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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 1887)
jKH - tiy.'it ' 10 THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY. AUGUST 7. 1887.-TWELVE PAGE& IHE LIFE OF A PROSPECTOR , Bow He Secures a Start The Ups ant Downs of a Mining Expert. SOME MILLIONAIRE MINERS & . Former Tcnmntcr or the Creljjlitonf Mow ItolUngln AVcnltli Prosper ous Men A Ijticky Gambler Jottlnga from Hutte City. BOTTE , M. T. , August 2. [ Correspond fence of the BKK. " | It is amusing to hcai tenderfoot toll the opinions they hae formed of a mining camp , the process o working ores , how mines wcro disccv srod , etc. The majority of them have at Idea that gold and silver is picked up ir Its pure state on tlio mountains and it gulches , others have an idea tltat it ha : to be mined for by sinking shafts , otc. but have not the least conception of it , term or appearance. Some who liavi itudlcd minernlogy in eastern school ! aaye an impression that they can dis dngulsh pay ere from waste the momon they set eyes on It , but on arriving at tin mines they find that they know nothing o minerals whatever. Everything about i mill is Greek to them , and they quietl ; Iteal away without offering any scion liflically based snggcstlons. In order t have the reader understand fully , w < itart with the prospector. In the sprinj of the year ho secures i pack-horse , which ho loads dowi with 800 pounds of bacon , flout codec , dried apples , a few cans of corn nnd pcnper anil salt. On top of this h itacks his blankets , pick und shovel , goli pan and a shotgun or rifle , all of wliie ; ! makes the pack horse look like a srnal mountain moving along. Evcrythini being securely packed , ho starts oui cither on foot or on a ruling pony , lead ing the pack animal , and travels until h arrives at a point where there is gooi feed , and then proceeds to look for lloat In early days prospectors only lookot. for ledges that cropped out of th ground , but as most of such ledges hav been taken up , they are now comjiollci to depend on lloat ami mineral stains 01 the country or surrounding rock , ii order to trace ledges , which ar known as blind leads , for th reason that considerable surface dir has to bo removed before a veil is exposed. Float is nieces of quart ? either having a mineral stain or contain Ing ere ; tl generally lies on top of th ground and is supposed to have bcci broken oil'tlio main ledge B. C. , or there abouts , and carried by the elements ii succeeding years down the mountaii lido. On finding a piece of lloat THE 1-nOSl'ECTOU LOOKS AUOUND for more and generally finds sum ! pieces higher up the mountain. H traces the lloat as far as it goes and lo eating the point where it gives out h proceeds to sink a few small holes , o run trenches for the purpose of cross cutting the vein. If ho is fortunat enough to strike n body of ere he takes sample of it and has it assayed to ascer tain if it is rich enough to record am work. If the assay is favorable ho some times works the mine himself , but as general thing ho looks for a buyer , o ionic ono who has money , to whom h ells an interest for a very smal sum. With a few exceptions , perhaps the rnonied man eventually secures a cor trolling interest , and then gratitude i ihovedasldo , nnd ho begins to push th prospector , who is forced to sell his re malning interest for a small sum. or gc nothing , as the party having the con trolling interest has all the power , am can either work the mine or let it lie idle It is seldom that the poor prospector got the benefit of his discoverics.and no mat ter how many mines ho might discove in a season ho is compelled to go In deb for grub during tbo winter. Numbers c business-men have gotjpossossion of vah able properties by crediting prospectoi during the winter and the following sun mor , attaching whatever they might dis cover. The business-men , as a rule though , are a pretty liberal ( ? ) class c men , often staking a prospector for th season , iu consideration of half c what ho might discover. Placer minin is altogether different from quartz mln ing. The prospector first finds a gulc where there is a sulliciont head of wate to wash his dirt , for without water n placer ground can bo worked. Ho the sinks a hole to bed rock , which is a bar formation , and fills his gold pan wit dirt. By working the pan to and fro i the water , the gravel and sand ar washed out , and the gold or other mn eral particles , being heavier- than th and , remain in the bottom of the par By running the leavings around the edg of tbo pan so that they become separate be can easily discover if there are an ipocks of gold , each speck being calle n color , and the moro the colors th richer the ground. If the ground is ric enongh to work , the prospector pul in a sluice box , in the bo torn of which are bored augu holes and strips of board calleet riillcsar nailed across the slmco. Quicksilver j run Into the sluice and the prospcctc then begins to shovel in his dirt , th travel and sand being carried away an tlio gold sinking to the bottom where : Is caught by the quicksilver and riillei There is considerable placer mining yc done In Montana , although the richci gulches have been worked. THE CKKIJU U'ALENR placer .minos seem to bo taking the Ion now , and the Helena banks are in dail receipt of shipments of gold dust froi that section. A New York compan recently purchased a tract ot place ground there for which they paid $610,00 ? They have erected n flume forty ntili long for the purpose of bringing sutl olont water into the gulch to woi the ground , bed-rock being for ! feet. Placer mining does not r quire much experience , but in ordi tolbccomo a good quartz minor ono hi to have years of experience. Quar mines rarely show sliver and gold i their native pure state ; ono might bret up tons of ere around Butte and nevi ice pure gold or silver. A tenderfoi would stumble over quartz that woul mn up in the hundreds m silver at think it nothing but a common piece i trav-colorod granite or slate , while ye might show him a barren piece of high eoiored pink manganese or coppo itained rock , and he would think would bo a rich specimen. Ore is four In hundreds of different forms and color and a great many prospectors do n know the names of one-tenth of the mi 1 erals found In Montana. The mln around Butte arc mostly silv and gold , while there Is treat deal of copper produced. Silv ere is lirst fed to the ere crushers at tl mills , which breaks it up in small ptec about the size of a hickory nut. It then fed to the stamps which drop cvoi locoiul , there being live stamps in oai brace or battorywhoro it is pounded in a pulp as fine as Hour. It i& then p through r. roasting process , which , as t ! heat increases , carries on all the bas minerals such as sulphur , arsenic , cto. Is then taken to Iho retort room , whore U reduced und run Into bars weight ! 