THE OMAHA DAILY BEE. SUNDAY JT INUAKY 6. 1889. TWELTJB FAGE&
THE PURITY OF THE BALLOT ,
IIow the Australian Syntom Serves
to Uphold It.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM.
How It Will Prevent l-'rntnl nml Cor
rupt Ion A 1'oor Hchoinc For
the Strikers I < 1rn mini ctit
1'lcUclH
[ Tlic Australian System.
Tlic following account of the Australian
' I Ayatcin U from tlio Standard , Henry GcorKo'i
paper The Australian system of voting , so-
called bccnnso llrst used In Australia , lia <
been for several years In succomful oprr.i
ti"bcro , and , with non csiontial varialloim ,
in i _ Iand , .Scotluml , Ireland utiil Canada.
It has also been adopted in MassacliUHOlts ,
Whore it ROCS Into effect In ISS'J. Its prlncl-
| ml objects are to prevent bribery and intimi
dation , to place nil candidates upon an equal
ity before the law , and to undermine the
dangerous powers of political machines.
Tin ) system will bo readily understood by
reforoncu to the accompanying draxvitif ; :
The voter , upon entorini ; llio polling
phieo , lurna lo Ills right at Iho point imiruoil
submission of official patronage to Iho
distribution of the machine , provides ample
cover for collecting a corruption fund ,
and , through "workers".at the polls , n con-
vcnient channel for disbursing the fund In
bribes. And as corruption funds increase ,
masked in Increasing demands for Icftilimnla
exiKjnses , assessments grow , the price of
nominations rises. Independence is shackled ,
ntid the organization bc"omcs tnoro IndllTor-
rut to party principle ns Its monopoly of po
litical power stmnKt'icns. ' Horn of the ne
cessity of volunteer machinery for preparing
and distributing ballots , It develops into a
jwvcrful instrument , which , In the bonds of
political Jobbers , enables them to buy and
sell olllco "as the I'raHorlanssoldtho Roman
purple. " Already , poor men rnrcly obtain
political advancement without assuming ob-
Millions to bo redeemed by ofilcinl perfidy ,
and the obstacle ? to uimlliol candidacy have
bocotno so Rreat as often to prevent and al
ways todlscoitr.iKO inpodeiulcnt nominations.
This political monster would bo destroyed
by the Australian system. It the state as
sumed its function of providing ballots , there
would be no necessity for "workers" nt the
polls , and the cxctisu for raising , as well as
the best mode of using , corruption lunds
would di.saupcar. Assessments could not
then bo lovlcd upon caadldalcs , for
when "workers' " at tlio polls
are not required , machines can nolthur
servo nor Injure. Nor would nom
inations bo sold ; for when candidate's
stand upon an equality In respect to election
machinery , and there is no opportunity for
bribing voters , organisations , merely as or-
iMtil/alions , bavo nothing worth buying ,
while organiJMlioiis. as representatives of
principles , cannot be approached through
I'oinnicrclnl channels , Traltlr-Uing in olllco
would bo replaced by political discussion , the
' where ho receives , from two
W'
election omtea3pleclcil from opposing polit
ical parties , a singTo'Tfi llotT or a single sot of
ballots , according to the local custom of voting
ing , On the back Is indorsed a stamp or
blgnaturo , sufllctent , and only stlllloiout. to
identify the ballot an ofilclal ; and on the
face arc plainly printed the names of the
candidates for each olllco , with n dcslgiinlion
of lliolr lespecllvo polilicu' parties , after this
manner :
roil MATOII. vorn rou oxr.
/JoiiiicKiHr , I John Doc.
tlcharu Hoc.
| Dnviasmlth. I .
| Bainuol Jones. _ jj
l-ou uoiioNiiiis vTvi i : iron TWO
Having received his ballot , the voter ( in
ters ono of the booths back of the railing ,
whcro , secluded from observation , ho pre
pares the ballot by placing in the blank
column a cross , opposite the name of each
candidate for whom ho desires to vote ; or ,
if ho prefers , by writing the name of candi
dates of bis own noiuinalion in place of these
already there. If there are several candi
dates for the some kind of olllce ,
as coroners in the sample ballot
above , or presidential electors , and
'i'l lie wishes lo vote the "straight" ticket ot
'i'lR. bispartyho , places n cross under the nanio of
the party , or draws It through the space iu
R. tl > o blank column ulloted to the party's can-
dilate , which slgnilles lhat ho voles for each
candidale named hi Ihut space. Thus , in
the same ballot , a cross under the woru
"democratic , " or through the llrst two spaces
Of the blank column to the right , is ono vote
cad. for Alexander Jacobs anil Harvey Syl-
vcstcr
After preparing his ballot by indicating
every candidate for whom ho votes , thu
voter folds it in such manner as to conceal
the face and expose the indorsement , and ,
withdrawing from the booth , gives the bal
lot to the inspectors , who identify it by the
Indorsement as ofllciul. It is tlmn deposited
in the box and Iho voler passes oul at the
gate marked "exit. "
From the tlmo ho receives his ballot until
ho casts it , the voter IR permitted to have no
communication with any ono but the election
onlccrs , and with them only for onicial pur
poses ; and only election onlccrs and persons
actually engaged in voliug are over admitted
within the vailing.
