davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25
CHRISTIANITY IN JAPAN.
Significance of the Fact That There Are 13
Converts in Parliament.

Significance of the Fact That There Are 13
Converts in Parliament.
Since the Mikado, whose authority has
continued in Japan for the past 4, 900 years,
(according to Japanese annals, chose to
concede part of this authority to the peo-
pie, granting them Constitutional Govern
ment and the privilege of electing their own
Representatives in the newly-composed
Parliament, the rise of the Christian ele-
ment among the Japanese has been very
marked, and the selection of members of
this faith to fill many of the important
offices under the Government, has been
quite as noticeable.
In the present Parliament there are 13
baptized Christians and several others who
profess that faith, but have not yet received
the rite of baptism. This number, out of a
total of 800 composing the Parliament, is a
very good showing for the Christians. If
this average is preserved throughout Japan
it would show that Christianity now num-
bers over !, 500, 600 converts among people
who, 20 years SINCE had hardly Christian
within their country.
Looking at this in another light it be-
comes even more interesting, for 1t has al
ways been claimed that though Christianity
made some progress among the lower or
ders of Japanese, yet it made none among
the higher. The inference suggested by the
number of Christians in this, the second
elected House of Representatives, directly
contradicts this theory, for it shows that
whereas the percentage of converts in Japan
does not exceed q In every 10, 900, yet the
corresponding percentage in the class from
which members of the House of Representa-
tives are drawn is 433 In this calculation
the total number of Christians of all denom-
nations in Japan is assumed to be 100, 900,
the number heretofore conceded as belong
ing to that faith
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25
PROMOTIONS FOR MERIT ONLY.
A New Plan to Circumvent the Politician
and Time-Servcr.

A New Plan to Circumvent the Politician
and Time-Servcr.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 24-Pursuant
to the directions embraced in a letter from
the President to the head of each depart
ment, dated December 4, 1891, the Secre-
tary of the Treasury has completed plan.
which will take effect January 1, under
which all promotions in the Treasury De-
partment, will hereafter be made on basis
of merit only, and as the result of competi-
tive examinations These examinations
will be made by an examining board in the
department designated by the Secretary,
and not bv the Civil Service Commission as
a rule. Each examination for promotion
of any grade will be confined to clerks in
the same office or bureau. AS part of the
plan thus adopted, daily record will be
kept of the efficiency of each clerk by the
Chief of his division. In all examinations
this efficiency record will be the element Of
chief weight. ." "a
The efficiency record will give the daily
standing of each clerk for punctuality, at
tendance. conduct (inoluding personal
habits), accuracy, industry, aptitude and
general ability. This new departure, with
which the officials of the Treasury Depart
ment are in full accord, is regarded as re-
moving all promotions from the domain of
political influence and official favoritism,
and places them exclusively on the basis Of
merit.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25
NOT A BAD GUESSER
On National Figures Was the Late
Secretary Window, After All.
THE RESULTS BEARING HIM OUT.
Merit to Be the Cause of Promotion in the
Treasury Department.
POSTAL CARDS COME IN THREE SIZES

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 24.-The at
tention of the Treasury Department was
recently called by correspondent to a
newspaper statement to the effect that in
his annual estimate of receipts and expendi-
lures for the fiscal year which ended June
so, 1891, the late Secretary Window over
estimated the receipts of revenue by
$52, 100000 and underestimate the dis
bursements by $7,o0O,o0O. The facts as
they are shown by the books of the Treas
ury Department are given in the following
letter from Assistant Secretary Nettleton
to H. L. Earle, ESQ.,, Washington, ID. c.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. "a.
In reply to your communication OF the Z2d
inst, you are Informed that the published
statements to which you call attention is
In his annual report to Congress, dated De-
cember !, 1890, page %, the late. Secretary
Window estimated the total receipts for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1891 including re-
ceipts from tie postal service, to be s472-
600 900. The actual receipts have proven to
be s467, ,907 ,94s o. Remembering that the
tariff legislation embodied in the Mckinley
bill made radical changes in the customs re-
ceipts, most OF which only took effect after
the date of the late Secretary's report, the
estimate made by him on December was
In the same report, Mr.. Window estimated
the total expenditures, including disburse-
ments for the postal service, to be $420, No.
600 for the same fiscal year. The actual ex-
penditures prove to have been $444, ,s57, ,76S 96.
an excess of nearly $25, 600 900 over the es-
innate. This excess is almost wholly ac-
counted for by expenditures growing out OF
legislation enacted, and judicial decisions
rendered, after the date of Mr.. WINDOWS 3
report, which, therefore, could not have
been taken into contemplation in his es-
Inmates. The principal item of this kind is
is $Il, ,521, 600 disbursed in refunding direct
taxes to the several States, the legislation
for which was only enacted on the last day
of the session, March 8; 1891.
Possibly the writer of the erroneous pub
lished statement to which you refer was
mised by mingling with the regular re-
ceipts and expenditures of the Government,
disbursements on account of the public
debt, which formed no part OF the Secre-
tary's estimate. Respectfully yours,
A. b. NErTLEToN,
Assistant Secretary,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25
MINDS INFLUENCE ON MIND.
A Remarkable Instance of Mental Tel
egraphy From Normal School.
New Vork Tiu,es

