Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 10, Number 26, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 27 December 1879 — Page 1

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Vol. 10.—No. 26.

THE MAIL

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

SECOND EDITION.

Town-Talk.

Continuing hli observations upon the people be meets, T. T. ha* word to say about the

SUIOTT TEMPERED PBOFLK,

Of whom there are a good many, and it is T. T.'s opinion the number is constantly increasing. These are the peopie who have no trouble with whom nothing ever goes wrong who suffer no misfortunes who flourish like green bay trees. At any rate, that is what one would suppose by looking at them and hearing tbem talk. They always seem jolly and good natured, and have a smile and a kind word for all. And how could they seem and act so if they were subjected to all "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" with which ordinary mortals are shot and pelted? Well, it does seem almost an impossibility, and yet T. T. knows, as a matter of fact, that these same sunny tempered people bare their "ups and downs" the same as the rest of us. But they don't pack up all their big and little troubles into a bundle and carry them about on their backs wherever they go, so that everybody may see what an awful big bundle it is, and know without asking why their faces are so long and solemn. They prefer to leave their troubles at home when they go out among people, and even go so far as to forget that they have any. It is their belief that no good comes of ex posing one's sores and bruises to the public gaze, but that in a world where there are so many repulsive things at best, it is the duty of everyone to appear as decent and comely as possible. They find that this theory works well in practice, and that in a crowd the tide sets in their direotion. They are centres around which men and women gather, and instinctively the people who approach tbem endeavor to hide their pack* of grievances.

The sunny tempered p&Sfple do flat expefet too mucb of life and heuce are not often disappointed. Tbey don't expert to And tbeir bread ready cut and buttered on both sides. As one of tbem •aid to T. T., last Sunday, "tbere is a good deal of devilment in life anyhow and a fellow mlgbtjust as well make up bis mind to take things aa they oome." Thte man said be bad been married for ten years, and was now just about where be was when be started, but, said be, "we've been living all this time at any rate." Tbat was some consolation—tbat be autl bis family bad bad something to •at and wear. "And," be continued, "I don't have to look very far to And people wbo are worse off than I am." Tbink of a fellow breaking out into smiles of good uatured satisfaction over ten years Of tbat kind of lire! And yet why not? ere was a map who had enjoyed a wife and children and home fer ten years bad bad enough to eat and something to wear and friends to help make life pleas* ant for him, How much more does a king have?

Tbere is "a good deal of devilment in life," true enough, and if a fellow wants to look at it ail the time and fret and worry over it, tbere will be little but "devilment" tor him. T. T. remember* a HUle song the scholars used to ting at a school be went to about sixty years ago, afvwhich one verse ran thus: "Thl* world it not so bad a world

As nome would like to make it: But whether goed or whether bad Itapeadson aow we take It." ew. There is a good deal if philosophy In tbat old sohool song and it would not be a bad plau to revive it and use It In the schools of to-day. [N. B. If Prof. Wiley concludes to adopt this suggestion for the schools of Terre Haute, and Will appoint a suitable hour, T. T. will meet him at The Mall offlee, and furnish him with a complete copy of the song.}

The sunny tempered people have a bab:*. of looklug on the bright side of things. Their favorite text Is, "Sufficient vnto the day ta the evil thereof." They don't lire in dread of to-morrow or arv number of to-morrows, Tbey let iu-uiorrow take care of Itself while tbey enjoy to-day. Tbey tbink life ia abort enough at beat and that the poorest possible way ofspendtng It la to fret and worry it away. The man or woman wbo fo sunny am! good natured finds lot* of pioeaeut Lhiug* in life. As a great gs nl extracts victory from defeat, so tbaee people contrive to discover a planstu side to tbe most dlaag ar* hi eople wiah tbat tbey bad I n* a cheerful aad happy «3 "position like some of tbeir aoquain:an»es. Ko doubt hereditary deace ha« something to do with it—porta, mi But T. T. does not oHIeva it l,m Af ao tt-iKb to do with it ss many persona imagi u, Tbeca is such a thing cut Uva" uf good spirits and a cbeei di

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by indulging it, become a cynic and misanthrope wbereas, by making the proper effort, be oould overcome this tendency and become a genial, companionable fellow. It takea grit and preservance to do it, but it can be done. It means a daily and hourly struggle for years to put tbe "bine devil" down and many a time be will gain a temporary victory. But it is really wonderful to what extent one's temper and disposition will yield to systematic efforts to improve tbem. Tbe result is worth all it costs and more too, and T. T. begs to suggest that the New Year ia an auspicious time to begin tbe experiment.

