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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1897)
THE OMAHA PATLV IVK-IU : PH1DAV , .TANTTATtY 1 , 1807. o'clock this morning. Ho linil been vice president of tlio bunk and treasurer of the city for thirty yearn and was olio of the bent known iron In the slnto. Tiimi\\Ti : : iH IVK 91IMH .Mlllltllll IilirMll Tltkl'N II IJlIM Of HotiKli on Itntfi. Dcupondcney over love affairs Is supposed to have ratted the death of 19-year-old Matilda Larxh Wednesday night. The cir cumstances surrounding the girl's death arc somewhat mysterious , hut In the opin ion of the authorities they seem to point to an act of self-destruction. Although she died Wednesday night , the evidences of Bulcldo wore not discovered until yesterday morn lit ) ; . Matlldu lor ) i had been visiting at the rrcldcnco of Henry Hntin , 1'JIO Military avenue. She became .tick , the Hanns say , about C o'clock Wednesday night and went to bed , but they did not think she was seri ously 111. Shu wan weak and vomiting. In a short time she called thorn and said : "Send for Gun , but do not a end for a doctor. " Oils Is a brother of Henry Ilann and was the girl's lover. He was cent for. Aa the Klrl did not Improve and appeared very low , the Honns sent for Dr. McClanahan. The lover and the physician arrived at the same time , a little after 9 o'clock yesterday morn- liiK. The girl was dead. Ur. McOlanahan stated that she had been a corpse for an hour. As the circumstance ; * appeared to beef of a suspicious and mysterious character , the physician notified the coroner. When the coroner arrived , the Hanns would say noth ing about the case. They had not molested the Klrl'a body , and apparently knew noth ing of the cause of death. The corpse was re moved to the morgue and yesterday morning the pollco were notified of the case. Officers went to the house of the Ilanna early to make an Investigation. Tlio key to the mystery was doubtless found In the dis covery of a box of "Hough on Hats" In the pocket of t'io girl's Jacket. The box was old and battered , but It was almost filled .with the poison. Not more than a quarter of a tcnspootifiil watt gone. The glrl'a effects were searched , but not a note or anything 'else Indicating her Intention to kill herself was found. The girl had been living with her parents about five miles west of Kort Calhoiin. The family has lived In that vicinity for a great many years. About a year ago the girl bit-amo acquainted with Oils Hann and the two fell In lovo. On account of this Intimacy the girl occasionally visited the 'Manns ' at their residence on Military avenue. She went there Tuesday. Wednes day she came down town. On her way down she called at Peter Oravert's saloon at Twenty-ninth and Cumlngs streets , where her lover Is employed. She spoke pleasantly with him and then continued on her way. After doing her shopping she returned homo after 1 o'clock. After taking off her jack t she went to an outhouse and remained there for half an hour. When she returned to the house flio staggered and complained of being 111. She went to bed , and finally asked for her lover. Ho was gent for , but did not arrive In time , ns he WES In Ilcnpon. The llanns apparently did not I ; no iv the girl was drad until the arrival of the physician. Ous Hann , the 20-year-old lover of the girl , seems to bo the only one who can give a oatiHo for suicide. He says that the two Intended to bo married next month , but the girl appeared to bellovo that he was not true to her. They , had several quarrels , in which she threatened to kill herself. Wednes day , however , young Hann says that she wan very cheerful and did not speak of tak ing her life. Henry Hann and hid wife also nay that when the girl returned from the city she was cheerful. It la believed that the slrl took the poison while she was In the outhouse , ns the effects were noticed upon her return. It la Impossible to tell where the girl obtained the box , because druggists arc not com pelled to register sales of "Hough on Hats. " The poison Is of the kind that can be ob tained In any grocery store. The girl ap parently had the box far some timeas , tlio labels were worn and torn. . The parents of the girl were notified of her death yesterday morning , but , as they live , In the country , they have not arrived yet. An Inquest will bo held at the morgue this morning at 10 o'clock. COUI.IOT 1,1 VU WITHOUT .I Ill II Fit of nr | nili < lrny ClinrU-M R. MllNOIl TllIit-M HlH I. Iff. The fifth sulcldo which has occurred In this city In Iras than a week was discovered at the Knimctt hou.ic , 31G South Kloventh street , last night shortly after 9 o'alock. The victim la Charles O. Mason , a cowboy from Lander , Wyo. , nnd the causes which led to It arc undoubtedly a depleted pockct- book caused by a week's debauch. Mason arrived In South Omaha about a fortnight ago with iiomo cattle , which he ' sold. He was accompanied by , Walter Shel don and another companion named Harry. The money ho secured was spent lavishly until last Monday ho found his exchequer somewhat limited and secured cheap lodg ings at the hotel , paying a week In advance. Wednrsday evening ho sat around the olllco until about S o'clock and appeared to be much worried. He also complained of a pain In his head. He bid the proprietor , C. U. Scott , good night and went to his room. Last night Scott , remembering that ho had not sren his lodger for "somo time , went to the room and receiving no answer to rc- peattd knocks went In. Mason was dlscov- ercil dead on the bed. The body was cold ' and It was evident that rigor mortis had . net In many hours before. Ho Is thought to have committed aulcldc- Wednesday night about 12 o'clock. Judging from the time stated In ono of the letters left. Death was duo to n dose of morphine. Of the letters found In tlio room one uf them Is written by him as follows : "Take ye heed ; watch and pray , for ye know not when the time Is. " Then follows the hours of 1 o'clock and