10 THE OMAHA DAI&Y BEE : SUNDAY , JANUAHY I , 1899. A QUEEN'S HIGH TEMPER. New Stoiies of Wilhelmina of Holland as a Girl , Slnco slo was a very young child the little princess has had a complete Idea of her own Importance. She was hardly C years old when she had the meailes. This Icknesi plunged the court In mortal anxiety. Ono night , when Queen Emma , worn out with watching the llttlo Invalid , bad been forced to peck a few minutes of lecp , two old and very exalted noblewomen , who were permitted to share the duties of the queen , sat watching the royal child. They supposed that she -was nsleep , and like the old women that they were , they be gan to Bchomo and Indulge forebodings for the future of Holland. Thcro lay the llttlo princess , apparently asleep , and there sat the two haughty old noblewomen gossiping and turning their gold spoons In their per fumed tea. Bcforo daybreak Queen Emma came back to the sick room , and kissing the little girl's feverish fingers , she asked faer If she was 'hotter. "Oh , much better , moedorchen , " answered the llttlo princess "and It Is well that I am. * Only to think of Itl When -wo realize that between poor Holland and those frightful Germans there Is only a gouty old codger and my young life ! " Queen Emma , who Is a very sweet- tempered woman and kind-hearted , looked with soft reproach at the noble old fright ened watchers , and she proved to them by her ullcnce that there wcro some good ones , even among "those frightful Germans. " As Wilhelmina grow , the king himself con tributed by the extreme severity of hU r r < . I. I.U 9ft 9X ft ftI I i Itft ft li 2R I who will tell everything. Papa made me promlso not to hide anything from him. " "When your papa made you promise that ho was well , " eald the queen ; "now he Is sick ; I forbid you to disturb him. " But without answering , the llttlo girl pressed on toward the door. The queen and the baroness exchanged desperate looks of wild fear. Suddenly Queen Emma pushed the child back Into the room , locked the door and assuming a majestic air , by no means familiar to her , she stretched forth her hand and said solemnly : "Princess , the queen of Holland commands you to re main In this room and to be silent ! " The llttlo princess stopped short , reflected a second and then , making a deep rever ence , In which , at that tlmo she was drilled dally , she said : "If It Is the queen who orders , I obey , " and then turning to the baroness , "I hope , " said she , "that tuch a thing shall not occur again ! " "It shall not , " said the baroness , "for I shall have the sorrow thla day to put my resignation Into the hands of the queen. I hope that her highness may very soon have a governess better able to please her than I have been , " and she kept her word in spite of the grief of the little princess , wlo , notwithstanding her tricks and her temper , had the heart of a little girl and had always loved the kind governess. As Wilhelmina grew to be a young lady the question of her toilets became a burnIng - Ing ono for the queen , whose ultra-simple table upon which stood a lighted candle , As usual , the cat was at his elbow. Suddenly the light went out. Dickens ws deepfy In terested in his book , and he proceeded to relight the candle , stroking the cat while he did so. Afterward ho remembered that puss had looked at him somewhat reproachfully while she received the caress. It was only when the light again became dim that the reason ot her melancholy suddenly dawned upon him. Turning quickly , be found her. deliberately putting out the randle with her paw , and again she looked at him appcal- Ingly. She was lonesome ; she wanted to be petted , and this was her device for gaining her end. " A DOG'S STRATEGY. A Good Done TrlcU that Proved Suc cessful. "Don may bo less active tbsn In his youth , " said the owner of an old shepherd dog , "but his intelligence is by no means on the decline. He has been very much annoyed of late by the conduct of a neigh bor's dog that Is too lazy to bury bones for Its own consumption , but greatly enjoys un earthing the treasures of others. When Don'had been cheated out of several of his hoarded stores In this way ho evidently meditated over the matter until a bright idea came to him. One day , after dinner , when the neighbor's dog Was out of the way , Don began to dig a hole not far from where I sat watching him. I noticed that ho dug the hole unusually deep and In it he deposited a large and highly desirable bone. Then he covered It well over with earth , disappeared for a moment and came trotting back with a small bone which bad seen Us best days , but was still oed enough , in Don's opinion , for a thief. This bone he laid on the earth which hid the big one and scraped the earth over It with elaborate care. I was enough interested In this clever ruse to watch results and had the satisfaction of seeing that It was entirely 4 I ? i QUEEN WILHELMINA IN STATE ROBES. 