Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, August 14, 1887, Page 11

{BE TRIALS OF AN EMIGRANT. Beminiscenses by a Former Emigrant Now s Prosperous Missourl Official. LANDING AT CASTLE GARDEN. An Unclean Italian~The Terrors of the Storm—Amusements in the Steerage—The Emigrants’ Diet— Emigration in Olden Times, A gentieman from the northern part of Missour1 who was in Umaha two days of Jast week is a living exemplification of tha advantages which the land of the free and the home of the brave posscsses for men of all nationalities. A few years ago this gentleman landed in this coun- y, one of & number of tired and wretched immigrants. To-day he isan associate justice of the county court of a prosperous Missour: county in which he has made considerable money as well-a3y many friends. In conversation with a representative of the Ber this gentleman who, by the way, 18 a very intellizent man, imparted some 1nteresting information in regard to the habits, the trials and tribulations of the emigrant while en route to this country. ““T'he scene on the pler previous to the departure of a vessel is an exciting one,” said he. “Itis crowded with emigrants allin a confused and excited state, re- winding one of a frightened flock of sheep. The majority are perhaps En- g'ish, Irish and German, though nearly all nations are represented. More than half of the whole number of emigrants arrive in New York from Liverpool, a curious fact being that as many German emigrants come to America by way of Liverpool as those who sail in steamers direct from Hamburg or Bremen. These Germans are conveyed to Hull by water Fnl thence across England by rail to iverpool. A shipload of these seekers or homes i8 a curious sight, many sinis- ter men and some loose women &are no- ticeable, but here and there may be noticed many neat in dress and cleanly in appearance and promising citizens, Kach emigrant has a contract ticket, which in consideration of the current rate of fare stipulates for his transporta- tion to New York, together with a full supply of wholesome provisions, cooked and served by itsstewards; the passenger 13 required to provide himself with bed- ding and cooking utensils. In my time the weekly allowance of food for adults was prescribed by the government and printed on the contract ticket. As I re- member it, it was 21 quarts of water, 84 pounds ot bread, 1 pound of wheaten flour, 1} pounds of oatmeal, rice and Ee:m. 2 pounds of potatoes, 1} pounds of eef, 1 pound of pork, 3 ounces of tea, 1 pound of sugar, and salt, pepper, mus- tard, vinegar, ete. The steerage stewards berth the umlfirnnm. and they are then murshaled on deck under the scrutiny of & government finspector who examines them for infectious diseases. “‘On nearly all vessels just before start- ing are found ‘‘stowaways'’ or some poor fellows who, enthused with the glowing desoriptions of the land beyond the sea and too poor to pay passage, are des- perate enough to attempt to steal pass- age. In nearly all stances these are discovered when the tickets are exam- med, and they are sent back to shore. Some of them will make the piteous tale that they have been robbed of their money while waiting for the vessel or lost their tickets, but this is of no avail. After the steerage passengers are at- tended to, the cabin passengers come aboard and the vessel pushes out.’” “‘What 18 the general treatment these people receive while at sea?” asked the reporter. “Well,” replied the Missourian, “‘neither officers or men seem to consider them worthy of respect. Occasionally you wiil find"some ships officers who will treat them in & humane, tolerating man wer, but as a rule they are treated more like a drove of cattle. No difference is made between the better or worse class but all are treated alike, There is no classifioation, the single women and men are sepurated, but Poles, Germans, Kn- glish, French, [talians, and people of all countries are thrown together. A cleanly, thrifty woman is berthed next to a filthy one, and the same with neat appearing hardworking men who are compelled to mingle with the dirtiest of vagabonds. ““The steerage is usually cold, dark and foul smelling. It extonds nearly the en- tire length of the vessel under the saloon deck and is cut np in gloomy apartruents. In each one of these are four tiers of berths or bunk, two on each side. The lower tier is two_feet from the deck and the upper tier three feet from the roof. The steerage is about ten feet in height; in each tier are vrobably six berths eighteen inches wide and six feet long and made of boards. These berths generally emit an unpleasant smell of chlorate of lime or carbolic acid.” “It is not then the most pleasant sight," remarked the BER man. “It is anything but a pleasant sight which greets ones eyes as Le enters the steerage from the open deck. The women and children are sitting or lying in the berths, the former tired and pale, yet bearing their suffering with that wo- manly fortitude characteristic of the sex; the children giving vent to their feelings in sobs, “Officious stewards are moving about indulging in a coarse joke here and a rowl at some unfortunate there. After the supper, and but few partake of the first one at sea, the tahles are raised to sthe roof and the ateerage conter space is clear. Some lamps are then lighted, but promptly extinguished at 9 o'clock. Three meals are served every day and in uality and quantity they are substantial. or breakfast at 8 o'clock emngrants sit down to do justice to oatmeal porridge and molasses, hot bread, coffee and salt fish, For dinner at 12 perhaps soup or broth, bofled meats, potatoes and bread. For supper at 6 tea and bread and butter with molasses, However substantial the food may be, the manner 1 which it is served is uncleanly. Beef and soup are placed on the table in rusty looking tins and then a scramble takes place, dirty fingers often being used instead of forks. On a pleasant summer day the emigrants have quite a merry time on deck. Some of the Italians bring out their harps and violins and a concert takes place. Aside from this these people amuse themselves at cards, checkers, and other games, and after a time they become partially accus- tomed to their filthy prison, the majority mako the best of it and enjcy themselves to a degre “How the emigrant cared