BOUNTY ON DEADWOLVES
It Casts Minna sota Dearly to Sub-
due the Animals.
Some Incidents Which Illustrate the
Workings of the Law—The Busi-
ness nas‘ Developed Many
Sharpers. - ‘
.‘n
} It costs something to keep down the
wolf crop of Minnesota. For several
days the counter in the auditor’s office
has been piled high at one end with a
lot of official-looking paper boxes la-
beled “on bounties,” with the name
of the particular county from which
they come attached. There is some
red tape about the wolf bounty busi-
ness, and it is just as well that there
should be, for it costs a good deal of
money to buy all the scalps offered, and
the price paid is quite an inducement
for men who have no moral compune-
tions about “doing” the public treasury
to go into the business of raising the
brutes foréfcheir scalps. In fact, thert
have been prosecutions for that very
sort of thing. ' One of the northerr
counties. Polkghad such a case, and so
did Otter Tail once upon a time. In
both of the counties named enterpris-
ing individuals had gone regularly into
the business of raising the wolves.
I Either Polk is the banner wolf county
or the people up there are the most per-
sistent hunters in the state. The farm-
ers turned in two hundred and forty-
four wolf scalps in two years. They
took in bounties one thousand one hun-
dred and forty-six dollars out of the
state treasury and one-half as much out
of the ecunty' treasury. At that time
there was many a suspicious looking
scalp that was sent back for further
identification. The man who kills a
wolf and then tries to collect the boun-
ty, having no previous knowledge of
what he must do, inevitably comes to
wish he had let the wolf alone. He is
brought into contact with nearly every
public ofiicer who has to do with the
paying of public obligations, from
chairman of the board of supervisorsbf
his town to the state auditor. Of course,
if he gets a couple of wolves a day for
a few days in the winter he must do
fairly well.
The wolf hunter does most of his
business in the early months of the year,
i or the sealps are most valuable then.
A full-grown female wolf killed in the
first months of the year is worth fif-
teen dollars to her slayer. A male wolf
or a cub brings only five. During the
summer months the bounty is five dol-
lars a head for any sort of a wolf. . The
hunter takes the pelt off his victim, if
he is inclined to be nice about following
the law, and he will show the same to
the chairman of the board of county
supervisors in the town in which the
killing was made.’ If he cannot get the
chairman of the board he is permitted
by law to exhibit the hide to a majority
of the members of the board. Where-
upon he will be given a certificate and
will deliver the same to the county
auditor, who will pay over the price,
unless he is suspicious, and then he
will insist that the entire hide be shown.
Sometimes the hide is not available, and
sometimes the kick does not come until
the bounty is demanded by the county
auditor or the state auditor. A couple of
years ago there was such a case.
A man in a northern county killed a
wolf. His ,county auditor would not
pay the bounty, and the demand came
to the auditor of the state. At that
time there were no wolf sharps in the
auditor’s office, and, after they read the
law, they came to the conclusion that
' they would have to see the body of the
beast. They could not look at a scalp
and do all the guessing the law re-
quired. Word was sent to the hunter
of the decision. It was getting warm
in the spring, when one day there
walked into the office a long-haired,
fierce—looking man. Hanging down his
back was the carcass of a very dead
wolf. He threw the wolf on the coun-
ter of the office and said: “There, gimme
my money.” The wolf had deceased
some weeks before, and the man got
his money. The wolf was thrown out
of the window, and Janitor Rose, after
a long wrangle wlth the wolf-slayer,
superintended the removal of the re-
mains. He has thought ever since that
there ought to be a law passed repeal-
ing the wolf bounty act.
3 It cost upward of twenty thousand
dollars in the last two years to keep
down the ambitious wolf. Nearly three
thousand scalps were paid for-exactly
two thousand nine hundred and one,
in fact. They came largely from the
north, and possibly some ofthem were
:natives of other states, but their nativ-
ity'cannot be too closely questioned.
In some of the counties there are pro-
fessional wolf hunters, who put in the
. month'of January in the business, and,
;of course, let a cub grow up to the fif-
._teen-(lollar limit. The rapid settlement
of the remote counties is driving the
wolves further north, and within a
few years the wolf bounty will no long-
er cut an important figure in public ex-
penditure. The practice of infecting the
animals with the germs of a contagious
disease is decimating the wolf tribe
even more rapidly than anything else,
and wolf raising for bounties is an in-
dustry that belongs altogether to the
pasta—St. Paul Pioneer Press.
