Independence Daily Reporter from Independence, Kansas • Page 4

AUTUMN THE MORAL SEASON. IV bat Ella Wheeler Wllooz Hu to Be WOMEN PLAY FOR BIG MONEY OR RIGH PRIZES. HE' SAVED ABE LINCOLN'S LIFE. So Austin Gollaher Changed the Union's HistoryLittle Abe Got Dizzy While Crossing a Creek. Whist and Poker Are Leading Favorites Even the Children Have Taken Up the Fad, Though They Don't As Yet Handle Actual Cash.

place of Lincoln and viewed the lowly surroundings of the martyr president, when as a boy he trudged up the steep hillside leading from the cooling spring to the log cabin, long since removed. The spring is the same in appearance as it was when Lincoln drank its cooling draughts. The whole farm presents a more inviting appearance, however, than when Lincoln roamed over it a barefooted boy. A new fence Incloses the farm, and the place is in a state of cultivation. Where the log cabin stood in which Lincoln was born there is a ble decorations must always be decidedly original.

At 3 o'clock at the latest luncheon is over, and the guests adjourn to the library or drawing room where, In a few, moments, card tables are put, each table covered with a cioth of felt or canton flannel, fastened tight underneath the table to prevent its slipping. The gues'ta then take their places at the different tables, and a game of seven-handed euchre at once begins. There Is no money played for, but the prizes are always well worth the afternoon's work. At one time it was considered enough to have three prizes, first, second, and third. Now there must not be less than six, and each of the six something worth having.

That the spirit of gambling prevails there is no question to any one who has been present at one of these games, for the rivalry in competition is so high that it is no unusual thing for exceedingly bitter feeling to be displayed openly. Traveling clocks, heavy silver frames, silver vases and even articles of Jewelry are among the prizes, and it would not be well for any hostess to offer her guests prizes that cost less than $4 or $5 each. Euchre in itself would not be interesting enough to play merely for the delight of the GOLLAHER AND LINCOLN. "It was in this way," said the old gentleman in telling the life-saving incident. "We were playing one day along the banks of Knob creek when we saw a flock of partridges alight in a field on the opposite side of the branch.

We concluded to follow 'them up, but the stream was swollen from recent rains, and the only means by which we could get over was a little footlog; so we decided to 'coon' it. I got on the log first and made my way safely across. Then Lincoln started, but when he got about half way pver he became diz-fy, lost his balance and fell headlong into the stream. He could not swim a stroke, and i seemed as if he would drown. I grasped a rail from a fence near by anU threw it to him, telling him to hold on for dear life.

He held tightly to the rail and floated down the stream a short distance, where he caught hold of some branches of a little tree overhanging the creek, and managed to pull himself out. He was soaking wet and was afraid to go home in that condition for fear that his mother would whip him, so he sat upon a large rock in the sun until his clothing had dried, when he went home." Lincoln, as a boy, was thus described by "Uncle "Abe Lincoln was the tallest, lankest, ugliest boy I ever saw, but he was a good fallow withal and a hard student. At school he was always at the head of his classes. He could only attend school a small part of the year because his parents were so poor that he had to help make a living for them. Abe had a sister, Sally, older than he.

Sally, unlike Abe, was a pretty girl, and I claimed her as my sweetheart." AUSTIN GOLLAHER. Mr. Gollaher was often asked to write a book upon the early life of Lincoln and his associations with him, but his consent could never be obtained. While not highly educated, Mr. Gollaher was a bright and entertaining talker, and took a great interest in current affairs.

A year before his death he gave a reunion to his descendants. There were gathered around the board four children, fourteen grandchildren, forty-seven great-grandchildren and twenty The writer recently visited the birth- There died recently in La Rue county, the county in which Abraham Lincoln was born, Austin Gollaher, at the ripe old age of 92. He was Lincoln's last surviving playmate. It was the source of much pleasure to him to tell incidents of the early life of Lin- coin, and of the good times they had together when they were boys and roamed over Muldraugh's hills, a chain of miniature mountains which extend through a great area of Kentucky. But the proudest feat "Uncle Austin," as he was familiarly known, ever accomplished, was when he saved Lincoln from drowning.

