Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 9, Number 39, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 29 March 1879 — Page 1

Vol. 9.—No 39.

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THE MAIL

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

second edition:

Town-Talk.

"I'D SOONER STEAL."

"O, he is 1b Canada, and has teen for years, and does not dare to come into the States. You know how poor his family was, and probably haven't forgotten that mine had nothing of which to boast in the way of wealth. Job's turkey would have been a "bloated bondholder," in comparison with either of us in those days. But be—Sam, not the turkey—was as proud as Lucifer, and never was over scrupulous. He managed to worm his way into the family of a wealthy manufacturer, and married bis daughter. His father-in-law set him up in business. He got hold of a large lump of his wife's fortune, abused the confidence of the old gentleman and cheated him out of a round sum, and finally, on account of some swindling operation, was obliged to skip the States and is living in Canada, and is as poor as bis father was." Tbe line looking, benevolent-faced, and grey haired old gentleman who said this to T. T. was one of his old school mates and playfel lows. T. T. had not met him for twenyes, come to think of it, for forty years or more He bad often seen his name, and know that he had come to occupy a very prominent position 111 his profession—the clerical profession—a D. D. or a Bishop, or something of that sort. T. T. knew all about him as a boy, and knew that what he said jokingly of bis early piety was true. His family was very poor Indeed, but Intelligent, industrious and respected. This boy had fought his way to an education and eminence. And never was T. T. more sincere than when he shook the hand of his old schoolmate and assured him of his pleasure in meeting him. Of course they at once fell to talking of old times, and of the "other boys," tbe history of whom was sketched above. And T. T. well remembers a conversation between these two persons, tha clergyman and tbe one now a fugitive in Canada, when they were boys. They were talking about their future plans, as boys will, and what they would do and what they wouldn't do. One said, "I'm bound to get an education. I'm goln to ••»llege, and I'D be something In tbe world." "But how will you do it?" chimed in T. T. and Sam. "There is a society that helps young men to get an education, and if I cannot succeed alone I'll apply to that, and when I get through I'll pay back all they let me have." "How can you get help from that society "I9 the first place you mast get three respectable men to certify that you are worthy and are poor. And everybody knbws I am poor, and I think I can find three good men to say I am worthy "But," said Sam, "would you carry a certificate of your poverty in order to get help?"

I'll do anything that is honorable in order to make a man of myself, and I am sure there is nothing dishonorable in confessing my poverty." "Well, I'd sooner steal than do that."

This is about tbe conversation which T. T. actually beard years and years ago, In his native place, between two of bla fellows. It is not a fiction of T. T.'s brain, or pen, but, in all essential particulars, is an absolute fact. Tbe one vrho would do anything honorable to make a man of himself occupies a posi* tlon of which he may well be proud, and the one who would sooner steal than bear a certificate of his poverty in ^order to get help, is a fugutlve from jusfcioe. T. T. IS tired and sick of these people who are ashamed to do anything that implies a confession of poverty, and not ashamed to resort to any sort of meanness—tired and sick of those who would "sooner steal" than admit that they have not money enongb to do what they desire. There are people in Terre

Haute to-day who are living beyond their means, incurring debts which they know, or ought to know, they can never pay, because tbey are ashamed to live •within their mean*. They would be

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ashamed, as they ought to be, to ask people to contribute to help them live comfortably and keep np appearances, but are not ashamed to run in debt to anybody who will trust them, although they know they cannot pay. A man ought to be more ashamed to steal than to confess poverty and ask favors on account of it, but a good many people are not, and so tbey say "please charged," when tbey take what tbey do not intend to pay for, instead of saying, "Please give it to me, for I am poor." And the boys are failing too because they are ashamed of their poverty, and ashamed to live and do as if they were poor. T. T. ad mires that independence of spirit which leads one to go alone, to say, "I'll help myself and ask no odds of anybody," but be detests that spirit which, while it forbids one to ask promptly and squarely far assistance, does not forbid any sort of mean trickery to get aid. The man who says, "I am in a tight place please help me, and I'll pay you if I can," is honorable. But the man who cheats another out of that ior which he will not ask, is a sneak of tbe meanest kind. The young man who says, "I'm poor, but if you'll help me, I'll do my best to prevent your losing," is acting a manly part. But tbe young fellow who would sooner steal than say that, and attempts to get by sharp practice what be will not ask for, is a sneaking, unmanly thief.

A Woman's Opinions,

REFORM.

