Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 27, Number 47, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 July 1878 — Page 1

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VOL, XXVII. NO 47. INDIANVPOLIS, WEDNESDAY MORNDfGr JULY 10, 1878. WHOLE NO. 238.

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A RETROSPECT.

BY GEOKGE Z. EAGLES. I am thinking. Idly thinking, Here ton In lit, beside tlie glow Of the Are, of my childhood, Of Its Joyous, happy flew. And I jtni lo see the faces That 1 used to see of old. As the twilight ;all around me, A tlie evening shadows fold. lam thinking:, idly thinking, It is almost like a dream. How the hours softly murmured In their gladsome, ninny stream. How the hur light brightly glistened, And how 'air the rones grew, How the love-gems clung and clustered Round my lile, like ciystal dew. As I sit and muse, one mem'ry Of those shining days of yore C'orcesto me like holy incense From Its gemmed and Jeweled shore. Tin a fond, endearing murmur, And it often comes to me. Of the old time when I nestled Clse beside my mother's knee. I am thinking, fondly thinking, How she whispered in my ear Oi the Father's loving k I nones To Ills little children here. And the gentle, tender beaming Of the lights within her eye, A she told me of that country Whtre the llow'rets never die. Of the never fading sunlight. Of the fragrance and perfume Floating through the blushing gardens la their wealth of golden bloom. Of its streams of running silver, Of its bliss without alloy. And she hoped in that fair country she might meet her list'ning boy. J am thinking, fondly thinking. Of how genue and how low Her soothing whispers sounded llr the Hummer minuet's glow. And the s'.ft and clinging pressure Of her hand I'll ne'er foiget. For sometimes, when I am weary, I do seem to feel It yet. Yes, though many years have faded, And my brow is marked with care, Yet I sometimes feel the twluiDg Of her ringers through my hair; And the echo of her whisper Falls around me light and low, Just as when a child I nestled ity her aide so long ago. Breakfast Table. WHO KILLED THE JUDGE? A Mystery of Crime. One raw morning in March the janitor of the court house oi li entered the judge's private room for the purpose of making a fire, ar.l was frightened almost out of his ltd tt finding the honorable dignitary lying motionless on the ground The janitor was about to retreat and raise the alarm by ringing the court house bell, when he bethought himself that the judge might have but a fit, and that be could render hira the needed assistance. Therefore he hastened forward and trip d to lift the prostrate man. who lay on the Moor with one hand partially hidden in his bosom, while the other, lying near his head, held bis penholder, the gold pen of which bad its nib broken. Cut a-) the judge was a large man, given over to some extent to obesity, and the janitor a cadaverous fellow, who had been denominated "Bones" by the attaches of the court house, be found his attempt ns??esj, and scon gave it up a futile. The stare in the judge's eyes and the fhastly bae of tlie skin told the janitor that ife bad departed, and a moment after this discovery tue court house bell was spreading wondennent throughout the town. At this time an unusually interesting -court was in session at B . presided over by Judge Blakely. A large number of criminal cases bad been disposed of, and but few remained which were of more than passitg importance. The session just drawing to a close had attracted many people from the rural districts, and the saveral hotels were night'y taxerl to their utmost capacity. Attorneys from a distance were in attendance, -and many friends of the prisoners still remained in town. Therefore, the wild ring of the court house bell, fully three hours before the opening of court, startled everybody who heard it. There was catastrophe in its unwonted tone, and, while Jabez Throck, the janitor, still held the rope, he heard the patter of a multitude of feet in the stone corridor below. Releasing the rope he planted himself at the top of the stair and forbade the crowd surging up, siying that the judge was dead, and that the coroner was needed. The report of the judge's death now spread like wildfire, and the court bouse was speedily surrounded by the most excited crowd ever seen in B- . After some delay, caused in a great measure by the extraordinary excitement, the coroner, a slow but precise man, announced himself ready for business, and, accompanied by the sheriff, several surgeons and th janitor, proceeded to the Judge's room, the door -of which was locked behind them in order to keep interineddlers oit. Judge Blakely was found in the manner in which the jani'or had left him, and the examination was begun. The surgeens, who had come to the conclusion beforehand that apoplexy had taken the judge off. were forced to abandon such Ideas, for a brief examination told them that an assassin bad been there. A crushed skull over the left ear and four dagger ataba in the region of the heart were the proofs of the murder. Lying in its accustomed place by the coal stove was seen one of the instruments of death a short, iron poker, to which adhered both hair and blood. But the dagger was missing. The assassin, whoever he was, had first struck the judge from behind with the poker while he cat in his great arm chair at his desk, as the