Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1904 — Page 1

VOL. XXXVI NO. 49.

Tuesday Was Ground Hog Day.

"Shadows we are and Shadows we pursue.” The above was not written by a ground hog about ground hogs in general because of their shadowm like thinness when they oome out of their holes, and the shadows they are supposed to oome out to look for. It was written, instead by some poet kind of a uhap. to apply to the general run of human -animals, though in a literal sense it seems to fit the ground bog better at this season of toe year than it does any other kind of fritters. Tuesday, February 2nd has been a day of note for centuries un* numbered, and before it was made a Christian holy-day, as Candlemas Day, it was a pagan festival. It has long been considered in northern latitudes as being the middle of winter and the old saying: “Candlemas day, Candlemas day. half of your wood and half of your hay, "expresses the idea that half the winter is behind ns and half of it before us. If that proves true this year, we can only hope that the halt that is before us will be a good deal milder ih its methods than the half be- - hind us has been. The belief that the ground hog otherwise the woodobuck oan foretell the kind of weather that is coming for the rest of the winter, illogical and groundless and uu -supported by records as it is, is very wide spread. It was believed in long before suoh an animal as the American ground-hog was ever seen by a white man. In the old countries it was sometimes the bear and sometimes the badger sometimes the hedge hog, or porcupine, that was the 2nd of February weather prophet. In the old times the animal had a definite time to appear, usually noon, and if he saw his shadow then or if he didn’t . aee it, that settled it, one way or another Now diye, the ground Uog is generally permitted to nose around ail day, looking for his shadow, and if he gets even a single clear glimpse of it, into his hole be go?s and holes up for another six weeks, Here are a few old sayings about “ Candlemas or groundhog day: At Candlemas Day, Another Winter is on its way. w If Candlemas Day be fair and briglrt jf* Winter will have another flight. But if Candlemas Day bring clouds and rain, Winter is gone and wont come again. If the ground hog is sunning himself on the 2nd of February, he will return >Jor four weeks co his winter quarters. If it storms on February 2nd, spring s near, but If that day be bright and clear, the- spring will be late. To sum it all up then, the ground hog could see his shadow ouoe in a while Tuesday but mostof the time not. The day also was mostly stormy and cloudy, at intervals clear. Therefore ' it if evident that the ground bog will prophesy mixed weather for the next six weeks; and it didn’t need any ground hog to prophesy that.

No County Treasurer This Year.

, The question has been raised why the Republican county convention call does not mention the county treasurer as among the officers to be elected this year. being a two years office has always heretofore had a new incumbent elected at every biennial election. The reason that none is to be elected this year however, is found in a new law, which is held put off the next election of treasurer until 1906, and which will therefore extend Treasurer Nichols’ first term to three jean, ► >

THE RENSSELAER SEMI-WEEKLY REPUBLICAN.

> Representatives of the big circus 1 trust met in Springfield, Ohio, «*nd 1 decided to abolish street parades > in the future. It is doubtful if this plan oan bo suoceaefnlly 1 carried out, for the oirons parade is as old as the circus itself and it will be hard to get the populace interested unless a free street exhibition is given.

To beat a man into unconsciousness, rob him, spend the plunder, be captured get a penitentiary sentence and be taken to prison within thirty-six hours, is the record of John Meyers, of LaFayette and James Rader, of Wolcott. Ind. They were taken to the Michigan City prison Friday by Sheriff Ray, of Lafayette, when? they will serve a sentence of from two to fourteen years.

Valparaiso Messenger. Attorney Robbins, of Knox, wants to break intc the Indiana State Senate. Robbins wai in Valparaiso on Saturday nuht and announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for senator for the district now composed ot the counties of Porter, Jasper, Starke and Pulaski. It be hoped that the Supreme Court will knock out that apportionment law.

To Hold State Fair.

The Indiana tfta e fair will be held at the usual time next September. All idea of abandoning the fair on account of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St Louis has been cast aside.

To Abandon Parades.

A Short Trip to State Prison.

Candidate for Senator.

Petit Jurors, February Term.

Isaac N. Hemphill, Marion. Albert S Keene, Wheatfield. John Markit, BarkleyBenjamin Welsh. Jordan. William E. Ott, Carpenter. John Sohatzley, Wheatfield. John W Hutchings, J >rdan. Charles W. Harris, Jordan. Clyde- Randle, Hanging Grove Asa Brown, Walker. B W. Elsworth, Barkley. John B. Brown, Union. Levi F. Clouse, Marion. Charles J. Dean, Marion. Frank A. Rosa, Marion. Karab MoKillip, Milroy.

