Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 9, Number 21, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 23 November 1878 — Page 1

Vol.

I

g.—No.

THE MAIL

A PAPER FOR THK PEOPLE.

SECOND EDITION.

Town-Talk.

This does not prove that the Wit atd atheism are wrong, but it does prove conclusively that Robert Burns, whom Ingersoll admires so much, does not approve such wit as that of which the Colonel makes great use, and that he is no admirer of those who agree with the Colonel's opinions on religion. He does indeed ssy, •'Bat twenty times I rather would be

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An atheist clean,

Than under gospel colours hid be. Just for a screen."" But it certainly is no great compliment whioh Burns pays to his witty and enthusiastic ad tnirer and eulogist, who is "An atheist clean," or to his sentiments when be says that, rather than be a hypocrite he would choose to be like him. That is not the manner in which admiration is expressed. When a man says "I'd rather beg or starve than defraud," he is not eulogizing beggary or starvation, but choosing the worst evils he can think of to express bis detestation of dishonesty. So when Burns prefers amoral and upright infidel—"an atheist clean"—to a hypocrite, he not only expresses the sentiment of every honest and honorable man, whatever his religious opinions, but he also expresses bis severe condemnation of Col. Ingersoll and his views. The fitoft is that

BURNS WAS A KR1RHD TO RKMOION. He hated hypocrisy, and certainly the old "antiquated Bible" which tbe Colonel is trying so hard to sweep out of Existence as rubbish unfit to be about, is as hard on hypoericy as either Burns or Ingersoll, for it declares that harlots and extortioners will fare better at the hands of God than hypocrites. Burns himself to be a friend of religion. He writes, "AU hall Religion maid divine!

MM*Imean

Pardon amuse

as mine,

Wlio, In her rough Imperfect 11ns, •, Thus daunt to name thee To sUgmatiae false friends of thine

Can ne'er detaine thee."

And here lies the secret of all that Burns wrote which is quoted against religion. His shafts were ail aimed, not at religion, but at its "false friends," a kind of friends upon whom the Bible itself lavs its bitterest curses, and because he wrote of these, those who bold Ingersoll'S views claim that he did "defame" religion itself. Even he himself claims that "Holy Willie's Prayer," in which the Colonel so delighted, was written in denunciation of hypocrlcy. And the subsequent history of William Fisher, who was the original "Holy Willie," proved that Burns was right, fer, although he pretended to great sanctify, be appropriated the money of the church to his own use and died a drunkard. Certainly not even have Christian people much sympathy with such a church member as that, and Burns no more lampoons true Christianity in that poem than he would have done if he had aimed it at Judas himself. -The same is true of all those poems in whioh Ingersoll and his Ilk so much de­

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THK OTHER SIDE.

T. T. accepts the hint, Mr. Editor, with many thanks, and hearty ones. It gives him a subject, and a good one, too. It was a sharp thrust, and as fair as sharp, which you gave Colonel Ingereoll in The Mail of last week, when you showed, from one of Burns' own poems, that the representation of bis character and opinion as given in the lecture was "one-sided." Fair play, honesty and candor are never allowed by the Colonel to interfere with the making of a point or the pointing of a joke, whether it be politics, religion, or biography, of which he speaks. It certainly would take the thunder out of much that the Colooel so wittily said, and brought the laugh around to the other corner of the mouth if, on the scenery upon one side of the lecturer had been displayed this couplet of Burnt*:

Yet ne'er with wits profane to range, Be complaisance extended," And upon the other side had been displayed before the audience, this other couplet,

An atheist's laugh's a poor exchange For Deity offended!" Burns didu't hit the "orthodox" any blow much harder than this one upon the lecturer.'

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light. "The Twa Herds or, the Holy Tulxle," is another of tbe same kind, and was aimed at two clergymen who engaged in an open and disgraceful quarrel with each other at a public gathering. One may take any copy of Burns' poems in which eaoh poem is preoeded by a note explanlngthe circumstances under which it was written, and he will find that every one which Ingersoll quoted was aimed, not at the religion of- the Bible, but at "false friends" of this religion, those who, $

Under gospel colors hid be.:i Just for a screen.'"*

Of such as these he says, •'O Pope, had 1 thv satirist's darts, Togle the rascals their deserts, -h

I'd rip their rotten, hollow hearts, ,f And tell alond, Their Juggling hocus- pocus arts

To cheat the crowd."

