Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 27, Number 66, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 November 1878 — Page 7

THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL WEDNESDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 20, 1878.

INDIANA'S CAPITAL.

How the City Appeared to English Eyes Twenty-Six Years Ago. Old Time Habits and Customs Faithfully Described. How a Live American Newspaper Was Conducted la tn'e Backwootli. A representative of the Sentinel, a few days Ago, while rummaging among the musty volumes in the city library, came across a book , entitled, "The Wabash, or the Adventures of an English Gentleman's Family in the Interior of America," printed In London in 1855, by Huest Sc Blackett, 'successors to Henry Coburn, 19 Great Marlborough street" . In turniDfc over the leaves of the first Tolume the book is in two volumes the eye of the Sentinel's representative chanced to rest on chapter ten of the book, which is devoted to a description of Indianapolis as it appeared to the writer in 1851.J at which time he passed through the city on his way, with his family, to a point in Iowa. A perusal of this chapter showed it to be fall of matters of interest to our citizens, and we accordingly lay the entire chapter before our readers, only premising that the author signs himself "J. Kichard Beste, Esq.." residence, "flrosvenor street, London." HOTEL AT INDIANAPOLIS PP5KAHS-MANSERS OF AMERICANS A"ONK 'COON" DIFFICULTY or GOING FURTHER AN ISOLATED PKIEST COLONEL AND MRS. DRAKE PLAN Or AMERICAN CITIES A MORNINO VISIT A SPIRIT SHOP THE CAPITOL WALKS BUYING HOKSKtt BUYING A WAGON A CARPENTER AMERICAN ENGLISH BUYING A LOCATION THE INP1ANA SENTINEL AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS FAjill IONABLK SHOPS. Mr. Turtle, the proprietor or manager of the Wright' House Hotel at Indianapolis, seemed . to think his premises already too fall to aocommodate my party: bat he showed me a wing of the house, running back between yards and garden, which I could have if the apartment would salt me. There were several bedrooms, side by side, all communicating with an open balcony and trellls-wood shaded by roaes and Jasmines In full bloom. We were seduced by the freshness of the flowers, and engaged tlie rooms at once by the week. We aid not consider that, there being no second story over that wing of the house, the sun would str lice through the tiles and roof, and raise the temperature of our rooms to that of a moderately heated oven. When we discovered this to be the case it was too late to change, and we comforted ourselves by opening the doors upon tlir. flowery balcony and the windows opposite; we so secured a current f air heated, bat refreshing. We went down to dinner In a large room on the ground floor. There were not above a dozen other persons at table, so that we constituted half the company, Here we first saw in use what, in the East Indies, were called "punkas." Above the whole leneth of the dinner table several light frnmeworksof wood, covered with paper, were swung upon hlDges from the ceiling, and hung down within a couple of feet of the tablecloth; a cord passed through and was knot ted to the bottom of each framework, and was then carried on through pulleys to the i urther side of the room. This a negro waiter boy was polling steadily, and so caused the banging screens to wave backward and forward above the table. Thus not only a delicious current of air was kept np, but also the flies were dispersed that congregated in black patches upon the dishes whenever the lad paused to rest in his monotonous exercise. It was a most simple and inexpensive, but a most delightful way of being fanned. The company consisted of either boarders In the house or travelers. Tney were all quite inoffensive. Indeed, all Americans are so at their meals. As they grudge every minute which they steal from business for the purposes f eating, and as they never or scarcely ever drink wine, beer or spirits, they nave every motive tobesilentand none to talk. Although they of course want the polish of the highest circles, their manners are very much better than those Of the same class In England; and, Indeed, their universal politeness to women U nneq ualed, unapproached, even by an y class In any country. Here are no fussy petit solns and fidgeting complimentary interference, such as uterne finds so dellghtfal, but a show of genuine respect for a petticoat by whomsoever worn. In no saloon. In no steamboat throughout the United States will any man, of whatsoever rank, retain a seat while any woman, of whatsoever rank, is standing without one. Like Byron, they "reverence a petticoat; A garment of a mystical sublimity. Whether It be of muslin, silk or dimity." But though the Americans do not drink wine or beer at these ts bles d'hote, they are not sparing of iced water, the one universal luxury. It ere, also, lor the first time we saw tea drank at dinner. Large boilers lull of tea were standing on a side table, and the women especially were frequent applicants for it. I tried the mixture, and can truly lecommend a Urge bowl of stroug tea, with a large lump of Ice floating and quickly melting ia the middle of it, as being most palatable at a midday dinner daring the dog days. But now I foand that I was fairly stumped ; I was done for: I was a gone coou. Having told the reader the meanlug of the former expression, I may as well here remark the derivation of the latter phrase, which I now often beard around me. It seems that some celebrated sportsman, some American Colonel Hawker, being out with his gun that was neverknowntoml.su Its aim, espied a racoon In a tree and leveled his piece. "Don't give yourself the trouble. Colonel Hawker'sald the poor animal, "I know my fate. You never miss. Don't trouble yourself to fire. I conclude to come down to you. I am a gone coon." My situation at Indianapolis I found to be about as helpless as that of the coon. 1 had come by steamboat and railway as far as railway or steamboat could forward me in this direction. Water there was no more of, and the railways were completed no farther. It was true that several lines were planned ont, which would g to bU Loais and the Pacific, but we bad no wish to stay at Indianapolis until they should be completed, i had been told that the stage coach direct from Cincinnatl passed through the town and along the National road to the Mississippi, and to this 1 had trusted. The stage coach came rolling up the street. . . ,. M I will not describe what has been described so often ; suffice It to say that the one body cf the vehicle held places lor three with their backs to the horsea. and places for three with their faces to the horses; and a bench across from door to door for three more, the only support for whose shoulder was a leathern strap drawn across from end to end. Theso were only nine places, even could they be all secured, which was doubtful; and nine places would not suffice for my party. Moreover, the eoach started In the evening, and we should have to travel all that and the following night. It was not to be thought of. What could be done? I was a gone coon ! Not at all," said Mr. Turtle; "do as we all do. Bay a wagon and a pair of horses, and drive across the prairie." The spirit of adventure was upon us, and th M was rather taking. We walked oat to evening service. It was th festival of Oo dim Christ!, and we called upon the priest. Poor, Reverend Mr. Uueguen, he was in a desponding state ! we were no longer in the go-ahead diocese of Cincinnati, but In the old diocese of Vincennes, .founded by the French settlers of Louisiana, where French clergy and the apathy of French mntir.A have to contend with American ener'v. Fonr bare brick wans were, inueed.roorea n for a church, but whitewash and plaster there was not; pavement to the floor there was not. There was a capital organ, out no one to play on It or to lng. Mr. Uuesuen, himself of French origin, had been there for many years; he had himself creaU-d whatever now existed, t,nt he seemed to despair of doinK any more. He himself was living, apparently broken hearted, in poverty and airt ana toe noise or the dozen children of the Irishman with whom h hn.rdMl. The town, indeed, could boast many handsome churches handsomely finish ed for every other denomination of Christians, bnt the members of government and of the legislature met at Indianapolis, as it was the ... n,ti tt th atai! and the clerrv of the sev eral denomi n a tlon s called a pon all to sa bscn be u their several funds. He had not the spirit to do this. When the clergy of all other denominations administered the Lord' Hopper la their ehnrehM, tney sent rouna invitation MTdi uannnt tbanueiTM. and they all paid one another the compliment of attending and parUElagln their several temples In turn.

