The Indianapolis journal. [volume], March 26, 1893, PART TWO, Page 12, Image 12

About The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904

Image provided by: Indiana State Library

                
12
THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, SUNDAY, MARCH 2G, 1893.
THE SUNDAY JOURNAL
SUNDAY, MAKCII SO. 1603.
"WAMilM.HKN OH1CE-M5 Jb'ourtevuth sr.
Telehn Ha.
Jinfint ds OfT:co 233 Kdltorlal Booms. 242
ILUMS OF SU11SCJRIFTION.
DAILY DT MAIL.
Tisl'Torly, one month $ .70
J 'ni'.y wy, t!.riM months. 2.00
ai!y only, one ytar. H.x
l'aiiy. mciinlip'.' suiulir, one year KM)
fcuiuiay uny, t n : y ar 2.00
Hi.y Fl'KXISHED BY AGENTS.
rany ptrwet-k. hy earner ...15 cts
hntiU-y, fcicgl copy ." cts
lMlii aud tuiivlay, ycr wte, by carrier........ 20 cU
WEEKLY.
Tcr year $1.00
ICfHfnred 1iate to Clubs.
Subscribe with any of our numerous agents or send
nb.'cnptmiis to tho
JOURNAL NEWSPAPER COMPANY,
VSVIAXAVOU3, KD.
Terf,r.a sending the Journal through the mails in
the United State slumM iut on an eis;ht-pape paper
a une-ckst jHwtare ftanip; tn a twelve or i:vU-n-jcce
i;ikt aTWo-ci-NT ixjUi.i."' htaiup. rorthjn post
age ia usually double these rates.
All communications intended for publication in
Otis pajirr r.iuf,in order to receive attention, beac
, cowponifti by ihe name unit address oj thtrcriter.
THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL
Can be found at the following places:
I'A It IS American Ex change in raris, 30 Boulevard
tie Carman ..
K EW VOIiK Gilsey liouo antl Windsor IIotcL
S1!ILADLII!IA-A.P. Kcwble, 3733 Lancaster
Itvt-tme.
CHICAGO Palmer IIousu.
CINCINNATI-J. K. Ilawley & Co.. 154 Vine street.
LOUISVILLE C T. Peering, northwest corner of
Third unl J t Hereon streets.
6T. LOUIS Union News c4. Union Depot.
WASHINGTON, D. C.-ltiggs Ilou.se and Ebbitt
House.
SIXTEEN PAGES
If tho new district attorney anil the
now marshal desiro to follow in the steps
of the administration generally, each
must have ason, a brother or a cousin
lor an assistant.
Those Eastern mugwump editors who
have been led to talk of "tho reform
clement of tho Indiana Democracy," in
connection with the Burke affair, are
the victims of a cruel practical joke.
There are several hundred patriots
in Washington who expected nuditor
fillips, consulships and high-up positions
who would compromise to-day on a
jhnitorship. Tho patriot never strikes.
When the lion. Jason Brown stated
that Mr. Burke's action on the cocmploye
bill was indorsed by the present Demo
cratic Senate, he uttered moro truth
than in tho sixty speeches ho made dur
ing the last campaign.
Democrats who havo been in tho
presence of Mr. Cleveland during the
past ten days aro thoroughly convinced
that he is not in need of that very zeal
ous and jealous bulldog which an East
ern exchange has suggested as his as
sistant. It is authoritatively announced that
Mr. Blaine left all his papers of a public
character in care of Miss Dodge (Gail
Hamilton), Mrs. Blaine's cousin, and
that sho will, at an early day, set about
the task of writing tho biography of the
statesman.
Marion Crawford, the novelist, says
ho is much impressed by the decline of
tho drinking habit in this country Hincu
liis visit hero ten years ago. It is evi
dent from this remark that Mr. Craw
ford did not attend tho recent inaugura
tion ceremonies at Washington.
It has been said by Edward Atkinson,
tho statistician, that tho silver crop in
tho United States is not worth so much
ns tho hen crop. It gives the country
much more trouble, since there would
be no free-coinage issue but for the pro
duction of fifty or sixty million dollars'
worth of silver bullion.
C03IMANDEU Jewell, of the navy, in
a recent address, said that the time had
come when war is practically impossible,
meaning that the implements of war are
How so destructive that no nation can
afford to put them ia operation. Never
theless, every nation which means to
bavo peaco must have a supply of these
appliances nnd know how to use them.
A few daya since tho chaplain of the
Texas House prayed that "tho Lord
would open the eyes of those members
who allowed tho love of money to be
balanced against virtue." Thereupon,
several members were angry, and de
nounced that official for criticising their
motives in his prayers. The chaplain
replied that if he was not to pray that
tho eyes of members bo opened thero
could bo little use in praying. Tho mem
ber who remarked that he did not want
bis eyes opened doubtless expressed tho
views of tho majority.
