davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-04
CuRR-sToNE CRITICISM.

The business of life insurance has spread
so enormously, and so many of our citizens
of all classes are concerned in the solvency
of the great companies that scrutiny of
results is of the highest Importance. But
in exercising the vigilance which assures
safety it is well there should be common
intelligence and justice. The need for
this is well shown by the card of President
Beers, of the New York Life, which was
yesterday extensively published through
the country in reply to criticisms which, if
allowed to go unchallenged, might have
caused much unessiness.
It had been alleged that certain details
of the management Of the New York Life
were wrong and injudicious and resulted
in large losses. The criticisms touched
chiefly on certain investments of the COM
pany in real estate and transactions Of the
company with its agents. Mr.. Beers
answer in yesterdays DISPATCH must
have struck the reader as conclusive: He
points to assets of over S120, 000, 900 against
liabilities of barely Sf06, ,000, 900, leaving a
surplus of between S14, 4,OOO, 900 and S15,
600, 900. This is verified by an official ex-
animation of the New York State Exam
iner, conducted thr ugh period of six
months and covering every detail.
The best answer-in fact the only
anwer-to criticisms of business methods,
whether in life insurance or other business,
is to show the results These are con-
elusive. President Beers further clinches
his position by. pointing to the fact that
WI hn hnl of
years ago the surplus was only 5000, 900.
1t is now nearly 15,0OO,0O0. He admits
that he is not infallible; that in the course
of his long administration there have
doubtless been errors; but a man who can
point to such growth and success for his
company can very well afford to make
such admissions. 1t is only the humility
of confident pride in enormous success.
The criticisms leveled against the New
York Life had reached the dimensions OF
an international scandal; had led to libel
suit; and had caused anxiety probably to
the many thousands of policy holders in
that and other companies. As matter of
general public interest therefore, it is
gratifying to note that its Presidents card,
based upon the official verifcation of the
company's affairs, reduces the fault-fnd-
ing to neutrality-suspicious.. The whole
matter is simply the old and familiar story
of an immense and profitable business
built up by its projectors on safe founda-
tions, when somebody comes along to crit
icise the details and tell how much better
things could have been done.
That sort of criticism is a plenteous ar
ticle in the business world. 1t represents
the outside and curb-stone talent, and
usually, as in this case, does not pan out
on investigation of all the facts.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-04
POLITICAL PANDERING.

Some evil-disposed person-he must be
an offensive and un-American Mugwump
according to the classification of tfb
spoils-started in New York the other day
report that President Harrison had writ
ten to Mr. Thomas c. Platt to the follow
ing effect: my brief experience at Wash
ington has led me to utter the wish, with
an emphasis l do not often use, that 1
might be forever relieved of any connec-
ton with the distribution of public patron
age I covet for myself the free and un-
purchased support Of my fellow-citizens. ="
The story also adds that inquiry of Mr.
Platt elected denial that he had received
any such communication from the Presi-
dent Furthermore, Platt did not believe
that the President ever used such Ian
guage, but that if he did, it was for the
purpose of ''pandering to the better ele-
ment"
In this Platt combines truth and error.
Mr. Harrison did not address that language
to Mr.. Platt, and it is not understood thas
he is distributing such sentiments at pres
ent. But he is the author of the language
beyond question. 1t was addressed to the
people of the United States at time wher
Mr. Harrison did not have any patronage
and was desirous of receiving votes from
the hated Mugwumps.
But Platt's error as to the fact is to be
pardoned in view OF his happy description
of the motive for such language. Pander-
ing to the better element is a phrase
worthy of permanent place in political
literature. 1t is important not only for its
direct meaning but in itsimplication. We
are invited to contemplate the political
genius which temporarily "panders to the
better element" as a relief from the regu-
lar occupation of pandering to the worse
elemen: 1t is also forcibly borne in upon
our mind that the practice of the former
kind of pandering is the one thing that
the spoils politician of Mr.. Platt's type
does not believe in, their sole reliance be-
ing in the latter.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-04
Social Chatter,

