Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 29, Number 9, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 27 August 1898 — Page 1

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Col. R. W. Thompson probably baa been subjected to as many interviews as any man in the country, and has never failed to impart something of interest, related clearly and succinctly. It occurs to Q. V. that what might be called the "table-talk" of Col. Thompson, the little incidents and reminiscences, which drop from a full experience, without thought of interviewer or publisher, if collected, would be of more interest than the formal interviews, but it is probable that the colonel has no Boswell. Q. V. thought of this as on a recent evening, in a conversation with the pleasantest and clearest talker in town, perhaps because he has talked for so many years, the talk drifted around the war, the navy and the naval officers that Col. Thompson has known. It was early in the night. A segment of the moon filtered light through the trees upon the lawn. It was very quiet in the park-like stretches of south Sixth street, as the colonel sat out on his porch, enjoying the cool air, which promised a night's rest without the whirring electric fan, the light from the hall falling upon his silvered head. It was a pleasant picture, all the more so because the last group of the little children, which constantly hover around him, was saying good night and giving good night kisses, a habit in the very affectionate home life at the colonel's. Let us see—whom did the chat bring to the surface? Scott, Porter, Ammen, Shufeldt, Sampson, Dewey, Schley, Evans, Wainwright—that is long enough a roll of heroes for one time. When Col. Thompson was secretary of the navy these were some of the men he knew, who met in his parlors, sometimes to play backgammon or to talk of wars that were over, and the long peace before them. Porter was the last full admiral, and will be until Dewey is made one—a domineering, important old fellow, who was willing to take charge of the navy department and secretary and run them, if he could get the chance, but he did not, this time. "Sampson, I saw often," said the exsecretary, "even then he was considered one of the most intelligent men in the navy and was commander at the Annapolis academy, for which his ability and his force as a commander fitted him. He was a man of quiet dignity and fine appearance. I saw more of Dewey. He visited my home a couple of times a week. No, he did not talk much, but he wa»» pleasant, showing a lurking humor. Yes, he made a good appearance, dressed well and was well set up. "Dick" Wainwright, too, we saw him. My daughters were at his weddingV Evans, I liked very much. I sent him oat onoe with a training ship—• think it whs the Saratoga. He cruised with the youngsters down the southern coast. When he came back he said he wanted repairs made on the vessel, about 160,000 worth. I said, 'I cannot allow you that much, but I'll tell you what we can do. You can bring the vessel to the navy yard here and we willl do the work ourselves. You can run down twice a week and I, once a week, to watch the work.' We did that and saved 110,000." About Shufeldt the colonel remembered there was some misunderstanding between them, the captain thinking the secretary did not like him. but one day, said the secretary, "Shufeldt, I think of sending you somewhere. I believe you will like it! "What is that, Mr. Secretary?" said the captain, with much surprise. "Why I am going to send you around the world?" and that did please the sailor greatly. It is curious how Terre Haute has a claim on all sorts of people. Schley seems to have been related here. Ixng ago Louise Duy, sister of George C. Duy, married a John son of Baltimore, and Schley married in the same family, and Mrs. Schley said she knew a good deal about Terre Haute because she had heard Louise Johnson say so much about it. Speaking of our splendid modern navy, the ex-secretary said that Arthur was the first president to recommend the abandonment of the wooden walls for the armored and steel warships. In his day the monitors were our only shot-proof vessels.

The county commissioners on Thursday closed a contract with Mrs. Alice Harris of Sugar Creek township, to take care of the boys under the ward of the Board of Children's Guardians. Mrs. Harris is to give the boys a home and send them to school for at least three months in the year, receiving thirty cent* a day for each boy and fifty cents a day as matron. If she does her duty faithfully and intelligently, she will earn the money. It is not probable that all the boys in the hands of the board are bad boy*. Some will be merely unfortunate, deprived of«parental support and care. It is the beginning of a good system, this placing waifs in the country. There are lots erf boys in the city who are growing up bad. We hear of little desperadoes in all quarters of the city that fear neither God nor man—especially man and particularly woman. After driving as many as possible into school the next good thing would be to round tip the rest on a reform farm. A quarter's training In agricultural and horticultural pursuits, away from "tie gang" would do good. It will be a good while before we come to this, but perhaps we are headed towards this departure in education and reform.