New York reporters followed Carlylo
Harris, tho wifo murderer, to tho door
of his coll in Sing Sing, and record tho
fact that the prisoner was abso
lutely unmoved by the proceedings. "So
dull was he," says one, "that clerk West
lake said afterward, 'That man may be
a murderer, but he is a perfect gentlo
xnan just tho same.' " This is in harmony
with tho assurance given Mr. Harris by
nn attache of tho Tombs, that he ought
to brace up, for they never hanged a
gentleman in Now York yet. Neverthe
less, it looks very much as if tho "per
fect gentleman" would bo killed by
electricity.
Probably no one will ever know what
was tho fate of the steamship Naronic.
She was no ocean tramp, but the latest
result of shipbuilders' skill and
experience. Sho was systematically
divided into compartments, and was
equipped with two screws, nn almost
certain preventive against being left
helpless by the fracturo of a shaft. In
ehort, everything that experience could
devise to mako tho Naronic strong and
seaworthy was employed, and yet sho
was lost. Consequently, ship experts,
with others, will bo In doubt as to tho
causo of her loss. That sho was lost
proves that tho ship has not been built
that is entirely safe.
Emile Zola persistently offers him
self as a candidate for admission to tho
French Academy whenover thero is a
vacancy, and is ns often defeated. Last
week ho received hut one vote, the suc
cessful aspirant being M. Challemel
Lacour. Just now, when tho Panama
scandal is such a sore subject with lead
ing Frenchmen, perhaps tho fact that
Zola had written n lovcI which is al
most prophetic in tho remarkable exact
ness with which it describes just such a
gigantic and fraudulent enterprise
makes him ineligible. The similarity in
tho imaginary and real speculation ex
tends even to the details. Tho "Im
mortals" may not care to have among
them a man who either knows his fellow-citizens
too well or is possessed of
supernatural foresight.
THE RICH AND THUS HEET0R3.
Tho rich man is having an uncommon
ly hard time of it in these latter days, if
serving as a target for all sorts of re
formers has any eflect on his sensibili
ties. It is no new thing for him to servo
as a point of attack. Sinco it was said,
eighteen hundred years ago, that it was
easier for a camel to go through tho eye
of a needlo than for him to enter the
kingdom of God he has not been al
lowed to forget that his road was the
broad one towards destruction. Solici
tude in regard to his condition nnd wel
fare has never ceased, but tho atten
tions pressed upon him of late aro pro
fuse to a degree that must bo
somewhat overpowering. If ho reads
tho papers ho discovers all sorts
of chances for reducing him to
the common level of humanity so
far as tho possession of cash is con
cerned. Tho Nationalist party proposes
to take his wealth away from him and
give it to tho state. The Populist party
thinks it would be bettor to divido it up
among the people who have les3. Ho
is referred to opprobriously as a "pluto
crat," a "monopolist" and a "bloated
bondholder," while some have no
scruples in calling him a robber, argu
ing that no man can come honestly by a
million dollars. When ho undertakes a
business enterprise, even though it will
incidentally inure to the benefit of the
community and give employment to
hundreds, it is assumed that his motive
is wholly selfish and that ho must there
fore bo hampered and restricted on
every hand lest ho secure undue ad
vantage. As if this were not enough,
ho is . preached at from the pul
pits. Sermonizers find an unfailing
text in tho rich man. They are pro
foundly impressed with the danger of
riches, and they warn the owner there
of, with an eloquence that is positively
tearful, of tho temptations and perils
that surround him. "One of the sad
dest sights to a pastor," says one of
these r.crmons which happens to have
got into print, "is the increasing world
liness which often accompanies increas
ing prosperity." Is it, then, tho com
mon experience of pastors that spiritu
ality is tho usual accompaniment of
poverty? "Itisof supremeimportance,"
goes on the preacher, "that this man
(meaning tho prosperous man) should
be prayed for, and that he pray for him
self, that ho cultivato that loveliest and
rarest of graceshumility." Humility
is undoubtedly a grace, but does it or
dinarily belong to the poor man, and if
not, why should it not bo of equal im
portance to himl
Tho truth is, the rich man gets more
than his share of attention. The poor
man, If ho . bo honest with bimsclf,
knows that sundry temptations beset
him with which tho possession of money
"has nothing to do; that if ho bo not
careful ho will bo filled with envy, dis
content and malice all because he is
not prosperous. Human naturo is pret
ty much the same in all sorts and condi
tions of men, and all aro sure to have
due. proportion of trial and temptation
in ono shapo or another. It might be as
well to acknowledge frankly that the
general sohcitudo in behalf of the rich
man is directod more to his money than
to him. The saint is rare who can pray
that the plutocrat may bo humble and nt
tho same time stornly refuse to become
a plutocrat himself, bocauso to do" so
would endanger his own humil
ity. Even the same preacher, who is
oppressed by the dangers that
surround the wealthy, can only
say ho is "almost thankful" that ho is
not rich lest richoa in his hands might
mean disaster to his fellow-men and
ruin to his own soul. Almost, but not
quite. Even he would accept a liberal
competence So would we all. The
Nationalists wish to share tho benefits of
wealth; so do the Populists. Every
man who decries the possession by oth
ers of much money would take it him
self if he could. For good uses, of
course; oh, to be sure. But perhaps
those who havo it now mean to make
good use of it. Until tho opposite is
certain they should not be too severely
condemned. Tho rich man should havo
achanco.
