Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, June 30, 1895, Page 16

B T OMAHA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 1895. ~ @limpres of Farly Life in a Primitive I'li- nois Village, HM's tame as a Story Teller Piomotes Dusle Dews — Recolloetions of the Black Hawk War—Mxiug busi- ness and Politics, (©opyright, 1895.) One day In April, 1521, a flatboat floated around the bend of the river Sangamon above New Salem, an Ilinois village founded two years before, One of the men on board was Denton Offut, then owner of the boat; another was Abraham Lincoln, its builder. The boat and its little crew, starting at Sangamon town, a few miles up the river, were bound for New Orleans. They were detained at New Salem only long enough to get thelr boat over the Rutledge and Cam- eron mill dam, on which it lodged. When Lincoln walked Into New Salem three months later he was not altogether a stranger, for the people remembered him as the ingenious flatboatman who, a lit- tle while before, had freed his boat from water (and thus enabled it to get over the dam) by resorting to the miraculous ex- pedient of boring a hole in its bottom. Be- fore returning from New Orleans Denton Offut had made up his mind to open a store at New Salem in addition similar establishments managed by him at other places, and so delighted was he with Lincoln, whom he had found in the back- woods of Macon county a few months pre- viously, that he resolved to place him in charge of the new store. The precise date of the opening of Denton Offut's store Is not known. We only know that on July 8, 1831, the county commissioners’ court of Sangamon county granted Offut a license to retail merchandise at New Salem; that he paid $5 for this license—a fee which sup- posed him to have $1,000 worth of goods in stock. We know, too, if there is any truth in tradition, that there was a vexatious de- lay in the arrival of the goods; that while Lincoln was waiting at New Salem he pilofed down the Sangamon and Ilinois rivers as far as Beardstown a flatboat bearing the family and goods of Dr. Nelson, who w i to several other | Lot New | this had been for | rest enough to pay a week’s board in advance, boldly resolved to buy a store. He was not long In finding an opportunity to purchase. James Herndon had already sold out his half interest in the Herndon Brothers' store to William F. Berry, and Rowan Herndon, not getting along well with Berry, was only too g:ad to find a purchaser of his ha'f in the per- £on of “Abe’ Lincoln, Berry was as poor Lincoln, but that was not a serious obstacle, for their notes were accepted for the Hern- don stock of goods. They had barely hung out their sign when something happened which threw another store into their hands, Reuben Radford had made himself obnoxious to the “Clary's Grove boys'—a reckless gang of rowdies from the “Clary’s Grove" settle- ment, five miles southwest of New Salem— and one night they broke in his doors and windows and overturned his counters and sugar barrale, It was too much for Rad- ford and he eold out next day to Willam G. Green for a $400 note signed by Green. At the latter’s request Lincoln made an inven- tory of the stock and offered him $650 for t, a proposition that was cheerfully ac- cepted. Berry & Lincoln being unable to pay cash, assumed the $400 note payable to Radford and gave Green thefr joint note for $250. he little grocery owned by Jame Rutledge was the next to euccumb. Berry & Lincoln bought it at a bargain, their joint note taking the place of cash. The three stores were consolidated. Their aggregate cost must have been not less than $1.500. The only store now remaining was the general store” of Hill & McNeill; and if on any terms we may assured it would have sed into the hands of Berry & Lincoln. But they had secured a monopuly of the grocery business, strictly speaking, and were probably con- tent. Here we see two penniless mem, with- in the brief space of a few weeks, become the proprietors of three stores and quit buy ing only because there are no mcre stores to purchase. The epectacle is as amusing as it is amazing; but the whole transaction ptly attests the unfaltering faith which the people Salem had in Lincoln’s honesty—a confidence which, as we shall see, was not ml placed. Willlam F. Berry, the partner of Lincoln, was the son of a Presbyterian minister John Berry, who lived on Rock creek, five miles from New Salem. The son had strayed | from the footsteps of the father, for he was a hard drinker, a gambler, a fighter and “a very wicked young man.” ' Singular, it may seem, that Lincoln should have picked out such a partner, but in truth he did not select “BII" Berry, but rather accepted him as a partner from the force of circumstances, It required only a little time to make it plain that the partnership was wholly uncongenial. Lincoln displayed littie business capacit He loved books as Berry loved liquor, and hour after hour he was stretched out on the counter of the ttore or under a shade tree, reading Shakespeare or Burns, or any book he NEW SALEM. starting for Texas, and that at Beardstown he found Offut's goods waiting to be taken to New Salem. Lincoln returned from Beards- town on foot and on the way met two men with a wagon and an ox team. The men, then strangers to him, were James Gouldsby and Ned Potter, and Offut had sent them after his goods. Offut had expected Lincoln “to walt at Beardstown until the ox team arrived, and the teamsters, mot having any credentials, asked Lincoln to give them an order for the goods. This, sitting down by the roadside, he wrote out and Gouldsby used to relate that it contained a misspelled word, which he corrected, but as spelling around New Salem was largely a matter of individual taste it Is just as likely as not that Lincoln correctly spelled that word. IN CHARGE OF DENTON OFFUT'S STORE ‘When the oxen and their drivers returned with the goods, the store was opened in a little log house, on the brink of the hill, al most over the river. Lincoln unpacked the goods, put on the price marks, placed them | on the shelves, and then sat down to wait for customers. Denton Offut, full of business enthusiasm, fancied that New Salem had a great future, and to merely own a store in the place fell | far short of gratifying his ambition. So he forthwith leased the Rutledge and Cameron mill. Returning to Kentucky to supervise gome of hiz many other widely scattered en- terprises, he left Lincoln in charge of the store and the mill, The frontier store filled a unique place. Usually it was a “‘gencral store,” and on its shelves were found most of the artic'es ne-ded in a community of