davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-19
LANGTRY TO THE RESCUE.

The drama is being forced upward and
strange to say the machinery by which this
operation is being accomplished only yes
terday was popularity adjudged to be acting
in the contrary direction. Shakespeare is
to be helped upstairs with novel vigor. Mrs.
Langtry has said that she intends to place
her performance of Lady Macbeth on the
plane of art, not millinery. This declara-
tion is the more wonderful because it had
been understood that Mrs. Langtry's ideas
about producing Macbeth" included not a
little attention to such details as the costum-
ing of the ushers in kits, and the provision
of real blood every night for the realistic
smearing of Duncan'S grooms.
1t is true that Mrs. Langtry has not yet
told us how many frills of lace her Sleep
walking costume will contain, nor has the
historic origin of the brooches and bracelets
she will doubtless wear been yet revealed 10
us. But something, we are sorry we cannot
say precisely what, unless it may be the
fact that we remember her dresses a great
deal more vividly than her acting, suggested
to us that in Mrs. LangtrJ's Lady Macbeth
Mrs. James Brown Potter's millinery or the
lack of it would be t-Pottered. excelled
and deposited in utter shadow, as it were.
But We must accept Mrs. Langtry's assur-
ance and look forward with patient hope to
an exposition, richer than any that has gone
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-19
PowDERLY's ALLEGED BACKsET.

The contest among the local knights,
which terminated yesterday in the election
of officers of District Assembly No. 8, is
widely claimed to be a defeat for Mr.. Pow
derly, and is said to be all the more severe
because of Mr.. Powderly's presence in the
city Immediately before the election came
of. This position is additionally unique,
because, if correctly stated, it shows that
while the majority of the Knights are op-
posed to the administration. they do not fol-
low Mr.. Barry out of the order, but take the
course of staying in and controlling its local
machinery. Whether this attitude will be
preserved, or whether this important dis
trict will hold itself in readiness to make a
flop when it will do the most good, must be
reserved for the future to disclose; but, it is
clear that events are not tending toward the
increase or rehabilitation of the strength of
this important order.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-19
THE QUESTION OF JURORS.

The prompt action of Judge Collier yester-
day in ordering informations to be entered
on the strength of the allegations against
grand jurors in the Burns case, shows that
the Court means to protect itself, so far as
specific complaints of malpractices in the
jury system are brought to its notice. But,
as pointed out yesterday, the Legislature
has also its duty to perform. That body has
now full cognizance of the difficulties that
are met with, and of the opprobrium which
attaches TO the operation of the jury system.
1t should meet the requirements of the stu
alton by passing an act vesting the appoint
ment and removal of the Jury Commission
ers in the Judges. This is the simplest and
surest remedy for the evils that are peren-
nially complained of. 1t will satisfy the
public judgment by affording the surest pro-
lection against the existing reprehensible
condition of things.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-19
MODES OF SUICIDE.
The Various Manners Which People Select
for Ending Their Lives.


