The Madison Republican Times from Madison, Kansas • 1

VOLUME I MADISON, GREENWOOD COUNTY. KANSAS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1888. NUMBER 38 TUNNELING THE ALPS. A BEAR DEFIE A TRAIN. The Literary Profession In Our Coun try.

where Gen. Grant was, and one of them said: why, boy, you've just passed 'Without a word I wheeled my hoise and dashed back to the solitary figure ahead. As I came up he seemed to take in the situation, for he said sharply; it is seldom a matter of choice. The author writes because he cannot help himself and woman writers are in many cases unfitted for any other occupation, through education or from the nature of their home duties; duties which press so heavily on the femala portion of the community. In tfea' meantime the lookout for the slave of the pen on this side of the Atlantic is a poor one; and his only hope is that a paternal goverment may come to his rescue, with a copyright which will give him a chance to make his literary goods as acceptable to his own country people at those of alien authors.

EHssa M. Moore, in Milwaukee Wisconsin. And It Was a Good Thing for tho Negro That Bruin Did So. There are a good many bear stories going the rounds nowadays, but we have one which actually occurred in this parish during the present week. On a small plantation a mile or two above Bayou Goula a black bear was seen to have entered a turnip patch and at once proceed to help himself to as many turnips as bis appetite demanded.

It is said that a colored man witnessed tho unauthorized levity of Mr. Bruin and determined that ho would enter the patch and drive the invador out Acting on the impulse he immediately entered the in-closure and starded in Bruin's direc-tion. As soon ai the man's presence became known the bear discontinued his vegetable repast with the evident intention of embellishing it with meat, and with ears thrown back and head erect he started toward the son of Ham with the apparent intention of testing the qualities of his makeup. The saw him coming, and at once decided that he did not wish to drive his bearship from the field, and rather than attempt it he would leave the field himself. So he Graciously turned his face in the opposite direction and made for the railroad.

The bear appeared to be socially inclined, and willingly followed his visitor, accelerating his speed as he traveled. Sambo imitated him and quickened his pace. And thus thev had it for some time, straight up the railroad; run bear, run man, and the devil take the hindmost Suddenly the colored man heard a rumbling noise down the track, and knew at once that the night express train was coming. In a short time it hovo in sight running at the rate of thirty-five miles an hour. When the train came in sight the colored man jumped from the track, and continued his wild flight on the side, of it The bear also heard the noise, and looking aroundaw the iron horse, with its red figln and its terrible wheezing and puffing, rushing madly upon him.

He seemed to lose all thought of the man and turned his attention to the new foo which threatened him. Rearing defiantly upon his haunches, with his fore feet extended, he snarlingly awaited the oncoming train. He hadn't long to wait, and the ponderous engine, with its long and heavy-laden train, struck bold Bruin amidships and in a jiffy sent him to the happy hunting-grounds to join the members of his family who had preceded him there. He was skinned on the spot by piecemeal, we suppose and the colored man who had been racing with him enjoyed a slice of hapless Bruin for supper. Iberville (La.) South.

True Philanthropy. It always gives us pleasure to record and warmly approve all movements inaugurated for the benefit of the poor and helpless. The Waterbury Watch Company of Connecticut has a branch of its great plant established in the City of London. It has recently opened in that ty fifty-nine offices, located in different sections, where the unem ployed may record their names, residences and" kind of work they can perform. This record is open to the free inspection of all who need help.

The number of dependents upon each one seeking employment is also stated. Seventeen thousand one hundred and twelve persons have registered as being out of employment and anxious to find something to do. With their dependents, the number of the destitute upon the list is 53,437. This register contains a small proportion of those in want in that greatest city on the globe. This is a great and noble undertaking and is attended with large expense.

which is gratuitously met by this com pany, liy tnis agency inousanas wiu obtain relief and be saved from vice and crime. This is true philanthropy, and we sincerely hope that this example may find imitators in the ranks of the rich in many of our cities. The noblest form of charity is that which enables those in need to help them selves. The Enquirer has for many years de voted columns for the gratuitous advertising of those seeking employment and those who need service. In this way many thousands have been able to procure situations as both employers and employed will bear witness.

We have been doing in a small and limited way what the Waterbury Watch Company has undertaken to do upon a large scale. There are in all our large cities men and women of great wealth who are troubled to know how to dispose ot tneir accumu-, ations who would find in this field of philanthropy a pleasant and profitable mode of disposing of their surplus. Cincinnati anqmrer The Completed Mont Cents and St. Gothard, and the Projected Simp-Ion The Latter Will Cost Northern and western Europe, says The Youth'' Companion, were formerly shut off so completely from Italy by the great mountain barrier of the Alps that the passage of this barrier by a great number of men, as in the campaigns of Hannibal and Napoleon Bonaparte, became most memorable events. The Romans, having finally opened a road over the alps, dedicated it with rejoicing to Jupiter Penninus, and built a temple at the summit.

