Terre Haute Weekly Gazette, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 24 March 1887 — Page 9

HANNIBAL HAMLIN.

HOWARD OWEN WRITES ABOUT "THE OLD CARTHAGINIAN.

Sketch of the Life History of Abrahanw Lincoln's First Vice-President—His Clawhammer Coat—Contempt of Overcoats—His Sprightly, Green Old Age.

(Special Correspondence.]

AUGUSTA, Me., March 14.—" Whatcanyou fjrow here?" inquired a distinguished English agriculturist of a friend, a citizen of Maine, as they were traversing our rock bound coast.

We can raise men here!" was the proud response. One of the best of Maine's products is the man whose name stands at the head of this sketch. The Old Carthaginian, as Mr. Hamlin is familiarly called, is passing lie evening of a gloriously green old age at his happy home in Bangor, on the banks of the Penobscott river.

Of the bare facts of Hannibal Hamlin's life you have already read. He was one of the boys who came to the front without the aid of college training. But he was always ahead of the rest of the boys at school, not only in his books, but in all the sports of the times. One who knew him then always speaks of him as a ripper." His first election to congress was in 1843, to which body he was then sent as a Dem- HANNIBAL HAMLIN. ocrat. But in spite of his politics he steadily opposed the aggressions of slavery, and advocated the doctrine that the territories should be dedicated to freedom. In one of his finest speeches in the house he said:

I glory in New England and New England's institutions. There she stands, with her free schools and her free labor, her fearless enterprize, her indomitable energy. "With her rocky hills, her torrent streams, her green vallejra, her heaven pointed spires—there she stands, a^ioral monument around which the gratitude j& her country binds the wreath of fame, while protected freedom shall repose forever at its base.

Only a few weeks ago he was here to attend the amiual meeting of the Maine Press association, of which ho is an honorary member, and with erect form, flashing eye and resonant voice he told of the time when he was chore boy, devil and all hands in a country printing office before rollers were Introduced.

Hannibal Hamlin was called from the senate to the vice presidency, and he was one of President Lincoln's mainstays during the dark days of the civil war.

It is said that in the history of our country there has been but one other instance- in which there was full and perfect harmony between the president and vice president, and that was in the case of President Jacksou and Vice President Van Buron. Mr. Hamlin spurned office when to hold it involved the giving up of any political principle. He gave np the lucrative position of collector of customs at Boston because he could no longer hold it under thei policy enforced by Andy Johnson, who was then president.

Since Mr. Hamlin's retirement he has been active in every political canvass, appearing on the stump in this and other states with no apparent diminution of his power and interest. While in public life no man asked Mr. Hamlin for a reasonable favor that was not granted. He could get up from his dinner and the rest and retirement of night to advocate the just claims of a friend. He would personally go to the proper department of the government and remain there until the question was decided. This gave him great power and has intrenched him in the hearts of the people of the stats, regardless of party or sect.

Hannibal Hamlin is not a man of wealth. No "boodle" has ever stuck to his hands. He lives plainly, uiiostentatiously. His children are grown up to manhood and gone forth from the paternal roof. On every public occasion on which he appears he is plainly the favorite, if cheers and hearty greetings mean anything. He is seen in the streets of Bangor on the coldest days of winter in his clawhammer coat, without the unnecessary adjunct of an overcoat. He walks miles at a stretch with the alacrity of a boy, just for a "constitutional." He is found *in the huts of the poor and hamble, smoking an old T. D. pipe in company with the head of the household. He knows everybody and everybody knows him. On the load of the lumberman he is often seen mounted, chatting merrily with the driver^ who is so proud of his companionship that he will talk about it for years afterward. He never forgets a face and rarely a name, and generally can tell you more of your

family

history than you know yourself. His chief relaxation is in fishing. He employs the old fashioned angle worm for bait, and discards all the new fangled appliances for capturing the finny tribe. He appeared before the fishery committee during the present session, asking for further protection to fish.

He is exceedingly gay in the ball room. At the legislative reunion last winter he participated in every dance down on the order, and then went home in the morning with the prettiest girl on the floor. His lifi is pure, sweet, simple, and when you look into his kindling eye and glowing face you would be hardly aware that you stand in the presence of the trusted bosom friend and confidential adviser of Abraham Lincoln in the darkest days this country ever saw.

