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I AKl® J " " * ABOUND A BIG STATE |p$|SP iivf : BRIEF CdftffPILATION OF NOJS NEWS. ILLI- .a u Wi m torngcists Mast Conform to the Law --Activity at Peoria Grape Sugar Plant--Celebrated Schweinfurth Case Dropped--Misused the Mails. Pharnfacy Law Stands a Court Tejpt. The, pharmacy law passed by the last Oeneral Assembly has been tested in the Circuit Court at Springfield and declared •constitutional. It provides that all own­ ers operating drug stores shall at all hours, when open for business, keep em­ ployed a registered pharmacist. It is made unlawful for any person not a regis­ tered pharmacist to open, conduct or op­ erate any drug store, dispensary, apothe­ cary shop or store for the purpose of com­ pounding drugs or dispensing .the same; and that it shall be unlawful for the pro­ prietor of any such store to allow any per­ son in his employ or otherwise, excepting a registered pharmacist or assistant reg­ istered pharmacist, to compound, recom­ mend, dispense or sell drugs, medicines, •etc. Heavy penalties are imposed for all violations of the law. The Board qf Pharmacy has had trouble in enforcing the new law. Many stores sell drugs and medicines without sanction of law, and in many cases great harm results. Over a year ago the board brought suit against John S. Fisher, a Springfield druggist, for a violation of the law. The case was taken to the Circuit Court. Judge Creigh- ton held the law to be constitutional and •charged the jury to bring in a verdict of guilty. The Board of Pharmacy now will prosecute all violations of the-law in every part of the State where evidence of vio­ lation can be secured. It Makes Work for 300 More Men. The stockholders of the Peoria Grape Sugar Company met Saturday. A reso­ lution was passed unanimously instruct­ ing the Board of Directors to proceed with the work of increasing the capacity of the plant from 15,000 to 25,000 bushels of corn per day. Glucose, commercial starch, grape sugar and kindred products will be manufactured. The increased .ca­ pacity will necessitate the employment of an additional force of 300 men. Levy Mayer of Chicago, vice-president of the •company, was at the meeting. He is also the attorney for the American Spirits Manufacturing Company, and it is report­ ed his visit had to do with the reorganiza­ tion of the agreement under which the dis­ tillers worked last season. Writes an Oiitraceous Letter. ) Deputy United States Marshal Logan went to Rockford from Chicago Friday and arrested William Boyle, a young man who was recently married, the complaint to the Federal authorities being made by Mr. Phillips of Chicago. The latter, who was formerly acquainted with.Mrs. Boyle, but who did not know she was marrijed, recently wrote her a letter, which she turned over to her husband. There was enough in the letter to make Boyle angry, ^d he answered, using language most Severe and calling the Chicago man un­ mentionable names. Phillips immediately turned the matter over to the postal au­ thorities and will appear against Boyle. Requisition for De .Tuater Honored. Gov. Tanner honored the requisition of the Governor of Colorado for the extra­ dition of Dr. Frank C. Rhodes, aliai Count de Juster, under arrest at Chicago and wanted at Denver for embezzlement and forgery. Rhodes, it is said, secured $1,500 from Cornelia S. Newbury, a widow with whom he had become ac­ quainted and with whom he was to form a partnership in a business venture. After Rhodes secured the money he left Den­ ver, and it is said, wired that he would return "some day." He went to Chi­ cago and married another woman. Rhodes is also wanted at Brooklyn, N. Y., for bigamy and forgery. Drop Prosecution of Fchw:infurth. The authorities of Winnebago County have practically given up the prosecution of George Jacob Schweinfurth and other members of his "heaven" who were in­ dicted with him. The cases have been continued from term to term and the mar­ riage last summer of Schweinfurth to Mrs. Tuttle, together with a like step on the part of the other couples who were under the ban of the law, was an unex­ pected obstacle in bringing them to jus­ tice. The indictments were stricken from the docket Friday with leave to reinstate. •I State News in Brief. Coroner Bailey of Tazewell County was called to Washington to investigate a murder story. John Sheppard was dis­ covered burying a body a short distance from town, and was arrested for mur­ der. At the inquest it was learned that the corpse had been secured by Dr. Mans­ field for scientific purposes, and Shep­ pard was released. The new feed mill at South Elgin, own­ ed by Hawley & Richards, was destroyed by fire, evidently of incendiary origin. A frame cottage adjoining, owned by James A. Carlisle, was also burned. The mill was built last summer and cost $3,000. The loss aggregates nearly $5,000. E. C. Hawley offers a reward of $1,000 for the •conviction of the incendiaries. On Mon­ day three store buildings at South Elgin were burned in a similar way, the loss be­ ing then $7,000. There is evidently a plan to destroy the village. Marcus S. Parmele, the embezzling Rockford real estate broker who stood high in church and philantliropical circles for years and whose swindles, amounting to $200,000, were not exposed until his assignment last summer, was brought be­ fore Judge Garver and sentenced to the penitentiary at Joliet for art indeterminate term. Judge Garver, an old friend of Parmele, read the title of the charge in a scarcely distinguishable voice, and Par­ mele pleaded