Terre Haute Weekly Gazette, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 3 March 1887 — Page 9

THE ASTOR FAMILY.

•JOHN JACOB ASTOR THE RICHEST MAN IN THE COUNTRY.

The Astor Library and Its FoundeN How It Has Been Added to—Its Original I Cost Was S100.000 but It Has Cost the Family More Than 81,000,000.

In these days, when millions of dollars are spoken of as glibly as thousands were a few years ago, to say that a man is worth $10, 000,000 or $15,000,000 does not cause any great astonishment. William H. Vanderbilt left a fortune which some of the extremists put aS high as $250,000,000. But if one wishes to appreciate how much $1,000,000 really is let him take a pencil and paper and figure out how long it would require to count $1,000,000 if that amount were spread out before him. The result will surprise him.

At the time of "William H. Vanderbilt's death he was the wealthiest man in this country, ,but he left so many heirs that no one of them is now considered fabulously wealthy. John Jacob Astor is now the richest man in America. Ho is said to be worth about $150,000,000, most of it invested in New York city real estate, some of which pays him as JOHN JACOB ASTOR. much as 10 per cent, per annum. Mr. Astor has a perfect abhorrence of newspaper notoriety, dreads reporters and interviewers and could never be induced to furnish his portrait for publication. The one which appears above was sketched by the artist while Mr. Astor was siting in his box at the Metropolitan Opera house one evening. Mr. Astor is something over CO years of age. Ho is tall and broad shouldered and in the full exercise of all his faculties.

The millionaire is sometimes, although very rarely, spoken of as "Colonel1' Astor. He has perfect right to the title, having served as an aide-de-camp on Gen. McClellnn's staff during the late unpleasantness. Ho married a Miss Gibbs, of Charleston, S. C. One son, William Waldorf Astor, was bora to them. ,Young Astor is a tall, athletic and accomplished fellow, who has achieved some little notoriety in the literary world. Ho is quite handsome, aud is popular alike with the ladies and his male associates.

The family residence Of John Jacob Astor is on the comer of Thirty-third street and .Fifth avenue, while that of his brother, John

William, is one block above. These two buildings are the only ones in the block, and the brick fenced gardens belonging to them touch in the middle. The dwellings are built of brick, in a massive style of architectrure, with large win^dows and immense, heavy doors. They are not showy

J. J. ASTOR RESIDENCE, hidings, by any means, but would, nevertheless, bring a great deal of money even if not located on the most fashionable portion of the most fashionablo ,i thoroughfare in the metropolis. The inner furnishings are said to be sumptuous in the extreme, but to the ordinary passer by there is absolutely nothing in the appearance of either building to strike him as being the residence of the wealthiest men in America.

Mr. Astor is said to pay Dr. Fordyce Barker a stated yearly salary for constantly attending upon him. The great landlord keenly appreciates that death makes no discriminations, and he seems to dread his coming more than men usually do. But it i3 not only John Jacob Astor who is possessed of this melancholy traifc of character. The whole family, with one or two exceptions, have the reputation 'of being as gloomy as persons can well be. Oue would naturally suppose, after meeting one of the Astors, that the man he had just seen was some unfortunate fellow who had just met with a great loss.

Mrs. William Astor was one of the most vivacious leaders New York society has ever known. Her fame as an entertainer spread, all over the world, and her supremacy was never questioned in the highest society circles Df New York city. Young Mr. W. W. Astor is moderately cheerful, and it is reported that ae will build an elaborate cottage at Tuxedo aext summer.

TIIE ASTOR LIBRARY.

The Astor library was founded by the elder |ohn Jacob Astor (grandfather of John Jacob stor), who died in 1848, leaving behind him hat was in those days considered untold

realth.

His wiS contained a codicil appro-

riating $400,000 for the establishment of a "ee library in New York city. Joseph G. logswell. LL.D., was the first superintendent the library. The building, as it now stands, really three times its original size, the second Jction having been built by William B. stor, the son of the founder, and the third sction by the present John Jacob Astor. The iDrary contains nearly 250,000 volumes, and lis cost the Astor family up to date very |j!uch more than $1,000,000. liiTho history of the foundation of the Astor rtune is very interesting reading. John Jail Astor, Sr., was born in tho village of Wal»vf, Germany, in 1763. His father was a :ibination of farmer and butcher. At the 5- of 17 John's father remarried, his first fe having, died in tho meantime, and this pmother it was who caused young Astor her ill-treatment of him to take the step ich was the beginning of the career which seouently made him one of the wealthiest