A. Woman's Opinions,

CHRISTMAS, 1879

Another Christmas is passed away, and numbered with the days that are forever gone. This is an anniversary that never grows old or tiresome. Thanksgiving Day is only partially observed, Fourth of July celebrations are on the wane, but each succeeding year brings Christmas day as bright and happy and welcome as it was hundreds of years ago, when commemorated by honored ancestors. It is a festival which awakens the deepest feelngs of family affection, holier than religion or patriotism, and, for this reason, will never be neglected. People may differ in regard to their forms of worship or their ideas of political economy, but the universal sentiment of domestic love is the "one touch of nature" that "makes the whole world kin."

Cbristmss bss risen from a day of noisy and intemperate carnival to a season of comparatively quiet enjoyment— a re-uniting of pleasant bonds, sealed by tbe giving and reoeivlng of appropriate and acceptable gifts. Like all other good customs, itmay be abused and turned from its'''original purpose. To make a present simply from a sense of duty, or to receive one tbat you feel is given only because it will be expected, destroys all tbe pleasure of tbe offering. But such instances are of exceptional occurrence, and should not bo permitted to mar tbe excellence of a day which tends to develop so many boautiful traits of character, unselfishness, benevolence and good |will to our fellowmen. Anything which draws our thoughts' and attentions away from self, and directs them toward others is of inestimable benefit to our moral and spiritual natures, and we should never permit suoh opportunities to pass by unheeded.

Christmas Day, with its memories and associations so tender and holy, is often prostituted, and made a time of drunkenness and carousal by men whose best Impulses of mind and heart have been ciusbed and destroyed by long intimacy with dissolute companions and immoral surroundings. To such men the saloons and gambling rooms present attractions tbat the quiet and peaceful purity of home life cannot offer. They must be rememberod with pity and regret, for tbere is but little hope tbat tbey can ever be reclaimed. Instead of following such men with tears and entreaties, which long experience baa shown are unavailing, our energies will be mucb more wisely directed toward the education, training and home influences of tbe children, and to this end let every year bring to them a "merry Christmas." This does not necessarily imply numerous and costly presents, but let the house be a little more bright and cheerful, and tbe dinner a little nicer on tbat day let it be a holiday, with work and care laid aside for a few hours and, by some pretty gift, let each one feel tbat he is remembered. .Children whose parents do not try to make Christmas a time of mirth and happiness, have cause to feel that they are being deprived of part of their birthright, which Is a happy childhood, if it is in tbe parents' power to make it so.

The ooming years will bring their inevitable weight of toil and grief, which all a father's protection and a mother's love cannot avert, but while .we have our children with us and dependent entirely upon us for their joy or sorrow, let us fill their UtUe lives brimfull of joy and happiness.

It Is a mistaken idea to suppose that we must give children only useful presents. Who would wish Ufe to be all practical and prosy? Toys and dolls and games are tbe poetry of a child's existence, and those presents which am actually neenssary, and would be given even if it were not Christmas, are gen* •rally not very highly appreciated by tbeee youthful critica.

Happy Christmas! Happy for tbe young and light-hearted and innocent. Long may It continue to be the gladdest day of all tbe year! But tome moat oome a time in tbe Uvea of all when It will be aa annivereary of tears and regret* and heartaches. As we prow old, we have many graves to mark our pathway and, on such a day as this, we r* trace our steps and kneel In angaiah betide tbeee aoow covered mounds. Here tbey lie, the beloved, tbe trua-hearted, who, If they oould speak, would say, even aow, "Be happy on Christmas day, dear one, and do not grieve for those who are asleep," but we long for thej

muslo of their voloee, and tbe tonch of their gentle bands. And on tills side are tbe unmarked graves, known only to ouraelvee, where lie buried our bright hopes, the innooenoe of our childhood, tbe entbnslasm of our youth, and there are no more bitter tears than those which fall for such memories as these, where there can be no resurrection.

