Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 May 1882 — Page 6

DRIFTING. Drifting apart! Drifting apart! Snapping the oores that are aronnd each heart, Sundering ties that were always to be Strong ties of friendship between you and me Yet still as I see you, day after day, I feel "and I know you are drifting away Drifting away! Drifting away! Drifting so slowly, but surely each day StiD’fartber and farther out of my sight Leaving jpe.lonely— alone with the night. Yes, alone with the night, for even the day Is turned Into night, while you’re -drifting away. Drifting apart! Drifting apart! How sadly the f-'sliig sinks-into the heart; * « For I felt that I had upon earth one friend Faithful as truth, and Line to the end; But why should I hope for such friendship and truth, So unfinished, uncourtiy, uncouth. Drifting apart! Drifting away! Drifting In silence, where, no one can ’say, But a prayer will lie offered that one drifting barque, May never drift Into the unknown dark; But may drift with its spul so worthy of love Into the waters that sparkle above. E. C. Ruoules,

NOT QUITE A TRAMP.

r - “No tramp wanted here, young chap; so you may jog along.” The speaker was a fine looking and apparently an easy-going gentleman of middle age, who was standing leaning over the gate, looking out on the road. The gate opened on a gravel walk which led up to a two story cottage house. In front of the house, and at the sides, the. grounds were overloaded with trees, shrubs and, flower Slants, which, to say the least of it, id notshow careful attendance. Altogether it was a bright, cheerful fcnd attractive place. 80 thought, no douot, the stranger, whose halt near the gate had provqked Mr. Horton’s utterance. He was nfbt an ill-looking young man—or boy, for he could not be twenty-one—but his clothes were ragged and dirty, his shoes worn and muddy, and his gen-f----eral appearance unkempt and disreputable. He had stopped'in the road, and had directed ar the man, or at the house, or at the giounds, or at all three, a wistful rook, which might intimate a wish or an entreaty. It was this look which Mr. Horton had answered, when he addressed the young fellow as a tramp, and advised himto'Mog along.” “I am no tramp, sir,” replied the stranger. “You are not? Then your looks belle your nature. You can’t deny that you have all the symptoms.” “That is true, sir. I know that I am poor and ragged, but I don’t consider myself a tramp. I am looking for work.” “That’s what they all say. They are all looking for work. To say that Is to advertise that you are a tramp.” “l suppose I must be a tramp then, but I wish I wasn’t.” “You do? That’s one good symptom, any way. Are you sure you wouldn’t run away from work, If you should fil’d it,- or lie down and go to sleep bv the side of it,” “1 am sure that I am willing to earn my living, and anxious ta get a chance to do so.” “What tort of work can you do?” asked Mr. Hor'on. “Everything in general and nothing in particular?' “I know that I could put that yard of yours in much better trim than it shows now.” “Humph! That don’t offer any opening. The flowers are my wife’s pets, and she is like a dog in the manEer about them—won|jt touch them erself, or suffer anybody else to touch them.” “I can draw your portrait, sir,” suggested the boy. “Youcan? Are you a wandering artist in disguise?” “You asked me what I can do, and I know that I can do all that.” “Any of the tools of that trade?” The boy produced from the pocket of his vest some crayons and the stump of a lead pencil. “All right,” said Mr. Horton. “I will try you at the job. Come in.” He opened the gate and led the way to the house. On the veranda were some chairs, one of which he offered to the boy. “Want any more tools?” he asked. “A sheet of drawing paper if you have it ” Mr. Horton broughtout the required article, clamped upon a drawing board; also some crayon holders ana a sharp knife. “I am a sort of architect,” he said, “and keep these things on hand. But hadn’ you better eat some lunch before you begin business? You have a hungry look.” “lam not so hungry, sir, but that I am willing to earn a meal before I eat It. Will you have the kindness to sit down?” <? “Side face or front?” “Side face, if you please. I can do that best.” Mr. Horton seated himself, presented his profile to the ragged artist, who went to work without more ado. His strokes were quick, vigorous and artistic, and in a surprising short time a capital sketch of Mr. Horton’s head and shoulders apKared on the paper That gentleman >ked at it, puckered his lips so as to produce a low and long drawn whistle. “I am not ready to pronounce you an angel, young fellow,” hesald, “but I may truly say that I have entertained a pretty fair artist unawares—though the entertainment is yet to 4Bine. Emily 1 Belli oome out here

