SHEJET. THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE PAGES 9 TO 16. ESTABLISHED JUNE 19 , 1871. OMAITA , SUNDAY MOttXINO , DEOJDMBR1 , ? 20 , 1S95 SIXTEEN L'ACr ES , SENGLE COPY" 1TIVH3 CENTS. PHOTOGRAPHING THE STAR An Interview with tbo Director of the Harvard Ohsorvalory , r INTERESTING DETAILS OF THE WORK Womlrrfnl Collection of I'lnte * lit tlic ColleKC The OlniTMitnry lit Arciiilin | ToIcMMippH South , ot the iiiintor. I ( OnpyrlRlit , IMS , by P. B. MeClure. I.lmltfd. ) BOSTON , Dec. 27. Particular attention has again been drawn to the work of the Harvard astronomical observatory- , both by the discovery of Nova Carlnae , a "new" * tar In the constellation of Carlnn , and the shipment of the magnificent Bruce photo graphic telescope to the astronomical t'tatlon nt Artqulpa. During the past 2,000 years , from the beginning of tbo record by the famous astronomer Illpparchus , the discov erer of the first so-called "new star , " B. C. 131 , down to the present day , only fifteen of the description have been noted , an aver age ot less than one In , a century. What a feather It Is , therefore , for the cap of the Harvard observatory to have made the latest addition to thla notable list and , more even than this , to have won this credit twice In succession. Before the coming Into view of Nova Cartlnac , the last in line was Nova Normao , also a discovery of the Harvard oba.rvatory ; , and , oddly enough , ex actly two years earlier. These slurs , technically ityled "new , " are not permanent additions to the heavenly host. They como Into being or Into sight only to glow with an Intensifying radlancs for a few weeks or months and then to fade away by dissolution Into gaseous nebulae. The special Interest attaching to these trans itory beacons of the sky Is In the ma terial which they afford to students for In structive analysis nnd comparison and the- light which they cast on the formation of the unlverso nnd Its laws. Hence astronomical science nocks assiduously to determine the constituents of these bodies and their features of resemblance or divergence with reference to the permanent stars. Pur the extension of this scientific Invcs- tlgatlon the Harvard observatory Is today pre-eminently fitted. It Is by no peculiar or unearned favor of fortune that this obser vatory Is today In the forefront of discovery , but simply bccauaa of Its unequaled complsto- ncss of equipment In astronomical stations , appliances nnd observers. Its stations at Cambridge , Mass. , nnd at Arequlpa in Peru , on the elope ot the Andes , afford a complete field of vlow of the heavens surrounding both the- northern and southern hemispheres. Thin comprehensive range of survey Is neces sarily beyond the reach ot any single station , no matter how advantageously situated or superbly equipped for observation. It has also at Arequlpa the largest refract ing ItWscapo In use on the southern hemis phere at n point where the steadiness and clearness of the atmosphere are exception ally favorable for astronomical work. This Instrument , a thlrteen-inch Boyden teles-copc , is not of large slzo compared with the thlrly-slx-lnch Lick refractor , or with many others north of the equator , but Its observa tions are of great comparative value in view of the fact that there , are so few telescopes of even moderate power In the stations south ° ' ° By' the co-operation of the two stations under ono general director or head every Im portant piece of work that Is undertaken can bo extended according to an uniform plan seas as to Include stars in all parts of the sky , ranging from polo to pole. It has the most _ .i..v..i. . nnr.niain nhar nf thn heavens vvnlcli has ever bsen prepared , and It Is the only ob servatory which la now making yearly a complete photograph of the heavens visible from both northern and southern hemis pheres. In the conduct of the work carried on at the two observing stations admirable arrangements have been made to securefa - cllltv of reference and co-operation , and tele graphic communication Is used when delay would impede or prevent the rcijulslts Investl- and completeness 10 uiu high Intelligence of the o provisions must Us added the special equipment of thu observatory in photographic telescopes nnd a collection ot plates of price less value Irom an agronomical point of view The Harvard observatory has the distinguished lionar of having been the first to undertake fitfllar photography and of having carried tno undertaking to proportions beyond any sus- costlon of rivalry. The first photographic linage of a star was taken at Cambridge observatory by Prof. (5. P. Bond nnd J. A Whlpple on July 17 , 1850. A daguerreotype Plato was u.ud nnd only the brightest stars loft n pcrman.nt image. A few jenrs later tha work was resumed and glass plates and many excellent photographs were thus ob tained. In. 1872 Dr. Henry Draper was first : to succeed In making a photograph showing k * " . tlio lines In the spectrum ot a star , nnd with I tha aid of more sensitive plates and other Improved - proved appliances the observatory during the iiast ten years has made great progress In the application of the art and In Its co'.lectlon of STABS AUE PHOTOGRAPHED. In photographing the stars a set of lenses prepared for the purpose takes the place of the object glass In thj telescope , and by the attachment of a prism to the lenses photographs of the stellar spectra are ob tained. It In through 'the photcgraphlo teles copes that the recent discoveries of n w stars have been made , for an examination of the cotp'osed plates showed a matked dif ference Mn the spectra which is apparent even to an untrained eye. With ( ho use of the most sensitive plates the faintest stars visible to the i-yo through th * telescope have been photOKruplieJ , and , In the photographs of nebulae and the moat dls- trnt stars , the astonishing result has been attained of the re-production ot stars too faint to bo seen by the most powerful 1oiescope . The area uf sky cov ted by th plate- used by the Harvard observatoiy is 100 square degrees and as the total area of the tky Is about 40,000 bquaro degrees 400 plates' nr milllclent to map the entire aky. Complete photographs of the heavens liavo been repeatedly made by the observatory and Individual stars and clusters nnd regions of 'tho ' sky of special Interest hav been covered by elaborate bcrles of plites of the utmost value to the student for the Invcutl- eatlon of Cellar pioblcms. The collection of platfs now stored at Cambridge , con structed especially for the purpose , exceeds CO.OOO In number , and the addition from jear to year of about 7,000 platca Is now EOliiR on. Sir Edwin Arnold lias lately found cmiso for regret In the general limitation of modern astronomical work to the ascertainment ot facts , and In the failure of astronomers to "UEO the rich sublimity of the cosmic eldo of their business. " The best thing that could liappen to mankind , ho says , would bo If a Rrcat astronomer had been born a poet , or If a irrcat poet should become an astronomer. The astronomcis of the Harvard observatory are Inclined to think , on the other hand , that tha Illumination of mankind Is not really de pendent on the conjunction ot the poet end astronomer In the tame person , The prolonged , patient and acute observation , the careful weighing of evidence and the scien tific attainment that are rrquMte for astro nomical advances can hardly be reconciled with the poetic temperament or faculty , and it seems Idle to complain because nature 1mi not combined them. The observers at Cam- tirldKO and Arequlpa are avowedly Intent upon the accumulation of facts for the en richment of our knowledge ot the universe and Its laws , and they have faith that the field uf poetical or speculative treatment will be better filled by Sir Kdnln Arnold and ether expei ts In thU department of human oJcavor. ' " EXTENSION OP THE WOUIC. "What has been done recently for the ex tension of the work of the Harvard observa tory ! " I aiknl ot Prof. Edward C. PickerIng - Ing , director ot the observatory , In a recent call at the station In Cambridge "A 21-Inch photographic telescope ha beta provided ana In now ca the way to the station ot Arequlpft , " ho said. "This P3werful telescope , when erected In posi tion so favorable for observation and pho tographic work , will be of much servlco In the determination of points now doubtful and generally In the extension of our knowl edge of the stars visible from the I'outhcrn hemisphere , Wo have completed a ho and are now maintaining a scries of stations for meteorological observations extending from Mollcndo , at a point 100 feet above sea level , to El Mlctl , on the summit ot a mountain 10,200 fct high. The Intervening stations arc Santa Ana , 3,000 feet above sea level ; Li Joya , 4ICO feet ; Areqmpa , 8,060 feet : Cuzco , 11,000 feet ; Alto do los IIUC803 , 1,1,100 feet , and Mt. Blanc station on HI Mlstl , 15COd fen. "At the more elevated station * It Is Im practicable to keep observers continuously during the winter reason , but this draw back has been obviate,1 In part by the use of the meteorograph , an Instrument operated by clock work and recording automatically wind direction and velocity , pressure , tem perature and humidity. The meteorograph at the Mt. Blanc station Quakes each record on n separate roll of paper , and the five rolls are operated by the turn a clock , which will run eight months without rewinding The meteorograph on the summit of El Mlstl Is In service nt the highest elevation of any winter station In the world. This Instrument was designed and made espe cially for this station and It will bsery gratifying to us , If wo succeed In making a continuous record at this and other sta tions ! In face of the apparent difficulties. " "What are the most urgent needs of as tronomical research today ? " "An Increase In the number ot observing stations south of the equator , " he replied , "and an Increase in the power of the tel escopes In these southern stations. It Is a singular fact , and ono not very creditable lethe the discretion of our astronomical endow ments , that the northern hemisphere Is so overloaded proportionally with observatories. In the contrasted views of Mars , obtained from n photographic plate , and by the drawIngs - Ings made from the telescopic ob.'crvatlons ot this planet. "Of the Invisible and Immeasurable regions beyond the farthest reach of any Instrument known to us today wo can only conjecture by- Inferences from the heavens within our range of view. It Is safe to say , however , that there Is no evidence tint wo are approaching preaching n limit In our knowledge- the extent of tha unlvers ? . " Upon some points ot recent nnd curious Inquiry nnd speculation , Prof. Pickering prefers to reserve his opinions. The visible stars are known to lo of like character to our sun , nnd may be centers of polar sys tems llko ours , but th ? possible existence nnd number of Invisible planets llko our earth are still matters ot surmlsx As lethe the existence of vegeliblo nnd antma ! life In any of the planets , thcro Is still doubt and disagreement , It not open controversy. By some astronomers It Ii confidently main tained that Mars nnd VemiB In particular nro adapted to sustain vegetable and even animal life. Venus Is tx > constantly enveloped In cloufis that observations are difficult , but this planet Is said to bo apparently passing through conditions llko those of our own earth ages ago. Its atmosphere Is of twlc * the density of that of our earth , and animals that may exist upon it would bo modified correspondingly. The atmosphere of Marn la about one-half as dciiM na that of the earth , and this condi tion will produce a like modification of any life existing on thla planet. That the sur face of Mnrs Is singularly marked by a num ber of lines is determined by such a con- currinco of Independent obgarvatlons that It may now be sifely accepted ns a fact , but Ptrclval Lowell ta atlll In advance ot the ma jority of astronomers In his positive con clusion that thcso lines nro stretches of vege tation Indicating the courses * of Irrigating PHOTOGRAPHIC TELESCOPE. Of the eighty telescopes In use today , with object glasses of twelve Inches diameter or more , seventy-six are in stations north of ths equator , and only four , or one-twentieth of the whole number , in statlona In the south ern hemisphere. Of this scanty proportion , too , not one baa an object glass exceeding thirteen Inches In diameter , or , In other word ? , there Is no refracting telescope south of the equator today of one-half the size of our largest Instruments In North America or European stations. . . When wo consider tbo comparative novelty and possibilities of the southern field of observation it is really vex