Nebraska Newspapers

    i
THE OMAHA DAILY 1JEE : &J&DAY , MAUCII 0 , 1808. Dft
SCIENCE PROBES THE CUTICLE
Discovery of Blind BpoU in the Eyes and
Dead Spots in the Skin.
CAUSES TRACED BY EXPERIMENTS
lir ninrrenre In Illlnil I'ernoii * HOT *
( o Tr t the grime of Touch Kx-
perirncc In n Wlilrllnn Chnlr
IB Unrk Itoum.
t It may frcatly surprise many persons to
learn the fact that everybody has a blind
lipjt In eaoh eye. Not only this , but every
tieruon has a great number of blank or
nerveless spots on the akin in which thcro
IB little or BO feallng or sensation. Thceo
facts have b cn developed by certain oxperl-
tiicnta carried on In Cornell university.
The experimenting professors aiy that
when you look at a great painting or a play ,
or a newspaper , or anything that comes
fwithln the limit of ordinary vision , you < lo
not sec It All at once. Thcro Is a epot di
rectly opposite your Individual blind spot
fwhlcli Is Invlstblo to you. It Is-so In the
Djcst of eyes. The loner anlmala are la the
amo condition.
An to the blank spots on the skin the
professors say that you could be touched
rwlth a hot Iron on one of theao places and
not feel any pain. Stranger still , those spots
nr scattered all over the body. They are
email In size , but they are to bo found on
Iho hinds , arms , face , chest , legs and feet ,
end , In fact , everywhere on the human
frame. In order to find them out , and , If
possible , make a map of a man's blank
ekln spots , the professors In Cornell ap
plied scalding water to the subject's skin.
3n places the warm water was too painful
to bo borne ; in others It could not bo felt
at all.
The blind spot In every one's eye Is a
normal peculiarity. Through the habit of
disregarding It for generations past wo luvo
lor the ordinary purposes of seeing forgot
ten It Is there. For Instance , when we look
et a blank wall we do not sec a hole , as wo
would If we wore not used to disregarding
our blind spot. What would otherwise re-
analn blank Is , so to speak , filled up. The
ibraln very kindly Illls that space for you
liy the aid of your memory. You are In a
Jncaaure , In the position of the amateur
artist who sketches in the opposite side of
em object which ho does not sec , simply bo-
causu he knows It Is there. In looking at an
object you know 'by a sort of Inherent cxyio-
irlpnco that It IB all there ; hence. In spite
of your blind spot , you think you see it
all.
CAUSB OP THE BLIND SPOT.
Blind spots are caused by thp optic nerve
Itself. That which gives to the eyeball Its
most vital principle at this particular point
detracts from It. After all , wo really see
with the bra'n. ' The ejo Is merely a camera
In which what wo look at Is photographed
on the retina , or sensitive plato , at the back.
( Now. the optic nerve onteni through the
retina , and Its very mtranco causes a break
in the smooth , reflecting surface of the
retina. It Is of a sti'ngy nature , but the so
called string ta by no means found. There
fore It alters the retina by way of whai
would he on Irregularly shaped hole. Thlf
Is the blind < yj > ot. The nerve Interferes
/with / perfect sight to the extent of an irregu
larly shaped spot In the retina. Th'n ' opot
when enlarged through tlio very natural pro
ceis of looking at a white wall a few fee
nway , appears , when outlkied In black , very
much like a splotch of Ink about as larso
as a quarter of a dollar. The shape of the
blind spot In different persona varies , juot
as does the size of their heads.
In the laboratory of psychology In Cornell
college there Is a map of the blind spot of
the eyes of Piof. TIchener , It was procured
In a very curious , * yet very simple manner ,
Cn a blank sheet of paper several feet square
there were drawn eighty meridians or llnci ,
extending In a vcrticlo curve from top to
bottom. The sheet of paper represented an
enlarged diagram of the retina of the eye.
The subject whoso blind spot was to bo
found was asked to look straight at the paper
on the wall A round pleco of black paper
one Inch In diameter was now produced and
wart moved very elowly up tnd down the
tncddlaca or curved lines on the wall. By
moving up ooo line and down the next , and
thus going from line to lime , the spot of
black was sure In the end to have passed
over every part of the design on the wall.
While It was being moved along cue of the
llnM. the professor suddenly cried out :
"Oh , I cannot see It now ! "
Then as It proceeded a little further on , ho
eald : "There , now I see It ngahi ! "
As a matter of fact his blind apot had been
In focus , eo to speak , and ho could see noth
ing at the point where the black plcco of
paper had apparently disappeared. Having
located the spot Its outline was easily as
certained by moving the black piece of paper
In and out of the focus and tracing the re
sult as the work proceeded. As bcforo stated
the resulting map appeared as a black
splotch , with Irregularly shaped tentacles
clartlcig out from it in several directions.
'Any person could trace out the blind spots
Ju his or her eyes by following the plan
outlined.
DEAD SPOTS ON TUB SKIN.
Blank or dead spots In the skin are not
eo hard to find. They exist all over the
body. When you touch anything , or when
Homo hot substance- comes In contact with
the skin , you Instantly feel It , bccauso Its
'bulk ' , lu ninoty-nino cases out of a hundred
covers not only many dead spots on the skin ,
( but equally as many sensitive spots. You
are In the habit of supposing that every
part of the skin is susceptible to pain In
duced by heat or cold , and therefore you
imagine that every portion of 'the part
"touched " is in pain. But If heat or cold can
bo conveyed to the skin through some deli
cate point of contact It will bo found that In
the aggregate eomo very extended patches
of skin are veritably dead. ,
In Cornell college thcro Is a diagram of
an ordinary man's thigh , on which are chown
epaccs which are Insensible to bcut , cold or
pain. In some places there are almost no
oensatlons of temperature. Against these
places you might almost lay a. hot Iron and
it would have but llttlo effect. You might
prick othen spots with a sharp needle , und
unites you penetrated too deeply , it would
not bo felt. Some of the Instruments are
eharply pointed affairs , heated with boiling
water. They travel forward and backward
over the tUIn , touching every mlnuto part of
ilt -succession , and reproducing , by means
of u pantagraph-Ilko instrument , as the
eensatlona of the tmbjeot indicate , a complete
diagram of the dead spaces on his skin.
