Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1885 — OLIVIER PAIN, [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OLIVIER PAIN,

Ex-Oommnnist, and Now El Madi's BightHand Man.

El Mahdi commands experienced European aid in his insurrection against the Eiryptian Government, in the person of a versatile and adventurous spirit whose favorite element is the atmosphere of revolution and bloody strife. This interesting adventurer is known aslXllvier Pain. He is of mixed French and Spanish blood, and was born in Paris about forty three Sears ago. After receiving a thorough education at one of the high schools of the French capital, while still a youth he employed his considerable abilities with the pen against the Government of Napoleon HI. He married in 1868, or the Sear after. His children are believed to be still vlng. Whether or not his wife lives is not known. The terrible reverses of the French army in 1870, and the collapse of the empire in consequence, was succeeded in Paris by a Government which succumbed to the Commune. This brought Pain, who had been an agitator for years, into great prominence as a leader, when, in the spring -of 1871, the forces of Marshal MacMahon fore d their way into the rebellious capital. Pain fought in the ranks of the Commune. Previously to the short-lived supremacy of the Communists he had taken part in the war against Prussia, as a journalist and soldier. He survived the horrors which accompanied the suppression of the revolution he had assisted to bring about, bnt was taken prisoner and sentenced, with Rochefort, Lou se Michel, and other no orious pe: sobs, to the penal colony at New Caledonia. This was in 1873. He escape i to Australia in toe early part of 1875, with Rochefort and four others. The fugitives then made'heir way to this continent, landing in San Francisco. He and Rochefort crossed the United States together, and in the spring of 1875 s lied from New York to England. While residing in London immediately subsequent to this time, the friends engaged in journalism for a period They then made their way to Geneva. • here 1/lntransigeant was edited for circulation in Paris. When next heard of M. Pain was acting as Osman Pasha's p ivate secretary at the siege of Plevna, in the war of i877-'.B, between Turkey and Russia, and which proved so disastrous to the Mohammedan power. He wrqje the answer returned to the Russian commander by Osman Pasha, when the surrender of Plevna was demanded by the besieging force. His influence over the illustrious Turkish officer who defended the city was as remarxableas that he no.w wields in the tent of the Mahdi. It began when he was acting as a newspaiier correspondent there, and resulted in his being permitted to remain with the Turkish army after all other foreign journalists had been excluded from it, and then in his ac eptance of a private secretaryship, as before state, t. M. Pain is a tall, lithe, and handsome soldier. His complexion is dark, and bis countenance expresses intellectual force and superior will. He is said to be able in counsel and gay and pleasant in disposition.

HARRISON H. RIDDLEBERGER. United States Senator from Virginia. ?

’When, on March 5, the United States Senate received the Cabinet nominations and went into executive session, Mr. Cockrell asked that the nomination of Mr. Bayard and others be confirmed immediately. To do this unanimous consent was required, and Mr. Rtddleberger, of Virginia, objecting, the proposed immediate action was prevented. When urged by the Republican Senators to withdraw his objection, the Virginian refused stoutly, saying that Mr. Bayard was more of an Englishman in principle than an American, and that the foreign policy of this country ought not to be intrusted to his hands. Th reader will remember that after the recent explosions in London Mr. Bayard offered a resolution in the Senate condemning the doings of the dynamiters. Mr,. Ri'ldelbergeropposed him on that occasion singly and alcne as it proved. Senator 11 id ■ lie her wr is a young- man, one of the youngest in the Senate. He was born in Edinburg, Shenandoah County, Va . Oct. 4. 1844. His edqca ion was good, but <iid not include'the advantages of the university. After spemling a number of years in attendance at the common school he"received in-trnctions at home >or two years from a private tutor. He fought on the Confederate s de in the war, served three years, and be.ng promoted during that time from Second Li- utenant to Captain. At the < lose of the war he stidied law. and was admitted to the bar He still continues ihe i ractice of bis profession, and resides at Woodstock. Va His firi-t civil office was as Commonwealth’s Attorney of his county, which he held two terms. The next step in his ranid advance to the honors of the si atesman was his election to the House of Delegates of his State. He was reelected.makin gfdur years of service in that body, and was afterward iour years in the Senate of Virginia. Sinc-.lsio he has edited three local newspapers. He was a member of the State Committee of the Conservative party until 1875. In 18,6 he was Presidential Elector on the Democratic ticket, an I in 1880 held the same position on the Mbadj asters’ ticket. He was Commonwealth's Attorney and State Senator when elected to the United States Senate. This was in 1881. He took his seat i>ec. 3. 1883. His term of office will not expire until March 3, 1889. Senator Riddleberger is a member of the Readjuster party. President Cleveland is a great admirer of Walt Whitman, and it is reported the old poet will get a consulate if he wants it. At Bridge wood, L. 1., last week, a petrified human leg and foot w s found in digging a cellar. It weighed over fifty pounds. The cost of the maintenance of religion in the United I tates is estimated nt onehalf cent per annum for each individual Mr. Edwin Booth denies the rumor that he intends soon to retire from the stage.