New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-02-12
Iberia Items.
(By our Special Correspondent Jason !,

don t suit you reject it.
We regret to hear of the death Of
your old pioneer and esteemed TOWNS
man, Mr.. Henry Behnke.
Wednesday night over twenty mar.
ried couple organized genuine sur.
prise party and pounced into the min
ister's house and took possession of the
parsonage before he had the least in.
timati0n of it. 1t was one of the
pleasantest affairs that ever took place
here.
The ladies all came ladened with
baskets of good things to eat and soon
sat table fit for prince. All cheer
fully partook Of the bountiful repast.
The men came loaded with valuable
presents Of -four, meat, &C., as tokens
of their esteem for Mr.. Robinson and
his family. The Presbyterian and the
Catholic, the Methodist and the Sceptic
all tremendously joined to make the oc.
casion mutually pleasant.
did not finish my remarks about
our law makers, for the small boys
who read the Review. In the first
place marriage sums to be ones0f the
indispensable qualifications necessary
for to become a Legislator, as there are
only five single men and one widower
in both houses of the present Minneso.
ia Legislature. So remember and cul.
tivate that qualification before you
aspire to legislative honors. But there
is no hurry, as the average age of the
members of the lower house is 43 years.
The total age of the members of the
lower house IS 1858 years, collectively.
They represent years enough to be sur.
passingly wise, but, notwithstanding,
some of their acts are supremely redi.
culous. The youngest member is 81
years and the oldest is So years. James
Smith Jr. is the oldest. We would
like to know how old James Smith Sr.
is. The average age of the Senator's is
Al years. Their aggregate ages is 1927
years. Ages of all the members is 6.
485 years. l will draw attention to a
couple of acts which shows their rcck-
less disregard for the interest of their
constituents. They voted themselves
six daily newspapers to each member,
which, at Scents a peace, would a.
mount to over $1,000 for the session.
They also voted themselves $40 worth
of postage stamps for each member
and officer, which amounts to $1,000
more. Now I should not be surprised
il they should vote themselves money
enough to employ secretaries to read
their newspapers and write their let
ters.
l will turn now from tho subject Of
these Ubiquitous old politicians to the
pleasant realms of innocent babyhood.
| noticed by the birth report in the
Review some time ago that you had 50
births III New Ulm last year. Well, I
thought with a little more exertion on
the part of the enterprising people Of
New Ulm they might have made out
an even 100. ! have to laugh at the j.
dea that they got stuck at 90 babies. We
hope that those whose turn comes this
year will see them and go one better.
But that is not so bad after all 90. little
babies can make good deal of music
for one town. But we will figure and
see how New l1lm compared with the
rest of the State. We will say you
have $500 inhabitants, or representa-
ton for 500 families, that will be a
baby for every five families. Well, we
will say MINI. has 100000 people, or
140,O families. Divide that by 81.
100, the number Of births in the State,
that will be one to every six families.
So New Ulm averages better than the
State at large.
But to look right here near home
and figure up if each head of a family
had done as we'll as Andrew Gilman,
our natural increase would amount to
the astounding number Of $50, 900 in
one year. They were both daughters,
and now II any bald-headed man does
any better we want to hear from him.
We always knew he was a good family
man but never thought Of having to
give him credit for twiEs, we hope he
may live long and have many more
such blessings to comfort him in his
old days.
While we are treating Of the subject
Of babies give Deacon DUNCAN credit
for one more girl. Also John Hebron,
girl, being his first he naturally feels
proud but little appointed be-
cause 1t was not 4 boy. The women
wonder what's the cause Of the baby
crop being all girls this year. Perhaps
some scientest can explain the reason
why, ! can't.
Tuesday evening Rev. Mr.. w ellcome,
from Maine, brother Of DR.. w llcome,
preached here. He is an eloquent and
LOGICAL speaker and Ihope he may locate
in this vicinity 50 we may have an OPP
|portunity Of hearing him often. He
evidently took Us for heathens here a.
he feryently prayed we might Be
II ss5.a