Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 6, Number 29, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 15 January 1876 — Page 1

Vol.

6.—-No. 29.

THE MAIL

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

SECOND EDITION.

Town-Talk. ,'

XirilSTANTIAL PROORKS8.

Whoever has known this city well for many voars, end has watched Its growth and advancement with any degreoof Interest, must contemplate with peculiar satisfaction, the rapid progress it has made within the past five years. At no period of its history has this improvement boon move marked and at no timo, viewing it soberly, sensibly and on all sides, has its future looked more promising. Scarcely more than five years ago—or to keep certainly within bounds, tan years—it presented all the

usual

characteristics ofarainblin'g overgrown village. With few exceptions, the houses oft of Main street were of one pattern aijd all painted the same monotonous color, a dirty brown, tho only variation being in the different shades of this sombre hue. The streets, generally, wero straggling, unpaved, unimproved, and, except for the trees which tho good people who owned property had planted of their own accord, unsightly. O110 stumbled around the business portion of the town over villainous brick sidowalks (where there happened to bo any at all) and if it was muddy, crossed a street by grimly making up his mind to it as a pressing aud wholly unavoidable necessity, and wading in. On

Main

street and a portion of Fourth

thero wore two rows of

Ono

noed3

narrow-doored,

dark, dingy looking stores and shops, Homo of tho illdings brick, but the larger part mere wooden shanties, and tho whole presenting as ugly and countrified an appearance as can easily be imagined now.

to remombor all these

things to appreciate tho chtUigo that has taken place. Now, instead of tho treachous old brick sidewalks that trippedus continually and rendered locomotion after dark a matter of extremest peril, wo wulk witli confidence over broad smooth flagging, and cross stroets without so much as soiling tho soles of our slioerf. Instead of dingy, ill-lighted stores and shops, wo look now through plato glass and broad doors, into elegant business rooms, bright, handsome, showy, and at night, brilliant as if gas wero twenty-Iivo conts a thousand aud tho company had stopped collecting. Tho old wooden shanties havo nearly all been burned down or hauled ofF, and in their places stand rows of handsome aud substantial buildings which would be creditablo to any city in the-country. Hundreds of handsome and even elegant residences have been built which, with tho lino public buildings already oomplete or In process of construction, challenge the admiration of every stranger who visits us. T. T. feels that we all have reason to feel proud of the improvement that has taken place and are justified in crowing over it a little if we want to.

But there is another viow in which the progress of Terre Hauto is still more gratifying and not less marked the rapid improvement in culture and the refinements of life. Gradually but surely abetter tasto has been growing up which has gwon to society a tcno it did not havo in former days. This Is manifested In a thousand ways. It is to be seen hi the kind of houses peoplo build and In the way they furnish them, in tho books they read, tho things they talk about, the amusements they patronize, and In all their Intercourse one with another. There Is an evident interest In literary matters, In art, and science, that was not felt bo (ore—at least, never*) generally felt. Books sell readily now that tivo years ago would scarcely have been looked at whllo the demand for tho traaliy, sensational and vicious sort, is very much lew than formerly. Any dealer will toll you that this is so and will tell you besides ef dozens airti ncorcs of men and women who are systematically pursuing this or that line of study, wham, but for this information, you might have supposed never bad either tho time or the inclination to pursue anything except their pleasure or their business.

And there has befcn A mOfftl Improvement, as well as an aesthetic and a commercial. Drinking is not so popular as it was, and especially among young men. Profanity is no longer regarded as an accomplishment, and men

#who

formerly indulged the habit havo to a great extent given it up from growing feeling that it Is "vulgar" as well as Immoral. Promiscuous assembl?ft«*ln tho shape crt public balls, where any and everybody is admitted who will buy a ticket, are not «o common or so well pa. tronized. Tho theatre eonimique with Its infamous can-can accompaniment, after a fitful fever unnecessarily prolonged, has pllyed out entirely, and, it is believed forever. Even tho popularity of negro minstrelsy and quincuplexal varieties, is waning. Young men go to cbnrch more than they did and It

not considered a reproach to belong to the Y. M. C. A. or participate in a revival meeting. All the churches have froe seats, and tho pastors join in union services at public places like Dowllng Hall and tho Opera House, and preach plain practical sermons which are more especially intended to touch the heart than to dazzle the intelloct while the members mingle freely with each other and workjunlcablv together for the general advancement of the Masters oauso. All this Is healthful and fnoouraging and mighty pleasant to sec.

