Nebraska Newspapers

    I * , ; * SJJ
fHE ? OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY ; AUGUST 7 , 1887-TWELYE PAGES. , 11
THE FAITfl CURE DISCUSSED ,
Becordi Show Many Extraordinary
OUTM of Disease by This Method ,
THE CONDITIONS OF TREATMENT
An Interesting nnd Instructive Ar
ticle l > 7 Franulu Power Cobbo
In The Contemporary Re *
view.
Religious enthusiasm and scientific me-
dicinc , far as they seem to bo apart , have
ono thing in commou. The records of
. both abound in cases of extraordinary
cures of disease effected by faith. The
faith which accomplishes the religious
cures is faith in holy men , holy prayers ,
* or , It may bo , holy oil , holy thorns , nnd
holy water ; nnd the faith whicli brings
about the medical cures Is faith In doc
tors ( not necessarily holy ) , in bread pills
and Impotent ointments.
To judge from a remarkable article in
a former number of the Contemporary
Itovtew , there could bo , in the eyes of an
eminent London physlcian.nothing more
ridiculous than the assertion of a pilgrim
to Lourdes or Bothshan that ho had been
healed by a special exercise of divine
mercy ; while , judging from such a work
as Dr. Tuko's ' 'Influence of the Mind on
the Body" ( London , 18W ) , nothing is
more scientifically certain than that a
largo number of persons have boon healed
of all manner of diseases by bread pills.
The lay mind can with difficulty admit
that there is essential absurdity in attrib
uting recovery from sickness to prayer ,
and no absurdity in attributing it to bread
pills.
That there is really such a thing as
faith healing appears in my judgment a
fact beyond dispute. Three-fourths
perhaps it would be nearer the mark to
r say ninotccn-twenticths of the stories ol
cures of the religion * class are , undoubt
edly , myths , frauds , exaggerations , falla
f cics of memory or of reporting ; and
' ) i quito as many of the medical kind may
be divided between silly self-deceptions
nnd the arrant falsehoods of interested
quacks. All deductions made , however ,
there remains , I am convinced , a certain
number of cures of botii classesof which
no Rutliciont account can be given
ou any theory ot either fraud , or
mistake , or natural recovery : cures
which meet the following definitions :
1. The antecedent presence of serious dis
ease , either functional or organic , has been
established on sufllclent testimony.
3. The cure has been sulllclently sudden to
exclude the hypothessla of a spontaneous
termination of the Insect
3. The cure has been effected without the
exhibition of any drug or therapeutic appli
ance which could be recognized as adequate
to the result
No candid reader of ecclesiastical his
tory citfi , 1 think , doubt that curoa ful til
ling the above conditions have occurred
many times in different ages and coun
tries , and under many different phases of
religious belief ; and , equally assuredly ,
readers of such works as Sir Henry Hol
land's , Dr. Carpenter's , and Dr. Tuko's ,
must admit that cases of the lower kind
of faith healing have likewise occurred
not unfroquently. The former miracles
are treated by men of science when they
, deign to refer to thorn at all.with unmiti
gated scorn , because they are associated
with what they doom to be contemptible
superstitions , and have been usually re
corded by witnesses Ignorant of anatomy
nnd physiology who make ridiculous
blunders in describing disease. The lat
ter are dealt with moro leniently , even
with good-humored levity , as examples
of the helpless credulity of patients , and
of the action of a faculty which the
writers ( who may be great physiologists ,
but are certainly not psychologists ) are
pleased to call "imagination.1' But both
classes of faith healing are , assuredly ,
deserving of quite other modes of treat
ment than these. They form , to say
the least , singular reversals of the
usual order of medical art , whereby
It Is sought to minister even to a
'mind diseased" through the stomach ;
while the glimpse they afford us of n
mighty magic capable of transforming
Hicknoss to health , nnd causing the lame
to walk and the deaf to hear , should make
us sigh rather than smile , if we bo driven
to the conclusion that the wnnd which
works such beneficial wonders is beyond
our grasp.
Philosophic efforts hitherto made to
reach the secretof faith healing have been
few. comparatively to the interest of the
subject. They hare not gone deep , and
have been singularly barren of practical
results. We are told of tbo value of "ex
pectant attention" in effecting the cures
of pilgrims to holy shrines , and of patients
who swallow inert drugs : and of thefe
last Dr. Tuke has afforded us a most
amusing series of examples culled from
Dr. Llslo and SirJohn Forbo's celebrated
article "Young Physic. " in the British
and Foreign Medical Review , January
1340. We hear also of the immense po
tency of the will , as exomplilled by An
drew Crosse , who got over an attack of
hydrophobia by sheer dint ot pluck
( memoirs , p. 125) ) and by Edward Irving ,
who preached a splendid sermon in the
agonies of Asiatic cholera. Hut no ef
fort , that I am aware of , has been made
to bring the two kinds of faith healings
which boar such obvious analogies ,
undar any common law. or to con
struct a theory which shall explain
tholr essential nature. Thus wo find
ourselves at the end of the nine
teenth century , as regards this great
agency , very much in the position whicli
our forefathers occupied two centuries
ago as regards electricity , when their ex
periments were limited to rubbing bits ol
umber and the backs of cats. Where arc
the Franklins aud the Whoatstones oi
faith healing ? Is it endurable that the
use of a great bonolicont power in out
nature should bo forever limitedas now ,
to fanatics and fools ? Cannot sensible
nnd rationally religious persons bo ad
mitted to a share of the priceless advantage
"Sickness " said Dr. Moxon
tago ? , , or
ncularly rebuking Bethahan , "is toe
serious to be trilled with by fanatics.1
It is also too serious to bo trilled will
by doctors , who try diverting ex
V vierlmontH on their patients will
bread pills and pretended bleedings ,
wooden tractors and Braldism. But if
rlthcr from the fanatics or the doctors
wo can obtain a clue to the mystery o
faith healing carried on by both , wo neci
not fuar the charge of "trilling with sick
ness. "
The inquiry into this subject Is interest
ing likewise from another point of viev
beside utility. Wo are distracted in thesi
days by perpetual talk about the action o
body on thu mind. Morals and psychol
ogy in the hands of the dominant schoo
of biologists and novohtts bid fair to bo
coma mere branches of pathology ; sii
being reduced to a symptom of a dia
