Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1901 — Page 3

ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS

,fromtfeLi/e offietale

Armour's Vart Intere-rt-r. The late Philip D. Armour was a genius in organization. In his career he was farm hand, gold miner, grain merchant and packing king. He provisioned a great part of the world and its armies. He handled a third of the entire grain output of the West. „He employed 20,000 persons, with a pay-roll of $10,000,000 a year. The Armours' annual output was ▼alued at >200,000,000. He represented property interests Worth $150,000,000. ' His personal fortune is estimated from $30,000,000 to $50,000,000. He loved children, was good to his employes and aided everyone in distress. He spept $3,000,000 on the Armour Institute and Mission. His motto was: “A man should do good while he lives." Mr. Armour’s charities were extensive, hut thoroughly 4 characteristic of the man. all of his gifts being dispensed quietly and unostentatiously. Thousands have been the recipients of generosity of which the public knows nothing. Mr. Armour’s pet projects in philanthropy were theAwnpur Institute, a school of technology ahd the Armour Mission, a non-sectarian institution, whose object Is to promote the physical, Intellectual and moral Improvement of children and youth. Mr. Armour’s public benevolence first began In 1881 upon the death of his brother, Joseph H. Armour. He was given charge of a trust of SIOO,OOO with which td fund an Institution whose purpose should be to reach the people with the teachings and influences of the gospel- of Christ and to Insure the care and development of the children and youth In that part of Chicago in which it should be located. Mr. Armour took his brother’s bequest as a suggestion, and his benefaction has multiplied the amount many times. Aidtd Poor F'amtliej. *The buildings that stand side by side at Armour . avenue and Thirty-third street represent an investment by Mr. Armour for the education and ethical welfare of the community amounting to over $2,500,000. In addition to his public charities, numerous families have always been the beneficiaries of his benevolence. At Christmas times It had always been one of Mr. Armour’s pleasantries to lay in a stock of gold coins and walk Into his offices with a cheerful greeting and toss the coins around quite unpromiseuously among his two hundred clerks, who scrambled for the coins much to Mr. Armour’s amusement. The past Christmas Mr. Armour’s illness prevented him from visiting his office, but it did not prevent all his clerks and others In Jiis employ being substantially remembered through hie generosity. Only those closest to Mr. Armour during the last twenty years know of the full extent the thousands of appeals for assistance that came to him In every conceivable shape. No appeal that was not a fraud on Its face has ever been ignored by him without investigation. He once said that he did not like the idea of refusing any modest appeal without investigation, as it might be from some person most unfortunate hu+ worthv. WAr Pur-re E'tJer Open. It was Mr. Armour’s daily custom for many years to start the day’s busiJXX ch t nee a 1100 blll ,nto half dollars for beggars who called for help. During ,the World’s Fair Mr. Armour in company with ex-Ald. Henry S Fitch walked along Michigan avenue on their way to start for the fair grounds. An old expressman at the corner of Van Buren street recognized Mr. Armour and saluted him. Mr Armour stoppgd and shook hands with him and told Mr. ,Fitch that it was one of his old employes In days gone by. He asked the expressan how he Was getting along, and the man told him that he was doing well; that he had a wife and children, and was earning an honest living. A mortgage of S6OO on his home was the only thing which marred his happiness. Thereupon Mr. Armour gave the man the money to pay off his mortgage and made him happy. After doing this he told Mr. Fitch that he felt happier than if he had seen the World’s Fair a hundred times. Another time a townsman who was acquainted with his old friends in the native town called upon Mr. Armour in his office. , Mr. Armour inquired about an old schoolmate. The visitor told him that the man wanted to start a retail-grocery store in the town, but that he needed $1,500 to do so. After the visitor left Mr. Armour ordered his cashier to make out a check for |1,500 to the man who wished to start the store, and with a letter reminding the man of days gone by he sent him the check with wishes to start in the business at once. When told that because of the death of his old friend in Baltimore the two young daughters of the man would be deprived of an opportunity of ’a good education, Mr. Armour notified

