The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-21


basely intimated wish to serve his country in
the custom house. Each passed his examina-
tion with a success which would have brought
their percentage up to 10, or thereabouts, had
the examiners been able to read their writing,
after which they wrote up all the details of the
event and triumphantly published it. Such en-
terprise as this will compel weekly change in
the list o. questions put the Office seekers that
they may not, by previous preparation, be eL-
abled to answer without error, and thereby "play
it" on the government.
THERE is a heap of trouble about the English
language again. Good writers say thas chad
better"is ungramatical. Thus, instead of "You
had better do so aud so," say SIT would be het-
ter if you did so and So" Again. do not say
'You had better lave gone,". but "you wonld
have done better to co." or "have gone" But
the New York Sun insists that the chad better"
is tirst-class idiomatlc English; and up to the
present advices the Journal will insist that the
use OF the word Gloucester" as the comparative of
honest, Is warranted by the best authorities.
-@
THE friends and acquaintance of J. B. McCul-
lagh, managing editor of the st. Louis Globe
Democrat are much disquieted because of the
precarious condition of his health. About a
month ago Mr.. McCullagh was compelled to
abandon his work by reason OF illness, since
which time he is reported to have lost seventy
pounds in weight, and is now said to be in great
danger. Mr.. MoCullagh has been one OF the
hardest workers in the profession, and enjoys a
well-deserved popularity among the newspaper
men of the country.
Fol , 10 han
it warns EnGlishmen that there are signs of a
atoms of aristOcratic and commercial land spec
ulatOrs who are buying up enormous tracts in
the West. 1t says: SIT Is urged that the seeds
of a very serious land question being sown
by this transfer of land to the hands of foreign
spectators II popular agitation were to
spring up the spectators would find themselves
in an awkward position"
WHAT is the world coming tol On Thursday
there was church picnic held near Newport,
KY. at which young man was stabbed and
killed in fight On the same day there was an
Odd-fellows' picnic at Jeffersonville, and man
was murdered there. Both crimes were the re-
suit of drunken quarrels
MILLIONAIRE banker in Paris once invited
Chopin TO dinner. 1t was barely over when the
nOSb showed MIN Inc piano, ana urged MIN TO
play something. "Mais, Monsieur lie Baron"
replied Chopin, 81 have eaten so little"-Ex-
change
This fable teaches that Chopin was a pig as
well a pianist.
ONE of the leading vital principles of free
government is that public sentiment shall al
ways remain open forum for the hearing and
redress of all just public grievances. And those
who appeal to it have only to show mertorious
cause and failure to obtain a remedy elsewhere.
WOMEN receive promotions in the Canadian
OWL service as instanced in the of Mrs. Les
ter, who has been advanced to the position OF
chief clerk of mortuary statistics. This is del
icate recognition Of the universal interest taken
by women in burias and the obituary column.
IT is said that an old Clevelander, WHO'S worth
S250,O0O, called at one Of tie telegraph Offices
and rendered his services. He was once tele-
grapEist, but it is difficult to conceive what a
man worth that much wants on tick
BRADLAUGH takes a new tack in his fight for
the seat in the Commons to which he has SO
often been chosen. He now enjoins the sergeant
alarms from interfering with his entering the
House. Bradlaugh is perennial.
MRS. ANNIE BEsANT, whose hobby is that there
are too many people in the world, is coming to
this country from England to do missionary
work. Her plan for removing" the superfiuous
population has not been made known.
THE Princess Louise is arranging to send some
Of her paintings to the coming Boston exhibit
ton. The people of that city, which she visited
last winter. are wondering what happened to Of
fend her.
IN recent hail-storm in Jalisco, Mexico, the
hailstones were the size of an orange. II they
we're no bigger than a tive-ceut orange, they
were no great shucks.
THERE is new proof of the progress made by
the Indians in the ways of civilized life. stall
wart buck has just called the press of the coun-
try liar.
THE park commissioner of Washington admits
that the English sparrow is not gentleman, but
believes that he is. nevertheless, very useful
bird.
IF any telegraphlc business has to De neglect
ed, let the New Hampshire senatorial contest go.
1t will not be decided before the holidays.
Now that the word is prominent before the
public, it may be well to remark that Webster
spells it "teegraphist."
1T is said that 10000 people viewed the re-
mains of Tom Thumb. No admission fee was
charged this time
A MAN who began life by selling grated turnips
for chose redish" will never be President.
HoADLY is to be Secretary OF State when the
cold ticket" gets in.
AKEACT CHAT