davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-16
THE COKE SITUATION.

The situation in the coke trade, as out
lined in another column, reflects that in the
iron trade and is dependent on it 1t has
already become manifest that there must be
a readjustment in the cost of materials for
iron production, in order to stimulate de-
mand by lowering prices, as well as to re-
tain the control of the market for Western
Pennsylvania.
Under such a condition of affairs it was
peculiarly ill-judged for the coke-workers
to inaugurate strike for higher wages;
but we can hardly blame the iron and coke
operators if they see in this mistake of the
men the opportunity for suspending pro-
duction until the supply is reduced, the de-
mand improved, and prices readiusted on a
basis which will ensure future activity.
When the prices of coke, ore and rail-
way frelghts are brought into conformity
with the changed conditions of the iron
trade, a steady activity in all branches of
industry can be expected. The coke-work-
ers should recognize this fact and should
see that the true interests of labor lie in
making the best terms that will insure it
steady employment.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-16

no such compulsion. The law does not call
upon any man 10 be a corporate director,
but it does require him to discharge the
duties of direction when he undertakes
them. The fact is that the policy of having
the same men act as directors of numerous cor
porations is opposed to the policy of the law.
The intent of legislation in creating separate
corporations is to keep them distinct and indie
pendent of each other. But for the GEN.
tralizatiou of corporate powers and the sup
preston of competition, the multiplication
of the same set of men in numerous director
ships has been carried to an extreme de-
gree. 1t may be an Inconvenience that this
feature of corporate policy also multiplies
responsibility; but it cannot be avoided ex-
cept by the final corporate stroke of nullify-
ing the law.
1t is true as alleged by the most indis-
putable corporate authority, that directors
do not direct; but the law, as the guardian
of the public interest. will have to under
take the task of seeing that they do direct
or take the consequences.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-16
CONGRESSIONAL CLAIM AGENTS.

Congressman Jerry Simpson, enormously
alleged to be sockless, has made an early
and promising discovery that the main
function assigned to Congressman by the
practical politics of the day, is not to his
taste. He objects to being ''the errand boy
of the people," and declares: 'This thing
of making a claim agent out of Congress
man must be stopped.p
Nevertheless, says the Boston Globe,
in reply to and criticism of the Kansas re-
formers assertion, "the belief still exists
that a public office is a public trust.
and that public officials are the serv-
ants of the people" This expresses the
idea of journalistic exponent of Boston
opinion that the trusts reposed in the hands
of Congressman are those of errand boys and
claim agents. and the public service re-
quired of them is whatever anyone with a
JOB to be done at Washington may ask for.
According 10 the same logic, the fact that a
Congressman is public servant, comprises
among his duties that of blacking boots or
calling carriages for any of his constituents
who may visit Washington.
The Boston newspaper is in this respect
less intelligent than the wild and woolly
Western Congressman. The duties consti-
tuting the trust reposed in Congressman.
and the work they are to do as public serv-
ants, are set down in that fundamental
and definite instrument known as the Con-
stitution of the United States; and no init
nation can be found there that they are to
run on political errands or act as claim
agents.
The new Congressman is right in perceiv-
ing that this method of practical politicians
for currying favor with their constituents
interferes with, if it does not entirely pre-
vent, the discharge of their constitutional
duties. 1t his new political movement can
abolish this abuse, it will strike at the root
of many political evils and open the way TO
greater reforms.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-16
GOSSIP OF THE STAGE,