also 12 p. in. , evident ! ) times he pondered over hl ( subsequent act. "L'liarlca O. Mason , a cowboy from Lander , . Wyo. ; death caused by morphine , taken with suicidal Intent , " followed by some meaningless doggerel , and concluding with this remark : "Kerchunk , and the elephant wunk , nnd the band played kerplunk. " A IMter was left for the coroner , which said : "Rxcuso me for troubling you , but will you kindly nuke sure that I am dead before burying me U all I ask. " A short note to Freda Weybrlght. a woman In the cast end who had befriended him by loanIng - Ing him money , a sealed letter to a woman who Is evidently his mother , "Mrs. Mary A. Mason , county superintendent of schools. Lander , Wyo. , " anil another to Sahra A. Cole of rcidred , ! ' . , were all that was found upon the remains. There was no money. A photograph bearing the name of Mildred Mason , with the stamp of Akron , 0. , on It was found among h'.i ' effects. Deceased was about 27 years of age. His relative at I.andcr. Wyo. . has been telegraphed. An Inquest will be held by Coroner Du'rkct today at 2 o'clock. ' MCIilA. ( : \ ll.lN'tJS III.MSKI.K. * * t Ifcnry C. 7i-lii-itiiK TillHU J.li' , ; In a UrlllM-rulf Munm-r. LINCOLN. Dee. 31. ( Special Telegram. ) < Henry CJ. Zehrung , a prominent and highly ! esteemed citizen of Lincoln , committed suicide at an early hour this morning by hanging ; hlniHcIf In the loft of his barn , bneli of his residence , at Sll g street. Liw nlghi t 8 o'clock he left thn house , statlnc that he waa going down town to attend a Intnl. ness mcclng of some wall paper men. At 3 o'clock this morning hu had not rciurncd and Hcarch waa made. The Key of the bara waa found In the door on Iho uutald ? , whlclr wus hooked from thu Inside by a hasp. This fact excited nuiplclou and the door was broken open and the body found hanging by a now rope In the loft. He hud been dead about ncvcn hours. Mr. Zehrung was 5S years of ap < , nn old resident of the city , having come to the state In 1S73 , and wus a Mason. Hu was formerly utato senator from Cunilut ; county and also treasurer of that county for cv- oral terms. At tlu > thne of his death bo wan president nnd manager of thn Standard 1'alnt. Oil and Glass company of this city. The only theory eo far advanced by friends of the dead man Is llmt the temporary insanity waa produced by despondency over the recent presidential election , Mr. Eeh- rung , was n republican , but ho wan n flnu l > 0llevor In the free silver catlap and waa heart and soul for lr. Qryan , SlncB tue election ho ban bten , cxe edln ly eieltab > > n that-lubjeet and hU- friends sr.y tint , * * * * . i * jf 1 * T L AIV they have avoided conversation with him on the topic. C. H. Morrlll , regent of the State uni versity , who was a close friend and neigh bor of the dfceaaed/'snld this morning that he believed Mr. Zehrung waa mentally un balanced over theelection. . ! > stated that some weeks ago , after the result of the election luyl been definitely known and pol itics had apparently been forgotten , the de ceased and Ills wife came over one evening to visit. Among other topics that came up In the courxc of the conversation was the election , and Mr. Morrlll says ho was amazed at the way In which Mr. Zehrung talked about the subject , He said thst the people had been deluded by the gold men ; that they hud made the- greatest mlitako In HIP history of the country , and that there would be a war to the death before long. Ho waxed exceedingly excited and almost wild an ho related how the silver men had been called anarchists , when In reality they were trying to save the country from eternal damnation nnd ruin. Mr. Morrlll says that as soon n ? ho saw how Mr. 5ieh- rung was talking ho managed to change the question of debate. He declares that ho thought at the time that Mr. Zehrung had gene crazy on the subject and that MM. Morrlll shared the same view of the gentle man's action. and talk. This morning at 10 o'clock Coroner Hoi- yoke summoned a jury and examined Into the case , but very little was ascertained that WPS not visible on the surface. Con stable MeClellan assembled the following gentlemen to net on the Jury : W. H. Traver , J. H. McMurtry , .1. It. Webster. 0. H. Klm- mcll , Tom M. C'ooke and Hey R. Chapman. The jury went to the residence , 940 C street and viewed the remains afterward exam ining the barn and the scene of the suicide. A short session was then held In the sitting loom of the house. The Jury adjourned to meet nt 10 o'clock tomorrow In General Webster's olllco on South Eleventh street. llliiu-n Out tin * OHM mill Dim , PITTSinmo , Dee. 31. Mary Wllcox. aged about 20 ycara , committed suicide nt the Pennsylvania hotel today by blowing out the gas after carefully locking all the doors and windows and clcslng up .every place that would admit air. The hotel people say that the girl acted strangely during her stay there , hut they know nothing else about her. ( 'lllllllllH Sllt < > lll < > Willie 111X11IIC. CKDAH RAPIDS , ta. . Dec. 31. ( Special Telegram. ) Frank Kouba , while temporarily rily Insane , committed suicide last night by hanging. The body was found In the hay mow by his wife this morning. I > A\C'IX S OUT THIS OI.I ) YI3A11. \IIIIUTOIIS I'nrtlt-M lit ( InHutilN mill I'lit.llc IliillH. It was n remarkably quiet new year that was ushered Into the world at midnight last night. Of parties and balls .at the various hotels and halls there was no end. and dancing appeared to be the favorite method for ushering In the year of 1S97. At the Mlllard thu Hcptamcrons occupied the ball room on the third floor and passed the hours merrily until the noise of the bells and whistles announced that a new year had been born. The Montezumas en tertained about seventy couples at the Hasten - ton store hall and after a lengthy program of dances completed the svenlng's festivi ties with a banquet at the Merchants' hotel. Haydcn Ilrcs. ' Good Time club held forth at the Thurston Rifles' armory and passed the tlmo most ; njoyal > ly with a program of twenty-four dances , which was later rounded out with refreshments. Crelghton , Wash ington , -Oarficld and various other head quarters for merrymakers each held their share of people. At the Darker hotel a party was given by the management. Fifty couples participated In the dancing In the largo dining room , which was decorated for the occasion. The allalr concluded with the serving of refreshment. ClirlvIII1IIV Itoniliirovtil. | . The new clerk of the United States cir cuit court , -Mr. - Hlllls or St. Paul. Is ex pected here Saturday or Monday to Inlet- charge , of Kio ollico. HlH bond In the sum of $15,000 has been approved by Judge San- born. The commission of It. n. Hllllnger us deputy hn.i also arrived. Mr. lUUhmcr hua been the deputy under iS'.mer IX Frank [ lnee January 1 , ISSO , and for vrverul months ! during the Illness of Mr. Kr.ink. which kept him out of the olllco , hail charge of the xnmo and ban conducted It In a satis factory manner. > l3It.S\AIj I'.VItACIl.VIMIS. C. K. Wllklns , Philadelphia , Pa. . Is a Dar ker gUCsit. Samuel C. Chapman of Plattamouth was In the city yesterday. G. J. Strahle , Gathenberg , Nob. , la regis tered at the Darker. Jules Lumhard has returned from n short western business trip , C. H. Cox of Sheridan , Wyo. , was among " the arrivals yesterday. Judge M. P. Klnkald of O'NVIll waa an Omaha visitor yesterday. D. Clem Dcaver left IciU night for Lin coln to be absent over Sunday. J. W. Morrison and D. Cameron are St. Louis arrivals stopping at the Darker. L. D. Richards and H. D. Schneider of Fremont were Omaha visitors yesterday. John Eylei , Ftock agent for the Durllng- ton , returned homo from Cheyenne last night. D. 0. Campbell of Lincoln , clerk of the supreme court , was among the arrivals yes terday. Ralph Crandall has returned aftera six months' sojourn In , Portland , Ore. , and Sail Francisco. H. 13. Kryger , a Nellgh banker , was in the city yesterday , en route home from a trip to Chicago. Mrs. K. 15. Drown of Lincoln , who has been vhltlng frlemla in this city for a few days , returned home last night. I'Mward M. Stlckney. who lies filled the position of chief clerk at the Murray alnce November , 1SB5 , has resigned his position. He Is ncEOtiatlns for the management of a.large hotel. Nebraskans at the hotels : G. E , Mc- Kccby , Red Cloud ; John G. Maher , Chadron ; Juan Doyie , Kearney ; C. Cusack , A. J. Conlcy and C. A. Long , North Demi ; Durr Litta , Tckamah ; J. C. Robinson , Hlirtlngtoii ; J. G. Arthur , Oakland ; F. M. Rublec , Drokcn Dow ; 1C. M. Cuthbertson nnd A. C. Doland. Norfolk ; D. Curry. Nebraska City ; W. T. lllack , Gothenburg ; J. W. Hllcr. Lincoln ; E. K. Frlsblo. Elgin : William Arnold and D. 11. Williams and wife , Ficmont ; W. M. Collins. Grand Island. LI.NTOLN , Dec. 31. ( Special. ) Omaha people In LincolnAt the Lludell Walter Mols , W. II. Drown. W. M. Carlen , J. P. Jones. At the Capital C. W. Cockrcll. At the Lincoln John A. Krug , W. T. Aboil. K. S. Strcetcr. ACCEPTS THE BROKM SLATE Committee to OhoDJO Ofiicsra for the Etato Tcocliors * Association ! RECOMMENDS NAMES ONCE REJECTED Ilvi > ly i\orntlvi' SrMMlon ItvNiiltx In n HcooiiNliliM-nlloii "f FortuiT Ac tion unit a lliMiiirl Fnlrly lliirmiiiiluitM , LINCOLN , Dec. 31. ( Special. ) H was ex pected that the committee appointed to nom inate officers of the State Teachers' associa tion for the ensuing year would not make Itn report until this cvcr.'lng. This morning the committee nut In room 4 , library building , and organized by electing State Superin tendent Corbett chairman and J. A. Colllna secretary. Then they went Into executive swslon and excluded all the > newspaper men. There was a good deal of caucusing In thla session and Ihe prevailing 'Idea seemed to be that some cno was to bo vindicated , and the slate which was put up yesterday and broken was again rejuvenated , mended and pre sented for confirmation. Long before the doora of the room were opened It was known that the same list which was yesterday snowed under would bo again reported. Just before adjournment there was an effort made to substitute * the name of Mrs. Grace D. Sudborough of Omaha for that selected by the delegates and a warm discussion followed. The association finally adopted the report of the committed on nominations of oinccrs , as follows : President , J. W. Crnbtrco of Dentrlce ; secretary , Lillian Stoncr , Valen tine ; treasurer , C. R. Atkinson , Fnlrbury ; member of the executive committee , W. H. Clcmmons , Fremont ; member of the read ing circle board , J. A. Collins ; member of thu educational council , W. R. Sldcrs. President Dcattlo of the Peru Normal school presided at this morning's session of the association. He announced that by the Instructions of the executive committee the program crowded out yes terday morning by tlio political wrangling would be carried out today. A paper was read by A. H. Dlgelow on the proper course of study for the schools below the college. HP belloved the course should be arranged as to extend through the twelve years be low the college. In the first two grades the history should bo given by story telling and In the third nnd fourth grades this story telling should bo supplemented by se lected reading , and from the fifth to the eighth grades the formal study of history should bo taken up. Ho called for many changes In the text books and methods of teaching. W. A. Sldors of Alliance led the discus sion of the subject. He said he would di vide the work In history Into three perlodu , the elementary course , to cover tour yeara , an Intermediate pc-rlod , to cover three years , and an advance course of four years. EDUCATION OF CHILDREN. Dr. Krohn was called for and responded , beginning his addreas by condemning the usual dally program cs arranged by the castlron method. Such a program Is faulty because of a want of knowledge of the na ture. An examination made from 00,000 children has shown that the beat time for mental effort Is from 8 to 10:15 : In