THE OMAHA DAIIW BBTJTJ'BATUBDAY , PEO.BMbffn.1 25 , 1897.
THE OMAHA DAILY BER
n. m , K < ntor.
rUIJUSHKD KVKIIY MOUNINO.
TK M3 OK SUIISCIUPTIONI
Dally I3fe ( Without Sunday ) , One Year 09
Daily Itco arid Sunday , One Year. . . . . * > $ J
Hlx Month ! JOJ
T.iiee Months * 00
Hundnj- c , One Ycnr. . . . J JJ
HMuni.iy lice , One Year ' w
Weekly Use. One Yent-
OPPICKS :
Otnnh ! The Hoc llulldlnc.
Bout.i Omahn : Singer lllk. . Cor. N and SUh Sli.
Council ] llufT : 10 I'cnrl Ktrcet ,
Chicago Otllcei III Chamber of Commerce.
New York * Iloomn U , 14 ami 15 Tribune
Wathlngton : Wl fourteenth Street.
ooiuusi'ONi > Bxcu.
All communication * reUtlnir to news and edito
rial inaltcr Mioulil be nddresjed ! To the Editor.
ilUal.NK.Sd L.U1 THUS.
All l'imlncs > Utters nnd remittance * should be
adiltrutil to The Uee I'ubllslilnc Company.
Onidliu. Diufls , ilicckt , i > xprcB.i end poitoRlo
monty order * to In made ( > able tu the order ot
iiie cunipnny.
Tim UKI : I'uuusuiNO COMPANY.
WlATi.Ml.NT 01' ClllCUI-ATlO.V.
Btnto.f NelitiiKkn , DoURlna County , a ? . !
Oeorup 11. Tuchuck , secretary uf The llee Pub-
Hulling Comtmny , Ix-lng iluly suoin. R.I > thnt tin
actual number of fu'.i mil cDiniilelo copltn of Tlio
Dally , Hunting , i\onlPK : uinl tjuntlay Hcc prlntel
rluiniR tlio niunlli of November. 1837 , was as Tel-
JOWM
1 . M.746 1 21.SS1
2. . JI.19C 17 21,277
3 . 25.SSO 18 21.14T
4 . SJ.C07 ja zin
6 . 21,177 20 2I.OT6
I ! . . . . . . 21,253 21 21,021
7 . 20.C25 22 2t.nr
* . 21,149 23 , 22,2S
10 . 21,207 , 2-i : ; ; : : ! ; ; ; ; ' . ; ; ' . ilias
11 . 21.0(3 ( 10 21.0K1
H . , . 81.321 27 H.7S2
. 21.421 21 21,018
14 . M.S10 21 Z1.401
J5 . 21,332 SO 21,311
Tolal C45.021
unsold and returned copies 10,413
Net totnl pnltn Cll SV
Net dnlly n\orngc 21.153
GHO. II. TSITIHH'K
Bworn to before me nnd oubicrlbnl In my
pro cnr thin 1st day of December , 1S07.
( Seal. ) N. P. mil. ,
Notary Public.
KKKP nnroitn TIIK PIJIII.IC.
Tlio nRKrr < rn < r carrier ilollvrrjf plr-
ciilntlnn of Tlio KvrnliiK llciIn
tlrnililn ( ho njicr < ' ntr ciirrlrr ilullvcry
circulation of ( lie Uvrnliiff IVorlil-
lleralil mill more I linn NX ( linen
Krpnter tlian ( lie iKiHtrKiitc carrier
delivery clrciilndoii of ( he MornliiK
" \YorIil-IIt-ralil In Oiunliii mid .South
VF in n n it.
The carrier delivery elrenladnii of
The 12veil I > iK Ilee reiiehi-H 7,1 .TI Ilium
11 lie RiiliHcrilit-i-H ( hn ( lire not reached
Ity ( he Kvi'nlnB Wurlil-Ileralil and
Tllt MuliHvrlherN ( ha ( are not readied
1 > y ( he Mr.rnliiKVorliIHLrnlil. .
More ( linn OMI ( > carrier delivery
HiihHcrlher * ! ( o The Omaha K\enln)7 )
Uee mid Tim Omaha Morning Ilee are
not reached , elllit-r Iiy ( he Moi-nliif ?
'Worlil-IIcriili ' ! or ( he nventiiK World-
Herald.
It ROCN without Niiyliipr ( hat ( he niim-
licr of eoiiIoN of Th b Kvciilni ; Ilee or
The Morning Hec Hold hy dealem mill
iiOTVNlioj'H exeeedH Iiy a very consider
able ( he number of World-Herald
dulltcx , iiiornliiK1 and evening : , Hnlil by
dcnlcrN and
The Kcncrous nmn Is klujr of good fel
lows nt Christinas time.
The crop gntlicrod from this Christmas
trees was also one of the llnest ou record.
Whether spelled Xmas or the riRlit
way It is nearly lalways a joyful oc
casion.
others who realize that Christ
mas Is not all a holiday might bo men
tioned the postal clerks and mail car
riers. |
f
Since Secretary A Igor bought up all
the reindeer to send to Alaska Santa
Chins lias been compelled to resort to
Iho street cars and other like unromau-
tic methods of travel.
BL If tiie populists really do start their
1000 presidential campaign early next
i year the chances are they will be com
pletely winded before other presidential
entries have been made.
While bills are pending to add new
dcpaitments to the government and enlarge -
large the president's cabinet , why not
consider a proposal for consolidating the
rvvar and navy departments ?
Good Iwheat is good , but what a speculator
later will do with ( ( ,000,000 or 7,000,000
bushels of the grain is a problem the
licnrs in the wheat pit arc willing to
leave to the other fellow for solution.
The mere postponement of Judge Key-
eor's decision In the Hitchcock contempt
case over Christmas lias caiKi'd BO niue'i
elation and joy in the Fake Mill t . .at It
actually proclaims it lias won a greai
( Victory.
A New York newspaper with Tam
many leanings invites Hrynu to abandon
Ills own mistakes and attempt to lead
the democracy on a platform of real nnd
bogus .mistakes of the republican party.
That IB one mistake Mr. Bryan will not
make.
