Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, February 22, 1896, Page 11, Image 11

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    THE OMAHA DAILY JBEEt SA'yTJ.KUAY , FJBBTIUARY 22 , 1800. 11
POPULAR LOANS IN FRANCE
They Are Negotiated Without the Aid o
Syndicates or Combines.
PROCEDURE RESTRICTED BY LAV
ArllHiinn mid Trnilf < iiiii A MX loin d
Til l > ( lie Sffiirltli-M tit rnf Snli-
( 'nullnoil to tin :
I'oiitttnvc.
The placing of the no-called popular ban
by the government at Wathlngtcn lends
timely Interest to the methods of the French
government In similar trannncUom ; . A I'.irls
correspondent of the Iloston Herald fur
nishes the following details ;
In all cases a "loan" or "ernprunt" In
Franco \ by public subscription , .iml never
othnrwlio. It Is true , however , that once
upon a tlmo the French government Inva
riably addressed Itself to bankers uily
nhen money was thus wanted. Of con me , the
bankers never had enough money In their
combined cash boxes , so they paseJ over a
part of the "rente" thus being established to
their customers. Now , one day the French
government made the discovery that not
only wan thin commission qulto enormous ,
but It was altogether quite n tsulefcs
expcnee , and since then no loan has been
placed In that country except publicly and
free to "everybody. This fate throw open the
doors and windows to subscribers , and as
the state has good crdelt , the people rush en
masse to lend their money to the stale. Some
times the French people have so much confi-
dcnco In their government that they otTei
ten , twelve , even .seventeen times the amouni
wanted , but when this happens nil the money
not required IH returned to those who sub
scribed It. U Is returned to tham proportionally
tionally , 'the state keeping an Irrcduccable
medium. The rule Is that whoever sub
scribes for but one bond shall rccclvs that
bond , but all the other subscribers will get
only ono In two or throe , more or less , ac
cording to circumstances.
KENTirs AND BONDS.
I used the word bond Just now , but that
was merely to make mypolf the more clcarl }
understood by readers of this great news
paper. For , as a matter of fact , the Frencli
debt thus accumulated docs not consist of
bonds as we understand the term. Over
there the state contracts uther what Is
called a perpetual debt , and , following the
English fashion. Is also known as a consoli
dated debt. This debt Is made under tl-o
form of n "rente" of 5 francs. 4S francs , 4
francs , or 3 francs every 100 francs , and In
speaking of them they are referred to n the
6 per cents , the 4 % per cents , the 4 per
cents or the 3 per cents. But alter the loan
is placed and the subscribers have received
their "bonds , " it Is quoted on the stock mar
ket and everybody may sell his or her rentes
according to current prices.
To a certain degree It makes no difference
whether the rente la called 3 per cents or
5 per cents , as the public must pay in 60
francs capital to receive 3 francs of rente
ot Income , and 100 francs ot capital to re-
cqlvo 5 francs of Income. For the two , II
Is always 20 francs of capital for every 1
franc of Income. There Is , however , one dif
ference , although It U only felt when the
government determines to repay the loan al
at a time when rentes are up , and when It
Is necessary , for Instance , for a person to pay
125 francs of capital to obtain 5 francs of
income , or 75 francs to obtain 3 francs.
For , as repayment must always be at par
that Is to say , the owners of the 5 per cents
lose , and the owners of the 3 per cents
gajn. Hence , the eventuality of n reimburse
ment , no matter how far oft It may be
dated , exerclt-os , of course , its Influence on
the market.
The method chosen for this reimbursement
of a "consolidated" Is known as "conver
sion , " and then the state offers to keep the
capital If the public will accept a less per
centum on It. If the public does net agree
to this , the bond U called In at Its par value.
I , onoa hoard Clemenccau declare In the
Chamber of Deputies that France his to bor
row 500,000,000 of francs every year , on the
average , and using that word billion as rep
resenting the French ford milliard. He did
not assert that the republic made an em-
prunt of that much annually , but that was
the average. His argument was that France
was not being governed by the people , but
by the financiers , and If this is partly true
of that cuntry , how doubly true It Is of
ours at the present time.
PEOPLE HOLD SECURITIES.
I do not think that the French republic
has placed a national loan since 1891 , and I
remember Its being shown at the time by
some of the political economists that a man
with an annual Income of 80.000 francs was
paying the state , department and city , year
In and year out , a total of 14,000 francs , or
over 17 per pent of his annual revenue In the
way of taxes. Still , and notwithstaallns
this heavy taxation , it Is seldom that any
one complains , and , moreover , the people are
always ready to loan their money on the
conditions.
cnti < n linrilensomc
Before arranging for an oniprini thnln -
Ister of flnanco holds frcq'iunt consultations
with three or four of the leading members
of the chief banking establishments ; that Is
to any , with the director of the Credit
Lyonnnls , with thu Kothschllda , etc. H Is
thus finally agreed tint those houses will
themselves guarantee to place whatever part
of the loan the public falls to subscribe for ;
further , they agree to help the government
In the work ot taking In the money. Then
tholr commission generally one-half of 1 psr
cent of all that they handle Is arranged ,
and last of all they are told what part of
the loan they may themselves subscribe
for.
for.H Is not often that the elate permits these
moneyed advisors to have more than one-
fourth or one-fifth of the total emprnnt , tl-o
great majority being reserved for the public
subscribers ; that lo to say , the people them-
selves. Deslde ? , the maximum price of
each "rente" Is fixed , and beyond this figure
no perron , banker or other mortal may advance -
vance the price until the new bonds have
been quoted on the bourse by tbo agents do
change of Paris. This enables a poor eub-
bcrlber to ono share to benefit by a bull
movement as much In proportion ao It bene
fits the richest capitalist who happens to nwn
many bonds.
