' t ! THE OMAHA DAILY BUE ; SUNDAY /AUGUST 14 , 1887.-TWELVE PAGES , 11 ' 1'BETRIAIS OF AN EMIGRANT , SUminiicentei by * Former Emigrant Now a Prosperous Missouri Official , LANDING AT CASTLE GARDEN. An Unclean Italian The Terror * of tbo Storm Amusements In the Btcerage The emigrants' Diet Emigration | n Olden Times. A gentleman from the northern part ot Missouri who woa in Omaha two clays of last week is a living cxcmplillcation of tlm advantages which the land of the free and the homo of the bravo possesses for men of nil nationalities. A few years ago this gentleman landed in this coun try , ono of tv mhnber of tired and wretched immigrants. To-day ho is nn associate justice of the county court of a prosperous Missouri county In which he lias made considerable money as well as I AS * many friends. If In conversation with a representative of the BKI : this gentleman who , by the way , is a very Intelligent man , imparted some interesting Information in regard to the habits , the trials and tribulations of the emigrant while en route to this country. "Tho scene on the pier previous to the departure of a vessel is an exciting ono , " said ho. "It is crowded with emigrants all in a confused and excited state , re minding ono of n frightened Hook of sheop. The majority are perhaps En glish , Irish and Gorman , though nearly all nations are represented. More than half of the whole number of emigrants arrive in Now York from Liverpool , a curious fact being that as many German emigrants come to America by way of l.ivoipool as those who sail In steamers direct from Hamburg 01 .Bremen. These Germans nre conveyed to Hull by water nnd thence across England by rail to tiivcrpool. A shipload ol those seekers for homes is a curious sight , many Minis ter men and some loose women are no- ticcitblfl , but hero and there may bo noticed many neat in dress and cleanly in appearance and promising citizens. Ivioh emigrant has a contract ticket , which in consideration of the current rate of faro stipulates for his transporta tion to New York , together with a full supply of wholesome provisions , cooked nnd served by Its stewards ; the passenger is required to provide himself with bed ding and cooking utensils. In my time the weekly allowance of food for adults was prescribed oy the government and printed on the contract ticket. As I re member it , It was 91 quarts of water , 3 } pounds ot broad , 1 pound of wheaten ilour , 1 } pounds of oatmeal , rice and peas , 2 pounds of potatoes , 1J pounds of beef , 1 pound of pork , 3 ounces of tea , 1 pound of sugar , and salt , popper , mus tard , vinegar , etc. The stoorngo stewards berth the emigrants , and they nro then murshaled on deck under the scrutiny of n government inspector who examines them for infectious diseases. "Ou nearly all vessels just before start ing are found "stowaways" or some poor follows who , enthused with the glowing descriptions of the land beyond the sea and too poor to pay passage , are des perate enough to attempt to steal pass age. In nearly all instances these are discovered when the tickets are exam ined , and they are sent back to shore. Sortie of them will make the piteous tale that they have been robbed of their money wnilo waiting for the vessel or lost their tickets , but this is of no avail. After the steerage passengers are at tended to , the cabin passengers coino aboard and the vessel pushes out. " "What is the general treatment these people receive while at sea V" asked the reporter. "Well , " replied the Missourlan , "neither oflicors or men seem to consider thorn worthy of respect. Occasionally you will tind some ships olliccrs who will treat them in a humane , tolerating mtui- 'er , but as n rule they are treated more like a drove of cattle. No difference is made between the bettor or worse class but all are treated alike. There is no classification , the single women and men nro separated , but I'olos , Germans , En glish , French , Italians , and people of all countries arc thrown together. A cleanly , thrifty woman is berthed next to a filthy ono , nnd the same with neat appearing hardworking men who are compelled to mingle with the dirtiest of vagabonds. "Tbo steerage is usually cold , dark and foul smelling. It extends nearly the en tire length of the vessel under the saloon deck nnd is cut np in gloomy apartments. In each ono of these nro four tiers of berths or bunk , two on each side. The lower tier is two feet from the deck and the upper tier throe feet from the roof. The ritoorago is about ten feet in height ; in each tier nro probably six berths eighteen inches wide and six feet long and made of boards. These berths generally omit nn unpleasant smell of chlorate of limo or carbolio acid. " "It is not then the most pleasant sight , " remarked the UKE man. "It is anything but a pleasant sight which greets ones eyes as he enters the Steerage from the open deck. The women and children are sitting or lying In the berths , the former tired and pale , yet bearing their sulToring with that wo manly fortitude characteristic of the sex ; the omldrnn giving vent to their feelings in sobs. "Ofllelous stewards are moving about Indulging in a coarse joke hero and a growl at some unfortunate thara. After the supper , and but fnw partake of ihn first ono at sea , the tables are raised to f the root and the atctrago center space is clcnr. Some lamps are then lighted , but 1 promptly extinguished at 9 o'clock. > Three meals arc served every day and In r - quality and quantity they are substantial. For breakfast nt 8 o'clock emigrants sit n down to do justice to oatmeal porridge and molasses , hot bread , coll'co and salt life fish. For dinner at 13 perhaps soup or broth , boiled moats , potatoes and broad. For supper at 0 tea and broad and butter with molasses. However substantial the food may be , the manner in which it is served Is uncleanly. Ueef and soup are placed on the table in rusty looking tins nnd then a scramble takes place , dirtv lingers often being used instead of forks. On n pleasant summer day thn emigrants have quito a merry time on deck. Some of the Italians bring out their harps and violins and a concert takes place. Aside from this these people amuse themselves at cards , checkers , and other games , and After a time they become partially accus tomed to their filthy prison , the majority make the best of It and cnjcy themselves to a degree. " "How Is the emigrant cared for during n storm ? " queried the reporter. "That's just where