Marshall County Independent, Volume 2, Number 6, Plymouth, Marshall County, 29 November 1895 — Page 6

HOOVEK TILI? E ATENS.

THE DARK CLOUD OF A PROSPECTIVE LIBEL SUIT HANGS OVER THE INDEPENDENT And Necessitate an Investigation. One or two Inconsequential Error in Former Story but its General Import Mffre Than Substantiated by Facts. Hoover a deserter oT Family and a defaulter. Seven Dollars Ten Yards of Calico aud Ten yards of Gingham Contributed to His Family's Support Since April 17th. Some letters and Memoranda and Something About the Township Funds. On Wednesday, October 'Jth last, a representative of the Independent happened to be in the hardware store of J. V. Astley & Son when Samuel Uurns of West township came in to solicit contributions of money or merchandise for the family, consisting of wife and six children, of J. K. Hoover, formerly of Marshall county but now of liijou Hills, S. 1). On the afternoon of the same day the Independent published the story of destitution embracing some of the causes which led to it, practically and substantially as related by Mr. Burns. This story touched incidentally upon the doings and character of the man who had neglected his wife and children and finally deserted them and left them practically and almost wholly dependent on charity for support. Mr. Hums was not alone on his mission to this city in behalf of Mrs. Hoover but was accompanied by two other gentlemen from that vicinity and merchants and others were asked by these gentlemen to make donations according to ability and inclination to relieve the stress of proverty that rested upon the unfortunate mother and deserted children. To this time the Independent had been perfectly ignorant of the existence of such a manias J Kdwin Hoover so that what was said of him was said entirely with referense to the conditions by which these solicitors had been prompted to go out and ask aid at the hands of strangers for the wife and children of the said J. Edwin Hoover. AVe were told at the time that Hoover was in South Dakota but knew nothing more definite of his whereabouts until about October 30, when we received a letter savoring of blackmail and making a most arbitrary demand When this letter came to hand there occurred to us the possibility of having, through insufficient or inaccurate information, done Mr. Hoover some injustice in the matter and it became apparent that, in justice to him and to all parties concerned, a more thorough in vestigation would be necessary. Mr Hoover's letter is as follows: Bijou Hills, So. Dakota, Oct. 2S, 'i5. Editor Daily Independent: I have just received a clipping presumably from your paper; Which is grossly libelous Now in the beginning i want to say, I have no desire to neither will 1 engage in a newspaper controversy. An editor always has the advantage and can abuse people greatly if so inclined. 1. 1 have not desepted my children, but would be glad to get and educate them, and have given the proper person legal written notice to that effect. 2. The many dollars I have given them you do not know nor probably never will hear about. 3. I withdrew from the church you named because I had joined a certain so called "secret society' of Plymouth; which was against the church rules. 4 That 1 dissipated and fell from grace, is made out of whole cloth. 5. Ask my succesor in office, Mr. S. II. Joseph, of your city, if I did not promptly turn over every dollar of township funds. J. If this does not satisfy you I can present you his receipt to that effect. 7. You cannot be well informed about township affairs or you would know better than to use the term, "when exposure threatened etc' as I was for live years a resident of the county after promptly and to the hour settling up the townships affairs. 8. Where then is your straw man "danger of exposure etc"? I taught the Sligo school in West township .three terms in succession after my term of office had expired. If 1 had been the man you made me out could I have held the place? and that too without a single word of complaint to the officials. y I left Indiana, April V 1803, and sent for and received recommends since here from the County Su erintendent of Schools and Township Trustee, as to my work there and 1 prize the same highly, though they are members of an opposite political party. 10. Three months after the (mutual) separation of myself and wife, I was elected Township Principal of schools West township, (if you know what that is) without a dissenting vote and held same until close of the school year April 12, 18'Jj. 11. "You say as soon as the legal process could be completed." I secured a bill of divorce. This is a lie out of whole cloth. Write the clerk of Courts Brule county, South Dakota, if 1 have ever even applied for one. 12. Now in conclusion I have no de sire to belittle any one (as I could do) but would rather take a reasonable amount of abuse than reply. You are not at liberty to publish tins article in part, unless you publish it all. If you cannot do this I shall in due time instruct my attorney to bring suit fcr libel. In writing this do not under stand me to waive any rights whatever legally or otherwise. Jiesp. J. Edwin Hoovek. (Copy retained and witnessed) 4 X. U. Find stamps for 10c. enclosed for copy of your paper containing this or reply to same. J . L. II. In conformity with its purpose to be eminently fair with all people and in all thing i whatsoever, no such letter as the above could bo published uncon

