Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 3, Number 28, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 11 January 1873 — Page 2

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PHILOSOPHY.

BY ANNIE ROBERTSON NOXON. Life is too brief gor dull regret, Or seasons spent in Sighing Love never knew a moment yet

Tqsin^er for bis crying. and Mm*,a ye and nay usi.1

jot for us'fc.i «bpo*in ritb us to go orntay-

TJsndt wi rv 1*he keeping, or refusing.

Tooth is so fair and time so ieet, With little need ox pleasure The wine we ilrinfej to hold its swpct^

Should not stand in the measure.

.rm

Tis said that joy has tripple pain, Each gain and added sorrow Bo every bleasing might be slain •'"With feara-for some to-morrow. life's too uncertain, death toomrej*

For pangs, our own undoing Wh"t will not faithfully endure, .JTisysin to be pursuing.

Saved by a Mark.

A DETECTIVE'S STORY.

rJ

I have worked up many hard cases, and have cornereu many notorious criminals, but never, before or since, have I been engaged in a case bo complicated, or one which was so hard to clear up, as that Stuart-Firstone mur-

der case.

$ You know that the Stuarts were very wealthy, and the old man had jonly two

Hards and such games and yet he was never known to win when playing for a iiirsger. In this manner he sustained *. StLreputatioii of being a free-and-easy 4 liut in the meantime his propsteadily decreasing until, at

TalfflJis share—which, in the first place would have been more than enough for men like you and m«—dwindled down. *5 to an insignificant sum, and he had to look in some other direction for money to pay his gaining debts. He had often applied to iiis brother lor aid, and had often obtained it, together with good si advice, which he promised to heed, but never did. ,4 Cecil was always very studious, and surrounded himself with all the old-f.ishioned books that ho could hear .I of or obtain. And on account of his lameness this kind of company had a charin for him that we in good health w'Uld not feol.

Cecil was always very lenient toward his erring brother but at last hearing

from every source of his scrapes, he was compelled, by a sense of duty, to resolve to refuse his application for aid. And it was not long beforo he had to it teat his resolutions, for Oilbert, alter au "all night" of it in a gambling saloon, came to him and begged for uiore niouey. Cecil reusoned with him and with tears in his eyes begged that he tJ would quit his wild habits. But all was of no avail, and he was compelled, much against his brotherly feelings, to roiuso bun the aid he sought. At this

4

Gilbert flow into a frenzy of rage and left the house, swearing that he would $ get the money in some manner. I Ashe was walking homeward, feel ing anything but pleasant, be saw his doadllest enemy riding with a young lady, to wbom he had been paying attention for some time, but who now gave him the "cut direct." Maddened at this, bo rusbed into a saloon near

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by, and calling for whisky he swallowed a glassful in an instaut, tben went .» home and called his bosom friend and counselor to him.

Albert Firstone, the friend, was a broken-down gambler a man who had spent a fortune on the turf, and was t* now nominally acting as a jockey for ~4 Gilbert Stuart, but was in reality his confederate in sohemes of robbery, and as the sequel will show, of murder.

I These two friends wero closeted togeth1 er for a long while, and time showed the resnlt of thoir conlcrence, though I would not spoil my story by revealing too soon their nefirious designs.

Of course you remember the excitement in the up-town circles when the news of Cecil Stuart's murder was cireulated, and the astonishment of every one when it was known that his body had been found in the coal cellar of Roger Lyon's brown-stone palace. Astonishment was increased manifold by the intelligence that Roger Lyon had been arrested and chargod with the •••4 crime of murder.

Although but few were intimately acqnainted with Cecil Stewart, and a scarcely large circle barely knew him a very eooentrio man, yet the erlme being committed at the very door of their mansion, made it seem the most startling one in the records of our city: and as there were many influential personages who loved Roger Lyon better than all their friends beside, and mauy a poor washerwoman who blessedtheday that he saved her bit of ground from the auctioneer's hammer to have him, the poo pie's favorite, charged with snoh a deed, seemed to 1 be an outrage upon all classes of our cltisnes. ,s I well remember when Lansing

Lyon's lawyer, called upon me and begged me to try my beat to clear up the myatery. At this time I had been 2 in the detective force nearly four years, sand of course, knew the robes pretty well. But for a month I confess that at 1 limes I was nearly baffled.

