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T. A. HAVRON, Publisher. FASHION, The Bi.no of Society, in That It Pro duces Wretchedness, Jdak'iig tin. TVoflil Insincere and Fraught With False Pretenses, and Fife a Sham, « Delusion, Counterfeit and Cheat—Tal v*age's Sermon. The subject of Kcv. T. Do Witt Tal r;agc’s sermon on Sunday was ‘-Dominion *f Fashion,” and th*3 text was from Deu teronomy, xxii., 5: “The woman shall not near that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s gar ment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.” Dr. Talmage said: In this, the fourth sermon of the series of sermons, I wish those who hear to bear in mind that I take into consideration not only those whom 4 have before me on Sabbath days, but the wider audience opened through the printing press, and while some things may not be particularly appropriato for one locality, they are ap propriate for many other localities. And here I will to I '. a secret that I have never before told in pub'ic. About twenty years ago 1 began to pray that God would open to me the opportunity of preaching through the secular newspaper press. The re ligious papers in which my sermons had been published chiefly went to postively religious families. Ho 1 asked God for the wider field in which to proclaim the great truths of religion and good morals. In a strange way the answer came. And the syndicate having charge of these matters inform me that every week there arc now 13,000,000 copies of my discourses published in this country, and about 4.<X)0,000 in other lands, whether English speaking countries or by translation in many foreign tongues. 1 want people to understand that it is all in answer to prayer to God that this opportunity has come, and I pray for grace to occupy the lie Id. It is not, therefore, presumptuous when I give wide scope to these discourses and address them “to the women of Amer ica, with important hints to men.” God thought womanly attire of sufficient importance to have it discussed in the llible. Paul the apostle, by no means a sentimentalist, and accustomed to dwell on tho groat themes of God and the resur rection, writes about the arrangement of woman’s hair and the style of her jewelry, and in my text Moses, his ear yet tilled with the thunder of Mount Hinai, declares that womanly attire must bo in marked contrast with masculine-attire, and infrac tion of that law excites the indignation of lngb Heaven. Just in proportion as the morals of a country or an age are de pressed is that law- detied. Show me the fashion plates of any century from the time of the deluge to this, and I will tell you the exact state of public morals. Bloom erism In this country years ago seemed about to break down this divine law, but there was enough of good in American so c ely to beat back the indecency. Yet ever and anon we have imported from Fiance, or perhaps invented on this side the sea, a style that proposes as far as pos sible to make vvi men dress like men, and thousands of young women catch the mode, until some one goes a little too far in imi tation of masculinity, and the whole cus tom, by the good sense of American wo manhood, is obliterated. Tho costumes of the countries are dif ferent, and in the same country may change, but there is a divinely ordered dis similarity which must be forever observed. And divergence from this is administra t ve of vice and runs against the keen thrustof the text,which says: “Tho woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put ou a woman’s garment, for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.” Many years ago a French authoress, signing herself George Sand, by her cor rupt but brilliant writings depraved homes and libraries innumerable, and was a literary grandmother of all French and American authors who have written things so much ivoric that they have made her putrefaction quite presentable. That French authoress put on masculine attire. Fhe was consistent. Her writings and her beli a vior were perfectly accordant. My text by implication abhors masculine Women and womanly men. What a sick ening thing it is to see a man copying the speech, the walk, the manner of a woman. The trouble is, tbat they do not imitate a sensible woman, but some female imbe cile. And they simper, and they go with mincing step, and iisp, and scream at nothing, and take on a languishing look, and bang their hair, and arc the nac.sea tion of honest folks of both sexes. O man, be a man ! You belong to quite a respect able sex. Tho starting figure of the hu man race was a man. Do not try to cross over, and so become a hybrid, neither one nor the