ditionally without comment or explanation and in order to deal with the Hoover matter intelligently, it was necessary to learn more of it which, after considerable investigation, we have done. Many people in Plymouth and in West township have been interviewed. His wife and children have been visited and those who havek nown him from childhood have been talked to in the interest of complete fairness to Mr. Hoover and all others concerned. Du. Kitchey Interviewed. When Dr. Kitchey, of Donaldson, was seen by an Independent representative he substantially said. "I was at one time a very warm friend of Ed. Hoover. 1 knew him from child hood and in his early manhood regarded him as a most promising young man. I had great faith in him, as to both ability and integrity. Notwithstanding that we were of opposite political parties 1 worked hard for hii election when he was candidate for the office of township trustee of West township in the spring of 18S8 and gave him all my iniluence toward his election. With a majority of SO against his (Republican) party he carried the election by a small majority and went into otlice as the successor of J. C. Bunnell with J. C. Bunnell, J. A. McFarlm and W. W. Warnes as his bondsmen." Alleged Crookedness. "Some time after Hoover entered upon the duties of this office it was alleged by parties who came to me privately,

that Hoovers accounts were not straight. Hoover was keeping a general store here at the time and was generally supposed to be in good circumstances, but his bondsmen became dissatisfied with the course he was pursuing and believed that township funds were being appropriated for other than their intended uses. I resented the suggestion of such a possibility and went so far as to say some harsh things to the bondsmen for this suspicions. Hoover asked me to examine his books which I did hurriedly under his direction and thought they were all right. Not long after, however, I became convinced that the trustee's books accounts were not right. I lost no time in apologizing to the bondsmen for the injustice I had done them."' "To offaet the assertions of his bondsmen that there was a deficiency in the funds Hoover claimed that they were wording against him for political purposes. I still believed that Hoover's intentions were good and when, some time after the first suggestion of infidel ity on his part, his first bondsmen withdrew and others were asked to sign I told some of them that in my judgement Hoover was all right. The new bondsmen were, I think, Joseph Kneiffer, David Wilburn, Wm. Wilburn, Jas. Foreman and Mrs. Ilettie VanSoik. However it was, Mr. Foreman soon withdrew at an expense of 20 and con sidered himself lucky to get off at that prici. While still trustee, Hoover moved his stock of merchandise to Plymouth. Afterwards the stock was moved to Argos where there was con siderable trouble in one way and an other and right there you can get a very interesting story from his father-in-law David Wilburn." HE DRANK. "During all this time, after his e lec tion to ollice he drank more or less heivily and to all appearances was going rapidly to the bad." "When hecame to Donaldson Hoover had a slight heart trouule. He began by taking stimulants tor relief and it was not long until he was more or less intoxicated a great deal of the time. He fina'ly became an excessive user of chloral and bromides.'' "There is no doubt tlut Mrs. Hoover was shamefully neglectedand mistreat ed. When their last child was born Mrs. Hoover and her family were almost absolutely destitute. Hoover had at. this time been gone from this vicinity two or three months. When I was called to attend her at the time of her sickness I found the family living largely upon donations from neighbors. After the child was born Mrs. Hoover was, of course, reduced to helplessness and it was necessary to have not only food and clothing but assistance in the house. With Mrs. Hoover's consent 1 saw the township trustee who provided a hired girl and other necessities during her convalesence." DISOWNED llIS CHILDREN. "Notwithstanding his protests of love for his children and his professed willingness to take and care for them he has disowned one or more of them and accused his wife of infidelity. I have known Mrs. Hoover since childhood and have never heard a breath of suspicion against her character. She has many friends who have known her intimately for years without cause for the slightest suspicion of infidelity to her husband. Siie is highly spoken of wherever known. No, I do not think she has shown a predisposition to a bad or disagreeable temper. In my opinion she has endured and quietly borne much more than a great majority of women would have done. She has been long suffering and patient." THE HALF HAS NOT I! KEN TOLD. Dr. Kitchey lurther said: "The story is not half told. As to the matter of dissipation, if Hoover was not dissipated nobody ever was. MRS. HOOVER VISITED. Mrs. Hoover was visited at her home about four miles southeast of Donald-

