Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 9, Number 30, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 25 January 1879 — Page 1

Vol. 9.—No 30.

THE MAIL

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

SECOND EDITION.

Town-Talk.

BLUNDERING COMFORTERS. T. T. never set it down against the politeness of old Job that to their faces he told the friends who called upon him in his affliction that they were "miserable comforters." They were worse than the boils, and they made the death of bis children and loss of his property worse than these would otherwise have been. If Mrs. Job had advised profanity whilo these friends were offering their consolation it isn't certain that Job would have resisted. T. T. is quite oertain that he himself would not, though he seta up for a very fair specimen of patience. But if T. T. is not mistaken many a man and woman in Terre Haute, when politely dismissing some callers and possibly thanking them for their call, in days of trouble, have felt, deep down in their hearts, "miserable comforters are ye all." The fact is that comforters are born and not made, and there are few things which people have done so much at and yet blunder in so outrageously as in attempts to give comfort.

There are plenty of people—or if not plenty of them, very many—with warm and sympathetic hearts, who really want to help those who are in affliction, and try to do so, but their efforts are much like that of an awkward fellow whom T, T. saw attempting to help a lady out of a carriage. The lady was quite able to take care of herself and could have alighted alone in safety. Nevertheless a little polite attention would doubtless have pleased her, if it had not been of real assistance. But this fellow managed the assistance so awkwardly that both himself and the lady sprawled on the sidewalk. So Tt T. has seen people who would manage to get along with their burden of sorrows quite comfortably—though they would very likely have tottered somewhat under it—had it not been for the oomforters who offered them assistance.

There is the TALKING COMFORTER, Who gabs, gabs, gabs. Shallow brooks make the most noise, and shallow comforters are worse yet. The depth of sympathy is in Inverse ratio to the rattling of the tongue. One may a* w*ll talk to a man stunued with a sua.leu blow as to talk to people in the Ireshness of a great affliction, and it doesn't matter whether it is sense or nonsense that is talked. There is one comfort In that, for a great part of this gab is the merest nonsense. T. T. has seen one, just taken from the deathbed of a friend, made almost Insane by the Incessant talking of one trying to give comfort. And then came the callers. Now and then one would give a warm pressure of the hand and say a word expressing sympathy sometimes one wouldn't ««y anything and sometimes simply a card would be sent in with a kind message but these were the exceptions. For thd most part it was talk, talk, talk. And such talk! Some said, "Well, after all you wouldn't have him back." Wouldn't the mother have the tflby back whose going has broken her heart? Wouldn't the husband have the wife, or the wife the husband back? There isn't a possession with which they would not part to have the little one, or the companion back again! It is twaddle—and none the better because it IB supposed to be pious, (it isn't pious,) to talk about not wishing them back. Some said, "Ah well, God saw you were loving him too much, making an idol of him." Afoul slander on God, as if a Father better than any earthly father, was jealous of one of his children because he thought so mush of a present whioh lie bad given and besides this, if it were true, —as it is not—it were only an addition to the pain already felt. Great comfort, to tell a mother that she has behaved so badly that God wouldn't let her have ber child any longer! Then there were others who said very sensible things',1)01 this was not the time for even those. There are lessons to be taught by affliction, and there is comfort to be given, but everything in its time.

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Then, worst of all ttieiot are

"THE HARROWING COMFORTERS." Anger isn't just the feeling that funeral services are intended to excite, and yet T. T., who is a good natured man, though he says it that ahouldn't, has sometimes been made fighting mad by the talk and prayer on suoh oooasions. Who has not heard .'some.well meaning, but blundering minister ring the changes on the "prattle that shall never more be heard in the household," and "the patter of the little feet," and "laying by the clothes," and so on, till the whole roomful 0/ people is oonyulsed with weeping, and some poor mother or father absolutely groans with the pain inflicted Who has not heard the most heartrending contrasts drawn between the past days of happiness and the future days of lonely widowhood? Who has not heard the joyless and dreary home dwelt upon till it seemed tenfold more joyless and dreary than before? Out upon this painting of horrors in all, and more than all their native hideousness. And yet this is the sort of stuff with which, in talk, and prayer, and rhyme, people attempt to comfort the sorrowing. True there lseotnetbing thrown in about the good that is coming by and by. But where is the sense of dealing a smart blow upon a sore spot for the sake of saying that it will feel better when it gets done aching T. T. pleads for less talk in the early days of grief, and for making that which is necessary more cheerful. Do not let the sorrowing be goaded to desperation by incessant gab, and do not pull open wounds under the impression that it is necessary in order bind them up. T. T. has become somewhat warm over this subject, because he shudders at the experiences which prompt the plea. I

