Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 9, Number 44, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 3 May 1879 — Page 1

•&-~r

f\«v

Vol. g.—No. 44.

THE MAIL

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

SECOND EDITION.

Town-Talk.

WAKE UP.

You are awake Don't be too sure about that Because a man baa rubbed bin eyes and opened them, eaten breakfast and gone about bis business, it is not at all certain that be is awake. Some of the soundest sleepers T. T. ever met have been very active in their sleep.

There is young never mind any particular specimen where there are scores on the street every day—but T. T. was about to specify a young fellow who attends fairly to business, ha» an eye open for fan, and pitches in for frolics of all sorts, day or night, especially at night, and is called a "wide awake fellow." The fact is he is fast asleep. He has never waked up to the truth that he is a man, or was meant to be one, and hag something belter to do than to get all the fun he can out of life.

T. T. can name others who have gone on in this same way, some worse and some better, until suddenly something aroused them, and they woke up to the fact that there was something better for them to do and to be than anything they bad ever done or been.

The old hermit philosopher, Thoreau, declares "I never yet have meta man quite awake." "Millions," he says, "are awake enough for physical labor, but only one in a million is awake euough for effective intellectual exertion, and only one in a hundred million to a poetic or divine life."

How many people are there in Terre Haute who care for intellectual exertion Some,—more than there were a few years ago—but not many, compared with the whole mass. They read, it may be, a little, but there are few who are pushing with all their might after mental culturo. They are already yawning while reading this. T. T. doesn't complain, but if he were abusing somebody, or giving somebody their deserts, or gossiping, or even trying to be fuany, they would read with interest. Bat as soon as T. T. or any one else, writes of mental culture, or Intellectual exertion, they lose all interest. They are not awake enough to have any Interest in sueb things.

Go up and down Main street, go into homes oa Sixth street—these streets are named as places where people are as much awake as anywhere—and of the

[menwill

N

and women you meet not one in

ten be found who is awake to the cultivation and development of the mind. They are only awake enough for business, or for society and, to be wide awake for business or for society, often means to be sound asleep and snoring '.n reference to higher pursuits and Interests. "To be awake is to be alive," Thoreau says but those who are absorbed in society and business are not intellectually alive. That which requires mental effort, or promises intellectual pleasure or profit, has no greater attractions for them than the coming Ssengerfest has for those sleeping in the cemetery. They may be awake enough for a negro minstrel concert, but not for a first-class lecture.

The great difficulty is to wake up people. That is what our school teachers Are for. Too many of them even are not really awake themselves. They are in tbeir profession because it is as easy and honorable an occupation as they cau find in which to earn their bread and butter. But the real purpose of the earnest teachers—and this class is very large—is to wake up the children and young people, and get their eyas wide jnough open to see the attrac-Uons of intellectual pursuits and possessions

Then the churches aud ministers are to wake up people to the higher and better life, what Thoreau calls the "divine life." Too many only get awake enough want to go to heaven and have a good time when they cannot stay here any longer. Whoa they cannot have the minstrels,

00

attend srongerfest, or even

hear tbo organ at St. Stephens which Itnner repaired so successfully, ihey decided:? prefer to put on a white gown and sin rather than be scorched for

F-

V-^G.

their sins. This is about as muoh awake as the churches and ministers can get a good many people, and they have fearfully hard work to do even that. What they try to do, or ought to try to do, Is to get them sufficiently awake to see that the joy of belng*good and doing good, the joy of a life of effort and denial, like that of tbeir Master, is the greatest and most satisfying of any eujoyment possible to man.

When people get wide enough awake for this, they may still enjoy minstrels, eangerfests and repaired organs, but these will not be the strongest attraction to them, and they will attraot them chiefly because, by resting awhile among these lower things, they will be better prepared for the great work of sel f-improvemect and benefitting others. Then amusements will be recreations, and not dissipations.

