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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 24, 1895)
THE OMAHA DAILY JIBBi stfS bilk , NOVISMBHR i-t ! , 1805 , 1 I A Government Official. By IAN MACtAUBNt Autliorof "Ito li1o tlic llontilc Itrlor HnMi , " Hie. ( Copyright , 1S ? . * > , by John \Vntj > on ) E Never had I mot nny man to methodical In his habits , so neat In Ills dresi , BO accu rate In ppecch , fo precise In manner an my fellow lodger. When lie took tilu bath In the morning I knew It was half past 7 , and when he rang for hot water that It was ft * quarter to 8. Until a quarter past he moved about his room In his slow , careful dressing , and then everything was quiet riext door till half-past 8 , when the low murmur of the Lord's prayer concluded Ills devotions. Two minutes later he went down * stairs If ho met a servant one could hear him say "flood morning" and read his newspaper he seldom had letters till 9 , when ho rang for breakfast. Twenty past 0 ho went upstairs and changed his coat , nnd ho spent live minutes In the lobby ficlccttng a pair of gloves , brushing his hat mid making u last survey for n speck of dust. One clove h put on opposite the hat fctand , and the second on the doorstep , nnd when he touched the pavement you might have set your \\atch by 9:30. : Once he was In the lobby nt live nnd twenty minutes to 10 , distressed and Hurried. "I cut my chin slightly when shaving , " ho explained , "and the wound persists In bleeding. It lion an untidy appearance and a drop of blood might fall on a letter. " The walk that morning was quite broken , and before reaching the corner he Imd twice examined hlc chin with a handkerchief and shaken his head as one whoso position In life was now uncertain , "It Is nothing In Itself , " ho said after ward , with nn apologetic alliuilon to hla anxiety , "and might not matter to another man. Dut any little mlsidventuro a yes terday's collar or n razor cut , or even an Inky finger would render me helpless In dealing with people. They would simply look at the weak spot and one would lose all authority. Some of the Juniors smile when I Impress upon them to be very careful nbout their dre a quiet , of course , as becomes their situation , but unobjectionable. With more ropponslblllty they will t oo the necessity of such details. I will remember your transparent - ' ent sticking plaster a most valuable sug gestion. " His name was Frederick Augustus I'crklns ; so ran the card he. left on my table a week after I settled In the next room , and the problem of his calling gradually be came a standing vexation. U fell under the class of .conundrums , and one remembers from childhood that It Is mean to bo told the answer , so I could not say to Mr. Perkins for It was characteristic of the prim little man that no properly constituted person could have said'Perkins "By the way , what Is your line of things ? " or any more decorous rendering of my cu riosity. Mrs. Holmes , who wan as a mother to Mr. Perkins and myself , as well as two younger men of literary pursuits and Ir regular habits , had a gift of charm ing Irrelevance , and was able to combine al lusions to Mr. Perkins' ordinary life and the amatory tendencies of a now cook In a mosaic of enthralling Interest. * "No. Detsy Jane has 'ad her notice and ROCS this day. week } not that her cookln's bad , but her brothers don't know when to leave. One was 'cro no later than last night , though If he was her born brother , 'e ad a different father and" mother , or my name ain't 'Dimes. 'Your brother. Delay Jane , ' says I , 'ought not to talk In a'strange ' ouso on family affairs till 11 o'clock. ' " ' 'B left at 'nlf past 10 punctual , ' says Bho , looktn * us hlnnocent as a child , 'for I 'card Mr. Perkins go up to 'Is room as I was lettln' Jim out. ' " 'Betsy Jane , ' I says , quite calm , 'where do you expecU to go to as doesn't know wet truth Is ? ' for Mr , Perkins loaves 'Is room lias the 'all clock starts on 11. and 'o's In 'Is bed room at the last stroke. If she 'adn't brought In Mr. Perkins she might 'avo deceived me , gettln' old and not beln' quick In my hearing ats I was , but that set tled her. " 'Air past , went on Mrs. Holmes , scorn fully , "and Mm never varied two minutes the last ten years , except ono night He fell asleep In 'Is chair , being bad with hlnflu- cnza. * "For a regular single gentleman as rises In the morning and goes out , and comes In end takes Ms dinner , and goes to bed like the Modes and Persians , I've never seen Ms equal ; an' It's five and twenty years since 'Olmes died , 'avln' a bad liver through takln' gin for rheumatics ; an' Llzbeth P evey says to me , 'Talto lodgers Jemima ; not that tSiey pays for the trouble , but It Mil keep an ouso. ' "Mr. Perkins' business , " It was shabby , but the temptation came as a way of escape from the flow of Mr. Holmes autobiography , "now that I couldn't put a name on , for why , ' © never speaks nbout Ms affairs. Just 'Good evening , Mrs. 'Dimes ; I'll take Ilali for breakfast tomorrow ; ' more than that , or an other blanket on Ms bed en the 1st of No vember , for It's by days , not cold , 'e goes. " It was evident that I must solve the prob lem for myself. Mr. Perkins could not bo a city man , for In the hottest June he never wore a white waistcoat , nor liad ho the swelling gait of ono who made an occasional coup In mines , nnd It wont , without saying that ho did not write , a man who went to bed at 11 and whoso hair made no claim to distinction. Olio's mind fell back on the Idea of law conveyancing seemed probable but his face lacked sharpnEst , and the alternative of con fidential clerk to a firm of drysaltery was contradicted by an air of authority that raised observations on the bad weather to n level of a state document. Tiie truth came upon me a flash of Inspiration as I saw Mr. Perkins coming homo ono evening. The black 'frock coat and waistcoat , dark gray troueors , spotless linen , high , old-fiishloned collar and stiff stock wcro a symbol and could only mean one profession. "By the way , Mr. Perkins , " for this was ONE GLOVE HE PUT XN OPPOSITE TUB HAT STAND. alt one now required to know , "are you In come tax or itampi ? " "Neither , although my duty makes me familiar with every department In the civil bervlce. I have the honor to be , " and he cleared his throat with dignity , "a first clan clerk In the ichedulo ofllce. " "Our work " be to "Is , explained me , very Important , nnd In fact , vital to the adinlnlttratlon of affalrr. The efficiency of practical government .depend * on the accuracy uf the forma Usued , and every one U coin- lioted | n our ofilce. "No , that la a common mistake , " In reply to my rtiallow remark ; "the departments do not draw up tllr own forms , and In fact they are not flt for such work. They tend ui a memorandum of what their otllclals with to aik , and we put It Into shape , ' 'it rtqulret long experience and , I may say , some ability to compose a really creditable schedule , one that will bring out every point clearly and exhaustively In fact , I have ventured to call It a rclence" here Mr , Perkins allowed himself to tmlle and It might b ? defined schedulology. "Y , to tec a double sheet of fooUcap divided Into tome twenty-four compartments , each with a question and a blank space for the answer , Is" pleasing to the eye , very pleas ing. Indeed. "What annoys one , " and Mr. Perkins be came quite Irritable , "Is to examine a sched ule otter It has been filled and to discover how It has been misused simply mangled. "It Is not the public simply who are to blame ; they are , of courre , quite hopeless * and have an Insane desire to write their names alt over the paper , with family details ; but members of the civil service abuse the most admirable forms that ever came out of our ofllce , "Numerous ? Yes , naturally so ; and as governmental machinery turns on schedules they will Increase every year. Could you guess , now , the number of different sched ules under our charge ? " "Several hundred , perhaps. " Mr. Perkins smiled with much complacency. "Sixteen thousand four hundred and four , besides temporary ones , that are only used In emergencies. One department has now reached 1,202 ; It has been admirably organ ized , and Its secretary could tell you the- sub ject of every form. "Well , It does not become me to boast , but I have had the honor of contributing 220 myself , nnd have composed forty-two more that hax-e not yet been accepted. "Well , yes , " he admitted with much mod- slight difficulty In breathing , but i im quite able to go to the office In n tub , "You ire most kind and obliging , but the ichedulo I m It Just comes and goes' think you , no more water U Important and intricate ; no one can complete It except mynelf. "With your permission I will rlse-Mn few minutes 10 o'clock , dear me this Is most unfortunate not get down till 11 I must really Insist " Hut the doctor had come , and Mr , Perkins obeyed on one condi tion. tion."Yes "Yes , doctor , I prefer , If you pleaa , to know ; you see I m not a young person nor nervous thank you very much qulto so ; pneumonia Is serious and double pneumonia dangerous I understand no , It Is not that ono Is alarmed at my age , but yes , I'll He down letter must go to office dictate It to my friend certain form leave of absence , In fact trouble yqu too much medical cer tificate. " He was greatly relieved after this letter was tent by special messenger with the key of his desk , and quite refreshed when a clerk came up with the chief's condolence ? . "My compliments to Mr. Llghthead an excellent young ofllclal , very promising Indeed and would he step upitalrs for n minute will excuse this un dress In circumstances * really I will not ppeak any more. "ThoPo notes , Mr. Llghthead , will make my Idfa quite plain nnd 1 hope to fovtse final draft If God will * * my dutiful respect to the board , nnd kind regards to the chief clerk * * It was kind of you to come , most thoughtful. This young gentleman oamo Into my room to learn the state of the case , nnd was much Impressed. "Really this kind of thing Perkins gasping In bed and talking In his old-fashioned way- knocks ono out of time , don't you know ? If he had gone on much longer I should have bolted. . , "Like him In the office ? . I should think so. You should have seen ths young fellows today when they heard he was so 111. Of course wo laugh a bit at him Schedule Per kins he's called because he's BO dry and . PERKINS LAY VERY STILL AND DID HIS BEST TO BREATHE. esty , "I have kept copies of the original drafts , " and he showed me a bound volume of his works. "An author ? It Is very good of you to ray BO " and Mr. Perkins seemed much pleased'with the Idea , twice smiling to him self during the evening , and saying as wo parted : "It's my good fortune to have a large and permanent circulation. " All November Mr. Perkins was engaged with what he hoped would be one of his greatest successes. "It's a sanitation schedule for the educa tion department , and Is , I dare say. nearly perfect. It has eighty-three questions on every point , from temperature to drains , and A 111 present a complete view of the physical condition of primary schools. "You have no Idea , " he continued , "what i fight I have had with our Head to get It through eight drafts , each one costing three lays' labor but now ho has passed It. " 'Perkins , ' ho said , 'this Is the most ox- 'laustlvo schedule you have ever drawn up , md I'm proud It's come through the hands it the drafting sub-department. Whether I : an approve It as Head of the publishing sub- lepartment Is very doubtful. ' " "Do you mean that the came man would ipprove your paper In ono department today and " "Quito so. It's a little dlfllcult for an outsider to appreciate.thp perfect order , per haps I might say symmetry , of the clvl service , " and Mr. Perkins spoke with a tone of condescension as to a child. "Tho Heac goes himself to the one sub-department In the morning and to the other In the afternoon and he acts with Impartiality. "Why , fir" Mr. Perkins began to warm and grow enthusiastic "I have received a letter from the other sub-department , severely criticising a draft ho had highly commendei In ours two days tiefore , and I saw his hand In the letter distinctly ; an able re view , too , very able Indeed , very wen pui , renting , no saiu 10 me himself ; 'they've found the weak points ; wo must send an amended draft ; and V3 we did and got a very satisfactory reply. It was a schedule about swine fever , 972 In the Depart ment of Agriculture. I have had the pleasure of reading It In public circulation when on my holidays. " "Does your Head sign the letters addressed to himself ? " "Certainly ; letters between departments arc always signed by the chief ofllcer. " Mr. "erklns seemed to have found another Illus- .ratlon of public Ignorance , and recognized his duty as a missionary of oftlcIalUm. "It would afford me much pleasure to give you any Information regarding our excellent system , which has been slowly built up , and will repay study , but you will excuss mo this evening , as I am Indisposed a tendency to shiver which annoyed me In the ofllce today. " Next morning I rose half an hour late , as Mr , Perkins did not take his bath , and was not surprised when Mrs. Holmes came to my room , overflowing with concern and discon nected speech. " 'K'a that regular In Ms ways , that when 'Annah Marlur says Ms water's at Ms door at 8 o'clock , I went up. that 'urrled that I couldn't speak ; and I 'ears Mm speaking to Meielf , which Is not what you would expect of Mm , 'e being the quietest gentleman as ever " "Is Mr. Perkins III , do you mean ? " for Mrs. Holmes seemed now In fair breath , and waii also given to comparative review a , "So I knocks and says. 'Mr. Perkins , 'ow are you feeling ? ' and all I could 'ear was 'temperance ; ' It's little as he needs of that , for excepting a glass of wine at his dinner , and It might be something 'ot before going to bed In winter "So I goes In , " resumed Mrs. Holmes , "an * there 'o was pitting up In Ms bed , with 'Is face as red as fire , an' not knowing me from Adam. If It wasn't for MB 'abltg an' a catching of 'U breath you wud 'ave Bald drink , for 'e says , 'How often have the drains been sluiced last year ? ' " After which I went up to Mr , Perking1 room with out ceremony , He waa explaining , with much cogency , as It seemtd to me , tlmt unleis the statis tics of temperature embraced the whole year they would afford no rellabb conclusions rc- girdlng th sanitary condition of board schools , but when I addressed him by nam ; with emphasis , he came to hlmwlf with a start. "Kxcui'j me , sir. I must apologize I really did not luar In fact , " and then , as he re alized hl situation , Mr. Perkins wag greatly embarrassed. "Did I forget myself BO far as to tend tor jrout I wa not feellnf well. J have formal ; but that's nothing. "With all his llttls cranks , he knows his business better than any man In the depart ment ; and then he's a gentleman , d'ye see ? could not say a rude word or do a mean thing to save his life not mad that way , In fact. fact."Let me Just give you ono Instance show you his port. Everyone knew that-he ought to have been chief clerk , and that Rodway's appointment was sheer Influence. The staff was mad , and some one said Hodway need not expect to have a particularly good time. "Perkins overheard him , and chipped In at once. 'Mr. Rodway' you know his dry man ner , wagging his eyeglass all tha time ME our superior olHcer , and we are bound to render him every assistance In our power , or , ' and then he was splendid , 'resign our commissions. ' Rodway , they My , has re tired , but the worst of It Is that as Perkins has been once passed over he Mil not suc ceed. "Perhaps It won't matter , poor chap , J say , " said Llghthead , hurriedly , turning hit back and examining a pipe on the mantle- piece , "do you think he la going to I mean , has ho a chance ? " . . "Just a chance , I believe. Have you been long with him ? " "That's not it It's what he'o done for a for fellows. Strangers don't know Perkins , You might talk to him for a year , and never hear anything but shop. Then one diy you get Into a hole , and you would find out an other Perkins. "Stand by you ? " and ho wheeled round. "Rather , and no palaver either ; with money and with time and with other things that do a fellow moro good than the whole concern , and no nlra. There's more than one man In our office has cause to bless Schedule Per kins. kins."Let "Let mo tell you how ho got ono chap out of the biggest scrape he'Ill ever fall Into. Do you mind mo smoking ? Ana then he mad ? himself busy with matches and a pipe that was ever going out for the rest of the story. "Well , you see , this man , clerk In our office , had not been long up from the coun try , and he was young. Wasn't quite bad , but he couldn't hold his own with older fel lows. "He got among a net that had support their rooms , and gambled a hit , and he lost and borrowed , and In fact , was stone broke. "It's not very pleasant for a fellow to sit In his room a week bsforo Christmas and know that ho may bo cashiered before the holidays , and ( .11 through his own fault. "If It were only himself , why , ho might take his licking and go to the colonies , but It was hard on his mother It's always going out this pipe when ne was her only son , nnd she rather believed In him. "Didn't sleep much that night told mo himself afterward and ho concluded that the best way out was to buy opium In the city next day , and take It pretty stiff dose , you know next night. "Cowardly rather , of course , but It might ba easier for the mater down In Devon hla mother , I mean did I say he was Devon ? B3mo county as myself affair would be hushed up , and she would have his mem ory clean. "As It happened , though , he didn't buy any opium next day didn't get the chance ; for Perkins came round to tils desk and asked this young chap to have a bit of din ner. ner."He "He had the Jolllest little dinner ready you ever saw , and he Insisted on the fellow smoking , though Perkins hates the very smell of 'baccy , and well , no got the whole trouble out of him , except the opium , "D'yo think he lectured and scolded ? Not a bit that's not Perkins he left the fool to do his own lecturing , and he did It still. 111 tell you what he said : 'Your health must have been much tried by this anxiety , 0 you must go down and spend Christmas with your mother , and I would venture to suggest that you take her a suitable gift. " 'With regard to your debt , you will al ow me , ' and Perkins spoke as If he had been explaining a schedule , 'to take It over , on .wo conditions that you repay me by In. vtalmentg every quarter , and dine with me every Saturday evening for six months , ' "See what ho was after ? Wanted to keep the fellow straight , and cheer him up ; and you've no Idea how Perkins came out hose Saturdays capital stories as ever you leard and he declared that It was a pleasure o him , " 'I am rather lonely , ' be used to say , 'and It IK rnott kind of a youngmm to tit with me. ' Kind ! " , , "What wn the upshot with , your friend ? Did lie turn over a new leaflj" , , , "Ho Mil never be the man. .Perkins ex pects , but he's doing his lcvc-1 best , and Is rising In the office. Perkins ; swpars by him , and that's made a man of thp fellow , "He's raid over tlie cash now , but he can never ruty up the kindness confound these wax matches , they never strike he told his mother last summer the whole story. "Sho wrote to Perkins of course I don't know what was In the Utterr-but Perkins had the fellow Into his room , 'You ought to have regarded our transaction as conflden- tlnl , I am grieved you mentioned my name , , and then as I I mean as the fellow was going out , 'I'll keep that letter beside my commission , ' said Perkins. "If Perkins dies" young men don't do that kind of thing , or else one would have thought "It Mil be n beastly shame , ' ' which was n terrible collapse , and Mr. Geoffrey Llghthead of the Schedule department left the house without further remark or even shaking hands. That was Wednesday , and on Friday morning he appeared , flourishing a largo blue envelope , sealed with an Imposing de vice , marked "On Her Majesty's Service , " and addressed to "Frederick Augustus Perkins , Esq. , First Class Clerk In the Schedule Depart ment. Somerset House , London , an envelope any man might be proud to re- celvo and try to live up to 'for a week. "llodwhy has retired , " he shouted , "and we can't be sure In the office , but the bet ting Is four to one I'm ten myself that the board has appointed Perkins chief clerk , " and Llghthead did some steps of a trl * umplial character , "The secretary appeared this morning after the board had met. 'There's a letter their nonurs wisn taken at once to Mr. Perkins. Can any of you deliver It at his residence ? ' Thtn the other men looked at me , because well , Perkins has been friendly to me , and that hansom came very creditably Indeed , "Very low , eh ? Doctor afraid not last over the night that's hard lines but I say , they did not reckon on this letter , Cculd not you read It to him ? You see this was his one ambition. He could never bo secre tary , not able enough , but he was made for chief clerk. Now , he's go It , or I would not have been sent out skimming with this letter. IUad It to him , and the dear old chap will bo on his legs In a week. " It seemed good advice , and this tfas what I read , whllo Perkins lay very still and did his best to breathe : "Dear Mr. Perkins I have the pleasure to Inform you that the board has appointed you chief clerk In the Schedule department In succession to Gintavus Rodway , esq. , who retires , and their honors desire me further to express their appreciation of your long nnd valuable service , and to express their earnest hope t-'nat you may be speedily re stored to health. I am , your obedient ser vant , ARTHUR -WRAXALL , Secretary. " For a little time It was too much for Mr. Perkins , and then he whispered : "The one thing on earth I wlshsd , and more than I deserved not usual , personal references In Board letters perhaps hardly regular but most gratifying and strength ening. "I feel better already some words I would Ilko to hear again thank you , where I can reach It nurse will be so good as to rend Mr. Perkins revived from that hour , hav ing his tonic administered at Intervals , and astonished the doctors. On Christmas ve he had mada such progress that Llghthead was allowed to see him for five minutes. "Heard about your calling three times a day far too kind with all your work and the messages from the staff touchd me to heart never thought had JJD many friends wished been more friendly 'myself. "My promotion , too hope may bo flt for duty can't speak much,1 but 'Ihlnk I'll be spared Almighty vsry g6od to me chief clerk of schedule department would you mind saying Lord's prayer together It sums up everything. " So wo knelt , one on each side of Perkins' bed , and I led with "Our Tathr" the other two being onceor twice quite Tiudlble. The choir of a neighboring church was singing a Christmas carol In the street , and the Christ came Into our hearts , as a little child. A.V OID IOVET r. il. Tlie Drllcnte Mlnslvo ni n Ymilccc 1'nrnoii ( o HIM Afllimcc'il. The old parsonage1 In wfilch Parson Wil liams lived In East Hartford for fifty-five years Is well known to Hartford people , says the Hartford Courant.This letter waa written to the young widow who pecame the old minister's second wife. Ills first wife was his cousin , the daughter of Rcctcr Ellsha Williams , president of Yale college. The letter Is not quite as aTte'ctionate as'thc old Puritan love letters ot John Wlnthrop , but there Is a delicacy and courleousncss about It and enough love to make It Inter esting. HARTFORD , May 3 , 1777. Dear Madam : Nr.ver did time pafs moro flowly with me ; " a Leaden age feems to roll "on In every hour , till the 12th of June ; when by the Divine favor , & thro1 your obliging goodnefs , I look to be made as happy as the prefent statr. of things will admit. I would indeed check Impatient deflres , and overeager expectation , considering the oxtraam uncertainty of all created Bllfs , and as not knowing what a day may bring forth ; cfpeclally In this feafon of public calamity , & dark and doubtful expec- tlon ; yet with fubmlfslvn deference , may I then hope the crowning my withes , and com pletion of my outward felicity. In being per mitted to call you mine , and becoming moft Intimately & Inviolably yours ; than which I hav-a no greater ambition. * * * I laft evening ro'.urntd from New Haven , extreamly fatigued , & exercifcd with fome return of my late disorders owing to Riding hard and In bad weather , but hop ? foon to recruit , found your old acquaintance there- & family well ; O , how happy for mo that you went not thither ; referved by kind heaven , 1 truft , to Blefs me & my family ; nnd I hope not unhapy for you ; not fo , to bo fure. If all the Little In my power , can contribute to your comfort and fatlffactlon. * * Expect to go to New Haven again , the Laft week In this month , to attend another meet ing of the corporation. If able ; and mean while to bo employed In providing for the scholars In the neighboring Towns ; fo that I am Ilko to have very little time to attend my own concerns at profent. \viii ? graqlous Creator give you health and every blcDslng. whatever others tell of a blind being that dlfpofes their hearts , I lefplfo their Low Images of Love ; and to adopt the words ot Andromache's Gal lant , I bavo not a thought that re lates to you'which I cannot with confidence befecch the all-seeing power to biffs me In * * * may he be your perpetual guldo and director , and ftlll lead you on In the bright paths of unfullled Virtus & peaca * this Is an uncommon way of talking to La dles ; but you liava a noblenefs of Spirit , which exalts you above being moved by the flatteries ot parafltes , whofe tongues are like Jugglers' hands , and tllblr b'flghtnifs of ad- drefs ufed to gain attention' ' & admiration , while they pafs falfe play upon the fair Sex * my eftcem Is { olid & rational , & my pafslon dlflntereftedi < which will make It my conftanb endeavor that the object thereof may bo as happy as pofslUlcu I wrote you Immediately ! after my return from you , which I Trufti you have received * * and aud no furtUen Now , tho' I have a thoufand thing * \ to say * * pleafe to prefent due refpeats to your good mother and Brothir andceharmlng Sifter , Mrs , Cufshlng , not excluflvie of her worthy partner & family * , t > Jind If you would favor me with a Line , lacqualntlng me with your ftate of health &c , l { wquld lay an addi tional obligation on hlmi. > vbr ) I" ( my deareft madam ) In all flncerlty , > , & , wlth ( utmoft ardor ot affection , evir your'g . , i ELIPHJ.T WILLIAMS. - To Mrs. Sarah Parton. , iflvatbam. ] Ifonto I r Ve'iiik ' Croup. Some reading that will prove Interesting to young mothers. How to guard against the discas ; . ' Croup Is a terror to young mothers and to post them concerning the cause , first symp toms and treatment la the object of this Item. The origin of croup Is a common cold. Children who .are subject to It tak : cold very easily and croup 'a almost sure to follow. The first symptom U hoarseness ; this In goon followed by u peculiar rough cough , which Is easily recognized and will never be forgotten by oue who hag htard It. The time to act Is when the child first becomes hoarse. If Chimberlaln's Cough Remedy IB freely given all tendency to croup "will soon dUap- par , Even after the croupy cough bag de veloped It will prevent the attack. There IB no danger In giving this remedy , for It con tain * nothing Injurious , Scales are now made of such nice ad justment that they will weigh anything to the smallest hair clucked from the eye brow. Thanksgiving . . Garments Orders placed with us on Monday will be finished in ample time for Thanksgiving day. Our superior facilities for prompt work enables us to give you well made garments at short time notice. consists of a special line of $25.00 Suitings which we will make t ° THANKSGIVING OFFER Ask to see the workmanship and trimmings we use on these garments or better stillask your friend who bought of us. The assortment is generous. Samples 207 Sent South Anywhere 15th St. Lace Curtains. You have only to look at our stock of Laces to prove that we hava the greatest assortment in the west. Our sales prove that we have done this department well they show- such growth as merit alone can effect Here is one of the many op portunities we have offered you to buy JLace Curtains cheap. We are making an enormous discount from regular prices on every pair sold this week. See west window. Another large lot of Japanese Rugs , all sizes. 1IONDS. OFFICIAL . AS TO H Ts-rety Compan , of A.lvnn < nKc lloiul. llnnil Over this Personal OMAHA , Nov. 20. To the Editor of The Dee : Most questions of public concern have their day of discussion and settlement. Owing to the Increasing number of defalcations and financial failures In all parts of the country the problem of reliable security Is now being considered , In rome states oven the law makers have taken notice of this matter , It Is perhaps not Generally known that a law was enacted at the last session of the Nebraska legislature authorizing guarantee companies to become sole surety In this state "on any bond recognizance or other writing In the nature of a bond , In the eamo manner as natural persons may. " The question of In demnity for loss sustained by reason of acts of commission or of omission Is nn Important one. The fact that security IB required at all Implies that the sureties , If approved , are , or at least ought to be , possessed of suf ficient means to meet any possible loss dur ing the life of the obligation. If this be not so then the whole transaction becomes a mere matter ot form and would better bo abolished. How to determine the character of se curity and to decide upon Its adequacy In volves considerations of moro than ordinary moment. A first point of Inquiry should be , are the sureties whose names appear on the document possessed of enough property to constitute good security ? If not , the action to be taken Is obvious. If , on the other hand , It appears that sufficient property Is hold It must be ascertained that the valua tion placed upon It Is reasonable ; that It Is free from Incumbrance ; that the owners are not burdened with personal debts and liabili ties , and that they are not endorsers on notes nor signers , to any considerable extent , on other obligations Involving liability to loss. Guarantee companleo offer known security. They relieve the official whew Important duty It Is to approve bonds of the responsi bility Incident to personal suretyship , of the necessity of Inquiring Into the affairs of MD neighbor , and of the embarrassment of re jecting seemingly good security. On the other hand , the standing of guarantee com panies may be ascertained at any time , as they are required to make public full and complete statements showing their financial condition. Thess companies expect lonssa and collect a premium with which to pay them. Prompt adjustment Is thus assured and since the company never rests until the offender la apprehended , wdety U rendered Invalu able parvlce. The reverse Is true of personal bondsmen. They regard the signing of a bond as a mere matter of form , do not cal culate upon'losses , are not prepared to pay them and usually try to evade payment. In addition to giving security , guarantee companies Innltt upon the adoption of correct business methods , and of a rigid system of auditing In all public and private Institution ? where the officers and employes are guaranteed by them. It follows that there ID less opportunity for fraud. While corporate bonds are highly satis factory to those exactlcg security , tbu gyt > - tera commends itttlt particularly to thotc giving security. The latter may purchasa Indsmnlty from a , corporation and be re lieved of ths disagreeable necessity of ask ing friend ! ) to sign for them , and of the obli gation In case they do so. A public olllclal Is commonly expected to favor thoy. who be come surety for him. This often leads to extreme embarrassment , and not Infre quently results In ths wrecking of faithful and well meaning officials. Few people are pleased to stand as secur ity for the acts of others , especially whera they have no direct Interest In the person and do not share In the emoluments of th ; position. Certainly no one who has given the subject any consideration will hold that six or a dozen citizens In every community shall bo llabh for loss resulting from the mlsdeedo of an ofllclal any moro than a like number t'hould hsar the loss of public prop erty destroyed by fire. H. A. WAGNEH. ITS MOM3V COM3 TO THIS , AVI.M1S. 1'a Id Flri-iuijn'N IlciK-voli-iit Axxm-lii- llon Aliotit Kriuly to DlKliiiml. There Is a petition In circulation among the members of the Paid Flremen'B Benevo lent association In favor of the dlsbandment of the organization on account of the financial reserves , .ich have been discouraging. The funds of the association have been depleted by several misfortunes , as well as by the Injudicious management , and there Is a strong sentiment among the members In favor of throwing up the sponge and dividing whatever can be gaved from the wreck. There are a number of the members , how ever , who are opposed to the plan and declare that It Is Intended to relieve the treasurer and his bondsmen of accountability for the ( fund ? which were lost In tli" Citizens' bank v failure. It Is said that one of the officers of tin defunct hank was ono of the principal bondsmen for the treasurer and that the en tire funds of the association , aggregating about $2,000 , were placed In this bank against the advlco of come ot the older members , who wanted the funds divided between two or three different banks. A meeting of the association will probably be called to consider the situation and decide the question of dls- bandmont. SOMI : TMII : . Hugcne Field , I/att nleht , my tlarllng , OB you xlept I thought I hoard you tilfrli , And to your little crib I crept , And wutrhed n pace thereby ; And then I etooped and kissed your brow , For oh I I love you HO You are too young to know It now , Hut some time you shall know. Some time when In a darkened place Where others come to weep , Your cyeu fhull look upon a face Calm In eternal Hleep ; The volcelees lips , the wrinkled brow , The patient smile ahall Dhow You are too young to know U now , But some time you may know. Look backward , then , Into the years , Ami Etc me here tonight- Bee , O my darling ! how my tears Are failing " i write ; And feel cnec more upon your brow The KIsH of lonif ago You ore too young to know It now , But iom time you uhall know * . ' . Deiey4- FDRNITDRE CO. III5-III7 FARNAM STREET FOR THE PARLOR BEAUTIFUL DIVANS. Either in fnnpy frames or over stuffed pieces. We make any < le-- slKii or piece you may desire from $0.fiO up. EASY CHAIRS. Over 100 patterns , from ? 5.00 up. Matty beautiful presents for Christmas. Kor 15.00 Jlahn'f J'lwriniicu , Omaha , fi'ili , , will bund you G boxes of Turktih J.ont Jlfiniliooil ( 'tire wllli u ill nil net legal ( juiiruntee to euro you of tiny weakness caused by j/oittltfiili rrror * or creative \ , fully fltoppliu nttiltt unttsaloni bringing bunk tlio utrnii/llt utid t'/yoc / of youth or rotund uvory rent piild to us. wo do not Klvo / < i > rfci-li > tlanii , but k Klvojou moillclnu that will euro and < lo- } volop nil patts fully , HlnKlii IIOXCH II. Ht'nL liy mull , no printing on ouuldo , on k roeolpt of price , f For iMillen Iurklfh 'l'tnii > jinvI'rnn \ \ royal i'lllc ni'vor fall to InlnK irii ( rna- aunt to tlie itiiy. tl box , U for (5 by mull. Hiihn's Pharmacy. Omaha. CUT PRICES ON DRUGS. . . . JIooif'B Sarsaparllla . . , . . . , . , . . . 7E > o Ayer'a tiursaparlllu . . , , ,75o Aycr'H Hulr Vigor . 76o Palne'g Celery Compound.7Do Hcott'8 Kmulslon . . . . . . , , . . . . , ,40o Hyrup or Kign , . , . , . .a'.c Pond U\y \ Cream . , . . , . . , , . . , , . . . .1Go Hchlllz Kxtract , , , . . , , , . , , . , , . , , , Hot Water Jiottlea. . . , OOo A line n\aan \ Puff liox with Wo box of Kuco Powder and u ZCo puff , all for , , . . . . .SSo Keduced prlre on oil Patent Medi cines. Goodman Drug Co. 1110 Farttam St.