University of South Carolina Libraries
W???. ADAMS. PROPRIETOR = = EDGEFI?LD, S. C.. WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 21. 1895._VOL. LX. NO. 30. .' Chicago is running no chance of b~ ing loft behind, notes the "Washington Star. She has under way a canal that will bo bigger than New York's. St. Paul, Minn., is anxious to have n oivic motto, and the one that 6eems to find most favor up to dato is shall," which the New York Sun judges is evidently modelled on Chicago's modest motto, "I Will." The Japanese are a cosmopolitan people. Their political models aro English, their religion is supplied mainly by America, their courts are modeled after tue French, and their schools after the German idea. Cincinnati has a one-legged high wayman who is a "corker," and will be still more so when he gets his arti ficial limb. A few nights ag.? he held up ? woman under an electric light at 9 o'clock, when the streets were crowded. "When two men attempted to interfere, he kept them away Avith a revolver, and when a crowd gather o I ran away, climbed a nine-foot wall and escaped. Misfortune often hampers a gifted man. In a report on the economical con dition of Italy, Mr. Edwarde?, of tho British Embassy at Home, says thc public debt at tho end of June, 1893, amounted to $2,529,005,000, boj?r.ug a yearly interest of ^^>M??m this amount $71.210,OOO^MKositod in or held by thc Trea^BHr tuc in terest thereon being $3,1^5,001. It is almost - impossible to sUte what is the amount ofTtftHan debt hell out o? Italy, but it is computed that a yearly sum of $lS,G50,00p is paid to foreign holders, the largest amounts being held iu France, -Germ my, Great Britain and Austria-fifengary. Tho fact that the bih*ks of Salem, Oregon, havo recently *N A SNP* ply of cent.', so as to be ?We to make exact chang?is a matter ??r comment in the local iXvspapers, olio of which remarks that ''it is getting';to be pret ty close jncking" there. T/i-^is only a .very few years, muse3 thc NVw York Sun, sinco the smallest coiu\ in use anywhero west of the Missouri waa tho nickel, and even now in m?ny of tho further Western cities tho humble cent is despised. In buying jut tho stores, if the acconnt figures ?tin odd two cents, the customer gei^ it; if three cents, tho customer jpays a nickel. But the boom times ing, and cents ar? becoming General Tuerr, a Hungarian engin-, ser, has published au article in a paper of Athens, in which he sums up the cost of keeping Europo in tho condition of an armed camp since tho war between France and Germany in 1870 at ?23,000,000,030. In other words, Europe is paying a bilhoa o' dollars a year in order to be ready to go to war at a moment's notice. Should war actually break out, it is estimated that it would cost a billion dollars a month. Should it last long it coul I only end in the bankruptcy of the great Powers carrying it on. Indee!, this is the result to which General Tuerr thinks Europe is tending, apart from the question of the outbreak of hostilities. With the present peace establishments tho process is slower, but the tendency is the same. In his address to the graduating class at Vanderbilt University, Nash ville, Tenn., Hon. Chauncey M. De pew said: "The great opportuuities of our country are in the South. The flood of immigration for fifty years has sought tho West, Northwest and Pacific coast. In the South we find, as nowhere else, the original stock which fought at Cowpens, King's Mountain aud Yorktown. The intel ligent patriotism of the Southern peo ple in the last quarter of a century has overcome difficulties which seemed insurmountable. The young men of the South have no call to tempt for tune in the crowded cities of the North and East. At their own doors and within their own States are their missions and their careers. Be not deceived by the glitter of wealth as the sole measure of success in lifo. Tho moment that in your choscu vocation you are sure of au income beyond the requirements of a modest living you area BUCCOSS. All the rest is cumula tive." An Eccentric Empress. The eccentric Empress of Austria, after wandering in tb Grecian isl ands, has at last returned to Vienna. The court functionaries notice that she has developed several peculiari ties. For instance, she always dresses, for no matter what ceremony, in a high gown of unrelieved black. Then ?hc absolutely refuses to listen to mu sic, even the music of Strauss. Sho avers that her nerves are shattered, and unable "to bear the strain of mil jie." Her Majesty's most remarkable eccentricities, however, have to do with her food ; she lives almost en tirely on milk-the milk from a spe cial sort of cow reared in Corfu.