WEE Y NORWALK 611411. 11... 'WEDDING GIFTS. I was in an insurance ofice—fire in- " surance. not life insurance—and when - ~59 cues—m... . - Ar‘1—V1’ffp.‘ . 1 5,1,3. . Spoons were all marked. I had communicated to Aggie the news of my recent promotion she had promptly declared in the face ,of her family‘s unaccountable preference for Henry Walker (who was not as good a fellow as l by any manner of means) that to be Mrs. Joseph Lounsbury and live in a small house on a very small income and bliss was precisely her Ideal of existence. So we were not married as a speculation; neverthe- less, since marriage comes so seldom in one‘s life, we had hopes that our, moneyed relatives would do the hand- some thing. They did. First came a complete set of kni1es, forks and spoons in a pol- ished wood case. They were from the cousin Aggie had been named for. . 1 "Such a sensible present!” said her mother; "they will last a lifetime.” “Yes," said I, “it will take us a good while to wear all those out two ata time. ” “Don' t you suppose we’ re ever gOing to entertain any cOmpany, Joe?” ' asked the girl of my affection, tapping me on the check with one of the forks. This was the beginning of an ava- lanche of spoons——charter oak spoons— nutmeg spoons, soldiers’ monument spoons, bust spoons, portrait spoon-s (I called these last our picture gallery, and suggested that they should be framed in ribbons and hung up in the parlor.) One of our friends sent a pair of salted-almond spoons, hoping that we would exchange them if they were - duplicated, but it turned out that those were the only ones we had. The sugar There were five of them. As the days went by and pieces of silver piled up on us I was more than once reminded of the couple whose courtship was conducted in Brown- ingese‘, and who were fitted out by their admiring friends with a Brown-' ingtca set, with quotations around the edge, “Oh, the little more, and how much it is!” The Fords’ had a run on china, but a gooddeal of it got broken the first year. The Siniths’ specialty was etchings; they had enough for every room in the house—only, they never had a house; they have boarded ever since they Were married. Finally the climax came when my old Uncle John sent us a solid silver tea set. I hadn’t expected anything from him, unless perhaps a Bible or a Webster’s unabridged, forvhe didn’t enjoy giv. ing anything away. Aggie was getting too tired to be very enthusiastic, but her mother was delighted, and it was no use thinking that I would just as soon have had the money. « “This makes one hundred and three, dear—nine more than Susie Fish had, ” said her sister. “One hundred and two,” said Aggie. “No, dear, one hundred and three—- one hundred and‘two. came this‘morn. ing.” list right!” exclaimed 'Aggie, diving for her blank book. , “Look out, or you’ll be handing that book to the parson for a prayer-boo , ’ said I. 11. “Wouldn’t" be'a bit surprised,” she answered, smiling; Aggie could smile when she was tired. Well, we were married. A man breathes easier when it’s over with. “But, Aggie,” I said, as the carriage door slammed on us, “if it ever hap- pens to us again, let's leave out the ' heathen superstitions.” - some in. " street. “I know it,” said Aggie. “I begged them not, but they would smuggle See any in my hair?” “Some in your hat brim.” . I brushed her off, and she seized the newspaper I had carefully brought ' along to look like an old married man1 and conjured with it a minute, hold. ing it out by an improvised handle. “Here,” she said, “the very children in kindergarten know how to make paper dustpans—now brush the car- riage seat.” \Vhen we got out I gave the hack , man a dustpanful of rice with a bill on top. We began housekeeping in a cheer- ful way in a little house on a new It was something like to come home to one’s own dinner table. We .1 had so much silver that it looked fun: ny with our plain china—nobody had :' given us a lot of ice-cream sets and things. I tell you marriage is a lot- ,1 tery when it comes to wedding pres. ‘.._ ents. I liked seeing Aggie’s face in the sugar bowl, though. Every night ;- 'the little maid (imported, to live up to the spoons) brought them and all the rest up-stairs ona tray and we packed them away in the chest we had made, and a'pretty penny it cost, with its 1 combination lock, which went into the 1 end of the closet where nobody could -. .4-:..