The friends and former parishoners of Dr. S. V. Leech, onee the pastor of Cen t*nary M. E. Church, naturally were interested and Annoyed by the report that he had been compelled to resign his pulpit at Atchison. Ka*., under offensive charge* the foundation of which that he had

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kissed a young girl of his flocks who was soon to leave the city. In a letter to the Gazette, Dr. Leech explains the circumstances in a manner to exonerate himself from any serious charge. The girl had lately entered his church on probation. He had called at her home, on his way to church, to get a book he had loaned to her, and in bidding her good bye, believing she was soon to leave the city, the pastor kissed her. She did not leave at once, however, and attended the church meetings and took part in them, showing she had no feeling of insult or injury, but the fact that her parents were divorced was made a basis of serious charges, though the Doctor was unaware of the fact. It is easy to see how a mountain can be made of this kind of molehill. Such incidents are usually snapped np by gossips, censors and funny newspaper men. They look more portentous in print than in reality and the evil suspicions in the minds of the censorious are added to the story. One can imagine how mortifying and galling this is to Dr. Leech, who is a man of considerable dignity and pride, and especially a gentleman. Ministers and physicians usually have a closer and more intimate relation with families than any other out side of the family circle. To them the children of a household are still children, while to others they seem men and women. This unceremonious relation has, however, led to trouble and disgrace in many cases, and clergymen, as a rule, have learned to carefully avoid the innocent situations that can be misconstrued. Dr. Leech, in being less prudent, has made a mistake which costs him dearly, for mistakes often cost as much as faults. This one brings into unpleasant prominence and ridicule a young girl, a minister and a church, but we cannot exempt from blame those whose prurience, love of tattle and scandal, and indifference to the fair fame of another, catch up and make town talk of anything or nothing. Out of all this publicity, however, will come one good thing: a new lesson that ministers of the gospel cannot do what other men do, nor be too scrupulous and careful. The world will not allow a minister to do what it excuses in itself, and he muBt bow to its will or sacrifice his influence with those who most need him.'

Col. John Beggs witnessed the parade of the war veB88els at New York, last Saturday, and heard the salutes fired at Grant's tomb. He also had an experience of the way in which thrifty New Yorkers make their profit out of great spectacles. He went with a friend, the day before, to engage two seats on the roof of a restaurant near the tomb, for which the price asked was $5.00 each. Beggs intimated that he would part/with $6.00 tor two, which was- declined. Next morning he Btopped at the place and found seats had declined to 11.00, at which price he secured a very good location for seeing the fleet pass up and down the river. He also saw Admiral Cervera, when he arrived at Portsmouth, and the Spanish sailors, who looked very tough and disreputable, but were much improved when next seen, after the United States had washed, dressed and fed them.

A. N. Smith, who was at Hampton Roads and Newport News in the last fortnight, saw a great deal of the troops, transports and war vessels that have returned from Cuba. About fifty craft of all kinds were lying at Hampton Roads. He was on board the Ericcson, the noted torpedo boat, commanded by Lieutenant Nat Usher of Vincennes, a nephew of the late Hon. John P. Usher. Lieutenant Usher told Mr. Smith of some of the thrilling events he was engaged in. At the capture of Cervera's squadron, the Ericcson was ordered ahead of the New York, by Sampson, and steamed for the Colon at the rate of twenty-four knots an hour, the little vessel trembling under the pressure so that the men had to hold fast to keep from falling overboard. The boat was then signalled to go to the Viscaya and save its crew. So hot were the steel decks of the Ericcson that when the naked or half-olad Spaniard, and the wounded struck the deck their flesh fairly tiszled, and the canvas laid down to protect them is now all blood stained. Usher took off about eight hundred men, and was obliged to unload them upon the New York. Mr. Smith also visited the San Francisco, whose stern was pierced by the last shell fired from El Moro castle at Havana. The hole has been stopped with wood, painted in gray, but the effects of the shell were risible in the captain's cabin and other parts of the interior. The captain presented Mr.