jhij XvCpi up a Dona tu uw ueuvnawn uv

era! kind of "communion of saint, In which a Catholic priest could not join. Poor Mr. Uueguen I he did not say ail thUtome. Though he preached an excellent termon, he was a small talker; but I found out that such was his position relatively to the others. He Introduced us to the great lady of his congregation, an Irishwoman by birth, married to Colonel Drake. The colonel was a thorough American, and I saw a great deal of him with Increasing pleasure. There is so much freshness In the style of conversation, so much playful energy In the expressions of these children of a fresh new world! A literary friend, whom 1 should be proud to name, said tome in London: ".The Americans have a very disagreeable way of talking through their noses; and yet, when any one of them is speaking at ray table, I am very sorry if an Kngllshmai interrupts him, I learn something new from the American." Colonel Drake wan. I think, treasurer for the state, and seemed to be a popular man and well spoken of by all. I went to his little office where his two cierks were writing seated. Indeed, but with the lefties of each renting upon the desk beside the Inkstand ; the right leg of one of them was tumbling about a stool behind him. The gallant colonel was swinging himself upon three or four chairs at once, smoking and spitting out of the open window. Then must Ive tomething Very attractive in these attitudes; for I own that by this time I and all my boys were as fond of balancing ouraelvea upon two or three chairs as any American of them all. and my girls loved the rocking chairs and fns. Colonel Drake highly approved of the plan of traveling that had been recommended to me. He knew nil that country and most of the fur west, having formerly farmed and dealt largely in horses byond the Mississippi. He himself, I found, had a pair of horses that be would sell, and though he did not press them upon me, he oilered to show them. I got into hU rough-and-ready and he drove me to bis house. We passed from the main street cf the town, which is of handsome width, wllh broad pavements on each side, and across two or three other streets diverging from it at light angles, and wh lch, as far as they went, gave also promise ot being handsome. But vacancies soon appeared between the houses in the lines in which these are herearier to be completed, and more and more garden ground was Inclosed around each until it snould be needed to be built upon. This s-ems to be the method followed in all these American towns. The plan having been first laid out and the boundaries of the township being defined, bull 11 -gs diverge from the cere and here and thei "ot the line of the future streets, until they ose themselves in the forest, the prarie.or the cultivated land. As the vacancies on each side of the streets are filled np, side pavements are made, trees are planted to overshadow them, the center of the ttreet Is paved and gas and water pipes are laid down. Thus this city of Indianapolis was as yet but one continuous street, with stems of other streets shooting off from It: but the plan of the rising town was definitely settled, and although the boundaries of thetownshlpenelosed cultivated and waste land, like the walls of Home, the scattered buildings already contained a population of 10,000 Inhabitants. The residence of Colonel Drake was beyond the buildings, and stood off on a grassy common bestrewn with giant trees that had been, apparently, cut down for no other reason than that the axeman had a few hours of spare time. It was a very pretty villa, in a gay flower garden, overshadowed by handsome oak trees. The interior was nicely and even elegantly Tarnished. We paid our visit to Mrs. Drake, who was a handsome, ladylike woman, and were then shown into another room where a tray was nicely spread with refreshments for us. The colonel and I went to look at the horses a pair of remarkably pretty iron greys

