THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: TIIl'TtSDAY, JAXUAItY 21, 1001.
3IULIIATT0N, PRINCE OF LIARS
Recollections of the Modern Heir of Ananias
and Munchausen,
TALENTED INVENTOR OF NEWSPAPER FAKES
Onrc n Truthful Cuiiiiiierclnt Truti'lrr,
In nn II Moment He Ttilil
Uttrtvn Mini IVII ll.n.l
Iuiik from (iinoe.
(Copyright, 1M1, by A. T. Vance.)
News comes from a remoto corner of
Texas that Joseph Mulhattan, tho most
stupendous anrl Ingenious tlar of his time,
has recently turned up In that part of tho
country. It Is now In order for tho news
papers to ho on thulr guard, for In his
prlmo Mulhattan perpetrated and got Into
circulation, through various Important
uowspapcrs, hoaxes that would have made
Ilaron Munchausen feel like an amateur:
nnd there Is no guaranty that he won't go
Into tho business ngalti. The last previous
deflnlto newH of Joe was some five years ago,
when It was announced that he had retired
to tho wilds of California to recuperate
from his arduous mental labors. Soon after
It was rumored that ho was dead nnd his
yearB of porslstent sllonco gave credenco to
tho rumor
Mulhattan had been a truthful commer
cial traveler for years before tho passion
for big story telling took possession of him.
One day It occurred to him that the news
papers of his locality weren't Interesting
enough, bo he proceeded to liven them up
with tho products of his own Imagination.
Thn Pittsburg leader whs tho medium se
lected, nnd he kept tho editors busy publish
ing denials of tho little hoaxes he got up
about well known people. Presently these
personalities palled upon liltii. anil he sought
to exercise his genius In a larger field. Ab u:
this time the llrst crematory in thu United
States was erected nt Little Washington,
Pa. Mulhattan wrote an nrtlcle an
nouncing that a cremation would tako
place at n dato two weeks nhcad of the
completion of tho furnace, and LUtlo Wash
ington 60on had an nrmy or reporters to en
tertain, besides special artists from tho Il
lustrated papcrtt. When they found tho
crematory unfinished and discovered that
thcro wns no corpse they sought for Mr.
Mulhattan to supply that Important omis
sion, but ho was far away.
A I'rltr Stiff.
It was In 1875 that Mulhattan got up his
first really Imposing fake. lie discovered
that tho remains of Cleorgo Washington
were petrified and that some well known
citizens who were very desirous of seeing
tho Washington monument completed wero
about to remove tho petrified body to tho
exposition at Philadelphia, to place It on
exhibition during the Centennial year. An
admission fco of fiu cents would be charged,
the money to bo used In tlnlshlug the monu
ment. This was printed and reprinted tho
wldo country over, and the newspapers
teemed with letters, favorable and de
nunciatory. Alexander K. McClure, editor
of tho Philadelphia Times, was particularly
vigorous lu tho denunciation of Mulhat
tan's Idea, while the Pittsburg Qazctto sup
ported It warmly.
Kor a time thereafter Mr. Mulhattan's
stories, according to his own account, wcro
what might ho called "plain lies.'' Hut ho
went to Kentucky, and after ho had
breathed tho Inspiring air of that locality
for a. while ho began to take pride In his
work nnd produced some sparkling gems of
ornamental prevarication. In 1877 he vis
Ited tho Mammoth cavo and promptly
evolved ont of his Inner consciousness' an
other great cavern fourteen miles long,
containing a largo navlgablo river, to ply
upon tho waters of which a steamboat was
being built. Leslie's wrote for a sketch of
tho town near which tho cave was located
nnd for pictures of the cave. With nn
artist friend Mulhattan tilled this order
nnd tho articles and pictures were printed
lu Krank Lesllo's Illustrated Newspaper.
Tho cavo was so brilliant a success that he
followed It up ith other caves, until he
had nearly tho wholo stnto of Kentucky
ringing hollow to the footstep.
Tim from Trxiin.
Animal stories were very popular then
Mulhattan concentrated his powerful In
tellect upon thn domestic gooso nnd the
result wbb a highly detailed and Interesting
account of n Texas cotton plantation kept
In order by a flock of trained geese. Tho
geeso carried under their necks gourds
filled with water so that each gonso could
drink out of Its neighbor's gourd. Kach
gooso did tho work of two mon In weeding,
Tho story concluded with tho prediction
thnt "If tho farmer's experiment Is as sue
cessful as ho thinks It will be it is only n
question of a few years until tho wholo
cotton crop of Texas will be weeded out
by tho ordinary goose." This wns .cg.u'ded
by mauy newspapers, particularly In the
south, as nn Important agricultural de
parture.
