Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 January 1878 — Page 2

THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1878.

Kid Gloves In all the New Delicate Shades, in two, four and six buttons, ~ JT78T OPENED. JoAOB^IITTS IN DELICATE COLORS. NEW TIES AND RUSOHINGS Close & Wasson, BEE-HIVE. SSCtsPr.Yd Tapestry Brussels. We have aline of single pieees Tapestry Brussels Carpets that ean net be duplicated that we will close out at kite above. LOW figures. 100 PCS. TAPESTRY BRUSSELS Jl'ST RECEIVED, bought ot ■ bargain, will be sold In the same way. Best Ooods and NEWEST PATTERNS. Body Brussels, S&X.3S, To close a line or Single Room ■* Pattern!. TW0-PLYSJ5 to 50c. Thii is the heat opportunity offered for jreara to buy CARPETS CHEAP. ADAMS, MAJSSUR & CO. The ladUnepoIla Newt la published every afternoon, except Sunday, at the office, No. 82 East Market street Prices—Two cents a copy. Served by carriers in any part of the city, ten cents a week; by mail, postage prepaid, fifty cents a month; |6 a year. The Weekly News la published every Wednesday. Price, fl a year, postage paid. Advertisements, first page, five cents a line for aach insertion. Display advertisements vary in price according to time and position. No advertuemenlt inter led an editorial or news

matter.

Specimen numbers sent free on application. Terms—Cash, invariably in advance. Ail communications should be add eased to Jobs H. Holliday, proprietor.

THE DAILY NEWS. Wednesday, jani aby! i«ta

The daddies didn’t know everything, any more than they dfd “down in Judee.” Murphy is going tq lecture in Washington. He ought to have been there during the called session of congress. V Chandler’s letter may be accepted as the last shoi^in the locker of the implacable republicans. They have nothing left but the tattered remnanta of the doctrine of hate. The fight for the Ohio senatorahip is getting hot and disgraceful. If the time of all the .persons engaged in this squabble could be estimated at laborer’s wages we presume something like a million dollars would be the result—to say nothing of cash advanced. •

The first public inauguration of a governor in Virginia occurred yesterday. It was abhored as a “Yankee innovation,” bnt the desire of the people was so strong for it that it had to be. Yankee innovations are helping the old Dominion in more ways than one. The Cincinnati Enquirer thinks that Judge Holman may be a candidate for the senatorship in opposition to Voorheee. These gentlemen had better wait until a democratic legislature is chosen, but if Holman does conclude to run, Voorhees will not have a walk over. Cold weather is the thing most needed now. Business suffers everywhere be-' cause the roads are not frozen and country people ean not get to town to sell or buy. The ice trade, which is becoming a great industry, is stagnant now. With plenty of ice there would be temporary employment for thousands of men.

Tub Terre Haute Express, greenback X)rga*n, reminds the Cincinnati Commercial and Chicago Tribune that it is time for them to take from the head of their Editorial columns the quotation of greenbacks as worth less than real dollars, and to apologize for this slander against legal tender paper. The*point is well taken. If the Commercial and Tribune can persuade themselves that a piece of silver wofth 92 cenPPis . an honest dollar, they ought to admit that greenbacks are five per cent, premium, since they are worth 97 cents. 'Prod ’em again, Major.

The dishonesty of forcing creditors to take 92 cents on the dollar of their claims, by the remonetization of silver on the old basis, constitutes its especial charm to the greenbackers. They don’t want it remonetized because it is hard money, for they say that specie is a snare and a delusion, that hard money is a relic of barbarism; they don’t want it remonetized because it is .better or as good as gold, for it is not. They do want it because it ia cheap, will stale debts, will swindle creditors. For the mere pleasure of cheating they go back on their soft money -principles, join hands with the silver bullionista whom they specially denounced in their platform last year, and shout the loudest of any for “the dollar of the fathers." * This ia the open avowal of their leading paper in this state, the Terre Haute Express.

6 The news from the east is of a peaceful but befuddled tone. The utterance*of the English press indicate that the majority of England is opposed to war. Russia’s reply to England’s note that Turkey must itself propose terms of truce is explained to hare been intended only in a Pickwickian sense so far as England is concerned; no offense dreamed of. There is a good deal of lofty talk from all the capitals of Europe about national honor 5nd dignity. Each power seems to be feeling its way veryeautiously. It is impossible to predict the result ;meantime the peace party in Constantinople is said to be gaining strength, fortification of the Balkan passes continues, Paris reports say Russia is ordering munitions of war in large quantities. The campaign in .Asia Minor is being pushed, Erzeroum is enveloped and an advance is taking place toward Baiburt, where the Turks are concentrated. The last Russian utterance is that terms of peace on her part would be made agreeable to Germany and Aus-tria,-and on Turkey’s part it is expected England will be consulted.

The Metris System.

