BEWARE PNEUMONIA.The fact that 272 deaths from pneumonia

were recorded In the city last -week, a numberIn excess of any similar period in the history ofNew-York, so far as the Health Department rec-ords show, emphasizes the necessity of citi-zens taking proper precautions lo guard againstthe spread of what is now recognized as anepidemic. During the previous week 2G9 deathswere reported, and, while itis thought that theapex of mortality has been reached, it mustnot be forgotten that safety from such an In-sidious disease is to be obtained, under prevail-ing meteorological conditions, only at the priceof unceasing vigilance. The present epidemic,which may bo said to date from early Novem-ber, was at first confined to the localities wherethe population is densely massed, but it is sig-nificant that there have latterly been propor-tionately as many deaths among the wealthieras among the poorer classes. There can, there-fore, be no doubt that the micrococeus of pneu-monia is in the air, ready to seize upon thoaawho carelessly or recklessly expose themselvesto Infection.

He had no kinship with the slum photog-rapher. The last thing in the world that heever thought of was the mere surface aspectof things. Always he was moved by genuinesympathy for mankind, by a passionate interestin the great human drama. If he gravitatedchiefly toward the scenes in that drama whichare laid In a huge city's obscurer quarters, itwas largely, we believe, because he had a heartbrimming over with compassion. This is sug-

gested by the poignant feeling which markshis stories. One may be saddened by them,but one Is never bored or disgusted, for inevery one of these books a eerious issue ishandled in all good faith. The author dues notdrive at crass pessimism; he seeks ever to makehis reader acquainted with life on thoughtfulgrounds. Gissing had, too, unusual power as awriter. He gave vitality to "Tho Unelasspol,"

"The Whirlpool" and the rest, not simply be-cause he packed them with the fruits of accu-rate observation, but because ho knew how tohandle his Instruments, and, In exhibiting theplay of character, used the expedients of aliterary artist. In its kind there has never beena better book written than his "New GrubStreet," a work which ought long ago to havebeen reprinted in this country. If he had theInstincts of a humanitarian, be had also, in fullmeasure, those of the born novelist

Late in his career he disclosed gifts whichsuggested that even if he had never writtenfiction he would have earned for himself anhonorable place among men of letters. Travel,according to "Who's Who," was his recrea-tion, and as the end drew near ho was drivenmore than once to the South Insearch of health.It was, in fact, at St. Jean-de-Luz, in thePyrenees, that he died last Monday. In 1001he went to Sicily, and in the papers on hissojourn there, which he brought out under thetitle of "By the lonian Sea," he set forth theimpressions of a scholar, a man of imagination,a poet nnd a romanticist Allhis life long, itwas made plain, he had nourished an enthusi-asm for tho classics and for beauty in everyform. He wrote of ancient literature and his-toric scenes with the rapture of the devotee towhom a pnjre from the heroic past has a savorwhich nothing in the present can hope to give,and though now and then his ingrained mel-ancholy would make itself felt, his tone, In themain, was one of deep joy in the thinps of thospirit nis last book, "The Private Papers ofHenry Ryecroft," a collection of meditativefragment! attributed to a fictitious character,but obviously autobiographical to a great ex-tent, is Inplaces almost as gloomy as the novels,but it contains, too, much of the spiritualstimulus which makes "By the lonian Sea" socharming. Looking back over Gisslng's work,anrl realizing all that the two books just ettedimply in his nature, we cannot but feel thatIn him we have lost a realist of far nobler qual-ities than are usually stisrpfstod by the term.

GEORGE GISBINO.

Itis Just twenty years since the late GeorgeGissing published hia first book, "The Un-classed," and, through the individuality andsincerity of the work, convinced discerning

readers that a writer worth watching had arisenin English fiction. Down to the time of hisdeath, which was reported inyesterday's papers,he had put something over twenty volumes tohis credit, nearly all of them novels. Thesenovels stamp their author as an uncompromis-ing realist, preoccupied with the gloomier and,

we may even say, the moro squalid aspects ofmiddle class life in London. Yet it would bean injustice to place him. now that his work Isended. In the category to which, at first sight,he might seem to belong. It Is true that hehad a predilection for sordid themes, and thatmany of his books are profoundly depressing.But George Gissing differed from most of hisfellow realists in that he never left the impres-sion of being enamoured of the commonplacefor its own pake

unsuitable quarters. Of course, the temptation

to extravagance would be strong, with Tam-many in control of the expenditure, and, indeed,under any administration; but public improve-

ments cannot be Indefinitely delayed in fear ofJobbery or imprudence. Mr. Grout has recentlygiven solemn warning that the governmentmust be economically conducted for two yearsto come, and it is not likely that Mr. Ahearnwould be enabled to proceed far with the execu-tion of an imposing scheme during his term,

even if bis proposal should be officially andpopularly sanctioned. It may, however, bofeasible to take tlie lirst step.In our judgment, as we have often said, the

city willbo compelled sooner or later to acquire

the rest of the block in which tlie Hall of Rec-ords stands, and the longer ita acquisition is de-ferred the more it will cost. IfIt should betaken over now and heM without improvementfor some years, the operation would probablynot be unprofitable, for the saving of rent wouldbegin at ouce tnd would increase as presentleases expired ani premises occupied by private

tenanta were converted to public uses. There iano advantage, but considerable risk, in post-poning the inevitable, and tho next administra-tion will not be wholly inglorious if itobtainspossession of the Clyimbers-st. property. Thebuilding project which excites the Imagination

of M". Ahearn can await a more convenientseason, though Itmight be well to undertake ina deliberate way the preparation of a plan forthe future without much more delay; but nowIs the time to set about securing tbe land.