Mulhattan's Texas meteor story nttalned
tho proportion of nn international event.
This was published lu 18S3 in tho Fort
Worth Gnzotto and was the making of that
paper. An Associated PreBs ugent swal
lowed th story wholo nnd telegraphed It
nil over tho country. On tho day after tho
story was published tho Oazctto received
114 telegrams In regard to tho matter.
Thrco of them camo from Kuropo one from
tho London Times, one from tho Edinburgh
Scotsman and one from tho Paris (laulolH.
Tho editors of these enterprising papers
telegraphed for correspondents to get full
particulars and to draw on them for tho
necessary funds. Tho meteor wns said to
have fallen at Williams' ranch. "It cov
ered nn aero of ground; it plunged 200 feet
In tho ground and stood eighty feet above
It; It camo down red hot nnd steaming,
filling tho air with sulphurous smoko anil
noxious gases and killing all tho cattle. A
family of Mexicans wero struck and burled
200 feet In tho earth." Tho newspapers of
tho country contained columns of interviews
wlth distinguished scientists regarding tho
meteor and thousands of letters were sent
to tho postmaster at Fort Worth asking
for further particulars. Ho was so In
dlgnant that ho gave out word that If
Mulhattan ever camo to Kort Worth ho
would shoot him on tho spot. Afterward
however, ho relented nnd Invited the famous
prevaricator to dlno with hliu. Tho llazotto
had to employ a special corps of writers to
reply to tho loiters received, besides got
ting out thousands of explanatory clrcu
lars.
Mulhattan noxt wroto tin extended nc
count of the discovery of the lost art of
making malleable glas,s. Tho story was
told with such sweet simplicity nnd cure
ful and minute, detail that tho average
reader felt thut ho could go right out and
manufacture malleable glass himself with
n few simple Implements. .Vext. at tho hub
gcstlon of u newspaper man at Lexington
Ky., Mulhattan located the star of Ilethlc
hem. Among Mulhattan's friends nt the
time wns John M Klein, n hardwaro dealer
of Hlchflcld, Ky.
UiilililfN III AHrniiuioy.
Mulhattan dubbed him "professor" and
described him as a successful observer of
sunspots and an astronomer of remarkablo
attainment and high scientific reputation
According to Mulhattan's story, It wns
"Prof." Klein who had discovered the star,
The lato ltlchard A. Proctor, tho eminent
KuxlUh astronomer, wus lu the United
States at this time. U ifortunately for hint
he didn't know about Mulhattan und ho
burned with zeal to savo tho American
public from tho paths of scientific error.
Bo ho dovotcd several columns of labored
writing to an exposure of what he termed
a humbug. He said that there was no such
thing and never had been nny such thing
as n star of Dethlehem, and It there was
such n star It could not have been discov
ered nt Klein's observatory, which was
iiulte true, as thero was nn such thing as
Kleins observatory, the estimable hard
waro dealer having never looked through
anything bigger than a pair of opera glasses
In his life. Proctor's denial of the star of
Ilcthlchem's existence stlrted up ft hornet's
nest about his ears, Tho pious nnd ortho
dox fell upon him with truly religious nr-
lor, defending Prof. Klein and denouncing
Proctor with a vigor which soon made the
English astronomer very sorry that he
spoke.
During the summer of 1888 Mulhattan,
with tho nld of a mythical Prof. J. N.
II. Dlrdwhlstle, of tho equally mythical
t.awronieburg Academy of Science, dis
covered nn Invisible moon, tho hulk of which
was about two and a half times greater than
that of the visible moon, while Its distance
from tho earth was only about 30.000 miles.
"IIb Inlluenco on our tides," wroto Mul
hattan, "on our atmosphere, our crops, and
tho great storms must be very great, nnd
will In a measure account for the cyclones,
tornadoes nnd hot and cold waves that
sweep over tho earth. It makes Its orbit
In a path diagonally between tho earth and
sun, In such a position, caused by tho sun's
powerful attraction, ns to bo Invlslblo ex
cept tho upper edge, ns It occasionally skirts
our horizon during the months of July and
Aucust."
Then tho romancer went on to say that
Prof. Illrdwhlstlo had telegraphed the dis
covery to Prof. Swift of tho Rochester Ob
servatory and Prof. John M. Klein, the
noted astronomer of Kentucky, nnd hail re
ceived a reply from the latter, stating that
ho had brought his Instruments to bear
upon the western horizon at the Indicated
point, nnd that he. too, had gazed upon the
Invisible moon, thus corroborating Prof.
Dlrdwhlstle lu every particular. Tho Invisi
ble moon enreered visibly through the news
papers for many days.
