Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1891 — Page 4

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Italy is to spend $15,000,000 on its •Dew navy this fiscal rear. j It is a superstition that where the , ■eagle builds its nest the lightning never [strikes. It has been shown that if the sun i were a burning sphere of solid coal it 'could not last 6,000 years. One need not be hopelessly a fatallist to yet recognize a certain sequence in life that transcends our conscious endeavor. There are in the United States thirty-five or more colleges of pharmacy or departments of pharmacy of universities or colleges. The pumice stone was a writing material of the ancients; they used it Ito smooth the roughness of the parchment or to sharpen their reeds. It is said that in New York City there is one millionaire in every 1,600 of the population. There is very little comfort in that for the less fortunate 1,599. The Nicaragua canal is progressing all right. A great deal of work has already been done. It looks as if the canal may be finished within five years. > The library of the Seventh Begiment of New York City contains a new treasure. It is an album of about seventy-five photographic views taken along the line of Sherman’s march through .Georgia. The Thomas Cat, a weekly paper in Thomas County, Kansas, emitted its last despairing howl a short time ago, and its bones lie bleaching on the great sandy desert that lies between Vol. 1., No. 1 and success in journalism. Its nine lives were not enough. Queen Victoria’s family now numbers no less than fifty living descendants, including sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, greatgrandsons and great-granddaughters. She has also four sons-in-law, four daughters-in-law, five grandsons-in-law, and one granddaughter-in-law. If all the descendants were living, the immediate family would number seven-ty-four.

The Adams Express Company joins the United Company in obeying the postal laws intended to cut off the supplies of the Louisiana Lottery pany. In refusing to carry its letters or packages these express companies have badly crippled the great fraud. It is considered certain now that the charter of the company will not be renewed, and its death will save the people of the whole country many million dollars per year. Justice is not as laggard in England as it is here. Little over a month ago the body of a woman was found in London, and it was at first supposed that Jack the Bipper had claimed another victim. Later it appeared probable that the woman had been murdered by a mistress oi her husband. There was an investigation, arrest and trial, and the next day the guilty woman was sentenced to be hanged. This would have been a six months’ or year’s case in the United States. In London there is a man who follows the business of tattooing. The majority of his patients are men who have designs of a naval character pricked into their skin, but there are also a groat many women who employ his art, if it may be termed such. With them the decoration is usually a bee, a butterfly, a spray of flowers or a monogram. These ornaments are worn inside the wrist, so that they can be hidden by the glove if necessary.

Thhbe must be some very naughty people in Oklahoma. One house of the territorial Legislature has passed a bill making it a criminal libel for a newspaper to even insinuate anything against a man’s character, whether it is fact or not. In describing a burglary Tinder this law, therefore, the newspaper reporter would remark that a gentleman named Slippery Dick got by mistake into Mr. Jones’ at 2 o’clock in the morning, and Mr. Jones’ silverware somehow got entangled in Mr. Dick’s clothing, and he unconsciously walked off with it. There has been another victim to the fraud of Christian science, and a coroner’s jury has properly condemned the neglect which permitted a man stricken with a deadly disease to die unattended and depending upon nothing better than the empiricisms of a parcel of fanatics. It is hard to be even decently patient with people who are so blind to the rules of life as to allow a fever to run its deadly course to the end,depending upon the charlatanry of such a system to do what can only be done by Mm aid of science and the knowledge of billed and enlightened men. The Argentine Committee in London has reported in favor of funding the coupons of the national and external bonds of that Republic for thi ee years. During that time the greatest possible amount of the inflated paper currency is to be withdrawn and burnt. This measure is recommended as giving a suflicient breathing time, and preventing a stoppage in the payment of interest. It is advised that the new

funded bonds shall be secured by the customs receipts, and it is expected that their market value will soon rise to within 10 per cent, of par.

Men who are near the scene of action and have their money invested in the business do not expect the supply of natural gas in the Pittsburg region to hold out much longer. The gross earnings of the leading company engaged in supplying it to consumers were $2,445,965 for the first ten months of the year, while the expenses were only sl,374,920. Out of the difference nine months’ dividends at 8 percent., to the amount of $450,000, have been paid, and this leaves a surplus of $621,056. Yet the stock of the company has declined to 30 per cent, of its par value, now being quoted at sls per share. Of course if the supply should fail the plant would be‘comparatively worthless.