men in the world. John left home with scarcely a cent, but upon reaching the Rhine he obtained employment upon a raft, and in time succeeded in getting together a little money, which he expended for passage to London. There ho was warmly welcomed by his brother, who was a manufacturer of musical instruments in a small way. He remained there for two years, during which time he had learned to speak English quite well, and had also accumulated about $75 in money and a couple of suits of clothes. He paid his brother $25 for seven German flutes, bought a steerage ticket to New York for $25 and started for the new world to carve out a fortune for himself with $25 in his pocket. Arrived at New York, young Astor received a hearty welcome from his brother Henry, who was a butcher there. He told him that a friend whom he had met on the trip over had advised him to join him in the fur business. His brother pointed out to him that in order to be successful

he should understand his work and tho next day employment was found for him with a furrier at a salary of $2 a week and board. After having made one or two fur bifying trips for his employer, during which time he had mastered all the details of the business and aeeuifiulated a few dollars, ho started in the same line for himself, on Wall street. Instead of selling his furs in Now York ho shipped them direct to Iiondon, realizing upon them profits, in some cases, of 600 to 1,000 per cent. He then took the agency of his London brother's musical instruments, after having paid him visit, and from that day his star was in the ascendant. His fur and music trade increased, and by the timo that his great success ho.d caused active competition to spring up, his businoss had become so firmly established tbat no amount of opposition could seriously affect it. He married Miss Sarah Todd, who used to assist him in preparing the furs. After hohadbecomo well to do he invested his money in real estate, the value of which, of course, increased greatly with the growth of the city. Up to this point Astor's career was a most noteworthy one, as evincing the great natural business capacity and astuteness of the boy and man, but beyond this his history is simply a tale of the growth of business and the increase in the value of roal estate. Since the original John Jacob Astor died, all that his descendants have done is to keep the money together and apply its natural accumulations to the capital. This they have indeed done well, so that to-day one of them is the richest man in the United States, while the family is considered by many to be the richest in the world.

A NAVAL TERROR.

Description of the Proposed New Dynamite Cruiser. The London Times says that "the most infernal triuniph of American ingenuity" is the dynamite gunboat recently contracted for and now'being built by William Cramp, of Philadelphia. Four years ago Lieut. Zalinsky was detailed by the government to experiment with a pneumatic gun capable of throwing dynamite. His experiments have proved so successful that a vessel armed with such guns is about to be constructed

SECTION OFF DYNAMITE GTTTFBOAT. This vessel is to 340 feet over all in length, with a beam of 26% feet and a draught of 7)4 feet. She will be built of American steel with a deflecting deck from which ordinary shot will glance off. There will be four boilers to drive the two independent screws. These, with the engines, will be powerful enough to drive the vessel through the water at the rate of twenty knots an hour. The boilers will be placed as far apart as possible with water tight bulkheads between them so that if in an engagement the portion of the vessel containing one or two of the boilers be blown away she would float and still have power enough not to be helpless.

The armament will be the unique feature of this craft. It will consist of three steel tubes lined with brass, seventy feet in length and ten and one-half inches in diameter. These are the guns. From theso will be thrown by air pressure projectiles containing 200 pounds of nitro-gelatine each to the distance of a mile and at the rate of one shot in two minutes from each gun. There are to be two reservoirs for the compressed air, from which the air will be let into the tube behind the projectile at a pressure of 2,000 pounds to the square inch if necessary. As the guns will be immovably fixed in their place, the range will be regulated by the pressure of air allowed to propel the projectile, and the guns can only be fired while the vessel is "head on" to the enemy.

On suggesting to the engineer in charge that the vessel was designed to attach the enemy on the "billygoat" principle only, ho said tho guns would throw sixty shells, or six tons of the most terrific explosive known, during twenty minutes of the time they are steaming up to the enemy, and the presumption is that before that time has elapsed there will be no enemy left.

An advantage claimed by this pneumatic gun method of sending a torpedo at tho enemy is its economy. Tlie torpedoes which are steered by electric wires from a station on shore cost from $7,000 to $15,000 each, and of course aro destroyed,- on being used. Each shot from this dynamite ship containing the same weight of explosive will cost but $200.

A Story Writer's Success.

