T THE OMAJ1A DAILY BEE : : SUNDAY , OCTQ-REIi 10 , lasg-TWELYE PAGES. - - - - - - - i J . KMUUJ JI MMIJ nm ! IIMIBIII H M.IMI u IIIIIIL * ilUVk I111 II n" * " ' 11 * " " fww " ! ! life. ICsTIED IBIROTIEBCIELiIEi ± 519 STIRJSIET Lot on Saunden street , near Cnming , house 7 rooms , burn , $0fiOO. House 0 rooms , on Leavonworth street , § : ) ,800. LoU in nartlott' < ? addition , 1 block from street oar line , $1,850 oich. : Lots in IJfdford L'laco , nour now foundry , $ ir,0 oauli. Aero lots in Hulvodcro , $3)0 to $500 each. Lots in HOXKS & Hill's addition , $1,230 onch. Hoii'o nttd lot In Hnrbacli's 1st addition1 on 13th strout , § : J din. House and lot , S. ITth street , $3,003. House ! rooms , lot O9.xiri4 , on 20th stroct , SU.OCO. Sold on very easy terms. House 4 rooms , CO foot lot , one block from Lo.ivonworth on Grove street , $3,003 , Easy terms. Lots on Invin strcnt , in Ilodick's Grove , $1,303 ouch. LoU In Kilby Place , $010 to $ S.)0. House 0 rooms , barn , 3 cistern ? , water works , 2 lots , on 20th street , near St. Mary's avenue , $12,000. Two lots on Leavonworth , $300 each. Lots in Lincoln I'lace. $000 each. Three lots In Lowe's addition$1000 each. TwoloU in Marlon I'lace , $2.10 each. One and one-half lot on Farnani , near 27th nvonue , homo 9 rooms , hot and cold water , $0,000. Lots in McCormick's 2nd , $000 each. Lots in Mount Pleasant , $ ' , ' 00 each. House t rooms , Nelson's addition , $3,000. House 7 room ? , Nelson's addition , $2,500. Acres in Newport , $300 to $300 each. Five lots on Saundcr.s , ! ? 1,003 each. House nnd one-half lot on Ho ward street. near 20th street , $3,500. House witli 4 rooms , lot 05310 , facing on California nnd Cuss streets , $2,510 , Lots in 1) wight & Lymah's , just south of Hnnscom Park , $700 each. Some nice lots in Ilanscom Place , $1,030 to $2,000 each. Major Franklin nnd Mrs. Franklin nro homo from Kentucky , where Mrs. Frank lin visited for several weeks. Mrs. A. Paint , of Hastings , who ln\s \ been visiting with Mrs. K. T. Roberts , re turned homo Friilav last. Mrs. It. P. H. Miller has cone to Hur- lington , In. , for a visit wifli friends iu that city. Attorney Lansing has gone not only to St. Louis and the exposition , but for a visit in Indiana witli old acquaintances , as well. Mrs. J. K. Webster I" on joying a visit from her mother , Mrs. Daliard , of Wash ington , Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. L. II. llurnhnm were St. Louis visitors at the lair and exposition , Mr Burnham meeting his wife in that eltv on her way homeward from a , visit in Kentucky. Mrs. 11. P. Hoocher is in Florida , where she will pass the winter months. Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Holl'man were in Chicago the past week. Major. C.V. . Pierce , \Vavcrly , has to Galcsburg tor a visit , combining gone and pleasure. Miss Clara Walsh is in Omaha , the guest of friends in that city. Miss Ellio Kccnis , the talented Chicago young lady who opens a parlor school m this city , commencing with the present week , has arrived from Chicago ready for the commencement of work. Miss Minnie HaiiK and company of musical artists gave a delightful enter tainment at the Funke. opera house last evening to one of the largest audiences of the season. The engagement was greatly appreciated by Lincoln people. "Get There , "KM. " Johannes Factotum , in St. Louis Globe- Democrat : An Illinois paper which has been discussing the origin of late of this now somewhat proverbial saying , prints an additional version of its birth in n late issue , in the shape of the following unique correspondence from one of its Kansas readers : "Stranger , I jest want to change an idea in your head about the origin of the sayin' , Git there , Eli , ( bordorin on a piece in your paper ) . The real truth is this , I'm an old trainer from Southern Ivan- . sas. So long about ' 7i ( I look my bay mare Eli to the state fair to Lawrence. I Dunn1 the homestretch- the lirst race .ho boys hoard me urgin' the old mare to ; ho homo stake , ; isin * the words , 'Git ' : har , Eli. ' Wall , I went back to my ranch ifter the close of the fair.nnd didn't show up till next year at Topoka. Meanwhile everybody had been hollerin' 'Git thar , Kli , ' unbeknown to me. WallI drove on the track with a golden about nine year old , but she could eit thar , nil the same. Jf course they all hollered , 'Git thar , Ell. ' I didn't say nothin'.but when I came under the wire i hollered out , 'Git tliar , lasper Eli , ' dead. This was in 1877 , and since then it has been the sayin' . Thanks. " The Kansas correspondent of thn paper in question may bo a myth , and possibly 11 osn and blood. 15o that as it may , the saying , "Got there , Eli , " undoubtedly originated in 1875. on the liiiflalo , N. Y. , trotting course , under the following cir cumstances : One of the animals entered in the 2:1)5 : ) class was the mare Croxio , owned in Illinois by H J. Edwards. She was Kentucky born and bred , and was driven by a darkey named Eli , who came witli her from the HIuo Grass state. The mare sold low in the pool , but on tlio outside there was considerable quiet betting on her by Edwards and his bark ers. The Illinois man had speeded the mare several times on private tracks anil know very well that her performance that day would bo apt to astonish the ISufl'ulo natives. The mare had cov ered her mile in 2:20 with Eli behind the dash , and ho had nr- ranged to giye the colored man the word , should ho desire to have "Croxio" make the record. The drivers had re ceived their instructions at the judges1 stand , and wore about to wheel for the start when the shout , "Get there , Eli , " from the stentorian lungs of Edwards was heard above the cheers of the admir ers of the favorites in the race. Eli got there , as tlm result showed , the gallant little mare making the mile and n record in 2 ll > i. She was sold in less than an hour after the race to a New York man for ? 'J,000 ' , and was withdrawn from the track and added to a stud of fancy stock on the now owner's farm. " ( Jet there , Eli , " was repeated at IJulTalo by the sportlntr fraternity , and became a com mon phrase , all over the country , in a few months , A Divorced Couple Jto-Marrlod. Philadelphia Tim in : Fourteen years ago the marriage bolls rang in a Boston church for handsome John Winter and pretty Alice Leo , and n handsomer cou ple , ho comment said , never vowed to bo lalthfnl to onch other. Eour years later , after two years of never-ending flissonsion and strife , ttiey separated by mutual consent , and , ac cording to agreement , the wife sued for divorce on the ground of desertion , and in duo time received the court's decree , In that they wore not at n Yinltfco the counties ? couples whoso follies made llfo ft misery to themselves , while swelling the fortunes of divorce lawyers and wit nesses. Hut murk the sequel. Loss than a vonr igo they mot each other again , after both had had time to discover their folly , nnd when each begun to reuliio that thn other was not at all to blame , 'I'ho ' was nothing apparently Ohiotlonal in their mootliiflr. which closed but to bo followed ' " another and still another. Uoforo tlio ox-husband know what ho was about ho was dead in love , so the chroniclers say , witli the woman from whom ho had so gladly separated nine years before , and what was equally strange the woman was quite as much in lova with him. They met again , talked it over , and one day a minister was called in to anuul the de cree of divorce. A little daughter , born shortly after thp separation , was among the few wit nesses who saw the quiet ceremony and among thoTury few people who lived to witness the marriage of thuir parents at any time or place. Tine lot in Hart's sub to Hart Place , $1,200. Lot in Hawthorne , $1,200. Lot facing on 10th and 17th , in Horbaclf s 1st , $0 , < IOO. Lots In llonsel & Stobbins' addition. 3 blocks fiom street car , $1,500 to $1,000 each. Lots In Plalnview , $050 to $900 each. House 10 rooms on Park avenue , $0.700. House 0 looms , on Colfax street , $ ' , J,000. , Lots on Georgia avenue , $2,000 each. House 7 rooms , b.mi on 20th street , $2,200. House 22x30 , t rooms , E. V. Smith's ad dition , $3OCO. Lots in Thornburg Place , $050 to $700 caeh , Five acres in Tnltlo's sub , $ ! J,100. House 5 rooms , nice lot , Walnut Hill , $1,010. House o rooms , good lot , Orchard Hill , $1SOO. Easy terms. House 0 rooms , 2 lots , Walnut 11111 , $2,210. One of the lincst acres In West Omaha , $0,000. Lots In Orchard Hill , $000 to $700. Two store rooms , cottage , lot nnd one- one-half , on Douglas stroct , $10,000. Ten acres in Brighton , house and barn , cities in the extent of this evil. Hut it is gratifying to know that in this particular there has been u steady gain in the last few years. The 4.000 pupils remaining in .school at the close of last year were nioio than 72 per cent of the number en rolled during the year. This is a very much better record than has been made before. In the high school whore this evil has existed in a worse form than anywhere else , there has boon oven greater gain than in the lower schools , rour years ago only 50 per cent of the to tal enrollment remained till the close of the year. Last year 83 per cent re mained. In the npuer grammar grades there has also been n large gain in this direction. mnilKlt Ul'.StM.TS. It thus appears that in all those particu lars which can bo shown Dy stntisties.tho schools arc making a decided gain from year to year , increasing in irnnbers moro rapidly than the growth of the citj would require , and reaching a higher de gree in many ways. 1 believe also that ths last year has been one of success in tlio higher and moro important spheres of school work in progress in study and development of character. If wo could measure those results aa we can those al ready mentioned , we should doubtless be able to record as great gains as in the numbers enrolled. The thoroughness of the instruction in the high school is evidenced by the faet that graduates now enter the leading colleges and technical schools of the cust without any addi tional preparation , and from the begin ning take excellent rank. No high school in the country undertakes to accomplish moro. Tlio work in practical language or composition in all grades , and partic ularly the high school.has been especially meritorious. The generous course of the Omaha Republican in olVuring pri/.es for the best high school essays , and giving largo space in its columns every month to the publication ot some of those which were deserving of commendation , did much to stimulate interest in this work. I believe our high school may justly claim high rank lor prollicioncy in tl.e import ant art of composition. It the present course can bo continued , wo shall reach results of which wo may well lecl proud. THE HEADING. While the work of reading has im proved , there is agoneral complaint from teachers above the third grade that the readers in use are too dillicult. 