n THE COLUMBIAN. BLOOMSBURG, PA. HE OWNED BLIND TOM. ?h Late General Bethune and the Wonder ful Pickaninny. The death of General James N. Bethune, which occurred in this city esterday, removes a man who was a ieading figure in Southern affairs for nany years. A sketch of his remarka ble career appeared in the " Post " of January 20, and mention was incident ally made that he had been the owner nf " Wind Tom." Public interest will now naturally recur to this phenomenon, and the question will arise as to his where abouts. For years he was one of the most familiar figures before the public, and the source of continual amaze ment to the thousands who went to see and hear him. About two years or more ago the telegraphic dis patches announced that he had been killed in a railroad accident near Titts burg. There was an appaiently au thoritative denial of this intelligent, and nothing more was heard of the matter. But at any rate about that time Blind Tom disappeared to all purposes as if the earth had swallowed him up and has never been seen since. He was perhaps the most re markable human contradiction that ever existed. He was the child of Charity and Tom, slaves belonging to General Bethune, in Muscogee county, Ga., and his brothers and sisters num bered no less than nineteen. As soon as he began to be able to take notice it became evident thai he was an imbecile. Charity, his mother, wds a type of the oid time Southern negress, tenderhearted and sympathetic, and when she discovered that her child was mentally useless her grief was touching. Tom was nearlv two years old when Charity made known her trouble to her master. " He kin tawk. Mass' Tom." she moared, " but he don't say nuflin cept whut vow say fu-t. Den he say it arter you." "Brine him to me," said the Gen eral, " If I can teach my pointer dog to bring my gloves and whip and fetch a dead bird, I can teach a nigger to do as much." Charity brought Tom up to the big house from the quartets. u Tom, sit down," ordered the Gen eral. "Tom, sit down," repeated the child, still standing erect. w His master repeated the words, at . the same time taking him by the shoulders and seating him. The next time he said, " Tom, sit down," the boy did so, repeating, however, the words, a habit he kept until he passed out of contemporary sight. This ob ject lesson of General Bethune's was followed implicitly Dy cnanty, ana Tom was taught to make his wants known and to follow instructions given him solely by the direction of his in stincts ; trained, in a word, like a dog. But hidden in the setmingly shape less mass of brain matter was a jewel of genius that was to be uncovered to dazzle and astonish the world. Nature had been in her most fantastic mood when she fashioned him, and with an uncouth figure and an intellect only one degree removed from imbecility she had joined her divine gift of musir. He was still a baby when he roamed away from his parents' cabin one day, and strayed up to the forbidden precincts of the big house yard. One ol General Bethune's daughters was playing upon a piano, which her father had iust given her. The child scarcely out of infancy, listened, fas . cinated and thrilled. The sleeping chords within him were touched. Trembling and writhing he crawled " up the steps and into the parlor and crept to the side of the player. It was not exactly proper, according to high Southern ideas, ior a half naked pick aninny to come uninvited into the mansion, and the event naturally caused talk. General Bethune was equal to the occasion when he learn ed of the occurrence. The child is music crazy, poor little thing," he said, Let it enjoy itself. Perhaps it may learn to play one day and make its life bearable." Naturally his daughters objected to such an object as a slave baby in the house, but General Bethune prevailed upon them to let Tom touch the piano keys. Charity dressed him up And he was taken up to the house. His little fingers could hardly bear down the keys, yet his touch brought torth harmony a faint echo of the air that was beinc plaved when he first heard the piano. General Beth une was a man of strong impulse and determination, lie made up his mind at once to cultivate the germs he had seen and to ascertain what they would bring forth. He was practicing law . at the time and editing a paper in Columbus. Ga.. anc went into town from his