"Poor and Old and Only in Way," Song of Music Master Was Prophecy

1920

Years ago Carl Raymond, the old music master of Chicago, wrote a song by this name:

"I'm Poor and Old, and Only in the Way."

Today Raymond is poor and old and he says he's only in the way. His home is wherever he hangs his hat. He has had riches and fame; now he has but memories. Sometimes he plays the piano in a little restaurant on a Chicago avenue.

Just now he's in the county hospital — broke and friendless. Weakly reclining on a hospital bed, he repeated words from one of his songs:

As we walk down the street,
How, how often do we meet
Some poor old man whose life is naught but woes;
And with age his form is bent,
In his pockets not a cent,
And for shelter he does not know where to go.
With relations by the score
Who turn him from their door
And, sneering, in the street just pass him by;
If you ask why 'tis done,
He'll answer you and say:
"I'm poor and old and only in the way."

As the old fellow's voice died away he said sadly: "That's my life in a nutshell. I never thought when I wrote those words that some day I would apply them to myself."

Raymond was born eighty-one years ago in the shadow of Bunker Hill monument, the son of a banker. At 16 he enlisted in the Mexican War. After peace was declared he became an intermittent correspondent for the New York Herald. Then came the Civil War and he joined the colors again. In 1857 he came to Chicago. All this time he was writing songs — hundreds of them, including "Just One Girl," "There Are No Friends but the Old Friends" and "Passing Away Beyond the Clouds."

"But now I'm thru," he said sadly. "You see, I'm poor and old and only in the way."

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 1.

Mrs. Gilligan Indicted for Murder

1916

Hartford, Ct., Sept. 21. — Mrs. Amy E. Archer Gilligan, charged with poisoning five inmates of her home for elderly people at Windsor, was indicted for first degree murder on five counts by the grand jury late today.

Benedict M. Holden, counsel for Mrs. Gilligan, announced that he was not ready to proceed with the trial and Judge Shumway ordered the case continued to the December term of the superior court. Mrs. Gilligan pleaded not guilty and was remanded to the county jail without bonds.

Mrs. Gilligan was arrested on May 7 last, specially charged with the murder of Franklin R. Andrews, whose body had been secretly exhumed. Since that time four other bodies, including the second husband of the accused have been exhumed.

Most of the inmates were admitted to the home, the state claims, after contracts had been signed providing for life care upon payment of $1000.

For Elderly Women

1901

In the mixed Oxford suitings in dark gray and black are a number of different qualities that make up well in coat and skirt, and it is just as necessary for an older woman to have a coat and skirt costume as for a young girl.

The skirt is best that has a flaring flounce at the side and a front breadth narrower at the top than at the bottom and with skirt of medium length. The jacket should always be three-quarter length and with straight fronts with pointed revers and fronts faced with some dull silk so that the coat can be worn open if desired.

If a woman is stout, she should have her coat made rather shapeless and with box back, or a seam in the middle, and at the sides curved in somewhat to the figure, this being more becoming than a tight fitting jacket. In black wool a light weight material made in this way, with the flounce trimmed with bands or folds of satin, makes a smart gown. — Harper's Bazar.

Didn't Fear for Herself

1910

Mme. Reynolds, at Eighty-Six, Had No Thought of Dying Within Next Two Years

At the age of 86 Mme. Reynolds still found much zest in life and having retained all her faculties she felt that a few of the physical disabilities of her age were of small account and portended nothing. Her nephew Thomas was a man of much worth but of a certain tactlessness of speech which always roused the ire of his aunt.

A few weeks before the old lady's eighty-seventh birthday Thomas, who had been overweighted with business cares for years, started on a trip round the world which was to consume two years.

"I've come to say good-by," he announced when he appeared at his aunt's house, in a town 50 miles distant from his home. "I'm starting round the world next week and as I'm to be gone two years and perhaps longer I thought I might not ever — well, you understand, I wanted to be sure to see you once more."

The old lady leaned forward, fixing him with her beadlike eyes.

"Thomas," she said imperatively, "do you mean to tell me the doctor doesn't think you'll live to get back?" — Youth's Companion.

