Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1893 — Page 6

gljeJtmocraticScntincl RENSSELAER, INDIANA. jW. McEWEN, - - Publish™.

HOLDING UP TRAINS.

A BOLD AND PECULIAR CRIME ON THE INCREASE. Brief History of Some Famous Hold-Ups tn the United States—A Dark and Bloody Page irom the Criminal Annals of the Country. Beffan Since the War. Solitary travelers were first intimi4*ted and robbed by solitary highwaymen, stage coaches were stopped by •me or more men and the passengers relieved of their valuables and the holding up of railroad trains at the point of revolvers by a limited rfnmber of desperadoes and determined men was a natural evolution. Highway robbery on the rail was unknown before the' war. There had been instances of express messengers being robbed and murdered by persons who had obtained •eoess to the car, but the bold capture of train crews, the forcible rifling of the treasure boxes of the express companies and the subsequent robbery of •n entire train-load of passengers, dates from 1866 only, and this particular form of piracy may be said to have been

ATTACKING THE ENGINEER AND FIREMAN.

started by the Reno gang of four brothers and their brother-in-law, Anderson, who lived in and about Seymour, Ind. There was, previous to this, an extensive robbery of passengers that was semimilitary in its nature. On September 24,1864, occurred at Centralia, Mo., the memorable massacre of thirty-two Union soldiers by Bill Anderson’s band of guerrillas. The band of robbers and murderers, from which were afterwards recruited the world-famous James and Younger gangs of desperadoes, had ridden into Centralia, pillaged the town and then taken possession of the depot. When the North Missouri train came along it was captured by Anderson’s gang of cutthroats, the thirty-two soldiers taken out, disarmed and then stood against a wall and murdered. After the cowardly deed of blood the guerrillas went through the train and robbed all of the

ROBBERS CAUGHT IN A TRAP NEAR ST. JOE MO.

passengers without distinction. This was, however, an incident of the war, and police officers in discussing train robberies always date from 1866, when the Renos began operations in Southern Indiana. The Reno Gang ot Robbers. There were four brothers, Frank, Jessie, Sjm and Jack Reno, and their brother-in-law Anderson, all four boys who loafed much of their time about the streets of Seymour. One night in September of 1866, the west-bound Ohio and Mississippi train was on its way westward from Seymour and had reached Brownstown, where it stopped, when the engineer and fireman found themselves suddenly looking into two revolvers held by two masked men and heard an imperative order to pull out. As the engineer complied, the express car was cut off from the train, a simple matter in those days, and the engineer forced to run ahead two miles, when

ORDINARY SCENE AT A HOLD-UP--USING DYNAMITE

he was ordered to stop. One man remained on the engine and three entered the express car, which had end door*, overpowered the messenger and forced him to open the safe. They g<A £12,000, and then fled, leavfaf the engineer to return wrtth Ma locomotive to his train. ' *at a shot was fired. This bold •Ml saeeefoful crime created the profoafofoat teaaatiom Col. L. C. Weir, OMfo •»* a* the time agent of the Mm* gjrprw Company, recognized foK Ml was bat the first of what

must prove a long series of comparatively safe and profitable crimes, and he at once began that course of procedure which has made his .name a terror to express robbers and his conduct a

ONE WAY OF OPENING THE EXPRESS CAR.

model for the thief-takers of the country to emulate. The Reno family were at the time under some slight suspicion, but there was no tangible evidence against them. Three months later the coupling pin was pulled out of an east-bound train, the engineer forced to run down the track, the messenger held up and

robbed of $3,000. This was the work of twojjoys. neither of them 19 years of age. They were delivered to the officers by their fathers, who had seen them making masks, the money recovered, and they were sent to the penitentiary for long terms. The express people began to think that the new industry had been nipped in the bud, when, nine months later, the country was startled by another train robbery of most brutal and aggravating details. Jack Reno had in the meanwhile gone to Missouri and was arrested for his share in the robbery of the Daviess County Bank, for which he was sent to the penitentiary for twenty-three years. The third train robbery was on the Jeffersonville, Madison andj Indianapolis Railroad, and occurred at Seymour. The engineer was captured at the water tank, and the express car entered while the train was in motion.