1 am convinced that this complaint is well founded. In the fourth grade in our schools last year were children seven years of ago. Ncarlv a tenth of thorn were only eight years of age. Moro than half of them were ten years of ago or younger. And yet the reading matter of this grade is made up of selections from the standard English and American writers. It is true that Longfellow , Wordsworth and Scott wrote some simple verses , and Lamb , Goldsmith and Cooper some not very dillieult pro- , but none of them wrote for children loss than ton years of ago. If our Fourth Header could bo taken two or three years later it would bo admirably adapted to Us object. In the sixth grade , which uses the lifth Header , the dillloulty exi.sts to a still greater extent. The reading matter is mostly composed ot selections from the standard English classics pieces that hardly one child in a thousand roads from choice. With such literature it is a remarkable teacher that secures an interest - est in the reading lessons , and as might bo expected , tho'exocutionof the children in the upper grade is unsatisfactory. The reading is wanting in fluency , natural ness and force , and it will bo dillieult to make it better while the present course remains unmodilicd. lam not objecting to the readers in the schools , but to their use in the grades which now have them. In tlio fourth and fifth grades wo should have easier books nnd suppiimentary reading in abundance. The Sixth grade might use our Fourth Header with advantage. With our presentation of frco text boons changes hero suggested would involve no additional coat. This Is a matter that should receive attention at once. Our reading in the upper grades would bo In n bettor condition to-day it the evil hero pointed out , and concerning which there is an entire unanimity of opinion on the part of the teachers , had been removed before. MANUAL THAININO. The introduction of manual training into the high school and eighth grade has boon one of the most interesting fen- tin cs of the work of the yoar. The ends to bo accomplished by this Kind ot train ing has boon much discussed , but there has been great uncertainty as to the best moans of securing tlio desired results. Technical schools in largo numbers have boon established and conducted with ex cellent success , but the pupils in those schools dlller widely from those in the city high schools , Tlio best authorities are not agreed as to the desirability of muklnsr Indn-M-i : : rniUg a pare of high school education. And with this point conceded , It Is not clear what the charac ter of the training should bo. Our year's experience is a valuable con tribution to the discussion of this subject now going on , but under the cireiim- stances nil undertakings of this kind must bo looked upon as experimental. Since the 1st of October. 1880. soyonty- nine boys , about evenly divided between the high Ecliool and the eighth grade , have hud the benefit of this instruction. The course has boon optional , those taking it doing the same academic work as the rest of the school , Arranged ( n classes of twenty each , they have spent ono and one-half hours daily in the ( hop under the euro of a competent instructor , learning light carpentry anil how to use and take care of tools. The toucher has boon enthusiastic and the interest of the boys has boon lively and well sustained , The aggregate amount of time spent in the shop amounts to legs than a mouth of nine hours a day , and yet the progress of the boys has been remarkable , Few ap prentices after u full year in the shop acquire moro practical skill , It is Qvidunt that manual training schools cannot bo conducted without § 3,501. Two acres In Urookllno , $1,590. Four lots in Hurr Oak , just east of Han- scorn Park , on Virginia avenue , $ 'J03 each. Ono of llio lincst residences in the city , $30,000. Lot in Carthage , $000. Lots in Clark Place , $7:5 to $1C03. Nieo lot in Clarendon , on street car line , $1,300. Lots in Clifton Place , throe blocks from streetcar line , $1,000 to $1,800. Lot on Howard street , $1,000. considerable expense , but for this year this school has not cost morn than some of the regular studies of the high school. It scorns evident also that a department of this kind has a tendency to hold boys in school at a time when there is a strong inclination to leave and go into business. Our high school nnd eighth grade have felt this influence , and suffered fiom it as much as any school In the land ; yet of the sovunty-nino boys who took manual training last year , seventy- live remained in school to the close of the vcar. This Is n remarkable fact In the history of tlio Omaha schools. On the whole , our experiment with a manual training department in our high school , so far as it h s gone , must bo considered a success. It has not inter- foicd with the regular academic work ; it has not been excessively expensive ; its Inlluenci ) on the high school generally has on the whole been favorable , and the progress of the boys in the mechanic arts lias been satisfactory. It is not too much to say that the hopes ol its friends have been tully realized. TIIK CLAErtll'ICATlON. The change in the classilioation or dered last year , whereby the number of clashes was reduced from three in n grade to two , was accomplished without dilliculty , and tlio schools are now going forward with the new classification. Tlio wisdom of the board in favoring tins change is apparent f-iom the tact that with a larger number of pupils , the schools nro now _ conducted with fewer teachers , yet with no loss of ellicioncy ; and higher classes are maintained in sev eral of the schools than wore possible last year. The Eighth irrado is now in four buildings : the Central. Farnam , Izard an Pacific , instead of the Central only , as was formerly the case. The Seventh grade , which four years ago was taught only in the Cen tral school , is now in all the four building mentioned , and also in Cuss and J eavenworth. The si.xth grade is now taught in all the six buildings mentioned and in the Long , Lake and ilartman school besides. This arrangement brings the upper classes within reasonable distance ot pupils in all parts of the city. It removes an evil which has existed for years , requiring young children in many cases to make long journeys from the outskirts of the city to the High school building in order to liiid a class in which they could bo taught. Very few children now arc re quired to go so far that they cannot easily go homo tor dinner in the hour nnd u half intermission. Furthermore the in dications are that next year the eighth grade can bo taught in the Lcavcnworth school and possibly in tlio Long , and the seventh in the Ilartman and Lake , so that the pupils will bo even better accom modated than they are now. The present convenient arrangement would not have been possible had the old classification remained unchanged. SUl'KltVISION. I believe the time has fully como when the board consider the question of male- ing more ample provision for tins super vision of the schools. At picsont the di rection and general oversight of the in struction is wholly in tlio hands of the superintendent. Under the rules the re sponsibility ot the principals extends only to the care and control of the prom ises , the discipline in the yards and halls , the assignment of now pupils and the making of reports. No principal baa the slightest responsibility tor tlio kind of instruction given by any of the teachers in her building. The present system was inaugurated several yours ago , when the nunibor of touchers was only a third of what they are now. At that time the supervision may have been , quite sulliciunt for the needs of the schools. Until ono person can give forty teachers all the attention they need , no ono can adequately aupcrvi.su ono hundrud and forty. 1 know of no city that provides for so little supervision as is allowed the schools of Omaha. In most cities the principals give half or all of their time to tills work. In some , as sistant superintendents aao employed. In a sew largo cities both assistant super intendents and supervising principals. Unless something is done to moot this want in our schools , the instruction is certain to stiller. This Is a matter that should receive the attention of tlio board at an early day , . I cannot close this report without ex pressing my appreciation of tlio steal and effort , the intollignnco and skill of the teachers. Their devotion to the welfare of the children nnd the ability which they have brought to thciir w'ork arc above all praiso. Respectfully submitted , llKNKvM. JAMES. Omaha , Oct. 1 , 1880. Tlio IMRIIO of tlio r > j AYttlftihot JI/fnciF. The republicans of Nebraska thai Is , the politicians who generally attend con ventions put themselves on record nt the state convention last week as in favor of our fraudulent railroad commission , which , It will bo remembered , was croit- ed by a republican legislature two years ago against tiio expressed wishes of n largo majority of tlio voteru of the state. In their eagerness to bit clown on Van Wyak , in tins matter , these soil-same pol iticians und corporation strikers have only added to hi popularity with the people , us has since boon proven. Van Wyck laid out by the republican state conven tion ? Oh , no. It was only the political strikers who gon9rally manipulate sunn gatherings , showing their true colors re garding tlio control of corporations by tlio DKoplo , their creators. The action of a state or any other convention docs not always represent tlio sentiments of the voters , and we dare say the minority re port on which Van was out-voted has served the purpose ot rutting his enemies on record as tools of the very corpora tions they profess to want controlled by law. Explanations are useless. The record is made , and Van Wyck scored a victory in tlio tabling of his report. Three lots In Davenport sub , , 1 block from Saunders street , $700 e.ieh. Easy torms. Lot in Donockcn's addition , $010 to $700. In Meyer , Hichards & Tildon's addi tion , just opposite the hew foundry , $4JJ to $153 o.ieh. Easy torms. LoU in Mayne's addition , only 3 miles southeast of P. O. , $1)00. ) Lots In Muyno Place , ! blocks from street car , ? 