Manchester Democrat. [volume], February 28, 1900, Image 6

About Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930

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Jtlje (Democrat.
feCMTBOH* CA&E. PaMMwi.
MANCHI STESB, IOWA.
As a term or superlative misery, lead
ing the life of a dog also applies to tbe
dogs of war.
v. Fraudulent pensions unfortunately
connect the roll of honor too much with
a roll of money.
Not giving negro youth-jiroper indus
trial School opportunities is practically
putting tiiern on the black list.
jWi'sIn.the absence of any authorized po
lltlcil definition, It Is offered as a sug
gestion that a pudding Is a soft thing
with plenty of plums.
Queen Victoria always has her new
shoes: worn a few times by one of her
maids. After all, there is sonic advan
tage 'ill being a monarch, even in E11
glattci:
T)ie St, Paul Pioneer Press kindly
heajiS off possible controversy by warn
lng!!ts readers not to take any stock in
possible rumors that Kipling wrote
"Lorna Doone."
A New York magistrate suggests
boiling oil for wife beaters. Better
amend It,and erect the whipping post.
It da^s'seem a shame to waste good
oil oii a wife beater.
Tho'nias Duun Eugllsli, the author of
"Ben^ Bolt," says "no person should
wrlte-poetr.v until he shall have reached
the age of 80." tie doesn't explain,
however, why any one should begin
then.
Only a handful of books attain to a
fifth edition in any one year. Yet the
Brlfldl Bible Society prints five tons of
Blbltft every day. Even for purposes
of ntftneiical comparison, the Word of
God Is yet supreme.
French scientists propose to trans
form the people of France'from puny
degenerates Into muscular, giant?, by
feedtng them on pigs' milk. Possibly
tbe liclentlBts are going updtl the theory
that t!)ere Is nothing to lose and all to
galn b'y experimenting.
A plan who prevented a neighbor
from: committing sulcldp recently was
eue}yfjr damages because of his Inter
ference- The decision of the court in
thls^ease will probably be held as a
precedent as to whether any human
belng'has a right to shufile off the coll.
Tlig. Greek word corresponding to
"awful" was appropriately applied to
man things describing pain or beauty
or skill. Eng)ij$i. usage, however,
woulff practically eliminate the word
from'1 youthful lips. Tennyson once
read*",4 new poem to his guests, tbe
Duffgrins. Tbe daughter, a girl of 15,
crledfqut enthusiastically, "How aw
fuily.lirettyl" upon which Tennyson put
his hand on her shoulder and said',,"My
dear $hlld, do not use that dreadful
word," In a voice of deep compunction
sbe exclaimed, "Oh, I am awtully
sorry!" to the immenso amusement of
all.
Wqare told that a new emperor lias
aucceded to the imperial dynasty of
Chin|J, but It'Is very clear that the
Empti&ss Dowager, the grand old
womjta of tbe flowery realm. Is still
the Qpwef belllnd the throne. Some
rlbala critics have sneered at the so
.^ajled' petticoat- government of Great
Britain, but If they want to observe
the real thing they should study Chi
nese political affairs. Victoria signs
state documents when her ministers
tell her to do so, but the Dowager Em
press of China Bpanks the nominal Em
peror and banlBhes him when he runs
counter to her wishes. As sbe still haB
a large stock of new emperors In re
serve, varying in age from one to ten
years, there Is no present prospect of
tbe Imperial dynasty failing.
Every new Invention excites the
word-makers. A few years ago the
adoption of tbe electric clialr In place
of the gallows for the killing of crim
inals called forth the Ill-formed "elec
trocute" and "electrocution." After
Rontgen made blB discovery dozens of
attempts were made to construct a
word from Greek roots to express the
process and the result but popular
common sense discarded them all, and
Bontgen's own tentative "-rays" is all
that has a vigorous survival. And now
Marconi's device for telegraphing with
out wires Is greatly exercising0 those
who would add to an already overload
ed vocabulary. "Fleography," "undig
raphy," "teleradiography," and other
still worse compounds are suggested.
The fact Is overlooked that "teleg
raphy" does not signify the use of
wires, and Is therefore applicable to
the wireless system so that the simple
"wireless telegraphy" is exactly accu
rate. It 1b, moreover, no more cumber
some than most of the one-woi:d sub
stitutes proposed, and not as cumber
some as some of them. Why not let
it stand?
It is alleged by the American Journal
of Sociology that the number of child
workers Is increasing. In the United
States. In some StateS children under
13 years are prohibited from working in
factories or elsewhere:, in others the
limit of age Ib 14 and In others 10. It
has been sometimes alleged that chil
dren are employed In" the factories of
the Southern States, making the aver
age wages of the worker so low that
Northern mills, under restrictions in
this respect, cannot compete with those
of tbe South. It mayj be well to re
member that any legislation against the
employment of chlldien In factories,
mines,' and other trades is a thing of
very recent date. There was probably
an outcry against paternalism when
the State took to Interfering w)th this
sort of thing, the masted sweep argu
ing that If, a boy occasionally smother
ed In a chimney or emerged with' abrad
ed knees and elbows and painful burns
It was nobody's business but his and
the boy's. But It lias gradually been
recognized^that It is not safe to give
one class of human beings absolute
control of 'anptber, not even when fa
thers and children or husbands and
wires are concerned.
Never do a man's possessions seem
so dear to blm as when he 1B on the
point of losing them. The Indiana
farmer who saw bis wife plunged In a
raging stream, In Imminent danger of
being drowned, had all. of a sudden a
higher opinion of her valui thon ever
before. When be saw that blesslpg
about to take flight down sjtream.be of
fered to give a thousand dollars to the
man who succeeded in: rescuing.-her.
