The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-12-15


hAsrrNos.-The Union School House in the
village Of Hastings was destroyed by fire on
the evening o. the 9th instant. phe flames
were past subduing when the fire was discov-
cred. Fifty cords OF wood were also burned.
The building WAS insured for some three thous-
dollars: The library and portion OF the FUR
! nlture was saved.
A Bay City man rugged deal fail in ans barn
30 that when a burglar opened the door it
would 'mash" him in q scientific manner.
Next morning when he opened that door he
sat down with considerable alacrity under the
impression that he bad been struck by light
ning. lie kno va how it is himself.
KALAMAZOO. The case OF Katy Coleman, as,
the Michigan Central Railroad Company, fer
damages for alleged negligence by which she
fell from the cars at Dowagiac and was severely
I'M ured in March, 1868, was terminated Tues
day afternoon, Dec. 9Th, by the jury returning
a verdict in favor of plaintiff for $1,000
damages
The Presidents message shows that he has
gained new light on the Revenue Reform
question. lie does not repeat hls absurd init
nation OF year ago, that perhaps it might
mean reputation, bat does suggest the reduc-
ton Of import duties in such way as to at
ford the greatest relief to the greatest number,
which is great improvement on his previous
utterance.-Th Detroit Post, too, has modi-
fed its tone on this question and goes for
reform.
HORSE AND BUGGY GoNE.-We are Informed
by trustworthy citizen of South Haven that
a few days ago a stranger procured horse and
buggy at the Livery stable or Messrs. Sell and
Dyckman, of South Haven, for the purpose OF
driving out into the country; but had not re-
turned when our informant left the place. It
was supposed that the property had been
stolen The horse is said to be valuable one
the best one owned by those gentlemen.'
IN INTELLECTUAL TowN.--Ihe Hon. L. :.
Littlejohn recently lectured on 1.-The Aborig-
ines of AMERICA" at Mendou, III 81. Joseph
County. The MsRdosida boasts that there
were but thirty or forty persons who turned
out to hear the eloquent speaker. The Alle-
gan Journal thinks that Mendon must be a
very stupid town IL the attendance was no
larger, which sentiment we fully endorse.
Too IMMORAL FOR PRISON CoNyICrs.--M r.
Joseph L. Chandler in an able paper read be-
fore the Society for penitentiary and Reform
atory Discipline, states that it Is the custom
for jails and pententiarles to prevent the use
of Daily Newspapers by the prisoners in order
that the records OF crime may not be accessible
to them. 10 asserts that crimes are made too
much the topic in our daily papers to render
them fit for use in our jas and prisons, il our
jalls and prisons are intended az reRormatory
institutions
IF those papers which make specially OF the
criminal news are unit for the use OF the in
mates OF jails and Prisons, how stands tho
matter with those just coming on the stage OF
action? Does the habitual reading Of records
of crime have any effect on the young and lm-
pressible? is it not probable that the fact
that such reading is freely INDUCED in b. the
young, and for that matter the older members
Of society, have direct and powerful tendency
to blunt the senslbilities, aud lead people Of
mpulsve natures IRON the path Of honesty
and rectitUdc? Is it not probable that ting is
one or the great cause that deyelope criminals
out Of scores Of promising young men;