There Is not much chance , however , of
great fortunes being made by speculating In
rentes on the Paris bourse or elsewhere. In
March , 1892. French rentes , that Is. govern
ment securities , reached the highest price
they bavo attained during the present cen
tury. That month the 3 per cents touched
37 francs , but then , ap on other occas-lom > ,
this ascending' movement was stopped by
economical complications or by political
events , and rentes t > eon fell to their average
prlco , which 1s uimally about 87 francs to S3
francs.
francs.FOHEIGN
FOHEIGN CAPITAL IS lUIUlED.
As I have already stated , the last tlmo the
French republic asked her children for a
loan was only a few years back , uiul then It
was for n loan of nearly 1180,000,000 , though
the only wanted a part ot It paid cash down.
At the tlmo appointed the publls lloekn.1 and
subscribed the total amount seventeen times
over , The first payment require. ! was , if I
remember correctly , J2S,09IM ) ) , and tbln -
Uows were opened to the poor and rich ulike
on a Saturday morning. When the tieasurer
counted up that Saturday nlslit ! > found the
people had Inside of eight hours brought him
over $100,000,000.
That wan a great victory for the French
republic ; U there any reason un xartli why
. a similar victory cannot be soued by the
people of the United States lets than thirty
days from now 7
Halting a big loan In France Is always a
big event for Frenchmen , and Frenchwomen
ulai have great confidence In their country's
credit. They consider that there Is no money
po rarely Invested as that which Is Intrusted
to the care of the atato could there exist a
belter or more patriotic reason : and tuoy
eem tn be ludlclently rich to do without out
ride uytfslanco.
In Franco no ono Is oven told what Ger-
* ian banks or English banks may do about a
| iubllc loin , simply beciun those foreign
concerns are not permitted to have anything
s 1o say about It , There are no bonds for per-
nuns outside of Franco until after they have
ell been rubicrlbod for at home. No nutter
low larno the amount asked for by the
I'Ycnch republic , rich and poor tlock lu a
crowd , wine with pocketbooks bulging out
Vlth bank notes , others with wooleu stock-
ings full of gold anl : silver. The day fol
logins the Herman war Thler * MidV
require $3.500.000 to liberate the land. '
Then subscription : pourt-d In to nearly $14 ,
000.000 , ami th # land was free.
BI'HDR.N'S HEDtTEf ) TO TUB MINIMUM
Now , the public fortune , the public deb
and the pnbllc taxation of the French re
public are all three greater than lhat of any
other country In ths world. Nevertheless
her people have an abiding confidence * In
her Integrity , and arc always not only ready
but anxious to loan he' money whenever
It Is required. The nation ; ! ! < icbt of France
nmountti In total to at least $7.000,004,000 , or
more than twice ns much , aa we owed alter
the rebellion ! This , mind you , Is only the
state debt , and does not Include communa
and departmental Indebtedness.
Divided up among the people , this gives
an average of $200 to every French person
and which cjats him or her .it least $9 an
nually. So , $310.000,000 must bo found every
year to pay Interest on the public debt be
fore thinking of other expenses , such as army
navy , etc. , and the total of which amcunto.
la l year to $760,000.000. And yet , not
withstanding this everlasting heavy burden
the French people are not only willing am
rtady to give , but they Insist on giving to
theotato all the money that Is needed to
carry on the government , no matter how
large the sum required may be ; no matter
how often the state Is compelled to borrow.
It U , Indeed , tin admirable rpcctacle to
witness the ono that taken place In thai
country when the government fTnake nppea
to the universal suffrage of private savings.
Yco , France , a marvelous aryl noble coun
try , which too many pcroii calumniate , Is
always ready to lenil again when her minister
of nuances calls for money. At the state
offices , at the doors of credit establishments ,
at the banks , every n here throughout France ,
long lines of small capitalist' , shopkeepers
mechanics , clerks , rervants , etc , are to be
t'3en , each and every ono of them holdlnp
In the hollow of his hand or at the bottom oi
his pockt-t the modest sums laboriously
hoarded up and carefully guarded to acquire
the long dreamed of "unit" which the state
guarantees and which enables them to be
pecuniarily , as well as politically , Interested
In the ft ate.
ANXIOUS TO GET THE RENTES.
They will wait , women as well aa men
In the line all night and all day , so as teat
at least subscribe their money to help the
government , and when finally they have
handed In their Bivlngs and their names
and addresses nro written down , they fee' '
the pride ot a bondholder In n printed pa
per that will bring them In a "rente" an
Income annually from the state and to a
French person the state Is- the most reliable ,
the most responsible , the greatest thing on
earth.