Of those who beard the offer one was
bold enough to dare the flood and bring
the wife ashore/' But after she had
been saved tbe husband's opinion of
her value fell. Fie no longer thought
her wqi'fh a thousand dollars, vHille
that sujn leemeil fgr largpf than It t)$d I
a sliort time before, when he had been
willing to part with It to get back Ills
wife. So he refused to pay so large a
reward. Ills wife may have felt of
fended by tbe lower estimate he was
putting on her value to him, but more
probably, avers the Chicago Trlbuue.'
she was a thrifty woman who felt that
If she outlived her husband the thou
sand dollars might be hersf and help
console her for his loss. The rescuer
brought suit for the full reward and
won his case. The Jurors held the
farmer to his rash oath, and his wifo
has cost him a thousand dollars. Prob
ably lie will remind her of that fact
whenever she asks lilni for a little
spending money. If she falls Into a
creek again before his eyes and there
seems to be danger of her drowning
how much will he offer for her rescue?
It Is safe to say lie will not offer a thou
sand dollars.
In bis letter, as President, to the
American Bar Association, convening
at Buffalo, Anibnssador Joseph II.
Clioate said: "The law'B delays, which
seem to be constautly on the increase,
may well engage the earnest attention
of the association. No opportunity
should be lost to counteract the inev
itable tendency to elaborate procedure
and unnecessarily multiplied appeals."
These words were well said. Justice
delayed is more than justico delayed
it is justico impaired. Time Is of the
essence of the matter. Tardiness Is a
vital defect in Anglo-Saxon justice, and
is not offset by resultant regularity or
precision. Ambassador Clioate calls
attention to "the inevitable toudeney to
elaborate procedure and unnecessarily
multiplied appeals." Everybody ap
preciates this tendency. The increas
ing eumbersoineness of our genernl
system is not so generally appreciated
outside of the professiou. It Is begin
ning to stand out, however, as the most
obdurate fact about that system.
Codes have simplified procedure, but
the determination of their meaning
lias only increased adjudication and so
the eumbersoineness. The decisions of
the judiciaries of the Federal Govern
ment, forty-five States, and Great Brit
ain, piling up in volumes, year by year,
arc bafillng as a present fact and appal
ling In the prospect. Furthermore,
along with this goes a tendency to
shift the practice of the law from a
matter of principle to one of prece
dents. Diversity of tribunals leads in
evitably to diversity of Interpretation,
and the search In the vast storehouse
of cases beconics one for parallel
cases rather than for tbe unraveling of
tangled principles. The freedom and
elasticity of the law thereby decline,
while its certainty is not enhanced but
diminished. People feel more and more
that "you can't tell anything about
what the conclusion will be from a
trial at law." The disposition to effect
reforms In the system of justice Is
greatest in tbe unprofessional class.
The knowledge of how to do It, how
ever, resides chiefly within the profes
sion. Of the need there is and long has
been no lack of evidence. We naturally
look to those versed In the law to make
that institution a more speedy, facile
and reliable means of social justice.
The American Bar Association has
large responsibilities in this matter,
and the letter of Its honored President
surely deserves Its "earnest attention."
MEANING OF THE FLAG.
A Patriotic Sailor Who Had It Deep
in Hl« Heart.
If those who go down to tbe sea In
ships to fight the battles of the nation
are all of the brand of this sailor. It is
no wonder that the United States Is In
vincible on the ocean. He was stand
ing on the corner of 1st and streets
southeast, having been viewing the
Capitol, when half a dozen young men
came from the Congressional Library,
and met the tar, who was waiting for a
car. He was in regulation uniform of a
sailor on land, and his rolling walk, as
well as his seamed and grizzled face,
gave evidence that for many a year be
had sailed tho briny deep. The partic
ularly noticeable thing about blm was
a small silk flag, about six or eight
Inches long, which he wore pinned
straight across his broad breast. This
flag aroused the fun-loving propensities
of the young men and they began to
chaff the sailor.
"Say, Jack," protested one, "what are
you wearing that flag for? This isn't
Dewey day."
"Naw!" returned the sailor, "It isn't
Dewey day, but It's to-day, isn't It?"
"Wei:?" responded the young man.
"Ves, It's well, me hearty. It's to
day, and every day In this God biessed
est of free countries Is flag day, and
sure thot's well."
"Jnoky, you'r mighty patriotic," vol
unteered another, "but that isn't the
only flag in the world."
"Please, God, it's the best one," quick
ly retorted the tar. "Now, see here, me
lads, I loves this flag. I wants to feel
the 'folds of it the last thing when I
goes to sleep, and I wants to see It the
first thing when I wakes up. It don't
mean much to young blokes only to
make things purty when there's a
p'rade. To me, that's got no home, and
no country but thls'n, which nln't no
mor'n a stepmother to me, though she
do be kinder and generouser than most
own mothers, this here flag," patting It
with tender band, "this here flag
says, 'while ye'r honest and loyal to
ye'r stepmother, she'll purtect you and
lick the livers out of any foreign lubber
that attacks you. Ain't she done It?"
ho asked suddenly of the laughing boys.
"I say. ain't she kept her word?'
"You bet she has." was the hearty re
sponse.
"Now, sec here, you' can crack ye'r
jokes on me and be blessed to you, but
you lefs this here flag alone," tapping
It significantly. "Lads, listen to Jack,"
be concluded, hitching at his trousers
and stepping out to take the car loom
ing Into sight. "I never hurted a
woman in me life, because me mother
is a woman. I never done nothing that
hurted the flag, because It's me step
mother. Now, you just remembers that
and do likewise, and you'll be some de
cent. But If you comes around Jack a
floutin' of either, you gits your visages
smashed into smithereens. The bloke
that ain't a lover of this flag ain't fit to
live."—Washington Star.
Marble Heart.
A man who actually had a marble
heart died recently in a Hartford
tConn.) hospital. His heart was so cov
ered with a deposit of calcium salts, of
which marble Is composed, that, when
struck by the physician who performed
the post-mortem examination- it gave
out a sound as of stone.
Under Cerialn Ciroumitmices
"Do you think a young man snouid
marry on a small Income?"
