The Brooklyn Citizen from Brooklyn, New York • 10

THE BROOKLYN CITIZEN, SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1900. 10 BURTON HOLMES A MONUMENT TO THE MARTYRS. EAST RIVER BRIDGE WORK. 0if WEEKLY NOVELETTE. Sylvester Sweedleplpe's Sneeess, Lionel Lockshaw's Lesson.

(Copyrighted by tha Comlo Sketch Club.) (Hy the author of "Proy th Ple-Eatr; or, Lulu Llttloneck's Lett Luncheon." TRADE OF THE WEEK. SNOWBALL DEBATING CLUB Takes Tip the Question, "Which Is Better, Chicken or Pork Chops?" (roiiyrlghtfd by the Comic 8ktch Club.) The Snowball Debating Club was called to order Bt the usual time, the president using a hatchet as gaTel. and demanding quiet. After two crap games and a fight had been stopped, the chairman walkedtlforward and said: "Look hyah, yo' membahs ob de Snowball Debatiu' Sassiety, I hates toe hat t' tell yo', but yo all am denied sight wuss dan a passel o' hogser a lot ob half-ster-lized svaps. Dis yer cr.ip-sliootin' an' dis yer liSitin' ain't de right ting fer no self-sclecttn' club.

mi' as de president ob 273 in the United Stated, against 243 last year, and 25 iu Canada, against 24 last CANADIAN TRADE. Although the holiday business was very large throughout most sections of Canada, the new year's business hns not yet reached large proportions. At Halifax both wholesale and retnir trade is quiet but prospects are bright. Toronto reports the retail holiday business the largest on record, but wholesale trade is quiet although remittances are satisfactory. A generally satisfactory holiday trade at Quebec has been succeeded by very quiet conditions.

Nothing new is reported at Winnipeg in the condition of business, although collections show a slight improvement. The usual holiday dullness continues in British Col umbia. but collections are reported fairly satisfactory. ON JAPAN. Lecture Illustrated by Fine Moving Pictures.

THE LAND OF FLOWERS. Excellent Representatioat of the Dancing of Geisha Girls and Other Scenes la- Japan The Itatue of Bnddha Which Overfaoks the Sea Pictures of Streets In Tokio. That Japan ig well named the land of flowers was never better illustrated to an occidental audience than by the lecture given iuVssociatlon Hall, last evening, by Burton loiines, or Chicago. The lecture was the second in Mr. Holmes' course under the auspices of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences.

It is a sufficiently modest statement of the illustrations of the lecture to say that never have- liner lantern photo graphs been thrown on a screen than those inch the audience in Assoeintioif-Hall applauded almost without intermission last evening. In the number of motion pictures i suinvu too me lecture was unique ana the (U.nnt and picturesque beauty of Japanese lite and manners was never better illus- trated than iu this fashion. So many and so excellent were the motion pictures that the audience felt at the conclusion of the lecture that they had indeed secured a glimpse of the dainty land of flowers and it was something of a shook to come back to the realities of city streets and trolley cars. Ihe eveol pnne of tho mntirtn mliirAn wee demonstrated by the audible expressions that could be heard throughout the audience. hen a Geisha girl stumbled there was an "Oh!" of surprise and interest such as would have greeted such an accident on the stag or in real life.

When the funny little Japanese children, who, with the Geisha, proved the most interesting human features of the pictures, came tearing down to the front to sec what was going on. and with their queer, quaint little faces nnd eyes half shut peered curiously iu the direction of tha picture machine, th daughter was as genuine and as unconscious through the audi ence as though the little comedy had been seen in reality and not through one of the latest developments of photography. In commencing his lecture Mr. Holmes commented on the so-called conceit of Japan in demanding a place among the great nations and said that Japan was almost entitled to such conceit for she had acquired in fifty years what it had taken the other nations of the earth many centuries to achieve. It was, however, not with modern Japan, but with the old and picturesque features of the country that the lecture dealt in larger Colored pictures of beautiful lagoons dotted with the cumbersome, impossible junks were shown and then came the landing on the very modern wharf with its crowd of jinrikshas, the buggy-sbjaped, man-propelled vehicle that is universal all over Japan.

Motion pictures showed fhe lively manner in which these little vehicle are pulled The lecturer said that the rate for. their hire' as for almost everything in Japan is absurdly cheap. One may have a jin-riksha for about "Vj cents an hour and may hire one for an. entire day for SO cents. 1 No talk about Japan would be complete without some reference to the Geisbai an.l perhaps no presentation of the personality and characteristics of these pretty little dancing girls has ever been given which was quite so complete as that by Mr.

