Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 24, Number 31, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 27 January 1894 — Page 1

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Vol. 24.—No. 31

ON THE QUI VIVE.

Spooks are all very well to read about in story books, but when gttaey settle down In Terre Haute, then the hairs on citizens heads should rise en masse.

The police have let the story leak out that a well trained spook is inhabitating vacant houses on the south side. Mysterious lights are seen at night. Spirit rapping* baye drowsed the jumping of night patrolmen's hfiarts. Finally as a school teacher told me, fthnail boy saw a strange .woman go into the large vacant bouse which stands in the name lot with Superintendent Edwin Ellis' house, on south Fourth street. The small boy saw the woman disappear in the vacant house at dusk. In the evening, the small boy gathered the army of unemployed small boys of his arquaintanoeand they reconnoitered. One glance through the vacant rooms was enough. The ghostly apparition was mousing around with a lamp in her band, and her weird presence nearly scared the s. b's into hysterical flts. The police were notified, but the bold patrolmen saw the light go out and shadows dance on

the

moonlit walls. Their nerve left

them. By the next evening, the department had its "sleuths" on the case. Mr. Ellis and a detective broke into the vacant house, for the "spook" had put new bolls to the doors,(the house belonged to Mr. Ellis, by tbe way,) and the pursuers found the bird had flown. A valise was discovered, and some other articles which showed occupation of the house by transient crooks (?). The "ey.e that never sleeps" winked knowingly, when Q. V. asked about tbe ghost, and the Hawkshaw said "It was Lottie Bruce she has stayed in town a week and had confederates visit her with plans and plunder in the dead of night. We're on their trail. We've captured evidence that will tell a tale." And the "eye" winked again.

But the children on the south side speak in whispers as they think of the dread event, and mothers' persuade naughty little ones to do their duty by naming the bogie woman and .the "gobelllns will get ye, ef ye don't watch out" is the crooning lullaby in many a Terre Haute home.

A now public/library rootn la Hundreds of new books, elegantly bound, have been received this month. There is no shelf room for them. The reading room is well lighted and seems to be as large as is neoessary, but many complain of its lack of privacy and sedition. Terre Haute is justly proud of the librarian. Mrs. L. 0. Wonner, arid

her

daughter—assistant, Miss Won­

ner. They havo maintained a system and decorum about the institution that .•annot excelled in larger and wealthier cities.

What a chanoo fur one of our citizens to build a monument for himself. It will not tako a fortune to do it. For years and year*, HS the next century wbite.is, think what a heritage it will be to have the thousands of young people,

vet-to-be,steppingdailyover

-^Tr-f'^K ST^,

the thresh­

old of a modern library building in the center of the then metropolitan Terre Haute, while over the keystone of the stone-arched entrance, and on the lips of all our citizens, will be the name—It will be a household word when others are forgotten—the name of—whom?

Not since Ked O'Bryne and dashing Flossie Wilkins were on exhibition at the court house has there been such a mob of sight seers as was under tho dome this week. Tbe Superior court was the arena skeletons from Prairie crcok closets were the contestants When Q. V. saw the people moving towards the court in Hocks and droves, it was too great a temptation to resist, went, too. Much as I had vowed that only tax paying time could draw me west of the corner where barnyard swells and vulgar men are always present, yet held my nose tightly and with a lawyer, who volunteered to take me, 1 went.

Olive .1. Hamilton is the plaintiff, a farmer's wife. and she says James Rob inson has talked about her to* much and the excess of his talk amounts to about $1»,000. Mr. Robinson Is a nice young married «ountryman, whose dark brown hair la plastered with jealous care upon his forehead. He thinks his language is quoted pretty high in the money market, and also says that he had pretty much to talk about.

