Decatur Democrat, Volume 25, Number 48, Decatur, Adams County, 3 March 1882 — Page 1

VOLUME XXV.

The Stolen Papers. There are important revelations in the volume ot. South American correspondence which would not strike the casual reader in a hasty examination of it, and which throw a Hood of light on Mr. Blaine’s'brilliant policy? Soon after Hurlburt’s appointment as Minister to Peru was anno meed, Shipherd entered into negotiations with him to become interested in the rotten claims which he represented, as will be seen by the following extracts from the published papers: Mr. Shipherd to Mr. Hurlbut: New York, 10 Spruce st., June 2, 'Bl. Dear Sir: Our interview on the • 30th ultimo, while satisfactory in general terms, did not include so full a discussion of certain .specifications as might have been had, and I supplement it on my side with a few observations, upon which I shall be glad to hear your comment.” Then follows a second letter of the same date, in these words: Law Office of. J R. Shipherd) I'l Spruce street, June 2, 1881. ) Dear Sir: Os course we shall be glad to have yourself—so faras it may lie entirely proper—and your personal friends interested witli us, and 1 will reserve say $250,000 of the pool stock subject to your advice. “Terms of payment can suit individual convenience Very respectfully, Jacob R. Shipherd. Hon. S. A. Hurlburt, Belvidere, ill. Shipherd had informed himself about Hurlbut’s military career in cotton, and he knew exactly the Minister with whom he was dealing. Hurlbut’s replies to these business letters is not given, but they are doubtless in possessien of Shipherd, with others equally interesting, ready for an investigating committee, if the Republican congress should not be afraid to order one. Now, observe the dates of these letters and of the interview referred to in one of them, as being of the 30tb of May and 2d of June, 1881. Bearing these dates in mind, the following passages from the last pages of the Chilian and Peruvian correspondence will be found remarkably significant Note.—The following extracts are taken from the official registers of the department, and show that the several communications therein indicated were received in the ordinary course of business, and belong to the tiles of the department. -4 careful search fails t» show that they are n ou> in the department. Mr. Shipherd to Mr. Blaine May 21, 1881:—“ “Peruvian Company, organized foj the purpose of paying; the claims of American citizens I against Peru for violation of guano' cont,acts, foreign bondholders, Chilian war indemnity, Ac., providing Peru will give it the right to work guano beds, Ac,; prospectus of company with other papers enclosed ; re quest protection of the United States.” Mr. Shipherd to Mr. Blaine, May 25, 1881. “Peruvian Company, prosper us of with other papers enclosed; asks that the documents be presented to Mr. Hurlburt, and that he be granted an Interview before Messrs. Kilpatrick and Hurlburt go to their posts.” Mr. Shipherd to Mr. Blaine, May 31, 1881: , . “Peruvian Company, refers to conversation with the United Slates Minister to Peru, and states that they were ready to advance money to Chili, 4c., providing the United States will support them in their legal and equitable rights, &c.; desliesa personal discussion with President and Secretary of State relative to. Mr. Shipherd to Mr. Blaine June 4, 1881: “Peruvian Company, transmits letter of inst. addressed to S. A. Hurlbut, United States Minister to 1 eru, ffiviug his observations concerning the plans, intentions, and wishes of the company in their claim to the ownersbpip of the guano deposits discovered by Cochet, &e.. and requesting Minister’s comments thereon. Mr. Shipherd to Mr. Blaine, June 21, 1881: . “Peruvian Company, submits a translated reprint o' an old 1 er “Y*““ pamphlet relative to the ( ochet guano These papers did not disappear of their own motion. Some party interested in concealing the tr J them bodily. Who committed this felony is not positively known. But Hie finger of susp cion points 8 single direction. Mr. Blame lias openly boasted of having in his possesion the original instructions to Mr Trescot, which he has exhibited as a proof of the President s inconsistency He carried off that P a Pl r > which belonged to the files of the department, and is the property of the United States; quite a-s much so, deed, as the Executive Mansion is. If an inquiry should be ordered ..- Congress, who supposes that Mr. Blaine wouid hesitate to d ® 1 ’ lie did the Mulligan letters . The pro duetion of the P a l ,cr , ‘‘‘ed t he nthat he had matenly a.teredl the in struetions to Mr. 1 rescott iron the form in which they had been submitU Mr° BUine ako“tiok copies of all the South American and other correspondencein which he wthus flagran'ly violating every rule of decency and of honor. No former Secretary ever thought of doing such “Thesi facts force the conclusion that if the missing papers m any way contradicted Mr Blaine’» public dec larations, or exposed his hand, he would not hesitate to take them as he took others while Secretary of State and while a member of Congress. Probably copies of these letters are n Shipperd’s hands. But the who c truth of this jobbery can never be known without an investigation, notlike b ly to be pu't on'a committee as lie House of Representatives. The Lutheran '• on .B re K“, ti ?" f ? 1 t p . till tfave their pastor, the and lying. claim . to have the smaHest death rßt * 8 year.

The Decatur Democrat.