2 orders and the austerity with which he sur rounded his little presumptive successor to the Importance of which she was even then eo well convinced. The princess was taken for a walk In the -woods of Lee every mornIng - Ing , and the old king had Issued an order that this promenade was not to be Inter rupted , no matter v.hat might bo the ex cuse. The governess was under rigid orders to march at the side of her little charge during an hour at least. Teacher and pupil were to proceed straight ahead for a certain distance , and then they were to turn and walk bock at the same pace. Instructive and interesting conversation ( was to enliven the promenade , and there was to be no diversion from it ; this dally walk was an almost unsupportable bore for the little princess. Ono day the Baroness von R , who was ono t > t the most amiable women at the dreary Court of Lee , was taking the cus tomary walk with her royal charge when , at a turn In the path , she came face to face with her only brother , whom oho had not eeen for three years. Ho had Just re turned from Java and was on his horse on his way to the palace to greet his sister. Ho sprang from his horse and , taking his sister In hla arms , ho covered her checks with honest , fraternal kisses. At this spec tacle Miss Wilhelmina , who was at that time seven years old , began to sniff in the air and act -with so much agitation that the baroness , recovering from her Joyful sur prise , understood that she had been guilty ot misdemeanor , and she hurriedly dismissed her brother , telling him to call on her at the palace. The llttlo princess did not say one word , neither did her governess , for she had become very anxious , and In silence the teacher and the pupil began the repast which always awaited them when their dally -walk was finished. Suddenly the child , look ing out upon the terrace , saw the king rid ing about In the sun In his rolling chair , drawn by his servant. "There is my father , " aid Wllhemlna. "I am going to tell him what you did In the forest. " Madam von R caught her by the arm. "You will not do that , " said she , much frightened. "You know that the king Is very elck and that nothing must disturb him ; he might die If you should nnnoy him. I am going myself to tell the queen about It. " "Mamma ? ' ! It was not mamma who gave the orders ; it was papa ; and It Is he whom you have disobeyed. " "Take carol" cried the baroness , who was beside herself with terror "there will be a terrible scene. " Without one word In answer the llttlo princess went toward the door ; but at that moment her mother came In. "What is the matter ? " she asked , looking In the pale face of the baroness and In the Inflamed face of the child. "Hold back the princess , " cried the baroness , "and will your majesty be pleased to listen to me. " But Madamolsello Wll- belmlna , In the strange language which Is used by a child who , though a child , under stands things like a woman , began to tell her mother the adventure in tha forest. The queen bit her lips ; the case was grave end h r husband , Wllhelm III , could not hear ot It without entering Into one of the awful rages she knew too well. She her self would be the one to suffer , for more than once the great cane ot the royal spouse had threatened her , and , like the other members of the court , she had , moro than once , been forced to make rapid calcu lations at to the distance between her own body , the cane and the royal arm that wielded It. "Sit down and finish your breakfast. I will tell the king , " she said to her daughter. "No. " eald the little princess , "It is I U J , tastes were not In harmony with the tastes of her child. One day ( and it was a day not very long ago ) the two royal personages , mother and daughter , were sitting on the veranda of the chateau when a merchant from La Hague arrived with various stuffs selected from his stores for the queen to choose from. Among them there were some brilliantly beautiful dress goods , and the young queen looked with longing eyes upon the silken dress patterns which were spread out to display their artistic colors. The queen had arranged a piece of heavy alpaca In stiff folds over the back of a chair , and she said calmly , "First of all , we will take this. " "No ! " cried the young queen. "You may take It , perhaps , but I never ehall wear alpaca , not even In the morning ; I have a horror of alpaca ! " The queen mother , who has strengthened her German phlegmatlclsm by twenty