Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 3, Number 24, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 14 December 1872 — Page 1

Vol.

3.—No. 24.

THE MAIL.

Office, 3 South 5th Street.

Town-Talk.

UBS. J0HH SMITH

Will please accept tbe compliment* of T. T. who begs to assure her that she baa made him supremely bsppy. Mr. Smith oould not have been happier on tbe fatal—no, not fatal, what a blonder! —tbe eventful day when tbe gentle

"yea" rewarded hia Ion* wooing and sealed bis happy fate. Blessed man! Bat more blessed is T. T. A week of each blisses this last has been to T. T. lew morula eyer knew, and continued to live. Socb an escape! It was in this wise. T. T. in "bis dotage" bad began to lament bis single life. Now don't think T. T. didn't get married in his younger days because he couldn't get a mate. Tbe real reason was His high appreciation of the female sex. They were angels, and what could angela want of such a worm as T. T. Birds, beautiful birds, breakfast on worraa, but angels are not like blrda. T. T. could not think of taking one of these to bla humble lot and coarse fare, Bat of late, as second childhood approacbod, and "dotage" came on, T. T.

baa often been lonely, very lonely. He was seriously meditating advances to one of these fnir creatures. It Is but a little while that be baa to stay here, and he thought that perchance one of these angels would find pleasure in making happy even such a poor worm a» T. T. But Mra. Smith has been pleased to tell a little of what sbo knows about women. T. T. bad a mother once,-and has sisters and very few lady friends now, and what Mrs. Smith says of women Is not true of tbem. But they are ezoeptlons. They must be, for Mrs. Smith knows women. 8be is a woman herself probably. She says they are as doceitful as the—dickens, and as false aa—hair. Just bear ber talk

Woman like* to be agreeable to man. It Is natural she should. She In taught, from the cradle to make that a great oqject. On the approval of men or of one man depend her future happiness and protection. 80 *he taught. To please. she must not displease. She finds herself In conversation with a gentleman who expresses himself as strongly opposed to Woman Hurt rage. Immediately the thought flashes through her mind, "If I my I am In favor of It,.he will think me nnwomanly, and I shall fell In his enUteia." Therefore she says sweetly, ••So am I. 1 think she has all the rights she needs." Bhe reoelves her reward. He tells he. that her "head Is level." Beautiful compliment and well deserved! She Is gratified. He cannot think her "strong minded." It does not occur to her that IT •be la not strong minded, silt must be the reverie, 1. e. weak minded, or what of It, If It did? Ht approved her. If T. T. or any other man doaots what I say, let him pretend to bis lady acquaintances that he Is In favor ol Woman's Rights, and see If'he doesn't find that they all agree with him. In further proof that what 1 say Is true yon will observe that nearly all the earnest advocates of the movement are among the married women, whose tete belag decided, are not afraid of offending, some man by approving what be disapproves and thereby losing their ohances of matrimony."

Will Mrs. Smith please accept the thanks of T. T. for removing the hallucination under which be has lived. Though late in life, even in hia "dotage," It is soon enough to save him from innumerable woes. It is painful to see the halo depart from womankind. Bat how tnaah worse, how terrible to have learned It by marriage!— to marry an angel aud find it only a little lying doceitful bussey! Thanks, many, many thanks, Mrs. Smith. You have the sweet satisfaction of knowing that you haye rendered the last days of am old man very happy. O that Mr. Smith would allow an old man, whose sands of life are almost run out, to kiss tbe hand of his deliverer, or, If not the hand, then the pen that wrote of woman la such simple truthfulness. Alas, this nay not be. But, Mra. Smith, T. T. acknowledges hlmaclf 1 vanquished. Ho agrees with you that woman ought to vote. It will not hurt ber to go to the polls or ran for office.

