Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1899 — IN THE PUBLIC EYE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Less than two years ago the American people grieved with Senator Thurston of Nebraska in the death of his wife. They had been to Cuba to investigate the condition of affairs and the horrors the reeoncentrados were enduring so worked upon her sympathetic nature that her health gave way and death called her upon her return to this country. The separation was a severe hardship for the brilliant Nebraskan, aud for a time his grief threatened his future, but conscious of the duty he owes himself and his motherless children, he has now taken a new helpmate, and those who sorrowed with him in affliction now rejoice with him in his happiness. The bride was Miss Lola Purman, a Washington belle. She is a highly gifted young woman, whose mother was Miss Leadora Finlhyson of the well-known old Southern family of that name. Her father, Maj. William J. Pur-

man, at the breaking out of the civil war, entered thejarmy and served with distinction under Gens. Meigs, Crane, Sprague and Meade. He was a leading member of the constitutional convention of Florida and in reconstruction days was elected to Congress from that State. The “bride of the Senate,” as the newest wife in that body is always called, is more than ordinarily good looking and has a sweet soprano voice. United States Senator William P. Frye of Maine, who, as president pro tempore of the Senate, will fill the function that

had been the chief duty of the late Vice-President Hobart, does not by reason of this fact stand in any succession whatever to the presidency. That succession is fixed by law and falls upon the members of the cabinet, beginning with the

Secretary of State. President Frye assumed his duties when the Senate convened Monday, Mr. Frye has occupied a seat in the House or in the Senate since the Forty-second Congress. He was elected to the Senate to fill the seat vacated by Jarhes G. Blaine when that statesman was appointed Secretary of State. He was elected president pro tempore of the Senate in 1896 and he was a member of the commission that was sent to Paris to adjust terms of peace between the United States and Spain. While Gen. Elwell S. Otis is away off in the Philippines his family, consisting • of his wife and three charming daugh-

ters, make their home in the old Otis homestead in Rochester. Heretofore they have always moved about with Gen. Otis from post to post, but he declined to take them to the other side of the world, although they were anxious to go. Perhaps the

handsomest of Gen. Otis’ three daughters is Miss Mary Otis. She is a tall young woman of good figure and is about 19 years old. Miss Laura Otis is a year or two older, and “Bobbie,” as Gen. Otis calls the third sister, is the youngest of the group. There is a touch of pathos in the hard luck of Lieut. Matthew F. M. Meiklejohn, senior subaltern of the Second Gor-

don Highlanders, son of Prof. Meiklejohn of St. Andrew’s University. He had been fighting on the Indian frontier with the First battalion for the last five years and was one of the heroes of Dargai, where he was wounded twice.

Exchanging into the Second bspalion, he went to Natal, to lose his right arm at Elands Laagte. As he is left-handed, it is hoped by his friends that he may remain on the active list. Ensign Gherardi, who, with J. J. Jiminez, distinguished himself during the terrific hurricane in Porto Rico by saving

the lives of over 150 people, is the son of Rear Admiral Gherardi, ■who became a midshipman in the navy in 1546 and made a distinguished record during. the rebellion. A native of Louisiana, he entered the \Naval Academy from Massachusetts and served for the first four years after his

graduation with the Pacific squadron. . The younger Gherardi got out of the Naval Academy just in time to take part in the war with Spain. Secret agents at Havana are said to have discovered that the battleship Maine was blown up by guncotton torpedoes, which were stolen or taken from the magazine there. Believed the names of the perpetrators will be secured. A. A. Advani, alleged merchant from India, “soaked” Seattie, Wash., hotels and dealers to a fare-you-well, and skipJ at Chicaao ant to establish a tea garden in * &

SENATOR THURSTON AND HIS BRIDE.

SENATOR FRYE.

MISS MARY OTIS.

LIEUT. MEIKLEJ HN.

ENSIGN GHERARDI.