plantation every morning He had ample means to carry out any fancy that minht seize him, so, as it was entirely out of the question for Tom's talents to be nurtured upon the piano at home, he purchased another initrument for the boy, and had it ulaced i one of his office rooms in Columbru. Every morning Charity would dress Torn up and bundle him in his master's carryall, and every day the little fellow would play the piano, Of course, he really did not know one kev from another, and sheet music to him was like Sanskrit to a Choctaw, but the child was able to play any tune that was played in his hearing. General Bethune would hire wander ing musicians to come and play for Tom, and the prodigy wouid almost go into spasms of delight. Then he would be placed on the piano stool and would repeat everything that he heard. When Alexander H. Stephens, Robert Toombs, the Lamars and the other great legal giants of Georgia would come to Columbus court it was common to hear one of them say : ' Come on, let's go down to Jim Bethune's office and hear his nigger boy play the piano." Out at home it was wun great umi culty that Tom was kept under ob servation. Sound owned him absol utely. He would follow the birds songs out into the woods, and fre quently, when he was lost in this way, he was brought back by the sounds of the flute, produced by one of Gen eral Bethune's sons, who performed excellently on the instrument. The child's life, indeed, was based upon harmony. When it rained he would lie down with his ear to the water . . ... 1 spout and listen to the music maue bv the patter of the falling drops. By the time the war broke out 1 om was 10 years om. ana nis iame nan spread all over Georgia. His mental cloud still remained, and he knew no sentiment. There was no gratitude about him, and he was moved only by music. As stated, he repeated every thine that was said to him, and he began to display the most inordinate vanity. But he hated women, and could not bear them in his presence Pretty soon the news of the miracu lous character of his performances at tracted attention in the North, and it was not long before Charity, poor, trusting creature that she was, was approached by wily agents of far seeing managers. Visions of great fortune were held out before her en tranced eyes, and the upshot of it was that she applied to have General Bethune removed as Tom's guardim and another person appointed in his place. Judge Bond grarted her re quest, and Blind Tom began that won-fle-ful journey through the United States which is so well remembered by the theatre goers of a generation ago. Hundreds of readers wiH re member that big, black, powei fully muscular figure coming awkwardly on the stage with a silly smile ilumina ting his heavy features, and his kinky hair running almost to a point on the high dome that crowned the back of his head. They will remember him shuffling to the piano, trembling like a leaf, with his lips moving rapidly and eyes blinking as fast, and then see him transformed into a medium which music chose to be a wondrous translator of her heavenly language. For years he was the central figure in the amusement world, and the despair at once of scientists and musicians Washington I'ot. GAY L1F Bi THE SEA. Ploasure-Seekort and Health-Hunters at Atlantic City. Remarkabie Railroading on tho Royal Route. S3, Statzof Ohio, City or Toledo, Lucas County. Frank T. Cheney makes oath that he is the senior partner of the firm of F. J. Cheney & Co., doing business in the City of Toledo, County and State aforesaid, and that said firm will pay the sum of ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS tor each and every case of Catarrh that cannot be cured by the use of Hall's Catarrh Cure. FRANK J. CHENEY. Sworn to before me and suscribed in my presence, this 6th day of De cember, A. D. 1 886. A. W, seal GLF-ASON, Xolnry "uM(c, Hall's Catarrh Cure is taken inter nally and acts directly on the mucous surfaces of the system. Send for testimonials, free. F. J. CHENEY & CO., Toledo, O. BstTSold by Druggists, 75c. im. Worse Men than Printers. Printers and newspaper men are sometimes classed as Daa men, re marks the Allentown Chronicle. Statistics, however, do not bear out the idea. Of 3,800 convicts in the State penitentiary of Texas, there is not a printer or newspaper man, hile there are ministers, doctors, bankers, barbers, photographeis, book