Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 9, Number 27, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 4 January 1879 — Page 1

Vol. 9.—No. 27,

THE MAIL

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

SECOND EDITION.

Town-Talk.

NOBODIES AND TRIFLES.

VI'm one of the nobodies of the world whose life is a round of petty trifles." So said one ki T. ^'s hearing, and so say good many whom T. T. doesgppfc '^hear and so feel a larger host who never put the feeling into words. The fact is that mere ordinary mortals make up the great bulk of human beings. There is now and then one who, as he passes along the streets, is pointed out as some eminent personage. There are a few for whom men make way. with deference or after whom they turn to look .with curiosity. There are names known familiarly throughout the city, the state the nation, the world, but T. T. and his readers do not bear these names. He and they are mere ordinary mortals, most of us belonging to the great class of nobodies in particular. And mo9t of these nobodies—and that means most people—are busy, year in and year out with around of little things, mere trifles. When the old year ended and the review came, it was very diffibult to find anything of importance done. The time bad gone as money goes from the purse and the wonder is what it all went for, and where It went. And the new year doesn't promise any particular change in th\* respect. Life is humdrum—a treadmill, and the most we care is to keep stepping. T.T. is not talking of the human butterflies, but of the busy working throng of men and women. What of all this work? It is spent in trifles chiefly. Nobodies, engaged in trifles, is the description that best suits the judgment of the most earnest of ipaen and women, or the sober review of life that cornea at the death and birth of the years.

AND YET

A good deal seems to come from these nobodies. There was a great army in our land a few years since, and it won a glorious victory, an army of nobodies. Not one in a hundred of those who did the fighting, bore a name known outside their own neighborhood or town. Not one in a thousand of those who fell or returned, bore a name familiar outside the State in which they lived. Hardly a score of the millions of both armies are known by name to any considerable oircle across the water. But these nobodies did the fighting, won the victory, and pushed this old jog-trot world forward very perceptibly on the track of right. And then behind this army was a moral sentiment that made the war a necessity. But those who held this sentiment, and whose opinions together made what is called public opinion, were chiefly nobodies in particular. Yet they were mighty. So is it in all contests. Whatever controversy or contest comes in this city, or any city, it is of the utmost importance that there be a correct public sentiment, and yet this powerful public is little more than the aggregate of mere ordinary mortals.

After all, these nobodies are not so much nobodies as they seem. Everybody is somebody, only a very few are bigger and more powerful somebodies than the rest.

ANB YET AGAIN,

these trifles which make up so much of life seem to result in somethisg more than trifles. It wasn't much that a boy should read one evening by a tlazlng pine knot, not much that he did this a good many evenings. .It wasn't anything great that the man did when he shouldered his ax in the morning and went off to his day's work. It was no great deed when the young man in the law office read his law books, or afterwards, as a lawyer, did the beat he oould in petty cases, and when better cases came continued to do the best he could. Trifles, all these, merely trifles, and yet when the emergency came Lincoln showed the world what a man he had made himself by these trifles. Circumstances do not make men. They simply show what the «nan has made himself. Circumstances bring out what is in a TTIIMI, bring out, but not create. And this self making goes on while men are engaged in trifles. Just before New Yean the leading member of an iropor-

tant firm went to a young man whom T. T. knows aiid engaged his services for the year to oome at nearly twice the wages he bad been getting. "We have been watching you," said the man, "and want you." Watching him! And yet he bad not been doing anything in particular. But his manner of doing that nothing in particular gave bina his new and better place. This is a fact, and not a pretty fiction of T. T.'s brain. After all these trifles are not so much trifles as they seem. The fact is there are no nobodies, and no trifles. Everybody is Important, and every deed of every body is important. Some are more so than others, and it is Hot for the doer to tell which is the more important. All are worth doing the best possible.

