I
WE
V
Kir
16
THE BRONZE BUTTON
fcneral Enssell A. Alger Describes
the 2foLle Organization of Which
It is the Badge.
KATEBNITY, CHARITY, LOYALTY
Ike Three Grand Objects Which Lis at the
Terj Foundation of the Grand
ArmjoftheEepublic
IT FfiEACHES A GOSPEL OF PEACE.
Xrom Its Character ud Usle-Ep It Canttt Bectiae &
fomicil Machine.
IWmtl'JUf rOB THE DISPATCH. 3
The Grand Army ot the Republlo has
reached the first quarter of a century of its
history. Of the reterans who entered its
ranks fresh from the field.of battle, still
young and rigorous, with the best years of
their lires before them, some hare grown
gray and bent with years. Others hare
long ago answered to their last roll call, and
& comparative few of those who represented
in their persons the stirring incidents of the
great Rebellion remain to meet their former
comrades around the encampment fire.
Yet the order to-day is larger and more
flourishing than ever before. The vaoant
places of those who bare gone are filled
with fresh recruits, and the roll ol member
ship has increased instead of diminishing.
This is a fitting time to recall some of the
more interesting facts relating to the birth
and growth of the order and to take a glance
as to its future progress.
Springfield, 111., claims the honor of hav
ing been the birthplace of the Grand Army
of the Republic Dnrine the winter of
1865-66 it so happened that there was a con
siderable number of military men, officers
and privates, gathered at this place. The
subject of forming a military organization
came up for discussion.
THE FIEST POST.
The leading spirit in the movement was
Dr. B. F. Stephenson, of the Fourteenth
Illinois Infantry. It was agreed that the
objects ot the society could be best promoted
by making it a secret order. A ritual was
agreed upon, and the first post was formed in
Decatur.IH., April 6, 1866. There is a curious
fact in connection with this first meeting that
is of special interest to newspaper men. It so
happened that all the members ot the staff of
tne intmne, a newspaper; published in De
Alaer in a Favorite Attitude.
cstur at that time, bad served in the Civil
"War and were eligible to membership. They
were all mustered in, and the first printing
v for the order was done by its own members,
and being of course of a confidential nature,
was done behind the closed doors of the
Tribune ofiice.
The first national convention, or encamp
ment, was held November 20, 1866, at In
dianapolis. Representatives were present
from Missouri, Kansas. 'Wisconsin, New
York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa,Kentucky,
Indiana and the District of Columbia.
THE BOLZi OF COMMAlfDEBS IN CHIEF.
The Commanders in Chief of the order
since its organization have been as follows,
the date and place mentioned corresponding
with the annual encampment:
Stephen A. Huribut, of Illinois, at Indianap
olis, November M.1S68.
John A. Logan, Philadelphia, Jannary 15.1S6S;
re-elected at Cincinnati. May 12, 1S6S; again at
Washington. Way 11, 1870.
Ambrose . Bnmside, of Rhode Island, Bos
ton, May 10, 1871; re-elected at Cleveland, May
8,1872.
Charles Devins, Jr.. of Massachusetts, New
Haven. Conn., May 14, 1S7S: re-elected at Har
burg. May 13, 1871.
John F. Hartranft, of Pennsylvania, at Chi
cago, Hav 12. 1575; re-elected at Philadelphia,
Jnne SO. 1876.
John C Robinson, ol New York, at Provi
dence, R. L, June 213. 1S77; re-elected at Spring.
neia, mass., .luue . iota.
William Farnshaw, of Ohio, at Albany, N.Y.,
Jane 17. 1879.
Louis Wacner, ot Pennsylvania, at Dayton,
O., Jnne 8. 18S0.
George S. Merrill, of Massachusetts, at In
dianapolis, June 15, 1851.
Paul Vandervoort,oI Nebraska, at Baltimore.
June 21. 1882.
Robert B. Beath. of Pennsylvania, at Minne
apolis, Jnlv 25, 1833.
John S. Kountz,of Ohio, at Minneapolis. July
23.1SM.
8. S. Burdette. of Washington, D. O., at Port
land. Me, June 24, 1883.
Lucius Fairchlld, of Wisconsin, at Ban Fran
cisco, CaL, Augnst 4. 15S6.
1 1 John P. Rac, of Minnesota, at St. Louis, 1S87.
William Warner, of Missouri, at Columbus,
C-..1S88.
Russell A. Alger, ot Michigan, at Milwaukee,
WIS..1SS9.
TEE GRAND ARMY AS IT IS,
General Alaer Ezplalm In Object, Iu Work,
and Ita Glorious Achievements.
The Grand Army of the Republic in one
tense is a secret organization, and yet its ob
ject are or should be known to all our coun
trymen. They are three fraternity, charily
and loyalty.
The first object is to preserve and strength
en those kind anoftrsternal feelings which
bind together the soldiers, sailors, and ma
rines who united to suppress the late Re
bellion and to perpetuate the memory and
history of the dead. Iu regard to this it is
interesting to cote that "Memorial Day"
was established by the late General John A.
Logan. On May 5, 1868, at the time he
was Commander in Chief of the organiza
tion, in an order he issued on that date,
designating May 30 of each year as the time
for the ceremony, he said:
W should guard the lives of our htroio dead
with Sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated
wealth and taste of the nation can add to their
adornment and security's but a fitting tribute
to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no
wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed
ground. Let pleasant paths Invite the coming
and colng of reverent visitors and fond mourn
ers. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect,
no ravages of time testify to the present or to
the coming generations that we have forgotten
as a people the cost of a free and undivided
BepubUc. If other eyes grow dull and other
bands alack and other hearts cold in the sol
emn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the
light and warmth of life shall remain in use.
IT IS OBLIOATOET.
Brave, manly and wise words. Accord
ing to the rules ot the Grand Army the ob
servance of Memorial Day on the part of
the members is obligatory; private circum
stances may excuse a comrade from the ob
servance. The manner and form in which
the aay is to be observed is left to the posts.