MRS. WYNN R. SEwELL will give leap year
dance on March similar to that given on
last Friday evening by Mrs. Henry Oliver
and Mrs Rea.
SOME time ago there was talk of the irrev-
erently dubbed mortar-board and gown
being adopted by the young ladies or the
Pennsylvania College, but the runor has
the innovation will be permitted, so long as
a preparatory department exists at the
college.
MR. AND MRS. j. T. WEYBREcHr, of Alliance,
o., have issued invitations for the wedding
tonight of their daughter, Miss Jennie
Naomi, to Mr.. John Martin Vitzthum. The
ceremony will be celebrated at Mr.. Wey-
brecht's house, 14s Linden avenue, at 8
O'Clock. Invitations were received in town
last week.
THE Columbus Literary Association will
give its third reception on Thursday even
ing. February 1S in Odd Fellows Hall
Southside. The music will be supplied by
Guenther's orchestra. The Committee on
Management is: Messrs; 2. j. Keeling,
Crooke, 7. f. J. Keating, William j. O'Don-
nell, A. W. Kunzelman.
SUCCESS has not attended the East End
Women's Exchange with as much peril
nacity as was expected. Miss Kate Edna
Negley is i'll and the Exchange is tempora rily
closed, with a prospect that it may continue
in closed condition for a much longer
period. There has never been any doubt re-
garding the condition of the employment
bureau, where demand always exceeded
supply, and Miss Negley intends to continue
the work with the same perseverance which
hardly to be expected that Pittsburg could
support two Exchanges. One successful
charity with agental flavor about it is as
much as any city can look to maintain.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-04
REED AND THOSE RULES.

WHY didn't Mr.. Reed advise the Demo-
cratic majority to consult clairvoyant?-
Washington Post.
Ex-SPEAKER REEDS plea for the perpetuae
tion of the Reed idea of q quorum is quit
too funny for anything. He must have his
little joke.-Boston Herald.
Mr.. REEDS vigorous defense of the rules of
the last Congress is considered by many a
very proper and natural display of paternal
Affection Washington Star.
THOMAS 3. REED is heartily welcome to all
of the comfort he can get out OF the adoption
of the rule of the Fifty-irst by the Fifty
second Congress.-Sdudnndh Netos
Tom REED doesn't believe in filibustering,
but he purposes to do it just to show his
Democratic friends the necessity of having
rules to prevent it.-Bufdto Express.
REED can conceive of nothing but the rule
of the majority, to the utter exclusion of
the minority, in legislating for the people,
who send to Congress the minority as well
as the maj ajority.-Horrisbuvg Patriot.
1T is Mr.. Reeds turn this year and he is
taking it, to be sure. How he did pitch into
the new Democratic rule yesterday. Mr..
Reed stands on the rock of majority rule and
majority responsibility and he is o clever
and eloquent debater who can tole him
away.-Bostor Globe.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-04

a grave warning-of the forces of crime
against which the people must contend if
their little ones are to be safe.
1t is useless to attempt TO find words to
fitly characterize the villainy capable of
carrying off little children and then ex-
torting ransom by threatening torture
and death if the parents do not surrender
their wealth to rescue their little ones. But
the fact that such villains exist makes the
need of guarding society against them
very emphatic. When the law fails
to suppress crimes against prop
erty there is a grave impeach-
ment of the efficacy of the social organ
ization. But when criminals direct their
attacks upon innocent children, the time
has come for every element Of society to
unite in the work of making the protection
more efficient and the punishment of such
cowardly criminals so certain that they
will be wiped out.
The attempted crimes in this line show
that there is about an equal need of more
efficient protection as between city and
country. If the people have to organize
at their own expense to make their chill
dren safe in their homes, they will be
likely to ask the political classes what they
pay taxes for.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-04
CARRIED OFF BY SQUIRRELS
A viii That Conveyed Property Valued at
About $4,000.

NEW LONDON, Feb. 3-The finding of the
will of Abram Mosher by two hunters in
Dark Hollow, near Hamburg, while trying
to get at a nest of gray squirrels in the trunk
of a hollow tree, has averted a lawsuit. The
hunters found among the leaves and pieces
of bark of which the nest was composed
some scraps of paper with writing on them,
several handkerchief, bits of ribbon, and
many bits of twine The pieces of paper
proved to be the holographic will of Abram
Mosher, a farmer living near Dark Hollow,
who died in the early part of last summer
Mosher, through inheritance and thrift, was
worth at the time of his death more than
$4,000. A young man named George Apple-
bee operated his farm and cared for him.
Applebee attended to the wants OF Mosher
faithfully until he died. few days before
the old man passed away he told Applebee
that lie had made n will in which he had
given him his entire estate
When Applebee went to look for the will
1t was gone. He searched every nook and
Granny, but could get no trace of it. As soon
as Mosher was dead, children OF second
cousin laid claim to the estate. Applebee
told the story of the will and refused to va
cate the farm He was finally elected and
the cousins took possession. There were
persons who had heard Mosher say that he
intended to give his property to Applebee,
and on the strength of their testimony
Applebee was preparing to make fight,
when the will was found.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-04
FAVORITEs OF FORTUNE.

