THE OMAHA DAILY BEE ; SUNDAY. MAY G. 18SM TWENTY PAGES.
Kitchen Safes Moqnollc Hugs , Folding llcils
with large double dor IN , and One hundred lllflVrent stylet , I ; i limed lop mid bottom , daCJTi I hushed
Anllqiin On k ,
drawers on top , finished either eumprltimr tlio very rliHu'xt iht lop and bottom , KOOI ! < PIIJ with Iar > "
Iwvi'l
, and thoroughly quiilUM Imaginable , worth TONe quality i plain mlr-
lluht or antique L fhenlllo , latest / lor mill patent 23
safety
oughly well madu iu.&U , now "lyU'.iil fj , lurks
Filters. irior Rockers
Kiizhl iliiy rlock" , with tlio Stone llllort that arc wnrrnut- > fl CJK I'phoNteri'd In h-st quality
Al'cnmplutn ' with ca lei . full iiliiini titiiK'liini nt , from onu No Wailing ! Blanks ! No Coupons ! oil to itikit tininuiloiitof your < fl * ( > 3 tupistry. madu ot < olld o.ik ,
Airo , flnlihcil antique or walnut , of tlio bi'tt I'loi'k faotoilc.H , a Mlt ourl Rhur water. worth LL rhotcc of ti of
variety
iPidiliirprlci1 , 'tt.&U , now ul . . . viicli clock warranted . . . . With every purchase of 80 or ever you rccilvo u Siuvcnlr Photograph _ > t7.0 ( ) , at V ti'rns at . . pat-
Mattresses Odd Lace Curtains. Book of Principal American Chios. iiilrafii Carpels Wardrobes
With every purclwso of tlU and over you reuolvo a Souvenir Spoon.
with good ticking , any slzo , We have about.00 of tliom worth With mirclia-io of $2Ti antl receive a Fancy Cut ) antl
every ov < v you Kxtrii . S C 9 0
ready inailnor rnmlu to order , . nil to fU.5U , iinu nt Voiy durable In n variety of ln him Inrco drawer
.
Saucer.With Ifiittu'iiM. Just rcoolvud M rolls at I mi.mi. plenty of hooka I
( u'isolin.c Stoves. 2JQ.90 With every purclui.o of $ , )9 and ever you receive au Imported Lilxquo finni the mil nut foi1 i-'iitlit'i. U
Ornament.
. Ice
iniiilnof solid oak. G foot lilidi. With two burner. * , ab olutny | " " lioxes
flnl-dicd antique' , at p , every OIIP guurntitupil . With every purchase of $ > and ever you receive a Pair of Lace Curtains
With every purchase of SlOO and ever vou receive a Solid O.ik Cjntor rinMicd Antique alp tlaht $020
lleniiiants
ftoni 1 4
to yard * , va-
Arni-Cliairs Rclrlgcrators $065 Table. rloly of put ( cms worth Jl 00 Iris all inoiliii-n Improve- B
Solid ual < . polished , canoaeat , Antique Oak , Char- fl per yard , now ut. ' mi'iiti , Jutost stvln . V
\eryromfortablo . . . co.il llnrdoiy ; best niado. . VJ Mail Order Department , Wash Boilers. 'DooFMals.
Hall HacK Slccl Ranges Send lo : to cover postage on big ' ! ) T Catalogue and Price List Made of pied quality 'In , with 5,00(1 ( lust looclvod from tlio
I'ollHliud oal' , with mirror nnil lias till the latest Im- Coppur bottom , full SIZL-M , \\lll faetoiy wlili-h wo will sell quick 4G
irlvn Miiilsfnriliii . .
uiiilnella i-iL'Ic. , , tnadi ) by onis of provonu'titH , liiilancu nvon quoting lowest prices ever known. nt
bvst fautoi'lcs In tlui country.at door , nli-Uul tea n-uls , oil1. , . Sp.-elal H.iby Carriage Catalogue mailed fr.e , Plush 1'iirlor ' Chairs , Lawn Setlccs.
Antique Rockers Tapestry Rockers. Special Refrig-Tator Catalogue mailed free. Wu IIIIMI about ! IU ( ) of til da In I'alnlod rod , Miry noat.Just tlio
128 Stove mailed free. plush mid tapstryliloh wo Uln I that you liavo pain Jt.OO
( 'Inlshed * . lilcli baeV , Hollil oik , In rich Special Gasoline Catalogue
antliint : tipholsterod will closuoitt at for , imw at . . . . . . . , . .
I'lini ) scat , and sells uvuiowhuro tapi-stry , n nic-o tucker for tlio We IOO miles advertised at
for * : ) r.o pulor . pay freight except on goods Window Shades. Madii by ono of thti
Cut Prices ! .Madoof waslriblo n < > ; xl-i , on host 4c III tin' fottiitry , thoioiiKldy wnll
Baby Carriages spring rulli'M 7 foot laity iipholsitiu'd In laiR-slrv. Mi ll ? li ) .
E1ASY TERMS' '
Ono of llio best shamholdors made Noselty jioar , hamlsomly up . , Center Tallies. $ 35 llrnsscls Carpets
and sells atjdulit , worth 70c holstered , with satin parasol .
S10 worth of goods $1.00 per week , or $ 4,00 per month. Hllil o.ik , polish finish , ton 24x In latnsl palluriH of the bcason ,
' .
IMIiii'liPM. him liiruo shelf li'low
Reed Roclicrs Four-Hole Ranjlcs. $25 worth of goods , $1.50 per week , or $ 6,00 per month. 1'lusli ' Divans. oxlni heavy quality at
75 . Lace Curtains.
Ilasdotiblo cnno seat , flnlslicil With all modern Improve- . $ S28
iintlquii , IntcH . styles . , very com- incntK ; has nltiKel ornamenta $50 worth of goods. $2.00 per week , or $ .8.00 per month. Upholstered In bn tqualltyjilush 1'ull sl/e , haniNomo pattPrns ,
fortalilu , ut tion , ash pan , &e host ti'immri'd MII'IIL'S. | | eaU rranio i'\lra llnnqimllly.wortli in
Wire Springs Chenille Couches , $75 worth of goods , $ .50 pei week , or $10,00 per month. Moqucllc , Parlor Suits , # .
Any sUe you want , will not MIX , raped with line quality choP $100 worth of goods , $3.00 per week , or $12.00 per month. inoqiioltc , soils uv- I'lvo pieces , oak frame , a )
haul wood frame , sells at iJ.CO , nllle , llcuied and fringed at I crynlicru furtl.DO , will now bo mohair ciushed plush ,
this week at the head anil foot $200 worth of goods , $4,00 per week , or $1500 per monrh. sold for.
Daily Deliveries Made to South Omaha and Council
Mailo of polished oak , has ad- rhlni'so nncl .Tapanoso , Bluffs. C r Tickets Furnished those Rssicling
justablu shelves with htass rod all Kiades , In neat checks and
. . . . . Distance.
at
fordr.iperles. Mrlpes . _ . . . _ a
Chamber Suites.
Solid oak with laruo bovolcd Klnlshed Antlquo or ICth ' WE CONTROL- Enormous Business ! Small
mirror , silver tray , castored contiii v si vlo. larsro mirror ,
with I'ox's pat-nt castors . . hamlsomi'ly finished Fuuthcrstonu Haby Carriages , Profits ! No interest charged.
Lawn Rockers Northern Light Refrigerators , Cash or Payments. Satisfaction
.45
Made to fold up MJ as to put out Made of solM ash , 8 feotloiiB , .
of the way , llnished either llht { with bolted legj , llnlshud an- Quick Meal Gasoline Stoves , guaranteed. Complaints heeded
or roil . . . llniioiiak. ut . .
Giinii Folding Beds , Prompt Deliveries. A Pleasure
: Plush Easy Chairs.
mi via
15 to Show Goods.
Peninsular Stoves ,
, solid oak ,
Hand-polished Antique or IGth Century , up-
solid lai0drawer ( ut the bet lioNturi'd In slllt plush ; an or-
tom. . . iianii'iit for a p iilor _ . . . Novelty Oil Heaters ,
Roll-Top Desks Irish Point Curtains. Palace Folding Bids , Close livanlnff * nt ( I:1OJ.x -
You lower the curtain top Tnoso clesant curtains never
and , presto change , all the woru so cheap as now , and the New Era Steel Ranges. cc.Homnys iiutl
draweis aio locked ; has ev patterns cannot bo excelled ;
ery convenience nowat <
Formerly PEOPLE'S MAMMOTH INSTALLMENT HOUSE.
PUT YOURSELF IN HIS PLACE
Plain Words About Prison Discipline from
a Veteran Prison Reformer.
UNSATISFACTORY RESULTS ATTAINED
The I'liico of the Coinlct. the Injured
1'nrty nncl 'the Prison-Keeper The
Prison In PolUlen-Cuuiicu
of Crime , Ktc.
( Copyrighted. )
Crhno Is , in the estimation of the law , a
public Injury. For this reason the public
takes notice of It and claims the exclusive
DuVeVcry11 crime Is also a private wrong.
In the early history of mankind the natural
reaction against crime took the form of , pri
vate vengeance. The Inconveniences of such
a system as that are palpable. In the lirst
-place , the Individual who fancied himself in
jured was unable to distinguish between
criminal and noncrlmlnal actions , on the
part of his adversary ; and , besides , he had
no' measure of retribution , other than his
personal passion or interest. In the course
of tlmo regulations were established , In the
form of customs , which Hnally ciystallUcd
Into laws , limiting the right of private ven
geance , and Hnally , In all civilized countries ,
P A'S PUNISHMENT OP CRIME.
Now the person In whoso place I venture
to ask the reader to put himself Is not ono
person , but threo. In the punishment of
crime the three parties to the transaction
nru the party wronged , the party who did
the wrong and the party who medi
ates between them. According to the
modern theory , the party wronged Is society ,
or the state ; the party who did the wrong Is
the convicted criminal ; and the mediator
between these two Is the prison warden ,
Into whoso custody the prisoner Is com
mitted f6r the term of his Incarceration.
Lot us begin with the case 6f the convict.
Wo will assume that his conviction Is just.
There are of course Innocent men In prison ,
but their number Is comparatively Insignifi
cant. If not guilty of the specific acts for
which they wore tried and sentenced
burglary for Instance they havp been guilty
of other acts of the eomo character , and
belong by Instinct and habit to the criminal
class. An Innocent man In prison Is cither
a fool or clso ho Is the victim ot some ex
ceptional combination of circumstances. For
the Innocent man In prison we all feel com
passion , but the convict who merits his pun
ishment In the eye of the law Is too gener
ally regarded as without the palo ot human
sympathy.
Dut , If you had been In the convict's
place , do you Imagine that you could or
would have acted otherwise , and that you
would have risen superior to the fate which
Involved him In destruction ? To put your
self In his place you must Imagine yourself
endowed with his heredity. The Inheritance
of most criminals Is defective nervous or.
gnnlzatlon , lack of mental balance , depraved
appetites and dull moral perceptions.
THE PLACE OP THE CONVICT.
U Is true that black sheep are found In
the best families , and that some ot the
worst men have parents ot undoubted virtue
and Integrity ; but , on the theory of atavism ,
When wo consider the great number of every
man's ancestors , and that In no very remote
degree. It Is easy to suppose , though It might
bo dltllcult to prove , that there Is In these
freaks of Inheritance a reversion to some
earlier type , or at least that the elements
derived from various ancestors have been
badly mixed , and that In their combination
they have formed a now and dangerous
moral compound. In order to judge of any
man according to truth his whole family
history needs to bu known tor at least 100
years. Until you know the criminal's
history and compare It with your own you
ore not In a position to suy how far you
could have been Influenced to the choice of
evil rather than good by a nature thus con
structed.
Again , you must place yourself In the
prisoner's environment , and that from his
Mrlleit childhood. What were hla maternal
f
L
Impresslonn In Infancy ? Who were the
companions of his youth ? Hy what social
atmosphere was he surrounded ? What ,
were the examples set baforo him ? Who
were his clearest friends and most trusted
adviser ? With the same training that ho
received It is possible that you might have
become even a worse man than he.
On this point , finally , you must In Im
agination reconstruct and subject yourself
to the convict's peculiar and terrible tempta
tion. It Is necessary to understand , not
only the prisoner's original constitution
and his education , physical , mental and
moral , but to conceive of the precise relation
and attitude existing between himself and
the social whole , at the moment when he
committed his first offense , and at the
moment when he committed the particular
offense for which he was tried and sen
tenced. It would bo unjust to suppose that
the error was all on his side , and that those
who antagonized him and excited him tea
a criminal reaction were wholly free from
blame.
In speaking thus I must not bo understood
to express any sympathy with crime. The
Christian religion teaches us to distinguish
between the sinner and his sin. Nor am I
seeking to find an excuse for his conduct ,
which wll | relieve him fr'om his moral and
legal responsibility. Least of all do I regard
his right to consideration as paramount.
All that I ask on his behalf Is fair play ,
which you would desire If you were in his
place. You would feel an instinctive oppo
sition to being judged with undue severity ,
and , on account of your errors , cither by
excess or defect , regarded as wholly and
hopelessly bad , As a man may be sane on
some subjects and Insane on others , so most
of us are good and bad In spots. When so
ciety , outraged beyond endurance , takes pos
session of a criminal and excludes him from
contact with the world at largo , ho has a
natural and Inalienable right to such treat
ment as will correct his errors , so far as
that Is possible , by the development of his
bettor nature ,
TII1-3 PLACE OP TIIR INJURED PARTY.
And now put yourself In the place of the
Injured party. Think of the man \\hoso
safe has been blown open , or of the woman
whose husband has been murdered , or who
has herself been outraged In her woman
hood. Any sentimental view of crime and
criminals , which leaves this clement of the
question out , Is mawkish and detrimental
to the hoclal welfare. The criminal Is In no
sense a hero , whatever may have been his
audacity and disregard of pertonal consequences
quences to himself. Such courage as ho
may have displayed Is spnsmo'dlc , and at
best physical rather than moral. If he has
seemed not to think of himself this Is be
cause of his Inherent lack of Imagination
and foresight. In
the gratification of a
momentary Impulse he- lost sight of consequences
quences , or foolishly supposed 'ho ' could
avoid them by his Ingenuity or liis good
luck. Our first and highest sympathy Is
forever duo to the man > vho has been In
jured.
It Is the fashion of the hour to decry ven-
K'unce. and to Insist that retribution has no
Place In the criminal code. If thq refutnl
to avenge one's self has root In the senti
ment cf love and pity , If U grows out of the
moral consciousness that the Indulgence of
this passion Is detrimental to character It
la outward expression of the noblest human
sentiment , that of forgiveness of Injuries
But It Is ofUn , on the contrary , merely weak
ness , timidity , Irresolution , and betrays a
real lack of manhood , covering itself from
mprobatlon with the hypocritical mantle of
superior piety. Unquestionably , the criminal
law In Its Inception was founded upon the
conviction that wrong needs to be redressed-
that iha man who niado others suffer do'
serves to suffer In his turn. U was the sub-
stltntlon of a public , measured method of
securing such redress for { he private warfare
which hud been tolerated In the Inchoate
period of human history. Naturels organIzed -
Ized on the rctrlbutory principle. The deed
returns at last upon the doer. Action and
reaction are. equal and contrary. The mills
of the gods gilnd slowly , but the character
of the grist depends upon what U put In the
hopper. The criminal cede which should
have In It no regard for Justice would offend
tint moral sensu ot all men capable of cor
rect thinking.
THE PLACE OP TUB PRISON KEEPER.
that wo must nt last
So put ourselves | n
the place of the prbon keeper. In the
prison thcro la no further room for vindic
tive treatment. The law exhausted Us vlu-
dlctlve function , in the fulmlnatlon of the
sen'enco against the convict. From the mo
ment that ho passes through the prison gate
the Interest of society ceases to be an Inter
est In opposition to that of the prisoner and
the two become Identical. Society demands ,
or should demand , \hat the convict has a
right to demand on his own part , namely , his
restoration.
But If you were In charge of a penlt nfliry ,
you would boon discover that this Is not the
demand whtoh society actually formulates.
You would be expected to hold your pris
oners , to prevent them from escaping prior
to the cxplcation of ssntence ; that goes with
out saynlg. You would be expected to keep
the prison with the same regard for order
and neatness which Is displayed by every
proprietor of a large establishment , whether
a hotel or a mill. You would be required to
exerclso and to maintain discipline In the
sense of compelling obedience to all neces
sary and proper orders. Hut you would flnd
yourself often In a quandary how to make
the lawless observe strict rules without com
pulsion , how to compel them to obedience
without the use of physical force , and how
to Inflict the necessary physical pain without
subjecting yourself to the charge of brutal
ity. Many things , too , would be demanded
of you , not strictly in the- line of your duty
as a. public official.
I do.'not refer to the Implied obligation
to make the prison pay , as It Is called , by
the organization and development of prison
Industries. ATou would find this no easy
task , especially In vlow of the opposition to
profitable employment of convicts manifested
by those trades with which the Industries
selected come Into greater or less compe
tition. This opposition Is not confined to
the special trades affected , but extends
through all ramifications of all organized
labor. The financial Interests of n prison
and the higher Interests of the prisoners are
not always In harmony with each other ,
especially where the supposed necessity for
pecuniary returns suggests the expediency
of leasing convicts to private parties or
hiring their labor to contractors.
THE PRISON IN POLITICS.
But I refer to the Improper and degrading
use of the prison as ono of the potent fac
tors In miichlno politics. The peculiarity of
Intense partisanship Is tha't It begets a zeal
not according to knowledge , In whoso In
tense heat all considerations other than that
of party success shrivel lllic a leaf in the
flames. If a warden Is given his position
as a reward for party services ( which is
very apt to be the case ) , ho Is In so far
disqualified for the highest success by the
very tastes and aptitudes which lit him to
bo a party leader. Dut whatever may bo his
fitness for his place It Is certain that under
a political administration of prisoners ho
will bo turned out whenever .tho control of
the government passes Into the hands of
the opposite party or even of a different
faction of hU own party. Ho has there
fore little Inducement to master the busi
ness entrusted to his hands. Worse than
that , the subordinate positions In his gift
arc regarded as counters In the gurne , and ,
unless ho himself has the sense and skill
to play them for all they arc worth , these
minor appointments will be dictated to him
and ho will Ira forced to put up with Incom-
petency If not with disloyalty. There can bo
no prison reform In the United States until
the divorce ot the prlspn system from practi
cal politics is pronounced with such author
ity as to prevent any subsequent remarriage ,
CAUSES OP CRIME.
I do not say that the first duty of a warden
is to reform his prisoners , nor expect of
him a decree of sucess In that direction
which transcends ) reasonable .expectation ,
In view of the well known persistence of the
criminal typo of character , which resists
every Influence for good which may' bo
brought to bear upon It , Dut to make nil
possible efforts for their reformation is his
duty , and ho should regard It as his priv
ilege , also. The four most common proxi
mate causes of crime are the hnblt of self-
indulgence and Insubordination to lawful
authority , Ignorance of a trade , imperfect
Intellectual development and a blunted or
perverted conscience. To counteract these
ho has the right and the power to enforce
obedience , to compel the prisoner to labor ,
and to Impart mental and moral Instruc
tion. The excellence of a prison as a re
formatory agency depends upon the skill
and force with which ho applies those
agencies to Individuals , according to their
personal temperament , habits and capacities.
The ijucttiqu wUguier tjita ca : | best bu
done where all prisoners are Isolated from
each other by confinement In separate cells ,
or where they are In association , under
proper regulations , is one concerning which
the best authorities are not agreed , and
perhaps It can never bo conclusively settled.
The former s-ystem Is followed In the East
ern penitentiary of Philadelphia , and Is
prevalent to a large degree In Europe In
the United States this system has been
abandoned elsewhere , for reasons which it
would make tills article too long to discuss
here. Dut there Is no difference of opinion
among experts us to tlio necessity for In
dividual treatment ) under either system ,
and there Is none as to the folly of trustIng -
Ing too much to routine for reformatory re
sults.
DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY OP REFORM.
The difficulty In all attempts to reform
men , In or out of prison , is that of securing
their co-operation In the reformatory proc
ess. In- prison many-circumstances conspire
to excite the prisoner to the most deter
mined effort of which he Is capable not to
yield to any Influence for good. What pio-
live can wo appeal to. In his case , to over
come the resistance ? The motives which
actuate mankind may all be reduced to two ,
hope and fear. What does the prisoner de
sire most ardently If not his freedom ? It
Is to' this that we must appeal , and there Is
but ono way In which It can be effectually
done , namely , by making the date of his
discharge depend upon his conduct while in
prison. The "good tlmo" laws in most
states are a step In this direction , but they
operate In one direction only , that of short
ening the sentence , and that to a limited
amount ; their only Influence Is to make the
prisoner observe rules. What Is needed Is
power to hold him until he is reformed.
\\'o enter hero upon the threshold of n largo
subject , which cannot bo disposed of in n
Tow sentences , Dut It Is clear as anything
can be that the reform of criminal Juris
prudence and of prison discipline lies along
the road Indicated , namely , the ultimate
substitution of indefinite for dudnlto terms
of Imprisonment for crime. There are so
many Independent lines of reasoning which
lead up to that , the Inconsistencies and *
absurdities of our existing penal codes , the
inequity of punishment as administered by
the courts , the abuse of the pardoning power ,
the unsatisfactory results of our present
system In so many ways. The analogy be
tween the Insane and the criminal dlnthoscs ,
from a medical point of vlow , points In the
same direction. It Is not surprising that
this suggestion has taken a strong hold upon
the public mind.
KIND WORDS FOR DROCKWAY.
The man who , of ill living men , has done
most to convinceHboughtful ! and unpreju
diced students that there are possibilities of
reform both of prUonem and of prisons
deemed at one time beyond hope Is my friend
Mr. Urockwny of itho Elmlra reformatory ,
now under fire uifdl cloud. Let me close
by asking you to nut yourself In his place ,
and. , nsk yourself whether the treatment
which has been accorded him would seem
to you fair If applied , , to you , I have known
him Intimately for a quarter of a century ,
and ho Is as iltfforent a man from ( ho portrait
trait of him whichris sought to bo palmed
off upon the public In his name as It la pos
sible to Imagine. How would you like ,
after a life of dovotlon , and after having
earned by fttlthfuLa'nd competent service a
reputation second , tin Its sphere , to that of
none , to bo condemned on the testimony
of convicts by a court martial composed of
ono man unfitted foV1 the position and func
tions of a Judge , under the pressure of
opinion formed by a largo expenditure of
money by an Influential Journal , without
having a chance to refute the evidence ad
duced or even to cross examine the wl-
ncssei ? All honoat men , It seems to me ,
ought to rejoice that the wrong done him
In this respect la to be partially righted ,
and that the great state of Now York Is not
to be disgraced by an act of manifest Injus
tice to a man who has attracted the admir
ation of the civilized world and added a
fresh laurel to the chaplet which adorns
her brow by branding him as a brute with
out a fair hearing.
FREDERICK HOWARD WINUS.
Wo could not Improve the quality If we
paid double the price UeWltt's Witch
Hazel Salve Is the best salvo that experience
can produce , or thut money can buy.
The National Carriage and Wagon Workers
union has gained twelve locals during the
pant eight months.
A WOMAN.'WITH A HISTORY
Thrilling Experience in Slave Days Eecallet
by n Participant.
LETTER AND DAGGER FROM JOHN BROWN
Ilorii a Ilunmn Chattel In Maryland , Later
u Successful Fugitive , NunICnJo ; Inff
1'cavoful Old Ago In
Nebraska.
Few people In Norfolk , Neb. , are aware
that living in their midst Is a person whoso life
has been closely associated with that of Fred
Douglass , who knew John Drown , the mar
tyr ; has conversed and shook hands with
William Lloyd Garrison , Wendell Phillips ,
Stephen F. Foster and Samuel Dowles ; was
an Intimate acquaintance of Maria Duker and
Lydla M. Chllds. The generation that lived
during the days of these grand old abolition
ists has nearly passed away , Occasionally
one Is met who knew some of .these men and
women , but very few , If any , who were ac
quainted with all of them. Fred Douglass Is
the last of a class of men who , twenty years
before the first gun blazed above Fort Sum
ter , had stirred the northern heart to a real
ization of the terrible wrong of human slav
ery.
ery.At
At 410 Second street , Norfolk , Is an
old colored lady , mother-in-law of Rev.
W. H. Vanderzee , whose life. It written ,
would make Interesting reading. Seventy-
four years ago , relates the News , Mrs. Ruth
Adams first saw the light of day In a llttlo
Maryland cabin. She was born a slave , as
were her father and mother before her. The
first work she remembers of doing was to
care for the children of her master. As she
grow to womanhood , and continued In the oc
cupation of nurse , to the Increasing family of
her muster , she was enabled , with the help
of the older daughters ot her master , to read
and write. With her acquirement of this
knowledge came a longing to escape from
bondage , although her servitude was pleasant
compared with the lot of many of the other
slaves In tha neighborhood. Escaping from
slavery In 1844 was no easy matter even
from the border states. To assist a fugitive
slave In escaping from bondage , the lash and
the bloodhound was considered a moral crime
by many who regarded the black man In the
same light the law of the land designated
him the chattel of his whlto master. Dut
there were not wanting In the north thou
sands ot men and women who looked upon
the negro as a human being , entitled to hu
man sympathy. It was not so much a ques
tion of law with the old abolitionist as It
was a question of morals , They did not be
lieve in the divine right of kings , neither
did they bcllovo that slavery was a divine
Institution , sanctioned by Qed , as ono of the
leading churches of the country had declared ,
FLIGHT FOR FREEDOM.