Upon proof of inability from physical In
firmity or illiteracy , a voter may call into
tlio booth odlcors appointed and sworn for
Iho purpose , to aid him In preparing his bal
lot ; and when a ballot is accidentally de
stroyed or defaced It may bo exchanged fern
n clean one. The importance of the latter
requirement may not at once bo apparent :
but to secure secresy every ballot delivered
to n voter must bo either cast or returned ,
This explains Ihu necessity for indors
ing ballots. But for the indorsement of
a paper outwardly resembling a ballot
might bo cast by a voter , who would then bo
able surreptitiously to carry away an ofllcial
ballot. This could bo prepared by n bribed
voter , the proof of ilsusobeiiighisprotluclion
of u second olllclal ballot. That could bo
similarly prepared and used , and so on.
Such a fraud , known as Iho "Tasmanlan
dodge , " was successfully perpetrated In
Australia in the curly days of the system ;
but its repetition was prevented by requiring
ballots to bo oaldttlly Indorsed.
As it is essential that ballots bo printed at
public expense and distributed by public
ofllccrs , the system must iucludu some mqdo
ot cm tifying'nominations to Iho proper au
thorities n reasonable lime before elections.
Thai proposed by the Yales-Saxlon bill , of
Now York , was perhaps ns convenient as
could bo desired. Under It , state nomina
tions were to bo cortlllod llftccn days and
local nominations Ion days before olecllon ;
noimuulions of a pollllc.u party which nt HID
next preceding election polled I ! per cent of
tlio whole vote , were to be certified by party
oUlcers ; and independent nominations , If
for a Btato olllco , wuro to bo cortilled by a
thousand voters , and if for u local ollico by a
hundred.
A brief explanation of the way in which
this system ofToctH its objects cannot antici
pate or answer cautious objections , but will
bo useful to candid Inquirers.
Venal laws are Ineffectual to prevent
bribery and Intimidation , Tlio primary
remedy 1 u sccrol ballol. Ami lids is bcBt <
secured when Iho only proof of an elec
tor's vote is his own uncorroborated
assertion. Under the Austviillau spstom
no other proof can bo inado. That fact
gives to Ihu most timid among dependent
voters a BCIISOof seouHty which raaUcn him
free. A d to bribery it is fatal. Bribers
tire not HUoly to invest moiioy on the fatlh
of a bribed man's nokud assertion ; if Ihcro
bo such avirluo us "boiiosty among tlilovcs , "
It is nol acceptable bi-curlty lo the Ihlevca
tncniBclvos.
But Bccrocy , though tlio primary remedy
for bribery anil intimidation , is not all lhat
< s required to purify elections , nor the only
remedy the Australian system offers ,
Tbo printing and distribution of balols ! is
" a most Important part of election inachlnerv ,
mill , loft to prlvata nnterpriso , luovltubly
tumls , as does the farming out of any other
inibllo function , to breed corruption and
build up monopoly. It makes n necessity for
irro.siiouBiblu orgcnlzulions which come lo
wlolcl autocratic power over the polit leal party
they claim to serve , and In turn , through dis
cipline almosl military in be verity , are domi
nated by an Inner circle of "lenders. " As bal
lots can neither bo printed nor distributed
without money , nml may nol bo faithfully
handled unless trusly workers are rewarded
with moro than an election day stipend , Iho
organization undertaking the work haa a
plausible if nol reasonable claim for money
from Us bcnctlularlcs and olllclal palnmago
for Its retainers. II Is llio necessity of
raising these funds and employing ihrao
"workers" that justifies assessment , gives
color of voluntary contributions to what In
truth are sales of noinlnatloun , o cnaot thu
V T-TTC
power of the machine by Iho voice of llio
parly.
The evils of machine organisation and the
remedy of the Austiian system , nro sum
marized ns follaw.s by William M. Ivcns , than
whom no one has done more intelligent , enor-
nolle and uffeclivo work for olecloral re
form ;
Tlicllntl. I The llemnlii.
1. The necessity for 1. Thu printing and
voluntarily prtntiiiR'tliHtrlbntlon ' ot all but-
anil distributing thu'lotH ' ut public oxueusu
ballot Jnstillos urcaul-itlovs awny with the nee-
zatlonrorthlspurpoao.osslly of organization
for tats puTpuiio.
2. It prartlcally vests y. And will deprive
the machine with tliotho political machines
monopoly of the clecof the monopoly o an
tlon machinery. essential part ot tliu
election machinery.
! l. And , ns ix couso- 3. It will onublo any
qneuto , nlth the nuin body of citizens ot tliu
opoly oC nomination , iniiiilinr pi escribed by
law to hnvu Iho niinio
of thctrcandlilateiirlnt-
cd on the name imllot
with the nninos ot all
othercandidates for the
snmo olllce , so that before -
fore the law and before
tliootors nil candi
dates and all part } ' or-
iiulzatlou.s : will staud
on n perfectly cvon
footing.
1. It Involves tin 4. This will dispense
necessity of defrayhif altogether with tliu ncc-
tliti expenses ot Doth sslty ot and excuse for
I > rlutlnr ( anil distribu lovylug political as es-
tion by means nCnssi'S-j mania.
meats on or contrihu-1
tlons by candidates , of- !
llco lioldurs or party
leaders.
f > . Winch fncllltntes fi. And lonve no legal
bribery ami corruption cover tor bribery.
by allunllng them con
venient covers.
To this system It is objected that by re
quiring nominations to bo inado in advance
of elections it denies a constitutional right
of voters to select candidates from the whole
body of voters. From such eminent author
ity us Judges Uooloy , McCniry and Polger
and the highest courts of Pennsylvania ,
Massachusetts and Now York , It may be-
safely inferred that a restriction of the fran
chise to candidates nominated a short time
before election Is a reasonable regulation
and not an unconstitutional interference ; but
the inference is not necessary , since the sys
tem allows each voter to reject all candidates
and write now names upon his ballot.
It is objected , also , that by requiring the
blind and illiterate lo expose their votes to
election officers , secrecy of the ballot is ns to
them violated. Under our present system
voting is not secret ; it was for that reason
rejected by the British parli.iment aim the
Australian system adopted. The object now
is to secure secrecy , but in aiming at that wo
are confronted with a class of voters to
whom exposure of their ballols to somebody
is necessary , and an exception must bo uiado
hi their favor to prevent their dlsfran-
chiseinent. What form which shall bo
consistent with Iho highest degreoof secrooy
can lhat exception take' if allowed lo carry
their ballots away these voters full inlo Iho
hands of irresponsible and perhaps dishonest
persons , and may bo made , innocently or
otherwise , Instruments for perpetrating
some form of the "Tasmanian dodge. " If ,
for their benefit , onicial ballots are generally
circulated , all efforts for secrecy are frus-
tratocl. And if they are permitted to take n
"friend" into llio booth , a door is opened for
the bribery of every venal voter who is , or
can successfully pretend lo bo , unnblo to rend
English. Exposure of ballots must bo pre
vented by ovoYy means that Ingenuity can
suggest ; but in exceptional cases in which it
cannot be avoided it may most safely bo con
fided to election ofllcor.s , who represent op
posing parties , are umler oath of secrecy and
fidelity , can bo readily detected in malfeas
ance , and when detected are liable to severe
penalties. As lo blind voters this seems to be
the only course , but respecting Iho Illiterate
any exccpliou lo llio general rule may bo
' avoided by idoiilifylng the 1101110.1 on the bal
lols with numbers , or by printing them wilb
lilies of dltlurunt colors.
lOaHt CliOhtor'H Old Churcli.
Recent ceremonies celebrating-
llfdt service one hundred years nye re
call the hlntory of Ihisnncicntbtructuro
which was built before the revolution
ary war , but services wore hold in the
old building on the in-coont plot of
ground until October. 177(1 ( , when it was
torn down and consumed ud fuel In the
present church , tlion in use us a British
hospital. Full four years after the war
were nllowod to jiaas before tiny attempt
was made to resume bervlces. The Uov.
Klins Cooocr , who hud also the rector-
hhip of St. John's church , Yonkers , was
in charge of Ibis pariuh from 178'J ' to
KOI , He was ordained lo the priest
hood in the church at Eust Chester , and
for moro than sixty years uftorwurd
wore his praises upon the lips of the
people of the town.
Tlio pariHhwhieh hud boon organized
in I7d7. wns in 171) ) , " ) , under the provi
sions of Ilia act for the relief of the
Protestant Kplscopal church of the
sti'.to , roiw'orporntod , and lool : thoii the
llrril name of St. Paul's. The first ward-
oiw were William Ponhan and Lancas
ter Underbill and llio llr.st vestrymen
W'.llinin.i'oU , Louis Guyon.lsaao Ward ,
.lohn Hold , Isano Onyon , Abnihnni Vnl-
nntino. William Pinknoy and William
Crawford. The Rov. Isaac WWiins
succeeded Mr. Cooper in the rectorship.
