Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 14, Number 10, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 1 September 1883 — Page 2

j-±. Hi

Vol.

I4.~-NO. IO.

THE MAIL

'A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.'

Town Talk.

THE PARK.

BUt little ban been heard of the new Park since the last council meeting. This is probably caused by the near approach of cool weather, when people will sot want to use it. But the matter should not be allowed to rest in its present shape. No work can be done towards its completion during the winter months, and if the matter is allowed to lie overer until next spring tbe warm weather will be here and still find the city without the luxury of a park, which would be an act of injustice to the citisens. Certainly Terre Haute can afford to expend money liberally in tbis matter. A generous citizen has presented the citizens with twenty acres of land, valued at about $10,000. Its location is desirable, yet the council hesitates about what to do with it. To a disinterested party it scarcely seens CREDITABLE that the council should require the-casting vote of the mayor for an appropriation of $500 to be used in clearing the grounds and trimming the trees. Tbe amount asked lor was considered reasonable by the Park commissioners, and will doubtless receive the endorsement of nine-tenths of the citizens. The commissioners were not selected to favor arty party or location. Two of these are

Democrats and two Republicans. Two were taken from among the citizens north of Main street, and the other two from the southern portion of the city. All serve during life, and in the event of a death the survivors elect his successor. All are men of integrity, and no one lor a moment supposes that they would ask for a dollar which is not absolutely necessary. It has been insisted that tbe councill could not legally appropriate money for Park purposes from other than funds ls set apart for that purpose, but the city attorney holds otherwise and the appropriation has been made. The tax for Park purposes is two per cent. If it is all paid it will realize about $3,000, but it will not be available before May next, a time when the Park should be ready for use. Tbe truth of the matter is that the people are all in favor of the Park, and do not care where the money comes from so they get it. The councilman who would vote against an appropriation of this kind upon a mere technicality will not receive much sympathy from his constituents in the future. It may be law to vote against an appropriation when there is a surplus fund in the treasury, and then turn around and vote for an appropriation for another purpose, to meet which will require a loan from the banks at the regular rate, but it does not seem very good policy.

CITY POLITICS.

going

on

S

When the time comes around for each city election it is amusing to read the attacks which each party makes upon its opponent. All kinds of extravagance is charged against the party in power, and figures are twisted «oas to be almost beyond recognition they are transposed at will and made to answer questions and state facts to suit party convenience. This statement applies to all parties alike. The statement that "figures won't lie'* is one of the greatest fabrications of modern times. Last spring, for instance, it was urged that the party in power should he retired because it expended too much money on street improvements. It was urged against it that seven or eight thousand dollars a year spread on the street* was gross extravagance and should retire any party from power. This and other things brought the Democrats the control of the city. Well, what have they done The police force is the same in numbers and expense as formerly. Ditto the fire depart creak The salaries of none of the oflcers have been decreased, and things do not move along more smoothly than they did previously. But in tbe matter of streets and street repairs the new ad ministration has bad a revelation. It sees things a little differently now than itdiddnring the last campaign. It commenced handling tbe streets tenderly and seemed to think that any improvements made on them would be luting as the rook of ages. But it has discovered its mistake. Streets wear oat and are constantly requiring repairs. In theory a few hundred dollars go a long way In street improvements, bat in practice it is altogether different. The last monthly appropriation asked for was $2,500, which would be at tbe rate of $15,000 a year, and this is not a hard season on the streets, either Economy Is wealth, but niggardliness In city improvements will not pot much, if any, money in the city treasury. The party that endeavors to keep tbe city to good condition by an honest application of Its funda will oatweather all attacks and oome out victorious in the end. OUR CLUB

When Terre Haute had two base ball clubs and a park, each being under a

neither

much. Their victories were

very far between.

THK TRAMP.