guilty, stating that his wrong-doing was not intentional. Payment has been stopped by the State of Illinois on everything except legisla­ tive expenses, because the State treas­ ury is empty and there is no money on hand with which to redeem the State Au­ ditor's warrants. The soldier boys of Fort Sheridan are complaining again because of the bad quality of the food served to them. Their formal protest affirms that "an unbroken Teiteration of stews and ethereal soups afford poor sustenance." Certainly' the commander should take steps to break that reiteration and to "de-etherealize" those soups. At Peoria, Mrs. Eliza Potter, mother of Julius S. Starr, formerly collector of in­ ternal revenue, died after a long illness. She was the widow of David Potter, one of the best known residents of the county. A convention in the interest of the gulf and south Atlantic harbors and their de­ fenses and improvements will be held at -Tampa, Fla., Jan. 30. The Governor of Florida has sent out to various Gov­ ernors requests that delegates be appoint­ ed to attend this conference. Gov. Tan­ ner appointed the following to represent Illinois: John S. Thomas, Metropolis; Ab- ner Taylor, Chicago; William P. Halli- day, Cairo, and William KL. Murphy, 0$, • At Decatur, Mrs. Isom Waller, sitting in her room, was shot in the head by T. ,W. Fletcher, who was firing at a pigeon. She will die. An epidemic of influenza is prevalent in Carlyle and neighboring towns. There are 100 cases in Carlyle, entire families being down with it. The cigar factories of W. O. Dean and J. U. Divilbiss at Canton, which have been idle for some time, have been start­ ed up with 125 and 75 employes, respec­ tively. F. M. Cook, a wealthy farmer of Green­ wood township, west of Pana, was in­ jured in a runaway and died. He was 60 years old, and leaves a widow and five children. Charles Peterson, a Rockford clothing merchant, for twenty years, committed suicide by hanging himself in a woodshed at his home. He left $4,000 insurance for his family. David Gore, auditor of public accounts, who has been confined to his home at Car- linville by illness, has notified his many friends at Springfield that he was rap­ idly improving and hoped soon to be out and able to attend to his business. The missing $200,000 bond, which was filed at Carlyle two years ago by Elijah P. Ramsay, administrator of the Rufus X. Ramsay estate, has been found as mysteriously as it disappeared. On search­ ing the vault Wednesday County Clerk John C. Lampen discovered the document. •He and his deputy had previously checked every document in the vault, and it was not there at that time. It evidently had been returned secretly by the person who abstracted it. Judge Junes of the probate court still holds that a new bond must be filed. : . >•. .' ' Vrr • • •. V'V Thomas W. Martin, for many years one of Joliet's prominent jewelers, was ar­ rested Tuesday night on a State warrant, charging him with the larceny of nine diamonds, valued at $600, the property of H. D. Spaulding of Chicago. Martin gave bail in the sum of $1,000 and was released, pending a preliminary hearing. Several weeks ago Mr. Martin sold his business to his wife and she in turn sold it to another jeweler. In the stock were the diamonds referred to. It is claimed that shortly before the first sale Mr. Mar­ tin got the diamonds on consignment to supply orders in Joliet, and was to return those he did not sell. Instead of doing this he turned them all over to his succes­ sor in business. Mr. Martin, in defense, says he bought the diamonds outright. John A. Lemming, sheriff of Clinton County, is having trouble in obtaining his snfery as an officer. Last week the Coun­ ty Board recommended the issuance of an order for $S96, but Lemming cannot pro­ cure it, owing to an injunction suit start­ ed by one of his bondsmen, Thomas Am­ nions. It seems that in order to furnish his fourth bond the sheriff agreed to pay his sureties $500, or half his yearly sal­ ary, as a compensation for the favor. When Ammons asked for a payment of dividends, it was refused, consequently he is seeking to restrain the county from cashing the order. He alleges that Lem­ ming has not turned over all the fees he has collected as sheriff, which makes his' bondsmen liable. Amnions was deputy according to agreement, and Lemming brings counter charges against him. Conrad Haney, once Rev. Conrad Ha- ney, has returned to Kenwood, a Chicago suburb, and has fixed his home under the very shadow of the church of which he was once the spiritual leader, but whose r ulpit he left in disgrace. With him is the woman for whose sake he deserted his wife and children, leaving them dependent on the bounty of the congregation whose confidence he had abused. Mr. Haney declares his intention of spending some time in literary pursuits, and says that he expects to re-enter the Methodist lrtinia- try. Before Mr. Haney can do this, how­ ever, the matter must be laid before the bishops and conference, and Methodists say that in view of the man's past deeds and present manner of living the authori­ ties will undoubtedly veto any attempts of his to re-enter the pulpit. Annie and Ida Wascher, daughters of William Wascher, the leading hotel keep­ er of Cary, went skating Sunday on the Fox river, in company with a number of friends. The day was mild and the' ice not strong. After an hour's sport the young ladies ventured away from their comrades to a spot where the treacher­ ous ice gave way and were precipitated into the water. Mr. Wascher chanced to be driving down the river road, on his way