Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1895 — Page 2

GbvU E. Marshall, Editor. RtNSSET. AER - INDIAN A

The pugilist, JoEn L. Sullivan, Jong the champion of the world and in receipt of an income that enabled him to live in luxury and-spend large sums in wholesale dissipation, came to a sudden and humiliating halt, recently, at Jacksonville, Fla. His theatrical troupe went to pieces and John L., by some peculiar financiering not apparent, fount! himself unable to satisfy a small execution. His trunks containing his wardrobe were levied upon and the mighty man was compelled to remain in his room at the hotel for several days. A friend sent him $250, but this was not sufficient. His creditors refused to the wind” for years. He is now beginning to “reap the whirlwind,” and in due time, if he should live, will fall to the level of all who "tarry Jong at the wine when it. is red.” He will end as a drunken beggar and barroom sot beyond a doubt. ...... ’ t New York State seems to be very much in earnest about tin? proposition to deepen the Erie and Oswego canals to nine feet and tc enlarge the locks. A bill has passed the Legislature to submit to the voters at the election next November the q uestion of TSsufrrg- t)l)< 1. • boo,in State bonds for this pftfppse. The boats to be used on the new canal, if the proposition is carried out, will he of.an.improved pat teym and. •will be propelled by electricity from a trolley line.

The citizens oL "Lake View” at Chicago, are much‘agitated .over the alleged permanent location of thu Ferris wheel on North. Clark- street, and have been holding mass meetings to perfect plans to head off the enterprise. It begins to look like that wheel was still in Chicago. The probability is that the over-sensitive and refined residents of ‘'Lake View’’ will be compelled to ‘ view’’ the wheel as well as the lake, They might change the name of their suburb and have ( a hyphenated title. ‘‘Lake-and- Wheel-View” would be euphonious. The idea that it’ would hurt Chicago people to look at the Ferris wheel is a little far-fetched. It is claimed that the crowds will injuriously affect the suburb, which is another very peculiar idea —for Chiago. Crowds hurt Chicago!

The end of the world has about eventuated again. The end of the world has troubled many good peopie who have been peacefully resting in their graves for unknown generations. It will probably con-> tinue to be a cause for agitators to discuss while mankind continue to abide on this terrestrial ball. "The Battle Creek Adventists are. not. rust down by previous disappointments, although their programmes have-failed to materialize in the past. For some time the disciples of this faith have been conducting a great —revival at Battle Creek, Mich. Last week a New Year's offering was collected. Articles of every imaginable description were contributed by the faithful. Watches, chains, diamonds, jewelry of all descriptions, forty bicycles—all told of a value of F 40,000 wtjre contributed to be sold for cash, the proceeds to be used in extending the theories of the sect.

It is a great personal triumph whichSupL- Byrnes has achieved in New York —right or wrong. Mayor Strong, the new Republican executive, some time ago returned the Superintendent’s letter of resignation and virtually asked him to remainin’) the head of the department until he could look around and determine as to his future course. Since that time the Mayor has been in very “hot water.” Brer Pai-khurst, Boss Platt, the W. C. T. U. and an endless procession of alleged reformers and professional politicians have, made life a burden to him. Feb. 2,'| he announced that Supt. Byrnes would continue at the head of the Police Department, and, further, he s now given almost supreme power. He wiil be practically unhampered and will be responsible only to the Mayor. Inspectorships arc abolished and all transfers, assignments and details are to be made by Byrnes mstead of the Police Board. The announcement has created a great sensation and of course was received witlypoinmendation in some quarters and edbsternation in others. Mr. Mayor Strong appears to have been rery emphatic and ‘there is every evidence to indicate that he “knoiVs whera bo is fit. ”

Not an Observer.

.Mamnta —"What did young De Riche lay last night when you asked him whether the 'moon was shiniutr as he same in?” Lilian —"Why, he hadn't noticed." "Hum—m! My I wouldn't waste any more time there, 1 think."— time.