LOOKING AHEAD."Our city is the second largest in the world,

"and is destined to be the first and every ef>"fort should be made to have it as near archi-tectural perfection as possible." So says Mr.John F. Ahearn. who willbecome President ofthe Borough of Manhattan on January 1, and asa "motif" for the administration of his impor-tant ofnee his pronouncement Is worthy of at-tentive consideration. At present New-York is adismally long way from architectural perfection.Usfl we fear that Its progress toward the goal ofMr. Ahearn's laudable ambition is destined tobe slow; but something worth doing can bedone within the short period of two years, andwe shall be heartily glad if Tammany, fromwhich little good is expected, takes even ono'vise step in fulfilment of a commendable de-sign.

The particular object which Mr. Ahearn hasin view Is the construction of a courthouse anda municipal building between the new Hall of

words and Broadway. He bays truly thatthe removal of all the buildings in the City HallPark except the City Hall would produce manydesirable results, and he is probably JustifiedIn believing that a municipal building larceenough to accommodate all the departmentswhich now lease premises near the City Hal!from private owners might be a Judicious Ifnota profitable Investment. Mr. Grout and otherControllers have repeatedly shown that the in-terest on a bond issue siiffirient for that pur-T'C>* oeed not exceed th© aggregate 'rent whichthe citj now pays for ecattered and generally

A MORTUY LEADER.

The citizens of Council Bluffs owe a debt ofgratitude to Congressman Walter L Smith, whoon Monday night by his courage and persist-

ency saved them from the disgrace of a doublelynching. Two negroes were in Jail, charged

withassault upon two white women. They hadbeen identified by their victims, and there wasevery prospect that they would be properlydealt with according to law. Nevertheless, amob assembled, beat down the Jail door, and\u25a0was about to killthe prisoners when Mr. Smithappeared. He had met the husband of one ofthe women, who was in the mob, and persuadedhim to go home. Then he addressed the crowd,succeeded Ingaining its attention, urged that ifthe injured husband could be patient the otherscould, and brought the people so to their sensesthat when the militia which had been calledout arrived at the Jail there was no riot to sup-press.

That is the Bort of leadership that does creditto lowa. Here -was a politician who, Insteadof drifting with a popular current, breasted itecd made headway agJiinet it. Timidity andselfishness would have forbidden him to riskhis popularity. He might have excused himselfon the ground that the mob was past all rea-son, and that he was heipless. Indeed, hemight easily have failed, with unpleasant con-sequences to himself. Perhaps the chance wassmall of stopping a lynching, not at its begin-ning, but after the jaildoors had actually beenforced open, and the crowd had, bo to speak,actually 6ceated blood. But that did not deterhim. He was a leader who led; and to-daythere ie probably nobody in Council Bluffs, iv>teven among those who were in the mob, whodoes not rejoice that there was one man in tiiocity brave enough to save the people from them-selves. But for him, without doubt, tlie twotegroes would have been killed and lowa wouldhave taken a lower place in the 6cale of civiliza-tion.

What a contrast does this appeal for law andcivilization make with the miserable Incite-ment to barbarism with which a minister do-flled a church in Wilmington! How muchbrighter the fame of tho lowa than the Dela-ware town! Law, order, self-control, civiliza-tion are on a firmer basis InCouncil Bluffs bo-cause of Mr. Smith's deed. The virtue whicheprings from a temptation overcome ia in thecommunity, while In the communities wherelynching has had free swing the moral fibre ofthe people Is weakened and every kind of law-lessness encouraged. The example of CouncilBluffs Bbould be a lesson to other towns wherethe intsensate fever for mob rule Is kindled. Itshows the possibility of stopping mobs if menof character and influence seriously go aboutit; and it also shows that Itis worth while tostop them.

A BIGXIFICAXT INCIDENT.The risit -which the inspectors and aptatM

of police paid to General Greene at beadquar-ters yesterday was an exceedingly inteie&iinj;

occurrence in the history of the department.

They gathered there for the purpose of present-

ing to the Commissioner a testimonial express-

ing their "Just appreciation of his ability andintegrity" and "their profound respect." They

might haye offered him such assurances pri-

rately, but they wanted to put their sentimentson record in a permanent form and to make thepublic the witness of their action. A hope of

favors to come often inspires praise and pro-

fessions of devotion, but no such motive can besuspected in this instance. The men who •will

be subject to his authority only a couple ofdays longer have no selfish reason for paying

this tribute to General Greene. After Jan-uary 1he willhave no pov «»r to help or harmthem. During the next two years he will noteven be able to exercise the Influence which be-longs to a distinguished citizen in private life,

for he iP going to live in Buffalo. They werenot simply keeping up an unmeaning tradition,for their action was unusual, ifnot entirely un-precedented. Itmust have meant just what Itpurported to mean.