.Mo Hint Iiiii'n Ml nee 1 1 nn Ipx.
Mr. Mulhattan now turned his atten
tion to things terrestrial, and brought to
public notice un ancient pyramid near
Lawrenceburg, Ky. Ho said It was found In
ono of tho huge mounds there abounding,
und was full of golden urns nnd other won
derful relics of nn extinct race. Later on
he got up another mound sensation, In
which ho told how a golden calf had been
discovered, nnd tables of stones with In
scriptions on them, it was thought that
these were copies of tho original ten
commandments. Ho also wrote of great oil
wells discovered In out-of-the-way places
and tho oil men of Pennsylvania becamo
half crazy with excitement. Prospectors
wero sent out to tho new oil llelds, with
Instructions to lenso land and put up der
ricks without nn Instant's delay.
Tho famous story of the monkeys, told
on J. II. P.irkes of Kingston, Ky.. wan nn
Improvement on tho cotton-tending geese.
It was said that Mr. Parkes had secured
seven lmmcnso monkeys from his brother-
in-law In South Africa and had trulncd
them to break hemp. Tho monkeys required
lltllo enro In their keeping, received no
pay, nud did their work so well that the
farmer discharged all his laborers, made
arrangements to Import a thousand more
monkeys, and looked forward with Joy nna
conlldcnco to tho tlmb when, owing to tho
low cost of his labor, ho should obtain a
practical monopoly of tho business of grow
ing hemp, and become onu of ttio richest,
men In tho south. Then the story went on
to sav that the Knights of Labor of Ken
tucky had becomo greatly excited over tho
nffalr: that they hud denounced tno nn
nortatlon of monkey labor from Africa, as
belug Infinitely worse than tno importa
lion of nauner labor from Europe, nml tnni
a striko of all the farm hands of Kentucky
would certainly occur, and thcro might bo
riots nnd bloodshed nnd Incendiarism, unless
the legislature put a stop to Mr. Parkes
project by prohibiting monkeys. This story
was sent out by a press association. It
attracted the attention of ono of tho In
telllgent leader writers of tho Ixmdon
Telecranh. who wrote nn editorial a coi
umn long about tho Inlluenco of simian
labor on tho labor problem.
Next camo tho remnrkublo story of tho
lake of hair dyo that was published In tno
summer of 1S88 In the Virginia City Knter-
prise. Mulhattan discovered thut .Mono
lnkn contained one of tho greatest natural
deposits of hair dyo In the known world.
'All who batho In tho waters ot inai inno
becomo blondes nnd If tho bathing Is per
sisted in for nny length of tlmo they got
red-headed. A man last spring rented tho
Lovlnlng ranch, on tho north sldo of the
lake. Ho had threo strapping daughters.
As soon nB tho water became warm enough
tho girls daily went bathing In tho lake,
taking for their mermaid gambols n time
when tho 'men folks' wero all out on the
ranch at work. When they began taking
their dips In tho lake tho girls wero brown
haired, but they soon found themselves be
coming blondes. Next tho hair of the girls
becamo llery red. The old man and his
wife tried tho baths and now tho wiyjlo
family nro Titian blondes."
The lllril-KiitliiK Tree.
Mr. Mulhattnn Is credited also with pre
paring tho dlspntch front Chihuahua, Mex
ico, dated April 22, 1889, that wns pub
lished lu tho St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
This was a story of a tree that devoured
birds. To begin with, there was a detailed
description of how the narrator studied
botany nnd used to make long trips Into tho
mountains, hunting for specimens. Finally
the tree In question was discovered. It was
something llko tho weeping willow, "but
the long, drooping, whlp-llko limbs are of
n dark and apparently slimy appearnnco
nud seem possessed ot a horrlblo llfc-llko
power of rolling and uncoiling." Ono day
tho observer snw a bird settle on tho top
of the tree. "Tho branches Immediately
began to nwnken nnd curl upwnrd. They
twined and twisted llko snakes ubout tho
bird, which began to Bcrenm, and drew It
down In their fearful embrace until I lost
sight of It." The next day tho explorer
got half a dozen chickens nnd threw them
Into tho tree. "The moment I tossed In tho
fowls," ho says, "a "talent ugitatlon shook
Its branches, whloh swayed 'to nnd fro with
a sinuous snaky motion. After dovourlng
tho fowls, theso branches, fully gorged,
dropped to their former position, nnd the
tree, giving no sign of anluintlon, I dure.!
approach It nnd take tho limbs In my haud.