The second objeot of the Grand Army of
the Eepublio is charity, to assist such
former comrades in arms as need help and
protection and to extend seedlul aid to the
widows and orphans of those who have
fallen. From 1871 to 1886 the sum of $173,
C88 60 was disbursed for charitable pur
poses. Loyalty is the third object of (be Grand
Army of the Eeonbllc; to maintain tree al
lianee to the United State of America,
Jfffl
based upon a paramount respect for and
fidelity to its Constitution and laws; to dis
countenance whatever tends to weaken loy
alty,incites to insurrection, treason or rebel
lion or in any manner impairs the efficiency
and permanency of our free institutions.and
to encourage the spread of universal liberty
equal rights and Justice to all men.
SOT JV. POLITICAL OKDEB.
It cannot be said too often that the Grand
Army of the Republic is not a political or
ganization. From the beginning of its or
ganization to the present time, when the
order numbers over 400,000 men, political
parusansaip u&s Deea careiuuy avoiucu. jl
do not think that any one can point to any
formal action taken by the Grand Army
during the last quarter of a century which
will go to show the contrary. So long ago
as the annual encampment in 18C9, only
four years after the organization of the
Grand Army, this rule was adopted:
No officer or comrade of the Grand Army of
the Republic shall In any manner use this or
ganization for partisan purposes, and no dis
cussion of partisan questions shall be permitted
at any of its meetings, nor shall any nomina
tions for political purposes be made.
There is no danger that the Grand Army
will ever become a political organization,
not specially because of the rule it has laid
down in regard to this matter, but in the
very nature of things, for the moment it did
become a political organization it wonld be
dissolved by that very fact. The experi
ences that the soldiers, standing side by
side, went through during our Civil War
tend to strengthen kind and fraternal feel
ings between them and unite them together.
When they struggled on the battlefield,
marched in the ranks or fought against the
enemy on our men-of-war, they worked in a
oommon cause, and one man did not ask his
nelehbor "What are your politics?" or
Wli ofcnri.li Hn Mn tielnnf. in?"
SO POSSIBILITY OF PABTISAHSHIP.
And now, after the war, the Grand Army
holds this vast body of men together by the
memories which are attached to the late con
flict. The momentyouattempt tochangethe
organization and make it political, instead of
patriotic and national, you will arouse leei
ings in the members which, instead of tend
ing to "bind together" (to use the term
found in our rules and regulations), will
tear asunder. For as long as "birds of a
feather flock together" the members of po
litical parties, as such, will prefer to frater
nize by themselves. As the object of the
Grand Army is no more political than it is
religions, there is no more likelihood that it
will be turned into a political debating club
and nse its influence in promoting the elec
tion of some candidate to office than there is
that its posts will become a series of schools
for tbe discussion and settlement of theo
logical problems.
From the beginning until the present
time Democrats, Republicans, and indeed
all parties, have fraternized at the various
meetings and encampments as brothers. In
our organization a man is not a Republican,
a Democrat, a Socialist, a Mugwump, a Na
tionalist, a Roman Catholic, a Protestant or
an infidel he is a comrade, and is addressed
as such by members of the order, no matter
what rank he Held in tbe army.
ITS SECEET SIDE.
I have said that the Grand Army of the Re
public is"in one sense" asecret organization.
There is nothing taught or acquired that is
not entirely in accord with the teachings of
the Christian Church; its teaching or char
ity, loyalty and fraternity comprise all there
is'in citizenship. The ritual is secret and
so are certain signs and passwords used in
the order.
The strength of the Grand Army member
ship in good standing, as given in the de
partment returns Deoember 31, 1889, was
397,074, distributed in the different States as
follows:
Alabama, 221; Arizona, 802: Arkansas, 1,820;
California, 6,306; Colorado and Wyoming. 2,837;
Connecticut, 6.840; Dakota, 8,515; Delaware,
1.215; Florida, 410; Georgia, 855; Idaho. 442; Illi
nois. 52,313; Indiana. 25,165: Iowa, 20,231; Kansas,
18,312; Kentucky, 6.603; Louisiana and Missis
sippi, no reDort; Maine, 6,364; Massachusetts,
21,W7; Maryland, 2,224: Michigan, 21,255: Min
nesota, 8.408; Missouri, 19,388; Montana, 674;
Nebraska. 7.443: New Hampshire, 6,043; New
Jersey, 7,678: New Mexico, 331: New York,
40,758; Ohio, 46.214: Oregon, 1,713; Pennsylvania,
41,613; Potomac. 2,977; Rhode Island, Z8S7; Ten
nessee, 8.061: Texas. 813; Utah. 143; Vermont,
.206; Virginia, 1,213: Washlneton and Alaska,
L742; West Virginia, 8,165; Wisconsin, 13.9H.
PDTUBE OF THE O. A. S.
As to the future of the Grand Army of the
Republic, I believe it will keep on increas
ing in numbers every year until it embraces
in its membership every honorably dis
charged soldier who is within reach of a
post. 0 course, our country is very large,
and though we have eight or nine thousand
posts in our organization they are widely
scattered. There will always be a consid
erable number of men who, on account of
their remoteness from a district organiza
tion, would be unable to belong to the order.
Then, again, there is a great number of
honorably discharged soldiers who do not
feel able to pay the annual dues which have
to be met in the Grand 'Army. There are
many others who are physically feeble, and
who would not feel able to turn out at
post meetings. And so, while all men who
fought for the Union wonld be glad
to become members of the Grand
Army of the Republic, there
are, as I say, different causes which will pre
vent some of them from becoming members.
As to the future of the Grand Army, its
members will gradually die off until, say CO
years hence, there will probably not be left
a single representative ot the organization.
While a survivor remains the custom will
prevail of decorating the graves of the sol
diers who lougbt lor the old nag.
A PBOPHETIO VIETV.
We can fancy on some future Memorial
Day the last survivor of the Grand Army of
the Republic, an aged man, tottering with
feeble step to the cemetery near his home
for the purpose of paying a floral tribute to
the men who fought with him for tbe same
cause so many years before. We can well
imagine that the incident will be regarded
as ot great historical interest; that it will
form tbe subject of many a touching poem
and brilliant essay in the press of that
period, and be a fruitful theme for the brush
of the painter.
Years ago it was prophesied by some
sapient politicians tbat an organization like
the Grand Army of tbe Republic would
tend to keep alive the bitter memories of the
war. The history of the organization does
not bear out this statement. Its relations
with ex-Confederate soldiers have always
been friendly, and it is on record that sev
eral times members of tbe Grand Army have
met and fraternized with Confederates hav
ing similar organizations. During the yel
low fever epidemic in the Mississippi Valley
and after the Charleston earthquake the ap
peal for aid from those respective sections
was promptly and generously met by mem
bers of the Grand Army of the Republic,
although they knew they were helping the
men who a few years before had been their
enemies.
