Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1896 — NOTES AND COMMENTS [ARTICLE]

NOTES AND COMMENTS

The enormous growth of the bicycle Industry is indicated by the sale recently of the Dunlop Pneumatic Tire Company’s property in Dublin, for $15,000,000. When first formed, a few years ago, the company’s capital was $112,500; it was subsequently increased to $520,000. The siiareholdors have received $3,295,015 in dividends and premiums, and will receive $14,437,500 more from the proceeds of the sale. Recent census figures from Germany serve to remind Americans that even in the material growth of numbers our cities are Indiind German cities. “Since 1870," says the Nation, “Berlin has overtakeu and passed New York. In thirty years Philadelphia has gained a half million souls while Berlin has gained a million. In 1875 Hamburg and Boston had nearly the same num T her of inhabitants, while in 1890 Hamburg had almost 570,000 to 448,000 in Boston.” Immediately after the inauguration next March, the historic old Willard’s Hotel, long one of the most prominent stamping grounds of the politieaus at the national capital, is to be torn down and a magnfieent new hotel, under the same name, built in its place. This hotel will be one of the finest in the world. It will cost $2,000,000, be twelve stories high, contain 600 guests’ rooms, a theater, a roof garden, a convention hall, etc., and be a model caravansary throughout.

In writing to a friend about the recent tornado. Bishop Tuttle, of St. Louis, said: “The three American characteristics stand splendidly out. First— There is no whimpering, even among the poor people who have lost their all. They are pluekily turning to do the next best thing, in a wonderful spirit of cheery self-reliance. Second—All are opening heart and hand and purses and sympathy to afford relief. ThirdAll fall in with the police and authorities to preserve perfect order and obedience to law. I am deeply proud of the American people.” There has been suggested by a prominent bicycle manufacturer a scheme which is a radical departure from the generally accepted methods of marketing a manufactured product. Although the scheme seems unpractical at a first glance, there is no reason why a bicycle should be sold under misrepresentation; and it is not unreasonable to ask that a bill of porticulars be furnished with each machine. If a careful inspection of the various processes of manufacture is made, the rider will be carried with the minimum of danger, but the only way to secure absolutely these features is by legislation of some kind. Apropos of nothing in particular, the St. Louis Star demands that some city nearer the center of the country be made the capital. It does not mention St. Louis, but it probably has that city in mind. It says that Washington is practically no more than a suburb of New York. “What is now needed is a seat of National Government which has more of a spirit of independence and self-support about it, without being dependent in any degree upon neighboring cities for its glamour. Many traveled people smile when Washington is mentioned as the Paris of America. There is no comparison between the two places, allowing even for difference in poplation and age.”

Several months ago Senator Hill made a recommendation to the Navy Department that a vessel be named Albany, in honor of the capital of New York. New vessels come from the stocks, but the New York Senator’s request remains unheeded. The law governing the selection of names provides that battle-ships shall be named for the States, cruisers for large cities, gunboats for small cities, and torpedoboats in commemoration of distinguished characters in the nation’s history. If another cruiser should be authorized, Albany would probably be put on the “waiting list,” for claims have teen tiled ahead of Senator Hill’s for St. Louis, Cleveland, Denver and Omaha, and when a vessel of this class has been authorized warm competitors from the West wil be on hand. The Protestant Episcopal diocese of Michigan has decided in annual convention that women may vote for vestrymen. The decision was made after learning that woman suffrage was satisfactory in other dioceses. Twentyfive dioceses had responded that women were permitted to vote for vestrymen. Four missionary dioceses had adopted the system. These dioceses made favorable reports. The men, it is said, maintained as much interest in the affairs of the church in those dioceses where women voted as was manifested in other dioceses where they did not, so that the effects of the proposed change were on the whole good. The system had been in operation many years n Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky, and in other dioceses from the beginning, so that it was not a new and untried experiment. Governor Drake of lowa believes in the reformation of criminals, and is putting his idea into practice, as far as the laws of the state will permit. He has not granted an unconditional pardon during his term of office, but he has paroled from prison several convicts who were serving time for their first offence, and whose conduct in prison and prior to the offence gave reason to believe that they could be reformed. In each case the one paroled is told that he must lead a correct life, 'must abstain from the use of intoxicants, and must not frequent places where liquor is sold. Strict watch is kept on the men released, and any infraction of their parole results in their return to the penitentiary to serve the balance of their sentence. Thus far only one of the paroled men has been reincarcerated. W’here a year ago every bright Sunday saw the Thames swarming with pleasure craft for twenty miles, a spectacle quite unique in Europe, you see now only what seems like a weekday casual gatheering. It is the dusty highway skirting the river which is now alive With humanity, flying on wheels instead of dawdling lazily in punts. A,ll England is suddenly gone bicycle mad. The Daily Chronicle recognizes the revolution by starting a regular cyclists’ department in its columns. It says that bicycling has become as important as literature or art. Its first article on the subject lays stress on the superiority of American models over the English ones, and warns the British makers that unless

they reduce the weight of their m*. chines, which are seven pounds heavier than the best American types, and adopt the American saddle and other improvements, they will lose the home market in competition with the Americans. A woman juror is the. latest novelty in Denver, Col. Mrs. M. D. Warren, who was accidentally drawn to serve because she never uses her full name, was dismissed by the Judge when he discovered her to be a woman. Mrs. Warren, however, who is said to be young and attractive, and not without a good deal of determination, insisted upon her legal rights and was finally sworn in. The case was of little importance, but the jury, including Mrs. Warren, who had been gallantly appointed forewoman, deliberated all night and had to be marched out to breakfast in a body in the morning. The forewoman’s report, upon inquiry from the Judge, was that no verdict had been agreed upon, and that, furthermore, the jury was all mixed up over the evidence and would not agree in a month. The jury was accordingly discharged, and yet Mrs. Warren emerged from the court with an air of positive trimuph. She felt that, however much time had been wasted, a woman on a jury was an excellent thing, and that If all-night judicial deliberations became an established fact, woman’s influence on the law would soon become beautifully obvious.