HALF A MILLION IN ASHES.
PcstructlroFlrplii riillarirlplila-Two
IIuteN lurlicl.
rhllndelphtftdispntch: A five-story brick
build 715 to 719 Arch streets, was dis
covo on fir at 1:33 o'clock this morn
ing. 'Aie flames tju!cti1.v communicated to
21 Arch street. Tho Morris building
wntcn the tire originated was one of tho
handsomest on Arch street. Tho upper
uoors were occupied by three firms of litho
graph ers. Knch of theso firms suffer n Intnl
loss. The first floor wns occwplcd by Monro
Jjros. a: to., wliolesnle denlers In shoes
me nuuuing. Arch street, wns occupied
ov May ,t nro., Htraw nnd mllllnerv nmrl..
The firemen finding their efforts to save the
Morriss building unavailing, directed their
"ireania to uie ot. i. loud hotel, which nd
joins iinuiecinieiy ; on tncenst. The guest
m ine uowi iimimi retired rorthe nightnnd
were jtnrtled by frnntic shouts of "fire,"
...... ..u.uiuuuo irom tne lonrth floor,
iiio cryoi warning created a pnnlc. The
Biirew riiBiioci irom their rooms partly
urcsseu into tlio corndors and dowr the
stairs to the office. Thofemalo guests wcro
mucijr wnm i to quarters in the neighbor,
hood, while the wntlomor, !i.
. " vim.li " iiii ti mi nntin
and others lug;ingtrunks, lookel aftertheir
luicrcsis. mere were man v exciting
incidents.. nd scenes attendant upon the
retreat irom the hotel, but no ncci
icms nro reported. At I?: 10 tho front
wuii o tlio .Morriss building foil with
a crash into the street. This wns
soon after followed by the side wall unon
ii wnrenouRP occupied by Mnr & Hro
in. trl,M'eu anit me imiiiiing was
shattered. A number of buildings on the
Koum side oi Arch street wcro damnged by
hvu unci uie contents suffered from water,
ineoouDle building. No. 2.1 nnd 24 Arch
Bin-ei, just west of tlio Morriss building
wns entirely destroyed. Shortly after 2
o clock it wns evident the .t. Cloud hotol
was doomed, as great volumes of heavv
smoke came pouring through tho fifth floor
front windows. During the early stages of
the- fire, and lerore it had renched tho
hotel, the police ran through the latter
building to awaken tho guests who had not
ween previously alarmed. Some of them
were too sleepy .to bo aroused, and tho
officers were obliged to break in tho doors
to get tho peonlo out. lty o'clock tho
cornice nnd top story of the hotel fell Into
jrcu street, sending up myriads of cinders
.c inn tire was under control. The
bu uiotiii was a live storv structure with a
irontage or eighty feet. It had accommo
untions ror .i.i(i guests and last, night filled
two-thirds or Its capacity. Tho tironrie-
tors sny that tin value of their furniture
uihi eueci is -N.o.UDO. nnd fully covered bv
insurance. Tho London tomperanco hotel
lujiimH uie oi. ciono on tho east side, and
II Lin nn J.t A n-1 i '
,.oy UIU5UV uru. ino guests, who wero
inn any permanent boarders, wero directed
'evi" itnnnnii oi themsucceeded in sa
now estimated at Imlf to three-quarters of
viiv-i, mvi ..diiiti nronorrv. Till. Inua a
tb tiiiiuuu uonars.
rational capital note.
Scnntor nnd Mrs. Van W'.vck gave a din
ner on the20th to Representatives Weaver
and Doisey, Capt. Tower and V. A. Guiro
of Omnha. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, Gen. Hoi
man, Capt. Hroadheud, Capt. Ashby of
Wyniorc, L. W. Colby of lleatru o, Capt.
Squires of fc'airbury, and Messrs. Ueutty
nnd llinmau.
Judge Moody wns heard by the house
commltttoo on territories upon tho propo
nition to divido tho territory of Dakota
Ho followed the same lino of nrgument pur
sued by him lit his previous hearing. ITo
disclaimed any personal interest in the di
vision of tho territory on tho forty-sixth
parallel, and charged that lj. u. .Johnson,
who accused him of dosiring such division
in order that bo might be returned to tho
senate, was not a citizen of Dakota, but of
Illinois. lie said Johnson was a land spec
ulntor, who wanted a division north and
BOtitb in order to bring his lands near the
capital of tho new state, and thus enhance
their value.
Mr. Morrison has been instructed by the
ways and moans u mmitteo to report fay.
orably to tho houso tho original bill taxing
fractional parts of a gallon of spirits. The
bill wns intended to carry out tho sugges
tion made by the commissioner of irtornul
revenue in bis last report. Ho pointed out
that it whs entirely practicable for a distil
ler to fill packages so as to leavo over a
fraction lass than one-half gallon and thus
escape tax upon the amount above an
evon number of gallons contained in tho
package.