home from a nearby .hunting lodge, just as his daughters broke through. Halt­ ing his team, he tore the seat from his open surrey and ran to the river, reached the struggling girls, and supported by the seat, dragged them to safety. The shiv­ ering sufferers were wrapped in furs and hastily driven home. They are none the worse for their adventure, and Mr. Was­ cher is receiving the congratulations of his friends on his presence of mind. Thomas Hendricks,-70 years old, who died at the Cook County Hospital Dec. 31, has been saved from a pauper's grave by his nephew, L. M. Fletcher of San Francisco. Thirty years ago Hendricks was a broker in Wall street and was the friend of such men as Jay Gould, Russell Sage and Jim Fisk. He was known as a daring speculator, and carried through many deals of vast importance. He met with reverses and then became estranged from his family. About twenty years ago he came to Chicago, and had lived here ever since. The loss of his fortune and standing in society caused Hendricks to take to drink, and for many years he had experienced the bitter side of life. He was proud, however, and would not ac­ cept charity from those who knew him in better days. He worked at anything he could get. For a time he delivered hats for a firm in Monroe street. Then he found employment with an undertaker in Third avenue. Of late years he had work ed in hotels as storekeeper and also at the house painting trade. Dec. 26 ke was found unc9nscious in his room at the Southern Hotel, where he was employed as custodian of the building. He was tak­ en to the county hospital by the police and never regained consciousness. Joseph Burkhardt, a contractor at Ed- wardsville, shot his wife through the heart and then ended hjs own life by send­ ing a bullet into his forehead. The couple had lived together unhappily for some time, and had repeatedly separated. J. Bamberger, one of Rock Island's most prominent business men, committed suicide by jumping into an airhole in the Mississippi Tuesday morning. He had been in business for twenty years and, "failed Monday. This is supposed to be the' cause for the deed. He first tried to end his life by jumping before a passenger train. He leaves a wife and family. The Hanover Distilling Company, an independent house at Peoria, confessed judgment in favor of Robert Strehlow for $34,683. Mr. Strehlow represents the creditors of the company. Henry Kanne, the president, says this is the entire in debtedness and the company has assets of over $70,000. In the United States Court at Peoria the Chicago Sugar Refining Ccapany has commenced suit against the American Glucose Company for $1,000,000 and against the Peoria Grape Sugar Company for $500,000, for infringement of patents covering improvements in process of treat­ ing corn in the manufacture of starch, and other products therefrom. Possible Cure for Cancer. A Russian physician, Doctor Den- isenko, has been experimenting with the sap of the "wartwort," a plant of the spurge family, as a possible cure for cancer. In a St. Petersburg medical Journal he gives particulars of seven cases in which he has applied the treat­ ment with apparent success. The sap of the wartwort is of a poisonous na­ ture, and can be used only under care­ ful medical supervision. Why X-Heiys Burn the Skiu. . Mr. Tesla also points out, in the Elec­ trical Review, what he considers to be the cause of the singular sunburn ef­ fects produced by X-rays Impinging upon the hands. /It is not the rays themselves which cause the injury, he says, but the ozone generated by them in contact with the skin. Nitrous acid, produced electrically from the nitrogen in the air, may also be responsible to a small extent. The best means of pro­ tecting the hands is to prevent the ac­ cess of air to them while the exposure is going on. This may be accomplished by immersion in oil. Fertilizing with Klectricity. Mr. Nikola Tesla, the electrical expert and inventor, has recently suggested the possibility of employing electricity as a fertilizing agent for the soil. The currents produced by perfected electri cal oscillators, he says, are capable of causing the chemical combination of the nitrogen with the oxygeb of the at­ mosphere. If this combinaTTtm--aa carried on upon an industrial scale, which he thinks is possible, then the product could be used as a fertilizer, and in his poinion the benefits to hu manity would be incalculable. Plants that Follow Man. In New Zealand no less than five hun­ dred species of plants have been intro­ duced and acclimated since the coloni­ zation of the islands. The presence of these plants there is ascribed, direct­ ly or indirectly, to the presence of civ­ ilized man. They have followed him and, curiously enough, have driven be­ fore them some of the plants indigenous to the soil. Most of the invaders are small species, yet they have prevailed over large and vigorous native species Man is a conqueror, and plants and ani­ mals which are able td•••thrlve-.in his presence, and under the conditions which he creates, are overrunning the world in the wake of his conquests. Procyon's Companion. Many years ago the great German mathematician, Bessel, announced that both Sirius and Procyon--popularly known as the dog-stars--possessed in visible companions revolving around them. He was led to this conclusion by studying the motions of those stars. In 1862 the companion of Sirius was dis covered with the telescope, and during the present year it has reappeared after being invisible for six years through too close proximity to its bril liant