well orea, three years oiu auu aoout niteen hands high. I thought them rather too Blight and too young for my work, but we harnessed them to the rough-and-ready and I drove them out for two or three miles. One of them went lame a sprain or temporary injury, I believe, of which their own r had not known anything. liut I was leanui c starting on my journey with a lane horse, and I drove back to the villa, Mrs. Drake had a very large family, the eld est of wiiom, a nicely dressed girl of twelve years old. was, with her brot hers and sisters. playing about the garaen ana green, xsoneoi them wore shoes or stockings. The c-jlonel himself was a Protestant. "It is a great advantage to us in this coun try." he said to me, "that Mrs. Drake is a Catholic. We have never been left quite alone." 'How do you mean?" I asked. 'She has never been obliged to cook her own dinner," he explained. "what can yon mean 7 i inquirea, as mucn in the dark as before. "Almost ail the helps here, yon call them servants," lie said, "are Irish Catholic emigrants, and they nave that feeling towards Mrs. Drake a a fellow Catholic that they have never all left her at once without notice and without any one to do for her. I assure you that she is the only lady In this county who can say as much." 1 oegan to uoudi wneuier it mignt not De most comfortable to be located In a slave state ! There were two other very good hotels in Indianapolis, the arrivals at which were regu larly published in the newspapers! What more could be done in the most fashionable water ing place? One of these, opposite to the one we occupied, was called the ''Capital House." I expressed surprise at the assumption of the name, which Implied that it was the best house in the town, but was told that it was to have been called the "Capitol House," bnt that the painter bad. by mistake, put an a lor an o.ana had not yet had time to alter it, so "Capital House" ft continued to be called. The weather was very hot. and large Quanti ties of iced water used to be drank in the bar room of our hotel. This, as usual, was slightly partitioned off from the entrance hall, Into which the reading room, well supplied with papers from all parts of America, opened. Spirits were never drank; I asked the landlord for a little brandy, and he said he would tve me a pint oottie, but oared not sell one e chareed for it. notwithstanding, in the bill. The law forbidding the retail of intoxi cating drink prevailed here. And yet, a few doors irom our note), a speculator was putting np A spirit shop, which was to be opened when the legislature met. The speculator had cal culated that he would beiniormeu against and fined about twenty times during the session. but that bis profits would still leave a bandsome balance in his favor. I was glad to hear that this absurdly tyrannical law was thus to be openly defied. The capitoi oi inuianapoiis not tne capital Inn, but the state house is a remarkably handsome building of really good classical archltectuie. It professes to be modelled somewnat alter tne I'artnenon at Atnens. The pillars, as well as the rest of the building, are ot brick, but stuccoed and painted so well that close examination alone can detect the real material. The churches in the town are also, as I have before observed, more than usually large and well built. Domes, spires and towers have arisen that would do no discredit to any European eapltal, and which nobly diversify the large plain in which the city stands. In truth, the situation of the town is excellent not perhaps as a commercial emporium, since it has no water carriage, bnt as a residence and the central seat of government. It stands on a high tableland of good soil dry and healthy, and the streets, as they diverge from the center, lead to pleasing walks amid farms and forest that my children admired much. "We used to separate." writes Louie, "into two or three parties and explore the neighborhood. In one of these walks we passed a large cherry orchard, where the owner was gathering a beautiful harvest of fruit, which he ottered to us liberally. One walk was a particular favorite of mine. I went there first wlui my eldest brother and sister. It led through a beautiful country, and, after following for some time the course of a little stream, it terminated suddenly at a wood and a neat frame cottage. Large logs of timber lay around, and, as Kenelm wished to explore the forest for a little way, Catherine and I sat down on one of the logs to await his return. A most beautiful bird, of a kind which we had never seen before, soon perched on a tree close to us, bat the owner came out of the cottage accompanied by his two little children, who began playing about and the bird flew away. Our brother returned with a handful of bright feathers of different colors which he had found In the wood, and a large chrysalis that was also new to us." It was more easy to find perfect seclusion in these country walks than even In our own rooms. . . m "The parrot," Lucy writes, "had made herself widely known by her noise and chattering: and several people who were staying in the hotel came to my bed room, where she was kept, and asked that she should be brought out on the terrace. One day when I was dressing in my room some one tried to come In, but, finding the door locked, began knocking authoritatively and crying out, 'Open the door, wont you, please V I did so, and found a woman with a child In her arms who was cry ing. I asked her what she wanted. Without the slightest apology or word of civility she re oiled: Where's the bird? I want to show it to baby: he's so cross, I cant do anything with him! Where's the bird?" Free and easy this! But unless we wished to take np our abode permanently at Indianapolis, it was necessary that I should procure horses and a wagon, with which to move onwards. I had been put In communication with a man said to be knowing In horse flesh, who proposed to me to make an excursion Into the neighboring state of Illinois, and ther try to pick op some on their wv from th ennntrv ot the Missouri to the oldtownsontheeasternseaboard.batl preferred trying what could be done In Indianapolis itaeir, wnere we oreea oi oonn, m was excellent. Market days earns round, and brought farmers and men ff business iron a