The committee on agriculture of the
house ha agreed to accept tho amendment
proposed by tho labor committee to
Hatch'B bill to enlarge tho powers and
(In tiiu of the department of agriciilturo,
and ordered the bill to bo favorably re
ported to tho house, asngreed upon iniom
miltee. The bill'provides for the establish
ment of a department of agriculturo and
labor tind'T tho supervision of a secretary
of agriculture nnd labor, who shall bo ap
pointed by tne president and confirmed by
tho Semite. Thu bill also provides for tiio
appointment of an w-sistant secretary.
Tho new Heel ion presented for incorpora
tion iu Urn bill by the labor committee
creates in the department of agriculturo
and labor a divinum which shall lie under
the charge of a commissioner of labor, who
shall be appointed by the presidout with
the advice and consent of tho senato. Ho
is to hold ofllce four years unless sooner re
moved, nnd receive a salary of S4,0lo jkt
annum. The coiumixMoiic r shall collect in
formation. upon themibjcct of labor, its re
lation to capital, hours of labor, earnings
of laboiiug iiieu and women, means of pro
moting their material, intellectual and
moral prosperity, and the best means to
protect life mid prevent accidents in mines,
worU-iliiiiH and other places of industry.
Tho Hccivtury of agriculture and labor is
empowered to inquire intocMiifn-nuf riincoii.
tent which may exist between employers
and employes within the United Slates.and
he may invil. and hear sworn statements
from both parties concerning matters iu
controversy. The becretary ahull make a
report to congress annually upon the con
dition of lalxir in the United States, uc
rompnuiod by such recowuieudatiuus as he
ma deem important.
Coiuiibrin:; CUtlo DIs-vis.
Tli- hoiKi- co innilte- h i a:ncultiiro H
gMiit consideration of liilU to prevent the
spread of pleuro pneumoiila union j domes
tic iiiiliii.ils. Wilson, of Iowa, ComiiiiW
sloner Cot'innu, of the department of agri
culture. Dr. Salmon, of the bureau of a"ni.
mill itidiixtrv ami others ha ve addressed
the committee. Salmon explained the
nature of pleuro pneumonia. He said tit e
flesh if iufiTted animals was not iujiipouj
as food, and no bud cffivts have h-eii
known from its use. The disase was com
munirtihle to animals within fifteen months
nftpr Infection, nnd quarantine should bo
flxjended to eighteen months at least.
Wi'sun oxpreied tho opiu'on that the
trade of calves Utwf-en the east and west
facilitated tho t runs mission of the disease.
Tno pitijr and Order league of Omaha nro
about to toj;iii a crusade ngsiaat nil dealer
in tobacco, who dtyjos of their ware to
minora.
KEPEALOF THE HIE-EJIPTION LAW
To the Convlilcrnllnii of Wlilrh n flood
Ic.l ol' Time UHclns lveti.
Washington special: The senato commit
tee on public lands has given a good deal of
time this session to tho consideration of
the repenl of the pre-emption law, and is
perfecting an excellent bill on that measure,
The question thnt hns puzzled them most
is whether to deride to report iu favor of
allowing commutation of homesteads to
pre-emptions. There seems to bo a dispo
sltion on the part of a majority of the com
mittee to this course, on tho ground that
the necessity of ninny settler on tho pub
lic domain for money with which to im
prove their stendstends is so pressing that
they need to mortgage their farms, which
they cannot do to advantage until they
h.tve title. If this proposition is adopted
it ivill be tho only form iu which pre-emp
tiou will exist at all in our land laws. The
bill, so funis it has been drafted, is very
conservative with regard to rights already
acquired, and protects tho settler who is
liouirst'ended or pre-empted tullj . Together
with the repenl of tho prn-emptun the tiin
ber law will bo repealed. Some question
has been made as to tho disposition of de
sert and mountain hinds, and the commit
tee is still in doubt as to the proper legisla
tion to recommend in regard to them. In all
probability these lands will bi pre-empted
to settlers herealter as they are now, con
ditional upon siiflicieut improvement, the
principal condition being, w ith regard to
dchfi'ti lands, mat water snau oe iiirned
unon them for the purpose of irrigation
The amount of mountainous laud which
any settler can enter upon is a quarter
F'ction, and all lauds, exclusive oi mineral
and timber lands, which, without irriga
tion, produce some agricultural crops are
re'iirded us desert lands, and all lands
which tiro mountainous and rough nnd
cannot lie ploughed aro regarded as nioun
taiiious laud. I'roof of these conditions is
required upon tho oath of two or more
witnesses. The bill gives the secretary of
the interior power t subpu'iin and cross
examine witnesses for proof before the
register nnd l-eceivor in local laud ollires
There will Is- attached to the bill tho mens
uie introduced iu the house by Mr. Joseph,
(d New Mexico, which provides that in
all cases of., private entries, where.
contests or protests on part of tho
government or any individual, arise pond
ing the six weeks notice of final proof, and
before the duplicated reteiver's receipt is
isHtted, if it appears that any clerical error
has been committed, tho commissioner of
the general land ollico shall have power to
suspend tho entry, and that after final
proof mid tho issuing oi tho receiver s re
ceipt, if any error or fraud has been dis
covered, the commissioner may suspend
thu issuing of the patent, but must fllo
with the attorney general of tho United
States notice of such suspension witli his
reasons, and it, therelore, becomes the
duty of the attorney general to commenco
proceedings in tho proper court to set
aside the title. lulu this seems a fonnid
able process of taking away tho settler's
title, it will bo seon at once that it is a
most important advantngo to him, as it
gives. him the right, if Iibms in th.right, to
go into court, cross-exammo witnesses and
defend himself against false charges and
niHciillv hiierial aL'unts.