THE LAWS.

Work of the Recent State Legis lature. An Vnnsnal Xnnvber 'of Bills PaMed—The Have Been Ma'Jit Following is a brief review of the work of the recent Legislature. In succeeding issues we will publislathe more important lawsjnose fully: The lirst act passed was that approFiriating $ 100.0 (Jrfor the expenses of the legislature, which is $6,0 X 1 less than >thepreceding Legislature appropriated for that purpose The second act passed (House bill propriated money to mi'et the expenditorcs of the-Lovernor for the support and -transportation of the militia to. enforce, theriaws. mainly during the Debs strike. House bill 259 became a law, January 23.. It fixed the number of employes in the House, creating a doorkeeper, a cloak room custodian and eight assistant doorkeepers at $5 per day, and four janitors at f 3 per day. four pages at $2 a day, seven. teenrierksuvt-Frand a folding clerk ats3, six committee clerks at $5. These clerks tlo all the engrossing and—enrolling, but. the number is about half as large as in 1893 ■ ■ House bill 107 appropriates money for the salaries of the allice of the Clerk of the Supreme Court, which act was necessary because the salary law of 1891 relating to that office went into effect when the new Clerk came in, in December, and the last Legislature had made no appropriations.

House bill Gt> provides for the opening, vacating and change of highways; provides that the auditors of counties shall require sheriffs to notify the viewers of proposed roads, for their location or discontinuance, who shall, after.being sworn, proceed to that duty. Highways of public utility shall be on the best ground, but shall not run through- any person’s inclosurc of one year s staChding without the owner's consent, unless a good , way cannot otherwise be had. Where roads are laid out on the dividinglines of individuals, each shall give half the road. 4 Senate bill 104, provides that the sinking hind commissioners shall be selected from (the two parties casting the greatest number of votes at the previous election, and shall be chosen by the city council, and shall give b inds of £IOO,OOI. House bill 93, .defines the course to bo pursued by churches, benevolent institutions and educational societies to a ttain property by gift or purchaseby the agency jf trustees. An act was approved. Feb, 16, which provides that boards oT 'county cohimis- ' Honors in counties where contracts were let and courthouses begun before January, 1895. may issue bonds not exceeding 1 per .cent, of tiie assessed valuation of the>taxxblo property of said counties, in addition to any loan lor such purpose for which bonds may have been previously issued. Senate bill 120, forbids the running of railway tracks through cemeteries. Senate bil l 22, provides that when gravel roads have been built by order of county commissioners, and the viewers shall depart from the lino of such highway an 1 construct portions upon a new line, the tbandoped portions shall be deemed vacated, and shall revert to the owner. House act 124 legalizes the acts of notaries who, acting in good faith, had no commissions when papers were certified, ar who are ineligible for any cause. Emerjencyr:—

Senate act 125 provides that cemetery properly shall not bo taxed except the corporation derives a pecuniary benefit or profit therefrom. House bill 32 providing for the pensionwornout firemen after jeiirs’ service, at the rate not to exceed SSO i month, and those disabled in the service according to their disability, and the widBvs and orphans of those killed in the line )f duty. It may apply to several cities besides Indianapolis. Senate act 1 created a State Soldiers’ Homo at Lafayette, aepropriating $75.0)0 lor administrative buildings and the fitting up of the grounds, and provides for a ioinmandant and adjutant and a board of trustees to serve without pay. It also provides for the support of any veteran and his wife actually at the home. House act 136 appropriates $9M32.27_t0r Itreet paving in front of public buildings ind lots. a . Senate act 58 establishes a Superior Court in Madison county, the judge to, have the salary of other Superior Court judges, Senate act 20 is a resolution authorizing R. S. Hatcher to investigate all matters relative to the State seal and report to the aext Senate.

