Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 20, Number 27, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 28 December 1889 — Page 1

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Vol. 20.~No. 27.

THE MAIL

A PAPKR FOR THE PEOPLE.

Notes and Comment.

The theological Institutions of Germany are expecting a boom. The Reichstag has voted to exempt from millitary service all students of theology.

The Iowa Supreme court decides that a "charivari party" is a riot. The judge is evidently desirous that the Institution of marriage shall not disappear entirely from the State.

A prominent English reyiew states that "all history is but past politics, and politics are only present history" and there seeirm to be a great deal of wisdom in the thought.

Josh Billings says that "if a man wants to go through life and please everybody he must travel on a back road." This is the view Collector Throop has arrived at after a month's sad experience.

The ladies of the W. C. T. U. of Kansas have opened war against the pictures accompanying the cigarette package. This would lead one to infer that there was no special objection to the cigarette itself.

Three Australians aro walking across America as a part of a wager of 3,000 pounds. The pedestrians could hardly havo selected a more favorable^gason of the year, with weather period, etc., than this.

King Malletoa has at last been formally recognized as ruler of Samoa by the consuls of the United States, Great BritIan and Germany. Thus has retribution come to one of the most outraged monarchy on the earth.

The Supreme court of Georgia has decided that the arbitrary standard time made to suit Uio railroads, is not legal Corporations can conquer almost any ordinary contestant, but they cannot down the Supreme court and old Sol.

Cleveland has night school for jail

may lead to practical good, although a distant view would suggest that the experiment. ntight.be costly in the long

The influenza lias taken an awful hold in Germany and France, and dire predictions are that wo wil soon bo suffering from it. What a delightful place the halls of Congress would be were this plague to attack ye oratorial Congressmen.

California is now coming to the front with the annual supply of stories of fruits, vegetables, etc., grown to prodigious SIRQ. The latest is: "A beet was pulled at Temploton, Cal., tho other day that weighed 154 pounds and was seven feet long."

It is more than probable that Jeff Davie'last words to his wife and physician, on being pressed to toko medicine, will be carved on his tombstone. They were: "Pray excuse me!" It was not an appeal to the nation but could well have been.

Kin tit'' is an Egyptian name, meaning "The Faithful One," How would these names sound In the ears of the Terr© Haute tax pay rs— E Hybarger, F.min Weldel©, Kmin Walsh, Em in Steeg, Km in Storr,, and Km In etc. of the councilmanlc body?

There is talk of increasing the number of U. 8. supreme court justices from 0 toll. This should bn done for relief must be had in some way. It is not likely that adding two to the number would havo the effect of lessening the dignity of lilts profound body.

Australia i* strongly agitating the question of independence from English rule, And evfijy indication points that the movement won Id terminate successfully. Now let Canada take similar action, and after the separation come into the fold of the United States.

WhitUer refnaed an offer of $2,500 fora Christmas poem. This is not to l* won dercd at, for in doing, did not the veteran poet make a handsome present to each of the many thousand amateur poets who rind Christmas the only season when their work is in demand?

An English newspapersays that JP. T. lUmum ba» offered General Boulanger fl^XW a week to travel with his circus. Then it must I** true that the Wild West annex ha# prorwn unattractive, au£ has lead Mr. Barnum to find a feature offering greater noise and bluster with less liability Of barm.

Russian officials have decided that the telephone Is

lHi»ngtrous

to the State."

In Warsaw ortfer* have been given that telephones be removed from all restaur* auts,eof&6 houses and liquor saloons, Similar orders have been issued in all other Poliah town*. Russia might well make a sudden jutnjp back to S*T« agery as to gradually give op civilisation piece by piece.

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The Philadelphia Telegram says: "Coal experts estimate that weather like the present makes a difference of 25,000 tons in the daily consumption of anthracite, a reduction of 1,000,000 tons etfery forty days." We ought at l^ast to be thankful for the attending decrease in coal bills.

Dr. Tanner's declaration that it is really a common thing for people to be buried alive may not be far from true. Numerous instances have recently been cited of burial when the patients were far from dead. This subject should be discussed by Congress with view to legislation on it. In the other countries legal precaution has been provided and it should be here.