DEATH OP MRS. THOS. A. BAYARD.
Tlio Wife or the Nonrotary of State Quito
Suddenly Passe Away
Mrs. Bayard, tvifo of the secretary of
state, died at her residence iu Washington
on tho IUst. The immediate cause of Mrs.
Ilayard's death was congestion of the
brain, brought by tho shock of her daugh
ter's sudden death two weeks ago. For tho
first week following that ovent sho stood
the strain and excitement quito well, but a
week ngo.last Kridivy sho was compelled to
take to her bed, and gradually grow worso
rom day to day. On Thursday congestion
of tho brain made its appearance. Sho was
unconscious for twenty-four hours before
her death. Although for years Mrs. Bay
ard bus been a confirmed invalid, sho had
for the last six mouths boon iu bettor
health than for years.
I lie president was immediately notitied
of Mrs. Bayard's death, and ho at onco
sent Col. Lamont with a note of con
dolence to the secretary, and later in tuo
day Miss Cleveland called at the houso.
Theio will bo no funeral services in Wash
ington. Tho remains will bo taken by
special ear to Wilmington and deposited in
tbe old Swedisli church, where they will ro
main until 2 o'clock Tuesday attornoou,
whin the ICnisconal services will be read
and tho body placed in tlio tomb. Mr.
Bayard hns asked that no olllcial demon
strations bo inado and tHo presidout will
not go to Wilmington. Sovoral members
of tho cabinet, howovei, will attend tho
funeral.
Special telegram: It is believed that Mr.
'ayard, secretary of state, will very soon
retiie to private life. Tho death of his wife
to day has completely crushed him. When
his daughter died a fow days ago ho was al
most prostrated, and ivould then have in
sisted upon resigning from his olllcial posi
tion hud not friends persuaded him to re
consider. Mr. Bayard is of a very affec
tionate disposition, thoroughly in lovo with
domestic life. Ho has loved his own fire
side more dourly than all else. IIo now
feels that it is dissolved and he wants to
pass the remainder of his days iu quietude
and out of the burly burly of public office.
where there is nothing but tho iostlo of
selfishness and the coldness of formality.
hlhi Mr. Bayard was iu tho senato he re
ceived nothing but praise and kind words
from the very moment ho entered. In the
department of state ho was overwhelmed
with unkind criticism. Ihis gnawed pain
fully at his sensitiveness, and It is said ho
has within his inner consciousness been
wishing for an opportunity to retire. It is
now afforded and there is little do ibt that
it will bo em bra-red, and at once. Ilisofllce
is one that carries with it 'many social du
ties mid none of these can now bo filled. It
believed by a few of his friends that he
iniiy take one of the first-class missions.
but that Is not nt all likely. Ho wants to
travel and to ln e'ear of responsibility. Ho
bus a private fortune large enough to moot
all of his desires.
A (Jraln Elevator liiirnMl.
Fire destroyed tlio grain elevator of
Caldwell ,v. Co., at Carson, Potlnwattaiiiio
county, Iowa. Loss includ'ng 250 bush
els of corn and 800 bushels of wheat,
Sii.rWK). The iiihiiranco is Sl.ftOO on the
building iu tho Westoiu Home of Sioux
City, and 1,000 on the building nnd S7."0
on the grain in the Farmers' lusuruucu
company of York, l'u.
The Work or MaskoJ Burglar.
Middleborough (Mass.) dispatch: The
residence of II. Wood nnd his sister Helen,
near Waterman's Landing, an isolated
place, was brokon into by two masked men
Saturday night. Mr. Wood, who had not
yet gone to bed, resisted them, but was
quickly over-powered ami bound- The
burghis next drag.vd IL-lon from her IhmI,
nnd, binding nnd gagjing her. laid her on
the floor b-sido her brother. The burg ars
I lien raumcked thohuusu. contulningiibont
87fi iu money, with which they fscated.
Before leavingXhev placed a pun of milk nt
the bead of each victim and covered theia
with Nsl-clothcw. Mr.Wood 'managed to
I frtsi himself about midnight and released
i UU iUtvr. Tbre U no clew to the robber.
UHNEllAL NEWS AND NOTES.
