Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, May 28, 1893, Page 10

i { A ———— ————————— 10 THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY MAY 28 1893~TWE TY PAGES. THE ERA OF THE WILD CAT When Banks of Issue Bloomed and Soattered Bills Broadoast. EX-CONGRESSMAN PUSEY'S RECOLLECTIONS An Tostroetive Address on the Risks and Reminiscences of Ploneer Banking— Financial Legislation Also Touched Upon, Hon. W. H. M. Pusey, ex-congressman and banker of Council Bluffs, delivered the fol- lowing address before the Bankers associa- tion in that city last Wednesday : Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Asso- clation: The period immediately subsequent to the discovery of gold in California is known as the ‘golden era” of American finance. Within less than a decade the native product of gold was in excess of $600,- 000,000, & sum equal to the estimated volumo now in the entire country. The suaden craze 0 be rich stimulated immigration from all lands to the new Eldorado of the west. Civ- ilization under this impulse, in one gigantic struggle with natural obstacles, in its mar- velous achievements of a few years, did what would have taken half a century to accomplish without these incentives. From the Orient to the Occident they came by land and sea, representing the best energies and enterprise of the aggressive Anglo-Saxon race. They were the chosen instruments in the hand of an inscrutable Providence to blaze the continental highway from the Missouri to the Pacific. Unexplorea and arld deserts, un- bridged streams and hostile Indians were no barriers to these avant couriers of a modern civilization, The white covered wagons and long lines of eager gold hunters, stretching across a continent, were but the forerunners of the rushing railroad trains, Pullman sleep- iog cars and fast mail with “news from all nations lumbering at its back.” Contemporaneous with this immigration came o religious sect. journeying, they knew not where. Hounded, hunted, persecuted and driven from Nauvoo with their wives and little ones, ‘what sought they thus afar?’ ‘Bright jewels of the mine?" No! They sought a faith’s pure shrine, and mid- way to the ocean they founded their “happy Zion;" builded their temple, planted our flag over the city of the plamn, and for forty years have held the fort, surrounded by semi-barbarous tribes of people; a city of refuge in the mountain fastnesses of our re- public; and today, in their decadence, con- spicuously illustrating the law of the sur- vival of the fittest. “God moves 1n a myste- rious way His wonaers to perform.” The Gatway of the Exodus. ‘The people of Council Bluffs stood in one of the gateways of this wondrous exodus. 1ts reflex mnfluence did very much to give to our western states and territories a health- ful and permanent population, The Mexican soldier had tarried long enough with us to place his pension, in tho form of a military land-warrant, upon our virgin praries, the commencement of the happy homes and rich farms of our now be- loved and prosperous cormmonwealth. It was amid these surroundings many of us commenced our business life in the undevel- oped west. It. was in the ageof wild and hazardous speculation. The plethora of gold had stimulated every branch of indus- try, ran real estate up to fabulous prices, increased the cost of living and decreased tne purchasing power of the gold dollar. The volume of our circulating medium was swelled for beyond the demands of commerce and trade by an alien and irredeemable aper currency. The value of a metalic dol- ar depends upon its purchasing vower, its stability, its universal acceptibility and its convertibility into the money of commerce and the money of the world. The value of paper money which has been in use for over years among civilized nations of the earth, depends. wholly on the ability of the authority issuing it to give value for it whon payment is demanded. Wild Cat Money. ‘The people of Towa were then living under our_ old . constitution, which inhibited the creation of banks of issue, but surrounded by states and territories which, by legisla- tive enactments and general incorporation laws, fostered and encouraged systems of free banking, whose circulations were founded on noninterest paying stocks and bonds of almost every couceivable corpora- tion and association of men, devised and clothed with powers to issue money, much cf which never knew that its redecmer lived. Towa was the favorite dumping ground for this currency, and when the financial crash came was, possibly, one of the greatest suf- ferers. The scarcity of bank bills under the de- nomination of $5, and the want of subsidiary coin, almost forced us to tolerate the smail bills of these foreign banks. The dearth of silver for change among retail dealers in- duced the proprietor of one of our flouring mills to resort to a plan (within the law) to supply the long felt want. He issued his checks in denominations less than $1 upon his bauk on circular pasteboard chins; had them certified, payable on presentation in sums of $5 and upwards. They proved so convenient and popular that the miller had