davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-24
CHESTNUTS.

A very popular form of hilarious abuse now
a-days.is that which newspaper wits lavish on
old jokes 1t is not enough that joke be set
afoat on the community, but there must fol-
low jokes on the jokes, then jokes on the jokes
on the Jokes, and then jokes on the jokes on
the jokes on the jokes, until justice-loving
people turn to last years almanac as blessed
refuge from this years comic journalism. AS
the spring poet, with his vernal verses, his
rhythmical lettuce and spinach, is much more
acceptable than the sneering, jeering criticism
which he arouses, so the old joke, the "chest-
nut as it is now botanically termed, has more
valuable mission than the feeble jibes which
follow it. What man may dare to pronounce a
joke entirely exhausted While FIJI islander
exists who has not heard it the joke has still a
field before it, still unquenched vigor in its
composition. Because few men in narrow
section Of great world have heard joke and
laughed at it. they, forsooth, become the most
colossal joke of all time by stigmatizing it as
a chestnut, too old to be palatable. Let them
meet the right man and tell it to him, and
the fresh and hearty reception he would
grant it would make them ashamed for
ever. If all so-called old jokes could
be eliminated from social chat,
conversation would come to a dead standstill.
If man could have the rude candor to head off
every old joke he saw coming, and say to his
companions with brutal frankness, "Oh don't
tell that stale old joke again." in about three
days time he wouldn't have friend to bless
himself with, and his social isolation would
serve him right Danish all time-worn .jests.
and you remove most val liable aid to men
tai discipline. Any common-p place, crude be-
ing can laugh undoubtedly at fresh joke
with brand-new snapper to it. 1t elicits
the natural laugh. which is no credit to any
body But it demands talent of high order, and
self-control derived from long practice, to
manufacture and express keen appreciation Of
jests which, to our palates, have lost their
SAVIOR. De IL resolved, therefore, tnaI une ola
joke shall be permitted to live On and work
its mission. First because there are, truth
fully speaking, no such things as old jokes;
and finally, because the world would be a
bowling wilderness and man wretch whom
'twere base fattery to call a gentleman, with
out the restraining grace which the oft-re-
peated jest affords Pass the chestnuts!
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-24

tation of facts. Whoever recognizes and
reports fact makes valuable contribution
to science. But here, as elsewhere, the OBJ
writer's, spectators and theorists are many.
Medical men, as class, like to hear them
selves talk, and it is not likely that the asso-
Citations of doctors recently holding their meet
ings here will add more fact than theory to the
vast Accommodations of medical literature. 1t
is to be hoped that, when the book of their
proceedings is printed, some grains Of wheat
may be found among the chat, and that the
laity as well as the profession may profit by
the outcome
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-24
Caught in Their Own Tran.

CHICAGO May 23.-Charles H. Brown was
given judgment for $25 to-day, before Justice
Hammer. against John Fl. Redheffer, lawyer,
George Ryall agent of the American Protective
Association, both of whom are recently from
Philadelphia, and c. A. Cook, of this city.
Brown declares that on May II, Cook intro
duced him to the other defendants, who OK
planned that they would advance him 800
which he was to lose in a gambling room kept
by Martin & Skagle, who are operating what is
known as an automatic grain register
Having lost the money, the defendants
in this suit would sue to recover,
and the plan was. Brown alleges, to squeeze"
Martin e Skagle, who would willingly pay S.
to $40, 900 not to be prosecuted. 1t was claimed
that similar game had been played in ST.
Louis After keeping him idle for four or Ave
days, and not giving him the 800, Brown says
he grew discouraged, and began the present suit
to secure the payment of wages The defend
ants denied, in a general way, the statement
made by Brown, but the justice, after hearing
the testimony allowed the claim. II was de-
clared that Martin g. Skagle were taking in $500
a day
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-24
DANGER OF LETTER-WRITINa.