AN UNNECESSARY DI3PCTE.
Tho assertion of Colonel Ingersoll in
his address on the character of Abraham
Lincoln, to tho effect that ho was a free
thinker after, the manner of Voltairo
and Paine, challenged emphatic contra
diction which was no moro conclusive?
than tho Ingersoll declaration. Fortu
nately, so much has been written and is
known about tho personality of Mr.
Lincoln that there need be no contro
versy in regard to his religious feelings,
Those who havo higher appreciation of
that great man than to claim him as an
infidel, ns has Ingersoll, or a believer in
certain creeds, as has General Callis, of
New York, have examined his recorded
acts and words. They havo found that
Mr. Lincoln was not what is or has been
called a professing Christian in the
senso that a declaration , of belief in
certain tenets is essential. Like 'many
men, in their early years, Mr. Lincoln
expressed dissent to prevailing creeds.
but no irreverent word can bo traced
to him or any expression indicating that
he did net believe in and accept the
fundamental principles of Christianity.
In 1831, writing to his half-brother re
garding the approaching doath of his
father, Mr. Lincoln said:
Fsincerely hope father may yet recover
his health; but, at all events, tell him to
remember to call upon and contide ia our
great, and good, fetid merciful Maker, who
will not turn away from him in any ex
t remit, lie notes the fall of a sparrow,
and numbers the hairs of our heads, and ha
will not forget the dying man who puts his
trust in Him. Say to him that if it be his
Jot to go now ho will soon have a joyful
meeting with many loved ones gone before,
and where the rest of us. through the help
of God, hope ere long to join them.
So sincere a man as was Abraham
Lincoln would not havo expressed so
full a belief in a personal God if ho bad
not entertained such a conviction. In
several of his speeches in tho Douglas
campaign ho declared that "slavery
was a monstrous sin in the sight of a
jnstand compassionate God." In 18C0,
when he learned that most of the cler
gymen of Springfield were opposed to
his election, he exclaimed: "I am not a
Christian man. God knows I want to
be one. I have read tho Bible ever
sinco I sat on my mother's knee. Here
is the New Testament which I carry
with me. Its teachings are all for lib
erty. These ministers know that I am
for freedom and my opponents are for
slavery. And yet with that book in
their hands they are going to vote
against me. I know thero is a
God, and that He hates injustice and
slavery. I know that I am right, be
cause liberty is right. Jesus Cbriot
teaches it, and Christ is God.
Douglas doesn't euro whether slavery is
voted up or down; but God cares, hu
manity cares, and I care."
When ho left his homo to assume the
presidency Mr. Lincoln addressed his
friends and neighbors as follows:
I co to assume a task more difficult than
that which devolved upon Washington.
Unless the great God who assisted him
shall be with nnd aid me, I must fail: but
if the same omniscient mind and almighty
arm that directed and protected nun shall
guide and support me, I shall succeed. Let
us all pray that the God of our fathers may
not forsake us now. To him 1 commend
you all, aud ask with equal sincerity and
faith that you will invoke liis wisdom ana
guidance for ma.
After tho battle of Antiotam ho called a
meeting of his Cabinet to present to them
tlie Emancipation Proclamation, and said:
I have made a vow a covenant thit if
God would give us victory in battle I would
consider it an indication of the divine
will, and that it would he my duty to
move forward with emancipation. -
God has decided in favor of tho slaves.
Columns could bo filled with incidents
showing tho implicit confidence Abra
ham Lincoln reposed in a Providence who
controlled events for wise and beneficent
purposes, but if one desires to read a
single paper which will disprove tho
charge that ho was a freethinker, in tho
Ingersoll sense, ho can lead that most
remarkable of stato papers, President
Lincoln's second inaugural. The fea
ture which makes it ono of the foremost
official papers of tho ago is its deeply
religious tone.
Abraham Lincoln may not have
troubled himself about dogmas, but no
man was ever moro devout in his reli
ance upon the great power which con
trols human acts and events, or whoso
conduct was moro thoroughly in har
mony with the truths of tho Sermon on
tho Mount.
