Union gazette., February 23, 1900, Image 4

IBTH and death are the two
iiriand in a life filled with great
events death is correspondingly greater.
How great then is the death of Washing
ton, and with what quiet resignation and
calm dignity he meets the final sum'
monsl His private secretary, Tobias
Lear, describes his death. He says:
"Between 10 and 11 his breathing be
came easier. He lay quietly; be with
drew his hand from mine and felt his
own pulse. I saw his countenance change'.
I spoke to Dr. Craik, who sat by the fire.
He came to the bedside. The general's
hand fell from his wrist. I took if in
mine and pressed it to my bosom. Dr.
Craik put his band over his eyes and he
expired without struggle or a sigh.
"While we were fixed in silent grief
Mrs. Washington, who was sitting at the
foot of the bed. asked with a nrm ana
collected roice: 'Is he gone? 1 could not
speak, but held np my hand as a signal
that he was no more. 'TIs well,' said
she in the same yoice; 'all is over now.
I shall soon follow him. I have no more
trials to pass through.'
"During his who'.e illness he spoke but
seldom and with great difficulty and dis
tress and in so low and broken a voice
as at times hard'y to be understood. His
patience, fortitude and resignation never
forsook him for a moment. In all his
distress he uttered not a sign nor a com
plaint; always endeavoring from a sense
of duty, as it appeared, to take what was
offered him an 1 to do as he was desired
by the physicl.uns."
On the third day after his death the
funeral obsequies were held. They were
conducted according to the rites of the
Protestant L'piscopal Church and with
military and Masonio honors. During
DEATHBED OF GEORGE WASHINGTON;
the services the plain mahogany casket
stood in the . center of the long veranda
Just opposite the hospitable doorway to
which the great soldier-statesman had
welcomed the greatest men of the cen
tury. Then the remains were placed in
the family vault at ML Vernon, which
has since been the Mecca of Americans
and in the presence of which people of
all other lands bow in respect and ven
eration. During the past few years a
number of changes have been made in the
vault and Its surroundings. The entrance
to the tomb is now guarded by two iron
gates, the bars of which are so close that
when the place is strewn with flower's
they are passed through, the bars by
means of long poles.' Under the strict
est orders of the Mt. Vernon Association
these gates are never to be opened. When
they were placed in position the outer
one was locked and the key was thrown
into the channel of the Potomac Pil
grims to this shrine must content them
selves with looking through the bars up
on the sarcophagus which holds the re
mains of the great chieftain.
The centennial anniversary of the death
of the hero of America was fittingly ob
served. The principal ceremonies were
at Mt. Vernon and were in charge of the
Masonic organization of which Washing
ton was a member. President McKJnley
delivered an address at the old homestead
and Masonic exercises were held at the
tomb. In the evening anniversary exer
cises were held in Washington, at which
President McKinley and bis entire cab
inet were present. The occasion was ob
served in all parts of the republic, and
in all parts of the world where there
were Americans the name and fame of
Washington waa remembered and prais
ed. Through the efforts and the care of the
Mount Vernon Association the home in
which Washington lived and died and
its furnishings and surroundings are al
most the same as they were 100 years
ago. The furnishings and the appoint
ments of the room in which he died are
the same and the sensations which the
visitor experiences seem to indicate that
the spirit of the commander-in-chief still
pervades the historic scenes. The church
which he attended at Alexandria is also
well preserved, and the pew which he oc
cupied still bears the name of the first
President of the United States.
Washington Beems to have been en
dowed with prophetic sight. Since his
death there have been wonderful changes
in everything excepting the laws and the
principles of government and civil rule
which he advocated and set forth in his
official acta as legislator and President
and in his farewell message. Could he
have dreamed ot the railroad, telegraph,
telephone, steamship, the vast popula
tion, the broad domain upon which the
sun never sets when he formulated and
gave to the world these principles? If
not, the Unknown Power that protected
and guided him through the dangers of
battle must have given a touch of Di
vine inspiration to his mind and his pen.
An Historical Picture.
So 'well acquainted are we with the
events connected with the life of Wash
ington and the times in which he lived
that we cannot consider them in the light
.of history. We seem to live in the times
when he lived, and as we mourn at the
scene of death we think of his many no
ble and self-sacrificing deeds, his devo
tion to duty, his simplicity, his purity of
life, and his wisdom in directing the af
fairs of his country. Then with the vis
ion of memory we view the imaginative
pictures of historical facts. We see him
(drilling his schoolmates as soldiers and
writing out a code of rules to govern the
Actions of his daily life. We shiver as
we see him emerge from the freezing
waters of the Monongahela after battling
who me plunging ice xnai ne may saieiy
deliver a dispatch entrusted to his care.