-Ucnry I'urcell, traveling salesman for
Wntaon, Goodwnrd it Co., of Now York
committed Milcide in ids room at the Col
lotiade hotel, Philadelphia, by taking mor
phine, tie lias been suffering for several
years from a cancer in his head, and the
intense pnin which he suffered constantly
is supposed to have unseated lus reason.
The distress among tho Chineso at Vic
torin, is appalling. Mnny are begging, but
the most are stealing and house breaking,
The mayor has informed the Chiucje mer
chants that they must contribute to the
support of their starving countrymen
Soup kitchens are talked of.
Miss Clara Barton, president of the
American Association of the lJed Cross, has
received $200 from the St. Louis branch oi
the lied Cross, which sho has forwarded to
M. Gustavo Muynter, president of tho In
ternational lied Cross society, to bo ex.
pendt'd for the relief of the sick and wound
ed of the Balkan armies.
M. DeI.esseps stated at a meeting of the
promoters of a Noith Africa inland sea
that Capt. I. mains has gone to survey tho
I uuisiau oasis. (Jn M. Del.esseps' return
to Paris from Panama in April next a com
puny will be formed to carry cut tho pro
ject oi creating the sea.
Mr. Joseph Mayor, the well known
nuthor of a number of scientific works, is
Jead.
It is rumored that a revolutionary expe
dition against Spain is being prepared in
i-ranee, ami that it will depart Irom Mar
cilles.
Tho recent murder of Mr. and Mrs. Jcsso
C. Wickershaui, near Clovordale, Poiiomn
county, Oil., by their Chineso cook, has
again thoroughlly aroused atiti-Chine.sescu
timciit throughout tho Pacific coast. As
soon as tho facts ol tho murder were con
Ilrmrd nnti-lhinese organizations wcro
effected in many of the most important
towi.s in tho "fate. Kcsolutictis to boycott
the Llilnese were adopted and other mens
ii res devised for getting rid of them. At
L'loverdale the Chinese wero notified to
leavo within forty-eight hours.
Peter Jcpscn, belonging to Petersburg,
Menard county, 111., liasbeeihexpolled from
the country by tho Gorman authorities.
Mr. I'endleton. the united States minister,
protested against the expulsion, but bis
protest was unavailing.
Meagre (total's or a trlplu tragedy in
Letcher rotinty, Kentucky, have boon ro
ceived nt I-rankfort. Win. Wright, an old
man, ami w right, his son. and Win,
right, colored, were killed by James,
Samuel nnd hlijah Wright. Tho murderers
have been arrested.
ewburyport, Mass., was visited by n
severe sleet storm, causing great destruc
tion to trees and shrubbery.
Among tho bills recently introduced in the
sennlo is ono by Sherman to discontinue
tho coinage of the silver dollar and provide
for the purchase, of silver bullion in bars.
not less than two million ounces nor more
than four million ounces pcrmoiith. at tlio
market price, and for tho issue in pnymont
lliereoi oi coin certillcates of not less de
nomination than SlOeach. Thebullion to
remain in tho treasury us security for pay
ment oi tlio cerlitlcates.
Johnston Morrison, a wealthy and well
known contractor, doing business at 012
Chestnut street, St. Louis, is reported to
tho police as having disappeared on Janu-
ory ant li, and since has not been locat'td
by his friends. At tho timo of his disap
pearanco he was supposed to have a large
sum of money on his person and it is feared
nc met with lout play.
At Austin, Texas, last week, from out ol
a clear sky a shower of very fino dust be
gan falling. There was no wind at tho
time. The shower increased towards night
and continued through half thonlght. The
dust had a peculiar effect on tho lungs and
throat, causing irritation and hoarseness.
A similar phenomenon was witnessed there
eight years ago.
Major General Popo states that he feels
certain tho Mexicans who attacked Captain
Crawford wero not regular troops, but
renegades who took tho Americans for
hostiles and attacked them in hopo of ob
taining tho scalp money offered by tho state
of Sonora for tho hostiles.
While a party of men were clearing snow
from tho track of tho Denver it South
Park high lines, six miles above Frisco, a
snow slide r00 feet wide and twenty-live
feet deep came down the iiiountuin, sweep
ing away tlio track, with John Mc.Williains
and two shovelers, burying them under
hundreds of feet of snow and rock at tho
foot of the mountain.
T. J. Water, postmaster at Qulncy, a
small seltleinent.iii Newton comity, Arkan
sas, has been driven away by his neighbors
on account ol grievances of a personal
niituit! growing out of a disliko for tlio
manner of treating persons having busi
ness in that office.
The coronor's jury which lias liccn in
quiring into the cause ol the death of the
thirty-nine miners killed by an explosion
of fire dump in tho Uriel Coal company s
shaft in West Virginia, find that the acci-
nt was caused by loavin.' open a door in
an air passage in tlio inino, thereby impair
ing ventilation and allowing gas to accu
mulate. They report thut the accident
was due to the failure of the superintend
ent to follow instructions of the state mine
inspector, and pronounce the penalty
affixed by an act of tin; legislature of
ISH'.i for such neglect inadequate.
