The Columbian., August 17, 1883, Image 1

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. 3. O. ADAMS, Editor and Proprietor.
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VOL. IV.
ST. HELENS, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON: AUGUST 17, 1S83.
NO. 2.
One square (10 lines) first insertion...........
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''' "' , . .:....: . Sirf ; ' '' .
1 c
. JL Li 1.1 11 A Hx..1J A JLy.il. 1J, V II rilio
A' PUZZLED VOCALIST.
How c n persou lt-arn to slDgT
That's what t want to ut.
I liar ted out some year ago
All ardor for lay tak.
1 be teacher ibt I met with first
My brain with terms would cram
"Don't ue the tujrrld music so;
ting from the diaphragm.
Ee used to open wide my jawi
And In my throat did grope
With little mirrors set on wires,
Called a laryngoscope.
My second teacher aid my voice
Had been quite falseiy tried.
That -'register" were tmply boah-
And must be set aside.
A third one told me that my voice
Was built for second ba-s.
And if I got it focuased" right
It would Improve apace.
Another told me tbat my breath
Must near the ara.p' play;
The i.ezt one said hat ft roe of tone
Within the membranes lay.
With Tocal chords and diaphragm
And trio thyroid bone
I was becora.ng mystified
And could not give a toue.
At last I met a teacbcr gruff.
Who made my heart rt-Juloe.
He heard me through quit patiently.
Then said. "You have no voice."
Tanio Sol Fa Reporter
A FRENCH ISX MYSTERY.
On the evening of March 27, 1875, a
traveling carriage was driven np to the
door of the inn which for nearly half a
centnrv had borne the name of "Lea
Tvois Canards."
This wayside inn was on the old post-
road leading into Chalons, ana half a
mile from the Chateau de Sonteau. But
few travelers of late had honored this
old inn with their patronage, and its
landlord, Jean Bernis, and his wife,
fifteen rears vouneer than himself, a
fascinating little brunette, with the
grace, piquancy and bearing of a woman
of better degree tnan tbat ol her pres
ent station, had but two servants, one a
house cirl and the other a hostler. There
was little need of even that help, save,
perhaps, on such days as there might
happen to be a grand review of govern
ment troons at Chalons.
The carriage driven up to the front of
the inn, the driver leaped from his seat
and opened the door of toe vehicle.
"This is 'Lies Trois Canards," said the
coachman, in a respectful tone. "The
inn which is near the Chateau de Son
teau." A man came out of the carriage, fol
lowed by one in the plain livery of a
valet.
"Rudolph," said he to his servant,
"bring out the portmanteau and the
dressing case. Wo will stop here to
night. In' the morning will be time
enough for the visit to the chateau."
Master and valet at onoe entered the
inn, and shortly afterwards were shown
to the small suite lot rooms, a little
cramped salon, or parlor, with an ad
joining bed chamber, which the master
was to occupy.
"Do yon see monsieur valet?" said the
landlord to his wife.
"Yes; and he resembles some one at
the chateau. Ah, I remember I Why,
he is the very image of Cherin, the
keeper of the lodge, who has charge of
the chateau.
"I would have sworn it was Cherin,"
was the landlord' answer. "The like
ness is wonderful."
The newly arrived guest's name was
M. Robert de Launey, a banker, en route
from Chalons to Paris. His valet, a
handsome fellow of five and -thirty years,
informed the landlord that his master
intended purchasing the chateau and
using it as a summer residence. Half
the purchase money was to be paid in
the morning.
The banker and his valet had arrived
at the inn at 8 o'clock. Tbe conversa
tion of the valet with the inn keeper oc
curred at 9 o'clock, the exact time being,
as she afterward testified, particularly
noticed by Mad. Bernis.
At half-past nine the valet was called
for by his master. Fifteen or twenty
minutes later he descended to the little
bar-room and asked in no very pleasant
manner the nearest road to the chateau,
adding that "men who are served have
no feeling, and those who serve them
get no rest. I am to go through the
darkness to-night now to the chateau
with a message to M. de Sonteau."
"But M. de Sonteau, at so late an
hour, may not receive your j message.
He is a surly, quick-tempered man, and
his late misfortunes the loss of his for
tune at the gaming tablesand tbe natur
al uglines.4 of hi disposition " .
"Will make him receiye me all the
quicker when he knows I am come from
the banker, who is to pay him cn account
300,000 francs to morrow morning. Here
is the message, sealed up as tight as a
tomb. Ahorse, landlord, and quickly,
bo I may get back in time for a night's
rest."
The landlord gave him the horse and
the necessary directions for reaching the
chateau.
"I will wait up for you Until you re
turn," said the landlord.
M. de Launey will ring if he needs
any service." were the parting words of
the valet an he 1 ode off into the darkness.
It was fifteen or twenty minutes past
ten when tbe grumbling valet rode
away.