ITS AID TO HISTOET.
I can think of no special changes that can
usefully be made in the internal manage
ment of the organization. The only thing
we can now do is to encourage all men who
served in the Union army to beoome mem
bers, for social purposes and with the view
of gathering together tbe data of the war
that can and is being obtained by posts and
that cannot otherwise be reanhed.
The real history of the war has never been
fully written; it has simply been blocked
out The war records can never be complete
until as far as practicable the history of the
enlisted man is written. The records show
simply what atmies did. They give accounts
of sonfe individual deeds of valor some
man performed an act at the right time and
in the right way that happened to be noticed
by his commanding officer, and that made
him conspicuous, or they record some par
ticularly heroic act; but the real history of
the Grand Army itself will, when it is
finally complete, furnish a more correct ac
count of the civil war than has so far been
written. This is a particular reason whyall
should join the order. For instance, you
take a man who served in the ranks. He
appears on the muster roll June 1, we will
say, receives his pay, signs the roll and that
is all. Tbe roll calls are gone through with
from day to day, and the sergeant reports to
the captain ol his company whether a man
is accounted for or not.
.w.w .. -. owwoof. i
Those roll cslli were not, si a rale, pre J
FAULTS IN THE 2ECOBD.
THE
served. I said that we will suppose on June
1 a man reported, received his par and
signed the muster roll. Sixty or 00 days
from that time tbe regiment was again mus
tered. One man is present, signs tbe muster
roll and receives his pay. In the meantime
he may have been engaged in half a dozen
battles, he may have been wounded and re
covered, he may have been a prisoner and
escaped, or have been exchanged, and yet
none of these faets would appear at all, any
more than though he had not existed, so
far as the record is concerned. That is very
largely, though not in every instance, true.
A man is reported "missing in action," tbat
mar be all there is of it. He mar be dead.
he may be a prisoner and have died in
prison. The captains were supposed to
make monthly reports of their companies,
which would give some details, but this
work was in the large majority of cases neg
lected. The regular army regulations required
that this should be done, but they were not
complied with to any great'extent. There
was much military ignorance during the
first part of the war, and such details were
neglected, so that the individual history of
the rank and file was largely overlooked.
AN INDrTTDTJAL HISTOET.
In very many ot the posts of the Grand
Army there is a recorder, who writes up the
historr of each member. The official records
show "the account of his enlistment, his
promotion, his discharge, but they do not
show fully where be was engaged. These
records are made up very largely irom
memory, somewhat inaeenrate, but still the
data is furnished by men who made the
historr men who know the battles they
were in, man who know whether they were
wounded or taken prisoners and when.
Although inaccurate, perhaps, and, to a
great extent, much is left out, yet they show
where the men were dulng the period they
were in the war.
There is no settled purpose In, the Grand
Army as to the use to which this data is to
be put. Under the rules and regulations
these records belong to the Grand Army
and, of course, it is supposed and intended
that, in time, they will be gathered together
and placed in the archives of the State or
tbe Hational Government, where access can
be had to them when they are needed. They
will also be very useful to the families and
descendants of the soldiers. Though there
is no law requiring that these records shall
be kept, it is one of those things which we
urge men to do, ns far as practicable, as an
act of justice to tbe enlisted man.
THE OBAND AKJ1T BUTTON.
In common with all organizations of this
kind the Grand Army ol the Republic has
certain badges and insignia by which they
recognize each other, and are also known to
the general public. The membership badge
is cast from brooze composed of cannon cap
tured during the late rebellion.
Some people, and I fear not Tery patriotic
people, speak lightly of the little bronze
button worn by toe urand Army men. nut
years ago Bulwer Lytton wrote:
"What is a ribbon worth to a soldier?
Everything! Glory is priceless."
That expresses the real truth of the senti
ment. It will be remembered that when
Napoleon proposed an institution of the Le
gion ot Honor he was told that crosses and
ribbons were the pillars of a hereditary
State, and that they were not used by the
Jtomans. in his answer to tnis objection he
showed that it was the custom oi Borne to
reward achievements by all kinds of dis
tinctions, and added that "for the soldier,
as for all men in active life, you must have
glory and distinction; recompenses are the
lood which nourish military virtue."
R. A. Aloeb,
Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of
the Republic.
THE RESTLESS RIVER
THREATENING DESTRUCTION TO VALU.
ABLE NEW ORLEANS PROPERTY.
The Changes In the Channel Fallowed by
Carina of Banks Larse Bodies! of Land
Hllpplna Off Into the Mississippi Many
Ppots Affected.
New Obleans, August 9. The lands
along the lower Mississippi are threatened
with the worst caving ever known, and the
next two months will probably make im
portant changes in the channel. The
caving depends upon the height the
riVer reaches during a flood season
and as it was higher this spring than ever
before, the amount of caving is likely to be
greater. It is caused by the current cutting
under the banks, and this cutting does not
show its effects until the river begins to
fall. After the high water of 1884,a large area
of land in front of the town of Flaquemine
fell into the river, and a number of houses
had to be abandoned there. Although
tbe river has just really begun to fall,
this caving has begun earlier and is worse
than ever before. It promises to carry
away many hundred acres of land.
On this city's front there bare already
been three ngly cavings. At the foot
of Second street a large body of land
cracked, slipped off into the Mississippi,
and disappeared. Pieces continued to dis
appear from day to day until a crack reached
tne xiunois ventral xiauroau auu compelled
the company to more.
On tbe other side of tbe rirer. in Alsriers.
of the Fifteenth ward, a piece of land near
the ferry landing cared off a few days ago,
carrying with it the repair and carpenter
shops, ferryboats, and the pavement and
sidewalk on Front street. This promises to
be a somewhat serious affair, as sonndings
indicate that the river is eating its way
through the point so as to form an under
ground passage or tunnel.
Several years ago there was an ugly car
ing in this locality, when a ship yard, with
several vessels andalarce amount of mater
ial, sank out of sight. The present tunnell
ing process threatens both the ferry landing
and the new depot of the New Orleans, Fort
Jackson and Grand Isle Railroad, which
was to be completed about 100 feet from the
caving bank. Files will be driven in here
and a breakwater constructed.