It behooves the building department
to see that the lire limit ordinances are
Btrlctly and Impartially enforced. Build-
lug operations 4n the city Incident to
the exposition will require thu utmost
vigilance upon the part of the city in
spectors.
Tlio story of the lives of Huskin and
Millals land the woman who was the
wife of one and tlieit of the other reminds -
minds one that chivalry nnd womanly
courage and ildellly did not pass from
earth with tlio disappearance of the fen-
dal ages.
The word "bimetallism" Is In danger
-of becoming obsolete. Much of 'the con
fusion In discussion of llnanelnl ques
tions In thu past few yearn arose
.through the usu of this word , which
moans one thing to one person and many
different things to others.
In addition to being a champion of
free silver President Andrews of Brown
university Is n defender of the Turk. Ho
says the Turk Is Incomparably better
than the Christian In temperance and
govern ! other things. Mr. Andrews
should have told which Christian ho re
ferred to. .
Christmas cornea only once a year.
For the twenty-sixth tlmo The Bee ex-
.tends GlirlstiuttH greetings to its patrons.
Many of those whom Its carrier boys
greeted the first tlmo are still halo nnd
hearty untl many of thu carrier boys
who delivered Its Urst Christmas caiol
are men pcoinlueut Ju all walk * of life.
CHRISTMAS. I
The recurrence of tlio great festival |
season of the Christian "world Invokes , j
with undimlnhhed force , the sent I in en Is
and emotions which have niniked nnd
distinguished It through centuries ot
observance. It makes the old ap'
peal to nil hearts not hardened
against its beneficent Inlluences ,
stimulating affection , good will nnd
every kindly nnd lender feeling. Its
effect is humanizing and uplifting. Tli3
offerings of love and friendship , the
cheery greetings , the unselfish desire to
make others happy , are wholesome In
their inlliience on Individual character
ami serve to lift life to n higher and
sweeter plane. There Is a priceless
moral gain In ( lie stimulus which tills
season gives to the virtues of kindness ,
good will nnd unselllsliness.
To youth and childhood this season Is
one of Joyous and eager anticipation and
the mind cannot measure the flood of
happiness thnt will well up today from
the hearts of children throughout the
Christian world. It will repay manifold
all the hours of care and all the expendi
ture of money In making provision for
the happiness of tiie little ones. Un.
fortunately there tire many who will not
realize their hopes , however modotate ,
but this will be ever so and Its most
useful suggestion Is thnt tlio o more
fortunate should at this time oxercNe
benevolence which It was In part
the mission of Christ to teach.
Christmas is not only n religious festi
val , it is also u great festival of family
life and In this latter character perhaps
Its most valuable Influence is exerted.
Criticism of the custom of gift making
at this season is not uncommon , but
there Is more to be said In Its defense
than against it. It is doubtless true that
some spend more than is judicious , but
on the whole the spirit that prompts
such outlay is comnuMidable.
Time does not dull or diminish the in
terest of tiie Christian world in this an
niversary and It will be observed tills
year with a zest as keen and fresh as
nt any time In the past. To Its patrons
Tiie Bee extends the greetings of "A
Merry Christmas. "
T//C AGK OK CiULD.
When hardy miners , sifting the sands
of California , Australia and Hussla , com
menced to pour great streams of gold
dust Into tiie treasuries of the world
there were theorists wiio thought they
foresaw Irreparable injury to the In
dustrial life of the civilized nations ftom
tliis flood of the money metal ; imt had
they carried their fears over until this
day and age their alarm would liavt-
been many times doubled by tin
man-clous results of modern gold min
ing. Some of tiie information In the re
port of the United States mint director
beius on this subject In an interesting
manner.
The gold production of ISOfi amounted
In value to about . JIKJ.OOO.Ot'K ) , nn in
crease of $ HG1)0,000 ) over the pioduct'.on
of the previous year. This Inciease is
not as great as that shown in other
recent years , due largely to a decline in
the production of the" Witwatersraud ,
but the average lannnal production of
gold in the world the last twenty-six
years has been eight times as great as
the average for the twenty-eight years'
preceding. M > that It is plain the floodlide
has not yet been readied. During the
past five years the production of gold
lias been IJ12 per cent greater Uiati th--
production in the live years frmi lSr > r
to IStiO , when the Califoinia and
Australia gold placers were astonishing
tiie world.
Since the year 1S71 , when the first
step was taken by Germany looking to
ward limiting tiie use of the money
metals , the world's production of gold
has been , including the year iSOO , ot
the value of $ . ' ! . ' . > fUO : > ,720 , while Uu-
vulue of the gold product previous ! to
1S71. since the discovery of America in
1402 , amounted to $5.734.22 ,105. In
twenty-six years the production of gold
lias been T > 0 per cent , of the pioduction
of the previous I57S yenr. . eally n
third of all the gold that has ever been
mined has hueii taken out in the last
quarter century.
Statistics in regard to silver produc
tion show similar startling coinpailhon .
In the twenty-six years ending with 1SO ( !
lie world's pVoductlon of silver
imounted In value ito ! ? : { , riO:2J4l : ! ! > 2 ,
which Is 40.2 per ciiit of the amount
nined in the previous ! ! 7S years , and the
iverage annual production In the last
wunty-wix years was seven times as
great as previously. Nearly 10 per cent
of all the sliver ever mined was taken
mt lu the last quarter century.
These comparisons servo only as re
minders that the last quarter of the
ilneteenth century has wltnssscd
mighty changes In the relation of the
stock and supply of precious metals to
tiie world's commercial life. The dreams
of the daring adventurers of the past
have been realized li | our lime , anil wo
aic today In the midst of another golden
age , surpassing all others , the beginning
of which we hdve soon , but lending on
to a climax that Is the secret of another
century.
run /taf./\r ( ; OP iwiz.