Holmes last evening. Photographs of some of the girls were shown and demonstrated instantly their right to the claim of beauty and fascination that is made for them by bo many travelers. Then in motion pictures they went throngh many of their dances for the express edification of the motion picture machine and the audiences which it wag to reach. Always they were gracofti, always picturesque and quaint, always there was about them an atmosphere of unreality as if they were characters out of a fairy story and not real persons dancing in a real land before a real camera. Other motion pictures showed a funeral procession which, while solemn as was befitting about it the same air of unreality, the same picturesqneness and quaint-ness.

Men walked before in this procession carrying great imitations of the lotus flower. Then came the priests riding in jinrikshas, then the mourning family, then the great palanquin in which wag carried the body of the deceased and then the crowd of inter-. ested nnd sympathetic spectators, Mr. Holmes said that he and his party followed to the temple where services wre held and tea and rice cakes were distributed to the well-dressed people and wafers in unlimited quantities to the poor. It occurred to him that it was like many other things in Japan, a very pretty custom.

Beginning with several pictures of tho colossal statue of Gautama Buddha which has stood overlooking the sea for many centuries, the lecturer took his audience on a trip through some of temples of Japan, temples which scarcely seemed to snggest religious thought to American eyes, but which were of wonderful beauty, full of the daintiest carving, with the grotesque and the beautiful strangely mixed. Then cattle pictures of Tokio, wifh its avenues of cherry trees, white with blossoms and a notable and remarkable beautiful series of flower pictures, including, chrysanthemums, the lotns and the iris. More notion pictures showed a crowd of Japanese feeding a very tame flock of pigeons, others a local celebration wit)) its procession and gayety and others more Geirha dances. The lecture' was brought to a close with some beautiful pictures of the groat snow covered Japanese peok. Fujiyama.

I Mr. Holmes' lecture on Japan will be repeated in Association Hall this afternoon. The Old Man's Query. "So yon want to msrrv mT dsughteri" "Y-eg, Blr." "Do you smoke! "N-o, sir." "Take her! Vw msrrled off six daughter and all the husbands hare a particular fondness for my brand of cigars. You're a noveltyfcr-Syracuse Herald.

Another Problem. She A mathematician has figured It ent that a man 60 years old hag spent three years of bia life buttoning his collar. He Is that so? I wonder how many years of her life a woman of AH has waeted in putting her bat on straight. Ghicat Kewa, CHAPTER 1. She would not fat gwixeberry pie, Nor huckteberry, elnce She'd sol tame of mince: Ah! me, ahe aeenied resolved to die.

Houthweatern Folk-Lor. "I wish I had my pistol." Lionel Locksluiw said no more, for he was a man with ii dark mustache. Sylvester Sweedlepipe, sitting on the coal scuttle at the other end of tho parlor, looked up. "Yon are a dog," he said. Then he went on whittling his stick.

"Oh! this is enough to break my heart," moaned Bertha Bathgate. "Jo think that 1 cannot have two gentlemen call upon me at once." 1 "You have only one to-night," said Sylvester Sweedlepipe. "How dare you insult a friend of mine?" roared the girl. "Go!" nnd she pointed lir 6nger at the window. But Sylvester Sweedlepipe did not move.

He loved Bertha Bathgate to distraction and was determined to stay as long its Lionel should. Looking up froi5ii under his dark brow just then he saw the latter sitting on a rocking chair with Bertha. "The day will come when I'll do the same thing," he said to himself. And then ull was silent for 50 minutes. CHAPTER It.

Irft Ivy grow ahovf my gravf Let ropes also bloom: Also let the flrecrackere boom: And my country's fluff-let It wave. Wootiynrd Kindling. "How long does it take a chicken hen to hatch'" As Lionel Lockshnw whispered these words to Bertha Bathgate Sylvester Sweedlepipe cocked his ear like a dog that thought he heard the cook coming with the tablecloth. "Three weeks 21 days," answered the girl, sweetly. "Well, I'll tell yonewhat," went on tho first speaker.

"I hnve Q. hen that wants to set. If I made her wait until after our nuptials she might change her mind. So I will allow her to go right ahead first. I will put the eggs under her to-morrow morning.

Three weeks from that day, in the afternoon, you be at the chancel rail of the church nnd I will wed you." "But why eunnot we be married while the hen is hatching?" pleaded the girl. "Rats!" exclaimed Lionel Lnekshaw, "I am afraid of rats. They might steal her eggs. No, can run no nsK tnc matter." As be snid this Sylvester Sweedlepipe rose from the coal scuttle, gritted his teeth defiantly and left their presence: But a deep resolve was in his mind. CHAPTER III.