For a time the tramp became scarce, to tbe satisfaction of all, but of late he is on the increase again, and is more annoying than ever. A few years ago be was content to call at tbe kitchen door and be thankful for some cold victuals. Later be demanded hot coffee with his food, and went away oursing if it were not given him. Since then he has im proved still further. Now he wants his meals served hot in the dining room. If he makes a call and finds no host at home, he selects the best valise in tbe house, packs it with the best clothing he can find and leisurely takes his departure from tbe bouse and city without the formality of leaving his card or stating his destination. On the railroad he is as independent as a Vanderbllt or Gould. The time was when he was content with a walk on the ties and a ride when he oould steal ODO. But that day has passed Now he takes possession of a car and holds the train bands at bay with a revolver. Truly the tramp is improving his opportunities. He is organized thoroughly and is increasing in numbers daily. If he improves his methods in the future ss he has done in the past he will soon be a power in the land, and will be a terror whever he goes. It is about time to sit down on the tramp He is enjoying too much elegant leisure, and is becoming too independent for the remainder of mankind. He shonld be taught that the world owes him nothing but that for which be works. If he will not work he should be placed where the devil will find no work for his idle hands. Too much ease spoiled Adam and Eve, and tramps are no better than they, so they should be taken care of before it is forever toe late.

W. H. STEWART'S cooper shop, on Water street, south of the Vandalia road, was burned Sunday morning, between five and six o'clock. The front part of brick, was an old landmark, being the smoke house connected with the Humaston pork house. While the fire was in progress a frame addition in tbe rear fell, burying under the debris Fireman Martin La%. A beam struck him on the head, crashing the skull and breaking the jaw bone. He was taken out immediately and died of the Injuries in about an hoar. The body was taken to Jefiersonviile for burial, the police force, fire department and city officers, with Ringgold band, accompanying it to the depot. He was a cooper by trade, and an Industrious workman.

os G.lbert 1750 11|3

S S W a O pi on

club was on the worst of terms with this othei, and neither believed that the park We are coming back into the world management showed them fair play, again. Tbe breath of every other man While this contention and strife was we meet smells of whisky.

club amounted to very By the way, have the gentleman

few and

The Awkwards

pure home talent, so they went down in their pockets and imported some. The Blues considered Terre Haute material good enough for them, and stuck to it for. "me with disastrous raulta^he

park association conceived the idea that. it should control a ciub of its own, and I

with this end in view the old organizations were disbanded, and from both was selected the Terre Haute Club. Great things were expected of the new deal, and of the games played at home the boys won a liberal share of the honors. But when they left home for a more extensive field their luck evaporated. like thin air. The reports from their trip this week and last are far from gratifying to those at home who take a pride in Terre Haute institutions. Two games were the sum total of their success, and defeaUn all the otherb. Now that it is over excuses are in order. Some say the players were in no condition to be sent away from home that a number of them were in a crippled condition, and that few of them were able to play with any credit to themselves. Some say that when they reached Cincinnati they tarried there too long instead of crossing tbe river and sojourning iu Covington, which had a damaging effect on their game at the latter place. There are a few others who say there is too much laziness in the club that all but three or four should be released, end that the managers should at once proceed to reorganize the nine with a better selection of men. There is certainly no reason why Terre Haute should not have as good a club as any other city in the west. The park is a paying institution, and its owners can afford to employ good talent if it will only do so. Everybody nowadays la crazy on base ball. It is a poor game that will not draw a crowd, and a gopd game is a severe test of the capacity of the park. This being tbe case it behooves the park association to furnish go^d music. There is a demand for good games. If tbe present nine caunot give them they should give place to one which can. Other clubs play every day with very few changes, and this club is no more tender footed or tender handed than any other to require such weak excuses for defeat. There is something weak somewhere, and the weak point should be strengthened.

chocolate colored, stove pipe hats with

were black brims, reach Terre Haute Let us

tbe first to recognize tbe fact that they pray there will be nothing half so ugly could not hope to succeed with simon in fall

bonnete^SHTABUIA

is an old fashioned, pleasant town of five thousand inhabitants, three miles south of lake Erie, on the Lake Shore and Nickle Plate railroads. The grass

the streM8 o( the

Monday morning we went down to the scene of- the great Ashtabula bridge disaster, Dec. 29, 1876. The horrors of that accident are still fresh in memory. Tbe agent, who was also agent at that time, walked down with us, and, on the bridge we happened to meet a gentleman who was in the wreck and one of the few who escaped. The bridge was 70 feet above the water, which was only about two feet deep. There were two tracks and a train had passed oaly eight minutes before. They were in the midst of a terrific snow storm, and so dark the engineer could not tell when thoy got upon the bridge. Two engines were ploughing through the snow, when sud denly the whble bridge fell to the north and one eugine and the entire train of thirteen cars fell to the south, seventy feet into the water. In two or three minutes the flames were shooting up to height of forty feet. They fastened the remaining engine to tbe one in tbe water and drew it up the steep bank, and just as it reached the top, everything gave way and the engine fetl back upon the burning mass. The town Is a mileaway and the fire engines were utterly unable to get through the snow which lay two feetdeep upon the ground. Ninety dead bodies were taken out of the ruins. Twenty-one unrecognized dead rest in the cemetery upon the hillside. How many were entirely burned, with not a vestige left, will never be known.