Every man or woman in the Wabash bottoms, who has helped roll the gossip snowball testified In the case, and some oT the testimony was indecent. As It would be embarrassing for a lady sten ographer, young Lex Gavins, of tulll van, was imported. He is a smooth jowled man, rapid fingered and acute-minded Nothing "feascd" him, except that he looked "bored" whenever a witness tried to use

Sunday-school

language In nam

ing some very secular things But the crowd—why,they stood around the jury and the little circle of combatants, like the crowd did at the Duval

court scene in New York after one of Dr. Parkhurst's raids. Farmers predominated, however, and a delegation from 9very calling was there. The postmaster listened eagerly, and at his shoulder stood a revenue man. Adeacon of Asbury Church lined up with a west end saloon keeper and both drank in salaceons evidence greedily. The central employment agency in tbe basement of the Court House was empty. AU w?re busy as nailer? jq listening for foul and suggestive larigilAgd, up stairs, from witnesses who disappointed them by their prudery. --v-

The woman in the ttas6» MfS. Hamilton, sat at her counsel's table with elbows planted and fingers braided, as her hands supported her chin. As rough and uncouth witnesses, with whiskers (and sometimes hair) ten inches long, told of loving and sentimental things he said, a faint smile played on her high cheek bones. It was incongruous t« hear certain witnesses speak of "love" and "kisses" and endearing terms. The better class of spectators said "Ugh" in under tones, and mentally imagined some of those witnesses as Romeos. The more I thought of it, the fainter I got. So I left. V.

ABOUT WOMEN.

About one-ninth of the professional writers in Great Britain are women. The wife of President Dole, of Hawaii, is a native of Maine, and formerly taught school in that State.

The Philadelphia Record says there is a woman in that vicinity who is so fond of gossip that even her teeth chatter.

A woman is never known to advertise for the return of stolen property "and no questions asked." She would question or die.

An Englishwoman who has visited this country writes of her American sister: "Her good humor under difficulties is surpassed by nothing I have ever seen."

In Buflalo a woman runs a streetcleaning bureau in Kansas City a woman is the head of the fire department in New York a woman owns and COnd^-^BjivoMr. jjj Bos-

toii makes Hat furnishing a Business still another in New Hampshire is president of a street railroad company, while Chicago has a woman embalmer.

An interesting case for the student of the ways of a woman's heart to ponder is that of

an

.mrnsmm^

Oakland, Cal., woman, who

few montlis ago brought suit for divorce, shot her husband in her jealous rage while the case was pending, nursed him through the illness that ensued, fell in love with him all over again, and it* now living with him happy as a dove.

What is called rational cycling costumes for women is illegal in Paris, and the prefect has caused letters to be written to certain lady cyclists cautioning them that thoy are infringing the law in woaring meu'sclothes. Frenchwomen, it may be mentioned, were the first to emancipate themselves from skirts when on the wheel, and some of them now go so far as to wear the regulation tunica and the breeches of the men's club

Tbe first woman to become a citizen of the State of Colorado under the recent equal suffrage decision was Mrs. John

Routt, wife of Ex-Governor Routt. She «ave her. occupation as "housewife." Among the women who went to register was one who gave ber name, a wellknown one, and address, but when tbe question of age was broached refused to give it, and left in confusion. Most of thp women, however, readily answered all questions.

The great Parisian dressmakers have a custom of charging a married woman more for her gown thau an unmarried woman is asked. An American lady in Paris recently commented upon tbis difference, which she bad observed to the extent of ISO in two dresses identi cally alike, Ah!" exclaimed the great modlsite, "why not? Madam has a husband to pay her bills, but mademoi selle's dot must be looked out for, up that she may get a husband."

A few weeks ago the famous novelist, Mm. E. D. E. N. South worth, celebrated her 74th birthday, and it is hardly likely that she, whose pen has amused for near half a century, will ever write an other book. Eighty novels have sprung forth from her prolific pen, and a\l written by her own hand, aa she was never able to dictate to an atnanuensis. Her writing is still full, strong and clear, indicative of a broad mind and ganer ous character. For thirty years ahe wrote for Robert Bonner's Ledger and built up a big circulation of that paper "Ishmael," published in 1863, ahe considers her best novel

Club's prixe fight. Although I had a postmaster, friend at court and he tried to get me a mail matter to all parts of the world. «ood position to see and hear, 1 had to Prompt attention to air businessi nelbow in and then fight for my place. It ironed to me. Patroniw home insUtureminded me of a "tenderloin" polioe {lions."

