Decatur Democrat, Volume 42, Number 40, Decatur, Adams County, 15 December 1898 — Page 1

ALL the news all the time.

OLUME XU I.

V rs J. S. Hart is very sick with la--ripe Vlrs Frank of Fort Waviie is at her bed side. sl rs R M. Libenguth of Detroit, has opened up a dress-making shop ; this city, she occupies the W. H. jjeed house on north Second street. Treasure elect Beerie, of Wells Countv. was in town Monday afternoon and evening. He was formerly ' merchant at Domestic, but is movL, with his family to Bluffton, preuantorv to assuming charge of his Office the first day of the coming year. The state truancy board has made the appointment of men who are to serve all over the state the coming v ear There were 237 truant officers last rear, and 210 reported at the last meeting. They cost the state over $35,000 and over 30.000 school children were added to the list. The Valparaiso Messenger says: farmers in this section have lieen advised to hold their wheat for future market. A movement is said to be on foot to effect an organization whereby no wheat is to be sold below 80 cents per bushel. If all the wheat growers enter into this compact, wheat will surely have to go up. Barney Wertzberger and sister were captain and chaperon of a crowd of neighbors who took Albert Knavel and family completely by storm a few evenings ago. The crowd was a jolly one and the evening an enjoyable one. Although somewhat surprised Mr. knavel made an admirable host and will gladly welcome his visitors back at any time in the future. Monday morning, at Hartford City. Xlbert Musser was placed on trial for his life, on the charge of murdering Mrs. Louisa Stoltz. The first thing to be done was to select a jury, and after the case had been called, that task was taken up, a large venire havingbeen called. Hon. John T. France of this city, is assisting for the defense and seems very confident that his client will be proven innocent. A crowd of young people of this city enjoyed a sleigh ride to the home of Fred Mailand, about ten miles north ■of town Monday evening. The crowd was composed mostly of the jolly D. I of P. Club and you can imagine better than we can tell that the trip was an : enjoyable one. Refreshments were served by mother Mailand and each 1 and every one present has a good wont i for the manner in which they were entertained. Julian Ralph, who has been for 1 some years in England, writes for the ! December Cosmopolitan a very clever analysis of what seems to him the Eng- | lish ideas of a gentleman; and Mr. John Brisben Walker attempts to consider the American ideas. We are in the formative stage of American manners. and too much stress can scarcely be given to the dangers of introducing those ideas which are least admirable in the character of our English cousins. Chelmer Shaffer, who is attending the State University at Bloomington was home yesterday on business. Chalmer is a member of the Bloomington Glee Club, and was here to arrange a date for them to give an entertainment in this city. They will make towns in the southern part of this state and Illinois during the hollidays and upon Febuary 22nd, they leave for a trip through Florida. The I club has a national reputation and receive crowded houses wherever they go. They will lie here about April Ist and will no donbt draw a large crowd. Will Wertzberger, member of the 33rd Michigan, reported at Benton Harbor last week to lie mustered out. Upon arrival there however he was informed that the regiment would be kept in the service untill Febuary 17th, and his furlough was accordingly extended untill that time. Will is quite a different looking man tb.m when he returned from Santiago a few months ago. Then he was almost a skeleton weighing but ninety pounds and many of hie friends feared he would never recover. Adams County climate and food however have made a great change over him and he is now in as good health as he ever was and weighs about 160 pounds.

Advices from Washington make it highly improbable that the soldiers of the ItiOth will see service in Cuba. If congress early in the session, should make provisions for the increase for the regular army, it is quite probable that none of the volunteer regiments now in the service will be sent to do garrison duty in Cuba. The troops first to be sent to Cuba will be composed largely of regular regiments so far as thev are available. Plans are maturing for the mustering out of as many volunteers now in service as possible. The demand of the enlisted men to go home and leave the service is growing greater and greater every day. This is true in nearly every garrison, and the arrival of senators and representatives at Washington, with requests for the muster out of regiments or men in the regiments have largely increased during the past three days. It is well known that volunteers at Manilla desire to come home and the "ar department is considering the question of sending regular regiments to replace these volunteers as soon as arrangements can be made.