It is stated at the U. S. treasury depart
ment that eighty-nine national banks hold
about ?0,1 110,000 of the SI 0.000,000 11
percent bonds which are included in tho
Kllird call issued on Friday. About $(t,
500,000 of the bonds embraced in the
J .'2nd call which matured on tho 1st,
have already Imh'ii received at the treasury
department for redemption.
Stilt AgniiiKt the Purine HoiiiIr.
A ".Vnshington special says: Intoiesting
rumors of lawsuits to bo begun by the gov
ernment against the Pacific railro ids have
boon circulutc-J with new avidity within tho
lust week or tuo. It has not been known
outside ol government circles that aggres
sive plans woio recently mapped out to so
cuie to the government full and reliablo
information as to certain matters inti
:nalel.v connected with the inaiiagomiMit of
the Pacific rnnds. If the information froia
mi olllcial Kiurce is worth anything the
lunHuitn are to be Is-gun very eoon and
pressed oncigetically to recover moneys
of which the government lias been practi
cally delrauded by the Pacific road mir:
nates. It is known that within tho past
fortnight tho offices of the Union Pacifia
company iu Now York nnd Boston have
been invaded by the government represen
tatives authorized to examino fully tho ac
count books, vovchers, and all the clued to
the expenditure which thosa olllcors huvo
iu their possession. It is upon the report
Mhich has been made (though it is said not
-Cet olllrially tiled) that tlio iwtioiui at law
utv likely to be based.
A rimycil BTATRHUAy OKAti.
Ilippolyto Melloa Victor Ctiuramaale,
the French iuwycr and statesman. U dead.
F0KEK1N lyTELLKlENCE.
The Greek minister boa ls'n interWewed
In r-fe retire to the possibility of nr Ih
tween Greece mid Turkey, lie denied that
tliegovernment of Greece had any Inten
tion of is-miug letters of uiiirqur' in the
event nt hostilities breaking out. Hisgov
eriiment, ho said, 'his a siillicient mnnlier
ol veseN to cope with Turkey without re
sorting to such et reino measures. Greece
hns no desire to follow the Alabama exie
rienees with Fiiglaud.
Tlio people of Athens, through a com
mittee, have telegraphed Gladstone as fol
lows: "We place in your hands the Hel
lenic causo with a firm hope that it will
find iu you a firm champion." Gladstone,
iu response, telegraphed: "Considering tho
nulliority attaching to the action of the
powers, both on general grounds and by
reason of their intervention in the forma
tion of the Greek kingdom. I earnestly hope
Greece will pauso before placing herself on
this occasion iu conllict with their deliber
ate and united recommendation."
Sir Michael Hicks Beach, conservative
leader, gavo notice in tho houso of com
mons that the government would intro
duce a bill to suppress tho Irish national
league nnd other dangerout societies, to
prevent intimidation, to protect life nnd
property, and maintain jutblic order in
Ireland. This announcement was greeted
w ith loud cheers. Sir Michael said ho would
nsk the house to give tho bill precedence.
He added that the measure would be fol
lowed by a bill dealing with the Irish land
question on the lilies of policy indicated by
the land purchase act of last session.
The text of the trraty botw rn Franco
ami Madagascar has been submitted to the
chamber of deputies. The document con
sists of nineteen nrticles of agreement. In
addition to the privileges already described
in these dispatches the treaty leaves
Fieiichmeii iu Madagascarfreefroin the pa
th o law s and subject to those of Franco
only. Keligious liberty is guaranteed and
complete amnesty is granted to prisoners
taken on both sides during the recent wu
Gladstone has dratted a eabinet but sev
eral of the gentlemen he has named are not
pleasul with tho positions assigned tothem
and it is therefore probable that modilira
tions will be made, delaying thoptihlicution
of the official list. The Pre.-s association
gives the following us tho latest forecast of
the new cabinet: Gladstone, fir t bud ol
the treasury and chancellor of the ex
chequer; Sir Farrau lleisehel, lord high
chancellor: Sir William Vernon Harcourt
home secietary; F.url Granville, lord presi
dent of tho council: II. C. II. Childcrs, secre
tary tor war. The remainder nro liable to
alteration, but, they will probably bens
follows: G. ti. Treveylan, pnsiilent of the
board of trade; A. .1. Mundell, president ol
the local government board; r.arl ."spencer,
secretary for foreign affairs; hai l Kosobnry
secretary for the colonies: Karl Klinberly
secietary lor India; Chamberlain, fiist lord
of the admiralty; .1. Morley, chief secretary
for Ireland. It is understood that the
(liieen objects to Morley because ho is
pledged to home-rule.
THE SILYErt qUES TION A(3AIN.
AdvocutcN or ColniiU" Coiilhlent ot
Their Ability to fl'reveiit Any Change
in tlie Liuwh.