It may de her good.s v». Blessings never journey alone, bat like young men and maidens, there is always at least a pair of them, often like birds, thpre is a flock. The blessing conferred by Mrs. Smith has been mated by tbs

nriumwo or

thk

"*1*0.'*

T. T. did not intvnd to writ* of tbs "King** for two reasons. One reason was that tbe Journal said he would, and the other was that he bad no pen that could stand the pressure of expressing his feelings. When T. T. went into his present business he was compelled to borrow some eight or ten thousand dollars, and eome to pay ten per cent. Interest, and then be taxed to help balld a court bouse for half a million, T. T. saw no way bat to borrow eight or ten thousand more to pay his interest and taxes, and It pawled him worse than the woman suffrage business, to see where his profits were coming from. It was easy enough to see where tbsy ware going to—the court houss of coarse. Bat there were two members of tbe Board of Commissioners who bad a little seoss of decency left, and when ones they were clear of the direct presence and inflames of the other member, who had none, and dont pretend to have any, they did a deed which touched "a few of ttte higher wr innniTTiirr-fl" 1 1 ir*"!*"1"*IHlffll'""

rr'h'"'r'

chorda and better sentiments of the people."—[Vrydagh.] And now tbe cry goes np from leading Commissioner, Architect snd his sssistants, and tbe Contractor, "Oh in this dilemma, for some good-hearted man to show us a plan totalise a $100,000." [Vrydagh.] And as each wends his way to tbe place of his daily toil, the Commissioner to bis office, the Architect to bis upper room, tbe Carpenter to his shop, they say, "For the present I don't wish anybody to come to my office and discuss it, it is not the time," [Vrydagh.] And now the bappy taxpayers are saying, "My impression is that the cost will be considerably less than generally supposed." [Vrydagh.] "So mote it be," [Not Vrydagb, nor Snapp, possibly not Blake.] /t is said that tbe leading Commissioner declares his purpose to "hold out Ull doom's day." It is most desirable that he should do so, for earlier repentance might, though T. T. hardly thinks it possible to save him from the scorching after that day which he highly deserves. T. T. suggests that a public meeting be held to express the feelings of the people, and saggets that the following resolutions be sdopted.

Resolved,That tbe Ring is dead. Resolved, That tbe tbanks of tbe taxpayers of Vigo County, present and prospective, be hereby tendered to Messrs. Weeks and Balding for the very efficient manner in which they didn't do what they intended to do. (T. T. suggests that a good way to get popular is to make people think you are going to do a mean thing and then not do it. It makes .people so happy to escape danger.)

JReaoited.That the leading metnber of tbe Board is hereby tendered tbe heartiest condemnation and execration of his townsmen and acquaintances so long as be shall continue among us.

Resolved, That tho gratitude of this entire community is due to tbe Contractor and Architect, (better put the "Major General" [Vrydagh] first,) for not building tbe court house, and that in testimony of our gratitude, we adivse them, In order to Increase the confidence of the public in their honesty and bring to themselves a larger share of of patronage, to sue the county for damages.

Resolved. That there Is not a doubt in this entire county that the sale and

Surcbase

of tbe bonds of tho E. fe C. R.

was just as honorable and free from all suspicion of dishonesty as was the letting of tbe contract to build tbe court txouse, and that both the seller and tho purchaser are equally entitled to the respect and gratitude of their fellow citizens.

Husks and Nubbins.

XXII. MUSIC.

Now that we have had the Kellogg concert and Patti and Mario haye been with us, a short disquisition on music may not be out of plaoe. I do not mean to say anything technical or profound, partly because my gentle readers might not like It, and wholly because I am incapable of offending tbem In that way, even If I were rude enough to do so. So then, gentle ones, don't ber frightened but listen to my simple tale. J,- i"

Miss Kellogg and Patti were very delightful, weren't they They have voices of wonderftil range and rare delicacy .IfThelr notes are pure as those of a bird—all clear, liquid tone. They have marvelous vocsl powers traly, you ooald sing too, If yoa had such a voioe, oouldn't yon Well, I'm not sure whether you could or not. I think it Is "oonsldersbly mixed," ss the vulgate would say. Great singers have something mors than great voloes —they have great souls. Mario's singing would be likeasoundlng brass, and Paul's, like a tinkling dymbal, If It were not for tbe soul behind tbe voice. It is tbe spirit, the burden of meauing which trembles in their tones that makes the tears come to our eyes. If it were nothing but tbe empty voice gliding apand down, and winding and trilling about In its inconceivable complexity and celerity of movement, we might be surprised bat not gratified. There would be possibility but not product we ahoald feel like patting the bird's eyes out that it might haye some calamity to mourn, and mourning, sing. It Is with singing aa with oratory and acting then must be pathos—feeling.

