davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08
DEAD MEMS SHOES AND PURGATORY

DEAD MEMS SHOES AND PURGATORY
An extraordinary superstition was brought TO
! light in Scotland, few weeks ago, during the
course OF tie trial Of a man named Laurie for the
murder OF an English tourist, Mr.. Rose. The
police were requested by the counsel in the case
TO explain the mysterious disappearance OF the
dead mans boots at the time of the inquest held
on his body With manifest reluctance the in
spector in command Of the local c0nstabulary in
formed the court that he had directed policeman
to take the boots down to the scashore and bury
them in the sand below highwater mark. The
purpose Of this extraordinary measure was TO
"lay" the murdered mans ghost-an object which,
according to ancient Scotch tradition, may be OBJ
tained by burving his boots under water. For ghosts
are popularity credited with as decp-rooted an
aversion TO water they have to walking bare
footed and Mr. Roses ghost, being shoeess, would
therefore abstain from disturbing people In the
neighborhood Of the spot where the murder WAS
committed.
The sentiment with regard to dead mems
shoes and TO the dislike Of ghosts to run about
barefooted prevails not only among the masses,
but also among the classes in Scotland, and 10
based on an ancient superstition that
the dead must pass through a kind Of purgatoTy.
A curious old Ms in the Cotton Library dating
from the sixteenth century states that the dead
must pass through "a create lande full Of thorDs
and furzcn" before reaching heaven, and, with
view Of preserving their feet from any scratch,
cut or other injury on the road pair Of boots
is always laid with them in the grave The shoes
thus burcd-thc custom prevails in Scotland TO
this day-arc described "hcllshoOn that is,
shoes for passing through hell
a somewhat similar superstition prevails among
the Tsigancs Of Hungary, and also among tie
peasants Of TyroI, who, moreover, believe tn
the ghosts Of persons who have been buried with
out hcllshoon, and are therefore unable 10 get
across the thorny tract Of country which separates
death from life eternal, assume the form Of toads.
Consequently toads regarded with pity and
sympathy 10y all good people i'm Southern Germany
and along the banks Of the Danube. The poor
creatures are supposed 10 De hopping about astray
and hewldercd, striving 10 find their way TO some
particular shrine where their faturc penancc will
be- rrmittcd. At the famous church Of 81. Michael
In Schwatz, on the evening before great fcsl
walls. but when no one is present, an immense toad
is reported to come crawling before the altar,
where il kucels and, weeping bitterly prays that
IT'S period Of pcuancc may be brought 10 an
end and that the omission 10 put the "hcllShoon'
i'm the grave ~ the human form 81 its being long
ago may be parloned through the intcrccssIon Of
NfioIoal
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08
TWELVE PAGES.
THE NEWS THIS MORNING.

Foreign.-Lord Salisbury has written men
acing note to Portugal regarding the African dis
mute. - Prime Minister Sagasta has resigned,
being unable to form Spanish Cabinet owing -
tariff dissensons == Americans in London Will
give banquet to Stanley on his return from
Africa. - Arabs and Germans fighting in
East Africa 49, The Dowager Empress Augusta
of Germany is dead. GO The body Of the late
Empress of Brazil was placed in the Pantheon of
the Braganzas in Lisbon.
Congress.-Both branches in session. - The
Senate A number Of bills were introduced, among
them one by Mr. Book to suspend the operations
Of the sinking fund: and one by Mr. Faulkner,
providing that the Worlds Fair shall be held int
Washington: Mr.. Morgan, in a two-bour speech.
advocated the emigration of the American negroes
to Africa: in executive session, number Of minor
nominations sent in by the President were con
sidered. - The House The Democrats wasted
the day in flibusteTing; they started the first
skirmish over the rules, and were decidedly
worsted.
Domestic The Legislature met in Albany Gov
ernor Hills message was read large number OF
bills including the SaXton and Linson Ballot Re-
form measures, were introduced in the Senate.
- The President gave state dinner IN honof
Of the President and the Cabinet. =- The
Fair hearing to-day. - The new recitation
building at Yale was dedicated. == The funeral
of Mrs Myra Knifin, who murdered in Iren-
ton was held at Mount Pleasant, y. j. -- The
Montana Democratic legislators chose Two con
tcstants for United States Senators - Electric
light wires were broken by sleet in ST. Louis
City and Suburban.-Thc Charity Ball was sue
cessfully carried out. -= The New-York Ilomoe-
Spathic Medical College and Hospital Roswell r
Flowers gift formally opened. =- three
men were killed and three others injured by fall
ing wall in Long Island City; two arrests were
made. == Mrs. Southworth, the murderer of
stephen Pcttus, died in the Tombs. == Aaron
Clahin died -- The death rate was higher yes
terday than on any other day in winter, showing
that the influenza is not yet decreasing. - Ia
a tenement-house quarrel with Italians Hebrew
was murdered =-= Stocks generally dull and
lower, but closing firm at the declines.
The Weather.-Forecast for to-day: Fair or
partly cloudy, with slight thermal changes.
Temperature yesterday Highest 81 degrees
lowest, 45; average, AZ rs.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08

