COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.

1898, Leon, Iowa area

Large Class of Young Ladies and Gentlemen Complete Their School Work.

The class of '98 is the largest in the history of the Leon schools, numbering twenty five members. The large class again obviates the delivering of addresses by each member and arrangements have been completed, engaging Hon. Henry Sabin, ex state superintendent, to deliver the address. Mr. Sabin is not a gifted orator, but his reputation as being one of the leading educators west of the Mississippi will prove an attraction. The plan of having some noted man deliver an address was adopted last year and met with much favor. With all due consideration to the abilities of the young graduates we may say that with such a large class there would be a surfeit of learned dissertations which is bound to pall on the crowd and it is quite an inconvenience to be compelled to extend the exercises over two evenings. The exercises will occur on Thursday evening, June 16, at the opera house. The following young ladies and gentlemen compose the class:

Robert Dye, Willah Schenck, Ellen Waight, Mame Smith, Nina Detrick, Nelle Ledgerwood, Louie Lindsey, Vera Hebener, Lou Harris, Geo. Penniwell, Blanche Cochran, Lelah Osborne, Rolla Alexander, Louise Waight, May Waight, Bertha Hamilton, Vivian Allen, Harry Mayer, Mary Gates, Sue Bell, Harry Bradfield, Fannie Evans, Mirt Sanders, Cora Chastain.

Note: Article from Leon, Iowa area scrapbook. The list of names was in smaller print and two columns, with Rolla Alexander starting the top of the second column.

History of Leon Public School

Leon, Iowa

By Miss Sue E. Bell

Thinking that it would be of some interest to the citizens and old settlers of Leon, I have endeavored to write a history of the Leon public schools. It has been a laborious task to obtain the information necessary. There may be a few facts omitted, but I have done the best I could. I desire to acknowledge the help received from some of the former professors and the old citizens of Leon.

In the year 1853 Humphrey Fullerton taught the first school in Leon in a 16 foot log cabin, where J. A. Caster's grocery store now stands. The following were his pupils: Martha Ellis James, Samuel Ellis, Mary Ellis Coffin, William Tharp, Luticia Wainwright, Belle Tharp Walker, Mattie Tharp Jordan, Martha Jordan Atkins, Charlie Jordan, Benjamin Jordan, Jane Shackelford, Lyman East, Julian East, Albert Tharp, Uz Tharp.

Joe C. Porter taught at the same place in 1854. Geo. T. Young in the summer of 1855 taught in the old court house, where Mayer and Hoffhine's stores are now located. One afternoon a wind storm passed over our little village and the walls of the upper story of the school house were blown down, and not one of the eighty pupils were injured. It was afterwards rebuilt and then destroyed by fire on March 31, 1874. In the winter of 1865 Miss Nellie Arnold taught in a log cabin situated on the south-east corner of the property owned by Mrs. A. E. Chase. Miss Arnold taught a summer school in 1857 at the same place.

In the winter of 1857 L. M. Hastings taught in the new school house in the east part of town near T. J. Gibson's residence, the term being only four months. Sarah Patterson Bashaw taught in the summer of 1858 in the east school house, better known to the old settlers as Gospel Ridge. In the winter of that year J. C. Porter taught. In the summer of 1859 Miss Higby Warner taught, and in the winter, Carr Porter. Between the years of 1860 and '64 there were more than one school taught at the same time, one room not being large enough to hold the pupils. Sarah Patterson Bashaw taught in a log cabin, back of Mr. Orslan's shoe shop. Where the Farmers & Traders bank now stands, Sam Sears taught up stairs and Mr. Strong down stairs. They were succeeded by the following teachers: Mr. Adams, Mr. Wainwright, Miss Higby and Sarah Kirkpatrick. Prof. Lewis taught in a small building east of Brown's hotel, and later in a building where Frank Clark's grocery now stands; also in the M. E. church on Commercial street. Miss Sil Jones taught in a frame building west of Teale Wharton's store, Miss Emma Higby taught several terms in a building where Frank Clark's grocery now stands. Andrew Warner taught during this time, and I. P. Martin taught in the M. E. church. During this time the first brick school house was built in the north part of town by John Kirkpatrick. The building was completed in 1864, and the bell that calls us to school now, is the one that was on the old court house, and was placed on the new school house. While the school house was being built L. M. Hastings taught in the M. E. church, Mrs. Hastings and Mrs. Lizzie Simmons Vail being his assistants. At the same time, I. P. Martin had a portion of the school in a building where Frank Clark's grocery store now stands. The schools at this time were not graded and four months was the longest term taught.

