Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 8, Number 6, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 28 July 1877 — Page 1

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A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

SECOND EDITION.

Town-Talk

'zJThere baa been bat one subject of Town Talk this week. T. T. confesses that be lias much gy/npatby for both sides. The employes ought to have better wages than they are -getting, and T.

T. knows that, for reasons be will not stop to particularize, most of the railroads are almost within reach of the receivers' hands. It is hardly nec^w-ary to repeat the arguments in regard to the strike. Those of the railroad managers are that the cuts in wages were tho result of competition, against which tbey were powerless to force an advanca of rates to compensate. The strikers, at least some of them, say It WHS not competition, but "the ring" which reduced the rates also, that the circlo within a circle, known as the fast freight linos, ate out the profits of the roads. But T. 1. will leave this question, at least for this weett, for the railroad men and tho big editors to talk about, while be fills his space with a few I

Z'Ah- i'i STRIKING PARAGRAPHS, for in spite of the seriou naturo of the strike, there have been not a few ludicrous situations connected with the railroads, tboir former and present managers, the strikers and tho people anxious to get home. f"

On TuoaJay morning a representative of Frank Lesie or the Harpers could have filled a whole page with a delineation of the meeting in front of the depot, st which the great pile-driving cars were used as the stand for the speakers. The long beam running ont at an angle, covered with

men

standing and sitting,

the roofli of the cars crowded with men, and boys, with legs dangling over tho edges, and every conceivable style of straw hat speoking the mass of humanity, the crowd on the ground below attentively listening, the speakers occupying tho corner of one of tho oars, the round bouse in the back ground,—all inado a remark ablo scone.

The crowd which fillod the intersection of Wabash and Sixth streets during the early days of the week, waiting on the conference in the railroad offices, presented every phase which the delighted student of diversified humanity could wish. The long iron railings, on every foot of which roosted a waiting spectator, were the oddest sight of all. Of oourse such a crowd would not be lacking in the groteaqae, which on this occasion was presented by John Chestnut, who in his gruff but good humored way acted as patron of the strikers, bidding them oall on him when tbey wanted any assistance or advice, or if tbey wanted any one to "go on their bond," and promised to muzzle the police.

Not until tbo strike was it possible to imagine how bard it looks to see a locomotive starting on along trip with only postal or baggage oar behind it, and both tender and car crowded with anxious commercial drammers "caught out from home."

Some laugh on the mention of the idea that-the Light Guards might find use for their services. But just ss likely •snot, those who laugh would be the last to take their places. True, it is contrary to the proprieties that brick bats should mar the beauty of those hand4»me uniforms, but it is pretty certain that the Qoards would not back out, unless it be through sympathy with those who would be their opponents.

Frank Paris did not, leave for Washington on Wednesday. The rumor that he waa going so worked on the public •mind that people actually Mopped the trains on the railroads to keep him in the dty. "The Committee," in this city has had its hands full in its work of managing all the trains, and in controlling tbe unruly element anxious to join the ranks tor bad purposes."

The Loganaport roadls the hands of a Receiver, and under the control of the U. 8. Court, and "The Committee" had some question as to responsibility in stopping trains, so they went to Mr. Voorheee tor ad vice. "You're just as much right to stop the trains on that

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road assny other," said Daniel, and "tbe committee" departed satisfied, without stopping to think that they bad no right to stop trains on any road.

Mrs. Stewart, the Pence Hall medium returned from her western trip last Saturday. The spirits have not joined tbe strike and seances have been resumed as usual.

Chestnut street is tbe "dead line." Engines don't cross that thoroughfare at present, es there is a tradition that the tief are rotten there!

Just to think of Mr. Tennant away up in Canada, moro'n a thousand miles away, and Centenary ^Sunday school waiting for him to walk home I

The most appalling feature of the strike is tbe possibility that Barn urn's show may not reach here on the 8th of August, as set down.