It Is a formidable addition , the sums thus
uubscrlbcd to enable the French republic to
run on. There was the ranson to pay , and
then money bnd to bo raised to repair ar
maments , rebuild fortresses , Increaw the
fleet , cut fresh canals , multiply railways ,
Improve rivers , to pay Interest on the public
debt , etc. It has often scorned to me as II
the lescrve funds wore swallowed up , all the
stockings were emptied , all the resources
exhausted that the country was as empty
of silver and gold as the safe of a bankrupt
broker In Wall street.
But suddenly the republic Is again In need
cf her children's help , and again she seeks
to borrow. Then , on the day fixed by the
government , you will see not a syndicate of
wealthy bankers , but the people themselves
hastening forward eagerly , everybody not
only willing , but anxious to loan their re
constituted economics to the state. The same
patient and confiding throng will be seen at
every door holding the money In their hands ,
thrusting It through the open window Into
the possession of the state , and there Is
never enough of the "loan" to satisfy them.
This Is not only an Interesting , and. In
moro than one way , a touching sight
It la als ) the v.'slblc and undeniable proof
of national greatness , of the country's vital
ity , of public patriotism , of Irresistible
force , of Incestwnt labor ; and , moreover , It
shows the strength and stability ot the
present French ' republic. It Is the permanent
Investment'of all property of land and shop
and store In state securities , and the state
gives to every person who has but little the
same chance to do so that it gives to great
agglomerations.
Draft Power ot u Kntyillil.
I recently performed an experiment in a
rather crude way , says a writer in the
Springfield Republican , to test the- drawing
powers not lifting , but pulling of the com
mon katydid. Seeing the katydid and
noting Its well developed muscular system
suggested the idea of testing Its strength.
Fiona , the want of something better I took
a sheet or ordinary note paper ( size 8x10
Inches ) and folded It once. The corners of
one end were folded together and a piece of
ordinary thread fifteen Inches Icng was at
tached to it. The other end waa tied
around the mcsothorax , passing beneath the
katydid. The first tr'al proved that It was
no ta.sk at all to pull this paper on a smooth-
topped table with no covering. Next
twelve pieces of heavy paper , 3x4& Inches
In size , were added one after another , a largo
screw , two steel pens , a small stone weigh
ing about two ounces , were placed on the
paper. These were drawn without any
great effort on the part of the katydid.
After giving it a short rest I added a new
lead penc.l having a tin tip with a rubber on
It. This was drawn easily ; a second lead
pencil was added. It required isomo effort
to start the lead , but after It was In motion
It was drawn slowly ; a tmru lead pencil was
added. The katydid was unable to start
this at first , but resorted to a somewhat
curious expedient , as It crawled to the edie
of the table and pulled , while its left feet
were oil the top of the table and its right
feet were on the edge , with Its body directly
over the corner. lu this position. It was
able to move Its load slowly for a short dis
tance. I then laid half a lead pencil on
the paper. It waa unable to move the load
at fin-it with this additional weight , but after
moistening each ono of Its feet In turn by
placing them at Its mouth and exuding some
sticky substance it was barely able to move
the burden. The entire load pulled In the
last trial was the original sheet of paper ,
on which , the other things were laid ; twelve
sheets of "heavy paper , 3x414 Inches ; one large
screw , two steel pens , the small stone , three
and one-half lead pencils. Of course , each
successive tr.'al diminished the katydid's
strength. Th's experiment , although very
crude , Indicated that the katydid possesses a
degreeot power that would be surprising If
studied under favorable conditions ,
Ilucklt'it'H Arnica Hnlrc.
The best salve In the world for cuts ,
Drnlses , sores , ulcers , salt rheum , fever sores ,
tetter , chapped hands , chilblains , corns , and
all skin eruptions , and positively cures piles
or no pay required. It Is guaranteed to give
lierfcct satisfaction or money rjfundoj ,
Price 25 cents per box. For sale by Kuhn
& Co.
ViiliiclJ > - ' " < liinnor to . "
"Soven.lyflve poj- cent jot the people we
discharge every year , " remarked the head
floor walker ot a mammoth dry goods estab
lishment to the New York Herald , "loo their
places on account of 'a quarter to 0. '
" 'A quarter to 6' Is.the hour at which
'
preparations are made for closing tli'eday's
justness. At tbat hour the male clerks begin
to cover their stocks and the female clerks
ccnimence to arrange themselves to go home ,
Utually a number of women come In at this
liour and the clerks , eager to go homo , In
answer to questions of customers , usually
t < ay : 'U'o are just out * of Just what the cust
omer happens to want.
"Day after day wo discharge girls for this
reason , and fifteen tlmea out , of twenty you
ask a girl why she lost her place and oliu will
Invariably answer on account of 'a quarter
to fi < > "
The soft glow of the tei rosa IB acquired by
ladloj who ute Pozzonl's Complexion Powder.
Try It.