They were covered with Biickers, resembling
tho tentacles of an octopus. Tho blood of
the fowls hud hecn absorbed by the suck
ers, leaving crimson stains on the dark
surface,"
Tho dispatch concluded with nn account
of how tho explorer wiote of tho discovery
to Prof. Wordenhaupt of tho University of
Holdelburg, who replied that the tree was
the Arbor Dlnboll, only two specimens of
which had been known to sck-nce, ono grow
1ns on a penk of tho Himalayas nnd tho
other on tho Island ot Sumatra.
Mulhattan nlwnys prided himself upon his
"tall i lories" and was nover so happy as
Juat after perpetrating a particularly atro
cious hoax upon some newspaper. As he
was constantly going nbout tho country ns
n commercial traveler. It was difficult for
tho unwary editors to keep track of him.
At ono time tho commercial travelers of
the country talked of nominating him for
president. This wus Just before his retire
ment to tho mountains, and the supposition
Ib that the unexpected honor was too much
for his modest nature.
A. T. VANCB.
When you want sparkling wine get Cook's
Imperial Extra Dry Champagne. Its purity
und delicious flavor commends It.
IN THE FIELD OF ELECTRICITY
Steam Hoadi Having a Run for Their Life
in New England,
EXTENSION OF TROLLEY PRIVILEGES
Court II til I II k on filtration of DniniiKci
from I II eel roly sis Telephone
.Meter nml Tntk ItcK
Utrr. A wrltor In Harper's Weekly calls at
tention to tho expansion of electric roads
In tho New England states and Its effect
on steam railroads. "Tho question," rays
tho wrltor, "of adopting electricity t.t tho
railroads which run through populous cen
ters Is more generally agitated In New
England thnn elsewhere, nnd tho proir.lro
of tho Now Haven road to nave many uow
miles of Its branch lines equipped with
electricity within the coming yen.- adds
now fuel to tho controversy that has long
raged there. Already the New Haven road
operates more miles ot electric lliiei than
nny other railroad corporation, nud tho
fact that It Intends to extend this service
Indicates that It constders electricity a
power that will Incrense In Importance on
tho steam roads. There nre over forty
flvo miles on this rood operated by elec
tricity, while the Pennsylvania railroad
has only Its seven miles from Uordentown
to Mount Holly, nnd tho Ilnltlmore & Ohio
Its tour miles In a belt lino through Ilaltl
moro. "Tho conditions In Now Knglnnd probably
help to make tho steam railroads of that
section progressive In the adoption of elec
tricity. Tho trolley has sprung up and
multiplied thero like tho proverbial mush
room. Tho total electric mileage In Massa
chusetts In 1S0I was about COO miles, but
It Is reported that tho returns for the cur
rent year will show nearly 2,000 miles of
electric rnllwnys in the stnto. New lines
nro nlmost dally projected, nnd the stutc
Is completely crossed nud rocrosscd by
them. Tho snmo conditions provnll in Hhode
Island und Connecticut, nnd the recent trip
of n trolley party from Uoston to Now
York shows how extenslvo the electric
roads havo becomo throughout this whole
section.
"The trolleys hnve not only entrenched
upon the preserves of tho steam roads In
the matter of carrying passengers short
distances, but they nro making a bid for
freight, baggago nnd even tho malls. Tho
last legislature of Massachusetts granted
to somo half-dozen different trolley lines
tho right to carry merchandise, passengers'
bagEago and tho malls. The same privi
lege was given to other electric roads al
ready Incorporated by changing their char
tors. "This Is ono of tho most dnngcrous steps
In encroaching upon tho rights of tho rail
roads yet attempted, nnd It is with somo
nlotm that tho big steam railroad corpora
tions view this departure. The question
naturally suggestH Itself whether tho rail
roads will ndopt electricity on certnln
brnnch lines, which run through populous
centers, In self-protection, or stand aside
nnd see their profits materially tut down.
This condition of affairs largely accounts
for the activity of tho New Haven and
othor New England steam railroads In
building electric sldo lines or changing the
motive power on old established branches.
It Is oven Intimated that tho big rnllroads
will mako n bid for street traction privi
leges, and thus carry the war Into the
cnoray's very enmp. So far none of tho
big railroad corporations have attempted
this, but such n radical departure from
old methods may bo made any day In Now
England, where the war between tho stenm
and electrlo roads Is very acute. Tho
steam-railroad corporations feel that they
would bo Justified In this action since tho
light electric railways havo broken down
tho barrier by securing legislation permit
ting them to enter what has been hcroto
fore considered tho speclnl rights nnd ter
ritory of tho former. Whether tho Inter
ests of tho two systems ot transportation
will ultimately bo found to harmonize, or
whether they will bo antagonistic to tho
bitter end, Is a question that Is Interesting
and very Important to all concerned."
