The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-26

1t was almost cold enough yesterday to
snow, but the weather only took the as
pect of lowering sky, with here and
there CLEAN Of light to show that the sun
had not deserted California. There could
have been little pleasure out of doors for
the holiday multitude, especially for those
who forsook the city for the country. but
as there are many ways in which Christ
mas may be enjoyed, doubtless there was
the average amount of happiness. There
IS good reason to believe that il San Fran
cisco the satisfaction of bountiful and
even recherche dinner was denied 60 few
who chose to make their wants known.
The banquet spread by the Salvation
Army was in variety of dishes and viands
such as no toiler's family in Europe could
anticipate. aud it was probably nowhere
IN the East as appetiZing. But California
is very exceptional State in its supplies
of fish. flesh and fowl, fruit and vege-
tables.
The Government is making mistake in
proposing to reduce the wages of employees
at Mare Island. At that naval station
employment fuctuates' and numbers of
men are DISCHARGED when work Is sus-
pended. Lack of steady occupation enters
into the calculations of workmen Of high
ability. and if they are underpaid they
naturally drift into employment else
where. 1t should be the aim OF the Navy
Department to keep first-ratc mechanics
and artiflcers in every branch OF the ser
vice. To lower wages appreclably may
mean the engaging of inferior workmen
and the dispersion of the superior Poor
wages have spoiled the English navy
yards, with the result that much OF the
work is distinctly bad and bungled and in
the end is extravagantly costly.
Two young women in an Alabama family
are iDconveniently affected with frances
which give one seven days of sleep at a
time and the other two or three days.
They wake from profound slumber none
the worse, but care is taken to nourish
them with milk. The breathing is scarcely
noticeable on a mirror. These frances are,
however, very little alarming compared
with the burial sleepers of India. Burton
relates that a man offered himself for
burial during three months. He would
not consent to burying him, but he put him
into a hammock which was Sung from the
roof. Before the event he drank milk
copiOus1y Tor three days. Then he folded
back his tongue in the mouth and ap-
peared 10 be dead. Watch was kept I'M
ceasingly night and day the whole time
Burton had the man lowered. After
efforts at resuscltation he came around all
right, and declared that he was willing to
90 on with the trance for as many months
more. Burton was as careful as man of
science would be in the conditions of the
experiment.
One of the Judges of Omaha has uttered
some terrible things about the Mayor
of that enterprsing city. He saddles him
with the blame of the gambling which goes
on without disguise on payment of Il
monthly fine of $50. This may be a bet
ter return than nothing, bus it is at the
price of sad amount of Decentralization. and
continued defiance of the law brings il in to
contempt. How the Mayor will respond
10 the language applied 10 him remains to
be seen. 1t would be undignified To draw
weapons. A Judge and chief magistrate
should set good example, although one
of them does lie under the imputation of
conniving at gambling. The Judge seems
tn regret that he has not cabuiaTy at
command 10 express his feeling. How ter
riole they are must be inferred from the
fact that he say, "the Mayor should be i'm
peached and branded as an impeached
scoundrel in office"
The torturing of negro in Mississippi
to extort a confession anent a horrible
murder was at last successful In getting
at the Truth, but the danger of such
methods of judicial procedure was shown
by the wretch telling lies wholesale at the
outset He endeavOred to implicate
others in his awful crime-at first a white
ana then other cOlored men-but finally
ACKNOWLEDGED that he alone was respon-
sihie. Mob law is not n thing 10 be en-
couraged, and the burning of this victim
no Ii1s Itiaot haa n ha
been made sufficiently frghtful and deter
rent as a punishment by simple hanging.
The Governor of Florida has aunche d
enough of warning TO the pugiists. that
they must not violate the law, to render
himself trifie ridiculous If they insist
upon going ahead. The club which offers
the pnrse saws that no law can be violated
by friendly meeting between C0rbett
aud Mitchell to box for points. The Gov
ernor daes not choose to believe the club
and shows his good sense in holding that
it will be the usual fight To finish. To
call out the State troops to put down
fight between pugilists resembles employ
ing steam hammer to open peanuts, but
the militia may be necessary.
Some one has patented a vestibule ar
rangement to connect ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
with trains. The hope is that the train
robbers will thus be foiled. Their usual
plan IS to Chamber over the tender and
compel the driver at the point Of the
pistol to slow down or stop. The vesti-
buie would no doubt reduce risks, but not
Obviate danger entirely. Train-ro bbers
have many resources. aud they stop at
nothing to gain their nefarious ends.
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT.