Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 3, Number 33, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 15 February 1873 — Page 1

Vol. 3.—No. 33

[Original.]

S.

THE SWEET LONG AGO.

4

1

S

jjy UBS. ADEI.IA ELMER.

(Jail back to yonr heart thoughts of the past, Of days too peaceful and happy to lust,. Once mora from tholr grave let thelo\lug words wild, On the tablet# ot memory an offering laid.

Open the casket where with tbo dust of the years, Are gathered and garnered all the signs and the tears, Call once more the love of the sweet long

Ago,

To glndden onr hearts as we Journey below. Tell the angel of time to pause In Its flight, K'ro It buries our dead forever from sight. l#et me gather my treasures once more to mv heart, And their loving remembrance shall never depart.

Town-Talk.

THE MAYOR.

Tbo \vatcr3 are getting troubled, the political waters, and a good many things which had been quietly lying underneath aro co^.:::g to the surface. Happily for the lu^uro prospects of the city very little mire and dirt has been thrown up yet. The appearance of the names of such men as Geo. Hay ward and J. II. Ilager on the Republican aide, and Ira Delano and Dr. Van Valzali on the Democratic side hb candidates for Mayor is a favorable omen. The city might go farther and fare worse than take to either of these men. Hut why not lay aside partizan politics in municipal affairs and take such a man as Dowllng, and put him into the chair of State—no city, as a people's Mayor? It is true that Mr. Dowling is not a man who has been on the fence in politics. Ho has been, and probably still is a strong partizan, perhaps as Htrong as any man in the city. But be is a public splrltod citizen, and a true friend ot all the interests of the city. Thero is not a doubt, that in the office of Mayor, he would in 110 way let party interests stand in the way of the interests of the city.

As T. T. understands it, affairs are about in this condition. The Republicans profer to drop Thomas, but do not quite dare to do it. lie is a temperance man in practice, that Is be don't drink, and, 011 the other hand, he don't go out of his way to trouble the liquor business, gambling institutions, etc. Whatover may be thought of th(se qualitlcations for office, thoy are strong holds in a candidate. But there are two difficulties in his way. One is the fact that there are In the party nest quite a number of other birds who are awfully hungry, and thdir little mouths aro

held up wide open, nnd they are calling plteously. They may cry so loudly a that the "horny handed Alec." who is

not "horny" hearted, may lot the next morsel drop Into one of their little mouths, or, what Is more probable, the ,, mother bird (isn't that a prettier lignre than "wire pullers," "party managers," etc. may have her heart touched, and drop the morsel into another mouth.

Tho next danger to the present chief magistrate comes from tho fact that a good many active workers in political matters, want a change, and aro brlngving forward 101110 flrs'.-ruto names.

On the Democratic sido the game Is to lie low and wateh the chances. There area number of liery steeds prancing ^for the rnce, but the jockeys (another substitute for "wire workers," etc.) are holding them in nnd by and by, when ihey seo whether the '"highly moral" or nvtho other side, has tho most doubtful votes, thoy will let go accordingly.

T1MPKUANCR

-p, Matters aro getting warm too. The temperance and antl-tempernnee nv '•arc about equally surprised at the vote on tho liquor law in the Legislature. sfTho opponents of the bill are raising funds to defeat it in the Senate. It it comes to buying a victory the liouor dealers havo tho advantage, lor liquor Celling brings in the cash, and temper* anco merely saves whit a man hai».