MINNIE PALMER will shortly return to Lon.
don, ami, under the management of Charles
Abud, appear in comic opera
w. j. SCANLoN will be seen at one of our
local theaters Easter week. He will present
the 'Irish Minstrel and "Myles Aroon."
THE bridge scene in "Money Mad" requires
a force of 25 stage hands to work the man.
moth steamer In its passage across the stage
FREDERICK PAULDING is receiving much
attention from society people in the cities
visited by the Jefferson-F Florence Comedy Com.
pany.
PITTsBURG LODGE No. IL, B. P o. E., will
benefit at the Duquesne Theater Friday after
noon. March q. "old Jed Prouty" and other
speciaties are on the programme. 1t will be
an interesting event.
FOUR stage carpenters from the "a Mile a
Minute" company have been at the Duquesne
Theater all week arranging the stage for the
reception Of the English locomotive used in
Minnie Palmer's new piece.
THE gallery gods at the Bijou this week will
recognize an old favorite in Lizzie Mulvey, the
well-known song and dance artist She plays
the role of a tough young gamin in the play of
"Money Mad" and introduces some of the pop
ular songs of the day and also her artistic
dancing.
ONE of the best Irish comedians on the boards
is Barney Ferguson. He and an excellent co ~
many of comedians will follow Money Mad" at
the Bijou in that amusing sketch. "McCarthy's
Mishaps." Last season an admirable company
supported Barney, and Colonel Charles Rice,
his manager, writes that the company is
stronger than ever. It will be week of fun at
the Bijou.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-16
WELL KNOWN PEOPLE.

KEELY, the motor man, is 50 years
old.
TIPPU TIB is on his way to visit his birth
place, Arabia. He is the:son of half-caste
Arab and his mother was full-blooded negro
slave.
PROF. Goss, of Kansas, became an ag-
nostic by the study of ornithology. The more he
saw of birds the less he believed in the divine
origin of man.
JERRY SIMPSON says he was nominated at
a big convention in which there was no lawyer
and only two men wore white collars and none
wore white shirts.
P. T. BARNUM has closed contract for
the erection of a building at Bridgeport, Conn.,,
to cost sl25 0O0-a gift from him to the historical
and scientific societies of that city.
ONE of Senator Cullom's characteristics is
his smile. He smiles when he is good natured
and when he is not, when saying unpleasant
things as we'll as pleasant when praisIng or
damning.
BEN BUTTERwoRTH puts his arm around
you if you stand beside him or walk by his side.
Joe Cannon never fails 70 rest one hand on your
shoulder while talking to you, as if to reassure
you that he means to do you no harm with the
other, which he uses for purposes of gesticula-
ton.
KING MENELEK II. is now the ruler not
only Of his own kingdom, Shoa, but of the far
more important country of Abyssinia to the
north. He is, therefore, the most powerful
ruler Abyssinia has had for.generations for he
has united his own country with the great
highlands north of him.
GEORGE c. JENKs, author of the ~. S.
Mall" the farce-comedy. was formerly a CON-
positor in Detroit in IA, 10 and '76. He also
published a labor journal called the American
Workman, which was short-liyed affair
George was irstclass cornpos1tor but he de-
tested the humdrum life of printer and it
was like pulling teeth for him to do full
weeks work.
THE country is indebted to an accident for
one OF its great editors-Henry Watterson.
His musical capabilities as lad had been quite
marked. He played in concerts with Adellna
Patti when she was II years old and he 13 His
career was changed by hitting his thumb against
a black key while:practicing on the piano. A
felon came on the thumb. the hand was par
alyzed, and the first joint of the thumb lost
Thereafter he turned his attention to journal
ism
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-16
ANTICS OF THE RED ANT.
How the Little Creatures Managed to Bridge
the Mo1asses.

the Mo1asses.
Rocky Mountain News.J
The following remarkable story, told by an
eye witness. is entitled to place among the
instances of intelligence among the lower
animals. A cook was much annoyed to find his
pastry shelves attacked by ants. BY careful
watching it was discovered that they came out
twice day in search of food. at about Z in the
morning and in the afternoon. How were
the pies to be protected against the invaders?
Finally he determined to make a circle of
molasses around the pies as barrier and await
results
He did not have long to wait, for at $50
O'CLOCK ne noticed that off in the left-haDd cor
ner of the pantry was line of ants slowly max
ing their way in the direction of the pies. They
seemed like vast army coming forth to attack
the enemy. In front was a leader. who was
larger than any of the others, and who always
kept little in front of his troops.
They were of the sort known as the medium
sized red ant. which is regarded as the most in
telligent of its kind, whose scientific name is
formica rpbra
About 40 ants out of 500 stepped out and
joined the leader. The general and his aids
neld council and then proceeded to examine
the circle of molasses. Certain portions of it
seemed to be assigned to the different ants, and
each selected unerringly the point in the Sec
tion under his charge where the stream of
molasses was narrowest Then the leader made
his tour of inspection.
The order to march was given. and the ants
all made their way to hole in the wall at
which the plaSterinE was loose.
Here they broke rank and set about carrying
pieces of plaster to the place In the molasses
which had been agreed upon as the narrowest.
10 and fro they went from the nail hole to the
molasses. until, at ll:30 O'clock, they had
themselves in line again and marched over. and
by ll:45 every ant was eating pie.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-16
NEED OF RIVER REGULATION.

