Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 6

DEMOCRAT 'AND CHRONICLE. FEBRUARY. 3, 1397, 0 discretion and fine dignity of character. The reason of his becoming a resident of Washington for a few weeks is obvious. He is an invalid and the pleasant climate of the capital during February and the early spring months, together with the fine social features of that city during an inaugural season, constitute attractions sufficient to account for his decision in this matter.

CnRONICIilJSGS. A Georgia Negro Prodigy. Augusta Chronicle. Robert Gardhlre Is a negro and an uneducated one, but when It comes to figures he can't be stopped by any mathematician in the world. He Is a humble resident of Augusta and Is employed as a laborer at the Inter-State Cotton Oil Company.

In multiplication Gardhire is as quick as thought. Before the average person can set the figures down with a pencil Gardhire has given tne correct answer, and yet he cannot say how be does it. He was asked what was the sum total of 09 times C7, and without repeating the figures to himself, Gardhire answered offhand, How much." asked someone, Is 501 times Without stopping a second. Gardhire replied. 16,032." And thus for over half an hour numbers were thrown at him and he gave the correct multipllcatioa like a flash.

In the multiplication of fractions the man Is equally proficient, and there seems no limit to his powers, which are almost occult. Gardhire cannot remember when fie first became aware of his power, and does not even know how he discovered It. He says that when the figures are given to him he sees their answer immediately. Simply by glanc-i ing at a long line of figures he can tell imme-j diately what tbe addition Is. Insane.

Now York Journal. a Spiritualist. There will be no spooks in tte McKinley cabinet. Boston Herald, Two illustrious Chicagoans, Thll. Armour and Lyman J.

Gage, were bora In Madison county, New York, and began life upon the same Jow level. Binghaniton Republican. Particular comment is made on Mason, the new Illinois senator, being something of a jester. There are times when the Joker Is the best card ia the pack. Philadelphia Times.

When John Sherman Is secretary of state aud Minister Rodriguea finds It absolutely necessary to write a letter to him he will call him up by telephone instead. Chicago Record. Senator Stewart again declares that thTs country mustn't wait for international bimetallism. Mr. Stewart evidently wants to act as advance agent of chaos.

New York Mail and Express. The Bradley Martins have Invited over 1,500 guests to their mask ball at the Waldorf. The 400 seems to be suffering from an attack of arithmetical dropsy. Cincinnati Commercial Tribune. If Lord Salisbury will now file affidavits that he has no designs on the Monroe doctrine the Anglo-American arbitration treaty will go through with three cheers and a Chautauqua salute.

Philadelphia Vress. President Eliot, of Harvard, says the athletes of that Institution lose contests because they are overtrained. He condemns the excessive exrtion, both on the field and In getting ready for It. St. Louis Globe.

Democrat. Mr. Bryan has journeyed into Texas to 8hoot ducks with ex-Governor Hogg at Lake Surprise, notwithstanding that he has been buffeting the waters of surprise and dismay eer since November, New York Morning Advertiser. Grover Cleveland has been nominated by a Jersey editor for governor of that state. Is this to be the final solution of the great question that so many are worrying themselves sick over, "What shall we do with our ex-presidents?" Syracuse Tost, John Wanamaker, having lost only by a recent fire, proposes to build a ctnrch to show his gratitude that he didn't lose more.

His example is warmly commended to other millionaires who sustain such trifling losses. Most men would make the fire a pretext for curtailing their beueficeuce. Syracuse Post. LOUIS F. I'AYX.

If the selection is confirmed by the senate there will bo nothing to do but to Judge Mr. I'nyn as superintendent of insurance "by his administration. If it Is praiseworthy he will get due credit and If otherwise there will be no way of escaping the blame. Governor Black has testified to his confidence la him and time only can tell If in this position it will be justified. L'tica Press.

It Is altogether probable that Payn will make a good record in the Insurance department, as he has the ability and the. Incentive to do. There ore notable instances on record in which men of shady repute have made exceptionally good records when large public responsibilities were put upon them, Payn is likely to urprie his critics by his management of the Insurance department. Syracuse Journal. Governor Black has the efficiency of the public service at heart aud Is keenly alive to his own responsibilities.