When an Elizabeth was on the throne ladies in waiting had duties to perform. The young Victoria found women of the bed-chamber so necessary for her comfort that a ministry was thrown out because it proposed to dictate their politics. The number of household servitors has not diminished with time, but their services are not in demand. Nineteen gentlemen ushers draw a thousand a year or so from the taxpayers of Great Britain for being simply on her Majesty’s household list. They never perform any duty whatever. It was doubtless of such as these elect that the poet wrote, “they also serve who only stand and wait”— for the paymaster. A radical member of Parliament is going to ask that their unearned increment shall be cut off.

The advent of winter is not a cheerful outlook to those whose business or pleasure compels them to travel on roads where the cars are heated by the deadly “car stove.” Notwithstanding the numerous railroad accidents which have been intensified in horror through the agency of the car-stove, railroad companies in many cases still persist in practicing economy at the risk of the lives of their passengers by retaining the stove instead of heating the cars with steam supplied by the engine. New York, New England, and Canada by legislation and the force of public opinion have almost abolished the car-stove, at least on all “important” lines. But no train that carries passengers is unimportant, and every State throughout the "West should compel railroad companies by law to adopt the safer and in every respect better way of heating passenger-coach-es by steam. The initial expense to the company will ba perhaps SIOO or mpre per car, but the change once effected heating by steam will be found to be more economical and far more safe.

There is considerable truth in the following, which we take from one of our exchanges: “Some of our people are much troubled about the American boy being taught a trade. There is no American boy who is desirous of learning a trade who cannot do so. The trouble is that the American boy and the American boy’s parents are too proud to allow him to learn a trade. They prefer to bring him up as a clerk, or some light employment that will not soil his hands nor bring him money enough to keep himself in cloth es. Our business colleges, as they are termed, are turning out bookkeepers by the thousand. As a conse pience $5 or &6 a week will provide an individual with a diploma as big as a shutter and as pretentions as a Chinese landscape. When some honest mechanics make a demand for employment for American men, then it is that the employer and the newspapers prate about teaching the American boy a trade. When a dishonest employer wants to get his work done at one-half what a fair employer is willing to pay, he secure i a lot of boys to take the places of his American men, who have families to keep, and then he prate 3 about teaching the American boy a trade. The man who talks thus is either a fool or a knave, and generally the latter.”

The threatened Indian trouble in Dakota has undoubtedly convinced many people that the soldier who said the only good Indian is the dead Indian was right in hi 3 extreme opinion of Indian character. But the Indian’s laziness at this late day, and his liability to be influenced by turbulent spirits, is the result of his idleness. If he could be induced to work he would soon develop into a self-sustaining husbandman. At present he is being too well taken care of. The government gives him rations, and by so doing makes him a dependent, and when he goes on the war-path he is hunted back to his reservation to receive more food. The scheme of allotting land in severalty to the red wards of the nation is the only way out of this Indi »n dfficulty, and it is a matter for regret that just as the government |iad got that scheme well under way some Unscrupulous white man or half-breed has succeeded in working the Indians into a frenzy over a*dpb. As compulsion and assistance has be£ff"the policy thus far, why would it not be a good plan to try compulsion in this matter of getting Indians upon lands of their own ? Instead of asking the Indians if they desire to become farmers, Uncle Sam might say “I desire that you settle upon farms and support yourselves. Here are the deeds to your property. Now go and work for your bread and butter.” If this policy should be pursued the time would soon come when we could say with truth that the only bad Indian is the Indian who will not work.

OUR LITTLE ONES.

A COLUMN DEVOTED TO YOUNG FOLKS’ READING. Complete Instructions for Making: the Dancing Marionettes—Some Funny Sayings from the Little Ones—Neat and Pretty Gifts that Children Can Make. Home from School. The western sun comes softly In Through halt door open wide; Young Rover lies with low-stretched chin Upon the steps outside; The great hall clock ticks sleepily; A hint of clucking hen Comes from the yard uncertainly; Then all is still again. But hark! A banging of the gate! A clatter up the walk.' A tangle of blithe sounds elate In song and laugh and talk! Loud strikes the clock! The chickens flee! Rover’s a frantic fool! The very sunshine laughs to see The children home from school! Dancing Marionettes. Marionettes, says a sanguine inventor, must have an inherent life of their own. The clown, the Columbine, and all the figures representing animals will now caper about on their own hook. Worn out visiting cards, matchsticks, these are the very simple materials with which people who are fond of a little nonsense now and then can fashion all the figures represented by these designs which can at any time be set in motion like mechanical toys. Take, for instance, a clown. First draw and paint the figure on the back

