Mexico weekly ledger., October 01, 1891, Image 1

About Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956

Image provided by: State Historical Society of Missouri; Columbia, MO

                
TiieWEEKLYLEDGER
Reliable Llarket Reports
8TO0Z Wtms, 8AXXS, AGXI0UXTTTXA1
XATTXKI 0 DTTXUST
To All On The Farm.
ALL THETOGAL ND7S
Also Btatk and Kationax.
Tht LXDQXS Dvrimt tba grunt Jmr
. wiU be Better thM Before, if Bmmw
Burgy Cm Hate It Be.
WEEKLY
From now until Jan. 1, 1R92,
50 CENTS.
Ttiia oder la to new subscribers.
Rpnd in vmir Name and R. M. WHITE. Editor and Proprietor.
To Our Frids In ths Past and Our Hope for the Future, Lot Us Add Vigorous Work in tha laving Present.
C$1.50 PER YEAR, IN ADVANCE.
Fifty Cents.
VOL. XXXIII.
MEXICO, MISSOURI, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1891.
NO. 26.
Sample Copy Free.
LEBGrER
I.
f
ft
(j
K
Mexico needs a new depot and
needs it badly.
Patronize home institutions of
oil vinrlj That ia the way to
make a city.
Tr An.ii-flin pnnntv wants a I
formera' institute we should BCnd
in an invitation at once.
We dou't know just how many
wive3 Charley Graham had. Ii
he had more than one he had more
than enough.
Tt inmnsHible to cueES who
will carry Ohio. McKinley and
Campbell are both very popular
1 ik c.-v. n.ill Iw mm hit-
l" ,u .
Wr have alwavs bad eouinocuai
storms until thii year. We know
nf nr rpasnn whv we didn't have a
ginmi this peason unless it ia that
Ilick prophesied one.
If you want to vote for Miss
Belle Morris as the moat popular
young lady in Missouri leave your
tickets withMaj. II. A. Rickets,
cashier of tho Southern Bmk.
The Kansas City Star, speaking
of the Editorial Convention which
meets at Moberly Oct. 2'Jth and
30th, pays: Mrs. R. M. White oi
Mexico is to read a paper on "The
Editor's Wife" at the meeeting of
the Northeast Missouri Editorial
Association at Moberly October 29.
Mrs. White is closely related to
the Mexico Ledger by marriage.
Pesky, Ala., is one of the most
prosperous little towns we know
of anywhere. Tho Enterprise, so
ably edited by Mr. Trimble, is ne
of Missouri's most reliable news
papers, and the new railroad
which is to be built from Hannibal
to Perry, will prove of great bene
fit to both cities. It is of the ut
most importance to Mexico to have
this road extend through this city.
We know ot no town anywhere
which ha3 grown more in the last
year or so than Mexico. Our
growth has been steady and grati-
fvine to all who are interested in
the welfare of the city. Our as
sessment this year shows an in
crease of 8101.115. The excess of
polls this year over last jear is
270. Mexico is growing rapidly
and is holding its own ainons the
towns in the West.
There would seem to be no rea
son why the cigarette Bhould be as
injurious as its enemies say it is
A Georgia chemist who has care
fully analyzed eighty samples finds
nothing objectionable in them but
r.iin r.ii nf toW hittr
" "
extractive, gum, chlorophyll, cel
lulose, potash, chlorine, silica,
water, sulphuric acid, nitric acid,
phosphoric acid, lime, iron and
magnesia." Wherefore he re
marks that the cigarette is "not
necessarily harmful."
The Gallatin; Mo., Democrat, I
one ot Missouri's most steadlast
Democratic papers, in speaking of
the political outlook for Missouri,
says : "The sub-treasnry pawn- obtaining money under false pre
shop monstrosity, fathered by the tenses and was threatened with the
Macune school of political hacks penitentiary. When his money
anu industrial oeais, ougnt not to
1 " "I . 1 t A I 1 . J 1 . I
receive the endorsement of a single
genuine farmer in Daviess county,
The Union Labor cranks, who do
most of their labor with their
mouths, will support anything that
promises them a chance to run for
office whether it is designed to
benefit the people or not. Demo-
crats cannot afford to endorse Euch
class legislation when they have
been fighting it for years."
Arrangements had been made
for a big F. & L. U. picnic at
Edwards' grove, 10 miles north-
Vl J, " i" ru. uay oi
October. Quite a discussion came
. r nf : . i - 'i i i .i
up in resiard to who should soeak.
fVnm
a prominent farmer well known to
11 nf nnr TPilprn TT m mil .nH
other opponents of the sub-treaurv
scheme, were expected to speak on
this occasion, and tho time was to
be divided. Miss Roberts, of Illin
ois, J. W. London and L. Leon-
ard.all atronclv in favor nf tb anh.
treasury Idiocy, are to be the attorney said concerning the mat
orators. Salt River Lodge, one of ter : "Tlie panel from which this
the lodges under whose auspices iury was drawn has now been sit
the picnic was to be given, with- tin8 ia ca8e sinC8 the court opened
drew and will have nothing to do
with it. As we understand, the
Palmer Lodge is also going to with
draw. The lodges which are with
drawing are opposed to having any
thing to do with politics, and were
aniious to have U. S. Hall and J.
