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215LET US NOT BE VANDALS Mrs. Peattie Asks That Historic Buildings Be Preserved for the Future. Old Landmarks in the Life of the Republic Which Deserve a Tender Care in Their Day of Decay. There used to be an idea that a republic should not indulge in reminiscence. It was supposed to be the duty of citizens of a republic to look forward and not back. But there never yet was an arbitrary rule made for the regulation of man’s emotions, which was not speedily broken. And thus it has come about in 200 years of hot history that we are as fond and proud of old associations as any other country. In some ways we have a great advantage over other countries when it comes to dealing with historic persons And that is that our distinguished personages are honest in their distinction. They are not noticed because they are Stuarts, Howards or Guelphs, but because they have individually done something heroic, or brilliant, or sacrificial. And the lives of such are bound together in a bundle as David would have said—with the history of this republic is the history of individuals, and little by little this intensely interesting fact is coming to be appreciated. A number of gentlemen at the city of Washington have been laboring recently to promulgate this idea, and they have formed themselves, or been formed, into the Memorial Association of the District of Columbia. This association has been formed of a threefold purpose. First—of preserving the most note worthy houses at the capital of this country, that have been made historic by the residence of the nation’s greatest men. Second—Of suitably marking, by tablets or otherwise, the houses and places throughout the city of chief interest to the multitudes of Americans and foreigners who annually visit the capital. Third—Of thus cultivating that historic spirit and that reverence for the memories of the founders and leaders of the republic upon which an intelligent and abiding patriotism so largely depends. The membership of this association is interesting it is composed of Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller, General John M Schofield, ex Secretary of State John W. Foster, B W. Warder. S P Langley the astronomer. A. B Hagner, J C Bancroft Davis once assistant secretary of state and the nephew of the historian Bancroft. Walter S Cox a judge of the district court, S H Kauffmunn A. R. Spofford, the librarian of congress, John Hay, the poet. J W Douglass Myron M Parker, Gardiner G Hubbard, W D Davidge S. R. Franklin, Charles C. Glover, and the Roy Tennis S Hamlin of the Church of the Covenant at Washington. The little circular sent about the country by the association contains the following The rapid growth of the city of Washington and the transformation of residence streets into business centers are already obliterating many of our historic buildings. Few people know that where even the very greatest of our statesmen had their homes while they were making, or interpreting, or executing the laws of the republic. We have names that the civilized world honors, their chief work was done in this city, yet the visitor here has no means of satisfying his praiseworthy desire to look upon the places they made memorable The vast work of building up a young nation has left us little time for cultivating the historic spirit But we have now reached a period when we need no longer bend every energy to subdue nature and to insure material prosperity. We may pause a little to secure the higher refinements of a splendid civilization. And among these refinements, none is more precious than that worthy pride in our best national traits and achievements which cannot exist apart from some intimate acquaintance with the life and work of our greatest men “Moved by such considerations, we have formed Memorial Association of the District of Columbia and have so cured incorporation under the laws of the district. Pursuant to a joint resolution of the two houses of congress, approved June 14 1892, we have been appointed, six each by the president of the United States, the president of the senate and the speaker of house of representatives, as members of the association. The term of service is three years one third of the members being appointed annually We have adopted by laws elected officers, and chosen a board of five directors to manage the details of our work under the instruction of our association. We are prohibited by our charter from receiving any compensation for our labors. We have recently issued a small pamphlet of twenty seven pages, giving careful information as to a few of the historic houses and places within the district. We desire as soon as may be, to mark with suitable tablets the most notable houses still standing in which the greatest men of our nation’s car[lier?] years have lived and labored. And we especially wish to purchase the house on Tenth street in which President Lincoln died It is the only building at the capital distinctly associated with him. We wish to restore it to the condition it was then, both externally and internally to gather in it such mementos of Mr Lincoln as can be procured, and to make it a perpetual abrine of patriotic pilgrimage for the millions that