In the awful shower of bullets and ar
rows at Fort Duquesne we see him move
calm and dignified and are thankful to
see him escape uninjured. Now we
scarcely breathe lest we disturb him as
he kneels in silent and earnest prayer
beneath the shade ot the forest trees at
Valley Forge. He is praying for his sol
diers and Iris country. Only one other
scene is comparable to this. It is that of
Christ praying in the garden of Geth
aemane. Stern he is n the performance
of bis duty when he approves the death
sentence of Andre, and magnanimous as
a conqueror in bis treatment of Cornwal
lis and his surrendered army. His dig
nity, wisdom and statesmanship are
shown in his administrations as Presi
dent of the Republic which his skill as a
warrior made possible, and his simplicity
ad democracy are prominently displayed
in the surrendering to Congress of his
conquering sword, and In his refusal to
accept a third term as President that
he might return to the quiet of his home
to become a private citizen and follow
th nnrsilit of a centleman farmer. His
devotion to his country is again shown
when war between France and the young
republic seems inevitable in 1798. In the
fever of fear aroused by the prospect of
a new strife and new suffering the hearts
,'h. i,n.tiiiui nation turn to the sol
dier at Mt Vernon and the people ot
America appeal to the old commanaer to
give up the quiet of Ms nresiae, io uir
sheath the sword dyed with blood in the
oniiw of libertv. and to march again at
the head of the troops pledged to do or
M with the old courage of 1776. The
appeal is not in vain. The old warrior
accepts the new responsibility. Happily
the war is averted and he is allowed to
remain in quiet on his estates until his
days on earth ended.
WASHINGTON'S WEDDING POMP.
Attended by Almost as Much Splendor
aa a Royal Marriage.
In a suit of blue and silver with scar
let trimmings and a waistcoat of white
satin, embroidered, with buckles of gold
on his knee garters and on his shoes, his
hair powdered and by his side a dress
sword, the bridegroom (Washington) tow
ered above most of his companions. Mrs,
Custis, his bride, did not reach higher
than bis shoulders when she stood with
him before the old Episcopal clergyman
in his full canonicals. The mistress of
the White House wore a costume which
had also come from Londou. In her hair
and ears were ornaments of pearl; she
wore white satin slippers, and on the
buckle of 'each was a diamond. The
sprightly little matron, with light brown
hair and hazel eyes, had a plump and
pleasing figure, an easy and graceful car
riage, a comely face and fine shoulders
and with her three bridesmaids, and with
the fine women of the families of the
neighboring domains in attendance there
was a splendid display of the charms
and graces of Virginia womanhood. -J
Nor were the men less distinguished
The country gentlemen in their gayest
raiment and the provincial officers from
Williamsburg in their uniforms were
headed by the gallant Lieut. Gov. Fau
quier. Around him stood a group of Eng
lish officers, hardly less showy in their
trappings, together, with members of
the Legislature and other civilians. When
the bride entered the coach, which was
bright with the Washington colors of red
and white, and drawn by six horses guid
ed by black postilions in livery, the bride
groom did not enter with her. There was
his favorite horse, 'with his tall body
servant holding the reins and waiting
for him to mount. When Washington
mounted the richly caparisoned charger
ne rode by the side of the bridal coach,
closely followed by a cortege of gentle
men on horseback. -,.'.".
Although one of the most interesting
events in Washington's private life, his
wedding has been comparatively neglect
ed by the majority of his biograohers.
It is generally agreed that the ceremony
took place on the 6th of January (or the
itn or January, new style), 1759. But
to whether it was performed in St. Pe
ter's Church, In New Kent County, or at
the home of the bride, known as the
"White House," there is a wide variance
of opinion. The weight of local authority
is against tne belief that it occurred in
the' church, nor is there any record in the
church indicating that the couple were
married there, although its rector, Kev.
air. jviossom, who had been in the pul
pit for forty years, solemnized the con
tract. On the other hand, those who In.
sist that the clerevman offimntail in ti
church point to accounts that Washington
ruue on norseoaca on the day of the wed
ding, and that the pair were attended by
a bridal cavalcade, as evidence that there
was a journey between the church and
the home of the bride. This, however, is
offset by the conjecture that the caval
cade was escorting the couple immediate
ly after their marriage to Mrs. Custis'
house in the town of Williamsburg, or to
Mount Vernon, and that they were re
pairing thither to spend the honeymoon
Ladies' Home Journal.
NELLIE CUSTIS' WEDDING.
Washington Delighted the Bride by Ap-
pearing in His Old Uniform.
Nellie Custis occupied no small share of
Washington's affectionate heart after his
return to Mount Vernon. He Sad Charg
ed the young girl kindly not to fail in
love with any "invader" of her heart un
til she had a competent knowledge of his
character, especially whetner ne was a
man of sense, "for be assured a sensible
woman can never be happy with a fool:"
what his walk of life, the extent of his
fortune and, above all, the honesty of
his affections. Washington's own wish
seems to have been that Nellie Custis
would marry his favorite young nephew,
Lawrence Lewis, and among the last of
the festivities which Washington presid
ed over at Mount Vernon was the wed
ding of the couple In February, 1799.
Nellie wanted him to appear in all the
magn ficence of the new uniform, with
gold lace and white plumes, which the
War Department had just designed for
him as a general. The old chieftain was
unwilling to have himself bedecked in
the trappings of his latest military rank.
But when he came into the presence of
the bridal party Nellie had to throw her
arms around his neck, for there he was
in the good old blue and buff of the Con
tinental Army, with a black ribbon cock
ade and a cocked hat Ladies' Home
Journal.
Notable Worda of Washington.
Labor to keep alive in your breast that
little spark of celestial fire, confidence."
Reluctant in the evening of life to ex
change a peaceful abode for an ocean of
d mcultie but be the voyage long or
short, although I may be deserted by all
men, integrity and firmness shall never
fortake me."
."TI?eaSis Zl oar Plitica systems Is
the right of the people to make and to
alter their constitutions of government."
"Of all dispositions and habits which
lead to political prosperity, Religion and
Morality are indispensable supports."