St. Paul's churchyard contains about
thrco and a half acres of laud , and it is
o.stiinalod has In it over six thousand
bodies. Tlio church is built of stone ,
with an oK3ii | belfry , and the foundation
was laid In 1704. That it was well built
is attested by its present strength , 121
yours nflonvard.
I'rosmucil Ills Crcilcnlialfl.
ST. Pumtsnuita , Jan. 5 , The c/ar to-day
granled un uadlcuco with Judge Larcbert
Tree , United Slates uilutw ! , who prcientcd
hi > credential ! .
ON THE ALTAR OF HIS KAITII
A Salvation Army Convert Will
*
Offer Up Hla Ltfor ,
PUT THEIR NECKS IN THfe'NOOSE ,
T\v < i Yonnq Men Scntcticoil to Death
I-'or n Mysterious Murder AVIilcli
Ono ConftxNPil nt the
Moiu-nnr's .Iloiicli.
What fiowpr'n Victory Cost.
The dotnlls of n recent murder com-
milled nt Turnbrldpo Wells by two
.young men , now under sonlcnco of
death , says Ute London Telegraph , nmy
bo pronounced as unprecedented In the
prim history of crime. The authors of
It , without llio slightest provoentlon ,
committed the innrdor In the mot de
praved miiimor , tossing up lo see which
of llio two should do it , and battling do-
loi'lion until one warmed with the hciit
of religious fanntieism , joined thoSnlvti-
lion Army , and confessed to one of the
olllcord of that body , who rightfully
turned thorn over to justice.
The triul of the accused- William
Gower , a molder , ngod eighteen , and
Charles Josop Doboll , aged nineteen * in
the Maidslonc Assizes , unfolded u most
remarkable story. Not only on account
of Iho potty cause assigned for the per
petration of a ruthless murder , but also
because of the romantic manner In
which the prisoners beeamo implicated ,
llrst by the confession of 0110 after a
Salvation Army mectlngand then by ad
missions from the other when ho. was ar
rested. The murdered man was fifty-four
years of ago , was married and had two
children. lie was employed tit the
Baltic saw mills iiuGoods station road ,
Turnbrldgo Wells , part of his duty be
ing to keep the men's , lime and report
when they wore late in the morning , so
that their wages might bo correspond
ingly deducted. Cower was al&o cm-
ployed nt the Baltic saw mills , and , in
the course of six monts , Lawrence re
ported him twenty-seven times for beIng -
Ing late , a line of ono pence bolng in
flicted on each occasion. In the month
when the murder was committed , the
fines became moro numerous than before -
fore , Gower having been late no less
than six times , the last ono being on
the day before Lawrence was shot. Do-
boll was a constant companion of Gower ,
but was not employed at the saw mills ,
did not know the deceased , and , so far
as can bo ascertained , had never
seen him beforoMuly 20th. The allega
tion of the prosecution is that , in consequence
quence of having boon fined two shil
lings three pence in the course of six
months , Gower induced Dodell to join
Jiim in a conspiracy lo murder Lnw-
ronco , who , he said , was a master's man
and againbt the workmen ; " that the
two purshascd a revolver , and , having
decided upon the murder , drew lots as
to which of them should flro the shot ,
and , the lot falling upon Doboll , ho on
the night mentioned enticed Lawrence
out of his house and shot him through
the head.
The murder created great'excitement
in Tunbridgo Wells. All the\mcn at the
saw nulls , including Gower , were ques
tioned as to their movements on the' '
20th , and they gave _ explanations which
appeared to the police satisfactory. The
tragray remained a mystery. No clew
whatever could bo obtained to load to
the apprehension of the guilty parties.
In the meantime both Gower and Do
boll had begun to attend the Salvation
Armv meetings. They were often pres
ent four nights out.of seven , and joined
in the services. The story of the confession -
fossion as afterward given by Walter
Stanley Cottrell , captain of the army ,
is as follows :
On Thursday , October 11 , wo had n
meeting of the army , and I delivered
an address on "Victories Won and
What They Cost. " At the conclusion
of the address there was a prayer meet
ing , and I invited any present who "
wore willing to give themselves up to
God to come forward to the table. None
in the mooting accepted the invitation
except the two prisoners. The usual
method is for the penitents who come
forward to the table to pray that they
inight bo guided by the Spirit of God to
give up everything that was wrong.
This was done on this occasion. When
the prisoners came forward to the table
they sat still as if in prayer. After the
prayers were over I wont up to thorn
and asked them to give up everything
that was > vrong , to follow the Lord and
to give up their hearts to god. Gower
seemed to have a dilllculty. He had
been at the table for an hour and ho did
not seem to be thoroughly saved.