The postmaster of Lecompton, Kas., has a unique letterhead on his stationery. It «*d»: "United States of America, Postofflce Department, W. S. Bisseil, Po«un&ster-Gener*l. Local headquarter®, Lecompton, Kas., W. R. Smith,

Stamps nold good to carry

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SOME PAWNSHOP SCENES

BAB HIDES AND LISTENS IN THE PLACE OF THE GOLDEN BALL.,

Heart Histories Revealed—AllSjOrt* of Customers—Pawning Baby's BclonfingaGlfts of Mother and Sweetheart—Poor gut Pro^—A P!«n? Woman as Consult­

ing Partner.

[Copyright, 1894.]

NEW YORK, Jan. 23.^—SometiineS-ltis a carnage drives up, and out*of it stopfc a woman with a thick veil hiding hey face, and carrying j^n her hand a-jew^l box. Muchofteneritisashabby-looking woman, who glances first oVjef one shoulder and then over the other tb see if anybody is noticing her, and who goes in very quietly with a mysterious looking bundle in h6r hand that may be almost anything. Often it is a woman on whose face are marks of dissipation, whose clothes, are ragged, and who ostentatiously reels in, carrying a shawl, a cooking utensil, or a bundle of clothes. Where are they all .going? Don't you know? Can't you guiBss?, To the pawnshop. I don't know whether to call it the refuge of the poor, or their hell.

After all, even pawnbrokers are not quite as black as they are painted, ana they, realizing that a woman is starving, will shove aside the pitiful rags offered and give the few pennies asked. I wa# over on the other side, and I was ask£d. to go in and

SEE THE PEOPLE IN THE PAWNSHOP.' Given a chair back of the counteiyl listened, and it seemed to me that in the' short hour I was there, I read' mbre heart histories than I would have in':a week in Mayfair. The first applicant for money was a big, healthy-looking man, who threw down a brand-new overcoat and demanded $5 on it. It was" positively refused, and the pawnbroker said: "You got that overcoat, from a clothing fund here in New "^ork.* Intended for those who were Buffering you made your" wife go and ask for it, and you only wanted it to raise some: moody on it that you might go on spree, and then beat the woman wJio had lied for yoii. Not necen

phone to bverv broker on the Bowery to look out for you and refuse you." I expected to see the tough hit the little man, or draw a pistol on him but I was surprised to see how meek he had grown, and how, with a sort of apologetic leer, the nearest approach he had to a smile, he slunk out of the shop.

A RICHLY DRESSED CUSTOMER. The next visitor was a woman, well dressed, and having an air about her that told of full and plenty. Although I could not see the face, I seemed to recognize the figure and when there was displayed a marvelous string of diamonds, I knew who the woman was. She didn't want $5 she wanted $10,000. Those diamonds had cost $50,000 in London a year ago. The pawnbroker hesitated. It was a great deal of money The stones were well worth it the woman was eager, and offered him kn enormous percentage, with the promise of paying within a month's time. She got her money and went away. And the little man, talking to me, said: suppose, ma'am, you would call that usury and yet there is some excuse for it. I have at least a hundred thousand

PARTING WITH BABY'S CLOTHES.

Just then there was another looked in tbe window such a differet face. There was no veil to hide trouble it was pinched and drawn, ar

Under the shawl I could see there waf baby, and pushed on tbe counter w«i bundle f«r which she asked if $ mightn't have ifty cents. What do think was in that bundle? You wonj who go np to warm nurseries, lean or and kiss yonr babies, straighten out b] little white gown, and pat the soft chfc as if it were arose leaf, you can't gii. Neither can you who are sitting li*e sunshine singing a merry little aud sewing such fine stitches in tbe,^ garment for the baby who is cortgi and for whom so loyal a greetit is

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TERBE HAUTE, IND, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 27,1894. Twenty-fourth Year

do let me have it! For God's sake, don't say no." And for God's sake, and because he has a baby of his own, the pawnbroker pushed the poor little clothes back to ber, and turned to get the silver piece to band to her. Thank heaven, miracles do happen even nowadays, and before, that silver piece reached the woman it became gold, and only two women know that.

A GAY BURLESQUER.