U.S. Army Blankets Adorn French Girls

1920

Have Been Made Into Cloaks Since Doughboys Had Them

PARIS, France, Feb. 26. — How the humble Army blanket, protection of the grumbling doughboy, has increased in value from 12 francs to 200 francs, and come to be apparel of French beauty along the boulevards, has been brought to light in Paris.

At a sale of Army stocks, a French grocer bought 2,000 American Army blankets for 12 francs each. He sold them for 11 and 20 francs each to a clothing manufacturer.

The clothing manufacturer made them up into women's cloaks and sold them at 70 francs each to a department store, which retailed them at 180 and 200 francs each.

Voila, la vie chere!


Woman, 102, Walks Miles to Hospital

NEW YORK, N.Y., Feb. 26. — Despite her 102 years Mrs. Fannie Cohen traveled alone and unassisted from her home to Bellevue Hospital, where she sought admission. She is suffering from ailments due to old age. Her home is several miles from the hospital.


Wants Husband Declared Dead

PORT HURON, Michigan, Feb. 26. — Mrs. Alice Reo has brought suit in Circuit Court to have her husband, Capt. Joseph Reo, declared legally dead. Captain Reo was in command of the Government survey boat Surveyor, and last was heard from May 25, 1910, when he left the boat at Cleveland. Mrs. Reo wants to acquire property held by herself and her husband.


Baby Adds Fifth Generation

Kansas Child's Great-great-grandmother Is Still Living

HARTFORD, Kansas, Feb. 26. — A son was born a few days ago to Mr. and Mrs. James Hartenblower of Eureka, Kan. This baby has two grandfathers, one grandmother, two great-grandfathers, two great-grandmothers and one great-great-grandmother.

The great-great-grandmother is Mrs. Mary Ann Rhoads, of Topeka.

Balky Horse Starts a Blaze

1920

Kicks Off Hot Shoe, Sets Blacksmith Shop on Fire

SANDFORDS MILLS, N. Y., Feb. 26. — Upon his arrival in town, Abner Gesner, who lives near here, led his horse into W. A. Wirts' blacksmith shop to be shod. Mr. Wirts prepared the horse's feet without trouble. When he raised the left hind foot of the horse it resented having the red hot shoe applied to its hoof and began jumping and kicking. The horse kicked the hot shoe into a pile of shavings at the end of the shop, igniting them. Wirts had to call out the village fire companies to extinguish the flames.


Blind Coroner Enters Vaudeville

ATLANTA, Ga., Feb. 26. — Paul Donchoo, Atlanta's widely-known blind coroner, has gone into vaudeville. Besides being a coroner and a lawyer, Donchoo is an accomplished musician.


Take 585 Gallstones From Man

HAZLETON, Pa., Feb. 26 — Five hundred and eight-five gallstones were removed in an operation from John Koda, at this place. The man felt much relieved after the operation.


At 91 He is a Movie Fan

CALDwELL., N. J., Feb. 26. — Augustus Bogert at his home in Hanford place, Caldwell, passed the 91st anniversary of his birth. Mr. Bogert was born in New York. He is a movie fan.

Parrot Stories

1896

There was an old factotum in our family who used to sew for us, and who occasionally spent several weeks at a time at the house. She was somewhat of a character, had been married three times, and to distinguish her second dear departed was in the habit of calling him "my middle husband;" old maids she naturally did not approve of, remarking that they were the only things not prayed for in the Litany. The old woman was very deaf, and much shouting was needed to make her hear. One day many vain efforts were made to induce her to do a piece of work in a particular way, but she could not or would not see what was wanted, and at last, in despair, the lady of the house remarked to the nurse, "Oh, never mind; when she is gone, it must be altered." "Ah," remarked the parrot, in a loud, clear voice, "there's no fool like an old fool."

The parrot had on one morning been given a bath, or in other words, the garden watering can had been turned upon him, and he was placed in front of the fire to dry. There were two small kittens who also liked the warmth of the fire, and who were sitting one on each side of the cage. The bird walked first to one side, and looking down out of the corner of his eye, inquired, "Are you a good boy?" Then he sidled across to the other end of his perch and said to the other kitten, "And are you a good boy?"