ll/J ordered liver , aud genius in IU heaven
soaring ( lights being brought down to :
superior supply of blood to a well convo
luted brain. No sacred sentiment in hu
man nature , not even the love of i
mother for her child , escapes belli )
stripped of its robe of beauty and sane
tity , and nako'dly presented to us as th
mere result of the physical conditions o
the relation. No action , howsoove
divinely heroic , will henceforth b
* *
* Bettuhan-lt la a little sUrtlln ? to lean
Is known to tuo profane a * poatoRlce Nc
10 , Urayton park , Hello way road , N' . , tx
'tween Highbury aud llollowa/ station ! o
the North London aud Great Nocthtru rail
waya ,
attributed to the BoTf-sacrillcing' '
spirit of the martyr or the patriot ,
but only to the "coinbativoncss of the
male animal" "
developed by "sexual se
lection. " Double-sided beings as wo are
every feeling and every act being like
the convex nnd concave sides of the
shield , half mmd , half matter. wo have
hitherto needed to bo reminded In the
triumph of life , as by the slave beside the
Roman victor's car , "Thou art mortal ; "
there is a physical analogue to all which
our souls feel and do , and the body must
not bo forgotten. It was reserved for
modern science to Ignore , not the body ,
but the soul ; to treat the material moiety
of our being ns thu primary nnd all-
important , perhaps the only really
existent part of It ; and to In
struct us , as wo tread the Via
Dolorosaof our earthly way : "Remem
ber thou art not a hero , not a martyrnot
a saint ; only a parcel of bono nnd tissue ,
llcsh and blood , which any chemist could
reduce to a few phials of water and white
powdcr.and range ou a shelf in the South
Kensington Museum. " I venture to think
that it would bo well.cveninthu interests
of scientific truth , to pay a little more at
tention to the front of the shield ; to study
psychology a little more , and physiology ,
possibly , a little loss. An inquiry into the
laws of that mysterious power of whicli
we are speaking as lodged in the mind ,
and thoncu stopping forth to transform
the conditions of the body , would seem ,
of all othersbest lilted to counterbalance
the materialist doctrines of the Biichncr
and Carl Vogt school. Wore n science of
psychical therapeutics really to bo formti <
lated , it would both supply us with the
most potent of remedial agencies , and
likewise help ns , more than any other
knowledge , to understand our own
double natures soul and body , spirit
and matter , demi-god and demi-bruto.
Who will stop forward ami help to
clear the way for this science of psychotherapeutics -
therapeutics ? At present , even when a
doctor has himself effected astonishing
cures by such things as a few crumbs of
biscuit , it ndvor seems to occur to him
to prosecute his investigations. As Dr.
Hack Tuko says of some such dull physi
cians :
With regard to the experiments made by
Dr. HayKartli and others with womleii tract
ors , It can hardly fail to surprise the reader
that these observers were content to stop
when they hnd proved that tlujir Instruments
were ns potent as It metallic. They had re
lieved their patients by something sooner
than they would otherwise have been
relieved , nnd vet It never occurred to them
to continue the practice. They called tills
something "Imagination , " and thought that
was quite sufllclent to dispose ot the whole
subject. ( Influence , etc. , vol. II. p. aio ) .
Men vyho ransack the mineral and veg
etable kingdoms of nature , and torture
the animal , to find out the secrets of dis
eases and their remedies , are strangely
content to leave tills great , battery of
healing power locked tip. They sneer at
the lunatics and smile at the fools who
are healed by prayer or bread
pills , and say "these people who
know not the law" ( of science ]
arc besotted. But even the exasperating
recurrence of whole cycles of religious
miracles , and the still more obnoxious
successes of quacks , fail to rouse them
to sift the matter to the bottom , nnd trj
if they cannot , with all their science ,
equal Lourdes or Knock , nnd cure their
patients honestly , without condescending
to bamboozle them \vith bread pills. Il
the mind of a silly or stupid person can
be inspired so as to make it heal his body ,
surely the mind of an intelligent and
rational person ( which , by the hypoth
esis , must bo much the stronger and
more litted to cope with disease ) , ought
to bo equally open to influence. It is a
disgrace to science to bo obliged to con
fess that old Burton is still ritrht , and
that "nn empinck oftentimes doth more
strange cures than a rational physi
cian. ' ' Ho goes on to add , "because the
patient puts his conlidciico in him ; "
but the reason is a circular argument ,
for why docs the patient believe in the
"enipinck"iuoro than in the rational phy
sician , save that ho knows the former has
wrought more cures than the latter ? The
position of sundry eminent surgeons
and physicians to-day , as regards bonesetters -
setters and various medical heretics , is
like that which the astronomer royal
would hold had Zadkiel foretold an
tclipso which ho had failed to predict.
Vhc.n they find they cannot euro our
rheumatism , our paralysis , and twenty
other maladies , surely our physicians
night help us to obtain the mysterious
> enelits which have been derived from
> read pills. Such Is the weakness of
uiman nature , that I fear the majority
of us would olcct to recover in the most
rregular and unscientific man-
lor rather than die secuudcm artem by
orthodox medicine , leaving our mourn-
ng relatives to find the consolation con
veyed by inscribing on our tombstones ,
'Physicians was in vain ! "
The aim of such an inquiry as I would
Fain see undertaken would bo twofold :
first , by the correlation aud examination
of credible cases of faith healing to ascor-
; ain what is the elliciont factor in each
: ho essential element , probably common
: o all , whereby the euro is actually
wrought nboutsccondly ; , the possible em
ployment Di this essential healing agency
at will in the cure of disease without de
scent either into fanaticism or quackery.
Let us briefly catalogue the various
classes of faith healing under the defi
nitions given in the last page. They fall ,
L apprehend , into the following catego
ries :
( a ) Cures wrought by a man or woman
supposed to administer divine heallnir.
b. Cures wrnuuht by relles.holy water , etc. ,
supposed to convey divine heallne.
c. Curus wrought by charms , amuletsetc. ,
supposed tocon\oy a supernatural though
not necessarily divine ticahnir.
d. Cures wrought by a man or woman sup
posed to transmit a natural healing.
e. Cures wrought by sham medicines and
medical appliances supposed to convey
natural healing.