The state teachers’ association last Week adopted resolutions to “push” the metric system by all means, and invited the press of the state to aid it. The News readily responds. The system is s* eminently superior that discussion on that score is superfluous. It is already the measure of science and the arts. It is the standard of Europe in all things, and the official standard of England and this country, and will soon become the popular standard here also. It is simply a question of- time, and not a long- one. The objections to it are more fanciful than real. GtWmany adopted it in 1872, and instead of the’expected inconvenience from the change a great convenience was experienced from the outset. Everybody having hifi own part of the reformation to make, the whole was accomplished with surprising smoothness. The American watch company of Waltham, Mass., some time ago adopted it. All the computations, drawings and tools used in this establishment, which turns out 350 watches daily, are purely metrie, and the superintendent says no inducement would be sufficient for a return to the old arbitrary methods. This has been the experience of German mechanics. The decimal system Wfhich obtains in our coinage is the metric system exactly. The meter, the unit of length corresponds to our d«llar. Onetenth of our dollar is a “dime;” one-tenth of the meter is a “decimeter.” One hundredth of our dollar is a “cent;” one hundredth of the-meter is a “centimeter.” One thousandth of the dollar, or one-tenth of the “cent,” is a “mill;” one thousandth of the meter, or one-tenth of the “centimeter,” is a “millimeter.” The same analogy obtains in the gram the unit of weight and the litre the unit of quality; the divisions being decigram, centigram and niillegram^ decilitre, centilitre and millilitre. The combinations of the meter gram and litre for larger quantities are in the same decimal ratio with the names, which indicate the Value. Our system of coinage has given us an immense advan-

tage in this adoption.

Professor Wiley, who reported the metric resolutions to the state teachers, said the adoption of the system would save a year of school life. The Detroit, Michigan, scientific association discussed this question last week and one . of its speakers said it would save two years. Educators in England estimate that the metric aystepi in the schools of that country would represent a saving of $1,750,000 per year. Who can estimate the saving of such a system in the business of life? Professor Wiley 'showed how strawberry dealers bought berries by the dry measure quart and sold them by the common wine quart, and thus “beat” the people out of fourteen per cent, of the produce, and he estimated that in other things millions of dollars per year were thus lost. No one hesitates to endorse the declaration that the old, cunbersome, arbitrary measures and weights should be relegated to the imperfect times which gave them birth. Avordupois and Troy Weight, dry measure, any measure, no measure, must give way to the inflexible, single standard, which means what it says every time. These remarks apply with the fullest force to the single stand-

ard in money measure.

Remonetizing Silver. Whether silver should be retained iii the coinage of the United States And ciade a full legal tender, that is, a legal tender n any amount in the payment of debts, is a question on which there may be an honest difference of opinion. Secretary Sherman, Senator Bayard, and other hardmoney men, are inclined to favor the proposition. But that the old silver dollar of 412.5 grains should be restored and creditors compelled to take that in payment, when it is worth only 92 cents instead of 100 cents, is a totally different projmsition. The constitution of the United ' States gives to congress the power to “coin money and to regulate the value thereof.” But it does not give to congress the power to falsify the coinage. The power of “regulation” has always been interpreted to mean to ascertain and declare by law the true relation between different coins. For instance, congress may by law ascertain and declare the value of a British sovereign or a French franc, in comparison with an American dollar. So it may ascertain and declare the relative value of its gold and silver coins. But to do this arbitrarily, without regard to the facts, is to transcend its power. If it sho,uld declare a British sovereign to be worth $50 and a legal tender for that amount, does any one doubt that the supreme court would set aside such a law as unconstitutional? The power to regulate the value of money is not therefore an unlimited power to declare- arbitrary values, but a power truly to ascertain and declare relative values. If, therefore, it should be decided to be advisable for congress to authorize the coinage of silver dollars and make them a full legal tender, there -Till still remain to be settled the quesfton: What kind of dollars, and in what rela-

tion to gold dollars? Obviously there ia room here for a great many different the-

ories.

