St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 16, Number 49, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 20 June 1891 — Page 3

DOUBLE DICK AND JOE; [—^^ce^=The Poorhouse Waifs. BY DAVID LOWRY. CHAPTER T. BARNESVILLE POORHOVSE. “Whoa, whoa, thar, you tarnal critters! Whoa! Lord, of this is Barnesville poorhouse, an’ the inside ain’t more Invitin’ than the outside, all I’ve got to say is it’s the steppin’ stun to ” “Sir?" “Oh, excuse me! I didn't see you. I just drove up.” The speaker stepped leisurely out of his wagon, a lumbering affair, but it had two spirited horses, ansi they seemed to be, as their driver said, “a-feelin’ ov their oats.” The driver looked keenly at the man who was frowning upon him. i “This is the poorhouse, ain’t it?” “Yes.” The word was snapped out. The man who was leaning on the end of the ■wagon smiled knowingly. “Well, now—say. D’you be ong ’round i hyar?” The speaker indicated the building and grounds with a shake of his head. “Suppose I do —what then? “Oh, nothin’, nothin’. Only I’m hyar on a little business. Es you're ono of , the folks, p’raps you’ll be so kind and obleegin’ as for to tell the superintend- : ent, Mr. Jake—no, Mr. Zeke, I guess it ; is—Mr. Zeke Caper—l want to see him.” “That's my name, sir.” “Gosh! Be it?” “I said so, sir. ” “Os course —of course. No offense. Well, I’m glad I've found you, Mr. Caper. I’ve brought you a note from Mr. Israel Heber. ” The man fumbled in his pocket and produced an envelope that was deeply wrinkled. The Superintendent of the Poorhouse opened the note quickly, then, as he ran his eye over the short piece of paper, glanced at the bearer. “This note tells me that you are Mr. •Job Wonder.” “That's me all the time.” “Mr. Heber says you are entirely trustworthy. ” “Well, I’ve ben livin', boy an’ man, sixty years in this county, an’ I reckon ther aint no man dare say a heuter agin me to my face—’less I knock him into the next township for it 'fore I stop.” “I've no doubt of your honesty, Mr. ” “Wonder —Job Wonder. He’d ought to put it p'ain in the letter, so’s you’d m nd it. ” “So, Mr. Wonder. My friend says you are ready, on account of old acquaintance, to serve him.” “Egzackly so. That's what I said. Sez he io me, ‘Job, I want a favor.’ ‘Spit it right out,’ sez I. Then he told me he’d bo obleeged if I drive round this way—you see, it’s two mile out o’ my road, or more—so here I be. Gosh! what an all-fired big place you have got hyar, to be sure. ” Come in, Mr. Wonder—step in. ” “To be sure—l'm right along with you! Where's all the critters—all the the blasted noor Oh, there they be! Sunnin’ of themselves— pin* w : —IT~ there ain’t a old woman for all the world so'thin’ like a mud-turtle on a log! Them's the no-account ones, I guess!” “Yes, that’s the truth. Mr. Wonder. "Will you have a ‘snack?' ” “I don’t keer es Ido take a bite. It’ll be late 'fore I git home ” “Just step inside here. This is my own room—my sitting-rcom ” The Superintendent stepped outside, while Mr. Job Wonder, true to his name, eyed everything in the room in pure wonder. It was unlike any room he had ever been in. “It’s the dod-darnedest place I ever sot eyes on! I wouldn't live hyar—no, I wouldn'-t hang out in Barnesville Poorhouse es they give me $2 a day an’ board. I wouldn't sit on this infernal yaher-clay bank, where the flies are thicker'n tar-bugs in June, for—helio! I say! Where'd you come from?” “Where did you come from?" “Ha, ha! That’s good, now’ Where’d I come from? From Wonder's Mill. Now, then, tell me where you hail from -—or, mebbe, you just lit down?” “I belong here. ” “You do! Well, you look just like it Lord—what a git-up!” “What's that?" “I said what a git-up,” “You think I ain't nice. I can play the banjo, and dance, and sing—that’s more than you can do.” “Hello! Hello-oo! Why, you don't look to be more’n two feet