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About Oregon City courier. (Oregon City, Or.) 1896-1898 | View Entire Issue (June 25, 1897)
OXE and a lmlf miles west of the postofllce lu White Hull. Ky., stands tliu $110,0(10 mansion of General Cusslus Marcellus Clay, tlie great abolitionist, who fought a duel with Robert Wlcklirfe, killed SI Turner with a bowle knife, carved Will Hrown with the mime weapon, making him nn Invalid for life, Herved through the Mexleun war with distinction and act c'd an President Lincoln's Minister to Russia during the lute war. The Gen eral uained It "White Hall," and through the courtesy of the Hon of Will Hrown, who wbh lu the Postofflee De partment, he succeeded lu having this postofllce called after his famous home. The house was built while he was Min ister to Russia, and Is one of the largest and most commodious residences In Kentucky. The drawing-room Is by far the largest south of Mason and Dixon's Hue, and on Its walls are hung some of thecholcest paintings by the most noted Russian, European and American ar tists. It Is here that the venerable Gen oral Is living with his child-wife, Dora Itichardsou, for whose benettt he Is try ing to get a pension from the United States Government. His friend, Senator Lindsay, not long ago Introduced a bill lu Congress giving General Clay a pension of $100 per month in consideration of his services ns a Mexican soldier. Although Gen eral Clay has been Importuned fre quently to apply for a pension, he lias steadfastly declined to do so. He own ed nearly 2,000 acres of the finest land In Madison County, and when his first wife, who was a Miss Wartleld, of Lex ington, secured a divorce from hlin he divided tlie Innd among his children. Hut he collects a nominal rent for each of the farms, and the home place, In cluding White Hall, he reserved for his own use. It contains about 2(10 acres. A portion of it Is In cultivation, but the most of It Is In grass, on which the General raises the finest Southdown sheep In America. Each fall he ships Ills mutton to Eastern markets, and on several occasions he has sent' mutton to England to grace the Queen's table. General Clay was sued for divorce by his first wife. The General made no fight against Mrs. Clay, and the peti tion for absolute divorce was granted. Under ordinary conditions tlie wife has a lifetime Interest In her husband's property In Kentucky, but It appears that lu the General's case his present wife can surely hold an Interest in his estate should he die first. It Is to guard ngalust her being unprovided for that the Independent old soldier has finally agreed to apply for a pension. The marriage of the "Sage of White Hall" to his 14-year-old house girl oc curred on Dee. 13, 1MD1. There were many peculiar features which marked the wedding aud made It one of the most remarkable marriages that ever occurred lu Kentucky. About two years before the wedding Dora Rich ardson, accompanied by her mother and little brother, was caught on the railroad bridge which spans the Ken tucky River at Valley View, by a freight train. Dora pushed her little brother off the truck and saved blm. She then clung to the trestle and saved herself, but her mother was killed be fore her eyes. The story of the tragedy and of the heroism displayed by Dora touched the heart of General Clay, and he determined to give the motherless girl a home. At that time he had In his employ a giant shepherdess, Mary Tooncy, who he had Imported from Scotland to care for his South down sheep. Mrs. Tooney at first was very kind to Dora, but within a year after she was taken Into the household the child had to submit to severe treat ment at the hands of the shepherdess. When General Clay heard of this he was wild with anger and he summarily discharged Mrs. Tooney and employed Dora's elder brother to cure for the sheep. When General Clay first proposed marriage to Dora she rau from blm and went to the home of a married sis ter, crying. She did not want to return to White Hall, but when the General explained to her brother that he was In earnest; that he had chosen his first wife from an aristocratic family, and bad found that marriage a failure; that lie wished to uiarrr ' to take his bride from the humble, walks of life, us he believed that such a wife would give hlui that love and affection which he sought Tor In vain among those of nobler birth, her brother went to her and told her that the General was actually in earnest, and advised her that as she whs an orphan It would be bent for her to marry General Clay, notwithstanding that he was so high above her in social rank, and that there was such a disparity In their ages. The child, having always been treated kind ly by the General, llnally consented to become his wife, and a few months af terward It became generally known in tho neighborhood that General Clay would marry Dora Richardson within two years. But the General's son, Brutus J. Clay, heard of his father's