Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1893 — Page 2

THE REPUBLICAN. Geore E. Marshall, Editor. RENSSELAER - INDIANA

An Indianapolis merchant tailoring establishment located in the heart of the city on Washington stJreet, following the recently established precedent, last week closed its doors and displayed the following notice: “Closed for a few days. Gone to the World’s Fair. Open next week.” Ex-President Harrison is said to have regained his vigor to a remarkable degree during his summer vacation at Cape May. The cares of office and great bereavement had made sad inroads on his sturdy frame, but people without regard to party will be pleased to learn that he has recovered from the depression they induced. Admirers of the purely fictitious writings of the versatile-author known to the world as “Jules Verne” will be surprised, as a rule, to be told that the title is only a pen name. This celebrated novelist is a Pole and his real name is Olchekitz. His home is in Amiens, but he lives on his!yacht the greater part of the time and does nearly all of his.literary work on the vessel.

A gang of outlaw’s “held up” a Missouri Pacific express train last week, but failed to realize sufficient funds to compensate for the risk. If they would only “hold up” George Francis Train a boon would be conferred on humanity. The financial result would be the same, but the gang would attain greater fame and notoriety than by their expeditions in the “wild and wooly west.” Congressmen now while away the weary hours of the silver debate by quoting poetry to illustrate and enforce their personal ideas. The country at large is not disposed to bear with such foolishness with any degree of equanimity. “There is a time for all things” is a part of holy write. The country surely has a right to expect earnest and prompt action of its chosen servants in the great crisis now upon ’us

Edison has given up electrical pursuits for a time and is devoting his attention to metallurgy. Finding sapphires very expensive and hard to obtain and having use for a great many in the manufacture of phonographs he analyzed the jewels and discovered their chemical composition, and now manufactures all the sapphires used in his factories. He also states that he can make rubies at $5 a pound that far excel the genuine. Alcoholic drinks are not considered essential by Arctic explorers, and recent adventurers who have departed for the region of the midnight sun have seen fit to go without the customary rations of wines and liquors heretofore considered indispensable by sailors in all climates. Jack Tar and his grog have in the past adorned many a tale of the sea, but if this innovation should become a permanent fashion, story writers will be compelled to invent some other “fillin’’for the thrilling pages of maritime fiction. The world moves and the sea, evidently, will be compelled to keep up with the procession or get spilled into space.

The hoisting of the great bronze crowning figure. “Indiana,” to the summit of the Soldiers Monument, last week, was an event of. interest at the Hoosier capital and in all the surrounding country-*-wherever there was a spy-glass or. teleocope in the neighborhood,- where an unobstructed view of the shaft was obtainable. Thousands of people watched tfre tedious process for days, fully expecting to see something “drop,” but science and elbow grease overcame all difficulties, and the copper-hued goddess now stands in majesty gazing .toward the bloody fields where fell the martyrs of the great cause o! human liberty in whose memory this greatest monument of its kind in all the world has been constructed. When all the embellishments shall have been added, and the last stroke of the chisel and flap of trowel shall have sunk into everlasting silence, and puny mortals shall have abandoned the task to Father Time to finish in his own inimitable way in tones of gray, this work of art will become an object lesson of patriotism and an inspiration to all that is grand and noble in man. There is no denying, however, that, when the great task is completed and “Indiana” stands-serene amid the storms and clouds, calmly looking toward the graves of her fallen sons, unchanged and unchanging through the ages yet to be, that the citizen of Hoop Pole township

when he goes upto thq “Legislator, ” is bound to be sadly puzzled as to how she ever attained her sublime and altitudinous elevation.

The New York Sun wants Chicago to exchange its name because foreigners can not pronounce the Indian noun that serves as a cognomen for the most remarkable city iris the world, and desires to substitute the simple syllable “Go.” instead. To an observer in this latitude it would seem a matter of small importance whether foreigners could pronounce the name or not. There are too many of them “getting there” under the present arranged en t. The name “Chicago” is derived from the Indian noun “Chee-ca-qua,” which means a strong onion, and some people don't like onions. There are no indications, however, that the name will be changed, nor is it probable that we will become involved in foreign difficulties because of the struggle of the representatives of various nationalities with the aboriginal title of the World's Fair City.