Ordinary hutmn nature will pay more to protect a business, good or bad, than to secure the triumph ot a principle. But of course T. T. has not the remotest tbhadow ot an idea that this money is raised for the purpose of corrupting the Senate. Such® thing as that would not be tolerated in these honest days,

when investigation, like a mad boll, is cavorting up and down tho land. Still, if the bill fails in the Senate, the names of those voting against it, will be looked over, with an eye to the most probable candidates for investigation. But T. T. finds the temperance men hopeful, and the opponents of the bill just .^a Utile profane now and then. T. T. baa never known a time when there was such an earnest desire manifested in tho saloons to cheek the evils of intemperance. As be drops in here and -.••• there, he hears the general opinion ex"pressed, both by the seller and the buyer, that this law, if it is passed, will increase drinking and drunkenness to an alarming extent. It is really touching to see with what ssd and sorrowful, almost angry, countenances—these men contemplate the dire evils which will

come to the community by the impetus which this law will give to the drinking usages of society. They must be good men, or they could not feel so badly about It. -?1 f,*«.

DcnaariT PAT

To bo accommodating? A good many times it don't seem to pay. But now and then some turn in affairs most unexpectedly proves the contrary. No doubt Mrs. Gould has often felt, as she had too much reason to feel, that nobody appreciated her many kindnesses. But if she could have heard the expressions which have fallen upon the ears of T. T. during the past week, coming from all classes in society, irrespective of political or religious faith, she would know, and so would all the people know, that it does pay to be accommodating. No doubt this benefit will be a success in a business point ot view. T. T. only echoes town talk generally when be predicts one of the largest audiences that ever was in that house. But that which will be more satisfactory than money (T. T. don't affect any light estimation sf greenbacks) is the fact that this entire community, including hundreds whose names Mrs. G. neyer knew, do appreciate not only her musical ability, but more than all, her readiness to accommodate. It does pay, if not iu money, always in esteem, gratitude and affection, to bo ready to lend a helping hand, or vjicc as in this case, to those who ask it.

At the risk of giving free advertising to a ,,, GAMBLING OPERATION T. T. calls attention to the fact that a series of entertainment is in progress here, in the announcements of which it is said, "one hundred presents given away nightly." Hundreds of people will flock to these entertainments, not to see the tricks, but in hopes of getting a prize. Hundreds of tickets will be bought, which will not be used to secure admission to the hall, but to be held as lottery tickets. This is one of the most insidious methods of fostering the gambling spirit.

Children and young men and people of small means will be allured by this means into one of the most dangerous of all vices. And, if we may judge from the past, the presents each night will be put, like the Congressman's stock, where it will do the most good. T. T. has watched the distribution of these presents and seen a poor woman, lor examplo, go off with a little shawl greatly pleasod.and the next night all her neighbors who could scrape together tho price of ticket would come, hoping to get a prize, and go home empty handed. Don't bo fools, and let this man make you think he is going to give you something. Fvery "present" is paid lor ten times over. Why dont the police spot these gambling institutions. There is law against them.

Husks and Nubbins.

XXXI.

A THEORY OF REVIVALS.

Mils is the ''revival" season and only a few squares from where I write a revival has been under headway lorseveral weeks nnd has resulted in quite a largo numbor of "conversions." The phenomena of such religious meetings always attract a good deal of attention, and excitoa good deal of inquiry in the minds of those who witness them, and the demand is made of the unbeliever, on inch occasions, to explxin what he sees in any other way than as being tho manifest and miraculous effect of the grace of God. I propose to offer a theory for the explanation of revival phenomena, which I hope will be received in as charitable and sincere a manner as it is proposed. Please observe that I call It a, not the theory, meaning thereby that it is not indubitably the truth, but only what appears to be the truth to the writer*

I will preface what I wist to say by an extract from an article on "The Human Will," In a late paper. The writer says:

Sinners are said to bo "converted,'" "»orn again," by the "will of God." And what this language implies I myself very well know, having spent the early years of my manhood in "getting up'* revivals—In which the converts were counted by hundreds. And all auch "conversions" are produced, not by the "will of God," bnt by the wellknown "revival Ideas" of hell-fire, and a ••devil and bis an go

Is," which are

preached, prayed, and sung into the minds of uniformed people, until these notions of an "angry Goa" and "salvation by faith" become csystalisedin revival phenomena and mental epidemics.