engagement and tried to break It off. He culled on his futher and urged him not to take such a foolish step. The Interview ended lu the General driving his son from tlie house and telling him to never set foot on the place again as long as he lived. The General says that Brutus then offered a reward of $500 to anybody who would steal Dora away so that his father could not marry her. When the General heard of this his old-time fight ing blond was soon at boiling heat. He sent for Dora's brother to come Into his library. He told him what he hud beard Brutus was going to do, and Instructed him to hire four fearless men who were not afraid to shoot and kill aud report to him that afternoon. In the mean time the General went to Richmond, bouirht three Winchester rifles, two double-barreled shotguns and five large revolvers. He laid In a large supply of ammunition and returned home with his arsenal. He armed each of the men with a gun and a pistol and Instructed them to shoot any suspicious person seen on the place. The General himself would not retire to bed to' sleep, but would keep watch In his library, catch ing a nap now and then while sitting In his armchair. The wildest reports were soon In clr- dilution In the neighborhood, and It was not long till everybody In that end of Madison Comity had heard that "Cash" (.'lay, as he was called by the natives, hud gone crazy uud had an armed guard around his house, which had been instructed to shoot the first man that came on the place. Knowing tlie determination of the General, the neighbors were afraid to go uenr him, but his children sent a well-known min ister to talk the mutter over with him. He gave the muu of God a careful hearing, but when he hud finished the General told blm tlmt he hud made up Ills mind to ninrry Dora Richardson, and he Intended to do so. The next day the General went to Richmond to get his license to marry the child, secured the services of a min ister, and the next morning they were married. He found his bride an Ignor nnt country girl. She could read a little, but could scarcely write her name. He employed a governess to teach her, and had a music teacher to give her lessons on that Instrument. The governess, finding she could never teach her charge any of the higher accomplish ments, abandoned the task. The Gen eral Is now In his eighty-seventh year. He knows Ills children will not take care of IHirn, therefore he wants a pen slou. Obtaining Fresh Water. Alexander Graham Bell's latest me chanical device is in the line of practi cal utility, like most of his Inventions. It Is Intended for the fishermen who are frequently cut off from their ves sels by fog. and lose their lives as fre quently by lack of drinking water as by exposure. The invention consists of a glass cylinder or bottle, through the neck of which Is a small rubber tube. The glass Is submerged, and a bras cylinder acting as a bellows through the rise and fall of the waves, pumps the atmosphere Into the sub merged boiftle. There It becomes con densed, and a supply of fresh drinking water la always to be obtained. No man ever married a second time without the women saying he was mean to bis first wife. MINDFU'. OF THE HORSES. A Btatenman Narrates a Tale of Hie Trial and Tribulations, "A prophet Is not without honor, save In his own country," quoted the Washington Star reporter to a distin guished statesman. "Xor a member of Congress save lu his own district," responded the states man to whom he was talking, and who happened to be a representative from a State whose name shall not be men tioned here. "Are they so bud as that?" "Well," laughed the statesman, "be good for a few minutes and I'll tell you a story. When I was running for Con gress In my second race, that Is to my. for re-elcalon, I had one appointment In the most remote county, to which I had to go alone, my traveling compan ion having been taken sick. I knew only a few of the people, as It was very strongly the other way, ami 1 did not cultivate It very jealously, and I scarcely knew the country at all. How ever, I got In u speech one night, and after it was over wus picking my way back to the house where I was to sleep, liithecourse of my wanderings I struck an old shack of a railing, and the next thing I knew I hud gone through It and dropped Into a well of some kind, very large and with perhaps Tour feet of water In It. 1 wasn't hurt, but 1 was scared, and I set up a lusty shout, which soon brought a couple of men to the rescue." '"Who's thar?" called one of them down through the dark. " 'It's me, I answered. 'Colonel Blank, the member of Congress. Help me out of this.' "In resiMDiise to this there was a con sultation, most of which I heard. "Oh, I say, Bill,' laughed the one who had first called, as if talking to some one farther a way. 