Well, whom are we to thank for all these blessings? Who have labored to build up the town, to add to its attractions, to its business, to its tone, its culture, its refinement, its morals, its general desirability as a placo toUve in and a place to fe«l proud of? It might be dificult to enumerate all who have contributed to this end, and who therefore deserve hearty thanks for it. If T. T. were called upon to name someol tnem, ho does not know how he could better refresh his memory or get a good start, than by roading over the list of stockholders in the recontly organized library association. He is certain that he should, there find at least fifty names especially deserving of the honor and tho thanks of the people of Terre Haute.

Husks and Nubbins.

No. 102.

WHAT IT MEANS.

The Galaxy makes the many eulogies vfchich have recently been written on the death of Vice President Wilson tho subjoct of some very caustio remarks. It says substantially that Henry Wilson was a man of very ordinary abilities and scarcely any culture at all that it was not his fault that he obtained but a meagre education in youth but it was his fault that I10 made so little progress in after life that it was no dishonor to have been called the "Natick cobblor," but that many othor men of humble origin have evinced an ability to succeed in higher fields which Mr. Wilson never did that in truth the late Vice President was a very common man in all respects and the extravagant panegyrics which have been sounded

It seems to us Tho Galaxy has not caught tho true meaning of the praise which lias been spoken of Henry Wilson. -Perhaps fow people think ho was in any true sense a great man. Perhaps everyono who is at all acquainted with tho (acts of his lifo will bo ready to admit that Tho Galaxy's ostimato of his abilities is noarly or quite correct. Ho was not an educated man. Grant it. Ho was not a man gifted by nature with great powers of mind. True. He was only a plain, blunt, simple citizen a man of mediocre abilities, common acquirements and moderate achievements. Admit it all. But jie was a good man an incorruptible man, a man whose character was unstained throughout all the years of his publio lifo. As a sorvant of the peoplo he never took a bribo nor performed any dishonest or dishonorable act. His voice was always raised in favor of what he believed to be just and right. He served his constituents faithfully and to tho best of his ability. He was pre-eminently an honest man.

And here we have the secret of the praise which has been uttered to his memory with one accord from all parts of the nation. It moans something too. It means that American politics have become so disgracofuliy corrupt that the man who has been for years in public life and has come out with his garmonts pure and unsullied must be a man of extraordinary integrity, a man deserving of admiration and eulogy, a man worthy to lie sot up as an example to the young men of the nation. It means that intelligent men havo become sick of bribery and corruption in high places and have begun to feel the necessity of reform. It means that virtuous simplicity is of more consequence to the country than prostituted gonius. That incorruptible servants are worth more than eminent ones. That plain, blnnt, honest Henry Wilson is more to bo esteemed than gifted, dishonest, intriguing Ben Bntlor. 1» wo mistake not something like this is what tho panegyrieea upon tho dead Vice President mean. And If they mean this it is well. Hitherto! he people have looked too much to the mora question of ability in choosing their publio servants or rather, too little to the question of character. The result •was a succession of nnscrupnlons, dishonest, peculating officials who havo so disgraced and degraded politics and public lite that no man or good character and honest purposes dared think of entering the political arena. Now the truth is, Integrity in our public functionaries is of far greater importance than eminent talent. A large majority of political positions can be successfully filled by men of average education and abilities if they are only honest enough to do the beat the know bow. The first questions to be asked of the candidate for public office should be: Is he honest? Will he take a bribe? Will he be accessible

to the Influence of the lobby? Will he soli the interests of tho country for his own aggrandizement? If those questions cannot be answered with a prompt and emphatic no, thon that candidate should be dropped instantly and another substituted whoso character is in no respect doubtful. Certain it is that the political history of the country has not been remarkable for the eminent ability of its public men and if we should adopt far a time the motto, Honesty first and Ability afterwards, it is hardly probablo that wo should loso much In the latter rcspect while we might bo infinitely gainors in respect to tho former quality. If "wo could, during the next century, put Henry Wilsons in all the places that will be occupied' by men vastly superior to him in poinfcof natural ability and acquired learning, but who will sacrifico their country's wolfaro for their own advantage, wo should have taken an immense stride in the path of free government,

110

£0

his

namo area pitiful admission of our poverty in the matter of public men of real eminonce.

a

v.