comrade. Quickly following the reappearance of Sirius' companion has also come the discovery of the compan ion of Procyon, which had never been seen until Professor Schaeberle caught sight of it with the great telescope of the Lick Observatory a few weeks ago. It is a very minute star, of only the thirteenth magnitude. ̂ ---- ;-- audacious beast of prey, and hardly supposing that he^ would return imrne^ dlateiy; but that day the bear came into the grounds and attacked a couple of hogs. Mr. Workman heard the animals' squealing. Ascertaining the cause of it, he summoned a neighbor, Mr. Arnold, and with several dogs the two men hurried in pursuit jof the bear, which by. this time was making oft toward his retreat on Cache Creek Mountain. One of the pigs was still squealing, and this guided the pursuers. Mr. Workman secured a shot at the bear, but missed. The dogs then treed him; thp hunters came up, and Mr. Ar­ nold sent a phot at the bear which brought him' to the ground, wounded, but still iii fighting trim. Then the dogs all closed on him, and the scrimmage whifch followed had quite the appear­ ance of a heap of foot-ball players struggling over the ball. Neither man dared to fire at the heap for fear of killing one of the dogs, all of which were favorites. And yet the bear was sure to kill some of them un­ less something was done. Mr. Work­ man had approached very near in an attempt to get in a shot somewhere, when the bear suddenly made a rush at him, and Mr. Workman as suddenly decamped. But he started too late to prevent the bear from seizing hold of his pantaloons; and these garments the animal pulled quite off the man.. For­ tunately the dogs, all taking a fresh hold, succeeded in diverting the bear's attention so that Mr. Workman, es­ caped,.'"'; ' , The fight proceeded, and from time to time the men succeeded in getting a rifle-shot into the bear's body. He fought on, apparently not seriously hurt. At last, however, his strength began to flag, and after eight rifle-balls had entered his body, and he had been much torn and worried by the dogs, the animal succumbed, and was finish­ ed by the settlers' knives. He dressed five hundred pounds. ON TWO CENT FARES. -- . ... COMMISSION SAYS THE TIME IS NOT YET RIPE. r fii MASON IS VICTORIOUS. "V1'.' • • -V •. . J," - • ~ T ~ . GETS SENATORIAL TOGA FROM ILLINOIS. RUSSIA'S PENAL SYSTEM. A Fossil Tree in New Jersey. Trunks of trees changed to stone, from which magnificent specimens of banded agate can be cut, are found in the Yellowstone Valley, in Arizona, and elsewhere in the West, but east of the Mississippi such things are very rare. Recently, however, a fossil tree, be­ longing to the pine family, was discov­ ered at Lindenwold, New Jersey. The trunk, or what remains of it, is twenty- six feet long, seven and one-half feet in diameter at the larger end and rap­ idly tapering for a distance of twelve feet to a point where, when living, it had branched. At this place the diame­ ter is still no less than five feet. The wood has been completely silicified, but unfortunately the structure is so fragile that attempts to obtain a section of it have failed. Shot Aliead of Armor Asrain. Only a few years ago a process was discovered by means of which the ar­ mor plates of war ships could be so hardened on the face that the best pro­ jectiles were shattered on striking •them. This was regarded as a decisive victory for armor over guns. Recently, however, the tables have been turned once-more. The first step, according to the Scientific American, was the placing of a cap of soft sted on the point of the projectile. This enabled the shot to penetrate the armor plate by preventing the breaking of the point. Then increased velocity was given to the shot by the use of improved powder. The result was that a six-inch solid shot was sent through ten inches of face-hardened steel, twelve inches of oak-backing and three additional plates, each seven-sixteenths of an inch thick, after which the shot prac­ tically unimpaired, buried itself eight feet in a bank of sand. The experi­ ments were made in this country, and both the best armor and the best shots are of American invention. >, Eight Shots at a Bear. Bears or other wild animals which take up the practice of preying on do­ mestic creatures will become very bold if left practically unmolested for a time. A newspaper of Eugene, Ore., tells how the slieepfolds, pig-pens and lien-robsts of a locality near that town were ravaged by a certain black bear until he seemed to have acquired a no­ tion that all the domestic animals of the neighborhood were his especial property, and that no one would inter­ fere. with his enjoyment of them. He frightened women and children, and became the terror of the region. One Saturday night he killed seven sheep which belonged to Mr. W. Work­ man. The next day Mr. Workman re­ mained ̂ quietly at home, not caring to employ the Sabbath in a raid on the One of Ita Principles Is Productive of the Greatest Good. • While the administration of the Rus­ sian penal system is very generally to be condemned, says Dr. Benjamin How­ ard, an English surgeon, who has made a study of the subject and who is an authority on penology, there is one of its principles that deserves to be cop­ ied, and that is the principle of pro­ ductive labor. In so far as the admin­ istration of affaire rests with individu­ als, abuses very often creep in, and thus it is possible that one prison may be under humane principles while an­ other may be an institution of horrors. But the principle of productive labor bears good results, .