THE OaLAILA. DAILY BEE : SUNDAY , DECEMBER 2 , 180-1.
filDE tiBOR
ftomarkablo Achievements of Jobn Bumi
the Reganorator of London ,
IMPROVED CONDITION OF WORKINGMEI
Splendid BcsultB Accorn dished in a Pei
Short Tears ,
THE DAWN OF BETTER CONDITION
Practical Fruits of Aggressive Agitatio
nnl Persistent Work.
MAKING PROVISION FOR OLD AG
Devotion ot the Moi
1'oircrftil mill llmnnrknbla Character In
the I'ulillo 11 fo of KiiKlanil Iliirns
bkotchod anil Interviewed.
LONDON , Nov. 22. ( Special Correspon
once of The Uee. ) "Oil , father , see how tl
police are knocking that poor young me
about. "
Thess words were epoken just clglitei
years ago on Clapham Common by a fat
haired English girl returning home fro
Church with her father Sunday morning.
A joung fellow , dark , vigorous and athletl
was struggling In the mldat of an exclti
mob to escape from tlio officers arrestli
him , for defending the rights of free speei
In an extemporaneous harangue. His co
torn off , waistcoat wrenched from his bac
thick black locks disheveled and cover
with grime , he presented a spectacle calc
latcil to awaken the compassion ot a le
sympathetic spectator.
As the words fell upon the ears of t
lad he turned Ills head by an" effort and c
claimed :
"Never mind me , my girl , they are n
hurting me. "
The first words of a courtship will
speedily followed and terminated In a mo
rlage which has proved to bo one of co
geniality and mutual helpfulness. The he
of the above adventure was at the time i
unimportant youth of 18 , employed In
candle factory In the neighborhood. Ted
ho stands forth as one of the most power !
and remarkable characters In the public 1
of England , and Is probably the greatest a
ablest labor leader In the world.
That a man who should have really accoi
pllshed so much In such a short time In t
, elevation of his fellow brings should ha
received his first Inspiration on Claptu
Common Is not surprising to those famlll
with the history of the chosen home of t
"Low Church party" during Its golden BI
In the palmy days , when It numbered W
berforc ? and James Stephens , the Thorn to
and , Charles Itobert Grant , Macaulay li
contended that the share which the "CIc
ham sect" took In the education of the pee |
and In the spread ot Christianity was grc
They were the real destroyers of the sin
trade and of slavery. They were the 1
and soul of the movements In favor of in <
enlightened government during the ea
part of this century and the spring of t
active energy which has brought about ma
social reforms and Improved the condltlc
of life In England.
Born In this neighborhood , John Durns r
witnessed during his life astounding chanf
both In public sentiment and In the mater
condition of that part of London. It v
no unusual thing for himself and the brs
young woman who had Joined her fortui
with Mm to bo mobbed on the streets ate
to flee before a shower ot rotten vegetabl
old boots and strong epithets. Though o :
36 , he has lived to bo returned to Parl
mcnt for this very division and to be
gardcd as the tutelary genius of Dattersea ,
the fullest and broadest sense ot the wor
He has lived to see one of the most dl
grcoablo and forlorn parts of this t
mendous metropolis developed Into a clc
vrell-ordercd healthy locality ot the "ou
zone , " with public library , public baths n
a municipal life of which the Inhabitants ir
well b proud. Since he has been actlv
In public life ho has seen a swamp
waste field converted Into one of the in
perfect and beautiful parks In London ,
park kept up by the people for the peoj
John Hums , from the back room ot
modest home on Lavender Hill , can aim
survey his entire district. A dlsti
which under his Incessant work Is stoat
Improving In morality , sanitation and
material prosperity. A district In which
science ot looking after the unemployed 1
been carried on with marvelous success , i
which In Itself forms a phase In munlcl
Ufa worth a journey across the Atlantic
study.
HE IS THE MAN.
"Is It possible , " I hear some people s
"that you arc writing this about John Ilur
socialist , demagogue , agitator , ox-crlml
convict from I'cntonvlllo ? " The Identic
same John Burns. The explanation Is slm
enough. The English people have taken t
nrcat dreamer , this man who has consecra
his life to help tho.wago earner , the bn
winner , and put him at constructive legli
tlon. He has Indeed been caugllt with
socialistic Ideas ready ; to blossom and hltcl
to the dull , overy-day work of legislating
th greatest- community on earth Lend
Here ho has found scope for his genius i
opportunity for his energy. He no's ' lean
a lesson that has changed the whole cou
ot his life ; that has changed a man capa
of leading a revolutionary mob Into a mol
ot public opinion , capable ot elevating
working classes ot the kingdom ; that
converted a destructive Into a construct
force. liest of all. In the casa of this
traonllnary man , the change has not spo !
him. He seems to have the same virile foi
the same rugged honesty , the same spirit
Belt-sacrifice , the same enthusiasm , the so
determination and the same Indomltc
courage as In the days of less responslbll
The humdrum ot legislation In Its myriad
tails has not destroyed the pictures
dampened the spirit and lessened the he
fulnoss. He has not sunk Into tlio-d
typical creature who as a rule steers
llrltlsh trade unions. Neither Is he the c
tlr.cntal visionary , nor has he the reckl
fanaticism and egotism of a Debs.
"Debs , " said this man to mo yesten'
"la his profile resembles Napoleon , and
liai wrecked himself and his followers Iry
to live up to the resemblance , "
Burns In not unmindful ot what Durns
accomplished and by no means devoid of a
confidence , but at the bottom he Is a Scol
Londoner with a big brain , a well pol
head and an honest heart. So Impressed
I with this man's sincerity that I bell
nothing could swerve him from what he
llcves to be his duty. While undoubtedly
leading representative of the British wort
man , ho has become In a still greater dee
the representative ot London. Mr. Stcai
think correctly , cal's ' him a municipal sta
man. In a conversation the other day
Mowbray house I asked the editor ot
Review ot Reviews what he thought
Burns. Ho promptly answered :
"Burns has an adequate conception of
great city In which ho labors and lives.