Town Talk.

A 8AI,OON-KEKPK« WITH A MIND. One saloon-keeper in Terre Haute has had the courage to openly face the saloon license question and express a view on it that will commend him to the people as a sensible thinking man. This is Peter Staff, of Cobweb Hall fame. In an interview published a few days ago he takes a bold stand in favor of a $250 saloon license, although he is now enjoying the free nrivilege so precious to the saloon-keeper in general. He gives as his reason for favoring that measure, which in four years will cost him §1,000 if enacted, that the city is in debt and that in his opinion the saloons should pay the license customary in other cities as a means of relieving her from from her financial difficulties. This is a view the council, the supposed administrators of the city affairs, cannot be forcod or entreated to take. Why, no one outside the ring can see. Then on another question Mr. Staff took a wise position. On the Sunday closing question he emphatically says: "I am in favor of Sunday closing, making all the saloons close on that day." He does not favor the 11 o'clock closing law, but thinks a 12 o'clock law could be made to work well. These aro the viows of an Interested party, one in whosejocket such measures may reach, and they are sensible and to the point. Yetitiseems impossible for a disinterested council to take an equally sensible view of the

understanding. WK HAVE TIIKM. The Terre Haute girls havo reason to feel themselves worthy of high compliment, although perhaps they are so modest as to bo unaware that such is the case. It may be the young men who know them well havo been negligent In conveying to them tho pleasant information. But strangers coming in on occasional trips see the situation in Its truo light and do not hesitate to express their opinions, which expressions must eventually reach the ones interested. One of those visitors spoke this evident truth a few days ago when he said: "You have more pretty girls here than I have seen in any city I have yisited for months. In one hour tho other afternoon I passed moro beautiful faces on the streets here than in Kansas City during the entire day." This 'same idea has been spoken very frequently of late, so there is foundation for the abb've remark that the fair ones of the Prairie City have reason to feel themselves possessed of special charms..

NOT VKBY STRANOK.

It is said that Collector Throop is not quite so fond of newspaper men as he was llttlo earlier in the history of his revenue sorvlee. Several days ago a young man formerly on the papers here was introduced to him as a reporter. Those in tho group at the time thought it quite conspicuous when a few moments later the general quietly withdrew from the circle and went to another and more congenial group. But no one can blame the general, for to be persistently drummed for information It is not desired to. divulge is not the most pleasant treatment, aud even the devoted lover of the newspaper eould not be blamed for courteously avoiding the experience as often an possible. On this occasion no effort was made to force information from him, so It now goes on record that the collector was for one time in his life fooled in the intentions of a newspaper man, .* ...

TO »TS HOSOR, TITK MAYOR. It is understood that one of Mayor DanaldsonVi resolves for the new year is to be "that he will do all in his power to prevent saloon keepers selling to minors and that prompt justice will be meted out whenever an offender in this direction is found.*' This will certainly be a mo&t judicious pledge, and bis honor will be given plenty of encouragement in his effort. And as aside issue on this same line of thought, it is suggested to Mr. Danaldson that he give the violation of that law which prevent* minors playing pool and billiard* some attention. It is a solemn truth everybody recognizes that the billiard table ts but the stepping-stone to the bar and gambling room. Billiard playing is in itself a harmless game, one In which almost any person will find pleasure, but unless it can be indulged in outside the saloon It is beet to let it alone, and here in Terre Haute then la no alternative bat to let it

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alone. In the saloon you pay for the use of the pool table and in return receive checks good for five cents at the bar. How easy it is to walk up to the bartender and call for a glass of beer. This done, how helpless you are to withstandtaking another. Then in a dazed cohdi-' tion, how easy it is to be guided into the gambling room and into the game. One association leads but to another lower down, when the firstis contracted in the saloon. So in doing all in his power to keep boys out of temptation's way the mayor will be doing anxious mothers and considerate fathers a good turn that they will never forget or never cease to thank him for. Let this be gala-New Year's day for bis honor, Mayor Danaldson.

