The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 8

BURDETTE. tented processes for disinfecting the most suspicious imports. Happily we have not had a single cholera scare, so for, this Summer. The quarantine officials, stimulated to extra zeal in a variety of ways, and more particularly by a knowledge that they would be held to the strictest accountability, have discharged their duties with unusual scrupulousness, without encountering a single case. This is gratifying for a number of reasons.

It shows that when an emergency arises we have not lost the ability to rise to it What remains to be done now is to take especial care that the. present state of efficiency in this vital service is not permitted to relapse. So long as there is a single locality in Europe afflicted by the epidemic we cannot afford to relax our minor complications may be reserved for later observation. Enough has been said for the moment to afford the parties concerned an opportunity to share their confidences with persons whose names do not adorn the list of and ex offioials of the ward. It is scarcely fair that a remote section of what is now the city should enjoy a monopoly of the knowledge of what is going on.

One of the gentlemen prominently identified with the enterprise for many years possessed the truBt of a constituency whose favor, together with his own capacity, made it possible for him to become a commanding figure in the State. He may have much to say which will modify any public judgment based upon an ex parte presentation. It is proper, nevertheless, to remark that mere ingenuity will fail to serve his purpose even though it matches that displayed in dealing with the town. There is much about his history which gives him the right to a suspension of harsh phrases, but if the fog is not lifted he will have some little difficulty in steering clear of the breakers that seem to be looming up. He ate fifteen cents' worth, and defiantly ordered another dish.

While waiting for it, ho heard a noiso out in the street, aud goirg out to soo what caused It, a steamer, on its way to a fire, knocked him down and rau ovor him. An ambulanco was summoned, and while waiting to be conveyod to the hospital, the wretched youth died of old age. TIIE AMERICAN ACTRESS ABROAD. May 1 I havo solemnly and irrevocably made up my mind to boeomo a nun. I entor tho Convent of Ste.

Hildegardo this month. May 20 Who may fight tho falos 7 I have consented to marry tho Prince of Wales. June 1 I cannot forget that I am woddod to art I have rofusod tho princo. June 30 My Jewels! All gono! Stolen! Tho diamond nocklaco presented mo by tho Czar of llus sfal My bracelets prosoutod mo by tho Note by manager. "Too thin.

Won't wash. Baen usod too long and too often. Try something else. Gat blessed by the Popo or something." July 1 I havo bought tho old castlo Ihrwarsnlcht dudonnorwassergerehtsvereitiogoschaftshnusen on tho Rhino. It is a German castlo; it cost mo half a million and I will spend my Summers there.

August 2 Alas, I am penuiloss! My husband, tho duke, has squandered my castlo upon his two other wives. But heavon is kind, and I am still one ahead of him. 1 havo threo other husbands. August 301 cannot forgot that 1 am an American. I this day rofusod positively to diuo with the queon.

I am engaged to tho Duke of Ireland. September 10 Opons In Now York. Crowded houses. A LODGE IN THE WILDERNESS. Aftor all, a hormit very soon gets used to living without tho world.

I should say it would tako him at least two or three days to become accustomed to living nlono. Possibly, not so long as that. The world is too big any how. Thoro aro too many people in it. It is crowded and hot and dusty and noisy.

You got tired of It. And, indeed, you don't miss it any moro than it misses you. Now, when we came up hero to Forest Lake, we didn't know whore it was, nor how to got thore, nor indood that thoro wns such a place. We came as far as wo know tho road, then confessed honestly that wo woro lost and didn't know where wo wero nor whore wo wanted to go, and a man gavo ns a pilot and he landed us hero. Woll, wo pitched our tonts aud for three weoks wo wore happy in this lonely, boautiful littlo Eden of emerald meadows, blue mountains, crystal lake and singing brooks.

We seo a paper, we novor got a lot tor. Who was dead, married or born In all the month of June we knew not. Sometimes wo wondered, in a vague sort of way, but in general we didn't think much about it. A happier month of undisturbed quiet, poacoful ease, perfect rost, no man ever enjoyed. In an evil hour some one brought us a mail.

Wo sighed, and if a railway train had rushed out of the mountains and swam across tho lako tho noxt minute, wo wouldn't have beon surprised. Wo road tho letters; the newspapers lay iu thoir unbroken wrappers for nearly three weeks moro before they woro openod. Did we como out into tho woods to read about weddings and murders, aud revivals and burglaries, and dances and funerals, and faith cures and hangings, and sermons and defalcations, and christenings and police court proceedings, and picnics and shipwrecks, aud frolics aud lights, and donation partios and burglaries, and foroign missions and Chiuoso massacres, and Civil I Sorvice reform aud embezzlements, and all tho othor things that go to make up life in tho great big world? Not much. What caro wo for tho mighty and wealthy laud of Egypt where men light and porspiro aud toil and strive, and hato and hope, and love and fear? Hero at Elim thoro aro twolvo wells ot wator and threescore and ten palm trees, so wo oncamp here by the waters. Thoro is no ono to molestormako us afraid, except tho bears, and they aro afraid of us; we dwell under our own vino and fig treo iu a land where stones aro as plouty as silver dollars in the Treasury, and the cedars are as the sycamore trees In the valo for abundance.