But I will come directly to my story. *A» a first step, 1 went to the cellar Whore the body was found, and as I ordered it to be left there after the inquest till I could examine everything myself, It still remained there. Being isoinethingof a doctor, I naturally ex amined the wounds, and was satisfied that they would not cause instant death. But I did not rely upon my own medical skill in this, but sent for a ~i physician. He camo—a sharp fellow named Denning—and probed the wounds. One of thein went close to the heart, out the other two were in 1 the lungs, evidently intended to cause hemorrhage which bad followed but not sufficient to cause death immedi stely.

Roger Lyon's knife, with which the deed had been committed, a silvermounted affair, a present from some one, lay near the wall.

The doctor soon finished his work, and giving me a look that I interpreted instantly, went out. taking Lauslng with him, to whom he communicated the result of his examinations. When they had gone, I walked over to the wail, and picked up the knife. As I stooped over to do this, I saw tome marks on the wall that appeared to have been made by a sharp iutrument if some kind. While I was examining these, Gilbert Stuart and Albert Firstone en tared. I was about to call their attention to the marks when a sudden thought oaused me to close my mouth upon the words that were on my tons11*''

Afier obtaining permission they took the body over to hia late residence. As soon as they were gone, I|tgain examined the marks, and found tb^y were a combination of letters %nJ, fig urea arrangQ^likestjiis:

8poak.

sons, Cecil and Gilbert putlHndisbf'g.jjd— names they had, to be sure, but they

were very proud of them, at least the younger one. As said, ho h»d only two to bother Lim. and to these, of course, he gave the bulk of his property. Cecil was a cripple, the result of being dropped by a earless nurse in infancy. i" Oilbert, the younger of the two, was early known to all the sports as a jolly good fellow, partly because he would ,* always stand treat, and would play bil-

ii_

I copied tn^m 4i!pn ^pfcpeR^infllhefc, taking the knife #ilh me, wenfrtb uiy office down lawn, to #tnd.f put, Jf possible, the ckrfiet I had discovered. I hud no doxift thM^t was made by Cecil, probably nnfgr wb had b6pn stabbed and I was coifvtbced that the cause of its being in

cipher

was, that no one

would be apt to notice it enough to obliterate it. But by what means could I5 obtaia a key was now the puzzla,

Acting according to a suggestion of Lansing, I went to the public library, and for a week I rummaged its shalves for any work thai mentioned cipher writing. I continued bringing home books until my den looked more like a roading-room than a detective's office, while in their midst sat Lansing, searching every page, and occasionally jotting down something in a book by his side.

Ooe day, as I entered with my arms full of books, I noticed a look akin to triumph on his face and his pencil flow ever the paper. In answer to my inqoiry he handed me a slip of paper upon which he had copied a table giving the relative number of each letter that is used in common English words. I looked it over, and waited for him to

In a moment he looked op and

,u"4

You see that table gives 'e' the

S'hen

rominence over others call 'e' one. you see

41'

In this way nearly three weeks had passed since the murder, when I received a telegram from Lansing, informing me of his return to the city. All this time I bad been shut up in my office, working, it must be confessed, with little hopes of success.

The day that expected Lansing's return I went to the place where the body had been found, and examined carefully the marks on the wall, but I could fiha none other than the ones I had seen before, so I concluded that those were the only ones. As I stood looking at them, however, I saw what seemed to be a piece of stone lying on the floor of the cellar. As a detective sees a clew in everything, I picked it up, and found, to uny surprise, that it was apiece of putty. As soon as 1 discovered this I searched the whole wall to find where the piece came trom, and at last I discovered that tome marks near the others were fillrd with putty. 1 scraped it away, and the whole cryptogram appeurea as follows:

S T—1225—D 124 A Firat one.

(Tho letters and figures in italics had been concealed by putty.) I took another copy and went back to my retreat, leaving orders for no one to be admitted to the cellar.

Here, now, was another mystery and from the revelation which I had 1 unt received, I was astonished into the lief that Albert Firstone had something to do with the cri Jie. But yet the cipher was still a mystery.