high. How i old be you?” “I don’ know.” “You don't know how old you be?” “I told you I don' know. How old are you?” Job Wonder covered his face with his hat, and the Superintendent entered at that moment, with an angry expression on his face. “Sorry to detain you, Mr. Wonder. The things will be hero in a minute. I am looking for a girl 1 want to show ' you. Here are the victuals. ” A thinly clad man brought in a tray ! ■with cold chicken, pies, and milk, and i placing the tiay on a table withdrew j silently. “Just help yourself—eat hearty, Mr. ; Wonder. Perhaps yon will take a little ' The Superintendent looked knowingly ; at Job, and Job looked knowingly at the J Superintendent. “Well, I don’t keer if I do, bein’ as • you’ve axed me,” The Superintendent of Barnesville i Poorhouse proceeded to the closet he was ■ looking at, brought out a b ack bottle, ‘ took the cork out of it, and handing him ! a tumbler, said “Help yourself!” Job Wonder smelled the-bottle —poured I out a “pretty good snifter,” to use his own words, drank it, smacked his lips, and said, “That’s pretty good licker, Squire.” The Superintendent took a drink, and as he replaced the bottle replied, “Yes—you 11 not get any better in Acorn County. Now, help yourself, while I look for the girl I spoke of. ” He went <^it, Job Wonder seated himself, a<id was disposing rapidly of the chicken and pie when the Superintendent entered with the girl Jo’) had met, and who had disappeared in a mysterious manner. “I’ve brought this girl for you to look <t, Mr. Wonder. Isn’t she a beauty.” “Well, I’ve seen wus—a great deal wus

lookin’ girls than that,” said Job, looking at the girl as if he had not beheld her until that minute. The girl’s face grew red—fiery red—then pale. In that moment she intuitively recognized a friend in Job Wonder. She stepped back from the Superintendent, however, with a lowering face. ■ “Hold your head up! Hold it up, I say!” “Don’t scold her,” said Job. “Scold her? She’s used to it. Mr. I Wonder, this girl is—is —well, she gives me more trouble than all the rest put to- ! gother, and I want you to do me a favor. I I’m going to bind her out —that’s the | rule in Acorn County, you know. I’m i going to bind her out, with the approval I of the Commissioners, of course, and I want you to do me the favor to take her with you over to Bill Stubbs.” “To Bi.. Stubbs’ place?” । “Yes. Bill will keep her until somebody takes her Tor good or bad—bad, I I reckon,” the Superintendent added, un- | dcr his breath. “Why, yes—that’s if you want me to.” But the girl had some ideas on the I subject She shook her hair—it was in I a tangle—evidently no comb had pene- ! trated that tangle in days. “I don’t want to»be bound out. I want' to stay here. ” “Hush up. How dare you speak that j way?” “Don’t you bo rough on her —she don’t ' mean it,” said Job Wonder. “O, yes she does. I’ve walloped her I f w it often enough to cure her of it, i ; too.” “Walloped that little mite,” said Job ; Wonder under his breath. “What a | shame!” “Yes, you'll be bound out —where ! you’ll be held in cheek. If Bill Stubbs I ! takes yon off the county’s hands, he’ll j ' bring you to time Now, don't you ' ' snivel—shut up.” The girl had her skirt —a dirty, color- i less skirt it was—to her eyes. “Be you in earnest ’bout Bill Stubbs?” asked Job Wonder. “Dead earnest.” “Well—now, see hyar. I don't know as I want a girl. Fai t is, my folks has lots o'time as’tis. My wife fusses an' fusses an’ my sister fusses, but between them they don’t do a mite. ’Cos why— i we’ve got two girls now. But I’ll tell you ; | what I’ll do. Es. as you say, you’re goin’ । । to give her to Bill Stubbs, suppose I i i take her. What do you say?” “Why, I would be glad of the chance. । Take her and welcome.” “0, do—do! Don’t let Stubbs have I me!” implored the girl, turning to Job. ■ Her cheeks were wet with tears. Job's ; eyes looked moist as he put his hand out and patted her head. “I’ll take you. I don’t keer if my ole ■ woman does scold me for bringin’ a girl I from Barnesville Poorhouse. I’ve never ’ had no girls. I reckbn a man can pick j one girl up in a life-time if ho wants to. ■ Leastways, I've made my mind up. Sec | I hyar, Squire, you know me. I’ll make it all right. You fix up the papers, same as you was goin’ to do for Stubbs, an’ I’ll come over and sign ’em in a day or two, an’ give bond, regular, everything shipshape. That’s my style. 