Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 8, Number 16, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 6 October 1877 — Page 1

Vol. 8.—No. 16.

THE MAIL

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

SECOND EDITION.

Town- Talk.

Peaching Piney was taken down to the Jeffereonvllle prison Tuesday night, and joined Flowers in bis life imprisonment. Without money and friends, this pair of rascals will soon be forgotten, and whether guilty or innocent of the murder of Dr. Armstrong they will doubtless end their lives in prison. Nor will it probably iiver be known which, if any of the stories told by Piney was the truo one. He says he was scared into telling the *tory that convicted Flowers. Whether he told the truth in court or tells the truth now, or baH liod all the time, T. T. not only cannot tell, but he has no decided opiniop. When a man tells story which go's him into a "bad scrape"—and that is what one might call getting into the peniteutiary fer life—and then says he lied, T. T. knows of no method of deciding which time he lied. Sr» far as Picey is concerned, he is best off, or the community is best off with him in the penitentiary, or some other *afe placo. The man who either assists at a murder, or is «o timid that he can be scared into swearing to a lie which might result in the hanging of an innocent man, is not a safo man to be running loose. But it was not with the purpose of discussing this matter that T. T. took it up. It suggests a

DANU&KOl'H l'OSSlIHMTY.

If it is possible that an innocent man's life or liberty may be sworn away, it is not a pleasant fact to contemplate. If it Is possible that there exist in the community parties who, as soon as a largo reward is oflered, set about making a plausible theory in reference to the orimo aud its perpetrator, and then by me£ns of persuasion, bribes or threats, manufacture the necessary testimony, this is not a pleasant possibility to contemplate. T. T. not only does not say that this has been done ia this case, but he says emphatically, and distinctly, and honestly, that it is not his opinion that it has been done in this Instance. But something of this kind is charged. T. T. remembers that it has been charged in ether cases. There are now parties from tnls city, serving a sentence for lite in the penltontiary, who claim* and always have claimed, that they were convicted on manufactured evidence. T. T. did not at the time of their conviction, and does no! now believo such to be the fact. But otill the charge is made, has been made before, and suggests an ugly possibility, a danger not pleasant to contemplate, and a danger, too, which, If It exists, is liable to befall any citizen. Large rewards are frequently offered for tue conviction of crimts, aud these rewards furnish a strong temptation to unscrupulous minds to wotk up a case, if such a thing can be douo successfully. Besides their effect is not entirely vt ith the unscrupulous, or In the direction of making up a case against one known to be innocent. a man Is honestly suspicious that one has committed a crime, the fact that he can secure a round turn in case he can convince a jury that his suspicions are correct, may lead him to manipulating witnesses and evidence, without auy actual dishonesty, so as to secure a conviction and the reward. If, lor example, (T. Tv only uses It as a supposed owe) the parties working up this cas«.\ were honestly convinced in their own minds that Fid wets and Piney were the perpetrators of this crime, it is easy to conceive that, stimulated by the reward, and eyeu a desire that justice should be done, they might xvork upon the fears of Piney, in one way or another, in order to secure the ueoessary evidence. And whatever story he might tell, which would tend to a conviction, they would naturally be Inclined to accept. It is not absolutely necessary to assume the dishonesty of anybody, except the man who tells the lie, in a case like this, though the fact that there are dishonest and unscrupulous men in all positions, makes the danger all the greater. It is not easy, yet it is possible, to weave a web of auspicious circumstances alout any innocent citiasen, which may result in his «race and punishment wh1.' inn cut. it itrue that cases of :i»« iK»:~re usually

involve only those whose general character is such as to justify suspicion. And it is possible thst even this fact may serve as an exouse In the minds of the parties pressing the esse. There may rise a feeling that the one charged with the crime is a rascal anyway, and if not guilty of this psrticnlar crime, has done enough to merit all he will get if convicted. But desirable as it sometimes seems, it is not safe for men to be convicted of particular crimes on the ground of general cussedness. And the danger is that such convictions may be xeenred outside tbat realm. But

WHAT TO BO ABOUT IT

is a question not easily settled. T. T. thinks that charges of this kind, made by men accused of crime against the parties who secure their conviction, should be received with extreme caution. Society cannot afford to have the zeal and efficiency of those skilled in detecting crime impaired by lending too ready an ear to those whom they succeed in bringing to justice.