-New Pork Dispatch. Taught Many Schools. William Mark Brooks, of Norway, is now in the sixty-eighth year of hu age, and claims that he has taught more schools t han any other man in Maine. In the 114 schools he has taught he has whipped HS pupils. He says be does not believe in pun ishment, except in extreme cases. Vngusta (Me.) Journal. IRON AW) STEELY MARVELOUS GROWTH OF PITTS BURU'S G R li AT INDUSTRY. Its) Numerous ??last Furnaces, Holl ins Milli nn?l Steel Works - Au Immense Outfit-Women Werk in Mills. SOME startling statistics regard ing the iron and steel industry of Pittsburg have Just been made public by tho annual stalif-tical report of tho American Iron aud Steel Association. They were . ompi?ed by James M. Swank, tho general manager of tho association, and were presented to tho members. Mr. Swank is the publisher of the Jron and Steel Bulletin aud a recognized authority on tbe matter. His figures may be accepted as reliable. Pitttsburg, says a correspondent of thc New York Journal, has now twenty eeven blast furnaces, twenty-nine steel works und thirly-four rolling mills. In 1S02, when the iron industry was booming, there were produced in the twenty-six blastfurnaces (tho number existing at that time) 1,775,257 gross tons of pig iron. In 1S93, with one moro furnace, the total production was 1,007,207, or only 78,050 tons less. This was the panic year during which wages were cut lower and lower until the workers rebelled and long strikes were the result. In 1894, which was also hurd ti'ues year, tho production of pig 'ron was 1,782,079, or G822tons more than during tho boom year of 1S92. Thc report also shows that ia 1S92 there were sixty-two rolling mills and steel works which produced 1,005,074 tons of crude steel. Jn tho following year the decrease was only 15,201 tons, while in 1S91, when thc country began to feel the beneficial effects of tariff reform, tho productioa was 1, - S;>3,60G, or almost 300,000 tons more than in 1892. The total production of pig iron, ". A WOMAN AT WORK Di A I steel ingots, crude steel, rails, sheets, plates, rolled iron and sljcl, etc., in 1S92 in this city was 7.S61.397 tons. In the following year there was a slight decrease to 7,377,8S1 tons, which in 1891 jumped to 8,561,819 tons, ox 700,422 tons more than during the big year of '92. The origin of the iron and steel in dustry, its growth aud developmeat is a marvellous story. The beginniug of the manufacture of iron ia West era Peuasylvaaia, and tho first fur nace built, dates back to 1790. It was then located in what is now the most fashionable residence section of Pitts burg, Shady Side. A rolling mill on a 6mall scale was erected there in 1811. The close proximity to thc inex haustible supply of soft coal fields aad the natural shipping facilities afford ed by the Ohio, Monongahela and Allegheay Rivers, mado Pittsburg a magnet for the iron and steel pio neers, and tho one rolliug mill plaat quickly spread and multiplied. Within a few years virgia forest trees gave way to smokestacks, aad at night scores of furaace fires around which toiled brawoy, half-uaked mea lit up the surrouading hills aad gave au awesome weirdaess to tho small vil lage. In 1803 aa iroa aad brass fouadry was established. It afterward cast the caoaoa which blazed ia victory from Perry's little fleet oa Lake Erie. Can non havo been made hero for three wars. During the last Civil War over 2000 guns were made. The "Iron City" produces one-fifth of the entire amount of iron aad steel made ia tho United States, aad one third that of the Stato of Pennsylva nia, tho production of tho latter being over one-half of the output of the country. The largest Bessemer steel works and the greatest crucible plant are located here. A year ago tho total number of op eratives was 2000. This of courso in cludes Homestead, Braddock and oth er towas withia a few milos of thc city, aud which will be iacluded ia thc Greater Pittsburg. Tho employes rc ceivo ia wages iu ooo year between ?38,000,000 aad $10,000,000. The largest coacoru is tho Carnegie Steel Company, which is capitalized at $25,000,000.-lt employs 10.00C men and boys. Ia tho way of produc A BLAST FURNACE. tion it turns out 100,000 tons of pig iron por mouth, and t ho samo number of tons of open hearth and Bessemer steel blooms, billots, structural shapes, etc. Tho finished product aggregates from twenty to twenty-five cars per day. At the Braddock rail mill steel rails thirty feet long are rolled out nt tho rate of two each second, or 120 per minute. An average day's work is eighteen miles of single track. On the opposite side of the Monon gahela River, and threo miles below Braddock, are the Homestead works, made famous by the strike and riots of 1892. Armor plates, beams, etc., are the principal products of this plant. The armor mills are now practically shut down on account of no work. The company has finished its con tracts for Government