While I was studying these new developments, Lansing came in. I grasped *hls band with a pressure that made him wince, as I showed him the other letters I had found. He looked at them, springing from bis chair, fairly shouted:

Firstone is the murderer, and his name is the key to the cipher!" And he showed me that the word "Firstone" in my copy wai separated into two words, and that line read: "A Firstone*" By this key the figures read, "a e," and the cipher, with the addition of the part conoealed, read:

Stabbed by

A. Firstone.

We did not either of us shout "eureka!" or. anything else. But I looked at Lansing who was trembling like a leaf, and said, "You ought to have bean ft

Having written out the cipher accordto his translation, ana being convicted that I bad been outwitted, or something of that sort, by a lawyer, I leaned back in my chair, and, I can't tell wby. but I burst out into a hearty laugh, which Lansing soon joined.

ing

Alter my risible powers were exhausted, I rang the boll for the errandboy, and sent a note like this to Denning.

Come np to my den this afternoon, and bring some handy instrument for the detectiou of foreign substances such as pieces of stone in blood."

After sending this I prevailed upon Lansing to go with me to luncheon. In an hour we returned, and found Denning, with a large microscope and several small vials. I immediately went to my desk, took out Roger Lyon's knife, and banded it to him, asking him to see if there were any pieces or stone in the blood stains which still showed on the knife. He knew my meaning in an instant. And taking a vial he carefully rinsed a portion of Uie stains with its contents, letting the liquid run upon a glass alide, which he had placed in the sun's rays.

Impatiently we waited and watched for the evaporation of the liquid. It was soon alt gone, when he placed (he ilide in the microscope and turned the powerful sun-glass upon it. On looking in the lens, minute particles of stone, some stained with blood, were plainly visible, thus proving thst the knife had been used to cut the stone of the cellar alter tho blood had stained it. "That is the result you wanted to reach, is it not?" asked Denning looking me in the face.

Yes," I answered. Then taking apiece of paper, I wrote for a moment, and then handed him what I had wMttpn, with a request that he wonld sign it, which ho did. It waa an affidavit certifying that, acoording to the beat medical kno»touge, the deceased must have lived souiar timelier the fetal blow was received and that,

from minute particle of stone which adhere to the blade, it n\U8t have been used by some one, probably the deceased, to cut stone with afteXgfb^blood stales ^gre oj» it, a ^jLJl

Herowtlifn, was lie nBffte i*ded td brow th*ihuoj0ficd tff'tilprisoner.* I oould datSrefist temptiHoii to reveal it to tfenfcing, Wntl a ha|tertrlo could hardly be found tbaft,, were assembled In that little downtown office.

The trial was to commeuce in about a week, and of course we were impatient for the time to pass.

At last the day came. The courtroom was crowds a, and many of the detective force were present. After some*otbei" business, our case waa called up. The judge asked— ." Guilty,or not guilty ....

Lansing, in the behalf of the prisoner broke the silence with the words— Not guilty," and added, "I would sccuse Albert Firstone of tho crime charged upon my client."

I sat next to the criminal when this announcement was made, and aa the eyes of the court were turned upon him his self-possession left him. And when Lansing asked that he should be taken into custody, the poor fellow fell over in a

fit,

is second best call't'

two. Then run your eyes up to the fifth in importance, and we have'd' and 'I.' Take last number five, and the figures, with the addition of the two letters that were expressed, read, 'settl'd.' So you see I have translated the cipher in one way."

I admitted that it was a very ingenious translation, and was very much encouraged by it, although the word "settled" might not have any special relation to the case in hand. -But I did not doufct that it was nearer the true rendering than any we had reached yet, and it convinced me that the figures were to be changed, in some way to letters, before the cryptogram could be .entirely solved.

About a week after this, Lansing was called out of the city, by the sickness of his mother. As I parted with him at the depot, I told him to keep up his courage, and to write out his defense, whilo I would attend to the remainder.

During all this time the opposing counsel were striving in every possible manner to make an adamantine chain of evidence, that should immediately condemn th^ prisoner beyond any shadow of doubt.

CHAPTER II.

I found a home for little Mollie with a farmer, where her labor wonld pay her board, and I went to work four miles up the valley with Major Norton, a stock grower. Major Norton had a daughter, Laura, abeut my age, and, like me, an only child. Whenever I had time to spare we were together. She sympathized with me and I rejoiced with her. Time passed. Well, to be brief, it was another echo of the edict which made two sexes. The invisible chord of juvenile lovo was sounded, and we sad and silly, and began to practice the magic of eating moonshine and sleeping with the eyes open.