Such a proof of regard and good will on thepart of men who have had the best opportunity

of estimating his character must be exceedingly

gratifying to General Greene, and we congratu-

late him on Its possession. But its public sig-

nificance is what makes the incident worthy ofcomment. The Commissioner has not been a

lax. complacent chief, under whom service hasbeen easy and comfortable. He was fully Justi-fied Insaying to the inspectors and captains: "I"have never been suspected of trying to curry"favor with the force, or attempting to win

"popularity by any improper means." The vol-untary tribute of subordinates to a commanderwho has enforced a rigorous discipline in thepublic Interest contains welcome evidence oftheir own fitness for tbe places they hold. Itgoes far to confirm the belief that the police

force has been reanimated with a loyal spiritduring the last two j-ears and to encourage tliehope that it willchoose to maintain the present

standard under General Greene's successor.

and the calling fnrth of them and stimulation ofthem must be accounted as by no means tlieleast of toe good results of the Panama episode.They are gratifying, not only because of theirassurance of good will toward the UnitedStates, but also because of their promise of

better things for our southern nelßhbore. We

have for many years been urging that tbe be?tway to uphold the Monroe Doctrine is to culti-vate close commercial, financial and politicalrelations with those States. Itis equally true

that If any of those States hare a fear, how-

ever idle, that the United States will one day

overshadow and seek to control them, tlie bestway to dispel it Is for them to emulate thiscountry In political Btabllity, in ordered growth

and in general progress in the ways of civiliza-tion. It will be a noble achievement if tho6harp lesson which has been read to them atPanama shall instruct them and inspire themto such a course.

-

Correcting a Blunder.— lie v.ns given two very im-portant letters to mail, one addressed to Cleveland,Ohio, and the other to Liverpool, England, Aa heWM uU»ut to place them In the receptacles in th«postoflice., the clerk's eagle rye detected that nilemployes had made 11 slight mistake, lie hadplaced v 6 cent tamp required fur foreign post-age on the Cleveland letter and tho 'J cent one onthe Liverpool missive. The alert clerk was, ofcourse, e.junl to the emergent:) aiul soon hud thamatter adjusted all right. Then ho fairly flew downMarket si to report the mistake that had beenmade to his employer.

"Vuu're v brick, ray boy," said the- busy man.and you don't know how much iappreciate you.How did you fix it?"

"Oh. easily," he replied, "ljust changed the ati-dreases."-CPhiladelj>hta Telegraph.

The woman was doing her shopping. The coun-terjumper handed her a package and she slowlyturned away. "Do Ineed anything else?' sheabsentmlnck'dly asked. "You have just boughtsome lawn." ventured the clerk. "Don't you thinkj'uu willneed tome hose?"

—(.Princeton Tiger.

Tha recent sale In London of a pair of canariesfor £70 has directed public attention to the "boom"now raging in London In these diminutive pets.Since King Edward took up the hobby of canarybreeding prices have been steadily rising, and Inmany Instances birds have changed hands for fourtimes their weight in gold.

The mewt expensive variety are those with crests,or topknots, of feathers. Perfect crested canarlejare very difficult to breed, and they are subject toblindness, the crest being cultivated to such an ex-tent that it grows over the eyes and hides eventhe beak. Prices for good "crests" range from £5to £40.

Norwich i>l.ilnhead canaries are far more popular,but do not realize such nigh prices. At Hudders-fleld show recently a young bird. in Its first season,\u25a0was sold by auction for £15 lt>s. Plainiiead Norvwlch are bred almost exclusively for color proper-ties, the most highiy colored specimen Invariablyheading the list.

Visitor—You must have a remarkably efficientBoard of Health in this town.

Shrewd Native (one of the many)—

You are rightabout that, Ican tell you.

"Composed of scientists, Ipresume?""No. sir. Scientists are too theoretical.**"Physicians, porhapa?""Not much. We don't allow doctors on our

Board of Health— no. sir—nor undertakers, either.""Hum! What eort of men have you chosen,

then'""Life Insurance agenta."

—(New-York Weekly.

Chicago haa been patronized by the East for ageneration, but It Is new for the Pacifio Coast torise up und jeer at the WK«cest city of the West.This from "The Portland Oregonian" should makethe humblest worm turn: "Chicago, tha home ofthuss and vigilantes, union hearse drivers and scabmotormen. tall buildings and low morals, wardheelers and divine healers, winds and bluffs, blessedwith stockyards and cursed with a university—Chicago, tha queen city of mid-America."

"Oh, yes, I've opened an ofllce," said the younglawyer; "you may remember that you saw mebuying an alarm clock tho other day."

"Yes," replied hw friend, "you nave to get upearly these mornings, eh? a"Oh, m>. Ius« it to wake me up when it's timeto go home."— (Philadelphia Prers.

An Indian who has Just returned from Englandexprersea surprise at the Ignorance he found there.He went to London to take part Ina wild Westernmelodrama. He ran across a newspaper man InPhiladelphia, and the latter says It was amusing tohear him describe the Ignorance regarding hisrace that exists abroad. "An Englishman." hesaid, "thinks that a red man can run from 200 to225 miles a day without effort. He thinks an Apachecan overtake a deer. In fact, Iread In London ashort story describing how In a fifteen mile runan Attache caught a deer, choked It to death andate lta heart raw. The English believe that aaIndian Is so generous he would give away theclothes on his back. Iwas accosted by hosts ofbeggars In London, and they couldn't understandwhy Ididn't hand out a half-crown to each ofthem. They also think an Indian will endure thaseverest nain without flinching, out of pride. Ayoung English girl stuck a pin In my leg at arestaurant one night, and was surprised when Isaid 'Ouch' and swore."

The Supreme Court of Missouri, in a recent de-cision, says that the sunflower Is a weed. This is

particularly unkind. Inasmuch as the neighboringState of Kansas has adopted that familiar blossomas the State flower. What has Missouri so beau-tiful that the chief glory of Kansas Is a mere weedIn comparison? The Supreme Court of Missourimay have as hazy notions regarding flora as it hasregarding boodlers. At any rate, whatever may bethe botanical grade of the plant, within the con-fines of tho great State of Kansas by legislativeflat the sunflower's a flower!

TEE TALK OF THE DAT.

How lamentable it is that the third rail Is sofrequently an engine of destruction! Is itwholly Impracticable to blanket its potencies

of mischief with asbestos bandages or some-thing similar?

