Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 1888)
B OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY DECEMBER 23 , -SIXTEEN PAGES. TBDE DAILY BEE , 1'LULilSHHI ) BVnilY MOHNINO. TKIIMB or sunRdmmox. Jl I1r ( Morning Edition ) Including Su.vnAT IlKBOno Year . ' ' ? ? j'orSMJtMontln . . " - I'orTlirce Months . . . "W 1'iiR OMAHA HtiNtiAV llBK , tnftllcd to nny ndilrws. Ono Year . gJ { WRXKIA HRR , Ooo V mr . . . . . . 2 J UjmiAOmrE.NOS.tiHANUPIflFAIISAMHTItKKT. Ciiit'Ann OKFICB Wi7 HOOKRIIV liiiit.iitsn. Nr.wYoiiKOmcB. UOOMS M ANII irTiiinUNr Iitiir.niNO.VAMiirinTo.v OWICE , No. CU I'OUKTEE.YIH STIIKKT. . COKHRSPONDKNCE. , . , Allcommnnlcatlons relating to news and edi torial mutter should bo addressed to the KlMTOli JHJBINraSLlITRnS. All business tellers anil remittances BliotlM bo , nililtctwed to Tun HUB PIMIMHIIINU COMPANY. OMAHA. Draft * , checks find postofflce orders to be made pueblo to the order or the company. TlicBccPnlilisliing"Spany Proprictori 13. UOSKWATEU. Kdltor. ftnrorn Statement ot Circulation. Elat of Nobraikix. I , - County of Dinigla-i. I " ' " tlcorco H.TzichuckRocret3ryotTh Hen Pub lishing Company. dent Holemnly swear that the ncnmrclrcnlatlnn of THK DAILY Her. for the tveflt cnUlnR December S3. 1888. was oa follows I Pumlay , l ) c. in . J Monday. Doc. 17 . } W' ' " Tni'Hlny HIT. 18 . 1M1-- XVednpsJay.Dcc. 10 . | g. J ; riiurhdav. Doo. 20 . 1WWJ Iriclar. Uec.2 1 . 8.fl.3 Batnroay , Doc. 23 . .18.117 Averauo . 1R.125 OKOUnKll.TZSCHUCK. Sworn to hcforn me anil snb rrlbod In my presence thin uK.'nd dav of Dorcmbcr A. I ) , IH8S. ifval N.I' . KKIL. Notary Public. Unto ot M obraska. i . _ County otUouqlai , f8 * ' rieorpo II. T/.sclitick , b0lng duly sworn , do- nosed and says that ho la secretary ot the lice Piililwhlng company , tliat the actual avoragt ) dully circulation of TMK luit.r IIKK for the month of Dccembor , 18)7 | ) , 15,011 copies ; for Jan- nary , ItWU. lliax ) copies ; for Fuhrunry , JKH8 , 16l i conies ; for March , issa , lsi.089 copies ; for April , 1SHS , 1H.74I copies ; for May. 1WB , 17,181 roiiles ; for .Iiino , IMH , UV-M-'l copies ; for .Inly. l8NK.18.ncoiiIe.s ( ; forAncu.it. 1 ! A , 1S.183 copies ; for September. 1H.US. 1H.151 copies ; for October , JPKH. was lH.tWi copies ; for November. 1838 , IW'Wlcnplos. ' OHO. II. TZSGIIUCK. Sworn to before mo nnd snbicrlbod In my Pretence this ath day of Dranmber , IfW N. 1' . VKlIi Notary Public. TIIKHK nro but two representatives from Omuliauinong tlio four hundred uml six students enrolled in tlio Uni versity of Nebraska. Evidently , Omaha is paying a great deal for her whistle. WHATHVKII the directors of the board of trndo may do with regard to the se lection of a secretary , it is to bo hoped that 'they will not forgot the lesson taught them by the freight bureau cx- Dorioirco. ' Tim now year will make its debut with nn eclipse of the sun , which will be total on the Pacific slope , and par tial in these parts. Very few of the present generation have soon a solar eclipse on Now Year's Day. WIIILK the laboring mon have boon favored by the mildness of the season nnd consequent reduction of coul bills , there is a serious loss felt by the mon who are usually engaged at this time of the year in gathering the ice crop. THK recent exposure of gigantic ( smuggling operations in opium , silks and other valuable merchandise into the United States from Canada will make it necessary , apparently , to estab lish un unbroken line of customhouses till along our northern hoi-dor. IT is estimated that six millions were invested in the erection of new build ings at Denver during the year. What is especially remarkable about Denver's building boom is , that the greater part of this capital is invested in dwellings. Denver , undoubtedly , is a charming residence city. . A MB. HKNHY SHAIION , of-Chicago , filed a petition for divorce from his wife at 6 o'clock on ouo Wednesday after noon and was divorced at exactly 10 o'clock the next morning. With such , n record it is quite evident Chicago is Jealous of its reputation and will brook no competition of rivals in the divorce business. THE rigors of winter , if they have not yet boon felt in our vicinity , have given warning to the mining camps in the mountains of Wyoming and Colorado rado to shut down for the season. The output for the year cannot now bo re liably computed. The estimate of pro duction is said to bo somewhat less than last year , but no statement is accepted until life report of the mint is made public. FKANCIS ADAMS does not Bland alone in denouncing the dishon esty of railroad olllcials. At a recent meeting of the managers of the roads in the Western Freight association , Presi dent Sticknoy , of the Chicago , Kansas City & St. Paul railroad , charged tlio present demoralized state of a Hairs to the recklessness of railroad ollicials and their willful violations of the inter state commerce law. Now that the cat Is coining out of the bag , the true in wardness of railroad wrecking is coming to light. Kmboldonod by the confes sions of tha presidents of two railroad companies , others will , in duo time , take the stand and lot the people know just what kind of mon railroad inann- pors are nnd by what methods they ploy ( also to the public nnd to each other. Tin- : dedication of the opening of the now wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the city of Now York is an oc casion of great interest , notalono to the metropolis , but to the whole country. The grand purpose of the trustees , to provide a collection of objects of art that shall bo useful in the improvements of the arts of America , and in cultivat ing tlio taste ot the people to the highest - < est standards , gives prinlso of an early rcali/.ntlon. By the liberality of