Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 December 1897 — Page 9

—Part Two—

PRICE FIVE CENTS.

1 S AL El SPECIAL During Holiday Week For those who have come home for their vacations, we have inaugurated this special sale. Os course we will be pleased to see everyone who is In a buying, or even in an inspection mood. Choice of any Cloth Jacket in our stock $15.00, many of them marked $30.00, $35.00 and $40.00. Any Jacket marked S2O 00 and under, SIO.OO. This includes all Tan aud other desirable goods, that sold at $15.00, $17.00 and $18.50. About 200 Jackets, odds and ends, all sizes, marked under SIO.OO, $5.00 each this week. About 15 of those sample Silk Petticoats left at on&third off regular prices. About 40 Fur Garments left, containing Jackets, Scarfs, Collarettes and Capes, one-third off during this sale. Boyd, Bested SLangenCo. 39 E. WASHINGTON ST.

PENNSYLVANIA LINES •••• FOB •••• CHICAGO AND Northwest Leave 11:35 a. m. and 12:10 night; arrive Chicago 5:10 p. m. and 7:15 a. m., daily. Parlor car on day train; local sleeper on night train. VAXDALIA IvINE. The Short Lioe to ST. LOUIS and THE WEST Leave Indianapolis Daily—B:lo a. m.. 12:40 noon, 7 p. m., 11:20 p. m. Arrive at St. Louie Union Station—3:ls p. m., 7:12 p. ni., 1:44 a. in., 7 a. ir. Parlor car on 12:40 noon train dally and local Sleeper on 11:20 p. m. train daily for Evansville Ud St. Liuls, o|en to receive passengers at 8:30. Ticket offices, No. 43 West Washington street and Union Station. W. W. RICHARDSON. D. P. A. E. A. FORD. General Passenger Agent. INDIANA Dental College Department of Dentistry, University of Indianapolis. S. W. cor. Delaware and Ohio Sts. Receives patients from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. for all kinds of Dental work. The fees are to cover the cost only. K HIT ATIONAIT BUST DM AM) NIGHT SCHOOL. B Indianapolis \f OSINESS UNiVERSiT ■ Bryant & Stratton. Estab. 1850. Enter now. When Bldg. Elevator. E. J. HERB, Pres. Largest and best: shortest time; lowest rates; positions secured: enter any time; catalogue free. HERVEY D. VORIES, Ex-State Supt.. Prest. THE RECTOR and Head Master of Howe School. Lima, Indiana, will be at the Bates House Saturday, Jan. 1, from 3 to 5 p. m.. and will be happy to meet their patrons and others wishing information in regard to the school. Catalogue ox Howe School can be obtained of the Rector, 1501 Central avenue. PUPILS WANTED By Graduate of the UNIVERSITY OP MICHIGAN. Latin. German and French ARTHUR P. PRESTON, VOCAL I INSTRUCTOR 070 X. Meridian St. jpH YSICIANS. DR. J. A. SUTCLIFFE, SURGEON. OFFICE—9S East Market street. Hours—9 to 10 a. rc.; 2 to 3 p. m.; Sundays excepted. Telephone, 941 : DU. C. I. FLETCHER, RESIDENCE—SBS North Pennsylvania street. OFFICE—BO9 South Meridian street. Office Hours—9 to 10 a. m.j 2 to 4 p. m.: 7 to 9 p. m. Telephones—Office. 907; residence, 427. Dr. W. 3. Fletcher’s SANATORIUM, Mentsl and Nervona Diseases. DR. (SARAH STOCKTON, 227 NORTH DELAWARE STREET. Office Hours: 9toll a. m.: 2 to 4 p. m. Tel. 1488. DR. W. H. SEATON. Genito-Urinury And Skin Diseases. STEAMSHIPS^ NASSAU HAVANA The Gems of the Tropics. The new full-powered steel steamers of the WARD LINE sail as follows: Havana, Cuba, ami Tampico, Mexico, every Wednesday and Saturday. Progreso, Vera Crus and Mexican ports •very Saturday. Nassau, N. P., Santiago and Cienfuegos, every other Thursday. These tours and their combinations offer unrivaled attractions. Steamers have electric lights and bells, all Improvements. with an unexcelled cuisine. Nassau has the best hotel in the West Indies, and cable communication with the United States. Excursion tickets, 360 snd upwards. Beautiful descriptive books FREE. Special Mexico tours January and February. Tickets Include exjtenses on ship, Pulimsn sleepers, dining-car In Mexico. Send lot particulars. JAMES E. WARD * CO., „ 113 Wall St., New York. MEXICO

THE SUNDAY JOURNAL.

THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT HEAVENLY MUSICi A DISCOURSE FOR THE SEASON OF GOOD WILL. ♦ A Christmas Sermon by tlie Rt. Rev. C. Kinlocli Nelson, D. D., Bishop ot Georgia, Atluntn, Go. o Glory to God in tho highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.—Luke ii, 14. There is only one birthday of universal interest, that is Christ’s. And there is one peculiarly proper theme for Christmas day—the hymn which the angels sang to wondering shepherds out under the cold sky of night in far Palestine—“ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” It must have been a very lovely song which caught the ear of the listeners, a little while before paralyzed with terror, and what delight, inconceivable to us, must the contrast have brought them! And what a pity we think it tbr.t no one has ever been able to trace the melody or even suggest the strain to which those blessed words were set. But perhaps it is just as well, for I am not quite sure that all of us would appreciate celestial music, so long have we been accustomed to the garish sounds of earth, and the mechanical harmony which stimulates or lulls the senses. Most of us, no doubt, prefer a popular ballad to the rustling of autumn leaves or the whirling fugues of th* windstorm, and fail to be duly impressed with the ripple of the shallow stream or the alternating treble and mighty bass of the ocean. Yet some of us can recall sounds that do not seem to belong wholly to earth, as we remember the gentle cadences of love in a mother’s voice, the innocent merriment of children, the undisguised affection of a sincere friend. But so long as we have the message which they brought, we need not be particular about the tones which belong to another sphere. What the angels meant Is clear: That God's glory Is the first of all things to be considered, and that growing out of it and forming part of it is peace on earth, and that the birth of Jesus Christ is the event in all history which can reconcile earth to heaven, man to God. Here is one of the instances of God’s strange way of teaching great truths, and of doing great deeds. Just as of old he picked out some herdsman and made a great prophet of him, and took away David from the sheepfolds to make him ruler of his people, Israel; just as fishermen and taxgatherers were made officers of his spiritual kingdom, and children were set before old people, kings and princes, to show them how they may become members of that kingdom; so here the most glorious and comforting truth and eternal benefit was brought by angels to lowly shepherds, watching their flock3 by night. The Messiah of whom many things had been spoken and written in the law and the prophets, and for whom the world had waited for thousands of years, w r as not announced first of all to the high priest, Caiaphas, or to' the college of Jewish doctors and lawyers in the temple precincts, or to Herod on his vice regal throne, or to Pilate in his mansion, no nor yet to the world by the public and official messengers of the great Roman government. These are the ways in which man would liave trumpeted a noteworthy occurrence. Far otherwise is it done under the divine economy. He begins with little things; the little springs to form mighty rivers, the rain drops to supply the flood, little seeds for great plants, small, obscure workings in the darkness to produce results that astonish the world, confound the wise and overthrow the proud in the imagination of their hearts. So here the sweetest sound that can appeal to human hearts was sung, not tn the banquet halls of the great, not in the palace of Augustus nor in the places of popular resort, but at dead of night to a few attentive men, living their simple lives and commanding no influence in councils or assemblies. That hymn, nevertheless, is now heard all the world over, while the paeans of warriors, the war cries of armies and the voluptuous songs of royal festivals have been relegated to oblivion. It is heard and sung by increasing thousands every year, from the North Cape to Victoria land, and from Japan all the way around to the islands of the Pacific. In stately cathedral and crowded parish church and little mission rooms away out on the plains and steppes, in the homes of the great and the cottages of lowly, it is sung or spoken of to-day because it contain* the truth in which all men without

INDIANAPOLIS, SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 26, 1897-SIXTEEN PAGES.

exception are interested. Everywhere by children it is echoed gleefully, because it tells them of the holy child Jesus—the children’s Savior and God. Such prevalence of so simple an act is absolut?ly unparalleled in the records of humanity, and it speaks to us to-day volumes of goodness and love, and is an argument not to bo gainsaid by sophisms and theories and resuscitation of the dead and dying religions of man’s conception. It does not seem irreverent to guess at the effect produced by th~ announcement of the angelic hymn upon those who first heard it, and to comparo our reception of it with theirs. The song was beautiful to them as the news of a gift bestowed for which they had long waited. They were told of their desire fulfilled. It is almost certain from what we know of those times tha.t these men were philosophers as well as shepherds. They had not their minds filled with flocks to the exclusion of all else. They thought deeply upon current events of their day and weighed and calculated the rumors then widely afloat of some supernatural occurrence of inestimable value to the world. The whole of the East, among thinking people, was just at that time engaged in watching for the gray streaks of the dawn of some great light. The science of the stars was at its highest development, and these rnen, as often as they lifted their eyes from their sheep, saw in the heavens signs and tokens which meant to them (and who knows how truly?) much more than they commonly Imply to us. And it was doubtless while studying the relations of certain of the heavenly bodies, with minds intent upon what they had heard of the mysterious appearance of a person in many ways wonderful, that “the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them.” Just as we feel we are right in saying that while Christmas trees and exchange of presents are the rule wherever Christianity has secured recognition, they are most joyous now who regard Christmas not chiefly from its earthly, but its heavenly, side, who do not lose sight of the main object of the heart’s yearning interest—the Holy Infant—in either the messengers or the glory, or the music, or in any creation or invention of man.