I)iimim- from Sitrny Curri-iitx.
Tho supremo court of Indiana has over
ruled tho defendant's demurrer to tho
complaint In the enso ot the Manufacturers'
Natural Cos company against tho Indlnn
apolls Streot Hallway compnny for $50.
000 damages for Injuries to tho gas com
pany's pipes through electrolysis.
Tho tullng Is ono of tho first, if not the
first, in tho country on tho question of
whothor or not damages will Ho from In
juries attributed to electrolysis. Judge
Cartor's opinion In part follows:
"The method In use by tho dofendnnt
In operating Its cars results lu serious In
Jury nnd in somo cases to tho destruction
of plaintiff's pipes. Tho defendant can, by
tho uso of au approved appliance, at rea
sonable expense, so operate Its cars so as
to avoid Injuring tho plaintiff's pipes.
Tho plaintiff cannot by nny known method
protect its pipes from Injury.
"The plaintiff owns Its pipe lino laid In
tho street by legal authority. The street
railroad company seizes on theso pipes
nnd makes use of them ns u conductor
for Its return current and In so doing
greatly Injures and In some Instances
wholly dostroys them and this Is done
under a claim that It Is performing n
public servico under authority of law. Is
not this a taking of private property for
public uso and for which Just compensa
tion must be made?
"Tho city could not nnd did not grant
a monopoly of tho street either to tho
defendant or Its predecessor, nnd when
the tracks, poles and wires wero placed
In the street tho railway company
know that gas and water pipes might bo
Inld In tho streot nt any time, and It ac
quired its rights to run an electric road
subject to that fact, and all tho consequents
that might follow. Tho plaintiff Is not
a trespasser, but occupies tho street law
fully, and while there Its property Is taken
by tho street railway company us n conse
quenco of Its operations.
"The number and size of tho cars pro
polled through our (streets by electricity
Is over rupldly on the Increase. Cars
lorger than ever before aro used on the
et its, and lhs cuirents of electricity wh c'.i
now nre, or soon will bo discharged Into
tho earth of tho streots are very large, nnd
If It be truo that these currents not only
attack gas nnd water pipes, but tho steel
framei of toll buildings as well, nnd that
such steel frames may be deteriorated and
wcakenod so as to imperil such buildings,
Is there no remedy In tho law to prevent it.
or to compel tho street railway company
to control Its return current when it u
conceded that It Is rcasoraWy lu Its power to
(10 so .'
"Whero a corporation Is exercising a pub
lic franchise, and dees so In such a manner
as to cause actual material Injury to legal
rights and destruction of property when at
reasonable expense, by tho adoption of
well known and npprovod appliances, tho
Injury could be avoided, nnd the person In
jured Is powerless to prevent or guard
against such Injury, then I think Is must
ho held to bo negligence In the uso of Its
franchise on the part of such corporation
not to adopt such approved appliances."
To 1'reVMiil Klcutrol) In.
In a patent Issued Novrmbor 6 to Prof.
Luclen I. niako, Bays the Electrical World
and Engineer, a plan of protecting under
ground metallic structures is described,
based upon tho fact that a current which
lenves a metallic surface by a conducting
path which Is non-lonlzablo or not chem
ically decomposable, will produce no cleC'
trolytlc effect on that surface. To this end
tho plpo or other metallic structure to bo
protected has Intorposcd between It nnd the
surrounding soil nn clectrolytlcally con
ducting medium, such as a mixture of
graphite with somo binding material by
means of which It may bo applied and fixed
to tho surface ot tho metallic structure
which It Is designed to protect. A conduc
tive mixture of graphite nnd paraffin 's
well adapted for this purpose, though It Is
not essential that the suhstauco ot tho pro
tective medium should bo itself conduc
tive, provided It permits tho passage
through It of current, nnd will prevent nc
cess to the metal surface of tho products
of decomposition. Among such substances
aro precipitated chalk, pulverized anthra
cite, coal nnd gelatinized compounds of sil
ica, all of which, when used in layers of
sufficient thickness and when moist, per
mit tho passage of a current and prevent
tho recombination of tho products of elec
tro decomposition. The protective medium
tnny bo applied In n thin layer with brushes
or may be deposited In lnrgcr amounts In n
trench nnd tho metal structure embedded
In It. An Incidental advantngo ot having
metallic structures exposed to tho soil, sur
rounded by n conducting substance, Is that
tho strength of nny electric currents from
theso structures will be cnormou'.ly In
creased through the provision of lunumer
nlbo points of exit, thereby relieving theso
structures of currents, which nro hnrmful
particularly nt the Joints.
Trpilione Heoorilrr.
