Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1876 — About Brook, Newton County. [ARTICLE]

About Brook, Newton County.

“Above Suspicion” is tho title of a new book. None of its characters are taken from political litc, however. General Reub. Williams has repurchased a half interest in the Northern Indianian newspaper at Warsaw, lie will stir up tho dry bones and make Rome howl again. “ ‘Col.’ Thompson of Rensselaer,” is what tho South Bend Herald (democratic) calls him Bince he enTUTett the lists against Major Catkins for the republican congressional nomination. Half fare tickets will bo issued by tho L., N. A. & C. railroad on tho 21st instant to accommodate those who wish to attend tho republican congressional convention at Michigan City. Dr. F. B. Thomas, editor of the Winamac Democrat, has been mentioned for state senator from his district, but says he is not a candidate for that or any other office. Nevertheless he is eminently qualified for the position.

England lately distributed a hundred tons of gunpowder and a million cartridges to troops at Gibraltar, Malta and the Mediterranean fleet. Sho is preparing to keep the peace—or, in case Turkey is dismembered, her piece. “Don’t como to Indianapolis for work,” is the advice given by tho Indiana Farmer to mechanics ana laborers. Hundreds of well-known men arc ourdF employment in that city at the present time, who have tie possible means of supporting thomsolves and fanrilc*. Mr. Ben Frank, formerly editor of tho Winamac Democrat , is pub? fishing the Dutch Flat F'orutn in California. His paper iB a negular visitor to our exchange table. In tho issuo of Ist instant be thanks a friend for “a ripe apple weighing little Joss than a pound,” taken from an orchard at Little York.

Friends of lion. ZaohariaChandler, ex-senator from Michigan and secretary of tho interior, are flooding tho country with circulars recommending his nomination for president by the Cincinnati convention. lie will hardly securo it Mr. Blaine appears to have the inside track in that race. Possibly Mr. Chandler might be nominated for vice president, if lie would work to that end. Bristow papers virtually concede th k at his prospects for the Cincinnati nomination are hopeless. Blaine, Morton and Conkling arc aheud of him, and in the order mentioned. Evidently Mr. Blaine is the first choice of nearly a majority of thoso who invaribly. vote the republican ticket. Democratic investigation appears to strengthen him in tho estimation of people everywhere. The Valparaiso Messenger (democratic) desires the republicans to nominate Major Calkins for congress; and so do the Winamac Democrat and Laporto Argus, two other dcrtiocratic newspapers. The Fowier Democrat opposes Mr. S. P. Thompson in tho peculiar manner of that class of newspapers—with rum-shop billingsgate. Don’t these little straws show who the democracy arc afraid of? Gen. Packard’s LaPorte Chronicle accuses Tub Union of being a democratic paper. Well, that will be forgiven, at the earnest solicitation of friends; but dooH it dare intimate that w<e are a thief—a salary thief, if it doefc a libel suit for one cent damages Will bo brought without delay—we shall have no mercy upon the slanderer, but will vigorously prosecute him for the full measure of damages he is capable of inflicting upon a spotless reputation. Don’t dare to provoke us 1

[For tho Rensselaer Uxioh.] Not “What I know about farming,” hut what I saw, heard end thought in Newton county: By invitation the writer made a recent visit to Brook and its surrounding country. On crossing the line between Jasper and Newton counties I could but notice the large cribs of corn, such as one would look for in vain in Jasper county. True, much of tho preceethrof their labor had been lost, but they had succeeded iu raising vast crops in spite of the rainy season, and much of the waste occurred from expecting future dry weather which did not come, rather than as an unavoidable evil. I presume a much smaller per cent, of loss would occur iu another just such year, as the farmers would be more careful to protect tho gathered orop. It appeared as an indisputable fact that the farmers as a class are more successful—thrift is more general—than in Jasper. Upon investigation I concluded they engage in that business on a larger scale and with moro comprehensive views of all connected with it. The Jasper county farmer has his grounds flooded and stops his work. Much wet weather gives him a failure in crops. Then he reasons that ho cannot afford to pay out money for hire and lose the crops ou which the hired labor was expended. Next year he will only invest his own labor and that of the boys (if lie have them) so that if he lose, it will be a smaller amount. The Newton county farmer plants extensively, hires the necessary help, puts in and tends his crops even though’ the* water follows after the plow in the furrow, pays his hands, and should he lose tho labor aud expense of that year, he will try to make it up by launching out even larger the next year. And the yoars, taken one with another, show this to he a wise course—if success bo the criterion by which we are to judge. The best orops are certainly raised on the lands that are not rolling, bin declining sufficiently to bo drained by ditching. It was my good fortune to partake o’s the generous hospitality of Mr. Esson and his estimable lady, and I shall not soon forget their unostentatious,but genuine courtesy and friendship. Mr. Esson, or “Jack,” as he is familiarly called, conducts his farming and live stock raising on the principle that $5 pasture that will put on sls worth of beef is a better investment than $2 pasture that only puts on jsC worth of beef in the ’same time. And his place shows a corresponding thrift. Sunday, the 21st ult., was an unusual day for the little town of Brook. The ltcv. 11. B. Miller was called uppn to carry forward the work of a former series of meetings there, by administering tho ordinance of baptism to the converts of that occasion. A large concourse of peoplo was in attend- ( ance from all directions and some from considerable distances. Goodland, Kcntland, Morocco, Rensselaer and vicinity, and Illinois being represented. Mr. Miller took occasion from the text liotn. xlv, 16, “Let not then your good be evil spokcu of,” to set forth the doctrines held to, and practiced by, the Missionary Baptists, and to show that they are not in conflict with the doctrines held by the Methodists, Presbyterians and United Brethren as laid down in their disciplines and articles of faith —in fact that there is no more “close communion” in the practice of the Missionary Baptist church than is expressed itr the exponents of faith of the churches above mentioued. Having the articles of faith of ( the Baptists and disciplines and articles of faith of tho other churches named, fiom which to read, be showed, at least to tho abundant satisfaction of his Baptist hearers,