A Remarkable Instance of Mental Tel
esraphy From a Normal School.
New York Times.]
'Mental telegraphy," since the issue of
one of the magazines of the current month
containing paper on the subject, has been
more or less talked about. Nearly every
one finds in his experience an added illus
tration of the authors theory that at times
and on simple commonplace matters mind
communicates with mind, without words
and regardless of geographical distances.
A particularly striking instance is related
by Normal school teacher.
One day last week she asked her class,
composed of 80 grown girls, a question.
Having done so she began at one end and
requested an answer in turn. One after
another replied in what seemed to her an
irrelevant manner.
line of thought at all" As she continued
the rotation she felt that the corner girl,
the thirtieth, would reply correctly; she
was bright pupil and one who seemed pc
culiarly responsive to her teaching. Sure
enough, No. 80 replied intelligently and
thoroughly.
But Instantly there was protest from
the other 29 THAT was not your question,
Miss c." one asserted and the others con-
firmed, and with but one dissenting voice
the class gave the question as they had
heard it. Their answers fitted this question,
and Miss c., in the face of this testimony,
was forced to believe that her lips had
formed one question while her mind was
intent upon another And No. 80 had
caught the thought behind the words and
she had fitted tho question to it.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25

When not in use all these 26 years since
it was constructed, the bier has been kept
in secret stone crypt or tomb inside the
Capitol, away down under ground in the
very center of the building, remote from all
scenes of legislative strife and political tur-
moil. This subterranean crypt was prepared
in the first year of this century as mauso-
leum to receive . sarcophagus containing
the remains of George Washington, under a
resolution of Congress passed early in 1900,
when it was proposed to build a statue of
him in the rotunda of the Capitol and accord
his dust a national sepulture underneath.
But the crypt was never used for that pur-
pose, because Mrs Martha Washington in
her lifetime objected to the separation of
her remains from those of her illustrious
consort, and desired to be buried with him,
and because Washington also,, in his will,
signifed his desire to lie inferred perma-
nently at Mount Vernon.
President Lincoln's remains, after lying
in state for two days in the East Room of
the White House, were transferred to the
Capitol, where, resting on this bier, they
were exhibited in the rotunda from noon on
April 20 until 6 in the evening of April p,
1855.
After Lincoln's funeral the bier was
slowed away in George Washington's unoc-
cupied tomb. Relic hunters located it, and
despite all the precautions taken to pre-
serve it intact, they despoiled it of many of
it's ornaments and trimmings. Three years
later an explosion was occasioned in the
crypt by the escape of gas from the pipes in
the surrounding walls, and the man who
undertook to investigate the leak was
killed and the bier sadly singed. When
Thaddeus Stevens died, however, it was
covered anew and drawn out of the crypt
into the rotunda above.
The fasces at the four corners and the
silver ornaments and satin festoons are now
totally gone, carried off piece by piece in
the pockets Of predatory tourists, and what
is left of the bier as whole presents u
sorry appearance, for the broadcloth cover
ing is almost devoured by moths, and only
one strand of satin braid remains stretching
around one end and one side. But Archi-
tect Clark, who has custody of the treasured
relic, now keeps it under strictest lock and
key in its narrow cell.
JOHN D. CREMER.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25
SODIUM IN THE AIR.
It Proves the Sun and Stars Have the Same
Material as the Earth.