Smith with a couple

of the only photos he had of the San Francisco, taken soon after it was struck by one of the rare Spanish shots that struck anything. A melancholy note in the life at Hampton Roads was the constant sound of funeral inarches as the dead from the transports and hospitals were buried, forty being canted oat 1B one day.

HARRISON PARK CASINO.

The week beginning August 98th is just the time for al fresco entertainment*, for cool ride* and parties under the trees. An ideal evening can be spent by those little parties that take their picnic suppers in our delightful park and then make a little theater party at the Casino. The bright, light work at the Casino next week Is just what such parties will enjoy. Among the attractions will be the graceful dances and pleasing songs bj the Davenport sisters, the acrobatic feats and groteaqueries of Marion and Pearl, the comic comedians, Wilson and Walker, and those delightful musical artists. Holmes

and Waldron. Every night, next week, a full bill, including these elegant artists, will be given. "••"I®

JTHE K. OF P. ENCAMPMENT.

The Terre Haute Companies Cover Themselves With Glory at Indian­

apolis. Terre Haute's gallant Knights came proudly home, last night, laden with honors and glory and cash. Fresh from the victories at the supreme conclave of the Knights of Pythias at Indianapolis, our Company 3 and Vigo company, 83, Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias, arrived at the Union station at 6:30 and marched to their lodge rooms, marching with the superb precission, and yet jaunty, easy swing of men conscious of power and success Led by their captains, A. C. Duddleston and Daniel Fasig, they were escorted by Canton McKeen and the Ringgold band, through the crowds of jubilant admirers. Canton McKeen, in euthusiastic and cordial spirit, had hastily gathered into ranks and hastened to the station to meet the triumphant companies. The Knights had a glorious but fatiguing week, in a grand concourse of over 12,000 uniformed brother Knights. They marched in the great parade on a sweltering day, and though one man succumbed to the heat, he was on hand for the diill contest.

In the prize drills between crack companies of the United States, Terre Haute company 3, carried off the second prize, in class A, of $1,200, and Vigo company 88, second prize in class B, of $400. This is the first time in the history of conclaves that two companies from one city have carried off prizes, and Company 3 has earned the highest place yet secured in a free-for-all contest by a Terre Haute company. In Class A, which is open to companies that have had a place in supreme lodge contests, there were nine competing companies. In Class B, open to companies only that had not a place, there were four companies. The John Barr Glenn company, of Eau Claire, which led Co. 8 for first place, is a very crack body, having carried off first prize at Milwaukee and third at the great Washington conclave. This was the first competitive drill under the new tactics which increased the difficulties and tested the ability of the captains.

To-day our knights are having congratulations and boquets thrown at them and are taking something for that tired feeling.

Fred .Heinl is a new man in the Uniform Rank, but they say that he is steady in drill as the old Roman soldier that died at his post. During the drill at Indianapolis his helmet fell off, but he stood up «tiffly andtook no notice of the castor. An official told him to pick it np, but Fred preserved his perpendicular. Again a judge told him-to pick it up, that it would not count against him, but he Btood like Casbianica on the burning deck, getting a new shade of tan. Then the captain picked it up and placed It on his head. The young knight knew all the time that there are little catches and tricks to test the discipline of men, and was told afterwards by the judge that he had done just right. Many an old veteran would have been caught.

Labor Day Races.

