Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 9, Number 37, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 15 March 1879 — Page 1

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Vol.

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9.

37.

THE MAIL

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

SECOND EDITION.

Town-Talk.

BANQUO'S O HOST

And the Public Library have more than one point of resemblance. Both are ghosts, and, ghostlike, vanish into thin air upon every attempt to lay hold upon thein. Just when there is perfect certainty* that they are seized, the bands that reached out so confidently find that they have grabbed—nothing. This is a real genuine ghost, not the kind they have down at Pence's Hall, or that Mrs. Fay had at Rockford. T. T. most sincerely hopes that those who are agitating the Library question now will find mesas to make this ghost "materialize" and stay.

That ancient spook of Shakspeare was very obstinate, and though it wouldn't be caught, it also wouldn't down. Ditto the Public Library. Though no real flesh-and- bones body, or book-and-sbelves Library b*3 yet been dragged out of the spirit land, still every few years the community becomes excited over the appearance of this ghost. It generally rises very unexpectedly, stalks about for a tew weeks or months, and theu disappears as mysteriously as it came. ltd present appearance is the fourth within tbe last dozen years. It may be of some service to tbose who are now trying to coax or entrap this airy nothing into a substantial something, to review the history of past efforts.

CHAPTER I.

It was in the days of the enthusiastic Oloott, superintendent of the Public Schools. Same Olcott was the prime mover. A meeting was called and held at the Court Home. "A small but select company" assembled. A similar plan to the present oue was suggested, that is, small subscriptions and a general canvass. An association was organized, and officers elected. As usual with such organizations the offices were used to tickle "leading" and wealthy citizens, in tbe hope that they would be willing to pay for tbe honor of seeing their names in print as president, director, etc., by shelling out liberally of their cash. But, as usual, the leading and wealiby citizens didn't tickle worth a cent, and, being busy with umir own affairs and

having

no special ei.tuuslasm

about the matter, they didn't do any work, or even attend the meetings. Exit Oboet.

Moral.—Interest, willingness to work, and grit are better qualifications for office in a Public Library Association (or any otber organisation) than position or wealth. Let leading and wealthy citizens go to grass unless they are willing to lead in working and giving. This ghost of a Public Library will never materialise permanently in a body of figure heads.

CHAPTKR II.

Years of peace and qaiet passed, and the ghoet was well nigh forgotten. Suddenly It broke tbe bounds of death and overleaped the wall that separates the •bode of spirits from this terrestrial sphere. Lo, a conclave of good men assembled in the parlor of the Terre Haute House. At least six or eight summers, and nearly the same number of winters, must have passed since that august body assembled. Bankers, merchants, judges, lawyers, ministers editors aud reporters were there. The ghost was there in most attractive, but deceptive guise. All hearts were animated with the one thought and foud belief, "We've got him this time." Mr. Chauncey Rose had offered a* building on Main street—one of tbe stone front steree between Sixth and Seventh, worth fifteen thousand dollars, if the oitiaens would raise fifteen thousand dollars in money. More than half the sum was pledged on the spot, and a committee was appointed to solicit the remainder. They did not adopt the plan of a thorough canvass of the entire city, street by street, but solicited here and there as they thought people were able to pay five or ten dollars, and failed to raise the required sum. They did considerable hard work, but not

enough, and not in the right way. Exit ghost. It doesn't abide in the stone front.

Moral.—Don't ignore the oommon people. Get everybody interested "Many littles make a unlckle."

CHAPTKR III.

A meeting will be held at the office of Fred A. Ross on evening to take steps toward organising a public library, Ac. These words, or words to this effect, appearing In the daily papers was the first public indication of the return of the ghost some three or four years si noe. The meeting was held and fairly attended. A committee was appointed to devise a plan to capture the elusive but attractive spook. It was finally deoided to bait him with an appropriation by the city council. A stock oompany waa formed, shares being put at one dollar each, and the requisite number of shareholders was easily obtained, as nobody was required to pay for his stock till the city had taken ita thousand shares, more or less. A petition to the oity counoil waa drawn up, and committee appointed to lobby the bill through. Exit ghost, very suddenly and mysteriously.