years' practice in the phlegm of Holland , was unmoved , replied calmly : "We will take this ! " The young queen bounded from her chair. She pulled open the glass door which opens from the veranda Into the salon , and pron- Ing herself on the threshold , she crlod : "Thank heaven ( Dleu Mercli ) , I shall soon bo able to choose my dresses , my friends , , and ( turning square upon the ladles of the court who sat at a little distance from the queen ) my husband also ! Ah ! If you Imagine for a moment that I do not know what you are plotting all of you ! " And shaking her handsome blonde mauve , which she wore floating upon her shoulders , she entered the salon like a Whirlwind of noise and fury. Three are such stories as are current in the capital ot Holland. It Is Impossible to shut them within the four walls of the city. U Is well known why the queen mother Is anxious ; and the loyal subjects of the throne of Holland , though they are proud of their little queen , look upon her and upon her mother with fear for the future. They mourn for the story of the domestic hen , who , through some strange chance , hatched out the egg ot a mountain eagle. DICKENS' DEAF KITTEN. A Story of the Great NovelUt and HU Devotion to Cats. At the cat show we ran across an English man who chanced to know many unrecorded tales ot Dickens , and during a lull In the "meows" he' casually Inquired , "Did you know , by the way , that Charles Dickens was devoted to cats ? He was Indeed a lover ot all animals , and frequently became the slave of his pets. WlUlamlna , a llttlo white cat , was a great favorite with the entire house hold , but regarded the great author as her especial friend. She selected a corner ot his study for her Individual property and one day committed the Indiscretion of bringing In her little family of kittens from the kitchen , ono by one. Dickens had them taken uway , but WlUlamlna brought them quietly back. Again they were removed ) but the third time of their return the little mother did not leave them ID the corner. Inrtetid she placed them at her master's feet , and taking her stand beside them looked Im ploringly up at him. That settled the ques tion. tion."Thereafter "Thereafter the kittens belonged to the study , and made themselves royally at home , swarming up the curtains , playing about the writing table , and scampering behind the book shelves , until they were one by one given away ; all but a poor little deaf one , which , from her devotion to Dickens , be came known as 'tho master's cat. ' This lit- tTo creature followed him about like a dog , and sat beside him while he wrote. One evening Dickens was reading by a small successful. Early the next morning tne thief seized .what he thought an opportune moment , dug up the' worthless bone and scampered away , while later 1n the flay Don reaped the reward of his wisdom , as he sat munching and crunching the big , juicy bone at his leisure. " WHAT OUR PRESIDENTS COST. A Good Ronnd Sam of Honey , bat Le Than Othrr Ruler * . Presidents "come high , but we have got to have them. " It costs us $114,865 a year for a chief executive. His salary is $50,000 and "found , " as our western neighbors say. The president's finding le rather compre hensive , covering about every possible re quirement ot a family. His private secre tary , the clerks , doorkeepers , messengers and steward and three other servants cost us $33,865 a year. Then there is a con tingent fund of $8,000 a year which the presi dent may use according to his discretion. In furniture and repairs to the White House the sum of $16,000 more , to , be used by the direction of the president , is pro vided by the nation and Is always expended. For fuel alone $3,000 is allowed and for necessary repairs to the greenhouse there U $4,000. Altogether the presidential "finding" an nually amounts to the snug sum of $64,865 , nearly $16,000 a year more than his salary. The two aggregate $114,865. This Is an Im posing aggregate , but It is small compared with other presidents. The president of the French republic receives as salary $120.000 a year , $32,480 for contingent purposes and. a handsome house , rent tree. So we get our president rather cheaply , after all. PRATTLE OP THE YOUNGSTERS. "Is your mamma at home ? " silted a caller ot 5-year-old Nellie. "No ; but h < j'll bb home In a minute , " was the reply. "How do you know ? " inquired tie caller. " 'Cause ebe Mid 'bout un hour ago she was just going to run over to a neighbor's for a mluute , " answered Nellie. Llttlo 5-year-old Harry accompanied his father to church ono Sabbath morning , and the mlbuter preached from the text , " 'TIs I , be not afraid. " Upon returning home his mother asked : "What was the