the morn ing , and the very worst time la from 11 to 12. In the afternoon the best tlmo Is from 3 to 4. and another weak time Is from 1 to 2 , when the blood Is called from the brain to assist In digestion. During this period the child may do mechanical work that does not call for close mental application , for IhU reason the beat tluic for penmanship and drawing lv from 1 to 2. Often the fatigue noticed In ia school room Is cauicd by a bad arrangement of the program. Ho very earnestly called attention to the perloto when.there la groatcat physi cal growth. The first of these ) ' . ls"about the age of S and the moat Importantono is the age of 14 , It is a time of niany dangers and of alugglsh mental activity. It ls ° the time when the boy l-j usually called dull nnJ should be carefully handled. . " Investi gation has made .clear the fact that aome children le'arn through the ear and others through the eye and ! > o they are either eye- minded or car-minded. Each of these two cla. cn uniiEt be taught in the way best suited to It. Others learn best by writing what they wish to remember. He sharply criticised the methods ot puisuing this ijtudy that call for annoying questions to pa rents of children as to the personal tiablta or peculiarities of their children. Ho again called attention to the periods of danger caused by the rcpld growth of the child. "How to Improve the Compulsory Law" WRS tua subject of a paper by Judge Aw W. Field of the Hoard of Education of this city. Ho quoted Martin Luther ns saying that the state owed the child an education ami had a right to demand that the child have the advantage of the school. Ho showed from statistics that the states having a good compulsory law have , as a rule , the smallest per cent of Illiteracy. Ho asserted that under our present civilization the atate had a right as a matter of iclf-prcservatlon to demand that the child receive'an education. This may be obtalnol In a private or parochial school , hut the child must receive the trainIng - Ing In some way. From the ago of S to 12 the child should be In school every day that school la In session. From 12 to 11 the child should be spared from the most urgent demands of the home. To make such a law effective It Is absolutely necessary to have a good truant officer. The following resolution was submitted by Superintendent C. G. Pcarse of Omaha and unanimously adopted : Whereas , The National Educational as sociation hold. * Its sessions each Hummer In one or another of the leading cities of the country ; and Whereas , In the city of Omaha Is to bo ncld during the summer of 1S9S the Trans- mlsslsMippl and International Exposition. In which will ho gatherc-d the products ) of twenty-four of the great states of this union , as.veil as from many other states ) and from the United States and from for eign countries ; and . Whweas , Wo believe that not only will the visit to Omaha be profitable on account ofthe - great exposition , and that It will also bo convenient on account of ItH cen tral railroad facilities. Its line.1) of commun ication reaching Ulrect to all part ! ) of the country , hut Interesting to all the members of the National EdueatlonaJ aniodiitlon from thn fact that the association ha never been held In thla region and many of them have never had an opportunity of learning from observation Its advantages ; therefore , be It Resolved , That we. the members of the Nebraska State Educational association , cordially Join In the Invitation of the city of Onuilia to the National Educational UH- , floclntlon t < V H61d Ha annual meeting for ISflS In the city of Otiuhn ; and wo pledge to the tctfMlivrs nnd to tue cltlzntix of Qnmhft nur.boltrty siip.ort.ln their effort to Induce the o/nvWs of the National Educa tional assoX-Ullbn to locate their meeting for 1SD3 Innthat city ; and we also pledge them our loyal. support In the way of nt- tendance anil membership of the teachers of the ( ildv-mpHtlnir. Wo aitCRest that all the teacher * .of Nebraska In attendance at the meeting to be > .tcld next summer In Milwaukee lif hll proper eff-'rirt to secure favorable aotloi | upon the Invitation to be extended by tb.if city of Omaha. Tlio stcou'il o'n endorsing iho enterprise Is as follows ; , , , Whereas , In the city of Omaha during the summer of .IMS Is to be hel.l the Trans- mlsslsslppl rtnrl international Exposition ; and ' 'I Whereas , The exposition will bo not only educative In a general way through the opportunity given the teachers and pupils of the state to < oe the products of tie : soil and ot a scleneo from the transmlsslssfl.pl states , but will also have a distinctively educational department and thoroughly modern and valuable educational exhibit ; therefore , be It Resolved , by the teachers of Nobrnska assembled In their state ussoclatlon , That we heartily approve the plan for holding this exposition , and we pledge the hearty support ot thls association and Its mem bers to tfto managers of that exposition to enable them to make such an educa tional exhibit as shall bo creditable to this state and Its educational Interests. WATTEHSON ON LINCOLN. Hon. Henry Wattcrson this evening nt the Lansing theater dcllvcccd his lecture on Abraham Lincoln at the last session of the association. The evening was stormy , but the nuilk'iicc was a fairly largo ono. Mr. Wattcrson said that from each group of prominent characters , from the time of Washington , a few had stood out In bold re lief from the others. Lincoln was ono of thorn. In his day questions were moving to the front that would down at no man's bid ding. Then there came Into the camp of the north a strange , odd figure , nnd ho ut tered ono sentence and for a tlmo passed back Into the obscurity from whence he came. The sentence was : "This union can not exist holt slave and half free. " For thirty years Lincoln had been In uncon scious training for the presidency. The speaker traced the political career ot his subject , from his debates with Douglas to his tragical death In Ford's