Moral.—If any lobbying is to We done, employ Tom Harper and John Lamb, and make th6 demand large enough to pay for their services and have a little left for the library.

CHAPTKR IV.

Ghost reappeared in office of Fred A. Ross, February, 1879. Is still visible.

Moral.—Make sure of him this time. Amen. So mote it be.

A Woman's Opinions,

OOSSIP.

I noticed a paragraph in last week's Mail to the effect that if women would read more they would have less inclination to gossip. I would cbsnge that sentence so that it might say, "If women would resd more they would gossip le»s," for, of course, while they were reading they oould not gossip, but it is extremely doubtful whether there is any remedy on earth that will entirely eradicate from-the feminine heart the desire to talk about her neighbors. It is peculiar and inborn characteristic of tbe sex. I have known a few men who possessed this failing, but they were generally effeminate in many otber particulars, and wanting in those characteristics which would render them popular among men. It must be considered as a distictive trait of womankind, one which existed long before Pope, writing about a female tea party, exclaimed, "At every breath a reputation dies." There never was a keener or more truthful satire. Gossiping is the predominating, pervading and universal fault of woman. However, there must be a clear distinction made between gossip and slander. The former is simply idle talk, talebearing, repeating groundless rumors, but the latter is a false report, maliciously uttered and tending to injure tbe reputation of another. While many of our best and sweetest women are addicted to tbe falling of gossip very few are guilty of the vice of slander, and these few are shunned, disliked and feared. We can guard our household treasures from tbe depredations of the burglar, but our good name, our virtue, our honor cannot be secured by bolt or bar, lock or key. "Reputation is what men and women say of us, chsraoter is what God and tbe angels know of us." "What men and women say of us," how much depends upon this! And yet, If In spite of sll our efforts to render our liven above reproach, our priceless reputations may be shattered by the words of slander, what protection oan we olalm To resort to law would only give publicity to attempt to ferret out tbe false report by private inquiry would be useless. There is absolutely nothing that can be done but to bear tbe injury in patience and silence. If one's honesty or truthfulness is called into question, there may, indeed, be some means of vindication, bnt where the morality is brought into reproach there can be no defense. It is something which cannot be proven. When once tbe voice of slander has assailed a woman's virtue, though she be pure as a little child, she must go down to the grave haunted by this shadow and followed by this reproach. The gallows for the murderer, penitantlarlea, jails, work bouses tor all classes of criminals, and for the slanderer, nothing.

However, it is not of aiander that I wished to speak, bnt of that lesser evilt gossip, which often approaches so near tbe verge of slander that it is hard to draw the dividing line.

I have known women who never gossiped, but they are very few. A woman cannot realize how strong a hold this habit has upon her till she attempts to get rid of it, and then ahe will find that just as soon as a neighbor drops in the Inclination to discuss the rest of tbe neighborhood is almost Irresistible indeed, the conversation generally includes tbe whole town and one would imagine the Mr gossipers to be tbe only persons in tbe city who were entirely free from faults, jadgicg by the whole­

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sale way in which everybody else la denounced. After all, tbeae Inveterate goaaips are very entertaining people to have drop in upon you once in awhile with their budget of news whlofi th®y delight to unfold, and you oannot help a naughty feeling of pleasure at llatening to the numeroua failings of your aoqualntancea, but when you accidentally learn that they Uave been ahowlng your weaknesses up in the same manner, ah! you never know till then how much you hate a gosalp.

But the one who comes to you and tella you aomethlng ahe has heard about you is more to be despised than the one who first made the obnoxioua remark. "Where ignorance I* bliaa, 'tis folly to be wise," and you are ao much happier not to know all the little tattling remarks that are made about you and those you love. You may think yourself enoased in an armor of indifference, but theae scandal-mongers are sure to find the one weak spot in youroovering, and strike you there. When one man dislikes another, h»does not hesitate to say so in unmistakable terms, and when he meets him he emphasizes bis words by his actions, but when one woman hates another she aasaila her furiously in her absence, but welcomes het with a kiss and an embrace.