"I would ha'.e sworn he was Cherin,
the lodge-keeper of tbe chateau; the
same build, the voice, the expression of
the eyes the very counterpart of each
other ar3 these two."
Madame merely answered with a
smile. She already f"lt a btrauge inter
est in the valet, fur hU resemblance to
Cherin suggested to her that he might
make as good a lover as was the lodge
keeper, whom her jealous husband had,
months before, forbidden to enter the
inn.
Twice, once at eleven, and once half
an hour later, had M. de Launey, the
fuett, rang and made inquiry if hie valet
ad returned.
At twelve o'clock there was the clatter
of horses' hoofs, the valet passed in,
greeted the landlord, and, bidding him
retire, ascended the narrow stairs to his
master's rooms. The landlord slept be
low, at the rear, iu a room which ad
joined the kitchen, the servants sleeping
the hostler over the stable, and the
house servant in a room adjoining the
public dining room.
At six in the morning the landlord and
his wife were suddenly startled from
their slumber by loud ories and a violent
knocking at the door of the kitchen. The
noise also brought in the housemaid and
the hostler, who were already up and be
ginning their morning's work.
"Monsieur Uernis, get up quickly.
was the cry. "My master has been mur
dered. Help! Help!"
It was the valet who shouted the
alarm, and speedily the inmates of the
inn followed him to his master's rooms.
Surely it was a horrible sight. There
lav the banker near the easy chair in
which he must have been sitting, iu
dressing gown and slippers, his shirt
bosom and clothing saturated with
blood.
His throat had beeu cut from ear to
ear, Un the floor, near tne taoie upon
which stood the still burning lamp, was
the weapon with which the murder had
been accomplished, its blade and handle
covered with the red evidence of fearful
work.
The frightened landlord at once dis
patched the hostler to Chalons for the
police, and the house servant ran wildly
up the road, to apprise the neighbors,
who were few.
The valet volunteered to ride to the
chateau and apprise M. de Sonteau of
tbe horrible event, and, rushing to the
stables, and saddling a horse, was, five
minutes later, galloping down the road.
When he returned he was alone. M. de
Sonteau would be at the inn soon, he
said.
The police arrived and an investiga
tion was at once begun. The Prefect of
Cbaloas was present in person, with
three or four of his shrewdest officials.
The valet gave his statement. ' While ha
was masmg it Mad. JLiernis, paie ana
trembling, and looking all the prettier
with the excitement under which she
labored, kept her eyes fixed upon the
valet with a strange expression. Sbe
noticed that he never once looked at
her; that his eyes were fixed solely upon
the prefect.
My master sent me last evening to
the chateau with a message to M. de
Sonteau. The message was written and
sealed, and I only know that it was im
portant. When "I delivered it to M. de
Sonteau he was about retiring. He bade
me wait. Presently he gave me a verbal
answer- in these words: " leu iu. ae
Launey that I will comply with his wish.
A de Sonteau never violates his word.'
Then I rode back to the inn, where the
landlord was still up waiting my master's
ring. JU. de Launey was then sitting in
an easy chair. I gave him M. de Son
teau 'a reply. He merely smiled; bade
me open his dressing case and place the
package, which was upon the ; table be
side him, under the pillow of his bed.
He also bade me examine the lock upon
the door leading to the staircase. Then
ks said: 'You can go to bed.: Awaken
me at six. I will start for the chateau at
nine.' I left the room, and that was the
last I saw of my master alive." j
"You knocked at the door according to
his orders, at six o'clock in the morn
ing?" questioned the prefect, i
"Yes, Monsieur le Prefect ten min
utes before six. I rapped twice and re
ceiving no answer, lifted the iron latch
of the door, and to my surprise, found it
unlocked. I pushed the door open, and
then I saw him lying as he is now.
Scarcely knowing what I did I ran
down stairs and gave the alarm. That is
all I know."
"What was contained in the package
you placed under his pillow ?"
"Monsieur,, I am not positive, but I
think it must have contained bank
notes the purchase monev of the cha
teau." "Do you know that this package is
missing, and that your late master's
watch and chain are nowhere to be
found ?"
"I do not, Monsieur. I know noth
ing since I opened the door this morn-
Madam Bernis was questioned. She
added nothing new to the valet's state
ment, merely corroborating a portion of
it. But she still held her gaze upon the
valet's face. She could not catch a glance
from him in jeturn.
M. de Sonteau arrived from' the cha
teau. A morose-looking man, jrith a
et range set expression of countenance,
thin lips and heavy black moustace.
"M. Robert de Launey only needed to
sign the legal papers and pay me the
stipulated 300,000 francs to become the
owner of the ancestral home of my fami
ly. His valet broaght'me a message
yes. It was a request ttiat I would ar
range so that the business 'should be
transacted at an earlier hour I than had
been agreed upon. That was all. I sent
a verbal reply. Am I at liberty to de
part?" j
"Most certainly, M. de Sonteau."