And to this every honest minister, and every honest Christian man and woman, responds, Amen.

It is just as reasonable to say or imply tbat Burns despised women as that be despised religion, for he pinned upon a lady's coach a bit of paper with this squib: "If you rattle along like your mistress' tongue

Your speed will outrival the dart But a fly for your load, you'll breakdown on theroad,

If your stuff be as rotten her heart. What was false in women or religion Burns despised^ and despised it all the more because he loved and approved tbe true and sincere in women and in religion.

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And then,* Col. Ingersoll entirely ignored BURNS' RELIGIOUS"POEMS,

A beautiful picture of religion in th'r vmily circle it is impossible to find

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in "The Cotters' Saturday

Night.'' In some copies of Burn's works, within a page or two of "Holy Willie's Prayer, will be found beautiful versions of the first and nineteenth psalms. The first verse of the latter is,

O Thon, the first, the greatestsfrlend Of all the human race! Whose strong right hat has ever been

Tneir stay ana dwelling place." When he had been attacked with fainting fits and other alarming disorders he wrote a "Prayer in Prospect of Death," beginning, "O Thou unknown, Almighty oause .Of all my hope and fear

In whose cfread presence, ere an hour, Perhaps I must appear." And again he writes, O Thou great Governor of all below!

If I may dare a lifted eye to Thee, Thy rod can make the tempest cease to blow.

Or still the tumult of the raging sea: With that controlling power assist even me, These headlong furious passions to confine. For all unfit I feel my powers to be,

To rule their torrent In tbe allow'd line Oh, aid me, with Thy help, Omnipotence divint."

In his common place book he wrote another prayer, now published among his other poems, beginning, V. V* "O Thou great Being WL at Thou art

Surpasses me to know: YetBure 1 an^that known to Thee Are all Thy works below." Others might be cited, but these are enough to show that there is aside to Burns' character, opinions and poems which Colonel Ingersoll did not show, and one which, to any fair understanding of his true character and real sentiments, must be seen. The Colonel ought at least to have let it be known that his hero had not arrived at his own advanoed position of despising tbe Bible, and rvrllng God out of the universe, though in common with tbe Colonel and tbe rest of us, he did despise fraud and bypocrioy, despised these so much tbat he would even prefer to be an "atheist clean," like tbe Colonel himself, rather than a hypoorite, like "Holy Willie."

A Woman's Opinions,

BY A NEW CONTRIBUTOR. .•Mir* -'5s 1 4 I regret that Town Talk should have inferred from what I said that I thought he criticised my contribution "because It was written by a woman." No one else seems to have drawn a similar inference "and I oertainly did not entertain any such idea. I ask no favors from tbe scribbling fraternity, because I happen to be a woman, nor do I intend to grant any. I Wish T. T. or anybody else who may do me the honor to notice these hastily written sketches to regard them •xaotly as they would if written by the other sex, and approve or criticise accordingly. Your criticisms, Mr. Town Talk, are neither a matter of "comfort" or discomfort, but of Indifference only, and as for your silly talk about your "susceptibility," your "gallantry," etc., don't be an idiot. I have been married more years than you've written for The Saturday Evening Mail, and if I hadn't, It is not probable you oould make any impression. Like a great many other men, you think, when addressing a woman, you must be somewhat "soft" to he agreeable, but accept my advice and treat some of tbe sex as if they bad at least as much common sense as yourself.

It is mot strange that gentlemen have fallen into tbe habit of talking only frivolous nonsense to ladles, because in many esses that is all women can appreciate, and then, too, there are a great many men who don't know how to convene tn any other manner—two reasons you see. From eighteen to twenty-five men generally admire tbe opposite sex.

