Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1877 — PERSONAL AND LITERARY. [ARTICLE]

PERSONAL AND LITERARY.

“Extra Billy” Smith, Virginia’s war Governor, and a celebrated ante-war politician, is now a member of the Virginia. Legislature. Although seventy-six years of age, he is as robust in general health and vigorous in mind as he was twenty years ago. —The old maxim “ Cleanliness is next to godliness ’’ was not put into its present compact form by John Wesley, nor by the Apostle Paul, as a member of the British Parliament lately stated, but iB found in one of the old Rabbinical books, and is therefore of Hebrew origin. —The prevailing rage for baby-jewelry is deplorable in some of its phases, and justly excites the indignation of the censors of the press. Objection is taken in particular to the dressing of little Julia Grant Sartoris, at a late White-House reception, with a necklace, bracelets and a solitaire diamond ring. It is said that more baby-jewelry was sold during the late holiday season than ever before. The fondness for personal adornment grows soon enough in the female child, and need not be gratified by arraying in jewels the innocent little creatures that have not yet learned to express their desires. —Chicago Tribune. —An officer of the Senate tells this story about Senator Goldthwaite, of Alabama;; Senator Goldthwaite has long been afflicted with absent-mindedness. He has great difficulty in keeping track of his wearing apparel, constantly losing his coat or his hat. He also has the habit of taking other people’s coats by mistake, particular if they happen to hang near his own peg. One day a Senator missed his coat, which had about $3,500 in money in it. The disappearance was attended by such singular circumstances that detectives were quietly put upon the trail. Four days afterward two detectives called at Senator Goldthwaitc’s bouse, and asked him if he liad his own coat. After searching his closet for a time he returned, bringing the lost coat, and saying, “ This does not look quite like my coat.” The lost money was found safe in the pocket. —The Indianapolis Journal relates the experience as the Hon. John C. Now, while in charge of the United States Treasury, with Ferd. b. Winslow. Mr. New was aware that Winslow had formerly been President of the Scandinavian National Bank, of Chicago, and that the bank had failed under suspicious circumstances. He therefore determined to Eiace bit. Winslow where ho could do no arm, and accordingly assigned him to duty in the files-room, where his employment was merelv to indorse and file pa Ers, and where he was farYeinoved from »opportunity or the temptation to steal. In a few days Mr. Winslow came to Mr. New and said: “ Mr. New, 1 cannot work

where you have placed me. I am fitted for something bettor. 1 have been a bank officer, and my proper place is in the caith-room.” Mr. New’s reply was short and to the point: “ Very well, sua that settles the matter between you and me. If you can’t work where I have put you, yon can’t work in this office.” The exbank officer was accordingly transferred to another bureau of the department, and Mr. New saw no more of him. Subsequent events show that, as soon as practicable after Mr. New had resigned the office of Treasurer, Winslow procured himself to be transferred back to the cashroom, where, in due time, he pocketed a 912,000 package of money