The Central Labor Union bicycle races for Labor Day, will be of much importance, and handsome prizes will be given to the winners. Two gold medals are on display at Swope & Co. The list of prizes is as follows:

FIRST BACK—ONE MILE OPEN First Prize—Gold medal, by Frank Borgstrom, and order for $5 merchandise, by Central Labor Union.

Second Prize—Pair Schinner handle bars, Todd Erwin, $2.50. Third Prize—Merchandise order, Central Labor Union, $2.00.

SECOND RACE—ONK-HALF MILE OPEN. First prize—Merchandise order. Central Labor Union, $5.00.

Second Prize—One Hunt hygienic saddle, by McCluskey & Pugh, $8.00. Third Prize—Foot pump, Todd Erwin, $1.25. THIRD RACE—TWO AND ONE-EIGHTH MILE

HANDICAP.

First Prize—Gold medal, W. K. Hamil ton, and $10 bicycle suit, Thorman & Schloss.

Second Prize—Pair Columbia Bingle tube tires, Hughes, Wolfe & Miller, $6.00. Third Prize—Pair bicycle shoes, George A Taylor, $2.50. ,,

The Young Mens' Institute, an'order for Catholic young men, closed its third annual convention Friday, after a very profitable session. Indianapolis was selected for the next convention, over Evansville, Vinctnnes and Jasper. C. A. Korbly, of Indianapolis, was re-elected grand president. John W. Gerdink, grand first vice president, C. W. Burkhart, of Seymour, second vice president, J. J. Kaspsr of Madison, treasurer, Father Ryvea, of Terre Haute, grand chaplain A. W. Hinkeheim, of New Albany, grand marshal. W. D. Welsh, of Lawrcnceburg, is grand secretary. James R. Hegarty was elected as one of the grand directors. In the afternoon delegates and friends, about 60 in all, were driven to St. Mary's. The proceedings closed with a reception attended by about. 200 city people.

Three train loads of Illinois cavalry went through the city last night en route from Chicamanga to Lake Michigan, and immense crowds swarmed around the station U, greet the men who return from three months* hard work and much discemfort at camp looking like veterans The men who would have been glad to fight were also happy to be homeward bound.

Dr. and Mrs. S. J. Young ate of the Trrre Haute coleny at Charlevoix.

TERRE HAUTE, IND., SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 27, 1898.

FROM SANTIAGO.

NPW&THE MOST COSMOPOLITAN CITY IN THE WORLD.

Mrs. Tannic B. Ward Writes Entertainingly of the Conditions That Es^st in Cuba Since the Close of

J.'the War. Special Correspondence of The Mail. Santiago de Cuba, Aug. 5.—It would be hard to fiftd an odder state of things than exists in this three-century-old town. Entirely un-American in aspect and conditions, its architecture as Moorish as anything' in Morocco and its narrow, crooked, up-hill streets reeking with vile odors and filth of every description—it is at present aboui the most cosmopolitan city on the hemisphere. Soldiers are everywhere, Spanish, Cuban and American, and in the latter army all the nations of the earth are represented. Walking the distance of a block, you may meet officers of every ^aiik and "previous condition", handsome young Apollos in privates' uniform, some of tnem the sons of millionaires, titled Spaniards, sulky Cubans, lepers, and bpggars of both sexes and all colors: and to encounter a corpse or two, stretched across the side-walk or lying on its face in ®door way, is no uncommon occurrence seadaver may lie there for hours before tention is paid to it—not that people have become entirely indifferent to death, but because Hoi Polloi in these parts has always had a habit of sleeping in the sun consequently nobody notices when here and there among the wretched throng one enters the eternal slumber. Passing along Santiago's waterside street, at any hour ©f day or night, you may see a thousand outstretched, motionless figures, their rags dra#n up over their faces and should you examine them closely, you would doubtless find among them some bodies tenantless of a soul. As to the lepers let me tell you^ne little circumstance, characteristic

S^erywhere in Cuba lepers roam the streets, without let or hindrance. There are tvfro or three hospitals for them in Cuba/ but no law to compel their isolation. About forty lepers, however were corralled in Santiagos' Hospital Civil—until after the battle of July 1st and 2nd when the when the hospitals were needed for the wounded Spanish soldiers. All the sick who jcould crawl were ordered out into the streets, to make room for the victims of war. The lepers were evicted ^withfthe nd are no# ibfngltng

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of our lalies.