other, but a failure, half way be tween. Alike repugnant are masculine women. They copy a man’s stalking gait and go down the street with the stride of a walk ing beam. They wish they could smoke cigarettes and sonic of them do. They talk boisterously, and try to sing bass. They do not laugh—they roar. They can not quite manage the broad profanity of Hie sex they rival, but their conversation is often a half swear; and if they said “Oh Lord” in earnest prayer as often as they said it in lightness, they would be high up in sainthood Withal there is an assumed rugosity of i pparol, and they wear a man’s hat oniy changed bv being in two or three places smashed in, and a dead canary cling ing to the general wreck, and a man’s Coat, tucked in hero and there, according io an unaccountable esthetics. Oh woman, ay a u oman ! You, also, belong to a very respectable sex. The second figure of the human race was a woman, and, some * hies, a second edition of a volume is f t 3 first edition improved and corrected. Do not try to cross over. If you do, you will be a failure of a woman, and only a nonde script of a man. We already have enough intellectual and moral bankrupts in our sex without vou comm# over to make WM’H tue deficit. In my text, as by a parable or figure of speech, it is made evident that Moses, the inspired writer, as vehemently as our selves, reprehended the effeminate man and the masculine woman. “The woman shall not wear that which perta'ueth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a wo man’s garment; for all that do so arc abomination unto the Lord thy God.” My t'SXt also sanctions fashion. Indeed, it sets a fashion. There is a great deal of senseless cant on the subject of fashion. A woman or man who does not regard it is unfit for a good neighborhood. Tho only question is what is right fashion and what is wrong fashion. Before I stop I want to show you that fashion has been one of the most potent of reformers and one of the vilest of usurpers. Sometimes it has been an angel from Heaven, and at others it has been the mother of abomination. As the world grows better there will be as much fash ion as now, but it will be a righteous fash ion. In the future life white robes always have been, and always will be, in the fash ion. There is a great outcry against this sub mission to social custom, as though any consultation of the tastes and feelings of others were deplorable; but without it the world would have neither law, order, civilization, nor common decency. There has been a canonissafon of bluntness. There are men and women who boast that they can tell you all they know and hear about you, especially if it be unpleasaut. Homo have mistaken rough behavior for frankness, when the two qualities do not belong to the same family. You have no right with your eccentricities to crash in upon the sensitiveness of others. There is no virtue in walking with hoofs over fine carpets. The most jagged rock is covered with blossoming moss. The storm that comes jarring down in thunder strews rainbow colors upon the sky and silvery drops on orchard and meadow. There are men who pride themselves on their capacity to “stick” others. They say: “I have brought him down; didn’t 1 make him squirm!” Others pride themselves on their outlandish apparel. They boast of being out of the fashion. They wear a queer hat. They ride in an odd carriage. By dint of perpetual application they would persuade the world that they are perfectly indifferent to publi ’ opinion. They are more proud of bein; out of fashion” than others are of being in. They are utterly and universally d sa greeable. Their rough corners have never been worn off. They prefer a hedgehog to a lamb. The accomplishments of life are in no wise productive of effeminacy or enerva tion. Good manners and a respect for the tastes of others are indispensable. The Good Book speaks favorably of those who are a “peculiar” people, but tbat does not sanction the behavior of queer people. There is no excuse, under any circum stances, for not being and acting the lady or gentleman. Rudeness is sin. We have no words too ardent to express our admiration for the refinements of society. There is no law, moral or Divine, to forbid elegance of demeanor, or ornaments of gold, or gems for tho per son, artistic display in the dwelling, grace fulness of gait and bearing, polite saluta tion or honest compliments; and he who is shocked or offended by these had better, like the old Scythians, wear tiger skins and take one wild leap back into midnight barbarism. As Christianity advances there will bo better apparel, higher styles of architecture, more exquisite