Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 October 1890 — Page 4

Site lemocrattt Sentinel RENSSELAER. INDIANA. J. W. McEWEN, - Pub&xshk*

r Marion Haelvnd says women who Write shouldn’t marry. More than five thousand men in New Fork do business under the protection of their wives’ names. 1 The pastor of the Presbyterian church at Falls City, Kan., threw up fcis job because the women of his congregation played afternoon whist. ! Daniel Stone, a Fulton, "Wis., fartner, has a horse and buggy with a history. He (the horse) is thirty-seven of age and fought in the army, on the Confederate side. i In the combined register of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, N. J., now being published, is recorded the death of a negro servant of Dr. John Johnes, aged 81 years, •frightened to death by ghosts.” Some workingmen digging on a road In Jersey City Heights, N. J., found at it depth of fourteen feet a box containing pver $15,000 in old State Bank currency. It had probably been hidden there years ago by some unknown miser. The notes have no value now. Queen Victoria has a great fondtiess for policemen. That is to say, she prefers them to sentries, and in consequence Osborne and Balmoral are both guarded by the bobbies, much to the disgust of the military. It is the sum and total of a British policeman’s ambition to do duty for her Majesty. It is very rarely that rum accomplishes any good, but it is a fact that the cause of justice has been promoted by the use of rum. A man who murdered a policeman, in Scranton, Pa., eluded the vigilance of scores of detectives who were on the search. A few days since, at Sunbury, Pa., he got drunk, committed an assault, was arrested, and, while in court, was identified.

A hole ten feet in circumference appeared in Oconee County, Ga., during the great earthquake in 1886. It is full of water, and there has long been talk about its depth, but no soundings were taken until a few days ago. Then a rope 200 feet long was put down, but it failed to touch bottom, and now there are persons who declare that “the hole extends into the bowels of the earth.” It is proposed to take a second sounding in the near future. Dr. Brgkaw, of St. Louis, makes the observation that there is a class of criminals that may be termed moral imbeciles, as they have no idea of the difference between right and wrong. He cites the case of one of these, who had just been released from prison. He shot a man, and when asked what he did it for he said that he would just as soon be locked up as he out. Men of this class are not susceptible of punishment. Hanging merely rids the community of their presence. A writer in the Quarterly Review tells a story illustrating the possible disadvantage of culture in the kitchen: “An English woman, the wife of a wellknown physician, had occasion to remonstrate with her cook because the latter had repeatedly neglected to send up the dinner with that punctuality desirable in well-regulated households. To her astonishment she was informed that the young person in question was so much occupied with the novel she was writing that she had been unable to pay due attention to her kitchen duties.”

One of the wonders of California is a feat of engineering which has never yet been described in any book, and is but little known outside the neighborhood in which it is situated. In Sonora County, near the Pacific coast, may be seen an actual railroad bed in the treetops. Between the Clipper Mills and Stuart Point, where the road crosses a deep ravine, the trees are sawed off on a level with the surrounding hills, and the timbers and ties are laid on the stumps In the center of the ravine two huge red-wood trees, standing side by side, form the most substantial support. A Lewiston, Maine, gentleman is anxiously looking up an heirloom in the shape of an old Bible, printed with German text and brought over by his Dutch ancestors. It was in the possession of an uncle who had lately died, Among the gentleman’s earliest remembrances is that of a curiosity-seeker who once tried to buy the much-prized Bible from his mother. She refused to part with it at any price. Thereupon the stranger had the audacity coolly to cut off a fragment of the leather cover as a relic. Hastily snatching it from him she exclaimed, haughtily, “I am able to keep it, sir!” A Belgian chemist is said to have devised a method of rendering fabrics proof against the ravages of decay for an indefinite period. Noting the fact that resin played an important part in the wonderful preservation of Egyptian mummies, he made numerous experiments with substances extracted from birch bark, to which the peculiar aroma of Bosnia leather is due. He found that the green tar which is left over after the oil used in tanning has been extracted from the white bark of the birch tree yields neither acid nor alkaloid, and that in solution with alcohol it forms a liquid of remarkable fluidity, which has the power of resisting when §rj the action of even alcohol. It i s

claimed that this preservative possesses the property of uniting with the most delicate and brilliant colors and rendering them apparently imperishable.

Wolves, coyotes, cats and panthers in Texas are multiplying under the protection of the barbed wire fence and the apathy of the State Legislators. A few years since a thorough scalp law would have settled forever the wild animal question in Texas at a small expense. Now it will cost twice the money, and meantime stockmen and farmers have lost many times the money in calves, colts and sheep killed. In a few years things will be worse. A ranchman, G. A. Anderson, of Kinney County, has been compelled to buy a pack of hounds and turn huntsman to protect his flock from the increasing ravages of panthers. The same thing is happening all over Texas.

