Decatur Democrat, Volume 38, Number 37, Decatur, Adams County, 30 November 1894 — Page 7

©he democrat DJECOATUR, IND. *\ZW%rVW** W. BLACKBUBS, . - . Pumann. Uncle Sam Is getting forehanded. Now It appears that we need a repair shop where vessels can be sent after war. Sarah Grand complains that she “only got $984 for "The Heavenly Twins.’ ” In these hard times the owners of twins would think that a pretty good bid. • We must ourselves ascend if we would lift others, and in this very upward climbing we are taking the first and most essential step in social improvement. Mrs. Lieberman, of New York, had three fires and collected Insurance twice, and when sho was arrested she was in the congenial company of two men, each one of whom is under ball for arson; probably both old flames of hers. The very fact of seeing a predominant evil lays a special obligation on the one who deserves it to see to it that he himself is wholly blameless in the matter. This self-purlflcation is the primary element in the purification of society. - It must be with wondrous thankfulness that fond mothers read of the grand work science is doing for the Hyes of the little ones. Diphtheria and croup are words of awful significance in the maternal mind. And now science brings ttye grateful news that successful treatment has been discovered for both the dreadful ailments. What does the fame of generals and potentates amount to compared with the researches of scientists who find the means of saving precious lives? Nature never gives to a living thing capacities not particularly meant fox Its benefit and use. If nature gives to us capacities to believe that we have a Creator whom we never saw, of whom we have no direct poof, who is kind and good and tender bayond all we know of kindness and goodness and tenderness on earth, it Is because the endowment of capacities to conceive such a Being must be for our benefit and use; It would not be for our benefit and use if it were a lie. There used to be one marriage law for whites and another for colored folk in Delaware, and perhaps there Is still, for Delaware changes slowly, and her constitution still contains the words “free white male,” or their equivalent .Marriage licenses were required of whites, and a curlbus bond for the maintenance of the children that might come of the union, but nothing of the kind was required of slaves, and for logging camp, with huge trunks thrown about" The largest of these trunks are ten feet In diameter, and, where they have been broken by the action of the weather or by human agency, they form “a mosaic of carnelian, agate, jasper, topaz, onyx and amethyst.” Much of the petrified wood is shipped away, to be powdered as a substitute for emery, and the preservation of these unique forests by the Government is called for. “Why did he die?” as howled dolefully in one of Boucicault’s plays, has become a comic type of the wall of bereavement; but in the case of the Czar, Lt is only a legitimate Inquiry. Did he die because he had a cancer, or because of the ordinary results of Bright’s disease? As the cause was evidently sufficient, whatever It was, curiosity may be regarded as superfluous. And yet it is of great Interest with regard to remaining members of the same family. If cancer Is to be added to the other Ills of life that a Czar has tb face, a Czar maybe would .like to know it, and as they have had a post mortem, Dr. LeyI den can tell. But It Is announced that the results of the post mortem will not be made public. It might not b%pleasant all around to make It certain that cancer Is an heirloom In the royal family; but If they have certain evidence that there Is no cancer, that ought to be pleasant Perhaps, therefore, the decision against publicity means that they have found cancer. D. D. Miller, a retired Ashland (Ohio) merchant and railroad projector, died on his farm recently and left SSOO In ■order to secure Ingersoll to preach his funeral sermon. This Is money thrown away. All that Mr. Ingersoll has to say on this subject he has said already. He has already declared that after death he is not certain whether he shall find “a closed wall or an open door.” So far as Is known he has had no additional Information since he made that declaration. His views were clearly set forth bn the occasion of his brother’s, death. He has not gone any deeper into the Kubject since that time. He has uo Snore authoritative information about ■he other world now than lie had then, ■nd he never will have any more. As a ■latter of economy, therefore, it would Have been much more sensible if the Kite Mr. Miller had spent 5 cents for the Kttle pamphlet which contains Mr. In.- ' gersoll’s views and had nailed it up on his barn where all passers-by eouki read It, or had it posted up In the room where his corpse was resting so that hip friends could see it, and given the SSOO to his heirs, who would have made as good a use of It as Mr. Ingersoll. The late Mr. Miller was not g thrifty or a aenpible \ . I ’