ing to see endowment after endowment going Into the erection of now northern obssrvator- les or additional telescopes , when the south ern hemisphere is so destitute. "Thero Is a misplaced local prlds , too , on the part of well-meaning contributors which InMsts blindly on the erection of an ob- srvatory , as If It were a local monument or attraction. The atmosphere of any large -city Is Inevitably clouded and unsatisfactory for an astronomical station , and the essential freedom from jarring cannot possibly bo sa- cured within city limits. Moreover , the In troduction of electric lights , brilliant and de- slrablo as they are for city service , Is found to Interfere seriously with the observation of faint objects , such as comets , nebulae and zodiacal phenomena. In truth , the Ideal place for the location of an observatory Is In the heart of a great desert oren on an Isolated mountain peak , but these situ ations are doubtless less deslrablo than city streets for advertising purposes. If observa tories are to bo erected chiefly as memorial tablets or for the attraction of sightseers. " POSSIBILITIES OP ASTRONOMY. "What are the probabilities or possibilities of marked advances In our scientific knowl cdgo of the stars and planets ? " "Half a century ago , " ssld Prof. Pickering , "many people were Inclined to look upon astronomy In the light of a dead science , and It must bo confessed that there did not seem to b3 great encouragement for ambitious ob servers In the discovery of novelties with the appliances then at hand. But n great change for the better came with tbo application of the spectroscope and photography to astro nomical research. The spectroscope may bo regarded as second only to the telescope In the Importance of Itij contributions to our knowledge of tbo physical properties ot the stars. It has given us information of the origin and composition of tha heav enly bodies otbcrwlto. unattainable and also of the velocity and peculiarities of tholr movements. "Tho increase In the sire nnd power of telescopic object glasses has been remark able also during the half century just clos ing. In 1850 tbo largest refracting tele scopes were tlitse at the Russian National and Harvard observatories , both of 15-Inch aperture. The object glass of the refrac tor at the Lick observatory today Is thlrty- alx Inches In diameter , and tbo one lately constructed for the Yerkes observatc r of the Chicago unlveislty Is forty Inches In diameter. At stations whro clear atmos phere permits the full utilization of the greater power of the enlarged telescopes their scrvlco In the detention of knowl edge of the heavens is of high value , "In photography as applied to astronomy the principal advance to be looked for Is In the Increase of sensitiveness of plates , but It Is unfortunately true that certain difficulties In the way ot their use will Inevitably Increase with the setisltlvencs ? . The fogging of the plates on moonlight nights U already so great that long ex posures cannot bo made with telescopes of largo angular aperture , and any marked Increase ot sensitiveness will make it Im possible to work to advantage In the vi cinity nt a largo city on account of the Illumination of tbo ntmot > phero by artificial light. U will then ba ncceivsary to take the photographs In places far from centers of population and preferably at great ele vation * , vvher * the reflecting atmosphere Is diminished In amount. "As to tbe possible enlargement by thlt > or other menus of the number of stars known to ui uo approximate limit can be fixed. It hat been estimated that a * many as 20,000,000 distinct itara will appear upon the plan isphere of the vlilblo heavens when com pleted by the photographic reproduction of all tiara down to the fourteenth magnitude , In the Investigation ot the pUneti , the appli cation ot photography Ii of comparatively bervlce , TnU Ii particularly Illustrated canals constructed by creatures of high In telligence and powers. It lo pointed out by the moro conservative observers likeProf. . Asaph Hall that Mare seen through the t3l- escopo Is relatively llko the- moon seen by the naked eye , and determination of even the largest objects on the face of the moon Is still difficult and In dispute , as for example the question of the existence of bodies of water on this satellite. ELIOT LORD. TOI.D OUT OF COUUT. "My first case , " said a well known attor ney to the San Francisco Call , "was the de- fonao of-a negro preachEr In Missouri had been arrested for stealing wood ) from , a railroad company. A great deal ot fuel had been lost from time to time , so when the culprit was arrested the company was so anxious to make an example of him that It employed special counsel and prosecuted the case vigorously. The evidence against the old man was convincing. Ho had besn eaen sneaking around the voodplle and was ar rested whllo carrying off a load. "I had subpoenaed about twenty well known business men to testify to the previous goad character of tbo defendant. When the prOha- cutlon's case was closed I put one on the stand and asked : " 'Do you know the defendant'e reputation for honciity and Integrity ? ' " 'Yea , ' was the answer. ' "What Is it good or bad ? ' " 'Bad. Ho will steal anything he can get his hands on. " "A titter ran -through the court room. It wasn't the answer I had expected , but It was too late , so I put on a bold front and called another. He- testified as the other witness had , and the prosecuting attorney rubbed his hanilis with satisfaction. Bcforo I got through with my vvltncBies I proved that my client was a most notorious thief , who was never known to neglect an opportunity to steal something , no matter how trifling It might be. Then I called n couple of physicians , prowl the oxlstenco of a mental disorder known as kleptomania , read oamo authorities to show that It was a good defense If proved , and submitted my case. The old preacher was acquitted , and thereafter stole with Im punity , for he considered his acquittal In the faca of facts equivalent to a llcensa to steal. " She was the daughter of n judge and she listened with languid Interest to his plea re lates HID Chicago Post. "I love you devotedly , " lie orlod , passion ately. "I am prepared to devote my llfo to you. " "Ho specific in your pleading , " she cau. tloned. "Do not stray too far from the point at Issue. " HD hesltato.1 and then