Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1877 — Page 8

Ingersoll On Ghosts.

Rcb«t Ingertolßi wllgiou. .r irreligious utterance■ havs excited pad will eootinq* to excite » great /deal of attention, aawell they may. fie shoots in a marvelontly bewitching li'ght the absurdities of the radons religious beliefs, and gives.bis auditors alternate doses pf history and humor, the former iuSt enough exaggerated to be novel and the Utter just broad enough to be palatable. He adds to this boldness, dash, and eloquence, which will make his leoture very popular, and wo may expect to seo weak imitators springing up on every hand. He is likely to be in great demand fcy free religious societies and like organisations, and it is sate to say that he will entertain them most thoroughly. A liule examination, however, will show it ia not the matter, but the manner, ot Mr. Ingersoll which is original. Like others who have preceded him, he kicks away the faulty, and perhaps unsafe and decaying, platform on whioh poor hu inanity is huddled, and precipitates us into a fathomless abyss beneath. It Is pretty easy to work at this basinets. No edifice was ever reared that an accomplished architect could not demonstrate it to be unsuitable for a purpose. No palace was ever constructed tbatoould not be dismantled. The work of experts and the labor of the most renowned artisans oan be destroyed by a body of louts who could not fashion onp qf its humblest pilasters. 4. fool could lire the Kphofian dome. Nevertheless, it is hardly wise to destroy even the shabbiest shelter until something more substantial ia reared to take its plkee. Mr. Ingersoll bas a religion of reason; but, alas, what does this mean? Reason ia comparative, and, measured by the altitude of perfect intelligence, the sagacity of the wisest ana the dullest among us is so alike diminutive and pitifully base that it is a meanness to jcontit the difference. The world has struggled hard heretofore oyer the questions that distraot the *‘Rev. Bob.’’ Reasonera have proclaimed the discovery of a’ ylctorious analysis. We have ijad “endless vortices of froth logic, where words and things have been 'whirled and sw allowed.” We have

had theorizing about Man, the 34i 'i4 of Man, Fhilosopby of Gov* crpment, Progress of the Species, fid infiniUttn. Incoherences aliave been detected, laughed at,despised; and yet nQf.hiug is more certain than this-, “that all theories, be they never so earnest and painfully elaborated, are, and by the very conditions of them must be, incomplete, questionable, aud even false. It is useless to attempt to swaliow the universe. A man may be thankful if, by planting down here and there a fixed pillar ;n the chaos, he can prevent it frqm swallowing film.” Mr. Inger&oll does nqt attempt to peiietrate the mists of superstition, and beyond the false discover and discribe the true. He rests after the first is accomplished, pthers have gone farther. It was away back in 1703 that a new Religion was proclaimed to France. Strange aight that! Formulas and creeds were strangled. Kidipuloos things they were, which reason could not tolerate. lustead there came, we are told, the “Demoiselle Candeille, of the opera; a woman fair to look upon when well gauged; she, borne nu a palanquin shouldered high, with red woolen night-cap, a?mre auntie, garlanded with oak, holding in her hand the Pike of Jnptter— Peuple —sailed into ihe Rational. Convention, heralded by women iu white, gin with the tricolor.” This was the new* divinity, the Goddess of Reason, worthy alone of reverence. She is given the fraternal ki>m by the grave members of the convention, and then her yule i? consecrated on the high alter of Jyotre Dame. Then comes the priests, forsaking their ancient faith far lire uew belief or unbelief. Firstcdtpe's the humble curate and lava down his stipend. Then follows ‘‘Goose’* Go be I, constituted pishoo of Paris, who has been “preaching a lie,” but who declares that hereafter he will IteliglW bat Liberty.” t Bui the hears go on, and these meu yispoyer that their religion of reason is uniati-fsotofy. Its reign lias been marked by horror, persecutions, bloodshed, eclipsing even j.he terfibl'd cruelties that Mr. Inger»oll enumerates in the history of the church of God, jfinally there comes a decree, Inure ajbqrd and impious, if possi>le, thatubeone which preceded it, n new gospel. Gath,lK.;sm has been U rbt put; reasonworship nas been gullotmed, and jtow the coesentiou decrees' tfip fliistHice ot‘ a Supreme Being mid the liui}io£laUty of ihe Soul. Atheism, , *}>|re«erited by a pasteboard figure steepM th turpoutine, is fired, amid ihe tKjkderipg plaudits of the pop. mid Uie Religion ni Kea.