It will not be supposed that we attach no importance to the secular side of Chrismas; far from it. Wo acknowledge the manifest value of the family gathering, the friendly gift, of every kindly look and heart greeting and effort looking to the pleasure of some other human being, in ever so small a way, especially of those worse off than ourselves. It is the old foe foreed back once a year at least. It is selfishness checked in the presence of unexampled love and limitless condescension. It is, too, a strong indication of a hopeful outlook in the future’. About the only man for whom there Is reason to fear, as being past the possibility of impression for good, is ho who takes no account of Christmas day; who is neither happier himself nor aids someone else to be happier, because of it. But we are sure there is something in store for all who enter into the spirit of the festival in any of the multitude of legitimate expressions which they give to the delight they feel. Let the celebration begin in the home; in forsaking His own, the Son of Man came to earth to prepare us for a home made ready above. Let it appear in mart and mill, at dusk and counter; carry it to the denizens of hovels and cellars, to the heartless and hopeless. Let all, from the lowest to the highest, be brought under its influence because of the lowly birth of the Savior King. Let the song be sung within the walls of hospitals and asylums; it is the gospel that has built and endowed them, and they are fairly entitled to a share in our joy. Let no human creature whom we can reach be deprived of some reminder of the turning night into day by the glory which shone around. And remember that the angels said, “Peace on earth to rnen of good will,” and be cure that no evil design lurks in any of our motives, and no speech or act be accompanied by anything less than a hearty sense of good will towerd our fellows. But that of which I spoke as being in store is the realization of the gift, in contradistinction with the mere charm of the thought and the delight of the announcement. If the revelation was attended with such conspicuous marks of celestial joy, what must be the happiness of those who. share the privilege of the divine gift! What the excellency and the dignity of being Christ-bearers, of carrying Him in the heart and the life even while we continue here on earth! To such, above all, it is "good tidings of great joy,” and a peculiarly sweet song which the angels sang; especially if the year gone has been one of many disappointments and of events which make the need of a Savior to be felt If they have had patience, persevered in the right, resisted temptations and studiously striven to know more tvhile living up to the best of their knowledge, there is no question that Christmas brings them the same joy it did the shepherds, without any of the dread of an unlooked-for surprise in the delivery of the message. Be not therefore content with hearing of the happiness which Christmas brings to the world, or with joining in the heavenly song, or even in seeing the light; but go ye also even to Bethlehem, the true “house of bread,” receive Christ, the bread of the soul, and live! Walk in the light and so shall ye be the children of light. Rejoice, yea. rejoice with glad merry-making in every reasonable pleasure, and show that Christians of all men know how to be glad because Christ was born on Christmas day. Tolstoi and Hl* Family. Chicago Post. Miss Addams was a guest at Count Tolstoi’s home. The countess and some of her children do not share his views, and they still live as they did formerly. But he eats at the same table, and eats but a bowl of porridge, with a drink something like cider and a little dried fruit for dessert. There are serving men at the table, but he docs not require their help. And one daughter shares his views and his life completely. The first day Miss Addam3 was there the girl came in from twelve hours’ work in the hayfield and ato the simplest kind of a dinner. One day Count Tolstoi took the American visitors to the cottages of the peasants. In one family was an old woman who had once learned to read. She was quite famous because of it, and people thought she knew almost everything. But twenty years ago she had forgotten how’ to read. Yet they did not know. So when the visitors came one of the family said to the old woman: , , .. “But you read, and you said to us the Americans were black.” The clever old poser said quickly: “Some are black and some are yellow. And these”—indicating Miss Addams and her friends—“are the yellow ones. “Tolstoi.” said the lecturer, in conclusion “impresses one first as wonderfully keen, then as great. He has squared his life by his conscience. It is perhaps the grandest view the world can present—a strong man doing absolutely what he believes to be right. I don t just accept all his views, but I do appreciate the completeness of hie sacrifice. And if there are any of us—as probably there are—who are at times uncomfortable. may we not hope that a better understanding of that mans action, and a truer measuring of our lives by what our consciences tell us is right—caay not this bring us peace? Sympathetic. Harlem Life. Mr Brown—Terrible tragedy at a bargain counter. A woman who had secured the last five yards of cheap silk was shot by another woman wno had been waiting from midnight without having a chance to get any, Mrs. Brown—Poor thing. Surely they won’t do anything to her, will they, John?