The landlord, the house servant and
the hostler were examined, but they
gave nu clue to the mystery of this aw
ful crime. " !
The Prefect decided to hold in close
surveillance tbe valet, the landlord and
his wife, and gave the case into the keep
ing of a couple of his sharpest defec
tives, i
Tbe weapon, a knife, with J which the
murder was committed was minutely ex
amined. While it was being inspected
minutely the valet seemed nervons and
agitated, and once or twice his eyes
meeting the glance of Madame Bernis
fastened upon him as if watohing bis
every motion, he trembled violently.
The woman was evidently preparing
herself for some fearful emergency. She
was pale, and her features wore a rigid,
reolnte expression.
"M. le Prefect, hold the knife near to
me that I may see it closely,"! she said.
The Prefect obeyed the request. Sbe
did not touch the blood-stained instru -ment
of death.
Hive vou seen that knife before?
Again the woman inspected it, and still ;
more closely, ineu sue marten, ana
with a shudder as of supreme horror,
exclaimed: !
"Mou Dieu. mon dieu, it is his knife!"
"Whose knife?" j
The valet made a movement toward
the door, as if to leave the apartment.
An officer intercepted him. I
"Whose knife!" repeated the Prefect.
"It is the stable knife which I have re
peatedly seen in the hands of Jacques
Cherin, the lodge keeper of the chateau
de Sonteau!" she answered, her eyes
still fixed upon the valet. I
But Cherin has not been here since a
month ago," said the landlord. .
" . . . . -a
w ,1
"That is Cherin's knife, nevertheless.
His initials are cut or scratched on the
handle scrape the blood off and you
will see them J. C."
The Prefect did so. The woman was
right.
The valet, now almost livid in the face
sink upon his knees in abject terror at
tbe Prefect's feet, crying, "Monsieur,
ea'.e me! I could not help it."
Now the woman's face lighted up.
"Ah, you see, husband, I was right
when I said this valet looked enough
like Cherin to be Cherin or his twin
brother. Look at him. It is Cherin."
"Yes, I am Cherin. I am not Ru
dolph, the yalet. I am the lodge keeper
of the chateau." A look of profound
pity came over the woman's face, "and
this -man," she murmured sd low and
only the Prefeot heard her distinctly.
was my lover, and in this wretch's em
brace, I forgot my duty to so good a
man as my husband. God forgive me!
What better am I than a murderer?"
Turning to the Prefeot she said so all
could hear: "Monsieur, there is an aw
ful mystery -in last night's work, and
this wretch can explain it put him to
the rack!"
Cherin had fallen to the floor. The
officials lifted him into a chair. Ashe
fell to tbe floor they saw his hand quickly
taaen from his month as by a spasmodic
action of the arm. "What have you
done?"
"Nothing," answered" the valet. "You
were too quick for me I I have
mercy on me. I confess all. I am
Cherin; tbat is my knife. It was I who
murdered M. de Launey. The package
of money I found under his pillow I
gave to my master (de Sonteau) an hour
since, before he reft here. But it was not
I who arrived here with the banker.
That was his valet, Rudolphe."
"Where is this Rudolpbe the real
valet? Was he your confedei ate?" sternly
demanded the prelect.
"I will tell you all. When the yalet
amvea issc nignt at the chateau with a
message from his master.M. Sonteau, my
master, who was troubled at being
obliged to sell his chateau, and nearly
wild over the poverty to which his gaming
Drought him, called me to him and said,
with a terrible look: 'Jacques, would
you make any sacrifice to save me this
chateau and make me once more rich?
Not knowing what be meant, and blindly
loving mm as x did, x swore to mm that
I would dare death itself to serve him.
Then he said: 'It is an inspiration. I
will kill this miserable valet who is in
the hall; you shall assume his clothes
and return as him. You will then out
tbe throat of this de Launey, search his
room for his money, and if you do your
work properly you will not be suspeoted.
The inspiration has come to me through
the extraordinary resemblance you bear
to the valet . - , .. .
"Monsieur le Prefect, I dared not re
fuse, fool that I was. M. de Sonteau, my
master, killed the valet with the blow of
an iron rod, and, stripping his body of
coat, vest, pants, shoes and necktie, we
carried it to the wine vault beneath the
chateau and threw it into an emptv port
wine cask. Then I put on the dead
valet's clothes, mounted his horse and
rode back. I entered the banker's room.
He was asleep in the easy chair, with his
feet toward the open fire. On the table
was his dressing case and the package of
bank bills. I caught him by the hair,
and. with one blow of the knife, ended
his life.
"I took the money and his watch and
chain and crept out of his room.oarefully
closing the door, and went to my room.
When ray master came in an hour since
to give in his statement. I gave him, un
perceived, the package. The watch is
up stairs, hidden between the mattresses
ot my bed.