Gratifying reports come from well known hunt-Ing grounds. Fewer accidents of moment haveoccurred this season than In preceding years.

Roamers In the woods have been less hasty inwounding or killing1 other strollers In the for-ests. Really, the work seems to be gettingahead, at least In the woods.

Mr.Bryan told Tolstoy that he was not a so-cialist. He might do as the candidate of a re-formed and conservative Democracy now thatMr. Cleveland is out of the way.

The possibility of making: a continuous trip

from the Manhattan terminus of the BrooklynBridge to the uj.per West Side by surface carswill be welcomed by thousands. Passengersgoing up Fourth-aye. have hitherto enjoyed theprivilege of transferring by way of Fifty-nintb-et. to the Columbus-aye. and Amsterdam-aye.lines, but that course Is not always pleasant. Itinvolves exposure to the weather when changingcars, and one can never be sure of flndlns a

seat afterward. Ths facilities which are aboutto be put at the disposal of the patrons of theMetropolitan are all the more gratifying be-cause the much talked of extension of the ele-vated road from the bridge to the Slxth-ave,

line has never been permitted.

Just why the State Railroad Commissionshould refuse to let the residents of The Bronxhave the benefit of competitive railroad facili-ties is not clear to the average Btraight thinking

citizen who is not Initiated into the mysterleeof politics as business.

Gratltnde which Is a lively sense of favorsyet to come abounded at the Democratio Clublast night.

weather Is most variable and the chances of

catchlnff cold are lioiKhtened.The Importance of avoiding draughts, of keep

Ing the body, and more especially the feet, wollclothed, and of freely ventilating living roomsdoes not require emphasis here. Whut la notso generally recognized, however. Is tho factthat excesses of every sort, more especially theconstant use of liquor, are no moan factors as

contributing causes both to Infection and tomortality. It requires only a slight applica-tion of common 6ense to convince any thinkingbeing of the reasonableness of this, for the ha-bitual use of liquor unquestionably involves adrain upon one's vital resources and a resultanttendency to acquire and succumb to disease.

Another niul vita] factor In the prevention ofthe spread of pneumonia ia the care of the sick-room of a pneumonia patient. Although ithasbeen demonstrated that the mlcrococcus ofpneumonia will not withstand direct exposureto the sun for more than a few hours, and canbe destroyed by a temperature of 140 degreesFahrenheit, it is, nevertheless, true that undercertain conditions it will retain Its vitality forsome time in dried sputum, and It thereforebehooves all having charge of the sick to seetoItthat tho sputum expectorated by their pa-tient is propprly disinfected before being dlfs-posed of. The necessity for extreme c:tre inthis respect might be emphasized by statisticsWhich go to prove that pneumonia ranks withtuberculosis as a cause of mortality in thiscountry. Nor should Itbe forgotten that bothwillprevail against all the resources of scienceso long an the Individual neglects to co-operatefreely and Intelligently with the men of medi-cine and the health authorities.

Yet another wedding for to-day Is that of MissAnno Lawrence to Randall H. Haxner. of Wash-ington, which will take place at the Navarre, whereMr. and Mrs. Augustine M. Lawrence, the parertaof the bride, have apartments for th* season.

A number of dances figured on the programme ofsociety for last evening. Among them was onegiven by Mrs. Robert Olyphant at her house InEast Fifty-s>econd-st for her daughter, Miss SophieGlyjihunt. who has not yet made her debut. Thecotillon was led by William de La Roche Andersonwith Miss Sophie Olyphant. The favors consistedof mirrors, silver hat and scarf pins, pockeJbooks,notebooks, trunk tags. etc. After the cotillon sup-per was served.

Another dance last night was that of Mrs, ArthurMaaten for Miss Elisabeth Masten In the Annex ofthe Metropolitan Club, Miss Dorothy Rooseveltana Mtas Judith de Forrest received with MissMasten. who was the partner of Lawrence Att«r-bury when he led the cotillon, the favors of whichconsisted of flower hats, lanterns, bells, pipes,canes and caps. Afterward there was supper atsmall tables.

At Sherry's a dance was given by Mrs. Dwlght

Several \u25a0weddings are scheduled for to-day,among them the marriage of tha Rev. Angon PhelpsStokes. Jr.. *md Miss Caroline Green Mitchell, atSt. Bernard's Church. Bernardsvllle, N. J.. at noon.The bride, who la the daughter of the late Clar-ence Green Mitchell by h.la second wife, who wasMiss Sarah Undley, willbe atteuded by her sister.Miss Anne Mitchell. The ushers, all of them Yalemen, will be William Sloane, Alexander Brown.Redmond Cross. Louis F. Slade, Charles LJndley,John Insley Blair, S. Brlnckerhoff Thome andJames Neale, while J. O. Phelps Stokes wilt be hisbrother's best man. The- ceremony will be per-formed by the Rev. Ralph Brydgea. of Islip,T.0115 Island, and Bishop Lines, of Newark, for-merly rector of St Paul's Church. New-Uaven. willpronounce the blessing. A wedding breakfast willafterward be given at Pembroke, the •ountry placeof the bride's brother.

Another marriajre set for to-day 1» that of MlsaEdith Alden Candler. daughter of Mr. and Mra.Flamen B. Candler. to George L. Stebbina at theCollegiate Church at noon. Itwillb* followed bya reception at Sherry s.