Phil, Armour

his Baltimore agent to make arrangements and pay the best possible schooling of the young ladies, and continued to do so until they graduated. On the day of the failure of the firm of Grant, Ward & Co., when the provision market was panicky, he gave orders to his agent, John Geldmacher, to go on the floor and hold the market at all cost. After the man had bought Several million dollars’ worth he sent word to Mr. Armour that all Wall street was selling and that he could not hold the market. Mr. Armour answered him to hold the market even if the whole world was selling while there was a dollar left of his money. At the close of the day Mr. Armour was ahead several million dollars by the transaction.” One day several years ago a Chicago minister called upon Mr. Armour and applied for help for a poor woman, whom he had found in poverty and destitution In the most trying hour of child-birth. He supplied the minister with a goodly sum of money and forgot the Incident. The next day the minister returned and said: “I have brought back the money, Mr. Armour, for upon investigation I find that the woman is sinful and s&rving. She has not sought salvation that is freely offered without money and without price, and to satisfy my conscience I must therefore return the money.” Mr. Armour’s indignation was aroused and he dismissed the minister curtly. Then he sent a special messenger to relieve the unfortunate

THE ARMOUR CHAPEL. woman and make her unhappy lot as easy as circumstances would permit. In recalling the Incident Mr. Armour said: “A minister of the gospel of Christ should be the first one to show mercy to the fallen one, and if she was in sin and the slough of despond he should have been the first to reach forth a helping hand to lift her out and start her on the right road.” Good to His Employes. The relationship between Mr. Armour and his employes has always been ideal. Not hundreds, but thousands, of the men who have worked for him could testify to innumerable acts of kindness on his part. Mr. Armour rather looked upon the employes of his great concerns as one big family, and was always concerned in everything that was to their welfare and happiness. When a man was sick or in trouble he was always first to seek the particulars, and he saw to it personally that the salary went on and that the man had all the proper attention. He always had time to listen to what his men had to say, although he was perhaps one of the busiest men in America, and he would stop in the midst es important work to answer the questions of. some child who would come to his desk. Mr. Armour wanted his men to be well paid and it is probable that every man in his employ is receiving as much as he is worth. He was also willing to pay almost any price to a man if he considered his services necessary for the success of some department of his gigantic enterprises. A man’s qualifies-

tion for the place concerned him most, and the salary demanded was always a secondary consideration with him. There were no harsh words when the big army of men learned of Mr. Armour’s death last week. Each one felt that he had lost a friend and a benefactor. Heart and Purse touched. The manner in which Mr. Armour came to so richly endow the Armour Institute is a story good enough to bear repeating. He had heard the Rev. Frank Gunsaulus preach about what should be done for the boys and girls of the present generation. When the sermon was ended Mr. Armour went to Dr. Gunsaulus and asked: “Do you believe in the views you just expressed?” i “I certainly do,” was the answer. “And would you carry them out If you had the means?” “Most assuredly.” “Well, then,” said Mr. Armour, “give me five years of your time and I will give you the money.” This incident is described as “Dr. Gunsaulus’ $2,800,000 sermon,” but it led to the fulfillment of Mr. Armour’s chief work of philanthropy. Mr. Armour was as systematic in his charities as in his business affairs. The Armour mission funds are invested in a great square of first-class flats, the revenue from which accrues to the mission work, all the affairs of which he was the head. Chances for Hoys. In answer to the question if he con-