son. Mie was lounu imsv win; u e lain-

i!y was Ving. When shown the article above referred to in the Daily Inde pendent of October 1Kb, snt read it and said: "That is not half." liegarllng the divorce she said she knew nothing about it. If Hoover had procured a divorce she did not know it, but had heard that somebody had received a letter from him in which lie said that he was about to secure legal separation from his wife. Mrs. Hoover said thev were married Feb. Vi, lvJ, and that they went to live with his mother, on the farm near Donaldson, immediately thereafter. She said Hoover was always jealous without reason, lieplying to the question as to wtien they had first had trouble, Mrs. Hoover said there had been nothing serious until, when the first child was over a year old, he slapped her because she did not succeed in giving the child a dose of medicine as he thought she ought to have done. She thought there would have been less trouble if thev had not gone to live with his mother. Three years after they were married they moved to Donaldson and with the proceeds of a sale of land and a farm sale he started a general store. There he was elected to the otlice of township trustee and there he began a life of dissipation. Mrs. Hoover said that he first took beer, then wine, whiskey and alcohol in the order named, mrs. iioover's story. Mrs. Hoover said: "We lived in Donaldson five years. When Mr. Hoover moved his store to i'lymouth he lei t us there so as to still hold his office as trustee of West township. After a short time in I'lymouth he moved his goods to Argos and took us there to live. There his business went to wreck and was siezed and closed up by legal processes. From Argos we moved to South IJcnd where we stayed nearly three years. Prom there we moved back to my father's (David Wilburn's) house where we stayed two months From there we moved to a neighboring house where we lived from October 1V.3, to dune, lS'.M. From there we moved to his mother's house. December 13th last, Hoover moved us to this place. 1 supposed he was coming also, but he remained with his mother. The houses are a little more than a qu irter mile apart. He came m during the evening of the day we moved. lie said he had had supper and did not remove his overcoat. After a little while he started to go. One of the cnildren said: Aren't yea going to stay, papa to winch he lepneu: ".No, i have not been invited." He never ate a meal in this house and never visited us but four or five times, lie came once to split wood. When three of the children were sick at one time he was notified but did not come to see them. I do not think he cared much for the children." MRS. HOOVERS ACCOUNT. "Since we were moved here December 13th last I have kept an account of what he has contributed to our support to this time.' Mrs. Hoover here produced a half sheet of foolscap on which she had kept this account, which is as follows: Dec. 13, year lb'.U, IM. moved Dean and children in the Heininger house. What was bought by Kd. II. for me and children from Dec. 13, lb'Jl. Dec. 15, sugar 20c. and some taken out. soda Sc. collee 23c. baby pair shoes öOc. coal oil 10c. Dec. 15, load wood by Ed. Zeigler. Dec. 31, load wood by Ld. Zeigler. Year 1805. .Ian. 8, lS'JÖ, two bushel wheat. Jan. 10, lb), receive dfrom J. E. Hoover, and Huckster Stevens 1.00 worth of groceries. Jan. 12, had to lay in bed on account of not having wood. Jan. 12, load of wood by Ed. Zeigler. Jan. 12, 8 lbs. com meal. Jan. 15, load of wood, by Ed. Zeigler. Jan. 17, load of wood by C. Dill. Jan. l'J, soap 25c coal oil lUc. got at Sniders Ac Eellows and told theiu to charge to J. E. Hoover. Jan. 21, 10c. to I heron for writing paper. Jan. 28, coffee 23c. sugar 25c. Jan. 2V, coal oil 10c. Jan. 30, load of wood by CDill. Feb. 2, 25c. for butter. Feb. 11, load of wood by O. M. Wilburn and half load by W. II. Wilburn. Feb. 12, sugar 25c. coffee 23a Feb. 13, found on porch 25 lbs. corn meal, rice 25c. beans 25c. Feb. 13, load of wood by C. Dill. Feb. 15, load cf green chunks by Ed. Zeigler. Feb. D, fixing Theron's shoes 70c. Cora and Alma shoes S2 50. Feb. lo, thread 20c. Feb. 20, load wood by C. Dill, 50 lbs Hour, coal oil 10c, bluing 10c. sugar 25c. Feb. 28, 25c. for butter. March 1, matches 5c. sugar 2 lbs. collee 1 lb. March i3 load of green wood by Kd. Zeigler. March 8, money for medicine and soap 75c rice 1,'. lb., KUgar, 2 cakes soap 5c. March U, gallon of salt. March 12, 10c for coal oil. March 15, 5Cc for medicine and order for Dr. llichey. March 10, teacup full coffee and 1 lb. sugar. March 18, Hour 501bs., rice 25c sugar 25c. beans 25c collee 23c March 20, for butter 25c. March 22, load of wood by Frank Hendricks. March 23, cot Theron's shoe sewed. March 27, 75c for 3 sick children. March 2U, 1 yards of calico, 2 yards of canton llannel 5c. yard, April 2, 15c for butter, 25c for sugar, 25c coffee. April 1, 25c. worth of butter, 10c. for coal oil, Cora and Almy 15c apiece. April 0, load of wood by Frank Hendricks. April 7, bought children bananas and oranges, and order for groceries 1.50 ami cash 1.00. April 12, Theron a suit of clothes, a sack of potatoes, 1 xz lbs of rice, by C. Crawford. April 13, 25c. for butter, 2 yds. calico, 2 yds gingham. April 15, 3 tablespoonful of pepper, 3 tablespoonful of soda, 1 yds, of uc. shirting, gal. salt. April 20. order on Xussbaum Sc Mayer I $2.50.