CONGRESSIONAL SENATE. Washington, D. C„ February M ■ ,J Ues > 1,1 Presenting a petition in behalf of Indians, said one hundred thousand persons had signed similar urced't'i’lt 10 * l T fore cou B reßs , and utged that so universe. a den and of wealthy and intelligent citizens should accomplish Hs purpose, and the na--lOU shou d keep its plighted faith and treat the Indians Justly. After morning debate the petition was referred The senate then took up the apporpoitionment bill. After a few remarks and criticisms upon the measure it passed by a viva voce vote. Hills were introduced: By Mr. Plumb—A mending the act of 18,4, to encourage the growth of timber on western prMries. By Mr, McMillan—To set apart a poition of Montana territory as a permanent reservation for the Pigeon Blood, Blackfeet, Grasventre and Assinibaine Indians, and for the payment to each tribe of $50,000 annuity per year for ten y. ars. By Mr. VanWyck—To repeal the act of March 3, 1879, amendatory section 2,403 of the revised statutes in relation to deposits for surveys of public lands. The resolution declaring the law granting arrears of pensions ought to be repealed, and amendments thereto, again came up as unfinished business. After several amendments were offered and rejected the whole subject was tabled —yeas, 26; nays, 23. Ou motion of Mr. Logan the Grant retirement bill was taken up and laid over as unfinished business for Thursday. After an executive session the senate adjourned till Thursday. HOUSE. Mr. Kasson will on Tuesday ask the house to consider the tariff commission bill. Mr. Pound, from the committee on public lands, reported a resolution calling on the secretary of the interior for a report of the annual gross earnings and net earnings of the Central Pacific, Kansas Pacific, Union Pacific and central branch of the Union F» cific railroads fiom the commence ment of operations until the present. Ailopted. The house went into committee of the whole on the postoffice appropriation bill. The clause under consideration was that appropriating over $10,000,000 for transportation of mail by rail. An amendment was agreed to by a vote of 85 to 69 providing that mails shall becarried with extra charge on the fastest trains whenever the postmaster general thinksit desirable,and upon failure to comply with this pro"lision, the compensation of the roads frill be reduced fifty per cent. SENATE. Washington, D. C., February 2*.— Mr. George introduced a joint resolution authorizing the secretary of war to issue rations for the relief of the laboring classes in the district overflowed by the Mississippi river. The senate bill relating to Indian traders passed. The Grant retirement bill was taken up and passed—ayes 35, nays 20. The bill authorizes the president, in recognition of the eminent public services of Ulysses 8. Grant, late general of the army, to nominate and by and with tiie advice and consent of the senate, to appoint him to the army with the rank and grade of general and to be placed on the retired list with pay accordingly. Mr. George introduced a bill to reduce the duties on wrought iron, railroad chairs, wrought iion nuts, etc. Mr. Logan reported back from the military committee the joint resolution introduced earlier in the day by Mr. George to provide relief on account of tne overflow of the Mississippi, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, and asked its immediate consideration. It appropriates SIOO,OOO, to be used by the secretary of war for states for the relief of destitute persons in the districtsoverflowed|by the Mississippi. After a short executive session the senate adjourned. HOUSE. Mr. Chalmers stated in consequence of the overflow of the Mississippi river a thousand colored persons were starving, and introduced a bLI for government a’d to the sufferers. Referred. . , , . Mr Page reported back the resolution directing the secretary of the treasury to give all information in his office concerning unsea worthy steamers. Adopted. The house then went into committee of the whole on the postoffice appropriation bill. The clause under consideration was that relative to star route transportaA memorial of the American Baptist home missionary society against polygamy and its accompanying vices was presented. The house then took arecess. The evening session will be for the consideration of the District of Columbia code. “ . . Debate followed without decisive action, pending further action com'"ThTelause in the code providing that commercial agents shall pay a tax of S2OO was rejected, but a quorum not voting it was laid aside for the P1 A e motiou to strike out all clauses providing for licensing liquor dealers, and insert a provision to prohibit the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor in the district, promised a long debate and this clause was also laid aside. Adjourned. SENATE Wash ington, February 24 — Mr. Davis, of West Virginia, offered and advocated a resolution requesting the committee on military affairs to inquire into the expediency of giving more aid than is now Provided to various states and territories in order to promote and encourage the organization of the militia forces of the country and strengthen their efficiency. A morning hour Mr. Allison, member of the appropriation committee in charge of the ini mediate den dency bill, was Awarded the floor , but yielded temporarily to Mr. Van Wvck, who addressed the senate upon" the necessity for an investigation of the alleged fraud in the township survey system. The matter was referred to the publie lands committee for investigation. The senate then considered the immediate deficiency appropriation bill. After some contention between Messrs. Bayard and Miller upon the claims of priority of the tariff mission and Cainese bills, the latter being supported by his colleague I Farley), a motion by Mr. Miller to take up the Chinese bill P re \ ft '^ d a vote of ayes 35. nays 16, and tne measure was l»id over Ml After an executive session the ate adjourned until Monday.

HOUSE. Mr. Belmont offered a resolution directing the committee on foreign affairs to im/uire into and report to the house respecting the abstraction from the files of the state department certain lettersand documents. Mr. Kasson offered as a substitute the following resolution: foßesolved. That the committee on mreign affairs be instructed to inquire into said allegations aud ascertiau the cts relating thereto, and report the same with such recommendations as may be deemed proper. Mr. Belmont accepted the substitute and it was adopted without objections. The house then went into committee of the whole on the private calender. At 4:30 p.m. the committee rose and the following bills were passed: For the retirement of William H. Chamberliss with the rank of major. For the retirement of Carlisle Boyd with the rank of captain. Granting arrears of pension to Annie A. Hayes, widow of Major General Alexander Hayes. At 4:40 the house adjourned until to-morrow.

A New Year’s Watch in a Vault. The closing moments of the old year has arrived. Laurel Hill cemetery was wrapped in the darkness of night, and a heavy fog hung over the stately piles of marble which mark the resting places of the distinguished dead, obscuring them from view. Suddenly the quiet is broken by the tolling of bells and the shrieks of locomotive whistles. Almost simultaneously with these tokens of respect to the expiring year a bright silvery light flashed over a corner of the city of the dead. A moment later and all was darkness again. Then three flashes followed each other in quick succession. Presently the din was increased ten fold, spreading the news that the new year had come. Again tiie weird light reappeared. Its rays encircled a vault. The iron doors were open, and over the heads of the group of people who stood in the entrance, a double row of shelves, nearly every one occupied by a coffin, could be seen. The group comprised five gentlemen and a lady, all attired in deepest mourning. “Another year gone, and a new one is in its place,” said the lady, in a lowmusical voice, as she gazed pensively at the coffin on the third lower snelf to the left. “One more year,” responded the gentleman nearest her, “and we’re ail here. How many will be left at the next appointment?” The members of the group looked at each other in silence, and then again directed their glances to the interior of tiie vault. For the next five minutes they stood in thi- attitude, motionless, Then the possessor of the musical voice remarked, as she drew her watch from its hiding place: “Ten minutes after 12 o’clock—our mission is ended.” With a last look at the coffin the sextette moved slowly away and entered the carriage which had been waiting at the gateway, tiie grave keeper who had been standing at a respectful distanne, swung to the iron doors and fastened the lock, the light wasentinguished, and all was gloom. There is a peculiar story back or tne scene which was thus enacted in the early minutes of 1882, Back in the 70’s there died m this city a gentleman who was as distinguished for his peculiarities as he was renowned for his wealth and good deeds. When his will was opened it was found that he had laid a sacred injunction on his children that so long as they remained alive they should see the old year out and the new one in at the foot of his coffin. Ten years have passed away and the injunction has net once be n forgotten, although the little group of Saturday night looked upon tiie caskets which contained the remains of four of their family who had in as many years followed the father to his long home. The others are now widely scattered. Some of them are located in Vermont; some of them in this city, while one has emigrated so far away as Nebraska; but at the close of every year they journey to this city and hole their family reunion in the presence of the dead, and under the glare of the calcium lights.— Philadelphia Record. TH eY>RAWING ROOM LAMP.

A Mellowed Effulgence That is Favorable to Fairial Effects. Tiie art of drawing room decoration has now reached a point of unprecedented perfection, and a drawing loom never shows to such advantage as when the fire has just been made up for 5 o’clock tea, ami the lamps, kindled, shell, through the crimson shades placed upon the globes, a rich lustre around. The mellowed effulgence is peculiarly favorable to facial effects, and a countenance which can scarcely conceal the ravages of time in the fierce glare of day is rejuvenated by the subdued radiance of well-behaved moderators. Gas is one of tiie great enemies of the human race; as it tarnishes silver and kills flowers, so is it, if not fatal, at least malignantly hostile to the fairest countenance, whose first youtli has gone. The expulsion of gas from drawing rooms and from dwelling rooms generally, is one of the events on which the present age is cordially to be congratulated. In many London houses it was, indeed, never tolerated, just as it is rigidly excluded from some of the best managed clubs. But its convenience was so great and it saved so much trouble that it was difficult to dispense with it. At last it lias been discovered that it has a destructive quality. Ladies, young, and old, have found from experience that it is unbecoming; that if a drawing room and its mistress are to look well there is no such picturesque security for their doing so as the subdued and faintly-tinted light I thrown by the latest novelties in drawing room lamps. Kicked to Death by an Ostrich. Ostrich farming is not without its dangers, as many a man has learned to his cost when sauntering among a flock of these birds without taking the necessary precautions against a sudden onslaught from a vicious member of the herd, but it is not often that we hear of a man being actually kicked to death by an ostrich. Such a fatality occurred recently in the District of Victoria West, Cape Colony. The bird had strayed on to the public highway and disputed the Sress of the unfortunate man to purpose that he was kicked and trampled to death. _ ln a recent article on a fair in his locality, tiie editor of a western paper says a brother editor took a valuable nrize, but an unkind policeman made him put it right back where he took from. The Russian government takes no steps to stop the atrocities being daily committed against the Jews of that empire,