Among the latter were P. P. Bliss and wife. Tbe bridge wa9 built by Amasa Stone. Tbe civil engineer and bridge inspector exclaimed when be heard of tbe disaster, "I have been thirty years building up a reputation and now it is gone forever." It was the common opinion that Mr. Stone should have thoroughly exonorated him on tbe investigation, but be did not do so. Two weeks after, he was found shot dead, but whether a murder or a suicide will never be known. Six years later Amasa Stone took his own life. Another bridge has risen above the ruins of tbe old tbe little brook flows peacefully on and tbe quiet earth holds forever in her bosom the secrets of this dreadful tragedy.

We spent Sunday in one of the loveliest homes In Ashtabula. Tbe library contains |20,00C worth of books, including an $800 set of Audobon on Birds. Hundreds of volumes of science, poetry, everything that one would love to study. Imagine such a feast and not time to read one single volume. Tantalus is not the only one whoever thirsted with the water just touching his lips.

A WORD OF BXPLANATZOV. I received a letter a few days ago asking, "Are you a pagan at Terre Hante and a saint at Chautauqua,or what Is the matter?" And learning that the Demo crat, in the department of "Remember, Son, what he says may be true, bat It is always tough," had been making similar remarks, I sent for that paper and received it to-day. The article referred to oontains a great deal of what, in Chautauqua, is called "gush." For instance, "Philosophy Is what gashes out of tbe heart of every man and woman." "The philosophy of Sunday grows from the merry prattle of children," the quickened pulses of motherhood. "Every birds that cuts the air and warbles a love song to its mate proclaims it otherwise." "Every bug that crawls, and every humble toad that blinks under the hollyhock bashes keep? the Sunday and venerates it just as we all should do." How? I am confased. Must we ''sit under tbe hollyhock bushes and "blink" on Sunday Or, is man supposed to have no higher capabilities for enjoyment than a bag or a toad "What a Sunday to a man or woman with a touch of sentiment for the stillness and grandeur of everything good." Give it up. Send the key or some kind

TERRE HAUTE, IND., SATURDAY EVENING. SEPTEMBER 1.1883.

bouses

are 8uch

,ax„riant masses

of vines. Tliey charge ten cents here

for street car fare. On}y small towns are capable ot doing this I boarded a car with a lady friend, and dropped two nirkles in the box for the two fares. While we were waiting on a switch the driver counted the fares, then counted the passengers and then exclaimed in a loud voice, "I am one fare short." Looking up I saw for the first time, a placard, "Fare 10 cts." I didn't say, as tbe anecdote runs, "I am a member of tbe Legislature and everybody will suspect me.'' I didn't claim half rates on account of being a newspaper correspondent, but, amid blushes and confusion, I just hainded over another dime, to the evident enjoyment of the passengers.

erty At Chautauqua the trees were full ot birds that had never heard the sound of a gun, and it was not an uncommon thing to have a bright eyed squirrel run across your path.

But tbe editor says, "I have spent many ideal Sundays in the country. I have gone to the woods and straddled an old log and played seven up all day, and I think when I laid down at night my credit on the everlasting book was in better shape than many of Chautauqua's learned gentlemen," etc. If such is a man's ideal Sunday I am in favor of giving him the log and the cards but I should.fervently hope that my brother or son was not on/the other end of the log, for a succession of Sundays spent in tbis way would surely have no tendency to improve a man's character. I cannot see Anything about it to put a man's "credit on the everlasting book, in good shape." He has learned nothing, he has accomplished nothing, he has given nobody pleasure, he has not rested. I shonld consider it a day lost.