-<.-- " agie?" I asked, on coming- in i'ordinnei ,. '. get at it. One night we came home at twelve from a reception, and as we stole upstairs not to wake the sleep- ing handmaiden, Aggie so sleepy her self that she tripped on her wedding gown and I had to hold,her,‘we came upon the whole array on the floor out side our door. _ 1.:“Isn’t it imposing? so safe!” said I 'g“I shan’t care anything about going out evenings any more if I’ve got to put that silver away after I get home,” said Aggie, desperately. “Let it stay there.” “Oh, I can’t. Mamma thinks we’re so careless. We don‘t appreciate things enough. She says, if any one V. had given her such elegant things» when she was married she wouldn't have dared to close her eyes!” “Take more than that to keep my . eyes open. ” But I helped Aggie shove tLe tray under a chair. and drape the t1ai11 oi GALLEY (TWO of story No Dupe. her wedding dress over it. .“What on earth are you doing. Ag “Oh. I know I never shall getthis i 1‘ one day. All I could see was one foot and a skirt ruffle in the closet. Aggie serambled up enough to catch the round my knee. “Oh, Joe, 1’ in so glad you’ve come!” “What is it? You’ re ready to cry” “That's what I like about you; you don't have to be explained to. Henry Walker wouldn’t have known I felt like crying if I’d screamed at him!” That made me feel pretty, good. (though dinner wasn’t ready.) “But what—” , _ “It’s the silver! I came up to change the forks and spoons so they should get worn alike, and I’ve shut the paper with the combination in the chest, and I can’t remember what it was!” I got down beside her. It was hot- ter than Mexico in that closet. ,I turned and tried the lock. “Do keep the dresses out of the way, they tickle the back of my neck.” No good. “Well, I guess we’ll use the old forks to-day,” said I. “I don’t believe they’ll fade away yet awhile.” "Oh, I’m so sorry—but—th-ey’re every one shut 111) in that chest.” So we laughed. What else was there to do? It was funny when Deming came home with me to tea—we’d asked him some days before. It wouldn’t have been funny with some girls. The table looked principally white china, and the kitchen knives and forks didn’t go round. Ever cut omlet with a pewter spoon? It is great. “Don’t tell mammal” pleaded my wife. I began to thipk I should have to call in a locksmith, when one even- ing Aggie startled me by jumping out of bed crying, “I’ve got it! I’v ve got it!” “Got what—a nightmare?” “I’ve got the combination! I’ve been working on it all the time, and it just came to me in my sleep. Get right up, Joe. and hold the light, and mind you don't set anything on fire.” In another two minutes the front of the chest fell down. and behold our household gods! “If anybody wants to steal them between now and daylight, they can. that‘s all,” said Aggie; “but I’m not going to shut that lock again to- night for anybody!" in the fall there was a. burglar scare about town. and 'Agnes’ mother came ()\'l‘l' and gave her a lecture upon lock- in: lllt‘ windows. She said we really ought to have. a burglar alarm. To please her. I had one put in. Election , night I went down town, telling Aggie not to sit up for me, for I should wait foi the returns. It was one o’clock 11111111 I opened the front door very softly. not to disturb Agnes. B11-11-11-11r—r-ke-plunkl I had forgotten the alarm. ' Before I had time to say a word or even turn down my coat collar, my wife appeared at the head of the stairs. She pointed a pistol at me. Her hair hung loose. and she was in her— well. never mind; but she looked dis- tractingly pretty. "If you come one fire!” she cried. “It’s Joe, Agnes,” said I, meekly. “I don’t believe it! Take ofl your hat!” I took it off, and make her a bow. “Don’t shoot your husband, he’s do- ing the best he can. ” Agnes laughed hysterically. “Oh, Joe, I was so frightened.” “Well, this ends the watchman bur- glar alarm business,” said I. “We’ve had about as much of it as we want. To- marrow we '11 decide what silver we want to use every day, and the rest shall go down to the bank. ” We are able to breathe now. The step furthgr I .silver stands on the sideboard and as