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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 1902)
W ' o ' 6 The Commoner, L W i K ii Current Topics. HERR HERHARDT, A GUNMAKER OP GER many, has sold to tho United States war de partment the right to rearm tho American field ar tillery with a now firearm of which Herr Hor hardt is tho inventor. A Berlin dispatch to tho Now York Tribune, reforrihg to this sale, says: "Tho United States ordnance ofllcors havo long complained that their field gun Was less effective than tho French and Gorman guns. They learned some timo ago that the Krupps had a new, light model, and asked for an exhibition of the piece. Tho Krupps declined, saying that oven if they de monstrated that thoy had tho best pieco in tho world thoro was no certainty that tho United States would take it Herr Krupp recontly made a gun of exactly tho same bore as a certain Ameri can typo, but considerably lighter. In a test a few days ago it throw shrapnel effoctivoly six thousand yards, against tho American gun's 2,900 yards. Besides his plant at Dusseldorf, Herr Her hardt has works at Eisonnach, and five years ago established a branch at Pittsburg for tho manufac ture of cartridges and shells. But this venture proved unprofitable, and the works were closed, tho machinory being brought hack to Germany." TLLINOIS CLAIMS CREDIT FOR BEING TPIE 1 first state in the union to oomplete its share of tho collection for tho McKlnloy national monu ment fund. The Chicago correspondent to tho Now York Tribune says: "The amount allotted to Illinois was $50,000, and that sum has not only been raised, but several hundred dollars in excess has been contributed. The check for the amount has been forwarded to the treasurer of the association at Cantoh, O., by Alexander H. Rovell, the chairman of tho state commission. The popularity of the Work for tho fund in the state of Illinois is attested by tho fact that the con tributors, including the school children, who gave their mite, number more than one hundred thou sand. It may be added that the collection of tho money was in nowise a hurry or rush affair, but that contributions were quietly solicited wherever and whenever opportunity offered." THE DEATH OF LUTHER R. MARSH AT Middletown, N. Y., recently revived an in teresting story relating to Mr. Marsh's connection with the notorious Ann Odella Dis do Bar. Mr. Marsh was ono of the leading lawyers in New York city. Tho New York correspondent to the Louisville Courier-Journal says: "Luther Raw--son MarslTwas born at Pompey, Onondaga coun ty, N. Y., April 4, 1813. Ho was admitted to tho bar in 1836 and began practice in New York city. But a year later he went to Utica and practiced for five years. In 1841 he returned to New York city and entered into partnership with Oscar W. Sturtevant. When Daniel Webster, having left the office of secretary of state under President Tyler, went to New York he associated himself with Sturtevant and Marsh until his return to the senate. Mr. Marsh delivered many lectures and public addresses. In 1888 he wont to Middletown, where ho afterward made his home, retiring from active practice. For many years Mr. -Marsh was a diligont student of tho writing of Emanuel Swedonborg. In 1885 Mr. Marsh became acquainted with Mrs. Ann Odelia Dis de Bar, through her alleged spirit pictures, and her, Influence over him became so great that he was induced to make over property in New York to her for a nominal con sideration. Notwithstanding the exposures of her methods, Mr. Marsh continued his faith in her al leged portraits of Bible characters and in spiritualism." AT MARION, IND., AN INTERESTING Ex periment is being made at tho Western Btrawboard plant A process of manufacturing pa per from oats hulls is being tested. In tho manu facture of cereals oats hulls accumulate and aro all waste. It is claimed that paper may bo manu factured by this new process at a cost of from five to ten dollars a ton less than the old plan. SINCE THE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN THE death of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fair the Paris papers havo had much to say in condemnation of what thoy call "speed madnoss." Tho Figaro says that it is remarkable that this epidemic is most prevalent in persons of great wealth, culture and leisure, who are absolutely masters of their own time and who least of all have any reason to be In a hurry. This Paris paper declares that it is as ridiculous for a man of leisure to "scorch" on the roads of France at a death desseminating veloc- Ity of over a milo a minute as it would be for tho owner of the winner of the Grand Prix do Paris to gallop at a breakneck paco through the Boys do Boulogne on his own mount The Paris papers seem to bo determined to affect a reform with respect to what thoy call "speed madnoss" and it cannot bo doubted in tho light of recent happen ings that a reform is necessary. THE DEATH OF GENERAL FRANZ SIGEL removes an Interesting figure of tho civil war period. Gonoral Sigol was born in Ger many. Ho came to this country in 1852 and lo cated finally at St Louis, engaging in school teaching. Sigel was made colonel of tho Third Missouri volunteers and finally came to be a ma jor general. In 1862 Grant P. Robinson, a union soldier, wrote a bit of verse, as follows: "I FIGHTS MIT SIGEL." I met him again; he was trudging along, His knapsack with chickens was swelling; He had "raided" those dainties and thought it no wrong, From an absent secessionist's dwelling. "What regiment's yours, and under whose flag Do you fight?" said I, touching his shoulder. Turning slowly around, he smilingly said And tho thought made him stronger and bolder "I fights mit Sigel!" The next time I saw him his knapsack was. gone, His cap and his canteen were missing; Shell, shrapnel and grape and the swift rifle ball Around him and o'er him were hissing. "How are you, my friend, and where have you been? And for what and for whom are.you fighting?" He said, as a shell from the enemy's guns Sent his arm and his musket "a-kiting," "I fights mit Sigel!" "And once more I met him and knelt by his side; His life-blood was rapidly flowing; I whispered of home, wife, children and friends, The bright land to which he was going. "And havo you no word for tho dear ones at home The widow, the father and mother?" "Yaw, yaw," said he; "tell them, .oh, tell them I fights" ' Alas! he could think of no other "I fights mit