TOPICS OF THE TIMES.
A CHOICE SELECTION OF INTERESTING - '
ESTING ITEMS.
Comments and Criticisms Based Upon
the llai/pciiin-Bof tlie Day-Histori
cal und News Notes.
Xo one denies that that $20,000.000
was ono of the greatest figures of the
war.
The weary paragraphers seem to be
glad of an opportunity to sit down on
the chair trust.
The Governor of Ponape , who hid his
gunboats in a swamp , had evidently
a correct idea of Dewey's prowess.
The new bicycle trust can have no
more terrors than the old kind of bicy
cle trust that called for $5 per mouth.
Spaniards may hoot American star ?
on their operatic stage , but they can't
diminish the glory of the stars on the
flag.
While wireless telegraphy may uti
lize the air it's only the wonderful
character of the invention that's calcu
lated to take away our breath.
A Xew England man assaulted his
wife and then jumped Jiito the river ,
but was saved. Over-officious people
ure alwavs around when not needed.
Well , the German Emperor now
knows the true inwardness of "Iloch
der Kaiser , " anyway , and it is safe to
say he considers it is lese majeste in
Its most sacrilegious form.
v A Western doctor , not to be beaten
bysurgeons who have demonstrated
the superfluous nature of the stomach ,
bas been experimenting on hogs and
lias found that the heart is unneces
sary to the maintenance of life. Still ,
nobody ever regarded the hog as a be
ing of a great deal of heart.
The mists of old world ideals are s
ubout us , and there is a hazy notion in
the minds of ignorant people that mon
ey or birth or connection with one cir
cle or another is necessary for the mak-
' .ng of real gentlefolk. That was not
the belief of the greatest Americans
who have lived , and when the fog of
false notions is cleared out of the eyes
3f the people it will be seen that the
aristocracy of real manhood is the
noblest and grandest in the world.
Dewey on one occasion , according tea
a , writer in the London Chronicle , fail
ed to see a liag of truce displayed by
Aguinaldo while the Admiral's guns
ivere mowing down the insurgents
after "a particularly villainous attack
on the Americans. ' ' Students of naval
history Avill remember that Nelson
failed to see a certain signal with his
blind eye at the battle of Copenhagen.
There are times when a failure of eye
sight seems to be almost a necessary
qualification for a naval commander
who knows what he is about and is de
termined to do it.
Women's wages are lower than men's
because a woman is not regarded as a
ixture in the business world. There is
in element of chance about her services
ihat does not enter into consideration
when a man is employed. The right
aian may come along any day , and then
she will resign and marry and her em
ployer will have to get some one else
for her place. In fact , she herself usu-
illy regards her employment as tempo
rary. In this tltere is no criticism of
her work or of her ability , but only of
: he uncertainty of her term of service.
She may be the equal of any man hold
ing a similar position , but the doubt as
to how long she will remain lessens
*
tier value. She cannot be counted upon
except from week to week or from
mouth to month. The training she gets
ind which qualities her to take the posi-
; ion next above hers , when there is a
vacancy , may be lost to the employer
Just when he needs it most. It is this
feeling which causes him to prefer to
nave a male employe , all else being
equal , and he will often pay more for
one because of the greater certainty of
nis remaining to put the training he
gets to practical use. These facts will
hardly be disputed. We may regret
that the woman is not paid as much as
the man when she is his equal in abil
ity , but the reason for it is apparent ,
and the employer can hardly be blamed
for taking the view he does of it. Per
manency has its value in the labor mar
ket.