THE ARMOUR INSTITUTE. sidered the chances for a boy to succeed as good at the'present time as when he was a boy Mr. Armour replied: “Every bit and better. The affairs of life are larger. There are greater things to do. There was never before such a demand for able men.” It is related that several years ago Mr. Armour, with-Marshall Field, George M. Pullman, Norman B. Ream, John J. Mitchell and John Plankinton, was making a tour over the Milwaukee road in a private car. When 9 o’clock came Mr. Armour announced that he ■was going to retire. On being urged that there was to be a game of cards and that he should for once break hi rule about retiring at 9, Mr. Armour said: “I have never broken that rule for Mrs. Armour, and if I wouldn’t for ‘her I certainly would not for anybody else.” Philip D. Armour had two brothers older and two brothers younger than he. He also had one sister. All of the family are now dead with the exception of H. 0. Armour, who is two years younger than Philip D. H. 0. Armour had charge of the commission and grain business in Chicago when Philip came to Chicago, after which time he went to New York. His nephews, Kirk B. and Charles W., have charge of the packing business in Kansas City. His son, J. Ogden Armour has had absolute control of the Chicago business for two years. Compulsory education in New Zealand is considered a success.

Agatnst Compulsory. Idea. A meeting of the Brooklyn AntiCompulsory Vaccination league was held In that city the other night in the directors’ room of the public library. There was a spirited denunciation of compulsory vaccination and a call to arms to resist it Dr. M. R. Leverson presided. Henry Roland, the corresponding secretary, read several letters which had been sent to the league severely criticising the health authorities for carrying on the present vaccination crusade, and recommending an appeal for redress to the courts and the legislature. Dr. Leverson was applauded when he declared he would not hesitate to shoot the man who forced his way into his house to vaccinate him against his will. “Years ago,” he said, “I advised the shooting down of a policeman or health officer who was engaged in this invasion of a man’s home, and I have not changed my views on the subject The people must rise up and take the law into their own hands —not lynch law, but the laws of the hand, which are framed for their protection. Some people don’t know their rights sufficiently to shoot do,wn bandits. I have treated thirty cases of smallpox without reporting them and all recovered without a scar from two to .six days. All cases of ordinary smallpox should be cured within that time. Vaccination never prevented a human being from taking smallpox except by killing him.” It is decided that the league should no longer be confined to Brooklyn, but should embrace the entire territory of Greater New York.

A Youthful Sampson.

It is no trick at all for William Reynolds, twelve years of age, of Jersey Shore, this state, to juggle heavy weights, pull chains asunder and accomplish feats of strength that the average man would have hard work to equal. Like Sampson, of old, the boy’s strength, it is claimed, lies in his long hair, which has never been trimmed, and which now hangs several inches below his waist. He was a lusty baby and at the age of three

THE ARMOUR RESIDENCE, years amazed his parents by the ease with which he could toss chairs and tables about. At present the youngster by his appearance shows no evidence of possessing abnormal strength, save that he is stockier and better developed than most boys. Recently two men stopped him In the street and sought to shear off his hair. William tumbled them into the gutter and walked calmly on. He keeps in trim by exercising daily with twelve-pound dumbbells and heavy Indian clubs. He says that he will never cut his hair for fear that he would lose his strength.—Philadelphia North American. The “official" life of Tschalkowsky Is about to be published in St. Petersburg under the editorship of the composer’s brother. The volumes will be Issued in Russian, and will be speedily translated into French and perhaps into English. '