public Bplritod citizens rich collections of works of antiquity are being gathered under iv single roof. When tlio Museum Bhall bo fully equipped , it will have a great educational work before it. It will provide instruction for the indus trial classes , and will hold the models for the highest works of art and the rarest treasures representing the hand iwork of man. The eyes of the wholq country are turned on Now York. \Ylmtovor advance in art woricmanship IK made in painting , in the carving of wood , in tuatal working , in the textile fabrics , duo to the inspiration of works of art in the Museum , spreads its tntlu- encn from one oud of our country to the olh r. A 1POKJ5 01' TIMELY ADVICE. The retail liquor dealers of Omnhi nro again In turmoil ever \rhat tuoj deem lo bo a great menace lo their in lorcsU. Like the bull who tries tobucl Iho locomotive llicso men are sllh enough to force n conntot which is sun to end in disaster to themselves inon than to anybody else. When the legislature enacted tin high-license law seven years aifo , as tin outcome of n struggle over prohl billon , the liquor dealers o thfs city flow into a passloi and arrayed themselves against the lav and everybody who stood for Its en forcomont. They lorrorlzed the citj authorities and threatened to prcclpl late a general outbreak if an nttomp was made lo carry out Iho plain lottoi of the law. Instead of obeying the Inu they forced the council to mlsintorprc it and carried on nn outlaw trafllc foi months and.years after the supreme court had pronounced the act valid. . Such Indefensible conduct naturally weakened the honest supporters of hlgli license regulation nnd recruited the ranks of Iho prohibitionists. Believing high llconso to bo tlu means for effectively regulating tin evils of the liquor tralllc , THE Buu ha ; never ceased lo advocate the high 11 cense system. It 1ms done so when tc do it was to invoke the wrath of the liquor dealers , and it lias continued a : the champion of high license at the risk ot being denounced by prohibition ists as a whisky organ. But TUB BEK has no patience with shams. It believes in enforcing the law in every essential particular , and it regards such strict enforcement as the only breakwater against prohibi tion. tion.The The liquor dealers of Omaha have altogether too many fool friends. The roustabout politicians who congregate nightly in the saloons and the editors who live off their patronage , arc con stantly advising them to do the wrong thing at the right tlmo. They make believe that the Omaha liquor dealer is a terribly oppressed and downtrodden citizen. They tell him that resistance to the tyranny of the mayor and the police commission is his only safeguard. They profess to be shocked at the interference of the state with their liberties , and propose all sorts of plots and counter plots to subvert the law and obstruct the city government. Now wo venture to give the liquor dealers a piece ol friendly advice. This paper cares very little whether it posses us the friend or the enemy of the saloon keepers. It is opposed to prohibition , both from self-interest and princi ple. It does not want to subject Omaha and Nebraska to the blighting effects of prohibitory legislation. Tlio only effective way to block prohibition is to rigidly enforce high license. Unless the liquor deal ers prefer to bo made outlaws they had better show some respect for law and keep their hands out of the charter and off the city council. No man who in tends to keep an orderly house will care who constitutes the license board. The state regulates the liquor tratlic not only iu this country but all ever Europe. The state has a perfect right lo ap point the supervisors and excise olllccrs. All the talk of the German papers about such laws doing violence to Individual liberty is the rankest rot. The right to sell liquor does not belong to any particular individual unless ho obeys the regulations which the state imposes on those who sell liquor. The interference of the saloonists with the city council is demoralizing and intel erable. If the retail liquor dealers of Omaha know what is good for them , they will dismiss their fool friends , quit plotting , cease to meddle with the coun cil , and try lo observe the law as near us they can. REFORMS AND REFORMERS , At this stage of American progress and economic evolution when the most profound thinkers are grappling with many grave problems , it is not uncom mon for people of more than common intelligence to bo duped by char latans and mountebanks. Such nn instance has just come under our notice in the announcement that the Single Tax league of Boston had extended an Invitation to Edward At- Icuison lo address it upon the scheme of tax reform , for the promotion of which the league has boon organized. Edward Atkinson has endeavored for a long time to pose as a Truthful James , n faithful creature whoso devotion to ab stract justice compelled him testate state to the world facts that were unpalatable but were true. Ho has been nil the while u subsidized servant of corporations and monopolies , While posing before the country as a second Benjamin Franklin ho has pre tended lo enlighten farmers on the rail road problem and posed before con gressional committees ns a representa tive of the industrial classes , when in fact ho was on the Pacific railroad pay rolls for playing anti-monopolist. This spurious friend of tha farmer and laborer has boon boomed by those to whom his tricky figuring had bccomo serviceable , as a man of profound knowl edge whoso reasoning was to be relied upon. That any well-informed set of men In enlightened Now England should at this late day desire the views of Edward Atkinson on any economic issue passes our comprehension. It is a pity