In ifcs best estate Santiago lacked every sanitary feature and now, after two months of siege—crowded with the offscourings of all the surrounding region, the sick, the wounded diseased, and cargoes of rotting stuff being dumped ashore from ships long-delayed in the harbor—the city is a veritable pest-hole, filled with stenches that absolutely stagger one. Decayed fruit, dead dogs, cats and mules, all manner of filth and carrion lies whereever it happened to fall, festering in sun and rain, to quickly become a living, wriggling abomination. A peculiarity of this hot, moist climate is the rapidity with which putrefaction takes place and the certainty that without greatest care maggots will breed in diseased flesh—a fact which adds untold horrors to hospital work.

Between military rule and a queerly mixed Spanish and American civil administration, Santiago's business affairs are decidedly complicated. Most of the Spanish officials of the former government have been retained, to the unbounded indignation of the Cubans. Those ministers, they say, were never chosen by the citizens of Santiago, but were forced upon them by the Queen of Spain. They have been fighting this very thing for thirty years, and after the victory, they naturally expected another government, with officials of their own choosing. Still more dissatisfaction has arisen from the administration of port affairs, which were never in a worse condition when Spain held undisputed sway. To begin with, the same port officials are retained—a Cuban at the head who does not speak a word of English, assisted by three Spanish revenue officers therefore the American merchantmen who are unacquainted with the language, find it extremely difficult to do businsssat all. The harbor is crowded with vessels filled with American goods, which cannot be landed, because ths army has preempted all the wharves and lighters. A fair sample of that phase of the situation is the steamer "Philadelphia," on which I came. She expected to discharge her important commission at this port in three days' time and be ready to return she has now been here nine days, and will doubtless have to wait as many more before all her cargo can be taken ashore in the one lighter, which she is able to occasionally secure for a few hours service. In normal times there are plenty of lighters in Santiago harbor but just .now the all-power-ful military are using them and refuse to let one go, whatever valuable cargoes may be spoiling. Never was mortal man more unpopular than General Shafter. Afloat and ashore, with both Spanish and American merchants, the captains of all vessels that visit the port, as well as with the intelligent citizens, and the soldiers to a man. The wonder is that some bullet, aimed by a vengeful hand, does not cut short his career in these lawless times, as he rolls about town in his carriage, or his great bulk is carried from camp to camp

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on a litter. Men are dying by hundreds because of somebody's criminal neglect, and naturally, to the chief officer on the spot is attributed a good deal that properly belongs to distant Surgeon-General Sternberg. Among other things, Shafter's action in regard to port charges is severely criticised.