position of the chair and body indicated, aud then dealt the blow with the Aigger. In bearing off the sharp Instrument of death, it was at first believed that the murderer had left no clew behind, but after the surgical examination a discovery was made that startled every one. Lying upon the desk, and almost entirely concealed beneath a mass of legal documents, was a piece cf legal cap, upon which was traced, in a spasmodic hand, these words: "Jason Bowers did this!" Below this brief but startling rentenc. which seemed at once to fix the identity of , the assassin, was what appeared to be an attempt of the writer to atiix a signature, but after a "J" the pen made a long mark, which the beholders could follow across the desk to the very walnut edging. It seemed that death had suddenly stricken the writer in the act of signing bis name, and the broken pen in the judge's lifeless hand pointed almost positively to the writer. There was such a man as Jason Bowers. He was not a reside ut of B ; for some time past he had been an inmate of the countv iail held there on a charge of for rerv. On the day prior to the night of the judge's murder this man Bowers bad been cnuitted br the iury selected to try him. and at the moment of the commission of the crime he was a free man. He bad never been heard to say aught againat the iudge more than to remark that be thought that in the charire to the Jury he (the judge) had fato red conviction. At home tlie young man bad not borne an irreproachable character, bavin;; been engaged In affairs of question able honor; bat the trial for forgery was his first aDDearancc before a criminal court. Upon the evidence of the writing on the paper which was pronounced by all to be in

the late judge's chirograph y, and beyond

doubt the last work of his life, the sheriff resolved to take Jason Bowers into custody if he was ttdl in town. The young man was not difficult to find, as he was in the crowd below, and on the charge of malicious mur der he was forthwith arrested and lodged in jail. we now come to ine moat mysterious pari of our narrative. At the coroner's inquest but little light was thrown upon the crime. Jabez Throck, the janitor, paid that he found the outer doors of the court house locked trom the inside, and that he had been obliged to enter tbrongh the coal cellar, of which be alone carried the key. It was not an uncommon thing for the deceased to re main In his room till 12 at night, during a session of court, and tbat upon such occasions he locked the- court house when he left for home. Upon the janitor's testimony, the theory tbat the murderer bad been concealed in the building was started, but this was in ured by the various county officers, who awore that they had locked the iron doors leading into tbeir offices immediately after the adjournment of court, which gave the murderer no plac for concealment but the stone corriders. The court house was on the second street running parallel with the river, and one of the town sewers connected it with the stream. There wa3 a bare possibility that a small man might have obtained ingress into the building by the sewer, but an examination of its mouth dissipated this theory. The court room was situated on the second floor. The murderer, to reach the judge's apartment, was compelled to cross the court room, which, when wrapped in darkness as it was when the murder was committed, was no easy task for one unacquainted with the arrangement of the furniture, etc If the assassin bad traversed the room just de scribed, he had failed to displace a single chair, several having been left in the aisles, as the sheriff testified; and the mode and manner of his exit were alfo left in the dark. There was nothing to point to the evil doer save the piece of paper already twice mentioned, and by the major part of i 7- s inhabitants it was regarded as conclusive. Jason Bowers was abjured to confess, but to the surprise of all he protested his inno cence, and declared tbat at the proper time be would prove an alibi. A new judge took Biakely's place and the session was resumed. A new grand jury was summoned which indicted Jason Bowers for willful murder, and after the disposal of several grand larcenws the young man was put upon trial lor his lite. The district attorney, a man who had won many eulogiunisfor his vigorous prosecution of criminal cases, wa- summoned to 1) to look after the Interest of the state. After an nvesti ration of the case he declared that the jury would deliver a verdict of "guilty" without leaving their boxes and the trial was commenced. It was called to-day. "the great trial" at U , though sixteen years have passed away, and the old court house has given place to a new one. Jason Bowers exhibited no signs of guilt when placed on the prisoner's stand aiid confronted by the crowd in which his friends might have been numbered by pairs. It was known that he hoped to prove an alibi, though few believed his ability to do so. "If, genlleraen," said the district attorney to the jury in opening the case, "we shall show that immediately after bis acquittal of the charge of forgery the prisoner made threats against the deceased; tbat he was seen in the vestibule of the court house at the hour of 10 or thereabouts on the night of the murder; If at the time aforesaid be. standing on the stone steps, addressed one of the witnesses for the state in his own undisguised