"Oh. I can see no objection fo it, if
be haB reached an understanding with
ber father."—Philadelphia North Amer
ican.
Varying KffVcts of l'rost
Frost bns a variety qf effects upon
different products. (jnilcr the same In
fluence eggs will Inirst, |i|i|iles rqg.
tract and pqtuto^
HEN tlig sun of August begins
to redden the green out of the
(he veterans of the civil
war In thirty-fifth national encampment
will assemble in the State where their
order had birth. Not in the city where
the original post of the Grand Army
of the Republic was Instituted, Indeed,
but in the borders of the State where
the Idea was flrst promulgated and car
ried into effect. Next August the vet
erans will meet in Chicago, but the
army, once an appreciable proportion
of the grand army which dropped the
siword for peaceful pursuits. Is fading
away with the lapse of years.
Boys In years and animation when
the stnoko of the big guns curled about
Fort Sumter, nothing but gray beards
remain to-day. Veterans then have
long since passed over the great divide.
Nine years ago the army was nearly
twice as strong as It is to-day. It is
fitting iudeed that as the day draws
near when there will be no Graikl Army
left these who still cling to life should
return to the old homestead in reunion.
Born of the consciousness of a sun of
Illinois, native to the Prairie State, it is
Utting that the Graud Army should
meet again In the State that gave birth
to the designer of the order.
Thirty-four years will have passed
away when the next meeting Is held
since the flrst national encampment
was held In Indianapolis. Half a dozen
States were represented in that gatlier-
1). F. STCPIIRNSON.
ing, with but 228 members In the as
sembly. Illinois had something over
twenty posts then and was the only
State organized Into a department with
department officers. Since- then the
army has prospered until every State in
the Union almost has a department,
a large membership and large benefit
revenue. In 1890 the comrades num
bered over 400,000 to-day, less than
ten years later, tbe army has been re
duced to but a trifle over two-thirds the
high-water mark.
Line of March Shortened.
Year after year the line of march in
all parades has been shortened, that the
faltering veterans may not be over
fatigued. Even when civic pride de
mands tbe old long lines tbe men with
the blue blouses and bronze buttons
pass the reviewing officer and then,
again dropping their military forma
tion, fall out of the line and mingle with
the people who assemble to see the pa
geant. Stooped shoulders bent under
the burden of years have replaced the
erect body, and slow, halting steps have
replaced the jaunty stride of the war
days. Tbe old men clinging fondly to
the trinity of the order, charity, frater
nity and loyalty, turn out Indeed, but
the long marches of forty years ago are
beyond tbelr strength.
Steadily each year the percentage of
loss by denth Is rising until to-day It Is
almost as high as It was in the days
when muskets were borne over the
shoulders or leveled In fight. Nine
years ago the high tide of the army
was reached. Even then the losses by
reason of the falling out of stragglerB
whose memories nloue remain was
heavy, as heavy as the average loss by
death In any great battle. Last year
the decrease in membership and the in
crease In flower-decked mounds was
nearly as great as the total losses from
all causes In the stiffest fight any mem
ber ever participated in.
But a few years remain of earth to
the men who fought tho good battle to
preserve the Union. None lives now—
with here and there a notable excep
tion—but those who were beardless
youths when they went to the front to
throttle the most serious rebellion the
world ever saw or ever will see. The
men who In 1801 wore beards and had
the tread of mature manhood have gone
beforo to blaze the way to the haven
of eternal rest for their juniors. Thirty
four annual encampments have been
held since the organization was born
in Springfield. Around dozen more as
semblies will see the closing of the
records, for the veterans will be all
gone and posterity will have but the
recollection of what they did and bow
in ail the years since the close of the
strife they have kept alive the loyalty
to the flag which sent them out to face
death in its defense.
Ill Paut Kucanipments.
But a few years ago It was no uncom
mon thing for 100,000 boys in blue to
assemble in tbe city chosen for the an
nual encampment of the Grand Armj
Not all, Indeed, held seats in the na
tional body, but where that body met
the comrades have been wont to meet
and fight again the tights of the war.
To-day If half that number—In spite of
the heavy membership in Chicago and
the State—should assemble from ail
over I he broad land It would be a nota
ble gathering. Age, poverty—few of
the members are wealthy—and distance
from the scene will prevent many a
man from attending. Yet in every
breast will lie the hope, for-every vet
eran realizes that this may be his last
opportunity to meet with bis comrades
this side of tbe grave.
Thirty-seven years ago, while at tho
front fighting for the Union, tbe idea of
an association of volunteers after tbelr
military duties bad closed was bom In
tbe mind of a son of Illinois. Dr. Ben
lamln Franklin Stephenson, surgeon of
the Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, and
a native of tbe State, was the man who
first thought out the scheme which has
worked so grandly. With him as tent
mate and Intimate friend was Chaplain
W. J. Kutledge. In the quiet hours of
Ibe night after "taps" had been sounded
these comrades often talked of the hope
of organizing the Grand Army. As
early as tbe spring of 18(!2 Mr. Rut
ledge broached the topic and Dr. Ste
phenson elaborated It to Include a na
tional order.
Looking far Into tbe future the Doc
tor saw that distress would come to tbe
men of arms as the years passed by.
Wounds and disease would cripple
them prematurely. Hardships and ex
posure, bad food and not enough of that
In the field would shorten tbe term of
their active business life. Hope of aid
they would have none unless, banded
together as brothers, they should re
lieve each other. Seeking to keep alive
the fires of patriotism, seeking to pro
vide a relief .association which should
(Ud by tbo Ijlpliegt type of cjjarlt^ a de­
Muster °f lhc Varans
Wfoliage
serving brother, seeking to perpetuate
the brotherly feelingengenderedof com
mon hardships and perils, the Doctor
saw in his mind tbe long lines of veter
ans marching together, shoulder' to
shoulder, In peace as In war.