yet nobody has carried it OK; if they do, Agnes’ mother will say she ex. pected it, for we aren’t the careful peo- ple they used to be in her generation. Once in a while Aggie quarrels with me because some dish or. other that would make a show for company is at the bank, and I .don’t see my way clear to bring it home under my arm. “You can have them all home and trust to luck if you’d rather,” I say. “I’d rather they were atthe bank, because then I should have them, you know.” “Don‘t see it,” said I: as you sav.” When our anniversary came around we had a present and a note from one of Agnes’ elderly friends. The note ran this way:— “My dear Mrs. Lounsburyz—We send you our best congratulations on your anniversary; My husband will have his little joke, you know; and, as some “but it’s just one told him that the Lounsburys had so much silver given them on their wedding that" it was a positive embar- rassment to them”, he says you ought to be ashamed of being such plutocrats at your age, while the older generation has not even accumulated Souvenir spoons, and sends you this little gift to remind you of the fact.” .“Oh, Joe! it’s silver!” punched a hole in the paper. “No it isn’t, no it isn’t, it’s plated. W’e can keep it. It’s a pudding-dish, or for oysters, you know. How kind. And plated. too. It didn’t cost much, Joe, did it?” “A few dollars, I should think.” “How gOod! Perhaps even less. Joe?” - ’ “Perhaps so; it’s rather light weight." “Isn’t it delightful? VVe’ll have some oysters in it to-morrow night, and ask. them over to tea. I should feel dread- fully to have that taken,” I heard her murmur that evening. “What for?” , “Because it’ such a comfort to have one thing that you don’t care whether it’s stolen or not.” “You’re getting sleepy, Aggie. But I know one thing that‘ goes on, goes on forever.’ ” “What?” “Our storage rent. I reckon in a few. years . we’ll have paid for the whole outfit, and then we’ll (fetch it home and keep open house fpr burglars with a clean conscience’ “Don’t be ridiculous, Joe,” said my Wife. for I had CL-CAVE HIM ON THE SPOT. 4.. nit-111 Put His \‘l'ifo Through a Trying Ordeal. Another story of the late Eugene Field‘s tirropr-esdlble love of joking from the “Youth‘s Companion." He and his wife had entered a street car, to find all the seats taken save one at each end of the car, and they seated themselves accordingly. When the conductor collected the fares Mr. Field announced in audible huge tones, as he gave him a dime, at the same time pointing to the far end of the car: “This is 'to pay the fare of the lady over there—the one wearing the new, beautiful, brown silk dress.” All eyes were turned to her, and her pretty face took 1a. most becoming rose color, but back of the reproving glances she threw him was one of mingled indulgence, appreciation and mirth at the unexpected and appar- ently truthful announcement. Had No Use For It. He told the. shop assistant that he wanted to purchase something that would be a suitable present for a young lady. , The clerk brought out albums, books, gold pens and pencils, and card cases, but nothing secmd to suit. As a. last resort he showed the young man an engagement calendar, a bean- tiful little tablet on which to record the engagements for each day of the week. “Quite a fad now,”'he explained, as he displayed the calendar. "All the young ladies feel the need of them. especially during the season.” “What is it?” asked the young man. “An engagement calendar,” relied the shop assistant. “She’ll find it in- .Valuable”——' “You think she would like one?" asked the young man with a forced calmness. “I’m sure she would, if she, hasn’t one already.” said the assistan 1‘ "Well, I want to say to 31.111 that she wouldn’t,” exclaimed the young man, losing control of his teiaipor. "1 know her, and you don’t, and I want you to understand. sir, that she has no use for any such calendar. 