distance of many miles. Here I saw some very fine horses, rather too heavy for me. drawing wagons laden with corn and wheat.whlch they left at stores and mills, above which was inscribed the usual promise of full cash prices for everything; here were the owners in their buggies or rough-and-readles, or riding beautiful beasts of a stamp rather too light for my work. The horses In the wagons, in the buggies and even the saddle horses nsed to be ail alike fastened to a i almg or a gate In some retirad lane in the shade, whence it appeared that any one could loose them and drive or ride off with them miles away into the woods before they should be missed. Their owners bad evidently no fear of the kind, and I was assured that the Americans scorned stealing and pilfering. They would overreach, that is to Bay. they would be extra sharp in a bargain, but they would not demean themselves to steal. At length I was told of a jobber who had a stable full of horses which he would either sell or let to convey me to my destination, and my wife and I continued our walk In the direction of his premises. We were turning into them when our guide led ns into a temperance hotel bar room, where tea, sherbet and slops were sold, and requested my wife to wait there till our return. Why so? "It was not right for a lady to go to a stable yard. People would be shocked. It was not the custom. It was a quiet, clean stable yard, but no ladles weut to such places." My wife positively refused to take a lesson in the proprieties of her sex from a horse jocky in the back settlements of America, and insisted that it was more decorous that she should accompany her husband to a stable than remain alone in a bar room. In consequence, our guide was near deserting ns as companions discreditable to himself. But the hope of profit overcame his sense of propriety, and, at length, he went on with us. muttering that the shame was ours, and that, after all, people could only say that we were Britishers who did not understand the decencies of life. The owner of the stable seemed to bo doing business on a large scale, lie had twenty or thirty horses in his sheds, which were excellently well kept; but my wife's perverse indelicacy in accompanying her husband to look at t he carriage horses he wished to buy proved to the stablekeeper that we. must be quit Johnny Raws and new comers into the civilized world, and he asked what I knew to be three times tne value of his beasts. We walked away, doubting what was next to be done. Suddenly my guide accosted a man driving a yellow, cream colored horse that was drawing a cart load of stones. "Will you sell that horse, Mr. James?" "I guess I will, if you make it worth my while." "Whereabout is the figure?" "Well, now; I don't want to sell him. because I must have one to do my work, and I shall have to buy another: but there's no denying that this one is a deal too well bred to haul these stones. 1 reckon you won't have him under a hundred and fifty do lars." Meanwhile I was examining the beast In question. It was of a pale yellow cream color, not uncommon in that country, with black legs, a magnificent black mane and a tali that swept the ground; about sixteen hands high, good forequarter, small bone, large Joints, short natural t nfts of hair on the fetlocks, good barrel, a small bead with fiery eyes and naming red nostrils. It was a beautiful horse; fit for a charger or a light brougham. My jockey whispered to me that he anew the horse, and that it was all right. I had him taken out of the shafts and ruu along in hand. His paces seemed excellent. He was only five years old. "I: he Is all right," 1 said, "1 will giv one hundred dollars lor him," and I walked away. In the course of two hours I was tola that the horse was in the hotel stable, and that the gentleman was waiting for the money. In much the same manner, on th following day, I picked np a noble datk bay horse wllh blacklegs. He was six years old, about one inch higher than the buff, with a somewhat larger aud shorter body, with high action, full of Are and speed. For this I gave ninety dollars.

I had much difficulty In getting a wagon to my taste. I had, of course, understood that I was to nave a spring wagon, but was now as sured that no springs could stand the rough ness cf the roads I should have to pass, aud in evidence of this, I was taken to see those of the stage coaches, cure enough, no iron entered into their composition, but the body of the carriage swung from side to side on the thickest possible doubled and quintupled leathern thongs. To a wagon without springs we had therefore to resign ourselves. 1 was taken to see several, but they all came from Illinois state, and. were too narrow in the body to suit ray agricultural tastes, for we had Slanned that the horses would serve our turn urlDg the following winter at St. Louis in whatever carriage the fashion oi tne city mignt offer, while the wagon could be laid by until required on my son's "location." At length I found an emigrant German wheelwright who had Jnst finished a wegon that was much after my own European imaginings. I suggested some additions, and paid lor the whole as follows. To some who may think of emi grating these details may be useful: Indianapolis, June 2G, 1851. TO S. llETSELGISSEB, Dr. For one wagon... For one bed....... Making seat........ Sten and staples for the seat., .Mating bows (for tne cover).. f our removes of shoes., $78 50 I bought a drag and chain for two dollars more and a capital cover of drill, made up complete, for ihree dollars and thirty-five cents. Nothing was then wanting to our outfit Dut Harness and a wmp. Here. 1 believe, I was rather extravagant. 1 had first bought a set Of ordinary harness which, when brousht to the hotel, l bad refused to pay lor until my horse Jockey friend should be able to inspect it and say that it was complete, but the saddler had no idea that an emigrant, who had bought wagon and horses, shou.d not be able to look over and understand his own harness, and, therefore, carried it back to his shop naturally supposing that I had Intended to clap it on the horses and drive away without payment. 1 had, therefore, to go to another tradesman, and was sednced Into purchasing a very tidy set of new, light, wagon harness, for which I gave twenty dollars, and the very dandiest whip that emigrant ever hauled. It cost me three doll irs and a half, and I was so proud of It that I carried it back to the hotel myself, and soon after had my horses decked In their new gear and harnessed to my new wagon, that I might try the whole In proper style. The black ostler held their heads admiringly as I mounted the beiiCh, which I had had swung from side to side in front as a driving seat. 1 turned into the High street of Indianapolis, and what a dash I cut! The horses pawed and pranced, aud away we flew at a capital pace! They were stepping beautifully together and lifting high their fore legs, when a gentleman on horseback rode after and stopped me. "1 say, stranger!" he cried, "what will you sell tfcem two horses for?" I tossed my head disdainfully and drove on ; but twice more before I got to the end of the street was I stopped by the same question from other people. I returned to the inn delighted. I had not thought a wagoner could be so proud of his team ! Home of our boxes had need to be repaired, and I went for a carpenter to the hotel. A native American came with hU man. lwas much struck wita the manner and cleverness with which he handled bis tools. He had made me a new packing rase, which had to be nailed down, planed and fitted. In Europe four tools would have been required for this a gimlet, a hammer, a plane and a pair of pincers; here one sufficed. He never thought of using a gimlet, but struck the nails in. unerringly, with the hammer-shaped end or his adze; a slit in this sufficed to draw out old nails with, while the adze itself answered the purpose of a plane. I never saw a carpenter get through bis work more neatly and so expeditiously. "But," said he, "I reckon that you are not British; you have not the accent of the Irish and Hootch, and you do net talk like the English. Wbat country do you come from?" "We are English.'' I replied; "all born and raised, as you call it. In England." "Impossible! You do not talk English like true British." " What Is the difference?" "You do not say ous' and 'and' for house and hand. All the children and all of you pronounce all these words like Americans, and not as real English emigrants pronounce them. Their way of speaking makes ns always say that we talk better English than the English themselves." I had. Indeed, often heard the Americans langbed at for saying so, bat now the matter was explained. My carpenter repeated with great accuracy varlons Instances of provincialisms and vulgarisms which he and all of them bad noticed, more or less, in all the English emigrants who hod come amongst them. Seeing none of any other class, tney naturally supposed that ail English people pronounced the languago in the same manner, aud so prided themselves upon the superiority of American English. or, notwithstanding the disagreeable nasal tone and drawling whine in which most of tnem speak, and notwithstanding a few national phrases and the peculiar use and pronunciation of certain words, it most be admitted that the American people In general speak English without provincial dialect or vulgarisms. Whence, In fact, could they acquire such, since all theemlgrants they see come from different parts of England? The provincialisms of the one neutralise those of the other. The wages of a good Journeyman carpenter or smith here are from one to one and a half dollar per day, besides baard. I paid my carpenter a two dollar note, which, after a few hours, he brought back, saying that lie could not pass It; that people said It was m forgery.