The people have confidence In him anil know the purpose of those who attack hint through his appointments to oflice. They will not be deceived by "clamor" any more than the executive, conscious of right. Is deterred by It. Mr. I'ajn will be confirmed by the senate and we predict a prudent and able administration of the insurance department by him.

L'tica Herald. What the people of this state are Interested In and Interested In alone is: Will tbe Insurance department be properly managed under Mr. I'ayn Will the policy-holders be protected If they will be, there Is not a man la this state who can complain of the appointment of Mr. Payn. Inasmuch as he has earned the distinction.

It behooves Mr. I'ayn, therefore. If he is appointed and confirmed, to guard the interests of the policyholders as jealously as lie has looked after the intercuts of the Republican party In tbe county of Columbia. That he will do this wo bavo no doubt. Albany Journal.

Cooking While You Wait. Boston Herald. The latest thing in London society Is a gridiron party, a sort of coiwlu geruian to the chuilng dish party so familiar on this side cf the pond. As its name implies, the grid-Iron affair consists of silver grills aud cutlets, and the cooking of the latter Is performed lu the dining room In view of the assembled guet. The red-hot.

Juicy viands are believed to compensate for the odors that permeate the hair aud clothing, not to mention the dining room draperies; ot least the Trlnce of Wales did not appear to mind If bis sacred person reeked of grilling fat. At Philippi. New York Press. The dying Brutus raised himself npon his elbow. "Say, Antony," he faltered, "Just one question.

When you made that great fuueral speech over the body of Caesar, why did you ask the people to lend you their ears?" The victorious Antony wiped his bloody sword. "Oh," be remarked, easily, "I wanted to put a flee In them. Sure!" With a sterterous groan, Brutus fell back and expired. Progress in Utah. Springfield Tnion.

Senator Brown of L'tah says he thinks "the Republicans of Utsih will return to the fold." Ho announces thnt they nre tired of Bryan-Ism, "which is not synonymous with free silver," but stumU for "class hatred and animosity." That Is encouraging. Now the Utah should free silver also and they will be received with joy. The Only Survivor. Springfield (Mass.) Republican. The only known survivor of the Fort Dearborn massacre, on the present site of Chicago in 1812, Is Mrs.

Susan Wlnans of Sauta Anna, who was then a babe in arms and with her mother fell Into the hands of the Indians as prisoners. The Chicago Historical Society now asks the government of the United States to give Mrs. Wlnans a pension. Wasteful. Philadelphia Times.

One Cuban general remarks they don't want more troops, but more cartridges. And yet, if given to them, they'd immediately fire them away. OLtmTWIJT There's ahealth signal in every house where children open their won dering eyes in the morning and say, "Where's my H-0?" Democrat and Chronicle. Entered at the Post-Office at Rochester. N.

Second-Clans Mall Matter. TERMSTO SUBSCRIBERS PosUgs or Delivery at Door Free. 1 Year. ItlT- $6.00 Dally and Sunday 7.5 Sunday J.aq Weekly. l.OO tilo 3 Mos ta.oo i.6o a.75 J.8f 75 .50 W.H.

MATHEWS President I lv.P. POND Sec'y sad Treas. Trustees il.H.CLAKKE ABOVE BEAIN3- A curious illustration of the prime importance of the part played by athletics ia modern college life is to be found in the following, paragraph from the speech delivered at a recent Princeton alumni dinner by Rev. Dr. Fatton, president of the uni-rersity: The year 1R0C has been in many respects the annus mirabilis of Princeton.

We won the base ball championship; we won the championship In the Olympic frames, an( we won the foot-ball chumpionnhip; and we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the founding of the college, the president of the Vnlted States delivering on that occasion an address which venture to say will go down in history as one of tha mo6t remarkable addresses ever delivered by any president. Base ball first, the Olympic gcimes second, foot-ball third, the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the college bringing up the rear, and no mention whatever of any intellectual achievement as contributing in even an humble and subsidiary iy to make the year 1896 the "annus mirabilis" of a great institution of learning. THE WILL-CONTEST NUISANCE. It seems that the recent decision in favor of the colleges in the Fayerweather will case does not finally settle the matter and that the litigation is likely to be continued as long as there is a dollar left to wrangle over. The will contest which results in defeating the testator's intentions by distributing the whole of his estate, in costs, fees, and allowances among strangers to his bounty, has become so great and notorious an evil that efforts are being made to cure it by legislation.

One state has passed or is considering a law giving testators some protection against contestants. It provides that a man who has made a will may, if he chooses, file it in a designated public office where it may be examined by anybody interested, and give public notice that he has done so. Such notice marks the beginning of a limited period after whose expiration the will cannot be contested on any ground. The usual and ordinary result will be that whoever objects to the testator's disposition of his property must urge his objections and have their validity tried while the testator is still alive to answer them. The statute will be of considerably less practical value than it would be if testators were less sensitive about allowing their testamentary arrangements to become matters of common knowledge during their lives.

There is a better method than any can provide for abolishing the worst evils of this will-contesting nuisance. Let inch men act as their own executors. ME. PAYS CONFIRMED. The recent attacks on Louis F.

Fayn have plainly been inspired by intense factional hatred rather than knowledge of wrong-doing on the part of Mr. Payn. They have consisted of nine-tenths loose denunciation to one-tenth assertion of culpability, and even the one-tenth has been so lacking in definite statement as to leave but a vague idea of what the assailants have in mind. Yesterday, wTien the question of Mr. Payn's confirmation as state superintendent of insurance was under consideration at Albany, Senator Raines made a long and elaborate speech in which be paid specific attention to every charge against Mr.

Payn that had taken anything like definite form. The task was well done. Each accusation was dealt with separately and reviewed in detail. The answer, in every case, showed how flimsy was the charge and how malicious were the motives of the accusers. Benator Raines demonstrated how easy it is to indulge in loose denunciation and how difficult it is to prove guilt where guilt does not exist.

His address was more than a skillful plea. It was a candid and masterly review of facts. It turned the light of reason npoa headstrong prejudice, and should have brought the blush of shame to every unscrupulous scandal-monger who has made Mr. Tayn the scapegoat of factional spite. The leading points of the speech are pub- lished in our telegraph columns and should receive the careful and fair attention of every reader.

The nomination of Mr. Tayn was, of course, confirmed. The shouts of the rab- ble did not frighten the senators out of doing their duty as they understood it, Mr. Tayn will soon enter upon the duties of his responsible position, for which it is admitted that he is abundantly qualified. We hope and believe he will make a good record.

At all events, he will be judged by his performances, and not by the windy abuse that has been h-aped upon him by those whose motives are quite disconnected with a sincere regard for the integrity of the public service of the state. THE SANGTJILLY CASE. From first to last the attitude of the present administration towards Spain and Cuba has been a disgrace to the United States; it has made a mockery of all this nation's protestations of to the cause of human freedom; it has made of the "flag of the free heart's hope and home" a "flaunting lie." One of the most disgraceful episodos of the whole story of national cowardice end sordidness is the Sanguilly case. Here ia an American citizen, entitled to the fullest protection that his government can give him, arrested and deprived of his liberty for nearly two years, by a foreign government, without shadow of right or justification. During all this period the United States government lifts not a finger to right this wrong, utters not a whisper of protest against this insolent disregard of its rights and dignity.

Finally there is mockery of a trial. There is not a jot of evidence against the prisoner. His American citiieeaship is his only crime and for that be is condemned to perpetual im-D-i-onment Then, tart, the adminis- tration musters up enough sense of decency and courage to do something. What does it do? Docs it peremptorily demand the immediate release of this unjustly abused American citizen, with ample apology and full indemnity, as any self-nspecting government would have felt bound to do under similar circumstances? Not it. It admits the propriety of the arrest and imprisonment, acknowledges the justice the unjust sentence, and estops every possible claim for reparation and Indemnity, by humbly asking Spain to "pardon" Sanguilly.