A third caring took place at the foot of
Hospital and Barracks streets, endangering
the garbage wharf. The condition of affairs
at New Orleans exists also along the lower
Mississippi river for 600 or 600 miles from its
mouth. The encroaching river threatens the
destruction of the venerable Church of St.
Francis, the first parish church in Fointe
Coupee, and probablr the oldest church in
the Mississippi Yalfey. This church was
erected in 1727, being then a long distance
back irom tbe river. It has always been
tbe favorite church in the parish, and it
contains the birth, marriage, and death
recordsof Fointe Coupee for nearly a century
and three-quarters. In order to save the
building, it is proposed to take it to pieces
and use the material in erecting a new
church at a safe distance from the Missis
sippi. But while the river is cutting away land
above it is adding to it below. Its water,
laden with sand and mud, pouring orer the
levees or through crevasses, have filled up
low and swampy places, and will bring into
cultiration lands formerly deemed too low
for tbat purpose. The restless Mississippi
is always tearing down and building up.
Dropped Dead.
How often every summer we are pained to
read such headlines as the aborel Hundreds
of people are prostrated by the great heat,
and many cases prore fatal. Avoid drink
ing too much ice water; but if you are com
pelled to drink it, use a good stimulant At
the Half Century Liquor House, 23 Liberty
street, pure malt whisky, the best stimulant
in the world, can be had. Take it if you J
value iieauu.
Shohola Campmeettnff,
Near Monongahela Citr. Tickets onlv BO
cents for the round trip. Trains leare Lake
Erie station at 8:30 a. jr., 1 P. M., 4 p. m.,
city time. Beturnlng, leave Shohola at
3:40 r. m. and 1020 p. m., city time.
Black Surah silks, 60o, 65o, 76c, 85e and
SOo a yard; qualities now offered at the
prices iully 25 per cent less than value.
TTSSu HUGDS & HACKS,
The Finest In the World.
Tbe most delightful dainty ever dissevered
is Marvin's new coffee sponge cake, Just the
ming ioi a quiet wue luncheon or picnic
srssa
PTTTSBIffia DISPATOH,
MR. AND MRS. BEEMIS.
A Highly Entertaining Old Couple
in thq Tennessee Mountains.
THEY CLIKG FONDLY TOGETHER.
The Old Man 0ntSwears a Whole State,
bat He Can't Scare Bis Wife.
AN EXPERIENCE IN A TEEE TOP
rcoBBisroxcxxca or Tins sisfatcui
EACCOON MouktAIK, Tekk., July 30.
E boarded with
them. Two poor,
lonely, little old
exiles from
"York State,"
which seemed to
represent their
ideal of an earth
ly paradise,
stranded among
the Tennessee
Mountains,
whither they had
come in quest of
health. They
found it, I sup
poee, for they
both seemed well
enough, though
they were small.
pinched old
creatures, maef
Sulking in the Barn. Bnd tbin-
And they cling fondly together in their
exile? Not a bit of it. It .there was any
Alluding to the Chickens' Souli.
"cling" it was of the Kilkenoey cat order.
Their squabbles were well known and freely
discussed through that entire section. We
were told by one faction before we went
there to board that Mrs. Beemis was a
very nice woman, but that the old
man was probably the wickedest man
in that Congressional district. Another
smaller class told us tbat tbe old man was
"ornery,"butthat"the devil himself couldn't
live with Mrs. Beemis," "Whether she
would hare desired the companionship of
the aforesaid personage or not,Iam inclined
to think that this statement was a libel, for
old man Beemis did manage to lire with
her, thought in a fitful and spasmodic war,
being wont to take to the barn loft and sulk
for days tozether, when her society proTed
too aggravating for further endurance.
AltltANGISG THE rUBKlTUBE.
We found them in a little riue-embowered
house, the ideal settling for "lore in a cot
tage.' Our coming necessitated some
changes in the household arrangements. A
bed was to be moved, and we were sent to
sit on the porch just outside the windows
Ho Danger at Long at Be Bwore.
while Mr. and Mrs. Beemis attended to it.
Mrs. Beemis was possessed and dominated
by the trait of "damnable iteration." She
was a soft spoken, down looking little old
woman, with a flurried manner and a wan
dering eye; but if she said anything to
which rou objected or demurred she nerer
left off repeating it, with and without
variations, till yon either hushed or shot
yourself. She was, I think, the original
"scissors" woman.
As we sat on the porch waiting we noted
that there seemed to be some discussion
going on as to the -disposal of matters
within.
"Mr. Beemis, I wonder you hain't
ashamed. Don't you know them ladies can
hear you swear?" admonished his wile.
The old man was holding the end of the
mattress, and so could not get his arms free
to gesticulate as he seemed to want to, but
he fairly danced up and down on the floor
at this rebuke and struggled and sputtered
orer the great thumping oaths tbat seemed
to shake him like a kicking gun as they
shot out. We had heard of this peculiarity
of the old man's in fact, it was at the root
of the very evil name he bore among tbe
natives.
AX ACCOMPLISHED 8WEAEEB.
To be a profane swearer is, with moun
taineers of the better class, the limit of
human sinfulness. A man may cheat, He,
shed innocent blood, coret his neighbor's
wife, may break every commandment in the
decalogue but one and still remain
within hailing distance of forgiveness; but
tbe man who openly and continually swears
has, to their thinking, but one destination.
So it was small wonder tbat old man Beemis
was regarded with a sort of superstitious
horror. I may say with "Jo" that "I have
sworn myeelr, and, as a boy, hare been
among swearers, but sich iwearin as he did
I never see."
When he let it off it was something like a
display ot fireworks, with plenty of pin
wheels and little fizzing, spitting rockets in
it, and big bursts of Greek fire and gunpow
der all along the line. Talk about displays
of fancy ek.tlngand bicycling tc .diTertyoul
.Wo found after we got settled that wo were
' K4;,i Wm
-mmw
'J?