venerate his memory. The title to this and to any other historic houses or places preserved by the labors of the association will, by our charter, vest in the United States, and remain under the control and management of the association at the will of congress. “We look to the congress to enable this work to be speedily entered upon, and these patriotic designs carried out, which we believe will greatly inure to the benefits of the whole nation, which takes a worthy pride in its magnificent capital. No time could be more appropriate for the inception of such an undertaking than this historic and memorial year. This sets forth succinctly the plan which this company of gentlemen, with Justice Fuller as their president. have laid out. It is one in which every American must feel an interest, and which the romancer regards with affection For he knows that, pressed like leaves in looks, the rich colors faded, but still apparent the histories of fascinating men and women he impressed in the personality of these old places. In the current number of Scribner’s Magazine is an article by the Rev Tennis S. Hamlin on the “Historic House of Washington.” It is rich with the stories of the men and women who have made Washington the “Paris of America,” and one is perplexed at the idea of making selections from it, for its stories have suggested one another in a way to form a happy sequence, which isolated quotations cannot but destroy. In the article are the descriptions of famous houses—houses renowned for hospitality, for brilliant company, for ad[roitest?] lobbying—and the article is agreeably illustrated with views from these historic mansions. But if one would be glad to see the home where the fascinating and benevolent Mrs Van Ness lived, and to walk in the room where Decatur dined with his guests and see the room where Colonel Taylore danced, it would still very much more like to have reverently preserved the house associated with Lincoln, and to have it filled with all the mementos of him which can be procured and authenticated. Apropos of mementos of Lincoln, there is a little story told of Richard Harding Davis, which it is not particularly pleasant to associate with that brilliant young writer He was to be presented to Edwin Booth at the Actors club, and wishing to impress the occasion in some way upon the mind of the venerable actor and to give him some token of his respect, Mr Davis met him with this speech “This is a very great pleasure, indeed, Mr. Booth, and was of so much import to me, that, anticipating it, I looked among my theatrical curios to select some souvenir. Will you let me give you the one I consider most interesting? It is a copy of the program of the play at Ford’s theater the night that Abraham Lincoln was shot.” Poor Davis! He had the pain of seeing Booth reel and nearly fall. Someone hurried him away, And then, for the first time, Mr. Davis learned how closely associated with the assassin was Edwin Booth. How he ever escaped acquiring that knowledge before is one of those things which no man can explain. It is a fact as certain as that smoke flies upward, that if there were a museum of Lincoln souvenirs at Washington, that not an American or foreigner of intelligence would visit Washington without looking at these relics. For beloved as Lincoln was in his life, it is only now, with the focus that time gives, that the true proportions of the man became apparent. There is not, in history, a man so revered. About him there is the halo of martyrdom. And stronger than that is the luster cast by a character which stands for the American ideal. He is what all Americans would like to be, and in searching for a man who seems the best result of our republican institutions, we point to Lincoln. Let his homely, familiar, restful face but appear in the transformation of a stereopticon display, or in the extravaganza or in a play, and the audience cannot get enough of it. They look upon it as if it still had the power to protect, guide and encourage. And the flag itself cannot inspire them to equal demonstrations. Yes, decidedly, the house associated with him, and many another mansion of the beautiful capital, ought to be preserved. How numerous the associations are in connection with certain of these houses, it needs an article with the space and scope of the one referred to in Scribners to set forth. They are filled with illustrious associations. And we have reached another rung in our evolution when we perceive the educating influence that a preservation of such memorials has ELIA W. PEATTIE. SILAS A. HOLCOMB. A gentleman who has known Judge Holcomb for many years writes, at the request of the WORLD HERALD, the following: Judge Silas Alexander Holcomb, the populist nominee for judge of the supreme court, was born in a farm in Gibson county, Indiana, in 1858, and is in his 36th year. His early life was spent on the Indiana homestead, where he worked in the summer and attended district school during the winter. His early education was confined to the opportunities afforded by the common schools of his natives state, supplemented by a course in a normal academy or high school. At the age of 17 years he began teaching school, an occupation which he followed for upward of four