In the fall of 1864 only two rooms of the new school house were completed, and Prof. Hastings occupied the south room up stairs and Sarah Kirkpatrick the north room. For the school year of 1865 and 1866, S. P. Newcomb was elected principal, and the following teachers taught in the different departments: Sarah Kirkpatrick Baldwin and Sarah Patterson Bashaw. In '66 and '67 Prof. Abbott was elected principal, and re-elected each year for the next four years. The following taught under him: Gusta Smith, Emma Blair, Mrs. Reed, Linnie Arnold Horner, Eliza Avery, Emma Dawson.

Prof. Frazer graded the schools. There were four rooms and three grades in each room. On June 16, 1871, the first graduating class was sent out. They were as follows: Samuel Gates, T. W. Silvers, A. F. Woodruff, Mrs. Matilda Jordan Critchfield.

This class bought an organ for the school which cost $275. It also started the first library, and bought a globe, a dictionary, a microscope, an electric machine and a history chart. They gave exhibitions and festivals to buy these things. On January 2, 1872, the following teachers were elected for a term of ten weeks: Emma Dawson, Hettie Rogers, Mrs. Reed.

And on March 22, 1872: Mrs. Reed, T. W. Silvers, Emma Dawson.

August 16, 1872, W. S. Domer was elected principal, with the following teachers: Mrs. Reed, Ella Eaton, Mollie Miles.

It was ordered that school commence the second Monday instead of the first. September 27, 1872, the following teachers were elected for a term of twelve weeks, beginning the first Monday in January, 1873: Lucy Black, Emma Dawson, Mollie Miles.

W. S. Domer was re-elected principal on April 4, 1873, with the following teachers: Lucy Corbett, Emma Dawson, Mollie Miles.

On April 10, 1873, a committee was ordered to rent a room for part of the primary department. The basement of the Presbyterian church was rented. Miss Hyatt was elected teacher. In the school years of 1873 and 1874 Aaron Frazier was elected principal. The following teachers taught in that year: Emma Mills, Mollie Miles, J. L. Harvey.

In 1874 the Babbott writing book was adopted as one of the text books of the school. The teachers were: Lucy Corbett, Emma Mills, J. F. Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Hyatt, Esther Sanger, Laura Dye, Leota Haywood, Josie Miles, Mettie Pitman.

It was decided December 31, 1874, that five more months be added to the school year, with one week vacation. On July 28, 1875, R. L. Parrish was elected principal, and in 1876 was re-elected. The following teachers taught under him in 1875: Laura Dye, T. J. Hasty, Esther Sanger, Josephine Kellogg, Ellen Gammon.

In 1876 were: Kittie Stone, Josephine Kellogg, Belle Thompson, Laura Dye.

On August 12, 1876, it was ordered that this school year be held for nine months, and commence September 4, 1876. The first term seventeen weeks and two weeks' vacation; the last term nineteen weeks.

July 2, 1877, C. M. Des Islets was elected principal for the following four years. The teachers were as follows — between 1877 and 1881: Ellen Gammon, Emma Wilson, Esther Sanger, T. J. Hasty, William Field, Allie Porter, W. H. Albaugh, Mrs. M. A. Critchfield, I. P. Martin, S. J. Calhoun, Stephen Varga, Miss Davidson, Mrs. Reed.

Miss Pollard was elected to teach music in each department of the school, giving two lessons of fifteen minutes to each department, twice a week. The old school house which was completed in 1864 was torn down and the bricks sold, and a new one built in 1876 and 1877. It was completed September 13, 1877, B. F. Roberts being the contractor. On December 10, 1877, a new department was established in the school and was called the second intermediate department.