George R. Sims, the English playwright and story writer, has received nearly $100,000 from his plays propuced in the United States during the past five years. He has an interest in a London newspaper which pays him handsomely, and his stories always command good prices from the publishers. He is now in Algiers working on a new romance. He has the peculiar faculty of being able to keep two or three small serial stories going at the same time, chauging from one to the other for rest.—Chicago Times.

Adtice to Undertakers.

The Shroud gives this good advice to .undertakers: "Don't let a false modesty prevent you from presenting \*our bill before the obligation becomes old and your customer's sorrow for the departed has been so far exhausted as to RIIOW no sympathy fo:* your honest claim."

TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA, THURSDAY, MARCH 3,1887.—TWO PARTS —PART SECOND

THREE NOTED MEN.

Charles S. Fairchlld, Edward O. Graves and William L. Scott. When Secretary Manning and Treasurer Jordan saw fit to resign their positions and betake them to new fields of enterprise, much gossip and speculation was indulged in as to their probable successors. Here are some of the men prominent enough to be considered eligible candidates.

Charles S. Fairchild, whose picture is given, was born at Cazenovia, Madison county, N. Y. He received his preliminary education at the Oneida Conference seminary in his native town, going from there to Harvard and graduating in 1863. Choosing the law as his profession, he entered the Harvard Law school, and after graduation went to Albany, wliero4ie was admitted to the bar in 1S6G. Mr. Fairchild made his entry into public life in 1873, being appointed deputy attorney general for tho state of New

York, which position lie held until 1875. In the latter year he was elected attorney general. His services in this

CHARLE3 K. FAIRCHILD. position brought him into considerable prominence, although he served but one term. In March, 1885, he was appointed assistant secretary of tho treasury, and has made a good record as Manning's right hand man.

Edward O. Graves, chief of the bureau of printing and engraving, was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1843. He was educated at Hobart college, graduating in 1863. After bis graduation he became a clerk in tho treasury department at Washington at & salary of $1,200 a year, and soon drew attention to himself by several reforms which he effected. Five years after his entry ho was made chief clerk in the treasurer's office, which placo ho hold until 1874. when he became superintendent of the National Bank Redemption agency. In 1883 he was appointed assistant treasurer, and on May ©, 1R85, hief of the oureau of printing and engraving. Mr. Graves' knowledge of the service is extensive. He has made special examinations of the sinking fund of the Dis- EDWARD O. GRAVES, trict of Columbia, of the office of the assistant treasnrer in Rentf"York, of tho estimates of appropriations for thectistoms sorvice, and oi many other such subjects. He is on earnest advocate of civil service reform. Mr. Graves has been mentioned as likely to succeed Conrad N. Jordan as treasurer.

Of William L. Scott it has been said that he could have the treasury portfolio if he wanted it. Mr. Scott took part in several conferences between the president and Mr. Manning before the latter's resignation became generally known, and as he is understood to agree with Mr. Cleveland in his monetary policy he has had a leading' position in tho race. Mr. Scott—"Bill Scott of Erie"—was born in the city of Washington, and is now almost 59 years old. In his youth he was a page in the house of representatives, but "severed his connection" with that body in 1846. Mr.

Scott went to Erie, Pa., in 1S48 and engaged in the coal and shipping business, owning and running sev-

WILLIAM L. SCOTT. eral vessels on the lakes. He subsequently became interested in the manufacture of iron and the mining of coal, as well as in the construction and operation of railroads. Mr. Scott is now worth about $15,000,000 and enjoys the distinction of being the richest man in congress. He was twice elected mayor of Erie. He is the owner of a large racing stable, employs an army of stablemen, trainers and jockeys, and, as a patron of the turf, has often seen his colors go to the fore. His recent quarrel with his trainer, Byron McClelland, is s«ill fresh in the minds of neivspaper readers.

A Cohesive Tale.

Ethel leaves her taffy and runs to meet George. George, unmindful of the taffy, sits down to wait for Ethel's sister, Clara.

Discovers the taffy, but Ethel has to borne to the rescue with the shears. As Clara enters it becomes necessary to resort to an expedient.

The Height of Museum Giant*. The height of all the giants are greatly exaggerated, ho one of them being eight feet high. The number of giants has greatly increased during tho past fifteen years, and, though they formerly earned $75 and $100 week, tho competition has reduced their wages to $25 a week. They talk of forming a trade union.—New York Star

NEWSJEliSEY'S CONTEST.

ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE ON RECORD.

Portraits of Some of the Men who Have Figured Prominently Therein—Senator Sewell, Ex-Congressman Phelps and

Ex-Governor Abbett and their Careers.