adorn ments, sweeter music, grander pictures, more correct behavior and more thorough ladies and gentlemen. But there is another story to be told. Wrong fashion is to be charged with many of the worst evils of society, and its path has often been strewn with tho bodies of the slain. It has often set up a false stand ard by which people arc to be judged. Our commcm-sense as well ns all tlie Divine in timations on the subject teach us that, peo ple ought to be esteemed according to their* individual and moral attainments. Th ■ man who has the most nobility of soul should be first, and he who has the least of such qualities should stand last. No crest, or shield, or escutcheon can indicate one’s moral peerage. Titles of Duke, Lord, Esquire, Earl, Viscount or Partrieian ought not to raise one into the first rank. Home of the meanest men 1 have ever known had at the end of thoir name. D.D , LL. D. and F. R. H. Truth, honor, charity, heroism, self-sacrifice should win highest favor, but inordinate fashion says: “Count not a woman’s virtues; count her adornments.” “Look not at the contour of her head, but see the way she combs her hair.” “Ask not what noblo deeds have been accomplished by that man’s hand, but is it white and soft!” Ask not what good sense is in her conver sation, but “In what was she dressed!” Ask not whether there was hospitality and cheerfulness in the house, but “In what style do they live?” As a conse quence, some of the most ignorant aud vicious men are at the top. and some of the most virtuous and intelligent at the bottom. During the last war we suddenly saw men hurled up into the highest, social positions. Had they suddenly reformed from evil habits, or graduated in science, or achieved some good work for society? No, they simply had obtained a Govern ment contract 1 This accounts for the utler chagrin which people feel at the treatment they receive when they lose their property. Holdup your head against financial disaster like a Christian. Fifty thousand subtracted from a good man leaves how much? Honor, truth, faith in God, triumphant hope and a kingdom of ineffable glory over which he is to reign forever and ever. If the owner of millions should lose a ponnv out of his pocket would he sit down on a curbstone and cry? And shall a man possessed of everlasting fortunes wear himself out with grief because he has lost worldly treasure? You have only lost that in which hundreds of wretched misers sur pass you ; and you have saved that which the Caesars and the Pharaohs and the Alex anders could never afford. And yet society thinks differently- and vou see the most intimate friendships broke up ui the consequence of financial TRENTON, DADE COUNTY. GA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3. 1888. embarrassments. You say to some one “How is you friend?” The man looks be wildered and says: “I do not know.” You reply: “Why, you used to be intimate.” “Well, says the man, “our friendship has been dropped. The man has failed.” Proclamation has gone forth: “Velvets must go up and plain apparel must come down,” and the question is: “How does the coat fit?” not “Who wears it?” The power that bears the tides of excited population up and down our streets, and rocks the world of commerce and thrills ail nations, transatlantic and cisatlantic, is clothes. It decides the last offices of respect; and hiw long the dress shall be totally black; and when it may subside into spots of grief on silk, calico or gingham. Men die in good circumstances, but by reason of extravagant funeral expenses are well nigh insolvent bnfore they get buried. Many men would not die at all if they had to wait until they could afford it. Wrong fashion is productive of a most ruinous strife. The expenditure of many households is adjusted by what thoir neighbors have, not by what they them selves can afford to have; and the great anxiety is to who shall have the finest house and the most costly equipage. The weapons used in the warfare of social life are not minie rifies and Dahlgren guns, and Hotchkiss shells, but chairs, and mir rors, and vases, and Gobelins and Axmin sters. Many household establishments are like racing steamboats propelled at the utmost strain and risk, and just coming to a terrific explosion. “Who cares,” say they, if wo only come out ahead.” There is no one cause to-day of more financial emtnrrrassment and of more dis honesties than this determination at all hazards to live ns well as or better than other people. There aro persons who will risk their eternity upon one pier mirror, or who will dash out the splendors of Heaven to get another trinket. “My house is too