In class ( a ) wo have a man or woman
prominently engaged as the healer. His
torically hn or she is generally distin
guished by a great personal reputation
for sanctity , but sometimes , as in the
case of popes and of kings and qnecns ,
who "touched" for the evil , by the sacredness -
crednoss of their office. * What part does
this healer play in the cures ho performs ,
nud what otiier part belongs to the per
son who is healed by faith in him ? Docs
James , the healer , transmit a force , a
virtue , an effluence of some sort , directly
to the body of John , the person healed ?
Or does James only influence John's
mind by the recognized means of an im
pressive personality or rank , and leave
the healing to bo accomplished by John's
body ? This is the lirst question to bo
iinswnrod in any inquiry into
faith healing. and it needs
to bo carefully examined. The ordinary
views is of coursq the first. It is assumed
that a healing virtue proceeds straight
from James to JotinM body. 1 musl
state my reasons for being of a different
opinion.
In the first place , all evidence goes tc
show that the siuu qua non of a success' '
fill experiment in miracle-working is the
faith of the patient. "Not many mighty
works" have been done in any tuna 01
where ' 'unbelief" prevailed. This
Elaco would not bo indispensable if the
euro was effected by a material force 01
ellluonco reaching directly the body o !
the patient. Secondly , an equolly largt
* Bee Macaulay' * account of the "balsamh
virtue * of the royal hand , " which U'llllait
III. so unkiudly declined to exerclsn. lr
Carpenter ( Mental 1'hyslolory. p. GSG ) telli
us : "Xot only theologians of eminent learn
Ina. ability , and virtue gave the sanction ol
their authority to the belief , but some ot UK
principal surgeons of the day certified thn
the eures were so numerous and rapid thai
they could not be attributed to any naturai
cause , and thus the failures were to be as
cribed to want of faith on the part of the tia
tlcnts. Charles II. In the course of his refer
had touched near a hundred thousand per
sous , " The w rvlee appointed by the Cuurct
of KngUnd for tkcio royal healings WK
only withdrawn from the prayer-book aftei
tile reign of < Jtiecn Anno.
number 'of cures ( class b ) have been
wrought by relics , holy water , und such
objects , which may be understood vividly
to affect the mind of n believer , but from
which it Is impossible to thin ! : that a
physical healing force or effluence can
have been dispensed.
For tin-so reasons I am convinced that
all genuine cases of religious faith heal
ing have boon wrought purely by men
tal Influence.Con
[ Con nt J ncit Sunday. ]
Hlborlan Diet.
Lansdcll , in Harper's Magazine for
August : Aa regards the food of the
aboriginals of Asiatic Russia , vegetarian
ism cannot bo said to have made much
headway among the nomads , whether in
Siberia or Turkistan.
Deprived for so many months of the
year by snow of the sight of anything
green , when the Siberians kill a reindeer
they carefully empty its stomach of the
indigested moss the animal has eaten ,
and servo that up as a delicacy , but in
winter they set little vegetable food bo-
sides. EVen with nomads of the Stonpo ,
what flour food they cat is taken chlclly
in the form of uruel. It struck mo as &
strange contrast of dietary customs when
the Archbishop of Vernoye Informed me
that they Intended to send monks as
missionaries of the Russian church to the
lluruti or Kara-Kirghcse , for the Russian
monks oaj no moat , and the Burnt ! eat
no bread so they proposed to cut the
knot by planting a station on the shores
of Lake tsik-Kul. where the holy men
could feed on fish.
The Kirgheso of the Steppe live in the
summer almost entirely on milk , vari
ously prepared , whilst the nch cat of
mutton as their staple food , witn she ad
dition of beef , and occasionally camel's
esh. In the north the Yakutes are fond
.f horse llosh. A Yakuto bride , on her
wedding day , sets before her lord and
naster as the greatest of delicacies horse-
esh sausages , with a boiled horse's head ,
f which the brains are the most dainty
morsel. The quantity too of horse-flesh
hey oat is appalling. Their adage says ,
hat "to eat much meat , and grow fat
pen it , is the highest destiny of man. "
myself was not nresont at ono of their
. .rgics , but as far back aa the days of
Stahlenberg it was said that four Yakutes
vould eat a horso. Once more the Gilyaks
ixlslona very different kind of food ,
'or they are almost ichthyophajri ,
.lalmon being their principal diet.
The fish comes up the Amur
n such numbers that they can bo tossed
> ut with a pitchfork. Even the dogs go
nto the stream and catch for themselves ,
mi salmon such as the finest seen in Lon
don may bo purchased in the season
among the Gilyaks for a penny each.
The fish , cut up and dried , without fur-
her cooking , at eaten , a piece of similar
jizo per day serving alike for the Gilyalc
.ind one of his dogs. I went to the lower
Amur disposed to conlido m the theory
; hat lish diet , by reason of its phosphorus ,
ivas calculated to give brain power to
Indents , but atter seeing the miserable
.pecimens of humanity in the Gilyaks
who live on lish , my belief in this theory
lias been rudely shikcn.
The Gilyaks make another use of the
almon which I do not remember to have
loard of in other countries , inasmuch as
.hey employ the skin for garments.
Hence the Chinese call them "Yupi-
.atze , " or tish-skin strangcn. The fish
kin is prepared from two
: inds of salmon. They strip
.t oil with dexterity , and by beating
with a mallet remove the scales , and so
render it supple. Clothes thus mndo , 1
need hardly ' .say , are water-proof , but
they have tin objectionable smell to noses
polite. I was fortunate enough to pur
chase on the Amur a fish-skin coat.which
I believe in England is unique , for there
is nothing like it in the British museum.
It ia handsomely embroidered on the
back , the intermixture of colors being
skillfully wrought in needle-work.
Ot'ish-skin , however , is used only for
summer clothing. In winter the Gilyak
delights to clothe himself in the skins of
his dogs or of fox or wolf , us being next
warmest. The tribes further west , as
ndced do all the Siberian people , em-
) loy the skins of the reindeer end elk
lire killed that in some years ono may
buy in the town -of Yenisniscisk alone as
u any as ton thousand skips.