years While teaching, he was preparing himself for entering college, with the view of taking up the study and practice of law at the close of a collegiate course. But his father dying in 1878 he was left with the responsibilities of caring for a widowed mother and younger brothers and a sister. This necessitated the relinquishment of his plan for a college education, but such time as he could spare from teaching and farm labor, was devoted to legal studies. SILAS A. HOLCOMB. In 1879, with his mother and her family, the judge followed the westward course of empire to Hamilton county in this state. He there worked on a farm for one year, when he entered the law office of Thummel & Platt at Grand Island as a student. He remained with them in this capacity two years, when he was admitted to the bar at an examination held before judge George W. Post at Central City. This examination was taken part in by ex-Supreme Judge M. B. Reese, who was at that time prosecuting attorney for that judicial district, and incidentally a member of the bar committee on examinations. Judge Holcomb was married in April, 1882, his family now consisting of himself, moved with his wife to Custer county and began the practice of law at Broken Bow, where he has since continuously resided. After locating at Broken Bow he practiced law about one year alone, when he formed a co-partnership with [Jon?] S Kirkpatrick, now of Lincoln, a co-partnership which continued for over seven years or until his nomination by the independents for the position of district judge in the Twelfth district in the fall of 1891, a position to which he was elected over Judge 1, G. Hemer and which he now holds. When practicing at this bar Judge Holcomb was perhaps the peer of any lawyer in the state. His professional career, from its beginning until his elevation to the bench, was attended with the success that always accompanies diligence, ability and integrity. It was not altogether to his clear, cogent and powerful reasoning that he owed his success as a trial lawyer, but as much to the confidence reposed in him as a man and lawyer by court and jury alike. As a judge he has shown himself to be not only learned in the law, but one of the strictest integrity. He has no friends to reward, no enemies to punish. To appreciate him he has only to be seen and known by those who have been his associates and friends those many years. His personal, professional and judicial career is without a stain, is above reproach. He is a son of whom Nebraska may well be proud. In physique and intellect the judge is a large man, on upon whom nature has bestowed her best gifts with lavish hand. He is a splendid specimen of physical manhood. In stature, six feet and two inches, with the proportions of an athlete. He has the commanding figure and classic features of an Apollo, combining in his character the strength of an oak and rock, with the gentleness of a child. If he errs it is on mercy’s side, and in behalf of those who have no help of man. A few years ago when he was known simply as “Silas,’ or “Aleck” Holcomb, he was pointed out to the writer as one who bore upon his form and face the patent of nobility. Prior to his affiliation with the independent party he was a democrat, but was never a politician. Should he be elected to the high position for which he is a candidate, and for which his qualifications so eminently fit him, the public may be assured that every interest that may come before him as a member of the supreme court for adjudication will receive at his hands the same palms taking care and fidelity that have characterized his findings on the district bench, where he has been and is a model judge. HEARD HERE AND THERE. City Electrician Cowgill, like all specialists, likes to talk on his hobby. And, bye-the-bye, Mr. Cowgill has a very good specialty and talks interestingly and entertainingly on it, which cannot, more’s the pity, he said of all specialists. In answer to a seemingly innocent question put to him yesterday he commenced talking of volts and ohms and colons and watts and amperes and a number of other things that were not as understandable to his visitor as would have been so many expressions in Sioux. Mr. Cowgill then explained and this is the way his explanation was understood; in order that the gentlemen’s professional reputation may not be injured it is not stated that it is what he said but what he was understood to say: “The volt is the unit of pressure of electrical force and the ampere is the unit of quantity or current. One volt ad one ampere make one watt, ten volts and ten amperes make 100 watts. The [?] is the [?] of resistance and it, too, must be taken into consideration in the measurement of electricity. For example: stretch a fine wire between these two points to feed five incandescent lamps and you have fifty volts. Now stretch this wire, putting your body with its, say 6,000, ohms resistance and you only have half an ampere. That electrical machine which was exhibited by Dr. Kolnstam the other evening had a voltage up into the hundreds of thousands. It threw a spark twenty inches, and you could have held your hand and let it go through it, and it would go through it or anything else, without serious injury. If