text this morning , Harry ? " The little fellow thought for a moment , then answered : "It's me ; don't get scared. " Small Tommy's father had been elected commander of the Grand Army ot the Re public post , and the little fellow could not conceal his joy when be heard the news. "Oh , papa ! " he exclaimed ; "I'm Just awful glad you got elected. " "Thank you , my son , " said the father , "but why are you so glad ? " "Because now you'll have all the soldiers at your funeral , " answered Tommy. Little Minnie , who had been spending the afternoon at a neighbor's , was presented with a bouquet of beautiful flowers. Upon her arrival at home her mother told her to put them In a vase filled with water and they would keep fresh for several days. A few days later Minnie appeared with the wilted flowers In her hand and said : "I dess I'll trow 'em away now , mamma , 'cauie they Is all melted. " A small boy who has been 111 for many weeks was well-nigh frantlo the other day when bis brothers came In to tell him about the snow and the "slide" they had made , the One coasting on Riverside Drive and the joy * of snowballing the Inoffensive and | passing pedestrian , says the New Yotk Com- merclal Advertiser. The sick boy made I 'wry face , as If he didn't care at all nboul snow men and bob sleds and slides , but whec the boys had gone ho sighed a big sigh. "Mother , " he nald , "would you mind bring Ing my overcoat In hero and putting it 01 the bed ? I think I'd like to see it. " Marian , 4 years old , is a cunning llttli Mount Vcrnon girl who attends the Method let Sunday school , says Truth. Not'Ioni ' since the golden text of the week chanced t ( bo the verse from Matthew commencing "Let your light so shine. " The verso wai rather long for Marian , though her mammi tried throughout the week to Instill Into thi child's mind not only the wordi , but theli meaning. When Sunday came the llttlo maid trottoc off to Sunday school with her older brother ! and slaters and when the teacher asked heifer for the "golden text" she promptly slid fron her scat and convulsed the class by re peatlng gravely : "Keep your gas burnln' . " IN THE WHEELING" WORLD L. A. W. Politics , Good Hoods , Raclm Controversies and Other Mat ter * of Interest. The good roads section ot the League ol American Wheelmen report one great achievement this year. It Is a resolution passed by a congress of farmers recently held at Fort Worth , Tex. , approving th policy of good roads and commending the work ot the League of American Wheel men In that direction. The resolution is re garded as a signal itrlumpb , and very properly so , for it records in black and white the fruits of the year's labors. Its usefulness cannot be questioned. At a time when tbo league is harassed with out law racers , thousands of dollars tied up In fines unpaid , tracks wlbout number on the black list , and racers giving the racing board a continuous frost , a' resolution ol commendation , neatly framed and hung In the parlor , ought to prove a soothing poultice for the bruises , bodily and mental , which the year Inflicted. It IB a hot thing for frosty times. League politics continue to agitate the managers. Late reports are to the effect that Sams of Maryland Is to enter the race for the presidency , thus leaving the field clear for Keenan and the state ticket. The New York division has endorsed Keenan and Instructed Its delegation to vote for the abolition of race control. At pres ent there 1s very llttlo prospect of that being accomplished. An unofficial poll shows that the national assembly dele gates from Ohio , Michigan , Wisconsin , Colorado rado , Maryland , Indiana. Illinois and Ne braska will vote solidly for , the retention ot racing by the League ot American Wheel men. These states would give 64 votes In favor of racing < to none against. Of 47 votes from Pennsylvania , 35 , It Is estimated , would be against any amendment to drop the sport- In New Jersey the vote is figured at 10 for racing and 5 against ; in Massachusetts 26 would favor existing conditions and 9 would vote otherwise. According to these figures the eleven states named want the League ot American Wheelmen to retain Its interest In cycle racing. It is further estimated that not more than 300 votes will be cost at the League ot American Wheelmen assembly in Providence , R. I. , and since two-thirds ot the whole vote is necessary to carry a constitutional amendment , the number ot ballots necessary to defeat the anti-racing amendment would be about 100. With more than this num ber already counted upon , not including possible additional votes from New York and other states , the supporters of racing In the league are beginning to grow jubilant again. But