"Monsieur, that is all."
An hour later M. de Sonteau was ar
rested. He was afterwards tried at
Chalons, found guilty on the evidence of
his accomplice, and expiajed his crime
upon the guillotine April 19tb following.
Cherin suffered the same expiation five
days later.
Both tbe chateau and the inn of "Lea
Trois Canards" tre now in ruins.
Piilk Parties.
Whether we are on a volcano or not,
we have danced ' a good deal since the
opening of tbe "Salon," and we intend
to go on dancing up to tbe Sunday of
tbe grand piix race. White muslin balls
have been foond insipid. They can only
interest mammas and professional match
makers. A young and well brought np
demoiselle is not a pereon with whom to
while away an hear agreeably in a ball
room. She is only out to be married, and
ia a bosiness-lika way, just as a lamb is
taken to fair or market to be sold. As
she can have no voice in the matrimon
ial negotiations, of which she may be the
object, it would be worse than useless
for a cavalier to 'attempt to impress her
favorably. When not dancing she sits
still and tries to look vacant., The rose
ball is another thing. "A rose" in the
ball room tdangof tbe day means a very
young matron. It not being al
lowable to peer into birth certifi
cates, "roses" are classed according
to the number of years they have been
married. In the first year of married
life there is the blush rose (la France).
When eight or nine years of matrimonial
bliss have been run and beauty is boldly
imposing there is the "Paul Neroo" and
the "Heine de Angleterre." Next is the
"Oloire de Dijon, a tea rose, very lovely
in its way, but yellowish, and therefore
not admissible to a pink rose party.
Pink, it is found, is not becoming after
thirty, Ladie, therefore, of a "certain
age" are excluded from rose balls. Fetes
of this kind are too often given bv
' charming heings who loox best in a
roseate hue. Invitations are generally
II" 1
limited, and those favored with them
are Beleoted because they will look
frightful in the pink livery that is de
riguer. A sallow fice will be at a
dreadful disadvantage; so will be a pen
sive countenance or oue that grief has
touched even without spoiling. There
are insignificant blondes who are utterly
effaced in the brightness of a pink party.
London Truth.
Qov. Crittendon of Missouri, diese
garded a strong petition for remission
of fine in the first oonviotion under the
new liquor law, declaring that he should
not break dowu the work of the eourts.
Second-hand Stuff.
"What are you going to do with that
stuff?" was asked of a man who was
placing on a- track the remnants of a
building that had been torn down, in
Sixth avenue.
"Take it to the yard," he replied.
"And then what?"
"Sell it."
- The yard referred to is the headquar
ters of a dealer in second-hand building
material.
"This business is fifty years old," the
superintendent said. "We occupy nearly
forty city lots. They are covered with
second-hand building material. ; We can
supply brick for interior walls, or brown
tone for front walls, or granite columns
for ornamental high stoops or porticos.
Jt is all ready for use, -and it is of known
quality. We have thousands of feet of
timber and lumber of various kinds.
Every .kind of lumber used in building a
house can be found here joists, floor
ing, studding, rafters, and roof boards
Tbe roof itsoli oan be had, too. Tin de
teriorates some, but slates do not so
much. We can supply a tin roof that is
as good as it was the day it was laid. We
have several cords of slates. Our lumber
is better than new. It is thoroughly sea
soned. We supply the lumber for about
all the swell mansions. Every piece of
timber in Vanderbilt's house came from
this yard. When men put thousands of
dollars into frescoes they want to be cer
tain there will be no shrinking in the
timbers of their houses."
"You do not confine your attention to
dwellings, do you?"
"Your question reminds me of a man
from a neighboring village who came
here. He said he guessed he'd got an
order that would puzzle us to fill. He
wanted a second-hand pulpit. He was
astonished when I showed him a com
plete outnt. we had stained glass win
dows, crosses, altars, candlesticks, rails,
mournin? benohes, a sprinkling ' bowl
and a baptistry ij I showed him a full
assortment of pewter for the body of tbe
oburcn. Then 1 offered him a second
hand steeple with bell, complete and all
set up. He bought a pulpit and paid for
it in silence. He was so astonished that
he couldn't talk."
"What else can you fit out?"'
"Anytning. iieie s a good bar for a
lager beer room, and back of it is an ele
gant arrangement of shelves to hold the
out-glas bottles. - There are mirrors be
tween to reflect the back hair of tbe bar
tender. If you want one we can supplv
you with a first-class stall fit for Maud S.
There would be an iron manger in one
corner, a solid mahogany door at the
other and a rosewood hay rack between,
if you wanted it." ,
"You don t mean to say you ve bought
in second-hand stalls of that kind, do
you?" -. . s U'- v- - -
"Well, not quite that. We have
everything but the hay rack, though,
and have got the stuff for that. To re
turn to the interior work of dwellings,
we have everything necessary to fit out
either a mansion in Fifth avenue or a
shanty for a squatter sovereign. We
just sold a pair of Italian marble man
tles that probably cost $500 each when
new. They are as good now a3 then.