It.A
A llcforinril KfiitiifUUilltur ,
McAdjm Ledger : All contracts for whisky
advertluemonU In thu Ledger have expired ,
and from this date no whisky advertisement
Cull appear In these columns at any price.
f the Ealoou people dcIra to cxpitlato on the
merits ( ? ) of any peculiar brand of their
damnation , they can look elsewhere for a
neJIiim through which to extol its virtues.
The Ledger makes no claim to Binctlflcutlon ,
but when a nabon keeper tells ua that a $6
ad , In the Ledger has sold for him $1.200
worth of whisky , It mikes ua feel that we
lave been In a small moiiure responsible for
ho damage done , and \u > promise to "t ln no
nore. "
i
The Throat "Brown't Bronchial Troches"
ict directly on the organs ot the Ice. Thy
have in extraordinary effect In all illsorJera
of the throat.
SCIENCE OF PAVING IN PARIS
Street Improvement Carried on in a
Thorough Manner.
HOW THE PUBLIC WORK IS MANAGED
The KooiiomloK I'rnptlpoil , tlic Jin
trrlnlH t'npil mill ( lip Ufxtrlrtlotii
InipoNoil on I'onlrnrlorn
Important HcMiilln ,
The city of Paris cover * about thirty square
miles , anil spends , In round numbers , $2 ,
000,000 per annum to keep this area clean
The opening , pavlriR. mending , cleaning am
Improving the streets la In charge of the
Hoard of Public Holds. It nho shares gome
dutlc0 connected with the linhtlng , p.irk
health and water departments , the rlatiUnf
of trees , tlie care of bridges and of works
of art Innumerable. Of Utc years quarrlcf
workshops and sawmills have beta adilud t <
Its responsibilities , also the Inspection am
testing of various cements , stones , wood am
! > llcn. It has a laboratory , where In 1M3 COS
chemical analyses were made ; It Is constantly
conducting experiments and sending commit
tees of examination to learn what thuy m.i >
from foreign methods of street lmprovcmo.it
or disposal of garbage. Only distinguished
graduates of the best sclentlll : school uf
France are eligible for a government p.sltlon.
The chief engineer of the stte.'t department
saj-3 the Chicago Times-Herald , Is a "poly-
tochnlclcn , " than which nothing higher.can
be said In the way of education , and a Ilrsl
class graduate of the school of roidi and
bridges. Under him eight assistant engl'ipcrs
divide the city Into ns many special fields of
work. They , too , have guie through the
Kcolo Polytechnlque and taken their course
In the roads and bridges. Under thi'in Is
a I'taff of 320 men. Inspectors and agents ,
before the rank and file , the standing army
of road men , are reached. These also nro
required to make sonio special studies , though
less advanced than thdlr superiors. Even
the day laborers In government employ have
to pass a simple examination chiefly phys-
Iclal , however. The pay Is small. Road men
get from $25 to $35 a month for twenty-six
days of eight hours. The highest paid me
chanics In the government shops have $500
a year. In the street cleaning department
wages run from $400 a year ilown. It Is safe
to say that the salaries of the principal men
are considerably less than an efficient engi
neer would make In private practice. Never
theless , they generally remain In the service
during their working years , enjoying the
social prestige of a fonctlounalre , which IP not
Inconsiderable a modest but absolutely cer
tain Income during good behavior and a
pension on retirement. Even too workman ,
after ten years' service , draws a tiny pen
sion ; after thirty years enough to live on
with extreme economy.
Paris engineers claim that their streets
have especially hard usage. Over their lim
ited area rattle 1,600 cabs , probably more liv
ery and private equipages than any other
city contain ! " , and about forty lines of om
nibuses. Most of the latter have an average
weight of six tons and are drawn by three
horses at a mean speed of six miles an hour.
Their frequent stoppages and starlings and
their use of brakes on every Incline make
them destructive to pavements.
Macadam , stone , asphalt and wood have all
been tried In Paris. The tendency Is to ex
tend the latter two and to do away with the
macadam , which , though comparatively In
expensive to lay , la costly to keep In order.
Part of the paving Is done by contract ; a
leader but Increasing part by the city's own
force.
On the 1,442,000 square meters of macadam
ized streets , 888 roadmen and 230 helper. ? are
employed , working In gangs of ten or twelve
under superintendents. Each gang has its
allotted area to keep In order the year
round , including sweeping , watering and light
mending. Each spring and fall takes place
the resurfacing of such streets as are re
ported for the purpose. The campaign Is
planned beforehand by the engineers In coun
cil , so as to accomplish as much ns poroible
with the forces at command. Theaj Include
( Ivo steam rollers , the property of the city.
With these , It la claimed , they can do for 4
cents a ton that for which contractors charge
7 cents a ton. On macadamlzej streets con
tractors now do little more than furnish ma-
terlab. The cost of a pquare meter of mac
adam runs from 90 centy to $1.75. The cost
of maintaining It Is said to be 50 cents per
annum.
