Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 January 1895 — NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL. [ARTICLE]

NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.

Indianapolis, Dec 29, 1894. The patronage of the hotels during the week has been phenomenal. The visitors from the rural districts and outlying towns of the State made the urbane clerks weary to a degree they have not experienced for some time. The Sentinel of Thursday printed a solid column of names in nonpareil showing the registers at the leading hostelries. ***

The improvements at the Grand Hotel entrance are about complete and add very much to the attractiveness of that caravansary. The entrance is now quite metropolitan. ■» ♦ Master Chilton Johnson, aged nine, of this city, has been successful in proving that “corporations have souls.” At least it would be very hard to convince the lad that corporations are as hard-hearted as has been generally bel --Master Johnson applied to the Citizens’ Street Car Company for the gift of an old street car, and it was sent to him by the president of the company on a four-horse truck as a Christmas gift. There was great excitement among the juvenile population in thrt neighborhood, and Master Johnson was universally envied. He doeil not regard the car as an “elephani on his hands” by any means, but thinks he can use it in his business, * * * The “Blacherne” flats, the great eight-story structure now beintj erected on North Meridian street by Gen. Lew Wallace, is approaching completion. The building is intended to accommodate twenty-four families in first-class style, and it is Baid that every apartment iS already rented. These flats area new departure for Indianapolis. The building looms up into the air in a way to remind one of Chicago. ♦ * * The Jackson Dav Democratic meeting, Jan. 8, promises to be an event of unusual interest. The banquet will be spread with 1,000 covers at Tomlinson Hall, Congressman Bynum and Senator Voorhees will be here. Gov. Matthews will preside. An effort will be made to find out the cause of the great defeat in November, and plans will be inaugurated which those interested hope will restore the Hoosier State to the Democratic column.

The trial of the notorious “Winnie” Smith for the murder of Weston B. Thomas, at Brighton Beach, last summer, will begin Jan. 7. It is expected that the case will take two weeks, a large amount of type-writ-ten testimony being already prepared in addition to the witnesses who will goon the stand. The legal fraternity are likely to reap a harvest from this case. The friends of Thomas, it is understood, will employ eminent counsel to assist the Prose?utor. Smith will also be defended by some of the ablest talent at the Marion county bar. * ♦ *

The Legislative session will begin lan. 10. Already the “coming easts its shadows before." The eon test for the speakership loses none of its interest, and so far as heard from all the candidates are yet in the race. Suggestions of withdrawal by various candidates ire frequently made, but all indications go to show that somebody is “too previous.” A canvass of the elaims of the various candidates reveals the fact that Representatives have very largely and wisely retrained from making any binding promises to any particular candidate prefering to decide the matter at the mucus, when the claims and special fitness of the aspirants can be given mere careful and intelligent considition. lam not at liberty to state who will be successful, but from the best advices at hand can say that “the battle is going my way."

Indianapolis, for two months has juffered from an unprecedented epilemic of measles. On Massachusetts avenue, within six squares, theere were at one time 300 cases. There are ninety-five cases at this time at the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, forty-five of which developed on Christmas day. The disease is of a remarkable mild type, but few fatalities resulting.