HOWARD OWES

Testing an Improved Car Heater. About 500 people stood in the rain for halt

mn

hour the other day across the tracks of the Hudson River railroad, near Forty-fifth street bridge, to see a rather novel test in the way of improved car heaters. A patent stove and boiler, incased in steel armor, which weighs 700 pounds, was dropped from the top of the bridge on a pileof dry goods boxes and imflammable rubbish to prove that even in the most violent shocks the fire inside the heater could not escape and catch the broken parts of the car. The heater was a big steel boiler, with a stove inside through which some coils of pipe filled with water passed. The pipes were to be run up and down the car's 6ides in

an endless coil and the heated water in them was to heat the car. The test was apparently successful. The fire was lighted and the heater tipped off the bridge, falling forty feet without bursting or letting the coal escape. .The only effect of the shock was to break one of the inner water pipe coils, which put out the fire.—New York Tribune.

GOVERNMENTAL BEE RAISING.

Description of the Experimental Statloa at Aurora, Illinois. [Special Correspondenco.1

AURORA, Ills., March 14.—Comparatively few people know that the government of the United States, in addition to its other manifold cares and enterprises, has gone into the bee business in the same manner in which it experiments in the propagation of seeds, the breeding of fishes and other work of benefit to large classes of our people. At present experimental agriculture on the part of the national government is in its infancy, no step having been taken in this direction until June 11, 1885. On that day, through the efforts of Dr. C. D. Riley, the United States entomologist, an experiment station was established at this place and Mr. Nelson W. McLain appointed the agent in charge. The reason of this action on the part of the general government was the fact that the United States has been a very large importer of sweets from foreign countries, importing in 1885 alone, mainly from France and Germany, $96,500,000 worth. This was an immense sum to pay for that, a large portion of which could just as well have been taken from the millions of blossoms of honey producing flora with which our fields and prairies are brightened. Knowing that honey is a substitute for nearly every kind of sweet, from the manufacture of confections and pastry to making vinegar and preserving meats, the government entomologist resolved to assist in the development of the bee industry among the bee keepers of the country.

00

THE AURORA BEE STATION.

What the agent in charge of the experiment station in Aurora can do in this direction may be a problem to the uninitiated, but his work keeps him as busy as a bee all of the time. It is apart of his duties to attend to the importation of foreign races of bees find out their true value, and by judicious crossing develop a race peculiarly fitted to our climate and honey producing blossoms. How to treat diseases to which bees are subject has caused much study, and the agent has met with great success, so much so that hundreds of colonies were saved during the past year from contagious diseases from which there has before been no immunity. Do bees injure fruit? is a question which interests every one in the country .who owns a grapevine. Apart of the experiments has been to establish the truth in regard to the matter, and the agent declares that the little creatures are innocent of all the destructiveness popularly laid at their door. Wintering bees, experiments in introducing into winter food the same essential food elements which are obtained from nature in summer, the ventilation of hives, etc., all occupva share of his

INTERIOR VIEW.

attention. The main feature of study during the past year was to control the fertilization Of bees. How to keep the stock pure after costly queens have been introduced into the country is a problem which heretofore the bee keeper has been unable to solve but after much experiment the agent has found a method of fertilizing the queens artificially, which is indeed a wonderful discovery. Another important subject for investigation is, What are the best plants for honey producing purposes, and how can the honey making season be prolonged? To aid in this work a large garden will be connected with the station during the coming year if the amount of the appropriation by congress warrants it

The United States produces with its 3,000,000 colonies of bees 120,000,000 pounds of honey annually, valued at $18,000,000, and $1,000,000 worth of wax yet not more than 5 per cent, of those favorably situated for the cultivation of bees are engaged in that pursuit If even one-half of those favorably situated would engage in the occupation the product would not fall short of $75,000,000 or $80,000,000 in value. The United States 6hould become an exporter and not an importer of sweets. The apiarists of the country have manifested a keen appreciation of the interest the government has taken in the industry, and the results obtained are gratifying both to them and to the officers of the department The report of the agent in chaise of this station is each year included in the report of the United States entomologist, which forms apart of the report of the commissioner of agriculture. Any one interested in the work can secure the report by applying to the congressman representing bis district CHARLES P. BURTON.

It is estimated that the fog, which almost ceaselessly hangs over London, contains nearly fifty tons of solid carbon and 250 tons of a&rbon {in the form of hydrocarbon and aarhooic oxide gase*

TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA, THURSDAY, MARCH 24,1887.--TW0 PARTS —PART SECOND.

THE GREAT PREACHER.

LIFE AND DEATH OF REV. HENRY WARD BEECHER.

His Early Struggles—Development of His Liberal Views on Religions Matters. The Brooklyn Scandal—General Keview of a Most Eventful Career.