\fter a convict's term of two years' imprisonment is over there is nothing to prevent him, within three to five years, becoming--within certain geogranliical limits--a free man. A political exile or a murderer in Sag- lialien lives with his family in a well- built and often pretty, four-roojmed cot­ tage, with its court yard vestibule and garden. The island is populated mostly by murderers or by persons guilty of simi­ larly serious crimes. They work peace­ fully and quietly on their farms and walk about the streets to all appear ances free men. Russian convicts, In­ stead of being a heavy charge on the resources of the country, are a source of revenue. Convict labor has added to the Russian empire an island the length of England, not an acre of which was previously under cultivation, and it is only the population of Siberia by these people that has made possible the line of the Trans-Siberian Railway--the envy of the whole world. Not All the Soads in Illinois Are Able to Stand the Redaction--Bates Are Now Generally bnt a Fraction Over Two Cents Per Mile. The Petition Denied. Following is a report, recently submit­ ted, by the Board of Railroad and Ware­ house Commissioners, in the matter of the communication of the secretary of the State Grange of Illinois, dated Jan. 1, 1897, embodying a resolution of that body adopted at its December meeting, 1896, asking the board to reduce the passenger rate from three cents .to two cents per mile: "The commission is of the opinion that to do so at this time would be unwise and unwarranted and would be unjust to the railroad interests of the State. While some of the great trunk lines in Illinois might be able to stand such a reduction, yet the smaller roads and those which do almost wholly a local businesS, and which are now and have been for the last two years struggling for existence, 'Would be most seriously affected by it. , "Such action on our part would simply increase the heavy burdens under which they are staggering now. It is a well- known fact to those who have taken the trouble to investigate the amount of pas­ senger business done by the railroads in Illinois during the past two years that there has been, a large decrease in the number of passengers carried. This is due, in our judgment, not to the amount charged for such service, but to the gen­ era)! depression in lines of business, the low prices of fa^m products and the unsettled financial conditions which have had their effect on the passenger as well as the freight business. 'And it is also a fact, as shown by the sworn.reports of the railroads of Illinois, that the capital invested in such property has not paid even a fair interest to the stockholder. This question was before us when we revised the freight schedule in 1895, and the Whole question was thor­ oughly considered. We did not think then, and neither do we feel now, that in justice to both the public and the rail roads, because each should stand on the same equality before the law, this reduc­ tion should be made at this time. If the country was prosperous our conclusions might be different. "The statistics in our office show that for the past three years, 189$, 1895 and 1896, the average amount charged by the railroads per passenger mile is a fraction above two cents, although the maximum allowed them was three cents. "For the reasons above stated we do not feel that this reduction should be made at this time. We are also asked to recom­ mend this reduction to the Legislature In view of our conclusion we do not feel that it would be consistent for us to do so; however, the Legislature has the pow er to regulate the maximum rate which can be charged for passenger service, and we leave the matter to their wisdom. "W. S. CANTRELL, Chairman. "TIIOS. GAHAN. "Attest: J. W. YANTIS, Secretary." Fable Up to Date. One morning a horse that had its mane and tail done up in curl papers and was eating oats out of a gilded manger in a padded stall turned and whinnied disdainfully at a bicycle that was leaning against the wall feeling too pneumatic tired for expression. "You are a mere drudge," said the liorse. "You are made to scorch along dusty roads; you are never fed on any­ thing more substantial than wind, and nobody loves you as I am loved. See how I am fed on fresh oats, hay and condition powders, while you never even have your bearings oiled until you squeak, and, besides, you have wheels." With that he gave a horse laugli and went on with his feeding. But the patience of the bicycle was punctured, and he proceeded to make some scorching remarks. "You pampered relic of barbarism, lie replied, "you think because you are fed and cared for that you are of some importance. I take my master to and from business. I give him exercise and cost him nothing for my keep, and never run away. I am a faithful sex-v- ant, while you are merely a curiosity kept to amuse the children. Your use­ fulness ceased a century ago." At this point the horse gave the bi­ cycle a kick that punctured both its tires and pied its spokes and sprockets. Moral: Somepeople argue like horses. --Truth. 