davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1888-02-23
EDITORIAL NOTES.

The state of Maryland has recent
ly established home for the wild
ows and mothers of disabled confed-
crate soldiers.
The last number of the San Saba
News was unusually spicy-'oause
it cabbaged literally from the edito-
rial column of the BANNER.
AN exchange says that democratic
voters may as well paste it in their
hats now that they will have to vote
for Carlisle for vice-president.
NOSES have been counted on the
proposition to admit Utah into the
Union, and the result is that it is
destined to be disastrously defeated
WITH Blaine eliminated as a can
didate for the republican nomina-
ton, an exchange says that Willie.
Wallie Phelps would be like cow
that has lost its cud.
Hon. Roger @. MILLS and W. c.
P. Breckenridge have been down to
Providence enlightening the manu-
facturers on the tariff. By Saint,
Paul, the battle goes bravely on.
WITH one or two exceptions the
Austin press is alone in desiring an
extra session of the legislature. 1t.
is needless to say that they stand in
with the boardinghouse-keepers.
DIR. ARTHUR DEBAUssETT, of Chica--
go, has great hope of making his.
airships a success, and in.
the event that he does, Will sell Them
to the United States for coast de-
Tense
PRoF. JOIN L. SULLIVAN resents
the severe criticisms of the press on
Is 'Ighness, the princes conduct at
the Opera Comique, and says he is
''bang up brick, but lately down on
his luck"
TIE pulpit is still engaged in war
ring on the theatre and in heaping
bitter denunciation on it. At the
same time it is to be noticed that no
effort is made by the pulpit to ele-
rate the stage.
AT recent republican pow-wow
IN affecting letter was read from
rutherford B. Hayes, regretting his
.bsence from the conclave on ac-
:ount of himself and entire family
'eing down with the pips.
The democratic press of Minneso-
O has been interviewed and is unan
nous for the denomination of
resident Cleveland. This is mere
? sample of the condition of demo
ratio sentiment everywhere else.
The republicans are getting in
God shape to serve as the tail to
ne prohibition kite. As separate
rganization, however, it may man
&c to pull through one more cam
align without losing its own identi-
The doctors engaged in quarrel
g over their diagnoses Of the
rince's throat advance their various
leories with a confidence born of
lie assurance that they viii soon be.
Die by an autopsy to establish
lem.
IF THE negro leaders of the small
bal that is trying to mix the color
| schools with politics in this city
ould be wise and avoid trouble
ley had better drop the subject, or
ey will be exposed in the columns
the BANNER.
The governor of Illinois has is
ed his periodical quarantine proc
nation against Texas cattle. The
lckers seem to have a greater an
,athy for our long horns than Bis
arck has for the American hog,
d the prejudice is more unreason-
lie.
The papers OF the state announce
at Booth and Burett are meeting
til royal" reception. Lest
,ong impression might be formed
the minds of foreign visitors it is
be understood that the language
intended in highly iguratiye
nse.
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1888-02-23
OUR STANDING ARMY.