Washington special: The advocates of
silver are so confident of thoir ability to
prevent any modification of the coinage
laws touching their favorite metal that
thoy nro contemplating a movement to
force the fighting by bringing fortard a
measure to give further freedom to silver
coins. Nothing lias been decided upon ns
to the character of the measure they will
formulate, although many favor soniestich
proposition as is contained in the lull Hi
troduced iu tlio senato by Mr. Van Wyck.
It is not likely that any concerted move
ment will be made to secure the passage ot
such a measure us that indicated, but the
fact that such a movement is talked of in
dicates tho feeling of Independence that
prevails among the silver advocates. It is
becoming more apparent daily that tho
discussion in congress of silver is a mere
waste of time, so far ns any legislative re
sults are concerned in the direction ot sus
pension. There is no doubt that a decided
minority exists iu both houses against a
Hiispeusiou, ami uie opiiuiino in iul-iiiuuio
; i .i !..! t 1.
nro lixed. '1 ho more conservative, ot me
silver advocates are disposed to urge the
house coinage committee to report a bill in
a few lines providing for the lepeal of tho
act of February 28, 187. -Mr. Bland,
however, will not assent to this proposi
tion, being determined to line nil his elforta
to negative any proposition looking to tho
suspension or modification of the present
coinage law. It ist.'ioughttliat the coinage,
committee will act on some proposition at
its noxt meeting which will indicate tho at
titudo of the uieiube.s on the question of
iispousioa.
THE GRANT MONUMENT.
The Hill for lla Krnctlou I'avornlilr
Itcportod.
In reporting favorably to tlio houso tho
b II for tho erection of tho Grant monu
ment in Now York City, tho military com
mitter says: "Tlio remains of the illus
trious citizen nnd soldier nre cntomled in
n locality selected in accordance with his
dying request. The Immediate spot is one
hallowed by tho footsteps of Washington,
and tho battle ground of the revolution,
occupying a commanding position of some
12,rt feet above the waters of tho Hudson
river. Thb municipal authorities of the
city of New York, on learning of the ex
pressed wish of Gen. Grant, promptly
offered to his family tho choice of any spot
they mirflit select iu any of their great pul
lie parks. In accordance with this offer
the place was selected which now contains
his remains. A nation mourned nt his
gravn and the highest representatives of
tho iiiuk. participated in tho obsequies.
Millions of Americans have visited tha
tomb and almost endless processions are
still visiting it. For years to come it will
be the mccca for all who love their country
and all who venerate the gieatness nnd
magnanimity of this distinguished soldier
nnd statesman. Bcgarding the election of
a memorial on this hallowed spot, as truly
a national project in which all Americans
should bo allowed to unite, wo recommend
the unsHiigo ol the bill."
Cnrdltuil McClosky's Successor.
The Catholic I'nl verse nny: "From re
liable information received from Home, wo
feel justified in saying that the holy father
lias determined in the near future to create
the Most llev, Jauirs Gibbon, archbishop
of Baltimote, a cardinal." he statement
ot the Universe is I used on information re
ceived by Bishop Gilinour from the pope.
The Klslit Hour question.
The Ohio state trades assembly Morn
adjourning adopted u resolution favoring
the enactment of mi eight hour lnw to be
observed by corporate rompMnies. It did
not endorse the art'on of the national fed
eration of trade held in Chicago, propos
ing n strike May 1 for the eight hoursys.
tm, but retoiumecdyd 'JtrehihitJou on the
subject,
iM:riroi:i to aviiitk oust.)
A tiraplilo lcsrrlitlou iiTUie Proem of
Cremation. -
Infinnnti Commercial Gnzett.
Tlio body of Orson S. Murray
ivns taki'ii front this oily to the cro
tnatoritun tit Iinenstor, Pa., by the
on and immediate friends of the do
"eased. A p'nthviian who was of tho
party furnishes the followiu,; graphic
iccotint of the process of ereination:
Mr. Piatt, one of the ollieers of tlio
Ituneartcr Cremation society took
'hnrj.0- of tlte body on its arrival. It
tvus immediately conveyed to tho-crematorium,
where a large- number of
people of all ages and sexes had con
iregated to witness the operation.
After a short pause and conversation
in the reception room, the gentlemen,
were led into the auditorium, which
wax filled with visitors from the town.
The ollieers of both societies formed a
emi-eiiv!c in front of the furnace, with
the son of the deceased in tho center.
The vii'v presented was novel and
striking. The small building, resem
bling in many respects a count rv meet
ing house, built of pressed brick, wtus
too little for the purpose, and tho
heat from t he furnace was intense In
front of thespeotutors werefottrdoors,
opening into the reception, the prepar
ing find the two retort rooms. Only
one retort, was in position, however,
and the heavy iron door protecting
(he opening to it was about to be re
moved. A deathly silence prevailed.