A CITY OF OTHER DAYS e CHARACTERISTICS OF QUAINT AND CHARMING OLD MADISON. e Once a Center of Business and Wealth, and Fall of Literary, Professional and Social Attractions. - e Out of the long stretch of level typical “Hoosier” country, down the abrupt Ohio river hills by a great incline that seems to dip suddenly off the end of the State like a vast toboggan slide, and so into the city of Madison, is about the sharpest transition the traveler in Indiana can experience. It is as if one were suddenly transferred from the new West to some venerable nook in the older East or South, and in a land where the venerable is supposed to hardly exist the surprise is pleasant. Madison is eloquent of other days, the memories of which should be preserved. Even the native Indianian is apt to forget that there was a day, not so very remote, either, as history goes, when the major part of Indiana lay scattered along the Ohio valley or within easy reach of it, and when rosy hopes and dreams were centered there. BrookviUe, Lawrenceburg, Vevay, Madison, Charlestown, Jeffersonville, Corydon, Salem, now stand striking examples of arrested development and inconspicuous witnesses of tho ambitions that were before the tide of life moved northward and established other centers, leaving these on the outer margin. Os the towns mentioned Madison was and is the chief. A half century ago she was, to quote the words of one of her citizens, “the first city of In-diana-first in commerce, population, wealth, literature, law, religion, politics and social enjoyment.” Now she leads them all in quaintness and antique flavor, borrowed of quiet streets and a preponderance of oldtime architecture, much of it accounted fine in its day, and very charming now to him who loves the by-gone. As one saunters through the more secluded thoroughfares seeking the “harvest of a quiet eye,” simple, massive structures, built to stand the t.ooth of time, old-fashioned fan-lights, porticoes and Doric columns, and gray stone walls where the vines and grass tufts cling, lie on every hand. Spacious yards, grown rank with verdure, lead the vision through leafy vistas to deep picturesque recesses among the half-hidden wings and angles of rear regions. Everywhere, in season, bloom the prodigal althea flowers, held aloft by their towering shrubs In glowing constellations, and everywhere lie the golden-flecked shadows. Os these older buildings a few may be noted. Down toward the river stands the pride of the town, the Lanier house, a stately mansion built fifty years ago by the millionaire financier, J. F. D. Lanier. The fortunes of this family have preserved the glory of the house and grounds, and from the broad, shudowy hall, with its spiral staircase and antique furnishings, one looks out between lofty Corinthian pillars, down terrace and lawn thick set with fruits and flowers to the shining river below and on into the great hollow laps of the blue Kentucky hills. Then there is the old Milton Stapp place, with its two magnificent elms spanning a spacious lawn, where the statesmen and orators of a past generation, among them Henry Clay, addressed the assembled crowds. Just where the town joins tho hills stands picturesque St. Michael’s Church, with Its weather-stained steeple and cross limned sharply against the steep slope hard by, arid the ivy-grown stones of church and churchyard wall showing tangled masses of yellow and green; and not the least interesting feature of the town is the long, low, squat market house, where the people gather in animated throngs. Then there is the great Madison Hotel, the biggest and handsomest house of its kind in the State when built; the old Branch Bank, with its stately Parthenon front, and many more. LIFE IN THE OLD CITY.

Life in Madison is in admirable keeping with all this. It is a poor place to make money, but an excellent place to live cheaply and enjoy one’s self, if one loves quietude, simplicity and sociability. All is free and cordial. Everybody knows everybody, and to put the street and number on one’s mail is entirely superfluous, because the mailcarrier knows his flock as the shepherd does his sheep. Os pleasant summer evenings people stroll on the streets, intermingling like the members of one big family. At 9 o’clock the curfew rings, and all the children scamper for home. A little later the adults turn in, and at a proper hour the town is sleeping the sleep of the innocent. Interest in the place expands with better acquaintance. East, west and north the towering hills close in, hemming the town about, and any one of several roads will lead you up past little houses perched, nestlike, on the steep slopes, to heights that command far reaches of river and hills and level bottom lands; and all the city below, which, half buried in Its trees, strings narrowly for perhaps two miles along Its little valley. On these airy summits are handsome villas, also old, for the most part, embowered In verdure, surrounded by broad lawns and fruitful orchards, while hard by primitive Nature reigns in the wild hollows of the rock-ribbed hills. And this is the Madison of to-day and its environs. There sre manifest reasons why pioneer John Paul in 1810 should have projected the idea of founding a town here, for the long, narrow plateau at the foot of the hills, with an excellent river landing, an exceptionally fine natural drainage and an altitude secure from floods, made a rare site. So the beginning was made. When the State was admitted to the L'nion in 1816 there was, according to an old Gazetteer, “not exceeding three or four brick and twenty frame houses, and probably one hundred cabins.” But it grew, being favorably located on that great highway of early days, the Ohio xfiver, almost midway between Cincinnati and la>uisville. When the interior part of the State was opened and settled it was one of the nearest river points, and the cutting through of the Michigan road in the early thirties put it in communication with the new country which poured down its rapidlygrowing commerce either to this port or to Cincinnati. Then happened the thing which was the real making of Madison, namely, the establbmrg of the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad, the first track laid in the Northwest. The monopoly and full fruitage of it lasted but a few years, but during those years all things came that way, and Madison was the veritable gateway of the State through which the tides of trade poured in and out. Back yonder in the swamps and woods a vigorous commonwealth was springing up; much wheat and hogs innumerable had to come out; commodities to supply the wants of the growing thousands had to go in, and the new railroad caught the vast bulk of the traffic. The glory of those days is something to be remembered by all lingering Madisonlans of the past generation, and they tell stories of the bastling city that then was—how the great steamboats lay in lines beside the wharves; how the bags of wheat were piled high and the warehouses stowed to their roofs with miscellaneous freight. Above all, they will tell you of the barrels upon barrels of mess pork packed for shipment to the South as far as the gulf and to the East aa far as Europe—occupying all the river front and