Some time back in mentioning tn,
introduction of bill into congress
by western member, providing fol
an increase of at least one third il
the numbers constituting the regular
standing army of the United States
the BANNER took occasion to observe
that if there was to be any change
at all the number should be reduced
Since then we have received an open
letter from one who is evidently q
crank, signing his name Lieut.. B. F
Handforth, informing us that he will
shortly publish a book entitled
Judgment" which will contain
many reasons why the regular army
should be abolished and the National
Volunteer Guard encouraged and ex
allied. He styles the custom of keep
ing up an army in time of peace as
Il rage for the antique" and says
that tradition is responsible for it.
He says: II claim to be a prophet,
and I expect to see some of my pro
phesies fulfilled. Having a name
written upon my forehead and thighs,
a systasis. known tono man'but my
self, I hereby lay claim to the unique
distinction of being biblical char
acter. But now 1 propose to sound
an assault upon all the standing ar
mics of the world, and I prophesy
that they will fall like a row of bricks
after the regular army of the United
States is abolished" The BANNER
is neither prophet nor the son of a
prophet, nor does it believe in all
this crank says, but his main idea
concerning the useless expense of
maintaining a standing army in a
country like this, entirely free from
foreign invasion and with no imme-
date, remote nor probable cause for
going to war itself, is correct. To
keep up this standing army in idle
ness, the only excuse for the exist
ence of which is in order that it may
form nucleus" of trained men for
the service around which to form an
army in case there should be war,
it costs the taxpayers S25,OOO,OOO.
It creates crime and vice untold.
lewd women and other
camp followers hang around the
quarters, and decentralization reigns
among the rank and file, while among
the officers a kind of aristocracy is
reared up, and they are accustomed
to look upon civilians, however able
md distinguished they may be in
civic life, with a kinl of contempt.
They are exclusive and naughty and
hardly ever mingle in society outside
Of army circles. Besides, the max
ng so much of the regular army dis
,ourages the organization of the vol
Inteer militia and smothers the pa
iotism and military zeal of local vol
lnteer organizations. The govern
nent should erect coast defenses and
establish Notifications throughout
he country. A half-dozen men at
zach of these could take care of the
and keep it in proper re- !
pair. Liberal laws encouraging the
volunteer militia would build up a
strong national guard upon patriotic
principles and from true love of !
The millions paid for main
aiming standing army could be
ipent in cnast defenses or go to the
tightening of the burdens of the ,
people by reducing the tariff. ,
The Globe-Democrat, st. Louis
great religious daily, slashes about
ike balloon without ballast. The
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1888-02-23

In the trial of divorce suit at
Plainfeld, H., It was developed that
the husband, who was defendant,
always winter and summer insisted
on sleeping between sheep-skins and
commended that nothing else con-
duced as much to health and COM
fort. The divorce, it is needless to
say, was granted.
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1888-02-23

The Chinese students, so-called,
from the mission school at Portland,
Ore, should be exposed by the press
of the state. They are simply tramp
ing around the country quilting peo-
pie and levying contributions under
the cloak of the church. BY interest
ing the churches, for whose benefit
they pretend to give entertainments,
and by having little girls to hawk
the tickets around they manage to
take in considerable money and Sc
cure large audiences. They are a
fraud of the first water and are sim
ply dead-beating their way.
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1888-02-23

The lobe-Democrat, st. Louis
great religious daily, slashes about
like balloon without ballast. The
other day it set down on Sheridan's
boom by urging that he was strict
Roman Catholic, and calling to mind
his summary disposition of the mob
during the great railroad strike at
Chicago in 1877, by planting can
non in the streets and firing upon
it. The next day the GID hoisted
the names of Sheridan and Richard
]. Oglesby for president and vice
president.
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1888-02-23

The tariff is a great issue on
which every statesman should thor
oughly post himself, and yet Gener-
al Hancock wasn't very far wrong
when he made himself famous by
characterizing it as local Tor rather
a sectional) issue. 1t tends more to
breed sectionalism and to array one
interest against another than any
other thing.
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1888-02-23

ALTHOUGH unusual for big snow
slides or for ice to melt at this sea-
son of the year in Russia and in the
mountain ranges of Germany and
the Alps, yet the war feeling is be-
coming SO intense in the east that
nothing scarcely can Withstand its
fervor. The ice is reported as break
ing up and things are getting in
shape for en- outburst. Italy makes
no conceaiment of her intentions
nor of her vast naval preparations
actively going on, and Russia unrea-
sonable demand seems to be put in
the shape of an ultimatum or proto-
col.
The Louisiana lottery seems des
tine to play an important part in both
state and national politics. More's
the pity
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-05-31
The Nobility in Germany.

