The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-11
MINOR MENTION.


MINOR MENTION.
A PATHETIC death took place in New York city
on Sunday last, that of little Florrie Stirk,
whose name will be readily recalled by thousands
of people all over the country. She was one of
the Stirk family of bicycle riders, and was well
known, and while but eleven years cid, was re-
garded as a prodigy in feats of balancing and BIZ
cycle riding. She had entered upon a new sea-
sons business, and had begun to perform in Bar
NUNS great circus, which is about to begin its
annual tour of the country. It was apparent
from the first that she was not well, and the
physician summoned to attend her told her par
ents that she must have absolute rest, and care
must be taken to shield her from all exposure
He doubtless recognized the fact that she would
never recover, and told her parents that she was
a victim Of consumption, which seemed % re-
markable in one so young that they refused to
believe it. and summoned other medical advis-
ers, who soon gave the same opinion. The little
sufferer soon went into a speedy decline, and In
6 few days she died. Florrie Stirk, young as he
was, had travelled all over the country. and had
been the wonder and envy of tens of thousands
of children, who saw her in her spangles and
imagined her very happy. The applause that
was given her by the multitudes who witnessed
her daring feats may or may not have been
pleasing to her. More than likely she was too
weary of it all to enjoy anything. Constantly
on the go. she probably never saw q days
quiet and rest in months. and doubt
less envied the happy little folks
who in turn envled her. Overworked at the
very time she should have been in the enjoy
ment of those things so necessary to childhood,
she speedily broke down, and went to 8 con-
sumptive's grave at an age that should have
found her a rosy-cheeked child, reveling in child
ish sports SO dear to every young heart. All
the glitter and excitement Of the circus ring
could not keep her tender life in its frail casket,
plause, and out from all the WEAKNESS and suf-
fering that were hers while living. Her little
feet may now be wandering over the pleasant
fields that were denied her in life, and her
heart is glad at last In the release that has come
so tardily. The children who will miss little Flor
RE Stirk this summer when the great show
around may be happy in the assurance
that she is in a far better land, where she will be
forever free from the hard work that wore out
her life in this exacting world.
IT has been said of old that true love never
did run smoothly. In Georgia, besides not run
ming smoothly, it runs remarkably scientifically.
In Worth county q planter named Hall, a man
some sixty years of age, lately lost his wife: that
is, she died. lie soon began calling at the house
of a neighbor. but no thought was given his visits
beyond the idea that he merely sought consola-
ton. This in truth was what he did seek, but
it was discovered that he sought it at the hand
of the neighbours daughter, aged but twenty.
Well, of course, this did not suit the parents of
the young lady, and he was forbidden the house.
To all appearances he accepted his fate and
made no complaint. But he was a schemer of
high degree. and brought emissaries to bear that
none could suspect. His own two daughters,
aged twenty-three and twenty -fve-oider than
their fathers sweetheart-went to her house and
joiued, apparently, in the fun made of the old
gallant. But at night they i~nveigled the young
lady out, and, before anybody but those inter
ested in making a match knew what was going
on, had the pair married. It isn't often that
young girls favor goings on of this kind. There
seems to be a natural prejudice against the sold
man making a fool of himself" 1t would be in
t~eresting to know what induced the girls in this
instance to break the revered and wholesome
rule.
A DETROIT widower hired a buxom and beau
tiful widow to keep house for him and his chill
dren, with about the usual result. The woman
soon began to feel that she had a mortgage on
him. and exhibited the most inordinate jealousy
when any other female spoke to the man. Re-
Gently a friend of the family called at the resi-
dence, and this set the slumbering fire ablaze,
and trouble began. The widow proceeded to
best suit and tore it to ribbons. She then
searched for a little coat made by one of his ad-
mirers for his little boy, and, when she got
through with it, there vas not enough left of it
to make \ wash rag. Not content with this. she
cut the knobs off the bureau, battered up the
center table, emptied ashes on the best carpet,
and drove her hand through a picture o. his.
She then completed the job by running of with
his children. She was ''boycotting" him with a
vengeance, and, under the new ideas that are
seeking recognition, it is hard to see now she
can be blamed.
THE women of Chicago seem In a fair way to
settle the Chinese question, which they proceed
to do by marrying the Celestial laundrymen.
Two Cinnamon have taken white wives in that
city this week, and no one appears to have
thought to say them nay. Wing Lee led of on
Monaay By marrying Miss Lizzie Miller. and on