Stone pavements cover an area of (5,305,400 (
square metery , on which 4444 roadmen are
employed. Various kinds of etono have been
tried. Belgian porphyry , excellent In many
rsspects , growa slippery with use. Owing tc
i popular outcry against the "pave bleu. " II
has been abandoned except for gutters. GrJn-
ito blocks , or what the French call western
sandstone , are preferred for the street ? whore
traffic Is heavy. If laid with earo on a good
concrete foundation , this Is almost Indestruc.
: lble. Extreme care Is taken In the selection
of material. Each separate stone must be
passed upon. In 1893 the expense of this In
spection wag $12,535. Experiments In blocld-
of various dimensions have resultrvl In
preference for thosa measuring 1C ccntlmetere
in height , one and a half times as long as
Lholr width. Thus , 1C centimeters by 12 by
18 Is considered a good size about 0'/4 Inches
by 4 by 7.
During the last few years the city has
economized by renting1 a sandstone quarry ,
whence material Is procured at prices 7 or
8 per cent below contractors' rates. The
quarry also yielded 20,000 tons cf sand and
broken stone , which may be ussd or sId to
advantage , A commission has been ap
pointed to report on the advisability of rent
ing a municipal granite quarry. The cost
of stone pavement lo estimated at from J3.U5
lo $1.45 per njuare meter. Keep'ng It In
thorough order sweeping , watering , mend-
ng , and even relaying amounts to nbut
30 ccntB per uquare meter per annum. Uelng
the most durable ami the easiest to keep In
order , stone pavement Is really the cheapest ,
but the neise of tradio upon It Is an Insu
perable objection.
Asphalt Is nolselRSs , free from mud or
dust , hence especially desirable In the hand-
ejme quarters of thu city 411111 about public
Buildings. It becomes slippery In damp
weather. The expense of keeping It clean ,
noweyor. Is no greater than with wooJ pave
ments There are In Paris 336,450 square
meters of asphalt , A few of the older streets
are laid upon Band or macadam. Thes > the
city keeps In order until ouch a time as they
shall be relald. The greater part are In
charge of contractors , bound yearly to renew
a certain proportion of the surface Asphalt
s now always laid five centimeters thick
over a peifectly smooth foundation of from
Iftecn to twenty centimeters of concrete ,
The cost per tvjuaro meter la from $3.20 to
$3.CO.
$3.CO.Wooden
Wooden pavement Is In especial favor lu
'aria. Not sections of trees ; like our own ,
nit small blocks of wed closely Joined on
a cement foundation' , making streets smooth
aa a parquet floor. A fifteen-centimeter
'oundatlon of cement la covered with blocks
about 23x8x15 centimeters ( say ) ten Inches
eng , three wide , six high. They are laid In
own clqht centimeters wide , perpendicular ,
ho blocks In each row being so placed as tc
cross those of the one preceding. They are
reckoned as costing about $4.50 per square
neter , Including the removal of the old pave-
nent.
Nearly all the 714,000 pquare miles of wood
lavement was laid by contractors. The care
of It Is pretty equally divided between the
city and the contractors. Since 18SC the city
las entered this Held of paving \\ltli aatls-
actory results. The prjnclpal problem Is the
selection of wood , A hard , close grain Is
ealrablc. Norway pine , pitch pine and pine
rom various parts of France have been used ,
) f late there have been experiments with
carrl and Jarrah woody from Australia , a
wood of extremely hard filler not unlike
osage or llgnum-vltae , A sawmill has been
set up within a few years , and Its force Is
onstantly Increasing. The city claims to
have saved last year 200,003 franca on the cost
of wood pavements at contractors' rates.
Moreover , 100,000 franca of tills wau actually
mia Into the city's other pocket In duties on
mporteJ woods.
The wood pavement IB continually watered ,
o guarj against drying or splitting tenden-
los. From time to time It Ii sprinkled * ltb
Ine sands , which , becoming crushed Into It ,
orm an almost Impenetrable coating. Water
nay ( liter through It. but dirt remains on
he surface , to bo eauily owopt Into the gut-
er. Hence the roadbed under water har-
10rs no filth such as may ba found when an
Id stone pavement U liken up. Not long
IRQ It was ctistonury to denounce the wood
us s "microbe hoMeftg ! but lhl claim ha
been completely il'fprovPcl , ami portion * ol
the city hiving this -rpavtment are fauml
freer from epldemlca-than alt others. Well
laid and well carcil fta wooil pavement re
mains In excellent condition for over nine
years , even on such buyy thoroughfares as
the boulevards , the Hue de Htvoll or the
Avenue de POpora.'Midtmay then serve again
for many years on secondary streets.
Here Is one of the notable French econo
mies. When n olil iwvcmsnt. la taken up
every part of It K. iinIIIzpd. | Macadam Is
put through a sieve and the broken stone
and sanil saved for future use. Stone blocks
or ? rccut ; worn porphyry and granite l.
broken up for macadam , and the refuse Is
sold at a price fixed by law. The Inspection
of every block Is a severe as lhat which
It has undergone at first. Similarly , old
wood pnvlni ; Is thoroughly examined ; the
good blocks are cleaned , redressed , creosoted
and utx > il again ; the poor blocks make fuel
for the engines. _ . _
TIII : ntvonci : IJVIL.