ho reaches the height of his misery , " answered the ox- emigrant. " 1 shall never forgot the suf ferings wo all endured during n severe fitorm on my passage. When the storm eamo up the hatches were battened down , the ports screwed in their places nnd the companionways closed. Ifuring nil the time the sea is on deck perhaps ] ,000 people were confined to the steerage. on this occasion , for nearly three days. The atmosphere became close and In twenty-four hours was loaded with im- puritlasi meals wcro irregularly served net the food barely cooked. I shall Dover forgot the exhibition of terror on the part of some of the emigrants , and their terror became contagious as tholr shrinks ( row louder , and-thoir prayers more fro. quent. After the storm had subsided , thO'SUjorftge was upon , the sailor * would not BO In to clean up for BX hours nnd then they had to bo supplied with 1X11 ? * allowance of grog. I remember on this trip an Incident which a sailor told mo was not an unusual ono. Ono of the Italians in the steerage had not washed himself since he had boon on board , nnd after the storm ho refused to leave his bunk , but clung to It In all Its filth , and with his characteristic indo- lenco. On the captain's order he was brought on board and thoroughly cleansed witn a hose , after which ho re turned apparently feeling no bettor for his clean uo , but I am certain the bal ance of ua rested easier. ' \Vhcn the steamer arrives nt quaran tine , a tow boat convoys the doctor on board and ho Inspects the emigrants. If there are no cases of infectious disease the steamer proceeds to the city , and shortly another steamboat appears with the boarding oflleor of the emigration commissioners. This otlicial ascertains the number of passengers on board and listens to complaints. "Soon the trees of the Battery park come in sight , the steamer's pulse ceases , bovcral barges are towed alongside , and the emigrants with their baggage nro transferred to those. The same excite * mont is hero manifest as at the outset of the voyage. The poor emigrants are browbeaten and driven about like the same old sheep , and as soon as the barges are loaded a small steamer takes them In tow and they nro landed with their loud of human feight at Castle Gar den. den."Tho "Tho barges loaded with emigrants are soon moored to the wharf , and the cus tom house oilkors examine the baggage ; old chests , barrels and bundles nro packed together and the oflicors begin the work ot examination. "Do these people have much property ? " "Somo of the emigrants have no bag gage whatever , and it is safe to say that $100 is the average amount of cash held by ono person with perhaps $00 addition al in property. , " When the oagsago has been "passed" by the inspectors , it is checked and sent to a room prepared for its reception. The immigrants are examined by a med ical oflicer , who ascertains that no pau pers or criminals nro among them , and that no person atllictcd with contagious or infectious diseases have escaped the doctor at quarantine. The immigrants are then ushered into the rotunda , a high- roofed circular building , into which ven tilation and light are admitted by a dome soventy-Iivo foot high. The tloor is divided into small inclosnrcs containing a post ollice , telegraph ollico , money ex change and restaurant. As the crowd files iti , each passenger is detained for n moment at the registration desk , where his name , ago , nationality , destination , the vessel's name and the date of arrival are carefully recorded and preserved. "When the registration is complete a clerk announces the names of the pas sengers who have friends waiting for them , or for whom letters , telegrams or remittances have been received , and de livery is made to the persons answering. Other passengers who wish to communi cate with acquaintances or relatives are referred to clerks who speak and write their language , and their messages are transmitted from the telegraph desk or by mail. The railroad companies have agents in the building , and the passen gers who wish to leave the city arc shown to the ticket offices , while their baggage is rcchecked and conveyed to the trainer or depot without charge. Those who want rest are permitted to remain in the rotunda , where a bowl of cofleo , ton or milk and a small loaf of bread are sup plied to them for ten cents. If thev chonsn they can go to ono of the board ing houses licensed by the commissioners , which offer food and lodging at the moduat price of a dollar or a dollar and half. There is also a labor bureau which is of much aid to the now comnrs. The Immigrants are guarded against swind lers by a broker's oflico where coin is ex changed for bills at the lowest current rates , and whore valuables may bo de posited without charco. "Many years ago the great majority of emigrants wore so poor that they could not prepay their passage. They accepted advances anil were bonded to the ship owners , who derived enormous profits. Charles Kondo has a vivid description of the emigrant trutlic nt this period in his ' Heir. " When vessel Wandering a ar rived at Philadelphia or Now York , the Bteorago passengers wcro sold at public unction to the highest bidder. The eoun- tiy people either came themselves to purchase , or sent aironts. Parents sold their children , that they might remain free themselves , and families wcro scat tered never to bo re-united. Old people and widows did not soil well ; while healthy parents with healthy children , and youths of both sexes , found n ready market. When ono or both parents died on the voyage , the expenses of the whole family were summed up , and charged to the survivor. Adults had to servo from three to sixyears , and children until they became of age. Runaways had to servo ono week for each day , ono montli for each week , and six months for each month of their absence. The emigrants were called "indented servants , " l > ut in cH'oet they were slaves. "The last sales of immigrants took place I think In Philadelphia during the years 1818 or 1819. The government then inter fered with the tralllc , nnd encouraged the Immigration ot a superior class of peoplo. Hut the accommodations for emigrants re mained shamefully defective , and nearly twenty out of every hundred passengers died at sea of fever or starvation. The steerage deck was usually about five feet high , without ventilation or light , and in this space the bunks were ranged in two pr three tiers. "The health of the passengers was fur