The next applicant came in 'ramming a music hall song. Her hair was a brilliant yellow, her costume was gay and pretty, and she threw on the wooden pounter a lot of rings and brabelets, and a couple of brooches, and laughingly asked to have as ipnch as possible given on them. "For," she added. "Im giving a supper to-nighl I have run short of money, nobody will trust me, anil I want this to buy the champagne with." She got it, and after she had gone I asked my host, "Will she ever come for them?" "Oh, yes," he answered, "she Will get her salary Friday night, for, of course, you know she is in some burlesque company, aud she will send her maid down here after these things on Saturday morning. They come and go with such rapidity that really I don't know whether they belong to her or to me."

After this, it seemed to me as if everything were offered on which a little money could be gotten—wedding rings, flue frocks, bundles of books, on which, by the bye, there was only a few pennies given, a violin, a wedding gown, and queerest of all, a watch in the case of which was engraved the name of its owner and the fact that it was given to him "by his loving mother on his twenty-first birthday." P. A PADLOCK BRACELET GOES.

Then there came in a man who walked -up and dow.n, who looked as if he wanted to come in one of the queei* little boxes, and yet as if he were afraid. At last, he gained courage, and he offered iu exchange for some money tbe sort of bracelet that used to be sold a few years .ago as an engagement one you know •tb.e kind I mean, with a padlock that Vi&ked, and once fastented could not be u££$ne. It bad evidently been broken '*be arm, and the owner demanded "mfltfutesT the^ra& hand. On the little padlock was'carved "Leah, 1875." Could help wondering who and .where Leah was? Whether she was wandering in the wilderness "of unhappiness and poverty, or if she had long ago closed her eyes to everything that was earthly and now rested. Yet the bracelet had been broken. A man would scarcely wrench it off the arms of a dead woman. No, it was probably the last thing that Leah had that, linked her to the happy days when the world was bright and full of pleasure, and hard times were unknown. Possibly, everything had gone, and with one last goodbye she had broken the golden circlet «ind handed it willingly to the man she 'Ijad loved. Well, God knows who she and where she is, but He will take litre of her.

I LITTLE CHILDREN ENTER, TOO. The people had been crowding in, peo.He of all sorts. People who looked bad jnd suggested thievery people who hoked unhappy and hinted at the want |f a few dollars people who looked sick, ind people who looked bungrj' but ihe strangest of all to me was to see the little children. Your girl, 10 years old

dollars' worth of that woman's jewelry |jever heard of such a place, but tbe here, and she is giving the money to.as grea» a villain as t,bere is in New York-

ld, very old, 10-year girl on the other side has known what the three bright

a handsome chap, who made love to her Italia have meant ever since shehas for a month, and having in bis. posses-^^OWQ anything. She has the shrewdsion ber letters, and his valet as witness0f the great financiers, and her odd, that she came to his rooms once oif^^ uttle face grows very determined twice, is regularly bleeding her. Yodgg

8be

see, ma'am, I have got to find «ut these than the broker is willing t'£ give her. things, elqe I might get into trouble. 4gbe has brought perhaps a shawl, perdon't believe she has done anythingl^ap8

demands a few pennies more

a

absolutely wrong she has only been^e knows that the money she receives foolish, and she isn't smart enough tcjg going to bring what she ootisiders see how quickly she might stop alt t"fei tomfort, and so she is eager to get more business by going to the Inspector, telijjpan even those she has left at home ing him the truth, and he would protti^jj^ hope for. I asked: "How is it quickly end the blackmailing. As it i^ that you see girl children come in here, she is waiting for her father to pom|-'|n()«

few dishes, perhaps a tea kettle

not

home—he is one of the richest and mos because the girls seemed to underrespectable men in New York—and.sh expects him to help her."

boys?" And I wag told that it

Stand the greatness of the necessity, that they were smarter, and that if they managed to get a little mone^that f# might mean tea for mother and something to eat for the children, that they were less likely to tell father about it whe& he came homj» drunk. That they

the eyes looked large and hungip»jroiitd endure bein# beaten rather than

ill, where the inclination of the boy Irotttd be to get oufe of it all as comfortably as he could add not to think of the others. And all