Somo Interesting experiments nre re
ported with tho telephonogrnph, which Is
a combination of the phonograph with tho
telephone, and la Intended to tnko und
record telephone messages by automatic
means and, to a limited extent, glvo an
nnswer In the same way. Tho message
Is spoken by tho person sending It Into
tho tclephono In the usual way, nud tho
vibrations set up by tho voice nre caused
to net upon n recording stylus by tho Im
pact of tho sound waves. In this way tho
wax cylinder In tho office of the person
spoken to Is Indented and n phonogram Is
produced. This, of course, can be rend
off at leisure In tho usual way. Tho vi
brations nro transmitted cither 'directly or
Indirectly; In tho Inttcr caso the object Is
effected by nn electrical current. In tho
test mentioned a message wns transmitted
from ono room to nnother, nlthough tho
length of wiro over which It traveled rep
resented a consldernblo distance. As re
produced by means of the phonogram on
which the message was recorded the words
wero distinctly audible, tho result being
equal to that of an ordinary phonograph.
Tho nppnratus has been tested over u lino
flvo miles In length, tho articulation being
good and tho Impressions on tho cylinder
being ns deep ns the Impressions made
when speaking Into an ordltinry phono
graph. Of course, largo battery power
was needed, nnd n reinforcing current wns
required at tho receiving and registering
line. A special uso appears likely to bo
found for tho telephonogrnph In small of
fices where a limited staff is employd.
Thus, If un ofllco Is left without nn attend
ant nnd a call Is made, tho phonograph
can bo so set ns to reply "Mr. Is
out. Tho Instrument Is iltted with a tele
phonograph which will automatically tako
down any messago you may send, and Mr.
win read It on his return." It Is
possible to throw tho phonograph action tut
of play and uso tho telephone In tho or
dinary way. Tho arrangement of tho
mechanism Is such that any number of mes
sages up to nn aggrogutii of 15.000 wordj
can be received automatically.
'IV 1 phono "Meter.
When n man mthscjjjigi , for 000 tolo
Phono calls under the Jinpres3lon that ho
Is covered for n year If ho gets a bill for
200 calls In n single mouth ho Is likely to
bo surprised, suspicious and Indignant,
but ho has been helpless, for ho must tako
tho corrpany'a count. Now. howovor, a do
vlco has been Invented to be attached to
a telephone and register tho number of calls.
Broadly, it may bo called a "telephone
meter." The motor looks llko n black
box about flvo by threo and a half Inches
In size. Through tho top protrudes a rod,
which serves as a press button. In tho
front of tho box Is n slot, through which
appear tho numbers of tho dial, which aro
arranged on tho peripheries of wheels, no
In most counting machines. When tho sub
scriber wishes n connection ho presses on
tho push button, which registers tho cnll
on tho dial beforo his eyes. Uut supposo
tho subscriber tries to cheat and falls to
push tho button? Whenever tho button Is
pressed properly tho ronchlno sots up a
buzz somewhat llko tho dlmc-ln-the-slot
telephones. Tho meter Is In electrical con
nction with "central" nnd the girl nt the
switchboard waits to hfar tho buzz be
fore making tho connection. If the sub
scriber tries to chent she gently reminds
him to "press tho button." nut thero Is
nnother side that of tho company. Un
der tho system of an unlimited number
of calls many persons uso tho telephones
of regular subscribers without paying any
thing for tho service. If the company could
collect rropcr '.ompcnsntlon for this un
authorized uso Its rovenues would bo
considerably Increased. Fulling In that, If
It could stop tho practlco It would ranko
the work of tho central ofllco much lighter,
either leduelng tho expense or leaving tho
girls freer to render better servico to sub
scribers. Tho telephone compnnlos havo
sought a remedy by tho Introduction of a
systom known as "measured service." Tho
subscriber contracts for UOO, 1,200 or 1,500
calls per year, according as he thinks a
dally averago of three, four or flvo culls
will unswer his purpose. Thero Is one serious
objection for tho company to this systom.