llouso act 184 relates to the cutting of hedge and other live fences along dividing lines. It provides that hedges shall be trimmed to five feet, in height and three feet in width each year, and when complaint is made by one of tiie parties in interest that the other fails to comply with the law. the township trustee, after duo notice, shall cause the hedge to be propertv trhnmcd and begin a suit against the owners of tiie property. House act 312 establishes a Board of Public Parks in Indianapolis, to be appointed by the Mayor, to serve without Compensation. The board has extensive powers, but is subject to the City Council. House act 28 prohibits the landing dr beaching of family shanties or flatboats on shore for a longer period than ten hours with, u the consent of the owner. A penalty iiou less than $5 and no more than S2O is provided. House act 341 relates to taxation, being an amendment of Sections 11, 114, 115,125 and 129 of the act of March 6, 1891.. It tielines specifically when property shall be taxed, provides for county boards of review, composed of Auditor, Assessor and Treasurer and two freeholders, and defines its powers and extends the session of the State Hoard of Review. Senate act 103 legalizes the appointment of Township Trustees by County Commissioners whore the predecessors of such trustees are of unsound mind. House act 61 regulates tobacco warehouses. Senate act 18 calls for an accounting of the proceeds of the swamp land fund by Hie Treasurer of State. Senate, act 48 extends the jurisdiction of the Police Judge of Indianapolis and increases his salary to ?9,-500. Senate act 54 legalizes tfie sale of forfeited sch >ol land by County Auditors. Senate act 207 materially ehamres the old law regarding the publication of libels in newspapers. The new law requires tiie aggrieved party to serve a notice on the* publisher, giving the statements which lie claims to be defamatory. If after suit shall be brought it appears upon trial that the arttelo was published in good faith, that its' falsity was due to mistake, and that a full and fair retraction was pubs lished within three days, if a daily, and ten days if a weekly paper, in a conspicuous place and type, the plaintiff shall receive only actual damages. Senate act 252 requires insurance companies to add cash to their capital until it shall be equal toflOO.oOO Senate act 128 authorizes cities topefund tiieir indebtedness. Senate act 129 defines the manner of paying drain and sewer assessments ami affords the privilege of paying the same by installments. Senate act 142 authorized circuit courts to employ clerical assistance for probate commissioners, and fixing the manner of their compensation. House ;ict 57 is the revised code for the •governmei'it. of the mililia. Its distinctive feature is that in cases where officers are compelled to Are on a mob theitaction shall l>e considered by a military rather th in a civil court. House act 101 amends the existing laws regulating the organizing of benevolent,

scfentl fl e all d i m pro yem on t associations. House act 396 legalizes the’Tncorporationof the town of Middleton. Henry county. ’ . ‘ House act 525 authorizes and.speci *s the terms upon which the Governor, Auditor and Treasurer of State may issue and sell bonds. - 48enate eet 138 authorizes • cities and towns to sell bonds for the purpose of funding or refunding the same. It al-o requires city councils and boards of trustees to levy taxes for the payment of inheres ton bonds and f ora stnki ii g In nd. House act 11 compels railroad companies to maintain suitable wailing rooms and closets in cities- and towns of more thari one hundred population. Senate act 303 is the celebrated Roby bill. It prohibits racing on any track from Nov. 15 to April 15. for purse or prize, in the presence of fifty persons. It prohibits the calling of any race meeting on anyone track oftener than three times a year. The penalty for winter racing is a tine of" $10) to SSOO and not more than six months’ imprisonment. Senate act 371 relieves certain township trustees In Vigo county on the payment of certain funds deposited in a bank which failed.