1. Here is the answer of tlie supporters of the Bland bill. We should restore the dollar of 412.5 grains, and' make that a tender for all debts. But the objections to this course are very numerous. ' (1) We' now have four different dollars, of four different values; and to add a fifth, of still different value, is to increase the confusion. We Lave a gold dollar worth 100 cents, a greenback dollar worth 97 cents, a trade dollar worth 9.‘H cents, and a dollar of two havles worth 8(* cents. If we restore the old dollar we shall then have one worth 92 cents. Can any sensible man believe it wise, to have this confusion in the currency. (2) When the old dollar was dropped from the coinage in 1S73 it was worth 103, to restore it now when it is only worth 92 would be essentially dishonest because its prabtical effect would be to scale all debts ten per cent. Everybody knows that if silver had increased in value, we should have heard nothing of its restoration. (3) But it would cost much more than it would be worth to restore it, because the utmost the government could make would be the eight cents depreciation on its annual payment of $30,000,000 of its debts, or $2,400,000 per year, while it would lose 1 the opportunity of refunding its six per cent, bonds into four per cents, or a difference of annual interest of $22,000,000. ^•It would therefore be a losing game. 2. A second theory is, to issue a dollar which shall contain silver enough to make it of equal value with a gold dollar. This is shadowed, but not stated, in the speech of Senator Bayard in reply to Stanley Matthews. This would require a dollar of 448.4 grains, and smaller coins in proportion. But silver is increasing in value and this would soon require a change, and a constant tinkering would be the result. As all experience proves a fluctuation of relative values in spite of legal regulations^it would be a step backwards in the race of progress. 3. A third theory is that of Secretary Sherman, in his annual report, namely: the principle of “redeemability.” We give enough of the secretary’s recommendation to set forth the theory: The question of the issue of a silver dollar for circulation as money has been much discussed and carefully examined by a eommission organized by congress,-which has recommended the coinage 1 of the old silver dollar. With such legislative provision as will maintain its current value at par with gold, its issue is respectfully’recommended. It lias been the careful study of statesmen for many years to secure a bi-metallic currency not subject to the changes of market value, and so adjusted that both kinds can Hu kept in circulation together, not alternatmg with each other. The growing tendency has been to adopt, for coins, the principle of “redecmability ’ applied to different forms of paper money’ Dy limiting tokens, silver and paper money to the amount needed for business, and promptly receiving or redeeming all that may at any time be in excess, all these farms of money can be kept in circulation. in large amounts, at par with gold. In this way, tokens of inferior intrinsic vaUic are readily circulated, but do not depreciate below the paper money- into which they are convertible. The fractional silver coin now in circulation, though the silver of which it is composed is of less market value than the paper money, passes readily among all classes of people and answers all the purposes for w hich it was designed. And so the silver dollar, if restored to our coinage; would greAtly add to the convenience of the people. But this coin should be subject to the same rulb, as to issue and convertibility, as other forms of mony. If the market value of the silver in it were less than that of gold coin of *he same denomination, and it were issued in unlimited quantities, and made a legal tender for all debts, it would demonetize gold and depreciAte our paper money. The objections to this theory are, 1. That it is wasteful. If silver coin is to be kept in circulation, not by its intrinsic value, but by its redeemability in gold, then there is no good reason for the use of so valuable a commodity. As the stamp upon it is but a promise of exchange) copper would answer just as well, and be cheaper. But paper from its still greater cheapness, portability; and ease of manufacture, would be best of all. - „ Bank notes or government notes, if convertible into gold at pleasure, circulate at equal value with gold. If redeemability is to be employed then let silver go entirely and let paper take its place. 2. But the successful working of this theory would convert the United States treasury into a huge bank of exchange. If the United States is to carry $300,000,000 of greenbacks redeemable in gold, as the secretary proposes; and in addition, is to carry indefinite

There are over 30 unmarried chiefs and attaches of foreign legations in Washington. Great excitement in noodledom and prejiarations for a vigorous campaign between New Year and Lent. ■; “Insignificant tool,” “disgruntled office seeker,” “blowhard,’’ “winding," “smibbeij office-broker,” “weasel politician.” That’ll the way the.prcss generally speaks of littleV

Bill Chandler.

Peace can only be made at. this juncture , through a thorough ' victory over machine noliticians. Outside the henchmen of Conkling, the president found public sentiment among the solid men of New York overwhelmingly in favor of all his course.—[Chi-

cago Post.