1 ••• • • *• • v'. - . Shoe-Blacking Without Acid. Let from three to four pounds of lampblack and half a pound of bone- blatck be well mixed with five pounds of glycerine and treacle. Meanwhile two and a half ounces of gutta percha should be cautiously fused in a copper or iron saucepan, and ten ounces of olive oil added, with continual stir­ ring, and afterward one ounce of stear- ine. Add the warm mass to the for­ mer mixture, and then a solution of five ounces of gum Senegal in one and a half pound of water, and one drachm each of oil of rosemary and lavender. For use, the blacking may be diluted with three to four parts of water. This blacking keeps the leather soft, and renders it more durable. Length of Europe's Armies. If the armies of Europe should march at an eight-mile gait, five abreast, 15 inches apart, it would require nine and one-half days for them to pass a given point. ' • • : j •. y Heard It; Alice--I heard something aboqt you to-day. '"/• \ Anne--Yes; this new lining tliey are using in dresses makes a frightful noise, doesn't it?--Yonkers Statesman. Almost every woman cherishes a sam­ ple of the first dress her husband ever bcuj:ht her. i ;>• • r ^ Hunting the Sea Otter. Harvey Jacobs and George Neidever are in luck. In six weeks they have taken four sea otters, and as the skins ore worth at least $1,000, the hunters must be classed as among "those fav ored by the gods." The hunters were among the two most successful men during the cruise of the sealing schooner Herman, and on their return pooled their issues. They had enough money to pur­ chase a whaleboat and fit her out. From here they went to Yaquina Bay and there hired a third man to row the boat. One day Jacobs would steer and Neidever would do tl»e gunning, and the next day it would be vice versa Latterly it lias been unusually rough on the coast, and the waves have run mountains high. Nevertheless the men hdve gone out day after day and on nearly every occasion the sea otter was shot when the boat was in the trough of the sea and the mammal on the crest of the wave. Jacobs and Neidever are now off Yaquina Bay, and they intend stayin In that vicinity for another two months Should they do as well in that time as they have during the last six weeks tli&re will be no necessity for them making a trip to Behring Sea next sea son. Many a schooner has spent months in the Arctic and never took an otter, but here two men go out in an open boat and secure four of the valuable furs in less than six WQeks and think nothing of the feat.--San Francisco Call. Wins After a Short bnt Stern Contest --Nominated by Acclamation After Other Candidates Had Withdrawn- Sketch of His Career. Wilt Succeed Palmer. William Ernest Mason, ex-Congress­ man, of Chicago, was nominated by ac­ clamation by the Republican Senatorial caucus at iSpringfield Tuesday night, to succeed John M. Palmer as United States Senator from Illinois. The fight wis com­ paratively short, but it was desperate. Martin B. Madden, an Alderman from Chicago, was the first man to show for­ midable strength, and he was backed by the party organization of Cook County. Outside influences, however, were so strong that his nomination was impossi­ ble. The press of both Chicago and the State opposed him bitterly, and almost unanimously advocated the causefof Mr. Mason. The forces back of Mr. Madden then, sought to have him withdraw in^fa- vor of William Lorimer, a Congress­ man from Chicago. . Instead, Mr. Madden withdrew in favor of Mr. Mason. Cook County's strength was concentrated upon Mr. Lorimer/but the country legislators favored Mr. Mason largely, though a few supported Congressman Hitt, S.'W. Aller-, ton, Congressman Hopkins, Clark E. Catr,and\othera. •/> By Tuesday afternoon, however, it be­ came apparent to the Lorimer forces that there was soon to b,e a wholesale stam­ pede from the country districts to Ma­ son's banner, and they discreetly surren­ dered. ; •' ' - . r ; There were the usual scenes of enthu­ siasm when this action became known, and Mr. Mason's nomination was made by acclamation. He was brought in to make a speech, but contented himself with a few remarks of thanks, and then the defeated candidates were called up­ on. Congressman Hitt delivered an ad­ dress of high order." It was thoughtful and couched in the words of a statesman. Mr. Hopkins followed with one which did him credit. Clark E. Carr made a speech which was at times eloquent and through­ out worth listening to. Then there were calls for Lorimer, but Speaker Curtis announced for him that he was confined to his room with a bad cold. Congratulatory telegrams soon began to pour in upon the successful candidate, and none was more welcome than that from President-elect McKinley. Mr. Mason was surrounded by a crowd of en­ thusiastic friends, and the scene was in­ spiriting in the highest degree. Oyster Salad. One pint of celery, one quart of oys­ ters, one-third of a cupful of mayonnaise dressing, three tablespoonfuls of vine­ gar, one of oil, half teaspoonfui of salt, one-eighth of a teaspoonfui of pepper, one tablespoonful of lemon juice. Let the oysters come to a boil in their own liquor. Skim well and drain. Season them with the oil, salt, pepper, vinegar amd lemon juice. When cold put in the ice chest for at least two hours. Scrape and wash toe whitest and tenderest part of the Celery/ and with a sharp knife cut in very thin slices. Put in a bowl with a large lump of ice and set in the ice chest until serving time. When ready to serve, drain the celery and mix with the oysters and half of the dressing. Arrange in the disli, pour the remainder of the dressing over and garnish with white celery loaves. How Thread Is Numbered. The numbers of the spools express the number of "hanks" which can be wound from a pound of thread. The very finest spinning rarely exceeds 300 hanks to the pound, while in the very coarsest there is about two hanks. The more common qualities, however, those from which sewing thread is usually made, run from 10 to 70 hanks to the pound, and the spools on