for during a storm?” queried the reporter. *“Ihat's just where he reaches the height of his misery,” answered the ex- ewigrant. *‘1 shall'never forget the suf- ferings we all endured during a seyere storm on my passage. When the storm «came up the hatches wero battened down, the ports screwed in their places and the companionways closed. During all the time the sea is on deck perhaps 1,000 nnopla were confined to the steerage, on this occasion, for nearly three days. The atmosphere became close and in twenty-four hours was loaded with im. purities; meals were irregularly served and bndh{ cooked. I shall mever forget the exhibition of terror on the of aome of the emigrants, and their ocontagious as their shrieks grew louder, and- their prayers more fre. guent. After the storm had subsided, pud the sterage was opon, the sailors would not go in to olean up for six hours St e b ol d T nee of grog. cmber on this trip an incident wmcfifl:l sailor told me whs not an unusual one. One of the Italians in the steerage had not yasted himself since he had been on bonrdhnd after the storm he refused to leave his bunk, but clung to it in all its filth, and with Lis charactoristic indo- lence. On the captain's order he was brought on board and thoroughly cleansed with a_hose, after which he re- turned apparently fecling no better for his clean up, but I am certain the bal- ance of us rested easier. hen the steamer arrives at quaran- tine, a tow boat convor the doctor on board and he inspects the emigrants, If there are no cases of infectious disease the steamer proceeds to tie eoity, and shortly another steamboat appears with the boarding officer of the emigration commissioners. This official ascertains the number of passengers on board and listens to complaints. ‘‘Soon the trees of the Battery park come in sight, the steamer's pulse ceases, several barges are towed alongside, and the emigrants with their baggage are transferred to these. The same excites ment is hero manifest as at the outset of the voyage. The poor emigrants are browbeaten and driven about like the same old sheep, as soon as the barges are loaded a small steamer takes them in tow and they are landed with their loud of human feight at Castle Gar- en, ‘“The barges loaded with emigrants are goon moored to the wharf, and the cus- tom Qouse oflicers examine the baggage; old chests, barrels and bundles are pucked together and the ofticers begin the work of examination, ‘Do these people have much property ?'’ “‘Some of the emigrants have no bag- sums whatever, and it is safe to say that 100 is the average amount of cash held by one person with perhaps $50 addition= alin urovert{. . “Whenthe baggage has been *‘passed” by the inspectors, it is checked and sent to a room prepared for its reception. ‘Che immigrants are examined by a med- ical officer, who ascertains that no pau- pers or criminals are among them, and that no person aflicted with contagious or infectious diseases have escaped the doctor at quarantine, The immigrants are then ushered into the rotunda, a high- roofed circular building, into which ven- tilation and light arc admitted by a dome seventy-five feet high. The ‘floor is divided into small inclosures containing a post office, telegraph oftice, money ex- change and restaurant. As the crowd files in, each passenger is dctained for a moment at the registration desk, where hie name, age, nationality, destination, tho vessel’s naie and the date of arrival are carefully recorded and preserved. “When the registration is complete a clerk announces the names of the pas- sengers who have friends waiting for them, or for whom letters, telegrams or remittances have been received, and d livery is made to the persons answering. Other passengers who wish to communi- cate with acquaintances or relatives are referred to clerks who speak and write their language, and their messages are transmitted from the telegraph d by mail. The railroad companies have agents in the building, and the passen- gers who wish to leave the city are shown to the ticket offices, while their baggage is rechecked and conveyed to the train or depot without charge. Those who want rest are permitted to remain in the rotunda, where a howl of cofice, tea or milk and a small loaf of bread are sup- plied to them for ten cents. If they choose they can go to one of the board- ing houses licensed by the commissioners, which offer food and lodging at the modest price of a dollar or a dollar half. There is also a lubor bureau w is of much aid to the new comers. immigrants are guarded agai lers by a broker’s oflice where com is e: changed for bills at the lowest current rates, and where valnables may be de- posited without charge. “‘Many vears ago the great majority of emigrants were S0 poor that they could not prepay their passage. They accepted advances and were bonded to the ship owners, who derived ormous profits, Charles Reade has & vivid descrintion of the emigraunt traffic at this period in his “Wander Heir.” When a vessel ar- rived at Philadelphia or New York, the steerage passengers were sold at public nuction to the highest bidder. The coua- try roople either came themse! to purchase, or sent agents. Parents sold their_children, that they might remain free themselves, and tamilies were scat- tered never to be re-united. Old peopla and widows did not sell well; while healthy parents with healthy children, and youths of both sexes, found a ready murket. When one or both parents died on the voyage, the expenses of the whole fanmily were summed up, and charged to tho survivor. Adults had to serve from three to six years, and chiltiren until they becarme of age. hunnwnvs had to serve onc week for each day, one month for each week, and six months for each month of their absence. The emigrants were called “indented servants,”’ butin effect they were slaves, *“The last sales of immigrunts took place I think in Philadelphia during the years 1818 or 1819, The government then inter- fered with the traffic, and encouraged the immigration ot a superior class of people. But the accommodations for emigrantsre- mained shamefully defective, and nearly twenty out of every hundred passengers died at sea of fever or starvation. The steerage deck was usually about five feet high, without ventilation or light, and in this space the bunks were