ther impaired by another evil which , up to a very recent date , prevailed on board emigrant vessels. The emigrants were to provide and cook their own food. Many embarked without any provisions or an insullieient quantity , and others found no opportunity to cook what they had. On tint upper deck of the vessel there were two small "galleys , ! ' about live foot wide and four feet deep , caoh supplied with a grata , and these wcro the only arrangements inado for cooking tko food for several hundred persons. "Thousands never lived to see their des tination. Out of about ninety-eight thou sand laborers sent from Ireland to Cana da after the famine of 1840. nearly twen ty-live thousand perished In consequence of the poor rations and defective ventila tion of the ships. Later still , in 18GS , on ono vessel mono the Leibnitz" from Hamburg over ono hundred passengers died out of five hundred. "Tho mortality on vessels bringing emi grants to Now York to-dav will perhaps not exceed ono and two-thirds per cent. , nnd in some instances is no greater than one-eighth per cent. " LOOKINf/TORjiM. ll'ntteii for the Sunday nee. The little sketch I am about to write is absolutely true. It occuriod when I was a British soldier , stationed at Malta in the year 1375. I was quartered in the St. Elmo barracks , right at the entrance to the Grand harbor , and over the histor ical spot where Napolrou is supposed to have gunk the golden gates. Anyone who luu * over visited that island who has sailed past the entrance and up to the Grand and Quarantine harbors , can not hiivo failed to notice the grand chal dron of foaming nnd seething water ; always turbulent , no matter how calm the day , whilst 400 foot above are the granite Imrraoka of St. Elmo. The sol diers la/.ily pacing to and fro are m strik ing contrast to the rough ocean below ' which for sublimity and grandeur Is 'worth the painter's mast artistic skill. Military life in Malta consists m a seem- never ceasing round of guard mounting. Fall In at 7 a. m. , bo In spected by the regimental officers , then march to the brigade headquarters and bo inspected by the brigade officers , tin- ally march to governor's headquarters , bo reviewed , march past , salute and then off to the various guards , arriving at your post somewhere about 10 or 11 , and all this time belted up and wearing a knapsack containing n full kit. with the thermometer at about 104 ° m the shade ; then when on guard you cannot remove your belts , and when on sentry you must wear your knapsack and straps. How ever , to my story. In the company to which 1 belonged was a young married couple In whom the whole ragimont scorned to take especial pndo. The man , Corporal James Fennessy , was the son of a former olllcer of the regiment , an officer who had fought and won his way from the ranks to the adjutancy , and who , while winning rank and glory , had been debarred from saving that most essential article , either in civil or military life , money ; consequently when the old man died after thirty-throe years active and faithful service it was found that his entire estate consisted of sovcntocn pounds in money , four medals , the Vio- torla cross , a presentation sword , and two old suits of uniform , The son after waiting as long as ho could in the hope that his father's services would enable him to obtain a commission , at last onliitod as n privnto soldier in the regiment of which his father had been an honored officer , and was immediately given his first stcj > that of corporal. Our regimental school mistress was a young lady with almost n similar lustorv to that of Corporal Fen- nossy , the two having been born In India in the regiment and known no ether homes than the barracks. What wondar was it that the two should bo very much attached to each other , and when Cor poral Fen ness v , as is the rule , sent in Ins written application to be allowed to marry the schoolmistress and be assigned quarters in the married block , the whole regiment from colonel to private took a personal and proud interest in the suc cess of the couple. They wcro married by the chaplain , the colonel giving the bride away and the company furnishing the wedding banquet , andmuuy were the brilliant prospects which the wiseacres of the regiment spoke of. lint duty and discipline go hand in hand in the British army , ami in spite of its being Jim's wedding day , the tirst order issued that evening for the morrow's duty road : "Corporal James Fenncssy and eight men will mount guard at 7 a. m. on St. Elmo heights. " In due time the guard mounting took place and it was nearly 11 o'clock before we readied St. Elmo heights. Then when sentries were relieved - liovod wo gladly throw off our knapsacks and looked over the blue Mediterranean. As far as the eye gould roach the sea ap peared to bo perfectly calm , while the different sails appeared so motionless as to resemble "painted boats upon a painted ocean , " yet down 400 feet below us , the vntors were as usual seething and I'oaminjr , curling and dashing against the rocks as if to make up by their fury the calmness of the sea. It was hot. In the guard house the myriads of Hies made it impossible to rest ; outside on the parapet.- ) tho" scorching rays boat down pitilessly , and the only shade to bo obtained was to sit or ho in the apertures or embrasures built to receive the huge cannon placed there to protect the island from invasion , but only used for firing salutes. These embrasures were built out of the , solid fort wall , were about three yards wide and sloped and widened out till the edge was reached. Knowing that our next visitor would bo the inspecting officer at 13 o'clock , the moat of us made ourselves as comfortable as the circumstances would permit. The corporal , no doubt mentally reviewing the events ot the previous day , lay down in ono of the em brasures : ind was soon lulled by the heat into slnmbur. My readers need scarcely bo told that when a sentry gives the com mand "Guard turn out" it is a matter of pride with the soldier to grasp his rillo and fall in us quickly as possible. In due time tlio officer made his appearance ; the sentry gave the usual warning and each man sprang to obey. The guard fell in but whore was the corporal ? Wo looked at each other in speechless terror. There wits but one explanation of his absence. Instead of running towards the guard house when aroused by the sentry's cry the poor fellow had evidently run in the wrong direction nnd had fallen 400 feet into the angry waters below , and 'ere we could explain to the officer the terrible catastrophe that had occurred , the young wife appeared carryings dinner the first she had over prepared for her husband. Smiling and half blushing she passed on to the guard house saying , "Good morn ing , boys , I've brought Jim's dinner. Whore is ho ? " After a hurried consulta tion with the officers wo told her that the sergeant-major had sunt for Jim , but that he would bo back shortly , and while she was arranging her little dinner as tastefully as she could , ono man ran off to beg the sergeant-major's wife , to break the news as gently as possible to the young widow. By a ruse wo persuaded nor to return to the barracks , whore by degrees she was told the pnml story. I have often thanked my God that'I re mained on duty that day on the heights , for I am told that the whole barracks re sounded with her pitiful screams and sobs. Towards night , worn out with emotions and physically exhausted , she laid down nnd slept quietly. Now comes the most peculiar part of my little tulo , and one which can bo vouched for bv thcB uiuls of British soldiers. At day break she arose , dressed herself and walked ( jack to our guard house. She cumo to the door perfectly calm and ap parently sane. With u pleasant smile sbe bade us good morning , and enquired for her husband. When told that ho was not there , and pressed to sit down nnd rest herself , she replied , "No , thank you , boys , I'm looking for Jim , " and passed on. From guard house to guard house the poor woman walked , always with the same object lookingfor Jim and closed her search only when night came , only to repent the programme the no\t day. For two long years shu hurried from guard to guard , always seemingly in a great hurry , nnd although old friends could sometimes keep her chatting a lUlo ! while , still she would soon grow restless and huriy on with the excuse that she was "Looking for Jim. " Perfectly sane on every other toplo , no amount of rca- sonlug would convince her but what Jim was on guard somewhere. Her strange and pitiful tulo was of course known to every soldier on the island , and the boys all had a kind word and a stuila for her whenever she made her appearance. The officers of the regiment subscribed suf ficient money to prevent her from want ing anything , and oven wished to send her to England , but she would not hear of such thing. I shall find Jim directly , she would say , and then everything will lo all right. One morning she was missed from her accustomed haunts ami on going to her room .sho was found worn almost to a skeleton by Juir hurried wan derings to and fro , laying on her bed- dead. Every guard house in Malta was draped in black out of respect to her memory and the regiment which had re spected her living , honored her dead. On the following day the funeral took place at Florlana cemetery , largo numbers of soldiers attended and her body was low ered to the grave to the mournful strains of the Doail March , played by the regi mental band. Bofaro the regiment left Malta the soldier. * raised a subscription , and vliitors to the cemetery can now sea over her grave a plain while marble cross ou which is inscribed : Bacrod to the Momorr ot A * MB. . "Gone to Meet Her Jim. " Albert Frlndlander has Invented n portable electric lieht. It is made by turning plates of carbon and zlno into the exciting fluid by means of a knob. In turning them back the light is extin guished. . , ' FREE CHURCHES DEMANDED. Tha System of Pew Banting Denounced as One of the Devices of the Devil. CHURCH A PLACE OF EQUALITY. Where nigh and Low , Itloh and Poor Hbonld be on the Sane Level Tbe Free Church the Means to „ _ lleach the Mauci TTrfMw for tin § iwdailite / by M , F. Ser i on , of Dctiwr. . No serious-minded person , who con templates the state of Christianity at the present day , can fall to see that the church docs not reach or got hold of the masses. On the contrary infidelity and scepticismliberalism and sociallsm.seetn to be on the increase , and Christianity cspnclally in the western states and ter ritories , as far as the masses are con cerned , is quietly being cast off. Now , what is the remedy ? And how shall the church roach the masses , or rather , how shall the masses bo brought into the church ? Before answering these qucstionslotus look back to the first centuries of the church , and wo will be struck at the ex traordinary change , which has taken place in the relation of Christianity to what arc termed the lower classes of so ciety. It was to these classes , at the out set , that the gospel made Iti most earnest appeal. To the poor , to slaves , to the aflllctcd and oppressed of every sort , the apostles and other early preachers , prin cipally addressed their teachings. By this multitudinous class they were heard with the most sympathy , and from their ranks the primitive churches wore filled. Christianity first estab lished itself on the lower strata of the populace. The early church was the church of the catacombs. It burrowed underground before It emerged into day light , and climbed to high places ot power. The heathen writers of the first two centuries scarcely allude to the Christians , and when they are referred to , it is as an ignorant and despised class. The rich , the powerful and the cultured , if they noticed them at all , regarded thorn with disdain. The early apologists had to defend the Christian cause against the accusation of being a religion that started from "barbarians" and sought , acceptance among the vicious and un learned. Christianity was the religion of the people , and so it continued to bo through the middle ages. In this last period , it is true , that all classes , the high and the low , the rich and the poor , were gathered into its fold , but among them wcro the humblest in worldly rank. Witness the crusades , which were a mighty popular movement for the rescue ot the saercd places. Every peasant felt the enthusi asm that spread like a contagion from land to land. At present wo hear the question raised on every hand : How shall Christianity bo carried to the masses ? How shall the Christian faith bo brought to bear upon and bo kept alive in the large multitude who are devoted to manual toil , the artisans of the cities , the farming population of the country , the bono and sinew of the land , and how shall it be made to act as an antidote to the restless passions which at times threaten the stability of govern ments nnd menace society with convul sion ? This question implies that a largo portion of the working class in civilized professedly Christian nations , both Roman Catholic and Protestant , are alienated from the Christian faith , robol.s iigainst its authority , careless alike of its restraints and its hopc . Why this dif ference between' the later and the earlier ages of the church ? How is it that a re- liuion that found its heartiest welcome in the ela s by whom the comforts , not to say luxuries of existence were pos sessed in a s'drtntmonsurc.is nowspurned by the corresponding portion of modern society ? ' f With reference to this problem jl have but ono or ttvo suggestions to offer. The lirst is that in the ancient Roman empire when Christianity was struggling for life nnd for conquest , the lower classes had no prospect'of relief and solace from any other source. Especially had they no hope of nltoririglthoir condition by attack ing the authority of the stato. Revolu tionary violence against the imperial power that dominated the world , was an impracticable thing , nnd revolt would have been an net of madness. In the middle ages Roman imperialism had in deed passed away , Unit the elements of democracy that entered into the organi zation of the church and affected its priesthood were adapted to enlist the sympathy of the common people. Over against the monarch and rtho feudal lord stood the hierarchical order , which the humblest might aspire to enter , and which not infrequently interposed a shield for the protection of the common man against the tyrrauy and exactions ot his Jay-superiors , lint in the present age the church has more frequently boon on the side of secu lar authority Christianity has elton boon made a prop of despotism. In the great monarchical reaction in Europe after the wars of Napoleon "the throne and the altar" were the watchwords of the assailants of liberty. In this double interest the "Holy Alii- anco" trampled on freedom in Spain and Italy. Meanwhile , at the same time that the people have been conscious of losing the sympathy of their ecclesiastical rulers and teachers , the spirit of democracy has bcon growing , and has boon infusing a consciousness of power Into the minds of the less favored class. The effect of the French revolution was not prevented by the temporary reaction of the hostile political theory. To gam their end "by the ballot or by armed revolution is deemed practicable by the disnfloctcd who have abandoned the Christian faith. They seek for u remedy and a consola tion on earth , and not through a spiritual deliverance that must wait tor its fruit until they have passed beyond the con fines of this life. The second suggestion I would make is that when our Lord established the church on earth it was to bo the spiritual homo for all for rich and poor , learned and ignorant , high and low , alike. The gospul was to bo preached to all. Out in modern times thorn has boon n tendency , especially so in Protestant countries , to make religious worship and teaching the nrivilogo , wo may almost say the luxury , of the few , while nothing is loft to the lower orders but thn crumbs that fall ffom the rich man's table , llenco the masses have become alienated from the church. Go to our larger cities and how many churches are free ? The largo fashionable churches what are they but religious clubhouses , whore the pews are parcelled out , rented or sold to the highest bidder , nnd where the wealth and 'fashion assemble , because they are regarded as the uropor places for the display of social differences ? The lecturer , Rev. Joseph Cook , in a lecture alluding to this subject said as follows * . "I'Bupposo that the angel in Itanyan'a vision , who saw the miser using a muck rake did not look forward to America. Hv might have seen thntn muck rake on the front stops of a church used to rake tn funds , is a very excellent piece of furniture. For what ? for a church ? Why not ! But for a Sunday club It is a Very indispensable piece of furniture. ThU'oxtravaennza of ours in Sunday club palaces , this fooling of ours that social prestige is more to bo re garded iu certain churches that right standing before Almighty God , this using our Sunday clubs as social preserv ers to keep families In good position- all these are circumstances pointing to peril in time to como , and already big with disaster. " At the triennial meeting of the "Free and Open Church association , " held in Chicago during the meeting of the gen eral convention , Mr. James Parker , of Now Jersey , laid : "That of all the devi ces put out by the devil , that of the sys tem of pew rents was the worst. Ho had always opposed it , and refused to pay rental on principle. " It is making merchandise of the house of God , It is contrary to the spirit ot the gospel , and hin ders tlio growth of the church. When one crosses the threshold of God's house all earthly and class-distinctions fade and disappear , and God's creatures are equal. If the masses are to be brought into our churches they must bo made irco to all. The church must bo the homo for allrich , and poor , high and low alike. There nro , it is trua , mission churches and schools In the larger cities , and all praise is duo to thosu who establish nnd conduct these enterprises of charity but then they are enterprises of charity , nnd democracy engenders a pride that makes the independent poor unwilling to bo fed in the kitchen. The sturdy artisan , the independent laborer , who is practically excluded from the fashionable church by the high pew rent , Is unwilling to enter the charity church , and thus ho goes to neither. Hut perhaps we will be mot with the question , that it pew rents were nbol- ished , how could the largo citv'churchos bo supported ? Time will not permit mete to enter upon this question hero. I will simply say that in order to answer it I would again have to ask you to go back to the primitive church nnd see how it was supported m those days ; how chrls- tians honored God with tithes as well as lip service , and every ono , according .to the apostolic injunction , on the first day of the week laid on the offertory his of. formg as "the Lord had prospered him. " This subject , of course , has its practi cal difficulties , but I am moro and more convinced that the first stop toward its solution is to make all our churches free to bring the rich and the poor to walk in the house of God ns friends there to worship the same Heavenly Father in spirit and In truth. SINGULARITIES. An Ohio tame crow has lived to pass his thirty-second birthday. At Had Ax , Mich. , the other day n hawk sailed over the baseball field. He was struck by a ball and Instantly killed. Mrs. P. II. Uichmyrc. of Gllboa , N. T. , oceii 8J , has just completed a pair of trousers - , ers for her husband of bO to play base ball 'n. 