DECATUR. ADAMS COUNTY", INDIANA, FRIDAY. MARCH 3, 1882

TELEGRAPHIC. Cleveland,©., February 21.—This noon A. Jankan locked up his Bup rior street jewelry store and went to dinner. The store is on the second floor of 184 Superior street. Jankan was absent but half an hour. On his return he found the door had been forced and five thousand dollars’ worth of gold watches, diamonds, chains and miscellaneous jewelry stolen. Cm.umbus, 0., February 21.—The coal operators of the Hocking Valley aud Shawnee held a meeting to day and resolved to notify the miners tomorrow tiiat they would make a reduction March 1, aud called a meeting tor consultation with the miners at Logan, Saturday, to arrange prices for tiie ensuing year. This system worked well in 1872 and 1878. Milwaukee, February 21.—Fire at Stevens’ Point, Wis., destroyed Owen Clark’s saw and grist mil). Loss, $20,000; no insurance. Milwaukee, February 21.— Fire 10-night damaged L. A. Wheeler’s residence, in this city, $2,500. Insured. Richmond, February 21.—A test vote in the senate to-day resulted in the breaking of the dead-lock over the election of state auditor, and settled the fact that the Read-juster nominees, Brown and Allen,will be elected Thursday. Scranton, February 30.—An explosion in a shaft in the Delaware, Lackawana & Western mines killed two workmen and a number of mules.

New York, February 21. —Alarming rumors were in circulation tonight of a second horrible accident in tiie Hudson river tunnel. Upon investigation it was found the only foundation for them was the fact that an explosion attributed to an electric discharge during the storm occured in shaft No. 1 of the tunnel which was injured. St. Louis, February 21—The weather turned very cold about 2 o’clock this morning and the mercury sank several degrees below freezing point between that hour and daylight. The ground is frozen very hard this forenoon and all still water had a coating of pretty thick ice. The river has lisen over five feet since last evening and now m arks 27X feet by the gauge, a total rise since Sunday of about seventeen feet. The rise now is much slower than yesterday aud the water will probably begin to fall again to-morrow. Railroad travel is still very much interrupted. The only roads which sent out trains this morning were tiie Ohio & Mississippi, Cairo Short Line, St. Louis & San Francisco and the Vandalia. The latter used the Ohio & Mississippi track to Odin, thence by the Illinois Central to its own road. The only train from Chicago this morning arrived over the Vandalia road, and tiie only eastern train came in by the same line. Incoming trains on all other roads are either abandoned or indefinitely delayed. The Chicago & Alton, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and the Indianapolis & St. Louis are stopped at Wood river, about twenty miles from here, and have washouts, bad bridges or overflowed tracks at various other places The Vandalia and Louisville & Nashville are unloaded at Silver Creek and other places. The Wabash (eastern division) lias trouble beyond Alton, and the western division had laud slides between here and the Missouri river at St. Charles. On the Missouri Pacific there are several land slides within fifty miles of the city and considerable track is overflowed. The Keokuk & St. Louis is also under water in several places. The Iron Mountain, besides the land slide reported last night, has ex tended about sixteen miles below the city.

Tiie St. Louis A San Francisco lias ’no serious damage and trains have not been stopped. Ail the roads are busily employed repairing damages, and the prospects are all trains will be running regularly in a day or two. The rise in the river here is said by the best steamboatmen to be unprecedented. No such amount of water was ever known to come down so suddenly or in such a short space of time before the rainfall, and it was also very unusual in quantity, amounting to within a seventh-hundreth of an inch of as much as the average fall for the entire winter for tiie past eleven years. The telegraph lines west of here are still prostrated. Tiie inly train that arrived from the east to-night was on the Ohio & Mississippi road. This road also sent out a train, out so far as can now be learned no other road did. ’Three trains are saidte be “stalled” by a land slide near Franklin, on the Missouri Pacific. A construction train is nearly buried in a deep cut at Huntley, on the Wabash road, between here and St. Charles. The Jacksonville branch of the Chicago & Alton is also in trouble, and trains are delayed. The rain finally ceased al out 11 o’clock to-night,since when the mercury has fallen several degrees and a light snow is now falling. The indications now ar; it will freeze hard before morning, A high northwest wind is blowing, but the clouds are still heavy, with no signs of clearing. Jeffersonville, Ind., February 21.-The flood in the Ohio river had not done any material damage in tliis city or vicinity up to a late hour tonight. The Howards and Barmare are busy removing timber to prevent its washing away, and aie fighting tiie water to prevent its entering the sewer, which drains their saw mill. The loss will be considerable. The Jiftersonville glass works will probably be compelled to close on account of the water. Its back-waters generally do the most damage in Jeffersonville, as the Ohio banks on that side are high below the city, at the “Y" on the line of the Jeffersonville road. The flood-gate lias been put up to keep out the water from Silver creek and the Ohio At present the local rains have swollen all creeks, and the flood-gates have not prevented all the roads leading out of the city from being flooded, some places to tfte depth of ten feet. In the viclni© < ’ the Ninth street depot the water commenced rising rapidly “j Ud one or two houses in that vicinity were under wafer near the springs. Considerable damage will loßow in case the river goes up four feet or more. Memphis, February 21. —After ueclining four inches from the highest point reached, the river came to a stand here this morning, and will doubtless commence rising again. Tiie gauge now marks thirty-four feet eleven inches above low watt r mark. It is eleven inches above the

