Morning journal and courier., 1893-11-27


ably do much to reduce the peril of FIRE,
against which insufficient provision is but
too often taken.
The principles for which trade unions
fight sometimes make queer work. A man
who had been twenty years in the employ
of some timber merchants in Hull, Eng
land, became disabled, and the firm, out of
consideration for his long services, decided
to keep him on its pay rolls at reduced
wage. The trade union with which he was
connected objected to such an arrangement,
insisting that he should be paid full wages.
Under the circumstances the firm was
obliged to discharge him, and he was
thrown on the hands of the guardians of
the poor. They have granted him three
aud half shillings and q loaf of bread per
week for six weeks.
Owing to doubts expressed concerning
the authenticity of the Holy Goat of Argen-
teuil, the Bishop of Versailles ordered an
examination. Samples of the coat were
given to the experts of the Gobslins fac
tory, who reported the cloth to have come
from loom of the most primitive kind.
The fabric was identical with the ancient
stuffs found in Christian tombs of the Sec
ond and third centuries of the Christian
era. The chemist OF the Academy of Med
icine, II. Lsffon, and another expert exam
ined portion of the cloth marked with an
alleged drop of blood. They concluded
that 1t was blood, human blood, and un-
doubtedly very ancient.
The actual cost to the United States
treasury of the operation of the Sherman
silver law down to the present time is
shown by certain figures Director of the
Mint Preston has just prepared. The
whole quantity of silver bought was
165, ,674, 500 fine ounces. costing $l55. $780,,
$40. This fxes the average cost of the
purchased stock at 80 e244. or the
amount purchased $38 ,0S7, ,2S5 worth was
coined. There are now 140, 500, ,760 fine
ounces on hand. The price is about 20
cents. At the average purchasing price
the residue is worth $3.50, ,062, ,S5s IA. At
20 cents an ounce 1t is worth but $s8, 489,-
S32. The treasury thus paid a little over
$50, 900, GOO for its experience.
A confidential letter from Henry Clay,
which was recently found among the
papers Of the late Chief Justice Robertson
of Kentucky, showed how desirous he was
to attaining to the presidency of the United
States, and how confidently he looked for
ward to it. The letter was written as early
as February, 1924, and he says: "Since
the demonstrations made in the West in
my favor all agree now that am certainly
one OF three persons from whom the selec
ton is to be made, and many even of those
who are unfriendly to me, allow that my
prospects are the best of the three" The
other two were John Quincy Adams and
William H. Crawford. and Clay carried
only three States. The germ of his historic
declaration that he would rather be right
than be President appears in the same let
ter, when he ssys: "In the meantime, our
policy lie to make entsngling alliances with
none, and to keep clear of all enmities and
chickering's. adhere to tho maxim, from
which will never depart, to make no ar
rsngements, to form no connections, to
give no promises or pledges, but, whether
1 am elected or not, to have no cause laid
up for self-reprosch."
A report of a very queer law suit comes
from Paris. During last season a house in
the Avenue de Neuilly was suddenly and
unsccountably infested by rats. They
swarmsd all over the place, and what was
peculiarly irritating, seemed to con6ne
themselves to that one house. The owner
managed to trap one OF the swarm, aud,
having a mechanical mind, constructed 9
wire moose, which he was able to slip round
the csptive's head. This collar was fur
nished with a small silver bell, and, 80
equipped, the rat was set free. OF course,
he found his comrades, or tried to do SO,
with the result that that special house In
the Avenue de Neuilly had peace at last
Near by there lived a studlous gentleman
of nervous temperament, the plaintiff IN
the forthcoming action. He was wakened
III Iio niSus ny cu'ious tinAhuS sounu,
which came on ftfully, and seemed to pro
oeed from every corner of the room. He
Lit a candle, and timorcusly proceeded to
search. There was nothing visible, and
yet the mysterious sound WAS distinctly
audible. he tried to think 1t was i'm
sginstion, but, failing, decided it must be
ghosts. 1t was clear his house was haunt
ed-and haunted, too, by day as well as
by night. For weeks he could not sleep,
and the anxiety told on his health. At
last gossiping servant learned the truth,
and the victim, instead Of laughing at his
own credulity, has begun an sction against
the man who belled the rat.