In the 24th year of her life Mrs. Adams
formed the acquaintance of a free negro In
the employ of the underground railway. At
that tlmo this railway extended from the
boundary line between Pennsylvania and
Maryland through to Canada , As soon as
u slave crossed thu Pennsylvania line ho
was taken In hand by the guldo or engineer ,
hurried on the way during the night and
secreted from pursuers In the day time and
the next night was off again In charge of
another guide In the direction of Canada
and freedom. And no the race was kept
up night after night until Drltlsh bayonets
guarded the fugitives from the stinging
lash of the slave catcher. Ono dark night
Ruth Adams left the home of her master
forever , In charge of her dusky guide , and
started on the road to freedom. Twelve
nillca wcro traveled the , first night. On the
following night , In charge of a pious Quaker ,
she crgiied the Maryland line Into Pennsyl
vania , and for the lint tlmo planted her
feet , with a prayer to Qed , upon the soil of
a free utato , From now on escape was
easy. She was In the midst of friendly
Quakers who hurried her on to West Ches
ter , where she was safe for the time being.
It was while ( stopping at West Chester
that Mrs. Adams met Pred Douglass , , then a
young man , delivering speeches against
slavery under the auspices of an anti-slavery
society. Douglass heard of Mrs. Adams and
was taken to the house where she was stop
ping. He at once thought he recognised It
the young lady his sister , whom he had los
all track of years before. So confident was
ho that the fugitive was his own sister tha
ho offered her a homo with himself am
wife In Massachusetts. It was while llvlnt ,
In Lynn , Mass. , aS a member of Mr. Doug
lass' family , that Mrs. Adams , through Doug
lass' personal relations with the prominent
leaders of that state , formed the acquain
tance ot William Lloyd Garrison , Wendel
Phillips and other leading anti-slavery men
of the day. At the solicitation of Lydla M
Chllds , she became a member of an antislavery -
slavery society whose object was to assist
runaway slaves and furnish them with
money and transportation to Canada or to
points In Now England where public senti
ment would protect them from capture.
AT DOUGLASS' HOME.
During her stay In the Douglass family
she taught Mrs. Douglass and her children
to read and write. Mr. Douglass went to
England on a lecturing tour , and during his
absence all the letters from across the
waters were answered by Mrs. Adams. The
old lady now has In her possession the let
ters written her by Mr. Douglass , also n
fancy box made of finely polished wood sent
by Douglass while stopping in London. StickIng -
Ing between the. tape on the Inside of the
cover Is a card containing these words : "To
my sister , from her brother , Fred Douglass. "
After Mr. Douglass returned from abroad
Mrs. Adams was married , the ceicmony be
ing performed In the Douglass homo , Mr.
Douglass himself giving the brldo away and
making the happy couple several presents ,
among them a handsome silk dicss which
he purchased while abroad. It was not un
til several years after this event that Doug
lass discovered that Mrs. Adams was not his
sister , but through all the years of his
eventful life ho had never forgotten Ruth
Adams , and bus always cherished for her a
brotherly feeling. They have never lost
track of fach other , and although Fred
Douglass had earned a name and a place In
the hearts of his race and has grown
wealthy and resides on and owns the home
of his old master , the very place from which
ho escaped from bondage nearly sixty years
ago. ho still finds tlmo to write an occa-
uional letter to his Norfolk friend.
A FRIEND IN JOHN I1ROWN.
After her marriage Mr. and Mrs. Adams
went to Springfield , Mass. , to reside. Hero
two children wore born , ono of them now the
wife of Rev. Vanderzeo. It was shortly
after the birth of her youngest child that
Chief Justice Taney rendered a decision de
claring the fugitive slave law constitutional.
Great was the Indignation throughout the
north when this decision was handed down.
Mr Adams , having obtained free papers
from his master several years previous ,
could not bo molested , but Mrs. Adams was
llablo at any time to be drugged back to
slavery. It was about this time that she
met John nrown. "Ho culled at our
homo , " said Mrs. Adams to the News reporter -
porter , "and presented my husband with
this dagger , saying , 'u-o this only In defense
' " The dagger Is
fense of your family.
now In possession of Mrs. Adams , and Is
an object of veneration. Not many months
after this event John Drown and his follow
ers raided Harpers Perry , where ho was
captured and Imprisoned. During his con
finement and jmt prior to his death ho an
swered a letter written by Mlsn IlowlcB ,
which Mrs. Adams was kind enough to al
low the News representative to copy. This
otter was among the last John Drown ever
icnncd for In live days afterwards his BOUI
itarted on that historic march of which
nllllons past and present have sung and
millions will sing In the future. The let
ter Is as follows :
ENCOURAGING WORDS.