, Not Entirely.
Mrs. Billus (reading from magazine
article)—-“Many a good matrimonial,
ship that sails from port with a fair
wind and all the omens in its favor goes
down on the sunken reef of incompati-
bility, which is only another name for
self. If true affection stands at the
helm, beloved, the good Ship will
weather all storms, steer clear of all
hidden rocks, and anchor safely at last
in the harbor of happiness. Wherefore,
ye married ones, be forbearing, gracious
and ,loving to each other. Remember
that coldness blights, withers, kills—”
John, do I ever seem cold?
-_‘ Mr. Billus (looking contemplatively
at the ceiling)——Only your feet, Maria;
only your feet.-Chicago Tribune.
. \ iew.
GEORGE ASSERTS HIMSELF.
But Laura Was Right with Him at'the
Finish. - ' _
“All these years, Laura,” exclaimed
young Ferguson, pausing in his impa-
tient walk to and fro long enough to
turn the gas a trifle lower and resum-
ingwit-ha brisk staccato movement. his
march up and down the little parlor,
“all these years I have danced attend-
ance at your elbow, and the end‘ seems
as far off as ever! ” _
“The end of my elbow, George?” in-
quired the young woman, with grieved
surprise. '
“No! The end of my dance! You
know what I mean. How long do you
think I’m going to stand itto—”
“Deesn’t it make you awflilly tired,
George ?” she asked, with tender, yearn-
ing sympathy in her voice.‘ '
“Ti-red? It’s driving me mad. I
didn’t come here to be made fun of
this time. Look here, Laura Kajones,
do you know how long we’ve been en-
gaged to be married?”
“Years, I should say. Let me see-—
was it not—” - . ~
“Years? It’s centuries! ' It’s an eter-
nity and a half! When I think of it
and wonder how much longer—”
“Wasn’t it some time during that hot
summer of—” _
“Yes!” he broke in. “You remember
it on account of the hot weather, do
you“? I was a clerk on $15 a week. I
thought it was a big salary until the
ice cream season hit me. If I was good
enough then—”
“I was so young, you know!”
“So was I," but I’m overcoming that
infirmity mighty fast, let me tell you!
And you yourself—” -
‘6Sirl,’
“Well, of course, you’re as young as
ever. But. that isn’t the point. You’ve
put me off year after year becausewve
couldn’t afford it. I’m getting $3,000 a
year now, with a prospect of a partner-
ship after awhile, and it does seem to
me—”
“But think of what it costs for gas
and hired girls, George,” she murmured.
“Listen to me. I’m doing the preach-
ing how. I’ve been thinking the mat-
ter over and I’m going to say my say.
You’ve had your ‘freedom’ long enough.
The party of the second part has some
rights. He’s going to assert them.
You needn’t try to scare‘me off with
that yawn, either. It isn’t genuine. I
know a spontaneous yawn when I see
it, and that’s a three-ply, cut and dried,
machine-made fraud. You ought to
be ashamed to try to introduce a yawu
like that into good society. It gives
itself away every time. Don’t do it
again, dear, or I’ll say something about
it. This, is business. There’s a nice.
little house down here on Michigan
avenue—it. isn’t ‘in’ Michigan. avenue
because it’s not out in/the road, it's‘
above the ground, and it's 20 feet back
from the sidmvalk—4and it can be had
for $40 amonth. I—yes, I’ve been mak-
ing inquiries about it. I acknowledge
it. I have also been posting myself as
to the price of furniture, the probable
quantity of milk and eggs 3. family of
two persons will be likely to consume
in a week, and the desirability of the
neighborhood from a social point 02'
There’s no telling when I may
take a notion to speak to the minister.
Don’t. drive a desperate man too far.
proud girl. I don’t want to have to
hire a couple of ruffians and a cab and
abduct you. It would get into the pa-
pers and I‘d have to dodge reporters for
the next six weeks. Moreo’vcr—"
“George Ferguson, if you are going
to talk to me like that I’ll siinply-——”
“No, you won’t. Sit still. If you
make any fuss I’ll call your father.
I’ve got the floor. When I have finished
my talk you can agitate the atmosphere
and I‘ll listen. Don’t you see this sort
of thing can’t go on forever 2‘ It’llhavc
to stop some day. If I should die of old
age while I'm waiting for you to marry
me you would never forgive yourself.
The engagement ring on that finger is
worn almost through. I’ll have to buy
you anotherone if you don’t- look out.
Who ever heard of such a thing as that '.’
In all the history of long engagements
I don’t believe there’s a case in which,
a man has had to get a second engage.-
ment ring on account of the first one
wearing out. Are you trying to break
a record? Great Scott! Sometimes
the ideaoccurs to me that you are only
trifling with me—that you don’t- mean
to bemy wife, and never did. Some-
times, when I am alone in my own room
and I think of the possibility of such a
thing, and the shadow of the wasted
years rises before me and I turn to the
future and see not-hing ahead of me but
the gloom and desolation of hopes un-
fulfilled, is it any wonder that I walk
the floor in misery—~” '
“George, dear,” said Laura, tearfully.
and in a trembling voice, her hands
clasped together and her whole being
radiant with tenderness and compas-
sion,.“is it possible you,too,suffer from
corns ?”———Chicago Tribune.
Density of Population in Two Cities.
The density of population in this
London area was 373 persons to the
acre, against 168 persons to the acre
in the whole of Bethnal Green. There
are three wards in New York city more
densely populated. Of them the Tenth
ward shows a. density of more than
621. This is in a large measure due to
the greater height of the New York
buildings; but, covering as they do
in some especially bad‘blocks almost,
if not quite, as large a proportion of
the ground area as those destroyed in
London, it is not likely that their upper
stories get more light and air than the
two stories which made up the London
rookeries, and it is likely that their
lower stories get a great deal less.—
Edward Marshall, in Century.
Gr’ay Hair Frozen Black.
Dr. George W. Griffiths reports the
case of a man 65 years of age, who had
had gray hair for eight years; for three
years his hair \had been perfectly
white. He was exposed one night to
severe cold, and his eyebrows and whis-
kers got wet and were frozen stiff; it
was found next day that his hair had
turned black—Popular Science.
WEExL’ Y ‘- [no a
, Damon.
DARIEN’S DEFECTS.
Rev. W. L. Utley has been in the
ministry for four inonths and spent
these and several months before in
Derien. He waspreviously a news-
paper man, and a good one. He said
good-bye to;the Unitarian society of
Darien Sunday night, and the“ society
accepted his resignation, with regret.
He has accepted a cell to the pastorate
of the Long Ridge Universalist church,
and will enter upon the duties of that
charge next Sunday. “
He felt he had a word to say before
leaving which it was expedient for him
to say and good for the people to hear.
The town was 150 years behindpthe
times. He had done a good deal of
traveling, and had seen a great many
towns, but this town ranked first in its
lack of public spirit and enterprise.
Derien property owners regarded the
inventor of the sidewalk a traitor, and
he would meet a traitors fate if he
showed up in the town. Anion, who
says: “We need fire protection” is no
better than one of the weak. and un-
regeuerate. A few lanterns scattered
over tne town would be 3 assists ex-
pense and extravagance. aAs for the
trolley they didn’t propose to have
them ring that bell and go like Chicago
through the town, if they could help
themselves.
“When I first came to the town,” he
continued, “the selectmen had put no-
tices up around to the effect that bicy-
cles must keep off the sidewalk. No
sidewalk could be found and the signs
were taken in. Idon’t know a. single
unselfish enterprise in the town outside
the Noroton club, and that has had the
asthma. The great question to be set-
tled first, last and all the time, is, What
doI get out of it? If proposed im-
provements are not stuck in front of
my dooryard, where I can see them and
have a string tied to them, I won’t vote
for them.”
The speaker then compared Darien
with other towns not half its size and
not five years old.
He referred to the fact that a certain
merchant had told him that two-thirds
of his bad debts were owed by church
people, and felt, that if people paid
their debts before they paid their min-
ieter, there would be less ministers in
There were lots of young men
in Darien, but not in the church; the
church was neglecting its duty. He did
not blame young men for not going to
church, when they were told every time
they were miserable, ' undone sinners,
children of the devil and on the road to
hell. He felt there was too much class
distinction in the churches.
are,” said he, "more cheerful places to
go to than a Derien church. No wou-
der the young men would rather go fish-
ing or call upon some good looking
girl.”