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They see In every pretty girl a possible sweetheart. Woman is to them a mystery, half human, half divine, sweet, charming, and fascinating. They enter her presence with timidity, they linger in eustacy, they depart regretfully, and oount tbe momenta till tbey shall meet again. Every passing year brings its revelations. One by one the delicious mysteries thit enveloped the fair creatures dissolve in thin air, leaving only oommonplace reality. Tbe angels of earlier yeara become ordinary mortals to be critiolsed and judged by the same rules that apply to their brothers, and as a man approaches his thirties tbe romance has feded away, and be knows all about woman that there la to learn—or thinks he does. To a large majority of men the society of ladles is a bore, to be submitted to only when necessary, to be avoided whenever it is possible. How many women are there in this town who oould hope to rival the charms of tbe Terre Haute or National House office, or of tbe club rooms or billiard parlors or attractive card tables scattered about the city There you find the gentlemen, married and single, chatting, smoking, having jolly good times, oblivious of the feet that there Is a woman in exlstenoe. It Is almost impossible to drag men out to parties, weddings, socials or receptions, even though tbey know that scores of beautiful women are waiting to weloome them. It is a oommon thing for men to slip out at the back door and steal through tbe alley to escape entertaining some lady friends who have dropped in to. spend.the e?ening.

Our young men go to the Opera House in crowds, leaving the. girls to do likewise, or stay at home. On pleasant evenings they dash by in their stylish buggies, touching their bats in a most tantalising manner to tbe poor girls, who must promenade tbe.streets alone, or fall back on the beardless youths who have not yet outgrown their liking for tbe society of sentimental young ladies.

This 1s what men of education and ability say: "Why should we wish to talk to women?" They can't discuss politics they are unable' fco converse on literature tbey are uninformed on tbe leading topics of the day they can't see the point to a joke, much less have tbey any wit of their own we are too old to talk sentiment we despise society gossip now what in the world are we going to talk about?"

Prominent men say there are not half a dozen fine conversationalists among the ladies of Terre Haute. Women are not altogether to blame because tbey cannot talk well. It takes something more than literary culture to make one's conversation interesting. It is highly essential that one should mingle with intelligent people. Men are continually sharpening their wits upon one another, but any woman who ever tried to be witty at tbe expense of another woman will assure you that she never cared to repeat the experiment. However, when a lady, through natural genius or fortunate surroundings, succeeds in making her conversation animated, sparkling and intelligent, she does not lack appreciation from the gentlemen. They are happy to pay her homage, and do not hesitate to express their admiration, always qualifying it by saying, "She's an exception to most of her sex.

As men grow older andjwiser a pretty face ceases to attract, or, at best, wins only a passing glance, a fleeting thought, but all men, young and old, learned and ignorant, must acknowledge the power of an intellectual woman.

Women have depended for ages upon their beauty and grace in winning the masculine heart and these will ever have a potent charm, but their day of triumph is so short tbat their fair possessors must seek for some other power to retain their sovereignity. „t

Sinoe men are so prone to seek tbe society of their own sex, to the utter disregard of the other, there seems to be only two .resouroes for tbe neglected women: one is to educate themselves in such a manner as to form a counter attraction which shall prove strong enough to win back tbe recreant bus* bands and lovers the otber is, to train themselves for such pursuits,^ as will render them independent of these selfish indviduals and, paradoxical as it may seem, one of these courses will be almost certain to bring about the otber, lor when a woman cultivates a taste for reading, writing, and various literary pursuits, she generally" becomes so pleasantly occupied and absorbed as to be somewhat indifferent whether she has an admirer constantly at her side or not and whenever, by her genius and ability, she to able to render herself independent of the otber sex, tbeee very qualities make her so attractive that the/ universally seek her society.