The uncertainty of political life, has been damply demonstrated in the contcst for the United States senators!:ip waged in the New Jersey legislature this year. Not only has the struggle been of interest because of its duration and fierceness, its many mishaps and farcical incidents, and the avowed conviction of each candidate that ho would ultimately bo chosen to fill the senatorial toga, but also because of the national reputation of the men engaged in it. Phelps, Abbett and Sewell aro not merely local names. Their owners have been prominently connected with public affairs both at Washington and in the land of "apple jack" and are as famiiiar to the people of tho whole country as to the citizens of Trenton.

William Walter Phelps, is a native of New York city, and now 48 years old. He is a graduate of Yale college and of the Columbia college law school, but has practiced his profession for only five years, from 1863 to 1868. In 1872 ho was elected a representative 'in the Forty-third on gross, and was a candidate for reelection to the Forty-fourth congress but was defeated ty seven votes. In 1881 he was sent as minister to Austria, but he WM.

WALTER

PHELPS.

relinquished the position in 1882. He is a member of the Forty-ninth congress. Mr. Phelps is a fluent speaker and an able writer. His contributions to tho literature of political economy, both on the floor of the house of representatives and through the public press, always command attention even from his political enemies.

Besides his ability, Mr. Phelps is famous for two things: He is the friend .of Blaine and he has been termed a "dude.". Mr. Phelps' advent in the house must have been a revelation to his fellow representatives, for the press of that time was deluged with the most searching comments on his dress and manners. His position while in the act of drinking soup, tho way in which he conquered a piece of bread, how..ho picked his teeth, ware all nlhe days' wonders. Mr. Phelps certainly does wear a "bang," and it can be plainly seen in the picture here given. But in view of what is beneath the "bang," his offense should be considered a slight one. His son, John Phelps, who is about 25 years old, is now on a voyage around tho world in his $50,000 steam yacht. Mr. Phelps is one of the wealthiest men in Naw Jersey, and has a handsome residence "at Englewood.

Leon Abbett, ex-governor of New Jersey and Democratic champion, was born in Philadelphia on Oct. 8, 1836. His law studios were pursued in the office of

District Attornev Ashmead,of Philadelphia,and he was admitted to the bar in 1857. In the same year he rein oved to Now York and began the practice of law there. Eight years after he was admitted to the New Jersey bar, and

LEON ABBETT. was appointed corporation counsel for Hoboken, which position he has also held in Jersey City. He was the speaker of the state assembly in lS68-tf9, a member of the state senate in 1874 and its president in 1877, and, finally, governor of the state. Intellectually he is one of the strongest men in New Jersey. He is well known as a brilliant speaker both from the platform and at the banquet. His post prandial efforts are always brimful of wit and happy thought, while he has talked before every conceivable variety of public meeting. Like Chauncey M. Depew, he has been an Irishman, a German, a Puritan father, a son of the revolution, eta, whenever duty and the presence of a good dinner and bright company demanded'it.

Wiliam J. Sewell, who is at present a representative of New Jersey in the United States senate, was bora in Ireland in 1835. Left on orphan at an early age, he came to the Unitfed States in 1851, and for some time was employed as a common laborer. He n^xt drifted into the merchant marine and made several voyages,^ but abandoned the^jj| sea after a few W years and then located in Chicago. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted as a private in tho Union army, was several times wounded, and at the close of hostilities was mustered out with the rank of brevet major general He served nine years in the state senate of New Jersey, three years of which he was its presiding officer, and took his seat in the United States senate March 4, 1S31.

WILLIAM J. SEWELL

Gen. Sewells home is in Camden. Ha is of the Republican party and an uncompromising protectionist. The general is a self made man in every respect, and has done some good work during his term in tho senate..

No Sense of Shame.

Wife (4 a. m.)—I should think you would be ashamed to hear the cocks crow on ycur way home.

Husband—'Fi went t' bed (hick) 5 'clocfc, Td crow too. That's kind o' rooster I am.— ?ack.

THE STEVENS BATTERY.

Qotr the Host Formidable of Ironcladt Went to the Junk Shop The suggestion is often made of late that what New York harbor needs to protect it from attack is a floating fortress that can bo moved around so as to block the constantly changing channel of the harbor or follow an enemy up tothe city in case he ran past tho outer forts. There would be many advantages in the possession of such a fortress, though a low estimate of its cost would be $3,000,000.