It la because this is so that I regard hlir
Inevitably destine * ! some day to be the '
tnuyor ot Greater London. Perhaps Syi
would be a better term , for John Burns ,
was nurtured in his youth upon Kuskln ,
who ban often sat at the feet ot Mr. Moi
has grafted upon the English municipal !
Bomowhat ot the artistic Ideal ussocl ;
with the Italian cities of the middle ages
"Will he succeed ? " I suggested ,
REFORMING LONDON.
"John Burns will not bo able to n :
London as beautiful as the ( air Brldo of
Adriatic , nor does he oven In his wlli
dreams expect to transform our capital
another Florence , but that Is the klm
romantic Ideal which over gleams before
oye. He wishes to glorify city life , to
make the city , thli squalid , cockneyfled
ort of bricks and mortar. Into a llv
breathing thing ot beauty , to restore at
end of the nineteenth century somethlni
the gracfl and glory ot those mediaeval i
when England was Marry England still ,
the crush and rush ot competition had
ground all the poetry and beauty out ot e ;
once. For John Burni Is no rude and cti
l h barbarian who would reduce this city ,
of our world-wide empire , Into a
Bantlo congeries ot artisans' dwellings ot th <
Pcabody type , but he would give light tc
London , create a soul under Its ribs of death
and make Londoners exult In ministering tc
the beauty and splendor of their civic life , '
And this Is precliely how John Burn ;
struck me after I had ipent an en
tire mornlnc with him partly at his homo
partly strolling through streets upon street !
of neat , comfortable workman's cottages am
In Dattersea park , which , thanks to till
Scotch-Londoner , Is rapidly becoming one o
the most practically beautiful spots In th
world. More then once during the convcrsa
tlon and walk I thought what a pity slmlla :
employment and opportunities could not b
given all men possessing thU wonderful or
ganlzlng capacity that their talents might b
employed In building up rather than li
threatening the commonwealth.
In conversation John Burns has been nptl ;
compared to Thomas Carlyle. He Is a mos
Interesting conversationalist. There Is i
racy vigor In his descriptions. He has i
picturesque way of putting things , and i
marvelous power of condensing Into i
sentence the characteristics of a man or o
Illustrating a question he is dealing with
Not Infrequently he will make a sketch o
diagram Impressing tits idea at once upon hi
listener.
UUIINS AT HOME.
When I rang the bell of the modest brlc'
cottage on Lavender Hill it was answerei
by the master of the house , who with
cordial word ot welcome ushered me Int
his den or rather office-study , for It sug
gested nothing of the personal ease or com
fort that usually creeps Into a man's re
treat not even a savor of smoke. A smal
bay window let a Hood oC light Into th
room , the walls of which were fairly frescoe
with books. The books that constitute th
library of a self educated man arc always c
particular Interest , betraying as they do th
formative Influences that have developed hi
character and Intellect. Here were to b
Been all the standard and new works o
economics , especially those relating to laboi
legislation , trade unions , industrial progress
the relation of certain diseases to certain oc
cupatlons , the housing ot the poor , etc.
A few shelves were devoted to history , cor
splcuously works on Napoleon and th
French revolution by Carlyle. As the ey
falls on the name ot the latter , one realize
In a flash the curious familiar , yet puzzlln
resemblance that exists between the dea
Scotch seer and the living labor leader.
It Is there In the rugged leonine head wit
Its bold frontal development , the feature
that are hewn rather than chiselled , and th
grim struggle and determination that pe :
vndes the whole countenance.
Here the resemblances ceases. The mout
Is wider , with rather full lips that In laugl
Ing display a magnificent set of teeth white
than Ivory , square and even as a die. Tl :
striking peculiarity of his face lies In h
eyebrows , which , finely penciled at the em
rise Into a heavy arch of such breadth I
the center as to convey an Impression i
artificiality. His eyes , lambent , brown I
color , are very expressive , luminous almost i
softness at moments when any expression i
feeling Is Involved , fierce In their Intcnsll
and brightness when he touches the Euffc
Ings and hardships of those who toll. M
Burns , as ho says himself , looks nearer I
than the 36 years he actually Is. Incessai
work and the freat responsibility togethi
with hard study have drawn deep lines aboi
his mouth and tinged his hair and careful
trimmed beard with white.
In opening the conversation I ventured tl
opinion thjjt my own observation led mo
believe that legislation both local and Pa
Ilamentary was doing much more for tl
laboring man than ever beforojn the hlstoi
of the 'English people.
"You are undoubtedly right , " replied M
Burns. "More useful and Important leglsl
tlon looking to the elevation of the wai
earner hag been accomplished In the la
six or seven years than In the quarter of
century preceding. By slow degrees , for \
do not move rapidly In this country , we a
getting a grip on questions that seemed t
most In a nebulous condition a few years HJ
For example , after tremendous work
which the government , and especially t :
London county council have assisted , wo a
dealing satisfactorily with that most dl
heartening of all questions the unemployed
"How has this been done ? "
"Partly by the eight-hour law and parl
by care and discrimination In giving o
work. Let me illustrate. " Here Mr. Bur
drew a rough diagram showing the fiuctu
tlons of work during a year. By giving o
the public work during the periods wh
private work was slack the convex lines we
met with concave lines and thus somethl ;
llko steady employment was Insured , steai
employment without overtime.
Mr. Burns Is an opponent of overtime wor
He insists It Is unhealthy , Injurious and tli
It only leads to periods of extravagance fi
lowed by periods of nonemployment and d
tress.