At the same time T. T. thinks that the character of the parties working up any particular case, should be regarded and the methods of securing the evidence moat carefully inquired into.

T. T. thinks that in case a man is found to have worked up a case by improper means, be ought to be publicly denounced and disgraced. „w

T. T. thinks that me evidence of men who admit that they were participators in the crime, should bo sifted with double care, and shouid only be received when there seems to be no possibility of falsehood. The testimony of such men i* often of great use, is often absolutely essential, and certainly society cannot afford to lose the advantage which may be gained by listening to what tbioves, or other criminals, say of each ottier, when they fall out. Yet such evidence should not be put upon an equal footing with thai of honest men. Old Tweed's word should not be taken against any inau without strong evidence in corroboration of what he says.

T. T. sets all this down, not for the benetit of courts, or lawyers, but for the benefit of society in general, and for the benefit of those of his fellow citizens who are liable to a draft into the jury box.

Husks and Nubbins.

"no. 27-1.

THIS PICTURE AND THATI\ 'J That was very wise and sound advice which Col. Ingersoll gave to the farmers of Illinois in his recent address at Peoria, but it is suggestive that it was not given by a farmer but by a lawyer it is suggestive that men who are not engaged in the pursuit of agriculture should be able to guide and dlreot those who are. We never hear a farmer leoturing to lawyers on the defects of the system of jurisprudence and suggesting remedies for them or pointing out the proper path for an attorney to walk in. Yet such advice might with as much propriety come to tho bar from the mouths of farmers as suggestions upon agriculture from the lips of lawyers. If it is true, as Mr. Ingersoll affirms, and we beliove it is, that farmers have, or may have, more loisure for reading, thinking and improving their minds than almost any other class of laborers, why ii it that they are so barren of ideas, of suggestions and expedients for Improving their calling aud condition? The doctors organic medical scc'eties, the preachers ministerial associations, the lawyers bavo their bar meetings, the mechanics thoir unions. All these are for the purpose of helping on the particular craft or profession to which they are severally limited, and much good undoubtedly results from them. But the tillers of tho soil stand apart. They .do not join hands in self help like the rest. They think, observe, experiment, but it is each man for himself. Tbero is no free and generous diffusion of the knowledge thus attained. In fact each one seems to be rather slow, rather disinclined to communicate a good thing, which he has discovered, to his neighbor? prefers to keep it to himself piques himself on the superiority it gives blm, But he should reflect that his neighbors think and observe'as well as be that they make discoveries likewise and that it ia tor the general and individual benefit that all this experience be thrown into a common fuud. A man ought never ta keep a valuable discovery to himself. He has no right to do so. It belongs to the world. Let him patent or copyright it if he choose, but let him send it forth into the world in some way. The farmers of a neighborhood could do much to improve the art of agriculture among themselves by meeting together and communicating to each other the results of their reading and experience. Nor would snch meetings be neoeasarily dull and devoid of inter eat. On tbe contrary Uiey might be made as interesting as they would be profitable. They would greatly tend to stimulate study and self culture. And •ay what you will, it to an increase

intelligence, of mental growth, that our fkrmers need snore than anything else. Ool. In. i»ol* ---Tr'-wi this and every ace w..~ is with tho aulgpst