mngcd mn two or three tiers. *The health of the passengers was fur- ther impaired by another evil which, up to u very recent date, prevailed on board emigrant vessels, The emigrants were to provide and cook their own food. Many embarked without any provisions or an insullicient quantity, and others found no opportunity to cook what they bad. On the upper deck of the vesscl there were two small “galleys,’ about five feet wide and four feet detp, each supplied with a grate, and these were the only arrangements made for cooking the food for several hundred persons. ‘“Ihousands never lived to see their des- tination. Out of about ninety-eight thou- sand laborers sent from Ireland to Cana- da after the famine of 1846. nearly twen- ty-five thousand perished in consequence of the poor rations and defective ventila- tion orthn ships. Later still, in 1868, on one vessel alone—the Leibnitz" from Hamburg—over one hundred passengers aied out of five hundred. “The mortality on vessels bringing emi- grants to New York to-day will perhaps not exceed one and two-thirds per cent., and in some instances is no greater than one-eighth per cent.” L LOOKING FOR JiM, Written for the Sunday Bee. The little sketch I am about to write is sbsolutely true. It occurred when I was a British soldier, stationed at Malta in the year 1875, I was quartered in the St. Elmo barracks, right at the entrance to the Grand harber, and over the histor- ical spot where Napoleon is supposed to have sunk the golden gates. Anyone who has cver visited that island--who has sailed past the entrance and up to the Grand and Quarantine harbors, can- not have failed to notice the grand chal- dron of fonming and seething water; always turbulent, no metter how calm the day, whilst 400 feet above are the 5;--:“« barracks of St. Elmo. The sol- iers lazily pulnfi‘lo and fro are in strik- ing contrast to the rough ocean below .which for sublimity ana grandeur fis worth the painter’s most artistic skill, Military }ifo in Malta consists 1n & seem+ ingly never ceasing vound of guard mounting. Fall in at 7a, m., be in- spected by the regimental officers, then march to the brigade headquarters and be 1nspected by the brigad. ally march to governor's Lieadquarters, be reviewed, march past, salute and then off to the various guards, arriving at your post somewhere about 10 or 11, and all this time belted up and weanng a knapsack containing a full kit, with the thermometer at about 104° i the shad ] then when on guard you cannot remove your belts, and when on sentry you must wear your knapsack and straps, How- ever, to my story., In the company to which I belonged was a young married couple in whom the whole regiment scemed to take especial pride. The man, Corporal James Fennessy, was the son of a former officer of the regiment, an officer who had fought and won his way from the ranks to the adjutancy, and who, while winning rank and glory, had been debarred from saving that most essential article, either in civil or military life, money; consequently when the old man died after thirty-three years active and faithful service it was found that his entire estate consisted of soventeen pounds in money, four medals, the Vi toria cross, a presentation_sword, and two old suits of uniform. The son after waiting ag long as he could in the hope that his father's services would enable him to obtuin a commission, at last enlisted as o private soldier in the regiment of which his father had been aun honored ofticer, and was immediately given his first step that of corporal. Our regimental school- mistress was a young lady with almost a similar history to that of Corporal Fen- nessy, the two having been born in India in the regiment and known no othor homes than the barracks. What wonder was it that the two should be very much attached to each other, and when Co oral Fennessy, ns is the rule, sent in 1s written application to be allowed to marry the schoolmistress and be assigned quarters in the married block, the whole regiment from colonel to private took a personal and proud interest in the sa cess of the couple. They were married by the chaplain, the colonel giving the bride away and the company furnishing the wedding banquet, and many were the brillinnt prospects which the wiseacres of the regiment spoke of. But duty and discipline go hand in hand in the British and in spite of its being Jim wedding day, the first order issued tha cvening for the morrow’s duty read: “Corporal] James Fennessy and eight men will mount guard at 7 a. m. on 5t. Elmo heights.” In due time the guard mounting took place and it was nearly 11 o’clock before we reached St. Elmo heights. ‘Then when sentries were re- lieved we gladly threw off our knapsacks and looked over the buec Mediterranean. As far as the eye gould reach the sea ap- peared to be perfectly calm, while the different sails appeared so motionless as to resemble ‘“painted boats upon a painted ocean,” yet down 400 feot below us, the waters were as usual seething and foaming, curling and dashing against the O as if to make up by their fury the calmness of the sea. It was hot. In the guard house the ads of flies made it impossible to rest; outside on the parapets the scorching rays beat down pitilessly, and the only shade to be obtained was to 81t or lie in the apertures or embrasu®es built to receive the huge cannon placed there to protect the island from nvasion, but only used for fiving salutes. These embrasures were built out of the solid fort wall, were about three yards wide and sloped and widened out till the edg was reached. Knowing that our ne: visitor would be the inspecting oflice: 2 o'clock, the most of us made ourselve as comfortable as the circumstances would permit. The corporal, no doubt mentally reviewing the events ot the previous day, lay down in one of the em- b ures and was soon lulled by the heat into slumber. My readers need scarcely be told that when a sentry gives the coni- mand “Guard turn out” it 1s a mauter of pride with the soldier to grasp his rifle and fall in ns quickly as possible. In due time the officer made his appearance; the sentry gave the usual warning and man sprang to obey. d fell in but where was the corporal? . We looked at each other in speechless terror. There was but one exp ion of his absence, Instead of running towards the guard house when aroused by the sentry’s cry the poor fellow had evidently run in the wrong direction and had fallen 400 feet into the angry waters below, and 'ere we could explain to the officer the terrible st had occurred, the young rrying a dinner—the first she had ever prepared for her husband. Smiling and half blushing she passed on to the guard house saying, ‘‘Good morn- ing, boys, I've brought Jim’'s dinner. Where is he?” After a hurried consulta- tion with the ofticers we told her that the sergeant-major had sent for Jim, but that he would be back shortly, and while she was arranging her little dinner as tastefully as she could, one man ran off 1o beg the sergeant-major’s wifg to break the news ns gently as possible to the f'oung widow. By a ruse we persuaded her to return to the barracks, where by degrees she was told the cruel story. 