This statement is comprehensive certainly, but ttcomesas tar from explaining the effect produced on the converts of religious meetings, and which is believed by them to be a change wrought bv the will of God iu their hearts, as do all the explanations of this kind I have ever heard. I, for one, do not hold the idea so generally entertained outside the church and by not a few within, that the whole matter is a "humbug," result of mere animal excitement. So long as the sceptic has no better expla­

nation than this to offer the convert may well challenge him to account for the mysterious change he has felt within his own breast and lament the hardness of heart which can refuse to believe after such evidence is given.

Let ns admit then that there is something true and genuine in these revivals that the persons affcctcd by them are not laboring wholly under delusion that there is a change wrought in their hearts. Given these facts to find a theory that will account for them.

The results are, as I believe, perfectly natural, in accordance with what we know of the human constitution, and explainable by the laws which govern terrestrial phenomena. Let us look at some of the causes which operate during a revival. First and of primary importance is music. We all know something of the powor of music on the human soul how it will make us laugh or cry, according as it is mirthful or sad how nerve our flagging limbs with new strength when we are weary drive away despondency do with us, in a wordj whatever it will. It is not necessary to say that music plays an important part in the revival I have no hesitancy in saying that it would be extremely difficult if not absolutely impossible to get up a revival without the aid of music. Next to music in importance is the sense ot uncertainty which prevails in reference to the future world:—an uncertainty composed of doubt,.dread and mystery. Our friends die and.we know that we must follow them. Where have they gone? To that Heaven or Hell which we have been taught from our earliest infancy are the final abode of all who live? We have doubted it perhaps even disbelieved it. But on what ground? What can the sceptic show Tho believer has his Dible, that old record which has been held sacred for two thousand years, and what has the doubter to oppose to it Then comes in logic and eloquence presenting tho case in its strongest light painting the Heaven of the saint and the Hell of the sinner pleading, expostulating, threatening, condemning. Is it hard to see why men should be moved? Is it not more difficult to understand how any doubter can hold out against these combined influences If this is true I shall be lost if it is not true I shall be no worse for believing it at any rate. Thus the sceptic begins to argue, wayers and at length complies. There is also the influence of example. Every one that goes forward to the seat of prayer has a score of personal acquaintances who watch his movements with interest and are affected by his course. When ho is "convorted" and declares before the assembled multitude what a chango he has experienced and urges his friends to come and join him iu tho new life, it may readily be believed that their hearts are moved by his words. These are some of the influences which operate in producing "conviction," as it is termed, or the convinclngof those outsiJe the church that they are in the wrong.

But I have reached only the middle of the subject. What is to be said of tho •'conversions" which follow conviction? This is what the boliever wants explained and what the sceptic cannot understand. Those people, he says, cannot be deceived my friend there is a sensible person and could not be deluded Into any such ridiculous performances as I have seen him net. What has happened to him ?—Well, sir, I will tell you what I think about it. In the first place we are all slnnors. Anybody that don't believe that is the worst sinner of all. We do many things that wo ought not to do even tho bestof us. But we do some good things too, even the worst of us. When we do a good deed it produces a feeling of satisfaction and happiness within us especially is this tho case when we conquer a strong temptation. But when wo are tempted and yield, wo feel a corresponding mental depression. So great does this self-condemnation become at times that it almost overwhelms us. These are facts of universal experience, common-like to the saint's and the sinner's life.

The persons who are "convicted at revivals and who present themselves as "seekers of religion," are in a state of great mental depression. They have been looking at the exceeding sinfulness of their lives and are. very properly weighed down beneath a sense of guilt. This they want removed. The members of the chnrch talk and pray with them, trying to teach them the one only and sole condition of salvation, vis: faith. They cannot r-adily get the true idea of their teachers bnt at length, alter long floundering in their misery, they comprehend what is meant, believe, and behold the change! They rise up In an esctasy. The awful load has dropped frem them like Christian's pack and they are happier than ever tbey were before. Is it only a delusion Has no change occurred within them It is a mockery to say so. There has indeed been a change they are in truth new men and women.