Secretary Olney has represented to the Spanish government that "the case seems to be one in which executive clemency may be reasonably exercised." Is that the stern utterance of a great nation asserting the rights of its citizens and demanding reparation for an outrageous violation of them? It sounds more like the whimper of a whipped cur. TWEEDLEDUM AND TWEEDLEDEE. The common council meets this evening, and among other Important matters that will come up for consideration will be the mayor's eto of the resolution regarding the city printing. At this time, when the people are struggling under a heavy load of debt, when municipal taxation is outrageously high and there Is an Imperative popular demand for economy and retrenchment. It is the duty of the common council to endeavor In every way to save the money of the people.

Instated, therefore, of wasting public funds by letting the printing contract at an arbitrary price, it is the plain duty of the aldermen to advertise for bids and see what terms may be secured. The members the common council can save money by advertising for bids. Will they do It 7 Post Express. A few weeks ago the printing contract of the boaTd of education was awarded to the Post Express, at an arbitrary price, without the formality of competition. At that time our versatile neighbor did not seem greatly impressed with the "popular demand for economy and retrenchment," but, on the contrary, it accepted the patronage greedily, and returned thanks to the school commissioners fulsomely.

The printing contractr of the common council was not awarded to the Post Express. Agents of that paper made a strenuous effort to obtain the contract at an arbitrary price, without the formality of competition, but they did not succeed, and forthwith the Tost Express, in its editorial columns, began to sharp'y criticise the aldermen and their official acts. For the school commissioners it had nothing but words of warmest commendation. Evidently consistency in the Tost Express establishment is a diugy jewel and principle is made to bow to patronage at every turn of the road. To-day it censures the council for precisely the same action that it praised in the board of education a month ago, ard all for the paltry reason that in one case it was a beneficiary and in the other it was not.

The Post Express has made little attempt to disguise the fact that it is in the Republican party for patronage only, but it would seem -is if a fair regard for the decencies if not for its own reputation might prevent it front advertising the fact so conspicuously and so shamelessly. THE WIMAN-PILLSBUEY CANAL-BOAT BILL. The Troy Standard, discussing the Par-shall bill now pending in the legislature to increase the capitalized stock of canal tiansportation corporations from SoO.000 to ,000,000, says: The chief promoters of this vast canal-boat trust are the philanthropic Pillsbury of flour trrst fame, and Erastus Wlman, who has been connected with the mercantile agency firm of Dun of New York. Mr. Wlman is a noted boomer of long standing of trusts and syndicates.

This sort of trustites sr the ones who now come plausibly before the people of this state on the eve of the Improvement of this, the greatest of state avenues of commerce, and propose to Insult the intelligent people by proposing to take possession of the entire traffic of our great canal and make such rates of freight as they may choose to establish. Of course, at the commencement, the trust vioold make a starvation rate of freight which would freeze out the Individual canal-boat Interest whose competition through hundreds of independent canal carriers sustains the commercial prosperity of this great state. After the trust forces the individual boat owner to the wall, then it will recoup Itself just as all other brazen trust monopolies make good their losses by systematically bleeding producers and consumers at every pore. This Is just what the Parehall bill means if enacted Into statute law. The Standard also calls attention to the fact that a strong canal transportation monopoly sprang up in the late thirties and early forties and gained such strength as to compel the interference of the courts to protect individual boat owners and forwarders.

Again we quote from the Standard: Among the most heartless trusts that ever conspired to rob a people right and left, was the ancient canal-boat trust, which became so unmerciful In Its plunder of the people, that tha courts Interfered and broke it up as a conspiracy In restraint of trade and corn-mere of the state. For the Information of the pnblic In general, we quote from the fourth Denio, pages 53 and 354. Hooker vs. Vandewater, In the case of the canal-boat trust of 1842, to wit: The object of this combination was obviously to destroy competition. It was a conspiracy in tha business of transporting merchandise, property and passengers upon the public canals It is a familiar maxim that competition is the life of trade.