1 guess my word’s as good as my bond. ” “Quite —quite, Mr. Wonder. If you will take her I’d have the papers pre- ; pared by Saturday. ” “That'll just suit me,” said Wonder. “Go and get your things—your hat and dress—and put on your shoes and stockings. Mr. Wonder will give you ten minutes. ” “It’ll take that long for her to comb her hair!” said Job. “I ni not in such a -pesky trurry—y, Mr. Caper, what'll I call her?” “Joe,” answered the girl. “Joe? That’s a boy’s name. ” “Short for Josephine.” “Oh!” “I don’t like Josephine.” “Go get your things,” ordered the ' Superintendent, pushing her out of the room. She was absent seemingly only i a few minutes. When sho returned she | carried in one hand a little bundle, and a banjo in the other. “Put that banjo down—leave it here,” commanded Mr. Caper. “I won't —I mean, I want to ” “Put it down, I say; Mr. Wonder don’t 1 want you taking that thing along. He would be distracted with your noise.” “I won’t leave it. It's my own! Mine, I and I'll keep it.” The girl was ready to cry again. Job interposed once more. “To be sure she kin bring her banjo, Mr. Caper—to be sure.” “Well, it's your affair now, Mr. Won- I der. ” “She won’t do no harm—tain’t like as ; es she was a player, you kn >w. She can | fetch it along. Well, is this the hull ’ bi!in’ o’ clothes? Es ’tis, 'twon’t swell ! our wash much. ” They were out on the road now. The j Superintendent stood smiling as the i farmer helptd the girl into the wagon. ‘ ' But Joe did not need or want a helping | hand. She suddenly put the farmer's : hand aside and sprang into the wagon and seated herself. She seemed eager to be away. She did not deign to glance at the Superintendent. Mr. Caper did i not seem to be thinking of his charge, | All his attention was given to Mr. Won'- ) der. “You’ll come for to sign the papers ' Saturday. ” “Sure pop; sure’s my name’s Job Won- j der,” assured the farmer. “Gee up! ; G’lang! You Alexander; you Napoleon, j git! Good-by, Mr. Caper, good-by.” But there was no good-by from Joe. She was sitting with compressed lips and a strange, new light in her eyes. “I’m in luck again,” said Zeke Caper, as he scowled upon the wagon. “I was । i mighty lucky to get her off so soon. ; j Now let them come as soon as they I please. Thanks to my friend Israel, I they won’t find a hair of her in Barnesi ville poorhouse. And nobody will ever I be any the wiser, and I’ll be a pile of j money ahead, or Israel will hear from ! me !” | The Superintendent shaded his eyes ’ and looked down the road. “Here they i come now—lickity-split, I’il bet a year’s , j salary. Well—let 'em come.” And the Superintendent of Barnesville । i poorhouse re-entered the building that । served as a shell—a very thin shell—for i j the miserj' thrown upon the tender nier- ! eics of Acorn County. CHAPTER I(. | When Mr. Caper enter d the door of I the poorhouse his eye fell on a lad ; | crouching ba kof a door. The boy had j a thin—a very thin—pinched face. It | was the face of a starveling. His cheeks were pinched and white: his eves were large, hungry—very hungry eyes. His clothes flapped about him. “What are you doing here, curse you!” I exclaimed Mr. Caper, in a harsh voice, ! as he grasped the boy. j “I was—was just going back into the | dining-room,” the boy replied.

“You He!* The Superintendent brought from hl 8 e coat pocket a heavy strap, t^nd stru c £ r the boy across the hands—across tb.s., knees —across his back. “There! Take that (strap), and tha|'h (strap) and that” (Strap). And then st the blows fell so fast the Superintend,^ ent’s tongue could not keep pace with them. - The boy never made a move—made noli! i sign—did not cry out. He ioj&edo} straight at the Superintendent ' nr ! great hungry, hollow eyes until th^ I ter paused, fairly out of breath. occy “Why don’t you howl? Howl, jl an l i you, howl!” Jers < The boy looked at his torment steadily. f j “Not for you.” ‘ 8 “You won’t! you won’t! You wtHIK howl for me (strap). You think I ( make you howl (strap)! Eh (st^ , I can’t make you (strap) howl!” * “No. ” tiy Mr. Caper was now breathless £ the speechless with rage. Ho could Cj n >". glare at the boy. ’ “If you kill me, Mr. Caper, you caP°i make me cry again. I’ve shed my Bs f tear here. ” “You have?” “Yes; you can beat mo now; if y don’t kill me, as sure as 1 live and grdU’ bigger, I’ll pay you back. Go aheaA now—beat mo. ” Mr. taper leaned on his chair amaJ' He tried to speak, but could nou jH O i put out. a hand, grasped the boy, puwfed ! him to him with a jerk that lifted the boy off his feet, and whispered hoxrjolz/f ’ in his ear: i “You—you threaten me?” I “1 do. ” The boy stood motion loss. Then ho : said, in a low, concentrated tone: i “You are a coward—a cowardly brute, i Don’t you touch me again. I’ve friends ■ here. They’ve been watching you, Mr. Ca;er. If you hurt me —if you kill me, there’s people in Barnesville will turn you out, and then maybe you’ll have to hook it. ” “You—you young devil! What does all this mean?” “It means this: Joe’s gone now. Y'ou've got rid of her, and I’ve took my last licking. I don’t need to be licked any more. I’ve saied her years; that’s all I let you lick me for—to keep you off poor ! Joe.” “Oh! That was it, was it?” I “Yes. Now, you hit me once more—- ' only once—and if I can kid you I’ll do J it. I’ve warned you. 1 may as well be dead as be under you, anyhow. I'll get ' even with you, Mr. Caper, if it’s in my power. You've been a brute to all of us. I You whipped poor Joe every day, until I I managed to make you mad at me. ” | “Oh! You made me mad You're not I making me mad now. We’ll see if 1 I can’t choke you into obedience.” I He rushed at the boy, flung him on the i floor, Knelt on his breast. “Ask my pardon ask my forgiveness! Say you’re sorry. Beg । ardon.” “Nover! You 11 choke me—and hang for it.” “Ask my pardon'.” “Never. ” The Superintendent's eye blazed with malevolence. His fingers clutched tho j boys’ windpipe. Another minute and it would have been over with the poor boy, when a sound of wheels reminded the Superintendent of the position he was in. Ho bounded to his feet, freed the boy, who rose slowly, and with great difficulty, and walked away, as two gentlemen entered the main entrance. pfiyiiE cow^iNt'ED.| j City Populations. The census of 1890 shows that 18,235,670 persons out of a total of 62,622,250 reside in cities having a population of 8,000 and over. But । this one-third of our people by no | means represents our entire urban i population. When we take the suburban villages and the population of towns below 8,000 wo shall h ive enough to state with certainty that one-half our country’s population is essentially urban in character. The accelerating tendency of our population to city and village life may be seen in the following table: : IT ■ Census ■ *53 Years. I s’-* si ■ =». ?• oo x ~a o 5 3— a a - U . 1790 3.92V2H 131,471 8.35 i 1800 i 5,308,483 210,873 1 3.97 18pi .. . 7,2)9,881 856,020 4.93 ! 1820 1 9,638,822 I 475,135 4.93 I 18-10 | 12,866,020 861,5.1* 6.72 I IR4O 17,«».4>3 1,453,994 8.52 I 1850 - 23,191,876 2,897,580 12.49 : 1860 : 31,433,321 | 5,072,256 16.13 ■ 1870 38,558,371 8.071,875 23.93 1880 5*J.15>,783 11,318,547 22.57 1890 62,622,250 । 18,235,670 | 29.12 There are now 413 cities in this country having a population of 8,000 and over. The present } opulation of New York is 1,515,301, of Chicago 1,099,850, of Philadelphia 1,016,964, of Brooklyn, 806,343, of St. Louis 451,770, of Boston 448.477, of Baltimore 434,439, of San Francisco 298,997, of Cincinnati 296,908, of Cleveland 261,353, of Buffalo 255,664, of New Orleans 242,039, of Pittsburg, 238,617, of Washington, D. C., 230,392. Mechanical industry and the rapid expansion of manufacturing have had very much, to do with this increasing urban popub lation. Improved agricultural maj ehinery lias liberated hundreds Or thousands from the fields and farms to engage in other activities; the order of society has radically changed. The machinery and engines in this country are doing work that would require the hand labor of 1.000,000,000 men, or 'three times the adult male population of the world. Every member of civil society is profited by this work, and all society enormously benefited by it. This mechanical work means better , homes and conditions for all, and the , best conditions for highest life can j only be found in cities; they do not ex- ' ist in barnyards. Cities must continue i to grow with increasing rapidity during the next ten years. Sweep, Oli! Sweep. Henry Carter, a Colorado millionaire, was walking about in Philadelphia, and । saw a se vant girl sweeping off the fiont i steps of a hous *. “Just the gal I want for a wife!” whispered Henry. And in three weeks he had her on his arm and was westward homg. Thirty-two thousand five hundred and eighty-six Philadelphia servant girls now hustle to sweep. Passenger | “Porter, how long will it be before we get into Chicago?” Porter—“About a quarter of a dollar, sah.”