Senate act 124 changes the name of the Mutual Life and Endowment Association of Indiana to the Mutual Life Insurance Company of Indiana. Senate act 392 extends the provisions of the act of 1893. which? authorized eity councils to sell bonds and raise money for organized water works in which cities may be part owners. Senate act 360 amends the act of 1851 incorporating the town of Vernon, Jennings county. _—__ Swiate act 2G2 appropriates 110,000 annually for premiums to be awarded by the State Agricultural Society. Senate act 2)5 is a long law changing the old law relative to the construction of free gravel, stone and other roads. No abstract can convoy an idea of 'the contents of the'seven sections of the bill Senate act 13 defines the duties, fixes the salaries and penalties for nonperformance of duty of county (commissioners in counties having over 65,(XX) inhabitants and not less than twenty townships. House act 97 abolishes the eighty per cent, clause in insurance policies and places further power in hands of the "auditor over insuranco courpinics. - Senate act 163 provides for the enumeration of'school children. Senate act 466 fixes’the time of holding the circuit courts in Wells und Blackford counties. Emergency. Senate act 438 fixes the time for holding 'till) courts in the Forty-sixth judicial circuit and regulating other matters relating thereto. ; , .

Senate act 373 contains the important provision under which part of school tuition of the State shall be withheld equal to the amount of the previous year which was unexpended. Senate act 211 relates to the manage--ment of waterworks in cities and towns of 5,050 inhabitants. Senate act 153 repeals the existing law. fixing the rules of evidence in cases where employes receive injury from railroads ami other incorporations. Senate act 6 fixes the number and compensation of the Senate employes. House act 587 is the so-called regency act for the soldiers’ monument. House act 157 is a legislative apportionment law. House act 156 repeals the apportionment act of 1893 on the ground that the courts have practically declared it unconstitutional. House act 494 provides for the appointment of boards of control lor the State prisons, the board to be appointed by the Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer and Attorney-General. Senate act 80 requires township trustees to keep a register of orders and warrants issued and an account of alt indebtedness of townships and publish the same. House act 646 authorizes cities with more than 2,000 and less than 2,200 inhabitants to grant and convey any market squaiejrgmecejjf land to a corporation which will devote it to a public purpose. 'House act 107 defines fraudulent marriages. . It provides that' any man who, while under prosecution for seduction or bastardy, shall marry the woman to escape prosecution and shall desert her or treat her cruelly within two years“of the date of the marriage, shall be liable for a penalty not less than $2 )0. Holise act' 289 is an act concerning the purchase of toll roadsand providing for the mainte apcc of the same as gravel roads. It provides that the cost of such roads shall be assessed upon the property in the township voting to purchase, and further, that if the commissioners deem best, one-third can be paid for out of the general fund. House act 4'2 fixes the time of holding t-ourts in Vanderburg. Gibson and Posey counties. Vanderburg is a district by itself and courts begin the first Monday of March. June. September and December. In Gibson county the term begins the first Monday of October, January, April and July. In Posey the courts begin the Monday succeeding the termsJn Gibson. Senate act 11 requires street railway xom pan les to-SO construct their cars th a t drivers and motormen shall be protected from the inclemency of the weather.

Senateact,49amendsexisting laws relating to the organization and perpetuity of voluntary associations. It provides for the organization of orphan asylums, live ,stock associations, secret societies, women’s exchanges, etc. Senate act 136 amends all laws authorizing city councils to divide cities Into wards—said wards to contain as nearly an equal nnrnlxT of voters as possible and no changes of lines to be made oftener than once in two years. Senate act 11 authorizes cities of 10,090 population or more to provide for police matron, who shall be notless than thirtyfive years of age. to be recommended by not loss than twenty women anil live meh in writing. This act is not compulsory. Emergency. House act 384 lays a tax of one-sixth of, a mill on every dollar of taxable property in the State for the support of the Normal School, Purdue and the State University. The State University gets onefifteenth of a mill and the other two onetwentieth each.

