Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1896 — Page 6

POTATOES 1896

TOE>l® yIS The year 1896 is a red-letter year for (vegetable growers. It marks the tricentenary of the introduction of the potato to civilized man. Sir Walter ißalelgh, who had a hand in most things In those days, did the introducing. In the days when Sir Walter had to do with it the potato was not the sveryday vegetable which it has since become. Sir Walter planted the first one, omitting appropriate ceremonies, on his estate at Younghal, near Cork. It took at once. It had not only found Its favorite soil but it had discovered Its chosen people. Nothing could have ▼een better suited to the land. It was the custom of the people, whenever a force large enough to maW it practicable could be got together, to make raids upon the territory of their neighbors. The O’Brodar harried the lands

THE PEERLESS.

of the O’Brien, and as soon as the O’Brien recovered he harried the lands of the O’Brodar, doing his best to destroy all the food within reach of the o’Brodat family, that they might come to a proper understanding of their iniquities. The potato was hailed as a preventer of famine. Neither O’Brien taor O’Brodar could spare the time to sift carefully all the earth under the rule of the enemy, and nothing else Would remove the plant. Such was the warlike beginning of the plant in Ireland, the home of Its adoption. About the time that the O’Brien and O'Brodar found their occupations as creators of famine taken from them people began to write long and learned discourses upon the new plant, as they do now on the X ray and other remarkable things. And they described it carefully, so that those who had never seen the plant could form some idea of its wondrous nature. “The roote is thicke, fat, and tuber-

ous; some of them as round as a ball, ■ome ouall or egge-fashion, some longer and others shorter; which knobble rootes are fastened unto the stalks with an Infinite number of threddie strings.” But though It attracted much attention, It was long before outside of Ireland the potato began to receive popular approval. For more than a century It languished in obscurity in England. Little known and less prized, it was confined to the gardens of botanists and the curious, and when used at all as food, only at the tables of the rich, as a rare vegetable rather than as a standing dish. The potatoes furnished to the table of James I. bore the high price of two shillings per pound. In 1687 Woolridge writes of the tubers: “I do not hear that it has yet been essayed whether they may npt be propagated in greater quantities for the use of swine and other cattle.” Mortimer’s Garden Kalendar for 1708 says, slightingly, ‘‘The root is very near the nature of the Jerusalem artichoke, although not so good and wholesome, but It may prove good for swine.” Several reasons, besides prejudice, may be given for this neglect Cultivation had not yet Improved the wild stock to Its present perfection. The proper modes of cookliS ntfd not yet been hit upon. And, lastly, vegetable food of any sort waft Iras Sought after, or rather loos within the reach of the mass of •,'u.tr <tn.

A COLORADO PYRAMID.

tb* people, than it is now. At present ft fts the übiquitous vegetable, without Wfekfcilo meal is complete. Coaid a member of the Royal Society, which In 1663 adopted measures for SgflMMtng the cultivation of the Solmmm Tuberosum, with a view to prewmttm of famine in England and Ire-

land, have accompanied a newspaper representative through the wonderful potato region of Colorado on a recent occasion he must have been satisfactorily convinced that “things do move.” In the beginning of the sixteenth century potatoes were brought from America to Europe for cultivation In gardens as a curiosity. Last year there was forwarded, from one section of Colorado alone, 6,000 carloads of “spuds,” each car averaging 400 bushels. Only a few years ago, when some enterprising farmers commenced the cultivation of potatoes, on what then appeared to be a large scale, they were heartily ridiculed. Time has proven, and only a very short time at that, the correctness and sound judgment of the level-headed grangers who fully realized the special adaptability of the warm sandy soil, of certain portions of Colorado, to the successful production of the homely, unfashionable tuber. While there have been in a few cases exceptionally large profits in this Industry in the main it has been a steady, profitable business for such men as are willing to give it attention. Idaho, Utah, and Montana have been enviously watching the success of Colorado In this line, and they are now energetically competing with the gold-silver State for the trade of Kansas and Nebraska. Freight rates, however, will not give them entree to the more Eastern markets—east of the Missouri river. Probably there is no section of the agricultural world where the cultivation of potatoes Is so simplified and systematized as in the Greeley district of Colorado. Seeing the enormous possibilities of this Industry, an enterprising manufacturer of farming implements turned his attention a couple of years ago to machinery for preparing and handling this crop In all Its stages. The result has been in the production of potatoes similar to the Introduction of headers and thrashing machines in the raising of small grains —a marked decrease in the cost of production. Only by the use of this machinery are the potato farmers of the far West to-day enabled, to sell their product in competition with that of Illinois and Missouri in the markets of Chicago and St. Louis. They literally make a business of raising potatoes, and knowing that a too rapid continuation of crops is disadvantageous rotate their crop of potatoes from one section of the farm to another, alternating with wheat and the prolific and fertilizing alfalfa, thus Insuring a constantly re-