Sigel!" . Wo scooped out a grave and ho dreamlessly sleeps On the bank of the Rapldan River; His home and his kindred alike are unknown, His reward in the hands vof the Giver. We placed a rough board at the head of his grave, And we left him alone in his glory, But on it we marked, ere we turned from the spot, The little we knew of his story "I fights mit Sigel!" PHYSICIANS OF ELDORA, IA., ARE DEEPLY interested in the case of Charles Jensen, a railroad flagman living at Clarion, la. While Jen sen was at work he was attacked by thousands of mosquitoes and bitten until his. eyes were closed. When he was discovered several hours later. he was in a state of collapse. It is feared that blood poisoning may result. MRS. MICHAEL NOONAN OF LIME SPRINGS, la,, was born in Ireland August 14, 1794, and lived under five successive monarchs, is a fine needle woman and sews without the use of glasses. Mrs. Noonan has one son, three daughters, thirty four grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren. AN INTERESTING STORY HAS BEEN GO ing tho rounds of tho press to the effect that the American Bankers' association has contracted to pay the sum of $500 per month to Charles Becker, the notorious forger, who is serving a seven-year sentence in a California prison. Becker will be released in a few months and according to this story the Bankers' association think it will be cheaper to put this criminal on the salary roll the only service required of him being that he will "just be good." Members of the association deny tho story. THE EVOLUTION OF THE LOCUST IS DE scribed by a writer in the Philadelphia Rec ord in this way: "The evolution of the insect is one or the most interesting things I ever saw I watched one last Sunday, and it matured in just about half an hour. Tho shell was attached to the trunk of a tree on my lawn, and while I was examining it it gradually split 'up the back and the locust pushed itself out. It dropped to the ground, a pulpy, almost shapeless thing It re- . Voi;-ai',NoV33. minded me somewhat of; a soft-shell crab, it wn almost colorless. The wings, which were tK without form, were wrapped up over what seemed to bo, and subsequently proved to be, the heart In an incredibly short time the body hardenpri and took color and form. Tho gauzy wings un folded and were draped downward over the lower part of the body. In. just half an hour the locust began to crawl, and shortly afterward it flow away." " THE IOWA PLATFORM RELATING TO THE tariff question apears to be very popular among tho rank and file of the republicans. It is significant that while the administration and party leaders are opposed to any readjustment of tho tariff, a very large number of the party papers give cordial indorsement to the Iowa plank. The St. Louis Globe-Democrat, New Xrk Sun, New York Press and the New York Mail and Express are the republican papers that appear to have a monopoly in the work of indorsing the adminis tration's position on this question. The New York Tribune, the Philadelphia Press, Chicago Inter-Ocean, Chicago Tribune, Indianapolis Jour nal, Kansas City Journal, Boston Journal, Chicago Record-Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer, Toledo Blade, Cleveland Leader, Pittsburg Gazette and the Hartford Courant are among the republican papers that heartily indorse the Iowa plank pro testing against the tariff being used as a shelter to monopoly. TPIE PROPOSITION MADE IN THE1 CUBAN congress that the new, government obtain a loan of $35,000,000 has been met with a clause in the amendment, which provides that the Cuban government shall not contract a debt to pay the interest upon which and to make reasonable sinking fund provision for the ultimate discharge of which, the ordinary revenues of the island after defraying the current expenses shall be inade quate. It is interesting to observe that -while we refuse to grant Cuba reciprocity and thus give her a outlet for her markets, wo also assume tho right to prevent "her from borrowing money. AN INTERESTING CONTRIBUTION TO THE discussion is made by . the Philadelphia Times, when it points t)ut that there is nothing alarming in the government borrowing a little more than twice its annual revenue. The Times points out, that the largest national debt in the world is that of France, amounting to $5,800, 691,814, nearly nine times the annual revenue of the French government. It is further pointed out that the debts and revenues of the"" countries of Latin America are as follows: Country Debt Revenue. Argentina .$509,404,414 $63,500,000 Ecuador 7,882,435 3,564,000 Costa Rica 13,124,000 3,513,000 Honduras 89,376,920 1,114,429 Mexico 168,771,428 29,267,131 Paraguay ....... 19,972,000 844,000 Peru ".. 124,374,189 16,608,000 BOOTH TARKINGTON, THE INDIANA NOV elist who has been elected to the legisla ture, announces that he will introduce a bill pro viding for an annual literary prize contest, tho state to name the judges and award tho prizes. The prizes will amount to $500 per year. Gen. liew Wallace objects to Mr. Tarkington's plan. General Wallace declares "that Indiana literature will be out of place pinned to tho tail of the leg islature; better leave it entirely to its own inde pendent effort." James Whitcomb Rileyr however, favors the Tarkington plan and says it will tend to bring literature in America under such official recognition as is given the Profession of Letters in other countries. AN INTERESTING REPORT WAS RECENTLY made by physicians concerning infant mor tility in Russia. It is asserted that the propor tion of children who die in the first year is as high as forty and even fifty per cent. The rate of infant mortality is much lower among the Mo hammedan and Jewish population than among the Christians. For instance, In one section the rate of infant mortality among the Mohammedans is only 140.4 per 1,000, while among the Christians in the same territory It is 342.1." A newspaper dis patch explains: "The report ascribes this terrible mortality mainly to the ignorance ofthe peasants, and to the fact that the-mothers have frequently to neglect their own children in order to work in the fields; it is also pointed out that the death rate is considerably higher in summer than in winter in spite of the severity of the climate. An other class, particularly among the middle classes, appears to be the growing practice of employing wet nurses, with the result that the nurses' own MM B " " ' " i ill i immHmmmm