8110 doesn’t have to keep records of her engagements. This is the only time that she has ever been engaged, and any man who says that she will ever be engaged to any one else or that she has to put it down on a tablet to re member it, has got to fight me. That's all there is to that.” He had left the shop befo1c the as- sistant had sufficiently recoy cred '1011: his surprise to explain. How to llIake Bananas Harmless. The banana yields more food to the acre than any other plant, and yer. it disagrees with no end of northern stomachs. This is because we earth the wrong way. But the wife of a missionary to the tropics tells the glad tidings from heathen shores of how to eat a banana. When you have strip- ped ed the willing rind, just scrape off the stringy and hairy coat that lies beneath the rind, and you may eat your banana without tasting it all the rest of the day. \Vorst Kind of a Case. “You look thin and ca-reworn, Tad~ Icy,” said the man in the russet shoes. “Insomnia!” replied Tadley, with a groan. “Insomnia?" repeated the man in the russet shoes. “Oh! come now, a man with no more than you have to worry him doesn’t get insomnia." “It’s the baby that’s got it,” ex- plained Tadley, as he stepped Off the ferryboat and resumed his struggle with life. THINGS TERSELY SAID. The man is happy whose circum- stances suit his temper; but he who can suit his temper to his circum- stances is more praiseworthy. The light which. we have gained was given us, not to be forever staring on, but by it to discover onward things. You may depend upon it that he is a good man whose intimate friends are all good and whOse enemies are characters decidedly bad. The art of making paper from fi- brous matter reduced to a pulp in wa- ter appea1s to have been first discov~ ered by the Chinese about eighteen hundred years ago. .There is a woman in Kansas City who keeps a saw-filing shop, having inherited the business from her hus- band. Her sign reads: "Mrs. Murphy. Saw Dentist.” Hope never hurt any one, never yet interfered with duty-may, always strengthens to the performance of duty. gives courage and clears the judgment. Petroleum is found in Sicily, the north o.‘ lt.1lv in many volcanic isles or the .‘dediterranean, at Baku. on the Caspian. on the slopes of the Can- casus. at Rangoon. in Burmah, and in the island of Trinidad. The pin factories of the United States manufacture about eighteen billion pins per year. Just pass your hand around the waist of a woman, and you wil be convinced that there is no exaggeration in this estimate.— Boston Transcript. There are twenty-nine bicycle deal— ers in Battle Creek, Mich., and three thousand wheels are ridden—one for every six of the population. A wash- erwornau has bought a wheel, on which she delivers her washing. The Japanese workman’s tools are very primitive affairs. The saw, for instance. is simply a piece of steel about eighteen inches square, with roughly notched teeth. This is set in a handle measuring, as a‘rule, about two feet. With this clumsy imple- ment, howéver, he does an immense amount of work, and since the. war‘ he is improving greatly on his tools. ...1J NEl‘.‘ ‘l‘i‘ lilll‘ BILL It Will Be Ready For the Extra Ses- sion of Congress on March 15. ‘SPEEDY PASSAGE 1111311111111. No Dilatory Tactics Arc Anticipated, and .. the Manure Will Very Likely Go Into Operation the Instant It Is Ap- proved by the President. WASHINGTON, Feb. 8.—Work on the Re- publican tariff bill is being conducted with a. View to having it. ready for introduction by Mr. Dingley immediately after the or- ganization of the Fifty—fifth congress. This will be in the extra session, which Will assemble on March 15, pursuant to a call of President; McKinley. The measure will then be referred to the new ways and means committee to be appointed by Speaker Reed, and after going through the form of an approval it will be reported to the house probably in less than a week. There have been many guesses regarding the length of time which will be required to dispose of the new tariff measure. It is not expected by experienced congress' men that debate will be prolonged in the house more than a month. The story that an iron clad programme already has been determined upon tovrush tariff legislation through the house inside of two weeks is pronounced by Republican leaders to be nonsense. If any member has a. speech to make he will get full opportunity either to be heard or to print; his remarks in The Congressional Record. It is not expected that any dilatory proceedings will be at- tempted, as the majority is sufficient; to control all organization, and with Mr. Reed in the chair