THE HORSE-POWER DIGGER.

curring replenishment of the light, sandy soil, which has proven so well adapted to potato growing. In the planting season one of the ingenious machines above referred to is

loaded with seed potatoes and started on its automatic labors across a field. It ls*accompanied by a wagon containing additional “seed.” With the motive power supplied by two fine Norman horses and under the supervision of one man this machine will plant six acres per day. The planter may be adjusted to drill, drop, and cover in hills from ten to twenty-one Inches apart, as may be most desirable. The harvest of the potato crop usually commences about Sept 15 and , continues until the middle or latter part of October. During this season no one need complain of “no work.” Men, boys, and even women and girls turn out en masse to hasten the harvest. Here, too, inventive genius holds sway. The Ingenious harvester, drawn by four powerful horses, traverses after row and leaves in its wake glistening lines of white and pink tubers as clean and neatly separated from their parent soil as if each had been carefully “sapolioed” before being released from its earthy repository. EaclJ “digger” is attended by a driver and from six to eight “pickers” whose business it is to collect the potatoes, large and small, in baskets. These hands are paid from $1 to $1.50 per day and board. In each section of the field is another contrivance called a “sorter,” consisting of an oscillating screen hung at an angle of thirty degrees, Into which the baskets are emptied. This screen has what is termed a two-inch square mesh. Those potatoes which will go through this mesh fall into a sack and are kept for seed the following spring. The larger potatoes roll from the screen into separate sacks, in which they are stored in peculiarly constructed cellars or “dug-outs” until conditions are favorable for marketing. These “dug-outs” are excavations In

THE BURBANK.

the ground varying in size according to the requirements of the crop and approximately ten feet in depth. They are roofed over almost level with the ground and provided with ventilators. To such a considerable extent has this industry grown that at Eaton and Greeley enormous warehouses have been erected for the express purpose of storing and handling potatoes. Greeley has become celebrated for her “Potato day,” which is usually set for the 10th oj October On this occasion immense trendies are dug and the Succulent roots, after being roasted to a turn by white-aproned experts, are served with appropriate accompaniments to an admiring crowd of appreciative people only limited by the capacity of the grounds. During the last year there were about 2,400,000 bushels of this crop harvested in the northern portion of Colorado. There have been several train loads forwarded to St. Louis and Chicago', and many car loads have found their way to interior points in lowa, Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio, and even as far south as Louisiana. One pyramod, which I secured a photograph of, contained exactly forty potatoes and weighed 120 pounds. A few selected specimens weighed a trifle over seven pounds each.

HANDPRINT ON THE WALL.

A Strange Story Attached to One of the Cells In a Pennsylvia Jail, In one of the cells of the Carbon County (Pa.) Jail there is an imprint of a hand to which a strange story attaches. In 1877 Alexander Campbell, one of the Mollie Maguires, was confined in this cell. He strongly protested his innocence of a murder, of which he was convicted, and the night before his execution, placing his left hand upon the wall, he said that if he were innocent

THE HANDPRINT ON THE WALL.

the impression of his hand would permanently remain upon the wall. Although nineteen years have since elapsed the imprint remains. Several times the wall has been whitewashed, but before the lime is dry the impression reappears with startling distinctiveness.

Bits of Bloom.

No good housekeeper ever serves “warmed over” coffee. If you don’t like to waste It, pour it around your plants in pots. It fertilizes the soil and stimulates growth. For rooms which are in constant family use, quieter darker colors may be desired. A preconceived plan should be followed and will yield equally good results. Let nothing mar the room in the way of discordant colors, foreign to the original intention. Several safe principles are given which may be regarded with confidence; the walls should be lighter than the floor and darker than the ceiling; in other words, the floor covering must be darker than the walls, and an effect of gradual lightening be seen from floor to ceiling; the fringe or border at the top of the walls, however, which represents strong timbers, upon which rests the celling or upper floor, must be in tones deeper than the side walls, to enable it to take on an appearance of strength. Mrs. Pender-Cudlip, the English novelist, says she always grows small salads on the dining-table. “Any dishes or plates answer the purpose, but for preference I grow them in old, quaintshaped delft and china dishes, and this makes them exceptionally ornamental. The mode of growing them Is simplicity itself. Lay a piece of white flannel or flannelette cut to the shape at the bottom of the dish or plate; wet it well, and sow on it rather thickly, water cress, mustard, or curled cress seed. The water cress takes rather longer to spring, but mustard agd cress is fit to cut in a week. Besides being pretty and convenient, this is a very clean way of growing these small salads. It entirely disposes of-the gritty difficulty we labor under when they are grown in earth. The supply even of water cress can be kept up with a little management all the year round. Always water freely.”—Womankind.