that moro is not known of Lho Single Tax league , of Boston , so that a little light might bo thrown upon this appearance of Atkinson , who is in the most complete discredit with the ju-oduoing and industrial class.Ab there Is no reason Jor believing that the workingmen of Boston have loss Intel ligence than their follows In other cities It may bo conjectured that the Single Tax League that evinced such a tiunger for Edward Atkinson's copious misinformation , is composed of rich men like unto the Nineteenth Century clue , of Now York , whore Courtlnnd [ 'aimer and Andrew CarnogUi rubbed shoulders against socialists and anar chists. Those monopoly millionaires take a pleasure in Iho consideration of Utopian schemes , and give themselves credit ( or a real desire for the world's progress. They listen to the most fan- ; r.stlo schemes in a spasm of intellectual rapture , but their money Is always available for any trust or combination that may bo suggested for o'xtrncltnjj cent per cent profits outot the commun ity. They have a natural sympathy for sham reformers and humbugs who find in them the most patient oi hearers and the most ardent of advertisers , But they have an extreme repulsion for the true reformer ami avoid and decry him at all limes and In all companies. Yet these Utopians have their uses , They prepare the public mind for real reform. If the Utopians dltt not break up the ground , the world would never believe that there was anything wrong or thai Ihero was any real need of re- formation. They obtain a hearing for the true mon , not purposely but inci dentally. So the encyclopedists of Franco , though they were perfectly satisfied with the old regime made pos sible the coming in of Iho revolutionary party , whoso motives at llrst were most honorable , and -who drifted into ex cesses simply because they had not In tellect enough to comprehend the sltu- alion. Butoutofall the blood shedding of the reign of terror came many real reforms which have bcnellttod Franco and mankind lo Ibis day. They arc not the reforms of which the Utopians dreamed , but those idealists turned the alien lion of Franco lo wards Iho necessity of a change and gave the im pulse that culminated In the republic' . PROTECTION i'OK ACTORS. Ono of Iho grenlost absurd- ilics among Hie many that have grown out of the Into crusndo for restricting immigration Is the rcqucsl of American actors lhal tlio contract labor law bo so amended as to exclude for eign actors from this counli-y. The in tent of the advocates of this remarkable proposition is not to keep out "stars , " but to prevent any foreign actor of dis tinction who may come to this country from bringing a supporting company with bun. Salvini. Coquclin , Irving , or any other eminent light of the foreign stagu , may come to our shores without hindrance , but if ho net hero ho must surround himself with native talent , and necessarily such talent as he shall hap pen lo find disengaged , and therefore in a majority of cases the least to bo do- sired. The plea is that English uclors will work formless pay than Americans , and that their influx Is reducing the salaries of the native actors as well ns depriving them of employment. It is singular that this proposition to exclude ) foreign nctors should have the approval of such inlclligcnt nnd eminent men in their profession us Edwin Booth , Law rence Barrett und Joseph Jefferson. Obviously a restriction of the kind proposed would not be in the interest of dramatic art nor just to the pa trons of lhat art. Its effect would doubtless bo to exclude some of the dis tinguished actors of Europe , who would not care to risk their reputation by playing with a ? upport made up of strolling players who either by reason of their habits or their inferior -ability are unable to secure regular engage ments. Irving , for oxumplc , would bo almost certain to make a failure if re quired to act with a company unfamiliar with his methods and having no experi ence of his training and discipline. His success has boon in no small degree duo to the careful selection and thorough training of his support , and it is oven more necessary now than at the beginning of his ca reer lhal he should do this. He could not otherwise do justice to hlm- self or to the plays in which ho appears. And this applies to any star , foreign or native. Neither Mr. Booth nor Mr. Barrett could act to the best advantage with a supporting company picked up at hap-hazard , and subjected lo but a few days of instruction and training. Such a condition could not but be de trimental to dramatic art in this coun try , and it would be unjust to the pa trons of the drama , who are entitled to the highest attainable excellence in its production. Mr. Barrett does not reason well when ho refers to Cooke , the elder Booth , Macready and other giants of the English stage as having boon satisfied to accept the support of Amer ican actors , because the conditions in their day was very dilloreul from Ihose now prevailing. Then every theater lind its carefully selected stock com pany of nctors who had begun at the xmndation , as Mr. Barrett did , rocoiv- : iig a thorough training and discipline ns they advanced. The majorily of nctors to-day in this country have had no such experience. The combination system does not necessitate it nor admit of It. There are many clever people in snocial parts on our stage , who if they wore required lo do Iho work of Iho slock actors of the past suoh work as Boolh and Barrolt did , for example would not be able to hold an engage ment a week in any well regulated .heater. There is no experienced and capable actor in this country who need ever bo without employment , if lie bo also a trustworthy man , nt prices that will fairly remunerate him for