IMPROVING THE WORKING CLASSES ,
"I am working , " said Mr. Burns , "for t
well being and welfare cf the working class :
for their Improverfcnt. There are 8,000C
of workers In Grnlt Britain , all of wht
are overworked. They got no time to 11
decently and give proper time to their wl\
nnd families. With them It Is all work. Tl
condition creates the army of unemployi
At least 1,000.000 without wages , without pi
chasing power. These 1,000,000 workers ha
over 3,000,000 others dependent upon the
We have found that In every trade where t
eight-hour law has been enforced employme
has been found for the unemployed , wh
(
those who work have lost nothing. As a n
It comes out of the profits and has posslt
Increased the cost of the service. "
"You don't object to this. "
'I do not. I am opposed to the degrac
tlon of labor , though you will not-draw i
Into a tariff discussion. Wagoa are govern
today by the standard 'of comfort that tin
who , earn them are prepared to accept. T
standard ot comfort of the mechanic work !
fifty-four hours Is higher than the tranirn
working ninety and 100. What Is the reaso
Simply this : leisure Is the basis of opporl
nlty. Time to think cultivates new ileslr
To lead , a man's life begets a , desire fo'r n
ways of satisfying them , hence a stlmul
to trade. These faculties are dormant In t
" man who works long hours. A man has
right to ba satisfied with a dog's life , a do
kennel to live in , and the aenastlietlc chamt
of poverty In which to terminate his exl
ence. "
"Are you In favor of an old age pension ? '
"Not the Chamberlain pauper Idea. 1
pittance of 5 shillings per week. Less than
costs to keep a pauper. ThU Is a fine outlc
after a life of toll. Just think of It. Th
are three chances for eld age In this coum
as at present organized. If I am thrifty a
respectable and have pald * Into the propoi
Chamberlain fund at CO I am entitled tc
shillings per week to maintain myself c
wife. On the other hand. If I have not b <
thrifty , but a corner loafer .spending tonlf
what I earn today , a worthies ) , useless pers
both my wife and. I can go to the house
warm our old bones In comfort for the ref
of our days at a public cost of twice w ]
Chamberlain proposes the thrifty Independi
man should have. If I am a thief and i
some one I may end my days In prison at
expense ot from 1C to 18 shillings per wi
g to the state. The fact Is , the workless n
has to bo kept In one of three conditions 1
Ing en the rates as a pauper In a nonp
ductlve capacity , earning nothing and coit
the country a large sum in officialism : a :
criminal kept in prison , the went possible f
for any man ; or as a wanderer about
streets , sponging upon his fellows or
charitable rich , forced to live like a vagr
camel upon the- hump pf Ills own nwlanchi
poverty , slowly getting physically exhaust
morally and mentally degraded , till the m
hood Is crushed out of him , and ho becor
one of those fearful wrecks to whom dc
would ba the greatest relief , I believe t
the cheapest , best and safest way of all to r
vent the Idle man , the potential loafer , p
per or criminal from being a burden Is
provide him with wgrk which will b9 his i
vatlon and the country's gain. "
DIGNIFYING LABOR.
"And thli at a cost to the state ? "
"Why not ? The state must ultlmal
take care of him. Why not by exerclsln
little care make a man of him ? Dlsgulm
how we will , hide It though we may , lot
Ing up Is the great , the all-absorbing qi
tlon for all countries and governments.
In your country , my American friend ,
much as In our country , to face how
the honeit worker b provided with w
uncontamlnated with pauperism' * degrad
titnt and charity's demorallilng aid ?
glib quotation ot figures showing that offl
pauperism has decrea&ed only Insults
genuine worker who a ka for work , so !
It may be reduced furlhtr still. But e
the official BUtUtlcs , when shorn ot
their complacent optimism , reveal the real
nature ot the problem. "
"You have not much faith In the rosy fig
tires of the Board of Trade ? "
"The fact that a cruel administration 01
the poor law , which mixes honest and crlm
Inal together , has. reduced official pauperlsrr
from 4G to 20 per 1,000 , is cold comfort t <
the men who , by physical necessity or wanl
of work , are compelled to be of the twenty
The growth of trade unionism , friendly , sick
loan , co-operative , and other agencies thai
the workers resort to In times ot distress
Is not recognized as a factor in reducing
the distress , which , In the absence of sucr
agencies , the poor law would have to meet
Exploiting the ever-Increasing repugnanci
amongst the genuine poor to pauper relief
the officials representing the lalsecr-falrc mid
die class are determined to throw the sup
port of the workless , that the rich and pool
now sustain , on the poor exclusively , win
voluntarily taxed as they ate , can not carrj
further burdens.
"Outside the official pauper class , as Mr
Charles Booth proves , there are hundreds o
thousands of people whose standard ot llfi
and comfort , from the point of view of food
clothing and houne accommodation , Is lowei
than that pf tUo pauper or criminal , ye
these p'eoplo will not accept relief , but strug
gle on In the vain hope of work that neve
comes , and which , If It did , would find then
too low to perform It. "
"Are you really making progress will
remedial legislation ? "
"See these two volumes. The thick on
contains the labor acts of 1894. Th
thin one , those of three years ago. Her
ore some of the things wo accomplished las
session. I will wrlto them down for you. '
And Mr. Burns wrote as follows :
THE RECORD.
"Apart from legislation , the llbsral-labo
record for 1892-1884 can be summarized a
follows :
1. Labor Department Development of th
Labor department of the Board of Trade aa
establishment of a monthly Labor Qazctt
giving full Information as to the state o
employment in the United Kingdom , as t
actions under the employer's liability acl
and as to labor movements at home an
abroad.
2. Labor Disputes Settlement of the coa
and cab disputes by the mediation of Lor
Hosebery and Mr. Asqulth.
3. Wages nnd Hours Adoption of the clgh
ours day for government workmen In th
actorles and workshops of the War offic
nd In the dockyards. This affects eve
0,000 workmen.
