davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05
THAT CAPITAL SITE.

THE DISPATCH must beg the pardon OF
the genius who proposes to remove the
capital of the State, as noticed in these
columns some DAYS ago. The apology is
necessary because we did not gain a COM
prehension of the full breadth and scope of
the scheme of capital removal. 1t was sup
posed the proposition was to remove the
capital to Lock Haven, but a subsequent
article demonstrates that no such modified
transfer of the capital from the low grades
of transportation will satisfy the author of
this scheme. He proposes to plant the
center of legislation on the lofty level of
the mountain tops, to surround it with a
State forest, and there, amid the elevating
influences OF nature. to turn out legislation
as fresh and pure as the mountain breezes or
the proposer of this great idea.
The latest argument in favor of this re-
moval points out that in the geographical
center of the State a virgin and un-
polluted spot can be found. From the
lofty pIateaus, expansive and inspiring
views can be obtained. A beautiful noun
tain lake can be created to supply the needs
Of the half million people who would gather
to form the population of the future cap
ital. Avenues $50 ieet wide and twelve
miles long will run up the mountain plateau
with intervening avenues of 120 feet as
minor attraction. From the summit a
scenic scope of six miles either way is as
sured, and here site of forty square miles
will be obtained ''for a picture chart of ma
tional, State and county avenues" But
greater attraction is to be had at the ten
acre plateau of Kettle Mountain, whence
five counties can be viewed. and ''it at
harvest time the fatigue of mountain climb
ing vanishes in enraptured thought"
This description utterly forbids the idea
of soiling so pure and lofty tract with the
concentration of State politics. The en-
raptured thought alleged to be peculiar to
the harvest time of the agriculturlst. should
not be mixed with tie enraptured thought
with which the legislative rooster pursues
his harvest. No! Whatever may be done
with the capital, it must not be permitted to
drag down and pollute this lofty and virgin
tract, to the level of ordinary politics.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05
A Scene In a Street Car.

From the front platform of Broadway car
one can see a good many interesting sights.
This is especially SO on pleasant days In the
shopping district The swarms ON the sidewalk
and the jam IN the cars of fashionable Goth
amites afford no end of amusement and in
struction. The other day, while on the front
platform with friend, l was struck by the re-
markable beauty of one of these. She was a
lovely blonde, dressed in the prevailing quiet
style, and just the sort of a woman that every
body turns around to admire. In fact, my
friend admired her so much that he imme-
d1ately threw away his unfinished cigar and
passed within. There were about three gentle
men inside, who were seated, and these three
simultaneously arose and offered her seat
She only occupied two of them-the seats, not
the gentlemen. She drew nickel from her
apparently well-flled pocketbook and held it
dalntiy between her fingers. The conductor
walked into the car stood around in a confused
sort of way and then walked out, leaving her
still clinging to the coin. When she got out of
the car, six blocks farther up, she still had the
nickel between her fingers, and looked quite
pleased with the idea that she had beaten Dan
Lamonts corporation out of cents. Verify
the ways of a woman are past finding out.
mo gentleman on earth would have done such
thing as that" said my friend, as the mercury
OF his admiration slowly sank to the bottom of
its tube.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05
THE PANIC IN ITALY.

Ifanything was needed to Danish thoughts
of an immediate war between Italy and the
United States, it has come in the news that
financial panic has made its appearance
in Leghora. There is possibility of the
panic's spreading all over the country, and
if it does the Italiars will be too busy with
their internal affairs to think of warning
with this country over the expatriate
brigands. Even if the trouble does not
spread the chances of war are still materially
lessened. The prime necessity for the carry
ing on of hostilities is good financial credit,
and the present trouble will seriously inl-
pair that of Italy. Burdened as they are
with heavy national debt, Italians will
think twice before trying to add to it,
though that they could do so is by no means
certain now.
1t is to be hoped that the Leghorn trouble
will not spread. On the poor the miseries
of such panics rest most heavily, and the
Italian peasants are now burdened with
enough suffering. The only cause for
American satisfaction is that it will dissi-
pate the remnants of the war cloud.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05
THAT CERTIFICATE PROPOSITION.