THIS GOBS ON DAk IN AND DAY OUT

jyl a city that is giving thousands upon nds of dollairs to clothe and feed poor. Of cours^, some are benefited ibis generosity, jbut there are others ho will stay at hoi|ne and starve rather go to the soup^bouse or to where a hotaupper wpuld be given them, pride of the po^or is a most marvel-

auu «notiot». For ^t is that. It seems waiting. In that bundle there werfw^'i tdake the place o^ love and of all the Or three little petticoats, a much prti oir feminine attributes. Many of wrapper, and a couple of little $bt- l&fe people will Refuse to accept anygowns The baby under th* shaW**as from otherr/f who would be glad hugg«d the closer, and tbe eyes liked i4lp them, an| Id yet, they, themmore wistful as tbe woman saidT'Oh,* if they bav^e anything, will glad­

A\ V\

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ly divide it with a neighbor. I once had the pleasure of an acquaintance with'a dog whose early life bad been among extremely poor people. Indeed, be was given to me because they thought him the finest thing they could offer me, and because they felt that in giving him they were wiping out all obligations. I could not refuse him that would haye hurt them too much. It was months before he would eat a mouthful from my hinds. No#, you can believe this or not, but it is true, and I discovered his reason for refusing to take from me what he gladly accepted from the cook. I nearly always saw him after dinner, and at this time, I was dressed in a way that he considered made me his patron, and be didn't propose to be patronized by anybody. I do believe he would have starved first. He bad learned this from the people he lived among.

I was thinking over this and getting ready to leave the pawnbrokers, when he said to me: "Madam, we area people who are very much maligned.

WE ARE SIMPLY A NECESSITY. "If the state would constitute itself a great pawnbroking establishment, with a small rate of interest, we would not exist, but tbe state does its good for tbe rings and the politicians, and not for the individuals. Then, too, we only get the legal rate, but if you want to find usurers, go uptown. On a fashionable street near Fifth avenue, there is a pawnbroker who lends money on nothing but precious stones, fine laces, valuable piotures and expensive bric-a-brac. He will receive you in a superbly furnished parlor, and he demands on the money he lends 30 per oent. a month, and this must be paid every month, else the goods are forfeited. He is very polite, but if any one asks for a large loan, he demands time to consult with the head of the firm. Now, the head of that firm is a woman. A woman who.is well known in New York, though she is not in the extremely fashionable set. She lives in good style, has a handsome turnout, and is a regular attendant at one of the uptown churches. She poses as being very religious, and it is a wellknown fact that when she has taken a a fancy to^ at Mending meetings led

__

w'6^*on'her

"We don't grind tbe jiooivas sne^ and yet she is highly respectable. 'HoW do you explain it?

I couldn't explain it. I had seen the woman many times, and I bad never dreamed that one side of her life could possibly be so unlike the other. And the poor are asking for bread. And this woman dares to sit In a high seat in church and to ask for the love and direction of Him who watches the sparrow fall. It is too complex for me to understand. Life here and life hereafter. It sets my brain all awhirl, aud then it seems as if the wisest thing to do was to look at life as simply as possible, to do as near right as we know how, to give the helping-hand wherever we can, and to have faith. That isn't an intricate creed. Let's try and live up to it —you and ___________ BAB.

Some three hundred and odd cats are maintained by tbe Unite"dStates Government, the cost of their support being carried asa regular item on the accounts of the Post Office Department. These cats are distributed among about fifty post offices, and their duty is to keep rats and mice from eating and destroying postal matter and canvas mail sacks. Their work is of the utmost importance whenever large quantities of mall are collected, as, for example, at the New York post office, where from 2,000 to 3,000 bags of mall matter are commonly stored away in the basement. Formerly great damage was done by the mischievous rodents, which chewed holes in the sacks, and thought nothing of boring clear through bags of letters in a night. Troubles of tbis'sort no longer occur since the official pussies keep watch. Each of the postmasters in the larger cities is allowed from $8 to $40 a year for the keep of his feline staff, sending his estimate for "cat meat" to Washington at the beginning of each quarter.

New figures have been introduced in the cotillon in Cincinnati. One was a regular foot-ball rush. Tbe men were lined up across one end of the room. The girls formed a wedge, with a young lady as the running half-back, with tbe ball, all rigged out in yellow and black, in the center. They made such a tremendous and unexpected rush that the line of black coats was demoralized, and a touch-down was made the girls before the men knew what had happened.