465 00 m . . 00

1 oo

2 00

. 50

I replied that he should have looked at it when he took it; that I could not tell whether it was the same I gave him or not. Mr. Turtle, however, informed me that the oath of the receiver was always tasen as evidence of that question in a court of Justice. The note was examined by everyone In the bar. Home said it was genuine, some not. I afterwards paid it away without question to a branch of the bank by which it purported to have been Issued. During my stay here other lands had been recommended to me. I will copy the descriptions 1 received. Such familiarise one with a foreign country, and help to bring its ways before the mind: One hundred and eighty acres, of which 63 cleared. In Switzerland county, good house ; price, seven thousand dollars. Two hundred and forty acres, Carrol county, wood ; one thousand dollars. Two hundred acres, near Madison, unimproved; one hundred and ten dollars per acre. Six hundred and forty acres In Posey county, two miles from the Ohio. . Fonr hundred In Knox county, overflowing Wabash bottom, ten miles from Vincennes. Five hundred in Clay and Owen, In the valley of Kel River, one or two miles of canal from Terre Haute to Evansvllle. Then I had letters from Illinois, one of which lecommended to me "a tract of land of 1.810 acres, with about 70 or 8) acres of improved land upon it, with a commodious dwelling 4 feet by M feet, two and a half stories, frame, good cellars, the two first stories four fine rooms in each a hall In each story. The third story," I continue to quote the letter, "is deck roof, with at least a dozen small rooms, orchard adjoining and tolerabe barn. A quarter ol a mile distant in another part of the farm is one of the best barns In this county, with cellar. The barn Is 71 feet by 54 feet, and a comfortable dwelling hard by. This property. I think, can be purchased for four thousand dollars or thereabouts. The improvements are worth more than the above amount, and have cost at least double as much. Should you wish for more than the above land in this tract, there is plenty for sale adjoining which you can purchase at from one dollar to six dollars per acre. There is no part of the western country so healthy. "The land mentioned is eight miles from Schawneetown on the railroad In the direction of ft. Louis. The railroad was projected some fourteen years ago, and abandoned, and Is now used as a state road. The main dwelling is forty rods from the road; the smaller dwelling and main barn are on the mad." Such letters as the above (which, to one who has been in the backwoods, brln the whole scene before the mind In the vividness of true description) such letters as the above, proved to me that it would be unwise to determine hastily upon anything. I had much to see in Illinois, and I determined to make Vandalla, the capital of that state, my headquarters ror a week or two. Home readers may like to know how a newspaper is conducted In the backwoods. For these, I will describe a number of the Daily Indiana State Sentinel, which 1 bronght away with me. It is printed on very fair paper, about as large as the English Globe, und is "published every evening at five dollars per annnm in advance" not quite one guinea a year. The rate of advertismenta are said to be "fifty cents for eight lines or less, one insertion, and twenty-fivec-nts for each additional insertion announcing candidates for othoe.one dollar each line; all advertisements for charitable institutions, fire companies, ward, township and other public meetings and such like to te charged half price; marriages and deaths inserted without charge; obituary notices and faneral invitations to be charged half price."