keepers, cooks and members of all other professions and callings. A newspaper man really has no time to become bad. He is too busy, Satan doesn't monkey around him very much, for in the first place he doesn't like printer's ink anyhow. It sheds light in too many dark places to suit the ancy of Old Nick. Secondly, the idle hands he seeks that are willing to do his work, do not belong to a re porter cieation. And that is the reason they keep out of jail. Rheumatism Cured, Rheumatism is caused by lactic acid in the blood attacking the fibrous tis sues of the joints. Keep your blood pure and healthy and you will not have rheumatism. Hood's Sarsa- parilla gives the blood vitality and richness and tones the whole body. neutralizes the acidity of the blood and thus cures rheumatism. Hood's Pills are the best after din ner pills, assist digestion, cure head ache. (From a Npeclal Correspondent.) Atlantic City, March so, 1895. The gloomful and depressive pessi mist who persistently croaks of " hard times and dolefully asseverates that the nation's prosperity has gone to the demnition everlasting bow-wos, is shamed out of his dismal bewailings as soon he finds himself in the briny and brilliant atmosphere of this great seaside cosmopolis. The very air seems with caressing fingers to " knit up the ravelled sleeve of care " j the swishing surf sings wooingly a restful song to the tired senses ; the genial warmth of the earth neanng sun stirs the sluggish blood to quicker pulsings; and the inspiriting activities that per vade the place beget fresh impulses and enkindle new ambitions in the most mind weary of mortals. A stroll on the thronged boardwalk just now is an inspiration and a de light This magnificent esplanade, skirting the white beaded edge of the horizon reaching sea for four un broken miles, is the daily rendezvous of beauty and fashion, as well as the daily resort of the i lvalid and valetu dinarian. Here meet and mingle the cosmopolite and the countryman, Beau Brummel and Farmer Hayseed, the belle from vociferous Broadway and the bright eyed maiden from the quiet Pennsylvania hills. With each recuiring year the wholesome custom grows of resorting here for a winter residence or an early spring time vaca tion, and the propitious opening of the Lenten season now beginning augurs favorably. Ihe magnificent climatic advan tages of Atlantic City render it easily the foremost American health resorts. The balmy and invigorating air, laden with briny ozone and impregnated with the balsamic odors of the en circling pine forests, is distinctively curative in pulmonary, malarial and nervous disorders being especially effective in the amelioration of la grippe. The diversity of recreations and amusements attract to it every shade of temperament and taste, from the gravest to the gayest. More than a hundred hotels and boarding cot tages have opened their doors to the entertainment of visitors at rates rang ing from a dollar a day up to figures that would make a frugal millionaire dizzy. The facilities tor Getting to ana from this enchanting bit of Lotus Land are superb in their complete ness and in every detail for have we not the " Royal Route to the Sea," that magnificent branch of the Read ing Railroad System, the fame of which extends from the eastern coast to the placid waters of the Sun-Down Seas ? Everybody who travels and everybody travels nowadays is fami liar with the unique renown of the " flyers that run on this celebrated line, and I cannot forbear quoting from the Atlantic City correspondent of the Philadelphia Evening iStar this account of a remarkably quick run : "The people reaching here on Saturday last on the 2 o'clock P. M. Reading train have it to say that they traveled the entire distance at a rate of a mile in less than a minute. By reason ot the ice DiocKaac in tne Delaware the train left twenty two minutes late, and yet, including stops at Hammouton, heg Harbor and Pleasantvi'le, it pulled up to the depot here only one and one-half minutes behind time. In other words, twenty and one half minutes had been made up in the fifty five and one-half miles, which distance, inclusive of the three stops, was coveied in fifty-seven and one half minutes. Certainly five minutes at least were consumed in the slowing up, stopping and getting off again at three stations, so that