asked earnestly : "Will you bo my wife ? " "Ah , " ehe said , "now I oe the point you vvUh to make. " "I am- not rich , " he urged , "but I have enough to give you a comfortable home , and my prospects are bright. I offer you the love cf an honst man , who will do all In bis power to make you happy , i " She stopped him by a gesture. "It Is uwless to continue at present , " she tuld , firmly but kindly. "Thcro are several cascj ahead of yours on thedocket. . " "But , " ho protested. . , "I want " She stopped him again , "I must Iwlst that thcso matters bo taken up In their regular order , " she said , sharply. "Put your proposition In writing and fllo it with my maid , and It will receive due atten tion when H Is reached in the regular course of business. I haven't tlmo to listen to oral arguments ) In a cauo that can bo as well nre- wntcd In briefs. " With a sigh ho left , and put In bis time until late that night preparing a petition for a rehearing. On one occasion a magistrate asked a woman ; "What Ii your age , madam ? " "Whatever > ou choose , sir , " answered the lady. "You may put down 45 years then , " said the magistrate to the clerk. "What is your occupation , madam J" "Sir , " said the witness , " > ou have made a mistake of ten year In my age. " "Put down 65 ) ar theu. " tulrt the magistrate. "Your residence " "Sir , " exclaimed the lady , "my age la 35 yeurn , not 651" "At bit we have- your state ment , " said the magUrate ; and he proceeded with the examination. They Are Being Trained in the Hysteric of Modern Seamanship. THEIR QUARTERS AND THEIR DUTIE to WorU Hunt , lull They Ar All tht- Time Their N , Though I'lnln , Art ; Coiufortnlile. ( Cop > rlRht. ISS3 , by S. S. McClUre , Llmltc.1 It Is rather more tlinn two months no\ slnco the arrangement for the training of specified number of American boys In moilor seamanship on the vessels glitch carry ocoa malls by contract with the United State government wont Into effect , anil all gooi Americans will bo glad to know that It I working excellently. It was provided for I section 8 of the bill entitled "An act to pro vltlo for ocean mall servlco between th United States and foreign ports and to promote mete commerce , " passed In 1S91 , which says "That the vessels with which the ppstmas tor general enters Into contract for the trans portatlon of the United States malls slnl tnlto as cadets or apprentices one American born boy under 21 years of ago for each 1,00 tons gross register , and one for each majorlt fraction thereof , these boys' to bo educatn In the duties of seamanship , to rank as psttj ofllcers , and to receive such pay for thcl services as may bo reasonable. This provision Is being carried out on three American steamship lines , the Red D , run ntng to Central America , the Ward line running to the West Indies , and moat Im portant of all , the American line , running between Now York and Liverpool. The American line alone on Its four steamers the New York , the Paris , the St Paul am the St. Louis , carries forty-six cadets , eleven on each of the two first named vessels and twelve on each of the two last named. In eluding tha cadets carried on the other two lines , there are thus provided something lesu than 100 places for American-born boys who may desire to become officers on our great steamers , and , perhaps one day , have their share In upholding on tha ocean the glory of the American flag. As might Invo been expected tills enact ment of congress was not at first receive * by the steamship companies concerned will any great enthusiasm. They regarded It as an onerous provision and prepared to com ply In rather a spirit of protest. The con sequence was that some trouble occurrci at the start , chiefly duo to the fact that Insufficient care was shown In selecting the boys for this service. Sonic boy ? o lough character who behaved badly were chosen. These boys soon left and others were taken In their places , bstter judgment bning shown this tlmo and better results follow Ing. Nov the steamship companion have become qulto reconciled to the new or der of things and regard the advent of the cadets with considerable satisfaction. They see In It an advantage for themselves and a step In the right direction as regards our merchant marine. Ono of the first points decided upon by Cap tain Shackford , marine superintendent of the International Navigation company , to whom at plor 14 , North river , all applicants for cadetshlps on the American "lino apply , was that ho would , as far aa possible , select boys \\lio had graduated from ono of the three school ships , the St. Mary's Of New York , the Enterprise of Massachusetts nnd flie Syracuse of Pennsylvania , which for a dozen years have been graduating about thirty boys an nually. Each ono of these boy graduates Is thoroughly fitted for ship duties , having al ready acquired practical knowledge of sea manship and navigation , and being therefore well fitted to fill the positions provided en the great steamers. As far ai possible , Captain Shackford makes his selections on the recommendation of the school ship Instruc tors , the boys having thus held before thorn as an incentive to good work that on their graduation their diligence urd success In their dutle.3 will find practical reward In these cadetBhlps , which practically mean an assured future 'for the rest of their lives It Is thought that this new otlm- ulus will have a most excellent In fluence In the school ships and will soon bring about more fixedness of purpose ajnong the graduates than has bfen horebeforo noted , for of recent yars hardly 25. per cent of the boys graduated from American Bchool ships have continued In marine life , the largo majority of thorn having been cured of their waywardness nnd roving tcn- dencl s by the severe discipline , preferring to- abandon the sea altogether and settle down on land In some form of business. Ono chief reason of this general disinclination to follow the sea lay In the fact that the graduates from the school ships did not have what they have now , thanks' to the cmllH ships , a Euro clianco of advancement to the positions of officers. NOT ALL FROM SCHOOL SHIPS. It must not bu supposed that Captain Shackford limits his choice of cadets en tirely to boys coming to the school ships. On the contrary , ho Is willing and glad to taks American boys who cometo him well recommended , and who possess the proper qualifications or aptitude for a life on the sea. Already a number of boys of good family hive been chosen as cadets and In some cases where tb'y have not come with too lofty ideas , and not been above workIng - Ing hard , they have given .good satisfaction. The following is a list of the cadets who sailed on the St. Paul on October 30 ; It will bs seen that several of them had no previous sta experience : F. H. Stackpole , Engineer Born In Sa lem , N. II , , June 27 , 1876 ; educated at Hyde Park , Mass. ; parents living ; father's occu pation , electrician ; two years In school ship Enterprise ; graduated September 21. 