A Woman's Opinions,

One cannot help, as he grows older, becoming more and more impressed with the necessity of laying up money while young. It is a hackneyed phrase but just as true as it is trite. But the question may be asked, should it be one of the great objects of a man's life to gain a competence? Most assuredly, yes. Every man should start out in life with the intention of amassing at least a comfortable fortune. The man who, having possessed ample means, permits them to be wasted or squandered through bis negligence or tolly, commits a crime against his wife and children. It is a man's duty to provide for his family in case of his decease. It does not necessarily follow that because a man devotes his energies to making money he must neglect all the other duties of life, or that be shonld beoome bard, selfish and miserly. If be is industrious, economical and a good manager, always living within his income and investing bis surplus funds with care and judgment, he may, in his old age, be the possessor of a snug fortune, and yet have lived an honorable and irreproachable life. There is always a suggestion of dishonesty in those men who become suddenly wealthy and I would not wish to be understood as referring to them for an example, but only as holding up for your commendation the men who are honestly rich. There is very little that wealth will not purchase. It is said money will not buy true friendship, yet the wealthy are constantly surrounded by friends who have every appearance of being faithful. They are just as ready to help one another in times of siokness and death, iust as kind and sympathetic as are the poorer classes, and even more so, for they have more leisure In which to give assistance. There is just as much petty Jealousy and envy and strife among the poor as among the rich. It Is said money will not purchase health. True, yet it will obtain everything on earth to alleviate suffering and make sickness endurable. The wealthy are no more liable to disease than the poor, and in many instances the poor man dies alone, neglected, uncared-for, and is buried in a pauper's gfavp, while the rich man, even though a stranger in a strange land, will have physicians, nurses, medicines, delicacies, and if he dies, a satin-lined casket and a grave in Greenwood. The poor man, unless he happen to be a genius, exerts no influence outside bis small acquaintance the rich one can endow colleges, build railroads, found charitable institutions and be of great benefit to the entire community. Every argument is in favor of honest wealth. Imagine the change that would be wrought In our oity if every man were to resolve that he would build himself a home, that he would educate his cbildrsn and, by his industry, provide a competency for his old age. He would have no time for rioting and drunkenness his children would not grow up in idleness and beggary tipon the streets and the wretched hovels which engender disease and immorality would give place to abodes of neatness and comfort. There are circumstances, such as sickness and misfortunes of various kinds, which may tend to keep a man poor in spite of all his efforts, but in the majority of cases the causes of poverty may be summed up in two words, shiftlessness and mismanagement. Stagnant water and de

TERRE HAUTE, IND., SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 25.1879.

cayed matter is allowed to collect around their houses, and the result is protracted sickness the fences tumble down and are not repaired, then the cattle stray upon the railroad track and are killed the bouse burns to the ground and of oourse has not a cent of insurance on it and about this time the unfortunate men will have to begin paying up security debts for their friends. The chief trouble is that not until middle age does it dawn upon men's minds that they have lost the best part of their lives. If people do not save money when they are young, the chanoes are they will never do it. Before we have tasted the luxuries of life it is easy to do without them, but, as, one after another, they creep into our lives, they soon beoome a necessity, and we cannot give them up unless compelled to do so. Then again, very little Is expected of young married folks. Sensible people are gratified to see them commence life in a modest, economical way and are glad to encourage them but where they begin in dashing style, with elegant furniture, servants, carriage, etc., everybody predicts a grand tumble, a prediction which is generally fulfilled. Money invested in silver and china and handsome wearing apparel, will not come back in the shape of bank stock, nor will it bear ten per cent interest. It is gone beyond recall. The first step with every young professional man, mechanic or one who draws a salary should be to buy a home. Of course if he is engaged in a business whioh requires capital it would be better for him to keep his capital here, but where bis brains or bis hands constitute his capital by all means be should purchase a home, economize and pay for it and then, come what may, his family is sheltered.

There is a pride in owning one's home and it comes natural io make a few sacrifices in order to furnish and beautify It and render It a spot to which the memory of our children will cling with tenderness.

Men are so apt to think, "I am in the prime and vigor of manhood. I will enjoy myself now and after awhile I will provide for the future." There is a zenith in the life of every man after which his powers begin to wane, and it, is before he reaches this turning point that the best and strongest efforts of his life must be made.

Instances might be multiplied indefinitely, but the experience of each reader will perhaps furnish more striking ones than I can give, and every one illustrates with striking force that the time to lay the solid foundation for a competence that will make old age happy and pleasant is early in life while we are young and strong and able to endure hardships with alight and cheerful heart. __________'1= .-

V, OUR BOOK TABLE

THE MAN WHO* TRAMPS A Story of To-day, by Lee O. Harris. Terre Haute: E. L. Godecke. $1.50.

The author of this volume is superintendendent of the public schools at Lewisville this State. He has constructed a narrative quite fascinating, and, dealing with a topic of the times, furnishes food for every reasoning mind. The aim of the author is to assist ia solving the problem, at the present time of the utmost importance to the welfare of the country—"What to do with The Man Who Tramps?" Under the guise of an interesting story he endeavors to awaken an interest in this subject sufficient to arouse the people to the danger of longer ignoring this terrible and growing evil, and lead them to devise means for its abatement

TO "WOMAN'S OPINIONS" Now we can agree with you you are orthodox on the subject of a Public Library. Say it again, and again. A little town like Muncie, even if it did send forth such tf missionary as yourself, should not be ahead of a great city like Tene Haute. Please be patient and stick to your text. There-is a constituency who will vote with you. Why not get up a petition to our honorable council? All the city fathers desire to know is the will of the people. A good long memorial with a few thousand names attached would cenvinc them and they all stand ready to hearken to the most sweet voices. A stock company with all the legal requirements has already been in existence two years. Let us hear from you again.

MANY THANKS.

FABMERSB URQ NEWS, Temperance is reviving here. We have had a series of goodjlectures during the past few meetings, commencing with Rev. Meteer of Sullivan, who gave an enthusiastic speech, and followed by N. G. Buff, of Terre Haute, who in a matter-of-fact manner gave a good, sound speech. Monday night Mr. Ambrose, of Terre Haute, made a new departure in the manner of lecturing. His speech took well with the audience and they heartily invite him to visit again at his convenience. Our crowd is increasing each evening. We expect Captain Rosette on next Tuesday night. We invite especially those who work in the temperance cause to visit us. ^H.

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Feminitems.

Girls who part their hair on the side look fast. A young lady should never stretoh her feet out in company.

A pink ribbon under the ohjt^jauLkea a pale woman look brighter. iifwj Paris belles nowadays wear jackets, vests, cravats and masculine collars.

The prettiest designs in fans are adorned with pictures of low-necked angels. She was baptized Ann Eliza, and then she sighed that her name was not Maud Ethel or something of that fine sort.

Spring bonnets, it is announced, will be worn on the head. Can it be possible that fashionable ladies are coming back to their senses?

Lower California papers speaks highly of a girl of fifteen who shot a large sized Qatamount. She wants to know what does a catamount to, anyway. "Everything progresses excepting woman's taste in dress. Custom cannot stale Its infinite variety, but it moves in a cirole, and ever and anon returns to the starting point.—D'Orsay.

A girl in Louisville chewed gum until she could not stop working her jaws. It required chloroform to arrest the spasm of the muscles. This is a solemn warning to those who talk too much with their mouths, "More than fifty ladtiea," we rp&d in a New York paper, "representing the elite class of society, were brought up before the court on the day after New Year's, and fined for being drunk and disorderly, having imbibed too much wine with callers!" Comment is unnecessary.