danger line, and within sixteen inches of the extreme high water of 1862. vhlch proved so disastrous to the inhabitants of the Mississippi valley. Little Rock, February 21.—The Gazette’s Helena special says: News reacheel here to-day of an accidant on the plantation of the late Colonel Ellis, eleven miles below this city, by which six children were drowned. It seems that Charles Washington (colored), when lie found tiie plantation would be overflowed last Friday, put his wife and six children into a dugout to take them to a place of safety. He bad just started, when the dugout capsized and all the children were drowned. He and his wife were saved by clinging to the capsized boat. Tiie bereaved father is a hard working man. Information has also just been received of tiie drowning of Moses Green (colored) on Dilliard & Coffin’s plantation, on the Mississippi side, by the capsizing of a dug-out. Pittsburg, February 23.—This morning about half past 6 o'clock one of a battery of three boilers in the rolling mill of A. M. Byers & Co., on the south side, exploded with a loud report, scattering the debris in all di rections, injuring three men, and completely demolishing tiie boiler shed. Frank Myers and John Lavite, two of the men injured, escaped with slight wounds on the head The other, whose name could not be learned, was seriously and, it is thought, fatally hurt. The explosion is believed to have resulted from a broken flange connecting the boilers with tie mud drains.

St. Louis, February 23.—One of; he boilers in tiie blooming mill of the Vulcan steel works, in South St. Louis, exploded with terrific force at eleven o’clock this morning. About one hundred men were working in the mill at tiie time,of whom Michael Coakley, John Doan, Frank Chambersand Oliver were fatally injured, being terribly scalded, besides having their limbs broken. Robert Cotton had three ribs broken and was severely burned. Mike Crown, compound fracture of the leg and several scalds. Frank Loftus and Thomas Brannan were also badly scalded, and three other men seriously hurt. The smoke stack was blown down and the mill otherwise considerably damaged. Little Rock, February 23.—The Gazette’s Pine Bluff special says: Saturday morning, near Richland, this county, Mr. McAlfee was slain by bis wife, the weapon used being a rifle barrel, with which she beat him to death. He had forced his stepdaughter, the daughter of Mrs. McAlfee, a girl about fifteen years of age to his adulterous bed. The wife and mother, the next morning, before he got out of his bed, wreaked vengeance as above stated. Mrs. McAlfee was lodged in jail to answer the charge of murder. Her friends are preparing a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Public sentiment is altogether with the unfortunate woman. San Francisco, February 23.—The officer aud part of a crew picked up some days ago by the steamer Newburn, opposite Ecuador, on the coast of Southern California, proves to be Captain McArthur, of the British ship Milton. This vessel was bound for San Francisco with a cargo of coal, and was abandoned nearly two months ago on account of catching fire. The survivors have been sixteen days without food or water. Lynchburg, Va., February 23.— Charles Jones, convicted of murder, and Randolph Moffett, awaiting trial or murder, escaped from jail by digging through the wall. St. Louis, February 25. —The Glohe Democrat, referring editorially to t to appointment ot Roscoe Conkling ill the suprem- bench, says: “It wxt remove the most formidable pretety for a division of the Republican parto in New York and pave the way be peace and harmony.” San Srancisco, February 25.—A dispatch from Mineral Park, Arizona, says: At Hackberry, thirty miles from this town, J. O. Weldon, a desperate character, on the 20th inst., shot and killed, without provocation, a peaceable citizen name John Bullock. Citizens rushed to the scene aud opened fire on Weldon, which he returned, slightly wounding Indian Agent Charles. Spencer. Weldon was shot through the breast, and a ter his pistol was emptied he surrendered. He was held in custody till the night of the2lst, when a party of fifteen men took him out and hung him to the beam of a blacksmith shop. Weldon declared publicly a short time ago that he was glad Guiteau had killed Garfield.

Chicago, February 25.—During the years 1880 and 1881, over SIOO,OOO worth of hogs were stolen from tiie stock yards. One man was arrested on information yesterday. . O ’ the strength ot liis confession to-day a number of dealers and traders about the yards were arrested charged with the crime. Chicago, February 25. —A Springfield, 111., special reports ex-Governor Palmer as saying, in regard to the announcement that he had received from S. J. Tilden a letter to the effect that he (Tilden) would be a candidate for the presidency in 1884, provided Balmer would run for vice president: “I have received no letter from Governor Tilden on that or any other subject. I would not for a moment entertain a proposition of that kind. The publications on the. subject have been entirely unauthorized and without a particle of foundation, and I wish it so stated.” Cincinnati, February 25.—The manufacturing firm of John Richards & Sons, who carried on an immense coopering establishment on Eggleston avenue aud Eighth street, made an assignment late this afternoon. Tiie assest are about $50,000 and liabilities $45,000. The firm are successors to Captain John Richards, de ceased. It is believed they will speedily adjust matters with their creditors. New Waterford, Ohio, February 25.—A large brick house a siiort distance west of this place, owned and occupied by Miss Clara McMillan, was entirely burned down about four o’clock this morning, About half the household effects were saved. The flre is supposed to have originated by coal falling from an open grate. Loss, $2,000; no insurance. New York, February 25.—A Utica special says Conkling was very much surprised yesterday on receiving his appointment. He refused to talk today, but leaves for New Y’ork this evening. It is believed here he is inclined to refuse the honor. Burlington. February 25.—This i. orningat two o’clock Judge Charles Mason died in this city. Judge Mason was one of the pioneers of lowa, always a prominent Democrat and honored many times by important appointments by his party. He was born at Pompeii Onqnoaga county, New York, October 24,1804.