voice, to that the witness will swear positively concerning his identity, we shall present a case that will demand comwlctioo. "But, if we shall further show, gentlemen. that the prisoner carried' to bis washerwoman, at daylight on the morning after the committal of the crime, a shirt, the right cuff ar.d besom of which contained blood stains; if, proceeding further, we shall i'iow that when the prisoner was arrested there was found upon his person a dager whose blade fitted the several wounds in the deceased's breast, and if we rhall make known the fact that the prisoner, after his acquittal, declared tbat he could traverse the court room with ease after dark, and then if we offer in evidence the last words (written) of the deused words which ho must have written after he had been left for dtad by his murderer, we shall confidently expect a con viction, though we would wish to see the rrisocer. if inmocent, prove a satisfactory alibi." The attorney's opening address created a profound Impression; it seemed to teal the prisoner s doom. If toe prosecution could prove what they said they could, from whence would the alibi come? The defense relied mainly upon proving an alibi, as the prisoner's chief counsel stated in bis response to the district attorney. They stated that the blood stains on the shirt, as well as the dagger on the prisoner's person, would be accounted for. His supposed presence in the outer vestibule on the night of the crime would be swept away by the oath of the moat respectable citizens We will not enter upon the details of the trial. The prosecution introduced proof bearing upon the several beads of the distiict attorney's address. Tlie man who swore t j the prisoner a presence on toe court house steps was a person of undoubted veracity and well respected in B . He had known Jason Bowers previous to his arraignment for forgery, and could not be mistaken in the voice that addressed him on that night. The figure on the steps corresponded with the prisoner's; but the face was concealed, as it purposely, by the slouching of the hat. This witness swore positively. The prisoner a ahirt, accompanied by his washerwoman's testimony, was exnibited in court. It produced a profound impression, for unobliterated stains of a dark color were visible on cuff and bosom. The prosecution, ably and almost vindict ively conducted, t-eewoA to give the prisoner no chance for etcaptGnd the defense was regarded frivolous beKre its turn came. The fact that the doors leading Into the court house were foand to be locked on the inside bv Jabez Throck, the janitor, on the memorable moraine, was commented upon with proof by the defense. It was further more proved that every window was found fastened, likewise on the inside, after the discovery of the judge's dead body. The defense admitted the prisoner s re mark concerning his ability to traverse the court room after dark, but said that he meant by it that his protracted trial bad familiarized him with the room. The blood stains on the shirt were accounted for by saving that the prisoner bad cut his wrist on the night of the crime, and in fact, when be was arrested his wrist was found bandaged by blood v linen. The alibi which the defense had proposed to trove did startle every one. One of the most respectable grocefymen in B testified tbat Jason Bowers had been continually in his store from 9 to half past 10. Inclusive, on the night of the mur der. and several creditable witnesses deposed to having accompanied him from the grocery to the hotel, which was reached at a quarter

to 11. This damaged the testimony of the witness who had sworn to having encountered Jason Bowers "on the court house steps

at 10 o'clock or thereabouts. On cross-examination several of the pris oner's witnesses admitted that his manner was excited and strange; but the clerk of the hotel said that shortly after the prisoner's arrival he went up to his room. Did not see bandage on wrist then; had loaned the pris oner the dagger shown in court; the prisoner had returned it just before retiring, but had got it again before breakfast on the following morning. The washerwoman, on crossexamination, said tbat tbe prisoner told her tbat he wished his shirt by noon, as he wanted to leave B at tbat hour; noticed bandage on his wrist. The defense also brought forward wit nesses to prove that the prisoner had ex pressed to several bis intention of leaving B at the hour mentioned: but tbat he was prevented by his arrest for murder. As tbe defense progressed tbe spectators looked perplexed. It was evident tbat a loophole for the prisoner's escape would be offered. Tbe prosecution looked dumb founded. The judge's charge was elaborate in its de tails; his honor leaned to a belief in the prisoner's guilt, and the jury retired. After an absence of four hours, during which time they sent for elucidation on several points to the court, the twelve returned with a verdict of Not guilty! No demonstrations of delight followed the announcement of the verdict The accused bowed to the jury and was discharged. Tbat day be left B and died ten years later without unraveling, if be c mid, the secret of the judge's death. 