Then * lias been a strong expression of
American opinion ill reprobation of the
killing of Colonel Uulz , the < > mls.sary of
General Blanco , by thu Ciibtm insur
gents , but the explanation of the matter
by tiie Cubans will doubtless have n
tendency to modify public sentiment In
tills country lu regard to the event ,
Uulz , It had been assumed , entered the
Insurgent lines under a Hag of truce to
submit terms of peace. Had that been
the case lip would have been entitled , by
the rules of civilized warfare , to a safe
return. But It appeals Unit he did not
go to the Insurgents under a flag of
truce , because such a ( lug Is not rccog-
nl/.i > d by this Spanish authorities in
Cuba. Not having this protection Colonel
Kulz iiml his companion were treated us
spies and executed. The Cubans urge
In defense of this course that full warn
ing hurt been given by their leaders that
any one jcolng among them to propose
anything short of Independence would
be summarily dealt with and that falliuc
to do this In the on so of Hul/ would
have been destructive of discipline In tin-
Cuban army ,
H must be admitted that there Is some
force In this contention and yet It is
unquestionable tlut the Insurgents
would have lost nothing In the public ! i
opinion of the world , but rather would
have strengthened sympathy with their
'cause , If they had simply summarily o.x-
iwlicd Hub. from their lines , accompany.
Ing such action with n further warnlns
that death would be It he pennlty of any
[ efforts on the part of representatives of
I Spain to Induce the Insurgents to accept
terms of pence that did not contemplate
Cuban Independence. The Incident Il
lustrates the Intense earnestness of the
Insurgents , but It was not necessary to
assure the world of this.
JMHJ/KHS AMI
The wheat deal In progress In Chicago
cage Is referred to by nu eastern p.ipor
us Illustrating the value of dealings In
futures to the farmers. It ( characterizes
ns a vulgar error the- notion that specu
lation In food or other products of the
earth , which buys and sells for future
delivery and In advance of possession
by the seller or of means of payment
by the buyer. Is opposed to the Interest
of the producer. On the other hand ,
reasons our contemporary , the effect of
this sort of operations is to give thc >
producer a constant maiket the year
round , regardless of consumptive de
mand , to relieve him of the cost of stor
age nnd the inconvenience of waiting
for pay for his year's croi s till the crop
of the last year Is consumed. It is
pointed out that in the case of wheat
the normal price as Hxed by supply and
demand and uninfluenced by futures
would bo very low In the fall when nil
the crops are in nnd a great many
v * need to sell , while compara
tively few millers or exporters need to
buy beyond the needs of a few weeks.
Near the cud of the crop year the price
would bo very high and by that tlmo
farmers , who are -rarely capitalists ,
would have sold. "The practice of sell ,
lug futures gives the farmer in the fall
a price about the same as that of the
spiing minus insurance , storage nnd In
terest , while It vastly increases the num
ber of persons who are possible pur
chasers of the fanners' produce. Often ,
indeed , competition among these or In
genious advantage taken by one of an
other runs the fall or winter price far
above any reasonable expectation for
sptlng , as in the present case. Then tlio
farmer profits at cost of the specula
tors. He rarely loses by them , as he
can always hold his wheat over a brief
bear movement. "
This appears plausible and it is un
questionable that the battle between
Armour and Loiter has been of Immedi
ate advantage to farmers who have
wheat to soil , but our contemporary ad
mits that the farmer sometimes loses
through the operations of speculators
and the question is whether in the long
run his losses arc not iiv excess of his
gains. The tendency of .speculation . Is
to unsettle the markets , to produce
more or less violent fluctuations
in prices , and it is dlfllcnlt to
believe that such n condition can gen
erally bo to the advantage of the pro
ducers. Speculation by options and fu
tures is ordinarily heedless of the law
of supply and demand , and the welfare
of producers must depend , in the long
run , upon the observance of that l iv.
"The most intelligent farmers of the
country , who have given careful con
sideration to the matter , ni'o practically
unanimous in tlio belief that all forma
of speculation in food products are inimi
cal to their interests and their opinion
is not to lie rudely dismissed ns unsound
or as designated by .our contemporary ,
"A vulgar error. "
Some philosopher lias said that tlio
only way to divine the future is by the
experience of the past. Tn contemplat
ing the future of western states , the
degree of prosperity that can come to us
must be measured by the number of
people induced to take up homes : n this
region and by the amount of capital
thnt can be drawn from the east for
investment in the west. Early in the
' 80s the country emerged from business
depression which for some years had
impoverished the people , but as tin-
wave of prosperity returned it swelled
Into every state of the west. Popula
tion and wealth were quadrupled within
it few years. During that period Omaha
enjoyed most rapid growth ns a result
of the enormous influx of population
Into the territory tributary to this me
tropolis. The early years of tiir ! decade
were but a repetition of the depression
of tiie ' 70s. And now we are just emerg
ing from a period of hard times into
an era that promises n higher degree of
piosperlty than the west has over
known. Tills being true , what have wo
to expect from the overcrowded cities
of the east and from the capitalists who
are seeking safe and ivolitnble invest
ments for their millions. It only re
mains for Nebraska and states through
out the west to make their claims known
to the world. That done nnd we shall
get all the money and people needed
to place us on an equal footing with the
older state.s of the union.
The new owners of the Union 1'uclfic
railway cannot be unmindful of the
fact that the people of the west have
claims upon the road that ought not to
be ignored. Thu policy pursued by I to
owners in the early days proved ills-
aetrous in the largest degree , nnd a
repetition of methods then practiced
would lie harmful to the state and to
the patrons of the toiid. While the
properly Is in the hands of eastern
stockholders , its lines traverse the west
and It Is dependent upon the trulile of
this region. The good will of our people
ple Is worth millions to any great rail
way system ; their onmlty may cost as
much. The road should bo run with i\
view to .subserving the interests of Itu
patrons and not solely for the benefit of
eastern bondholders.
In Nebraska there is no reprosentatlvj
of the Brltlbli foreign otllce. TluritiUo
Is in the trade nnd consul.ir distilct of
Chicago , as are Kmmus and Mlssouil
Tins British vice consul at Kansas Clly
Is exiwted to advUo the C-mcago olilce
regarding trade and crop conditions of
N'olmitikn. His reports , as shown by
the published reports of tlio foreign
ollieo at London , nro far from satisfac
tory to Nehraskans , whosi ? Industries
tind commerce entitle the state to a
i higher place In thu British consular
service. It U tu bi > hoped that the
i
enormous cropmwf tlio past year , the re-
jVlvnl of thc"llV8 stock Industry In this
region nnd the .successful issue of tlio
TninsmlsslssfliyM Imposition may Im
press upon ( lifL liInd of the British min
ister the cln'iWjOf Nebraska looking to
proper
The now fmtfollno lamp contract bas
been signed. , h'ffV council must now desig
nate tlio locations before the new com
pany can set'lts'posts. The placing of
these posts tile vital element ot the
contract" SOT fat1' ' as the public Is con
corned. It Is high time the designations
be made In the Interest of the property
owners who are taxed to maintain the
lamps , Irrespective of the private hold
ings of couiicllnien. The population of.
tlio several wards wherein these lamps
are to bo set can lie Jin sod upon the vote
at the liist general election , and tlio
lamps should bo apportioned accord
. .
ingly.