After a report of the California democratic convention, the first page is filled with advertisements which are intended to be as attractive as possible. I say nothing of the three insurance companies which compete for public favor; nor of the railroads that preface their notices by little prints of smoking engines, which show, by the by, the driver as everywhere on American Hues, standing undra shade to protect him from the sun and the rain; I say nothing of the odd fellows and freemasons, who issue their notices amid eyes and hands and hearts, and Buns and triangles and com passe, which they alone nndeitand. I say nothing of the convenient tables which tell the hours at which all mails arrive at and leave Indianapolis, the statement when the di tie rent courts will hold their respective sessions, or of the bank report of the current value of notes and moneys, or of the yearly almanac, but my eye is caught by the pretty little prints or gentlemen making their best bows and little boys walking hand in handall spmcely dressed and calling attention to so many clothing emporiums; of stoves announcing "something new which can not be beat Jenny Lind's cooking stove," and of a great boot upon wheels, smoking like the funnel of a steam engine, and followed by four shoes of different sizes racing after it on wheels, while "Fairbanks" exclaims, "Clear the track !" and bids yon "call and examine for yourself" his supply of boots and shoes. But, leaving the pictorial advertisements, I own that I like the matter of fact, business style of the others, which go strait to point without circumlocution. Messrs. Robins or Daniel Smith Hon would, doubtless, be scandalized by the advertisement of an estate agent, which begins wb h the following modest praseolcgy: "I am authorized by the probate court to make sale of the following real estate," and, after describing the property in quiet language and quiet type, concludes thus: "I can be foand at my residence, four miles southenst of Jacksonville, and lettters addressed to Wallace, Fountain county, will reach me. J. A. White." Our great auctioneers weuld think It Impossible to In t reduce properties and still less themselves to the world without the bombast of large tvpe and advertisements costing five pounds each, or something thereabouts (1 have had to dispute the bill of one of them, which charged upwards of eight hundred pounds for advertising acd offering for sale an estate on which he only sold the household furniture); and yet the Americans manage to do business notwithstanding. rtr'hat can be more curt and Intelligible than the following: "Ladles! I have this day received a new assortment of fine ribbons, silks, lawns, bareges, delaines, etc. Please call and examine them at the cheap store of 11. Parrish." -Cheese A good supply constantly on hand at V. Hanna ACo.'s" V Wanted 50,000 pounds of bacon, for which the market price in cosh will be paid by Blythe A Holland." I own, however, that I do not understand the following: "Vices superior quality at reduced prices. Call at Wainwright Jfc Bros." In Europe vices are not advertised for sale. We have not any. Let It not. however, be supposed that all American advertisements are as condensed as those I have quoted. I give them as samples of a particular style. Some are almost as florid as Moses and Son themselves could dsire, but the earnestness of men of business is the characteristic of most of them. Amongst other advertisements 1 see that the governor of Indiana makes proclamation of one hundred dollars reward "for the capture of a man charged with murder, "who had broken Jail; (in England it would have been pounds instead of dollars, wltli no greater llkel thood of catching him), and the list of tolls payable on the "Central Plankroad," but which, however, were not to be exacted from those "going to or returning from militia rausterings, from any religious meetings on theHabbath,or from any state, town or county election, or from any funeral procession." It is not such a barbarous country, after all! This reference to funeral processions reminds me of the style of American newspaper obituary. Much trouble and inquiry at a time of family distress is avoided by the usual addition to the notice of death, which says where and at what hour the funeral will take place, and that "the relatives and friends are respectfully Invited to attend without further invitation ;" then, 11 the deceased is connected with any other part of the country, Wisconsin state, for example, a notl- e usually follows thus:" Wisconsin papers please copy." But my Indiana Mtate Sentinel ia not entirely given npto advertisements. Here are leading articles and paragraphs on matters of general political Interests In much the same style and of the average ability of those we should meet with in English provincial papers. If any difference is visible In them, it is that they are more courteous to their contemporaries and deal lew in the vein of the Eatanswlll Gazette than our own country press. 1 have read a paragraph In a New Y'ork paper which announced the publication of another opposition paper which would take quite a dinVrent line in politics, and said that the editor of the new organ was a man of so great ability that it, the old established paper, could not doubt ot the success it wished him. This was not the greeting which our established papers give to new adventurers. In the Indiana Sentinel there is the following notice, which is characteristic of the country and shows the scarcity of servants: "Our carrier has been sick for the p;u-t few days, and we have been uuable to procure a competent one to flit his place. We hope our subscribers will be patient If any errors should occur in dellverlug the papers, and if they will call at the office we will rectify them. Our carrier will probably be able to resume his duties on lo-morrow." Those who study educational statistics may be Interested In d rawing comparisons with the statement that, according to the report of the visiting committee, the numbers of children attending the various Sunday-schools In Indianapolis daring the past month were....18l8 iTomlaed to send Hefused to send..... 82 Total number of children in the city 1920 When in England shall we see all the children exoept one hundred and two attend the Sunday-schoola attached to . the different

churches In a city of upwards of eight thousand inhabitants? In my parish in Devonshire tb only school Is the one attached to the parish church, and the clergyman refused permission to attend It to children who had been baptized by dissenting teachers. Thns, although in the baxkwoods, It must not be supposed that we hd no evidence of refinement In Indianapolis. The men, it is true, dressed sensibly In i.rey holland coats and vests; I bought a suls myself, which ia still my comfort In hot weather; but the ladies were as refined and elegant as in New York. The druggists and storekeejers had every sort of Parisian perfumery and female elegancies on sale; French gloves, eaa de Colon ge and everything that an European elegante could require, we rejoiced In this evidence of their prosperity and leisure, as w e replenished the bottles and drawers of our family medicine chest. Then, little anticipating how soon we should be obliged to have recourse to them, light of heart and full of hope, we clambered np into our new wagon, and on this very day three years I am writing e n the 27th of June, 1854 our beautiful horses stark d forth, with a will, on our journey acre the prairies of Illinois to the banks of the mighty Mississippi. , . Periodicity of Ont-Door Sporta. I New York Times. A long and interesting essay might be written on the periodicity and migration of games and out-door sports of all kinds. Take, for illustration, the pastimes of boys. Who can account for the stated appearance and disappearance of their amusements? As soon as the snow is off the ground the game of marbles absorbs a large part of the youthful attention, but no self respecting lad of 10 or 12 years of age would so far demean himself as to "play marbles" in the summer or autnm. Not but that the game is equally interesting at all times, only it would be contradictory to some unwritten but apparently irresistible code of procedure to take pleasure in it out of its pi-oper season. The same mysterious authority dictates that hoops shall be rolled in May and June, but not in October and November, which one would naturally supposa would be the months best adapted forsuch active exercise; that tops shall reign supreme during tbe late summer and early fall days; that hockey sticks shall be used only in October, and that foot balls shall be kicked in November and as far into December as the wether will permit. It ia noteworthy, as characteristic of the sex, that girls are not as rigid sticklers for form and precedent as boys, but roll hoops and play marbles at all times with shocking irreverence for received traditions. Of late years, the national enthusiasm for base ball has led the boys in their teens to look upon their old sports with something of contempt, and for this reason the lines of demarkation just noted are less strongly drawn now than they were with those who were children a gene'ration ago, but they are still powerful agents in determining youthful action. A Boston child was at the point of death from water on the chest. Its parents would not consent to a surgical operation, although told that nothing else could save his life. The physician got a priest and several nuns to interfere, but their arguments had no effect At length the society for the prevention of cruelty to children took forcible possession of the little patit nt, who was then cured by the physician. Tuesday morning Ed Rice, on the While Water Valley Railroad, while pulling a pin, fell between the cars near Metamora, Franklin county, and was dragged about 100 yards under the train, badly injuring one foot and seriously injuring him otherwise. lie was placed on a passenger train and taken to Harrison, where his parents reside.