Wake up, boys and girls. Wake up, teachers, and wake the young people. Wake up,wide-awake business men, and wide-awake men and women of society, and be really wide-awake to something beside the jingling of dollars, or the playing of the fiddle.

Wake up, churches and ministers, rub your eyes and get them open wide enough to see that the flames that really burn the most are those which burn out high aspirations and make you contest to be mean and selfish and sensual, and that the music of the real heaven is that which is made in the soul that is striving after purity and usefulness,grandeur of character and of living. Wake up, all hands.

A Woman's Opinions,

WHY WE LOSE FAITH.

"When I see a person who has no faith in anybody, I always think he, himself, ought not to be trusted."

This is a remark often uttered, a trite saying, but not a true one. Because a man fears to trust you is no reason why you should doubt him. How often is it said of an individual, in a scornful or contemptuous tone, "Oh he's a skeptic, a cynic he don't believe in anything or anybody"—but what a life's history is condensed in these few words, not to believe in anything or anybody and yet the world is full of suoh people nor are they dishonest and treacherous, but generally men and women possessed of a high sense of honor, with a sensitive organization, that feels keenly every kind of deception. There is a class of people, jolly, careless, and of sanguine temperament, who could never, under any circumstances, become misanthropic. If one man deceives them they turn to another hoping to find something better, and so they go on through life's journey, with a neverfailing spring of faith welling up in their breast and always ready to grasp at happiness, no matter how often she eludes tbeir outstretched hands while others, having once lost confidence, can never trust again. Children are born with their little baby hearts full of Implicit faith, but the lessons ef deception begin so soon. The little girl throws herself into mother's arms with a tearful story of a promise broken by one she trusted the boy's eyes flash and bis cheeks redden as be threateus revenge on a playmate who has not kept his word. The man loves a woman with all bis soul he looks upon her as something divine he ^places his confidence, his happiness, his honor in her keeping —and she betrays the trust. In his grief and humiliation he exclaims, "It li characteristic of the sex," and thenceforth has no faith in womankind,

The woman adores her husband she regards his word at though it were sacred inspiration which it would be sacrilege to doubt, until some unbappy day she learns that he has deceived her. She looks about and sees that other husbands do the same, and with a cry, like that of a departing spirit, faith goes out from her life and leaves her helpless and despairing amid the waves of doubt and uncertainty. When the man, who has been reduced from wealth to poverty meets those who used to be bis most ardent friends and receives only averted glances and chilling words, it fills his Learl with bitterness and he calls the whole world cruel, selfish aud unsympathetic. When a woman sees the homage paid to those of her sex that happen to have wealth and position while others of talent, refinement and true worth remain unnoticed and neglected, she rebels against the frivolity and injustice of society, secludes herself from the world and takes a skeptical view of humanity. Faith, like enthoalam, Is the possesion of youth, whish diminishes with the growing years. There are a few fortunate ones to whom life has shown only Its sunny sids and these favored beings cannot understand or sympathise with the cynics and misanthropists they find around them. They look upon tbem with a curosity, wondering how they can bo so gloomy in a world so full of brightness.

When day by d«y the conviction forces Itself upou men and women that existence is not what it promised at the early dawn, that all mankind are not godlike or wonaukind angelic, that humanity

is full of imperfections, they are likely to pass into one of three conditions: either they beoome morose, unsociable aud suspicious or they sink into a state of melancholy and despondenoy or they adopt a system of philosophy, take the world as it comes, laugh with those that are merry, weep with those that are sad, steel tbeir hearts to bear with indifference whatever blows may come, acoept the good and bad that falls to their lot with perfect equanimity, uatll at last the ardor and expeotancy of youth are hopelessly lost in the apathy and insensibility of the stoic. Happy Indeed ought these skeptios be if, no longer trusting the world, tUey can still look heavenward with confidence, but very often does it happen that having lost faith In the finite, they cease to believe in the Infinite.

However, these are far too sober thoughts for such a cheerful week as the past has been, for with tne sound of marriage bells yet in our ears we naturally think and talk of

WEDDINGS.