During the next century the best
things will be for those that can work
with their hands directed by their
brains. During our fast national life of
the last half century the teaching has
been that any boy with ambition must
needs become a lawyer , a doctor , a
preacher anything not requiring him
$ o come into manual contact with pro
ductive work. Though it has not been
said it has until now been universally
felt that brains are not needed outside
the professions. We are now entering
on an era in which brains are required
in all kinds of work and In which
work will be required according to the
brain power that is behind it. Farm
ers with brains will earn a kind of com
petency that no mere capitalist ever
knew ; carpenters with ideas Avill never
be out of work ; clerks with the logic
to see that their employer's interests
are their own will be at a premium ; do
mestic servants with domestic instincts
will share the best homes , and ditch
diggers who have learned to use good
judgment will command ample com
pensation. Barring rare cases of mis
fortune the only men , or women , who
need be out of work from now on will
be those that are too lazy or too proud
to work , those that immensely over
value their own services , and those that
never use their brains. Whatever your
' .work I don't care what it is , and it
makes very little difference what it is
become scientific in it and you needn't
worry over that horrible bugbear of the
incompetent ) making a ttving.
It may be that the order for the Sun
day closing of all places of business in
Ilavana was warranted by local opin
ion , but care should be taken not to
force American ideas too rapidly or rad
ically upon the ex-Spanish possessions.
Nothing can create discontent more
subtly or surely than ruthless interfer
ence with popular customs and amuse
ments that have existed for centuries.
The sudden discontinuance of bull
fighting in Cuba may be defensible , but
the pursuance of this sort of reform pol
icy can easily lead to disaster if prose
cuted too vigorously. It was not possi
ble for the American Government to
continue the lotteries in Cuba and the
Philippines , but there are many minor
evils that will be better let alone until
they die naturally. In every Spanish
country it is the custom to go shopping
on Sunday afternoon , and it is thought
to be as proper and harmless as doing
the same thing on Monday morning. It
will be a mistake to try to force Presby
terian or Methodist ideas upon these
people , or to change their customs sud
denly or violently. It will be well to
remember that the Dutch , who have
made the most signal success in govern
ing the Malay race , have interfered
least with the customs and religion of
the people.
Gifford Pinchot , chief of the United
States Forestry Bureau , delivered an
address in Philadelphia on what the
Government is doing to preserve the
Western forests. It is only about three
years since President Cleveland signed
the proclamation which reserved these
Western forest lands , and which raised
the aggregate of such resrves to 44.-
000,000 acres. Mr. Pinchot is the first
appointee of the newly created position
he holds , and he has been exploring the
forests of the Northwest from Wiscon
sin to Oregon and California. The re
sults of his observations are both inter
esting and instructive. There are two
great enemies of the forests the reck
less lumberman and the forest.tire. Un
der proper forestry management the
young growth that springs up to re
place the cutting is preserved and pro
tected , but when fire is allowed to
sweep through the tract the destruction
is complete. Mr. Pinchot has collected
abundant proofs of forest waste , but
he does not appear to have formulated
any definite measures for fighting the
two enemies. These may be expected
to follow later , lie suggests that the
work of protecting and adding to the
forest reserves would be done more ef
fectively if it were not divided between
two departments those of Agriculture
and of the Interior. One point Mr.
Pinchot makes clear. He says the
question of the near future will be that
of sheep-grazing in the forest reserves.
The sheepmen and their friends arc
bringing all possible influence to bear
to have the Government forests thrown
open for grazing. This should not be
allowed. To graze sheep in a forest
country it must first be burned over in
order to allow the grass to grow. This
kills the young trees and injures the
older forest growth. The forest areas
must not be tampered with in that
manner. The wooded areas are al
ready becoming so scarce as to have an
appreciable effect upon the climate , re
ducing the necessary rainfall in some
parts of the country. The remaining
forests should be carefully guarded ,
and all needless or wanton waste of
the timber should be stopped as far as
possible. Forest fires probably can
never be wholly prevented , but they
can be limited in their sweep. The
Government has been none too early
in taking this important matter in
hand , and not an acre of forest should
be allowed to be burned for sheep-graz
ing or any other private enterprise.
Tombstone Orthography.
The summit of bad spelling in an epi
taph seems to have been reached by
the folloAving inscription in English ,
found on a gravestone in the Caroline
Islands put up to the memory of two
brave sailors :
Sacred to Wilni. Collis
Boat Sieoror of the SHIP
SniNT seorge of New BED
ford who By the Will of
Almitey god
was siviriliery injured hv a
BULL WHALE
off this Hand on
IS March 1SGO
also to
Pedro Sahbanas of Guam
4th MaTE droinvnpd on
the SAME Date his
Back broken by WHALE
above
MeNTioned
Youth's Companion.