4. Raising the minimum weekly wage fa
.dmltalty laborers from 17 shillings to 1
hillings , and of the workers at Woolwlc
, nil Deptford from 17 shlllllngs to 20 shll
ngs.
D. Extension ot the principle of trade unlo
rages and trade union hours for goverr
ment workmen.
G. Abolition of rules forbidding governmsr
workmen to Join trade unions.
7. Reinstatement of Trades' unionist posl
iien and telegraphists dismissed under tli
ate Tory government.
8. Agd Poor The appointment of a royi
ommlsalon to Inquire into the condition (
he aged poor.
9. Factories , Mines nnd Quarries A spli
ted and sympathetic administration of tli
'actory ' acts , including the provision of llsl
f outworkers In certain trades , and specli
government Inquiries Into dangerous an
inhealthy trades , with a view to the framln
f rules for the protection ot the workers.
10. Appointment ) of a , large number i
practical worklngmen to be assistant fai
: ory , mine and quarry Inspectors.
11. Appointment of women Inspectors to a
.end specially to the occupations In whlc
women arc engaged.
12. Provision In the leading centers of li
dustry of offices to which workers and othei
can send complaints , and at which they ca
give or get Information.
A GRAND AGGREGATE.
"Hero then , " continued Mr. Burns , " \ \
gains for labo
.lave a dozen Important
small matters perhaps i
Some of them seem
rou , but In their way we have little by lltt
.ecured from Parliament acts which In tl
aggregate have been of the greatest posslb
"
benefit to the British wage-earners.
"Of course you have long since sent lalsse
alre kiting ? "
"Wo are passing through a transltlc
period. Lalsser falre has been abandone
and for the first time In the history of tl
human race the working people possess un
versally the power through elective Instl
tutlons to embody In law their economic ar
material desires. Concurrently with tl
growth of personal Independence Is the desli
for state aid and municipal effort when Ind
vldual action Is futile. The unemployi
movement embodies the growing desire fi
.iseful , healthy lives. It Is the protest i
abor against charitable palliation of a socl
system that In all countries Is breaking u
and must cither by force or steady chang
such as I have Indicated , give place to tl
organized and collective domination by tl
people of their social life through munlclp
administration and political development. "
'You are opposed to anything but peac
ful methods In working out this Ind
pendence ? "
'It Is the only possible way. I expect
start for America In a few days. I prefer
reserve my comments as to your labor mov
ments there until after I have made a stui
of the situation. I do not think you are ar
'urther ' advanced In these matters than \
are. The work has certainly not been carrli
on either more persistently nor more method
cally than with us. Wo are not ready
assume the responsibility If such a tlili
were possible. If a revolution should occi
tomorrow , the red flag come out triumphal
and a French revolution bo Inaugurate
whose heads would fall Into the baske
Not the Goulds and the Carnegles and tl
Astors. Oh nol Much more likely the gulll
tine would be employed on the necks of tl
labor leaders themselves , the Burts , tl
Burns , the Powderlys , the Arthurs ,
the power of such a change tinder exlstli
conditions were absolutely vested In me ,
would rather cut off this hand than take a
vantage. We are right In fightlrg to Ir
prove the condition of those who toll , In see
Ing a more equitable distribution of wcalt
Ife take the right method we shall wl
If not , we shall bring about our necks
tyranny worse than was ever dreamed PC
slble , and destroy all hope for the ultima
amelioration ot labor. "
Mr. Burns , I find , - practices what 1
preaches. Ho Is not In the movement f
what there , is In It for himself. He and li
wife live on 3 , or $15 per weelc. Ho blac
her boots as well as his own , and she whit
washes the front door steps. By the aid
this excellent woman ho keeps up a corr
spondenco of GOO letters a week. All -oppo
tunitles to make money , and he has man
ho refuses. Ills soul Is In the great work ti
fore him and the faintest suspicion of pc
sonal gain has never shadowed his path. I
carries this even to the extent of refusing
write for the leading reviews and magazine
having only appeared once In the Contemr
rary Review , nnd then the proceeds went
help his aged mother. Not long ago tl
self-taught man was Invited to lecture to t
students at Oxford. A committee of you :
men came to Invite htm. Ho was to lectu
on the methods ho had employed to efte
the municipal reforms. Ho replied If th
would come up to London he would be gl
to show them , but could not take the tlr
from his work or Ins people to talk to the
In Oxford. While ho could uot go to Oxfo
he finds time to lecture on simple sanlta
matters to the children of the poor ot Bi
tersea and he Instills into their minds ma
homely truths which make their lives bett
worth living. During my conversation at 1
house I wna struck with the ease with whl
he could lay his hand on any pamphlet or i
port he wished to bring to my attentlc
After our conversation wo walked for
hour In Battersea park , and hero had tether
other Bide of the socialist. He was lltcra
personally Interested in everything , from t
children's gymnasium , where a thousa
children ot the poor g ® dally and are cm
fully looked after by competent matrons ,
the gradual abandonment of fences and t
location of the boxes for receiving rubbli
Within the present generation thla beautl
park , with Its tropical gardens , was a drea
and desolate field an unbroken wllderne
the resort ot prize-flghtera , gypsies and o
ten , who terrorized the neighborhood , <
peclally on Sundays.
Saturday next Mr. Burns will sail for I
United States. This letter will ba publUr
about the time of hU arrival. If It ser
the purpose ot Introducing the real Jo
Burns to those who will appreciate him a
bis alms and ambitions. It will have serve
good purpose , No 'Englishman who has
cently visited our country Is so thoroug
equipped to give our labor Interests the k
of advice they need as this Scotch-London
He comes wlthoi't any flourish of trumpt
more to a e than to be seen. His views
the situation will ba ot great Interest i
value. 110BEHT P. PORTEH
MORSE , I MORSE , I MORSE. I MORSE.