We need not to be physicians to know when we have and bow to cure a cold. We can have a special physician always near by keeping convenient a bottle of Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup. .Price, 25 cents a bottle. Itching Pile" Tbe symptoms are moisture, like perspiration, intense itching, increased by scratching, very distressing, particularly at night, as if pin worms were crawling in and about the rectum, the private parts are sometimes affected; if allowed to continue, very serious results may follow. Dr. Swayne's All Healing Ointment is a pleasant, sure cure. Home Cures We were great sufferers from Itching Piles, the symptoms were as above described, the nse of Swayne's Ointment in a short time made a perfect cure. J. W. Christ, Boot and Shoe House, 344 North Second street. T. C. Weyman, Hatter, 8 South Eighth street, Philadelphia. Reader, if you are suffering from this distressing complaint, or Tetter, Itch, Scald Head, Ring Worm, Barber's Itch, any Crusty, Scaly Skin Eruptions, use Swayne's Ointment and be cured. Sent by mail to any address on receipt of price, (in currency or postage stamps), 50 cents a box, three boxes 1.25. Address letters, Dr. 8wayne & Son, 330 North Sixth street, Philadelphia. No charge for advice. Sold by leading druggists in Indianapolis at French's Medicine Depot, under Masonio Temple. A Medicine Cb.t ror 25 Coats. Perhaps no one medicine is bo universally required by everybody as a good cathartic. Swayne's Tar and Sarsapanlla Pills are prepared expressly to meet this necessity; beiog composed of purely vegetable ingredients, of which Podophyllin or Mandrake, Pine Tree Tar, Sanaparilla, Yellow Dock and other concentrated juices enter largely into their composition; the whole strength of which is extracted on an entirely new principle. They are mild in their operation, produce no griping, and are truly a valuable purgative, aperient, anti-bilious and cathartic medicine. They stimulate the liver to healthy action, cleanse the stomach and bowels of all impurities. Curing sick and nervous headache, dyspepsia or indigestion, bilious, intermittent, remittent and congestive fevers, languor, drowsiness, aching pains in the back, head, slight chills, with flushes of heat, female irregularities, and for a bilious and costive habit, no medicine is -so prompt and effectual as Dr. Swayne's Tar and Sarsaparilla Fill $. If your druggist or storekeeper has not got them, or will not procure them for yo x, we will forward them by mail on receipt of price, (in currency or ?ostsge stamps), 25 cents a box, or five'boxes or $1. Address letters, Dr. Swayne & Son, No. 330 North Sixth street, Philadelphia. Sold at French's Medicine Depot, under Masonio Temple, Indianapolis. NOTICE is hereby given to the citizens of the Sixteenth ward, in the city of Indianapolis, Center township. Marion county, Indiana, that I, J. M. Elliott, a male inhabitant of said ward, over the age of twentyone years, will apply to the board of county commissioners of said county, at their December meeting, for a license to sell, for one year spliitous, vinous and malt liquors, in a less quantity than aquait at a time, with the privilege of allowing the same to be drank on my premises. The precise location of the premises whereon I desire to sell said liquors is described as follows: 52 feet north side of southeast quarter of b ock 88 and known as No. 132 South Illinois st reet, in the city of 1 ndianapoils. Center township, Marion county, Indiana. (S'gned) J. M. ELLIOTT. I CURE II To ih Editor: DX.IB Six: PImm Inform roar rnltn that i moUIt nncdr f ir tUm car ftbaaboT dlMsa.ua' tbal T iuJ Mia atyprtctir I ti eared Ujoumu ja i x tM U Um wunt kiB4Mdofloa(iundlnr,ad wlll(iv ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS far cm It will solemn at grMlfteaikl. liuleod, atrosc lasifalta,! will und . ONE BOTTLE FREE, Inffrlher with a Taloablo traatlaa, to M? I offeror addrMttna; mm, f 1rln thatr Baas, HpnM aad r. O, address. Ptoass bow till letUr to any c s jam atsy ksov vfca la aaiforlns with this terrlbls dlMaW, and obllr, BT-ctfullj Joan. DR. H Cs ROOT-1 riLkMU ut., M. T. v EXAMINE the WONDERS of NATURE t Jjda. y A kUC OSCOP11 Uat mafnlfixa looo T1JLK3 C3 fey Hi art , sad beta vary haadsooMlyeicaoU c lsiod.lt makes tTSaaaurtil VMtbiaorna moat. MAMMOTH of tatwitiea Ml Its At. W evsKX,

The BLJlNCHARD BLOOD & NERVE FOOD I" Pnr CmeiitrsUl LIQUID Food! Prepared dlreetlx from tbe WHEAT KERNED, Wltbont Fermentation, ant retalnlnr all ar Its BLOOD, NERVE AMD BRAIX Remorlug- elements I n a natural state of v I tails tlon.