Lo, Dan is at oue end of Thirteenth Lake and (Seer shoba at tho other and without those boundaries aro Gentiles and barbarians. That's tho way to rest. If any man should como into this valley and build a hotel with 500 rooms, I would take a sword in my hand and slay him. Is it not an abomination to tho heathen? We will havo none of it. Wo will continue to abido under the vine aud tho fig treo and thou If any lecture committee sayeth, Whon can you givo us a dato?" lean say unto him coldly and truthfully, "A fig for your dato." KOIiERT J.

BUltDETTE, ings and the like are replete with matters to win and repay attention, and on every one of the sixteen pages the reader will find news or views which will attract him to the Eagle of to day. A atteer Clause In Nr. Tilden'a Will. A few months ago the will of the late William Beard attracted unusual publio attention, not only on account of the sing alar bequests he had made, but of the means he had adopted of making sure that the disappointment and sense of injury of some of his heirs should not endanger tho carrying out of his wishes. He expressly provided that any person named in the instrument who should presume to contest it in court should ipso facto be disinherited.

The public interest centered round this singular post mortem inhibition, wondering whether a dead man could, more effectually than a live one, override the Constitution, and under pains and penalties, by forfeiture or otherwise, deprive an American citizen of the right to appeal to the law. It was, therefore, with no little disappointment that it was learned that the heirs, rather than jeopardize the will or their own rights, and provoke a publio inquiry, together with such scandal as must ensue, compromised the matter. The will was probated as it read and the test was deferred. We are reminded of these facts by the discovery that so eminent a jurist as the late Samuel J. Tilden has made a similar inhibition against a contest of his will by disinheriting any person named in it in case he should contest it.

The fact that he included this singular provision is held to be equal to proof of its entire legality and the clause is supposed to stand as an infallible, though not a formal, declaration of the law on the subjeot. Those who take this ground are, in our judgment, doubly in error. In the first place we do not believe that the will, or this inhibitory clause, at all events, would be sustained by the highest judicial authority, for reasons which will appear presently. We believe, secondly that Mr. Tilden was aware of its futility, from a legal point Of view.

It follows, therefore, that his motive in making the declaration cannot be explained upon prima facie principles. The case is not likely to go before the courts for a formal settlement, but fortunately a decision upon the point by the Court of Appeals is likely to be reached in due season. A case is on itB way thither, having passed the General Term stage in the western part of this State. The question goes to the court of last resort with whatever prestige there is in subordinate determination all on the side of the contestants. The proponents of the will held that a testament is to be interpreted as the design of the author from every word in it, and that the inhibition against contest was necessarily a part of it as tending to illustrate the testator's wishes in relation to that subject.

The general term, however, delved deeper, in its decision, into the matter. It took ground that the State possesses the ultimate right of disposal of property, but, for purposes of one kind or another, delegates to the individual authority to name such methods of distribution as may to him appear best, reserving to itself, through tho Probate Court, the right of approval or disapproval. Exercise of that right is dependent upon the attitude of all parties concerned. If wrong is done in the testamentary disposition the State has a right to know it, and upon the relation of the citizen. No citizen can legally be estopped by threat or reward from making to tho Stata a due presentation of the case.

It' is a duty as well as a right, therefore, to appeal to the courts, of which the citizen cannot divest himself. This, it will be seen, while it touches upon the doctrine of inalienable rights which the individual can no more sign away than he can rid himself of his immortality, is not wholly dependent upon it, although the two theories lead to the same conclusion. The right of contest of a will is inalienable, by either tost, and thus it follows whatsoever inhibition, inducement or threat that bears upon the question is against sound public policy and is not sustainable in law. The presumption in this case, as in others, is, of course, that the testator is anxious to have his property so disposed as he declared. It is valuable only as a declaration to this effect, and is not binding.

And it was only in tho character of an italic protest that Mr. Tilden, knowing its legal superfluity, incorporated it for the guidance of his heirs and executors. The apparent reason why his objection was made so emphatically is to be found in the testamentary provisions. Where a fortune of such dimensions is to be distributed and an enormous sum, like $4,000,000 is to be given to charitable or other purposes, an endeavor on the port of tho heirs to obtain a larger share at tho expense of that remote abstraction, the public, is among the possibilities. In most instances it would bo among the certainties.

But there is little danger in this case. The Tilden blood is democratic in the highest degree. The heirs are content with enough, and will not reach out for moro simply because there is moro. There will be no contest, no thought of contest. Those who inherit are happy to do so on shares with the rest of the people.

They get their share with the others in the great library which the head of their house has prepared to establish, and something over and above out of the natural love find affection of kinship. i The Cholera Scare Over. Two years ago, when cholera was running amuck in France and Italy and strewing great cities with its victims, the daily bulletins of death were among the first items of intelligence to which American newspaper readers turned. Even a year ago, when three of the evils most particularly set forth in the litany were rioting in Spain, and between earthquake, cholera and starvation provinces were being depopulated, all that pertained to the subject had for us a fascination whose roots were in fear. The experiments tried by Dr.

Ferran with inoculation were watched with deep interest, too, and the superstition and ignorance of the Spanish peasantry wero roprobated as almost wicked since they operated to prevent full and free experimentation upon other bodies than our own for our own advantage. To day, we suppose, very few readers troublo themselves sufficiently about cholera even to look for tho paragraphs to which the returns have shrunk. We are well into August, with frost only a few weeks off, and the danger is past for another Summer. But the apprehension of a visit from the pestilence, while it lasted, was not without good results. It prompted tho equipment of the quarantine stations to the utmost, made certain preventive measures compulsory and incidentally put money into the pookets of thrifty souls whose devotion to the community was sharply accentuated by the possession of pa the critical dude prefers the mists of idealism to the clear atmosphere of reality let him enjoy his preference.

For the dreamers moonshine; but for prrtotical people roast beef and potatoes are good enough. The East Now Vork Revelation It was not to be expected that the Town of New Lots would reach a marriageable age in perfect health. Towns, like individuals, are subject to disorders, and the Twenty sixth Ward went to the altar, as the Eagle stated yesterday, with many evidences of lusty growth, but not without infirmities which threatened its constitution. Not much can be said about the revelations which will give them added force. Like natural beauties they need the assistance of no artificial tints.

Petty political pests of the local species worried and annoyed the town. They were ugly little specimens of the vampire breed who wanted the courage to attempt a lofty flight or attaok a vital part. Their operations were restricted not by conscientious scruples, but by the soope of their intelligence and pluck. Wherever they settled they drew financial blood, but they were operators of the petty variety, who are held in as much contempt by the freebooters of the first rank as by the honest man. They are always to be found in the trail of bigger offenders.

If they are hereafter dealt with individually, it will be because some of them soared above tho dignity of puny plunderers, while their fellows skirmished under cover where pickings, were paltry but risks remote. The town grew, notwithstanding. In course of time it became opulent enough to attract the attention of keener brains and larger purposes. The town meeting registered the change like a true political barometer. It was as sensitive to the transition as mercury to falling temperature.

Under manipulation it became a howling mob. There is something positively pathetic about the rise and fall of the Union Gas Light Company. Its reappearance with the same externals, but with the men. who made it frozen out, was an achievement which will hold its own wherever audacity commands a premium. The company had the contract for lighting the town so long that its annual bid for a renewal had developed into little more than a formality.

Treasurer Van Sicklen, a man of direct design and stainless record, was staggered when he found his company underbid. Ho knew of no other concern ready to light the town. But subterranean competition brushed him aside and the contract fell into mysterious hands. What is known in New Lots as the "Dark Year" ensued. Deprived of its principal source of revenue, the Union Gas Light stock became a drug.

Then the vail was drawn aside, Mr. Van Sicklen and. his friends sold out at ruinons rates, and the men to whom the town were indebted for twelve months of darkness took their places. It was a neat operation. It revealed the ingenuity and nerve shown when the yearly contract system was abandoned, when a seven year illuminating plague was substituted and when fancy prices for that period were insured by the Legislature and always invoked in the flurry of a closing session.

The situation crystallized into this: Gas making is at an end in the Twenty sixth Ward; the Fulton Municipal supplying at about $1 a thousand what the consumer will pay more than twice the money for. Senator Jacobs rather grimly says, that he thinks the agreement is binding and will hold water. He obtained good legal advice, he adds, before getting the contract. The Eaoie could have furnished him with advice infinitely sounder and no doubt concerning its legality would ever have disturbed him. No attempt is made here to touch upon all of even the principal points of the story, but if the Senator is right ho and his friends have succeeded in saddling Brooklyn with a load not too heavy for a rich community to bear, but more than heavy enough to crush the men who handled it.

It is a pity that when attention is turned to another branch of the subject, the change is not refreshing. The water history is in some respects a model. A fairer flower never bloomed in the tropical atmosphere of a political hothouse. The last clause of the agreement entered into by the town and the Long Island Supply Company says Tho terms and covenants and conditions of thlB contract shall bind tho parties hereto and their suo ceors and assigns, and shall continue in full forco for a term of twenty five years from the dato thereof. The contract, then, whatever its provisions are, is a quarter of a century mortgage on the town.

The company's capital stock is $250, 000. The figures actually invested have been laid out on a plant which will perhaps sell for $100,000 if the buyer badly wanted it. Why an imposing superstructure of half a million in the shape of bonds should adorn a lower story of '50 per cent, of the amount is an enigma, if their issue is sought to be accounted for by rules of orthodox investments, but an explanation singularly free from business methods is quite accessible. The Annexation act provides that Twenty sixth Ward mains shall be free from Brooklyn water for twenty five years, unless in the meantime the Supply Company be bought out. The purchase would involve a profitless outlay for the city even on the quarter of a million dollar basis, tho capacity of the pipes being totally unequal to the force of the Kidgewood flow, and the only local water accessible on a liberal scale being that with which the company's securities are flooded.

The arrangement is that the ward shall pay as much for the wator used by the Fire Department as it costs New York, Chicago and Philadelphia combined to secure their supply. A remarkably generous provision of tho contract stipulates that no charge shall be made for this water when tho general local consumption reaches a point involving a certain percentage of profit on the company's investment. To obviate the danger of this percentage being attained the bonds were called into existence so that the percentage profit must be figured, not on the money actually invested, but upon $750,000. This far seeing little scheme works both ways. If the city does not buy the company out, the letter's revenue for fire water is protected for the period prescribed in tho agreement; if it does, the taxpayer must buy at par the bonds which, except for the market value given in Albany, would be purchased only by the pound as other waste paper is.