orders for them from Sioux City to St. Jaseph, This was also an era of successful counter- feiting, and the receiving tellerof a bank came an expert in his knowledge of the genwineness of bank currency. It was not enough that he should know a genuine from & spurious bill. Every bank issue had a different current value in the community; there was the bill which the steamboat would take for passage and freight; the bill which would buy the necessities of life; the Western Stage Company received for fare and pay the laborer for his toil. Kvery package of bills presented the banl counter had to be properly classified, and discounted into either par funds (which would be exchange) current funds and spe- cial funds to be returned to the depositor Inlike funds, and the pass book, and the bank account of the depositor was so speci- fied, no bank being willing to assume the possibilities of disastrous and sudden de- preciation to which this money wa: stantly subjected. Wide spread distru: want of confidence had seized upom the pub lie mina. The Draft Scared Him, - One morning an Tows banker dropped into the office of his St. Louis correspondent ; vhe cashier of the big bank cavelessly handed hum a draft drawn on Duncan, Sherman & Co. of New York, which ne had Just sigued, calling for §1,000,000. Faceti- ously remarking, ‘Do vou Iowa bankers often draw drafts for so large a sum of money s that?" 0!" was the reply, ‘‘and 1 doubt if there is a man in Towa who ever saw as large a draft.” “What 1s it issued fort” *Oh, don't you know we are building the Ohio & hilssissippi railroad; that draft fsthe first payment on the iron rails.” The country banker soon after withdrew, and, ‘what may possibly have been & surprise to the big bank, also withdrew his balance, not wishing to become an involuntary stock- nolder in the Ohio & Mississippi railrond, The laws for the speedy collection’ of débis were suspended by substituting ap- pearance terms and stay laws in the interest of debtors. One day & merchant in good credit and standing hurried into his bank and asked for the loan of $1,000, but was refused the ac- commodation, He excitedly exclaimed, “1f you don't let me have the money I am a uined man.” *‘How's that!" asked the anker. 1 will go to protest,” Was the re- ply. “Oh, is that allt You simply mean yon will join the great army of delinguents.” “But you must let me have it, my dear sir, and I will rn.v it back to you Monday wmorn at 90'clock on the opening of your bank, if T am a living man.” Nine o'clock Monday morning came; 10 o'clock; 12 o'clock; Jones had not put in an appearance. Collecting a Debt. ‘The banker, on his way to dinner, called at the undertaker's and ordered the hearse to be sent to Jones' reisdence aund there re- malu until he, the banker, shoula order it away. On his return to the baunk Jones was on hand, greatly disturbed at the presence of the hearse at his residence. The banker !M\ed him cord! : “ls it possible Jones, his is you, alive and well. 1 supposed you were certainly dead; 1 have always known Y0u to be u man of your word; you said you woula pay that note at 9 o'clock this morn- ‘f you were aliving man;' it is now ay but n‘ull‘y ,and { was determined to do my ;‘an n giving you a Christian burial.”” Both hese gentlemen have passcd away; steid fast friends through life, leaving, as & heritage to their children, large fortunes and the reputation of blameless lives. As enrly as 1855 the gold product of this country had reached its maximum annual rmlurt of $67,000,000, and silver, which had heen debased B per cent by the legislation of 1858, in & vain effort on the part of our doctrinaires and law makers to sustain the parity of the precious metals, suddenly poured its silver flood upon the market of the world, until its annual output exceeded that of gold by more than $20,000,000 per annum, causing a reversion in the natural ratio of these metals, and causing an entire change of legislative policy to sustain their equilibrium, The conservative financ the country then and ever since have advo- cated the doctrines of the framers of our constitution on the fiscal policy of the nation ; that the standard money of the country should be gold and silver, to go hand in hand at a ratio which will maintain their parity, and that no fiat legislation can pro- vide for the oscillations caused by the vari- ableness of their produ and the ceasecless ebb and flow of commerce which changes their convertible value as the tidal wave of the ocean troubles its surfac No nation on earth has any trouble about the money question which Seils more than it buys. But this country and continental Europe, debtor nations in the absence of in- ternational concurrence, will ever be sub- jected to difficulties constantly arising. During the period referred to British India and the Latin union threw open thewr mints to free coinage, causing the drai of ourgold reserve and precipitating national revulsion of 1 The Inevitable Collapse. Prosperous lowa, now rejoicing in conscious strength and an assured future prostrated and vtt heipless unde its exhausting effect. Far removed from the seaboard, with no railroad communications with the markets of the country, agriculture ed; labor unremunerative, our peovle simply existing under forced frugality, the banking business was neither remunerative nor ornamental. Securities and collaterals were unconvertible and our circulating medium was practically worthless- Later on the eloquent Emory Storrs was asked to address a convention of flat money fellows in southern Illinois. He commenced his remarkable address by saying, in sub- stance: “Thus far in life [ have had no use for a bank but to borrow what money 1 could of it and spend it as fast as my constantly pressing necessities required. But I thought, as L had to address so large an audience of experienced financiers as I find here assem- bled, T would take a fow lessons in practical banking. Inmy walks about Chicago I as- certained tho banks were full of surplus and idle money seeking investment on call at 6 per cent interest. I concluded I would bor- row some of it, and let the banks do thecall- ing. [found they invariably asked me for collaterals, of which ornaments T was en- tirely destitute. This leads me to lay down my first proposition in the discussion of the meney question in this counf What we need most is not an expansion of the cur- v ad libitum, but an expansion of collat- " Storrs epigrammatic utterances have not lapsed into inocuous desuetude iby the flight of years. Not Charitable Institutions. Those of you gentlemen who passed through the decade preceding the war, whatever may have been your avocation in life, have carried with you lessons of experi- ence on questions affecting our national finance which wo don't always find incor- porated in our modern political platforms, and which hold us to such conservative views and actions in our business lives in no sense conforming with popular sentiment so often expressed on the platform and in the halls of legislati As bankers and cus- todians of the people’s money we are com- pelled to spend thousands upon burglar- proof work, throwing every safeguard in this direction about our business, and as con- servators of correct sentiment and action on all matters of finance coming immediately under our control, we should be ever alert in our action and infludhco to avert and dis- courage many of the methods and practices of modern banking. A bank is in no sense an eleemosynary in- stitution, and no properly educated public seutiment demands of it something for nothing. When your customer asks you to take the risk and responsibility of transfer- ing his money to distant cities, he is willing to compensate you for the expense and haz- ards of your business. It is not so much the volume of one's business as the motto of the Romans, “Nulla die sina linea,” which the banker 'interprets, “Not a day without a profit,” which will augment the reserve of our moneyed institutions more than the vol- ume of unremunerating transactions. The fiscal and fiduciury intercsts of the country are being controlled by ‘‘young America,” who are rapidly introducing funo- vations, methods, ana stimulated enter- prises of the age. While wa would not ad- vise the use of the hearse in the collecting of over-due bills reccivable, we protest against the gift of chromos,gratuitous adver- tising and free exchange to exacting custo- mers of a bank. As one of the youngest of your organiza- tion (in juniority of membership) I earnestly hope that your association may result in loppiug off many things of modeérn growth, and by concurrénce and unison of action lead to the adoption of more conservative methoas. and practices in the business of banking. R e A PROBLEM AND A SOLUTION, Harper's Bazar " Is the ques- ing daily at our breakfast, dinner, be Saratogu shoro Shall iv b Adironda gloro? or ‘the golden Jersey Kk woods, with piny scent Or shall we cross the ocean for a tour in an- clent lands, And so trans foreign h Or shall we s ter alr? Or shall fair? rs from our own to 57 Ik Alas| with its bracing win- be content to g0 and sce Chicago's For me, when summer comes, I love togo t thai sweet place inio 1 can ronm about, the lord of every bit Wh fter dinner one muy sitquiet and not hoar A band of six musiclans playing operas by ear. Whoro bathtubs may be had without a churge A dibon the bill, nd whore at night one need not dress, as me say. 01 10 KilTs B¥men Whert ‘meals at’ all hours may be had, and whore my boys and | May it topethor when strange persons by we dine, with no To look distres: Ancilgar of co i And, like a boy, pretend with it he's pla g ona horn; ! playlng To frown when little Jennie's hand, by some slight carelessness, Upsots a plate of soup upon her next door nelghbor's dress. d when” Tomwmy tries to take Audas I look about 0 find o summer place f 1ike lllh(l 1t f b am convinced there is but one just such whode of biisy: ) And that is why my fumily and 1 no longer routn About the land in summer time, but rest con- tent ut home, e — The Robber Was Out, dy from Buffalo had quite an_experi- ina large Berlin hotel, suys Harper's Baza She was a brave little woman— “doing the continent alone with her two children without being able to speak a word language except United States, Oue having retired early with the little she was suddenly awakened by u pe- noise, which she soon became con vinced was caused by sume one trying to open the door between her room and the one adjoining. She “wasn't a bit scared,” but ©ot up quickly, turned on the electric light, and rang the bell. which resounded through the whole house. The sound at the door ed sudden), nd after a slight delay a *Dutchman,” as she called him, appeared to answer the bell. peak Iinglish?” (the usual question). shpeaks heem a loctle,” was the® reply. *There is some one in the next room try- ine to open my door,” excitedly, “No; he is out,” positively, “But there is some one there burglar—don't you understand?” *He is oudt! He vill be een at halluf past zwelf.” “No—a robber! a burglar! a thief—a thief, I tell you—a thief iu the next room!" “Vell," meditatively, “1do uot tink he ©es i tief, but he is oudt. He vill be cen at | a robber, a halluf past zwelf, and I—vill—tell—heem zat—you—want—to—see -heem. " S — Cook's Ex Dry lwmperial Chawpagne | should be in every household. It is perfectly pure and natura'ly fermented, SO P G ) s * NCMORIAL DAY STORIES, How Two Unlon Generals Weks Cwptared. J. R. Brouthers in Historia, In 1864 General Crook of the union army was stationed at Cumberland, Md., & town of about 7,000 people. He established his headquarters at a hotel called the Revere house. General Kel- ley, another federal officer, was situated at the St. Nicholas hotel. In and about the town were 7,000 or 8,000 of their troops. In the confederate army was a young lieutenant named Jesse McNeill. He was of a daring disposition and the idea entered his head that it was possible for a few brave men to take these two union generals prisoners. So he formed a bold plan and proceeded to put it into execu- tion, First, he posted himself thoroughly in regard to the situation of the umon army in and around Cumberland. Then he gathered a band of sixty trusty men and rode toward the union lines, - Cross- ing the north branch of the Potomac he soon encountered a federal picket. This man was a German and did not speak very good English. Lieutenant McNeill pretended not to understand him, and, while talking, managed to get close enough to take him prisoner without giving him a chance to fire his gun. Then, by means of fierce threats, the unlucky” sentinel was forced to tell his captors the countersign, which was “Bull's Gap.” Having obtained this valuable in- formation, the party pushed rapidly ahead. By means of the password they managed to deceive and to capture all the pickets they met. Bntering the town undiscovered, they rode boldly up the principal street. To and fro went union rxol(l\ers, looking with passing in- terest at the little band of horsemen coolly riding along, whistling, laugh- ing and talking as though returning from a lark. As they trotted ahead they met with the frequent and friendly hail: “Hello, boys! where are y “Scouts from New Cree careless response. In this manner they reached the St. Nicholas hotel without interruption of from?" was the any sort. It was between 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning. Part of the command stopped there and half a dozen men, with Joseph Kuykendall at .their head, entered the hotel and demanded to be shown General Kelley's room, as they had inportant information for him. Having found which was his aparument they obtained a light and entered with drawn revolvers. The general rose in his bed, resting on one elbow, and wanted to know the cause of the disturb- ance, “You know.me, gener: have been your prisoner, dall. don't you? T aid Kuyken- “I do,” said the general, mentioning “What do you want?" general, we want you. You » his name. “Well, are & prisoner. SA - prisone ished ofticer. der?"” “To me, sir,” answered Kuykendall. “‘General, we must insist that you dress immediately, or we will take you as you are. No delay will be allowed.” So General Kelley arose and quictly put on his clothes, wondering all the time how the town had been captured without a battle and without his having been disturbed. General Kelley's adjutant, Major Meloin, occupied one of the rooms in his commander's suite, and he also was made a prison Four headguarter colors were discovered and carried away as trophies. While this was going on at the St. Nicholas another scene was transpiring at the Revere house. Lieutenant Mec- Neill had divided his command and sent Lieutenant Welton to capture General Crook. Reaching the hotel, five men in charge of Joseph Vandiver, dismounted and entered. “Halt! who comes there?” demanded a sentry justinside the door. jends, with password,” answered exclaimed the aston- o whom must I surren- was the next command. “Bull's Gap,” said Vandiver. “Wo have important dispatches for General Crook and must see him at once.” Saying this the confederate threw themselves on the guard and took him prisoner. Then they sought General Crook’s apartmen They - tried the door and it was locked. They then knocked, not wishing to run the chances of meeting with a hot reception by breaking In the door, thus giving