You can almost see through them, they
are so clear, and the carving is exquisite.
We have mantels in various kinds cf
colored marble, and two in Mexican
onyx that are beautiful. We get hold of
hand oarved mantels and newel posts.
stair rails, doors and frames, that would
delight the heart of one able to appre
ciate the beauty of such work. There is
a gas chandelier. The figures are ex
tremely delicate. It is carved from solid
walnut. In common articles it would
tire you merely 'to hear them enume
rated. You cannot think of any article.
door knobs, girders, gas pipes, ranges,
book cases, mirrors, anything that is
known under the head of modern im
provements or as a part of the house
itself, that we cannot Kfepply. We'll buy
any kind of a building. Booth's theatre
is now making its way here piece
meal. The old bank building that stood
at 40 and 42 Wall street is here. A
part of the partition that once orna
mented a' Morrisania bank will go into
Harry Miner's new theater. It will
make the handsomest box office you ever
saw. He gets Booth's fancy iron orches
tra railing also. We have a windlass
here that was used in a down town bank
to hoist the gold up out of the vaults in
the basement. ' In our office is a stool
that was used in a succession of business
houses for more than' a hundred years.
The clock, a round-faced affair, two feet
in diameter, is a old. It is more ser
viceable. An enormous eacle looks down
upon the bookkeeper from between masks
out of an old theatre. He sitn at a desk
tbat was mads in the time of Queen Eliz
abeth." !
"How do yon get it all?"
"We have three bnyers out all the
time. Usually the contractor who puts
up a new house gets the old one in the
bargain. We but and remove it for him
if he wishes, or we buy it of the owner,
or we buy any part of it. Wo sell mostly
to builders and large real estate owner.
Every thihg is sold on its merits."
"And price?
"About one-third that of new on the
average, some of the nne pieoes we sell
to builders are turned in to the new
owners at ten times our prices. You can
not say that it is a cheat either, because
as such brio-a-brao goes the price is rea
sonable." "How muoh of a business is it?".
"Ours is not the only yard. We sold
$35,000 worth of firewood from the waste
laat year, and the total rales amounted to
a little more than $250,000. We used to
give away the kindling ten years ago.
Now it keeps a good many teams going,
especially in the winter. We have 317
men on our pay roll. Their pay ia high.
It takes as groat skill to take fine work
out of a house as to put it in." N. Y
Bun.
An Exaggerated Alarm.
It would seem that muoh more alarm
is being manifested in the newspapers
about the cholera than the oircumstanoes
call for. The recent visitations of the
epidemio have not been so severe as that
of 1832. If it is not known what the
germ is, it is at least certain that it is a
germ capable of indefinite multiplica
tion, whieh is the cause of 'the disease.
It is pretty well established that the dan-
ger is contained in the excreta. By im
mediate disinfection the disease is not
transmitted. So thoroughly proved is
this fact that Louis Napoleon had no
hesitation about visiting the hospitals
and inspecting the patients, when the
cholera was the last epidemic iu Paris.
It is well known that if the cholera is
taken in time, in the hands of civilized
doctors, it does not, only in ja few cases,
prove fatal. .
Once the plague moved slowly along
the great routes of travel. Lisurelv de
velopment seemed to be one of the laws
of its spread. But the conditions are
now all changed. Travel I has every
where been greatly expedited. Whether
this is going to produce a more rapid dis
semination is one of the unsettled prob
lems. The germ' of the disease is not as
long lived as that of smallpox. It has
been known, however, to be conveyed in
the boxes of clothing of emigrants
through the cordon at New! York to the
West, where it developed six weeks later.
That was supposed to be the cause of
the last outbreak in this country.
They are so much alarmed in Europe
that it is quite certain the cordons will
be drawn very tight everywhere on the
Mediterranean. But it is nevertheless
a time for the greatest vigilance on the
part of the board of health.! Just now
the routes by. land mar be even more
dangerous than water routes. Yellow
fever has never been able to reaoh this
city by sea. The cool breezes of the
ocoan are usually too much for that fell
disease. There have been cases of yel
low fever on ships in the port, but by
striot quarantine it was not communi
cated to the shore. It might be differ
ent, however, at this season of the year,
in the hot valleys of the southern part
of tbe state,. ooming hp by Way of New
uneans. it will not be prudent to try
any - experiments there. If . cholera
reaches Europe it will have to be fought
at the several points at whioh railroads
enter the state Truckee, the Needles of
the Colorado, and at Fort Yuma. The
danger by sea is not so great! but no re
missness at the GolJen Gate should be
tolerated. There were a few sporadic
cases of cholera in this city in early
days. But it "was epidemic in Sacra
mento. The disease is usually produced
by exposure and bad food. It broke out
among the British troops in the Crimea
from that cause. Tbe same thing was
observable in "some of the emigrant
trains in 1849. S. 1: Bulletin, j
A Wind Scut me.