'It's that Con gressman Unit's lieeii innklu' the pow wow at the school house.' " 'Gosharlny,' haw-hawed the other one; 'le'g let him stay thar. I'll only be one Congressman less, and him the one we want to beat.' "'Dern ef I wouldn't like to,' said the first, hesitatingly, 'but ef we do It'll spile the well, an' what'll the bosses and cows do fer drinkiu' water?' "What other pleasing reflections they might hnve cast uion me," concluded the gentleman, "I don't know, for I became Impatient and set up such a row that they were forced to come to my assistance In a hurry." Unique 1'lanos. All manner of articles lu place of wood have been used lu the manufac ture of pianos, snys one of the greatest English piano makers. Perhaps the most successful of these Is paper, of which many pianos of exquisite tone aud appearance have been made. The Duke of Devonshire has one of the finest specimens of the paper piano, this being of French make, and deco rated most ornately with pictures by Fiench artists. The duke gave live hundred guineas for this, mainly, no; doubt, on account of the onuiuieut.i- tlou. I suppose you know that pianos for very hot and for very cold climates all Instruments for export, in fact have to lie siK'chilly made, and In this direction all manner of experiments have been tried. Among others, a sort of cellulose, one factor In which is nc tuully common molasses, from which sugar Is 'made. Is employed, and a com position made from the chemical treat ment of gutta pereha and leather pulp hns been tried. Ivory pianos are by r.o means uncommon, and the dowager Countess of Dudley has a magnificent carved tqwclmen. Planus of Ivory are. 1 might say. made every year In num bers, but chiefly for Indian princes and rich Spanish America us. Many pianos of solid silver have been made; Indeed, one was only recently completed by a London firm for the ulzam of Haidnra bad, and piano cases hnve nt various times been made of bronze, a species of aluminum, glass, porcelain, and lu coin, biuatlou mother of penrl. Dreams. The following are medical signs of dreams, ns published In a medical work; Lively dreams are In general a sign of nervous action. Soft dreams a sign of slight Irritation of the brain; often, In nervous fever, announcing the approach of a favorable crisis. Fright ful dreams are a determination of blood to tho head. Dreams about blood and ml objects are signs of Inflamma tory conditions. Dreams about rain and water are often signs of diseased mucous membranes nnd dropsy. Dreams of distorted forms are fre quently a sign of abdominal obstruc tions and disorder of the liver. Dreams lu which the patient sees any part of tlie body especially suffering Indicates disease In that part. The nightmare, with great sensitiveness, Is a sign of determination of blood to the chest A Simple Test for Impurity in Water. Decaying organic matter Is never found lu appreciable quantity in pure water. If to a glassful of such water a few drops of sulphuric acid and a few drops of a dilute solution of potas sium permanganate be added, a per manent pink color is produced; but If the water contains decaying organic matter, then the pink color becomes fainter, and finally disappears. In the hands of an expert thia Is nn Important test, but It cannot always be relied on with a novice, since ferrous sulphate, hydrogen sulphide, and other reducing agents, sometimes present in water, produce similar results. But. when a water shows an excess of chlorine and bleaches potassium permanganate. It Is certainly suspicious, and should be analyzed by an expert. Pearls. In China the minuter pearls are often used, ground Into dust, as medicine. It Is believed to be a specific for sore eyes, and. Indeed. In the higher phsr macopnela, powdered pearls Is a COf ttant Item of the prescription. STATUE OF CHOATE. The Historic Jurist and Mateemun to Me Honored, The memory of Rufus Chonte. (he historic Jurist and statesman, Is to be honored with an appropriate monument lu bronze. David C. French, the noted Xew York sculptor, has Just completed a life-size statue of Choate, which Is to STATUE Of Kt'KL'S UIOATK. erected In the newly built court house hi Boston. The staute In the clay has been inspected by Joseph Choate, Un distinguished nephew of tlie great man, and It Is said that lie has pronounced it a most admirable portrait, both in feature and figure. Tlie statue depicts Mr. Choate In one of his characteristic attitudes. He Is standing erect, one hand grasping the lapel of his Prince Albert coat, the other holding a num ber of pages of notes, from which he is speaking. The pedestal on which the bronze figure will rest Is to be of mar ble, and the total height of pedestal and statue will be about fourteen feet. The monument Is a gift to the city of Bostou by some person who does not desire that his mime shall be known. Rufus Chonte was a native of Massa chusetts and was born In 17011. He was a descendant of the old Puritan stock. He was educated at Dartmouth, stud led law, and, like his nephew, devoted the best work of his life to Its practice. As a lawyer he was pre-eminent. He wrote some memoirs that