As to Doboll , ho seemed more peni
tent. At the finish they both prayed
aloud. On the following morning
Gower came to my house about half-
'
past eight o'clock. 'I shook hands with
him at the door and said : "Did you
get victory last night1" As far as my
memory servos mo ho said nothing in
roply. I invited him to walk into the
room and wo sat down and commenced
conversation. Gower baid : " 1 believe
my mate got saved last night and I
have come to got feavcd this morning. "
1 looked at him earnestly and said : "Is
not there something on your inindV"
I said so because of Ills manner. After
hiiltintr and hesitating little time ho
bald ; "Thorn has been nothing bad
done in Tunbridgo Wells but what mo
and my mate have boon at the bottom
of. Wo have been two bad characters.
Wo were at the botlom of the Tunbridgo
Wells murder on July 20 last. " I was
smirised and staggered. "What ? "
cried I. "Yes. " said ho , "mo and my
mate did it. Wo tossed up to see which
of us should do ft , and the lot foil on
my mate to do the deed. " "What did
you do it for , " I asked. He replied
that it was done out of spite or rovcngo ,
and ho added that Lawrence was n
"master's man. " I gathered from
what he wild that Lawrence
hud stopped liifa time on several occa
sions. I asked him , "IIo\v did you do
itV" Ho replied that ono wont to the
house imd called Lawrence out. and
when the road was clear tlioy shot him.
When Gower was sneaking ho seemed
to want lo got forgiveness for the past.
[ said , "ITow did you got away V" Ho
replied , "Wo were lucky enough to getaway
away when there was no police.1' I
pressed upon him the enormity of the
crime , and ho seemed lo want to got
forgiveness. I told him that before lie
could get forgiveness from Gen ha must
confobi to man. lie did not seem will
ing to do that , and then mid I must toll
Bomo ono , or else I inight got fifteen
years mytolf for not taking any note of
thi ) matter , and I suggested that I should
toll my wife. To thai hu replied : "Well ,
you can toll her ; but do not tell anyone
olnu , ' ' I declined to mni < o any promise
of DID klw | , and I added : ' 'Aro you
Berry for what you have donoV" Ho
answered ; "Well , sometimes ; but
boniotimes wo foot that if we were to
Hue again wo would do it again. " Tills ,
I think , was all thu conversation. Ho
wont away , and I understood from him
that hovas coming back again later
* * * I
fr
B
i
Largest Manufacturers and Retailers of Fine p "
in Clothing in the World , T ; r
i WE WILL CLOSE OUT 1,000 , PAIR OF PANTS ,
c One lot worth $7 and $8 for $3.50 ; w
One lot worth $3.50 and $4 for $2.
NOW IS YOUR TIME. We are 'overstocked ' with these
u
w pants and we offer them to you less than it costs to make
D them. _ MARK YOU , these are ail new and fresh. NO OLD
STOCK. Not a pant in the lot but is worth twice the amount. a
D Our Motto i BEST GOODS and lowest living prices.
D ill a Money cheerfully refunded if goods are not satisfactory ,
|
a S , W , Dor , i5iii and Douglas Sis. , Omalia , w
on , and was going to'try ' to got his mate
to come with him. ' I communicated
what had been told tbmoto my superior
ollicors. and , aotin'g ' upon instruc
tions from Commissioner Railtoul I
gave information to the police. About
4 o'clock in the afternoon of the same
day I accompaniejl Superintendent 13m-
bory to the Baltic saw mills. I waited
outside while Mr. EiTibery went in and
brought out Gowor. * I shook hands
with him , and he said ; "Well , captain ,
I thought you would have waited until
to-night. " I replied : " " ! have my orders
to obey ; I have to obey my superior elli
cors , " and I showed him the to,1 gram
authorizing mo to speak to the nWiori-
tios. I walked with him to the police
station. On the way ho said : "Well ,
captain , what would you advise mo to
do ? " "Out with it , " I answered ; "it
will bo the bolter for you. "
On his cross examination Captain
Cottrell denied that the Salvation Army
speakers worked upon the toolings of
penitents or encouraged any undue ex
citement rather the reverse. Ho saw
nothing in Gowor's demeanor when ho
confessed to load him to think there
was anything wrong with his mind.
On this confession both Gower and
Dobell were arrested. All the circum
stances surrounding the crime also
rwcnt to prove thohguift. . After being
out only a half hour , the jury returned
a verdict of guilty against both , but
recommended thorn to the mercy
of the court on account ot their
youth.