Michael Hancock’s Leg Amputated.

Michael Hancock, a man quite well along in years, and living about a mile west from Gifford, had his leg amputated last Friday, by Dr. Sohwier, of Wheatfield, and some assisting physicians. Mr. Hancock’s case has been several times mentioned in this paper. Hie foot was attacked with gangrene, during sickness with small pox. His then attending physician did not attribute the attack wholly to smallpox, but largely to a generally poor condition of health, which the smallpox aggravated. He is reported to have stood the operation well and to now be promising a complete re* oovery.

Hats going below cost at Mrs. Purcupilea*. Two good farms to rent. Apply to 8. M. Laßue. . A first-class phaeton for sals Enquire at thia offioe. 4wd Lot 1. Untrimmed hats hOota worth double. Mbs. Purcupilb. If there ia anything yoa need in the grocery line call np phone 54* Lords Best Flour SI.IO and Minnesota XXXX 11 50 at John Egers. Z

RENSSELAER, |ASFER COUNTY, INDIANA, FRIDAY FEB. 5, 1904.

Corn Grower’s & Stockmen’s Convention.

Editob Rkpcßluhm: Having just returned from the from the Second Annual Corn Growers’ and Stockmen’s Convention. held at Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind, I thought that, perhaps, a brief synopsis of the work would be of interest to your readers. Prof. Holden, of the lowa Agricultural College, an acknowledged authority on corn, was present throughout the week, and by a series of practical demonstration, treated the subject of oom in all kb phases. He gave special attention to the selection of seed corn and its improvements, and clearly showed me how I can grow more bushels of feed to the acre A part of eaoh afternoon I spent in scoring corn under Prof. Bolden’s direction- I learned many new and very important things as to the selection, breeding and care of oom. Mr. T. E Orr, of Beaver, Pa., who has had a large experience as a grower and expert judge of poultry, was present and gave practical tilks on chickens. He also did some expert work in judging. Prof. B. A Huston, formerly Director of the Experiment Station, gave a very instructive and valuable talk on the subject of ••Commercial Fertilizers.” Mr. L. H Kerrick, a well known feeder and breeder of B ! oomir>g too, 111., told bow be produced those record-breaking oarlots of steers.

M<-. O. E Bradfute a prominent lable breeder and feeder» f Zenia. Ohio, discussed the feeding of beef cattle and gave bis experience in feeding corn stover and silage to beef stock. Professors Skinner. Van Norman and Craig, of Purdue, gave valuable infraction in their several lines. Prof. Skinner showed me how to select best types of swine and of oeef cattle. Prof. Van Norman pointed out the essentials of the dairy ouw. Dr. Craig, told how to care for and prevent diseases among cattle and swine. Evening lectures were delivered by President Stone and Prof, Coulter of Purdue, and by Prof. Holden.

The Agricultural Department is carrying on investigations in the lines of soil improvement, plant growth and animal feeding. The Agricultural students are receiving most practical and helpful instruction in all the phases of scientific and practical agriculture One of the pleasant features of Convention was the privilege of meeting with the Purdue Agricultural Society, and organization conducted exclusively by the students of the School of Agriculture. The young mm acquitted themselves well, are earnest and enthusiastic. [ wish that scores of young men of my own neighborhood might attend the School of Agriculture and receive like benefits. The program was intensely practical, 'lnstruction and entertaining from start to finish, and I hope many of my neighbors will attend the Corn School a year hence.

Farms To Rent. 77 acre farm good house. 80 acre J farm good building. 120 acre farm good building. 300 acre farm all cultivated good buildings. ■ G. F. Meyers, w3t • Rensselaer, Ind., To Rent. 160 acres of improved land. ! Also a new bouse in the .' 4 tv of Rensselaer. Several small properties for tale, on easy terms. B. F. Ferguson. I