The floods which were experienced in this
section last month reached the lower Mis-
sissippl last week, and produced the usual
districts that are only protected from in
undation by levees. Although the water
hardly reached danger line, one levee was
broken and the dispatches show the wide
spread apprehension OF general disaster if
the rise had been prolonged a very little
more.
This only repeats the lesson which has
been apparent in every big rise along the
lower Mississippi, that sole reliance on the
levees to preserve the VALLEY lands from dis
astrous annual overfows, is futile. The fact
has been made clear again and again, that
so long as the characteristics of the Missis-
sippi floods remain unchanged, the levees of
earth built upon foundations Of loan are in
sufficient to restrain them. To build them
higher only pens up the current within
narrower limits and increases the power
which has already proved itself too great
for restraint.
These periodical demonstrations of the
powerlessness of the present levee system,
only prove the necessity of adopting further
measures. The series of articles recently
published in THE DISPATCH showed how
the storage capacity of the upper rivers
with auxiliary reservoirs at their head
waters can be made to regulate the flow of
the rivers, and distribute the outflow of
waters over a protracted period so as to con-
fine the rise and fall of the rivers within
moderate limits, In addition to the immense
gain to be secured by such an Improvement,
it comprises the establishment of a compre-
hensive and reliable system of internal
water navigation, which would facilitate
and cheaper commerce all over the country.
When it is recognized that the adoption of
such plan will confer the greatest benefits
on all parts of the country, i. would seem
that these recurring evidences of the neces-
sity of the improvement should unite the
people of all sections in urging the prompt
prosecution of the work by the Government.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-16
SELECTED ODDITIES.
Two Notifications of Sea-Serpent Yarns
How Lovers Find Their Affinities-The
Courting Methods of the kaffir-An

Two Notifications of Sea-Serpent Yarns
How Lovers Find Their Affinities-The
Courting Methods of the Kaffir-An
Artificial FIorida-Cuba's Decay.
A reporter in Portland last week, noticed an
old sailor seated on the deck of ship busy
stufing the skin of some kind of a nondescript
animal which looked like a flying fish which
had died before acquiring much of its plumage,
says the Oreqonidn. When asked about the
creature, the old salt replied:
81 hardly know what it is. 1t isn't bird and
it isn't flying fish, butt has some of the marks
of both. 1t could sing and it lived III the water
most of the time. 1t came aboard in the Bay
of Bengal. | was on the lookout just before
daylight one morning and was standing near
the heel of the bowspriC when heard some
thing chirping and twttering near me.
could not imagine what it was, as we were far
from land, but peeping down in a coil of rope
near the rail. 1 saw this queer bird-fish sitting
on the deck trying to sing. bad large bam-
boo cage in the forecastle, and so put the fish
IN this cage and filled one of the pans with salt
water and thought if it was a bird it could get
on perch: and if it was fish it could go into
the water"
(which did it take top
well, it lived most OF the time in the water,
but often, especially at night, it would fly out
and amuse me and my messmates by trying to
sing. One night as we were passing through
the Straits of Malacca we had the cage up
the caboose and the thing was singing its best,
when suddenly flying fish began coming on
board by the dozens, and in half an hour we
mad Dlscuit,box full, and we had fried flying
hsh for everybody on board as long as we were
IN the straits. When we touched at Singapore
the native fishermen said it was king flying
hsh, and that it would call The other flying fish
on board whenever they were within hearing"
The sailor added that he owned the animal
about year, and that neither he nor any of his
companions had ever seen another like it.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-16
PITTsBURG. MONDAY. MAR. lS. 1891
ANATIoNAL DISGRACE.