When the mind of youth gets into this groove, its workings are cumulative. One idea, one feeling, lends to another and another, until the accretion culminates in success or disaster. The young man who commences te spider-web his brain with ribbons and calico, usually ends with catching a great struggling thought of matrimony. So I was awakened one day from a lethargic wuking dream of curls and Cupids,and seraphic communing with a shock of fact. I staggered, doubted for a moment, and yielded. Then mistsking instinct for acuteness, I began to sound the depths of the tide upon which I was flostlug, and to calculate my chances of reaching the shore in safety.

Laura was rich I was poor as a frostbitten potato. Laura had education and glowed with accomplishments: I bad merely mastered the primary rules of arithmetic, and knew no more of gentility than a cat does of chemistry. There I was. I pumped my heart for a precedent. As well might I have searched a desert for roses. What could I do? To retreat wOuld be failure to advance was venturous. To secure the ooveted prize I must make myself worthy of It. So much, all well but how I had no visible means of becoming rich In money. No encouragement there. But mignt I not, by my exer tions, win a wreath of intellect? Yes. And would not that suffice Certainly it would with one so gentle and so talented as Laura. Ob, yes she would welcome the substitute. What cared she for per cent, and palaces? Love is not mercenary, it is liberal it does not bow to the golden calf, it worships the intangible. Thus I argued myself into a scorching thirst foreducatioa. Knowledge wonld bring me felicity. Glorious thought!

I seized the new-Qedged theory with all the ardor of fanaticism. I wedded pself to books, and bandied thoughts th departed sages. God only knows how I labored, lhave half forgotten it myself. Oh, how rugged is the road over which foot-sore ignorance plods its wsy to the well-spring of understanding! How hard the night thrcfugh which weary effort watches for the sunrise Finally, the clouds were scatter ed and something whispered, "it is done." My brain-bridge was finished, tbechssm of caste was spanned and I had but to walk across and claim my reward.

I felt proud that afternoon as I trudged down the valley to visit little Mollie. She greeted me with gladness and sat down at my feet, with ner elbow on my knee, looking up at me with eagerness as I began to talk to her of my

TERRE-HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING MAfT., JANPAKY 11: 1873.

and was taken out by the police,

1

A Queer Clerk.

BY HIMSELF.

Ifo, I'm not a fool. Neither do folks call me a philosopher. I'm simply a common clerk in the service of Hinckley A Co., commission merchants. I have been with |them fifteen years. I do my duty, and they allow aix hundred dollars a year.\ I have lived thir-ty-fivo years, and I have a wife that is all the world to me. We own a little home, a cow, some pigs, and a brood of poultry, and my salary keeps us sup plied with wholesome food, and comfortable clothing. These are the facts, and you very naturally wonder that I decline tho offer from my employers to make me apartner in their extensive business. Such a step, or, rather such a standing still would surprise most men. Yet I repeat that I am not crazy nor do 1 lack sagacity. That's just why I choose to remain Luke Crafton, the clerk, and resolutely shut out from my humble dwelling, this gleam of fortune's sunshine. If you have leisure to listen, I'll piead my case in particulars, and you shall be judge and jury.

I was an only child, and both my parents died within a siugle year, leaving me, tben a boy of fifteen, with no in heritance but poverty—no hope bnt a life of hard labor. Standing beside me in this shadow of desolation was a little ten years' old girl, sweet Mollie Farnum^ whom my dear parents had taken from a poor neighbor two years before to "raise" and to be a kind of help to my feeble mother. There we were, 'two penniless orphans, gazing into a great sea of sorrow, and having no strength to turn from er pa6s over it. I felt—but pshaw!—this has little more to do with the case now in court than the story of Adam and Eve viewing their nakedness after the fruit breakfast. Yet I must say the results in the two instances were similar. The banished Edenites sought to cover their shame with garments of fig leaves, and I strove to turn my tears backward and drown my grief by grasping the nude misery with a bold heart and a strong hand.

purpose,

for I had come to tell her all. I told her how I had atruggled and what I accomplished, and then playfully asked her if I did not deserve the wife I had so striven for?

Oh, yes! my dear brcther," she replied, "you deserve everything." She stopped a moment, and her voice trembled, as she continued:

This makes me feel so strangely. I know it is all right, for my good brother oould not do wrong. I suppose I shall understand it ailwhen I grow to be a woman. I hope this fine lady is not so pretty that you will forget your homely little sister. I suppose any foolish girl would feel jnst se bnt it

would be so hard to have you slight me. Ob, I leve you so deturly." She buried her face in her hands, and I could hear the very throb of her pulse.