"The great rule of conduct for -us In
regard to foreign nations Is, in extending
our commercial relations, to have with
them as little political connection as pos
sible. "'Tis substantially trn thtt vin.
or Morality is a necessary spring of pop-
mar ir v trx uuicui, -
"The name of American, whinh hinr.
to you in your national capacity, must
always exalt the Just pride of Patriot
ism, more than any appellation to be d
rived from local discrimination,'
ANECDOTES OF GEN. LAWTON.
New Version of the Charge by Which
1 Caney Was Captured. .
Some National ' Guard officers who
served In the . Spanish-American war
were discussing Gen. Lawton'a death
and his services in Cuba. One of them
told the following stories concerning
bis conduct at El Caney, where he
wore the white helmet which was the
cause of his death:
"On the morning of July 1 Gen. Law
ton was sent with a force of about
5,000 men to take El Caney, while the
rest of the troops were to be engaged
at San Juan.
"I have seen some mention since the
death of Gen. Lawton of the order sent
to him by Gen. Shafter to withdraw
his troops from El Caney, "a proceeding
which would have been disastrous L to
our forces, but I have never seen the
statement given to me by the same
staff officer. He told me that as Gen
Lawton stood directing the troops an
aid from the staff of Gen. Shafter rode
up and said: . '
" 'Gen. Lawton, Gen. Shafter directs
you to withdraw your troops.'
"At first Gen. Lawton was non
plussed; then, turning to the aid. 1 be
said: This Is too serious an order to
be" received verbally, and I shall -re
quire It in writing from Gen. Shafter."
He well knew that Gen. Shafter was
eight miles In the rear, and that a writ
ten order from him could not be receiv
ed before the charge was ordered. This
much is a matter of history, but 1 !do
not believe that the whole story has
been told. .
"Gen. Lawton. knowing that the aid
would soon reduce the order to writing,
Immediately sent order, to his officers
to charge. The aid returned in about
twenty minutes with the written order,
having only retired a short distance to
write, and he delivered it to Gen. Law
ton Just as the whole American force
stormed across .the field In that , last
desperate, successful attempt to take
El Caney. When he handed the writ
ten order to the General, Lawton point
ed to the charging troops and said: .'As
you see, the troops have already com
menced to charge. Tell Gen. Shafter
that God Almighty himself could not
stop them now.'
"Thus the capture of El Caney was
due to Gen." Lawton's perseverance un
der difficulties." -
The following story of Gen. Lawton
was told by a sergeant In the regular
arniv. who served under Lawton in
Cuba, and afterward went to Manila,
being now the oldest enlisted man in
the Eigbth army corps: After the sur
render of Santiago the General was
standing In the main street of the city
looking into the windows of a shop, his
tall, massive form making him even
nore conspicuous than usual. He wore
a. blue shirt and campaign bat, and
was witbout any indications of bis
rank. A young second lieutenant just
from West Point, and so belonging to
the class known In the army as,"John-ly-come-lately,"
was walking down the
street and having a high sense of his
wn importance, tapped the General
n the shoulder, taking him for a non
commissioned officer. As the -General
turned around he was addressed thus
&y the young officer:
"Sergeant, are you a soldier?".
"Yes, sir," replied the GeneraL
"Then why don't you salute an otn-
:er when you see him?"
The General saluted, but with so ab-
upt and flippant an air' that the anger
f the lieutenant was aroused, and he
further asked: ,
'Sergeant, what's your name?"
'Well," replied the General, assumi
ng a slight drawl that was sometimes
characteristic, "my name is Maj. Gen.
Henry W. Lawton. : What's your
name?" leaving the lieutenant crest
fallen and stammering out some lame
apology.
Intense Cold.
The usual results of exposure to ex
treme cold are loss of energy, both
physical and mental, followed by drow
siness and disinclination to move; the
mental faculties become .torpid and the
senses numbed, while the victim is
seized with an irresistible desire to lie
lown and sleep. If this desire is yield
ed to the lethargy passes into stupor
and death follows. Occasionally these
symptoms ' are preceded by others
which resemble those of Intoxication,
and are due to a peculiar condition of
the blood, which at a very low tem
perature takes up an insufficient quan
tity of oxygen, and so has an Injurious
effect on the. nervous system. It was
observed during the retreat of the
French from Moscow, that those who
were most severely affected by the cold
often reeled about as if intoxicated;
they also complained of giddiness and
Indistinctness of vision, and sank
gradually into a state of lethargic stu
por, from which It was Impossible to
arouse them. Other instances are re
corded in which, persons became de
lirious and died through a short ex
posure to intense cold..;.
Henry Clay and the Hunter.
When Henry Clay was stumping
Kentucky for re-election, at one of his
mass meetings an old hunter of wide
poMtical Influence said: "Well, Harry,
ve always been for you, but because
of that vote (which be named) I'm go-
In' agin you." "Let me see your rifle,"
said Clay. It was banded to him. "Is
she a good rifle?" "Yes." "Did she
ever miss fire?" "Well, yes, once."
Why didn't you throw her away?"
The old hunter thought a moment and
then said: "Harry. I'll try you agin."
And Harry was relected.
Million for Snoweheda.
Thirty-two miles of snowsheds, cost
ing $61 a foot, or a total of $10,813,440.
represents the price one transconti
nental railway had to pay before it
could run its trains over tbe Rocky
Mountain division of its road. That
was merely the first cost; since thai
outlay fully $1,000,000 has been spent
annually In keeping the sheds In re
jalr and the exposed tracks free from
snow.