The gooee that laid the golden egg Will never lay another, Because they ate the mother When they had pulled her leg. Taming of the Shrew. But who are the men who figured in the story? Of Sylvester Sweedlepipe, ah! little is known," save that he milks cows on a neighboring farm for his board. His attire and demeanor at all times indicate that he is a gentleman, able to take care of himself in the best drawing-room circles. He knows all' about fowls, having once worked (in a different capacity than that mentioned above) on a poultry farm.

Lionel Loeksbaw's life is more open to scrutiny. He is a millionaire, well bred and a gentleman farmer. That is about all there is to say, except that he is very tight-fisted that he would rather sell his eggs than eat them. Sylvester Sweedlepipe is the personifica tion of liberality. He gives his tobacco and everything away freely.

And that is why Lionel Lock sh aw hates him. And he hates Lionel Lockshaw because he deems him unworthy of Bertha Bathgate, the beautiful boilermaker'a child. CHAPTER IV. "Tion't squeeze me when the gaa Is lit," The simple maiden said. And dropped her pretty head, "Or ma will have a tit." From the French.

Lionel Lockshaw, with a light heart, kept his word upon the following day. The snn was no. higher than a rail when he carried seventeen eggs to the hen desirous of setting and carefully them under her. 'Ha! ha! ha!" he chuckled. "In three weeks I'll be the happiest fellow in the world.

I'll have a hen out on that day and also have a bride. I hope I may be lucky with both." But as he sits on guard to keep the rata away that night what dark form is that that like a black leopard prowls past him with a basket on its arm and nausea be side the hen's nest? Ha! it is the form of Sylvester Sweedle pipe. Wait! CHAPTER V. Four time? he knelt and klaaed her ahoe; lie shed tears like a The maiden only emlled; Said he, "Ah! that will do." Alfred Haustln. "The groom is late; it Is now 10 p.

It was' the minister that spoke, nnd great tears came to the girl's eyes ns she sat down on sonwprtif the floral decora tions to rest herself. "But I will' wait here for seventy-two hours: he will surely i At the end of seventy-two hours who steps forward and offers to take the fickle groom's place? Sylvester Sweedlepipe. And he is soon the happiest roan In the world. Bnt it is not nntil nineteen years later that he tells his bride his great secret that be exchanged duck eggs for the hen's eggs, which delayed Lionel Lockshaw, because it takes duck eggs fonr weeks to hatch in stead of three. But she gladly forgave her husband, she being too passe now to confess the truth to the man she had beenvfalse to.

GEORGE A. BECKENBAUGH. Tate Longest Word. Wife Here's the. longest word In the language.

There's twenty syllables in It. Husband Just the same It Isn't, The longest word is the comparative degree of long. Wife How do yon mike that out? HusDana Easy enongn. I don care how long your word that is longer! Detroit Free Press. Hot Kewa.

"Don't worry," said the man who believes that economic difficulties will be settled In the natural course of events. "The trust will take care of themselves." "1 know It," said the world weary friend. "That's whst. they hsv been dolnj sB thoM 7M.M-Trriiiti(toB Star. Congressman Fitzgerald is Determined to Pass His Bill AT THE PRESENT SESSION.

Introduced a Bill for 1 100,000 Appropriation on the Opening Daj of the Session and Will Press for an Early Favorable Report Upon It The Congressman Believes That the'i Chanoes of Snoeess Are Good-Teat of His Joint Resolution on the Subject. WASHINGTON, Jan. 0. Congressman .1. Fitzgerald, of Brooklyn, has become deeply interested in the question of a monument to the prison ship martyrs of the Revolution whose bones lie in au unmarked grave at Kort Greene, and will bend all his energies to securing an appropriation by Congress during the present session.

The erection ef a suitable monument to1 these long neglected heroes of the War of Independence ha been agitated for years. Congressman Clancy, Mr, Fitzgerald's predecessor, introduced a bill for the purpose and worked, incessantly while in Congress to get it passed; but though he was several times at Ihe very point of succeeding, some untoward event always interfered to prevent a final victory. Congressman Fitzgerald believes that for many reasons the present session may afford the fcest chance that has ever existed for the passage of the monument appropriation! and be will apply himself to the task cnergetifally in this hope. He starts out with the assurance of aid from a number of societies iu Brooklyn interested in the subject, among them being the Prison -Ship Martyrs' Monument Association, Long Island Historical Society. Daughters of the Revolution and the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Southern So-ciety and the Society ofuXlld Brooklynites.