A Woman's Opinions,

He that loves a rosy cheek, Or a coral Hp admires, Or from starlike eyes doth seek

Fnel to maintain his fires As old time makes these decay, So his flames must waste away. —Thomas Carew. So long as beautiful women exist upon the faoe of the earth, so long will they find worshippers, so long will poets sing of their beauty and artists immortalize it upon the speaking canvas. Very few authors have dared to represent their heroines otherwise than exceedingly lovely. What woman could desire a higher compliment than to be called "the handsomest of her sex?" Every young gentleman feels a glow of pride in having it said, "He has captured the prettiest girl in town." Byron should have sung, "Beauty wins its way where seraphs might despair." There is no charm so potent, and what beautiful woman is not conscious of her power Cleopatra felt this when she caused herself to be wrapped in carpets and conveyed into the presence of the mighty Csasar, who had defied.her, and when he looked upon her beauty, the invincible warrior fell at her feet conquered and captive. The noted women of the Bible are described as possessing "exceeding beauty," and history comes down to us with the records ol many women distinguished for their loveliness. It seems that in the olden times women could have very little chance of fame were they not endowed with the charm of beauty. They were deprived of all advantages and could not hopejto excel in the arts and sciences literature was striotly forbidden and they could not win distinction in letters then, unless they happened to be placed in some trying situation which called out their slumbering energies and showed forth their latent power, they could only expeot to die, and when their generation died, pass into oblivion. Considering their narrow sphere,their fettered hands, their imprisoned minds, it seems wonderful that so many names should have been handed down to posterity, immortalized by some distinguishing trait of character. Each generation has added a greater number, as their opportunities have been enlarged, and in future ages, side by side with the record of every man who has, proven an honor to his nation will be found the history of some woman who has nobly fulfilled her destiny and won an imperishable fame. There never will be a time when beauty will not have power to impress the masculine heart, but, in this age, if a woman has not been born with personal beauty she need not consider her, life a failure. If the prospects of women have changed, so have the tastes of men, and when they seek for a wife, while beauty is still desirable and domestic fitness is not to ok at on tfP and conversational ability are of importance and I question whetJ man would not just as lief his int guests would find some mistake in dinner a# to introduce to them a 4/ife who could cook but not converse, who had mastered every receipt in her kitchen manual but was totally ignorant of all other literature. Men are exacting they love their creature comforts, their well ordered housos, their favorite dishes at the table but they want also a wife who will reflect credit upon them in society, who will entertain their friends intelligently, and one upon.whose judgment and advice they can ever rely. Much curiosity is always felt respecting the wives of our prominent men, and we always feel gratified to learn that they are women of fine presenoe, witty cultured and intellectual but hear with disappointment, that they are commonplace, stupid and uneducated. There is no excuse for a man who habitually neglects his wife and seeks society elsewhere than at home, but one cannot help feeling sorry for him who is oompelled to spend a lifetime in the society of a woman, affectionate and devoted perhaps, but who has no fixed^deas of her own and cannot comprehend those of her husband not that intellect can take the place of wifely love, but it forms a strong link in the chain of conjugal fidelity. I have often heard married men say In all seriousness and candor,

We have been married so iong*we have told each other all we ever knew and have nothing to talkjabout." This indicates a vacancy somewhere, but I should just as soon think it was in the husband's

TERRE HAUTE, IKD., SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 4,1879.

mind as th9 wife's. Young people are apt to imagine married life as a succession of long evenings which are to be spent in kisses, caresses and sweet words, and it desn't seem possible that these pleasures could 'grow monotonous, but they do, and^fortunate Is the'wedded couple who oan interchange thoughts and opinions upon other subjects than that of love. With good conversational faculties and an abundanoe of standard reading matter, they have an inexhaustible fount from which they may draw inspiration for many an ev§ning's entertainment.

Thus far a thorough mental training has been recommended solely for the benefit of the married woman, but there is another object to be considered of vastly more importance, viz: the advantage of a good education to the single woman. It is not necessary to use any arguments in favor of educating our girls, as everybody admits that this ought to be done, but the great mistake made is in not teaching them to make praotical use of their knowledge, and thus they soon forget what they took such pains to learn. The prejudice which has always existed against a woman's earning her own living is giving place to broader and more.,sensible views, and girls who take care of them selves .are more highly respected than those who continue to remain a helpless weight upon an overtaxed father,waiting for the coming man to shift the burden upon his own shoulders. But the young men are not such fools as one might suppose. With all their love-making and sentimental nonsenso, they still have an eye on the practicalities, and unless they are very young and very soft, it will occur to them that a shiftless daughter may make a useless wife and they will be very careful how they as3ume such a great responsibility.