The letter of Secretary Blaine 10 the Gov
ernor Of Louisiana puts the recent mob muir
ders at New Orleans in their proper light,
and reveals the violation of law and inter
national obligations perpetTated by such
uutrageS.
Under the treaties with the King of Italy
this Government guarantees to italian SUBJ
jects soiourning in this country protection to
person and property, subject to the same
legal and judicial powers as citizens of the
United States Treaty obligations are made
the supreme law OF tie land by the Consti-
tuition. We are thus confronted with the
fact that protection which the country was
bound BY the highest obligations to extend
has been wantonly violated by an ignorant
and murderous mob.
The only loophole of escape for this coun-
try is The plea that where mob law reigns
the persons and property OF no citizens are
safe, and that the Italians had as much pro-
lection at New Orleans as any one else.
But that is plea which is neither to the
national credit or likely to satisfy foreign
power which demands that this country shall
fulfill its treaty obligations.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-16
Love and Marriage in Kafir-Land.

A marriage in Kaffir-Land, South Africa, is
matter of affinity. though one-sided. A
Kaffir returns from a hunting, trading or war
expedition. and sees girl he wants for wife,
says GoldthaCGite'S Geographical Magazine.
He does not go through the formallty of ask
ing her consent, but sends an emissary to her
father to inquire the price. After several days
of haggling, a committee of old married women
is appointed to effect compromise between
the buyer and the seller. The intending Bene-
dict, if a man of wealth, will pay the price and
Immediately take possession of his bride. whose
consent to the transaction may or may not have
been obtained. Every wife is entitled TO a sep
arate house for herself and future family. If
the bridegroom have not sufficient cows to pay
the entire purchase money he pays portion of
it and the betrothal then takes place.
The wedding ceremonies are primitive. A
goat is stewed whole, corn is cooked, a plenti-
fuI supply of native beer is provided. TO this
feast, served on the ground in the open air in
front of the council hut of the village, every
one is invited. AS in most nations where every
able-bodied man is compelled to serve as a
soldier the number of females far exceeds
that of the males. A Kafir is allowed to have
as many wives as he can purchase, but 1t is not
etiquette for commoner to have as many as
the chief of the kraal in which he resides. The
chief again is expected to have lesser number
than the king of the tribe.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-16
A Chinese Nondescript.

A story similar to the one from Portland is
contributed to THE DISPATCH by a Hong
Kong correspondent: There is big lake in the
Linchuen district of Foochow, China about 80
ii in circumference. During winter the farm
ers, by the aid of rude and primitive machinery.
pump out Its water to irrigate their fields.
Lately some fishermen, when the water was
rather low, were fishing on the lake and saw
through the clear water a huge animal re-
sembling an OK in every particular, except that
the head had no horns.
The news of the discovery of this strange
beast caused great comm otion, and with much
difficulty and excitement it was finally caught.
Its hairs, or rather bristles, were hard and
The most learned of the village patriarchs
failed to designate the animal by its proper
name.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-16
IRELAND,s PATRON SAINT
The Subject of an Interesting Address in
Allegheny Last Evening.

Rev. Father E Dunphy lectured at st. Paups
Pro-Cathedral. Allegheny. yesterday even
ing, on "St. Patrick" The general tenor
of the reverend geptlemau's discourse was to
the effect which St Patrick's teachings had on
the subsequent belief of the Irish race. He
said that the saint landed in Ireland B. c. 432.
and that he preached throughout the country
for 80 years. The result of his preachings was
a general conversion of the people to his doc
trines. for $50 years afterward Ireland earned
the title Of the Isle of Saints" and schools had
been successfully established at Lismoue and
Clanmacmorris.
After that period the North Danes and North
men took possession of the island, remaining
in control for 800 years. until they were swept
from it by Brian BrOihu. Then ensued a war
fare lasting 800 years between the Anglo-Sax-
ons and the irish, who contended for the faith
implanted in them by ST. Patrick. The grad
ual pressure of the Saxons broke up the integ-
rIty of the nation. and the Irish became scat
tered over the face of the earth.
Father Dunphy closed his historical illusions
to the progress of Christianity in Ireland by
strong appeal to the congregation He urged
them to remember. above all things to-day,
that they were Irish; that they should not forget
they were Christians; that they should not for
get they had ancient traditions to adhere to.
but particularly should they sink all class feel
ing. ana remember that they could honor their
patron saint and their country without giving
offense to others who might not have sympathy
with their sentiments
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-16
SHOULD DIRECTORS DIRECT? d?