_ _
All Indications point to nn unprece
dented migration to the Klondike gold
region early In the spring. Tiie rail
road passenger men have sniffed it and
their reports have caused the railways
leading to the Puget Sound to piepare
for nn exodus Huifr will number people
from every state In thu union. It is
useless to advise people to hesitate to
risk n tilp to the Klondike. 'Other men
have picked up fortunes there hi n day
and of course every American believes
ho can do what any other man has done.
The Commercial club has notified the
city council that It stands ready to pro
vide a warehouse for the Indian sup
ply depot In accordance with the terms
of tlio act locating1 the depot at Omaha.
With tills cheerful assurance the conn-
cil cannot hesitate to notify the govern
ment that Omaha Is ready to fulfill Its
part of the contract. Work like this
tends to build up the Commercial club
and to disarm criticism by those who
have a mistaken idea of the functions
of tile club. Business nnd not politics
is Its true province. (
Tiie time lias arrived in tlio affairs of
the exposition when states and cities
which delayed making provision for
representation now betray some anxiety
lest they be distanced or eclipsed by
neighboring states and competitive
cities. Tills is due to the fact that nil
signs point to a very largo attendance
from all parts of the union , and western
states want to .attract immigration. In
no way can t iis be done better than by
exhibits of tlio products , manufactures
and a showing of resources by western
states.
Tiie county bohrd , after n long and
painstaking examination of the accounts
with tile cx-'clerk of the district court ,
offers nearly $ ( 500 iu "tttemeut of the
claim ngalust the county. Whether
Frank E. Moores shall accept this tender -
dor need notT > e discussed , "but the mere
fact of the tender is a deadouor to the
trumped-up Campaign charges made by
the fusionists , the Broatch contingent
and the oulr honest man in "J.hc'court
"
house. , - , > .
_ _ _ _ _ _
Inn't Time 'Money ?
IWston Transcript.
SInce the sale cf the Union Pacific remark
ably fast time has been made on certain sec
tions of the road. Purchasers , however , can
not bo paid entirely by fast time.
Xevcr .11 1 n.l the I'rlct- .
Chicago Record.
The man who looks a gift horse In the
mouth Is just ono peg above the tntellcctua
piano of the Individual who hunts for the
price-tag on his Christmas presents.
Ivecp Cool.
New York He.'ulil.
The Ignition of celluloid collars from con
tact with heating pipes In an elevated car
the other day should servo as a timely warn
ing to those who wear such articles not to
get "hot under the collar. "
Snlntlr Sour
St. Prul I'loneer Press.
Omaha is to have an exposition postage
stamp In honor of Its transmtsslsslppl doings
This means that the fathers of youthfu
philatelists will liavo to plank down from a
dollar upward for the entire set. And that's
about all It does mean.
A 1C 1(111 dike
Globe-Democrat.
A traveled member of Parliament reoentlj
assured an Interviewer that the Klondike
temperature Js so low that "the breath is
frozen Into crystals , and you must move
about to avoid being hedge1 ! ! In Tiy the re
suit ot your own respiration. " That M. P
during his journeys laid in a considerable
supply of the frozen truUh.
The Tiiiich ofKf. .
Philadelphia. Ledger.
There is no surprise In the news that Bis
marck's advanced 'ago and his "often inflrml
tics" are telling on him , and that ho Is de
cllulng rapidly la both mental nnd 'physlca
health. Such a result is a natural cense
quc'.nco of his ago and condition , but It Is (
loss 'to ' Germany , nevertheless. WJth al
due respect to kings and emperors , Bis
marck Is the man who made Germany wha
she Is , and she "has nobody to take his i > lace
If another crisis like those of 1SCG and 1870
should threaten her. For this latter reason
as well as In recognition of his Invaluabl
services , the empire cannot cherish too care
fully the few remaining days of the grca
statesman.
Tlio afnvyIn Tropic-ill AViili-rn.
riitcaco Tribune.
The report that o considerable contlagen
of the American navy will cruise In the Gul
of Mexico during Iho present winter arpear
to be causing considerable disturbance union
the Spaniel hi&lBjj | ! ) ( and ntrons protests ar
going no through , tlio Spanish press agalns
the dBsi'incd ' hftlil < } . designs or the Unltei
Staid ] tovuinl S'paju , | mpllcd In the act , Inr >
much as some itpOC ( miles of our e'OHt Un
border c < n the Gu f of Mexico , It would puzzl
even a Woyler taramo ) any other nation ttui
has a better rljjjit. | o send Its cruisers Int
the gulf waters , , , ( , ( ] suspicious Dons wer
told , however , that the ooject of Mio move
mtnt Is to enalilo-aur navy to play watchdo
for the benefit Qf/tSpain by preventing Illlbiu
terlng expeditions , from leaving gulf port
for Cuta durlaff Iho winter months , the
would probably Jormi a more exalted estlmat
ct the foreslghtitiiul strict Impartiality cf ou
government. _ _ _
Iffil > 'r < I'liitiK-rallo Ni
PhUnileliihla Times.
Governor Let'iV'ci Kansas la a man o
large and cornel cttilsslvo plans , Wcston
Kansas and Tefjf sflitter' ifrom drouth , am
Governor Leedy DM' noticed thit a larg
volume of w-ster flows out of the Mlssour
and MIsstEoppl ! and vt&stca Itself in th
Gulf of Mexico. ,
Hy opondlug the trifling sura of $300,000
000 Governor Leojy thinks a crrml caa b
constructed that will divert the waters o
ths Missouri from 1iior ! present channel i
Montaoi and spread thorn acrc.n the draer
lands of western NcbraiOta , Kanaaa rn <
Texas , raaklrv this cxtecdho reglcu a nei
Garden of K&ra , and returning to much o
the water as failed to get lost on the wa
to the MlesUu'ppl by way of the fled river.