All these recollections orowd upon ns as the old year draws to a dose, and we linger in'a reverie, sad and yet sweet from its very solemnity, until we are called back to tbe busy world by tbe ringing cry,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We stand upon the threshold of anew period in our existence, untried, unknown, bringing peace and happiness to one, anxiety and trouble to another, and, mercifully, no man is permitted to foraee his future. It ia a belief of many tbat every event wbioh takes place is foreordained from the beginning. Tbere is, undoubtedly, a destiny that moulds our lives, but it rests with us, in a great degree, to direct tbat destiny. For every ^violation of nature's inexorable laws, whether

kmoral

Susan Perkins* Letter.

TERRE HAUTE, INI, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27,1879.

or physical, we

suffer punishment. JMuch of life's sorrow might be averted through our own efforts, and before the close of the coming year many a man and woman will pay heavy penalties for/theirfownjwillful misdemeanors, "and remor^will come too late.

A few days more and tbe ringing bells will proclaim a new advent. Man beautiful homes will open their hospitable doors to exchange the compliments of tbe day with their valued friends. The morning sees bright eyes, clesr complexions, elastio steps—the evening kindly draws a curtain over the wrecks of manhood that would gladly bide from sight. The gentlemen themselves, if tbey should express an opinion upon tbe subject, would say, "Do not offer wine to your New Year's callers." It is not tbe glass which one woman offers tbat does the injury, but it is the glasses that ninety-nine other women offer, and which tbe gentlemen cannot refuse, because they do not wish to offend their fair friends and because—they like it. Good coffee with rich cream is a drink fit for the gods, and it does not produce a headache. Accompany this with meats, salads, fruits, ices and confections, and you can royally entertain your guests and yet offer no temptation that will lead to disgraceful intoxication. Man, with all his boasted strength, Is very weak in regard to his appetite, and it depends entirely upon tbe ladles who "receive" on New Year's Day to help the fathers, husbands, brothers and sons to keep whatever good resolutions they may have formed for tbe beginning of tbe year.

E E A E Deo. 25tb, 1879. DEAR JOSEPHINE:—In all probability I shall not write to you again tnis year, and that reminds me tbat tbe near approach of the New Year is a good time to make resolutions for better behavior in the future. It you have not done so already, allow me to suggest, my dear Josephine, tbat it would be advisable for you to take at least half an hour for meditation think of all your pastains, pray for forgiveness, resolve not to be naughty any more, pay your bills, and begin tbe New Year with a clear conscience. Remember, also, that this would be a particularly good time to commence a diary. Now a diary ia useful in two ways,—first as a sort of dally confessor to which one pours forth sorrow for sins of omission and commission, aad second, as a memento to future generations. In this connection I would advise yon to keep a correct aocountof the weather it is very important. Think how interesting it will be for your great-grandchildren, or great nieces to read, about fifty years henoe, tbat onJannary 10th it rained and Josephine darned stockings all day, or that on March 16th It blew so hard tbat your hat came off in the streets of Okaw. Remember also that washing and Ironing days most be mentioned in your diary, and just Wbo took you to meeting on Sunday night, and bow your beat dress for tbe winter is to be made, must be noted carefully. All of this will be very interesting and Instructive to our future relatives when we are lying cold and silent In the grave. It does not seem to be the fashion nowadays to keep diaries, but it must have been tbe proper thing to do or oer grandmothers wouldn't have done it*

It is the cuetom here for ladies to keep open bouse on New Year's day for tbe parpoee of receiving tbeir gentlemen friends who may feel inclined to callalso a great many other* who are barely acquainted bat wbo consider It their duty to make as many calls as possible on tiio first day of tbe year. Generally tbe ladies receive ia parties of from three to fifteen, thus making easier tor gentlemen to make the antire round of calls, aad making It gayer for tbe ladies themselves in tbe abaence of tbe masculine element. Tbe refreshments generally consist of coffee, with cake