1 have often thanked my God that [ re- mained on duty that day on the heights, for I'am told that the whole barracks re- sounded with her pitiful screams and sobs, Towards night, worn out with emotions and physically exhausted, she laid down and slept quietly. Now comes the most peculiar part of my little tale, and one which can be vouched for by thcwsands of British soldiers. At day- break she arose, dressed herself and walked back to our guard house. She cume to the door perfectly calm and up- parently sane. With a pleasant smile sbe bade us good morning, and enquired for her husband. When told that he was and pressed to sit down and If, she replied, “No, thank you, boys, I'm looking for Jim,”” and passed on. From guard house to guard house the poor woman walked, always with the sume object—looking for Jim—and closed her seurch only when night came, only to repeat the programme the next day. For two long years she hurried from guard to guard, always seemingly mn a great hurry, and although old friends could sometimes keep her chatting a litJde while, still she would soun grow restless and hurty on with the excuse that she was ‘‘Looking for Jim,”" Perfectly sane on every other topic, ne amount of rea- soniug would convince her but what Jim was on guard somewhere. Her strange and pitiful tale was of course known to every soldier on the island, and the boys all had a kind word and a smile for her whenever she made her appearance. The ofticers of the regiment subseribed suf- ficient money to prevent her from wan*- ing anything, and even wished to send her to 'England, but she would not hear of such thing. Ishall find Jim digectly, she would say, and then everything will be all right. One morning she was missed from her accustomed haunts and on going to her room she was found worn almost to a skeleton by her hurried wan- derings to and fro, laying on_her bed— dead.” Every goard house in Malta was draped in black out of respect to her memory and the regiment which had re- spected her living, honored her dead. On the following day the funeral took place at Floriana cemetery, large numbers of soldiers attended and her body was low- ered to the grave to the mournful strains of the Dead March, pllfimd by the regi- mental band. Beforc the regiment left Malta the soldiers raised a scription, and visitors to the cemetery can now see over her grave a plain white marble cross on which isinseribed: Sacred to the Memory of ‘Goue to Meet Her Jim." ——— Albert Friodlander has invented a portavle electric light. turnl the Bl FREE CHURCHES DEMANDED. The System of Pew Renting Denounced a8 One of the Devioes of the Devil. CHURCH A PLACE OF EQUALITY. Where High and Low, Rich and Poor Should be on the Same Level--The Free Cburch the Means to - Reach the Masses TWritten for the Sunday Bee by M. F. Sorenson, of Denver, No serious-minded person, who con- templates the state of christianity at the present day, can fail to see that the church does not reach or get hold of the masses. On the contrary infidelity and scepticism, liberalism and socialism,seem to be on the increase, and christianity especially in the western states and ter- ritories, as far as the masses are con- cerned, is quielly being cast off. Now, what is the remedy? And how shall the church reach the masses, or rather, how shall the masses be brought into the church? Before answering these questions,let us look back to the first centuries of the church, and we will be struck at the ex- traordinary change, which has taken place in the relation of christianity to what are termed the lower classes of so- ciety. It was to these classes, at the out- set, that the gospel made its most earnest appeal. To the poor, to slaves, to the afllicted and oppressed of every sort, the apostles and other early preachers, prin- cipally addressed their teachings. By this multitudinons class they were heard with the most sympathy, and from their ranks the primitive churches were filled. Christianity first estab- lished itself on the lower strata of the populace. The early church was the church of the catacombs. It burrowed underground before it cmer[ied into day- lignt, and climbed to high places ot power, The heathen writers of the first two centuries scarcely allude to the christians, and when they are referred to, it is as an ignorant and despised class. The rich, the powerful and the cultured, if they noticed them at all, regarded them with disdain. The early apologists had to defend the christian cause against the accusation of being a religion™ that started from ‘‘barbarians’” and sought acceptance among the vicious and un- learned. Christianity was the religion of the people, and so it continued to be through the middle ages. In this last period, itis true, that all classes, the high and the low, the rich and the poor,were gathered into its fold, but among them were the humblest in worldly rank. Witness the crusades, which were a mighty popular movement for the rescue of the sacred places. Every peasant felt the enthusi- asm that spread like a contagion trom land to land. At present we hear the question raised on every hand: How shall christianity be carried to the masses? How ~ shall the christian faith be brought to bear upon and be kept alive in the large multitude who are devoted to mannal toil, the artisans of the cities, the fa mins population of the country, the bone and sinew of the land, and how shali it be made to act as an antidote to the restless passions which at times threaten the