It is easy enough to joke about the absent excursionists, but there is a great deal of Inconvenience connected with the matter.

Mark Miller "i'fl a "bigger man than" Riley McKoen. vi t-8

Husks and Nubbins.

s? no. 264.

W? K-L,. THE PEOPLES UNIVERSITY." The title above is the name by which tbe great public library of Boston is familiarly known and an appropriate name it is, for while only the sons and daughters of the rich or well-to-do classes can be sent to college this university is open and free to all.

The public library is an inexhaustible mine of knowledge. It has something suited to everybody's taste and capacity. The young find entertainment and instruction there and those of riper faculties, a boundless field in which to exercise them. We endeavored last week to point out a few of the possibilities of private study and to show that anyone with books might educate himself, though he never came within sight of a college building/ This one lack—and it is a great one with many—the public library supplies, free of all cost, and we repeat that he who lives within reach of ii has no exeuse for ignorance.

Its influence is practically immeasurable. It is a wonderful educator. To the young it is indeed an alma mater—a real nourishing mother. The children flock to it and bear away those easy and delightful books from which they acquire their first love for study. Light and frothy it may seem to us who are older bnt there is something more substantial in the cup below and they will drink that before tbey stop. Besides, tbey are kept from vicious ways, maybe, while poring over Holmes or Southworth. The patronage of tbe large public libraries is almost incredible. Books are taken away and returned by the thousands. On certain days the rooms are thronged from morning until the doors close at night, and men, women and children crowd the counters waiting to be served. And this goes on week by week and month by month for years. The effeot is observable. By and by the whole community Is permeated with the silent influences of refinement and culture which radiate from this hidden center.

Men are ever anxious to know how to invest their money in order that it may bring them the best returns. There are many places to put it, but we venture the assertion that never was a small amount of money Inverted in anything that returned a greater profit than does that which called into being and keeps alive the publio library. There is not a city, town or village in the oountry but ought to have one and might have one too. How is it to be gotr By agitating the matter—talking about it^ demanding it through the newpapers, working for it The people who have standing and influence ought to lead, but everyone can do something. Even the school children, by importuning their parents and teachers, could arouse no small degree of interest in the subject. All the splendid results we now see have sprung from discussions of the question in its various phases. A few years ago the public libraries of this oountry were scarce and indifferent. Now there are public-library acts on the statute-books of eleven States and many of the larger cities have excellent libraries. These results have been accomplished by meetings and discussions. The dustodians of these libraries have come together and considered tbe best means of improving the library system. In this way tbe almost perfect methods now pursued have been developed* The American Library Association meets innntlly and at its next meeting in September it is proposed to take stops toward the preparation of a model pub-lic-library act for adoption in those States which have not yet instituted a public-library system.

Our own state, always mlndfttl of Its educational interests, as far bank ss passed an act providing that 'the inhabitants of any dty, town, village or neighborhood,' or any part of them, whenever not less than f50 should be subscribed for tbe purpose of establishing a public library, might meet together, elect a president and board of dlreci­

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on and become a corporate body, with power to levy an annual tax of not more than one dollar on each share, and to establish rules snd regulations for the carrying on of such library. That act has been on tbe statute-book ever since and ia to-day. But in 1878 tbe Legislature passed another act greatly enlarging its scope of usefulness. This act provides, among other things, that incorporated cities msy, by a two-thirds vote of the common council, subscribe to the stock of such libraries and levy a tax not to exceed two mills on the dollar snnually, for ths psyment of such stock and tbo assessments thereon. This gives us a very, fliir public library law and enables every city corporation in the State to maintain a public library at the public expense, which is the-reason-able and proper way to do it.