100 pounds cacli.tho assay stamp and tl fearuc of thu mill stamped upon thei when they are ready for shipment Omaha for refinement Some gold or are worked In a similar manner.but mo ( reo milling ore is worked ID gold mil W arrastras. Copper and load ores u Wealed at the smelters , where reduced to what It call topper matter , and it Is thi ihlpped to Baltimore and eastern raar- : cts. Prospecting is n life full of hard ships , but after a few years experience one enjoys it , and as soon aa sprinc ; onia ho gets the fever , and feels as il te inuit go out for a few week * anyway , The writer prospected four seasons , and luring that time gained a pretty fall cnowlcdgo of minerals. Howas"unfor tinatc" enough to stnko a lead mine the irst season , and. in order to develop Ii > o tlir.t It would become salable property 10 put in three years of hard work upor. t at an expen o of about $800. The last year ho was compelled to run into debl o the extent of $250 for grub , nnd bcmp unable to sell the property or ralso the money to pay the bill , ho was attnchcc iy the groceryman and lost the mine. A few weeks after THE FOItCCT * TltANSFEU he grocer sold the same property orty for ? 0,000. This goes te show that luck is against some men ant they cannot make money when they have i good mine , so the writer came to the conclusion that his fortune was not to be rnudo in mines and quit. Mining is like a lottery , anyway , about ono In ever } Kindred striking it rich. There are him Ireds of men In Montana , however , whc lave made fortunes directly from mln ng. Among the most prominent arc Tommy Crnse , of Helena , who sevura rears ago sold the Drum Lummonmlnc it Marysvlllo to an English syndicate ) foi M.500,000. Ho is now president of a He1 cna bank , has large mining and stool ntcrests and is worth 13,000,000. Severn years ago ho could not sign his owi name , but under the tutorship of OLD JEKP i.owirr , ills lawyer and counsellor , lie was taught to write. Lowry has since died ; ho was estimated to be worth 1200,000 , havini made about half that amount for con ducting the sale. A. J. Davis , president of the First Na tional bank of Butte , is also twice a mil lionuirc. Ho made his money in mining and is still actively engaged in th < business. For a man of his wealth he i : not very liberaland ho is universally dis liked for his antagonistic feeling agains their union , and his attempts to roduci their wages. W. A.XJlark , of the bank of Clark & Larabio , of Hut to , is the bnghcst am most enterprising one of them all. lit has vast mining interests around Butte employs about 1,200 miners , and has at income ot 11,000 per day , being wortl about ? 1,000,000. He was president o ! the lust territorial legislature , and as at iictive , public spirited democrat , he i : the most widely known man m the north west. It was said that in the early day lie was employed by the CREIGHTOX liltOTHRKS , OF OMAITA driving their bull teams to Alder Gulch What would the Montanian think nov to sec W. A. Clark swinging his bull persuader over his head , nnd yelling "Get up , you or I'll break over' bone in your carcass. " llo is : zood business man , and a publlc-spiritei citizen. Thi.s spring ho built a $00,00' ' residence which is an ornament to Butte When Montana is admitted as a stati Clark will go to the United States scnati if it takes u barrel of bullion. Then ; an numbers whoso wealth ranges fron 200,000 to $500,000. A few years ago Jim Murray , r. well known gambler , located what is knowi as the smoke house lode- and had th ground patented. The surface ground o this load takes in the principal busines portion of Buite. At the time it was loca ted Butte was a small place , and no much attention was puid to the location and it was soon forgotten , and the towi continued growing until rinall ; the entire surface grouni was covered with brick busmcs blocks and houses. About two years ag < -Murray thought it time to put the screw to them , and he quietly informed the oc cupanta of the ground that they wouli have to put up or vacate. They were aa tonishcd at his demand and assertion thinking , of course , that the deeds the ; had secured gave them full ownership o the ground. The matter was carried inti courts , the citizens having made up i purse to light Murray , but about a yea ago a decision was rendered in his favor and the occupants had to buy the grouni over again. Murray la reputed to l > worth between $400,000 nnd $500,000 , am ho is supposed to have made $250.000 b getting a decision in his favor. He is i natural born gambler and schemer , am is always putting up jobs to skin som one , no matter who , as ho says he play no favorites. To illustrate his diapositloi and show that there is no danger of hi dying from the enlargement oftlio hearl wo relate the following conversation which the writer overheard and can youc ! for : A BOOTBLACK accosted Murray in front of his garnblinj house , and asked him if ho did not wan a shine. "How much do yon clmrgo1 asked Murray. "Two bits,11 answorei the bootblack. "I can't make two bit any easier than to shine them myself , said Murray , and he entered the saloo and did the job hlmsclt. Ho has frc quently made the remark that ho wa worth so much money , and that if h thought ho had an honest dollar in hi possession , he would throw it away. Moro about Montana , Utah and th Mormons in our next. J. U. S. PEPPKKMINT nnops. A good American wine needs no bush. A that Is required la a popular foreign label. There Is no change In the style of flshln this year , except that the jug has more bed and not quite so much neck. The states of Indiana , Iowa , Ken tuck Louisiana , Miclilcan , Mississippi and Te nessco employ women as librarian ! . The man who sits down and waits to t appreciated will niidhlmseltainonguncalta ( or tmicgsgo after the limited express trai has cone by. To the novel colors Invented for women clothes or "crushed strawberry" an "whipped cronra" has been added tlio cole of "slapped baby. " The susceptible youth Is lilco the mosqulb There Is little hope for him after he goi washed. Prohibition doesn't keep tho. lawvers i Atlanta from throwing law books , bibles an Ink-pots at one another In the presence of u court. These proceedings smock very strougl of surreptitious rum. "Don't you suppose , " said a member of U police force , "that a policeman knows arogi wheu ho sees him ? " "No doubt , " was U reply , "but the trouble la that he does u < seize a rogue when he knows him. " It is announced that a now pavimc stet called quartzlte granite has been found I Dakota. It Is supposed somebody lias strut n batch of doughnuts baked by a young lad graduate of a cooking school , and dumpc over the back fnnce by her mother. "O , no , ma'am , " plaadod the tramp , "yc may think my life all sunshine , but it aln' Wherevnr I go I am benet by dancers. J short , ma'am. I carry my life In my hands , "Ah , I see/'exclalmed his temporary hostea "that accounts for your not washing yoi hands. You don't dare to do U for fear you1 drown yourself. " Proud father Welcome back to the ol farm , my boy. So you got through collet all right ? Farmer's son Yes , father. P. ] Yn know I told ye to study up on cheml try and thlugs so you'd know bust w hat to i with different kinds ot land. What do yc think of that flat raeddor there , for liibtanci V. S. Cracky , what a place for n ball garni Buffalo Express : "There goes a man wl Is making a bigger per cent on his capital I : vested than any otlior man In liulTalo , " su one of those Intolerable fallows who are n ways showing how much they know aboi things which they know nothing about II pointed to a well-known undertaker wl was coming down the street. As the latti approached , the speaker accosted bin "Well , how many Jobs to-day ? Making hi while the sun shines. I suppose. " "I ain n attending to business to-day , " rended tl "SltfK'S ? * ? T ff * 1 * "My younise " child died last night. Life : "I believe absence Is a ureat derna of charm. " Mid Ueaconstleld , and the sou bojr who fa allowed to stay away from seho Is inclined to agree with nlu I . FRASZ SEPEL IN LIVERPOOL , A Yankee's Experience With British Ooatou Officials. THE ENGLISH RAILWAY TRAIN Qaalnt Old Farm Iloanes Gloom ] Towers The Fatn ous Katnn Hall The Town of Chester Mixing up Americans Notes of Travel. LOXDOK , July 22. [ Corrcspondenci of the BEE. ] The night of our arrival ir Liverpool did not prove a very restfu one. Uoing naturally very anxious te land wo were on deck late Sunday even day evening trying to make out the din : outlines of the rough coast of Wales The revolving and flash lights on short sent out their vigilant "yes" or "no' ' anr it was interesting to hoar the sailors ex liluin their moaning. Ono honest tai told a party-of us the story of a terrible shipwreck off tills promontory , and death-dealing storm off that , until out ablood ran colel with fears of disaster ; bu there was an extra watch on the bridge and someone said that Captain Ualns would sleep in his boots that night , an < EJIVO his personal attention to every turr of the whcol. This calmed our fear : somewhat , and wo retired ; but not tc sleep. The sailors wcro busy most of th < night getting the cabin luggage out ol the hold ; everything was hustle anc bustle preparatory to an early landing on the morrow. At two o'clock in the morning the ship landed at the com pany's dock In Liverpool , and then tin confusion was greater than over. Notice had been given that breakfast would be served at 5:80 : , and to be sure nobody wa ! late on that morning. Wo were per mitted to go on shore , into the distort house , immediatiily afte-r breakfast , bul there was ono little thing of some importance portanco to bo done before wo coalel gel out of the custom house , and that was the examination of our baggage. Thii opt-ratlon ii > generally a good deal of t bugbear , especially among ladies , who as a rule , do not relish the idea of hav Ing the mysterious depths of their trunki or the sacred precincts of their portmanteaux toaux exposed to the eiycs of a ctiriou1 public. But the average individual wil suffer very little inconvenience at the hands of the custom house ofllcials. lti < only the luggage of suspicious lookint persons that is very closely examined Iho contents of my valise wore not dis tiirbwl. while the little handbag that ] carried was not oven opened. "Now , 'avo yew any scgara or tubak ker " said a brass-buttoned Britisher te my friend , the professor , who sat demurely murely on a dry-goods box , smoking t well blackened bull-dog pipe. My hearl went out in rrrv FOR THE VROFESSOK , and 1 feared he , and I too , had seen tin last of those splendid cigars with whicl wo was so well supplied. His answer surprised me. "Yes , mr , " ho said , "I've got some ol the finest cigars you ever saw ; anc1 tobacco , too. You Englishmen used te smoke good tobacco , but you don't an } more ; those South African boors are put ting too much salt pctre In it. Oui western tobaccos , sir , " ( the brasa but tons were getting impatient ) "bettei qnaiity finely flavored , sir and thesf cigars purest Havana , sir took 'em ofl steamer myself here , take a few ! " anc ho slyly thrust a handful of them into the brass buttons' pocket. "O , thank " "Not a word , sir , " continued the pro fcssor , "i have three moro big boxes ir here and now this to"bacco ; four bags o ! it , sir , genuine Pcrique and Lone Jact mixed ; sweet , delicious , both mild auc strong , and doesn't bite your tense finest mixture out , sir put'this little baj in your pocket. " "Haul right , sir ; haul right ! " the brass buttons blubbered with a guilty smile "you needn't hopen yon bag , sir ! 'Ere porter , carry these gentlemen's luggage to the door , and mind you put in a cat for 'em. " In five minutes we were rolling ovei the noisy pavements of Liverpool to wards the Blrkcnhcad ferry. We did not stop at Liverpool because i has so few things which are worth tin while for the tourist whose time is lim ited. The most important parts of th < city arc the docks and warehouses , am these are to bo found in our own American can cities. The ferry took us across tin river Mersey to Birkenhcad , whore it i : better and cheaper to bjy a stopove : ticket through to London. These ticket arc good for ten days and giro ono ampli time to visit all places of special interes on the way. It was hero that we had ou first experience on AN ENLISII HATLWAY TRAIN and received our first impression of En glish rural scenes. You have doubtless all scon or roai something of English railways. To thi American they scorn to bo a peculiar in stitution. The carriages well , take ni American box-car , divide it crosswts