The last mentioned order of .?2.50 was left lv Hoover with E. E. Zeigler from whom Mrs. ilooei got it after Hoover departed with his mother for Dikota. Siine his depar'ure, according to information irotn Mis Ho.tr, ,iie ui i i who now threat i. s to lni;.tr Milt ior libel against tin Independent has .sent one ol .his chilureu s7 00 in money orders and has sent the family 10 yards calico and 10 yards oi g.ugh-im. Allowing 2 for each load oi "wood, "green chunks" etc, his toial contribution to his family's support during more than eleven months since December 13, lat has been approximately .'3.7o aside from the smali item ot rent winch ne has paid for a portion of -hat time. This is an average of about 5.71) per month or auout 11 cents per day lor food, clothing auu fuel for the entire family. When helefi.the rent was paid for some time in advance. We believe it has now been taid i y order ot the township trustee, to March 1 next at the rate of 1.25 per month. Xotwith standing ill this he j toI esses great solicitude for the welt are of the chiidrtn. The loilouing Utter goes to snow that he has not heMtuled to make threats against others than the Independent. It appears that he has a penchant lor having his letters witnessed either m the writing or mailing as in his letter othe Independent and m the loilowng threatening let! er to his wife. A THIt EATEN I Mi LETTEK. This letter is the one, we presume, in which Hoover gave "(he proper perron legal written notice" that he would be glad to get and educate the children. It is follows: liijou Hills, S, D. July 5, "D5. Mks. Dean Hoover, 1 lymourh, Ind. I will write this to inform you as I also did in Indiana, that 1 am ready and willing at any time to take our children and care for, and see tna'. they get a good education, etc I will be "abundantly able to care for them properly, if I Oun bring them here, and will be only to glad to get them. Theron, Alma, Cora, Carl and Ilettie at anytime you want me to have them let me know and 1 will see tiie are brought here. Beimr 'thus ready and willing to take them, 1 hereby give you warning not to put one of.them out to any one or any wherejjfor I will surely make them trouble. 1 wont force them away, if you meet me in doing right in this matter but it must be understood, that if you can't keep them, I will and can. This letter is mailed in the presence of witnesses to you as a warning and with a view of self protection as 1 stand ready to take them at any time. Hoping they are all well I close with best wishes. 1'espectfnlly, J. E. Hoovek.