The odium that has, heretofore, attached itself to the name of "strongminded," has had much effect in keeping women from going out to battle for themselves. The word called to mind visions of bard-featured, short-haired, bloomer-clad females, whose womanly grace had given place to an unbecoming boldness, but it finally dawned upon enlightened people that such women gave evidence of a weak mind rather than a strong one, and hence the title is no longer a term of reproach. However, there still lingers an old-fashioned idea that woman is a gentle, shrinking creature, to be carefully protected, from the hardships of life her delicacy has been compared to the down on the peach, the bloom on the grape, the dew on the rosebud she is likened to a tender flower that must not be too roughly shaken by the wind and Byron says, "Dear is the helpless creature we defend against the world." Would that these similies were always appropriate would that the lives of all women might be sheltered and oared for by strong and loving hearts but some flowers are born to bloom upon the mountain side and receive the storms and snows of winter without shelter or protection, and with a brave and hardy spirit, lift up their sweet blossoms to the blue sky when the fierce ulasts have passed over. Life's merciless realities brush away the bloom of dreamy youth,and the brave hearts upon which we leaned with love and trust are taken away forever, BlushAi and bloom for sweet sixteen, the rose-tinted dawn of life, but work, tireless and unremitting, for those who have passed the romantic boundaries of youth.

Girls in their teens have but one ambition, to be flattered, petted, loved and married. Many of these pass through life without care or trouble, and to them it is useless to talk of the necessity that exists for women to be brave, earnest and industrious. There can be no sympathy between the two classes. Just as the "bondholders" are separated from the "worklngmen," so are the wealthy and indulged wives separated from the workingwomen. I am glad that some womM can wear purple and fine linen and enjoy all the good things of life, but it is not from them we can expect 9 nobler race. Self-reliance is born from adversity, and it is not till women are forced to rely upon themselves that they will ask for an opportunity to show their power. As yet they are weak, ignorant of their own ability, trammeled by false ideas or propriety, struggling along in a vague, unsystematic fashion, but yet slowly progressing and improving. They have much to learn and so much to unlearn. Whatever work a woman has chosen, she oan never hope to reach perfection if she consider it only a transient employment, which will bring in a few dollars, until something better turns up in the shape of a husband. So long^ as marriage is considered the chief end4 of woman and everything is made subservient to this end, just so long may we expect unskilled and imperfect laborers, but if women will only throw themselves heart and soul into their work, making it the object of their lives, then and not till then can we judge of woman's ability as compared with man's. Whether you write or teach, or clerk, or weave, or eook, do it with a will and energy and ambition, as if you expected to do nothing else for a hun­

dred years to come. If, in the meanwhile, some man happens along and, struck by your industry and independence, concludes he'd like to have you work for him, accept his offer, but don't scare him away by any stipulations as to how many hours you shall labor or what wages you shall receive. Enter his employ, serve him faithfully, and be oontent with whatever small change he may choose te bestow upon you. If, sometimes, a discontented feeling creeps over you that you don't exactly get your dues, solace yourself with the swept reflection that whatever hardships you may have to endure, thank Heaven you will not die "an old, old maid!"

Written for The Mail.

A NEW YEAR'S GIFT.

With the New Year, I fain would ask to be Made rich in that, kiad Heaven can only send That of its work, the share allotted me,

Be well begun, that peace may crown its end. For this my soul has pined and waited long

In voiceless words has made its yearnings known It is the key-note of its own true song,

Which struck, will give a fuller, purer tone. I do not ask this gift because I know

Life would be dearer, happier lar to me But, in the giving, would on me bestow A higher life than this, without can be. In the past year my soul grew faint, and then

I longed to wander in the valleys fair, And pluck with careless lingers once again, The fragrant roses ever blooming there. Yet still, I know no more will bloom the

T086S

No more can I thro'valleys green be led But for away, a path to me discloses New fields of promise where my feet may tread.

v.