1SD5. W. S. Searle , Engineer Born In Worces ter , Mass. , March 1 , 187C ; educated there ; parents living ; father's occupation , provision dealer ; two and one-half years service In school ship Enterprise ; graduated April 13 , 1B95. 12. F. Gavagan , Engineer Born In Beaten - ton , Mass. , July 21 , 1878 ; educated there ; parents living ; father's occupation , carpan- ter ; one year In echool ship Enterprise ; graduated September , 1895 , E. L. Jennings , Engineer Born In Cam bridge , Mass. , November 29 , 1878 ; educated at Hyde Park , Mass. ; father , only , living ; occupation , oil merchant ; two years In school elilp Enterprise ; graduated .September , 1S95. J. H. T. Lum , Deck Horn In Oxford , Conn. , February 20 , 1870 ; educated there ; parents living ; father's occupation , foreman of electric railway ; elxt'cn months' sea. ex perience ; never In school ship. Harry Teackle , Deck Dorn In New York City , October 20 , 1870 ; educated there ; mother , only , living ; eighteen months' sea fxperlence ; six months In Cuban mall steam ship company ; ono year In school ship , St. Mary's'-dld not graduite. W. O. Earlo. Deck Horn In Brooklyn , N , V. , August 21 , 187C ; educated there ; par ents living ; father's occupation , plumber ; ono month In pilot bout No. 3 and nine months In school chip St. Mary's ; did not gradu ate. George F. Deakyne , Deck Born In New- ca tl ; > , Del. , October 9 , 1878 ; educated at Philadelphia , Pa. ; mother , only , living ; two and a half years' sea experience ; never in a rchool ship. ' 0 , S. Duer , Deck Born in Gloucester county , Vn. , September 19 , 1877 ; educated at Baltimore , MJ.J parents both living ; fatlur'a occupation , bay pilot ; no sfca experience. Philip HagJitoln , DecK Born In New York City , July 8 , 1875 ; educated there ; parents both living ; father's occupation , metal spinner ; nlnete n and a half months' sea experience ; three and a halt months In Carlb Price , Prlno line , and sixteen months school ship , St. Mary's. 0. B. Alexander , Deck Born In Charles- town , W. Vs. , Novcmb r 23 , 1876j educated there ; mother , only , living ) no sea experi ence. J , A. Willli , Dock Horn In Jefferson county , W. Va. , September 17 , 1877 ; edu- ratcxl at Oharle town , W. Vn. ; parents bet living ; father's occupation , farmer ; no s experience. QUAI1TEUS AND DUTIES. The cadtts at the start receive J15 or $2 a month. In addition to good food In tfi officers' mess , nnd snug , though not luxurlou quarters , down aft on the "glo'y hold , " wher two tiers of Iron-framed bunk ? runnln athwart s hip , furnish thslr sleeping accommo datlcns. Heddlng la supplied by the com piny , and lockers are furnished for the ! spire clothe . On the New York and Parl the cadets occupy the room1 ! that were orlg Inally Intended for the chief and senior sec end ofllcers , so that tlisy are c ° ; isclilly fa vored , having separate drawers for thfl clothes , wash stands1 , and as good accommo ditlons as most of the > passenger ; . As to their duties , It may ba said that th cadets are required to learn the whole a ! phabot of seamanship , ever ) thing from swal blng a deck up to taking an observation Of course they are not worked as bird a ordinary sailers , th'y helm ? only bovs. an their ages ranging from 10 to 21 , the aver age being about 19. Of course It Is In th companies' Interest to lake the bojs a young as possible , slnco they arc oxprersi prohibited from having cidots over 21. Ther U some vagueness , however. In the- law as t CADET UNIFORMS. whether on American boy , taken as a cadet bcforo ho was 21 , might remain on tin. steamer ay a cadet after passing that age Of course In nmny Instances before reaching 21 cadets will have been promoted by the company to permanent positions in their em ploy ; already one such care has occurred where a boy , taken as a cadet , has been made o full quartermaster on the American line , with the salary of $35 a month. As the months pass and the system comes Into smoother working there will doubtless bo many such cases of promotion. On the four steamers of the American line the cad ts are divided Into watches with the officers and stand watch , four hours on and four hours off. On the Paris and the New York the cadets are kept busy on the bridge or In the wheel house whera it Is their duty to polish the brasa work , to mend the flags and to keep every thing splc-span clean. Besides this they are given every opportunity to learn to steer , to use the- sextant and to signal with the Hags according to the code. In the main their duties are similar to those of the quartermaster , 'although ' they are unable tor many months to- cast the log or heave the lead. On the St. Loulu and St. Paul the cadets are not ghcn sunh free access to tlia iirldgo nnd the wheel house , but are kept under the direct authority of the boatswain or the boatswain's mate , and are required lo work on deck In the "wash downs" and to lend a hand at "holystoning" and at cleaning scuppers In tbo waterways or on Vieck. It must bo admitted that the cadets are cept busy , and no boy should asek one of ; hesa positions unless ho Is prepared to work every day until ho 3\ill bo glad to fall nto his bunk when sleeping time comes. Some of the boys who have come from comfortable homes do not taks kindly to landllng the broom , nnd think It beneath their dignity to stand out In bad wcither and "squllgis" the decks , but after all there s no royal road to seamanship any more than thero.ls to other things worth having , and boys with the right stuff In them do vhat they arc told to do with a brave face enow Ing that It Is for their own best In- erests. A practical pallor was never made by looking on whllo some one else did the work. Sometimes cadets are stationed