Here, as in all departments of life, we notice the great diversity of tastes that exists. One man is so ecstatically happy that he wants all the world to share his joy he bids his friends to oome, eat, drink and be merry for this is the proudest moment of his life another is in a state of equal felicity, but it is of a subdued, shrinking sort which shuns publicity and desires that the ceremonies be very quiet and unostentatious. There are arguments in favor of both methods. A wedding feast is more highly enjoyed thau any other kind of an entertainment and is always remembered and spoken of with pleasure by all the guests it inspires tbem with kindly feelings toward the newly-married couple for their generous hospitality, which find expression in warm congratulations and cordial wishes for along and happy future.

On the other hand, there is a sacredness about marriage which many hesitate to profane by admitting the world at large the position of bride and groom is rather delicate and embarrassing, and they prefer to meet only their most intimate friends till the strangeness wears away, henee a quiet wedding best suits their tastes. But in whatever manner the nuptials'are celebrated, the inevitable honeymoon is generally the same,— a season of supreme felicity, a olimate of glorious summer, a realm beyond the clouds, a few brief days or weeks of glorious enchantment,—and then the happy pair slide gently down to the prosaic but solid, old earth, beefsteak takes the place of ambrosia, and coffee is substituted for nectar the bridegroom devotes his energies to the struggle for daily bread, and the lovely bride wades into the mysteries of housekeeping.

Yet the first year is n&t always the happiest one. There is so much to learn of life's reality, so many little angles to be smoothed and rounded before the two characters fit smoothly together, so many peculiarities of one another's disposition to be studied and thoroughly understood, that very often the first year of marriage is the most trying of all, and, although there is a romance and a glamour connected with it which comes only once in a lifetime, yet very few married peeple would care to recall their early wedded days. Thus the weddings oome and go, just as they have done since the day when Adam stood at nature's own beautiful altar, amid the wondrous loveliness of Paradise, and gazed with rapture upon his fair bride. There is a fasoination about them which never ceases. They inspire the young with joyous anticipation, they delight the old by the pleasant recollections they bring to mind. In the ages to come, may the svsred institution of marriage ever remain the holiest and happiest of all divine sacraments.

"JOSH WHITCOMB'S FATHER. Chicago Inter-Ocean. A pleasing incident of the Tuesday night performance of "Joshua Whitcomb" was the presence In the audience of Den Thompson's old father, Captain Rufus Thompson. The old gentleman oatne down from Madison, Wis., (with a party of ten), where be has been visiting, being en route for bis home in Swansee, N. H. It was the first time be bad ever seen the clever performance of his talented son, and his enjoyment of the takfroff of himself and fellow townsmen was supreme. He went into transports of laughter, and pride shone out In every honest trickle of bis tear-dim-med eyes. He allowed that show was some, and added Infinite seat to the satisfaction of those around him.

TERRE HA UTE HAS SOME OF 7HE SAME KIND. Bloemlngton, Ills.. Eye. During a recent business visit to Chicago, we met two ladies of oar acquaintance who were there "shopping." One was the wife of a man who came to this city about twenty-five years ago, poor but thrifty has accumulated a handsome property, and is to-day the owner bf several business rooms on one of tbe leading thoroughfares of tbe city. He collects his rental with remarkable punctuality, and his family go to Chicago to spend it. No wonder that many of out merchants complain of dull trade, and that some of them are arranging to go elsewhere, when they see people who are, or should be, interested in building up the trade of Bloomingtou, going away from home to make their pur cbun. 7

TERRE HAUTE, IND., SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 3, 1879.

3, 4.