small.” “But,” says some one, “you can not pay for a larger.” “Never mind that; my friends have a bet ter residence, and so will I.” “A dress of that style and material I must have. I can not afforfi it by a great deal; but who cares for that? My neighbor had one from that pattern, and 1 must have one.” There are scores of men in the dungeons of the penitentiary who risked honor, business, every thing in the effort to shine like oth ers. Though the heavens fall, they must be “in the fashson.” The most famous frauds of the day have resulted from this feeling. It keeps hun dreds of men struggling for their com mercial existence. The trouble is that some are caught and incarcerated if their larceny be small; if it be great they escape and build their castles on the Rhine. Men get into jail, not because they steal, but because they Mid not steal enough. Again, wrong fashion makes people un natural and untrue. It is a factory from which has come forth more hollow pre tenses and unmeaning flatteries and hy pocrisies than the Lowell mills evCr turned out shawls and garments. Fashion is the greatest of all liars. It has made society insincere. You know not what to believe. When people ask you to come you do not know whether or not they want you to come. When they send their regards you do not know whether it is an expression of their heart or an ex ternal civility. We have learned to take every thing at a discount. Word is sent “Not at home,” when they are only too lazy to dress themselves. They say “The furnace has just gone out,” when in truth they have had no fire in it all winter. They apologize for the unusual barren ness of their table when they never live any better. They decry their most luxuri ous entertainments to win a shower of ap proval. They apologize for thoir appear ance, as though it were unusual, when al ways at home they look just so. They would make you believe that some nice sketch on the wall was the work of a master-painter. “It was an heirloom and once hung on the walls of a castle, and a Duke gave it to thoir grandfather.” Peo ple who will not lie about any thing else will lie about a picture. On a small in come we must make the world believe we are affluent, and our life becomes a cheat, a counterfeit and a sham. Few people are really natural and unaf fected. When 1 siv this Ido not mean to slur cultured lmnners. It is right that we should have more admiration for the sculptured marble than for tho unhewn block of the quarry. From many circles in life fashion has driven out vivacity and enthusiasm. A frozen dignity instead floats about the room, and iceberg grinds against iceberg. You must not Jaugh outright; it is v ilgar. You must smile. You must not dash rapidly across the room; you must glide. There is a round of bows, and grins, nnd flatteries, and ohs and ahs, and simperings, and namby pambyism—a world of which is pot worth one good, round, honest peal of laughter. From such a hollow round the tortured guest retires at the close of the evening and assures his host that he has enjoyed himself. Thus social life has been contort ed and deformed until in some mountain cabin, where rustics gather to the quilting or the apple-paring, there is more good cheer than in all the frescoed ice-houses of the metropolis. We want in all the higher circles of society more warmth of heart am? naturalness of behavior, and not so many refrigerators. Again: Wrong fnsli'on is incompatible with happinesis. Those who depend for their comfort upon the admiration of oth ers are subject to frequent disappoint ment. Homebody wili criticise their ap pearance or surpass them in brilliancy, or will receive more attention. Oh, the jeal ousy and detraction and heart-burnings of those who move in this bewildered maze! Poor butterflies! Bright wings do no! al ways bring bappinoss. “She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.” The revelations of high life that come to the challenge and the fight are only the occa sional croppings out of disquietudes that are, underneath, like tho stars of heaven for multitude, but like the demous of the pit tor hate., The misery that will to-night in the col lar cuddle up in the straw is no* so utter as the princely disquietude which stalks through spledpi 4t avving-room*, brooding over tho slights and offenses of luxurious life. The bitterness of life seems not so unfitti :g when drunk out of a pewter mug, as wVI it pours from the chased lips of a golden chalice. In the sharp crack of the voluptuary’s pistol, putting an end to his earthly misery, 1 hear tlie confirmation that iq,a hollow, fastidious life there is no pca^e. Again: Devotion to