A novel and interesting enterprise was
brought to light this week through the
medium of a Ne-" York civil engineer,
who is at Chicago in connection with the
establishment of a pneaumatio pipe be
tween New York and Chicago. The
plans, as partly developed, are to lay a
four inch pipe for the transmission of
letters, messages, grain, samples, jew
elry and other light packages, at a mixi
mum tariff ol ten cents for letters. Way
stations will be established at Cleveland,
Bunalo and possibly one ether point.
Tbe pipe will be the ordinary tubular
kind in common use, and the entire lino
will be made perfectly air 'tight, with
brass stations at the points men
tioned. The boxes for the convey
ance of messages will be made from sole
leather, with wood air registers, as used
in short pneumatic tubes. Engines of
25-horse power, to drive the air pumus.
will be placed at the termini, and smaller
ones at the way stations. Seventeen
patents for various devices have bean
secured by the originators of the scheme
and no doubt some of them Will he made
available in working .the line. The plan
of operating, as far as revealed at pres
ent, will be' about as follows!: Common
cing at 6 . o'clock, a. - m., Washington
time, the boxes containing through
packages will be fed into the tube at
Chicago and blown toward, New York,
while the Chicago pump lis filling tbe
tube and the New York pump is ex
hausting the air. The last box, started
at Chicago at 6:30. will have a patent
signal attachment, which, at Cleveland,
automatically announces its arrival. The
local boxes are those inserted there, and
later on at Buffalo. The last box will
arrive at New York at 10 o'clock, the trip
being made in about four hours. The
line is cleared for west-bound traffic for
the following four hours, and so on, al
ternately, day and night. It is ex
pected that during each period of four
hours 10QQ boxes can be transmitted.
each earning about' $2 in freights,
or 312 during the 24 hours, being an ag
gregate of $12,000 per day Jfor the line.
The cost of operating it is estimated at
only $1.25 daily, which inclt des 300 pipe
section men (repairers), 50 station oper
ators and 100 delivery and collection
messengers, hence the net earnings oan
reach the enormous aggregate of $3,000,
000 annually at least it is Ithus figured
out on paper. But even allowing a very
ide margin for errors and omissions,
the profit cf operating the pneumatic
pipe line promises to be very large. Tbe
cost of laying the line will be something
less than $4,250,000. The projectors
confidently anticipate anl immediate
profit of 20 per cent, on the investment.
The next serious obstacle to the present
consummation of the singular scheme is
the right of way; but it is said the par
ties interested have been I seoretly ob
taining this at little cost. The pipe will
be placed under ground in the cities, but
the bulk of the lines will extend along
tracks of certain railroads,! the pipe in
most instanoes being attaohsd to and
swung from the ends of the ties. For
certain short distances, for connecting
links, the pipe will pass through fields
and along country roads, where it will
be put on short "jaoks," or pedestals, or
swung along the base of f enees. Ia cross
ing oountry roads it will bo swung on
short poles. Three telegraph wires will
be attached to and extend along the pipe,
to be used for electric signaling between
stations. At least one engineer believes
the fcoheme a feasible one, and if it
proves a success, it is thought another
pipe line will be added for j the transfer
exclusively of grain from Chicago to
New York, by whioh method 60,000
bushels oould be carried daily for 10
cents per bushel, at a profit of $2500.
Orain placed in a tube here would arrive
in New York in about five hours, the
transfer time being somewhat longer
than by the message line. Applianoes
are now feeing experimented with by
whioh. with the aid of automatio attaoh-
ments the grain pipe line would be con
tinually charged from the bins of the
principal elevators here, and delivered at
a general central elevator at New York.
The grain, it is claimed, would be im
proved in transit, as it would pass
through a patent dust fan upon its dis.
charge into the New York elevator. The
capacity of the line being only about 18,
000,000 bushels annually, it would not
seriously interfere with railway traffic.
The projectors of the. enterprise state
that the money necessary to carry out the
plans expeditiously is pledged, and ata
conference to be held on the 26th instant
the full details will probably be made
public Cleveland Herald.
Chicago's Speculator.