One day two children of our family visited the house, and when alone amused themselves by mischievously pulling up some tulips, which grew in a pot in the room, by the roots, afterwards carefully replacing them. A little later Polly's master, to whom the plants belonged, came into the room, and immediately exclaimed, "Oh, look at my tulips; see how they are growing." Polly at once uttered two words, and only two; they were, "You ass!" I need hardly say that some time elapsed before the owner of the tulips was made acquainted with all the particulars of what had happened. — Chambers's Journal.

Slain By Naked Maniac

Iowa, 1900

James Fitzsimmons Dead, Three Others Injured

Cedar Rapids dispatch: Charles Mefford, a maniac, at 5 o'clock a.m. killed James Fitzsimmons, fatally injured John Drake, seriously and possibly fatally injured Mrs. James Fitzsimmons and then ended his own life.

Mefford was 20 years old and had been insane for a number of years. Two years ago he was in the Independence asylum for a short time, but escaped and was never returned. He was not generally considered dangerous. Saturday night about ten o'clock, while clad in nothing but a shirt, he darted out of his home, a raving maniac. He was seen two or three times between then and midnight, but the police failed to find him.

Shortly before 5 o'clock Reginald Andrews, the janitor at the Old Ladies' Home was awakened by crashing glass. The next moment Mefford stood before him. stark naked, swinging a neck yoke. He warned Andrews that his time had come and swung the neck yoke in an effort to brain him. The latter dodged and grabbed the weapon, threw Mefford on the bed and choked him until he begged for mercy.

Then Andrews agreed to give him a bath, a suit of clothes and some breakfast, which apparently satisfied him. Rushing through the house, Andrews locked the twelve or fourteen old ladies in their rooms, notified the police by telephone, and then ran across the street, to the home of Joseph Drake for assistance.

Drake dressed, picked up a revolver, and they started out. As they did so Mefford, carrying an ax, was seen to plunge through a window in the home of James Fitzsimmons, about 150 yards away. As he entered the room Mrs. Fitzsimmons uttered a scream. Mefford swung the ax and brought it down toward her head. Her uplifted arm saved her life; the arm was broken in two places and she sustained a serious scalp wound. Mr. Fitzsimmons hurried to the aid of his wife and his skull was crushed with the ax, death resulting immediately.

The maniac then rushed into the room of Miss Katie, who escaped with a few scalp wounds. Starting down stairs he was met by Drake who snapped his revolver four times at the madman, each time upon an empty shell. Mefford grabbed the revolver, ran a few blocks and killed himself with the one load the revolver contained.

—Humeston New Era, Humeston, Iowa, July 4, 1900.

Just Wanted To See Her Money

1908

And The Little Old Lady Had Her Confidence Restored

She was a little old lady, so little and so old that with considerate friends she would never, never have been allowed alone in the hurried throng on the busy streets. She was such an old little lady that she had only just learned that there had been trouble in the banks, and she had made such haste as she could to be sure that her money — all the money she had saved — was safe.

"Have you got my money?" she asked tremulously when she finally reached the teller's window.

"How much did you have?" asked the teller kindly. No one could help being kind to such a little old lady.

"Twenty-five dollars," she answered. "Two tens and a five. I didn't wish to take it out," she continued apologetically, "but I should feel better if you could just let me see it."

So they showed her carefully "two tens and a five." Her faded eyes brightened, and with a grateful "Thank you," she left, every line of her bent little figure showing happy contentment and confidence, for she had seen her money.


Has Good Opinion of Women

"Men have no organization in the world that is doing as much for the world at the present time and for civilization as the National Federation of Women's Clubs," said Prof. Zeublin of Chicago in an address at Minneapolis. He said that woman is not only stronger mentally, but she is superior to man physically, and the day of her equality with man is at an end as she is in every respect his superior

Has "Postal Cardomania"

1909

Cincinnati Man Gives Reason for Slapping Wife; Court Releases Him

Cincinnati — William Schenck of Elwood place offered a novel excuse for slapping his wife when he faced Judge Hoffman in the police court Wednesday. He claimed that he was a victim of "postal cardomania," and charged his wife with sending them. He presented several cards to the court.