'n.A A calf In Cassvlllo , WIs. , was picked up from a track by a train and carried on the cowcatcher to a point opposite Its stable where it jumped oil unharmed. A Ucavor Falls boy was pulled into the river by a tish that took his bait. The bnv held on to the Dole until he was In dangrr of drovvnlne , when he let go and swain to the shore. An elvht-pnnnd salmon was recently cap tured In the river at Wllllamsport , Pa. , by a man named Conner , by striking It a well directed blow with a stick that stunned It. It had been napping. A party of twelve from Pocatello , Idaho , recently went fishing at Pebble and took over four hundred trout In four hours. They think that any coed tisheiman should iill a twelve-pound basket in two hours. A Tennessee mountaineer recently , found , under n ledico ot rocks the sword of a con- ledcrato otllcer. It proved to have boloncod to a captain who was killed In a skirmish , nnrt ono of his eomm.uid hid It that It mlKht not fall into the hands ot the union forces. Major Black , ot Stimtor , ( in. , owned a culnea hen that wanted to set. Her nest was orokon up saveral times , and at length , with every nppearnnco of extreme dejection , she walked to the well , flow np on the curbing ana with a rasping cry plunged head lirst Into the water. When sue was taken out she was doad. The casualties ot the jnblleo procession foot up about COO. Three hundred wcro cases ot falntlni ; , over twenty ol sunstroke. Tlinro were hovcr.d broken leas , arms and collar bones , and dislocations. Some people suf fered concussion of the br.iiu , some had tholr chests crushed , and others wuro kicked by horses. A young ladr and gentleman from ttm Sixth ward In Klmira , M , V. , were rowing on the river on Saturday evening , when a black bass weighing about u pound leaped trom the water , striking the \ouug lady's wrist and bndly filehtcniug her , and allchtcd In the bottom of the boat. Where It was made a prisoner. Sunday morning Itas served as the young lady's breakfast. Mrs. James IIons s , of North Waldoboro , Me. , is the owner of a cat which had a severe light with a fox one day last week. Mrs. lloflbcs was standing in her dwelling house door and saw a fox make his appoarancc from the woods nnd come withlnir two rods of the house. At the i same time the cat jumped from the threshold of the door and the two had a combat. The fox was determ Ined to master his proy.but the cat being a large ono nnd very knowing the fox got his in itch. The cat overpowered the tex and followed him for some rods , but the fox not being satisfied right about face and made for his prey. Hut the cat bolntt more llerco than ever made the second attack and this time the animal was glad to disappear In the woods , A comical Incident was observed at Con- cress Spring park a night or two ago. There was a very largo attendance , and the concert was particularly line. For a wonder a couple of vigorous ( loirs had eluded the watchful ness of the irate keepers and weie enjoying the freedom of the paiado ground. They were not long in finding each other out , and were on the best of torms. It may have been that ( lartlund's music "soothed their savage breasts" into unwonted quiet. As soon as It ceased , however , and a vigorous clapping of hands began by way of applause , the two animals flow at each other with great fury and had as earnest a fuht as if they had been enemies from puppyhood. The dogs had inlsUUen tlio applause as a "sick 'em" from respective champions , nnd they fought it out ou that basis. A reporter of the Providence ( U. I. ) Jour nal , browsiut ; about between midnight anil 1 o'clock ono morning recently , saw a man standing near one of the electric light posts , ou Washington street , waving a lonz horse whip back and forth high above his head. lie had a fish hook on thn end of the whip , to which was attached n moth miller , and ho explained that with this bait ho captured tlio bats that were foraging among the Insects around the electric light. Ho said ho not a half dollar apleco for thorn , and that ho had already caught seven that night. He sold them to the taxidermists , and said that ho could get moro < for them In Boston. Ho spoke ot hiring n man to help him , as ho could cat oh enough then to pay him for ship ping them to Boston. He caught two while the reporter remained to watch the operation , and he picked them otf the hook and put them In a hag that ho carried slung across his shoulder. Ono of the must remarkable feature In hu man natura Is observed In the Young family , ot the Salrm neighborhood In Uglethorpo , Georgia. Mr. William Voting , who lives near Salem , a carpenter by trade , was born with the middle and ring finger of his right band together. The joints are perfect , and he finds no inconvenience from the other hand. The remarkable part Is that his little baby was born with tiio same two nngers crown together. Mr. Young has nine brothers , who have natural fingers. Ills father , nor his father's brothers had no such freak of nature , yet their only sister has the Identical lingers on the same band grown together. His grandfather bad three nngers on each hand , and three toes of each foot frown together , and as far back as he can traeo the same freak is apparent , but U never developed on but ono Is each family. He Made a Neat Hit. Buffalo Courier : "Is there any one liv ing hero under twenty-one years of age ? " inquired n man who rang the door boll tea a Lalco street residence the other day. "No , there is not , " rather sharply re plied a spinster of eight-ami thirty sum : summers who answered the ring. "Why ! IB it possible ? " was the reply of the apparently astonished man , "don't you livohoro ? " It was a neat hit , and after a little aim- poring and n brief chat about the weather the maiden purchased two copies of a work-entitled "Hints for the Young. " FUNNY THINGS BI JOVIAL HEN A Woman Who Enow Her Husband's ' Habits. A DECIDEDLY MISPLACED JOKE. The Whirligig of Tlmo-A Neat Illt-An Exploded Theory It Was Sena * tor Brown Hunting the Corner Smiles , The Farmer. 