House act 623 authorizes ,the county commissioners of Vigo to add ?520 to the salary of the circuit judge. House act 648 declares that all persons, companies, corporations and associations desiring to incorporate under the laws of Indiana must file with the Secretary of State duplicate copies of the articles of incorporation. House act 630 is the same as a' previous act authorizing county commissioners to borrow money equal to one-fourth of 1 perl cent, to complete courthouses contracted for prior to Feb. 1, 1895. House act 103 appropriates SSOO for tiie publication of the reports of the Indiana Academy of Science and furnishes it a room in tiie State House. Senate act 276 provides that the box containing the list of names for jurors shall be in possession of Hie clerk and that the only key shall bo in possession of the commissioner of the opposite party from the clerk. Senate act 297 makes it unlawful to take fish in any lake in Indiana between April land June 15 under penalty of not less than $lO nor more than SIOO. Senate act 46’> changes Hie name of Jacksonville,Fountain county,to Wallace.' Senate concurrent resolution No. 21 provides for a commission of two from each congressional district and four at large to consider the matter of a centennial industrial exposition, to serve without. pav. • House act 548 amends the law in regard to apnea's from Circuit to the Supreme or Appellate courts. House act 373 provides thntst.olen property captured by tho police shall be turned ever to police cominiuioners and If not

claimed within six months shaff bo soH arid the proceeds turned" into the citj but- the. owner, within a yeai after such sale, shall be able to recovei the money if he furnishes evidence of ownership of the stolen goods. House act 533 provides fora Chickamau"ga commTssToh brvetefAhs'whp servedor -that campaign, to serve -wi thou t fnrth el compensation than expenses,- to locate and contract for monuments marking tin positions of Indiana regiments on that field. It appropriates $40,000. but nocontract shall be—made without the approval' of the Governor. House act 627 increases the salary of the Criminal Judge of Marion county tc $3,250. House act 432 lays the State tax for the next two years as follows: 9 cents pel SIOO for the general fund, 5 cents for the benevolent fund, 11 cents for a*school tuition fund and 3 cents for a sinking fund. House act 536 authorizes the Bureau o| Statistics to collect and publish from time to time agricultural and other tlmelj statistics. House act 335 is an important measure relating to gravel roads and their maintenance. Its purpose seems to be to hold officials to closer responsibility. ' r House act 266 legalizing all ordinances of the council of Indianapolis in making additions and In improvements in such additions. Senate act 480 is known as the “benevolent institutions bill,”which giyesJialLol the trustees to each party aud establishes the merit system. Senate act 327 rests the management o| the State librarj' in the Board of E lunation. It contains stringent provisions regarding the care of the books, etc. Senate act 331 subjects any railroad company or other corporation, or then agents, to exemplary damages if any discharged employe shall be blacklisted. Senate act 337 provides that when a charge is made that a person is of unsound mind und incapable of attending to his business, the matter shall be determined in court, ami contains other regulations about guardians. Senate act 350 prohibits the sale or giv< ing away of any book, paper or picture giving the chief features of th« commission of crime, the acts and pictures of criminals or of men or women iu lewd and unbecoming positions or improper dress.lTnaitv is a line not le>S $lO nor more than $3(10. Senate bill 474 creates boards of control for tiie prisons, to be appointed by State officers. Seriate act 392 gives electric companies authority to supply power and light. Senate bill 158 is designed to curb assessors who are greedy. House act 587 creates the regency for the Soldiers’ Monument. □ House act 6::2 provides for Congressional apportionmon t. Senate act 119 provides for the change of county seat in Jackson county. -House act 310 postpones' the election ot county school superintendents until after the officers elected Last fall come into office. House bill 128 provides for a Superior Court in Lake. Porter and LaPorte counties. Senate act 421 enables persons, meaning Mrs. May, to bring suit against the State, Senate act 399 empowers lodges to transfer stock held by them in corporations. “ ■ ■■ - Senate act 352 legalizes the records of certain Superior and Circuit courts. Senate act 4 makes the salary of the coroner of Marion county #3.(X)J a year. Senate act 413 fixes the time of holding Circuit courts in Harrison and Crawford counties. Senate act 186 exempts persons who arc too feeble and 100 poor to pay highway taxes therefrom. House act No. 165‘is the famous Nicholson bill. Senate act 213 amends the charter of Terre Haute. Senate act 369 makes the stockholders of State banks responsible for double the par value of their stock and requires that any impairment of capital shall be made good. Senate act 392 proves that two trustees of 1 ’urdue shall be riamed by the Board of Agriculture, one by the Board of Horticulture and six by the Governor. Seriate act 296 authorizes counties and townships to constructor aid in the construction of bridges over streams forming the boundary line between townships, whether in the same county or not. Senate act 215 appropriates money to pay claim of T. T. Shehan for brick paving Washington street. Senate act 238 provides for the change o! venue from justices of the peace in certain cases, - Senate act 359 specifies how sewers may be ordered in cities of less than thirty-livo thousand population. Senateact 15 authorizes the refunding of damages into the treasury of Bartholomew county. iz