knows it. The farmer works hsrd enough, with bis bands—too hard—but he don't think enough he don't read enough. His mind is too inactive. What be wants is to patronize the postoffice more to buy less land and more books to rise later in tho morning and read later at night. So men do in other vocations, why not he? It is not working alone but working and thinking together that makes the superior man not in professional life only but everywhere. Of what use are eyes to a man wLo does not think The most valuable truths disclose themselves to blm in vain he passes them by unnoticed. He sees nothing but that his furrow is straight or crooked. Put such a man as Ingersoll on a farm and what would he do? Would he be a commonplace farmer, a man to xun on in the same old ruts his father bad made Never finding out anything new never improving on the old processes? Would be live in an ugly house or an uncomfortable one, or have scrubby stock, or spoil his land with ignorant and ungenerous tillage? Would be be an illiterate man, buying no books, reading no papers, going to tbo postoffice but once in a fortnight? Far enough from all that certainly.

I can fancy a picture of such a man's farm and home, aud a right noble picture it is. He would have an ample amount of land for his use but none too much. His broad fields would be cultivated in such a way as to leave them richer rather than poorer after each bountiful crop. He would use bis soil as if he expected to live on the same spot for centuries. On some high and eligible place he would build a house, as comfortable, convenient and pleasing to the oye as th9 best skill of carpenter and painter could make it. At first it might be but a small cottage, but, as years passed and the family increased, would give place to a larger, roomier and more substantial one. In front of his house would be a fine, large yard, set with trees and shrubbery, and ornamented with walks and drives. There would be an orchard, thrifty and well cared for and full of trees of the best quality. There would be berries and small fruits following each other in constant succession through the seasons. The barn would be warm, clean and healthy. In winter it would house tho fat, sleek cattle, horses and sheep and hogs that roamed in summer time through -the meadow pastures. The heart of every animal in It would beat quicker at the cheery sound of the master's voice at morn and evening. The house would be something more than a lodging place it would be a home. It would be filled with music, llowers and sunshine. It would radiate hospitality and happiness. There would be pictures on the walls and books on the center tablo. Its Inmates would keep up with the busy world outsido and have an intelligent appreciation of current events and the tendenoy of the times. The houso would stand like a beacon light to the whole community and would be the oentral spring of culture and refinement, sending out rivulets on every side. It is a pretty picture and a possible one. I say this would be so, because the superior man will be superior wherever and in whatever he is engaged. A man like Ingersoll thinks, learns, developes and he would do that all the same, whether on a farm or ia a lawyer's office. Perhaps more in the former place because the opportunities would really be better.

THK members of the City Council are only human, subject to the failings of ordinary mortals, and of course do come things that are wrong and some things that might be done better. Last Tuesday evening, in a fit of economy, a resolution was introduced that all advertising be inserted only in the Gazette, Ledger and Banner. Afterwards the Express was added, and so the city advertising will be placed in these four papers. Is this economy Much of the city advertising is of a nature that one paper wonld be sufficient, aod money ia thrown away by putting it in the three other papers. On the other hand some announcements should have the widest publicity, and yet the Council In effect says that audi shall not be inserted in The Mail, a paper having a circulation far greater than any in this city, and read by hundreds of people who take no other. For instance, a prominent Main street lawyer remarked the other day that he allowed no other paper ia this city to come ioto his house. If it is really economy that the Council is altar, then some one cheep, obecure paper should be selected. If the widest publicity is desired, It is hard to understand why The Mail ta excluded from the list. We are not begging the small amount of city advertising that usually drifts into these columns Fortunately our advertising columns are kept mil to overflowing by business men who understand and appreciate the value of The Mail in reaching the largest number of people. —____________

THK farmer is the richest man in the country just now. The Mail goes largely into the farmer's community. A hint to the wide-awake advertiser.

TERRE HAUTE, IND., SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 6, 1877. Price Five Cents

People and Things.

Aocordiug to au exchange the best two foot rule is to keep your feet dry. Has anybody beard of any cures by tbe blue glass treatment lately

A thousand years is as one day with a tramp, and every day is Sunday. All tbe members of Hayes* cabinet but one were farm laborer* in early life.

Pnducah (Ky.) has a horse which eats onions. Like the war horse of Job, ho smelleth from afar off.