An idea so born could not fall to ger
minate. The grand parade and review
of Grant's and Sberman's armies in
Washington following the declaration
of peace had scarcely passed away un
til Dr. Stephenson began the active
work of creating a grand army of peace.
In March, 1S00, Dr. Stepheuson and Mr.
Itutledge renewed their discussions
with the purpose of putting their Ideas
Into execution. In the preceding month
Fred I. Dean was called In aud tbe
topic talked over with lilni. He pre
pared rough notes outlining the scope
and purposes of the organization and
a conference of the charter members of
the department of Illinois was held In
Springfield in March.
At that conference the following men,
later prominent in the army, were pres
ent: Col. J. M. Snyder, Dr. James
Hamilton, Maj. R. M. Woods, MaJ. Itob
ert Allen, Chaplain Rutledge, Col. Mar
tin Flood, Col. Daniel Grass, Col. Ed
ward Prince, Capt. J. S. Phelps. Capt.
J. A. Llghtfoot, Capt. B. F. Smith, MaJ.
A. A. North, Capt. H. E. Howe, Lieut.
B. F. Hawkes and Dr. Stephenson. The
conference decided to present the mat
ter to Gov. Oglesby riud'the Governor
heartily approved the project. The
name was suggested by some literature
received concerning a similar organi
zation being discussed In Missouri un
der the title of the'Grand Army of
Progress.
In order to maintain secrecy it was
decided to send the copy of the consti
tution aud by-laws to Decatur for pi-lut
ing. I. N. Coltrln and Joseph Prior, of
the Tribune, were thus made aware of
the movement. Both were discharged
volunteers aud both took a strong Inter
est In the project. Dr. J. W. Routb
and Capt. M. F. Kanan, of Decatur,
having been Informed of the plans,
went to Springfield, where they dis
cussed It with Dr. Stephenson. They
returned and organized the first post
and tben desired Dr. Stephenson, pro
visional department commander, to In
stitute the post.
Tlic First Podt.
This was done on the evening of April
0. 1SUG, with the following charter
members: M. 1". Kanan. George It.
Steele, George H. Dunning, I. C. 1'ugh.
J. H. Nale, J. T. Bishop, C. Reibsame,
J. W. Routh, B. F. Sibley, I. N. Coltrln.
Joseph Prior and A. Toland. Comman
der Stephenson Issued his first general
order instituting this post and tbe
Grand Army of the Republic was born.
Then district and post officers were
elected and new posts Instituted. The
second was created in Springfield, but
other cities and towns claimed tfie hon
or, so that In a few weeks the depart
ment of Illinois had some twenty-eight
posts scattered about tbe State.
Commander Stephenson named Cap
tains Kanan and Dunning ns a commit
tee to prepare ritual, constitution and
by-laws. The order was made April
18 and the committee lost no time, for
tbe ritual was presented and accepted
on May 9 by the department. Tbe con
stitution was presented and adopted
on May 15. The rules and ritual thus
adopted remained those of the Grand
Army until notified by tbe national en
campment In May, 1809, when tbe rit
ual and rules thnt obtain to-day, with
such modifications as the lapse of time
have called for, were adopted.
With nearly thirty posts in working
order and regulations approved by all
Ifyh
•a
MI'.ilillCltS OF GKKEKAL COMMITTEE,
HICAGO ENCAMPMENT.
adopted, the provisional organization
was deemed to have served its purpos$,
so a representative gathering of the
army was called for July 13. It was
held in Springfield and the department
formally organized. Gen. John M.
Palmer was elected department com
mander, with Gen. H. John Cook as
6enlor vice. The originator of the army
was not chosen as head of the organiza
tion he had brought into existence,
much to his disappointment. Yet bis
chagrin did not serve to abate his en
thusiasm, for no man ever in the ranks
worked more faithfully to make it suc
ceed than Dr. Stephensou.
The First Encampment.
The idea of the founder of the army
was to Incorporate every State in tbe
Union where a Federal veteran lived.
It was to bo a grand army in fact as
well as in name. He did not rest with
the State organization, but went to
work vigorously to carry out his grand
scheme. Gen. Cook in tho absence of
Gen. Palmer named the department
staff aud made Dr. Stephenson his ad
jutant general. Tben in September of
the year of founding a general order
was issued calling the flrst national en
campmeut Nov. 20 In Indianapolis. Sev
enty posts and 228 representatives com
posed the flrst national body of the
Graud Army.
Gallant Stephen A. Hurlburt, whose
shoulders had borne the double star In
the volunteer army, was chosen to wear
the badge of the army, whereon was
spread the shoulder strap of major gen
eral. He was elected to the office of
commander in chief of the Grand Army
of the Republic. The following officers
wer* elected: J. B. McKean of New
York, Senior Vloe: Robert S. Foster, of
Indiana, Junior yip?j g, {StepUemou.
Adjutant General D. C. McNeil of
Iowa, Quartermaster General W. A.
Pile of Missouri, Chaplain.
Gen. Ilurlburt administered tbe af-«
fnlrs of the army for one term, then
giving away to another son of Illinois,
the oue who had attained the highest
rank aud greatest fame attained by a
volunteer officer, John A. Logan. Gen.
Logan became chief of the army in
180S. He signalized his administration
by promulgating an order setting apart
May 30 as memorial day. He Issued
his famous order No. 11 on May 5, call
ing on all survivors of the war to deck
tbe graves of all fallen comrades with
flowers on May 30. The ceremonials to
be observed were left to the individual
posts, as up to that time no ritual had
been adopted for this purpose.
Its Struggles and Success,
In the early years, in common with all
fraternal organizations, the Grand
Army of tho Republic struggled for
life. But with over 2,d00,000 volunteers
to draw from it was merely a question
of time when no city in the land would
be large enough to handle all if all
should meet nt any national encamp
ment. When the high mark was
reached the army comprised about 50
per cent, of all the survivors of tbe war
eligible to membership. Losses from
CltAltTKJt Ml-.MUEItS OP FIH8T O. A. R.