.-

jfair fields are these stretching so far away, Filled with the green and growing,tender grain Which soon will ripen for the harvest day,

Beneath the summer sua aad summer rain. This rich gift mine, I, in the harvest fields

Would uot be idle, but, when work is done-:-Its heat and burden borne—of the rich yields,

I might bring lipmesheaves golden as the sua. Then could I rest me in the valleys fair,"

Not bright as then, with summer's gayest flowers But filled with ripening fruitage, rich and rare,

Which I may gather in the autumn hours. O, may the year bring this—the strength I Courage to dare, lest doubts should traitors be And, inpurpose true, find the rich meed

Of "Heart's-Ease," brought to me.

J£ear

has

W. E.

Scraps of Style.

Fringe was never more fashionable. Fashion seems to favor felt bonnets. The hair should be worn low in the neck.

Walking shoes have small round box toes. Very high, narrow back combs are worn.

Fancy, basket woven ribbons are shown for ladies neck wear. The favoite button is the Japanese, in metals of three colors.

Fashionable walking boots have cloth tops to match the costume. Paniers for making full dress toilets bouffant on the hips are in the market.

Women are wearing a broader, more comfortable and more sensible style dt shoe.

Bonnet strings are no longer crossed in the baok over the hair or in the nape of the neck by fashionable women.

A magnificent set of Russian sables were recently sold in New York for |15, 000.

The dark border formerly in vogue on finger-nails is not oonAdered in good taste when accompanied with diamonds, though a few conservative ladies still adhere to the old custom.—Boston Transcript.

Chicken feathers are imported largely to thisoountry from Nassau, in Holland, and dyed and manipulated in New York. These are very beautiful when finished and are known umler the general*term of Nassaus.

There is still an excessive demand for

mere is swu an v„

wu.«,u

terials shot with gold passamenterie,

cuffs of the same far finish tne sleeves, and from under the wide pooket caps, protrude a tiny edge of the fur, which consists only of a very narrow strip of the skin that is sewed into them with silk lining. The buttons are large, of silk crochet, black or embroidery. The bonnet and muff should be to matoh.

THE CHRISTMAS MAIL.

KIND WORDS OF THE PRESS.

WHEREFORE THE EDITOR BLUSHES.

Rockville Tribune.

The holiday number of The Saturday Evening Mail was the finset number of a newspaper ever issued in this part of the State. It contained twelve pages, of six columns, beautifully illustrated and full of choice reading matter and attractive advertisements, printed in fine style on clear book paper. Mr. Westfall is to be congratulated on his effort to please his patrons.

A DETERMINATION TO PLEASE. Lafayette Sunday Leader. The Christmas edition of "The Mail," of Terre Haute, reflects much credit on the energy of Mr. Westfall, the enterprising proprietor. The appropriate illustrations, as well as the selection of reading matter specially adapted to Christmas times, both in the regular and extra issue, evince a determination to please without regard to expenditure.

NEW LUSTER TO THIS ALREADY POPULAR WEEKLY. Marshall Messenger.

Its Christmas number pre­

sents to the 20,000 readers of The Mall 12 pages, beautifully embellished, and full of interesting reading. This number adds new luster to this already popular weekly. Mr. Westfall's energy and enterprise equals that of any of noted eastern publishers. The Mail should be in every household,.

1

that the

THE PIONEER, '.J Modern Argo.

The Saturday Mail (Terre Haute), the pioneer in Saturday evening journalism, came out last Saturday, as a Christmas number, with twelve pages, and many illustrations, going to show that The Mail is prosperous, liberal and enterprising.

BEST OF ITS CLASS. Mattoon Journal. ,#

Tne grand Christmas number of l£he Terre Haute Evening Mail is at hand, a twelve page sheet, filled with story, song and news, and handsomely embellished and printed. The Evening Mail is the best paper of its class in the country.

SHOULD BE IN EVERY HOUSEHOLD. Clinton Indianiaa. Our friend Westfall, of The Terre Haute Mail, sends out a magnificent Christmas number of his ever-welcome paper, and nothing gives us more pleasure than to notice this evidence of prosperity. The Mail, in point of merit, Is far ahead of many other literary journals of greater pretensions, and should be in every household in the land.

A SUPERB ISSUE. Vincennes Times.