and fruits, and perhaps oysters or cold meats. Much has been said of the custom of giving wines, and even stronger liquors, to the New Year's callers. I am happy to say, that as far as as I can learn, very few ladles here offer strong drink to New Years callers. The number that do is so small that it is well known beforehand where such can be obtained. It is my opinion that the ladies who offer wines on such occasions should not be censured quite so severely. It Is an old and long established usage to drink to each other's good health on the New Year. This would be entirely innooent, if nothing but pure wine was drank, and the person who drank it had enough stability of character to drink a little and not too much. But alas! the fashion of drinking everywhere, under all circumstances, and anything from beer to whisky straight, has so demoralized the youth of this country that it is almost considered a crime for a lady to offer a simple glass of wine in the name of hospitality. I am bound to say—from what I have heard—that young men and boys are not the only ones who sometimes get a little hilarious on New Year'a day. Even a few of the most respected and staunch business men in the city, some of whom have passed the first meridian of youth, have sometimes imbibed a little too freely and have become quite jovial by the close of the day. It is only fair to the ladies to say in their defense that the spirits taken at such a time are not always drank at the "open houses." It was darkly hinted to me, the other day, that such things could be bought and drank at well, other places.

Did I say it wss fashionable to receive calls? Well.it is, for about one hundred ladies, including those who keep open bouses and those who assist, but the rest of the inhabitants, numbering about thirty thousand, go on with their daily avocations as though nothing unusual was happening. Tbe merchant takes anew start, the book-keeper opens anew set of books, the school teacher begins preparations for another seige with the future generals and presidents, but wbo are still in tbeir infancy, and thus a good deal of work is accomplished on that day.

As for me, I shall assist Mrs. and expeot to have a lovely time, and will perhaps send you some of tbe cards which the callers leave, beautifully lithographed, with the New Year represented by a little angel being shot out of a cannon, with old Time sitting in the background.

Last week I was kept busy in attending to Christmas festivities, and in trying to attend all of the numerous entertainments. Tbe Jeffers' concert, Raymond, and the Florences, monopolized the evenings pretty well. But one evening I did not go anywhere and did not have any oalls the young gentlemen all bad pressing business engagements, and even Uncle Ezra went to lodge. It was Tbnrsday evening.

That reminds me of a little Incident which I forgot to tell you in my last. Last Friday I went over to Matie's, and was surprised to find the fair bride in a state of intense agitation, entirely at variance with the idea that her life was all sunshine and rosea. Her face was pale, her hair disordered, while a auspicious redness was visible around her eyelids. I questioned her a little and then her pent up anguish burst forth. It seems tbat George has been very busy lately, making up for time lost during their wedding trip. He was so busy tbat he oould not even take Matle to the Jeffers concert which she was very anxious to attend, and would make no engagements for tbe reat of tbe week. Matie gave up willingly and pitied "poor George" from tbe depths of her heart because be had to work so hard. Thursday evening bis business required attention even later than usual. What was Matie's horror and astonishment when be oame, or rather stumbled, in tbe door with tbe startling information tbat tbe Reate-Saatley troupe gare tbe beet entertainment of tbe season. The scene tbat ensued can better be imagined than described. Matie waxed Indignant, and declared she was going home to her Cither's protection, when George stunned her with tbe announcement tbat Uncle Ezra himself was an admiring spectator of tbe •cone, and tbat others besides himself, even young married men, were tbere. He said nothing about meeting any of our lady friends tbere, but did mention seeing a certain doctor, a banker, several merchants, a coal dealer, a student—of anatomy—aad other lawyers beside himself. He declared it was anal good •bow and not at all immora^That Is all very wall, but I agrefPwitb Matie, wbo mjs po*nt Ooorge "en* because lee thought It would be immoral, —that Is what makes me so sorry." Well, I sincerely hops tbey will kiss and make up, and tbat George will find enough attractions at borne by the side Of his pretty little wife, to hereafter resist aocb temptations. Tbere I am preaching again, and I have no time to Squander in tbat manner, either, for

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A Tumble on Prices to' Continue a good Business. Visit Popular Cent Store

A PLEA FOR THE QUAKER#.

Editor Saturday Evening Mail: The writer of "A Woman's Opinion®" In last Saturday's Mall gave her views of tbe Quakers of Riohmond, and the denomination generally. Her estimate of these people shows that a woman's opinions may be biased by prejudice, and that facta when seen through a perverted medium are very apt to be distorted. I quote tbe portion of her letter to whioh I particularly refer: ''The Quaker element predominates here, and tbe broad brimmed white hat and the drab poke bonnets mingle with the worldly head dresses af tbe unsanctlfled on the street. There is something very heavenly looking about these Quakers, and their religion Is of the severest sort, but there Is no clam of people closer at driving a bargain, or more selfish or narrow mluded. Toward the failings and misfortunes of others they are unforgiving and uncharitable. Tbey are divided here into two classes, the Hicksite and Orthodox. The latter are very much like human beings of other religions denominations. The Hlcksltes still cling to the faiths and forms of their fathers, do not allow singing In their churches, flowers on their bonnets or ruffles on their dresses. Once a year the Quakers give a 'big meeting,' which attracts thousands of people, and excursion trains are furnished on all the roads. It is their sole and only recreation. They have built a new church at a oost of two hundred thousand dollars. A stranger seeing it would at once inquire what big machine shop that was."