Tho manners of people of high rank in Ger
many are amusing to a stranger. Nowhere
in the world are "dukes an duchesses an
sich' so unpretentious as here. In the hotel
where l am stopping there are several princes
Of note who are waiting an Improvement in
the emperor's condition before returning
home Soldiers guard the entrances of the
hotels in their honor, but that is the begin
ming and end of all ceremony. The Duke of
Meiningen, tall, amiable looking man
with a big gray beard, and the Duke of Salm-
Horsmar, who is blonde and dyspeptic wan
der unconcernedly about, followed by droves
of men in magnificent uniforms. Wherever
they go people rise and remain standing till
the men of title have seated themselves.
Then there is general sinking into seats and
covert looks toward the great men.
When the princesses-of whom there are q
dozen or so-take it it in their royal little
blonde heads to dine in the public dining
room, an enormous sensation is created.
People have to bob up and down repeatedly
when they enter, and all the officers kiss the
princesses' hands with the most reverential
and impressive homage. It's funny to see
the princesses turn their faces and watch the
kissing. They feel about the same interest
in it as a COW does when she turns around
and looks contemplatively at the maid who
is milking her. The officers are dandies out
and out They never attempt to conceal it.
They wear stays, and when they take of
their helmets and caps in the big restaurants
and hotels they lean over the tables and
calmly arrange their hair with little combs
and brushes carried in the coat tail pockets.
5ators evince respectful interest in it, and
when it is at length completed there is a
general sigh of relief and satisfaction, the
officers bow to one another politely, and the
world rolls on again upon its axis.-Blakely
Halls Berlin Letter in New York Sun.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-05-31
STRANGE SIGHTS N MEXICO.

Old and Primitive Customs Which Sur
prise Northerners-silent Courtship.
Everything looks particularly strange in
Mexico at the present time" said r. E.
Ward, of Los Angeles, who arrived from
there on one of the vestibule trains. "They
do things so differently down there, any
way from what we do, that things look very
oueer to an American. Scenes in the streets
now set you to thinking,
"In all the cities and towns you see long
lines of jack trains loading with goods and
this notwithstanding the railroads and trans,
as they call their street car lines. The latter
are the regular cars drawn by mules. They
extend through a town and out into the
country seven, eight and as far as twelve
miles right through the country TO ana De-
yond other towns, sometimes connecting sew
eral in chain. You may ride short dis
tance on one of these first class cars for
one-half real, or six and one-half cents On
a second class car you pay half OF that, and
on third class half of that again. They
run the three kinds of cars on the same
track
"The City of Mexico has not been drained
for 800 years, and an Ohio company has Just
taken a contract to do it. Heretofore all
the drainage has run into lake that throws
it all back again, and you lift up any of the
sidewalks in that city and you get smell
that nearly knocks you over. There is just
one elevator in the City of Mexico. 1t has
only been recently put in. Every evening
great crowds stand around with wondering
eyes to see it work. They never have fire
nor a place for one in any of the rooms, and
you are sometimes quite uncomfortable.
They light you upstairs with a tallow can
die, and each guest must furnish his own
towel and soap
"Going along the streets Of Mexico City
one day | saw a young man Tipping his
fingers grotesquely, as though playing an
imaginary tattoo in the air. | looked all
around but couldn't see anything. The next
day saw him at it again, gazing sliyward
all the time. | went into the hotel, and one
of my friends asked me if had seen that
young fellow who was counting that young
girl l fell all at once, and looking out
saw girl in third story window looking
out at him and doing the tattoo act also
Said my friend:
"'This business has been going on for two
years, and neither of them has spoken g
word
sit was So They were counting. That:
the way they do it down there 1t was 6
Irritation, long protracted, but whether the
pantomime was transferable into language
am unable to say."-San Francisco Elk
aminer.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-05-31
The Ball Club All Ri Zht.