1 ears afterward, when the old court house wss demolished, a rusty dagger was found in the belfry, and the slats of the blind win dows showed evidences of removal, as if to admit and let out a man! The discovery renewed speculation on 's great murder; that was all. PISS AND NEEDLES. How They Uolnto the Body and Tbelr Ecrenfrlcltle In Coming; Oat. Tbe vagaries of needles which have been introduced in tbe body, .and have escaped immediate removal, have in all ages attracted tbe attention cf collectors of tbe marvelous in medicine. Hildanus related an nstance of a woman who swallowed several pins and passed them six years afterward; but a more remarkable instance of prolonged detention was lately recorded by DrStevenson, of Detroit that of a lady aged 75, who last year passed by the urethra, after some months' symptoms of vesical irritation, a pin which she had swallowed while picking her teeth with it in the year 1845 12 years previously. Occasional pain in the throat was the only immediate symptom, but in 1845 she was seized with severe gastric pain, which passed away, and she had no further symptoms until biomatuna in 18 G. This curious toleration of such foreign bodies exhibited by the tissues is often observed in lunatic asylums. M. S'.Ivy re corded some years ago tbe case of a woman who had a penchant for pins and needles so strong that she made them, in effect, part of her daily diet, and, after her death, 1,4X or 1,500 were removed from various parts of the body. Another cese almost as striking, has been reported by Dr. Gillette that of a girl in whom, from time to time, needles were found beneath the skin, which they perforated, and were removed by tbe fingers or forceps. Concerning the way in which they bad got into her system no information could be extracted from ber. She was carefully watched, and in the course of eighteen months no less than 320 needles were ex tracted, all being of the tame size. Most were black and oxidized, but some had retained their polish. The majority were unbroken. They passed out of various parts of the body above tbe diaphragm at regular intervals. but in a sort of series, and always in the same direction. Most escaped in the region of the left nipple, and a few escaped in the arm. axilla, thigh, temple andcheek. Some times several passed out of the same opening. Thelargen number which escaped in a single day was sixty-one. A curious phenomenon proceeded the escape of each nedle. tor some hours the pain was severe, and there was consideraole fever, fehe then felt a sharp pain like lightning in the tissues, and on looking at the place at which this pain had been felt, the head of tbe needle was generally found projecting. The needles invariably came out head foremost. No bleediDg vas occasioned, and not the ieat trace cf inflammation followed. The doc tor in attendance extracted 313. They were sometimes held firmly, and seemed to be contained in a kind of indurated canal. It was conjectured tbat they had been swallowed with suicidal intentions. But, on the other hand, the way in wbich.the needles, escaped in series, and their direction with the head outward, suggested that they bad been introduced through the skin. That little weight is to ba attached to the place at which the needles escape as proof of their mode of introduction is evidently from a case recorded by Villsrs of a girl who swallowed a large number cf pins and needles, and two years afterward, during a period of nine months. 200 passed out of the hand, arm, axilla, side of thorax, abdomen, and thigh, all on the left side. Tbe pins, curiously enough, escaped more readily and witli less pain than the needles. Many years ago a case was reported by Dr. Otto, of Copenhagen, and mentioned at the time in the Lancet, in which 395 needles passed through the skin of an hysterical girl, who had probably swal lowed them during an hysterical paroxysm; but these all emerged in the regions below the level of the diaphragm, and were collected in groups, which gave rise to inflammatory swellings of some size. One of these contained 100 needles. Quite recently Dr. Bigger described before the society of sur gery of Dublin a case in which more than 300 needles were removed from the body of a woman who died in consequence of their presence. It is very remarkable in how few of the esses the needles were the cause of death, and hojr alight an interference with . . a iunciion weir presence ana movement cause, .from lime to time their detection by a magnetic needle is proposed as a novelty; but, as Dr. Gillette reminds us, this method was employed by Smee nearly forty years ago, and has often been adopted since. Wonder What He Mean. New York Times. I President Hayes may behold in ex-Governor Walker, of Virginia, a fair example of th southern democrat who demands everything and is satisfied with nothing. In his speech at the Tammany pow-wow, yestr day, Governor Walker declared that he should continue to howl that tbe bayonet had been kept at the throat of the south, although- It was there no longer. He explained tbat the withdrawal of tbe troops from the south was merely part of an agreement by which Mr. Hayes secured his oltico. Therefore, argues this sapient irreconcilable, the action of the president does not count. Or, as the Tammany orators put the case, "it is the constitutional act of an unconstitutional official." Something most be pardoned, of course, to 'the necessities of a blatherskite politician from the south who engages to make a melancholy 4th of July speech in New York; but tbla curious twist of Walker's Is worthy of the statesman of confederate crosa roads.