THE INDIAVA LEGISLATURE

Both Houses in Session at Indianapolis. GOV. MOUNT’S LAST MESSAGE, He Condemns Election Bribery and Suggests That Both the Seller and Buyer Should Be Punished — Lynching la Condemned —Kidnaping Mentioned. THE OPENING SESSION. The sixty-second session of the general assembly of Indiana opened at Indianapolis Thursday. At the close of the day the indications were that the session would be a busy one. The Republicans have a large majority in both branches of the legislature. The reading of Gov. Mount’s message, which was his last one, as he retires from oflice Monday, and the speech of Samuel R. Artman, speaker of the house of representatives, consumed a large part of the day s session. Bill to Make Governor’s Salary 88.000 The state fee and salary commission has prepared four bills, which, altogether, completely reorganize the fee and salary system of the state. In one of the bills, a recommendation, if adopted, will raise the salary of the governor of the state from $5,000 to SB,OOO a year. A provision of the that the salary of the governor cannot be raised so as to affect the governor in office. The Republican caucus this afternoon decided that it would be unwise to pass a bill under a suspension of the rules, and Gov. Durbin’s salary will remain at $5,000. Gov. Mount’s message is one of the longest ever sent to an Indiana legislature. The state's affairs are reviewed and numerous recommenda tions made. Condemnii Election Bribery. He condemns election bribery and suggests that both the seller and buyer should be punished. He recommends that the judiciary of the state be revised; speaks of the good effect of non-partisan control of state institutions, and recommends that the Indiana state prison be pleacd under non-partisan management. He would make a law requiring non-residents to take out a license before hunting in Indiana; condemns the professional legislative lobbyist and suggests that in so far as possible Indiana laws be made uniform. He wants the state to take good care of Purdue university; approves the county and township reform laws and makes some recommendations for getting of better roads. Lynching is condemned and the legislature is asked to consider the subject carefully. The hope is expressed that the legislature will do something on the trust question and it is recommended that the lawmakers go after the fire insurance combination. The governor would inflict capital punishment in extreme cases of kidnaping. Friday, January 11. A protest went up against the Indiana senate for flagrantly violating the compulsory educational law, which it helped enact two years ago. The senate has organized with a half dozen pages who are under 14 years of age, and one of these is a son of Senator Lindley of Noblesville. Samuel R. Artman, speaker of the house, was born in Augusta, Marion county, Ind., in 1866. He is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Dunlap Artman, both of whom were born in Indiana county, Pa. He was given a common school education, later attend.ng the Indiana State Normal School, from which he was graduated. In 1889 he was married to Miss Addie A. Cobb Among the public offices that Speaker Artman has held is that of surveyor of Lebanon and a school trustee. He is now serving his second term in the general assembly.

NOTES OF THE SESSIONS.

Representative Lawrence, who was prominent in the House of 1899, has been returned from Allen county. He will introduce a bill to amend the road law. Senator Harrison of Shelby and Johnson, has a bill prepared to correct the law relating to legal executions. It is asserted that the law changing the names of the prisons did not designate where the executions should take place. Senator Harrison’s bill will provide that the executions shall be at the Indiana state prison, and shall be by electricity instead of by hanging. Representative Sparks of Rush county has a bill prepared to make a judicial circuit of Rush and Fayette counties, another of Franklin and Union counties and to make Shelby county a circuit by itself. The lawyers of Shelby county want a criminal court established in that county. Newspaper publishers of the state, especially those outside of the larger cities, have prepared a bill concerning the printing of legal advertisements which they will push. Governor Mount, who retired from office Monday, on Saturday pardoned William W. Kennedy, who was sentenced to prison for life in JBBS for the murder of David Baker at Greensburg, Ind. Kennedy was paroled in 1897 and has for several months been attached to the sanitary service in Havana. The case attracted national attention because of the efforts of Kate Kennedy the convicted man’s sister, to secure his pardon. The sister has appealed tc every brother since her brother’s conviction, but without success until today.

...As the World Revolves...

Great "Russian "Diplomat. A cablegram from St Petersburg announces the permanent appointment of Count Lamsdorf to the office of Russian minister of foreign affairs. The new foreign minister is not unknown to the diplomatic world. He has occupied the post of acting head of the foreign office at St. Petersburg since the death of Count Mouravieff. Even before the fatal illness of the latter Lamsdorf was practically master erf the work done in the department. The

COUNT LAMSDORF.

new minister has been in full possession of the confidence of the Czar for a long time. He will retain Prince Obolenski as his assistant. The Czar, it is said, is highly pleased with Count Lamsdorf’s administration, and his promotion is in the nature of a reward. Count Lamsdorf is thoroughly posted on American affairs and is said to “hand in glove” with our ambassador. He says that the century and a quarter of undisguised friendship that has existed between this country and Russia

Surrender Tree at Santiago.