From the Lewiston (Me.) Journal.1
"Of various modes of suicide" continued he,
poisoning has been by far the favorite IN the
cities. find that statistics in New York City
between 1866 and 70, reveal over 900 suicides,
and of these over 200 were by poison. OF these,
the favorite is arsenic in its commonest form
paris green, although the more educated class
of people used chloral or morphine. Paris
green was most popular because it could be OBJ
tained far more easily. The laws, anyway gov
erning the sale of poisons are not half stringent
enough, especially those governing the sale
of morphine, opium, etc. Druggists in some in
stances ask few questions, and with brief
register of the name, let the person and the
poison go.
They say that in London, hanging is a popu-
lar mode of shuffiing off the mortal coil. In
France, the charcoal fumes are the popular
method. Now and then they blow out the gas
and more often imbibe absinthe to gradual ex-
tinction- a gay and debonaire method of seek.
ing oblivion. 1t Is said that 70 per cent of the
people who shoot themselves, put the pistol in
their mouths and the result is less disfigure-
ment of the body. Drowning is very common
method with people who are in mental trouble
and temporary arrangement and is sought
chiefly by those who are under surveillance and
escape it to seek refuge in the river or harbor.
have heard it said that of those who throw
themselves from great heights, many do so un-
der a morbid distemper. You have, possibly,
felt that awful inclination to throw yourself
over high cliff when looking down. You have
probably stood by high window and thought
how easy the days and their troubles might
cease, by leap.
'In old DAYS, the defeated monarch fell upon
his sword. To-day. he flies to another land or
basks in exile at Monte Carlo. In olden times
the grandmother spun the shining threads of life
till its sunset glow disfigured her face: Today
some of them subsist on sleeping powders, NOR
phine decoctions, chloral salts, ETC., etc., until
the MONDAY of life finds them withered and al
most dead. Voluntary suicide is not worse
than wilful disregard of the laws of life."
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-19
SINGULAR LEGISLATION.

The multiplicity of bills with regard to
street passenger railways, which have been
introduced in the Legislature, may indicate
the general interest which is taken in that
subject But some of them appear to re-
| quire supervision in the interest of the
public; and notably in that class is the one
introduced yesterday. While many of its
provisions are all right, those which can
have no effect except to create monopoly
are all wrong. The passenger corporations
! already existing in the city may be con-
ceded to be adequate to present needs; but
the city is likely to expand into districts at
present sparsely settled. Legislation which
will prevent the building of lines to accom-
modate the future growth of any section, or
which would prevent new and improved
methods of transit from any direction, is
antagonistic both to public interest and
public policy.
The most striking provision of this bill is
the section which forbids any passenger rail-
road to construct its line within 900 feet of
another passenger railway, except for cross
ings and loops. unless the paralleled
line consents. An illustration of this
provision is furnished by looking
back and seeing how it would have
worked in the past The most recent
horse car lines in the city are, we believe,
the West End and the Transverse. 1t this
law had been in force when they were built,
the Citizens or the Birmingham could have
forbidden the construction of the Trans
o,I @haT Tp,n %1,a nf 10
West End-if the Union had not previously
been shut out by the veto of the Manchester
line. The fact will be apparent to anyone
upon a moments consideration that no line
can reach the center of the city from any
direction, without coming under the prohi-
bitlon of this section. Such an enactment
would mean simply that all projects to i'm
prove or increase rapid transit, for the future
must come to a halt, unless they are made
grateful to the existing companies.
Hardly less remarkable is the provision
giving such companies the power to cross
bridges and to pay damages In their stocks
and bonds. All companies should be en-
powered to cross or use a public highway,
like a bridge, on equitable terms; but con-
sidering the amount of stocks that are issued
nowadays in the proportion of three dollars
for one of actual investment, the PROPOSE
tion to pay damages in that kind of legal
tender is calculated to take away the breath
of the unfortunate bridge company.
Such provisions as these raise the ques-
tion whether the authors of the bill would
not do we'll to study the principles of con-
stitutional law. The present corporations
will save themselves useless trouble if they
abandon such attempts to create monop-
oily, and devote their attention to the legiti-
mate work of transporting passengers as
cheaply as possible. No Legislature can
make such a monopoly permanent; and we
doubt very much if it can take away from
municipal government the right to au-
thorize a street railway to run wherever
public traffic requires it. The bill is clearly
unconstitutional, and not worth the paper it
is written upon.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-19
FACTS AND FIGURES.