Sherry's willbe the scene to-night of the first ofthe University catillotia, the mantgers of whichare William O'D. Iselln. August Belmont, Jr.. Alex-ander Dallas Bach* Pratt, John Sloane, Jr.. andHenry C. de Rham. They will b« assisted In re-ceiving by a number of patronesses. Including1 Mrs.Douglas Robinson. Jr. Mrs. William EL Iselln, Mra,Bradish Johnson, Jr., Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, Mra.Dallas Bache Pratt, Mrs. Lorlllard Spencer andMrs. Howard Mansfield.

NEW-YORK SOCIETY.

NOTES OF SOCIETY IN WASHINGTON.[FROM THE TBIBUXB BtTBEAD.]

Washington, Dec. 29.—Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F.Walsh gave a dance to-night in honor of MissRoosevelt, daughter of the President. Mrs. Walsh,In white silk and lace, received In the white aridgold Louis X-TV aalon, which was opened to-nightfor the first time, The guests then took the elevatorto the ballroom, at the top of the house, wheregeneral dancing began at 11 o'clock to the mustoof Haley's band. Supper was served at midnight at

small tables In the theatre on the ballroom floor.The cotillon was led by Major McCawley and MtssRoosevelt. The favors, which were pretty but notcostly. Included lace fans, with sticks of tortoiseshell, 80-Peep hats and crooks, hats of all nations.French cuff boxes and handkerchief cases, and. assubstantial little souvenirs of the occasion, handshopping bags and purses, with trimmings ofFrench gilt.

Volney W. Foster, of Chicago, Walter LelsenrlngRighter and Mrs. Righter (n4e Foster), of BrynMawr, Perm., gave a dinner for a number offriends at the Hotel Arlington this evening. Thosepresent were the Mexican Ambassador and Mrs.Azpiroz, Ms* Aaplroz, the Costa Rlcan Ministerftr.d Miss Calvo. the Peruvian Minister and Mrs.Calderon, the Misses Calderon and Mr. Calderon.the Chilian Minister and Mrs. Walker-Martines,Miss Walker-Martinez, the Cuban Minister. AlfredoFerreira; Augusto F. Pulido, John W. Foster andMrs. Foster, General Rafael Reyes, Hector Casa-sus. of Mexican City: Lyndon EL Stevens and Mrs.Stevens, MUs Stevens and Lyndon H. Stevens, jr..of New- York; Fleming H. Revell. Mrs. Revell andF. H. Revell, Jr.. of Chicago, and C. S. Robb, ofWashington.

.The German Ambassador and the Baroness yon

Stemburg. accompanied by the tatter's sister. MissIvy Langham, will attend the German-Americanball In Philadelphia, which takes place on Febru-ary 8.

The Spanish Minister left Washington to-day forSpain for his long deferred vacation. Tha minis-ter expected to go abroad last summer to Join hisfamily, but was prevented from bo doing by th<absence of his first secretary. Sefior Rlano. whowas In Caracas adjusting the Spanish claimsagainst Venezuela. On several occasions since thenSefior OJeda has arranged to leave Washington,but some unforeseen Incident has prevented.Finally, when Seflor Riano returned from Caracas,after many delays, and Seflor OJeda was about toleave Washington, the first secretary was called toSpain by the illness of his mother, who subse-quently died. Seflor OJeda has now decided not toawait his secretary's return, and accordingly lefthere to-day, conflding the affairs of the legation tohis second secretary. Sefior Walls y Merino, pend-ing Seflor Riano's return, which Is expected onJanuary 15. Seflor OJeda expects to return nextApril in time to attend the opening of the St.Louis Exposition.

The British Embassy was thrown open for thefirst time Inmany months to-day, when Ambassa-dor Durand gave his formal reception to the Diplo-matic Corps. The ambassador was assisted byLady Durand and Miss Durand and the members ofthe embassy staff.

THE CABINET.[FROM THK TRIBCSB BVRKAC.]

Washington, Dec. 2).-The Secretary of State and

Mrs. Hay entertained the President and Mrs.

Roosevelt at a Cabinet dinner to-night. The addi-

tional guests were the Secretary of War and Mrs.

Root. Mrs. Knox. wife of the Attorney General,

the Postmaster General and Mrs. Payne, the Secre-tary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Interior

and Mrs. Hitchcock, the Secretary of Agriculture

and Miss Wilson, the Secretary of Commerce andLabor and Mrs. Cortelyou. Senator Lodge. Mr.Loomis. Assistant Secretary of State; Generaland Mrs. Chaffe*. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks Adams.Henry White, Dr. and Mrs. Daniel C. GHman. MissBigelow. Mrs. Payne Whitr.ey and Mr. and Mrs.James W. Wadsworth. jr. Owir.gr to his ii:nes3.Secretary Hay himself was not present.

Secretary Root will give a reception and dinner

on January 29 Inhonor of Governor Taft. who is

now on his way here from the Philippines,

THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS.[VBOU THB TBIBUXB BCREAD.]

Washington. Dec. 29.—Baron Gevers. the Minister

from the Netherlands, who has been transferredfrom Washington to Rome, haa made for himselfa place of distinction In the diplomatic colony sincehis coming here, In 1300. He Is rich and unmarried,

and is the son of a former minister from his coun-try to the national capital. His mother Is anAmerican woman, who before her marriage wasMiss Katharine Wright, daughter of SenatorWright, of New-Jersey. Baron Gevers selected theItalian post in preference to several others ten-dered him, bo that he could be near his mother,

whose home Is In the Netherlands.Baroness yon Giskra, wife of th* counsellor of

the Austrian Embassy, will leave here early InJanuary for Savannah to visit her sister. Mrs.Ralph Elliott, of that city.

AT THE WHITE HOUSE.[KKOMTH« TBInnSK BCREAC.]