SUNDAY, AUGUST 10,
sure of an unparalleled display of fanoy
swearing every evening so sure as the even
ing came.
ptTho chickens were Mrs. Beemis special
department. Indeed, if she had not raised
a goodly number there would hare been
slim pickings for the boarders. The garden
was nls. though. 1 am bound to say that
the main crops he raised in it were Crab
grass and burdock. The chickens displayed
a fondness, after the manner Of their kind.i
for getting into this alleged garden. Dur
ing the heat of the day the old man seemed
oblivious to their movements; but In the cool
of the evening it was his custom to sally
forth. Then would arise
Tne horrible grumble and rumble and roar,
'leiiing tne oatue was on again,
and old man Beemis was out after the chick
ens.
A EEGTTLAE EVEXIHO PEEFOnMAXCS.
With his arms full of stones he used to
skin around the garden hurling these mis
siles at the offending fowls.who ran squawk
ing before him, along with a torrent of most
choice and picturesque profanity, and mak
ing his slim little legs get over the ground
in quite a marvelous manner, at such a rate
of seed tbat the wonder was where he found
the wind for so much swearing and such a
gait at the same time. He cursed them as
the irate Bishop cursed tho jackdaw of
Bhelms:
He cursed them In eating, he cursed them In
drinking,
He cursed them In sneezing, he cursed them In
winking,
Ho cursed them in standing. In walking. In
firing.
And finally cursed them most roundly in dying.
I used to wonder that they were not
cooked, feathers and all, as tbey ran, and
whether It was really safe to eat them after
they bad been so thoroughly objurgated. I
even sniffed them suspiciously after they
came to the table fried, but never found tbe
slightest breath of brimstone clinging to
them. One great comfort was tbat in the
portions he most frequently alluded to in
his condemnatory remarks were their souls
and their eves, neither oi which Mrs. Beemis
ever fried for us.
Mrs. Beemis was an excellent housewife
and a most delightful cook. One of the
funniest sights of funny little household was
to see those two poor old creatures sit down
at the table side by side tbey never sat op
posite each other after all the hoarders had
finished, and snap and quarrel orer their
nice, appetizing food like two little cross
dogs.
A BRAVE LADY'S MISTAKE.
One of the lady boarders announced to us
that she meant to gire them her opinion
about the way they lired iu a roundabout
way. She did. She talked at length one
morning about the charms of family affec
tion, the beauties of conjugal felicity, how
wrong it was for two people who ought to
be all in all to each other to disagree, and
more to the same pttrpose.like Bogue Eider
hood, "a namln' no names." Mrs. Beemis,
however, saw the application.
"I spose, Mrs. , I know what yon
mean," she said, in a high quarering voice.
"I spose you're a-rubbing on me. Erery
body knows what Mrs. Beemis' temper is.
Everybody knows tbe trials I've had with
bim. No woman could do more than I've
done," etc., etc., in the same rein for some
thing like an hour.
We put that intrepid lady boarder nnder
bonds nerer to bring down such another
visitation on us, and Mrs. Beemis posed
unmolested as a suffering martyr to the end
of our stay.
Fourth of July we had a pionic, all the
summer boarders at the various farmhouses
and every native on the mountain top at
tending. Everyone went from onr place
out oia man ueemis, wbo was in the sulks,
and Mrs. Beemis, who "had too much to
do." We had a fine time; had a big swing
put up, and swnng one boy clear orer the
bluff; had another with all the fingers blown
off his right hand; two girls nearly drowned
in the creek and any number of minor cas
ualtiesin short, celebrated the day In a
highly proper and patriotic manner. But
when we got home we came on a scene that
put tbe cap on all our festivities. We were
greeted at the gate by a faint and scattering
volley of profanity, like the dis
tant discharge of small arms from a retreat
ing and vanquished battalion, and on reach
ing the house we saw a most diverting
tableau.
MB. BEEMIS UP A TEEE.
Mrs. Beemis did as much of tbe cooking
as was possible in the open air, a habit she
bad probablr caught from the natives. She
now squatted like one of them, barefooted,
on the ground outside the kitchen door,
Seeling potatoes for supper. Above her
ead, suspended and entangled in some
miraculous manner iu tbe branches of a
plnm tree, hung her liege lord. He was
evidently far gone, if not, as be asserted,
with garnishings and embellishments which
seemed feeble and tame when compared
with his usual free, forcible style, in articulo
mortis. His wife never raised her eyes as
he threatened, entreated, begged and com
manded .her to get a ladder and help him
down. He was hauging more or less head
downward, and his wicked old face was suf
fused and his evil old eyes looked as if tbey
would burst out. There was no danger o'f
his falling his profane old feet were too
firmly wedged into the crotch of tbe tree for
that but he hung by his hands with much
difficulty to a lower limb which prevented
his dangling straight head downward.
"I told Mr. Beemis not to try to climb
that tree," said his helpmeet quietly as the
men ran for the ladder. "I told him he Was
too old and too stiff."
We could imagine the sulphurous fume of
profanity in which he shinned up the tree
just to hear her smooth, aggravating tone as
she said that. As the men took the old
fellow down he made himself very limber,
and pretended to have fainted.
"Why, Mrs. Beemis," we said, "you
ought to have helped him down; he might
have died."
"I did calculate to when he got so he
couldn't swear," she answered, with coolly
dropped eyes, as she prepared to take her
potatoes into the kitchen. "I shouldn't
have considered him in a dangerous way
afore that."
Geace Mac Go-wan Cooke.
A SOMEWHAT FISHY GAME.
A Peculiar Land Scheme. Run lo Earth br
Mean of a Decor.
Minneapolis, August 9. A very
shrewd and, to say the least, very suspicious
land scheme was run to earth here yes
terday by means of a decoy. The in
stitution is known as the Western Land
Agency, which has been doing business in
Minneapolis the past two weeks. Its office
personnel is composed of three men, one of
wbom is Known as the manager. To the
decoy tbe manager said this afternoon:
"If you will go to Washington and buy
160 acres of timber land we will gire you a
round trip railroad ticket, and when yon get
to the coast you can go to our office and they
will give you (400 with which to buy the land.
Tbe Government charges $2 SO per acre.
After you have acquired title we will pay
you (G00 for the laud, and you can return
on the tlcketwe give you. The only money
you will be required to advance to us will
be $17 SO, which is one-half of the cost of
filing of the papers. We will pay the other
half."
When the manager was confronted with
the story, he said, with evident nervous
ness: "I will admit right now that the transac
tion is a little 'fishy,' but it simply amounts
to a little game to get the timber land. The
Government will not sell more than 100
acres to the same person, but we can afford
to pay $1,000 to get the land, as it is worth
J2.000 to us."
