Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 18, Number 18, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 22 October 1887 — Page 1

Vol. I8.---N0 18.

THE _MAIL.

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

Notes and Comment.

The popular question among travelem: Which kind of car stove do you prefer to be roasted by

The peppermint crop is said to be short this year. Fortunately, however, that not the kind of mint that is used compounding the popular mint julip.

Mr. Cleveland will never hear the last of his cyclopedia speeches. But aftor all what could the poor man do? He was bound to have something fresh and new for every town and whero are you going to get anything fresh and new If not in the encyclopedia? 4

The quail-eating horror has already opened the season. A fallow down in Kentucky, who managed to consume 80 birds in 40 days last season, has now tacklod the Job of getting away with 100 in 50 days. It would bo some satisfaction if he should oxpire bofore the lifty days do. _____

Tho statement that Gen. Lew Wallace ha* only made about f20,000 out of "lien Hur" is denied. It is said that when the present edition of the book is exhausted the sales will have reached 200,000 copies and the author's profits will lie |40,000. And it will be a gold mlno for many yoars to come.

Tho Pittsburg oducatlonal authorities have received letters and papers from all over the country denouncing their action in electing ft Catholic priest as principal of one of the public schools. Undoubtedly that is the general sentiment of the country. The people are not ready to have Humanism introduced into the public schools.

•V'£*~

is

for

Mr. Edison announces that he has perfected his "talking machine." There is a terrible fear that this bad old world frmi entirely too many

talking

machines

already _____ The St. Paul society ladles are now denying that they snubbod Mrs. "Cush" Davis. Perhaps it's another Ohio case— the snubbed getting along better than the snubbers. ______ "Will there be a panic?" is the question now being discussed in Wall street. Well, there will be if the selfish plottings and counter-plotting* of the Wall street menagerie can make one.

The MoCray mystery would be a good subject for a Katherine Green story. Likewise for a good detective. By the way, there may be some good detectives already at work on the case.

Ella Wheeler's article this week tells of Bob Jngersoll's home life. Her subject next week will be "Women in Business," their mistakes, etc., with some private advice publicly given.

A popular life insurance solicitor of New York is reported to make 175,000 a year in commissions. That shows what some men can do—and it also shows what some other men can not do.

Prom Scribner's Magazine we transfer to our columns this week a strong and pathetic story of the Arkansas river bottoms, by Oetave Tlmnet, entitled^ The Mortgage on Joffy," which contains a very original motive and fine character drawing. ________

V.

The cases of tho anarchists are before tho United States Supreme court. Unless politics is supremely important in the issue, no living being can tell what the decision will b" any more accurately than can be predicted the verdict of a petit jury. The Supreme court is supreme it is true, but beyond the fact that it has the last say there is nothing infallible about it.

Women seem to be getting Into politics in spite of everything. The success of Mrs. Cleveland and I*dy Churchill has been so marked that It Is said Mrs. Fred Grant is going to see what she can do for her husband by going round with him on an election tour. She is reported to be pretty, bright and amiable. This is all very well for the politicians who have pretty wive*, but how about the other fellows and the old bachelors?

The Indianapolis election crooks are getting "rattled." Some of them have offered to plead guilty on condition that they would not be imprisoned and that the rmi of the gang be allowed to go free. But the authorities declined to make any such promise*. Tfcht was right. Iet us know whether guilty men can be convicted by the courts and given their Just deserts without the help of the criminals themselves. There has been some of that kind of work done recently In New York, Chicago, 8U Louis and dttclnnatti. Why can't it be done in Indianapolis? It *0 he if the author* itiea whoee duty it la to punish lawbreaker* shall go about the business -with sufficient energy. Let the Coy gtng go where they belong—to the pW^, itentiary.

The "White Cap" outlaws in southern Indiana should be punished in some way and if the local courts are unable to do it, it is to be hoped the Federal authority will be found competent to deal with them. Ku-Kluxism is just as bad in Indiana as it is in Mississippi and must be driven out wherever it exists. The "White Caps" must go.