THE PREVENTION OF OHIUE - RESCUING
CHILDREN.
i
Tho question of what to do with chil
dren who are being brought rp in an
atmosphere of vice'and crime is ono of
tho most, important and perplexing of
social problems. It resolves itself into
two other questions', viz.: What the
State has a right to do, and how it may
best exerciee tho right so as to sccuro
tho best results.
It needs no argument to. prove that
the provention of crimo is far mtore
sensible and humane than its punish
ment. In all cases prevention is better
than enre. and in a very lartro nronor-
tionof criminal cases punishment. does
not cure. Prevention does not .merely
strike at the root of tho disease, but it
seeks to forestall the disease itself.
Prisons and reformatory schools are
necessary institutions, and useful in
their way, but at best they aim only nt
punishment or reformation. -;
Society has an undoubted right to pro
tect itself against crimo in whatever
way it may seem best. Since tho begin
ning of human government it has
sought to do this in various ways. For
a long time and until comparatively re
cent years tho treatment of criminals
was in tho highest degree not only pun
itive, but vindictive. t For a long time
there was littio or no effort to prevent
crime or reform criminals. Now theso
aro tho ruling ideas. Hand in hand with
them goes the idea that society has a
right to protect itself against crifiioin
every possible way. Ono of tho best
protectivo methods is provention. It
follows that society, in other words tho
State, has a right to adopt and enforce
t
any measures it may deem best for the
prevention of crimo. The right to pun
ish includes tho right to prevent. If the
State may spend money to convict a
man of crime and to imprison him for a
term of years or for life, it may spend
money to prevent him from becoming a
criminal. In this case prevention is not
only better than cure, but it is easier.
cheaper, and far moro humane. '
In every largo city there aro many
children who are growing up in an at
mosphere of vice and crime. There are
children who aro reared from infancy
amid surroundings containing every
conceivable clement of degradation, do-
pravity and vice. Of such children, it
has been said "they begin life with in
herited physical and moral taint. They
imbibe impurity and whisky with their
mothers' milk. The first words to
which their ears aro accdstomed are
blasphemous and obscene. Tho foul
air which they breathe is mado fouler by
tho infamous orgies of which they are
tho involuntary witnesses. All the evil
within them is dovelopod with marvel
ous rapidity. With wits sharpened by
the daily 6trugcle for existence, they
becomo apt pupils in every species of
wickedness. Tender only in years, be
fore they havo reached their teens they
are known to tho polico ns 'toughs.'"
This is tho class from which the ranks
of crimo are recruited. Every policeman
in Indianapolis knows of localities
which are nurseries of crime, and scores
of children who aro growing up to bo
criminals as inevitably as water runs
down hill. There is an ever increasing
host of such children in tho United
States. Comparatively innocentto-day,
they are tho desperate and hardened
criminals of twenty or thirty years
hence. To-day they can be saved;
twenty-fivo years henco they will bo
past all hope or cure. To-day tho Stato
can protect itself against them by edu
cating and caring for them; twenty-five
or thirty years hence it can only protect
itself against them by making war on
them and by Imprisoning or hanging
them. The conclusion is inevitable that
tho Stato has a right to adopt any
measures of protection which it deems
wise and suitable to the case. In tho
naturo of the case such measures must
be compulsory, because when circum
stances require it the State must assert
the right of removing children from
parents or guardians whoso control or
custody threatens to make criminals of
them orrender them unfit to becomo use
ful members of society. Care should be
taken not wantonly or needlessly to in
terfere with the parental relation, but
when the circumstances require it the
Stato should not hesitate to assert its
authority.
This principle lies at the foundation
of the law in this State establishing
boards of children's guardians, and it
finds expression in Michigan and Min
nesota in a different form. Those
States have what is called tho "Stato
school" system. Under this system the
Stato asserts and exercises the right of
taking possession of every child who is
dependent, neglected or abused, or
whoso parents are not deemed fit to
have the care of them. Under certain
forms of law such children aro sent to
tho State school, where they nre edu
cated and provided with a temporary
homo until such time as they can bo
provided with a permanent one. The
school is conducted much like a reform
school, except that the element of pun
ishment and the idea of disgrace are not
connected with it. The school plant in
Minnesota cost about $150,000 and the
cost of running it is less than $25,000 a
year. It is doing a great work in res
cuing young children from tho streets
and from vicious surroundings and pre
paring them to become useful citizens.
Every State ought to hav such a law
and such a school. Eventually every
State will havo to resort to this system.
The punishment of crime will not pre
vent its increase. It will bo necessary
to adopt, also, vigorous preventive
measures. Under the present system
crime is increasing faster than popula
tion. It must bo attacked at the foun
tain head. Tho nurseries of crimo must
be broken up. The sources of supply
for tho criminal ranks must bo cut off.