K. Pool among the orators of the
occasion. It ia to be hoped that
the F. & L. U. is not going to eplit
up, but one thing is certain, that
mere are enougn memners ci the
order that are opposed to lugging
pontics imo n wno are nrm in been shamelessly smoking a cigar
their bewef that there are several eMe it publio, and therefore the
members ot the organisation who
are trying to use the order for
p..u. ,ulv.. xmrmu.
w urn out nuuso are ail
Bteadfast, hard working, honest
inrcnem, auu ro no m me oraer
goou oi
the asrricultural interests of th
State.
1
ioeir. aA.it, k. Company as
placing a telephone between Cedar
anu euert!UB.
Led a Dual Life.
RETORT HAS IT THAT CHARLES
GRAHAM WAS A ISHUSUST.
Had a Wire ami Son In Fredericktown
When He Married a Second
Time.
Hounded to Death for Hui- Honey, He Gave
Up in Despair and Committed the
Unpardonable Bin.
It begins to look as though Char
ley Graham, who killed himself in
this county on luesdav, wa3 a
bigamist. The Ledges, in under
takintr to investigate the direct
cause of the suicide and what be-
came ol the large sums of money
he borrowed, has run across some
right interesting facta in regard to
the matter. Dr. J. W. Lanius
says that in 1S159 he lived in Fred
ericktown, in Missouri, and at that
time the man known to us as Char
ley Graham lived there on his
property and was known as Char
ley Thompson, ur. lanius says
that ia 18G9 he married a Mies
Compton and that a son was born,
who at this time would be over 20
yeart old. He says that in 1871
this man stole $90 from a saloon
keeper and came to this county and
located: that after he had been
here some time he married the
Widow Kearney's daughter, who
wa9 supposed to bs his wite when
he died. Dr. Lanius is a man
who is well known to the people of
this county and i8 an honest, truth
ful and straightforward gentleman.
He states these fafct3 as having
come to his knowledge. He says
that he t bisks that Graham paid
out large sumsa-hjistt money. Dr.
Lanius is going to inform the son
of the deceased, who is supposed
to live at Fredericktown, in Madi
son county, of the facts in the case,
as he is the heir to any estate that
deceased may have left. Charley
had never secured a divorce from
his wife, but she had secured a
divorce from him some time after
she heard that he had married in
this county. Judge Peterson, of
Fredericktown, acted aa her at
torney in the divorce proceedings,
which were brought some time
in 1872 or 1873. A prominent
citizen of this city informed the
Ledger a day or so ago that he
had an idea that Graham was pay-
P'S uutu "ow 11113 muni-
led to tae Ledger's investiga-
1 i . J . 1 - ' l'
.... .u.... r.i- r.
is very easy to understand Gra
ham's trouble in view cf the above
facts, fur if he was paying hush
money he wa3 about at the end of
his row and had borrowed all the
money that was possible for him to
get on life insurance or imaginary
horses and cattle. Something had
to be done and done ouicklv or his
disgrace would be made public.
He had already been arrested for
. . . .....
run out. Knowmar that the more
serious charge of bigamy would be
brought against him, he concluded
to end his life.
If Charlev Graham and Charlov
i - -
Thompson are the same person
Thompson is the assumed name,
because Charley's name is known
to have been Graham, as he has
brother in this part of the country,
and the widow Kearney's daugh
ter, whom he married, is his
cousin, and of course knows what
his name is. We are informed
Charley went from Ohio to Fred
ericktown, Mo., and there assum
ed the Mme of Thompson
Vagaries of Justice.
A man who had killed another
man was taken from jail in Wis
cons?m and baDged by a mob on
Monday.
A mac who had killed another
man was acquitted by a jury in
Chicago court on Monday, though
general surprise was expressed at
the verdict. An assistant state's
two weeks ago, and in that time
has only made two convictions,and
these in minor cases."
The only possible excuses for
I mob Jaw are bad juries and dilato-
TJ judges. To abolish lynching it
19 necessary to inspire confidence
iri the courtB. The lesson of the
jWinconsin event ia the comple
ment of the less on of the Chicago
event.
0ne of the daughters of the
priace of Wale8 ia Bald to have
haristocracv i nfTrin' dreffle.
His swift royal highness of Wales
W1U find herein a hereditary
svmntnm nf nnhilit wWfc ia t
promising in view of the fact that
the girl is young and hasn't had
moch opportunity,
I Miss Belle Morris, daring her
I visit in Fulton, lost a fine diamond
setting from a rins which her fath
er gave her lor a Christmas pres-
ent last year.