wrong fashion is productive ol physical disease, mental im becility and spiritual withering. Apparel insufficient to keep out the cold and the rain, or so fitted upon the person that the functions of lifo are restrained; late hours, filled with excitement and feasting; free draughts of wine, that make one not beast ly intoxicated, but only fashionably drunk, and luxurious indolence, are tho instru ments by which this unreal life pushes its disciples into valctudina rianism and the grave. Along the walks of .prosperous life death goes a-mowing, and Bitch harvests as are reaped! Materia medica has been exhausted to find cura tives for these physiological devastations. Dropsies, cancers, consumptions, gout aud almost every infirmity in all the realm of pathology have been the penalties paid. To counteract the damage pharmacy has gone forth with medicament, panacea, eiixii. embrocation, salve and cataplasm. To-night, with swollen feet upon cush ionec- ottoman, and groaning with aches innn^tyult’it- will !>e the votary of luxuri ous k-ring, not half so happy as his groom or Wrong fashion is tho world’s undertaker, nnd drives thousands of hearses to Greenwood and Laurel Hill and Mount Auburn. OLD FOLKS’ ROOMS. Why They Should IJe as Pleasant and Ifoinc-l.lke as Possible. If you tire so fortunate as to have the "old people” in tho house, sea to it that they have the warmest and sunniest cor ner, and a goodly portion of tho host that can bo afforded of comfort, convenience and beauty; that aged blood may be kept warm and cheerful; that failing limbs may have restful repose, and that the dim eyes that have watched over you and yours through so many toilsome years may see around them the ever-present evidences of faithful and grateful care. There is nothing in the world more pa thetic than the meek, timorous, shrinking ways of certain okl people—we have all seen them—who have given up their old homes into younger hands, and subsided into some out of the way corner of it, to sit by fireside and table henceforth, rs If they were mere pensioners—afraid of “making trouble,” afraid of being “in the way,” afraid of accepting the half that is their due, and going down to their graves with a pitiful, deprecating air, as if constantly npc ; cgizing for staying so long. There is no scorn too deep and sharp for the sons and daughters who will accept this attitude on the part of those to whom they owe so much. Sometimes, to be sure, people grow old with a bad grace. They become embittered by misfortune, or affliction; or are peevish aud unreasonable under the goadings of ill health. All the more do they appeal to great gentleness and fartfulness. Let it be borne in mind that we, too, are hasten ing on toward the sunset of life, aud that it is possible that we may ripen into very un comfortable old people, to demand much more of patience and devotion than we, as children, yield The old people’s room should be as pleas ant and home-iike as possible. Let the old fashioned furniture and the old-fashioned ways prevail in it. We think no one thing could delight the old hearts more than an open fire-place, with some ancient andirons and a crane with its pendant tca-kettie. These fire places are rapidly becoming ex tinct, but to most old people living in the present generation they would be radiant with pictures of youth and early love. A fire like this is not only a delight to the aged, but a pleasant care. —lt onia/t’o Work. SHELLS OF STEEL. Slow the Finest Armors Were Made by Skilled Artisans. The finest armors were made from 1140 to 14t>0. They were marvels of suppleness, lightness and elegance. The iron shell was modeled on the body beneath it and fol lowed every movement of the torso and limbs, protecting without confining them; the steel envelope had become individual and was, like hose and jerkin, made for its wearer, instead of the clumsy grooves of the fourteenth century, made to fit any man. In these leg-pieces, carefully articu lated at the thigh and above the knee, per sonal pecul'arftfes appear legs slightly bowed and more or less heavily muscled at the calf; in the flexible corselet the body enjoyed comparative freedom; under the armet or round helmet the head turned easily; the pointed toes of the sol lerets could be unfastened in a mo ment if the knight was obliged to dismount; the gaunlets were as supple assilk gloves, and the weight of the whole armor, composed of very thin plates of well-tempered steel, was so carefully distributed that it appeared comparatively light This armor, molded on the forma of the body beneath it, composed of polished steel, was the “white harness” so often mentioned