Where the temple was built the famous monastery of St Bernard has since been erected, but the Romans' road is now practicable only for mules. The Sep-timer was another pass frequented by the Romans, only a footpath leads across it now. The magnificent carriage roads built early in the century over the Alps, crossed at more practicable passes than were known to the Romans; notably at St. Gothard. Napoleon built two great roads over the Mont Cenis and Simp-Ion passes, the first of which lies between France and Switzerland, and the second between Switzerland and Italy.

But these international carriage roads, in an age when Europe was covered with railroads, were equal to the demands of commerce. Switzer land, to the north of the Alps, became like a blind alley, which no one could get out of. France, the country which built the Suez canal, saw the necessity of railroads to reach the peninsula of Italy, where the traffic of the east might be deposited by steamers coming through the canaL But the railway could only be built by the aid of a great tunnel beneath the Alps. The work was most formidable, but it was at last constructed by an enterprising French firm, with public assistance, and in the year 1871 the tunnel under Mont Cenis, 40,092 feet long, and ascending at its summit to a height of 4,380 feet above the sea level, was opened. This was at the nearest of the great passes to the Mediterranean sea, and the tunnel threw the traffic of the east and of Italy into the lap of France, except such as passed through Austria.

This set Germany at work to dig a great tunnel through which her road to Italy should lie. The Germans joined with Italy and Switzerland in the work of constructing a still greater tunnel under the pass of St. Gothard, and within eleven years of the opening of the Mont Cenis route, the St. Gothardt tunuel, the wonder of the world, was opened. It is a great hole, nearly ten miles long, through the rock of the main chain of the Alps.

The opening of the St. Gothard had the effect which the Germans had hoped for. The greater portion of the traffic through the Suez canal, which the MediteiTanean steamers left at the nearest port in Italy, followed the railway to central Europe by the shortest road, which is now through the St. Gothard. The French now find themselves under the necessity of opening a still shorter route for Europe if they hope to gain tins rich trade, and they nave set about the work.

Between the St. Gothard and the Mont Cenis there is another pass, the Simplon, which offers a shorter road than either. It was the French who first sent a locomotive through the pierced sides of the Alps, and they do not care to give up the contest now. Though a great tunnel can now be cut more cheaply than ever before, on account of the experience gained, the Simplon tunnel will cost at least to build. One-third of this sum has been subscried by the Italian and the Swiss governments, and provinces and cantons interested, and the rest borrowed from capitalists of Paris.

The arrangements have been completed, and the first stroke of the pick-ax will soon be struck. He Did Not Know Grant "The first time I saw Gen. Grant to Itnow him," said Maj. Osmun to a knot of story tellers, the other day, "was in the November of 1864. I was then attached to Hancock' headquarters and was sent to carry a dispatch to Gen.

Grant It was raining for all it was worth, and the mud about those Petersburg trenches was like glue. Putting my horse to a gallop, I was getting over the ground at a good rate, and soon I met and passed a solitary rider, astride a sorry little sorrel horse. The man's slouch hat was pulled down over his eyes and the rain was coursing in streams down on the poncho in which he was closely wrapped. A moment later, I came up with quite a group of riders and catching sight of a lot of gold braid, jumped at the conclusion that I had struck some of the general's staff. I asked if they knew Perhaps there is no country in the world where the author meets with so little encouragement as in the United States.

The reason for this is obvious, The book market is flooded with foreign literature. The fact that no copyright exists between our own and other coun tries may be, and is hard on foreign authors but it is quite as hard on Amer lean writers, whose productions are not likely to meet with purchasers when equally good work can be had for nothing. Thus the English, German and French novel has driven the American novel out of the field. Our young peo ple have acquired a taste for silly love stories by such authors as The Duchess and Florence Marrvat or what is still worse for somewhat improper, sensation French fiction, such as the works of F. du Boisgobey and Fmile Gaboriau, instead of seeking their literary food in their fathers library.

It is small blame to the American publisher that he is unwilling to risk the publication of American novels with the literature of the world arraigned against the unfortunate author. It is small wonder that the unfortunate foreign author objects to such outrages as that perpetrated the other clay Mr. Rider Haggard being the victim a book being published made up to appear to be from the English author's pen and dealing with his characters. Thousands bought the book, to find themselves swindled. An other unhappy effect of this state of things is the fact that a mother loses the power of keeping track of her children's reading.