THE cKQtWNiNG SALE OF THIS YEAR. STs
calendar of i8 f4 ' 1' ' We are going to crown all our previous efforts in legitimate bargain giving in merchandise. The last
month of the old t-ear will witness prices that old Father Time in his extensive travels has never seen or heard of you have
no doubt tisually. ouiid that advertising dre.ims are only bright figures of the evening , born in the upstairs office , that fade
away in the daylight when the goods are looked over and compared at home , Not so with this advertisement , however ,
everything quoted below , is at a figure set so low that competition does not enter. You know our qualities.
in /
DRESS .GOODS.
We've 'gdJne a 1 1
through the thousands
of pieces of these goods
that line one side of
our store and have
picked out such fresh
seasonable goods to
offer you as these :
Over 100 pieces of10 to 52-Inch dress goods ,
all colors , In fine Henriettas , serges , whip
cords , armures , hopsacklng , changeable
cheviots , etc. Goods that have sold at from
75c to J1.25 per yard. Go at , 35C
One table loaded
down with imported
Scotch suitings , cloak-
ings , silk and wool
mixtures 46 to 52 in.
wide , worth and have
sold at from $1.78 to
$2.8O per yard. We've
marked 'em 98c.
Another table. This one Is fllled with new
winter styles In blue , brown and green silk
and wool mixtures. The real value of each
piece is ftotn COc to 75c. We put the price
at 32C
NOVELTY DRESS
' GOODS , 25c ,
A dozen new styles
that have the look and
feel of $1.SO qualities ,
a few steps away an
expert couldn't tell
them from the genu
ine Scotch. The price
is 23c per yard.
48 to 52-Inch silk mixtures , checks , diagon
als , etc. Never sold under Jl.GO to $2.00.
We make the price S3C
1 lot English henrlettnR , to close , 15c the
y at (1.
Dress Goods , left Fnrnam st. aisle.
SILKS.
The silk stock has
been gone through in
the same manner as
has .the dress goods
solid , unapprpaehable
bargains like these :
Black gros grains , 24-Inch , 9Sc.
Black ditto , better grade , ditto , $1.25.
Ulack surah , 21-Inch,1 ft ) < ! . !
Ulack armure. 88c. ; < i
Hlack Faille Francalse. G9c.
niack 1'eau de Sole , 75e.
Hlack ditto , much better , 83c.
lllnck China and Japanese silk , 43c.
Another one , 27 Inches wide , Kc.
For a nice Christmas
gift , what can be bet
ter than a choice olack
silk dress ? Nothing
more acceptable- buy
it this week while the
assortment is good.
BOYS' CLOTHING ,
If there is any one
time when a , boy
would rather be dress
ed up than at another
it's at holiday times. If
you dress your boy
with our clothing he'll
the qualities you're '
amazed at the lowness
of the price. How is
it possible. Never
mind , they're hero at
these prices :
10-4 white blankets , 43c pair ,
10-1 gray bltinkctn , 4-1c pair.
1U-I v.hlte blankets , JSc pair.
10-1 white wool blankets , $1.57 p.ilr.
[ i IKUIUI heavy uti Icily line all wool , while
or led.
led.Comfortables start in
at 33c and go grad
ually up. Prices re
duced in every i n -
stance.
Blanket department , left of main aisle.
ONE-EIGHTH OFF
on China , Glassware ,
\Vo told you
about the They delight
Fairy Wardrobe - tlio children.
robe Friday.
T h o v on n
T h o y a f o
r o t c h o n iiinuso thorn-
crosses , { Tuitnp fcclvoa by the
dresses. Rod hour with the
Ridinp Hoods ,
Fairy Wardrobe
nijint ROWIIS ,
and Tain O'- robe ; besides ,
Shunters , It is u&oful instruction
printed on line
struction f o r
ctunbrio a n d
lawn all them all. Sold
, ready
to cut out and by the yard on
make. front counters.
look better -than his
playmates unless they
got theirs here. Big
saving to you , too.
Hoys' double-breasted suits , madctA- nOte
' > ' <
to wear and look well'i A
Boys' Little Captain suits , all o Q P
< = "
sizes iy"
Boys' Little Governor suits ; they ? Q $
are beauties J'/
Little President ; that's as high
as they cangct In quality , and are * Q $
valued at $0.00. We ask for them. . r'X"
Boys' Clothing Left Center Aisle.
BLANKETS.
We have marked
down every blanket in
our shop for the com
ing sale of the year ,
and as you look at
J3ric-a-J3 Silverware.
- - > ac ,
As special induce
ment for you to make
your Holiday purchas
es early we will give
12j per cent , off on all
purchases of $1.OO or
over in the china de
partment all of this
week. Not next week.
Reason with us. Can't
you find a better as
sortment now than
later ? Isn't it more
pleasant for you if you
can get waited o n
promptly ? Isn't it bet
ter to buy for S7j c an
article that a week
later you -would have
to pay $1.OO for.
Example :
A $10.00 dinner set , costs you JS.75
$ . " > .00 worth of merchandise , $1.3 $ .
$2.00 In value coats only $1.75.
The banks only pay
you 4 and 8 per cent ,
interest. We give you
12 * per cent , or one-
eighth off.
CANDY.
Our variety of sweet ,
ness is as complete as
you can find in the
city , If you doubt it ,
look in our 16th street
windows. We've only
the best--that is none
too good for you. This
department is supplied
fresh every day and
popular prices rule.
Gnndy department left main nlslc. "
BOOKS.
"We have received a
very large consign
ment ot books of all
kinds from an over
stocked publisher and
jobber and they'll be
offered for sale about
Thursday oi this week.