We suspect that the machine politicians, the men of the Conkling school, are beginning to ask themselves whether anything can be done to make and keep the republican party straight by breaking it up ana maintaining a Litter hostility to A republican president; whether even from their point such a course will pay. These signs of the weakness of the opposition arc encouraging.— [New Ybrk Post. In the meantime, it is in order to remark, in passing, that it is not a little creditable to ■ Mr. Hayes that the firmness w ith which he has ignored the plans and purposes of those who counted him into office has drawn down upon his head the wrath of the little insignitiCant Mephistopheles who signs himself William E. Chandler—[Atlanta Constitution. A Prophetic Fable. A Republican Lion having surfeited Inmself with feasting too luxuriously on the Spoils of the Chase was seized with a violent and dangerous Disorder. The Beasts of the Forest flocked in great Numbers to the Capital to pay their last Respects to him. The Wolf, an ill-natured and malicious Beast, seized the Opportunity to accuse the Fox of Pride, Ingratitude and Disaffection to his Majesty and charged that the Disorder under which the Lion was suffering was caused by the Fox, who, as the Physician of his Majesty, had brought him to bis present deplorable.Condition by a gross Violation of all the Rules of Practice. The Fox observing the Lion’s Countenance to be kindling into Wrath, thus excused himself and'retorted upon his Accuser: “I see many here who with mere Lip service have pretended to show your Majesty their Loyalty,‘but for my part from the Beginning of your Illness I have employed myself Day and Night to find a Remedy 4 for your Disease, and have at length discovered One. It is a Plaster, made •f a Wolfs skin, taken warm'' from his Back, deprived of its Custom-house Tallow, and laid on your Majesty’s Stomach. The Remedy was no sooner proposed than it was determined the Experiment should be tried, B and w hile the Operation was performing, the Fox, as he looked out of the Corner of his Eye at the Skinning of the Wolf, wrote slyly in the Sand with his Tail these tfcords: “lie serves his Party best who serves his Country best.” The Coin Law)*. fh order to properly understand the pending silver controversy, it is necessary to know the legislative history of the gold and silver coins of the country. The act of April 2d, 1792. established the mint and regulated the coius of the United States. This act provided that the coins should be of gold, silver and copper; that the gold coins should lie eagles ($10), half eagles ($5) and quarter eagles($2.50); that the silver coins should be the dollar, half dollar, quarter dollar, dime and half dime; that the dollar or uqit should bo of the value of the Spanish milled dollar, then current; that the proportional value of gold to silver should be as fifteen to one; that all gold coins should be eleven parts fine to one part alloy; tha* all silver coins should be 1485 parte fine to 179 parte alloy; that the alloy of the gold coins should be? composed of silver and copper, -half and half, and the alloy of silver wholly copper; that the eagle should contain 247 4-8 grains pure, or 270 grains of standard gold, and the silver dollar 371 4-16 grains pure, or 41Cgrains standard silver; that the lesser gold and silver coins should contain the same proportions according to value; and that al[ the gold and silver coins should be legal tender for all payments whatsoever. (1 stat. pp. 246-251.) . The act.of Jnne 28, 1834, (4 stat. 699), reduced the gold coins so that thereafter the eagle.($10), contained 232 grains pure and 258 grains of standard gold, and the half and quarter eagles were proportionately reduced, but their legal tender quality was retained for all payments whatsoever. The act of January 18, 1837 (5 stat., pp. 136-142), provided that thereafter the standard for both gold and silver coins should be 900 fine, that is 900 parte pure metal and 100 parts alloy, and reduced the value of the silver coins so that thereafter the silver dollar^ contained 412’^ grains of standard silver, and the smaller coins their relative proportion of the same according to value, but their legal tender quality was retained for all pay-

quantities of redeemable sliver tokens, we fear it would break down from the sheer bulk of the system, to say nothing of the possibilities of partisan .interference, or personal dishonesty. 3. If the system was, feasible, the secretary's and committee’s recommendation is unwise. If a token dollar is to be issued, it should not be "the dollar of our “fathers,” but a new dollar of our own and of the value of two halves. The reasons which’led to our present coinage demand this, with accu-

mulated force.

4. The fourth theory is that a new dollar of 385 grains be added to the coinage; and that this, with the fractional coins, be made legal tender for their market value. This, we must state more fully and consider in a separate paper.

CVRKENT COMMENT. A befuddled writer to the St. Louis GlobeDemocrat says: t “Let Hayes support the measures he was elected to carry out. or in truth and justice let him resign. When he cannot carry out the principles of the party tfisR elected him. it becomes his solemn duty to give back the sacred charge committed to his keeping.” Will the G-D please state wherein President Hayes has failed to support the measures he was elected to carry out, and. the principles of the flirty that elected him? We ask for information. Be specific. Chicago papers abound with “local records of the year 1877.” Nearly every other item is—“bank failed," or “ absconded.”. “New Years" was universally observed after the prevailing American fashion yesterday, and it was a sober New Years. Hayes is serene. . It becomes more and more evident that be ia master of the situation. f'They also serve who only stand and wait,” It must bare been a large dranght on Emerson’s philosophy to sit at the Whittier banquet and be maligned by Mark Twain.

menta.

The act of February 21, 1853, debased the subsidiary silver coins, that is, the half and quarter dollars, the dimes., and half dimes, so that thereafter the silver half dollar contained 192 grains of standard silver,and the quarter dollar, dime, and half dime were debased in like proportion according to value, and their legal tender capacity was reduced to payments of five dollars. This act left the gold coins and the silver dollar legal tender lor all payments whatsoever. On the 12th of February, 1873, (17 stat. 424, 436) an act revising and amending the laws relating to the mint and coinage was passed, which is known and designated by law, as the ‘‘'coinage act of 1873, and all other acts and parts of acts inconsistent therewith are repealed. This* act provides that the standard for bpth gold,and silver coins should be 900 fine, that is, that all coins shall be 900 parts pure, and 100 parts alloy; that the alloy of the gold shall be silver and • copper, the silver in no case to exceed one tenth of the whole alloy; and the alloy of the silver coins to be wholly copper. This act provides, that the gold coin of the United States shall be a one dollar piece, which at the standard weight,25 8-10 strains, shall Iks the unit of value; a quarter eagle, or two and a half dollar piece; a three dollar piece; a half eagle or five dollar piece; an eagle or ten dollar piece: and a double eagle or twenty dollar piece; and that these gold coins shall be legal tender in all payments; that the silve.r coins shall be a trade dollar, a half dollar, or fifty ce^t piece, a quarter dollar, or twenty-five cent piece, and a dime or ten cent piece: that the weight of the trade dollar shall be 420 grains troy, and the weight of the half dollar 12% grammes, and the quarter dollar and dime respectively one half and one fifth the weight of the half dollar; and that the silver coins shall be legal tender for any amount no exceeding five dollars in any one payment; and the coinage of any other gold or silver coins than Uioae named above is prohibited. v The revised statutes of the United States were passed June 22, 1874, and are intended to embrace the statutes of the United States in farce on the first day of December, 1873, as revised! and consolidated by the commissioners appointed for that purpose. The revised statutes re-enact the statute of February 12, 1873, without change.

