Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 7, Number 51, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 16 June 1877 — Page 1

Vol. 7.—No. 51.

THE MAIL

A PAPER FOP THE PEOPLE.

SECOND EDITION.

Town-Talk.

Therols a silly notion tha*, every man who has capital, or can get it, must go into business for himself. T. T. has been made to see the silliness of this notion, by watching its results upon individuals. There was no matter who, say Smith, whose father left him a snug little property. It didn't come to him until he was twenty-three or four years of age. lie had been a clerk, a good one, and had a jjood position. But now he must set up in business for himself. A man with capital of bis own couldn't submit to live on his own salary, He did set ap business, and far the privilege of carrying on business iivo years, paid thi entire sum his father left him, and that sum, with the proceeds of his business, only paid fifty cents on the dollar of his Indebtedness. He wa* a good olerk, but a poor business manager. Had he been content to continue a clerk, and invest bis money, he could have lived well on his salary, and at the end of live years his patrimony wonid have been Increased by from thirty to lifty per cent. Capital one of the least important necessities to a successful business man.

T. T. has watched young—, no matter about his name, call him Jones. He haijvery little capital hal earti9d and saved perhaps a thousand dallais. He is now at the head of a fine business. He had little or no oapital, bat he had businoss skill, while Smith had capital, but no business skill. The business sense hi born with a man, and If he 1ms n'ti t, be cannot get it. True, a man may learn some things, a great many things abont business. He may even loarn through failure, and becomo successful. Hut there are some things which some people can never learn. Smith was hopeful. He was sure everything was going to come out right. He couldn't tell exactly how, but ho was sure about it. This made him a delightful companion, and fitted him formany positions in life admirably. But it unfitted him for business. A business man who has bills to pay, must not only hope, and expect to pay them, but he must be able to give a good sound reason for his hope and dxpectanoy. Notes dou't take care of themselves, and people who hold them will not long trust a man who neither pays, nor show* how he expects bo be able to pay. Now this hopefulness could no more be taken out of Smith, than his face oould be chauged so that be Would look llko Jones, and it unfita him /or a business manager, and always will. This element in his character is fatal to hitn as a business man. Another may have some other fetal spot. If a jroung man has capital, before he invests it in business to b» mauaged by himself, it is needful to look alter these weak spotsspots which are weak in reference to business, but which may be strong spots in referencj to other positions.

There was no matter who, he was a lawyer. He was an excellent lawyer, but ho was generous, knew nothing of the value of money, and never could learn. His very generosity, that which made him ready to take the ca* of any poor fellow, and tilled bis life with deeds of kindness, was his weak spot in reference to business. He would hare lived and died poor as a church mouse but for the fact that he was associated with a heartless partner, who looked after the fees and managed the business. He had sense onough to see that he was entirely unfit to direct the business affaire of a law firm.

There was nevermind bis name. He lived—did or does live—never mind which—here In Terre Haute. He might have stood at the head of his professson. But he bad the misfortune to have quite a little fortune—a mfortsue indeed— and also was BO unfortunate as to bare very Utile business skill, but that little seemed to him enormous. So he must dabble in business. Consequently he lost his money, lost professional success, and in a serious measure, lost his good name and iufluenoe for lu reference to the latter, be it remembered,

that when a man falls to pay his debts when he promises to do so, the world generally will not be very careful to inquire into the reasons for the failure, and if he saake3 a good many promises of that kind, and is oompelled to break them,people will set him down for dishonest, and so bis good name goes.

It is pleasanter to boss thaa to be bossed, pleasanter to run a business machine than to be apart of that machine, but there ar? some pleasant things which are very expensive. Before setting up in business, it Is well to take account of stock, aud see if you c*n afford the luxury. It is more honorable to fill well the position of clerk than to fill poorly the position of business mauager. The man who has one of these weak spots, if he only can have wisdom to recognize it, should put his money at interest, and fill the place that he can fill well, no matter how humble. NO honest man will be proud of being a bankrupt, but a clerk, or porter even, may be proud t~ fill well his position. Probably as much money is sunk by men trying to do business when they are unfit for it, as is made by those who are St tor it. Happy is that man who can discern what he is fit for, and be content to fill that place.

Husks and Nubbins.

No. 258.

HOUSES AND FURNITURE.