The children must be saved.
The trial that is now going on at La
fayette grows out of conditions for
which thero can be no valid defense.
There can be no excuse for tho rioters.
If discovered, they should bo punished
to the extent of the law. But it would
bo unjust to hold the Catholic clergy, in
any sense, responsible for the conduct
of tho rioters, any more than to main
tain that the Protestant clergy of Massa
chusetts should have been held respon
sible for the burning of a Catholic con
vent near Boston forty years ago. And
in this connection it should be said that
thoso people iu Lafayette or elsewhere,
however well meaning, are not entirely
beyond censuro for pursuing a policy
which is designed to keep alive an un
necessary and harmful enmity between
tho two wings of tho Christian Church,
Protestant and Catholic. They cannot
, point to an act of controlling Catholic
clergymen which is hostile to any insti
tution of the. country. Years they
might have done so, but not recently.
There aro alleged Protestants whose
religion consists iu prejudice against and
'hatred of Catholics, and vice versa; but
the number is small and growing smaller.
No good can come to any cause in em
ploying an ex-Catholic priest to go
about the country and, with abusive
and even vile speech, assail tho Catho
lic Church. The right is not denied,
but no more good can come from it than
from tho preaching of Sam Small.
When Catholic or Protestant lead
ers assail any institution of popular
government, the people will bo quick
to find it out. Fortunately, there Is not
tho slightest evidence necessary to con
vince fair-minded and intelligent people
that either wish to do so. Both churches
are great moral forces, and both are do
ing moro than all other human instru
mentalities to relievo 1m man suffering
and to elevate humanity.
The spring number of the Indianapolis
quarterly. Modern Art, fulfills the promise,
of the first issue and is creditable to all
concerned iu its making. The number is
artistic throughout, its illustrations, letter
press and typographical features being in
entire harmony and of an order of merit not
often reached even in more pretentious pub
lications of this class. If a lanltmaybo
found it is with the defective drawing, or
possibly the printing, of two or three head
and tail pieces. The most of these and the
initial letters are excellent, however. The
frontispiece is a photogravure from Bos
eeth's painting, "Beata Beatrix," now in
possession of Charles L. Hutchinson. Chi
cago. A full-page illustration is from a pen
andink sketch by Forsyth. Mr. J.M. Howies,
the editor, has some imtes cn Mr. Hutchin
son's collection. Louis H. Gibson has a
paper on "Decorative Sculpture' and
Katharine Ball discusses Prang's system of
color. The literary gem of the number is
a poem by Meredith Nicholson, entitled
"Melpomene."' It is a poem of clasuio
finiBb, with rather an unusual form of
stanza and a haunting rhythm in the lines.
Mr. Nicholson's name is appearing fre
quently, of late, in Eastern publications,
and his work shows a care and thought that
promises well for his future.
Tun Illinois woman who wants a divorce
becauso her husband's first wife's ghost
hangs about the premises and bothers her
oflers something new in the psychical line.
If this is a precedent, and the ghosts of
first wives find it possible to establish com
munication with their successors, every
last one of them will bo on hand without
waiting for an invitation, thereby greatly
discouraging second marriages.
Thr "Barn's Horn" has cbanyed the style
of its head, and. instead of tbe unique de
sign representing a combination of horns,
cow presents a plain, commonplace letter.
Tho original head was an ingenious thing,
and helped to give the paper its peculiar
individuality.
BUUBLES IN THE AHL
III Status.
Sarcastic Citizen I suppose you are just dying
for good, honest work, eh
Weary Watkms-Well, I ain't llvin fer it, sure.
Some IHCTerftnea.
There is not much similarity between our
ways of earning a livelihood," said the dentist
to the paint manufacturer.
4No," admitted ths manufacturer, "there Is
not. I grind colors, while you cull grinders.
From a llutlne Standpoint.
Guest Who is that man who lft Just nowt I
mean the ono that vraa insisting so loudly that
none but clean men should bo permitted to hold
olllco.
notel Clerk no runs a Turkish bath establish
ment. One Problem Solved.
Mrs. Eastern Why do you persons wear
such extravagantly largo hats, may I ask!
Alkali Ike Fer to keep any feller from loot In
over our shoulder luto a feller's hand when he is
settin in a poker game, mum. 8 abet
Th Hund f Fate,
By the Author of "Violet lie rru.,
Uow he loved her! Wildly; madly.
Yfcttothe struggling poet she was as unat
tainable as the stars, as far out of reach as ter
rapin and champagne. Alone in his little hall
bedroom, tbe poet bowed liis head upon his
phapcly, pallid hand. ,4I dara not tell her my
love," he groaned. "Vet, stay!" A thought had
struck him. Struck him with such force that for
a moment his brain reeled from the concussion.