Don't buy a book till we
have these opened and
marked. The prices
will be a revelation to
you. Less than publishers -
lishers prices to the
wholesale trade. We
have booked this sale for
Thursday next. An
nouncement later.
PRY QOOPS .COMPANY , 16th incl
JAPAN'S ' SONF SIIOCUN
Characteristics of th'o Staler of the Con
querors of China.
THE MIKADO AND HIS ACRES OF PALACES
Ihougli Itonrcd In Gluig House , Ho Cast it
fchowcr of ItocUs The Kmpres * , the
Secondary \Vlve mid the
Crown 1'rluce.
( CopyrlgMed , 1894 , by Frank O. Carpenter. )
There Is no ruler In the world go Inter
esting today as the emperor of Japan. He
has moved from his capital , Toklo , 400 miles
westward , to his naval station at Hiroshima ,
and he has practically token control of his
army. He has his parliament and his 'cabi
net with him , and he is 'directing the navai
and military forces by telegraph. There U
no monarch In the world who Is less under
stood , and of whom the world knows so llt-t
tie. You hear llttto said about him In Japan ,
and the Information which I got had to be
worked for , and It only came In response to
many questions. Among others whom I In
terviewed on the subject was his majesty's
grand master of ceremonies , Mr. Sannomlya.
Ho told me that the emperor was the hardest
worked man In Japan , and that he had direc
tions to bring all telegrams that came con
cerning the rebellion In Corea directly 19
him. no matter what hour of the night they
came. He said his who'e day was devoted tn
work , and that he had his fingers on nearly
every branch of the government. I heard
the same from other Japanse statesmen , and
the change In Japan Is no more wonderful
than the chance which has taken place In
the character of the emperor.
KEPT IN A GLASS CAGE.
The present emperor of Japan was kept In
a sort of a glass cage , figuratively speaking ,
during the first third of his life. Ho was 45
years old last November , and ho was put on
the thrond at the ago of 1C. This was when
the shogun was still commander-In-chlef ol
the army and was practically the ruler oi
Japan. I had at ono time In Kioto a guide
furnished me by the governor of the city , and
ho took mo Into the palace ot the emperor ,
where the present mlkadp lived for the. first
part of his life , and told rrne _ something about
him. At this time he was'EC holy that nc
ono mentioned his name. When It was neces
sary to write It a letterW8 leL out trom
reverence. Ho was , lle ) tlio emperor ol
China , a sort of son of heaven , and he wai
kept In this big palactr- surrounded by a
baker's dozen orVo df .concpblnes and a lol
of servants. Whenever he went out It was Ir
a closed cart , and he knew nothing whatovei
of what was going on IniJapanl1 I saw hie
throne. It looked moro like a four-postei
bedstead than anything else ! It was covered
with flno whlto silk and the emperor sal
croes-legged on the door , , and he had c
couple of swords on tables beside him. I hat
to take off my shoes bbtbrd I was admlttct
Into the palace , and I < wtUked for about i
mile over soft matted /lours / , The palace It
altogether Japanese In ttructuro. It hai
sliding walls covered wlln"Bold leaf and li
decorated with palntilifea by tin
old Japanese masters. It was in It that tin
emperor received the foreigners for the firs
time. . This was about tw'enty-slx years ago
and It was shortly after that that he movei
his court to Toklo , Ho has visited Kloti
several times since then , and at ono tlmi
came back to open the railroad at Kobe.
THE EMPEROR'S PALACES.
The home of the mikado at Toklo Is fa
different from these old Japanese palaces 1
Kioto. He has a vast estate right In th
center of the city , made up of hill and val
ley , containing lakes and woods , and vas
one-story palaces. It la surrounded by thre
moats , some of which are crossed by marbl
! : { bridges , and at all of which you find soldier
In modern uniforms. These moats are I
places trom 100 to 200 firet wide. They ar
lv filled with water , and magnificent lotu
, j flowers float upon them on sheets of gree
r leaves.
>
u , His palaces are now a combination c
ot Europe and Japan. They cost $3,000,000 , an
id the walls of many of the. rooms are slldln
ones , made ot Immense plateelaas doors 1
lacquered frames. They are so arranged that
a great number of rooms can be thrown Into
one , and many of the parlors are large.
So'rno are celled with the most magnificent
embroideries , and there Is one room which
has a ceiling of gold-thread tapestry , the
cloth covering of which cost $10,000. Many
of the floors ore Inlaid , and they are all cov
ered with the finest and softest of white
mats , on the top of some of which are mag
nificent rugs. I don't know how many rooms
there are in the palace buildings , but
they run well up into the hundreds.
There Is one dining room that will seat 100
people. There are ball rooms and drawing
rooms , libraries and studios , and there arc
bed rooms finished In both for
eign and Japanese style. The banquetIng -
Ing hall takes 540 square yards of matting
to cover It. Its celling glows with gold ,
and Its walls are hung with the costliest
silk. There are six imperial studios In the
palac ? , and.the throne chamber has a cell-
Ing paneled with the Japanese crests. II
Is here that the emperor receives the for
eign ministers , and he talks to them througli
Interpreters. They bow three times whcr
they como In , and. also bow three times when
they back out , and the , receptions , as a rule
are very stiff on the part of both the mlkadc
and the foreigners.
THE MIKADO'S DAILY LIFE.