The Moon at Close Range.

e^HaEJHL

When the Yerkes telescope is set up in Lake Forest University astronomers will be enabled to see the moon at closer range than ever before. It is believed that the comparative size of the two globes, the moon and the earth, will be as shown in the accompanying illustration.

It is a peculiar fact that tramps and others who have no money with which to pay doctor’s bills, never have appendicitis.

EX-PREMIER FRANCESCO CRISPI, ITALY'S GRAND OLD MAN.

Francesco Crisp], whose resignation as premier of Italy has been accepted by King Humbert, and whose Ministry has fallen with him, has had a remarkable career. More than once has he saved his country from ruin by his masterly statesmanship. He is distinctively a statesman of crises, and smaller men naturally hesitate to accept the premiership when this political giant has failed. Signor Orispi is now 77 years old. He began his life as a lawyer at the bar of Naples. Early did he ally his powers with the Liberals and Revolutionists and took a prominent part in the conspiracies which ended in the overthrow of the kingdom of the Two Sicilies in 1848. Had it not been for Crispi the campaign of Garibaldi in Sicily would have been a failure. For the thirty years following Crispi was a conspicuous member of the Liberal party in Parliament. He was one of the few men to whose counsel Garibaldi would listen. He became the most skillful debater in the Chamber of Deputies and the most astute political manager. In 1887 Crispi was made Prime Minister and he learned to rapidly become a Conservative. It was

PROF. ROENTGEN.

Something of the Personality of the Famous Scientist. The name of Prof. Roentgen has become world-famous within the past few weeks. Everybody is talking of his wonderful discovery of the X ray. Scientists and would-be scientists everywhere are experimenting with vacuum tubes and X rays. Yet with

PROF. ROENTGEN.

it all little is known in this country of their discoverer’s personality. William Conrad Roentgen is of Dutch birth. He studied at Zurich with the famous scientist Kundt,' whose assistant he became. In the relation of professor and assistant Kundt and Roentgen went from Zurich to Wurzburg, and thence to Strasburg. Roentgen became professor of mathematics at the Agricultural College of Hohenheim in 1875. In 1879 he became a professor In the University Institute of Physics in Giessen. He returned to Wurzburg in 1888 and has been teaching there ever since. He has published several valuable scientific works, including a treatise on the use of the ice calorimeter to determine the intensity of sunlight, and another on a method to fix the isothermal surface of crystals. He has long been engaged in electrical research, and made a special study of the figures produced in dust by electrical discharges, and the phenomena shown by electricity In passing through various gases. He has delved into nearly every branch of physips. He invented an aneroid barometer to tell the weight of the atmosphere; he has also published a treatise on the theory and working of the telephone.—New York Evening Sun.

AN EXPENSIVE BUG.

Imported from Australia for California Orange Growers. The orange farmers of California, at an expense of $20,000, have imported a “herd” of bugs of a new species, by means of which they expect to exterminate other bugs, which have been feeding on the orange trees and impairing the crop more each year. The new bugs are cannibals of the most voracious type. They eat other bugs when they can find any, and when they can hot

BUG THAT FATTENS ON OTHER BUGS.

they eat each other. On account of this characteristic it was found very difficult to import them. Box after box was sent on succeeding ships from Australia, only to be discovered that when the vessels arrived here the little creatures had exterminated them-

believed that the radical element would dictate his policy, but never was mistak so erring. He maintained order with an utter indifference to the triple alliance. He dominated the chamber with a will so imperious as to find no parallel except in that of the old German Chancellor. In 1891 his Ministry was defeated and he resigned. After that he announced his intention of retiring from politics. Rudini succeeded him and distingnished himself by almost precipitating a war between the United States and Italy on ac-. count of the work of a mob at New Orleans that lynched a number of the Mafia. Giolitti succeeded Itudini and he resigned in 1893 in the midst of a Sicilian revolution and when the nation was on the verge of bankruptcy. This was in November and one month later Crispi, the man of crises, was again called to take charge of the Government. Resigning again in 1894, he appeared on the scene a few days later vested with almost dictatorial power by the King. Since that time the Chamber has had very little to do with the Government. Signor Crispi has ruled the country to suit his own fancy nnd the King’s desire.