work, and is now ready to make armor for any for eign Power. In the structural mills the employes are getting out an order of 37,000 tons of beams ond girders for the Manhattan "L" road system. Since the armor plate frauds it is almost as hard to break into the Homestead milln as it is to get out of jail. No one ?3 admitted without a pass, a uniformed guard standing as sentinel over a bridge at the main en trance. As the visitor who is fortu nato enough to secure a ticket ap proaches the mills from tho yard the" whole interior appears to be filled with a shower of gold. From the mouth of tbe "converter," a fun-shaped flame of vast proportions sweeps roofward. and from this comes tho torrent of fiery sparks which sweep high in the air, and then fall ou tho earthen floor, kept continually covered with water. On a narrow ledge at tho far side of thc building, high up iu the air, and directly opposite to the "converter," stand threo men, the "melter" and his assistants. They are m a cowering at titude, as though shrinking from the flood of fire, and the "melter," with a glass held to his eye, watches the flame coming from the "converter," until by its color ho recognises the right moment for turning out the molten steel into the molds. At his signal tho "converter" is tilted forward, sending out metal as bright as silver. Thus all day and night tho melter stands and makes the basis of wealth for tho world by the control of living fire. Personal skill alone qualities him <or his office, for there is no thur, J nt Io by which he can control this mighty element. Tho practical process of making Bessemer steel consists iu putting pig iron into the "converter" and blow 'ITTSBURG TIN PLATE MILL. ing tho carbon out of it by means of immense draughts. The sheets of flame one sees are incandescent car bon. Later tho steel is remelted and treated with speiglo iron, etc., to re ' store the right quantity of carbon. i Next to the Carnegie interests the largest plant is that of Jones & Laugh lin?. At the head of it is B. F. Jones, who, as Chairman of the Republican National Committee, ran tho Blaine campaign. The firm employes 3500 men and treats them better than any other company. Within tho past few years tho iron business has been revolutionized. Puddling iron has given way- to tho improved and cheaper methods of making steel. Steel has taken the place of iron in all kinds of structural work, and scores of puddling furnaces are idle. ^ Steel does not wear as well as good i iron, and ?hrewd manufactures predict a return to the days of puddling. Jones & Laughlins have less than one fourth of their puddling furnacos in operation, but will have uso for thom later. The day of high wages in tho iron and steel business has passed never to return. Up until tho time when the Carnegie Steel Company, after a great loss of life, succeeded in almost break ing tho Amalgamated Association, scores of men who were paid accord ing to tho production of tho mills upon which they worked, received from $25 per day upward. Rollers carno to the mills in car riages and behind fast horses, and lived on tho best they could get. Hun dreds of men who a few years ago, if they did not mako from $10 to $15 per day would havo bemoaned their hard luck, are now working for $2 and $3 per day. Notwithstanding tho reducod duty on tin plate, which tho manufacturers claimed would compel them to closo thoir mills, tho tin plants aro flourish . ing. One of the odd featuros of tho , erection of tin plato mills is tho intro , duction of women in tho iron and . steel trades. At the plant of tho Mo ! nongahola Tin Plato Company in South Pittsburg, and which ia now , partly owned by TJnitod States SoDator [ Quay, W' men work on tho floor of the I mill alongside mon. Thoy wear coarse . clothing, with heavy aprons, and on their hands they have gloves. Tho womon stand at tita rolls with tongs and catch the plates as they come out. They cut, "dip" and sep arate thom, and do tho work bettei than men. The women learned thc business iu Wales, and earn from $5 to $8 per week. Husband and wife work in the samo mill, tho former at tho furnace and tho latter at the rolls. For years girls have been employed in tho bolt and nut factories of that . city, but this is tho lirst time they have actually worked on thc floor of a mill with tho glaro of a furnace on one side aud tho whirr of heavy rolls on tho other. As it is tho custom for women to work in tin mills in Wales, tho men do not object to tho women. Tho latter will lie taken into tho Amalgamated Association, as the work they perform is covered by the scale. The iron and steel business will fur ther develop by tho building of new railroads anti the Luke Erie and Ohio River Ship Canal. The latter is a cer tainty, and, when oompleted, will make