Decatur Eagle, Volume 9, Number 52, Decatur, Adams County, 23 March 1866 — Page 1

THE DEC ATER E AGE E.

VOL: 9.

DECATUR EAGLE, EVERY FRIDAY MORNING BY A. J. HILL, PUBLISHBII AND PROPRIETOR. •rriCE—On Monroe Street in the second ?j»ry of the building, formerly occupied by •**• Niblick as a Shoe Store. Terms of Subscription I «*• **pv one year, in advance, 4~ 00 W paid within the year - ■’ »ot paid until the year has expired, •< 00 IZNo paper will be discontinued until all *r#rages are paid,except at the option of the pablishers Terms of Advertising: •ae Square ithe space of ten lines brevier] three insertions, 1 Each subsequent insertion, ~ XyNo advertisement will be considered le.* han onesquare; over one square will be coui - ted and charged as two; over two,as three, <t. | IET.4 liberal dis’ount from the above rates jfiade on all advertisements inserted for a period longer than three months. ID*L >cal Notices fifteen cents aline foreach BMrtion. Job Printing'. We are prepared to do all kinds of Plain and Paaay Job Printing at the most reasonable Mtes Give us a call, we feel confident that satisfaction can be given. Special Notice. TO IDVERTISERS.— Alladvertiiementrta tn for a tfecified time, and ordered out before Htfirationofthe’imeipecified, wit Ibe charged aetgularratetforthe eameup to the timethey reordered out. TSMOUS." Getting Kid <>i the Spirits. When spiritualism first made its appearance in the village of N , old Deacon Isaacs, a wealthy man had stood by the church for nearly three score years, was exceedingly bitter against nil believers in the “devil's works” as he called it, and denounced spiritualists and spiritualism in no very gentle language. Imagine tl e deacon’s anger, then, when, •ix months afterward he found it had Worked its way into his family, and not only were his wife and daughters believers, but one of them was a medium, and possessed full power to converse with the spirits of those who had departed to that ‘ bourne from which no traveler returns." Deacon Isaac was mad—dreadfully mad— but he had wit enough not to show if, and he bore the taunts of the ungodly with a meek spirit. He knew it would be useless to d dare open war, for Mis. Isaacs alone had always proved more than a match (or him, and he was sure to be defeated. He must “circumvent the critters,” as he expressed it, and to this -end be set himself at work. He was a •uan of sound judgment, and his worldly "experience of fifty years was riot thrown away. From the day it first came to bis knowledge that his wife and daughters were spiritualists, he never spoke a W’ord against it, nor did be ever allude to it, except in general terms in his morning prayers, but any one could see that it troubled him, for he was absent minded. Ehis eyes wandered restlessly, and his countenance looked careworn. The deacon witnessed one or two “sittings” at his own house, and was satisfied that if ba possessed a little more knowledge he could get rid of them. So one morning he started for the city, de-,-termined to thoroughly investigate the subject before he returned. After visiting two of the most popular mediums, •nd pay’ng bis money, he returned home satisfied that he could see thiough it. There was a “sitting” at the deacon’s house on the night that he returned, and line daughter Mary—the medium—invited : the deaden to take a seat it!- the table, ,whiah to her gratification was accepted. 2?he spirits were in good tune and so ex •ceding communicative that the deacon was induced to a-k a few questions which were readily answered, and wile and daughters were in ecstacies at the thought that father would yet be a believer, and urged the deacon on in his inquiries, “Has my wife always been true to hex marriage vows?” asked the deacon. To this question there were no raps in return, while Mrs. Isaacs sat transfixed with holy horror that such a thought •henld enter her husband’s mind. •‘How many years have passed since •he was untrue?” Answer by single raps. They came slowly and solemnly, one, two, three, four, und so on until they reached twenty. “How many who claim to be, are not my children?” Again th* spirit rapped —one, two. Mr. Isaacs looked dumbfounded. “Mercy!” said Mary. “Which are they?” asked the deacon, -.who now seemed so intent on his subject