filibustering will not be permitted. The Democrats have given no indication of a purpose to delay the passage of a tariif bill. Like the members of their party in the senate, they accept; the result of the re- cent election and acknowledge the respon- sibility of the Republican party to the country. Senator Gorman already has stated that. a. Republican tariff bill will be- come a law after its plan and general make up have been criticised by the best. Democratic authorities. There is a. differ- ence in the senate and house in the fact that while speaker and the committee on rules can shut; off debate whenever they please there is no way of ending discussion in the senate. It. is estimated by some that. the extra session may continue until after July 1, although it has been decided that; the tariff bill Shall go into operation the instant it. is approved by the president. In the desire to facilitate progress high rates are being avoided by the tariff mak- ers, who understand that to pass the Ding- ley bill in the least possible time it is wise not to invite unnecessary antagonism. No one has the slightest apprehension that; any complication can arise which will pre- vent. the passage of the bill. The two members of the Canadian par- liament, Messrs. Cartwright and Davies, who are in Washington in the interest of closer trade relations with the United States, have encountered a. barrier to‘thc success of their mission in the ways and means committee, which is framing the new tarifi bill. They base their reciprocity scheme upon an exchange of concessions by which Canada will admit the manufac- tures of the United States upon favorable tariif terms in return for tarifi concessions to Canadian farm products. Meinbers of the ways and means committee have an- nounced their intention to give particular benefits to the American farmers and to secure to the farmers of the United States the entire home market for their products. Several of them said today that: they would not consider any reciprocity scheme which would take any part. of the home market from the farmers. Their policy of giving protection is shown in the agri- cultural and lumber schedules of the new tarifi bill which have become known. The Blmetalllc Conference. WASHINGTON, Feb. S.—The question of authorizing this government to enter an international bimetallic conference has been under discussion by the house com- mittee on coinage. Several resolutions, including the one adopted by the senate, are before the committee, and Senator 1 Chandler and Representative N ewlands of Nevada have made speeches. Senator Chandler spoke briefly in support of the senate resolution. ' Mr. Newlands discouraged the plan for a conference. He said the four interna tional conferences already held had been merely debating societies, and another con- ference would have no greater results. The delegates to such conferences seldom were empowered to commit. their govern- ments to any action, and there never were any results. In the past the United States had consulted only England, France and Germany, whose interests were to main- tain the gold standard, whereas the debtor nations of Russia, Austria, Brazil, Chile and others were interested in bimetallism, although they had been drawn to the gold standard under the influence of the creditor nations—England, France and Germany. The three creditor nations had amonopoly of gold and had no interest in equalizing the prices of gold and silver. Aimed at General Miles. WASHINGTON, Feb. 8.—The Washington Post says the resolution just; passed by the senate on the request; of Mr. Allen of No- braska relative to presents to army officers is directed against; General Nelson A. Miles- Senator Allen is said to have copies of a letter circulated by an organization which is raising a. fund for the purchase of a $50,000 residence for General Miles in Washington. The letter states that; among other conspicuous services of General Miles his influence operated largely in having the regular army sent to subdue the riots It: Chicago. Mr. Allen takes exception to that feature relating to the Chicago riots. Against Tom Watson. WASHINGTON, Feb. 8. —The house com- mittee on elections, which has charge of the election contest brought by Thomas E. Watson