White County, Illinois - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 14 of those read), 1883 (part 2 of 2)

Lecture Association . - An association was formed in Carmi in 1879, for the purpose of supplying the citizens of the place with lectures by eminent men. The gentlemen who bore the burden of this philanthropic enterprise were Dr. Daniel Berry, W. F. Palmer, Frank E. Hay and Robert Williams, the latter of whom was President of the association. They secured the services of Rev. James Kay Applebee, of Chicago, and Eli Perkins, who came and delivered interesting discourses; but these were not as well patronized by the citizens as they should have been, and since that time nothing more in this line has been done.

Public Library , or McClure Institute . - Some time during the sixth decade of the present century Alexander McClure, of New Harmony, Ind., accumulated an immense fortune in Mexico, and in his will he bequeathed $500 to each township in the State of In¬ diana that should contribute a certain number of books for the formation of a public library. The terms of the will were such that the executors of the estate allowed that the bequest was avail¬ able in Illinois. Accordingly, a few philanthropic citizens of Carmi fulfilled the required conditions, drew the money, and in 1860 founded the " McClure Institute." A society was organized with the usual constitution and officers, books purchased, and a circulating library established. This library was kept in storea and other places until 1880, when it was placed in charge of the

Southern Illinois Normal School, in a business block adjoining Stewart's. Jan. 2, 1881, this block was burned down, and every volume, including the records of the institute, was consumed, since which time nothing has been done to revive the noble enterprise.

Wheatcroft's Orchestra was organized in 1870, consisting of five members. They have a good band and furnish excellent music. It is one of the best bands in Southern Illinois.

The Carmi Cornet Band was organized in January, 1875, with S. ft. Dalby, of Albion, as teacher. The band consisted of twelve members, and Charles W. Whiting and James S. Boyd were the leaders. It has always been prosperous, and to-day owns a good Bet of instruments and a fine uniform. Their stock amounts to about $1,000.

Miscellaneous Small Items

A Pioneer Counterfeiter . - In 1820-'2 a nicely dressed man came and settled west of town, where he practiced the counter¬ feiting of silver coin. Shortly after his nefarious occupation became known, an officer with a posse visited the place to make arrests and seize the tools. The counterfeiter's wife sat in the middle of the floor and told the men to go on and search the house if they wished to; but she was soon suspected to be sitting upon a trap door, and was ordered up and off the spot, whereupon a trap door and counterfeiting tools underneath were immediately discovered.

Human Coats. - Like theaters, which give a ''change of pro¬ gramme " every night, so the early residents occasionally made a change of programme in that formerly popular amusement, fighting and wrestling. For example, two citizens of Carmi agreed one day to butt one another, goat-fashion, in a public street. They aimed for each other several times, but generally, lest they mash their brains out, they missed and went sprawling upon the ground beyond. One or two square collisions, however, put an end to the sport.

" Poor Sumpter" - A quaint character was known in Carmi iu early day as John Sumpter, a descendant of the Sumpter after whom the famous fort at Charleston, S. C., was named. He delighted to call himself " Poor Sumpter." lie was a drunkard and very poor. One day he fell into a well which was nearly full of water, and while he was with difficulty endeavoring to get out,

An Old Book. - Since Hon. E. B. Washburn, of Chicago, has recently announced his work on the life and times of Morris Birkbeck, it becomes a matter of interest to know that there exists, in the possession of Mrs. R. Stewart, at Carmi, a book more re¬ markable for its rarity and value, perhaps, than for its age. The title-page is as follows: w Notes of a Journey through France, from Dieppe through Paris and Lyons to the Pyrenees and back through Toulouse, in July, August and September, 1814; describ¬ ing the habits of the people and the character of the country. By Morris Birkbeck. First American, from the third London edition. With an Appendix. Philadelphia. Priuted and published by M. Carey, No. 121 Chestnut street." The American preface is dated October, 1815. The type is modern, very large, and the pages, which are of duodecimo size, are of amazing clearness. The body of the work comprises 143 pages, and the appendix twenty-eight pages. Birkbeck figured largely in early day in the Wabash country, Albion, Ill., being his headquarters.