davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
A MUSICAL OPPORTUNITY.

The movement which has been set on foot
by the musical editor of THE DISPATCH
to obtain for the Pittsburg public the bene-
fit of a very valuable musical library will,
as it is set forth elsewhere, command the
support OF the public. The library is that
OF the late Karl Merz, recently professor of
music at the University of Wooster, and for
nearly quarter of a century the editor of
Brainard's Musical World. The collection
of this well-known writer would be very
valuable, and the opportunity to secure it
for Pittsburs at the cost of 50, 500 is not to
be neglected. The library is to be placed in
the custody of the Academy of Arts and
Sciences until the Carnegie Library is
opened, when it will become a feature of
that institution. A large share of the money
is already pledged, and there is little doubt
that when the purpose is clearly set before
the public the full amount will be promptly
subscribed.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
POST MORTEM FINDING.

The ghost Of an old sensation is brought
up before the public by the filing of the re-
port, yesterday, of Judge Hice, the master
in the case arising out of the Penn Bank
failure Of seven years ago. The most peril
nent aspect of the report is its illustration
of the leisurely methods of proceedings Of
this case, the master having been appointed
five years ago, the taking of the testimony
having been spread over three years, while
two years have been occupied in the prepa-
ration of the report.
Briefly summarized, the finding is that
the President and Cashier were responsible
for the losses that wrecked the bank, and
are liable in law to the extent of the over
drafts and feticious accounts As to the
directors Of the bank, however, it holds that
they are not liable. The master finds that
they were not negligent, but were deceived
by their officers; and that the exercise Of
ordinary prudence was not sufficient to PEN
citrate the deception. While admitting the
uncertainty that surrounds the exact legal
duties of bank director, he holds that he
cannot be required to discharge the func-
tions Of an expert accountant, by which
alone the frauds in the management of the
bank could have been discovered.
There is no reason to dispute that the
master finding as to the directors is JUST.
fed by the evidence; although its statement
of the legal principles by which they must
be judged increases the old doubt as to
whether directors direct. The finding of
two men as liable, one of whom is dead, and
both bankrupt, is, however, cold comfort
for the depositors.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
COOPER CAUSES A CRASH.
The Collector Raises Panic and Scene by
nm Episode nj Madia.

The Collector Raises n Panic and Scene by
m Episode Mt Media.
MEDIA, September l3-Mrs. Rice's eating
saloon, in Media, was brought into notoriety
tonight IN a curious way. John McCabe
rented the loft over it for q billiard saloon,
and in order to please the boys he invited
Levy, Rhodes, Palmer and Mclaughlin to
show their skill with the balls. After Nc
laugnlin. the champion, had ended a wonder
ful run Of hundred along the rail there was
crash that startled the over-packed room. and
everybody rushed for the onter precincts. A
shock Of terror pervaded the assemblage when
some one said "Toln" Cooper had been
smashed to death against the brick pavement
in the yard. Then there was rush for lam
terms, and search for the wounded.
A pile OF rubbish showed protruding from it
red heap and this. when pulled out, revealed
the features of Thomas Valentine Cooper
When the glass and oyster shells were removed
the subject volunteered an explanation. He
had been ruled out for want of seats and he
had essayed to climb the lofty heights of the
grape vine arbor, which proved to be weak and
fragile. There was a smash and crash of the
weak timber, and after passing through two
plate glass panes. pie chest and squirrel
cage in the saloon below he had landed on the
bricks in the back yard. Tom" was examined
carefully and his damages fixed at an abraded
shoulder, a slashed thigh and trousers inde-
scribable, all of which he promised to pay on
demand.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
PATHos IN ODD cL