Benjamin Brannon, the alleged wild man from the wild woods east of Fair Oaks, had his hearing Tuesday afternoon, before Squire Irwin and a jury. The prosecution sought to have him declared of unsound mind The evidence to support this charge, aside from his wild and woolly way of living, was mainly that he had charged several reputab e people with stealing some of his property, such as a knife in one case, and a sheep in another, and with making threats against them. In the case of the sheep suspect he was especially gory in his talk Threatening to “cut his heart out and show it to him.” For the defense it was in evidence that in strength of mind he averaged up as well or better than a lot of smart ellicks who had been tormenting him and making him believe that the men spoken of had stolen his property James Zea, a reputable citizen, had known him a long time and considered him sane. So also Mr. Irwin, a merchant, who often had business transactions with bim. Uncle Joe Burns, had worked with him intimately in a sort of partnership, where minds and souls freely communed together. Had slept with him in the same barn and under the same b anket, and were driven out by the same fleas, which experienced the same trouble in tunnelling through the epidermis to the real man beneath, in each case, and Uncle Joe considered him sane.

Brannon told his own history also in a sufficiently coherent though also diverting way. He admitted he had been before the courts before having been arrested at New Albany for some unintentional violation of the law and fined. He also related why he carried his revolver with him, thereby bringing in the incident of the Frenchman. The latter was associated with him as his partner in the wood-chopping business, sharing his bed and board with him. Brannon who, as previously stated, being the chopper who chopped four cords in three months, said the Frenchy didn’t keep up his end in the work, but wanted an even share in the pay. So Brannon drove him out, and soon after missed his revolver, from its place under his bed, where it was not much harder than the sticks and clods it harbored with. He followed the Frenchman’s fleeting footsteps through the snow, and the latter, being to lee ward, discovered his erstwhile tent-mate was on bis trail, and therefore he circled around and got back to the tent be fore Brannon did, and put the revolver back in its former place. And for fear that the Frenchman would return sometime and again swipe the weapon, Brannon henceforth carried it on his person. Brannon also explained the obvious unfamiliarity of his face and hands with soap and water f r many moons paat, by staling that his lard can stove smoked so badly that he might wash every hal f hour, and still be just as black and grimy. The jury heard the evidence and the arguments and very quickly agreed that the man was of sound mind, and thereupon he was released by the court.

B D. COMER.

The bottom has gone out of can tomatoes. O ily 5 and 8 cents a can at John Egers. Lot 3. Trimmed bats $3 to SI was S 3 to 16. Ontne in and see. It won’t cost anything to look. » Mrs. Purcupile. We still- have it, home mad? saner kraut only 5 cents a quart at John Egersrov- Tommy—l suppose It’s ■ big glni ure, little lK>y.—Philadelphia ledger. <tioß - |fin

Wild Man Not So Wild.

Two Bones Broken.

Dr. 8. O. Johnson was called io see Mrs. Clarence Clemens, or near Surrey, Tuesday, and found her suffering greatly from the effects of a fall received the Sunday before; caused by slipping on ice near the well pnmp. Her right leg was injured just above the ankle, but as it was thought only a severe sprain had been suffered, a physician was not called until Tuesday. On examination, however, the doctor found both bones were broken, just above the ankle. The necessary surgical attention was given, and the patient’s suffering thereby greatly relieved. The injury will lay Mrs. Clemens up for six weeks or more.

Court House Ordered in Kentland.

A press dispatch from Kentland Tuesday, says: The Board of Commissioners of Newton county entered an order of record today providing for the erection of a new court house at Kentland. The board decided on this course after a recent decision of the Supreme Court was banded down declar ng the special act under which three elections were held was unconstitutional The action of the commissioners met with no opposition from any part of the county, and the unfortunate controversy may be considered as definitely settled. All the same a court" house can not be built under present laws until the County Council makes an appropriation, and from ab reports there is great doubt about their making one.

Sixes Up the Governor's Scheme.