Foiget ypu Molli®"? Olytio. Why I intend toTikveyou go liyo wlth ns np at th* big brick bouse and have nice clothfiWnd be a lady like Laura. ni, no, my little darling. I've been abrdther ana lather to yon, and now I'm going to give yob a *mothervand a sister. You'd be a perfect queen. Forget you?1 WJiy^l'm almost vexed, for I've thought fsmrich about ybu as of myself."

She raised her head quickly, and fixing her eyes upou the great wood firo before, us, she said, "Brother Luke knows what is best for bis little orphan sister." Then 1 kissed her good night, and promising to return in the morn ing, I passed down the path to the main road by the light of a lamp she held at tho door for roe, aud hurried rapidly back to Major Norton's.

I found Laura alone, and waiting for me, as 1 had asked to have a talk with her. that evening. Without sittin down, I made known my errand, didnt flourish any rhetoric or quote any poetry, for she understood it all, ana I thought it foolish to play it out like a theater actor. I breathed my love in words as plain as a nursery tale, and then spoke of my arduous duties, my perseverance, my cares, hopes and final triumph—told her I was done with drudgery, and that I had secured a clerkship in the city, and wanted her to be my wife.

She scanned me curiously for a moment, then said, sharply: "What does this mean? I do not know what I henr, or you do not know what you say. One of us is dreaming—which is it?" Not to be put off with pleasantry, I advanced to her chair, and laying a hand upon her shoulder, stooped to kiss her. She arose with a bound, and pushing me from her, cried, sneeringly, "It is real, then We are both wide awake. You want to marry me. You forget yourself. I am not a candidate for the poor house. Go, seek your level, sir J" I stepped to the door and opened it then turned inquiring, and stood wait ing. Her eyes flashed fury as she add ed, "We have nevor been lovers—we are no longer friends!"

I slammed the door behind me, and walked out into the open air. Then I swore like a half-rationed soldier. These curses begot truth. My very curses laid bare tho mystejy, and I reverently thanked God ihat Miss Nor ton discarded me. Why? Because cursed, and returning reason told me there was no love in that! Had I wept, it had been otherwise. As it was, I saw my mistaKe. It was not love, it was selfishness it was not affection, it was ambition. I had fettered my heart with a falsehood. The stone was rolled away at last, and I saw the sepulcher's emptiness.

Next morning I went to see sister Mollie again. She was pale and seemed troubled. I asked the cause, and she answered: "Nothing." That meant prevarication. So I insisted upon knowing the truth. Then she said kindly, but firmly: "Don't scold me, lor lam so unhappy. I don't want to go live up at the big bouse, and wear silks, and learn to be fine lady. I wasn't born for such as that. I would be miserable. I would have to forget all the little barefooted girls I used to play with. I would have to be a stran-

Sen

to all the poor neighbors who have so kind to me, and to you, too, Luke. I oould n't roam the woods, snd talk to the little birds, and gather wild flowers from the hill-side. Oh, let me stay where I am, and be just what I've always been. You can come and see me, you know, as you do now and, perhaps, sometimes your highborn wife will come with you, and I'll be as good as I cau to you both. Please let me stay here, Luke." She raised her sad face imploringly, and held her breath for an answer.

I grasped her band as I exclaimed "God bless you, my good little sister and daughter all in one. There's no danger. The orrn is over. Experience has t:Ui?lt me the lesson you have learned from your own pujre heart. I listened to the charmer and flew to the stars fate clipped my pinions and I fell te the earth. I am not going to marry."

She pressed my band, while tears filled her eyes, as she murmured: "Not going to marry

No, dear Mollie, I am myself again. I've secured aclerkshipin the city, and you shall go with me and keep house for me. Now cheer up. We will start to-morrow."

I think I shall never forget how the crimson came to her cheeks ss she said so solemnly: "That cannot be. I am a grown woman now. Remember I am seventeen years old. We are not real brother and sister, it we do call each other so. We couldn't live together that way, It wouldn't be proper. Would it, Luke No yeu can go, but I must stay. We have to part, some time. Let it be now. I know you will often think of me, and I shall pray for you always."

