Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-18

a long trip through the west where he
made many speeches during the cam
paign. Referring to the election re-
suits he remarked: 1.-THE farmers did
it. They did it all. They are running
over with prosperity and money, and
they like President Roosevelt They
do not want a change. The laboring
man knows when things suit him. The
farmers never had so much wealth be-
fore. They put it in banks and it
comes east to help in the great enter
prises of the country"
Oldest Postmaster Dead.
Information has been received at
Washington of the death of Roswell
Beardsley, late postmaster at North
was the oldest postmaster in the Unit
ed States. He was born July 5, 1909,
and appointed June %, 1928, and has
served continuously ever since. He
was appointed by John Mclean, post
master general under John Quincy
Adams, and has served under thirty
five postmaster generals and twenty
presidents. There were only 1881
postoffices when he received his COM
mission. His official salary was about
SITS a year.
Peculiar Mail Package.
1t has been said that almost every
thing has been sent through the Unit
ed states mails except human body
and now even this grewsome object
has been added to the list. In glass
case in the postoffice museum known
as the chamber of horrors" are a
number of stamps taken from pack
age which found its way into the dead
letter office because the person to
whom it was addressed in New York
refused to receive it and pay S1.20 pos
tage due. The package was opened
and found to contain the body of q
dead infant. 1t was turned over tc
| the New York police.
Secretary Shaw's "Sang."
Secretary Shaws homely western
way of talking is constant source OF
amusement to the fasteners. When
the great Barnum and Bailey show
landed at New York the other day af
ter its great trip through Europe, one
OF the clown had his troubles with the
customs officials. Having heard before
sailing that Secretary Shaw had sale
that anyone could bring into the coun
try personal property up to the value
of 500 even if it was "bale of hay
he tried the experiment by bringing {
large bale of hay and solemnly de
claring that it was his baggage 1t i:
understood that the customs official re
fused to admit the luggage. Secretar,
Shaw's expression was of course hi!
own particular way of saying tina
practically anything in the way of per
sonal baggage could be brought il
just so that it did not exceed $500 il
value.
Crowds at the Monument.
The custodian of the Washington
monument gives the interesting fac
that 35,714 visitors went to the top o
the monument in October-the great
est number for single month in tn
history of the great shaft. Since 1885
2,1O1,20S persons, or about the popula
ton of New York city have visited tn
. the renowned memorial.
During the week of the G. A. r. er
campment there was a daily attend
ance of about 5000. iil
Society Begins Early.
Society at the capital is in Will
of anticipatory excitement over tn
announcement issued by the Pres
dent which opens the season" half
month ahead of the regular time. II
vitations have been issued for the frs
state banquet on Thursday Decembe
, IS. The function is usually given afte
, January l. The President has az
! vanced the White House season thi
, year in order to give Mrs. Rooseve
and the ladies of the first social Sc
an opportunity to give all the dinner
and receptions they have planned witt
Z out encroaching on the Sabbath day q
V was done to some extent last year. TIL
4 President has what some people ca
old fashioned ideas about keeping tn
Sabbath