NO GENUINE SENSE OF TOUCH ,
i In line with these experiments on dead
epacca ono of the biggest things Cornell baa .
' done has been ( o provo that wo have not ,
' after all , a varied sense of touch. That.Is . j
> if any part of 'tho ' body 1s touched wo do not > t
* become aware of It by any sense of acute
feeling in that part , but by the mental ptc-
i ture of the proceeding which wo Instantly
form. In othen words , the sense of touch in
normal persons is entirely dominated by
night. Suppose you are touched while in
the dark ; how do you know where- you ere '
touched ? Cornell professors assert , and say
( they have proved , that in the majority ol
cases it 1s from the picture coming in the
mind , and not by the touch at all. Aftoi
ll , we harea better Idea of the appearance :
of our bodies than wo. perhaps , credit our-
eelves with having. If you had not a very
accurate scree of tlrb appearance of youi
tody. It Is a question whether or not you
would know exactly where any part of U It
Ish
touched on occasion. The sense of touch
la evanescent at beet , and , unless you formed
mental picture at once you would not be
able to locate the sensation two minute :
afterward.
The point can easily be proved by blind
folding the eyes and touching the hand will
the end of an ordinary penholder. Having
done 10 , try to find the place where you
were touched , without looking at it. It will
ibo found almost Impossible to do it , and the
( hand being only a few Inches wide , o > en t
fraction of an Inch difference la locating the
correct spot would count much In favor ol
< ho theory. In a blind man the itate of af
fairs Is still more complicated. It itrlcker
fwlth blindness ho would have a memory picture -
turo of the appearance ot hut body , but II
born blind he could not have any vlauat m p
therefore , we have the curloui operation ol
( ho building tp of i. touch picture. The blind
Ml. kf VMtMft HMM M44 * INH AicM. kM
preconceived ideas of the general shapes and
appearance of his head , arms , legs , thorax ,
abdomen and other parts of hli body. Hence ,
when he Is touched , this Introspective picture
Immediately loom * up In his mind , nnd ho
knows that It Is hla knee , foot , hand or other
part of his body which has been touched.
WHIRLING IN A DARK ROOM.
In ono of the big dork rooms In Cornell
thcro la a curious pleco of apparatus used In
connection with these experiments In touch.
It Is a chair , the back scat and footrest ot
which can be straightened out so as to form
a reclining chair , or , when perfectly flat , a
table. It Is operated on a pivot so that the
whole affair can be spun llko a top. The man
to bo experimented upon Is asked to sit In
! t. Then the gas Is turned off and the walls
of the room are so constructed that not ono
ray of light can reveal his surroundings.
Without acquainting him with the fact that
any change. Is to bo made the chair Is moved
Into various positions. He Is maclo to sit , to
recline , and to lie down successively , and as
the changes are made ho Is asked to elate
precisely the position of his body. The mis
takes which some ot the subjects have made
have proved conclusively that when In total
darkness we have very d I ft or en t sensations
from what wo have when In the light of
day.
day.Strango
Strange things are done with this chair
In this dark room. Men are placed In It and
are whirled around until they are dizzy.
Then , when they least expect It , platinum
wires heated to brilliant whiteness are made
to glow by means of an electric current. The
subject la required quickly to point out the
spot at which the wire Is glowing. But this ,
strange to say1 , Is not always possible after
the whirling of the chair. This Is part of the
work of orientation now being carried out In
the college. THEODORE WATERS ,
I.AIIOIl A.\U IXIJUSTIIY.
Jn Switzerland laborers work eleven hours
a day.
America Is credited with 50,000 handloom
weavers.
Of the fifty-seven silk mills erected In 1897 ,
thirty-eight were In Pennsylvania.
Mexico Is now said to bo the second larg
est buyer ot electrical machinery from the
United States.
The lead production In the United States
reached a total of about 194,000 tons In
1897 , or nearly 20,000 tons more than in 1890.
Under the new charter for Greater New-
York no bread nlll bo permitted to bo made
In tlio tenement house bakeries. It Is said
theic 010 r.t present 1,700 of these.
In coal mining Alabama's gain for 1897
over 1S90 exceeds 122,000 tons , yet Birming
ham is behind with orders and several roads
are runnnlg extra trains to handle ship
ments.
The corner stone of the now cotton mil' '
tobo built at Concord , N. C. , by the Coleman -
man Manufacturing company , composed ol
colored people , was laid the other day iby
colored Masons from Italclgh and local
lodges.
There's a coal mine In the yard of
cotton mill at Cardova , Ala. "The coal usec
by the New England mills , " says the owner
of this factory , "costs $1 a ton , and for
thirty tons used per day we save $103 on coa
alt-no. "
Now England members of congress have
formulated a law authorizing the federal au
thorlty to fix the hours of labor throughout
the country. It is designed to protect Now
England cotton mills agalust their southern
competitors.
Total output of the United Statco of tax
paid tobacco during the fiscal yc-ar ending
in 1897 was 200,731,821 pounds , of which the
St. Louis district manufactured 22V4 per
cent , or nearly one-fourth ot the entire pro
ductlcn of the whole country.
The contract of the big sugar factory ai
Ouadaloupo Lake , In Santa Maria Valley
Cal. , baa been filed for record. The contraci
provides for -the cciistructlon ot a factory to
eon $484,700 , nnd that work shall begin a
coco and bo completed by September 3.
