A City Ashamed

A CITY'S ASHAMED.

In the May McClure's, Lincoln Steffens adds another splendid likeness to his series of full-length portraits of American Municipalities. Pittsburg as Mr. Steffens sees her, is "A City Ashamed." Unlike "Shameless" St Louis, Pittsburg tried to reform, and in spite of failures, means to try again. It is an absorbing story, and again the principal figure, brought out with all the author's skill in relief against the background of machine politics and ring politicians, stands forth the great American Boss- a third type of him, in the person of Christopher L. Magee. in Mr. Steffen's opinion, "Chris" Magee's ring was the most perfect ever devised to rule a city. It was "as safe as a bank;" for, unlike Butler in St. Louis, and Ames in Minneapolis, Magee did not have to break the laws to achieve his ends. Indeed, Pittsburg forms an illuminating contrast with both St. Louis and Minneapolis, which Mr. Steffens draws with much brilliancy. No one who has read his previous articles will care to miss this.