selves. Finally, however, a few hardy ones, under the principle of the survival of the fittest, reached America without being devoured, and were turned loose in the orange groves. The scheme is now meeting with great success. The “lady” bug of this species, it is said, so prolific are they in bearing young, in six months becomes the proud grand mother of 375,000,000 buglets.

A PRINCESS OF PRUSSIA.

She Was Recently Thrashed by Her Ueige Lord for Going Skating. If Prince Frederick Leopold were just a common man instead of a prince, his wife, who is a princess of Prussia and a sister to the German Empress, would have had him arraigned in tt police court for beating her. The fact is that he was arraigned by Emperor William, who tried him, sentenced him to imprisonment in his room and placed guards at the door to see that bis brother-in-law served out the term. The Prince is a cavalry colonel and not long ago told his wife to stay In her room all day. The wife didn’t like that sort of thing, or, at all events, did like skating, and with a young woman of her household left the room for an hour’s whirl on the ice. The ice broke, the Princess got wet and was rubbed down and put to bed. When the Prince returned and heard the tale he sought out his lady and gave her a thorough drubbing, like a plain, blunt man, with his riding whip. Then he went to his study, fell in a fit and

PRINCESS FREDERICK LEOPOLD.

ground his teeth and groaned. But his servants refused to give him smelling salts or to throw cold water on him until the doctor arrived. The Kaiser and his wife were furious when they heard the story, and the Emperor decided to teach his high-handed relative a lesson. The severe punishment meted out to Prince Frederick mightily pleased all the ladles of the German court

Flower Growing.

Persistence, patience and perseverance are the three P’s that spell success in the home culture of flowers. If you have never tried flower-growing you may expect to meet many failures; professional florists do not always succeed, and I am sure we hear enough about poor crops from our friends, the farmers. Why, then, should we expect every seed we put in the ground to grow? Of course we must expect failures, and it is in overcoming them, In studying the nature, the habits, and the requirements of different plants, that half the pleasure of floriculture lies. The wise beginner will read the floriculture page of a good magazine, will talk to her friends and will confine her efforts at first to some of the standard plants whose habits are well known and easily learned.—Womankind.

TWO-HEADED SNAKES.

South American Reptiles About Which No Doubt Exists. A “two-headed snake” sounds like a fairy tale. But two-headed snakes exist. They are common enough down on the Amazon River, and are well known to the native fishermen who get their living in the .great Marajo Bay, along the Loeatines River, and in the smaller ritgra running out of the bay 'and around the city of Para, on the coast of Brazil. Sometimes an inquisitive; traveller in. thdse regions, hearing talk of “twoheaded snakes,” will openly scoff at the idea. “Two-headed snakes, indeed! That is a story for the marines.” The native does not waste time in natural history discussion with the sneerer. “Seeln’s believin’” is his creed. He just starts out, catches a few of these two-headed water-snakes, and lets the incredulous traveller see for himself that well-known product of South America. The body of the snake is striped, giving it somewhat the appearance of a common garter snake. It is usually from one to three feet long. When gliding along it might be mistaken for a large eel, but when caught the remarkable fact is discovered that it possesses a perfectly formed and symmetrical head at each end of Its long body. The two heads are almost precisely alike in form, color and general appearance; one of them is very slightly smaller than the other. This is the second head of the snake.