reaching up Into the by-streets; of the 200,Oft) hogs killed there in a single month, and of the half hundred nonresident capitalists gathered there to traffic in pork. AN ATTRACTIVE TOY N. Thus wealth accumulated in Madison, and, to requote the reminiscent citizen, she became, of Indiana cities, “the first in commerce, population, literature, law, religion, politics, and social enjoyment.” She naturally drew to herself a goodly proportion of the ablest men in the State, rivaling, in that respect, BrookviUe and New Harmony. The bar was especially strong, and boasted, among others, of Joseph G. Marshall, regarded by many as the greatest forensic genius Indiana has produced; Jeremiah Sullivan, judge of the Supreme Court of Indiana for nine years, and to whom belongs the honor of naming Indianapolis; Jesse D. and Michael G. Bright, and several Hendrickses, all notable in their profession, and one of them, William, exGovernor of the State. Incidentally, Indianapolis was then “the village at the end of the road.” But in this unprecedented century of changes unforeseen influences have swiftly made and unmade sections and cities. As the introduction and first development of the railroad stimulated Madison to her fullest activity, so, in tho end, did It prove a vampire and sap from her the very lifeblood. If you question old citizens as to the decadence of the town they will (assuming that they admit the decadence) assign various special theories. But all these theories are tributary to one manifest fact, and this fact is that the railroad revolution opened up new and more direct and more convenient routes to East and South, and the currents of life went swirling off to right and left. “The village at the end of the road” became the hub of what had been Madison’s universe; fvladison did not happen to be in line with any of the spokes, and that is how it comes that to-day the sometime seat of business and wealth nestles quietly among her romantic hills beside La Belle Riviere, the most charming of Indiana cities. Had she continued to massacre hogs at the rate of 200,000 per month all the fine old buildings of the fathers would have been replaced by modern opulence end the idyllic streets would be rattling night and day with vulgar drays —which would doubtless be a great satisfaction to those who run to hogs and opulence, but far less delightful to those not so minded. GEORGE S. COTTMAN.

MERE PLEASANTRY. A Cause fur Complaint. Before Santa Claus is banished the country it would be well for Christian fathers and mothers to investigate just how clearly the relations borne to the world by the Christ-child are understood by their youngsters who hang up stockings for good old Santa Ciaus to fill every Christmas eve. In a perfectly civilized family the other night, at dinner, the attempt recently made by a clergyman to relegate the jovial saint to obscurity and make the Christ-child more prominent was discussed at length. W’hen much had been said pro and con a silence fell upon the family party; and this silence was promptly broken by the youngest—a girl of five years—who kicked a table-leg to punctuate her comment—and said in disgusted tones: “Huh! The Christ-child don’t bring us nothin’.” A Plaque That Cost. In a highly artistic home in this city hangs a most atrocious painted plaque—big yellow T sunflowers on a hideous bright blue background—one of those home-made horrors that ought to gravitate to the attic, to be obliterated by dust, or to the woodpile, to be fed to the family furnace. On this parlor wall it hangs, however, to be hated by the household and shuddered at by guests. In a moment of rashness recently the little hostess of the plaque-infested abode explained it to a visitor. “Isn’t that plaque simply frightful?” she said. “I abhor it beyond measure, and would have burned it long, long ago, but Henry won’t allow it. When we were first married all the brides I knew were taking painting lessons, so, of course, I had to do so, too. I hadn’t any more art talent than a cat, but I had to do what the rest did. Henry paid SSO for my course of lessons and, at the end of that time, I came proudly home, bearing with me the greatest achievement of my life—that plaque. I gave it to Henry for his birthday present, I remember. Oh, birthdays, the sins that are committed in thy name! Os course, as time went on, I began to discover what a hideous thing I had done, and wanted to blot it out. But no; Henry won’t have it. He says that plaque cost him SSO more than any other art treasure we own, and we simply can’t afford to throw it away. Isn’t he dreadful? I’m trying to save and earn SSO, so I can buy It of him—suppose he shouldn’t agree to sell it!” A Situation Wanted. Grown people who make rash remarks to children are occasionally brought to the bar of reckoning in most unexpected fashion. Not long ago a society young woman approaching a mature age was called to the kitchen to see a small colored urchin who had asked for her. Going thither, she discovered, standing twisting a ragged cap bashfully in his hand, little black Job—the ten-year-old son of a most respectable colored man who had formerly cleaned house for the family. “Well, Job, is this you?” the young woman asked. “I haven’t seen you for a long, long time; where did you come from?” “I done cum f’m home, Mis’ Ma’y,” the little fellow answered, “ain’t you-alls done got married yit?” “Married?” the girl exclaimed; “no, Job, no; what a question! Did you just come up here to see if I had got married?” “Yes’m, Mis’ Ma’y,” the urchin continued, “las’ time me an’ pap cleaned house fer you-alls, you-alls done tole me ’at w’en you-alls got married you’d done git a cart an’ horse, an' take me fer yer coachman; yes’m, Mis’ Ma’y, you-alls did, an’ I’se got ter git a job, an’ I tole pap I’se cornin’ up here ter see what you-alls goin’ do ’bout it. Won’ yer hurry up an’ git married, Mis’ Ma’y? I’se bin a-waitin’ on you-alls a long time.” Miss Mary had a bad half hour of It explaining to small black Job that she couldn’t get married offhand, and that some other arrangement would have to be made to secure his financial welfare. Woman's Christmas Ways. “The proper study of mankind Is woman, of course,” said a married man at a neighboring holiday merry-making, “but I’ll wager that there isn’t a woman here who can do more queer things at Christmas than my wife. Her Christmas shopping is a regular orgie; it begins about two w-eeks before Christmas and runs right along, day and night, until the whole thing is over. Naturally, as wives do, she has every year given me a lot of presents she wanted herself, and other things that neither of us wanted, and I have never complained; never have uttered a reproachful word. But this year she played her mother—her own mothersuch a mean trick that I am going to expose her. I forgot to say that she always goes on these shopping orgies with her most intimate friend, Kate, and all Kates are wily creatures, as everybody knows. Well, these two women, Cora and Kate, always buy for their mothers—their dear und cnly mothers, who live with them—the same preMQts. This year they each bought lot