In this connection is suggested another topic which It seems appropriate should be mentioned here. It is the very foolish idea which so many women entertain that, when they engage in various kinds of employment, hitherto appropriated by men, tbey should receive certain privileges doe their «*. I am remlndedfof a litU# incident at the

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2i. TERRE HAUTE, IND, SATURDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 23.1878. fVV- Ninth Year

University, when two or tbree of us very silly girls waited at tbe close of a alaaa and requested, as a favor, tbat we might remain seated when called upon to recite. Settling back in bis obair and adjusting bis spectacles, tbe Professor said: "There was much discussion in regard to admitting ladies to tbls Institution, but it was finally decided to reoeive them on equal terms with the gentlemen. If I should make tbe dlstinotion yon ask the equality would be destroyed. You shall receive the same rights as tbe boys, no more and no less, and I advise you not to make any other such requests." This prinolple sbould be Impressed upon tbe mind of every woman who enters any kind of business in which men are likewise employed. At the beginning she virtuslly says, "I engage In competition with say fellow workmen. Let me be judged by their standard, whether I succeed or fail," then go to work like a man and imk no favors. What right has lady clerk to suppose that somebody will run and fetoh a stool when she wants to reach an upper shelf? Why sbould the cashier or copyist expeotBome one to set a chair for her when she comes in, or open the door for her when she goes out? If a woman praatices law she need not want the lawyers to remove their hats or take their feet off the table when she enters the court room. Of course, as.a woman mingles dally and hourly in the prosaio routine of business, tbe reserve which surrouuds her in the seclusion of ber home melts away, and tbe man's gallantry decreases in a corresponding degree. Every wife has noticed the same oarelessness, but tbat does not prove that her husband has any less respect for ber, but only that be is too busy to keep up all tbe little courtesies so essential to courtship and the early days of the honeymoon. Yet should men choose to offer these attentions, accept tbem gracefully and grate fully. There are two characteristics which no woman should lay aside, ber dignity and her modesty. Iletaining these she need never fear insult or injury. They for a barrier whioh no man will ever attempt to overstep. She can be modest and dignified and womanly, and yet be a thorough, energetic business person, p-.*. *i

Sinoe women must go out'in the world and earn a livelihood, it will be muoh to their advantage to act in a sensible, matter-of-fact manner, discarding .all foolish notions about attentions and parlor etiquette, and doing their allotted work conscientiously and fearlessly. Above all do not make your sex a shield ior your delinquencies, but ratber let your your success and your prosperity be a tribute and an honor to your womanhood.

People and Things.

The meaning of tbe law depends upon what the judge thinks about it. A well-known musical professor says that long, thin fingers indicate a love for song.

Many men have been ruined by prosperity, and yet tbey always want to try it again. -f li«s

Never deal with anundertaker unless oompelled to he will always want to screw you down. "I simply throw this out as a suggestion," as the saloonist remarked when be flung an lmpeounious bummer out on the sidewalk.

You cannot tell a man who is contented in the world by merely looking at him. Tbe neatest fitting boot often covers a raging corn.

Rome Sentinel: Tbe wise man plaoeth tbe stock of his gun to his shoulder before he firetb, but the fool looketh down the barrel to see the ball start.

A patent medicine advertiser says fat is not conducive to long life. Tbat is so. A fat bog rarely lives through tbe winter.—Turner's Falls Reporter. ,'^

Mr. Moody went to Baltimore "to spend tbe winter in studybut he has changed his mind, and divided the city into four districts for missionary effort.

Philosophers say that shutting tbe eyes makes-the sense of hearing more acute. A wag says that this aooounts for tbe many closed eyes that are to be seen in church.

Tbe population of tbe world is now set down at 1,400,000,000, and P. T. Barnum will never be satisfied until be gets tbem all under one canvas.—Detroit FreePress^ A# a

Chicago allows an interval of only twelve hours between summer and winter pork packing. It Is pretty hard to tell whether you are eating summer pig

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A married couple in Msroa, Illinois, have lived together for ten years without a crow or cutting word. They are to travel next aammer with Barnum as living curiosities.

There are sixty-eeven different "sure cures" for consumption, and why consumptives will oonttnue to drop off Is a mystery to patent medicine men.—Detroit Free Press.

Mark Twain, describing tbe beauty of a certain evevening in the Buramdas,

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said it was sufficient to have directed his thoughts heavenward, bad there not been just enough of amateur piano musla to keep him reminded of the otber plsce.