the actual running time was more than a mile a minute, I his is a remarkable record for the distance, and is pro bably the fastest rate of traveling ever accomplished across Jersey. But the Star man is in error in settine this down as a " record breaker," the same fifty five and one half miles havinu been covered at least once in fifty-two minutes. On the Reading's straight smooth track a speed of a mile a minute is not deem ed notably rapid, and a mile in less than fifty seconds is no uncommon achievement. The elecant train equipment of the " Royal Reading Route," not less than the phenome nally quick time, attracts to it a very large prepondeiance of the travel, and I am informed that through tickets to Atlantic City are now sold almost evervwhere alone the lines of the Readine. and also on those of its con nections. such as the B. & O., Lehigh Vailev. New Tersey Central, Beech Creek, Fall Brook and other roads. J. H. M. "Tho wo'ld la outol joint, a cursed unite, that I was ever born to ttel It rl'Tlit." Tim Uiiiij OiuluaufU. Children Cry for Pitcher's Castorla. Are you ever Annoyed bv a buzzing or roaring sound in your head ? Have you difficulty in hearing distinctly ? Are vou troubled with a continual dropping of mucus, irritating the throat and causing you to cough? Is vour breath unpleasantly affected and accompanied with bad taste ? Is your hearing less acute ? If so, you have catarrh and should at once pro cure a bottle of Ely's Cream Balm, the best known remedy. The Balm will give instant relief. Offlce State Board of A griculture, Barrisburg, Feuna. The following is a recent report of the State pomologist : 'Jo tha Pennsylvania Stale Hoard of Agriculture : Gentlemen : As Fomolocist of your honorable body, I would report the appearance in Pennsylvania of that very pernicious insect known as the San Jose Scale, whKh is generally acknowledged to be one ol the most destructive pests that the fruit grower of the United States has to contend with. The San Jose Scale first appeared in the United States in California, about the year 1870, it having been brought to the Pacific coast on trees received from Chili. Fruit shippers first noticed it in 1873 at San Jose, and from this it derived the name by which it is now known. It is reported to have caused great pecuniary loss on the Pacific coast, having, in the course of twelve years spread through all the fruit growing regions of Cali fornia, Oregon and Washington, re sulting in the destruction of thousands of trees. It was introduced into Pennsylvania during the past season through nursery stock brought from' another State. Pears and prunes shipped from states on the Pacific slope have carried the San Jose Scale, and it has thus obtained a foothold in the At lantic Coast States, and bids fair in a short time to spread over the entire country. Twigs infected with this scale, ob tained from a Central Pennsylvania fruit grower, are exhibited at this meeting, and are thus described by the grower from whom they were re ceived : " A serious pest which mul tiplies beyond anything that I have ever before seen in insect lite, it win cause much trouble unless checked. It makes pears unsaleable ; it is worse on the Harriett pear than on others, and this is our most common variety." Specimen twigs irom the orchard of the same fruit-grower were submitt ed to Prof. Howard, Acting Entomo logist of the National Department of Agriculture, and he paid a visit to the premises where it was first discovered in this State, and he has pronounced it the San Jose Scale beyond a doubt. Prof. Howard states that the San Jose Scale belongs to the same group of scale insects as the common and well known oyster-shell bark louse cf the apple family. It differs from this insect, and in fact from all other eastern species from deciduous fruit trees, in that the scale is perfectly round or at most very slightly elongat ed or irregular. It is flat, pressed close to the bark, resembles the bark of the twig in color, and when fully grown is about one eighth ot an inch in diameter. At or near the middle of each scale is a small, round, slight ly elongated, blackpoint, or this point may sometimes appear yellowish. Prof. Howard recommended that where trees have been badly infested, the safest and, in the long rnn, the most economical course to pursue, is to cut and burn trunks and branches. Where infestation is less marked, in secticide washes and sprays may be used. He favors the kerosene emul sion for destroying the young lice, and a preparation of resin and caustic soda for the older scale The formula for the latter preparation is as follows : Resin. 