Til E STOREHOUSE SUICIDE.
The Unfortunate Sinn Undoubtedly
Insane When He Took His Lire
No New Facts Learned.
There is nothing new in regard to
the suicide of ex-Go v. Morehouse,
as a full account appeared in the
Ledger yesterday. The Governor
had been sick for a day or so and
had become overheated and was
delirious from fever. He had been
out riding during the afternoon of
Tuesday with Mr. Ellison, who
thought he was a very sick man,
and had secured a couple of gentle
men friends to sit up with him.
On Wednesday morning at 9:10
o'clock, while they were in the sitting-room
downstairs, they heard a
peculiar gurgling sound coming
apparently from the Governor's
room, and hastily ascended. When
they opened the door they found
Mr. Morehouse lying on the floor
with a gash in his throat on the
left side 4 incaes long. A doctor
was sent for and a large crowd
soon collected. The unfortunate
man was, however, beyond human
aid, and expired in a few minutes.
The knife with which the deed
was committed was a common
pocket-knife with a blade about
2 1-2 inches long. It was firmly
grasped in his right hand. He had
folded his coat and vest, placed
them on the floor for a pillow and
laid down in the centre of the room
with his head to the west.
S. W. Briggs said before the
Coroner's jury that last Saturday
afternoon he went over to see Mr.
Morehouse, and that the Governor
was somewhat incoherent and ir
rational at times in his talk ; that
he (Briggs") said to him : "You
are a very sick man, and ought to
have medical attention." The
Governor responded : "You don't
know anything about it ; I am done
for anyway." He remarked that
it seemed that the top of his head
ould come off, and he complained
of his head hurting him intensely.
Mr. Briggs observed a twitching
motion in the Governor's arms ; he
would draw one back and stretch
it forward at full length with con
sideraoie lorce, then do the same
with the other.
HINTED AT BUICIDE.
On Monday evening the Gover
nor'a daughter requested Mr. Briggs
to come over and stay with her
father, remarking: "You don't
know how bad he is ; when any
n are with him he trios to con
ceal hia true condition from them."
Sir. .Briggs saw that some men
were with him from that time on.
On Sunday, while Frank Elliott
was in the room with him, he talk
ed in a very depressed sort of way
and after a time arose and started
out of doors. Frank followed him,
whereupon Mr. Morehouse came
back in the room and said :
".Let us sit down: x don't mean
to do anything now." Frank said
'Governor, I don't understand
you." lie replied: "xou will
understand by and by what
mean." Mr. Morehouse also said
to Mr. Briggs that if he had a re
volver he could make his head
quit hurting, or words to that ef
fect.
It would seem that the sunstroke
which the Governor received last
Thursday afternoon was the cause
of his prostration and delirious
condition. Several times in the
past few days he uttered expres-
sions showing a suicidal insanity
tendency. Dr. Koch testified be
fore the Coroner's jury that he was
of the opinion that Mr. Morehouse
committed the act while in a de
lirium of typhoidfever. The ver
dict of the jury was to the effect
that Mr. Morehouse came to his
death by a knife wound in his
throat.icflicted while in a delirium
of typhoid fever brought onb y
sunstroke.
Kentucky's Centenary.
From the ttevi York Tribune.
Kentucky is already preparing
to celebrate the completion of her
first century as a 6tate ot the
Union, although the time for the
celebrationis nearly nine nonths
distant. Kentucky was the sec
ond-Btateto be admitted, following
Vermont by more than a year: for
the recent celebration atBennington
coincided neither with the date
of the battle fought there nor with
the date of Vermont's acquisition of
statehood, the latter being March
4, 1791. Kentucky came in as the
fifteenth state on June 1, 1792, and
the celebration of the centennial of
that event in her history will take
place next summer. An elaborate
celebration is already planned
The next state in the historic line
is Tennessee, which is Kentucky'!
junior by four years to a day. No
other state's centennial occurs
the present century, but Ohio
will have its turn early in the next
The Laddonia Herald, appears
to know a great deal about the af
fairs of a certain attorney who
lives in Mexico and refers to this
matter in a very indelicate man
ner. ;'
The Auxva3se Review sys that
Wm. Eller, who lives in the South
western part of Audrain, raised the
finest poaches grown in Missouri
this year.
Tax Dodgers.
From the Knox County Democrat.
The Alliance people of Audrain
county are getting after the tax
dodgers with a sharp stick. They
appointed a committee some
months since to examine the As
sessor's books to see if taxpayers
had given in a full list of their
property. The committee went to
work and found a large number
that had held their property back,
to whom notice has been given
that if the discrepancies in tax
lists and mortgage lists are not ex
plained either to the committee or
County Court on or before the
second day of the next Circuit
Court of Audrain county, which
meets the first Monday in October,
said lists with full names and suf
ficient evidence will be submitted
to the Grand Jury for action. This
is the order ot the County Union,
and it will be strictly followed, and
this is positively the last chance
iven for explanation."