This is a popular word it pleases the people it has a lofty sound and very often an empty meaning. Reformers are sometimes actuated by noble motives and sometimes quite tbe reverse. Some men and women are born with a mission to reform the race, while others are satisfied to live and die in the same old fashioned way their grandfathers did. Both of these classes are needed In the world the first t© give spice and variety to life and keep humanity from rust and decay the second to furnish reformers with materials to work upon but there Is a third class, much more important and useful than either of the other two, composed of those persons who, through education and culture, are enabled to see and correct tbe mistakes of their ancestors and yet, by their firmness and correct judgment, can moderate and bold in check the wild and visionary schemes of fanatical reformers. Every progressive movement for tbe benefit of mankind is ushered in by these fanatics, who wage a fierce war with old prejudices, a battle unyielding, stubborn and vindictive, until at last these sagacious, cool-head-ed individuals, who, aroused by the noise of the conflict, have been watching the combat afar off, come to the rescue, call the generals together in arbitration and effect a compromise. Ancient custom agrees to modify its practices to conform with modern requirements, while reform concedes that there might have been a little good in the old habits which it had overlooked.

These reformers have much influence in directing the course of human events. The Lord spake, through Moses, to the children of Israel, saying, "If ye will not be reformed I will punish you seven times for your sins." Christ came into tbe world to inaugurate a reform. The reformation commenced by Luther at tbe beginning of the sixteenth century, resulted floally in the separation of the Protestant Church from the Romish See. Tbe Frenoh are always experimenting in government reform. The Puritans fled to America to effect a religious reform. The abolition of slavery is another example of reformation. Social reforms of various kinds are constantly springing up. We have Schools to reform tbe young and Homes to reform those who are older. Individuals try to reform their habits but the most absurd and inconsistent of all, are political reforms. Yet each of these attempts at reformation is of invaluable benefit. When reformers arise in tbe cburoh it calls attention to the errors tad abuses that have crept therein and causae them to be corrected or rightfully to fall into reproach. Tbe agitation commenced by Luther resulted in an escape from tbe tyranny of Catholicism and when tbe Protestant Church in turn grew insolent and despotic, tbe uprising and departure of the Pilgrim Fathers suggested the grand ides of religious liberty which has rippled and eddied and gone forth among tbe waves across tbe oosan into tbe very heart of those countries which since their habitation by man bavo been the synonym of rigid intoleratlon. The fickle and erratic disposition of the Frenoh has led them to reject one form of government after snotber till tbey have developed into a republic, and this same spirit is winging Its way eastward and threatening tbe thrones of Emperor and Czar.

Those brave, fearless and noble reformers called Abolitionists achieved one of tbe grandest victories on reoord. Our social reformer* have their mission. By advocating polygamy tbey arouse a strong and powerful feeling against it, whloh stands ever* watchful and alert,

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ready to crush it at its first appearance and only waiting an opportunity to drive it from the small foothold it has already obtained. By clamoring for community of property, they fix lu every industrious man's mind a determination to possess his own and protect it from all depredations. A lot of fanatical women cutting off their hair and bifurcating their dresses has led intelligent ladles to recognize their own exaggerations in dress and style and caused tbem to adopt more sensible and comfortable fashions. The agitation of what is disdainfully called Woman's Rights has resulted in striking from our statutes almost every law making unjust discrimination between man and woman. It has given to woman the right to tbe exclusive control of her own property, and finally, after many years, has blotted out that disgraceful law which gave the earnings of the wife, unconditionally to the husband. It has given her access to every department of business, and created her, for the first time in the history of the world, an independent, responsible human being.

Our reform schools and homes lift up their walls as a monumeut to man's philanthropy. Our longing to correct and improve our own habits indicates the divine spirit awakening within us. The cry for political reform which baa degenerated into a kind of obronio wail, really indicates the feelings of our most earnest and thoughtful citizens, but it has been used so much for party capital that its accomplishment has cea9ed to be expected. The Rspublloans, placed In power, become so profligate, unprincipled aud demoralized that people grow disgusted and resistant. Democracy rushes in and promises reform driven by desperation, the constituency put Democrats iu office, but the long wished for reform seems farther off than ever. And now the Nationals utter the popular cry with a sound like an Indian war whoop, and, in accordance with their principles, issue an unlimited number of promissory notes—promises to reform. And yet all these pseudo political reformers are not in vain. Nobody can tell bow much worse the administration of our country might be if our officeholders did not feel that sharp eyes were upon them, ready to expose their delinquencies.