those two dear mothers beautiful sets of sterling silver nutpicks and nutcrackers. Os course, these lovely gifts were graciously received by the two dear old ladles; but each dear mother talked it over with me afterward; one of them doesn't like nuts and never did; the other one has weak digestion and hasn’t eaten a nut for twenty years. Cora and Kate simply wanted silver nutpicks and crackers themselves. Well. I suppose Christmas women will be Christmas women, and we might as well say no more about it, but I’m going down town and buy those two dear mothers something that they really want.” A Feeler for Santa Clan*. Five-year-old Marjorie’s letter to Santa Claus was written with much laborious perturbation, and then handed to papa to put into the chimney postoffice. When papa took the letter, very much to Marjorie's surprise and consternation, he opened the little missive and began to read it. ‘‘Why, papa,” cried distressed Marjorie, “that’s to Santa Claus; you mustn't read It.” "I know, Marjorie,” said the meddlesome papa, “but you know we have to keep Santa Claus in a good humor and I just want to see if you have written anything he wouldn’t like. How’s this—"a gold watch and chain?’ Gracious! child, you’ll scare old Santy clear oft and he won't leave us anything at all.” “Oh, that's just a joke,” Marjorie explained eagerly. “I just put that in to see what Santa Claus would say.” Lornl Architecture. In a doctor’s office, the other morning, a stalwart countryman sat waiting the doctor’s appearance. On the wall hung a remarkably fine large photograph of the Roman Coliseum, a picture four feet long by two and a half in width. When the doctor entered his office the countryman was stand-ing-trousers stuffed in his boots and an old soft felt hat on his head—lost in admiring contemplation of the old Roman ruin. Hearing the doctor’s step, he turned and animatedly exclaimed: “Gee, doc, ain't that a great old building? I’ve saw that old building before. Ain’t, it somethin’ out here on one o’ our pikes?” Sure Enough. The voracious appetite of his sex is not wanting in small Walter, a frank young man of five, and his mother has been deeply chagrined at various times by his imperative demand for food on occasions when he was supposed to be attending her on ceremonious society calls. Recently she took him sharply to task again on this serious subject, and told him that he positively should never be taken out with her again if he did not, at once and forever, quit asking for something to eat. “Well,” said the youngster, with engaging and convincing manner, "if I don’t ask for something to eat how will all those folks know I want it?” A Movable Feast. When a determined woman starts out to have a holiday “function” it takes more than a little rain or snow storm to divert her from her pleasant purpose. A small suburban family of father, mother and two babies was enjoyably agitated the other evening by the prospect of a small family entertainment. The husband's mother, seven sisters and two visiting young ladies were coming to spend tho evening. Ice cream had been brought out from the city, elaborate cakes had been concocted, and the oysters and coffee were to be ready at a moment’s notice. So far so good, but a mean drizzle of rain and snow set in us dark came on, and the festivity seemed in danger of being blockaded. Sure enough, 8 o’clock and half past B—still no guests. The little family party had evidently decided that the night was too bad. and that dear Grace wouldn't mind it if they did not appear. Dear Grace did mind it, however, and she said to her husband: “Just look at all that good ice cream going to waste, and those cakes that 1 spent a whole day in baking! It is too bad. They aro not coming. Det’s take our party in the carriage and go over there.” So the babies, the ice cream, the cakes and the oysters and coffee were bundled into the family wagon in no time, and betore id o’clock a happy little hostess was witnessing a very merry party enjoy her clever ana unique Christmas hospitality. / Not u Classical Comment. “Save us from our relatives, and we can get on with the rest of the w'orld,” said a bright, little club woman in a Christmas circle. “Aunt Julia dropped in to see my gifts this morning, and, at the same time, one of my friends, the profoundest scholar in all the clubs In this town. Aunt Julia is a dear soul, but the things she doesn't know would lill the Congressional Library. While we were looking at my pretty gifts she waved one hand toward a lovely Venus de Milo I had received, and exclaimed: •Well Kitty, I was going to get you one of those one-armed things, anu I’m glad now I didn't.’ ”