A popular writer of unusually fine discrimination and good sense condemns the teachings of certain writers on the art of house furnishing, who seem intent on objecting to all the modern improvements in honses as being unhealthy or unpicturesque. He stands up boldly for close furnaces instead ol* open fires, because the latter are exceedingly dusty and dirty and not sufficient to keep our houses warm through the cold winters of this latitude. Comfort, he has the sense to perceive and the courage to declare, is worth a good deal more than mere picturesqueness and, for one, he is not afraid to say that he enjoys life better in a furnace-heated room that keeps him warm, than shivering over an open grate. For the same reason, that of convenience and comfort, the modern art of carrying bet and cold water all over the house by means of leaden pipes, wins his admiration and commands his approval. Possibly the modern arrangement may be less pictur esque, or something, than the washstand with bowl and pitcher, but that it is much more cleanjy and convenient than the latter, no one will care to deny.

We heartily endorse these sentiments. They rest on a basis of solid and practical good sense. We have no doubt but the primary ot jest in houses and furniture ought to be comfort, health and convenience these first and beauty afterwards. We have little' sympathy with that peculiar and just now somewht pop 'ular sort of sentiruentalisui which is always finding something to admiro in the past and to regret in the present. If the people who are so enthusiastic over open fires and wash-bowls and pitchers could spend a winter in one of those old-fash ioned houses of a hundred years ago, which they profess to hdmire so heartily now, with face burning and back all a-sbiver and ice two inches thick on the water pitcher of mornings, we doubt if they would see so muoh beauty and pio turesqueness In the old times as they do now in fact we have a strong suspicion that they would become quite reconciled to living in the bouse with water-cecks, brussels carpets and basement furnaces. Wo are of opinion that real improvement goes !.and in hand with modern progress, and that improvement is not necessarily destructive of beauty. In fact that is the most beautiful thing which best answers tbo purpose for which it was intended.

And now while we are on the subject of houses, a few words as to building and furnishing them. We think there is right here one of the finest fields for the exercise of that individuality which has more than once been considered in this column. If we had our way tnere would not be two bouses in the town built or furnished alike. Every man's house ought to be an outgrowth of himself and partake somewhat of bis peculiarities. If people were all alike it would be a very monotonous world. Instead of that, no two are exactly alike. There is infinite dissimilarity. People are as unlike in character and disposition as they are in size, form and feature. Why then should not their honses be different? Why should not everyone be dissatisfied in some respect with the house of his neighbor and build for himself adifferent sort of one In business streets, where only the interests of trade and commerce are concerned, long squares of solid masonry are becoming, and perhaps the more alike the buildings are the better they look but this la because from their contiguity they seem to be one rather than many separate houses. In the matter of homes, however, it is different. Who likes to see a long line of dwellings built of the came size and pattern and placed exactly the same distance from the street I never see such a row of houses without think

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ing that the people who live in them do so, not from choice but from necessity. It is much more pleasant to drive along a street where the bouses are all dissimilar, some frame, others brick and still others stone here a cottage, there a tow ering mansion and further on a plain, substantial structure, the very embodi ment of capacious comfort. The door yards, too, and the shrubbery are different and the size of the grounds. Such bouses make you feel that they are the homes of people, houses which were made ta correspond with the builders' tastes and circumstances, the size of their families, etc. They indicate care and thought in planning, so that taste and beauty might be secured, and at the same time comfort and convenience.

But not more should «ur houses be dissimilar in size, shape and style of architecture than in interior furnishing and adornment. The furniture, the carpets, the pictures, the various articles of ornament should ull indicate the individual tastes of the occupants, rather than conform to the fashion of the hour. A rigid compliance with fashion in any respect, whether as to dress or otherwise, is something which no person of sense and cultivation can brook, but when it invades the home it is attended with peculiarly disastrous consequences. Fashion would make all men and women alike, or as nearly so as possible, and every home the counterpart of all the re3t. Individuality strives for difference, to make men and women unlike each other, or rather, to preserve them as they originally were. Fashion teaches men to ape and copy each other individuality instructs them to cultivate/and develop themselves. Fashion would put one style of carpets, chairs and pictures into every house individuality rebels against such a decree and insists on having such carpets, pictures and furniture a.* it pleases. Let us assert this quality in the decoration of our bouses, arid instead of being pitiful imitations of each other, they ill be refreshing exhibitions of individual taste and elegance, and pleasant surprises for every one that enters them.

FASHIONS FOR HOUSE FUR' NISH1NO. Hall chairs are wood with high Eliza' bethian backs and bare seats.

Marble-topped furniture and marble mantles are less used than formerly. Mats and rugs made of Brussels carpet ravelings.have become very popular.

Library tables are square cornered and covered with billiard cloth, or else left plain and polished:

Shelves covered with crimson or other colored cloth are still used for old china and bric-a-brac of all kinds.