The failure of one man is the oppor tunlty of another. Desperation is sometimes as powerful and Inspired a* genius. What appears tb be calamities are often the sources of fortune. Dress does not make a man, but it often makes q successful one. Begin the day well by rising early. The universal experience of the wisest men of all ages is in favor of the habit of getting up early In the morning. The practice is closely connected with length of life. It Is also closely connected with happiness and activity of life. ' In the long run a great body of men and women is Improved less by general outcry against Its collective characteristics than by the Inculcation of broader views, higher motives and sounder habits of judgment, in such a form as touches each man and woman Individually. , The every-day cares amTduties which men call drudgery are the weights and counterpoises of the clock of time, giving Its pendulum a true vibration, and Its hands a regular motion; and when they cease to hang upon the wheels, the pendulum no longer swings, the hands no longer move, the clock stands still. The man who, commencing with little or nothing, has resolved to rise must also resolve to sacrifice nothing to appearance. He cannot gain one true friend or obtain any popularity that will be really useful to him In his efforts to achieve Independence by endeavoring to seem to have that which he has not

Every function has its own proper sphere and natural limit and can do Its best work only within that sphere and those limits. Nothing is gained, but much lost by encroachment Whether we have but a minute, a day, a week, or a month given us for decision, the mind will act more vigorously, more successfully If it be compelled to finish Its own work in Its own time. Even though no light seems to be shed upon the subject and when the time for action has arrived, It is better to act than to delay. The mistakes thus made will be the best lessons for the future, and the mind will thus be trained to greater swiftness and vigilance. Miss Agnes Jones, of Oklahoma, Is “the fittest” and that’s how It happens that she survives. She was a better shot than Sam Bartell, though he, being fourteen years older, must have had more experience. She was not only a better shot in the sense of accuracy,, but also In that of readiness. Seeing that the case had to be settled In that way, Agnes fired without loss of time, and when Sam at last fired the case had gone against him. Agnes, It appears, had a homestead in the Cherokee Strip and a house on it, and she locked up and went away, just as the Dusants did, and Sam came along while she was away and occupied her house. Upon preseffco ot-dus-tal'N nefaMod Va lea.va.., man will be improved by having his attention called to the wisdom of being fair to women as well as to other men. FOUND UNTOLD RICHES. Dlacov«r«r of Diamond* In Africa—Plny- . thliigx for Children. The Cape Government of Africa is contemplating the granting of a pension to the founder of the diamond Industries of Africa. He Is Lennard Jacobs, and accompanying is a picture of him. When told that diamonds were thought to exist in Africa he asked what they were, whereupon he w*as told that If he found a stone bright and shining, like glass, which withstood the fire while his pulse beat five times or

—■ ( I FOUND AFRICA’S DIAMONDS. more, he might conclude it was a diamond; while, on the other hand, If it popped In the ashes, it was a crystal, and valueless. “Why,” said Lennard, “my children have many bright stones such as you speak of, and when I go home I will put them in the fire.” On his return To his little farm, remembering the instructions, he placed several bright stones, which his children bad collected, In the Are, but all popped with the exception of one, which seemed Impervious to the heat. This was purchased by Sir Philip Woodhouse, the Governor, for $2,000, and it still remains in his family. Jacobs, however, got but little out of the transaction. Jacobs’ discovery led to the mining of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of diamonds on the dark continent. Sensible. It has been proposed that stations be erected in convenient localities in cities and large towns where physicians may go to be thoroughly dlsin fected immediately after they have visited a case of infectuous disease antj before paying any further visits.