The girl making tho connection has to
mako n record by hand, which menus a
loss of tlmo and an Interruption In her
work of answering calls, to Bay nothing
of tho liability to error. Tho meter con
tains a small mngnet nnd Is (Hied with
wheels, springs, cogs, pawls und other
mechanical devices that may bo called
roughly "clockwork." Tho dial Is operated
by tho clockwork, but tho buzzer Is oper
ated by electricity. Electric power plays
a moro prominent pnrt In sending tho
"leading" of the dial to "central." Every
tlmo the button Is pressed It not only
turns tho wheels of tho dial, but It "stores'"
tho record by winding up a spring. Each
call winds tho spring Just a bit tighter, nnd
In the sample meter of tho Inventor the
spring 1m largo enough to "Btoro" 1,000
calls. Tho Invention provides for n second
machine, a register, that is kept In tho
central oiilco. This Is n comparatively
simple counting machine, with n dial com
posed of llgurea nrrnnged on tho peripheric!
of several wheels. Ny means of a switch
It can bo put Instnntly Into electrical
connection with the meter. When a
"reading" Is to bo taken tho switch h
turned on nnd tho subscriber Is asked to
press tho button of his tolephono. Tho
spring In tho meter Is relonscd and begins
to unwind. !3y nn Ingenious mechanical
device It cIobps nnd breaks the electrical
circuit for ench call that has been "stored."
and each tlmo tho circuit It eloped tho
register In tho central ofllco counts up ono
on its dial. Tho record of tho meter since
tho previous "reading" Is thus transmitted
to tho compnny with great rapidity and
with a minimum of trouble. The subscriber
knows when tho "reading" takes place and
It present to tako a record for himself If
he choosoB. so that thero Is absolutely no
chance for dishonesty.
Constipation leads to liver trouble, nnd
torpid liver to nrlght's disease. Prickly
Ash Hitters Is u certain cure at any stago
of tho disorder.
liWTHIN YOU I
HAVE EVER KNOWN FOR FIVE CENTS
mm BY SMOKING A GEO.W. I
flarbiirffcr, lloman & Co.. Manufacturers.
King Solomon Had
A Great Reputation for Wisdom
One of his wise remarks
Been the making of a great dictionary.
have no end.
In making tho
Standard Dictionary
an army of the brainiest ami smartest men of the world was employed and a million dollars
spent. Take the HE ST PKODUOT OF THE HEST BKA1NS and the result must be Batis
factory. But. with all this expenditure ot man and miud and money
The Standard Dictionary is Offered for
There are so many points of superiority in The Standard Dictionary, aside from its mar
velously low price, that one can scarcely enumerate them. Some one has said there are in
THE STANDARD -11 dictionaries in one. Each topic is the work of a specialist.
Satisfactory to students and scholars because so complete, containing UOO.OOO words,
nearly three limes as many as the old stand-by, Webster's Dictionary. The book stands in
high favor among the wise men on both sides of the Atlantic, and that fact, alone establishes
its success. Uere are some opinions from the press of Europe:
The Kreoman's Journal , Dublin,
Ireland: "Tor scholarly accuracy and
exceptional fulness ... It stands un
rivalled. ... Of other existing dic
tionaries with which wo are acquaint
ed, we know ot none that can be com
pared with tho Standard. "
The Belfast Age, Ilelfast, Ireland:
". . . It were difficult to praise this
splendid dictionary too highly. It Ib
a work for which all who speak the
Kngllsb language may be Justly grateful."
THE ST AND Alt D DICTIONARY has n great many attractive features. It is not fens
ible to enumerate all at this time. For instance, so many words are in constant dispute.
Such words have been referred to 50 leading philologists and their opinions at ken as final.
The matter of spelling is also diflicult to adjust. In the Standard that has been settled
conservatively, yet accurately.
The quotations are gems, illustrating to a nicety the use of the words.
The illustrations are numerous, in fact it is a work that will be attractive to children on
this account and consequently all the more valuable as an educator.
No home library where
there are school children
should be without the Stan
dard Dictionary.
Collego men generally agree
as fo tho excellence of the work,
Hero are somo expressions con
cerning tho work by collego
professors:
Megeath Stationery Co,
1309 Farnam Street.
itm.niKM s.
Mr. and Mrs. James Sargent of Uuchcster,
N. Y., made a ChrlntmuH present of u plat
nf ground valued nt $1G,(W) to the Kirst
I'nlvLrsullHt church of that city.
Tho Methodists of Sun Krunclhco and vi
cinity nro expecting great things lor the In
ternational convention of the Kpwnrth
lengue, to bo held In San Kraniisco this
your.
Hev. J. W. Cunningham of St. LnulH
Halms to he the oldest Southern Methodist,
lie entered the Kentucky conference of the
Methodist Kplsiopul church In Septembor,
181 1. Mr. Cunningham wus born In Wi.
It Is stated that thero are jin.nm) Poles In
Chicago who nre Intelligent and hik ssful
American citizens and that fully one-fourth
of their number have recently itbuuiloneil
the Unman Catholic church and joined the
Independent movement Inuuguratect li one
of their former priests.