INDIANA. The wife of William Bea, of Waveland. fell dead while dressing. At the religious revival in the M. E. church at Edinburg, over fifty conversions are reported. A. C. Royer, a merchant of Stockwell, was found in his bed in a dying condition and soon after expired. James Hendrickson, an influential farmer of Noble township, Shelby county, has become violently insane A four months-old child of Frank and Laura Clements, of Crawfords ville died of strangulatiou, caused by a crying fit. Two children of William Bailey, ol Stockwell, ate some raw ham that proved to contain trichime. Onedied and the other is in a critical condition. An oak tree three feet in diameter that Richard Tyre, of Bedford, was cutting down, fell on him and injured him to such an extent that he can not recover. Thomas F. Gaylor, of Lafayette, and others have brought suit against the city for $12(1,1X10 damages, based on an old real estate transaction, dating back to 1859. There is a growing disposition in Logansport to regard a gossamer in the same light as an umbrella, any one’s property, when no one happens to be looking. Calvin Barnet was sentenced at Vincennes, to ten years in the penitantiary for manslaughter. Barnet shot and killed James Ellis, at Hazleton, February 10, 18«1. The contract between LafayetU and the Brush company has been signed. The light is to be placed upon the high school building, which overlooks the entire city. Samuel Sunderland, of Delaware county, has given a 120 acre farm to each of his eight children. He has a splendid home farm of 190 acres left, where he w ill reside and labor. • Clayton McWhinney, a young farmer residing five miles east of Richmond, was thrown from a young colt at Westville, 0., a village just across the state line, and instantly killed. Dave Holford, who lived about three miles south of Carthage, who had gone to look after some traps be had set, was found dead in tiie woods. He is supposed to have died of epilepsy. Since the shooting of the Tunnelton burglars several young men in that part of the country have concluded that emigration is the best thing for them, and have left. Others are getting ready to go. The farmers of Knox county, in response to inquiries of the Vincennes Sun, report that wheat never looked bet ter at this time of year, the growth being so luxuriant that some farmers are pastniing it down. All they fear now is the fly.

A Portland butcher was dressing a turkey on Saturday, when his knife struck something, which on eximination, proved to be quartz. An assay revealed tiie presence of gold, and tiie value of the precious stuff found in the fowl’s crop is $1.50. Logansport is excited over the report tiiat Indianapolis capitalists contemplate bidding in a large part of the property soon to be sold for taxes there, as was done at Evansville. Property owners are taking the very best way to avoid this by paying up their taxes. Gen. James A. Eakin, Assistant Quartermaster-General, who has been in charge of the Jeffersonville Depot for years is to be transferred to Philadelphia, his successor being Col. R N. Batchelor, who comes from San. Francisco. The transfer will be made on March 1. Mrs. Nancy Rardin, wife of the late 'Squire Rardin, of Greenfield, and one of tiie oldest pioneers of Hancock county, died while sitting on a chair. She was the mother of six children, and was will respected by all who knew her. Mrs. Rardin was one hundred and five years old. The cause of her death was old age. A daughter of Joseph Saberton, of Evansville, whohasgiven her parents a good deal of trouble, having been in jail for stealing, and other misdemeanors, attempted to put an end to the chronic state of bobbery by mixing poison in tiie biscuit. She made her parents deathly sick, but they were pumped out and she escaped. Coroner Roos, of Jeffersonville, has completed the investigation of the killing of Thomas Morgan by Wm. Munden. Tiie coroner finds that the homicide was unjustifiable. Munden was arraigned before Mayor Warder and held in S2OO bond to answer at the next term of the circuit court. He gave the required bond and was released. At noon while the cashier of Shannon's bank at Terre Haute, was alone, two strangers entered, and while one engaged his attention the other took three packages containing $1,500 in money from tiie counter and made his escape. The loss was discovered before tiie other accomplice left the bank, and lie was arrested, and gave the name of B. H. Simmons. An accomplice who gave his name as C. S. Hunt was afterwards arrested. The grand jury being in session, both were Indicted at once, and bail placed at $5,000 each. The money was not recovered. Two others of the gang were seen on the north bound train -it Clinton, and efforts are being made io catch them.'

Its Readers Never See A Magazine. A magazine for the blind, called Progress, was started in April last. It is published monthly by the British and Foreign Blind Association for Promoting the Education and Employment of the Blind, and is edited by a Dr. T. R. Amitage, the secretary of thot association. It is in the Brialle type, which is a character consisting of raised points, now used very largely by the blind. Tiie first number was devoted to the decision of Mr. Justice Fry in tiie case of the Gardner bequest to the blind of England and Wales. Since then the following articles have appeared, among others: “Tiie condition of the Blind in Japan from Miss Bird's work ; “The Visit of the Milan Violinists to England;” “The Revised New Testament“Tiie Life of Louis Braille.” the inventor of the point system of printing and writing which is the basis of nearly all modern education for the blind; “An Account of the Imperial Blind ; School of Vienna,” and a summary I of the changes that have taken place 1 during the year in aotue of our own leading Institutions for the blind, These special articles are diversified by poetry and notices of events of