What is to keep such novels out of young girls' hands as "Puck" and "Moths" when they are to be had for twenty cents? Oiie seaside Library novelis very like another, and a child can read a score of such novels and her parents none the wiser. Apart from the moral effect who can doubt that we are losing our individuality as a nation? What wonder that the large cities pro duce Anglo-maniacs when England supplies the literary food which helps to iorm the mind of our young people We now turn to a more selfish view of the matter. How is the American writ er to live if the market which he hopes to supply is already overstocked with foreign material? Save and except the there is absolutely no field for him. here are, we are informed, on the au thority of Harper's Magazine, not more than twelve magazines this country who pay for the articles and stories contributed. Who are the philanthropic persons who spend their time sup plying several hundreds of magazines with their work gratis now does this army of amateur authors liver What manner of men and women are they that they are satisfied with the cheap delight of seeing their own names in print? We cannot doubt that they exist; and unfortunately they have caused the American editor to cease to look upon his connection with the author as a purely business transaction.

For ex ample, the writer ottered a short story to one of the oldest of the magazines of the country, lately, and received a civil acknowledgement of its receipt, coupled with the information that the editor had so much mater a I on hand that all he offered for occasional contributions was a subscription for the magazine for a certain time! What would the travel ing salesman say if it were proposed to enumerate him with articles chosen from his employers' surplus stock. Imagine the indignation of the druggist's assistant were his wages tendered him in the shape of Eau de Cologne; and picture just picture yourself the rage of the ubiquitous book agent if offered a dozen or so of the valuable work, which he or she has been thrusting on an unwilling public, tor ail emoluments. If the possession of vivid imagination and sufficient education to write with coherence and regard for the rules of grammar insured a person from taxation, made him impervious to the pangs of hunger, and as indifferent as to clothing, such arrangements might suit the author admirably; but unfortunate ly literary food alone is not sufficient even to a poet No matter how fine the frenzy in which his eyo may be rol- mg; if he cioes not want to starve he must keep the other eve stationary and on the main chance. Persons there are who are so intent on advocating a theory, or profounding a truth, that they their time and labor in the cause .1 I 1 1- 1 I dear to their hearts, but such individ uals are enthusiasts not bread-winners, and doubtless expect to get their reward in another and better world. We are not qiarreling with editors for refusing to publish the ill-written articles and pointless stories which fill waste-paper baskets all over our coun-try, but we maintain that anything which a magazine of any standing is willing to offer to the public is worth paying for.

Few persons under existing circumstances, would choose literature as a profession, but unfortunately a Who are you looking for, young 'Are you Gen. GrantP' I asked eagerly. My name's he said stiffly, holding out his hand for my dis- 'patch. Then he said: "Why! didn't you come to me at i 'Well, 'I didn't think yon were Gen. Grant' "You didnt whv didn't "I saw his eyes twinkle above his cigar, that must have gone out three or four weeks before, it looked so bad So I ventured to tell the real fact 'Because I didn't suppose Gen, Grant would ride such a looking horse as that' He burst out into a hearty laugh, and Gen.

Badeau told me afterward that it was the first time for a week ho had heard Grant laugh. The general receipted on the envelope for the dispatch and dismissed me, saying: 'The next time you are sent to Gen. Grant perhaps you will know him. "But after that 1 took my dispatches to the chief of staff. "Detoit Journal.

The Message. I made a little song one day, Not over sad nor over gay, And every word thereof was full With praise of one most beautiful. To her 1 sang It while o'erhead The sunset deepened into red Behind the hills, words, song and verse, With utter love made wholly hers. And so I put it from my heart, I said, 'Mv song, since hers thou art, Save at her bidding It shall be. Return thou never more to me." And as I lay to-day, quite still, Beside her grave upon the hill, The little song came back, so clear, So sweet, I think she sent it here.

Journal. For Young- Men. Wm. CuUlWTheer2bie poet, a few, before the severe ill ness which terminated in his death. made a temperance speech at a large meeting in, New York city.

He said that his mind for several days had been dwelling upon the fate of a man whose sad -death had recently been reported in the newspapers. In early life, with education, business capacities and good opportunities, he made a place for himself among business men, and his prospects was very bright. Moderate drinking led him to a drunkard's fate, and last week he ended his life by suicide. "Now, my friends," Mr. Byrant continued, "there was a time when this man could have ceased his habits ol drinking, when the cup had over him no power so great that he could not have broken from it.