The influence wielded by these societies will doubtless help to secure for Mr. Fitzgerald the ear of Congress. A copy of the joint resolution introduced in the House by Congressman Fitzgerald for an appropriation of $100,000 for a monument is given below. It was introduced on the opening day of the session, so that it will be seen that Mr. Fitzgerald lost no time in the matter: and it is his intehtionta be equally expeditious in pressing for1 a report on his resolution, which has been referred to the Committee.

on the Library. As will be seen by a reading of the resolution it provides that the appropriation of $100,000 by Congress shall become available only when an equal amount shall have been raised by private subscription or by appropriations by the city or State of New York. This provision, it may he added, is entirely satisfactory to the societies who have interested themselves in the monument moverjient. The text of Congressman Fitzgerald's bill is as follows: I JOINT RESOLUTION in relation to monument to prison ship martyrs at Fort (Ireene, 'Brooklyn, New York: Whereas, Nenrly twenty thousand patriot soldiers and sailors of the colonial forces in the war of the Revolution perished upon the English prison ships in New York Harbor from neglect, privation and disease incident to their imprisonment, as many as eleven thousand having died upon a single hulk; and Whereas, Their remains were buried in trenches on the Long Island shore, where the tide soon swept the hones of hundreds into the sea, strewing the shore for miles with human hones; nnd Whereas, In tlu year eighteen hundred and eight all the bones still remaining were gathered by the Tammany Society of New York nud interred in a vault on a plot of ground then known as Jackson's farm, now a part of the borough of Brooklyn, in the city of New York; and I Whereas. In the year eighteen hundred and seventy-three the authorities of fue city of Brooklyn removed the bones to a public park in the then said city known as Fort Greene Park, which overlooks that portion of the bay in which toe ships were anchored whereon they died and that pnrt of the beach wherein they were buried; and Whereas, Their heroic martyrdom, running through weary months and years, wijh liberty constantly offered as the price of dishonor on the one hand and death as the only -reward of fidelity to country on the other, is without a parallel in history; and Whereas, No stone marks their rpsting place" and no inscription commemorates their virtues, their sufferings, or their death, throughout the whole land for which they died: and Whereas.

A movement has been inaugurated by the societies known as the Daughters of the Revolution ind the Daughters of the American Revolution (in which the Sons of the Revolution and -the Sons of the American Revolution gre expected to share) to erect a monument in Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn, above the ashes of those heroic dead, which monument may fitly transmit to the ages to come the virtues of men so long unhnnored; and Whereas, Many thousands of dollars have already been collected and are being sa'fely held as a private contribution to said monument fund, and bills are pending for joint aid by the Stnte of New York and the municipality of New York; therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not Otherwise appropriated, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars as a part contribution to the erection of said monument in Fort Greene Park, in the borough of Brooklyn, city and State of York: Provided, however, that said sum shall not be payable until there has been raised, by private subscription and by public appropriations as aforesaid, sums aggregating an additional one hundred thousand dollars; And provided further. That said moneys shall not be paid for the of a monument, plans for which shall not have been approved by the Secretary of War of the United States and the Governor of the State of New York and Mayor of the city of New York; and the said moneys shall bt expended under the joint supervision of the said Secretary and said Governor and said Mayor, Would Apply to Either. "Ah," sha iclalmed as ih UM uld th little volume, with th tmsT-qulU cover, "It Is all so full of hidden meaning! It Is written In such mining mystery ana yet Is so elear and simple one you undent and It." Her brother looked at her for a minute snd tbeo asked. "What ant yea ulklna about A piece of poetry or a dorter's preeerlotlonT" Washington 8tar.

College Graduates. Of the college graduate of the country If nr. eard takes the lead, with a total of arid. uateej. Vale has aent out Into the world It.US men, and onxnDia i.mi.

rvtneeton ha graduated T.eOft etunenta, Dartmouth Brow 4, Bowdolo lm. Amiierat eaa Washing. Progress Delayed by Lack of Ap- SMALL EXPENSE ACCOUNT. Tti Cmnmlnioa Renorts That Jt Tower Foundations and Anchorages on Both Sides of the River Are Nearly Completed The Financial Statement. The New Kast River Bridge Commission held a stated meeting yesterday afternoon in the Manhattan otliccs.

No. Chambers street. Routine busines was transacted. The most important incident of the meeting was the receipt of a report from the Commissioners of Accounts of an investigation of the affairs of the commission. The report is a lengthy document signed by fiiiiiissioners Hertle ami Owen, and contains details of the receipts and expenditures of the commission since the organization of same in August.