A Rule to Remember.
An anecdote of Bishop Thomas W.
Dudley , narrated in the Sioux City
Journal , reveals , in his own words , the
secret of his success :
When it was first known in the cif.r
in which he was settled that he was to
zo to Kentucky , some of his friends
were disposed to be critical.
"You are not going to Kentucky , are
you'i" asked one.
"Yes. indeed. "
"Do you know what kind of a State
that is ? I saw in the- paper that one
man killed another in a Kentucky town
for treading on a dog. "
The bishop said nothing , and the man
. ontinued , impatiently , "What are you
joing to do in a place like that ? ' '
"I'm not going to tread on the dog ! ' '
ivas the calm reply.
Cathedral lions i Building.
The cathedral of the City of Mexico
svas commenced in 1573 and completed
u 1731. at a cost of ? 2,000,000.
If a girl has attended boarding
school one year of her life she always
efers to that school as the place where
; he received her education.
ISSUES NEXT YEAR.
Discussion as to what the dominant
issue will be during the campaign of
1900 is attracting more or less atten
tion from editors and politicians just
now. There can be no harm in discuss
ing this matter , but it is not at all like
ly that the issues can be made up with
any degree of certainty before the time
for conflict arises. In this city not long
ago William J. Bryan reiterated his
belief that the Democratic national
convention will "reaffirm the Chicago
platform. " "But , " he added , "no man
has a right at this time to say what
the Democratic platform will be. You
do not know what the next twelve
months will bring forth. " And when
asked , "Will free silver be the dominant
issue in the next campaign ? " he re
plied : "It is altogether too early to
say Avhat will be the dominant issue ,
but whatever the iss'ue is the Demo
cratic party Avill meet it squarely. "
When the combat opens the dominant
issue will be that which is nearest to
the people. It will be the question of
immediate importance. It will not be
a matter of ancient history , nor will it
be an academic theory. It will be a
live question. The currency question
is important but there are'other ques
tions which may prove of more instant
and vital import. The Republicans
may force the money matter to the
front by attempting to secure gold leg
islation in the next Congress , but such
action is extremely problematical. Im
perialism may have run its course be
fore the Presidential campaign begins ,
or it may have developed into a burn
ing issue. But the trusts will be in evi
dence , stronger , more dangerous , more
insolent than ever.
The Republican party may endeavor
to fool the people with a paltering
pledge to oppose trusts , but this scheme
will not work , and it is quite likely that
one of the dormant questions before
the people in 1900 will be that concern
ing the trusts. Chicago Democrat.
"Currency Reform. "
After much tribulation the House
Republican Commitee has , it is alleged ,
brought forth a scheme of currency
'reform. " This scheme is not so broad ,
nor so long as that devised by the ln-
[ lianapolis "sound" money convention.
Lt is a compromise and it will satisfy
nobody. Briefly summarized , it is as
follows :
"The redemption of all obligations of
the government in gold 011 demand.
Greenbacks , when once redeemed for
cold , to be reissued only for gold. Per
mitting national banks to issue notes
to the pav value of their government
bonds deposited in the treasury , in
stead of 90 per cent. , as at present.
Permitting the minimum capital of na
tional banks to be $23,000 , instead of
? (0COO , as at present. "
There is nothing in this about mak
ing silver dollars redeemable in gold ,
nor is there a suggestion of making all
the outstanding obligations of this na
tion gold obligations. Neither is there
a hint of placing the issuing of paper
money entirely in the hands of the
banks. It seems that the House Re
publican caucus committee was not
prepared to approve "wild cat" money
secured only by the office furniture of
tile banking houses. It must not be
joucluded , however , that the schemes
of the money power to place the gold
standaid absolutely in power will be
iibamloned. The plan suggested by the
caucus is simply an "entering wedge. "
Later on stronger methods will be ad
vocated. If the Republicans remain in
power the "wild cat" money scheme
will be urged , and if the House and j
Senate can be controlled such a plan
will finally be put into execution. The
only hope for the people to escape
slavery to the money power rests in
the success of Democracy.
and Taxation.