It follows that whatever destroys or relaxes competition! of trade Is Injurious, If not fatal, to it. It Is evident that parties wero owners of five separate and powerful lines of boats, provided for the transportation of property, merchandise and passengers on the canal then In use, and In active rivalry In the business, affecting more or less the price of freights; to destroy rivalry and keep up the price to certain rates fixed by themselves, wan the great If not the sole object of that agreement. The transaction amounted to the conspiracy to commit aa act Injurious to trade." The Standard has performed a great public service in calling attention to the trust of 1842 and the decision above quoted. There has been a general feeling that the Parshall bill needed the most careful scrutiny. Now that the past history of a company or trust for canal transportation is recalled, it will be the duty of the legislature to defend the interests of the people instead of waiting for the slow process of legal action.

The legislature is aware of the long contest over its efforts to restrain the elevator monopoly at the canal termini, and the virtual failure of the law enacted some years ago to free the commerce of the canals. It would be highly imprudent to give the Wiinan scheme an opportunity with the expectation of proper restraint at the proper time. There is nothing to hinder boats that can navigate or be towed through the great lakes from passing through the canal in reasonable numbers. The power to interfere for the protection of public interests should not be surrendered by giving a single corporation power to invest $4,000,000 in facilities for caual transportation. THE TREATY AMENDMENTS.

The English press generally condemns the amendments to the arbitration treaty proposed in the senate's committee on foreign affairs. The Pall Mall Gazette says that they leave the treaty "valueless" and the Globe says that the amendments exclude "every question of real importance and leave it meaningless." Under no circumstances, whatever course the senate may take, will it be true that this effort to establish arbitration as the principle upon which international disputes should be settled has been entirely useless. There may be failure this time, but so powerful and prevalent is public sentiment in favor of the proposed system that it will compel a renewal of the effort shculd it be fruitless on this occasion. The decision of the foreign relations committee in the senate to report an amendment excluding from the scope the general trealy all questions affecting the foreign or domestic policy of cither of the high contracting parties, and the relations of either with any other state or power, except by special agreement in favor of arbitrating such questions individually, does go far, as represented by the London press, tcwards depriving the treaty of its chief value and importance. The reasons for this amendment have not yet been made public.

Another amendment strikes out all reference to the king of Sweden and Norway as an umpire. This amendment touches no vital feature of the treaty and may be justifiable. The failure of the senate to ratify the treaty, or such a change of its provisions as would rob it of its most important features, would deeply disappoint and offend the great mass of intelligent and thoughtful people in this country and in Great Britain. It is difficult to discover any special use for the treaty as amended. The minor cases that would come before it under Buch a form would be arbitrated or settled by diplomacy any way.

The only possible use of a general treaty is in just 6uch cases as would be excluded by the amendment. A notable benefit derivable from it under such circumstances would be the guarantee it would afford that the two nations interested would not rush hastily into a war with each other, or be torn up with popular passion and excitement as the result of a prospective appeal to arms. The issues at stake would be calmly studied, and reason as well as justice would have a chance to assort its control of the national mind. All those advantages would be forfeited by the provision of the amendment which excludes all questions affecting the foreign or domestic policy of the two powers interested in the treaty. It is possible that when this matter conies up in the open senate that body will dissent from the conclusion of the committee and adopt the treaty without the amendment referred to above.

TEACHERS FOR CONGRESS. A National Business League has been formed in Chicago, the main purpose of which is stated in the following article of belief: There should be Investigations by competent and disinterested parties into all matters concerning which legislation or any action affecting business interests Is proposed, so that facts and statistics calculated to assist the legislators and the executive in the performance of their duties may be furnished them from Impartial sources. The Chicago Tribune indorses this scheme heartily, although a few days ago it opposed a very similar project having in view the enlightenment of congress on the currency question. The Tribune opposed a non-partisan monetary commission, on the ground that congress knows that the pro'ior thing for it to do is to retire the greenbacks and that no body of outsiders can make this duty any plainer. There are, of course, some very good men who do not think it would be advisable at the present time to meddle with the greenbacks, but this is not the tribune's opinion; hence it contended that congress should immediately proceed to revolutionize the currency without asking or noticing anybody's advice to the contrary.