of a card—the body and head first, then the two legs and arms—carefully cat out five pieces, place the body on a table, and above it tbe legs and arms in a position of rest. Now these limbs must be joined, and this is how it is to be done. Take, for instance. an arm, mark with a pencil, at the shoulder end of the arm, the exact spot forming the axis of rotation, pierce a hole with a pin at this point and put it through the shoulder in the body. Bend a matchstick at the center as much as possible without breaking, and drop a little melted sealing-wax, joining the two ligaments to the arm and body respectively, making the part forming the joint be in contact with the piu. Do the same for the other limbs, remove the four pins, and the figure is complete. Now we have to give it life. All that has to be done for this is to place the side of the figure on which are the matches in a plate containing a thin layer, to to say, of water. The bent fibers of wood which have not been broken will swell by means of the moisture absorbed and will try to regain their rectilineal position. The figure will then make a series of abrupt movements, which are very amusing. The legs and arms will move apart as those do which are moved by a string. Be careful to use only large, common matchsticks. The Swedish ones are impregnated with paraffine and would not move as required. Each one can perfect the mode of fashioning these figures as he likes best. A ballet girl who can lift her foot to her forehead, a rooster which can move its legs about are pretty easy to make. A horse with twelve different joints is a bit too difficult, for an amateur. For the horse each leg is composed of three different portions. Instead of placing the figure on a plate we can put a drop of water on each joint with the finger or with a paint brush, and the effect will be the same. The winter evenings are present which cause young and old to assemble round the family table. The time

seems favorable to recommend to our readers those new dancing marionettes. Sayings of Small Ones. One day Bay and Ernest were playing together, and as they occasionally quarreled their mother said: “If you are naughty again I will separate you.” s In a little while Ernest called : “Mamma, please come and separate Ray, he’s naughty.” “Mamma, what’s twins?” asked the smallest child. “I know,” replied;an older one beforp the mother could answer. “Twins is two babies just the same age; three babies are triplets; four are quadrupeds, and five are centipedes.” Onb day Tommie, aged three years •and nine months, said to Jack, aged two years: “Jack, do you know what knowledge is ?” “No, indeed.” said Jack, j “I don’t, either,” was the reply. Then after a few minutes: “Jack, you will never amount to anything if you don’t know yvhat knowledge is.”

The other day a little five-year ol<" girl called at a toy store and asked u they had any little dolls for a cent.* A pretty little earthenware doll was handed out, and the little girl took it in her tiny hands, gazed into the doll’s face as if admiring its beauty, and then raised it to her lips and gave it a fervent kiss. VI just wanted to kiss little dolly—dat’s all I wanted.” Then she handed the little image back to the astonished salesman and tripped lightly out upon the street with a beaming smile of satisfaction. Gifts that Children Cai Make. Pen-wipers and book-marks are very pretty, and can be made by children. For a pen-wiper take three or four small oval pieces of chamois skin. “Extracts from the pen of ” can be marked on the top layer with a colored pencil. Put a bow of ribbon where the layers are fastened together, and through this bow put a quill cut in the Bhape of a pen. When finished it is odd put pretty. Sand rolls are very ttsefnl to lay across a book to keep it open when laid on the table, also on a piano to keep a book open while one is playing from it. A small roll can be made of plush, silk or woolen, with some design painted or embroidered on it. If you use plush, take a piece nine inches long and four and one-half inches wide. Stitch it np lengthwise, gather up one end, make a bag filled with sand, slip inside the plush, gather up the end and finish with a ball tassel at both ends.

Mind Reading in Chicago.

P. Alexander Johnstone, the wonderful young mind-reader, gave an exhibition of his powers on an Indiana avenue horse-car that resulted in tl*e complete demoralization of a prominent South Side business man, and furnished infinite amusement to several of his friends. The business man is very fond of his wife, whom he affectionately calls Jennie, and is exceptionally proud of his three interesting children, the eldest of whom is an auburn-haired miss of 15. When he seated himself beside Johnstone, facing his friends, he ventured a remark that led up to an animated conversation. Mind-reading was finally broached, when Johnstone, concealing his identity, said he could duplicate the mind-reader’s work. The business man’s incredulity was expressed in his ejaculation, “Bats.” “Take one of those letters you hold in your hand,” said Johnstone, “and think intently of the signature.” The man complied, and in an instant Johnstone repeated the name at the bottom of the epistle. The man looked a little surprised, but presently, glancing at the envelope, saw the signer’s card on the upper left corner. “That’s only a trick,” he said, “now tell me the signature to this,” holding out a dainty missive. Johnstone took the man’s wrist, closed his eyes, and, after thinking a moment, asked if he really wanted the fall signature mentioned. “Why. yes,” said the man, doubtfully, and betokening a certain apprehension. “Your loving little sweetheart, Edith,” Johnstone replied. The business man looked at Johnstone in wild-eyed amazement, and then hastily left the car, followed by the uproarious laughter of his friends. “It’s a good thing for Ned that Jennie isn’t here,” commented one of the friends.— Chicago Evening Journal.

