davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-28

and forcible in communicating to them their
approval and objections that they have the
greatest possible amount of information for
their direction and the most perfect meas
ure possible 10 present to the Legislature
for its consideration. Be not too hasty to
accept q proposed change until il has been
considered carefully and be equally careful
not to reject proposition until il has been
given equally fair test by your investigation
and deliberate Observation-Disclosures Re
publican.
The efforts for reform in county and town
ship government is not an indictment of
nor an attack upon the county and township
officers, but is directed at the loose and I'M
businessike laws and methods prevailing.
AS Governor Mount said al the meeting of
the commission last Tuesday. these officers
are generally honest, but the methods and
customs of administration are bad For half.
century the same kind of machinery has
been in operation in conducting the business
OF these municipalities. 1t Is true that new
laws and amendments to old laws have been
passed at every biennial session of the Leg
lslature in reference to these local govern
ments: but the whole system is patchwork
and complicated system and needs some rad
ical changes-NoblesVille Ledger.
The committee now at work at Indianap-
oils trying to devise legislation to better the
conduct of township affairs might learn. if
it would visit Howard county, that sthe best
way to accomplish such a result is to elect
the right kind of trustees. Howard county
people attended to this matter in the cleo
ton in 1894, when they elected the present
trustees, all of them Republicans and all
very capable and very careful in administer
ing the trust committed to them. The result
has been a most gratifying Improvement Of
township affairs IN all the townships. Debts
have been paid. Expenses have been re-
duced tC an intelligent business basis. Taxes
have been very materially lowered How
ard courty's experience is that the sure way
to reach desired results is to elect the right
kind of men trustees. This plan beats re-
form by resolution or by legisation.-Ko-
komo Tribune.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-28
Two ReIInmx Books.

Houghton, DIifFiin & Co.. Boston. have
issued two volumes of the works of the late
Edward Bellamy Looking Backward"
which was the one book which gave Mr.
Bellamy an International fame, was read by
nearly everybody at the date of its issue, n
1887. 1t may be said to have been the book
sensation for two or three years, during
which period nearly a million copies were
sold in America and England. 1t was trans
lated in German. French and several other
languages AT the time many people saw
in Looking Backward" the germ of new
social system, and one colony tried to put
it into practical operation. Doubtless many
people were indoctrinated with a vague So
cialism by the fascinating narrative and its
impossible theories. The fact that the pub
fishers have put out fresh edition, with an
introduction by Sylvester Baxter shows that
there is yet a demand for the book. Modern
leaders of socialism have rejected 1t as VIZ
siOnary, as did most readers when it was
published 1t has the merit over most works
on the subject in that it is entertaining. The
other volume bears the title, 1.-The Blind
Mans World It is made up. of fifteen
sketches by Mr.. Bellamy all of which ara
readable. but without further merit This
volume has preparatory sketch by w. ID.
HOWellS.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-28
BOOKS OF THE SEASON.
New Editions of ParISmnn's History
ana "Artemus Ward"