"H AVE drink?" said tine Irish comedian to
the Philadelphia pugilist across the
aisle. The car was full of variety people, trav.
cling by the night express on the Cleveland
and Pittsburg road. Pugilists comedians,
Gaiety dancing girls. song-and-dance men and
women of all sorts were jumbled together. A
girl with bronze-gold hair was asleep in the
same seat with the pugilist. His arm sup.
ported her head. Composed in sleep, the look
upon her face was touchingly innocent. He
looked at her when the Irish comedian held
out the bottle, and shook his head.
"Fraid it'll wake Lizzie" " he said.
"You can drink without botherin' her." said
the comedian with professional grin.
''Give it here, thenp consented the fighter,
and he took the bottle.
Will you believe me that there was really
pathos in the care he took not to waken the
girl asleep upon his arm. His right arm and
hand were free to elevate the whisky. They
never made slower or more cautious motion.
At last the bottle touched his lips; as he tilted
it the girl stirred. Hardly drop could have
passed his lips yet he withdrew the bottle and
passed it back to its owner.
Its no good-I don't want to wake Lizzie,n
he said. ''She's dead tiredW
And, whiskyless. he dropped of to sleep.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
APPoRTIoNMENT AND IMPARTIALITy,

The question of the next Congressional
apportionment is brought forward by Dun
nell's bill. from the House Committee on
the Census. This bill cannot be acted upon
in the present session, but it will be put in
position for action by the present Con-
gress at its next session.
The difficulty Of approaching this subject
from an impartial point of view is shown by
the comments to extend beyond the Con-
gressmen to the press and public. The
proper course is to determine the size Of the
House of Representatives, which will best
ensure its efficiency. Having fixed the
number of Representatives which will be
likely to make the most efficient House, the
total population should be divided by that
number and the Representatives apportioned
among the various States in accordance
with their population. If this principle
were acted upon, the membership of the
House would be reduced below three
hundred, and the condition of affairs in
which business can only be transacted by
suppressing deliberative features, would be
mitigated.
Beside such an object the question how
partisan interests may be effected is of no
value. Indeed, it is requisite for impair
tial apportionment that party interests
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14

clearly in his history Of our war.
Indeed, it is Is a historian of our
conflict that he has his greatest
claim upon American gratitude. That
work set the struggle before Europe in its
proper light; while his military services,
thought not discreditable, were by no means
of character to call forth especial praise
There is little doubt that the action of the
Comte and his brother in joining the Union
army was inspired by the belief that aspir-
ants to the French throne must be able to
appeal by their career 10 that appetite for
military glory, which was then the prevail
ing French sentiment. For the study of
the science of war, they obtained the not
especially hazardous positions of honorary
aids on General McClellan's staff, and after
going through a single campaign resigned
and took a trip through the country before
returning to Europe. 1t is possible even
that the perception of the justice on our
side of the struggle was, in the first instance,
aided by the fact that the sympathies of
the Second Empire were on the side of the
South.
His estimable personal qualities and his
services as Union soldier may well secure
the Count national welcome at the same
time that he is feted by the tuft-hunters of
New York because he represents past and a
remotely possible future monarchy. The
United States can give its friend and histor-
ical champion a national welcome; but
when his very modest military services are
placed side by side with those of Lafayette,
it is time to insist on a more accurate sense
of proportion.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
NoTHIN BUT A REDHEhDED WOOD.
PICKER.

THE word reciprocity seems likely to prove
as much of catch-word and bugbear ac-
cording to the point Of view, as resumption"
did in the politics of the seventies in this coun-
try. For the benefit of campaign speakers,
who may have to wrestle with reciprocity, the
following story is told here:
When Congressman Thomas W. Updegraff
was making speech at Canton. o., in 1878, he
was frequently interrupted by man In the
audience who shouted: what about resump.
tion?"
Finally Mr.. Updegraff said: "There are
great many people in the country who
are raising terrific to-do about resump-
ton, They talk about It as If it had teeth
and claws and hooked tail. Ny friend
over there wants me to talk ABOUT resumption
i will tell him story. A very worthy old
lady who had spent all her life on farm in
the Western Reserve, visited the State Fair for
the first time last year. Her son took her
around, and she admired the sights. Presently
they came TO a tent on which was placafded an
invitation to the public to enter and behold
most wonderful bird-The Melanerpes
Erythrocephalus,' for the small price of 10
cents. The old lady persuaded her son to take
her in. She found an old friend in the small
bird within big cage She repressed her
emotion until they were outside the canvas
again and then she said with great emphasis,
why, John, that amt nothin' but a redheaded
woodpeckerl''
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
hall be laid aside. Yet apart from few