LONDON with population of 4,765, ,000 has
only 4, 1893 subscribers to the telephone.
THE business failures in the United States
for 1888 amounted to s123, 829 973 against Sl67,
500 944 in 1887.
CHINA and the East Indies furnish two
thirds as much wool as all the countries of Eu-
rope combined
1T is estimated that the packing season,
which ends March l, will show q reduction of
6OO, ,OC0 hogs from the number packed last year.
ACCORDING to reliable statistics there are
l20,557 women and children engaged in this
country in the production of cotton goods, and
So, 1872 in the production of wooden goods.
DURING the year recently closed p railway
companies, with 8, TO miles of lines and nearly
SlS7 OO0.0 900 of securities have become insolvent
and passed from the control of their owners
into that of the courts.
THE gas area of Indiana is I65 miles long and
s. miles wide. and contains 3S1 paying wells
The daily aggregate flow of gas is 6OOC0O,O00
feet. of which probably 1000O0000 feet are
wasted. The average flow of gas is 100000
feet per well.
THE manufacture of silk was first introduced
into Europe from the Indies, 1858 years ago, by
two monks, who established its manufacture
at Constantinople. 1t was made in England as
early as the reign of Henry VI, in the middle
of the fifteenth century.
IT is stated that the English Government is
out with a pamphlet notifying the trade at
home and abroad that adulterated cheese will
no longer be tolerated in the English mar
kets, and the discovery of any offerings of such
lots will result in the contscation of such prop
erty.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-19

before, of what the Jersey Lily imagines to
be art
This is CHEEKY season of Shakesperean
reyivals. Never until this day has it been
demonstrated that actors could travesty the
works of the immortal bard, not only with
out punishment, but with profit. Henry
Irving and Ellen Terry, according to the
consensus of opinion even in London, have
made Macbeth" sort of comedy-melo-
drama with marvellous mechanical effects
and In fact lacking only tank to set it be-
side the superb Ozark Secrets" and Lights
and Shadows" and the rest of the master
pieces of the modern stage. At the same
time Mrs. Potter has shown how easy it is
to harness Shakespeare to the ballet, and
transform mythical Cleopatra into real
female of doubtful character and patent
physical charms. To cap the climax, Mrs.
Langtry comes out to rescue Shakespeare
from the milliners and to set him on the
plane of art!
How grateful we ought to be to Mrs.
Langtry.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-19
BLAINE, CAMERON AND QUAY.
The Three ImpIacnbIes mt Last ON the Best
of Terms.

VI Ierdlss
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, January 1S.-When it became
generally known to-day that the Hon.
James G. Blaine was guest at the man.
sion of Senator Cameron last evening, on
the occasion of the banquet to the
Pennsylvania Farmers Club" that Senator
Quay was there also, and that Cameron and
Quay and Blaine all sat with their legs under
the Senator's mahogany at the same moment
and clinked the friendly glass; there was Won
derment indeed. 1t had been reported at all
times that the Pennsylvania Senators would be
the chief stumbling block in the way of the
appointment of the Plumed Knight to Cabi-
net position. All of the old time opposition to
Blaine on the part of these eminent managers
was recalled. and it was decided that Harrison
could not afford to appoint Blaine without
the consent of Cameron and Quay. and that he
never would get that consent. herefore,
great was astOnishment of these wiseacreS 10
know that Blaine had actually broken bread
with the implacable Quay and the unchanged
Die Cameron. This new friendliness is accept
ed by most people as evidence that the Penn
sylvania Senators are not only not opposed to
the appointment of Blaine to Cabinet posi-
tion, but that they know he will be appointed,
and that he is quite agreeable to them. 1t is
the first instance in which these three men
have been brought close together socially, and
probably the politicians are pardonable for see
ing something more in it than a mere invita-
tion to dinner. 1t is whispered that the friend
illness between the gentlemen is sincere ana
complete, and that Senator Hale, who is a
warm friend of the senior Senator from
Pennsylvania, as he is also of Mr.. Blaine, has
had something to do with the union.
Apropos to this, close friend of Senator
Cameron said to the correspondent of The
DISPATCH to-day that he had asked Mr.. Cam
eron plainly if there was anything in the re-
ported unfriendlness between him and Quay;
ana that the Senator responded that he anu
Quay understood each other perfectly.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-19
PITTsBURG, SATURDAY, JAN. 10, ISS9
PARTISAN nEAnLoCKs.