Senate act 195 pays R. T. Overman $1,419 for extra work on a contract in building soldiers’ home. Senate act 65 authorizes county commissioners to purchase toll roads. House act 298 authorizes the transfer of insane persons from the State prisons to the asylurns?" House bill 46 is an important law amending all previous laws relative t<i the incorporation of cities. House act 325 repljals the law providing for the enrollment or veterans of the lain war which has been a useless expense. Senate act 194 relates to the appointment of shorthand reporters in courts ol record in counties containing a population of seventy thousand and more. It fixes the price of copying and the Judges appoint. Senate act 181 authorizes the taking o! depositions to probate wills. Senate act 38 legalizes sheriffs’ sales ol real estate without an appraisement ol the rents and profits.

House acfs.ll makes it incumbent, on sheriffs to see that convicts in the prison* are taken back to the counties from which they were sent. House act 89 proscribes the manner o| taking appeals to Supreme and Appellat< courts when tiie appeal is taken by pari of the eo-parties in the suit. Senate act 29 requires railway comuanies to maintain passable crossings o', streets in incorporated towns. Senate act 59 is to provide for the protection, supervision and safety of property willed or donated to benevolent purposes Stenate act 99 relates to the establishim of meridian lines. Senate bill Ils amends an act concerpiru proceedings in civil cases. Senate act 148 concerns the constructor of water works. Senate act is concerning ex-Uniot soldiers. Senate act 177 relates to proceedings it civil cases. Senate act 226 provides for a record oi persons receiving aid from public funds. Senate act 266 amenji ‘ the Ft. Waynt charter. Senate act 338 includes gill nets amono the inhibited articles that may be searched for and destroyed. Senate act 444 provides tliat under certain circumstances land may be condemned for cemetery purposes. House act 639 fixes tire fees and salariei of all county and State officers. The following acts legalizing the incorporation and acts of towns were passet with emergency clauses: Wheatland. Jasper eonntvt Albany, Delaware county; legalizing issue of s.hoolbonds issued bj the town of Shoals; legalizing the incorporation of Alton, Crawford county; le galbzhia tho incorporation of the town <> Grandview, Spencer county; legalizing the incorporation of the town of Green villo. Floyd county; legalizing the town it Crandall. Harrison county; legalizing th< incorporation of the town of Broad Rip pie: legalizing tho incorporation of Ossiaq Wells county; Brooks, Newton county) Warren, Huntington county.