It looks caty lo Qovercor Lcody , n
doubt , but If the coming- Irrigation congres
should charge- him with the tat ! ( of riUIn
the J3CO.OOOOOO lo : would fnd tint inone
w&u'.d ouddci-ly crow scarce. The Leed
echcmio U a very simple one ou paper , but
H good deal cf glltdged piper v/culd 1)3 '
ncsezsiry upoa nhlch to ra so $360.000.000 , '
especially to IVat a srtienio &usEc.nJ l > ) '
Go.crcor LreSy. j i
imTOIlVDl KAMOVS I'OKM ,
Dr. Moore's Clnmlo JMi-turr nf Snnin
Clint * on Ills UiMitiilft ,
It has been nearly thrco-qunrtors of n cen
tury it 111 co the vc'ses beginning
" 'Twns the night before Christina. , when
nil through the house
Not n crenturo was stlrrlniR , not even n
mouse , '
first nau- the light of print , Appearing In
the Troy Sentinel of December S3 , 1823. As
published then U wan anonymous , but It wns
prophetical of ll coming popularity that
oven In that day , unfavorable as It was for
newsp.iper Illustration , It was accompanied
by a picture ot Santa rCUus on his rounds.
In tlio time Intervening It ( has become known
to practically every man , woman and child
In America , has spread hence to the widest
limits ot the Engllsh-spi'iking race , has bebii
translated Into the language of every nation
that has n Santa Clnus and I little , If any ,
short of bring the most popular poem In the
world. Kor many > cars It was an annual
feature In all American newspapers. Then ,
In 1844 , It WBS acknowledged by Its learae l
author , betas included In a little volume of
his poems published In Now York , Thence
Its Inclusion In school readers antl all kinds
of declamation bocks was only a matter
of a short time. In 1859 the edition that
first attained wldo distribution was Issued ,
with .the pleasant Illustrations made by
Fc'.lx 0. C. Darley which are remembered
gratefully by any number of persons now
crawling reluctantly Into inlMlo llfo. H Is
surprising , considering the vogue they olico
enjo > cd , that they cannot bo bought today
In a modern edition.
It will bo a surprise to many to learn
that "Tho Night Ilefore Chrlsmas" was writ
ten by the erudite doctor of lawo who prepared -
pared the first Hebrew dictionary ever pub
lished In America. Ho was Clement C.
-Moore , a dcsccn.Unt of a famous family lu
the history of the Episcopal church , and
himself one ! of Its most notable benefactors.
His father was Ht. Olcv. Benjamin
Moore , who succeeded 'DIshop Provost lu the
diocese of Now York , having been the presi
dent of King's college now Columbia uni
versity and the rector of Trinity church In
New York , nil the dignitaries named being
then , as now , the highest In the gift of the
denomination. UlshupMoore \ was the son of
Lieutenant Samuel ( Moore , a gallant officer In
the colonial ware , and flvo generations re
moved from Ucv. John Moore , -who wns the
first minister In Newton , I-i. I , , dying there
In 1C57. Charity Clarke Moore , the mother
of the poet , was the second daughter of
Major Thomas Clarke , \\lio fought for the
Hrltlsh crown and Its "possessions In the
days before the revolution. He was a man
of largo means and built him a mansion
which ho called "Chelsea , " a goodly distance
out from the city of .New . York In those
days , though Its exact site was what Is now
Twenty-third street , 200 feet cast of Ninth
avenue. 'At that time H Stood on n high hill ,
Uin lawn sloping down with handsome ter
races to the shady banks of the Hudson.
Built about 1750 , the original structure stood
until Its destruction by lire during the last
Illness of dts owner. 'Ho wns rescued with
difficulty and the shock undoubtedly hastened
his c d. It was rebuilt by his widow and
came by inheritance to the poet's mother.
It stood until 1850 , when It was torn down
to make room for the advancing city.
It was In this spacious house , with Its
acres of beautiful grounds , that Clement
Clarke Moore was born c < n July 15 , 1781.
The only child of his parents and the heir
to great wealth from both his father and
mother , there was nothing which money ,
InarnliinAnrl dtaHnErulghpd ancostrv could
lot obtain for him. His father gave him
Us preliminary education and he was
graduated from Columbia in 1738. Though
ntcoded for the ministry , ho never took
orders , but occupied himself with his
icbrew dictionary and other matters suitable
a tols erudition. Ho was early Interested In
too General Theological seminary of the
Splsccpal church. In 1818 he gave It the
ract of land bounded by Twentieth streat ,
Twenty-first street. Ninth avenue aod the
ludson. Three years later he accepted
he chair of Oriental aod Greek literature
from Its faculty , and there busied himself
mill his death at his summer homo In
Newport on July 10 , 1SC3.
The poem which has given him greater
tome than al his learning and benefactions
was written as a pastime cad given > hls
children as a Christmas present Just seventy-
flvo years ago. He thought little of It at the
tlmo or later. Indeed , 'It Is possible it would
lover have become Known to the world at
all had not the eldest daughter of Hev.
David Butler , I ) . D. , rector of St. Paul's to
Troy , N. Y. , eeeir tbo lines during a visit to
New York the year after they were com
posed uml published them In the paper mon-
tlcaed without their author's consent. It Is
said , that nolhlng but the speedy popularity
the verses attained procured Mtes Butier'y
forgiveness. All 'these facts , with a fat-
slinllo of Dr. 'Moore's ono manuscript , have
Just been published by William S. Pelletreau ,
A. II.
PERSONAL tAMJ OTHERWISE.
A Brooklynlte suggests that the New York
and Brooklyn bridge bo renamed the Iloeb-
ling brlc'ge. ' In honor of the late John A.
Roebling , the pioneer successful suspension
bridge buil-der.
Twenty-five years ago Francis Conway
Mason , the newly elected speaker of the
Parliament of Victoria , was an unknown
schoolmaster on bc.ird the ahlp Nelson , la
the harbor of Mlebourne.