THE Princess of Wales has gone to Osborne
House, Isle OF Wight, to pay quiet visit to
the Queen.
SENATOR MYLIN, of Lancaster,-Pa., has
been q member of the State legislature for
twenty years continuously.
Mr.. WILLIAM D. HowELLs composes all
of his stories on the typewriter, and is able
to work the machine very rapidly.
THE Czarina has recovered from the at
tack of influenza from which she has been
suffering for some time past.
ROBERT G. EVANS has been appointed
special United States Attorney to assist in
the prosecution OF land grant railroad suits
in Minnesota.
THE widely known prima donna, Etelka
Gerster, was recently the recipient of an in
vitation from Prince Bismark to visit his
villa at FriedrichsruLe.
IT was an odd coincidence that Cardinals
Manning and Simeoni were elevated to their
highest rank in the Church the same tay
and died on the same day.
THE President has recognized Rlccardo
Motta, as Consul of Italy at New Orleans for
the States of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi,
Arkansas, Alabama and Florida
JUDGE BoTKIN, the Kansas jurist, whose
life has been threatened, IS dead shot and
holds court with his rifle within easy reach
He is said to unerringy pick a 10-cent piece
of fence at 100 yards.
The King of Siam has conferred the
Order OF the White Elephant upon Mr..
Frederick n. Verney, the English Secretary
OF the Siamese Legation. No woman has
yet received the Order of the White
Elephant.
STURGEON, like Grant, loved q good
cigar, and he smoked almost as many of
them as the General did. The great preacher
was man of curious physique. He was
short and fattor of "portly habit" as the
doctors say euphemistically.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-04
SKIM MILK AS CREAM.

There is commingled sadness and SEN
sation in art and social circles in New
York. Certain paintings which enjoyed
tremendous fame as examples of European
masters were seized as they hung on the
walls of the leaders of the 4O0 because the
inexpert government detectives consid-
cred the fact of their not having paid duty
to be proof positive that they had been
smuggled. Here were the famous foreign
paintings, said the detectives, and there
were the books of the Custom House
showing no duty paid; hence the de-
duction of criminal evasion of the tariff
laws of the United States
The result shows the necessity, before
banking too heavily on the correctness of
your logic, of being absolutely certain that
your premises are true The three paint
ings, alleged to be worth $1,000, were car
ried away to the Custom House, where
they fell under the inspection of an eX-
pert, who promptly pronounced them to
be copies worth about $40. Whether the
copies were OF foreign or home manufact-
ure does not seem to have been the subject
of investigation. Probably this was be-
cause the officials rightly thought, that if
the millionaire proprietors had been smug-
Cling cheap copies from abroad, they were
sufficiently punished by the publication
of the fact.
The other moral of this interesting little
drama of real life is somewhat familiar.
That all is not gold which glitters, and
that ''skim-milk masquerades as cream"
has been declared by great satirists in
varied form. The fact is so self-evident
in this case that we need not farther pur-
sue the narrowing exhibit of basis of New
York regulations as wealthy patrons of
high art.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-04
J0KELETS FROM JUDGE