0 City Deriirt. Onofi on a time ho usud to plough And rlso at dawn to milk the cough And drive with merry SOUR and laugh To pasture Dtlndlo an0 * her c.xngh. Then for the pics lio'd fill the trough And for the market ho would bo ougli t Sometimes his mare would bruise her hough Acalnst n fence post or A rough. And there he'd switch her with a bough To tench her better nnyhough ; lie planted wheat to make me dough , Which , In a drought , WAS hard tofcrough. In winter , when his work wn.s through , A little sporting he would dough : He'd wander with his gun and shoiich And aim at crows ho couldn't knough. Sometimes he'd hunt along the clough For birds that do not live there nough And shoot a seagull or a clough. Which lie with joy would proudly slough. From swampland , watered by n lough , He'd make good pasture for his stotish liy laying hero nnd them a slough While perspiration was his ( trough. Sometimes a snako'ttmt shed Its slough Would scare him so he'd run and pough Till stuck knee-deep within a slough , He'd yell until he raised a rough. Hut now work makes the farmer cptigli And. careless houirh much people scough , He lives on boarders rough anil tough That vou n thelgh dough not oat enough. fihoKnow llln llnblts. Dakota Boll : "Soon anything of my hssband ? " demanded u Sioux Falls woman ono day this week of an ollicor in front of the post ollice. "No , ma'am ; has he disappeared mys teriously ? " "Naw ! He came down town the same as usual this morning- diunor has been rendj nn hour and it's all getting cold and ho isn't back yet. " "You have boon to his ofllco I sup pose ? " "Mo , sir , I haven't. I've no time to fool awny looking for him there. Siiy , is there a sick horse nt any of the livery stables ? " "Not that I know of. " "Heon any dog lights around lately ? " "Haven't hoard of any. " "Any ten-cent show or target gun in town ? " "All gone , madam. " "Any man in u wagon selling brass jewelry ? " "Guess not. " "No lire anywhere In town1 "No. " "No pools being sold anywhere on some horse race , or trial going on in a justice court ? " "Not any. " "No man selling medicine on the street , no circus bills just pasted up anywhere , no woman walking n tight rope ? " "Not a one. " "Well that's uoculiar I can't aeo where John can be. " "There's a couple of Frenchmen with a tame cinnamon bear down on Phillips avenue , madam. " "That's it , that's it-I didn't think to ask about tame boars ! While the pota toes arc getting cold as a stone ho is down there making up a purse of seven ty-live cents to see the bear climb a tele- grnph pole ! I'll go right down you watch and see if he isn't up to the house inside of ten minntuM" The WhlillRlf ; of Time. W'littitngton Cilttc. The whlrllgli of time doth bring Surprising changes. It Is true ; Ono d.iy a man is lull of joy ; The next he's mlghtv blue. The ice man now In carriage rides ; Ills Htvle all othei efforts mock. The haughty coal man now employs A horse car or he walks. What llustcd the Corner. Last Sunday a favorite local minister was delivering an impassioned account of the destruction of Gomorrah. Ho thundered away until ho disturbed the tired boomers in the front pews. "What , " ho shouted , "what could bo worse than that city's lot ! " "If it's a city lot. " replied a just- awakened man , "I'll give you $75 a foot. " "Eighty ! " shouted another speculator in the gallery , aroused by the familiar sounds. "Ninety ! " roared another , jumping up. "Ono hundred ! " And the whole congregation chipped in and would have boomed Gomorrah clear out of sight had not the sexton with great presence of mind called the worshippers to their senses by passing round the plate. That busted the corner. Wreck of a Thunderbolt. Chicago Tribune. For full six weeks the hen had sat On two corncobs and a Hinall brickbat , And she looked at the storm , that horco old fowl , With a tragic cluck and a wrathful scowl. The clouds grow black and a lightning shaft Struck that old hen directly aft. High , high above the thunder then Arose the squawk ot the maddened hen. For with savage peck she had met the shock , Tlds crusty , touzh old 1'lymouih Kock , And bounding back with awful jolt \Vent the ghastly wreck of a thunderbolt. An Rxptndcd Theory. Lifo : Fond Father "Talk of college not fitting a young man for earning : i living ! Just us soon as Johnny grad uated ho obtained a splendid position. " Friend "What was it ? " Fond Futhor ' 'Firht base. " Busy Humble floe. CluiTtettun Hntci ) > rf > e. The little busy bumble lice Is btu/lngon tlio wing , With polished point but cnrcfuly Upon his steely sting. The small boy loafing on the lea With hat In hand wilt try To bother the busy bumhlo bee , And Hick him on the fly. The b. b. b. will simply smile Ho won't a second waste Hut th.it hoy'11 be heard about a mile As ho humps for homo in Imite. Conscience Mnko Cowards of Us All. San Francisco Wasp : The great mesl rucrUt and mind reader had hired a lull- on Post street and people llocked to his exhibition. Among others , Frank teen his little innocent Hazel to the entertain ment. She appeared uncomfortable for awhile , and at length came out with : "Oh , Frank , dearest , can ho really read people's thoughts ? " "Well , I guess so ; nt any rate he's going to try. " "Then , dear , let us get out of hero right now ; for if ho rends inino I "hall be turned out anyway. " The Rlujrclcr. How Is the time , in particular , When the festive younit rider hlcjcuhr , Strikes the btone rockuUr , In a way very jocular , And. losing his pose perpendicular , Alights on ills northeast auricular. ' The Urntm-ICred Monitor. Texas Sittings : Old Naco , who keeps a corned beef and cold cabbage hashery on the upper end of Austin is famous for his HtinginesK. Hois also noted for his young mulatto wife , who IB suspected of having married the old man for his money. Not long since Uncle Moso met old Naco and perceived at once that there was something the matter with the dis tinguished caterer. "What's do matter , Naco ? Got do rha- mntlcs agin ? " " \ \ ussor don dnt. " "I sposo hits do toofr.cho what's hoisted yor mouf outer shape. " "lilts my wifo's mouf what's boddoria' mo. She has bcon a-kissln' Parson Wlmngdoodlo Baxter , who am boardla' wld mo. " "Unposslbull" 1 Dar's no unposslbul about hit , be- case I seed him myself. " "What yorgwiuo tor do about lilt ? ' "What kin 1 do ? Kf I lot do oat out da bag dnt I has lost confcrdonco In Parson Wlmngdoodlo , Itaxtor ho might Chang * his boardiu' ' houso. " l < 'onnd Together. In summer's hot meridian hour .lust like "birds of n feathei" The picnic ami the