He offered some resistance and was beaten over the head and then thrown bodily from the train, inflicting injuries that made him an imbecile for the rest of his days. This job was done by Frank, Jesse and Sim Reno and Anderson. They secured $135,000, with which they made their escape. Thev were located through the untiring efforts of Col. Weir, who diiected tho operations of the detectives, at Windsor, Canada, where they were found living under aliases and engaged in business. They were well supplied with money ana made a hard fight against extradition. It was over a year, and their cases were taken to the court of last resort before they were surrendered to the United States authorities. Six Indiana Robbers Lynched. A circumstance had occurred at Seymour during the interim that made the Renos equally desirous not to be returned to Indiana. Six young men

living in the vicinity of Seymour, fired to the point of enthusiasm by the success which had attended the two trainrobbery exploits of the Renos, banded together for the purpose of enriching themselves at the expense of the express company, A time, train and place had been selected, but a weakkneed confederate betrayed the plot, little dreaming of the fearful results to follow. The doomed train was mounted with a strong guard, and when the point of attack was reached the would-be robbers found themselves

face to face with a heavily armed posso 'of determined men. They fled and ! were pursued. Three of them were | captured and put In the Seymour jail. At daylight a mob stormed the jail, took them to a point one mile and a half west of the town, where in the midst of a field stands to this day in plain view of the railroad track a tree, to which they were hung. During the day the remaining three would-be robbers were captured,, and that night they were hung to the same tree. The six bodies on the one tree presented a grewsome sight, and were permitted to remain there all of the next day. that some such treatment as this awaited them urged the Renos to make a desperate fight against extradition. When all was lost with them they begged not to be taken back to Seymour, and the officers accordingly took them to New Albany, Ind., where they would be presumably safe from mob violence. Bat they were not, for on the night of the day which they were confined a mob of nearly a thousand people came to the city over the J., M. & I. Railroad from Seymour and adjacent towns, attacked the massive jail, which for four hours resisted their assaults, forced their way to the prisoners’ cells, and despite a most desperate resistance, during which the four prisoners defended themselves with savage fury, armed only with portions of the cell furniture, they were taken out and hanged to a telegraph pole. It is said that the men were as a matter of fact dead when hanged, having been shot and beaten to death in the ceils. Of the Reno gang Jack is alive, having been released from Jefferson City several years ago, and was recently keeping a saloon at Seymour. The very decisive method of showing disapproval of the profession of train-robbing in Southern Indiana had the effect of discouraging the business both there and elsewhere, and it was not until seven years later, June 6, 1875, that the country was startled by the daring attempt to rob a Vandalia express car and the murder of Milo Eames, the engineer, at Long Point, a water station about thirty miles west of Terre Haute. The east-bound train stopped at the tank, a lonesome place, with but one hrftntation in siglat, and it a little groggery, that was supposed to have been established by the robbeps, when three men, heavily masked, and further disguised with slouch hats and linen dusters, boarded the engine, and drawing their pistols, shot Eames dead. The fireman, who was standing on the tender, gave one look and fen off the tender into the ditch. One of the robbers understood an engine, and he pulled out, carrying the express car, which had been previously uncoupled, two miles down the road, where a confederate with a horse and wagon was waiting on the opposite side of a field. The Adams Express

THE BLIND BAGGAGE CAR.