The Democrat says: "If you want to go fishing, go, by all means, and if you don't feel more grateful toward your fellow men, and have your heart running over with more humanity toward your neighbor," Ac. I have seen men who bad been fishing all day on Sunday^ They had neglected their families all (tty. They v.ere rough, dirty, hungry and worn out. They had spent the day in unprofitable society and had none nothing whatever to "fill their hearts with gratitude or cause them to run ovet with humanity," and thay tumbled into bed tired, exhausted and utterly unfitted to commence the duties of the new week.

I have spent nearly seven weeks at Chautauqua. During that time I have beard only one sermon. There has been no attempt to convert anybody Ministers formed a very small part of tbe population. Doctrines and creeds were uol mentioned. There was a population of ten thousand, and I never saw people enjoy themselves so well. I have never heard brighter conversation, never went on jollier excursions, never knew greater good fellowship. In these weeks I have not seen one man under the influence of liquor, have not known of one fight or heard a single oath. Only wise laws, strictly enforced, could pro dqce such a result. The Sundays were full of purity, quiet and rest. You might read or sleep, visit, attend a lecture or sermon, or stroll through the parks and listen to tbe music. Men spent the day with their families in a happy and respectable manner.

But Chautauqua is a law unto itself. Such Snndays are not possible in cities, It is possible, however, to stop the sale of intoxicating liquor, which transforms men into beasts and homes into Hades. Of course it would be wrong to compel people to attend divine service, but it is equally wrong to distort beautiful liberty into wicked license. Men have no right to seek only pleasure in this world. Life is given to us for a noble purpose. Sunday is, by law, a day of leisure. It is, perhaps, no worse to gamble and drink ana carouse on that day than any any other only that many are thus losing their only opportunity for rest and mental and social improvement. The men who make of Sunday a day for base ball, picnics, excursions, card playing and drinking are committing three offenses: 1st, against themselves be cause they are seeking only transient pleasures, gradually getting a little lower in the mental and social scale and preparing an old age which shall be barren of health, respect or happiness 2d, to their families whom they grieve and disgrace and eventually drag down by tbe force of their example 3d, to society* for they not only interfere with those who wish to enjoy pesce and quiet, but they make it very bard for tbe better class of people to keep the community respectable enough for good women and helpless children.

With all doe respect to the editor of the Democrat, who is a better man than he leads his readers to suppose, I have felt compelled to ssy this much tn reply to the charge that "Mrs. Harper does not believe in the kind of a Sunday of which she writes."

IDA A. HARPKR.

AH Egg Raoe will be ft novel feature at tbe fair next week. The scheme Is as following: "Yon take 100 eggs aod place them three feet apart making tbe distance300 feet in all place a basket at the end tbe contestants in tbe race commence at the furthest end of the row and place one egg in the basket at a time. The whole to be done within thirty-five mlnntas and no eggs to be broken. The one doing this in the quickest time will win fiat {wise, and so on. A pane of |S0 with three prises will bo given on this as follows: First, $2Sf second, fl5 third, *10.

Grvx the Ooonty ltd* all poesibleen-

t*v

of a translation. This talk about the freedom of the birds and fish is very pretty, but, since the editor believes in both hunting and Ashing on Sunday, there not danger that a fatal ehot or a 0,Mo™• »nd '"•». the hnncruel hook may forever destroy that lib-

Our Breakfast Tab]e.

dreath

P"P«r'"

10

"nd ""8

ports from "Our Breakfast Table," the luck falls to those who escape the odd 101. It was last Sunday morning that the coterie at Mrs. Comforts were enjoying the prospect of along day and nothing to do, Jack having remarked "Really this thing of going to church interferes greatly with one's day of rest. Now next Sunday the bells will all be ringing ringing a chorus to Wesley's hymns, since the Wesleyans will hold the city, at least so much of it as lies west of tbe B. B. Park."

The talk idly drifted from the suggested topic—like much of the drifting talk and thought it was better than practiceas they were wating, Jaok said, "contagious to the dining-room." They talked of the Shapira sheep-skins and the daily news, ranging from Job to Joab. McEwan saying "I don't know which was the happier, a Job with three friends, scraping himself with a broken potsherd, or a Joab, with six friends, rtked by a daily paper. I am reminded of the little boys and the frogs," and be idly turned tbe leaves of a vellum-bouud book. "What is that curious book, so short and thick, as if plump with interest?"