shall be laid aside. Yet apart from few
collateral references to the objections to in
ereasing the size Of The House, nothing but
| party interests are considered in this connec-
tion. Mr.. Dunnell first fixed one basis, but
adopted d ratio of 10000, because that
would save some Republican section from
losing members. Instead of decreasing the
size of the House it is proposed to increase
it; and the number Of 354 members is pro-
posed, because that will save the New En-
gland States from the loss of members and
will give more of the new members to the
Northwestern States than to the Southern.
Such considerations ought not to be given
any weight; but the proposal to increase the
already unwieldy House for purely parti-
san reasons is q fresh evidence of the way
In which party interests override the public
welfare.
The bill is reported to contain another in
teresting feature in which the incorporation
Of provisions like those of the McComas
anti-gerrymander but, to prevent the manip-
ulation of Congressional districts by State
Legislatures. When that topic was live
one The DISPATCH pointed out that Con-
gressional action framed to secure impartial
apportionments for Congress, so far in the
future that partisanship, could be laid
aside, would be the highest grade of states
manship. The McComas bill was deficient
in seeking, for the sake of preventing future
gerrymanders, to perpetuate the present
ones. If Mr.. Dunnell's measure only in
eorporates the MeComas provisions 1t will
not meet the requirements. II it provides
for the apportionment of districts impartial
ly and fairly, those provisions to go into
effect for the election of the Fifty-third
Congress, that feature Of II will deserve
praise, whatever the character of its other
section.
1t is rather too much to hope that such is
the case. We believe that the day will
come when apportionment can be made for
the benefit Of the public rather than for
party advantage, just as we believe in the
coming of millennium the solution Of aerial
navigation and the reformation of corpora
ations. But we are a long distance away
from all of those ideals at present; and it is
rather too strong draft on our resources Of
hope to look for such a long step in the
direction of impartiality in this apportion-
ment measure.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
A TALE OF WOE.
Owing to Its Scarcity n Peannt Famine is
Upon Us.

Owing to Its Scarcity Peanut Famine is
Upon Us.
From the Interstate Grocer.l
The festive peanut is SO very scarce and high
at the present time that the average street
vender keeps his stock in a safe with his
money. The total visible supply of the
United States is under 10000 bags, of
which quantity about 5000 bags are
held by St. Louis firms. When the
fact is taken into consideration that the aver
age consumption for the United States is
about 6Q0, 900 bags per annum, it will be readily
understood that the shortage is quite serious
and that the prices are justified. The prospects
for the new crop are for very heavy yield.
The new crop is due after October 90 and is
usually not marketable until January l. from
the fact that the nuts are not sufficiently cured.
Owing, however. to the short market this year
the new crop will probably go into immediate
consumption, though at a loss of about I5 per
cent in roasting as against for old goods.
There are no nuts to be had in the producing
district, and dealers are now buying from each
other. st. Louis is now supplying Cincinnati,
Petersburg and Norfolk.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
SAD BLOW TO TRAIN ROBBERS.
Remarkable Invention of a Safe That Can.
not be Broken Open.
From 40 Chfna on Navve


not be Broken Open.
From the Chicago News.l
A Chicago man who has of late years kept
his eye on Missouri matters has just completed
an invention that will almost reconcile the
Younger brothers to their prison walls, and
would make Jesse James quit the business If
he were still alive. This invention is a safe
that cannot be broken open by robbers, by ex-
press messengers, nor by any one save the
agent at the point to which it is consigned. The
lock is attached to the axle Of the car by an in
genious combination of wheels and levers.
From thence it reaches into the interior of the
car and into the safe. When it is ready for
shipment it is locked and the combination is
given only to the official having control of the
station to which it goes and it cannot be opened
until it has reached its destination.
By an ingenious device it is made to record
the distance travelled by the train. and not
until 1t has gone over the distance to which the
lock is set can it be opened. Trainmen who are
ignorant of the distance which it is to travel
cannot tell when nor where it will be open
they only will be able to tell how far it has
gone. II is also claimed by the inventor that
no amount of switching will affect the lock.
nothing affecting it but straight run from
place to place. This remarkable claim remains
to be proved, however.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
TO PROMOTE PITTsBURG.