of Georgia recently, the Populist candidate for vice president, against Re presentative Black, has unanimously de- cided to confirm Judge Black s title to his seat. The Cranston Estate. PROVIDENCE, Feb. 8. —The estate of the late Banker Henry C. Cranston will hard. iy enable the executors to pay the creditors 25 cents on the dollar, and the estate of Mrs. Cornelia S. Jackson, of which Cran- iton was executor, has diminished in value b the extent of $56,000. Storage “'arehouse Burned. LONDON, Feb- 8. —1\Iaples’ storage ware- house at. Camdento“ n, a snbur b of LOn-V don, burned early this morning. Loss es- timated at. 1311111000. r \ THE INDIAN A’S TUBRBTS. A Statement of the Battlohlp's Trouble ' by the Navy Department. WASHINGTON, Feb. 8.—The navy-depart;- ment has received a report from Captain Taylor of the battleship Indiana explain- ing the return of his ship to Hampton Roads. The department made the follow- ing statement. The officers of the ship, as appears from . the report, owing to former trouble with the locking devices of the turrets when the ship was subjected to heavy rolling, were exceedingly cautious as to the action of the improved devices put on at: New York. So far as the report states, the new device did not; give way in any part nor de- velop any permanent deformity, but when the ship rolled rather heav ily 1n the trough of the sea, there was a. slight play in the device observed, the whole movement not: ‘_ exceeding a. quarter of an inch and was confined almost entirely to the forward 13 inch turret. This slight. movement of the turrets was readily checked by setting up the bolts. There was a heavy swell running, and Captain Taylor informed Admiral Bunce by signal that he feared continuous rolling might carry away the locking device. Aft- er some messages had been passed between them the Indiana was directed to return to the Roads. She had no trouble on the way back. So far as the report shows, the locking mechanism is in good condition, but Con- structor Stahl of the Norfolk yard has been ordered to inspect and report On the same. OHIO’S NATIONAL GUARD. Open \Varfare Waging and a Sensational Shaking Up Threatened. CLEVELAND, Feb. 8.——The internal strife in the Ohio national guard has reached the point where open warfare has been de- clared. It began with the state encamp- ment in Cleveland last; summer. It was charged later that certain Cleveland offi- cers in the Fifth regiment Were getting fat percentages for collecting money for the guard and Assistant Adjutant General Kingsley began an investigation. The re- sult is a court. martial ordered by the gov- ernor for two weeks hence, the defendants to be Cleveland oflicers. Previous to this the Officers of the regi- ment demanded of the governor an open court of inquiry to embrace all the mili- tary organizations of Cleveland and the financial management of the state camp by the adjutant general’s office. This court has not; been granted. Colonel Coit of the Fourteenth regiment then delivered him.- Self of some bitter remarks about the ad- jutant generals office, and a few weeks ago two companies in his regiment were mustered out by the-'adjutant; general for inefficiency. The Fifth regiment officers are standing together, and today it was announced that. they had begun a. systematic canvass of the entire state guard for a. united on- slaught upon the adjutant general. They declare 1.1.1.1; they have received every en- couragement to go ahead, and that the na- tional guard will receive a. shaking up which wil be historical. Idle Convicts In Massachusetts. BOSTON, Feb. 8.——The agitation of the shoe dealers and others for a. restriction in convict labor has resulted in a delay of the appropriation for the state prisons and has been productive of serious results at; the Charlestown prison. Over 500 con- victs are idle as a. result, and unless an im- mediate appropriation is made every pris- oner will remain in his cell day after day. There are 817 men at. present; in the prison. Dr. Simpson Retaliates. DEDHAM, Mass, Feb. S.-—-Dr. John T. L. Simpson of Baston, who was recently acquitted of a charge of perjury in connec- tion with a civil suit, has filed an attach- ment; with the Norfolk register of probate against Edward B. Harvey of Boston. His property is attached in an action of tort for $30,000. Olney Still Considering. BOSTON, Feb. 8.