Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 9, Number 47, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 24 May 1879 — Page 1

Vol. 9.—No. 47.

THE MAIL

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

SECOND EDITION.

Town-Talk.

TOO MDCH SENSE.

T. T. has no desire to underrate good sense, education, refinement and such like things, the praises of which are in 'everybody's mouth. But there are disadvantages connected with these, sometimes very serious ones, and T. T. has questioned whether there are not quite as many failures due to the excess of these as to the lack of them. He was at a temperance meeting not long since where the first speaker was a very sensible man. He was thoroughly in earnest, knew all about the subject in hand, saw the difficulties in the way of stopping the sale of liquor in the place—the object of the meeting—and gave most excellent advice. His speech was quietly received, and if the meeting bad closed at once nothing would have resulted. He was followed by a fellow "without any sense," one who did not know what he was talking about, made the wildest statements, and assumed that anything could be done, volunteering, if permitted, to do the whole job himself. The meeting was wild with enthusiasm. The wise heads shook incredulously, but those who were burdened with little wisdom cheered and stamped furiously, and the result was that a raid was made on the liquor business that gave it a worse set-back than it had experienced for years. The very things that the wise heads said could not be done were done with a whew "Know nothing, fear nothing," Is the secret of many successes, and well grounded fear is the secret of many failures. Old Zack Taylor hadn't military sense enough to know when he was whipped, and so kept pounding away and whipped his opponent. The fellow who lacks senses pitches in, and, by the dint of impudence, or by the combination of unforeseen circumstances called good luck, comes off conquerer. T. T. has heard a clergyman in this city say that all he would ask was that the "men of sound judgment" keep out of his way. Another one used to say that when be thought it best to be cautious and not risk a failure he consulted a very judiolous member of his official board, but when he was bound to pitch in and wlo any way, and needed courage, he kept as far as possible from the wise member. The fact is, that there are hosts of difficult things that need doing in this world, that the less a man knows about them, except that they need doing, and the leas counsel he takes of good judgment, the more likely be is to succeed. "Pitch in and win" is the motto that lies at the foundation of many successes lhat surprise people—and some failures as well, T. T. most oonfess, for the advantage is not ail on one side. Nevertheless, it is a good motto for every, good oause and high purposo." Many a leap for life, which has been.'.successful, if the man had known just how far be would be obliged to leap and just how far he had ever jumped before, would not have been made. He simply saw what It was necessary to do, made a drive at it with all his might, and did it. Artemus Ward tells of the follow who "tried to do too much, and done It." Such fellows are wanted on a good many oocaslons, and many who would be just such, are spoiled by having too much sense, sound judgment ftiven them. And then there are placee where

IO NORA NT MEN ARB BETTER THAN L.KARNKT*.

It is quite probable that some bright, or not very bright, young pupil of the Normal School, would actually teach a primary school more\suoeoasfally than President Jones. A teacher used to tell T.T. that ahe always taught a branch best the Ant few times, and before ahe became very familiar with it. It doesnt do for people who are to help others op to be too far above them. Parents say that the baby learns faster from the other children than from the adulta in the family. More education fita'a man for a higher place, bat often St unfits him for the lower place which most be filled

by somebody. The colored pupils at the South who get a little education make better teachers and preachers for the colored schools and churches than do the better educated whites. T.T. is not such a fool as to plead for ignorant teachers and preachers, but there are places for those who are not overwise, places which they can fill better than some who are "better trained."

TOO MUCH REFINEMENT

Is also possible. A Boston clergyman, one of the mo9t refined clerical spokee centering In the Hub, was invited to deliver an address before a frontier college. The students laughed at the "kidgloved," "high toned" speaker, and he made a perfect "fizzle." An off-hand fellow," with less refinement, who would have disgusted a Boston audience, would have succeeded where the very "gentlemanly" clergyman utterly failed.

THE UPSHOT

Of which is, that there is a place for all grades of people, a place which they can better fill than anybody else, and it is for every fellow to find his place and stick to it, without grumbling till be has fitted himself, or been fitted for some other place.