Walter Wellman, writing to the ReCJid Herald from Washington, seems to niz* up about right the mare’s, nest in Indiana politics Governor Durbin elaim-d to have discovertd Wellman says: How easy it is for an ambition-, politician to ove.piay baa been strikingly shown during the p-tai fortnight. Not long ago Govt-moi Durbin of India; a came to Wnailing ton and called at the White House. He brought with him a long faoa and a tale of woe. He told the President that serious danger theatened in ludiena. Tbe Hanna movement was gaining great headway there. Something must be done to stop it or tne President’s interts's would suffer severely. Then there was disaffection in the Republican ranks, and the situation would have to be taken hold of energetically if Mr. Roosevelt hoped to carry the state at the next November’s elec tion. To all this Mr. Roosevelt, listened with open ears, but with closed lips. He was on his guard. He said nothing He merely murtered "Humph!” and "Is that so” and "Well.” If tbe truth must be told —and it should be, even if it doesn’t sound very pleasant to Governor Durbin and his friends —the President was juM a trifle suspicious. He suspected that ail these omrbous warnings covered a purpose, and be made up his mind be would wait for the true inward ness of tbe little game to disclose itself. He did not have to wait long. Presently it became hs plain as the nose on a man’s face that Governor Durbin was deliherauly , trying to "throw a scare into” Mr. Roosevelt, and that the one sovereign remedy he had in mind for all these ills tbe bonne of Roosej velt was heir to was the nom’na- ■ tion of Governor Durbin for Vice President. That was the sure and the safe wav to defeat the machinat’ons of the Hannaltes in hoosierdom and to make sure of the I electoral votes next fall Naturally,. President Roosevelt 1 does not like this way if playing the game. He does not think it in accord with the rnles, and it is safe to say that if Mr * oosevelt and his friends are to have anything tossy about the vice pr»si dential nomination that honor will not go to Governor Durbin Indiana. ..mLI what 1 color Irjl 1 Al A nr

Rigtlar Weellj Edition.

Had Another Fire.

There was another fire of some considerable magnitude in town Wed night About 4 o’clock in the morning, Night Watch Dillon, Joe Jackson and others discovered fire in the new frame building on Washington street, near Cullen, occupied by E J. Murray, the steam-fitter as a shop. The fire had such a good itart when discovered and spread so fast that the building was practically clear gone by toe time the firemen got a stream of wa er running. The building stood between two other similar ones, one occupied by McKay’s laundry and the other by Lee Jessup’s carpenter shop and roofing and paint sto e, and with on ( y narrow passages between. Both these buildings were on fire along the whole sides next to the burning building, but it took only a few minutes to entirely extinguish the flames, on both buildings, and without very extensive damages to either. All the machinery and fixtures in the laundry were taken out, which was a wise precaution, although. as it proved not necessary, for the fire did not get inside this building at all The Jessup building suffered worse, and was burned through along the whole side next to the laundrv. He had oils and paints enough in the rear part of his place to have made an ugly blaze had they got on fire. Mr. Murray is the principal loser by the fire He bad a very complete and a expensive set of steam-fitting and plumbing tools and appliances, as well as considderable stock of piping, and all of which the heat seems to have entirely ruined He estimates his loss at SI,OOO, and has SSOO insurance. He will resume business as soon as he can i-ecure another shop. John Makeever estimates his damage on the three buildings at $550, partly insured. He expects to rebuild at once.

The fire alarm was very slow in sounding, as the night engineer was wheeling out cinders at the time, and did not hear the tele-phone-bell. The firemen got there as soon, perhaps, as could have been expected, under the circumstances, although host cart No. 1, the only one used, was pulled down mostly by citizens.* The .fire was in the rear end of the building when first seen, and its origin is a mystery, especially as there was no stove in that part of the building The laundry equipment was all back in place and running as usual, before noon.

Another Very Cold One.

. Wed. night was another cold one. The temperature reached aa its extreme low mark nine degrees below zero, some time during the night. It warmed slightly towards morning, and at 7 a. m. was about 6 below. We have had BeVeial colder nights this winter, but none perhaps in which the cold penetrated into houses worse, because of the considerable wind that prevailed. This makes three niuhts ont of four in which February got way below the zero mark. <u disease germs which Auslitise inflammation and discharges. Thousands of letters from women provephat It is the greatest cure for leucorrhcea ever discovered. .. ny Pax ins never fails to cure pelvic |i catarrh, nasal catarrh, sore throat, sore OS. mouth and sore eyes, because these diseases are all caused by inflammation of the mucous membrane. mb For cleansing, whitening and pro- " serving the teeth we challenge the .nv world to produce its equal. ” • Physicians and specialists everywhere prescribe and endorse Paxtine, and thou sandsof t est imonial letters pro ve Its value. it. At druggists, or sent postpaid JO eta. A large trial package and bookef I Instructions absolutely free. Write Ths A Partee Os. ■ pt. * S c. w. p. No. s-taos ■ want wwnito TO AOvwnsm fuajs F W „a. Is this fSRS