The question which was discussed with SO
much interest at the time of an epidemic of
bank failures several years ago, "Do direc-
tors direct?" receives new light from the
active efforts which Mr.. Depew is making,
in connection with that New York tunnel
disaster, 10 convince the public not only that
directors do not direct, but that they ought
not to be expected to direct, because they
cannot do so.
OF course this contention is made in some
what different terms; but as it is the respon-
sibilitv of direction that is sought to be
avoided BY his pleas, the practical effect is
identical. One of the arguments to which
the orator Of the banquets resorts isso singu-
lar as to deserve attention. He asserts that
failure of corporations TO observe the laws or
guard against loss of life, because he is a
director of thirty railway corporations,
and is therefore unable to assure
himself that all of these cor
porations are doing what they should.
1t is interesting to observe that if this plea
Of a multifariousness of corporate duty can
be held to exempt Mr.. Depew from respon-
sibility it will do the same Tor numerous
other corporate magnates. Mr.. W. L.
Scott, Mr.. Jay Gould, Mr.. C. P. Hunting
ton and others hold directorships in large
number of corporations; while Mr.. G. B.
Roberts, in his testimony in the South Penn
case, asserted that he was President of more
corporations than ne could remember. We
do not know that any of these gentlemen
before Mr.. Depew have asserted the doc
trine of responsibility. But it is plain in
such a case as that of Mr.. Roberts, that if
a man cannot remember that he is the
President Of a given corporation, it is i'm
possible for him to direct its operations.
Thus we arrive at the condition in which
the exercise of corporate powers is embel-
lished by an alleged responsibility which
has not been rivaled since Mr.. Justice
Blackstone developed his theory that ''the
King can do no wrong"
Mr.. Depew's plea is sufficiently answered
by the reply that ii would have some force
if there were any legal compulsIOn upon
him to be the director of thirty different
railways, or upon Mr.. G. B. Roberts to be
President of more corporations THAI be can
conveniently recall to mind. But there is
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-16
FoRTY-FIvE YEARS ON THE FORCE.
Changes In Pfttsburg Witnessed by Cap
tain William Reed.


tain William Reed.
Captain William Reed yesterday celebrated
the forty-fifth anniversary of the day he first
went on the Pittsburg police force, on which
he has remained ever since, an houored member
of that organization. Captain Reed has seen
remarkable changes in this city. When he first
undertook to help preserve the public peace
there were but Is officers on the force. none Of
them in uniform. They called the hours of the
day and night, like the old watch, and men who
laid awake nights could get pointers on the
weather without looking out of the window.
Forty-five years ago Pittsburg was bounded on
the east by Ross street and on the northeast by
Fifteenth street. The extreme limit of the
city was at the corner of Seventh avenue
and Coal lane, now Webster avenue. Fifth
avenue below Smithheld street was lined with
lumber yards, a number Of small shanties and
few residences. The site of the postoffce and
City Hall was then, and for many years after,
occupied by BoIdman & Garrison's foundry.
The Central station was located on Fourth ave-
nue. near Wood street.
After a time P1ttsburg swallowed up Pitt
township, which was considered remarkable
event This carried the city out Fifth avenue,
then known as the Philadelphia pike. to
Stevenson street, and over the hill to Fulton
street. This district consisted of farms and
wild lands, cut up by gullies. A boardwalk was
built out Fifth avenue to the city line, but the
roadway was nothing but huge mud puddle.