It was banded over. Its ancient date, Edinburg, 1826vand tbe spirited frontispieces, The Triumph of Mordecai and St. Michaeljpursuing Lucifer, told its character. "I have heard an old grandsire read from this in his old Scottis thus:"—taking the book—"O, Lord, Laird o' us a', how lordie's tby name abowre a' the yirtb wha setten haist thy uamelibeid abune the hevins. Frae bairnies' niouthes an' weanies fine, ye has ettled might again a' yer faes Jthat the wrangdoer baith an' wha rights himsel', ye wbusbthem ane wi' anither. Gin I leuk till thy lift, that tingirwark o' Ibine till thy mune an' the staru, ye hae 3et sae sikker. What's man, quo I and so on. Or this, 'A wean I hae beeu, an' an auld man aui e'en but tbe righteous for-licd, or his bairns seekln' bread, I ne'er saw.'"

McEwan's softened voice added to the rythm of tbe homely words, and he added "4As the hart for the wimplin* wutirs sighs, sae sighs for yourseL', my saul, O God. Ae dreid howe till anither sighs, at the rowte o' yer water-spates yer brangers a' an' yer rowin fludes hae gaen owre me bremen. What for are ye dowie, my saul So the old man would read, and be knew it all from end to end. 1 feel persuaded that if he who read it so coustantly and weighed oqe part with another so fully, could reverence it so, could b* what he was, thit needn't bother my head with the quick critics who tear out a page, skim it, aud blast tbe whole book from that text— but enough of preachments."

Laura hummed frpm Rob. Morris "And when I read the thrilling lore Of him who walked upon the sea,

Then, O, how I long once more

?To

follow Him is Galilee. O, Galilee, blue Galilee!"

As if the whole family were on exbition to day, and Jack said 'with more harmony to a hungry soul'—a weird tune arose from tbe kitchen hard by in Clorinda's best notes, somewhat broken by a lively clatter "Bake dem batter-cakes brown *en brown.

Honor tie mm', Ob, honor de lam'! Turn dem Johnny- cakes roun', and roun', Honor de dyin' lumt I'm gwineter put on my golden shoes,

Honor de laml" "Clorinda beats you all," said tbe Profeseor, "she is putting her religion into her batter.cakes. She never read Whittier, but sbe seems to know •Where our duly to task is wrought,

The near and future blend in one.' Let us go and jndge her works by those same cakes." "Wait for tbe bell," said the Major, "to disturb our meditations and this quiet, do-nothing spell. Next to tbis, the most pleasant Sunday scene was down on the old Kentucky farm when I sat under the fine old trees and watched tbe little darkles play, or else It was when I floated down the old Mississippi on a flat-boat—talk of 'Nile-notes'—that beatthem all for a dreamy, float—on— forever sensation." "Why, did you ever ran a broad-horn down tbe river?" "Of course I've tried everything. It was when I was a young fellow np in Parke. 1 believe I shipped as supercargo of about 200 smoke—dried bams and came home with a small handful of Spaolsh dollars and picayunes and a tame horned frog. We, tbe crew, built our own boat on tbe shores of tbe Racoon. Picking oat a big poplar, with axe, whip, saw and adze we did most of the ship building. In the little cabin, with its little bonks like shelves, we bricked a fire-place. The cabin wasnt big enough to swing a cat bat we bad no cat. I always think of tbe Ark as a three storied flat-boat. Then we rolled aboard my Art hams, more bams, chicken-ooopn, floor from toe old water mill, etcetera. With poles and aweepa we wound into tbe Wabasb to join the Terre Hante fleet and take aboard our pilot, Worl Gregg, and Ids fiddle. What would the trip have been without tbe famow "Wabash fiddler

Fourteenth Year

"He was a character," interrupted Derby. "There have never beeu suc^i dances here since Worl Gregg played the violin, Glazier, the bass-viol and Hudson the claronet. Worl was a sleek fellow, with carefully-trimmed and oiled locks and beard, rolled at the ends, a-la-mode. For years he and old George Habermeyer adorned the front of "old George's" saloon. Capital sign, George was, good-natusedly and perpetually boozy, he was a living witness that his liquor didn't kill. Great resort his place was for many of our now sedate

Virginia we floated down the great liver, past the wide bottoms, in which the water shone like great lakes, and the monotonous stretches of clayey, crumbling banks, fields full of negroes, chutes ', down which cotton bales shot into barges. Stearaens puffed past us so rapidly that wtf'fceemed motionless, their trailing banners of smoke enwreathing us even while they shot areund distant bends. Strong eddies drew our boats bumping against the shore, swift crrrents carried us towards fearful snags, and again we would slowly float for hours and days under soft skies no matter what the distant shores, there was always beauty in tbejpM^, great swelling tide of turbid water. I f1-'/ .rforgot I had ever worked, or would ever i"

work again—was even mil liferent as to^„' the price of bams and chickens on the h' New Orleans levee.