The people , on account of this expan
sion policy , are paying war taxes in
time of peace atthe rate of half a mill
ion a day , but these revenues will bare
ly suffice to meet the expenditures and
additional taxation will become neces
sary if the policy of the administration
is maintained. Instead of assisting the
Filipinos to attain self-government , in
stead of keeping the promises made to
them a year ago , when they fought side
by side with our army against the com
mon enemy , a war is being carried on
for their subjugation , thereby bringing
shame and disgrace upon the American
people and their boasted love for liber
ty. Denver Post.
Too Late in Any Fvetit.
It would therefore appear that it
would be good politics on the side of
the administration not to let too long a
time elapse between peace "with honor
and glory , " and the opening of the next
Presidential campaign. It would be
a smart stroke to end the war just far
enough in advance of the next Presi
dential election for Mr. McKiuley to
reap the benefits of the honor and glory
of peace , but too late for sober thought
on the part of the masses to affect the
result. Richmond Dispatch.
What Is Glory ?
Of what concern is it to us how the
Philippines govern themselves and of
what benefit can it be to the people of
this country to rule over foreign and
alien races ? It is said it will cost $100-
000,000 a- year to maintain our sovereignty
eignty over those islands , and all for
what ? Nothing at all , except for the
"glory" of it and the making of a few
men rich who wish to lay cables and
build battleships. If men must be en
riched at the expense of the Govern
ment it is far better to award them con
tracts for internal improvements , and
the money will then at least be kept at
home. And as for "glory , " which is the
more glorious to stand for peace and
justice in the world or to engage in this
"destiny" business of slaughtering and
despoiling helpless and distant peoples ?
Indianapolis Sentinel.
Tinkerinir the Currency.
Just in what shape the currency
question will come before the next Con
gress is not yet determined by the Re
publican "reformers. " That matter
will be governed largely by political
considerations. McKinley wants to be
reuominated , and , of course , hopes to
be re-elected President. The St. Louis
Republican platform pledged him to
bimetallism. His party has been doing
all it could to secure gold monometal
lism. The currency tinkers at Atlantic
City have evolved a scheme which will
contract the currency by impounding
all the greenbacks paid into the na
tional treasury , and which are not to
be paid out except for gold.
But the business of the country will
not patiently endure a contraction of
the currency. The tinkers know this
and have suggested that the national
banks be allowed to issue notes to the
full value of the bonds deposited to se
cure such issue , instead of 90 per cent ,
only , as at present. Another sugestion
is to allow the establishing of new na
tional banks with a minimum capital
of $23,000 instead of the $30,000 now re
quired.
But all these propositions may be dis
regarded by Congress , as the main
thing is to boom McKinley. who has
no earnest convictions whatever 011 the
money question.
McKin'ey Out for Votes.
The President has a right to pay a
visit to the AVest if he wishes to do so ,
and his friends have a right to pretend
that his visit is for some other than its
real purpose , but the more they pre
tend , the more general will be the-con
viction that they are only pretending.
As the days go on the chances for elect
ing a Democratic President appear to
be improving , and the brightening of
the Democratic prospect is not a good
omen , as the President sees it. It is
understood that Mark Ilanua expects
that some Eastern States that went for
McKiuley in 1S9G will go against him
in 1900 , and it is necessary that the
loss should be made good through the
recovery of some of the Western
States that voted against McKiuley
three years ago. It is easy to under
stand why a difficult and delicate task
of this nature should be intrusted to
the President himself , and this has led
to the projecting of the Western trip
that is to have no politics in it. Bing-
haniton Leader.
On Dangerous Ground.