It Proves the Sun and Stars Have the Same
Material as the Earth.
Youths Companior.l
When flash of lightning darts through
the air, it vaporizes any minute particles of
floating matter that may be in its path. By
examining the light of the lightning with a
spectroscope, the nature of these vaporized
substances may be determined, because
every known element in nature shows in its
spectrum certain lines that belong to it
alone
By studying the spectrum of lightning in
this way, Mr.. w. E. Wood, of Washington,
has recently been able to show that sodium,
which is the element from which common
salt is formed, exists in the air. He sug-
gests various ways of accounting for the
presence of sodium in the atmosphere, one
of which is particularly interesting, and
that is that it may have come there from
interstellar space. 1t is known that mete-
oric dust Is continually falling upon the
globe from beyond the atmosphere. and if
it should turn out that microscopic particles
of sodium are included in this strange, un-
ending shower with which the heavens
salute the earth, it would be only another
proof of the unity of composition that ex-
tends from the earth to the sun, and from
the sun to the stars
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25
REDMosD THE WATERFORD VICTOR
The Result Gives the Parnellite Faction .
New Lease of Life.

DUBLIN, Dec 24-The Parliamentary
election at Waterford yesterday resulted in
a substantial victory for the Parnellites, the
scene of conflict being in the stronghold OF
that faction. Complete returns give Red
mond, the victor, 1,775 votes. and Davitt,
1,229 votes, a majority against the Nc
Carthyites of SIG The announcement of
the official figures was followed by scene
of the widest enthusiasm. The Parnellites
shouted, waved their hats and sticks, and
in every way gave vent to their Jubllant
feelings The McCarthyites were corre'
spondingly depressed.
After quiet had been somewhat restored
Mr.. Redmond proposed the usual vote OF
thanks to the Sheriff to whom is entrusted
the task of making the official return of cleo
tion. 1t customary for the defeated candi-
date to second the vote of thanks, and Mr..
Davitt did not fail in this duty. He took oc-
casion to add, however, after seconding Mr..
Redmond's motion, that he would rather
lose an election than win by combined ter
rorism and rowdyism. The remark pro-
voked most uproarious outburst of protest
from the Parnellites, and for time it looked
as though the official canvass wonld end in
a free fight. When Mr.. Davitt withdrew
from the counting room he was escorted to
his hotel by a number of police. 1t was
wise precaution, for had he attempted the
journey alone there is no telling what the
consequences might have been.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25
UTILITY OF DKPEW's sT0RIES
They Serve to Enliven Occasions That Arc
Otherwise Dull and Stupid.

They Serve to Enliven Occasions That Are
Otherwise Dull and Stupid.
New York Times.l
Mr.. Chauncey NJ. Depew has strong al
tipathy to dull people and to dull occasions.
He never permits business meeting at
which he Is present to become tedious. If
the business in hand is not of stirring
character, Mr.. Depew invariably has story
or two with which to enliveu the occasion.
Laughter usually plays prominent part in
the railroad meetings at the Grand Central
station. and yet the practical objects of the
meetings are neither neglected nor de-
layed.
After the recent meeting of the Presi-
dents of the several railroads in the Van
derbilt system, which was held in this city,
Mr.. Depew was asked whether he had told
his associate Presidents any new stories.
He quickly replied: stNo, sir. I never
waste any new stories in meeting where
everything is bright and cheerful 1t is
only when business is dull and everybody
is feeling blue that 1 undertake to enliven
them. just now every man connected with
the management of the Vanderbilt roads is
feeling particularly happy"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25
FLOUR FOR STARVING RUSSIANS
Congressio nal Aid Necessary to Transport
the MilIers' Offering.