As it is, if the city does not step in, the supply at the disposal of the firemen will in twenty five years cost the town $500,000, so that the company is sure of its bonanza in any event. By the time the act had been "literally kioked" through the Legislature, the bonds quoted hitherto at inconsiderable figures began to soar in the stock list like balloons and are now quoted at something above par. In the presence of these overshadowing facts THEY ABE NOT REALLY BA8CALS. A Boston paper prints an editorial honded DIs persa the Coming Just as tho Concord Summor School of Philosophy begins its sessions, this Is too bad. THE LAST SHOT.

Queon Victoria talks of publishing nothor diary and says that it will bo nor last book. Well, that's good nows rush It Into print, quickly, your Ma JeBty, and let's get through with it. HE NEVER SAID IT AGAIN. The illustrious traveler looked contemptuously at tho mountains. "Nothing very steep about here," he said scornfully.

out his bill," said tho noblo landlord turning to the gallant clerk. (Pronounced Clark.) And a grout hush of measuroloss awe came into the ofllce and sat down on a trunk listening to the remoraeloss scratch of the busy pen that was laying a grade of about four foot to tho yard. STIMULATING SOPORIFICS. You are right, my son, too much sleep is injurious. Baware of too much sloop.

But, then, too much wakefulness Is not good, likewise. Eighteen hours' sloop will hurt you loss than six hours' wine suppar. Somo of thewakiugost times you havo, my boy, are liable to bring on serious injuries by causing you to indulgo in too much sloop. A WILLING MIND. "Iam going to do Just as I planned to do," said Mrs.

Houpock, "and I'd like to soo anybody stop me. Where there's a will there's a way." "The troublo with you" said Henpeck, vory, oh very softly, "is that where there's a will there's a won't." FAULTILY CORRECT. "Who hold up Moaos' hands while Joshua fought oskod tho suporintondont. "Ilur and Aaron," shouted the good boy. "She and Aaron," softly correctod tho now school ma'am, tho strong point of whom was grammar.

IN MUZZLIN DRESS. I am no pugilist," remarked tho dog, pulling on a pair of extra pants as ho paused in tho shade, "but I travel on my muzzle." And with a futile effort to bite a polloomau, ho passed ou, smelling all manner of things that ho couldn't eat. RICHES HAVE WINGS. "Does anything travel faster than light asked tho professor. "Yos sir," ropliod the student, "monoy." "Well," said the professor dubiously, that's light, too." OP THE EARTH, EARTnY.

Sadly sings a strickon young poetess Oh Earth, thy burdens weigh mo down." Ah, ha? So they've got to making porcelain bustles, thou YOU KNOW WHO TOIS IS Is himnelf a mastor exaggorator, tho lord of extremes, holding tho zenith and tho nadir in his two hands." Oh no, no, no; not tho devil; dear mo, no. Ho is a master exaggerator, it is true: but tho quotation above doesn't refer to bim. It is simply a description of the groat and good Mr. Emerson, by one of his worshipers. A RANDOM SHOT.

The Incalesconco of the August days Grow yet more torrid 'noath the sun's fierce rays, And all things earthly thawed would straight havo been But there was nothing froze to thaw them in. Fierce, incandescent, igneous, rod hot, E'en salamanders sought a cooler spot, And finding none, gave up all cooling hope, And curaod tho ever mounting thernioscopo. Cedric of Ethelwold, old Woldgraf 's son, And ho of Edred, Scribe of Scrlbbollngton, Sato in tho Eagle's eyrio, far aloft, Koon codar pencil and tho tablet soft, Ho notod not, as with a poot's art Ho carved the rich red watermelon's heart, Sozzling it down with many a labial "1 yoop! "Ha, hal "'quoth he, "at last I have a scoop 1 Eftsoons the massive ompty rind he hurled Down from his casement on tha busy world. Nor looked to see that world but laughed "Ho, ho And speaking softly said, Look out bolow." Thon on the desk ho piled his lissome feot And gave himself to dreams of Ethol sweet; Ethel, old Harold's daughter, lily fair, Sweet lovey dovey girl, a millionaire; A girly girl, his very ownost own Though rich, ho loved her for herself alone. Long he had loved hor, worshiping afar And long hung back in awe of hor papa.

With crash of thunder open burst the door; With quivering frame, with voieo a mulllocl roar Groping with furious arms, like Samson blind, With whirling stick upraised, his foo to find, With muffled oaths of vongoanco, half supprossed. With choking suorts his rago that half oxprossod, Old Harold pranced, chafod In his frame and mind, Splashed, stroakod, and seeded, down before, behind, Holmed to the chin In watermelon rind. ON TO THE RIO GRANDE. Hail Columbia, happy land! Thore aro some things that we won't stand; Sometimes wo got real mad, and when Our dauder's up, woe tide tho raou Who stand before our fury thon. Up drawbridgo grooms! What, warder, hoi Proclaim a war with Mexico I For Uuclo Sam in wrath has sworo By tho nine gods ho's keon for war.

Grim vlsaged, florce, red handed, grim, Through seas of blood to wado or swim. Como one, come all! Hoar, earth and sky, We conquer or die! BUT KEEP OFF TUB ST. LAWRENCE. Eh? Which? Who? That Ashing gmaok? Why, ain't wo going to get it back? Oh, that's no causo tor auy war, That schooner ain't worth flghtingfor; Cheaper for Congress Just to voto Money to buy another boat. Beat all the drums Let warlike We'll do our lighting down iu Mexico.