overlooked, namely, that, inasmuch as color
blindness may be caused at any time by serious
sickness or by injurious habits, single exam
nation is not enough but that it is essential
that railway employees should be subjected to
periodical tests.
1t is evident that so long as the existing
system of signals continues in use, rigid ex-
cluSion of men whose vision is defective in
this particular is the only guarantee OF safety ;
hut this conclusion is by no means the only
one which il is desirable TO draw from the
facts Three colors are now employed IN rail-
way signals white green and red signifying
respectively call right" caution" and " dan
ger" the last, Of course, the most important.
Mr. Bell remarks that the choice OF red and
green is particularly objectionable, from the
point Of view under consideration, owing to
the established fact that they are the very
colOrS which the color blind are most common
w unable to distinguish But, aside from this
disqualification. they are constantly liable to
lead persons whose vision is perfect into error.
Thus a disaster on an Irish railway was at
tributed to the inability OF an engineer VINO
had been dazzled by the glare OF his furnace
fire to perceive the less intense light of red
signal displayed as warning. Other obIec-
tions are that "being complimentary colors
red and green are liable to call up each other :;
that q red light seen from distance, appears
much further off than white light beside it,
owing to the comparative dimness produced
by the dark glass, and that &" a white light seen
at night through steam blowing of from the
escape valve of a boiler appears OF deep
orange red" "ThiS fact" remarks Mr.. Bell,
"was discovered by an accidental observation
made at a railway station in England many
years ago, and it's effect must he to convert
the white safety signal into the red danger
one, TO completely change the appearance OF
the green caution signal, and to render the
red danger signal wholly INVISIBLE
Though the objections TO the colors now
employed for signals are apparent so soon as
they are stated. Mr.. Bell is not prepared TO
say that any others would be better. His con
cluSiOn. therefore, is that the adoption OF a
system of signals distinguished by form or
movement. or both combined, would DO an
easy and valuable reform.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08
Amrscmenfs.
orNy-s.l5-The Old Homestead

ACADFMY-sl5-The Old Homestead.
AMBERG NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Nights
AMERICAN ART GALLERIES-9a m 10 9 p m ana 7ioo
tolOp m.-Milets "Angelus"
sIJOU THEATRE-2a and S-A Tin Soldier
ROADWAY THEATRE-s-Faust up to Date
CAsINO-s-The Brigands.
CHICKERING HALL-S30-Illusirated Lecture
pALY'S THEATRE-2 and S-As You Like H.
EDEN MUSEE-Wax Tableaus
FIFTH AVENUE ART GALLERlES-'a' IN u ~ p H.
Architectural League Annual Exhibition.
eRANB OPERA HOUSE-2 and SA Parlor Match'
UARDMAN HALI.-33O-Lecture
IoUNsToN,s ART GALLERY-9 a M TO 6 p. Mart
Exhibition.
1yCYUM THFkTRE-s:15-The Charity Ball
MADISON SQUARE THEATRE-s;3o-AM Man OF the World
and Aunt Jack
METROPOLITAN OPERA HoUsE-s-Tho Barber Of
Bagdad. - 49, 1900
NATIONAL CONSERVATORY OF MUsIC-semtaunua
Entrance Examinations
WV PARK THKATRE-s:l5-The Gondouers
NIBIO's GARDEN-2 and 8-Kajanka
PAIMFR'S NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. III
pROCroHs 2sD.sT THEATRE and sl5-shenahdoAA
STANDARD THEATRE-s:i5-The Seven Ages
STAR THEATRES La TOscs.
UNION SQUARE THEATRE-Sl5-CountyF Fair
woRTH'S PALACE MUSEUM-Lving Curiosite'
sTE AVENUE THEATRES -Tweth Night
lATs STREET THEATRE-2and s-The New Fantasma
4THANE AND l9TH-ST-GettysOurg
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08
PERSONAL.