The proposition to authorize the issue of
ready been referred to in these columns, was
LETT in the air, as it were, by the citizens
meeting yesterday afternoon. After dis
cussion which did not fully reach the real
merits, or, rather, dement's, of the question,
it was referred to committee and will come
up again at the adjourned meeting to-mor-
row. In the meantime, it is proper to re-
view the proposition as it stands after little
discussion.
The proposed measure is framed to meet a
special emergency, and, like most general
legislation drawn to cover an especial case,
it leaves uncovered the vast range of pos
sible contingencies outside of that case. The
necessity Of providing payment for con-
tractors who have done the work of improv-
ing streets is admitted; but it is by no means
clear that this necessity is so imperative as
70 call for wiping out the salutary checks
and restrictions on the issue OF municipal
Indebtedness. Yet, SO far as can be judged
from the study of the proposed measure pos
sible at this time, this is what it amounts to.
Its only check on the issue of indebtedness is
the constitutional limit. 1t does not even
provide that the issue of bonds at any one
time shall be no greater than the amount
due contractors on the work that has been
done. 1t permits a rate of interest one or
two per cent greater than the city ought to
pay. Finally, as it is quite possible that
the amount of money due ON Improvements
might at given time exceed the constitu-
tional limit of Indebtedness, it will in such
cases reduce the practical working of such
provision to a matter of fear, favor or in
fuence, which will be the reverse of edify-
ing.
The obvious justice OF providing payment
for the contractors produced development
of feeling in favor OF indorsing this meas
ure only as applying to the debts already
contracted. But even that feeling is based
upon a misapprehension OF the case. II is
not necessary, because the charter as it now
stands provides remedy for the trouble. 1t
is entirely competent for Councils to prepare
an ordinance providing for short loan on
the lines of this proposition and to submit it
to vote of the people. All the features OF
the loan can be carefully matured and prop
erly examined. If, alter iull discussion, the
whole people indorse tine proposition, the
transaction will be beyond criticism, and
the salutary and useful check now existing
will have been kept alive. If the people
vote down the loan, the contractors will be
justified in calling upon Councils to increase
the tax levy In order that they may be paid.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05
REJOICING OVER A NECESSITY.

The great rejoicing that is said to be
going on in Canadian Government circles
shows how easy it is for people to be pleased
with what they have to take. After the
recent elections in the Dominion, the Tories
busted themselves over the circulation of
statements that reciprocity with the United
States had cut no figure in the campaign.
Their action in opening up negotiations
with this country on the subject does not
agree with their statements, and the un-
biased mind is forced to the conclusion that
Mr.. Blaine's pet scheme did cut very i'm
portant figure. The majority by which Sir
John Macdonald's government continued in
power was so small that it is thought un-
wise to tempt fate by neglecting to enter
into closer commercial relations with the
States.
A definite proposition has not yet been
submitted, but as it is promised to be based
on mutual concessions which will not sacri-
fee any vested interests, it will no doubt
prove to be very like what would have been
proposed had Sir John been defeated.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05
Ages Vary With Circumstances.

Speaking of the curious folbles of woman
kind reminds me of another incident of the
street cars. lady and little girl sat by my
side. The conductor eyed the woman sharply
as she rendered him the customary nickel, and
requested another coin for the child.
why, you don't charge for such a little
child as this, do you 2"
"How old is the child. madam ~
"She isn't four years of age yet" was the
reply.
The conductor looked incredulous but mur.
muring something to the effect that it was all
right went gloomily to his post, looking as if
his unspoken thought was that the woman had
unmisrakably lied. Then the little child had
her inning.
"Mammar'
What, dear ?"
Amt more than four years old to-day r'
Hush r. She tried to quiet her.
But the scheme didn't work. for the child
came back to the subject in the next block.
"Mammav'
What dear f'
You know you told Aunt Sally yesterday
thai was six years old next May ?'
This was said in a piping voice that went
through everybody in the car, failing only to
reach the conductor who was on the platform.
The mother mounted a faint blush but 1t was
very faint indeed to the one which crept over
the chld's face when it got slapped on the
back and hustled out of the car.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05
THE LONGEVITY PROBLEM.

The advice given elsewhere by certain
prominent men who have attained great age,
as to the best methods of securing longevity,
is interesting rather from the fame of the
advisers than from the authority of the ad-
vice. There is the usual variety in the
methods recommended. Won Moltke sug-
gests fresh air, plenty of sleep regularity of
habits and temperance: Bismarck prescribes
bathing, athletic exercise and the ability to
Danish care, and SO on. The fact is, exam
Piles of longevity will furnish arguments for
almost any practice and style of life.
Smokers and non-snokets, drinkers and
non-drin6ers, those who have led quiet and
peaceful lives and those who have plunged
into great conflicts, all have illustrated long
life. 1t may be pertinent, though not COM
plimentary, to quote the dictum of an emf
nent scientific man that the quality which
most contributes to longevity is the placid
selfishness which enables a man to pass
through all conflicts with minimum of ex-
haustive drafts on his nervous power. With
these views before US we may conclude that
the real question is not how a man can live
longest, but how he can live best.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05
MURRAY'S MUSINGS.
Thoughts Apropos of Cloakmaker Riot
Assassin Guiteau's Head-Women In