his work. This class of aelors are not coinpll- nonlcd by Iho appeal for protection , nor , indeed , is the profession as n vholo. It is rather degrading to the self-respect of the American actor. The truth is , the European stages are in boiler condilion than the stage n America. They are more carefully and intelligently managed , considered generally" , with an honestor regard for Iramatlo art. There are a few theaters n the United States conducted by the ilghest standards , whore tlio drama Is M'osontcd with a completeness and ex cellence nowhere surpassed , but , -is every intelligent person knows , a very great deal that Is served out to the American people would not bo 'toler ated in Europe , and the plays are not verse than the "art" of their prosonta- ion. Wo need , therefore , if the condi- lon of our stage is uot to become amenlnbly worse than for the most part t is , the example which the model dramatic companies of Europe can sup- > ly , und we shall continue to need it BO eng as the present methods in this country , eHsentlally deteriorating to dramatic art , continue. It is presumed that the average congressman neither knows nor cares much about dramatic art , but those whole lo have regard for it , apart from and above any relations which the Ameri can aotor may have to it , will demand L * * L T L r * - - i v s. i that the appeal for the nrillvo "ham' falters" shalllibl bo. hooded. VETERAN POET. John G. Whiltlor , on last Monday celebrated lUfil 'eighty-first ' birthday But one other distinguished American poet has lived W a greater ago. Will iam Gullon Bryant died at eighty-four , Longfellow aleqjonly-flvo , Emerson ai seventy-nine and. Fits Green TIalleck a' ' seventy-seven. Oliver Wondcll Holmes is I n his eightieth ycarwith faculties un impaired nndVphysical vigor promising yet many years of his most useful lite Tennyson is in his eightieth your , with his life-work ended , and Browning , al eighty-six , has wholly ooaaod to labor. The gentle Quaker poet , whoso sweet and tender song is so infinitely human in all Its moods and aspirations , has not yet abandoned till effort. But ho tolls the world that song does notcomoto him as it once did. The words ho wants avoid him. What ho now undertakes is nccompltshod with great effort. During the past year he has written but two poems , both short , but infused with the old spirit. Ho is busying himself with a revision of his writings , and ho expects that this will bo his last labor. In his charming country scat atOak Knoll , where every want of the kindly old pool is eared for by female cousins who love him as a father , John G. Whittior's declining ycars.nro rich In all the solnointr mem ories and influences of a pure lifo that has performed its task faithfully and well. Ills Interest in human ity is as hearty as over , his pa triotism as aclivo as in the days when ho thrilled the nation with his ringing verso. Many visit him to enjoy the genial influence that he spreads about him , and Ids daily mail convoys to him numerous assurances of the regard in which ho is hold by those who know him only through his song. May the veteran poet celebrate many more birthdays , each bringing with it increased evidence * of the love and es teem in which ho is universally hold. AS TO rOJiT Git AHA. . After a two weeks' absence from the city I find myself welcomed back as usual by a fuslhido \vould-bo journalists who have for years made it their occu pation to blaekwash mo. It hardly pays to tire a cannon at a lly. I should certainly take no notice of the con temptible prattle of the smtill-boro gossiper - sipor who has ventured to set afloat the stupid canard that my opposition to the relocation of For.t Omaha is inspired by mercenary motives , if I wore not convinced that the citi zens of Omaha ' are about to suffer incalculable damage by the consum mation of this scheme. The fact that T-havo persistently op posed the roinOjYiA of Fort Omuha from its present slto for four years , and was largely , if not chiolly , instrumental in the defeat of the Fort Omaha removal hill in the last congress is in itself the most effective- contradiction of 'tho story that the atti tude of TIIL : But ! has in any way , shape or manner , booh based on negotiations with army olllcors for the occupancy of the new BHIJ building. My opposition to the Fort Omaha removal scheme has , from the outset , been inspired by what I sincerely believed to be detrimental to the material welfare of Omaha. On this point 1 know the business men of Omaha are a unit , excepting perhaps two or throe who expect to profit by real estate commissions or sales of land. In common with the bust informed and most largely interested tax-payers , I regard the removal of Fort Omaha to a point ton miles beyond the city limits as a serious blow to our prosperity , for which no amount of appropriation will afford compensation. To all intents and purposes the fort might as well bo In Cheyenne as to bo below 13ollovuo , whore the parties who arc engineering this project propose to locate it. The * location below Bsllovuo may not bo as damaging to the Omaha of to-day as the location of the Union Pacific bridge , which those same land speculators sought to bring about , would have been to the Omaha of fifteen years afro. But I venture to assert that Omaha can bettor afford to pay two thousand dollars lars lor every aero which may bo nocuod for the poruianont enlargement of the present fort than to allow the fort to Do removed under the bill that passed con gress last sumnio r. Right hero lot mo state that I have not ono dollar's worth of interest in any real estate north of Douglas or south of Farnam streets- I have no pecuniary interest .noar Fort Omaha or any locality which is competing for the now