It Is the lack of musical spirit more than the lack of musical execution, which makes our ordinary drawingroom performances so tasteless and insipid. It is Oliver Wendell Holmes, I believe, who, In describing the piano playing ofa young lady, says that she made a jump at tbe keys as if her hands were a couple of tigers coming down on a flock of sheep and tbe piano gave a great bowl, as If its tail had been trod on. Then all was silent. Then another howl, worse than the first, ss If tbe piano had two tails and both had been trod on. Then a clatter and scramble and string of jumps up snd down, like a stampedeof rats and mice. Doubtless Oliver never beard this yoang lady plsy again, and good enough for him. But after all is there not a grain of truth In the oaricatare?

Tbe most exalted idea many persons have of music Is to sing or play tbe notes before them with perfect correct

ness and dae respect to the marks which the author has pat for their gaidsnce. I beg tosay that this is a very low idea of the "divine art." Such performances may be perfectly faultless bat they are thoroughly unenjoyable. Yoa have fieard persons talk sometimes, easily, charmingly it would be, if it were not so utterly cold and mechanical. If only there were just a little particle of sympathy in their yoices you would never weary of listening t» them. As it Is you feel as if you were in the presence of a machine that oould talk, rather than of a human being. It is just so with music. There must be more than a pliant voice or sapple fljjgers tho spirit of music must be behind these, or it is but a hand-organ that is before you.

Apiece of music is like a play it is only the skeleton and you must clothe it with the imagination. Of those who study it one person may get one idea and another,another,and both be equally right, and neither, just what tbe writer intended. But so they be real and sympathetic tbey are good. When Clara Louise Kellogg sings "Coming Through the Rye," she sings her conception of it. Nilsson would not sing it just the same, nor Patti like either of them. But it would be h»rd to tell which were best, if indeed there could be any degrees where all were of the highest possible excellence.

If those who teach children music would teach them mors of its spirit and less of its letter, the enjoyment which our elegant pianos could give would be greatly enlarged. But it is doubtful whether the teachers have anything to do with it. Perhaps musicians are born. I recollect in the life of Mozart that a young came to him on a certain occasion and esired to be taught how to compose music. "You are too young," was tho great master's reply. "Oh, but you composed when you were younger than I!" "Yes, but nobody taugM me," said Mozart. And here is the secret of music as of everything else —the untutored Genius going out of its own volition, unaided, unguided, towards the object of its passion. Mozart might have taught tbe lad the art of wrltlng down notes, but how to get the notes would have been the question. The musical idea comes by birth not by instruction. And tbe notes and marks which the composer makes are only the signs of his idea, dead and meaningless la themselves, but the letters which are to spell his thought. It is his thought you must sing or play, not his signs.

I have often thought that if the spirits of great composers ever wander about on earth at ten o'clock of June eveings their feelings must suffer terrible laoeration from tbe sounds which float out from many an open lattice, on the soft night air. The pianos are howling then as if their thousand tails were under tbe heel of some vast giant who was balancing himself on that particular foot. Poor ghosts! If they could come in and take possession of the stool for a few mlnntes and sooth the outraged beast beneath tbe magic of their toucb, bow he woald moan and cry and breathe out music whioh would enchain his cruel mistress In astonishment and make her timid of ever touching him again! But the ghosts of the departed oome not and the beast bowls on In his metallic, mechanical pain.

COXPLIXSCTS TO T. T.

In last week's Mall Town Talk tried to get some corn off oar nabbins but could find nothing but cob. Tbst was a pity either for T. T. or ns. Bat it should be remembered that no corn grows without some cob, and we did not promise sll corn when we began, but some busk and cob withal. T. T. protests against the cob. He might reflect that it is essy enough got rid of— just throw it sside as worthless. Bat this did not suit T. T. He wanted to show how bad a thing cob is. Well, let as see whetber we can defend our cobs any.