Old-Time Surgery.
A grim souvenir of an old-time war
was on view in a cutler's window in
the east end of London recently. It is
an ebony-handled saw, which, accord
ing to the inscription on a brass plate
attached to tbe instrument, was used
by a surgeon of the British army to
amputate the limbs of wounded sol
diers at Blenheim, Malplaquet and
Ramillies.
His New Gralt.
Wlckwlre Look here. This is the
fourth time this morning you have been
in here asking for the price of a meaL
Dismal Dawson Yes.- I am the ab
sent-minded beggar, don't ye know.
Indianapolis Press.
New Fodder for Cavalry.
Molasses for cavalry horses will in
future be one of the items of expense
for the maintenance of the army In the
Philippines.
It is a good sign when a young girl
eats potatoes, bread and meat instead
of candy, pickles, and that sort of
thing.
PONY EXPEESS LINE.
COL. ALEXANDER MAJORS ORIGI
NATED THE SERVICE. v
He Began to Transport Freight Across
the Plaina in '48, and Did a Remark
able Bnaineaa Employed Five Thou
sand Men and Forty Thousand Oxen.
The man to whom was due more than
any other the advance of civilization
across the plains of the great West
and who became
worl d-famous as
the originator of an
overland freight
line and pony ex
press was Col. Alex
ander Majors, who
died In Chicago not
long ago. At the
time of his death
CoL Majors was 86
years-old. Seventy
years of his life he
had spent on the
COL. MAJORS.
plains and into this time had been
crowded events which are history.
It was In 1848 that CoL Majors began
his freighting on the old Santa Fe trail,
running a line of wagons between Inde
pendence, Mo., and Santa Fe., N. M.
Majors' Overland Freight soon became
famous all over the world. He was not
the first man to carry freight over the
trail, but he waa the first man to de
velop overland freighting as an Indus
try and to Insure in any degree the safe
ty of his goods. His beginning was
made auspiciously on the edge of the
gold fever, and Soon he, and the part
ners he afterward associated with him,
had established lines to Mexico, Cali
fornia, Colorado and Utah, and in one
year the profits or the firm of Majors,
Russell & Waddell amounted to $500,
000. Nearly all of the freight carried
over the Rocky Mountains by contract
at that time was carried In Majors'
wagons, and the Government contracts
were all intrusted to him.
When Col. Majors began operations
the Eastern terminus of the freighting
FREIGHTING ACROSS
trails was Independence, Mo. He start
ed In business with a little outfit of six
wagons and forty oxen, for it took six
oxen to draw one of the wagons. His
first trip was made to Santa Fe, and
the run of 800 miles and back was made
In ninety-two days. This was unprece
dented at the time, and the fact that
Majors brought his oxen in as fat and
leek as when they started out gave
him a reputation among the traders.
Up to that time It had been conceded
tbat no man could manage a yoke of
oxen without swearing. A teamster
was hired more on his reputation for
swearing and shooting than for driv
ing. CoL Majors was a religious man
and for a long time conscientious scru
ples stood In the way of his going into
the freighting business. , He would not
employ men who swore, and he would
not haul freight on Sundays.
As traffic Increased it fell gradually
Into the hands of Majors' overland
freight and he took in two partners
and changed the name to Majors, Rus
sell &-Waddell. They soon Increased
their teaming outfit to 40.000 oxen and
4,000 wagons, dividing them Into "out
fits," or "trains," moving out of Inde
pendence, Mo., on a certain date, and
scheduled to reach Santa Fe or Salt
Lake or Denver, as the case might be.
on a certain date. The organization of
a freight train for crossing the plains
consisted of twenty-five wagons carry
ing from three to three and one-half
tons each, tbe merchandise being pro-
PON V KXPBES3 BIDEB.
tected by sheets of ducking. Each
wagon was drawn by twelve oxen, and
the train was provided with thirty or
forty extra animals, in case some of
those drawing the wagons went lame.
The whole train consisted of from 320
to 350 cattle, a half dozen mules, for
herding and riding. . The force of men
consisted of a wagonmaster, his assist
ants, the teamsters, a man to look .after
the extra cattle, and three or four re
serves. -.-'."':-
Oxen almost altogether were used in
freighting, because they were more re
liable for long trips, and because they
foraged for their own food, and, with
proper care, could travel 2,000 miles between-April
and .November, and still
be'isleek and salable.
The business done by the freight line
established by the Colonel was enor
mous. In one year he carried lo.oou.uuu
pounds of Government supplies to Uni
ted States troops In Utah. Forty thou
sand oxen, a thousand mules, and over
,000 men, under his supervision, once
carried -freight and mail from the Mis
souri River across the Rocky Moun
tains.
The Pony Express.
Col. Majors' greatest enterprise, from
a spectacular point of view, was the
establishing of the "pony express." In
the days of the California gold fever
this was to the coast what the flying
mail trains are to the people to-day.
From the terminus of the eastern tele
graph lines there was a stretch of 2,000
miles to the coast. Majors had already
established an overland stage line, op
erated by the firm of Majors, Russell
& Waddell. But up to 1859 mail from
the Atlantic seaboard was carried by
steamer to the Isthmus of Panama and
then" by steamer again up the western
coast, and at the least the trip required
twenty-two days. Senator Gwin, of
California, believed that the establish
ment of an overland express would lead
to Increased Immigration, and finally
lead to the building of railroad and tele
graph lines, which it did. He persuaded
CoL Majors and his partners to start
tbe pony expressc and Col. Majors at
that time became the virtual head ol
the overland freight, overland stage
line, and pony express,. Up to that
period the fastest time ever made by
news from the Missouri River to San
Francisco was twenty-one days. The
pony express curtailed this to ten days,
taking dispatches from the wire at St.