On one was written, "All in and down and out;" another showed a handsome young woman with outstretched arms, yawning. Underneath the picture was printed the words, "I do not care if he never comes back." Another had written on it, "Come in, the water is fine."

The wife claimed that Schenck had slapped and then punched her in the face while he was talking with her Sunday night. He was released.


1900

Sounded Like Age Hint

Mary Anderson Navarro attended a bazaar in England the other day in aid of a religious community and was told by the father rector that she was a mother to them. "Our Mary" is, of course, no longer in the full blush of youthful beauty, but this remark rather startled her for a moment. In the course of a short reply she good-humoredly said that the reverend gentleman might at least have called her a sister.

Marches Well at 95

1900

The oldest veteran who marched in the G. A. R. parade at Chicago recently was William Taylor of the Fourteenth Wisconsin infantry. He marched over the entire route without facing any ill effects from the exercise. He is 95 years old and a veteran of three wars, having, taking part in the war with the Blackfoot Indians, the Mexican war and the civil war. He is a member of the La Crosse post and is as lively as some of the young boys of 60.


Bees and Peaches

One of the most peculiar suits at law ever brought before any court is soon to be tried in Van Buren county, Michigan, between two neighbors and old friends. One of the men, H. D. Burrell of South Haven, keeps about sixty colonies of bees. The other is a peach grower. A few months ago the latter complained of the former's bees destroying the early Crawford peaches, claming that the bees came into his orchard in large numbers, bit holes in the fruit and rendered it unmarketable for which he demanded $200. Prof. J M. Rankin of the agricultural college and the entomologist of the Agricultural department at Washington will be called as expert witnesses by the defense in a suit for damages.


Galveston Relief

Little has been said, and probably as little thought, of the beneficent work done by the railroads in aiding and promoting the measures set on foot for the relief of stricken Galveston. Thousands of refugees from that city received free transportation to any part of the country, and immense quantities of supplies were rushed forward without charge. This ready response to the cry of human needs characterized all the great railway systems of the country, the express, telegraph and telephone companies. The cash value of the services thus rendered is as impossible to estimate as the amount of human suffering and misery they helped to alleviate.

A Remarkable Pilgrim — 103, Walks Long Way, Fails

1900

Aged Woman Determined to See Paris Exposition

An almost incredible story comes from France of the resolution and energy of an old Alsatian woman who was determined to see the exposition. She was found, exhausted by hunger and fatigue, on a road in the department of the Marne.

When her strength had been restored somewhat by medical treatment and food she told the following story: She was born in Alsace on January 2, 1797, and is therefore 103 years old. Seized with a burning desire to see the exposition, she had left Alsace two weeks before, intending to walk all the way to Paris, for she had a horror of railroads, and, besides was poor.

She had accomplished more than half the journey and had walked more than 150 miles. On her shoulders she carried her luggage, two bundles weighing fifty-nine livres (pounds). Her money, which she carried in a handkerchief, was a trifling burden, as it consisted of one 2-franc piece. In this financial condition it is needless to add that the courageous old woman had resolved at the outset not to enter an inn or restaurant during her journey. She subsisted entirely on bread and cheese, slept in barns when she could or in default of shelter passed the night under the trees by the wayside.

As soon as she had recovered her senses — for she was unconscious when found — she wished to resume her journey, and it was difficult to make her understand that Paris was yet a long way off. At last she understood and seemed resigned to her failure.


Origin of the Chinese Queue

The custom of Chinamen wearing pigtails is not ancient, considering the period that China has existed as a nation. It dates from 1627, when the Manchus, who then commenced the contest of the Celestial Empire, enforced this fashion of doing the hair as a sign of degradation. The average queue is three feet long, and, reasoning that the adult Chinamen number 200,000,000, we get a united pigtail measuring 113,636 miles long, sufficient to go four and a half times round the earth! — Golden Penny.