w > y >f and wItBSM a new sensation!” Mrs. Horton httrrlsd out on the piazza, with her young sister Bella, and her little girl IJulu. For answer Mr. Horton handed his wife the crayon sketch, which was hastily scanned with starts of surprise and ejaculations of delight. “What a nice likeness!” exclaimed Mr. Horton. “Where did it come from?” “This young person did*it just now,” answered Mr. Horton. “Goodness gracious me! is it possible? I wonder if he would make one' for Lulu.” “Of oourse he would, and of Bella -and the whole tribe, if you wan 1 But he is tired and hungry, and you had better give him something to eat before you ask anymore of him.” “I will gladly do that. I am sure that this kindness of yours, is worth dozen dinners.” “Give him one anyhow, and we will talk about the rest. It won’t do (o be tod liberal at the start. Please to follow my wife, fellow—and I have no doubt that you-will feel better when she gets through with you.” When the young stranger was washed and combed, and he had been fed, his personal appearance was improved, and he had gained to ease ana grace of manner. He was anxious Co make a picture of baby Lulu, and Was permitted to do so, producing a likeness whtyh sent the fond mother into eostacies. This production having been sufficiently admired, Mr. Horton dismissed the “female rabble,” as he chose to call them, corraled his artistic tramp for a conversation, asking him who he was and all about himself. His name was Abel Kentridge, and he was the son of a miller at Queensfiort. Md., who had died suddenly, eaving an estate so encumbered as to be worth less than nothing. Abel had gone to Philadelphia to seek his fortune and had r found nothing but disappointment* and poverty. He knew something about milling and gardening, but could find no employment in the city, and went into the country to look for Work, but his tramplike appearance told against him and, he was <?n the verge .of despair when he encountered Mr. Hor-' ton. “There is no milling to do here,” said that gentleman, “but,T have ho 'doubt that my wife, since, you made that sketch of Lulu, will allow you to straighten up those grounds. If you turn out as well as I think you.wilh I. may -find something else sot yett tedo”

So it was settled the Abel Kentridge was to remain at Mr. Horton’s. A room was prepared for tyim, and some of his employers partly worn garments wete fitted to him, ahd he was set to work on the shrubs and flowers and grass plants. His work was done quite satisfactorily* and he acquainted himself generally, so as to gain the confidence and respect of all the house. Besides the work on the grounds, other odds and ends of employment were found .for him about the place, but nothing was said about his compensation. Thus ne was kept busy for a week, at the end of which time Mr. Horton gave him a written order, and direct-" him to go to the village and select lor himself suitable clothing to the dmoupt named in' the order. “But I have not earned so much as this,” he suggested. “If you haven’t you will earn , it 1 ” replied Mr. Horton. When Abel returned from the village he carried his head somewhat higher than when he set out, and appeared to be, what nature and education had made him, a young gentleman of attractive person and manners. He was ushered into the room where the family was seated, and Mr. Horton corraled him for what he called a business talk. *‘What do you know about milling?” he asked. “I was never regularly employed by my father ” answered Abel, “but I picked up many points of the business while I was about his place—shortly before he died, I invented, or believed I had invented, an improvement on the turbine water wheel, by which greater speed could be got with less water, and my father said it was a good thing. After his death I gave my model to a patent agent, for the Surpose of applying for a patent. But ae agent finally told me that he had been unable to procure a patent, because the examiners decided that there was nothing new in the invention. That discouraged me more than any of the rest of my disappointments.” “ What was the agent’s name?” “Silas Northwick.” “ And your name is Abel Kentridge?” “Yes, sir.” “ That agent lied to you, Abel,” said Mr. Horton. “He procured the patent, w'hich is very valuable, and meant to swindle you out of it. He would probably have succeeded in doing so if you had not come to my house.” “ How do you know this?” eagerly asked Abel. “I am a sort of a speculator and occasionally dabble in such matters. Northwick offered the patent for sale to me before I perceived that it was the name of Abel Kentridge. He assured me that he could procure all the assignments from the patentee, who desired to sell, and I told him if he could do so I would negotiate with him He is to meet me to-mrorow and bring the assignment, und of course you can’t have signed your name in Philadelphia when you were at my house. “I should think not,” indignantly exclaimed Abel. “Therefore Northwick’s assignment will be a forgery, and 1 will bring him here and oonfront him with you.” Mr. Horton was as good as his word, and met the rascally agentiat the time