O®cat if R Cb BM ®

A number of Decaturites will at tend the Elk s Minstrell entertain ment at Fort Wavne to-morrow even ing.

A party of young ladies and gentlemen from this city composed a crowd of “sleighers” who drove to the home of Squire Freeh, in Union township, Monday evening and proceeded to enjoy themselves in an old-fashioned oyster supper. Everybody reports a fine trip and a pleasant time. The price of hogs has reached the lowest figures in twenty years, and many farmers are selling off close, in order to save their corn. The prices for good hogs is now below three cents per pound gross, and the prices are still falling, though dealers are looking for a reaction after the holidays. Mrs. John Parish, who has been a sufferer from kidney trouble for several years left Monday for the St. Joseph hospital at Fort Wayne where she was operated upon yesterday. Mrs. Parish has a host of friends here who are fervently hoping that the operation was a successful one and that her recovery will be a speedy one. It is said that the contractor who constructed the LaGrange county poor house now occupies a room in it. He lost money on the contract and other contracts until he was reduced to proverty and became a county charge. When a man takes any contract at a loss, or does business at a loss, he is paving the way to just such a fate. Better lose jobs and sales than money. J. T. W. Luckey, who since July Ist has been connected with the Chicago Portrait Co., as collector for Indiana, was in the city over Sunday and made this office a pleasant call. Mr. Luckey reports that he has been getting along exceedingly well and that he will finish his work in this state by spring after which time he will be sent to Kentucky. He left for Portland the first of the week, where he will resume his duties. It still contiuues to snow without any apparent effort and the farmers and business men are alike rejoicing. The roads are the best they have been in years and everybody seems to be taking advantage of that fact. Our dealers have all sold out their sleighs in stock and have been compelled to order new lots to supply the trade. About two months more of the same weather would be acceptable to nearly every one. Next year there will be a re-apprais-ment of the real estate of Indiana, and property owners should make it their business to correct some of the injustices which are always unconsciously done people who are ignorant of the means which will secure them their rights. The discrepancies in the appraisment of real estate which is continuous should be corrected. The humble householder usually pays a higher rate of taxation than the rich one. On December 27 there will be a total eclipse of the moon, visable on all of the continents except Australia, and over the Atlantic ocean. The duration of the eclipse, exclusive of the penumoral phase, which is never perceptable, will be three hours, forty nine minutes. The moon will be totally eclipsed one hour and thirty minutes. At the middle of the eclipse the moon will be in the zenith of an observer in longitude 5 degrees east from Greenwich and in north latitude 23 degrees, 30 minutes -very nearly at the°center of the Sahera desert. It is stated that the Indiana Legislature will take steps toward the purchase of the old State House at Corvdon by the State and restoring it as State property. The building now belongs to Harrison county, and is used bv that county as a courthouse. The old structure was Indiana s first State House. It was built in 181 b, shortly after the State was admitted into the Union, under the direction of Gen. William Henry Harrison, former President of the United States, and the grandfather of ex President Beniamin Harrison. The building is of a blue limestone taken from the bottom of Indiana creek, near Corydon, and is in an excellent state of preservation. Joseph Rosenthal, a brother of Isaac Rosenthal, of this city, died < Louisville, Kentucky, Sunday evening of paralysis. His funeral was hdd at Peru Tuesday afternoon and was largely attended The Peru Jour nal says of him: Joseph Rosenthal suffered another stroke of yesterday morning at 8 ° “J died from its effects at last evening. He had his while on a business trip to Kokomo S“oX lx>r with - ■ j in jii firm, and 1 proved one of the most promen 1 and agreeable friend to all death to be generally regretteu

DECATUR, INDIANA. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15. IS9B.

