied the fair ene.
"If," said the b. y. m., "you thought
of another fellow what you think of
me, would you 'marry him?"
"When the other fellow asks me,"
answered the fair gum chewer, "III
let you know by postal card."
No Amatenr.
Illll That man Is a horrible Mar.
Jill O, I don't know; I think he's
good at it Yonkers Statesman.
Moths mnit be . cold-blooded am
hires; the free, neatly appear ha ever- -coats
ta August.