I couldn't speak. I looked, and trembled. and felt myself sinking to the floor. Just then a ray of hidden light loosed my tongue, ana I stammered out "Part with you, Mollie! Ob, no, no! You must go! Will you be my wife?" I don't believe she said a word but I know she clasped me ronnd the neck and we both cried like little children.

The rest is soon told. We were married and came to the city and there by the table yonder sits the dear creature who was my first sister, then daughter, and finally wife of Luke Crafton. Ob, you needn't blush so Mollie you know I've told itjustasit happened. I couldn't put it in fine language, for I dropped all that long ago. But I guess our friend here cau gather mv meaning as well-

The temple of human happiness has msny apartments. He who would secure rest must fi A it in his own proper sphere. To wander may win him «pilause for his hazarding, but it cannot .ng him contentment. Fame flatters the sense, but it takes something else to satisfy the soul. That is my creed, and I will not change it. One move aside would thrill my paralyzed ambition into activity again, re-open old wounds, and kiuale smoldering embers into flames I oould not control. A wife's devoted love and a life of honest industry brings me peace, and sometimes joy also. I ask no more for I need po more. I have found my road, and shall walk in it to the end. I am truly grateful to my friends for their kindness, but I cannot consent to sport with destiny. Promotion would be temptstion, and temptation might be destruction. So I say, "Get thee behind roe."

plat brii

That is my case. Let me know your verdict. Am I right or wrong

To puoduck that permanent elasticity of the nerve structure, so essential to the healthy action of the nervous system, tofts and stimulate it with Smolander's Buchu, which entirely eradicates kidney, bladder and glandular liseases, mental and physical debility, diabetes, gravel, female weakness and uterine maladies. It has the emphatio endorsement of fkmily physicians.

OFFICIAL IMPERTINENCE.

The Unpatalled Impvde or\JBrakemen, en 4L

o/*Vonduct-

IStUh.. I

sure i|tiie~ittxes did thjptnischief Slid sppiled tLie*'viijes, so little discomforts and incivilities destro the pleasures of travel, Fine cara, steel- rails, conductors in uniform, are all very well,"but tliere'are o't her considerations that railroad managers should look to. This is an age of official impertinence. It is rare that one can get a civil answer from persons in official life. The younger the employes are, and the lower their station, the more snappish and impertinent they are.

On some roads, where there are two or three lines of cars on the track, people become almost frantic, especially women and children, to Know what train to take. It a conductor feels it his business to answer questions that may be put to him, he does it in atone that makes a passenger feel uncomfortable half the day. In one train the fireman ept the stove locked, neither putting wood in himself nor allowing others to do so, on the ground that he knew his business. The most polite and accommodating class that I ever found on the roads were the brake man. They answered any questiou put ?o them usually not only civilly, but cheerfully. Muller chooses his teachers for his orphan children tor their kindness. It would not be a bad rule to apply to railroads.

A conductor opens a car door and shouts out, in a voice, that resembles a north wind blowing through a split rail, "Tickets, please!"—the very tone riles eyerybody. Another shouts,

T—i—c—k—e—t—s!" in the tone of one who asks a favor. The men respond, "Tickets? yes! A cigar, too, if you wish!" On one of the roads the fare is ten cents additional if tickets are bought in the cars. The station was full but the doors were fastened, and no one could enter the car without a ticket. Five minutes before the train time the offioe was thrown open and a youngster appeared to sell tickets. There is no reason why the office should not h^ve been thrown open at least twenty minutes before the time, and the rush and discomfort avoided. I sat down at a table in a well-known restaurant. Opposite mo was a gentleman. A young woman came to receive the order. Her attitude indicated "I am as good as you I will wait on you as a matter of accommodation, sir."

What have you got?" "There is the billot' fare!" (in atone as sharp as a razor.) "Can I have some hard-boiled eggs?" "I presume you can." One or two more questions were asked, aud her response was, "can't you see?" or, I suppose so." As the viands were spread out the gentleman did not seem to be very enthusiastic, and the attendant began: "Ain't you satisfied? Don't you like it?" and tben rattled away like an indignant stepmother to a turbulent boy.

In this age of civil reform, it would be a great comfort to travelers if thtemployes on some of our lines had their tongues put on the civil list,

FOUR PERSONS CONVICTED OF MURDER BY A PAPER OUN WAD. From the Austin (Texas) Statesman.]