i H* ' • AT THE FEAST OF THANKSGIVING. Does plenty throng your neighbor’s gates, And many a lamp blaze merrily, While toll like a lean mistress waits To dole your wage out charily? Though lingering sickness haunt your — bed, Hope like a changeling turn to dread, Ahd sorrow skulk behind. Yet hen the yearly feast is spread, Eat With-a thankful mind I Not for broad lands and gold, I wls, Fat crops and ripening weather, Our fathers in the wilderness Knelt and praised God together: When the grim forests icy bound With hardship hemmed the wanderers round. When danger lurked behind— - Nay, in death’s very teeth, they found Faith and a thankful mind! —Doha Read Goodale. The DociorFwsglyihg. BY FRANCIS CHURCHILL WILLIAMS. _____ '' ’ * ■ “B-r-r-r!” exclaimed the Doctor as he came into the kitchen and threw off his greatcoat. “We’re in tor a stormy night, sure I’m glad to-morrow’s Thanksgiving, and I dp hope it’ll be a holiday for ine as well as sot other folks. It’ll be a good day to stay indoors.’’ His wife put both arms about him, regardless of the flour on her hands. “I do hope you won’t be called out,” she said; “youneed a rest. Now sit down, and I’ll soon have supper ready.” The Doctor drew up a chair near the fire, and went on while the table was being set: “Yes, the wind’s from the east, and I think we’ll have rain before morning. It’ll be a bad nighs offshore.” Then he relapsed into silence, enjoying the warmth of the room and thinking with pleasure of the nexs day. The wind roared more loudly outside than ever, and shook the house as if in impotent rage at its inability to tear it from its foundations. When he went to the door, just before retiring, there was a fine, driving sleet from the east. The Doctor gave only a glance out-of-doors; then he shut'and bolted the door, and went upstairs to bed. It seemed to him that he had but just dozed off when he was awakened bj’ a furious pounding below. Some one was doing bib best to let him know that admission was wanted; and with not a little mental grumbling i the Doctor got out of bed and into j his dressing gown and slippers, and lifted the sash of a window overlooking the door. “Well, what’s wanted?” he asked, though he felt sure he knew beforehand. “Old Paxton’s siek,” said a hoarse voice from below; “and I’we come for nearly five o’clock, and It’ll be seven before I can reach the village. Two or three hours more must be spent there at least, if the old gentleman has one of his regular attacks, as I fear. That means afternoon before I return. It won’t be much of a Thanksgiving for me; will it? That ■ is,” ho went on hastily, “I mean not a holiday.” For his wife had come, to his side and was looking at him in gentle reproach. Fifteen minutes later the Doctor, ensconced in a buggy beside the man who had come for him, was trying to keep his face from the biting attacks of the wind-driven sleet against winch they were slowly forcing their way. 'lt was a wild night; and the storm which the Doctor had prophesied had come down on the coast from off the sea, bringing withtt halffrozen rain, and now and then fierce flurries of snow. # It was a tirSsome struggle of two hours before they drew rein in front of the house where the patient, and the doctor was glad to get indoors. He found the case even a worse one than he had expected. Old Paxton, as he was generally called, was well advanced in years and was subject to periodical attacks of a chronic disorder which obstinately resisted treatment and usually entailed the physician’s constant presence ..at the bedside for several hours before it yielded its hold, even for the time. So it was now. The doctor set to work at once with a full, knowledge of what to do and of what was before him; but it was past ten o’clock before he felt he could safely leave the old man. Then, with a sigh of relief, he went down stairs and, after securing a bite to eat, prepared to start for home, for which purpose he had directed the man who had driven him over to return with his team. - A few minutes later there was a knock at the door, and the doctor went and opened it. His driver was there, but he was all excitement, and he did not wait to be asked what was the matter. “There’s a ship off shore! ” he exclaimed. “She caine in an hour agol She’B on the outside bar. They’re all down on the beach now, watching her. They’ve seht for the coast guard; but the station’s miles away and it’ll be several hours before they can get here with, their gun; and they say she can’t, last that long. There’s men aboard her, too; a while ’go they were seen tryin’ to get a boat off from her; but the waves smashed It to splinters alongside the ihipl” ’ For » minute the Doctor hesitated