that as to close comm union ns. expressed iu their written exponents of faith, tlio four denominations mentioned hold common ground. After the discourse tho congregation repaired to tho river, where seventeen persous were immersed. In the afternoon Rev. Mr. Minor, ol Goodland, delivered a discourse on Christian Baptism, using forcible and striking illustrations to show that immersion is tho only true baptism, and that all other so-called modes of baptism are not baptism, but are departures from the primitive faith and practice. Both discourses were able and gave great satisfaction to those who had felt themselves in a false light before the world, by the misunderstanding and misrepresentation of their belief, and also by an unjust comparison of it with that of other denominations. If there were those who dissented I would say “To the law and the testimony.” Let us search more for truth, criticise less, and so doing, tho better recommend tho religion we profess to “a world lying in wickedness.” At Brook I was politely and muuificently entertained by Mr. Dryer and his lady—a lady, who, by-the-way, though having “chosen that better part which shall not be taken away” yet finds time to entertain the stranger and act tho part of a very amiable hostess. Mr. Dryer is a gentleman of unassuming ways, but in good earnest in

his religion and his business. Owning 600 acres of excellent farming and grazing land adjoining the town, be keeps a store at which he exchanges goods for farm products which ho converts into fat cattle for a cash market. To feed his cattle tl:rough the past winter required 15,000 bushels of corn. The prairies between Brook, Morocco and Pilot Grove lipve been settled up by an intelligent and cnterprisingclass of citizens. Among the pleasant acquaintances formed were those already mentioned, and that ot Mr. Sanders and lady, the first a hale and hiarty Englishman who married an American girl whom he threatened to take to Africa—to which taking, tho lady demurs. Miss Pendergrass, a very preposscsing young lady, met at the house of Mr. Dryer. Mr. Picker, alive Y an kee from the old Bay State, who, after thirty-two years as a follower of the sea, has located in the great valley of the Mississippi to provide for his children. Mr. Fry a good-looking young man owning two farms in Illinois, and clerking in a store at Brook. He is a great attraction for the children and may often be seen as the escort of some little girl, but as to the “bigones” holds hisloncly way. Girls, he may he caught, but don’t try chaff. Mr. Wolf, a young inan of fine appearance and culture, just returned from college, and while awaiting a field of labor in the ministry, is engaged in teaching at Iroquois, 111. Messrs. Jeffries and Padgett and Mr. Frazie and lady and Mr. McCarthy, the first Rensselaer editor. Mr. and Mrs Heilman and the biggest baby of its age the rich prairies can produce, and others too numerous to mention in this already lengthy article. The trip was altogether ple'asant, and will long bo remembered.

OBSERVER.

Those who have, visited the Centennial agree that the Indiana porcelain clay, or kaoline, is thefin. est on exhibition from any other State or country. Our Lawrence county porcelain clay is the purest in the world, without doubt, and it will at no distant day bo turned to a good account. The annual import duties on porcelain good# bought abroad amounts to $6,000 000. In view of this fact, those already stated, and the fact that we can manufacture porcelain ware here at home chcapej; than it can be made abroad and shipped here, it must be seen that ous clay prove a great miuc of wealth.—lndiana Farmer.