The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-02-03

that sort.
While Prof. Cox and the enterprising
folks of Indiana are telling us about the
coal and iron reserves of this immeasurably
rich state, a notion comes from Illinois
which should arouse Prot. Cox TO the search
for another source Of wealth for the Hoosiers.
The Illinois presSi is just now animated by
the wonders of gas well near Nation. 1t
is the discovery of Mr.. Champion, who lives
near Nation, which opens field for prscti-
cal investigation in this state. He tapped
the deposit some two years ago while boring
for an artesian we'll. Since that time he has
warmed and lighted his residence with this
spontaneous gas. 1t is further related that
neighbor, Mr.. Dole by name, has struck
gas on his farm, and now has fuel and lights
as free as water. Granting that these state
ments are half true, it is not presuma-
BILE that these tive denizsns of an
Illinois prairie are to be the only
favored ones exempted from saving wood
and digging coal. Some very wise scientist
has been lecturing the Virgo county folks
of late and showing by indisputable proofs,
of course, that this mundane sphere is not
solid institution at all. but hollow she'll,
something after the manner of the roc's egg
that Sinbad once spent a day or two in cir
communicating. Taking this new revela-
tion.of science with the NATION gas wells,
it Is not unreasonable to suppose that the
vast internal concave is grand gasometer
filled withjust the article required to illumin-
ate and warm the world. Here's business
for Prof. Cox. Indiana wants an or1fce
down to the central gas works. Oil may do
for Pennsylvania, but it is too common an
article for the Hoosier state. Ready made
gas is bOth more agreeable and convenient.
Mr.. Jefferson Davis is a singularly unfor-
tunate man. He had greatness and likewise
unbecoming female costume thrust upon him
His figure was quite unsuitable to the tog-
gerry OF the great man, or the frightened
woman. In both cases he seems to have
petered out, through inability to fill the bill,
as it were. AS president of segment of the
union, he begged to be let alone. and wasn't.
As the feminine fugitive in the Georgia
swamps, he was equally unsuccessful. His
latest appearance upon the stage is in the
character of correspondent OF the Washing
ton Capital. His fine frenzy was aroused by
reminder of some recent maunderings of a
pre- Adamite relic known upon the political
stage as Hangman Foote. This old chap had
contributed sketches of fiercely feeble ma
ture, matchmaking Davis and the confed-
crate personages of distinction. TO Foote'S
virulence Davis makes answer:
inform me II. :. Foote had written in abuse of
me, nor have had any desire TO read whatever
ne might write. In the year 1871 l published
quent career only served TO confirm me in this
Judgment: Since that date. therefore, have
taken no heed of the utterauces of said Foote.
His fiattery when he was seeking political pre-
ferment in tho confederacy. and his abuse when,
faithless to his trust as representative in the
congress of the confederate states. he was prepar-
ing for his subsequent desertion to their enemy,
were alike disregarded by me.
To this emphatic piece of composition,
Foote makes response in the Harlan organ
in perfectly stunning display of italics and
hard names, the meat and marrow of which
appear in this paragraph:
He has cherished an undving hatred for me
ever since his own presumptuous arrogance, on
a very noted occasion. compelled me To slap his
jaws in this city, in the winter of 1Si7-iS. The
hostility thus engendered was afterwards much
heightened by nv defeat of his treaSonable as
piratious to the Office of governor of Mississippi,
as secession candidate, in 1851. My constant
and unyieldng opposition to him and his nefari-
Gus schemes in Richmond, during the war of the
rebellion, for three years, was not at all calcu-
lated to assuage his enmity.
Having hurled this thunderbolt, the war
like Foote goes on to intimate that he can
still WELD sword as vigorously as pen,
and that Mr.. Davis will have no difficulty in
finding him in case he desires satisfaction
for the epithets bestowed upon him. Messrs.
Davis and Foote are old enough to know
better than to make such spectscles of them
selves; but if they have really reached driv-
cling imbecility, their friends, if there are
any bold enough to endure that term, should
see that they are put in some safe asylum
where feeble minds are protected from such
humiliations as this.