you had held a cardboard in its path it would bore a fine hole through it, but not like a hole you would make with a pin. With a pin you could tell, from the bulging on the other side, the side the pin had entered. Pierced with the spark both sides would be the same, and there would be no bulging. That spark had an immense voltage or pressure, but no amperage or quantity to it. It is still a question what voltage, taking into consideration the ohmage or resistance, of course, would kill a man. If you would touch a bare incandescent lamp wire, fifty-two volts, it would just give you a pleasant shock. But still one man in Omaha, under peculiarly favorable circumstances—for the current that is, not for him—met his death, it is believed, by coming in contact with one of them. In New York state, in electrocuting criminals, they use about 1,800 volts “I suppose the oldest Masou in the country lives in Omaha. In fact, he lives in pretty near every city in the country, and he also dies every few weeks. But when you come to talk about the oldest postmaster in the country, a little place in my state can beat them all,” said W. H. Miller of Albany, N. Y., last night. “If the records did not bear out the story I would hardly care to say that we have a postmaster who has held office over sixty-five years. He is Roswell Beardsly of North Lansing and he was appointed during the administration of John Quincy Adams by Postmaster General John McLean. Mr. Beardsly is and always has been a staunch democrat, but that never made any difference about his holding onto his little post[?]. He is still healthy and active, though, of course, a very old man, but he expects to round out the century handling man. He might be given as an example of the saying that few die and none resign.” “Of course we are not Christians or civilized, but just poor devils running over the country without homes or anything else—or, at least, that’s what some people think of us. But we are improving, we’re marching onward, you see.” said a New York drummer in Omaha yesterday on his semi-annual trip to the coast taking orders for next spring delivery. “The actors and the old soldiers, the printers and the ministers, the bootsblacks and even recently the newspaper men all have ‘homes’ in different parts of the country. ‘Well, we are going to have a ‘home,’ too. It will be built by the Traveler’s Home association of America, but for short will probably be called the ‘Drummer’s Home.’ Buffalo is making a strong bid for it and offers a fine hue site, but some of the boys think it would be too cold there. The site committee has visited a number of places and will report at a national meeting of the association to be held in Syracuse, October 10. When we get it built drop around and see us. So long.” “Business might be better, but still the south is getting all right,” said J. Monroe of Tennessee, inst evening, after he had walked all around the office of an Omaha hotel looking for a fire at which to warm and dry himself. “I can give you one instance of this which may be interesting. Of course we all know that good names and newspapers are identical in paying qualities. A few days ago the Memphis Appeal-Avalanche executed a mortgage for fifty odd thousand dollars and at the same time took up and canceled a mortgage for $200,000. In a short time it will pay off this last mortgage and will then begin to make millionaires out of its stockholders.” “Have you heard of the case that is making the supreme court of Connecticut lie awake o’ nights, the case of a man who is not even charged with the commission of any crime, and yet is in prison for life, and the court has not yet found any way to legally release Lim?” asked a member of the Douglas county bara yesterday, to answer to a request for new if you [?] have not I’ll tell you a query, [?] you man named Edmonds waste [?] about a year ago, charged with [?] to burn a neighbor’s barn, H[?] who is said to be insane, was the [?] ness against him, and Edmonds [?] that there is a conspiracy to [?] him in jail. The justice of the pe[?] bound him over, fixing his bond at $300, to the superior court. But the case was not called at the next term, several terms have since been held, and Edmonds has now waived his right to a trial, and is, you may say, in jail for life. The justice of this peace who bound him over of course has no jurisdiction, the court which should have tried him declares that it can do nothing now, and the supreme court attention has just been called to the case. But on the face of the case it can do nothing, and, as I said, Edmonds, according to law, is in jail for life One man under exactly similar circumstances did stay in a Connecticut prison for several years. He would have stald there for life but he happened to be a French counsel at New York he was released on condition that he would go to France at once and never return to this country. Yes, there are some que er things in law, and Connecticut law furnishes several good examples of the fact.” | 215LET US NOT BE VANDALS In some ways we have a great advantage over other countries when it comes to dealing with historic persons And that is that our distinguished personages are honest in their distinction. They are not