The noted bandit, Chris Evans, now in jail at Fresno, Cal., has developed Into a philosopher, and devotes his time to promulgating abstruse theories which he backs up with scriptural quotations, to which he can readily refer, being well read in Biblical lone, He is authority for the statement that no man in health and in his right mind ever killed himself between 1 o’clock a. m. and daybreak., And he avers that it is a physical impossibility for him to do so, for the reason that all men are arrant cowards at that period. If a man desires to do anything desperate between 1 a. m. and daylight he mustr stimulate with whisky or other intoxicating liquors. To confirm his theory he quotes from the fourth chapter of Job: “In thought from the visions of the night when deep sleep falleth on men, fear came upon me and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up; it stood still but I could not discern the form thereof ; an image was before mine eyes, there was silence.” Some people do not believe in such things, he avers, but long observation and experience, both with Indians and civilized men, at that hour have convinced him that there is something supernatural in the hour that rules and guides the courage and destiny of men, and that they cannot avqad the irresistible influence that pervades nature •without a resort to stimulation, and that takes them practically out of their right mind aud normal condition. and proves his theory’ that men and animals are by nature cowardly in the latter part of the night. There is as much difference in the courage of men at different hours-as there is in the courage of bees.

INDUSTRIAL FOLKS GOSSIP.

England uses Norway ice. Tea is dr-ied.by_electricity. Prussia yields half our zinc. gun. There are 51.000 breweries. Canada has ninety-four daily newspapers. Gloves arc made of rat skin. Krupp has a 150-ton hammer. There are electric drawbridges. There qre women piano tuners. Soap is made from cottonseed oil. England drinks American rum. A device makes sunbeams audible. Uncle Sam has 9,000,000 farmers. Food costs $13,700,000,000 a year. Galvanized iron is not galvanized. France uses Irish horses for cavalry. California's mines cover 220 miles. India has 27,000,000 acres of wheat. Prussia uses American hickory wood. Mark Antony sells papers in New’ York. Paper stockings gain favor in Germany. : Brazil raises 80 per cent, of the I coffee. Union Pacific crosses nine mountain ranges. Canada supplies our lead pencil plumbago. Zanzibar yields 500,000 pounds of ivory yearly. Battle Creek is the “Philadelphia of Michigan.’’ Electricity travels about 90,000 miles a second faster than light. The lead mines of Spain have been worked ever since the beginning of history. . - Great Britain annually produces about 000,000 ounces of silver from lead ores. Copper is believed to be the metal earliest known to man and first used in the arts. A Seattle saloon keeper has a carbonic acid gas machine for pumping ale and beer. Tanning is done in this country Tn about one-quarter the time usually allowed in Europe. In boring the Mont Cenis and St. Gothard tunnels ordinary means were first used, then steam power; finally compressed air.

TOPICS OF THESE TIMES.

. A HOME MADE CRISIS. A correspondent writing tothe St. Louis Globe-Democrat from New York tells nf the terrible times that prevailed on Cow Island, on the Atlantic coast, as a result of the universal lack of confidence, which was conveyed to that primitive community through the medium of the Boston Telegraph. Old man Hutchins has for forty years been the “great man” of the sinall community, and is the only man who takes a newspaper —hence he is the moulder of its “public opinion” as well as its financial mogul. Hutchins has been a subscriber to the Telegraph since 1867, and has never dared to doubt or differ with any statement ever found in its columns, although its policy has been changed repeatedly. So when he read in a leading editorial in his only paper that there was a panic abroad on the mainland he was alarmed and said to his wife: “B’jinks, mother, money seems to ’be a’mighty skerse jest now. They haint got none even up in Boston.” He said to “mother” that “the folks as had money are holdin’ onto it.” Hutchins had that day sold fish at Swan Island, for which he had received $7.50 in cash, with which he had intended paying an account at the village store of $3.08. But he said reflectively, “I guess I’ll hang onto it till we get next week’s paper. I’ll bet ther ain’t sls ready cash on Cow Island.” Hutchins the following morning went down to the store to buy bait. “Chalk ’em up,” said he. Collins, the storekeeper, pulled out a little canvas bag and. counted out $1.92, and said. .“I was sort o’ hopin’. Uncle Lem, you’d give me something to-day.” “Can't do it, John. Banks breakin’ all over the country. Folks sendin’ gold to Europe. Read 'bout it in the paper last night.” “Sufferin’ mackrell” said Collins. “They be,” said Uncle Lem, “and the worst ain’t come yet. A nd that reminds me that Blake owes me $3 for hay. I’ll go over and give him a chance to settle up.” Hutchins left and two women entered with blue berries for sale. Collins agreed to take the berries provided they would take their pay in trade, but nothing but cash would buy their berries—which the store keeper did not have. “Can’t spare it,” said he, “Uncle Lem Hutchin’s was jest in here and he says he sees it in the paper they ain’t no money to be had anywheres.” The women lost their temper and left and the storekeeper sat down to ruminate over the financial situation. Presently Mrs. Hutchins came in with four dozen eggs,., but she wanted cash —or blue berries! Collins suggested that he might credit them on “Uncle Lem's” account, but “mother” said “nay.” Then two young men entered to make arrangements for camping on the island. They wanted a good supply of crackers and cheese, and inquired where they could buy milk. The storekeeper referred them to “ Uncle Lein”“Tor the milk. The'