messenger, Burke, a brave man, took in the situation and made preparations to defend the car, which was an old Pennsylvania car without end doors and as strong as a fortress. He piled up freight so as to make a barricade on either side. To the demand of the robbers to open up he returned a defiant answer. They went to work on the car with axes, but gave up the job in disgust. They then began to fire through the car. He returned the fire, wounding one of the robbers, as blood stains in the -field proved, and was slightly wounded himself. Over forty shots were exchanged. Steel Masks and Breastplates. In th<?ir flight they threw away three sets of bullet-proof steel armor, tho like of which had never been seen before. The steel mask, which covered the face and neck, was like a section of stove-pipe, with holes cut for the eyes and mouth. The breastplates, which reached below the hips, were made in three sections. It was afterwards learned that this armor had been made in Indianapolis to the order of the robbers. Rewards were offered aggregating $14,000 for the arrest of the robbers and murderers, but the guilty parties were never apprehended. About five years ago it developed that the conspiracy was formed in Terre Haute, and that the leader was a man named Shoemaker, whose brother was at the time Chief of Police of Terre Haute, and who was one of the most vigorous of the officers engaged in the two months' hunt for the robbers. This was the last case of holding up a train in Indiana. The subsequent murder of an express messenger on the Rock Island Railroad and his rpbbery by one of the train's crew is not a case in point. After the Vandalia affair train-robbing began to be heard of west of the Mississippi, where, with the exception of the comparatively recent effort of an insanely reckless man at Schenectady, N. Y., the Rube Burrows exploits in Tennessee and the Gulf States, and the efforts of the present year, it has since been confined. Some Statistics for 1893. The Railroad Gazette has collected statistics of train wrecking and train robbing for the first six months of 1893 which yield some surprising results. One is accustomed to think of train wreckers and train robbers infesting sparsely settled Western States, but the statistics show, on the contrary, that such crimes are most prevalent in well-settled States. The Gazette's figures show sixty-one attempts to wreck trains and twenty-one attempts to rob them. Massachusetts and Illinois head the list in the number of attempts to wreck trains, and Ohio follows. In these three advanced States were made more than one-half of all the attempts to wreck trains, and the State of New York follows. The only explanation offered for this preponderance of trainwrecking in well-settled and, generally speaking, well-governed States is that the mileage of railroads is greater in those States than in others, and that tramps, who are responsible for most attempts to wreck trains, flourish in thickly settled regions. The geographical distribution of attempts at train-robbing are still more curious. lowa heads the list, Indian Territory and Oklahoma taken together have the same number. Texas foli lows, and then comes Kansas and Ne- ■ braska. Sixty-seven per cent, of all ■ the train-robberies or attempted trainI robberies occurred in these four States ; and two Territories. The Crime on the Increase. This form of crime is on the increase ! rather than on the decline. Yhe per- • centage of increase is so great that I many men are ’tempted to attempt it. , The majority of the cases of the past , ten years seem to involve railroadmen. ■ Climbing over the tender and stopping I the engineer on duty is peculiarly the j plan of the railroad man turned robber.

A TERRIFIC FIGHT.

A Bull and a Stallion Engage in a Mortal Combat. A fine bull and a stallion belonging to John Kreutzer, living near Oakland, Hl., engaged in a terrific fight tbe other day. Kreutzer had always turned his bull and stallion into the same lot, and there was apparently the best of feeling between them. On the occasion in question, however, the bull suddenly began frantically cavorting around the barnyard. The stallion for a time

AT LAST THE BULL MADE A RUSH.

looked on in apparent consternation at the queer antics of his erstwhile sober friend and then he began trotting around after the Infuriated animal as it ran from one side of the inclosure to the other. Finally the bull, after almost exhausting itself in an effort seemingly to throw something off, suddenly turned and made for the stallion. The sudden change in tactics of the bull took the horse by surprise, and it was only after his flank had been severelygored that he realized the situation, and then began a battle that would have thrilled the heart of a Spanish bull fighter. The stallion made no attempt to kick, but struck viciously with his fore feet and bit the bull frightfully. At last the bull made a rush and killed the horse with a thrust of his horns. Then tbemull staggered away a short distance and fell. Mr. Kreutzer, who had witnessed the mutual destruction of the best part of his fortune, then ventured in the lot. The bull was still living, and wrapped closely about one of its hind legs he discovered the cause of the battle, a little black snake, about two feet long, which had coiled about the animal’s leg. The bull was so badly wounded that it was shot.

Hints to Housekeepers.