The poor woman who threw a pancake into Mrs. Cleveland's lap at St. Louis as the Presidential carriage passed the booth where she was baking cakes, has been fined 950 and costs by the severe judge. In addition to this she will have a lawyer's fee to pay. And all for wishing to have Mrs. Cleveland see what fine pancakes they get up in St. Louis! Pretty tough itn it?

The Knights of Labor did some good work at the Minneapolis convention Thfep^jkuse of the constitution which )hbits the sale of intoxicating liquors at'social gatherings was sustained by a vote of 104 to 40 and a resolution was adopted prohibiting the carrying of any other but state and national colors in parades. The next annual convention is to be held at Indianapolis immediately after the Presidential election,

The arrest of the gentlemen playing poker in the Terre Haute olub room was unfortunate. Having been taken at a disadvantage, the professionals being notified of the raid', it was not probable that in this instance they will be prosecuted, and the members of the several clubs will feel that they have license to do all the gambling they please while sheltered by a club room. Then when the professionals are raided* as perhaps they may be some time in the distant future, they will claim that it is not right to punish them when the club men go free.

For months past the press and the publio have declared that the deadly car stovos must go and the railway managers are at last coming to the same conclusion. At a recent meeting of railway car builders in Chicago it was agreed that a safer method of warming cars must be discovered. The plan of heating by steam from the engine was thought to be the most promising. While the railway men are about it they must also do away with oil lamps in cars. They are almost as dangerous as the stoves in case of collision and It is practicable to light cars by electricity, and to heat them by steam attd these improved methods should be Adopted without delay.

The Express is of the opinion that Charley MoCray was murdeued. The Gazette claims it was a case of suicide If McCray had taken a pistol in hand on that Saturday morning and said he was going up to the C. A E. I. yards to kill himself, The Mail would still be of the opinion that it was a murder, for the reason that It would be impossible for him to eru*h in his skull, cock a common pistol four times and shoot himself in tho head twice. Vandever'sstatement in regard to the pistol cuts no figure, as the murderer, after crushing in the skull of his victim, could as well use the pistol found on the body as his own in completing the wcrk, -7?

The country has heard a great deal about Jeffersonian simplicity under Democratic administrations, but the first glimpse it has yet obtained of it was at Belle Meade farm, near Nashville, where the President and bis wife were set down to an old-fashioned table where all the food was put on at one time. The hospitable southern lady who entertained her great guests in the same unostentatious way that she entertained her own household and other friends evinced the finest bit of culture that has yet been disclosed during the President's journey for it is of the very essence of true hospitality not to make parade of one's favors but to cause the guests to feel that the home is not disturbed by hi# presence.

During the past week there have been statements, apparently coming from trustworthy authority, to the effect that the Vandalia road may yet pass into the hands of the Cincinnati, Hamilton A P/tyton company. The plan la for the latter to carry oat Mr. Ives' promises to pay and complete the bargain. There is considerable curiosity in railroad circles as to the probability of this being done. It is known that some big men are now in charge of the Cincinnati, Hamilton A Dayton Company's affairs and that if the court, in which the question has been raised, does not throw the road into a receiver's hands that there is a very strong probability of the consummation of the Ives bargain. If that is done Mr. Mckeen wilt, of course, step down and out, a step he lass desirous of taking now as when he sold to Ives. Naturally such a contingency revives the talk of his candidacy for governor next year, not a candidacy in the sense that be is or would be a willing candidate for the nomination. The place ssems to be open for him, waiting for him indeed, and the chances are that it would be pressed upon him in such a way that he could not avoid making the race however mueh he might he disinclined to enter politics.