Imperialism places itself above the
constitution and ignores it as the trusts
and combines ignore the laws when
ever they come in conflict with their
designs. This is imperialism of the
most dangerous kind and unless the
people wake up and manfully do battle
for the rights guaranteed to them by
the fundamental law of the land there
will be no end to the assumption of
power by an administration which has
already gone so far outside of the law.
The matter is deserving of the most
serious consideration of all fair-mind
ed , liberty-loving people who do not
want to see constituional .government
displaced by the absolute power of
imperialism. The administration is
venturing on dangerous ground when
in its mad desire for supremacy it an
nuls the fundamental law of the land.
Denver Post.
Aliens or .Rebels ?
The Federal immigration commis
sioner at San Francisco has forbidden
ten Filipinos to laud , on the ground
that they are alien contract laborers.
This should make a test question for
the United States Supreme Court to
settle. If the people of the Philippines
are aliens , then those of them in arms
against the United States certainly can
not be rebels. And if they are not
[ ilie'us , then of course they are United
States citizens , and entitled to the priv
ilege of moving to and fro throughout
the territory of the United States and
getting work where.they can find it.
Springfield Republican.
A Hopeless Job.
It is going to be a mighty awkward
job to conduct an anti-trust campaign
with the Honorable William McKinley
and the Honorable John W. Griggs sit
ting on the safety valve. The Ameri
ca n people are easily led by the nose ,
us the Honorable John R. Tanner
knows to his profit , but we greatly
floubt whether they are so gullible as to
accept as apostles of the anti-trust cru
sade the very men who are openly and
notoriously the beneficiaries , apologists
and obedient servants of every trust ,
Combine and monopoly in the country.
Chicago Chronicle.
L < ike a Cyclone.
The Republican quarrel in Ohio is
more than likely to mean a Democratic
victory this fall. What a blow that
would be to Hanna , McKinley and com
pany just on the eve of a presidential
c-ampaign I Manchester Union.
It May Kneiilf Him.
When John Sherman announced his
retirement from politics , Mr. Marcus
Llaima heaved a sigh that caused a
: idal wave in Lake Erie. Omaha
World-Herald.
CHINESE JEWS.
A. Splendid Tabernncle in the Flower ?
Kingdom.
The Biblical prophecy that th Jews
should be scattered abroad over the
face of the earth is certainly a true
one , for there is no conn try in the world
which does not contain its portion of
these thrifty people. EACH in China
they have long been known. Early in
the seventeenth century , and shortly
ifter the Italian missionaries had coine
to Peking , one of them , Matthew Ricci ,
received a morning call. His visitor
wore the gorgeous Chinese dress , in
cluding the queue , but the figure and
face were not Mongolian , and the smil
ing countenance was not in keeping
with the dignified solemnity of a Chi
naman. The gentleman's name was
Xgai , and he had heard of the arrival
Df some foreigners who worshiped one
Lord of heaven and earth , and yet who
were not Mohammedans ; lie belonged
to the same religion , he explained , and
had called to make their acquaintance.
Now , Master Ngai made it clear that
he was an Israelite , a native of Kae-
Fung-Foo , the capital of Honan. He
bad come to Peking to pass an examina
tion for a mandarin degree , and had
been led by curiosity and brotherly
feeling to call at the mission house.
In his native city , he said , there were
ten or twelve families of Israelites , and
a synagogue , which they had recently
restored at the expense of 10,000
crowns , and they had a roll of the law
400 or 500 years old. The missionary's
letetrs described this synagogue. It
occupied a space between 300 and 400
feet in length by about 130 feet in
breadth , and was divided into four
courts. It had borrowed some decora
tive splendor from China. The in
scription in Hebrew , "Hear , O Israel ;
the Lord our God is one Lord , blessed
be the name of the glory of His king
dom for ever and ever , " and the Ten
Commandments were emblazoned in
gold. Silken curtains inclosed the
"Bethel" which enshrined the sacred
books , and which only the rabbi might
enter during the time of prayer. Ev
ery detail of this place , with its in
cense , its furniture and all its types of
good things yet to come , is interesting.