The West Virginia Legislature stuck at
its deadlock last night, taking seven more
ballots without any naturalization of the
expected break As far as can be perceived
at present there is no reason why the arrest
of business may not continue indefinitely.
In West Virginia, as in nearly all close
contests for the past few years, is to
be seen the delirium of partisan
ship. An honest purpose to place public
welfare first and to gives fair force to the will
of the people would settle all these disputes
in quarter of the time that is usually con-
sumed by them. But when the rule is to
place the party interests first, and the pub
lie interests after them, the prolonged fights,
frequently accompanied by scandalous fea-
lures, which have been so common of late
years, become an almost inevitable conse-
quence.
This country is in need of a lesson to the
politicians that honest politics will place
the interests of the whole country first and
those of party in the second place.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-19
PUBLIC PEOPLE PARAGRAPHED.

LORD DUFFERIN'S eldest son has been
slaughtering tigers at a great pace in India;
six on one expedition.
PROF. LOWERING, of Harvard, celebrated on
Tuesday night the completion of his fftieth
year as professor of physics.
E. o. WoLcoTT, Senator-elect from Colorado,
was born in Providence, R. l., where his father
was Congregational minister. He went to
Colorado Is years ago as a school teacher, and
then drifted into the practice of law.
THE German Emperor's Christmas present
to his eldest son consists of complete collec-
tion of the uniforms (adapted to the child's
size) which have been in use in the Prussian
army from the days of the Fredericks to the
present time Kaiser Wilhelm knows how to
give his own Interpretation to the adage-
Train up child in the way he should CO."
THE Empress of Austria recently visited a
small town, where the inhabitants were so de-
lighted that, to do her the highest honor posi-
BILE, they elected her member of the Chamber
of Deputies, an honor she was Obliged to de-
cline. In recognition of this favor she sent
quite sum of money for the poor, but the
Mayor was obliged to decline the gift, as they
had not pauper in the place. Literally. honors
were easy.
A MAN, old weazen-faced and shaking with
paralysis, called at the Philadelphia Mint on
Tuesday and said that his name was A. Squires,
and that on Monday, June IL, 1855 he placed
81 Dol in the care of the United States Govern
ment. He had time-worn receipt with him
which seems to establish his claim against the
mint, if he can prove he is really "a. Squires."
He was a forty miner in California and has been
gold miner in that State since 1856. 1t is
probable that he will obtain his 81 2Ol, with in
terest, from the mint after the usual red tape
has been spun out.
PROF. CHARLES ELIOT NORTON, of Har-
ward College, has been visiting New York on an
odd mission. He desires the rich men of that
city to contribute s75 600 to equip an expedition
to excavate the site of the ancient temple of
Apollo at Delphi. The Greek Government has
given permission to the American school at
Athens to undertake the work, and all now
needed are the funds necessary to employ labor
and organize an expedition. The seat of the
oracle of Delphi, according to tradition, was
established in the very earliest times by Apollo
himself, and at the period of the Homeric
poems q magnificent temple already stood
there. After it had been burned, 54S B. c., a
still more magnificent edifice was reared on the
same site. The temple, which contained enor-
nous wealth, was plundered many times by
various conquerors during the next nine GEN.
tur1es, but it continued to flourish until its
final destruction by the Roman Theodosius in
the fourth century of the Christian era.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-19
WHAT Is THE PROGRAMME!