1895. to the end of the year IN! IS. In general the report states that the books of the commission were found correct, and that the re, ommendations made in the previous report were complied with. Regarding progress made in construction during the year 1S9S. the report reads us follows: "Owing to lack of appropriation very little progress was made on the work during 1898: but at the time of this writing (Dec.

27. INOOl the tower, foundation and anchorages on both sides of the river are nearly completed. "On Teh. 21. 1899.

a contract was executed to the New Jersey Steel and Iron Company for the construction of the steel towers and end-spaus; amount of contract $1,220,230. "Construction of this contract is now well under way. "On Dec. 9. 1S91).

a contract was entered into with the John A. Roebling Sous Company for the construction of the seol cables, suspenders, amount of contract $1,398,000. which is'nnw pending the approval Of the Controller. "It is a satisfaction to state within the province of our examination, the administration of the affairs of the New East River Bridge Commission under the pres-eriteCotnmissiouers. is all that it should be.

Their accounts and records are kept in orderly, intelligible shape and no criticism, in Our opinion, can he offered as to proper methods and bookkeeping. "In our report of Jan. 17. 1898, we called Your Honor's attention to the amount. $57,379.91, charged on the books to expense account up to Dee.

31. 1897. "An analysis of this account disclosed the fact that of the total amount of $48,177.08 was for legal expenses; $45,800 of which was paid to William (J. Choate and Henry C. M.

Ingrnham. "As a contract, we call Your Honor's attention to table A. which discloses the fact that during the year 189S no payments for counsel fees or other legal expenses have been made." The tabulated statements attached to the report show that on Dee. 31. 1897, there was a balance on hand of $90,150.18 in the commission's treasury.

This was increased to $2,204,086.18 by the issuance of bonds authorized by the Board of Estimate. At the end of the year 1898 fhe balance was $834,512.37. Included in the expenditures for the year 1898 were the following: Pay-roll commissioners, S18.fMHi; pay-roll officers and appointees. $44,428.02: real property, New York tower foundations, $104,205.55: Brooklyn tower foundations, $330,579.10: New York anchorage, Brooklyn anchorage. rent, sundry expenses, furniture and fixtures.

engineer's supplies. $593.73: engineer's persn-nnl property. $521.44: advertising. $315.35: appraisal. consulting engineer.

inspecting engineer. sewer account, $600; gas mnin, total expenditures, $1,369,573.81. The statement of the total receipts nnd expenditures from the organization of the commission in August. to iee. 1898, shows- the total of proceeds from sale of bonds to be and the total expenditures balance on hand at end of 1898.

$834,512.37. At the end of 1898 the commission had obligated itself by contract to the extent of $2,399,593.46, on which paytvtents ad been made to the extent of $1,112,333.66. leaving the halance of contract indebtedness at $1,287,259 80. Since the end of the year 1898. bonds have been authorized by the Board of "Estimate to bring the total of the bonds authorized for the uses of the East River Bridge Commission up to $9,562,473.06, and the contracts for the steel towers and md-spans and the steel cables and appurtenances have been entered into.

The total proceeds received from bonds sold np to date amount to Wars for a Trifle. t. Mr. Chamberlain's Parliamentary apology for the Transvaal War oji the ground that he meant to grant the Boer concessions but was raiunderood recalls Ihe war between Poland and Sweden in 1654. In that year a Polish nobleman became obnoxious to the laws of his country by reason of his having committed a crime.

He fled to Sweden, whereupon John Cast- mir. King of Poland, wrote to Charles Gtis- favus, King of Sweden, demanding the surrender of the criminal. The King of Sweden, on reading the dispatch, noticed that his own name and titles were followed missing "etcetera" so enraged the King of King of Poland was followed by three. The missing 'etcetera" so enraged the King of Sweden that he at once declared war" against Poland. The war was carried on with great bitterness until 1660, when a peace was signed at Oliva, near A contemporary writer Kochowsky) poured out his lamentations on the war in these terms: "How dear has this 'etcetera" been to ns.

With how many lives have these two potentates paid for these missing eight With what streams of blood has the failure of a few drops of ink beeu avenged." -Collier's Weekly. Non-ComittaL "Who is the master of the asked the agent of the man, who answered his ring. "Well." was the eantions response. In a resigned tone. am the husband and father." Slight Jailing Off After the Holiday Rush.