Pittsburg in reality tho greatest manufacturing city in the world. For Shying Horses. A really remarkable device for making any shying horse perfectly calm and tractable is the new inven tion of Henry Small, of this city, says tho Hartford Time?. Properly speak ing it ia not a "bit," for it does not go into the horse's month at all, bnt is only a simple nose-piece that goes over the horse's upper lip, but does not necessarily draw on or even scarce ly touch it unless the driver has a NOSE BIT FOR HOUSES. gentle pull on it; then it touches the end of the animal's nose or upper lip ; and that mere touch, which should not bo increased much, does the whole busin es3. Mr. Small's contrivance consists of a simple head strap, properly braced and coming down between the horse's eyes and nostrils, to its end in the shape of a sort of little metallic up per lip. This latter littlo piece of metal, only about two inchc3 long and not half an inch wide, is humorously called a "trolley bit." Ita enrving eide-ends, like an ordinary bit, are so devised that a very slight, gentle pull on the reins brings tho "trolley bit" against the tip of tho horse's nose. In complete absorption in the study of a new experience the horso may be driven right up by the side of a noisy locomotive, or of ft gong-banging trol ley car, that presents to the horse, under ordinary circumstances, the sinister aspect of a moving, perhaps a living thing, going without any visi ble means of compulsion; and in his strict attention to the new sensation at the tip of his nose he will take no notice of the car. of the locomotive. The queerest thing of all is the fact that no amount of uso or familiarity with the nose-toucher arrangement seems to lessen tho horse's interest in it. JAPAKLSE PRAYER BAGS. ? j ^vronepf,. of I<lolftir*;.Foun?. onvjvy Lot of Coolies, J Tho Immigration Inspectors ot San Francisco examined a lot of Japanese coolies a few days ago and found that each ono had strung about his neck a kamisama or praying bag. These bags contain prayers written on 6ilk or stout paper and are specially ad JAPANESE PRAYING BAG. dressed to tho po3seasor's household god. The Japs pay their Buddhist and Shinto priests from ono to two cents for these prayers, which serve the double pnrposo of being luoky charms as well as prayers, says the San Fran cisco Call. The priests bless the charm upon receipt of the cash. Tho posses sor prays by Bliding the littlo pouch up and down the strings and saying something pimilar to "These are my sentiments." Ho is very particular UANDI Grant Hamilton-"Phew I This Frank Leslie's* that these prayer bags and charms shall not be profaned by the touch of a Christian forefinger and resists the deputy's efforts to find letters near the liUle?fldcred ponch which reposes on the stomach of the faithful. For thia reason the intelligent Jap does not oarry letters near the bag. "When the Jap is particularly anxious to have his god answer his prayer he removes the cover from tho top of the ponch and prays with the paper in his hands. Still-another cvidonce of Japanese superstition is shown by the lucky Btones^tbey nearly all (professed Chris tians as well) carry in their pockets. In Japan tho women place locks of their.hair and the men place smooth stones the size of walnuts at tho feet of their idols. After a.certain timo these locks of hair and the stones be come sacred and are either carried in their j garments or worn Rispended around their necks as charms to pro tect the wearer from evil and harm. The .Japanese immigrants wear and carry; the prayer bags and the sacred stones until they reach the missions, when, they aro hidden, so as to pre vent >hite Christians from discover ing these evidences of idolatry. SOK-SIMABLE JLIFE-BOAT. Description of an Interesting Craft. Constructed by a Chicago Inventor. A. L. Hedberg, a Swedish inventor residing in.Chicago, exhibited in the Inter-Ocean office tho model of a new life-boat which he has just patented. Made of galvanized iron-in actual service different materials can bo used -the miniature looks like a large turnip, and is in two parts, cut apart horizontally at tho lino of greatest j . TITE NEW X0N-S1NKABLE EOAT. girth. Tho halves, however, are firmly clamped together with a water tight connection, when the toy is dnmped into the water, to which it takes as jauntily as a rubber feather, and the only means of entrance and exitthen is viaa.Jittle upward opon imjike a melon.plug, and very easily ._? watertight in its turn. At the top a*fv' several little holeB for ventilation, but which can also be closed at will. Furthermore, there aro six windows, round as portholes in tho ordinary ship. Over all this is a flagstaff which can be lowered and put np at pleas ure, with waterproof connections and ventilation