stability of govern- ments and menace soclety with convul- sion? ‘I'his auestion implies that a large portion of the working class 1n civilized professedly christian nations, both Roman Catholic and Protestant. are alienated from the christian faith, rebels against its authority, careless alike of its restraints and its hopes. Why this dif- ference between' the later and the earlier ages of the church? How is it that a re- ligion that found its heartiest welcome in the class by whom the comforts, not to say luxuries of existence were pose Ll d 1n a scant measure,is now spurned by the corresponding portion of modern society? With reference to this problem T have but one or t¥wo suggestions to offer. The first is that in the ancient Roman empire when christianity was struggling for life aud for conquest, the lower classes had no prospeet 'of relief and solace from any other source. Especially had they hope of altering'their condition by atta ing the authority of the state. "Revolu- tionary violence against the imperial power that dominated the world, was an 1mpracticable thing, and revolt would have been an act of madness. In the middle ages Roman imperialism had in- deed passed away, tbut the elements of democracy that entered into the organi- zation of the church and affected its priesthood were adapted to enlist the sympathy of the common people. Over against the monarch and the feudal lord stood the hierarchical order, which the humblest might aspire to enter, and which not infrequently interposed =a shield for the protection'of the common man afxninst the tyrrany and exactions s lay-superiors, Bul the present age-—the church has more frequently been on the side of secu- lar authority—christianity has often been made a prop of despotism. In the great monarchical reaction in Europe after the wars of Napoleon *‘the throne and the altar” were the watchwords of the assailants of liberty. In this double interest the “‘Holy Alli- ance” trampled on freedom in Spain and Italy, Meanwhile, at the same time that the people have been conscious of losing the sympathy of their ecclesiastical rulers and teachers, the spirit of democracy has been %rowinz, und has been infusing a conseiousness of power into the minds of the less favored class. The effect of the French revolution was not prevented by the temporary reaction of the hostile political theory. To gan their end 'by the ballot or by armed revolution is deemed vracticable by the disaffected who have abandoned the christian faith. They seek for a remedy and a consola- tion on earth, and not through a spiritual deliverance that must wait for its fruit until they have passed beyond the con- fines of thie life. The second suggestion I would make is that when our Lord established the church on earth it was to be the spiritual home for all—for rich and poor, learned and uinonm, high and low, alike, The Rgospel was to be preached to all. But in modern times there has been a tendency especially so in Protestant countries, to maike religions worship and teaching the privilege, we may almost say the luxury, of the few, while nothing is left to the lower orders but the crumbs that fall from the rich man's table. Hence the masses have become alienated from the church. Go to our larger cities —and how many churches are free’ The large hshh)nul{ln churches what are they but religious clubhouses, where the E;:m are parcelled out, rented or so'd the iighest bidder, and where the wealth and ‘fashion assemble, because they are regarded as the broper places for the display of social differences? The lecturer, Rev. Joseph Cook, in a lecture alluding to this subject said as follows: I ‘suppose that the angeiin Bunyan'a vision, who saw the mser using & muck rake did not look forward to America, - He might have seen that a muck rake n? the front steps of a church used to rake in funds, is a vcu'[vl excellent piece of furmtare. For what? for a church? Why nott But for » Sunday clubitis a very indispensable piece of furmture, This'extravaganza of ours in Bundsy club palaces, this feeling- of ours that social prestige is more to be re- garded o cortain churches. that right THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY, "AUGUST 14. 1887.~TWELVE PAGES, standing before Almighty God, this using :gr Sun clu\u’n'!oelu preserv- ers to keep fami in good position— all these are circumstances pointing to peril in time to come, and a rndyn,N‘ with disaster.” At the triennial meeting of the “‘Free and Open Church association,” held in Chl'clgo during the meeting of the gen- eral convention, Mr. Jame$ Parker, of Now Jorsey, said: ‘“That of all the devi- ces put out by the devil, that of the i tem of pew rents was the worst. He had ”'tnd’ opposed it, and refused to pay rental on principle,” t is making morchandise of the house _of , it is contrary to the spirit of the gospel, and ' hin- ders the growth of the church. When one crosses the threshold of God’s house all earthly and class-distinctions fade and dieappear, and God's creatures are equal. 1f the masses are to be brought into our churches they must be made 1rce to all. The church must be the home for all,rich and poor, high and low alike. There aro, it 19 trua, mission churches and schools in the larger citics, and all praise is due to those who establish and conduct these enterprises of charity—but then they are enterprises of charity, and democracy engenders a pride that makes the independent poor unwilling to be fed 1n the kitehen. The sturdy artisan, the independent laborer, who is prnedcfllly excluded from the fashionable church by the high pew rent, is unwilling to enter the ch“flfl' church, and thus he goes to neither. But perhaps we will be niet with the question, that if pew rents were abol-- 1shed, how could the lnrfu city churches be supported? Time will not permit me to enter upon this question here. [ will simply say that in order to answer it I would ufin(n haye to ask you to go back to the primitive ckurch and see how it was supported 1n those days; how chris- tians honored God with tithes as well as lip-service, and every one, according to the apostolic injunction, on the first da; of the week laid on tho offertory his of. 1crmi; a8 “the Lord had prospered him."” ‘This subject, of course, h: ts practi- cal diffienlties, but [ am more and more convinced that