There , in the last century , the children
of Israel at Kae-Fung-Foo worshiped
the God of their fathers with the rites
that pointed to the Messiah , of whose
advent , as far as it can be ascertained ,
they never heard until the arrival of
the Italian missionaries.
Learned men have entered into dis
cussion as to whether these people
were Jews or Israelites , whether they
come to China from the Assyrian cap
tivity or the Roman dispersion. They
themselves say that their forefathers
came from the West , and it is prob
able that the settlers arrived by way of
Khorassan and Samarcaud. They
must have been numerous in the ninth
century , for two Mohammedan trav
elers of that period describe' a rebel ,
named Bae-Choo. taking Canton by
storm in A. D. 877 and-slaughtering
120,000 Jews. Mohammedans. Chris
tians and Parsees. More than one Jew
of Kae-Fung Fee is known to have
gained the right to wear the little ,
round button on the ton of his cap so
dear to the ambition of a Chinaman.
The Taiping rebellion dispersed thc-
settlemcnt , and the remnant who re
main faithful to the memory of old
traditions are chiefly poor and dis
tressed.
.Eccentricities Not Signs of Insanity.
An Eastern physician has broached a
theory in regard to some noticeablrt
ecentricities. Many of the foremost
men of the world at present aiul in tlnj
past have had queer little habits which
make them a laughing-stock , some
times behind their backs only , to their
friends and acquaintances. The great
Samuel Johnson , for instance , never
could pass a lamp-post without touch
ing it. and always kept a collection of
lemon and o ran ire peels under his pil
low. Emile Zola has many little hu
niors , the gratification of which form
the basis of his daily happiness. These ,
says the psychologist , are not signs of
insanity , but of overwork. The tired
brain feels impelled to do certain
things. The human mind is a most
complicated machine , and although a
nice exposition of the causes of these
really insignificant matters is impossi
ble to a general public , it can be con
fidently stated that the healthy mind ,
when fatigued by a day's hard work , Is
none the less sound for the queer things
it may impel the hand to do.
GhicaROans with Short Xanics.
The Chicago directory contains hun
dreds of thousands of names. The fact
that there are but ten names of two let
ters in tiie book shows how rare such
names are among the nations. It would
seem that nearly every man born with
a name of two letters promptly tacks
on another. The directory contains
hundreds of three-lettered names.
Those who boast but two letters and
apparently have enough are Maurice
Ax , Emily Eg , Axel Ek. David Ex , Ed
ward Ey , William Gy , Sawg Po. George
J. Py , Nicholas Re and Emil Ru. Op
posed to them is William /wierzykow-
ski. Chicago Chronicle.
Groom Absent from Wedding.
A Polynesian bridegroom is conspic
uous by his absence during the wed
ding festivities. As soon as negotia
tions are opened Avlth the family of the
bride the young man is "sent into the
bush , " and there he Is obliged to stay
until the wedding ceremonies are com
pleted.
IJOO'H Kspeoinl Honor.
The Pope is the only ruler of the
Vatican who has ever strolled down
Pall Mall. It was early in his career ,
when he was simply Monsignor Peicl.
lie was mentioned In the London pa
pers as having attended a reception
jf the Queen.
The man with numerous good points
s more octagon than square.
Checks and Drafts.
If wheat is above the line now , from.-
short crops , etc. , other commodities-
icotton , for instance ) are away below
it. It is the general range of prices-
that is controlled by the volume of-
money. One swallow ( wheat ) does not ,
make a summer. Second , Mr. Williams-
passes almost unchalleliged the asser
tion of Mr. Fisher that 90 to 93 per
cent , of the money deposited in bank
is "credit money. " By "credit money"
Mr. Fisher evidently means drafts and.
checks , and leaves the inference plain
ly that only 3 per cent , to 10 per cent ,
of actual money of the "old sort" is--
used in our business transactions-
through the banks. To this infereiice-
and conclusion I dissent in toto.
