The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-12-09
Wards Words.

There seems to he two varieties of express
robbery in vogue nowadays. One where
the company rob, and the other where they
get robbed. In either case the poor EN-
ploye has to stand the racket.
Our local sheet is teaser. Last week it
advertised death by ''diphtheria $50
calledp which, ii might have added, was
treated by a doctor $50 caled) but that
the ne.ghDoro $50 cdlcd) thought different
A couple OF weeks ago il picked up sQuib
OF mine in Detroit paper which was in
tended as joke, and made mouths over it
as though it had been spanked with butter
lade
And now comes Charles Booth with a
statistical study of pauperism in London.
Eng and, and declares that but IL per cent.
of it is due to drink. Perhaps careful
| scrutiny Of the poor of our own cities might
throw world Of light upon hitherto dark
subject which has been taken for granted.
Speaking of drink reminds me of good
old neighbor of my fathers when / was a
boy. He was blacksmith, member of
the church, and pious, dear old soul as
ever lived. but he would drink on the quiet.
The liquid lightning in these days cost about
| twenty cents gallon, only, and he used to
sequester gallon of 1t about every week.
| ne hSpt llio Jug Ill luG JAIN dIl Cdn ste
| him now as he steps out of his individual
saloon, wiping his mouth with the back of
| his hand and clearing his throat in the usual
way, preparatory to taking a chew Of tobac-
co. | said he was good man and believe
he was. He was honest, industrious econ
omcal, happy and cheerful, and might have
been alive today for aught know, but for
drink. AS it was he dropped off at SO, and
just as much believe he went to heaven,
as that he died. Most men don't escape
that way nowadays, however, but i'm his
case, the fact exists, that ''the deacon" as
he was called, could give pointers in good
ness to many who found fault with him.
Laingsburg Lodge F. and A. nj. is to
have public installation on the 9th inst.
Mr. Nudge, of Maple Rapids has been Sc
cured for the occasion, who will doubtless
give them an interesting and instructive ad-
dress. 1t is so long since l have mingled
with MasOns that have almost lost my
grip, so TO speak, still l have been desig-
mated as Lodge historian for the aforesaid
occasion. 1t was q gloomy night IN the
month of February, 1867, when few
friends and brothers-but never mind,
aint going to write it just now. A great
deal of my success in life isuch as it is) owe
to Masonry and while its members are far
|
notably my own, for instance-stil if they
are not good men it is because they have a
well developed devil of their own to contend
with, and not because the institution does
not give them proper instruction. ''The
devil goeth about like roaring lion" but
can prove by statistics that he travels full as
much among other organizations as through
Masonic halls. In this connection might be
mentioned the death at st. Johns of Hugh
Boyd, aged "a, week before last by acc-
dental burning. He was the oldest Mason
| in the state and has been cared for by ST.
Johns Chapter for several years. This
proves what | have always said. that the
Masonic Home at Grand Rapids was princi.
paly for Grand Rapids. Mr.. Boyd's daugh-
ter, Mrs. Russell Johnson, resides here.
Elder VanOnlmeran has rendered his
resignation as pastor of cur Congregational
church. The Elder is universal favOrte
and young man Of undoubted and accepted
ability, but is tri1e heterOdoX in his be-
lief. l don't know exactly what constitutes
heterodoxy. but suppose IL is when a mans
belief is cut on the bias instead of being
chopped short off.
A short time ago received manuscript
poem from young. retired, but crank
preacher i'm the north part of the state on
the Columbian Exposition. AS he asked
my advice l recommended him to stay on
the farm, and IL his preaching isn't any bet
ter than his poetry, l would prescribe fish
diet for long time, or during his natural
life, and total abstinence from mental
effort. He should thank the Lord for his
daily breath and never meddle with the
muses..
1t would seem by recent editorial i'm the
Detroit Tribune that in the opinion of the
solOn of that sheet there are too many muir
ders i'm this state in proportion to Its inhab-
tants, and not enough convictions, consider
ing that capital punishment Is not In vogue
and "a pardon may correct any mistake
made by the jury" That is the kind of
twaddle that makes murderers. What we
want in Michigan is a short shrift, stout
rope and less legal juggling, so that man
who commits deliberate homicide may
know that he will stretch hemp for his
crime instead of being pampered In prison
or pardoned out of it. Wayne county how
ever is unique i'm its trials tor murder. Only
short time ago poor devil who had muir
dered his mistress there, was not allowed by
the Judge to plead guilty. though he wanted
to like a dog, and jury of intelligent cti-
zens found him not guilty and he went Scott
free. WARD,
Laingsburg, Dec. 6, '92.