BEWARE THE FREEZER. It is a thankless task to warn young people of the evils of over iudulgonco in cooling viands and drinks during tho boated term. Young poopla will be youug people but not vory long If they keep ou gorging that insidious foo to health and life, ice cream. Thoro is doath, and, what is worse, premature old ago in the froozor. On tho 13th day of July, this present Summer, James L.

Walsingham, of this city, bogau to oat ice croam ovory Sunday. In spite of tho warnings of his frionds he kept up this practice nearly throo weeks, and thon one day ho foil while chasing a street car, abrading tho skin on both his shius and running sliver into tho ball of his thumb so far that it mado his tooth ache when ho pulled it out. When ho wout home that ovoning ho loarnod that his oldest boy, of whom he very proud, had beeu licked in a fair fight by a boy uot half his sizo. Abraham Eldridge, of Salom, ato ico croam with his young friends ovory Summor for throo years. After oating it about two mouths he noticed that his boots began to run over at tho hool.

His aged pastor besought him to abandon tho pernicious habit, and his swoethoart, with toars and prayers, added her outroatlos to tho minister's. In tho forlorn hope of roforniing him the foolish young girl married him. Tho noxt Suudny after their wedding thoy wore out driving, when a runaway horse, driven by tho pastor, dashed into thorn aud kuouked $37 out of Eldridge's buggy and lamed his horo, tho minister's turnout escaping without a scratch. Still, he neglected tho warning, and in six weeks somebody poisoned his dog. Eldridgo Is now tho father of twins, both of whom, or which, inherit, or probably will inherit, their fathor's vlco.

Cecelia Thaxter, a youug girl of very propossosslug personal appearance aud engaging manners, while employed in the fainily of Judge Ezra Ilankinson, of this city, as governors, becamo addicted to tho ico cream habit. In a short time it grow upon hor and began to iutorforo with bar duties In the school room. Ono day, while seated at the sewing machine, she ran a noodle clear through hor thumb, and for several days thereafter whenever she ato ico cream, she folt a sharp pain iu her thumb. Bile disregarded tho warning, however, and last wook sho was carried away. Tho man who carriod hor away married hor whon ho carriod her as far as tho church, and sho is now Mrs.

Judge Ilankinson, worth and can takohor slipper and spauk ohain lightning out of tho impudent children that usod to bully tho life out of thair poor govornoss. (P. s. And sho does it, too.) A single teaspoouful of icecream droppod upon the tongue of a rattlesnake will kill tho man that drops it Just as quick n3 the rattlesnake can got a crack at him, which will bo while ho is measuring tho Ico cream. Fifteen grains of strychnine, mixed with a freezer full of loo cream, will kill ns mauy people as a young man can stand troat for.

A dog, shut up In an air tight iron box, for six woeks, and fed upon nothing but ico croam, will die. A young man named W. S. Thornton presumptuously declared that he could live upon Ico croam. SUNDAY MORNING, AUGUST 15, 1888.

SIXTEEN PAGES. The Sunday Morning Edition of the Eagle has a Large and Growing Circulation Throughout the United States. It is the Best Advertising Medium for Those who Desire to Beach all Classes of Newspaper Readers in Brooklyn and on Long Island. The Daily (Evening) Eagle is now in its Forty sixth Tear. Its Circulation is Larger Than That of any Other Paper of its Class in the United States, and it is Steadily Increasing Keeping Pace with the Growth of the Great City of which the Eagle is Admittedly the Journalistic Representative.

General Molineux, who has resigned the command of the Second Division of the National Guard, has sent to Governor Hill a letter of criticism on the recent movement to reorganize the military force of the State pursuant to what is likely to pass into history as the celebrated General Orders No. 21. The communication, which is printed in full in the Eagle to day, will attract attention and stimulate discussion. The General objects to the order as unconstitutional. This point raises a question for a lawyer rather than a soldier.

The Governor is certain to consider it carefully. Indeed it would not be surprising if he had examined it already. The General further objects to the "enlargement of the Governor's military discretion," which he regards as dangerous and "contrary to the spirit of Democratic institutions." These and like matters, he believes, should be referred to the next constitutional convention. The military as well as other sections of the organic law would of course come up for review before such a body; and if the effort to simplify tho system of tho National Guard, to consolidate the force and make it more effective, to have fewer commandants and moro men, to magnify official glory less and to encourage rather tho discipline and drill of tho rank and file all of which is consistent with common sense and science as woll as democratic institutions shall succeed as it promises to do, nothing is clearer than that constitutional amendment, if there shall be any, will bo so shaped as to help, rather than hinder, the attempt. Father Sylvester Malone is nearly if not quite the oldest pastor in this city.

Forty two years ago to day he was ordained a priest and ever since has been the widely known and beloved minister of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. Outside of his immediate parish, where the occasion will be specially and appropriately signalizel, the anniversary is of interest to great numbers of people who recognize in Father Malone not only a faithful and useful clergyman, but a citizen of large activity and generous public spirit. The New York Star makes the following reference to an interesting incident A cortain Mr. Croffut, editor of tlio Washington Post, has made an iasuo of voracity with tlie President. He says that Mr.

Cleveland told lilm on the Tory day when Mr. Magone was appolntod Collector of tills port that Mr. Iledden had uot resigned. Mr. Croffut has como In contact with the President on a former occasion.