THE STEVENS' BATTERY- COMPLETED. In 1841 Commodore Stevens, of New Jersey, foresaw the value of such a fortress, and urged upon congress the construction of a vessel built for that purpose and embodying some inventions of his own. He sealed his faith in the scheme by contributing nearly $1,500,000 toward tho construction of it after congress had consented to grant $500,000. The "penny wise and pound foolish" policy of nations is wfell illustrated in tho history of this vessel, which is here briefly told.

Tho Stevens' iron clad steam battery, as it was called, was begun in 1854. Her designers were Robert L. aud Commodore Edwin A. Stevens, of Hoboken, N. J., at which place she was built. Her dimensions were: Length, 420 feet breadth, 52 feet depth 28 feet, with a draft of water that could be varied from 17 feet to 22 feet when in an engagement.

A

THE STEVENS' BATTERY WHEN

SOLD.

Her boilers numbered ten, developing 8,600 horse power, with eight engines to drive two independent screw propellers. Her bunkers had capacity for 1,000 tons of coal. The deck was shot proof. The inclined armor on the sides consisted of inches of iron plates backed with 14 inches of locust timber and secured to inch wrought iron girders.

Tho Messrs. Stevens spent nearly half a million dollars o:i the vessel during their lives and on the commodore's death he provided in his will that the vessel should bo completed, besides supplying machinery to the value of $1,000,000 to perform the work. When complete the vessel was by-special act of congress to be presented to tho state of New Jersey. The stat9 accepted tho gift, The late Gen. McClellan was appointed to take charge of the work. When the vessel was ready for launching the funds provided for its completion proved insufficient, and the state of New Jersey in 1874 ordered the vessel sold. Here was an opportunity for the nation to secure "for a song" an ironclad which would have been the most formidable in the world even to this day. She was about ready for her armament. A few hundred thou sands would have purchased her, and she would have been worth as many millions today. Did they purchase her? Nations are not so provident. She was sold for old junk, and so securely were some of her parts put together that they had to be blasted apart. Thus do republics reward the endeavors of their public spirited citizens.

THE CAPE COD CANAl.-

An Improvement Projected Nearly Two Hundred Tears Ago. "WTiile tho feasibility of the Panama ship canal is boing discussed and money is being raised for its completion, every one seems to have entirely overlooked the fact that we have on Capo Cod a still uncompleted canal, which was really started in 1697, nearly two centuries ago. The canal was intended as a connecting link between Buzzard's bay and Barnstable bay, thus avoiding the extremely dangerous passage around Cape Cod.

In 1883, tho Cape Cod Ship Canal company was granted a charter by the Massachusetts legislature. Several companies, more or less theoretical, had been chartered prior to that time, but nothing practical had been accomplished.

BOSTON

C0&

MAP SHOWING PROPOSED CANAL. The present company, which is composed of wealthy merchants and business men, at once bought a mammoth dredging machine which has penetrated inland for about half a mile. By the requirements of the charter the canal must be completed by or before June 26, of this year, and as about eight miles remain to be dredged, there is every likelihood that tho charter of tho company will bo forfeited, unless the legislature should see fit to grant the petition, now pending, for an extension of time.

The canal, when completed, will be seven-ty-five feet wide on the bottom and have a mean width of 200 feet at low water. At tho turn outs, it must be 300 feet wide. These turn outs comprise one-fourth of the entire length of the canal. The depth of water is to be twenty-three feet at low tide.

The machine which is doing the work of f.xcavating cost $75,000. There are fourteen men employed on and about the machine. Tho dredging is dono by means of an eudles3 chain of thirty-nine buckets, driven by two steam engines of seventy-five horse power each. Five thousand cubic yards of earth

oau Lie bXcaViitvU uuu lascaargou in a day of veil hours by this giant machine. By using the electric light for night work, the capacity may bo doubled.

Beer Yeast for the Scurvy. Tho experiments with beer yeast, made by Dr. Hcer, the attending physician of tho penal institution at Ratiber, proved conclusively that in more than 400 cases pure beer yeast would rapidly euro scurvy, and that its use was without danger or even the slightest uxiDleosant consequences.—Public Opinion.

POP WH1TTAKER.

The Famous Circus IMng Master—Hi* Many Aaeidents. Is has been given to few people to be seen and known of more men than to Pop Whittaker, of whom a portrait i3 here given. Ho has been a circus riug master since the youthful days of our grandfathers, and now he is dead.