** w-n n n J iC -n_ a. a A a.ji-a.a a—a a a a- -a_a__ n a—a—a—a a_ .a a a a ,a—a a a-.a—a.-a. 4 "THOSE of our delinquent subscribers who failed to pay up in $ j ■ August, and those who promised to pay before the holidays. J <1 will take notice that our subscription books must be closed and <, settled up by the first of next month. These accounts must lie ’ so give this notice your prompt attention. jj

Ed Wertzberger, of Ellwood, who is visiting his parents here is suffering from a severe carbucle, which has made its appearence just between the eyes. Frank Chsisten as local representative of the Metripolitan Life Insurance Company is giving away some beautiful calanders this week. They are in the form of a panel picture, representing a crowd of happy children enjoying themselves in May time. Our citizens should look out for a smooth swindler who is working in Ohio towns and who may strike here within a few days. His scheme is the old three shell racket, played with pocket books instead of shells. It is reported that he cleared over a thousand dollars last week in a half dozen cities. He should be watched forand dealt with rather harshly should he attempt any such work here. The constantly increasing number of deaths from stomach trouble is exciting the keenest interest among the medical fraternity. The prevalance of these stomach disorders or ailments the doctors attribute largely to j impure food products with which the | country at large seems to be flooded, and in an attempt to counteract which many of the states have enacted pure food laws. At the regular meeting of the F. & A. M. lodge last Tuesday evening the following officers were elected: D. E. Smith, W. M.; John H. Lenhart, S. W.; Ed Whinery, J. W.; 'L. C. Miller, Secretary; G. Christen, J. S. Coverdale and C. A. Dugan, trustees. These officers will be installed on the evening of December 27. The installation will be private this year and not public as has been the usuhl custom. A serious runaway occured Monday near Mommouth which resulted in the loss of a valuable horse, belonging to Amos Lewton. That gentleman was hawling some wood to his house, when the horses became frightened and ran away. They went tearing through the woods at an awful rate of speed, when one of the horses stumbled over a log and fell breaking one of its legs. The harness was torn to pieces and the wagon badly damaged. The horse was afterwards killed to relieve its terrible sufferings. The county officers’ reports show the following: Sheriff-commission-er’s sales, &c., $56.39; fees taxed, $53.41; deeds, &c., $4: total, $113.80. Clerk —civil cases $250.17; probate causes $205.20; marriage licenses, $118; transcripts 75 cents; certificates, sales, &c., $20.45; insurance $15.60; naturalization $2.00; total $612,17. Recorder-deeds $134; mortgages $130.85; releases $32.00; mechanic’s liens S2O; certified copy of record $5; miscellaneous $13.25; total $316.30, Auditor transfers $11; affidavits sl3; licenses $23; approving bonds sl6; school fund mortgages $1; tax certificates $1: miscellaneous $31.80; total $97.80. The following is what W. E. Adams president of the Fort Wayne school of expression, and minister of the Christian church of this city, says of Earl Brockway Newton, who is the second attraction on the business men’s lecture course: “I heartily commend the work of Mr. Earl Brockwav Newton as an entertainer. He

has given me great pleasure in repeated entertainments. His analysis and conception of the finest touches in the best literature are seldom excelled. He moves his hearers to laughter or tears at will, by causing the characters to live before them and by painting the scenes as in real life. Mr. Newton’s voice and physique are admirably adapted to his work, and he will give more than satisfaction to any cultured audience.” Among the numerous beautiful display windows in our various up-to-date business houses this week is the one of Moser the photoprapher. We doubt very much if any gallery in the state of Indiana is exhibiting such an artistic, array of work as is Mr. Moser. Besides themanyJphotQgraphs,including every shape and design in unique cards, and finished in Elmer’s elegant manner, the window also contains several handsome paintings by the talented voung artist Medrick P. Miller. In the background of the window is a life size painting of a horse, from the study “HorsePoetmial, which is almost perfect and which bespeaks for Med a famous future, besides this the side walls are decorated with such scenes as “Twilight, “Sunset,” “Moolight,” The Waterfall,” and "The Broken Engagement." Mr. Moser is a hustler, always looking for the newest effects and designs in photograph v and our citizens should feel proud that they have such an institution as Moser's gallery in Decatur. The window is certainly a treat which you should not fail to see.