The act of July 22,’1876, provides that the trade dollar shall not thereafter lie a legal tender, and the coinage of the trade dollar is limited to the export demand. Any owner of gold bullion can deposit the same* at any mint and have it converted into coin for his benefit without charge. The revised statutes provide that any owner of silver bullion may have it converted at the mints into bars or trade dollars of 420 grains troy, but for no other coinage, on i>ayment of the actual cost of coinage. But ns by the act of July 22, 1876, the secretary of the treasury is Authorized to limit the coinage of trade dollars, to the export demand. it would now seem to be optional with him whether ow ners of silver bullion could have it converted into trade dollars or not. The law limits the coinage of the subsidiary silver coins, that is the dime, quarter aud half-dollar, so that it shall not exceed, at any time, fifty millions of dollars. It follows, from Hie above act, that gold coins are legal tender for all payments; that the silver trade dollar is not a legal tender for any sum; that the subsidiary silver coin, the half and quarter dollars and dimes, are legal tender for any amount not to exceed five dollars in any one payment. What the legal tender capacity of the old silver dollar of the early coinage is is an open question. It seems to have dropped but of the laws without mention. It is certainly legal tender for five dollars. It is claimed by some that it is a legal tender for any amount, but the revised statutes expressly say that “the silver coin of the United states shall be a legal tender for any amount not exceeding five dollars in any one payment.” This, however, is not a very important question, as their further coinage is prohibited, and the total amount heretofore coined is about eight million dollars.

Speculators and the Black Hills. [Chicago Times's correspondence:] Three hundred thousand dollars invested in Black Hills mines by the mining stock gaAblers of San Francisco, with reserved payments of as much more still aue, will lie considered by the world generally as conclnsi^e of the extent and richness of the gold mines of this country. But the fact does not reassure me one whit. I do not claim too much when I say I thoroughly understood the mineral resources of the Black Hills before Geo. Hurst and his “experts” arrived; and know more about them still than they do. Oter this small mineral region of 600 square miles I have traveled, as your special correspondent, since the first of last May. a distance ’of more than 1,000 miles, naving visited almost every discovered mine, and penetrated localities probably never before explored by a white man; Tmd my practical explorations the preceding year were also extensive. I have seen no reason for modifying my judgment as first formed. The Black Hills will never be for the poor workingman what California, Australia and Montana have been, but I have no doubt they will prove in the fulness of their development, extent of territory considered, the most productive gold and silver region ever discovered. I have thought proper to give the readers, of the Times these facts, by wav of preparing them for the great furore of excitement over Black Hills gold mines which is sure to come within a few months. It will originate in and start from San Francisco. Had not the Pacific-coasters believed its coming a certainty they would • not have laid out their ducats here so lavishly. 1 They must reanimate the drooping spirits of the thousands with whom mining stock gambling has become a ruling passion, by giving them a new sensation. This is periodically necessary to the continued vitality of the Comstock lines of stock speculation. The bonanza men live off the speculative feeling, and new excitements, from time to time, are as necessary .i : *■ ' that feeling as blood is If. JThe pulse of specu-

to the, existence of that feeling as blood is to the life of a woll lation beats low in fhe golden state, arid it can only be quickened by a new sensation. It liae been decided that the Black Hills gold ledges shall next meet the requirement. The $600,000 invested will have swelled, ere the close of the coming year, to a valuation, as represented by stocks, of $6,000,000, and, for the time being, the Black Hills stock, will rise and fall on the boards with the rise and fall of many private fortunes. New Year’s in tVatdiington* The first New Year’s reception of President Hayes was very brilliant. It was held in the blue parlor, after which wallers passed through into the east room, where promenading and exchanges of the compliments of the season were indulged in. The president and Mrs. Hayes were assisted in the ceremonies pf the day by Mrs. Mitchell, Miss Platt, Mrs. Breckenridge, J udge and Mrs. Force, Miss Foote, Mrs. Dawes, and Mrs. Herron. The Marine. band was stationed in the ante-chamber, and, as the foreign ambassadors, in full costume, with the ladiesof their respective households, and the Cabinet officers with their wives, entered the wide hall, strains of enlivening music filled the air. Prominently noted among the diplomatic throng were Sir ‘ Edward Thornton and Lady Thornton, the Japanese minister and his wife, the German, Russian and Turkish ministers, and many other well-known attaches of the the diplomatic corps. The officers of the army, navy and marine corjw appeared in full uniform. The supreme court, the senate and house of representatives, the judges of the court of claims, in tiie district courts, members of prominent civic associations, heads of bureaus of the different executive departments, the associated soldiers of the war of 1812,. the associated veteran? of 1846, the members of the Oldest Inhabitants’ association, and a delegation of the Grand Army of the Republic, were all represented, and paid their respects in accords ance with the official schedule. At 1 o’clock the general public was admitted, and an hour afterwards the last caller had shaken hands with the president.