Oaexar morituri te salutant.' One soesp- t' in the fatal arena, the procession of athletes. The shrill trumpets blare they pass the throne of tbe imperial Caesar, some fierce, trifling Neroon Commodus., They pass in pairs, horsemen and foot-||g men, steel clad or stripped these the boxers, tbeir fists covered with lead to batter and crush these tbe swordsmen these, one with net and tbree-tined spear,

pa if no to a

-An alphabetical,arithmetical,'w si An uttra-poetical Ob do let's take something to eat!" The meal ended with many a regret the mutual admiration society stood adjourned.

?,«*-

S fIf -y *i£ .f*

admitted.

citizens, no however We boys used to wonder what Woil did

entirely

Grogg gave up

in his last years!" "Long before that time, I can remom* ber going into a little shop, south of the Square, to celebrate the Fourth. It was in 1840 by the same tokon I remember the Fourth oration that year was made by the eloquent W. D. Griswold. Lauge and Habermyer kept the shop. They bad both walked into town a few years earlier over the National Road, to seek their fortunes. Atbert Lange, yrho had been a politica prisoner in Oltnutas, Lafajette's Austrian prison, was to begin his honorable, sue--cessful career, and poor George, was to be universally liked, but always tipsy aud famous for good liquor and big oysters. But, Worl Gregg, on the deck ol a flat-boat, was all right. How often, with several boats lashed together against all ru^es, the men frolicked as Worl, seated otf barrel, rattled off tbe 'Devils' Dream,' 'Arkansaw Traveler' and the like. To the Kssenoe of Old

f1

2?

asfc

4

1 1

"I feel much that way now,** said tlie Professor. "Wonder if I am only driftwood—if moBt of us are—one day is like another—the water around is too turbid! to see if deeper shallow. We work to ^, oat and sleep. A few swift boats leave? their curling smoke to choke us. I think» it is because we feel as you did drifting—^ there was no to-morrow nor yesterday, is You remember the gladitors' salute,-t

I

S

tbe other with keen sword here the archers and there the lancers tbis to fight the lion and that a tiger. One of«'

7

smilingly or doggedly, each cries to his gay lord, 'Caesar, tbe dying salute thee.' if It was because they were numbered with tbe dead, tbey fought so. Why not |g\so with os. After all tbis is life. Death |p is certain—no greater pain nor leas can come. With it ia onr to-morrow, why not say, 'Morituri, we welcome duty •Morituri, we defy fate,' with a smile,or p. with teeth a little clinched, what odds g|f

Jack, gazing pensively at tbe speaker, ii. IS?

softly whistled what might read ««'A crotohetty. queer young maidf*1

Derby rose to go—"Ladles I leave myself to yonr amiable critidcisms—yours like mine, are softer than they sound and I know yon while you laugh at acta ,v

Laarft laughed, a little forced—"Tbey are all gone, and now Cousin Mine., whrt nextf'

Sftfa) Mm. Cbmfort, "If I ever—but no I will never A week later, tbe house is empty, tb# garden is occupied nightly by that wild rover, tbe city's pet, endowed with 'the freedom of tbe city'-the predatory cow, A cobweb in the window and ft placard say "This Hoose to Let,"

ill

'sit

llli®

s%

h-i

'r

S|l

you can like the actor, or censoring g" faults, respect their authors. Goodbye!" Jack—"Ladles, I kiss your hands— 5 figuratively. As Mr. Weller once said, 'No van ever saw a dead post-boy nor ft dead donkey'—foir each worn-out post^ boy drove a pair of the donkeys off to the Sweet Bye-and-Bye and they disappeared. So I go, but Derby and Professor, yoa go first. I'll drivel"