.Sonic or ( he CIIUXCM AVIili-ti Ari'oiint
for tlu > I'roKt'itt Tciiili-iu-loH ,
The extent to which the marriage rela
tion Is falling Into contempt with a certain
clrts of people In this metropolis , says
Leslie's Weekly , Is Illustrated by the fact
that In one day recently thirty divorce cases
came before one of the New York city courts.
in a majority or tno cases nrougnt to actual
trial the wives \scro the complainants , ami
the evidence In each went to show that the
hi'tbaml had been unfaithful. Hut It waa
also apparent that In a majority of Instances
the marriages had been hasty and Incoti-
sldetatc , and without any motive of affection.
It Is inevitable that In such cases wedlock
should prove an uncertain venture , resulting ,
as a rule. In discontent and misery , but this
fact hardly affords a Justification for the os
tentatious display of the mutual unrest nml
disappointment In spectacular procsedlngs for
divorce. It may bs unreasonable to Insist
tl.at parties who plunge Into matrimony
without any proper regatd for Its responsi
bilities , or any real appreciation of the con
siderations which should alone Inspire It ,
shall bear the penalties which they rashly
Incur ; but It Is certainly consistent with Jus
tice and In harmony with sound morals , that
they should refrain from obtruding their In
felicities , often amounting to scandalous de
formities of life , upon the public notice.
As to the best ami most effective methods
of arresting the growing tendencies to (51-
voice. Illustrated by the fact that while In
1870 there was In this country one dlvorca
to every 3,517 marriages , the proportion ten
yetrs later was one to 2,051 , there Is a
great difference of opinion. Moral Influences
must be chiefly rolled upon to check the evil ,
but something could be done In the same
dltectlon by a more vigorous and literal en
forcement of existing laws.
Some of our courts are not only exceed
ingly lax In their Interpretation of the sanc
tities of the marriage relation , finding ex
cuses for Its dissolution In the most tuning
causes , but they so minimize the penalties
of the law as to deprive them of all their
deterrent fores. Another Influence which
contributes to the ease and frequency of
divorces Is the- Incongruity of the liws of
the various states. A federal law making
the causes and penalties of divorce the same
In all our states anil territories would put
an end to a largo proportion of the scandals
which naw find their way Into the public
prints , and help to.re-09.tabllsh In the public
mind the obligatory character of the mar
riage tie. , _ ,
A ItcMiiarUulilu Cur < - t > ( itliviinintlNiii.
While driving ono faf last winter. Mr. J.
M. Thompson , of Decker's Point , Pa. , was
caught out In n col'd rain. The next morn
ing ho was unable to' move his head or arms
owing to an attack"of Inflammatory rheuma
tism. His clerk telephoned for a physician ,
l > ut before , the doctrfV came suggested that he
Chamberlain's Pain liaim , there being a
battle open on thd cdifntcr. After bjlng
rubbed thoroughly Svllli 'Pain Balm , over the
effected parts , Mr. ' Thdmpson dosed off to
slcsp and when no awoke about a half hour
later , the pain was'gone entirely and he has
not since been troubled. ' He says : "Peopl ?
come here from many miles around to buy
this liniment. " J ' '
Iitlntr < > ' Tivtf Vorincr CliiNNiuntoH.
"The other aJternodn' ' at Abbey's , " relates - '
latos a woman , "I assisted at a little scene
that was not down on the bills , but which
was a pretty episode nevertheless. I was
u the ladles' dressing room lolling on u
ounge , jvlth my nose buried In smelling salts
.0 overcome a ami den faintness , when during
an entr'acte a tall , fine looking woman came
n for the maid's assistance. She stood bc-
: ere the mirror while the attendant plied her
needle and thread , and had barely taken her
> lace when another woman entsred , and with
in eager , sparkling expression went straight
over to her.
" 'Weren't you Miss Caroline niank ? ' she
as'.ied , excitedly ; then with a laugh , 'but I
enow you were ; I saw you outside and fol-
ewer you In here don't you know me , Car-
le ? ' yhe broke off as the other Interrupted ,
Oh. I do , Indeed , or I shall In a moment
don't tell me , you are why. who Is It oh ,
of course' triumphantly , 'Molly Dash , ' and
two pairs of hands Interclaspsd with a pres-
uro whose warmth was evident. Then those
vcmcn forgot where they were , forgot maid
and the smelling salts spectator , and stood
vlth shining eyes , and hands tightly clasped ,
alklng broknly , rapidly , and Interrupting
nanh othr-r frenuentlv. of the twentv-flvo
rears that had passed since they separated
in commencement day at their alma mater.
t was good to hear thm and see them In
heir complete abandonment to the wave of
eld memories and attachments that
vas upon them. The play went on
nitride , and it was nern-
mrdt who wao the attraction , but greater
ban mimic emotions was the real feeling
hat was swaying them , and nothing clsa
couid be noticed for a time. It was so re-
Ivlng that when they finally tore themselves
apart and made their way down darkened
aisles to their respective places was I able
o slip my salts Into my pocket and follow
them. "
J. W. Pierce , Hepubllc , la. , sayi ; "I have
ised One Minute Cough Cure In my family
and for myaelf , with remits so entirely satlu-
'actory that 1 can hardly find words to ei :
iress myself as to Its merit. I will r.e''ar
'all to recommend It to otlcrs. on every as-
. aslon that present * Itself. "
Iliinil ) ' ! tli ii ( inn.