Notwithstanding this favorable legislation the great majority of the towns and cities throughout the State, and Terre Haute among tbe rest, are altogether destitute of public libraries. Indianapolis has a good library of some 20,000 volumes, largely patronized by all classes of her citizens, snd Evansville, by means of the Carpenter endowment, will soon have an lbiposing and splendid public library but outside of these two cities we are not aware of any successful efforts in this direction. This is not as it should be We repeat that every city, town and village in the State ought to have its publio library. Even though tbey be small and weak st first they will grow and make their own way in public'favor, if their friends will only stand by them. It is a matter well Worth the thoughtful andearnest consideration of parents and all good citizens.

STATEMENTS ON THE STRIKE. Picturesque scenes and dramatio situations have been plentiful sinoe the advent of the great strike, all of them full of interest and many partaking largely of the humorous.

Such were those cases in which attempts were msde to "slip off" with trains before the strikers knew it, and which in most cases were failures. On the I. fc St. L. an engineersoltly "pulled out" without ringing the bell, and had attained a speed of five or six miles an hour, but a brakeman managed to swing up on the iron ladders, pulled a coupling pin near the engine, and brought ths train to a stop. This was the first of these attempts to "steal trains."

On Tuesday the strikers held a lively debate at the depot on the subject of a passenger train which was on the way westward, and which contained quite a number of ladies and children. Finally generosity prevsiled, the brakemen declared that they didn't want to war against women and children, and the train was allowed to go on to St. Louis.

Several times attempts were made to pass Chicago freight through the crowd which continually swarmed in front of the Union depot, but each time without success, even though on one occasion a prominent officer sat on the pilot.

The Midland folks on several occasions brought trains as for as the bridge and allowed the passengers to walk into the city, in fear that if they came over they could not get baok with the cars.

A certain merchant is reported as having said to a party of the strikers, "Well, boys, I haven't much of a family to look alter, but I've got thirty thousand dollars to help you along and keep you from starving."

A good deal of regret was occasioned by the announcement that tbe blast furnaces of tho Vigo Iron Company would be compelled to blow out, on account of a lack of coal. But this is incorrect, at least for the present. Tbe company are banking tbe tires, and have on band enough coal to keep tbe furnaces in heat for at least a month, without either manufacturing or blowing out. To do the latter Involves immense expense. Meanwhile tbey will Arait developments.

Quite a quantity of ooal was received this week from the mlhes onihe other aide of the river, in wagons. It is almost as good as any for steaming, and a strike either in.Clay county or on the railroads is a bonanza for the Sugar Creek mines.

The strikers at Indianapolis put a family upon tho train which pussd westward Tuesday. They were from Pittaburg, on the way to St. Lonte, and the man was a stone cutter by trade. Every member of the family was poor and sick, and the railroaders wanted to pass them ss a matter of charity. When the train reached here it waa crowded, and the oonductor put off tbe family at-tbe Seventh street crossing, stopping tbe train for that purpose. These people were soaked in the rain of Tuesdfy, and spent tbe night in a box car. On Wednesday they had been without food two or three days, trhen their condition wss discovered and aid tarnished by the citizens. A committee of the strikers then waited upon President ITcKeen and demanded the disaharge of the conductor who had put them oil the train, which was acceded to by Mr. McKeen.

If tbe Wabash and Erie canal were now in boating order, it would this week bar® been either blockaded with freights or would have strike on the tow path.

TERRE HAUTE, IND., SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 28, 1877. Price Five Cents

The nail works company were granted permission by tbe strikers to haul coal from the Vandalia freight yards. The water works oompsny were granted a similar privilege. The trouble is that it is unssfe to ssnd cars to Brazil, as it is feared the miners there will bosrd them and come /o amass to the dty snd make trouble. There has been sn expreesiefn from tbem thst tbey wsnt to get here to participate in the strike. Just what they mean by that is hardly known. The railroad committee seem t*. pay little attention to them,

Probably the largest shipment of freight from this point Bince the inauguration of the strike was thst of a car load of hominy to New Orleans via Evansville and the rivers. '"t2l

W. H„ Peters started a haclc line "between Marshall and Terre Haute on Wednesday. H? had six passengers on his first trip.