Old Ladies Say Ballet Posters Too Risque

1910

Members of Home Resent Billboard Pictures of Women Scantily Dressed

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. — Opposite the Old Ladies' home in this city is a dead wall, which is used to advertise attractions at some of the local theaters. A bill poster put up a number of posters of ballet dancers clad in gaudy and scant attire. The inmates of the house, who saw them from their windows, were indignant.

They held a consultation and then resolved on action. They procured a number of newspapers, and with paste and pot made their way to the opposite side of the street and covered the lower limbs of the dancers, and were much pleased with their work. One of them remarked: "There now! I guess decency will not be outraged."


Lord's Prayer on Coin

New York. — A curious specimen of the fine work of a famous old American engraver, A. W. Overbaugh, has come to light in a little Staten Island town. The relic is an ancient gold dollar, in the center of which, in a circle one-sixth of an inch in diameter, Overbaugh engraved the Lord's prayer. The inscription cannot be seen with the naked eye, but is distinct with the aid of glasses. The engraving was done on a wager.

She Shot Him Just for Fun

1911

The Editor Muses

A St. Louis woman, asked why she shot her husband, said she did it "just for fun." And yet they say women have no sense of humor.

The agitation to make the upper berth lower continues; but no matter at what figure they fix the price it will still be high.

A St. Louis man made his wife cut his hair. Barbering, however, will never be included in any domestic science course.

There is a woman wireless operator. The old saw must be amended to read: "What man has done, a woman can and will do."

Fashionable women in the national capital climb the Washington monument to reduce their flesh. Thus does the uplift reach society.

A woman of ninety-one in Massachusetts wants to go up in a balloon. Another example of how people are as young in times as they want to be.

If a girl has a grown up brother she acquires a pretty fair knowledge of men without having to pass through the agonies of matrimony.

Whoso neglects learning in his youth, loses the past and is dead for the future. — Euripides.

Luck In the Clover

1903

Any one who carries about a four leaved clover will be lucky and will have the power of discovering ghosts or evil spirits. With it under the pillow the lover may insure dreams of the beloved one. A fragment in the shoe of a traveler insures a safe journey. Of the five leaved clover it is declared that if it be worn on the left side of a maiden's dress or fastened behind the hall door the Christian name of the first man who enters will be the same as that of the future husband.

The power of the four leaved shamrock for good is familiar to all, from Lover's once popular and pretty song, the speaker in which pictures what she would do should she find the magic plant:

"I would play the enchanter's part and scatter bliss around,
And not a tear or aching heart should in the world be found."


Centenarian Chances

Taking a million as a basis of calculation, statistics show that at the end of seventy years there will still survive 212,000 out of 1,000,000 persons. At the expiration of eighty years there will be 107,000 survivors of the original million. When it comes to ninety years of existence only 8,841 out of the 1,000,000, or one in 115, will be living. Of the original 1,000,000 only fifty-four will live to see ninety-nine years, or about one person out of 18,500. The century mark will be reached by only twenty-three out of the 1,000,000.

Gum Chewing Girls Bother Movie Fan

1920

Their Jaws Work So Rapidly That His View Is Obstructed

UNIONTOWN, N. Y. — Andrew Touser is the movie bug of the village. Touser has not missed a picture since the show was started five years ago, but he threatens to quit if the management does not draw the line on the girls chewing gum during the performance.

Recently Touser entered a protest. He says that every night several young ladies take seats in front of him; that they do not remove their hats and as soon as they are seated commence to chew gum. Touser states that the girls work their jaws so rapidly that their hats bob up and down, thus obscuring his view. He says it is the bobbing of their hats which bothers him.

Manager H. H. Whaley promised Touser that he would talk to the girls and try to get them to give up the practice of chewing gun in the house.


Oldest Dog Is Registered

Canine Aged 19 Now Has Gray Hair Instead of Black

SANDUSKY, Ohio — The oldest dog in Erie County was registered for taxation here recently. It has just passed its 19th birthday, and is the property of H. M. Andress of Vermillon. When he came to the line in the application for registration referring to color, Andress wrote: "He was black, but he now has so many gray hairs that he is an iron gray in color."