The emperor of Japan , according to th <
people most closely connected with him al
Tokto , has by no means an easy office tc
fill. Japan now contains more than 40,000,00 (
people , and there are a baker's dozen ol
political factions , many of which are anxious
to create trouble. The changing condltlor
of the people makes plenty of work. Yov
can never tell who Is going to fly off on
tangent , and the newspapers have to b <
carp'jlly watched. The emperor keeps his
eyes on everything. At least , I was toll
so. He rises early and breakfasts aboul
o'clock. He uses a knlfi
and fork whenever he takes forelgr
food , but ho prefers the chopsticks at hU
Japanese dlnr.e > s. He eats both kinds ol
teed , and la very fond of rice , taking II
with every meal. He likes meats , and li
by no means averse to sweets. He usual ! )
.Bis his breakfast alone , and also his lunch
H.s dinner Is served In table d'hote styie
ana with all the European accompani
ments. Contrary to the regular practice
in Japanese families , his wife often sits
down at the table with him , and also UK
crown prince. His work begins as soon ai
his breakfast Is over. From 9 o'clock untl
12 he receives his ministers and dlscusse
matters of state. After this he takes hli
lunch , and then spends a little time In read
Ing newspapers. He watches closely tin
Japanese press , keeps track ot curren
pubic opinion , and , I venture , changes hli
actions somewhat to suit It. All the paper :
are looked over for him , and the passage ;
which he should see are marked. Ordlnurj
mlsstatements or criticisms ha passes over
but If a newspaper becomes at all dangerou :
ho gives an order to his censors , and thi
newspaper Is stopped , while Its editors an
liable to be thrown Into prison. Ho has aUi
the leading foreign papers , and the article !
ot these which treat of Japan ore translate !
for him , and he keeps track of public oplnloi
all over the world. He takes our Illustrate !
papers , and the articles relating to th
pictures In them are sometimes translated
He does a great deal of work In the after
noon , but toward evening goes out for ex
erclse. He Is a good horseback rider , am
Is fond of fine horses. Ho has about 300 li
his stables , and these are ot all kinds , In
eluding a number of fine hunters. Th
emperor ti fond of hunting , and he has larg
Eamo preserves where there are deer am
wild pigs. There are plenty of pheasants
and his majesty Is said to bo a very goo <
shot.
AN IMPERIAL DUCK HUNTER ,
"There Is ono kind of irame , " said th
man connected with the Government , wh
gave me the above Information , "which th
emperor Is especially fond of , and that I
duck-netting. There are lots of wild duck
about Toklo , and the emperor has great due
ponds and duck ditches In his palace ground
Into which the ducks come and are caught b
means of decoys. The ponds cover acres , an
they have embankments about them whlc
are cut up by little canals running out tror
the pond. These canals are so lined wit
trees and embankments that a man can easll
hldo along them. The- pond U studded wit
decoys , and grain Is scattered about In U
canals as bait. The ducks light and go v
Into the canals , where the emperor and tl
nobles are concealed , each with a net In h
hund. They throw these over the ducks , ar
they catch them In largo numbers. H r
quires great skill to throw the net proper ) ;
but the emperor has caught scores of duel
In a tingle day.
A RICH MONARCH.
The mikado Is by no means a poor ma
He receives about $2,500,000 to keep up his
palace and his household establishment every
year , and he lias a large private fortune.
Mr. Sannomlyahis grand master of cere
monies , told me that ho knew all about his
Investments , and that he was a good business
man. He has a great deal of mbnoy m pub
lic land. Ho Is r.ot extravagant In his Hy
ing , and the customs of Japan are such that
ho does not have to entertain as extensively
as the monarchs of Europe. He has mag
nificent turnouts , and rides about In great
state. He opens parliament In person , and
at the back of the senate chamber , behlrd
the president's chair , there Is a little alcove
where ho sits , and from whence his address
Is read to the members. Ho has the appoint
ment of a large number of the members of
Parliament , and the constitution Is so adroitly
woided that he Is etlll the almost absolute
ruler of Japan.
A BLUE BLOODED MONARCH.
The emperor of Japan Is entitled to be
considered the most aristocratic ruler on
earth. The royal famlfy of Japan has \
genealogical tree which reaches to heaven ,
and their traditions state that the emperor
comes from the gods. There have been 121
emperors of Japan , nnd they all belong to
this family. The fint one governed Japan
just about 2,500 years ago. He was on the
throne long before Julius Caesar aspired to
be the emperor of Rome , and 300 years before
Alexander the Great thought he had con
quered the world. The Japanese have the
history of all their emperors from that time
down to this , nnd they will assure you that
the mikado Is a lineal descendant of the first
emperor , whose name was Jlmmu Tenno.
A WORD ABOUT THE EMPRESS.
Any other royal family would have rur
out In less than thlg time , especially In ar
Isolated country like Japan , but the- Japan ,
ese have a law by which the empororcan noi
marry one of his own family. He has t <
marry the daughter of ono of the cour
nobles , and the empress is , therefore , not 01
royal blood. She la the daughter ot Ichljc
Takada , and she Is said to b9 a very b-lghi
woman. She comes from Kioto , In westerr
Japan , and she was 18 years old at the tlmi
sh ? was married. This was away back It
1868 , and foreign ways had not yet gottei
well Into the empire. Her majesty wore a
that time Japanese clothes , and she followed
I am told , the horrible custom which pre
vailed throughout the old Japan In that shi
shaved off her eyebrows and blackened hei
teeth. The Idea Is that a good wife mus
show her devotion to her husband by dolni
this , and to render it Impossible for anyoni
else to admire her. Later on In her life
however , her majesty changed her idea
about this matter , and her eyebrows havi
again grown out and her teeth are an whit
as those of any American girl. Sh Is a
the front of all movements for the Intro
ductlon of the western civilization , nnd sh
frowns on the old custom of teeth-blacken
Ing , and she Is at the head ot all thing
which are proposed to bitter the coadltloi
of Japanese women. She has hospitals am
schools , and she Is one ot the most charltabl
of monarchB , The Noble Girls' achoo
founded by her at Toklo Is llko ono of ou
best female colleges , and It Is devoted t
the education of the young peeresses of th
empire. Her majesty often visits It , ani
she has the girls call upon her at the , palac ;
She IB not fond of society , and nho U almos
as busy as the emperor. She has her owi
secretaries and her time Is taken up will
reading , study , receptions and charltabl
work. She likes to ride horseback , and sh
often takes a rldo through tlio palac
grounds. She is short rather than tall , an
Is slender and petite. She has not thi ver
best of health , and was 111 during a great par
ot the summer.