as he thought of his comfortable, home. Then it came to hl in that he might be of some assistance here. There was no physician but himself in the place. Suppose some of those poor fellows managed to get ashore alive? They would need just such aid as he could best give. Plainly his duty was down on the beach. Ho would miss his Thanksgiving, probably, altogether. But what of that beside the good he might be able to do here? “Show me the way! ” he said, quickly, to the man. “I’ll go down with you and see if there is anything for me to do.” It was a fight against the wind all the way down to the beach, and nt every step the gale seemed to increase in power. The sand, which the wind carried, cut the face cruelly. The Doctor, with his muffler wound partly about his head, followed his guide, who made off away from the direction of the town. Presently, through the misty spume which obscured all objects at any distance, a crowd of men came into view. Their figures were magnified by the atmosphere hugely. They were all looking to the seaward, except when one of them would now and then give an eager glance down the beach where the men from the life-saving station must first appear The Doctor and hiik.doi»panrorr stopped beside a smaller knot of men in rough coats and sou’westers who were gathered about an old whaleboat. The men gave a Stare at the newcomers as they came up, then fastened their eyes again upon the sea.

“Where does she lie?” asked the Doctor, after a minute’s fruitless scanning of the mass of tumbling waters before him. “Straight ahead, off th’ second bar!” returned the nearest man, pointing a seamed hand in front of him. “She’s hard and fast there. The seas ’re pounding her hard. By an’ by she’ll break; then may God ha’ mercy on those aboard her!” It was an awesome sight. In anI gry majesty the huge billows rolled in from under the' gray, a hissing wreath of white upon their brows. Then, with a thunderous crash they fell and rushed in seething foam up the beach, up, until they almost reached the anxious crowd of watchers. Suddenly one of the billows, more powerful than its fellows, seemed to have lifted the mist upon its shoulders, and, dropping, to have left the curtain hanging in empty air. Beneath its ragged edge and over the tops of the waves the Doctor saw a sight which sent a chill to his I heart. It was only a glimpse of a [ mass of black, framed in spume ana i driving water, a splintered spar here i and there reaching up, and flying, broken ropes, which whipped the air. Not a sign of life showed about the those who saw the sight knew that men had been there but a short time before, and a groan came from the crowd. The gray mist fell once more and blotted out everything ■ ■ fwiiw iriniv out strong and olear, “tnerm wum to be done and we must do it 1 There are poor souls out there and the guard can’.t get here in time ! But you’re not going to see them die because of that? Who’ll go out with me, then, and fry to bring them in? Who of- ; fers?” The crowd had turned their faces to him as But there was no answer. They all knew the danger better than he. Stout-hearted as they were, they stood appaled at the idea of facing those tremendous seas. The Doctor glanced from face to face. Then suddenly he spoke again: “What, will you see them die? Will you let me, a landsman, put you to shame? Who comes first? There are but six places to fill 1” There was an instant “more of silence ; but then the crowd to a man pressed around the speaker, each crying that he would go. The Doctor jumped from his perch as abroad-shouldered, weatherbeaten fisherman pushed his way to the front and clapped him on the shoulder and spoke out. “We’re with you, Doctor I” he said, in his rough bass. “But only the best oars must go. I’ll pick ’em and take out the boat myself.” .■ In five minutes the Doctor saw five sturdy fellows, their peajackets and oilskins cast off, ranged off along the sides of the whale boat. He himself at the bow —for he had insisted upon going — divested of coat and hat, stood ready for the word. As if by magic the boat had been stripped of all but the long' ashen oars which lay on the thwarts, ready at hand. Together the six shoved the boat down to the water’s edge Then three of the men with the Doctor leaped in, and dropping their oars between the tholepins, bent, ready for the first struggle. The leader in the stern, his steering oar over the gunwale, watched the waves before him. Suddenly he roared out, “Let her go,” and the two men at the boat’s edge ran her out on a receding wave, wading to their waists before they tumbled aboard and seized the stroke oars. The long blades of the six oars were bnried and the boat leaped forward as the oarsmen threw their weight upon them. Then a huge wave came booming in, the boat rose high to meet it, and the Doctor in the bow saw a mass of water rush by him. The next instant the boat gave a sudden fling and slid down into the dark abyss between the waves. Again it rose, and poised for an instant on the billow’s summit, then rushed down the decline once more. The Doctor, with