The rage still increases for inlaid wood floors. A large Persian rug covers the centre, or smaller ones are placed in front of the larger pieces of furniture,

Instead of side tables for fruit and dessert, sets of shelves, making the piece half the size of the sideboard, are au fait.

Piotures are now hung very low on the wall, and invisible wire is used instead ef thick cords.

In carpets for halls and staircases, the Oriental designs are repeated in even smaller figures, and the borders are narrower.

Handsome rugs can be made of small square pieces of cloth, in two colors, joined together, with cbamstitching of bright worsted covering the seams. In the centre of each a leaf or flower can be embroidered in worsted.

New mattings are woven in closer, smaller patterns than were formerly used, and are in olive tints, or else scarlet straws are scattered irregularly among the natural straw colors.

Appro poe of extemporaneous and pointed supplication to the Throne of Grace in time of great extremity, it is attributed to the.late President Finney to have said in a deep and fervent prayer on the Franco-German war, "O Lord, how long? how long? Bring this war to a speedy close. O Lord, they go on killing women and children and burning villages, and they call this civil warfare. O Lord, did you ever bear of anything so ridiculous?" Akin to this is a prayer made at Cincinnati during the war of the rebellion by Rev. Granville Moody, well known as toe "fighting parson," and with whom many of our citizens have an intimate personal acquaintance. With the zeal and eloquence for which the reverend gentleman is noted hedelivered himself in this wise. "O Lord, thou knowest when we received the blow on one cheek in the firing on the 'Star of the West,' ^rben we turned the other and received the blow at Fort

Sumter and now we ask tbee O

Lord, is it not our turn

A reformed man, at a recent marketmen's prayer meeting, testified to the joy and satisfaction he experienced since he hsd banished Jthe demon alcohol. I used to be miserable, poor and friendless," he said, but here I am with a'good suit of clothes, earning my own living like a deoent member of odety. I declare to jou, brethren I feel just ss good as if I had a barrel of beer inside of me." The simile was the most familiar and appropriate be could think of on the spur of the moment.— Boston Transcript.

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People and Things.

It isn't so much fish as patience that makes a fisherman. An insane New York City lover shot his sweetheart through the thigh. tMean souls, like mean pictures, are often found in good looking frames.

The man who said "Colder'nthunder" last Winter is now ejaculating "Hotter'n blazes."-

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The Baltimore American an authority we suppose, says: A man may be a great lawyer and at the same time a great fool."

Always speak well of the dead and once in a while a good word for the living, if you have the time.—Danbury News.

We didn't know that the gentle musical mosquito was at all inclined to drink, yet we see people putting up bars for them.

General Sheridan said in a speech?that be has been able to forgive ever since he shook hands with General Lee at the surrender.

A competent authority informs the Chicago Tribune that religious ice cream this year will be cut even lower in the saucer than usual.

It is a solemn thing for a penniless young man to lead a blushing bride up to the altar and promise to endow her with all his worldly goods. "Welljboys, here's for perdition!" said Alonzo Leister and he oooly lay down on a barroom floor in Yolo, Nevada, and shot himself through the head.

A visitor at the White House mentioned the temperance question, and the President smilingly said: "Mrs. Hayes has that matter in charge."

Beecher is of the opinion that no one can locate heaven within a million miles of the right place. Well, the best way is to be looking around for tracks leading tbat way.

There were ten applications filed at Washington for Iqulque, Peru, consulship within forty-eight hours after the death of the consul was reported. That consul died for his countrymen.

Jennie June writes tbat her fellowpassenger, Ole Bull, scattered some beautiful flowers in mid-ocean at the request of parents in New York, who on a previous voyage, had buried a child at sea.

ANew York state man grated some horse-radish for his wife, and then sneezed, broke a blood vessel and died. Husbands will, by and by, learn to sit on the verandah and let domestic drudgery alone.

After a man has passed the period of thirty in his life, he still clings to the halcyon dreams of his youth, and isn't censcious of advancing age until he meets a man younger than himself who is bald headed.

The new endless rope arrangement, by which a hodful of bricks is placed in a socket and drawn to tn upper story, is very simple and it saves labor. We find it quite useful in getting up paragraphs. —New York Herald.

Frank Leslie's Salt Lake correspondent is rather inclined to Mormonism. He says: "The thriftiest, most contented and happiest people west of the Mississippi River are the Mormons, and I for one do not want to see tbem treated with injustice."

The society editor of the Butler Eagle reported a high toned wedding, and said the bride's trousseau was the loveliest he ever saw. The printer set it "trowaers," and since that time there have been two vacancies on the paper, in consequence of two admissions to the hospital.

