The morning call., 1892-06-13

taking away of the luxury may be felt by
inVeterate smokers as dreadful punish
ment. People who know nothing Of the
management ana discipline of jails may,
however, ask for further information. Does
the prohibition of cigarettes include ban
upon tobacco in any form? Are the pris-
Oners to be allowed to indulge their tastes
for nicotine with pipes, and are they to be
consOled with chewing tobacco? Ii these
privileges are to be accorded as quite as
necessary TO the betterment Of conyicts as
pork and beans on Sunday, then the inter
dictiOn of cigarettes will have small effect
in depressing the average Jail bird with the
sadness O: his lot. Some years ago prison.
eTs at San Quentin had quite as much un-
controlled liberty as the criminals in Par
isian jails half century ago. They con-
gregated together in easy-Roing groups, ana
a game at cards was solace occasionally
permitted.
Nothing appears in the bids for supplies
this year as to packs of cards with which TO
begule the time of incarceration and tighten
the due sense If fallen worth and humiia-
ton. but there does appear bid to supply
five tons of chewing tobacco at 2412 cents
er pound. 1t is, therefore. evident that the
jaws Of the brotherhood under sentence in
State prisons are soothed with comforts
which must remind them that prison life is
not without cOnsideTate consultations Ihe
most faStdiOus and epicurean could not
raise objections to the dietary, which Is
liberal and varied. The directors nave
actually postponed a decision upon the
question Of what is the best brand of flour
suita BILE to provide bread for the prisoners.
a together California is not unkind TO the
fallen and vicious
The Mechanics Institute is about to build
itself new home. Members are to be
asked to give their opinion on three plans
which have been prepared, and it is TO be
hoped that members Will exercise their dis
Cretion judiciously. Most Of them will
probably deem il undesirable to remove far
from the present site. 1t is said the loea-
tiOn most favored is a lot north Of Market,
east of Powell and south Of Post This, If
adopted, is not much of a change compared
with The present site, and the new building
could be constructed TO suit the advanced
requirements of the present day. 1T would
be unwise to 60 far TO the west, under the
impression that the city is all moving IN that
direction. a coed deal OF the city VIII re-
main where it is, between the water front
and Stockton street, and between Market
street and Telegraph Hill. IL is also TO be
kept in mind that the Free Library is at
the City Hall. and that the Mercantile Ii
brary is On Van Ness avenue. Both ac-
commOdate large circles Of readers IN the
newer portions OF the city.
The launch Of a steamer OF the size Of the
Peru. $50 feet long and Of a tonnage Of
3615, is an event in the history of San Fran
cisco. The ENTERPRISE is, however. trife
thrown into the shade by the reflection that
the steel plates used for the hull and boilers
all came from the East. Our possibilities In
shIp-buildtng would be enormous had we all
the materials at hand. There is iron OF
unsuTpassaole quality in the Sierras, and
from that of course we could make steel,
also Of uDSuTpaSsable quality. but Our diff
Guilty Is 10 suit ourselves With tuel, ali OF
which has to be brought from great dis
tance. The cost Of fuel is heavy tax upon
the Pacific Coast manufacturers. Some day
science may come to our aid and give US
lust the requisite we need 10 lift Stale Of
great resources into productive energy.
4 number Of ostriches from California
are already at Chicago as an exhibit at the
Worlds Fair. They are, perhaps. just
little too early on the ground, as to survive
for the fair they will have to endure the
rigor of very hard winter; but the enter
prising ostrich farmers who have sent them
to Chicago appear TO be Indifferent whether
or not they lose a few specimens. They
have large herd en- their ranches and are
confident they have solved the problem of
acclmatization. The ostrich is at least one
toleTably bulky creature Of use to man that
can thrive on the sparse vegetation Of
deserts. Even on some portions of the
MOjaVe region IL might contTiye 10 exc out
existence and grow wing feathers for the
adOrnmeut Of ladies. That seems to be the
principal use Of the huge bird 10 civilization,
and as the fashion Of wearing the feathers
is as permanent as anything in fOibles can
be, there is room for further experiments in
ostrich Tanching
The credit Of France is rising to an as
suring position of pride when per cent
Tentes are quoted at 100. which is said to be
the highest figure attained since 1917. In spite
Of heavy debt and an enormous drain Of
expenditures for national purposes; in spite
Of frightful losses by the war with Germany
and through various financial crashes
France is regaining her feet splenddly and is
entitled 10 the good wishes Of the world. Il
is one Of the nun beTless proofs that France
Is very rlch country ana mas population
with a genius for thrift. Ii may lie hoped
sincerely that France VIII not be luTed by
her prosperity into any schemes OF war for
the sake Of ambition and revenge. She may
be cOntented with her strength ana remain
prepared for attack or defense. but not anX-
i0us to provoke rupture. There are no
war clouds on the horizon at present, but
they are easily formed.
J0hn 4. redmond IS IN America on a
mission for funds in aid of the Parnelite
cause. According to John Dillon, who is
one of the most conscientious and upright
men in the Irish party, the warfare be-
tween the rival factions is 10 no likelihood
Of being arranged. Both apparently want
the same thing-a separate Irish Parlia-
ment-but they will not unite to obtain it..
There are two parties in the field, and they
n GU N bp Ct I a. I
were Wing and Tory and utterly irrecon-
clable. The constituencies will have 10
make their decision, and Mr.. Dillon seems
to be confident that Redmond and his fol-
lowers will be defeated in far the greater
number Of cases. Seeing that self-gUyern-
ment for Ireland is demanded by both
sides and there is no essential antag0nism
of principle, but only one Of persons. it
does seem lamentable to those who wish
Ireland well that her own sons cannot act
IL