The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-05
INCREASING THE POPULATION.
A Wonderfully @Holific Woman in Tennes
sea Well-Stoeked Nursery.

See-A Weu-StOeked nursery
Chattanooga Letter to New York journal.
'We shall have to take new census soon if
this thing continues" remarked Main street
merchant to the Journal correspondent to-day.
whats up now!" asked the latter.
More new arrivals at Hugh Blair's, answered
the merchant, as he turned TO wait upon a Gus
toner.
Every man, woman and child in this city knew
what the remark meant as soon as it was ut
tered. Hugh Blair is an iron nmolder, and is
employed in the Vulcan foundry of this city.
He has wife and constantly increasing fam
lily. Mr.. Blair lives in pretty little cottage on
Alabama street. His wife is native of this coun
ty, and is now but twenty years of age. The
family consists of eleven children. About ten
months ago Mrs Blair became the happy mother
of triplets-three bouncing boys. The father,
who is not a rich man. was somewhat disheart-
ened by the unexpected increase in his family,
but he welcomed the little newcomers with
Southern hospitality. Friends of the family
helped them with gifts of clothing and tin rat
ties, and Mr. Blair became resigned and even
proud of his interesting progeny. The Governor
of the State sent Mr.. Blair $l5 an old law al
lows $5 for each triplet born in Tennessee.
When Mr.. Blair returned home last evening
an nnwonted activity around the house aroused
his curiosity. Several female neighbors ran in
and out carrying bundles of clothing, bottles of
soothing syrup, and other preparations OF which
the very young have monopoly.
''The triplets must be SICK" thought Mr..
"Hush" warned Mrs. Davis, who lives next
door. as she raised her fingers warningly.
Whats the matter?" gasped Mr.. Blair, as a
dreadful suspicion crossed his mind
"Three more" said Mrs. Davis, in an eXultant
tone. "All girls, too"
The astonished father fell over a trundle bed,
in which several of his children were lying, and
the uproar which follow was deafenng. People
in the vicinity thought cat show had opened in
the city, and the policeman on that beat COM
planned that he was kept awake all night.
Things quieted down toward morning and the
Journal correspondent mustered courage to call
at the Blair abode.
The scene inside resembled baby show
Cradles of all makes and designs stood around
the floor, and half the young girls of the neigh
borhood stood around holding portion of the
Blair family in their arms.
Mr.. Blair had taken refuge in the cellar and
refused to see any callers.
''The babies all doing well, bless their lit
tie hearts" remarked Mrs. Davis, as she held
several of them up to the correspondents view.
Mr.. Blair has already been called upon by a
gage the family to travel, and he need not be
frightened about this affair." The babies will
get good treatment"
friend of Mr. Blair, who came up from the
cellar, represented the gentleman as gradually
becoming resigned to the inevitable. The father
expresses strong desire to know ''when this is
going to STOP"
Friends of the family have already notified the
Governor that another $15 is due. 1t is said that
the Governor will recommend the introduction of
bill in the Legislature abolishing the gratuity.
He is afraid that the small surplus now in the
State Treasury will soon be used up.