A Vicksburg mau mado his suicide remarkable by tying a heavy stone to himself before he jumped into tbe river.

There's a heap o' nonsense about the "lastrose of summer." Just examine one, and you'll find it full of files and worms, and smelling like a burnt boot.

Norristown Herald: This appears to be an "off" year with presidents of savings banks. They are off" to Eu rope with most of tbe cash of the institutions.

Lovers who walk by tbe mild light of the moon should remember that catarrh follows exposure to tbe nlgbt air without sufficient clothiug. And what is

un-

poetical as catarrh? Two colored men,*who twenty fiv6 years ago were sold as slaves in tbe old St. Lotus hotel rotunda, in New Orleans, have recently served as state senators iu tho same building.

Everything looks toward a revival of business this fall, and if some merchants don't try to do a teu thousand dollar businoss on a tifen hundred dollar capital, the country is fafe.

Tho divorce business is quite brisk, and quite an active season is anticipated. All over the land can be heard tbe snip, snip of tbe busy lawyers' shears as the blue silk matrimonial knots are severed.

The frequent notice No flowers," or Please omit flowers," which is appended to funeral announcements in the New York papors, indicate a reform which has got to.be a mare osteotajipus nuisance.

Tbe Rev. George Ball baptized forty persons byimmerson in twenty-seven minutes in Savannah, and he is eighty years old, too. Tbe Philadelphia Bulle-, tin thinks he is a atar 'J baptizer—-in "is** fact, a Great Dipper.

The local of the Middletown Argus evolves this piece of advice from his inner consciousness: "Don't tell a married man any joke on the boys, for he'll tell his wife, his wife will tell her sister and the sister will tell all the rest of the

General John B. Hood has nine children all under the age of eight years, and three pairs of them twins. They are officered by four nurses, a governess, his wife and his mother-in-law and the corps present a fine appearance on dress parade,

General Grant perpetrated 'a joke when returning thanks lor the honor conferred upon him by tbe citizens of Glasgow in presenting him with the freedom of tHe city. He said I find that I am being made so much a oitizen of Scotland that it will become a serious question where I shall go to vote."

Rev. Professor David Swing does not believe in boys furtively playing cards in tbe woodshed or behind locked doors, but thinks that the father of thfefamily should put up a card table in tbe sittiug room and take a hand at whist with them. "Each home should have its games as regularly as its foad or sleep."

An unsuccessful attempt was made to abduct Commodore Nutt, the dwarf, from a west bound Pacific railroad train one night last week. The Commodore, who was lifted from bis berth, screamed and resisted so lustily that bis captors became frightened and let him drop, making their escape in the darkness.

The young man among his male friends may be to them a very ordinary personage, to be familiarly saluted with a nickname and a coarse joke but let him have upon his arm a pretty and stylishly dressed young lady, and meot those same fellows ia any public place, it is surprising tbe amount of obsequious deference that will be shown to him.

Coroner Hendry x, of Bloomington, Ilia., has such ill luck that be contemplates doing himself violence. He says that the other day a man sitting on a fence exactly on the boundary line between McLean and Woodford county, was struck by lightning aud Ml a corpse—into Woodford oounty. Thus did Providence beat him out of flQ and mileage.

Have you any of those things that bureaus wear,** said a bashful young man to a female clerk in agent's furnishing store. She didn't know what he meant, and he wrote it down on a pieoe of paper, and went out while site was tying them up. You're too nice to live, somebody ought to set on you," said she, as he went out. He swears that tbe nfcxt time be goes to buy anything of that kind he'll vend hie sJ«trr.

Feminisms,

M. Thiers was very susceptible to the influence of women. Eliza Pinkston ia piyiug tbe boe on a Mississippi plantation.

Prudery defeats iUell by revealing what it proposes to conceal. It was a Michigan woman who sprinkled her butter with perfumery to give it to 1

Tbe Fifth Duchess of Hillburst has been sold in England for

922,000.

she

'vas a cow. Lydia Thompson reminds the Boston Post of the prodigal son. Something about the fatted calves, we believe.