Now, however, the Tribune seems to think that congress is sorely in need of instruction on matters connected with business and finance, and it gives the following among its reasons for being in love with the scheme of the National Business League: Congressmen have often been utterly Ignorant of the, real sentiments of their constituents regarding questions of great Importance. They have not heard from the Intelligent and conservative, but unorganized section of the community. They have beard only the voices of extremists and demagogues. It happens frequently that congressmen are poorly Informed concerning the questions they have to decide. So tbey often legislate badly, or do nothing, though It la most necessary they should act.

The league will be composed of many men of many minds." Tney will agree pretty closely, generally. In their alms, but there will be numerous and sometimes discordant opinions as to the best road to pursue. All will agree, for Instance, that the monetary system should bo reformed so there can be no fears as to the soundness of the currency. But Ideas as to the mode of reform will differ widely. But In the course of time the factions and disagreements which will manifest themselves at first will wear away.

The members will learn to pull together. Their discussions among themselves will make them more familiar than they are now with the problems of tue day, and they will be better able to teach congress. These doctrines are not only strange, but are inconsistent with the Tribune's recent contempt for advisory bodies in connection! with national legislation. But, passing by the latter point, is it true that congress has ot heard from the intelligent sentiment of the country, that it has listened only to the voices of demagogues, that it is poorly informed and needs to be taught concerning the problems before it Was the recent great majority for sound money and protection an expression of ignorance Did not the people know what they were thinking about and talking about and votiug about when they elected a president and congress committed to these principles Wa the I campaign a farce, and must private organizations, stepping between the people and their chosen representatives, instruct the latter what they are in office for and what they ought to do This is a curious idea. It seems like a contention that voting is a mere amusement, that the ballot-box is a device for elevating incompetent men to places of responsibility, and that the people of the United States are incapable of intelligently exercising the right of suffrage.

We do not subscribe to this view. We believe that the congress which is to come into power after the 4th of March will faithfully represent the intelligence of the country, that it will attack the problems before it with a knowledge of the issues involved in them, and that it will be capable of doing its work well. The Natioijal Business League may be a praiseworthy organization and may accomplish some good. But it has behind it no such reasons for existence as those alleged in the low view which the Chicago Tribune takes of congressmen and their constituents. If it had, by the people could not be held up as a shining success.

All that the Cubans want is a good opportunity to "pacify" General Weyler in a way that will make the balance of his career absolutely quiet. The bears on Wall street might have seen their shadows yesterday. It was the 2d of February and a sunny day. Let us hope it means permanent hibernation for the whole crowd. Spain's last hope of holding Cuba rests on Spain's subservient friends at Washington.

As matters stand, the Cubans have all the best of the situation and can afford to play a waiting game. It is said that King Humbert carries life insurance to the amount of and that the late E-miieror Alexander, of Russia, was insured for $3,000,000. Coin-panics that will take such rusks shouldn't object to locomotive engineers aud foot-ball players. The Greater New York number of the New York Tribune, published last Saturday, was an extraordinarily good piece of newspaper work. A fine colored map mid many pages of descriptive and historical matter make the issue highly attractive and very valuable.

The New York Tribune and the Buffalo Express are assailing Governor Black very much ns they assailed Governor Morton at the beginning of his term. Everybody connected with the Republican state organization Invites slander from those two malcontents, but the wople have learned to discount their gibes iti advance. Alout the worst that cm be said of the Princess Louise, daughter of King Ieo-rold of Belgium, who has cIojhvJ from bvr husband, the Prince of Saxe-Cobourg and Gothn, with a captain of hussars, is that she takes after her unre.spected father, who has figured in more and more outrageous scandals than any other exalted lersonage in Europe. Sinn Reeve, th. veteran English tenor, has rece ntly U-vn dwl ired a l-akrupt.

lie has also recently been married, Imt there no neetsnry connection letvon tin. two fact. He was Wn in 122, nnd, therefore, is seventy-five years of age, a pretty elderly tenor to Ik singing in public. was a marv Iou tenor in his day, but that was a good many years ngo. Of the m.ii who will President McKin.Iey'n administratis, so far as they are known at this writing, the president himself, will le the youngest.