May 6, 1878, the school year consisted of ten months. For the school year of 1881 and 1882, A. B. Cornell was elected principal. The following teachers taught under him: Frank Gardner, Eva Kirkpatrick, Georgia Brown,Sarah Johnson, Retta Biddle, Finley Frazee, Merge Jordan, Augustus Roy, assistant principal.

—Decatur County Journal, Leon, Iowa.

Note: The second half of this article may be found at this link.

Teachers 1882-1898, Leon, Iowa

Leon, Iowa area — From old scrapbook

History of Leon Public School [second half of the article, see bottom for link to first half]
By Miss Sue E. Bell

July 3, 1882, B. F. Miller was elected principal for the next school year.

On June 18, 1883, S. M. Mowatt was elected principal, and was in charge of the school for the next seven years. The following teachers taught in 1883: Mrs. Reed, Mrs. M. B. Harvey, Eva Kirkpatrick, Esther Sanger, Sarah Johnson, Nellie Parris, assistant principal.

In 1884 the same teachers, with the exception that Grace Arnold took Mrs. Reed's place.

In 1885 W. J. Edwards was assistant principal. The same teachers taught, with the exception of W. M. Scott who took Grace Arnold's place, and Jessie Forrey was elected teacher.

In 1886 Susie Young was assistant principal. The new teachers were: Olive Logan, Cora Brooks.

In 1887 Miss May Wilson was assistant principal. The other teachers were: Emma Roy, Jennie Haskett, M. B. Harvey, Elva Noble, Cora Brooks, Esther Sanger.

On September 17, 1888, the following studies were introduced in the Public schools: Ray's Higher Arithmetic, Ray's New Practical Arithmetic, Eclectic U. S. History, Harvey's Revised Grammar, Eclectic Geography. Teachers in 1888: Emma Roy, Kate Hall, Henrietta Vogt, M. B. Harvey, Jennie Haskett, Esther Sanger, Lillian Howard, assistant principal.

In 1889 V. R McGinnis was elected assistant principal. The teachers were: Eva Kirkpatrick, Jennie Haskett, Mrs. Reed, Kate Hall, Lillian Howard, Emma Roy.

May 10, 1890, A. L. Lyon was elected superintendent of all the schools for two years, and V. R. McGinnis was elected principal of the High school. Teachers for 1890: Mrs. M. P. Lindsey, Mrs. Haskett, Hortense Dilsaver, Mary Parrish, Lillian Howard, J. E. Cummins.

Those who taught in 1891: Mrs. Lindsey, Mrs. Haskett, Hortense Dilsaver, Mary Parrish, Kate James, John Parrish, Cora Brooks.

May 2, 1892, V. R. McGinnis was elected principal and J. M. Howell assistant principal for two years. The teachers for this year were: Mrs. Lindsey, Mrs. Haskett, Eva Kirkpatrick, Mary Parrish, Homer Dye, Hattie Drake, F. R. Porter.

Prof. M. Schoenert was elected musical director. Teachers in 1893: Mrs. Linsey, Mary Martin, Mrs. Haskett, Mary Parrish, Eva Kirkpatrick, Mabel Horner, Hattie Drake.

M. Schoenert was re-elected musical director.

April 2, 1894, Sam L. Darrah was elected principal for the following four years. The teachers were: Mrs. Lindsey, Mrs. Haskett, Mary Martin, Mary Parrish, Eva Kirkpatrick, Mabel Horner, Carrie Hoffman, Hattie Drake, assistant principal.

April 1, 1885, M. Schoenert resigned and Miss Mame Penniwell was elected to fill his place. Teachers in 1895 were the same as in 1894. The new south school house was built in the summer of 1895, S. L. Lorey being the contractor.