She was trimming the lamps, and just as a wiok dropped out of reach her mother heard her exclaim, "Oh, the Dickens!" "There! there, my child! why will you indulge in such expressions?" Then she fingered for the lost wick and exclaimed: "Why, ma! isn't that a natural suggestion of Pickwick

She figured up—"Two cans at 20 cents, 40 cents—that is 150 oysters milk, butter and sundries, that is $1.50—that is 150 stews at 25 cents, will be f40. A net profit of over $35." Then she smiled sweetly, and the oyster man knew that she was the refreshment committe of the church festival.—St. Louis Spirit.^

London has a book in circulation in which all marriageable girls who are in possession of a fortune of twelve hundred pounds per year are registered. It gives their pedigree, age, temper, appearance, and social position. The noble young Briton who is too lazy to work, and too proud to beg, is thus enabled to select a woman who can support him.

A lady taking tea at a small company, being very fond of hot rolls, was asked to have another. "Really, I cannot," she modestly replied "I don't know how many I have eaten already." "I do," unexpectedly cried a juvenile upstart, whose mother had allowed him a seat at the table. "You've eaten eight I've been countin!"—Boston Transcript.

A Wisconsin girl put on trousers and started through the deep snow to walk six miles to a village for provisions, the family larder being empty. She soon became tired out, besides losing her way, and the cold was intense. A big Newfoundland dog which accompanied her was the means of saving her life. She scooped out a hollow In the snow, lay down in it, and made the warm dog lie on her, shifting him about so as to successively cover the coldest parts of ber body. In that way she passed a whole night, and was not very severely frostbitten. "With two or three more 'dogs," she says, "I would have got along very comfortably." ., 'ivM

New calico prints are arriving at the dry goods stores, and are the ugliest ever produced. The color is a dirty butternut brown, in figures or vines upon black ground work. The prints will, however, be extremely fashionable, and all the rage for a time, bnt, like other spasmodic folliea of fashion, short-lived. The same may be said of the nobby hoods now so generally worn by the ladies. A style has only to become common when the aristocratic element discards it, and from that period the mania is doomed, as imitation without a leader falls helpless by the wayside. A sensible way is to entirely avoid the dictations of fashionable follies live and dress independently, and recognize no ruler but your own common sense.

Dr. Hale, of Chicago, taking as his text the case of a woman who was ran over in the street and killed, because she drew back after starting to cross ahead of a pair of horses, says that he Is surprised that more women are not hurt in the same way.

woman starts to

cross the street," he says, "and when she gets one-third or half way over she sees a team approaching the driver in nearly every instance watches her movements, and seeks to drive in behind her. If she keeps on her way, all is well. If she stands still she is perfectly sale. But here comes in the strange and fatal idiosyncrasy of her sex. Just

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as the driver thinks be can safely drive behind her, she stops, starts back a few steps, and, unless the driver is prompt, and draws bis horse back on his haunches, the woman is under his feet, or knocked down."

There are 420 lady dentists in this country, and only five female lawyers. A cynical bachelor says this shows that ladies can work the mouth to much better advantage than the brain.

A lady in Paris asked General Grant to kiss her daughter, saying the "General Washington had kissed her grandmother, and she wanted her daughter to be able to say in after years that Grant had kissed ber." The girl's mother oertainly should not have been left out.

A Milwaukee newspaper published a story about a dark-haired girl and a light-haired girl, room-mates in a boarding school, who dressed one morning in the dark, and each braided the other's switch in with her own hair, so that at the breakfast table their heads looked like confused checker boards. The improbability of the narrative has been noted by several journsls, one of which thus expressed its incredulity "This is the very first time any mere newspaper writer hss dared to suggest that a couple of young women ever dressed themselves in the dark, and without the services of a mirror, and it is to be hoped this ridiculous kind of literature will be discountenanced at the outset.""5^*

SOME OF THEIR PECULIARITIES.

Alfred Jingle, in the Buffalo Every Saturday, gives the following types of character. The pen pictures are well drawn. All of the types will find representatives in this community. Indeed they look like they were drawn expressly for this locality. They are

First type. Pretty boy. Choice specimen. Behold the picture. Round top hat. Very small brim. Undercoat alarmingly short. Plaid ulster. Extremely long. Cuffs and collars quite prominent. Runs to scarf pins and low shoes. Leads the German. Can say "yaas" and "naw." Makes eternal visits. Knows how to do fancy work. Wears occasional bangles. Lacks brains to be an idiot. Thinks or pretends to think work vulgar. Slave of society. Goes to church regularly. For effect. Makes calling a business. Dreadful bore to sensible girls. Can't be shaken off. Is a regular gossip. Tattles everything. Must be invited. Talks like a doll. Stock of punny twaddle never exhausted. Amusing at first. Finally becomes nauseating. Must be endured. Relatives nice. Feelings to be considered. Yery trying. What can be done? Grin and*bear it.