into four or five small rooms , put in tw < seats facing each other , with the parti tions of the rooms as backs , and yon hav the Enclish railway carriage complete Bach room has two side doors which th guard locks as the train leaves the stn tion. There are no means ot rommuni cation between the rooms , and no bo ] ropes to ( ho engine , and when a liberty loving Yankee gets caged up in ono o the rooms ho is apt to thinb it a direct in suit to American freedom. The engines too , are ill-looking affairs , with no cow catcher , and a miserable attempt al i cab , which ailbrels the engineer nearly a ranch protection as a coverless umbrclhi The first , second and third class room are all alike except that the first-clas rooms have soft cushions on the scat and the third class hard cushions or non at all. First class tariff is noarlv twic as high as third. There are com par a tivoly few first class passengers on mos trains , anel these are mainly the Englisl lords of the earth or the nouvean rich of America and the provinces. Man' respectable people travel second or evoi third class , especially when going shor distances. On the whole English rail way carriages can not be compared wit ! those of America in point of size , con vonienci ) or elegance. But what the En glish lack in their carriages they certain ly make good in their ' 'stations , " whic are all large , elaborate and well ar pointed structures , covering all th tracks , and having a fully equippoi * 'booking" ( ticket ) ofllce , refrcshmenl waiting , luggage , parcel , and smokln , room on cither side. Notwithstanding the little rest of th prevlons night , wo enjoyed the ride fror Birkenhead down to Chester most thoi ouglily. Quaint old farm houses wit tile or thatch roofs wore thickly scaltcrc over small but well kept farms. THE FIRLUS OK GKAIN looked fresh and beautiful , for they hai just attained that charming green whic precedes the turn to yellow. Horse : cattle and sheep were noticeable by the ] fine appearance which showed good car and careful breeding. The far-fame English hedges were as plenty as the were pretty ; In fact wo saw very foi fences of any other kind. But I shall nc dwell oh the charms of English run scenes. Foots have sung them and noi elists have praUed them so much tht their fame will uot sufler by any ncglec of mine. The town of Chester is an Interestini old place. You will remember the ol civltas logionum of the Romans ii Britain. How many times you bav " ' . i * i wished there never'VraB such a place It is now pretty well known that thh Chester id the same old oastra of UK Romans. It was at Chester that we fullj began to realize that we .wore In a forelgi country. The old , old buildings Hcerace to stare at us with tholr bcatun walls am ! speak of past centuries. As wo walker about through the narrow winding streets the people looked at us twice tlict turned away with aiknowing air. Vcn ders of guide books ud holographs "SIZED 119 ur" as easily as if "Aradrica" had beet printed all over us in roxl letters. The cathedral of Chester was of spocia interest to us since it was the first one o : these line olel churches wo had over seen It dates back to the twelfth century , anc although not ono of the 1 unrest cathedrals drals in the kingdom , its agu and archi tcctural beauty render it famous. Th < finely proportioned nave with its exquis itely carved canopies left an linprcssioi which I shall not soon forgot. Leaving the cathedral wn took a wall through the two principal streets of tin city , f heso are remarkable as being tin only streets of the kind in the world The business houses are so arranged tha the first floor front of each building I used as a sidewalk , so that as one walk : along the sidewalk ho walks under thi second tloor front of the buildings. No only that , but the streets are down a dis tance of some ten feet below the side walks. These streets are called "Rows.1 and contain all the lirst class shops of thi city. city.Wo next took a promenade around thi old walls which completely surround thi city. The walk is on ton of the wajl. and there is not a single break in it The walls as they now stand have boot built from time to time from the ruins o the old wall which was built about 801 years ago. There uro several gloonr and shaky looking towers on the walls but the guides said they were perfectly safe. The walls of the water tower an seven fcot thick , and are remarkable foi the solidity of their masonry. Tin Phoenix tower noon which King Charlci stood and saw his army defeated in 1G4I is in a wonderful state of preservation The celebrated country seat of the DUKE OV WKSTMINSTUIt , Eaton Hall , is three rnilus from Chester and is perhaps the finest mansion in al England. The hall was open to visitor : the day we were there , but wo had onlj time to ride out to the porter's lodge a Grosvonor Gateway , which in itself is i beautiful specimen of Gothic architec turp. From this gateway wo took thi delightful walk back across the rivci Dee , over the new Grosvenor bridge , i remarkable structure with an immense stone arch 200 feet in length. From frequent chats with the people o : Chester , I learned considerable abou thcDuko of Westminster , and found tha : ho was almost universally liked. But ai one old lady said , "there is so mo nooph as never will be satified. " Tha duke ii immensely wealthy ; his estates utChcs ter coyer miles of rich farming lands and city property in London reaches millions. Yet ho is very benevolent am puts his immense income to the best pos sible use. Chester Isjf till of line churches libraries , almshonsea and hospitals bull from funds chiefly given by the duko. Ot the day before our Arrival , we were told there had been a greatfete in the pail at which every ono of the tenants'chil dren were given aipre&bntby the duke We were surprised to find such u feelinj of good will between the higher am lower classes. , t , FKANZ SJEI-EL. MUSICAL , ANi > DRAMATIC. Mr. Thomas W. Keene has just como bacl from Nova Scotia , where'lte ' played a higtil satisfactory engagement. Joseph Ilaworth opens his season 11 "Rosfcdale" at the Arch street theatre , Phlla delphla , on September , 12. Louis James and Marie. Wain weight wll begin their season at the. Uiand Opera Houst New York , In September. Helen Dauvrny will"ooen iu Boston on Oc tober 10. At present she Is sounding th summer in the Adirondack's. ' Mine. Fursch-Madl has left for Columbus O. , where she takes part In the festival o tke Central Ohio sangerbnnd. i A complete orchestra of Japanese