The base ball committee did splendid
work yesterday. They canvassed the town
pretty well and satisfied about 81, 100 of
claims of the club. They paid the play
ers up in full until June l, half
months salary, and the club leaves for
its second trip to morrow in the best of
humor. The work of the committee
plainly shows that Austin has confidence
in her club, and is willing TO back it to
the full extent of her pile. There
is 10 question about the tinan-
cial outcome of this years sea-
son of base ball. Our citizens
are enthused, and they mean that Austin
shall stand at the front of the league
when the season is over. The new man in
in the stub, Tsaacson, the first baseman,ar
rived last night and will play with the club
in the games of the series on its present
tour. The club is now on a good present
financial footing, but, while it is gone,
committee will circulate to get new
stock subscribed for the payment of old
and outstanding Indebtedness against
the club. Success ID our boys.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-05-31
FARM NOTES

Pure, strong cider vinegar is recon-
mended as a cure for warts on COWS.
Get pair of good brood mares and
breed them every year to the best draft
horse accessible. There's money in it.
In cultivating your crops this year, try
JEFF Welborn's method of constantly stir
ring the soil, discarding the hoe and using
the pillow altogether.
AS soon as the calf is dropped take it
from its mother. 1t can easily be trained
to drink from the pan, and the separation
will save you much trouble. Besides, the
calf will soon learn to drink skim milk,
and this will save you much cream.
There is as much difference in the char
acters of soil as in the temperaments of
people. Cultivation which is good for one
field may be bad for another; and one
crop might grow we'll where another does
nothing Everything is good for some
thing.
1t is definitely known that a Chicago
syndicate has obtained control of the corn
market from now until the new crop is
harvested, and until that time the price
will be held at 60 cents bushel. And vet
some people wonder why such organiza-
lions as the Grange, the Alliance, and the
Farmers Trust exist
The Angora goat industry is declining
The wool has dropped from 20 cents per
pound several years ago to 20 cents now,
and the meat brings only or 8 cents per
pound. Angora mutton is really a very
fine meat, and the animal is practically
free from disease, but somehow people are
down on goats.
In mixed stock farming a farmer has
more than one string to his bow, and if
one should snap he would have another or
several to fall back upon. If his hogs
should take the cholera and die he would
have his horses and cattle to fall back
upon which would not die; should the
cattle market be ruinously low, horses
might be in good demand, and a span of
geldlngs or young filly might discharge
that interest, note or mortgage about to
engulf his farm.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-05-31
Complimentary German.

A complimentary german was given at
Firemen's hall Friday night TO Miss May
Patrick and Miss Marion Duck. Miss
Patrick leaves tonight for Nashville to be
absent for year, while Miss Duck, having
spent the winter in Aus in, returns to her
home in Atlanta. 1t is with much regret
that the young men see these two young
ladies leave the city, as Miss Patrick is an
acknowledged favorite with all, and Miss
Duck has made many friends, who will be
glad to welcome hsr back to Austin. The
following couples we're 10 attendance:
Mr.. Lew Tobin and Miss Williams, of
Houston; Mr.. Isaac Melasky and Miss
Cave, of Houston; Mr.. Louis Davis and
Miss Duck, of Atlanta, Ca; Mr.. Chas.
VIM and Miss May Patrick, Mr.. jim
Collett and Miss Martin, of Fort Worth;
Mr.. Ed. Carr and Miss Georgia Brown;
Mr.. Earnest Goldman and Miss Swanson,
of Houston; Mr.. West Moore and Miss
Maggie Smith, Mr.. George McCarty
and Miss Skinner, of Galveston;
Mr.. Burt Starlight and Miss Berta Board
man, Mr.. Frank Brown and Miss Fannie
Breeding, Mr.. Harry McCleary and Miss
Sallie Walker, Mr.. Warren Moore and
Miss Jessie Smith, Mr.. VIM. Boswell and
Miss Ruth Lee, Mr.. Henry Roberts and
Miss Scoggin, of Dallas; Mr.. John King
and Miss Jeanette Stowe, of Henderson,
Mr.. Lock Brush, Mr.. Albert Grant and
Mr.. Calm Grow.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-05-31
The New County Bridge.