TIIE I.initARY. f*,x- "1

The hist number of The Mail brought the gratifying intelligence that the publio library project will probably succeed. Wo trust the intimation that gome members of the city council may be opposed to taking stock in the enterprise will prove without loundation. Only one who has livod in a city blessed with a fine public library can havo any true conception of the benefits such an institution confers, and we do not hesitate to express the conviction that the eivizens of any place whore a library is in successful operation would not give it vtp under any considerations and invariably esteem it tho cheapest treasure they' possess. The public library of Ii\diaimpolis ha9 now been in operation several years and has proved a splendid success. It has just been moved into a new building on the Circle constructed expressly for it and fitted up in a very comfortable manner. There is a large, elegant reading room, furnished with chairs and tables, where all tho leading periodicals of this country and England can be perused by anyone who chooses to go there. Tho library contains many thousands of valuable books of such variety tliat all tastes can be suited. Thero is

reason why Terre Haute

should not have, in a few years, a public library aud reading room of equal resources and attractions. Let thoso who have taken the matter in hand fight on to the end. -,

THE Indiana Editorial Excursion party which starto^ from Indianapolis yesterday afternoon numbered some two hundred. They will visit Philadelphia, New York and Washington, returning in about toil days.

As SHOWING how even tho wisest men may err, a letter of Murat Halstead's to General Ilalleck, dated April 3d, 1SQ3, has recently been made public, in which he gives advice as to tho way the war should be carried on. Ho says:

General Grant's Mississippi River operations aro simply failures, and nothing can be done in that quarter. This is beyond argument. It is history." "It is important that his army should bo taken from him and sent up the Cumberland to General Rosecrans. Leave the Mississippi to our gun-boats and a few garrisons, and extricato our army frosn the swamps, where disease will waste them, and they can never reach the enemy."

And three months after this was written, Grant captured Vicksburg, and opened up the Mississippi river. It is a terrible warning to those peoplo who think they know It all.

Ay outcry having been made against tho barbarity of hanging, a correspondent of a New York paper suggests the following methods of indicting capital punishment: 1. Fill ti^e subject full of chloroform, and then blow him nr witn nltro-glvce-rlne. Tho correspondent maintains that that tho "remains" would be so completely scattered by this process that funeral expenses would bo saved. 2. He proposes to send tho tho guilty wretch up in a hot-air balloon, giving him one chance In one hundred for his life. This might bo done, we suggest, whero tho prisoner has been recommended to mercy.

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3. Tho correspondent suggests a circular saw, ruunin? at the rate of one thousands revolutions per minute, the instrument to be applied to the neck of the victim by an experienced machinist. This for tho worst cases, we sunpose, who would bo terribly cut up In more senses than ono by the appficat'on.

TIIB Rev. George Harding and Major ^Smith have formed a mutual admiration society. One's for the other for Congress, and t'othcr's for t'other for Governor. Here's George's last boost:

Major O. J. Smith of the Voire Haute Express, was in the city yesterday. We venture tho assertion that there is not on the entire floor of the National House of Representative*, from the North, South, East or West, so fino a looking gentleman as Major Smith. Ho would confer an eternity of fame on the Terre Haute District if be should be elected.

THE EDITORIAL EXCURSION. [Intl. Herald.] It is said that about half the editors now cavorting over the country intervening between here and Philadelphia are country merchants going East to buy goods.

TIIKIMS are over 10,000 expectant miner* shivering on the Black Hi 11b.

TERRE HAUTE, IND., SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 15. 1876. Price Five Cents®

People and Things.

WHAT MAKES A MAN

A truthful soul, a loving mind Full of airecUon for its kind A spirit firm, erect, and fret?, v.^ That never basely bonds a Jcnee That will not bend a feather's weight Of slavery's chance for small or grt at That truly speaks from God within, That never makes a league with sin That snaps the fetters despots make, And loves the truth for Its own sake That worships God, and Him alone, And.bows no more than at His tiln)no And trembles at no tyrant's nod A soul that fears 110 one but God, •And thus can smile at curse or ban—

This is the soul that makes a man.