Never Would Love Another. A communication to the Richmond (Va.) Dispatch relates the following story as an evidence of the indomitable will and state pride that animated the soldiers of that state in the late war: “On one of our

inarcht-s in ihe early spring,” said he,

had been falling for

days, and the slush was almost waist deep,

“when a chilling rain

our command, utterly wretched and broken down, was struggling along as best it could tinder such circumstances. Worn out myself, I crept into a fence corner to rest awhile. Presently I saw a solitary straggler coming slowly up the road. He seemed almost completely exhausted—his shoes were gone, and iris feet cut and bleeding. I was struck with his appearance, for all through its wretchedness shone the indomitable spirit of the southern soldier—the man who would be found at his post, or else dead in the attempt to reach it. I watched him closely, and as he dragged himself slowly past, I heard him mutter to himself: ‘D—n me if I ever love another country.’ ”

Closing Up.

The directors of Old Bull’s-head bank, New York, have determined to refuse deposits and begin to close up- its business. The bank has been in sore straits ever since the mysterious defalcation of March, 1873, by which it lost between $100,000 and $500,000. The depositors will bepaid in full. The loss, if any, will fall on the stockholders. The capital is said to be impaired, and amounts to $->0,000. Pall de Rionda & Co., of Havana, have failed. Liabilities not known.

IMplomatlc Change* * Sir. H. G. Elliott, recently British ambassador at Constantinople, haa been appointed ambassador to Vienna.

Tommy’s l>re«anti OB, TUB ONOOKAMIY DtCWO.V. I hst.e my km graph? I > I.- i It’* noihittK but nvmieittst no? name*; To bother me m erevy tuoruiog, If* really the greatest of shame*.

The brooks, they flow into the Zl vei And the river* flow into the NS; I hope, for tty part, they enjoy it, But what does it matter to me? Of late, even more I’ve disliked it,

,5

\: J 1

I thought that a great horrid moMter Stood suddenly there in my mom— A frightful geography demon [T ‘ Enveloped ir flJUvoJ.

in darknea* and gloom;

f ;

mountain,

His txtty and head -ikea

A volcano on top for a hat; U His arms and bis legs were like riVvr*,

1

With a brook round bis neck f<>t cravat. He laid on my poor trembling shoulder HU lingers, cold, clammy and Jobg, And fixing his red eves upon me, t ! He roared forth this horrible aoia$:

“Come! come! rise and come i Away to the banks of the Muskingum! It flows o'er the b-uks of Timbue:ub, With the peak of Tenerifle just in View; And the cataracts leap in the pal* moonshine, As they dance o’er the cliffs of Brandywine; “Flee! flee! rise and flee Away to the hanks of Tomhigboe! We’ll pasa by Alaska’s flowery strand. Where the emerald towers of I’eldn Stand: We’ll paw then* by, and will restawhilo On Michillimackinac’s tropic isle: While the apes of Barbarv frisk around, And the parrots crow with a lovely sound. “Hie! hie! rise and hie ■ Away to the banks of the Yang-tsxe-kl! There the giant mountains of (Uhlvosli stand, ' And the i cel-ergs gleam through the failing sand; While the elephant sits on thepalni-trioe high, And the cannibal* feast on bad-boy pie. “Go! go!, rise and go Away to the )<anks of the Qoang-ho! Th.re Ihe Chickasaw sachem make's hi* tea. And the kettle boils and waits for thee. We’ll smite thee, oh! and we’ll lay thde low, On the beautiful banks of ttjg Hoang-ho.” Those terrible words ware still sounding Like trumpets and drums through my head. When the monster clutched tighter my-shoulder. And dragged me half out of bed. ' In terror I clung to the bed-post; 1 • But the faithless bed-poet It broke, I screamed out loud in my anguish, -"And suddenly—well, I awoke. He was gone. But I can not forget him, The fearful geography sprite. He has my first thought in the morning He has my last shudder at night. j Do yon blame me for hating my lesson? Is it strange that it frightful should seem'.’ ■ t r that I more and more should abhor it Since 1 bad that most horrible dream? —{St, Nicholas for January. , SCRAPS. . Francis Murphy is going to’ Washington soon. Every male citizen of Atlanta ift,taxed five dollars for the maintenance of the streets. The highest salary paid to any bank president in Philadelphia Is $10,000 per annum. While Scotch Presbyterianism is mailing considerable progress in London, the Roman Catholic religion is making considerable progress in Scotland. Cole Younger, train robber, mule stealer, man killer, etc., who is now spending a few spare hours in state prison,‘is writing a new bible and trying to start a new religion.—[Detroit Free Press. Secretary Evarts is about to inaugurate a series of receptions at the'iltate department for the entertainment of the diplomatic corps and other dignitaries, similar to those given at the foreign offices in London and Paris. (j Says a Washington correspondent: “J. Willis Macward, a colored ex-senator from Florida, came here and applied for the Belgian mission. When this was denied, he asked for the consulship to Liverpool, and, failing in that, he accepted the situation of watchman in the post office.” Reports from twenty-nine counties of Minnesota to the state commissioner of statistics, who sent out inquiries as to the number of tramps arrested, show a total of 1,414 tramps; 179 dangerous; 935 not criminally disposed; 812 males and 44 ft males in county jails; 70 males and 44 females sent to the penitentiary. Inquiry into the wicked ways of Philadelphia’s mock auction men reveal that they hired two’ or three women to attend the sales, carefully ins|>eeting articles that were to be sold, start the bidding at the article’s cost price, and run it up among themselves until an outsider put in a bid. It was then promptly knocked down—to the outsider. Some years ago Prof. Maury prophesied that any alteration in the direction of the gulf stream would reverse the history of the world. According to European meteorologists this change is taking place, and the mighty oceanic river, is slowly but surely moving west. The temperature of America is gradually growing warmer at the exjiense of northern Europe. A fashionable London dressmaker was prosecuted recently by the insjteotor of factories for having kept her girls emplovcd from 8 o’clock one morning until 5 the next. She said this was necessary in order to complete an outfit for a marriage in high life, but the magistrate, lunable to see that this justified her conduct, fined her £16, or £2 for each girl employed. Mr. Egan, a linen-draper’s assistant, of Rosera, Ireland, was jilted by a young lady of 35; and, ’after hearing the sad story of the lover’s woes from his own lips, thejury awarded him $1,250 as damages. The lady admitted a nromiae to marry the plaintiff, but pleaded that she was not very much in love, and that she “declined to be dictated to” during court-