T. T. "has an idea that it is not well for a fellow to set np ths^religious opinions of the people sst ark to sling ink at them 'jost foij it,' or to try one's skill." We are f- .ty T. T. has it In his heart to be so uncharitable. No one that read oar article on the Bible more fully misconceived our motive. We go ss far as T. T. or any man dare, in oar reverence for tbe religious or other opinions of oar fellows. We woald not ridicale the opinions of any one on any subject, no matter how absurd tiiey might seem to us. Oome what may we stand up for the right of every one to hold and express his opinion on any subject, so long as be does so respectfully snd decently. And it waa In aooordance with this view that we spoks, snd spoke with what soberness and seriousness we possessed. It was r» served for T. to discover that we were actuated by a deaire "for tan." We trust no others of tbe readers of the Mall were so penetrating as T. T. In this respect. We see not, however, why we have not aright to express oar opiniona of the Bible—tbe opinions of »ocn« others, too, besides us—aa well ss T. T., or any one else, his. "T. T. believes In liberty for himself sad ditto

TERRE-HAUTE, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 14,1872 Price Five Cents.

for all other people." We do not ssk any greater ostholicism than that if T. T. would only live up to his belief. "T. T. believes thst when any opinion stands in the way of what Is right, and the interests or ths oommunitv it should be attacked no master how much it harts people's feelings. Bat because T.T. dont like eats snd don't think there is sny sense in liking them tbst is not a gooa reason for shooting oats at pleasure. Let the children ana "ye ancient maids" bsve their cats and enjoy them, they may be of some use."

There is sach a thing as loying the troth for its own sake. It was Galilleo we belieye, or some one else—no matter—who declared a long wfiile ago that the world turned on its axis snd that the son did not go round it. Now T. T. will hardly assert that the contrary opinion which prevailed "stood in the way of what was right, or tbe interests of the community." And yet Galilleo oouldn't help telling people what he believed and doubtless T. T. admires the oandor and bravery of the old astronomer as much as anybody. Yet according to T. T. we should be believing in tbe snti-Copsr-nican theory of the solar system today for what positive harm would come of it Oar business is to know whether the Bible is true or not, if we can find out not to believe it merely because our fathers did and because there is no positive harm in believing it. There is positive harm in believing anything that is not true, the Bible itself not excepted. We were in search of truth when we wrote not bent oh making fun of the best atod worthiest people in tbe world. So much for T. T's ungenerous theory of our motives. If he had left the theory off and begun with his argument we would have spared these tour pages bat we cannot consent to be placed in so false a light.

Now to T. T's. argument. He denies that the writers of the Bible could have been good men' if they claimed to be inspired from Heaven and were not. Let us see how this is. A good man is be who does what he believes is right. It may in reality be wrong but if tbe man truely and sincerely believes it is right, then he is just as good a man as if it were right. It is the motive after all which is to be takeu into account. Tbe woman who throws her babe into tbe Ganges because she believes that her god reqnires tbe sacrifice may deserve more praise for tbe great sin than her enlighted sisters in America for carrying clothes to the poor yet the one act is essentislly good and the other esentially evil. Therefore we maintain that the authors of the Bfble might have been good men, although claiming inspiration to aid their work when tbey knew they were not insplrsd.

T. T's. illustration about the murdered man is ingenious, bat it is not apposite. For the arguments in support of tbe divine origin of the Bible are not cumulative and inter-dependent as those establishing the guilt of a murderer are. In the latter case one evidence is bat tbe parent or tbe oatgrowth of snother evidence snd a complete chain of proof can be made of tbe separate links. But it is not so in tbe other case. The acceptance of the Bible, for instances, by ths various races of men is in no way related to ita inspiration. It might haye been received all the ssms If It had not been inspired or rejected sltbough inspired. Let us take another illustration. Here ia a book, say Buddha's book, for exsmple, which is good it is sablime in its composition truthful in its statements pure in its teachings. A book of divine origin might be expected to possess these qualities thererore this is of divins origin. Yet not necessarily so for as long as there Is nothing which Buddbs msy not have written,yoashsll not require us to go beyond Buddbs.

T. T. disposes of oar miracle argument too summarily. There is no reason why we should not believe that Columbus discovered America, or that Christ was crucified on Calvary, because both these events were in accordance with natural laws but when men tell us that on a certain occasion water wss turned Into wine, or on snother occasion thst loaves enough for only a dossn people we insufficient to feed thousands, we begin to Inquire whether there may not haye been some deception, some mistake aboat tbe matter. To pat it plain: if some one woald eome and tell T.T. that hia "old plag" had an attack of the eplsootie he would believe it because such a thing woald be probable bat If his iaformant should Ml him thst the horse hsd Mia he bsd episootic, T. T. woald beg to mske some allowance for that story, beoause it woald be extremely improbable.