A baked lemon is said to be an excellent remedy for hoarseness and one that is often resorted to by singers and public speakers. The lemon is leaked like an apple, and a little of the heated and thickened juice squeezed over lump sugar. Violet and orris make tho best combination for bureau and chiffonier sachets. The orris Imparts a delicious odor of cleanliness, and the violet gives just the suspicion of actual fragrance that is needed. Coffee stains should not be obstinate if treated as follows: Rub the stain before the cloth has been laundrled with a mixture made by dissolving the yelk of an egg in a little lukewarm water. Wash with clean warm water and the stain will vanish with it.

Deviled almonds, according to the recipe of the Boston Cooking School, are prepared as follows: Shell and blanch the nuts, slice lengthwise, and drop into a saucepan containing a tablespoonful of hot butter. Stir the nuts constantly, and when they are a deep yellow mix a tablespoonful each of Chutney and Worcestershire, two tablespoonfuls of chopped pickle and one-quarter teaspoonful of salt. Pour over the almonds and serve cold. This is a good chafing dish relish.

An economy of waste is to throw the salt water left In the Ice-cream freezer over the weeds on the garden paths and the suds of the wash tub around the roots of the young trees. Baked ham to be good should be well boiled; when done carefully skin and cover the top with a layer of sugar; bake in a deep pan in a moderate oven, and baste it continually with cooking sherry wine. This dish in a way Is unequaled. For the men and women upon whose nervous energy there are great demands fish is an invaluable article of food. Salmon heads the list In nutritive qualities. It is richer than nfeat.

In cleaning a badly soiled carpet great precaution should be used. Brussels, tapestries, Wiltons or velvet carpets may be cleaned with ox-gall —a pint to a pail of water. Use an ordinary scrubbing brush, and afterwards the carpet should be vigorously rubbed with a coarse cloth. Fresh water should be applied. A small portion of the carpet done each day during the hot and sultry weather would keep it greatly refreshed in coloring, as well as sweet and clean. A lawn stand suitable for piazza, afternoon teas or for out of doors is made of wicker work, and provided with three or four tiers, set in a tripod, to hold the plates, cups and saucers. It is very light and yet perfectly strong.

Subordinating the Home.

It is perhaps a necessary evil that goes with improved educational* facilities, both in week day and Sunday schools, that the parental r,nd home influence should be less thought of. There is nothing in the development of character that can fill the place of good parental example in the home. Yet because the school gives best opportunity tor training the intellect, many parents are inclined, through indolence, to remit to hired teachers the work that of right is committed to their own charge. If we sought only to train intellectual prodigies, the common method would be all right; but intellect without affection, honor and humanity is of little worth. Pure intellect, divested of love or care for nothing but self, has been aptly described as the best definition of the evil one. It is a tendency of some at least of modern educators to train the young without regard to moral principles and with sole reference to the intellect Seeing this danger has led to demands that the public schools shall be made more or less religious. That, however, cannot well be under the United States Constitution, which forbids favoritism to one religious denomination or belief by the States. Public schools are everywhere supported In whole or in part by the State. They m v st, therefore, be not

Irreligious, but rather non-religlous, else they will conflict with this wise constitutional provision. There are those who think that, if the elements of common morality are taught, this will solve the difficulty; that is well enough in its way, but the primal responsibility for religious training cannot be borne by the State. It must depend on the parents in their homes, and the more deeply this responsibility is felt, the better it will be for those who are growing up to be the men and women of the twentieth century.—American Cultivator. .

Vicissitudes of a Diamond.

The Imperial Treasury of Austria contains the Florentine diamond. This is one of the finest diamonds of the world, and it is noted for its luster and brilliancy. It is worth $450,000 and has a romantic history connected with it. It once belonged to Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, who seems to have been rather careless in guarding his treasures. He went to battle one day with this diamond in bis pocket, and the result was that he lost it The diamond lay on the road and a Swiss soldier picked it up. He looked upon it as a piece of glass and threw it down again, but as it fell the sun’s rays caught it and the soldier, thinking it a pretty trinket, concluded to carry it along as a pocket piece. Shortly after this he showed it to a priest The priest admired it and gave him a coin amounting to about 50 American cents for it The priest sold it to a jeweler for 60 cents, and a rich merchant paid the jeweler $2,500 for it The merchant sold it to an Italian duke for SI,OOO advance on his price, and this duke sold it to one of the popes, who paid $60,000 for its possession. After a number of other similar adventures it came into the possession of a grand duke, who married the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, and through her it came to this Imperial Treasury. It now belongs to the royal family, and has its place in what is considered one of the finest collections in the world.—Jewelers’ Weekly.