on the leek to shift steamer chairs or sweep away 'ailing ' cinders , ono of them Is always on the lookout on the lower bridge , and on each of the four ships of the American line a certain number of cadets are assigned to ho engine room , where they are divided Into three watcher , and stand four hours .on and eight hours off The reason for this dlffer- cnca In the watches lj that the work In the engine- room Is more laborious , on account of the heat , the smell of oil and the con finement. The engine room cadets generally vork under the fov.tli engineer , tholr dutlsa lelng in the nature f repairing pumps , re- > acklng cylinders and doing the endless odd obs that are always coming up in this strange region , where monster engines throb and turn unceasingly. There la ono kind of work that cadeta are n"ver called upon to do , that Is the washing of the decks , which is done by the common jailors , between whom and the cadets there s a marked difference of station. The cadets are treltcd as patty officers , young men who vlll one rtiy develop Into full officers , quarter masters , lieutenants , perhaps captains. They are entitled to the pride of their posslblll- les , and besides that they get better pay ban common sailors , eat better food ( In fact hey cat the- same food as first cabin pas s-angers ) , nnd enjoy various privileges , not extended to ordinary sailors. When In port eave is often given to visit their families , although the period In port Is by no means ono of Idleness , since the cadets are re quired to be down In the holds while the cargoes are loading and unloading , to see hat everything Is done properly. It must b3 remembered that the cadets \ho enter upon scrvlco In American liners are In no sense bound over as apprentices o the company , nor do they go through anything like enlist ment for a fixed period of time. They are icrfectly free to leave whenever they please fter the completion of a voyage , and , If hey find the llfo uncongenial or the work ver severe they need never continue It or moro than three weeks. It Is satlsfac- ory to know that , while at the start , the > oys ofMess desirable class were continually saving anil , Indeed , ncro frequently dls- hargcd , since Captain Shackford has adopted lu plan of moro careful [ election , the cadets eem contented with their positions and how every disposition to pursue , the career f seamanship seriously as It was hoped they vould do. Of the forty-six cadets on the our American liners , about forty have thus ar shown themselves entirely worthy of ho positions given them , and oven better esults than these are expected In the fu- ure. CLEVELAND MOFFETT. OUT OI ' TII13 OHIJIXAUY. Thera are over 500 pieces in the 115,000 eel f china used at the white house. Blood In ita natural state contains a sur- lBlng amount of pure air , amounting to early uaven-olguths of Its entlru bulk , The word "and" occurs 35,043 times In the ld Testament and 10,034 times In the Now 'estament. In Russia women before they can appear n a cycle In the streets bavo to obtain a per mit from the police. All the chickens In the western part of ' "rc-ucn Guiana are perfectly white. It Is lin- osslble to find ono with a colored feather. Nearly every army has now a bicycle- corps , n Germany ulx men of every regiment ore nounted on wheels to act ai uoouts. The doctors of Topeka , Kan , , eay that there g a young negro in that burg who baa the body and limbs covered with skin exact ! like- that of an alligator. The "World of Wonders , " P.IRO 30 , say that there la enough Iron In the blood c forty-two men to make a plowshare of twcn ty-four pounds weight. A bsnm of lltht ; shoots through space wit the prodlglouaeloclty of 190,000 miles second , occupying eight minutes In makln Its trip from the sun to the earth. About 250,000 cmarles are ral od ever year In Germany nnd , besides the 100,00 birds that are sent to America , the Englls market takes about r.0.000 , th ? next ben cus tomcri being Brazil , China , the Argontln H public and Austria , to which countrli- tulesmcn are sent with large numbers o birds > early. _ _ mi. i , , TIM : I.OKM. n nuccno I'lcld In "V I.lttlc Hf > olc of ProntaW TnloB. " Bill wus illuz fond uv children 'ml bird 'nd flowers. Ain't It kind o' curious ho\ sometimes we find n great big , awkward ma who lo\cs scch things ? BUI bail the blgges feet In the township , but I'll bet my walle that ho never trod on \lolet In all his life Bill never took no slack from enny man tha WHS sober , but the children made him pla > with 'cm , nnd hc'il eel for hours n-witchln the yallerliammer buildln' her nest In th old cottonwood. Now , 1 ain't tlofendin' Din ; rin jest teiun the truth about him. Nothlnk I kin b.iy rnc way or tothcr Is goln' to make nnny differ cnc ? now Bill's dead 'nd burled , 'nd the folks Is dlEcussIn' him 'ml wond'iln whcthe his Immortal soul Is alt right. Sometlme-s hev worried 'bout Bill , but I don't weir > 'bout ' him no more. Uv course Bill has his faults I never liked that drlnkln' business uv hls'n , yet I allow that Bill got more good otit'n llkker , nnd llkkcr got moro good out'n Bill than I ever see before or sence. I warn't when the likkcr wus In Bill that Bll wus his best , but when ho ht-d been onto ono uf his b.Us 'nd drunk himself sick 'nd wi comln' out of the other end of the bat then Bill wuz one uv the meekest 'nd propcr- cst critters you ever seen. An' potry Some uv the most beautiful potry I ever reai wuz writ by Bill when he wuz recoverln himself out'n ono uv them bats. Scemci llko It Mnd of exaulted an' purified Bill's nachur to git drunk an' git over It. Bill cud drink moro llkker 'ml be sorrier for It thai any other man In seven states. There never wuz a more penitent feller than ho wnz when ho was soberln' . The trubble with Bll seemed to be that his consc'cnca didn't come on watch quite ot'n enuff. It'll be ten years come next spring scnce BUI showed up here. I don't Know wliar ho come- from ; seemed llko he didn't talk nboul his past. I alters susplcloned that ho hai seen trouble maybe sorrcr. I recollect thai ono time he got n telegraph Mr. Ivlns toll mo 'bout It afterward and when he read Ii ho put his hands up to his fac ? 