fort. My bolo closiro is to prevent a great blunder and preserve for this city what was acquired in the early days by the generous liberality of her citizens. The proposed change has never boon looked upon favorably by any of the various commanders of this department , or any prominent army ofllcor located iioro. That fact and the universal op position of our citizens , entirely unin fluenced by any newspaper controversy , should have sotno weight with our representatives in ; congress , who can , by a united effort , have the removal bill repealed and a bill enlarging the present - ont fort substituted. E. UOSKWATISU. THE people of St , Louis will bo able to extract considerable comfort in spite of the adverse decision just rendered in the supreme court of that state in the Boll tolophonoVcaso. The company resisted the attempt of the city to fix a maximum rate fortho ! rental of a telephone - phone instrument on the ground that the authorities luivo no right to fix the rates. The supreme court sustained the appeal and the Boll telephone company apparently won a substantial victory. The ruling of the Missouri court in this instance is in direct conflict with the decision af the Indiana supreme court which do- 3lurod valid an ordinance of the city of Indianapolis fixing a reasonable maxi mum charge. It will bo scon therefore that the question at point is one which leponds on the powers conferred upon i city by its charter. The , Missouri : ourt hold that the right to fix telephone - phone charges is not given to the city } f St. Louis , while the Indiana decl- lion would imply that such powers were vested in the authorities of the city o Indianapolis by its charter. It mus not bo presumed , however , that tlu right to fix such maximum charges an dented by the supreme court of Mis sourl. The courts recognized that tin rights and privileges which the Bel company enjoy as a public corporation intiUo It subject to public regulation For that reason the slate had the rlgh to fix and prescribe a maximum rate for telephone service , if denied to the city of St. Louis by reason of its do t'octlvo charter. THK holiday season in Omaha this year has boon an' agreeable surprise to i > eoplo who do the shopping , as well a ; those who do the selling. Never before fore has Omaha exhibited such asuporl display of holiday goods , ranging from costly works of art down to the i-hcapost of toys , and at no tlmo before has there boon such variety for selection with prices within the roach of the smallest purse. Omaha is getting to bo truly metropolitan in all that the word ini' piles. _ * _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ IN spite of the unseasonable weather the merchants of this city have every reason to congratulate themselves over a prosperous holiday trade. The clear headed patrons of the advertising col umns of TinBKK : who know that it is the only medium through which all classes of our population can be reached have reaped a golden harvest. VOICI3 OK THK STAT13 IMU3SS. "Judicious advertising , " says the Norfolk News , "Is ns bread cast upon the waters which return * after a fuw days in the shape of spongecake , " The democratic Johnson County Journal lins positive information Unit the "surplus of republican statesmen is the flr-st surplus that will engage the attention of Mr. Harrison. " Says the Fairmont. Signal : 'Hon. John A. Dempster Is the people's rsndldntc for speaker of the house of representatives. The combine against him. like that against the rc- nominntion of Attorney-General Loose , will full to defeat him. " The Hastings Kobrasknn thinks the situa tion will bo complicated nnd Interesting enough in the Nebraska legislature this wintyr to make real statesmen of the success ful members , while the political graves of others will bo fairly yawning for them before - fore the session is over. E. ai. Con-ell's announcement that ho is not n candidate for secretary of the state Bumito leads the 1'Vomont Tribune to remark Unit tliis leaves Brad Slaughter as the heir apparent. When Brad Slaughter isn't ' heir apparent to something of this sort the mor- eury is low In the thermometer. The Grand Island Independent notes the 'act that u constitutional convention may bo provided for by the next session of the legis lature , and says that "if ono is held it should provide for an independent railroad commis sion or prohibit oxplicitely the creation of one by evasion of the constitution as has been done. " The Hastings Ncuraskan thinks It is possi ble that the declaration of one of the mom- bors-olect that the coping legislature "is the most intelligent over elected in the stato" may bo true , "and will bo very gratifying , of course , if it proves to bo the case , but this seems to have been the invariable opin ion Just before a now legislature assembled. " Of Hon. John A. Dempster's candidacy for speaker of the state house of representa tives , the York Times says : "Ho was u mornbor of the last legislature und made an excellent record. Ho is a good , substantial business man , anil one upon whom it is safe to rely. Mr. Dempster's election would bo highly pleasing to the people of this part of the stale. " Comme.iting on the fact that { ho state board of transportation has cost the tax payers $12,000 , in two years , the Howolls Journal remarks : "This amount of money has been virtually thrown away. The' people ple have received nothing for their -512,000 , and the railroads have continued to rob the producers in the most approved manner , the same as has been their custom for the past twenty years. " The Beatrice Democrat warns the mem bers of the legislature from Gage county that they must not bo idle , but should got out und rustle. For , it says : "The time for the meeting of the