“Gossip’s Bridle.”

“Chester presents Walton with a Bridle, To curb Woman’s tongues when they bee idle.” This is the inscription on as iron hooping, with a flat piece projecting inward to lie upon the tongue, still preserved in the ancient church of Walton-upon-Thames, in Surrey, England. Tradition says that this bridle was presented to the parish about two centuries ago by a person of consequence, whose name was Chester. Its presentation arose from the singular circumstance of ills having lost a valuable estate through the idle stories of a neighbor. In the days when this curious instrument was in use it was sometimes called a “brank,” and was put upon the head of the offendei and padlocked behind; the wearer was then led through the town, and publicly proclaimed a “gossip” in loud tones, tnat all might hear and be warned.

A New Life Belt.

A self-expanding life belt is the latest addition to the list of lifesaving apparatus. This contrivance is made of elastic material, and its interior is divided into separate sections, containing alternately acids and alkalies. After being applied there is a cord at each side of the person, which, being pulled, allows the chemicals to come together, producing a gas which gives buoyancy to the belt. A modification of this invention consists of a belt with two metallic hemispheres held together with material soluble in water, the intention being to throw this belt overboard to the rescue of a person drowning. As soon as it strikes the water the hemispheres spring apart, and the gas being rapidly generated, the belt is expanded. Another form of belt of the latter variety can be so arranged as to be fired by a rocket to ships in distress, inflating shortly after striking the water.

Couldn’t Live on Such an Income.

“No,” remarked the young man, with a touch of sadness in his voice, “It may be that some day happiness will be mine, but at present it is beyond me. There is a girl whom I love dearly. She would have me if I only asked her, but I dare not. I really cannot marry and live on $6,000 a year. ” His two friends, to whom he spoke, looked at him in wonder. For a moment they were speechless—consternation and pity depicted on their youthful countenances. But presently speech returned to them exactly at the same time and they fairly howled In their excitement: “You cannot marry on $6,000 a year? Why not? “Why not?” echoed the youth with the sad voice, which grew still sadder. “Why, simply because I haven’t got the $6,000.”

Indian Newspapers.

The business of publishing newspapers in India is progressing very rapidly, thanks to the great interest shown by its rulers in advancing the education of the various races there. Through the means of fifteen languages five hundred and fifty-eight periodicals have been established. The first newspaper in that great country was Hicking’s Gazette, issued Jan. 29, 1781. The Bengal Harkuru is now the oldest paper of the empire, the first number having been issued Jan. 10, 1795. The publications of India are probably more thoroughly circulated and read, in proportion to the number of copies issued, than those of any other country.

A Curious Hawaiian Product.

One of the most singular products of Hawaii is a vitreous lava known as “Pele’s Hair.” It is a silky, filamentous substance, olive-green, soft but very brittle. It is produced by the wind catching the fiery spray thrown up from the great crater of Kilauea.

Iron-Heating.

The proprietor of a .laundry at Lauter, Germany, has adopted electric heating for a large number of the flatirons used in his establishment

Brass.

A mixture of muriatic acid and alum dissolved in water imparts a golden color to brass articles that a:e steeped in it for a few seconds.

HEIRESS TO $15,000,000.

Miss Helen M. Gould Who Is Woon to Appear in New York Society. The richest heiress in the country, Miss Helen M. Gould, only daughter of the late great financier and rail, road magnate, Jay Gould, is to make her debut the coming season in New York, and society is all agog to learn something of this young woman

MISS HELEN M. GOULD.

whose life has been spent in compar. ative quiet and seclusion. Owing to the sickness first of her mother and then of her father, followed by their deaths, Miss Gould’s life has been more than ordinarily a domestic one and her debut in society has been postponed beyond the natural time. She is now a woman fairly into the twenties, and is described as a modest and charming lady. She is not very beautiful, but she makes up for any such deficiency by her weafth and her benevolence. She owns in her own right $15,000,000 in hard cash or in securities whose tendency is ever upward. Besides the family residence on Fifth avenue and the country house at Irvington on the Hudson, both valued at $1,300,000, are hers. Miss Gould is very charitable, and all her life work among the city poor has been her hobby. She is personally identified with numerous mission and benevolent organizations and dispenses large sums annually. She is a skillful musician, a noted pedestrian and horsewoman and a womanly woman.

HOW INSECTS MAKE MUSIC.

The Katydid Elevates His Wing Covers and Rubs the Plates Together. Everybody is familiar with the music of the katydid. It is the male that has the voice. At the base of wing cover is a thin membraneous plate. He elevates the wing covers and rubs the two plates together. If you could rub your shoulder blades together you could imitate the operation very nicely.. Certain grasshoppers make a sound when flying that is like a watchman’s rattle —clacketyclack, very rapidly repeated. There are also some moths and butterflies which have voices. The death’shead moth makes a noise when frightened that strikingly resembles

THE KATYDID.

the crying of a young baby. How it is produced is not known, though volumes have been written on the subject. The “mourning cloak” butterfly —a dark species with a light border on its wings—makes a cry of alarm by rubbing its wings together. The death watch is a popular name applied to certain beetles which bore into the walls and floors of old houses. They make a ticking sound by standing on their hindlegs and knocking their heads against the wood quickly and forcibly. It is a call. Many superstitions have been entertained respecting the noise produced by these Insects, which sometimes is imagined to be a warning of death.

A Great French Pathologist.

Charcot’s interest in the study of nervous diseases was so Intense that he came in time to regard all men, even his friends, from a pathological point of view. He was certain that the unclean bent of Zola s mind was due to neurosis, and be was not sure that it did not prevail in Wagner’s music. He looked upon the German Emperor as a neuropath, and was rather disappointed, perhaps as much as a Frenchman as a physician, that the Kaiser did not become afflicted with general paralysis. Charcot was ever on a keen hunt for the brains of diseased patients who interested him, and when he learned of the death of Burq, a half-mad man of genius whose career he had watched, his first question was: “What has been done with his brain?” When Informed that it had been buried with the body he cried out, “The monster!" and then added: “It must have been a rare brain. There was a paralytic twitch in Burq’s face, such as I had never seen. I longed to know how It originated.” Charcot had a many-sided mind. He could use his pencil with all the talent of a great artist, and his knowledge of music was such that his friends believed he could have become a great composer.—New York World.

Stub Ends of Thought.

The woman who loves herself most can marry a man for his money and be satisfied. It is not necessary for a woman to mark each year of her life with a wrinkle. Society is a lover of material things. That rich man is happiest who can convert his dollars into smiles. Stupidity is as thick as it is long. A merry heart doesn’t need a brass band. Personal cleanliness is more desirable than riches. A full stomach maketh a fearless heart. It is not proper for a man to think of himself first, any more than it is to think of himself last. Youth wears a crown of to-mor-rows.—free Press.