'nd groaned like. That day he got full of llkker , 'nd la kcp' full of llkker for n week , but when he come- round all right ho wrote a pome for the paper , 'nd the name of the porno was "Mary , " but whether Mary was his sister or his wlfo or an old swe-etheart of hls'n I never Knew. But It looked from the pome llko she was dead 'nd that he loved her. Bill wiu the bast lokll the piper ovci lied. Ho didn't hustlp around much , but he had a kind er pleasin' v.i' uv dlshln' things up. He cud be mighty comical when he set out to be , but his holt was serious pieces. Nobody could beat Bill writln' obituaries When old Mose Holbrook was dyln' the minister sez to htm : "Mr. Holbrook , you setm to bo sorry that you'r passln' away to a better landi' "Wall , no , not exactly that , " scz Mose , "hut to ba ftank with you , I Ifov Jos' ono re gret In connection with this affair. ' , ' "What's that ? " asked the minister. "I can't help feelln' sorry , " sea Mosc , "that I ain't goln' to hc-v the pleasure uf readln' what Bill Newton sez about mo In the paper. I Know It'll bo sumthln' uncommon fine ; I leant him ? 2 a year ago last fall. " The Hlgglnscs lost a darned good friend when Bill died. Bill wrote a poem 'bout their old dog Towze , when ho wuz run over jy walkings hay wagon seven years ago I'll bat that poem Is In every scrap book In the country. You couldn't read that pome without cryln' why , that porno wild hev nought a dew out on the desert nf Sary. Old Tim Hubbard , the meanest man In the state , borrored n paper to read the porno , and 10 wuz so 'fected by it that he never bor- ored anuther paper as long as ho lived. I lon't moro'n half reckon , though , that the llgglnsc-s appreciated what BUI had done for 'em. I never hcerd uf their glvln' nny- hlnk more'n a basket uf grcenln' apples , and Bill wrote a piece 'bout the apples ncx' day. But Bill wuz at his bast when he wrote hlngs 'bout the children about the little ones that died , I mean Seemed like Bill had a way of his own of eayin' things that wuz beautiful 'nd tender ; he said he loved the children they wuz so Innocc-nt , and I reckon es , I know ho did , for the pomes ho writ about "em bhowcd he did. When our little Alice died I started outer or Mr. Miller ; ho wuz the undertaker. The night wuz powerful dark , 'nd It wiw all the ! < irkcr to mo becuz seemed like all the light icd gone out In my life. Down near the bridge I met Bill ; he weaved 'round In the oad , for ho wuz In llkker. "Hello , Mr. Baker ! " scz lie. "Whar be you goln' this tlmo o'nlght ? " "Bill , " sez I , "I'm ' goln' on the saddest cr- and uv my life. " "What d'ye mean ? " FCZ ho , comln' up tone no as straight as ho cud. "Why , Bill. " sez I. "our little girl my lit- 10 girl Alllo , you know sh6's dead. " I hoarsed up so I couldn't say much moro. And Bill dln't eay nothing nt all ; ho Jest cached mo his hand , and ho took my hand , nd seemed llko In that grasp his heart poke many words of comfort to mine. And iox' day ho had a pleco In the paper about ur Ilttlo girl ; wo eut It. out and put It In ho big blblo In the front room. . Sometimes when wo got to fussin' Martha goes 'nd gets hat bit of paper 'nd reads It to me- ; then us wo kind of cry to ourselves , 'ml wo make It p between us for the dead child's sake. Well , you can see 'how ' It wuz that no many f us llko Bill ; ho had soothed our hearts bore's nothln' llko sympathy , after all , Bill's otry hc-d heart In It ; It didn't surprise you r Bca.ro > ou ; It jest got down In under your veot , 'nd before you knew It you wuz all hoked up. I know all about your fashion- bio potry and your famoua poets Martha ook Oodoy'o for a yar. Folko that live In ho city can't wrljo potry not the real , gn- ilno article. To wrlto potry , an I figure It , ho heart must have somethln' to feed on ; ou can't got that somsthln' whar there ain't rocs 'nd grass 'nd birds 'nd ( lowers. Bill ovod these things , and ho fed his heart on em , and that's why his potry wuz DO much letter than anybody else's , I ain't worryln' much about Bill now ; I nko It that everything IH for the best. When ht-y told me that Bill died I felt that his end ughter have como usmo thr way ho wuz OD good a man for that , But maybe after 11 It wuz ordered for the best. Jlst Imagln * 1111 a-standln' for Jcdgment ; Jlat Imagln' that leer , sorrowful , shlverln' critter waltln' for IB ! turn to come. Plctur' , if you can , how ult uv penitence ha Is , 'nd how full of potry nd gentUnees 'nd misery. The Lord ain't i-goln to bo too hard on that poor wretch. Of course wo can't comprehend dlvlno mercy ; wo only know that It Is full of companion a ompasslon Infinitely tenderer an' suceter ban oura And the moro I think on't the more I reckon that Bill will plead to win that mercy ; for , like as not , the little ones my Alllo with the re t will run to him when hey so ; him In his ( rubble , and will hold hli remblln * hands 'nd twine their arms about ilm , and plead with him for compassion , You've been an old sycamore that the ghtcn' has struck ; the ivy has Teal-lied up s vlncu 'nd spread 'em all around It 'nd over , coverln * Its scars 'nd epllnUrcd brandies vlth a velvet green , 'nd flllln' the air with Krano ? . You've Men this thing and you cnovv that It Is beautiful. That's Bill , perhaps , as ho stands up fer odgement a miserable' , trcmblln * 'ml un- ortby thing , prliap , but twined about , all vor with singing and pleadln1 little children and that Is pleasin' In Qod'a sight , I know. What would you what would I Bay , If we uz settln' In jedgement then ? Why , we'd jest kind uv bresh the moisture rom our eyca 'nd eay , "Mister Becordln' ngel , you may nelly pros this case 'nd rctooij with the docket. " CITY'S ' YEAR IN THE COURTS Annual Statement from the Municipal Legal Department. LITIGATION SETTLED AND PENDING Important ( 'itNpq Lost nnd "Won lij * tlu > ( MlVlmt l Still oil ( he DockftH of the 1MIT.T- cnl Court * . The report of City Attorney Connell for the year ending December 81 , Is practically completed , subject , however , to Buch altera tions as may be necessitated by pending de cisions In city cases As something over 200 cases have been handled by the legal dc- pirtmcnt during the year the report will bo n rather voluminous dociiniMit , ono which will give n brief history of each case with present status nnd a general res'imo of the operations of the department during the > ear. The report calls attention to the fact that the levy for the Judgment fund has been twice cut In two and that al'.noucn tnu levy Is now only one-fourth what It was when the present department assumed