| Thoughts Apropos of q Cloakmalker Riot
Assassin Guiteau's Head-women In
Theaters and Street Cars Without Escort
Color Line With the Police.
One of the greatest evils with which New
York has TO contend is the large body Of for
eigners with socialistic ideas, who do not un-
derstand the language OF the country of their
adoption nor appreciate the privileges granted
under Its laws. case in point has recently
been attracting considerable attention even
outside of New York. This Is turbulent
crowd of Poles, who have been kicking up a
rumpus among their own kind for years. The
last outrage perpetrated BY the ringleaders OF
this set was that over in Jamaica L. L, in
which the employing eloakmaker was mobbed,
his stock in trade destroyed, and his child's
eyes put out by vitriol. The chief of this cloak
making gang is named Barondess, who is \
very intelligent man, and may be said to be a
born leader IN small way. This Barondess
has cut quite figure in all of the strikes in
which the Poles have been concerned and
there have been great many. He seems to have
great 1nnuence over them. His utteraDces
have been exploited in the newspapers, and
these show that he is in all respects superior to
the men whom he dominates. He has been
getting his foot in it lately by the determine
tlon OF the legal authorities. backed by certain
complaints, To teach these people that there are
certain laws of personal liberty in the United
States that cannot be violated with impunity.
1t seems that Barondess has been in the
habit OF going to an employing cloakmaker and
demanding $50 or 500 or more on the threat
that he would declare strike in their shops.
Not unfrequently this money was paid, though
1t was always done under protest. 1t is not be-
cause OF this that the subject is worthy of at
tention, but because of the general ignorance
which seems TO prevail among these people as
to their rights and privileges under the laws OF
the United States 1t has seemed curious
thing that these foreigners who are driven out
OF their native countries by acts of oppression,
real or alleged. on the part or the ruling
classes are more intolerant and tyrannical
toward their fellow laborers than any other
class of the American people.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05
PERSONAL PENCILINGs.

PROF. TYNDALL is reported to be in a
greatly improved condition.
DIR. TALMAGE pleads guilty to weak
ness for playing blind mans bluff.
CORNELIUS VANDERBILT has thor
oughly good face, full of character and radiant
with geniality.
MISS GABRIELLE GREELEY is hand
some woman, and possesses all the sweet, gen.
tie characteristics of her father.
JOHN L. WALLER of Kansas City, Kan,
the new Consul of the United States at NADIA
gascar, is a coIored man. He was born a slave
in Missouri and is Al years old.
LANDER, who furnishes dance music for
the New York Four Hundred, is a tine-looking
powerful man, with iron-gray hair and mus
tache and dark, lustrous eye.
The Princess of Wales will set an inter-
esting example to amateur photographers by
having some views taken of herself employed
in decorating tea-set of Wedgwood ware.
KING OSCAR, of Sweden, is every inch a
king, He is tall and well built, with broad
shoulders. handsome. forid face and gray
hair and beard. Age seems only to add grace
to his person.
THE Hon. William Haywood, a lawyer
of Lancaster, N. H, recently attended the 119th
consecutive term of the Vermont Supreme
Court at Guildhall, covering period of 5914
years of practice.
DIR. BURNETT, Mrs. Frances Hodgson
Burnett's comparatively unknown husband,
was a physician in a small Tennessee village
when he met and won his future wife. He is
now a specialist in diseases of the eye.
The Marquis Imperiali, now acting as
Charge d'Affaires at Washington for Italy, is
an accomplished musician, and played the
first violin in the orchestra at fashionable
operatic performance at the capital this sea-
son.
SILAs G. PRATT, the American CON-
poser, who will give his "Allegory of the War
in Song" for the Grant Monument Association,
is a fne-ooking gentleman. with hair and mus
tache just beginning to turn gray. and is in his
45th year.
QUEEN VICTORIA puts in her spare time
in plying the crochet needle, and at an exhibi-
ton of women's industries lately held at Glas-
Cow pair of wristlets in gray stripes and
blue and scarlet hood worked by the Queen
were on view.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05
THE LAND-HUNGRY BUT FOOLISH.

Reports of great destitution among Okla
homa settlers are still received with sadden-
Ing regularity. From the first legalized
occupation of that territory there has been a
continued story of destitution, and, in many
cases, of actual starvation. Colored settlers
are the unfortunates who furnish the latest
installment of the tale of woe. Believing
the country was modern Eden they went
In droves from all parts of the South only
to find they had been deceived. Poorly
prepared for a struggle in new country,
they are now willingly to leave, but the
very circumstance that caused their misery
prevents their doing SO. These facts do not
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05
TESTIMONY on ROAD IMPROVEMENT.

