, 1880-03-06

truth undoubtedly Is, tnat the means ~ol
defence against surprise parties have ,,ot
late years SO greatly increased as to render
all but the Doldest criminals unwlllinghto
incur the risk of invading q househ9lt
where they may be welcomed with hospl-
table buckets to boiling or Ice-cold baths.
OF tho various methods OF defence TO
which reference has been made from time
to time by the press, one of the most
recent and elective IS the plan OF connect
ing the ell-handte with a powerful bate
~. This was tried in an Ohio village not
long ago by an ingenious person who
soon after had the satisfaction OF seeing
from his upper window q surprise party,
headed by a large local Justice OF the
Peace, enter the front yard. The Justice
Of the Peace seized the door-bell aud Instant
ly broke into such unearthly yells, and abau-
doned himself to such frightful writings
that his companions fled in horror, and when
the triumphant householder turned Oft the
battery the wretched- Invader OF domestic
sanctity rolled in an exhausted state from
the front steps into The snow, where he
would probably have frozen to death bad
not his intended victim nohly let the dog
loose to bite him back into Consciousness.
Incidents of this nature have an undoubted
tendency to deter all but exceptionally
reckless persons from committing surprise
parties and abundantly account for the
de of that VARIETY ofcrlme.
There has been, however, an attempt'at
a surprise party in ShebOygan, this Nlntep
which is worth mentioning tor the able apd
successful name in which 1T was cofn-
bated. The intended victim was a 1,hySl-
clan who had recently moved into the town,
and who seems to have been a singularly
bold and enterprising man. AS usual the
aggressors made their appearance at about
1890 in the evening, when the physician
and his wife were in bed. There were no
less than thirty criminals in the band,
some of them being old and hardened OF
tenders, and others being young men and
women just entering upon a career OF ERNIE.
The physician and his wife rose, dressed
themselves and welcomed the myacefS
with an apparent cordiality which FHuew
them off their guard. ThereN was
only one thing which seemed to mar the
doctors delight at seeing his "arlen1sn-1
as he termed them-perhaps with a re99F
lection of Gov. SeymOur's famous speech TO
the New York surprise-party mlscreantS,
during the draft excitement. This was his
fear, lest they might have contracted
typhoid fever by passing near q sewer
opening some distance from his house. he
told them that although in the daytime the
sewer-gas was comparatively lnnocuous,
he should be afraid to pass within reach OF
it at night, and that he could not bear
to think that his friends should have incur
red any risk, of health by their delightful
and unexpected visit to his humble home,
The ''friends'' laughed at his fears, and
refused to be in the least degree alarmed.
They made themselves at home'by Scatter
ing cake-crumbs on the carpet and furni-
ture, and playing airs from "Pinafore"" on
the piano in a way that showed that they,
wholly disbelieved in any world beyoni
the grave. When the physician brought
out wine, they accepted it gladly, oand
there was not one who refused to, drink o
full glass of wine to show their hearty
good fellowship. 4 ,,alJ 10
Five minutes later silence fell simultane-
ously upon the assemblage. Strong men
began to grow pale, and several ladies
remarked that it was very late, and that
they must Immediately. go hDme.A 1.-The
good physician said he oWas afpaidI that
some OF them were feeling the effects of the
W gas and begged them to try Rlittle
more vi but they all declined in much
haste, and began looking fortheir hats in a
hurried and v~preoccupied manner. ssOne
FlSneq suddenly to the, door vanished
Without hat or overcpat, and in a fbW 10
cMentS the invaders horori = ror;oe&x4oE~