City Man, 94, Has Never Seen a Movie

1920

Prefers to Live in Fond Memories of the Past

HARLAN, Iowa — William Blair of this city, 94 years old, and still bright of eye and keen of mind, has never seen a moving picture. For more than ten years he has lived within a few blocks of the local picture show, but could never be induced to attend.

His reasons are unique. He says: "I've lived longer than most men. Maybe I haven't traveled so much nor seen so many wonderful sights, but I've sure seen 'em plenty as far as I went. I suppose I've got as much out of livin' as any man and I don't care for any new fandangles. I just want to set here with my pipe and read the papers, and live over the pleasant places I've passed and forget the hard places as much as I can."

He was born in Virginia in 1825, on Thanksgiving day, and Thanksgiving day has been his birthday ever since, no matter on what date it fell.

Why the Years Fly Swiftly for the Aged

1914

Every person of fifty or more is familiar with the fact that as one grows old time apparently passes much more rapidly. "It seems but yesterday" is a phrase often used with reference to duration sometimes of years, and the phrase expresses an actual fact. Of course time does not vary its course. The acceleration is only apparent. Recent psychological researches ascribe it almost entirely to a gradual failure in memory.

In earlier life each day stands out clearly by reason of association with the events that occur therein. These are retained in the memory and help to preserve the sequence of the passing years. But as soon as the mysterious biochemical changes which herald the approach of old age occur the memory begins to fail. Much that happens in intervals between important events is forgotten, with the result that those intervals seem shorter than they really are.

The time between falling into a dreamless slumber and awakening therefrom may be a matter of hours, but because the mind is blank during sleep it seems practically nothing. Dreaming lengthens the apparent interval because it gives the memory some data by which to reckon time. Therefore the more one dreams the longer does his period of sleep appear to him — that is to say, one's apprehension of time is largely dependent upon his memory. The more faulty the latter the more erroneous the former. The years fly by so swiftly for the aged because the aged forget so much of what occurs in them.

Forger Sentenced to Live As Hermit

March, 1914

SAN JOSE, Cal. — Frank E. Murray, convicted forger, was sentenced by Superior Judge William Beasly to serve two years as a hermit in the mountains forty miles from here. Because Murray is 58 years old the judge was not inclined to give him a jail sentence. A deputy sheriff took the prisoner to the mountains.

One of the conditions of the sentence is that Murray may accept employment, but he must not visit a city or town in two years. The court will keep in touch with him during that time.

"What this man needs is to be kept away from temptation for a while," said Judge Beasly.

A Blind Girl's Interests at the Art Institute

Chicago, 1895

Mysterious Old Woman and Sightless Girl Doing the Art Institute

They tell a story over at the Art Institute on the lake front about an old woman who goes there on free days leading a blind girl, says the Chicago Tribune. The old woman totters in her steps and her face is wrinkled. Her attire is not shabby, but it is severely plain and doesn't belong to this generation. The girl has a face as white as marble and her blind eyes are unusually full. Her mouth is expressive and a singularly sad smile nestles about it.

Somebody who asked the old woman one day tells that the twain live on Mohawk street and that the girl has been blind since she was 4 years old. She is now 12. The girl always, since she was old enough to know, evinced a passion for art. At one time she undertook drawing, but had to quit it. They say she plays naturally and sweetly. But her strong like is art in sculpture. The old woman leads the child among the statuary and reproductions of the various rooms, mentioning, of course, anything new. The girl has learned the location of the principal works, and after they have been in one room for awhile the girl will say to the woman: "Let's go into the room where ——-," mentioning what it is she wants to "see," as she expresses it. One of her favorites is the group of Amphion and Zethus chaining Dirce to the bull. Someone told her the story one day, and seemed to fascinate her, and she asked several curious questions about it.

But after they have wandered about the rooms most of the day the girl nearly always says to the woman: "Let's go and see the child that is listening to the sea." The work is in one of the corridors, and has been noticed with interest by thousands. The child said one day when she was told that the figure was listening to the murmur of the sea, and that it appeared to please her, "Then she must be blind." Several people have asked the woman her name, but she evades the inquiry, and when the child is questioned she nestles to the woman and makes no reply. It is believed that they are mother and child.