control , thcro ts still n jiuplus In the fund which will bo amply sufficient to meet any ordinary demands. Decisions have been reached In soventy- ono cases during the yo.ir. The only Im portant case In which the city suffered de feat was the Hansccm park special tax case brought by James 0. Mcgcath nnd others to enjoin the city from collecting the special tax for improvements on the- streets adjoin ing Ilanscom park. The baeo of action was that , according to a clause In the deed by which the park was conveyed to the city the city was obl'ged to pjy nil Improve ments on the adjoining &treet . The- case has been on the court dockets for the past Ilvo jonrs and the final decision of the supreme court was that the tax was not valid. The most Important special tax case which was won by the city during thejear was Llio Leuvenworth Dtieot case , which had also been vigorously fought In the courts. One of the most curious cases la that of Grace [ 'Itcli , who sued the city for ? 25,000 damages , for personal Injuries on account o a defective sidewalk. Her case was bellied for J10. The plaintiff Is the same woman who came Into public view as ono of tbo main witnesses In the Ipli murder case. Ono of the thirty-two cases now pending1 n the supreme court Is the Jefferson square. case , which was brought to decide upon the r'ght ' of the c ty to use the bquare as a slto for a market house. The district court de cided that the bite could not bo used for any other purpose than a park nnd the uiso was taken to the supreme court , where It Is set for hearing early mcxt month. The mandamus case of the city against the Chicago , Burlington & Qulncy Ilallio.id com- > any to compel the defendant to rcpilr the .south end of the Eleventh street viaduct Is ilso set for hearing at the January term of the supreme court. An alternative writ was granted by the district court , but the rall- cad company appealed , and it Is said that there Is tvcry prospect that a final decision will be obtained nt"un early date. The other EIov nth street viaduct cise , In which the Union Pacific rallrond Is defenil- int. Is pending In the United States circuit court , where the city has endeavored obtain a decision during the past year. The cgal depaitmcnt lias rcc Ivcd assurances that his matter will soon be adjudlcatcJ. Another Impoitnnt CRSC now pending In the supreme court Is that brought by Carlion D. lutchliibon and other properly owners In Walnut Hill to enjoin the collection of the special tax for grading n numb r of streets n that addition. The amount Involved in about $30,000. Cases are also pending as follows : In' district court , o'ghly-two ; In Unit d States court , district of Nebraska , eleven ; In United States comt , Eighth district , two ; In county court , five. CITY SITST PAY ITS SltAItK. Ii'iivriiM > rlli Street nriiillui ; CoiiHlil- ord by County ConiinlnHlonerH. The wunty commissioners met yestuday and disposed of a largo amount of routine juslncss. A little breczo was created by tha nolle 3 that the c'ty council had appropriated , or offered to appropriate , ? 550 for tha pay ment of the city's share of grading West Leavenworth street. Mr. StonbtrB spoke In evero terms of criticism of tbo action of the ouncH. He said that wh'n the grading of ho street was taken up by the commission- rs , In order to get It In shape for the open- ng of the state fair , moro than a majority f the members of the council 1.3d pledged h mEclvcs to the payment of half of the mount. The city's tliaro of the expense was 11,100 nd Mr. Stoiibcrg was astonished that tha neinbors of the council would try to get out by paying half of tbo amount they were ilcdged to pay. The matt r was referred to he committee on roads with Instructions ) o appear before the council and seek an djustmcnt of the chlm , accoidlng to tha crms of the original agreement. On motion of Mr. Jenkins tlu committee n court lioiuo and jail was Instiuctcd to ako the necessary steps to have the living corns over the county jail put In uhapo ind set aside for the ute of the county aa ury rooms. The protests of The B"o Publishing corn- any against the Ibsuo of licenses to F. II. W. Saack and Fred Koch wcro set for hearing > y the board on Tuesday , December 31 , at 10 'clock. The committee on finance reported on cx- mlnatlon of the accounts of ex-Sheriffs Wll- am Co-burn nnd John Boyd and found mlances duo the county of $210 from Coburn nd $291 from Boyd for foes In transporting risonors to the reform school. The report vas ref rred to the county attorney , with nstructlons to talto legal steps for the col- cction of the amounts. The clerk of the district court was author- zed to expend $1GO for rewriting Judgment ocket "C. " On recommendation of ths finance com- nlttco the board voted to dispense with the ervlces of a delinquent personal tax col- cctor after January 1. The official bonds of a largo number of nlnor officers were approved , By a resolution offered by Mr. Broen It vas decldid that hereafter the county will lay no claims until the delinquent personal ax of the claimant , If any Is found , bo do- uctcd from th ? account of the claim. To ircperly Identify the delinquents the clerk if the district court WOH Instructed to urnlsh the corr ct addresses of. all jurors nd witnesses given certificates by tlis court. o Iiixuiir n nil ii At n I I'll , An Insane man named Merrlam , who ha been confined In the county jail for a number f days , created quite a sensation In that ln- tltutloh yesterday. At 1 o'clock he piled quantity of papers and books on the floor f his cell and bet fire to them. Ila then cited "Fire , " with all his might. For soiu ilnutes the Inmates of the jail were In a tate bordering on freruy , but the dltturb- nco was allayed and the fire put out by aller Miller. Merrlam started another fire ate In the morning , and then bo was putt la roiis. Air < Mit 'I'MKen to Jail , L. Chauncy , a solicitor for a Chicago por- ralt company , was arrested upon complaint t Mn. Olson , Seventeenth and Leavenworth treeta , charging him with the larceny of a Icturo valued at It. Chauncy inakei a [ leclalty of enlarging family photographs. [ called at Mrs , Oluen's house several daya go , making a bargain to cnUrce the family ilctures at | i rach. The work was per * ormed , whereupon Mrs. OUen s ) s ih cnd red { 2 in payment and demanded her ilcture. Tills wan refu vl and 1U * arreit OllOYrtrd.