In 1896 Miss Helen Radnish was elected first assistant principal and Miss Virginia McKee second assistant principal. Teachers at the North school house were: Mrs. Stuart, Henrietta Vogt, Eva Kirkpatrick, Mary Parrish, Ophie Clark, Mrs. Lindsey. South school house: Hallie Moore, Mae Lorey, Ella Kemp, musical director, Mabel Horner, elocution teacher.

In 1897 Miss Mamie Allen was elected first assistant principal and Harriet Shields second assistant principal. Teachers at the North school: Mrs. Lindsey, Mrs. Roy, Claudie Clapp, Henrietta Vogt, Mrs. Stewart. South school house: Eva Kirkpatrick, Hallie Moore, Mae Lorey, Ella Kemp, musical director.

In 1898 Miss Mamie Allen was reelected first assistant principal and Miss Maggie Young second assistant principal. Teachers — North school house: Mrs. Lindsey, Mrs. L. Roy, Ethel Bowman, Henrietta Vogt, Hoyle Gilreath. South school house: Hattie Kirkpatrick, Hallie Moore, Mae Lorey.

The schools since 1853 have progressed rapidly. The teachers are more competent than in former years.

The scholars numbered fifteen in the first school and they number nearly 500 at the present time, which goes to prove that the knowledge is more complete at this age than before.

Note: The first half of this article may be found at this link.

A Deadly Boomerang, Made and Thrown With Precision

1898

He Learned the Secret From the Natives of Australia

Civilized people, especially of the English speaking races, pride themselves upon their discoveries in electricity with which they now operate the guns of great ships of war, and they point with fear and trembling as well as satisfaction to the perfection in all sorts of dynamite bombs and explosives which they may, on occasion, use to kill people by the hundreds; but with all their cleverness, says the Detroit Free Press, they have never learned to make what a savage can fashion out of a crooked stick. It has been stated that there is nothing made of wood which a Yankee boy cannot copy with the aid of his jackknife, but the man who said that had probably never heard of a boomerang.

Horace Baker of New York, who spent several years in Australia, and went "boomerang crazy," is said to be the first white man who ever made boomerangs that would "go," and he learned to make them by almost living with the savages and watching them as they sat whittling away at a piece of wood with their crude stone hatchets and sharp shells.

Besides those which he has made himself, Mr. Baker has the largest collection of real Australian black man's boomerangs in this country. There are almost a hundred of them, and a queer lot they are. Some of them are haggled as if the savage had used his teeth to make them, yet as true to the boomerang principle as the perfectly carved specimens which decorate his walls. He keeps them hung up in clusters as some men have their guns and pistols arranged with a view to proud display before their friends. A few of these date away back to the time when Captain Cook landed on the coast of Australia.

"Why is it so difficult to make a boomerang?" said this connoisseur of the crooked stick. "Well, because it is so delicately balanced that the least divergence from the proper angle will alter its course in the air and prevent the perfect revolution which is necessary to its flight. When correctly made, a boomerang should balance exactly on a knife blade held at its centre, if it doesn't balance, some more whittling must be done on the heavy end. That seems easy enough — to whittle a piece of curved wood into a flat shape — so that the ends balance exactly — and if that were all there is to it, any boy could make one. The hard part of it is to cut the edges in such a way that they will strike the air at a certain angle in one part of the curve, and at another in another part, and so on until every line of both edges contributes to the perfect revolution of the weapon. Then, when it is whirled, it has two motions, the rotary one, which is a result of its shape, and the forward one, given it in the throwing. It's a pity that the baseball players cannot 'get onto' those black fellows' 'curves.' A pitcher who could do it would make his fortune.

"The quality of wood used has a great deal to do with the excellence of a boomerang. The Australian brave will tramp miles to find a branch of the right shape, and a wood of the proper density. Gnarled trees are at a premium there, and the heaviest wood is the best. Our lignum vitae corresponds the nearest to the tree they like best. The piece for the boomerang is usually cut where a branch curves out from the tree trunk, for this is the most natural crook in the tree's formation.