The works of Francis Parkman. new
edition OF which is being publishing by
Little, Brown & Co., Boston, occupy an in
teresting place in American historical liter
allure. They comprise twelve volumes, each
work complete in itself and all dealing with
the same general subject, that of France
in the New World" and the attempt of
feudalism. monarchy and Rome to establish
their ascendency in America. In the six
teenth and seventeenth centuries these
banded powers, pushing into the wilder
ness their indomitable soldiers and devoted
priests, unveiled the secrets of the then
barbarous western continent pierced the
forests, traced and mapped out the streams.
planted their emblems. built their forts and
claimed all az their own. For time it
looked as if their rights would prevail
without dispute, but there was TO be an
other claimant. Along the borders of the
sea an adverse power was strengthening
and widening with slow but steadfast
growth, and with great staying qualities.
These two medieval civilizations. trans
planted from the old world to the new,
represented In New England and New
France the antagoniStic ideas of liberty and
absolutism. Mr.. Parkman devoted a large
part of his studious and laborious life 70
investigating the history OF France IN
America, and maSsed the results IN a series
of works bearing the following titles:
Pioneers of France in the New World,
1.-The Jesuits in North America La Sale
and the Discovery of the Great West,
The Old Regime in Canada" Count
Frontenac and New France Under Louis
XIV" "A Half Century OF CONNECT.
"Montcalm and Wolfe" The Conspiracy
of Pontiac and the Indian War After the
Conquest of Canada, The Oregon Trail:
Three of these are in two volumes EACH
and the rest in one volume each. The two
volumes at hand Pioneers of France in
the New World, and THE Jesuits in
North America deal with the first at
tempts at Huguenot colonization and the
efforts of the earlier French Jesuits to con-
vert the Indians Both are rich in his
toric material, and in romantic and dra-
matte episodes. They give evidence of deep
research among original sources of infor-
nation. and the materials thus acquired are
very skillfully handled. The publishers are
presenting this edition, which they call the
library edition, in very handsome form. 1t
is printed from entirely new plates, in clear
and beautiful type upon choice laid paper,
and illustrated with photograVure plates
from historical portraits.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-28

The clear-cut noble face of Dean Farrar,
of Canterbury confronts the reader upon
opening Great Books written by the dis
tinguished churchman, and published by T.
Y Crowell & Co., New York. Dean Farrar
ventures to guide the average reader over
the best trial 10 the best literature, and in
his simple, beautiful style he wins quick
sympathy for his mission. He relates how
impossible it is TO advise readers in dis
eliminating among the vast output of books
of our modern times. but he offers a few
suggestions which may be read with profit.
Make your deliberate choice, says he
land do not attempt to read everything
that comes your way. 1t is not possible to
know something about everything; it is
rarely in our power to know everything
about anything. If any one wishes
to be a student he must make up his mind
not to attempt too much. He must set
aside whole realms of knowledge as not
coming within the personal range of his
limited faculties and the short span of hui
man existence. Mere indiscriminate read
ing of any kind should be resolutely alb
jured." Speaking of newspapers he says:
Newspapers are in these days necessary.
We cannot be Indifferent to the his
tory of the contemporary world; yet the
amount of time deplorably wasted by num-
berless readers in idly devourng scraps of
disconnected and vapid intelligence is quite
incOnceiVable. Ordinarily speaking
glance of ten minutes, or even nVe MIN
utes, at our daily newspapers will tell US
all that we ought to know. How can
we have time TO think, or leave a margin
to our life if we spend hours every week
in dabbing about what Mr.. Lowell called
the stagnant goose ponds Of village gos-
sip?"
While the reverend gentleman cautions
his readers TO exercise great care and judg
ment in approaching the vast output of
fiction and particularly the numberless
ephermeral volumes, he does not dismiss
the mass without seeing good in the I'M
mense production. OF those books which
are profitable for a time, and which have
accomplished their purpose, then being SUI
altogether conservative view They fall
like the dead leaves of autumn; but just
as the dead leaves have not lived in vain,
since they serve to enrich the soil into
which they perish so the thoughts of
myriads of men. though they possess no
germ of immortality, do in their own linn
tied degree furnish a contribution. however
infintssimal, to the intellectual life of each
successive generation"
whom he discusses in connection with his
Introductory chapter Dean Farrar has Sc
lected five whose works, he believes, con-
stitute the very foundation of a literary ed
ucation These are John Bunyan, Shak-
speare, Dante, Milton and Thomas "A. KEN
pis, or whoever 1t was or whoever they were
that really wrote THE Imitation of Christ
OF the latter book of cloisteral Christianity,
Mr.. Farrar intimates that the fiery French
man. Jean Gerson, may have had some
share in writing it. With these men the alI-
and emphasizes the lessons of their grea test
works
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-28
THE STRONGHOLD OF REPUBLICAN
ISM