Handsome Prize Offered for the Best Essny
on Splendid Topic.
The Prize Essay Contest this week will be
open to all writer's except those directly or III
directly connected with the Press of Pittsburg.
The topic chosen is:
What Public Undertakings wiu best and most
speedily promote the future Greatness and
Prosperity of Pittsburg.
THE DISPATCH offers the following Prizes
for the three best essays on the above topic:
FIRST Prlze.. .........,............"...
Third Prize. .......................... 10
Subject to the following conditions:
/. The essay must not exceed 1900 words.
2. 1t must be legibly written on one side Of
the paper only.
3. 1t must be original
4 1t must be received at the office of THE
DISPATCH or at DISPATCH Headquarters, Elk.
position Building. not later than o'clock P.
M. Saturday. September 20.
s. Correct name. address and age of contest.
ant must accompany MSS. name only for pub
licatlon if successful.
THE DISPATCH reserves the right to pub
lish any contribution, whether 1t be awarded
prize or not.
Stop at THE DISPATCH Headquarters,
Brunswick Bake Colender Billiard Company
space vote and secure souvenir.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
A RELIC OF THE STEWART MAN SION,
A Rosewood Bed on Which Grant Once Re

Rosewood Bed on Which Grant Once Re.
posed Now In IN Auction Room.
A massive rosewood bed on which General
Grant once repossd while guest of the late A.
T. Stewart has found its way to New York
auction room. 1t was among the effects of the
Stewart mansion, and it has something of
history. 1t was built during Grants first term
as President, and expressly for his use for
single night Grant and Stewart. as is well
known. were warm friends. and the President,
who was to be in New York at date some
months distant, had accepted the great mer-
chants invitation to remain at his house. To
do honor to his distinguished guest Stewart
ordered the magnificent chamber set, of which
this bed is one of the pieces.
Ittook a dozen skilled workmen over six
m onths TO make the bed alone. 1t was a mar
vel of rich and heavy carving, and no royal
bed-chamber ever contained more magnifi-
cent piece of furniture for the repose of a
crowned head than this bedstead built ex-
pressy for single nights slumber of President
Grant. The Stewart mansion has passed into
the hands of the Manhattan Club, its splendid
furniture has been scattered here and there,
and the bed is for sale at secondhand auction
shop in New York. Judging by Grants neg
lected grave at Riverside, this Renaissance
will give it no special value in that city.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
TWO FRENCH VISITORS.

The visit of the Comte de Paris about the
1st of October Will naturally inspire much
public interest. The visitor 20 this country
brings the sentiment surrounding the repre-
sentative of a royal line which once held
great power, and has the personal claim
upon national hospitality of a service on
the Union side during the Civil War.
These are sufficient for warm welcome;
but some of the comments on his visit show
the necessity of remarking that the COM
parison of his services to those of LAFAYETTE,
and the suggestion that he should receive
honors similar to those paid Lafayette on
his second visit, do the estimable aspirant
for the revival of the French monarchy a
good deal more than justice.
The comparison holds good as to the fact
that both were Frenchmen of rank; that
both gave military service to this country
in vital struggles for national existence;
that both returned for a visit years after.
The rank of the Comte in the French nobility
was far higher than Lafayette's, even when
he was not, as now, the head both
of the Bourbon and Orleans lines. But
his services to this country cannot be digni-
fed by mention beside those of Lafayette.
The Frenchman who came to fight on our
side during the Revolutionary War was in
spired by devotion to popular freedom. He
cast in his lot with this nation and fought
for it till victory was won. He secured
the aid of France with ships and soldiers;
and his subsequent career showed his entire
fidelity to the cause of republican and con-
stitutional liberty.
The friendship of Comte de Paris to this
country is to be credited to mixture OF
motives, by no means so pure as those of
Lafayette, while his services were immeas-
urably less in point of actual value. That,
like his grandfather, he had the intelll-
gence and liberalitv to prefer the cause of
popular freedom and constitutional liberty
TO that of privilege and oppression is
beyond question, and is shown most
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
UNCLE ERASMUS, PREFERENCE.