He has just passed bis 51th birthday. The ages of the others are ns follows: Sherman, secretary of state, 74; Wilson, secretary of airier. ltre, tKJ; Gage, secretary of the treasury, 01; Alger, won-tary of war, til; and Long, secretary the navy, Speaking of Governor Black's suggestion that the completion of the state cnpitol be placed in charge of the superintendent of public works, the Niagara Cataract says: "It is suspected that the wily superintendent himself is steering the governor in this matter." However this may one thing is certain. If the change should be made Superintendent Aldridge would "steer" the capitol to speedy completion at the least possible coot. It is a way he has.

A possible result of the agitation of the public mind over the Bradley Martin ball is the insertion of a plunk in the next Populist national platform demanding that the constitution shall be so amended that every American citizen who contemplates giving a ball, masquerade, dinner, reception, tinted tea, progressive pedro party, or any other form of private entertaimuent involving the expenditure of his own money, shall be compelled to submit the matter to a popular vote before issuing his invitations. Judge George F. Turner, the new United State senntor from Washington, is a native of Missouri, enlisted in the Union army when he was 1.1 years of nge, settled in Alabama offer the war closed nnd was made a United States marshal by President Grant, was one of the who stood by Grant ia the convention of 1880, was appointed to the federal bench by President Arthur in 1884, and helped frame the constitution of the state of Washington in 1889. He left the Republican party last year to support Bryan and was elected as a Populist. The constitution of the United States provides for national bankruptcy laws.

There have been three such laws iu the history of the country. One was enacted in 1800, another in 1811, and a third in 1807. The lust remained in force only eleven years. It is almost universally conceded that the country needs such a law now nnd that the Torrey bill is as nearly perfect ns such a measure can well be made. It was passed by the house last May, and is now on the calendar of the senate.

The 'alter body, by promptly rat-ifying the enactment and sending it to the President, would perform a valuable pub-he service. It was scarcely necessary for Mr. Depew to deny the absurd statement that Mr. Cornehus an(Jerbilt was going to Washington with estublisment to lobby for -Mr Depew appointment as ambassador to the court of Ht, Janua Mr not in pohtic He is a mtn of great The Critic proposes a rather interesting "plebiscite" which should be especially interesting to Rochesterians since it was suggested originally by a Rochester man, the late Wolcott Balestier. The Critic announces that it will be glad to have its readers send to it "lists of the best twelve short stories of American authorship." "No story of more than 15,000 words," says The Critic, "should be included.

The polls will close on March 30th, and to the person sending the list which we regard as the best, we shall give $15 worth of books at American publishers' prices." Of course, there is little hope of winning the prize, no matter how well-chosen your list may be, unless you happen to know The Critic's preferences in the matter of short stories and govern your selection by that ordinarily useless scrap of special knowledge rather than by your own literary judgment. But that is a fault inseparable fioua all such competitions, and The Critic, unlike most promoters of such competitions, makes no false pretenses ia regard to tHs point. It announces thnt it will award the prize, not to the best list, but to the list it likes best. Moreover, the winning of the prize is not a matter of very much importance. There will be enough of interest, amusement, increase of knowledge cf American literature and training in literary discrimination in the selection of the twelve best short stories to amply reward every one who makes the list invited by The Critic.

To intelligently pick the winners from such a numerous field as is furnished by the thousands of short stories of American authorship published since July 4, 177t, may seem nn impossible task. It can le measurably lightened by first making a list of the most famous twelve American writers of short stories. When you have completed this you will find that the list of the best twelve short stories of American authorship will almost make itself. Sup-wsc that yoa have chosen ns your twelve authors Washington Irving, Edgar A. Poo, Edward Everett Hale, Mark Twain, Bret Hnrte, Frank R.

Stockton, II. C. Runner, Fitz James O'Brien, Theodore Winthrop, Brander Matthews, Joel Chandler Harris and Mary E. Wilkins. You jerecive that the story-title for each nnme is at once in your mind.