POST.
various causes kept pace with gains for
ten years. Then gains exceeded losses
until 18UU. Then the old fellows com
menced to pass away with startling
speed.
The Grand Army commenced to grow
rapidly early in the '70s. By the close
of the decade departments had sprung
up all over the land. The membership
was equal to any single army com
manded by any general but Grant dur
ing the war. In 1800 tbe muster rolls
showed 4IJU.781 members. Last year
but 287,981 veterans admitted adher
ence to the regulations. The losses from
death are on the Increase. Losses by
honorable discharge are not as heavy as
those by the final discharge.
Chicago must prepare to entertain
1,000,000 guests during the last four
days of August. For the first time In
a generation the national encampment
of the Grand Army of the Republ)c Is
to be held In tlie city by the lake, and
preparations are already under way to
make tbe occasion outshine any na
tional gathering ever held by tbat great
organization.
"Approximately 750.000 veterans of
the war are still alive out of tho 2,225.
000 recruits enlisted In that great strug
gle," said Secretary E. A. Bigelow, of
the Executive Committee, having the
management of the encampment* In
charge. "Of tbat number It Is estimated
from tbe rosters of the various divis
ions of the G. A. B. tbat 000,000 reside
In the territory west of the Allegbanles.
north of the Ohio Hlver and east of the
Missouri—that Is, In. the territory di
rectly tributary to Chicago. They will
come to this encampment—men who
did not go to Philadelphia or Cincin
nati or a half dozen of others—will
come to Chicago. And we will make
them welcome."
A Ctitltt'a Vocabulary.
"Tbe language which the child of six
employs Is apt to be the basis of his
speech throughout life," Is the theory
advanced by an observant physician
writing In the Woman's Home Com
panion. "We cannot separate from
words the ideas for which they stand
thus what might at first appear to be
merely an educational matter Is also
a serious moral problem. The writer
retains a tolerably clcar recollection of
his own boyhood, and be bas enjoyed
tbe Intimate acquaintance of many
young children. Kroiu this experience
he would express the opinion that a
very small minority of children at the
age of eight can be considered 'Inno
cent,' and that a very considerable
minority of boys of five can swear flu
ently, and use a shockingly copious
stock of objectionable words. By mak
lng a hermit of a child we can post
pone for a few years tbe Inevitable
contact with the coarser manifesta
tions of human nature, but be will tben
very likely be asbamed, by bis very
lack of proficiency In evil, Into greater
assiduity In acquiring tbe fruit of tbe
tree of knowledge. We bave built up
a ^special code of ethics for children
.With a vocabulary to match."
Hla Character.
Tbe old hiring fairs are still held In
some rural districts of England. There
Is a story of an old Gloucestershire
farmer, who, seeming a likely lad at
such a place, opened negotiations with
a view to engaging htm.
"Hast got a character from thy last
place?" the farmer asked.
"No," replied tbe boy "but my old
gaffer be about somewhere, and I can
get he to write one."
"Very well," was the reply. "Thee
get It and meet I here again at 4
o'clock."
The farmer and the boy met at tbe
appointed hour.
"Hast got thy character?" was the
query.
The answer was short and sharp:
"NO, but I ha' got thine, and I bean't
a-coralng."
An El mtfo Currently.
"What we need 1b an elastic curren
cy," said Mr. Geezer, who was elucidat
ing the money question to bis wife.
"Then, why doesn't the government
print banknotes on tbiti Blieota of rub
ber?" demanded Mrs. Geezer, with tbe
air of one who has solved a mighty
problem.—Harper's Bazar.
Water Hard to Heat.
Water Is the hardest of all substances
to beat, with the single exception of
hydrogen gas. The easiest two are
paereury aud lead,' which stand In this
vespepf oa nearly tlie spine footing.
THE STATE OF IOWA.
OCCURRENCES DURING THE
PAST WEEK.
Coal Production Falls Off—Small Fur*
Bearing Animals Are Plentiful—
Rabies Kills Cattle —IMee Shortly
After Being Pardoned*
In 1883 the total coal product of the
State amounted to 4,457,640 tons, but al
most every yea? since then bas shown a
slight decr^ass, except the year 1888,
when it reaped 4,952,440 tons, but the
product bw again dropped to less than
4,000,000 foils. This decrease in produc
tion is perhaps mainly attributable to the
proximity of the Illinois coal 6elds and
their favorable location for low rates for
transportation by river, which allows of
the Illinois coal being placed in the mar
kets of Iowa at a less price than tbe pro
duet of their own mines can be delivered
by rail. The average price obtained at'
the mines for the product of 1800 was
$1.12 per ton.
Cattle Ile from Rabies*
Residents just north of. Roland are
considerably wrought up over the facts
developing from a visit of State Veteri
narian Stalker to the farm of Andrew II.
Twedt. Some days ago Mr. Twedt'w cat
tle began dying in a particularly myste
rious manner, as did also those of his two
uearest neighbors. The cattle would be
come suddenly erazed and after being
wild and unmanageable for a few days
would die. Prof. Stalker, after examin
ing and Inquiring into the case, pronounc
ed the trouble as arising from the bite
of a dog with rabies.
Bad Wreck on Illinois'Central.
A disastrous head-end collision between
freight trains occurred on the Illinois
Central a mile and a half west of Man
chester. The trains came together In a
curved cut, and two mogul engines and
twenty-two freight cars were demolished,
filling the cut with wreckage. The acci
dent was due to a misunderstanding of
the orders received by the east-bound
train nt Independence. Railroad men
say $50,000 will not make good the dam
age. Both trains were loaded with val
uable freight.
Unsolicited Wage Increase*
At a meeting of theaboard of directors
of the Tri-City Railway Company, held
in Davenport, it was decided to raise the
salary of all motormen and conductors
of the rond 10 per cent. The action was
taken without any knowledge on the part
of tho employes and without any request
having been made for an advance. These
men work on nn average of ten hours a
day, and the men have been pnid $48 a
month. The increase will make their sal
ary $53 a month.