When two tramps demanded food of Farmer
ichenck's wlfo , alone save her little daughter
n the farm house near Narrowsburg , N. Y. ,
she agreed tn feed them If they would worker
or an hour. They were much amuse-1 when
she fulfilled her part of 'tho bargain first , and
vhen they had eaten their fill of buckwheat
cakes and fried pork they started away with
many a Jeer , Dut. Mrs. Sclienclt covered
one tramp with a rifle * and her little girl
covered the other with a revolver. The
ramps marched to jth'q , wooj house , took up
xes , and , with tioy ! ; < oni n and her daughter
vatlichlm ; them narj-ovy ) , chopped sturdily
or an hour by the kljpjien clock. At the
nd of the sixtieth mnute | Mrs. Schenck
yarned them off the. pla9e. Clearly Narrows.
lurg needs no missionaries of the gospel of
ho new woman. ij
A TEMPERED TROPICAL CITY
The Singularly Favored Oily of Singapore
and Surroundings.
TROPICAL LUXURIANCE MINUS THE HEAT
MtiHclim of Iilfp on I.mill mill Son Ii
HrllUh Inilln ( tunliit .Mlnul
of tin * Oriental mill
lie Kiirniirnn.
The historian of the transportation com
mission of the Field Columbian museum , now
exploring the Orient , writes In Harper's
Weekly concerning Singapore and the Strait *
Settlements :
Singapore , the capital of the Straits Set
tlements , and practically of the whole euutli
crn end of the Malay peninsula , with Us
Drltlsh settlements and Its various protected
states under native rule. Is one of thow
favored spots which In the very nature of
things were destined to gtcatnepj and pros
perity. Its fine natural harbor forms the
necessary stepplng-stcne between the Indian
ocean and the reas of eastern Asia , as well
as the most central and convenient depot for
the as yet unknown wealth of the rich \i \ <
lamia of the Malay Archipelago. The Inter
change of the ccmmerco of India on the olio
aide , and China and Japan on iho other , Imti
In all the long centuries of its existence
swept round the little Island on which was
built the ancient city of Stng-hapur , the
ruins of which may still bo seen cloao by
the modern streets and quays and esplanades
of Itn successor In name as well ns In situa
tion. The Island , which goes by the same
name as the city , Is but a small one , meas
uring only abiut twenty-seven mllet' In
length by fourteen In breadth , and Is separ
ated by a narrow channel cnly from the long
peninsula which forms the southern point of
the Asiatic continent.
The Island , although not the oldest of the
Straits Settlements , has been in British
har.g .i since 1319 , when It was purchased by
the East India company from the predeces
sors of the sultans of Johore , now one cf the
protected states of the peninsula. The har
bor Is well fortified , and year by year large
siinia of money are expended In Improve
ments and additional defenses. In the mean
time , however , It Is to Its commercial faclll-
tloj that the greatest attention Is paid , with
the result that the pert of Singapore Is in all
respects ono of the mast free and convenient
In the world.
The Straits Settlements , of which It Is the
capital , are Penang , Malacca , the Ulndlng
isles and the Cocos group , and of these ,
"cnang and Malacca are the most Important.
I'enanc , Indeed , la the oldest of the posses
sions , having been acquired by purchase In
l.e year 1785 by the East India company. Its
'
s an Island about fifteen miles In length by'
Ivo miles wide , and In 179S was added to by
.bo purchase of a considerable strip of the
ualnland opposite. Malacca , which alone of
hose settlements forms part of the maln-
and , is a narrow jstrlp of land about forty-
wo miles long by twenty-five broad on the
coast , and supports cf largj population , en
gaged generally in agncuuurai pursuits
Joth these territories , as well as the bindings
and the Cocos group , arc populous and highly
iroductlve of the most valuable tropical com-
noJltles.
The Island of Singapore Itself was , until
about twenty years ago , famous for Its ex-
enslve groves of spice trees , but at that
line they were attacked by a blight which
ifter a year or two caused them to be
bandoncd for purposes of trade. There arc
ew more delightful places than Singapore ,
and probably none that occupy a position
mythlng like so near the equator. It is an
slaud of delightful sea breezes that are al-
nest unfailing , owing no doubt to its posl-
lon , and the Inhabitants have thus all the
leautles of tropical scenery and vegetation
vlth a climate far less exhausting to
Europeans than any portion of the mainland
n Asia within the tropics , or even for some
distance by < " l Tlif > city of Singapore , al
though poEocssIng none ot the special Interest
wh'ch attaches to the more ancient cities of
India ns the products of ancient civilizations
mid religions , possesses already many of the
best features of n great modern town , along
with much of the plcturesqueneas which we
associate with eastern and tropical countries.
Its population Is large , there being some
where between 4,000 and 5,000 Inhabitants on
the little Island , ot whom the larger part
live In and immediately around the city.