the general notice of the approach of enemie In response to the knock a small darky opened the door. I8 General Crook in?” asked the Van- diver. “Yes, si *Show me his room.” “ am afraid to disturb him at this time of night,” answered the negro. Vandiver made a threatening remark and geswure which frightened the darkey and he advanced and knocked at the general’s door. “Come in,” was the response. At this invitation the confederates erowded into the room and surrounded the dazed officer. “General Crook, T Vandiver. “Lam, sir,” was the repl presume?” said Ryt “1 am General Rosser, sir,” said Van- diver. “You ave in my power and I only can give you two minutes to dress in. Then we move, sharp.” General Crook passed his hand over his eyes in a dazed sort of manner, but did not offer to moy “Come, come, general, there are your clothes; you can either put them on or go as you are.” At this the general arose and quickly dressed. Then the prisoner and his captors joined the party keeping guard outside. General Crook was made to mount behind Vandiver, and off the command rode and soon joined Lieu- ill’s detachment, which was wuiting for them. All this was done without any general alarm being given, When the two parties were united Lieutenant MgcNeill commenced his quietly and in good On the hills about the were encamped many of Most of town Crook’s and Kelley's soldiers, them were sleeping, but a few, awakened by the noise, drowsily hailed them. About five miles below the city the first of the outposts was emcountered. To the sentry's challenge Lieutenant McNeill replied to the countersign, and in response to his questions as to their destination said: ” oing out on a seout. No time to dismount. Ave ina hurry You must look sharp, for the enemy is reported to be close. General Crook has sent us out to watch his moyements.” %o on then, boys. Cold night, isn't ite” “Yes, it is." *Do the Johnnies up stiff, fellows.” “That wo will. We're just the chaps to do that,” said the lieytenant, laugh- ing, and he and his men filed past the unsuspecting sentinel. In this way they passed the outposts and got into Virginia without being detected. They pushed rap- idly on to Iomney, Va. miles from Cuwberland. twenty-seven suit, about sixty jigfon oavalrymen com- ing insight. t 2 o'clock the next da; the confederates ware galloping along a pike hfl:‘darlnglj‘q-fi river, when a body of about 200 uriom horsemen turned a eimilar rode on the'other side. Abreast of ouch other thay, dashed on as fast as their weary hopses could travel, The federals had rigdgn thirty-five miles already and theit horses were in as bad shape as were MgNUill's. At length the road the confederptos were following left the river, and ad thé federals could not cross the deep sfrefim, MoNeill was safo from them. Sy At Moorfield 'Be learned that whole country ‘Was aroused and that union cavalry was moving in e di- rection to intercept him. A1l the next day he was hotly pursued. But he at length drew near to the confederate linos and through his intimate knowl- edge of the country he eluded all his pursners and oscaped in safoty with his captives. t is unnecessary to point out the dar- ing and valor of this remarkable ad- venture. The story speaks for itself. Immediately on heari this exploit General Barly promoted Lieutenant Me- Neill to the rank of captain. A Famons War Song. Chas. 0. Stickney in the Washinglon Star. One of the most remarkable characters brought to the surface by the throes of the civil war was Major Lamar Fon- taine, a famous scout and fighter in the confederate army, He acted as scout for Stonewall Jackson, J. E. B. Stuart R E. Lee, R, S, Ewell and Joe 1. ston. He is also celebrated as the author of a popular war song. He was and still is & Mississippian. Heit was who, in May, 1863, undertook the seemingly fool- hardy, but, nevertheless, successful ex- ploit. of carrying a supply of 40,000 musket caps from the confederate general Loring’s headquarters at Jack- son, Miss., through the union lines to boleagured General Pemberton in Vicks- burg, when that commander was out of caps, and, consequently, could not - fire a gun, a condition of things which had Grant known of would have hastened the fall of that stronghold. In that expedition Fontaine had horses shot under him and any quantity of bullets fired at him, making numer- ous holes in his clothes and equipage, besides meeting other frightful danger: It was, altogethor, a terrible expe ence. Heis the hereof twenty-seven hard fought battles, and came out of the war minus a leg and bearing other evi dences of his army experiences. He is still a resident of his native state, where, at the age of 61, he works hard daily at his profession of surveyor and civil engi- neer. Another thing for which he is cele- bratea is as the author—the real author —of ““All Quiet Along the Potomac To- night.” To be sure, that fact has been disputed, but I notice in a book of war songs lately publishod he is given the credit which to him, rightfully belongs. But it is not mv purpose to go into the disc of a question in which the is little, ifa1y, interestod. What I'do care for is