20 pounds ; Caustic boda (70 per cent, strength), 5 pounds ; fish oil, t pints ; with sufficient water added to make 100 gallons. This is to be applied to the trees by means of a sprayer. Prof. Howard, in continuing his experiments with spraying mixtures for the destruction of the ban Jose Scale, writes to me as follows : " I have found that while kerosene emul sion treatment during the summer time is good enough, so far as it goes. the habits of the insect prevent it from being very effective, since they are continually hatching throughout the entire summer, and two diys after hatching have formed enough of a scale to be nearly impervious to the emulsion. By these sprayings with the emulsion at intervals throughout the summer, the insect can be kept from increasing, but its numbers can not be greatly decreased. The proper spray is a strong wnaie 011 solution immediately alter the leaves tan in the autumn, and again just before the buds burst in the spring. The matter of appearance of the San Jose Scale was made known to the State Horticultural Association at its annual meeting at Reading, Janu ary 15th and 1 6th last. Prof. Bnnton, late of the New Jersey Experiment Station, who was present, made an examination of the insect under the microscope and pronounced it the genuine San Jose Scale. Having nan expeuencc wun 11 in boih the orchard and nursery, he stat ed that its period of incubation is in June, and again in the latter part of the summer. After the insects are hatched, a speedy application of the kerosene emulsion will destroy them, but after the hard shell has been form ed. caustic potash alone will answer, Owinu to the danger connected with the use of this article, the hands hac better be protected with rubber gloves, 1 Cyrus T. Fox, Pomologiht, State Board of Agricul ture. lit HUMPHREYS' Nothine has ever been produced to equal or compare with IXuiIipliroys' W itca Hasol Oil as a curative and healing application. It has been used 40 years and always affords relief and always gives satislaction. It Cures 'Pit.es or IIfmorriiotps, External or Internal, Blind or Bleeding Itching and Burning; Cracks or fissures anil fistulas. Relief immediate cure certain. It Cures Burns, Scalds and Ulceration and Contraction from Burns. Relief instant. It Cures Torn, Cut and Lacerated Wounds and Bruises. It Cures Boils. Hot Tumors, Ulcers, Old Sores, Itching Eruptions, Scurfy or Scald Head. It is Infallible. It Cures Inflamed or Cakf.d Breasts and Sore Nipples. It is invaluable. It Cures Salt Kiieum, Tetters, Scurfy Eruptions, Chapped Hands, Fever Blisters, Sore Lips or Nostrils, Corns and Bunions, Sore and Chafed Feet, Stings of Insects. Three Sizes, 25c, 50c. and fl.oo. Bold lij Dni(!git,or wiit post-paid on receiptor prloe. Ill XI'llltKTS' BI D. CO., 1 1 1 A I II Willi. St., Sw Tor. WITCH HAZEL OIL Fine PHOTO- GRAPHS and CRAYONS at McKillip Bros., Bloomsburg. The best the cheapest. are J. R. Smith & Co. limited. MIITON, Pa., PIANO By tbe following well-known makers: CSiickcrinc:, Ivnubc, Weber, Hallct & Dnvi. Can also furnish any cf llio cheaper makes at manufact urers' prices. Do not buy a piano before getting our prices. n Catalogue and Price List: On application. WHAT Ol I WILL, DO. IS NATURE'S OWN TONIC. Stimulates the appetite and pro duces roirestiing sleep 61VFS VITAL STRENGTH TO NURSINQ MOTHERS. Chocks wasting diseases, stops night sweats, cures Incipient consumption. Increases strength and flesh. MAKES RED, RICH BLOOD, Fromotos healthy lung tissue. Will trive the palo and puny the rosy chocks 01 youin. CURE3 ALL FEMALE COKPLAIHTS Ilukes strong men and women of weaklings. GILMORE'S BM T0SI8 PILLS Core all Wasting Diseases and their sequences, BRONCHITIS, CONSUMPTION, &c. Thev are neither stvrjtte nor ennntin. - 1 have no coagulating effect on the oontentc ol tne stomacn or its lining; consequently do not hurt the teeth or cause constipation or diarrhoea, as do the usual forms or Iron. 10 days treatment 660. pamphlet tree. If not kept by your druggiBt, addreBa GILMORE & CO., CINCINNATI O. For sale In IHoomsIiurg, Pa., by MOYER linos. uruggists. i-ss