OUR NATIONAL SCOURGE

The Divorce Mills That Unceasingly Grind. An Eloquent Plea in BVhalf of the Sacred - nesi of the Marriage Relation -Dr. Talmage’s Sermon. « “Wholesale Divorce” was the subject of Dr. Talmage’s sermon at the New York Academy of Music last Sunday. The text selected was Matthew xix, 6, “What, therefore, God has joined together let not man put asunder.” That there are hundreds and thousands of infelicitous homes in America no one will doubt. If there were only one skeleton in the closet, that i might be locked up and abandoned, I but in many homes there is a skele- ' ton in the hallway and a skeleton in all the apartments. “Unhappily I married” are two of many a homestead. It needs no . orthodox minister to prove to a bad!ly mated pair that there is heli. They are there now. Some say that for the alleviation of all these domestic disorders.- of , which we hear easy divorce is a good ‘ prescription. God sometimes au- | thorizes divorce as certainly as he authorizes marriage. I have just as much regard for one lawfully divorced as I have for one lawfully married. But you know and I know ' that wholesale divorce is one of our National scourges. I am not surprised at this when I think of the influences which have been abroad militating against the marriage relation. I For many years the platforms of the country rang with talk about a free love millennium. There were meetings of this kind held in the 1-C.oo.per Institute. New York; Tremont, Temple, Boston, and all over tiie land. Some of the women who were most prominent in- thatMnovement have sinee been dist’n<»ui.shed for great promiscuosity of affection. Popular themes for such occasions were.the tyranny of man, th&oppression of the marriage relation, woman’s rights and the affinities. Prominent speakers were women with short curls and short dresses and very long, everlastingly at war with God because they were created women, while on the platform sat mbek men with soft accent and cowed derpj?anor, apologetic for masculinity and holding the parasols while the termagant orators went on preaching the doctrine of free love. > Another influence that has warred upon the marriage relation has been polygamy in Utah. That was a stereotyped caricature of the marriage relation and has poisoned the whole land. You might as well think that you can have an arm in a state of mortification and yet the whole body not be sickened as to have those Territories polyiramized and yet the body of the Nation not feel the putrefaction. Hear it, good men and women of America,rihat so long ago as 1862 a law was passed by Congress forbidding polygamy in the Territories and in all the places where they had jurisdiction. Twen-ty-four years passed along and dive administrations before the first brick was knocked from that fortress of libertinism. ' | Another influence that has warred against the marriage relation in this country has been a pustulous literature, with its millions of sheets every week choked with stories of domesticjvrongs and infidelities and massacres and outrages unfit it is a wonder to me that there are any decencies or any common sense left on the subject of marriage. One half of the news stands of all our cities reeking with the filth. 1 “Now,” say some, “we admit all these evils, and the only way to clear them out or correct them is bv easy divorce,” Well, before we yield to that cry let us And out how easily it is how. I I have looked over the laws of all the States, and I find that while in some States it is easier than in oth--1 ers in ‘'every State it is easy. The State of Illinois, through its legisla--1 tures, recites a long list of proper causes for divorce and then closes up I by giving to the courts the right to make a decree of divorce in any case ‘ where they deem it expedient. After I that you are not surprised at the announcement that in one county of the State of Illinois in one year there were 833 divorces. If you want to know how easy it is, you have only tQ look over the records of the States. In the city of San Francisco 333 divorces in one year, and in twenty years in New England 20,000. Is that not easy enough? I wan t you to notice that frequency lot divorce always goes along with 'dissoluteness of society. Rome for 500 years had not one case of divorce. Those were her days of glory and virtue. Then the reign of vice began, and divorce became epidemic. If you want to know how rapidly the empire went down, ask Gibbon. What we want in this country and in all land< is that divorce be made more and more and more flifficult. Then people before they enter that relation will be persuaded that there will probably be no escape from it, except through the door pf the sepulcher. Then they Will pause on the verge of that relation until they are fully satisfied that it is best, and that it is right, and that it is,happiest. Then we shall have no more marriage in fun. Then men and women will not enter the relation with the idea it is only a trial trip, and if thev do not like it they can get out at the first landing. Then this whole question will be taken out of the frivolous into the tremendous, and