noticed because they are Stuarts, Howards or Guelphs, but because they have individually done something heroic, or brilliant, or sacrificial, And the lives of such are bound together in a bundle as David would have said—with the history of this republic is the history of individuals, and little by little this intensely interesting fact is coming to be appreciated. A number of gentlemen at the city of Washington have been laboring recently to promulgate this idea, and they have formed themselves, or been formed, into the Memorial Association of the District of Columbia. This association has been formed of a threefold purpose First—of preserving the most note worthy houses at the capital of this country, that have been made historic by the residence of the nation’s greatest men. Second—Of suitably marking, by tablets or otherwise, the houses and places throughout the city of chief interest to the multitudes of Americans and foreigners who annually visit the capital. Third—Of thus cultivating that historic spirit and that reverence for the memories of the founders and leaders of the republic upon which an intelligent and abiding patriotism so largely depends The membership of this association is interesting it is composed of Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller, General John M Schofield, ex Secretary of State John W. Foster, B W. Warder. S P Langley the astronomer. A. B Hagner, J C Bancroft Davis once assistant secretary of state and the nephew of the historian Bancroft. Walter S Cox a judge of the district court, S H Kauffmunn A. R. Spofford, the librarian of congress, John Hay, the poet. J W Douglass Myron M Parker, Gardiner G Hubbard, W D Davidge S. R. Franklin, Charles C. Glover, and the Roy Tennis S Hamlin of the Church of the Covenant at Washington The little circular sent about the country by the association contains the following The rapid growth of the city of Washington and the transformation of residence streets into business centers are already obliterating many of our historic buildings Few people know that where even the very greatest of our statesmen had their homes while they were making, or interpreting, or executing the laws of the republic. We have names that the civilized world honors, their chief work was done in this city, yet the visitor here has no means of satisfying his praiseworthy desire to look upon the places they made memorable The vast work of building up a young nation has left us little time for cultivating the historic spirit But we have now reached a period when we need no longer bend every energy to subdue nature and to insure material prosperity. We may pause a little to secure the higher refinements of a splendid civilization And among these refinements, none is more precious than that worthy pride in our best national traits and achievements which cannot exist apart from some intimate acquaintance with the life and work of our greatest men “Moved by such considerations, we have formed Memorial Association of the District of Columbia and have so cured incorporation under the laws of the district. Pursuant to a joint resolution of the two houses of congress, approved June 14 1892, we have been appointed, six each by the president of the United States, the president of the senate and the speaker of house of representatives, as members of the association The term of service is three years one third of the members being appointed annually We have adopted by laws elected officers, and chosen a board of five directors to manage the details of our work under the instruction of our association We are prohibited by our charter from receiving any compensation for our labors We have recently issued a small pamphlet of twenty seven pages, giving careful information as to a few of the historic houses and places within the district. We desire as soon as may be, to mark with suitable tablets the most notable houses still standing in which the greatest men of our nation’s car[lier?] years have lived and labored And we especially wish to purchase the house on Tenth street in which President Lincoln died It is the only building at the capital distinctly associated with him We wish to restore it to the condition it was then, both externally and internally to gather in it such mementos of Mr Lincoln as can be procured, and to make it a perpetual abrine of patriotic pilgrimage for the millions that venerate his memory The title to this and to any other historic houses or places preserved by the labors of the association will, by our charter, vest in the United States, and remain under the control and management of the association at the will of congress. “We look to the congress to enable this work to be speedily entered upon, and these patriotic designs carried out, which we believe will greatly inure to the benefits of the whole nation, which takes a worthy pride in its magnificent capital No time could be more appropriate for the inception of such an undertaking than this historic and memorial year This sets forth succinctly the plan which this company of gentlemen, with Justice Fuller as their president. have laid out. It is one in which every American must feel an interest, and which the romancer regards with affection For he knows that, pressed