Joseph, Mo., and carrying them the rest
of the way .on horseback. The route
was divided into 190 stations, and 500
horses and 280 men were required fo'i
the work. Eighty of these men acted
as riders. ''The riders were all old
plainsmen and scouts, brave and dar
lug, and the story of tbe pony express
is one of thrilling adventure. Two hun
dred and fifty miles a day was made
by the express, and none of the riders
carried an extra ounce of weight The
horses were wiry mustangs used to the
trail, full of endurance, and. as sure
footed as mountain goats.
The work done by the pony expres
was the marvel of the day and the
feats of horsemanship then accom
plished are still talked of. However.
never paid running expenses and was
eventually sold. -
For some years past Col. Majors had
been living a quiet life, bis time being
occupied In the writing of a book of his
experiences. In many respects he wai
a wonderful man and history will claim
him as a most remarkable figure.
Ready with the Retort.
The following story is attributed tc
Marshall P.'. Wilder: Some evenings
ago a man was seated in the corridoi
of one of the large hotels smoking
fragrant Havana cigar. On the lounge
next to him were seated a woman and
her daughter, the latter being imme
diately next to the smoker. Tbe draft
in the corridor blew the smoke from
the cigar across the younger woman'
face, to which, although It annoyed hei
extremely, the smoker remained seem
ingly either oblivious or else wholly
indifferent Finally, after several quite
audible remarks to her mother apropot
of the rudeness of men in general Ir
smoking In ' the presence of women
which passed rapidly into a somewhat
hectic comment on this smoker in par
tleular, the frayed string of her tem
per broke, and, turning savagely to th
THE PLAINS IN 184a
tormentor, she said: "If you were my
husband, do you know - I'd : poison
you?" Her neighbor, removing his cl
gar from bis lips, promptly responded
"And do you know, madame, were you
my wife, I'd take that poison?" New
York Tribune.
Prison Babies.
Very few people outside official cir
cles know what a large number of ba
bles are born every year In the Infirm
aries of prisons and penitentiaries, tbe
little people .always causing quite a
flutter of at'tentiveness and excitement
among female Warders and prisoners
alike. .. ... - ',
Of course there is a vast difference in
prisoners, and sometimes the person
least attentive to the prison baby Is the
mother herself; but on the other band.
tbe general body of the women prison
ers make the most pathetic efforts, by
means of all manner of trifling scraps
and odds and ends, to fabricate articles
of wear and ornament for the out-of-
place little stranger.
Quite three-rourths of tbe women
volunteer to tend It and it Is often the
case that tbe most refractory and diffl
cult of the prisoners soften and greatly
alter by being allowed to do little
things for it; Indeed, it acts through
out like a veritable ray of sunshine
among tbe whole of tbe poor prisoners,
who generally manage to get themselves
into great good humor by suggesting as
volubly as the prison rules will permit
fantastic names for tbe child. Within
a certain period of their birth these
children are taken away from the
mother and are tended elsewhere with
the utmost care and humanity.
The Sate of Hawville.
"Improvements."" quoth the sage of
Hawville, "air mighty good things, yit
there's some I've run acrost 'at goes
ag'In my grain. There's my gaL When
she lived down on the farm here she
was willin' to go by the name of Sary.
Then she went" to the district school an'
afore long give us to understan' that
her name was Sarah. Then I sent her
to the city boardin' school an' she
hadn't been there a month afore she
writ home an give us distinctly to un
derstan' that her name was Sara. The
next letter I writ I told her that It
took some people a all-fired long time
to find out their name, an' that I hoped
she'd finally settle on some partickler
one, so's I 'ud know what one to use
when I mentioned ber in my will. She
ain't changed if sense, but we're ex
pectin' anotherSchange on the next
malL Improvements air good things
in some respects, but as I said afore,
they Is sartinly some that goes ag'In
my grain." Indianapolis Sun.
' Her Literal Explanation.
A few days ago a boy was missing
from schoolroom in one of tbe uptown
public school buildings. The teacher
looked around and failed to see the
familiar face.
Does any pupil know why Tommy I
McGregor isn't in school to-day?" she
inquired.
There was no answer.
The teacher repeated the query.
Then a little girl slowly lifted ber
band. ,
' "Please, ma'am," she said, "I know."
"And why does be stay away.
Mary?"
"Please, ma'am, It s because he's got will allow the breath to pass out slow
measles inside.' " j ly. First fill the lungs with good air,
Mary had read the contagious disease then blow with steady force vigorously
card that was tacked on the front ot
the house. Baltimore Herald.
" Anent the Spider.
Tommy Isn't the spider patient sit
ting there aU day?
Papa How could he catch flies if be
were not?
Tommy Why, with fly-paper, . I
should think. Judge,
Central America Pyramid Builder.
Barring the Egyptians, the ancient
Mayas of Yucatan seem to have been,
the greatest pyramid builders tbe
world ever saw. -
AN ECCENTRIC MILLIONAIRE.
Banker Daniel H. Moffat and Some of
His Peculiar Gift.