and place «p pointed. There he was confronted, 'greatly to his astonishmeat and dismay, by Abel Kentridge, and it wm made evident to him tnai; his swindling scheme was discovered. The upshot of the interview was that Abel gained possession of his precious patent, and Northwick was glad to go clear of criminal proceedings. “Ndw, my boy,” said Mr. Horton, “ifyop will take me as a partner in this business, I will furnish the needed capital and push it, and I have no doubt that both of us will grind out a grist of money with your turbine wheel.” Abel gladly accepted this arrangement and the result soon became so satisfactory to both parties that Mr. Horton heartily congratulated himself upon the met that his supposed tramp had not takeri his advice to “jog along.” It should be added that his pretty sister-in-law, Bella Grattan, found in the same fact cause for self congratulation r ’

The Same Girl.

The girl with the loflg hair has appeared again, or, more correctly speaking, the usual paragraph as to her has begun to go the rounds of the press, She is, of course, young and beautiful, her hair is jet black and measures exactly five feet seven inches in length,so that it trails on the floor when she walks with her hair down; it is permanently attached to her head,, and she has never felt a moment’s headache. This same girl—or paragraph—appears every : two years. The first recorded appearance was in a country town-in 1842.; and any one who con* suits the file of a good daily newspaper will find her recurring every two years since that time. It should be noted that she has never once appeared in any city, but always in a remote rurjal village, and that she invariably asserts that She has never felt a moments headache. Now, it must have struck many thoughtful persons that it is very odd that this girl, with her wealth of black hair, has never followed the example of bearded women. and put herselfon profitable exhibition. It- is still more odd tb*t no one has eVer seen this long-haired girl or ever personally known any one who has seen her. The evidence of heir existence is strictly confined to newspaper paragraphs, and of direct personal or pictoral testimony to her existence there is no scrap. The cdn-. elusion which inevitably suggests itself to a man of cool judgement and scientific h*bit of thought is that no such girl exists or ever has existed. The back hair of woman is asserted, in all works on physiology and by all scientific men who have examined the subject; to be detachable. In the free, untrammeled atmosphere of the West no women thinks for a moment of pretending that her back hair is permanently attached to her scalp, and in the hotels of Chicago, Bt. Louis and Cincinnati ladies on retiring to their rooms for the night invariably hang their back hair on the outside knob of the door, so that iinnay be brushed and braided by the servant employed for that purpose. In older and more conventional regions there is not this frank acklowledgment of the true character of back hair, but nevertheless no one entertains any delusion as to it. Cuvier and Buffon both speak of detachable back bair as consisting of one of the distinguishing characteristics of our species. Prof. Huxley, in his latest contribution to anthropology, says that on one occasion he examined the back hair of sixty-three girls who were employed in a Manchester mill, and found that every one of then* had taken oft her back hair on entering the mill and hung it up with her bonnet and shawl, her object being to avoid the danger that her hair might become entangled with the machinery. He further says that “there is not a single well established example of a woman with permanent back bair.” In the face of all these well-established facts and this weight of scientific opinion, how can we believe in the existence of the bienniel young woman with permanent back hair five feet seven inches in length ? In point of fact, the testimony as to her existence is nothing like as plausible as the testimony in favor of the existence of the sea-serpent. Men who say that they have seen the latter animal have themselves been seen and handled by other men, but the men who say they have seen the girl with the long black hair cannot be identified. The paragraph describing the alleged girl is always furnished to the original newspaper in which it appears by an annoymous correspondent or one who writes under a feigued name. For example, the most recent paragraph of this sort alleged that the name of the long-haired girl was Miss Minnie Smith, of Lancaster, N. Y., and was ostensibly written by T. S. Withers, of that place. Careful inquiry shows that there is no such place as Lancaster; that Mr. T. 8. Withers was never there in his Jife, and that the oldest inhabitant never heard of Miss Minnie Smith. It is evident that the paragraphs concerning girls with five feet seven inches of black hair are totally false and areuwritten for some mysterious purpose by some unknown forger. There is, however, a very simple explanation of the matter. It is a wellestablished fact that different varieties of ardent spirits when drank to excess produce different sorts of visions. Thus, New England or Jamaica rum leads its victims to see seaserpents— thp New England variety differing from the Jamaica in the length of tfieir alleged manes, Brandy Invariably reveals vast quantities of snakes, and when adulterated with stryohnine produces visions of swarms of insects. Our own native whisky conjures up visions of rats, and from the size and color of the rats the ex-

| pert physician can tell whether the | atient has been drinking rye-whisky or wheat-whisky. Now, what is more probable than that girls, with long black hair trailing on the ground are the result of indulgence in that favorite tipple of the country—cider-bran-dy or apple-jack? The victim of overindulgence in this deceitful beverage finally reaches the point where, to his disordered vision, there presents herself an imaginary girl with long back hair. If he happens to be addicted to writing to or for the newspapers he instantly sits down and writes an account of his vision. Before investigators can discover him he dies and is buried, and no one suspects him of having palmed off upon an innocent newspaper a delirious dream as a valuable news item.