NOT A3 IT USED TO BE. Base Ball has broken out again among tbe boys with greater vigor than ever before. On each pleasant evening almost every vacant lot in the city has its contending nines and the usual crowd of lookers-on. We stopped tbe other evening, and as we looked on tbe slowgoing game, so precise in every movement, we thought the boys of to-day knew little of the sport of "town ball," as it was called twenty years ago. Then tbe game of ball was tun. There are probably remote portions of tbe country where there is still some amusement in a gamo of baseball—where the rustic inhabitants have not yet learned how awfully scientific the game has become. There, when the striker hits the ball a good, reliable whack he runs for all he is worth. When the other fellow gets tbe ball he doesn't place It quietly on the base, he hurls it with unerring precision at tbe rupner and knocks two dollars' worth of breath out of his body. The runner is then out. He generally goes and lies on tbe grass t6 think over matters and rub the place where tbe ball hit. But balls in those days were not the globular bricks tbey are uow. Any boy with a little ingenuity and an old stocking could make a ball. A piece of cork or a bit of rubber to make it "bounce," did to start on. Then the old stocking was raveled and tbe yarn wound on this rubber basis until tbe ball reached proper proportions, when it was covered with leather. The boy who owned a nice, soft-covered ball was a king among hi9 kind. Next to him came the boy with a good bat. The principal official in the old style of base ball was the fellow who sat on a stump and kept tally. He cut the notches for one party on one edge of a shingle, and for the other party on the other edge. Sometimes a good tallyer would do more for his favorite side than its best batsman. There were no umpires in those days for both captains to quarrel with. When the two captains were ready to choose sides one tossed abase ball club to the other, who caught it, and they went hand over hand to tbe top tbe last hand that held the bat had the first choice of players. Sometimes a boy would insist that his hand was last, while it projected over the end of the bat. This was settled by another boy striking with another bat at the end of the choosing bat. If the last hand could stand the strokes it was all right, but if tbe hand projected a little too high it was generally withdrawn after the first blow. Another test was his ability, with the hold he had on the bat, to throw it over his head. Those were days when base ball was not composed of four parts science to one of fun.

THE FREE LIBRARY. Next Tuesday settles the question, perhaps for all time to come, whether Terre Haute is to have the great boon of a free library. The city council has very properly put the question of taxation fer this purpose to a vote of the people. Eaoh voter will find upon bis ticket tbe words "For the Free Library," and "Against the Free Library." If you are in favor, draw a line aoross the latter. Bear in mind that if neither line is crossed out the vote counts for nothing either way. The proposed tax is only half a mill en the dollar's worth of property. The man who owns 91,000 worth of property will be taxed only fifty cents, and when tbe library geta established this tax can be reduced.

Tbe library will probably be in charge of a lady, and there will be nothing of a political or sectarian nature about it. It will be free to everybody. A reading room will be attached, where will be placed all tbe leading newspapers and periodicals. Tbe plan adopted is similar to the Indianapolis library, which in number of volumes circulated stands fourth in rank. The Indianapolis library is patterned after that in Boston, which is the best in the Union.

As before remarked, it will be many years before another effort is made in this direction. We hear of little or no opposition to it, and if it tells it will be from sheer negligenoe. So see to it that you vote one way or the other, and that all your acquaintances do likewise.

The New York Mercury of Saturday published a list of about twenty circus organisations which are about to start out for tbe summer campaign. The titles of some ol tbe employee are amusing and suggestive, including tbe "Chief of the Paste Brigade" with his assistants the "Layer Out" and his understrappers and various other Important functionaries. We do not know what Is the special employment of the "Layer Out," but we may hazard a guess that his functions in circusdom correspond with those of tbe Fighting Editor In journalism. One official who may be supposed to exercise a good deal of infiuenoe over tbe destinies of the show Is technically known as tbe "SideShow Talker." Tbe odd thing about it is that this important position is always held by members of tbe male sex.

VOTE for the Free Library.

1

J*

rf kS$ fit'&i.

fffj# rn

U* jlV^^T"

AMUSEMENTS.

FOREPAUOH'S SHOW.

At an early hour yesterday morning men, women and children began to back up against tbe buildings along Main street, as hungry as ever for the sights of the first circus procession. Forepaugb makes a magnificent street display. The performances in the afternoon and evening were largely attended. While there is little out of tbe usual run of such shows, It is a nice, clean exhibition and well worthy the patronage of the people.