A NOT II Eli LETT Eli. Another letter to Mrs. Hoover is dated September 30, 1S'J5. Mrs. Hoover says she has never answered any ol his letters, but in this one he begins: "It is high time you and 1 were coming to an understanding about matters, the children, etc" It continues: "You have talked so much about me that eventually 1 will have to go where no one will know me." The letter continues on m this strain. "Xow if you can write me a good letter so some of this burden and worry will be taken off my shoulders and stop so much of this talk there and here, all I can reasonably do under the situation I will do for you." From all we have learned in this matter such a letter would be very acceptable to Mr. lloovei particularly m the light of what he says in the same letter about his position, to-wit: "I have one of the best places I ever held and the contract lasts uidil one year from tomorro.v, Oct. 1st. Two of us run a bank, postollice and store, a very large stock of goods they carry." A Kill KM . There prevails over West township a generally bad impression of J. Edwin Hoover. An exception lo the general expression was what was said in Hoover's favor by Mr. E. E. Zeigler who lives near his (Iioover's) mother's h mse and who seems to have done considerable work of one sort and another, such as hauling wood to Mrs. Hoover, etc., for J. E. Hoo.er. It was he who assisted Hoover and his mother with the moving of their effects when they departed for Dakota. He claims that he was always paid for this work. When called upon he said he believed that Mrs. Hoover was very much to blame. He said that Mrs. Hoover was often at her father's house when she ought to h3ve been at home. lie thought a wife ought to stay at home and cook for her husband and said: "That's what a man gets a woman for." He asserted that Hoover had left 40 with somebody when he went away for Mrs. Iioover's benefit and was qui'e positive that such was the fac;, but finally admitted that he would not swear to it and that he did not know anything about it except that Hoover had said that lie was going to leave some money with somebody for Mrs. Iioover's benefit. If ho had done so it looks reasonable that Mrs. Hoove would not so soon have become destitute. WILLIAM WILIJI'KX'S STOIIY. The foregoing is in narrative but part of the story that was related by various people and space makes it necessary for us to proceed even more brielly toward the end. William Wilburn's story embraced the recitation of much detailed information about a number of notes endorsed for Hoover by himself, his father and others. These transactions in themselves furnish material for a long story and indicate that David Wilburn lost his farm in West township largely on account of having endorsed notes for J. Edwin Hoover. Win. Wilburn claims to have settled obligations of Iioover's for which he was surety to a considerable amount. The story of the bankruptcy and its attendant incidents would also no doubt make another chapter of interest. Hut there is another and more pertinent matter yet to be brielly spoken of in this article. The story of the divorce does not seem to be well authenticated and yet there have been rumors current to the effect that a divorce had been procured, It seems .probable however that no such proceedings have been had. As to the matter ot being "churchwl" the story was probably erroneous to the extent that no formal proceedings were had butthe factof joining a secret society was sufficient to bring about, in effect, the same result. WAS A DEFAULTER. As to that portion of the article above referred to in which was made the statement "The climax came whe n