A Woman's Opinions,

JOSEPH COOK.

Although several days have elapsed since this gentleman's visit, and the eager, restless public mind already calls for a newer and a fresher topic, yet it seems almost impossible to pass by so Important an event without note or catument. The more especially Is there a desire to speak of his discourse since, in my opinion, it has hardly received justice from our city papers. There are doubtless several reasons for this, apart from the real merit or demerit of the lecture. In the first place it was entirely too long. No matter how Interested our minds may be, our frail human bodies will grow weary our backs will ache, our limbs will beoome cramped, and our nerves relax, and physical discomfort destroys intellectual enjoyment. It seems strange that our speakers will not understand this. Amerioa Is a land of speech making. No ceremony can take plaoe, however simple and uninteresting, without the inevitable speech, and the mental machinery of the man who gets up to make an address seems to be the nearest approach to perpetual motion that has ever yet been discovered.

Wendell Phillips exhausted our patience Theodore Tilton wore out our strength and Joseph Cook caused a stampede in his audience to escape being talked to death. The most fasolnating drama, at one moment exciting to laughter, the next, moving to tears, will scarcely hold the attention of an audience when the night draws near the wee, sma' hours, but an array of solid facts, forcible arguments and weighty statistics, such as were brought to bear upon us last Monday evening until 11 o'clock, make us feel like exclaiming, "We dcn't care whether we have the largest country on the face of the globe or not, or If we are to have an Inhabitant to every square foot, or if the politicians are to ruin the oountry all we fervently pray for Is to get home and go to bed. Such Is weak human nature. Therefore, public opinion has decided that the lecture was too long. This may be termed one of the mistakes of Joseph. Another very impolitic move on the part of Mr. Cook (we can hardly oall it a mistake) was the declaration that there were not more than a dozen good newspapers in the United States. Of course among this number he included those of Terre Haute, but our papers do not like to see anybody abuse their contemporaries. That is a privilege they reserve exclusively for themselves. It is surprising that a public man should condemn the newspapers, for they make his reputation, and if be does not spare their faults it cannot be expected that they will be very lenient toward his. Besides, such a sweeping denunciation is undeserved in a country distinguished for the enterprise and the Intellectual ability of its journalism.

Another indiscretion of the lecturer was his frequent comparisons between the east and the west, to the disadvantage of the latter. Now that is something western people will not stand. It is barely probable that In education and culture our eastern neighbors have the advantage of us, oat, with sturdy western independence, we refuse to acknowledge the aupertority, and deoline to be reminded of it. Every western man considers St his bounden duty to take the conceit oat of his eastern brother as soon aa possible after hi* arrival among us. In order to do this it is often necessary to chip off whole sections of Plymouth Rock, to take the wind out of the sails of the May-flower, and to inform him that even Boston baked beans have to be flavored with Cincinnati pork. If this fails, then suggest to him that if the east Is such a wonderful oountry, ahe would better take care of her young men, instead of sending them to make a living off of Hoostera. We cannot b'.ame Joseph Cook for admiring New

England, for New England admires Joseph Cook. If the audience were disappointed that he ohose a political topic, that was not his fault. He probably thought we oould not understand metaphysics. His ideas of political economy were not new, but were expressed in well-chosen and vigorous sentences. Many of his expressions were witty and original, and he spoke like a man who had given the subject so much study and thought that be found it almost impossible to condense into one lecture all he wanted to say. His language was so elear and simple that a child could understand him, and yet in occasional bursts of eloquence he fully justified his reputation as an orator.

His advocacy of an Anglo-American alliance was not enthusiastically received, partly beoause the people had not given the subject much attention and partly because they did not appreciate the advantages of it. His portrayal of the dangers that menace our republic was not exaggerated, and his opinion that all riotous and rebellious outbreaks should be summarily put down by military force Is sustained by many of our leading thinkers. His dream (of "Ulti mate America" may never ba fulfilled. The only hope for the purification of politics is that the honorable men of our country will descend into the depths of unprincipled politicians and, wresting the sceptre of power frona their unclean hands, lift up the nation into the pure atmosphere of stern integrity that ushered in its birth a hundred years ago but a man must possess much hopeful enthusiasm to Indulge in any sanguine expectation that this will ever come to pass.