Congressman Haines, of New York, can probably boast of owning the biggest book in tbe world. It weighs nearly a ton and contains the petition ot citizens of Troy who do not want tbe tariff on collars, shirts and cuffs changed. The volume, which contains 69,817 names, is bound in boards, with corner decorations of red, white and blue leather, is about four feet square and nearly three thick. Mr* Haines intends keeping the book as a souvenir.

PEOPLE AND THINGS.

General Neal Dow, "whose ninetieth birthday in March next is to be celebrated by Prohibitionists in various parts of the country, still rises daily at 5 a. m. and takes a three mile walk every morning to "keep the bloom of youth on his cheeks."

The street-railway regulations in London provide against the crowding, jamming, packing, scowling, frowning, incident to a load of sixty where there are sittings for only thirty. A conductor was fined $1.76 the other day, for admitting one passenger extra.

Lieut. C. L. Collins, inspector of smallarms practice in the Department of the Colorado, says in his annual report that the competitions In target shooting have shown that men with light-blue eyes rank highest, followed In their order by dark blue, slate blue, light brown, dark brown and black.

An industrious statistican comes out with the startling announcement that the population of the world, which is estimated at 1,400,000,000, if divided into families of five, con la all be accommodated in Texas, each family with a five-acre lot, and hiwve 50,000,000 lots over for parks and things.

There are 25,530 negro schools now in the South, where 2,250,000 negroes have learned to read and most of th«m to write. In the colored schools are 238,000 pupils and 20,000 negro teachers. There are 150 schools for advanced education and seven colleges administered by negro presidents and faculties.

A bashful Maine Justice of the Peace, being called upou to marry a blushing couple, thought it proper to quote some scripture in additiou to the usual formula. Ho ransacked his brain in an effort to remember something appropriate and then said: "Suffer little children to oome unto you, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

The two wealthiest heiresses in America are the Rockefeller sisters, Alta aud Edith, the unmarried daughters of tbe Standard Oil king. Those young women, should their father die to-morrow,

»j|e^r$|ft^.JE)OQ^#year..

0&^^Ve^nW*,'«ianford,#Tlt(i|he?». *Mofa|i Wey^a^tatrfdM M^lb^uTne,^ Australia,' will transfer*ftt*tbe emJow^, ment fund of Stanford University the entire sum of $1,500,000 which was bequeathed to him by the California millionaire. The Australian Stanford is also a very rich man, and maj7 leave some of his own money to tbe institution at

Palo Alto. There are three railroad Commissioners in New York, appointed by the Governor, and prohibited by law from engaging in any other business. They are entitled to free transportation over all roads within the State, and are each paid the same salary as a Cabinet offloer— $8,000 ayear. The expenses of the railroad commission last year in excess of salaries were $28,000.

A widowers' association has been formed in Dresden. No man can join unless his wife be dead, and if he marries again he becomes an honorary member merely. One of the chief purposes of the association ift to help newlymade widowers by looking after their wives' funerals and caring for their children. Members will also meet for mutual sympathy and entertainment. There are at present forty members.

When introductions are made it is sometimes very perplexing to the uninitiated to know just what to do in tbe matter of band-shaking. For the benefit of the uniformed, then, these rules are given: A lady never extends ber band to a man wbose acquaintance she is making. She may or may not shake bands with a lady who is introduced, but she must not give her hand to a strange man. A low bow is the elegant form of salutation. A cultivated woman will not shake hands with any man, no matter how long she is acquainted with him, unless she respests and admires him. A gentleman never extends his hand to a lady first. Tp do so would be presnmptuous and snbjeet him to a snubbing. A man shows his breeding the way he eats his dinner a woman shows her breeding the way she receives people.

REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE. Chairman John K. Gowdy, of the Republican state committee was re-elected to that position Thursday and Russell Seeds who has been acting secretary was elected to that position. Mr. Gowdy's home is at Rushville and Mr. Seeds has been connected with the Indianapolis Journal. The Marion county committee people tried to defeat Gowdy by Using the name of Ex-Speaker of tbe legisla-' ture Warren G. Sayre, but abandoned tbe effort.

A VERDICT FOR $750.

The jury in the slander suit of Mrs. Hamilton against James Robinson this morning returned a verdict for $750 damages. The parties are from nearPralrieton, and tbe case has been the sensation of tbe week at tbe court house.