theater , clos ing with a beautiful tribute to the memory of the martyr. The attention of teachers was called to Iho fact that tho. Society for Child Study had fixed n fee of 50 cents for membership nnd annual dues ot 2Ii cents. The enrollment today reached nearly 900. TOR Till : TI1ACII13KS' ASSOCIATION. OlllvcrH for tin- South Dnkntii ClrK - l/.utloii An * I'lcclcil. VEHMILLION. S. D. , Dec. 31. ( Special Telegram. ) The officers elected by the State Teachers' association today for 1S97 arc : General association President , E. Dukes. Huron ; recording secretary , Jennie H , Ru dolph , Canton ; corresponding secretary , A. H. Drown , Stoux Falls ; treasurer , Mrs. M. I. Turnoy , Plauklntou. In the High school department President , H. E. French , Yank- ton ; secretary , A. H. Avcry , Woonsocket. Department of county superintendents- President , I. D. Aldrlch , Milbank ; secretary. Emily F. White. Pierre. Commercial school departments-President , W. R. DavU. Miller ; secretary , S. Dothuin , Sioux Falls. The ses sion of 1S97 j wtll bo held at Sioux Falls the last four days In December. The unplnasant weather of yesterday In terfered greatly with the attendance at the association. Thci mual number of papers were read and the tlmo allotted for the dlacusslons 4jvynt only too quickly. A paper on "Tho Importance of Music In the Public School" was rend by S. L. Drown of Sioux Falls , which wai opened for discussion by Mrs. Hnttlo Gtlmorc of Aberdeen. Ques tions for thought : "Docs Music Drought Into a School Urlng Brotherly Love ? " "Can Every Person Sing Whether He Haa a ' Talent for'M\vflc \ or Not ? " "The Dcst Method to T.caoh'Muslc to Young Scholars ? " "Shoulil Sac.rcd Songa Do Used Entirely In School Sinning ? " A song bookIs. . much needed In the schools , wlth.n , varied collection of popular Bongs. Theirtlscfisslon , pt the , subjpct pf , llt.i erature In the common and graded schools received considerable attention , with these subjects'Cf.n : Children Do Taught to Understand Milton and Longfellow ? " "Why Cannot a Little Child Learn a Poem as Readily as the Itonio Gossiper the Names of People ? " "The History of Pure Geometry" was traced to Its beginning , to the time of Adam and Eve , when they built their fences by the rule of three. Some of the "Problems of the Future" re ceived considerable attention In the way of discussions. A question was raised whether anything baa been found to take the place of the old-fashioned mental arithmetic of twenty-live years ago. "Are the Scholars of Today Memorizing as Much as They Should ? " A majority answered the ques tion in the affirmative. The program of the evening was opened by a chorus of forty trained voices under the direction of Prof. F. A. Dallassyus. A paper wns read by E. E. Granger of Aber deen on "Tlio Relations of the Public Schools to Practical Life. " "An entirely new method of teaching should be put In vogue In our common schools. There Is too much book work and too little practical work done. " Miss Kathleen Lewis of Sioux City sang a solo , which was most heartily encored. "Tho Teacher" was read and discussed by Mrs. Hcrro'n of Durnslde and Miss Kate Kempor of Deadw.ood. During the day several telegrams of greet ing were received from other associations sasembled In different parts of the coun try. The State. .association of Wisconsin. which Is being held at Milwaukee , sent greetings from 1,200. The weather la very unpleasant and threatens a severe storm. \viiji , I'usii TO 'riiK vViiY ruo.vr. IIMVII 'IVni'lHTM TrHx-il In GraU'r _ Kx- ci'llon In Kiliu'iition'N OniiNf. DBS MOINES , Dec. 31. ( Special Tele gram. ) The State , Teachers' association closed Its convention today. State Superin tendent Sa'bin delivered his annual address , In which ho urged that Iowa should push forward to the front rank , educationally , ainouR western states , and could do this only , by the , co-operaton ] of the educators anil the law-mnklug power. Ofllcers were "elected ns follows : Presi dent , A. I ) . Warper of Missouri Valley ; flrat vied "president , H. B. Haven of Council Dlurfc ; seconil , vlco president , Lucy Cnrtla of State Center ; third vice president , Prof. J. Allen Gilbert of Iowa City. The association In the general session voted to Indorse the sch'cmo of the Iowa Homo for the Aged of Ues JJolncs to raise a collection froiu , the school children of the t'tatc. Thcr-AflSli deslrca to raise $50,000 In cash. Dy dfji'Ro It will be assured nn en- dowmcnt of JIOO.OOI ) from Jnmcs Callnnan nnd A. Slimmer. The teachers will Interes all educators of the Mate , and on a glvei day , not yet determined , the collection wll bo taken filmulUnccnwly In all the schools of the state. In the dlxcusslon today on the functlono of schools strong ground was taken In favor ot kindergartens and move high school In struetlon In the country. Towiwhlp hlgl schools were favored by Walters ot Codnr Falls. Fifteen Iowa colleges having recog nized standing , decided to try to got the leg islature to prevent othera from conferring degrees. College men were unable to agrco on regulation * fo > ' athletl.-j. AMUSEMENTS. 3S Last evening at the CrclKhton theater the Delia Fox Oper.i company gave as Its second end performance the "Fluur do Lls , " a work adapted from the French but not very far from and full of funny situations , such ns arc Indigenous to the land ot wine and frogs' legs. The music Is far above Iho average In light operas , and while full of merit Li decidedly pleasing. There la a concerted piece In the first act and a "Good Night" part-song In the last act that would do credit to almost any modern opera. The work of the chorus deserves mention for Its accuracy , enthusiasm and lack of objectionable obtrilslvencss. In the two selections mentioned It was entirely satisfactory. I'jarry Macdonough , as n noble count of France , straightened out his legs made up his face to resemble Ur. 1'arkhurst of po lice and other fame , and gavi' thu audi ence more real fun than they have had In a long time. Frank