THE POET POE’S COTTAGE.

In the village of Fordham, a suburb of New York City, still stands, in {a. good state of preservation, the cottage

EDGAR POE’S COTTAGE.

occupied by Edgar Allan Poe, the author of “The Haven,” “Fall of the House of Ushea,” “Hans Pfall,” “The Gold Bug,” and other famous stories and poems. The quaint, white, story-and-a-half cottage is daily visited by many admirers of the dead poet, whose happiest days were spent beneath its thatched roof.

A Bather Expensive Bird.

Two darkies in the country made, in partnership, a splendid cotton crop and shipped it to New Oileans. One of the partners came down with it to sell it, and to buy the provisions for the next year. After the sale of the cotton he was walking down the street looking for something to buy as a predent for his partner. In passing a bird store on Charles street his eye was caught by a parrot, and he went in and priced it. He was told $25. “Huh!” said he, $25 for that bird?” “Yes,” said the dealer, “that bird can talk.” “Lemme hear him,” said the darky. And the parrot was put through his paces. The darky bought him, and, as he had to stay over and buy the provisions for next year, he shipped him up on the boat leaving next afternoon, directed to his partner. The next week he went up, and as he stepped off the boat was met by his partner when, after the usual salutations, tne following conversation took place: “Well, Tom, how did you like dat bird I sent you?” “He wuz a mighty pirtty bird, but he were pow’ful tuff.” . “Tuff? Tuff? You doan’mean ter tell me dat you dun eat dat bird. ?” “Eat dat bird ? In course I dun egt dat bird.” “My Gawd, nigger, da . bird cos’ twenty-five dollars, an’ he cud talk like er lawyer.” “Well, es dat bird cud talk, when I had him by de neck and wuz a gwine ter wring his head off. why de debbil didn’t he say so V'—New Orleans Delia.

THEY LIVE FOR LOVE.

Mexican Women Interest Themselves Only in Heart Affairs.

not amount to much. It is considered a disgrace for a Mexican lady to earn her own living. The men do the cooking and male servants do the housework. If a young lady should' 5 learn stenography and typewriting, or should try in any manner to earn her own living, she would be ostracized from society. A Mexican lover must woo in patience, as his intentions are, from the start, treated as a family matter by the parents of the beloved of his soul. He is bound by custom to make known to his lady love his desire to pay his addresses. If the communication is pleasant he is referred to the mother and the siege of the maiden’s heart may be said to be begun. Custom compels the youth to execute a movement called “Playing the bear,” which consists of a daily afternoon promenade before the shaded jalousie behind which sits the maiden, flanked by her mother, sisters, female cousins, and aunts. Before such a battery of black eyes the suitor must pace back and forth for at least twenty minutes a day. He may toss a note up into the jalpnsie, if so be he has sufficient courage to face the party, but his missives are read by the mother before they are delivered to his love. His love may answer the notes, but her replies must be read and edited by her mother before they are given to the stately senor pacing up and down in the blazing tropical sun. If the suitor is approved by the family, he is soon permitted to talk to the senorita, still in the presence of her family. Ere long he is allowed to call, and thenceforth the wooing progresses more in accordance with American views.

A WATER CANDLESTICK.

Clever Way of Making a Wick Burn Steadily and Withont Odor. In a tumbler filled with water a piece of a parffin candle is placed, after having been weighted by a nail stuck in the lower end to keep the candle floating. The advantage of this light is that it

THE WATER CANDLESTICX.

burns steadily, being below the line of any draught, and when it is burned out it is extinguished by the water, leaving no smoke. As the candle burns down in the ordinary light it flickers and at last gives out an odor of burning grease, which is very unpleasant to the sick. The water glass candle-holder prevents all this.

Two Fingers to an American.

Although the manners of French “smart men” do not savor quite as much of the stable as those of England, they are, if possible, greater prigs, writes H. C. Taylor in the Chicago News. It is their custom to shake hands according to rank. An ordinary mortal is given two fingers; a baron, viscount, or count is given three; a marquis four; and a duke or prince the entire hand. A few months ago a Frenchman, whose mother is an American, met an American whom he had known from childhood. In shaking hands the Frenchman put out two fingers. The American, having lived muph in France, would not permit this upstart to patronize him, so he turned to the Frenchman and told him that if he ever tried to shake hands with two fingers again, he would pull his nose. For six months the Frenchman always presented his entire hand. A short time since, however, the American was leaving Havre for home. He met the Frenchman on the ship, who was there for the purpose of seeing his mother off for America. Just as the gangway was being lowered, the two parted, and the Frenchman presented his two fingers and rushed off the ship. He had been waiting his opportunity, and it was thus that he paid the American for the threatened insult.