The Minneapolis Directory, of which there are several copies in New York, and curiosities they are esteemed, shows am6ng other “Beckers” supposed to be citizens of that lively town one “Carl Becker,” who is put down as a “watchman.” People who undoubtedly know what they are talknig about say that it can be demonstrated that “Carl Becker” is a big watch dog belonging too well-known Minneapolitan named Becker. If this year’s directory is made up as New York’s is said to have been, in parts from the tables of the census-takers, Mr. Becker’s dog may, or may not, be excluded. But his appearance in the directory is not the first time a dog bias done duty for a man in this country. In the days when graveyard insurance was rampant in the interior of Pennsylvania the life of one “John Barker” was insured for SI,OOO, and on proof of death the claim was paid, “John Barker” being a pup belonging to one of the certifying doctors. An English paper records a pathetic romance which ended happily at the Old Bailey in London a short time ago. William Stork, a respectable laborer, was indicted for trying to murder his sweetheart. He and she had loved each other for seven years. Poverty, however, kept them from marrying. Out of his earnings of $5 a week Stork had kept the girl, her aged and infirm father and brother, and his own mother from the workhouse. She, fearful of beiug a further burden, left to stay with a brother. The lovers, however, met one day, and the man pressed the woman to marry. She, still dreading their poverty, refused, whereupon Stork, wild with despair, tried to cut her throat and his own. The judge and the jury both agreed in sentencing him to a more formal punishment, and the devoted couple met the reward of their long self-denial by getting a gift of SSO from the sheriff’s fund to enable them to marry and set up house together.

In Ireland only one shamrock is known, says the American Notes and Queries. It is an indigenous species of clover, which trails along the ground among the grass in meadows. The trefoil leaves are not more than one-fourth the size of the smallest clover I have seen in America, and are pure green in color, without any of the brown shading of white and pink clovers. The creeping stem is hard and fibrous, and is difficult to dislodge from the earth. On St. Patrick’s Day the true shamrock has to be searched out among the grass, for, though comparatively plentiful at that season, it grows close to the ground. Later it bears a tiny “whity-brown” blossom. The information that shamrakh is the Arabic word for trefoil may be of service to those interested in the origin of the Irish race. The word could have been introduced by the Milesians, or it may furnish an argument in support of the contention that one of the lost ten tribes of Israel settled in Ireland, which has been revived by the publication of a recent book.

Discharging a Man.

Discharging a man for any cause is a duty that most employers dislike, says the Pittsburg Dispatch. To get around the disagreeable part of this obligation some men resort to subterfuge more or less amiable. For instance, a certain firm in New York had a letter form which it always used when bouncing had to be done. Here it is: “Dear Sir— The conditions of our business will not permit us to avail ourselves of your valuable services after next Saturday. Blake & Co.” Another large employer of labor told me not long ago that he never discharged an employe. “What, never?” I inquired. “Never,” he repeated. “I always ask a man to resign, and if he doesn’t resiun I resign from the place of paymaster.” That reminded me of a foreman in a factory who was so soft-hearted that he never could bring himself to fire a man in so many words. When it became necessary to get rid of a hand he used to send for the victim and address him thus: “I’m sorry, Wilhelm, but I lays you off for awhile.” “How long for?” is the usual response. “Oh, I doan know—maybe six months—maybe a year—or two years or ten years—l doan know.”

His Dicker.

Mr. Pinelands (from Jersey) I reckon I’ve found it at last. This is the Produce Exchange Buildin’, ain’t it? Messenger—Yes. Mr. Pinelands—Good! Here’s four dozen eggs, an’ you can hustle an’ git me a yaller neck-han’kerchief with "ed spots, a hand of chewin’ terbacker, an’ a small bladcjer of snuff for mother,— Judge. i 1

THE SCIENCE OF COINS.

RELATION OF NUMISMATICS TO HISTORY AND EDUCATION. Coins of tlie United States—Gold.