Justice Mathews , however , before
whom the case was tried , having miton
the black cap , said : "William Gower
and Charles Joseph Doboll , you have ,
after a careful trial , been found guilty
of the crime with whiclu you were
charged on evidence upon which the
jury could hnyo come to no other con
clusion. With that verdict I perfectly
concur. I cannot , in the whole circum-
btanccs connected with the crime , tlud
ono single redeeming fealuro in your
favor. You appear lo bo sous of re-
spoclablo parents , but , by your own
statements , to have fallen into bad hab
its. The crime of which you have been
found guilty affords an ex
ample of what an evil and
vicious course of lifo will produce
even in persons as young as you aro.
On account of your youth the jury have
recommended you to mercy. Sitting
here I cannot hold out to you any hope
of mercy on this side of the grave , and
my duty now is to pass upou you the
sentence whicii the law ordains. " Ills
lordship then read the death sentence ,
and the prisoners were removed.
"While llio judge was spoaldng some
women in Iho courl , rolalivcs of Iho
prisoners , sobbed bitlorly. The con
demned men themselves stood qullo un
moved , never for a moment showing the
slightest emotion. Doboll's cap had
fallen to the Iloor of th'o dock , and as he
turned to go down stairsho said testily
to the warder : "Coiho , on , pick up my
cup , quick. " Gower siiid nothing ,
OU'IKTIKS.
Worshippers in the" gallery should taboo
droppiug lioadsor marDliis on the heads of
old gentlemen without hair.
Avoid practical Jokcsi If your pow ban-
liens lo IQ near tho'gas nut do not turn off
the gas , no mailer bowtfueclious you may bo.
Sum Jones says that ftt. Louis has ono ad
vantage over hull. It hii3 a rivur alongside
of It , Sam has been in Kt. onls.Vhut does ha
know about llio other playol
"Ma , what made the fllrco wise men give
Christ such nlco presents ) " asltcd a Chicago
lad of his mother. "Why. it was Christmas
my son. Didn't you knoy limit1 ;
An usher in a Kansas church has turned
out lo bo a burglar. His downfall probably
dales from llio tlmo when he begun puttinir
strangers In pqws where a druughl would
btrilcu thorn ,
A Norwich ( Conn. ) minister announced
from the pulpit ou u recent Sunday that no
would givu n dollar and a hitlf if the young
men In llio gallery would lake seats down
stairs. Thov did so , and the money was
paid.
paid.Boastful
Boastful Chicairo now claims to bo a relig
ious center , because it liua six theological
Bomlnnrli's. With all duo respect lo the sem
inaries. Chicago husn'l yd succeeded appar
ently in gcltiug its religious light very far
away from thu scriptural bushel.
"Willie , did you go to Sunday school
to-day 1" asked the aunt of a youth of rather
precocious tendencies. "Vos'm. " "And
what was the lesson about ) " "Something
about 'Two Kings. " " "And what nbout
tliomi" "Why er auntie , tUoy'beatlwo
queens. " E *
1MIOSPECT Hlljlj OISMKC12UV.
The Condition In Which the IMaeo
Now Stands.
It has beeu rumored for some time back
that Prospect Hill cemetery was in n dclapi-
dated condition generally , and that it rollccts
upon not only the owners of the property ,
but every reputable citizen of Omaha.
The sacred spot was visited from the Lake
street approach. The flrst thing encountered
was a common board fence , or what , at ono
timo. was so considered , which was generally -
ally deranged , and at numerous sections the
fence was completely demolished , On the
north end , a rickety oullino of limber bear-
dcuco of having barely survived Iho ravages
of a cyclone , runs along , and winds up by
joining n similar barricade on Iho west bound
ary. In many places at this section of
the land , the fences are down , and
catlle , or other animals running at
largo , bavo nothing to prevent thorn
from trespassing on the consecrated terri
tory where many of Omaha's pioneer and re
spected citizens repose in their noiseless
chambers of death. Upon entering the
cemelery from Iho northeastern approach
by walking through where a section of the
fencing is furloughed from dutv. tharo is
evidence of negligence on every hand. The
autumul shedding of the branches for an in
definite period of years blankets the earth ,
at places to a depth of several inches. There
is nothing lo inuicato that the rubbish hi
lliis portion of the cemetery has been dis
turbed within the past year , save by the
hoofs of the bovine while grazing Iho liny
llowcrlels lhat have been strewn by tender
and loving haiids. Another very noticeable
feature is the manner in which the trees
have been allowed to shrub. The branches
liaug In u shapeless manner , and small shrub
bery abounds at the base. There is no evi
dence thai anything has been done In the
matter of trimming and training Iho shade
Irocs within the past year , and the beauty
of the place is consequently Impaired.
Nearer the middle of the cemetery things
generally present u better apucarancc , and
bear evidence of taste and attention , but
even the burial spots are not kept in tno con
dition that circumstances warrant. The
graves in many instances have been allowed
to Bhapo themselves , and consequently the
surface of a largo number of tlieni is below
the natural surface , making them the recep
tacles of the surface water. There are nu
merous instances where tombslones are
deranged ; Rome bill slight , while others are
apparently about to topple over upon the
mound at their bases.
