. JVDOE TTHO STILL LTTE8.
XotwUtistandlng a Desperate Effort Wat
Hade to Assassinate Situ ,
Hon. John B. Livingston , presiding
judge ol the courts ol Lancaster county ,
Pa. , very narrowly escaped assassination
.t the hands of 'Joseph Doesch. About 11
o'clock the door-bell of the dwelling was
rung and Mrs. Livingston found a man who
politely lilted his hat and inquired for the
judge. He was invited in and shown to the
library , where the judge was in conversa
tion with Ellmalcer , member of the Lancas
ter bar. The stranger advanced toward
the judge , who was sitting down , and made
o , motion as if to draw a .naper , pulling in
stead a sell-cocking pistol. He placed the
weapon at the judge's head and vainly
pulled the trigger , at the same time mum
bling some ivords which were unintelligible.
. * > Springing to his feet. Judge Livingston
seized Doesch and a desperate struggle en
sued. the men grasping each other with a
deadly grip and overturning almost every
article of furniture. The judge had his in
tended murderer at the head of the stairs ,
designing to hurl him over , but by a power
ful effort Doesch saved himself. Finally the
judge threw hisssailant over a chair and
disarmed him. Doesch is the owner of con
siderable property. Last spring J udge Liv
ingston refused him a saloon license on ac
count of his keeping a disorderly house , and
this act led Doesch to attempt the judge's
life. On his way to the station-house
Koe'sch sdidTlie'judgo is not fit for the
place he holds and must die. If 1 get a
chance 1 will kill him. If 1 don't , someone
else will. The dealer who sold the pistol to
Doesch. suspecting some unlawful purpose ,
placed in the weapon cartridges not suited
to it , and it was this fact alone that saved
the judge's life.
LEGISLATIVE NE1TB AMD NOTES.
s A. Record of Proceedings in Botli Branches
of the V. 8. Congress.
HOUSE. On behalf of the judiciary com
mittee Hammond , of Georgia , called up and
the house passed a bill amending section
643 of the revised statutes by adding the
following provision : Provided , that when
' anyic'riminol prosecution shall be removed
from a state court to the United States
court before presentment by a grand jury ,
or indictment , or information shall have
been made and filed against the defendants
in the state court , it shall be lawful for the
state court to proceed in such cases so far
as to have such presentment , or indicf
ment , or information filed in said state
court , and after thosameis to be madeand
filed the clerk of the United States court
shall issue a writ of certioriari to the state
court for like purpose and with like effect
as if the case had been so removed after
such presentment or indictment was made
and filed in such state court. 1 he house
then considered the president's message ,
Messrs. Reagan , Bland and others making
speeches.
SENATE. Platt presented a petition from
the commercial travelers praying for legis
lation to relieve1-them from burdensome ,
taxation. Teller presented a memorial ol
It ? " the Colorado legislatare urging congress to
Jp see that no discrimination was used against
I silver and favoring free coinage of that
metal. It was referred to the committee
on finance. Going to the calendar , the
senate gave some consideration to the bill
providing for a division of the Sioux Indian
reservation in Dakota. Without reaching
a result the matter went over. The judi
cial talary biil was laid before the senate.
Fne of the sections of the bill provides that
no person related within the degree of first
.cousin to a judge of the United States shall
be appointed by such judge to anv position
in his court ; and persons so related who
now hold such offices shall not continue in
Ite - . office after six months from the passage of
te . the act. Among the bills introduced was
one by Wilson , of Jowa , to fix the rate ol
postage on fourth-class matter at 2 cents
for each ounce or fractional oarfc thereof.
HOUSE. Springer called up theresolution
directing that committee to inquire as to
the expediency of the passage of general
laws for the ascertainment of the facts in
all private measures by judicial tribunal
before action by congress , and also the
propriety of prohibiting the adjudication
of private claims or relief measures by con
gress. On behalf of the committee on presi
dential laws , Caldwell called up the Hoar
presidential succession bill and as there
were but a few minutes of the morning
hour remaining , it was agreed that the de
bate should continue during the afternoon ,
Caldwell reserving the right to call for the
previous question at any time. Caldwell
stated that the committee , in reporting the
measure , had not dealt with other propo
sitions before it. There were many meas
ures proposed that would more properly
meet all possible imaginable exigencies than
the one now reported , but all required con
stitutional amendment before they could
become laws , and constitutional amend
ment involved a delay which would ill ac
cord with the reasonable anxiety which the
great body of the people felt. There were
many exigencies which the pending amend
ment did not cover , but the present exi
gency is completely covered.
SujfATi : . On motion of Harrison , the
senate concurred in the house amendments
to the bill legalizing the territorial legisla
ture of Wyoming. Manderson offered a
resolution , which was agreed to , calling on
the pobtmaster general to inform the sen
ate over what railroads the so-called fast
mail was transported from Chicago to
points in Colorado , Utah and Idaho , and
what , advantage was gained by the govern
ment bv transporting such mail over roads
other than the Union Pacific , also , as to
the cost of such service , and why it is paid
for out of the treasury if the fact is that
it is so paid for to other companies in
stead of having the service-performed by
the Union Pacific company and the com
pensation credited on that company's in
debtedness to the government. Bower
offeied a resolution , which , at his request ,
was laid over for the present , directing the
committee on Indian affairs to inquire into
the expediency of removing all the Indians
in the United States to thelndian territory.
Senator Payne reported favorably from
the committee on foreign relations the bill
to permit Joseph Rawise , United States
consul at Warsaw , Russia , to accept cer
tain decorations from the Russian govern
ment.
SENATE. Among the mils introaucea
nere the following : By Spooner To au
thorize the Dakota Central railroad to
"construct a bridge across the Missouri
river at Pierre , Dak. By Senator Sabin
For the payment of $20,000 out of the
Geneva award fund to Wm. H. Whiting for
injuries sustained by him through capture
and imprisonment in the hold of the con
federate cruiser "Alabama. " By Allison
To amend the act relating to immediate
transportation of dutiable goods. Man
derson called up his bill to increase the
efficiency of the infantry branch of the
armv. 'The bill provides that each infant
ry regiment shall consist of twelve com
panies ; one colonel , one lieutenant-colonel ,
three , majors , one adjutant , one quarter
master , one quartermaster-sergeant and
one chief musician. All appointments to
original vacancies above the grade of sec
ond lieutenant created by the act shall be
filled by seniority in the infantry branch of
the service. rManderson addresedjhe ; sen
ate' on the bill. Beck's silver resolution
was considered without action , when the
senate adjourned.
HOUSE. Hill , ' on behalf of the committee *
on territories , called up and the house
pa88ed the senate bill to legalize the elec
tion of the territorial legislative assemblj
of Wyoming. On behalf of the committee
on presidential laws , Caldwell called up foi
action the Hoar presidential succession
bill ; but on a statement by Cooper thai
the minority report had not been printed ,
the discussion of the subject was postponed
until to-morrow. Mr. Bland was excused
from the chairmanship of the committee ? "
banking and * currency.
SENATE. Senator Vance addressed the
.senate on-the silverquestion. A resolution
offered by Manderson was agreed to , call
ing on the secretary of the interior to fur
nish the senate with a copy of the report
made by Special Agent Phillips on the sub
ject of the Yellowstone National park. Mr.
Dolph offered a resolution that the judi
ciary committee be directed to consider
and report whether or not a statute limit
ing the time within which all actions in
suits must bo brought by the United States
against its citizens is desirable , and if in
the judgment of the committee such a
statute should be passed by congress , to
report si bill for that purpose.
HOUSE. Bills offered and referred : By
Wheeler , of Alabama Authorizing females
'to enter lands under the homestead law.
By Joseph , of New Mexico To divide the
territory of Dakota and to create a terri
tory of Lincoln. By Payson , of Illinois
T6"restricF the ownership ofTeal'eState in"
the territories to American citizens. By
McKenna , of Colorado For the appoint
ment of a board of two army and two navy
officers and one civilian , authomized to
construct two gun foundries one in Cali
fornia , at the Mare island navy yard or at
Benicia arsenal ; and one at such other
place as the board may determine , at a
cost not to exceed $1,000,000 for each
foundry. By Warner , of Ohio For the
issue of treasury certificates on deposited
silver bullion ; also , directing the payment
of the surplus in the treasury in excess of
550,000.000 on the public debt. Notwith-
ing the large number of bills introduced
during the last call of the states , the call
brought forward 650 additional , the pro
portions of which increases to nearly
4,000 the number ol measures now await-
, 'inc the action of the housexowmittee.
HOUSE. Bland introduced a bill repeal-
ing so much of the act of June 0 , 1870 , as
provides for the exchange and redemption
of subsidiary coin. The presidential sue
cession bill was then taken up by Dibble ,
who argued that neither the president pro
tempore of the senate or the speaker of the
house was a United States officer , and in
support of his position quoted from the
fourteenth amendment of the constitution ,
where distinction is made between a mem
ber of congress and a United States officer.
An amendment offered by Adams , of Illi
nois , striking out sections of the revised
statutes providing for special elections ,
was rejected yeas 113 , nays 153. A sub
stitute offered by McKinley , of Ohio , leav
ing in force the present law with the addi
tion of the provision for the purpose of
having the speaker of the house of represen
tatives in office continuously , was also re
jected. On * these'txvo'the vote of the house
was divided by party lines. After a couple
of further attempts to recommit and
amend the bill it was passed yeas 183 ,
nays 77 precisely as it came from the sen
ate. The negative vote was cast by the re
publicans and by Bennett and Green , of
New Jersey. Among the republicans who
voted with the democrats in the affirma
tive were Hill. La Follett , Price , Struble ,
and Weaver of Nebraska.
A CURIOUS PLACE FOR MORTGAGES.
Cobleskill dispatch : An east-bound
freight train left a car at this station on
December 29th because of a broken wheel.
To-day an iron box was discovered wedged
between the truck and car bottom , and it
proved to be the inside chest of a safe. The
contents consisted principally of western
farm mortgages made by different persons
and amounted to upward of § 50,000. The
securities are non-negotiable , except three
certificates of stock of the Adams National
bank , of North Adams , Mass. , which are
assigned in blank. The box is bent and
defaced and plainly shows the work of bur
glars. The indorsements on somo loans
are as late as December 14th.
WILL ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
A Washington special says that all talk
about the possibility of a deadlock be
tween the senate and the president about
the nominations is unfounded. The sena
tors do not assume the right to inquire
into the reasons of the president , they are
perfectly aware that such a proceeding
would not be proper , but they will con
tinue to call upon the members of the cabi
net for such information as is in their pos
session , touching the suspensions and
nominations pendinj before thesenate , and
the cabinent , after discussing the question
at each of their meetings for two weeks ,
have decided that it is not only proper
but just tha $ such information should be
furnibhed.
NATIONAL CAPITAL NOTES
The bill introduced by Mr. Warner , of
Ohio , providing for the issue of certificates
on-deposited silver bullion , is substantially
the bill proposed by him during the last
summer and published before the meeting
of congress. The proposition was submit
ted by Mr. Henderson , of North Carolina ,
for the appointment of a select committee
of nine members to be called a committee
on internal revenue , with authority to in
vestigate the'working and details of the in
ternal laws , and to report the measures
touching their repeal or amendment.
A strenuous effort will be made during
this session of congress to have sugar and
salt placed on the free list. Already bills
and quite a number of them have been in
troduced on this subject. The common
people" in both parties are demanding this.
They are petitioning congress and setting
forth that these articles are in too general
use by poor people , and the production in
this country , especially of sugar , too far
below the consumption to warrant cus
toms dues. It is said that the reason
Abram S. Hewitt , of New York , so much
desired his old place on the house com
mittee on ways and means was to work
for just such propositions as free sugar ,
salt , lumber , coal , etc.
THE TAMMANY CHIEF ILL.
John Kelly , of New York , from all ac
counts , was quite benefited from treatment
received while at Clifton Springs-4jut owing
to his intense love for the interests of Tam
many hall , he has allowed his physician's
advice to go unheeded , and is now again
suffering from insomnia and nervous pros
tration. In some respects his sickness is
icculhir , * as he appears better one day and
lot so well the next. Medicine docs not'
Benefit him now as it did a year or inore
since , or it would surely do him more good.
Cheerful company , riding , and driving are
considered his best lines of treatment. A
general change , by getting entirely out of
politics , would do him more real good now
than all else besides. If this is not done
soon he will gradually grow worse , and be
come a hopeless case.
POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES.
Ex-Congressman" Crapo wants the next
republican nomination for governor of
Massachusetts.
Fitzhugh Lee continues to decline thegifts
sent him , even when they come in the shape
of thoroughbred horses.
In Portugal elections are held on Sunday
in the churches and the ballot box stands
between two saints.
Governor Lowry was inaugurated on the
14th for his second term , in the-presence of
the two houses of the Mississippi legisla
ture it joint convention.
The West Virginia democrats are looking
about to find a man who can overcome the
200 majority republican Congressman Goff
had in 1884 in the First congressional dis
trict of that state.
Among the nominations withheld by the
president is that of Charles Jonas , editor
of a Bohemian paper at Racine , Wis. He
was appointed consul at Sprague , his old
university town. The Austrian government
objected to him because hehad published a
pamphlet on military conscription while a
student.
A Washington special says : Some time
ago the case of Mr. Kent , nominated to bo
naval officer at Boston , was referred to
Mr. Frye , as sutf-comm'ittee , to report
whether Daniel Hall , his predecessor , had
been legally suspended , Hall having received
no official notice of his suspension. Mr.
Frye finds that there must bo a legal and
actual notice of suspension served upon an
official who is to be removed and also that
the actual and legal notice was never served
upon Mr. Hall and that his surrender of
the office under protest was not a resigna
tion or an abandonment a'nd he is still do
jure naval officer. The conclusion is that
the president should be requested to with
draw the present nomination and renomi-
nate Mr. Kent in the place of Hall , re
moved and not suspended. The facts in
this case apply to a number of customs
officers.
DIED PROTESTING HIS INNOCENCE.
Ten Tlwusand People Witness the Execution
of Henry S. Starr.
Nevada City ( Mo. ) dispatch : Henry S.
Starr , who was hanged here to-day at 1
o'clock , was visited by his father last
night. Large crowds assembled about the
gallows , which was erected in a ravine ,
forming a natural amphitheatre , about a
mile from the jail. Incoming trains brought
hundreds of people to witness the execu
tion. The crime for which he was hung was
the cold-blooded and brutal murder of Ja
cob Sewell and sixteen-year-old son. who
came from Fort Scott sometime last July
with two wagons , and \ \ ere camping near
here. Sewell became sick and was attend
ed by Starr and a woman named Osborn ,
who formed a plan to murder the father
and son and leave town with the wagons
for Starr's former home in Indiana. On
the night of August 30th Starr accom
plished the deed with an axe. He then
placed the bleeding forms in a wagon and
started for the Marmalon river bottoms ,
five miles distant , and buried his victims.
The dead bodies were found and pursuit
organized andStarrand the Osborn woman
captured twenty miles distant. They were
tried and both convicted of murder in the
first degree and sentenced to be hanged to
gether. A stay of execution was obtained
in the woman's case and she was granted a
new trial.
Starr was hung at 1:30 p. m. Ten thous
and people witnessed the execution. The-
criminal spoke on the scaffold for half an
hour , protesting his innocence.
A BATCH OF CONFIRMATIONS.
The senate in .executive session on the
llth confirmed a large number of nomina
tions , including George A. Jenks , assistant
secretary of the interior ; Henry T. Mul-
drow , first assistant secretary of the in
terior ; William E. McLean , first deputy
commissioner of pensions ; Joseph J. Bart-
lett , second deputy commissioner of pen
sions ; Robert B. Vance , assistant commis
sioner of patents ; James W. Whelpley , of
New York , assistant treasurer of the Uni
ted States ; William E. Smith , of New York ,
assistant secretary of the treasury ; Con
rad F. Jordan , of New Jersey , treasurer of
the United States ; Col. John Gibbon to be
brigadier general ; Col. Absalom Baird to bo
inspector general , with the rank of briga
dier general ; Capt. Henry J. Farnsworth to
be inspector general , with rank of major.
CI.TDENPAr.ES. Trinder & Groff , of Sim-
coe , Canada , have this month established
themselves permanently at Atlantic , Casa
Co. , Iowa , for the purpose of distributing
their thoroughbred stallions through the
West. Cut this out for future reference or
shovr to friends requiring stock. .Catalogue
on application. Mention this paper.
THE MARKETS.
OMAHA.
BAULKY No. 2 . 51
RYi-No. 2 . 44 @ 44
Coux No. 2 mixed . 22 @ 22J
OATS No. 2 . 21 @ 21J
BUTTER Fancy creamery. . 25 @ 27
BUTTER Choice roll . 13 @ 1C
EGGS Fresh . 20 @ 22
IUCKEXS Dressed per Ib. . . 9 @ 1
TURKEYS Dressed perlb. . . . 12 @ 14
DUCKS Dressed per Ib . 8 % @ 10
JEESE Dressed per Ib . 9 @ 10
LEMONS Choice . G 25 @ 650
APPLES Choice . 3 00 @ 350
GRANGES Mesina . 4 00 @ 4 75
BBANS Navys . 1 25 @ 1 50
DXIPNS Per bushel . 70 @ 75
POTATOES Per bushel . 45 @ 50
GREEN APPLES Per bbl. . . . 2 75 @ 3 24
SEEDS Timothy . 230 @ 240
SEEDS Blue Grass . 1 75 @ 2 00
HAY Baled , per ton . . ' . . . . 5 00 @ 6 00
tlAY In bulk . G 00 @ 6 75
Floes Mixed packing . 3 50 @ 4 00
BEEVES Butchers . 375 @ 400
NEW YORK.
