Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-01-22

u COINCIDENCE anu otner anuuoteei ne irdplo-
y dissolved and is no more. yerilly.lwith
title ''yea" thrown in, "Man born Of woman
IS OF few days and full of trouble; he SPRING
9TH up like flower and is cut down."
When the tragic demise of Javert is con-
sidered; when the terrible celerityland mex
orable Justice of his executioner is realized, it
is with exceeding reluctance. that fill this
column with comments in a minor key and
iottings relative only to Napoleon and vicin-
ity. But when the deceased so unceremoni-
ously kicked out, his mantle of misfortune (D
fell on my shoulders and, like dutiful heir,
wear it. My only recourse to secure a
palliation of his fate, which, without doubt
lies barrier across my path. is an unlimited
supply of-Nervine. Ihaye that supply.
The healthful and innocent pastime, skating
has been all the 60 among our young people
during the past week. 1t is the first season
in years that we have had ice fit for the pur-
pose and we'll has it been utilized. In this
respect Napoleon is rich in her facilities and
it is not appreciated as it should be. In fact,
our river and the abundant opportunities for
pleasure it affords in all seasons is not, and
can never be given its full quota of apprecia-
tion by that portion of the inhabitants that
has always lived by it, until forced to live in
one of the many dry towns where small
creek is looked upon as the chief attraction,
although dry three-fouths of the year. Then,
again, looking at our water facilities from
financial standpoint it is readily seen that
they are far above par excellence with any
this side of Minneapolis. The proximity OF
the canal to the river and its greater height
above the sea level affords water power of
sufficient volume to supply the largest man
ufactory and at cost much less than the
same force attained by steam. This alone,
without considering the excellent drainage
system based on the favorable location of the
Maumee, is boon of which we should feel
proud and consider Napoleon rich in its pos
session.
In regard to the art of skating, for it is an
art, each successive generation advances.
ones whom corns and rheumatic complaints
have denied this exercise. A biographer of
Goethe, the great German poet, asserts him
to be the most graceful and fancy skater the
world has known, or ever will know. That
biographer never visited Napoleon during the
skating months, for he would make haste to
retract what limited travel and local preju-
dices leads him to believe. On PAIR OF
''turn- -overs' he doubtless gained applause
by an execution of the figure 81 and what
by his great poetical achievements and beau
tiful shape, sprung before the world as the
champion of the ice. Our average Grammar
school boy. and girl too, for that matter, can
teach the preceding generation wonderful
feats-feats that to them who have gone be-
fore seem impossibilities without the aid oi
wings.
For instance have seen mere boys skill
fully cut their names and address on the ice
by several minutes continuous skating; also
complicated and beautiful monograms. The
writer of Faust may still rank high as apoet
but a half day on the Maumee will extract al
his conceit in the skating line. When il
comes to sport give Young America frs
place.
While in a small town in Henry last weel
witnessed fight between two young mel
over the possession of pair of bright eye
and supple form. The girl was something o
fiirt and continually kept the two suitors il
agreed to fight it out as the only means O.
settlement and without seconds or ring, pro
ceed to so do. Hardly before first blood was
drawn both were arrested and dubbed on tht
route to the lookup.
They both had grievances which only 6
knock down and drag out fstio encounter
could settle, yet they were denied the right
while at the same time the telegraphic lines
all over the land were loaded down with
elaborate reports of brutal fight between
Dempsey and Fitzsimmons, two bull dogs
whose only incentive to pummell each Others
faces, was to say 81 can lick any man in the
world except Sullivan" Sullivan, by the
way, having temporarily left the bloody
arena has dropped into his proper sphere Of
the legitimate vocations of mankind
that of shifting scenes for a second class
theatrical troup.
We look back on the combats of gladiators
we read the scenes enacted in the Roman
coliseum with horror. To us those fearfu
barbarians. Still while considering the en-.
lightenment of our, age, are we much better il
| countenancing the brutal affair that tool
place at New Orleans last Wednesday
The gladiators were prisoners and their only
hope for liberty was wrapped up in victory
and liberty to them was quoted at higher
prices than modern times have seen fit tt
| give it. The Louisiana Lottery and thu
"harbor for pugilists'' will forever leave al
ineffaceable stain on New Orleans.
| Probably there is no other class that wor
ries the average postmaster more than schoo
children. Take family, e. g.,with five attend
ing the temple of knowledge. Each regards
himself duty bound to TASK for the mail
to at least four times per diem, although it il
we'll known that that family rarely receives {
letter once week. One out of this five
should be delegated to transact business
with the p. NJ. with the strict Injunction no
to call more than twice between mails. I
would be savingof time and patience be
sides manifestly lessening the large crop o.
gray hairs that usually characterizes retirel
postmaster.
| The church itself is out of debt. It hal
been refitted with new carpetland cushions
beautifully decorated; $500 furnace ant
$1,000 pipe organ purchased and the accounts
liquIdated. The choir is composed of ou
very best musical talent, which, with tn,
artistic selections of the skilled organist
lends no small helping hand in assisting thu
church's all but miraculous growth.
The hemembers, all, are very liberal will
their patronage, contributing freely. Th'
Sunday school is in prosperous condition
Taking it all in all the First Presbyterian
church of Napoleon is on a firm basis,
foundation of rock that no amount of "rainl
descending or foods coming will serve Il
wash away.
The result of the vote Sunday was unani
| nous for the continuance of Rev. DOnahey',