the) deeply interesting narrative of a war-time episode in con- nection with the poem, as told in his recent correspodilénce with me. And this is the story: i 1t appears that'hot long after the first battle of Bull Rui, in which Fontaine, as a private in owmpany K—the Burt Rifles—Eighteenth Mississippi regiment, took part, he wis? transferred to the Second Virginiacavalry, and at the time of which this narrative treats was doing picket duty just abdve the head of an island near the ‘Seneca Falls on the Potomac. This was in August, 1861, one month after Bull' Riin, 'So._ many of the confederates had gone home on furlough that the picket lines were thin, being stretched over a vast_ extent of river front, and what few men, comparatively were on the front had to do double duty. It was here that Fontaine and another private named Moore formed a close friondship. Moore was a married man and fairly idolized his wife. and their two beautiful young children. Moore and Fontaine were almost constantly to- gether,whether on picket or guard duty. They clung to each other They bought little hand books of poems—Byron, Burns and others—and together they would sit in the cool shade of trees or hanging rocks that lined the Potomac above the falls of Seneca and read aloud 1o each other passeges from their favor- ite authors. At this seetion of the two army lines the pickets on either side of the waters, federal and confederate, had come to an understanding and agreement that there should be no firing at each other while on picket duty. And but for a treach- erous violation of this contract by a fed- cral soldier the incident herewith ve- lated would not have occurred and ‘‘All Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight” would never have been written. I give the story in Fontaine's own graphic words: “We had to stand on a post six hours ata time. That night I took my stand at 6 o’clock and Moore retired to rest. The nights were chilly and we usually kept some fire burning. There was a small spring of water close by and a large fallen pino tree that I used to sit on and rest at times after walking my beat, and 1 have frequently stopped at the spring and bathed my face when the dread monotony of the still night had a tendency to lull me to sleep. As soon as I found that midnight had arrived I stepped to the fire and threw on some pine knots and roused Moore to take my place. I “*He rose slowly, picked up his gun, stepped to the fire and stretehed himself, as a sleepy soldier will, and gaped and yawned, and while his arms were ex- tended and his hand grasping the bar- rel of his gun there was a flash across the river and the whiz of a bullet, and he sank to the earth with a hole just above his eye on the left side, from which flowed a dark:crimson tide. Not @ word, not a groanfescaped him, ““I removed his #dmains from near the fire where he had fallen. And as1 did $0 my eyes fell ow the telegraphic ecol- umn of a newspappr ‘and it was headed *All Quiet Alongta Potomac Tonight.' And, oh, how teptiful it was! It was certainly all qu%t: ith me and with him whom I loved asa brother, ©1 could not hefp ghedding a tear, and my thoughts rever! to his home, his wife ana his chilgydfi and to the false- hood told by these whose guest I had been and whose t_z;e\chcry had caused his death, and they:.grew bitter, and a demon of venge ‘l arose in my heart which was not stlled until the white dove of peace spread her snowy pinions over the whle face of the land, and the bombshell rolled across the sward the plaything of a child, *When morning dawned the words of that newspaper were burned in my brain. They rang in my cars and were painted on every scene that met my view. I put my [riend’s effects together —his letters, sword, hat and all—and expressed them to his wife, with a true and perfect description of his death. And while I stood beside his cold form and gazed at his marble face and glazed eyes in the unbroken silence of my lonely wateh I felt what few mortals ever feel in this shadowy vale. I penned the outlines of the poem then and there, but not as they now appear, for the first were biting and sarcastic. I read the crude copy 1o Orderly Sergeant W, W, Williamson, who was a fine eritie, and Lieutenants Grabham and Depritt of my company, end Williamson suggested There they nnwn?n first signs of pur- the | the completion of it, suggested t that if I would only make it more pa- thetic instoad of sareastic it would take T I did so and on the Oth of August [ had it completo as the poem now stands, and I read it to my messmatos and re- ceived their highest commendations, | gave them copies of the original and | they recopied and sent them home, and soon the whole regiment, brigade, divi- sion and army were in possession of it. ““My father, whom I met sluvrll{ after hat in- stead of ‘stray picket' [ ought to say lone picket.! "But I did not alter it. The ladies of Leesburg, in Loudoun county, Via.. put the words to music and used to sing them for uslong before they were printed. T gave one copy to a Miss Eva b and one to a Miss Hemstono: also a copy to John M. Orr, who at the time was mayor of the town. 1 gave copies to many others whose names [ cannot recall. The following is a copy from THE ORIGINAT POEM, “All qulet along the Potomac,” they sy, “Except here and there a stray pleket Is shot, i he walks on his beat to and fro, By a rifleman hid in the thicket.” “Tis nothing g private or two, now and thon, Wil ot count in the nows of the battle; Not an officer 1ost—only one of the men Moaning out, all alone, the death rattle, All quict along the Potomac tonight, Wherc the soldiers e peacofully droaming: Their tonts in the rays of the clear autumn?