Tbe Rev. Dr. Dixon, Methodist,of New Albany, replied to tbe accusation of trying to induce a young woman of bis congregation to elope with blm "It is an outrageous lie."

According to Dr. Tarnier, a milk diet will cure obesity. To cure indigestion chew green lesves when you are out walking—any leaf you choose, except those of noxious plants, of course. ("So," said a lady, reoently, to a merchant, "your pretty daughter has married a rich husband "Well," slowly replied tbe father, "I believe she has msrried a rioh man, but I understand he is a very poor busband." "Tbe Lord loveth a cheerful giver"— but there's no use chucking a copper cent into a contribution box ioud enough to make the folks on tbe back seat think the communion service has tumbled off tbe altar.—Elmlra Gazette.

Tbe Rev. Robert Cellyer, of Chicago, says: "In no land is there such a need tbat the rich and poor shall meet together so tbat there may be a blending of their life as in this of ours, and no land in which men can so ill afford to mass themselves into what some, call short- .. ... "b*» hairs and swallow-tails." "Can a man belong to a brass band and be a Christian asks an exchange. We see no impediment in the way. But if be is a member of a brass band, and is given to practicing on bis cornet or troth bone at home, it is an utter impossibility for the man living next door to be a Christian.—Norristown Herald.

One John Brinton, living somewhere in Iowa, had a fancy some years ago tbat Jerusalem would be a good place to start a whiskey saloon. His wife called him a fool and refused to go with him. He divided bis little property with her and went alone. He has been success ful, and she has now joined him. Foreign visitors are numerous, especially Americans and Englishmen, and John's saloon is appreciated. ui *4

A Missouri candidate during the late canvass hit upon the expedient of catching his breath when in tbe midst of hia mosMmpassioned burst of eloquence, placing his hand on his side, tottering a little and then, with an effort, saying, "Pardon me, my friends, but a wound reoeived in the late war, while fighting for your liberties, pains me at times." This took Immensely with that portion of tbe audience which was not familiar with his war record. In point of fact he never was in either army.

Twice already had the marriage of a young doctor and a rioh belle of Mount Sterling, 111., been postponed when tbe ekrds were Issued for a grand wedding party last week. The feast was set, the guests were met, but no bridegroom was there. The young lady went out to seek him, and found him at his room, deaddrunk. Going to tbe railroad station she took tbe first train tbat passed, gave tbe conduotor a ring to pay her fare, left the cars at Maoomb, and was only found next day by ber father and tbe sober and repentant lover. He was anxious to marry ber at once, but she refused ever to speak to him again. sesss=^==

eminitems.

-x?~r*r -..1 _____ Going the rounds of the proas tbe girl who waltaes.

Chicago Is about to establish a "home for female drunkards." It is not unoommon for Spanish ladies to possess a hundred fans. They collect and board tbem. „n

A Bridgeport mechanic shot himself when rejected by a young lady. Her judgment was correct.

It is when a woman tries to whistle that the great glory of her mouth is seen without being very much beard.

A Pike girl broke off with ber fellow because he was so bow legged »be oould not ait on hia lap.—Rochester Express.

Tbe man who is always bragging that his wife Is worth ber wight In gold always lets her get np in the night for tbe chlldren

Tbe Rev. James Berriman, of Davenport, Iowa, said tbat the woman who bleached ber hair or painted her lace was unfit to be a member of any church.

Tbe Buffalo Express gently.chides a Buffalo bride who got married In a pair of stockings valued at $150. One hundred and forty-nine dollars' worth of bonnet and one dollar's worth of stockings would have mademore show to the public

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A woman at a hotel table in Springfield, Mass., refused a potato that a waitress brought to her, because it was not mealy. Tbe waitress took It away, and returned with one of monstrous size. Tbe guest regarded tbat as an enormity, and boxed tbe waitress's ears. Tbe waitress retaliated by scratching. Then tbe two wsmen fougbtflike cats until parted by force.

A girl in J&t. Joeepb, Mo., went to a

drug store to buy arsenic with which to] serve. ***, Vs

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kill herself. Tbe clerk happened to know tbat she bad quarreled with her lover, and be guessed her purpose. He gave ber oorn atarob, and hurried out to tell ber lover. The lover repented having grieved the girl, went to Jber house, found her lying on a sofa waiting in vain to die of a dose of oorn starch, and made up with her.