a very valuable addition TO country road
literature is a pamphlet by Mr.. Ripley, no.
ticed editorially by the New York Post.
That journal says truly that the necessary
thing Tor those who agitate in favor of road
murcvement-outside of localities where
good roads are demanded as a luxury-is to
convince farmers and rural property owners
that good roads will actually pay. Mr.. Rip
ley's pam phlet is the best evidence on that
point since it chronicles the results of sys-
tematc effort in New Jersey.
Mr.. Ripley was largely instrumental in
securing the passage of law In New Jer-
sey, by which a board in each coun-
~ is authorized TO designate certain thor
oughfares as country roads" and to bond
the county !or their improvement Having
secured the passage of the law ne led In
stirring up his own county to take advantage
of it, and years work in the construction
of Telford roads has demonstrated the value
of the Improvement. Real estate along the
improved highways has doubled and even
ouadrupled in value. The former has dis
covered that the ability to haul ton where
be could only haul half ton before ma
terially increases the productive value of his
land. Travel increased ten-fold on the i'm
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05
THE VALUE OF LABOR.
Suggestions on 1t in Theoretical and Prac-
ticaI Sense.

Suggestions on 1t in Theoretical and Prac-
teal Sense.
According to the New York Times. the man
who carries 4 watch in his pocket seldom stops
to think of the labor required to make one of
the tiny hairsprings that form one of it's COM
ponent parts. And yet that innocent speck of
mechanism furnishes food for thought on an
elaborate scale.
The value of a handful of raw pig iron say
five pounds is so 05l. Convert into steel rails
and the five pounds become worth 30 075 II
the same weight of steel be made into table
knives. such as one ordinarily uses at dinner,
60 blades are turned out, worth Sl5 at jobbing
rates. Thus it is seen that the various evolu-
tionary processes through which the material
goes in Its transition from raw pig iron to table
cutlery has increased Its cost from cents
to S15
But the comparison might be continued with
even more interesting results. Suppose the
five pounds of material be converted into
watch hairsprings, one of which-and by no
means the smallest-weighs one-quartsr of one
grain Troy. In five pounds there would be
10000 of these little coils, which, at the rate of
81 75 dozen, would be worth Sl6,G70 rs. In
this way the man who stops to think about it is
furnished with an interesting comparison. sug-
gesting the value of labor in both its practical
and theoretical sense.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05
SOUTHERN REPUBLICS AT CHICAGO.


The news that several Central and South
American Republics have taken steps
toward representation at the Worlds Fair
is a singing rebuke to the unpatriotic
policy of certain sovereign States in this
country. That sectional differences or a
penny-wise financial policy would prevent
any State from making a creditable dis
play at the fair was not contem-
plated when the subject was first
broached, and if any countries were not
expected to participate those countries were
some of the smaller and poorer Republics
south ofus. The unexpected, however, has,
as usual, happened, and it has become pain
fully evident that the hitherto backward
Republics are more alive to the benefits to
be derived from proper representation at
Chicago than are portions of this country.
There is no excuse for the States that have
refused to appropriate money for representa-
tion at the Fair, for while there is good
ground for criticism on the way things are
done in Chicago, there is a growing belief
that the enterprise will be successful. If it
is, the States that are not represented will be
the only sufferers from their folly.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05

WIDE approval is given to the remark of
the Minneapolis Tribune that "if we cannot
prove that the victims of the New Orleans mob
were assassins, then we owe their families and
the nation of which they were subjects every
reparation In our power. If we do prove it
Italy must abide by the terms which this Gov
ernment. always generous, chooses to extend"
But what puts this country in a hole is the fact
that the chosen and Constitutional method of
determining the guilt of those Italians has
already acquitted majority of them. 1t will
be hard for this Government to 60 behind the
return of jury, even if it is of the New
Orleans kind.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05

affect the enthusiasm of other men ready to
rush upon and occupy newly-opened Gov
ernment land. On April II the Omaha
lands will be thrown open, and already over
800 would-be settlers are in Ashland, Wis,
ready to swoop down upon them. When
opening day arrives their numbers
will probably have been trebled. They are
as poorly prepared as were those
now suffering in Oklahoma. The story that
will come from them will be similar to the
others. Misery, want and starvation will
aid in proving that he who goes unprepared
into a country where at best existence is but
a continual round of hardships is foolish,
especially if he takes wife and children
along. The innocent victims of thought
lessness and greed suffer more than he, be-
cause weaker and younger
There is no practical plan for the preven-
ton of this suffering. The lands are opened
to settlement and it is desirable that they
should be occupied. The Government, in
declaring them ready for settlers, has
as man is a citizen, and agrees to perform
the duties enumerated in the laws pertain
ing to the subject. he cannot be asked to
produce proof that ne is able to cope with
the unknown difficulties that may appear
after be has taken out his patent. To re-
quire such proof would close the lands
against the very people for whom they are
intended. This leaves the matter with the
individual alone. He should see, for the
good of himself and family. that getting a
few acres for almost nothing is not the best
thing that could happen him. A little
capital and some experience are needed, for
if he does not possess both suffering will GER
tainly ensue,