ploneers. But to be a place for the sale of dry goods and groceries Was not its only function; it was a kind of in- tellectual and soclal center. Such a store was that of Denton Offut. Here began Lincoln's fame as a story teller, and he could hardly have chosen surroundings more favorable to the highest development of the art. 1t was here, too, that Lincoln acquired the title of “Honest Abe,” a title which, conferred upon ~ him by Denton Offut and adopted by common consent, clung to him ever afterward, Through no fault ¢ Lincoln, Deaton Offut’s store was short-lived. It was In operation ~ loss than ten months. A constable one morn- ~ Ing took possession and the goods were scld ' to satisfy the claims of a legion of creditors, " The store building was standing as late as | 1836 and presumably stood until it rotted " down. A elight depression in the earth, evi- . dently once a cellar, is all that remains of Dffut’s store. Out of this hole in the ground bave grown three trees—a locust, an elm and ‘2 sycamore—seeming to spring from the same roots and curlously twined together; and high up on the sycamore some genius has chiseled the face of Lincoln, LINCOLN GOES TO WAR. In March, 1832, we find Linco'n distr.buting hand bills announcing his candidacy for the leglslature, and in May he was mustered into the military service of the state to help drive Black Hawk back across the Missis- #ippl. Lincoln was afierwards frank enough to confess that he did not go to war alto- ther from patriotic motives. Offut's store . nd Just closed and he had got little out of it except exgerience and a reputation for in- tegrity—two valuable acquisiticns, but neither of them Immediately convertible into cash; and the fact that it would give him the means for the time of making a living, coupled posaibly with the enchantment of Adventure, was what mate him an Indian fighter. Lincoln, though at the time proud of his election as captain of his company, never looked upon the Black Hawk war as a serious affalr, and to speak of its “heroes’ seemed to him a grotesque joke. The war came to an end all too soon. Lin- coln returned home in Augus’, just in time to it bealen for the legislature. He now und himself with nothing to do. It was at this time that a New Salem friond—an admirer of bis powerful frame and great strength—adyised Lincoln to become a black- smith, but the advice was very indifferently recelved. It only natural that Lincoln should go Lo the stores in search of work, for clerking In & store was the most agreeable employment he had yet found. He applied successively to all of the stores then doing business In New Salem, but they were In greater need of cus- tomers than clerke. The business had been tly overdone. Competition was too brisk. @ first store In Now Salem was opened in 1829 by Willam Clary, and within the next £Wo years stores were opened by George War- | berton, Henry Stmcos, Hill & McNelll, James . Rutledge, James and Ltowan Herndon, Reuben 4 and versatile Denton Offut—all to I8t upon the patronage of a sparsely set- | u lev community. In the fall of 1832, colp was looking for a job, there four stores in New Salem. The entious 80 'l“ u“l'i of l:u!’ & R a large line of dry The ths of the Hern- ~and James | | ours could borrow. He trusted largely to Berry; and Berry rapidly squandered the profits of the business in riotous living. The only wonder is that the disaster which at last came was o long delayed. BERRY & LINCOLN GET A TAVERN - LICENSE. On the 6th of March, 1833, the county com- missioners’ court of Sangamon county granted the firm of Berry & Lincoln a license to keep a tavern at New Salem. A copy of this license is here given: Ordered that William F. Berry, in the name of Berry & Lincoln, have a license to keep a tavern in New Salem to continue twelve months from this date and that they pay $1 in addition to the $6 heretofore paid as per treasurer's recelpt, and that they be allowed the following rates, viz: French brandy, per half pint... Deach brandy, 'per half pint... Apple brandy, per half pint... Holland gin, per hal pint........ per half pint.... half pint.. alt pint.. Whiky, per h Breakfast, dinne Lodging, pe Horse, pe Breakfast, dinner or supper’ for stage pa They gave bond as required by law. * And this is a copy of the “bond according to law” furnished by the firm: Know all men by these presents, we, Willlam . Berry, Abraham Lincoln and John Bowling Green, are held firmly bound unto the county commissioners of Sangamon county in the full sum of $00, to which ment well and truly to be made we bind Ives, our heirs, executors and adminis- trators firmly by ' these presents, scaled with our seal and dated this 6th day of March, A. D. 183, Now, the condition of this obligation is such that, whereas, the said Berry & Lincoln has obtained a license frem the county commissiotiers’ court to keep a tavern in tne town of New Sulem to continue one year. Now, If the said Berry & Lincoln ehail not be of good behavior and observe all the laws of this state rela- tive to tavern keepers—then this obligation o be void or otherwise to remain in full force. ABRAHAM LINCOL;: WILLIAM F. BERRY, BOWLING GRE (This bond appears to have been written by the clerk of the commissioners' court, and Lincoln's name was signed by some one other than himseli—very likely by his part- ner, Berry.) DID LINCOLN KEEP HOTEL? Why Berry & Lincoln procured this license and what use they actually made of it can only be surmised. Its discovery is of com- paratively recent date. Two or three bi- ographers who have written in late years make a casual allusion to 1t, and say that no tavern was ever actually conducted by Berry & Lincoln, and a careful inquiry has fully confirmed this conclusion. All the known facts make It probable that the license was procured to enable the firm to retail the liquors which they had in stock. We may accept this theory without reflecting in the slightest degree upon the character of Lincoln. In a community in which liquor drinking was practically uni- versal, at a time when whisky was as legiti- mate an article of merchandise as coffee or calico—when no family was without a_jug— when the minister of the gospel could take his “dram” without any breach of propriety —it is not eurprieing that a_reputable young man should have been found selling whisky Poseibly because harboring a foollsh fear of doing an injury to his reputation, Lincoln's blographers have said practically nothing upon the subject; but the facts are too interefling to be suppressed, even if the suppression of any facts concerning Lincoln were justifiable, In the days when Lincoln kept a grocery lquor was sold at all groceries; but it could not be lawfully sold in a less quantity than one quart. The law, however, was not al- ways rigidly cbserved, and it was the custom of storekeepers to “‘set up” the drinks to their patrons. Each of the three groceries which Berry & Lincoln acquired had the usual supply of liquors, sud the combined ock must bave amounted almost to a super- undance. It was only natural, and only a strake of business, that they should seek a way to dispose of the surplus quickly and profitably—an end which could be best ac- complished by selling it over the counter by the glass. To lawfuily. o this required a | tavern liccuse; and it is a warrantable con- clusion that such was the chief aim of Berry & Lincoln in procuring a franchise of this character. We are fortified in this conelu- sion by the colncidence that three other grocers of New Salem—William Clary, Heury Sincoe and George Warberton—were moug thoee who took cut tavern licenses. To secure the lawful privilege of selling whisky by the “dram” was no doubt their urpose, for their “taverns” were as mythical the inn of Berry & Lineoln, BUSINESS REVERSES. From and after May 7, 1833, until they ceasel doing business, their store was the postoffiice and Lincoln was the postmaster. Surprise has been frequently expressed that Presi- dent Jackson shoult ever have appointed a whig to an office; but the fact that Lincoln kept “the only grocery in New Salem,” and that he was honest and popular, evidently outweighed all partisan objections which might have been raised. As time dragged along the management of the business drifted more and more into the hands of Berry, Lincoln had learned survey- ing and he was frequently called to the coun- try. The stock of groceries was on the wane The numerous obligations of the firm were maturing, with ro money to meet them., Both members of the firm, in the face of such ob- stacles, had lost courage; and when Alexander and William Trent one day asked if the store was for sale, an affirmative answer was most eagerly given. A price was agreed upon, and the eale was made. Now, neither Alexander Trent nor his brother “Bill” had any money; but as Berry & Lincoln had bought without money, it seemed only fair that they should be willing to sell on the same terms. Ac cordingly the notes of the Trent brothers we'e accepted for the purchase price, and the store was turned over to the new owners. But about the time their notes fell due the Trent brothers disappeared. The few groceries in the store were seized by creditors and the doors wver closed, never to be opened again, Mistortu now crowded upon Lincoln. His late partner, “Bill" Berry, soon reached the end of his wild career. Badly broken in health he sought the shelter of his father's and one morning a farmer from Rock neighborbood drove into New Salem with the news that “Bill” Berry was dead. The appalling debt which had accumulated was now thrown upon Lincoln's shoulders It was then too common a fashion among men who became deluged in debt to *clear out,” in the expressive language of the pio- neer, as the Trents had done; but in this, a: in most respects, Lincoln was unfashionable He quietly settled down among the men ho owed, and promised to pay them. For fifteen years he carried this burden—a load which he cheerfully and manfully bore, but one &o heavy that he habitually spoke of it as the “‘national debt.”” As late as 1848, so we are informed by Mr. Herndon, Mr. Lincoln, then a member of congress, sent home money saved from his salary to be applied on this obligation. All the notes, with interest at the high rates then prevailing, were at last pa'd Lincoln was still “Honest Abe." JOHN M'CAN DAVIS. CONNUBLALITIES, The marriage of Miss Lowery of Wash- ington and the Duke d’Arcos, Spanish min- | ister to Mexico, terminates an engagement of twenty years, until very recently opposed by the bride’s wealthy parents. A year ago eight bachelors of Holland, Mich., formed the Bachelor's brigadz, and was agreed that the first one of the to become a benedict should buy a wire supper for the rest. The win> suppsr came off the other night, the ranks having been breken by the marriage of one member, Mr. and Mrs. Cleary of Lafayette, Wis., will celebrate their golden wedding in a few days. They are plain country people, but they have raised up a family of sons who are attaining eminence in all the learied professions. Even common washing soap may have a romance connected with it. A girl in a (‘in- cinnati soap factory put a note within the wrapper of a bar of soap as follows: I would like to get married. Kindly aldress Cora Lauxtermann, Ludlow Grove, 0.” The | fateful bar was bought by C. . Washburn, a railroad man of Susquehanna, and an item in Friday’s Cincinnati papers was beaded “Washburn-Lauxtermann,” The scusation of the day at Clinton, Mo, is the elopement of the heirczs, Miss Mary Gaines, and Ira Wherry, the son of a livery- man of that city. Miss Gaines wiil be 18 years of age in November, and will come | into an_estate of more than $100,600. Mrs, | Gaines had arranged a different program, but | it did not work. A few days ago the engagement of A. G. Barier, a well known architect of Raleigh, N. C, and Miss Rachel Blythe was an- nounced. The latter is a_half-blood Cherikee | Indian, but is highly educated and accom- plished. Her mother was a full-blooded Cherokee, living in the western ecction of | that state. When the wedding day ap- proached, a legal friend of the prospective bridegroom advised him to have the ceremony performed outside of North | Carolina, as there was an old law which would affect the legality of his | marriage to @ person of Indian de- scent in that state. Accordingly, they went to Washington, D. C., where the cere- mony was duly performed last week. When hey were getting ready to return to make their home in Raleigh an examination into the law disclosed that they could not live there as man and wife without subjecting | themselves to indictment, as the law abso- | lutely prohibits the marriage of Indians to | the third generation inclusive. The mar- riage of Mr. Barler and Miss Blythe can be | legalize} by the legislature, as will probably be done. ~ But es the legislature will not meet again until January, 1897, they will be compelled to make their home elsewhere for the next year and a half. A thrilling _elopement terminated in a romantic marriage In the ~Alabama state | penitentiary on the 20th. Mr. Lynn Edwards | and Miss Carrie Sedberry, two prominent | young_soclety people, determined to marry in epite of parents’ objection and eloped. Sherift Sedberry, the father, and his son were soon on the elopers’ trail. Three times within two hours were their plans to marry folled by the near approach of the pursuers, Pinally the sweethearts separated and healel for the penitentiary by different routes. Miss Sedberry, after an adventurous journey, reached there first, confessed everything to the warden and asked him to lock her up and to admit no one but her swcetheart and a preacher to her presence. Shortly Edwarls and Sheriff Sedberry arrived, the former a little in advance. He and a preacher he had | secured along the road made etraightway for | the prison, and inside the high walls they were united in marriage. When Sedberry reached the gate it was locked. The happy couple then slipped out a back way to the station and caught a passenger train to Montgomery, leaving the angry father of the bride pounding on the prison gates for ad- mission to prevent the ceremony, — - SONG OF THE HEART. (Written for The Boe.) The west wind arose one morning in June, The birds all atilt, the flowers abloom. He breathed o'er the garden a love Song; ah, me! As tender o What s dawn; as deep as the se mystic dwelt among mortal hath uttered, hath sung, But straight_bloomed the lily, and blushed the rose red, While grandly ‘the tulip. her purple robes spread. refrain its changes No no wood nymph The birds circled closer, as soft grew their call; The vine, with a sigh, shed its bloom on the wall And two careless hearts, all learned to know The message the west wind breathed gently and low. The June time shall pass, the fair lily d The rose and the tullp together shall le. But the heart of the maid and the heart of the man - Sing on through the years the song the wind sang. S Nebraska City. ——— Progress urop-an Cith “I know of no city in this country, an American abroad, “‘mot even Chicago, that impresses one 50 with a sense of newncss and of great development as Berlin and Glasgow. I remember Be:lin fifteen years ago, when it seemed hardly as much of a city as Dresden. Now it is so wonderfully built up and improved that New York seems in comparison with it an old-established community, slow in its growth. It is much the same with Glasgow, whose progress in recent years has been little less than mar- velous. If there are any Americans who still think that our cities are the only ones that grow like weeds, I would advise them to take a trip abroad and get thelr eyes opened.” untaught, —Mrs. Bhuman. say —————— Looks Susplelous ““When was George Washington usked the Englishman. | clerk of any saloon, | America, resigned his office on Friday night, | emblem of the order was engraved. | felt that in Mr. Eliott they lost a member “One hundred and sixty-three years ago,” replied the American, :#nd America was d:scovered in 14927 “Then how do you make out that Wash- was the father of this country?" ioa is how to get them. The pre BRARNRARARNAR ROPARARR. ECHOES OF TH ARARRY AANAARARS RARRRARG RARRLEERANRNNNNNRNNRRN, Representatives o' the annual session of the Junior Order 6f Wnijed American Me- chanles, which convened ~in this city re- cently, were highly pleased with the recep- tion they met at the bands of the citize Besides the general care which was taken of the visitors throughout the sesston, dur- Ing one afternoon the delegates and their ladies were given a ecarriage driva, South | Omaha, Florence and Fort Omaha being the points visited. At the fort there was a speclal dress parade. On one of the evenings during the session a banquet was given at tha Millard hotel in honor of the delegates, In most of the contested matters the wes ern delegates won. The west was well repre- sented in the election of officers, the result being as follows: National councilor, C. W. Tyler of Virginia; vice national councilor, P. A. Shanoro, Pennsylvania; N. C. Cond., Dr. J. L. Cooper of Texas; N. C. Ward.,, W. A. Howard of Nebraska; N. C. L 8, J. L. In- gram of Missouri; N. C. 0. 8., John W Pittinger of Indiana. Three cities were placed in nomination for place of next meeting, but Denver was chosen by a large majori An fmportant decislon made excludes from membership in the order all persons who el alcoholic or spirituous liquors as a beverage, no matter whether he be the hotel proprietor cr or store, except drug store, where such liguors aze sold, The following recommendation regarding an orphan’s home was adopted: “That eaid home be established at or near the city of Tiffin, O., and that the committee b empowered to receive tme deed for th conveyance of the property in the name of the national council, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and enter upon and take formal possession of the same in the name of the national council as soon as ths committee has assurance that it will receive and can command the eum of $30,000 to be paid to it within two years. hat the national council et apart the first week In April, to be known as ‘Orphans’ Home Week," during which week all subordi- nate councils of the order be requested to hold entertainments, festivals, fairs, etc., for the benefit of the home, and, that the na- tional councilor be instructed ‘to each year issue a proclamation calling the attention of the membership throughout the United States to the proper observance of the festival week, “That the appeal of the retiring na councilor for a donation of 50 cents per capita_from the entire membership of the order for the eupport of the home be received by the board of officers of the national coun- cil, and that the board be instructed to officially bring this matter to the attention of the board of officers of the various state councils with as little delay as possible.” Reports ehow that during the year ended December 81, 1894, there had been a gain of 201 councils, the total numbsr now being 0; a galn of 9,366 members, the total ership being 153,28; a gain of $2: in the amount paid for sick and funeral expenses, the total being $1,127,86 and a gain of nearly $237,434.7 ury, the total being $1,320,801 nal Clarence D. Elliott, the venerable consul of Beach camp No. 1454, Modern Wcodmen of June 21, and on last Thursday started for Grafton, N. D., at whicl piace he will make his future home. Before his departure an entertainment was given in the loige rooms in the Patterson block in his horor, the pro- gram consisting of musical selections, ongs and epeeches, after which refreshments were served. The feature of the evening, how ever, was the presentation of a goll chain and charm to Mr. Elliott, on which the The pre- sentation speech was made by J. W. Houder, ex-venerable consul, a response to which was made by Mr, Elliett. The camp members who had probably done more than any other to keep alive life and interest, not only in the lodge, but also.in. the order. Many ex- pressions of regret at his departure were ut- tered. The local members of the Patriarchal Ci:cle of America are making extensive arrange- ments for the reception and entertainment of the delegates who will attend the annual session of the supreme temple, which will convene in this city on Wednesday, July 10. A very large attendance is anticipated, the number being estimated somewhere between 300 and 500. The headquarters of the delc gations will be at the Millard hotel. The program has not been fully arranged, al- though the outline has been completed. The session will open Wednesday morning in some hall, which has not yet been chosen with an adlress by Mayor Bemis, which will be followed by the address of Supreme Oracle C. H. Lovewell of Englewool, Il In the evening a public reception and entertainment will be given in honor of the visiting guests. On Thursday evening a grand banquet will bo given at the Millard by the local mem- bers of the o:der. The banquet will be pre- ceded by work in the patriarchal feast do- gree, which v.ill be conferred on several can- Qidates. It is expecied that a large amount of business will be transacted by the temple. A joint meet'ng of the four Mzson'c lodges, Capitol No. 3, Nebraska No. 1, Covert No. 11, and St, John's No. 25, was held last Mon- day night and the newly elected cflicers of the several lodges were installed together. The new officers of Nebraska lodge No. 1 are as follows: Worshipful master, Benjamin F. Thomas; senior warden, John D. Howe; junior warden, W. S. Felker; secretary, W. O, Mc- Lean; treasurer, J. W. Rodifer; senior dea- con, Asel Steere, jr.; junior deacon, L. Repley Reed; senfor steward, James W. McDowell; junior steward, James Gardner. The officers of Covert lodge are: Worshipful master, Wallace B. Gibson; senior warden, John E. Simpson; junior warden, Charles M. Eaton; treasurer, Michsel O. Maul; secretary, Eben onfor deacon, Tillman J. Shirley; Junior deacon, George F. Brown; senior stew- ard, John F. Smith; junior steward, Edwin T. Lyon; tyler, Charles §. Owens, Omaha Conclave No. 334, Improved Order of Heptosophs, will meet in regular session on Monday night, at which time several candi- dates will be initiated. The supreme or- ganizer, Samuel I. Osmond of Pittsburg, who instituted Omaha Conclave, will be present. Among other matters that will come up for discussion |s a report of the proces(ings of the supreme conclave, which recently met in annual session at New Haven. On Friday night Triune lodge No. 56, Knights of Pythias, elected J. H. Bexton representative to the grand lodge which will meet in annual session in Lincoln this fall. The rank of knight was conferred on several candidates. Nebraska lodge No. 1 conferred the second rank on-several candidates last week and will follow up this with work in the rank of knight in two weeks, The picnic given by Life Boat lodge No. 150, Independent Order of Good Templars, in Bemis park on Wednesday night was a grati- fying success to those who had the matter ‘n charge. There were more than fifty templars in attendance. Supper was served by the women at 7 o'clocks and for several hours thereafter the time was epent in races and other forms of enjoyment. By no means the least part of the pleasure was the enjoy- ment derived from the eelections rendered by the Tyroleans. An invitation has been ex tended to all good templars in the city and nelghborhood to meet in Hanscom park on the afternoon of July 4 and spend the day to- gether, Augusta_Grove circle No. 1, Woodmen of the World, of Council Bluffs, will give a public entertainment on July 5 i1 ts hall. The entertainment will open up with a public installation of the newly elicted officers of the lodge, the Installing officer being Sovereign Clerk John T. Yates of Omaha. The installation will be followed by a program of musical and literary numbers. The evening will be closed with a banquet. On July 4 Alpha camp, Woodmen cf the World, will give an entertainment in its lodge rooms for the benefit of W. F. Erdman, who has been sentry of the ecamp since its institution. On July 11 Alpha Camp quartet will give a concert in the same rooms for the benefit of the leader, Prof. Rowe. AARAANA AAAA: RARARN, On Friday night Seymour camp, Woodmen sheigrB it 8 jare 3 o of | The former recsived AARAAANAANA E ANTE ROOM. R RAAAL AL AR AR ALNARAS SRRRINNL N RN XRNRININARL occurred in the lodge hall at Sixth and Plerce streets, At Deseronto, Canada, the twenty-first an- niversary of the founding of the Independent Order of Forosters was celebrated with a great deal of pomp. A great number of the supreme officials of the order were present, among them being _ Supreme Chief Ranger Oronhyatekha. He was presented with a silyer trowel and mallet, and to his wife and daughter were given a china tea set of 140 pleces and a set of brilliants, the givers being seventy representative members of the order. The celebration extended over | three days and was decidedly interesting, At the regular meeting of Patten lodge 173, Ancient Order of United Workmen, held on Monday evening, Jun the following officers were elected for the ensuing term: | Past master workman, J, W. Allwine; master workman, George Lohlein; foreman, H. W. Allwine; overseer, d Schlick; recorder, Wil- liam Taylor; financier, G. M. Palmer; re- ceiver, H. M. Bright; guide, J. Doyle; | inside watch, W, E. Putman; outside watch, P. G. Smith; medical examiners, Dr. C. Rosewater and Dr. A. W. Edmiston. The installation will take place on Monday, | July 1. At a recent No. 0, Ancient Free and installed the following officers: D. W. Scowles, worshipful master; D. D. Reatis, | senfor warden; I. C. Wiser, junior warder E. H. Towle, senior deacon; Grant funior deacon; A. E. Gantt, secretary Metz, treasurer; H. C. Gapp, tiler; And Cameron and J. W. Weaver, stewards, meeting Falls City lodge Accepted Mason: Woodmen of camp No. went out and cultivated and hoed a thirt acte cornfleld for cne.of their sick neiglh bors, Willlam Dillen, who had been sick for a long time and was unable to do any work. Some of the boys noticed the condition of his field and got together and cieaned it up to perfection. The Woodmen have a strong camp at Decatur and are Woodmen from the ground up. at Deeatur, Loup at the last mee'ing of lodge, No. 142, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the following officers were installed: Worshipful master, George W, Smith; senfor warden, H. N. Colby; junior warlen, S, McClellan; sentor deacon, E obard; junior descon, A. M. Stewar R. B. Williams; treasurer, G tiler, H. W. Rood; senlor steward, dn Strong; junior steward, E, S. Sears, Crescent chapter, Order of Eastern Star, installed the following officers: Mrs. A. M. Stewart, matron; H. N. Colby, pairon; Mrs. Hattie Sears, assoclate matron; Mr M. A. McClellan, secretary; Mrs. Linda Roo treasurer; Mrs, E. Hailard, conductress Mrs. Millle Smith, ascociate conductress; E. C. Hibbard, sentinel; Haydn Strong, chaplain, At North Anchor At Osceola lodge Free and Accepted Masons, alled the fol- ing officers: Worshipful master, E. L. King; senior warden, Dr. L. M. Shaw; junior warden, Grant T. Ray; secretary, H. H. Campbell; treasurer, Horace A. Scott; senior deacon, W. J. Conkiyn; junfor deacon, L. K. McGaw; stewards, C. A. Coon and H. P. Shore; organist, Fred Snider; chaplain, H. F. Henderson; tiler, Freeman Shaw. No. Ancient The blue lodge ani chapier of the Eastern Star of Red Cloud jointly installed their offi- cers for the ensuing year. The blue lodge installel were: Master, A. G. Wil- senfor warden, J. C. Myers; junior war- B. E. Grice; treasurer, M.” B. McNutt; secretary, J. A. ‘Tulleys; senior deacon, H W. Brewer; junior deacon, Joseph Kubicek; tiler, A. T. Ayers The Eastern Star installed: Matron, Mrs, H. W. Brewer: patron, E. B. Smith; assoc ate matron, Mrs. G. W. Lindsey; secretary, Mrs. William Parker; treasurer, Mrs. A. G. Willis; conductress, Mrs. Dr. McKuby; asso- ciato conductress, Mrs. M. Lester; Ada, Miss Mollle Ferris; Ruth, Mrs. Talbot; Esthe Mrs. Strohm; Martha, Mrs. E. B. Smith; Electa, Mrs. G. W. Knight; warder, G. W. | prom Knight; sentinel, H. W. Brewer. The_installation ceremonies were followel by a banquet, At a regular meeting Ancient Free and ford of Rowalt lodge, Accepted Masons of Ox- the following officers were installed for the ensuing year, Past Master G, E. Whit- man conducting the ceremonies: W. T. Pettygrove, master; L. M. Braly, senfor warden; J. H. Sherwood, junfor warden; N. A. Pettygrove, treasurer; C. W. Marvin; sec- tetary; C. Hiuman, senior deacon; D. D, Mclntyre, junior de J. §. Craig, junior steward; J. A. Perkins, tiler. At the regular St. John' tion of Scotts Bluff loige No. 20, Ancient Freo and Accepted Masons, the following officers were installed: Harry W, Haig, mas- ter; H. M. Thornton, senior warden; 0. W Gardner, junior warden; A. B. Wood, tary; Peter McFarlane, treasurer; mond, chaplain. day communica- The public installation of the officer; Solomon lodge No. 10, Ancient Free an cepted Masons at Fort Calhoun, was held in the Calhoun park Wednesday at 2 o'clock. Past Master E. H. Clark of Blair conducted the installation, Rev. Williams assisting as orator. The following officers were installed; Worshipful master, J. E. Hicks; senior war- den, J. S. Chase; junior warden, J. M. Trisler; secretary, F. H. Frahm; treasu-er, A W. Beales; junior deacon, W. Wuif; tiler, A. Michaelson. ~ After the installation dinner was served in the park and a very pleasant social time was enjoyed by all. The at- tendance was large, a large number of Masons and friends from Blair being in at- tendanca. B 4 SHORTER COLLEGE COURSE, Prof. Greenough of Harvard Discusses This Proposition. “If you want to see what is in a boy set a dog on him."” These words, used by Ralph Waldo Emerson in a lecture in a western city, were quoted the otber day by Prof. J. B. Greenough of Harvard university as gi ing In part the significance of examinations for entry into the university. Prof. Gree- nough has in the last few days been con- ducting the preliminary examination in Omabha. He is well pleased that entrance to Harvard is now exclusively by examina- tion, and he states that the sentiment that of almost the entire faculty. Certifi- cates are likely to be based on indulgence and not to be worth par on account of the allcwances of instructors {individually ac- quainted with, interested in and often sym- pathetic with the pupil. The examination is the dog set on the boy. Using another simile, it is the wave into which the boy is plunged to determine whether he can swim. It throws htm on his own resources, and though really a poor way to ascertain w he really knows and can do, it is the best way the college knows. It is a time when the youth gets a hint of the contact with the world for which the college is designed further to prepare him. The difference be- tween this examination and that of the schools is that it is a measuring rod whose inches must be inches and whose feet must be feet, and which are not cut short by a Judge inclined to stretch the real stature or augment through any sentiment the real strength Prof. Greenough confessed himself heartily in favor of the movement, manifest at Har- vard and certain other educational institu- tions, to shortem the college course by one year, 60 as to hasten the entry of young men into life occupations. He does not be- | lleve that more than one year can be taken from the four years commonly required for the degree of bachelor of arts, and he does not believe that this can be done without | some sacrifice in the amount of instruction, This he is Inclined to be reconciled to, but he thinks that what it would be under pres- ent conditions could be considerably less:ned by more economic methods as to use of time in the preparatory schools. He says that the Harvard faculty Is well pleased with the result of the action dis couraging professional athleticism among the students of the university. He has no hes itancy in saying that generally the studen most interested in athletics showed to disad vantage in the class room. Only two took the Harvard preliminary examinations in Omaba this year. They wer> Mosler Colpetzer and Clarence Thurston. his lem diploma the _will gradu- L Dy EDUCATIONAL ~ PROGRESS Another Spelling Reform Wave anherlng- Foroe in the Country, DISPENSING WITH SUPERFLUCUS LETTIRS English Teachors Investigate and Report on Awerican Schools—Do Women's Colleges Chreck Matrimony— Educational Notes. The ceived New York system, tion, the inviting phonetic system of spelling has re- other Dboost by the publication in of a dictionary based upon that To etimulate interest in the ques- publishers have sent out circulars suggestions and Several nent newspapers have taken up the subjeet and discussed it in a fri dly apirit agreeing on the main proposition that the English language is burdened with a mass ot useless sllont lotters That the existing philological mon: sity; that it ungys. tematic, unphilosophical and illogical; that it is & stumbling block in the way of Juvenile education, and a terror and a pa ers, {5 pretty well agreed upon by all leaders of modern thought. Nevertheless, says the New York Herald, when the first epelling reform:rs arose they were laughed at visionaries and Utopians. The actual order, it was said, involved o many vested interests that it would be impossible to change it Just as in mathematics it would be impossible to change the barbarous decimal system to an octomal or other syst:m that would obviate many of the chief difficulties in calculation. Nevertheless, the small band of reformers persisted in aving ridicule. They gained at last a qualified rospect from educators; they attracted converts; they marched on to further victories, and at last th succeeded in marshaling under their bauners many ot the choicest minds of the day. It is not too much to say that in theory at least most educators of today are in sympathy with the movement, Can the theory be put into practice? enthusiasts determined to try so early 1828, They gained over the author of Wel ster'e dictlonary, whose original work was gotten up on a phonetic basis, But though conservatiem won the day against most of the reforms advocated by Webster, 8o that eucceeding editions of his book were forced to drop them, something was gained. The unnecessary u in euch words as colour, neighbour, etc., was permanently banished from American literature, and innovations like plow and theater gained a half-hearted assent, 3 Since that time the cause has prospered slowly, but surely. And now the faithful think the time is ripe for concerted action. In discussing the proposed reform the Lou- isville Courler-Journal says: “In the school of today the child is taught to read in the beginning; and while the study of spellis is pursued at the same time the drills in orthography are much shorter and less nu- merous. eral circumstances, howeve have united to make up for these. In the first place there are the blackboard exer- cises which form such an important part of elementary training. Pupils as well as teachers take part in these. The children are | also required to submit written compositions even in the primary grades. The eye is thus trained with the memory, and a quick and ob- servant eye is one of the requis.tes for an accurate speller. It would seem, therefore, that while less importance is attached to this { branch of study children do not suffer eve in this respect from the change in methods of training. Also people read £o much more now than formerly that this habit has an immense educative influence which keeps up the average of spelling ability. 1t was one of Franklin’s sayings that while it was no credit to a man to spell well it was a disgrace for him to spell badly. That remark showed the acute observation for which Franklin was d.stinguished, for it has crystalized in a sentence popular feeling upon this subject. Bad pelling provokes not only contempt, but also ridicule. There is something as ludicrous to the average mind in defective orthography as in the perplex- ing hesitations of the stammerer. The suc- cess of Artemus Ward, Josh Billings, Sam Slick and many other humorists was built up largely on the recognition of this propen- sity to laugh at mental and physical defects But while the man who deliberately mis spells a word may aspire tobe considered a | wit, the one who does €0 from inability is sure to be laughed at. A man may be a scholar and yet if unable to put the right letters in the right place in any combination of syllables, he must suffer the imputation of ignorance. > school and no pupil can afford to neg- oot epelling. The study is difficult, but while its mastery may pass unnot.ced the lack of it never escapes observation. There is really another criticism, though it may not be o generally recognized by those who apply the principle, The ability to spell well indi- cates careful observation and accurate mem- ory, while the inab.lity to do so implies the reverse, The adoption of a system of phonetic spelling is a reform that will come slowly, if at all. Many years would be required to teach people that the new method was not simply bad epelling and until they could be got out of the opinion that it had its in- spiration in necessity instead of cholce they | would ridicule the writer and the practice. AMERICAN AND FOREIGN SCHOOLS. Five women teachers were sent from Eng land to this country to study and report upon eecondary schools for girls and insti- tutlons for the training of women. Their reports have been published by Macmillan and are well worth careful reading. The authors, saye the Philadelphia Ledger, were chosen as representatives of the best training of expert teachers in England and were there- fore tully alive to the differences of the ad- vantages and disadvantages of the American schools and those of that country. Each how our echools look in the eyes of English took a special subject and made a report on it, and together they enable us to see just teachers, Some of the matters described are, of course, familiar enough here—for in- | stance, that we have no national school sys- tem, such as exists abroad, but that educa- tion'is a matter left altogether to the etate though there is a certain amount of uni- formity in our echools, less perhaps than that enforced by central authority In Great Britain, France, Germany and Switzerland, One of these watchful observers lays stress | on the systematic cultivation of the spirit of nationality fosiered by national holidays and on the admirable order and discipline that result from the freedom of behavior in school | hours, Co-education is sald to give girls more dignity, quiet and self-posscssion and to boys a wholesome restraint in their man- ners. The splended provision made for our public schools in buildings and equipment of course calls forth praise from these watchful criticism. English epelling 1s a to foreign- €0 S| the s the school population and to be as good as any in the world. In our primary schools history of the United States is taught much better than English history in schools of the same grads = abroad, Amerl- can schools make more use of oral work, blackboards, maps, plctures, models, scientific collections are necessities in Ameriea, luxuries in England. School libra- ries, laboratorles, studios, gymnasiums are found here and not abroad. The American. pupils have more self-rellance and a greater love of knowledge for its own sake rather than for the prizes which are made such an Important part of all English school works One of the ladies who made this inspection’ thinks that not sufficient attention is given here to the development of the individual tals ents of a particular boy or girl, and that although ample proviston is made for indoor gymnastics in girls' schools there is almost | complete neglect of outdoor games and rece | reations, | The training of teachers naturally res ceives much attention in these useful lttle reports, especlally 8o because England and America have both made great advances i | the past few years, yet each country hai gone to work in its own way, ignoring and neglecting hitherto any comparison with the methods of the other. The simple, matter of fact, expert way in which these five English women have studied {our schools is of itself the best proof that they have found them well worth praise. DO WOMEN'S COLLEGES CHECK MATRI- MONY? In the Nineteenth Century the practical res | sults of giving the higher education to women are discussed by Mrs. A. M. Gordon {rom an | interesting point of view, says the New Yorle | Sun. Women in England have for some tima had access to university tramning, which 18 the substance, and of course the degree, which If ow, will be soon attainable, since ta deny it is now illogical and unjust. What good have the new opportunities of education done the women who have turned them to ags count? Mrs, Gordon has collected a quantity of statistics upon the subject, and from these she deduces the conclusion that a collegq tralning has not opened for women to any aps preciable extent modes of earning a livellhoad | beyond the old-fashioned methods of teaching, companionship and needlework; and thaty moreover, it operates as a decided check td | matrimony. There {s, no doubt, one good result of thd » higher education that is not capable of meag= , urement by statistics. We refer to the wider interests, the larger outlook upon life, and tha trained intelligence which are procurable af universities, but only by the minority of stus dents who strenuously avail themselves of the facilities at hand. The women, like the men, who take a mere pass course, might better have etayed at home. Let us turn, however, to those positive and practical gains which are eusceptible of mensuration. Mrs. Gordon shows that out of 720 feminine students who have passed through Newham college no fewer than 374 are engaged in teaching. Of the rest, 230 are living fn their own homes, supported, in= ferentially, by their male relatives. _Just five are doctors, two are missionaries, one 18 a market gardener, one a bookbinder, thres are working in charity organizations, sixteen have died, thirty-seven have left the United Kingdom and most of the remainder are en= gaged In some sort of secretarial work for which €ome proficlency in typewriting would probably have proved an adequate equipment. From Girton college comes concurrent testi= mony. Of 335 students who have there obe tained degree certificates 123 are teaching, two are misslonaries, six are in government employment, four are engaged in medical duties, six are dead and the rest live at thelr own homes. In a word, the evidence demonstrates that thus far a college education has done next to nothing in the way of giving women additional means of self-support. Passing to the effect of university training upon a_woman's chance of entering the holy state of matrimony, Mrs. Gordon first takes in the case of Girton, whose young women most profited by their opportunities. Of the 79 Girton girls who have obtained the cer= tificate for the mathematical tripos, or who, in American terms, have taken honors in mathematics, only six have married; of the 97 who have passed the classical tripos, ten have become wives; of the 47 who have gone through the honor course known as the mate ural sclence tripos, seven have married. On the other hand, the feminine students who have contented themselves with a simple pass degree, that is to say, who have thrown ° away thefr exceptional privileges, furnish a larger proportion of wives. The figures e= cured from Newnham furnish sim'lar results To sum up, about one in nine or ten of those girls who take honors at Newnham or Gire ton, marries; while about two in every five marry of those who take a certificate equive alent to an ordinary degree. The deduction drawn from these facts 14 that if_a mother sends her daughter to on* of the English universities, the latter is fae more likely to become a teacher than a wife, Is this trus 50, of the Harvard and Colum: bia ann We may expect to see thac question answered ten or fifteen years hence, when sufficiently demonstrative statistics shall have been compiled. EDUCATIONAL NOTES. . Craig, professor of history at Purdue university, has just been elected president of the Montana State university at a salary of $3,500 per year. Dr. Charles F. Kent, who is to go from the University of Chicago to Brown uni= versity, is te be professor of biblical history and literature fn the latter institution. He is a native of Palmyra, N. Y., and a grad= uate of Yale In the class of 1889, The first woman to receive the degree of LL. D. in North Carolina is Mrs. Cornelia P, Spencer of Cambridge, Mass.. The honor wag conferred by the University of North Caros lina, The lady is a eister of ex-Saliciton General Samuel F. Phillips of Washington, and her father was a professor in the unl versity. President Gilman of Johns Hopkins uni- versity, who has accepted the office of chief of the bureau of awards of the Atlanta ex= position, has started to work already con= structing a system of awards. He has cabled to Paris for offers of designs and an= nounces that awards will be delivered to the exposition managers one month after the exposition opens. Miss Marian Sara Parker of Detroit is the first woman to graduate from the departe ment of engincering of the Michigan uni= versity, On Thursday last she took the degree of bachelor of science in clvil ene gineerlug, She has taken the full course provided for those who desire to become civil enginecrs, except the fleld work in surveying, and for this she substituted drawing. — e A Wasted Opportunity, Washington Star: “Young man,” sald the Colorado editor, “you're a good poet, buk you can't write for this paper.” “Why not?" “You lack judgment. At the threshold of an opportunity your discretion deserts you. “I must confess 1 don’t quite follow you. “In this poem you refer to the glories of tho golden moon." “You could just as ealsly have made M ‘ellver mcon.” It wouldn't have Injured the sense of the meter in the slightest, And= Oscar rvers. The private schools in this ¢ try ere reported to educate about one-twelfth SEE OUR F1 Reed Fu Rockers, Ee you-—didn't—do—it." NE LINE OF raifure= 1sy Chairs, Divauns, Couches, Laborettes. Stools, Etc. They are solid comfort these hot days. The price and style will uit you. Dewey & StoneFurnitureCo. W AL 7 4 (11511 Farnam $t. =y '] g ” Estabiished (864, o ) ks 5y A Al