The ministers of Dorian, he said,
were' neglegting a solemn duty, and if
their religion was true, would be held
to a great account. There were some
ministers who were altogether too offi-
cious; they seemed to think the respon-
sibility of the town rested upon them;
they were too active in politics and
public affairs generally. They regarded
the ministry as a sort of divine detect-
ive agency, and spent their time in
spotting saloons and buying beer on
Sunday. They buy beer on Sunday _ as
evidence and when they appear in
court their testimony is thrown out,
because never having tasted it, they
don’t know whether it is beer or fizz
water. He thought ministers would
make more friends in the lone: run by
attending to their own affairs.
He closed the second part of his dis-
course,with a word about the gossips.
He said he did not known that the gos-
sips iu Darien were any worse than
those in any other small town, but they
were certainly as bad. He spoke of the
wholesale scandal and slender retailed
by soup-box orators in the vilest kind
of "language. He accused himself of
having listened to them for manner’s
sake. The churches might doa work
by furnishing these individuals with
some profitable employment.
.-
. New Ice Pond.
Selectman Merrill having razed the
“little forest” that stood in the way of
the development of his proposed new
ice pond will as soon as the season per-
mits commence the construction of a
dam 235 feet in length and to the
heighth of about ten feet with an over-
flow of about two feet more. The
amount of territory overflowed will be
about ten acres and it has a frontage on
the road leading to what is known as
the five corners, on the main avenue to
New Canaan. It is fed by springs and
Mr. Merrill feels assured of a superior
quality of ice for his next winter’s har-
vest.
Supt. Payne Retires.
Superintendent Payne of the Dan-
bury branch of the Consolidated rail-
road, in railroad parlance, “gets
through” today as superintendent, and
will be succeeded‘by J. E. Martin for-
merly in charge of the Shepaug branch.
Mr. Payne it is understood will succeed
to the superintendency of the Air Line.
The retiring superintendent is a well
known railroad man and has many
friends who will regret to hear of his
departure for pastures new.
, —-Adverlise_in the szs‘rrn. ~
‘ ‘There -
HIS GREATEST MOVE.
BY norm in. WISE.
After the fifth year of Mrs. Osgood’s
\vidowhood had passed away everybody
in Lebanon commenced to say it was a.
shame that she didn’t marry again.
There had been a. time half a year be-
fore when it seemed as though there
was a possibility of her doing such a
thing, and then the vacillating public
had thrown up its hands in horror and
had declared that to so desecrate the
memory of a loved one in such a short
time was sacrilege pure and simple,
and that no right-minded woman would
think of bestowing herself as {helpmato
lupon another before the lamented Os-
good Was cold in his grave. Four years
and a. half was hardly sufficient time
for a person to attain a state of frigidity,
reckoning by Lebanon standards. But
when her cousin, who had been visiting
her for a short time, went back east and
the severely censured widow very clear-
ly demonstrated that her intentions
had been entirely misunderstood, Leb-
anon, collectively and individually, be
gan to lean toward the other side of the
fence, and it wasn’t long till it had
jumped clear over and was equally loud
in its renunciations of a woman who
was selfishly withholding the light of
her comely countenance from some poor
wayfarei- whose path might need illum-
ining by her presence. '
Perhaps the one person in all Lebanon
who was most sincerely grieved by Mrs.
Osgood’s oft- repeated and evidently
meant assertion that she had no desire
to renounce her widowhood was Joseph
Lawrence. Lawrence was aretired pol-
itician, who for some twenty-odd years
had served his country in one capacity
and another,‘- but who had at, last
grown tired of originating and execut-
ing schemes for the party’s aggrandize-
ment and had settled down on the pro-
ceeds realized, which, though large,
were not commensurate with the pro-
digious amount of work which he had
conscientiously performed. He had long
looked with covetous eyes on Mrs. Os-
good, and even when the report that she
had pronounced her ultimatum in re—
gard to second marriages was tripping
from tongue to tongue, the natural
buoyancy of his nature prevailed and
he bolStered up his spirits with the
hope that the widow had wisely de-
clined to set up the true secret of her
heart to be peeked at by social daws.
Hope did not allay suspense, however.
and in order to relieve the troubled
state of his mind he decided to content-
himself no longer with second-hand de-
cisions, but to apply directly to the
Court of justice as administered by the
widow, for a verdict.