PRICES STILL KEEP UP. failures for the Last Year Were Very Small, and the Indication Are Good for a Big Business This Year The Recent Flnrry in the Stock Market Resulted in a Small Met Gain in Prices. (From Dun rtevicw.l Failures in 1890 were in number, with liabilities of The last days of tho year added a few to the Jul 111-br, and some millions to tho knownjlinluli-tieg of firms nnd hanks which failed close the eml, so that oouimcreial defaults reached of which us -ri 1. wenr- in muniKactiiring, and iu hrokenige, pruniol- and other commercial liabilities iet i 1 Will I rema ins true Unit me iniiuros iu amount smaller than in any other I year of the past twenty-five excepting 's0 and 1S81, while the average of liabilities 577.50 per firm was smaller than in any previous year, and most important test of all, the ratio of defaults to solvent payments through clearing houses. 07 cents per $1,000, is not only the smallest ever known in any year, hut smaller than in any quarter save one, the third of ISM.

The failures for $100,000 or more in the past six years have ranged hot ween in 1809, and in lSOti. the decrease being more than two-thirds, hr.t the suinll failures ranged between in 1S09, and $127,592.90 in the increase being more than one half. Most people in husiueso have been so occupied with and the settle-ments of the past year that litlle new business has yet been done. No new tendency in mnnufnetures'-or in trading appears, and less change than was anticipated in money Markets. The Street seems to have promptly applied to the uplifting of stocks most of the $2,750,000 net receipts from the interior, and the $1,000,000 daily deposited with banks by the Treasury, the proportion of commercial loans reported by banks being ltter cent, against 18 Inst week, hut ns yek the demand is but moderate, rutins received in January settlements may be less lu'rgely invested in securities than some expected, because the extreme low prices late in December induced such investments in advance, while the great rise since has been so rapid as to causae hesitation.

There is nothing surprising in some recoil after a rise averaging per share for railroad stocks to Tuesday's close, nnd $7.24 for industrials. The later yieldipg left an advance of 85 cents per share in railroads -for the week and $1 per share in the industrial stocks. The earnings of railroads were large enough to warrant even more advance, if less sadden. Dec m-ber returns were 8.9 per cent. larger than those of 1S9S.

and 12.1 per cent, larger than in 1S97. But all stocks are in a measure affected by drmht whether the can be supported at their advance and the condition of the loan market. There is, nothing unsound in the business of the great industries, but an extensive1 revision of prions may disappoint extreme expectations. Two ways of stimulating business are adopted. The "Iron Age" notices "transaetiinjsof magnitude in foundry iron, which indiSftifttliirt some sellers are willing to to secure the trade of good owromers.

run me Steel Wire Co. has advanced prices of wire nails, barbed ami smooth wire 25 cents. Bessemer pig is not higher than it was six weeks ago. and steel plates have declined from 310 to 2.25 at Philadelphia bars at Fittshurg from 2.25 to 2.15. ami" sheets from 3.15 to 2.80, while the tnral and rail producers hive held bnre-fused to advance their prices.

Some new business is reported, but not enough as yet to indicate the tendency. In tin, after a fall from 33 to 25 cents, tjp price to 25.25 with London, and in copper Ifftfc cents "is quoted instead of l.SVa cents a month ago. The disposition to ask still higher prices is see-n iu boots nnd shoes, 20 cents advance" being asked on some for which 17i ctnts was asked and paid in November. Most works are reported to have orders nhr-afl for about a month, though some are seeking more business, but jobbers doubt whether prices will last. The yielding in hides nt Chicago, in spite of short receipts because warm weather has checked killing by farmers, has reached .0 per cent, in the past month.

Cotton goods are at the highest quotations of last year, with rood demand, though cotton has declined a little. But the goods were at no time advanced quite in proportion to the nia- terial, and mre in that sense cheaper now 'than a year ago. Woollen goods are also much lower with respect to wool than a year ago, nnd some further advance has been expected. Wool is still strongly held, though full prices asked a month ago cannot be obtained. Cotton does not rise, further because receipts from plantations have somewhat increased, and accounts of large storks at many small towns have attracted attention.

The Southern milis, which can easily supply themselves with large stocks from the snr- rounding country without passing the cotton through any market or drawing it until it is -wanted, may have- done so for their protection against the publicly announced combination lasf fall to raise prices. These mills consumed last year 1.400,000 hales, but are reckoned as having taken' for this year's crop only 491.000. "What still moves very sluggishly, with small change in prices. In six months of the crop year about 99.000,000 bushels, Bonr included, have been exported, against 123.000,000 last year. Atlantic exports have now fallen to "only 2,060.925 bushels for the week, against 5,214.420 last year, and Pacific exports were 531.225, against 014,833 last year.