CHARLESTOWN , Vu. , Nov. 27. 'CO. My
) ear Mian : Your most kind letter of ISth Inat.
s received. Although I have not ut all been
ow spirited nor cast down In feeling since
jelng In prison and under a sentence which
[ am fully aware Is soon to be carried out , It Is
exceedingly gratifying to learn from frlendx
hat there are nqt wanting In this generation
some to sympathize with me , and appreciate
my motives ; 4ven now that our wished suc
cess Is In general the standard of all merit.
I have passed my time here quite cheerfully ,
still trusting that neither my life nor my
death will prove u total loss. As regards
both , however , I may mistake. It affords
me some satisfaction to feel conscious of at
least trying to better the condition of these
who are always on the underbill side , and I
am In hopes of being able to meet consequences
quences without a murmur. I am endeavorIng -
Ing to got ready for another field of action
"whero no defeat befalls the truly bravo. "
That God reigns und most wisely controls all
events , might , It would seem , reconcile thosa
who believe It. Too much that appears to bo
very disastrous. I am one who has tried to
believe that , and I still keep trying. These
who die for the truth will prove to be con
querors at last , so I continue hoping on till I
shall flnd that the truth must dually prevail.
I do not feel in the least degree despondent
nor disgraced by my circumstances , and 1
entreat my friends not to grieve on my ac
count. JOHN DROWN.
After the death of John Drown. Mr. and
Mrs. Adams , at the eainest solicitation ol
friends , went to Haytl , where they remained
until the close of the war , and then returned
to the United States. Her husband died In
1SOS from a disease contracted while living In
Haytl.
Mrs. Adams taken modest prldP ) n narrat
ing the events of her life which have associ
ated her with mon of national reputation.
Her declining years are happy ones. She la
.tenderly cared for1 by her daughter ami son-
In-law. For fifty yearn she has been a mem
ber of the church , always looking cheerfully
forward to the time when the .Master makes
the final summons for her to Join the frlend9
of years ago who devoted their earthly ca
reer to the freedom and elevation ot tha
colored race.
Cook's Imperial. World's fair "highest
award , excellent champagne ; good efferves
cence , agreeable bouquet , delicious flavor. "
1'it.rrrj.i : or TIII :
A certain doctor living In the upper part
of Utlca , N. Y. , has a bright and observing
4-year-old daughter. She has a brother a
few years older of whom she is very fond ,
and who , for her amusement , sometimes
draws pictures on nlatc or paper. A few
evenings ago ho was thus engaged , and es-
Huyed to draw an elephant. Ho shaped tha
body , head and legs , and before adding the
proboscis stopped a moment to look at It.
The llttlaglrl liud bein watch ng cvey stroke
of the pencil with great Interest , waiting
patiently for him to finish , and when ho
stopped , and she thought ho was done , ex
claimed : ' "Why , Juhnnlo , you fordot to put
on his satchel ! "
Dr. Thirdly I am glad to hear , jny son ,
that you refused to fight Wllllo Snipper. >
Johnny Yes , sir , It'B wicked to light , and
then Willie's father Is a tailor , and beuldca
lie's bigger than I am.
Tattle ( aged fi ) I wonder why bablCH la
always born In do nlglit-tlme. Lottlo ( agad
7 , a llttlo wliwr ) Don't you know ? It's cos'
they wants to make sure of findln' their
mothers at home.
During a call that lltllo 4-yeur-old Mary
was making with her mother , n slice of cake
was given to her. "Now , what are you golnp
to say to the lady ? " asked the mother. "la
you dot any more ? " askedllttlo Mary , de
nuroly.
"Minnie , you an' Tt'oslo inunlii't talk about
slappln' each other's farce , " said the eldest
of the llttlo girls , chiding"Thut ! neigh-
bom'll think this Is a grand opry company.
Teacher How IB the earth' divided ?
Drlght Doy Sometimes by earthquake.
Itlimiiuntlim ( 'urnd In Tlimo Day * .
"I have been allllcted all winter with
rheumatism In the back. At tlmcx It wan
no severe that I could not stand up straight ,
nit was drawn over on .one side , " saya
Grnrgo A. Mills of Lebanon , Conn , "I tried
llffiirent reniedltn. but without relief , until
about six weeks agj , when I bought a bottle
of Chamberlain's Pain Dalm. After using It
or three days , according to direction ) * , my
heiimatlsm was gone , imd has not ro-
urnod since. 1 liavo tdnco recommended It
mil given It to nthi'ra , " ' " 'I know they have
jcoii benefited by IU use. " F6r Halo by
druggUta.