Mr.. Boles the GOvernor-elect Of Iowa. Is described
as quiet unobtrusive gentleman OF genial oeaphg'
and with preoccupied, faraway look In ms eAgs
when approached the subject OF an ONCE He
has daughter and two sons
The ladies-in- waiting of Queen Victoria have
grievance on the subject Of dress. AS these ladies
only receive 81 800 year from her Majesty 1t is
little hard on them to be expected to appear in new
costume each time that the dinncrbell sounds YET
the Queen detests an old dress except when arrayed
upon her own royal person, ana the uIiortuc nus
are perfOrcc compelled to trim up thelr Oid gO"hss
in all possible ways for her Majesty mas te eye .!
an eagle and will detect the old robe that is not most
carefully disguised.
Punch" quoted the other day passage from " Inc
Daily News which described the scene at Manchester
when Mr. Gladstone having accidentally mentioned
the approach Of his eighteth birthday, "the vast
audience suddenly eaped to its feet and burst into
ringing cheers. Mr.. Gladstone was evidently deeply
touched By this spontaneous Outburst OF almost per
sonal affection He stood with hands folded, head
bent down. and legs quivering" The hum0r OF the
passage is due to the telegraph clerk. The sentence
rs written described Mr.. Gladstone as standing VIII
hands folded head bent down, d" and lips qulVerlhs'
That was an interesting assemblagc at the inaugura
ton OF Governor Bracket. Of Massachusetts 1t com
priSed cx Governors Gardner and boutwell,, Banks
and Clanin CASTOR Rice and Long, Butler, Robinson
and Ames. TX Governors Banks. with his thick
thatch of snowy hair. military man in his air and
hearing and Clafln the quiet. sedate OF busl-
ness, were especially conspicuous a they sat To-
ccthcr near the centre Of the hall and chatted TO-
pcarancc was greatest between Governor Long ana
Governor Butler both familiar figures IN Boston.
we're senators Dawes and IIoar: Representatives
Lodge. alert and fuu OF He, Cogs~el ana tahuali
Morse and Andrew sir.hngly disslmilar IN tne e
physical appearance O'Neil, with the AR OF IN;
iustIiug politician: Gambler with the appearance ~
o well do banker: Grcnhalge, Waller ana NaliiGc,
This is cotere seldom seen together save upon inc
of Congress.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08
TVPORTING TO BRAZIL.

II will not he questioned by any traveller
that our staff correspondent in Brazil has fur
ni>hcd in his comments upon our lack Of enter
uriSe i'm the pursuit of South American trade
a large and potent reason for our minor posi-
non there among the commercial nations. II
NAV certainly be said in reply that the absence
Of frequent and rapid steamship connection
between this and Southern ports has rendered
il scarcely worth our merchants while 10 make
great cxcrtionS 10 please trade so far out OF
their control. and this is an cXglanetion wsich
has the merit Of explaining American mer-
chants are not famous for their incidence. They
are not supposed 10 be careless of oppor-
funitcS to extend their trade. Yet they can
say with great folcc that II is OF small mpor-
lance 10 create n demand which cannot be sup
piled by themselves in such measure as TO
make il really profitable, bur which will, on
the contrary. inurc 70 the benefit Of their bust
nos, rivals.
The ml importance Of orr correspondents
suggestions appears in the fact that America
can produce what Brazil wants and can sell II
i'm competition with the English, German and
French. Nothing stands in the way Of our
merchants except facilities of transportation
and exchange. The tariff offers no obstacle
The BmH.iaus are satisfied with il, and under
H., operation arc placing nearly ,oyon-t"n'hs
Of their export, in American markets. They
want cheap goods. and the experiments that
have been made hy American merchants in
supplying the requirements of their trade fully
demonstrate that il can lie prohtably handled
under conditions which will enable II 10 come
in bulk to our producers. The question Is
whether the country wants it enough to 90
after il aS other nations have done.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08

shipments to this country, there had been an
increase of about 100000 tons in 1889 to
supply the increased American demand. In
stead of an advance of 81 IL per cent, with
a million tons larger demand, there would
probably have been an advance of more than
100 per cent in British prices, with an en-
largement of 100000 tons in the demand
Yet what other source of supply could have
been found by Americans if protection had
not in ample time encouraged the building of
American furnaces and mills, so that the rapid
ly growing needs of this country could have
been met at home?
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08
NETWORK STILL a PIVOTAL STATE.
IL, N..,, \-..rIr

in the election Of l704, against lOl in lS@S and
1sSt. According To- the electoral vote Of
lass, with South Dakota, Washington and North
Dakota added as Republican. the Republican vote
would be increased from 30 to 246. With
ont New Yorts - electoral votes. the Republican
Presidential ticket. the basis Of the appOr.
Torment. would have 2Oo votes, or Ii less than "A
majority Neither the 10 votes of New Jersey, ror
tho IL of Virginia, nor again the Il of West Virginia.
the Of Connecticut. would be sufficient 10 change
the result with the ~ electoral votes Ot New York
cast for the Democratic nominee. he would have Just
22G votes. enough to win without the gain # any
other state. In political way. the most
important fact established hy the figures given above
is the continued and increased Importance of the
electoral votes OF New York. without them noit her
party can have any cNpct tatiOnS Of winning. New
York will determine the result and Il may hc added
that upon the maintenance dminuon of the
Democratic majority In New York. llrouklvn and the
towns Of the metropolitan district. the result i'm the
State will chiefly depend hereafter rs heretofore
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08
RALLU1Y SIGNALS.

An interesting and suggestive article by
Mr. J. J. Bell, on color blindness in its relation
to the railway service, appears in the current
number Of "The Railway Age \ great
amount Of attention has been bestowed upon
this subject in recent years but certainly not
more than it deserves. Moreover every new
treatise written by competent investigator
has an advantage over its predecessors, for the
reason that new facts are being constantly and
rapidly deduccd from observations going on
in all parts of the world DIR. Wilson, Of
Edinburgh, who has given much study to the
subject, is convinced that at least one in fifty
Of the population has seriously defective per
ccption Of colors, and other investigators make
the proportion far larger Everybody is aware
that many railroad companies, Of their own
motion or in obedience to legislation, have in
sttuted tests Of color blindness among their
employees within the last few years, and the
general sense Of security has been enhanced
by the knowledge that this safeguard has been
provided to considerable extent. In the
article upon which we are commenting the
writer makes one point which is HH~~only
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08

from these territories, and if Portugal were 10
lose all her possessions in Africa she would DE IN
far better financial position than she Is az
present The quarrel which King Carlos mas
picked with John Bull can, therefore, DE Only
regarded in the light of Napoeonlc a''ehpO
to divert the attention Of his subjects from 'he
strong republican movement AT rome ny Il
Quixotic dispute abroad and as desperate eHorV
to rekindle the dying embers of loyalty 10 the
crown by means Of the blaze of PATRIOTISM whlch
the conflict has created from one end OF the
little kingdom to the other.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08

The extraordinary term Of tie Court Of Oyer
and Tcrminer, which has at last come to an end.
has beer prolonged farce Il was constituted
rc1rly a year ago in order 20 enable District
Attorney Fellows 20 dispose Of the lioodc ca> eS
without interfering with tie regular business
Of the criminal courts. 1t has cost several thou
sands OF dollars. and has taken up much Of the
valuable time Of Justice Daniels and what has
II occomplishcd' Nothing except the acquit'al
of Thomas =. Kerr Mr. Fellows may be able
70 point with pride 10 such record. bur nobody
else can. Even now he is not ready 10 20 on
with the bribery cases. VIII he ever be?
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08
IRON; BRITISH IND AMFRICAY COST

\ little item Of information given in the last
official bulletin OF the Iron and Steel AsSoca-
ton is respectfully commended TO Free Trad
cIs. and also TO the Committee Of Ways and
Means. now engaged IN investigating the tariiI
question. The prices of No. /. Anthracite pic.
and grey forge, at Philadelphia Of steel rails
AZ Pennsylvania mills ann best refined bar
non AT Philadelphia. and of Bc~,cmcr pig iron
and cut nails al Pitt,burg, are given by the
association for each month in the year and
the December prices compare with January a.
follows:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08