SWE SUNDAY SCHOOL? T INTERESTING AND INST^UC 0) TIVE LESSON. tr bfßeflectlons of an Elevating Charactex*— Wholesome Food for Thought — Study* । Ing the Scriptural Lesson InteUlgentlv ' and Profitably. Aj The lesson for Sunday, Juno 21, may be l-pfiund in 2 Kings 25: 1-12. INTRODUCTORY. A sad lesson, in many respects, and yet a very profitable one, If read aright The truth is always wholesome. This Scripture reveals to us certain facts regarding our relations with the great Head of the universe, facts that ought t» be received and pondered. 1. GOd is king, not man. 2. God means what he says. 3. God’s messages are to be heeded. 4. Sin moans destruction and death. 5. Man is his own worst enemy. 6. God is man’s truest friend. 7. The man that speaks God's truth, however searcb- , ing, speaks kindness. 8. Heaven’s laws of -righteousness are for earth’s good; they ■ ara the barrier to evil. 9. Be sure your sin will find you out. 10. The wicked also serve the righteous will of heaven. These anl many other such truths may be learned from a perusal of this dark chapter in Israel's career. Why not learn from the experience of the race? “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying. This Is the way, walk ye In it, when ye turn to tho right hand and when ye turn to the left.” It is the voice of experience—heed It. What the lesson says. In the ninth year. SSB to 586 B. C.. although the Babylonian captivity of sevent y ^vears counts from the first expulsion, 606 B. * (Jer. 25: 9-12 and 29: 10.) Nebuchad-Hhc-zar, son of Nabopolassar, the deitroyer of Nineveh and founder of Babylonia. Reigned at Babylon nearly half a century, one of the great men of history. Pitched against. To settle down about, bonce to invest. Revision, encamped. It is this same word that is rendered “encampeth” at Ps. 34: 7 (“the angel of the Lord encampetb”). Forts, or towers. Originally. watch-towers, from the verb to look out. Besieged. The word literally means to come upon or enter, hence to attack. The Douay suggests, probably In amplification of the thought, shut up and besieged. Unto the eleventh year. Beginning a year and a half before tills time. Ninth day of the fourth month. Hebrew, ninth of the month. Ti e rest being supplied, probably from Jer. 52:6, The Douay is graphic. “The ninth day of the month and,” etc., like our “high noon, and the hour is come.” Prevailed. In the sense of conquering. They were undone. The famine vai too strong for them. Broken up. Literally to cleave. So rendered at Ex. II: 16 (divide). A very luminous translation is that at 2 Sam. 23: 16. M here the three mighty men broke through the ranks of the Philistines. Here the enemy broke through the walls, made a breach. See Douay. Between two walls. Better, I etween the two walls. The word is In tiie dual meaning, more nearly, a pair of walls. ‘1 he king's garden, or. park; pro! ably an extensive tract on the south side of the city. This is the word used at Gen. 2: 8 of the garden of Eden. The plain, Hebrew, arabab. A wilderness district, mentioned at Josh. 3: 16. Pursued. The word means to chase or drive.- Overtook, or seized. All his army. AH his force. The word ••army” means literally strength. Scattered. Rendered dispers'd at Zepli. 3: 10. WHAT THE LESSON TEAI ULS. Pitched against. So are we at times in tills world, beleagured on all “ides by tho armies of the aliens, and at a loss; and it is a fair question whether we are not, in large part, responsible for this pitiful state of tilings. Jerusalem had brought upon herself hero the poverty of resources that shut her up, like an eagle in a cage. It was hers t> go abroad, it was hers to be on the aggressive, but here she is penned In and destined for destruction. But was It not her own sin that came upon her? Were not ►Jhos<’*Thnvpttrhcd so fiercely and fatally against her the children of her own distrust? Was it nut her own unfaith that bulldid those forts against her around alxiut? Have a care. “The angel of the Lord encampeth around aliout them that fear him.” -Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind Is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.” “The Lord is nigh unto ail them that call upon him, to all that cull upon him in truth.” Mind the emphasis. And the city was broken up. The city of God! No. the city of God s despisers. This was not that Jerusalem that Jehovah planted, the city of the great King. Read Jeremiah's terrible portrayal and see. The city had become a place of Idolatry and impiety. Now there was no room for another such city—certainly noton Zion’s hill. There was num there for a city devoted to the one God and to bis holiness; but the world, under God, had no use for such an impious city as Jerusalem had become, sc tho heathen who are God’s sword and scourge, rose up and wiped it out. Tliere are sober lessons here. There is room on American soil for a God-respecting, Sab-bath-keeping people. There is no place here for another piece of corrupting Eiropeanisni. To depart from God and his trut 11 as a nation is to forsake the regulating principle about which we were established from the first. It will mean the forfeiting of our right to live, the signing of our own death warrant. Heaven has no need for another Sodom. And they gave good judgment upon him. It was God’s judgment too. Zeddkiah had not only sinned against the nation, he bad sinned against Jehovah also. The assizes of earth are often made the bar for the vindication of heaven's claims and the heathen, as God's ordained executioners, perform, albeit unwittingly, the will of high heaven. After all, judgment is not an external, arbitrary tiling, something foisted unto the affairs of men because of some fara’vay but angry potentate. It inheres, it belongs to the very deed itself, as fruit belongs to the tree on which it grows. It Is like the thorn on thistle and brier, growing out of the nature and character of the plant. And the time is coming when all men shall see it so. In the great final tribunal tliere shall be no one, be lie the vilest. to say nay to Ged's decisions in righteousness. Man shall virtually give judgment, and righteous judgment, upon himself. Vinedressers and husbandmen. Safe employment, doubtless, but O, what a degradation of the high vocation of Israel! No temple, no city on the hills, just a group i f toilets for this earth's necessities. Alas for the church of Christ when it shall approach such a pass! That eloquent warning of the honored President of the Missionary Union at Cincinnati, was it else than timely? Is the church of Jesus Christ fulfilling its lordly mission to this earth? Were we simply left here to get a living and expend it on ourselves? God pity the people of Zion when they lose the zeal of the Lord's house and ti e mind which was in Christ Jesus, and are content to grovel here below as mere vinedressers and husbandmen! “Go ye into all the world,” said the Master, “and, 10. lam with you.” Go! Is he with us unless we do? Next Lesson —Missionary Lesson. Isa. 60:1-5, and Quarterly lieview. No wild fowl will pass under the Mississippi River bridge at St Louis. A wounded goose float, d down the stream the other day until it came to the bridge, hut would go no further. It stemmed the tide until completely exhausted and then swam to the shore, permitting a boy to capture it. The Italian Government meditates taking steps to stop cm gration to America. America will not kick. The German Reichstag has rejected the petition to admit women to the liberal professions.