by the chroniclers. In France it was worn without ornament, but the Italians decorated it with lions' heads and nntique ins.ks; a little later the armorers of Nuremberg, then very popular in F'rance, introduced fluted steel—it was stronger, not heavier, and offered more resistance to lance-thrusts than the smooth metal. Many beautiful specimens remain of this Maxi milian armor, as it was called. No further progress was possible; com parative lightness, resistance, convenience and elegance of form had been att ined. After this time the shape of helmet and corselet was varied according to individual caprice or the latest fashion, and the steel was gilded and ornamented; but armor, having attained its complete development, steadily declined.— Scrib-itr's Magazine. No amount of wealth sets one free from the obligation to work— in a world the fled of which is ever working. He who works not has not yet ciscovered what God made him for, and is a false note in the orchestra of the universe.— (i* rye JJncDon a’d. Tiie way to economize time is tu stick to regular hours of work. One n°ed not be a clock, but bv following one closely he may understand the sectet of iu» accomplish »eut. Standard. FIFTIETH CONGKES& First Session. Washington Jen, 88. —Senate.—A resolu tion was adopted to pay Mr. Lucas 11,000 (or ex penses in contesting Senator Faulkner's seat. A resolution was offered requesting the l’resi dent to furnish copies of the correspondence as to payment of awards of Venezuelan claims. Mr. Chandler's resolution railing on the Navy Department for information as to the purchase of plans in foreign countries, and changes in plans and contracts for ships of war, was adopted with an amendment to extend the in quiry back to IHBO. The detflciency bill was taken up and its consideration resumed. Mr. Hawley’s amendment to pay for the printing of stamps and envelopes was agreed to. An amendment for the completion of the new cruisers was offered by Mr. Hale, and Mr. Alli son defended the Senate against the eharge of delay at the last session. The amendment was then withdrawn and the bill passed. House—Bills were introduced extending for one year the time for the construction of a bridge across Staten Island Sound, at New York; also, for the readmission free of duty of exhibits sent to the Pans Exhibition in 138(1; also, to reward certain inhabitants of Japan for their humane treatment of American sailors. A bill was reported to amend the internal reve nue laws for the punishment of violations; Mr. Bacon, of New York, asked unanimous consent for the present consideration of the resolution reported directing un inquiry into the names, number and extent of the corporations engaged in manufacturing and mining, or dealing in any of the necessi ties of fife, and known as •■trusts” or “pools,” their methods of doing business, and the effect of these combinations on the price of necessaries. Scott (Pa.) wanted to know what power Congress had to redress the evils that might be found. Band all wanted the inquiry extended to include the Standard Oil Company, the whisky trust and all others. After a spirited debate the resolution was adopted as amended, to include all combinations under whatever name known, and the Committee on Commerce was authorized to sit during the sessions and send for perrons and papers to aid the investi gation. Washington, Jan. 26.—Senate.—A petition of the Chicago board of trade was presented asking for retaliatory legislation against France and Germany lor excluding American meat. The House bill to carry into effect the act in re gard to experimental stations at agri cultural colleges was reported. Bills were passed increasing the pension for to tal deafness from 813 to S3O a month; granting to Californias per cent, of the net pro cceds of the rash sales of public lands; granting a pension of $2,000 a year to Mis. Logan and a similar pension to the widow of General Frank P. Biair. The Blair educational bill was taken up, Mr. Blair speaking. Mr. Morgan, of Ala bama, obtained the floor, and at 4:15 p.m. the Senate ai’oumed until Monday. House.—A bill was reported to discontinue the coinage of the three cent piece; the bill for the sale of certain New York Indian lands in Kansas, was passed; the Nicaraguan Canal bill was referred to the Committee on Commerce, instead of Foreign Affairs, where it had been: aL bill was passed authorizing tho President to suspend the collection of Ihe tonnage tax on vessels from countries whie’i exempt American vessels; also a hill exempting the citizen of a State in which a suit originates, from giving security for costs in cases removed from State to Federal Courts. Also appropriating $175,000 for the repair of the U. S steamship Hartford. A resolution was offered to set apart February 21, and each day thereafter for the consideration of bills from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, hut the House adjourned without action. Washington, Jan. 27.