"Ha, La!" he shrieked in ecstasy. The very
thing! She must; she shall know the love I bear
for her." And with thanks to the niue, he
seized his facile pea he always used the facilo
brand and spurred by the resitles3 inspiration
of love, bo dashed off la . burning verses the
adoration which possessed his soul. Again he
paused. 'Laro I send them to herl" he asked
himself, and deep in his heart ho was forced to
admit that he dared not "I will send them to
the fcilautury," said he, still communing with
himself. 'Sbe told me tbat her pa was a regular
subscriber." And thus the deed was done. Six
weeks later he received a note Ifom ths publish
ers of the Slautury, to the effect that hla poem
had been accepted and would appear ia due time.
w m m
Twenty-;hreo years had ilown away twenty
three years with their burden of joys and sor
rows, popular sonps and Presidential elections.
Kings had died and nations had been born. Crin
oline had tilled the horizon for a brief period and
had vanished. Mrs. Mario Figgins, relict of the
late John Flggins, sat in her boudoir, reading,
with Hushed cheek and, moistened eye, a dainty
little poem ia the current Slantury, entitled
To Marie," and signed by Adolbert 8pragg9.
"At Home, Tuesday, 19.
"My Dear Mr. Bpraggs: I shall be at home
this evening! Will you call?
"Marie Figgins."
"Who In the world is Mary FigginsI" asked
the poet of himself, when he received tho fore
going highly unconventional missive. "Oh, yes,
I remember. Queer; but I had entirely forgotten
her."
r ;
"j:r Mrs. Figgins-"
"Call mo Marie. I knew those verses
were meant for me the minute 1 saw them.
Weren't they dear!"
"Why yes; but that was tweat,,
"Say no more. I know tbat you love me."
And sho fell impulsively Into his arms.
Overheard at tho Chromo-LItcrary Club two
weeks later:
"How did that tiresome Flggins widow suc
ceed in marrying so soulful a man as Adelbert
Spraggsl he is ten years his senior at tho
least"
"Indeed, 1 do not know."
TOPICS OF CCKUENT l.NTEUEST.
The Michigan City (Ind.) Disoatch says
there are several persons who would like
to bo appointed keeper of the lighthouse
at that place, but that it is not likely a
change will be made. The present incum
bent is Miss Colfax. She was appointed by
President Lincoln, thirty-two years ago,
and has held tho position ever since, giving
perfect satisfaction to the government and
to lake manners.
The Bureau of Statistics at Washington
hasreceutly published a statement show
ing the total eXpeUESS of tUe covernmiint
per capita, each year since 1872. The state
ment sljows that, with the exception of
the pensions item,athe ex censes of the gov
ernment were less'per capita in 1&)2 than
they were in 1S72. in other words, the per
cent, of increase in the expenses of the gov
ernment duriug the last twenty years, ex
cept the item of pensious, has been consid
erable less thau the per cent, of increase
in population.
Sinck Mrs. Besant's return to London
she has delivered a lecture giving her im
pressions of America. "I traveled from ex
treme West to extreme East," 6he said,
"and I saw no separation of class from
class, as there is iu England. In one place
a conductor, who came to collect my fare,
sat by tuy side and expressed his pleasure
at seeing me. Fancy that happening in
this country." It-will strike tbe average
American as very funny that Mrs. Besant
should expect to find a railroad conductor
a shrinking, modest person. In this coun
try there is nobody above him, except, per
haps, the hotel clerk.
Mr. GakdixkrC. Sims, world's fair com
missioner for Khode Island, informs the
public tbat though it is the smallest State
in the Union it has tho largest population
to the square acre and the largest amount
of money per capita in its savings banks.
Providence ranks as the second wealthiest
city in tho Union, per capita. Uoston beiug
the wealthiest. Khode Island leads the
world in its fishing industries. The acre
age of Narragansett bay, together with its
tributaries, iaiarmore productive, from a
fiuancial point of view, than the same acre
age of land anywhere on the continent
would be lor food-raising purposes. The
city of Providence turns out two tons of
manufactured jewelry every day and an
immense quantity of cotton goods and
other manufactures. Although a little
State, hhode Island keeps up with tbe pro
cession. A dispatch from Easton, Md.. says the
Hon. Frederick Douglass, ia there negoti
ating for the purchase of "The Villa," one
ot the mot beautiful and valuable estates
in the county of Talbot. Mr. Douglass was
born in that county, and it seems he has an
ambition to own an estate and pass the re
mainder of his days in tho county where
ho once lived a fdavo and from whence he
fled to find freedom and become a man. No
more laudable ambition could be con
ceived, and, under tho oirenmstances, it
is a very natural one. It would be
the very romance of history, a wonderful
illustration of God's dealings with men, if
the former slave, once scourged by his
white master, driven from his native coun
ty, a lugitive on th face of the earth and
for a long time buffeted by hard fortune,
but sailing now and fur maDy years past in
fair waters, should go back at last to his
old home and. becomo the owner of one cf
its most beautiful estate there to pass
the rest of his days, full of years and of
honors, in peace and quiet That would be
a fitting tinale to one of tho most interest
ing and remarkable careers recorded in
history.