4Scraps

of Style

Earrings are very small. Handkerchief caps are the most fashions ble.

Carrisge and indoor oostumes are demi-trained. Violet blue and garnet oontinue to be leading oolors. ,,.

Tbe darkest shade of garnet Is the most fssbionsble. Belts and side pockets are de rigeuer for street costumes.

Armure silk Is much used for parts of dressy silk toilets. Three keys is the latest device for shawl and bonnet pins. v.Ji

Short costumes are now de rigeuer for street wear when walking. Even great painters do not soorn to paint designs for fans nowadays.

Tbe finest Mosaic jewelry, in raised Venetian Mosaic glass flowers, is a revived fashion.

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Winter bonnets, like those of the fall and summer, will be of various shspes, and trimmed in various styles.

One of the prettiest metal or jet bonnet pins of tbe season Is a scythe or sickle holding down a reaped ear of wheat and a cut flower.

The fancy for plaid dresses oontinues but tbey are always oonsidered neglige or fatigue oostumes, or sre worn for travelling or for indoor toilets.

Mrs. Croly (Jenny June^writes thirtythree fashion letters every week, but is herself exceedingly plain in attire, wearing whatever is becoming without regard to the prevailing modes.

Dog skin gloves are in.general use with English lsdies, on account of their warmth and wearing qualities—a piece of oommon sense whioh might well be imitated by their American cousins of the gentler sex.

Bank up a summer bonnet with velvet and feathers, and fur and straw, and it is just as good a winter bonnet as anybody can make. Then put It on the back of tbe hair and let the ears freeze, and you will be in fssbion.—Peck's Sun.

New lace pins, in fine gold, are in the form of oars, brooms, trumpets, whip handles with tbe lash twisted around them, pens, keys, rolls of musio, sections of a fenoe with the bars balf down ladders on whose rungs flies, beetles, or tosds are perched, and others of strange devices.

The old-fashioned knitted thread edging is ooming in use again, and this industry will employ many bands skillful enough for the lntricste work. Dealers report a decided Increase in tbe demand for knitting pins. Tbe edging is not unlike Torchon lace in general effect when knitted on fine pins with number "fifty" or "sixty" ootton. Unbleached linen thread of about the same quality makes a handsome and durable laoe.

M. H. F. the New York woman correspondent of tbe St Louis Republican writes "Tbe London World is muoh excited over tbe Innovation in female toilette called tbe tea gown and foretell-* ing a standard of morality in accordance with the tea gown's looseness. It's just tbe other wsy. Tbe tea gown Is the outgrowth of laxity in society affairs. Alack, the tea gown is here. The fashionable girl of the period hss a pet dress in her toilette. Semi-fitting, watteaulsb, bung with pendant ribbons, tassels and fringes' made to lean open in spots and admit glimpses of wonderous lace creations of embroidered colored stockings and high heeled roeetted slippers, or slssbed kid botlnes. It is made with loose sleeves, eternally foiling back to tbe very shoulder and exposinging lovely arms. These dresses are called in London tea gowns and are worn In the presenoe of gentlemen, and through the entire day, sometimes. That imperative necessity of tbe strait-laced times, si dinner toilette, a regular sit up Sarah' Ann and show your breast pin'dress, la banished in favor of tbe tea gown, in which ladies lounge and put their arms over their heads, man-fashion' cock their feet on fenders and other-wise misbehave themselves. Tbe World bowls for its suppression, prophesies unutterable indiscretions ss the inevitable accompaniment of the dreadful gown. It Is understood Talmage will take it up as a text for a low^necked sermon, and that will establish its popularity.",.

V100 county contributed four more this week to its large delegation in the JeffersonvilJe penitentiary—James Cain and John Wilson for raiding Button 6c Co. and S. R. Freeman, John Carr for stealing |35 from Dennis Barrett, and James Brady for larceny. All plead guilty and go for two years each, except the latter, who has only one year t*

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