ship.

A queer sale is advertised to take place ltd Quebec on Thursday next. Two old people handed over their property to their children on condition that so long as they lived the children should board, lodge and care for them. The children failed in business, and the farm ia to be sold, subject to the charges in the deed of donation. Whoever buys the farm must pledge themselves to care for Jhe old people as would their children. Gen. John C. Fremont, against whom an action was brought by the L'nitqd States to recover the sum of $3,000 alleged to have Uen overpaid him, has put in an answer denying'that any illegal or improper overpayment has been made to him. and making a counter claim of $'>,000 for services in purchasing arms in Europe and for the management of military affairs in Missouri early in the war. Judge “Jere.” Black’s portrait: “He is large-framed and vigorous, though spare rather than fleshy, and bis iron-gray wig surmounts very* deceptively hi* high, square head. He has a slightly sloping forehead, bursting ‘perceptive*,' and small, shrewd blue eyes arched over with white and foxy brows; and his face is close shaven. His square lower jaw gives a truthful impression of strong combative force.” Half of a house wa# cut off in Napa, Cal., and moved away. The family that continued to reside in the remainder temporarily stretched muslin across the open space. That evening a ctowd gathered to see the shadow pantomine that the inmates unconsciously made for the public amusement. The supper table was close to the curtain, so that the movements of the eat ers were seen In groteaoue silhouette on the cloth. Then the husband kissed his wife, and that sight made the spectators laugh so loud that the show was instantly broken up.

8KNATOK GORDON. HI* Military Kxp«r1e»<-«s Durteg the War. iCbatUacogs comsjKXKtHM* aartanaM Cummercui.) ■ . T When the war broke out Gordon waa living not far from this place, engaged in mining operations. He waa an original secessionist, and was the first men within a radius of 30 mile* of Chattanooga t® raise a company 6f soldiers.] He first raised a company qf cavalry, hot that waa * declined, whereupon lie' immediately raised a company of infantrv ,called the “Raccoon roughs,” the men being from the vicinity of Raccoon mountain. Thi* company wa* attached to the Sixth Alabama regiment, of which Gordon soon after became colonel. At Seven Pine* hi* regiment wa* pretty well used up—more than two-third* <>( the , men were killed and wounded, and all the regimental officer* except Gordon were killed outright. His horse was killed under him, and his clothing was pierced by three bullet*. Of the 600 men whom he took into the battle, only 204 came out, and of one eompanv of 46, hot 10 survived. Thi* gave bim, for a time, the command of a brigade. At Malvern hill he led a desperate charge at the head of hi* brigade, and lost about one-half his command id killed and wounded. The butt of hi* pistol wa* carried away by a ball, the breast of his coat torn open by another, and his canteen shot through by a third. Then it began to be said in the army that Gordon bore a , charmed life; that no bullet: could kill him. ] At Sharpsburg his old regiment wa* sgain nearly annihilated, 'iwocompanie* were reduced to six men, and not an officer remaining. Early in the 1 battle two bullets passed through Gordonls right leg, but he would not leave the field* An hour later another ball went through his left arm, making a desperate wourid. While attempting to bind up this wound, another ' ball went through his shoulder, the butt of the ball remaining in the wound. Pale, haggard, and hi* uniform crimpon with blood, yet he would not leave ;the field. 1 He thought all his men were to be killed, and'he preferred to share their f«te. In a few moments a fifth ball struck him. id

mains so conspicuous upon hi* fade. Besides these five, balls which had gone through his face, leg and arm, two had cut his elothes, one passing through his c*p, the other through ’ his pocket, indenting the steel clasp of his puree, while it spent ball struck him in the breast, making a se-

vere bruise.

In the history of the civil war there are few more conspicuous exam plea of ‘rgrit” than this. The truth is, Gordon is ai very brave man, without being a bully. Northern papers which allude to him'as a “braggart,” on account of his “difficulty” with Conkling, do the man injustice. ; He does not belong to the over-bearing, browbeating, blatant, pistol-carrying, whiskydrinking, card-playing class' which is rather conspicuous in the south, and hasgijrcn the whole section ill-favor, but he is a Christian gentleman, who ' does not sVrpar or drink, or go among his fellow-men with a knife in his boot-leg or a pistol strapped to hhofipinal column. Those who knt>W the rtfan-will not misit*him. v After these five desperate wounds at Sharpsburg, he was removed to Winchester, where be lay a long time swinging between life and death, with the chances largely.fn favor of death. But he recoyerod, and was out in time to command a brigade of Georgians at the battle of Fredericksburg, and to take part in the Pennsylvania campaign, and at the battle of

Gettysburg, where, hi

dshed bin

guished himself.

e esjsjcially distinSoon after this he

WM

made a major general, and took part in all (lie Virginia battle* until the surrender of Lee, when there remained of hi* division! but two thousand men.

,

German University Statistic*. , The Goman University annual slate* that there are 21 universale* in the em-1 pire, with 20,229 students, of whom 2,500 do not attend any lectures. Of the 17,720 others, more than a third , follow the lectures on philosophy, which comprise the sciences as well as those on philosophy strictly so called. The'faculty which has the smallest number of students is that of theology.' the lectures on which are attended by only 2,223. The Berlin university is the most frequented, having 4,597 students, of whom nearly half, however, do not attend any lectures. Leipsic, upon the other hand, has more than 3,000 students in regular i attendance. The Strasburg university is eleventh on the list, with 700 students, and Rostock is last, with only 114. The number of professors paid by the German empire is 1,300, ami that of the private tutors 1,050. The German universities receive about £500,000 a year from the imperial budget, but this sum was largely exceeded in 1875, when Strasburg alone was allotted nearly £200,000. The other German universities situated beyond the confines of tha empire are Basle (Switzerland), Dorpat (Russia), Vienna, Innsbruck, Prague and Gzeroowitz (Austria), so that altogether there are 28 of them in Europe. [

The China Mania. , I New York letteiil

New York is wholly gifen up to the destroyer. I should not like to say how

many thousands of doll^fi I suppose have been spent on china in this city during the last ten days. It would be a considera-

ble help to Uncle Bam if it could be applied to the interest on his debt*. The market ha* been overflooded with all sorts of Japanese and Chinese wares, so that in some localities'goods are really sold at less than cost. But the fashionable store* charge all they choose and get it. Impossible plates and awful saucers, things on which a dab of paint is a flower ami two dabs are a bird, things without usefulness or beauty ; these things, which are odd but not artistn:, and not pretty—over all these society is saving and throwing up its hands in delight. “Oh, mamma, just tfiink, this is only $>0, and this i* only $751’ This is $he sort of talk One hears ip the china shop*. The most remarkable feature of the affair is that there seem to be more men than women among the china lunatic*. The men are fairly incorrigible, spend all their money and talk on no otiier

subject.

I.ook at the Figures. , (New Orleans Time*.] Mr. W. E. Chandler thinks the people of Booth Carolina are very wrong to prefer the Hampton government to the Chamberlain government. Perhaps one reason may be found in the following figures; State expenses in 1S72-. ...$1,020,070 State expense* In 1S78„ l,OM,s8T Slate expenses In J#77„ 232.S2V

Antique Krrors, In this enlightened age and land, only with the prejudiced and ignorxsti It b ioapoaoiUe, lor instance, to persuade any large portion at a people who hare imbibed their idea* of logi* in common school* and Ire* academia*, that it U expedient to cram their *yatero» with mareury, reap their bowel* with oolyeiuth and jalap, or

drugs hare been heretofore the reach of everyone.. Obi •re rapidly giving ground before the advance of Una conquering spedlc, and old fashioned ideal In regard to depWion a* a mean* at care, have been quite exploded by Urn *uece*» ot the greet reaovant, which tone* the ayvtem, tranquilize* the nervee, Induce* found repose, neutral, bee malaria, depurate* and enriches the Wood, rouse* the liver whan dormant, and promote* a ref. War habit ot body, <ra ot