1t is common remark that people do not
write letters nowadays except upon business.
The increased and increasing receipts Of the
postal department indicate that vast amount
of epistolary correspondence of some sort is
carried on, and if it be true that it is mostly
of business nature, the fact speaks well for
the financial interests Of American citizens.
Politicians certainly do not burden the nails
by painful experience they have learned
caution. Vulgar persons, with the fear of
divorce or breach of promise suits
before their eyes, are chary of
putting down in black and white what
may prove future embarrassment in court.
Such consideration, however, cannot con-
Germ the respectable majority Of man and
womankind, and the truth probably is that
they do write letters of friendship and affec-
ton to each other in unlimited numbers and
of great length, impressions to the contrary
prevailing only among those busy people who
have no time for such things. The persons
Of leisure, if there be any such, who adhere to
the old fashion of pouring out their souls
upon paper may well feel alarm at the tenden-
cy of such epistles to get themselves into
print ON the slightest provocation. The
modesty of most letter writer's forbids the as
sumption that their own confidential commu-
nication with sympathetic friends will
ever be of sufficient interest to suggest
publication, but when they consider the fate
of other equally unsuspecting writer's, whose
private illusions have been given the public,
they may well hesitate to put their innermost
feelings on record, whatever the temptation.
If they are not Literary" OF distinguished
themselves, they may be related to or con-
nected with others who are literary or dis
tinguished, and their confidential outpourings
may become necessary to elucidate the char
acter or sentiments of the chosen friends
or trusted relatives, when those persons shall
have their 'literary remains edited. The
excuses of the ultimate possessors of such
documents for putting them into print are
many, and the dangers great that the writer's,
who sentimentally dissolve in ink as the old
fashioned novel heroine dissolved in
tears, may have their tenderest emotions
held up before jeering and heartless world
Who supposes, for instance, that Margaret
Fuller would have written the gushing letter
Of twenty-four pages to friend of her soul
had she dreamed that thirty years later
that friend would lay even part of it before
the public. II Margaret's shade ever revisits
her old haunts, she must strongly desire the
power to make herself known in a most de-
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-24
Commencement at Rockville High-School.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
ROCKVILLE Ind, May 23-The tenth annual
commencement of the Rockville High school was
held at the opera-house on Friday evening The
class of '85 comprised two gentlemen and five
ladies, with orations as follows Grafton and
salutatory. 1.-THE Empire Of Man. Frank B.
Harding: 1--WE Girls,n Minnie F. Connolly;
Westward the Course Of Empire Takes It's
Way Charles B. Noel; (Which Wayr
Mary L. Hesler; Caledonia" Carrie
Schol; cart Is Wondrous Long, yet 70
the Wise Her Paths are Ever fair Lavalette M.
Cross; Grafton and valedictory, Letters and
Men of Letters" Mira G. Baker. The Hon
John H. Beadle, editor Of the Rockville Tribune.
presented the diplomas, with fitting remarks
saying the class of IS was exceptionally one to
be proud of, as it contains member, Charles 3.
Noel, who had passed the competitive examina-
ton for West Point
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-24

less the artist who evolves them. The latest
victim of a heartless step-mother is little girl
who is described with great pathos as having
been penned up in garrett on several occasions
and mot mouthful of food given her for whole
weeks" The reporter should inform the step
mother that by pursuing this course of conduct
little girls will soon become extinct and of no
value as subjects of sensational articles.
In looking up the pedigree Of young Massa-
chusetts woman under arrest for having more
husbands than the law allows. it is found that
her female ancestors, for four generations back,
have been bgamists This is sad; but as the
search has also demonstrated that she comes of
an ''old family the young womans unlimited
eccentricities will doubtless be overlooked-in
Massachusetts.
THE trustees of Shakspeares birth place in
England are laboring under the singular diff
Guilty of having a greater accumulation of
funds than they have any use for or know
what to do with. Here is an opening for some
one of the American cashiers who has grown
weary of rusticating in Canada
A NATURALIST asks anxiously in the Popular
Science Monthly what is the probable origin of
whales~ Evidently this scientist is not ac-
quainted with the stories told by fishermen from
away back
A WIDELY circulated item says: marion Har
land MRS. Terhune, of Newark, is nearly fifty
years DID," Well, what of it, 1t is her mis-
fortune and not her fault
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-24

LA CROSSE, Wis. May 23-The principal
business block Of Lansing, To-. was burned to
the ground at an early hour this morning LeaS
100000 insurance. $4,000
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-24

FURTHER advices from Boston indicate that it
is only the preaching of sermons which is pro-
hibited on the sacred" Common, other devotion
al exercises held there, such as singing and pray
ing, not being criminal. grocer, who had
prayed and sung at the now far-famed open-air
meeting, was discharged from custody, but all
clergymen who had uttered words of exhortation
we're fined, and warned not to do so again. Evil
IDENTIFY the sermons of the Boston clergy are not
rated very high by the police force. Can the oc-
cupants of the pulpit be deteriorating in culturel
STORIES of cruelty to children succeed each
other with alarming rapidity in Philadelphia pa
pers. but success has evidently rendered care
The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-04-03