like leaves in looks, the rich colors faded, but still apparent the histories of fascinating men and women he impressed in the personality of these old places. In the current number of Scribner’s Magazine is an article by the Rev Tennis S. Hamlin on the “Historic House of Washington.” It is rich with the stories of the men and women who have made Washington the “Paris of America,” and one is perplexed at the idea of making selections from it, for its stories have suggested one another in a way to form a happy sequence, which isolated quotations cannot but destroy. In the article are the descriptions of famous houses—houses renowned for hospitality, for brilliant company, for ad[rortest?] lobbying—and the article is agreeably illustrated with views from these historic mansions But if one would be glad to see the home where the fascinating and benevolent Mrs Van Ness lived, and to walk in the room where Decatur dined with his guests and see the room wehre Colonel Taylore danced, it would still very much more like to have reverently preserved the house associated with preserved the house associated with Lincoln, and to have it filled with all the mementos of him which can be procured and authenticated. Apropos of mementos of Lincoln, there is a little story told of Richard Harding Davis, which it is not particularly pleasant to associate with that brilliant young writer He was to be presented to Edwin Booth at the Actors club, and wishing to impress the occasion in some way upon the mind of the venerable actor and to give him some token of his respect, Mr Davis met him with this speech “This is a very great pleasure, indeed, Mr Booth, and was of so much import to me, that, anticipating it, I looked among my theatrical curios to select some souvenir. Will you let me give you the one I consider most interesting? It is a copy of the program of the play at Ford’s theater the night that Abraham Lincoln was shot.” Poor Davis! He had the pain of seeing Booth reel and nearly fall. Someone hurried him away, And then, for the first time, Mr. Davis learned how closely associated with the assassin was Edwin Booth. How he ever escaped acquiring that knowledge before is one of those things which no man can explain. It is a fact as certain as that smoke flies upward, that if there were a museum of Lincoln souvenirs at Washington, that not an American or foreigner of intelligence would visit Washington without looking at these relics For beloved as Lincoln was in his life, it is only now, with the focus that time gives, that the true proportions of the man became apparent There is not, in history, a man so revered. Abut him there is the halo of martyrdom. And stronger than that is the luster cast by a character which stands for the American ideal. He is what all Americans would like to be, and in searching for a man who seems the best result of our republican institutions, we point to Lincoln. Let his hom[ily?], familiar, restful face but appear in the transformation of a stereopticon display, or in the extravaganza or in a play, and the audience cannot get enough of it They look upon it as if it still had the power to protect, guide and encourage. And the [?] itself cannot inspire them to equal demonstrations. Yes, decidedly, the house associated with him, and many another mansion of the beautiful capital, ought to be preserved How numerous the associations are in connection with certain of these houses, it needs an article with the space and scope of the one referred to in Scribners to set forth They are filled with illustrious associations. And we have reached another rung in our evolution when we perceive the educating influence that a preservation of such memorials has ELIA W. PEATTIE. SILAS A. HOLCOMB. A gentleman who has known Judge Holcomb for many years writes, at the request of the WORLD HERALD, the following: Judge Silas Alexander Holcomb, the populist nominee for judge of the supreme court, was bron in a farm in Gibson county, Indiana, in 1858, and is in his 36th year. His early life was spent on the Indiana homestead, where he worked in the summer and attended district school during the winter. His early education was confined to the opportunities afforded by the common schools of his natives state, supplemented by a course in a normal academy or high school. At the age of 17 years he began teaching school, an occupation which he followed for upward of four years While teaching, he was preparing himself for entering college, with the view of taking up the study and practice of law at the close of a collegiate course. But his father dying in 1878 he was left with the responsibilities of caring for a widowed mother and younger brothers and a sister. This necessitated the relinquishment of his plan for a college education, but such time as he could spare from teaching and farm labor, was devoted to legal studies. SILAS A. HOLCOMB. In 1879, with his mother and her family, the judge followed the westward course of empire to Hamilton county in this state. He there worked on a farm for one year, when he entered the law office of Thummel & Platt at Grand Island as a student. He remained with them in this capacity two years, when he was admitted to the bar at an examination held before