device, and on the top of the flagstaff is a lantern. There are two oar holes also, one on each side, similarly water-tight in tho play of tho pair of strong servicer ble oars. And, last and most important of all, the appal atna always ridos the wave right-side-up-with-care, bocauae of the abundant ballast in the bottom. The interior of tho miniature is fitted up oompletoly? with seats all around the wall, and there are straps for addi tional support in oaso of etorm. For practical use, the inventor pro poses a .'life-boat'1 of this description whioh shall be either eight feet high by six feet in diameter, at the widest girth, with a seating oapacity of ten persons, or else ono teu feet high and eight feet wide, soating twenty-five persons. The former style, made wholesale, would oost only $125, and would carry 1000 pounds without sink ing more than four feet in the water, riding as buoyant as a top. In the base would be plenty of room for sup plies and water to last from ten to fif teen persons several weeks, without any danger from water or vitiated air. For the firBt-namod size of boat the circular entrance would bo three feet in diameter, and tli3 windows one foot, Chains aro attaohed on the out side for people out in tho water to catch hold and climb up by. Tho life boat cannot possibly tip over, but simply bobs np and down like a oork. Already on Lake Calumet there is n little "life-boat" of this pattern, and the inventor expects soon to have one on Lako Miohigan.-Chioago Inter Ooeafi. . Solitude Made Her Insane. An insano woman was biovght to Seattle, Wash., from a ranoh in tho interior of the Statolast week and sent to an asylum. The supposod causo of her insanity suggested by tho doctors was "tho solitudo of ranch life. " Now York Sun Maryland has un assessed valuation of 8407,307,675. ie the worst hill I ever taoklod? WHAT WOMEN WEAR FOR STREE I' WEAR MOHAIR IS GREATLY USED Hf PARIS. Tile Latest Fad for Waists-Color to Predominate In Millinery Up-to-l)nte Dust Cloaks. USEFUL rig of many possi bilities brought over from Paris is a street costume of mohair in a beautiful huckle berry blue. Mohair is in Paris the texture nt present most seen in plain Ftreet gowns, and the favorite model is a plain skirt and a box coat with a back in ono piece. Sometimes this will hang plain from a pointed yoke, and in almost ever/ caso two little openings are left at the bottom of the under arm seams, mak ing the slits Been in masculine or shirt bottomp. Close stitching gives all edges a neat tailor finish, and where the seams of some of the skirts will be left plain others will bo strapped over with nnrrow bands of tho samo mater ial. Tho model of the skirt is a godeted back and a front cut of the width of the material, which runs to bias seams into the back, and pro duces at the side that outward flirt so becoming and easy to the feet. The buttons used will bo great things as big as butter plates, of smoked pearl, horn or fancy metal, and even those of Dresden chino, gayly flowered, are eoid to be iu good taste. Again, a mohair gown will BIIOW no buttons at all, tho fronts of tho single ciusr AND ( breasted jacket fastening neat'y under a stitched flap, such as finishes a mail's box coat. As for the French mohairs them selves they are mest beautiful. The handsomest patterns are enormously wide and in a looso sort of bunting weave, and not even in black do they suggest the shiny funereal things one is accustomed to associate with the name. In color the huckleberry blue is perhaps the latest tint, but a more gracious and becoming one is a soft wavy brown that seems especially ef fective when worn with a blouse in any of the gentle greens now fashion able. One brown mohair gown, that has just made its debut in New York, has a bodice in crinked silk, patterned gorgeously and confusedly with palm leaves in many colors. It was simply gathered at the neck and waist into a belt and stock of black satin ribbon, and the sleeves, which were entirely without stiffening, fell in a great loose puff three-nnarters length. This palm leaf silk, together with gauze pat terned in the same way, is the very latest French fads for waists. In some of tho gauzes the tones are wonderful, great splotches of flame shading into emerald green, and again melting into effects that aro almost brown. No trimmings aro used with them, the many colorings of tho texture being tho point intended for notice. There are always a plain ribbon stock and belt, however, "and sometimes these will reproduce a predominating tint in the gauze, emerald green, a flame red, or else an orange huo that is positive ly startling. Indeed, if one is to judge from the bodices, and some of the flower decked hats that come over to us from Paris, color is to be more and more the thing as the season