A subject attracting considerable attention in England and the eastern states, and gradually coming westward, Is the spelling reform. We thought we had nearly perfected our spelling, and now it seems we have been wrong all the time. We have indeed improved greatly since the days of the AngloSaxon, "Tha se Haeland of tham munte myder astah," (When the Savior from the mountain came down.) Ages afterward we read in Chaucer, "Whan that Aprille with his schowres swoote and years later, "Verely I say vnto you, I have not founde so great fayth." Even a century ago the spelling differed from our own in many particulars, but in the present day the words bad become so well classified and modified according to rules that one who spelled according to Webster's Dictionary felt that he was beyond all criticism. When we think of the long columns we tolled over in our childhood the pride that filled our hearts at having more "bead-marks" tbau anybody else the spelling schools with all their fascinations of "choosing up" and "spelling downwhen we remember these and then consider that it was all in vain, that In a few years our six-year-old children will know more about spelling than we de, that we cannot even read the letters our yoang friends send ns and that our own will be a subject of ridicule, it annoys us, and we do not heartily wish the reformers success. A few examples will give some idea of the new methods, although they cannot be fully represented with ordinary type, as msny of tbe letters are entirely different from those we have been aooustomed to use. "The cup iz ner tbe eg ov the tabl. A slitsbuv wu thro it of and brak it. He cud mezbur Lulu's gref if her trezhur wur broken." "Jam* Adams is a nlo lltl bol at yerz old. He luvz to trundl his hap." "A larg bard mad a nest on tbe Urn ov a tre. The mnther bard sat on tbe nest and baoht sat flv fin helthl yung burdz." This "Spellng Reform Asoshiasbun" numbers among its officers and members, distinguished Professors at Oxford, England, Liverpool, London, Yale College, Harvard University, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, and many other plaoes. Tbe alphabet comprises thirty-eight letters. It is tbe intention to introdaoe the system into the schools as soon as practicable.

Should this reform ever be adopted, one or tbe saddest thoughts in connection with it would be that the Dictionary upon which Webster spent the most Important years of bis life, and which has been revised and perfected by oar most eminent scholars until it Is a marvel of preolalon, would be an almost useless book upon the shelves of oar library.

THB people in the vioinity of Hillsboro, Ohio, are orgamlring vigilance committees to protect themselves against tramps.

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i'Eliza Weathersb/s Froliques in "Hobbies" at Opera House, Saturday, April 12th

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TERRE HAUTE, IND., EVENING, MARCH 29, 1879. f^, f!

THE PASSING SHOW.

SHOWS AND SHOW PEOPLE.

Unole Tom's Cabin was played Tuesday evening by the Oottbold and Rial party to an Immense audience.

Our people seemed afraid to trust the Soldier's Trust combination, and it played Wednesday and Thursday evenings to very small hou»es. Tbe audience on tbe last evening was the smallest that has gathered at the Opera Hoqse this season.

There are no amusements booked for next week, the Diplomacy party having cancelled their engagement on account of the recent terrible tragedy down in Texas. Mr. Zimmerman, the advance agent of the company, was in tbe city this week and returned to the company on receipt of a telegram that Mr. Barrymore was not expected to recover.

Two weeks from to-night there will be an attraction at the Opera House that will oertainly cause every seat to be filled. This will be the return from California of the Eliza Weathersby Froliques in "Hobbies," which made such an immense hit here last fall. The company will be tbe same as before. There isn't an inferior character in the play, and every member just fills tbe bill. Indeed tbe author seems to have picked out his actors and then wrote a play to suit, and it is one of tbe most exquisitely funny plays ever produced.

Amusement managers say Lent has not materially interfered with their business this year.

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Mary Andeison played in Holyoke Mass., one night recently. An excursion party of one hundred persons arrived from Westfield, half an hour late, and, as they had been told that the performance would not begin until they came, the first act of Romeo aud Juliet was repeated for their benefit.

A Philadelphia audience has distinguished itself by sensible behavior when a panic seemed inevitable. The Chestnut Street Theater was densely crowded. Smoke poured up from the cellar, filling the auditorium. Somebody cried "Fire," and everybody stood up. The manager hurried in from his office and shouted, "There can't be any danger, for you could all get out in three minutes. Keep your seats, and I'll tell you If there's a fire." Several hundred persons near tbe doors went out, but the rest stayed, and were soon told that the smoke came from some smouldering rubbish.

Mrs. Scott Sid dons is getting roughly handled in her Western trip. The Peoria Call remarks bluntly "How this lady ever achieved the reputation she has, either for beauty or as a reader, is beyond all comprehension." It closes its notice with the frank oonfession that it is "heartily ashamed" of what it did toward getting Mrs. Siddons an audience. Another writer says, "the whole race of readers is a pest. Everybody who desires to aobieve distinction in the cheapest possible way becomes a reader. The woods are full of them." Tbe plain truth is, readings, nine times out of ten, area bore. They area cheap substitute for the drama to gratify tbe taste of good people who haven't the moral courage to attend a genuine dramatic entertainment and as tbe foolish and groundless prejudice against all theatrical entertainments wanes among cultivated people of tbe oburchea, readings will fall off In popularity.