After passing through to the south end the
flrst object Unit attracts Iho eye of the ob
server is a cluster of three hay-stnclts ,
that occupies r. prominent site. These
arc stationed in the southeast , corner or portion
tion of the cemelery , and are said to represent
the hay crop for Ibbl However , the hay was
piled up at tliis point lust summer , and still
remains a wind-break to the tomb of a late
Nebraska senator. It was ulso learned upon
inquiry that until recently it was not an un
common occurroiio for a drayman to pasi
through the southern sccllon of the cemetery
with a laden cart , for the grocery clerk to
drive through with a load of groceries for
his customers , and for even cart loads of
briuk and stone lo bo driven across the
grounds. On such occasions entrance was
made at the east Bide , and bv crossing thu
cemetery , several blocks of extra travel were
avoided bv parties from that point desiring
to roach Thirty-third Btrool on the wesl. At
Iho present , Ibis roulo is occasionally
used , but it is said Ihut , thu
individuals in charge of the grounds
will not allow it , and have repeatedly fas
tened Iho gates when they had business
elsewhere , only to return and lind their ob
structions removed and the private roaiway
of the graveyard transformed Into a public
highway. This system of conducting af
fairs is said to have been carried on for
some length of time , and though the parties
In charge of the grounds have taken steps to
prevent it , it has not as yet been brought to
an end.
As the reporter was meandering aboul Iho
premises ho was accosted by oaoof Ihu ovitr-
seers who al 01100 questioned lUs mlsslou ami
was informed that a model design of n tomb
stone , said to' > bo loaned in ' Unit ccmclary ,
was beini' Bought. "Ain't you a newspaper
muu oul hero looking lor a sensation < "
queried the former as ho guzoa suspiciously
at Iho scribe. "Well , theio Is no sensation
hero anyway , " ho remarked , us he nccouv
panted Ihu observer about the ground * , A
question was casually propounded to him regarding
garding the dilapidated condition which
elicited the following statement : "Jtyron
Heed owns thai portion of the land ( Ihu
north section ; and lie has not paid much at
tention to it , neither has ho employed any
body to see that it was kept in proper ro-
imlrs. Thai broken fence along Ihere ( polnl-
Ing to Iho fence on the east side ) is bin , also
thai along Ihu north epd. In the latter case
lie says hu will not build a new fence until
Lake strcel is opened through and widened ,
Ho Intends to cut oil thirty-threo foot of the
oemolory to give to the street , and when this
is done ho will build u now fenco.vl \ ,
this may upiHuromovvhut ) dilapidated , "
he said a .ho took an occulur
. -V , >
survey of the skeleton of a fence along the
east side , "but it would require an outlay of
money to give it an appcarauco of improve
ment , and where thereis no money , what are
you going to do. Wo have aimed to keep it
iti as good repair as possible , and no fault
can bo found with the result , when every
thing is taken into consideration. " When
asked if teamsters were allowed to drive
across the grounds , ho stated that this was
not allowed , but In Iho absence of the over
seers , certain Individuals had broken down
the gates and drove across. Ho also stated
thatthis system had been pretty well stop
ped. He was willing to advance the theory
that a reasonable amount of money could bo
judiciously expanded in the repairing and
improvement of Iho final resting place of the
remains of many an estimable citizen of
Omaha.
With regard to. the vandalism practiced ,
there was no doubt in the minds of some of
the pcoplo in the neighborhood thai it bad
been oondiiced to by the broken fences do-
scribed. This vandalism , of course , is not
practiced now , because the tribulo of flow
ers , which is often paid to loved-onos in sum
mer is prevented in this inclement season ,
At other limes it has been oulrageous , so
much so lhat relalives of deceased people
have been compelled to fence in their resting
places with pickets , such as crest the tops of
some penitentiary walls. Last summer these
outrages were a nightly occurrence , but no
body was ever detected in thpir commission.
Said u cilizen yesterday afternoon : "Pros
pect Hill cemetery should be improved as
BOOH as possible. There should bo a sub
stantial fence erected around it , The walks
should bo well dolliied , perfected and put
in good repair. In fact , it ought to bo inado
a beautiful spot , and protected from the
visits of all except accredited pcoplo and
friends of those buried there. Jt will
not do to let this place drop into : i cow
pasture , so that it may before long bo closed
up forever. There is little to bo done there
by the sexton , because nobody Is buried
tharo now unless in a lot which has already
been purchased. The sexton could and
ought to do moro general work and protect
the place from the vandalism to which it has
been subjected. "
Caught With a Hook of
Harper's Bazar : Mr. Brief , I want to
sue Miss Jones for broach of promise. "
"All right ; but what was the promise11"
"Well , yon see , wo were oil at picnic in
August , and Eniolino was mad because
her sister had had more proposals than
she , and she asked mo if I wouldn't
help her out. I said I would if elio
would reject me ; but , hang it , sir ,
though she promised not to , hlio
accepted mo the lir.it chnnuo she got. "
Satan expects to make a great many im
provcmcnts in Ills famous winter resort
e.irly in January. Several miles of streets
will bo paved us a starter. Abundance ; of
material for the work will bo furnished by
misguided young men who will swear off on
lie llrst of ihoyuar.