The price is practically unchanged, ns com, which bushels have been exported for the week, against 3,572,412 last year. Exports of merchandise from New York were large last week, and December returns Indicate a heavy movement oftsia tured products, of which the export in November were larger than in any previous niontn. imports continue fairly large, but yet leave a balance of many millions each month on merchandise account. The volume of trade indicated by exchanges hns bn for the year 2.2 per cent, more than last rear, and 24.6 per cent, more than in 1808. Failures for the week htra been Idinsltfiohsnnization, I says it am got toe MUp.

ie subjiek dnt we have fo" dispersion dis ebenin' am de question nv de merits ob deni staple nbticlcs'. poke chops an' chicken." "Where dnt chicken?" shouted the members with one voice. f- "Dcy ain't no chicken hcah. an' dey ain't no poke chops heah. eider.

Dat am jess de simple question, which am de lies', poke chops er chicken. Mist.ih Rul'us Hilljoiner will now speak in i.ivah nv poke chops." Mr. Billjoiner arose and tool; his stand on the platform. After clearing hit throat very loudly and frequently, he saill: "(Icniuieii ob de Snowball Chili Dcy ain't nothiii in the world dnt a man in de fastidious position I occupies kin talk on mo easy dan about somcthin' toe eat. Now in de restaurant where 1 am a waiiali dey has all de mysteries ob de season, an' I bus an ample philanthropy to jedge.

Sometimes we has poke chops ctiery day, an' den agafc) we don't bah cm a week. But evvy day we has chicken. Dat prices toe ray diabolical mind dat dey is somcthin' common 'bout chicken an' ou-cominun 'bout poke chops!" oiise a litih!" came in bitter accents from member sitting near the door, "dey ain't nnthin' common 'bout The president jumped to his feet, and in-doing so overturned the box on which the lamp was standing. This fell to the floor nnd exploded, leaving the room in total darkness, except for some flickering oil on ihe floor. With the explosion came a general noise and confusion.

The air was full of curses, oil and shouts. Several fights started up and there was imminent danger that the whole assemblage would soon he participating in a hand-to-hand conflict. Finally some one appeared with a candle and this was placed on the cigar liox that served as a candle-stick. Then the dH-age wrought in the past few minutes became apparent. Not the least disfigured wns the president, who had not been fighting in the dark, but who had been very busy trying to pick the greater part of the lamp chimney out of his face.

Mr. Billjoiner, whose remarks anent the subject given out had been so rudely interrupted, was lying in a corner just returning to consciousness, and there were three razors on the floor that betokened trouble had the light not arrived in time. It was with great difficulty that thejiresi-dent regained his place on the platform. After climbing to his 'seat most painfully he arose and said: a "I wants toe say right heah. dat dis hall been a most misfohtnnate an' t' tell de truff.

ef any mo' ehenin's like dis come aroun', dey's got. toe he a new president elected, kase I won't lie standin' ronn' heah like no dtirn fool toe hab fings explodin' on me. An' I want to call attention toe de disgraceful mannnh in which yo' nJNentahed intoe de fraycuss. Look at. dom razzers on de flo'! Look at dis yer oh mine wif lamp chimney stickin' in it! I fink dat upon de whole, as ffey say when dey's anyfing happened in Congress oh a similah nature toe de one what jes' happened heah.

dat we had better lay de question ob de poke chops an' chicken on de table." "I protest, Mistah President," said a member nearest the wall, who had a lump on his ha44hat 'ike an egg-plant. "I protest agin closin' down dis yer meetin' wifout allow-in' me fer tee make myself plain on de subjiek of chicken. I knows all about it now, babin' prepahed fer dis hyer debate fer some time, an' I wants toe speak inah piece." "We can't hab no piece spoken heah to night," said the president, "dis yer am no time fer childsplay. toe see a doctnh." "Jes' Ipt me say a few words 'bout chicken," shouted the member. "I know how de chicken is fust in de egg, den de hatchin', den in de feathers, an' den in de pan.

I knows all 'bout chicken, an' I knows whoah get "Wheah?" shouted the other members excitedly. "I makes a propersition," said the member who knew all about it. "I'll take yo' all down toe de place where de chickens is ef yo'll agree toe gimme one dat yo' git. I knows how t' cook chicken, how toe eat it, an' how it looks, but I ain't so much on gitten' 'em sence I got dnt last load ob rock-salt in my bsck. Will yo' make dat ere promise?" he asked.

"We will, sho' miff," came the answer, and in a few minutes the hall was clear, and the'memhers were on their way after chicken. Great Doctors' Parsimonious Fa- tients. "It often causes not a little loss and in- a medical specialist when it becomes known through the papers taat he charges but the merest nominal sum to those pi suffering who are too poor to pay his regular fee." The" speaker, the secretary and pnpil of a most eminent titled physician the. latter noted for good deeds then continued: "It Till surprise you to know that we have had, even during the l.istiew months, persons coming to consult my employer in shabby clothes, and seemingly in a state of something like indigence, whom we have found subsequently to he rich people. Not long since a lady got out of her own family carriage in the next street In order that she might come round here and consult -the doctor as one of, his poor and on-paying patients.