The probable value of the silk manufac
ture In this country Is $120,000,000 , to vihlcl
may bo added the Imports of 1897 , valued
at $25,000,000 , making the total consumption
In this country ot silk manufactures at $143 ,
OOO.OtKAs ) will bo eccn , about 17 per cen
ot th'e domestic consumption consists of Im
ported goods.
The brisk business that the big 'nduatrla
establishments about western Pennsylvania
are doing about this time has entailed con
sldcrablo extra work upon the factory ID
epcctors. They are engaged In the rather un
usual occupation of keeping the minors cm-
ployed in the mills id factories from work
ing overtime. According to the terms of the
factory act packed nt the last scsslca of the
legislature , no minor is permitted to work
more lhan fifty-eight hours per week.
Main 4 Is again to enter the list of copper-
mining states. The deposits , > vhlch are
numerous nnd valuable , were worked moro t
than twenty-five yrors ago , hut a sudden i
and great decline. In the prlcq ot copper
made them unprofitable ; Improved and I
cheapened method ot production Is the cause
of lesumptlon of work. Copper Is a metal I
with which the market never Is over
stocked ; although consumption Increases
lapldly from year to year , a good copper
minu Is more valuable than a gold mine.
The census of strikes In Franco during 1S97
gives a total of 47G strikes , In which were
Involved 19,841 persons. The alleged cause In
most Instances woe a demand for an Increase
of wages , shorter working hours cutting a i
much smaller figure In France than In Great t
Britain. The hours of a working day are not t
no much a matter ot consideration In conti
nental Europe , where work Is less arduous
end race vivacity Is less sparing of the clock
after the sun has set. It sceins from the flg-
urea that stubbornness Is not a salient feature -
turo In Gallic strikes. And It la also to bo
noticed that success In these Industrial rc-
prlsals la ot the email order variety. Not Icsa
than 60 per crat were utterly abortive30 )
per cent \\cre settled by compromise , ai > i
only 10 per cent secured the plum they
sought to reach.
Among the Industrial Items of valuable In
formation contained in the Blue Book of the
United Kingdom of Ute Issue , not the
least Important are tboao relating to the
mines. It appeals that during the year 1S3G
thy total output of coal was 11)5,361,200 ) tons ,
of which amount only 9,300 tons wcro ob
tained from open quart Ic. ? ; ( teams worked In
England vary from eleven or twelve Inches
to thirty feet In thickness < uid In Scotland
scams of canncl coal only six inches in
thickness are being worked. For cobalt and
nickel ore the only ralno worked U In
Flintshire , which , after being Idle for sev
eral years , has lately been reopened. Cop
per mining la rapidly Increasing In extent.
Flint-mining tlll survives In Brandon , the
product of a few shallow mines operated In
a most primitive manner sufficing to supply
tha gradually diminishing demand for gun
flint ; . The total quantity of ircn ore ob
tained from the mines and quarries last
jear waa 12,500,000 tons.
Tilt ! WOUAX OP TOlfctV.
S. E. Klwr In Clc\ eland Leader.
The women folks have ceased to hold
_ The place they held of yore ;
, They used to be , so we are told ,
But babes , or llttlo more.
They never went , to college then ,
Nor shouldered worldly cares
Today they push aside the men ,
And seek to run affairs.
The knowing woman on today '
Stands at the bar nnd pleads ,
She saws a shattered leg nway , ,
Nor shudders as it bleeds ;
f She leaves her brother at the rear
In play and essay writing ,
But still when clouds of war appear
Man has to do the fighting.
Oh where are JCoe nnd Genevlovc ,
Those gcntlo maidens who
Erst sat at home to ipln and weave
With Geraldlne nnd Pruo ?
The spinning wheel Is put away
The loom is sono to smash ,
And you may hear those maids , today
In chorus ciylng : "Cash ! "
The woman of today can run
A sawmill or a bank ;
The woman of today has won
Away her brother's rank ;
She wears his coat , his vest , hla hat ,
She goes Into the mnrt.
And takes n pride in knowing that
She plays a manly part.
The busy woman of today
Eats breakfast at the dawn.
And to her office hies away
To keep the old world running on !
At last , ihe thinks , Hho knows her worth
And looks on men as cattle.
Whose only use upon this earth
Is to meet the foe In battle.
Arnold's Brome C lery cures
Me. Mo M Mfc All ArantoU.
< a
- " -c-yac.t' niSi.y.MiM&aias
SAUCY TALK IN CONGRESS
[ ample Instances of Repartee in Ecnato
and House.
HOW TOM REED SQUELCHED SPRINGER
nil of Wit llniiiUcd In Itiiirutuiu
Uclinlc Often llcoonn- More .Mem-
ornltlc Tim 11 the 'Mont ' Klnb-
ornte Oration.
Many a tilt In congress has bccomo his
toric and many a phllllplc In the capital
stntula prominent In congressional reinlnls-
censes. At least once a day , writes Congress
man A. J. Cummlngs in the Washington
Post , In some part ot the United States John
Randolph's characterization of John Qulncy
iVdams and Henry Clay is repeated , Nor Is
ilandolph'o encounter with the Ilbodo Island
shoemaker , who became a United Stalcu
senator , forgotten. It was equalled , how
ever. In modern days by "William M , Spring
er's encounter with Tom Heed and the pasa-
ago at arms between General Splnola and
Elijah Adams Morse , Mr. Springer was ad
dressing the house upon some question of
public policy. In fluent language ho outlined
his Ideas , filling in the Interstice : . ' with co
pious quotations and riveting them with
Illinois logic. As ho concluded the great
man from Malno threw open the lid ot hla
det'k ' and disclosed nn old copy of the Con
gressional Record. Turning over Its leaves ,
he brought to light a choice Intellectual
morsel. Ho read the extract to the house
\vlth a broad Yankee ennunclatlon. It was
a complete refutation of the argument of
the member from Illinois. The reading end
ed , Mr.-Reed threw the Congressional Record
Into his desk and closed Ihe lid. Then turnIng -
Ing to Mr. Springer , he remarked In a clear
tone of volte : "Such was the language of
the gentleman from Illinois in the forty-
fourth congress. Ho made no comment , but
took his scat , the house regarding the Illi
nois member with some astonishment. Mr.