P. D. Armour; the ruler of the prd"
vision market of the world, is of sturdy
Scotch Presbyterian stock. He was
born in one of the central oonnties of
New York on a farm among the hills. It
was the highest ambition of his life
to buy a farm adjoining that of his
father. When the gold fever broke out
he was a mere stripling; but full of
youthful enthusiasm, he started for Cal
ifornia, driving a wagon, across the
plains ana mountains. He remained
there three or four years and within that
time saved a few thousand dollars. The
dream of his boyhood days was about to
be realized. He now had hard cash
enough to buy that farm and settle
down. He shook the dust of the Golden
State from his feet and turned his face
to the east. He was in a feverish haste
to get home. The stages moved at a
snail's pace and everything dragged
horribly. He had no sooner reached
home than he experienced a sudden
revulsioa of feeling. The streets of
the village nearest the sire's farm,
which had once struck him as being noble
drives and busy thoroughfares, looked
narrow, cramped and dull. The house
that had impressed his juvenile imagi
nation as grand appeared mean and
dingy, and the hills that had seemed to
him like mighty mountains - a few years
before were now mere mole hills. The
very atmosphere was suffocating almost,
and he panted to get away before his hat
waaiamy on its old peg. He only re
mained on the farm two or three days
anl then took himself to Cincinnati.
Later he drifted to Milwaukee, and at
the olose of the war he sold a great lot
of pork at $40 a barrel, and bought it
again at $18 to $19, realizing a profit of
about a million. This gave him his
start, and from that day he has been con
tinually adding to his wealth, until to
day he ranks as the wealthiest man in
Chicago, being rated by those who know
something of his business at $25,000,000
or S30,000,000. His transactions are
colossal. His firm employs between
5,000 and 6.000 men, and on his pay rolls
are about fifty men who receive salaries
of $5,000 and over. He is not yet fifty
five years of age, and, although he puts
in ten and twelve hours a day, and de
votes very little time to recreation, he is
apparently good for 25 years yet. Na
tional itepubiican.
McCallonghV Mental Trouble.
The report that John McCullough, the
actor, has arrived at St. Louis, that his
health has broken down again, and that
he has oanoeled his engagements for next
winter, will be received with feelings of
the deepest sorrow by all the friends of
that great-hearted man. Mr. McCul
longh's illness arises from melancholia,
which forbids the sleep that is nature'3
sweet restorer, and is said to proceed
from a very singular if not trifling cause.
Last summer when he made tbe tour of
the Yellowstone with General Sheridan
be accidentally ruptured himself while
mounting his horse. For a long time he
didn't know what was the matter, and
probably might not until now have
known-but for Billy Conner, his mana
ger, who happened to stumble upon the
real trouble. When be did discover it
John was frightened
his life.' Visions of
elastic stockings and
about half out of
treses, bandages.
horrible machines
nimbly before his
of all kinds danced
eyes day and night.
Conner began to
lead him along . side streets where there
were no surgical Btofea, and to do every
thing under heaven to keep his friend s
mind from things connected with his
physical ailment. Bat McCullough got
to be more and more gloomy. He had
heard of all sorts of things happening to
ruptured men, and he began to avoid
any kind of exertion. His usual em
ployment was to sit down and ruminate
in sorrow. Recently it was supposed he
was better, but tbe recurrence of the
trouble induces the gravest apprehen
sions. The Mormon Question.
"Bill" Nye, the humorist of Laramie.
Wyo. T., was recently interviewed rela
tive to the Mormon question. "Tbe
Mormons," he says, "exert a more potent
influence in the territory than most peo
ple suppos and they are spreading so
rapidly oVvr the northwestern states and
territories that before long that section
will be practically under thoir control."
Mr. Nye thought the Edmunds law a
failure, because the Mormon women, by
whom alone polygamy can be proven,
would invariably declare upon oath, that
their children were illegitimate, before
they would criminate their husbands.
They belonged body and soul to the
Mormon elders, and were afraid to diso
bey the edicts of the ohuroh. When
asked what would be a national solution
of the Mormon problem, he replied : "To
anyone who is familiar with their cus
toms and resources, all talk of control
ing or governing them sounds absurd.
Why, so well drilled and thoroughly
prepared are thej to resist any interfer
ence, that it would be amusement for
them to annihilate the whole Federal
army. There is no use in mincing mat
ters, and tbe government can make up
its mind without delay that the Mormons
have come to stay. They have almost
boundless wealth and their numbers are
increasing from immigration by the thou
sands every year. They are in a position
to defy the government, and no one oan
object." '
Herbert Thompson of New York, has
bought an 8000-acre swamp near Mill
ford, Pa., intending to drain it and have
the biggest cranberry patch in this or in
any other oountry.
(JOERAL NEWS.
Cincinnati brewers say they sell jast
as much beer with the saloons taxed as
tney did before and are ;mg com
forted. It is the old story in the "Salvation
Army," the- money and glry mostly
stajs with the generals anc. colonels,
while the privates get barely enough to
live on. i , -
There is a row because Creeks in the
Indian territory impose a tax of 81
head on cattle driven through their
country to tbe railroad. Under the law
they have no right to obstruct cocamerse
by any charge of the kind, but doubtless
there is grazing by the way ,whiol makes
the trouble. '
- ttajof Twtag -of g txmUt Vtib
impeachment trial justat hand, gets mar
ried. His idea is doubtless that if tbe
matrimonial venture turns out well it
will help to solace him in the official
trouble, while if it proves unfortunate
the scrimmage will just come in p lay to
divert his mindJ
The first lead made from Pennsylvania
ore has just been smelted at Sunbury in
that state, and a profitable mining busi
ness is reckoned assured. The company
has opened three veins of ore and has
great quantities in sight averaging eO 0.3 r
oact motal, and every ton has from 10 to
15 ounces of silver.