The order of the Eastern Star will entertain the members of the Masonic Lodge at their lodge rooms on the evening of the 29th inst. at which time also the officers will be installed. A large number of the Christen Endeavor Society of this city took advantage of the good sleighing and drove to Ossian last Friday evening where they were right royally entertained by Mr. and Mrs. White. The Kuechman-Douglas concert company are getting out some nice printing this week, consisting of post- . ers, pamphlets and bills. They will fill ■ an engagement at Portland the lati ter part of this month and a number i in various Indiana and Ohio cities the first of the year. Each and every member of this company is an artist and they cannot fail to please their > audiences.

Our ice dealers are having their harvest just at present. The ice on the river is now about ten inches thick with prospects of it going to the bottom, and our merchants who deal in the “cold metal” are as busy as a tramp after his breakfast. J. W. Place has a large force of hands at work this morning and will very probably keep them quite busy during the next week. The grand jury finished their labors yesterday afternoon, made their report to the circuit court and were discharged. They were in session nearly four weeks, during which time they examined several hundred witnesses and returned twenty-two indictments. They also visited the county infirmary which they reported as being an ideal place for the care and comfort of the poor. They made the usual recommendations. This is the season when the ambitious professional window designer will make an effert to excel himself and win a reputation. Under the existing national organization there is a great incentive for this, as the profession is now graded in four classes, A, B. C, and D. The minimum weekly wages for which they work is SSO, S4O, S3O, and sls respectively, so that by promotion in grade they very materially increase the profits of their trade. Window trimmers possessing originality of taste are always in demand. The “Muldoon Picnic” company which was billed for Bosse’s opera house last night failed to materialize. In fact they are a thing of the past, thev having been detained at Fort Wayne for lack of funds to settle their hotel bills. From all reports their baggage is being held at that place and they will be unable to go any further until said bills are paid. At any rate they did not arrive at this place and there was no 'show given. Mr. Bosse says he would not have allowed them to show any way as he had received information sufficient to satisfy him they were not what they represented themselves to be. The Crawfordsville Argus contains the following which could possibly be put in practice here: Trustee Symmes has hit upon a scheme whereby, with the aid ot the public he hopes to reduce the poor account very considerably. He will keep a memorandum book and anyone who has a small job to be performed will confer a favor by notifying him. Then as the able bodied parties, who must have township aid, apply, instead of giving them a warrant to the trustee direct them |to a job where they can earn fifty cents or a dollar. Anyone deserving aid would not refuse and it is safe to I say that any such refusal would forever cook the gentleman’s goose in so far as township warrants are concern- , ed. The scheme is a practical one and iif the citizens will do their part the township will be saved many a dollar, The opening of the Business Men’s Lecture Course last Friday evening was such a brilliant affair that there can be no doubt but that Decatur people will never again be satisfied without a lecture course. Byron W. King, witty, logical, expressive and king of the art of elocution, was the attraction. It is useless for us to attempt to describe his work. Suffice it to say that for almost two hours the large audience sat and listened, and there was scarcely one in the audience who thought that even half an hour had been consumed by the professor. We can not say too much of Mr. King.s work, it is simply the finest we have ever heard. His descriptions and imitations of Shakespearean characters were so real that one almost forgot that Mr. King was the only actor. Selections from Riley and other well known poets and authors were also excellent. Mr. King closed his entertainment by reciting a lieautiful and pathetic poem entitled “My Enemy ’, of which he himself is the author. Mr. King expressed a desire to again visit Decatur some time in the future and should he do so there is probably no house in the city which would hold the audience.