Washington. Dec. 29-Mrs. Koosrrelt sent *ut

Invitation? thla afternoon for a dinner January S.

Cards were also issues to-<lay for the first White

House ISMSjUIon of the season, which will be heldon January 7. in compliment to th* DiplomaticCorps. A "not transferable" entranc* card is

Inclosed In each invitation.Miss Roosevelt returned from New-York to-day.

The roof of the White House was converted into

a baseball diamond this afternoon. Theodore Itoose-

veit. jr.. and his brothers and some young friendswho are visiting them made up the competing

fams. Visitors to th* White House grounds were

amazed at seeing the company of hatless boys

running over the irreat roof of the old mansionand dodping the skylights, engaging In the Ameri-can national game.

THE WEEK OF PRAYER.The Evangelical Alliance has issued its Invita-

tion and suggestions for the week of united anduniversal prayer, from January ito January

**inclusive. Union meetings will be held as usualunder th* immediate car* of the alliance. In th*Marble Collegiate Church, b'lfth-av*. and Twenty-

niiuh-st.. at 4p. m.. throughout th* week, exceptionSunday. The leaders of these meetings m order«bfkrinniuK January 4. axe ih« Rev. Dr. Abbott E.Kittrc'dge. the Rev. Dr. Willis P. Odell. the B*v

-Dr. Cornelius Woelfkln, E. B. Speer. the Rev. Vr.Henry Mottet ana th* Rev. Dr. Robert MacKeiuu*

M. WALDECK-ROUSSEAU ILL.Paris. Dec ».— Rousseau, th* forme?

Premier, Is Buffering from liver complaint, but hi*physicians said this afternoon that there was nacause for alarm.

MR. BRYAN IN LONDON.London. Dec. William Jennings Bryan ha*

reached London from The Hague. He willsail fIMNew-York on December 30. on th* Walt* Star Lin*steamer Celtic, from Liverpool.

Mr. Bryan said to-night that he had found MlEuropean trip extremely Interesting and instruc-tive. Asked whether his study of the financialconditions abroad had resulted In any change IBhis views on the sliver Question, he replied. 'Nothe slightest."

Asked concerning the Democratic nomination fopthe Presidency. Mr. Bryan said tnat he was com-peted to decline any discussion of that matter be-cause of the possible misinterpretation to whk*his views might be subjected In the United States.

JOHN CHARLTON CRITICALLY ILL.[BT TELEGRJIPII TO TUB TRIBCNE.!

Toronto. Dec. 2).-John Charlton. who Is know*as an ardent advocate of a reciprocity treaty be-Jwe*.. E.Jhe

wUnited 3tate *«»nd Canada, Is critically

In at his none at Lynn Dock, west of here He issaid to be run down, owing to the large amount ofwork he has persisted in doing, particularly laconnection with hl3 addresses on reciprocity do-livered in various American cities. Hia advancedage la against speedy recovery.

FOLKLOEE TALKED ABOUT.I

Annual Meeting of the American Society atCambridge

—Officers.

Cambridge. Mass,, Dec Lovers of folkloreassembled to-day at tha Peabovly Museum ofAmerican Archaeology for th«» fifteenth annualmeeting of the American Folk Lore Society. Asl<J*from a brief business session th* day was giveato listening to papers on folklore* Fran* Boas*of New-York, presented the result of his study otfolklore of the kliu.uUna.u3. and Louis D. Burdlck,of Oxford. N. V., spoke about "Batrachiaa MMLore."

Th* followlnif officers were elected: President,Professor Lyman Kittredge. Catnbrtdgd; nrs»vlce-prestdent. Profess Kenneth McKenzie. N»wHaven: second Tteopi—ldenj, Professor M. H. Ea*vllle, New-\o-k; Mqitan, W. W. Newhail. Ca««bridge; treasurer, John H. llinton. New-York.

WINTER SPORTS AT LENOX.Lenox, Mass.. Dec. 29 (Special)—Winter sports)

and festivities are at their height In Lenox. wfcer-»a large colony of prominent New-Yorkers are win-tering, and the hotel 13 open for holiday guests.

Mrs. J. Frederick Schenck has Issued Invitations)for a dance at her cottage. Valleyhead. on Ne»Year's Eve, and Dr. and Mrs. Henry P. Jaquea,who have a house party, gave a cUmca this even-*|B*J

Mrs. "William B. Bacon, of Boston, entertained atdinner this evenlns at the Curtis HoteL

Mr. and Mrs. H. K. Bloodgood and friend* harejarrived In N*w-Marlborca)?h for the holidays.

Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Bishop, of New-York, lefthere this afternoon for New-York, and will sailfor Algiers next week.

Miss Helen C. Butler, of New-York, has been th.aguest of her sister, Mlsa Virginia Butler. In Stock-brl'lsre.

Miss Nora lasisd, of New-York. Is the guest ofMrs. John B. Swarm.Among the arrival-) this evening at th* Curtly

Hotel were Mr. an.l Mrs. Borden Harrirnan. Mis 3Ethel Harrlman. Miss Davis. Miss Catherine Green.Mrs. F. L. Hostetter. O. C. Townseni. Miss Aiax-*andre, R. C. Greenleaf. jr., of New-York.

Mi.-»* Elsie Paeon gave a toboggan party onCourthouse Hil! this afternoon, and entertainedafterward at th« Curtis Hotel.Mrs. Samuel Frothlr.ijham will give a dinner

party to-morrow evening at her new house. In th*Stockbridge Road.

