Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, October 30, 1897, Page 4

Grand Rapids Therata-'Review Published Every Saturday. By E. C. KILEY. i TWO DOLLARS A YEAR IN ADVANCE Bix Montbs...... $1.00 | Three Months........ 50¢ Entered in the postofice at Grand Rapids Minnesota, as secoud-class matter. a VERE DE VERE MANNERS. Are No Longer Characteristic of Aristo- cratic Society. The high-bred manner that marked the caste of Vere de Vere is certainly not characteristic of aristocratic so- ciety in France, England or America now, says the New York Tribune. The cynical Frenchman who said he could always tell the difference between an actress and a countess by the superior refinement and good breeding of the actress was not so far wrong. Not jong ago an English dame of the old school, who had brought up her daugh- ters in the traditional, admirable, in- sular and essentially British manner, got into a first-class carriage on the Dover mail with two of those daugh- ters and they arranged their various impediments in the neat, orthodox British fashion. Hardly were the three seated when a party rushed down to the platform, talking and laughing, calling each other “Billy” and “Nell” and “Tommy” and “Polly,” and saying good-by in noisy fashion to one of the | lot, who was evidently not to accom- pany the rest. “My dears,” said the British matron, bristling with dis- approval, “those dreadful creatures are coming in here, They are evi- dently Americans. Do not on any account permit them tu scrape an ac- quaintance. I am told that they are most objectionable in that way.” As the strangers scrambled in and the guard slammed the door, materfami- lias and her girls glared haughtily at the intruders, one of whom said pleas- antly: “I fear we are crowding you, but there was no other carriage to be had.” To this there was no response. Another well-meant remark about moving some papers was also received with chilling hauteur. So, paying no further heed to the original inmates of the compartment, the new arrivals literally ate, drank and made merry, to the intense and manifest disgust of the solemn trio, who exchanged glances expressive of their annoy- ance, furnishing obvious amusement to the presumed Americans, who, like naughty children, seemed greatly di- verted by the situation and rather tried to increase the ire of their companions de voyage by an overflow of hilarity. At Dover the two parties stopped at the same hotel and crossed the next morning to Calais. But what a trans- formation scene on the steamer! The British matron met the noisy young folks with a beaming smile and a bow, to which a supercilious stare was the only response. The prim daughters proffered rugs and other comforts, which were curtly refused. What was the cause of this sudden turning of the tables? Merely that the English matron, with the curiosity characteris- tic of her class, had examined the hotel register, and, to her dismay, had read “Lord and Lady Fitznoodle,” “the duke of Mayfair” and “the Hon’ble Maud Highflyer.” The smartest of the smartest set in London! The most in- timate friends of H. R. H.! The peo- ple of all others that they were most dying to know! A Story of the French Revolation. At the time of the French ReyNlu- tion, Houdon, the celebrated Frénch sculptor (whose statue of Voltaire we have all admired in the foyer of. the Theater Francais), was thrown — into prison. Mme. Houdon, in despair, went to Barras, and with streaming eyes implored his assistance. Barras shook his head; he feared he could do nothing. Houdon was a man of genius and, therefore, as David was one of the condemning judges, he feared there was little chance for his salvation. Mme. Houdon refusing to accept this opinion as finai and using all the arts and beguilements of which an astute French lady is capable, Barras at last condescended to ask her if her husband had any statue for sale at that time in his studio. Madame replied that the only finished statue at present: in his atelier was a figure of Saint Schol- astice, holding a scroll of MS. in her hand. On hearing this the wily Barras rang the bell and said to his answering sec- retary: ‘“‘M. Houdon has just com- pleted a splendid statue of ‘Philosophy Meditating on the Revolution.’ Hasten and purchase this sublime work of art, and have it placed in the Assembly.” Barras’ orders were carried out, with the result that not only was the sculp- tor’s life spared, but he received more commissions for statues than he was able to execute. On such small issues did the lives of men hang in those tre- mendous times. Not Disqualified. It is wonderful what good reasons men have for not serving on juries, but a bright judge is generally equal to the occasion. In the Quarter Session Court, Judge Biddle gn the bench, says the Philadel- pbia Record, a German asked to be ex- cused from jury duty. “Why?” asked the judge. “Well, your honor, I don’t under- : stand good English.” “Oh, you will do,” replied the judge. “You won't hear much good English here. anyhow.” | WRITERS’ PRIDE. ‘The Delight Felt by Dickens, Charles Mathews and Haydon. =" Dickens has told us of the keen emo- .Jon that overcame him on seeing in tint his first “effusion,” as he styled st, Which he had dropped stealthily one “wening at twilight, with fear and trembling into a dark letter-box in a Sark office up a dark court in Fleet sireet, and how when it appeared next taorning he went for half an hour into 4 Westminster hall, “because my eyes were so dimmed with joy and pride that they could not bear the street,” says Chambers’ Journal. Charles Mathews, the élder, describes the de- light with which he gazed on the first proof of his translation of “The Prin- cess of Cleves,” which appeared by monthly installments in the Lady’s Magazine, as “boundless” and how he fancied the eyes of Eufope were upon him and that the ladies who subscribed to that periodical would unite in call- ing on the editor to insist in “C. M.” declaring himself. Poor Haydon has left a vivid record of the flutter of elation with which he greeted the re- sult of his having dropped his little composition into the letter-box of the Examiner. “Never,” he writes, ‘shall { forget that Sunday morning. In came the paper, wet and uncut; in went the paper knife—cut, cut, cut. Affecting not to be interested, I turned the pages open to dry and to my,certain immor- tality beheld, with a delight not to be expressed, the first sentence of my let- ter. I put down the paper, walked about the room, looked at Macbeth (a print on the wall), made the tea, but- tered the toast, put in the sugar, with that inexpressible suppressed chuckle of delight which always attends a con- descending relinquishment of an antic- ipated rapture till one is perfectly ready. Who has not felt this? Who has not done this?” ENGLISH FARMS. Farmers in Great Britain Worse Off Than in America. Farms in England are selling at a ruinous reduction of their former val- ue, and in many cases cannot be sold at all, says the New York Tribune. Many properties within two hours’ ride of London are deserted. Recently at the sale of Langdon abbey 639 acres of land with farmhouse, stabling, home- stead and seven modern cottages, only realized £5,700, or less than £9 per acre. Fifteen years ago the property was valued at over £20,000, and four years ago it was mortgaged for £14,000. In Essex county, within a day’s walk of the Bank of England, a farm which in 1875 rented for £400 has for the last five years years rented for £1 per an- num, the occupant paying the taxes, amounting to about £150. In many cases farms have been sold for less than one-tenth of their value twenty years ago. Well-to-do farmers are abandoning the business and going to the colonies or to cities to start life anew. Nor does there seem to be any hopeful outlook for the industry in the future. Lord Salisbury recently de- clined to receive a deputation of Eng- ligh farmers, saying that he knew as much about the wants of the agricul- turists as they could tell, which was no doubt true, and it is equally true that with the best will in the world the government is powerless to render them any material assistance. Al- though the: situation is grievous, there may be some consolation in the fact that it is worse on the continent, and seems to be equajly irremediable. We have not yet suffered so severely in this country, but have by no means escaped the depressing influences which seem to have fallen on agricul- ture everywhere. The