But the eyes of this second head are sightless, and the mouth Is only a dummy mouth, the snake providing for its living at the other head, which is the principal one. The second head is, apparently, more for ornament than use, although it is so perfect a deception that a close examination is necessary to detect the working head from the ornamental one. Owing to a peculiarity in the snake’s method of coming to the surface of the water to breathe, some observers have thought that the second head possessed some respiratory powers. In swimming near the surface of the water, the snake always protrudes both heads above It, his body describing the shape of the letter U. If the traveller were in a nearby boat, he might think two snakes were resting lovingly side by side. This phenomenon of the two heads of one snake taking an airing is an ordinary affair in the bay of Marajo. The fishermen down there catch them in baited baskets or nets as they would eels, or after the style of the small boy who goes crabbing. However, they are not thought very highly of as food, where plenty of fish is obtainable. The Portugese fisherman who finds them In his eel-basket or fish-net, is more likely to cross himself with a muttered “Maria!” and throw them back into the water than to carry them home with him. A creature so unearthly as to possess a double allowance of heads is hardly safe eating for a good Christian. Some of these snakes have been brought to this country. Michael Gomez, an old Portuguese sailor, who has settled at Wilmington, Del., has three of the creatures presevered in alcohol When he caught them in the bay of Marajo, he tied all six of their heads together, winding a string tightly around their six necks, and thrust them Into a bottle of spirits. And so they exist to-day.

A VINEYARD ROMANCE.

A Note in a Basket of Grapes Got a Hus--1 band. When the marriage of Miss Agnes Fields, of Sheridan, and Albert A. Pierpont, of Grange Grove, Fla., took place recently at Dunkirk, N. Y., it was the happy ending of a romantic correspondence. The merry grape harvest Chautauqua County is famous all over t Hie country. In the season everybody goes into the vineyards. Miss Fields Is a pretty brunette, the daughter of Myron W. Fields, a well-to-do grape raiser- of Sheridan. At the opening of last fall’s harvest she had been graduated from college and returned home in time to join the merry grape pickers. With several girl companions she was working in her father’s packing house when it was suggested that each of the girls place a note in the last basket packed before the noon hour. The Contents of the note placed in Miss Fields’ was as follows: “To Whom It May Concern: This basket of clustered fruit was packed by Miss Agnes Fields, of Sheridan, N. Y., upon her J graduation from college. Should It foil in the hands of a gentleman, and should he take time to carefully sample the delicious flavor and sweetness of the fruit, he can form some Idea ,of the sweet qualities of the fair maiden who so carefully placed the clusters in this basket” This particular basket fell not upon stony ground, but into the hands of Mr. Pierpont, who Is a wealthy orangegrower of Orange Grove, Fla. He was in Chicago when he bought the basket, and he liked the fruit so well that he thanked Miss Fields by letter. He also probably wrote that he was young, Unmarried and also a college graduate; that he had large possessions In his Florida home, and, incidentally, that he would like to become better acquainted with the fair Agnes. His letter was answered by Miss Fields, and in a month or so a lively correspondence was in progress. It re suited in Mr. Pierpont visiting Miss Fields’ borne last Christmas. The marriage was the result of the visit. Miss Fields is quite well-known in Dunkirk and Fredonia, having attended both the academy and normal school, where she was regarded with esteem and favor. After a tour including New York, Boston and Washington, Mr. Pierpont will take his bride to his Southern home.

Has a Peculiar Mania.

A lawyer of Biddeford, Me., is afflicted with a peculiar mania for collecting lamps of all sorts. His house is filled with every kind of lantern he has been able to buy, including a full line of bicycle lamps. He visits Boston frequently and always brings back with him a new lot of lamps. His craze costs him a good deal of money, and he declares that he is aware of the folly of it, but entirely unable to resist It.— Vew York Sun.

RECORD OF THE WEEK

INDIANA INCIDENTS TERSELY TOLD. Remarkable Matrimonial Career of Alexander Rhimea-C. Hiller’s Heir# Dig Up Two Cans Fall of GoldClever Jail Breakers Are Foiled. Hg# Been Married Nine Times. Of all the remarkable matrimonial careers that of Alexander Rbimes, who recently lived in Fulton township, Indiana, exceeds anything yet come to notice in

ALEX. RHIMES.