But then total abstinence was his only hope. When the thirst for alcohol has once been kindled in a man's throat total abstin ence is the only thing that can save him. For him, then, to continue his indulgence, is as if a man should discover incipient fire in his house, and say, 'I will delay a little longer before I extinguish it' It will soon have such a headway that he cannot extinguish it Another thought in regard to this man who committed suicide; he not only was led by example, doubtless to his ruin, but he in turn led many others. The power of example is incalcuable. A man who is licentious makes many licentious; he who is dishonest produces dishonesty in others.

Influential men oi convivial habits, who have not yet become drunkards, are the ones to be feared. Those men who drink freely and never appear to feel the effects of it are the men who are very dangerous. But they must ultimately pass beyond this stage. The man who makes himself a habitual drinker, signs his own death warrant Let us all, my friends, shun this evil." Distilling Gold. It has long been known that gold is to some extent volatile at high temperatures; but it is evidently far more volatile than has hitherto been believed.

Mr. Crookes mentioned incidentally al the last meeting of the Chemical Society that he had found gold to boil violently when heated in the oxyhydrogen flame, and, in fact to bo so volatile that there would seem to be no doubt that it might be distilled in an apparatus similar to that employed by Stas in distilling silver. Athenaeum. At the Church Sociable: Vivacious Young Lady "Guess what we are going to have to-night, Mrs. Bascom charades." Mrs.

knowed itl I smelt 'em clear oat the gate." Burlington Fret Preu. What Would Have Saved It Probably few of those now living remember distinctly the great struggle over the Girard will in Philadelphia. A property of over $5,000,000 was in con- trovers v. Stephen Girard died in No vember, 1831, a widower and childless. He had lived a solitary life, and had de voted himself to intersets purely com mercial navigation, building and bank ing.

Very few, during his life, knew that feelings of benevolence, gratitude or public spiritedness had any logment in his heart. It was a stupendous sur prise, then, when it was found by his will, after distributing more than $300, 000 among relatives and friends in France and America, he gave $2,000, 000 (and more upon a contingency) for the founding of an orphan of college for the maintenance and education of poor white male orphans. The institution was accommodate not less than 800 scholars. Nearly another million was then given in other public bequests. But in the orphan college bequest there occurred the significant clause, which created the greatest interest in the con test: "I enjoin and require that no ee clesiastic, missionary or minisier of any sect what ever, shall ever hold or ex ercise any station or duty whatsoever in said college; nor shall any sucli person ever be admit ea lor any purpose, or as a visitor, within the premises apnropri ated to the purposes of said college." ihis apparently atheistical provision shocked thousands of well-meaning people, and promised to be the vulner able point in the will.

What helped to signalize the struggle was that Girard grasping relatives, to make most of this clause in the attack on the will, employed in their behalf the eloquence or our Massacuufetts giant, and JJanie Webster went to Philadelphia to argue for them. On the other side were ranged John Sergeant and that emin ent Philadelphian, Horace Binney, di rector of ho United States bank; and steadfast opponent of Presidend Jack son. The questions were arguod before the full bench of the United Mates su preme court, and the opinion of the court was delivered by that loader in American jurisprudence, Justice Story. The contest was magnificent but the will was sustained. Just after Horace Binney's masterly effort, and before the decision was announced, friend is said to have asked him what chanco their was of success.

"I cannot tell," he replied, "but I should enter tain no doubt of the issue if only I had been able to point at the head of the will to the words, 'In the name of God, Those words would have saved it" Boston Herald. Cow-Hair Textile Fabrics. borne foreigner, with a genius a genius for utilizing everything under the sun, has invented a process of making cloth out of cow hair. Camel hair has for years been recognized as an important raw material for textile fabrics. Hith erto cow's ha has been regarded as valuable on as an element in mortar its desired adhesive character.

Now, it is to rival wool and cotton. A New York importer received a consign ment ot hair felting a few days ago, which puzzled the Collector's agents. It had running through it little wooly fibers, which made the Inspector almost certain that the material from which it was made was from the back of some European sheep. Experts were called in and microscopes resorted to when it was discovered that the felt was constructed from the hair of cattle. This opens a new field for the manufacturer, new market for the material which tanners have long been glad to almost give away.

If cow hair is to go into textile fabrics why not dog hair and the short horse hair? Why shall not the mangy cur thus become valuable and at last be recognized as property? Why shall the sweepings from a barber shop not be looked upon as the barber's harvest? A shawl mado from dog hair or from the sweepings of a penitentiary dressing room may not at first be quite as desirable as an object about which tho owner can brag as a shawl made from the covering of a camel, still it may prove Equally as warm and equally as ornamental. Dog hair, human hair and cow hair shawls may, however, some day be pronounced trippingly on the tongue. Cincinnati Times,.