Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1868 — Correspondence. [ARTICLE]

Correspondence.

CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE. W»itlr* AilMlatlan for (ha Promo•Um «f •octal •cianae—Thi'Karaeta !■« »•» aata-Va<«a4Mwale -VtiaTrl*«mpb— A 11 u«« JBaiU,Tba '-Little Carpoval/’ . v '-i Chicago, Nov 16. 1866.—Th0 prominout feature* of the put week here have been the cessions of delegatee from all! parte of thli country to discus* social probldns which have .reaulUulin the wgaiiieati'in of a Westeiu Ito-' eial.l Hcirnco Association. The American Association for tho promotion of Social Bci-. epee was organized in Boston Oft. 1865, with the late Gov. John A. Andrews an President. But the whole country was too large a hold for ita operations, and heuco the organization of a Society for the Western Slaton. The mooting was attended by many eminent persons The object of the Aeaociatjon is to" <Uh?um the facte pf social Ufa, and ascOttafn the laws which should govern society. It is a scientific, and nor a political or reformatory Association. Papers wore i<ad, and' brief discussions had on such topics ns compulsory education, instruction ot deaf mutes, female reformations,licentiousness, divorces, divorce of inebriated, municipal or intermediate prisons,woman's place and work in society, lodging houses for womou, Sopulaliou— its law of increase, what shall lie ene with the insane ot the west, Ac., Ao.— It will bo scon that a groat variety of subjects of vital interest to the race 'were discussed. The moetinga lasted three days and were well attended. The Association a* Boston has led to improved treatment of inmates of many public charitable institutions, and it is hoped that the Western Association will be productive of great good. A peculiar feature of the meetings,was,thattwpxuen participated in the proceedings, a Mrs. Dall, of Boston,tiding one of the delegates from the parent so- ! eioty. |. TUESonoHIS,

.a weekly paper of 16 pages, in quarto form, ' ptilflished oy Mrs. M. L. Walker <t Co., has i I reached its seventh number. It is printed | very neatly on clear white paper, and its oxI cellent topography is a fair index tit thechari actor of its contents. Its editress, Mrs. 51. . L. Walker, deeply impressed with tho needs of women, is deVoted to tho work of helping them by' then! howto help themselves. SRc xvotild not only multiply the opportunities <if self-help, blit she would have women qualify themselves thoroughly for tho avocations they wish to pursue, so that they can iffiike the most of tie ir opportunity s. She has less to say of Wo eei n’s i ignis than of her duties, anil woultl I seek to make her happier by making herbet- | tier. Tho paper is conducted in un admirable 'spirit, is tuo. organ of no cliqu® or association, and while it is courteous and unobtrusive, it is decided in its tone, and gives no uncertain sound on tfiwstlons-TnyoiyiwgTiUTr- - qyT>f"Tieamrii<nife. ft is edited with more than ordinary ability, is persuasive and not dogmatic in argument, and desires to iri'n rattier than/on-T its nay to public llbtlcfi and favor. With the experience which this new field will give her, Mrs. Walker will make un accomplished editress. Tho paper began with a circulation of three thousand. It appeals to tho best feelings of our nature and s#eks the noblest pads, and ought to have ten th .usand subscribers among the women of the west. AMUSEMENTS. i The sensation of tho week in the wav of . amusements, is to bo Edwin Booth's ropre- ! dentations of Shakspearo’s groat characters, : at McVicker’s theatre. Olc Bull, too, is to de- , light old friends and now with such a “concord of sweet sounds” as none but ho can produce by a scientific friction of horsehair and catgut. - - : _i— Balatka, ono of tire pieueors and leaders of music culture in the West, begins a scries of symphony concerts at Library Hall, next Friday evening. If they meet ’ the public expectations they will prove very attractive. ' And speaking of music reminds me that I i have not yet alluded in these letters to a I matter of no small importance to the lovers I of j VOCAL MUSIC, i for say what wo will.no instrument has yet been devised by man which equals.in sweetness. . ami in power over The soul,"the Tiumau voice. Which is simpte saying that the skill of man does not equal that of the Divine Architect. But tiro voice - needs scientific culture, and the great masters of music have attained i fljeir superiority only by long study and ’ piWiec. There jjave been great improve- | .men IbJti the church singing, both as well as in the methods of teaching vocal music within my remembrance. Till quite recently, however, the West has been dependent on the East for its supply of musicaj works. But this is no lunger the case. It was reserved for Chicago to make the prophecy of Bishop Berkley apply to music, as weii as" trade and politics. “Westward the star of Empire takes its way.” For the most complete singing book over published for singing schools, church choirs, musical conventions, teachers and pupils, is The tbiumfh, edited by Geo. F. Root,, author of “The Curicuhim”—the best instruction book terr tho piano, aud published by Root & Cady. Its unparalleled success proves its superior excellence. Nothing like it has been known since thojmbUcation of jjnolu Tomis Cabin, lu threeTnot’us It liftsreached 42,000 copies, 10,000 of which have been sold in New England, and B,OCO in Boston alone, the mi s eal, as well us literary, “hub” of tho Union. The book contains 490 pages, is a complete compendium of musical instruction from tho simplest elements to the highest forms ot musical expression, and, for -simplicity, and perspicuity of arrangement, thoroughness, and a perfect adaptation to the object of a singing book, viz: to load tho pupil by a natural and progressive method through a thorough course of musical instructional has no rival. It is well named “The Thiumph,” and its success is a marvel, even in this wonder-citv of the West- The ppbTikEersJTvTroHo Haines are “familiar as household words" to the people of the West, have laid tho .mupic-loviug public of the whole country under fresh obligations by this new contribution. All kinds of music, aud of musical instruments, from a piano to a jews harp, can be fo.und at their store, G 9 Washington street. A HUGE BALL. One of the curiosities in Chicago is a huge cannon ball weighing 1,275 tbs, belonging to the big gun at Fortress Monroe, the largest over used in thia country, if notiu-the world. It is easy to imagine "that the sides of any vessel, either of wood or iron, would present a weak barrier to such a ball H]s?d with the explosive force of nearly half a bairel of powder. As those visiting Chicago may wish to see this souvenir of the late war, I w’ill tell them where to find it. It lies on the sidewalk next to the Chicago postoflice, in front of the office of