The rshool children of Kentucky ar& ap
pealed to to contribute each his or her pcnaj
tor the purcheee of a library for the battle
ship Kentucky. The grown-up people are to
give the ship a silver service.
A bust of the late General Francis A.
Walker of the Boston Institute of Technology
will be unveiled In Huntlngton hell , of tlio
institute , on January 5 , the- first anniversary
of his death. It IE a gift of the etudentft.
A society girl was arrested while watchIng -
Ing a dog light in a Washington stable , but
succeeded In concealing her lo'enlity under an
assumed name. Her escort fled when the
police made their raid , snd now ha ! ene
mies will aay that ho Is not n fit man totaka
a aociety girl1 even to a dos fight.
When Mr. Gladstone was about to deparl
on 'his ' recent trip to Franco some one asket
him Ifhe did not think his continual * reading
and study had a bad effect on his nerves.
"My dear'slr , " said Mr. Gladstone , "can you
Imagine what would be the condition of my
nerves-If I were compelled to do nothing ? '
It is said that Mrs. Jesse Huston , who
HVPM rn ithn HnvtnnvlllR Dike , near IIlisten-
vllle , Ky. , had not until last month spent a
day away from home In twenty-threo years
dot because she couldn't , nor because of any
eccentricity , but just because she loves her
homo and wants to be there to do her work.
Charles A. Dana'e 'collection of porcelain
and pottery Is to go Into the hands of fad
dists and relic-hunters by the public auction
route iii February , which might Induce a
cynlo to think that Mr. Dana's work of love
would have been more beneficial to hlin-
B3lf and others had the collection been given
whoid needed.
The monument which the members of two
"Ircn Brigade" will erect to the memory o
General John Olbhon In the Arlington ceme
tery across the Potomac from the natlona
capital is rapidly ncarlng completion. A bas
lellef of Gccieral Gibbon copcara on the fton
of the granite and the whole will be one
of the handsomest monuments In the ceme
tery.
tery.A Malna man started for the Klccidlke two
months ago with flvo boxes of sardines and
two cans of bwns. Ho got as far as J > i-
kota when his provisions gave out and he
was frccd to tramp his way back to his
hc-me. Ho may not bo as sensible as some
people , but there are < nuo In the Klondike
region today wfco would gUdly exchange
places with htm.
Mark Twain writes to a Vienna nowspape
that the recent Thanksgiving receptlcn at the
American legation of We American resident
In the Austrian capital was a great surprise
Tjecause it dUclaied the fact that there wer
twice as many Americans living In the city
M had bewi generally supposed , According
to Mark Twain's observations , the men wei
all medical students , the women ail pupil
cf a noted pianoforte teacher ,
Shakespeare , > \hQ \ has certainly been dead
long enough to be quiet , raised a big dla
turbanco In a Vienna theater during the re
cent troubles over there. The play wsu
"Henry VI. . " and when the actor said. "Kin
teuchtlz volk braucht kelne pollzcl , " tli
whole house brolco out with cries ot "Dowi
with tlio so Ice , dejth to ail of them. " Th
actor thud to stop , whllo the curtain wi
run. , down end the play suspended uutll th
houte cooled off. i
OTHIJIt IVMS THAX OIIHS.
U might to thought tlut the prospect of a
regenerated and fhoroughly awakened Chl-
110,10 empire , with Its enormous population ,
would bo alarm-Ing to Great Britain , In view
of the long frontier between Urltlsh hulla
and CTilncso territory , bul Kngtiml would
muo'i prefer to take chances with nny pop-
slblo Chlixi thsfi ( a have llussla or Germany
for a near neighbor. Chltia might nlwajs
bo held < o check by sea power , but ithiit
would rerhaps bo dcflixl by HitHutolans. .
Mercovcr , HtwsKi has a strong and fo.it grow-
ng navy. China has nothing of the kind.
\ll flings considered , It If quitepcsslblc
hat for n good mauy ytxvrs Japan and Chl-n
nay find KngUnd one of the best ot ft lends.
hough always with n purely selfish motive.
t depends upon the degree of succors which
Groit Britain may have or fi id rrascu to
expect In lining the yellow races as a foil
o Russia and a barrier against tiie extrusion
of German and 'French ' Influence In t.'io . cast.
i *
O.io calamity has followed another so
quickly In India that the earliest In the
cries , the famine , bis been almost forRot-
cn. But the olUclal reports ot the relict
\orks which nrc published from tlmo to
Imo fuiiiUh Borne Interesting reading. The
emiltfl afford striking evidence of what may
> o effected by skillful organization , Especi
ally remarkable are the accounts furnished
of the operations In the northwest provinces ,
rho average number of prrMns ? In receipt of
dally relief from 'tho government was l.OSS-
00 , and this vast host was fed for six months.
Yet the cost to the government waa only
> 7,000,000 a great rum , to bo sure , but al
most I'.icrcdlbly small when compared with
the amount of work dene. H Is claimed itlwt
Hie figures establish n. record , bW\ for the
saving of llfo and economy , nnd the claim
a not likely to bo disputed very seriously.
\s to the effect upon' ' the natives of all ithls
milclou.s benevolence there seems to bo a
consldcrahlo dlvcrgccico of oplnlca. Some
olllcera giy that a nleep feeling of gratitude
) orva.dcs all classes , but others declare tliat
.hey have been qulto unable to discern symp
toms of any such emotion.
t *
With the cxctotlon of Great Britain , the
gates ot every great nation are now shut
against German Industries , llussia , Franco ,
Austria , Italy , Spain mill the United States ,
and even British dcpcndencjcs like Australia
and Canada , all maintain protective tariffs ,
and her hope for relief from internal pres
sure Is in the cultivation of fresh fields. Ger-
rany , In other terms , has reached the point
n Industrial development reached long ago
> y Great Britain and France , where foreigner
or colonial trade must supplement over-
rowded and oversupplled domestic markets.
Whit adds tn this necessity Is the Increasing
nirdcii of militarism. Russia finds a measure
ot offset to this burden In the development
of Siberia , mid Great Britain and Franco in
heir respective colonies , but Germany has
jeen practically restrbted to the fatherland ,
t Is for these reasons that the German peo-
) lo tolerate the Jingoism of their theatric
roung warlord. What they demand Is not
glory or territory , but trade.