thunder shower Are always found together. Ills rrnUmvurthy Object. Detroit Free Press : A barn-stormln- actor who is passing his summer In De troit , wn * approached by a frlond tha other UKA with : "I hear you have n now snap ? " "Yes ; I'm going to the country towBH with a now play. " " "doing to organize a company ? " "Oh , yes. " "What nro the prospects ? " "Well , rather dubious. It's a pool play , the weather is hot , and my people are abominable. " "Then you are sure to fall ? " "I expect to. " "Cut why do you go ? What can be your object ? " "Tho object is , my dear follow , to nto up 1400 which nn amateur playwright U willing to let go of just now. " She Dill Not Ilcbnko Her. Sixld a maid , " 1 will marry for lunre. " And her scandalized ma almost shucro ; Uut when the rhanco came , And she told the good dame , 1 notice she did not rebucro. A Mlnplnoed < loko. Detroh Free Press : "I want the big gest and best watermelon in that lot , " ho said , as lie surveyed a jjroat pile of water melons in front of a Woodward avenue grocery. " 1'os , sir hero it is best melon I'vo soon this yoaK" "Plug it , " was the brusque command. "Yes , sir splendid red coro. Shall I put It on ice ? " The purchaser drew from his pocket ft flask of port wine and proceeded to pour the contents Into the orilloo. The melon readily absorbed the liquid , and when the plug was roplaoed the man chuckled : "lie ! ho ! ho ! I want that melon Eont to , the tcmporanco fanatic ! Say noth ing , and it will bo u big joke on him. " A couple of days Inter the man came around to the store again and asked : "Well , the melon was sent up ? " "Oh , yes. " "And the boy didn't give my little plot awny ? " "Oh , no , but wo heard from It. " "You did ! Ho ! ho ! ho ! What did he say ? " "Ho and his family were off up tin lake , but the hired girl and coachman said it was the finest melon they over put tooth into I" The I'ioknlckcr. Every picnicker hates. With a hatred Intense , The man who put up That bnrbed who lence. | It Was Senator Brown. Secretary Mosoly , of the interstate commission was trying to keep cool ono sultry afternoon last week when n mouk looking old gentleman , with long white beard and general ministerial air , on * torcd and inquired for the clerk of tha commission. "I am the secretary , " said Mr. Mosloy , "what can 1 do for you ? " The old gentleman said ho would like to get a copy of the long and short haul decision. This was handed him , the see- rotary wondering what this country preacher wanted with it. "You look warm , " said Mr. Mosoly , "won't you take aaeat near the window and cool oil'V" "Thanks , " was the reply. " 1 don't care ifldo. " After a few moments sllonco the old gentlemen ventured to ask : "What part of the country are you from ? " "I am a Yankee como from Massachu setts. " Then his Yankee curiosity assorted itself and ho said , "Whcro do you live ? " "In Georgia , " was the reply. "Aro you interested iu railroads ? " "Yes ; I am president of ono of them , Mv name is Urown. " ' 'Are you any relative of old Senator Joe Urown ? I have always had adeslro to se.o him. " "Yes ; 1 am slightly related to him , " was the reply , "and I think I might say that I am the gentleman himself. " Mr. Moscly now sayn that ho wishes public men would wear badges to desig nate their ollico. EDUCATIONAL. . In realltv. the appliances of education count for little in comparison with the rart of material upon which they are to bo utll- The Carthego Republican says the ftchool * nianns of that part of the country are well- dressed and good-looulng , and are not yet prepared to trade a good position and 80 per month for a 52 dude. The cost of teachers' board In some of the Maine towns , as lepoitcil to the superinten dent of schools , presents some Interesting figures. In Dlnghani pedagogues are hoarded for 31 per week , and ( n Concord for 93 cents. In sharp contrast to the retrogression of educational ideas down in Georgia comes , the action of the Dartmouth medical school , whore a colored student , J. P. Iloynes , ot Unlvo'tou , Tex. , has just bcon appointed demonstrator of anatomy. Those who nrn Insisting un keeping the school open all through the hot month of September Miould lemember that most of thoj successful men of the present generation tcol their education In schools which ononod m October 01 later and closed In April or earlier. With nil the wise thlnzB said and written on the subject of education , It would seem ns 1C tlio children of the present generation might ho educated to a piano of perfection. Hut In tlm mania to make a perfect system of our public schools the spirit of education Is In danicorof bulng lost. In on ( i way and another there are hun dreds of boys to day. manly , independent , Hclf-rellantand determined , who urn forcing from untoward circumstance the ednc&ttofl" whirl ) they desire , not from IU inr.noy value m thn work ot after 11 To , bv nncauso educa tion In and of lUulCis to them thu supreaiwt good. Miss Charlotte Menlllof Brooklyn , whosa voiy witty paper received such universal no- tlcn nt the Mt. llolyoko Rome-centennial , has been Hpokcn of as a possible successor ot Miss I1 reman as president \Vellnsley col lege. She Is n lady ot the most commanding presence , rare conversational abilities , vrou- derfnl executive ability and a very brilliant writer. It Is said by some writer on the subject that education is nine narls Inspiration nnd one part drill. Kev. T. T. Manger navs , In his article on "KdiictUluu nnd Social Prozrnsi , " published tn the Juno Century , "With nil the Improvements tlieiu Is a ten dency to sDoclnlUatlon that looks away from the Ideal of education , so that wo are getting admirably informed mun Instead ot cuinpre- lionslvo thlnUnis. " The fact that the higher education lubelni Hought moro nnd moro /ualuusly and succws- fnlly every jear. by young men absolutely without means is mnio plainly apparent to people at the eat than It U In the west , for , the majority of the best Known Institution ! lying there , that becomes the Hold ot action tor those who have none to depend upon but themselves. And It Is Hiinply astonlshlnjr.M well as most encouraging to tUo Americanto see how every summer brlugs out IU host ot students eager so to employ their vncatlou ute to permit a return , a few months Inter , to th class room nnd tho- lecture hftll. The youtif fellow for whom the college year closed upon mi empty purse , atftrts tor the country U Unit both hoAltunnu peaunlary reljiforo * meat.