Perhaps the Knox County Al
liance could find some work to do
in that direction.
The Suicide of Gov. Reynolds.
From The Globe-Democrat.
Gov. Morehouse was not the
first among those who have filled
the chief executive office of the
State to die by his own hand.
Thomas Reynolds, of Howard
county, was elected Governor of
Missouri in 1840. On the 9th of
February, 1844, eleven months be
fore the expiration of his term, he
committed suicide by putting a
pistol ball through his head. His
death occured 'several hours after
the shot w.8 fired, and he is said
to have suffered great agony. He
had been in ill-health some time
previous to hia death, and it was
generally believed that his mind was
affected by his illness, but he gave
aa a reason for his act the violence
of his political enemies. Gov.
Reynolds had been a Judge of the
Supreme Court of Illinois before
coming to Missouri in 1828. Upon
is death Lieut. M. M. Marma-
duke, father of John S. Marma-
duke, became acting Governor,
and acted as such the remainder of
the term.
Sew Idea in Mid-Air Gardening.
From Kate Field's Washington.
American travelers in Europe
return home with many new ideas
concerning architecture, which
thev proceed to exemplify in the
structure of their dwelling houses
There is one invention, however,
which none of these tourists as yet
appear to nave heard ot,
and which would prove a charming
variation in the sky-line of a vil
lage street, or as a bit of color
among the ecattered houses ol a
country landscape.
I refer to the turf roof invented
by George Mayer of Bavaria.
The roof is laid first with boards,
then three thicknesses of tarred
paper, and finally covered with
turf six inches thick. Such
a roof is heavier than tiles; but it
is a full protection against damp
and fire, helps to purify the air and
needs no repair, it can be made
still more beautitui by sowing
upon the turf the seeds of flowers
and wavy grasses which nave
small roots. Imagine a roof cover
ed with portulacca blossoms wide
open under a noonday eunl
The following from Congressman
Stone is supposed to explain itself :
'I have a better farm and I believe
am a better farmer than any of
these ex-lawyers. I believe that
because I was raised to it from
childhood. My father was one of
the best practical farmers in Ken
tucky and I received a practical
education under his tutelage. I
have been farming all my life. I
claim to be a successful farmer and
stock raiser. But I am also a
lawyer. I make some pretense to
knowledge of the law. I have cli
ents. I make money at my pro
fession. I claim to be a successful
lawyer. I take pride in my farm
and stock. Most of my modest
fortune is invested that way. Yes,
am both lawyer and farmer.
But if I shall ever conclude to run
for any office in Missouri, I will
not run as a lawyer or as a farmer,
but will run as a plain Missouri
Democrat without any disguise
ment or side show insignia."
Ayers llambletonian, 3:29 1-3.
Wood Maddox and Andy Harri
son's Ayers Hambletonian is now
in the charmed circle. At Topeka,
Kan., on September 14, he won the
2:28 class trot, purse 400, in
straight heats on a half mile track
in 2:30, 2:29 1-2 and 2:31 1-2.
Ayers is by Volunteer Goldsmith
and is highly bred on his dam's
side. Bill McKinney, one of the
greatest horsemen that ever sat
on a sulky, has Ayers in charge
and drove him to his record. In
the race were Miss Cawley, Indian
Pet, King Sprague and Dancer, all
good horses, which proves beyond
question that Ayers is one of the
best stallions in Missouri.
R. B. Worrell, one of the best
hotel men in the United States.haa
taken charge of a large hotel at
Salina, Kas. Salina is a town of
about 1500 inhabitants and has
one of the best hotels in that State.
We had hoped that Dick and his
family would settle down in Mexi
co to remain bat congratulate the
people of Salina on his locating
there.
EXPOSITION ATTRACTIONS.
Rage for Japanese Novelties A
Real Japanese Village and Many
Funny Little Workers The
Season of Joy at Its
Helphth.
Special Correspondence to the Ledger.
St. Louis, Sept. 23. There
could be no better evidence of the
high character of our Exposition
than the large attendance both af
ternoon and evening. There is the
usual quota of beauty and fashion
which gives brilliancy to the scene.
Dress, said to be the first factor
in the happiness of woman, is here
seen to an advantage with the dainty
taste which characterizes Ameri
can ladies, especially tboso with
unlimited pocket-books.
Gilmore'a arrival ia the theme of
every tongue. Blessed by nature
with a sturdy physique, polite
manners and Bunny disposition, he
has endeared himself, not only to
his friends, but to the people. He
looks contented, complacent in
himself and his belongings. Time
has touched him gently and sorrow
literally seems to have passed him
by. Such ovations he receives is
nough to spoil any man, (this re
mark sounds malicious and savors
of femininity.) When a lady ask
ed him at the close of last season
if flattery did not give him the big
head, he replied, "No, madam; I
wear the same sized hat I did
when I left New York."