lllalr has changed his face. Ho has assumed the dcllcato andjnystlc linea ments of Henry Irving , and us a marquis of France , In sad circumstances , seemed quite a different personage from the fool soldier of the previous evening. Hugh Chllvers sang well and acled as usual. Ho Is a better singer than actor , but la Interesting. Pretty Nellie llragglns made a most fa vorable. Impression as the girl who wnntu to get married but can't. Trlxle Frlganzn had n better part than In the "Little Trooper , " and made the moat of it. A wild dance , lots of spotless lace , a pedal crescendo beyond criticism and a fairly good voice made her decidedly attractive. Last and most , Delia Fox added to the good Impression of former yeaia and per formances by a characterization that was consistent , artistic and full of spontaneity. The furor that oho created In New York a couple of years ago Is easily understood. The scenery was especially good and the costumes fresh and appropriate. Mr. Wil liam T. Fruncls , the conductor , Is deserv ing of a good fhare of the credit for the smooth , finished performance which evi dently pleased the large audience aaaembled to hear It. "Flour Je Lls" will be repeated this evening , and "Ltttlo Trooper" at the performance this afternoon. The concert to bo given at the Crelghton Monday night by the University of Chicago Glco and Mandolin club promises to be an Important musical and social event. As this Is the first trip west for the club our people arc arranging to give the members a royal welcome. Meat of tlio men on the club arc eastern men. A notable- exception Is the manager , who Is the son of Chaplain Lozler of Iowa. Mr. Lozler Is not only manager ot the club , but he Is also a composer of marked ability. Several ot his selections will appear on the program. Perhaps his most ambitious effort is an arrangement of Schubert's Serenade for the club. Mr. Olenn Hall will sing thu tenor solo , Mr. Ralph Nor ton will play the violin obllgato , the soft- toned mandolins will furnish the accompani ment , while at Intervals the faraway voices' of the glee club will echo from the wings of the stage. Schubert's Serenade Is beyond the average glee club , and only Mr. Lozier's exceptional ability , combined with long , arduous club practice have made possible the results obtained by this organization. "Tho Little Trooper" will be the matlneo bill at the Crelghton today , when Delia Fox and her supporting company will wish their auditors a "Happy New Year. " The en gagement will clcsc tonight with a repeti tion of "Fleur-de-Lls. " A beautiful cantata , entitled , "Tho Happy Family of Father Time , " was exceedingly well rendered at the Walnut Hill Methodist Episcopal church at Forty-first and Charles streets last night. Over forty well trained voices joined In the production , nnd a good nudtcnco wns greatly cdllled nnd entertained. ANNIIHMIIII | < < * II ill HlH Oilier. CHETOPA , Kan. , Dec. 31. Last evening T. W. Glass , n grain buyer , BOH of Captain T. M. Glass , a well known citi zen of thla place , while In lilo olllco nt Welch , was held up and shot , from Iho effects of which ho died this morning. Two men have been arrested on suspicion. I.OCAI , iiitivrriis. On account of sickness Mrs. J. II. Daniels of 3015 Chicago street will be unable to keep "open house" on New Year's day , as was Elated In The Dee last Sunday. The Misses Durgcss , Doyd , Orcutt , Parrotto , Martha Stone and Florence Knox will re- celvo on New Year'a day from 2 to 5 p. in. at the homo of Miss Knox , 1029 Georgia avenue. Mrs , Klnkcnon , who was shot by her hus band , who afterward committed aulclde , Is rapidly recovering , and the authorities at the hospital say she will soon be able to be out. She wca nblo to alt up yesterday. The meeting for the study of the Sun day school Irsson this week will be led by Rev. Dr. W. W. Everts at 4 o'clock Satur day afternoon In the parlors of the Y. M. C. A. , as Ur. Warfleld Is out of the city. The William J. Lcmp Drewlng company has been granted a permit to build n three- story storage house on the property at Fifteenth and Nicholas streets. The build ing will be of wood , covered with corrugated Iron , and will cost about $1,500. The High Art Bicycle company h the name of a now Omaha company which has filed articles of Incorporation. The business ot the company Is stated to bo the imnnu- 'acture of bicycle posts. The Incorporators nro H. D. Mulford and J. W. Mnrtln , and the capital stock la placed at 725,000. Protests have been filed with the Hoard of ' "Iro and Pollco Commlsalnnera against the ssuance uf licenses to Paul Sutner.s , ill. ! -Ilckory street ; Frank Sautter. 19.11 South Tenth street ; John Snyder , 2200 Military I avenue ; William Young , 2C32 Sherman av < j- itio ; Chrla Haman , G12 South Sixteenth street , and William McKenna , 2SOI Sherman i avenue. YEAR'S OFFICIAL REPORTS Has Been a Prosperous Ono for Fire Insurance anco Companies in Omnlm , LOS-SES REDUCED TO A TRIFLING FIGURE llilllillnK Oiiorntlotisol I.nrKc , lull .Millie u Cooil Slioxvlnur for ttiu I'll Ml inn M It CO el l > t.i Knit OIT. The record of the year In Omaha , llko nl other places , Is not one which requires any very extended comment. In n buslncos wa > It Is too familiar to need rcvlow. In at ofllclal way the various oillcers have no sufficiently completed their rcporU to glvt anything llko n compile summary. The flro Insurance companies which arc operating In this city can hand over to thcm- Belvcs as n New Year's gift a nice profit on their business In Omaha , According to the report of Flro Chief Rcdell , which will be Issued In n few days , the fire lors In the city during the past year hca been the light est recorded for many years. From flgurw gathered from the best source It K ) eatlmnl- cd that the citizens of Omaha have paid In premiums during the past year fully $100- 000. Of this the Insurance companies pah back In losses S71.0SS , according to the fig ures of Chief Rcdell. 