Pay as you go, and—you won't go! No amount of wisdom can beat a lucky fool.

A ^ood memory for faces is do,liars to a business man. .-:\Lhr Blaine and Bristow are the busy b's now Butler isn't one.

:i

Atlanta has a bar room pathetically named "Tho Two Orphans." Remember tho poor thero, we've dono our duty!—[Sarcastic exchange.

There aro 11,333 blind men and 8,977 blind women in the United States. Geo. Unroe, of Rush, Ind., killed himself because "she was too young to wed."

Hall's Journal of Health insists that we should be healthier if we ata more onions."

5

The man that is always ready to follow advice, is sure to follow the poorest kind that offers.

If you are a hundred years old you had better speak about it at onoeVi Pretso on it be to a $

Church sociables are entertainments where everybody sits quiet waiting for somebody else to say something, mm

It's an unpleasant fact that what your friends call self-possession, your enemies call brass.—[Norwich Bulletin.

An author says that one of the uses of adversity is to bring us out. This is true—particularly at tho knees and elbow. ,v"

Nine jurors in a panel of twolve will bo permitted to return a verdict according to tho new Constitution of Texas.

Going through lifo without education is like trying to sow boots without waxed ends," says tho wise old shoemaker.

Said an old doctor to a graduating class of medical students: Keep your patients alive—if you can dead nien pay

110

bills. I, SlzS'*, Tho saying that "there is more pleasure in giving than receiving," is supposed to apply cliiclly to "kicks, medicine, and advice."

The millonium certainly approaches. They have sentenced a man to one year's imprisonment in Lexington for stealing a cotton umbrella.

No really ambitious boy can read a dozen dime novels and not run away from home or kill somebody. And yet dime novels flourish unchecked.

A St. Louis murderer has written a request that he be sentonced to death on his birthday, his birth, ho thinks, being tho first and worst of all his misfortunes.

Cynicism is the top dog in the fight, and that'show it comes that seven persons out of ten stick their fingers on to fresh paint: to see whether the half dozen placard N. B.'s lie or not.

Rev. H. II. Murray has an article in the Golden Rule, advocating lying in bod in the morning, but thero seems to be no particular necessity for us to paste it in our hat.—[Bridgeport Standard.

When a man is too lazy to work, and too cowardly to steal, he sits in a lagerbeer saloon, frowns ominously at the free lunch counter, and remarks to his brother in exll, "The country is going to the dogs."

Julia Ward Howe sticks up for Dr. Mary Walker, and says she is a good, true woman. Perhape, after all, we should not judge harshly of a woman because she wears breeches. They may conceal some true womanly qualities.— [Chicago Times.

J.

n.

.Dickson, of Petersburg, Pike

cpunty, Ind., gazes in the direction of the Centennial through a pair of spectacles 252 years old. They havo a solid iron frame, and, together withtheircase weigh half a pound.

A near-sighted citizen stepped into a butcher's shop yosterday, with tho intention of ordering six paunds of meat sent to his house but after sitting down on the butcher's rat terrier, which was lying curled tqp in a chair, the citizen changed his mind, and went to another shop. It is curious how the parpose'of the human mind is sometimes changed by the merest trifle!

The Japanese soldier is a Syfciarlte compared with the average European inan-at-armn. He neither builds his own shelter, digs in the trenches, nor ooeks his own food. All this is done by coolies, who bring him bis meals in his tent. The Japanese rations are extravagantly profuse, and include beer and spirits and for the soldier's comfort when off doty, he is supplied with loose cotton robes and straw slippers, which are supplied to all upon demand.

Feminitems.

WHAT MAKES A WOMAN ai Not fostly dres.5 nor qneenly air Not Jeweled hand, complexion fair Nut graceful form nor lofty tread Not print, nor curls, nor splendid head Not pearly teeth, nor sparkling eyes Xot voice thut nightingale outvies Not breath as sweet ns eglantine Not gaudy gems, nor fabrics tine Not all the stores of fashion's mart, Nor yet blandishments of art Not one. nor all of these combined, f'nn malic one woman true,refined. ris not the casket that we prize, But that which in the casket lies! These 011 twaitl charms 1 hat please the sight Are naught unless the heart be right.