The only questions are, what

TERRE-HAUTE, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 15, 1873.

it

this change And has it anything of

the supernatural in it? To the latter inquiry, I answer no. It is the throw ing of one's sinful life from him the rising up, by a single, supreme effort, above his weaknesses and trampling his sins beneath his feet the forgiving of himself snd the belief that he is forgiven by the Being to whom he owes all that he is and has. It is this, coupled with a mighty resolve to overcome every temptation in the future, that gives him that lightness of heart whiph he firmly believes is the result of some supernatural agency. Now, after while he will sin again, be miserable again, go through this same process again, only in a milder form, be converted again, and be happy again. And so he will have to do as long as he lives. And so we all have to do, whether believers or unbelievers, Christians or infidels. The rationale of the whole process is simply, faith in tho goodness of God and a more or less constant endeavor to do what is right. This is the whole of it, and with this und.erstanding of revivals they would be better than they are now. Everyone should forsake his sins and "lead a new life the only objection is in his thinking that it requires a special work of grace in his heart to enable him to do so. Let him have have faith in himself and he may rest assured that God will have faith in him. Let him depend upon himself or he will nave no support. With this understanding of his case the "new convert" would not fall from grace so easily as he often does. Ho would look for help only in himself and thereby become strong. When he sinned he would make baste to kick the hateful thing from him and resolve anew to do better in the future. He would not fall into that "Slough of Despond" which terrible Bunyan describes and which has smothered the good life out of many an unfortunate pilgrim. This is my theory of reyivals and conversion which you can take for what it is worth.

People and Things.

A Pittsburgh lawyer becoming impertinent, the court properly kicked him.

Gough has disappointed his audiences so many tfmes this winter that they are now disappointing him.

A San Francisco bride is suing for a divorce on the ground that she was intoxicated when she married.

The mysterious name of the "mon-key-wrench" was taken from the inventor, Mr. Monkey, who still lives in New Jersey.

Mr. Dixon, who served bis day and generation by discovering that oysters could be eaten with impunity, salt and pepper in any month without an in it, has just died at Christfleld, Maryland. -j

Said an eminent person, wliose gift of money-making seamed to his neighbors to quite outstrip his gifts of money, "True, I don't give much but if you only knew how it hurts when I give any, you would not wonder."

Smith fc Wesson concluded a contract on Saturday with the Russian Government for the manufacture of 20,000 pistols, from which we infer that the Russian tailors will soon have a chance to insert bip pockets in their customers' trousers.

A Wisconsin man wrote to a Yale Proiessor asking if there was anything besides powder to blast rocks with. The Yale Professor wrote back that there was. This necessitated another letter and .some profanity from the Wisconsin man as follows.: "Weil, what in h—11 is It?"

We never knew just exactly what was meant by the oft referred to Biblical quotation, that 'it is belter to be a door keeper in the house of the Lord than to dwell in the tents of wickedness,' until we saw it stated in the papers that the sexton ot Beecher's church received a salary of $3,500 per year.

Bloomington, Ills., is afflicted. Sergeant Bates is carrying the American flag through her streets, and Evangelist Hammond is inviting her sinners to come to Jesus. Hammond says if Bates don't heed tbo warning he will never carry the American flag through the streets of the New Jerusalem.

The Chicago Inter-Ooean says: "General Leslie Combs has taken a bath every morning of his life for the last twenty years, and has never worn an overcoat during this time." As a rule, few men, whether generals or qot, do wear overcoats while bathing there is a popular prejudice against it.

The Rev. Hammond did bravely in the West.

Among

other things be converted

one J. R. Angel, a Topeka barkeeper, who now opens his saloon every morning with a little prayer that 'this liquor may be blessed unto his customers' use.' Angel hasn't a harp within his hand just at present, but he's a lyre.

Wm. Davis, an ex-policeman at Moberly, Missouri, has demonstrated to general satisfaction the f*ct that it is hazardous to attempt to enter a determined woman's door ben she is opposed to such entrance. Divis tried Mrs. Patten's door, and a Coroner's jury s*x that she did exactly right, all the circumstances considered.

Feminitems.

The Boston Chief of Police in his annual report makes a lengthy appeal for woman suffrage.

The ladies of the royal family of Russia aro said to be among the most beautiful women in Europe.

A Washington correspondent speaks of a fashionable young lady as "wearing her laces down to her knees."

Tho Wyoming female Justices of the Peace insisto resting their feet on hot bricks and sitting with bonnets on.

Let's quit those paragraphs which credit women with haying given birth to four or five children at a time. The public generally begin to doubt.

A fair damsel of Greenville, Tennessee, presented her beau with a fancifully constructed pen-wiper, which she was astounded to see him wearing as a cravat at churoh on Sunday.

Before election a young lady agreed to kiss the editor of the Volga Valley (Iowa) Times once a month for four years if Grant should be elected. She is keeping her word manfully.

The style of locking a bracelet on tho fair one's arm for the engagement gift has been adopted and some of the New York girls say they will have to quit flirting or get their arms extended.

The good people of Kenduskeag, Me., recently refused to have a meeting to hear a Mrs. M. W. Campbell lecture in favor of woman suffrage, believing the whole thing "free love in disguise."

A woman named Stacey, whose business is performing on a trapeze attached to a balloon, fainted and fell frouo the trapeze at San Francisco last week. Although the fall was fifty feet she is still alive.

An old lady in Springfield, Ohio, who read in the telegraph dispatches that the cholera was ravaging Turkey, went to work and slaughtered her entire flock of seventy turkeys, so as to get the start of "Old Asiatic."

A paper asks if it is really possible that a woman can endure a college course of study. We believe that a woman who could endure the society of the average young man of the period, could endure anything.

Olive Logan Sykes announces ih»i she will quit public life after this winter ii well patronized. We acknowledge that it would bo paying dear for the whistle, Dut if Olive really does mean business, we advise all to go and hear her.

A

lady at Nashua, New Hampshire, hither bonnet against a gasjst, and weut into a lecture room with it on fire. It was of tho mansard-roof style, and burned some time before she discovered it. It never will be a mansard-roof bonnet again.

Wbiletlie Empress Eugenie was in the height of her beauty and position some one addressed her as "the most enviable of mortals." The Empress answered "Oh 1 yes, very happy until one fine morning they will throw us out of the windows into the street 1"

The coming Spring jacket Is of marine blue cloth, double breasted, and with revers and square pockets. It is loqg in the back and fits smoothly over the bustle. Trimmings, silver buttons, and bands of thick-corded black silk, juped on the edge with white Italian cloth.

A Lost Creek township lady put a quantity of eggs, before leaving home on a visit, Under her feather bed to keep them from freezing. When she retired that evening she forgot all about them, but she thought of them the next morning just as soon as she attempted to get out of bed.

A merchant's daughter of Columbus, Ohio, kicked off a young man's hat the other day because he sat down in her parlor with that article of wearing gear upon her bead. She used her foot instesd of her hand, because she happened to be carrying an armful of books, and was too indignant to postpone punishment.

A lady visiting a friend, noticed a book on the table, that had just been laid down. On the back was written: "TheThree Guardsmen, by Dumas— Price, 75 cts." "What are yen reading?" she asked, picking up the book. ••O, yes—The Three Guardsmen," by Dumas Price. I have read some of Price's books, and think tbey are fine."

A Paris correspondent argues thst a married woman on the stage exercises lees magnetism over an audience than a single woman does that the fact that she belongs to another that her brightest glances, sweetest dimples, and most musical tones are for him, unconsciously diminishes her influence and states in illustration that there were offered in Paris what were called Christine Nilsson watches, which had a great sale, but when she took a husband their demand so sensibly diminished that tha proprietor changed their nam?.

Price Five Cents.

Connubialities.

A Western jury recently bronght in a verdict ui "justifiable breach of promise."

The finding of a dainty white glove in tho pocket of a venerable Dubuque gentleman has made some business for thecou&s.

We heard a man say, the other day, that he was pretty sure to have two dishes at every meal—hot tongue and cold shoulder. psus Linguae—Mr. Caudle observes that bee-stung is bad and hornet-stung is worse, but neither is comparable a

Young ladies are threatened with a relapse of sailor collars. In such little affairs do they show their regard for anything that savors of the marrytime.

One of the original Mormon saints, William Clayton by name, has ost his third wife by elopement within a year. If this continues he won't have a wife to his name in 18S0.

In Cambria, Hillsdale county, Michigan, recently, a girl backed out of her marringe engagement at the hour for her nuptials, when her sister jumped up and took her place, and all went just as merrily.

A DAnbury man was explaining to his wife, Sunday morning, how his mother used to cook pan-cakes, when sho interrupted him with the batter pitcher. He is now experimenting with anew kind of salve.

A wise old gentleman, who knew all about it, on retiring from business gave the following sage advice to his son and successor: "Common sense, my son, is valuable in all kinds of business except love making."

A married couple in St. Paul, Minnesota, published a card in the city papers respectfully requesting the parties who have so kindly interested themselves in their porsonal affairs to bring iu thoir bills for advertising.

Joadkins says he first met his wife in a storm, took her to the first party in a storm, popped the question in a storm, married her in a storm, and has lived in a storm ever since, ut thinks the day of the funeral will be a pleasant one.

Iowa is no place for bachelors. Maidens ke love to voung men out there, and invite them to marry 'em, and if they modestly decline, shoot the unloving brutes. ut two-thirds of the confirmed bachelors and half of the widowers might prefer to take the chances with the pistols, it's a mere matter of taste.

Matrimony in San Francisco is in an unsettled state. During last year 237 divorces grant of which fiftyeight wero obtained on application of hnsbands, leaving one hundred and seventy-nine cases where the nuptial knot was untied at the suit of the wives. And yet there are people who think women don't know what they want

The wedding ring is put upon the fourth finger ot the woman's left band, because in the original formulary ol marriage it was placed on the top of the thumb, with the words, "In the namo of the Father," then on the next finger with, "And of the Son," then on the middle finger with "And of tho Holy Ghost," and finally on the fourth, with the '»Amen."

Chicago court has decided that a married woman may not use her own property in commercial operations, but she may become partner with her husband, or any other man. It is all very well for woman to be the partner of her husband In the possession of merchandise as well Joys an-l sorrows, but if she becomes the business partner of another man there is likely to be trouble in the family. Such complications are not to be encouraged..

A wife of nearly ten years, have given her servant a holiday, was attending to culinary mattors herself, and, hearing her husband coming in the kitchen, thought she would surprise bim as soon as he entered the door by throwing her hands over bis oyes and imprinting a kiss on bis brow, as in the oays of the honeymoon. Tho husband returned the salute with Interest, and asked, as be disengaged her hands, "Mary, darling, where is your mistress?" The wife discharged "Mary, darling," tho next day, and has adopted a new plan of "surprising" her husband.

There is a movement on foot in Scotland, which if successful will take away any advantages which leap year may have over years that do not leap. It is said that the ladies of Ulasglow will soon present to Mr. Gladstone a petition praying him to revive the good old law and custom that prevailed in Queen Margaret's time, giving to every maiden the privilege of selecting her husband. In those halcyon days not only was a maid allowed to select her husband, but alter the gentleman was onoe favored by an offer of marriage ho was not permitted to refuse, under penalty of a fine, except ho oonld plead a previous engagement.,.,