The drill and dedication having passed
the question of another bridge across the
Colorado is being again discussed by the
citizens of Austin with undated interest
The inadequate means of communication
have worked much injury to the merchants
and residents of the eastern portion of
the city and to the country people. A
few weeks since, during the rise in the
river, all the ferries and fords were en-
tir ly useless, and communication, except
by the present bridge, was cut off. The
building of another Bridge is an urgent
necessity and the people of the county
aud East Austin do not raise the question
of loc alton, bridge at Montapole's, Tur-
ner's or Stones ferry being equally deSir-
able. The county commissioners are
urged to come to an early decision and
grant the much needed bridge.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-05-31

that of persons employed by private indi-
viduals.
This report is signed hy Messrs' De-
Gress, Wilson and Brush.
Alderman Workman gned approving
ell except that pat relating to hose cart
drivers.
Alderman Fisher signed approving thu
portion of the report which relates % the
proposed reduction OF the police force and
the removal of the city secretary only.
The majority report was adopted as to
the first, cond and fifth suggestions and
as to the suggestion abolishing the Office of
oily secretary, to which Mayor Male re-
Gently appointed Mr.. Harris.
Minority report was adopted refusing
to abolish the office of sanitary inspector
and assistant assessor and collector.
The report, as am ended, was adopted,
and the council adjourned without adopt
ing any ordinance to conform to the re
port of the committee and perfect its &C
ton,
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-05-31
Persia's Divorce Laws.

In Persia, as in Turkey, if a husband wishes
a divorce from his wife all he has to do is to
order her out of the house, As check upon
the too free use of this arbitrary proceeding,
however, the Persians have constituted a very
curious and ingenious custom. While the
Mohammedan laws make it so easy for hus-
band to put away his wife, it secures to her
all her own property. Under no con-
sideration can the husband deprive the wife
of her own property AS a precaution
against divorce, then, the husband in the
marriage contract is usually required to
promise a considerable sum of money as a
wedding gift to his bride. This money is not
Forthcoming at the wedding nor expected
but it is placed to the wife's credit as a debt
owed to her by the husband AS in case of
divorce this money would have to be paid
over, the amount is usually made $50 large
that it is virtually beyond the husbands
means. ln.that case divorce to him would
mean financial ruin, and as Persian's
pocket is the most susceptible part about
him, it follows that there is no divorce.
Owing to this ingenious arrangement,
although mere angry order to BECOME is a
legal divorce, there are fewer divorces in
Persia than in the United States. Thomas
Stevens in New York Sun.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-05-31
A Tomb and Rolling Stone"

From Mount Calvary it is but short ride
to the rock hewn sepulchers known as the
"Tombs of the Kings" The entrance to one
of these subterranean villages of the dead is
closed by a rolling stone"-a rudely cut
disk. perhaps a yard in diameter standing
on edge in an inclined groove which runs,
deep cut, from one side of the doorway to
the other When the tombs are open, the
stone is rolled to the left, and small wedge
is placed under it to keep it from returning.
When the wedge is removed, the rolling
stone Immediately follows the incline to the
right until it reaches a slightly deeper de-
preston, into which it rolls, thus it closes
the entrance of the tomb Considerable
strength is required to dispIace it.-Edward
l.. Wilson in The Century.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-05-31
CITY COUNCIL.
Action as to the Mayors Retrench-
ment Suggestions.

There was n special meeting of the
council last night to hear the report of
the committee on the subject of retrench.
ment proposed in the mayors last mes
sage.
The majority report of the committee
states:
Firs.-Upon the matter of hospital we
are unable to find tlat any saving eau be
effected, believing that the present man
agement is as economical as
can be under the circumstances
DIR. Graves, the city physician, informed
US that it has been his practice to transfer
all persons who are sent to the hospital for
treatment Immediately to the county poor
farm, when, in his opinion, such patients
DID not require constant medical care.
Second = The committee recommend
that the police force be reduced from
twenty to fifteen men.
Thlrd-That the Office of assistant city
assessor and collector be abolished.
Fourth-That the Office of sanitary in
spectOr be abolished, leaving the duty TO
the efficient city marshal aud the police.
Also, that the Office of city secretary be
abolished.
Fifth-That the salaries Of drivers Of
hose carts be reduced to the sum original
ly paid them, $40 per month, for the rea.
son that with their quarters, fuel, lights
and water furnished by the city, both for
themselves aud families, free, we believe
their pay to be much more liberal than