“El Arbol de la Paz” is the name given to the beautiful ceiba tree, situated northwest of San Juan hill, not far from the junction of the roads from San Juan to El Caney and Siboney, Cuba, under the shade of which the conference between Gen. Shafter and Gen. Torel took place, where Hobson’s exchange was arranged,and where the surrender of Santiago, or capitulation, as the Spaniards insisted it should be called, was made. It is also known as the Surrender Tree, and since that memorable ceremony has been visited by many tourists. Its destruction would have been inevitable had not the American authorities s u rrounded it by a double wire fence, upon which is posted a notice forbidding its mutilation.

Boats Blown Inland,

Among the freaks of the wind and waves at Galveston on Sept. 8 was the blowing ashore and stranding far from the water of a fleet of eight big British steamboats. One of these ships, the

Tauton, was driven to Cedar Point, 27 miles inland from Galveston harbor. The total insurance on the eight stranded ships was up in the millions, and it was determined to try to save them. An examination showed that not one of the steamers

The Tauton.

was badly damaged so far as its hull was concerned, and that If they could be gotten back into the water they would float without difficulty. Seven of the boats lay comparatively near deep water, and they were floated without much trouble. Then work was begun on the Tauton. Several big dredging machines were set to cutting a channel to tidewater, and as the ground was flat and soft, extremely rapid progress was made. Advantage was also taken of an inlet penetrated some distance Into the land. Finally, in just thirty days after the job had been begun, the Tauton, after the longest inland journey ever made by an ocean steamer, was again afloat and commenced to load its cargo for the outward voyage.

Pressing Great Britain.

Washington dispatches say that a majority of senators are resolved to pass the House Nicaragua canal bill at this session of Congress. These senators say they will give the British government until Feb. 15 to consider the amended Hay-Pauncefote treaty. If England does not ratify it by that time they will pass the canal bill anyhow. These senators seem to believe that they can thus “force” the British government either to ratify the treaty or to suffer itself to be ejected from Nicaragua.

is too strong to be broken by ths Intrigue of any other nation.

Little Girl Burglar.

The authorities of Milwaukee have recently had to deal with a most astonishing case. Little Gertrude Gehritz, a pretty girl of 10. with wide blue eyes and yellow hair.was brought into court charged with burglary. It was proved

that the child had. unaccompanied and unassisted, broken into the house of Dr. J. H. Huennekens in the dead of night and - had stolen and carried away the clothing of the doctor’s little daughter, who is about the same age. Later, it appeared, Gertrude ran away from home and slept for several in the basement of a neighbor’s house, her whereabouts being entirely unknown to her par-

Gertrude Gehritz.

ents. Her mother, who is a woman of respectability, was in court with the child, and pleaded that her “baby” be not taken away from her. The evidence was so strong, however, and there seemed so little chance of her father and mother having any influence over her that the judge reluctantly sent her to the industrial school. The little girl seems to be entirely void, of the natural fear which would keep an ordinary child from going abroad -alone at night. v The average height of the heavy raincloud is 1,680 yards; of the delicate, fleecy cirrus, 9,700 yards.

Liver in a Tree.

Near Marquette, Mich., an old man named Stears has lived several years in a tree home. Stears was a first-class cabinetmaker, and during the greater part of his vigorous manhood lived in Detroit and worked at his trade, commanding the best wages of an artisan in his line. Several years ago Stears went to Marquette and took up his residence in the hollow trunk of a tree near that town, and he has lived there ever since. The tree was a great linden that has been sawed off about 15 feet from its base, and in it the occupant has brought to bear his accomplishments

as a workman to decorate his queer abode artistically. A door and window, seen from the outside, bear witness to this.

West Virginias Oldest Woman.

The oldest and moat remarkable woman in the state of West Virginia lives at Mason City. She is Mrs. Peggy Craw, a German woman, and is a little over 100 years old. She has the appearance of a woman of 60, personally attends to all her own household duties, and, besides, earns a comfortable living with her needle. She is absolutely independent and depends upon her own hands entirely for her horns and living.

A WEEK IN INDIANA.