WHAT SEW YKAR'S MAY BIUNG. Speaking of resolutions leads to the thought that various persons in official life might do well to make new determinations with the dawning of another year. The superintendent of police might resolve to devote all his time and energies to the discharge of his oliicial duties the city marshal migTitagain agree to see that the cow ordina f? is enforced the sanitary officer migiiv see to the cleaning Up of that alley the police commissioners might take it upou themselves to depart from the old order of affaire and give consideration to the orders of the council the finance committee of the blue chamber might determine to make one more effort at directing a retrenchment in city expenses the street commissioner might look to a more frequent cleaning of the streets as au indication of personal pride in the faithful fulfillment 6f his trust the county commissioners might agree to never again build an everlasting

in a very badly worn bridge the city attorney might decide to take deepe interest or devote greater thought to sr'ts against the city, before expressing op ion thereon the council might ask 1 fargivenness and resolve to pursue a se course in the management of cityaffft »3 the county prosacutor might pledge. oi self to an iron-clad investigational all witnessdfe brought before the gran,if: "'.." in the hope of curing this awful ^V*"® of os of or

the populace might take solemn oath to a more strict performance of their obligations. Then will the New Year have Inaugurated a new era in the history{of Vigo county, an era of contentment and prosperity.

Jos Gilbert

TERRE HAUTE, IND., SATTJRDA^l^rENING, DECEMBER 28,1889.

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Good Old Family Ways.

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bjLTVER OPTIC TRIES HIS HAND AT ^LOOKING BACKWARD—A CHAT OF .THE DAYS

OP WOOD FIRES. SMOKE.

JACKS AND TINDER BOXES.

0« wto Wh«d eAough to do

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The axle of

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AN KX tI8AUr,TJ MISTAKE.

It is to be presumed that an excusable mistake was made when a toper was selected to serve ou the grand jury. And it is to^be considered a very fortunate thing that on Christmas he decided to celebrate by getting drunk for .the third time, it is said, since he commenced his duties on the investigating committee. The unfortunate man was doubly unfortunate in being arrested, although ho did not have to suffer for his spree further than being dismissed from the jury. The incident should be the means of making the judge and prosecutor more careful in selecting the men for the jury.

THE OFFICIAL CELEBRATION. What a Christmas morning spectacle the police force presented! Three or four stalwart officers, guardians of the public peace, protectors of individual safety, out on a spree that would have done justice in its intensity to Cal Monroe or some of the many sad examples these same officers are wont to arrest on every opportunity for that very performance which on this occasion lent such zest to their own Christmas celebration. True the conditions leading up to the spree were such as to be exasperating It is not the happiest experience four wide awake men can meet with to get within sight of a ^criminal they have long been seeking, and then have him elude not only them but their revolvers. It was all the more aggravating to have gone several miles out of the city in quest of their victim, and then to have been rewarded with—nothing. The mental depression such an experience would be likely to cause might well lead to some desperate action on the part of an ordinary person, but in an officer of the law, sworn to conduct himself in a certain narrow .path, notwithstanding that this course is against every tendency in bis nature the event should result in no mote serious end than a temporary fit of madness. Picture an officer under the influence of liquor thrusting a revolver under the nose of a brother policeman as a very playful preliminary to an Introduction of a passing acquaintance. Imagine, too, that yau see four big blue coats,' with stars on, gaily clinking glasses over a bar which Is conducted against state law, and that you hear their loud language on the streets. Tbeaceoe is one likely to fill the heart of the average citizen with an Intense feeling of safety and relief. And now will there be an investigation? If the officers are innocent of the charges, and other members of the force say they are, in justice to them and In justice to the public the matter should be carefully sifted. If not guilty they should be exhonerated if guilty dismissed from the force.

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changes in the manner "blew out the gas" was even more cornin everyday lite. S xty years ago

Into town with a lorf of wood, waited „dl

customers.

0

Sought »S a cord, whohis aboutthe

price of the best wood at thepresent day,

tirivate houses meats and poultry were

m0„ th(m tta"„ovv.