Hie toadyism and sycophancy which exists in the American people is not ft pleasant thing to contemplate. It has cropped out profusely during the journey of the Presidential party. Crowd! have rushed to the hotels to see the roofll the guests had occupied. One woman offered 910 for the napkin used by Mrs* Cleveland at her breakfast. The Colutpbia Theatre, Chicago, was stripped of its decorations by relic-hunters. One won|r an took away sprigs of evergreens to place on the coffin of her dead child. Sunday morning a young dude entered the Palmer House barber shop and asked to be shaved by the man who had shaved the President. It was so here to ft lesser extent, and so it was all along the lineolt the journey. Such exhibitions in mon« archical countries we would ridicule unsparingly. What shall we say when they occur in our own? Fortunately we are able to believe that they are limited top very small part of our people*,

The distillery will not ^be ready to start up on November 1st as expected but will begin operations about December 1st. It is understood that it will he run at a capacity of 2,100 bushels a day. When last in operation it was using 1,300 bushels a day. Then there were file gaugers on duty. With the increased capacity there will be work for seven |t least and for several more storekeepers. Peter Gfroerer who was one of the five gaugers here is now on duty at Owensbo ro, Ky., and it is not known if he be brought back here. Should he remsfn in Kentucky, there will be one more pointment in this district. It Is w|$ understood that a determined effil't is being made to secure these new places for men whose appointment will do thfe most political good. It is also under* stood that General Manson is Inclined to remember some of his old time personal friends in making the selections. The rough and tumble workers of the party do not like this because they say the general's friends are too old fogy to be of use in the party servioe in these times.

The alleged deal by which the Mackey system of railroads is said to be again on," which, in plain English, mestiji that the would-be buyers and the owners are again trying to agree on a price for which the Evansville & Terre Haute arid the Evansville A Indianapolis roa be sold t£ thi*

Porters

owns the Chicago ds Indiana coal road, that marvel of' railroads In that it was built without touch talk and btfgun making money from the start. Porter is a cool-headed financier who more nearly fills the idea of a "Napoleon of Finance" than any. of the modern ''Napoleons." He has headed a number of big schemes which have been successful. Therefore he has unlimited backing amoag those.retired capitalists who put their money in the hands of men who do the real work in making it pay big profits. So far his projects have been successful because they have been based

on

good judgment not on jobbery. |He sees a vacant place, "a long felt wait," and prooeeds to fill it. He knows values and that is why, perhaps, that be and Mr. Mackey have not made a dicker during the past year or so they have been in spasmodic negotiations. Porter knows that the E. A T. H. system is worth about so much and he will pay that amount for it but no more. So far as Terre Haute is concerned there is no harm to come by Porter getting hold of the roads. He is a progressive, developing sort of a fellow and the chances are that he would largely enhance our local interests if he obtains control of our north snd south system of railroads.

At the new opera house at Pittsburg, the parquet chairs are each provided with a pair of opera glasses which are fastened to the iron framework of the chair with a strong but light steel chain. Those who buy a parquet seat therefore have the rental of an opera glass thrown in. At the matinee performance ftt a Newark, N, J., theater each lady and child is presented with a small box of caramels. Either of these devices are Improvements on the old chromo souvvenir.

A Sioux City paper declares that the Salvation Army there has set apart one night in each week tor the offering of prayer for the salvation of the numerous people in that city who* are living as man and wife without ever having been married. Evidently facts are not suppressed so much in Sou City §s in some parts of the country.

MufEt will be very small this winter, says the fashion editor of the Chicago Tribune. It can be stated, however, with a degree of oertainty that is practically absolute that feminine overshoes will be worn as huge as ever in the Garden City,

Allen O. Myers, of the Glneinnatl Enquirer, who has swung around with the Presidential party* says that the greatest reoeption given to the President and his wife was a* Chicago. St. Louis ranked second, Kansas City third, and Atlanta fourth.

It is stated that tide country pays every year about *22,000^00 lor the patent medicines which it consumes.

Smith and Parker Guns, and Loaded Shells, Cartridges, and Hunting Shirts, BAKER & WATSON.

(Copyrighted, 1887.)

Ingersoll at Home.

ELLA" "WHEELER DE8CRIBES THE GREAT INFIDEL'S PRIVATE LIFE.