A poor lone Turk who was traveling in this country chanced to read several telegrams from the seat of war, and an editorial on the Eastern question. He was sorely perplexed, and asked a Russian friend where this war was. Then the two together studied the telegrams and editorials, consulted several of the war maps, and came te the conclusion the fight was somewhere in Southern Africa.—Oil City CaJL

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TERRE HAUTE, IND., SATURDAY EVENING, JUNE 16, 1877#™. Price Five Centi

can get Charley Ross to

exhibit he must be content with bis rbi-noce-ros. Boss Tweed whose release is quite doubtful, is said to be slowly dying in prison.

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The New York Mail wants people to understand that the cooking of any ripe fruit spoils it.

It is chalking the ends of billiard cues that is sapping the energies of tbo young men of this generation.

People get along on friendly terms with their imaginations until cholera comes or a dog bites them.

A Massachusetts parson declares that he will not marry men under 22 or women under 20 years of age.

We know of no better way for a man to be hated by everybody than to become abase ball umpire in a close game. "The most effective way tJ close the bar rooms," says Mr. Murphy, is to stop the drinking." No doubt about that.

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Feminitems.

Domestic tranquility depends mainly on the cooking. "Perfectly Mag." is the Boston girl's synonym for awfully sweet.

A family named Iva, in Tennessee, boasts of a daughter Sarah. Already they call her Sal Iva, but before she is sixteeu they will nickname her Spit.

It is when the young man gees to the counter to pay for the ice cream, that bis girl demurely pockets the remnants cake left on the plate, for home consumption.

Gail Hamilton has' anew book, with the title: "What Think Ye ot Christ?" We do hope she hasn't found it necessary to pitch into However, that's impossible.—Rochester Democrat. "Did you like the sermon inquired one lady of another who attended a certain church last Sunday evening for the first time. "The sermon? oh, I suppose so, bat there wasn't a decent bonnet in the whole congregation

A woman is worth a good deal or nothing. If good for nothing, she is liot worth getting jealous for if she be a tru? woman, she will give no cause for jealousy. A man is a brute to be jealous of a good woman—a fool tote jealous of a worthless one.

A woman may give intellect, genius and virtue to a profession and fail to find patronage but if the same woman were to put on tights, and sing a comic song, the citizens of our great republic would fill the house, and applaud till they were hoarse.

Every rose has its thorn, every swee' of life contains its own element of bitterness. Such is life. When a young lady drinks a glass of cream soda she sighs when she sets down the glass, because etiquette forbids her from scooping up the foam left in it.

A game of. croquet was proposed. One young lady declined to play peremptorily when invited, and another young lady, a dear friend of her's gave the reason why. She whispered to a gentleman "Miss never plays she wears No. 6 shoes."

Mrs. Rice, of Brooklyn, undertook to make her debut in London as an operatic singer, but when she appeared on the stage she was so attacked with "stage fright" tbat she became dumb and had to be taken to her dressing room. Her study cost |20,000 for lessons.

Good looking young man, who has called at the house on business—"I regret, miss, that your father is not at home, I had an important proposal to mftke him." Young lady of the bouse, demurely—"Well, perhaps you could make your proposal to me I am disengage! just at present." Good looking young man excuses himself and retires in confusion.

Miss Hadlock, of Newport, Vermont, met in the street a man who bad circulated derogatory stories about her. She had prepared herself for the occasion. First she took pepper from a pocket and threw it in bis eyes secondly, she took a rawhide from her bustle and struck him several times with it thirdly, she took a rotten egg from a hand-bag and smashed it in his face.

Young man, if she smiles on you more sweetly than usual—if she flutters out to meet you at the gate with anew cordial ity—if she remarks that "eleven o'olock isn't a bit late''—if she invites you to call again, with confidential earnestness —if she says "good-night" with a gentle pressure ef her dear little hand—if she does all these things, young man, be not deceived. The strawberry and ice cream season is at hand.

Mrs. Mary Livermore speaking: In Iowa I saw a law sign, 'Foster Foster.' It meant Mr. and Mrs. Foster. They attended the same law school became attached, became partners foi*life. The man looked up the cases the woman pleaded them before the court and jury. In a certain difficult case where a woman was concerned he doubted his ability to do it justice and carried it to bis wife, and she proved it to be a case of insanity."

