River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-01-29
1ucrsasing the Population.


Chattanooga Letter to the New York Journal
1--WE shall have to take new cencus
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 Blairs,"
answered the merchant, as he turned to
wait upon a customer.
Every man, woman, and child in this
city knew what the remark meant as
soon as it was uttered. Hugh Blair is
an IRON moulder and is employed in
the Vulcan foundry in tins city.
He has a wife and constantly increas-
ing family Mr.. Blair lives in a pretty
little cottage on Alabama street. His
wifs is native of this country and is
now but 26 years of age. Tho family
consists of eleven children. About ten
months ago Mrs. Blair became the hap
| Ply mother of triplets- three bouncing
\ boys. The father who is not rich
man. was somewhat disheartened 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 rattles, and Mr.. Blair
became resigned and even proud of his
interesting progeny. The Governor Of
the State sent Mr.. Blair SIS, as an old
| law allows s. for each triplet born in
Tennessee.
| When Mr.. Blair returned home last
evening an unwonted activity around
the house aroused his curiosity. Sew
eral female neighbors ran in and out
carrying bundles of clothing, bottles of
soothing syrup and other preparations
which the very young have a monopoly
of.
"The triplets must be sick" thought
Mr. Blair, as he entered his home.
"Hush!" warned Mrs. DAVIS, who
lived next door, as she raised her fir
gers 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 trun-
die bed in which several of the children
were lying, and the uproar which fol-
lowed was deafening. People in the
vicinity thought cat show had opened
in the city. and the policeman on that
beat complained that he was kept awake
all night. This quoted down toward
morning, and the Journal correspond
ent mustered up courage enough to call
at the Blair abode.
The scene inside resembled baby
show. Cradles of all makes and de-
signs stood around the floor, and half
the young girls of the neighberhood
stood around holding portion of the
Blair family in their arms.
Mr.. Blair had taken refuge in the cell
lar and refused to see any callers.
"The babies are all doing well, bless
their little hearts" remarked Mrs. Da-
Wis, as she held several of them up to
the correspondents view, Mr.. Blair
has already been called upon by cir
Gus agent from Cincinnati, who wants
to engage the family to travel, and he
need not be frightened about this affair.
The babies will get good treatment"
A friend of Mr.. Blair, who came up
from the cellar represented that gentle
man as gradually resigned to the inevi-
table. The father expresses a strong
desire to know when this is going to
stop."
Friends of the family have already
notified the Governor that another $l5
is due 1t is said that the Governor
will recommend the introduction of a
bill in the Legislature aholishing the
gratuity. He is afraid that the State
Treasury will soon be used up.