It was believed chat when Santiago became an American port, the exorbitant duties exacted by Spain would be abolished. Pepple were perishing here for everything in' the line of food and other necessaries of life. What then was the surprise of the American merchants who undertook to supply a part of the demand, to find when they reached Santiago that they must pay an average of one hundred per cent ad valorem on every article—the same old Spanish charges, which furnished the Cubans with their main cause for rebelling! The merchants appealed to General Shafter, and he told them in plain terms that they must pay the extortionate charges or leave the port without unloading, and bed quick about it, tool Many did the latter, and the few who remained, found themselves encompassed by difficulties. The captains tendered drafts in payment of the unsuspected duties but the port officials refused the drafts and demanded American gold. Again was the military autocrat appealed to, and again Shafter upheld the Spanish custom officials, and in his usual pointed style recommended the United States merchantmen to a place that is warmer if dissatisfied with the doings in this. Of course all this interferes greatly with business and is a serious loss to many people. Bankers and wealthy merchants in Santiago, who are willing to honor the drafts of American houses to any amount, are at present unable to do so, having shipped their gold, for safety, to Spain and Jamaica. The local merchants, though eager to purchase the American cargoes that are now in the harbor, hesitate to do so, fearing that when the old time duties are abolished, they will have to dispose of the goods at a heavy loss. It shakes the confidence of the citizens in their American friends at the outset. They cannot understand why the United States should maintain the same extortionate duties which led to the war against Spain— especially at a time when starvation is' abroad in Cuba. Thus hundreds of families of the better class, who are not yet destitute enough to seek oharity, are prevented by Shafter's action from supplying themselves with food.

Fanoy the steamboat passengers being bilged,' unexpectedly, $o remain two or

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vessels—anchored a mile'Or two out in thb bay—may do so at the irate of -$4 per diem, aS long as supplies hold out, and may go ashore whenever they like, unless quarantine intervenes, by paying the customary boat-charge, of fifty cents each way. There are two swell clubs in Santiago, American and Spanish, where men may live, if rich enough besides several tiendas, or low-class restaurants, which demand high-class prices for poorest food. Even the citizens, ordinarily so hospitable, are too poor since the long war to entertain guests and therefore the traveler, without plenty of scrip in his purse, finds himself in the condition of the Son of Man, without where to lay his head. One of the Philadelphia's passengers perpetrated a huge joke on himself. Tiring of steamship fare, he thought he would try a change ashore and said to his fellow-sufferers, "Gentlemen, I am going to town to get a square meal who will join me?"

Fortunately for his pocketbook, nobody accepted the invitation. Having heard that the clubs were expensive, he did not patronize either of them, but went to a modest restaurant and ordered such a meal as would cost in the United States about fifty cents. To be sure, some essentials were lacking. Butter, of course, was not expected and there was neither milk, bread, nor "relish" of any sort. He had a broth, a stew of odds and ends, a chunk of boiled beef, (possibly horse or dog,) half of a pineapple and a cup of bitter coffee, with brown sugar and the bill for this sumptous repast was exactly $ 2 8 7 5 1

Your correspondent has met with no such trials, being safely housed in the Red Cross headquarters. Miss Barton and her staff are comfortably established in a picturesque, well-furnished old caaa, one of the finest in Santiago, whose owner—a wealthy Scotchman, now in Europekindly placed it at her disposal. Hers they sleep and eat, but their days, "from early morn till dewy eve," are spent in ths store-houses 4own near the waters' edge. Galley slaves never worked harder than do these ladies and gentlemen. As everybody knows, they not only give their time and services without salary, but have abandoned positions of prominence, esse and profit for philanthropy's sake.

All of them have grown noticeably thinner and paler, since I bade them goodbye, last spring, in Havana, Mid an indefinable change of expression is apparent in their faces. When I mentioned it to Miss Barton, she said: "Do yon remember an old poem by Mrs. Hemans, about the death of the flowers? I have forgotten the exact title and even the words but after the killing frosts of Autumn the 'last rose* accounts for her changed appearance by saying that she has 'looked on death."

Surely, if horrible sights and sad experiences leave their impression on the human countenance, these have reason for the [coarrmrED os FOURTH PAGE.]

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TWENTY-SIXTH YEAR

THE OLD RAG CARPET

Of all the tender recollections of days that are gone, the old oaken bucket that hung in the well, the old arm chair and all those treasures of other days are not to be compared to the old rag carpet. The inventor of the rag carpet ought to have a monument erected to his memory, for without the rag carpet what would the women folks have found to do? There was no work about the house, as there were only five or six kids who had to have their faces washed and buttons sewed on their clothes at the same place where they had been sewed the day before, and their heads gone over with a delicate little instrument with teeth real close together. Ever and anon mother would discover some little animal, which she would quickly and effectually electrocute by placing it between her thumb and the fine toothed comb. It made a somewhat loud report as its young life was extinguished and our mothers even seemed to enjoy the frightful carnage that went on each morning before school.