the round of the oirelo is made, aud France uornea back to tfie religions point from whence she departed a year or two before. And, after all, what better system or belief have w« obtained than tne old faith, which, with all its faults, its absurdities, and even abominations, still brings peace and tranquility to many and a flattering hope to all? Even Mr. Ingersoll hiraseft, after a vain and wearisome effort to fathom the unfathomable, after digging away at the sophistries of Christianity, and battering the walls of the church, may find at last that he is only half a magician, evoking specters that he has no power to quell, and ao settle at last, if not into the devout believer, at least Into the charitable, tolerant, and hopeful philesof»her, who, knowing nothing, beieves in the possibility of everything.—■ Chicago Inter-Ocean.

Mrs. Hayes as a Reformer.

Whatever mistakes the President may make, Mrs. Hayes undoubtedly deserves the thanks of every true woman for the stand which she has taken against extravagance in dress. She has carried to the White House the s&me quiet dignity aud ladylike simplicity for which, according to all accounts, she was distinguished at home, and her dress on public occasions, while invariably handsome and becoming the wife of the President, has also been invariably unostentatious. At the inauguration she wore merely rich black silk with real laces, and no jewels save the broach at her throat. At the state dinner given by President and Mrs. Grant to Mr. and Mrs. Hayes her dress was a cameo-tinted silk, high in the neck and trimmed with fringe and lace. She wore no jewels, and her thin, brown hair was brushed plainly over her brow and fastened at the back with a tortoise-shell comb. Mrs. Grant was the only lady in low dress, since the other ladies present wore high corsage in defereuee to Mrs. Hayes’ taste, of which Mrs. Grant, it seems, was ignorant At even 'her first reception as mistress of the White House, her toilet was remarkable for its simple elegance rather than for brilliancy or cost, while the dress of her daughter marked her as the child of a sensible and wealthy mother, instead of a premature woman of fashion or oyer-dressed doll. Thus early was the example set. —Philadelphia Times.

In the Starke countycircuit court last week, Judge H. A. Gillett presiding, the case against Wm. Chapman, his three sons, and Marion Horner and Vaukirk, in which they were charged with the murder of Lemuel Collins in 1868, waß nolle prossed by prosecuting attorney Youche.. tphe defendants in this case are pretty hard customers, and consequently, say* a dispatch, the trial offered a splendid opportunity for fellow roughs to congregate at Knox, wliich they did, and proceeded to make day and night hideous by their drunken carousals. Followiug the murder trial were some cases in winch a number of bad citizens iu the uor}hern part of the county were charged with stealing limber off land owned by non-resi-dents. These oases were all worked up by Prank Howe, the detective, but knowing there could be no conviction without his evidence, the roughs concluded to put him beyond reach of the court. Orders that he should leave town, and that immediately, were conveyed to him in terms more positive than elegant, accompanied by a first-class display of ancient navies, bowies, shot-guns, etc., which were held in an unpleasant proximity to his person. He went into the court-room, followed by a hundred or ntoreof the roughs, aud demanded protection of the eourt, but was answered by the Judge that in the absence of any overt act he could do nothing. Howe did uot deem it safe to start out on foot, neither possessed he a dollar with which to hire a conveyance, but every moment he lingered the fury of the motley crowd was multiplied. A number of attorneys sympathizing with him contributed... sufficient to hire a teamster to place him beyond danger, and while the highest court in the county was in session Howe was driven out of town, flanked and followed by those infuriated raacals, who were tiring guns and revolvers, beating drums, hallooing and swearing, and making a scene seldom if ever witnessed in a civilized community.— Crown Point Register.