Two daughters of a farmer in St. Lawrenceberg county, N. Y., desired to pay the debt on tbeir homestead, but they preferred not to do it by bard work. They hit upon an idea that suited tbeir purpose, and have made enough money to remove the debt. They bad a large quantity of porous stone sawed into small pieces and thoroughly soaked in odorous preparation that imparted to tbem a durable scent. These they have peddled throughout the State, at twentyfive cents each, representing tbat they were cut from the rock of a wonderful perfumed cave in South America. The girls are so demure and pretty, and tell their lie with such an appearance of simplicity, that the sales are very large. They have Jtwt put afresh lot of stone In soak, preparatory to an extended Western tour.

Virginians claim tbat since the whipping post was re-established most of the jails bsre been emptied, petty crimes have almost ceased, and vagrants are seen no more in the streets. 'V

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Our Mail Box.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

HOPEFUL.—"Boss"is the only modern title of respect by which a boy should address his father.

IN CONFIDENCE.—We answer no questions by maiL Arsenic of strychnine in her tea will fetch her.

MINNIE.—The best way to attract a gentleman is to be good and to do good those attracted by other means are not gentlemen. -r

JENNIE.—Yes, we do think tbat the fact of "a man committing suicide two weeks after marriage is rather blighting to his widow's prospects."

BROWN.—The custom of taking off the glove before shaking hands has long been entirely obsolete. It was fussy, formal and foolish, and therefore is wisely abolished. "PSLAM" B.—It is not imperative that you should make known your love for the young lady in words. An idiotic rolling of your eyeballs, half a dozen deep sighs, and a request that she adjust your seoktie, are all that is necessary.

PERSECUTED.—No young gentleman can, in self-respect, allow a lady "to take the same liberties that she would with her brother—such as pinching his ears or smoothing his hair." Still, if you are of a strong constitution, you might make a sacrifice of your feelings.

CHARLIE.—You ought to be thankful tbat the acquaintance has ceased. The girl who will not wait until her lover's circumstances enable him to marry her, must have a recret motive for her anxiety. It cannot be love—for love is timid, shy and delicate, and although it may not be passion, it certainly shows a want of forethought, which of itself is a sad defect in the young woman who expects to be a wife and a mother. Be not alarmed—the breach of promise was committed by her, not you.

MRS. B.—You say your husband abuses, you, and you ask us how you may overcome his brutality and gain your liberty. It is rather a delicate as well as difficult question to answer, as there are many ways of striking for liberty. By referring to history you will find that Bruce had recourse to the sword, Tell to the bow and arrow, and Sitting Bull to the scalping knife and tomahawk .but you may accomplish the same they did with the woman's weapon, whioh is the broomstick or, anything else that may be handy—for instance, the rolling pin.

R. L.—Asks "When parties are introduced, should it only be a matter of taste, or rather of feeling toward the party to shake hands? Or is it absolutely requisite? If a young gentleman is introduced to a young lady with whom he is anxious to become acquainted, and he should Bee the friendly smile which expresses an amount of geniality, would it be an absurdity to offer the hand?" Gentlemen and ladies, when first introduced, rarely shake bands, unless circumstances indicate future friendship and intimacy. Gentlemen more generally do. In either case the custom often changes, and is different in different localities.

BRIDESMAID.—"Can you tell me why orange blossoms form a characteristic part of the dress of a bride, and whence the fashion originated?" It is fashion only tbat determines the flowers assigned to the bride and orange blossoms have been adopted from the French, who, from time immemorial, crowned with them the newly married pair. In Germany, the crown is of myrtle. In Switzerland, it is of mixed artificial flowers. At Rome, and even in England as late as the time of Henry VIII., the bride's garland was of wheat ears. Hei rick tells us that bridal flowers were

Roses and lucky four-leaved grass and Hackett speaks of primroses, maiden's blushes and violets as used upon the occasion. Rosemary was also used at weddings as well as at funerals, for in an old ballad "The Bride's Good Morning," it said:

Young men and maids do ready stand, With sweet rosemary in their hand, A perfect token of yoar virgin life."

The only child of wealthy parents in New Haven, a young man 22 years old, recently left his home on account of some family disagreement, and has turned up at Maysville, Ky., where he is earning bis living by carrying a hod, and persistently refuses either to return home, or touch the money or clothing frequently sent him by bis parents. Don't crowd him—let him work, he'll packet tbe money and draw the clothing on by and by.

A clerk in tbe Post Office brought down bia hand stamp upon a lefttgr which he supposed to contain gavden seeds- Instantly there was a kxud explosion and a clerk ghastly pale. Wflh an utter disregard of tbe department regulations, the envelope had been filled with paper caps for toy pistols.

Dr. Hepworth says that religion and dyrpepela can never go tpgetber.

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