In regard to tbe biblical theory of the creation, some of our best scientific minds can not reconcile It with the facts tbey find. Hugh Millar, it is true, expands tbs first chapter of Genesis until it covers all the geological ages and pats a formation for each day, bat there are some who feel that the explanation is a somewhat fanciful one and that it is rather tbe extreme uncertainty and elasticity of tbe Mosaic account, than Ita deOnlteness, which sanctions the theory.

And now beford we does we will say

what perhaps we should have said at the beginning, that we did not in our former article try to prove that the Bible Is not of divine origin, but to inqaire whether it were satisfactorily proved that it is. That there ia some difference between these two things T. T. will doubtless admit. Unwarrantedly be tries to put us on the former ground.

People and Things,.

Redhefler Bros, do business in Kansas City. Stanley is a fraud on tbe rostrum, as well ss elsewhere.

Joaquin Miller, "the poet' of tbe Sierras," is a native of Plainfied, Hendricks county. -v

A St. Louis tnsn gave his horse sev-enty-nine infallible prescriptions in one day furnished by tbe friends of his owner, notwithstanding which he ungratefully died. -y

Tl\p New York Herald says that the inauguration ball at Washington next Msrch will have an entirely new feature in the preeenoe of the elite of colored society in Washington.

Rev. Robertson, of Louisville, who has been doing so msny naughty things has now gono into tbe Insurance business. There is no stopping a man when be once starts down bill.

A warning to literary men against over-work is afforded in the remarkable statement of Mr. Greeley to Rev. Mr. Talmage, ten days bofore bis nomination at Cincinnati, "that be bad not had a sound sleep in fifteen ye'ars."

The New York World states that justifiable homicide is now held to include "the esse of every man who kills any other man on account of any woman, and of every woman who kills any man on any account whatever."

Writing of Henry Wilson, Vice President elect, Colonel Boynton says "He is an exceedingly plain manwithout wife or daughter to do the honors of bis home, and being also a poor man, neyer having learned 'the ways that are dark, and tricks that are vain,' by which money flows into the coffers of poor Congressmen, he has steadily maintained a style of living in consonance with his pecuniary condition. Whether he will materially change this when assuming his new role remains to be seen."

Auother warning to business men against overtaxing their systems comes in the death by apoplexy of Samuel N. Pike, known all over tbe country as the builder ot Pike's Opera House in Cincinnati, and the Erie palace or Grand Opera House in New York. At ten o'clock on lsst Saturday morning he was perfectly well, at six in the evening he was cold in death. He waa an untiring worker, and carried an immense load of responsibility snd care, and his system gave way before the pressure ss suddenly as a dam falls before the rush of mighty waters. 1

Feminitcms.

Parepa-Ross is singing to Turks snd infidels in Egypt. Kste Fisher hss let np on Mazeppa. Her old plug has epizootic.

The Philsdslphla Daughters of Temperance have 918,000 In tbe treasury. Nilsson hss determined to mske snother tour throagh the United States.

Miss Tennle C. Claflin is out of the Colonelcy of her New York Regiment. Mrs. Bloomer, the original femsle dress reformer, lives at Council Blufb, Iowa.

Tbe lsdies of Belfast are said to be the prettiest and best dressed in Ireland.

Mrs. A. Whipple, of Portland, Wis consin, died from paring ber oorns too closely., 1

Tbe sweetest girl in Frankfort, Ky., is tbe one wbo fell Into a barrel of newmade sorghum.

Ladies well endowed ss to shoulders and arms wear costumes ss near like Undine's as they dare—which ia blushingly near.

Josie Mansfield lost all her money, $37,000, by tbe fkilure tf Bowles Brothen, and In the excess of her grief needlessly declared that she had been ruined.

Mrs. Grant, of Oregon, wife of Mr. Jack Grant, a representative in tbe Oregon Legislature, shot and trapped three hundred and fifty-sight squirrels last year.

That beautiful young lady wbo enters a saloon, "revolver in hand, kicks over a table, draws a bead on tbe bartender, and leads her father out by tbe ear," has opened oat at Galena, where Grant also began hia career.