HERE were few very marked changes in design of the gold coins of the ►United States from the ' first establishment of its imiiit, in 1792, until 1834. I By act of Congress, dated •June 28, 1834, the weight I of the eagle was reduced [ from 270 grains to 238 »grains, and the fineness from a standard of 22 carats, or 917 thousandths fine, to 899.225 fine. But by act of January 18, 1837, the fineness was again advanced to 900,

and at that standard it has since remained. Of course, the half and quarter eagles shared proportionately both in the reduction and the restoration. The year 1834 gave two coinages of half-eagles, the first being a reproduction of the years immediately preceding; the second has on its obverse the liberty head facing left, a fillet bearing the word “Liberty” binding the head, curls falling about the neck, thirteen stars

GOLD COINS OF THE UNITED STATES —DOUBLE EAGLES, ETC., AND CALIFORNIA GOLD ISSUES.

surrounding the effigy. Reverse, the same as former pieces. The coin was again, beginning with this second issue, reduced in size by one-sixteenth of an inch. There was no further change until 1839. In 1834 there were also two distinct issues of the quarter-eagle; the first was identical in every detail, except date, with the coin of 1821. The second is a reduced sac-simile of the last described only difference being the exergue: “2iy D.” These designs were continued in use until 1840. The coinage of eagles was resumed in 1838. The obverse of the new piece of that year, presented: A Liberty head, facing to the left, hair done up in knot, and curls falling over the neck, a coronet upon the forehead, bearing the word “Liberty.” Around the edge of the field are thirteen stars. Exergue, 1838. Reverse: An eagle with the U. S. shield upon its breast, an olive branch and three arrows in the talons. Legend: United States of America; exergue, “Ten D.” In 1860, a change was made by the introduction, on the field of the reverse, above the head and between the wings of the eagle, of a scroll inscribed, “In God We Trust,” and this constitutes the only change that has been made in the U. S. gold eagle coin since 1838. Half-eagles in 1839 were struck from an entirely new die, the design according with the change made in the eagle, except the exergue on the reverse, “Five D. ” The next change was made in 1866, when the scroll, with “In God We Trust,” was introduced upon the reverse. Since that time the only variations have been in the dates of issue.

The quarter-eagles of 1840 were made to conform with the larger coins in appearance, having the coroneted Liberty head, etc., as described, with exergue “23'j D” upon the reverse, and there has been no further change to the present time. The double-eagle was first coined in 1849, being authorized by act of Congress, dated May 3 of that year. Its weight was ordered to be 516 grains, and fineness 900. The obverse of the new piece showed a Liberty head, facing to the left, hair in a knot, curls falling about the neck; tho head carries a coronet on which is inscribed “Liberty;” thirteen stars are around the edge of the field, and exergue, 1849. Reverse: An eagle with wings expanded and elevated, on its breast the United States shield: a divided scroll, passing downward on each side, bears the words, “E Pluribus Unum;” a halo, or blaze, extends in a half-circle from wing to wing, inclosing thirteen stars; in the talons are grasped barbed arrows and an olive branch. Legend, “United States of America.” Exergue, “Twenty D.” The same devices were continued upon the coins of this denomination until 1866, when the motto, “InGod we trust,” was inserted among the stars, inside of the halo circle. No further changes were made until 1877, when the exergue on the reverse was altered to read “twenty iollars,” and the style then adopted is itill contimied.

The gold dollar also made its appearance in 1849, its coinage being authorized by act of March of that year; the weight was fixed at 25.8 grains, the gold to be 900 fine. This little coin had on its obverse the Liberty head, facing left, a band about the forehead, on which i* the word “Liberty,” and thirteen sixpointed stars around the edge of the field. Reverse, a laurel wreath inclosing, in three lines, the inscription, “1 Dollar, 1849,” and this is surrounded bv the legend, “United States of America.” A fifty-dollar gold piece came from the United States assay office at San Francisco in 1851. This assay office was established by act of Congress in 1850. There are two varieties of the SSO gold coin, popularly known as “the California Slug.” Though these pieces were never authorized by Congress, yet they were received and ranked as United States coin, and as such may here be properly noticed. An octagon shape characterizes both types; the first has, on the obverse, an eagle with upward spread wings, supporting a reclining United States shield. In the talons of the bird are grasped three arrows and an olive branch; from its beak, toward the left, flies a streamer inscribed “Liberty;” over the head of the eagle is another inset bearing 880 Thous., beneath is 50 D. C. Legend, United States of America. All this is inclosed in a beaded circle, outside of which, around the octagon

edge, is “Augustus Humbert, United Stiites Assuyer California of Gold, 1851.” The second SSO “slug” is generally similar to tho first, but is much more finely finished, and the error of transposition is corrected to read, Augustus Humbert, Assayer of Gold, California, 1851. The “Fifty D.” is also changed to Fifty Dolls. In both pieces the edge is grained, and the reverse, in each variety, shows a peculiar and intricate lining, but bears no inscription. A twenty-dollar piece, circular in form, with obverse similar to that within the circle of the “sing,” except, that the scroll is inscribed 800 Thous., and tho exergue reads “Twenty D.,” came, in 1853, from the San Francisco Assay Office. Its reverse bears the same web-work of lines as the SSO piece, but across the center is an open space on which is lettered in three lines: United States Assay Office of Gold, San Francisco, California. 1853.