IIIS FIRST L.OVE.

I remember Meeting you In 8eptember, sixty-two. We were eating, Both of us; And the meeting Happened thus: Accidental, On the road, (Sentimental, Episode.) I was gusuing. You were shy; You were bluslog 80 was I ; I was smitten. So were yon ; (All that's written Here is tree.) And money? Not a bit. Rher funny, Wasnt It? Vows we plighted Happy pah ! How delighted People were I But your latherTo be sure Thought It rather Premature; And your mother bl range to sayWas another In the way. What a heaven Vanished then (You were seven I was ten.) That was muny Years ago Don't let anyBody know. Baltimore Every Saturday. OLD 1IICKOKY. Andrew Jaclion Mm Dancer and Pre, Heat, Joker A Story from Tennessee. Philadelphia Press.J Col. John B. Brownlow, In a friendly let ter to the editor of the Press, contributes the following rather apocryphal reminiscence of Andrew Jackson. We may remark, for instance that "Old Hickory'' was hardly the man t quote a Latin phrase in a backwoods cabin.' The contribution is interesting, bowever, as showing the class of legends which is current at this day in Tennessee, and which keeps to ere the memory of tbe old hero fresh r. In t&e days ot our fathers there lived in Virginia an old planter, Major Ilanley, who was an oddity in his way. Home said he was crazy, while others declared that only an inordinate love of fun gave rise to hia quaint doiniri. He mizht be railed a nractical joker, "and it was said be never allowed a stranper to come ana go without playing upon him one or more of his ridiculous tricks; One chilly, drizzling autumnal evening a horseman nulled un at the maior'a doer and requested hospitality for the night. He bad wandered from his way, and it was now too late to rectify hia mistake. He was warmly welcomed, and when bis horse had been taken in charge by a competent servant, and his saddlebags removed, he was ushered into the great living room. where a cheerful tire blszod in tbe enormous fire place, and where candles were lighted. The major was a large, stronglv built man. of middle age, bald headed, rather red in the fce, nnd with an eye deep-jet and twink1In8- . . ... . Toe guest was also of middle age, tall and spare, but compact and muscular, with fea tures of a decided leonine cast, strongly marked, heavy brows, and a shock of thick. crisp hair, tbat stood up on his large head like the mane of a lion. Sutper was announced, and after that the evening pas ed on pleasantly. - As the clock struck nine the host arose and excused him self for a few minutes. When he returned he was accompanied by a negro, who carried a fiddle and bow, and the major himself had a large horse pistol in his hand. "My dear friend," sail the ton, with a bow and a smile, "we must cot let the even ing pass without a little amusement. From your looks I know you can dance. I have one of the best fiddlers in the world; he learned to p'ay in ew Orleans, where music and dancing are cultivated. So, eir, you will ' take your p. ace upon the lloor and dance us a reel. L.et It be a Scotch reel you look like a Scotchman. Come, make no delav. : Strike up. Pomp." The guest protested tbat be could not dance. He had not done such a thing since his Vyhood. Bat Msjor Hanley would not tike, no for an answer. He did not make ninny words. Ife cocked the pistol and swore that he would shoot the jjuest if he did not dance. The negro had begun to trambleand once or twice he seemed upon the point of crying out, but fear of his master withheld him. The guest teemed to consider tbe matter. He looked at the major and at the ri?tol. The man might be really insane, though if be was there was much method in it. However, he was there alone none to behold his discomfiture and mayhap, he thought, the tames might yet be turned. "tome, come! Uance, or l hre. The guest arose asd stood in tbe middle cf the room, and there began to dance to the negro s mus e; but the music was wretcheti so wretched that the major more than once threatened to shoot the negro if he did not play better. The poor wayfarer danced until he was fairly tired, and then stopped. The host waa upon tbe point 01 urging inni on. when a horse s tramp was heard at the landing, anil presently a servant put his head into the room and called the master out Whether be forgot what he was doing, or he cared not to e seen outside with the pistol, we can not say, but be left it on tbe table when he went out. As soon as the door was closec tbe guest went to the table and took tbt pi-tolinhis hanJ. Ashe bad half suspected, it was not loaded; it was as innocent as a horse shoe. But the traveler had his pistol anmiuuition in his pocket, and he quickly loaded the pistol with powder and ball, calling upon the darkey 'o witness. Shortly the major returned, and his first movement was to look for the pistol, which lie found missing. rMy dear sir, said the guest, with a low bow, and one of the b'andtrst of smiles a smile, however, quickly followed by a look that might have made a berj quail, "I found your pistol aadlv deficient; but I have rectifield all that. You see I have my powder tfa.sk and ball pouch. The