young men tendered "a five dollar bill in payment for the crackers and cheese. Collins could not change it and the young men left saying they would not stay in such. a povertystricken place. Collins reflected bitterly that if “Uncle Lem” had only paid his bill a good stroke of business could have been done all around. “Uncle Lem” came in. and said Blake said he would pay for the hay as soon as Rufe Webb paid him. “Uncle Lem” departed vowing vengeance on Blake. Presently Rufe Webb entered the store, and said: “I’m sorry to bother ye, John, but Blake has been dunnin’ me for $3 and odd I owe him. His wife borrowed Uncle Lem Hutchin’s paper and read about mony being skorse. That set Blake onto me. Now if you’ll pay me the $3 and odd you owe me —.” “Couldn’t to save me,” said Collins. “I donno what I’m goin’ to do,” said Webb. “Blake will sue me, and if be —” “You’ll sue a man by the name of Collins,” said the storekeeper. “I can’t help it, John. Money’s mighty skerse. The papers say so. and every man ought to have his own. ” “But how's he goin’ to get it?” said Collins. “There is more’n sl2 owin’ me this minnit. If there’s any lawin’ I’ll take a shy at it myself.” That day everybody on Cow Island talked about lawsuits. Trade came to a standstill. Baftfib did not go. Tiv-" erybody wanted cash. Nobody would give it. Uneasiness prevailed. Every many knocked off work to go and dun somebody for an old debt, and threaten them with a lawsuit. Finally “Uncle Lem” left for Isle au Haut to consult a lawyer. The legal gentleman was intoxicated. He was in a generous mood and “set om up” to “Uncle Lem.” The conJu, —see was that Hutchins forgot what he came for and returned to Cow Island in a frame of mind which mado him forget that “money was

skerse.” He rolled into Collin’* store about dusk. ‘ ‘What’s yer bill, John,” savs he. “Three dollars and eight cents. ' said Collins, and begot the money. rr Sit right down here, Uncle Lem, while I run over to Rufe Webb’s,” said Collins. When the storekeeper retnrned “Uncle Lem ’ was fast asleep, —but was soon awakened by George Blake. “Oh, Uncle Lem, here’s yer money for the hay,” said Blake. “Rufe Webb jest settled with me. ” By noon the next day the panic was over on Cow Island Everybody had plucked up courage to pay his debts and gone to work again. AN AMERICAN TRIUMPH. Chief Geo. C. Hale, of the Kansas City fire department, was in Chicago the other day, and told to an Inter-Ocean reporter the story of how hq and his nine men won all the medals and honorsatthelnternational Fire Congress in London in June, in a way that is very gratifying to patriotic Americans. The contest took place June 12. But one company of English firemen were entered against foreign competitors, and it was given the first triaF on a “time” test to “turn out”. Horses are not kept in London engine houses on account of sanitary laws. . The burly Englishmen tumbled out of bed, stopping to button on their coats and buckle on huge belts, then scrambled down a stairway and hitched ttyeir horses, with harness which they had to throw on and buckle, besides having to raise and slip the tongue of the engine in place. Finally they came out, and when the judges announced the time, “ope minute and seventeen seconds,” the crowd went wild with joy. Many gathered about Chief Hale and began to banter him, saying: “Eh, America, what do you think of that?” Then came the Kansas City crew’s turn. At the clang of the bell they tumbled out of bed and slid down the brass pole to the engine. Clank went the * suspended harness onto the trained horses and they rushed to their places. There was a rush and “America” was out, and the judges announced the time, “eight and a half seconds.” The people gasped and then broke loose in a hurricane of enthusiasm. A half dozen men seized Chief Hale and dragged him along to the royal box, and he was formally introduced to the Lord Mayors of London, Dublin and York, and a score of lords and ladies in gold lace and powdered wigs Later the crew was dined by the Lord Mayor of London. The London fire brigade did not show up again. The Americans gave daily exhibitions to thunderstruck crowds. Representative crews were present from Russia, Portugal, France, Germany and Belgium. Chief Hale says that foreign firemen and apparatus are ndt to be compared with Americans and their modern ideas and improvements, but that owing to the greater solidity of the buildings in European cities, and the extreme care exercised by the people, the protection afforded is better than is possible in this country.