The American Biscuit Co. have
consolidated in a fine display
given by the Dozier Bakery and
Mannewal-Lang. There is an im
mense recess built of boxes oi
fancy crackers, while in the centre
is a perfect miniature of the Court
House built of German wafers, the
dome and capital of nicknacks, the
whole surmounted by the Goddess
oi Liberty, and on each side a
standard ot American colors. It
fronts 16 feet and ia 10 feet high.
The picture, entitled "Changes
of Time," has a crowd around it
constantly. A sheet composed of
greenbacks and postage stamps
some are painted and some pasted
on puzzles the beholders to tell
the real ones from those painted
by the artist. Encircling the
painting is a border made of the
heads of the Presidents from Wash
ineton to Cleveland and excellent
likenesses. In this same gallery
are to be seen pictures of the state
ly dames of Queen Elizabeth's
conrt, as well as the famous circle
who graced our own capitol at
Washington. In looking at these
ladies with their style of dressing
(the first Empire costumes) we
can scarcely realize how identical
they are with our present fashions
and it is difficult to believe that
centuries have passed since Ral
eigh. Liecester and Marie Stuart
played their parts in history.
The rage for Japanese.novelties
has now reached its climx. Here
in large glass cases near the room
devoted to sculpture can be found
bric-a-brac priceless to art lovers,
antique collections of musical in
struments, scales, vases, pitchers,
Chinese idols and odd looking
boxes which may have been one of
Portia's three caskets. Almost
every figure has a Chinese or Jap
anese symbol, every bird, beast or
flower expresses some particular
thought. The walls are hung with
quaint weapons of native skill and
curious arms of ancient construc
tion. These interesting beauties
entice the passer-by and invite
them to a longer stay.
An interesting feature is soon to
be added to the Exposition a real
Japanese village. The funny lit
tle Japs will bring all the imple
ments ot their art with them and
three fancy pagodas ready for erec
tion. In one the potter will be
busy at his wheel making before
the visitor, from a rough piece of
lifeless clay, vases, jars and pitch
ers of fanciful shapes. In the sec
ond pagoda will be seen the artist
decorating these articles and giv
ing them the perfect finish so often
seen in these dainty treasures of
art. The third little pogodo will
show the worker in bamboo as the
grave little Jap patiently weaves
the bamboo stripes into household
contrivances, buckets, baskets,
matting, etc. A musical quartette
accompanies them and the whole
village is expected to be at work
by the 28th of the month.
Carmencita's picture in the art
gallery stands upon an easel. It
could not be painted in more glow
ing colors, an unmistakable French
iness in its style, it is full of at
traction for the general public, as
the celebrated Spanish danseuse is
now filling an engagement in this
city. Her dresses are not of the
regulation heighth of ballet dan
cers, bat almost reach to her feet
The management of the Exposition
have made her an offer of $500 for
one night, which was declined
Baker's pop corn is still in de
mand. His stand No. 2 is often
surrounded by an admiring crowd
who watch the quartette of good
workers Misses Katie and Maud
Quinn, John Lowenstein and Ed
die Murphy. No. 1 stand bad beBt
look to their laurels as the quar
tette is growing lamoos.
Fay
Born, to
land, son.
Mr. and Mrs. Cleve-
Highest of all in Leavening Power. Latest U. . Gov't Report
IX A PROSPECT CAMP.
Peculiarities and Whims of ttie Wild
Western Mountaineers Fast Be
coming Civilized.
By James Newton Basket, of Mexico, Mo.,
In the Detroit Free Press.
There is yet a much undeveloped
literary field in those portions of the
Rocky Mountains that are not rain
ing, but purely prospecting regions
communities that live on hope
and bank on accident ; places where
capital is wary and labor is fitful,
where business is makeshift and
stock in trade is the patience of
waiting.
It was the writer's lot to spend a
summer outing in a region like
this. The railroad had recently run
through and punctuated a station,
and the government had established
a post-office. The supply store and
the saloon were there also ; and from
a rich mining neighborhood a flood
of prospectors had poured in till
claim stakes and prcspect holes
marked every hillside and hollow.
Yet there was not a mine for miles
around that had "pay dirt'' or "con
tact," not a shaft or drift deep
enough to be dark, not a wagon
road into camp, no a church or
school or paper. The deer and bears
were on the mountains above, tho
grouse were in the scrub around
and the trout were leaping in the
brook below. All these with the
game laws a mere tradition and bor
der justice her own interpreter.
Surely one could get away from the
world here.
But in the world it is hard to set
away from the world. Every little
community is' a cosmos. Touring
and business travel so prevade every
nook that to-day one can scarcely
flee the busy hum unless he lives
the life of a hermit. Out of the
world we sigh for its blessings and
forget its cares ; so that the evening
trains found a motley crowd to greet
their hurried passing. New incon
grous elements came unto us daily.