1,2 00 to $1,800. Wo are offering lots in Kilby's addition to Washington Hill , $100 to $200. Don't fail to see us before buying. If you liave property to sell , for quick sale , list with. us. Spe cial attention given to collecting rents. A NEW PARTY CHRISTENING , Anti-Monopolista Meet and Ohango Their Naino to the National Union. A STATE TICKET NOMINATED. Meeting of tlio llopnbllonii Committee Tlio Now Onmlm-Lliicolii t- Train to Stnrt To-day Social News. irnoM THE ticc's LINCOLN The fourth and last state ticket i * now In the Hold , the ticket being the result of a convention held in Lincoln Friday night by the anti-monopolists of tlio .state , who believe in maintaining a strict and separ ate party of their own. Owing to the fact that the convention was miserably advcitised , hardly advertised at all in lact , and further , that it had sufl'ercd two or throe postponements , thn attendance was meagre , although those present did not lack in energy and enthusiasm in the work before them. It was nearly mid night when the following ticket was agreed upon by those present : For gov ernor. J. IJurrows , of Uagc ; for lieuten ant governor , M. K. Lewis , of Adams ; for secretary of state , E. J. O'Neill , of I'awnec ( prohibition nominee ) ; for treas urer , W. II. Deck , of Saunders ; for au ditor , A. Steads oil , of Hulfalo ; for com missioner , L. U. Palmer , of Adams : for superintendent , J. U. Chamberlain , of liutlor. A state central committee of three from each congressional district was appointed , with W. C. Iloldcu chair man and J. D. Chamberlain secretary. The committee consists of O. Hull , Greenwood ; J. UUITOWS , Filley ; W. II. Duch , Wahoo ; J. W. Edgorton , Strains- burg ; O. Sutton. Minden ; 11. G. Arnntage , Kcnesaw ; James Jenkins , Kearney ; A. Steadwoll , I'ruirio Centre ; W. L. Willard , Plum Crock. The party as organized was christened the "NATIONAL UNION , and a long series ot resolutions were adopted. The resolution on railways , on the railway commission and the ono en dorsing Senator VuuWyck are herewith appended : llcsolved , That the railroad corporations having become a source ot oppression to tlio people anil an agency lor tlio destruction ot their political llbeitfi'S , wo domain ! that nil railroads should bo operated and controlled by the Kovcrniiirnt. nnd that all tolostraphs nliould bo connected with the iwstolllcn muter .solo con trol ot the Kovcimiiont ; that the la bor trouble would have no existence to-day except for vicious and unjust legislation upon tlio above subjects ; that If the special pilvllcgcs which have boon gran ted to cei tain clnsKCs me withdrawn , mid tlio land of the nation nmdo as It Khould bo tlm common inhciltancc of all , thus giving nil cltl/ous an enual oppoituuity atthonidurnl ndNnntngos ot the counliy , labor would bo tree and imlc- pundont ; thutcaiu in tavorol such legisla tion at * will iolii\u : labor fiom the disabilities imposed upon it by the unjust combination ot capital ; that imuper and contmct emigra tion should bo at once piolilbitud ; that con- \Ict Inbornd luimcd out In competition with tlio honest mechanic and day laboior is per nicious nnd should bo abolished , Uesolved. Thut woaro in favor of the ab solute prohibition of the halo or manufacture as a bevi'tauo within this state oE all spirit- nous 01 Intoxicating HijuorH. Ito.soUfd , That wo believe the elective franchls-e should no longer bo held trom Cornell on account of sox. Kesolvcd. That , pending tlio assumption ot coNOiniiuuitcentiol ot all iiillroails. that \\o duninnd the enactment of laws In this state reducing fielghtsnnd tuics to an equality with those charged by nnv lead east of the Missouri rlur , aim wo further demand the Imniodlnto ropcal of that fraudulent act known as the rnllionil commission bill. Kosolveil , That \\u heaitly endorse tlio publlo record of Senator Van Wyck , and earnestly annual to our legislature to ro-ulcct him to tiio United States -VMiuto. THi : ItKl'UUI.IOAN STA.TB COMMITTKB adjourned at noon yesterday after an almost continuous session since the day before. It is brobuble that this is the only general mooting of the committee that will bo hold before the election , the remaining work to bo loft in the hands of the executive committee. The session throughout was an open one , and the questions were discussed In every phase tending to a vigorous campaign. The congressional committees were loft largely to conduct the congressional campaign , and , in fact , the absence of Laird from the meeting was an evidence that ho desired to bo left to himself , although the gentlemen on the com mittee were solicitous lor a good deal of campaign work in that district , and scorned to rocognlzo the fact that the light would bo no walkaway. As a result of the committee mooting , a vigorous three-weeks' campaicn has boon in augurated that will keep many of the candidates In the field constantly until election iinio. TJir. NEM' TIUJN. Commencing with to-day the long prophonlod Missouri Pacilio Lincoln- Omaha train will bo started over the road between the two cltios in ohargo of Conductor Nioklowalt , who brought up a string of handsome coaches from AtchIson - Ison yesterday for the make up of the train. The time card for the run is not vet out , but the now train will leave Lincoln ut 7:80 : a. in. , reaching Omnha at 11:10 : ; returning , leaving Omaha ut 0 30 p. m. , and reaching Lincoln at 10 p. m , CAPITAL C1T1' NOTKS , Governor Thayer , who attended the state committee mooting , started honiu * ward yesterday , stopping last ulgtil at Sutton , whore the campni u was for mally opened for that section. The general - oral commoncoij Tuesday in the third dis trict under the state appointmont. County Treasurer Campbell , of Cuss , wus ut the state house yoUorduy on n business visit to the state treasurer , and t number of other county treasurers were Interviewing Mr. Willard on matters for their counties. A young man who boards in tlio north part of the city had a lively skirmish with a couple of footpads Friday even ing , who were evidently bent on robbery. After the lirst exchange of blows ho fol lowed the maxim ot lighting and running nway , to bo iu lighting trim for the fu ture. Marshal Heach , who has boon at St. Louis the past week , nnd Deputy Sherilf llcach , who accompanied him , are at homo again nnd ready for duty. A gentleman from Saline county says that notwithstanding the State Journal and the governor lending their support to the democratic ticket in Saline , that the entire republican ticket will bo elected The Hall and Lansing block , one of the line now structures of tliisycar's ' growth in Lincoln , is completed nearly enough so that tenants can take possession in a few days. Chairman liillingsly is arranging for a vigorous campaign on the part of the re publicans in the county , and several meetings have already been arranced for one at Bennett last night , and the next following at Emerald. Tuesday eveninir. Dr. A. S. V. Mansfcldc , of Ashland , was among the parties transacting busi ness in Lincoln yesterday. Captain Winterstoln , deputy secretary of state , is homo from a visit at his homo in Fillmore county. SOCIUTV nvr.NTS. On Friday evening of this week will ( occur tlio so cond mooting of tlio Chan- . tauqua Literary and Scientific ciiclo at the rooms of Superintendent Jones at the state house. The largely increased mem bership , as evinced at tlio opening meet ing , gives promise that the Lincoln Chan- , tauquas will have for the winter meet ings a very largo roll of members to respond spend to tiio call. The programme for the second meeting , the one the coming Friday evening , is as follows : Opentncexeiclscs. Miscellaneous business. "Fifty questions on the walks and talks in the ecological lidd , " Sirs. Culveit. "liulgailn and its late prince , " 3Ir. Stevens. "Critic's icport" on last meeting. Intermission with applications for mem bership. "Studies on miscellaneous topics , " Alro. Welsh. "Duslnnss education of women , " Mrs. An derson. "Possession of ono talent , " Sirs. Jlar- loy. Ouerybox , Mr. Atkln. Itoll call with the nnines of distinguished geologists. The La Veta club will give its inaugu ral party on Friday evening , the 10th , at Masonic Temple hall , 8iO : ! to 12:30 : p. in. Timycr's Northwestern orchestra will furnish the music tor the occasion , which promises to bo a delightful ono in every respect. Klrby Hammond Is president of tlio club , C. F. Wilson , secretary , and the reception commiltoo for the inaugu ral are It. O'Neill , W. J. Atkon , Louis Stows , Frank Wheeler , C. E. Wuite , C. C. Carrothers , while the floor will bo in charge of tlio president of the club , Dr. W. JTP. Lawton and Fred C. Sholcs. Mrs. Major Holmnnon was the victim of a generous surprise party that called upon her Thursday evening and aided her in commemorating her birthday. The merry band of surprisors numbered some fifty and music , dancing and gen eral sociability , to which should be added elegant refreshments , caused the evening to pass too quickly nway. Mrs. Italian- non was the recipient ot a largo nunibor of handsome and costly presents given by liar friends. Mr. and Mrs. Bullock , at their homo , 1512 H street , entertained the St. Paul's M. E. church choir on Wednesday eve ning , tiio occasion being both n musical andsoclal ono tqat was in every way en joyable , I'hcso church choir sociables seem to bo growing in popular favor ; On the coining Wednesday evening the first monthly recaption wifi bo hold by the Lincoln x. MC. A. at their rooms on Tenth street. A musical and literary en tertainment will bo given and refresh ments will also bo sorvcd. Mrs. D. ( J. King is visiting in Kansas. Miss Kate Louis is visiting at Madison , Wis. Wis.Mr. . nnd Mrs. II. P. Foster are among tlio list of exposition visitors at St. Louis. Mrs. JHook and Mrs. S. P. Platt wore Thursday passengers for Chicago and the oast. Joseph O'Polt and wife , tho'well known host and hostess of the O'Polt hotel , are enjoying u visit at St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Gco. V , Hall wore visit ing friends and relatives in Nebraska City tlio past wool ; . Mrs. D. Phillips visited the past week at Fairmont witli friends in that plaeo. Mr. and Mra. N. C. IJrock were also among the nninbor of Lincoln visit ors at the St. Louis fair the past wcok. Major and Mrs. D. II. U heeler of Omaha have boon In Lincoln the past ton days called by the illness of Frank L. Wheeler their son , nnd n university student. Mrs , ami. s > H p , Ynll who hayo ooon enjoying an pxtomlod visit ( it oust- orn points are at homo in Lincoln again , Mrs. L. Donaldson , who has boon visit ing nt Evansville , lud. , loturned homo to Lincoln. Tuesday. Mrs. Hullo Digolow has boon nt Fairfield - field the past wiwk , attending the con vention of the Christian church ut that place , Mr. and Mrs , T. II. Loavltt. Mrs. Sarah Campbell and Mrs. J , P. Hobbard , were in Dos Molues the past week ntttiU'l'iig ' ' the mission convention , Mrs. Mandoyjllo nd Miss Shaffenburg. two Denver ladies , were visiting in Lin coln Ino past wook. Miss Hetta McCllntock , of Omaha , was visiting in the capital city a number ol days the past