In conclusion, taking into consideration Mr. Cook's rather ungraceful figure and his not altogether pleasing style of oratory, one cannot avoid the opinion that to fully realize the Intellectual greatness of the man his lectures must be read and not heard.

Susan Perkins' Letter.

[We will not explain how the following letter fell into our hands before it reached the postoffioe. We intend to intercept another next week, and the next in fact every one that Susan writes. If Josephine will send us her address we will send her The Mall free, and she can then read the letters from her friend in nice plain print.]

TERRE HAUTE, May 21st, 1S79. DEAR JOSEPHINE—Probablyyou think by this time, that I never intend to write to you, having been in Terre Haute for six weeks and neglected you all of that time. The fact is I have been so busy sight seeing—you know I am the country cousin come to town to see the sights—that I have hardly bad tixie to think of Okaw or any of Its inhabitants. Do you know, some people here persist in thinking that because we are from the same place that I am some relation to the Okaw preacher! Now is'nt that absurd If I was related I should hate to acknowledge It, for although I own to being unsophisticated to a certain extent, still I am not as green and utterly ignorant of the refinements of polite society as the Okaw preaoher. Why, our family do not even go to his ohurcb One thing I determined to do when I first came to Terre Haute, ftnd that was not to display my ignorance on all occasions lif I see anything I do not understand I keep my eyes open and my mouth shut, and I find it is a wise rule.

Cousin Matie has been taking me the rounds and I begin to feel a little of the awkwardness wearing off, and that quiet self possession so hard to acquire taking its place. I do not suppose you would know Matie. She is .no other than Sarah Matilda who used to go barefooted after the cows. I always thought her name was Sarah Matilda. The school teacher called her that I am sure, but now it is Matie. The name, however, is the least important of the changes which have taken place In Sarah Matilda since she left Okaw and became a resident of Terre Haute. You remember how red her hair used to be? Every bit as red as mine—and mine is fiery. Now it is the most beautiful shade of gold imaginable. Even heroomplexion, which used to be densely populated with freckles, Is as clear and rosy as an infant's. Then her eyebrows—she never had any visible ones when she lived in Okaw, are of a dark shade of brown, making a pretty contrast to her fluffy golden hair. These things are strange and I can scarcely understand them. Sometimes I lie awake at night and ponder over them and hare nearly concluded that it is the climate. Perhaps if I stay here long enough and breathe the pure, Invigorating air of Terre Haute my fiery locks will turn to beaten gold.

Week before la«t—no, it was the week before that—the principal attraction for pleasure seekers was the Loan Exhibition given by the Young Ladies' Guild of St. Stephens Church. Most of the articles were beautiful or curloua, and all were interesting. The rare china and costly laces were my especial

admiration. You ought to have seen a party dress brought from Paris, a marvel of beauty and riohness. A lovelyshade of pale green silk trimmed with yards and yards of elegant lace! It was enough to make the inhabitant from Okaw open her mouth and eyes in undisguised astonishment. She did no such thing, however, but controlled her amazement and looked 8t the dress as critically as if she had been used to such all her life and it was a common occurrence for her to wear such apparel to the parties in Okaw. The pictures were very fine—at least everybody said so aa for me, I am not intimately enough acquainted with the di.ffarent styles of the old masters. I don't know Rubens from Van Dyck, or any 0/ the other old fellows—this I tell you in strict confidence—but here I looked as awe stricken as possible and conversed in whispers whenever I approached one of the sainted daubs, Then there were some very ancient things, dresses and silver two or three hundred years old. If I had only known it in time I might have Bent to Okaw for some of our curiosities. There is mother's patchwork quilt made In the pattern of the "setting sun," and Aunt Betsy's Sunday-go-to-meeting bonnet which she has worn for the last sixty-five years. The evenings at the Loan Exhibition were varied with music and other entertainments. Altogether it was a grand success, and sometime I am going to get up oue in Okaw.