Chlncsa and Malays form the bulk of this
population , but there Is hardly an eastern
iac > which does not have some representa
tives here , and their variety of costume and
appearance has much to do with the Interest
whlc-h attaches to every scene , whether on
land or water , about Singapore.
Here , as In most of the eastern cities we
have visited , the horse Is to be regarded
as a luxury. When used at all It Is either
for riding or for the carriages ol the wealthy
merchants or officials of trie city in the even
ing bourn of pleasure or display on the great
ciplinede , where the " 410" of Singapore erjoy
the sea breezes and criticise their neighbors.
At other tlmc. , and for more business pur
poses , the public rides In the Jlnrlklshu , and
Is drawn by an active Chinaman.
That a man is bettor than n horse
for most purposes -we had all belloveJ be
fore , but It was only the experience of a
Singapore Jlnrlklslm that convinced us finally
that , on the \\hole , he excelled that noble
animal In drawing a carriage. There are
said to be 7,000 man-drawn carriages that
lily for hire dally In Singapore , and the mode
of transit Is at once pleasant , speedy and
cheap.
The harbor Is , however , the real center of
llfo at Singapore , and gr.at as Is the variety
to be met with on land , It Is nothing com
pared with that which prevails on the water.
To those who have seen cnly an American
or European harbor , with Its steam and sill
ing vessels all very similar In type , It Is
har.lly possible to give an Idea of the cnrtleiM
variety to be met with In a port like that of
Singapore. Everything , from the most prim
itive canoe to the flncfct specimens of modern
ocean steamers' \vhlcli the simplicity or the
trained Ingenuity of man hax devised for
traffic on the water , now or formerly , may bp
seen there crowding and jostling In wha't
looks like a confused mass. There Is order ,
however , at Singapore , fcr the harbor Is
well managQd , and the- officials are firm
though pleasant , and the confusion Is more
apparent than real , Two special features add
much to the picturesque character of the
harbor scones , one being the vast proportion
of the boats that are- used for dwellings ,
whcro the boatmen and even their families
live , and the other the custom of erecting
the houses for some classes of workmen
o pwally : ! the workers In tin on piles In the
shallower waters of the harbor.
Oco Minute Cough Cure touciiea the rich'
ipot. It also touches It at the right time I !
yon take It when you have a cougn or coU ,
SOP the point ? Then don't cougn.
' ii
Quaker \Vlsdoin.
"Wrinkled purses make wrinkled faces. " Fat
ten ryour ( purse by the pleasant economy of
eating Quaker Oats.
OATS
Sold only / ; / 2-lb. Packages.
BECAUSE.
ATTLE AX
15 THE LARGEST PIECE OF
GiOODloBAcco SOLD FOR
BRIGHTS DISEASE
Is the most dangerous of all
Kidney Diseases. Pains in
the Back , Irregularities in
the Urine , Swelling of the
Limbs or Abdomen are the
first symptoms
Dr. J. H. McLEAN'S
LIVER AND KIDNEY BALM
Has proven , in thousands of cases and for many
years , to be the Peerless Remedy for this dreaded
disease. It relieves promptly and works a per
manent cure
. .
FOR SALE EVERYWHERE. PRICE , 31.00 PER DOTTLE
THE DR. J. H. MCLEAN MEDICINE co. , ST. LOUIS , MO.
fraifct
Picked Up In Church
t %
Morat ? _ _ _
Bold
* * "
SANTA CLAU3 K * " " Everywhere
SOAP. \r * MADR ONI.Y BV
THE N. K. FAIRBANK COMPANY , Chicago.
ntfro < UftiQn 4fU3Xi ( i
"I'se In Town , Honey ! "
Pancake
Flour
Plate after plate of delicious , healthful
pancakes There's a pleasant breakfast
for you t
Aunt Jemima's is the best material.
Made of Wheat , Corn and Rtce the
three great staffs of life. Beware of imita
tions. Sold only in red packages
'J HERE'S OUR GUARANTEE.
JIurn paokaieof Qonulno Aunt Jcoilma't Hclf-
Illiliitf rancakw Flour , and Ijrou do jiot IIud
It uiakoi tbo bait cukes youoror ate. return tuu
urnptjr box to yonr eroo r , learo jour imuio.aml Iho
liroccr will refuuotbo money and oUarnoit lou .
Scientific/ ! ) pare < l unit M nuuturd uuljr by
RT , DAVIS MILL CO , , St , Joseph , Mo ,
He nd ui < o ID ilaiopi for Uf Illttorr of Aunt
Jeniimt ud a * ei of lier Mckuumojr doiu. I
( Mr mama ut 4 > Vool Soap ) | Jirlitimlnoha6j
WOOLENSvW not shrink if
WOOL SOAP
Wnol Hpap Ii ( lollcato and rufrettiluir forliat li pVr >
oonur TJ be tc ( twcr. Uuvatarat vw < lcalK
tUwortb , jSbUodda ft Co. , Waltcri , CtU | ffc
SCuallmuHt. . Uoilon. lll X OUfiU Bu ,