Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1894 — OLD BUT BUSY. [ARTICLE]

OLD BUT BUSY.

• “Jack the Tack Thrower” is making life a burden to city bicyclists. “For promotion Cometh neither f rom the cast nor from the west, nor from the south. But. God is the judge;. He putteth down one. and 7~~ sitteth up another." The great whaleback steamer Christopher Columbus, one of the special attractions of the Columbian Exposition, is on duty this summer is a regular daily packet between __ Chicago and Milwauhee, Icaving the . Randolph street pier at 9:30 a. m. every morning except Saturday and Sunday. The boat does not leave until 1:30 p. m. on Saturday. Sundays it starts at 10 a. m. ——— 1 In times past the “fever’n ager" gave Indiana an unhealthy reputation. Since the advent of the tile mile and the era of big ditches the State has become especially healthy, and probably no commonwealth can show a larger per centage of octogenarians. The hot weather or some other cause has dealt somewhat harshly of late with these venerable nioneers, no less than five women laving died in Randolph county in the last week in August whose combined ages footed up a total of 420 (rears. Gotham is doomed—again. Prof. Falb, the Australian earthquake sharp, has decided to have the final •atastrophe come off Aug, IG. He predicts that New York city will be destroyed by a seismic shock on that late —which is a lit'tle rough on the Lexow committee. that»body having Adjourned till September. If the prophecy is fulfilled we may miss further revelations of official rottenness and private crime, but the country can illy afford to pay such a price for the immunity from the apparently endless stream of immoral i iterature that has emanated from that investigation. Paste this in vour hat and watch the Associated Press reports for the utter humiliation of this pretended prophet —or the final establishing of his reputation as a gifted scientific seer. Jealousy may stalk rampant Ihroughout Great Britain if the negotiations now in progress between Lord Randolph Churchill and certain New York manufacturers culninate in a bargain and sale. The ■English peer evidently believes .in Yankee ingenuity as well as Chicago sanitariums. Lord Ijlandolph came to this country to be cured of the uorphine habit, and being a personal friend of the royal family he con?luded to see what -New York carriage builders could do in the way of building a suitable perambulator for the new heir to the throne if England—the baby boy recently jorn to the Duchess of York. Several designs have been submitted to His Lordship, and it is understood that one to cost $4,000 will be accepted. The presentation will be a matter of some ceremony, and will be awaited with interest. Naturally British manufacturers will view the proceeding with a jealous eye. “Borrowing from Peter to pay Paul” is an old scheme and good enough—provided you always succeed in finding -'‘Peter” at the proper time. “Peter,” however, in these days of depression, is apt to change his name to “Paul” without warning. The whole philosophy of panics is involved in ’“this figurative transaction. As long as a sufficient number of “Peters” continue “on deck,” “Paul” is quite indifferent. “Paul” knows “Peter” quite well and shapes his business life by “Peter’s” actions. If “Peter” takes snuff “Paul” will sneeze with the greatest pleasure. If “Paul” embarks in new enterprises, of doubtful outcome “Peter” is ready to advance the cash until it begins to dawn upon him that he is an actor in a peculiar transformation scene and realizes that his name is “Paul.” The newly fledged “Paul" don’t waste any thne asking, “What are the wild waves saying, sister?" but frequently indulges in violent profanity that would make the. Great Apostle very nervous about the future welfare of his modern namesake could he “catch on." “Peter” is a very important individual. “May bis tribe increase.” The postage stamp craze among the rising generation continues to rage with unabated force throughout the land. Postage stamp albums have become a staple article of trade and a standard center table attraction that vies in interest with'

the portraits or caricatures of family friends and relatives. Childhood seems to contemplate with rapture ’each fresh acquisition, and blissfu) hours speed away while happy faces gazeAindpohderoiithetalismairffiair may have borne a message from beyond the seas. All countries, zones and continents contribute to the childish storehouse of these peculiar treasures.{Harmless and may the passion stiHcontmue to enthrall the childish mind and fill with wondering awe the youthful heart. Fraught wirh wonderful possibilities, the fashion may inaugurate a new <>ra in literature. The suggestive ness of a postage stamp from New Zealand is something to think about. What tales, by deduction might be •wrought and woven by a skillful mind; what visions of land of swarthy tribes and naked savages, of coral —reefs’ and I’ippling waves, of gleaming isles and waving palms, of savage beasts and fiercer sharks, of torrid heat and quivering calm and all the power of ail Ocean storm. When the science of psychology shall have been fully mastered and the process of suggestion fully understood then will the value of this youthful infatuation be more valued and appreciated. “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” Ambitious men frequently aspire to a seat in Congress in order that they may have an opportunity to achieve greatness—or notoriety, they are not particular which. There is Mr. Quigg. of New York, who has suddenly achieved notoriety by an impassioned speech in which he referred to “gladiators booted and spurred for conflict" to illustrate one of his alleged points. The country at large has been “laffing” ever since, more or less. Almost any ten-year-old school boy could inform Mr. Quigg that typical gladiators never saw a pair of boots or spurs—much less wore them. The ancient Roman gladiators always wore sandals. Representative Caruth interrupted the speaker with an inquiry as to what period in history gladiators were accustomed to wear boots and spurs. The question was a poser for the gentleman and the House enjoyed his confusion immensely. Mr. Caruth has also achieved notoriety by his peculiar ability in “taking down” members in their spreadeagle flights. Another instance of his quick perceptions in this line was his interruption of Mr. Dolliver of lowa. The Western Congressman was addressing the House in an eloquent way about the home-sick emigrants from. Europe; he said: “I have had them in my office, and while I was writing letters for them to their old friends across they were shedding tears —” at this point a voice from the rear chimed in: “What were they crying about?” It was Representative Caruth, and his ill-mannered but humorous interruption brought down the House and ruined the effect of Mr. Dolliver’s speech.

Men Whom the World Honors Spent a Profitable Old Age. New York Evening Sun. “In my 80th year,” wrote Humboldt in 1849, “I am still enabled to, enjoy the satisfaction of completing a third edition of my work, remolding it entirely to meet the requirements of the present time.”—Five years later Humboldt was hard at w 1 ~*’>ng his “Cosmos.” Dr. Johnson when 73 years old, au., UU..V. . under an attack of paralysis sufficiently severe to render him speechless, composed a Latin prayer in order to test the loss or retention of his mental faculties. A few years before his death he applied himself to the study of the Dutch language. In one morn - ing shortly before his death he amuSed himself bv committing to memory 800 lines of Virgil. Arnauld translated Josephus when 80 years old, and at the age of 82 was still referred to as “the great Arnauld.” Sir Henry Spelman, who passed his early life as a farmer, began his scientific studies at 50 years of age, and before his death came to be known as the most learned antiquary and legal authority of his his time. Dante proposed to translate the whole “Iliad” when in his 08th year, and his most pleasing productions were written in his old age. Michael Angelo preserved his creative genius to extreme old age. His favorite motto is said to have been, “Yet I am learning.” Sir Christopher Wren, who retired from public life at the age of 80? spent the next five years in literary, astronomical and religious studies. “The era of three score and ten is an agreeable age for writing,’ ’wrote Decker. “Your mind has not lost its vigor and envy leaves you in peace.” The opening of one of La Mothe le Yegor’s treatises is as follows: “I should but ill return the favors God has granted me in the 80th year of my age should I allow myself to give way to that shameless want ol occupation which Fhave condemned all my life.”