Speaking of St. Stephen's Guild reminds me of my first Sunday here. I was anxious to attend the Baptist Church, of whose minister I had heard so mu'ch, but Matie was obdurate and insisted that the Episcopal was the only church to be thought of. "Why," said she, "all the elite of the city go there." That settled the matter for me. If the elite went to St. Stephens, brimstone and fire could not keep me away. So we wended our way to the house of worship, where all the worshippers were of the elite, and soon found ourselves in a pretty little church, adorned with crosses and illuminated texts and with a subdued light glinting through the stained glass of the windows. The air was laden with the sweet incense of flowers, and as we entered, the choir was chaunting a solemn refrain. Soon I forgot the elite and gave myself up to the solemn influences of the sanctuary. The service is one of the most impressive I ever witnessed, and I wonder that more people do not enter into it. No, I did not forget my surroundings entirely, for Matie kept me informed as to each fresh arrival. Her responses were interlarded with comments on Mrs. Frizzle's hat, Miss Simple's new suit, and the party given last week by some one else. However, I did notice that the congregation at St. Stephens was composed of well dressed people, who had that air of refinement so seldom seen In our shabby oountry meeting houses.

I must not forget to tell you of my first party in Terre Haute. You know I am very fond of dancing and never refuse an invitation. Therefore, when Matie told me we were invited to a large party at one of the most stylish houses in the city, I was delighted. To be sure my ardor was a little dampened when I found that Matie was going to wear a light blue silk trimmed with lilies of the valley, for my best and only party drees was mother's old blaok silk made over for me. But 1 solaced myself by thinking of Aunt Betsey's homely advice, "Remember, child, that what you wear is of little importance forget self and try to make others happy and you will always enjoy yourself. 'Pretty is as pretty does.'" So I donned the black silk and thought I would do, and Matie looked lovely with her blonde hair set off by the blue of her drees. Uncle Ezra took us, as we had no escorts. I was surprised at this, as Matie Is so popular, but she assured me it was often the case that Terre Haute belles went unattended or stayed at home

I did not anticipate a very gay timeindeed, I was only sure of dancing once as I bad met but one young gentleman, a Mr. Tiptop. I think the boys in Okaw would be apt to laugh at this same Mr. Tiptop, but that is because they are not conversant with style, and do not know what is what, Mr. Tiptop is a little fellow, who waxes his delicate blonde moustache so that it stands out in two aharp points. He carries a silk umbrella to keep the sun's rays from beating down too pitilessly on his tender head. He Is good looking, and Matie says he dances just beautifully. I could not help wondering if there wasn't danger of those sharp points of his moustache running into the young ladies' eyes, and blinding them for life. As I said before, he was the only gentleman I had met, and therefore I was only sure of dancing onoe. Well, we entered the parlors 1 Nothing unusual occurred after such a startling event, and Uncle Ezra took us to some seats. Then Matie was invited to danoe, by a very fat young gentleman, and Uncle Ezra excused himself, saying be would look into the card room a minute. The cards most have been too much for the dear old fellow, for that was the last I saw of him until supper time. I alone wa« left to view the scene of gavety. To

tell the truth I was glad of a little respite. I wanted to see Rome before I became a Roman. The rooms were spacious, and filled with a throng of beautiful ladies and brave gentlemen. Here was a tall young lady with brilliant cheeks heightened by the dress of cardinal she wore. And here goes a dainty little blonde, who seems to be sought by all. And there—yes, there is Mr. Tiptop dancing with a lady whom I afterwards learn to be an heiress. As be passes, me I bow, but he is so engaged with the heiress that be does not even see me, Tho next danoe begins and Matie again has a partner. Two elderly ladies take seats near me, and from their conversation, I gain much information about the people before me. The third dance comes around, and Matie is nowhere to be seen, I begin to feel lonely, but just at this minute Mr. Tiptop comes toward me. I smile, and bow again. But no! I was mistaken he does not even see me. It was some one behind me at whom he was looking. I turn to see who it is, and am confronted by the bare wall. How absent minded Mr. Tiptop must be! Perhaps he is in love.

