Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1874 — LOCAL GOSSIP. [ARTICLE]

LOCAL GOSSIP.

Doctors Loughridge and Martin have dissolved partnership. Commissioners court was in session during the first of this week. Mr. Edward H. Laßue died of conmption ou the 3d instant, aged <ilh>uC«4 years. The Board of Commissioners, by Jared Benjamin their agent, on yesterday reiited the Poor Farm to Mr. Philip McEJfresh, who was also awarded the contract for keeping the paupers. The Auditor of Jasper county will be ready to issue orders for railroad tax paid, on. and after Thursday the loth instant. Claimants will save an extra trip by bringing with them tax receipts on which railroad tax was paid. There was‘a decrease of over twelve percent in the number of marriage licenses issued by the Clerk of Jasper couiity last year, as compared with 1872. Last year there were 63 issued, against 68 the year before. Miss Eva Halstead, teacher of the second intermediate department of the Rensselaer schools, repoits for average attendance, 49; pupils perfect in attendance, deportment and punctuality were Bayard Clark, Elia Rhoads, Ollie Daugherty, Amy Israel uml Annie Sigler. The thermometer indicated a temperature as high as 63° in the shade on the north side of buildings, last Saturday, and frogs were heard piping; which are occurrences quite unprecedented In this locality in twenty yeais past. Since Saturday, however, the mercury lias been down io within 10° of zero. Mike Maloy met Mr. James Porter last evening and dlvertingly invited him to smell his fragrant fist; Porter, reciprocated thezConyiliment by slapping Mike across his “snoot” with the blade of a wood saw he was carrying. Mike’s face looks as though a brigade of cats had occupied it for a battle field. A liberal reward will lie paid for the recovery of a large gold sleeve button, which was lost in town one day last week. The base of the front of the button is a stem-less trefoil leaf, upon which is a black enamel triangle enclosing an oval triangular pyramid in fret work, upon (he apex of which is a small circular figure of black enamel ra vs—The but ton may.. 1 e |e ft at Mr, A. McCoy’s residence, at the bank, or at this office, The series of public entertainments given by the Rensselaer Thespian Society during holidays, was quite creditable to the company, and all their performances were very well patronized. When all evidently strove io do well it would seem invidious to make particular mention of individ- ■ uals, and therefore we shall content ourselves with saying that artistic talent was displayed of an order seldom looked for among amateurs. The ladies and gentlemen did well, considering their opportunities. Miss Mattie Benjamin, teacher of school number five, in Newton township, reports 35 pupils attending during the month that ftided December 30th, 1873. <*Nie average daily attendance was a trifling fraction less than 81. The pupils perfect in attendance, punctuality and deportment, were Emma Yeoman, Frank Yeoman, Mattie Yeoman, Ermina Yeoman, Melissa Sayler, Mattie Sayler, Abram McEl fresh, Rosa Coen, Ulysses Chen, and Emma Bisloskey. The endeavor to abolish corporal punishment in the school,- of Chicago was recently defeated, which was a very sensible conclusion, of the controversy. When the trustees of the Rensselaer schools get through experimenting with the moral suasion humbug, and permit discreet teachers to make judicious use of the rod. there will be fewer expulsions for trivial ofleiiscs, better deportment among pupils, better satisfaction to patrons, and better results generally. It is the sheerest absurdity to think that either children or adults will be truly good in this day of imperfect Christianization without the inspiring influences which result from a wholesome dread of punishment.