No, that last remark will have to be modified, for when one flyman really does bate another she has tfbt her equal on tbe face of tbe earth for giving the "cold shoulder" or the "out direct," 4

These gossips do not dislike their victims, but tbey oannot resist tbe desire to select their little foibles*and make them the subject of discussion. One woman will be censured for her extravagance, and another mercilessly scored for her Economy one is condemned because she has no children, and another ridiouled because she has so many one goes into society too little and another too much one wife la too.devoted to her husband, another not attentive enough one is a slave to her ohildren, another neglects them entirely one is too severe with her servants, another too lax one has no taste in dress, one does not read enough, one writes too much, one ia a poor 000k, one is too haughty, one wears tight shoes, one is lazy, one flirts with the gentlemen, and oh! delicious morsel, one does not live happily with her husband All these topics are Introduoed and discussed by the fair gosaips, when they meet together to improve their minds, and the only way any lady can escape criticism is to be present at the meeting.

The habit of gosaiping might be partly excusable in tbe younger women, for tbey are inexperienced and thoughtless, but the worst gossips are generally found among the older ladies. Tbey knew your grandparents and your parents, your unolea, aunts and cousins, tbey know all the family fellings they are familiar with every bone of every skeleton in every closet they are like the Omnipotent, no seoret is hidden from their eyes.

In tbe hands of these gossips you are like a bug on a pin—they are the naturaliat, you are tbe specimen.

Yet these ore tbe very persons tdu would expect to be most charitable. No man or woman can live to middle age without learning how many temptations are spread in life's pathway, and bow hard it ia always to do right. Tbey have seen how many ohildren that are watched and prayed for will, nevertheless, stray from the fold and yield to tbe allurements of sin they have found out that trouble and sorrow and disgrace will enter into every family, no matter how oarefully guarded, and leave their impress of grief or ahame.

Youth is proverbially careless, gay and unfeeling, but advancing yeara ahould mellow tbe heart and fill it with charity, forbearaaoe and sympathy.

There is no positive cure for gossiping, bnt Its virnlenoe may be modified. It ia the result of a narrow mind, a selfish heart and an unsympathetic nature. Whatever tends to develop tip mind, to soften the heart, and to broaden one's views of humanity, will do muoh to destroy this habit.

Good reading, writing, studying and thinking will furnish food for the mind and topics of conversation. When one considers the routine of a womad's life, so dnll and prosy and uninteresting, it is not strange that she can only utter commonplace remarks and most resort to gossip as a stimulant

It ia to be earnestly hoped that, as ahe is now entering a wider sphere of learning and employment, she will find so much to occupy brain and bands as will cause her to lay aside entirely this idle and pernicious habit so unworthy bet true womanhood.

THE PROGRESS OF TREjAQsL Cincinnati Enquirer. Marriages by telegraph are becoming quite oommon. This is a progressive age, and June will not roll round with her roses many mora times until we will be obtaining divoroea by telegraph. mrr aartftr

TERRE HAUTE, IND., SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 15, 1879?

Boston Herald. .5

While John Bull drinks largely for love of the stuff. Brother Jonathan drinks largely for love of the fellow who touches glasses with him.

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Written for The Mall.

SOMEBODY.

Somebody stood at the gate wlth'me, Then oon waa hid in a oloud, Somebody stood very olose to ra#,

But spoke t^t a word—aioud. Somebody whispered my name last night Out In the frosty air, Somebody held my hauda so tight,,

As long aa I llngftrad there. "jj Somebody oalled nis a "lovely girl" Aa we stood on the frozen snow, Somebody toyed with a tiny carl

I thought he would never go. Somebody kissed me lute laat night, Close by the outside gate, Somebody gazed 1 my eyes bq bright,

With a look as fixe

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Somebody kaows that kisses are cheap, And not any loss to me If taken wben all the world's asleep

And nobody there to see. Somebody knows—thla la not sin, Bnt relief from care and atrlfe, Somebody knowa that It all goea In

To fill up the measure 0/ life. Feb. 15th, 1879. E-— E

Fcminitems.