TrnpierH Are Rusj*.
More raw furs are being taken from
Iowa streams this winter
Than in auy oth
er one season for ten years. It was the
general supposition that nearly all of the
little fur-bearing animals had disappear
ed from the State. In fact, the ranks
were thinned to an alarming degree, but
duriug the last few years, without moles
tation, they have increased in numbers
very rapidly. This winter many old trap
pers are reaping a fine harvest of mink,
muskrat'and other small furs.
His Confession Not Believed,
Charles Rohleder gave himself up to
the Burlington poliee, saying he had mur
dered a man in St. Paul, Miun. fie
claimed to have struck him in a saloon
fight, and something told him the man
had died from the blow. The story was
not believed, and Rohleder was sent to
the hospital. He is believed to be in
sane. He is a former member of the
Fifty-first Iowa volunteers,
Death Just After His Pardon*
Thomas Kelley, a life convict for mur-.
der, aged S4 years, died in Anamosa of
old age. He was sent to prison twelve
years ago from Lucas County for com
plicity with his wife in murdering Chas.
Archibald, a hermit and miser, supposed
ly for money. Mrs. Kelley was not con
victed. Kelley*s pardon reached Ana
mosa a few hours before he died.
Briet State Happemnurs.
Corniug is to have a new private bank
ing institution.
Money is bciug raised to build a town
hall at Cushing.
The Good Templars lodge at Moville
is to be reorganized.
Rural free delivery will be commenced
March 15 at Clinton.
Thirty-six carloads of stock were ship
ped from Thornton duriug Jauuary.
The Brighton State Bank has increas
ed its capital stock from $25,000 to $50,
000.
A postolfice has been established at
Orsland, with George Braudon as post
master.
A creamery company hat* been organ
ized at Hill's Siding, with a capital of
$10,000.
Six head of steers belouging to Henry
Wolken of Dillon were bitten by a mad
dog and died in a short time of hydro
phobia.
It Is estimated that the cost of treat
ing the smallpox cases at Coalfield will
cost Monroe County between $8,000 and
$0,000.
The Comptroller of the Currency has
given authority to organize the First Na
tional Bank at Crystal, .with a capital
of $50,000.
Anamosa has asked the Legislature to
be empowered to levy a tax for the pur
chase*of ground and the erection of a
library building.
About $600 was raised in Davenport
by an art exhibition, and the mouey will
be used in purchasing pictures for the
schools of the city.
Dr. G. J. Turner, one of the most suc
cessful physicians of Oskaloosa, and a
veteran of the civil war, died suddenly
at his home there of heart disease.
1. Waterland, a 10-year-old lad of Red
Oak, attempted to board a train, but was
thrown violently, and died of his injuries.
August Beye of Grinnell, who had an
arm lacerated in a coru shredder last
month, bas had it amputated near the
elbow.
The Comptroller of the Curreuey lias
approved the application to orgnnize the
First National Bank of Dysart, with a
capital of $50,(XX).
The President has recommended Cal
vin Manniug, an Iowa man. as a United
States commissioner from this State to
the Paris exposition.
Mark Wilson, an Iot"3 Falls horseman,
was' kicked by a vicious horse, crushing
a large hole in his skull. There is no
iiope of his recovery.
Word lias been received that Capt.
Frank S. Long of Burlington, now with
the Thirty-ninth regiment in the Philip
pines, has been recommended fof a brevet
of major for bravery on the field of bat
tip.
At Lewis V. "S. Pope blew out his
brains with a 44-caliber revolver. Since
he was uhot by his partner at Fremont,
New., last August, he had shown sigus
of insanity on several occasious, and it is
supposed the dreadful deed was done
while in an insane state.
Peter Spikes, a farmer who lived four
miles i/ain Bellevue, was killed by an
aecioent. He was riding on a load of
lumber, when the wagon lipped over, and
he was crushed beneath the load.
Robert Schneider, a traveling man,
committed suicide at Council Bluffa by
taking morphine while despondent Mer
the loss of his money through unfortu
nate speculation.
Miss Lizzie Shafer, 25 years of age,
attempted to commit suicide by cutting
an inch aud a half off her tongue. De
spondency is the cause. She has uot giv
en up the thought of euding her life.
Her father is P. X\. S|iafer and livei at
H'vtugton.
Frank II. Stoudncr of Dysart Is m!n»
ing.
Slgourney is iu uoed of additional school
room.
There is talk of a new depot at Grand
Junction.
The smallpox quarantine at Bennett
has been raised.
J. K. McAndrews has been appointed
postmaster at Max.
A new Congregational Church vl!l be
built nt Manchester.
The Great Western will establish a
roundhouse nt Aikeu.
The graud jury of Cedar Couuty return
ed but one indictmeut.
Two hundred licenses to marry were is
sued in Tama County last year.
The Masons at Shenandoah have decid
ed to build a temple in tbe spriug.
Company of the Forty-niutb Iowa
has been mustered in at Waterloo.
There is talk of the extension of the
Milwaukee from Lima to Hawkeye.
The water works at Masou City pump
ed during January 0,353,030 gallons.
Creston has been asked for a telephone
franchise from four different sources.
A four-stall rouudhouse is being built
at Masou City for the Northwestern.
There are 407 boys aud 488 girls enroll
ed in tbe public schools at Fairfield.
A ladies' circle of the Woodmen'of the
World is to be organized at Treuton.
Dr. M. A. Hauson bas beeu appointed
a peusion cxamiuing surgeon at North
wood.
Frank Libe, f^rFested near Ryan on the
charge of bootlegging, has entered a plea
of guilty.
Mrs. Jeff of Hamburg, aged 84, com
mitted suicide by jumping into a well
forty feet deep.
F. W. Salsbury, an old resident of Hoi
stein, was found dead in his bed. Heart
disease tbe cause.