The Republican victory in all the States
of the Northwest at the late election is
more notable than the sweep of that party
in 1886. The off year, the reaction which
the successful party suffers after a pres-
Dental election were not the potential fac
tors of defeat that they have been in the
past. On the contrary, the Republican VIC
tory of 1898 was more emphatic than that
of 1896. Never. in an off year, did a party
receive in one section of the country such
a series of emphatic majorities as these,
namely: Indiana, 1925; Ohio, 60 ,405 Hi
nois, 67,161; Iowa, 62.327; Michigan. 63,4OS;
Wisconsin, 37,O56; Minnesota, q, 900: Kansas,
1900. At no time in its history has the
Republican party been so strong. During
the war the Republicans had such
string of pluralities in the middle West.
In fact, Indiana and Illinois were Demo-
cratic in 1862.
The Republican strength in the middle
West appears even greater when its repre-
sentation by States in Congress is consid-
cred. The delegations in the next House are
divided between the two parties as follows:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-28

Mr. Frankfort Moore who wrote that very
pleasing tale 1.-THE Jessamy Bride in
which he undertakes to tell the love story
of Oliver Goldsmith, has taken as the hero
ines of this story the Cunning sisters fla
nous in Dublin and London a century ago
for their beauty, and the almost equally
beautiful Ann Bellamy. leading actress of
the time. How much Mr. Moore draws from
the records of the time for the details OF
his story it is possible only for those who
have delved into the local history TO say,
but he has at least succeeded in investing
the narrative with an air of reality and al
the same time weaving in a good deal OF
romance. The improvidence and reckless
ness characteristic of the Irish are anus
ingy portrayed in the parents of the two
Miss Cummings. and the difference in char
acteT and temperament between the lovely
sisters clevery brought out The two girls
were brought to Dublin, and. later, to Lon
don, by their ambitious mother in order
that they might marry men of title Both
succeeded, for their beauty won as the
mother had hoped, but for one sister, at
least beauty was a fatal gift. Mr.. Moore
has scored a distinct success in this new
form of the historical, or perhaps it should
be called the biographical, novel. Published
by Dodd Mead & Co., New York
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-28

To abridge one of Sir Walter SCOTS nov
els, at first glance. may seem as futile as
an attempt to paint the lily, but Edith p.
Harris has essayed this very thing. condens-
ing Rob Roy till it becomes engrossing in
every line, without any parts Ito skip" The
parts usually skipped by youthful readers
are precisely what the condenser has elm
mated and Scott's beautiful descriptions Of
scenery do not appear, a considerable part
of the dialogue, particularly that which does
not materially aid in developing the char
acters, also falling under the pruning knife.
The volume is in the Appleton's Home Read
ing Books series, edited by United States
Commissioner of Education Harris. Mr.
Harris holds that Scott ranks next to Plu-
tarch in ability TO conceive and describe hui
man greatness. He discOurses interestingly
on the conditions at the Scottish border at
the time of Rob Roy, and explains the causes
which have developed the many facets Of
Scottish character. peculiarities which still
linger with natives OF this mountainous coun-
try. The "case-hardened' facet Is the one
he emphasizes. Rob Roy contains few
fairly good Illustrations. 1t is published by
ID. Appleton & Co., Ne v York.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-28
reform in Local government.