His Wife and jFtratZy—A Home of Filial Affectum—His Beliefs and their Effects —The Good and Harm he has Done—

His Wealth of Language and Conversation—A Fondness for the Adjective "Damn"—His Adaptiveness as a Cook— Is the' Great Agnostic Changing his VietMf {Special Correspondence.] Tflo understand the belief of Robert Ingersoll, one needs to know his home Jife.

The moment the door opens to admit you, the warm, affectional atmosphere Of thecoma seems to envelop you.

I believe every house is strongly impregnated with the mental and spiritual condition of its inmates just as garments reveal the shape and odor of their wearers.

I once entered a house filled with rich hangings and elegant furniture. All that money and good taste could do was done to render it a bower of beauty. But I felt as if chilled by a cold fog when I passed through its wide splendid halls. There were discordant and in harmonious elements in that house. It was not a home, in the true sense of the word. Its members were divided among themselves, and their uuhappy feelings generated a current which affected every sensitively organised person who en tered the door. f|Un fortunately not ever so-called Christian household is a home. I know a family who indulged in morning and evening prayer, and were strict in attendance at ohurch. Yet the daughters quarrelled With each other, were impudent to their mother, and the father was constantly finding fault with the most trivial household affairs.

To such men certainly the beautiful home-life of Robert Ingersoll is a severe rebuke.

The first time saw Mrs. Ingersoll, I said to a friend, "She looks like a muchloved woman."

People who receive a great deal of love and good care usually show the evidence of it, just ss a loveless, harassed life reveals its starved and pitiful condition, Ho matfca^ow it disguise

the fact. Mrs. Ingersoll radiates happiness and content. She looks Into the beaming, jovial face of her husband with an expression which tells its own story—it is so full of happy gratitude and sweet affection.

The two fair daughters are like rays of sunlight emanating from this union. One of the girls looks like a young goddess, and possesses an exquisite voice in song. I beard America's greatest ballad maker say recently that no world femous diva ever gave him the peouliar pleasure he found in listening to Mrs, Ingeraoll's singing. "Not a highly cultivated or powerful voice," he said, "but possessed of that subtle magnetism which sends the little thrills creeping up and down your spine.'

I never saw asweetei household. I never before saw so much affectionate reverence exhibited by wife and children toward any man.

It seems a pity that this great orawr, whose daily life at home and among humanity is a religion in itself, should be quoted as their leader by brainless men who live only to make the world wicked.

Let me say right here that I earnestly and confidently believe in a future life, in the efficacy of prayer, and In some mode of punishment in the next existence for sinful souls who have escaped it here. Tet I helieve Robert Ingersoll has done the world a great deal of good by hurling his thunderbolts of irony against the closed doors of narrow creeds.

As that remarkable girl-poet, Lixette Woodworth Reese, has said in her wonderful couplet, "Creeds grow so thick along the way.

Their boughs hide God—I cannot pray." But Robert Ingersoll in his sarcastic denunciations of worn-out theological dogmas, in his ridicule of old-fashioned hell of burning brimstone, and in his earnest pieft to men to worship the "Divinity within themselves," has only helped to cut away the boughs which obstructed our view, and allowed us to see God more clearly in the world about 1.

He has compelled the Christian churches to broaden their creeds, and to preach more love and less fear from the pulpit. The most prejudiced bigot dares not offer an Intelligent congregation to-day the theories which were served to us undiluted with reason fifteen years ago.

I am convinced that greater credit is due to Robert Ingersoll for this result than to all other causes.

Yet, on Hie other hand, he has done a greet deal of harm. There is, unfortunately, move ignorance than intelligence in the world. A great many ooarse-grained and low-im-polsed people, unable to grasp the idea of high morality which he teaches, merely seise at bis "no hell" theories, chuckle over his blows at creeds, and quote him as their teacher and guide. If rebuked for their vicious, immoral, and

-"I**

TERRE HAUTE, DSTD., SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 22,1887. Eighteenth Year

ungodly lives, they say that they are followers of "Bob Ingersoll," and "don't believe in no religion nohow."

