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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 21, 1895)
PART III. OMAHA SUNDAY BEE. cccccccccccccccocc PAGES 17 TO 20. c ESTABLISHED JUNE 10 , 1871. GRATIA , SUNDAY MOKNLNGJUiLY 21 , 1805 TWENTY PAQ-ES. SINGKLE COPY FIVE CENTS. MONITOR AND MERIUMAC Bccollec'.iona of a Famous Naval Ocmbat by a Participant. 'SCNES IN THE MONITOR PILOT HOUSE. . The Hurtling nml Kanimlnfr of tlio Union Fleet liy tlio Confederate Terror Uriiphla Description of the Ureat Itattlo > > J Lieutenant Howard * ( Copyright , 1855 , liy Frank Q. Carpenter. ) WASHINGTON , July 18. Among the bills which toll ! bo presented to congress at the comlng-BCsslon will bo one for the Increase of the rank of Lieutenant Samuel Howard. Lieu tenant Howard came within one-tenth of 1 per cent of passing the technical examination given by the martinets of the Department of the Navy In 1876 , and by them he was re fused tf scctfnd examination. Committees of congress havj reported In favor of the bill , and , If passed , It will be only Justice to one of the bravest men the United States has overknown. . Among the most heroic acts of the late civil war was that of this man Howard when he volunteered to act as the pilot of the Monitor In Its terrible fight with the Merrlmac at Hampton Hoads. He carried the vessel throughout that engagement , and his story of that awful fight Is now here given for the first tlmo to the public. THE 1'ILOT OF THE MONITOR. Hut first let me tell you something about Lieutenant Howard. He Is an old man now , and his years number seventy-five. Still his eye Is bright , his step Is firm , and he Is men tally as sound as he was when , now more than a generation ago , he took the Monitor Into actlott. He Is as straight as an arrow and his bearing Is military. Ho has a broad forehead , bright blue eyes and a long blonde beard , In which there are many gray strands. Ho lives In a modest little house almost under the shadow of the national capltol. He Is the personification of modesty , and In his talk about the engagement with mo last night ho kept himself In the background. I had to ask many questions before I got the story of his life. His first voyage was taken at the ago of 1C , when he sailed from Dublin for the Mediterranean. I believe ho ran away from homo to go to sea , and he had visited nearly every part.of the world , and had coasted up and down the Atlantic shores of the United States for many years before the war began. He had been several times cap tain of a vessel , and , as a naturalized Amer ican citizen , he put himself at the service of Uncle Sam as soon as the war opened. He was appointed acting master of the brig Amanda , whose duty It was to coast up and down the eastern shores of the Atlantic and capture the ships that tried to run our block ade , and ho left this ship to act as pilot for the Monitor. Speaking of his modesty , he evidently thinks that he did no more than any other man would have done under sim ilar circumstances , and when I asked him whether he was not afraid when he was penned up In that little Iron box with the shot and shell raining down upon It , ho re plied : "I had no tlmo to think of being afraid. It was all I could do to keep the boat mov ing according to the directions of Captain Warden , who stood In the pilot house by my side. " HOW HOWARD WAS APPOINTED. The main facts of the engagement between the Monitor and the Merrlmac are well known , but there arc many details which have never been Given to the public. It Is Bate to say that had It not been foi Samuel Howard there would have been no action that day. The Merrlmac would have returned and the Minnesota and millions ol dollars' worth of Uncle Sam's property would have been destroyed. When the Monitor came Into Fortress Monroe she found herself unable to go Into action for the want of a . She had been brought from the north Eliot. y a Baltimore man who sympathized with the south , and when Fortress Monroe was reached this man refused to take the little Iron monster out against the Merrlmac. The pilots on the boats at Hampton Roads were also southern sympathizers , and either from this or trim cowardice , they refused to act. They said they knew nothing about the waters , and Captain Worilen was In despali when ho was called upon "by Samuel Howard and the captain of his brig. These two had brought their ship from Wilmington to Fort ress Monroe for provisions , and seeing the Monitor they came to visit her. As they stepped upon the deck Captain Worden greeted them and told them his troubles about a pilot. Lieutenant Howard nt once offered to take the position. Ho said he knew something of the Roads , and that ho would gladly conduct It Into action. He told Cap tain Worden that the pilots had been lying to him about their Ignorance. He said "They arc a set of rebels , captain , and they know the Heads better than I do , but you can't make them act. You had better take me. " To this Captain Worden gladly as sented , and Howard was ushered Into the pilot house of the Monitor and remalnec there almost from the tlmo of Us arrlva Saturday until the close of Its fight with the Merrlmac on 'the following day. THE DEADLY MEURIMAC. Before I give Lieutenant Hewaid's story of the battle proper let mo say something o the events of ( he day preceding. Lleuter.an Howard had arrived on his brig In vlmo to see the engagement between the Merrlmac and our gunboats , and the most of my In formation concerning that fight comes from htm. Sitting In the rigging of his shli with his glass ho saw the queer Ironclad sail < ] o\vn the Elizabeth river and take Its 'way ' across the ( Channel to engage with our gunboats lying along ! the coast between Newport News and Fortress Monroe , am ho watched- that terrible fight. The Merrl mac , you know , was a frigate of 3,000 tons which had been burned and sunk -luring the spring of 18G1 at Norfolk. A few months later It was raised by the confederates and converted Into an Ironclad The ship was then cut down to the ol' berth decks. Her machinery was left vithln her , but the whole of the ship above the water was covered with Iron plates two Inches thick and eight Inches wide , ca Ivetvd together that the vessel had on armor of Iron four Inches thick. Upon It prow they put a great Iron ram , which projected four feet beyond the vessel am which did terrible damage to one of the northern gunboats before the Monitor ar rived. In the sides of the vessel there were port holes , and the ten great guns behind these vomited forth shot and shel without ceasing while she was In action The ship was commanded by some of. the ablest officers In the confederacy , and I bad a crew of 300 picked men. It was a cjumsy vessel. It drew twenty-three fee of water. It could not travel more than fly * miles an hqilr and it took from thtrt ) to forty 'minutes to turn. Still , with the wooden ships of 1S62 It was an all-powerfu monster. Its Iron coat made It practically Impregnable , and when It started on Its first voyage of destruction there was