Firm-Class Curriculum nt West I'olnt.
"Winninc a Commission. " by George
I. Putnam , in St. Nicholas for August :
During no year had the class found an
easy course of study , and tlie first-class
course was like the others in requiring
the closest attention. The class drew
strange-looking plans of fortifications ;
thev built theoretical bridges , and prac-
Lical ones also ; they slowly mastered the
ilements of the Spanish language , and
.laily shocked the professor by their un-
Castiliau accent ; they discovered the
analogy between the "Laws of
the Medea and Persians" and
the regulations of tbo Military
academy ; and they skimmed over the
history of the world from the settlement
by Adam to the present time. They be
came adepts in the manufacture of shot
and shell , and all weapons of attack aod
defense ; they became deeply versed in
law , international , constitutional , and
military ; they rode , they marched , they
studied , they drilled ; they built parapets
and miniature forts , and then demolished
them ; they constructed pontoon bridges ,
spar bridges and rafts ; thev would have
explained to you the minutest details in
the manufacture of gunpowder and dyn
amite , or told you just where the plans
of battle of ereat military leaders wove
defective. In fact , they became walking
encyclopaedias of useful military knowf
edge.
SINGUIjAUiriES.
A pair of owls shot by ( ildeon L. Mathlus ,
of Sundcrsvlllo , da. , measured each four feet
six Inches from tip to tip of wiims.
1'ino City , W. T. , claims to have the small
est llviuK woman. Site Is twenty-two years
old , twenty-nine Inches tall , nnd wolchs thir
ty-three pounds.Ylien her husband is In a
great hurry.and liu wants to go with him , ho
puts her in his coat-tall pocket.
A negro UvliiK near Calera , Ala. , let a rat
tlcsnaku bite him for a ruraw hat worth 15
cents , lie put a blue clay poultice on the
wound , swallowed some plug tobacco , and
next day started oil for caniD-meetlng with
the new hat slanted over his light ear.
On Sun ( lav , a little girl named Morris , liv-
inc In C.irroIIton , Mich. , swallowed an or
namental hair pin tluee Inches long , with a
laree liunl. Attempts to remove It were un
successful , and Friday the operation of
tracheotomy was performed successfully and
the pin removed from the windpipe where it
bad lodged.
A lumber firm ot West Uay City. Mich. .
Has aelmmensp pine log en route which U
was Intended to nave In the Fourth ot July
procession providing It had reached Uay City
In time. The lo. scales : t,800 fret and as will
hn readily seen. It is a monster In size. The
Idea of a single lot : , which when converted
Into lumber , would possibly attain a value of
about .200 is astonishing even in these days
ot high stumpace.
Mr. 1C M. Ilorton.who lives alx miles above
Dahloneza , Ga. . hero In Yahoola dlstrlctwas
In town Monday with the wine , bill and neck
of a curious bird , which ho killed near hU
house the other day. The bird somewhat re
sembles a crane In the body , but Its bill was
fipoou-slmped and about two and a quarter
Inches wide and neven Inches lone. The
wines and tail were a beautiful pink color.
From tip to tip the bird was about live feel
lontc. It U the only one ot the kind ever
seen In this country , and Is thought to bo a
sea-fowl which had got test It Is bettered
to be one of the largo spoon-bills which live
Womed Cluba.
We may not a ree on the weather , !
Yet , In this we must agree
That , though base balls ate raadu of leather ,
The clubs may worsted be.
Old people suffer much from disorders
of the urinary organs , and are always
5ratified at the wonderful eiTectd of Or ,
. II. McLean' * Liver and .Kidney Balm
in banishing th.ilr trouble * . 91.00 per
bottlu.
SURROUNDED BY ELECTRICITY , '
The Toolings Incident to Being in Elec
trical , Atmosphere ,
t r
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES'
Telegraphing To and From Moving
Trains An Inquisitive Elephant
Shocked , Yn Illuminator
Electric News.
I
! Electricity.
Now York World : At 8:30 : o'clock Fri
day , July 29 , night thunder and light
ning began to whoop things up in the
clouds over Brooklyn , and fifteen min
utes later the immense Hngstaff on thereof
roof of the Young Men's Christian asso
ciation building nt Fulton and lioad
streets , Brooklyn , was strucR. The light
ning cut a serpentine furrow from the
top to the bottom of the staff and then
scattered , some of the electric fluid fall
ing in a shower of fire to the street and
more of it running through all parts of
the building. There were ibout seventy-
live persons in the building nt the time ,
and although no ono was injured , all
wore stunned for the moment , and none
of them care to experience a similar sen
sation again. There wore fifteen young
men bathing In the swimming tank at
the time , nnd they received the shock
more severely than any othere. Fortu
nately none wiw In deep water at the
time. George F. Hayncs describes his
experience in the water as follows ;
" 'There was a fat man about to enter
the water , " ho says , ' , 'and ho was very
timid. Ho did not seem to want to get
wot. AVe were all gathered at the end
of the tank whore tiio water is only about
four , feet deep , and wo wcro waiting to
give the timid fat man a wet reception.
Just as he was about to step into the
water , my attention was attracted by u
bright light , and. looking through n win-
ow , I saw two balls of tire drop to the
idcwalk on Hanover place. At the same
inie I heard a great snapping , and then
ho water appeared to bo charged with
Icctricity. I waa so affected by the
hock that I could not move , and I did
lot hear the loud peal of thunder that I
lave since been told followed the light
ing. When I recovered I aaw that some
f the men were hastening out of the
vater , aud that others wore still unable
0 move. My lirst impulse was to rush
> ut of the water , and I did so. By the
imo 1 got out all had recovered and were
lurrying after mo. What was the son-
ation ? Well , I felt as I would If 1 should
bo told of a great calamity having hap
pened to my dearest friend. "
C. A. Frceburn , of the reception com
mittee , was sitting in the ofllcu at the
ime. He declares that he tasted the
ightninjj. Ho says :
"I heard two loud reports ; not thunder ,
Hit the snapping of the lightning. It
ippeared to come down the telephone
wires in the corner of thu room. The air
ippcared to bo filled with the fluid and I
could tab to it. It tasted like sulphur.