exposure of :os inlideli y to the township threatened and he departed ! r Dakota," we believe it is not at all probable that the township affairs ha. I anvthing to do directly wi . h iioover's departure fur Dakota. I'mtownship funds were actually in urn over to Hoover's successor which is uglified to by . II. Joseph who gave a receipt in full for what was then du.- but previously to that there, had been a shortage in Mr. Iioover's accounts amounting to s2,200. When ihis was suspected by his lirst bondsman, J. C. Uunnell. J no. A. Mci'arlin and V. W. Warnes they made inquiries at the Fiist Nati iinl II mk of ihiscity Hud found no deposit to i loover's credit.. They then called upon Mr. Hoover about the i un ls and were told ihat there was money in the bank but when 'old about the investigation Hoover admitted his niisiepiesentation. An investigation of the books s oweu a shortage of 2.:M0. one thousand dollars which was made up by his mother who mortgaged her farm to get the money. Five hundred dollars of it by the bondsmen themselves who borrowed the money wit. which to do it. Hoover borrowed some money additional to these sums and the deficiency was temporarily made good. It was then arranged that the oondsnien would tor their own protection issue warrants as they thought Hoover would need the money but even with this precaution Hoover's accounts again fell short and at the August se t leinen; showed a shortage of sonieihing like SVH) These bondsmen shortly afier withdrew arter a great deal of trouble and others were secured. The above comes from a most excellent aim reliable source from which we are also informed that proceedings were afterward brought against Hoover in the circuit court in

ihis city in which facts ie!ative to his record as trustee were introduced as evideuce by the prosecution. Tins trial was relative to certain goods, purchased of an eastern firm, that had no" been paid for. We have but brietly touched upon these matters for lack of space, but believe, while making proper corrections in minor details, we have found and presented evidence enough to more than fully corroborate all important assertions made in the story lirst published which we were fully inclined to believe on account of the manner in which it was brought to public notice and made public property. Hydrophobia from a Skunk" Kite. "Is the skunk a dangerous nimal? I ßhould say so," remarked Mr. E. P. Glaze, of St. Louis. T know very many people will be surprised at the assertion, but there is one species of this unpopular tribe that is as much to be dreaded as a rattlesnake, as I learned ne year while sojourning in Western Texas. One night in midsummer a party of us were campiDg out on the prairie of Llano county, when we were awakened by the screams of a colored boy who had been taken along to cook for the outfit. He said that something dad bitten him, and examination showed that his hand was pretty badly torn. There were unmistakable evidences of a skunk in the vicinity, and there was no doubt that it had done the deed. "The sequel is that a few days later the boy died a most horribl death of hydrophobia. I learned that it was not a rare thing for the bite of these miserable little fats lo produce that dreaded lllment, and several well-authenticated cases or it occurred before I left the etate. Some people think that hydrophobiafinds its origin In these animals." A Creepy Kind of Sweetheart. Paris Letter to London Telegraph: From a country town comes the story of a girl who had lost by death three ren to rbom she was successively enpiged. In the first instance the youth, to whom she had been betrothed for a year and a Laif, expired on the very eve of the wedding. In the second, another young man, to whom she had been engaged soon after the melancholy event, died a few days before tha marriage, and his successor in her affections ha3 now shared a similar fate. It seems that sundry anciewt females of the neighborhood, attributing this series of calamities to the fact that the young woman has the "evil eye," have calmly suggested that the only remedy Is to be found in burning her alive. On that score she need have no fear, of course, but the general opinion is that her chances of meeting with a fourth suitor are now infinitesimal. The unlucky girl is described as being of an amiaiie and sympathetic disposition, and as being, moreover, of very attractive appearance. A Quality Not Inherited. "Yes," remarked Cholly to his tailor, "it's not a bad thing for you to have me among your patrons, you know." "Perhaps not," was the rather doubtful response. "My family name, being so well known In the community, is quite ah quite an advertisement for you. My forefathers, as you are doubtless aware, were early settlers." "Yes, I've heard so. But I must say, sir, that in that respect you don't seem to take after them in the least." Washington Star. The Yonn?st Tramp ou the Road. Roy Jonos, who ran away from his home in Montlcelio, 111., over two years go, is, perhaps, the youngest tramp on the road to-day. When he was regletered at the county jail at LoganspSrt, Ind., one night recently by a policeman who had picked him up on the street, he gave his age as 10 years and his destination as New York. He had Juet returned, he said, from a trip to San Francisco, and in the two years of his absence from home had traveled .all through the south and west. He started out with a burning desire to camp nd herd cattle on the plains, and continued roving merely for the variety and excitement it afforded. Because of his xtreine youth It was easier for him to beat his way than It would have been for an older person. He refused a pass home, and continued on his way east.