HUMOR OF THE WEEK

STORIES TOLD BY FUNNY MEN OF THE PRESS. Many Odd, Carious, and Laughable Phases of Human Nature Graphically Portrayed by Eminent Word Artists of Our Own Day. —A Budget of Fun. Sprinkles of Spice. It Is the deaf and dumb orator who speaks feelingly, as it were.—Elmira Gazette. When a baby is born it is usually red, but it soon becomes a little yeller.—Boston Courier. In carrying a gun the great point is to point the muzzle the other way. —Philadelphia Times. Cobble—“ How do you find trade?" Stone—“ That’s the great trouble. I can’t find it.”—Clothier. One feature of a cyclone is worthy of general imitation; it always does its level best —Lowell Courier. Milk has gone up half a cent a quart in Brooklyn, but no rise of Cream is reported.—Troy Press. The amateur photographer has a habit of taking almost anything except a hint—Somerville Journal. The prize housekeeper ’is a tenant who can hold on for six months without paying any rent—Galveston News. So far, no one has ever made the blunder of painting a Cupid to look as if he had any sense.—Atchison Globe. A Spruce street girl calls her pet pug Knickerbocker because he is addicted to short pants.—Philadelphia Record. A grocer who had a lot of Llmburger cheese for sale advertised it as an “unapproachable bargain.”— Siftings. About all the buried treasures most people have are the good reso’utions they have put away.—Galveston News. “Thet comes,” said Uncle Lije, “o’ the express company not hevin’ their money in old socks.”— Cleveland Plain-Dealer. It’s no use to ask the man who is going to have a tooth pulled whether he doesn’t think this is just a perfect day.—Somerville Journal. “I feel myself beneath you,” as the man in the lower berth in the sleeper remarked to his companion on the shelf above.—Lowell Courier. The Tree-pl anting Society of Brooklyn is trying to check the nibbling of trees by hprses. It is certainly a-gnawing.—Philadelphia Record. Both lemons and figs can be done without. So long as the native peach is preserved the women will put up with that. Philadelphia Times.

“Life,” exclaimed the man who enjoys being a misanthrope, “is nothing but one long bustle for a chunk of ice or a lump of coal.”—Washington Star. It was a small suburban youth who explained that it was not so much the heat that troubled people as “the general humility.”—Boston Transcript The woman who never had a baby of her own generally can’t understand how it is that a mother can be so foolish as to let her baby cry.— Somerville Journal. Times like these breed cautiousness. A farmer poultry 'is in the basement of his barn sends us word that even the hens are laying low. —Buffalo Courier. Society Editor—Here is a woman writing to us to know if a grass widow ought to wear mourning. Boss Editor —She might wear a green lawn.—lndianapolis Journal. Hicks—“Smeddle always speaks tvell of everybody.” Wicks—“ Mere matter of habit. He worked at cutting out tombstone epitaphs for several years. ” —Boston Transcript. Mrs. Poindexter (horrified) —“I heard to-day that Mr. Collingwood leads a double life.” Miss Forty (with a sigh) —“That’s much bettei than a single one.”—Brooklyn Life. She (romantically)—ln what hour of inspiration do those beautiful poems of yours come to you? He (abstractedly)—The time of the noon mail delivery, mostly.—Chicago Record.

Young Wifb—How nice it would be if life were a perpetual honeymoon—nothing but billing and cooing. Young husband—H’in! I think I could get along with just the cooing. —Truth. Miss May Watts, of Boston, recently deceased, left all her estate of SB,OOO to her pet cat, Otto, which will be taken abroad. The cat should come back with an Otto biography.— Philadelphia Ledger. Watchmaker—My friend, I suspect you’ve been putting kerosene oil in this watch. George Bond—That 1 have. When a watch goes in soak so often something must be done to counteract rust—Kate Field’s Washington. Watts —Is it true that you got wind of the bank failure before the doors were dosed ? Potts—No, I went down to get a check cashed an hour after the doors were closed. It was then that I got wind.—lndianapolis Journal. Junior Partner—While I was taking down that buyer’s order this morning I told him one of your funny stories. Senior Partner —Ha, ha! Did he laugh? Junior Partner —No; he countermanded the order.—Clothier and Furnisher.

To Estimate the Weight of Iron.

A simple way of determining the weight of sheet iron without putting it on the scales is thus described: “It has been found by experience that a square foot of iron plate one-eighth of an inch thick weighed almost exactly five pounds, and this forms a basis for a very simple and easy rule. As a square foot of iron one-eighth of an inch thick weighs five pounds, a square foot of one-fourth inch iron will weigh ten pounds, and, .therefore, the area of any sheet iron, (or plate iron) in square leet multiplied by the thickness in one-eighths and multiplied by five will give the proximate weight of the piece “