L'liere were about fifty men in the re.ad-
ng-room and tncy all got out in about
.wo seconds. . The sound was like the
iring of two'immense cannon occuring
list under mv cars. Yes , I realized that
ho building flail'boon ' struck by light-
ling as soon 'as ' 1 heard aud tasted the
" ' '
ightniiig.
Robert Jameson was sitting in the
reading-roomi Ifq suddenly noticed that
' .he air was blue , and at the same time
lis body was ( drawn up. His left foot ho
says was drawn lup to the seat of the
chair. He believed ho had been stricken
with paralysis and he attempted to asker
or help , but ; 'he' was speechless. Then
10 heard and felt the crash , and ho knew
t was lightning ] lie saw the man who
sat opposite him' drop his book and ris-o
irorn his chair. His face was pale and
ie trembled from head to foot. Then
everyone ran from the room and Jame
son followed. He says he wits not fright
ened , but that if he had time to think he
jclioves he would have been scared.
Those who were in front of the build
ing saw the lightning twisting itself
irouiid the pole as it ran down. Just
before it reached the roof it Hew from the
polu and foil in a bliower to the street.
Mr. McMahon , who was in charge of
L'erkin's wine store , directly opposite the
association building , was sitting at the
door of the store when the lightning
struck , : tnd ho saw the shower of electric
lluid. He says :
"it was like the greatest llyiug boom
you could imagine. There were hundreds
of balls of file , some of them as large as
my head , raining down from the roof of
the building , and when they struck the
street they scattered in all directions like
molten iron would. Everything was bril
liantly illuminated , and the brightness
cannot bo described. With this was the
crashing of the flagstaff , and hundreds
of larce splinters fell to the street. I
picked up three of these pieces. In live
minutes they had all been picked up and
some of them were sold at twonty-fivo
cents each. lor a while I was unable to
move from the fascinating sight and then
1 run , tcrror-sincKon and hid behind a
uilo of boxes. I do not know why J was
frightened , in tact I did not think at all.
The sight was so awfully grand that all
thought in mo was suspended. "
Long Distance Telephone * .
An officer of the American Telephone
and Telegraph company said recently tea
a reporter of the New York bvcning
Post : "By means of great care in keep
ing our wires in perfect condition , we
are able to do what seemed impossible in
the early days of the telephone that is ,
give business men the convenience of
talking between Now York and cities
within 500 miles of New York ns easily
as if they wcro within ton feet of each
other. The first line was opened from
Now York to Philadelphia last January
with fifty wires , constituting twenty-live
circuits. Some of these circuits we have
leased outright to business men nnd cor
porations ; others we divide up among a
number of tirm , and the others wo retain
for transient business. In New York
there are 130 offices in which there is
direct communication by ou wires with
Philadelphia without resorting to the
Metropolitan Telephone Service. We
charge $1 fpr a live minutes' talk be
tween New York-and Philadelphia ; but
the charge begins only when connection
has been established between the persons
who wish to talk : if wo cannot got this
connection made , there is no charge.
Business men'who are telegraphing back
nnd forth ofery ; .day known what an
amount of nnws can be given by tele
phone in tlvotmmptes If the instrument
works perfectly and there are no inter
ruptions. I suppose that our business in
single messages of this kind will average
from ISO to 250 a May ; with the tendency
to increase steadily. "
In some of the announcements of the
extension of this ( oner-distance telephone
service , the newspapers have Intimated
that the los cf business to the telegraph
companies owing to this competition
would be tremendous. One of the offi
cers of the Western Union Telegraph
company , who was asked concerning
this , said : "Of course the telephone may
lake the place of the telegraph in many
Instances , but. the moment you get dis
tances of more than 300 miles the ex
pense running double-wired circuits of
copper is going to become enormous ,
and as the number of tolphono messages
which can be sent is insignificant as com
pared to the amount of business which
can bo done by telegraph. I do not see
that wo need fear any competition. "
The possibility of making some device
which shall register a message coming
by telephone has long been discussed ,
but as yet nothing practicable has ap
peared. Ono inventor has suggested that
some nodiucatioB ol the phonograph
eonld bo attached to .the receiver , and
would be ready at any time to repeat
what cjimo over the wire , ' As yet the-
phonograph will not record anything so
delicate tis the vibration of a telephone
diaphragm.
Telegraphing From Moving Train * .
. Kloctrlcal World : What has for some
time been looked upon as a successful
experiment in telegraphing to and from
moving trains may now be considered a
thoroughgoing practical method of work
ing. This system , developed by Mr.
I'holpfl , Mr. Edison and others , has now
been at work practically on Yho Lolngh
VaHey railroad for several mouths , and
we have had occasion to witness it our
selves in excellent operation upon that
road from Perth Amboy to Easton , a dis
tance of fifty miles. The method of
working Is well known to our readers ,
the principle of induction being em
ployed as the medium of communication
between a stationary wire along the
track nnd n cell on the moving car.
While the system bos , as n whole ,
worked to satisfaction , several Interest
ing points have been developed which
aru worthy of consideration. As wo
noted some time ago , the line wire cov
ered with insultion on this road was laid
on the llange of the rail. It was found ,
however , that the induction sot up be
tween the conductor and the rail itself
weakened the action on the coil on the
car , and though signals wcro perfectly
intelligible , yet they were not as strong
as those obtained with overhead lines.
Hence it has been decided to change the
line to overhead one on short poles.