A beet' sugar company has been organ
ized at Fort Dodge, with an authorized
capital of $450,000.
Fruit growers over the State say that
the prcseut open winter and the drouth
will result in a light crop.
Edward Cooper, a farmer living near
Ames, was ruu down by a freight train
and perhaps fatally injured.
Dysart has been designated as the
feeding station for westeru shippers of
hogs over the B., C. R. & N.
The A. O. U. W. lodges of Burling
tou, which number two thousand, talk of
uniting for the purpose of building a
hall.
The President has sent to the Senate
the nomination of John M. Lenihan to be
surveyor of customs for the port of Du
buque.
The co-operative creamery at Ely burn
ed to the ground. The loss will amount
to $1,400, with possibly $1,400 insur
ance.
Miss Phyllis KaufTman of Dubuque is
suing Frank B. Artz of Petersburg, Neb.,
asking $10,000 for breach of promise to
marry.
The plans for a big packing house at
Des Moines are still in the air. The op
tions taken on desirable property bave
expired.
The internal revenue collector of the
Dubuque district? is endeavoring to have
the districts changed so as to conform to
the judicial districts.
Mrs. Hermann Schurmui of Tilton is
dead as the result of eating raw pork,
Infected with trichina. Other members
of the family are .seriously ill.
About 100 Indiaus who have been re
fused their pay for several years were
paid by Agent Malln last week. Some
of the checks amounted to $000.
Masked men entered the house of Mrs.
Lee Gentry in Burliugton, aud after bind
ing aud gagging her, robbed the house of
$11 in currency and other valuables.
Money is being raised at Greeufield to
be offered as a reward to aid In finding
the murderers of Mabel Schofield, who
met her de?ttii in an unknown manner last
October in Des Moines.
A strange misfortune has overtaken
Ambrose Collins of Jefferson. He left
home a few nights ago believing he %as
followed by a mob, and says he wandered
about all night, taking refuge at day
break in a strawstaek, where lie lay dur
ing the next day. His feet were badly
frozen while he slept. Early the other
morning he went to the house of his
daughter in the east part of town, with
his throat cut from ear to ear ,the wound
gapiug open terribly and cxitoging the ves
sels of the neck. Happily the kuife with
which he did the cutting was dull, and
in his mad plunges lie failed to sever any
of the arteries or the windpipe, which
must have resulted In speedy death.
Prof. C. F. Curtlss, director of the
Iowa agricultural experiment station,
who represents the agricultural colleges
and experiment stations of the United
States on the executive committee of the
international live stock exposition, which
will be held in Chicago next December,
has received an offer of $1,000 from the
live stock commission firm of Clay, Rob
inson & Co. of Chicago, to be competed
for by the exhibitiou of pure, graded and
cross-bred beef cattle, sheep aud swine
owried by State agricultural colleges or
experiment stations^ The one condition
attached to tbe offer is that all prize
money won by such institutions in these
coutests must be devoted to the establish
ment of free scholarships in agriculture
for worthy applicants.
John Montgomery, 108 years old, who
for some time had been known as the
oldest man in Iowa, was killed at Coun
cil Bluffs. He failed to hear the rum
bling of an approaching train, and was
run down.
P. F. Guthrie, one of the best-known
men in Dubuque, died quite unexpected
ly. He was 54 years old and camt from
Ireland in 1803. He bad been identified
with the Democratic party for thirty
years, hoidiug many offices.
The residence of J. C. Hehau iu Des
Moines was rifled by burglars of furni
ture and silver valued at $300.
The Methodist parsouage at Ceuterville
has beeu quarantined for thirty days on
account of scarlet fever in the family.
Jack Shields, under indictment at Coun
cil Bluffs on a charge of robbery, pleaded
guilty and was senteuced to two years
iu the peuiteutiap'.
Robert Schneider, a Council Bluffs
speculator, who had been on the wrong
side of tlie wheat market and had lost
all his resources, committed suicide in a
hotel room by taking morphine. He left
a note addressed to his wife, attributing
the deed to discouragement over uofortu
nute speculation.
Henry Gill, an old man who lived near
Fillmore, went out to milk his cows. His
prolonged absence caused search and he
was fouud dead sitting on his milking
stool with his bands on the cow's teats.
The cow was contentedly chewing her
cud.
At Audubon, A. L. Sheets committed
suicide by taking laudanum. He had been
dealing on the Chicago Board of Trade
for some years, and recently, it is said,
be floated numerous uotes which were
forged to obtain money. He was arrest
ed, and the sheriff permitted him to go to
his home to sec his wife before going to
jail. While there he took the poison, and
died in about an hour.
Traffic on the Davenport, Rock Island
and Northwestern road was suspended
more than twelve hours by a washout' at
Mill creek and one at Duck credc. When
passing over Duck trestle tbe engineer
felt the bridge giving way and jumped
into the creek. No lives were lost.
The two-story frame building of J*
Mllligan, occupied by Law Bros, aa an
implement warehouse, was burned at Pu
las)tii the origin of the fire being a inys*
tery. The firemen were seriously handi
capped by the intense cold* but managed
to aave the surrounding buildings. The
losses are as follows:' J. 'W. Mllligan'g
building, $V,0QP lftw Bra*,' stocfy
IOWA LEGISLATURE.
The bill for the inspection of all cattle
brought into Iowa, which has been under
discussion in tbe Seuate for a week, was
defeated Thursday by a vote of 20 to 20.
The normal school bill was amended from
three schools to one. The Pioneer Law
makers' Association visited both houses
and the afternoon was speut in spccch
makiug. Secretary of Agriculture James
Wilson addressed the Legislature on ag
ricultural education and said that Ames
College is the only one In the country
that furnishes the kind of men the De
partment of Agriculture wants.