Lady lecturers are thinning out. Ribbon sashes aro not fashionable. Seal-skin bonnets are tho latest and ugliest.

A girl with downward eyebrows is generally wilful. A dress without outside pockets is considered "old-fashioned."

Ball dresses are to be more profusely than ever ornamented with flowers. A Washington writer advises innocent girls not to seek government employ-

A Now York clairvoyant told a girl her lover was untrue, and the poor dupe killed herself.

An old maid near Reading, Pa., married a tramp, and perhaps that's the best use you can put a tramp to, after all.

Statistiea xre given to prove that of the sum total of human misery, physical and mental, women have to bear two-thirds. s,

High-toned society will letyoung lady burn her meat and potatoes if she can only dance fairly and lisp ^affectionately.—[Detroit Press. *s ,'w" 1*,

Kate Field took a ride in a London cab and was sick for a week. She says she can't see why an American should object to a ride on a fence rail.

Santa Claus didn't find Susan B. Anthonp's stocking this year. Last Christmas he ripped the log of the one she hung up trying to push a stick of candy into it, rnd she concluded not to hang up one this time.—[Chicago Times.

Candle light is generally considered to enhance the beauty of one's faco and complexion, and wo are told that it is the fashion in the West this "Winter to uso wax candles at parties instead of gas. Young ladies who have more freckles than they know what to do with will road this with gratification.

Under the heading, "I Want to be An Angel—as sung by tho Girl of tho Period"—wo clip tho following from one of our New York religious oxchanges:^%

I want to be an angel, And with the angels stand, ij -f With wiy "pull-back" tight around me

And my poodle in my haud. With my bright-iiued striped stocklnsrs And my lemon-colored gloves, IM be the gayest angel ut

Ix the celestial groves.

A a an a a he pletion of her education, her studies aro somewhat relaxed, and she attends onco or twice a week at a Nahscbule, where lessons aro givon her in cutting out, fitting, piecing, patching and darning, and all ornamental stitching. She will make her brother a set of shirts and for herself a complete outfit against the day she emerges from sclioolgirlliaod into youngladyism.

An indignation meeting was hold by tho Washington professional washerwomen last week to protest against the discharge of twenty of their number from Government service. They havS had in chargo the washing of the towels usod by members of Congress at the capitol, for which they were paid fifty cents per dozen. A laundry proprietor stepped in and offered to do the same work at fifteen cents.

There's too much of this street masquerading anyhow," said the Mayor of Reading to a reporter. "We are bearing reports of young girls on the streets in malo attire too frequently. While it does no direct harm it has a tendency to make unsuspecting young girls less modest and finally rude and boisterous. They generally regret it for it is a thoughtless custom."

Mrs. Ruth Southwortb, widow of Edward South worth, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, ninety-oight years old, has gone to keeping house for ber son, doing her own work of cooking, washing, scrubbing, fcc., with all the cheeriness and zeal with which she entered on these duties in her early married life. Since ber ninetieth year she has, besides ether sewing, made twenty-eight bedquilts, just to keep herself employed. We suppose ber son is disabled by old age.

Somebody having asked Mrs. Jeradiy Dusenberry, of Cincinnati, why woman always wants a man, when he is rick, to take of his shirt downwards, Instead of over his head, that matron proceeds to explain it as follows: "Just because she is sensible and kind-lieart-ed, and want! him to do it In the very easiest way. I do think of all the silly sights inn iture, it is a man a-tbrowin' his arms about in the air, a-«trugglin with a shirt to get ft off, when one little movement downwards would bring it off as slick as the skin of an eel. But them is some of bis insensible ways, and It is our duty to correct them If we can, especially when he is rick/'

Connubialities.