—Senate.—Not in ses sion. House—A bill was introduced for the protec ton of forests and public lands. The Senate amendments to the “little deficiency bill" were concurred in, and the engrossed bill sent to the President. Friday being private bill day. the private calendar was taken up. The House ad journed until Monday. Washington, Jan. 80.—Senate—Several un important executive communications, petitions and memorials were presented. Bills were re ported from the Committee on Public Lands. A constitutional amendment was reported as to the-meetings of Congress, changing the date of cdjournment to April 30 instead of March 4. A report was made against penny postage, and placed on the calendar for discussion. A reso lution of inquiry into the inefficient mail service of the West and South was introduced by Mr. Plumb and went over. The Blair educa tional bill was opposed by Mr. Morgan. Mr. Evarts will speak to-morrow. At 4:30 the Sen ate went into executive session, and at 5:20 p. nr adjourned. House.— A Senate bill was passed authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Missouri below St. Charles, Mo. Under the call of States a large number ot bills wore introduced. Re ports were submitted in the Indiana White- Lowry contested election case, the majority de claring White's seat vacant. Ordered printed and notice given of consideration Thursday next, Public Printer Benedict’s answer to a resolution of inquiry about recent discharges in his office was read. A resolution was adopted to investigate the present Public Printer and his predecessor. The bill making provision for agricultural experiment stations, with Senate amendments, was agreed to. Mr. Breckinridge, of Arkansas, introduced the Hewitt Adminis tration bill of last session, and it was referred to the Ways and Means Committee. The House at 4:25 p. m. adjourned. Washington, tan. 81.—Senate—Among the bills reported was one to provide for warehous ing fruit brandy. Mr. Hiddleberger offered 6 resolution to consider the pending treaty be tween the United States and Great Britain in open session. Mr. Edmunds objected and it went over under the rule. A resolution was adopted instructing the Committee on Com merce to consider the advisability of requiring river and harbor work to be done by contract. The regular order was set aside at 2 o'clock for half an hour and several minor bills passed in spite of the objection of Blair, whose educa tional bill was then discussed by Mr. Kvarts. A joint resolution v as agreed to proposing an amendment to the constitution fixing April 30 instead of March 4 as the day for the adjourn ment of Congress and the end of the Presiden tial term. House.—A bill was passed authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Missou.s river at Jefferson, Mo. A resolution requesting the Inter-State Commerce Commission to in vestigate the Reading strike, was reported from the Commerce Committee. A bill was reported requiring land grant roads to construct inde pendent telegraph lines. The bills granting pensions to the widows of * -one als Logan and Blair were reported and put on the private cal endar. Bills were passed for the erection o public buildings at Greenville, S. C.: Asheville N. C : Springfield. Mo.: Monroe. La, and Ports mouth. O. The resolution in regard to tht feuding strike was made Ute special order foi to-myrrew V()L. IV.—NO. 49. WRECKED BOATS. The Will S. Hays Crushed by Ice—Logs •( Numerous Other Vessels at St. Louis. Bt. Louis, Jan. 31.— For some days.past several tugboats have been butting the 3hore ice in the harbor, and with the oc casional aid of dynamite, succeeded yes terday in opening a passage of from on* hundred to two hundred and fifty feet wide, outside of the steamers aud other craft lying along the bank from near the bridge down nearly to the arsenal. This relieved the pressure on the boats, but in conjunction with the warm weather weakened the groat mass of ico in the harbor, and about midnight and later last night a movement took place, both below and above the bridge, filling up the open waterway and causing con siderable damage to shipping. A second and third movement took place to-day, and although the main body of the gorge is still firm, there is here and therd an open bit of : water, and the won ring away process is actively going on, and a