all his old time college experience in handling an oar, found his strength and Skill sorely tried to retain his grasp upon the heavy ash sweep which he held. There was no fear in his heart. He thought only of those to reach whom they were now struggling. Again and again were they driven partly back. But steadily the boat’s crew fought their way on, sheets of spray flying from the bows and fairly blinding the men for the moment Then, all at once, there camo a sharp command from the steersman: “ Hold hard I” and the Doctor felt something strike him on the shoulder heavily. Instinctively he reached out a hand and caught it. As he realized thabit was a rope and that it must come from the vessel, he dropped his hold on the oa? and grasped the line firmly. In another minute, with the help of the man nearest him, he had given it a turn around a thwart and the boat swung in the less heavy seas in the lee of the wrecked schooner. Comparatively calm tho’ it was here, the Jong whaleboat rose and fell on mountains of water, each of which seemed certain to swamp her as it towered up ahead of her bows. Almost before he had time to look up at the vessel’s deck, a man appeared at the gap in the -crushed bulwarks above the Doctor’s heqd, and, as the boat heaved upward on a wave, this man slid down the rope into the boat’s bows. In a minute came a second, then a third man, each, as he dropped into the boat, crawling aft. Finally, afteran instant's wait, came a fourth man, this last one falling helplessly across the forward thwart and lying there, doubled up with his head against the gunwale, Quickly the Doctor raised him and passed him back to the stern. There was a pause, then one of the rescued men called that that was all, and the steerman’s voice as quickly roared out, “Let go!” With fumbling haste the Doctor untwisted the rope and dropped on his seat and ' seized his oar as the boat swung | around, its bow pointing toward where the shore lay—toward where the billows were racing in great, tumbled masses of white-capped green. Os the struggle back to the i beach the doctor realized little besides his physical exertions. Now that they were returning with their mission, as it seemed, fulfilled, his, heart was all with the dear one in his own little home miles away. He only knew that it was safely over, that desperate journey, when a score of hands seized the whaleboat and • rushed her far up the sands, with her load yet within her. He heard thecheers and cries, but somehow’ they seemed to come from far off. Then, as he a helpless figure carried from the boat, he recognized that j there was great work to be done, work which he could do mote skillfully than those around him. And he climbed from ms seat, and, but- , toning around him the coat w hich ■ was thrown over his shoulders, he, hurried as fast as his stiff legs would 1

warm blankets already given them, i The third was hardly worse off, i though he was very weak. It was the fourth man, who lay on a pile of I old blanket-covered sails in the cor- i ner, to whom the Doctor turned his attention. A couple of smoky lanterns had ! been lighted to dispel the darkness i which the closed door made in the small, windowless room. In the dim light these gave, the doctor bent over and looked at the figure before him. It was that of a young man of robust frame. The face was strong, with clean-cut features; a mass of curly hair clustered damply about the temples and forehead. Something in the face made the doctor give a sudden start; and the fisherman, who stood by ready to lend assistance if it were needed, noted a quick pallor come over his face. He did not, however, see the gleam of wild, but half-believing joy in the doctor’s eyes; and when the latter bent closer oyer the figure bo fore him, and quickly opened the rough flannel shirt the unconscious sailor wore, his companion thought it nothing strafe, nor noted the grasp of the other’s hand upon the near-by wall. The only words the fisherman said, as the doctor brought his head up from the sailor’s breast, framed the question, “Is he a-livin?” And learning that he was, and that it would be best, perhaps, if the doctor were left alone with the rescued men, the simple fisherman left the shanty content, and rejoiced to be able to tell his mates that all was going well. When he had gone the Doctor deftly wrapped the unconscious sailor in a couple of warm blankets, after stripping him of his wet clothing. Then, having forced a few drops of liquor between the white lips, he threw himself down on the floor lieside the improvised bed and fell to chafing vigorously the cold hands.' Roiled in their warm blankets the other three men in the room slept, betraying their presence only by their heavy breathing. They did not see the pitiful look of longing anxiety with which the Doctor hung over the young man. They would not have understood had they seen it. But before the Doctor’s mind there passed a panorama of the past; cabled into life by the sight of that handsome young face before him. It seemed to him but the other day that a boy of fifteen, his son, the one child that |iad ever called him father, romped about the place and pleaded to go to sea. The day whan the boy