Thirty tons of mail matter came in on Wednesday, as a result of a release of the blockede in Pennsylvania.

Who will be tbe first to start at^allpon line to Indianapolis? ilulman & Cox have had teams out in eVery direction this week, supplying grocery stores in towns* within a radius of fifty miles, and hauling goods from Indiaoapolis.

Jacob White had two tons of oranges hauled from Indianapolis, where tbey had arrived on transit and been stopped.

Tom Gist was tbe first to start a passenger line on the "dirt road.." He sent an omnibus to Paris as early as Tuesa

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Certain of the railroaders say they knew two weeks ago that tbe strike was to take place.

At one time just before the strike, flour was up to $9.65 per barrel. That was one of the last straps that broke the camel's back.

The trains on the Vandalia line which had started at tbe time tbe strike begsn, were forwarded to terminal points. But on the I. «fc St. L. each was run in on the first siding it csme to, and chained down to the traok so tbat there are a dozen different trains waiting at ss many points on tbat road, v*

The excitement at the I. «& St. L. depot on north Sixth street Thursday morning surpassed that of any previous day ia the week. A telegram stated tbat a regular train was coming, and on tbe part of many of tbe strikers there was determined opposition toward permitting the train to pass. When it arrived, and after the conference ef the committee of the strikers with tbe Indianapolis committee, the scene which ensued wss exceedingly lively. It was a debate on the part of everybody at the same time without deliberative rules. It is pretty certain tbat if tbe home committee had not consisted of judicious snd firm men there would have been trouble, and the train would have been stopped, at least.

Tbe O. A M. men at Vincennes at one time put a stop to the running of E. T. H. trains over their crossing, also manifesting a desire to' stop all trains on tbat road. But a committee of the Vandalia meq went down and explained matters to their satisfaction, ssying the E. A T. H. road was allowed liberty by all the Terre Haute strikers, the reduction 6n that line having been with tbe officers, and not the men. Since that the Evansville road has been running both passenger and local freight trains without-any trouble, being the only one of all our roads of which this can be ssid.

The moii Mrcastlc rebuff which the strikers have yet met with has been from Mr. Collett. Jt was being wrathfully reported that the doings of a certain engineer in tbe service of ''Gollett's road" were not in accordance with the wishes of the strikers, who sccordingly detailed a committee to wait upon the President and request the removal of said offending engineer. Tbey wore nonplussed when that gentleman intimated that "he was not running thst road stprebent, and tbey must themselves remove him."

Every old stage coach in the dountry la now being paraded before tbe eyes of the astonished villsgers and wondering country folk. Rural merchants ruefully ftomjiare the rattling and rib-fractur-ing old ooneeras with the red plush on which they were accustomed to sit while malting excursions to the dty for goods.

Meetings at Court Park and Odd Fellows' Bali have been hold, several evenings this week, toy dtlssns snd workingmen, at whioh diacussion waa free and lively, and every Imaginable tbeoty as to the efuss and cure of tbo fight between labor and capital baa been orated.

Vincennes Is all in somebody hss estabiiahed a hack line to a point aaat of thsrs and it ia feared tho competition will bankrupt the O.AM.

The wsy in which tlas LAV. manages It is to approach within a tow milssof terminal points and than send tho mail tl» IMI of tho way on hand cars.

Aasrpentarwaa hsardtoarguein tUa manner: Why should we not band together and compel people to have boosm built, so as to gWans wo«fc,ns wail so for tho lwakamon to write an compel their emptoyei* to pay thorn mors «n*M9*"

People and Things.

Moody never performs tho marriage ceremony. Turks eat meats stuffed with beans mssh'ed with spices.

An Atlanta Methodist clergyman is a policeman on week dsys. Nowdsya tho former says he can't pay up but will give an oat.