Mrs Dutton-Haye you had any expert
ence butler?
Applicant-oh. yes: have been engaged for
What! is not this Alicia?
Mrs. Dutton-Why, Count,
81 suppose you are familiar with Pope's
Essay on Man ~ said Miss Bostone
II can't say am, q" replied Miss Gotham. 'T
did read his last encyclica the labor question
though. 1t was a daisy
She says she hates me ardently,
But grieve not: in sooth,
My soul is full of gladsome glee,
Because know Penelope
Doesn't always tell the truth.
Cora-Whati you going to marry Fred
Nipple?
Madge-Yes. s4
Cora-Why. not long ago you said you would not
marry him II he were the last man in the world.
Madge-Well. I've kept my word. He isn't.
Wagsles-Why did you get your hair cut
so short in the middle of winter?
Henpect-I didn't wish my wife to have the grip.
Long-term Jim (as female form enters
and approaches large dark object in the corner
Of the room)-Heayens! she's going 10 pia--
Faints.)
short-term Dan latter reviving his par-shi
don't move. Lengthy. She's only looking At the
corpse.
Long-term Jim with sigh of relieD-oh, it'sa
corpse. is it? thought it was piano.
''That man is freak"
'FWhy so?'' zt1
ssHas S. 600 year and lives In Brooklyn"
To those who have felt misfortune's sting
1t must seem rather funny: -HS
One never really wants a thing .er
Unless he has no money.
Young Wife-Why, George, aren't you
going to cat your pudding?
Young Husband-Is this made from Mrs. Tomb
stones recipe2 4oa a.
Young wife-Yes. dear George. +nrt
Young Husband-Then. my dear cannot touch
IT. Mrs. Tombstone has already buried four hus-
bands.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-04
DARING OF A DIVER.
He Will Undertake Task in Which Four
Men Have Periahed.

DULUTH, MINI, Feb. 3.-M. F. Chalk, the
celebrated diver of this place, has gone to
Alpena, where he will undertake to find the
wreck of the Pewabic and raise it. The ves-
sci went down 25 years ago in 100 feet Of
water. Four attempts have been made to
raise the vessel, in each of which the diver
lost his life. or all the four only one lived
to reach the surface. The pressure of the
icy water was so enormous that life was
squeezed out. Diver Chalk has contract
with several wealthy Michigan men, who
pay him 81 900 for the attempt, guarantee his
life insurance in case he dies, pay all ex-
penses OF experiments, etc, and in case
they are able to bring up the wreck they
agree to divide the cargo equally.
The Pewabic is loaded with 800 tons of pig
copper, valued at s165 900, as we'll as 5000
worth of imperishaDle freight. The diver
has had a helmet made that viii stand 459
pounds pressure to the inch, and besides the
usual rubber dress will wear a wrought iron
vest and special steel devices over his arm
and leg joints to do away with some of the
water pressure. He is confident of success,
and expects to follow it by locating and
raising several sunken silver and copper
cayors in other parts of the lakes that are of
greater value, but are in deeper water.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-04
THEORIES OF BOILER EXPLOSIONS.

The comments of THE DISPATCH the
other day about the survival of the low
water theory of boiler explosions, as illus
trated by editorial comments of the New
York Telegram, evoke good humored
reply from that journal. 1t recognizes
that "a low stage of water is not neces-
ssry cause of explosions" although it in
Inmates that the Munhall farm expert
ments which furnished the first practical
disproof of that theory were not impor-
tant enough to be well known.
The Telegram cites the telegraphic re-
port of a locomotive boiler explosion on
which the comments were based and
which we admit were not before us when
we criticized its editorial deductions 1t
says:
The telegraph report stated, on the au-
thority OF other practical railroad men, that
this engineer and fireman, finding their en-
gine nearly out of water, ,un dertook to make
a run OF several miles to the nearest water
station to repIenish the supply. AS they
neared Oxmoor, Ala, the boiler exploded
with the results as described
Here, at least, would seem to be a case
where the cause OF explosion was not open
TO question. 1t was ga condition, not a
theory" brother.
Even supposing that the verification Of
the statements of the telegraphic report
were beyond dispute, the facts stated leave
some room for discussion. Indeed, the one
thing that is ''not open to question" On
this presentation of the case is that the
explosion does not bear out the old low
water theory. That theory never held
that the mere fact of letting the water get
low in tie boiler would cause an explosion
if other factors did not intervene The
logic of the theory was that when the
water became low the boiler became over
heated, and that turning fresh water in
under those conditions generated steam so
rapidly as to produce explosion. The
essential condition of fresh supply of
water, as the old theory regarded it, is
utterly lacking in this statement of the
case.
The immense importance Of the subject
warrants frequent reminders of the fact
that the old theory was disproved at the
Munhall farm experiments nearly score
of years ago, by turning water into an
empty red-hot boiler without explosion.
As to the late case, we should like de-
tailed view of the testimony as to the con-
dition of the boiler discovered by two
Incn, both of whom were killed by the ex-
plosion, when they were several miles
away from the nearest water station. But
he facts as stated give more support to
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-04
WATER THAT Is MAGNETIC.
Attracts Iron ard Other Metals In an
Nor-o.

