Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1894 — Bequeathed His Pension. [ARTICLE]

Bequeathed His Pension.

“Look unto the heavens and see; ind behold the clouds which are higher than thou.” “It takes all kinds of people to make a world,” but what is the use —of so many cranks'* a—Emperor William js taking a lively interest in the Chinese-Japa-nese war in Corea. lie studies all the reported movements of troops, and has obtained maps, charts, and every variety of information obtainable. The Kaiser would like to visit the scene of hostilities if it was at all possible. A very “old settler” turned up near Marengo, Ind., last week,, in the shape of a terrapin turtle. In the harvest of 1868, two brothers named Young found “his excellency” and carved their names on his coat of mail. When found, after twenty-six years, the names on the turtle’s back were as plain as the day they were cut,land apparently the “baste” had not grown the least bit. Peter was only a big bulldog in Brooklyn, but his character for integrity was above par. For years lie had been the principal guardian of a simple-minded child, the daughter of Mrs. Curley. Last February a cruel trolley car crushed the life out of Peter. After consultation with attorneys, Mrs. Curley has brought suit against the car company for 15.000 damages— a very high valuation for a bulldog.

There are now, all told, sixteen vessels of various classes in process of construction for the United States navy at the different navy yards, and at private shipyards building under contracts. In the list are four first-class battle-ships and two second class. Within the next two years all wooden vessels now in the service will be dropped from the naval register, and the “new navy” will be complete, unless Congress in the meantime provides for the construction of more ships. The Peary Arctic expedition recently returned from the Northern regions. Mrs. Peary, in an interview at Washington, “talked some,” and a company of scientific gentlemen, who also accompanied the expedition, held a consultation at Philadelphia and decided to make a statement in reply. They charge Lieut. Peary with being ungentletnanly, a tyrant totally unfit to command such an expedition, and state that “no Arctic expedition can ever succeed with a woman along to hamper it.”

Chicago will probably soon furnish another sensational assassination for the delectation of newspaper readers. Repeated attempts have recently been made to shoot Judge Bretano and family in their own house. The assassin has not bebn ipprehenhed and officers have so far 'ailed to obtain even a clew to his identity. Judge Bretano tried the Prendergast case, but says that he has no enemies that he is aware of, ind does not think his official acts ire the cause of the attacks. He is entirely at a loss to account for the attempts on his life.

A millionaire can do as he pleas- ! ?s, live as he pleases and where he ‘ pleases. A good many millionaires have availed themselves of this privilege and have built themselves residences in a variety that would seem to indicate mental aberration in less favored mortals. Ex-Senator Van Wyck, of Nebraska, has recently “laid over’’ all f other wealthy men in this regard. The retired Senator is wealthy, as is also his “better half.” They have considerable property in Washington City. Mi's. Van owns a neat church which was unoccupied. The Vans went down to ,the capital, some time ago, to look after some repairs on their property, and the Senator suggested that they “camp out" ip the church instead of Cfoing to a hotel. The plan was agreed to, furniture was procured, and the family “moved in” at once and have been enjoying the novelty immensely and regard it as a gpeat scheme. They like it so well, the lot in which the building is located being 50 attractive, that they Will have the church remodeled into a dwelling and will make it their winter home. Hiram S. Thomas is a colored man of New York city who has amassed a fortune of $200,000 in his liminess as a head waiter, and latterly as a hotel proprietor at Saratoga Lake. Recently he saw fit to Invest some of his money in a resiience in an aristocratic locality in

Brooklyn. The Brooklynites were indignant to a degree, unheard of, and mdved “heaven and earth,” so to speak. Mr. Thomas jg. disposed to be reasonable and will sell out at a slight advance of about $1,250. One of the residents who made the most strenuous objection to Thomas’s proposed location in his neighborhood was Gen. Mollineaux, who stated that he knew Thomas personally and had not the slightest objection to him, but he realized that his settlement in that particular place would Ke a serious financial in jury.

The reign of crime in New York city has almost become a reign of terror, and has spread to Brooklyn. Hoboken and several of the populous suburbs. Garroters at Hoboken choked two men nearly to death, took all their valuables; and did their work so quick that the wives of the victims, walking only a square behind, knew nothing of the trouble until they came upon the prostrate forms of their husbands. This happened at 9 o’clock in the evening. The entire suburban community surrounding the metropolis is alarmed, and with reason. Evidently the police regulations have become sadly inadequate.’ The boldest daylight robberies are also becoming quite a common thing in outlying districts. Occasionally important arrests, for these crimes, are made, but as a escape with their bootv.

A new era in railroading appears to have dawned in America- Fast trains, of a speed that until quite recently would have been regarded as phenominatyare becoming the regulation thing, and schedules begin to show ajnaterial change. The recent “fiver” special that flew from Chicago to Indianapolis in four hours and eight minutes via the Big Four route was an example of this tendency that was rather startling and was hot regarded as likely to become a settled practice. Yet xhat great system on Sunday, September 30,put on a new “flyer,” to beknown as the “Knickerbocker”, that is to make the distance from New York to St. Louis in twenty-nine hours. This speed is to be maintained every day in the year, “no preventing Providence.” The Big Four generally takes the head of the procession, but in this instance the procession don’t seem to be in it at all.

The deadly bacilli may become a theological issue in the near future. Communion services that have been conducted for centuries according to an established custom are to be made a subject for modern innovation. The single wine cup, that by common consent has been regarb, d as a sacred symbol—or, at least, good enough to contain the sacred wine—is likely to be displaced by individual cups. Rev. Dr. J. H. Gunning, who is also an M. I)., is a Baptist pastor in Brooklyn. Dr. Gunning has been investigating and has reached the conclusion that the ordinary Communion chalice is full of bacilli, and is an active agent in disseminating disease. He has accordingly inaugurated a new crusade. His own church has adopted his ideas,’ and their influence will be used to induce others to join with, them in what they .believe to be a really important reform. .Verily, “the old shall pass away and all things shall become new.”

Cincinnati Enquirer. Said B. C. Rains, a special pension agent: “I had a peculiar case in Washington county, Tennessee. A man named Adams drew a pension for total disability, and I was instructed to call and see if the disability was still total. When I reached the house a young man eame to the door, I asked: ‘ “Is this where John Adams.lives?’ ‘ “It’s whar he did live, stranger.’ ‘ “Where does he liye now?’ . “ ‘He don’t live. He’s been dead for goin’ on five y’ar. I’m his son.’ “Then. I explained iny mission, and he said: “ ‘Oh, thet’s all right. Walk right in and take a cheer. Pap could 'Write, an’ he made a will; the pension war the oSiy thing he hud to leave, but it’s come in mighty handy.’ “He produced the will, and sure enough, the pension had been devised to him. I didn’t have the heart to tell him thatJLt was not valid, but he receives no more pension.”