*
The twentieth century will have no place
for the nomads of Mongolia or the Manc.hu
Tartars of Manchuria. They must go down
before the onward march of civilization acid
orderly government. They will bo brought
under the rule of some great and well-estab
lished power , and it requires no gift nf
prophecy to foresee that Russia will be that
power. The boundary of Siberia will be
noved downward to the confines of China
iroper , at the least. Probably It will go much
'arther. But at any rate the Tartars will not
> c self-governed more than a brief period In
the near future. After mctiy centuries of
conquest and domination , both In Kurope and
Asta. they will be subjugated and brought
under discipline from without , no doubt to
emaln under alien rule forever. It Is an
n-pcndlng change -ntolch cannot fall to in-
.crcst every student of history and every in-
: elligent observer ot thechangca which are
being made In the mao of the world and the
relations ot races and peoples.
* *
Next spring work will be begun upon the
great canal through southwestern Russia
that when finished will connect the Baltli.
with the Black sea. The political signifi
cance of this work Is evident , and' It is of fai
greater Importance than the Industrial. This
waterway will entble Russian vessc'i ? to go
from St. Petersburg to Constantinople with
out passing hostile forts or being In danger
from the navies of other nations , and It will
generally enlarge the scope of Russia's rcorl-
tine cfTectlvenc-a. The woik ot building the
canal Is a stupendous one , but It ! s ciot .is
great as cne would thick on first considera
tion cf the length of the canal , which Is tote
to 1,080 miles. The river Euna , flowing Into
the Baltic , rod the river Dnieper , empty'c
In the Black sea , are not far apirt at their
( sources and only 126 miles of canal wll
have to be dug outright. The rest of the
distance will be through canalized rivers.
The canal Is to be 217 feet wide and twenty-
eight and one-half feet deep GO that the
largest war vccuels can pass through with
ease. The beaks will be strengthened , In
order that a speeS of six knots can be main-
talced , and the Journey from one end to the
other accomplished within a wok's time ,
The cost will be about $100,000,000 , and it
will require ifour jears to fiialsh the work.
Si far nothing has teen done toward the
work except the elaborate tiurveys and esti
mates Just completed.
* * *
For more than 1,800 years the city of
Mainz , or Mayence , as most people who
don't live there call It , has been a walled
and fortified place , with most considerations
of convenience and commerce subordinated
to those of war. At last , however , It has
been decided that perhaps the residents of
the town will bo In no great danger If the
ancient bulwarks nro taken down. Anyhow ,
the experiment 13 to be tried , and as noon
as the value ot the land on which the walls
stand can bo Bottled , the work of demolition
is to begin. This land , of course , Is govern
ment property , and the official assessors
think that It Is worth $1,000,000 , The citizens
regard the price as high , but they will
doubtless pay the sum demanded , s'nco the
rigid cordon Is a terrible nuisance to them
ard a constant obstacle to the expansion of
the city. The military authorities of Ger
many are said to view tJio matter with in
difference , as opinions respecting the stra
tegical value of fortified towns has changed
much since the slego of Paris. The present
tendency Is to attach no Importance to
fortresses not directly on a frontier , and not
oven Emppior William thinks of building
stone fences around his capital.
IIOUIUSOMKM OK DKMOCI'.ADV.
( JOL-N HllC'U < 0 till' l < < - | -Mllllllt lUNIK'H of
Tivi'iily "Wnrx AK > > .
I'lilladelpMa llccord ( dcm. ) "
In the resolutions of the caucua of demo
cratic representatives In congress is afforded
another proof tlut there U a bourbonlsm
that not only never lesrcs nor forgets , but
that novrr dies , The two nvolutlons declaring
against redemption of the legal tender notes
and against rational btnk circulation are
only a revival of the greenbackery which
was so fatal to the dcmociatlc party twenty
years ago. In these rctoiutlontt U ernbol'le.l '
a policy which has never commanded a
majority In congress or l i the country ,
which \alnly opposed the it-sumption of
specie pa ) incuts , and which is now making
a futile attempt to destroy the ivork of re
Buiilptlon , on which rests the whole Ejstcm
of public and private credit. The action
of the caucus fully Justifies the charge that
the advocates of free silver coinage are the
legitimate deacmOanta ot the ancient graen.
'bickers ' , who declared that all the public
creditors should be paid In paper legal ten
ders of the government.
Flaunting the banner of greonbickery and
repudiation , the democwtlo party wag over
whelmed again and agalu with defeat. Thfn
followed -wholesome reaction under the
chastening Influence of defeat , during which
Samuel J , Tilden , a democratic champion of
sound morey principles , was nominated foi
the presldc-ncy and received i majority of
the popular vote. With the resumption oJ
opecio payments , and with the consequent
revival of prcaperity , the spirit of Kfeen-
liHkcry was abashed , and It well-nigh ex
pired beneath popular odium .3(1 contempt.
But BOW , after the lapse of more than twenty
yearn , the doe hai returned to his vomit.
Substituting greenback * ; for cheap silver , the
Cat luouey Penile ton Uu party of 18G3 and
the nry n party ot 1SJC are wic and the
name principle aad eplrlt ,
TIIMO caucus resolutions cm reily widen
: ho gulf -nhlcJi eepiratcs from their autdortt
the great body of democrats who are un-
iltcrably opposed to gretxilMckery , treofllvcr
coinage and every other tpcclc * ot chc > np
money herrsy ml humbug. The resolution *
should also admotilsh the republicans con *
? reas that they c.intiot compete wlfi the frc
sIlver-Rreuiback elements ami thut , Iho cnly
mlvatlon for their party Mid for the ptlbllo
credit is In buirlng nlott the standard ot
sounJ money. Twenty year * ago the leaders
and statesmen of the republican party hiul
the courage ttid tngaclty to respond to the
clamors of Krconbackery by rcuumlng speclo
payments. The cnly snfo respcnso of he re
publicans In congress to the Krccnbackors
and 6ll\eiltcs now Is In resolutely udoptltig
the sound money policy ot Secretary GBRO
as embodied In Hie bill prcstotcd jesterday
to fie house committee on bankluR mul cur
rency.
lu the former period Micro wote timid and
time-serving coutuelors In thu republican
party who deplored the resumption of specie
payments nnd favored an Increase of the lejMl
tender notey mid through whoso Influence
the redemption oT the greenbacks was us-
Pituled , Just us there nio now hooded grotti-
backers among the lopubllcans In ccusrcss
and lu the newspaper press who are opposed
to any and every effective mcnsuro ot cur
rency reform , These republican greonKick-
ois and bio authors of the democratic ) MUCUS
rcuoltttloiui should bolotii ; to the same party.
In a sound uicucy party they have no proper
place.
KI.OATI.M ; rt.v
Springfield Monitor : Pioplo don't like con
densed milk. They pruIVr the tiddor kino.
Truth : "Tlicro Is only one thing 1 ever
do for ' "
policy's Bake.
"What's thnt ? "
"Pay my piumlum. "
Detroit Fice Press : "Ttoonters nro beno-
fin-tors : they nmko the burden of llfo
lip liter. "
"Yos ; If somebody else pays for your ro-
nerved seat. "
Chlcngo Tilbuno : "The nioiiilng Htnr.i
! ! jl"f Aether for joy. How unlllio a church
" 1 don't know. 'The stnis In their courses
fought against PIsM-n. ' They fought. How
like u church choir ! "
Cleveland Plnln Dealer : "Did you notice
the scientists claim Hint eurlv hair Is mi
Indication of poetical ie-ciiiis7" |
" 1 guess tluit'H right. My wife uses nil
my rejected sonnet * for curl iwpoM. "
Philadelphia Record : Mrs. licnconstrret-
My daughter bus sllch an cinbnrra&Mnir : il-
tnck of Influenza.
Mis. Iluckb.iy ICmbarrnnsIng ?
Mis. HcucoiiHttect Vcs , Of course she has
to snouzu In public and Inv.irlnlily her ncz
pint-OS full elf , leaving her face p-rfectly
nude ,
O.ilcapo Post : "How well It exemplifies
tlu > difference between men and women , "
said the i-lty bred s.ate. .
"What ? " they asked.
"Why , tin1 sl/.t- of a man'H hat dpponds
upon the size of his head , while the size of
a woman's hut depends upon ! the prevailing
fashion. "
Washington Star : "It Is a dlfllcult prob
lem , said the conscientious ) man ; "very
dltllcult. "
"U hat -wonylng you ? " askcil hit \ \ ife
"If I use slung befoio our SJMS and
daughters It will enuouraiso them In thu
practice and If 1 don't they will say 1 am a
back number. "
Indianapolis Journal : "I don't think that
new prlina donna will do , " said tlio boaidcr
who has the atic ! room. "She Is too much
like the furnace hero at least lier voice IB , "
"How Is that ? " usjced .Mrs. Hnsheroft.
"Very weak In the upper register. "
Chicago Tribune : "Mr. Hlggamore , " paid
Miss Quickstep , Hi inly and distinctly. Inter
rupting him. "you have culled me n. 'lump
of Hweeti.ess' a great iminy times , but you
have never Mid you would like to have me
tcRUliirly with your morning cofCee. "
Whereupon Mr. HlBtamoro pioposed.
Tucre was no Vtny of escape.
Cleveland Plain Dealer : "WagBtaff is al
ways boasting of bis wife's lovely disposi
tion. Ho hays he never ciossod him but
once. "
"How was that ? "
"When she ian over him with her wheel
one day last summer. "
Detroit Journal : "And you did not forcn
the miscreant to eat his words' ' " demanded
the heroine , with asperity ,
T'.ie ' hero shivered.
"No , " he made fulterlm ? reply. "It was
Impossible. You see. he has soi'tired an en.
gigement in vaudeville and has fooil to
cut. "
Ah , the fates were stl.I asJlnst them.
THU A1OHT AKTISll 'CHIII-STM .
W. J. I ampton.
'Twas the nlpht after Christmas , and all
through the house
Bveiy ureulurt ! was stirring excepting the
mouse.
The stocking weren't hung by Hie chimney
with care
In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would l > o
there ;
The children weren't nestled all snug In
their beds ,
While visions ot suriar plums danced o'er
Kiolr heads ;
Nor mumma In kerchief , nor I , In my
cap ,
Had settled our brains for a long winter's
nap.
Not much , I should smile ; there wns blood
on the moon ,
And potions and plasters and stuff in a
spoon ;
The Innocent sugar plums , referred to be
fore ,
Increased by n bushel ot other tilings
more ,
Had ilanrcd from the heads of our dear
llttlo kids
To their ctomnchs , and now they wer- > all
Dear Tommle 'had ' taken a fall from his
wheel ,
And looked very much like a partly skinned
eel ?
Dear Willie was poulticed on l > oth of hlfl
eyes
For fooling with powder that flashes and
And ciit'o llttlo Kitty had smashed lier .sweet
While Scuffling with Freddie to play on ills
And Winnie WHS groaningt'ho , ' dear llttlo
And bn'by had colic from licking- the
Otr'of ' all of tlio toys that he found every
' - giraffe to a rose-colored
'Twmfthe night nfter Chrlstmas-St. Nick ,
Wen ! ' ' I rec'kem7 ' not , Saint , with the Old
Nick to pay.
A HOLIDAY SOMi.
Atlniila Constitution ,
Here's a POIIK , of Christmas
Sorrow In eclipse ;
Ultle tlitldrrii cllmblnc
lo thi ) mother's leaning lips.
Here's .a sonff of Christinas
All ths winter'- Joys ;
Kiss tlio ulrlH and IOHH their curls ,
And frolic with the boys. ' .
Here's a FOIIK of CbrUtmas
Uono are fill the lilrda ;
Hut love- , lie Mis the music.
And love , ho make * the welds !
Hero't ) a Rons of ChriitmaN
Mother , swecthonit. wife ;
Iove Is on the threshold.
And lovo' the Joy of llfo !
[ bo Royal la tlio liitjliott gradn baking powder
known. Actuul tests skew It goes ooo-
Uilrd further than any other br nd.
POWDER
Abf olutcl/ Pure
/7ov L ( Anna POWDIR co. , Mtw YCIIK.