Pulse of Progress. The phonendoscope is one of the re+ cent inventions which promises great things for the medical practitioner. By its use the most obscure sounds within the interior organization of the human body may be distinctly heard. It is the invention of two professors in the Uni- versity of Parma, in Italy. It is con- structed somewhat on the principle of the telephone, only, considering the uses to which it is to be put, it is much more delicate as a sound transmitter. It is about the size and form of a large watch, and consists of two sup- erposed plates and a hearing tube, Ap- plied to the medical sciences, the phon- endoscope serves for the hearing of all the normal and abnormal! sounds of the human organism, and its practical re- sults are very wonderful, Not only can the sounds of the organs of respira- tion and circulation be heard by its use, but also those of the muscles, of the joints, of the bones, of the capillary circulation, and the first faint indica- tions of prenatal life. A Poet's Chivalry. The poetry of Longfellow reveals its author’s sensitive, chivalrous spirit, so that those familiar with his verses will read without surprise this story told by Mrs. Phelps-Ward in her “Chapters from a Life:” Longfellow was reading aloud a poem one day to Madam Mod- jeska, whose eyes filled with tears as the reading proceeded. “I shall never forget,” observes Mrs. Phelps-Ward, “the tone and manner with which, he turned toward her. ‘Oh!’ he c ed, ‘I meant to give you happiness! And I have given you pain:’ “His accent on the word ‘pain’ was like the smart of a wound.” Cause for Dissatisfaction. “Miss Oldgirl doesn’t look pleased at the account of her club meeting in this morning’s paper.” “Zz guess she isn’t, The club is called the Ancient Order of Bachelor Girls, and the paper has it the Bachelor Order of Ancient Girls*— incinnati Commercial Tribune. HAS NO FEAR. OF SNAKES. Maryland Man Wio Allows the Most Poisonous Reptiles to Bite Him. The only man in the world who does not fear a snake bite, and upon whom the venom of serpents apparent- ly has no effect, is William F. Witmer, whose home is in Wolfsville, Md., says the New York Herald. His perform- ances with copperheads, rattlers and vipers are a constant source of won- der and amazement to all who know him, and even to his lifelong friends there is a large element of mystery about the man and his strange power over snakes. He takes great pride in this respect, and when among stran- gers it is a favorite form of amusement with him to hunt up some ugly look- ing speciment of the serpent family —the more deadly the better it fits his purpose—and to let the reptile sink its venomous fangs in his bare arm or hand. Recently, while on a. Visit in the mountains of western Pennsylva- nia, a half-dozen spotted vipers were found in a bunch under a stone. Roll- ing up the sleeve of his coat until his arm was bare to the elbow, Witmer proceeded with his other hand to take the largest and ugliest-looking viper by the tail and, shaking him apart from the rest of the snakes, sing him about until he was thoroughly. enraged, He then allowed the viper to sink its teeth in his arm. Then one by one the other vipers were picked and al- lowed to seize the arm, i] there was a full half-dozen of the spotted writhing things hanging from Wit- mer's flesh and writhing themselves about the arm in a very frenzy of rage. When the spectators were sufliciently horrified the man took off the snakes one by one by the tail and, shaking them loose from his arm, killed them by snapping them like the lash of a whip. For the rest of the day no one would have been surprised to see the man drop dead any moment, but, on the contrary, he seemed among the liveliest of the party. There was no swelling of the arm nor any numbness of the flesh, the only trace of the ex- hibition being a number of tiny red spots on the arm, which looked as if a needle had punctured the flesh. Those were the marks of the snakes’ fangs. Witmer himself says of the strange peculiarities which he possesses that it is something inherited from his an- cestors, one in each generation back as far as he knows having had this same immunity from the poison of venomous reptiles. “I do not