advances. Hats big und little are simply laden down with gay posies. In some cases, with tho exception of a narrow fold of vel vet that laces the under brim, there is not a ray of other trimming, and the blossoms will be massed irrespective of tint or degree. Modest daisies, for instance, will hobuob with gorgeous flags, and haughty orchids rub elbows with field violets. Again, on a single low crowned sailor hat there will be ivy leaves with tho violets, and, be sides, a wreath of roses with loose trembling petals that shade all the way from palest pink to a red BO deep that it is almost like the blaok of the famous German tulip. Sometimes, iudeed, there will bea black roso un der a brim, and with much color above thia novcr fails to bo effective. DUST CLOAKS. Who ever Bees ii dust cloak now-a daysV No one. Not because the dust .doak has ceased to exist, but because it ha? become mich a glorified creation that those who look lor it, remember ing the old alpaca and linen "dust ers," fail to recognize it for what it is. The fin-do-.sieclo dust cloak is made of "gloria" silk, which is both rain proof and dunk resisting. It is so light th.it it will not crush the most elaborate dross-not even thu glee ves -and whilu it envelopes the entire eostuiuo, the wearer of the garment dons not suggest a tarpaulin wrapped parcel, because the coat looks smart in itself. What could be nicer than Buch a dust cloak for the dweller iu suburban parts, the frequenter of sub urban trains, tho taker of dusty cabs? Half tho dread of a box party in tho oveuiu/r or an afternoon "at home" vanishes at tho thought of a wrap AN* IDEAL DUST CLOAK. which shall protect the pretty toiletto in its going and its returning, tor what woman is bravo enough to sally forth in light-colored silk, knowing well of tho dust, ashes and cinders which beset tho way, to say nothing of surprised glances from fellow travel* 200L FROCKS. ers at a too elaborate costume? Many of the new silk dust cloaks fall in straight, full lines from a gathered yoke, but the ideal garment is of checked or striped or shot glace gloria silk, trimmed with lace and ribbon if the wearer wishes to look particularly smart. Even rain cannot injure the beauty of a good gloria silk, and dust slides from it as water from a duck's back. Alpaca is quite a good substitute for silk, when economy is desirable, but it will not keep out the rain. Camels hair cloth cleans splendidly and will even wash, so it is a possible fabric, too, and tissue crepon, which is light in weight and has a glossy surface, is another material somewhat in vogue. Some of these wraps have wonder ful bishops sleeves and guipure-edged collars. In any case, the traveler of to-day needs a dust cloak as surely as she needs tan shoes and a toothbrush. -Chicago Times-Herald. DAINTY. STRAW HAT. It is noticeable that many straw hats are scantily trimmed, but examination will disclose the fact that the straw is very prettily colored and elaborately woven. That, according to current usage, makes permissible but little trimming, which often cens'sts of lit tle more than' ore or two aigrette bunches of violets, the long stems twisting into cords that pass about the brim, and, perhaps, catch it up here and there. This rule, however, is by no mean? imperative, but is tasteful in its results, as oan be judged by con sideration of this pictured hat which is of old gold straw bent into deeper points at the sides and coming down with a graceful sweep in front and back. It is trimmed with a large bow of ribbon and buuehes of pansies, smaller clusters of the flowers showing a scarf of mauve chillon in worn that falls down tho front in long ends and is ornamented with bunches of pansies corresponding to t.?ose on tho hat. With such a beautiful accessory tout tract atteution from thc headgear there is no d auger of adverse criticism u pou the latter because of a lack ot trim ming, if, indeed, fault would be found even on close examination. Are you taking SIMMONS LIVER REG ULATOR, the "KING OF LIVER MEDI CINES?" That is what our readers want, and nothing but that. It is the same old friend to which the old folks pinned their faith and were never dis appointed. But another good recom mendation for it is, that it is BETTER THAN PILLS, never gripes, never weak ens, but works in such an easy and natural way, just like nature itself, that relief comes quick and sure, and one feels new all over. It never fails. Everybody needs take a liver remedy, and everyone should take only Sim mons Liver Regulator. Be sure you get it. The Bed Z is on the wrapper. J. H. Zeilin & Co., Philadelphia. PURSES OF HUMAN SKIN.' Gruesome Souvenirs Made from the Cuticle of Desperados. The report comes from Tacoma, Wash., that the cuticle of Tom Blanck, a desper ado who was killed a few days