Another fact developed was that stronger
signals could bo obtained by separating
the convolutions of the coil on the car n
short distance from each other , so : .s to
avoid mutual induction and retardation
between them. In commenting on the
sjstem , the Railroad Gazette remarks
that the increase of limited trains which
niako many infrequent stops would seem
to be one of the phases of modern railroading
reading which is likely to show the de
sirableness of a system of communication
of this kind. The New York Central
fast train keeps its passengers out of
communication with the rest of the world
about two nnd a half hours , while run
ning between New York and Albany ;
ami the Pennsylvania's limited occupies
about three hours between Altoomvand
Harrisburg. It might bo argued that the
restless American ought , in justice to
himself , to take a vacation of a few
hours from his exciting all airs once in a
while , nnd that if a few fortunes were
lost in Wall street by this means no last-
inir harm would result ; nevertheless
many general uassonger agents will
doubtless deem It to their interest to ac
commodate their patrons with every con
venience possible , nnd to the list of at
tractions , btich as dining cars , "vesti
bules''and electric ? lights thu train telegraph -
graph will have to be added by those
who wish to keep just a notch or two
ahead of their competitors. There is a
mission too for this convenience on or-
Unary passenger trains. People arc
willing to pay liberally for relief from
Anxiety , and the fair patron who has left
' , n the car a parasol or a yard of ribbon
nrllich she has traveled ten miles to pur
chase would bless the railroad for a
prompt means of telegraphing to the
train , as fervently as would the broker
on the limited who desired reports every
en minutes from his oflicc. The more
hat people use the telegraph and tele
phone the less care and forethought they
: ake in all their affairs affected by this
means of communication. At first the
.digraph was used largely in the sense
of a corrector of mistakes ; for the send-
'ngof messages had been forgotten when
; he mail started. But gradually inten
tional forgetting , so to speak , was in
duced by the now facilities , so that now ,
with cheap rates , very often no pains at
all are taken to send by mail. This en
genders habits of impatience , for if half ,
or two-thirds of one's questions are an
swered , or wants supplied , without delay
the desire for equal convenience extends
'o all wants. This is a reason why the
rain telegraph now has a field which it
would not have had twenty-live years' '
ago.
To Rnn by Klcctrlclty.
Now York Times : The Jersey City
and Bergen railroad will on Wednesday
next move their cars by electric motors.
President Thurston says that it will
prove less expensive and bothersome
than horse locomotion. The new motive
power , contrived by Joseph Weiss , of
Jersey City , has already been tested on
the lines with the heaviest grades and
found to work satisfactorily. A serie ? of
electric cells placed under the car scats
feed batteries underneath the car. Three
wheels are connected with the latter con
trivniice , two Hanged or rail wheels , and
a center wheel which is flangeless. The
mil wheels are charged with electricity ,
and are connected by a belt. The power
is distributed by a small gear wheel ,
which makes 500 revolution * in harmony
with n larger ono of 250 revolutions ,
which in turn is connected with the fric
tion or center wheel , winch makes fifty
revolutions. With thirty cells the car
can bo driven 100 miles an hour , or as
much slower as desired. The batteries
will run it fifteen hours and do the work
of twelve horses. The cars will bo
lengthened live feet. It is proposed to
employ the present drivers to run the
new motors. At the opening Wednesday
a number of distinguished guests will be
in attendance.
An Inquisitive Elephant Shocked.
In the pageant of victory in the "Fall
ol Babylon , " at Sr. George , are several
huge elephants and other ponderous
beasts. The tallest and heaviest elephant
is called "Chief. " Along aud about the
stace are laid over 100 electric wires ,
which are used to convoy the electric
current to the RCO lights focused on the
scenery to produce the necessary effects.
As it is dangerous to come in contact
with these wires signs are placed in con
spicuous positions warning the perfohn-
era of the danger. The other evening
the entire company was suddenly startled
by a roar from the big elephant , "Chief. "
Win ID awaiting his cue to take his place
in the procession ho had leisurely pro
ceeded with Ills trunk to Investigate his
immediate surroundings. Before ho
could scent his peril ho had Insinuated
hia proboscis between two of the heav
iest electrio wire ? used. The roars that
followed were territic , and each succeed
ing one was louder than the other. The
keepers rushed to the spot and saw the
ponderous beast fall to the ground ,
writhing in pain. A panic ensued among
the supers and coryphees , who imagined
"Chief" was going on a rnmpagu and
would tear up things generally. Pails of
water were thrown over the quivering
trunk , while the poor beast tossed him
self from side to side in agony. It was
fifteen minutes before the unfortunate
animal became sufficiently relieved to as
sume n standing position and shako him
self into form for his part. Tno scienti
fic veterinarian who was called in found
the end of the elephant's trnnk severely
burned. Although the animal's suffer
ings must have been intense at the time ,
ho was not seriously injured.
Notable Electric Illumination.
Ono of the notable electric Illumina
tions for the jnbilee was that at Lincoln ,
whore the great tower of the cathedral ,
371 feet high , was illuminated by thirty-
two arc lamps of 2,000 candle-power
each , making tbo total of 04,000 candle-
power. Each ono of the four pinnacles
bore a lamp at a height of 40 lect above
the tower. As Lincoln Cathedral stands
on n hill about 800 feet high , and Is surrounded -
-rounded by level country in every direc
tion , the light was visible at a great dis
tance , as far north as Doncaster and
York , westward well into the midland
.counties , and southward as far aa Boston ,
Peterborough and Ely , The installation
was put in by Metsn. llobey & Com
pany , of Lincoln.
JUS.
SPARKLING SUMMER SMILES.
A jBcorgia Editor Who Hoi Profiled By
Experience ,
NO PLIES UPON HIS DARLING.
A Vacation llomance The Cxnat Wny
What Shall \Ve Drink-Bullet
Glrl'ft Feat An A reo bte
Chang * Witticism * .
A Vacation Honmncc.
Somcrviltt Journal.
Thnv met at the seashore ono summer.
With results there's no need to detlun ;
He told his chum she was "a hummer , "
And he , she told hers , was "divine. "
Thnyfl Irted upon the veranda ,
With the moon shining bright overhead ,
He ventured to call her "Amanda , "
And she shyly answered , "why , Near
Tholr romance was sweet while It lasted ,
As seaside romances may bo ;
But , alas ! all his fond hopes Nirre blasted.
In a way that , of course , you foresee *
For , when ho went back to the city.
Her coolness occasioned him pain ;
Antt to tniko a short end to my ditty
Jler husbuDd met her at the tram.
Some Georgia Nawsnnpnr Ilules.
Arkansaw Traveler : Pasted over the
desk of the city editor of a Georgia paper
are the following instructions :
"All brides are lovely.bcautlful and ac
complished , except they bo old and tough
widows , and then they are amiable and
cultivated.
"All merchant * who advertise arc en
terprising , wide-awake and a credit to
our city. The names of those who do
not advertise must not appear in our
paper.