1t Attracts Iron and Other Metals In an
Unexplained Manner.
ALPENA, MICH, Feb. 3.-There is great ex.
citement here over well that has lust been
drilled for water. When the drill reached /,
depth OF LOIS feet o most remarkable and
extraordinary thing took place. A strong
nearly deiuged the drillers. Upon an exam
nation of their pumping machinery it was
found that the water had magnetic in
fiuence upon the pump and drill.
against the pump with. considerable force.
The people have focked to the vicinity in
large numbers and they are carrying the
magnetic water away in pals apd jugs to
etc. So far no one has been able to solve the
phenomena. The drillers announce that
they will continue to work with the hopes
that a larger flow will be secured.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-04
MAJOR ovERMAN ARRA1aNED.
Accused, Among Other Things, of Making
His Coschmau a Public Oficer


- CLEVELAND, Feb. 3-The court martial OF
Major L. c. Overman began here to-day. In
the afternoon the court began business in
earnest. Major Overman was arraigned
and the specifications were read to him.
They charged him with misappropriating to
his own use on various occasions certain
sums OF money. The first charge summed
up was for embezzlement and violation of
the articles of war. The second charge also
contained several specifi cations and accused
the Major of making false vouchers and GER
t1fying them to be just thus defrauding the
Government of different sums OF money. In
effect, he was said to have bought all sorts
OF household goods for his own use and to
have charged them to the Government rs
supplies of various sorts, the vouchers sent
on being fraudulent in each case. Among
other things, he is accused of having placed
his private coachman on the pay roll of the
department.
The total sum alleged to have been embez-
zled is about $500 in small amounts, though
it is claimed by those who were active in
bringing the charges that the real de-
ficiency is much greater Major Overman
declined to plead to the arraignment until
his counsel had been heard. Judge Sanders
then introduced motion that some of the
specifications be quashed, which will be de-
cided tomorrow. Major Overman's counsel
are making hard fight for him, interposing
objections on every technicality, and the
trial promises to be long and hotly con-
tested.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-04
Tn. WHISKY Trust Leas. Question.

CHICAGO Feb. 3.-The directors Of the
Whisky Trust adjourned tonight. Almost
all of the final session was devoted to the
matter of leases. President Greenhut's idea
was that the leased properties be purchased
outright. This would necessitate the ex-
rectors could not unite upon the question.
II is not in their power, however, to author
ize any such purchase Mr.. r.Greenhutmerely
hoped that the directory would unani-
nual meeting to be held ut Peoria in April.
The leases expire May L
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-04
a1oss TO SURGICAL SCIENCE.

Few men achieved fame so rapidly as
diG Sir Morell Mackenzie, whose sudden
death is announced this morning, but he
accomplished his celebrity by his worth,
his hard work and skill having well
paved the way for the public recognition
which he received. In many respects he
was one of the most typical men OF the
dav; the amount of work he accomplished
was as remarkable as the high qualities
which characterized it, and no man was a
more notable example of the feverish rush
which makes the busy life of the Nine
teenth Century. He was, too, personif-
cation of the tendency to specialize which
has influenced the profession of medicine
even more than the other walks of life.
Although Dr. Mackenzie will always be
best known to the world by his treatment
of the late Emperor Frederick, he had
under his care many other patients Of
prominence, and vast number of un-
known people will cherish grateful
memory of him from the relief which they
obtained at his hands. He was the victim
of more persecution from professional
jealousy than any other man OF the age,
and the vituperations of the German doc
tors at one time threatened to excite an
international feeling.
The hospital in Golden Square, London.
for the treatment of special diseases of the
throat largely owed its success to his
efforts and will form lasting monument.
The nature of Dr. Mackenzie's work made
its success depend in a large degree on
painstaking research and attention to de-
tails. He inaueurated a most important
movement in surgical science, and he will
be seriously missed, notwithstanding the
number of able men who are following in
his footsteps