the Millers' Offering.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Ex-senator WASH
burn, of Minnesota, had conference with
Secretary Tracy to-day relative to the use
of Government vessel for the transporta-
tion to Europe of the -four contributed by
the milIers of Minneapolis and vicinity for
the relief of the starving peasants of Russia.
Secretary Tracy was very favorably i'm
pressed with the suggestion. He said that
Senator Washburn should write him
formal letter about the matter, and he
would at once consult with the President
upon the subject.
There is a question as to whether author
ity exists for the use of the United States
vessel for the purpose indicated, without
Congressional action to obviate any difficulty
that might arise on the scene. Senator
Washburn, when Congress reassembles after
the holidays, will introduce joint resolu-
tion authorizing the Secretary of the Navy
to use such vessels as he may see fit for the
transportation of the flour. If the resolution
be acted upon promptly and favorably, it is
hoped to have the -four under way by the
Goth Of January.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25

The new Southside market house will be
one of the most complete and best equipped
buildings of its kind in the country. The
plan, as shown above, was prepared by
Architect Bickel, and has been adopted by
Chief Bigelow as coming nearest to his idea
of what the Southside should have. The
building will occupy the same space as the
old one. The plan shows the front, facing
up Twelfth street toward Carson. Bing-
ham street will pass right through the
building in an arcade.
Chief Bigelow, several months ago in
spected the market houses of all the prin-
cipal Eastern cities with the express pur-
pose of getting ideas for this structure.
In each place he noted various late i'm
provements. economizing space and ma king
better accommodations for buyers and
sellers. By combining all these the Chief
has obtained his ideal of market house.
Instead OF having the upper floor used as
hall it will be utilized for market pur-
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25

poses Butter, eggs and such other products
will be sold there. and part of the space
will be used for restaurant. The ground
floor will be devoted to meat and fish
stands. For these the Chief hasadopted a
novel plan. Instead of having ice chests in
the rear of the stalls they will be con-
structed overhead. This saves great
amount of space for stalls and is just as
convenient. The whole will be equipped
with the latest cold storage appliances.
The estimated cost of the building is S35,
600, and Chief Bigelow has asked that the
amount be set aside in the appropriations
for next year. There is little doubt but that
it will be granted, as a new structure to re-
place the burned one has become pressing
necessity. Work will be started as soon as
the weather permits next spring While
the building is being constructed the mar
keters will use sheds along both sides of
Twelfth and Bingham streets.
''The Southside," said Chief Bigelow,
twill have one of the finest market houses
in the country. In equipments there will
be nothing surprising it anywhere.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25
WORSE THAN PITTsBURG SMOKE
ondon's Fog Causes Great Confusion and
Many Fatal Accidents.

ondon's Fog Causes Great Confusion and
Many Fatal Accidents.
LONDON, Dec. 24-The remarkable fog
hich has enshrouded this city all this
eek, still remains. Advices from points
the Eastern part of England show that
ie fog is prevalent along the whole length
the eastern coast. The captains of many
sssels found the greatest difficulty in max
g their ports. On the river Tyne the
tipping industry is almost at standstill.
rains in the north of England have been
'eatly delayed. The atmosphere is so thick
lat usual signals can hardly be seen.
Walking about the docks is extremely dan
,rous, even to those thoroughly acquainted
it'll all their hooks and crannies. Three
Ock constables than whom no one is sup
osed to be more familiar with all the in
icacies of London docks, have lost their
yes during the fog. Steamers in the chan
Il service are greatly retarded. The fog
uses the ice to rot very rapidly, and
any skaters have broken through and
zen drowned. The fog is boon to the
as companies Everybody who uses gas
rs been compelled to keep it burning all
". The gas supply at the general post
ice failed to-day, and for some time Lon
ms mail service was in state Of great
infusion.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25
THE RICH AND THE POOR.
A Volume of Wisdom in q Sentence From
Student at Harvard.

A Volume Of Wisdom in q Sentence From
Student at Harvard.
Youths Companion.]
There is moral worth needing in bit Of
talk which passed not long ago between two
Harvard students. One of them inherited
much money, and gives the best energies of
his life to spending it in somewhat ostenta-
tious fashion. The second student, his
townsman and cousin, is steady. straight
forward fellow, manly and gifted and not
in the least ashamed of the fact that he is
poor.
The talk on the train, when the boys were
etarting together for Cambridge this fall,
happened to turn upon the subject of winter
clothing, and the wealthy youth said, with
a little air of patronage:
81 always have my clothes made by
Blank. 1t is true he is the most expensive
tailor in Boston, but he is the best. / sup
pose,'' he added, with unconscious rudeness,
that you can hardly afford to patron:ze
Blank
'No," the other answered quietly, 'but
then l can afford not to patronize him.
His cousin was not too dull 10 see the
point, and the subject was dropped
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25
THE NEW OCEAN P0sToFFIcE.
Many Hours Valuable Time Saved by the
Sorting of Mails on shipboard.