week. Mrs. II. U. Ware has gone to Villisca , la. , fora week's visit with old friends al her former homo in that place. Fred Harrison , ono of the popular young men of Lincoln , will shortly re move to lirokcn Dow to outer business in that place. OMAHA PUBLIC SIIOOOLS , Thn Fourth Annual Report of Superintend ent James. INTERESTING INFORMATION. Condition and I'rogrcss of tlio Schools The lli n Soliool Mnminl Training Other MiittcrH. To the bo.ird of education Gentlemen : I have the honor herewith to .submit my fourth annual report on the condition and progress of the public schools of this city , which is for the year ending with June , 188(5. ( From thostatlstic.il tables the folio wing facts may be observed : 1. Enumeration. The census of last April gave a school population of 11,831 , an Increase over that of the previous year of O'Jl ) . Tlio increase in 1S80 was 830 , and in 1880 , 1,110. It thus appears that the school population la not increasing as rapidly as it did a year or two ago. ! i. Enrollment. The whole number en rolled ill the school for this year was 0,803 , an increase over the proceeding of 51)3. ) This is a larger proecntago of tlio total enrollment than wo had a year ago. U. Attendance. The average daily at tendance tlio lait yc'ar ' was 4,700 , an increase - crease of 417 _ over the previous year. This increase i $ n ilitllu more titan the attendance atr the Leavonworth or Pacific schools. It will bo observed that during the last year that enrollment anil attendance have in creased more rapidly than the school population. The school population , as determined by tluj spring census , in creased DJ per cent in the j'ear : the en rollment a } per cone , and the attendance 10J per cent. The per cent of attendance based on the average school membership has boon ! )4 ) 1-10 per cent , the best record made in Omaha schools in many years. Compar ing with other cities wo llnd that some present a better record , but many do worse. The importance of good at tendance is easily understood. 1. Tardiness The number of cases of tardiness reported is 5,330 , , which" is tlio smallest number for several years. J'our years ago with a daily attendance of less than two-thirds as largo , there were nearly 14,000 cases of tardiness , or an average of moro than four for each pupil in daily attendance. The lust year there was an average of a little moro than one tor each pupil. This indicator a general improvement in the last four or live years , but comparing our record with that of other cities wo still take lower rank in the matter of punctuality than in regularity of attendance. I believe the time has como for moro stringent rules making bettor attendance obligatory. As our rules now stand , they allow greater laxity than any other city of which 1 nave knowledge. Moro rigid rules would oiled only a few negligent pupils who will never be prompt unless punctuality is compulsory. As the rules now stand , they have very little influence in securing good attendance. What lias been gained has boon wholly duo to the tillorts ; of the teachers , whoso /.eal in this diiection has boon deserving of great praise. 5. Djsciplino. It is with a great deal of satisfaction that I call attention to the fact that while the discipline of the schools have boon excellent during thn year , corporal punishment has ceased to bo n factor in securing this result. This method ot control has practically been abolished. As might bo expected , tlio most harmonious relations have existed between the parents and teachers , as a consequence of the bettor method of gov ernment. It is not a rare tiling for parents to make complaint to the super intendent of the improper treatment of their children , and I behove that the gen eral good will of the public toward the schools has boon strengthened by the abstinence from corporal punish ment. I have no doubt that a return to the use of the rod would produce injurious results both to the discipline and the relations between the schools and the public. Such cases of suspension have been necessary , m a few of which perhaps half a dozen unman ageable pupils have been kept out of school for a row1 Jwooks. The effect of this method of Correction has proved much moro sahdary and In all respects more satisfactory tuan the resort to the rod. 0. The High school. The prosperity of the High school Im4 'continued. ' The en rollment for the year reaches 250. Tlio dally attendance -as 218 , and a much larger proportion o/ / ; the pupils remained total enrollment. Very few cities of tlio country send a Jar/jor / percentage of tlio enrollment to jthojHigh , school. Until within a few yoarsHpur High school re ceived only about two per cent of the total enrollment. ' At the close oftlto year the following persons "n'ei'o graduated Irom the Illgn school : Alice M , Avery , Ulancho II. Itanton. Ida M. IJruco , Minnie A. Collctt , May A. Copeland , Myra C , Hannon , Ilelon 11 , Hall , Clara E. Hutmakcr , Charles S. McConnell , Julia A. Nowcomb , Arthur Hose , Nellie E. Hosowator , Edward J , Stroitz , Jounfo M. Wallace , Louis W , Weymiillor , Eli/saboth H. \ \ itinun , Emma J. Wood , AnmoJ. Young. 