| moon, Orin the light of their camp fires gleaming. A tremulous sigh as a gontle night wind Through the forest loaves softly is creeping, While the stars up above, with thelr glittering _eyos, Keep guard o'er the army while sleeping. There is only the sound of the lone sentry's tread, As hie tramps fram the rock to the fountain, And thinks of the two on the low trundle hed, Farawiy in the cot on the mountain, His muskot falls back—and his f grim Grows gentle with memories tender, And he utters a prayer for the childron asloep— For their mother—may heaven defend her! dark and The moon seems to shine as brightly as then, That night when the love yet unspoken Leaped up to his 1ips, and when low marmuroed vows Were pledged, to be over unbroken. Then, drawing his slecve roughly o'or his cyes, Ho dashes off tears that are wolling, And gathers his gun close up to its plice, As it to keep down the heart-swolling. He passes the fountain, the blasted pine troe; His footsteps are lagging and woury: 1 belt of Yet, onward he goes through the bro ght, Toward the shades of the forest so droary. Hark! was It the night wind rustled the Ie yudrously flashin Mary, good-1 Avd the life-blood is ebbing and plashing. ALl quiet along the Potomac tonigh No sound save tho rush of the riv While soft falls the dew on the f: That picket's off duty forever! ves? of the dead, Upward of thirty years have elapsed since the scene was enacted which in- spired the poem, and this soldier-poe this whilom champion of a ‘‘lost cause touchingly writes me that ‘““the glory he fought for has faded: that he cares noth- ing for what is in the cternal past and has no enmity in his heart, but loves the soldiers who wore the blue and fought to maintain the Union.” ——— GOOD ROAD MAKING, Correct Locatlon 15 the First Ruquisite of a Good Road. In November, 1880, the Department of State sent inquiries to its consuls in foreign conutries concerning the construction and maintenance of roads in their respective dis- tricts. Appended are some of the conclusions | arrived at by Oscar F. Williams, consul at Havre: The perpetual advantage of an easy grade should be secured at the beginning. Straight lines are best and on like grades are cheapest; it is cconomy, however, to secure easy grades at the expense of straicht lines whero such grade is otherwise unob- tainable, because the perpetual advantage to all users of theroad more than offsets the disadvantage to the land owner from ill- shapen fields. i ; Capacious middie blind drains in all roads will dry the. soil in_summer and minimizo the damage by frost in winter. Side drains should never be omitted. 1f natural soil of road bo arched at center its drainage will be easicr. All stones lisble to_disintegrate the road surface shoutd be rejected. ; Comparatively large cost is unavoidable; cheaply made roads will prove the most ex- pensive roads. Material should pe carefully selected, au- I rability and cheapness when prepared being first considered: then by using local stone local labor may be employed, and so by out- lay for stone and labor cach’ locality will to an _extent be benefited directly by the dis- tribution of the money cost of the road in such locality. Iyery county should own and operate at least one steam road roller. Road sweepings, except manuro, and com- mon saud and clay make suitable binding material over broken stone. - In making a new road wetting down or sprinkling has been proven injurious; such practice is wise in repair, as then the bind- ing material is solidifled, while the water does ot penetrate the surface coating to soften or weaken it, KOAD KEEPING. Repair should never be delayed. Sclentific supervision is essential. Wetting down aids repair by heiping the | new added material to adhere to the old, For re especially of large areas, as well as for coustruction, a steam roller effects great economy. The use of wide tires should be encour aged cither by bounty on such or by tax on narrow ones. Four-wheeled freighting vehicles should not track; the hind wheels should roll out- side the track of the fore wheels, Local tax for maintenunce tends to provent | local misuse, promotes local supervision, and prompts repair, GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS, Increase of railroad mileage scems to lessen interest in highways, but should not be forgotten that nearly all ilroad freight has been previously cavted over highways. Tho use of springs on fr greatly diminishes the jot or fi road depressions, serves road: “The effects o1 wheels of large diameterand width of tire is to greatly