Boston anthracite coal was not in com- remember when I was a boy of mod use, if in use.tall. In certain sec-

tions of the city there were wood sCtrnds, rjw a man rubamtk. stick where people from the country, coming

anA

for

dhimney

flange

.draw

iattidy

the

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might promise to forget that thi iA» last term in fact all perg^hgtf

Passing by a certain Bbop in the Latin quarter of Paris I used to stop to look in at the window, for at the back of it there was a great fire, before which were several spits on which chickens were roast* Ing. The window always had on display for sale plenty of cold roast chickens, and they were cooked in the oldfashioned Way. The French soem to believe in this method of former days, for I saw an ingenious contrivance for roasting in a window in the Avenue de l'Opera. If was a spit, on which was a dummy chicken roasting before an Imaginary fire. The bird was kept turning all the time by an apparatus composed of springs, which had to be wound up like a clock. But tho curious part of It was the appliance for basting the chicken. Over.this was a small trough thro* which the basting dropped very slowly. The trough beneath the spit was inclined so .that the liquid ran down to one end, where it WAS taken up by a couple of na-

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would burn, but he eould not do it with stones. Gas was in use at this time, but I used to be amused at the comments of people from the country upon the lights in the office of the hotel where I was brought up. They all wanted to know what 4£ An

was

that burned. It was or in the

Iormot!lll.

so looking bac or it and evidently thought there must be greatly artonished at the marve ona „eviItry ^boutxh6

,)otlheywouldair

not WieT0

mtn thit

us„ larmodt or at lM.t

tart.

IF JIJ inches long and an inoh in diameter. In

jack" was used in the former ana it aia i. v. atTr the top were the matches, and in the work a great deal better than any ..... oven can do it. Roast beet and roast bottom was a smaU v.al into which they turkey at the present time aremisno- had to.be th.-ustto nroonie the light, tters, as a rule,

thev are really baked. present sor of matches were

.. '. iit-i,. in being they came in oblong boxes, young «ot know eacb containing a double piece of sand many of my older ones, do not know What smoke-Jack is, and I have not paper upon «rhich to light them. tfeeu one for forty-four years, though bossibly they are still in use in some wp'r af large hotels. Its construction is very UCrdlUlllC l^CLlCi.. ^ituple. In the flue of the kitchen

wheel, sbmething like MY D^JAR RUTH: I must tell you a

the propeller of a steamer, Is placed so little about the erestchagin collection that it will turn readily. When a smart of paintings, which I saw not long since, fire is maae the hot air rushes up the at the exposition building in Chicago, jjjue and turns the wheel. It may have They are the work of a Russian artist, peen supposed that the smoke turned it Vassili \erestchagln. Now you never a time when young neople did not in the world can pronounce that name

physics in the day school and this correcUS^vithont being told how, and toay havo been the

origin

of the. name, then -will have to practise consider-

wheel projected out thro' ably before yon can got the Russian

thl chimney wall into the room, about twang. I have heard it pronounced in feet above the hearth. On the end of every imaginable way, but the correct the axle was a drum with four grooves one is as if it were spelled Vershagan, irfiteover which a chain^could be passed, the first "e" like that in "met" and the tfpita with a grooved *wfreel a£a '(a£»'' y°u have it provided, over'whloh yidwijftn bbifliy%ithoutTfgar or

so"as to form an endless chain, passed. f«l- I only wish I could see them often, Another strand was placed near tho grooved wheel, by which tho distance from the tire could be regulated. The fire was made in a grate not more than six or eight inches deep, but from one to two feet high. From one to four spits were used as needed, and tho jack was so geared that the spits turned very slowly all the time. Pans were placed under the spits, from which the cooks did tho basting. Roasting is dc.no better with this apparatus than it can be doue in an oven, for the reason that the continued turning of the spits does not permit the juices of the meats to run out, as when they are at rest.