The manager presented a circular of the
OresonLand Company, of which he said
the Western Land Agenoy was a branch.
A strange feature is that neither this com
pany nor the Western Agency is quoted by
any'of the commercial agencies.
Though Totallr Destroyed
By dyspepsia, bodily comfort mar be revived
again by the potent aid ot Hostetter's Stomach
Bitters, which renews the processes of diges
tion and assimilation, thus furnishing the sys
tem with the elements of vigor, the ground
work of functional regularity, t ever and agne,
SwiW
tonio and appetizer '
1890.
EYERY DAY SCIENCE.
Bnccess of tbe Slojd System of Train
ing the Mind and Body,
WEB-FEET P0K THE SWIMMERS.
New Garbage Burner at Tampa, Fla,, That
Seems to be the Best Oat.
QUICK W0BK MAKING POSTAL CARDS
iPSEPAKID JOB TUX DISPATCH.
Muck attention has of late been directed
to the "Slojd" system ot handicraft in con
nection with the London, England, school
boards. Slojd instruction in its great de
velppment is due to Sweden, but the origi
nal realization of the idea belongs to Fin
land. Slojd Is a word derived from the old
'Norse language, and is peculiarly Swedish
in Its present signification, with a moaning
very comprehensive but very diffioult to
define. It implies "work with the hands
and with simple tools." The Swedish
slojd schools hare been in existence only
about 20 years, and they hare increased so
rapidly in Sweden that it is becoming
a very general practice in tbat
conntry to combine the slojd instruction
with that of the common schools, and to em
ploy the school teachers themselves to teach
it. While the elementary sohools prepare
children indirectly for life, tbe chief aim of
the teaching of the slojd is to give the pupils
formal instruction; that is, to develop their
mental and physical powers. It has also
for its material and practical aim the
acquisition of general dexterity of hand.
This formal education which slojd has in
view aims principally at: Instilling a taste
for and lore of work in general; inspiring
respect for rough, honest bodily labor; train
ing in habits of order, exactness, cleanli
ness and neatness; accustoming to attention,
industry and perseverance; promoting the
derelopment ol the physical powers; train
ing the eye and sense of form.
Miss Teskey, of the Sydenham College
for Ladies, was one of the first to make a
practical application of this system in
England, and to Her is due the credit df
the discovery that its methods of teicbing
are as applicable to girls as well as to boys.'
Miss Teskey stated that her attention had
been first drawn to the snbject of slojd in
1887, and that she took up the study of it
principally with a view of introducing it
for the pupils in the sohool with whioh she
was associated, as a means of active bodily
recreation, one had long noticed with con
cern how girls spent their spare time and
holidays in reading, writing, drawing,
painting, and needle work, tbe only active
exercise they took by way of recreation be
ing dancing. In summer, of course, they
had plenty of outdoor exercise, but in tbe
winter they were greatly in need oi some
interesting active occupation to counteract
this continual sitting and stooping over
books, drawing, etc. She soon became con
vinced that slojd afforded Interesting
and certainly active bodily work, and
and that it might be made a most
important lector in the development of tbe
physical powers; and, therefore, on this ac
count alone, would he invaluable to girls of
the npper classes. But most of all she was
impressed with the educational ot slojd in
the moral training of girls. Unconsciously
they learned self-reliance, accuracy, perse
veranceall qualities which need very
special cultivation in their case. The re
sults of Miss Teskey's experiments hare
been most gratifying, and she states that
slojd, so far as her experience has gone, has
fulfilled all that it proposed. It developed
the pupils physically and mentally, the
physical advantage being soon apparent in
individual eases, as well as in the whole
class, and as to mental training it roused
the indolent mind by giving it something
definite and tangible to think about and do,
and excited a taste for the love of work.
This was shown in a very marked manner
in sereral cases, and some who before would
sit idly over their lessons for an hour or two
quite unable to think or to coneentrafe their
attention, rot through their lessons briskly
and cheerfully in order to have time to
spare for slojd. Any teacher of slojd, says
Miss Teskey, wonld soon be convinced of
its great power as a means of training the
observation and cultivating the eye and
sense of form.
manufacture of Postal Cards.
Improvements have been recently made
in rotary-cutting machines, which have
materially increased the rapidity with
which postal cards can be manufactured.
The cards are printed 100 In a sheet, and in
the process of cutting the latter is first passed
through a rotary-slitting machine, which
prodnces strips containing ten cards eaoh.
As these strips leave the machine they drop
upon a division platform, which collects
them in ten separate packs. The capacity
of this machine Is snch that the number of
strips cut in ten hours will make 3,000,000
of single cards. The sheets are laid on the
broad table of the machine, one at a time,
and pushed forward to the knives, which
draw the itrip in and deposit it on the oppo
site side of tbe machine upon tbe receiving
Slatform. The machine is usually operated
y a man. The strips are laid against the
guide plate before passing the cross-cut
rotaries two at a time. This feature of tbe
operation requires special training on the
part of the operator, who must be very ex
pert from long experience.
By the feeding of two strips at a time into
the machine the output is almost doubled.
It was at first denied that two-pieces could
be picked up erery time, but a skilled oper
ator was procured who not only demon
strated the plan to be a snecess, but later in
structed all the other operators how to per
form the same feat. The sense ot feeling in
the hand becomes so trained tbat mistakes
rarely, if erer, occur. In the factory which
supplies the Government in a working day
of 19 hours, from 7 a. M. to 4 A. M,, with
two hours out, the three machines used to
hare a record of cutting 3,675,000 cards,
which is equivalent to cutting 141,000 per
hour for the entire number of machines, or
47,000 per cutter, or 783 cards per minute.
as ten oi tnese are cut to a atrip, and as
there are two strips to one feed motion, the
operator has to perform 39 separate motions
per minute, a feat which is certainly un
equaled in card-cutting where aeouracy has
been aimed at.
Candlo Holders for Chrlstmaa Trees.