nuislcn instruments has just been presented to th museum of the Paris Conservatoire by 51 van Vlenten , the minister of the Interior fc the Dutch Indies. Auilran Is to conduct the lirst pcrformanc In Switzerland , at Lucerne , of his operatic "La Ciualo et la Fourml. " Mile. Perteti wll sliii ; the role of the Kruashopper , created b Mile. Jeanne Granier. Mile. Dorst , the premiere dansonso , wui has made a hit In Chicago by her Mabill dancing , came from Vienna after navin created a furore In St. Petersburg , where thi czar headed the list of her admirers. Miss Helen Bancroft Is on her way to Call forma , where she has been eniraced to pla tbe leading female rolns with Dion Bouci cault'a company , which begins Its season o the Baldwin theater about August 20. Edwin Booth , Lawrence Uarrett. T. iJ Aldrlch , Lawrence llutton and 1 . C. Bent diet are making a cruise In the steam yach Oneida- They propose to visit Bar Islanii Halifax , the bt. Lawrence , the Satigenayam Lab rador. Frauleiu Elizabeth Letslnger is to make he debut at the opera lit Paris as Ophelia Ii "Hamlet , " and will afterward creatu th principal fnmalo part In "La D.uuu de Monl Boreaii , " the new French opera , to be pro dnced there next season. Miss Stay Wilkes has been engaged to pU ; Mercedes in "Monta Crlsto" lor the comln ; season with James O'Neill. When the "Pas slon i'lay" was lirst produced In San Fran cisco Mr. James O'Neill represented Chris and Mlsa May Wilkes was Alary. Emma Abbott has arranged with Carl Kos to reproduce "Kuy Bias" in English in th same manner as it was recently given at th Drury Lane , and in Paris she purchased tin music , wardrobe and properties for Auber'i opera , "La Part du Diabfe , " which she wil produce under the title ot "The Good Devil.1 Iu addition to these new pieces Miss Ab bolt's repertory next season will Include 1 st an ( lard operas. Anew operatic concert company has bcoi organized and will soon start on the road. 1 consists of Minnie. Marie Uodinl , sopraut who was associated with Signer Brlgnoll ti In his last concert tour , and sunc with he tils favorite opera "Don Pasquale" for tin last lima , In San Antonio , May 5,1SS4 : Mine Cozen , conualto. of the Angulo Opera Com pany ; Slguor Jovlno , tenor , and Fava , bar ! tone , from the Bcllni Theatre Naples , whi have lately arrived In New York , and Sluno Ciconnl , plunlst. The London Athenaeum says : "The nei formance ot "Tiaviutu , " In which Madan Pftttl appeared , and at which the prices wen trebled , does not call for ilioro in this plac than a word of protest against the infatua tion of the pnbllc. No one would ventur to deny that Madam Pftttl Is the greatest vo callst of her generation , ; but It docs no show much artistic tajrte .to prefer one eml neut performer with poverty-stricken sut rouimings to a perfect'ensemble. That < should DA so constitutes the greatest UiUlcult In the path of operatic reform. " Since the burningbf tlio Paris Opera Co mlnue the artists of the Vienna Burs theatei which has always been. considered a daogei ous building , have Insisted on additional ore cautionary measures ujalnst the outbreak- tire ; and the Emperor Francis Joseph ha given orders to hasten thn completion of th new Court theater an uiucu as possible. Th architect , Baron 'Haiouauer , has therefor withdrawn all the workinmuen from the 1m perUl museums , which are als approaclim completion , and concentrated his forces 01 the theater. The following classified statement prepared pared by Mr. J. B. Saltus , affords plantttti evidence of tbe fact that "death by violence' ' Is extremely prevalent upon the oocratl stage : Suicides Krnanl , Elvira and Norma In L'Afrlcalne.2 ; Uoineo , 2 ; Uilda lltlgc letto ) , and Alva ( Forza del destluo ) . Bnrnei alive Maurice and Azuceno ( II Trova tore ) , nnd Jean of Leydcn ( Le Prophet ) Burned alive AKfa and Utiadames ( Aitln ) Boiled In hot oil La Julvo. Polsoned- Lenora (11 ( Trovatore ) . and almost everj body In Lucreiia. Assassinated lilccard ( UnBallo ) ; Leonora ( Forza del destlno ) everybody In Don Sebastian , Le Huguenots , and tbe Sicilian Vesoura. Shot- Fra Dlavolo , Marquis de Posa ( Don Carols ) Killed In a duel Carlo ( Forza del destlno ) Valeutlne ( Fnusc ) . Buheaded Ann Bolena and Roberto Deverenx. Lunacy fo lowed br suicide Lucia and Knrico ( Lucia ] Murderer and suicide Othello. Subbed- Carmea. THE INFLUENCE OF BOOKS , Lives and Characters Moulded by the Literature aturo of the Day. THE SAVIOUR IN CAPERNAUM God's Words to Ills Children Life and Tim on of Jeans Drones' Honey Bridge Disasters Period * Icnla. AT A period when men waxed wise foi wisdom's sake and not for political preferment < ferment , a very learned and unambitious man remarked that if ho wcro permitted to make all the ballads he nocd not care who should make the laws of the land There is a startling logical sheen in this thought which impresses ono the moro thoroughly upon meditation. Ever since man has felt the warm cm brace of civilizing influence the literature of every ngo has operated to make the people among whom circulated cithci better or worse. In every period since the perusal of books has become a picas uro and duty to man , these production ! have had , perhaps , a greater influence in moulding the minds and manners of ha man boiugs , than all the laws over enacted acted by man. It is an in herent trait in the character ol men of all eras and nationalities to prefer marking out their ovrn course in life , rather than have it dictated bj rules which permit of no infringement The good order of literature tends al once to elevate the reader , his morals , and his ideas , witli that suasion which all men prefer to arbitrary rules and laws. Into the keeping of the children of wise and Christian parents , are carlj given the character and virtues of some iavored hero of fact or fiction , by which , in many instances , the lives and charac ters of those children are moulded. Woven with pleasing phraseology and interesting detail , to the old ns well as the young , the characters of real or im aginary men and women come to us through the medium ol the book , the ono as a pattern to im itate , the other as an example to deter and who will say that it is on the infant minds alone that these real or mystic beings have a strong and permanent effect ? Nor is it the individual alone whose opinions , ideas and character have been shaped by a pet book , No better illustration of this can bo mentioned than the famous "Uncle Tom's Cabin , " which some , in their en thusiastic moments , have claimed was the production of an inspired pen. Appear ing as it did at a time when tlio right of slave holding was a disputed question among thn American people , this work , the accomplishment of p. womanperhaps somewhat prejudiced , but withal a most trenchant writer and ingenious novelist , certainly did more than may bo admitted toward forming opinions not alrcadj settled , arousing feelings already bitter , and establishing among the poou- lace a bitter prejudice against slavery and the masters of human beings. The oft'ect of the various literay pro- dnctions upon the old and the young , should cause the prospective author tc pause upon the threshhold of his work tc ascertain if the labor will bo beneficial or detrimental to the rising generation , Every book which linds its way to print , bo it the offspring of a mighty genius OT a monicd fop , has its eit'ect upon the mind of some ono who may bo injured 01 botioh'tted by its perusal. In this daj when all men are authors the only safe enard lies in the reader or parent exercising cising caution and judgment in the selec tion of bookd for themselves or those ol whoso future they expect so much and in whoso welfare they are interested ; re1 membering that there is nothingmorein structivc and beneficial thnn a good boot nor anything so destructive and detn mental as a bad ono. * * REV. GEOKOK H , SCIIODDE , Pn. D. , o : Columbus , Ohm , has translated from tin Gorman , an interesting work entitled "A Day in Capernaum" by Dr. Franz Do litch of the University of Leipzig. This work gives a vivid picture of the Galilear activity of our Savior , nnd embrace. ' many features which hitherto have beet unnolicml. It is a historical sketch of ar eventful day in the life of Christ , and ii written with an enthusiasm and intercsi in the sub.ject that is pleasant to obsorvn The work is ono which old and vounp may read with profit. Funk & Wagnalli of Now York are the publishers. * * * AN i > rroirrArr subject is that handled by George L. Voso In a little work on tilled "Bridge Disasters , the Cause anc Remedy. " The book is a review of tin bridge disasters of America with prac tical suggestions for the prevention o : like happenings in the future. It is evi dently the result of Iho study and ob servation of a practical engineer whc knows how to put the result of his labors on paper in an interesting form. Leo > S Shcpard , Boston , ant the publishers. * TKN YKAUS ago the nursery was in complete without the Dotty Dimple vol times , a scries of little talcs interesting old fashioned and instructive to tin young. The same authoress , Sophie May , has recently produced what urom iscs to bo a most popular book amnu ; the young folks , under the title ol "Drones' Honey. " This latest of Mist May's admirable books is ot the "growr up scries , " but will bo found an interest ing tUn : to the cnliro household , Throughout it is of that nature which en titles it to a conspicuous place on the family book slielf. Leo & Shcpard , I3os ton , are the publishers. % "Goo's Woitns to His Children" is the title of a compilation of sermons by Dr , George McDonald , the British author.re- contly published by Funk & Wagnalls , Now York. Twenty-four sermons lilled with words of trnth and wisdom are grouped in this book , which are worthj not only perusal , but a careful study ol the logic and arguments therein 'con- taineri. The work is worthy of a place on any bookshelf , but especially will il be found interesting to tlio clergy. % Tun LEGEND of Dld.vmus is told in i "Life and Time of , " book entitled * ) esus , by James Freeman Clarke , author , and Luo & Shop aril publishers. In a charm ing manner the times in which the Savior appeared are reproduce' ! , to gether with the characters who sur rounded him , and the prejudices againsl him. It is the rcsnlt of many years ol study , and is , in fact , a brief commentary on the four gospels. It Is a book credit able to the sacred subject upon which il is penned , a worthy portrayal of the beautiful life of our Savior , and well worth a studious and careful reading. VEKIOUICAL8 , WniTEua ix every department of liter ature have found tlio various numbcrt of "Tho yVhter , " published at Boston , decidedly interesting and instructive ; ; but especially Is the August number ol this valuable periodical interesting to Journalists. Mr. F. It Burton has an excellent article on"Descrlptive Writing' which , by the way , is ono of the n > osl dillicult accomplishments to acquire Frank W. IJoland gives a view of "He' porters at Weddings' , " and Low Vander- poole writes of "My First Novel , " both In an entertaining manner. Miss Alice Brown sets forth some important ideat under the subject , "Cruel Kindness tc Young Writers ; " Frank 11. Pope tolls the novice , "How a District la Covered , ' and D , J. McUrath exhibits a gleam ol hope for the busy scribes under the title , "A Reporter's Chance/ ' Throughout this number In'a strong one. and "The Writer" should bo in Iho hands of every newspaper man in America. This periodical is edited by W. H. Hills and Robert Luce , of the fiojton Globo. IUnYi.ANi > , a magazine for mothers quite as much as for babies , is havine ov- cry month this year two picture-pages of "linger play. " There is wonderful va riety in s'ltugor-play" and no end of fun for the baby. Fun for the baby is fun , or its equivalodnt for somebody clso. * * * THE AUGUST number of "Our Little Men and Women" is a very interesting one. In it wo learn that a village of anU numbers sometimes half-a-mtlllon and that all the inhabitants not only know ono another when they meet on the street , but remember ono another for months. A naturalist found that out by catching some and keeping them four months and them putting them back among their old neighbors. Their friends were so glad to see them that they actu ally took them up and caressed and car ried them in their arms ? This little. magazine is published by D. Lothrop Company , Boston. MEMORIES OF THE METROPOLIS The Early HOIUCB or Iho Vanrterullta and Other Prominent Person * . Now YorK Mercury : Everybody knows something about the present palatial homes of the Vanderbi Its in Now York , but nobody remembers anything of the oarllor homes ( which were not at all palatial ) , occupied by the Vanderbllt family iu its early days in New York city.I . I got hold of a very old Now York city directory the other day. It is a little book a mcro "baby" compared to the "adult" directories oMhe metropolis in the present but U is a very interesting rc'.ic. In this little volume thorn is ono sug gestive entry "Cornelius Vandcrbilt , mariner , No. 93 Broad street. " At this down-town address the Vanderbilt name appears for tlio lirst time in the annals of New \ork. A year later the entry appeared as "Cornelius VandcrbiU , No. 11) ) Stone struct. " This was a two-story house , small , humble , nnd , to tell the truth , un comfortable , as great n contrast to any of the Vandcrbilt houses now as the "Vandcrbilt , mariner , " was then to what thn Vaudcrbilts , railroad kings , are now. The surroundings in Stone street were squalid. The onlv thing that saved the locality was its proximity to the Battery. " The young Vanderbilt "children didn't like Stone street at all ; oven the Battery didn't atone for the loss of the country. they had jiiot como from Jersey , from their native Now Brunswick , where ten out of the thirteen of 'em were born. Vanderbilt had his "oflico" at No. 17 Stone street , afterwards at No. 18 Stone street ; then ho lived at No. G < ! Beaver Rtreet ; then ho got a larger oflico at No. D3 Stone street , and got elevated , in the city directory , to what was called a "steamboat master , " or captain. Vanderbilt was by this time makin' a good deal of money oil' New York , but somehow he couldn't , or didn't , get a house to suit his growin' family , so ho left Now lork for several years , In- tendm' to settle permanently in Staten Island , where he built a house near Sta- plcton. This Staten Island mansion was quite an iruposin' affair and very "roomy. " The owner put a line iron fence all around the ground which were quite spacious. Iho house commanded a line view , and in it the first Mrs. Vanderbilt passed the happiest days of her life , just as Mrs. William H. passed her best days on her husband's farm. But as all his commercial Interests cen tred round Now York the original Vanderbilt - derbilt couldn't stay away from it long.so he got a now office on Washington street , then hired & house on Madison street , and finally moved to what was then quite a swell house on east Broadway. When the Vamlcrbilts lived in East Broadway , William H. Aspinwall re sided on College place near the City hall park. A. Stewart kept , and was kept by a small drv goods store on Broad way near Cortlandt street , and lived very modestly in a two-story house on Warren street. William B. Astor lived near the Astor house. His father's oflico was in Vesey street. The Lorillards lived in Madison street , near the Tappans. William E. Dodge had moved "np town" to tourth street , near the Bowery. Prosper M. Wotmoro resided in good style on Franulin street , and Peter Cooper had creeled a glue factory "out of town , " on the site of what Is now the the Madison Square garden. This is suggestive readin'for "modern" New Yorkers. But perhaps two facts I will now state will convoy the contrast between then and now even moro strongly. When the Vanderbilts lived on Est Broadway the Now York postofllco lilled only a part of the basement of the Mer chants' exchange.on Exchange place and Hanover street. There were just twelve letter carriers connected with the post- oflico. Some thoutrht these were two or three too many. There worn only two mails sent to Brooklyn daily. Some thought there was only need of ono. Another "companion" fact to these is that Dolmonicn was only known at that time as "a confectioner" and had his only place on William street. The site where "Dolmouico's" stands now wns then ono mile "out of town. " Fifth ave nue itself was only graded as far as Clin ton phico. This was only fifty years ago. Thorn are plenty of Now Yorkers still livm' who remember it all. "And so your father has gone to a mission ary station'1' "Yes ; wo are quite alone no\v. " "Don't you miss tlio directing hand of your household ? " "O , mother didn't go. " A minister of Caiilcattl. a largo town In Sicily , recently undertook to Impress some of his teachings on his congregation by ma terializing a devil with the usual somber cast of countenance , horns , and a body ot con siderable length , ending In exploding lire- crackers. lie was moro successful than lie had hoped for , for , a panic ensuing , several of Iho women and children ot the coniai'tfu- tion were totally killed. Mr. Brooks , bachelor , a Uoston Unitarian divine , preaches with a ravishing lisp and dances like a moonbeam on a froc pond. The younz ladles of his charge approve of both performances , but their fathers object to the danclne and would fain tluow the young man out. Between the two factions Mr. lirooka l.angs in suspense , with the odds sllehtly In favor ot his retention. First thing the elders know , Mr. Brooks will have married ono of their daughters , and then they won't dare to lire him , "I guess I'd better withdraw from the church for two or three months , " said a Da kota man to the minister. "Why , how' * that , brother , what's the matter ? " Inquired the pactor. "I feel three or lour cyclone lies sort of working round in my mind and they've got to como out. Just give me leave of ab sence for say ten days and I'll bo back with you au'iin next fall. 1 believe tlier will ho home of the thundurlncust cyclone lies ever told and don't want to disgrace Iho church. "I'araon Widemouf , ( ley tell m dot yo' wife hah done gone an' slope oil with Jiu- con Llttlesoul ; am dat a fac'V" "It'sjcs1 like yo' sajs. llr'or Jlmsnn. " "isyerro- Elunod , parson1' "As ter dat , Ur'cr Jinison , do' do burden ob do prut ! heems ter 'vlto do 'elusion dat slio am ilo one dat icblvuesd , I want > o' ter un'staiul cUt > Iiiiblit > cr struck a 'merguncy when dar was mo' ba'm in U eospel dat says do Lawd gibs an1 de Lawd don n Ink away , brcs&ed am der name er do Lawd. " _ Imperfect digestion and assimilation produce disordered conditions of the sys tem which grow and are confirmed by ne glect Dr. J , 11. McLean's Strengthening Cordial and Blood i'urifier , by its tonio properties , cures indigestion und gives tone to the stouiactt. BEAUTIES OF IOS ANCEtES , Marvelous Growth of the Gonntry Adjacent to the Qardou of Ilowors. NEBRASKANS AMONG ROSES , Strawberries Ten Month * In tlio Yen * Santn Monica Beach Flcslijr Women in the Waves , Los ANOET.ES , Cal. , July 20. [ Correspondence spondenco of the BEE. ] The growth ol this city and Ccountry adjacent Is mar velous. The county assessment rolls for the fiscal year show n valuation of 193,000,000. The city has gained 10,000 in population since January and another 10,000 will doubtless bo added by Decem ber 01 next. Real rstato steadily in