Mr. Lawrence‘s experience as a poli-
tician had bred in him an air of extreme
urbanity when in the presence of wom-
en and children taken as a collective
part of a voter’s possessions, but dealing
with one of the opposite sex at close
range and as a distinct individual was
something rarely essayed by the erst-
while wily manager, and the morning
when he called on Mrs. Osgood to learn
whether or no there'were good grounds
for the rumors then afloat his manner
gave evidence of a trepidation such as
he could not remember ever to have
floundered in before. Thecandid greet-
ing which his hostess always extended
to callers, instead of putting him at
his ease, only served to bewilder him
the more and, with a. bluntness which
would have filled his diplomatic soul
with horror in a political move, he
went at the subject that was responsible
for his visit.
“Mrs. Osgood,” he said, between asth-
matic catches of his breath, “I hear it
said throughout the village that you
never intend to marry again. My neigh-
bors—your neighbors—our neighbors
—eonsider this not only folly but a
positive wrong on your part. I see,
more clearly, perhaps, than any other,
the fallacy of your conclusions and be-
seech you to reconsider, if gossip has re-
ported you correctly. Mrs. Osgood, do
you mean never to marry again?”
The lady’s face was tinged with a
slight flush, and she hesitated a mo-
inent before answering.
“Really, Mr. Lawrence,” she replied,
at length, “your question is a. very
pointed one, and I was trying to de-
cide whether or not you have a right
to expect an answer. But as it is a
matter on'which I have no reason to
maintain any particular secrecy, I don’t
mind telling you that I am decidedly
prejudiced against second marriages.
Such a course might. be pardonable in
some cases, but in this instance, never.”
Lawrence’s countenance was elongated.
to a ridiculous degree.
“Since you have positively stated that
much,” he hazarded, “perhaps you will
tell me what is your reason.”
She turned in her chair till her gaze
rested on the figure of a boy, who was
training vines in the garden beyond
the wide driveway. .
“My life belongs to him,” she said,
soft-1y, and the tears welled up in her
gpretty eyes and trembled on her long
lashes. “He is my only child, and so
long as I can keep him with me I Shall
have no desire for another companion.
When he marries, which time, please
heaven, will never come while I live,
then I may consider the advisability of
choosing another husband.”
Lawrence sighed. In his calculations
of prospective happiness the widow’s
son had never been considered an un-
knOwn quantity, and he knew to a de-
gree of commendable exactness the age
of the young hopeful in question. He
wouldn’t be 16 until the following De-
cember. The prospect was not very
encouraging. Under the laws of the
state it was highly improbable that he
should take unto himself a wife before
he was 21, and, viewing the matter even
frdm that extraordinarily favorable
standpoint, the old man’s heart grew
heavy with apprehension as he thought
of the years that must necessarily
elapse before he could hope for a frui-
tion of his plans. '
“So ‘I may take that answer as final,
I suppose?” he suggested, meekly.
/
I She nodded.
“And when your son marries, then
I take. it, there will be no harm done
if I bring up this matter again?”
“No harm, certainly not,” was the
smiling rejoinder. “But don’t think of
that improbable event. It belongs
strict] y to the far-away future.”
That ended the politician’s courtship
of Mrs. Osgood, and gradually the affec-
the mother seemed to be withdrawn
from her shrine and deposited at the
feet of the son. Lorain Osgood was pos-
sessed of his mother’s ardent disposi-
tion, untempered by her reserve, and
he returned the proffered friendship in
good measure. The boy’s 16th birthday
and four succeeding 'ones came and
went, making great red-letter days in
Joseph Lawrence’s calendar. When the
younger man was 20 some of the native
acuteness which Lawrence had partial-
ly repressed since his retirement from
politics again cropped out, and he de-
cided that it was time to make a dex-
trous stroke. He took young Osgood
into his confidence. '
“Lorain,” he. said, one night, looking
at the young man sadly, “I’ve made a
good many mistakes in my life, but the
greatest of all was my neglecting to
marry in my early days. There’s noth-
ing so conducive to happiness and pros—
perity as an early marriage. Think
over it, my boy, and if you find a face
and character that please you and that
give promise of making you happy,
filon’t mock fate by throwing your
chance to the four winds. You wouldn’t
mind marrying by the time you are of
age, would .you, Lorain?”
Lorain laughed.
“No,” he returned, “I guess not. Find
me some one to love, and I will do the
rest. I half believe you are right, Mr.
Lawrence. Early marriages are un-
doubtedly to be commendu .”