Tbe St. Louis Times notes a funny coincidence which occurred at the Olympio Theater in that city on Thursdsy evening lsst. Just as Miss Emma Abbott was entering tbe dress circle the minstrelB struck np the popular refrain of "Whoa, Emma." The prima donna was terribly taken aback. "There's thst horrid song 1" she exclaimed. "It follows me wherever I go. I do believe tbey knew I was coming here to-night and sang it simply to tease me." And so Miss Abbott wouldn't enter her box until the objectionable song bad been ooncladed.

It may be that we are all misjudging Clara Louise Kellogg. Certain it is a person has only to become prominent to make himself a perfect target for all tbe slander and abuse imsglnary. The Buffalo Every Saturday says: "Miss Clara I/ralse Kellogg has done one thing that most managers have not, and that is, she has given American talent a chance to debut in opera. She has brought out more amateurs and encouraged more beginners—American singers—than all the rest of the fraternity pht together, and those 'snips' of the of the press now engaged In trying to write her down should remember that. Also, snother thing, that no one in the profession has more friends than she, in the best society and among the best people of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, etc. Also, that not a breath of scandal has ever touohed her."

Lizzie Webster, the donna of "Evangeline," will retire from the stage for good at the snd of this season. She has sucumbed to a male ehunk of humanity in other words, she la very much In p.,

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love with the man who has asked ber to be bis wife, and Intends to be married. She Is 110 doubt sincere in the thought that she is done with the stage forever but she may find, after the halo of love grows common, that married life is not what she thought it was that ber husband is lazy, and willing to be supported, and in the monotony of ordinary existence the recollections of her popularity and tbe excitement in the glare of the gaslight, who knows but she may againdance in tights before tbe intelligence, culture and fashion of America

Feminitems.

A big miss-take—Marrying a fat girl. A fixed fact—One that gets into a woman'sbead.

Rev. Miss Ellen G. Austin has been called to be pastor of a church in Westerly, Rhode Island.

A law against tbe defacement of natural scenery ought to apply to misguided women who bedaub their cheeks with rouge and powder.

A woman is now living in Pittsburgh —a niece of Jeff Davis—who fought through the whole of the war of tbe rebellion in a soldier's uniform.

A Nebraska City woman listened at a keyhole and found the old proverb so true that she got a gun and blazed away at tbe man inside who was doing tbe talking. ,4

Nothing makes a man so mad as to have a closely veiled lady on the street bow to him, for he never—that is hardly ever—jknows her from the man in the moon. Ladies, please heed this.

Susan B. Anthony has been brave enough to tell the members of tbe New York legislature that she made ber first appearance before that body thirty years ago, "when most of those who now hear me were at school."

Dr. Shaw, tbe popular pastor of the largest Presbyterian church in Rochester, and one of tbe largest in tbe country, says that women shall pray at his prayer meetings, and he would like to see anybody try to stop tham.

Foolish Miss Care went from Boston to Quincy, 111., to meet a person with whom she had been holding correspondence "with a view to matrimony," but found that she bad been tricked, and was compelled to accept the protection of tbe poormaster.

In Persia a girl is expected to yield her parents a good round sum at marriage, and the people of that country are indignant and horrified when told that in America daughters are given away in marriage as though the parents considered them worthless trash.

It is quite true* that our women need more out-door exercise. They are as a rule bilious, neuralgic and thin-blooded. But it is not their muscles, but their nerves and digestion, which need repair. What they want, therefore, is fresh air, amusement, interest in outdoor things, and gentle exercise—not the overwork of long objectless tramps. Preoisely the same rule applies to American men.—New York Tribune.

Scraps of Style.

Side satchels are de rigeaer. Skirts are beautifully short. Poke bonnets are fashionable. Jabota grow longer and longer. Marie Antoinette styles are revived. Shoulder capes are again fashionable. Turbans are worn both in and out doors.

Large bonnets are' preferred to small ones. The short skirt is as short behind as before.

Black chip is the favorite bonnet for all occasions, •*«. Gloves are long, reaching to the elbow, for full evening toilet.

New parasols have flatter tops than the canopy ones of last summer. The turban Is tbe fashionable cap for yoang ladies and yonng married women.