The Latest Novelty in Corsets.

“One of the literary sensational novelties,” writes Clara Belle, “is the electric corset, of which rival manufacturers display a variety. All are made oi* the principle of substituting magnetized steel strips for the usual metal or bone. One enterprising exhibitor has his contrivance most neatly fitted on a pretty girl, and illustrates how completely she is lightning bound by touching her here and there with a piece of steel. A spark drops out at every contact. What would happen if a magnetic kind of chap hugged her, can only be conjectured. As she ie on exhibition in a dim room, the display of fire-works is excellent, considering it doesn’t cost anything. But it is for woman only, not that there is anything indelicate about it, either, for the girl is all covered but her arms and neck, and is far less bare than the average belle at a ball. Still, I suppose that men would jam that store, and fight like mad to get into the front row, if she were made visible to their sex, just because she is arrayed in her dimity. There seem to be a vast difference, to man’s eyes, between the tweedle-dee of an outer dress and the tweedle-dum of underclothing. I can’t understand why, but it is so. Nine men out of ten will rush wildly to a window to see a womaD in flowing white across the way, - and turn away disappointed when they find that the snowy garment is a wrapper instead Of a chemise.”

FIGHT OVER A MOT HER’S GRATE

Scene in a New Jersey ChurchyardTwo, Daughters Disputing an Interment. There was a terrible scene in the William street cmnetery in Plainfield, N. J., on Sunday afternoon, where two sisters fought over the fresh grave of their mother. The trouble arose over religious differences —one sister being a Roman Catholic and the other a Protestant. The deceased woman was a Mrs. Farrington, and the family are all Roman Catholics except one sis--ter, who married a Protestant named Wolfe and adopted the religion of her husband. When Mrs. Farrington died her husband, being in poor circumstances secured the aid of the nrotestant daughter in sharing the funeral expenses, the Catholic daughter, it is said, having refused. It was arranged to inter ,the body in the William street cemetery, which is a protestant institution. The remains, in charge of Patrick Bush, a Bound Brook undertaker, and accompanied by Mrs. Wolfe and her husband and a number of relatives and acquaintances, were brought to Plainfield. When the party arrived at Evona, one mile from Plainfield, they were overtaken by a wagon containing the Catholic daughter, her husband aud her two brothers. The latter party stopped the hearse and in a violent manner forbade the burial of the remains in a Protestant cemetery. The undertaker was puzzled what to do, but finally drove on, the Catholic party accompanying the - procession. Instead of going direct to the cemetery the undertaker drove to the police station and asked the advice of Captain Dodd. The Catholic sons and daughter threatened violence in case an attempt was made to inter the body elsewhere than in consecrated ground. There was a loud quarrel among the men while the procession was at the police station, but no blows were struck. By Captain Dodd’s direction the funeral proceeded to the cemetery and was ther e met by him. Wfiile the captain was expostulating with and advis.ng the Catholic party the undertaker was proceeding with the burial, and had lowered the coffin into the grave. The Catholic daughter did not at first notice this in her excitement, and when she saw it she gave a shriek, and rushing to the open grave assaulted her sister, Mrs. Wolfe, using bad language, raving, dike one crazy and finally she picked up a clubhand endeavored to brain her sister. Captain Dodd interfered and deprived her of her weapon, but was uuable to calm her rage. Her husband and brothers did not interfere, but a large crowd gathering around, composed largely of Catholics, there seemed likely to be a general fight, sympathy being largely with the daughter raving at the interment of her mother in unholy ground. Capt. Doda and Undertaker Bush succeeded in hushing the mourners in carriages in the noise and confusion, and they were driven rapidly oft, followed at some distance by the Catholic brothers and sisters threatening vengeance. The Kentucky Central railroad has subscribed $600,900 —a controlling interest—to the capital stock of the Richmond & Three Forks road, wh’oh will be at once Completed. Emperor William has left Weisbaden for Berlins

CURBING NIAGARA.