Many Hours Valuable Time Saved by the
Sorting of Mails on shipboard.
New YORK, Dec. 24.-At 3 A. NJ. to-day
there was received at the postofice by the
steamship Hayel, from Bremen, 436 sacks
of mail matter, followed at $40 by the
mail from the steamer Majestic, from
Queenstown, consisting of 1,164 sacks.
The advantage gained by the establish
ment Of the sea post on the steamers of the
North German Lloyd and Hamburg lines
Tin which the mails are assorted en- route by
German and American clerks) was con-
spicuo,sly demonstrated in this case, as the
letters brought by the Havel being received
in packages made up for their respective
destinations, 1t was possible to dispatch
them promptly by the morning trains, while
those brought by ;he Majestic were delayed
until the afternoon or evening on account
of the necessity for asserting them In the
New York Postofice.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25
A BIT OF INEXPENSIVE GENEROSITY.
Henry Irving's Gift to the Lotus Club Com.
pared With Sir Edwin Arnold's.

Henry Irving's Gift to the Lotus Club Com
pared With Sir Edwin ArnoIds.
New York Times.l
The recent presentation by Sir Edwin Ar
mold of the manuscript of a meritorious and
intrinsically valuable poem to the Lotos
Club recalls an incident that marked the
visit of Henry Irving to this city in 1889.
Like Sir Edwin. Mr.. Irving had been an
honored guest at a Lotos Club banquet.
The enthusiasm of the lotos eaters is bound
less and their hospitality is proverbial. Sir
Edwin, in the enthusiasm of the moment,
presented the club with the manuscript of a
poem for which he had been offered large
sum OF money.
Mr.. Irving, after enjoying the hospitality
of the club, insisted upon presenting each
member with an annual pass to the Lyceum
Theater in London. The llmitless posi-
bilities of such presentation impressed
certain members of the club to such an ex-
tent that they undertook the task of pre-
vailing upon each member to send note
declining the proffered favor. Mr.. Irving's
impulsive generosity was therefore saved
from very expensive consequences.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25
The BIER OF LINCOLN.

A Dilapidated, Moth-Eaten Relic In
Secret Crypt at the Capital.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DIsPArcR.I
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-An interesting
national relic which the Worlds Fair will
probably want as an exhibit has been pre-
served here for many years in an unusually
curious hiding place. 1t is the bier or
catafalque upon which successfully rested,
as they lay in state in the rotunds of the
Capitol, the remains of the nations mar
tyred President. Abraham Lincoln; those of
Thaddeus Stevens, Pennsylvania great
commoner;" of Salmon P. Chase, Lincoln's
Secretary of the Treasury and afterward
Chief Justice; of Senator Charles Sumner
and Vice President Henry Wilson, of Mass
achusetts; of President James A. Garfield,
and of General John A. Logan.
1t was made of wood after an original
design by B. B. French, Jr., Commissioner
of Public Buildings. and consists of .
platform and elevated dais covered with
fine black broadcloth and ornsmented
at the sides with tasteful funereal trimmings.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-25
FRENCH ART FOR THE FAIR.

A Rare National typographical Exhibit
and Panorama of the Deluse.
PARIS, Dec. 24-M. Henri Doniol, the
historian and director of the National
Printing Office, says that he means to make
good exhibit at Chicago. He has asked
for $4,000 francs for this purpose. The
National printing Office is an ancient and
remarkable institution, turning out very
artistic typographical work and curious
publications in oriental type. Specimens
of this work will be the main feature of the
exhibit.
NJ Georges Rochegross, the well-known
French painter and M. Alexandra Pas
calides, a Greek painter, are engaged on a
grand panorama fof Chicago, which will
depict the Deluge.