Mr. Koppler, of Puck, having attributed to Croffut a certain statement, asked Mr. Cleveland for a denial, a request which drew forth that now famous lottor In which the Prosident said: "I don't think there ovor was a time when newspaper lying was so genoral and as at present" Mr. Croffut denied, in the columns of Puck, that he was the author of the statoment in quostion, but added: I would liavo written it In a minuto If 1 had known It would give mo a chance to be called a liar, and to dony tho accusation, both on your editorial page." This seems to settle Mr. Croff ut's status as a man who Is porfoctly willing to be called a liar for the sako of notoriety.

It ought to ond Mr. Croffut and his unsupportod assertion that any one told him an untruth does not in tho least reflect on the accusod. This seems to throw around Mr. Croffut's veracity an element of doubt. The fact is that the President did have an interview with him and did tell him that Mr.

Hedden's resignation had not been received, but tho interview occurred not ou the day specified by Mr. Croffut, but the day before. The omission of Mr. Croffut to remember that the conversation was twenty four hours older than ho represented it to be is ascribed by his friends not to his proverbial fondness for lah de dah iug with truth but to one of those fits of mental exhaustion to which Mr. Croffut is subject.

I am simply a ghost waiting on the banks of the Kivor Styx for the summons to cross." Allan 0. Thurman. Honored sir, you are a very substantial ghost so substantial that he who comes seeking ghosts will not molest you. If you hear the river flowing, the prayers of your countrymen are that many barriers of noble service may long delay your arrival on its banks. The bark which Mis3 Rose Cleveland has taken passage for a voyage over the stormy ocean of journalism came very near foundering on the sunken reef of a sheriff's attachment.

But tho star of the Clevelunds shone brightly above her and the threatened catastrophe was averted. It may have been a risky thing for Miss Cleveland to embark in such a vessel, but it cannot be denied that the owners were fortunate in being able to head the passenger list with the name of a prominent member of so lucky a family. An oxchango ingenuously alludes to tho pride of New York City." "What is "the pride of New York City and where is it buried If the corpse were found, where is the battery strong enough to galvanize it into a Bemblance of life "Dan Magone will be his own boss and let no man forget it." That is a St. Lawrence County sentiment expressed by a St. Lawrence County man.

It simply and squarely states an interesting fact. The new Collector is a self made man, and the result teaches him to have confidence in himself. This much granted, with the further acknowledgment that he is bruiny as he is honest, gives assurance of one of the best business administrations at the Custom House that New York merchants have ever known. The critics of Mr. Howells are hypercritical.

If the conditions of society, the manners and characteristics of the people of the time are worth depicting at all they are worth depicting accurately. Mr. Howells' realism offends no moral sensibilities. Its tone and teaching are pure. His discernment is keen and his powers of delineation undoubted.

If A Learned Prelate On Tho Irish Land QucBtiou. It is amazing how reluctantly the English i people admit to their intelligence the actual facta as to the condition of Ireland and the cause of the trouble which, they cannot con coal from themselves, exists there in defiance of all half measures to allay it. The shameful riots in Belfast which we at this distance can thoroughly understand as the consequenceB of the reckless stimulation of religious bigotry and hatred by short sighted politicians are, without doubt, attributed by the great mass of Englishmen to some inherent quality of the Catholic population which prompts them to disorder. We know that tho truth is almost the reverse. The Protestants are in an overwhelming majority in Belfast, but their attack on their fellow townsmen, due as it was to religious hotred, would not have been made had not that odious passion been intentionally aroused for political purposes.

The same inability to contemplate the case fairly is shown in relation to the land question, which lies at the bottom of Irish discontent. The Tribune recently reproduced a conversation on this all important subject between Mr. Gill, a member of Parliament, and the Archbishop of Dublin, in which the latter, with admirable lucidity, stated the case of the Irish people and strove, by the sheer presentation of facts, to give Englishmen another chance to understood the ense they are called upon to treat. The radioal misconception among the English in relation to the rent question in Ireland is that tenants are banded together to pay no rent upon no other basis of action than that they are Catholics and the landlords are Protestants. To the cosmopolitan irjtelligence of an American such a proposition would be so monstrous as to sound like a jest mnde in delirium.

But it is indubitably tho essence of British belief, and, as the Archbishop demonstrates, until it is dispelled and room is made in the English mind for the true conception of the case it will be a hopeless task to undertake to deal with the question. The cause of Irish discontent, he goes on to point out, is poverty the cause of poverty is the unwillingness of Irish landlords to adjust the rents to the changed agricultural conditions of the island. That is the case in a nutshell. In England, where agriculture, speaking generally, has ceased to be a remunerative industry, rents, within the past ten years have been reduced everywhere from 25 to 50 percent. The concession has been made by the landlord voluntarily that is to say, the condition of the agricultural tenant is such in England that he can, by throwing up a holding which is unprofitable by reason of high rent, compel the landlord to reduce the figure to living dimensions.

Migration from farm to farm is no more difficult, as the Archbishop neatly illustrates it, than Michaelmas, or as we should say here May moving in a city. Thus the increasing difficulty of making a living out of agriculture has been met by a decrease of rents, ond the loss has fallen, where it should, upon the English land owner. But in Ireland the case is very different. The Irish tenant, to begin with, owing to years of rack renting, is poor beyond description. The holding which he ocoupies owes all its improvements to him.