Total g.. 100 II clJ4 10
The advance in cost Of all these kinds taken
together was - per cent. During the same
wear the advance in cost OF Glasgow pig in
Scotland was about 90 per cent, of Middlcsbro
pig about 50 per cent, Of hcmatitc pig about
81 per cent. Of bar iron 30 per cent Of hoop
iron 30 per cent OF sheet iron 80 per cent, of
nail rods 30 per cent. and Of steel rails 10 per
cent The average advance Of all these quail
tics in Great Britain was jl.j per cent. Rails
selling here al so are selling in Great Britain
N SCI and yet there are persons who profess
10 be profound economic teachers and skilled
,tati,tician, who still assert that the American
consumers must somehow be paying an out
ragcou, tax of ST. 10 the manufacturers Of
steel rails.
Which system protects consumers best? The
British demand. export and home both incud
ed. appears 10 have increased about a million
tons over last year, or - - per cent, and
the result is an advance in prices four times as
great on over 30 per cent in the average OI
all GRADES Of iron and steel. The American
demand has apparently increased from about
ZOO, 900 tons last year to 800. 600 tons
this year. or joOut 10 u per cent. But the
actual advance in the average prices Of iron
products has been only about the same. or / :
per cent although there has been Il decrease in
the foreign supply, and a home market left
more completely to the control Of the home
producers. Would it not be fair inference
that the monopoliStS who cXtor the last cent
when circumstances give them the power are
TO be sought in Great Britain under free trade
rather than in America under protection?
The American consumption is not far from
8, 900 600 tons. Had this country been de
pendent upon Great Britain and obliged to
supply the increased demand at the British
rate, the iron and steel consumed last year in
this country would have cost $50, 600. 900
more at British December prices than at Brit
ish January prices. That would be rather
large bill to pay for the privilege of buying
things abroad, and yet there can be nothing
clearer or more certain than that the British
advance in prices would have been very much
greater if, instead Of an actual decrease in
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08
IS THERE no PROTECTION AGAINST THIS,

FrOm Inc EOSIOn NdNrrJls'r.
We should be- blind not to see, recrcant not IT, say,
that tidal wave after tidal Of European immi-
grafton is now sweeping ana seething In upon these
shores that is bringing vast mass OF human drwOOd.
1t is cannish, mproyident, unntelligcnt II regards
American institutions with the Indifference of IL
fool. inMIrd Inv.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08
PROVINCIAL HOME RULE IN BRAZIL.

\ long letter In The New York Tribune points ont
that the military system lin HraLiD cannot oppose
with success the Impulse which the revolution has
given 20 provincial home rule and that. even II the
present leaders have any design 10 carry out a policy
of ccntralzaton public sentiment will not permit It,.
This Is encouraging
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08

At the opening of the State Senate yester-
dav Lieutenant Governor Jones undertook to
lecture the Senators on their methods of doing
business The especial object Of his wrath was
the caucus, and his diatrbe conveys the i'm
pression that he is the personal keeper of every
member of the majority of the body over which
he prcsides Senator Fassett, who was elected
President pro tenn, made neat and effective
reply TO the Northumberland Apart from
this passage at arms there were no notable in
cidents in connection with the assembling of
the Legislature. Mr.. Hustled, on taking the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08

Tho Americans in London have done a
graceful thing in inviting Mr.. Stanley to at
tend a dinner, and the famous explorer has
accepted the compliment. Minister Lincoln
will preside at the dinner The date for 1t
cannot yet be fixed, as it is uncertain when
MIR. Stanley will reach London, though he now
expects TO arrive there about the middle Of
next month. lie will be the recipient Of
numerous honors, but few will be appreciated
more keenly than this expression of goodwill
on the part of Americans.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08

Three men have been indicted for the cleo
ton frauds in the Sixth Ward of New Bruins
wick n. j.. which bore a striking resemblance
to the frauds perpetrated in the Sixth Ward
of Troy, ~ !. II is to be hoped that Jersey
Justice is in store for the accused men, and
that the County Clerk who prOfted by the
frauds will not be permitted to enjoy his Office
long. No one has yet been punished for the
Troy outragcs, but complete disclosure of the
facts will be made by the contest which Gen
eral Rogers has instituted for the seat held
by Michael Collins.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08

chair in the Assembly, acknowledged in fitting
terms the unique honor which he enjoys OF
having broken the record in length of service
as Speaker. Several OF the most important
bills of the session were introduced at the
earliest moment
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08

The Democrats in Congress made their first
attack upon the majority yesterday and met
with an ignominiouS defeat The practical
result of the slyirmsh was the wasting Of al
most the whole of one days session. Mr..
Breckenridge, of Kentucky, was the leader OF
the attacking forces, and his success in that
position will hardly tempt his fellow-Dcmo-
Gratis to force him to the front soon again. The
decisive vote was 1875 to 1874, but this did nos
satisfy the Kentucky statesman, who insisted
on a second Trial of strength. After that he
SubSidcd