She Can Read Clicks.

Perhaps the only society woman in New York, who has any practical knowledge of telegraphy is Mrs. Collis, wife of General Charles H. T. Collis, ex-General, ex-banker, and at present insurance magnate. Mrs. Collis, who is a strikingly handsome woman, unusually accomplished, may really be considered an expert in the art of telegraphing. She learned when General Collis, then a banker, had a private wire connecting his New York and Philadelphia offices with his handsome Fifth Avenue residence. Mrs. Collis learned to telegraph that she might have little snatches of conversation with her husband durirg business hours or his occasional alsences in Philadelphia, and so thoroughly did she acquire a knowledge that General Collis declares no telegraphic expert can click a message over the wiie with greater skill and firmness than his pretty wife can wire “Please send me a check.”

MEXICAN educates his sons and sends them to college, but his daughters have to remain with their mother. There are too many women there, and they lire for nothing but love. They become accomplished, o f course, but beyond being good entertainers, good Mexicans, and good linguists they do

A COIN 3,000 YEARS OLD.

A Piece of Money That Is Older Christianity and Is Well Preserved. Mr. J. A. Brudin, of New York City, has some very curious coins. He is a collector of coins from East A«i» and has some pieces very old and interesting. None are more so than the coin ot

KING WU WANG’S COINS—B. C. 1116

King Wu Wang (1122-1116 B. C.). Ifc is called Pu, the word meaning cloth, made from cotton or hemp. It is madeof bronze with raised letters and lines, the characters being in Chinese, but of such ancient date that the modem Chinaman can’t make them out. It is. still well preserved. Another is a knife-shaped coin. It belongs to the dynasty of Tsi (38T-221 B. C.). It is called Tao, which means.

COINS OF THE DYNASTS’—B. C. 387.

knife or sword. It must be very old and rare, because the letters are not raised but engraved, and seem to be gilded. Mr. Brudin says that the only Chinese coin with gilded letters was coined by usurper Wang Mang (9-22 A. D.). and is called Tso Tas or “gilded knives.” Those are, however, quite different from the knife coin here represented. It is supposed that the Chinese mademoney about 2,800 years before Christ. It was then called Kin Wilch, meaning metal or gold.

The Scope of the Movement.

Aunt Tabitha—What’s this ere Farmers’ Alliance they’re makin’ sech afuss about ?” Uncle Peleg—Oh, that’s a scheme, sumpthin’ like th’ Boyal Arcanyum, terpertect us fellers from gittin buncoed all th’ time.— Judge.

Mr. Woolson—fia’s whad I calls, low-down mean! Mrs. Woolson —Whad’s low-down mean ? Mr. Woolson—Dat Eyetalian on do cohner borryed ma razzer t’ go t’ do Neepolitan Lazzvroni ball, an’ he’s went an’ ground it Garrybaldus style. — Judge.' •

Singular Hygienic Contest.

At the North London Collegiate School for Girls an athletic contestlately took place to test the value or otherwise of corset-wearing. With a. view to obtaining some actual scientific data on disputed points, sixteen pupilswearing corsets were arrayed againstas many abstainers, the trial includinga high leap, a long leap, “tug of war,” and running competition. In leapingneither side gained any signal advantage over the other. In the tug, for which the girls had beon well drilled, the abstainers had far the best of it, twice dragging their opponents over the line. For “endurance running” the object aimed at was to test the evidence of disturbance, as shown in an increased respiration and diminished breathing capacity. The resultsshowed a small advantage to the corset party in the matter of respiration rate and a considerable advantage to the opposite side in pulse rate. Butrthe most striking result was that while the effort of running diminished the breathing capacity of the corset-wear-ers by .8 cubic inches that of the nonCorsets was increased by 4.4.

Bad Memory.

“Captain,” said a grocery keeper, addressing a well-known gentleman, “do you remember that sack of flour you ordered some time ago ?” “Oh, yes, I remember it.” “I suppose so, but I don’t remember that you ever paid for it.” , ' “My dear sir, I am not responsible for your bad memory. I have remembered my part of it. Memory is a peculiar faculty, and is susceptible of great cultivation. Some of the Grecians could repeat volumes of poetry. Well, good morning.”— Ar~ kansaw Traveler.