Lebanon was beside itself with curi-
osity when Joseph Lawrence’s sister-
in-law and her daughter came down to
the old place from the city to keep
house for him. There had long been a
rumor current that Lawrence was not
as generously disposed toward his rcl~
atives as his circumstances would per-
init, and his sudden relenting was a
matter for much surmising. But all
guessing invariably ended in Lebanon
society congratulating itself upon the
acquisition of a valuable addition to its
ranks in the person of Joseph Law-
rence’s niece, who was a remarkably
pretty girl, and who, it was hinted,
would inherit the major portion of the
politically-acquired property. Mrs. Os-
good was t—he only one who viewed the
new-comers with alarm. She had never
objected to the strong attachment ex-
isting between her son and the re-
jected suito.r, but when it dawned upon
her that the affection was becoming a
family affair in which the niece was re
ceiving all the homage naturally due
her from an earnest, romantic young
man, her fond mother’s heart ached
with an indefinable dread and she trem-
bled at the thought of another woman
reigning supreme in her boy’s life.
Just. after Lorain was 21 the decisive
blow came. Lorain himself was the one
to strike it. ' ’-
“Mother,” he cried, and he drew the
trim figure up close beside him. “I’ve
news for' you—glorious news. I’m to
be married, mother, soon.”
She did not cry out. She even ceased
to tremble, but she did not answer.
“Why don’t you say something, moth-
er?” he laughed, raising her pale, drawn
face and kissing her. “Aren’t you
glad?” .
The joy that quivered in every line
of his boyish face touched her heart
and for his sake she tried to conceal the
pain.
“I had hoped I should not hear that
news for many a year,” she whispered,
“but your happiness has always been
mine,-’you know.”
“Dear mother,” he murmured, fond-
ly, “of course you know whom she is—
Irene Lawrence. Her people are more
than delighted with the match. The old
man is especially elated. The fact is,
mother, I think he has been the prime
mover in assisting me to win her.”
Mrs. Osgood’s memory took a sudden
leap backward.
“Ah, yes,” she sighed, reflectively, “I
shouldn’t wonder.”
They were married in the early sum-
mer and went away for a short tour
through the west. The Sunday after
the wedding Joseph Lawrence, pro-
tectod'by a double-plate armor of self-
assurance, made his second call on Mrs.
Osgood. He found her sitting near the
same window against whose light her
wholesome beauty had been silhouetted
on the‘occasion' of his first proposal.
His heart was less flurried than on the
first day, but his method of treating
the errand on which he had come was
hardly less abrupt. ‘
“Mrs. Osgood,” he said, “do you re
~member a’ little conversation we had
in this self-same place six years ago.”
Great sobs lodged in-her throat and
she coughed a reply. His own memory
was very active then and her words:
“Which time, please Heaven, will never
come while I live,” thundered in his
ears and pronounced him guilty of
wrecking a mother’s happiness. They
had taunted him a good many times in
the last few months, but never so loudly
as then. But the politician had ground
his ax all but the finishing touches and
he didn’t intend to let the grindstone
rest at that late day.
“Perhaps you’ll recollect,” he con-
tinued, cautiously, “that. at that time
you told me I could brooch a certain
subject again after your son married.
Lorain has gone”,—she looked out
toward the garden where her boy had
worked that summer day six years be-
fore, and her tears fell fast. “Mrs. Os-
good,” and his voice was very gentle
and tender then, “are you still averse
to a Second marriage?”
She looked around on the empty house
and the empty garden and then her eyes
rested on Joseph Lawrence. *
“N 0,” she said. “I don’t believe I am.”
—Chicago News. ~
—To dream of “a. crocodile is a. sign
that some one will try to murder you.
tion which he had always cherished for -
, usual walks of life.-—N. Y. World.
SANCTIFIED SISTERS. ,
A Queer Sect ofv.Women Located ”A
in Texas.
They Live Like Monks and Are Guided by
Dreams—Caliban: Is an Impor-
tant Part of Their
Religion.
Located in the thriving town of Bela
ton, Tex... in the central part of that
state, is a curious colony of religioniscs,
E known as “Sanctified Sisters,” or “Sanc-
tificationists.” Three representative
women of this order are Mrs. Martha
McWhirter, founder of the sect; Mrs.
Certrude Scheeble, secretary of the co-
Opeiative institution owned and cou-
trol‘led by these peculiar people, and the
treasurer, Miss Lizzie Holtzclaw.