The House on Friday defeated the con
ference bill to create an additional State
uoruial school. Tbe bill was killed be*
cause it failed to receive the constitution
al majority of 51. The Seuate passed
tbe Mullan bill making specific the law
requiring the election of presidential elec
tors by tbe State at large. The House
passed the bill levying one-tenth of a
mill tax for tbe State Agricultural Col
lege for five yearg. The Senate commit
tee on suppression of intemperance voted
10 to 1 to recommend the passage of the
Wallace bill to prohibit the sale of all
liquors within five miles of the State edu
cational institutions. Hayward's bill to
give savings banks authority to receive
deposits to teu times their capital stock
plus their surplus, was passed. The
House passed the Kendall bill providing
for the examination of pit bosses and
hoisting euglneers iu coal mlues by a
State board of mine foremeu.
Both legislative sessions Monday were
slow affairs. Many members were ab
scut from the Senate session In the morn
ing, and the afternoon session of the
House was sparsely attended, ^ost of
the Senate session was devoted to a dis
cussion of Youug's bill relating to the
disposition of dead bodies. The measure
provides that it shall be mandatory with
county authorities and managers of pub
lic asylums, poor houses and peniten
tiaries to turn over to medical school*
bodies of deceased persons who have not
expressed a wish to be buried or whose
bodies are not claimed by relatives. There
was general opposition to the bill for Its
failure to provide that bodies may be
claimed by friends before being turned
over for dissection. The bill was amend
ed to conform to the ideds of the opposi
tion and referred to tho committee on
public health. Tho Senate indefinitely
postponed tho bill by Albersou providing
that taxes refunded to poor persons shall
draw 0 per cent and be a lien against
the property of the indigent person. A
similar bill has been killed in the House.
At the House session eight new bills were
introduced. One by Temple proposes to
reduce the number of Supreme judges
from six to five, to create an appellate
court of three judges to have jurisdiction
over cases involving sums up to $3,000.
This is to relieve the Supreme Court.
One by Byers prohibits directors of cor
porations from electing officers from
among themselves without the consent
of three-fourths of the stockholders.
Bhort Btate Item*
The union school at Butler has opened
again, as the smallpox scare proved
groundless.
The capacity of the water works plant
at Iowa City will be largely Increased
this spring.
Dr. G. J. Turner, one of the oldest and
most successful of Oskaloosa physicians,
died suddeuly of heart failure.
The grand jury of Chariton returned an
indictment against Chas. Essex for at
tempting to u-rcck a fast mail traiu.
J. A. Earbart of Kldon was knocked
iowu aud kicked by a horse. His leg
was brokeu aud his body badly bruised.
A petition is being circulated at Iowa
City to raise funds for the proposed elec
tric road into the country west of there.
The I., M. & X. Company has filed a
mortgage in Waterloo for $3,000,000, the
largest ever recorded iu Blackbnwk Couu
ty.
J. Tbornburg, living near Liudea, was
thrown from .his wagon iu a runaway
and his skull crushed. It may prove fa
tal.
Iu order to detect all illegal signers to
the mulct petition, the auti-saloon league
of Iowa County will copy aud publish
tbeui.
The receipts of the hospital at Council
Bluffs for the month of January were
$010.27, the largest of auy month iu its
history.
Some resideuts of Dallas Center have
rebelled against tbe order of the board of
health requiring all school children to be
vaccinated.
Mrs. Harry Stowc has sued the town
of Dallas Center for $3,500 damages for
injuries sustained by falling on a defec
tive sidewalk.
Lula, tbe ,3-ycar-oUi daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Otto W. Anderson of Marshall''
towu, tell into a pail of boiling water and
died in a short time from the effects
R. W. Bowers of Brooklyn, N, V., ad
vance agent of Lyinau Brothers' Merry
Chfisc theatrical company, committed
suicide at Oskaloosa by driukiug carbolic
acid.
Mason CUy bas a wonderful musical
prodigy iu the person of Cecil Emsley
Gale, aged 4 years, aud who was born
blind. He began showiug tits talent be
fore he was 2 years old.
John Friebnrg, a man about 32 years
of age and employed by the contractors
who have iu charge the work on the
Northwestern near Quarry, was instautly
killed by a C. & N. W. train.
F. E. Coakley, a well-to-do farmer of
Otter Creek township, was thrown from
his wagou duriug a runaway and kilted.
He had driven to Zwlngle and was re-»
turning borne when the accident occurred.
just 1' lurry*
Mrs. Stubl)—John. Isn't it sirangeV
Here it was clear iu Chicago yesterday
aud snowiug iu New ^ork.
Mr. Stubb—Does th«» paper say that,
Maria
Mrs. 'Stubb—Well, John, It says there
was a slight flurry in Wall street.
That's New York, isn't iiV
The Rivals. o*y
Stubb—Wouder why the Germans
celebrated the beginuing of the twenti
eth century one year In udvauce of
any other nntlouV
Penn—They were a little cuvlous oC
the French. You kuow I lie Parisians
have a reputation for being ahead of
time.
Her Point of View.
He—How long should a man kuow
girl before proposiug? -.
She—That depends oil his income.
Raised and Lowered*
Stubb—What was the cause of that
young man's downfall?
Penn—Raised salary.
Stubb—Raised salary? Extraordi
nary!
Penn—Not at all. You see he ralstd
his salary check.
His First Step*
Judge—What was your flrst step In
crime which led up to this daring for
gery?
Prisoner—I changed the date of on*
of my wife's letters before 1 finally
posted It.
She Knew Him*
"Don't talk about turning over a naw
leaf," sbe said. "You've done tbat be
fore, and It doesn't fill the bill. The
ouly salvation for you. .lolin, Is to cut
down and turn over the whole tree,
and split It into kindling wood!"—At
lanta Constitution.
Taken Care Of Previously,
"Is it a fact that rats are tbe tlrst to
leave a sinking ship?"
"It wasn't so In the case of the only
ship I ever saw sink. There were no
I
rats tq lean4 it, WHS -*v ChineM