which it is wound are numbered from 10 to 70 in accordance. * 'r: * • ILLINOIS LAW-MAKERS: Another day was wasted by the Legis­ lature Friday, no public business being; transacted. Both branches adjourned un­ til Monday afternoon, after notice hadi formally been given of the Republican joint Senatorial caucus Monday night la the Senatfe the nomination by Gov. Alt- geld of Robert L. Campbell as justice of the peace in the town of Jefferson. tq» succeed Oscar F. Gear, was referred to the Cook County Senators, after an acri­ monious debate between Messrs. Humph­ rey and Mahoiiey on a point of orden to the House the Clerk read a call for the joint Senatorial caucus, and the speaker announced the appointment of a number of pages. In the House Monday the two Senate biljs making appropriations to pay the em­ ployes and to defray the incidental ex­ penses of the present General Assembly were advanced to third reading. Mr- Miller offered a resolution, which was adopted, authorizing the speaker to ap­ point twenty committee clerks at the per diem allowed by law. Mr. Merriam. offered a resolution, which was adopted, that a committee of five be appointed by the Speaker of this House, whose duty it shall be ,to inquire into the condition of the executive mansion and grounds, andi - also,of the executive office and rooms, and report to this House what repairs and fur­ nishings. if any, are required in the same, and also what appropriations, if any. ar*» > needed. The Senate met at 5 o'clock and held a five minutes' session, during which the following bills were introduced: Pro­ viding for the protection of the homestead of alien widows and orphans. Under the present law the homestead of aliens re- verts.back to the State; asking for an sp- propriation of $100 for the expenses of county institutes instead of $50. Immediately after reading the journal' Tuesday the House took up Senate bills on third reading.. The. Senate bill, appro­ priating $50,000 to pay, the employes of the present General Assembly Was pass­ ed. At 11 O'clock, the hour fixed for the balloting for United States Senator. Mr. O'Donnell, from the Democratic side of the house, placed ex-Gov. Altgeld in nom­ ination. No other nominations were made, and one ballot was taken. The Democrats voted solidly for Mr. Altgeld. but the Re­ publican vote was divided between seven candidates. Speaker Curtis announced' that no qnorum was present and that ^there had been no election. The House thereupon stood adjourned. The Senate> Was in ̂ session fifteen minutes. Several bills were introduced. A petition from the Woman's Christian Temperance Union! was presented, asking for the passage* of a bill providing for the submission to the voters of the State an amendment to the State Constitution striking the! word "male" from it. Referred to the- Judiciary Committee. After a recess of an hour the Senate took up the first ballot in the Senatorial contest. There not be- ing a majority of votes cast, no vote was declared. No Prison. Austria is the only country in the world which never places a prison, no matter what crime she com-N mits. Instead of being locked up the femalo malefactor is sent to one of a numbeV of convents, devoted to the purpose, and is kept there during the time for which she is sentenced. The courtyard stands open "all day long, the oaly bar to egress being a nun, who acts as door­ keeper, just the s:;mt!aa in the ordinary convent Life of William K. Mason. William E. Mason was born July 7, 1850, in the little village of Franklinville. N. Y. He is the youngest of a family of fourteen children, nine of whom were boys. In 1856 his parents moved to Ben- tonport, Iowa, where his father built the first hotel. Young Mason developed a decided inclination for books and *tudy and after passing through the common school course of Bentonport with great credit he began teaching the district school. . In connection with his school duties in the capacity of teacher he at the same time underwent a course at the college of Birmingham, Iowa, which was situated close enough to enable him to attend to ichool and student duties without inconve­ nience. At the age of 19 he graduated with high honors and went to Des Moines, where he became a teacher in the high school. After reaching his majority he went into the law office of Thomas With- row, and, when Mr. Withrow was mad* general solicitor of the Chicago. Rock Isl and and Pacific Railway, with headquap ters at Chicago, he went with him. For three years he served t>3 clerk, and then, having perfected himself in the art of shorthand reporting, he became court reporter. Meanwhile he had devoted him­ self to the study of law, and after three or four years a partnership was formed With M. R. M. Wallace, now Judge Wal­ lace, and the firm of Wallace & Mason hung out its shingle. In 1873 Mr. Mason married Edith M. White, of Des Moines. This union has been blessed with nine children, of whom seven are living. Mr. Mason was a mem­ ber of the House in the Thirty-first and Thirty-second General Assemblies and a Senator in the Thirty-third General As­ sembly. He was also a member in the Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses. He served with Maj. McKinley, who was the leader of the House in the Fifty-first Con­ gress, and who always turned his charge over to Mr. Mason during his absence. Mr. Mason made the two nomination speeches which twice placed John A. Logan and Shelby M. Cullom in the United States Senate. The resolu­ tion providing for the discontinuation of contract labor in the penitentiaries was introduced