Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-30
The TOPICAL IALKER.
Memoirs of Chief Justice Gibson-An Inci.
dent of the Ballet on the stnge-Hun.
gariau Correspondence Confusing -

Memoirs of Chief Justice Gibson--An Incl.
dent of the Ballet on the sfage-Huu-
garian Correspondence Confusing -
Apologies to the Giraffe.
COLONEL T. P. ROB ERTs has rendered a
service to the State in collecting and pub
fishing the memoirs of John Bannister Gibson
late Chief Justice Of Pennsylvania. 1t has been
matter of regret hitherto that no record of the
life and judicial career of Chief Justice Gibson
existed. The importance of such work az
Colonel Roberts has produced will be appre-
ciateG when it is recalled that Judge Gibson
sat upon the Supreme Bench of this State from
1916 to 1858, and for more than 2o years was the
presiding Judge. Judge Jeremiah S. Black
said of Judge Gibson that he twas the Nestor
of the bench, whose wisdom inspired the public
mind with confidence"
OF this great jurist Colonel Roberts writes
with authority, for he is grandson of Judge
Gibson and sources of information commonly
closed to the biographer have been opened to
him. The result is an interesting sketch Of
Judge Gibson's life. full Of graphic incident
and personal reminiscence, with compilation
of cotemporary views and other pertinent mat
ter which will be interesting alike to lawyer
and layman. Colonel Roberts has done his
work well. The volume should rest in the
library of every Pennsylvania who takes
a few interesting illustrations and the book
generally reflects credit upon the publishers
Jos. Eichbaum & Co.
A T the Home Hotel for the last two days have
been about 80 charming English ballet girls
who are taking part in Imre Kiralfy's Nero"
at Barnum's circus. They are most of them
remarkable for the plumpness, fair skin and
amiability of English women. With them
were two ladies who act as chaperones. There
were only two men in the party. One was the
father Of two Of the girls, and three OF the
others call his partner papa" At dinner on
Monday they were at table by themselves. A
prominent iron broker dropped into the hotel
for his monday meal. He asked the man next
to him who the ladies we're, and. when he OBJ
tanned the information, at once began to ad-
mire the charms of one of the pretty creatures.
He grew enthusiastic in his praises and called
his neighbor's attention to her. Finally he
wound up by saying: II could love that girl
plump as partridge, isn't she?'
"Of course she is" was the gruf rejoinder;
II ought to know. I'm her father"
T seems that Hungarians have a cheerful
fashion of writing their surnames before
their given names. The indulgence, peculiar as
it is, is harmless except when 1t comes into con-
tact with the postal regulations of this country.
Hungarian residents who may have been
puzzled by the non-receipt Of mail will do well
20 look in the list of advertised letters for their
given name. Not all postofice employees are
familiar with the Hungarian custom OF putting
the family name before the given name, and con-
sequently we find IN this weeks list alone the
following names: Hajos H. Meloyer, Ferenck-
mex BenZa, TomasiK Wofciech all advertised in
a way which would lead the reader to believe
the given names to be the family name. Among
the doubtful names are: Nittwzez Watadistan,
Chystymas Kozimenius, Mitno Maik and Ortur
Stanestaw.
A REMARK or two made in this column yes
terday anent the wild beasts and other
animals Gagged in the annex to Barnum's circus,
is said to have given pain to the giraffe. whose
head and neck make an Interrogation point
above his wheeled residence. Nothing was
further from my purpose than to reflect un-
kindly upon any of the Gagged creatures. 1t can
be cheerfully admitted that the giraffe IN ques-
tion is a beauty; very likely the best in the
country. The democratic willingness of SO
lofty an animal to absorb peanuts, lemon peel
or anything in fact that traverses the radius of
its small. but apprehensive jaws is to be COM
mended.
The lions and the hippopotamus, the swelter-
ing polar bear and the crowded den of mon
keys are also Of character to impress the
young and amuse the old. There is in fact
nothing the matter with the geological depart
ment of the circus Still it remains my per-
sonal opinion that a monarch of 'the desert a
Libyan lion, is not quite at ease in an eight by
ten cage, and that ostriches. giratfes and other
speedy sprinters in their natural state are not
seen to the best advantage in quarters that
will not permit Of their turning round.