Children of all agei will appreciate an
improved holder of candles and tapers for
Christmas trees, which promises to put an
end to the disaster and disappointment
which often ensues from the usual frail fas
tenings. It is claimed that this holder can
be readily affixed to Christmas tteet and
other articles, such as wall brackets, wire,
rope and other lines and supports, however
slight, for decorating, illuminating and gen
eral purposes. The invention consists of an
ordinary candle or taper,with a carved base
to catch the grease dropping from the can
dle, and one or more lengths of flexible wire
are left free to be twisted, or colled nronnd
tbeobject or article to which the holder is
to be attached. This little derio, by its
rigidity when once fixed, insures f je tapers
burning down to the sooket in the exact
position in which they are desired.
Clinometer or Plumb-Level.
A new plumb-level has been put upon the
market which appears to be a mast handy
and valuable little instrument It is a
thoroughly practical device for leveling,
plumbing and striking angles, elevations
and grades, and while being exceeding sim
ple is admirably accurate. It is described
aa being especially adapted to the use of
carpenters, machinists, stationary, mining
and civil engineers and bridge builders, as
well as for the ditching and draining of
farm lands, landscape gardening, etc This
device should be very acceptable to track
layers and road masters, as by its use grades
and curves can be tested without tbe assist
ance of a civil engineer, and it is claimed
that it is much more reliable than the spirit
level.
bwlmmlns Devices.
A Spaniard has patented an invention
relating to the manufacture of gloves, bar
ing webs between the fingers like those on
the feet of a water iowl, so that on spread
ing out the fingers during tbe propelling
stroke in swimming, a comparatively large
surface will be presented to the water, and
conseanently the propelling action will be
greatly increased. Apparatus heretofore
devised as aids to swimming have in most
cases been of a cumbrous, heavy character,
fatiguing to use, and very snbject to become
defective. The inrentor claims that his ap
paratus is exceedingly simple, besides being
portable and reliable and easy to use, afford
ing a firm and sure hold on the water, and
enabling the swimmer not only to keep
himself above the water, bnt also M perform
rapid evolutions witn lability.
Another method of facilitating swimming
is reported from England, in the shape of
an invention of a swimming boot. The
boots consist of canvas tops and wooden
soles, attached to which are two blades of
mahogany (some are made of steel) which
olose with the forward motion of the legs
and open with the backward strokes. The
surface measurement of tbe two blades on
each shoe is about IU square inches, while
the total weight of a single complete shoe is
about three pounds, it being loaded with
lead to prevent too much buoyancy, a
publio competition of swimmers provided
with this device and those without it is
said to have resulted very much in favor of
the former.
Bavins Gold.
A Oalifornian has just patented a gold
saving apparatus, the main feature of which
consists in the novel concentrating of gold
catching surface. A frame or table is made,
orer the surface of which are secured the
soales of the cones of tbe coniferae order.
Eor some work as, for instance, for coarser
material tbe scales of the larger cones, snch
as are borne by the "digger" and the sugar
pine, are preferred. For lighter work, bow
exer, the scales of smaller cones, such as
those of the sprnce, the fir and tbe hemlook.
are preferable. These scales are closely set
orer the surface of the frame Or table, some
what after the manner of shingles, but over
lapping each other in such a way as to fully
cover tbe table. They may be secured on a
plane surface, or on a surface formed with
inclines.
The surface thus prorided is a very rough
one, and in this fact lies, to a great extent,
its utility for the purpose intended, as the
hearier particles are caught in the inter
stices or spaces between the scales, which thus
form riffles, while the lighter particles are
washed off, it being understood that the
table or frame is a washing table, and water
is to De used in connection with tbe ore.
The water and ore flow orer tbe surface
against the raised or free ends of the scales.
The scales may be stripped from the table
and washed, and then by burning them, all
material which clings to them after the
washing may be saved. The scales will last
several months cf constant use, and when
destroyed for the purpose of saring the
precious material which tber hare caught,
others may be readily substituted.
Rait and Hardening Tools.
A mechanic says that in order to keep
machinery from rusting" he takes one ounce
of camphor and dissolves it in a pound of
melted lard, taking off the scum, and mix
ing in as much fine black lead as will gire
it color. The machinery is then cleaned
and smeared with this mixture. After 24
hours the machinery is rubbed clean with
soft linen cloth, and It will keep clean for
months. The same artisan gires the follow
ing method of hardening tools. Forge the
tool into shape, then melt in a dish suffi
cient Babbitt metal to corer tbe end of the
tool as far as it is wished to harden it.
Thrust the tool into the metal and let it
cool. This method makes the tool much
harder than cooling in oil or tempering by
any other process.
Destruction of Garbage.
A garbage cremator has been bought by
the city of Tampa, Fla., and will at once be
put into active use. An official test of the
apparatus was recently made. In abont
seven hours' actual running time the fnr
nace destroyed 20 cubic yards of night soil
and garbage, much of the latter being com
pletely saturated with water and containing
a large quantity of melons and melon rinds.
The fuel used was light wood, of which
about one-quarter of a cord was burned and
three-quarters of a cord of slabs and waste
refuse lumber. The operation of tbe furnace
showed that it would destroy at least 40
cubio yards of material in 12 hours, and
wonld require about three-quarters ef a cord
of light wood during that time.
Cotton Stalk Bagging;.
The manufacture of bagging from the
stalk, which was commenced not long ago,
is rapidly on the increase. Expert cotton
men declare the product to be fully equal to
any other bagging material, being quite as
strong as lute, less inflammable, and onlr a
shade darker. The cotton stalks have here
tofore been a troublesome incumbrance of
the gleaned fields. They had to be beaten
down and burned or plowed in for the suc
ceeding crop. Thev are now.however.worth
52 a ton to the manufacturer, and so con
stitute a Tery handsome source of revenue.
Fartunnte Inrentor.
Higdon & HIgdon, patents, 127 Fourth
are., Pittsburg, and LeDroit building,
Washington. D. C, report these patents
just granted:- S. J. Adams, pipe-ball,
molds, etc.; Mildred Blakey, welding
seams of pipes; Peter Grabler, ralve for
airbrakes; C. F. Hadley, manufacturing
gas; T. J. Hogan, airbrake; Edwin Band,
stuffing-box; W. S. Sims, speed regulator
for pulleys; S. B, Smythe, regeneratlre
furnace; G. L. Wiley & E. G. Acheson,
joint for electric conductors; Baldwin &
Graham, trade mark; all ot Pittsburg and
Allegheny.
$300 UPRIGHT PIANO-3223.
Square Plane, 9130.
