Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-17

Increase of marriages over 19O5...... 800
Increase of births over 1906 ........... 5000
Deaths during the year................ 1926
Increase of deaths over isO5.......... 24s2
Number of deaths each day.......... 200
Life and death both are strenuous in
New York" said an undertaken, quoted by
the Sun. I'VE get orders sometimes that
shock us.
mot long ago we had call from a
family who asked us to make a hurry up
job for the reason that they had arranged
to sail for Europe two days later and they
didn't want to postpone the voyage.
What would you think of a woman who
asked to have her husband buried as
quickly as possible on the ground that a
few days before his death they had agreed
to separation and that she would like to
put away the deceased before the news
papers heard of their martial troubles?
That is exactly what happened.
Then there is this case: An elderly
aunt. who had been an invalid more than
year, passed away. We were asked to
arrange for her funeral on the day of her
death, and when we demurred unless there
was some important reason we were in
formed by a nephew that they were anx-
ious to know what was in her will. as the
matrimonial chances of a niece depended
upon what she was to get.
only yesterday a man came into our
Office and said that his mother-in-law had
just died and that he would like to send
her body south as soon as possible because
his wife wanted to attend some sort of
function three days later.
I'm the good old days in some parts of
the country II used to be the custom for
friends of the family in which a death &C.
CURED to sit up with the corpse. In a
case given to us a few months ago we
were asked to send a couple OF genteel
appearing employees to the house to keep
the vigil. We did 1t, but I confess to you
II seemed to me rather heartless'
The drivers of department store delivery
wagons gather UP statistics now and then
that might be highly valued by students
of sociology. They learn, for example,
how many families which live in small
apartments shut up ths house the livaIonS
day because every member of the house
hold goes out to work
I'VE found that out" said one driver.
through the requests to have. goods de-
| livered at Office buildings. We wondered
for long time why so much stun belong
ing to fiat jewellers should be sent down
town. Finally it came out that there
WOulu DE nODOuy at nome TO receive the
goods II sent to the fat The woman mem
Der of the family took OFF few minutes
extra at lunch time to do her shopping,
and instead of carrying her purchases her
self she ordered them sent to her hus-
bands Office so he could cart them home
at night"
Henry McAleenan has a pawnshop, a
modest little one, on Sixth avenue, in a
building he owns. The site is small eigh-
| teen feet wide and fifty-two feet deep
The man who owns the rest of the Sixth
avenue front wanted the pawnbroker's
little corner. He made several tempting
offers in vain. Finally he said:
''gn give you $4,000 for that little plot >
mot enough" said the modest pawn.
broker.
"why, man. that is s4e4 square footr
'T can't help it," said Mr.. McAleenan
| my business there cleared me $4,000 last
! year. and I couldn't duplicate the SITE"
There is Harlem man who dislikes
children. but who is passionately fond OF
cats. He is the possessor OF tabbies and
Thomases galore, and they represent every
type of winners, from the itinerant "Hooli
gan" pussy to the aristocratic Angora
One night he went home loaded to the hur.
ricane deck with essence of foolishnes,
and htted up a Christmas tree for his
feIines Besides all the usual Christmai
gewgaws he strung lines OF sardines and
mice that leaped and frolicked from the
strings attached to the evergreen. After
the candles had been lit a dozen cats were
turned loose to see what Santa Claus haC
brought them. II took the cats about 9
minute to find the mice. With bounds they
went after them. and for a time cats
candles, mice, tree and flame made an ex
citing and spectacular scene in the house
The neighbors helped put out the fire. and
then the owner of the cats gave the patro
wagon a run.
The cocaine habit is increasing to ar
alarming extent IN New York. Hospita
records disclose a steady increase in tn,
number Of cocaine patients and privat,
sanitariums near the city harbor larger
number Of them than at any time sine,
the use Of the drug began. Insane asylumi
are rapidly hlling with men and womei
whose minds have been wrecked by tn,
drug. There are certain drug stores II
the Tenderloin, the police say, where tn,
druggists will actually take old clothing
and shoes, to say nothing Of jewelry, ii
,, return for a few grains OF the powder s.
dear to the heart of the victim.
A gang Of professional burglars. equippe
with chloroform and armed with pistols
IA carrying terror into the fashionabl
colonies on the nearby south shore o
) Long Island. They are operating with al
! OF the fine tools known TO the cracksman'
4 art and are having easy picking anon
4 the country homes OF rich New Yorker
Nothing is too large for the gang to sc
s away with-brass beds, silverware. chesti
: rugs. furniture. clothing-almost every
oil thing but the landscape.
n The New York City building departmer
/. reports a falling on from 1906 OF full
4 $50 10000 in new construction thereabOut
The year started on with plans mAturin
. for a far heavier investment In new builC
inRs at the metropolis than the prevlou
!. year had seen. but the appearance Of PEI
! sistent strngency in the money mark'
!, compelled decided contraction I'm opers
! ! tons Still it - noted that no lass tina
! afteen skyserapers are now in course {
: construction in the downtown district Q