' 'All old lawyers arc able and worthy
of a place on the supreme bench. Young
lawyers are promising and silvery-
tongued.
"Conductors on passenger trains are
gentlemanly and courteous.
"Doctors arc eminent.
"Farmers arc intelligent.
"Candidates who put their announce
ments in our paper are gaining ground
every day. Those who do not are likely
to bo defeated.
"Under no circumstances must these
rules be broken. F. Meddleton Pry or ,
editor and proprietor. "
TheUsun ! Wny.
"Yes , I gave each of my sons ffi.OOO
and sent them west to make their for
tunes. John invested bis money in a cat
tle ranch , aud went to work in earnest.
It grieves uio to say that. Henry , disre
garding my admonitions about honesty
and industrv , started a faro bank. "
"And it all turned out in the usual way ,
1 suppose. "
"Yes , Henry owns John's cattle ranch
now , and has lent him money to come
home with. "
Alexander.
Texan Sl/itiigf ,
There was a chao who kept a store.
And thoiipb there might be erander ,
He sold his goods nor nsked tor more ,
Aud his oainu was Alexander.
Ho mixed his Roods with cunning hand ,
He was a skilful Draiidcr ;
And since hit sugar half was sand
They called him Alec-Sander.
lo had his dear , ono day Bhn came ,
Then lovingly hit scanned her :
lo asked her would she change her name ?
Then a ring did Alox-hand-ner.
'O. vcs , " she said , with smiling Up.
"If I can be commander 1"
And so they framed a partnership
And called It AJex-and-her.
BaTe From I'rospcnflon.
A Dakota citizen had returned from a
little lynching affair , aud his wife was
badly frightened.
"Aren't you afraid of being arrested
ind tried for murder ? " she inquired.
"No , " he said , "tho judge i nd the dis
rict attorney wcro among those who had
hold of the rope. "
What Shall Wo Drink ?
Some people say the man's a fool
Who drinks Icu water to keep cool.
And to some others it Is clear
lie's foolish who drinks ale or beer.
borne others say that soda's not
The drink to take when days are hot.
And Mystic and Cochltuato
Arc worse than all , some people state.
Wlmt shall we drink , for mercy's sake ?
lln , ha ! Mlnt-Julcps let us take.
Ilnllot Olrlu * Great Feat.
Little girl , at the opera for the first
time Mamma , what are those women
Lloing with tholr feet ?
Mother Don't ask so many questions.
Little girl Mamma , arc they trying to
atch Hies with their feel ?
Mother No ; dudes.
Ob , No.
There's no rose without its thorn
And no too witho ut its corn , '
No cherry without its grub ,
And no cigar without its stub.
Anollinr Fine-Returning.
Kincald Phwhich way now , Hartigan ?
Ilartigan It's me that's dilcgated n
c'mittco av wan to returrun th' Ilnpgorty
Social club's banner wo tuk away from
thiui at the picnic. It's as good as new
barrin' the brick-hole , an' it's pluntin'
humid feolin's wo are.
Been With a Woman' * Ere.
Somcrvttle Journal.
There's nothing at nil In the paper to-day , "
Sold he with a man's aggrandizement.
Why dear said his wite , "you can't mean
what you say.
There's a lovely dry-tfoods advertisement. "
An Agreeable Change.
Detroit Free Press : A housewife on Antoine -
toino street had cleared off the breakfast
table the other morning , nnd lust as she
gave her pan of dishwater a heave into
the back yard a man came around the
corner of the house and received the full
contents from chin to heels.
"Oh ! dear , but I beg a thousand par
dons ! " exclaimed t lie woman when she
realized whnt she had done.
"Not a pardon , ma'am , " ho calmly re
plied.
"But it was so careless in mo. "
"Not a bit careless , ma'am. 1 am a
gentleman out of work and with no
means. I make it a practice to call at va
rious houses In search of cold vitnals. In
most cases they sling the bull-dog or the
ax at mo. I lay my hand upon my heart
and assure you that this l an innovation
n change u diversion that I can really
enjoy , aud I thank you for it. Good day ,
ma'am. "
Engaged to a Finish ,
lie was an artist , courting the daugh
ter of u sea captain. While ho waa
whimpering soft nothings in her car in
the parlorhe was paralyzed by the harsh
voice of the ancient mariner in a neigh
boring room : "Cast oil' that painter ! "
But she explained that her father often
used nautical phray.es in his sleep , and
the engagement proceeded to a finish.
They Han Him In.
A youth filled up with bad liquor.
Uecauso such a obstinate klquor ,
And uiadA such a din ,
That the cons ran him In ,
Which obliged him to pawn bis good liquor.
Sensational Suljeote.
PitUburg Times : Hov. J. B. Koehno ,
paiitor of the Cumberland Presbyterian
church , Sixtli avenue , last Sunday mghl
begun a series of sermons , the title ol
each one being ono of the expression !
often heard on the street. "Damn It'
was the title of last night's discourso.utu
the users of that and similar , profane OB
prcsuons wcro handled without gloves ,
The subjects for the other sermons , so fit
as determined upon by Mr. Koehno. will
bo : "How Is the Score ? " "Ho Hold
Acn Full. " "How Was the Showf" "Wh
Is That Now Girl ? Has She. Just Struck ,
the City ? " "Let us Have a Game ol
Pool , " "Aro You Trying to Make R
MiislU"
MiislU"A
A ' '
Nice llow-d'y-do' .
The snimw of n chief of the Sioux
Eloped with n red hrndcd Jlotix ;
The pair In Dtitnique
TUo husband o'ertotuiue.
And this made anIce
how-dloux-yloux-dloux.
No Flics Upon llli Darling.
"My daughter , " remarked a Wobel
avenue paterfamilias In n burst of conll
deuce this morning , "I wont you to keep
our proud and wealthy name in dutiful
remembrance. Keep up your eyes ,
Evangolino , and when you look about you
for n partner for life select ono who U
worthy of our name nnd future. " '
" 1 have selected ono already , pa , ' ' said
the fair Evangcline.as the modest blushes
suffused the croiuo do Us ou her fair nook
nnd face.
"Hal Speak quickly. Who la ho !