ure still read, and he might have been grent ns a statesman had he had the ambition to pursue politics. His career as Congress man and Senator was remarkable lu nu era of great men. He died In 1859. A FLOWING PETROLEUM WELL. Powerful Explosive la Lowered and Forces Out a Torrent or Oil, Among the Impressive oil region spec tacles the shooting of an oil well al ways takes front rank. The well that Is to be shot has been drilled to the oil producing strata of sand rock, and there the oily fluid Is held In the pores of the rocky formation. In some In stances the gas pressure is sufficient to blow the oil Into the hole drilled In the rock, and no other means Is required to get the oil to the top of the ground. WHEN THE TOItPEDO EXPLODES, This is only la exceptional cases. The general way is to lower a long torpedo so as to pass inside of the casing, down to the bottom of the hole. The torpedo Is a tin can of probably 10 feet In leugfh. Inside the can the space Is filled with nltro-glycerlue. A percus sion cap on the top of the can is so ar ranged that the dropping of a weight or go-devll causes the device to explode. The rock Is rent over the bottom of the well, and a basin is formed which lie conn's a reservoir to pump from when the well Is ready for that part of the business. The cut shows the torrent of oil that rushes from the subterranean depths when the torpedo or "shot" Is exploded. Acetylene. "The Explosion and Detection of Acetylene In Air" Is the title of a pa per recently read before the Chemical Society; and as many persons are Inter ested In this new illuminating gas, a short account of the results arrived at by this experimenter will not be out of place. A mixture of acetylene and air becomes explosive when as little as three per cent, of the gas is present, and the tendency to explode persists up to eighty-one per cent. This range is extraordinarily wide, and exceeds that of any combustible gas known. Novelty in Headgear. Aluminum helmets have not Droved successful in the German army, the having In weight being mere than otf- set by the metal s storing heat, even to blistering the foreheads of the wii- era. If mm. . 1 iiJi" If 'WlTftf VJI. UNDERSTOOD BUSINESS BETTER THROUGH the business women other women are coining to un derstand more about the value of money. It has always been one of the most cherished masculine theories that women ace entirely Incapuble of un derstundlng anything about finance. A father, who had hundreds of thousands of dollars to leave to-his daughters, would let them grow up l swli abso lute Ignorance of such .matters that when they came Into possession of their fortunes they did not know where abouts on a check to sign their names. A man harassed with business losses will let his wife go on Ignornntiy spend ing money nnd making bills he cantiot puy. The result has been that women have been the victims of all sorts of dis honest men, who have robbed them of their money because they hud not been tnught to take care of It. The business woman knows better, and It Is largely through her influence that It has come to be looked upon as silly, not Interest ing, for a woman not to understand the rudiments nt least of financial transac tions. In Xew York one of tlie fads of the winter among fashionable women Is to lM'loug to bookkeeping classes. Xew Orleans Picayune. Decorations of Tlue Pnpor. In a certain elegant bank that caters to women there Is a cozy corner that, while Intended for work as well as play, Is very effectively furnished lu brilliant green. There is a broad lattice over the doorway and a curving arch all of tissue paper. And there are rugs, pillows aud vases entirely of the frn- glle yet firm material. The luttlce Is made over strips of thin pasteboard. The strips are cut an inch wide aud the crinkled paper glued on. Brass nail heads clamp the slats In place. When hung It Is firm and lasting, and looks precisely like the green arbor of child hood recollections. Tlie rug Is made the same, with the paper doubled twice over the pasteboard. The vases are of wood covered with paper, and the pil lows are of two thicknesses of tough Chinese rice paper, which Is untear able. The corner Is mightily admired, and has the grent merit of not being too expensive to throw away after one is tired of It. Chicago Chronicle. Lntet In lre Sleeves. The first of these three new sleeves has a very high cuff, sla-shed with chif fon plaiting let lu the slashes. Above this there Is a small, plaited puff of silk, and over this an epaulet of cloth of the same material as the dress, whatever It may be. The second Is what Is called a coat sleeve, perfectly plain, the only trimming being a broad binding on each seam; the binding broadens out and Is cut Into epaulets slashed to form a sort of rever at the shoulder. This Is very popular upon tailor-made dresses. The third Is a soft silk sleeve; this Is suitable for India or any other light summer silk. The sleeve is In small gathers all