Henry Ward Beecher, whose death and funeral services have lately drawn the attention of the country, inherited from his parents, Lyman and Roxana Foote Beecher, the two greatest blessings of an earthly nature—a perfectly sound body and a cheerful disposition. It was remarked from the start that in body, mind and disposition he was almost a perfect blending. of both parents, while his nine brothers and Bisters—for it was truly a patriarchal

*MR. AND MRS. BEECHER.

family—partook more of the fathers or the mother's nature. The family was thoroughly American. In 1638 a yeoman named Andrew Ward and a widow, Hannah Beecher, came to New Haven in the same vessel from England from the latter Roxana Foote, from the former Lyman Beecher, descended, and these two united in marriage Sept. 19, 1799, locating first at East Hampton, L. I., and afterward crossing to Litchfield, Conn. Henry Ward was their eighth child.

The family was not only thoroughly American, but also thoroughly Calvinistic—thoroughly New England in blood, faith and manners. It was a family of talent, too. If Henry Ward had died in infancy, the name of Beecher would still have been enrolled forever in American history if he had been a lawyer or a doctor, his father would have held a still higher rank as the great preacher than he now does as Dr. Lyman Beecher. Noted as he was in his time, he is now known to most young Americans chiefly as the father of the great Brooklyn divine.. And eminent as other members of the family are in their separate walks, their eminence is made comparative obscurity, said they are often referred to merely as the brothers or sisters of Henry Ward. To this general statement there is one brilliant exception—the name of Harriet Beecher Stowe will shine among the great ones of earth and she will be honored and loved as long as the English language is read and human hearts beat in sympathy with the oppressed. For it was her pen that roused the heart and conscience of the,common people against slavery.

The children of Dr. Beecher were reared in a rather strict, old fashioned way. Festivals for children, fancy toys and story books were unknown in the Connecticut of that day but they had a severe moral training, aiyl with it much freedom in the open air, in the woods and the fields. Of this experience Mr. Beecher said: "I think I was well brought up, because I was let alone. Except here and there, I hardly came under the parental hand but I knew where the sweetflag was, where the

BEECHER'S BIRTHPLACE, LITCHFIELD, CONN, hickory trees wefe, where the chestnut and the sassafras and the squirrels were—so I had a world of things to do." The good effects of this close familiarity with nature appear in all of Mr. Beecher's productions. When Henry was but three years old his mother died, and little more than a year after his father married again. The new mother did all a mother's part to the children, and Henry Ward always spoke of her with the utmost reverence but he confesses that she was a woman to be venerated rather than warmly and tenderly loved, and that her religion was of a strangely severe and solemn kind. He confessed that he could not open his heart to her, and often felt his emotions chilled. The family discipline was somewhat less severe than was usual at that day in New England, but there was strictness enough. Especially were the children trained to habits of truthfulness duplicity in any form was the one unpardonable offense in a true New England household.

It was while he was attending a mathematical school, which his father had persuaded him would be necessary if he went to sea, as he at one time wished to do, that Henry Ward Beecher professed religion and united with his father's church in Boston. All his thoughts now turned toward the ministry, and as soon as he could prepare there* tor

he entered Amherst college. His classmates were not Impressed witfi Bis scholarship, but in the debating club he soon took high. rank. He also became an enthusiast on the subject of jihreqojogy, find wag

BEECHER'S FIRST CHURCH, BATAVIA, O. very early distinguished as an ardent speaker against slavery. Here, too, his religious views underwent a peculiar change. Dr. Lyman Beecher was then the great orthodox divine of New England, and Henry Ward has recorded the terrible struggles his own mind went through in revising and finally rejecting some of the harsh features of the old creed. After his graduation in 1834 he followed his father's family to Cincinnati, where Dr. Beecher had become a professor in Lane seminary. He entered at once upon the study of theology in that institution, but as the divergence of views between him and his father became more marked, he fell into another state of deep depression. His older brother had just withdrawn from the ministry on the ground of unbelief in the standards set up, and for a season Henry Ward suffered great darkness and confusion of mind. From this he emerged with an enthusiastic conviction of the truth of the more liberal views he, had previously, held only tentatively.

The congregation at La wren ceburg, Ind., of which he was first made pastor, was poor the lower part of the town was subject to overflows, and there was sickness and want of energy. But Mr. Beecher acted as his own sexton, and by enthusiastic devotion to duty was building up a church when he received a call to Indianapolis. In that city, he says, he dropped the study of theology and began the study of mankind the effect on his preaching was so marked as to attract wide attention. He became a magnetic and popular preacher. He had married just before leaving Cincinnati, and in Indianapolis he and his wife led very active live3 for a little over seven years, when he received his call and made his last change to the Plymouth Congregational church of Brooklyn, with waicli his name and fame have been identified for nearly forty years. On Sunday, Oct. 10, 1847, he preached his first sermon in Brooklyn, then a city of 60,000 people, with but two Congregational churches and thirty-nine of all other denominations.