He cannot, as the English farmer can, slip from one thoroughly equipped farm to another. If he goes, he is separated from all he has, the product of his own industry. All the traditions and osBociations of his life are there, and have been there for generations. He is, actually, part of the soil. Such a relation is wholly different from the purely commercial tenancy of the Englishman.

Hence he is not in a position to compel a reduction of rent by the laws of trade. He has a remedy in the courts, truly, but the reductions effected under the land laws are not comparable with those which have been effected by competition in England. There the farmer has been going out of business into mechanics or mining or something else over since agriculture began to wane. In Ireland no such opportunity offers. Emigration is the only alternative and that begs the question of relief in the sense of readjustment.

But, one may urge, the landlord of the Archbishop's description is not a human being; he is a monster, and the ago of monsters has passed. When a theory and a fact come into collision one of the two must give way, and the fact will not. It is plain that the belief that monsters no longer exist is incompatible with the facts as the learned churchman presents them. It appears that custom has so corrupted senso among owners of land in Ireland that, while men bow to the laws of trade and justice in relation to their English estates, the moment that similar conditions confront them in Ireland they change altogether. Land owners who have made concessions to their English tenants will make none to their Irish holders.

And the prelate proceeds to quote the familiar ease of Lord Fitzwilliam, as on exception which proves the rule. That well meaning peer, finding that poverty, not bigotry, was the cause of non payment of rent, made a reduction of 50 per cent, to his Irish tenants as he had dene in Englaud. Instantly he was assailed by the landlord class as a Communist, a disseminator of Anarchical ideoB and a traitor to his class. The cure that the Archbishop sees must be legislation to meet the situation by men who understand it, as Englishmen obviously do not. That means that Home Rule is the sole solution of tho agrarian problem which lies at the root of Irish discontent and misery.

And ho is frank in saying that tho Irish people will nevor consent, as they would have consented some months ago, to any moosuro for the compensation of Irish landlords, which approximated in generosity that which Mr. Gladstone projected. And we fancy that had he added: "And the British are of the same determina notion," he would not have been far astray. The authorities of Chihuahua may soon have tidingB of the deepest interest to them. Colonel Thomas P.

Ochiltree is reported to be moving toward the Rio Grande. ForoHt Firea, The terrible loss that has been caused by forest fires during the present Summer, especially in Michigan and Wisconsin, is well fitted to attract the earnest attention of all who would have a correct idea of this form of destruction. These fires, which have pre vailed more or less throughout the Union, have been most disastrous in the West where they have consumed millions of dollars' worth of property. And what makes the matter much worse is the important fact that the property thus burned up was of a kind which was constantly growing in value and which cannot be replaced. No one can overestimate the value of the white pine forests of Michigan and Wisconsin, which have suffered so much from fires during the recent dry term.

Every man who builds a house is interested in the preservation of the woods of the Northwest, for when they are gone we shall have to look to the fast wasting forests of Maine or to Canada for a further supply. A forest fire causes the average man to feel his own inability to cope with the forces of nature. Once started on a large scale no efforts are of any avail to stay its ravages. Nothing but a heavy rain or the interposition of a broad river will stop it. And the misery of it is that, in the dry season, any careless fool, any wandering Indian or any man actuated by malice can start a conflagration which may destroy millions of dollars' worth of property.

To show what damage such a fire can effect the great Miramichi fire of 1825 may be cited, which is admitted to have been the most dreadful in the history of the world. It is supposed to have been started by a wandering band of Indians who had neglected to put out their camp firos. It destroyed an area of virgin pine forest covering six thousand square miles; it burnt up three growing towns, leaving their thousands of inhabitants to the mercy of the elements. Between four and five hundred persons who were caught in the forest and unable to escape to any of the large rivers were consumed, beside thousands of cattle and wild animals, and buildings and crops on hundreds of farms. A piece of territory nearly as large as the State of Massachusetts was turned in a day and a night into a hideouB desert and so remained for about half a century.

Fortunately, none of the Western fires has reached such terrible proportions as that of the Miramichi, but the same causes and the same conditions may repeat that vast conflagration on even a grander scale. It is not the loss of the trees alone which renders such a visitation calamitous, but the virtual destruction of the land which is burnt over, the soil being ruined for the time being and made unproductive. The trees that have been lost thus can never bo replaced. A pine forest that has been burnt over grows up with hardwood, and not with the species of tree that has been swept away. Nature renews herself, but it is in another form and under altered circumstances.

The injury that has been done is irreparable. In view of these facts, all forest countries have enacted laws imposing heavy penalties on persons leaving fires uncared for in the woods, but most of them are dead letters because they are never enforced. The recent losses from this cause in the West should lend to the formation of a more healthy publio opinion on this subject and the strict enforcement of laws for forest protection. It is only in this way that our noble forest resources can be made available now and preserved for future generations. Tlie Eafflo To Day.

The Eaqle this morning, in addition to the news of the time and the comments on the events of the day, contains not a few special articles which will reward attention. The facts developed by the State Dairy Commissioners respecting milk and butter and their relation to oleomargarine aro set forth by a writer who has made a careful and interesting study of the report of that official. The subject is of peculiar attraction, considering the new relation in which oleomargarine now stands to the law. An article on Car Conductors presents a result of the inquiries and the impressions of an experienced observer of that large and important body of public employes. The effect of their duties on their views and dispositions is well shown.