All his illustrations of noble manhood, strict morality, and never-ceasing benevolence are lost on this brutal herd) who are only able to understand that he is a great man, and that he scoflh at creeds.

Many young poets olaim to study and follow the methods of Byron, of Brown ing, of Swinburne. Byron indulged freely in poetical license and faulty rhymes. Browning is mystical and often labored. Swinbame given to overmuch alliteration and sensuousness. But the great thoughts and brilliant wit of Byron, the profundity and master workmanship of Browning, the splendor and gorgeousness of Swinburne's style, all render these faults excusable.

The young poet who has neither wit, depth, nor originality copies the vague ness, or the sensuousness, and says be has followed the masters.

Just so, many young men believe they are followers of Robert Ingersoll. With no comprehension of the man's great brain, greater heart, and profoundly moral life, they ape his scepticism of creeds, his soorn of priestly rites and ceremonies, and in the midst of viciousness declare themselves "converts to In gersolllsm."

I hold this indispntable fact to be 1 great misfortune to the world. But that his earnest desire and aim is to better and broaden humanity I sincerely believe.

Colonel Ingersoll gives more of his splendid strength to tumbling down error than to building up pedestals for truth.

If he would say more about his belief in the need of fine principles and less about the uselessness of piety if he would givens two words for morality to one against hell fire, he would accomplish more good in the world.

A skilful physician knows that a diseased system needs toning after purging. Colonel IngersoU gives us too much blue-mass, and not enough tonic.

He cleanses us from error, but he does not give us much to brace up our shattered nerves.

He sends up his magnificent conversational fireworks, not caring where tho sparks fall.

His conversation is a noble poem, file

fJ^h 8trl0l?of

guttering pearls. LaH-

guage is his most ready and obedient servant. Words rush to obey his slightest command, and vie with one another to render him eloquent. Similes and comparisons, epigrams and metaphors worthy of Shakespeare, enrich his common conversation.

You hold your breath while listening, lest some wonderful conceit escape you. Yet in spite of this opulence of phraseology and his supreme disbelief in the orthodox method of punishment, he has a remarkable fondness for the adjective "damn." From the midst of his superb utterances of fine thoughts this naughty word leaps lorth and surprises you, like a bulldog in a drawing-room.

There are situations in life, I think, when the most devout Christian and the most refined woman thinks ddmn! Very good men sometimes utter it on such occasions. But it should be reserved for times of great need. I wish Colonel Ingersoll would not vitiate its usefulness by such frequent utterance.

Mr. Ingersoll has no methods of work, no clockwork system of rising or toiling. He never makes anything but notes before his greatest speeches, and these only a day or two preceding. His orations are never written out until thestenog' rapher takes them down during their delivery.

He is fond of all games, and is, so bis wife tells me, an excellent cook. During one of their summer outings he cooked all the breakfasts, and invited several friends to partake of his delicious omelets and delicate "fries.

He is a great jester. Some of his jokes are too subtle for the ordinary mind, Knowing the proverbial propensity of the street beggar for using alms un worthily, he solemnly cautioned one recently in this wise: "Now, don't go and waste this dime on bread buy whiskey with it, my good fellow." The bystander who overheard him did not know it was a joke. I am afraid the beggar did not.

Colonel Ingersoll does not like the American custom of interviewing. He does not like the intrusion of the public through the newspapers into a man's private life.

All thoee who have suffered from the misrepresentation and misconstruction of the press can understand how be may have arrived at this state of feeling.

More powerful than pulpit or college in forming public opinion and shaping destinies is the press. Yet while no man can occupy pulpit or collegiate chair without proper preparations and credentials, any man with fingers wherewith to clasp a pencil may enter the editorial and reportorial field.

Personal dislike or ignoble revenge ere permitted to distort the wor&s and malign the actions of unoffending people. Inefficiency and Inattention wait on genius and misrepresent its utterance. Homes are invaded and characters attacked by jealous spite or thoughtless ignorance

Yet we have aright to know something of the daily life of men and women who set themselves before us as teachers or advisers. We have aright to look into the private life of the clergyman who tells us that be can save our souls from perdition, and if his practice is not harmonious with his preaching, we have reason to doubt his protestations.