A Texas woman went to sleep upon ber doorstep, and a rattlesnake crawled down her back.

When a woman threatens a child with punishment she tells a falsehood nine times out of ten.—Portland Bee.

Next to bis art, E. L. Davenport adored pretty women. Almost any sensible fellow adores pretty women next to his 'art.

Eastern sbop-keepete still refuse to let their girls sit down. They say that tbe instant a girl sits down she begins to talk. *.

fr*

"Madame Willis tells everything," says an advertisement in the New York Herald. So do a good many other women.

A girl may read about heaven all her life, but sbe never has anything like a correct idea of it till she gets her first beau. •«.,

A young lady ait Hartford, the other day, struck at a mosquito and broke her arm. How the mosquito must have laughed. 7~.

Jennie June says the young man of to-day is not half as nice as the young man of fifty years ago was. Does Jennie June remember tbat far back?

And now we bear a still small voice saying: "The nasty moths they have just ruined my furs." Any eensible man will know what is expected of him. p|l

They are trying to get together amass meeting of housekeepers in New York City, to take measures to reduce the wages of domestic servants to Its. former standard.

All parents can't give their girls beauty, and grace, and accomplishments, but at least they can give them such names that can be made to end in e, and that's a good deal.

It is a mark of good breeding to sit still. When a woman trots her knee, or swings her foot, or drums with her fingers, it is a sign her early education has been neglected.

Tbe Woman's DickenB* Club at their last meeting, discussed the question: "Who are tbe vulgar?" It is a woman who wears diamond rings outside of her gloves and says "them molasses."

Young ladies are employed in the Observatories of Washington and Harvard. They make calculations, and do tbe mathematical part of the work, but do not take observations with tbe telescope.

Thqre comes a time in the life of every sentimental young lady when she gets down the big family Bible and admits that It ia tbe best book in the house—tbe best in which to press autnmn leaves.— Norristowu Herald.

Mrs. A. T. Stewart, when asked why her toilets were not richer, replied quietly: "Of course I could have the richest clothes money could buy but what is the use of being rich if one cannot have tbe privilege of dressing simply."

The Women's Christian Temperanoe Union, of Philadelphia, advertisee tbat it has opened an Inebriate Asylum for "women of the upper .and middle classes." Are not women of tbe lower classes worth being saved by Christian women?

Tbe following colleges admit both sexes on equal terms: The Cincinnati University, Antioch College, Cornell University, Michigan University, Penn College, and tbe Swathmore, and the Iowa tow College. Two young ladies have entered the latter tbis year.

Springfield girls ask their gentlemen friends to give them ten cent pieces which have been gronnd smooth on one siie and adorned with monograms. These coins the Mr ones wear about tbeir necks, the one with the longest string being an object of congratulation.

There ia a remarkable German Com* munistk: Society In Iowa, called tbe Amaoa, which has adopted co-opera-tive housekeeping. The families live in separate houses, but take tbeir meals in one oommon boarding house. They bave one common kitchen and laundry to a village, so that no cooking and washing is done in tbe separate houses. The society is very prosperous ami wealthy, and the members are happy and healthy. It is all because they don't have to worry over housekeeping. Can not a few wise housekeepers start co-op-eratlve cookery and laundry work in the city? The experiment is certainly worth trying.

*«.«l

Scraps of Stj^Ie.

Plush grenadine is a new trimming. Gold hair pins are out. They costfd a dozen.

Various shades of brouses are ^roduced in Fall goods. Everything symmetrica] is now considered as common.

Enameled dower jewelry is fashionable for evening wear. The pin back dress shows symptoms of going out with tbe tied.

Shawls will be quite generally worn during the Fall season. Lava jewelry in cameo styles will be worn the coming Winter.

In England ladies are wearing their dresses just escsping the ground. Pearl buttons nearly an inch in diameter look well on dark dresses.

Smoked agate beads, handsomely cut, are fashionable for ladies' neckwear. Feminine toilettes will be decidedly masculine in many details next Winter.

Trains should be very narrow, flaring from the gathering strings low on the skirt.

For the back breadths of overskirts tbe plaited designs inorease in popularity.

The fashionable engagement ring is a plain gold circle with two ruby hearts linked.

Overskirts are sometimes bordered by a fringe made of loops of narrow gros grain ribbon. &

Pink, coral and salmon are the favorite colors at present, and are used in combination.

Golden bugs and butterflies, studded with jewels, are worn in the hair instead of ribbons or flowers.

Dress materials are now made with flaws manufactured on purpose, the more flaws the more fashionable.

Silver filagree card cases of very fine workmanship are sought for by the most fastidious society women.

Fashion admits of a larger variety of garniture this season, and a profusion of trimmings will be the rule, V-f

The quaint and grotesque prevails in jewelry at present. Pins represent ladder?, slippers, bootjacks, whips, tongs, guitars, etc.

Silver back-combs, four and a half inches high, chased in Japanese designs, are taking the place of those .of bhells or hair ornaments.

Wide lace collars will be trimmed with three small bunches of ribbon, one on the under edge in front, and tbe other on the left shoulder.

The revival of brunettes has brought amber into fashion again. It is both exquisitely clear aud elouded, in necklace, beads, crosses and combs. r-

The mantles, paletots and jackets for* tbe coming Autumn have never been surpassed for quietness of design, and are intended solely for comfort.

Unless a skirt is very short itbas to be held up in walking as much as a demitrain, and as tbo latter is much more graceful for tbe house it is still worn.

Rough knottings on fabrics is a novel design All the new dresi materiala bave a rough appearance, looking very mnch as though they were made wrong side out.

Steel, jet, amber and English garnet beads will figure somewhat largely tbig and next season in the world of drees. Most of these beads are simply colored glass, and hence light in weight.

The shapes of bats and bonnets differ rather artistically from former modes. Tbe brims are narrew, and tho crowns both high and low. The coronet fiont appears, and will no doubt take the lead. &

Aoomplete revolution baa taken place in regard to underclothing during the last ten years, and not loss in shapes, perhaps, than in tbe materials and garnitures employed. Tbe fabric* and styles used by the French are preferred with us now, and the finest percales, muslins and nainsooks are employed to jnake np garments which were formerly mage of heavy cotton.

Y.M.C.A.

The first lecture of tbe1 Home Course' will be given next Friday evening at tbe 2d Presbyterian Churcb, corner 5th and Ohio streets, by Hon. Thos. II. Nelson on the "Political Status of Mexico." Season ticket* for tbe course of twelve lectures sre on sale at Button A Hamilton's and Paxton's book stores and by members of tbe Y. M. C. A., at tbe low price of one dollar a ticket. Tbe second lecture will be given a week later by .. Prof. J. C. Ridpatb on Tbe thing that civilizes."

The asual Y. M. C. A. services will be held to-morrow at tbe association rooms at 4:16 and at tbe Pnblie Square at 5:15 p. m.

Tbe regular monthly meeting of tbe directors of tbe Y. M. C. A., will be held at the Reading Room on Monday Eve. next at 7:30 o'clock.

Tbe managers of tbe Y. M. C. A. are doing what they can to increase their library by securing donations of booka by friends of the cause. All who bave good booka, religious or secular, which they are willing to give to tbat worthy purpose. are requested to send them to the Reading Room accompanied by the name of the donor. Itis hoped by persistent and faithful effort to Daild up a library and Reading Room tbat every citizen of Terre Haute will be proud of.

ST. STEPHEX'* CHTBCR.—Morning Prayer, 10K Litany, Sermon and Celebration of tbe Holy Communion, 11 s. m. Bvening Prayejc wui 71 p. m.

t£M