A knock at the preparing room door
was the signal to begin. Tho prepar
ing table moved noiselessly into tho
auditorium bearing its sacred burden,
rovered with a heavy dark cloth, and
vas wheeled into position in front of
the retort. The cloth was removed
ind tho corpse, enveloped in a largo
white muslin sheet, soaked in alum wa
ter, lay there but for n moment. Tho
;loor of the retort swung open and tho
rosy light, of 2, '200 degrees of heat filled
I he auditorium. No the or Maine was
visible. Simply the incandescent light
thrown bv tho heat from the brick til-
nig composing tho retort was to bo
?een, and it like unto the picture of
the setting sun on a summer evening.
The iron cradle upon which lay tho
t)oy was rolled from tho top of tho
table noiselessly through the mouth of
tno retort and it disappeared in the
light within. Tho door swung to and
nil was over. No noise, no tire, no
?olor, nothing of anunpleasant nature
marred the operation. No dull sound
; tho clod upon tho coMin-lid sent a
shudder through the nerves of tho be
holder. The auditorium was gradually va
cated, and no one remained but the
son of the deceased and the ollieers of
the two societies before mentioned. A
view of the process going on behind
that large iron door was to bo taken.
A delay of half'an hour was necessary
beforo the gases being consumed with
in the retort had sulliciently dispelled
themselves to admit of it. Then a
small opening, two inches in diameter
was made Ly pressing a small knob
in tho wall, and the incineration was
to bo seen. The cradle was plainly
visible, and there lay the body envel
oped as before, in its white sheet, to
till appearances unseat lied. Ono might
have supposed it was thu habitation
of ji human soul, so pure and heavenly
was tho appoarnncu. The ghost of the
gases seemed to have been dispelled,
tts no odor of any kind could be detect
ed. That a dead body could bo re
solved into its natural elements so
quickly and easily seemed strange when
one thought of tlio horrible processes
coingon daily in tho burying grounds.
Death had lost most of its tenor. It
seemed beautiful thus to pass away
from materiality into vapor.
Tho process was nearly ended, but
not entirely. Tho opening was closed,
and the little parly returned to town,
to return after dark. Leaving, a view
of the building was again had, and ono
could hardly suppose that so impor
tant an act had taken place in so mod
est a structure. No iimoko stack or
anything indicating its uso was visible.
Tho simple word crematorium, hown
in a niaible slab and placed abovo tho
iron door, toltl the story.
At 0 o'clock that night tho party re
turned to thocreinatorium, and acorn
ploto inspection of tho building was
made. Another view was had of tho
interior of the retort, and now all was
passive light. No gaseous (lames wero
visible. Tho light of tho full moon
could not have been milder or nioro
beautiful. Tho cradle with its appar
ent burden was completely visible,
and tho body, seemed to reit
there unharmed by tho heat or
tho fire that had raged beneath
the retort nearly 21 hours. A slight
breeze would havo destroyedthislihny
shell of alum and miislin tissue. JJut
none could reach it until'tho liirgoiron
door could bo opened, which could not
bo done until morning. At 7 a. m. this
was done, and a small heap of white
ashes was visible. These wero care
fully removed by meansof a wirobrush
from tho bottom of the rotort and
placed in a muni! OxU-inch metal case.
They wero found to weigh four pounds
and'ono ounce. Small fragments wero
found among the ashes, which we're tho
iemnantH of tho larger bones of tho
body, but no organic matter was there.
Tho work was complete. Ilv exposing
the ashtu to the air for a fow hours
the whole assumed tho uppennuico of
white dust.
Thoro seems to bo a great rivalry
among Southern cities in regard to the
erection of expensive buildings for
voung men's Christian associations.
Atlanta lends oi! with a hull costing
100,000, Nashville and Chnttunoo
ga aro trying to raise 50,000 apiece
forthii purposu, and Solum, Ala., iu
barely content with 25,000.
Tho Chruch Missionary Society, wo
are infonnod by tho Illustrated Chris-
tian rekly, hnvodecided to establish
a station at Aden,"thudoor to South
ern Arabia, niidtheone point in West
ern Asiawlieretherois rcVgiouHliborty.
They will also undertake a Gordon
JlemoiiAl .Mission to ttieboiumn."
tovulvavo. of lmma.
Peculiar .Munnorn ami rc Their
Amiiirineiils nnd Fnmlllo.
r.iiiia Letter to New York Sun.
Theludiesot Ijimaarealleyea. They
have I he reputation of being, as aclass,
the most beautiful in tho world, and
meet ing them on the way to mass in tho
morning or shopping Inter in tho day,
one can easily see how they obtained it.
It is tho niantu, which, thoy wear in
such, in coquettish way, that gives thorn
their reputation for beauty, for it con
ceals every feature except their be
witching eyes ami lovely olive conplex
ion. No. matter how ugly her mouth
! or her noit-o is; no matter howhighher
cheekbones or large her ears, a munta
will make any woman with pretty eyes
look handsome, and, like charity, it
covers a multitude of sins.