Washington, April 1.-The senate
IN executive session to-day confirmed
the following nominations; Henry
G.. Pearson, to be postmaster at New
York; Norman j. Coleman, to be com
missioner of agriculture; Jos. Il. John
sou, of Virginia, commissioner of rail.
roads; Edward Parke Curtis Lewis,
minister to Portugal; Geo. w. Merrill,
minister to Hawaiian islands; Alex,
McCue, solicitor OF the treasury
VIM. Il, Roberts, minister TO Chill;
Clement Dowd, collector of internal
revenue for the sixth district of North
Carolina; lsham G.. Scarcy, collector
of internal revenue for the third dis
irict of Texas; Nathan Gregg, collect
or of internal revenue for the second
district of Tennessee; j. Boyd, collect
or of internal revenue for the fifth
district of North Carolina:
II. b. Hubbard, Texas, minister to ia
pan; u. b Anderson, Wisconsin, min
lister to Denmark.
The nomination of q. NJ. Moore for
postmaster at Pleasanion, Kau., was
rejected by the senate.
A message was received by the
senate from the president about $3.50
aud it is rumored that it was the with
drawal of the nomination of Alex.
Lawton to be minister to Russia.
II Is understood that the president
has sent the senate n message asking
a suspension of action upon the nomi-
nation of Alex. II. Lawton, of Georgia,
to be minister to Russia, until papers
in connection with the removal of his
disabilities, can be found, but it is UNI
dcrstood the suspension is only tenn
DOrary,
The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-04-03
PREPARING FOR PEACB.


RUSSIA BUILDING WAR SHIPS AND
TORPEDO BOATs.
London, April 2.-l,ussia is taking
active steps to place her navy on n
better war footing. In additisn to
the five heavy iromclads, seven half
plated cruisers, and five torpedo rams,
recently mentioned by the Vossiche
Ioitung as being built for the Black
and Baltic seas, a number of cruisers
and torpedo rams are being rapidly
fitted ont at Nicoliefi. the station OF
the Russian admiral auG .!eet, at the
confluence of the Ingul.
The big cruisers are to be of from
5000 to 5000 tons burden, and will be
armed with from ten to fourteen can
non, about half of which will be of
large calibre, and the vessels are ex-
pected to attain speed of sixteen
knots.
The torpedo rams are of about 5000
tons, are estimated to go fifteen knots
and will be armed, in addition to two
torpedo apparatus, with six nine-inch
and four smaller guns.
The emir of BOokhara has agreed
to allow the passage ofRussian troops
and supplies through his territory in
the event OF war with England.
CHINA ACCEPTS PEACE PROPOSALS..
Berlin, April 2.-lt is stated that
the Chinese legation confirm the re-
port that China has accepted the peace
proposal made by NJ. Ferry, notwith-
standing the recent Chinese victory,
The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-04-03
THE GaULs STILL "EOND OF REV
OLtTlON.S

AN UPRoAR IN THE CHAMBER--A COM
MUNIsT SAT DOWN ON.
Paris, April "A scene of tumult-
uous excitement accompanied the af-
ternoon session OF the chamber of dep
utics. VI. Jolebois, in "A strong speech,
accused the proprietor of the Partisan
newspaper, lie Paris. of having pub
lished yesterday evening for specula-
tive purposes, the report that China
had accepted the peace proposals
which had been made by NJ. Ferry.
NJ. Jolebois denounced in unmeasurcd
terms this conduct, which he pro-
nounced II scandal of so grave u char
actcr as to be beyond liberation by
the French people. lie urged the i'm
mediate impeachment of the minis
tiers, and urged that NJ. Henri Bussou,
the president of the chamber, be ap-
pointed committee to go to Prcsi-
dent Grevy and ask him to officially
appoint a commission to transact the
business of the state pending the
formation of new ministry. Ills
motion was rejected by vote of 39S
10 40.
The chamber of deputies and the
senate this evening both adjourned
till SATURDAY..
The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-04-03

New IVFS, April "A member of
the Grant household has just stated
to reporter that the General is con-
siderably improved aud 1t is the be-
lief of this person the General may
live three days yet. The General Is
at this moment reposing easily on n
sort of couch made up of two chairs.
although he has lately shown some
restlessness by walking. Senior Ro-
nero is now with him. Gen. Charles
IL. Stone, of the Egyptian army, and
Gen. Daniel Il. Sickles called at the
house but neither of them saw Gen.
Grant. AT p. m. U. S. Grant, Jr.,
and his wife drove away to their
hotel.
The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-04-03
Large Amount of Mail Matter
Burned at Asp inwaIi.