ji panic In the cabinet at Washington am Secretary Stanton predicted that It wouU ruin our navy , and the other members almost felt that It was already anchoret in the 1'otomao with Jts guns trainee on the whlto house. The ship was built a the Norfolk navy yard , Us Iron plates havlni been rolled at the Tredegar Iron foundry li Richmond. When It started out some of the officers thought that It was merely for a' trla trip , but. It so , It was the most terrible trla that any vessel ever had. RAMMING OF TUB CUMBERLAND. Only A few mile * from Norfolk I * Fortres Monroe , with Hampton Roads lying between About seven miles above Fortress Monroe , a the mouth of the James river , Is Newpor News. This line of several mile : commutes the northern part of the Roads , and , scat lerei along It , wa * a line of men-of-war Nearest Fortress Monroe were the three frigates , the St. Lawrence , the Roanoke am the Minnesota. Juit off Newport New were anchored two more frigate * the Congress , containing fifty gum and the Cumberland having thirty These boat * evidently did not eit pect an engagement The washing of the sailor * wa * banging on the rigging , nd time vere few signs of action about the ships until he Merrlmac was seen steaming toward hem , The guns were , however , quickly put n order , and , as the queer monster of Iron noved up , the Cumberland opened with her heavy guns , and the Congress came to her Id. The shore batteries Joined In , but the balls fell from the Iron sides of the Merrlmac vlthout penetrating them , and she still came on. She did not fire until she was within easy range , when she gave a broadside at the Congress. She did not stop here , but pointing ler Iron prow at the Cumberland she put on. ull steam and made for It. The ship was truck at right angles , and the hole made was so large that a horse and cart could mvo been driven 'through It without touch- ng Us sides. It was so skillfully done that he sailors on the Merrlmac afterward said that they hardly felt the shock. With this great hole In her side the Cumberland's fate was sealed , and Lieutenant Howard saw her sink beneath the waves. Her men , he says , kept up their fire until the boat went down. THE CONGRESS BURNED. The Merrlmac , after striking the Cumbcr- and , backed out and began a new attack ipon the Congress. The men at Fortress Monroe could see the smoke of both vessels as they rained shot and shell upon one an other. Finally the Congress ran aground , and her officers , seeing that they could do nothing more , ran up the white flag. In her grounded condition the Merrlmac could not > osslbly take her , and , after taking oft a ew prisoners , they shelled her with hot shot. She was soon a mass of flames , and she was still burning when the Monitor arrived. In the meantime the United States frigates he Roanoke , the St. Lawrence and the Min nesota had sailed from Fortress Monroe to the rescue. The necessity of a good pilot can be seen by what followed. Thti ships had lardly started before they ran aground , and ho Merrlmac , htvlng finished up the Cum berland and the Congress , was now ready .0 steam toward them. It was , however , ate Saturday afternoon. The tide had changed , and tlip pilots of the Merrlmac said that she must draw oft until morning , or ihe would also go aground. Their advice was taken , and the ship drew off .to the southern side of Hampton Roads , near Scwnll's Point , Its officers Intending to come back and destroy the Minnesota the next day. THE MONITOR APPEARS. When the day broke , however , there was a new figure on the scene. "It looked , " says Mr. Howard , "like a massive Iron turtle with a gigantic black cheese box on Us back , and It swam to and fro In front of the Minnesota seta , and between It and the Mcrrlmac. " As the day grew brighter , through their glasses the confederate officers could get a better Idea of this new marine monster. It was ap parently a raft plated with Iron , with a great round tower rising from Its center. As the ofllcers looked they saw this tower move slowly about , and two mighty eleven-Inch guns were pointed In the direction of the Merrlmac. They had read about this vessel which was being made. They knew It was Ericsson's Monitor , and they thought It the strangest looking vessel which up.to that time had floated upon the sea. It looked very small beside the mighty Merrlmac , and Us two guns did not appear Invulnerable In com parison with their ten. "Its speeV says Lieutenant Howard , "was not more than five knots an hour , or Just about the same as the Merrlmac , but Us small size enabled It to move about moro quickly , and It was more manageable In every way. It had left New York two days before , and when It was still twenty miles from Fortress Monroe Its offi cers had heard the booming of the guns of the engagement of the Merrimac with the Cum berland and Congress. When I went on board of her the Congress was still blazing , and Captain Worden had Just beard of the terrible destruction which the Merrlmac had accomplished that day. He was shown how the Merrlmac had drawn off , and was told that It would surely come back In the morn ing to destroy the Minnesota , the Roanoke and the St. Lawrence , and he was anxious to go at once to their defense. "Well , as soon as It was decided that I waste to act as pilot I went down Into the pilot house and we at once got under way. The pilot house was a little Iron box Just large enough for four men to stand upright within It. It was situated In the tore part of the vessel , some distance In front of the revolv ing turret. In which the guns were placed. It was halt above and half below the Iron deck , and It was , In fact , a square Iron box , made of iron logs about nlno Inches thick , which were bolted and dove-tailed at the corners. There were- little silts between the upper set of logs and the one below , through which we could psep out. The steering wheel was secured to oneof the logs , and I had a wire connection with the engines , which were under the deck , so that by th3 ringing of bells I could give the proper signals to the engineer. The turret , behind us , so revolved that the guns were every now and then polnced directly at the pilot house , and dur ing _ the action the officers had to be very careful that they did not hit the house. It was Saturday night that we sailed past Fortress Monroe and came to anchor In from of the Minnesota. A darker nlgbt I don'l think ever came out of the heavens. You could almost feel It , and It was only by the light of the burning Congress that I wa ! able to get my bearings. This made a fall light , and I steered by It. The .Minnesota was a fine vessel. She was a frigate , bearing eighty-four guns , and she looked very grand in comparison with the little Monitor as we sailed by her. We moved to a short ills- tance In front * of her and then waited foi day. THE FIGHT WITH THE MERRIMAC. "Tho sun rose that morning on waters llk ( a mlllpond. It was a beautiful Sunday , anc you could see for mlle.v on each side o you. As the day broke the