Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1894 — PEOPLE. [ARTICLE]

PEOPLE.

“Ip thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.” Shbtep shearing by steam is an innovation recently introduce;! in this country from Australia. The first trial of the apparatus was made at Casper, Wyo., April 23. Mrs. J. B. Okie sheared an unresisting bleater in five minutes and pronounced the machine “O. K." The time is coming, apparently when the right to work for a living will be denied to all who are not able to pay a bonus or provide themselves with the latest patent right ia their particular line of endeavor. A boa coxsTßtcroa at the Ade laide, Australia, Zoological Gardens, recently swallowed a Persian ruir ten feet square. The diet proved too heavy for the “delicate” creature, who, after two months mature and deliberate reflection, concluded to disgorge the fruit of the Eastern loom. The carpet was not particularly damaged and at last accounts the reptile was doing well. This snake cost the Gardens §IO.OOO, and . the authorities are greatly elated at the escape of their pet from what they feared would prove a fatal attack of indigestion. Tins Viking ship, now in New Orleans, has been sold to a syndicate of Chicago Scandinavians and will be returned to the World's Fair city, so it is now said. It is hard to keep track of all the reports about this boat and the Ferris wheel. The last rumor concerning the great revolver is that it will speedily he removed to New York. If the wheel is to be removed, now that the Peristyle and the Agricultural Building are ruined and the beauty of the Court of Honor forever destroyed, it does not matter particularly what becomes of the Viking ship. It is all very well as far as it goes, but it was a trifling attraction in comparison to these greater ones that we can see no more.

Pardons with a string to them have been a favorite diversion with the President of late. Recently Mr. Cleveland "ranted a pardon to a woman, who had been convicted of a crime, on condition that she would leave the country and 'Stay out. And again, last week, in granting clemency to a man convicted of counterfeiting,, the crime having been committed while under the influence of liquor, the President affixed a note stating that the pardon had been granted on condition that the person abstain from intoxicating liquors for five years. Grover is liable to have some trouble in enforcing the conditions imposed, but there is no doubt that their imposition will have a certain restraining influence on the parties most concerned. They will very likely try to live up to the requirements, or at least labor very hard to keep any further transgressions from the President’s knowledge. We don’t care much, but as a matter of general interest, will state that “straws” indicate that the Liberal party, of which Mr. Gladstone was the great head, is liable to retire from power at the next general election in England. This does not affect the G. O. M., as he has already retired. Lord Rosebery "not appear to inspire a great deal of enthuiasm or confidence in the great mass of British voters. By-elections to fill vacancies caused by the acceptance of peerages and elevation to office of members of the Commons, show that if the per cent, of gain made by the Nationalists is maintained at the next general election, Lord Rosebery will also retire from the Premiership, and the cause of Irish home rule will receive a back set that it will not soon recover from. Evidently the young Premier will have to “hump” himself if he cares to retain the control of Queen Victoria’s purse strings. We are not especially desirous of acquiring a reputation as a “kicker,” but will nevertheless remark that something is out of joint when summer homes at Newport, which are bo much affected by the New York “nobs,” are called “cottages,” when they rent for anything less than $4,000 for the summer season. Above that rate, up to $25,000 for the season, they are dignified by the title of “villa.” Many summer homes at Newport arAsaid to have cost their owners upwards of $1,000,000. The distribution of wealth is the great problem of the future. We never expect tp get “our” share. The realou for our objection to the name of “cottagn” as applied to a residence

that will rent for $4,000 for the summer season, extending over not more than four months, may not be obvious at a glance, but we insist that this a term intended to mislead. The millionaires Who own and rent these “cottages,” which are in fact stately and costly mansions, do not care to have the general public know that they are so recklessly extravagant. Hence they assume an humble tone, and would have people believe that they are living quietly by the seashore in an humble “cottage” devoid of architectural attractions or the lavish luxury to which they are daily accustomed when at home. It is important that our readers keep posted about the beatification of saints which is taking place al Rome quite frequently. The Pope can make a saint so easy that it is a wonder, he does not construct one every day. The last shade of a departed prelate to be thus honored was Juan Davilar, the “Apostle of Andalusia.” Seven"thouaand Spanish pilgrims and twenty Spanish pilgrims were present, and imposing ceremonies were conducted at the Vatica Basilica, wherever that is. Thirty thousand Roman spectators were also present. The Pope was carried into the basilica on the seclia gestatoria and proceeded to bless the portrait of Davilar, after which Juan immediately became a saint, and can be worshipped as such with impunity and without blasphemy. The ceremonials of the Church of Rome are said to be magnificent to a degree of splendor unequalled by any temporal power.

Another gigantic irrigation enterpriselfas been hatched in the boundless, arid West. Inhabitants of the parched plains of Colorado and Kansas are complaining at the useless waste of water that annually flows to the Gulf via the un navigable upper end of the Missouri river, as well as objeetjng to the damage that results from the great spring freshets in the same stream, and are now urging that the money that is being spent on the levees of the lower Mississippi by the government, be used to dig a canal along the foot of the eastern slope of. the Rocky mountains that will carry off this surplus moisture of the Big Muddy -and divert it to the drought-stricken regions of Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Northern Texas. This could undoubtedly be accomplished if the government should set about it in a determined wav, A large amount of the s-urnlus water in -the Kankakee swamps could also be transported to the stricken country in tank cars by- the same powerful agency. Northern Indiana should begin to look after its interests. If the government is going into th? irrigation business it may as well come in for its share of the “swag,”

The richest actor in Franco is Constant Coquelin, who is said to be worth 5,000,000 francs. Manuel Garcia, who taught Jenny Lind, is still teaching, although he is in his ninetieth year. The book which Gladstone referred to in his last speech against the Lords, “Fifty Years of the Hous< of was written by Editor Stead. J The visiting card, of the German Emperor is four times as large as ac ordinary card for gentlemen, and or it is engraved “Wilhelm, Deuhsehei Kaiser and Konig von Preussen.” Representative Charles Morgan, ol Missouri, served in a Wisconsin regiment during the war, and enjoy* the distinction of having been captured by the Confederates five times and escaping on each occasion, in one instance jumping from a railroad train at night. Some time ago John M. Smith, o! Pleasant Valley, Pa., predicted that he would die on his ninety-seventk birthday, then closely approaching Monday was Smith’s birthday, and true to his prophecy, he expired.

PrOf. Ernst Haeckel, the “German Darwin,” who has just celebrated his sixtieth birthday, has been connected with the University of Jena thirty-three years, declining calls to the larger universities of Vienna. Wurzburg, Strasbourg and Bonn.’ Bismarck was among those who sent him congratulations, and addresses were received from many German and foreign universities. A collection for a bust of Haeckel, to b# placed in the university building, yielded $2,000 more than was needed, the surplus being applied by Haeckel to scientific uses. Mascagni, the composer of “Cavalleria Rusticanna,” is exceedingly superstitious. Ho is said to fear especially the “Jettatura” —th 3 “evil eye” —and always carries a number of amulets to protect himself against its influence. When he crosses the street he always walks on the very edge of the crossing if possible, it is said, believing it to be bad luck to walk as ordinary mortals do. He also carries two watches—one extremely valuable, and the other a simple silver one, which, he says, always brings him luck.