Ben. Shelby, Arthur Shelby, Ball Woods and William Smith were convicted of murder in the first degree, in Burnet County, this week, and sentenced by Judge Turner to be hanged on Friday, the 15th of January next. The prosecution was conducted by. Judges Terrill and Walker, employed by the friends of the murdered man. The case was one of the most interesting in the annals of criminal trials, and the evidence, though conclusive, was entirelycircuinstantial. Ben. McKeever, the murdeiedmau, was shot from his horse at night, near the residenceof the Shelby's, his throat cut, and his body carried on horseback three miles and thrown into a cave in the prairie 150 feet deep. A large rock was placed on the bloody spot where his throat was cut, and apparently every precaution was taken to avoid detection. The ap-

Eeen

earance of the rock indicated to the eye of the frontiersman that it bad been recently placed there. Close by it was paper wadding that had been fired from a shot-gun. On examining the gunol Ben. Shelby, paper wadding was found in it, and another piece of paper that bad evidently been fired from a shot-gun was found underShelby's doorstep. In bis house was found the Chimney Corner periodical, and it was ascertained by comparison that the three pieces of gun-waddlsg had been torn from that paper. A small fragment of McKeever's coat, of peculiar texture, found at the bloody spot, revealed the fact thst the murder had been committed there. There were many other circumstances pointing to the accused persons ss the murderers, but one deserves especial mention. On carefully placing the paper found where the blood had been covered by the rock, and comparing it with the wadding found in Ben. Shelby's gun. the following enigma could be read from one paper to another:

With piece of paper or a date, Sit round the fire both large and small A letter make, almott an eight,

And now you see what covers all."

SUFFOCA TINQ INFANTS, It is a common phrase with young mothers when caressing theiroffspring,

I could sauet ze vou to death, baby!" But we are hardly prepared lor tho startling assertion of a London Coroner, made the other day. at an inquest held on the body of an infant who had been suffocated while in bed with its mother, that more than 3.000 infants were suflocatod in England every year from being put to the breast and their mothers falling asleep. In Bavaria there was a law which prohibited parents having children under two years in bed with them, the result being that instances of suffocation of infants were very rare there. London had now, the Coroner said, a very expensive School Board, and it wan to be hoped that they would order children to be instructed in the rudiments of the knowledge and requirementsof the human system.

The London Coroner must be a mad wag indeed, as we judge trom his proposed remedy—every whit as droll as the one who delivered himself «f that delicious bit of crowner's 'qaeet law quoted in "Hamlet." He hM hit it wonderfully for a Coroner—children are indeed to be educated, not suffocated. And a proper knowledge of the requirements of the human system, inculcated immediately upon birth, could not fail to satisfy the most unreasonable babe.that ever drew breath, that air is quite as needful as nourishment, and that if they don't want the ugly old Coroner to sit on them they must see that their careless progenitors don't lie on them. This is good. This is as wholesome, nourishing law as ever flowed from the judicial breast. No more infants will be ovorlain in Lon-

don-

VBovrnrB is a great panaeea for our _^ed fathers and mothers for it gives them strength, qniets their nerves, and gives Nature's sweet sleep.

THE LITTLE PEOPLE.

,A little girl was on#,day readingthe history of England With her governess, and coming to Um statement tint Ifenrj I. never laughed aft*r the death of His son, she looked upand epid:: "IKhat' did he do when he waa tickled?"

Charley, what makes yonr etieeks so red asked a lover of his sweetheart's little brother. 'Cause I put somo of sister's paint on 'em," said Charley. The situation was embarrassing, especially for Charley after tho lover took his leave.

10

Get ont of my way What are you good for said a cross Old man to a bright-eyed urchin who happened to be standing in the way. The little fellow as he stepped one side, replied very gently: "1 hey make men of such things as we are.'

A school girl in one of tlie rural districts of PittsAeld, Mass., was overheard trying to convince a schoolfellow that she liked him better than she did some other urchin of whom he seemed jealous. "Of course, I like you better than I do Bill," said she, "for don't It miss words in my spelling lesson on purpose, so as to be down to the foot of the class where you are?"

Those Detroit boys! Here is their? latest: "Are you going to move this afternoon inquired a boy of the mistress of a house on Sixth street. "No, of course I ain't," replied the wouan, considerably surprised. "I'll bet you $2 you will the roof of the house is all ablaze," cried the boy. So it was, but pedestrians, ladders and water put it out. The man of the house said he would givefaO to be shut up with that boy for about ten minutes.