HIE WAY THINGS RUN IN THE GREATEST OF GREAT STATES, INDIANA Things Which Have Lately Happened Within Its Borders—Some Pleasant and Some Sad Reading. —Muncie is to have a new Opera House, to cost $75,000. —lnfant child of J. P. Bradfield fatally scalded at Noblesville. — I hero is in the treasury of Montgomery County the sum of $165,27(5.59. —Dr. J. H. Donnol, one of the pio neers of Franklin, died from paralysis. —George pfan fell from a train at Sugar Grove, and suffered a broken nose. John Dettgen, a German carpenter, of Madison, fell two stories and was killed. —1 he Circuit Court at Columbus is forced to hold night sessions from rush of business, —Prof. J. C. Eagle has been elected the fifth time as Superintendent of the Shelbyville schools. —Knightstown’s keeping right up with the procession—going to have electric lights very shortly. —Richard Stoddard was fatally injured by falling slate at the Brazil Blockcoal Company’s mine. —Waiter Lindley, a farmer boy near Rockville, was kicked to death by an unruly horse while plowing. —Jennie Mitchell, near Chambersburg, deserted by a false lover, tried to suicide by jumping into the canal. —David Caldwell's new house badly damaged by lightning at Thorntown, and two daughters severely shocked. —New Albany has a “mute” darky who drinks liquor and terrorizes an entire ward with his dissonant yells. —George Kendall recovered $5,000 damages, for injuries received, from the L., N. A. & C. Railroad at Salem. —The remains of the parents of Post-master-General Wanamaker and an uncle of James G. Blaine rest in a cemetery at Leesburg. —Looks now like Laporte was going to be left without a fire department — both their companies having formally disbanded. —W. P. March, young society man at Winamac, forged his father’s name, raised S9OO and left town. Married nine months ago. —Mrs. Hezekiah Grossnickle’s 11-months-old child tipped a pail of hot whitewash over itself at North Manchester; fatally injured. —General Packard, of the New Albany Trilnuie, has been commissioned as aid-de-camp on ti e staff of General Veazey, Grand Commander G. A. R. —Jacob Freed, who has been refused a Iscense to sell liquor at New Market, has fitted up a room in elegant style, and says he will sell on a Government license. —Robert F. West, one of the wealthiest and most respected farmers near New Castle, died very suddenly at his home, north of that city, from heart disease. — Don A. Salyer, superintendent of the Valparaiso water works, was dangerously assaulted in his office by William Turner, a plumber. Salyer's condition is critical, and he may not recover. Turner claims that lie went to the office to demand a settlement, and that Salyer attacked him. —John Douglass, aged 18, was instantly killed at Logansport, by the accidental discharge of a target gun, which lie held by the muzzle while seated in Hardy’s oil-mill. The ball, a 22-caliber, : passed through his heart. It is supposed that tiie trigger caught in the step on which lie was seated. —Some six years ago Fred Kastenhuber, a very intelligent German, came to Columbus, and soon was engaged to teach a German school. He was very economical and industrious, and it was , soon learned that he had left one behind , that he proposed to bring over and make his wife when he shoul' oe able. A short time ago he wrote to friends in the l old country to engage transit for his ’ sweetheart, the young woman arrived, and an hour later the two were married. . —Five miles south of Warren, oil has ' been struck at a depth of five feet in । Trenton rock on what is known as the ■ Cunningham farm. Tiie fluid at once began to flow in a torrent and covered the s ground around for some distance with oil i before the well could be controlled. [ This is thought to be, without doubt, - the best well so far struck in Indiana, and developes the fact that there is a vast oil field in the vicinity of Warren which will be developed in the near future. —William Harris, who was hauling j logs to a saw-mill near Crawfordsville, . met with a serious accident. As he was crossing a small bridge near the old 1 Sperry mills the bridge gave down and . the horses, man, wagon and two logs ; were thrown to the bottom of the ravine. One horse was killed outright and the other had to be killed. Tiie wagon was demolished and the man injured, though not seriously. The bridge was always considered safe, and many teams hauling sawlogs had passed over it daily for several weeks. The damage to the owner will amount to SSOO, and a suit for damages will be the result. —A wealthy Daviess County farmer named Christopher Weigier, left his home, tellinar his wife he intended killing a hawk. Instead, he went behind his barn and blew his brains out with a musket. No cUTise was assigned. —Car inspector William F. Abbott, thirty years of age, was caught between the bumpers of two cars at the Union Station, near Indianapolis, and fatally injured. He was taken to the hospital, where his death occurred, after three । hours of terrible suffering.