there will be no more joking about the blossoms in a bride’s hair than about the cypress on a coffin. What we want is that the congress of the United States change the national constitution so that a law can bp passed which shall be uniform all’ oyer the C&untry, and what shall be" right in ohe Stare shall be right in all and what is wrong in one State will be wrong in all States. How is it now?. If a party in the marriage relation gets dissatisfied, it is only necessary to move to another State to achieve liberation from the domestic tie, and divorce is effected so easily>jthat the first one party knows of it is by seeing in the newspaper that the Rev. Mr. Somebody on March 17, 1895, introduced in a new marriage relation a member of the household who went off on a pleasure excusion to Newport or on a business excursion to ChiMarried at the bride’s house. No cards. There are States of" the™ Union which practically put a premium upon the disintegration of tiie marriage'relation, while there are other States, like our own New York State, that had for a long time the pre-eminent idiocy of making marriage lawful at twelve and fourteen years of age. More difficult divorce will put an. estoppel to a great extent upon marriage as a financial speculation. There are men who go into the relation just as they go into Wall street to purchase shares.. The female to be invited into the partnership of wedlock is utterly unattractive and in disposition a suppressed Vesuvius. Everybody knows it, but this masculine candidate- for matrimonial orders, through the commercial agency or through the county records, finds out how much estate is to be inherited, and he calculates it. He thinks how long it will be before the old man will die and whether he can stand the refractory ternper until fie docs die. and then he enters the relation, for he says ’’if I cannot jriand it, then through the divorce’ law I’ll back out.” That process is going on all the time, and men enter the relation without any moral principle, without any affection, and it is as much a matter of stock speculation as anything that transpired yesterday in Union Pacific, Illinois Central or Delaware & Lackawanna.

Rigorous divorce law will also hinder women from..the fatal mistake of marrying men to reform them. If a young man by twenty-five years of age or thirty years of age has the habit of strong drink fixed on him, he is certainly'bound fora drunkard’s grave as that a train starting out from the'Grand Central depot at . 8 o’clock to-morrow morning is bound for Albany. A rigorous divorce law will also do much to hinder hasty and inconsiderate marriages. Under the impression that one can be easily released,- people enter the relation without inquiry and without reflection. Romailce and impulse rule the day. Perhaps the only ground for the marriage contract is that she likes his looks, and he admires the graceful way she passes around the ice cream at the picnic! It is all they know about each other. It is all the preparation for life. A woman that could not make a loaf of bread to save her life will swear to cherish and obey. A Christian will marry an atheist, and that always makes conjoined wretchedness, for if a man does not believe there is a God he is neither to be trusted with a dollar nor with your life-long happiness.

Let me say to the hundreds of young-people in this house this afternoon, before you give your heart and hand in holy alliance use all caution. Inquire outside as to habits, explore the disposition, scrutinize the taste, question the ancestry and find out the ambitions. Do not take the heroes and the heroines of cheap novels for a model. Do not put your lifetime happiness in the keeping of a man who has a reputation for being a little loose in morals, or in the keeping of a woman who dresses fast. Remember that, while good looks are a kindly gift of God. wrinkles or accident mav despoil them. Remember tnat Byron was no more celebrated for his beauty than for his depravity. Remember that Absalom's hair was not more splendid than his habits were despicable. Hear it, hear it! The only foundation for happy marriage that has ever been or ever will be is good character. Ask God whom you shall marry, if you marry at all. A union formed in prayer will be a happy union, though sickness pale the cheek, and poverty empty the bread tray, and death open the small graves, and all the path of life be strewn with thorns from the marriage altar with its wedding,march and orange blossoms clear down to the last farewell at that gate where Isaac and Rebecca, Abraham and Sarah, Adam, and Eve parted. And let me say to you who are in this relation if you make one man or woman happy you have not lived in vain. Christ says that what he is to the church you ought to be to each other, and if sometimes through dif—ference- of opinion or difference of disposition you make up your mind that your marriage was a mistake, patiently bear and forbear, remembering that life at the longest isshort, and that for those who have been badly mated in this world death will give quick and immediate bill of divorcement written in letters of green grass on quiet graves. And perhaps, my brother, my sister—perhaps you may appreciate each other better in heayen than, you have appreciated each other ou earth.