RECORD OF HAPPENINGS FOR SEVEN DAYS. The Bae* Trouble* at Newburg Are Not Settled Negroee and White* G* Armed —Mlee Jennie Creek ta Vtolt Pasta. Attempt to Rob a Poetotßoe. Entering through a rear window three men made a futile effort to rob the Franklin poetoffice. The combination on the outer door of the safe was broken off and driven inside the door by means of a heavy sledgehammer that had been stolen from a local blacksmith shop. With a drill and punch an opening large enough for the insertion of a charge of dynamltte was made. The combination lock on the two doors was blown off and the door opened. This gave them no obstruction, except the burglar-proof vault. Surrounding the vault are several compartments. These were either broken open or unlocked, with the axoeption of the private box of Deputy Postmaster John N. Hunter. In this drawer was about 1100 belonging to him; also his keys to the entire office. Nothing was missed, and when the office clerks invoiced they were surprised to find that there was nothing at all taken. The work is believed to have been done by local roughs, who were frightened away before completing the job. The contents of the office were strewn about on the floor, and everything was in a turmoil when Deputy Hunter opened the office. The safe was damaged to the extent of about SSOO.

Race Conflict la Imminent. The whites and blacks at Newburg are still going armed, and the trouble is by no means settled. "Jim" Crow, the leader of the blacks, has received another letter warning him to leave the town under penalty of death, but he declares he will remain. The town marshal has sworn in several deputies to help preserve order and they have been on duty. At a meeting of the citizens nothing was dona. The negroes in the river towns are greatly alarmed over the report that a war of extermination is to be made on them. Crow is barricaded in hie cabin with about twenty other negroes, and they declare they are ready for the whites if they desire to attack them. Charles Sandefur, who is Crow’s main lieutenant, walked the streets of the town making threats. He is an Evansville negro, and says he has figured in many race wars in the south. Crow, in an interview, said he would appeal to Governor Mount in case he was driven from Newburg. Keith Sentenced to Hang. Joseph D. Keith was sentenced at Princeton to hang for the murder of Nora Keifer at Elberfeld on April 3, 1900. The verdict was returned after the jury had been out nearly four hours. When the verdict was read the prisoner gazed at the jurors, and there was not the slightest indication of nervousness, not a muscle of his face moved, and he sat as though he had no interest in the verdict. Mrs. Keith, who has been so faitbflully at his aide during the twleve days of the trial, was not in court, neither was the son, Joseph. Keith’s attorneys filed notice that motion for a new hearing would be made in two weeks. Keith was composed when asked for a statement. He said: “The verdict is a terrible surprise to me; but I am innocent, and for this reason alone I am able to endure thia ordeal. lam confident I will vindicate myself. I don’t expect to die on the scaffold. Ao Onset of Legion of Honor. It is announced that Miss Jennie Creek of Millville, the young woman who became famous in 1893, when she flagged the world’s fair train, saving a large number of lives, among the passengers being a number noted Frenchmen, has decided to accept the invitation of the Legion of Honor and will visit Paris. She has often been invited to do so by the grateful Frenchmen. Miss Creek will leave next week for New York, accompanied by an aunt, and a week later will start for Europe. Miss Creek will write a description of her train flagging experience for the Pall Mall Gazette. Denies Big O«B Club Story. Hempstead Washburne denied at Chicago the rumor from Crown Point, that he, with Mayor Harrison and fifty representative men of that eity, had closed a deal with Brown Bros, of Crown Point by which they come into control of 10,000 acres of marsh land on the Kankakee which they would use as a game preserve. "There may have been some talk at some dinner about a proposal to buy that land for hunting purposes.” said Mr. Washburne, “but I am sure no action was ever taken, nor do we contemplate it” Solomon Bear to Ke Tried for Murder. The trial of Solomon Bear will be held in the Whitley county circuit court this week. Behr last August shot and killed his son Levi and than attempted to kill his son-in-law, Is«ac Grawcock. He will make a plea of insanity. ' Lives at the Ago of 104 Year*. Elizabeth Parrigln, who still lives in Clinton costly, is 104 years old. She has lived trader every president of the United States.