The earnestness with which the county and
township government commission has begun
its work. the aggressive demeanor that is
shown, is a source of deep congratulation
to the people Of Indiana.-Goshen News.
BY the time the Legislature meets the
county and township reform commission will
have q new law framed for its consideration,
and the people win insist on it that early
and prompt attention be given TO the sub
ject.-Rushville Graphic.
A good start has been made toward the
reform of county administration. The objec-
tions TO such reform will come from the
petty politicians who are now profitinS by
the system, or who hope to have opportunity
to get at the public crib. The taxpayer, the
honest citizen, the prudent economist, the
believer in progress in county and state gov
eminent are to man In favor OF reform
that will make our system of county govern
ment more economical and put the reSpOn-
sibility of careful administration where 1t
can be more completely enforced by the peO-
ple.-Elkhart Review.
If the demand for reform is sincere the
commission organized in Indianapolis the
other day from among business men, labor
leaders and members of the Legislature,
with the intent to frame laws for the cor
rection of evils and to urge their passage
in the coming session, Will receive the. en-
enlargement of the masses by suggestions.
by efforts to gain the support therefor of
local representatives and by the awakening
or public sentiment. If the people are really
in earnest they can get what they want. If
they are Indifferent little will come of the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Courier.
So far as the masses of the people are con-
cerned there is no subject which will come
up for legislative action this winter that is
of greater Importance than is that concern
ing county and township business. While it
may seem an interference with the preroga-
tive of the LEGISLATURE, the appointment by
Hon, NnaS. -.
inquire into this subject and suggest what
changes are needed in our laws pertaining
to this matter was very wise and proper
thing TO do. 1t ought TO result in some
wholesome legislation and the introduction
of reforms calculated to save money to the
people.-Middletown News
There may be something radically wrong
with present methods of doing county. town
ship and municipal business, but it is by no
means certain that the law is at fault, but
rather the people themselves are to blame
for the looseness of the methods employed
by their servants. Too frequently men
known to be incompetent and of character
portance. But this is not the fault OF the
law or the system of government, but the
people are to blame. Be that as it may, the
people of this country will not sanction any
law that has for its object the restriction
of their rights to govern themselves.-Ko-
komo News.
It is advisable that every citizen should
keep in close touch with the work Of this
commission. study the tendency and posi-
bic effects Of their proposals and be prompt
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-28

are concerned. although there has been con-
siderable pruning and the experiences Of
the daring Rhine hero are put in language
to heighten the romantic interest
Mr.. Ragozin, in a plea for the proper de-
velopment Of the imagination Of children,
advocating the use of the myth. calls atten-
ton to very peculiar incident which at
tracted attention In New York some time
ago. This was the case IF a little German
child who had never been allowed to Teao
a bit of myth or fiction, although otherwise
she was given good education. One day
she imposed in an almost incredible manner
on her parents by pretending that she had
met President Mckinley who had taken
strong fancy to her and made her presents.
She obtained 81 100 from her parents on the
pretense of spending 1t in the interest OF
the President. That child. Mr.. Ragozin arr
CUES was living Il fairy story. Mr.. Rago-
zin's new book is published by c. z. Put
nam's Sons, New York
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-28

Not long since foreign visitor to st.
Louis. who If familiar with the grain trade,
made statement upon the floor of the Mer-
chants Exchange to the effect that while
there Las been a large wheat crop in Eu-
rope. he short supply at the opening of the
season led to the speedy absorption and con-
sumption of the crop, and now Europe
again looks to the United States for it's
wheat supply. This statement seems to be
borne out by the heavy exports of wheat
the past few weeks from all our ports-so
large. in fact, that the trade is astonished.
This heavy export leads men in the West,
who are watching indications. to predict
that better prices will prevail later I'm the
season and to warn farmers that they are
disposing of their wheat at lower price
than it will bring later on.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-28

The "open-door'' policy spoken OF with
reference to the Philippines has no refer
ence to the IL o'clock closing 1aw.-Fort
Wayne Gazette.
The members of the third" house are
getting themselves in readiness to pounce
down upon the Legislature and remain in
terested participants so long as there is a
chance to misdirect and promote the inter-
ests of gigantic combinations which are a
menace to the States well-being-M
County Sentinel.
All this stun about sounding the Nation
to see how much in earnest the people are
on the currency-reform question is drivel.
If their SURFACES at the two last elections
is not an indication and an unmistakable
indication of their earneStnesS in this re-
form what would express their feelings?
Richmond Item.
The Tribune is of the opinion that there
should be a law enacted authorizing the
auditor of state to employ two travelling
auditors whose duties should be similar to
that devOlving upon the travelling auditors
of a railroad company or a bank examiner
viz to drop in and check up a county on
the very day that the officials not
pecting it.-NeW Castle Tribune.
A popular bill in the next General Assem-
bly, would be IAN act to repeal" the law
which makes the terms of city officials four
years. From all over the State there is
complaint of extravaganza and incompe-
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-28