here the query may ba pertinent : "How can the league continue to control racing when practically all the racing men and a majority ot the big track associations have banded to oppose the League of Ameri can Wheelmen ? " Clearly the racing element in the league is counting confidently on the fickleness of the riders and the alleged Instability ot the Track Owners association to bring the former in a suppliant mood before Mr. Mott and the racing board. The riders comprising the American Rac ing Cyclists' union and the track owners and meet promoters elected to office in the recently formed National Cycling associa tion appear to be quite as determined In the stand they have taken , aa is Mr. Mott in his. An officer of the National Cycling as sociation said recently that ho had assur ances that every important cycle track in the eastern states will be enrolled In the National Cycling association before spring and that the new association has the sympathy and support of every race-pro meting club In this section of the country. "While It Is logical to expect that Albert Mott should again bo chosen for the chair manship of the racing board , " says the New York. Tribune , "there is reason for thinking be may not bo. Mr. Mott has made a good official. The place ho has held calls for supervision over an army as large as that of the United States In times of peace , for there are nearly 25,000 riders In the country , and they are scattered over nearly 2,000 tracks. That he has made mistakes can be pardoned when this is considered. There is . large amount of work connected with bis office , and < ho may desire to retire. Should he not -want It again , or if other complica tions ensue. It appears that the mantle will fall upon Charles W. Mears , now chief consul of Ohio and for two years handlcappor for that state. Ho is , thoroughly informed In the requirements of cycle racing , in so far aa a man may bo who has not had actual experience on the racing board , and Is pos sessed of eound judgment. Ho is nervously energetic , and If he gets the same assistance as Mr. Mott has received he should make a good official. " The success of George Banker , the Ameri can cyclist , In Europe during the last season has Induced him to remain abroad another season. He is reported to have made more money than any other sprint racer In America during the last season. Banker was a good attraction In Europe because of the superiority he showed over the beat foreign riders. Banker will have a strong rival , however , Eddie Bald having completed plane to race abroad next year. Bald Is a faster rider than Banker at eomo distances and the struggle between these two men for the big end of the purses will Interest the devotees of cycle racing abroad. Professional racing has secured a firm hold In Europo. Until last season the racing center was Paris , but it has moved to Ber lin , where the principal events were decided last season. Berlin had races on forty-two days , 179 separate events being decided. More than 2,600 amateur prizes were awarded and the money prizes awarded to profession als Is said to bavo aggregated $60,000. This Is an increase of $18.000 over last year's figures. M. Charles Abel Balllf , founder and presi dent ot the Touring club of France , an organization ot bicyclists , has received the cross ot the Legion of Honor. He was for merly a deputy chief of the office of the prefect ot the Seine , where be served twenty- ouo years. Since his retirement be has worked on committees and commissions and has devoted himself zealously to the cause of bicycling. La Grippe la again epidemic. Every pre caution should bo taken to avoid It. Its specific cure U Ono Minute Cough Cure. The best remedy for all ages ; cures coughs , colds and all lung troubles. Pleasant to the taste. DIDN'T ' READ QUITE SO MUCH People Took Mow Time for Blght-Seeinj Lut Bummer. RECORDS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY Exposition Period See * nn Increast of Visitor * to the Building , lint Off In the Horn * i Circulation. According to the record * ol the Omahi Public nbrary the people have been dolni loss reading during the summer than usua and considerably more elghtseelns. Thi effect of the exposition ! very evident in i comparison of the twelve preceding monthi with the corresponding months of 1897 While the number of visitors to the Byrot Reed collection has Increased 60 per cent and there is arso a marked Increase In thi patronage of the reading room and referenci library , the home circulation of booki hai decreased by over 3,000 , as compared wltt that of the year before. The changes It each case are largely effected during the bit months of the exposition , when the Omahi people were too busily occupied In entertain. Ing their wives' relatives and doing the Mid' way to devote the usual time to reading , an < when thousands of out-of-town visitors improved - proved the opportunity to visit the Jlbrarj and make use of Its privileges. The following statistics1 have been pre > pared by Miss Edith Tobltt , librarian , and are complete with the exception ot the last two days of December : HOME CIRCULATION. Month. 