Tbe man who can say all he's got to ssyin a few words is an ugly customer to handle.

The "regular-made" undershirt may fairly say with Hamlet: "Seams! I know not seams!"

Bob Ingersoll believes in baptizing children, provided you put»littto soap into tbe water.

Rev. Dr. Withrow, of Roaton, never asks a blessing over a table where there ia wine or liquor^--

The Governor of Kentucky would not accept a specimen of handicraft sent to him by a convict.

It confuses a man t6 havo the ghost of his mother-in-law appear to him when he doesn't ex-spectre.

Of all stupid company the man who takes it upon himsslf to be "funny man" of a party is the most insufferable. "G.C is the csballstic scrawl by which the tramp now designates tbe bouse where can be,bada "'Good Square Meal."

This year the colored graduate has poked bis head up everywhere. At Brown university he delivered tbe class oration.

Exchange: One of the fashions in gentlemen's coats now at the watering places is for the jrieevo to fit tightly round the girl's waist, -y--

Two little boys quarrelled over a game of marbles in Welden, N. C., and one drew a pistol afid killed tbe other. The oldest wss only nine.

A Hindoo jury consists of five persons, of which two are elected by a plaintiff, two by tbe defendant, and the fifth by the administrator of justice.

Ten members of the United&tstesSenste are said to be printers, and yet they speak to the other senators, and don't put on any extra airs st all.

Punch a machine politician out of his "influenee," and he immediately howls that an organized effort is being made to break up tbe Republican party.—[Cin. Com.

At an up-country shooting match the other day one marksman sent a bullet into a drove of cattle, and then actually had tbe audacity to claim that he'd msde a bull sigh..,

It is lying swake nights trying to determine whether to leave your fortune to an orphan aaylum or a home for old men that makes tbe newpsper business so wearing..

It is a woman's right to know whether or not a man is baldbeaded, and custom every gentlemsn should take off hia hat when in tbe presence of a lady.

Eli Perkins may not be a professional liar, but he certainly can tske a few foots and arrange them in a very unique manner, which partakes of tbe delusive nature of a verbal mirage. man sentenced to be hung wss offered his liberty if be would set ss a judge in a baby ahow. He said he prefeted a less violent death, and told the sheriff to goon with the hanging.

It is remarked of out young men now adaya that they ahow dedded determination to stand by thrf churchss, particularly at the hour when the girls are coming out' to be eecorted home.' "I have found it easier," said Senator Dawes, at the dedication of a fountain in Pittsfleld, "not to drink liquor atall than to drink moderately, however innocent and harmless that might bo to

Col. Sellers, otherwise J.T.Raymond, passed the treasury department in Washington the other day, and FTDD MILDLY,"there's millions In it!" and immediately added, reflectively, "there's millions after it."

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A Turkish soldier, buying a sword st Dsmsscus tried its tsmper by cutting off tho bsad of a Jew who happened to bo passing, and the only aotlee taken of the occurrence by tbeautboritiee wesas order to him to join his regiment, y" man arrived in Bnflblo rscsntly who hsd come along distance to place his mother In an asylum for lanstics. He went to bed inn hotel saying hs had been so nenwne about his mother that he could not aleep for many nights, and in the morning was found to havo booonso a himsslf.

Tbe thing to do with tornado is to ahoatlt. A correspondent of tbe Detreit Tribute argues that "a heavy chaigs from a muskst would be most likely to break up tbe central column and crash tho power of the moving saaas, because the passsgeofsbot through tbe eater would sdmlt cooler sir, which could not rise. ABEAVY charge from a moctar would be •ore effective but heavy cfdnanee ls not onbsfid #f«ywh«fr.fgP288®

Feminiterns.

All Asistlc women ride horsebsck sstride. No man respects a girl that flirts, though he may flirt with her.

Pickpockets feel greatly obliged to tbe ladies for ths stylss now in vogue. A kiss," says a French lady, oosis less and gratifies more thsn anything else."