Daniel H. Moffat the millionaire
mlneownerand banker of Denver, CoL,
who last year attracted considerable
attention by taking
Thomas Gay, head
waiter at a fashion
able New York ho
tel, on a protracted
European trip, has
again shown his
unique eccentricity
by giving away for
tunes to two of his
employes.
Geo. Ross Lewin,
D. H. MOFFAT.
cashier of Mr. Mof
fat's Denver bank, the First National,
and Thomas Kelly, assistant cashier.
are the lucky men. Mr. Lewin's gift
was a check for $100,000 and Mr. Kel
ly's was one for $75,000. The only mes
sage with the checks was: "Accept as
tokens of Mr. Moffat's regards." It's
needless to say that Messrs. Lewin and
Kelly appreciate their employer's ap
preciation.
Mr. Moffat gave away, another for
tune some years ago, but under much
different circumstances. An excited
man broke Into his office at the bank
one day and,' brandishing a big bottle
filled with liquid, demanded tbat Mr.
Moffat give him all the money he bad
bandy.
"I've explosive enough here to blow
this place to atoms if I drop it," the
visitor cried, "and it drops unless I get
the money!"
He got It nearly $20,000. The visitor
got away safely, leaving the bottle. It
had nothing in it more dangerous than
castor oil.
AN OLD, OLD CHURCH.
Bnilt by the Russians in Alaska in
1809, and Still Standing.
The old Russian church at Juneau.
Alaska, built in ISO!), is still standing.
four-square to all tbe winds that blow.
The larger and more modern building,
part of whose gable and weather-
boarded end juts up close to the church
In the background of the picture, is an
up-to-date brewery, lately erected to
supply amber fluid to quench the thirst
of the people as they grow in civilized
tastes.
This church has long served Its pur
pose as a . house of worship and an ec
clesiastical school. In It many Indians
have been taught the rites of tbe Greek
OLD CHTBCH AT JUttKAC
church and the art of reading ecclesi
astical characters.
The history of the missions of the
Greek church in Alaska Is an interest-
ng one. Archimandrite Joasaph, an
aider of the order of Augustin friars.
accompanied by eleven monks, were
the . pioneer missionaries sent by
imperial decree of Empress Catha
rine, In 1793. In 1796 Fr. Joasaph
was consecrated as bishop, and the
3ame year the first church was erected
it Kadiak island. In 1799 this bishop
and all the monks but one were ship
wrecked and lost The surviving monk
remained alone in tbe colonies eleven
years before another was sent to his
assistance. . . -
The man, however, who left the
greatest religious impress upon that
country was Innocentius Venlamlnoff.
He began bis labors there In 1823 and
In 1840 be was made blsbop. Tbe earli
est mission established" at Sitka was
about the year 1800. An ecclesiastical
school was opened at Sitka in 1841. It
was then but a small place, built chief
ly of log huts.
Only Reward Asked.
One of our officers in the Philippines
is very much disliked by bis men. One
evening as he was returning home he
slipped into some deep water. A pri
vate in his regiment however, hap
pened to see blm, and after some trou
ble succeeded in pulling bim out Tbe
officer was very profuse In his thanks.
and asked his rescuer tbe best way he
could repay him.
"The best you can reward me," said
the soldier, "is to say nothing about it'
"Why, my dear fellow," said the as
tonished officer, "why do you wish me
to say nothing about it?"
Because, If the other fellows knew
'd pulled you out they'd chuck me tar.
Tbe First Iron Plow.
It would be difficult to say. who made
the first iron plow; but in Scotland a
contemporary says tbe inventor was
humble Scotch blacksmith named
William Allan. His modesty was so
great that after he bad made his first
plow, and It did satisfactory work on
his own farm, be declined to make a
second for neighboring gentlemen on
the plea that be was not as good a
blacksmith as the gentlemen ought to
have, and recommended a neighbor of
bis, named Gray. The latter became
rich at the business, - while Allan re
mained as poor as ever. Scottish
American.
No Gentleman Would Take It.
A member of one of tbe great politi
cal clubs of London recently lost bis
umbrella and put up a notice In the
hail requesting "the nobleman" who
bad taken it to return it when he had
done witb It The committee. In due
course, desired to be Informed why he
had ascribed Its possession to a peer.
The member blandly referred them to
tbe rule which said that the club was
composed of "noblemen and gentle
men," and added tbat no gentleman
would have taken bla umbrella.
Exercise for the Lungs.
Strengthening the lungs, especially
the apexes, may be done by blowing
through a small pipestem or tube that
but not violently. A few times daily
will be sufficient
Only Male Jaws at That.
The muscles of the human jaw exert
a force of 534 pounds, and those of
mastiffs, wolves, etc far .more.
A bachelor Bays a wife is undoubted
ly a good thing to have around the
bouse to blame things on when tbey
go wrong. i -
. Many people have . wretched taste;
the world Is full of people who like
Sousa's marches.
MONTH OF CENTLTARY.
PROPOSED TO INTRODUCE IT IN
THE YEAR.
Indiana Editor's Idea to Have a Tear
of Thirteen Months, All of Which
Will B of Equal Length Advan
tages Claimed for the Plan.
At the Paris Exposition an attempt
will be made to have tbe entire world
adopt tbe new- calendar of thirteen
months devised and copyrighted by C.
H. Bundy, editor of tbe Marion (Ind.)
Morning News. It is to be urged be
fore the commission already appoint
ed to consider this ingenious new sys
tem, that it is the only uniformly prac
tical method of measuring tbe flight of
the years. No calendar in present use
Is satisfactory. The one used by Rus
sia Is twelve days out That In use
in China was four days wrong, but Las
Just been corrected by an Imperial
edict Our own Is forced to dropfa
leap year in 1900 to be with the sun.