What is he ? For heaven's sake keep me
not In suspense. "
"It's it's Mr. Lorrigan , the baseball
pitcher. "
"Well done , Evangelino. There are no
Hies on you , my darling. Come to my
arms. You have made mo a happy man
this time. Wealth and position Iiavo you
gained in this bold hit in the first in
ning. " And they both wept for joy.
The BhootliiR ot Stonewall Jaokaoit
"A Great Battle in a Forest , " by Gen
eral Adam Bndonu , in St. Nicholas for
August : After night fell Stonewall Jack
son rode out with his staff to reconnoiter
in front of the line ho had gained. It
was his idea to stretch completely around
in the rear of Hooker and cut him oft
from the river.
The night was dark and Jackson soon
came upon the union lines. Their infan
try drove him back , nnd as ho returned
in the darkness , his own soldiers began
firing at their commander , of course mis
taking his party for the enemy. Jackson
was shot in the hand and wrist , aud in
the upper arm at the same time. His
horse turned , nnd the general lost his
hold of the bridle-rein ; his cap was
brushed from his head by the branches ,
ho reeled , and was caught in the arms of
an officer. After a moment ho waa as
sisted to dismount , his wound was exam
ined , and a litter was brought. Juat
then the union artillery opened
again , and a murderous tire
came down upon the party throngh
the woods aud the darkness. Ono of the
litter-bearers stumbled and fell , and the
others wore frightened ; they laid the lit
ter on the ground , the furious .storm of
shot and shell sweeping over them like
hail. Jackson attempted to rise , but his
aide-de-camp held him down till the
tempest of tire was lulled. Then the
wounded general was helped to rise and
walked a few stops in the forest : but ho
became faint and was again laid in his
litter. Once ho rolled to the ground
when nn assistant was shot , and the litter
fell.OJust then General Ponder , ono of
'ils subordinates , passed , ho stopped and
aid : . -
"I hope you are not seriously hurt gon-
ral. I fear I shall have to retire my
roops , they are HO broken. "
But Jackson looked up at ouce and ex-
lainiod :
"You must hold your ground , General
'cndcr , you must hold your ground ,
ir. "
This was the last order he over gave.
lo was borne some distance to the near-
at house , nnd examined by the
> urgeon ; and after midnight his left
rni was amputated at the shoulder.
*
Vvhon Leo was told that his most
trusted lieutenant had been wounded , he
was greatly distressed , for the relations
between them wore almost tender.
"Jackson has lost bin loft arm. "
laid Lee , "nut I have lost my right
arm. "
Does Killed by Electricity.
Buffalo Express , July 17 : Yesterday
morning was eventful one in the history
-jf dogdom. Twenty-seven luckless cap
tives whose term of probation had passed
were offered up on the electric altar.
The nnw form of execution dispenses al
together with the "dull thud. " the "sharp
report , " and the "loud splash. " Ono by
ono the doomed dogs wcro led from the
kennel room to the chamber of death.
Ono by ono tboy were placed in n box
about two by three , lined with tin , with
about nn inch of water in the bottom.
One by one they wore muzzled with a
wire punning through the month. A
simple touch of the tever a corpse. The
work of extermination was witnessed
yesterday Drs.McMichaol. Wendo , Park ,
Fell , nnd others , all of whom expressed
delight at the expedition with which the
work of destruction was performed. At
present only three or four dogy , of evi
dent good social standing , remain at the
nouna. The fresh crop will probably be
harvested to-morrow.
YIELD * TO EVERT MOVEMENT OF THE WEARER.
OwlmdnthuDuaoxlL lUHTIini ol th cloth ( which
our pUcntu corcr cichulrrlj ) will fit ptrlrctlr tint
tlmtwnrn HMIUIIM no In raking In. Bom ( irrtMRB
by * * II T ft ft r bHitg worn t iula } tf not found tn mol
1'KIIKKCT PITTINO. MKAI/rllFUI. .
nud I'mitrm-tnlil * Cornet erer worn. Bold li all
eulern
URUTTY BRO . . ChlcM o , III.
OMAHA
MEDICAL & SURGICAL INSTITUTE.
Cor , 13th St. and Capitol Act. , OH AHA , NEB.
i on Tin : TntuiMF.\T or AM.
CHRONIC ; : SURGICAL DISEASES
EMUS AND APPtUNCIS FOR DEFORUIIIE3. 7RUSS1S ,
AKOlKEtUw YJUHCOCUE SuPKJOBrCUACCMPREJJ. [ ;
l > * t f.cilitlr | ti > driim > n l nmm\\ \ \ % for itbvrMfMtrpiltliMbl fit
tv nr fvnit ufillmiflrviulihi/XuilicalorHartfiM- i L
unrrit run I'iui'i4 < mi Itef > nnli1i > ntii ) Mrurt flub r t ,
( \imlur9 wf llwhjuiif , lilv * , 1 uiiKir * , ( < lnnr , Cal.rTti.llifinrlillt
Inlil.l.n , | Wlrt-Hv . I'jnilr-K ! i > ! l | iiy , M lui > . UUJicr , I')1" .
ur , Lkjii , iu.1 iki.jJ : , luJ I.I Su/jtc.l O | tlUi .
Hook on Diseases of Women FRKK.
Only Rell.inlo MEDICAL INSTITUTE
MAIiINU A BIWILTX U ?
PRIVATE , SPECIAL and NERVOUS DISEASES.
fl v % f tlly fre. .
riwi | lw * y Until wth | * ulnitrmirMw lImorilT Tr hMMl f r
fun ! Call * j | u * * iiUo'orKn. . | W * ry of ) our tM. with Uu | tt
u4 * * * * W ui't ' l t > uu r | > ( .T , our
DOOK FREE TO MEN !
VK | > II 1M U , H4cUl | ri' ' | Kervott * IiWiiM-t , MU H | t * cit > * %
ftlwnculrilM , tiiirrttwjr , f nhUt * , Uuuwrr ! * * * , i > ltrt luj V rt-
tucU * , Iwjoiii * fat jmlJeuf * AjMrrv ,
OVUM. HKnim A Kimciiv.tr , i.vsmcrK.or
Gr , Idccacy. ccr. 131k it. & CapicUyOaaU ! , I *