The Terre Haute Evening Mail, Christmas edition, is a superb issue, illustrated with Santa Claus pictures and filled with most chotaer&ading. This issue contains twelve pages, and is one among the best family papers published. Price, |2 per vear. We wish our old friend, Perry Westfall. the editor and proprietor, the best of luck. Here's to thesuocess of The Mail, and the happiness and prosperity of Its proprietor and family.

ALWAYS FULL OF GOOD THINGS. Champaign, Ills., Gaaette. The Saturday Evening Mail, printed at Terre Haute, Indiana, by P. S. Westfall, is one of our most welcome exchanges. It is always full of good things, and on Christmas was doubly so. It was beautifully illustrated and contained twelve pages of carefully selected matter.

BORDERS ON THE IMMENSE. Carlisle Democrat. The T. H. Saturday Evening Mail published a holiday number last week that borders on the

Immense. It is brllllantlv

illustrated, and oonsists of 12 pages, all of which are filled with matter of surpassing excellence. Mr. Westfall, the editor and proprietor, is one of the most enterprising of Indiana's go-ahead journalists.

BEST LITERARY JOURNALISTIC EFFORT. vincennes Commercial.

The

Christmas number of the Terre Haute Saturday Evening Mail is the best journalistic effort we have ever known

A yery dl.th.gu. 1. pWo nS^Slr Lyons velvet, deeply bordered on the hem of its short and narrow round skirt, a quarter of a yard deep with soft, thiok, silver-gray chinchilla—the latter c^rtipg forty dollars a yard. toT^i^pages~for its Christmas Mm-

EDITORIALS UNUSUALLY BRIGHT. Baltimore Every Saturday. The Saturday Evening Mail, of Terre Haute, comes to us this week Increased to

Byzantine styles and patterns with ber, and presents a most creditable apcolowd Btoaes, govern g.nUemen'.. ua»r.., rings. These are mounted in dead gold

and seversf combinations are used. Rubies, sapphires and emeralds, are favorites, and the cat's-eye is also much used.

r|ajg are

unusually bright.

alld!lls worth fiv

Dri^.

The

small serpents. A garment is becoming very popular which much resembles a gentleman's long trock art, worn battoDedetoee to cSw™., the -figure. It is double-breasted, and it is a beauty, and Mr. thewide collar and shawl-shaped lapels Waatfall has fairly eclipsed all other are of chinchilla, in Ruartau-gtyle. Deep jjourufchsfca.itt the appearance of papers-

'mi4*

IT COMMUNICATES GOOD. S2 Paris Times.

Je Terre Haute Evening Mall is an excellent paper, and persons who read

,v. it have been «nd will be beJetted. .It

gUded ornament, tor bonnet. iub£&l?n

gilded ornaments for bonnets ana ma-

Jtimes the subscription

TERRE HAUTE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE •.» MAIL. Indianapolis Herald.

laoe and ribbon with gold tinsels Intermixed are all much used. A ^peculiar ornament are the rows of gilt pearls, the effect being excellent. The insect patterns of ornaments are still much used, the principal designs being green and H^a^^be'^u^ o"f"The Mail, and gold lizards, bees, beetles, butterflies and

The Christmas edition of The Terre Haute Mail was a pretentious affair of twelve pases,profusely illustrated. Terre

should be proud of Terre

Haute* wsz. *1 PSED ALL OTHERS*

West End Notes In Western Indlanan. The Saturday Evening Mail comes to

Ninth Year

REGULAR ISSUES HARD TO BEAT. St. Louis Spirit. The Terre Haute Saturday Evening Mail published an extra Christmas number, which was very handsome in typography, and exceedingly interesting its contents. It is bard to beat the regular issues of The Mail, but in this instance the proprietor more than did himself credit. WELL PATRONIZED BY THE BUSINESS MEN

Brazil Mirror.

The Terre Haute Mail issued a fine Christmas edition, full of illustrations, and it was well patronized by the business men of that city.

THIRTY-FIVE COLUMNS OF ADVERTISEMENTS. Peoria Call.