Second type. Something like first. Not quite so unpalatable. Has brains, limited. Much conceit. More assurance. Adopts a profession. Must do something. Or pretend to. Affects absent minded ness. Stares at you vaoantly. Mouth slightly open. Recalls the gasping pigs. Is a regular prig. Selfish In everything. Natural in nothing. Dress half fop, half gentleman. Drinks for effect. Smokes cigarettes. Ditto. Carries a stick. Goes to amusements. Deadhead. Measures a girl by her fortune. Calls on the wealthy. Waiting for an heiress. Is a toad v. Affeots foreigners. The English in particular. Always says "By Jove." Is a very bad chromo. Move on to next cage.

Third type. Yery different. Quite the gentleman. A little fast. Lives at the club. Looks well. Dresses neat. Good natured. Natural. Says "How are you." Adds "Old boy." Shakes hands in earnest. No clammy dawdle. Makes his own way. Earns an honest living. Isn't ashamed of it. Knows the world. Keeps his word. Is socially disposed. Prefers men's society. Is a jolly dog. Likes everybody. Everybody likes bim. Don't save a cent. Holds the world, but as the world. A manly, handsome fellow. Goes in society but little. His own fault. Tells funny stories. None know him but to love him. Plays billiards fairly. Knows the round dances. Loves comfort. Dies an old bachelor.

Fourth type. Unfortunate object. Blighted young man. Poor but aristocratic parents. Usually sour. Speaks well of nobody. Is the picture of envy. Casts a gloom about him. Never sneaks well of anybody. Is sarcastic. Imagines himself centre of the world. Better opinion of himself than anybody else. Always around. Broods. Bilious disposition. Seldom smiles. Talks little. Thinks himself badiy used. Not appreciated. Genius don't show. Only wants a chance: Is waiting for it. Young ladies say "Isn't he very smart This sweetens his ascetic soul. Declares parties a bore. But accepts every invita* tion. Is a square peg. In around hole. Is remarkably sensitive. Not to say stupid. Imagines insults. Is unhappy. So are those aoout him.

Fifth type. Sad spectacle. Generous voung follow. Been in best society. Taken to drink. Yietim of custom. Treating. Road to ruin. Meets the boys. Let's have a drink. Hold on. No hurry. My treat. Encore. Another follow treats. They all treat. Reinforcements. More conveniently. Cigars. Drinks. Set 'em up agiin. American style. Here we go. Then they don't go. Fifth type getting flushed. Let's be gay and happy still. Once more. Something with me. Now a good night. Hello. Midnight. Home agsin. Heavy sea on. Into bed. Hold on. Tempest abates. Stupor/ Wakes up. Morning. Yeiyold. Dry. Hands and feet cold. Head very hot. What a head. No ajspetite. Sick of living. Swears off. Never drink agsin. Goes down town. Gets a whisky cocktail. Feels better. Is another man. Treats other men. Foolish to swear off. Will do it next week. Same old.mlnd. Splendid follow. Rained. All results of treating. What a pity. No help for it. Ought to form "society." Antl-treating.

Looks small. Onl^ safe wa^ llinkof

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SOCIAL TYPES.

it. 1 Henry Tribble and Elizabeth Harris. .. s?

Ninth Year

M7PLAYING AT COURTING.

"Let's play at courting, gentle wife, Forget these boys ami girls, Ignore the wrinkles on our brows.

The gray hair mid eur curls.

"Me coming through the fields, you see. With Sunday suit bedight. You »natch a look through the glass.

And smooth your apron white "Then hum above your work, and loud And quick your heart beats ou, And yet unconscious seem, as If

There never was a Jonn,

"Well. I am here—I dare not kiss The little hand I touch It seems just sitting by your side r,

Almost one Joy too much. "ADd as your shining needle moves, Tis bliss enoush to see The down curled lashes sometimes lift

To steal a glance at me.