Yorktown anc the Jamestown , two of the confederate ships came out and started for the Minnesota. W ( at once got under way and sent a shot a them. They left at once. They didn't wan to have anything to do with the 'cheese-tx on a raft , ' as they called It. In the mcantimt the Merrlmac had roused up and came or toward the Minnesota. The Monitor rested little In front of the Minnesota and wallet for her. The officers were In the turret Captain Worden stood by my side and gav < the orders. The Merrlmac first flrod at the Minnesota , and then Captain Worden gave th < order for the Monitor to go for the Mcrrlmai and to begin firing. The Merrlmac was i mtlo off when we started for her. The shot ! were at once concentrated on the two Iron clads. Wo turned this way and that , flrlnj about every seven minutesWe kept movlni about the Merrlmac and getting In gooc shots at almost every fire. The vessels werf often not more than thirty feet apart , am the engagement was terrible. The turret o the Monitor was made of heavy plates o iron , so that Its walls were about eight Inche : thick. The shots of the Merrlmac poundct great dents In It , but they did not go through Our guns tore the Iron from the Merrlmac and had we understood Its construction , w < might have sunk her. We should have almci : for her at the water line. Her Iron platei did not extend much below this. I have al ways thought that we did send one shot Intc her , and I think wa would have surely sunli her had we continued to fire In this way. " CAPTAIN WORDEN'S NARROW ESCAPE "When was Captain Worden wounded ? " "It was some hours after the beginning of the engagement , a little after noon , ' replied Lieutenant Howard. "He was stand Ing at my right , and was bending over am looking out of the silt. We were Just going - ing by the Merrlmac , and were not mon than ten yards from her when a shell struct the log Just below the sight hole , and ther exploded. It broke this eight-Inch log o : Iron In two. It threw one end of It up ward and the log held there In the air b ) the dove-tall with which It was fastened t ( the box. The splinters of the shell flew threw the silt. With them came powdei and flame. These got Into Captain Wor den's eyes and blinded him. They cul his face , so that It was covered with blood and his clothes and mine were coverec with dust and powder. Captain Worden ex claimed that he was shot. He could nol see , but the light that * came In made hlir think that the pilot house was ruined , ant he gave orders to move off. He then fell his way down through the floor Into thi lower part of his vessel , where his cablt was , and gave the command over to Lieuten ant Greene. That shot came near destroylnf the pilot house. Had we been a secont later In turning , Captain Worden and mytel : would surely have been killed. As It wai we were saved only by that dove-tailed lot standing in the air. Had It fallen It wouU have crushed us both. Had the boat beet let * ilow la moving tb shot would h&vi struck the pilot house square , and we were so close that nothing could have saved us , As It was Ithit the Iron logs at an angle of seventy-five degrees , and only broke them. Captain Worden was a terrible sight as he noved down Into his cabin. The. blood was - ushlng from every part of his face. His iyes were closed , and his skin was blackened vlth the powder. Ills wounds , however , seemed to have his least thought. He did tot faint , and he kept his mind upon the battle. Ho gave over the direction of the essel to Lieutenant Greene , and we had to report to him every few minutes as to how lie fight was going on. " IOW HOWARD SAVED THE MINNESOTA. "Did the officers of the Merrlmac know : hat they had shot Worden at this time ? " : asked. "I think not , " replied Lieutenant Howard , for they moved off so shortly afterward. My first orders from Lieutenant Greene were to move off and make for Fortress Monroe. I did not know at this time that he had been nade chief In command. I thought this orJer a great mistake , for I knew that If wo left ; ho Merrlmac would come back and destroy .lie Minnesota. Instead of obeying Lieuten ant Greene I went down to see Captain Wor den. I said to him , 'Captain , they want mete to move oft to Fortress Monroo. If we do this the Merrlmac will surely destroy the Minnesota. I don't want to do It. ' ' 'You must see Lieutenant Greene , ' replied Captain Worden. 'He Is now In command , and you must get your orders from him. ' "I then went to Lieutenant Greene and Pegged him not to leave the Minnesota. I showed him the danger of the Merrlmac com ing back , and after a while persuaded him to allow me to take the Monitor to the Minne sota. This we did and anchored there. In the meantime the Merrlmac was slowly moving off toward Norfolk , and her share In the battle was over. During the engage ment her men , I understand , were anxious to set close enough to us to board us , hoping that they could destroy the machinery In the turret with sledges and wedges. I think such a thing would have been Impossible. Shortly after the Merrlmac moved off , I asked Lieutenant Greene If he would netlike like to take a shot at the Yorktown and the Jamestown , the two confederate men-of-war which were anchored off Sewall's Point , half a mile away. He consented , and we steered for them. Wo fired a shot at each of them , and as we did so they slipped their cables and left. " "Did you go on the Minnesota ? " I asked. "Yes , " was the reply. "We boarded It while we were lying beside It. We were sur prised to find no one on U , The ship had been deserted by all save the commis sioned officers and a few others. A fuse had been connected with Its magazine and It was so arranged that It would have been blown up had there been any danger of actual capture by the Merrlmac. It was used after the war as n recruiting ehlp and sta tioned at New York. I was ordered to duty upon It , and acted as one of its lieutenants for moro than a year. " "You did not remain upon the Monitor ? " "No. The Merrlmac did not return , and I left the ship that evening and went back to my brig , the Amanda. I was afterward In command of another monitor on the Missis sippi. Its name was the Neosho , and I left her at the close of the war. After the war was over my service was on the old Minne sota. Then Captain Worden was ordered to take the Pcnsacola to San Francisco , and he asked the Navy department to make me one of Us subordinate officers. This was done , and It Is strange that both he and I should survive that stormy day and each live to be more than three score and ten. " CO.V.V V Jt 1.4 Li r/i'A. A man In Hackensack , N. J. , bought an other man's wife for $50. He paid for her In Installments of $6 a month. At a recent society wedding In Chicago the bride , a widow , was given away at the altar by her son , a child of 10 years. It Is stated as an Interesting sociological fact that In London out of 100 widowers who marry again twelve marry their house keepers. C. II. Clalr of Aurora , III. , who married Mies Jordan of Danville , 111. , deserted