"In and Around Paris" is the title of a letter which deals with phases of Notre Dame with a recent notable service in the Madeleine with "the noblesse of the parvenu with the Parisian fashions in drinks during Midsummer with the features of the art museums, and with' other subjects from the center of fashion and sensation. A consideration of Buskin's faith very ably and picturesquely exhibits the religious sentiment which pervades the life and works of the great critic, of whom tho advices are that he is nearing the exchange of worldB. The Salvation Army furnishes a theme of interest which is enhanced by the skill with which it is treated. The peculiarities, organization and policy of the singular association are not only considered, but its present designs on the entrenchments of what it regards as sin in Brooklyn ore also set forth. The weekly letter of Life in New York, and the reflections of the "Saunterer" in Brooklyn comprise subjects that will be found both seasonable and congenial to the general thought.

Further reminiscences of Mr. Tilden pro sent facts and peculiarities of the man, with events and circumstances not before published. The incidents and sayings are as authentic as they are interesting. In addition to these and other special features, the departments of Fashion, Literature, Church News, Art, European Happen SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS. The Aupccts 'A'lioy Present on the Witncsia Stuud.

Let us look nt this question as it presents itself to men of science, alike to the chemist, the physicist, the mechanician, the geologist, tho physician and tho microscopi3t, though certnluly not to tho astronomor. who is in no danger of boing called, as such, to givo his testimony. Tho expert occupios a totally anomalous position in court. Technically, ho is a moro wltnoss; practically, ho is something botween a witness and an advocate, sharing the responsibilties of both, but without tho prlvilogos of tho latter. Ho has to instruct counsol bofore tho trial and to prompt him during its course.

But In cross examination ho is tho more open to insult, because tho court does not seo clearly how ho arrivos at his conclusions, and suspects whatever It does not undorstand. The Dr. H. Angus Smith complained of being "contemptuously compellod to herd with thieves and scoundrels in a wituoss box." lie adds: I havo seou barristers speaking to a scientific witnoss iu such a way as to show that to them a witness was always an interior person." Surely, ovory person who has been present at technical trial, or has had to appear as an export in a poisoning, a patent, or nil adulteration case, will bo able to confirm this from his own observation aud experience. Now, it may, perhaps, be cynically hinted that moa of science slfould bo willing to bear all this annoyance fur the publio good.

But 13 it for tho public good? In tho first place, uot a fow of tho most eminent men in ovory department of scienco distinctly and peremptorily refuso to bo mixed up in auy afrair which may expose them to cross examination. "I will investigate the matter if you wish it, and will givo you a report for your guidance, but only on tho distinct uuderstaud ingthatl am uot to enter the witness Such, in subatanco, is tho decision of not a few men of tho highest reputation and tho most sterling integrity. Certainly, it is not for the interest of Justice to reudor It Impossible for such men to give the court tlie benefit of thoir knowledge. Further, tho spectacle of two men of standing contradicting or seeming to contradict each other in tho interest of their respoclivo clients is a grave scandal. Men ot tho world aro tompted to say that scienco can lay but littlo claim to certainty, and is rather a mass of doubtful speculations than a body of demonstrable truth." To us, at loast, thoro is nothing moro saddening than to read tho trial of a notorious poisoner, or the report of a great patent case, especially if taken along with the comments of tho press and of society on tlieso occasiouo Hero, thou, wo see that our present mode of dealing with scientific evidence is found ou all rides unsatisfactory.

The outside public issenndniized: exports are indignant; tho bench aud bar share this feeling, but, unfortunately, thoy are disposed to blnmo tho Individual rather than condemn me system. But wofoar that this unanimity of dissatisfaction will vanish as soon ns remedy is seriously proposed. To that, however, wo must come unless wo are willing to dispense with scientific oviden altogether. As it soems to us, iho expert should bo tho advisor of tho court, no longor acting in the interest of cither party. Above all things, ho must bo oxompt from cross examination.

His evidence, or rather his conclusions, should bo givon In writing, and accepted Just as aro the decisions of the bench on points of law. Chemical Xews. HABITS OF THS KMU. The curious enso of the emu is described in a letter from Mr. Alfred Ileunott, who had an opportunity of watching tho habits of this bird, which was, during several soasons, successfully bred by his fattier In Surrey.

Tho lion bird, says Mr. Ben nott, begins to layabout tho ond of October or bo ginnin of November, and as each brood consists of twenty oggs or iniu'o, laid nt intervals of two days, the process takes about six weeks. ISoforo it is coniptetod tho ccck bird begins to sot. Tho eggs laid subsequently are deposited by tho hen by the side of hor mate, who puts out his fool and draws them under him. As soon as tho oggs begin to hatch It Id necessary to isolate the hen, as she lights furiously with, hor mate, and would, to all nppoar ance, kill tho chicks if slio were allowed to got at them.

Tho whole of tho tending of tho youug Is porformod by tho malo bird. Xature. tlrookl viiito!) Wlio desert fholr city rosidenco during rim ho.ntPd tana and who wish to havo a knowludKo of their nto'Khbor'a lo inKtf and city affairs in Kenornl can compass thU ond only in the columns of tho Kaol; sont to anyaddruss in tha United both and Suuday included, for $1 Utf month, uustaizeDrepoid..