GOOD AND BETTER*

A father sat by the chimney-post

1

.i-av

O11 a winter's day, enjoying a roast 1 By his side a maiden young and fair, A girl with a wealth of golden hair And she teases the father, stern and cold, With a question of duty, trite and old

Say, father, what shall a maiden do When a man of merit comes to woo? A nd, father, what of this pain in my breafct? Married or single—which is the best?" Then the sire of the maiden young and fair, The girl of the wealth of golden hair, He answers as ever do fathers cold, To the question of duty trite and old:

She who weddeth keeps God's letter .1.^ She who weds net doeth better." Then meekly answered the maiden fair, The girl with the wealth of golden hair:

I'll Keep the sense of the lioly Letter, Content to do WEi.LwithoutdoingBKmER.'g

The national bridal tour this year will be to the Centennial. A "pearl wedding" occurs on tho slxj tieth anniversary of tho murriage day.

Tho most thorough way of keeping a house warm Is to board your mother-in law.

WhotVyou see a married man loafirg around, you can make up your mind that his wife has to support him.

Speaking of a now club "with homo comforts," an exchange asks, "Why not have a home with club comforts?"*:"

Keep cool, darling," said a Brooklyn wife to her scolding husband as she dashed a pitcher of ice water over his head.

The wife of Mr. John Carroll, of Magnolia, Mo., gave him three girl babieson Christmas day. Wasn't that a Christmas Carroll?

A Philosopher being asked what AV&S the first thing neeessary towards win ning tho love of a woman, answered,

A or it The Boston Journal notes that "a popular actress, who died recently left an unprotected husband without visible means of support."

A young man asked his bachelor undo What advice would you give to a young man who was contemplating matrimony?" I should, advise him to keep

011

contemplating it." 3 A man was lately imprisoned in New York for beating his wife. As ho was locked up he said, "I'vo one comfort, anyhow and that is, that I am not sent. to jail for doing a mean thing."

They tell of a Kentucky schoolmaster who had his wife for a pupil, aud found it necessary to chastise her one day. Next day a notice appeared on the door, saying: "School closed for ono wook— schoolmaster is ill." fe

A man in New Hampshire had tho misfortune recently to loso his wife. Over the grave he caused a stone to be placed,

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which, in the depth of his

grief, he had ordered to be inscribed: Tears cannot restore her—:tbereforo I weop." ...5

Mrs. Christmas is at Wormloy's, in Washington, for the winter. The fact that aMiss Christinas is with lior implies tho existence, either now or sometime in tlio past, of a Mr. Christmas, who wo hope has been suppressed to prevent his making Christmases too common.

A few days ago, Elizabeth, tho wife of John Axiom, a laboring man at Ridgemount, in the county of Bedford, was safely delivered of her twenty-fifth child. She is now in the thirty-eighth year of her age, of a remarkably ruddy countenance, and In all probability may be the mother of many more children.— [Norwich, (Conn.,) Packet, June 2, 1875

Fort Wayne Gazette Now we are fixed for the Centennial, Indiana is at the head of tho list if we can only get this old couple to go to Philadelphia? for the oldest married couple in the world is believed to be in Montgomer county, Indiana. Their name is Fruits

4

they are 113 and 111 years old, respectively, and have lived .together 85 years The husband is a hale and hearty man, having never used tobacoo and the wife has been a tobacco smoker fcr60 years, though she has been fighting a cancer for 40 years. Tho old man was personally acquainted with Daniel Boone, Simon Girty, Simon Kenton, Williams and others of the first settlers of the West.

Mrs. Adela M. Blake, of Brooklyn, has sued Mrs. Jang? Van Winkle, alias Mrs. Jane Coles Blake, of the same city, for $10,000. Mrs. Adela M. Blako is the wife of Dr. Charles E. Blako, a physician, of 140 Clinton avenue. Mrs. Jano Van Winkle, or, as she prefers to be styled, Mrs. Jane Coles Blako, pretends to be a spiritualistic modium. Mrs. Adela Blake arges that Mrs. Van Wiaklo has unlawful possession of Dr. Blake's love, and has so completely enthralled him that during the past five years he has been only a husband in name. Ten thousand dollars, Mrs. Blake says, at the close of her petition, Is an insignificant sum for the loan of her husband's love and society. Mrs. Van Winkle was divorced from her husband a few years ago on account of her relations to Dr. Blake. Ex-Judge Erastua D. Culver, Mrs. Blake's counsel, says that, although her suit is the first test that has ever been applied to a law passed in 1902, giving a married woman the ability to seek legal roller for injuries that is posaossed by an unmarried woman, he is sure of victory. 5-^