—A special to The J our- nal from Washington says: Mr. Olney’s friends hardly think that he will accept; the invitation of President Eliotto assume the professorship of international law at. Harvard college. Mr. Olney himself says that he still has the matter under consid- eration. Letter Box Contracts. WASHINGTON, Feb. 8.—The postmaster general has awarded to Mayberry & Ellis of Detroit the contract for furnishing street letter boxes to the government for the four years beginning July 1 next. The contract involvesabout $50,000 for the four year term. The Situation In Canca. ATHENS, Feb. 8.—Most of the Christians of Canea and the archives of the consulates have been placed on board the warships. Over half the Christians’ houses have been burned. Strong patrols of bluejackets and marines are on duty in the streets of Canea. Forty-one Live: 1.6”. CORUNNA, Feb. 8.-—-The two passengers of the British steamer City of Agra, out- ward bound from Glasgow, which was re- ported totally lost yesterday by the British steamer Onega, have been saved with 32 out of a. total of 73 of the crew. 4 Bitten by a Mad Dog. NEW YORK, Feb. 8.—Miss Mollie Law- less, 17 years old, and her aunt Mrs. Mar- tin Kennedy, 35 years old, both of Wal- tham, Mass, were yesterday admitted as patients to the Pasteur institute. They were bitten by a mad dog. \ , A Fatal Jump. ‘ HOLYOKE, Mass.,-Feb. 8.—Patrick Lin- nehan, aged 35, of Chicopee, was fatally injured by jumping from the freight train yesterday.- Ho struck against a switch and was thrown back under the cars. H 0 died two hours later. \Var Correspondent Arrested. WASHINGTON, Feb. 8.—Consul General Lee today telegraphed the state depart;- ment from Havana as follows: “Sylvester Ec01 el, World correspondent, arrested yes- terday at; Tunas, Santa Clara province.’ 1. Hats In Demand. _ AMESBURY, Mass, Feb. 8.—The Merri- mac Hat company, which has been run- ning but five days a week, has commenced to run on full. time Six days a. week and will give employment to 300 people. Showalter and Pillsbury Matched. NEW YORK; Feb. S.——Articles of agree- ment for a chess match for $2.000bet-ween Jackson“. Show rlter of Kentucky and Many \'.Pillshnr1 ol’ Brooklyn have been - s1gneu. Harris and George Bétter. WAsnINGTON, Feb. 8.——Both Senators Harris of Tennessee and George of Missis- sippi, who have been seriously ill several 11:: 315;. are itcd better. ~., A... 7, GOMEZ 1111111 A TRAP ‘ The Leader of the Cuban Patriots Refused to Meet ll eyler. SPAIN’S PROPOSED REFORMS. The Insurgent General W'ill Discuss Them ‘ Only “'itll an Accredited Agent of the Spanish. Government—Gum man as Colonial Minister. HAVANA, Feb. 8.—Gcneral Weyler’s at- . tempt; to arrange for a secret cOnference with General Gomez in Santa Clara. over the qmstion of the proposed Cuban reforms ' has proved a complete fizzle. It; was learned yesterday that Marcos Garciaresigned the commission delegated to him at. the meeting in the palace last week because he learned that: General Go- mez had threatened to hang him as a trait;- / or if he caught; him. Garcia was in Sancti' Spirit-us last Sun- day, but went no farther. It is supposed that. be communicated with General Gomez by letter or special messenger and consid— ered the better part of valor. General Gomez sent word. it is said, that; he would not confer with “General Weyler upon any subject whatever and refused to meet him under any circumstances. While the rebel leader doubted the sin- cerity of the Spanish government and de- clared that. the proposed reforms would not be promulgated in good faith he expressed a. willingness to meet any accredited agent; of the government'except General Weyler for the purpose of giving the insurgent; views on the question. , The Reforms. The news of General Gomez’s refusal to treat with General Weyler caused intense excitement today in official circles. The reforms are acceptable on their face to the reformists and autonomists, but the leaders know it is impossible to carry them out at. the present time. The programme is flawless as presented by the Conservative party in Madrid and modified by Senor Canovas, because it would be useless for