Two, three more dances go by, and still I sit, a solitary wall flower. About this time I begin to get mad and hate things and people. I hate myself because I oame I hate my hair because it is red Matie, because she does not aot cousinly and, above all, Mr. Tiptop, because 1 do. Here I am, acting as well as I CSD, looking as pretty as possible, and what is th'e result Three more dances drag past, and Matie calls out as she whirls by: "Having a nice time "Delightful," say I, smiling a sort of sepulchral smile. After the tenth dance has begun, I look at my programme to see how many more there are, and find that we are not yet half through. Think of it! The belle of Okaw a wall flower for ten consecutive dances! I beg your pardon, my dear! One of the belles of Okaw, I should say. But here oomee Uncle Ezra, and we go to supper. I did justice to that supper. Such meats and coffee, such ices and fancy dishes, never were seen within twenty miles of Okaw. Why, the boys at home would think it was Fourth of July all the time. In the midst of it Uncle Ezra said "Well, Susie, having a good time, I suppose?" "Oh, yes," said I, never had so much fun in my life." I quieted my conscience for that lie on the grounds that^Uncle Ezra oould not help It, and it was no use troubling him, After supper I again took up my post of observation, when up walked Matie, and introduced a gentleman I did not faint, and tried hard not to show my delight, but {It was so long since I had talked to a man that I hardly knew how lo behave. His breath did smell of whiskey a little, and although, as you know, I am strict temperance, I did not care a bit.

I think I would have dancedjwith the devil himself, had be asked^me, eut of pure gratitude. Well we danced and w.alked and talked, and presently I met some more gentlemen and danced some more, and talked a great deal. After all I bad a nice time, but no thanks to Mr. Tiptop. At the beginning of the seventeenth dance, Mr. Tiptop made bis appearance, and asked for a quadrille» but I was obliged to refuse. "So tired," you know.

I have heard something"slnoe, which throws anew light on Mr. Tiptop's actions. He has not always been in the first society. Only a year or so ago was he promoted then his flue dancing and other accomplishments loo numerous to mention, I suppose, brought him into notice. Consequently he dances only with the leaders of fashion, the heiresses, and those of the very bluest blood. How rash then it would have been for him to notice a poor little red-headed girl from Okaw.

As for Matte's tftnduot, there is no excuse for it. If she was aahamed of her oountry-oouain, she should not have taken her there. However, it is all forgotten now. I heard that some of the gentlemen called me the strawberry blonde, and thought I was real cute, if I was frvrn the oountry.

I will not tell you everything this time, but save something for my next letter. Write soon, to mVv -Yours Truly,

SUSAN PERKINS.

At

People and Things.

Umbrellas are now made of paper. Spiritualism to unknown in China. There are about a thousand lawyers in Chicago.

Senator Bruce has named his son and heir Roscoe Conkling. Barber's don't call it "shingling** or sand-papering now, but, "the pineapple cut."

In Texas a man who is shot is considered to have died a natural death.—Boston Post.

W. H. Vanderbilt's Inoome Is |1,000 an hour, which is as much meney aa some of us receive In a whole day.

A Pawtucket, R. I. dog, owned by a railroad crossing flagman, performs his master's duties, rushing out with a red

^^yti Ninth Year

signal flag in his mouth and shaking It" vigorously to warn passers-by whenever it is due. ,* •, ,v [.

The Omaha (Neb.) Bee says it is getting to be quite a "common practice" among lawyers to draw their revolvers in open court.

Hamlin, under sentence of death in the Connecticut prison, sells photographs of himself, and gives the proceeds to the widow of the man he murdered.