Hon. Robert j. Porter is now on his way
to Santiago as special commissioner of the
United States to confer with the bankers
and business men of that city relative to
the needs of business in that part of Cuba.
He will probably arrive there to-day. Just
before leaving New York he said:
On New Years day, when the island
passes into the military control of the
United States, Cuba will have attained her
industrial freedom. and in securing that she
will have what her brave sons have been
lighting for since the instruction of 1868.
The ten-year war was for industrial free
dom, and had the Mckinley reciprocity
treaty continued i'm force the war of 1895
would probably not have occurred.
Fhis is an interesting and not improbable
view of the case. 1t is a matter of record
that under the Mckinley reciprocity agree
ment Cuban trade enjoyed a boom, ard the
repeal of reciprocity injured Cuba as much,
in proportion. as it did the United States.
The repeal of reciprocity was one of those
bull-in-a-china-shop proceedings for which
the Democratic party is celebrated, and in
this case it seems to have caused more mis-
chief than usual.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-28

best way to secure good township govern
ment is to elect competent and honest men
for trustees. 1t says that such a procedure
has worked well in Howard county 1t is
not the lack of integrity of the township
trustees that has melted the movement to
establish new system. AS a rule, the men
holding these offices are men of integrity.
But during fifty years great many abuses
have grown up under lax system. These
abuses have the force OF precedents. and
precedents become laws in effect. 1t is to
wipe out a defective system and to put in
Its place a better one that the movement
has been made
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-28

tency in municipal government, and the
first step TO correct 1t should be the repeal
OF the vicious Democratic legislation which
gives city official four years of Office con-
unuously.-Huntington Herald.
If the currency is to be reformed, and we
are strongly inclined to think it should be,
the quicker it is done the better it will be for
the business of the country. Nothing so
hampers business affairs as uncertainty in
financial legislation. Although no radical
CANT currency reformer. still the people do
not know that. Let Congress come to-
gether in extra session early after the new
congress comes in the 4th of March and at
once do what is necessary to be transacted
and then Acknowledgements Republican.
That the idea and purpose of the truancy
law are right we have no doubt That
there is wrong that ought to be remedied
and that the present law is intended to
remedy it cannot be questioned. 1t may not
wholly remedy it; it may not fully cover
the ground: Ii NAV be that it ought to be
changed in many particulars; but the es-
Sential purpose of the law is good. If the
present law does not effect that purpose; if
there ought 10 be amendments and changes;
or IL an entirely new law ought to be en-
acted, then let be done what ought to be
done 10 effect the purpose, but let the pur-
pose De carried out.-Columbus republican.
The coming Legislature Will no doubt be
burdened by hundreds OF bills on various
subjects. All the "fadsts" of the State
will have their bills to suit their peculiar
and special views whether the people at
large are interested in the subjects Oh not.
The sportsmen will be there with their bills
TO promote their peculiar notions, no matter
now the industries of the State may suffer
by such legislation. The State Board of
Health will want a big portion of the time
of the session for the consideration of bills
that Will provide big fat salaries for a lot
OF the medical craft who think the chief end
Of man is to fight bacteria and microbes.
All the state institutions will have their
pressing demands to make. The great
trouble is that, scattered as they are over
the State, by combining they can usually
believe, should give it's attention to general
legislation that affects all the people, and
pay but little attention to side issues and
special giSlation.--NoblesVille Ledger.