"The children, shy, look in sometimes,' I do not call them here I'd rather not, to tell the truth,

Have anybody near. "The old folks bid a pleased 'Good night,' And leave us two together. To think and blush but nothing say,

Except about the weather. "But somehow, by and by, how 1st I never could define— rour waist lne "And somehow, stranger still, your cheek

My arm gets sauggling round yu Your hand gets clasped in mln

Comes very near my own, Forthus tob^nd my head to hearThat bashful, whispering tone. "And then-"wife nudged raejelose behind,

Eyes opened wide to see, Our oldest stood—she's Jost the age Her mother married me.

MORSELS FOR SUNDAY CONTEMPLATION.

All things are forgiven to the success' ful in life. There is nothing to be ashamed of in poverty, except being ashamed of it.

Constantly choose rather to want less than to have more.—Thomas a Kempis. The touchstone by which men try us, is most often their own vanity.—George Eliot. "It is a mistake to accept clouds for things and appearances for realities."— Misericordia.

Jealousy is the ugliest vice by which a woman can be deformed."—Jet: Her Face her Fortune! "When we pray for clean hearts and heavenly minds, our prayers answer our prayers."—A Legacy. "Of all the ills that poor humanity is heir to, the supremest Is your 'person of the best intentions.'"

Children are unconscious philosophers. They refuse to pull to pieces their enjoyments to see what they are made of.— Beecher.

O this itch of the ear that breaks out at the tongue! Were not curiosity so over-busy, detraction would soon be starved to death.

Love is not altogether a delirium yet it has many points in common. I call rather a discerning of the Infinite in the Finite: of the Ideal made Real.—Sartor Resartus.

The Italians say that he who offends never forgives. Tacitus gives the reason for it. It is, he says, because the causes of hatred are the more violent the more unjust they are.

Great, ever fruitful, ftfdfitable for' re^ proof, for encouragement, for building up in manful purposes and works, are the words of those that in their day were men.—Carlyle.

Nothing hurts a man more than to seem smtHl and ignoble in his own eyes. It is the slavish feeling that degrades the slave. A base ambition makes the man that cherishes it base. No one can debase you but yourself. Slander, satire, falsehood, injustice—these can never rob you of your manhood. Men may lie abont you, they may denounce you, they may may cberiah suspicions manifold, they may make your feelings the target of their wit and cruelty—never be alarmed, never swerve an Inch from the line your judgement and conscience have marked out for you. They cannot by all their efforts take awsy your knowledge of yourself, the purity of your motives, the integrity of your character and the generosity of your nature. While those are left, you are, in point of fact, unharmed.

INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EXERCISE. Few ladles, says the Boston Transcript, have any idea of the number of steps they take or the number of miles they walk daily in going about their houses. The pedometer reveals some extraordinary facts. A lady, an acknowledged invalid, who thought she saved every unnecessary step, found that she haa. between breakfast and tea, walked nearly two miles without going outside of toe door. The pedometer would probably show that nervons ladies who "can't sit still," and are constantly "jumping up" to get this or that, walk at least five miles a day in their daily travels about the house* What it would do in the case of the young ladies who dance by the hour, yet are too delicate to walk, can be imagined. Of oourae. exercise Is a good thing' but exercise in the open air is the kind that is beneficial to health. If our ladies would manage to avoid a part of their unnecessary "trotting around" the houses—the result, in the great part, of nervous habit—and put the same number of steps in outdoor exercise every day, the result wonld be greatly to the advantage of their health. And then there are the stairs. If a lady were asked to hoist her own weight through twelve to fifteen feet of space, the ordinary height of a story, she would esteem it a cruel hardship, but she will do precisely that a half aosen times a day to get ber "other gloves,*' her fan, or to see that her hair is as it should be. Let any lady take pains to count the number of timee she climbs a flight of stairs in the course ef a day, and she will be surprised to find how mnch of ber strength is-consumed iff lifting herself.

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

Philip MehrofT and Lottie Katzenbacii.*' Lewis McNeely and Sarah Mays. Peter J. Herb and Lizzie Dcnahoe.

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