From the Pullman sleeper stepped
the tourist from other towns, rang
ing from Leadville to London, bur
dened with all the paraphernalia of
travel, buoyant with pleasant expec
tation ; and the dark depths of the
box car gave up its tramp, the slow
creep of the donkey train upon the
narrow trail, or the steady tread of
the hob-nailed heel upon the cross
tie, brought us the nomad miner,
laden only with his blanket or his
pick, but none the less hopeful.
Soon the tents of the merchaut
out for pastime, of the journalist
out for pleasure, of the pastor out
for rest, of the capitalist out for
business, and the hunter out
lor
game glisten against the green
slope, and anon the surveyor comes
with transit, lot stake and town plat
and makes us cosmopolitan. Here
will stand the city hull here and
over there the school house. Already
the capitalist has given the minister
a church site, and the narrow strip
upon the hill there is the ditch for
water power to the smelter that will
be built when these mines shall
"strike it rich."
Up there lives the spiritualist and
just across, the atheist, and the
Christian scientist has come to town.
Down at tbe depot the new tele
graph operator has just arrived and
the very young wife so recently
married to the very old husband
flirts foolishly with the new conquest
while we await the coming train. So
the rude joke, the gentler gossip and
the slanderous insinuation find food
and lodging. It was interesting to
watch the baby village grow and
put on airs and "make believe'' and
imitate its grown-up brothers as any
baby will.
Still the little community had its
peculiarities, much as any face is
like all faces, yet so unlike.
Out of all this chaos we can dif
ferentiate the characteristics of the
mountaineer. He ia always here in
essence or influence, often before you
in person, constantly around you in
type. The distinguishing elements
of his character had become crystal
lized before these traces of a remoter
civilization had come. It stood out
as an incongrous conglomerate of
all times and places. Almost Roman
in its austerity, stoic in its endur
ance, continental in its sympathy.
Used in Million,- of Homes 40 Years tbe Stanclaxd
and oriental in its imagery, it was
American in its independence, wes
tern in its ruggedness and moun
tainous in its magnanimity. - It un
effusive hi the commendation of
good, and severe in the punishment
of wrong, the mountaineer is char
itable almost to a fault, and puts
upon every motive the most flexible
construction. A stickler tor indi
vidual rights of property to a dan
gerous degree, no man soouer recog
nizes solidarity of interests and pur
poses, and while in different, and, at
times, disrespectful to the statutes
of the "powers that he," he readily
molds his life to the rude, unwritten
laws that grow out of his peculiar
surroundings. i
Still, with all this, the traditions
of a better culture are rarely cen
sured, the prospects of a belter life
are seldom denounced or denied.
They are simply ignored as not suit
ed to his present circumstances. He
may hope some day to afford them
as a luxury, but he regards them
now as a business encumbrance, and
lays them aside with much the same
feeling as when he packs away his
good clothes to be worn again on
becoming occasions. Sunday he
may respect as a day of rest or re
creation, but as a day of worship
that is not a pressing necessity.
"In Leadville, on Sunday, I go
fishing ; in Boston, I go to church,"
was the easy-going reply of a cul
tured mountaineer, when questioned
about his fishing conscience.
His ready adaptation of self to cir
cumstances, both in the abstract and
concrete, produces a broad toleration
of opposing opinions and his liberal
ideas as to duty may cause him to
chime in with a popular tone that
lie does not approve, because he is
anxious to do his part. "He can
have my saloon," said the bartender,
when the minister wanted a place
to preach ; "but," he added, "I would
not hear him if he preached a week."
He was not one of the little congre
gation that under the soughing
pines heard the first sermon in camp,
but he tramped the trout stream all
next day and gave the minister his
entire catch.
"With the mountaineer, pedigree
or prestige are poor "collateral ;" he
waits to see what a man will do in
his new surroundings, and till-he
developes he trusts a stranger as he
does his neighbor in the next cabin
The frailties of his fellows are only
unreckoned possibilities, but the re-
establishment ot character after
fall is a contingency never counted
upon. He may leave his cabin un
locked and the hungry traveler is
welcome to his stores ; but the covet
ous purloiner is equally welcome to
his lead or his halter. If he per
forms a favor as a duty, and asks
one as his due, he has a high ap
preciation of sincere gratitude, but
hearty detestation of effusive
phrases, and sets a low estimation
upon his mere acts of accommoda
tion. "What the devil have I done?
said blunt Capt. , on whose
land we bad camped, when we thank
ed hitu for his many kindnesses.