New York, April Gable advices
from Aspinwall received to-day by
Postmaster Peason report serious
loss of mail matter in the destruction
of that city by fire on the 3lst ult.
The entire mail for the South Pacific.
dispatched from New York on the
2lst ult,, by steamer Colon was de-
stroyed and also the registered
mail and ordinary paper mail for As
pinwall, which was sent by the same
steamer. The letter mail was nearly
all delivered before the fire broke out
AS accurately as can now be learned
the mail for Central America and the
Pacific coast of South America, which
was burned, consisted of 100 packages
of registered mail, ten sacks of ordi-
nary letters and fourteen sacks of pa
Dcrs
The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-04-03
pposite Gen. Grants residence and

opposite Gen. Grants residence and
gaze up at the second story windows
where the generals room is located.
Two policemen dispersed all such
gatherings in short order and then
drivers of wagons and carriages
while on that block were called upon
tie walk their horses.
Gen. Badeau came from the sick
room shortly after noon and walked
towards Madison avenue he said, in
reply to an inquiry, "Gcn. Grant is
very low and is gradually sinking, he
will probably die tomorrow morn
ing" AT IL O'Clock two gentlemen
drove up to the house in light car
riage, one of them entered the house
aud remained five minutes. lie said
the general had expectorated quite
frequently and felt relieved. Rev.
DIR. Newman vised the general at
O'Clock and remained with the pa
tient for over an hour. When he
left the sick room he said to re-
porter: "The generals condition is
about the same, he is resting easy; he
converses pleasantly and distinctly
and his mind is clear and uuclouded.
The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-04-03
A LAST RALLY.
The Old Soldier is Still Bat
ting Brayely With the
Dark Angel.
The Horrors of His Disease Par
tally tOid-A Picture TO
Make One shuddeT.
The south Remembers aud
Prays for Hin-Throngs of
People About His Home.
The Trouble in the Northwest
Continues and the Rebel
lion Grows stronger.
GENERAL GRANT DYING BY IN
CiiEs.
GENERAL GRANT DYING ny IN.
CIEs.
The sufferers Horrible ConditiOn--
I.NcnIh OF Tho MIMI MnIChCN

rho sufferers Horrible COnditiOn--
Events OF tho Night watches
New York, April p An hour after
midnight Con. Grant was asleep and
at that time Col. Fred Grant was in
doubt whether his father would be
alive at day-break. This doubt was
based upon the fact that the disease
has spread through the mouth and
above the palate into the head. The
seck of the throat was eaten into; the
gums on the rlgnI q. T. az the teeth
were partially consumed. anu rnu
postcrior and anterior arches in the
right side were gone. The palate on
the right side was raw and though
the General spoke feebly. il was with
difficulty and with scarcely any use of
the tongue. His anxiety was further
augmented by statement from DIR.
Shrady TO the effect that unless there
was strong rally through the night
the General could hardly survive
until early daylight.
From o'clock until daylight the
General rested with intervals of fret
fulness. Doctors Douglass and
Shrady were with him and Rev. DR..
Newman was in the house during the
night. The gas was turned low in
the sick room and library and the
physicians and members of the family
waited and chatted until about 3
o'clock when Col. Grant and one of
the doctors went on watch.
The daylight had come at B
o'clock, when it was deemed wise to
administer stimuant to the patient
and Dr. Shrady gave him some brandy
This was medicated slightly and was
administered hypodermically because
of the patients inability to swallow.
The occasion of the stimulant
was of the gInvest character. As the
patient seemed sinking rapidly the
household was aroused and quickly
every member of the family was AT
the bedside and both physicians we're
in closest attendance.
At $3.50 O'Clock, the group in the sick
room believed the patient was pass
ing away and the doctors were of the
opinion that the general would not
| live five minutes. Stimulants were
again administered hypodemically
and, as DIR. Newman puts it, that Won
deriul tenacity of life, and strength of
intellect sustained the patient. His
mind was as clear us the daylight he
had lived to see again, and he was
able, at Whit was deemed the critical
hour, to speak more freely than in the
early night, Injections of stimuiauts
were continued at short intervals and
when he had revived tritle aud was
IL little stronger, hc glanced at the
members of his family. The doctors
DR.. Newman and the attendants, al
grouped stood at the bedside and he
uttered these words: II bless you all.
AT o'clock Rev DIR, Newman en-
gagged the family in morning prayer
and another day of anxiety and wait
ing was fairly ushered in. DIR. Shra'
DIV left the house at $40 O'Clock, lie
said that the general was then resting
easy
The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-04-03
FOR ASp|NWALL.
Democratic Uncle Sam Will
Send His Blue Coats
Down Thers.
The Hum of Preparation NJ
Brooklyn ana League Is
Iand-MaiI burned.
Russia Strengthening Her Ma
vy-The Afghan AIneer In
censed ut England.
A Gate at Perry Kills One Man
ana Destroys Houses
and Fences.
HOi FOR AsPINwALL.
Troops ana war ships being Dis
patched.