GREAT MILLIONS EETHROTHAL M Taylor, K4i,000,ooo Heir, to Wed ;rt rod Vanderhilt. The year Uyü seems destined to remain ever nit-uiorable for the number of great heirs and heiresses betrothed during it. But of ail these plightings not one can be compared with that of Moses Taylor to Miss Gertrude Vanderbilt, daughter of the great Cornelius. Moses Taylor Is now 24 years old. He '.s the son of Henry A. C. Taylor and is destined to inherit $40,000,000 some day. His inheritance comes from his grandfather, Moses Taylor, a brilliant and successful old time merchant, now long dead. Moses Taylor, the younger, was the warm friend of William H. Vanderbilt, the lad who died a year

felff Y mm Hl

MOSES TAYLOR. or two ago. Mr. Taylor graduated from Yale in the class of '93 and belongs to all the fashionable clubs. He is an enthusiast in all athletic out door sports and an expert at polo. The formal announcement of the engagement will be made this autumn. How- I'nrtnne Are Made. Eleven years ago George Newnes was a young brass-finisher in a factory at Manchester, England. He possessed some literary ability and remarkable business tact. He conceived the idea of a small penny paper for the masses, to be called Tid Bits. He borrowed a hundred pounds from a friend and issued the first number of Tid Bits, a weekly paper. Its success in Manchester was so apparent from the first that Newnes removed to London. There Tid Bits became popular and prosperous in a few months. From a poor brass finisher Newnes soon became the proprietor of an immense publishing house. Two years ago he started the Strand Magazine, which, like Tid Bits, was an instantaneous success. In eleven years George Newnes has made a remarkable record. Today he is a millionaire and a member of parliament. I'nspoiled Ily Honor. An American lady traveling in Holland writes that Melchers, the Detroit artist who won the Paris exposition prize in 1SS9 and has since enjoyed extraordinary vogue on the continent. Is quite unspoiled by the honors heaped upon him. Though he has dined with the German emperor, he still wears a peasant blouse and wooden shoes on the plea that he is too poor for anything better. When he went to dine with the wife of the burgomaster of a Holland town he appeared in this costume and soaked to the skin by a hard rain. He apologized, not for the clothes, but for the fact that they were wet, and maintained that it was the only suit he had. His hostess thereupon provided him with a dry suit of her husband's. Jane Addami of Chicago. Miss Jane Addams, whose portrait Is here given, superintendent of street cleaning in Chicago, is one of the most remarkable women of the decade. Sh MISS JANE ADDAMS. Is the daughter of Hon. John II. Addams, for many years state senator from northern Illinois. She was graduated from Rockford college In 1S81, and has since been a trustee of that Institution. Tilden F.neon raced Yonn rolltlrlaot.t Governor Tilden believed In encouraging the aspirations of young met with a taste for political life, and in according to them all the opportunities for honorable party service and distinction that could be put In their way. Every man was to be used, and to be given employment, as far as possible, that would be congen'al to him. The party that adopts and follows a theoi? of politics like this will make bosses Impossible, and adherence to such a reasonable theory will add to rather than diminish the number of memberi of 1U conventions conspicuous for cha actor and worthy cf confidence.

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