Pop Wliittaker was made for a minister, so far as appearances went and sixty years of the wear and tear of circus life only served to confirm the man's looks in tbat mold. Even in his coffin this was notipeable. Few who saw for the first time the clerical looking gentleman appear in tho circus rinj would have been surprised had he opened the performance with ^Xtiyer, and his ck Siing was of the minis terialcut. But Pop's broadcloth coat did not belio the man it covered one of nature's gentl amen. He did POP WIHTTAKEK, much good in the place he filled, and he prevented much evil from being done. He was bom in New York in 1818. At tho age of 9 fate dropped him into the circus ring, and he abandoned it only when seized by mortal sickness a couple of weeks before he died. During these years he rose from the lowest of circus drudgery to the proud positions of expert rider, clown and finally master of the sawdust ring. He reached the pinnacle of promotion in his profession when he was made ring master aft. Barnum's Hippodrome and Greatest Show «ir Earth. He was master of ceremonies in the

Wild West Show when death overtook him. His coolness in the emergencies that are liable to occur among a great concourse of people, as well as his intimate knowledge of every detail of the business, admirably fitted him for such a position. His stentorian voice was his crowning glory. It is told of him that when he was traveling with itinerant circuses in the days gone by it was the custom, when in a good grazing country, to let the horses and some of the grass eating animals out to pasture. When tho time for the performance approached Pop would just step outside the tent and call, and tho men having the live stock in chargje would hear him even if a mile away.

Pop was also famous for his faculty of getting smashed up in accidents. His arms, legs and most of his ribs had been broken in turn. He had been bitten by a tarantula and gored by a buffalo. Railroad accidents came to him regularly. His most serious casualty occurred in 1881- in the Bowery, New York, just two blocks from his birthplace. By this accident he lost his right arm.

His full name was Francis Warren Whittaker, but he received tho name of Pop away back in the days of Rufus Welch's circus in Philadelphia. Here he started an evening school for circus people, he being the teacher and for which he was christened Pop. He adopted a son, now a man of 85. He says he "went with Pop at the ago of 9. Pop didn't believe in schools. He'd say to me: 'Take your ioooks and set there and when you find sumthin' you dont know, ask me.' Thet's the way I got my learnin' .trav'lin' 'round the world with Pop. He broke me from drinkin' in this' way: When I was a young man I dropped down tp tho barroom of the hotel we werestoppin' at an'called for my first glass of ale. Pop cum in and seed me. He jes' knocked me sens'less, an' when they brought me to, Pop says, 'My boy, I never want to see you drink again,' an' I never have." The adopted son concluded by saying that

Poore iu Boston Budget

"et

thar's sich a place as heaven, Pop's thar." Mr. Wliittaker was married twice. His second wife was a baby adopted by his first wife. After her death Pop brought the girl up, had her educated as a physician and married her. They were the most affectionate of couples. She travels with largo shows as doctor and is said to bo very skillful. Pop was the oldest member of the Order of Elks, which he helped to organize out of a society called the Jolly Corks in Philadelphia.

Another Lincoln Story.

Senator Nye once went to the White Housa with a party of his Now York friends who wished to have a clergyman appointed chaplain in the army. Mr. Lincoln told theiA that he bad at one time determined to make the appointment, but a strong protest against it had been received stating that the clergyman was not decorous in his deportmenf, and he had determined to hear more about him. "I will admit/' said Senator Nye, "that our friend is endowed with a glorious fund of irrepressible good humor,"but I have heard, Mr. President, of an old pioneer minister in your state of Illinois who was arraigned hfore a county conference to be reprimanded by the bishop for his sallies of wit from the pulpit. Before the Episcopal dignity could settle itself for an impressive utterance the old man burst out: 'Brethren, I never did believe in a religion that had no fun in it.' The bishop's gun was spiked, and tbe conference, amid roars of laughter, at once passed the old minister's character." "That is a good story, Nye," said Mr. Lincoln. "Let mo tell you one about Peter Cartwright, who on one occasion was convulsing his conference with wit and humor. The presiding bishop was a man of earnest but ascetic piety. 'Brother Cartwright,' said he, 'do you think that while yon are indulging iu this levity, you a/e growing in grace?' The old pioneer preacher, with a countenance beaming with fun, replied: "Uh, fes, brother, in spots.' I guess, Nye, I will have your man appointed, but tell him to lieep his stories until he can come to WashingSon and let me hear thein first."—Ben:

terlef