The Chronicler does not present this list as a perfect one or even as a good one. He has set the names down as they have occurred lo him without special thought or effort to discriminate. The nanu of some favorite short-story writers are not Included in it merely because the Chronicler Happened to think first of the names of other short story writers. Theodore Winthrop's natne may not have any vulue at all in a list of uuthors prepared with a view to casting your vote in The Critic's "plebiscite." Whether it has or not depends on whether or not "Love aud Skates" is a story of more than fifteen thousand words. Other names at whose omission many renders will wonder were left out for reasons that may or may not be worth regarding by voters.

Robert Barr, for example, is a Scotchman by birth, and, unless the Chronicler is misinformed, a British subject Possibly, for the purposes of this "plebiscite," he is not to 1 considered fin American author. Probably no Canadian uuthor is eligible, fur the Chronicler takes for granted that The Critic uses the term "American" in the sense in which it is commonly used by the people of the United States. Stepnen Crane's name is omitted because the Chronicler has the lowest possible opinion of his writings. But, if you have any idea of winning The Critic's prize, tnke care that you include Stephen Crane nniong your twelve best story writers. The Gilders all seem to be a little mad over "The Red Badge of Courage." Here is another hint that may prove wcrthy of your consideration.

"The Lady or the Tiger" is likely to be among the story-titles that will first occur to you ns proper for inclusion in your list. But if the Chronicler were marking a ballot to be cast in The Critic's "plebiscite" he would think a good while over that achievement of Mr. Stockton's before pronouncing it one of America's best twelve hhort stories. If "The Lady or the Tiger" is a story there is certainly no more famous American short story. But The Critic nsks for a list of the twelve "best" tdiort stories.

Is "The Lady or the Tiger" one of "the best" short stories Is it a good short story? Is it even a story nt nil It is a bright fragment, a most amusing literary prank, an ingenious mystification, clever "tour de force," but is it a story Is not the ending of a story, its conclusion, the most essential vital part ef it, without which it is no story "The Lady or the Tiger" has no euding and we have Mr. Stockton's own word for it that the reison for this is that its author didn't know how to cud it. It is possible that "The Lady or the Tiger" will be held by The Critic to be marked hots de coiicours" by the announced terms of the competition. That Mr. Stockton is one of its nearest friends will seem to this thoroughly conscientious critical journal a reason the more for very strict construction of the language of its Announcement, when considering the admissibility of "The Lady or the Tigrr" to the announced competition.

SOME 3SAMES MENTIONED. February Is the shortest month, and all the country la glad of It, for with March conies In MeKinley. Poughkeepsle Eagle. Shade of Artemus Ward! Is Mr. Cleve land preparing to enter the lecture field as a humorist after March 4th? Chicago Tribune.

It remains to be seen, whether Senator-elect Harris of Kansas can surpass the fame of Senator Peffer's whiskers. Boston Globe. Somebody should entice es-Queen LI1 away from Washington before President Cleveland dec-Ides to abdicate, New York Press. Mr. Cleveland has found the civil service law a very handy Instrument with which to reward his friends and punish his euemies, New York Journal.

Lyman J. Gage has come out In a flat and vehement ueulal of the report that ha la Counsel (in will contest) Did you see Mr. Timson, the testator, a short time before his death Witness Yes; I saw him every day for week before he died. Counsel What, in your opinion, was his mental condition at that time Witness I am satisfied that he was very much unbalarced. lie had a singular delusion which nothing could remove.

Counsel What was the nature of the delusion Witness Mr. Timson Imagined he had mnd a will that could not be broken; he repeatedly said so. And held to this delusion) till the end. A Greek-English Pun. TJtlea Observer.

The Watchman records a witticism of the late Professor Kendrick of Rochester Univer-t slty. Having one day in the class room remarked that the Greek preposition eis Invariably means into," he was reminded by one of his pupils that a professor In another college had asserted the contrary. was the reply, "if that bo true, I can only, say that he has slipped np on the els, that all." The Best Congratulation. Boston Herald. Altogether the best telegram of congratn.

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