1897. 1898. January 19.C39 19,28' February 19,941 19,211 March 21.711 19.911 April 13,427 17,19' May 16,116 13,97' ' Juno 16,019 11.77 ! July 16,427 13,011 August 16.SS8 13.S2- Septcmber 14,173 12,43 : October 17,439 12,27 : November 19.068 15,431 December 17,727 14,96 : Total 213,593 Cards ( both new and re-reglstratlons ) Issued during 189S 4.691 Number of cards now In use 13,466 REFERENCE DEPARTMENT. . , - - 1SJ3 - Tin LL Month. Visitors. Books. Visitors. Books. January . 2,181 4.C33 2,993 4.41C February 2.637 4,773 2,497 4,23 ! March . . . . 2,813 5.2SS 3.442 5,059 April 2,308 4,550 2,411 3,662 May 2,066 4,191 1,915 2.711 June 1,560 3.101 1,301 2,060 July 1,423 2.947 1,730 1,854 August . . . . 1,376 2.5SS 1.S5J 2,174 Soptemb r 1,551 3,023 1,793 2,164 October ' . . . 2,449 4,366 2,096 2,579 November 2,447 4,350 2,314 3,091 December . 2,278 , 3,886 2,208 3.079 ' Total . . .25,143 47,726 26.618 37,067 Total number of books accessioned to date 57,167 Total number of books withdrawn to date 8,521 Total number of books now In the library 48.648 Number of books added during 18OT. . . . 2.397 Number ot books added during 1898. . . . 2,336 READING ROOM. Visitors. 1897. 1898. January 3,725 4,281 February 3,937 4,484 , March 4,623 4,887 April 3,449 4,975 May : . . . . , 3,375 B.061 June J 8,116 3,878 July : . . . 3,388 4,393 August 3,680 4,730 September 3,823 3,665 October 4.260 3.914 November 4,513 4,091 December 4,249 3.7.45 Total 46,038 62,104 BYRON REED COLLECTION. Visitors. 1897. 1898. January 695 1,318 February 782 1,080 March 798 1,089 April 641 836 May 383 729 June 475 776 July 629 964 August 600 1.412 September 1.087 1,492 October 961 1,240 November 883 728 December 1,012 668 Total 8,736 12,222 DOUGLAS COUNTY FINANCES How the County is Assesed ( Want Its Bonded Debt I * and Heir the Taxes Are Divided. For the first time a detailed statement of the finances of Douglas county has been compiled and tabulated officially. This has been the work of E. O. Solomon , chief clerk of the tax department. Owing to the pecu liar operation of the revenue law , however , the total assessed valuation of Douglas county 4s given as $21,023,652.41 , although the assessed valuation of Omaha for pur poses of city taxation Is over $35,000,000. Estimating the county's assessed valuation at one-seventh of its actual value , the actual value weuld be $160,000,000. The bonded In debtedness of the county amounts to $975- 000. 000.Omaha's Omaha's proportion of the county's as sessed valuation is put at $10,791,572.98 , South Omaha's at $1,741,621.29 and the rest of the county $2,490,868.14. The following : able will gtve an idea of the different branches of property as valued by ( he county : Personal property : Class. Valuation. Ordinary personal property $2,682,237.89 Banks 655,341.00 Railroads 694,704.70 Telegraph companies 10,835.20 Palace car companies 3,366.62 Total $3,946,485.41 Real estate : Zlaas. Valuation. Lands $ 2,824,976 Lots 14,262,091 Total $17,077,067 For 1898 the consolidated tax levy was 23K mills , or $555,697.66. Ot this the state revy of 7 % mllto amounted to $160,304.69 and the county levy of 15 % mills amounted to $325,865.06. The school tax for the sixty-one districts outside of Omaha amounted to $63,650.32. The bonded Indebtedness of these sixty-one districts Is $35,375. The total school bond tax for 1898 was $6,192.18. The $975,000 bonded indebtedness of the county to segregated s follows : "Class. [ Per Ct.Amount.IWhendue. [ Received and Expended for Connty Schools. Some figures supplied by County Superin tendent Bodwell show a very favorable com parison for 1898 over 1897. The receipts and expenditures for the two years have been as follows : 1S97. 