JOSH WHITCOMB.

On Monday evening Den man Thompson, who, as the personator of "Uncle Josh Wbitcomb,"has attained a national reputation, will make his first appearance here in this character. Our people can rely upon as delightful a dramatic entertainment as has been given here this season. It has been played at Indianapolis every night this week. The Journal of that city says:

The play itself is simply a succession of ecenes which carry the beholder from countrv to city life and back again from street to garret, and from parlor to rustic kitchen. The leading character, "Uncle Josh Wbltcomb," is one which defies criticism. He is not merely a typical old Yankee he is the impersonation of all that we have ever seen, or heard, or read of genial, honest, characteristic old menr who live in small towns, all over the country men of character and convictions, hearty, wholesouled, eccentric, homespun, and lovely. In his representation of this character Mr. Thompson has come nearer catching the true flavor of American life than any other actor has done. There is nothing about him of tbe stereotyped "Brother Jonathan," with striped pantaloons and broad-brimmed hat nothing of the artistic impossibility who pre-* tends to represent American character. He is a real personage, just such a man as all who have ever lived or sojourned in small towns, or read anything of modern American life, are acquainted with. He is honest, blunt, quaint, egotistical, pious, brave, devout, tender, loving—in short, he is everything that one demands in the typical American rustic. His action carries the elders in his audience back to the days of tbeir youth, and reminds each one of some person he has known, and at the same time draws the juniors to a type tbey long to become personally acquainted with. The essence of his acting is naturalness—naturalness in voice, gesture, movement, attitude, expression, emotion—everything. If he acts by rule be has the art to conoeal his art. "Uncle Josh" is nature oa the stage, and those who see him go away with revived recollections of country towns, of running streams and of the first freshness of life. In tbe whole play there is not an expression or word to offend the most modest. Prurient prudes have attempted to point out such, but tbey are not there. The text is as innocent as the humor is delightful. If there is any exaggeration in tbe character of Uncle Josh it is no more than the situation re quires, and only responsive to popular demand. The play is one which the most fastidious can see and enjoy again and again. _____________

People and Things.

Bob Tombs is rapidly losing his eyesight. Politics flourish in the plays on tbe German stage.

New Orleans has a Hardly Ever Temperance Society. The Hawkeye advises tramps to organize "Pinafore" companies.

It is so healthy in Texas that few people there are known to die a natural death.

A Milwaukee man says that a Talmage trial does more harm than Sunday fishing.

Senator Bruce and Fred Douglas are opposed to the migration of their race from the south to the west.

George Minnick, a young man of Allegheny City, pricked India ink in his arm and died from the effects of it.

Didn't we tell you the great movement was booming At the Kentucky Republican State convention, "the clergyman whose prayer opened the proceedings, spoke very warmly of Grant," and the prayer was applauded.

Father Vinyard, a Catholic priest at South Bend, Ind., is the latest victim of tbe dangerous habit of sleeping with false teeth in tbe mouth. A gold plate with teeth slipped part way down his throat, and, as surgeons are unable to remove them, he must die.

A minister at Amherst, Mass., has set a good example. He rose from his knees at a recent meeting, while in the middle of a prayer, and administered a sound rebuke to a lot of giddy young people who were whispering in the back pews afler^|l^ be5return^ to bis prayer.

The colored Methodist praying band of Macon, Ga., undertook to bring about a miracle that would cure Minerva Bowen of fits. Tbey met at her bedside, and prayed by tarns for nine hours continuously. During that time the slstei' was quiet, although ahe had previously been contorted as often as once an hour but as soon as they went away she fell into a worse state than ever. Tbe experiment is tp be tried again.

Tbe temperance question was up in tbe Minnesota Legislature the other day, and Dr. Riley made a speech against prohibition. "Among the first

Tr^rp

V* f"9

4

I" £Jf cjkSiifol?- Ml

f*T"

r?~*%"

L%, ', '. ft* '"s-n 'V %, Ibv*

w»#

.'.•'••«« :#'t VS

V"V^.