A Texas chap shot five men and no attention was paid to it, but one day he stole a mule, and in less than an hour the infuriated citizens hanged him.—Oil City Derrick. ^, J,'

The Rev. A. A. Rolf, a Methodist pastor of Michigan, prayed that the Almighty might palsy the hands of every man who went to the ballot box to vote and did not vote for prohibition, and to palsy every man's tongue who spoke against prohibition.

Twenty-eight children were presented for baptism at Plymouth church, Brooklyn, Suudnv, and as Mr. Beecher rose from his sent to perform the baptismal rites he said: "I call you all to witness that a sweeter or more beautiful bed of flowers never entered Plymouth church, and from them come the fruits of righteousness."

McKee Rinkin as Sandy and Mrs. Bessie Hunter as the Widder are the lovers in Joaquin Miller's play, "The Danltes." In Keokuk, Iowa, Mrs Hunter left the stage In the midst of a sentimental scene, the curtain was dropped, and the audience heard loud voices In excited discussion. After a little delay the acting was resumed. The trouble came from Mrs. Hunter getting angry at Rankin because, as she charged, he hugged her in a too realistic manner.

The Rev. Jacob Reinhold, of Lancaster, Pa., was preaching last week at Owl Hill. A member of the congregation interrupted him by saying, "Mr. Reinhold, you are saying things you do not yourself believe." Instead of knocking bino down, or angrily calling him a member of the Brooklyn Presbytery, Mr. Reinhold calmly said that if the man would call at his house he would prove by tho Bible the correctness of all be preached. This was better than getting mad about it, and having a case of church discipline.

Feminitems#

The bard times have not affected bonnets in the least. There never was a season before when they were so high.

The Chicago Tribune says there is no truth in the rumor that Minnie Hauk demanded a steamer to hersell In crossing the Atlantic. She only bad a state room.

Now Clara Morris has fallen and broken her hip. If there is anything about Miss Morris that isn't out of repair we should be lad to have it mentioned.

Lavinia Goodell desired to practice as a {lawyer in Wisconsin, but Chief Ju&* tice Ryan of the Supreme Court decided that the word "person" in the law did not apply to women. The Legislature subsequently passed an act admitting women to the bar, and now Judge Ryan has adjourned his court for the summer without acting on Miss Goodell's second, petition. -BSS—B-m===== -*ri ARE COMING*

At the Opera House, Friday and SaU urday, May 80th and 31st —Friday evening, "Uncle Tom's Cabin j" Saturday afternoon, "Uncle Tom's Cabin Saturday evening, "Black Diamonds." The Forbes Dramatic Company, consisting of sixteen first class artists, are now playing an entire new version of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," written and arranged expressly for this company, in six acts with new aoenery, new properties, new paraphernalia, new faces, etc. The most complete organization traveling crowded houses nightly everybody delighted with the arrangements of this popular drama. The Bloomisgton, Ills., Pantagrapb, says: "^3 -vl

A large audience assembled at Dnrley Hall, Saturday afternoon, to witness the play or "Uncle Tom's Cabin." It was played here about two months ago by the same oompany, and gave great satisfaction, which accounts for their large andlenoe. Saturday evening, notwithstanding the severe storm, a very good audience attended to witness the highly sensational and amusing drama of "Biack Diamonds." The play is replete with amusing Incidents, startling situations, with fine sentiment mingled with love and romance. Mr. Forbes has become very popular in this city, as be always brings something good. Sinoe here last he has greatly strengthened his oompany by engaging Miss Theo Dana, an accomplished pianist, late from the Musical Conservatory at Leipzig, Germany. Miss Dana Is pronounced one of the beat pianists that has ever visited Bloomington. Every person seems well adapted for the parts tney represent, and we have no hesitancy in pronouncing It one of the best companies that has ever visited this city.

General admission25 cents reserved, seats 35 cents, for sale at Central Bookstore gallery 25 cents: children under 10 years, 15 cents. Matinee Commenoes at 2 p. prices—adults to all parts of the bouse 25 cents children under 10 vears 10 cents, and over 10 and under 14, 15 cents. 4(4