| had disappeared, leaving only a | blotted note of explanation behind him, was clear in every detail even now, though it was fully twelve yeara ago. As for those twelve years they represented a heart-sore period, during which he and his brave little wifa strove to console each other for their terrible loss, and waited, with lessening hope, despite their courage, for the return of the boy in whom they had bound up so much of their love. And now, after all those years, to bo so rewarded for that waiting it seemed 'to the Doctor scarcely possible. Yet, : had he not the evidence of it before his own eyes? Had he not there beside him the same boy, now grown to a man, but sull the loved son? He could npt doubt what every instinct, every pulse of his heart told him was so. Os the four men he had helped to* rescue that day one was his son. In silent thanksgiving he bent over the face of the slowly reviving young saflor and pressed his lips to the poor head now warming with life. Presently the man began to stir ! and then, as if he had only just awak- ; ened from an uneasy sleep, opened i his eyes. At first there was but blankness in those eyes; then all at once they filled with the light of puzzled intelligence and turned upon’ the Doctor. There was surprise but no recognition in them, and the Doctor, thinking of his own quick discovery, was pained. Then, however, he remembered that in himself there must have been a wonderful change.,, and he gently stroked the hand he held and asked the other how he felt. For a while he plaj’ed the professional man’s part and refrained from putting the question he so longed to ask. At last, however, he could restrain himself no longer, and he stooped suddenly over the young man with both arms about him. “Bot>,” he whispered, eagerly—- “ Bob, don’t you know me? It’s Daddy, Bob —Daddy! Tell me you remember! Answer me!” At first the puzzled look came back into the young man’s face; but it lasted only an instant. A light of recognition, as of something long past, suddenly called into being again, flashed in his eyes; an almost pitiful expression of joy leaped into his every feature. Then, as he saw the Doctor’s face still close before his, he seemed to realize that it was all true, and his arms were weakly raised and put about the other’s neck, and a choking sob came from his lips. To the Doctor it was as if the twelve years gone by had never been. Qnce more his boy’s arms were about him, and he held him close to his breast.

The light was shining warmly from the kitchen window of the Doctor’s house, and the Doctor’s wife was anxiously waiting there for his arrival at six o’clock that same Thanksgiving evening. When, in the early afternoon, she received a message from him that he could not be home until evening, she straightway determined to keep the dinner until that time; and now all was ready with her hand. The Doctor’s burl}’ form descended from a comfortable, double-seated wagon, and he quickly ran up the steps and very tenderly took her in his arms, disregarding his wet greatcoat . “Dearest,” he said, in a voice in which he did not try to suppress the joy. “I have something to tell you which will be a great and happy surprise. Do you think you can bear to hear it, all at.once?” \ “Why, of course,” she replied in half alarm, and turned her face up to his. “Then,” said the Doctor, slowly, “there was a vessel wrecked to-day, offshore. There were four men saved. One of them was a young man. You remember that we always thought that—that —Bob, our boy, had gone” —He stopped. Her hands closed convulsively upon his arm,and ho held her to him, fearing she would fall. But she only asked swiftly: “Where is he? It is he!” and, as she watched his eyes turn towards the wagon, still standing outside, she suddenly tore herself from him and ran out of the door. As she reached the wagon a man got down quickly. A moment she stood looking in his face, the light from the open house door bringing out its every line. Then, with a glad cry, she leaned forward and the young man’s arms closed about her. And, as these two came up the steps into the house together the Doctor stole an arm around the neck of each. “It was God’s way,” he said, reverently; “and this is our Thanksgiving.”—[lndependent. Mustn’t Fight Near the Palace. I am reminded by an old newspaper cutting that a few years ago the Emperor of China, being much disturbed in his rest by the “barbaric Yawp” and other goings-on of the Chinese “Arry,” issued an edict making it punishable by death for any one to cause a row near his palace, “either with musical instruments'or firecrackers, or.by quarreling and fighting.” I hope the Japanese will bear this in mind.— [London Figaro. _ Lowshapesprevail in fruit dishes. They are of filagree silver or painted porcelain. _____ In France the women teachers elect women members on all Boards of Education.