Tin: Governor of Pennsylvania has issued
a proclamation designating April 15 and 29
as Arbor days, and requssting the people
to observe one or tbe other by tree plant
ing. After speaking of the rapid destruc
tion and disappearance of native forests
and the usefulness of tree growinir, he says:
Let the people lay aside lor a season the habit
ual activities of the day and devote sullicient
time thereof to plant forest, fruit or orna
mental trees along the public highways and
streams. In private and public parks, about the
Miullc schooinouses ana on ti.e college grounds,
n gardens nnd on the farms, thus promoting the
pleasure, prortt and prosperity of the people of
the State, providing protection against flood and
storms, securing health aud eomrort, lucrealug
that which is beautiful and pleaslug to the eye,
comforting to physical life and elevating to the
mind and heart, and, by asiMclatlnus and mt-et-lugs,
excite publlo interest and givo encourage
ment to this moat commendable work.
Indiana has not made quite as much
Progress in the destruction of her forests as
'einylv&nia has, but they aro going very
fast, and it is not too soon toconsider ways
aud means of restoring thero. Arbor day is
a commendable institution and we should
like to 6ee it established in this State.
Tun curiosities of divorce law have bad
a singular illustration in the deoision of an
Omaha judge, who holds that a divorce is
a necessary of life for which a woman's
husband is liable. The case was this: Mrs.
A. brought suit for a divorce. The papers
were tiled, issue jo.ned, aud the decree was
almost in sight, when the plaintiff became
reconciled to her husband and notified her
lawyer to dismiss the salt. Of coarse, ho
bad to do so. but he at once msde out a bill
of ZYJ0 for his services. Mrs. A. refused to
pay it, on the ground that she had uot got
a divorce. Then tho lawyer brought suit
ftgsmst her husband. The lattcr's lawyer
moved for a nonsuit, on the groand that ft
husband is not compelled to pay the debts
of his wife except for the necessaries of
life. Ho argued that it was absurd to put
divorces on a par with clothing or pro
visions. The plaintitf maintaiud that
there are times when a divorce is an abso
lute necessity of life, and when a woman
would rather have it tbtn food. The court
took this view and gave judgment aaainst
the husband for the full amount of the
lawyer's lee. Perhaps that will cause an
other domestio lupturo.
MUltAKY N0TKS.
Sir M. E. Gkaxt-Duit if writing a mono
graph on Kenan, with whom he was inti
mately acquainted .for over thirty-three
years.
"Many Intentions," Mr. Kipling's new
book, now on tho Appleton press, will con
tain various stories which have already ap
peared in periodicals, but it will also con
tain divers entirely new ones never before
published.
Fou the story, 'The Isle of Voices," now
running in the National Observer, Mr. 1L
L. Stevenson is said to have been paid at
the rate of 50 per thousand wordswhich
goes to prove that it is more proti table to
be a successful novelist than an unsuccess
ful poet
Flammarion, the astronomer, has been,
writing for "The Cosmopolitan" a story
which begins in the April number and is a
curious mixture of exciting sensation and
scientific theory. It is called 'Omega:
The End of the World" a title which in
dicates sufficiently its unusual character.
Wilkik Colllns's method of composi
tion as recently described by his publisher
was this: . First he draf tod a synopsis of a
novel, then ho filled it out, then he finally
went over tbe manuscript to make altera
tions and additions. Theso were many, so
Mr. Collins bad the copy typewritten for
the printers. He had much trouble in find
ing titles for his stories.
"The Making of a Man," by the Kev. Dr.
J. W. Lee. is enjoying the unusual distinc
tion of being translated into Japanese. Tho
work is being done at the instigation of
American missionaries, who say that the
book is particularly well adapted to the
cultivated Japanese mind, to which the
physical, moral and intellectual develop
ment of man is an absorbing subject.
Of the new three-volume edition of that
classic romuce, "Lorna Doone," the Lon
don Daily News says: "After foar-and-
twenty years' existence, that delightful
novel. 'Lorna Doone has returned, in a
new edition just published by Messrs.
Sampson Low to the original three-volume
form. The fact is said, and no doubt cor
rectly said, to be entirely unprecedented.
Mit. Bi:xj. K. Tuck Kit, of New York, will
publish immediately Emile Zola's latest
story, "Modern Marriage," The author
takes fourtypioal marriages one from the
nobility, one from tho bourgeoisie, one
from the small shop-keeping class, and one
from the working people and describes in
e:ich case the origin of the marriage, its
motive, its consummation, and its results.