her a week later because his mother-in-law and brother-in-law Insisted on him paying all bills of the combined families. It has leaked out In San Francisco that Dr. J. Milton Bowers , who was twice sen tenced to be hanged for poisoning his third wife In San Francisco ten years ago , was married for the fourth time last May In Denver to Miss Marry Bird , a San Jose school teacher , who was Bowers' patient its- lore the death of his third wife. At all times garters have been considered very Important details of woman's dress , and always associated In some manner with matri mony. Down through half a dozen centuries comes to us the custom practiced today of having the garters as a finishing touch to a bride's toilet. The particular girl friend who Is permitted to slip them Into place is conceded to stand the best possible chance ol wedding happily before twelve months are out. A prospect of near and blissful matri mony is also shared by the friend who se cures the privl'ege ' of making a bride's gar ters , the proper pattern for which Is now a circle of white silk elastic covered with em- bioldered white satin and clasped by a small gald buckle enameled In white bow knots. Money marriages are becoming more and more fashionable among the European aris tocrats. They haven't any brains , most ol them , to earn money honestly otherwise , am ! their patrimony and estates being morteag'- rldden , they look for gold to marry. In this search for heiresses they drop ono seraph after another , so that advertisements like on ; appearing the other day no longer are Infre quent. It was an Austrian marquis , a high government employe , handsome and distin gue , who lookzd for a partner. In fat type the advertisement stated that creed and race made no difference , but that at least 2,000,00 ( florins ( $1,200,0K ! ) ) were required for dowry of which he , the marquis , wanted half Ir his own right. Isn't that charmingly plain' And , mind you , < hese arc precisely the men who love to east slurs on the Americans for their "chase after the almighty dollar. " Laughter spoiled a wedding In Denver re cently. The contracting parties were Fret E. Bailey and Mrs. Josephine Klech , and after the ceremony was about two-thirds through they were seized with a fit of laugh ter , and the clergyman who was performing the ceremony refused to continue with It. After securing the license the couple had expressed a desire to b : marrlet at once , and Bishop Warren , who was a wit ness in a suit , was called upon to perform the ceremony. They all adjourned to the office of the Telephone exchange In the county building. When the bishop asked of the groom , "Do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife , " both the bride ant groom burst out laughing. The bishop looket sternly at both of them , then folded the li cense , handed It to the young man and said "I think this marriage will go no farther at this time. " He walked out of the room. Ilia ( Louisville Courier-Journal. ) He does not want a big steam yacht , A stylish dame a seaside beach A polo ground a prancingteam - Beyond a modest purse's reach , He only asks a little house A wife that doesn't take on airs ; A child or two a host of friends A prch some pipes and bamboo chalrt ) A hammock and a lot of books A camera a quiet nag And In the barn for use not lookS'- A vehicle that steed can drag. A garden plot a hoe and rake A skiff a stream not far away ; With these he boasts a man can make An empire of a summer day. t'rows llolil < ourt * Dr. Bdmundson says that In the Shet land Islands the holding of crow courts Is of very common occurrence. As a rule a hill or field Is selected to act as a court bouse and the session commences. The pro ceedings are conducted In any way but si lently , though as to the exact mode of pro cedure , whether counsel are- employed or a Jury empaneled , no ornithologist ha * been able to say. All Dr. Bdmundson lay * Is that after a great deal of cawing the whole court falls upon the unhappy .prisoners and they are promptly exterminated , attei which the court rises and the crows dli- perse , each to his own district. HOUNDING THE TEACHERS 'Iho Sleek and Oily Book Agent Conspicuous at the Denver Convention , LAVISH WITH CONFECTIONS AND MUSIC Kconomy IK no red In the Management of the 1'utillc KcliooU tflea ( or Teaching the Hpaiilih Language Specimens ' of Boston Cult. One of the largest armies of suave camp 'ollowers ' that ever trailed a convention sur rounded the annual meeting of the National Educational association , recently held In Den ver. The members of the army were sleek n apparel , well fed and lavish In their at- .cntlons to teachers. According to the Den ver News they were conspicuous In tha hotels , the rotundas and in private quarters and by force of smiles and not at all times welcome services sought to place the members of the association under obligations to them and win their Influence for their particular wares. Always ready to give Information or to give directions and advice about excursions , both In the city and beyond Us limits , this body of truckling agents was always on hand. Even when the despairing visitors .sought the mountains for relief from a year's work and freedom from oven the thought of matters pertaining to the school room , these pur- sners followed with untiring energy and made their presence unpleasantly manifest. They engaged the best rooms In the hotels , paying therefor largo sums of money and lived upon the best that Denver had to offer. They were not guests of the city , but In proportion tion to their number they were In far greater evidence , as tijich throUgh the amount of money spent by them as1 by their omnipres ence. Not only did they engage the best quarters , but money was spent for music and refreshment In a manner quite lavish when the quiet methods of teachers are considered. This body of camp followers was made up for the most part of the' agents of publish ing houses. For years these .publishers have been forcing a market for their wares and no sooner do teachers and pupils become ac customed to one set of books than another set Is compiled. This has continued until legions of text books have been printed and parents have become desperate. Some new departure , which presents the same old facts In a different garb , and which frequently , em ploys new term ? and Increases the detail of study till distraction almost felzes the pupil , ' Is what these people are'looking for year after year. According io- their Ideas there should bo fashions In EQliool books Just as there are In clothing and , the .changes should bo as frequent and marked. As a result , new books and systems are .substituted for the old and the parent pays the , cost that the publisher and his agent may prosper. THE AGENTS AND -THEIR WORK. To push this work ; to call attention to now systems , Is the work of these agents at N , E. A. conventions. To do effective work they must live well and spend , money upon others , and parents and taxpayers generally pay for It all. The publishers pay largo salaries , the agents travel expensively and Jlvo and enter tain In a sumptuous mannerand all to the end that publishers may extort money from the people by foisting unnecessary publica tions upon them. While In Denver the Amer ican Book company spent from $20 to $40 a day for fruit and confectlonpry alone , served at their headquarters , anil cm ono evening purchased the -services of the Mendelssohn quartet. Every company represented at the conven tion had a number of representatives. First on the list In point of numbers was the Amer ican Book company. The corps was made up of George Howard , Cincinnati ; Mr. Green , New York ; F. A. FItzpatrIck , Boston ; C. C. Burchord , L. M. Dlllmar , Major Clancy , Chicago cage ; Captain Dorland and Dr. Call , Louis ville ; George S. Wedgewood , Omaha ; J. T. Winters , Nebraska ; Mr. Todd , Wisconsin. Glnn & Co. were represented by O. P. Barnes , E. R. Smith , Mr. Gllson and Mr. Hallett , Chicago ; D. C. Heath , by. Messrs. Smythe , Pemberton and Vose , Chicago ; Sheldon & Co. by Mr. Hunt , Chicago ; Werner & Co. , by Ira Eaton of Chicago and Mr. Phebus of Topeka - peka , Kan. ; Allyn & Scott , by F. M. Kendall , Chicago , and Lench , Showell & Co. , by Mr. S bley of Chic go. There we"e rep-'se tattves of these firms and companies , and even these had other representatives. Not all the text book'- ' ' publishers In the United States were represented at the con vention , the experiences of the past not being such as to encourage the 'necessary expendi ture , but those on the ground were gratified with results and feel that they had greatly benefited themselves and their employers. It It not the custom to solicit orders at these conventions , such work being done mainly through state legislatures , 'and county , city and district boards of education. The agents of publishers were there merely to present their goods and show them off to advantage. ECONOMY AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS. "There was one Important subject that re ceived no attention at the Denver conven tion , " says the Chicago Journal , "though It Is one In which taxpayers are deeply In terested. This matter about which nothing was said Is the economic management or the public 'schools. The last report of the national commissioner of education shows that the cost per capita of educating pupils In our public schools has almost exactly doubled during the past twenty years. The Increase has been the , smallest In the south ern states and the largest In those of the northwest. All these states received large land grants for the support of schools , but It Is a curious fact that school taxes are much higher In these states than In those that received no bounty from the general govern ment. The land grants , so far from de creasing the amount to be raised by taxa tion for the support of schools , have ap parently Increased It. "The greatest Increase In the cost of schools has been In cities and towns In the northwest. In them there has been an expenditure of money , that ; shows how little regard has been shown to economy. The little red school house , still stands among the hills of New Hampshire , In the forests of Michigan and on the prairies In Indiana , but in all the large towns there are palatial structures of dressed stone and terra cotta. Extravagance In buildings , appears to lead to extravagance In all things pertaining to the management of schools. A costly structure calls for expensive * apparatus and high salaries. "Twenty years ago the coat ot supporting schools In Chicago was about one-fourth of the entire expenditures of the municipal government. Now the school * cost , within a few thousand dollars , as much as ls re quired to conduct all the other departments. Every pupil In one of the numerous high schools In the city costs the taxpayers $115.71 a year. Still the person * ln > charge of the school complain that they have been ham pered for lack ot funds. "If the cost ot public schools shall In crease during the next two decades as It has during the two Just passed , It Is evi dent that they will become like the grass hopper , a burden , and the result may be an organized opposition tp the way they are conducted. In the earlier days of the republic public schools were favored because they were cheaper to support than private schools. But at present they are far more expensive. There are many excellent colleges In the country In which the tuition I * only $25 a year , or less than one-fourth what It Is In one of our city high school. . "In no thing do the youth of this country need Instruction a * much as In forming habits of economy. As an aid. to the forma tion of such habits the school should be in object lesson. In the good old day * , which are not BO very old after all , children learned economy while attending ichool , for the boys built and tended the flrea and the girl * swept the floor * and duited oft tha benches. If they wanted a higher educa tion than that afforded by the common school they earned the money to pay their expense * at an academy or college. And the boy * and girls wbo did tbla rose to be the molder * and mothers ot the nation. Now , they learn that It Is the bounden duty of the state to give them an education , and by this they may Imbibe the socialistic Idea that U Is the duty of the state to look out for them after It has given them an education. " PLEA FOR THE SPANISH LANGUAGE. A periodical outcry Is made against the study of anclen' languages In our high schools and universities , says the Philadel phia Record. Strong arguments are vigor ously advanced both In favor of and against such study , those who oppose U declaring that a knowledge of French or German Is far more advantageous to young men than a smattering of Latin or Greek. This view Is probably correct. But while the conten tion proceeds , those whom It Is Intended to benefit acquire little Latin and almost less French. These Is ono modern language , however , to the study of which too little attention IB being given , and Its need will be most seri ously felt In commercial circles within the next generation. Reference Is had to the Spanish language Our commerce with the Central and South American republics Is largely Increasing every year. Even slow- going Mexico Is becoming alive to this fact , nml Is accordingly making an effort to cap ture some of tbe commerce flitting hitherward - ward and thitherward , She Is actually going so far as to listen to the scheme which Is being advocated for the formation of a United States of the Latin-American repub lics of the central portion of the continent a confederation , which , with Mexico as a part , would very largely Increase commerce between this country and the new United States to tbe southward. The commercial possibilities of these Latin republics are exceedingly vast. Our present commerce with those countries Is as nothing to what It will be twenty-five years hence , when a knowledge of the Spanish language will be absolutely essential to all young men en gaged In the counting