W MEMORY OF ANDREW H. GREEN,Services In memory of Andrew H. Green willb«

h*U this afternoon at 3 o'clock by th* city In th«Aldermanlc Chamber of th* City Hall. BorougUtPresident Cantor Is chairman of th* commute* 04arrangements. Mayor Low willpreside and Chan-*cellor MacCracken of New-York Unirersltjr, windeliver a eulogy of Mr. Green.

OPERATION ON MRS. W. R. DAY.Canton. Ohio. Dec 29.—Mrs. Day. wlf» of Justtc*

"Wl'llam R. Day. of the United States Suprera*Court, underwent an operation for tumor of th«breast at her home her* to-day. The operationappears to have been successful, with proap*ot* offcomplete recovery.

MME. MELBA SAILS FOR LIVERPOOUBoston. Dec 29.—Mme. Metba wai on* of th*pas.

\u25a0angers on the steamship Saxonia when thaCunarder sailed from East Boston to-day for Ltvvx*pool.

A. Q. BLAIR COMING HERE.Ottawa, Dec. 29.—A. G. Blair left here for Nsw*.

Tork to-day to Investigate the method* of thaiInterstat* Commerce Commission. H« will b*chairman of tha first Canadian Raaway Commli-slon.

MR. STORER'S DINNER AT VIENNA.Vienna. Dec. 29.—Bellamy Storer. th* Unite*

States Ambassador, gave his first diplomatics dinnerthis evening at the embassy. His guests includedCount Goluchowakl, the Austrian Foreign Minister,and tha Countess Goluchowski; Marquis d* Raver*seaux de Rouvray. the Krenrh Ambassador to Aus-tria, and the Marquise de Reverseanx de Rouvray:Count de Wedel. the German Ambassador to -vu»-tria, and the Countess de Wedel; the Marquis ar.iMarquise de Chambrun. and the Dutch. Bavarlar-Rumanian and Mexican ministers to Austria.

"

Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Harrtman har* lssruad havVtattoAj for a dance on January 13. at their nous* UxMadison-ay*.

Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Duncan gar*a thsatr* party!a.«t night for Mrs. Duncan's sister. Miss MartoslStoddard.

Mrs. Davis M. Johnson gives a 4anc* this «t»«»Ing at ths Uerrit Smith studio for Mis* Ma3ele:-,«Johnson.

W. K. Vanderbllt, Jr.. ts adding two terg* wtngs,each 45 by 90 feet, to Deepdala, his country plac*on Success Lak«, Great Neck. Long Island.

Wnitam MUne Grt.ine:i sails on the Repnblte trornBoston on January 2 for the purpos* of apendlcs;the remainder of th* winter and th* spring lq^Egypt and InItaly.

A bridge whlat tournament for charity wm tak«place on January 15 at the house of Mrs. WalteS>G. Oakraan. In West Fifty-thlrd-st.

Mrs. George W. Vanderhoef gave a dance fos»younir people last night at her house. In WestKurty-elghth-st. It was her daughter. Mis*Mary Anna Var.derhoef. and George W. Vander-hoef. Jr.. and the guest* were all young peoplewho are not yet "out." There was no cotillon, bat,general dancing throughout the evening, at ta«jclose of which a buffet supper was served.

Mrs. Louis Livingston DeliSeld, Mrs. Charl«s CSands and Mrs. L. Jacquelln Smith reeelred ta«guests at the second of the Fortnightly Dances-which took place at the Wallorf- Astoria last night.The cotillon was le<l by Richard P. Lydon, t.i*favors consisting of Ivory paper cutters, calendars*lamp shades, etc.

At De!monlco*s tie Century Cotillon took ;>»«.«\u25a0»,

Mrs. Oliver Livingston Jones and several nthwof the patronesses receiving the guests. FraadsjSpies led the cctlllon with Ml«s Honor* B«jt.

Arven Jones last evenlnjr for her feugbt*S>. M!«»Mabel Jones, who Is or

• or th« debutante* of th*season. The cotillon wus led by F. Ra7moaiiLefTerts with Miss Mabel Jones, who wen assist*!In receiving by MISJS Anita Peabody, Mis* Ev»La wren, Miss Eleanor Curran, MUn Mary Laf.ferts and Miss Ruth Ash.-nore. Among those pros,,ent were Miss Alexandra Stevens. Miss DorothyManson. Miss Carol Lefrerta. Mis* Ruth and Mis*Mabel Bacon. Miss Lilian and Mis* Natal.* Morri-son and Miss Hilda Lock wood. Mrs. Jones sn#Miss Jon?s willbe at home at No. M West Fifty-flrst-st. on Wednesdays throughout the season.

(ffßfr-Totetf DAH7T TItTBTTSTE. WEDNESDAY. DETrE>rBER_3O. 1903.

.4 muMcmcnU.A-

About People and Social Incidents.>CArrEsrr or Mcsio-»-B:i*-£W«r 00™*—%.nEI*AJ»(X> TUEATRii—S

—bwett Kitty Mellalr*.

BROADW \\ THKATOB—*:«>—B»b«tl«.CASINO—4:18 8:15

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—TJi« World In Wax.

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UADX9OV SQUARE OARDEV—C—«—Pfcy»loal Cultur*

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WEDNESDAY. DECEMBEE 30, 1903.

FOREIGN .—Dominican rebel* attacked theprovisional government forces In San Domingo;

General Morales has left the city. :\u25a0•,.. TheClyde Line steamer Cherokee was again ham-pered by Dominican oflifiaU.

—j-joAn emergen-

cy ordinance Jn Japan invested the governmentwith practically unlimited credit for the pur-poses of military defence. s==s French official*reiterated the belief in a peaceful settlement ofthe Far Eastern question. —.—-- The report thatJews at Kishineflf were being pillaged was deniedby a ltupsiu:i Dews agency. =Mr. Beauprerailed from Colon for New-York on the Yucatan.