Vlnnie Ream has a baby. The most rapid short band writer in Chicago is a woman.

A tailor in New Orleans shot a woman because she oougbed all night and kept him awake.

Can any mortal man tell why a woman will oross one sloppy crossing on her toes and the next one on ber heels

American girla obewed up seventy tons of gum last year. One-half of it can be found to-day sticking under mantelshelves. The other hajf was carried away by the young men who go courting, and lost.—Turner Falls Reporter.

Senator Logan has tbe smartest wife, Senator Conkling the gentlest born, Senator Dorsey tbe most beautiful, Senator Sargent tbe strongest minded and Senator Gordon the most diatingv,9, but Mrs. Senator Bruce excites more comment than all combined.

Puck It's funny! but a soft-palmed woman oan pass a hot pie-plate to her neighbor at tbe bead of the table, with a smile as sweet as distilled honey, while a man with a hand as horny as a crocodile's back, will drop it to the floor and howl around like a Sioux Indian at a scalp dance.

A writer of tbe gentler sex says, in a New York weekly, that "a womanly woman never gets jammed, crowded or pushed," and adds, "I am neither young nor pretty." This explains it. No man cares to squeeze a woman who is neither young nor pretty. Let us have the experience of some of the young and pretty ones.—Norristown Herald.

A Boston lady who contemplated purchasing a homestead in North Carolina, wrote to an old settler in that vicinity asking if it was true, as reported, that tbe grass in that country was infested with "jiggers" that cree^ into the flesh. The reply was: "Yes but all you have to do is to keep your legs greased and tbey won't trouble you." She concluded not to buy. .*

Bicycle riding by women promises to become fashionable in Detroit. The example was set by a wealthy and reputable young lady, who at first rode in seoluded places, but afterward took to the suburban roads. She uses tbe ordinary two-wheeled machine, and sits astride, wearing very loose trousers, and is frequently accompanied by half a dozen female companions. A tumble resulting in a broken nose temporarily cooled her ardor, but tbe sport has more than regained the lost favor. VI,

The Women's Christian Temperance Union of Illinois has petitioned tbe legislature for local option instead of the present lioeuse law. When the petition was sent to tbe speaker's desk it required five pages to carry it in as many different rolls, whioh weighed fifty pounds in tbe aggregate. In all there were 107,000 signatures, Which were arranged in columns of Ave across the page, and measured 225 yards, or if they had been extended in a single column it would have been 1,125. yards in length! And all these were obtained in a little less than three months!

THE TO UNO HELLIOTS. Ind. Herald. Many of our city bloods, who are still young enough to think that the capacity to carry a large amount of liquor is a test of manhood, have learned that a quarter grain pellet of morphine, taken when the system is about to succumb to aloohol, will "brace them up," and enable them to drink more. They carry morphine with them, and often astonish their fellow-fools, who are ignorant of the trick, by recovering their "second wind" just at the time when they seem

trams. The morphine doses have to be increased after a time, and between the two, tbe young hellion is soon so utterly wrecked that toe remains of his constitution are not worth saving.

SOCIAL EQUALITY. St. Louis Spirit.

Soclety

equallty is prospering in Terre

Haute. The Saturday Mail has a regular column for colored people. Here the latest gossip of the barber shops, the camp-meetings, and "cullud social alrkul" generally, is fragrantly served up. When there has been a grand walk for a cake, the department becomes intensely Interesting.

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We forget that the mental and moral are subject to the same law of growth, of slow, gradual development, ss tbe physical, as tbe plant. Hence a man is twenty-one before society counts him, thirty before any great trust is given bim, and fifty before any one takes his advice. Aa tbe pbysioal.man requires tons of pure, sweet, nourishing food to bring it to perfection, while a drop of poison may destroy it, so the child's higher growth depends upon good, strengthening thoughts which the parent—or teacher—must select for him, daily and hourly. We devote at least ten hours a day to the feeding and clothing of our children's bodies how much to the beauty, purity and perfection of their ideas whioh constitute the man Guard well' thy child's thoughts, for they are the sinew A# coloring and perfume of his life!