1898. Receipts $493,785.49 $632.416.76 Expenditures 433,044.33 677,000.33 Dlfferenc $ 60.741.17 $ 65,356.38 Though the amount left on hand , $55,355.38 for 1898 , Is less than that , $60,741.17 left over from 1897 , still the comparison shona that the receipts being greater by $138,630,27 , there was $143,916,08 more expended In various ways for school Improvement. The apportionment from the state for the schools of this county was $25,752.23 larger , that for 1897 having been $61,403.83 , and that for 1898 being $87,156.06. Eighty-two more teachers have been employed and the total school enrollment ls about 200 larger. COUNTY TRBASDRY COLLECTION * . Comparison for Eleven Month * Favors the 1808 Reoord. A comparison has just been made by County Treuurer Helmrod for the eleven months up to December 1 ot the two years , * * * * * * * * * $ * * * * * * * The Direct Line to All Southern Cities. Hie Famous Hot Springs of Arkansas 8S The Tourists Favorite Winter Route $ to California and Mexican * Points. This great system covers with its net work of lines the states of Missouri , Kansas , Nebraska , Colorado , Arkansas , Indian Territory , Louisiana , Texas , etc. For pamphlets and information about any of the above states and territories , apply to your nearest agent , or the following : JO. . PHILLIPPI , A. G. F. & P. A. . . . TIIOS. F. GODFREY. P. & T. A. New offices. S. E. Cor. 14th and Douglas Sts. Depot , 15th and Webster Sts. , Omaha , Neb. i ' C. G. WARNER , Vice.Prcs. W. B. DODDRIDGE , Genl Mgr. H. C. TOWNSEND Gcnl. Puss & Tkt. Agent. ST. LOUIS , MO. 'V 1897 and 1898 , of the collections and dis bursements of the county as recorded by his office. The table gives totals of tax and miscellaneous collections , the proceeds from the solo of bonds and the settlements with the state , city of Omaha , city of South Omaha and the school districts ot the county. It shows that In the Item of tax and miscel laneous collections $116,820.62 more was taken In during the last eleven months than for the same period of tlmo the year previous. The total paid out has been $29,732.28 greater. Following is the statement : _ 1893. 1897. Tax and miscellaneous collections $ 704,64003 $587,81941 Proceeds from the sale of bonds 298,04493 Total $1,002,68496 $587,819 41 Paid to the state $137,75476 $130,19779 Paid to the city of Omaha 25,16649 27,84032 Paid to the city of South Omaha 1,10000 1,83825 Paid to the county school districts 140,15154 108,56415 Total $304,172 79 $274,440 51 Thus the school districts of the county are shown to have received $31,587.39 during the elven months of 1898. The total receipts ot the treasury were swelled by the sale ot bonds. The difference in favor ot 1898 Is $414,865.65. RECORD OF COUNTY HOSPITALS. Number of Inmate * Increase * Slightly Dnrinir the Year. On January 1 last there were 130 Inmates under Superintendent George M. Wright's charge at the county hospital. Tbo last monthly report showed 137. For the twelve months the number has run as follows : FePau - In- Month. Total. Male. male. pers. sane. January 130 SO 50 94 36 February 141 85 66 103 38 March 143 87 66 105 33 April 149 95 54 112 37 May 140 81 56 101 39 June 139 0 69 OS 41 July 146 S7 59 99 47 August 145 89 68 99 415 September . . . .149 9.1 cr 102 47 October 149 91 68 103 46 November 153 95 63 108 45 December 137 89 48 103 32 Of itho 137 last reported seventy-four ot the paupers were males and thirty-one fe males , and the Insane were divided into ifteen males and seventeen females. Of the 130 at the beginning ot the year sixty-three of the paui > ers were males and thirty-one females ; seventeen of the Insane were males and nineteen females. During the year 320 persons were admitted altogether and 275 were discharged and transferred. There were seven births and blrty-elght deaths. OUR NEW FEDERAL BUILDING Handsome and Costlr Strnetnre Par tially Occnpled DnrinK the Last Year. Some ten years ago it became apparent hat a larger and better United States court house , customs house and postofflce building waa a necessity and steps were taken to secure its erection. H was decided to erect he structure at Sixteenth and Dodge streets and an entire black was eventually secured or this purpose. November 14 , 1891 , the contract for the excavating was awarded , he sum of $1,300,000 having been previously appropriated for the building and the site. ilnco then the work of construction has irogrcssed until now , when the entire mlldlng U almost ready for occupancy. On February 22 the postoffice moved into the new building , occupying the entire lower floor. During the next two months the other government offices will move Into the structure. The new government building Is con structed of granite and is three full stories n height. The court rooms will be finished n marble , stucco and East India marble. Moult floors ara laid In all MM corridors and about the elevator landings. In the con struction of the building were used over 9,000 tons of granite , costing the sura of $193,000 ; 900 tons of steel and 7,000,000 brick. The contracts , amounting to $580,511 , were secured by Omaha parties. The total amount expended to date aggregates the sum of $753,235.30 , exclusive of the $400,000 paid for the site. At this time there are contracts aggregating $40.000 that are un- completed. With the exception of those for carving the granite and putting In dynamos , all contracts have been let. It Is estimated that the carving will cost $25,000 and the dynamos $10,000. The following shows the contract price on the work ot construction : Foundations and basement walls. . $ 91.016.00 Cut stone and brick work super structure 231014 54 Structural Iron work 400 900 Fireproof floor arches , partitions and roof'covering ' 3S.422.79 Drainage ditch 4,710.75 Plumbing 10000 09 Interior llnlsh , plastering , otc leo.SJS.W BUewalks , curbing and sodding. . . . 