The social amusements of the
mountaineer are not varied, but in
tense, and largely innocent. In con
versation, a bold imagery, a graphic
and hyperbolic verbiage, an im
pressive use of the things around
him m illustration, and what seems
a consistent use of original and im
ported slang are characteristic.
tendency to "go you one better on
any extravagant assertion seems ir
resistible, and he will compass tbe
wildest and most ludicrous exagger
ation to accomplish it. Conversing
once with a wood-sawyer, I remark
ed that pulling a crosscut saw was
not such hard work if the other fel
low knew his business and did not
ride on the saw. "Well, I don'l
mind his ridin','' was the ready re
ply, "if ho don't drag his feet."
Thev have their leaders who
shape their opinions, their local
heroes whom they respect, and their
favorite reconleurs whom they imi
tate and adroitly provoke to nar
ration. In their sports a sort of
youthful auimalism often prevails,
wrestling and mock fighting eren
among men of middle age being a
favorite pastim. I think there is
something in their surroundings
and thij stimulating, nervous atmos
phere that provokes this. I have
akin:
Powder.
seen two young woodchoppers at
their noon rest, down on all fours
like a pair of kittens, bounding
sideways over each other down the
mountain slope.
In their manner of life there, is
something remarkably contagions.
One finds himself scarcely able to
ignore their ways even though he
may not indorse them. In this
flood of crude customs it is hard to
maintain the pose of eastern pro
priety. Many a man thinkkshe has
character until it is tried by the test
of circumstance, and he finds he on
ly had habit. The mountaineer al
so feels the exotic influence. To-day
he is a hybrid of his own civiliza
tion of twenty years ago and that
of the eastern present, and he
doubly interesting because of
this. We all know him well of the
59 and '65 period, with his "whars"
and "thars," his swagger, his
bowie," his "navy" and his poker
phrases. But he is rapidly going
and is now in an interesting stage
of his evolution. The encroach
ments of culture are upon him. The
revolver as an arbiter ot all disputes
ia departing. Even a plain "knock
down" is looked upon as a little be
yond the orthodox, while appeals to
the courts are no longer regarded as
nmanly. Civilizing and refining
influences will soon merge his
characteristics with those of the
man of the world, and to maintain
himself as the gruff miner of the
western literature he will have to
move back with the wild beasts to
the unfrequented places.
It seems a matter of regret that
some or our novelties have not
caught him in his transition state
and set him forth in realistic detail for
our enjoyment. So far as the writ
er's slight knowledge goes this has
not been successfully done yet Bret
larte's work is ot an epoch beyond.
Mary Ualleck Foote has approached
him perhaps as near as any woman
could. But he has moods and
tenses that no woman can see.
Modern romance has roamed our
country over from the Superior
coast to the Mexican border in
search of interesting types and com
munities. Even the Thlinkets and
the Aleuts are not safe from its in
trusions. Before it comes home to
settle down complacently and feast
upon the fatted calf of realistic
commonplace it might well try its
analytic hand upon the purely pros
pect regions of the Rocky Moun
tains of to-day; for in his severest
realism, what is bad of the moun
taineer is interesting, and what is
good in his many manly traits is
worthy of preservation.
IN THE GOLDEN STATE.
Far Away In Distant Land a Help
less Invalid Remembers tier
Many Dear Friends In
Missouri.
To My Audrain Friends:
Fresno, Cal., Sept. 22. This
lovely day I will visit you through
the columns of our dear old home
paper, the Ledger. I have been
worse and suffered more since ccm
ing to the land of fruits and flow
ers. When we got here in Janua
ry my brothers carried me off the
cars and we waited on the platform
for the hack, then we drove to Mr.
Sims', a friend of my brother's, to
dinner and met a kind reception.
Brother Will met us at Tulare,
Tulare county, Cal., and came
back with us. The streets were
muddy then, now dry and smooth
as a pine floor. The sand is deep
and lull ol mica that Bhines so
bright in the sunshine that it is
hard on our eyes and shoes. My
brothers have rented a lovely
plsce for a month until we finish
building our house. There I saw
the beautiful magnolia tree. They
are tall and straight with large
moss grown trunks, dark glossy
leaves with brown lining. The
flowers grow in pairs snd are from
4 1-2 to 6 inches in length, borne
upright upon a brown stem amid a
large cluster of leaves. There are
about seven petals to a flower, a
soft creamy white and very fra
grant. The first one I ever saw
had eleven petals, large and love
ly as water lilies. Our new house
i a pretty white cottage, octagon
front, with double windows and
porches. It is a half mile from
the business part of town and one
mile from the depot in a quiet and
pretty place with kind neighbors
all around us. We are 214 miles
south of San Francisco and the sea,
and 50 miles away we can see the
snow-capped mountains, the at
mosphere is so clear. The west
ern part of the town is settled with
Chinese, a strange, homely race,
but great gardeners and have that
trade here. They wear their hair
in long braids, dress in blue cloth
suits, mostly something like a
short dress, with long capes and
brass buttons, low shoes, white
hose, and low crowned hats. Their
Christmas snd New Year began
January 22 and February 7, and
for two weeks kept things lively
wtlh cannons, drums, music and
fire crackers. They bad an exhi
bition of their goods and work, and
they sold cheap many beautiful
and curious articles. Fresno has
over twelve thousand Inhabitants, ittal, but the evidence wm not suf
lovely homes, wide streets, paved cient to convict him. -
with asphaltom and shaded with
all kinds of fruit and ornamental
trees; good schools, churches,
stores, brick and lumber yards;
fine court house and park; or-
jcharda, flouring mills, canning
and packing houses, which employ
hundreds of men and women; all
kinds of fruits, peaches, pears and
apricots are now in the market at
2, 3 and 5 cents per pound. Mother
and sisters drove out to see the
vineyards and orange groves new
town and call them beautiful, with
arched driveways, bordered with
oleanders, palms, roses and ever
greens. I saw one thousand pear
and olive trees in bloom in April.