The Terre Haute (I-nd.) Mail issued a handsome holiday edition last week, containing thirty-five columns of advertisements. Holiday editions have been a special feature this year among newspapers. ONE OF THE BEST FAMILY PAPERS IN THE -J', WEST.' "3,

15

B1 Domington Leader

f'

The Christmas number of the Terre Haute Saturday Evening Mail is at hand. It is much enlarged and beautifully illustrated, and sparkling with holiday notes. The Mail is one of the best family papers in the West.

A

A SPLENDID CHRISTMAS PAPER. Cincinnati Saturday Night. The Terre Haute "Saturday Evening Mail" got out a splendid illustrated Christmas paper, on Saturday last. It consisted of twelve pages—seventy-two columns in alL

SHOWS ENERGY. Marshall Herald.

It presents a fine appearance and shows the energy and thrift of neighbor Westfall.

UNUSUALLY

BRIGHT.

Cleveland Voice.

The Christmas edition of The Terre Haute Mail was unusually bright. It contained twelve pages of choice reading matter interspersed with a large number of cuts calculated to enliven the numbeT.

A CREDIT TO TERRE HAUTE. Chicago Sat. Herald. That sterling paper, T^ie Saturday Evening Mail, of Terre Haute, Rid:, comes tnis week with holiday illustrations and four extra pages. It is full of entertaining matter and ia a aredit to Terre Haute. "THE MAIL IS ONE OF OUR PETS."

Bloomington, Ills., Sunday Eye The last Terre Haute Mail was one of the holiday specimens of weekly journalism visiting our sanotum. It was worked upon twelve pases of heavy white book paper,hansomely illustrated, and its contents were unusually sparkling and delightful. The Mail is one of our pets, ana we regret that we are not personally acquainted with its said-to-be handsome and genial editor.

AN EX4MPLE OF WESTERN ENTERPRISE. Troy, N Observer Our weekly exchanges nearly all appeared with Christmas supplements or Jouble numbers. The most notable, an example of Wesfern enterprise, is the Terre Haute, Ind., Mail. The publisher treated his readers to a finely printed, double number, profusely illustrated and brimming over with holiday reacting matter.

A DELIGHTFUL PURIFICATION. Rochester, N Herald The Christmas number of the Terre Haute Saturday Evening Mail was a very attractive and delightful publication. The illustrations were unusually fine for a paper of its charaotei", and the Christmas stories and poetry must have afforded the greatest pleasure to The Mail's readers.

A GOOD FAMILY JOURNAL. Newport Hoosler State.

The Christmas copy of the Terre Haute Mail was a regular Deauty. The Mail la a good family journal, and is deeerviag of a liberal support by all.

THE BE8T STORY PAPER.' Paris Republlccan.

The Christmas number of the T. H. Mail was crowded with good things. It is the best story paper published in this part of the country. It can be had at the P. O. lobby. hand-

A handsome twelve somely illustrated," said the Daily Express. "Our ?erre Haute Mall, however distanced all competitors in that line," remarked the Daily Gazette. "A fat edition," said the Indianapolis Journal. "The Mail believes in keeping pace with the times," said the Crawforasville Journal. "A splendid Christmas number," exclaimed the Sullivan Democrat. "And presents a fine appearance," observed the Clay City Review. "As a Christmas paper it is the best we have seen."—Brazil Enterprise^

NO OA USE TO.

Philadelphia Chronlole-Hemld' Mr. Hayes is described as a man who don't fret. Any man who gets 160,000 a year would be a fool to do sos

WHEN THE BILLS COME IN. Philadelphia Star. Chrifttmaa being over, economic resolutions are now in order.

MARRIAGE LICENSES. The following marriage licenses have been issued since our last report:

James Dunbar and M&igaret Black. Nelson Hughes and Elizabeth J. Loper. Solomon Monroe and Mary L. Edgerton. Thos. J. McOrath and Oily A. Engwall. Lewis Stark and Rodell welch. Arnold McKee and Mallnda J, Rooke. George W. Harsh burger and Anna R, Mc-

^Charles H. Little and Mary C. Pound. TjOT'ta F. Hoffman and Emma Neukom. Lloyd B. Loveall and Susanna Milam.

WiUlam W. Shumard and Lucy B. Green. Joseph M. err ell and Annie E. Hale.