The accompany ing photograph of "Uncle Austin" was the last taken before his death, and at the time it was taken the last interview he ever granted was obtained. The old gentleman was propped up )n bed at the time, in his humble cabin home, a likeness of which is printed with this article, and although feeble from old age, he chatted pleasantly of the days he spent with Lincoln and of the manner in which he saved Lincoln's life. As is well known, Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809, three miles south of Hodgenville, La Rue County, in a dilapidated log cabin, situat ed upon a barren anl almost worthless farm. Here Abe's parents lived until he was four or five years old, when, thinking it preferable to move out of the toppling structure than to have it topple over upon them, they removed to Knob Creek, in the eastern part of the county. Knob Creek is a small and pretty stream which traverses the Muldraugh's hill section of La Rue county.

It is a peaceful and calm stream ordinarily, but when swollen by the little rivulets which course down the little mountain sides and through numerous ravines, it becomes a turbulent river. When the Lincoln family moved into this neighborhood, they located near the Gollaher homestead, and it was natural that the two families should become intimately associated. Especially did Abe and Austin form a warm attachment. They went to school together; together roamed over Muldraugh's hills, and side by side fished for trout in Knob creek. They soon became almost and when Abe accompanied hisparents to Illinois to live, the leave-taking of the two youthful playmates was fraught with OLD KENTUCKY HOME OF sadness.

Each promised eternal friendship, and correspondence passed between the two ever afterward. Even when Lincoln was president he did not forget the friend of his boyhood, and wrote Mr. Gollaher, inviting him to make him a visit at the national capital. For unexplained reasons, probably because of his domestic inclination and his aversion to travel, Uncle Austin did not accept the invitation; but upon many subsequent occasions he expressed regret at his failure to do so. France Has (From New York Press.) Just now the absorbing Question to people who like tp Interest themselves in other people's concerns Is whether gambling is not becoming a fashionable craze among women.

Not to play cards and not to play welt is a serious detriment to any soclalfy ambitious young or old woman. In olden times there were supposed to be something touching about old people playing whist. Now old people play whist, but young people play also, and not only for the fun of the game, but if the truth were told, a lot of money changes hands at the most staid whist evenings. Whist la ostensibly the fashionable game, and many women earn a comfortable, if precarious livelihood by instructing others in the Intricacies of the game. Exclusive whist clubs are formed, while whist mornings and whist afternoons take up a lot of time.

Oddly enough, it is the wives of lawyers and professional men generally who go in for whist, and the best players are the wives of the law yers; they play with their husbands between while, but all the time keep up a good practice game with women who belong to their club. A regular whist morning means serious work. No light and easy talk- ing is allowed; in fact, no conversation of any kind until the games are finished and luncheon is served, and then the luncheon removes all barriers and conversation is general. Whist afternoons end with 5 o'clock tea. Whist evenings, when men are included.wind up with an elaborate supper, but that is in deference to the wishes of the other sex.

The whist classes are composed of women of all ages, who take their instructions diplomatically, even fiercely at times, and one course is supposed to be half a dozen lessons, not anything like enough to learn the game, of course, so that the term must extend throughout the" entire winter. "Will you lunch with me Thursday at half after one, very informally?" is the customary luncheon invitation. But when in the corner of the page there is the word "cards," one may be prepared for an exciting afternoon. This style of Invitation is popular, was started at the different watering places in the summer, and is to be carried on in New York in the winter. Six or thirteen or twenty guests are good numbers, all congenial friends, who, knowing for what purpose they meet, are in fine spirits.

Luncheon is served promptly, is not heavy, but there are, on the contrary, many dainty dishes, little if any wine, and the ta- Lieut. James H. Jordan of the First California, public architect, has virtually been the means of putting an end to cock-fighting as a public pastime in Manile. There are or were when the town was under Spanish rule three Immense buildings of the kind ENi IS AMml Hi llw Of the four seasons of the year the nutumn seems the distinctly moral one. Bays Ella Wheeler Wilcox in the New York Evening World.

Spring la amorous and frolicsome; summer sensuous and selfish; the winter wild and wicked, But the autumn is grave and introspective. It la like some serious saint, who looks with sad, reproving eyes on the conduct of two siren sisters and a reckless brother. But for the autumn the year might blush for the Influence of his children on the human family, but that good sister of charity brings us all to our sober sefls-es and compels us to confess our sins to our own souls. The autumnal season is calculated to sadden the thoughts of the gayest being and- to give a serious tinge to the most frivolous mind. It is the season of partings and of changes; of retreating bloom and beauty and advancing frosts and snows.

The ephemeral nature of pleasure forces itself upon us whether we will or no, as we hang away our summer clothing redolent with the memories of vanished August afternoons and moon-washed nights. We recall the anticipations which were packed into our trunks with those garments when they were new, and the long, golden summer days which stretched before us. Now the summer is over, and its experiences, sweet or sad, are hung away in time's corridors. Seen in perspective, the summer seemed long; but from the retrospective view it has been brief indeed. To the very young, life is like a long, golden summer, but those who have passed its noon mark realize its brevity.

Always at this time of the year there are certain facts which must force themselves upon the most phlegmatic mind and penetrate the dullest' perception. Foremost of these facts is the consciousness of the uttor folly of pursuing pleasure through selfish paths. The man or woman who obtained a summer's amusement at the cost of another's comfort or happiness and at the sacrifice of his or her own duty must hear the voice ot conscience In the wail of the autumn wind and 'find a symbol of dead gayeties in the; dried leaves under foot. People who have ridden roughshod over the rights of others and pushed principles aside like straws in their pursuit of pleasure-must be asking their own hearts at this time of year the sad question: "Was It worth while?" There are certain old platitudes which we may ridicule aa time-worn and out of date at every other season of the year, but which come home to us as eternal truths in the autumn twilight. We realize that nothing pays in life which takes ua outside of the direct path of duty, and that any word or act of ours which harms or hurts another human being is an injury to our own highest interests.

It is on the first chilly autumn nights, when in the small hours we draw an extra cover over the couch, that we lie awake with sorrow in our hearts for all earth's suffering poor, and resolve that we will do more for others and less for self in days to come. And 1a the autumn more than during any other season of the year do we appreciate the real blessing of life, home and human love and tender ties. Yes, surely autumn is the moral season. DIPLOMATIC REPARTEE. How a Former French Ambassador la Berlin Retaliated.

When the Due de Guynes represented France atvthe court of Frederick Great in Prussia he made a thorough, study of the Prussian army against the wishes of the Prussian officers. Their hints to that effect did not dissuade the French ambassador, so they got a little satisfaction by having his letters opened and copied in the Prussian post-office. The Due de Guynes soon discovered these tactics and posted his next letter twelve hours before the time the mail for Paris closed. Accompanying it was the following memorandum: "I am sending the annexed dispatch to the post at 7 o'clock in the morning, instead of waiting until the usual time of departure, 7 o'clock in the evening, so as to give the director of the Berlin postofflce time to copy It and still send it on this evening. I take this course because the dispatch is very urgent and Important, and I would consequently be much annoyed if It were kept over until the following mail, as has been done on several previous occasions." Hie departure from Berlin, which oo-eurfed shortly after that, was not mourned deeply.

A Curious Ballot Law. In the northwest territories there is a curious ballot law. There la only one space for marking, and the character of thn vote is determined by tne color of the each candidate having his own color. Colored pencils are supplied to the voter. It does not work very well in practice.

In one constit-nencv. at the recent election, a can didate who was reported elected by a lnre-o malority lost his' seat on a re count, when it appeared that, by lamp light, the returning otneer naa not Deen fthl to distinguish between green and blue marks, and had thus "counted in" the minority candidate. Be Ought to Know, 'In our passenger traffic," observed the railway magnate, "it has been my observation that only the middle class actually pays." "How do you figure that out?" asked the interviewer. "It's simple enough," was the reply. "When a man's very poor he can't afford to buy a ticket and when he's very rich he travels on a pass." A Drawback.

'My boy," said the man of Ideal tem nanmant "If vnil want to btvnmn a master of your profession you must study; study day and night" "Yes," replied the energetic youth, "and while Din nil in a corner studying, some other man will be hustling around get ting all tne Business. nusumsiuu Star. clined on account of the expense entailed, for, as one woman says, "When I lose 1450 in one evening I can't help counting it aa an expensive dinner." As a rule the women play well and are square about paying up, but they have not yet learned to win or lose with equanimity. And at a dinner the other night one woman who had lost heavily burst into tears and openly accused another woman who was present with cheating. Such scenes as this, though, do not occur once in a season, for, as has been said before, people who can not afford to lose simply stay away.

Roulette and plcquet are not as fashionable as poker, but still find favor in many eyes, and afford the same means of winning or losing money. One hostess in New York Is a plunger, has fabulously good luck and says she pays all her winter expenses by the money she makes at cards. Another woman says she had to stop in town all last summer In order to make up for what she lost last winter, and the moral of this is "don't bet" unless you're certain you have a good hand." The children of the smart set also have the card craze, and at the age of 10 and 12 find card parties a delightful amusement. Blind man's buff, post-offlce, Copenhagen, and puss in the corner are absolutely out of date when cards can be played, and for prizes. Hearts and euchre are children's games and while no money is involve, -3 prizes must be numerous and ascjostly as possible, otherwise the children do not care to play.

Just when this craze of social life 'will reach a climax is hard to say. From present indications this winter is to be gay, so far as cards are concerned, and already the card clubs that are such a feature of the Lenten season are being organized, for cards and Lent are inseparably connected. The prizes given at vese card clubs are remarkable in value, and it is not thought too much to spend for prizes for one evening $200 or $300. So it is hardly to be wondered at that considerable time is given to learning how to play well. Undress Voice.

An incident of the Cuban campaign, recorded in the Boston Globe by a young Massachusetts volunteer, seem3 to be sufficiently humorous to demand another smile. One night, after a march, it happened that a few of the boys pitched their tents in close proximity to the tent of an officer of another company. The boys were talking quite loud, as taps had not been sounded. "Hush up out there!" shouted the officer, angrily. "Who are you?" asked one of the boys.

'I'll show you who I am if I come out there!" was the answer. The talking continued, and soon out came the officer. His amger was great, and he threatened to report the men to their winding up with: "Don't you know enough to obey an officer?" "Yes," replied one of the boys, "and we should have obeyed you If you had had shoulder-straps on your voice." Hard Lack for This Sciential A Scientific gentleman told a little tale worth repeating at a British association meeting the other day. He is engaged in collecting material for a book on magnetism and heard of a paper on the subject in a German periodical. Not knowing the Teutonic tongue, he sent the article to a translation bureau.

In dne time the translation was handed to him, and when he scanned the lines he became very wroth, indeed, for the article was simply a German rendering of one from the gentleman's own pen, which appeared in an English paper a year ago; Insult was added to injury when the scientist had to pay for translation exactly as much again as he received from the proprietors of the Journal in which the article originally figured. Invention. All She Kitr About It. Julia "What's a stag party?" Jane "As I understand it, one in which the dear men are both the stags and the staggerers." Cleveland Leader. Oft POKER A GREAT AFTER-DINNER GAME FOR "SMART SET." tall pole, surrounded at its base by pile of stones which served as a foundation for the cabin.

Here tourist3 from far and near come, and although on the place there is a notice that no souvenirs shall be carried away, few there are who heed the warning. Scarcely a person visits the place who does not depart with a flower or two which grow in abundance and without attention around the spring. Some take a small rock or acorn, or any thing which will serve as a souvenir. There has been much talk of con verting the Lincoln homestead into a national park. The matter has been broached in congress on several occasions, but no visible results are apparent.

It is the firm belief of many, however, that the old farm will yet be converted into a public park. HE WORKED A CHEEKY BLUFF, Ordered a Railroad Train Held and It Was Done for Him. A local banker of a small Iowa town was called suddenly to a larger town at considerable of a distance to inter cept his eloping daughter, who had been visiting there. In order to get there that day he would have to change cars at Des Moines and the train that connected with the Des Moines train left earlier in the day. Consulting his time table, he learned that the train he would be obliged to board reached Des Moines just fifteen minutes after the train for his destination, pulled out.

Remembering an old adage of his cashier, "He who works tEB greatest bluff wins," he sent the following message to the Des Moinea trains officials: "Hold the 2:30 trains until I arrive. G. BLANK." Not knowing but that G. G. Blank was In some way highly connected with the road and fearing to incur his displeasure, the "bluff" worked.

When he stepped off the train at Des Moines a man him, and, lifting his hat respectfully, inquired: "Are you Mr. Blank?" "Yes." "We received your message. The train is waiting." And that is G. G. Blank, who is not known outside of his little county, passed for an official of a great corporation and was able to reach hia destination just in time to give the paternal blessing to his daughter and her newly made husband.

on which the French naval authorities build great hopes. The new boat is 121 feet 4 inches In 'length and displaces 88 tons. She is of steel with twin screws, driven by engines of 1,500 horse-powerf It is known that rhe ha'S two torpedo tubes, one in the bow ind the other on a turn-table on deck, which can be seen in the picture. Step Too Far. "How did you like my last drama?" asked a writer of a newspaper critic "Too realistic, I thought," was the reply.

"Too realistic! What do you mean?" demanded the author. "Well," said the critic, "it struck me that even the words spoken by the burglar in the second scene were stolen!" Reg-nlar. "Little boy, do you attend church regularly?" "Yes, sir; every Christmas, sir." Cincinnati Enquirer. a New Destroyer Which She Is Guarding Jealously. game, but the prizes are sufficiently valuable to make the game exciting.

Poker is the great game in society, although vingt-et-un, picquet and roulette offer splendid opportunities for betting. Poker is not an afternoon game, although there is no doubt it i3 played instead of the seven-handed euchre at many of the luncheons, but it is unquestionably the game of all others that the smart set engage In after dinner. Ten-cent ante and 25-cent limit is the supposed sum to be played for, but the side bets that are made have no limit and poor people would better keep out of the game altogether. There are some dinner invitations in ITew York that are de- the United States government. Lieut.

Jordan saw the scheme and blocked it by fixing an upset price. For this price, $10,000, the cockpit shown herewith, at Paco, has been floored and fitted for the occupancy of troops, and for the like sum the two remaining pits at Sampoloc and on the Calle Iris will be similarly refitted. Hl Political Condition. "I am still governor of these islands, but somehow I don't appear to be running the machine exactly," said Aguin-aldo. "Perhaps," suggested his press agent, "the governor belt has slipped." Cincinnati Enquirer.

In the Bum Lin. "They tell me Bisbee is rapidly becoming an expert on the classification of bones." "I knew he was courting a Boston girl." Cleveland Plain Dealer. Blessed be the hand that prepares a pleasure for a child, for there is no savin when and where it may bloom forth. Douglas Jerrold. I 111 II.

COCK-FIGHTING Pit and no one but the trusted officers of the government has been admitted to the shed where the vessel has been under constructions It is impossible, therefore, at this time, to give a description of the inner works of the boat. The mystery with which she has been surrounded has caused the impression to prevail that she is fitted with some new destroying apparatus palian; James K. Polk, Presbyterian; Zachary Taylor, Episcopalian; Millard Fillmore, Episcopalian; Franklin Pierce, Episcopalian; James Buchanan, Presbyterian; Andrew Johnson, Methodist; Ulysses S. Grant, Methodist; Rutherford B. Hayes, Methodist; James A.

Garfield, Disciples; Chester Arthur, Episcopalian; Grover Cleveland. Presbyterian; Benjamin Harrison, Presbyterian; William McKinlev, Methodist. This list does not include Thomas Jefferson and Abraham The above illustration is a correct picture of the new French torpedo boat, for which such great and mysterious powers are claimed. The illustration is taken from a photograph and is the only material obtainable to show the build of the boat. The plans have been guarded with the greatest care, the workmen have been picked for their ability to keep their own counsei, The Religion of the Presidents.

The People's Encyclopedia of Universal Knowledge gives the religion of the president of the United States, with the exception of two, as follows: George Washington, Episcopalian; John Adams, Congregationalist; James Madison, Episcopalian; James Monroe, Episcopalian; John Quincy Adams, Congregationalist; Andrew Jackson, Presbyterian; Martin Van Buren, Reformed Dutch; William Henry Harrison, Episcopalian; John Tyler, Episco- called Nlpa in the city, used solely for this sport. There was no Tagallo so poor he did not own at least one fighting cock, and the bloods of the city had anywhere from one to a dozen. There were strains of fighting cocks and families had their favorite strains, as some English sporting families have their lines of racers and hunters, tracing back to the Arabs. But there will be no more cock fights in Manila, at least in public. The American soldier must have shelter, and Lieut.

Jordan as public architect recommended the adoption of the pits for barrack purposes. The places are roomy, well ventilated and adapted for the purpose. Bids were accordingly invited, and then It was discovered that the Chinese, who control the lumber trade and the hardware business, were up to all the tricks of which American contractors claim to have a monopoly. In effect, the Chinese combined to "do" Terr. That we've been gracious to our foe There's no one can gainsay.

For everything that we have done Was In a winning way. Judge..