HE ,4 If

SATURDAY EVEKIirO

MAIL,

i.rf

For the Year 1872-3.

iu. O*

5 9 '''•b" ti S'A 4 41 «'t/ KEQULAB RATKK.

The SATURDAY EVENING MAIL, an Independent Weekly Newspaper, will be* mailed to subscribers at TWO DOLLARS a: Year ONE DOLLAR for Six Months, and' FIFTY CENTS for Threo Months, and to Clubs at the following rates: Three Copies, One Year 5 00* Five 8 01 Ten 15 00: Twenty 25 00

With One Copy extra to the getter up of a Club of Ten, or more. Mall and office Subscriptions wtll,1nvarla-r bly, be discontinued at expirutloa of time! paid for. r'it it'.H 4t

W-

CLUBBING WITH OTHER PERI. OBI«AL8. We are enabled to offer extraordinary Inducements in the way of elubbing with other periodicals. We will furnish the SATURDAY EVENING MAIL, PRICE 12.00 PER YEAR, with any of the periodicals enumerated below at greatly reduced rates. These periodicals will be sent direct from theofBees of publication. Here is the list:

SEMI-WEEKLY.

The Mail and Semi-Weekly K, T. Tribune, price, H.00 5#

Wle

price

&

t!

.# ft

WEEKLY PAPERS.

Mall and the Indianapolis Jobp tinl, price K.00 13 01' The Mail and the Indianapolis Sentlnel, price #2.00 8 0t The Mail ahd the I*. 1*. Tribune,

12.00 8 01 Mall and the Indianapolis New*, price 11.60 9 71 The Mall and the Toledo Blade, price 12.00 I W The Mail and the If. Y. World, price 12.00 8M The Mail and the W. T. Sun, price 11.00 The Mall and the Prairie Parmer, price 12.00 f* The Mall and the Western Mural, price 12.00 8

In *-iw.f,.! 11- 4 it MONTHLIES.1 The Mail and the American Agriculturist. price 11.60 ..... The Mali and Demore»t's Monthly, price 83,00.1 year The Mail and ilodey'sLady'sBo«k, price 88.00 The Mail and the North Western

OS

The Mall and the CMeaga Advance, price 12.50 8 74. The Mail and the Chicago Interior, price t2J0 The Mail and the Chicago Bepubll« can, price II.50 The Mall and Appleton'o Journal, price (4.00 The Mail and the Sural Wew York* er, price 13.00 8 7ft The Mail and Hearth and Home, price 18.00 8 Tlr The Mail and the Methodist, price 12.50. 8 01 The Mall and Every Saturday, price 15.00 •§¥. The Mail and Harper's Weekly, price *4.00 The Mall and Harper's Bazar, price 14.00

UN 8 69

4 00

Farmer, price SI.50 The Mail and the Little Corporal, price 11.60 The Mail and the Little Chief, price 75 cents. Tlie Mall and the Utile Mower, price 75 cents. Tlie Mail and Mcrlbner*s Monthly,

2 SfC 3 2»2 21 4 4 8 9t

price, tl.00.. The Mall and the Atlantle Monthly, price U.00 Tlie Mall and Our Young Folks, price 1Z00 2, The Mall and Old and New, price $4. 4 tt~ The Mail and Overland Monthly, price, *4.00 The Mail and Harper's Mairnalne, price 1.00 6 0S-, The Mall and Young Folk* Bwml

I

CLUBBING WITH COUNTY PA PERU We have made arrangements to furnish the MAIL with the following Newspapers, published in the neighborhood of Terre* Haute, at very low rates. Hfcre is the list: The Mall and SulUvan Union —18 00 The Mall and RockviUe Ntrwi. 3 00, The Mail and Brazil Miner..4 8 00 The Mall and Bowling Greeri Archive*.... 3 00 The Mall and MarthaU Herald 8 00 The Mall and Hoorter State..* 8 00 The Mall and Newport Transcripts 8 00 The Mail and Aurora Borecqit, 8 09

Persons getting up clubs Ibr the MAIL, snd desiring to obtain subscriptions for other periodicals on our list at the same time, wiU be furnished a list of the prices at which sueh subscriptions aA be taken separately by us, upoo application to this offlee.

Address, P. •. WMMTAM* Tssre-Baats, AsdhMs.