Ninth Year

things my infant1 eyes rested on," he said, "was a whiskey still. My father never sat down to dinner without a bottle of whiskey on the table, and we all drank it. Ever since I can remember I have been in the habit of taking whiskey every day. If I have skipped a day I have forgotten it. They say that whiskey kills and bloats men. It hasn't killed me, and I ask any member of the House to say If he thinks it has bloated me."

In view of the prevailing fashion among patrician young women of eloping with papa's coachman, tbe Boston Times suggests to the wealthy old gentlemen who advertise for Jehus the following conservative form: "Wanted —A reliable coachman must not be under sixty years of age a lame, one eyed, homely man preferred. Must b9 a good, careful driver. A wife and children no objection. No young bachelor need apply."

Tbe Burlington Hawkeye says, never send a present hoping for one in return. Nine times out of ten you will slip up on your expectations. Freeze to tbe present you buy. You are dead sure of that. Never fail to answer an invitation, either personally or by letter. If it is an invitation to dinner, by all means answer it personally. If it is an invitation to a wedding or donation party, a letter will do just as well, and is about ten times as cheap. "On Thursday," says the San Francisco Chronicle, "Charles Jamison, the Chinese interpreter, being himself a half breed born in China, began to marry Ah Quy, a Chinese thoroughbred, a brunette damsel of IS, according to the splendid ceremonial of the Joss system of marital theology. The ceremony will be completed and the twain will be one flesh about this time next week, after which they will clinch the matter Melican fashion, before a JU8tice of the Peace."

Two young men went into the woods near Aurora, 111., to play a game of cards. As they were rival lovers, aud had not previously spoken to each other for months, it is conjectured that the girl in dispute was the stake that they played for. The winner, however, was not permitted to gain the prize, for his opponent instantly shot him through the heart. An effort to settle rivalry by chanoe had a not less sad result in Texas. The two suitors were convinced that the young woman would accept either if the other would let her alone, and they agreed to throw dice to decide which should give her up. The loser honestly endeavored to keep the compact, but the woman refused to be disposed of in that way, and wrote to him that she would marry nobody else, and would not even see the winner. Tbe latter would not believe that bis competitor had tried to retire from the contest, and so murdered him.

Feminitems.

A pen-wiper on a silk handkerchief makes a very tidy bonnet. A young man should- never ask a young lady why her back hair does not match her front hair.

News-girls area feature in Philadelphia. They are much neater in their personal appearance than the boys, and sell more papers with less noise.

A New York paper suggest* that Alice Oates and Alice Harrison should never again be permitted to appear upen the stage of a respectable theatre.

The Philadelphia Mirror patiently asks why actresses are not allowed the same respeot in private that other ladies are, and why tbey should be worried for matters common to every lady.

A Vassar College girl challenges any girl of any institution in the United States to chew gum with her. She offers to chew a hundred quarters worth of gum in one hundred consecutive quarter days. Gum to be clear of hair and not mixed with shoemaker's wax.

Making waistcoats at fourteen cents each, cheviot shirts at four oents apiece, heavy overalls at fifty cents per dozen, and woollen trousers at ten cents a pair are some facts gleaned by a society of ladles who are investigating tbe condition of the sewing women of Cleveland, Ohio.

Tbe Kalamo correspondent of Tlie Charlotte (Mich.) Republican writes as follows: "Two maiden ladles, not related, formed a copartnership In New York State, and come to this township when the country was new, bought 80 acre* of wild land went to work, one doing the chopping, clearing and farming, tbe other the housework, everything having moved agreeably and apparently happily with tbem up to tbe present time. They were respected by all with whom tbey were acquainted. The housekeeper, Samantba Wyman, died last evening, aged 68 tbe farmer Rachel Michel, is 70 years of age, and her health of late has not been very good.".

for tbe Free Library