DOMESTIC—It was said by Senators inWashington that the Pmoot case, now before aSen:ie committee, might result in a thoroughl?.«uirv into the practices and policies of theMormon Church.

—In consequence of the

\u25a0prim 111 1 of Angus N. Cannon in the Tabernacleat Bait Lake City, advising Mormon young mento take the places of striking miners in Utah,

union labcr may enter the fi^rht against HeedBmoot as a member of the United States Senate.

CITY.—

Slocks were strong: and active. . \u25a0\u25a0:

There was v.iki excitement on the Cotton Ex-change, declines for a time amounting to almost$4 a bale, there were pains toward the close ofTrading

-—=Mayor-elect McClellan only bowedat the end of a laudatory speech delivered by

President Fox Si the Democratic Club recep-•"olonel McClellan. It was announced,plans to reiain Major Wood bury Inoffice. , . :

The ieorgs A.Fuller Company was admitted tomembership In the BuildingTrades Employers'Association at an exciting meeting of Its boardof />> error*. \u25a0, Oscar G. Murray was

.1 hosen president of the Baltimore and OhioRailroad.

- = 1.-. F. Loree was elected presi-

dent of the Rock Island. r .:Harrison Grey

Fiske. manager of the Manhattan Theatre, an-nounced he would cut the rates for seats ton sot,

THE WEATHER.— lndications for to-day:Partly cloudy; variable winds, becoming west-erly and fresh. The temperature yesterday:Highest, 80 degree.*; lowest. 10.

TEE XEVTB THIS UORSISO.

OUR SOUTHERN NEIGHBORS.It would be insincere to affect surprise at the

unfavorable expressions of pome South Ameri-cans concerning the policy and conduct of theUnited States ir Panama, and itwould be folly

to attempt to ignore them. Those greatly ex-aggerate the case, of course, who say we havearoused tho distrust and animosity of allSouth America and have not a friend, leftUpon that continent. There is no evidence thatany considerable enmity toward the UnitedStates Is felt in South America excepting infour States, three of which belong in the minorclass. On the contrary, there are convincingIndications that in all but those four this coun-try is generally regarded with confidence andfriendship, and that whatever unfriendlinessexists in them is less than the friendlinesswhich exists in the four exceptions. This state-ment applies not only to the general policy andrelations of tho United State?, but also i«pe-ciiicaJly to its conduct in Panama. In proof ofwhich witness the utterances which we havequoted from representative South Americanpapers.

But, es we may frankly say we anticipated,there or© some disapproving and unfriendlyvoices. They are in four States. One is, ofcourse, Colombia; balked In her attempt to"hold up" the United State*. A second is Ven-ezuela, once part of Colombia, and probably themoat turbulent and disorderly of all SouthAmerican States; which we might tax withstrange Ingratitude for our salvation of herfrom spoliation less than ten years ago. A thirdIs Ecuador, also a former part of Colombia,and one of the loast liberal and least progressiveMates. Tii* fourth is Chili, which for manyyears, for rwiMias too familiar to need rehearsal,has been less friendly to us than any of herneighbors. Itis, we say, not surprising that inthese four States, forming a. email minority ofthe continent, there are some sentiments of dis-affection and even of enmity toward the UnitedStates. We are not sure, however, that suchsentiments are either popularly or officiallydominant. while we perceive unmistakable evi-dences that, instead of increasing in volume andintensity, they are decreasing, and are moreand more being counterbalanced with moretane acd more amir-able view*.

We <ju<ited in Sunday's Tribune some note-worthy evidence to this effect The semi-official"Mecurio," of <!.ili, for example. Bees in thedefeat of Colombia and the construction of thecanal by the United States ijomenace to SouthAmerica. This country, it believes, will neverimjustiy ogress its bouthern neighbors. Thedanger of South Am«i'-sn States lies in theirown domestic bad management, not In NorthAmerican srhernea of expansion. That utter-ance is the voice of pure reason, and itis grati-fying to hear it widely echoed. Four otherChilian papers which we have quoted also do-clare thst the. Sooth American States harenothicj; to fear from this country, that Insteadof fearing and antagonizing it they ought toemulate its, progress and cultivate closer rela-tions with it, and that the caning of the canal,by facilitating communication with the UnitedBtates, will incalculably benefit Chili and thewhole continent. The United States, they rec-«oXtsc. is making progress with gigantic strides,while South America largely stands still a.n'llives In the past. The way to avoid being out-stripped and overshadowed by this country Isto try to surpass Itin progress, and not to lagbobinf! arjflrail at it tor cci^s ahead.

Such sentiment* and expressions as these axebUorettjer to be cotemended sad encouraged.

Speaking broadly, It -will be found that thomain factor in the way of prevention is to ki>(*j>one's self In the best possible condition, mentallyas well as physically.* Mentally, because de-pression, fear and worry must be accountedagencies inereas'ng susceptibility to infection.Tho necessity of keeping in pood physical con-dition becomes all the more apparent when itIs Mated that the researches of sq eminent abacteriologist as former Surgeon General Kteru-berg and other investigators go to show thatthe germ of pneumonia is able to live in themouth of a healthy person, whoso lungs itmayattack with fatal results should they becomevulnerable us a result of catching cold. In a re-cently published work Dr. Sternberg avers thatthe mlerococcus "is present in the salivary se-"cretlons ofa considerable proportion of healthy"persons, both in this country and lv Europe."Such being the- case, it is not difficult to per-ceive why pneumonia epidemics occur chieflyin the spring and in the autumn, when th«