that he paid no attention to his companions. “Mary—Sarah,” rapped the spirits the names of the two daughters, the older of which was under twenty. Mrs. Isaacs could stand it no longer. “It’s a lie! I didn’t! It’s a lie!” she shrieked, rising from the table, “they are your children deacon Isaacs and ‘God knows’ it!” “But the spirits affirm differtptly,” said the deacon in a solemn voice. “Then they lie!” said his wife. “But if you believe them in everything else, why not in this?” “But I don’t believe them at all; it is all foolery.” “Nor I,” shouted Mary. “Nor I,” added Sarah. “Then,” said the deacon, while a smile illuminated bis countenance, “we will bid them good bye, and leave those things which God has wisely hid from us, to be revealed in his time.” The deacon’s evening devotions were characterized wi'h more earnestness than usual, and the family retired lully satis tied that the spirits nd mediums did not always reveal the truth. Mrs. Isaacs was so glad that none o! the neighbors were present; but somehow the story got wind, and so fearful were the spirit dames of N , that they might be caught in the same trap which the deacon had set, that spiritualism and its concomitant evils were driven entirely from the village. Adams Fall. A favorite temperance lecture down South used to relate the following anecdote to illustrate >he influence of a bad example in the formation of habits, ruinous in their effect. Adam, and Mary, his wife, were very good members of the church: good sort folks any way, quite industrious and i thriving in the world. Whenever the minister called to make Mary a visit, which was often, she uuntrivedto have a glass of good toddy made, and the minister never refused to imbibe. After a while Adam got to follow the example of the minister to such an extent that he became a drunkard —drank up every thing he had and all he could get. Mary mid Adam became very poor in consequence of bis following the ministers example so closely, but the good minister continued still to get his glass of toddy. One day he called in and told Mary he was going away for a week —should return on firiday—and handed her a bock containing the citechism, and told her when he returned he should expect her to answer the questions. Mary said yes, and laid away the book carefully. But Mary like a good many others, forgot it until the very Friday that the good minister was to return “What shall I do?” said she: “the minister is to be here to-day, and I haven’t looked in the book he gave me! How can 1 answer the questions?” “I can tell you,” said Adam: “give me a quarter, and let me go over to Smith’s and get some good rum. and vou can answer him with a glass of toddy.” Mary took the advice, give Adam a quarter and a jug, and off he started. After getting his jug filled, and on his way b .ck, Adam concluded to taste the : rum. One taste followed another until hs j tumbled over a pile of rocks and broke the jug and lost all the rum. Adam managed to stagger home. Soon as he got into the house Mary asked very anxiously for the rum. Poor Adam managed to stammer out that he stumbled over a pile of rocks, I and broke the jug, and spilled the rum. Mary was in a fix — Adam drunk — the minister coming—the rum gone—and the questions unlearned But here comes the minister! It won’t do for the man of God to see Adam drunk, so she for want of a better place to hide him sent him under the bed. By the time he was fairly under, in came the minister. After sitting a few moments, be asked Mary it she could answerthe question, “How did Adam fall?” Mary turned her head first one way, and then the ether, and finally stammered out: “He fell‘over a pile of rocks.” It was not the minister’s turn to look blank, but he ventured another question. “Where did he hide himself after the fall?” Mary looked at the minister, then at the bed, but finally she spoke out with—- “ Under the bed, sir! There, Adam, you may come out; he knows all about it." . . The good minister retired—noteven waiting for his glass of toddy. Courtship in Greenland. There is something exceedingly melauoholv in the accounts which are given

“Our Country’s Good shall ever be our Aim—Willing to Praise and not afraid to Blame."

DECATUR, ADAMS COUNTY, INDIANA, MARCH 23, 1866.

of the custom of courtship in GreenlanC. Generally, women enter upon the bless ed estate with more willingness and lest solicitude than men. The women of Greenland are an exception to this rule. A Greenlander, having fixed his affection upon some female, acquaints bis parents with the state of his heart. They apply to the parents of the girl, and if the parties thus far are agreed, the next proceedings is to appoint two female negotiators, whose duty it is to broach the subject to the young lady. This is a matter of great tact and delicacy. The lady ambassadors do not shock the young lady to whom they are sent by any sudden or abrupt avowal of the awful subject of their mis-ion. Instead of doing this, they launch out in praises of the gentleman who seeks her hand They speak of the splendor of his house, the sumptuousness of ills furniture, o' his courage and skill in catching seals, and other accomplishments. The lady, pretended to be affronted oven at these remote hints, runs away, tearing the ringlets of her hair as she retires, while the ambassadresses, hav ing got the consent of her parents, pursue her, drag her from her consealment, take her by force to the house of her destined husband, and there leave her. Compelled to remain there, she sits for days with dishevelled hair, silent and dejected, refusing every kind of susteanauce. till at last, if kind entreaties do not prevail, she is compelled by force, and even by blows, to submit to the detested union. In some cases, Greenland women faint at the pronosals of marriage— in others, they fly to the mountains, and only return when compelled to do so by hunger and cold. If one cuts off her hair, it is a sign that sbe is determined to resist to the deatii. All this appears so unnatural to us, that we seek for the reason of such an apparent violation of the first principles of human nature. The Greenland wife is the slave ol her husband, doomed to a life of toil, drudgery and privation; and if he die, she and her children have no resource against starvation. The married state is a miserable condition, while widowhood is a still more appalling fate. —Exchange.

Slow Legal Decisions Are Got Now-a-Days. The Wisconsin Legislature had formally' considered a proposition to abolish ail laws for the collection of debls. The move of the bill,:] Mr. Elmore, is a gieat wag. so evinced by the following extract from his speech on that sub j-wt: The speaker proceeded io review the present system of collecting debts. It was all a humbug and a cheat, a m tter of technicalities and legal shuffling. Lawyers gave advice inorder to obtain fees and encourage litigation, Judges made blunders and mistakes. He had a little experience in law, and that was rich. [Laughter ] He would give a history o( it. The speaker then related how ha had purchased a yoke ol ix( n about fifteen years ago—paid fifty dollars for them—a few days after, the sou of the man of whom he bought the oxen came to him and said the oxen were bis. He insisted on having pay over again, and commenced suit before a justice. The jury didn’t agree- Finally, through the Basswood Justices of the Peace, the case went apainst him. He appealed to the Circuit Court iu Milwaukee. There I lost again and said to the lawyers; 1 will give you ten dollars to quote Pennsylvania law to Judge Miller I and get a new trial ordered. [Great laughter] lie took the ten dollars an I performed his duty. A New trial was then granted, and the venue changed to Walworth county. Judge Irwin was then the Judge. Anj man who wanted to gain a cause in his court, bad either to go hunting with him aud let the Judge claim all the game that was shot, or else pat his dog. I patted hts dog. [Laughter ] I fed that dog crackers. [Renewed laughter ] The case was decided in my favor. When I heard the decision, I thought the dog had followed me about long enough—-I fumed around and gave him a kick. [Laugliter.] The yelp of the dog Ind bardiy sui>s d«d ere I heard tbe Judge say, “Mr. Clerk, this judgement is set aside and a new trial granted.” | Great laughter. Mr. Speaker, that kick cost me §2OOI Convulsive laughter ] You have no doubt seen a suit in a Justice's court in the country? There is time spent by jurors and han gers on, besides other costs, at least §SO, besides the ill ieelings and dissensions caused by it. It is all a cheat. The litigants had bettersit down and play a game of oldslodge to decide the case. It would be more sure to settle the dispute justly. Affect of a Tariff on Wages. It is a fact, historically established, that a high protective tariff, tends to re-

duce wages. Manufacturing Is done to so great an extent by machinery, that the increased demand for labor does not keep pace with the increased production of manufactured articles; and as the tariff tends to cut us off from a foreign demand for agricultural produ ts, it diminI ishes the demand for labor in that department, thus throwing a surplus on the manufacturers, who, feeling perfectly independent in the monopoly created sot them by the tariff, fix their own price, which is always the very lowest one, for labor. Says the New York World: While the wages of iron minets are far less than those of miners of gold and silver, wiio are "unprotected,” let us conI sider, for a moment, the wages paid on j “protected” manufactures in this city to j the other sex. A manufacturer in a highly < protected branch of business lately wanted a few women to work r.t $4 a week in an employment so disagreeable, filthy, and unhealthy that it si ould command tolerable wages. Io reply to his single advertisement his place ot business was thronged with W'omen anxious for honost work. He had over two hundred applications. This business is “protected,” and the wages are, we believe, quite as small, when reduced to specie and considering the price of rent, clothing, etc., ns those given in Great Britain for similar work. But the point to which we desire to call attention is, that these women who were begging for work in a “protected” but dirty business, at §4 a week in greenbacks, would readily earn in the mining regions, which I are “unprotected,” wages ranging from I §3O, at the lowest, to the very common I remuneration of -350 to §75 in gold a i week, with board, and without very hard I work. The board would bo better than | they could find here for tl e paltry $4 which forms their weekly stipend, and I nearly the whole of th ir wages of §s> lor §6O might be saved. Such is the doc I trine of developing our natural resources ‘ when compared with the pernicious theory which is termed legislative protection. The Case of Madison Evans. We have no disposition to dwell on the circumstances under which this man met his death. Summoned before his maker without a moment’s warning, he lies gone to render an account of the deeds done Jin the holy. But it is not propel that , the guilty life and awful death of such a ■ m <n should be allowed to pass unheeded I Evans, if we are not mistaken, began his career in this city as a school teacher, and so far as we know his reputation was fair. Subsequently he went to Indianapolis and became a Professor in th North rn Christian University, at the same time beinj a minister, or “elder" of the “Christain” denomination, frequently preaching in this city and at numerous other places. Afterwards he turned his attention to law, and had begun its practice at Bedford, in the meantime publishing n book called the “Pioneer Preacher of Indiana.” He was also well known as a politician, receiving from the Republican State Convention of 1364 the appointment of Assistant Elector in the Third District. In this capacity lie canvassed his own district and other parts of ‘.lie State in behalf of Mr. Lincoln and Gov. Morton. He spoke in this city, an ! we were informed at the time attempted to get up a mob against the Ledger office, but in this failed. He was, however, a pleasing and plausible speaker, and succeeded in making people believe he was in earnest. In the pulpit, also, his di courses were well received, and the members of his church had the highest confidence in the genuineness of bis professions, until within a few months past, when suspicions of his real character began to be entertained. The public were shocked by the exposure of bis recent escapade with a married woman, whom he accompanied on a guilty errand from Bedford to Greencastle, and was there detected. But it seems that that was not the first or the worst of his villacies. Previously he had, after persistent and long continued efforts, succeeded in seducing the daugh ter of iiis friend, a prominent member of the church of which he was himself a member. These efforts, it would appear, were bejun while the father of his victim was in the army, and she was measurably placed under bis protection, as a teacher, and she his pupil. She was a mere child in years, aud was at length overcome by the soft words and the sanctimonious air of the libertine, and parted with that which is more to be value I than ail this world’s riches. Coming home from a professional visit to the country, in the dusk of the evening, the doling father hears, for the first time, of'the calamity which has fallen upon his house, and learns that his loved child is about to become a mother. What more natural than that, in the frenzy of the moment —maddened by the thought of the wrong done to him and this by one who bad been bis own

professed friend, and should have been the guardian and protector ol his child’s honor—what more natural, we say, than that he should sally forth, determined to wreak summary vengeance upon the destroyer of his own and his child’s happiness? What more natural than he should shoot him down like a dog, unfit longer to live? The law, unhappily, providos no adequate remedy for crimes such as that of which Evans was guilty, and tlm wronged must either suffer the Jisbonor pl cel upon them or take the law into their own hands. The sufferer in this ease chose the latter course, and yet because he did so, we hear that there aie persons, carried away by their prejudices ia behalf of the guiity dead, who demand that the strict letter of the law sh ill be carried out, and the unhappy father punished as though he was a felon. Shame! shame! Fortunately, however, these persons are but very few. The vast majority of these who were connected with the deceased by lies of political and denominational sympathy, say be deserved his fate, and that the earth is well rid of such a monster.— Neto Al bang Ledger. filch Scene at Justice Starr’s Offce— Married by Order of the Freedmen's Bureau. The rich affair of the season came off this morning at the office of Justice Starr. In order to give the reader a full insight into the case, it is necetsary to Start at the Mayor’s Court, in which the case of an unhappy pair of old darkeys was brought up for adjudication It appeared that the venerable old couple had been living together as man and wife, but, as she said “widout de circumference of law.” The brought a volumninous string of charges against each other, and taxed the m lyor's putt nee beyond endurance. He being unable to make head or tail 1 of the affair, turned the case over to the Freedmen’s Bureau. They shot j out for “de burn,” and the trial was at once taken up. After hearing all the facts in tne case, that tribunal decided that they should be married forthwith, and placing them und r guard, sent bride and bridegroom to the office of Justice Starr tor that functionary to carry out the sentence of the Bur- '; can. When they got to the Esquire’s office, the guard simply stated to Justice Starr: “Here is a couple for you to mar-' ry.” “All right,” replied the humorous I Justice, and iho guard, not having an invitation to the wedding, retired. “Just step in the back room, said the Justice, ' and I’ll splice you in gramatical style and apple order.” Tile couple followed him to the room in the rear of the front office, and after explaining the duties and obligations, requested them to join hands. Bride—“l isn’t gwing to do it. I dosn’t want to hab nuffin todo wid dat nigger.” Groom—“l isn’t ’ticular ’bout’marryiu’ wid de gal. I nebber lubbod de wench.” The protest opened the Esquire’s eyes like “two full moon's in the harvest.” He asked what was the meaning of it, aud juss then a member of the Buieau j stepped in, and informed the justice that they were ordered by the free imen's court to be married, and he come up to see the sentence executed. NVitli this understanding Justice Starr told the “happy couple” to join hands, which they did after much persuasion. Justice—“Do you take the man to bo your wedded husband, to love, honor, obey.” etc. Bride—“No I does’nt—not much I does’nt; I would’nt hab a four acre lot full of sich trash.” Freedman’ Bureau—“ Yes we do, Squire. We take him—go on with the ceremony." Justice —"And do you take this woman to be your wedded wife, to love, cherish,” etc. Groom—“l tole ye dat I isn’t ticular. I isn’t hankeaing’ arter de ‘crow.’ I kin lib widout de ole gal.” Freedmen’s Bureau—“ Certainly we take her—of course we do—suits us to a single allspico. Hurry up the cakes.” Justice—“ Then I pronounce you all man and wife, and may the Lord have mercy on your souls.” This closed one of the most novel and amusing weddings that has ever taken place in this or perhaps any other city —Mobile, Alabama. Register. The Camphor Storm Glass. Dealers in philosophical and optical instruments sell simple storm-glasses, which are used (or the purpose of indicating approaching storms. One of these consists of a glass tube, about ten inches in length and three fourths of an inch in diameter,

