Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1885 — “Opening of the Mississippi.” [ARTICLE]

“Opening of the Mississippi.”

laporte Herald-Chronicle. To say that General Packard’s lecture last night was interesting would but faintly express the truth. It was thrillingly interesting. For nearly two and a half hoars be told the attention of his audience as ih imagination they marched’or sailed with him through gome of the most important scenes of the war, now crossing a river or fdrding a bayou, assaulting some impregnable fortress, or falling wounded on soma bloody battle field. The geographical and historical portions of the lecture were among its most important features. &any who heard the General last night will never have effaced from their mind the memories of Forts Henry and Donaldson, Shiloh and Vicksburg. The lecturer seemed to omit no necessary detail. He made plain that which had hitherto been obscure. He gave credit where it was due, but had no words Of harsh censure even for those who smote his comrades to tbe dust. On the contrary his tribute to the persistency and gallantry of the Confederate soldier was one of the most eloquent portions of last night’s effort. Tbe lecturer told more than book or paper would have dobe, because, as the soldiers say, “ho was there.” In speaking of the “Opening of the Mississippi,” the General could exclaim,

“Part of which I wa-s. Aiul all of which I saw:*. He gave Grant the credit due him as the greatest military genius of the age. The maps use<j by General Packard greatly facilitated his explanation of the various movements of the army and navy. The lecture was studded with gems of thought and abounded with eloquent expressions. A good-sized audience was present. The Generates entitled to the gratitude of Patton Post for his liberality in delivering bis lecture free of charge. Card playing is a popular amusement in .Rensselaer; and for our part, we think a properly conducted game of cards, played for amusement only, is a very innocent and agreeable pastime. As to what constitutes a well conducted game, we propose to make a few observations: In the first place, play with as mpeh vivacity and interest as you please, but don’t, by any means, allow yourself to childishly exull it you wiu the game, nor to get mad and sulk or scold, and find fault with your partner, if you lose. _____ Don’t be ungenerous to your opponents, and too ready to take advantage of every little mistake they may happen to make; and especially if one of your opponents is a poor player, do not be too captious in denying his partner the privilege of making an occasional kindly suggestion as to h ow the game should be played.. PLAY A SQUARE GAME. Above all things, play a square game. Don’t exchange meaning glances or signs with your partner; don’t “neg”; don’t “stack” the cards; and don’t steal cards. Play the game or honor, and trust only to your own skill and the “luck of the game” to win. It is the height of bad manners to cheat at cards. In the most truly refined circles, if a person were to be detected at cheating, his associates would at once set him down as vulgar and under-bred.