"In throwing a boomerang, the savage holds it by one end over his right shoulder, his body turned to the right, then without straightening the arm he whirls the body back to front position, bringing the weapon with the arm still bent, with it, then suddenly lets go, straightening the arm at the elbow as he does so. This adds the force of the whole body to the momentum of the weapon, instead of depending entirely upon that of the arm. It will go whirling around, keeping straight ahead for a certain distance then gradually swerve to the left and at last return to the thrower.

"When a savage wants to kill or disable a kangaroo, he throws it so that it will strike the ground at a stated distance from him and then begin turning somersaults until it reaches the kangaroo, striking him even then with such force as to break a leg or kill him, if it strikes on the head.

"Or suppose he sees a flock of ducks swimming about on the river. He creeps up softly behind a clump of trees, throws his boomerang swirling over the tree tops in a curved line which he can calculate as well as a civilized gunner sights a straight one, and down comes the flying stick among the ducks flopping like a live thing, and killing or disabling everything within reach of its wooden wings. It really looks very much like a bird in its flight through the air.

"The savages have many different varieties of these weapons. The average length is twenty-four or twenty-six inches. Such as these are used in hunting birds, rabbits and other small game, and none of them weighs over three-quarters of a pound. There are immense hunting and war weapons which are as much as three feet long, but they are rarely used, and nobody has sufficient strength to throw them so that they will return."

Child Saved by a Bear

1898

Residents of Apalachin, N. Y., had a bad scare recently, when the four-year-old child of Henry Rathburn started out alone to look for trailing arbutus. It was half an hour before she was missed, and then all trace of the little one was lost. Her distracted father and his neighbors joined in the search.

While passing through a ravine they were startled to see an uncouth object shambling toward them some distance up the road, carrying a bundle in its mouth. Closer inspection proved to the terrified searchers that the object was a bear and the bundle a child. It is many years since a bear was seen in this section, but the men, though unarmed, prepared to give battle, one of their number going back for help. But the bear trotted toward them as though totally unconcerned, and when a few yards away carefully laid down the child it was carrying by its dress.

When the men approached and took up the little one the bear did not show fight, and a closer investigation proved he had a ring in his nose. Later it was found the bear belonged to an Italian who was camping in a nearby barn, making a tour of the country. He had purchased the animal when a cub and reared him in a New York tenement, where he was allowed to play with the children, and it was there he had learned the trick of carrying the little ones. — New York Press.

The Ghurkas — Monkey Men of the Himalayas

1898

The average "monkey-man of the Himalayas" is by no means a type of beauty. A short body, little legs, round head, and flat features are a few of his prominent physical characteristics; and being for a long period clothed in one of the ugliest uniforms the genius of man ever invented, he could not compete in picturesqueness with the fine physique and carriage of the handsome Sikhs, Pathans, or Bayputs.

But, in spite of his unprepossessing appearance, once let his officers gain his respect, and he is ready to follow them with doglike fidelity, to "go anywhere and do anything," to use a hackneyed phrase; and those qualities which commend themselves to a Ghurka are the same as those which serve to endear an officer to the British private.

Indeed, the devotion, courage, energy of character, and love of enterprise of these formidable but merry little warriors are such that the writer of a recent article on the native army gives expression to his conviction that "there is not a single instance on record of Ghurka soldiers having failed in their duty against an enemy." — Pall Mall.

Comment: We're all so superior, aren't we?

Clever Siamese Girls

1898

The dancing girls of Siam are remarkable for the agility and grace of their movements. The cup dance is the prettiest and most poetic of all. A row of young girls, with a tier of cups on their heads, take their places in the middle of the great hall. A burst of joyous music follows. On hearing this they simultaneously, with military precision, kneel down, fold their hands and bow their heads until their foreheads almost touch the polished marble floor, keeping the cups steadily on their heads by some marvelous jerk of the neck. Then, suddenly springing to their feet they describe a succession of rapid and intricate circles, keeping time to the music with their arms, hands and feet.

Next the music swells into a rapturous tumult. The dancers raise their delicate feet, curve their arms and fingers in almost impossible flexures, sway to and fro like withes of willow, agitate all the muscles of the body like the flutter of leaves in the soft evening breeze, but still keep the cups on their heads.