His first sermon at Plymouth created a sensation. In it he declared with extreme plainness his position on all the leading national questions—slavery, the Mexican* war, temperance and other issues but as to theology, contented himself with saying that he should strive to make his preaching "a ministry of Christ" He was publicly installed as pastor Nov. 11, 1847, and in the next ten years Plymouth church grew rapidly* grew to be not only onei of the great churches of the land, but a great center of liberality. In 1849 Mr. Beecher suffered his first severe illness, which left him enfeebled for a long time, and in 1850 the society sent him to Europe, where he remained three months. His next visit there was in 1863, when he did that great work in England which made him so dear to all Union loving Americans. This is no place to relate that wonderful story. Suffice it to say that American statesmen credit him with having, "converted the

THE BODY LYING IN STATE.

British people to a just view of the American Civil War." Mr. Beecher himself always looked upon this as the most trying experience of his life, though he had been very active and prominent in the anti-slavery agitation preceding the war, and had fought for freedom of speech in the darkest hours. Of one of the gatherings he addressed in England he said: "The uproar would come on and drown my voice—then I would wait and get in fivd minutes or so. The reporters would get that down. Occasionally I would see things that amused me and laugh outright the crowd would stop to see what I was laughing at aud I would sail In with a sentence or two."

FLORAL DECORATIONS.

•*-. Beecher returned home to be welcomed as no returning American bad ever been, and to remain for nine years the great representative American, the honored patriot, the influential politician and the one pulpit orator

wnose life was an unuusl cou&uuit ovation. Then came the great cloud upon his fame, which had lifted, indeed, but was not entirely cleared away even at his death. In this space it can only be touched upon—a large volume would be needed to give the details of the "Great Brooklyn Scandal" of 1872-75, It was emphatically a Brooklyn scandal, not exclusively a Beecher scandal for its destructive fury made havoc in many circles, sundered lifetime friendships, destroyed tlfe peace of families, bankrupted business men, poisoned schools and churches and wrought a moral desolation which even now we cannot estimate. Take any view we can of it, some people have been cruelly wronged place the guilt where we may, many people have perpetrated the vilest treachery and some •the most unblushing perjury. In fact, the saddening conclusions which logically follow any verdict are so depressing that many good men shrink from them and refuse to make up their minds at alL But in spite of this blot Henry Ward Beecher will live in American history as one of the really great men of his age. We do well to honor him as a patriot, orator and friend of the oppressed, ignoring any personal weakness his monument is in the hearts of millions, and his career will long remain as a bright chapter in the history of Brooklyn.

The steadfast devotion of Mrs. Beecher to her husband and family is well known. She was a teacher before marriage, and was noted for conscientious devdtion to duty. It is not too much to say that the funeral of the dead pastor was unique. In accordance with his wish, flowers were everywhere—the very pall was covered with flowers, and no near friend wore mourning. There was a private service at the house Thursday, and on Friday a public service at Plymouth church, where the floral decorations were the most profuse. The body lay in state part of Thursday, all of Friday and part of Saturday. Nearly 100,000 seople viewed it.

I' NEATLY DONE.

An Ex-Confederate Tells How a Union Woman Captured Three Soldiers. During the retreat of Lee's army from the field of Gettysburg to the Potomac a great effort was made by the officers to prevent straggling, but it would have required an officer to a man to have carried out the programme successfully. We had been beaten and felt discouraged and

reckless.

1

YOU ARE MY PRISONERS!

were Confederates and asked many questions concerning the battle and did not attempt to conceal the fact that she was a thorough Unionist and an ardent hater of Jeff Davis, pet, on top of which was a setting ben. As we came near she began to exhibit the usual characteristics, and we were having considerable fun at her expense, when the door was shut with a bang and we heard the rattle of a chain and padlock. It was a close, dark place, and it was a minute or two before we reached the door and understood the situation. We began to kick and shout, and presently the woman's voice replied: "It's no use trying to' get out! You are my prisoners, and kicking won't do any good 1"

How nice and soft we talked to her, but it was no go. Then we swore and blustered, but she only laughed at us. After awhile she passed us some bread and butter through one of the ventilators, followed by a cupful of water, and there we remained all day, all night and up to 8 o'clock next morning, when we were turned over to the Union cavalry.