On New Year's eve Itev. KiismoII II. Con
well of the Iluptlst temple, Philadelphia, leil
twenty-six new communlcuntM Into thu
water und through tho rite making them
members of the KuptlHt church. Mr Con
well lias uow baptized over 4 ono cuivcrls
ur.d is bvlleud to huvu gurpugi'd the rcu-
AkCord
was "Of making many books there
It is like the making
Only $7.00
The Irish Times, Dublin, Ireland:
". . . It will bo recognized, wo havo
every icason to say, not alone
throughout the '.merlcnn continent,
but In all English-speaking parts of
the Old World, also us an Authority
from Its fulness, discrimination, va
riety and ample erudition. It Is a
monument of American learning and
Industry. . . From publication ot
the Standard Dlctto .y America may
date a new period of the country's history."
Prof. R. A. Todd, Columbia: "I am exceedingly pleased with ItH fulness, conden
sation, accuracy and completeness. Its mechanical execution Is a delight to thn artis
tic Bense."
President Unshford of Ohio Weslynn: "After a comparison of many words I am quite
convinced thnt tho Standard surpasses tha Century Dictionary In careful and accurate
definition of words and In Its lllu'dratlona, as well as tho number of words defined."
Later: "I say more emphatically than ever beforo that It is the best rtlctlonnry In the
English language, and I want It for constant reference."
Prof. Dutlleld of Princeton' "It will bo conspicuous among the enduring monu
ments of Intellectual llfo at the eloso of the l'Jth century. . . Kor comprehensiveness
of vocabulary, accuracy In definition, judicious arrangement of material, Instructive Il
lustration and ndmlrabla typography, It Is suprrlor to any other work of It class, and
ere long will supersede them and bo recognized as Tho Standard Dictionary."
For $7.00. Examine the Book.
I (inlH nf all other iicrgmen of his demon-
I Inatlun
The historic old 8t Paul's church. He-
trnlt, Is now a di Miluti ruin Hevcntl year.1
ago It huh partly destroyed by lire audi
I from time to time It has (alien until there
I Is now Utile left. The parish erected a
i new church about ten years ugo. Ht. I'uuI'h
daten back to 18.M, when tho society was
I founded. The church was completed In 1S52
'nt a cost of about ji.oijo and for years was
l one of the best churches In the city.
A picturesque Incident of tho holy eur
In the Catholic world wiih the recent te
ceptlon hy Leo X!lf of Donna Curollnu
Tnnturelll, un uged woman from Perugia,
vho attained her 101st year early In .lunli- ,
ury last On account of her great nun the
ponllrt granted her a private audience. '
Much to his surprise. Donna Carolina re
minded him that they tlrst met In her late '
hiiHliund'H hoiihe In IKiO. "fifty years ago, ' I
and added hhe, "we were neither of us very '
, young then." The pope, who Ik only nine I
icurH her Junior, was greully amused.
Hubbl Jacob David Wllowskl, one of the
most famous talmudlHtH of Kurope, Is about '
to open a lecture season lu New York.
Later he will come to Chicago. This learned
man. who prcKldeH oxer a large eongn gu
lion In Sluzk ltussiu, has attained llUran
- Brady Company, Distributors.
is no end." He had never
of many books and seems to
Tho Liverpool Dally Post, Liverpool:
"It Is nu Implement that will bo of
vast servico to those who cultlvato
tho literary arts on cltbor sldo of tha
Atlantic. It li a monument to Amer
ican Industry, no less than tho great
Whlto City by Lake Michigan (tho late
Chicago World's Fair.)"
fume by publishing eighteen volumes of
commentaries on what is known as tho
Jewish version of the taliuud.
The lute lllshoii CharliH it. Hulp of Cairo,
ill., was one of the most learned men In
tho Kplscopal church. When ho was an
undergiuduate In the I'nlverslty of Penn
sylvania he nulled with llonry .Morton, now
president of tin- Sleveim Institute of
Technology, and somo others In inundat
ing and publishing the Inscriptions on the
Iloxcttu stone.
in a recent missionary sermon by lte
Walter Kllieott of the PaullHt leathers of
New York, the preacher declared th.it
Cardinal Clbbon'H estimate that ::o,li00 con
verts to the Itomun Catholic religion are
made In this country every year Is too low
Kather Klllott thought that tho number
at least Ho per cent greater than t lie
cardinal's llutcs.
A propoMtlon Is on foot to cstabllMh u
colony of Krencli llugueuotM In Nnrili
Carolina. A circular making an uppeal for
help states that the agitation aguliMt
Protestantism lu Trance Is again reach
In an acute stage and that l.il-": CulvlnlMt
families, comprising lO.TS'J poisons, will
emigrate to this country If a tract of Kl.turt
in n-M uf suitable, luud can bo ublulncd tor
thvla.