WHEN Harry kerne1l, Of vaudeville fame,
was playing in Vioksburg, Mississippi, a
year or two ago. stately old colofed man with
o glorious head of white hair. waited at his
table at the hotel. KerneIl and the venerable
waiter had several talks together, and the
comedian took great fancy to Uncle 'Rasmus.
The second night at supper Kernel said to
him: "Uncle Rasnus, would you like to 70 to
the show to-night?''
mo, suhl doan go to dem low down variety
shows-dey doan have no fractions fer me-"
us that sol" said Mr.. Kernel, putting back
the passes he had taken from his vest
pocket. "What sort Of show do you like-Ol-
yer Doud Byrsn.I suppose. and that kind of
thing?"
"You'se wrong again. suh." replied the old
man, with dignity, "me an rleelodfathah doah'
60 togeder nohow."
"Well, 'Rasmus, what do you likef'
''See here, sinh. when Mister William Shake
speare comes to town wifi Romeo an Juliet
dis here pusson goes to de theayter, suahl Not
oderwise, no suhl No low down variety shows
fer q ncle 'Rasmusr
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
THE COLD WAVE Is HERE.

The cold wave, promised while we were
perspiring in thunderous atmosphere, has
arrived. 1t is trying change; more or less
dangerous to health. The cessation of the
rain is blessing, however, for the floods
have already been serious and the rivers
in this part of the country are still rising.
There is still time for spell of pleasant
fall weather, and the chances are, expert
ence teaches, that the last two weeks of
this month and the first two OF October will
make life seem well worth living.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
THE DOG DID 1T.

"YoU say they fired you because your cash
was short, and yet it was not your faultf
How d'you make that out?"
"Yer see 1 was takin' toll at the pier. and
they says, says they, Y'ou'se knockin' down,
Steve an says, wur not. Thin they put in
er trrnstile, and livery wan who went onto ther
pier had to pass over plate and the weight
av him Registered it. There was no use
thryin' to bate that machanep
''WelI, Steve, how did you get into trouble?'
'.Niyer a bit av trouble did get into 1t was
big baste of Newfunlan' dog KEN up. The
haste sat down on that there plate and began
scratchin' fer dear life, the m achane regis
tnerin' the while. an whin be got through, sir,
l wus four dollar an linety-four cents shortn'
HEPBURN JOHNS.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14

ANDnow the euphemistic phrases by which
trusts are described, such as the agreement
between gentlemen" are enriched by the decla-
ration that there was no cotton-bagging trust
but only "a sympathetic movement" The
sympathy for the buyers of cotton-bagging
shown by this sympathetic movement" was of
the class described in that classic idyl "The
Wa1rus and the Carpenter when they ate up
the oysters:
"'We weep for you, the Walrus said,
we deeply sympathize'
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size.''
and ate them all up while tearfully pro Tossing
his deep sympathy.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
sEPTEMBER's CONVERSATIONS.

CEPTEMBER set In leaden skies,
Seems sorry in the main
But at the theater curtains rise
The actor eats againI
The holidays once more are gone,
Why, then, that cheerful look
Upon the schoolboY's face? Anon
You'll find him ''playing hook!''
The summer girl Is coming home
She's happy and she sings,
No longer does she care to roam,
She's three engagement ringsl
While autumn tints with gold the woods
Pray. mark the merchants mirthl
As bargains he works of old goods
For more than they are worth.
The politician flaps his wings,
The fall to him is warm:
He rubs up principles and things,
And bankers for Reform!
The bard hears other men complain,
And sudles in humor grim,
AS they return to work again
No holidays for him!
September sounds sweet summers knell;
Down hill our steps are bent;
We note it not-like that to-well-
So easy's the descent.