A ten-dollar gold piece, identical in design with the last described, bu t having the exergue “Ten Dols.” and 884 Thous. in scroll on the obverse, and date, 1852, in the lettering of the reverse, is another specimen of this particular coinage, all of which is marked by the grained edge, and all of which, too, are invariably found equal to the weight and fineness claimed. A three-dollar gold piece was authorized by act of Congress, dated Feb. 21, 1853, the weight to be 77.4 grains, fineness 900. The first coins of this denomination Avere struck in 1854. On the obverse is: A head, representing an Indian princess, with hair lightly curling over the neck; head crowned with a circle of feathers, on the band of which is inscribed Liberty, and around the edge, as legend, United States of America; reverse: a wreath of tobacco, corn, wheat and cotton plants occupy the field; in it, in three lines, appears: 3 Dollars: 1854. No change was ever made in these dies except for date of year. The United States gold coins mentioned here valued, for collections, about as follows: Condition. Year. Coin. Fine. Fair. 1849. Double Eagle SBOO.OO $ 1850 to 1887. Double Eag1e.22.00 21.00 1838. Eagle, head to left. 20.00 14.0 C 1829-40. Eagle 15.00 12.00 1841-42. Eagle 14.00 11.00 1843 to 1888. Eagle 11.50 10.50 1834. Hali Eagle, new head 8.00 6.00 1835 to 18S7. Half Eagle 8.00 6.00 1854. $3 gold piece, head to left... 5.00 3.50 1855 to 1887. $3 gold piece 4.00 3.50 1834. Quarter Eagle, “E P. U.”.... 6.00 4.00 1834. Quarter Eagle, new head.... 6.00 4.00 1835 to 1888. Quarter Eagle 4.00 3.25 1849 to 1856. Gold d011ar....' 1.75 1.3 C 1856. Gold dollar, new head 3.00 2.00 1857 to 1862. Gold d011ar.....] 2.00 1.30 1863. Gold dollar. 10.00 6.00 1864. Gold dollar 6.00 4.00 1865. Gold dollar 10.00 6.00 1866-67. Gold dollar 6.00 3.00 1868. Gold dollar 3.00 1.50 1869. Gold dollar 4.00 1.50 1870-71. Gold dollar 2.50 1.50 1872. Gold dollar 4.00 2.00 1873-74. Gold dollar. 1.75 1.30 1875. Gold dollar 15.00 9.00 1876 to 1881. Gold dollar 2.00 1885 to 1887. Gold dollar 1.75 A. M. Smith, Numismatist. Minneapolis, Minn.

PHIL AND THE PEDAGOGUE.

A True Story Related of Gen. Philip H. Sheridan. BT HOWARD CAR LUTON TRIPP. Patrick McNanly used to rule At Somerset a district school. His mode of teaching was to train The pupils to obey his cane. Each pupil was to him "an ureh That shure must sale and luve the birch.’' And so, with education’s rod, With language suited to a hod, He. by his stern, tyrannic way, Soon forced his pupils to obey. He was a "master man,” of course— A master, not of books, but force. And thus, much like a monarch’s rule, He “teached” at Somerset the school. One cold, bleak morn of frost and rime, Two pupils came ahead of time. To shield themselves on such a day, Both through a window forced their way. One boy was Sheridan, whose ride The poet Read has glorified. And, when inside, young Sheridan Planned to entrap the “master man.” Above the door he placed a pail Of water, that could hardly fail To douse the master, and to ire Him when be came to build the fire. The boys then hid when this was done, And watched and waited for the fun. Soon Patrick came—the pail upset, Which mado him very mad and wet. He searched the seboolhouse all around,

“WHICH MADE HIM VERY MAD AND WET.”