the first step toward its solution is to make all our churches free —to bring the rich and the poor to walk in the house of God as friends—there to worship the same Heavenly Father in spirit and in trath, e SINGULARITIES. An Ohio tame crow has lived to pass his thirty-second birthday. At Bad Ax, Mich,, the other day a hawk sailed over the baseball field, He was struck by a ball and Instantly killed. Mrs, P. H. Richmyre, of Gilboa, N. Y., aged 82, has just completed a pair of trous- jers for her husband of 80 to play base ball n. A calf in Cassville, Wis., was picked up from a track by a train and carried on the cowcatcher to & vpoint opposite its stable where it jumped off unharmed. A Beaver Falls boy was pulled into the river by a fish that ook his bait. The boy held on to the pole until he was in danger of drowning, when he let go and swam to the shore. An elzht-pound salmon was recently cap- tured in the river at Williamsport, Pa., by a man named Conner, by striking it a well directed blow with a stick that stunned it. It had been napping. A party of twelve from Pocatello, 1daho, recently went fishing at Pebble and took over four hundred trout in four hours. They think that any good fisherman should fill'a twelve-pound basket in two hours. A Tennessee mountaineer recently found, under a ledge of rocks the sword of a con- tederate oflicer. 1t proved to have belonged to a captain who was killed in a skirmish, and one of his command hid it that it might not fall into the hands of the union forces, Major Black, of Sumter, Ga., owned a guinea hen that wanted to set. Her nest was proken up several times, and at length, with every appearance of extreme dejection, she walked to the well, flew np onthe curbing and with a rnsglng cr{ plunged heaa first into the water. When she was taken out she was doad. ‘The casualties of the jubilee procession foot up about 600, Three hundred were ca of fainting, over twenty of sunstroke. There were several broken légs, arms and collar bones, and dislocations. Some people suf- fered concussion of the brain, some had their chests crushed, and others were kicked by horses. A young Indy and gentioman from the Sixth ward in Eimira, N, Y., were rowing on the river on Saturday evening, when a black bass weighing about & pound leaped from the water, striking the young lady’'s wrist and badly frightening her, and alighted in the bottom of the boat. Wkhere it was madea prisoner, Sunday morning it was served as the young lady’s breakfast. Mrs. James Hoffses, of North Waldoboro, Me., is the owner of & cat which had a severe fight with a fox one day last week. Mrs, Ifoffses was standing in her dwelling house door and saw a fox make his appearance from the woods and come withing two rods S of the house. At the same time the cat jumped frow the threshold of the door and the two had a combat. The fox was determ ined to master his prey,but the cat belnfi a Iarge one and very knowing the fox got his match. The cat overpowered the fox and followed him for some rods, but the fox not being satistied right about face and made for his prey. But the cat belng more tierce than ever made the second attack and this time m:m-mm:\l was glad to disappear in the Woods. A comical incident was observed at_Con- &ress Spring park a night or two ago. There was a very large attendance, and the concert was particularly fine, For a wonder a couple of vigorous dovs had eluded the watchful- ness of the zate keepers and were enjoying the freedom of the parade ground. ' They were not long in finding each other out, and were on the best of terms, It may have been that Gartland’s music “‘soothed their savage breasts” into unwonted quiet. As soon as it ceased, however, and a vigorous clapping of hands began by way of applause, the two animals flew at each other with great fury and had as earnest a fi<ht as if they had becn enemies from puppyhood. The dogs had mistaken the applause as a “'sick ’em” from respective champlons, and they fought it out ou that basis, A reporter of the Providence (R. I.) Jour- nal, browsing about between midnight and 1 0'clock one morning recently, saw a man standing near one of the electrie light posts, ou Washington street, waving a long horse- wlllr back and forth high above his head. He had a fish hook on tha end of the whip, to which was attached a moth miller, and he explained that with this bait he eaptured the bats that were foraging among the insects around the electric light. He said he got a half dollar aplece for them, and that he had already caught seven that night. He sold them to the taxidermists, and saia that he could get more for them in Boston, He spoke of hiring & man to help him, as he could catch enough then to pay him for ship- P‘“g them to Boston, He caught two while he reporter remained to watch the operation, and he picked them off the hook and put them in a bag that he carried slung across his shoulder. One of the most remarkable feature in hu- man natura is observed in the Young family, of the Salem neighborhooda in Oglethorpe, Georgla. Mr. Willlam Young, who lives near Salem, a carpentor by trade, was born with the middle and ring finger of his right band together. The joints are perfect, and he finds no inconvenience from the other hand. The remarkable part is that his little baby was born with the same two nngers grown together. Mr. Young has nine rothers, who have natural fiugers. His father, nor his fatber’s brothers had no sueh freak of nature, yet their only sister has the identlcal fingers ‘on the same hand grown His grandfather had three fingers d thi toes of each . and as far back asiie can race the same freak is apparent, but it never developed on but one Iz gach family, —_— He Made a Neat Hit, Buffalo Courier: “Is there any one live ing here under twenty-one years of age?"’ in?uircd A man who rang the door bell to a Lake street residence the other day. *No, there is not,”" rather sharply re- plied a spinster of eight-and thirty” sum- summers who answered the ring. “Why! Is it possible?” was the mpl|y of the apparently astonished man, ‘‘don’t you live here?'" It was a neat hut, and after a little sim- rerln. and a brief chat about the weather he maiden purchased two eopies of work entitled “kints for the Young." H FUNNY THINGS BY JOVIAL MEN A Woman Who Know Her Husband's Habits. A DECIDEDLY