Troops ana war ships being Dis
patched.
Washington, April I'm answer
to telegram sent last night by
Secretary Whitney to the Pacific Mail
Steamship Co. at New York, relative
to the number OF men the company's
vessels can take to Aspinwall without
delay, the following reply was re-
ccived this morning: We can carry
200 men to the city of Para tomorrow
at noon, and carry in the Acapulco
next Monday. Secretary Whit
ncy replied as follows: We will
ship POO men by your steamer to-mor-
row with tents and camp equipage
The Tennessee with Admiral Jewett
uay, with an extra complement of
marines for Aspinwall and With extra
provisions. This will place four
ships and between 400 and 800 availa-
BILE men at Aspinwall for land
service, rs 10 Mondays steamer | will
communicate with you hereafter.
The men will he taken from Brook
lyn' navy yard.
In reply to telegram sent
to Commander Kane of the
Galena the following was also re-
ceived to-day: "Transit is closed;
steamship property safe and in my
possession, also all the railroad prop
erty at the north end of the island. II
is advisable to send another vessel"
When il was learned in the navy
department this morning that the sec
rotary had determined to protect
American interests at the Isthmus by
force, there was considerable excite
nlcnt among naval officers ON duty
here, and number of them immedi-
ately volunteered their services to go
to Aspinwall The selection of officers
has however been left to board of
detail which convened at IL o'clock.
1t is understood that Maj. Charles
Hayward, of the marine corps, who is
in charge of the marine barracks nj
Brooklyn, will have mediate COM
mand of the marines. A rival officer
of high rank will however be detailed
to command the expedition.
The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-04-03
A,inmnls no GO noWn stnirs.

New York, April 2.--At 1910
o'clock the following bulletin was is
sued; "The General slept in bed con-
tinually until $3.50, when he arose and
tried to go down stairs. lie was in
duced to return to his room and his
chair, where he is now. When he
took his place in his chair some nour-
ishment was brought to him, which
he took without objection. In other
respects his condition is as good as IL
was at 1880 a. III.
[Signcdl j. IL. DOUGLAS, NJ. ID.
Dr. Douglas said the General was
conscious when he tried TO go down
stairs, but the doctor could not eX-
press an opinion as to how long his
patient might live.
The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-04-03
THE CANADIAN NORTH WEST.


Winnipeg, April "A dispatch
from GU appelle to-day says: The
Cree Indians are acting ugly. They
came ont in their war paint yesterday
and raised hideous row but the
agent induced them to return to
their reservation though they are
likely to break out at any moment
A meeting of the French halt-brecds
was called to-day at the mission at
On appelle. Col llcrchheimer is
still at Medicine Hat and will be re-
called, Gen. Middleton being afraid
that he will be annihilated if he
crosses toward Battle Ford
iIumbv.l: haa been deserted by
the operator and the mail carriers,
owing to fear of descent upon the
place by the rebels, and the operator
at Clark's Crossing is expecting hour
ly to be made captive. The Indians
have left Battle Ford, going in west
crly direction, and it is supposed they
have gone to join the TT. Pitt Indians
There is no doubt that the position Al
Battle Ford is very serious one, as
one-third of the whole Indian popula
ton is in that district and Col. Herck'
mer will be unable to render any as
sistance with his small force. Riel''
scouts have been seen at Humboldt
200 miles from GU appelle, but no
body knows just where the rebel lead
err is located.