The dancing girls of Bangkok are always exercising in the royal gymnasium. Their ages vary from five to twenty years. The curious and subtle feat of picking up a straw with the eyelids can be learned only by the youngest of them, who are made to practice it to render them flexible in every part of the body. There are two long rows of benches, one a little higher than the other. On the lower is a row of little girls, and on the upper bench are laid the polished bits of straw. At the sound of the drum the little girls, all together, bend back the head and neck until they touch the bits of straw, which, with wonderful dexterity, they secure between the corners of their eyelids.

The Trolley Wagon

1898

A New Thing Which Makes Fifteen Miles an Hour

The very latest vehicle to transport people around is called the trolley wagon. This interesting contrivance is really a happy medium between the trolley car and the ordinary vehicle. We have had auto-cars and motor-cars, but the trolley wagon is neither. It is an invention all by itself, and its source of power is the one thing that enables the trolley car to call it a first cousin.

The motor of the wagon is connected to the rear wheel by suitable gearing. It is about 15-horsepower. It is a powerful affair, for its two rear wheels are eight feet in diameter. The two front wheels are four feet in diameter. The frame supporting the motor is suspended from the wagon frame.

The width of the wheels is considerable, and as the front wheels are much nearer together than the rear wheels the wagon acts to quite a degree as a road roller. One of the advantages of the trolley wagon is that the worst road in the country has no terrors for it. The width of its wheels and the way they are adjusted make it possible for it to even ride over plowed ground in safety, and without that disagreeable jar that a rough road generally causes.

The trolley itself is adapted to run either on two or three wires. Everyone who has seen a trolley car must have noticed the little wheel that runs along on the wire. This is called the locking wheel, and its movement, which has heretofore been on a vertical plane, is arranged in this instance to operate on a horizontal plane, thus changing complication to simplicity and reducing the cost and weight of the wheel.

The inventor of the vehicle believes there are wonderful prospects in store for it. He sees no reason why it may not be utilized in many sections of the country, particularly where street cars do not run, and the building of a street car line would involve tremendous expense. He thinks the trolley wires could be erected, and then all that is needful will have been accomplished, as the trolley wagon can run over any kind of a road.

The wagon referred to has made a speed on a road of not over good construction of 15 miles an hour without great jar or accident. The invention certainly possesses the merit of being unique, and in attracting no little interest among those who are interested in the future of the trolley. — Philadelphia Press.

His Own Banker — Kept Barrels of Money

Wisconsin, 1898

A Merchant who Kept Barrels of Money In His Store

George Hiles came down from Wood county, where he had a store, saw mill, large tracts of pine and other interests which later made him several times a millionaire. At that time and for many years before, Mr. Hiles was his own banker. He kept his money loose in flour barrels. It was not an unusual thing for him to have a barrel of silver and gold and another of paper money in the back room of his store, says the Chicago Times-Herald.

Later he became an official of a Milwaukee bank and put aside his Dexterville methods of banking. It was always the boast of Mr. Hiles that be never lost a dollar by his old-time banking ways. Once, however, he had a close call. A rough river man who had heard of the barrel of bills in the back room hung about the store until it was time to close and all had gone but Mr. Hiles and a boy.

The rough customer knocked the boy down and made a rush for the president of the bank. Mr. Hiles was something of a rusher himself in those days. He met the river man more than half way and in less than two minutes the would-be bank robber was in the middle of the road with two broken ribs, minus several teeth and blind of one eye. No one else ever attempted to rob that bank. Hiles died in Milwaukee two years ago.

In Chrysanthemumiam (poetry)

1898

In Chrysanthemumiam.

Say there,
You rosybuds
And lilypods,
And sweet pease,
And daffydowndillies,
And daisies,
And geraniums,
And all you other
Miss Nancies of the flowering world,
will you please go sprinkle yourselves,
And turn your weeping eyes on me?
Me,
The effulgent and iridescent full back
Of the Floral field?
The only blooming
Football player
In the whole botanical business.
There's nothing
Of the modest little violet style
In my ornate
And flocculent physiognomy.
And when it comes
To throwing boquets
I rather fancy
I'm the whole plate
Of cold slaw
Myself!
Don't I seem
To strike you that way?
I am also
A shredded sunburst of glory,
And when I rise and shine
There is but one light
By which the footsteps
Of the fleet and fading Flora
Are guided:
That's
The chrysanthemum!