creases in price , the transactions for the week just closed footing up a little moro than $3,250,000. There nre over 700 licensed real estate dealers iu the city and y.OOO others directly interested In the business. "Why don't your city ofllcials repair and water your strootsi" 1 asked a citizen. "Because they are all engaged in real estate deals and don't hayo time , " was the reply. Judge Rcdlck has secured some valua ble business property hero. Ho says he has made 75,000 since last winter and that T. W. T. Richards has cleared iloublo that amount. Richards told mo when 1 was here six months ago that he was ono of n syndicate that had just purchased a tract nf land ton miles out , which ho thought was n good investment. They soon lifter platted a portion of the tract mil have eold lots to the amount of $350,000 , and have several thousand lere.s left. Robert Harris bought several lots in this plat when ho was hero a few . months ago and has doubled his money an them , Ho is building a fine house on Seventh street , ono of the best rcsidonco streets in the city , at a cost of about ton thousand dollars. Near his property Mr. Ferris , formerly of the Planters' liouso , Omaha , has two handsome lots on which ho proposes building a house. In : liis vicinity Mr. Horace Jones , late of Kmery & Jones , has established a grocery business and Is making money , llo paid $1,500 for two lots last winter which hu * mId now sell for $6,500. Ho says that Nebraska is a good country , but that hu would rather live here ten years than to live in Nebraska five. His only regret is that his old partner , Emery , cannot see KOSES AS IS U03E.S , tvhich this country produces in the great est profusion. Juil o GroiF paid $1,500 lot tnreo lots here ciirhtccn months ago , ind was so doubtful 'as to the outcome that ho kept the matter n secret from his family for a year. Ho could get $7,000 for the property now. Tbo productiveness of the parched- looking gravelly soil of this region is ilraost beyond belief. In some localities irrigation is necessary , but not in others. Ju the place of Mr. Thomas Gibson , near San Jose , 1 measured a bunch of nrapeson the vine and still crowing and found it was a foot long ; it will grow six inches moro before it is fully ma * turcd. A peach measured eevon and Hie-half inches that will yet crow to a 3ircumfercnco of ten inches. On Frank Gibson's fruit ranch there were seventy- live peaches on iv shrub two and a half tect high and an inch and a half in diam eter at the ground. The hotels and restau rants serve fresh strawberries ten months in a year. Within a few miles on the acean 1 saw as line a field of corn as I uver saw in Nebraska. It il expected that the coast line of railway between San Francisco and this city will bo com pleted next year shortening the distance jonsiderably between the two points and opening up AN ATTltACTIVE ICEOION ulrcady well developed and of great his torical interest. Yesterday and last night I WES min- dling with the giddy throng at Santa Monica , an ocean resort eighteen miles ( vest of this city , and for the first time itonned a bathing suit and had a tussle with the briny denp. For nearly a milei the beach was lined with bath ers and presented a most at tractive scene. The number ot fat w mpn enormously fat women , I saw disporting in the waves , with ele phantine gambols , was proof enough to me that this is a healthful climatc.though a climate i.which will convert an erstwhile - while , ( I have waited for Jyoars for an opportunity to use that word ) fnigilo creature into a mountain of flesh may bo said to have its drawbacks. Coming out over the Central Pacific on thu. journey liltherward an old gentleman and a pair of bright young ladies in the sleeping car section opposite mine , at tracted my attention. Tlio former was making funny remarks about a young nian , evidentlv a favorite with one of the jirls , concerning his fondness for good food , whereupon she retorted with , "Now , pa , you'vo no right to say anything. A gentleman told mo that ho took dinner with you once when you complained that you wcro not feeling well and had no apuctito. Ho said hu never saw a man cat so much at onu time in all his born days , and wondered what you could do in that line when you felt rugged and hearty. " Then her siMur laughed while her father flushed a little and said : "Tut , Lut , my daughter , how can you sit there : uid make tin such stories ? ' "It's a solemn faot , pa ; it's a solemn fact , " said she , and thereupon her fathoi changed tlio subject by calling attention to the scenery. The party party proved to bo ex-Gov ernor Alcorn , of Mississippi , und his laughters on an extended west- 3rn tour for the benefit of Ins Health. It was an easy matter to .srilio up an acquaintance , and for the next two lays the old gentleman was a most en tertaining follow'traviilorwitli his roinin- sonees of the old regina , and fuels and igurcs as to the "Now South. " 1 have unco had as a fellow-passenger for a like number of days , ex-Senator and Con gressman-elect Whitthorno. of Tennes- icc.iiiodest unit unassumingbut ono of the nest interesting talkers 1 over met. Thousands oT people from all over the ivorld are journeying up and down this and , and it is said that a rush of nearly 100,000 more this fall and winter has been irrangcd for by the railway companies. J. T. B , THE SMAIOi I10V. Boston Courier : Notwithstanding thnt It the green nnplo grason , the smnll toy gets ilong swlmminuly most of tint time. Oil City UlU/ant : The boy who has been nHWImnilng nmlpr the blazing sun may bo listinu'Ulslieit tiy IIH ! tunik'iicy to liucpnwar roui the back of his bhirt as much ns possi- ile. ile.Lilfo : There may bn loom at the top , but his Is not the vhnv takmi by tlio Mimll toy , vho climbs lothulildicst limb of a cherry ret and accidentally kicks the gable end of a lensoly populated hornulb * nont. The small boy In a frolic Hobs thu orchard of Us apples , And his In'anls cruel colic Subsequently grimly grappli : * . [ Boston Courier. Detroit Free Press : A boy who can't ' be nduccd to go to u store a < | iuitor of a milt * iway on an errand cnn bu hired to wlk for ive hours on a stretch It It Is only called a valklnn-matcli and tlio Jproprletur'put up a illvor quarter a * a prize. Somerrllle Journal : This Is the tenon , vhen fanners will do well to stuln their ara , not exactly to hear the w tonnelons ( 'rowing , but to hear the small boys climbnv ! lie fence with a cleslirn of hudliif oue Uiai roes "punk ! mink I" to carry oil.