But no young trickster could be found; For in a neighbor’s loft of hay The roguish scamps were hid away. Pat built a fire to dry his clothes, And waited madly for his foes. He grasped within his brawny hand A six-foot club—his ruling wand; And vowed in vengeance there to rule, To whip each boy that came to school, Until he had the right one found, Who should receive a double round. A small boy first, both weak and slim, Pat seized—“to shake the truth from him;” So followed every blameless lad, Whom Patrick thought so mean and bad; And each he whipped, and tried to force “The truth from him,'’ but failed, of course. When all but one behind remained, Had been well shaken, whipped and blamed, At last through snow and wind? so chill Dame little, roguish “Fighting Phil.” MeNanley met him with a frown. And boldly tried to run him down, For Sheridan, with nimble feet, Began a masterly retreat ; And down the road, through drifts of snow, Both like a streak of light did go. The whole school followed fast and fleet— As Phil went gliding down the street. Phil ran and did his level best. Because he was, in truth, hard-pressed; While Patrick, from his madness blind, Was scarce a dozen steps behind. In time Phil reached his father’s yard, Where he had left his dog on guard. There was a battlefield divine, And Philip's “Brave” was there In line; And there the place which Philip chose To face one of his strongest foes; And there his dog. with teeth revealed, Helped him to*win the hard-fought field. Phil turned upon his master mad, And showed him all the strength he had. His schoolmates cheered Phil’s noble stand, But dared not lend a helping hand; Vet while Philip his grip reveals, The dog is at poor Patrick's hoels. Outflanked as any man could be, McManly soon took to a tree, And high upon an apple limb, The whipped and unwhipped laughed at him. Pat looked much like a drowned rat—

“AND VOWED IN VENGEANCE THERE TO RULE.”

Phil asked, “Why don’t you whip me, Pat?’ t Pat cried, “Shure, ye shall rue the hour I ever get ye in me power; For by St. Patrick I shall lame Ye for yerdirthy little game!” “Why don’t you do it, Patrick, how?”

Asked Philip with a pleasant bow. “Becase ye won’t give me fair play. An’ call yer bloody pup away.” McNanly threatened, shivered, bawled.

“HELPED HIM TO WIN THE HARD-FOUGH-FIELD.”

And then for Philip’s father called; For he was freezing wot and cold, And found it did no good to scold. Because Phil kept the dog so spry, Upon a carpet handy by, And told “Brave” to keep watch of him. Who sat astride the apple limb; His father coming, there did see McNanly up the apple tree. And with a very pleasant grin He took the situation In, And asked poor Patrick on his b High If he was “picking apples now'/” Poor Patrick, in a brogue of wrath, Told how he had received a bath, How he had whipped the boys at school,. That they might better know his rule, now by liis actions Philip had Shown that he was the guilty lad, How he had chased him to the yard, And found the "bloody pup” on guard, How both the dog and boy agreed, How he’d been bitten, beaten, treed. How all his school stood grinning by, How he would conquer Phil or die. He asked the father there to stay, And call the watchful dog away, To see him capture “Fighting Phil,” That he might wallop him until lie had been truly conquered, and Resigned the right to his command! The father tried to call away The dog, but "Brave” would not obey; Then, thinking Phil perhaps was right, . Left them to settle tlielr own fight. McNanly could not teach his school, For “up a tree” he could not rule; So Philip, with most prudent sense, Made Pat revoke the morn’s offense; Made him there feel his littleness, To use his rod a trifle less, To promise, up that apple tree. That ho a kinder man would be; Made him the by-word of the town, Before he let the tyrant down; Made him cool off—for Phil’s delight Was a surrender or a fight. The dog called off, McNanly’s rule Again assumed Its place in school; But from that morn young “Fighting Phil,'

“SAT ASTRIDE THE APPLE LIMB.”

Though noble, manly, strong of will, Though peaceful, and avoiding strife, Was never whipped in all his life. In after years his country’s call Proved him the bravest of them all; For when death-bolts hissed through the afi; Brave “General Fighting Phil” was ihei«| He fought four years, and toiled to see Our flag, the slaves and country free — Fought on to vindicate his faith. And conquered everything but death. Ivingslev, lowa.

Cornfield Philosophy.

A rich man lives under a which exaggerates both his virtues ana his vices. Even in the house of innocent delight there is hidden the skeleton ol satiety. The price of knowledge is disenchantment. Don’t descend to equivocation; if you must lie, do it like ail accomplished scoundrel. Necessities are seasoned by natural desire, but to enjoy luxuries we mnst force the appetite. The latter demands find sacrifices not expressed in the original transfer. Most falsehoods, like poorly lighted fires, will go out of themselves if w« cease to blow them. Credulity, like kittens, is born blind, but, unlike them, it never gets its eyeflf open. Pursuit is an enduring guided by hope; possession is but a brief disappointment. When we capture the gaudy butterfly it is found that we have crushed out its beauty. | Honesty is the best policy, no doubt, but it is doubtful if any one living ever knew real sure that it is. Most people, believe in the scheme of using fire when in a battle with his satanie majesty, and they will be none toe honest when dealing with a dishonest, man. ,