—W. J. Lampton, in N. Y. Sun.

—Dubuque Herald, Dubuque, IA, Nov. 27, 1898, p. 3.

"Union of the Isles" — Poetry on Maury and Vashon Islands

1898

UNION OF THE ISLES

A Legend of Puget Sound

By Mary Bynon Reese

["The Portage" is a small strip of sand uniting Maury and Vashon Islands, and separating Chautauqua Bay and Quartermaster Harbor. The adjacent scenery is exquisite.]

Ages ago, when Time was young
And earth a paradise untrod,
Two isles, to gem an island sea,
Dropped radiant from the hand of God.
Resplendent at Creation's dawn,
They stood together, side by side,
Bold Maury and the fair Vashon,
Expectant lover, waiting bride.

Their pines in recognition swayed,
And friendly zephyrs greeting bore,
But cruel barriers rolled between
That separated shore from shore;
Rude taunting voices of the waves,
Harsh tones that come twixt heart and heart,
Cried: "Ever we shall flow between
And ever you must dwell apart."

Then pitying sands came drifting in,
Nor drifted back, the legend runs,
And day by day, and grain by grain,
They nearer brought those severed ones,
Till tides forgot to flow between,
And shore clasped shore, as heart does heart,
Now sing the isles: — "We two are one,
But you proud waves must dwell apart."

—Steubenville Herald-Star, Steubenville, OH, March 5, 1898, p. 8.

Note: Here's a link to the area.

Six-Year-Old Patriot Tries to Join the Army

Chicago, 1898

A Six-year-old Patriot.

Edward Maginnis, 6 years old and curly headed, presented himself with a convincing air of seriousness at the army recruiting station, 82 West Madison street, to enlist, when Captain Bomus appeared at his desk. He preferred the cavalry service because he could ride and have a saber as well as go to shoot Spaniards.

Captain Bomus is a big officer with a kindly smile, and has little ones of his own, so when the sergeant tried to throw cold water on the young patriot's plan of enlisting his superior took a hand.

"Where do you live, my little man?" asked the captain.

"I live at 287 West Randolph street, near the Second regiment armory, and I want to be a sure enough soldier," was the prompt answer.

"How do you spell your name?" queried the old cavalryman.

"That don't make any difference. When you want me, send for me," replied the child, while the six foot ex-artillery sergeant standing beside him waiting to apply for a chance to get into the service again forgot his lessons in discipline and went off into explosive laughter. Captain Bomus took the little fellow's name and address, patted him on the head and told him to come around for a physical examination later when Captain Birmingham, the surgeon, was present. — Chicago News.

Death and Sadness in the News

Iowa, 1898

STATE NEWS

John Burk was instantly killed in a horse race at Winthrop, Iowa.

Mrs. Mary Christensen of Council Bluffs has gone insane through worry.

Charles Andrews, aged 20, was drowned while bathing in the Coon River at Farnhamville.

It is supposed that the four weeks' old child of J. W. Warford of Des Moines came to its death by reason of a wound inflicted by a pin near its ear.

John Gibbins, a switchman at Ottumwa, was struck by an engine in the yards at that city and injured so severely that he died within a short time.

While the little daughter of Mr. Gullander, living near Denison, was leaning over a fence of a hog lot, the animals caught her by the dress and pulled her over. She was twice severely bitten before being rescued.

Horse, the 7-year-old son of James Maualtt of Brooklyn, was playing with a number of companions, the game being practice in throwing the lasso. The rope was thrown over his head and tightened with a quick jerk, throwing the little fellow to the ground, breaking the collar bone and rupturing a blood vessel in the head. The little fellow died in about three hours.

--Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, September 6, 1898, page 7.