legislature is drawing nigh , and the combines arc now combining , the slates are being fixed. It is proper to trade your vote for speaker for any commit tee that you may want. A great many want to bo on ttio committed on public lands and buildings. This is a real bonanza. The rail roads tender passes , or special trains to carry this committee about the state , and the committee puts in u bill for mile age , 10 cents a mile , which doubles up the salary hi great shaixj. Again , while the com mittee is out monkeying around [ nihlio build- mgs , and being banqucttcd at the expanse ot the state , there uro various opirartnnitlcs to accept little souvenirs in the shape of gifts of money from citizens where they want appro priations recommended. The follow who Is up to suulT is getting in his work now , and The Democrat , with characteristic pride and patriotism , hopes to see Gngo county pot there with both feet , and with her shoes on at that. " PHOM IN KN'T I'K HSONS. Mrs , Jay Gould holds her own , Jay Gould's beard , once black and glossy , is now almost white. A soft black hat is 1'resident-olcct Harri son's favoriro headgear. ft'Allcn Thorndiko Is mentioned as a "poisi- bio minister to Franco. " Prohibitionist St , John has taken up his homo in wino-producmg California. The champion tennis player of India thU year Is the Maharajah of ICooch Behar. The Duke of Cambridge has completed his llfty-nrst year of service In the army. Sir Hichard Webster , the English nttor- noy-general , was a noted athlete ut Cam bridge , Sir Arthur Sullivan has boon decorated with the order of the Mcdjldch by the sultan of Turkey. The czar and his brothers have built n Greek church at Jerusalem in memory of their mother , Eria Mackay , the author of "Love Letters of u Violinist , " is the son of Charles Mile- kay , the verso writer. Although this .year has scon three German emperors , not ono of them calibrated his birthday as emperor In 1858. Kidor Haggard wears a queer velvet coat , cut short behind , which gives his short , lank liguro a peculiar appearance. President Cleveland has accepted an Invi tation to visit Grand Haplds next year und sample the Michigan trout ilshing , The king of liouiu , who is on his way to England is desctlbod as a woll-bolmvod gen tleman , particular about the cut of his clothes. M. Maczuskl , the distinguished chess player , has Introduced the novelty of playing cards while hi * chess adversary Is playing Ills chow at u distant table. Attorney General Garland's decision to ap pear In n dress suit will doubtless nnd his political career. No Arkansas statesman could expect to furnish the clawhammer coat and continue in public life. Gooi'co William Curtis is housed at his Stolen Island homo. Hicomplaint ls"wutor 3ii tUo knee , " superinduced by u hurt got ivhilo playing tcnls. ills pen , however , ehow no sign of water on the elbow. i CUKUKNT TOPIC * Affalr.i arc somewhat mlscd with regardli Dakota , and the fiopos that word cherlshci of n speedy admission' ' to statehood of th < southern section scorn destined to be blighted The inhabitants of southern Dakota ara M most n unit In the determination to nchlovi statehood by Themselves , without paying nnj attention to northern Dakota or to the othoi territories. They arc ready for statehood for they long ago made the necessary preparations rations nnd adopted n constitution , knowi generally ns the Slonx Falls constitution Hut there are some dfoscnlors to this , be cause It contain * strong prohibition clauses. As , however , there Is an overwhelming ma jority In southern Dakota In favor of prohl tion , there is practically no reason save tlu Injustice of the democratic party why south crn Dakota should not bo admitted by the present congress. Hut the recent move nil-lit at Aberdeen In the coiner of the terri tory Is nn embarrassing ono , nnd it ear hardly bo doubted that it wu started for the purpose of preventing South Dakota frou reaping the reward ot years of patient effort Tin ? int'ii of Aberdeen protest strenuously ngnlnst division , bconuso If Dakota was nd- milled as ono entire state , they hope thai their city might become the capital. If Da kotn is divided then Bismarck would bo tlu northern capital , and Sioux Falls the south ern , mid Aberdeen between the two stools would full to the cold , cold ground. There is grave reason for fearing that the North ern Pacific railway stimulated much of the controversy , and fans Into flame , for pur poses of its own , sparks of opposition that would have quickly died had they boon left to themselves. * # The Chicago Herald has Investigated the subject of deaths ascribed to "blowing oul thp gus" with some curious results which arc being widely discussed in consequence of the vengunce that Hoprcsontatlvo Martin took recently upon n Washington reporter whc had lampooned him ns the rustic congress man that blow out the gas. The paper quoted found out by actual experiment that onli men with very powerful lung * could do such n thing , and that the warnings ngainst at tempting it have been so incessant that oven people unaccustomed to gas would not be likely to do it. It Is far more likely that there is n Haw in the gas fixtures , When the screw of the valve Is worn out , which Is oftoncr the case than not , there is nothing to jirovcnt it from turning completely round , so that not only is the light extinguished , but the gas is turned on by the saino movement. Tills theory Is very reasonable , and it ought to lead to a reform In gns fixtures , for ap parently it ought to be n very simple matter to invent a thumb-screw not liable to any such eccentricity. # * * The statistician is very frequently a good follow , but a decided crank who intoxicates himself with figures. Ono of them has re cently