The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-26
MATTERS AND THINGS.


Written for the Sunday Journal
Philadelphia man has been arrested for
marrying three wives in seven days. OF course
such conduct was most reprehensibe, but 1t
might have been worse; suppose he had ma
ried seven wives IN three days.
When the rae-man comes out of his winter
lair. and begins his yelling and groaning up and
down the back alleys, and the apple and orange
peddlers set up their oratorical contests on OBJ
posing corners. and sne neighbors begin to have
their ash-piles cartei off, and English sparrows
fit by the window with feathers and straw IN
their bills, lurking suspicion creeps abroad
that the back bone of the winter is broken and
that an early springis impending. 1t is best
not to act rashly. however. on bare supposition.
and plunge reck1essly into purchases of spring
bonnets light overeoats, for the word
of a sparrow, especially English sparrow.
is not always the truth and the whole truth. A
of veracity says that when the old State
house was alive, Dr. Levette, then Assistant
State Geologist, found frozen sparrows' eggs,
frozen in a frozen nest. in a frozen awning In
February Two sparrows for farthing may
be market price, but they are dear at that rate
if they cannot prognosticate better than that
Perhaps they do better now, however when
they have the cold-wave flag to go by. The or
grinder is a pretty reliable harblnger
When he begins touring the town to the tune OF
''SpriEg, Beautiful Spring." 1t is time to send
for pansy-seed and begin planning out the gar
den. Apropos of organ grinders, this city har-
bors young lady who has mania for hand-or-
gan music. When she was quite little girl she
was despatched to a corner grocery for a loaf OF
bread she failed to return. and after frenzied
search by her parents, was discovered late In the
afternoon, miles away from home tagging after
an organ grinder whom she had encountered
~ IN the morning. She seemed blissfully happy,
and had the five cents for the bread still
clutched in her dirty little fist. Now she is too
tlmld to brave public opinion by running after
the organ man, but she says she feels like it:
and when she is to be married she shall stipu-
late that hand-organ must be her bridal pres
ent from the groom. There's accounting for
tastes"
1t is worthy of note that the jury which
brought in verdict of guilty against Mrs. Rob-
inson, the Boston Borgia who had murdered
seven persons, were all biue-eyed men. If there
is any underground connection between blue
eyes and the strict distribution of justice. it
would be well for this color line to be drawn in
the selection OF future juries 1t should not be
allowed to count against the blue eyed man,
however, that he is generally light headed
The criticism in last Sundays Journal as to
the manner in which musical numbers are
ceived at kindergarten entertainments was both
just and unjust. On principle. it is unqueston-
ably rude for anyone to talk during the rendi-
ton of musical numbers, in private parlor or
at recital strictly musical but much can be
said il palliation of such offenseS committed
at such receptions as the valentine tea of late
date. The crowd is generally large that
brass band in the back parlor would hardly be
heard. over the din of the talk, in the
front parlor or ball. Add to the talk
the clatter of dishes in the dining-room the
opening and closing of the front door, as guests
constantly going and coming the almost iu-
evitable conversation as new guests arrive, and
it il not to be wondered VI that lull cannot be
attained that the music Could be en- joyed by the
entire gathering. That this is universal
ly-regretted matter is constantly expressed
by those who have been unable hear
the piano. and that the songs instrumental
numbers are fully appreciated by those fortunate
enough to be within hearing distance is equally
true; therefore. let not those who have given
their talents to aid charity be discouraged from
repetition of such good works. At the same
time the kindergarten Society, which has solic-
tied such assistance. should try to have it under
stood that silence IS requested during the
musical programme, and let the ladies nearest
the piano speed the injunction. 'sh!" to those in
far corners.
Is the modern parent becoming debilitated, or
is he growing merciful7 An electric rod
which has been invented for the correction of
unruIy youngest ers calls forth this query. The
next thing in order will probably be an auto
matte thrashlng machine, to whose tender mer-
cles the mother may consign her children when :
she HES her away to her art club readings
from the poets" But the small fry are ageing
wise Also and the next report from their side of
the field will doubtless be that some father
ABOUT TO punish MS small boy, mas Oeen fatally
shocked by small electric battery, which the
youth carried concealed about his person. The
bringing up process involves strange happen
ings both sides. A gentleman who has q
a street-car how they all were. "Oh, they're
all well, was the reply. Il gave them licking
all around just before o5s l came away o What
ing. but knew they would deserve it before I
got home again.
NOD pbo haor aad ~ Eel
of Margaret Kent will De glad to know that
Queen Money by the same author, is equally
readable The 'flling in," if it may be so
termed-of these books, is their chief charm
bright repartee, fresh bits of humor, and equally
fresh bits of wisdom fill in the pauses of the
plot in a very attractive manner. Here is a
choice morsel on buying books:
People buy everything but books" said Clayton
White. They draw the line at that extravaganza
lars-nobodv can afford such an outlay. They win
wait six months to get soled copy from a library
M spend to
forty, hundred, five hundred dollars for green
trumpery dishes for tables and walls adorn their
with dead BIRDS feathers. bits of tinse
they will eat f drink and be merry; take pains
sensual inclination they feel. But booksi--books
not the material but the ndestructible of hui
man life and art not worth making sacrifice for
Times are getting worse and for the
red-headed girl. young lady who has hair of
this now popular and unfortunate tint, recently
had it delicately conveyed to her by her most
intimate friend that she loved her still the
same. but that she could not afford to be seen in
pu bile with her any more-She really could not
endure the conspicuousness and attention which
association with the red -headed girl seemed to
bring upon her. On the same day
the second best chum of the unfortunate red
headed girl dropped in to remark that she too,
would have to draw the line treet-parades
with her in future she had twice lately barely
escaped being over by white horse while
in her society. If this threadbare fallacy is not
soon buried in oblivion, all the converts will be
ull OF red-headed nuns. for of the girls
says
One of the things which the everyday mind