pistol is loaded, rir, secundum artm. We will continue the amusement by a dance executed by tbe master of the house; an J let me assure you that I ran use a pis'ol much better that I can dance a reel. Dance, air, or by the eternal, 1 I'll put a bullet through your leg, if not through your head!" The major was startled. There was something in the man's words that always lifted birn from bis feet and took away bia breath, and if the look was a command he could no more have disobeyed than he could have hufhed the throbbing of bis own heart. He danced. The negro played now with unction played in a manner to reflect credit upon hia New Orleans teaching. More than once the dancer begged to be allowed to stop, but that pistol, held by an iron band, kept him moving. Had the wapon been aimed at his bead or heart, be might have ran a risk of the man's firing, tut be really -believed the irate traveler would aa lief break hi j legs as not. Tbe major was suffered to ait dawn. Aa old Pompey passed him he stopped and bent over and whispered Into bis master's ear: ''tot the Lor a massy 'a sake, maa'r, don't

ve go for to cut up no more. I tell ye I knows de man! VThougb! who'd ebber forgot im? He's Gen'r'l Jackson der rale Ole H'ckory, an' no mistake ! :' Major Hanley opened his eyes wide. There is no knowing what be might have done, but, as he was starting up, pale and affrighted, his visitor, who beard Pompey's revelation, put out bis hind and said with a smile: "Hold on, major. Not a word. If you can be satisfied I can. Let us have a bit of repose a bit of punch with it" The punch was brought, and as soon aa the host could regain hia spirits jollity ruled tbe hour. Of course the major had to tell the story of the coming of his illustrious visitor, and through the weakness of old Pompey the rest of the scene leaked out.

PRAYERS. Some Petit on Well Calculated to AttonlMh tbe Native. Brooklyn Eagle.J Professor Tyndall's prayer gauge proposition of a few years ago very properly and very considerably shocked a grt at many high minded persons who preserved the antique privacy of communion with the Almighty. They preferred to thl nt of the act of prayer as the most sacred of acts, as the baring of the soul of man before the eye of God, and to find its proper definition in Montgomery's lines: Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, Uttered or unexpressed; to remember with the wicked Claudius that Words without thoughts never to heaven go. This was the old style form of .prayer. It was with this thought tbat the compilers of those most perfect poems in the English lan guage, which as collects and prayers render the Episcopal piayer book second only in beauty of diction and feeling to one book In the world, culled their petitions from every available human source. These prayeis serve as models, and will, in spirit if not in words, survive so long as man remains a religious being, with the inevitable sense of dependence upon a power higher than his own. To such men as still regard the office and privilege of prayer in this sense, the proposition to put its efficacy to a practical, material test must ba shocking, and we do not wonder that the world recoiled from Professor Tyndall's invitation with horror and disgust But even these must acknowledge that forms of prayer have undergone a very remarkable change in a few years. Could some of the public utterarces of our own most distinguished divinea be recorded, classified and compared with those of the old churches, we fear that our most religiously inclined readers would laugh. Objection is made against the liturgies of the oldest creeds that tLe words by constant rcpitition lose their significance, and are uttered by rote and without thought We do not propose to challenge this belief, but to point out what Las been said on the other side, namely, that extempore prayers are likely to lack concentration, proper forms of expression, and even to partake of the personal qualities of the public petitioner. Now no steady church goer who has listened to littnies and collects, and worshiped in tbe simple, dignified and humble lacguage chosen by greater men than be, can fail at times to think tbat the minister appears to be, at Uast, on very famili:tr terms with the Almighty. All sorts of shades of feeling are expressed. At one moment he is humble, at the next resentful, then patronizing, now dogmatic, now complaining. The political prayer which some pet preacher has been called upon tdaETTTifraychTiplahr-otTt legislative body, has 'filled one with alternate feelings of shame and hilarity, and within the past few weeks the country has been treated to a still more extraordinary phase of communion with Omnipotence. In the political conventiors of two great states we learned that the petitioner "caught the spirit of the couventioD," and passed it up to his Creator with instructions, or at least recommendations, how to receive it. We Were assured, moreover, that the convention, fully appreciating the ingenuity of thi3 clever feat loudly applauded the chaplain, thereby intimating to Omnipotence tbat the petitioner presented