como out with the statement that every day that the sun rises upon the Ameri can people it sees an addition of two and ono half millions of dollars to the national wealth. This man evidently does not know in what the national wealth consists * or hu would have neon incapable of uttering n tllo- tum so monstrous. There can bo no ques tion that obligations and debts are not wealth , but most unfortunately this is too fine a point for the statistician. The various securities that represent the national rail roads are debts for the most Dart , and yet they form the largest clement of the alleaod national wealth. If a man is possessed of : ? ir > 0,000 , and is indebted to the amount of $150,000 , ho surely is not worth $ JOOOJJ. , If his business pays interest on that amount it cin : only bo by conditions that ure temporary , and that cannot last. But the debts will hist. That is the exact condition of the railroads which arc upon the verge of bankruptcy , because the companies that arc unwatored , or in other words have no debts , will not consent to abnormal rates for the sake of embarrassed roads. The con viction has forced itself upon the minds of nil honest disinterested mon that the now congressional regime will inako short work of the roads in debt to the United States ; will seize them , shake the water out of them , and sell them out for what they nro intrin sically worth. Then there will bo to the statistician a great shrinkage In the national wealth , These arithmeticians make practical men tired. * . * * The religion of the Theosophists has not come to Omaha , so far as is known , though it Is asserted that a branch is to be estab lished in the northern part of the state Tht'osophy is a blending of Itoman'Catholi cism , Buddhism , Brahman ism and Shamum- ison , with n partial return to the religion of the ancient Egyptians and the doctrine of the two elements held by the prehistoric Phccni clans or true Aryans. In the temple at 117 Nussuu street , in Now York , there Is a bronze Buddha , and there are drawings of a virgin and child , and also of the sumo virgin with two children pursued by ati cnonnoui surpont with human eyes , said to bo taken from porphyry tm reliefs in the cave temple at Kllorn. Incense is burned perpetually be fore these and buforo the Buddha , nnd this Is nmdo from sandal wood with a little added Kiim copal. Many Now York reporter * * liavo tried to learn the meaning of the vir- irln with the two babes pursued by the ser- [ > ont , but have not succeeded. One more en terprlslng than his follows consulted a Jour nalist who was thought to bo an nrchnilogl . al well , and ho said that the picture was Ktruscan , and ho proved it by taking the re porter to the Astor library and showing him in Illustration In Inghlruml's great work , "I Monument ! Etnisehi. " The gloom , how- sver , was not dissipated by this , for the text said this picture referred to tha Goddess Latonn , the mother of Apollo nnd Diana , lint Father Inghlrami was wrong , bcuauso , hu babes are both boys , und they stretch jut th/jir hands to the serpent ns if rncognlz. ing their parent. The general impression in Now York seems to be that the Oriental .licosbphists are desirous of Introducing a [ inroly philosophic religion , und use thcso uriona and contradictory symbols Just to ex- ; ito comment and get the now faith talked ibout. * * Though Theodore Thomas gave up the itrugglo ugninat envious musical rivals and in Indifferent public eager only for novelty , 10 has friends made of stonier stuff , who vlll not yield. At the head of these is the ; reat iiinno-mnnufncturliig nouso of the JhloKorlngs , who have a most charming con- : crt hull on Fifth avcniio In Now Yorlc. Ar- augemunta have boon inadu for six orches. ral concerts during the month of January , .nd the hall will bo ront-frco on condition hat the entire profits go to form the nucleus f a musical endowment fund. It U hoped hat wealthy | > eoplo will Increase this by bo- uc.its , so that the limo may come when duslc of the very best character will be fur- nahed to Now Yorkers for an almost nomi- al sum. Tnls ic the moat progressive action ver taken in Gotham , nnd muilc.il people /111 begin to rot-rot that , as the Irishman aid , they cannot bo their own pobturity , * * VIce President Morton , It Is currently tutcd , will demand ( save the mark ) the It-lit to name which of the cabinet oltlccs U 3 bo filled by a ? Je\v Yorkor. Just so. New Tork wants the treasury , of course , for It In f the utmost Importance to the banking olo- icrit of Now York thut the secretary of the rcasury should prefer their private Inter- U to the public good. Secretary Moaning Id , Secretary ifalrchild did and does. The tnlniiig elements of California , Ncvndn , Art onn , Colorado , Utah , Montana , \\y oming , Idaho nnd Dakota nro to bo sncrilkcJ , ns n innttor ot course , to the business Interests of Now York capital * I ts. The decision of the trcmury upon the Importation of bullion pigs from Mexico free of duty was meant to bo unfriendly to the west , mid It rob * them ot millions yearly. There Is In Oinnhn UP institution whoso handling of load is so great Unit the Inimical notion of Secretary Pair-child makes a dlfTnr- ' cnco tc it of nearly nil Its profits , although Its operations nro colossal. Turn about Is fftlr piny. Let the \vpot take Its Innlngst , foi it was the west that won the election for General Harrison , In the assured belief Urn ho was friendly to western Interests , ami above all to the wronged territories , * * It will bo renitmhcrcd by TUB Hen rendon that n violent storm iiroso in Boston ever the exclusion of a text-hook from the jmblla schools because It guvo ofTonoo to Catholics. This action was deeply resented by many 1ft- dies , nnd