Panlersoarfsand draperies appear on all Paris dresses brought over this spring*-'

Very large flowers, especially roses and chrysanthemums, are used In bonnet deooratlons.

The marked feature in the new overskirts are the akirrad fronts and bouffant back draperies.

Frenoh bunting, a fine, light wool goods, Is tbe material In use for spring and summer half-mourning costumes.

Bonnet strings are tied in a Urge, loose bow under the chin, not at the side, or they are simply crossed in front, the ends forming a jabot.

Bouffsnt draperies, whether on the hips or back, are placed higher and higher, the fulness more often being plaoed jast below tbe waist| line than lower down on tbe skirt.

Tbi

son is now getting In his work

In earnest. Tbe vertebra of winter la broken.

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Ninth Year

The Colored People.

Messrs. Eli Artls and James Moody, both of Paris, Ills, were in the city last Sunday,

Miss Laura, who has been in tbe city visiting ber friends, this week, will return to ber home, in Danville, Ills., this afternoon.

Wm. Anderson, of Otter Creek, will leave for Kansas, April 1st. Miss Clara Howard has gone to Martinsville, Ills., to visit her relatives.

The concert given last Thursday evening gave great satisfaction. It is expected that it will be repeated on the 8th of April.

Mr. Paris Thomas, of Paris, Illinois, spent a few hours in our city last Wednesday.

Tbe subject for discussion at the Wabash Literary this week was, "Resolved, That woman should have her political rights." Miss Bell Glover represented the affimative and Miss Essie Walker the negative. The judges decided in favor of the affirmative

At tbe A. M. K. Church, Rev. R. Jeffries, pastor, will pieaoh at 10:30 a. m. Text found in the 12th chapter, 1st and 2d verses of Hebrew. In the evening at 7:15, 11th chapter, 25th verse of St. John. PHOENIX.

THE BETTER WORLD.

CHURCHES, PASTORS AND PEOPLE.

Centenary M. E. Church—Quarterly Meeting Service—Rev. C. A. Brooke will preach to-morrow forenoon and evening. Sacramental service after the morning sermon, Love Feast Monday Evening.

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

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

Usual services at the Second Presbyterian church, oorner of Fifth and Ohio streets, at 10 a. m. Sunday school at 2 p. m. E. W. Abbey, Pastor.

St. Stephen's—Sunday sohool, 9K a. Morning prayer, 10K 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 continues his lectures on the Piayer Book at the evening service, 7:30 o'clock.

CLOSING SALOONS ON SUNDA Y. Hon. Ben F. Havens, the democratic nominee for Councilman, tells of a trap laid tbe other day to catoh him. He was approached by a German, who remarked that he was a saloon keeper^ and wished to know Mr. H's views in regard to closing saloons on Sunday. He said he wanted them closed so that he could spend Sundays with his wife and ohildren. But as long as other saloons were kept open, he was obliged to do so too, and so was deprived of the society of his little family, which he bewailed as a sad state of affairs. "New," said he, "Mr. Havens, what will you do if elected Mayor?" Ben was too sly to be oaugbt In suoh a trap, and so stated emphatically that he would not interfere with the saloons. At this declaration the Teuton eagerly grasped the candidate's band and exclaimed, "Mr. Havena, you're my man

This is a true story, and will be interesting to saloon keepers—and the temperanoe people, too.

Library Notice.

The committee of twenty-five ladies and twelve {gentlemen appointed for this purpose, will begin the canvass of the city Monday morning, March 30th, in the interest of the public library. They will carry with them one list for donations of books and money, one for snbscriptions of stock and also a petition to the city council asking for a levy of tax. Recognizing the fact tnat people are already taxed very heavily we have asked only one-half of one mill on the dollar, instead of the two mills allowed by law. That there is great need of a public library and reading room everybody admits, and there is no way by which this can be obtained except through taxation. People now see the great mistake they made in not accepting the generous offer of Chauncey Rose but because we lost one opportunity is no reason why we should never embrace another. We earnestly urge every taxpayer to sign this petition, taking into consideration bow small will be the amount of his library tax compared to the great benefit this library will be to the intellect and morals of the city.

The canvassers are all men and women whese time is valuable, and therefore we respectfully ask the citizens to be prompt in their response, as it will be impossible to go over toe same district twice. Decide what you will give and be ready when you are called upon. All subscriptions will be made contingent upon the tax levy. The taxes cannot be collected for one year and we mast obtain enough money by subscription to commence the library ana carry it through the first year. Hoping that all ear citizens will recognize the importance of this measure we plaoe this matter in your hands.

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