dimimsn spot ure, aud the breaking of the road sur- ght wagons ling force in prevents ruts and pre- | REFRIGERATORS, CHARCOAL FILLED, All Styles, Sizes and Prices. From 86.90 up NEW PROCESS. GASOLINE RANGE. Improved 1893 MANY NEW FEATURES. THE ORIGINAL THE BEST. MORE SOLD THAN ALL OTHERS Milton Rogers & Sons 14th and Farnam Streets. Sole agents for Nebraska. Dealers supplied at factory prices. Send for catalogue and price list. Are thoss ignoraas pratyaisrs whd withoutany qualifications, any ability Any oxperience, any skill, claim td possess the powar to cure all the ills of he human racs. But their want of] worth soon becomes apparent to thei would:-be dupes, and theso conscience: lessquacks are soon consigned t th oblivion they so richly merit. In strango and strong contrastwit' these miserable boasters is the jui dignified yet ocourteous demeanor o hose noted leadars of thoir professioa Drs, Betts & Bottg Who, during the past 27 years, hav abundantly demonstrated their ability to effect speedy, perfect and permanen? cures in all the worst forms of those del icate sexual maladios embraced withis the general terms of NERVOUS, CHRONIC AND PRIVATE DISEASES. Send 4 cents for their illustrated new book of 120 pages, ‘‘Know Thyself.” Consultation frae. dress, with stamp, Drs. Betts & Betts, 19 S, 14th Strest, Cor. Douglas St', OMAHA., - NEB, Call upon or ad- THOUSANDS OF $$$$$$$ Will be made at HARVEY HEIGHTS just as thousands have been made in and around Chicago. by Investors who went in on the ground floor. Lots #225 to 300, one-tenth dow bulance #3 to $10 monthly, WITHO UT INTER- IST. Froo abstract. titio perfoct. Investi- gato and plant a few dollars where they will grow, For prospectus, plats, ote., address, V. L WILKINS, Gon. Ag't, Dy born 8t., Chicago, RAMGE BUILDING, Best of Woolens. Superb effects in Modes and Finishing of various styles will be noted in our clothes, Frank J. Ramge, Tailor. FOR RN tores and Of- es in this building, with all nvenionces. Inquire of Rrank J. Ramgc DOCT OR s thus obviated. “The reduction of cost of transit of persons and freight by lower prices for liveries and for hauling would be beneficial, and, as transportation is a large element of cost to every one not a producer, good roads would much cheapen living. The cost of transporting products or of hauling to market is by tenfold the highest tax now paid by our farmers and hucksters. The cost of highway trausportation over the properly built roads of France does not exceed one-third the like expense in the United States, it being common in the rural districts of France to haul three tous, and in the cities from three to five tons, uet freight, with one horse. In this way the good road saves the farmer each year much more than its cost, and we may ignore the increased pleasure in its use. If two horses haul the load of four, one wagon of two, one setof harness of Lwo, one driver serve for two, and if six miles instead of three be passed per hour, the aggregate saving would double the net income of the average huckster or farmer. Land values are increased by improved roads. This effects (1) Increased assessment and taxes on lands abutting because most benefited. (2) This increased assessment re- duces per cent of tax and tax on lands not abutting, and which are hence less benefited i There are three things Time, Trouble and mone. Little Eacly Risers will These little pills will sa uct prompuly, ‘They will s 1 trouble as they cause no pain. They will save you monev 4s they economize doctor's bills N The first record taken by American as- tronomers of an eclipse wus on Loug Islaud on October 27, 1780. worth saving— ~and Do Witt's ve them for you. you time, as_they | Book sud Reolps SPEGIALISTS b, F. L SEARLES, Consultinz Surzeon Graduate of Rush Medical College (CC SULTATION FREE) For the treatment of | CHRONIC, NERVOUS AND PRIVATE DISEASES ‘We cure Catarrh, All Diseasos of the Nose, Throat, Chest, Stomach, Bowels | and Liver, Blood, Shin and Kidney Diseases, | Spectacles ! Flowers and BLISS. Special Sale this week of Midsummer Pattern Hats, white and light | colors. | The largest line of - leghorn hats in j the city. V*four 20 ‘ For bargains in Children’s Hats, Millinery. Bliss, 1514 Douglas-st OUR EMPLOYMENT DEP'T whilocosting tho employor employay nothing. s enabled us to advance the intor- ests of both, and also our own, Ly securing better resutts with the maochine. Wyckoff, Seaman & Benedicl TELEPHONE nl New Woolens, just in. AMERICAN ' TAILORS . Paxton Hotel Bulldiag, Farnam St, Omaha, The Celes brated Non- B changeable and Eye Glasses for sale in Om- RIS aha by MAX MEYER & BRO. CO,, ONLY. ] DR. MCCGREW THE BPECIALIBT. Female Weaknesses. it Manhood CURED, PILES, FISTULA, FISSURE permanently cured without ihie use of & kuife, ligature or eaustic All maladies of & private or delieate nature, of elihor sox. positively cure " Cali 00 oF nddress, with stawp forCirculars, Freo 118 8. 161h BL. OMAMA, NEB, Dr. Searls & Searles, Nextdcotto Paits @ze In unsurpassed o th {oatmonmotall — PRIVATE DISEASES d all 208 Blaorders o MEN 18 yoars experience. Write for baié and quostion list free, g IR