try to explain it,” said he; “all I know is that I have no fear of snake bites; and although I have been bitten hundreds of times I never felt the slightest ill effects from any of them. It is only a pastime for me to hunt and’catch the most deadly serpents, and a peculiar feature of it is that once a snake has bitten me I have no difficulty in tam- ing it. In fact, at home I have a num- ber of pet rattlers and copperheads, which know me and will come when I call them, just like a dog. I seem to have the same power over animals, and have yet to meet the first wild animal I cannot tame.” Imperial Ornithology. It is natural enough to think that what we have never seen nor heard of has no existence; but there are occa- sions when this pleasing personal ignorance runs against a hard fact. The story is told by a German paper, to illustrate the manner in which princes used to be educated in the good old times, that a Russian grand duke once came to Berlin to pay a visit to the Prussian court. It was early in the present century. In Russia the imperial two-headed eagle is seen everywhere—not in the woods or in the air, but on decorations of all sorts—stamped, painted, em- broidered and sculptured. Every Rus- sian—even a grand duke—is thorough- | ly familiar with it. While the above-mentioned young duke was at the Prussian court, a hunt was given in his honor, and by the assistance of the gamekeepers he was enabled to shoot a certain large bird. “What kind of a bird is that?” the grand duke asked of another hunter. + “It is an eagle, your highness,” the hunter answered, whereupon the Rus- sian prince turned on him with a look of indignation and said: “An eagle! How can it be, when it has only one head!” Extremely. Literal. It is related of a certain very mat- ter-of-fact man that he was waked one night by a burglar at the foot of his bed, who pointed a revolver at his head. “If you more,” said the burglar, “you are a dead man!” “I beg your pardon,” answered the other; “if I move, it will be good proof that I am alive. You should be more careful as to the meaning of your words.” The fault of this story is that it does not tell what the burglar did then. Properly he should have fainted, and remained in the faint until the police came and took him away. One of the Two. It was in front of a theater that a number of people observed a showily dressed man. . “I tell you,” remarked one of the group, “a man is lucky to have a big fur-trimmed overcoat this kind of weather.” “Perhaps,” was the rejoinder, in a tone of chronic discontent; “he’s eith- er lucky or else he’s an actor.”—Wash- ington Star. , For Herself Alone. She—Do you love mé for . myselt alone, dearest? He—Of course I do. You don’t suppose I want your mother about all. the time, do you?—Judy. $4.80—ExXcursion F: ie Minnesota St Fair. - Via St. Paul & Duluth R. R. Ex- | cursion tickets to St. Paul and Min- neapolis on sale September 4th to 11th inclusive, at the rate of $4.80 for the round trip. Includes ticket of ad- mission to fair grounds. Tickets good returning September 13th: Purechare them via St. Paul & Duluth R. R., the shortest and quickest, and the only line running three daily trains, leaving Duluth Union Depot 9a. m.; | limited, 1:55 p. m., and 11:15 p, m. Frocure tickets from your home | home agent or at the Union Depot or | {at the City Ticket Office, 332 West Superior’ St., Providence building, | Duluth. . F. B. ROSS, Agt. FINEST TRAINS ON EARTH FROM ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS TO ST.LOUIS. Eleetric Lighted and Steam Heated. | Ld The “DOMESTIC” Is absolutely the best Sewing Machine made, i latest and best improvements SIMPLE2 PRACTICAL e@DURABLE | Leads in For over 30 years has teen endorsed | by the public as the most satisfactory | trae and can save you money. Write | for free catalogue and prices. THE DOMESTIC S. M. 60. 