WHEAT No. 2 red . 90J @ 91
WHEAT Ungraded red . 86 @ U4
: ORN No. 2 . 50ft@ 51
DATS Mixed western . 34 @ 35
PORK . 10 00 @ 10 50
, ABD . 645
'HICAGO.
FLOUR Choice winter . 440 @ 485
FLOUR Spring extra . 3 70 @ 4 00
WHEAT Per bushel . 81
'ORN Per bushel . 36J
) ATS Per bushel . 28 @ 20
PORK . 10 05 @ 10 07J
LARD . . < : . . 6 00 @ 6 02
Iocs Packing & shipping. 3 95 @ 4 30
JATTLE Stackers . 2 50 @ 4 25
SHEEP Western . 2 20 @ 4 25
ST. LOUIS.
YHEAT No. 2 red . 91 @ 92
JOHN Perbushel . 34 @ 34J
) ATS Per bushel . 29J @ 30
EGGS Mixed packing . 3 75 @ 4 00
JATTLE Stackers & feeders 2 50 @ 3 90
SHEEP Common to choice 2 50 @ 3 50
KANSAS CITY.
YHEAT Perbushel . GS
JORN Per bushel . 27i' (
) ATS Per .bushel . 2G&
BATTLE Exports . 4 90
Iocs Good to choice . 3 85
SHEEP Common to good. . 1 00
' EUEAL ECONOMY.
Suggestions * on * Laying
Farms in Advance of Making
Permanent Improvements.
How the Credit System Interferes with the
Prosperity and Happiness of West
ern Tanners.
"Working to a Plan.
_ person sets out to erect an ex- ,
' 'pensive "house without first deciding on
a definite plan , having drawings prepar
ed , and a careful estimate made of the
cost of construction. Before an engi
neer goes to work to build a bridge over
a river he makes a survey of the banks ,
examines the places where supports are
to be erected , and accurately measures
the space that is to be spanned. He
then considers what kind of a structure
he will erect , being guided somewhat
by the uses to which the bridge is to be
put. Having determined this matter
in his mind , he makes a drawing of the
bridge on paper , that he and others may
see what kind of an appearance it pre
sents. The drawing is made to a scale ,
one inch representing a certain number
of feet. An architect draws the plans
for a dwelling or other building in a
similar way. In our great furniture
establishments persons are constantly
employed in producing on paper designs
for bureaus , dressing-cases , sideboards ,
and desks. In all mechanical operations
designs are first sketched and then
working models are made. The plans
for cemeteries and public parks , includ
ing the walks , drives , and bodies of
water , are all made on paper before
any of the ground is disturbed. Gener
ally the location of all the trees to be
planted is marked on the plan. The
workmen have something to guide them
in all their operations.
The proper laying out of farms so as
to insure convenience in working , econ
omy in fencing"and-so as tdHUYtrthem
present a pleasant appearance , has re
ceived very little attention in this coun
try. Scarcely any farmer in commenc
ing to improve a new place works in
accordance to * any well-matured plan.
The new settler , on a piece of raw
prairie , breaks the lot of land that can
be most easily plowed and puts in a
crop. He does not even take pains to
have the sides straight. He puts up a
house for temporary occupancy where
it happens to be most convenient. He
digs some wells where he thinks water
can be reached within a few feet of the
surface. On the approach of water he
erects a stable for his horses and some
sheds for his cattle and sheep. The
proper location for them receives very-
little thought. The cold winds during
the winter suggest to him the propriety
of establishing some shelter belts. He
accordingly obtains some young trees
of the varieties that can be bought for
the least money , and sets them out to
the windward of the building he has
erected. The next year he begins to
feel the want of fruit. He accordingly
buys some apple trees , currant and
gooseberry bushes , and plants them on
the land lie first plowed , as there is no
other ground prepared. This year he
breaks some more land , selecting a
piece that can be plowed easily , and
which gives promise of producing a
good crop of corn.
As the years go by more land is plow
ed , more trees are set out , and more
buildings erected. Likely more wells
are dug , and a portion of the land sur
rounded by a fence so as to form a past
ure. It is often the case that the fences
were not built on the line , owing to the
fact that the exact boundaries of the
farm were not ascertained. They were
made to conform pretty nearly with
the fences on some farm in the vicinity.
It is not unfrequently the case that the
fences first built on farms have to be
moved when an accurate survey is made ,
involving the loss of much material and
the expenditure of considerable labor.
It sometimes happens that a farmer
finds he has planted fruit trees on land
that does not belong to him , or has set
out rows of forest trees , designed to
afford protection from the wind , at a
distance from his boundary line. At
length the farmer concludes that he is
not pleased with the appearance of his
place. He also finds that the location
of his buildings is not convenient. He
discovers that his fruit trees are not
where he would prefer to have them.
He notices that his wells are not where
they should be for supplying water for
the horses , the farm , or the pasture.
He perceives that much fencing could
have been saved had he plowed a strip
of land round the entire length of his
farm ; instead of small pieces of irregu
lar shape. In fact , he is dissatisfied
with nearly everything he has done by
way of making improvements.
Quite likely he visits some farm that
was laid out and improved in such a
way as to present a fine appearance and
to be convenient to manage andresolves
to remodel his own. He now sees the
advantage of having a definite plan and
adopts one. He finds , however , that
he can derive but little advantage from
the money and labor that lie has ex
pended. He has several buildings , but
none of them are of the character he
desires. Thay appear to be too good to
tear down , are difficult to reconstruct ,
and are not of a shape that additions
can be made to them with economy.
He has forest and fruit trees , many of
them of large size , but they are not of
the varieties he desires , and they do not
stand where they would be of the most
value for use or ornament. They are
too large to move , and many years will
be required to raiss others in the place
where they are wanted. It is no tri
fling matter tc reconstruct a farm or a
state. It requires much labor and
money to make radical changes , and
considerable time is needed to make
important changes on a farm. Several
seasons are necessary to establish a
bluegrasssod or to raise an ornamental
hedge. An abandoned well has no
market value , but it requires much la
bor to dig a new one. Grapevines ,
trees , and bushes of a size to produce
fruit can not ordinarily be moved with
much assurance that they will continue
to be productive.
There is economy in commencing to
improve a farm in accordance with a
well-matured plan. This plan must ) ; e
something more than an idea. Like the
plan for a dwelling or a bridge , it
should be drawn on paper , and the dis
tances should conform 4to a-scale. A
farmer with small means can not mak
all the improvements he wants at once
but he can make what he is able to so
that they wilt'form parts of his entiri
plan. Year to year can see his place
approaching nearer to what he designs
to have it. He will have no reconstruct
ing to do. Be may not be able to
plant a large orchard in a single year
but he can set out one row of trees
where he wants them , and other rows
in succeeding years. He can pursue
the same course with forest trees. Sheds
for protectingcattle and sheep can. be
erected on the side of a yard , with the
view of building a barn at the end of it.
A plan for a house can be adopted and
a wing built in advance of the main
structure. Corn-cribs can bo erected
now where the barn is to stand. A
lawn can be seeded and shrubbery plant
ed in front of the place to bo occupied
by the dwelling. The plan of the farm
can be made during the winter , when
there is sufficient time for consideration
of all details , and an opportunity aflbrd-
ed for visiting places that are regarded
as both beautiful and convenient.
An Uncomfortable Position. "
A New England farmer who has been
spending some time among the farmers
of the western states and territories , re
ports as one of the results of his obser
vations that he found them almost with
out exception to be in debt. As a rule ,
they bought everything on credit. They
haul running accounts with the grocer ,
the dealer in dry goods , the seller of ag
ricultural implements , the blacksmith
and the carpenter. Not unfrequently
their wives were paying for sewing-ma
chines , and sometimes musical instru
ments , on the installment plan. Many
farmers agree to pay the wages of their
hired help and to settle with merchants
after harvest. With the low price of
grain and most other farm products ,
however , they are not able to do this.
After selling all the crops they can part
with and disposing of some fat stock ,
they find themselves in debt at the com
mencement of a new year. NoViiHfre-
quently they are obliged to borrow mon
ey at a high rate of interest for the pur
pose of paying their taxes in the spring.
Sometimes , however , they dispose of
young stock at a sacrifice in order to
meet the demands of the tax collector.
This observer comes to the conclusion
that the usual condition of the farmers
in the territories and new western states
was to be in debt. They commence to
get in debt as soon as they move on
their places , and as often as they
discharge one set of obligations , they
contract some more.
This is a very unfortunate state of af
fairs , but that it is general in many
parts of the west is not to be questioned.
The habit of getting in debt is not easily
broken off. Once contracted and con
tinued for a series of years , it is likely to
be kept up indefinitely. Few farmers
succeed in producing as large crops as
they anticipate , and they ordinarily ex
pect higher prices than they obtain.
The occurrence of a fire , a tornado , a
protracted drought , an early frost , a
visitation of destructive insects , a con
tagious disease among farm animals , or
sickness in the family upsets all the cal
culations made for getting out of debt.
More obligations are incurred and the
labor of years is required to discharge
them. A man constantly harassed by
debts is in no condition to enjoy life.
He can have but few pleasures. He is
at the mercy of every person he deals
with. He must take goods at the price
demanded for them , though it may seem
to be exorbitant. Traders who sell
articles on credit are obliged to charge
ligh prices. They assume risks , place
their own credit in jeopardy , and are
often put to great inconvenience in the
management of their business. They
would prefer to sell goods at a much
smaller profit provided they could re
ceive cash for them. The high price for
almost every article bought in the coun
try are chiefly due to the credit system
which generally prevails.
The commencement of of the new
year is a good time to form plans foi
getting out of debt and for keeping out.
It ma } ' be necessary to resort to heroic
measures to accomplish this , but it is
best to resort to them after all. A res
olution to contract no new debts is the
first step necessary to climbing up out
of the degraded position in which so
many find themselves. The effort is
clearly worth making. Observation
shows that the successful farmer is or
dinarily the one who has ready money
wherewith to buy stock and tools when
they are offered for less than their value
for the purpose of securing cash. He
buys all his goods much cheaper than
the man who gets trusted for them.
He enjoys them better after he has ob
tained them. The credit system , which
has become general among farmers in
many parts of the west , has prevented
them from getting much enjoyment out
of their common life. For many years
previous to the commencement of the
civil war the condition of the farmers
in the south was poor , notwithstanding
the fact that they raised good crops and
received high prices for them. The
credit system stood in the way of their
prosperity. They worked one yeat to
pay the debts contracted the previous
season. As a rule they were a year be
hind in all transactions involving the
payment of money. Chicago Times.
Going to Stay iu Canada.
An inquisitive man on a train on the
New York Central going out of New
York was seated next to a fashionable-
dressed young man , who looked as if he
might be a bank clerk.
"Going to Poughkeepsic ? " asked the
inquisitive.
"Yes. "
"Goinjj to stay there ? "
"
"I * V
° ° Falls. "
"Going to stav there ? "
No , I'm going on to Montreal. "
The inquisitive man smiled , nodded
hiis head , as much as to say. "Now I
know all about you , " and finally added :
' Well , I gues's you are going to stay
in Canada , ain't j-cr ? " Texas liftings.
Entering Town in Style.
"Can't you drive faster , John ? * ' said
a farmer's wife , "we'll never get to the
village at this rate. "
"Can't help it , " replied John. "Them
hosses has plowed all the week , a'n I
want to save what life they is got left
for a dash past the tavern. " New York
Times.
\
*
MAVERICKITEMS.
- New way to pay old debts : Run now
ones.
Everything is adulterated nowadays.
A San Francisco man bought a cork
leg , and afterwards ascertained that it
was made of paper.
A San Francisco minister found a
slice of dried tongue lying beside the
bible last Sunday when he entered his
pulpit. Ho look the hint.
' If you would hit a roller-skater with
a barrel stare one half as hard as he
hits himself when ho sits down uninvit
ed , he would have you arrested for
assault.
A Kentuckian has recently patented
a gin-saw. We don't know what a gin-
saw is used for , but suppose it is intend
ed to saw oft" his breath. Bet he'll
break every tooth out of it if he uses it
for that purpose.
A Tucson , Arazona , man , while pray
ing the other day was struck by light
ning and instantly killed. Sorry to
hear that he was killed. There is a
"certain somethingness , " as Oscar
Wilde would say , inltnowing that there
was at least one man in Arizona who
prayed.
"Oh , Miss McSwelter , " said a little
Lodi school boy to lite teacher , "I
heard pa talking to Mr. Jones about
you. "
"Indeed ! " replied the teacher , archly ,
' What did he say ? "
"He said you were the hardest work
ing teacher he ever saw. "
"And what did Mr. Jones say ? " she
asked , pleasantly.
"He said you didn't know anything ,
and had to study hard to keep from
forgetting it.
Last Monday when it was raining vio
lently , we had occasion to visit Oak
land. While on the ferrvboat Charley
McCarthy remarked that it had been a
cold , wet rain all the week.
Young Oakdude , who had been sip
ping ginger pop , thought he would bo
smart , and asked Mac if he had ever
heard of a hot dry rain.
"I did , " responded Charley. "Tho
good book tells us that a rain of fire and
brimstone fell upon Sodom and
Gomorah. "
"How'much for these oysters ? ' ' quer-
ried an eastern man , as he stepped to
the cashier's desk in an oyster house on
Market street.
"Six bits. "
"Yes , you struck it ; six bits , and
mighty small bits they are ! You ought
to get some Providence river oysters
out here. "
"I mean the price is six bits , seventy-
five cents. "
"Oh , the devil ! " California ITavc-
ric.
Driving at Night.
How to illuminate a road in front of
the horses in driving at night is an im
portant matter.
The usual side lamps on carriages , or
the attaching of a lantern to the dash
board , fail to reflect the light where it
is most wanted , and the suspending of a
lantern to the front axle is objectiona
ble for many reasons , but it is the best
plan for shedding the light where it is
the most needed that we have seen
tried. N
But a Philadelphia physician suggests
the attaching of the lantern to the
breast collar of the harness , which he
says he has tried with perfect satisfac
tion , and lie has evidently had some
experience with the ordinary methods of
lighting , for he says the various forms
of dash lights are pretty much the same ,
in that they put the light just where it
is not wanted , illuminating the horse's
tail and hips and the buggy
thills with a brilliance quite unneces
sary , which intensifies the blackness of
the shadow cast by them just where one
most wishes to see clearly.
" is tubular lan
"My light a common
tern , with a reflector , and a spring for
attachment to the dash. In place of
putting it on the dash , I slipped the
spring over the middle of the breast col
lar , directly in front of the horse.
Every part of the road in front of mo
was plainly seen , so I could drive with
as much confidence as in broad day
light. The conditions necessary for
success are a level-headed horse , with
fair breadth of chest , and a shoulder
strap attached to the check hook , to
prevent lantern sagging down between
the horse's legs when for any reason the
traces slack. It would be well to have a
short strapsewed to the inside of the
breast collar , to slip the spring through ,
so as to prevent any lateral motion. "
Scientific American.
A Bible Filed As a Will.
A rather bulkj * will was filed for pro
bate in the orphans' court at Baltimore
in the of fami
shape a large gilt-edged
ly bible. The will was written on the
blank pages usually used to record mar
riages , births , ami deaths. The will
was that of Winnie Harris , colored , and
was very well written and in perfectly
legal form. It is of date Sept. 3,1885 ,
and bequeaths all her estate , after her
things are sold and her debts paid , to
her mother , Katie Jones , of Fairmount
or Clairmount , Ya. Shoidd the mother
be dead , then all is to go to the Second
Christian church , Dolphin and Etting
streets , except a gold chain and locket
to A. D. Minds , and the bible in which
the will is written to Rev. D. R. Wilk-
3ns , her pastor. By a codicil written
in a separate piece of paper , but glued
in the bible , the testatrix disposes of
certain death benefits from lodges to
which she belonged. She desires Mount
Sinai lodge , ! No. 18 , of the Order
of Moses , to give her decent burial , and
if anything be then due her the remain
der is bequeathed to the lodge. What
ever is due her from St. Paul s taberna
cle , No. 11 , Order of Galilean Fisher
men , and from Queen Esther courtNo.
6 , Order of Nazarites , is to go as the
will directs first to the mother , or , in
case she is dead , to the Second Chris
tian church for the advancement of the
cause of religion. A. D. Minds , Will
iam F. Allen , and John Mitchell are
named as administrators. The court
officials say that the leaves containing
the will can not be torn from the bible ,
but the book itself must be filed. In
that case Rev. D. Wilkins * will not re
ceive his legacy. Baltimore Sun.
There Is no such thing as an Inslgni&smt
enemy.
J