MISPLACED JOKE. The Whirligig of Time--A Neat Hit—An Exploded Theory—1t Was Senass tor Brown—Busting the Corner—Smil The Farmer. Ol City Derrick, Onae on a tine he used to plough And rise at dawn to iilk the cough And drive with merry song and laugh To pasture Brindle an & her caugh. Then for the pigs he'd fill the trough And for the market he would be oughs Sometimes his mare would bruise her hough Against a fence post or a rough. And there he'd switch her with a bough To teach her better anyhough: He planted wheat to inake the dough, Which, in & drought, was hard toxrough. In winter, when his work was through, A little sporting he would dough: He'd wander with his gun and shough And aim at crows he couldn't knough. Sometimes he'd hunt nhm{ the clough For birds that do not ilve there nougi And shoot a seagull or a clough, Which he with joy would proudly stough. From swampland, watered by a lough, He'd make good pasture for his stough By laying here and there a slough While perspiration was his brough, Sometimes & snake that shed its slough Would scare him so he'd run and pough ‘Till stuck knee-deep within a slough, He'd yell until he raised a rough. HBut now work makes the farmer cough And, careless houeh much m‘rla scough, He lives on boarders rough and tough 'hat vough thelgh dough not cat enough, SheKnew His Hablts, Dakota Bell: *‘Seon anything of my hssband?’ demanded & Sioux Falis woman one day this week of an oflicer in front of the post office. *‘No, ma’am; has he disappeared mys- terously " *‘Naw! He came down town the same as usual this morning, but dinner has been ready anhour and 1t's all getting cold and he isn't back yet."” “You have been to his office I sup- ir, T haven't. I've no time to looking for him there, Say,1s there a sick horse at any of the livery stables?” *Not that I know of.” ‘‘Been any dog fights around lately?"’ “Haven't heard of nny." “‘Any ten-cent show or target gun in town?" *‘All gone, madam.” “‘Any manin n wagon selling brass jowelry?” ness not." o fire anywhere in town?'* “No." *‘No pools being sold anywhere on some horse race, or trial going on in a justice conrt?" “Not uny.” “No man selling medicine on the street, no us bills just pasted up anywhere, no woman walking a tight rope?" “Not a one.” “Well that's peculiar—I can't see where Joln can be."” “There’s a couple of Frenchmen with & tame cinnamon bear down on Phillips avenue, madam.” hat's it, that's it--1 didn’t think to ask about tame bears! While the pota- toes are getting cold as a stone he is down there making up a purse of seven- ty-five centsto see the bear climb a tele- graph pole! I'll go right down—you watch and see if he isn’t up to the house inside of ten minutes!” The Whirligig of Time. Washington Critic. The whirligiz of time doth bring Surprising char , it is true; One day a man is full of joy; ‘The next he’s mighty biue. ‘The ice man now in carriage rides; His style all other efforts mock. The haughty coal man now employs A horse car—or he walks, 2 What Busted the Corner. Last Sunday a favorite local munister was delivering an impassioned account of the destruction o} Gomorrah, He thundered away until he disturl the tired boomers in the front pews, hat,' he shouted, “‘what could be worse than that city's lot!"’ “If it's a city lot,” replied a just. awakened man, “Ill give you $i5 a foot."” “‘Eignty!” shouted another speculator in the gallery, aroused by the familiar *‘Ninety!” roured another, jumping up. “‘One hundred!"” SERRear And the whole congregation chipped in and would have boomed Gomorrah clear out of sight had not the soxton with great presence of mind called the worshippers to their senses by passing round the plate. That busted the corner, Wreck of a Thunderbolt, Chicago Tribune, For full six weeks the hen had sat On two corncobs and a small brickbat, And she looked at the storm, that tierce old fowl, With a tragic cluck and a wrathful scowl, The Icl?:xds grew black and a lightning 8| ha Struck that old hen directly aft, High, high above the thunder then Arose the squawk of the maddened hen. For with savage peck she had met the shock, ‘This crusty, tough old Plymouth Rock, And bounding back with awful jolt Went the ghastly wreck ot a thunderbolt, An Exploded Theory. Life: Fond Father—"Tulk of college not fitting & young man for earning living! dJust “as soon as Johnny grad- uated he obtained a splendid position,” Friend—‘What was 1t?" Y ‘ather—"First base.” Busy Bumble Bee. Charleston Enterprise, ‘The little busy bumble Bee 1s buzzing on the wing, With polished point but carefuly Upon his steely sting. The small boy loafing on the lea With hat in hand wili try To bother the busy bumblé bee, And flick him on the fly, The b, b. b. will simply smile— He won’t a second wasto— But that boy’ll be heard abount a mile As he humps for home in haste, Conscience Make Cowards of Us A1l San Francisco Wasp: The great mesl merist and mind reader had hired a hal- on Post street and people llocked to his exhibition. Among others, Frank took his little innocent Hazel to the entertain- ment. She appeared uncomfortable for awhile, and at length came ont with: *'Oh, Frank, dearest, can he really read veople's thoughtsy* “Well, I guess so; at any rate he's going to lrl"v." *‘Then, dear, let us get out of here right now; for if he reads mine I shall be turned out anyway.” The Bicycler. Wow is the time, in particular, When the festive youn rider bicycular, Strikes the stone rockular, In a way very jocular, And, loslng his pose perpendicular, Alights on his northeast auricular. The Green-Kyed Monster. Texas Siftings: Old Nace, who keeps a corned beef and cold cabbage hashery on the upper end of Austin is famous for his stinginess, He is also noted for his young mulatto wife, who 18 suspected of having married the old man for his money. Not long sinee Uncle Mosc met old Nace and perceived ut once that there was somothing the matter with the tinguished caterer. 1 hat's de matter, Nacet Got de rhus | matics agin?’" 3 “Wusser don dat."” ] *‘I sposo hits de toof=che what's hoisted yer mouf outer shape.' i ‘‘Hits my wifo's mouf what's bod 1 me. She has been a-kissin' Parson ‘Vm ngdoodie Baxter, who am boardin' e, " npossibul!" “Dar's no unpossibul about hit, bes case I seod him myself.’" +'What yor gwine ter do about hit ' “What kin T dot Ef I let de cat out de bag dat I has lost conferdence in Parson Whangdoodle, Baxter he might change his boardin' house."’ Found Together. In summer's hot meridian hou wJust like “birds of a feathe) The picnic and the thunder shower Are always found together. His Praiseworthy Object, Detroit Froe Press: A barn-storming actor who is pussing his summer in De troit, wa: approached by a friond the other duy with: . 1 hea, - you have a now snap?" ~ *Yes; I'm going to the country towms with a new play. *'Gioing to organize a company?” “*Oh, yes," ‘What are the prospoots?"* “Well, rather dubiou 1t's a poot lay, the weather is hot, and my people bominable, " Then you are suro to fail?" 1 expect to. “‘But why do you go? What can be your object?" 4 ““The object is, my dear follow, to up $400 which an amateur playwright is willing to let go of just now." - She Did Not Rebuke Her. Sald a maid, “1 will marry for lugre,” And her scandalized ma almost shucres But when the chance came, And she told the zood dame, 1 notice she did not rebuere. A Misplaced Joke. Detroiy Froe Press: “I want the bi| gest and best watermelon in that lot,” smd, as he surveyed a great pile of wates melons in front of a Woodward aven grocoery, ‘‘Yes, sir-—hore 1t is—best molon I've scon this year,” 3 ' was the brusque command, 18, B —xplendul red core. Shall I put it on ice?" The purchaser drew from his pocket & flask of port wine and procceded to pour the contents into the oritice. The melon readily obsorbed the liquid, and when the plug ‘was replaced the man chuokled: “‘He! he! he! 1 want that melon sent to ——, the temperance fanatic! Say noth. ing, and it will be n big joke on him." A couple of days !ater the man came around to the store again and asked: “‘Well, the melon was sent up?” “Oh, yes."” **‘And the boy didun't give my little plot away?” +'Oh, no, but we heard from it." “You did! He! he! he! What did he “Ho and hig family were off up the lake, but the hired girl and coachman said it was the finest melon they ever put tooth into!™ The Picknicker, Ewr{ plenicker hates. With a hatred intense, The man who putup That barbed wire fence.| It Was Senator Brown, Secretary Mosely, of the interstate commission was trying to keep cool one sultry afternoon lust week when n mesk looking old gentleman, with long white § beard and general mimsterial air, tored and inquired for the clork of the commission, 1 am the secrotary,” said Mr. Mosley, ‘“what can 1 do for you?'’ The old gentleman snid he would like to get a copy of the long and short haul d on. This was handed him, the sec: ry wondering what this country cher wanted with it. You look warm,” said Mr. Mosely, ‘‘won’t you take aseat near the window | o I;lnml:s,” was the reply, I don't care 1 do.” After a few moments silence the old gentlemen ventured to ask: “What part of the country are you from?" ;ltl ama Yankee—come from Massachu- setts,' hen his Yankee curiosity asserted itsclf and he said, *‘Where do you live?' “In Georgia,"” was the reply. “‘Are you interested in railroads?” “‘Yes; 1 am president of one of them. My name is Brown, ‘Are you uu{ relative of old Senator Joo Brown? [ have always had a desire him,"” am slightly related to him," » reply, ‘‘and I think I mlphllu that I am the gentleman himself." Mr. Mosely now says that he wishes public men would wear badges to desig- nate their oflice. e EDUCATIONAL In reality, the applinnces of educa count for little in comparison wiih the f’ |In:-.|onul upon which they are to be o zed. The Carthege Republican says the schy marms of that part of the country are dressed and gnml-loouhlfi. and are not prepared to trade a good position and per month for a §2 dude, ‘The cost of teachers’ board in some of th Maine towns, as reported to the snperintens |} dent ot schools, presents some interesti figures, In Bingham Imd:\;:ngues are hoal for §1 per week, and in Concord for 92 cents. In sharp contrast to the retrogression of educational ideas down in Georgia comes. the action of the Dartmouth medical school, where o colored student, J. P. liaynes, Galveston, Tex., has just been appol demonstrator of anatomy. ‘Those who are insisting un keeping Q: school open all throngh the hot month September should r ber that niost of { successtul men of the present generation their education fn schools which ovened 1 October or later and closed in April or earliers With all the wise things said and written {f on the such(‘l of education, it would seem as if the children of the present generation might be educated to ap ane of perfection, But in the mania to make a perfect system of our public schools the spirit of education 1s in danger of being lost. 7 In one way and another there are hun- | dreds of boys to-day, manly, independent, | self-reliantand datermined, who are forelng from untoward circumstancs the edn which they desire, not from Its maney yalue in the work of after life, buz dacause ednes | l.nmdln and of 1tsel€ L ¢o them the supremest. £00 Mi. Ciiarlotte Merrill of Brooklyn, whosa f Yoy witty pape? received such universal no- s tica at the Mt. Holyoke seme-centennial, has 4 been spoken of as & possiple successor Miss ¥reman as president of Wellasley logo. She is a lady of the most commanding presence, ubilities, wone derf ability and a very brillisat Itis sald by some writer on the subls that education Is nine parts inspiration and | one part drill. Rev. T. T, Munger says, i his ‘article on “Education and Soclal Progress,” published in the June Century, “With all the improvements ti aton- dency to snecialization that looks away from £ the ideal of education, so that we are gettl mirably informed men instead of com| hensive thinkers,” The fact that the higher education songht more and more zealously and success- fully every year, by young men qulnlll‘ without means s more plainly apparen! pople at the east than it is in the west. A ho m ty of the best Known institutions lrylnu there, that becomes the fleld ot aeti or those who have none to depend \:gw buf themselves, And it Is simply astonishing, well as most encouraging to the Ameri $6e how every summer brings out its host students eagér 80 to employ their vacatioa to permit a return, a few months Iater, to class room and she lecture hall. ‘T'he i fellow for whom the cnlloqe year cli &0 _empty purse, starts for themnla‘. umi‘bom healtliand - peouniary reln went. ¥