On the street the women look liko a
procession of nuns, but in thcirhonies
when they are dressed, liko the nueen
of Shcba,
Indoors she is bright, viva
winning. With nioro pas
intellect, with very httlo
cious and
sion than
knowledge of the world outside of her
own orbit, she never reads a newspa
per and ne'er looks at a book, but
sho is up in art and operas, plays tho
piano brilliantly and with exquisito
taste, and talks like a conversational
blizzard. She is a ITectionate, impetu
ous, and strong-willed; gtishtM over
what she likes and shudders over what
does not please her. Impulsive frank
and generous, sho is easily bet rayed,
and tho principal object in life other
mamma is to watch over lior liko a
hawk. At seventeen or eighteen sho
marries often younger still. At twenty-live
sho is the mother of three or
four children, shrunken nnd wan, or
else inordinately fat. Their good
looks seem to go with youth, nnd old
maids are unknown.
A Peruvian soldier is usually accom
panied by a woman called a rabona,
who sonietimes'iH his wife. Thoy re
ceive rations liko the soldiers, but no
pay. They are faithful and enduring,
but degraded creatures, who follow tho
army in its long, weary marches, as
sisting their husbands by carrying part
of their load, and about half of them
have babies slung over their shoulders
in blankets. When, camp is reached
they do tho cooking; in bnttlo thoy
nurse the wounded and rob the dead.
Water is very scarce along tho coasts
of Peru, Ti hero most of tho inarching
and lighting is done, and it is part, of
tho duty of a rabona to see that lior
husband does not die of thirst..
Milk is peddled about Lima by wom
en, who mt astride ofuhorseor amnio
with a big can hanging on either sido
of the saddle behind them. When they
ride up to a doorway they give a pecul
iar shrill scream, which tho servants
wit hin recognize.
Tho fashionablo entertainment in
Peru is bull-baiting. Tho bull is not;
killed, as in StMiin nnd Mexico nnd
other countries, nnd no horses nro
slaughtered in tho -ring. Tho animal
is simply teased and tortured tomako
a Linum holidny. Tho young men of
the city do tlio baiting, nnd it is re
garded as n very high-toned sort of
nt hlotie Hport, liko polo nt Newport.
The young Indies tnkodnrts inado of
tin decorate them with ribbons, lnco
and rosottes, nnd givo thorn to their
lovers to dtick into tho hido of tho
bull. The great thing is tocast thoso
darts so as to strike tho bull in tho
foro shoulders or in tho face, and in
order to do it ho who throws them
must stand before tho animal's horns.
Active young fellows do tho trick very
dexterously, but it takes nervo anil
agility, and at times fair senoritna
havo seon their lovers ripped open.
Tiles In Place of Carpets.
Tho wonderful strides mado by tho
ti!o-makers iu their manufacture dur
ing tho past ten years lias become a
serious thing for tho limmifuctiirors
nnd denlers in carpots. "There is no
doubt," said a Uroadway earpot deal
er, "that tho substitution of tiles for
carpets and wood Mooring will in timo
becomouniversnl. Even now thesoox
quisito little blocks from the ovens of
tho tilo mnnufuetories nro used nt tho
cxpenso of loss costly Moorings. Some
of them nro much more beautiful tbftn
those found iu tho old Italian and
Greok churches. Tho labors of tho
tile-makers aro no longer confined to
tlio manufacture) of tho plain ugly
colored Mocks of concrete Copies of
tho most celebrated art works, em
bodying nil tho delicate Bhndos, are
reproduced in the BquareH of clay.
Sometimes each tilo is a gem in itHclf;
then, again, each tile represents only a
portion ono innnonso design. Whon
tho public becomes educated up to tho
worth of tho tile, 1 am afraid tho car.
pot nnd wood compnnies must'go."
Thut tho fenrs of tho cnrjuit men are
not unfounded is proven by tho fact
that in some of tho mansions uptown
tho entire house ia tiled from garret to
collar. Not only is this tho case in
Moorings, but iu decorations formerly
wrought in wood, plush nnd velvets.
Thonius Nust, tlio caricaturist, liaq
in his residence at MorristownyN'ow
Jersey, a mantlo and lire plac'o built
entirely of oxquisitely wrought tiles,
representing scenos from Shakespearo'w
Midsummer Night's Drcnm. Edwin
Booth hns in his Newport homo a cab
inet wrought in a similar manner,
while in mnny of tho homos of thd
wenltliy Now Yorkers, tlio wainscothujn
nnd ceilings nro mado of chaste nnd
curiously designed clay squares. Thoro
is hardly a houso among tho upper ton
thut hns not ono or more "jnruiniors"
mudo of tilo. So .also in ship archi
tecture huvo thosoprottylittlo nqtiares
been utilized. Thu saloon and music,
room of tho IlodStnr Btoamor Noord
laud nro resplendent in tilo work.
Floridn hnB entcrea tne llat of com
potitorafor tho Northern Mower .mark
et. A hort ieulturist of that state htvji
recently shipped 80,000 tuberose bulb
to dealers iu tho North. ,