iy HIE KEYSTOSE EOill IS NOW IN COMPLETE WORKING SHAPE, and is prepared to nil an Kir.cis ot planing niill orders, and foundry and machine woric. inc piani is wen equipped, and all orders will be filled promptly. SHors on Sixth Street, WEST OF WOOLEN M ILL. 10-30 iy. MAKE YOUR DICTIONARY USEFUL 4 444 MONEY LOANED Do you want to borrow money on equitable Minim T Do you desire to pay off a mortgage and re-bor. row me money ut ; per vent. imereHt annual lvT Would you cure to be so situated that you ouuld reduce t lie innrtgue ugalnst your homo by paying off a small umniiut monthly and al the end of eaeli year reeelve credit for all paid? With interest being charged only on remaining port inn of loan. Would you like to buy your lauilly a homo T If so, ri au inu ouowing : I represent a Company that, has embodied In lis plan all the features enumerated above and many more, fan you see any reason why you should pay a large Interest for money when you have goou security t i an you present nnv gooa reason why It. In not as well to receive pimlls early as to wait lrnm 7 to in years as one unes n many of the Associations 1 Is not the re duction oi : Interest yearly better than waiting many years tor proms t iiorrowera under tne lan represented uv me assume absolutely no risk as each $l.ou paid on the. loan Is credited on the mortgage, thereby reducing It lu pro portion to the amount paid. building Associations have benefitted hun dreds of thousands, ho did the old earn that were propelled by horses, our plan Is as tar superior to building Associations as the trolley cars are to tue om aniniuau u norsecarsystem. My time Is too much occupied to answer ques tions for the curious, but those seeking Infor mal Ion for the betterment of their condition will receive full Information promptly, we of fer nn Investment, to those who have a small amount to save monthly that has no superior as to safety and seldom equaled fur proilts. tall or write. G. D. NEYHARD, Office COLUMBIAN Bldg.. BLOOM8HUHQ, FA. l-4-3in. aa noor. nox h. Crl htl.Ur far it ft m Umhu ke'drr. A dictionary without m koUtr eilktr wttrl out too Jt or not fait mouth. You eilktr pull it to ' kamdlmf, or you '- Int to tin it vkrn you oufht. Km uit to arfut tkoul Ikatnrry out who onus s dictionary knou t J "it how it ii. Tkt LamHe holder will hold the took iust where you want it any hetfhtant anfle, open or thud. Alwavt handrnrvtr in the way. Five dollar! tun one. Tkey tome with all tor It of altathmtnti. Our special hook-tan taialofue ttlli all about them and about revoMnr booh tales toa. CalaJtf ut frem of tour sr. 444 63 FIFTH AVE., NEW YORK Andrews AT SchooI Furnishing Company v FARMERS and RUIT GROWERS Bend for our FltF.K Catalogue before ordering vour trees for Spring IHUit. satisfaction guar anteed. Apple at fin to f n per Pears, Plums una Cherries at (IS to f'-'S per 10c; peaches al H 10 U per in ). Address J. 8. NELL1S & CO., STl BREAKFAST SUPPC. n. .5 e v c- l.TKi GRATcruL-ccr.".ron;T:rvT COCOA 03 WALK. DO'1 'NO WATCM kt"v44444444. FRAZER AXLE GREASE Best in the World! et the Genuine I Sold Everywhere 1 Urr , lo-iu-iy- WHAT PEFFER'S MERVIGGB DID. Haoupowerfullr anil qnlrt'T " J 4 others fall. Voting men reKln lout v laiiii ";;iir. nien recovor youthful vldor. Abininio? "., uoleeit la cure KrrvouinvM. !. J. Impolicy, NlnMly ",,'m,onI ll'g !! ami all efect, ot tf ahuto or '", Ta run on i n mi y 1 ' , ' n i ,i i c o" irenteriimHt. Inl " " llon't UailrtigKlUBlni you nnrniiHe ayieian Fn; j,i;'. V.onrt for C l'l't irl'lt iIkuh:ALAIS'.1i mii..- Sold by O. P. HlNtil-hK- PATENTS Caveats and Tradn Marks obtained, and I Patent business conducted for juuu." KKKS. ,,AT. Ol'lt OFFICE IHOl'l'WMl 6 I"" '":: au KNT OI'KICK. SVe have no si b-agent . business direct, hence can transact pa ' w ncss In less time and at Less Cost than tuoo mote from s ashlnglon. rt 8end model, drawing or photo, with aw y lion. We advise If patentable or noli charge. Our fee not due 1111 patent Is s i A book, "How to Obtain Patents, wit" , onces to actual clients in your btttle.Louuw. town, sent tree. Address C. A. HNOW & CO,, Washington, l (1 (Opposite U. U Patent omceO- For Breokfasi 'X, (t, camoi ,ii n U itai n t "o I r I'. 1 . 11 I'.rl from wheat. Delicious, Keoiiumlcul. .4i.r;'l''e St.. r. v he John T. cutting Co., 15J '"d,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers