Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 3, Number 26, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 28 December 1872 — Page 1

Vol. 3.—No. 26.

THE MAIL

Office, 3 South 5th Street.

1, Town-Talk.

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FBESEN78

Have furnished the staple of Town Talk this week. Till Wednesday morning the question discussed (let no careless or malicious printer leave oft the first syllable of that word) was, what to give? Wednesday at daylight or a little before, the disease turnedno not the disease but the talk—and the question uppermost was "What did you got?" This question bad occupied a large place in the mind while the other was discussed (be careful about that word) but it did not come out in talk till Wednesday. It wouldn't.bave been proper earlier, and society must be proper. T. T. Is too modest to speak of his own genorosity, but he tried to do bis duty, as the other boarders and their children will testify. He solected whistles and trumpets for the boys and accordeons for tbo girls. T. T. received various articles among which were live pairs of beautifully wrought sllppors, which, at four dollars per pair, it will cost only twenty dollais to get made up. T. T. thinks it possible that it inay be more economical to send them to his slstor to help her out next Christmas. It will savo him twenty dollars and savo her a "heap o' work." Thore are two sides to this present bus-

V.

iness.

Livery beautiful. Thoro is not a time (luring tho ontire yoar when so many happy hearts light up so many cneorfulftnesas at Christinas time. Love keeps the Angers busy in preparation, and secretly plots and intrigues, pries into socret wants that It may supply tbem, and does a thousand things which it is bliss to do. The bliss is oompleto when, papa, or mamma, husband or wife, or friend exclaims "Why that is just what I wanted llow did you happen to thluk of that?" The happiness of Christmas is real and'genuine, becauso it Is happiness found in forgetting self and seeking to make others happy. It is not all of this pure kind, but great deal of it 1s. Then there are tho kindnessos done to tho neglected and tho poor. T. T. has a friend who has the name of giving very fow presents. But when tho grocer's bill comes In lor the month, there are many pounds of sugar, and ten, and many turkeys and other things charged which novor went to his kitchen. Though his winter's supply of coal is laid in during the summer, yet his largest coal bills are contracted during the last weeks of December. In some way a great many poople who did not expoot It, have turkey for dlnn »r on Christmas flour barrels which were nearly empty aro filled, tea caddies and •agar buoketa are replenished and coal bins are surprised at being so well filled. How this all comes about nobody knows but this friend and the merchant, and T. T. This last got into the socret by watching.

In T. T.'s old home, his parents being strict church people, much was made of Christmas, and all were taught the re* llgiouf Import of the day. Every gift was made to t«ll of the great gift of God. All these are on the fair side of this gift-making season. -j.

Hut there is AS TOI,Y WDB. T. T. could not sleep the other night. Next him on the same floor, room a married pair. They evidently board beeause they cannot afford to keep bouse. They area pleasAnt pair, pleasant and polite to all the reel of us, and, strango as it may seeui, pleasant and polite to each other. While T. T. was lying awake, using all his arts to coax sleep to his bed, he heard voice* In the next room. The stove had been taken flown and the hole through which the fplpe p«tMd Into T. T's room on the way to the chimney, was left open, tried not to hear, but the more he led, the more he could not help hearg. The unnatural stillness of the ht, and the unnatural acuteness of tie ear when one trie* to make it doll hearing, combined to let T. T. Into rets. "But my dear,*' said tho man a desponding tone, "1 eannot afford

I am behind on board, and store '«nt is about due. Just at this time ere are a thousand bills to pay. It ma as though I was in debt to every•dy." "Well," said the woman's genvoice, "I am sorry, bat what shall ido All the children tn the bouse cpect something, they and their par* ots will think us mean unless we give something." "Get some Utile iWr* for the children," interrupted man. "But little things are worse an none," was the reply, "Mrs. urse has ton dolls all elegantly dress-

They most bare cost from Are to 1 doilaxs each, and all the rest of the rders are getttug np presents oa the me scale. They might cxcuso our ring nothlcgi though I doubt l^imt

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THE BBAl'TIPt'Ij SII)K

If we were to give little things, cheap things, the children and the boarders would torn up their noses at us. Only the other day Mrs. Lofly said, O, I suppose Mr. and Mrs. (the names of the talking pair) will outstrip us all. I really do not believe wo can get off for less than fifty or a hundred dollars in this house." "Well how about the bill for those outside?" The meek voice began to say, "There are the Browns, they gave me an elegant present last year, and there are the Smiths, every body giyes them and there are cousin Jo's children, and' —just here T.T. gave a tremendous toss that made the whole room shake, and the voices were Judiciously pitched on a lower key. But whisperings were continued till T. T. went to sleep, which was not soon. It is an ugly fact that the number and expenslveness of the presents given overtax many people who have not the good sense or courage to be independent at the mk of being thought mean.

When Madam Fashion takes up a beautiful and simple custom, her first effort is to make it expensive. This fashionable gift making at Christmas, weddings, and anniversaries of weddings is a nuisance which needs abating. Besides being bad in itself, it destroys all the meaning of gifts and reduces them to a level with tho payment of bills, or lower yet.

There has been a great revival in the churches this winter, not of religion cxactly, but of sugar coated pills intended to operate upon die pockets of saints and sinners and get a fow dimes for holy usos. It is all rl^ht probably, though T. T. thinks that there ought to be sufficient strength of principlo to make such things unnecessary. Yet if people ufcod to bo beguiled into doing good by these means, let the churches continue the process. But is not this deciding

POPULARITY 1IY BALLOT

about played out. Who are the most popular clergyman—except tho one who could not be voted for, the most popular Rail-Koadster, the most popular Lawyer, the ~iost popular DryGoodster, the most popular Madame, the most popular unmatched daughter of Eve among us and the most popular Editor are questions duly and most justly settlod.

T. T. suggests that at the next church festival it be dccided who is tho most popular saloon-keeper. These follows havo heaps of money, and spend it freely. If competition were lively they would pay many a nickle into Ibe "Loid's treasury," and it would be all cloar gain for they would never put it in the contribution boxes. Then turn the thing about, and let us know who are the most unpopular men in town. T. T. wants a chanco.

But is it not a little, just a little, annoying to the candidates whose names, aro dragged before tho public? Do the successful candidates enjoy being ceremoniously addressed in this wise, "Allow me the pleasuro of congratulating the most popular, etc.," with a kind of tono which seems to say, "A hugegoak, the best of tho season." And do the defeated candidates eujoy knowing that they are not so popular aa their friends thought who brought them out. "O ye wljw as serpents," get money for holy uses by Festivals, Bazars, Kitchens If you must, and vote too if you will, but hereafter use the ballot as a penalty for meanness. Vote for the stingiest man, the greatest scold, the biggest flirt, etc. They deaorve to be votod for.

Husks and Nubbins.

XXIV.

nKFLKCTIOSS.

The old year drawB.to a close. Anno Domini 1873, and anno mundl—who shall say what thousandth or millionth? —will soon be gathered Into the garner of the Past. We do not wish to be sentimental, aa that word goes, nor to try to say some fine things for the occasion which we do not feel In our heart yet to us the death of the old year, the birth of the new, la a time which concentratea our thoughts into a burning focus and memories of the years come home like a flock of birds to their roost.

It Is something to rise up on the last day of December and reflect that it la the last morning wo shall rise in this one great cycle of the son. One cannot help counting how many inch cyclea he has numberfid and ooqjeoturing how many may yet remain to him in the ordinary course of events. Whether be be twenty-five or fifty this New Year of 187$, he moat pause and think. And how much to think of! As his eyes suddenly open to the first light of the year stealing tn tMfoogh his frosted window-pane, he feels a sense of utter hopelessness suddenly ran like an electric current through his veins. For a moment all pride, all ambition, all en* erxy of purpose relax into a woful lassitude and he Is weaker than a child. There to something in the brevity and emptiness of life which comes to his heart like a sharp knife and In the momentary angalah that follow* he ex­

claims: "Throat it in—thrust it through! Whv delay the fatal stab for a moment, wh *n It must and will come soon!" Havfl you not felt this pain reader? Have you never tasted the gaul in this cup?—There is the past which has ^n lived, which is gone, what of it '.Vhat a little, infinitesimal point in tl.-j desert of Time! How quick it sped by—only a moment. In an instant your mind can swoop down" over it all, and at a glance take in its little history of suffering and achievement. What is that history? Suffering enough there has been, truty, but how much of achievement? At a certain period in your life, on a certain bright, spring morning, when the voice ol birds floated to your ear and the air was a tonic of hope and strength, you vowed to do something great and noble. You counted up the years ahead, putting so many for this and so many for that, and settiug mile posts along the way for your guidance. Surely, inevitably you would rise, step by step, so much for each year, for each lustrum, for each decade, until you should stand on the very topmost round of your ladder of fame, recognized as a victor. Look back ten, twenty years. How has the journey correspondeded with your map?—IIow does your station tally with the rounds of your ladder? Ah, how little we have done whon we have done our best! How insignificant are the achievements of the oest years of the best of us! Only one thing is sure, only one thing does not disappoint us tho years go by as we counted they would, tho lustrums multiply behind us and we grow old In this indeed we are not deceived. The silver gathers in our hair, the wrinkles on our faces we are not what we were.

Yet, the spell passes. The demon— whisper in our ear dies and the vital forces of joy and hope pulse through our veins awakening better thoughts. It is not so little after all, the thing we have done. The past of our lives is lull or deep trial, strong endurance and noble effort. We have accomplished something. Not so much, perhaps, as wo had set out to accomplish, and yet in a certain sense, more. Wo did not rightly estimate tho cost of our structure. We thought how beautiful it would bo when done, rather than how much toil it would take to do it. Per chance we have not built as we intended remodeled our plans time and again taken off a pinnacle here and a tower there lowered it a story, two stories changed our material from stone to brick, from brick to wood reduced tho amplitude of the rooms, omitted costly ornamentation perchance we havo quite a different house indeed from the fancy sketch the young artist, Imagination, drew and showed so vauntingly to his friends. But what of it? This house we have builded Is vory precious to us. Many tears, much toil and weary struggle have been builded into it. It has cost us the price of a palaco and more than some palaces have c*st. We have aright to be proud of it, to transform its homeliness into beauty, its modestly into magniflconce. It Is the work rather than the result., after all for the reault is not alwaya apparent In Its full scope.

As we look out on the first morning of the new year, we need not be hopeleas and discouraged. We have not lived altogether in vain we have not been utterly worthless. What trials we have borne, what labors performed, these it is which give significance to our lives. Well may It be that we might havo done more and been more patient and this Is for the ftiture to mend. So then, Into the new year let us go with better hope, with stronger determination. Let us enlarge, improve and beautify the structure we have built. Let us hang new pictures on the walls and add to itacomtort and convonlenoe. What use to rebel against the inevitable? The sun rises and sets and the years go by. Time reckons not whether we be happy or miserable, base or good. That is with us to choose. We, not Time, are concerned about this. But It la of vatft concern to us—whether we murmur and complain and be unsatisfied, or whether patient, hopeful and happy. Let ns know that our lives are what we make them that our own hearts are the purse of Fortunate*, containing alwaya its ten piece* of gold. Who would not blot out all the days of wretchedness from his life? And aa he looks back over the pa**» how many wretched days does he discover which might as well have been happy onast Alas, that weahooldso often take the won* when the better to as close to our hand! Surely we need make bnt one resolution for 1873, to be better and happier than we wore in 1873. If only this one be mads and kept aright what a good year this nsw one will be!

A low-sick chap in Dutath tried to commit bar! kari on his beloved's doorstep last week, but only succeeded In destroying the most prominent portion of a pair of $7 pants, sad was forced to ask his girl's mother to do a little sewing for him, so that hs could appear upon the street again.

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TERRE-HATJTE, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 28, 1872. Price Five Cents.

People and Things.

Lawrence Barrett bids high for Forrest's old sandals. The Chicago Postess calls E. A Pollard a relict of the rebellion. Widow who?

There ire 1,376,999,990, fellows in this world, besides yoursalf, scrambling for bread and butter.

General John A. Dix and Thurlow Weed draw pensions as poldicrs of 1811, the latter as a fifer." J* 4\

Dr. Dio Lewis says six months of hard work would cure the worst case of chronic dyspepsia.

The latest definition of a gentleman is "a man who can put on a clean collar without being conspicuous."

A Kansas States prison convict has invented two churns and a steam road wagon since his incarceration.

Agassiz can get along one meal per day, and feel well. Eating is a mere nahii. and very expensive.

It is said that the house of William G. Far.40, at Buffalo, of express fame, is the finest in the State, if not in America.

A man advertises for a competent person to undertake the sale of a new medicine, and adds that "it will pro^e highly lucrative to tho undertaker."

Railroad engineers are not always fractional at dq4fh. An engineer of thirty years standing in New Jersey died the other day in possession of all his limbs.

The pastor of a Baptist Church, at Olathe, Kansas, is chief cook at the principal hotel as well. He can also give a fancy shave and ask if you don't want a shampoo.

The Presidential Electors of New Hampshire, at their recent meeting at Concord, were "astonished to find that not one of their number was a user of liquor or tobacco in any form."

A French surgeon inserts watch crystals into the skulls of a pack of dogs for observation of their brain works. They have the advantage of some people who have no skylight in their brains.

The Fairbanks, scale manufactursrs, borrowed 98 to make their first scale, and are now worth $3,000,000. A great many scaly Individuals have made this experiment, but have still to borrow the five that is to make their fortune.

Among tho prominent persons who have died during the year just closing, are Anderson, Bennett, Bernadotte, Drayton, Fanny Fern, Farragut, Forrest, Greeley, Lever, Mazzini, Meade, Morse, Persigny, Seward, and Archbishop Spalding.

The Memphis Appeal tells of an Irishman who got laughed at for making faces over some persimmons, and who retorted thus: "Ye may grin, ye mutton-headed idiots! but lean lather the sowl out iv the man that spilt vinegar over them plums."

Harrington, aNew York rough, killed his girl last week, and will probably go to State prison. How stupid these fellows are. If be bad only let her out aa a servant-girl in aNew York hotel, he could have had her burned to death and become an objeotof sympathy himseir.

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Mark Twain has acquired a sensible Idea with regard to duelling. He saya: If a man were to challenge me now —now that I can fully appreciate the iniquity of that practice—I would go to that man, and take him by the hand, and lead him to a quiet, retired room— and kill him."

The New York Central Railroad Company has raised the salaries of its conductors 9200 and f300 a year. Even with thia increase, the amonnt paid to wonderfully small considering the ability required for the position and the amount of trust necessarily reposed in the man who fills it.

Two young men of Marshal county, Tenn., three years ago murdered a man who was eloping with their sister. He lived long enongh to be married, and the wife resolved to hang her brothers for the murder. After long search, they have just been captured in Texas, and brought back to Lewiabnrg jail.

The nan who slips on a piece of ies and falls gracefully, and gets np without nalng one cuss word, oould li^s in Um boose with two mothers-in-law, thrss eats with kittens, and a young man who to struggling to master the acoordeon, and never get angry the slightest bit. We have never met him, however, and don't think we ahall in a hurry.

When Mrs. Stanton was delivering her lecture on the Coming Oiri, in Green Bay, the otbsr night, she told how her father, when they were going over the highlands of Sootland together, had a pair of boots made for her, and how she walked therein jnst aa wslL After the lecture, bronse-faced, foray individual stepped around to the greso room, and patting forth a knotted palm, said: "An'wt'yesbek haan'swi'the maan tbaat wha made the booties for yef** and there he was. Khe did.

Feminitems.:

Mrs. Drake dpes the fancy designing and etching for fine swords and sabres at the Springfield armory.

Detroit has a girl nine years old who tells a lie a minute for a full hour. She also steals and is obstinate.

An elderly gentleman was shocked to learn that every fashionable young lady carries a paper to back her.

In Colorado, when a lady wears diamond jewelry to any extent, she is alluded to by the local gusher as being well "salted."

Three-fourths of the women of Bbston wear false teeth, but the old established system of backbiting to not affected by the innovation.

For gushing voung maidens of thirtyfive and upward, a cunning fringe of hair on the forehead in the poodle-dog style, is the proper thing.

A Western woman has jtisfc discovered that if dishes are washed in very hot water and set upon the edge to drain they will not need wiping.

One style of bonnet is called the "Mansard,". because it takes a groat deal of "man's bard" earnings to pay lor one of 'em.—[Boston Post. ,*

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Mrs. Livermore lectures every night. She is still in Massachusetts, but comes West soon to fullfil a list of engagements, one ol which is in this city.

A Chicago girl, whose clothes were all in flames, was saved without a blister by the promptness with which her cavalier removed her burning garments.

A St. Louis girl frankly confesses that her advocacy of the woman's rights movement is due to an insano desire to wear red-top boots and a pistol pocket.

Miss Cox, formerly a San Francisco belle, who was left with a large fortune by the death of her lover, Is now an inmato of the insano nsylum on Blackwell's island.

The Pbiladelphians are criticising the ladies who wear their four-story hats at places of amusement, and have decidcd that they are not ladies in the true sense of the term.

Junius Henri Browne is ongaged on a series of articles on "Women," to appear in the Galaxy during the coming year, because that is the subject he knows least about.

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A woman in Leavenworth', Kansas, wants $10,000 from the city authorities because her husband was lately confined in the calaboose with a crazy man, who killed him before morning.

The habltnal use of alang by New York's most fashionable ladies affords material for an elaborate article in one of the London weekly journals. The writer professes to be well informed.

Illinois has produced another beautiful blonde clergywoman In the person of the Rev. Miss Jennie Tracy, aged sweet sixteen, who to turning tho hearts ancf heads of sinners in tho town of Elgin.

Two young American ladies recently filed the unprecedented petition to be allowed to sleep in the lighthouse at Leith, Scotland, for one nlgbt, to the abject bewilderment and astonishment of the authorities.

We are deeply imp&ssed by the printed statement of a rapture-smitten correspondent that Madam Lucca's voice "has not flaw or a scratch in it, and is pure, warm, and ethereal as a rosebud in the northern light."

A man at Keokuk has started an office furnished with a pair of blacksmith's bellows for tbe Inflating of rubber bustles, snd tbe Davenport Democrat says that "fashionable ladles go there onoe a day to get blown up."

Brix views with dismay the attempt of tbe Herald to annex Canada to the United States. He say* the Kanuck girls wear no corsets, snd instead of garters, support their hose with suspenders which pass over the shoulders.

To adorn lovely women nearly every animal in creation—excepting, perhaps, the festive pig—has been put under contribution. Tbe latest illustration of this to the importation of "yak lacea." The yak to the "granting ox" of Thibet.

James Parton ssys ho hss known ladles In whom the Instinct of decoration was so strong, thst if they were told they must be hanged In tbe presence of twenty thousand persons, tomorrow, their first thought would be, "Have I a proper hanging dress?"

A number of ladles In Nashville itave signed an agreement to abstain from all outward adornment on Sundays, wearing only the plainest sort of sppareL Ruin Is tho* threatened to tbe millinery business, tbers beingwo place left in which to display the last sweet thing in bonnets.

Black silk costumes have again proved to be the most popular of the season. At various time* ladle* have declared themselves weary of black silk dresses, snd have adopted tbe new tints hot they have invariably returned to black, since nothing else to at on$»t»Q difttingutobed snd so convenient.

Connubialities.

New York fashionable weddings now come off an hour after dinner. Never marry a woman until you know where her dress ends 1 nd her soul begins.

A man who takes to drink because he is crossed in love, always has the sympat by of the women.

Fashionable New York society does' not allow marriage engagements to run?5* longer than three months.

The female students of a Western coTlete arc said to be "holdingtheir own,"^ which means, probably, that none have married and changed their names.

The magnificent Opera House belong- ,, ing to "Brick" Pnrneroy, at La Crosse, Wis., is to be sold on an execution to secure $23,000 alimony for his divorced & wife.

An old man's advice to young men Ip,:4 don't love two «irls at ono». Love is aii good thing, but it is like butter in warm weather—it won't do to have too much on hand at once.

Wedding cards in Denver consists 0% the jack of diamonds and tho queen of hearts, with the cnu.ratMing paries' names thereon if the bride's mm her is living, the ten of clubs is inrlowd.

A man recently broke off a marriage because the lady did not posstss good conversational powers. A wickcrir friend commenting on tho fact says :v "He ought to havo married her, and then refused her anew bonnet to have? developed her power of talk."

Mrs. Priestly accepted a homestead, valued at $1,500, from Herle,the liquorseller at DesMoines, as an equivalent for her drunken husband. This rash., actbrokoup a flourishing tomperancfti society in that village, all the marric% women immediately withdrawing from? it their countenanco and support.

A sad tableau but not an uncommon^ one. A small, wretched-looking house.' Outside a miserable apology for a man,, crazed by drink, assaulting the door, and making the air resound with hi* curses. Inside a pale, thin woman: with a wan expression of features pressing one hand tightly over her hearty and with the other heating a poker in the fire.—[Danbury News.

A Western man, traveling" 6n tho Pennsylvania Central happened to bo seated behind a couple of pretty boaroing school misses, with whom be watt essaying a small flirtation. As th* train passed into a tunnel ho leaned forward and smartly kissed his hani« As the car emerged from tho obscurity he chucklcd to seo the glances of mntual suspicion which passed between the young ladies, each being morally certain that the other had been kissed by a man in tbo dark.

What's the use of losing time when you've made up your mind to do a thing We do hate dillydallying per pie, who stand on tbo brink of an action ass boy does before taking bis first dive. A woman of Central Shaft, (Mass.,) is a woman after our own heart. One day last week she burie«l her buaband, and on tbe way back from the funeral married the departed's nearest friend. She had fallen in lovn with him for the excellent taste be hal exhibited in laying out tbe dead bu«H band. Tbo funeral baked meats were consumed by the wedding psrty.

Tbe following means business. It itr the bubstenceof card—the address being mi ted—that recently appeared in a San Francisco paper. Many people* may object to the course tsken by this' straightforward Hebrew to obtain airworthy husband for his daughter bnt it is a question whether the plan to net one to be commended over tbe stratagems that marrying mammas so ofteiu resort to. This to the notice: "Tbe^ advertiser a gentleman of the Hebrew faith, of tbe most respectable social standing, and in good circumstance? but living somewhat retired snd quiet conscious of the purity of his motives^* and tho high integrity of bis acts, baa* no hesitation in adopting this mode of announcing his desire to have introduced to him some respectable andP honorable man of tbe same faith a» himself to whom he can give bis daughter in marriage. Riches, of courts, acceptable, but any honorable, man with a start in lift will not be objectionable. Tbe advertiser thinks it ss w«U to state that hi* child is—If not a perfect beauty—very good-looking, young, well educated, of domestic habits, sad brought up to walk In the right path. Communications will be received and attended to with all the sacred honor which tbe subject 1* entitled to."

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A Detroit woman called at a poltee* station the ot-har day to see if the polite could make her husband wash his lace and comb his bair, little exercises neglected by him for nearly three months.

Several of the New Y«.:k church authorities have refused to allow their buildings to be us for u-eddings heroafter, unless curds of admission to the' church are issued, thuscompelliug pet-'" pie to propriety uolcns voleiis,

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