TIPTON COUNTY FINANCIERS. Tipton county has adcled a new phase to the financial situation that inay in the future prove of great value to the country at large. , A court house has been in process of construction for some time and the commissioners were under obligations to pay SIO,OOO monthly to the builders. With a handsome surplus in the treasury the trio controlling county affairs had felt safe in making such a contract. Misfortunes seldom come singly to a man or corporation that is in debt, and the finan cial crisis and a defaulting treasurer left these worthy gentlemen in a bad predicament. The treasurer’s bondstnen could not promptly make good the deficiency, and county bonds could not be sold on the market. Apparently work on the court house would have to stop. But the farmers of the countv came to the rescue and promptly cashed the bonds of their own county and were very glad of the opjwrtunity afforded them to securely invest their surplus funds. Many had drawn their money from the banks, but they had unlimited ‘‘confidence” in old Tipton and brought out their cash without hesitation. The commissioners soon had as much money as they needed. Three times the amount of the bonds could easily have been placed. There was plenty of money in the county, yet every man of the investors ip home securities would swear that “times wererhard,” and that there was actually “no mpney in circulation.” The lesson afforded by the circumstance is valuable. There is not a county in Indiana whose citizens can not easily carry tho home bonds of their county for improvements needed, and the services of foreign brokers, often obtained at an excessive percentage, are super fluous and totally unnecessary in a majority of cases. Counties should not build or improve beyond the ability of their own citizens to furnish necessary fnnds, and, like individuals, will in the long run find that to “live within their means” is the beet policy to pursue.

A WANDERER FROM SPACE.

A Huge Meteoric Stone Alleged to Have Fallen in Mississippi. Brandon. Miss., special to Globe-Democrat J. K. Mattox, a well-knowq citizen of Simpson county, who owns an extensive farm on Campbell’s Creek, about eighteen miles southeast of this place, came in town this morning and told of a remarkable occurrence of a huge meteoric stone which fell near bis house on the night of July 21. Mr. Mattox says about 10 o’clock at night he went into his barnyard as he has been accustomed to do before retiring, to see that everything was right about his premises. The night wa’ somewhat cloudy, but not especially dark. He had visited his stables and barnyard and was on the point of returning to his house when he heard a peculiar hissing sound near, and at the same instant a luminous glow felt'all around hhrr as’rif the moon had suddenly emerged from the clouds. He looked up and was almost paralyzed at the sight of a brilliant ball of fire descending through the air with the speed of lightning, and having a comet-like tail extending far up into the heavens.

The descent was only visible for a second, but in that brief space he says he suffered an eternity of unspeakable terror. The ball struck the earth with a dull report 300 yards from where he was standing. It was some minutes before he could recover the use of his limbs. Then, running to his house he aroused his family and several laborers around the place, telling them a comet had struck the earth and they had only a few’ minutes to live. In a short time the whole plantation was up, and men and children were heard crying and supplicating heaven for mercy. Seeing that nothing further happened, and being a practical man, as soon as his alarm subsided Mr. Mattox prevailed on two or three men to accompany him to the spot. They could not get closer than about thirty yards on account of the heat and noxious fumes of sulphur and gas which the stone emitted. It gave out a ruddy glow’which illuminated the atmosphere for some distance around, by the light of which they could see the grass and twigs all about it in a circle of fifty feet or more in diameter, burned and singed to ashes. The stone sizzled and steamed, and shot out jets of steam or vapor from a thousand pores. Mr. Mattox and several neighbors visited it the next day, when he was able to get a closer view. Bydaylight it showed up a dull, dingy black, and was full of pores which still shot out jets of vapor of an offensive smell, which almost stifled one. The stone is evidently embedded in the ground for some distance, and shows only about a foot above the surface. Mr. Mattox estimates it to be about the size of a hogshead, and says when he left this morning and it was still throwing out a strong heat, and it would require some days to cool off sufficiently to permit its being dug out. As Mattox is well known in this community there is no doubt whatever of the truth of his statement. The stone will be put on exhibition at Jackson as soon as it can be handled. Mr. Mattox hopes to realize a handsome sum for it from some of the great societies interested in meteoric collections. It is certainly the largest wanderer from the realms of space which ever found its way to earth.