The Unsatisfied Wail. Soon the frost will have takes Its grip from the earth, And the spring time awaken

Birds, flowers and mirth No more on the paving We'll drop with a thud Instead, we'll be. raving— "Great Ctesar, what mud *'s. —Boston Budget

She Trusted the Lord.

First Christian Lady—Ise gwine ter chntch to tank de Laud dey ain't no mo1 erf quakes. Ain't yo' gwine, too, my sister?

Second Lady—No, no, my sister, I no gwinel Will you attend de brick chutch? First Lady—De brick chutch fo' tru', but don' yo' trus' de Laud?

Second Lady—I trus' de Laud, aw my sister, I trus' urn, but I neber fool wid tim Life,

THE CALHOUN MONUMENT.

It Will Be Unveiled at Charleston the 26th of April. The 36th of April next will be a day of &a^ portance in Charleston, S. C., for on that date will there be unveiled the monument to J(to C. Calhoun that has been made by Mr. Albert E. Harmisch. ft

Calhoun was a great figure in the history of South Carolina, and, indeed, his name a* written in large characters upon the pages the annals of the nation. The movement to erect the monument was set on foot in 1854» when eleven ladies met, formed an assoesfttion for the purpose of raising funds and safe to work. By the end of the year $8,000 had been raised, and canvassers were sent out to augment this sum. By 1860 it had been facreased to $30,000, and the money can* from rich and poor alike. Then came ths war, and of course there was a cessation of efforts in behalf of the fund. But it was not lost in the general wreck of fortunes whicfe accompanied the struggle, and this happy

iiuSTiCt

We

were on short rations, the weather was dismal and the rank and file were in no mood to be nagged by strict discipline.

The command to which I belonged left Gettysburg about 10 o'clock at night, and for the first three or four hours the men were kept well in hand under the impression that we were only changing positions to secure an advantage over the Federals. As daylight broke and we realized that we were on the way home squads and individuals broke away at every opportunity to forage for a breakfast. In company with two private soldiers belonging in my company I slipped away from the column about sunrise, and, while a black looking thunder storm seemed close at hand, we bolted into apiece of woods by the roadside and then struck for a highway running at right angles, and on which we could make out three or four farm houses. We selected the first or nearest, and as we entered the gate a woman opened the door and stood waiting for us to approach. She knew we

,v THIS CALHOUN STATUE.

salt w&b due to the intelligent zeal of Mrs. R. A. Snowden, treasurer of the association, and in 1880 the market value of the securities which the money had been invested was $54.194.77. Four years before this time the actual work of building the monument was resolved upon. Thirteen gentlemen of Charleston W«B» made a commiteee, with Maj. Henry EL Young chairman, and the contract was made with Mr. Harnisch to execute the statue and design the pedestal for $44,000. The contract called for a bronze statue of Calhoun, to be placed on a pedestal of Carolina granite, and focr allegorical figures of Truth, Justice, Constitution and History. The figure of Calhonn fourteen feet high, and represents him addressing the senate. Hon. L. Q. C. Lamar will make the dedicatory address. The monument is placed in Marion square, opposite tb» South Carolina military academy, on Calhoun street

A Colorable Case.

The Widow (three years) Larmier—Attfceas, I—er—intend to lighten my mourning after Lent, and I'm afraid ypur color is little too dark fot the—er—circumstance*. So, if you know of another one of your racc several shades lighter, I think you could get a place with poor dear Mrs. Lightfoot, who has just lost Mr. so we can all be nicely accommodated.—Life.

Showing Solicitude. 7^ ..

Father (to family physician)—Isn't Georgf Sampson a relative of yours, doctor? Family Physician—Yes, he is a nephew.*

Father—He wants my daughter Clara, bat!* I gave him to understand that she wouldn't get any of my money until after my dba&k

Family Physician—That was right. Georga was asking after your health to-day.—Har-per's Bazar.

Confusion of Ideas.

Omaha Man—Seems to me your tAce looks familiar. Ain't you the dentist who pulled m. tooth for me .in Blank City?

Stranger—I .used to live in Blank City, bnUr I am not a dentist. I was a justice of the peace for some ye^rs there. "Ohl now I know. You are the man that married me."—Omaha World.

Genuine Bnsiness Principles.

I

Voice of Proprietor (from below)—Say, up aere, you Monk, you only taka ze money. K© taka peanut, no taka ginga snap, no tak» soda crack too much tradee. Zis firm cmly do streectelee cashabeeeeness now. —Harper1* Bazar.