Mr. Bundy 's solution of the vexed
problem Is tbe introduction of a new
month, which begins the year and is
called Centaury, In commemoration
of its adoption between two centuries.
The name Is urged as being particu
larly well chosen In tbat It is not local
to America, but would be acceptable
to every country. " J
Every month will then have; Just
twenty-eight days. Every month and
every year will begin upon Monday,
which will also become the first day
of every week, Sunday being tbe last
Every month will consist of just four
weeks, thereby simplifying commercial
transactions, and- It will no longer be
necessary to bunt up dusty calendars
or almanacs to find upon what day of
the week a certain date fell in previ
ous years. Every day of the month
will fall upon the same day of- the
week, year in and year out Holidays,
too,' will always fall upon tbe same
days of the week.
Tbe plan only provides for 364 days,
leaving approximately one and one-
fourth days over on each year. As soon
as enough of this time has accumu
lated to form several days an addition
al week will be added to the month of
Centuary, making that year longer by
seven days without disturbing tbe fix
ity of birthdays and holidays, which
even under the present system are by
no means SGOVi days apart although
we have come to regard tbem so.
There Is some question as to whether
the new month should come at tbe first
or the last of the year. Mr. Bundy
favors placing it at the first of the
year, in order not to disturb Christmas.
the people's favorite holiday.
Should the new month be placed at
the first of the year some radical
changes in holidays will be made.
Our present New Year's Day would
disappear. Washington's birthday
would fall on the 25th of January, "un
less," as tbe author suggests, "respect
should be paid to bis memory on the
new Feb. 22 the seventy-eighth day
of tbe year Instead of the fifty-third.
as at present" There being no month
with thirty days. Decoration Day
would disappear. It Is suggested that
It be set for May 28. Tbe Fourth of
July would become June 17, if It con
tinued to remain as now tbe one bun
dred and eighty-fifth day of the year.
Thanksgiving Day would fall on th
last Thursday In November, as at pr ?s
ent and Christmas on the last Thurs
day In December.
These changes are not deemed ob
jectionable once the "shock" is over
come, and It is pointed out that their
recurrence Is already, under the pres
ent system, advanced one day each
year.
The Inventor of the proposed new
calendar Is confident that it will be
adopted. It is claimed Commissioner
Peck, the American Representative to
the Paris Exposition, has promised bis
support when the commission meets.
Mr. Bundy says the plan Is growing
rapidly in favor as it Is becoming
known and understood, and he has re
ceived many letters from prominent
people approving the proposed change,
Cincinnati Inquirer.
i HOW COLOR AFFECTS INDUSTRY
One Reason Why American Machinery
Is Not More Popular.
A gentleman who has traveled much
and has a very large Interest in Amer
ican export trade said. In conversation
the other day, that the principal draw
back to a wider extension of American
commerce in certain parts of the world
Is tbat manufacturers In the United
States do not sufficiently study the
wants, the customs and the tastes of
their prospective customers. "For ex
ample," he said, "a certain American
firm sent some electrical goods, which
were decorated -in green, to Japan.
Tbey did not sell any. No Japanese
would bring such things into his bouse;
it would mean an invitation to tbe evil
deities. Green Is an evil color in Japan.
What a Japanese wants is red things.
Upon this simple matter of color rested
the failure of that manufacturer to
succeed In export trade. . - . "ft-
A German employer of labor said: "I
like American machines so far as their
performance of their work Is concerned.
but tbey demoralize my men. They
come here In sober colors of paint and
with no bright parts. - The men who
tend the machines do ' not - have any
brass to keep clean or any surfaces to
rub and they get lazy. - The German
workman needs to be kept busy with
things of this sort." ; ,
Here, now, are some practical in
stances of- what the American manu
facturer must learn before be can at
tain the widest success in the new
field of foreign trade. Do not send to
Germany catalogues In tbe - English
language or to Japan things decorated
In green, or to the Isthmus of Panama
anything with blue spots on It. It looks
as if we need in this country a com
mercial kindergarten in which such in
formation as the above may be taught
to those of a curious and Inquiring
mind for their everlasting benefit and
profit
Nw Will Sprea 1.
'No matter bow engrossing: the en
tertainment may be, news, and esDe- I
cially war news, cannot be kept out of
any public building," said an experl-
enced theatrical manager. "I could
give you some most striking Instances
from my own experience of what I say.
I Dave seen a big audience convulsed
with laughter at 9 o'clock, hnt thmh
a mere whisper of a great outside ca-
lamlty ; that circulated through the
house, -with aim th nnMitir
egraphy, that same audience has been
both restless, universally grave of face,
and absolutely Inattentive to the very
culminating point of fun on tbe stage.
And tbe singular thing Is that actors
who have never left the stage have.
through tbe medium of whispers,
among the ' band or from tbe stalls.
known all that the original messenger
of evil had to telL Mr. Spurgeon once
told me that he had known this game I
thing precisely to occur during the
course of a religious service, and when
a' vast congregation were on their
knees. He gave me the time and place.
and explained bow, from the whlspe;
of a doorkeeper, a kneeling concourse
of thousands knew tbe whole story
a national crisis In an Incredibly short
time.
A Bargain Victory.