The Falls to be Made to Sapply America * with Electricity. ... On the evening of April 27th, your correspondent inspected articles of agreement, which have just arrived by mail and were drawn up between the Prospect Park Association, of Niagara Falls, Niagara county, New York, of the first part, apd Leonard Henkle, inventor, of Rochester. New York, of the second part, stipulating that for a consideration of $1,000,000, the party of the first part agreed to execute to the party of the second part a deed to Prospect Park, its nine acres of land, and three acres outside in the village of Niagara Falls. * That this important contract might be more thoroughly understood, vour correspondent interviewed Coll Henkle, the local inventor, this evening. “I have about consummated,” said be, “the biggest electric light project ever dreamed of. When the New York Graphic a few days since quoted a gentleman as saying he believed all New York would yet be lighted and heated by electricity brought through cables from power that generated it at the greatest cataract in the world, it only hinted at half what I, through a large company of capitalists, propose in that very direction. This million dollar contract I hold in my hand is only the beginning of the great things that this project will yet develop. I have canvassed among leading capialists of New York, Boston find other large cities, and found them ready to agree. After taking mere hints of the nature of my new electric light invention they said that just as soon as I eould secure right and title to the water power of N iagara for anything co equal they stood ready to combine and push the inventions to a practical test, if it took thereby millions of fiolars to do it. I would be foolish to describe to you in any Way the exact nature of these inventions, until my ; iroject is more practically perfected, as I hope to see it in a very few weeks —certainly before autumn. But twill say this, that this laifd contract contemplates the execution of a deed in ]’ee simple controlling the water power of the entire American fall at Niagara, some 2,000,000 horse power altogether. When I first approached one of the prominent officials connected with an existing electric light company and broached this subject to him le “poo-poohed” it and said: “Oh, yes; poor fool, you never can get control of Niagara, or the right to its gigantic water power- Why the govQ ernment itself has been trying to buy he American side for a public park >ut couldn’t do it. We admit your scheme might work if you could only get sufficient power to work it, but Niagara isn’t to be so easily had.” “That electrician,” continued Henkle, “has already turned out to be a false prophet. You see, too, here I hold a title incontrovertible. The purchase of Prospect Park for a million would almost pay, even if Niagara could not be utilized with it. In 1871 the receipts of the Park association were over $12,000. Last year they amounted to upward of $33,000. You see we want that part, and I start for New York just before midnight to see the )romising capitalists there to-morrow and next day. The capital stock of the company, when organized will be $20,000,000. Enormous buildings and ponderous machinery will be constructed on the brink of the American fall, and to these buildings will come an immense race-way coming from rapids, a short distance above the falls. We have water sufficient for two milion horse power upon the money conditions named and the further condition, that the water be returned to the river within a given distance. I decline to describe our process of generating electircity by this unlimited hydraulic force, but can simply say we will conduct • that electricity through properly insulated cables under ground to sixty-five American cities and towns between Boston and Chicago.. Just as good and forcible an electric current can be conducted 600 miles by my process, and can be utilized within an area of one mile. We also contemplate domestic light, attachments to the main cables, and will just as surely be able to transmit limited electric power for operating machinery, and for heating purposes ultimately. There will be about ten thousand miles of the cable altogether, with corresponding machinery for Industrial ourposes. This contract, looking toward the perfection of my project was, as you see, executed yesterday. Do you wonder I said it was a big scheme? Do you see the agreement as to how the $1,000,000 consideration is to be paid ? United States Government 3 per cents have been pledged to forward this undertaking. That’s why they are named in the consideration. v Col. Hinkle, at this point, left to get ready for the ’New York train, and bade the correspondent a hearty “Good night.” He is a highly skilled mechanic, has patented several .valuable inventione. and been working with the electric light almost as long as Edison.— Globe-Democrat.

The tugboat owners of Chicag have organized for mutual protection. Count Franz de Champigny, author, and member of the Freach academy, died in Paris. In the Third avenue street-car stables, New York, they have a curious machine which cleans horses by steam, the operation being more quickly and also more thoroughly done. A party of bridge builders took possession or the town of Greenfield, Mass., Saturday night, assaulting citizens, breaking into stores, etc. John Fly nn, a railway fireman, was fatally stabbed.