judge George W. Post at Central City. This examination was taken part in by ex-Supreme Judge M. B. Reese, who was at that time prosecuting attorney for that judicial district, and incidentally a member of the bar committee on examinations. Judge Holcomb was married in April, 1882, his family now consisting of himself, moved with his wife to Custer county and began the practice of law at Broken Bow, where he has since continuously resided. After locating at Broken Bow he practiced law about one year alone, when he formed a co-partnership with [Jon?] S Kirkpatrick, now of Lincoln, a co-partnership which continued for over seven years or until his nomination by the independents for the position of district judge in the Twelfth district in the fall of 1891, a position to which he was elected over Judge 1, G. Hemer and which he now holds When practicing at this bar Judge Holcomb was perhaps the peer of any lawyer in the state. His professional career, from its beginning until his elevation to the bench, was attended with the success that always accompanies diligence, ability and integrity. It was not altogether to his clear, cogent and powerful reasoning that he owed his success as a trial lawyer, but as much to the confidence reposed in him as a man and lawyer by court and jury alike. As a judge he has shown himself to be not only learned in the law, but one of the strictest integrity. He has no friends to reward, no enemies to punish. To appreciate him he has only to be seen and known by those who have been his associates and friends those many years. His personal, professional and judicial career is without a stain, is above reproach. He is a son of whom Nebraska may well be proud. In physique and intellect the judge is a large man, on upon whom nature has bestowed her best gifts with lavish hand. He is a splendid specimen of physical manhood. In stature, six feet and two inches, with the proportions of an athlete. He has the commanding figure and classic features of an Apollo, combining in his character the strength of an oak and rock, with the gentleness of a child. If he errs it is on mercy’s side, and in behalf of those who have no help of man. A few years ago when he was known simply as “Silas,’, or “Aleck” Holcomb, he was pointed out to the writer as one who bore upon his form and face the patent of nobility. Prior to his affiliation with the independent party he was a democrat, but was never a politician. Should he be elected to the high position for which he is a candidate, and for which his qualifications so eminently fit him, the public may be assured that every interest that may come before him as a member of the supreme court for adjudication will receive at his hands the same palms taking care and fidelity that have characterized his findings on the district bench, where he has been and is a model judge. City Electrician Cowgill, like all specialists, likes to talk on his hobby. And, bye-the-bye, Mr. Cowgill has a very good specialty and talks interestingly and entertainingly on it, which cannot, more’s the pity, he said of all specialists. In answer to a seemingly innocent question put to him yesterday he commenced talking of volts and ohms and colons and watts and amperes and a number of other things that were not as understandable to his visitor as would have been so many expressions in Sioux. Mr. Cowgill then explained and this is the way his explanation was understood; in order that the gentlemen’s professional reputation may not be injured it is not stated that it is what he said but what he was understood to say: “The volt is the unit of pressure of electrical force and the ampere is the unit of quantity or current. One volt ad one ampere make one watt, ten volts and ten amperes make 100 watts The [?] is the [?] of resistance and it, too, must be taken into consideration in the measurement of electricity. For example: stretch a fine wire between these two points to feed five incandescent lamps and you have fifty volts. Now stretch this wire, putting your body with its, say 6,000, ohms resistance and you only have half an ampere. That electrical machine which was exhibited by Dr. Kolnstam the other evening had a voltage up into the hundreds of thousands. It threw a spark twenty inches, and you could have held your hand and let it go through it, and it would go through it or anything else, without serious injury. If you had held a cardboard in its path it would bore a fine hole through it, but not like a hole you would make with a pin. With a pin you could tell, from the bulging on the other side, the side the pin had entered. Pierced with the spark both sides would be the same, and there would be no bulging. That spark had an immense voltage or pressure, but no amperage or quantity to it. It is still a question what voltage, taking into consideration the ohmage or resistance, of course, would kill a man. If you would touch a bare incandescent lamp wire, fifty-two volts, it wuld just give you a pleasant shock. But still one man in Omaha, under pecuitarly favorable circumstances—for the current that is, not for him—met his death, it is believed, by coming in contact with one of them. In New York state, in electrocuting criminals, they use about 1,800 volts |