The days are very warm, but the
nights are cool enough for blankets.
The fog during the winter months
is very dense until 2 o'clock, then
it clears up and cot a cloud Is to be
seen. The flowers bloom and the
alfalfa grows green all the year.
I have had some lovely bouquets
of rare and strange plants I never
saw before. Jaster the churches
were decorated with wild flowers
and white primroses from the
plains. Brother W. A. G ardner, of
Oakland, (formerly of Missouri,)
assisted Brother Martin, our regu
lar pastor, in April with a pro
tracted meeting and had over forty
additions to the church. We put
our letters in and received a warm
welcome. Both ministers made
me a pleasant visit. Our trip,
though long and tiresome, waa
pleasant and the scenery beautiful.
Mountains dotted with pine and
cedars, moss, ferns, rocks and
flowers, made a fine and ever
changing view as we wound in and -out
among them, till at last we
reached the cactus beds of Ari-
tona, where millions were growing
m wild .beauty, the sunlight tail
ing in soft kisses upon their rich
green spikes, making splendid
many forms. I could not name
the varieties ; have read there are -700.
At "Peach 8pringa" Brother
John bought one called the "Rose
Cactus" for me from the first
Indian Chief I ever saw, and it is .
growing nicely in the yard, and al
most in bloom. At Yucca, Ari
zona, we saw a lovely garden
planted in rows of nothing but
cactua, some over five feet high. -
The Kaw River, Kansas, and the
Colorado River were the prettiest
we saw. Reme, New Mexico, the
pretty town built in a natural cedar
grove, with its nice fences, with
fleecy clouds of drifting snow, pre
sents a beautiful subject for an ar
tist's brush. We came near being
snow-bourid in that State ; stopped
at "Olveto" and took on a stronger
engine, it drilted so badly. The
view all along the Santa Fe route
is one changing panorama of wild
grand scenery and a snow storm in
the mountains beautify beyond de
scription. We only changed cars
once after leaving Centralia Mon
day night, Jan. 5, which waa at
Kansas City, where we took the
tourist bound lor Fresno at 40 min
utes past ten Tuesday morning.
We got here at 1 o'clock Friday
the 9th, tired and sick ; met pleas
ant people on the cars coming to
California from Ohio, Iowa and
Missouri. All were kind and show
ed me many little courtesies.
Though our new home U better
and we are all together except one
dear brother and two sisters who
are still in tbe East, my heart often
turns to my native land, and the
kindly faces of those that are still
mine to love and pray for with
longings too deep for speech. Dear -
old Missouri, though these weary
eyes may never again behold the
green fields of my own country, its
familiar hills and lovely prairies,
its winding streams and dear old
friends, I shall never forget them.
Many sweet pictures shall ever
cluster on memory's walls, framed
with legions of loving deeds be
stowed by them; and if never more .
in this beautiful world of sorrow
and paic, we know that by and
by we shall meet in the eternal
city, where all is peace and rest.
To those among you who have
met with grief and affliction since
we parted nine months ago I com
mend to God for help and comfort.
Many rich blessings from His great
etore-house of love and mercy be
ever yours. Do not forget me, bat
jump into one of those little two-
cent coaches which always bring
pleasure and loving interchange of
thought and come to see me. You
will find us on Gilbert street, East
Fresno, California, box 252. Now
with kind regards for tbe gentle
men, love for the ladles and a
sweet kiss for the little children I
miss every day from my bedside,
let me introduce you to the future
home of your old friend and sister,
in Ilis dear name,
Miss Mart V. Lakder.
The Callaway County Gaulle
says: J. W. McCall sold J. W.
Wilson and Atlie Clanton, of Au
drain county, 30 head of good
Southwest steers, weighing about
1,000 pounds average, for about
130 per head.
The Kansas City Star says: John
Shoots, who was tried at Mexico
for carrying concealed weapons,
was discharged. The name of fine
defendant is somewhat drcumstan-