BOIIN TO BLUSH UNSEEN.
There are a number ot ladles connecte
with the palaces In Toklo who , llko th
flowers In Gray's Elegy , are "born to blus
unseen , " though they do not "waste the !
sweetness on the desert air. " I refer to th
secondary wlven of the emperor. You hen
nothing about those In Toklo , and they ar
kept as much as poislble In the backgrouni
But from tlrno Immemorial the cmporor hi
been allotted a certain number of secondar
wives or concubines , and there are , I ai
told , twelve of these In the palace ground
They have establishments ot their own , an
are. the daughters of nobleu. The crow
prince Is the son ot one of them , his mother
name being Madam Yanaglwara.
JAPAN'S NEXT KMPEHOIt.
The crown prlnco was 16 years old la
September. Ho is a very bright boy , darl
faced and almond-eyed , of the most pr
nounced Japanese type. He Is as stralgl
aj an arrow and Is fond ot military pursuit
and la an officer. I think. In the army. I
has been educated In the Noble's school , at
he Is learning English and French , He hi
an establishment ot his own Inside the pala
rounds , with his own servants , guards ami
LtendanU. Ho occasionally comes over and
lays with his father ; eating dinner with
ilm and sometimes sleeping In his father's
luarters. Ho does not look very much like
Is father , his face being rounder'and shorter ,
he emperor Is very dark , and his features
ro heavy and swarthy. . He is taller than
10 average Japanese , and he has the fat
oie , the wide nostrils and the rather thick
ps which you see all over Japan.
THE COURT AT HIROSHIMA.
The removal of the court to Hiroshima Is
auslng a great change In this , the biggest
Ity of western Japan. Osaka , Kioto and
tobe He nearly 100 miles to the eastward ,
nd Hiroshima Is the big town between these
Hies and Nagasaki , which Is on the extreme
west coast. Hiroshima Is the naval capital
t Japan , and Is one ot the most beautifully
ocated towns , In the world. It lies on the
ea at the foot of the mountains , and the
waters about It are filled with rocky Islands ,
t Is cut up by canaU , and Its sea view Is
leautlful. It has always been a great manu-
acturlng place , but I hear that It has had
great boom since the emperor moved Into
t. Wages have doubled , and modern
lethods have como In. Barbers now charge
! cents Instead of 2 cents for a shave , anil
he Japanese member of parliament who
vants his hair cut In foreign style has to
iay 12 cents for It Instead of 4 cents , which
s the regular prloe. Provisions of all kinds
lave gone up , and the city Is filled with can *
ert troupes , geishas and the floating popula-
lon which always hangs around a pleasure-
ovlng center. Toklo , the Japanese capital ,
ias been materially Injured by the change ,
nd the theaters are only half full ,
TOLD UUrXIIH ! Till ! 1'Ul.l'lT.
An amusing Incident occurred at the close
of Snm Jones' sermon at 'ulaskl , Ga. , the
other day. Stepping down from the pulpit ,
'aiding his hands across his breast and look-
ng solemnly over the audience , the great re
vivalist said : "I want all the women In this
crowd who have not spoken a harsh word or
mrbored an unkind thought toward their liuj-
miids for a month to stand up. " One old
woman , apparently en the shady sldo ot GO ,
stood up. "Come forward and give rno your
land , " said the preacher , The woman did
B3 , whereupon Jones said : "Now , turn arcund
and let this audience see the best-looking
woman In the country. " After taking nor
eat , the revivalist addressed the men : "Now.
! want all the men In the crowd who have not
spoken a harsh word or harbored an unkind
nought toward their wives for a month pact
o stand up. " Twenty-seven great , big.
strapping fellows hopped out of the audience-
with the alacrity ot champagne corks.
'Come forward and give me your hands , my
dear boys. " Jones gave each ono a vigorous
shake , after which ho ranged all of them
sldo by side In front of the pulpit , and facing
the audience. He looked them over carefully
and solemnly , and then , turning around to
lie audience , ho said : "I want you all to
take a good look at the twenty-seven biggest
liars In the state of Tennessee. "
Captain John Codman , who Is living at
Soda Springs , Idaho , tells the following
pleasant story : "My frlond , Mr. Johnson ,
the rector at Montpoller , sometimes cornea
over to visit u , and wo find him a very
entertaining guest. Ho Is an Irishman by
birth , and a pleasant brogue still remains
upon his tongue. Ills congregation seldom
counts more than twenty or twenty-five per
sons , but he conscientiously uses every method
to Increase It. 'Last Sunday , ' said he , 'I
tould the people that the church was Intlnded
for week-days as well as for the Sundays , and
that the doors would be open for thern Ivory
day for tha purposes of prayer and meditation.
So on Monday I stepped In to see what effect
my announcement would have. Well , I
knew that the falmale lllment predominated
In church-going , and I was not disappointed
at not finding any men there. But there
was only ono falmale , and that was a heifer
calf that had walked In at the open door ; and
there she was , chewing her cud In meditation
at the foot ot the altliar ! ' "
I'or the Children.
W. A. McQulrc , a well known citizen ot
McKay , Ohio , U ot the opinion that there
Is nothing as good for children troubled with
colds or croup ai Chamberlain's Cough Hem-
tidy. He has. used It In his family lor aev-
eral years with the best results and always
keeps a bottle ot It tn the house. After hav
ing la grippe ho was himself troubled with
a severe cough. Ho used other romedlei
without benefit and then concluded to try
the children's medicine , and to his delight U
soon effected a permanent cur * .