its sentiments, and it would be very mnch obliged by an answer to correspond. Nay, In one prayer the convention bcrss into the preacher's utterances with applause and expressed its ent. re satisfaction with him. In othr words, tbe e precioui priests prayed to their poiitlc 1 hearers, and wero answered as they desired, with applause. It was probably in this spirit that in the dedicatory prayer at the opening ceremonies of a new hotet at Coney Island lat evening a distinguif hed Baptist deacon threw in an injunction to the petitioner to ba louder." indicating thereby either that bis Maker was a trifle deaf, or, in the language of Elijab, asleep or on a journey or that the prayer, so-called, was addressed to the diners instead of the Deity. Astonishing as thess specimens of extempore prayer making may appear, the prayer of the Rev. Dr Wilson, of Baltimore, strikes us as among the most comical things in imprecatory literature. At the commencement exercises of the Wet tern female high school, in bis city, he included in an address to heaven, the balk of which, we fear, is lost to the world, this amazing clause: "Oh, God, grant that not one of tbeae young ladies may be the victim of unrequited love." Whether he added, "And may none of them marry red haired beaux or have to wash dishes" is not stated, but we are prepared to hear tbat he included among the blessings desired of Heaven twelve button kid gloves and the best seats at the ppera whenever tlie ladies wanted theso essentials. The combination of religion ind romance is at least novel. Mr. Wilson has reached one extreme of prayer of which tbe Chiness praying machine furnishes the other. We may next anticipate from some of our highest priced priests and in our most heavily mortgaged temples "special prayers for protection against freckles, warts and bunions," or ex tra services twice a week to petition lor a new style of bonnet which other people haven't got. Jotm Nherman Idea Again. Cincinnati Enquirer. John Sherman Is peddling a falsehood througtout tbe country at the government expense. He is endeavoring to persuade the country, or some jwrtions of it that the house of reprsentatives was the friend of bard times in tbe la&t session. He 1 trying to place the housa on tbe record as refusing to enact that greenbacks should be receivable for customa duties, because the house wjuld not pass a senate bill enabling him to sell bonds for greenbacks and to use that power solely to aid in tbe execution of the resumption act Tbcre arc two answers to this latest Sbermanism. In the first place, the bouse, by a vote of three to one, voted for a bill making greenbacks receivable for customs duties, as a distinct proposition. In tbe second place, one of Sherman's letters to Mr. Phillips, of tbe banking and currency committee, announces his most shameless Intention to disregard the law of the land, which the demociats gave to the country, forbidding the further contraction of green back circulation. Sherman said he would keen out aa man? as and no more than he could maintain resumption on. The law breaker and the breaker of every body will find toil last tnee useless.

HIS BOTHER'S EXECUTIONER,' A Raaalan Roy Kill His Halbtr I Avenge Ilia Father's Honor. There is now occupying the Russian criminal tribunals a tragedy which throws into the shade the gloomiest lmseininm of th

old Greek playwrights. It is tbe murder of a mother by her son. a child nine years old. Tbe story is one of the most appalling in the wuoie annais oi nnman crime, and withal it is heart touching as showing tbe misdirection of a noble nature. For tbe saotive of the crime was honor, and the son slew hi mother that her blood might wash out the stain her infidelity h.vi put upon her husband's name. The case is a most remarkable one. There seems to be no evidence of vicious disposition on the part of the dot. Ob the contrary, he seems to have had a lovin heart and to have been tenderly attached t his dead father; but a cloud came over hi young existence when his mother, forgetting her duty to the living and the dead, contracted an illicit alliance with a government employe. The woman seems to have troubled herself little to conceal hir amours from her son, thinking that a child of such tender years would not be likely to pay any attention to her actions. She does not seem to have ever suspected the precocious sensibility of the child. WOrSDED H050B. The boy, however, very soon began to suspect the true relations existing between the stranger and bis mother. The functionary entered frequently before the child's eyes at unusual hours into the bouse that bad belonged to his dead father. The child felt himself cruelly injured by the dishonor cast upon his father's memory, which had remained enshrined in his young heart likea tacred imsge. For a long time he concealed bis anger and his shame; but one day his indignation mastered him, and he resolved to maxe an enort to win his mother from the path of shame. THE SOS'S APPEAL. Throwing aside all fear, be re Droved tbo widow for her infidelity to her dead husband"; and besought her to return to her duty