Men do not fall headlong from honor to disgrace. All thosf bidden revelations of men's «hM*cter#^faiOh come upon us like the crifw of*i£bom, are, like the sudden wipinjfput Qf Hell Gate Island at the touch of a little girl's tiny finger, bat the end 6f long processes.

And what more fruitful source of thought than reading, or whence comes mental food more vital Between your dearest friend and yourself there are certain restraints of pride, of modesty, of courtesy. He does not say just what be thinks, and what he does say is qualified by look and tone. But with the book the intercourse is free, close. You submit yourself passively to whatever influence it may have, and our reading becomes a powerful factor In our moral and mental make up.

We Americans get great praise for muoh reading. True, everybody who can buy, beg, or borrow a printed page reads, and on every subject. More of Sunday is spent over—and under—the newspaper, than in thinking of duty or heaven but this prodigious, miscellaneous devouring of everything one sees does not, cannot, give as intellectual and moral health, strength, and beauty of culture. Strict regard must be had to kind, quantity, and our powers of mental digestion.

Since, then, what our young people read is of vital Importance to them now and hereafter, shall we not direot every line of their reading? Is that father wise who rejoices to find his son fond of reading, and does not know just what he is reading Is that teaoher any wiser who asks or permits a pupil to read what he does not and oannot understand, and which, like any other Indigestible food, oan only debilitate and disgust Every page of history is set with gemi of obaraoter whose inspiration was honest, sensible books. Examples are not wanting in any community, of failure and disgraoe, confessedly resulting from certain llnea of reading. They are neither bread nor wine, give neither atrength nor brilliancy. Tbey debilitate and stultify like the slops of the darkest dens, and put your child in almost as muoh danger. They introduoe him to tbe oompany of rasoals and out-throats, of tbose who elude the law, who sneer at the fifth oommandment, and all those delicate points which are the gentle bonds of good sooiety, the guards of personal parity. Shield him from saoh associations as from a plague!

There is usually something about the tempter whioh repels the youth of pure heart. But over the artfully prepared story, which has no red noee, evil eye, or rakish manners, loose reins are given to the tendencies of fallen humanity unhallowed and dangerous passions and motives are, innocently perhaps, roused and brought to white heat—tbey oool to solid character. A very considerable class of our boys and not a few of our girls are, more or less secretly, killing their time and their prospects for honor and suoeees, by just such reading. Such reading amounts to this at least: that men who have acoomplished anything in the world, didn't indulge in it.

What is being done a boat it The minister fires something at tbe boys onoe a quarter, over the congregation's heads, while the game be means to bring down—if there at all—meditates on "Lucky Bob," and tbe time when he shall run away from "the old nian," and make his everlasting fortune. Our boys must be taught kindly, sympathetically, constantly, that there is no certain, lasting suoeees bat in honest plodding and saving, every day, year after year that the (ban who would succeed better than his fellows, mart work harder and longer—"mast live like a hermit,

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OUR BOYS AND GIRLS.

WHAT ARE THEY READING

That the worst boys make the best men, is contrary to tbs observations of Franklin and Solomon, and not true. Even as a conscience lotion it is a failure. Cromwell trusted in God and dry powder, and tbe man who does not see to It that his sons get none bnt pure, true ideas, and then keep them out of damp oellarsof low thought and feeling, need not rail at Providence if they "flash in the pan," or "blow up." Boys are not dice, and shaking them—even when done intelligently—is not the whole of parental duty.

Ninth Year

and work like a horse." We must select their reading. We must learn, and follow their tastes and preferences, for "What the child admires. The youth endeavors, and the man acquires."