We kepp a poor-boijjftrhicb. the poorer people may drop such a sum as they can afford instead of handing the usual fee to the doctor, and this particular lady, who is said to be worth several thousands a year, put the sum of one shilling into the box I speak of. "At.one time my employer set aside particular hour, at which he would not otherwise have worked, for these poorer patients, but he began to come to find that really well-to-do people who wouldiave come at the ordinary times began to pose as paupers. During the last London season a person who bad made many genteel protests of poverty, snd who put half a crown into the poorbox, was met by the doctor onl? two jlsys afterwards arrayed In full'glory at one of the most exclusive social functions of tk EVOLUTION OF THE CHURCH. The Church as a Social Club Novel Devices.

The Hev. Dr. Watson, better known as "Ian Maclnren." who lately visited America, writes in the "British Weekly," that the church in America is In coming a social club, and as evidence pruts this appeal issued by a branch of the V. M. C.

)u Not Forget. The next Social: The next Candy-Pull: The next Entertainment; The next Song Service: The (5 spc! Meeting; The next. Meeting of the Debating Cflub; The next 'bieken-plo Dinner: The next dan- when you ought to make the Secretary happy with your cash. This is all very strange' to Dr. Watson, and he opines that the pace is not slackened the time is not far distant when the American church will have in addition parlor, a theater, a variety show, a saloon, a tourist agency and other attractions to invite the voting.

Dr. Watson hai not seen the worst. Had he investigated some of (he churches he would have found a natatorium, a boxing, fencing, dancing and singing school: and, in some, he would have found billiards, cards and a well-equipped gymnasium. And hqd the good doctor attended a church fair not the staid old style, where embroidery, tatting, silk pin cushions, sweetmeats and other home-made rk were exposed for sale and where the limit of dissipation was readied in tindiffg truth and red lemonade at the bottom of "Rebecca's Well;" but the modern fin de siecle church fair, where yon; "take chance" on almost anjsthing; where "refreshments" are served: where you vote yourself into mendicancy for the most popular young lady while the counters tell you your choice "only lacks one hundred of being even:" or. hid the good doctor witnessed a kissing bee, at so much a kiss, or an ankle show, at so much a peek, he would have voted us barbarians.

Memphis Church Appeal. Loving Jealousies of Three Dogs. Your story in a recent number of the "Spectator" of the dog who buried the kitten alive may perhaps be corroborated by two others within the experience of the writer. In th 'jealousy appears to have been, the motive for the interment of rival. A mongrel terrier, exces-ively de voted to his mistress, was very jealous of her love for a kitten.

Often when the latter bad been caressed by the lady the former would go off and scratch ahole in the garden, nnd then, fetching the kitten, would bury it therein. To prevent the kii-teu forcing its way out. Jbe terrier post himself upon the grave, and so, unhappily for his purpose, would guide to the rescue of the latter by its friends. Once hf chose a pail of soot for the death tomb. At other times the clog and the kitten 'were good friends nnd playmates.

Another dog. t.iis time a spaniel, resentful of the of a torioUe. which her master had bought for his children and given fhe range of the lawn, determined to put her rival to death by tfiV same method. Shortly after its coming; both the doe nnd the tortoise could nowhere bp found. Presently the dog returned with her paws covered with earth: no so the tortoise.

Suspicious of the spaniel, her master coax her to come and look for it. when she guTlt-6ily drew off to the garden and stopped before a small mound of earth, which, when removed with a stick, revealed the tortoise. He who hides can find. Perhans I may add story of a skye. He.

too. belonged to the owner of the terrier the cnlnrit of the first story. The skye's favorite1' place was. as it should be. nt his masters feet, lie was generally qnite well behaved, but would hnjjp lost his character one day had he been without excuse.

The skye was running in front of his mistress nnd her husband, nnd sudd nly sur prised them by flying at a poor and holdine her a prisoner. When they came to her rescue they found her to be a child to whom they had given pair of the ekye mistress' shoes. Bo secure wbaf he em-ed to be a thief in his mistress's property, and this the shoes that had so tenderiy nibbed him. was clearly his duty, and he did it. Letter to London Spectator.

THE COLLAR BUTTON. The merry little collar bntton Kails upon the floor. And gleefully it rolls to realms That maftn cannot explore. -He curbs his temper for a while, And seSrches, but in vain: Th little collar button oe'w bt seen again tS.