This strange community of earnest
women is the outgrowth of a religious
movement that has cut off its members
from all intercourse with the world,
and has even divided happy house-
holds. The doctrine proiesscd by the
women is of a. very simple character,
and embodies three essential principles
-'-—a life of celibacy. a common property
interest and an isolated exxstence.
Among the members are those who
previously were social leaders in their
respective towns, universally respected
and some of them were very wealthy.
The original leader of the Sanctifica~
tionists, and their present head, Mrs.
M..rtha McWhirter, is a. woman of m-
domitable will. She was the mother of
twelve children when first she :Ou-
ceived the idea of this new belief. Her
husband naturally opposed her extraor-
dinary views and endeavored to prevent
her from assisting in spreading them.
But his objections were in vain.
Nineteen years ago the society as-
sumed tangible form, and since that
period a steady growth, financially and
otherwise, has been made. ' History
records no instance where stubborn-
ness, folly and fanaticism have been so
strangely intermingled. Stern devotion
to principle, heroic fortitude and self«
sacrifice have been and are the con-
trolling influences. in the early days
of the society the women determined
to raise money in order that the so-
ciety might be self-supporting. Each
employed a method of her own for ac-
complishing this result.
It is strikingly indicative of their
earnestness to know that one woman,
who had previously lived in affluence,
bought wood as it stood in the forest
and with the aid of another sister cut
the timber and hauled the fuel to mar-
ket. Others accepted positions as do-
mestics in households in adjoining
towns, their earnings being pooled for
mutual benefit. Others sold country
produce and a few took in laundry work
to add a mite to the assets.
No uniform is worn by the Sanctifi-
cationists, nor have they ever adapted
one. They. dress plainly, and at one
time wore bonnets similiar to those
worn by orthodox Quaker women. A
little more latitude in the matter of.
dress has been allowed recently, and
medern hats have been received with
favor.
The community consists of 32 mem-
bers, all of whom live at the Central
hotel in Belton. ' This building is their
own property. The Central Hotel com-
pany is a corporation well and favor-
ably known in financial circles and rep-
resents the united interests of the col-
onists. The estimatedwealth of the
sect is $100,000. The hotel building and .
furnishings cost $50,000. The rest of
their capital is distributed in~ smaller
enterprises.
It is the aim of the sisters to make
their community as complete within it-
self as it is possible to make it. With
that end in view the entire work is
done by the members, who have a sys-
tematic method of dividing the labor.
One of them will teach the children.
One of the sisters is an expert dentist
and has an office fully equipped for
working at her profession. The income
from the hotel is the principal source
of revenue, but every investment seems
to have been a profitable one, rendering,
the organization self-supporting and
entirely independent. They are leaders
in making public improvements and
all are among the most active and pro-
gressive citizens, always ready to ad-
vance the interests of the town. Mrs.
McWhirter is a member of the board 01'
trade and a director of the opera no use
syndicate of Belton.
There is no formal worship of any
kind practiced by the sisters, but daily
devotional exercises are part of their
creed, and they are also largely guided
by “dreams.” A recital of religious ex-
perience by members forms a basis for
all their important actions. They also
claim to he possessed of a delicate sense,
which is their greatest help, and by it
they detect mistakes made and through
it correct them.
They try to improve‘ themselves in-
tellectually, and are regular subscrib-
ers to the leading papers of the great
cities. In their library are all the
standard works, but the works of Tol-
stoi, Bellamy and other would-be re-
formers are most liked.
Woman suffrage is a. hobby of the
Sanctificationi'sts, and they consider
themselves an instructive illustration
of what women can accomplish in un-
Grent Financier-s. .
Webster and Clay both were great
moneymakers, and both were forever
in th hardest financial straits. One day
Clay went to Webster‘and said:
“Got any money, Dan? I want $250.”
“I was just going over to borrow that
amount of you,” said Webster. “I am
dead broke.”
“Wonder where we can raise it? We
need $500 between us.”
They formed themselves into a com-
mittee of ways and means, and after,
much thought conceived a plan. _
“Clay, if you will make a draft on me
at thirty days I will indorse it and W0
can get the money at the bank.”
q The draft is in a Washington bank at
this ,day bearing both signatures. The
.two “old boys” got the money, and the
next day were skirmishing around for
more.-N. Y. Press.
n“
Norwalk Chronicler