298 Wabash Ave., Chicago. Pianos at Less Than Cost. T have leased the elegant, store at No. 222 West Superior St., Duluth, and am closing out at less than @ost prices the stocks of R. C. Mun+ver of St. Paul, who assigned, and W. F. | Edholm of West Superior, who also | went into bankruptcy. * The sale of | these pianos is naw going on, and I expect all of’ tlfem to be closed out early next neel¥ Do you want a piano? Ifso, gét on the train and come to Dutfith and see me. I can save you from $150 to $200 and you | may never again have a_ similar chance. Tbe pianosare of the best makes and grades-and, by the order of the courts to turn them into money, I am selling them at less than cost. All you have to pay is $25 down and $10 per month. We are selling fine upright pianos at-$98, $125, $127, | $165, $150 end $178. "They are of the | following standard makes: New Eng- Jand, Haines, Smith & Co.and Briggs. We also have organs at $15, $20 and $25. Come in and see us at once. A. E. Wuitney, Seliing Agent. No. 222 West Superior St.,* Duluth “(Finest Train On Wheels’”’ That is what Mr. Pullman says of of the Burlington’s new train be- | tween Minneapolis and St. Paul and Chicago. Fivisbed throughout in royal fashion, with wide vestibules, steam heat and electric light, and composed of compartment and sleep- ers, buffet library car, chair cars and dining car, it is without an equal in Oe country or abroad. No extra ‘ares. Better than the Best. Quick as the quickest, the Burling- ton Minneapolis and St. Pau!-Chicago and St. Louis Limited. An Electric lighted. wide vestibuled train, fr from the builder’s hands. Built at cost of over $100,000.. Most ,beautiful, luxurious, comfortable, complete train ever placed in service on any railroad in. apy countr). eam heated, ! of all sewing machines. We want your | ~ ae ae he a Se ae ate ake ae ae ae ate ate ate ae ae ae ate ate at ae ate ate ate ae aa he Shee Se abe Pe ae Me ae ae She aha a ae he ate ate ate ae ae ale ae a ae a te ate a Sea tee a ER RR EH RR Sdeske SE ATE AE HE Ae Ap. se ae AE Ne ae a ae he he ahah ae ae ae he ae ae ae ae ae He ae ae eae a a Homesteaders Pe | & Py + . by a 2 u Can save time and expense f proving up before E. C. Kiley, = Judge of Probate, Grand Rapids. ' ; : « Filings Upon Land ‘ May also be made before a him. > ue a The Expense i of taking witnesses to } Duluth or St. Cloud ) can be saved. 4 : i All Business aoe 4 Entrusted to my care i will be given prompt e attention. uM a a - % « If You Want to File ; m . —- 4 upon lands under any laws of the ° A United Siates, or when you are f ready to make final proof, call at A the office of the Judge of Probate, , i Court House, Grand Rapids. : - ‘3 2 Tn Sse SO ae we a NQonaa' 3 Pokegama Boquet “Cup Defender Manufactured in Grand Rapids By +++t GEORGE BOOTH. Al for cithor of these brands and you will get an excellent smeke, None but the finest stock used. f= SYGESBELSISESISISIBSISL SL FVSLGVSLELWSLSWSVSLS VSLSLSIS2 De 2ST ES) BSES: ‘es > me S20 For the above sum Broeker & Whiteake reo makine as fine a suiboas can be did inany city in the country for the money. Or, you want something better, yearn show yeu tie finest line rmiples eve. bre Mb into the uty. Atany rate ve thema before piactag your order, guaratitee ey garimcub they turu out in every way. % BROEKER & WHITEAKER, Grand Rapids, Minn. BPEL SISBSSSLSS GOSLSLSLSRSIELSS , ‘. Ste St abe ae ate se ae oh ae at ae ae ae ae ote Ae ea as ote ae apa ae ate ae ate a ae ate ae ate ae ae ae ae ae eae te ea a aR he Se ae he ate a ae ae he ee oe ae ae eae eae ae ae ae ae a a ae ae a a aE eae a a eA SecurityMutual Life Association ot Binghamton, New York. Incorporated under the Laws of the State of New York, Nov. 6, 1886 ae ee ad ie ee ad Be January 1 1896. Insurance in Force, - - - $20,137,350.00 Paid Policy Holders and Benefici- aries, - - - - . - - 308,352.41 Net Surplus, - - : - = - 410,839.65 RECORD FOR 1895. GALN im new business written over 1894, 87 per cent. - GAIN in amount of insurance in force, 46 per cent. GAIN in Income 2 60 per cent. GAIN in Assets, 36 per cent. GAIN in net surplus, 837 per cent: Life, Annuity, Equation and Return Accumulation Policies Premium rates about 40 per cent Jess than old 1Ine companies. For full information address. Pitiititttittitiitttitii iti ittitititt i ttitet tei ttr ttt itr % = Northwestern Department .3 . Ke : as L. K agg an MINNEAPOLIS MINN. 38 HS d. W, EARL, Suporintendent Agencies ss SE ee ete eae ae eae eat ae ae ae ae eee ae a ae ee ae aa a aa ‘SEE Eee ee ee eee ae ae bittttttttetit ttt ttt +4 The Herald-Review _ Job Rooms turn out Fine Work on) Short Notice.