PEOFLK WHO W AST PASSES. Sol Smith. Russell Hear* (Jnefr Reasons Why He Should Issue Them. Chicago Journal. While Sol Smith Russell was standing in the lobby of the opera house the other day a sad-faeed man approached him and said: •'ls this Mr. Russell 7” “It is,” said the comedian, in the kind tone that has done so much to make him the idol of the people who go to the theater. “Mr. Russell,” said the sad-looking man, “I have heard how good it makes a person feel to see your play, and I have few happy moments. 1 have the consumption. Could you let me have a pass?” A look or sympathy was in the actor’s face or, perhaps, it was only the kind, honest look that always seems to be there. He didn t say anything in repjy to the other man’s request, probably because he hated to let those who were near know that he was haif-choked. But he took a card out of his pocket and wrote upon it: “Pass one. Sol Smith Russell.” The man with the consumption took the card, looked at it, coughed, and said: "Thank you.” ‘‘Not at all,” said Mr. Russell; *‘l hope you’ll enjoy it.” “Could you give me one for my friend?” the man with the consumption asked, after a moment’s hesitation. “And has your friend the consumption, too?” inquired the actor, in his sympathetic drawl. was the reply; “ho hasn’t got “Then, I’m sorry I can’t give him a pass,” and the sad face lit up, while a twinkle appeared in the ‘romantic bachelor's’ eyes, "for 1 never give passes except to people with the consumption.” After the afliicted man had walked away Mr. Russell turned to Manager ilartz and said in his sobberest, saddest tones: “I’m afraid it’s all up with that poor fellow. In addition to nis consumption, he has a bad case of in-growing nerve.” A few evenings ago Mr. Russel) received a note from a woman who asked for a pass to see “A Bachelor's Romance,” “because she was a widow.” After reading the request Russell turned to Mr. H&rtz and said: “Do you know how many widows there are in Cleveland, and are you acquainted with them ali?” The manager replied that he had no idea of the number, and that he was sure he knew a very small precentage of them. Then the comedian wrote this reply to the woman, who had asked for the pass: "I am sorry that I cannot comply with your request. If I could give passes to all the widows I would be glad to do so, but that Is impossible, and I am afraid to make distinctions. When a man makes distinctions among widows he steps upon dangerous ground. If you ever get married let me know, and I will give you and your husband front seats.” Proof Positive. Philadelphia Press. After reading the book on Venesuela written by young Mr. Morris, son of the celebrated pork merchant of Chicago, the conclusion ie irresistible that the fullness of time hud arrived for him to quit literature and go baok to lam.

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FRICE FIVE CENTS.

THE AMATEUR PLAYERS ♦ INDIANAPOLIS BECOMING RENOWNED FOR ITS DRAMATIC TALENT. Plays Given by the Local dab—Cleve* People at Irvington—The I Germnn Stage. I —■■ ■♦ ■— The Dramatic Club of Indianapolis has th distinction of being one of the finest amateur organizations In this country, and a number of times visitors have come from other cities for the particular purpose of seeing the performances. The membership is limited to 250 and there Is always a long list of young people eligible for membership. The club was organized by a number of girls, who gave their first plays in eacli other's parlors and the actors and audiences were all girls. Many laughable experience# are recounted by the original members of the early days of the Dramatic Club. Th# club increased until it outgrew parlor and ballroom performances, and w'hen the Propylaeum was completed tho entertainments were given in its assembly hall. The board of directors consisted of th# officers and a duly elected staff, and the summer work is to secure a committee for each entertainment to be given during the following winter. All preparations for a. play are given to the committee, which must select a play and cast, attend to the rehearsals and put the performance into proper shape for the entertainment. This is no small task and the excellence of the plays given speaks volumes for the committees. Os the entire membership, 108 people have acted on committees, and 1H in plays. Mr. Walter Williams has taken part in nine different plays, and Mr. W. J. Brown and Mr. N. Booth Tarkington have been in eight each, while Mr. Horace Herd has been in seven and Mr. E. E. Gates and Mr. Arthur B. Grover have each been in six. Miss Katherine Wallick has been in six, Miss Anna Hasselman, Mr. H. H. Howland anti Mrs. W. H. Coburn in five each. Miss May Armstrong, now Mrs. Ryan, of South America, has been the greatest favorite and probably shown the greatest talent of any young lady in the club. Tall and graceful, with natural talent for acting, her impersonations are remembered as distinctly enjoyable I rformances.