the way up to the shoulders, where It hns one big puff, below which a lace ruffle falls. A pretty appearance Is given by pulling a strip of silk out through the sleeve In SrMMER SLEEVE. such a way as to form little puffs. A ruff of double chiffon completes the wrist Engagement fct'qnette. When a man has received the answer which Is conventionally supposed to have made him the happiest creature la the world bis first steo ornat bo to ' COZV COnNEII. HCflll-H tlin iwn.lltv nt flint SlinOOfiJlT secure the reality of that supiKeJI"p ny asking the con-wnt or am nut bride's pnreuta or guurdluiis. It Is correct to see the parents, mil write to Uiem, unless the hitter course Is the only one possible to take. When consent Is given the engagement Is lookiMl upon as a set tied thing, and tho next thing Is to make It known. This should be done In the very first Instance by the bridegroom expectant, who announces it to his family. They should without delay cnJl upon his fiancee, expressing their pleasure at the news, and assuring her of a welcome among them. These calls should be returned, or the letters answered, with promptitude; and now the general public Is Informed of the event. This may lie dime by writing to distant friends aud telling others by word of mouth. It Is usual to send a notice of tlie engagement to certain papers, where It la likely to be widely seen. The bridegroom's first care should be to provide the engagement ring, the outward sign and symbol of tlie prom ise exchanged. It Is usual to let the bride's taste select It, and he may either ascertain her preferences before, buying It, or send a tray from the Jew elers for her to select from. Friends and acquaintances, on hear ing of the eiigiigeimeiit, should at once soud their congrutiikitlc4is and gcsid wishes. This may either be done by calling In itersou to deliver them, or by writing. Calls of congratulation should lie returned and letters answered. A few words of cordial thanks bj all that Is required. During an engagement some of the stricter miles of chaperonage are re laxed. Kngnged people are allowed to ride, cycle and walk together unattend ed, though not, of course, so publicly as necessitates a chaperon as well. Tnklna Care of the Teeth. If your dentist Is honest and most of them are he will tell you that If people would only exercise ordinary care they would materially reduce his income and that of others lu the same profession. The dentist should be vis ited about once every three months. In tills way the teeth can be kept In good condition, because tlie dentist Is able to detect the first sigu of trouble aud may take measures to prevent Its go ing too far. '' When a tooth begins to decay It not only affects Itself, but the teeth that are next to It, and It also affects the breath in the most unpleasant manner. It also causes Indigestion. The best way to prevent this decay Is to see that no food Is allowed to lodge between the teeth. You should not only brush your teeth thrice a day, but after every ineaL Brush them from the gums to the crown of the tooth; In this way the par ticles of food that are lodged between the teeth will be dislodged. If the teeth are only brushed lengthwise, as Is gen erally the case, the food, instead of be ing brushed out, will be more firmly lodged than ever. You should keep a skein of dental silk always beside you to pass between the teeth and clean them effectively from anything that has got between them which the tooth brush ennot reach. Great care must be taken of the gums, as If these become spongy they are apt to.reeede from the teeth aud leave the roots exposed, and decay sets lu very rapidly In eonse queuce. if the gums are kept In proper order the teeth will remain healthy and in good condition. Gros grain silk is revived again for dressy gowns by matronly women. Irish luce Is very popular for yokes and epaulette effects on foulard gowns, ' and Is used In edging and Insertion as well. Serpent skin Is a new trimming for tailor made gowns, and It Is employed for entire revers and tiny bands on tlie cloth revers. Fancy little bolero Jackets are made of ecru linen, with a sailor collar across the back, and elaborately embroidered with gold thread. Ruffs of chiffon lace and ribbon are very fashionable In Paris, and they are made high at tlie back, with long ends In front and a deep flounce of chiffon around the shoulders. Women who have to make a special point of combining use and beauty In their gowns, and who for one reason or nnother do not care for coats, are pleas ed with the new open-front Jackets which are made of light-weight fab rics, with meagre lining. The frock Is made from Yale blue canvas doth over black taffeta silk. The waist Is without fitted lining, the silk being cut in the same pattern as the outside canvas cloth. The blouse is held In place at the belt with a drawing string. Over the hip Is a smart frllL which comes off with the belt; for the blouse finishes inside the skirt. )