Mrs. MoMoy, at the close of the meeting Monday evening, gave notice that an effort would be made to raise four hundred dollars to furniah the room of the Reform Club. Among its attractions are to be a reading-room, a billiard-table, a Smoking-room, games, and other elevating and refining associations. This on the theory that young men must liaye some place to go of an evening—young men jfho have no homes and rpight gq JO a worse place.—£©*44 Jjtmd jisgUler* ■ ... • • . ‘_4' Get your job printing done at Tub Usios office. t, f

1877. SFRJQVO. 1877. ... 1 V. " - •**" -■ »' ’ nil _ - Read Wholesome Truths DRY GOODS AND CLOTHING. FINE JEWELRY, BOOTS, SHOES, HATS, CAPS. — ; * • STAPLE AND FANCY GROCERIES, PROVISIONS, FLOOR, &C. » si se ——— CHEAPER THAN EVER. GOOD NEWS. Again would I announce to the public of Jasper and neighboring counties that the Brown Stone Store at Rensselaer is a sure place to get bargains in the tinp. of Dress Goods, Clothing, Boots, Shoes, Hats, Caps and miscellaneous articles of Dry Goods. I have just completed the purchase of the best-selected and ■ » MOST STOCH ever displayed in the town. Besides the articles enumerated above, special attention is called to my Furnishing Goods for Ladies and Gentlemen, Groceries, Flour and other Provisions, all of which were carefully and judiciously selected with particular reference to the wants of my customers. They were bought with cash and large discounts obtained, the advantages of which I shall, as has been my custom heretofore, divide with my patrons. Thankful for great favors I have hitherto been the recipient of from the trading public, and anticipating a continuation of a liberal share of their patronage, it will he my study to merit this confidence by square dealing and low prices. Only Strictly Q-oocLs lESlept and prices will always be found at a point below any successful competition. Call and examine my goods and compare my prices before concluding purchases elsewhere. No extra charge is ever made for showing goods.

Calicoes, Muslins and Domestic Ms, A complete assortment always on hand of the very best articles to be found in the market, which will be marked down to the very lowest figures cousisteut with a fair and reasonable profit on the money that is actually invested. LADIES’ LfNEN SUITS. Xja<Jies’ Dress Groods. A stock unexcelled iu quality of fabrics by any in the state, *md unequalled in quantity, variety, or cheapness, by any in the county, consisting of Silks, Alpacas, Lustres, Cashmeres, Delains, Reps, Poplins, Lawns, Linens and many other fabrios of latest designs and most beautiful patterns. They cannot fail to please young or old. LADIES’ AND CHILDREN’S HATS. FINE NEAT JEWELRY. For ladies and gentlemen. Ladies’ sets in, Ear rings, Breastpins, Cuff Buttons and Finger-rings, solid and plated, all good and warranted as represented. Gents’ fine Breastpins, Shawlpins, Shirt Studs, Collar Buttons, Sleeve Buttons, Watch Chains and Charms, Watches, and a general assortment of that class of goods. " l_ NECKWEAR The latest styles of Ties, Collars, Scarfs, for ladies and gentlemen, very nice and very cheap. SHAWLS IN VABIETY.

MJaJejt tlxe Stcaa.® Is the place, pud the pnly place, where you receive one hundred gents in A Np. 1 floods for your dollar iu money. jA+m sjijPs^POLDf

SHOES IN ENDLESS VARIETY. Including Gaiters, Balmorals, Cloth, Beaver, Enameled, Goat, Kid, Pebble Grain, Oil Pebble, Button and Side-lace, fine Sewed Calf, all 80,1*8 and styles for children, and many new patterns for ladies and misses. SILK AND LINEN HANDKERCHIEFS FOR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. Boots. The Champion Stock I keep as a specialty the unrivaled Penitentiary 800 l The best article of the class manufactured in the United States. The most popular and best selling boots wherever introduced. Boots of every size, quality and price, for men youths and shil* dren. Fine Calf and Morocco Boots, both Sewed and Pegged, Call and examine my stock, and I guarantee satisfaction both ia quality and prices. • !TP! LL.' 1 ■ f"™'!?. '■gSSggggJj—f Gents’ and Toiilhs’ Furoisliing Boob Consisting of White and Fancy Shirts in every style, Drawers, Hose, Collars, Neckties, <fcc., cheaper than offered by any other house in the town or county. COBSETS XZET TOWIT. iZATS AND CAPS. An immense stock of fine aqd common grades of Hats »»d Caps for- wen and boys. All of the latest fashionable patterns. Call and get one and look we|l. GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS, A select- stock of Staple snd Fanoy Groceries, Canned and Shelf Goods, Provisions, <fcc. Best brands of Floqr always eg hand; also Salt by the barrel. CHARLES PLATTJem