any political parties to present any plan of reform at. this time which could be attacked successfully. Peace in 15 days and a revolution with- out bloodshed in official circles in Havana is the party cry of the supporters of the government. They promise the complete overthrow of the carpet buggers from Spain, who have grown fat on Cuban offices. Sinecures will be abolished, and “Turn thcvrascals out” will be the slogan of reform, they say. But right here comes another piece of news which chills the enthusiasm of the autonomists and causes the reformists to accept the proposed reforms with great; re- serve. Guzman as Colonial Minister. It has been secretly communicated to leading Cubans in Havana. by their friends in Madrid that it is the purpose of Senor- Canovas del Castillo to appoint Santos Guzman to the post of colonial minister. Senor Guzman was the consulting attor- ney for the Spanish bank in Havana and is a rabidConservative leader. He became so distasteful to the Cubans that he was practically obliged to leave the country, and he now resides in Spain and is the personal friend and adviser of the Spanish prime minister. This proposed appointment is taken as a criterion of Canovas’ real motives, and the autonomists say there can be no reforms in Cuba. until the present; government is overthrown and a. new party comes into power. They claim that the question of reforms has been forced upon the present ministry and that the men who are to can ry them out are the very ones who for years fought against autonomy. They point out that: the reforms are not practicable now, because no elections can 1 be held in a country controlled by rebels, where it is unsafe to leave the large cities for fear of falling into the hands of the in- surgents and where no census has been taken since the devastating war began. The Spanish Programme. Only the less patriotic will accept the re- forms. The insurgents feel that they are ' stronger today than ever. ‘It was this difliculty of enforcing the rev forms that: caused Senor Canovas more anxiety than any other question. He knew the spirit; of the Cubans, and when Gener- al Gomez refused to discuss the measure with General Weyler it was at once appar- ent: to the home government that it would be-useless to attempt: to carry them out through General Weyler. Then came the report that Marcelo de Azcarraga, minister of war, was to be sent out to Cuba as civil governor, that he might supervise the elections. The evident purpose of the government: is, however, to-r-1 give the impression in the United States that it is acting in all sincerity, and the civil governor will undoubtedly put the re forms in force, leaving the conduct of the war to General W eyler. Monte Carlo Suicides. LONDON, Feb. 8.—The tragic end of New York merchant, Mr. Lund, 1112.11 Monte Carlo, has called attention to sim- ilar incidents occurring there, but which are carefully kept; concealed. Inquiry shows that. during the present Riviera sea! son 65 cases of suicide connected with Monte Carlo doings have occurred. General Shelby Dying. KANSAS CITY, Feb. ' 8,—General Joe Shelby, Fighting Joe, noted Confederate general and United States marshal for the western district of Missouri, is said to be dying on his farm near Adrian, Mo. He has been suffering for some days with» pneumonia, which has developed into ty pho-pneumonia fever. Superintendent Leonard Dead. chmioxn, Feb. S.-—-M. B. Leonard, su- perintendent; of the Chesapeake and Ohio Telegraph company, died here last; night from a cancerous tumor. He was about to be removed to New York for treatment. County Offices to the Lowest Bidder. TOPEKA, Feb. S.——A bill has been intro- duced in the senate by Senator Hanna. (Pop) for letting out all county offices to the lowest bidder—that is, to those who will do the work for the lowest salaries. Signed by Scranton. SYRACUSE, Feb. 8.—Manager Sandy Griffen of the Scranton team was in town yesterday and signed Shortstop Ollie. Beard and Catcher Boyd of last year’s Rochester team. _._a_ ._ Five Men Killed. BERNE, Switzerland, Feb. S.——Five men in sleigh: and seven horses were killed by 11:1. avalanche near the Hospice of Fluela on the road leading from Davostlatz to Engadine ' / announced that he had '
Norwalk Chronicler