Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-10-15

is described by the anonymous writer
as follows: "There are at Berlin some
score of public bars, the frequenters Of
which belong exclusively to the Grim
/ inal world. They are kept in the
Easements of houses; no bright-colored
sign-board tells of their existence, and
at night the light from the windows
falls family through closely drawn cur
tains into the street. The frequenters
are professional thieves, their accom-
plices (who find occasions where strokes
of business may be done), and receiy-
ers of stolen goods. The conversation
in these places is always carried on in
a low voice, and everybody drinks and
CANDLES. Disputes are rare, for IS
soon as quarrel threatens to become
noisy the neighbors of the parties in
question interfere in order to avoid any
uproar. Sometimes the door is rapidly
opened, a head is thrust in, and the
newcomer cries out Lampenp At this
word q general rush toward the door
commences, the innkeeper hurrics the
glasses off the tables, and when the
police arrive the room is empty. Both
at Berlin and at Frankfort public
houses of this kind have chain of out
posts formed by number of poor
wretches who, for few pence, keep .
lookout, and report as soon as any
sign of danger appears on the horizon.
If ever the police succeed in capturing
one of these thieves the malefactor
hardly offers any resistance"
1t is a wonderfully sad and pathetic
story that comes from Albany, N. Y,
Of the mental decline of him who was
once one of Americas most genial po-
cts, John G.. SAKE. Living within
stones throw Of the Capitol, he passes
his time in the seclusion of his room,
going down in the shadows of a cloud
ed life. A few years ago he was in the
prime of health and in the vigor of in
tellectual and physical powers. But
railroad accident with which he was
connected, and from which he emerged
with scarcely his life, loft his nervous
system permanently impaired, and
FASTENED the decay of his mental pow
ers. For two years he has lived life
OF seclusion, seeing no one but men,
bers of his family, and brooding over
the memories of a proud and happy
past. A settled melancholy has now
come over him, which shuts out
all Of the sunshine of life, and
leaves him brooding in it's
shadows. From having been one
of the most cheerful and merry writer's,
he is now in the vale of sorrow and
deep regret Few men have been
called upon to pass through such sud
den and overwhelming changes as have
come to him. In addition to his own
sufferings he has lost wife and children,
and now, without near friend in the
world, he waits sadly the release of
his own life. This is most pathetic
ending of a life that had so much COM
fort and good cheer in it for humani-
ty. Three have been no writer's in
this country who have surpassed him
in classic wit and genial humor, or
who have contributed to the language
more that was bright, and cheerful,
and helpful to the world. His fame
was not confined to his own nation, but
across the sea he was known as the
Thomas Hood of America. Now, after
having brought happiness to so many
lives, by a sad irony of fortune his own
is going out in deep misery and sor-
row. He passes hours at time in
silence, dwelling tenderly and regret
fully on the past and praying with a
longing heart for a release that cannot
come too soon.