A first-class rosewood upright piano, of
excellent tone and handsomely finished
case, used but a short time, worth $300, for
$200; also a $400 upright, good as new, for
$225, and a $350 square piano, in, good con
dition, for $150. For a splendid bargain,
go to Jtlie musio'store of J. M. Hoffmann &
Co., 637 Bmithfield street-
Do Ton PalaiY
We take pleasure in announcing to the
public who have been imposed upon by the
purchase of adulterated mixed paint, that
we are daily putting up in cans of all sizes
onr own home-made paints at prices below
any in the market: ft pint, 13c; pints, 25c.
We guarantee it the only strictly pure white
lead and linseed oil paint told. G. G.
O'Brien's paint store, 292 Fifth ave., 3
squares irom Court House.
Greatest Hosiery Bale on Record..
100 dozen ladles' fine cotton and lisle
hose,
18c, formerly 2Bo and S5c.
aSc, formerly 50o And 75e.
83c, formerly 75o and $1.
Biggest bargains ever offered in this
country.
A. G. CAaiPBELL Ss Sons, 27 Fifth ave.
Ecbols, aiollnrrny 5fc Co.
XTprighi pianos. $73, $130, $200, $250.
Square pianos, $50, $75, $100, 5123.
Organs ana melodiacs, $10, $20, $40, $60.
123 Sandusky street, Allegheny.
Great Sacrifice. Sola
Of ready-made dresses; $13 cashmere suits
for $7, 'tH cloth suits for $3, $10 challie
dresses for $5 50.
Khabls & Shtjstkb, 33 Fifth are.
am E- P. ROBERTS Ss SONS'
European Barer
Will arriTe on Monday's steamer, after
having spent orer two months in the prin
cipal cities of the Old World, making seleo
tions for the firm's art department.
Mr. Boberts left for New York Saturday,
and will welcome their buyer on bis arriral.
Mr. Boberts states tnat their purchases
have been made on a most extensive scale,
and that during the fall and holiday season
they will display a stock of rare statuary,
porcelain and articles de vertu or no
eq Haled magnificence. Large shipments
will arrive in September in time to be dis
played in the exhibit the firm will make at
the Exposition.
SICK. HEADACHE
'Carter's Little 1rier rills.
SICK HEADACHE.
'Carter's IJttle Liver Puis.
SICK HEADACHE.
'-Carter's Little Liver Pills.
SICK HEADACHECarterlJ Lmla LlrtlPmu
nolS-ffi-TTa
NEW ADTEUTISEMETS.
THEATRE
Under the Direction of B. M. GULICK & CO
OPENING OFTHESEASON
Three Rights and Saturday Matinee,
Commencing
THUESDAT, AUG. 14.
WONDERFUL SUCCESS:
W. S.
CLEVELAND'S
MAGNIFICENT
MINSTEELS !
The Same Great Company that has Tickled all
the Big Cities.
SWEATNAM!
The Originator of the Monologue.
ETLXj-S" bice,
The Man Who Mates You Laugh.
Banks Winter, T. H. Mack, Harry Leigbton,
J. P. O'Keefe, Messrs. Ronalds, Randall S
Girard, Ausustus Hernig. and nearly balf a
hundred leaders ot minstrelsy.
The Castillian Palacet
First Fart,
Produced at a cost of orer $25,000.
The March of the Lohengrin
Knights.
tingimoto's Imperial Court Japs in their mar
Telous acrobatic eccentricities.
BIJOU PRICES:
Beseryed Seats, 75c, 50c, 25c
BOX OFFICE NOW.OPEX.
August 18 "One of tbe Bravest," aulO-tt
HARRY
WILLIAMS'
ACADEMY
Opens for the Season
MONDAY, AUGUST 18.
Newer and Brighter Than Ever.
MELVILLE'S
TRANS-CONTINENTAL
NOVELTY CO.
Matinees, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday,
aulO-8
GUENTHEK'S OKCHESTBA
Furnishes Music tor Concerts, Weddings,
Receptions, dtcj
Lessons on Flute and Pianoglren by
PROF. GUENTHER, 6 Fifth ave., and Bis
sell block, room 532. ap20-au
A TANK INSPECTOR'SSUFFEBING.
He Was Almost Crazy From tht Agonizing
Pains In His Head, Caused by Catarrh, and
Feels Very Grateful o Dr. Bjjrs for the
Prompt Relief Given.
MT.B.A. Thompson. WBidutU Street, AH
ghenu.
Mr. Thompson says: "I have been troubled
for orer seven years witb. wbat 1 now know,
was catarrh, lbad a dull, heavy feeling over
my forehead; my eyes were very painful, had
roaring in ears, dry nostrils, frequently blow,
log pieces of thick mucus from them, throat
parched and raw. bad taste in month in morn
ing, sickness at stdmich and frequently vomit
log of meals and also a heavy feeline orer my
heart. My work is that of a tank inspector at
the Fort Wayne shops, Allegheny, and lately
these troubles became so severe I had to knock
off worK, for when I would stoop down to look
under a car I would get so dizzy I wonld fail
nnr. and I bad such aEOmzimroains in mt head
I thought I wou'd go crazy. My throat became
so raw and my voice so husky I could scarcely
talk. Night sweats set in. and trhila I slept
soundly, I wonld get up in the morning mora
tired than wben I went to bed, and my legs
ached so I could hardly drag one alter the
other.
"I was induced to consult Br. Brers, as ha
bad so much success in eases like mlne.and tbe
third day after my first treatment tbe agonix
ing pains were relieved, and In two weeks 1 was
at work again. I baven't a restiga of pain left,
and I can eat and enjoy my meals as well aa
erer I could. Naturally I feel very grateful to
Dr. Byers for tho great change be has worked
In me."
IH FAVOR OF HOME TREATMENT.
A patient from New Cumberland, W. Va.,
writes: "Since you started to treat me my ap
petite is Tery good, my back does not pain ma
near So much, and. in fact, I am beginning to
feel liko a new mac. Tbe dizzy spells do not
come balf so often as tbey did. I am very
much pleased to find so much relief in so short
a time."
TREATMENT $5 A MONTH. MEDICINE
INCLUDED.
Oflce ot Dr. Byers. No. 421 Penn arenne.
Established 1H85. Specialties, catarrh, all nrrr,
ous. Skin and blood diseases; all chronlo disH
eases. aufl-sao.
-MQ
llJJg