Springer arose somewhat nervously. In hur-
iled words ho began hly reply. Ho fald that
this was an ago of progress progress in art ,
sclenco and politics. Asldo from this condi
tions change. The surrounding circumstances
In the forty-fourth congress were different.
Deyoud all this men'ti opinions change. Sir
Robert Peel , when advocating the corn laws ,
was by no means the Sir Robert Peel of
twenty years before. Wise men were always
governed by their convictions , regardless of
former opinions. He ( Mr. Springer ) was no
exception to the general rule. In the lan
guage of nn eminent American statesman ,
"Ho would rather bo right than bo pnal-
dent. "
"Yes , " replied Mr. Reed , drawling out the
words , "but you'll never be either. "
The house was convulsed with laughter.
It was a hit so palpable that It was some
minutes bcforo the members could be brought
to order.
' " "
HARD RAP AT ELIJAH MORSE.
The tilt between General Splnola and Eli
jah Adams Morse was equally as entertain
ing. The general always wore an enormous
standing collar. It wcs so large that It Is
.util that Tim Campbell approacehd him ono
day and tapped the collar with the ferule of
his cane , apologetically asking : "Is General
Spinola within ? " Mr. Morse was making a
sort of prohibition speech against the sale
of Intoxicating liquors In army cantccna.
General SplnoM hal interrupted hlnr several
times nnd in reply the Massachusetts states
man finally twitted him upon the size of hla
collar. It clung the general to the quick.
Taking the floor some minutes afterward he
called attention to Morse's language. "My
collar , " said he , "unlike the gentleman from
Massachusetts , Is Immaculately clean , acid
If It was twice as high as It Is nnd was placed
around the neck ot the gentleman frdm
Massachusetts , It would not serve to hide ha !
ears. "
rTho general was a political curio. Ho hid
a striking face and a martial air. In the
Fifty-first congress he threw the hc.uso Into
convulsions by pointing to the painting rep
resenting a scone at the slego of Yorktown
and gravely accusing1. Speaker ReeJ ot count
ing the Hessians therein to make up a quo
rum.
rum.There
There are dreary periods of discussion In
joth houses. Very few men have the- faculty
of making themselves entertaining. When
debate lacks vim , nerve and vigor , the cloak
rooms and lobbies arc filled with weary mem i-
bers. There they talk and smoke and sleep it
with the monotonous dronlngs ot unlntercst-
Ing orators filling their ears. In a twinkling
tl'
ling two members on the lloor may have
a tilt. It may not last thirty seconds , but
Iho uproar fills the houao and from lobby
and cloak room the members rush in eager
to ascertain what has happened.
HEPBURN'S SHARP RETORT.
There has been many a tilt slnco the hoi-
llday recess of more or less Interest. Ono between
tween William P. Hepburn of Iowa and
Champ Clark ot Missouri was extremely
amusinrc. It occurred during an effort tc
divide the time for debate on the civil service
bill. Mr. Hepburn assumed that the time
would bo divided between those who favored
the repeal of the measure and those whc
were opposed to any moJincatlon. Ho said
that the sontlcman on the other side , refer
ring to the democratic side , wcro In favor ol
the destruction of the present system. There
was a largo number of gentlemen who slmplj
wanted It modified. That made three sides
In the house. Hero Champ Clark broke lute
the ring. "I would llko to know , " said ho
"how you como to the conclusion that every-
body on this sldo is In favor of the repeal
ot the whole business ? "
"Simply bccauso that would be wrong , "
Mr. Hepburn responded. There was general
laughter. Champ Clark himself Joined in
while Hepburn's party friends applauded tc
the echo.
Not long afterward Mr. Pearson of North
Carolina was discussing the question. 1I (
was denouncing the Civil Servlco'commlsslor
when Mr. Swanson of Virginia asked him tc
yield for a question. Pearson protested ant
Swanson persisted , saying , "I am Vlth yoi
In this matter , but I want to ask you a ques
tion. "
In reply Mr. Pearson said : "I know mj
friend Is all right , but lot mo reach my vert
with a few adjectives and I will listen tc
him. "
This settled Mr. Swanson. Ho sat dowr
with a smile and Pearson continued his ar
gumcnt. A moment afterward another per
sistent questioner , Mr , Kerr of Ohio , ap
peared. Turning to him , the North. Care
llnian said : "Any fcol can ask a question
but it takes a different "sort ot an indlvidua
to answer It. '
On the face of It the reply appeared rough
but it was really not meant for the membci
who asked the question. The North Caro.
llnian meant to apply It to the examlnatlor
of candidates for ofllco before the Clvl
Service commission.
LANDIS AND JOHNSON.
Probably the strongest speech against th <
Civil Service commission was roado by'Mr
Landis of Indiana. His colic-ague , Mr. John
son. was equally as strong a supporter o
civil service. During Mr. Landis' speech IN
was repeatedly Interrupted by hta colleagui
end others. Twlco wai bis time extended
After the last extension , Mr. Johnson agali
claimed bis attention , saying that he wantec
to ask him a question. Mr. Landis thrlci
declined to yield. Mr. Johnson reminded bin
that his tlmo had been repeatedly extended
"I know that , " was the response. "The houai
has been too kind to me. "
"Well. " said Mr. Johneon. arcaatlcally
"I think so myself. "
This created unccotrollable laughter. No
long afterward Mr. Johnson obtained tbi
floor and zpoke Icng and vehemently. Sever a
times ho was interrupted by Mr. Landis. A
laat he refused to listen to further Intcrrup
tloas. Landis , claiming that he had boei
misrepresented , wai urging bin question
when Mr. Johnson abruptly said , "I deellm
to bo Interrupted by the gentleman' . "
"You dare not be Interrupted , " quoth Mr
Land la.
Turning toward blm , Mr. Johnson replied
"That sounds llko the challenge of a plgm <
to a giant , and I pay myself no very hlgi
compliment when I aay It. "
There was a lively little tilt while Jerr
Simpson was discussing the paragraph o !
seeds ; Id the agricultural appropriation bill
.An effort was being made to strike out th <
appropriation for their purchase and dlstrl
button. Jerry 'aid that 300,000 people live. .
la bl district , and they were nearly ill
farawm. Tk * Mtt M rtbutiM WM abou
the only thing that kftifthem In touch with
the government at WflJl filngton. "It U the
only benefit they get In Ihe line ot paternal-
Ism" , " ho added. , .
Hero General Henderson of Iowa shouted ;
"Well , you are a conn'e'pUiv * link , Jerry. "
"Yea , sir , " respondH ttio statesman from
Medlctcc Lodge ; "ann'T-am a farmer who
fnrm.1 the farm and upT.'iho farmer. "
"PERSONAL CUCKOO PARTY. "
A laughable Incldcnt'oecurred while Gen
eral Grosvenor wjs discussing the civil serv
ice question. He referred to William E. Bar-
rctt of Massachusetts' 'one ' who had bten
suddenly born Into tile kingdom of the per
sonal cuckoo party. Wr.f.Uarrett a moment
afterward interrupted-"htm by : alng that ho
wanted a report of thd Words used In refer
ence to the cuckoo mailer. It was evident
that ho was Incensed at General Qrosvcnor's
remark. In h'.J interruption ho nsld : "I
asked him ( General Orosvonor ) BOltt vooo to
whom ho referred and he said that he re
ferred to me. "
"Yes , " Grosvenor replied ; "thero was so
much voce or so much sotto that I did nut
hear the remark. "
In the debate on the Indian appropriation
bill Jerry Simpson made an attack on tht
DlnsIoy ? bill. Governor Dlngley , in reply ,
slid that during Jerry's services In paat con
gresses ho had always dwelt upon the miser
ies In Kansas. In thU session not a word
had been heard from him about these miser
ies. This was an Indication of progress.
Jerry shouted back : "Well , governor , I will
say that Kansas Is now under populist rule
and ho.3 no miseries. "
"That's misery enough In Itself , " roared
General Henderson of Iowa. And everybody
guffawed.
In a discussion concerning the Teller reso
lution the veteran Groavcnor was neatly
turned by his colleague , James A. Norton.
Norton accused him of endorsing the de
monetization of silver. Grosvenor said that
ho was not In the house at the time It was
done. "You were one of the gentlemen , "
Mr. Norton insisted.
"I was not , " General Grosvcnor replied.
"I was an humble and private citizen of the
state. "
"You were not an humble and private cit
izen , " Mr. Norton shouted. "You have al
ways been a public and a noisy one. "
The retort excited great laughter , because
Grosvenor usually comes out ahead In such
contests. _ _ _
CHRISTIANIZING THE INDIANS.
A laughable Incident occurred during the
consideration of the Indian appropriation
bill. Mark Smith of Arizona was ridiculing
the Idea of educating the Indian. Ho alluded
to the thousands of Indians In Arizona and
wanted to know what they would do with
them when they learned to read and write.
Mr. James Sherman of Utlca replied that
they would make citizens out ot them.
"Yes , " responded Smith , "you would make
a citizen out of him ay soon as he could olng
u psalm. "
"Yes , " put In Mr. Sherman , "wo would
make a Christian citizen out of him then. "
To which Mark responded : "And all that
ho Is able to do Is to reclto n verro and sing
a psalm. There are 'thelvcs ' In the peniten
tiary who can do both. "
"I do not know about that , " said Mr. Sher
man gravely. "I never was In the peniten
tiary. "
Another amusing scene occurred when
Henry D. Clayton of Alabama was compar
ing the manufacturers' dinner In Now York
at which President MoKInley was a guest
with Belt'hazzon's feeatvHo said that they
dined In a hotel that Icoat $10,000,000 at
banquet that cost $1C OT $20 a plato. " 01
no ! " shouted Albert iM. VTodd cf Kalamazoo
"A thousand platcss were spread there a
$100 each. " "My gracious ! " exclaimed Mr
Clayton. "Fifteen of twenty dollars otigh
to have been enough ; ! A : man who fits tha
. much at a meal eats a < bale of cotton ii
Alabama. "
"Yes , " interjected Jerry Simpson , "fifteen
or twenty dollar's wpuhl ihardly pay for the
. toothpicks at such aJmoal. "
"Well , " said LongUlm rRlchardson of Ten
ncssce , "a man who w6uld eat a hundrei
dollars' worth at a jicali would eat up two
mules In Tennessee. ' *
Representative Jamessllamllton Lewis o !
Wauhlngton-stato In impre ilhan one Instance ,
pro'ved his' ' ability to say a-smart thing ( In
the right placo. It wasi a stormy day for
the Pacific coast reprcaentatlvea , who wen
trying to secure appropriations for their har
bors. Senator Wilson of 'Washington state ,
who served many years In 'tho house , sal
much of the tlmo by Mr. Lewis' sldo as he
engaged In the fray with such heavyweights
aa Chairman Cannon and Representative
Dockery. In discussing the appropriation
for the harbor at Seattle , Chairman Cannon
ny contradicted ono of Representative Lewis'
nk statements as incorrect , nnd was asked by
k n Mr. Lewis to prcvo that It was incorrect.
"Oh , if I undertook to provo the Incor
rcctncss of nil the statements of the gentleman
P " "Undo Joe1
man from Washington , replied
t- with fervor , "it would take till doomsday and
a llfo beyond. "
o "That's because of the immutability o :
'
truth , " rejoined Mr. Lewis.
AMENITIES IN TUB SENATE.
So much for amenities In the house. And
the senate Is not behindhand. The other day
- Senator Allen of Nebraska was talking. Sen
- ator Spooner of Wisconsin said that if th' '
senator would read the rule carefully ho mus
admit that ho was mistaken. Mr. Allen re
piled that he was not a skilled parllamen
tarlan like his friend from Wisconsin. Mr ,
Spooner said that the senator from Nebraska
very greatly exceeded him In that respect
"Or llko my friend from Malno ( Mr. Frye ) , '
continued Mr. ( Allen , "who shakes his heac
at my proposition. I wish ho would nod 1
occasionally ; it would be gratifying. "
"I.-wish I could" , " responded Senator Frye
"and preserve my conscience. "
"Oh , I don't think that would trouble yoi
a great deal , " Senator Allen nonchalantly
, responded , and oven Senator Hoar tittered
- Probably the finest specimen of scnatorla
amenity , however , was shown In the reccn
speech of Senator Mason of Illinois on Cuba
In an unparalleled exordium ho said : "Wha
in the name of God have wo done to kcej
our promise as to Cuba , except that the sen
ate has passed the belligerency rcsolutlo :
end it is not certain whether or not ho wll
pass It at the other end ot the capital. " Th !
created considerable laughter. "I shoul
have said 'it , ' " Mason continued , evldontl ;
Intending to substltuto the 'it' for the won
"he. "
These incidents In the senate bring to mini
a remark of Hon. Timothy J. Campbell In
the house of representatives. Ho had Just
entered the chamber and was passing down
the main aisle , when he heard the words
"liar" and "scoundrel" used by two members
in the arena fronting the clerk's desk. "Mr.
Speaker , " Tim shouted , and when recognized
- replied : "I beg-your pardon , I took this for
the house of representatives and not the
> United States senate. "
On the previous day Senator Voorhccs ot
Indiana had characterized Senator Ingalls as
a dirty dog and an unmanly liar.
IMIMKTIUS.
.
"Brother Halcede , " said the minister , "I
am surprised to hear that you whipped your
ton for saying that ho didn't bcllevo In the
weather predictions of the almanac. "
"By the tlmo you have lived as long as
I have , " responded Mr. Haleedo. "you'll
krow that the tlmo to t lp Infidelity Is in the
bud. "
Dr. Temple , the ArehlSbop of Canterbury ,
entered an east end chutch one eight , and
standing in the back fxs * joined in tbe sing
ing of a Moody and Sankey hymn. Next , to
him stood a worklnifinan who was singing
lustily In tune. The bishop sang lustily too ,
but not In tune. . Thc vwtiklngman stood the
discord as long as bo .could , and then , nudg
ing the tlshop , said * it a whisper : "Here ,
dry up , mister ; you're spoiling the show ! "
The new pistor of the Central Methodist
church , San Francisco , where worship the
largest flock of followers of the remote John
Wesley , In San Francisco , Is most outspoken ;
and In hla vocabulary a spade Is called a
spade. His nime Is Charles K. Locke , and
ho la young , vigorous and bright.
When Dr. Locke first came to San Fran
cisco from the east by the way of Portland ,
he was bothannoyed and distressed by tbe
addlctcdnrss of his congregatlon.7to the un
pleasant habit" known In clerics ! " circles as
" the amen rush. " Even more trying to the
divine than this sudden bolting ot the wor
shippers was their Irreverent preparation for
escape as tbeservice was drawing to a
close.
Thd members ot that church retire In a
more orderly fashion since they were elec
trified by a recent announcement.
"Those ot you who do not get your coats
on during the closing prayer , " remarked tha
young dirlae with quiet Irony , "can do so
O taMdktiw. "
FROM GAIETY TO SORROW
A Dreadful Explosion that Btnitlcd the
Nation Fifty-Four Years Ago.
DESTRUCTION OF THE PEACEMAKER
Ilurxtln * of ( lie ( front CJtiti with Dire
ful Itcniiltn 1 linln ln > - for
\Yaxliliiuloii OnicInU Turned
Into One of Morrow
Whether Investigation ehill show the
blowing up of the United States man-of-war
Maine to have been the result of an Internal
explosion of Its own 'magazines ' or a plan
laid and carried to Its conclusion by subjects
of the Spanish crown , the tcrrlblo disaster
ot Havana harbor In all Its horrlblo and
awful details must recall to the mlnda of the
older generation of American men and
women memories of that frightful accident
of 1844 when on the afternoon of February
23 a number of the highest officials ot thin
country \\cre killed by the explosion ot
Commodore Stockton's great gun , the Peace
maker , on board the ship Princeton , In the
1'otomac river.
It wai a gala day in Washington. 'For
months Commodore Stockton had superin
tended the casting of the great gun the
most formidable weapon of war the United
States had up to that time over possessed.
Finally , when the Peacemaker , as the great
iun was called , was finished and mounted
n the deck ot the man-of-war Princeton ,
ut recently sent out from the Philadelphia
svy yards , Couimodoro Stockton Issued In-
ttations to hundreds ot the executive de
partment and society of Washington to eall
s his guests down the Potomac on board the
'rlnceton for on Inspection of the great gun.
The 28th of February was the diy tot for
lie excursion down the river and from suu-
Iso until 10 o'clock In the morning carriage
fter carriage rolled up to the convoy's
lank and discharged their freight celebrl-
Ics ot the diplomatic1 departments , cabinet
ncmbers , the falrcet women and best known
nen In Washington and national society , In-
hullng John Tyler , president of the United
States.
A GALA PARTY.
Boarding the steamer that was to carry
hem to the Princeton , 400 men and women
glittering In the gold ot ofllc.'al uniforms
inil beautiful In the gowns t'mt ' marked the
'ashlon of that Interesting period 'In our na-
lonal history were carried down to the great
ship. Commodore Stockton and his sub-olll-
ccw received them in full uniform.
The government ship hove anchor and
made sail. She bore down upon Fort Wash-
ngton and Mount Vernon , her white sails
full In the breeze.
rust Fort Washington where the Potomac
expands , presenting sufficient ncope for the
range of the Princeton's great guns , the for
ward guns were shoMcd and fired , the ball
striking the water and rebounding six tlmea
until the eye could no longer follow Its prog
ress.
ress.But
But the time had not como for the firing of
the Peacemaker. Besldo It a scaffold plat
form had been erected for the ladlca and nt
the foot at the stalnvay leading thereto
stood Secretary Upshur Intent upon wltn/MO-
Ing the whole scene. A newspaper man
offered his position on the scaffold to the
Secretary , but the latter declined , saying ho
preferred to stand where ho was and where
a few moments later ho was torn to pieces.
"And now the Peacemaker , " exclaimed
Commodore Stockton , as ho ordered the gun.
ncr to load the great Instrument of war.
The charge was placed in position and thrust
home. The carriage was ewung so the muzzle -
zlo pointed to leeward. The group at the
rear stood with bated breath. Directly bs-
hlnd the breech stood Stockton and araund
him I. Washington Lyson , assistant postmas
ter general ; ' Mr. Strickland of Philadelphia ;
Colonel Benton of Missouri , Senator Phclpa of
Vermont ; Secretary ot State Upshur , Secre
tary of the Navy Gllmer ; 'Mr. ' iMaxey , charge
d'affaires of Belgium ; Hon. William Gardiner
of New York , and Commander Kennon , chief
of the navy bureau.
THE SHOCK OF DEATH.
"Ladles and gentlemen , " shouted Stock
ton , "are you ceady ? "
"Yes. "
President Tyler had answered for the as
semblage from his position on the bridge.
The great gun wa3 fired. A murderoua
blast succeeded ! The uCiolc ship shook and
reeled. A dense loud of smoke enveloped
everything , but when It blew away a eight
beyond description and too tcrrlblo to de
scribe were It possible so to do mot the ej
of those occupying positions on the fore
castle. The guci bad burst at a point three
and one-half feet from the breech and ocat-
tered death and desolation all about the deck.
The lower part of the gun from the trun
nions to the breech had been blown oft and
a half sectleti ot it lay on the breast ol' the
newspaper man mentioned. U took two cult *
ors to remove It. When the horror of the
explosion danticd upon the ml mis of the
unharmed onlookers the shrieks and grouna
were tcrrlblo to hear. Wives ran to the
bleeding and mangled bodies of their husbands
lying prone on the deck , In some cases wild
an arm or a leg or a whole half of the body
blown away. Secretary U [ > 3hur's clothes wcro
torn from his body and ono side of his head
had been blown off. Governor Gllmer ot
Virginia , secretary of tlio navy , was literally
torn to pieces. Mr. Maxey , Mr. Gardiner ,
ono of whoso daughters subsequently be
came the wife of President Tyler , and Com
modore Kennon all died In frightful agony ,
with parts of their bodies gone , belore med
ical assistance could bo rendered them.
Commodore Stocktcn , all the ball * burned
from his head and face and with bis uni
form lu shrcda , mounted the gun carriage
and surveyed the tcrrlblo scene before him.
Sailors ccrapThlng the gun crow lay on file
deck one might almo.it say In fragments
sonio with arms , legs , porticos of bodies and
entire heads gone. Tlio cries nnd fihrleka of
the unharmed and the walls and moans of
Uio dying filled the air and the scene was
ono of the most harrowing devastation.
Colonel Ilcnton , Judge Phelp.1 and Mr. Strick
land lay stretched and still upon the deck.
Over a score of men were killed by thki
frightful explosion , but , strange to 'say ,
decplto their presence on the scene not a
single woman was hurt , though ono stood
between two men , both of whom wcro
killed.
The news of the frightful disaster on board
the Princeton was sent back to Waahlngtcn
from Mount Vernon. The bodies of the dead
and the unhurt were taken back to the city
by separate steamero that were at once dis
patched to the Princeton.
In Washington all was gloom end mourn
ing. It was the saddest affair In the history
of the country , and on the next day when
was held the funeral of all the dead the
entire capital followed the hearses to the
burial grounds. Accompanied by minute
guns end the tolling of bells and the rolling
of drums the dreary cavalcade slowly made
Its way through the streets of Washington
a cltv that was within a day converted from
a pageant Into a tomb.
Concerning the great gun , the explosion of
which resulted In the horrible los > of life
on board the Princeton , It had been made In
: < 0 > v York under the direction of Commo
dore Stockton. The weight of the Peace
maker ' was ten ton * ; Its length was fifteen
feet. with a bore of twelve Inches. It car
ried fc ball weighing 223 pounds. An ordi
nary charge was thirty pounds of powder.
It lad : bern tesied with a charge ot forty-
nine pounds. It exploded with a cliargj ol
tweoty-flvo noun-'ls.
on. IllNlory.
Chicago Tribune : With her babe elappp <
closely to her bonom Bllra sprang upoi
the floating Ice nnd dashed madly across tlu
nuollen stream , luuplng- from block to block
heedlora of the thousand deathn that threat
ened her , and bent only on escaping from
Morrow \voree than denth.
Behind her was slavery.
Before her was liberty.
And the raging torrent of the Ohio , on
whoso turbid bosom floated swirling cake >
of broken Ice , rolled between.
Yells ot rage from her bullied purnupn
reached her ears , growing fainter am
fainter as she sped on her perilous Journey
She reached the opposite bank.
Then and not till then , did oho look bo
hind her ,
Standing on free soil nnd breathing the at
of liberty ube turned nnd shoo * her flat a
the human bloodhounds -whose figures sn <
could see llmly on the farther iboro.
"Talking about yer cak walks , " she slid
"how's tttr I . 1
Spring is knocking at Iho door.
Are you ready ?
We want to acquaint you Avitli
tlio now and unusual in tailoring
a place where cheapness is not
studied at the expense.of quality ,
nothing shoddy , nothing fancy
priced , but the best within rea
sonable selling mark.
Careful dressers are rapidly discovering the fact that ifc
pays to trade with Nicoll.
It's not alone the price. It's a better variety better
workmanship better trimming better all around satisfac
tion than you'll find among the imitators. Look around town ,
then como to us.
Our superior facilities for prompt work , enables us to
give you well made garments at short time notice. Suits in
24 hours pants in 0 hours. Is that quick enough ?
Trousers $4 to $12. Suits $15 to $50
Sprino Overcoats , $15 to $40. .
209 and 2U S. 15th St. - - - Karbnch Block
in 0innhu
tire to be found In
Omaha's Palace Office Building
Strictly fireproof
Electric light by day and night
Perfect ventilation
Day and all night elevator service
Steam heat
All Modem Conveniences
The best janitor service in the city. Offi-23 retucd at reason
able rates. Prices include light , heat , water
and janitor service.
Directory of Bee Building Tenants :
GROUND FLOOR.
WYCKOFF , SEAMANS & ' BENEDICT. THIJ OMAHA LOAN AND liUILPINO A3.
Remington Typowiltcrs find Supplies. SOC'IATION , O. M. Nattlnger. Secretary.
FOREST LAWN CEMETERY ASSOCIA MUTUAL LOAN AND BUILUINCASSO -
TION. CIATION.
, DEE BUILDING B Ml HER SHOP , Fred ROBERT I'RITCHARD , Loans.
lluelow. Proprietor. U. E. CAMI'llELL , Court Rotunda , Clgnra
JOHN KELKUNNY , The Lobby. nnd Tobacco ,
IFIRST FLOOR.
BEE BUSINESS OFFICE. SUPERINTENDENT HEH BUILDING.
MUTUAL RESERVE FUND LIFE ASSN. WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH OF.
OMAHA WATER COMPANY. FICE.
SECOND FLOOR.
DR. HIPPLE , Dentist. HUGH MURPHY , Contractor.
DR. DAVIS. DR. CHARLE3 RO3EWATER.
OSTROM BROS & SOLOMON , Fire In- EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE SO.
Buranco. C1ETY.
C S ELGUTTER. Law Olllco. HEAD & BECKETT , Attorneys.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE READING ROOMS. DR. A. K. DETW1LER.
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE IN NE\V HYGIENE INSTITUTE.
SURANCE CO. , John Steel , Gen. Agent.
TIIIUD FLOOR.
CANTON BRIDGIT CO. . Ward , GUlcsim & VIAVI COMPANY.
Towle. Western Agents. OMAHA WHIST CLUB.
DR SIORIARTY , Oculist and. Aurlst. PACIFIC MUTUAL LIKE INS. CO. , A. V.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE ROOMS. Todil , General Agent.
n. W. PATRICK , Law Office. PROVIDENT SAVINGS LIFE ASSUR
DR. O. S. HOFFMAN. ANCE SOCIETY OF NEW YORK. M. F.
EQUITY COURT ROOM NO. 0. Rohrer , Agent.
B. W. SIMERAL. WM. SIMERAL , Law THE GRANT PAVING COMPANY. Street
binccs. 'Pavements nnd Sidewalks , John a rant ,
WEBSTER , HOWARD & CO. . Flro Insur Supeilntcndcnt.
ance.
FOURTH FLOOR.
F J SUTCLIFFE , Stenographer. OMAHA COAL EXCHANGE.
FIDELITY MUTUAL LIFE ASSOCIA W. A. WEBSTER , Real Ewtate.
TION , PHILADELPHIA. PA. , Van B. WASHINGTON LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY -
Lady. Manager. PANY , New York ; F. C. Tym , Gen. Agent.
DR. FREDERICK F. TEAL. CIIAULK3 L. THOMAS , Real Kstnto.
NASON & NASON , Dentists. PENN. MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO.
II. B. BOYLEri , School of Stenography. DEXTER L. THOMAS , Real Estate.
O W SUES & CO. , Solicitors of Patents. DR. HANCHETT.
PROVIDENT LIFE AND TRUST COM A. R. CUYLER & CO. . Dentists' Supplies.
PANY. Philadelphia ; A. Lansing , General. EQUITY COURT. Room No. 7.
Agent. THE ROYAL OAKS.
DR. L. A. MERRIAM. C. B , UATES
C. U. ALLEN , Knights of the Forest.
FIFTH FLOOR.
I ARMY HEADQUARTERS-DEPARTMENT OF THE PLATTI2.
SIXTH FLOOR.
W. T. GRAHAM. STATE MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO. .
WM. G. URE. Worcester , Muss , ; J. W. Craig , GvnuiAl
BKB EDITORIAL ROOMS. Agent.
BEfJ COMPOSING ROOMS. MANUFACTURERS' AND CONSUMERS'
U B GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. ASSOCIATION.
MANHATTAN LIFE INSURANCE CO. . O. E. TURKINGTON , Attorney.
J. W. Dean & Bon , General Agents.
SEVEJiTH FLOOR.
ROYAL ARCANUM LODGE UOOM3.
VOH MATK * , KTC. . APPLY TO TUB ilJI'EHI.VTmDEST. KOOM IOC ,