'In 1S95 the compa nies paid back $ SOOGO , The total fire la during the last year was $32,913 , less even than In 1895. when the losses aggregated $106,724. In 1S94 the nro loss was $425,393. Of last yenr' loss $31,440 was on bulldlngii and $18,567 on contents. The total value of the jeopardized buildings was $2.017,400 and of the contents In jeopardy $1,060,455 , a to tal of $3,080,943. The Insurance carried on the endangered property was $1.32r..SGO. The Insurance o\er the less was $1.2f 4.172. fie that the damage over Insurance was $10,923. The total flro loises also Include these on account of several fires outside the flro lim its , where the department had no means of extinguishing them. The value of the prop erty endangered In these flrea WES $3,630 and mi ; IOFS } j.oiu. inc total insurance was ? 3- 200 , the Insurance over less $210 and the loss over Inmirance $530. The most costly fires occurred In February , when the Ne braska Dry Goods company's stock nnd building nn Douglas street was partially de stroyed , and the Cady Planing mill went up. During that month the total liws waa $13- 192. The lowest lew was In September. $715. The losses by months are as follows : Janu ary , $ fiSS9 ; February , $13,192 ; March , ? 5- ll.r ; April. $4.730 ; May , $5.033 ; Juno , $2.315 ; Inly , $3.191 ; August , $5,753 ; September , $715 : October , $930 ; November. $1,660 ; December , $2.7SO. Tile number of lire alarms was 216. The force Is composed nt present of 107 men , three less than at the same tlmo last year. The apparatus is the same. The number of hydrants In service Is 1.411 , against 1,386 last year. Of the number forty-one are private , but are available for use In C.IHO of fire. The number of casualties nt fires wan eight. These were of a serloiu or painful nature. Mrs. Maria Dorr died m a result of burns she received during the conflagra tion of her residence at 1707 North Twenty- eighth street. The causes of the fires were many. TlK most frequent were .13 follows , together with the number of times they were ns- Mgnnd : Ignition of gasoline , 31 ; spark ? from chimney , 19 ; defective chimney , 13 ; stovepipe through roof , 9 ; children and mutches , 8 ; carole-is disposition of hot ashes. 7 ; explosion of lamps. 6 ; caroler iso of matches. 5. Eight of the fires were ilalnly Incendiary and eight moro \verc sup- insed to bo Incendiary. Two were caused ly matches and mlco orrats. . Twenty- eight were of unknown origin. BUILDING OPERATIONS. The report of Building Inspector Harte for 1S96 has been completed. It show * that the total Improvements In the city during the last twelve .monthfl amounted to a little Icoi than $300,000. The mosrt expensive building constructed during the year wr.3 the Crelgh ton Medical college , the estimated ceit'of which waa $10,000. The Davldgo hloak op- loslte the city hall cc.it $25CO [ ) . nnd the church built by the Franciscan Father. } at Seventeenth and Center streotu and the new residence of O. W. Wattles were next In or- ler In point of capital Invested. The following table shows the number of lemilta Issued each month , with the cost of the Improvements contemplated. Of the grand total for the year $ I98.RS9 was In vested In new buildings and $92.261 In re- > airs. No. of Cost of Im- I'ermlis. pruvementH Tamiary 17 mssn February 31 . ] ; ; March . n. ; < i April ift ) cii.nsi May 57 2-i ) ( l Juno ; . . . r/j j us.- , July V5 M.S20 MmilHt f.O ! ) , < M September 47 21.17:1 : October .j | . : o 2l'3 November 21 261'lfl December IS 9,125 Totals KIJ $ . ' 01,133 CUSTOMS RECEIPTS. The past year's business at the local ciia- ems houses In 1S96 has not been a very atlsfactory one from the standpoint of the government. The receipts from customs dues show a heavy falling oil , as compared with previous years , amounting to fully 35 per cent. The total value of the Imports pass ing through this port during the year were $670.000 , and the amount of duties , collected $97.000. One Item of new business alone prevents the showing from being still more unfavorable. There has hern n heavy In crease In the Imports of silver bearing lead ore for the smeltcrc , wlilrh was formerly not admissible. This one Item has afforded the bulk of the revenue , which In years past was derived from tin plate brought In by the South Omaha packing house : . This latter has dropped off to almost nothing , owing to the establishment of tin plato fac tories In this country , which furnish the greater piirt of the product consumed bore. The receipts of lead ore at the smelters have been several carloads per week through out the year , the majority of It coming from British Columbia. Next to tin plate the heaviest falling off Is in niercliHiidi.se , due to the prevailing hard times and thu general depression in business. The monetary icturna from this source have also been cut down very ma terially by the large additions to the free list made by the prraent tariff law and the reduction of the duty on others. License Inspector Hurst hua completed Cherry Pectoral would include the euro of every form of disease which affects tlio throat nnd lungs. Asthmn , Croup , Bronchitis , Whooping Cough nnd ether similar complaints have ( when ether medicines failed ) yielded to Ayor's Cherry Pectoral. 1 ils annual report , which la now In the muds of the mayor. Mr. Hurst'a records show that 1,496 licenses were Issued during S96 and $11,252.SI turned Into the munlcl- > al treasury. This Is an Increase of 303 Iccnses and $157.57 In fees over 1S95. The act that cnal llccrses amounting to $1,160 vero ordered paid back to the dealers changes the result , however , and makes ho receipts of the department slightly ess than those of the preceding year. OIIAI'IM.U G1VICS III' THU CI1ASH. C Klm lN ( lit * Hull Set iir \vniiiT TIIO Sivirt ror Him. WASHINGTON , Dec. 31. Ono moro rider las surrendered his chances for a por- Ion of the prize money In the big Ix-days International bicycle race al Convention hall. Chappie , the Eng- V Ishmau , was the latest to prove nn- nblo to keep up the terrific pace set by the 'Flying Dutchman" Waller and Maddox ol \sbury Park , who nro now up nt the bend vlth only a hip's difference In favor of the ormor. Chappie was in the sixth place when 10 dropped out. Chappie loft the track on is 43iilh mile and during the afternoon aftui good real he helped pace the other riders or several miles nt a time. The ocoru to- Ight wta as follows : Tillies. LHJIS. i Miles. Lnpi , Waller . 