Besides this, each year, in the gentle spring, Marie, there would be four hundred or five hundred little chickens that had to be taught the narrow way and had to have their little feet washed, even if they were all cracked open and full of moraines and crevasses and other high flown glacial terms which I do not at this moment recall, as it has been some little spell since I saw a geography. And, there was cooking and washing and mending and ironing and other work to such an extent that the mind of man runneth not to the contrary, or words to that effect.

Still our dear good mothers made rag carpet. After working so hard all day that they couldn't stand up, then they would sit down to rest. While resting they would make a ball or two the size of a football, of carpet rags. Football was not so popular in those days. One scarcely ever saw a man whose boy was in college, wearing his son's old football or his lawn tennis or his bathing suit. All the lawn tennis suit the boys wore was a pair of overalls, a hickory shirt and one homo* made suspender secured at eafch end by a ten-penny nail driven in ^ith a No. 4 hatchet. And also a straw hat, out of whose brim the spring calvies had recently eaten a good sized half Moon, and thus attired the boys were as happy as they could be from morning till night.

The bathiug suits were not in the latest style. In fact, they were not late at all,' but w$i$ thfe same that Adam wore on dressoccasions, swell Society functions andthelike iftftms the flg ieaf» It was j^he same ki,nd of,suits that Cain aud Abel wore when they went swimming^ in ths Euphrates river just below the dam, where there was a nice, slick bank, down which the boys would slide in great glee whenever their pap's back was turned or when he went into the far end of the garden to gather fruit that was set aside for winter use. He was trying to dodge the boys and they were trying to dodge blm. No man wants his boys to see him do wroug.

Rag carpets were scarce in those days because there was nothing to make them out of. All the clothes about Adam's premises wouldn't have made a door mat. It wasn't much wonder that Cain turned out bad, for I do not expect much of a boy who has not enjoyed the indefinable luxury of an old fashioned rag carpet. How could Eve sew carpet rags when she had no boy's shirts and overalls and night gowns to tear into strips like Dutch noodles and no Diamond dye to color them? Fig leaves make good matting but not rag carpets.

We apprehend that if all the carpets our mothers made were sewed into one strip, it would reach from here to Neptune so many times that it would look like a spider web, and if all the thread used could be figured up it would make several Atlantic cables. Counting the diamond dye, the thread and the little shirts and trousers and calico dresses used in rag carpets and the weaving and incidental expenses, there has probably been enough money laid out in rag carpets to buy ths finest Egyptian tapestry in equal quantity, yard for yard, but it hasn't the charm of old clothes and traditions and things contained in the rag carpet.

If everything in proportion to rag carpet, folks couldn't afford to live for ths expense of it, but our mothers made rag carpet for economy and they were bound to economize if they had to bankrupt themselves in doing it.

So we really think that a monument ought to be erected to the memory of rag carpet. He made it possible for our mothers to economize. ALEX MLJLER.

Bogoljewow, the newly appointed Russian Minister of Pnblic Instruction, has begun ths duties of his office by issuing a drastic order to the effect that corsets must not be worn by young women attending high schools, universities and music and art schools they are to be encouraged to wear the national costume. The minister says that he has spent much time in visiting girls' schools and has made the discovery that the corset as an article of dress is distinctly prejudicial to the health and physical development of the wearers.

Treasurer-elect Frank Bcnrstrom, has announced the appointment of Ed. L. Duddleston, as his deputy. Mr. Duddlestoa has served as deputy under Treasurer Batch and is well qualified for ths position.

In China to salute any one by taking off one's hat is a deliberate insult, *4=-