The average measurement of the stunted

foot of

a Chinese fesosle is four

inches. Mrs. Livermore will have two lectures ready for the next lyoeum sesson. The subject of one will be "Harriet Martineau," and of the other "Tbe Coming Man."

You can always tell when a woman is learning to drives hone, because she sits on the extreme end of the seat, and leans forward as though she feared a disastrous pitching out behind.

A woman pushing a baby cab with one hand, holding up her skirts with the other, and carrying her parasol in her teeth, is a sight whioh can only be seen since the new fashion broke out.—Detroit Free Press.

You can tell an American angel in the summer time because she is the only celestial being tbat wears a linen duster, belted in, wrinkled, snd made to fit som other sngel either double or half the wearer's size.—Hswkeye Dot.

Mrs. Fitch, nee Shermsn, hss ndver worn thst |300,000 necklace, presented by tbe Kbedive. It is still in the Treasury vaults, ss her husband, lieutenant Fitch, does not possess suffldent ducsts to psy taxes on it. If Fitch hsd the spirit of a man about bim, he would haul the old thing out and sell it.

Mabel Leonard, the child actress, hss run away from Clara Morris. Judge Donohue declares he will recapture her, and put her in a convent, and make her behave herself. Whereupon Clara Morris says this: "If tbe Supreme Court can make a female child behave herself wbsn she do&nt wish to, it must have supernatural power." Clara knows her sex.

The sun bonnet of our grandmothers bss reappeared in Springfield, Masa., and the Republican ssys: "When one ventured on Main street the other day every msn who passed wss tempted to look Inside of it, and those who succeeded saw a sweet plump fsoe in which the sparkle of the eyes and every dimple and feature produced its best effect because so well shsded. We are confidently Informed that they become every style of oomplexion and face and make simplidtiesagraoe."

Jenny June is looking around in London, and she ssys there is alack of fashionable style there in woman's dress. English* women do not alter clothing except for children. Tbe consequenoe is tbat, while the new ideaa In form which France developee are copied in every part of the United States, this elegance of style is the exception in England, the majority still wearing the straight, short waisted basques and jackets, short, full oversbirts, and baggy sleeves, loose at the wrists

It is not known yet where she lives this yesr, but don't let us worry she will surely appear in the newspapers within the next three months. We allude to tbat farmer's daughter of seventeen who plows twenty acne ot ground, cuts fifteen acme of grain with a reaper and mower, threebes all the wheat, cultivates one acre of cabbages, m«hi twenty cows every morning before breakfast, and does nesrly all the housework, while her father lies abed with inflammatory rheumatism all summer. .»

Shs stood b^ j&re a fashionable tailor's window. It was full of nobby blaok anils.' Shegaasdat tbe glossy ewallow talla and troussrs with the expression of one loet in admiration, and a far-away look came Into her eyes, as though she was dreaming of Augustus* wedding wit, she took a-handkerchief pcnstVo* ly from her lnalde pocket, and softly wiped her lovely brow and cheeks with a light, dakfeing motion. Shs wss putting rice powder on her face with her handkerchief, in tbo convenient minor made by. the black cloth against the window.

The world is fall of advics to young ladlss, of endless advics to young wives end mothers but tbat chronic form addraowd to women no longer josaafe Intended to solace the "aflernoe* Unmarried life"—can anything in all literature be more dolefttlT The assumption that suc|i a 11* ton Infliction-** burden to Its pssssssor the general atmosphere of coddling and pmlm singing psrvadlng the whole dose not make cboerfalveadIng, it moat be oonfeeeed. Alifo eopreimatsinuclj dolefal—so utterly devoid of comfort to receive eeoeelstlon. front source -could not rstsffc the burden of existence. There must Always remain to sneb poor eouls thatfinhl relief: "Tb shuffle off this mortal coil."— Oor. Woman's Journal*

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