houses of the firms engaged in business with that part of the globo. Let parents and pedagogues , therefore , cease their bickerings as to the respective merits of Greek and French , and put Into the boys' heads a practical knowledge of Spanish , which they will find U not difficult to build upon a tolerably fair foundation of Latin. French may be the language of re finement , and as such Its acquisition Is more or less desirable. But the great languages of commerce not many years hence will bo our own language , the German language and that diarmlngt tongue for which this plea Is made the tongue of Cervantes and of Cortez. QUEER ANSWERS BY CHILDREN. Since wit has been defined by Noah Web ster as "the felicitous association of objects not usually connected , so as to produce a pleasant surprise , " may not the pupils of some ot Boston's public schools , who gave the following answers to their examination questions , lay claim to U ? The record as here given , says the Boston Budget , Is bona fide , having been read during the past week at the graduation exercises of one of the leading grammar schools of this city : 1. Who were the pilgrims ? A dirty , filthy set who lived under ground. 2. Name a domestic animal useful for clothing and describe Its habits. The ox. He don't have any habits , because he lives In a stable. 3. If you were traveling across the desert where would you choose to rest ? I would rest on a stool. 4. Mention five races of men. Men , women , children and babies. 5. Describe the white race and show that It Is superior to the other races. A white man will nod at you when he meets you on the street. 6. Of what Is the surface of the earth composed ? Dirt and people. 7. Name a fruit that has Us seeds on the outsldo. Seed cake. 8. Name five forms of water. Hot water , cold water , faucet water , well water and Ice water ; ' ' 3. ' Name and locate the five senses. The eyes are In the northern part of the face and the mouth In the southern. 10. Who were the mound builders ? His tory cannot answer these questions. Science only can. 11. Define flinch and use It In a sentence. Flinch , to shrink. Flannel flinches when U Is washed. 12. By what Is the earth surrounded , and by what Is It lighted ? It Is surrounded by water and lighted by gas and electricity. 13. Name six animals of the Arctic zone. Three polar bears and three seals. 14. What Is yeast ? Yeast Is a vegetable flying about In the air , and hitching Itself on to anything. 15. Why do you open the dampers In a stove when lighting a fire ? To let the oxygen In and the nitrogen out. 16. What did the constitution do for the country ? It gave the president a head. 17. What are the last teeth that come to man ? False teeth. The mljilster ot a congregation In an agri cultural district , says the Hartford Post , was greatly annoyed Sunday after Sunday by _ the unruly conduct oj the Junior members of his flock. When any ono of the younger repre sentatives of the gentler sex got weary of the evening service she would Invariably rise and go out. A moment later her admirer would sleze his hat and sheepishly follow her. To such an extent would this course of action prevail that by the time the dis course was finished only the old people re mained for the conclusion of the service. Mr. Jones concealed his chagrin for several weeks , but at last he firmly resolved to act. A youth grew drowsy one Sunday evening , and , picking up his hat , stepped Into the aUle. But the minister's keen eye was upon him , and , to the culprit's dismay , he stopped short In his sermon. "Young man , " said he , "the girl who went out last Is not the one you wish to walk home with. When she goes I will let you know at once. Please sit down. After this when a young woman goes out I will call on the proper young man to take care of her. " The minister resumed his discourse. There was much tittering and considerable anger , but his sermons were not Interrupted again. An English clergyman who was suddenly called on to .preach to a congregation of col lege students was unable to speak without notes , and had only one written sermon with him , which was on the duties of the married state. The topic was hardly one that he would have chosen for the occasion , but he hoped that It would pass muster as being ap propriate by anticipation. But unfortunately he did not read the sermon over , and so be fore ho knew It he had uttered this appeal : "And now , a word to you who are mothers. " Chicago Post : "I see this religious effort society , " began Mrs. Malaprop , "Is goln' to meet " " " asked her caller "This what ? , "This religious effort society. I see It's goln' to meet In Boston. " "Oh , you mean the Christian Endeavor society. " "Same thing , ain't It ? " asked Mrs. Mala prop , sharply. "Means the same thing , any way. " There was an odd Incident connected with the fire that destroyed the Salvation army tent In Tacoma. When the smoke cleared away all that was left of the tent was a charred sign bearing the Inscription , "Pre pare to meet thy God , " "I wish you would come to our church. I know you would like our pastor. " "What does he preach about ? " "He preaches about twenty minutes. " A LivingVlcture. . Some of the girls at Atlantic City seem to enjoy wearing suits that are extremely loud , and mothers and chaperon * seem to be oblivious of the fact that the girls are at tracting so 'much attention. One young maiden , who Is to be married In the fall , came out last week with a dazzler. U was made of white flannel , trimmed with gold braid. It looked very handsome before the wearer got wet. The skirt was a little short and there were a taw other discrepancies but the young woman withal looked charming. Bbe was about to take her flrit bath ( that U , her first ocean bath of tbe season ) ; the lull really did look too pretty to get wet , but at last , after displaying herself and the cult to th multitude , ihe went Into tbe water. In abcut fifteen minutes ihe cams out and she looked like a statue la marble. The clothes stuck to her like a porous plaster. It only took her a few minutes to get to her bathing house , but she was seen by every one and the little affair was the topic for gossip during the bathing hour. It KAL U.tlt STUltlElf. Lawful Titles About Men on mill OR the llench. On one occasion a gentleman had a dispute with a laborer over some trifling matter and the hired man made complaint to Judge Charles Iteaumc of Wisconsin , who began his Judicial career In the latter part of the eighteenth century. The Justice sent a sum mons to the gentleman to appear before him to answer the charge , says the Chicago Record. Instead of a writ on paper , with name and eeal , the constable bore a large Jack-knlfo belonging to Resume , which had often been , made to serve the same purpose. When the gentleman approached the Judge's office Rcaume was standing In the door. "You may go away ! " exclaimed the Judge In broken English ; "go away ; I have given Judgment against ye. " "Ah , good morning , Judge , good morning , " said the gentleman , suavely. "Good morning , I have given Judgment against ye , " returned Reaumo. "Coming along by Burgan's store I saw this coffee pot hanging out , " said the gentle man , "and I bought It as a little present to you , Judge ; will you do me the honor to accept It ? " "Oh , yes , t'ank ye , t'ank ye kindly ; very much 'bilged to ye , " replied the Judge , his face broadening Into a smile. "Oh , by the way , Judge , I don't owe that fellow anything , " said the gentleman. "You don't ? " repeated Heaume , doubtfully. "No , I have really overpaid him. " "The rascal ! " said Heaume , "what's he come here for with a lie In his mouf ? I reverse my Judgment and ho shall pay do costs. " Judge Wallace was chief Justice of the supreme court of California when an attorney from Montana , who Is now a well known practitioner In San Francisco , says the Post , applied for a certificate to practice before the courts of the state. He stood before the bar while another attorney made the motion for admission and presented the cer tificate. "I don't like that fellow's looks , " whis pered Judge Wallace to his associate. "Nor I , either. " "Well , let's sit down on him ? " "All right. " Judge Wallace cleared his throat , smiled upon the attorney , and said : "This court cannot recognize the certifi cate of a territorial court. " "But , your honor , I have here a decision of this very court upon that point holding directly to the contrary , " replied the appli cant's attorney. "Let me see It , " demanded Judge Wal lace. * It was passed up to him by the bailiff and he observed that the opinion had been written by himself. "Looks as If he had us , doesn't It ? " whis pered the judge to his associate. "That's what It does. How are wo going to get around that ? " Judge Wallace wiped his glasses carefully , adjusted them on his nose ami read a few "That Is not law , " he declared emphati cally , as he slammed the book on his desk. "Tho application Is denied. " "It's a great pity , " said the convicted burglar to his lawyer , "that you couldn't have made that closing speech ot yours at the opening of the case. " "I don't see that It would have made any difference. " "It would , though. Then the Jury would have been asleep when the evidence came In and I'd have stood some show. " "Your offense , " said the territorial Judge , "was most flagrant. I feel compelled to give you the full limit of the law. " "Jedge , " pleaded Soapstone Bowers , "this here Is no less than a Insult. It Is the first tlmo I was ever held down to a limit In my life. " "Do you think you can make a fool out of me ? " hotly cried one lawyer to another In Magistrate Fulmer's court In Philadelphia. "Providence saved me the trouble , " coolly replied the other. UELWWVS. Ohio's capital has three divines whoso fame has spread beyond our own country Bishop Watterson and Drs. Gladden and Rexford. Mr. Cassel , a Pennsylvania German , has a library composed entirely of bibles. Th collection comprises ) nearly all the old and curious editions. The Swedish Lutheran church of Minnesota Is moving toward the abandonment of the Swedish tongue In Us services and the adop tion of English. The children know little of Swedish. The maiden name of Mrs. Lucretla Mott , the famous Quaker preacher , was Coffin , and she was born In Nantucket , being a lineal descendant of Sir Isaac Coffin , an admiral of the blue In the British navy. ' Wllford Woodruff , who was elected head of the Mormon church on the death of John Taylor , the successor of Brlgham Young , Is now 88 years of age. As a missionary he has traveled 200,000 miles , lecturing , preach ing , and proselyting. The latest English religious novelty Is a smoking service. The following Invitation has been widely circulated In Whltechapel : "If you want a smoke free cotno next Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock to Christ Church hall. A free cup of tea If you like. Tobacco gratia. " A Mahanoy City , Pa. , chicken flew Into a church and laid an egg on ono of the seats , A Pottsvlllo young lady found the egg and took It home , used It In baking a cake , and thus started a fund for the building of a new Methodist Eplsccpil church at that place , which fund Is growing to largo proportions. The Roman Catholic archbishop of Mel bourne , In sending a check recently to the promoters of a performance In aid of the local Jewish charities , wrote that the Jews so rarely appeal to the general public for aid and they so frequently help those of other denominations La similar movements ho was pleased to support their efforts. At St. Ignace , Mich. , on August C will oc cur the dedication of a new monument to Father Marquette , on the spot where It Is be lieved his bones rested for more than 200 years. The monument , an Imposing shaft of marble and bronze , will supplant the plain granite column that has marked the sacred spot. JO 7) OT/ir. By night Hon. W. K. Glnilstonc , to Ma Grand- dnuKlitcr. I know where there Is honey In a Jar , Meet for n certain little friend of mine ; Ami , Dorothy , I know where daisies are That only wait some small hands to Inter twine A wreath for such a golden head as thine. The thought that thou art coming makes all glad ; The house Is bright with blossoms high and low , And many a llttlo lass and little lad Expectantly nre running to and fro ; The fire within our hearts Is all aglow. Wo want thee , child , to share In our de light On this high day , the holiest and best. Because 'twas then , cro youth hud tukun flight , Thy grandmamma , of women loveliest , Made me of men rnont honored and most blest. That naughty boy who le < l thee to Bupposo He was thy sweetheart has , I grieve to tell , Been seen to pick the garden's choices ! rose And toddle with It to another belle , Who does not treat him altogether well. But mind not that , or let It teach theo this To waste no love on any youthful rover ( All youths are rovers , I assure thee , ml s ) . No , If thou wouldst true constancy dis cover , Thy grandpapa I * perfect as a lover. 