19,000.00 Heating and ventilating system. . . . 30.000,00 Automatic heat regulating system. . 3,250.00 Two passenger elevators , one mall lift , one ash lift 10.000.00 Tower clock and bell 2'CO.OO Marble work 32,000.00 Marble mosaic floors , 12,000,00 Condultlnc and electric wlrlntr. . . . . 3000.00 CHESS. The prizes to bo awarded in the problem- solving tourney now going on may now b announced moro definitely. The first prize will bo "Chess Harmonics , " by the noted American problem composer , Walter Pulitzer , containing a flno collection ot problems ; the second , "Two Move Chess Problems , " by B. G. Lawa , the celebrated English composer , -and the third , "Chess Problems ; Their Composition and Solution , " by James Raymer. problem editor of the British Chess Magazine. As stated in this column last Sunday , the first person wtoso score reachea fifty points will receive first prize , and eo on. To receive full credit for the number of points allowed on each problem , every variation must bo given. The White Q at R 2 in problem No. 53 should be a White R. Bolvcrs should gov ern themselves accordingly. Solution will be given next week. The match between a team from the Ne braska Chess association and the Kansas club has been definitely arranged and will probably begin this week. According to tha schedule the games will be completed before June. * Problem No. 64 , by G. Choeholous. second problem In the contest , five points for correct solution In full. White to play and mate la two moves : BLACK. WHITE. TOLD OUT OP COUIIT. "Don't know how to plead , don't you ? " scowled the Detroit Judge. "Did you pr did you not steal these chickens as charged ? " "No , sah , an' I kin proob It , Bah , " "That's your privilege. " "Yes , sah , an * I kin bring fo'ty ob do best gem'men in my nelghbo'hood to swar | to my cha'acta' , sab. Don't dat papah done" say doy was a dozen chickens an' eight ' wa * stole ? " "You are right ? " J "Yes , sah , I is right. An' obory one ob dem gem'men will sw'ar on dey solemn oaf dat I neber raided no hen roos' yet I didn't lit1 every pullet on do pe'ch , sab. Bat's no lob ob mine. " \ i _ _ _ _ _ * Clvll'justlce McKean of New York'/Clty / proved that he knows all about wotnan'a apparel Tuesday. Miss Louise Baylos , a dressmaker , sued Mrs. C. R. Hammesley for $70 for making a black cloth dress .which Mrs. Hammesley had ordered. ' ' "Mrs. Hammesley wore the dress to the theater and told me every one admired it , " said the dressmaker to Justice McKean , "Then she sent it to me to bo altered. We altered it. She returned It again with a. letter saying it was a perfect botch. We sent it again to her and her messenger brought it back , threw it In the hallway and left it there. " ' "Three times I tried on that dress , " said Mrs. Hammesley. "Each time I stood for an hour and a half a severe strain on my strength , your honor. The dress did not fit me ; it was much too tight I wore it on the street and almost fell. " "Just examine this dress , your honor , " cried Miss Baylos eagerly. "I can't tell whether it fits unless I sea it on , " answered the cautious judge. Urged by her lawyer , Mrs. Hammesley and her mother retired to an anteroom , where Mrs. Hammeslty put on the dreei and the Justice was callid In to judge'of its fit. fit."The "Thewaist docs iot ( U her , " said the ex pert justice , MI a lolunilng to the bench. "It's too small. The sltnves are too tight , the trimming Is not on right and the skirt Is well , the s'drl does not fit , either. " "I have an expert here , too , your honor , and I would like htm to judge of Its fit. That's my right , I thluk. " eald Miss Baylw' lawyer. "It Is , " said the upright Judge. "Will you put on the dress again , Mrs. Hammes- ley ? " "I certainly will not , your honor , I would like to settle the cose right here. I will pay $25 to the dressmaker and permit her to keep the dress. " Miss Bayloa accepted this offer , and all retired , much marveling at the justice's knowledge. When you ask for De Witt's Wltch-Hazal Salve don't accept a counterfeit or imitation. There are moro cases of piles being cured by this than all others combined.