tion, “Is marriage n failure?,” can he more satisfactorily answered by him than by any other living person. The names of his various spouses fallow: Emaline Gaudy, Martha Robbins, Bengal, Lavinin Straw,. Anna Rowland, Sarah Overtree, Rachel Magnum, to whom he was married twice; Stella Bloomhagen. Rhimes now lives in Berrien County, Mich., and it is said contemplates another conquest when the courts shall set him at liberty. His Treasure Diagram Correct. C. Miller, a pioneer of Decatur, aged 70 years, died Friday night. He was known by his family and neighbors to be quite wealthy. In his vest pocket he carried a small paper on which was a diagram showing the location of the places in which he bad placed his gold. The family, following she directions qn the paper, brought to light $3,000 in gffld that was hid in coffee essence cans. In some places there was only one S2O gold piece in a can. The family took the money to town in a gripsack and placed it in the bank for safe keeping until the estate is settled. All Over the State. Unknown thieves robbed the grocery wagon of John Shook, of Osgood, who had stopped over night at a farm house, securing property worth S7OO. Several business houses of Valparaiso vere the victims of a smooth swindler, Jrho succeeded in passing $lO and S2O aills which had been raised from $1 and $2. The Ohio and Indiana Butter and Egg Shippers’ Association met at Fort Wayne and passed resolutions indorsing the project of the lowa association to organize a straw board manufacturing company to furnish fillers for the produce trade at reasonable figures. The Anderson City Council, as the result of a vigorous campaign by Christian bodies, passed an ordinance making it a misdemeanor for any person under the age of 10 to smoke a cigarette, punishable by arrest and a fine not in excess of $25. Patrolmen got instructions to make arrests. This is the most pronouncedmove ever made in this State against thehabit. The officers will hold courts of inquiry in cases of arrest to determine whomade the sale, as it is against the law. This will be followed by a curfew ordinance.

James O’Connor, A. Bailey and William. Smalley, who are incarcerated in the county jail in Albion, attempted to regain their freedom. A hole was made in. the stone floor by heating it with red-hot-coals and afterward throwing cold water on it, breaking the stone. By this means'they reached the dungeon and effected an entrance in the outer part of the cellar by removing a bolt from the door between the two apartments. They were discovered by one of the attendants, who had occasion to go into the cellar. They were found hiding in the coal bin, where they had intended to remain until the sheriff’s family had fallen asleep. Jackson and Walling, the indicted, murderers of Pearl Bryan, 'are in the Newport jail. John Bitzer, the jailer, has increased the number of his guards and the police of Newport have been instructed to exercise great vigilance. The prisoners were first put in a sensitive cell, absolutely dark, in which were twenty telephone transmitters. In a floor above were stenographers and other witnesses. So far as hearing and communication between the prisoners is concerned it was a failure. They evidently discovered that it was a trap and maintained perfect silence. In the trip from Cincinnati to Kentucky the prisoners were handcuffed 'to detqj&jtives. These detectives say that both prisoners trembled as they entered Newport Hiram A. Bradshaw-, trustee of Gita Jon township, near Lebanon, Has left for parts unknown, leaving behind a bevy of unpaid school teachers and a shortage to be paid by his bondsmen. Where he has gone is a mystery, and at a meeting held by his bondsmen the committee who had. been authorized to investigate his affairs reported a shortage of about $1,200. Last December the school teachers complained of being unable to secure pay for their services.and the bondsmen investigated. They found Bradshaw about S3OO short. He admitted having used the money ia conducting his private business. Upon a promise to fix up, the shortage he was not removed and everything weat along smoothly until the county schools were dismissed and the teachers insisted upon having their pay. Finding exposure inevitable, Bradshaw went to. Lebanon and took an Indianapolis train Thursday afternoon. E. T. Lane, cashier of the Lebanon National Bank, says the local banks have protested Bradshaw’s checks every week for the past six months. The bondsmen have arranged to pay the shortage ns soon as the exact amount ean be learned. The 9-year-old daughter of C. C. Maynard, of Anderson, was fatally burned while playing about a fire. Her mother sustained severe injuries in rescuing the child. Mrs. Fred Lake, a farmer’s wife near Anderson, bore ‘twins Monday evening. She now has a record of eight children in four years. This is her fourth pair of twins. All of the children are alive and equally divided between the sexes. They are healthy, and although the mother is a small woman, she is as healthy as she could possibly be. She is but 28 years old and the father is about the same age. Fort Wayne College of Medicine graduated twelve doctors. Dr. J. P. Weist of Richmond, delivered an address. The exercises closed with a banquet. John Spradling, sob of the proprietor of the American Hotel, Kokomo, was found dead at the house of Mrs. Frank Price, with a bullet in his heart. Mrs. Price says he tried to kill her, then shot himself. He was 24 years old, and leaves a wife and two children. W. J. Onahan, of Chicago, delivered his lecture at the Valparaiso college auditorium on “Civic Patriotism,” under the auspices of the Normal School Catholic Society, to an audience of over 2,000 students. V ■ »s

this line. This gentleman, who a few mouths ago celebrated his 75th birthday, has been married nine times, has been divorced from eight of his wives, and has now petitioned tile court to untie the marital knot that binds him to his ninth spouse. The oft-repeated q u es-