Another law firm has been formed in Portland. This time O. H. Adair and John F. LaFollette have formed a partnership for the practice of law, and will have offices in the Adair building. They are two of Portland's most promonent and successful barristers and will doubtless do well. Portland Sun. Col. M. B. Miller arrived from Washington. D. C. last Friday and is visiting at the home of ye editor, he hav ing the distinction of being a paternal ancestor of Mrs. L. G. Ellingham. Since 1892 he has been a constant servant of Uncle Sam. the last year of which time he has been in the pension department at the national capital. Last Friday’s Bluffton News said: Senator Shea, of Scottsburg and Representative Eichhorn, of this city, have called all the Democratic senators and representatives togather at a meeting which will be held in the Grand hotel at Indianapolis tomorrow. A number of questions of interest will be discussed, among them that of who will receive the complimentary vote for United States senator. The members of the Catholic Church are miking great preperations for the concert to be given at the St. Mary’s Church, next Tuesday, December 20th. A number of noted musicians from out of the city will assist in making the entertainment more than an ordinary one. The Choral Union, comprising the best and most talanted musicians in the city will also render several selections. The Grant connty grand jury seems to have been endeavoring to make a sort of general “cleaning up” at Marion. At the close of their session last Saturday, something near a hundred indictments were returned, twenty five of which were against saloon keepers who had violated the Nicholson laws and as many more against the keepers of houses of bad repute. A few more strokes like this would greatlv improve that very immoral city. Dr. A. G. Gorrell of Ossian, was in the city Monday and before leaving purchased of Dis. Clark and Coverdale of the Safety Rupture Cure Co, the fee simple of their rights and privileges of Ossian and vicinity, for their wonderful rupture cure. The Dr. is a business gentleman as well as a physician of ability and soon realized the merits of this wonderful cure. By the way, the Safety Rupture Co. are branching out in a very business like way and now are negotiating for the privileges of the state of Pennsylvaina. John W. Vail, president of the De eatur Egg Case Company, is one of those hustling gentlemen who are of untold benefit to a town. It has been but a few weeks since we informed our readers that a disastrous fire had visited the Egg Case factory and the plant had been entirely destroyed. In those few weeks, however, Mr. Vail has not allowed any grass to grow under his feet and this week finds his men putting the finishing touches to the building and replacing the machinery and on next Monday morning the factory will again be going at full blast. A few more men like Mr. Vail would make Decatur second to no city in the state. The Cloverleaf Railroad company is preparing to do a great amount of advertising next season, and will do it in an orignal manner. C. B. Gray of Boston, has been employed to make photopraphs of every mile of track, and half-tone cuts will be made from the photographs and published in a neat pamphlet. Mr. Gray has worked as far as Marion coming west. He makes daily trips over the road, riding all the while on the pilot of the locomotive. The cold weather of last week has made his task an unpleasant one and he did not cover more miles than necessary on each trip. He makes exposures of water tanks, stations, sidings and landscape along the track and does it for the effect it gives at this time of the year. The pamphlet will be rich in illustrations, not to mention the many graphic descriptions that it will contain. The proceedings of the circuit court are Jennie DeWitt vs Samuel Ross et al, dismissed and costs paid. State vs Charles E. Everett, motion to quash warrant overruled. State vs Frank Kelley, verdict of not guilty rendered by jury. Frederick Theime and David Leisure appointed to fill vacancy on petit jury. Aline Bowman vs' Isaac Bowman et al, division of real estate. Isaac Robinson vs John King, certified back to Justice of the Peace. F. Schafer & Loch vs Elsie E. Bollman, adm’x., allowed $118.97. John King jr. vs George Zimmerman, certified back to Justice of the Peace. State vs Harry Straub dismissed and defendant discharged. John Koos vs Elizabeth Koos, set for trial January 9. Victoria Foster vs John L. Harper et al. set for trial December 26. W. I. Miller vs Judson W. Teeple. adm’x., set for trial December 19. Grand jury reported indictments numbered 12, 13. 14, 15.16,17, 18 and 19. Ora France admitted to the bar. Ida L. McCray vs Daniel J. McCray, nunc pro tunc entry that plaintiff be divorced from defendant and her maiden name Ida L. X eley restored. State vs Jesse Barber, defendant discharged . State vs Charles E. Everett, issued to be made up tomorrow.