7. Withdrawals from .School. I have on former occasions called attention to the tendency of pupils to withdraw from school before the close of the year. This has boon a noticeable charaiuoristio of the Omaha school * , and it has indicated an inditfiironco on the part of the parents which is very discouraging. This must bo expected to eoino extent , but there is 110 reason why. Omnha should load other SOME BALLOON ADVENTURES. The Exploit of Two Kival Newspaper Eopoiters. DUCKED IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN. Con Itlnliotiny'i Kllglit In tlio Air nnd Through nn Apple Tree. [ UVUIni/or ( lie Dmnlm Sunday Itee. ] In the summer of 1877 , a mania for bal looning struck San Francisco , and con tinued several months , until llnnlly , ono of the air-ships capsi/ed above Mission street , and omptiug its passengers into the unoccupied space below , killed ono of them , with a , suddenness that was startling , nnd oripplod the other lor llfo , nnd some time afterward. Every Sunday a huge balloon would leave Woodward's gardens and go fumb ling around among the clouds , to the great delight and admiration of vast crowds , which , somehow , seem to bo ill- ways pleased at seeing other people in the act of dancing on nothing either as loronants or the leading man at a hang ing-boo. The mama mentioned extended to the newspaper reporters , eventually , and an ambitious reporter , with .sullicieiit sand to attempt such an approach of the Great White liirono , could not bo bettor pleased than to achieve an invitation to Co with Professor Somebody in tlio diroc. lion suggested , in a balloon. Generally the distinction of being talked about as gallant , and brave , and enterprising , or something of that sort , was the spur , but I have ventured to think , occasionally , that perhaps the thought that they might not ever got nearer Heaven in any other manner , may have had somewhat to do with the matter , in sporadic cases. One Sunday tlio professor had inadver tantly promised two reporters , represen tatives of rival newspapers , to take them up with him , and the capacity of his bal loon was notmillicicnl for three persons. When the day arrived the two were promptly on hand , however. Alf lialch for the Chronicle was ono of thorn , lialch was a wise looking follow who were glasses. Indeed ho was a wise fellow , except in his passion for ballooning. Ho was cultured and brainy ; the sou of n Now England clergyman and , at my last information , engaged on the staff of tlio Now York World. He was also a brother of the famous Itaston 'newspaper man , Uuleh , who by a clover piece of detective work captured Cliastine Cox , a negro who committed , in Now York , tlio mys terious murder of an elderly lady , which for a long time pnz/.lcd the "sleuths. " The other aspiring reporter was Ed Clougli , who about that llmo came near making himself famous an the author of some remarkably excellent dialect Hkotchcs in the Argonaut , with such titles as "A Had Man From Itadio , " 'The Yaller Dog of Calavcras , " etc. On the grounds the profussor declared that ho could take but one of the report ers , and each stoutly insisted on going. Finally the turonant , being nnnble to decide - cido between the tv o , said that ho wouldn't go , whereupon Clough declared his eminent ability to i mi the machine himself , and Halch represented that ho was a balloonist from "away back. " think Clough did know a little something about handling nn a Hair of the kind , but lialch was as ignorant of the thing , prac tically , as a pig Is of philology. Never theless , the two entered the car and the professor lent n hand to help them oil' . The guy-ropos were loosened , and the monster I think "monster" is the word rose majestically , and when released iihcondcd gracefully and rapidly upon n vertical line. Having attained n sullloiont hoiuhth to catch the air-currents she drifted seaward nnd thoanmtouroironants soon found themselves hanging out over the Piicilio Ocean. A tug was sent to sea to' watch for thorn and in the course of a few hours thn balloon began to descend near the Faralona islands. The tug kept pretty well under the balloon and when the latter vessel hud como BO near the wutr.r that the swell of the sea almost touched it , lialch , who was an export swimmer , with an eye to "hedging1' on his chances for life , dropped out of tlio basket , lialch was a luiayy weight , and work off enough gas to give her another descent. Meanwbllo Hiilch had boot picked up und iu u little while the tug had Clough and the balloon safe aboard , and was steaming for the Golden Gate On the folio wing Sunday Con Mtihonov , an Irish reporter who was working on the Post , and who is now on a Chicago paper , wont up with the professor in the same balloon. Con had once boon a nontenant in the Peruvian nayy and he was fond of dilating upon the fact , the connection , herewith , will appear further on. Upon the occasion of Con's air voyage the balloon concluded logo out Into the county. It hung about oyor Honpina country for u while , niid at last descend ing , toward ntlit-fall | , It thrashed along tlm earth awlnlu and flnallydraggod Con and the piofvssor through nn apple troo. und in these movements broke one of Con's arms , Ho was visible on tlm strcois a few days after , with thn injured limb in a bling , and in speaking ol hU ad venture ho said : "Vu may talk about brav'ry. ' No mar doubts my brav'ry. 1 was n loftenant in the P'ruvlan navy. Hut it takes more brav'ry than I have about mo to go up in another balloon. Still nnd all , its uol so much going up in u balloon , d'yi know * as 'tis coming down In that nam'e d'ye imndv" WILL Visscmut.