A Wise Provision.

New York Weekly. Mr. Baldie —I have discovered that baldness is a wise provision of nature. Philosopher—That’s a discovery, surely. “Yes. You have noticed, doubtless, that I am bald as a billiard ball as far down as the rim of my hat,but below that the hair grows as luxuriantly as ever.” “Yes, that is usually the case.” “Exactly. Now comes my discovery. Barber shops are often draughty, you know.” “Very frequently.” “Too true. Sure to give folks influenza, pneumonia, and I don’t know what al'." “Draughts are always dangerous.” “That’s it. Well, a bald-headed man can have his hair cut without removing bis hat.”

Almost an Insinuation.

Texas Siftings. Teacher- If your father gives you forty cents and your brother gives thirty cents, how much will you have. Tommy—Humph! I guess you don't know much about my pa. He is not that kind of a hair pin. Little Dick —Teacher savs all plants is masculine or feminine. Mother—Well? Little Dick—Nothing, only this book says that some trees in California has trunks big enough for a bouse. Guess they mus* be feminine. t-

Sad Havoc.

New York Weekly. Western Man —We had a terrible conflagration in Dugout City last week. Only seventeen houses left standing. Eastern Man—My goodness! How many wpre there before the fire? Western Man —Nineteen. Emma—What’s that noise? It sounds as though they were pounding beefsteak. Jane—You guessed right; but we always speak of the performance bore as “tendering a banquet."

THE FAIR SEX.

Mme, Patey. who for twenty years was the leading contralto of Eng land, is about to retire. She ha--amassed a considerable fortune. Mme. Patey visited America in 1871. Mme. Regina Maney, the correspondent of the Reporter, of Lisbon. Portugal, is attending the World Fair. She was born in Kentucky of Portuguese parents, but has been a resident of Lisbon for many years. Mrs. Sidgwiek, of England, has collected vital statistics concerning nearly 600 women who have studied at Cambridge and Oxford. These women and their children are said to be physically superior to the British average. A GLIMPSE OF THE PAST. The bell skirt belonging to this costume must be taken for granted. ~ The material is old gold silk muslin, arid the trimming circular rows of lace, each row headed with rolls of yellow and black mirror satin. The

low bodice is very effective with its bruillone chemisette, pointed bib and frilled epaulettes above the puffed sleeves. The bonnet is an 1832 bonnet — don’t forget that—and it should be trimmed with buttercup satin, edged with a pointed cut ruche in black taffeta. Black velvet strings, bunches of peonies in two shades, and black wheat at the side complete the effect. Let it be recorded that only one English sovereign has reigned longer than Queen Victoria. Until Tuesday, Julv 18, she had two rivals, Henry 111 and George 111. Now Henry has been left behind. Four more years on the throne will earn for the Queen the title of champion British ruler.

VISITING COSTUME. Among the women who have been selected to prepare and read papers before the Columbian Congress, to convene in Chicago September 4, are Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, of New London, Conn., (daughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne); Eleanor C. Donnelly, of Philadelphia, (sister of Ignatius Donnelly); Eliza Allen Starr, the Chicago artist, and Isabel Shea, daughter of the late historian, Dr. John G-ilmary Shea, of Elizabeth, New Jersey. THE HOSE SLEEVE. Here is the “rose sleeve.” of which we shall see rather too much this summer, for it requires an excep-

tionally pretty arm to carry it. The material is silk cut bn the cross and measuring a yard long. Miss Charlotte Mary Yonge, the novelist, recently passed her seventieth birthday. She has given largely of the income derived from her more than thirty novels to church objects; thus £2.000, the profits of her “Daisy Chain." went to the building of a missionary church in Auckland, New Zealand, and a great part of the proceeds of the “Heir of Redclyffe" was devoted to the . fitting out of the missionary schooner Southern Cross tor the use of the late Bishop Selwyi.