Ciiari.rsScribnkk'5 Sons are preparing
a novel and interesting contribution to the
world's fair in the form of an "Exhibition
Number" of Scribner's Magarine, to be pub
lished simultaneously with the opening of
the exposition at Chicago. They have
planned to make it as tine an example of nn
American magazine as cau be prodnoed by
a house to whom the best literarr and
artistic resources are open. It is not pro
posed that tho text shall relate chiefly to
the fair, but on the contrary, the leading
writers and artists havo been asked to con
tribute to the number what they them
selves think will bpstrepreaent them. Tho
fages of text and illustration will be larae
y increased, and the appearance of the
number is likely to be looked for with
eagerness by all readers interested in tho
work of American magazines.
AliOOT f0PLE AND THINGS.
Mnsj astor is said to never pay less than
$5 for a pair of shoes.
Henky George declares that Moses was
a single tax apostle, but that be never 60
far forgot himself as to be a mugwump.
Mrs. Kobert Louis Stevenson ia a
portly, gray-haired woman, who was a
grandmother when she married her second
husband.
Mrs. Henry Austin, the last survivor of
the brothers and sisters of Charles Dickens,
died in England two weeks ago at the age
of 6eveuty-eighr,
President Cleveland doesn't need to
subscribe to any newspapers. A- wagon
load of marked copies is said to reach, the
White Bouse every day.
Mrs. Maria Barnard Smith is the so
prano of a Boston church choir, and has a
salary of 82,500 a year. Myron Whitney
has a salary of S3.00U as bass in tho same
choir.
The trustees of the Normal College of
New York have decided tbat the executive
head of tbe institution shall be called the
Woman Superintendent," not the "Lady
Superintendent," as had been proposed.
Mrs. Frank Class, of Morristown
(known better as Miss Jennie Smith), is tho
champion wing shot of New Jersey. She
is twenty-two years old, live feet two
inches high, and weighs lo5 pounds. She
handles a gun gracefully as well as skill
fully. During her visit to Florence, Queen Vic
toria will occupy the Villa Palmieri, where
Boccaccio once lived. It will relieve the
British matron to know that this is not tho
villa wbere Boccaccio's ladies assembled to
relate their unique stories. That historic
residence was situated near Fiesole.
Tiik acting chairman of the Keichstag is
not quite a success. Ho fails to keep good
order, and gets himself laughed at. as last
ween when a Deputy called the speech of
another member "sheer stupidity," and tho
chairman gravely announced: "in this
Jlonso acts of sheer stupidity are never
committed." "
Bismarck says that when we read a med
ical book we fancy we have all the mala
dies it describes. But when we read a
book on morals wo at once disoover that
our neighbors have all the faults it pointu
out "In the tete-a-tete." ho remarked on
anulbcr occasion, "a woman speaks aloud
to a man who is indiflereut to her. low to
the man sho is near loving, aud keeps si
lence with tbe man she loves.
The newspapers of Rome publish the fol
lowing list of tbe contributions to the
Peter's pence during ISM: Austria, 1,503,003
francs; England and Scotland. l,00,000s
Ireland. 10.GC0; Germany. .0,0CK; Italy,
2C0.000; France. 225.000; Argentine Kepublio
and Uruguay. 5"0.lJO; Mexico. 00,ouo: other
American republics, JOO.Otf); Spain. ISC.OuO;
Turkey, 50,0-4); Brazil, lOO.COv1; Belgium.
1OU.UO0; a total of 4,565,000 fraucs nearly
$1,000,000.
Herbert Spencer once began a same of
billiards at the club with a young man.
The philosopher, started the ivories, and
left them in a good position. Then the
young fellow, who was an expert ran out
the game without allowing another shot to
his upponcnt. The philosopher took his
hat. but before going he said: "Sir. mod
erate proficiency in such sport is a sign of
good education; such mastership, however,
as you exhibit is the proof of an ill-spent
youth."
Mrs. Kate Douglas Wig gin, though
best known to the public for her clover
stories of child life, has probably done as
much as any other woman in this country
for tbe advancement of the kindergarten,
and the hundreds of such schools now in
existence on the Pactlio coast ara the oat
growth of the free kindergarten she estab
lished in Sau Francisco a number of years
ago. As a lecturer she is very graceful and
liuent, and in private lifo she is young
woman of most attractive personality.
A GEORGIA hntlNO FORM.
In spring's soft lap old winter at,
With ley arms he squeezed her;
lie frlztod her bangs and manhed her hat,
" And thus the tyraat teased her.
Tbe cranes tie w north on rapid wing.
The snakes crawltnl out ia clover.
The birds timed up their voice to sini?
- A cheerful lay for U rover.
Atlanta CocsUtuUca