They roust be helped constantly with explanation and illustration, their attention called to the beauties around them, and courage given by glowing descriptions of those still above. Walk with them in the gardens of literature and art, along tbe highways, meadows, and forest paths of history, till they are familiar haunts, and they will walk there ever. And, ob, to what mines of wealth are they admitted when given the key to tbe thought and fancies of tbe brigbteet and best men who have lived What riches for tbe poorest!

When we watch our children as closely, and take as much trouble about them as tbe enemy does when we are as shrewd and energetic in our plans for them as the devil's agents are in theirs against them when we let the tobacco bill—and some other bills—go toward getting good, entertaining periodicals for them, and a good book occasionally we shall do more than we do now to make our girls very angels of light and comfort to our later years, and our boys worthy to bear "Without abuse,

That grand old name of gentleman^

THE BETTER WORLD.

CHURCHES, PASTORS AND PEOPLE.

There will be at the Y. M. C. A. rooms a bible class, from 8 to 9 o'olook, a. m. A prayer meeting in tbe chapel at 4:15, in the afternoon.

The Rev. Mr. Conner, who held a series of meetings at the Christian church, a oouple of weeks ago, will return to the city to-day, and fill the palpit of that churoh to-morrow, both morning and evening. It is hoped the entire membership, together with the numerous friends of the church, will attend these meetings.^

At the Baptist Church, to-morrow, services at 11 a. in. and 7:30 p. m. Sunday School and Bible classes 9:30 a. m. C. R. Henderson, pastor.

At the First Congregational Churoh. Services to-morrow at 11 a. m. and 7 p. m. Preaching by Rev. T. R. Bsoon

Usual services at tbe Seoond Presbyterian churoh, corner of Fifth and Ohio streets, at 10 a. m. Sunday school at 2 p. m. E. W. Abbey, Pastor. .«

St. Stephen's—Sunday sohool, 9 a. Morning prayer, 10% a. m. Litany, Sermon and Celebration of tbe Holy Communion, 11 a. m. Even song 7)4 p.m The rector of St. Stephen's oontinues his lectures on the Prayer Book at tbe evening servioe, 7:30 o'clock.

Mrs. Anthony worked so earnestly at raising tbe debt of a Providence church, that she became insane, and tried to kUlherself.

A young clergyman and a pretty teaoher In his Sunday Sohool played the balcony soene from "Romeo and Juliet" In an Omaha entertainment, and he is to be tried before his church in consequence.

The pastor of the First Presbyterian Church has been requested and will preach to-morrow morning tbe first sermon he wrote, over twenty-five years ago. Text, 84th Psalm, 10th verse—part of the Sunday School lesson of to-mor-row. Tbe sermon is vary unique.

The story is told of a olergyman that after preaching an interesting sermon on *'Tbe recognition of friends in Heaven," be was aooosted by a hearer, who said: "I like that sermon, and now I wish you would preaoh another on the recognition of people in this world. I have been attending your chnreh three years, and not five persons in the congregation have as much as bowed to me in all that time.

Tbe Congregationalist remarks: "The amusing possibility about whioh we all have been talking, has' become fact. Recently, in one of tbe Lowell Baptist churches, a Bell telephone apparatus was placed in tbe pulpit on Sunday, and the entire servioe was heard distinctly by people having oonnection In all parts of the city. The singing, words as well as the tune, was beard plainly at Foxboro, 5S miles distant, and via Foxboro, in Boston, 80 miles away. Why cannot this invention become a great comfort to all who are oon fined at home, who are rich enough to take advantage of it?"

Yes, a great comfort, truly." Our friend Jones, whose good wife always dragged him off to church, on reading tbe above immediately had telephone oonnection made with the sanctuary. Mrs. Jones now of coarse, cannot forego the pleasure of going to church to see as well as to bear but Jones now stays at home, switches on the telephone in the front parlor, where it preaches away to tbe furniture and enoourages the canary, while be withdraws to the library and enjoys a nice quiet time with his cigar and the Sunday papers.—Boston Times.

Pookktbooks will be worn low this Spring, and without much padding.

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