they resolved to exercise tholr right of registering and voting for the municipal election which took 'place on the llth day of this month. But there nro Catholic ladles ns well as Protnstiint ladles In the Hub , nnd when u whisporof what was goingon reached them they determined to register and to vote * also. The whole fair BOX of Boston foil the generous fire of religious enthusiasm glow within them , und the consequence was that over 80,000 registered and voted. Tlio result has been n complete triumph of the Protes tants. The school board consists of twenty- four members , thirteen of whom hold over. * Of the3o thirteen eight were Catholics , and ns upon the victorious republican tiokot there were no Catholic candidates for the school committee , there will now be sixteen Pro testants to eight Catholics , nn overwhelming majority. It will follow ns n matter of course that the text book will be restored , and that the grave question involved ns to whether an indulgence Is a permission to commit sin will 1)0 considered as decided in the ulllrmnUve. . Can't Un Hcnton. New I'or ; . ir rlJ. ( It Is absurd for Washington to hope to rival Chicago ns a divorce-iiiaiiufiu-lurliig center.Ono Judge at the capital granted live divorces In six hours Saturday , wliilo a Chicago expert granted thlrly-ilvo in the sumo tinij ! . _ To IlcKi" il > Now Von iWith. . Xcu < Turk llfniltl. Hero is something for every American citizen to begin the now year with ; Whereas skilled labor in cabinet making is a drug in the market Just now , I solemnly mveur that I will attend to my own business and give General Harrison n chance to attend to his , : Ilio Combination ; Ci'ncfmnift riHnmcrelal-lltucHc. If wo were persuaded to olTer u uonjocturo It would bo that the story assigning Mr. Hlulno to the state department , Allison to the treasury , and Phut to the secretaryship of the navy , miglij not bo found far wrong. There Is n sort of consanguinity in tho.io sug gestions that is impressive. Blnlnc nii'l ' ( ho Cabinet. 7Jos/im / Advertiser. It is entirely reasonable that Mr. Harrison should offer the position of secretary of state to Mr. Blnine unless ho wishes to offer what would generally bo considered ns an affront. It is likely that Mr. Harrison will extend tlio invitation to Mr. Blaine , and the latter Is likely to decline It and then bo named for some mission abroad. Olo' Virclnlii Aticuil. ( 'Mctitin Kcies. The centennial celebration of the inaugur ation of George Washington , which is to beheld held in Now York next April , will 1)0 at tended by President Harrison , who comes of good old Virginia stock. A contiiry of Presi dents , which began with a chief magistrate from Virginia , will end with one whoso an ) costorof the same name was three times gov crnor of that state. The Nativity. M. 1' . .Stair * . Calm on the listening car of night Come heaven's melodious strains , Where wild Judea stretches far Her silver-mantled plains. Celestial choirs , front courts above , Shed sacred glories there ; And angels , with their sparkling lyres , Make music on the air , Tlio answering hills of Palestine Sund back the glad reply , And greet , from nil their holy helgnts , The duyspring from on high. O'or the blue depths of Galileo There comes n holier calm , And Sharon waves , in solemn praise , Her silent groves of palm. "Glory to God , " the sounding skies Loud with their nnthoniH ring ; "Peace to the earth , good will lo men , From heaven's Eternal King ! " Light on thy hills , Jerusalem , The Saviour now is born ; Ami bright , on Buthluhcm'ii Joyous plains Breaks the first Christmas morn. The Tenement Population , Telegram : The health department lina just compiled an interesting coimud sf tenement houses of Now York City The term has also boon construed liy Lhoni in the strictest SOIIHC , and no llata ire included. During the last six months 830 tene ments have boon built. The toneinont hou.-u population ban ilso boon increased by ( ' > ; { , ItOK pot-Bona. The total now is not far from 1,100- )00 ) , or only about 500,001) ) IOHB than the jlty'ti estimated population. There are 3Ulil , ! ) } tenements in the ally. In tliuso tlioro arc U 1,189 vacant RuitoR jf rooms , or nearly ono for each house. Hut , then , thc.so are not dislrihutud wmly , as there are only -170 ! { vacant ipartmonts below Fourteenth Htrout. Above that ntrcot there are ! ! : itlO ; vparmont.s ( without tenants. There are 1,100 ! ) tenement * above Pom-toonth street. Below that thoroughfare there are inly 1I.'J20. ! Hut with /,070 / more houses the up- .own district tins only ' 15,017 more anart- notita than the lower one. In the downtown tenements there are i3,1570children under five yearn of uo. ; The number above Fourteenth street s 7IMO. ) In Kavor ol'.Mnnltolin. Mix.vKApoufl , * Dcc. 2J. The Journal's iViiinlpeg ( special uy thut the supromycourl it Ottawa has unanimously decided In avdr of tun province of Manitoba In tlio dli * iiitu about the right to cross the Canudlan 'act flu tracks. To Heo an Kulljixo , ST , Louis , Dee , 1J3. Prof , Nfpher , Engler nd Prlchett , of Washington university , niiU lev. C. M. Cnaroppin.of Ht , Louis unlvurnity , ave started for Norman , Cul.vhoro , tlioy tlobsyrvo \ \ the solar ecllpso Now Year's ay. J'erUIioil In tlio J''lniuea. MISSOULA , Mont. , Dec. S3. The ttxcbang old and building adjoining It burned lust venlng , Bones and fragments of human cbli were found in the ruins. Harry Haw- Ins nnd Gcorgo Collins are missing , and s they were seen m the hotel lust hafora 10 tire commenced , It U supposed they per < ihud. , KdltoiIMilftzor'HGiriH Accreted. PAHIS , IKic 23. The municipal council hu : coj > l3d the statues of LafaycUu and Wtuh- gUin , presented to the city by Josopb jliucr , of thu New York World.