She was shopping with ber husband
and was looking for bargains. -Here
is how she got one. ', ,
"I don't want quite so much as there
is In tbat-piece," she said to the sales
woman who held up a piece of dress
goods. "I require only two yards and
a half."
"But that piece is two yards and five-
eighths, and I couldn't cut two yards
and a half off." explained the young
woman behind the counter.
"But I don't want so much," pro
tested the customer. ' ' .
"Well, I am sure I cannot cut It"
repeated the saleswoman.
"But can't you call it a remnant?"
persisted tbe woman who wanted the
goods.
"No; it Isn't a remnant madam,"
calmly replied the young woman.
"Well, I shall not buy It," said tho
customer, determinedly. I don't pro
pose to pay for more than I want un
less you make It an object".
"Well, I'll call It two yards and
three-quarters," said tbe saleswoman
as the customer started to move away.
'All right; I'll take it" exclaimed tbe
customer witbout hesitation, as she
glanced at- her husband In a satisfied
way. The man's admiration for his
wife's victory was expressed in his
face.
Ice will reach a lower temperature
than 32 degrees If the temperature of
the air is less than that It will take
practically the temperature of the at
mosphere. Liquid hydrogen Is transparent and
tbe lightest as well as the coldest liquid
known, a cork sinking in it like lead.
A whitish substance seen at tbe bottom
of the vessel on Prof. Dewar's first ex
hibition was really solid air or air Ice.
The multiplication of new compounds
In organic chemistry Is something ap
palling. In 1883 tbe total number of
carbon compounds recorded was 16,000,
but a newly revised list by Dr.. M. M.
Ricbter enumerates not less than
67,000, and the end seems yet far off I
A Canadian engineer has Invented a
foghorn In which the noise Is produced
by half a dozen clappers striking a
gong and actuated by electro-magnets.
A dynamo, supplied with power by a
naphtha engine, furnishes tbe current
About 600 strokes per second fall upon
the gong, thus producing. a practically
continuous sound, and this Is. magnified
and governed In direction by a mega
phone. A small model of the born Is
said to have made Itself audible at a
distance of two miles.
Recent Investigation of the old prob
lem of the diffusion of tin over eastern
Europe and Asia Minor in prehistoric
times, leads to the conclusion that
about a thousand years before Christ
the tin of the British Isles was curled
overland to the Aegean Sea. The in
vention of the anchor led about 2,700
years ago to- the opening of a marine
route between England and the eastern
end of the Mediterranean, and then the
Phrygians controlled the tin trade with
their ships. The short summer nights
of North Britain were among tbe won
ders that Greeks talked of In the days
of Homer.
According to the recent studies of
Slgnor De Sanctic, of Turin, children.
begin to dream before their fourth year,
but are unable to recall dreams before '
the age of 4 or 5. This age, he con
cludes, is tbat at which a child first be
comes distinctly conscious of self.
Aged people dream less frequently and
less vividly than the young. Women's
dreams are more frequent more vivid
and better remembered than those of .
men. : Criminals and delinquents dream
much less frequently and much less ,
vividly than other people. Two-thirds
of the most depraved criminals exam
ined by Slgnor De Sanctis were never
conscious of dreaming. This Is ascribed
to back of mental activity. -
Studies of tbe planet Jupiter during
the opposition of 1899 have afforded
some new figures concerning Its rate,
or rather rates, of rotation. These fig
ures do not affect the round numbers
in which the equatorial velocity of Ju
piter's rotation is usually stated, viz., .
about 28,000 miles per bouh. But they
furnish additional proof that the mo
tions visible on tbe great planet's sur- -
face are not uniform from year to year.
Since tbe spring of 1897 tbe equatorial
region appears to have experienced an
acceleration of velocity. Relatively to
the surface some 30 degrees north or
south, Jupiter's equator rushes ahead
with hurricane speed, between 200 and
300 miles an hour in itself a sufficient
Indication tbat what telescopes show of
Jupiter Is not a solid crust but layers
and masses of restless vapors. .
i
Washington' Negro Population.
Although not generally known, it is
nevertheless a fact tbat Washington,
the fourteenth city of tbe Union In
point of population, contains tbe great-.
est negro population of them alL There
are more negroes In Washington than
in any other city of the Union, not ex
cepting the great cities of St Louis,
Baltimore and New. Orleans, all situ
ated in former slave States, and, - ex
cepting New Orleans, witb more than
double Its population. There are near
ly three times as many black people In
Washington as St Louis. Washington
contains more than double the' number
of negroes counted among New York's
3.500,000. :
Women in Brazil and Japan.
Tbe legislative bodies of Brazil and
Japan present a rather striking con
trast in their policies toward the move
ment for the freedom of women. The
senate of Brazil has under considera
tion a bill to authorize women to prac
tice the learned professions, and the
Japanese parliament has Just passed a
new press law which prohibits women
from becoming publishers or editors
on the ground that "the discharge of
such work by females is neither be-
coming nor desirable.
' - '"
Mormon Marriages in Mexico.
-ine laws ot Mexico provide that a
Mormon who wishes to take a second
wife must present a certificate signed
h n,s flrst helpmeet to the effect that
she Is willing; and he must also have
the express- consent of the second wife
and her parents.
' No Holiday.
Berlin is to have a network: of un
derground railways. It is expected that
two rears will anfflra a a In ths n
Rd,r fo, mmnisfini,
. . .
A woman Dlavlng clarionet ahoniit
be very funny, - -
iissmvention