volving scoops and emptied into the ball of him, and then fired him outj but trough above the roast. It was an ad- not so at all. Here were a long row of mirable device, and eould not fail to do cannon and in front of "each, with his its work well as long as the machinery back to the muzzle, stood a Lepoy, »ewas kept in working order. curely lashed to the gun by thongs. A

was also largely in use in the old time, in which the spit, was occasionally turned by a crank at the end. The baker was ret before the tire with the biscuitor leaf

from

country

The first decided improvement on the soldier stood near, and back of the caniron bake kettle that I remember was non were the gunners ready to fire when the tin "baker," as it is called. It was the signal was given. The first was an on the plan of a "tin kitchen," which old man with long white beard. His head was thrown back and his eyes dried the second hung his head, the third ?tood erect* and down the line a» far as you can see them they stand ail ia it* Tho cover was inclined down the same except the ponJtion of tho head,

the fire, so that it would reflect the This is the kind of death the. Hindoo heat upon the bread. This and the tin dreads most of all, since a shot shatters kitchen did their work very well as long the body, making it impossible to get as open fires were available, but of himself together again so as to make a course at much greater expense for fuel, respectable appearance in heaven. The The cook stove baa nearly superceded all third represents a hanging in Russia. In these appliances, though the old ladies the background are four gallows and ot sixty years ago fought against it for a two poor wretches are suspended from time Ms a aenseleee Innovation but they two of them. It is snowing thick and learned to use it and like it in the end. fast.

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At first wood was generally used in It, air is full of great flakes, and the light but when bard coal came into general struggling through them just as yon see useit wits the fuel generally used In cook- it in nature. A crowd of peopleare in inir Hits coal bad a hard struggle to the foreground, some on foot, some on Obtain a footing in bouses in tboeeday*. borsetack, all deeply interested in the My father hired a new man" from the scene. One man bad on a Russian sable

andtoldhlm tomakeafirein the cape which was wonderfully painted, morning in the grate. When we got np Temwtcbagin says a few chosen ones are there w»s no tire. The man tari "given admitted on the platform, close to the up." He could make a fire, be s*4d, gallows, mostly the "gilded youths of \w^l»aay1»odyooi of anything that the city" anxioo^ to get a piece of the

na

ltehls clgsr trom it.

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looked a little like a specimen of black

Now

„hat

abould

[hough that of inferior quality was sold a lower rate. Such a thing as a cook tove was hardly known and all the boking was done with wood in an open irenlace. Biscuit and loaves were baked l, hammer away at it until we sent a spark atn a bake-kettle, which had a cover with #. „„ni0 gi-r, hnt nnkiu into the tinder. Even then there was an ahrim around it, so that coals or hot ashes a .. outfit that could be bought fora quarter lobnld be put on it. In hotels and large i.

wnvn

„8

do

matciM w6 buy ot a

without

cent or two a

bunch? We used to rake a up the fire nights and keep a bed of coals to start the fire in the morning. If we lost the fire we had to use a flint and steel and

at the apothecary's called phosphorous

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T. •i,- a uamntro matches. It consisted of around box six roasted before the fire. A "smoKe- .».•,» ,. ..

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for never did any pictures impress me like these. They are so wonderfully real. You feel that yon are looking upon real andscftpes and real people. Tho artist holds that out door scenes should be painted out of doers that it is impossible to get the proper effects, with studio light. His battle scenes aro terribly realistic. Ho says: "I have represented the bandaging and the transportation of the wounded exactly as I have seen it done and have felt it in my own person when wounded, bandaged and transported in tho most primitive manner.' In one room there are three very large pictures, representing three different forms of capital punishment—crucifixion as practised by the Romans, hanging by the Russians, and the blowing of Lepoys from cannon as practised In British India. The first is a scene in Palestine and is called "A crucifixion under the Romans." It takes place on a hill just outside the walls of Jerusalem. There are three crosses and three men hanging on them, the blood streaming from their wounds. In the foreground is a large crowd made up of many nationalities, and they seemed to one not pictures but real live people looking at this ghastly sight. One woman, presumably the mother of one of the crimianls, has her face covered with her hands, but you can feel the agony she Is suffering. The next is the blowing of the Lepoys from the cannon.* I never understood before how this was done. I always imagined that by some means or other they stuffed the poor Lepoy right into the gnn, making a human cannon