What is a check or a draft ? Is it
money or is if : not money ? For it is -
one or the other ; there is no middle-
ground. It is not legal tender a 113more -
than wheat or coal , neither does it pass-
from hand to hand among the people-
as money until worn out. Nobody
not even the bank in which it is depos
ited accepts it , except upon condition :
that it is paid in money of the "old
sort" as soon as it is presented at the-
bank it is drawn on , and it takes the-
shortest route to get there. Suppose the-
cash is not paid on a check or draft
when presented to the bank it is drawn ,
on. Does it not travel right back the-
very same route it came to the party
who made it ? And is not the whole-
thing void nclwdy paid and no "credit
money" or any ether kind of im iu y
usedV The plain unvariilshed f : : -t is-
that a check or draft is not money--is.
not even "credit money. " It is s\ply
an order for money. It simply saves the-
maker of it the trouble of going ! ; * the *
bank and getting the money to I'-i-iidJ
to his creditor. It is a convenience ?
and saves time and labor , and that is-
all there is to it ; for it does not dispense-
with the use of an equal quantity of'
money.
The claim therefore , so ingeniously
set up by the money-lenders , that
checks and drafts are "credit money , " "
and act as so much addition to our cur
rency dispensing with an equat
amount of moneyof the "old sort" is-
a fraud from beginning to end. Every
check and draft must be and is paid ia
money of the "old sort , " or it is no-
good and transacts no business. It is the
money waiting , piled up in the banks ,
to pay and that does pay each check
and draft that pays the debts "and
transacts the business , and not thc-
checks and drafts. Of all the frauds-
and delusions that the money-lpnders-
are palming oft'on a long-suffering-
people , this claim that 90 to 93 pel-
cent , of the business of the cornrry is-
done by means of checks asd drafts-
without the use of money is thy most
absurd and ridiculous. George E'ren-
tiss.
rimetali- lico-- .
The relative value of gold and silvcr-
s dependent upon and is governed by
the relative demand for them for-
nonetary purposes. Therefore the
question is whether the Jemr.nd of this-
country for silver for monetary use. if
its mints were opened to the unre
stricted coinage of both metals , would
be sufiicient to raise its value to an
equality with gold upon our present
legal ratio of 10 to 1.
In that event the demand for silver
for monetary use Avould not be con
fined to this country , but would em
brace all silver-using countries and
those nations in Europe which , al
though upon the gold standard , uso-
silver ; is token money , and in which , ,
while imprisoned within their respec
tive limits , as in France and Germany ,
silver is still circulating for douiestio
use side by side with gold as full legal
tender money upon the ratio of IS1/ ,
to 1.
It is said that 73 per cent , of the in
habitants of the earth transact all their-
business with silver money , while ,
reckoned in our currency , the silver-
used as token money and full legal ten-
tier money in Europe amounts to at
least $1.200.000.000 , and this must be-
constantly replenished.
The final conclusions as to the coin
age .ratio which will result from intelli
gent study will be these : The proper-
ratio to be established is one which
shall nearest conform to the past and
present coinage of the great commer
cial nations , and this is nearly 13' to-
1. Meanwhile the contention of the-
bimetallists of the United States for
the opening of our mints for the coin
age of silver at the ratio of 1G to 1 is-
entirely the proper and logical conten
tion. It is probable , however , that in.
the event of the triumph of bimetal
lism in this country we should , by
[ igreemeut with France and other na
tions , fix upon that ratio most con
venient for all , probably about 13 to-
L. The exact ratio is not a sacred ques
tion.
All - orts.
The world's navies employ 1.000.000'
men.
men.Don't
Don't judge a woman's complexion-
by the box it comes in.
In Russia you must marry before SO-
or not at all , and you may marry only
five times.
It is calculated the skins of more
than 100,000 animals are used annually
In binding Oxford Bibles.
The Czar of Russia , once a lover of
cycling , has given up that sport and is
tiaving made for him in Paris a petro
leum tricycle.
At the Decent sale of the pictures of
? x-Gov. yfuld , of Rhode Island , over
? 24,000 was taken in. "Gentilhomme , "
Louis XIII. , a "Meissonier , " CxS inches
brought the highest-bid , 54,200.