We have aright to look into the private life of Oolonel Ingersoll, who declares that the humanitarian is greater than the Christian. If his conduct as husband, father and citizen is open to criticism, we have the right to criticise and oondemn him as an intellectual adviser. Fortunately for him and his oause, his private life is worth y^of all praise and emulation.

He has a nameless air of well-bred ennui, while listening to the talk of other people. It is not to be wondered at our commonplace expressions must seem to this king of oratory like the music of a hand-organ to Beethoven.

Colonel Ingersoll said to me the other evening:^"Lifeis a railroad train, on whioh every passenger knows he must be killedMaybe to-day, maybe to-morrow, but somewhere down the line he must meet, his doom. Ah! I have no use for a world with death in it," and the jolly face grew sad, the dear, honest eyes shadowed with pain as he spoke.

I wondered if this great man did not know that the folly and fallaoy of his theories of future life were expressed iu in the words he uttered.

I wonder if he does not feel that the beautiful and holy love which unites his family Is divine and cannot end with is or

There is a pessimistic "tone to much he says of late. Is the great agnostic warrior laying down his arms before th£ battle is over?

A fomale member of the Coldwater, Mich., Salvation Army has worked on her jersey Jacket the words, "No water

A woman of BaytJlty, Mleh., cftsguisert herself as a {pah and loietkod in a store for a year and'thus obtained admission, to the Knights of Pythias.

Minnie Rhodes, of Chenango oounty, New Ybrk, shot herself rather than dig potatoitr Enough for dinner, as she bad been ordered by her prosaic father.

A young woman of Holyoke, Mass., alighted from a train with an elastic bounce, and her false teeth fell to the platform and noisily rattled along the boards

A Wisconsin girl who had been jilteel four different times, has sued the lastchap for 910,000 damages. She doesn't want to seem captious, but must draw a lino somewhere.

Jenny Lind in her palmy days, judged by the standard of to-day, would scarcely have excited comment as a songstress. They have been careful not to tell her this and she will die happy.

Side saddles are slowly going out of fashion In England, and the man faah»ion way of riding horses Is being adopt^ed by many of the ladies. Side saddles have been in use since 1388.

A Boston woman says she never want* ed to be a man until she began riding on the horse-cars of that city. Then she wanted to be a man so that she could spit on the floor and annoy other women.

One of the female attendants at the Palmer House, Chicago, is responsible for the statement that the reason Mrs. Cleveland stands so well the physical strain of handshaking is that she has a pair of Indian clubs with which she exercises just before going to a large recep~ tion.

Mrs. Cleveland patronises a Washington tailor when she orders new costumes*. She does not like the fuss and bother of the old fashioned dressmaker, and while in Europe adopted the custom of going to a tailor to have her dresses made. The fact that she has clung to this habit has had an effect on Washington sign boards. Where onoe the word "Dressmaker" appeared is now painted the legend "Ladies' Tailor."

'O

"I

Whbeler Wilcox. V,

WOMEN'S WAYS.

The society girl has taken to writing with a stubby pon. There are 10,000 milliners in New York and Brooklyn, or about one bonnetmaker to every fifty women.

1

It has been demonstrated beyond the possibility of a doubt that the naturalised American girl can kick. A game of foot ball was played upon the classic turf of New Jersey the other day, at which several handsome maidens took off their hats, tucked up their sleeves and went at it like Princetonians. Football might be considered a somewhat rough game for a gentle maiden, and yet there Is no reason why it should be rough. There is poetry in kicking, when the kick is admins tered in a graceful and airy-fairy-Lillian manner. Any man who supposes that the coming girl is going to be a meek, willowy, take-everything-and-eay-nothing sort of an angel in calico, in away out of his reckoning. She is to be a Juno, a Minerva, not a soft and yielding Aphrodite. We have every reason to suppose that the coming girl will kick.