CONNUIIIAMTIHS.
The duke of Newcastle wants to marry q
Miss Candy. The duke evidonlly was born
with a sweet tooth.
Marriage is bound to bo a failure in Kan
sas unless something unexpected happens to
the authorities. In several counties they
have granted moro divorces than nmrringo
licenses.
Marriage is not a failure , provided you can
catch onto Iho right party. There are over
Ihreo million women in the United States
who work at dilioront trades for a living ,
Any one of them ought to be ablu to support
a husband who is not extravagant ! u his
habits.
Miss Sophie Marcoo , the clerk in the stats
department , whom Washington society
thought Secretary Jinynrd was to majry , is
now said to bo engaged to Prof. Kunnons ,
whoso lata wife gained considerable notoi
ricty by her eccentricities and troubles will )
her spoiiso. _
An Indiana man whose wife dragged him
into court' on u churgo of falling to provide
for her testified that on election day ho sold
bis vote for sii and gave Iho money lo the
complainant. This beautiful example of
conjugal affection displays to perfection ono
of. ttlo charms of living in u doubtful .state.
The Hapid City ( Dak. ) Journal kuowA of
three young women , who , at a dinner last
December , declared thulr intentions never to
marry and agreed to dine together on the
liltti of each December. Sinao three honorary
rary members have been added to tlio
"club. " They are the girls' husbands , ami
all six met at a dinner Thursday week.
A young Lilchllold ( Cann. ) couple , on the
way lo the parson's to bo married , were con
fronted witli a torrent so ( loop acd swift that
their horse could not bo Induced to take the
passage. Hut the hardy , long-legged groom
was not to be daunted or turned from his
purpose. Leaving bis team in charge of
friends , ho took Ills blushing brido-oleot on
his broad back , and. half wading and half
swimming , reached the other sldo in safety ,
where the happy pair , baud in hand , con
tinued their journey us though nothing un-
usuul hud occurred.
A Hultimoro dispatch says : Ethel Jeffries ,
a girl of poventeon , who had been a chorus
girl In an opera company was going about
the city Wednesday night in a dcslltulo con
dition when Iho polieo found her. The next
day William Walorton , a slock raiser , of :
Seneca , N. Y. , appeared before the authori
ties , explained that ho had soon the girl
Wednesday , was infatuated with lior , and
that If she were willing ho would marry .her.
Hjo was permitted to talk with tlio girl , who
gave her consent. Ho then look her to a
prominent dress and cloak establishment and
gave her a handsome outfit. Ho told the po
lice that be was wealthy and would take
good owe of the glti if she would become bis
wifo.
The senior class of the University of
Pennsylvania bus requested Kov. Dr.
Phillips Brooks , of Boston , to dohvor the
baccalaureate sermon in Juno.
In order to close out our complete stock of
Carpets , Curtains , Draperies , etc. , at once
to discontinue business
GAZE ON THE FOLLOWING PRICES :
Best Wiltons . $ 1.05 Best Smith's lfl-wlro Tapestry. . 72io
Double Extra Tapestry Oio
Befit Mori uett OH . . . l.M Extra Quality Tapestry. . . . . . . . . C5o
Boht Wilton Volvotb. . . . ! . ! ! Palisade Tapestry GOo
Good Wlltor. Velvets. . . 1.15 Best Lowell Ingrains , with a
Bust Tajnbtry Velvets . ! )7jc ) stick in them 02lo
Best Lowell .5-framo Body Brus- Philadelphia Extra Supers , nil
hells . 1.00 wool , , . . GGo
Best -1-fraiao Body Brussolls. . . . 85e Baiitj-up Extra Supers , Unions. . .Wo
Ollior gnulcii at 77jo and lower A peed 'J-ply Carpet 25o
Boil H-ply on earth . 800 Other grades at correspondint'Iy low
Boat Ro.xbury Tano.stry . 76o prices.
Cuitnins , Rugs , Draperies , olc. , nt same reduced prices.
Anyone wanting a Carpet within the next year
can save big money by buying of us now.
No one can duplicate above prices , if you
think so , try them and see for yourself.
THE HART CARPET CO. ,
Slieely Building * , Cor. 15th and Howard Sta. , Omalia , .