80 , come , thou playmate of my closing day , The latest treasure life can offer me. And with thy baby laughter make ua gay. Thy fresh young voice shall Blntr , Do rothy , Bonn that ihall bid the feet of Borrow flee. CLEVER WORK OF A CROOK Ex-United States Treasurer Wynnn Goes Into the Details. PAPER SUBSTITUTED FOR GREENBACKS llolil Play of vrinilow , n Tren Miry K ploye , Who Itnbbed the ( luvcrnincnt ot 81"OOU nmlV i Afterword Cap tured nil the Money Itecoverctl. An account of the famous Wlnslow case , which was suggested by the recent conviction of Howgato , and appeared originally In ono of the Washington papers , was printed In The Bee. According to this account , In Feb ruary , 1877 , the treasury officials at Washing ton received n dispatch from the First Na tlonal bank of Chicago , announcing that a package which was labeled to contain $12,000 when opened was foifnd to bo made up ot roll ? of tissue paper. A. U. Wyman of this city , who was at the tlmo treasurer of the United States , was ot once notified by these under him of the theft. Mr. Wyman communicated with Major J. J. Brooks , at that tlmo at the head of the Rovornment secret service , for the purpose of bringing the embezzler to punishment and It possible recover the money before It could bo spent. The affair was managed with as much secrecy as possible and the theft did not leak out for some llttlo time , but'when the details at length became known It brought to light one of the cleverest pieces of crook ! work which often occur In government cir cles , whore clerks arc accustomed to handla millions of money and' account for every cent. TALKS OF THE CIUME. Mr. Wyman , speaking of the occurrence the oilier day , said that this was the first Instance of the kind ho had had occur during his administration. When the theft wag dis covered suspicion at once fell on four em ployes , all of whom had berne excellent characters. "Aa Major Brooks relates , " said Mr. Wyman , "each of the men wore care fully examined and they wcro severally put under surveillance. Wo knew one of them must bo guilty , for each In turn had handled the package , ono counting It and then passIng - Ing It on to another for a recount. By thla process It passed through four different cages. The one who was finally proven the culprit was not'a man to arouse any one's suspicions. He had been appointed to his place on the highest recommendations , ono : omlng from a man of standing , who later Became a candidate for the vlco presidency. Ho had undoubtedly recommended him In entire good faith. I never knew that Wlnslow , the man we afterward convicted ot the crime , was a man of bad habits , a drinker or a gambler , and so far as I can now recall I do not think he had a family. The account given by Major Brooks of the capture of Wlnslow Is correct. Wlnslow was at first put off the track by being Invited to assist In capturing the real party. Then our detectives discovered that ho was paying out $100 bills , the- exact denomination which the package we shipped to Chicago should have contained. The day that Wlnslow became aware that he had been definitely spotted , as the embezzler I remember very well. It was but shortly after the discovered theft. Ho had determined to run off to New York- . The day previous to the Intended departure It was suggested to me by a newspaper friend that I should be at home that even ing. I understood what ho meant and r.e- malned at home , walling for the door bell to ring , which It soon did , , when a packago- was thrown Into my house. I picked It up- and found It contained $11,000 In notes. These were all that were ever recovered ot > the amount stolen. Wlnslow's arrest fol lowed and on his person the evidences of hl3 guilt were found In the shape of notes , paper- ind sealing wax , showing that ho had com-- mltted the crime. He was placed In tho- penltentlary. The gentleman who gave mo- Lho Information has since become a prominent public official. "I really think , " added Mr. Wyman , "that the work of Wlnslow was one of the cleverest jobs of Us kind. I think It has been mulched lately In the story of a theft perpetrated In New York City by a bank employe. who > stele $41,000 by making a similar substitu tion of tissue paper tor bank bills. Ills , bank was sending oft that amount by the Adams Express company to Washington. In. that case I understand that the thief was at last located In South America and the money , to a largo extent recovered , but owing to the > extradition laws ho never could be convicted. . "Regarding treasury officials , I might say , " ' concluded Mr. Wyman"that the losses which have occurred have been but Infinitesimal compared with the millions handled by them. During my 'administration I had C25 people working In the government building and 400 of them were counting money all the tlmo. Wo had constantly $200,000,000 In the vaults. " KEPT IN A STEEL SAFE. The Constitution or thd United State * Ito. malm In tiooil Condition. The constitution of the United States tho- original pen-wrlt'en constitution , bo It remem bered has been dragged from Its place ot concealment In the State department to bo photographed , says the Washington I'ost. It has been decided to send a facsimile ot It to the Atlanta exposition. Of course , the At lanta people would rather have had the orig inal , but this could not be entertained. The constitution Is kept in a steel safe In the library of the State department. The safe , quite a pretty affair , In gray and gold. Is massive and strong. A combination lock ; protects Its priceless contents , and the com bination Is carefully kept by one or two of ficials. Yesterday , however , the steel doors were swung open In order to allow a reporter to look upon the sacred pages. No document In the world has been so fraught with destiny as this very KUDO constitution. It Is today the foundation of the government. To see It as It came from the pen of the engrosser on the 17th day of September , 1787 , Is a sight worth traveling a thousand miles to witness. As Is well known , there are In the State de partment two copies of the Declaration of In dependence one the official and engrossed document , and the other the original draft In the handwriting of Thomas Jefferson , wUh all the erasures and alterations that were in a do before the 'language was finally agreed upon. In the case of the constitution there la only one copy the final engrossment , with the signatures duly attached. As thus pre served , It consists of four largo sheets ot parchment , each twenty-two by twenty-eight inches , with the words written out In the old- fashioned chlrography of a century ago , and the curious capitalization of letters then In vogue. The first three words , "We , the people ple , " are engrossed ! n very largo black letters , go that they stand out In bold relief. On the last page are the signatures of the deputies from the various states , beginning with the familiar autograph of George Washington , who signed himself as "President and Deputy from Virginia , " Many of the names are closely , associated with the early history of the re public Alexander Hamilton , Itufua King , Gouvencur Morris , H. Franklin , Daniel Car * roll and Hogcr Sherman being among the number. The constitution Is a most excellently pre served document. The Ink hag faded a little , but not sufficient to detract from legibility or appearance. The autographs are especially , clear. This might have been the case also with the Declaration of Independence , but It so happened that when a fac-slrnile of that paper was attempted In 1821 Irreparable harm was done to It through carelemness and Igno rance. In the case of the constitution the ut most care hag been obterved and no Injury has resulted. The Union Iron Work * of San Francisco has received an order for eleven steel barges to be used on the Arnoor river In Siberia. The order come * from a Husilan company , which ha * It * headquarters at Ht. Peters burg. These barge * will be of light draft , to suit the nhallow water * of the Amoor , anil will have a carrying capacity of COO toua each.