ago, will bc tanned and made into pocketbooks. While in jail in Seattle, Blanck made a wooden imitation of a pistol, with which he held up "the jailor and escaped. He was fol lowed by the jailor and a posse and killed, as he would not surrender. Exactly how tbe pocketbooks will be disposed of is not stated, but judging from the results of several enterprises of this kind in the past, the owners cf Blanck's skin will have no difficulty in disposing of their , manufact ured stock. One of the inhuman practices brought to light by the investigation set on foot by Gen. Benjamiu F. Butler into the affairs of the Tewkesbury (Mass.) poorhouse was thc skinning of dead patients and the making of souvenirs of various kinds of thc skins, for which thc keepers or others in the scheme found a ready market. Thc same state of affairs is said to have ex isted at the Ohio State prison, in Celum bus, fifteen years ago. Prisoners were knocked in the head or shot on the slight est provocation by the keepers and guards, who were all banded together for the traf. fie in human skin souvenirs. These out rages finally became so flagrant that an in vestigation was held, which resulted in the turning out of all the keepers and guards in the prison. None of the men was ever prosecuted, as it was impossible to get tangible evidence. There must have been money in this human skin traffic or thc men engaged in There are many persons whose morbid tastes make tlicm delight in the possession of just such gruesome souvenirs, and it is not infrequent that some man of a reck less, roving disposition and a checkered past is seen proudly displaying a tobacco pouch, purse or other '.? pocket novelty" made from the skin of a human being. Thc usc of human skin in making small articles that could '^e carried in one's pocket was quite common in Mexico and the wild Southwest forty or fifty years ago. lt is more than possible that some of thc possessors of these articles flaunted them as an evidence of desperate and blood curdling tendencies. During the French revolution tanning of humau skins was common, and volumes of Rousseau's works are said to have been bound iu the cuticle of those who had derided him. A Shower of Black Ants. The warm, thunderous state of the atmosphere, Wodnesday evening, presaged a heavy downput of rain in the city and vicinity, but this ex* pectation was not realized, and the rain passed off with a slight shower. Instead of tho rain a shower of an other kind resulted, which is one of the'most curious visisations in tho history of the city. On the side walks, in the roads, upon the roofs, and tho inside of the houses thero was seen numbers of large black ants crawling about. They were found as plentiful in the outskirts of the city as on the main streets, and from the fact that some of these insects have wings while others have dropped or shed them, it is natural to con clude that they have migrated from some district to the south of the province, and have come to stay. They are large, black bodied speci mens, about the size of a wasp, and have the strong nippers of their race, They are not a native of Manitoba, and are similar to the African ant. ?Vinnepeg Free Press. TUE business men of Boston have been giving attention of late to thc conditions which surround the foreign and domestic commerce of that port. There has been some talk iu thc newspapers of Boston's " decaying commerce?" and it was perhaps thc sting of this unwelcome phrase which lcd thc Chamber of Commerce to cuiisull concerning possible means of improving the harbor, ?iud induced the Boston Adver. User to make a careful conparisou of the city's foreign shipping with the marine tralfic carried on from other principal ports. The Advertiser claims that Boston's com merce is not decreasing, but is, ou the other hand, showing an annual rate of in crease more creditable than can bc claimed by New Vork, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Mew Orleans, or San Francisco. Review ing the facts collected and givihg com piralive results, thc Advertiser says : " Boston, which had an annual commerce of $$9,000,000 in l875,.shows $110,000, 000 for the first ten mouths of the last fiscal year, and ?11 ?1,000,000 for the cor. responding period for the present fiscal year, or .10 per cent, more than the ann ual total of twenty years ago. Bven Ne? York, the only other port to show any in crease ot commerce since 1811-1, can show bul 10 per cent, increase over its 187C totals. On the other hand, Ballimorej-au can show bul 8.) per cent., Philade Vtiifl 80 per cent., New Orleans a decreased IS per cent., and San Francisco an iucreast of about (J per cent., as compared with tlw annual totals for 1875, and if an earlier date were taken, the showing would bi still more creditable to Boston."