The club has given four or five entertainments each year, the first coming Tuesday evening of Thanksgiving week, another soon before Christmas, a third before Lent and tho fourth Tuesday of Easter week. The plays that have been given since 181*0 are "Engaged,” by W. S. Gilbert; “On Guard,” by the same author; “Barbara,” by Jerome K. Jerome; “Tom Cobb,” by Gilbert; “Sunset,” by Jerome; “A Box of Monkeys,” by Grace L. Furnlss; “A Russian Honeymoon," adapted by Mrs. Burton Harrison from the French of Eugene Scribe; “Our Regiment,” adapted from the German by Henry Hamilton; “My Uncle’s Will,” by S. T. Smith; "Tire Marble Arch,” by Edward Rose; “My Lord In Livery.” by Smith; “The Chimney Corner.” by H. T. Craven; “Meg’s Diversion,” by Craven; “His Toast,” by Arthur Heathcote; “A Soul Above Skittles,” by Sutphen, in which Mrs. John O. Perrin, a member of the club, took a character part that is considered tho best ever done In the club; “My Lady Help,” by Arthur Macklin; “Which is Which.” by Smith; “I Dine with my Mother,” by Charles McLachlin; “The Nettles,” by Ernest Warren; “The Loan of a Lover,” by Plancbe; “In Honor Bound,” by Sydney Grundy; “Keep Your Eye on Her,” by T. J. Williams; “The Little Rebel,” by J. S. Coyne, in which Mrs. Clarence Foster played a part that was remarkably well done; “A Glimpse of Paradise,” by Dilley; “Woodcock’s Little Game,” by Morton; "Tea at Four o’Clock,” by Mrs. Burton Harrison; “Evening Dress,” by W. D. Howells; “The Delegate,” by Ledoux; “The Bicycler.,, ’ by Bangs; “Three Hats,” by Hennequin; “A Scrap of Paper,” by Simpson; “The Willoughsby Brown Dinner,” by Mackenzie; “He and She” and "Our Uutimatum,” “A Happy Pair,” by Smith; “Poor Pillicoddy,” by Morton, and “A Lover’s Strategem.” The only operetta, that has been given was “The Specter Knight,” by James Albery and Alfred Cellier. PLAYS WRITTEN BY MEMBERS. The club has on several occasions had plays written for the club by its members. Mr. Newton Booth Tarkington has written several, taken prominent parts, has instructed performers and been stage manager, as silent partner, with numbers of committees. The first play of Mr. Tarklngton’s was “The Ruse,” a clever play in three acts. The next was “The Prodigals,” a play well planned and executed, and the last was “Mile. De Marniontel,” an Interesting, picturesque play of 1793. Mrs. Margaret Butler Snow wrote an original play, “A Unique Coincidence,” and Miss Suzanna Van Valkenburg wrote “Life Preservers,” which were creditable productions. Miss Louise Garrard dramatized "An Unexpected Fare,” and Mrs. John O. Perrin translated a play from the German of Elz, "He Is Not Jealous.” The plays are always witnessed by large audiences of members and guests, the latter always being visitors from out of town. The members of the committee and cast for th'o play presented are allowed a certain number of invitations for friends. The last rehearsal of a play is always a dress reheorsal, and to this the members of the cast invite a few outside of their own families, to whom the guest tickets are almost invariably given. The club has an orchestra for overture, between acts and incidental music, and frequently bouquets and baskets of flowers go over the footlights. After tho play the guests go to one of the parlors, where refreshments are served, two courses being the limit, and after this they go to the assembly hall and dance as late as they plase. The Drama tio Club meeting is a social event, and no entertainment Is ever given on that, evening by any member of the club, and rarely by any one else, as the membership include# the choice spirits of the social circle. The Dramatic Club plays are frequently repeated the following evening for charity. GERMAN DRAMATIC CLUB. The* German Dramatic Club has a comparatively small membership, but every member is an active one. The original purpose of the club Wits as a benefit to the members themselves. All of them speak German, of course, but living in an Eng-lish-speaking country, the vocabulary be comes limited and English rather than German is used. It was to keep what they know and to add to it through the best dramatists that the club was organized. In learning the parts the members must necessarily add to their vocabulary and knowledge. The club discovered its most talented member by accident. A play was about to be given. A member of the cast became ill and it was necessary to find someone to take her place. Mrs. Carl Lieber was called on to take the part. Sir# accepted and gave such & splendid performance that from that time she has been given the leading roles. The plays given rank equal with any performance given by the visiting German companies, which have played here from time to time. The club has been organized a Uttie more than a year and has given four plays. They have been given at the opera houses, and each ximn there has been a surplus in the tree*