THE “I.ITTLE COKPOBAI.,” which— an its name iuilieatcn—in the Napoleon of of juvenile papers, having in three years reached a larger circulation than itriv juvenile magazine in the world. It is purely original, and its able corps of writers have given it so high a literary and moral character, and made it so attractive that it is everywhere eagerly sought for. Though enlarged and greatly improved, it is still kept at/the old preo of one dollar a year. T|jo publisher Alfred L. Sewell, will send'the November and December numbers free to all who will subscribe for 1861) during those months, and sample copies for ten cents and free to all who will try to raise a club. Large premiums are given for clubs. For beanty, excellence and cheapness, it is the King of Juvenile Magazines, and should be in every American household. The West may well be proud of it and of its unparalleled Success. I have seen the proof sheets of somobeautifiil sheet music, to be issued next wtfttk by Messrs. Molter & Wurlitzer, entitled “Ultssus Waltzes,” dedicated to Gen. Grant, which will soon be found on every piano in the country. The title page is lithograph, with a fine portrait of Gen. Grant,audit is sent free oLpostago on the receipt of sevontvfivc cents. PBEACBIFG. A number of leading clergymen hire preached against popular amusements yesterday, condemning them for their evil tendency. Trade has not resumed its usual activity in the wholesale department, thougn the retail trade, is quite brisk. B.

Decomposing Hods. —Every farmer, gardener, and fruit-grower should gather soda whenever opportunity will permit,and pile them up in some corner or out-of-the-way place to decompose. " Sods are the cream bf the soil, and wonderfully supplied with fertilizing properties, making one of the very best invigorators for trees, vines, and plants. They may be easily obtained' from fence corners of tilled fields, or gntheredrfrom the surface after ploying and harrowing sward land. Pile them up grass downward, and cover the heap with a coat of ashes to keep grass from growing. A year or two will be requited for them tb thoroughly decay. Water should he applied at intervals, sufficient to keep the pile moist Tn a dry time, to prevent a dry, moldy rot —Ohio Fanner. I —The authorities at Madrid have.ordfired the deposit of the most valnabltr chnrch plate and jewelry in the Bank of Spain.