NERVOUS DEBILITY Which underlies all forms of Chronic Disease Is speedily overcome by the use of this Food. For the year past I have constantly prescribed Tbe Blanenard Blaod and Serve tJ0 my Ptlents of all ages, from eighteen months to eighty-three years. In every casa the result has been exactly that claimed br yP?-,Itl8farlhe most valuable and reii. able Tonic I have ever met with. Edward Hutton Smith, M. D., 20 Irving place, .New York. AT LAST DRUGS A SUBSTITUTE far. FOOD is made a curative agent by concen:Hir?n.n.J ar,lnclal dlgestlou, and it is so simple In Its application that The advice of physician m not required. Thousands of recoveries from chronic dlsnT"1 reported, where the best medical skill has failed. Many of the best physician throngbout the country are n.Hcardtna; rnin and nsing .?iB,Jnc,1Brrt ,5,l " Serve "Md with the most gratifying results, permanently relieving all forms of Phyuical and Mental J0111.-. Th0 DylP t onaiimpl,7 . ,.nt "utferers from .Malarial or Blood relsouiof, together with the entire list of complaints peculiar to the Female Sear relierU nse or Koort sure ni1 peedy r- v Nkw York, November 26, 177. 1JR. V. W. Bi-anchard: During the past yeal I have precri bed your various preparations of b ood Cure, and feel happy to say they have met my most sanguine expectations, givme to pat ents long enfeebled by blood poison, chronic disease, or over drug dosing the needed nutrition and nerve force. Prof-. OLEMENCE 8. LOZIER, M. D., uean of Horn. Med. College and Hospital for Women, New York City. ,I?J?nired" of cases of Bright or the Kidneys have been reported cared. For Menralgle and Rheumatic Disease it is almost a specific. Physical and Mental Dehility from the nse f Alcohol, Oplnm and TotMkeeo or from any unnamable cause, find la this Food a natural and potent reme-lj-. FOR TITB INTELLECTUAL WORK LB THE HLAJVCUARD BLOOD & NERVE FOOD Affords a certain and natural means or supfdyiag the waste of the brain resulting from abor that will enable him to do better and more work than ever before, without danger of mental strain. As a renifdy for the Lom of Appetite and Want of Vljfor, physical and mental. In children, this Food nas no rivaL ;$1.00 per Bottle, or 6 for $5,00. SOLD BY ALL DRUGGISTS. Or Sent by Express on receipt of Price. o ANDOVER THKOtOOICALSEXISAHT, Andover, Mass., March 2. 1878. Your Life Food Is an excellent thing. I have no hesitation, after a thorongh trial of it. In recommending it in cases of chronic dyspepsia and nervous prostration. Rbv. Dr. AUSTIN PHELPS O THE BLANCIfARD FOOD CTR BYHTEM now receiving such popular app elation is clearly set forth in a 61 page pa phlet whlcn wiilbesenttoany address on celpt of 23cenU. Address Blanchard Food Cure Co. 27 USIOS SQUARE, NEW YORK.. NO MORE OR GOUT ACUTCOR CHRONIC A LICYLICM SURE CURE. Manufactured by the EUROPEAN SALICYLIC MEDICINE CO. OF PARIS AND LEIPZIG. Compounded from the Halicyllo Acid discovered by Prof. Kolbc, of Ieip.ig, Germany. Relieves Immediately. Cures Permanently. Now exclusively nsed bv all the celebrated PHYSICIANS OK EUROPE AND AMERICA. Now being introduced throughout tbe United States and Canada, many miraculous cures having been made. The highest MEDICAL ACADEMYof PARIS reports 9r cures ont of 100 cases within 3 days. Only Eliminator of Ulric Acid in the Blood, which is the prime cause of Rheumatism and Gout. Boxes contain 30 powders, with full directions, f 1 a box ; 6 boxes, 15. bent to any address on receipt ot price. Be sure to order enough to complete cure. Ask your Druggist for it. Address WASHBUR.NE & CO., Only Importers, Depot 23 Cliff St., New York. (Letter from where Rheumatic Sufferers Congregate for Relief.) Your Medicine is curing my severe Rheumatism sucoessf ally, and would have saved all expense of coming here had I known of it before.. CHAS. E. THORN E. Hot Springs, Arkansas, Sept. SO. Baker, Rord A Hendricks, Attorneys. STATE OF INDIANA, Marion county, ss: In the superior court of Marioueouuty, in the state of Indiana. No. 22,445. November term, 1878. Jonathan Edwards, trustee, vs. Thomas P. Mills, Henry D.btringer aud Louisa stringer, his wife, et al. IV it known, that on the 14th day of June, 1878, the above named plaintiff, by ni.s attorneys, filed in the office of the clerk of the suferlor court of Marlon county, in the state of ndiana, his complaint SKalnst the above named defendants; and that on the 7th day of November, 187a, the said plaintiff filed in said clerk's office the a ftldavlt of a competent person Showing that said defendants, Henry I). Stringer and Lonira Ktrlnger. his wife, are not residents of the state of Indiana. Now, therefore, by order of said court, said defendants last above named are hereby notified of tke filing and pendency of said complaint against them, and that unless they appear and answer or demur thereto, at the calling of said cause on the sixth day of January, 1879, the same being tbe first judicial day of the term of said court, to be begun and held at the court house in tbe city of Indianapolis, on the firt Monday in January, 1879, said complaint, and the matters and things therein contained and alleged, will be heard and determined in their absence. DANIEL M. RANSDELL, nov:3-3w. Clerk. Cared Within a Stipulated Time. The friTOu C(H,!ffi&rtBo ery, N. Yoffer 11,000 fora rupture they cannot cure. The Triumph Trusses have received the highest honors at all fairs where they have been exhibited. Send 10 cents for book on the Cure of Rupture to either ofnoe. Examinations free. HEARINGS A ft-ra lTatia br ' was waa araf far rp mrrrr It fc wars mm4 not hm -RESTORED. aw Nf4i ASd fee fU aarttralAra. 4S9. JAktlOUC.XMk Jlx W3.Cavtgta, kjw

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