HERE’S ALL TIIE NEWS TO BE FOUND IN THE STATE OF INDIANA. Giving a Detailed At count of the Numerous Grimes, Casua lies, Fires, Suicides, Deaths, Etc., Etc. —The New Pro udence Courier has suspended publieatk n. —Harry Fuller fell on a circular saw at Mackville, fatally injured. —Jami's Gibbs, Jeffersonville, has patented a cash fan railroad ticket. George Ford, machinist, cut his throat from ear to eir at Kokomo. Will die. —A ministers’vis: ting association organized at Riehmon 1, supervised by 140 ladies. Albert W hite, r ?ar Goshen, has ten ewes that have bi rue 24 lambs this spring. A small snail'll :e worm is charged with destroying tiie pear crop in Henry County. —William Titus, living about three miles southeast of Colfax, was found dead in bed. —William Evers »n, an aged citizen of I*ort Fulton, died rom eating too many young radishes. —Tliere arc 11,1,77 children in Montgomery County between the ages of six and twenty-one years. —Mayor Harrison, just elected at Shelbyville, refused an increase of salary, talks of resigning. —The wheat crop around Martinsville has been attacked by the “midge,” but farmers are not apprehensive. —There are 500 pensioners in Floyd County drawing annuities. The quarterly pay-ro 1 amounts to $20,000. —Dr. E. S. Crosier, of New Albany, an old army surgeon and member of the pension board, died from paralysis. —The Young Men’s Christian Association at Richmond reports SII,OOO subscribed toward its proposed new ing—Dick Walsh, of Goshen, was tried, convicted and taken to the Penitertiary within thirty-six hours after committing a burglary. * —Joseph Jacob & Co., New York, want to locate a branch woolen and knitting factory in Indiana and South Bend’s trying to secure it. —Mrs. Ida Davis, recently elected member of the Terre Haute school board, is the first woman ever elected to such a position in Indiana. — Temperance people of Fairland defeated John Sturgeon, who wanted to open a saloon there, and the town will remain dry another year. —County Treasurer Ramsey, of Montgomery County, has notified the Midland Railroad Company that $1,788 of taxes must be paid at once. —A cow-bell made by hand fifty years ago is being worn by a cow of A. H. Nutter, near Martinsville. The bell is as large as a six-quart pail. —English, Marengo and Grantsburg all want to be made the capital of Crawford County. Need of new county buildings has started the discussion. —A gang of young thieves, who have been committing many petty robberies at Peru of late, was broken up by the ar- ' rest and jailing of Frank Praning, the leader. —Mrs. Minerva Lewis, New Albany, claims to have been damaged $2,000 worth by being put off a Pennsylvania Company’s train, and sues for that amount. —The Jeffersonville Council was a tie on the question of standard or solar time for that metropolis, and the reform Mayor said: “if the sun's good enough to see by, its good enough for me to goto bed and get up by.” Accordingly he voted for solar time, and now everybody will have to reset clocks again. —David Wolf, manufacturer of hats, at Newark, N. J., where he employs 200 men, lias closed a contract for the removal of his factory at once to Wabash. The Board of Trade there gives him $20,000 bonux. The new institution will afford employment to 250 people, and will turn out all styles of head-gear. Work on the building commences at once, Mr. Wolf entering into a bond of $5,000 for tiie fulfillment of his part of the contract. —A heavy-weight dinner party took place in the eastern part of Bartholomew County recently. Four farmers’ wives concluded to spend the day together, and accord!; gly prepared a feast for theoccasion. 5 Harriet Wilson weighed 235 pounds: rs. L. W. Moore, 230; Mrs. Charles right, 217, and Mrs. Clara Moore, 200. I'he weight of Mr. L. W. Moore, who was master of ceremonies, was 240 pounds. They all reside within a few miles of one another. —At Montpelier, Joseph Jellison, bartender for SV. W. Bongo, went into tiie cellar to change faucets in beer kegs. He lighted a match and opened the refrigerator door, when the gas that had been leaking exploded with terrific force, throwing him fifteen feet against the cellar wall, setting his clothes on fire and burning the hair from his head. His hands and face were burned in a frightful manner. The explosion demolished the refrigerator, breaking the glass front, cracking the brick wall and otherwise injuring the building. —Last year the value of taxable property in Montgomery County was $15,862.649, while this year it amounts to ■520.226.597. This does not include the value of railroad property. —George Burns, John Gose, Joseph Edwards, and 'Squire Harvey, highiv respected young farmers near Martinsville, were arrested and placed under heavy bond to answer the charge of dynamiting fish.. The officers are exercising great care in trying to put a stop to this wholesale slaughter of fish.