general rush out may take place at any hoar. So far the follow ing damage has been done: The ice barge Huce first broke away, and was carried with great force against the little steamer Mattie Belle, crushing her side in and sinking her. Just below this point lay the Will H. Hays and a fleet of saudboats, all of whose lines were broken, and they moved down the bank en masse for some distance. The barge Suce crashed into the Ila.ys, forced her upon the shore, and left her there in a badly wrecked condition. Her hull is not crushed, but Bhe is twisted into nearly all kinds of shape from stem to stern, and is strained to such an extent as to render her almost worthless. She was valued at 985,000. The Delver, a sand dredger, was carried down and was crushed by the ice and sunk. The City of Monroe, another Anchor ime boat, was caught in tho rush aud carried down the bank, but is not much injured. On her way down, however, she stove the ferry boat Jacob Tamin, which now lies sunk. Several tugs were wrecked, making an aggregate loss of r.eai !v *5100,000. Fatal Railway Wreck. (Jrbana, 0., Jan. 31. —A disastrous wreck resulting m the death of a fireman and fatal injuries to an engineer, and serious injuries to several other persons, occurred on the Pan Handle road, one mile> east of here, this evening. The fast west-bound mail and express, which precedes the reg ular passenger train due here at 4:3K, was fifty minutes late, and was making up lost time. The yard engine and crew were doing some switching in the east end of the yard, and had just backed with two cars and the engine on a side track to let the mail train pass, but the track was al ready full and would not clear, and the switch was open. In this position the mail train came around the curve at its fastest speed, and dashed into the yard engine. ■ ♦ ■ Aged Widow Made Wealthy.' CmcAUfA, Jan. 31.—Judge Jamieson de cided to-day the long litigated .Case of Harriet Marietta Tuller against certain owners of lands in the populous southern part of the city, which involvccTa dower claim of about $1,300,000. Hy. the de cision Mrs. Tuller, who is about ninety years of age, has established her right to dower in a tract of eighty acres sold by her husband over fllty years ago, and now owned by several hundred persons. The case will now he sent to a commission to ascertain tho amount due Mps. Tuller from each of the present owners. 'Among the heaviest losers by the decisioti will he the Rock Island and Lake Shore railroads. ♦ - ■ te A Prison in Flames. Richmond, Va., Jan. 31.—Soon after 5 o’clock this morning the buildings of the Virginia Penitentiary, leased by the Davis Shoe Company, of Boston, and operated as a shoe factory, was discovered on fire. The flames spread rapidly. The buildings burned were three-story bricks and cov ered an area of about 700 feet in length and 60 in width. The loss to the shoe company is estimated at from $150,000 to $175,000. The buildings were State property and the loss caused by their destruction will amount to $35,000. The shoe company worked between three aud four hundred convicts. t Bound, Gagged, Robbed. Detroit, Mich., Jan. 31.—Wm. Law, a farmer, living in Bedford Township, ten miles from this city, was awakened during last night by a revolver pressed'tightly to his head. men bound and gagged Law and his wife, while the third ransacked the house. They secured sever al hundred dollars in money and drove away with one of Law's horses. It was several hours before Mrs. Law worked herself loose and gave the alarm. A party is in pursuit. John Bull in Mexico. San Antonio, Tex., Jan. .31.— M. M. Gonzales, agent for several wealthy resi dents of Coahuila, Mexico, has closed the sale of 500,003 acres of land in the State of Coahuila to the representatives of an Eng lish syndicate who already own 3,000,000 acres in that State. The consideration was SI2S,(NX), or t wenty-five cents per acre. The purchase comprises much mountain land. English capitalists now own fully oue quarter of the State of Coahuila. ———— - —— ♦ ■'» Carpenters Ask an Increase. Pittsburgh, Pa., Jan. 31.—The carpen ters of Pittsburgh and vicinity have noti fied their employers that on the Ist of May next they will demand .an advance on wages of ten per cent, pay ar.d half pay for all over time and nine hours work a day. The employers claim that if the demands are enforced a general paralysis of busi ness will he the result. Murdered His Mother. Buffalo, N. Y., Jau. 31.—John Culleu this evening murdered his mother, Mrs. An nie Cullen, m cold blood. Cullen is a ship-carpenter, thirty-four years oil, aud has been tv regular iu Ins habits lately,'