look up into the sky and the

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rope from the hangman, the superstition being that it will bring luck at cards. He also said that while this picture did not please the Russians it pleased the English very much, while the other one of the Lepoys pleased the Russians but was not liked by the Englishmen. The largest picture in the collection is called "The Future Emperor of India." It represents a street in Jeypoor and the pageant whloh took place during the visit of the Prince of Wales. When I tell you it is perfeotly magnificent you cannot at all comprehend how magnificent. It is the largest picture I ever saw. You see a row of handsome buildings ou one side of the street, the windows, doors and roofs swarming with people, the street is strewn with roses and a procession of huge elephants, almost covered with gorgeous trappings decorated with gold embroidery and glittering with gems, are passing. Riding on the first elephant are the Prince of Wales nnd the Mahasa|ah on either side of the elephants are horsemen on gaily caparisoned horses and by tliem slaves on foot. It is a wonderful picture because of the perfectuess of every detail. There were three small pictures which interested me greatly. They were all of the Taj taken from different points of view. The Taj is a monument erected by one of the Great Moguls of Delhi,, whose name I forgot, oyer the grave of his favorite wife, who died in her youth,-' and the Mogul promised to build a tomb which should surpass anything ever seen. It is built of white marble and ornamented from top to bottom with lapis lazuli, malachito, cbameleo andothor precious stones. It took twenty thousand men seventeen years to build it their labor cost nothing, and yet twenty millions of dollars were expended upon it. The entrance door is made of silvor and an enormous diamond is placed on the tomb itself. There are 130 pictures in the exhibition, and besides these a collection of curiosities and some Turkish rugs, the like of which, you nevorsaw. None of the articles are for sale. Had they been, Chicago would haye bought them long ago. The collection belongs to Verestchagln, who lives In Paris.

If my letter were not already so long I would like to tell you at length of the

our Oratorio Society, at the Centenary church, Thursday night. Mrs. Fanny Kellogg Bachert, of Boston, sang the recitation, "And Thero Wore Shopherds Abiding in tho Fields, etc.," "Rejoice Greatly," and "I Know That My Redeemer Llveth" suporbly. Her voice has gained in power since she sang herelast, and with her beautiful voice, her perfect method and her ability to interpret this grand music, she is pre-emi-nently an oratori singer. Ah, mo! I wonder if the anjgo'lN will sing any more sweetly than Dan Davis did when he sang "Behold, and see if there be any SorrovT like unto His borrow." Mrs. Goultv sang "He was Despised" in a way that brought tears to hor listeners' eyes., Shades of Galileo! H^W the world has moved in moro directions than one. Not so very long ago Leigh Richmond wrote "The Dairyman's Daughter," which-used to bo found side by side with the 'Bible in tho homes of the faithful. He said of oratorios and musical festivals, "ThereIs but ouo feeling among all our Christian friends—that no serious and consistent Christian will go. I consider the oratorio performances as a solemn mockery of God."

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Twentieth Year

Your own OKKAMHNE.

Christmas was ono of the balmiest days Terre Haute has known iu Docomber for years. Think of the thermometer running up to W5.8 on a day when it is expected everything of a free/able nature will be frozen. The ground, instead of beting covered with the once conventional snow, was soft and slimy fromthe recent rains. The heavens were clouded the greater part of the day and rain was constantly threatened. But the day was a happy one. Everywhere greetings were exchanged, on the streets* in he thotels and most appropriately in every home. So far as known not one family in the city allowed the anniversary to go by unobserved, and in many of the poor houses the celebration was an unusually pleasant one. Never before has tho charity organizations been better able to send substantial greetings to the poor, and In consequence many a table, often wanting in even the prime necessaries, was graced by a large tempting Turkey. The one philanthropic gift of Myers Bros., in the shape of one hundred turkeys to the poor, was such as to make the dinner of many deserving ones truly a feast. And the presents of other firms, while not so large, were the means of much happiness. There was little of the loud fourth of July noise which Christmas has brought in past years, but the quiet day was but an indication that pleasure was everywhere predominant. Altogether this Christmas will tie long remembered, for it was exceptional in many way*.

Tne preliminary arrangements "v_* to tbe permanent organisation of the law library association are being rapidly completed. To-day the committee which have tbe initial steps in charge, will make a report in tbe circuit court, room*