general interest. It tells well for the increase of general education among the blind that there are a sufficient number to support a magazine of this kind, especially when it is considered that thirty years ago there were probably not twenty people in the Kingdom who could read the Braille type. The paper on which the magazine is embossed on both sides from sterotype plates, prepared by the blind themselves; which method of printing has be n for some time adopted in all the works, musical as well as literary, published by the association —[London News. AGRICULTURAL. Guano was first introduced into New England in 1841. Nitrate of soda is very soluble, and for that reason should be put on the land in the spring, especially if used on light soils. Strange as it may seem, there is more food raised in the poultry yard of France than in the stalls and pastures of Englend. Ten bolls par staik will give 900 pounds seed cotton per acre. Usually 1,5 0 pounds seed cotton make 506 pounds lint cotton. Hensasarule, layabout an equal numltr of tggs in their first and second seasons, after which the produce rapidly decreases. Granite rocks, sand and dust contain large amounts of potash. On some of our sandy lands an application of potash has but little effect. A Texas sheep-breeder says that cotton seed can be bought for 10 cents a bushel, and one bushel is sufficient for one sheep during the bad spells of winter. Tlia great mistake in setting out Ij edges is to throw up a lidge to set f hem on. Tiie best results always come from a peafectiy level cultivation of corn. Ellsworth, Kan., has a cow that gave birth to twin calves in Febuary, 1880 She gave birth to a beauaiful heifer calf in in all five calves in less than two years. Chic go uses every j art of her cattle, from the hoof to tiie born and from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail, and therein lies much of her strength as a market for southwest stock. White leaves and varigated white and green leaves indicate degeneracy in a plant. A braacli with leaves entirely white is no iciiger capable of propagation; it is in the laststages ol its existence. Nearly all of the agricultural work in Prussia is done by women, and the custom is now, as it always has been; the men are considered far to brave and strong to engage in anything less important than war. Linsead oil, well applied with a whitewash brush, lias been recommended by a Kentucky fruit-grower as a reliable remedy for pear blight, He claims to have effectually checked the progress ot this disease witn its use.

While iron fence poets may be very durable and easily set, still the cost of wood is so s mall, and their advan tages in many ways are so obvious that oak, chestnut and cedar posts must always command the preference. In breeding hens for winter laying there is no <1 Oss that will equal the Leghorn and Brhama, or, if preferred, the Leghorn and Cociiin. Cross the! White Leghorn with tiie Brahma and the Brown Leghorn on tiie Patridge Cochin. Lumber cut in September or October must be the most lasting, as tiie wood contains least sap, is solid and hence the timber must be more durable than if cut in the spring when the tree was putting forth every energy to expand its growth. A number of cattle are dying in Mills County, lowa, from what is supposed to be anthrax. A farmer named Joseph Boggs skinned one of his cows and threw tiie carcass to his fattening hogs, and next morning every hog in tiie pen was dead—nine in number. It is conceded that the Berkshire will average at six months old 190 sounds; at nine months, 230; at twelee months , 400, and at twentyfour months, 590. It will be seen that the best comparative weighl is at twelve months and under The milk of the Holyoke Butter Factory is skimmed and one pound of butter made from eleven quarts of milk bringing 40 cents, Tiie skimmed milk, about ten quarts,is sold in the village for skimiued milk, at 4 cents per quart. Total 80 cents, or about 40 cents per gallon. Ozone is much advertised as a presirvative of meat, fruit, eggs, etc. Some of the articles sold under tiiat name are a compound of sulphur and charcoal, flavored with a little cinamon oil. Sulphur fumes will preserve fsuits,eggs and meats alone, It is haimless in results. Experiments have shown that of 100 pounds of the dry matter of fodder the following amounts pass into the excrements, solid and liquid together Fed to the horse, 53 pounds; the milch cows, 44 pounds; the ox, 52 pounds, and the sheep, 48 pounds On the average, then, about one-half of the dry matter of the fodder passes into the manure.

Mr. Dillon, of Brighton,lo., gives , his experience with sheep in 1880-81. , “In 1880,” he writes’ “I sheared 140 1 seeep averaging 8 pounds to a fleece, , or $2 in value to a sheep, and raised 1 seventy-five lambs; besides I lost many Jambs by the late spring and . severe winter. Neither did the sheep ' shear as heavily as in the year previ- a ous.” • ’ Animals of spirit and detirmlna- I tion are stronger than those of much j greater weight, devoid of these qual- i iiies. The thorough bred horse of 1,000 pounds weight can draw more than 1 a dung hili-plow of 1,200 pounds, and < can go twice the distance on the road, . day in and day o ut, w ith a relative burden or draught. Blood in all of | our domestic animals is superlative as compared witli low-bred stock. squeezed hard in the hand until perfectly dean, and then dipped again 1 into fresh soft water. Never put an iron to lace, but take it carefully into ahe hands and draw the damp nieshis into shape, and then press under a heavy weight for a whole day, between the folds of a piece of soft muslin. Thn crown prince of Germany ear I boast of 05,536 ancestors, according t< i a genealogical tree of the house ol i Prussia, which has been compiled for I the Berlin heraldic exhibitio. . They are getting splendid ice 12 II inches thick at Sandusky.

NUMBER 48.