by respect to the memory of the dead and out respect to her son. The mother treated these remonstrances lightly, and burst out laughing at her child. Without even designing to hear him to tbe end, she advised him to occupy himself with matters more appropriate to his age. Several times he seem to have renewed his exhortations, always, however, meeting with the same reception. FOmmUZD BY THK FIEXD. Feeling that it was useless to appeal to the better nature of his mother, the child con ceived tbe horrible design of washing oat in her blogd the stain she persisted in putting on his name, and which be knew was no longer a secret for tbe neighbors. Having once made up his mind his thoughts became wholly absorbed in plans for carrying his vengeance in to execution. Wherever he went he carried with him this idea of avenging tt a injured honor of his name. In solitude he pondered over it until it became in his eyes a holy duty. Beside this child of nine years taking upon bis conscience the responsibility of judge and executioner, thinking and planning peiore taxing action, namiet tormented by visions and simulating madness is only capable of inspiring pity. The heart is moved at tbe thought of the anguish the child must have eunered. First be dug the grave. This was for bis infant hands a long and painful labor. When be had everything prepared he resolved to execute his terrible purpose. ALMOST SAVED. One night while his mother slept he armed himself with a hatchet and silently approached her bed. Wheu his eyes rested on the author of his being his resolution was shaken. He gszed on the face he had long loved and rejected. The sight was too much for bis childish heart, and. bursting into tears, he fell on his knees before bis mother's bed. There the morning light found him stretched in slumber with the deadly hatchet still clasped in his tiny hands. When bis mother rose she was terribly frightened at the sight. She awoke tbe boy, who explained bia presence by a peasant fable, and then took the opportunity to once more beseech his mother to dismiss her lover and return to the path ot honor. She, however, lost her temper, and ordering the child to hold his tongue, dismissed him curtly. THZ FATAL SEED. Thisectionof the widow decided her son to carry out his murderous resolution. The following night be n;ain entered his mother's bed room, and, finding ber asleep, with one blow of the hatchet he killed ber. He then took the body, which be dragged t the grave he had prepared for it, and there in terred If. The trial of this strange rarricide is pro gressing in the town of Valox, in the government of Kharkow. Se'doui have the Russian people been so interested in a crim inal trial, but the sight of a child nine years old standing in the dock as the assassin of bis mother is well tabulated to excite the compassionate symjithy among a people by whom the laniily ties are regarded with. something of the respect of the patriarchal a: -1 i : . m . , limes. iir. t lituiiuir, jiro'easur ui criminal law at the university of Kharkow, has spon taneously undertaken tbe defense of the unfor.unate child. That Standing Collar. New York Dispatch.) All things are fair, so it is generally thought in war, in a hore trade, or in a law case. It is probably on tbat bad rule that tbe late President Lincoln acted when be defeated an antagonist before a jury. Tbe an ecdote is thus told by Dr. IWttman: He was often pitted against eminenw lawyers daringr trials in tbe bangamon county circuit court On one occasion he was- opposed to a very able advocate, who made a powerful, eloquent and convincing speech to the jury, and Lincoln saw tbat it bad been very effective on the minds of the jury. The gentle man, moreover, was a man who was very precise in his dress, as well as manner ana oratory. iiut Lin coln had been observing him, and saw a flaw in his usually faultless attire. "Gent!cmen of tbe jury," said "Old Abe," when he rose to speak,, "tbe gentleman who has iast srxiken has made a stromr argument He has quoted the law and tao evideoce, and it is not for me to say that it is wrong. He may be correct in all that be has said. But I want you to take a good look at him. Look especially at the upper half, and then, gentlemen, tell me if any man who com before you with his standing collar buttoned wrong end to, with the points sticking away out behind bis ears, may not be rdtogether mistaken, in all his arguments." The plan was successful. Lincoln bad broken the spot which tbe - eloquence oi his opponent bad thrown over the jury. A I'retty OooU Explanation of Butler. Wa&hlngton Po&tf Feopl who are in doubt concerning Major General Benjamin F. Butler'a party will avoid much confusion of thought by remembering that ba always belongs to tbe opposite party. Ben waa constructed invers-ely, and, like an Irishman; is constitutionally opposed to tbe existing order of thirds, lie lovea hia enemies instead of hia friends; and when an enemy strike bard Ben promptly 5;oea oyer to bia aide out of pure, admiration or the pluck which successfully withstand

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