53 0 Liiwi-on . f.Sl ! Mntlilox . C52 1) ) llunlrr . . " 1 i Abilnier ! . J52 4 Ku.ter . 573 I Eddie Bald lowered hla throc-quarter mile ndoor record from 1:45 : to 1:11. : Tom Llnlon lowered his tcn-mllo record Horn 26:45 : to 21:36. : _ Hurt .SOU l.i-iiil.t ( InVnlliri - * . ST. LOUIS , Dee. 31. Frank Hart , the olorcd pedestrian from Chle.iKO. Is leading n the six-day heel-and-toe walking match oday. Till'the ! third < lny of the match ml the contestants are keeping up pretty veil. Hoaglaml , who worked from fourth o the second position , Is a elose second. Odily. Stephens , Earl , Guerrero , Siinebl nd Kennedy follow In order , the last amed helni : more than fifty mllei behind ho leader. Fehmcbl Is In poor rondl Ion. Us trainer failed tn arrive and he caught severe cold In the muscles. Ho is more ban twenty miles bi-hliid Hart iiml can ardlv beat HoaKland for their side wagci of $ " , no. ' _ InllTI'OlleHllllO rlll'NH ( 'IIIIH'M. NEW YOIUC. Her. .U For the fourth round of Intercollegiate elu-ss tourna- mnnt the players wen ; paired as follows ; Soiitlninl ( Harvard ) against 1'arkvr < Col- umlilii ) , won l < y Southard. Hitler ( Hnrvnrd ) against Price ( Columbia ) , won by Price Young (1 ( rlncrtnn ) against l.rlilli.ipb ( Vale ) , drawn after thlrly-llv > moves. Seymour ( Princeton ) apilnst Murdoch ( Yale ) , drawn after thirty-live iiinveM. SlioiilliiK Over Hitlilvfr Tmliiy. The match pigeon shoot oi-tweeu Fred Monlmorincy or this city ami .Mm lu-i > of Arnpahoe will take plnoo on the ( Jmai .a film club grounds at the east end of llio big bridge this afternoon. The I'uinlltlons are fifty llvipimons to thn man. for J.VJ n side nnd the price of the birds. American Shooting asM.iclatlou rules. In addition to this nice th"re will be snouting for ftll comers , at targets and live birds. Jim F.llloll Oiil.iliniilH Fillfurd. NE\V VOllK , Uce. . 31.-J. A. R. Elliott of Kansas City won the 100 live bird match from K. D. Kulford of Ullea al Dexter park today by a score of 91 to ! )0. ) His shooting in every rarllcular excelled Fnlfoid'fl The winner gets this Kmsas : City Star cup. em- blc-mctlc of Me American championship. ( 'MilloilVliiM 1'lr * ! .Money. CHICAGO. Dec. 81.The tie fur first place In thu billiard tournament was played off tonight , Capron (2CO ( ) beating Miiflolll ( SOO ) . Score , 2ft > to 1"J7. The ID | for third place was won l > v bti < - ton ( MO ) beating Matthews PW ) . Si ore , ICC to 220. 1'im1 Tin-UN Day lulu Mulil. TOLEDO , O. , Doc. 31. Thu density of tin heavy log which bus hung over thin section for several days past was greatly Incri.'ased today. At 10 o'clock this morning It w.at almost as dark ns night In this city. I1 was Impossible to sec more than a few feet The fog proved disastrous to the tclcgiMpt companies , who found It Impossible to uni many of their wins , and on others coinnmnl cation was maintained with dlstafit polnti only with the greakHt difficulty. The fo | Is tl'.e worst ever experienced In thla city. PEN PICTURES PIxfeASAN'TLY AND POINTEDLY PUT Our Importations of nicersclmuin plpc.s nud t'lKiif holtlws are by fur thu best over brought to tills country and tlio assortment of styles juid hlze.s It ) so wroiit that \vo can please any pjie and briars you oujjljt to got * tlio'm-lt IH well known tliut wlion you want a really Kootl smojco you liuve to RO to Stoock- or' for H nil oed Jmlncs Hinoko our cttfjirs WL iiwUci u mruoliijty OL' tlio box tradc-n ! ! gni < lcs--nU W. F. STQEQKEK , A cainul's bad : Is bowed up KO nrn wo are you ? Wo have uioro bown and ether sorts of neckties than anybody more- styles and less prk-o Wilson Hros , whltw Hhlrts $ l.irj : Hilk Barters 'JOe shirts -llic Wilson Hros. whlto OTin Hnyot suspenders -Ifie silk all kinds , 2.rie handkerchiefs ! io- nt colored bordered handkerchiefs e ; oed collars , lU&e ( W-Ineh out- ; tliuuii'l night shirts , $1.00- f 1322 FAltNAAI ' , . ' Wilton ru > ; s niociuette russ tapes try brns.sel8 nipi nipt already made rtiBH ready to be made nipt for any l/.u room yon Klvu us tlio nl/.o and wo'H wlvo you the price to lit It and 'your pocket book wo'ro closing out our rtiKS of course , wfi M'lll always continue to sell riiKB bpt ( o But you to help ro- cliice our niK stock wo glvo you the uholco of any nijr In the honso at the most rhllL'ulmiHly low prices. OMAHA CARPET CO. , 1515 DODGE. Tlio one 'hrlcht particular star that Is to bo the Biilde for all piano makers to follow Is that Brand and KOOI ! old stand by the Klmball the world over It IH reeoBiilxed as the sweetest In tone tJio lowest In price tint hlBhest In snide the easiest In terms It has received the highest awards at nil piano conto.slH-v wo'vo sold It for nearly " 5 years and 110 complaints yet. A. HOSPE , JR. , 1513 DOUGLAS , Hesln the Now Year rl ht bt'Kln It with a sooil stove you'll need It Inside of three days It will be cold enough to freeuo the IIOHO off of a brass monkey- then If that old base burner BOOS out over nlnht look out for water pipes tlio "Acorn" base burners-asldo from iM'liiK Ki'cntly reduced In price Just now are really the best base burners made hold lire three days without so much an looking at It. JNO. HUSSIE HWD. CO. 2407 Ciimliig Street. Dnwc fi. fchooman will miilte Now Year's calls today and the lady who docH not have on a pair of our -Otli century shoes had better keep hur Httlo "footseys" well under cover for Drex Is it great admirer al liOUi century shoes and of all women who wear them our UOtli century at $ ; j.K ) has all the style and othnr uood quay * ties of the other utoroh' ? 5,00 liOlli cen * DREXEL SHOE CO. , 1410 FAKNA.U.