The DISPATCH correspondent at Harris
burg assuredly raised an interesting ques-
tion, and one which the statesmen confessed
had not previously occurred to them. when
he asked whether. in case a prohibition
amendment were adopted next June, it was
the purpose to have free, unlicensed and un-
restricted sale of liquor during 1890?
That this result would follow unless an
extra session of the Legislature were called
80 prevent it is of course most apparent to
all. Prohibition would not become effective
by mere constitutional amendment. Acts
of the Legislature would be required to give
the amendment force. But the Legislature
will have adjourned by June Is, not to meet
again until 1891. Meantime early in 1890
the licenses to sell liquor would expire and
could not be renewed. With them would
expire the regulations and limitations of
the traffic. So far as can be seen, or as any
body contends, free-trade in liquor would
then be permissible without any sort OF re-
striction until the Legislature might regu-
larly reassemble in 1891.
An evening cotemporary is good enough
to suggest that there is nothing new or in
teresting in the contemplation of this con-
tingency. 1t says that a year or two of this
free and unrestricted sale would be merely
"a measure of justice" to enable dealers to
get rid of their surplus stock on hand.
We prefer to believe that the Republican
leaders at Harrisburg stated the truth when
they frankly avowed to THE DISPATCH
correspondent that the question was both
new and interesting, and that it will have
to be met by calling an extra session of the
Legislature in case the prohibition amend
ment should be approved in June. The
great numbers of people who are satisfied
with the operation of the present high
license laws would assuredly less than ever
favor prohibition with prospect of an in
tervening year of unlicensed and unregu-
lated traffic day and night. Neither would
the Prohibitionists themselves indorse that
interregnum of free sale. As measure of
justice to dealers it would be totally un-
satisfactory; while in its results to the peace
and order it would prove more costly to the
State than any sort of compensating bill.
1t is assuredly we'll that whatever course
is proposed a clear understanding of the
programme be had from the first. If the
Legislature wishes the people to vote in
June fol or against prohibition, it is clearly
Of interest to know whether or not un-
licensed and unlimited traffic during 1890 is
included in this plan.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-19

the sugar grower a protection of Lie per
pound against lac at present. Consider
ing that the present ratio of protection on
raw sugars runs from 60 up to SS per cent
does not this addition seem a little unneces-
ssry?
1t would be wise and consistent to give
the sugar growers the benefit of bounty to
cover a portion Of the reduction made in
the duties. Thus the original proposition
to put bounty of 1 cent per pound on raw
sugars produced in this country and take off
all duties, would have given the public
cheap refined sugars, freed them from the
e1actions of the Sugar Trust and upheld
the home production of sugars. But to pay
out of the public treasury in bounties a
sum which actually increases the ratio of
protection looks like putting it rather
strongly.
The public will get cheaper sugars
through the reduction of duty under this
arrangement, but to work the application of
the bounty idea so hard may prove to be
running the principle into the ground.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-19
A BEAUTIFUL BURNING LAKE.
The Startling Phenomenon Discovered in n
Dense Indiana Forest.

Ine starting Pnen0men0n discovered In q
Dense Indiana Forest.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
INDIANAPOLIS January 1S.-Near Decker, a
village in Southern Indiana, a strange and
startling phenomenon has been discovered A
small lake two miles from the place is burning
and is emitting peculiar sulphuric odor. The
community is excited, and those living near the
burning lake are preparing to leave the place.
The phenomenon was first discovered by a
couple of hunters When they reached the lake
they were startled by the strange sight that
met their view. The entire lake was ablaze.
Theyleft the terrifying place in fright, scarce
ly daring to look back, and told their neighbors
of the phenomenon, but they only laughed at
the story. Finally few went with the men,
and were astounded when they found that the
strange tale was true. The lake is beautiful
sheet of water, circular in its outlines, half
mile in circumference, in dense wood, and is
skirted by heavy growth of swamp brush
The fire covers the eastern surface with a
steady blaze six inches in height and as night
comes on it changes to a peculiar purple hue.
1t emits an odor like burning sulphur, and re-
fleets a mild, steady heat. No smoke is per-
ceptible. Several theories are suggested, the
most plausible of which is that a vein of oil
near the surface has burst out under the pond,
and that the oil rose to the surface, where it
was set on fire by spark from burning log
heap near by, and that as the oil continues to
rise it keeps burning upon the surface.