NIGHT. When night. Rablc Goddess Stretch forth her aden sceptre The spangled curtain softly fell On all the earth around. A breath ess ca m encha* ing spell. Serenely still, profound. At first command her maids come forth Bedecked in royal, queenly robes. Fair Lima, queen -fall the hosts •From that f.trra'm saltires us mow With sweet celestial grace. And now the waning hours glide by, And Sornnus o ’er us vigils keep While (lar l er shadows on us falL Again may sweet repose be ours, Throughout the lonely midnight hours. Joanna THE PAINTER’S STORT. BY B. S. STORMS. A long, crooked street, with the shadows of age upon it; a street with old gabled roofs, where the swallows had built nests for years, going and coming as they probably would to the end of time. It was a dark and cheerless street for childhood to grow hap py over, and I think that its gloom ivershadowed my childhood with a pall that dwarfed its powers, for a seaon at least.

I always wondered why my parents oound me down to the narrow limits of its narrow precincts, and the still narrower minds of its inhabitants; and even while a child, I re olved to cut the fetters tfiat bound me, and launch away into the wholesale atmosphere of the outside world. Painting vases and wax dolls was the bottom round of the ladder whose summit I resolved to reach, but never in that Crooked, gloomy street, w here a ray of sunlight was a rarity, and a rose blossom would have been a curiosity. I had been on a holiday visit, and returned to my piison, feeling ciamped and discontented. I hail genius, and I knew it. I had made several sketches in color, and Uncle Rugby, who kept a little print shop, had sold them for me. Uncle Rugby was the only friend 1 had. 1 told mm all my dreams, my aspirations, and my resolve to leave the place as soon as possible. “Right, my boy, right!” he said. “There is nobody but the poo; old man left, and he will not tarry long. He has a few pennies laid by, and when you go, Uncle Rugby is not the one to put a block in your way.” And so it eame to pass that 1 left my dingy shop in the crooked street wdth a few pounds in my pocket, ami started out into the world that I hail dreamed of at night in my narrow attic, and studied by day over my wax dolls. Uncle Rdgby said to tne: “My boy, find a good master in the art, attend to it studiously, and you will make your mark.” My father and mother were poor, and did not live in Bevencross; and therefore they knew nothing about my whereabouts, only that I had left my doll-painting and the master to whom I was apprenticed. ««««*** A glorious September evening. Tall hills dipped with purple gloom, and behind their massive lines, gold, red and amber sunset.

I had worked hard; my success was all that I could expect; my pictures were admired, and some ot them graced the walls of art galleries. I was a young fellow now, and had a drawing class in a northern city, whre I was residing for a period to recover my health; for hard labor had weakened my constitution. A quaint old city It was, with a castle and cathedral which the sun lights up In a beautiful blending of color and shade. A strange, dreamy old place, with beautiful sunsets and old legends hanging about it. How I wander! I was talking about — who?—Clarisse Venier. She was a member of my class. I fancy I can see her now; the sparkling depths ot her tender eyes; her brown hair twined back from her forehead, as upon the golden September twilight She had come to me after my class had retired, wKh a piece of coloring —the shadow of clouds upon water. The light and shade were exquisitely perfect In her little sketch, and 1 told her so.

“Oh, thank you, Mr. Beverly,” she said, looking up with great seriousness. “I was afraid you would laugh at it.” “No, indeed," I answered. “Do you think I shall ever excel? I would give the world to paint. Will you help me?” I remembered the boy who painted dolls in the crooked street at Sevencross; and this ray of sunlight that had fallen across his life, rippling down into the depths of his heart, and warming It into a great love. "You have only to command me. Miss Venier,” I answered. “You shall excel, if my assistance be of any avail.” “How can I ever repay you for your kindness?” she said, placing her little hand in mine, and drawing so near to me that I felt her breath touch my cheek.

I would have held her in my arms then, but I waited. “You can repay me, I said. “How?” “I will tell you other time,” I answered. Her brow flushed with the faintest tint of rose as she withdrew her trembling hand. 1 helped her through many a happy, h’ppy hour in her studio overlooking the beautiful river; how ofteu bending near to her till her soft brown hair sw pt my cheek, until I could look deep into iter tender eyes kindled into enthusiasm over her work. She came nearer to me, and dearer to my heart than life. I taught her to paint until she excelled her tutor. She taught me to love until my art aas forgotten. The Indiana grand lodge of the A. O. U. W. met in Indianapolis. There are seventy-three lodges in the state, with a revenue of $45,843.| The estate of the late Henry D. Durant, founder of Wellesley college, is valued at $941,877.17, of which only $57,000 is invested in real estate-. The appointments of Sissot as ambassador to London and the Marquis of Denovilles as ambass idor to Constantinople are gazetted at Baris. Atfßaducah, Ky., five persons who lived on a flat-boat were drowned, as was also a man named Little, who went out ina boat to their rescue. A saloonist named Wyatt, who was shot in Louisville, Ky., for resisting and tiring at United States officers, died. He had been a deputy marshal himself. At New York, Judge Barrett sentenced Washington E. Hall and I homas Boland to two years each in the state prison for violat ion of the election laws in October, 1879. A modest headstone words “Mrs. Surratt” has r over the grave of Mjj *"* t ' Mount Olivet - r - Vhe grave save by the- '