tilled with a liquid containing eampher, and loving its mouth covered with a piece of bladder perforated with a needle. I A tall phial will answer the purpose t nearly as well as a ten-inch tube. The j composition placed within the tube consists of two drachms of camphor, half a dracbm of pure .saltpetre, and half a drachm of the muriate of ammonia, pulverized and mixed with about two ounces of proof spirits. Tne tube is usuallv suspended by a thread n-ar a window, and the functions of its contents ere as follows; If U le atmosphere is dry and th* weather promises to be settled, the solid parts of the camphor in the liquid contained in the tube will remain at the bottom, and the liquid above all will be quite clear ; but on the approach of a change to rain, the solid matter will gradually rise, and small crystalline stars will float about in the liquid. On the approach of high winds, the solid parts of the camphor will rise in the form of leavas, and appear near the surface in a state of resembling fermentation. These indications are sometimes manifested twentvfour hours before a storm breaks out. A.ter some experience in observing the motions of the camphor matter in ths tube, the magnitude of a coming storm may be estimated; also its direction, insomuch as the particles lie closer together on that side of the tube that is opposite to that from which the coming storm will approach. The cause of some of these indications is as yet unknown; but the leading principle is the solubility of camphor in alcohol, and its insolubility !in water, combined with the fact that the dryer the atinospheie, the more aqueous vapor does it take np; and vice versa. Neglecting Colds. Every intelligent physician knows that | the best method of promptly curing a i cold is, that the very day in which it is , observed to be taken, the patient should I cease absolutely from eating a particle for twenty-four or forty-eight hours, and should be strictly confined to a warm room, or to be covered up well in bed, taking freely hot drinks. It is also iu the experience of every observant person, that when a cold is once taken, very slight causes indeed increase it. The expression, “It is nothing but a cold," conveys a practical falsity of the most pernicious character, because an-experienced medical practitioner feels that it is im- ; possible to tell in any given case, where ; a cold will end; hence, when highly valui able lives are al stake, his solicitudes ap pear sometimes to others to verge on folly or ignorance. A striking and moil instructive example of these statements i* found in the case of Nicholas the First, Emperor of all the Russians. For moie than a year before his death, his confidential medical adviser observed that i i consequence of the Emperor “not giving to sleep the hours needed for restoration,” his general vigor was declining, and that exposures which he had often encountered with impunity, were making unfavorable impressions on the system—that he had less power ol resistance. At length, while reviewing his troops on a January day, he took a severe cold, which at once excited the apprehensions of his watchful physician, who advised him not lorepeat his review. “Would you make as much of my illness if I were a common soldier?” asked the Emperor, in a tone of good natured pleasantry. “Certainly, please your majesty; we would not allow a common soldier to leave the hospital if he were in the state in which your majesty is in.” “Well, you would do your duty—l will do mine,” and the exposure was repeated, with the result of greatly increasing the bad effects of the original cold, and he died in a week afterwards. Colds are never taken while persona are in active motion, but when at rest, just after tbe exercise. This resolution can be averted iniallibly by going instantly to a warm room and remaining with all the clothing on, in which the exercise has been taken, until the body ha* gradually cooled down to its natural temperalure, known by not feeling the slightest moisture on the forehead.— Hall’s Journal of Health. How t , Make Sheep Own Theib Lambs—-Mr. Miner:— L. M. Fisk, in the Rural, wishes to know if there is any way that sheep can be made to own their lambs, when they will not naturally do so. If you have no better answer, give him tbe following; First hold Hie sheep for the lamb to suck once or twice then, if the lamb is strong, take the sheep and lamb from the flock, etancion up the sheep, leaving the lamb by her. If out in afield, he bas only to drive down two slakes, sufficiently strong, auj just far enough apart to hold tbi sheep by tbe neck. I have seen many eh UQ , kind, stubborn mother brought td in tb«« way. H. T. BaitKr Dunkirk, N. Y,

NO. 52.