See how the western newspaper soars
when a few blocks of its mud-hole are
being paved : St. Louis is moving
grandlv toward an era of crolden pros
perity. Her feet are being lifted: out
of the mire and placed upon the Rock cf
Ages, Every block of granite laid in
our streets is an enduring jewel place 1
in the fair bosom of our oity.
A great many soft maples red and
white have been planted in Iowa be
cause of their rapid growth, and the vio
lent wind whioh passed ever tbe state
July 16th destroyed and mutilated theza
by' thousands. Des Moines suffered
especially; every street had the trees,
and a great proportion of them are either
killed or injured.
If anybody deserves an increase in pay
it is the fellow who scales your high
wall, nails his telephone wire to your
roof, chuckles in his boot legs anl
strides off without so much as "If you
E lease," or, "Thankee." He ought to
ave the 25 per cent, extra. When peo
ple becrin to shoot the work will be
worth 60 per cent, more. Wheeling In
telligencer. .
Property owners in Potts ville, Pa., are
disgusted to find tbat they must pay cS
an old blanket mortgage amounting to .
$17,000, whioh everybody had forgotten.
It covers 78 acres in the heart of the
town, was given in 1810, and ever since
has beeu in litigation of oue sort and
another, neglected and forgotten by the
land owners.
The beet sugar business in Delaware
is a disastrous failure, and the company
with $120,000 capital organized to oarry
it on has gone tbe way of all earthly
things. The managers say that tta
trouble was in the beets, that they did
not have sagar enough in them, but
some think tbat the mischief was done
by inexperienoe and bad management.
Probable Postage Stamps.
Though the statement has not been
made officially, there seems to be no
doubt that after October 1st, on which
date the regular 3 cent postage will be .
reduced to two cents, there will also be
an issue of 4 cent stamps. Several de
signs for it, it is said, have already been
received by the department, none of
which, however, was satisfactory. Mr.
Adams, of the postage department of tbe
Boston office, has not been notified that
there will be a 4 cent stamp, but he is
satinfled that there will be an issue of
that denomination to meet the require
ment of double postage, fulfilling the
functions that the 6 cent stamps performs
now. There will very likely be a new
2-oent stamp, and it is said that its color
will be green or fawn. A 4-cent stamp
would be used to pay double postage on
letters. The inference to be drawn, aiy
the Boston officials, is that the 4-oent
stamp will find a sale equal to that of tbe
6-cent stamp. During the last quarter
the number of 3 oent stamps sold at tbe
Boston office was 4,350,000. and the num
ber of 6 oent stamps 129,000. The
5 cent stamp is used mostly on Engliih
and foreign letters, and 170,000 were sold
during tbe same period. Of 10 oent
stamps, 85,000 were sold, and of 15 oent
stamps 13,000. of 30 cant 6000, and of
90 oent only 200. The number of l ceat
postages dispensed was 3,400,000 for tbe
quarter, and the number of 2 oent
stamps 2,350,000. The belief here
is that, after October 1st, the
3 oent Btamp will be called in, and, as
6-cent stamps are used to a very limitsd
extent outside of double postages, there
will practically ba no use for tusm, and
they will, therefore, be abolished also.
Stamps of larger denominations are uned
almost entirely on parcels. Taking tbe
sales of the quarter alluded to as a basis,
the saving to people in Boston who buy
stamps after October 1st will amount to
upward of $200,000. Boston Herald.
Every Farmer Ills Own Agent.
We have been informed by the Port
land branch house of O. Weaticghouse
k Co., Sohenectady, N. Y., manufac
turers of threshing machines, enginos,
etc.. that they contemplate doing busi
ness in a new manner, providing the
farmers give them proper encourageme nt
in so doing. Their method is for the
farmers to order goods direct from the
Portland house, and in that manner sive
the large commission piid local ageuts.
We should think the farmers should take
the opportunity of showing the above
firm that they appreciate this new move.
We would advise farmers with old worn
out maohinery to lay it aside and pur
chase a new Westinghouse machine.
Always bear in mind that an old worn
out maohine of any kind is a detriment.
They fully warrant all machines sold by
them, ana they guarantee their engines
to run with one-third less fuel and water ,
than any engine in the market. Their
thresher is a fine-appearing maohiao,
and is making friends wherever known.
Write to them at Portland for prices and
terms.
I