by Mr. Mason. For six years he was at the head of the law firm of Mason & Ennis in Chicago. Among the achievements which have ac­ crued to his fame was the. winnisg of the celebrated and hotly contested wax paper patent case. Roscoe Conkiiug was the opposing counsel and the case was finally taken to the Supreme Court of the United States before it was decided. Mr. Mason was a leader in the World's Fair fight in securing an appropriation to locate the fair at Chicago and was warmly compli­ mented by Speaker Reed for his efficiency in bringing the contest to a successful issue. The name of" "Billy" Mason is well known throughout the length and breadth of the Sucker State, and almost equally as well all over the country. He enjoys the recognized distinction of being the champion campaigner of Illinois. During the past eight years lie in all probability has addressed more people in Illinois than any other man during that time. An Archbishop's Joke. No time or place is sacred to the en­ thusiastic joker. Duclos tells, in his memoirs, ho^v the Prince Archbishop of Cologne asked license to preach in the royal chapel at Versailles, when visiting Louip the Fourteenth himself. All the court assembled. It was April 1st. The Prince Archbishop mounted the pulpit in stately fashion, bowed from side, to side, and stood a moment as if collect­ ing his thoughts, then shouted, ".\pril fools!" picked up his skirts ami ran. Paper. Paper has been put to a variety of uses, but its most curious employment is foreshadowed in the recent patent­ ing of a blotting paper towel. The idea is that a person on stepping out of his bath,' instead of rubbing himself dry in the orthodox manner, should envel­ op his body in a towel made of blotting paper, which will, without trouble, and in a few seconds absorb all the mois­ ture upon his skiu. The idea is inge­ nious, but it does away with that wholesome friction which many believe to be so beneficial to the skin W, William Ernest Mason was elected1 United States Senator by the Legisla­ ture of Illinois in joint session Wednes­ day. In the House bills were introduced! as follows: Providing for $500 license for each class of goods offered for sale in de­ partment stores; "for protection of saloon­ keepers," providing that nqi prosecution for sale to minors can lie unless it be proved that the saloon-keeper knew the patron was a minor; an anti-cigarette bill; salary bill affecting Chicago; cheap-fare? street car bill; 2-cent fare on steam roads. The Senate did nothing of importance. German Lawyers. German lawyers are prepared to un­ dertake the performance of profes­ sional duties at a rate of remuneration which would be deemed ridiculous In England, So we-gather from*the In­ teresting report which Mr. Brickdale has written as a result of the investiga­ tion he made, with the authority of the treasury, into the working of the sys­ tem of registration of the title fo land In Germany and Austria-Hungary. The fee of a German lawyer who is employ­ ed in connection with the transfer of registered land is on the same scale as • the fee of the registry. Hence, If the value of the land is £100, the lawyer Is entitled to the magnificent sum of 7 " shillings 3 pence; while in a £1,000 transaction he gets 30 shillings. It is to be hoped that no reader of Mr. Brick- dale's report will be led to believe that, because such arrangements are "made in Germany," they are possible in Eng­ land.--Law Journal. An Indian's Ticket-of-Leave. When Youug Chief, a prominent member of the Umatilla tribe, in Ore­ gon, goes away for his annual vaca­ tion, he is granted the freedom of the State by the following notice to whom it may concern: "Young Chief has per­ mission to visit Wallowa and sur­ rounding country, with various other Indians, to be away sixty days. He is a good, law-abiding man, and very; friendly toward whites. If any of hla crowd are boisterous or violate any; law, if reported to me, I will have the matter rectified. Any favor shown hint will be appreciated. He respects the whites and asks that they respect him." An Encore Th^ little word "again" once threw a large assembly into fits of laughter. It was at a public meeting in New York. Oiie of the speakers, the Rev. Mr. R.„ had the misfortune, when he tried to take a seat, to miss" his chair and come down at full length on the platform. The accident occasioned not a little subdued mirth. When at last it came his turn to speak, the presiding officer introduced him in these words:, "The Rev. Mr. R. will again take the floor." The reverend gentleman never met with so enthusiastic a reception as greeted this announcement. Helmets. The Roman helmet of the average size weighed about two pounds, and was thickly lined with felt, so that & severe blow could be borne without rious inconvenience. Thus helmets were intolerably hot, however, and were never worn during the inarch, or at any time save on parade, sentry, or guard duty, or in the immediate prea» ence of the enemy. • m i Reflections of a Bachelor. A man is never beaten until he admits it; a woman isn't beaten even then. 5 - .. . ... .... , - . . • > - A woman does most of her talking about soul .uniou before she gets-mar­ ried.. • ' . ; .y'/ When a man Is said to be "attentive** to a young woman, it means that thejR aren't married yet. A married man UkesYtodiave a dog- around because it always looks as if It were sorry for him. A womau can never understand whj|; a man doesn't look just as well ready-made clothes. As soon as he heard there was-a woman In the garden the serpent a day off to celebrate.