A negro woman in Padacah haa been declared Insane because "she never eesssa talking." If this thing is allow' ed to go on we shall have to baild a dozen more asylums instead of tbe single one proposed.—[Lou. Cour. Joor.

In tbe new style of hair dressing tho chignon is abolished, the front separated from tbe back hair on a line with the ears and braided or frizzed, while the back hair is combed high and constructed into a tower, leaving the back of the neck and head entirely exposed.

A young lady was recently married in a Worcester county town who declared that "one-half the pleasuro of the event was destroyed by seoing her name printed in the local paper, Mehetabel Smith." Sne had been used to the prettier diminutive of Hetty, and could not see why it was not good enough for a marriage notice.

The Waahington correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette says: "Mrs. Elliot, the wife of the colored member from South Carolina, was made to feel that the gallery sot apart for members' wives was not capacious enough to bold a colored member's wife last winter, and she did not repeat the experiment. When questioned by un indignant white member's wife in regard to the intrusien, the Doorkeeper answered that his instructions were to admit members' families, and no exceptions were made on acoount of color. The noses of the favored while race, in spite of political equality, Involuntarily elevate when coming in social contact with this people, and the attempt, if made, to ininglo in such a manner will present many novel aud interost--Ing scenes."

Connubialities,

He kissed me, and I knew' 'twa"* wrong. For lie was neither kllli nor klu I if Need one do penace very long,

For such a tiny little sin

He pressed ray hand thai wasn't right: Why will men have tuich wicked ways? It wasn't for a minute—quite—

But in it there were dnys and days. There's mischief in the moon, I know, I'm positive I saw her wink When requested hhn to go

I meant it, too—1 almost think.' 1.

But, after all, I'm not to blame i1' He took the kiss 1 do think men Are quite without a sense of shame,

I wonder when he'll como again!

A brilliant daughter makes a brittle wife. Wisconsin has a mariiitgo instfraneo company.

A Danbury girl has married a poet, and carrios'her own coal. It takes throe days and nights to get a Chinaman properly married.

Why are old bachelors like cows Because they're 'oman-ating animals Very short wedding trips are irt fasbion Just now, and very short engagementa.

Rev. C. B. Fisher, of Hartford, Conn',' has married thirteen hundred snd two couples* Can be be ssved

The first exclamation of an American belle en entering tbe Cathedral of Milan, was, "Oh what a oburch to get married In."

Church weddings have lately come to be such occssions for vulgar display that our best people have dropped tbem altogether, and get married at home.

The married ladles of Hannibal, Missouri, have formed a "Come Home, Husband Club." It is about four feet ». loos, and has a brash on tbe end.—[Cin, Commercial.

An old man's sdyice to a young man is, don't love two girl's at once. Love is a good thing, but it is like batter in warm weather—it won't do to have too much on hand at onoe.

Trains on some of the Missouri railroads run so slow that a woman with, ber back elevated to tbe proper altitude can ovortake one on foot if it contains her husband and another woman.

Variety weddings" bave been introduced into Rhode Island. Thoy take tbe place of wooden, tin or crystal, a weddinga, tbe happy couple receiving a variety of presents instead of having them all of one material.

j, 4

At Ripon, Wisconsin, tbe other day, a man was sued for bis wife's coffin, three month's after her decease, and thought it waa a shame to have the sabject mentioned so soon. Besides, it t' was unpiesssnt also because be was in p' tbe midst of snother honeymoon.

Mr. Joseph Sbaw contributes tbis etiriosity of literature through" the columns of tbe West Point (Georgia, News "Eloped—My wife Mrs. Emma Shaw, all of whose wants I bavo supplied except the want of young, man, and I forbid any one trusting ber on my aoooant.''

Tbe longest matrimonial engagement „. on record is that of a couple wbo were married at East Lyne, Mass., or Thanksgiving day. They were botrothed in 1817, and bad been drawing oat the sweetness of the engagement season ever since. Fifty-five years of billng and cooing, of blissful antic!pation and all tbe joys and delights of tin wedded love is more than is often vouchsafed to mortals. Tbe ardent ,1Sj pair mast be now declined into the valeof years, and are likely to bave a slender portion of married life aftet tbis intolerable doil of courting.