CIRCULATION 2400 WEEKLY

NUMBER 40

Keep a sharp lookout among your near neighbors, that none of them suf fer from hunger or cold this wintry weather. It may be that you can furnish some poor man with a day's work that will help him along a little. Some time ago a Portland girl told her young lover that she would never marry him untill he was worth SIOO,OOO So he started out with a brave heart to make it. “How are you getting on, George?" she asked at the expiration of a couple of months. "Well,” said George hopefully. “I have saved up $22.” The girl dropped her eyelashes and blushingly remarked, “I reckon that's near enough. George." A public meeting in the interest of temperance, will be held next Sabbath at 2:30 P. M. in the Baptist Church of this city A short program of songs and recitations will be given with music by the Baptist Choir. Revs. Adams, Pierce, Mygrant and Duckett will also assist in making the meeting a profitable one. The meeting will be under the auspices of the W. C. T. U. and every body is cordially invited to attend. The suburban country homo of Mr. and Mrs. R. K. Erwin was a scene of a joyous gathering last Thursday evening, at which time quite a number of the city elite accepted a kind invitation to spend the evening at their home. “Possum” was among the delicacies served and it is said that many par took with ease and grace. Amusements and social intercourse made up an evening long to be cherished and remembered by those present. Among those who have favored us by renewing their subscriptions for another year are J. T. W. Luckey, George Butcher. Simeon Haines, Anna Herman, Dan Neuenschwander, D. B. Hendricks, Dan Beiberick, John Elzey, A. B. Dougherty, B. F. Maples, G. Berling, Martin L. Kizer. Barney Meyers, Henry Knopp, Henry R. Peters, Marion Smith, A. A. Butcher, George Zimmerman. Mrs. Harriet Brandyberry. George \V. Thomas, E. H. Faust, Warren Case, C. F. Beiberick, Christ Mershberger, David Werling, John R. Peoples. Ira Neptune, Horace Porter, J. Q. Neptune, Barney Ford and a numbar of other hunters, who have been in camp in Arkansas for several weeks arrived home last Thursday. They report good luck and a splendid time. Game was more plentiful than it has been for years in that country. Six deer, two wild cats, sixty four turkeys beside a number of rabbits and quail were captured by the party. They tell many interesting stories of the three weeks encampment. The wild cats were both killed by John Frysing er and one of them gave him quite a battle, it requiring six shots to finish him. The boys will very likely return again next year. Mr. and Mrs. Edward F, Lange left yesterday for Piqua, Ohio, where they will make there future home. Edward has been a citizen of Decatur during the past four years and has during that time proven himself to be an exemplary young man. He has been connected with the Ashbaucher & Bell hardware store during the past year and was during the three years previous to that superintendent of the same store for B. J. Terveer, He is an efficient clerk and it is with many regrets that his employes have consented to his departure. Edward expresses thanks for the treatment he has received here, and says he will ever have a warm feeling for Adams County citizens. He has accepted a lucrative position with the Lange Brewing Company at Piqua. The many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Lange wish them an abundence of success for the future. It seems that Rev. E. W. Kruse, the brilliant young minister of the German Luthren church in this city has decided that he needs a helpmate in his chosen work. At any rate, without saying anything to his many friends here he slipped quietly away the first of last week and when he returned on Friday he brought with him a handsome and accomplished lady, who will henceforth lie known as Mrs. E. W. Kruse. The marriage occurred at home of bride's parents at Tiffin, Ohio, at 8 o’clock last Thurs day morning and was a quiet and simple affair. Miss Ida Merkelback, the bride is an educated and beautiful young lady and belongs to one of the" finest families of Tiffin. Rev. Kruse needs no introduction to our readers, although he has been here less than a year, he has shown him self to be a 'talented young man and an earnest Christian worker. He has many warm friends here who wish him and his fair young bride a life of happiness and usefulness. They arrived here at an early hour Friday morning and are now “at home" to their friends at the parsonage on Thin! street. In honor of their arrival about fifty friends planed a surprise for last Monday evening. The surprise was in the form of a “pound party and was complete in every detail. Rev. Vornholt, of Magley, was present and in a pleasant manner welcomed Rev. and Mrs. Kruse into our midst. The evening was an enjoyable one and every one present seemed to realize that fact. Ihe Democrat joins Mr. and Mrs. Kruse's friends in welcoming them to the city.