Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-11-12
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Incidents Which Interest Society
COnversationalists.
THE MURCHISON LETTER.
Lord si.ckville Wrote 1t to Relieve
Ennui and Succeeded Beyond Ex-
pectatIon-sIiss West Snubs
Mrs. Cleveland.

take place about the end Of the present
month. 1t is interesting to know the cir
cumstances which led to the inditing OF the
unfortunate Murchison letter 1t was dis
NAL autumnal day at Beverly Farms With
out it was cherries and uninviting, and
within It was ccmfortless and lonely.
The beautiful daughter who presided over
the fathers household was absent on visit
to Mrs. Whitney in the Berkshire Hills. In
sheer desperation of isolation and ennui Lord
Sackville betook himself to disposing Of
mass of correspondence which had accumu-
lated on his hands Among the letters was
the epistolary bomb which was to explode
with force sufficient to sever not only the
official intercourse between two great ma
tions, but to attract the attention of the dip
lomatic centers and circles Of all the civilized
world.
The letter was a plain and apparently
straightforward document of inquiry and in
pursuit of light, just such as person would
feel like answering when shut up In be-
logged, rain bespattered country abode. The
answer was penned and marked private, and
went Off in the mails of that day, and moth
ing more was thought of it until the rever-
berations Of its explosion in print were heard
from the distant shores of the Pacific.
MISS WEST sNUBBED MRS CLEVELAND.
The Post prints the following: One day
last week Miss West, daughter of the late
English minister, was in store on the av-
enue, and with her was a well known men,
Der of the Italian legation. While they were
talking over purchase Mrs. Cleveands
carriage drove up 10 the curb and she came
in. She spoke to the gentleman and for
moment talked with him. and then stepped
toward Miss West and extended her hand in
greeting. But the young lady would none
of il. She had not quite forgotten how Mrs.
Cleveland's husband had snubbed her father,
and with naughty grace, she folded her
hands before her. and turned her back on the
presidents wife. 1t was embarrassing, very
embarrassing, not only to the two parties at
interest, but also to the gentleman, and Mrs.
Cleveland relieved it by transacting her bus
mess and going, without the usual parting
salutations.
INAUGURATION JEALousIEs
The Star says A number of prominent
Republicans are greatly dissatisfied with the
summary action of the league in relation to
the Inauguration ceremonies, and propose at
an early day TO call public meeting so that
those citizens who have been shut out from
having a voice in selecting chairman may
be represented 1t is held that the hospitali-
ties of the great Republican party, as well as
of the District of Columbia, should not be
limited to one organization The preferences
of the president-elect will be consulted.
AT LAW WITH HIS PRIVATE SECRETARY.
A warrant was issued by Justice Walker
for Representative Glover, of Missouri,
charging him with false swearing. The
justice issued the paper on the oath of James
H. Graham, whom Glover had charged with
''being violent and disorderly on Connecticut
avenue, knowing that his said charge was
ct. nl,n,.,
private secretary. He is now on trial before
the criminal court charged by Mr.. Glover
with house breaking on Sept. 10 last, and
taking some papers belonging to Mr.. Glover.
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT REPORT.
The returns Of the yield of corn, made to
the department of agriculture, indicate
yield per acre quite as large as that of 1885
and larger than any crop since that of 1880.
The aggregate, grown ON larger area, will
exceed that OF any previous American pro-
duct, being very close to 1900, 900, 900
bushels, or about SO bushels per capita,
which has been exceeded in several previous
years.
The corn surplus states average yields as
follows; Ohio, $50 bushels; Indiana, So; IL
linois, Sc 2; Iowa, 81; Missouri, 81; Kansas,
~; Nebraska, 50. These seven states pro-
duce Ga per cent of the crop aggregate. The
general average win fall somewhat under %
bushels.
There is good supply of maize in nearly
all parts of the south, so that comparatively
little viii be required from the west The
yields of the Atlantic states are moderate,
seriously reduced by frost on the northern
border
After three years of low yields, potatoes
give an average of about eighty bushels per
acre, or nearly the rate of yield of 1879 The
averages of prominent potato growing states
are as follows: Maine, 10 bushels; New
York, 50: Pennsylvania, 50; Ohio, so; Michi-
gan IS; Indiana, rs; Illinois, So Iowa, 90;
Minnesota, 95; Dakota, so; Nebraska, 80.
The yield has been increased in the south.
1t is high in the northern belt of the terri
tories The total product on the basis of
these averages is about 1915, 00O, 900 bushels, or
6l,00o,00O bushels more than the estimated
product of 1887.
The average yield of buckwheat is approx
imately twelve bushels per acre, and the crop
nearly II ,000. 900 bushels The average for
New York is IL bushels; Pennsylvania, IA;
Michigan, 1916; Indiana, ia; Illinois, III
wisconsin, 95; Minnesota, H. Iowa, los
Missouri. lot; Kansas, 9.5; Nebraska, lis
Hay is crop slightly above an average in
YIELD or l. - tons per acre. lt has been no
where seriously injured by drought There
is a strong tendency to increase of area in
the south. and the yield upon cultivated
areas, rather than natural meadows, is rela
lively large
THE DUTY on RIBBONS.
Assistant Secretary Maynard, replying K
letter from a Newark, n j., merchant
about the recent ribbon decision in Philadel
phia, in the case of Wannamater against
Collector Cadwalader, of that port says the
decision of the coairk holding that the fancy
ribbons involved in the suit were liable K
duty of 20 per cent. ad yarolem was not
based upon any ruling of the department
since March, 1885. On the contrary, all OF
the decisions OF this department, Mr.. May
nard says since the present administrator
came into power, have been to the effect that
ribbons composed of silk, or of which sill
is the component of chief value, are dutiabl,
at the rate of 80 per cent
VACANCIES TO BE FILLED