About sixty years ago the Society of "Friends," oommonly called Quakers, was much agitated by tbe preaohing of Eliaa Hicks, a prominent elder in the denomination, who rejected certain doctrines then generally found In all religions creeds, viz.: Original ain, the vicarious atonement of Christ, the Trinity, endless punishment of tbe wicked by physlcel torture, etc. The result waa a division Into two parties, one holding on to tbe traditional belief of the church, and known aa Orthodox Friends, and the other adopting tbe views of Hicks, and known as Hicksite Friends. Tbe latter sect ia not only progressive aud in harmony with the spirit of tbe age in tbe distinctive belief of its members, but it baa broken through many of the oonventionalitlea in drem and manner of living which formerly was a marked feature of the denomination. Marriages are now solemnized outside of tbe meeting bouses, pianos and other musical Instruments are tolerated in tbeir bouses, tbeir young men and women are allowed to dress like other young men and women, and if our opinionated friend would only visit a conventicle of Hicksite Quakers she might find as many fashionable bonnets and tasty dresses to admire or criticize as she would in any church congregation in Terre Haute, I hardly think, however, that she would have found many specimens of tbat abomination of abominations, a trailing dress, if the visit bad been made when tbe street sweeping mania was at ita height, for the Quaker girls are credited with a considerable amount of good horse senae.

It is therefore a perversion of language to stigmatize as illiberal tbat wing of tbe Quaker body whioh baa freed itself from the trammels of traditional belief and blind observsnces and is in accord with tbe progressive spirit of the times. As then your correspondent Is evidently In error in regsrd to the Hicksite sect, neither is tbere any ground for her strictures upon tbe Quaker denomination.

Tbere are narrow-minded men and women ib all denominations. It is absurd to charge tbe Quakers with having more than tbeir share of such, especially when suoh an estimate is based upon a few days' observation, or upon information possibly derived from some villsge gossip. A longer aoquaintanee with tbeee people might have oonvlnced your correspondent tbat some good may exist in tbe]Nsesreth of broad-brimmed bats and said-colored poke bonnets.

If Quakers are exsotin their deslings with men, tbey are also rarely found guilty of swindling them, and manage to keep tbeir effects out of tbe bands of tbe sheriff or bankrupt court. Tbey avoid litigation and strife, tbey furnish no paupers for "the almshouse, or con* vict* for tbe State prison.

Tbeir religion may be summed flp fn these words of the prophet:—"To love mercy, to deal jostly,and walk humbly before God."

Tbey believe in practicing morality, as well ss teaching it, and win men to a better life by setting tbem examples rather than compass sea and land to make proaelytea. TbeyJ have always borne testimony sgainst war, .human slavery, aad intemperance. When tbe very name of "abolitionist" was a stench in the nostrils of tespectabie people, and tbe put pita of tbe land were dumb upon tbe anbject of human slavery, Quakers were active to their agitation of tbe question of Us abolition, and even refased to buy or use tbe products of slave labor. Tbe underground.*railroad bad Its stations la Quaker communities, and tbefugtttiveoahis way to freedom was never sent {from tbeir doors emptyhanded.

In Philadelphia, where Quakers most do oongregate—and tbe Hicksitss pre­

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Tenth Year

dominate, just as the Congregational Unitarians predominate in Boston— they are Identified with all tbe prominent oharltable and educational enterprises. In last week's Mail mention was made of one of the nobles6 charities of the Quaker|oity,—the Pennsylvania hospital. Quakera.have always been prominently represented in its management, and a ahort'time ago Mr. Alexander Derbyshire, ,a wealthy Quaker, died, and bequeathed the bulk of jda princely fortune to tbe institution. The roll of the world's philanthropists would be incomplete without tbe names of Penn, Wilberforce, Elisabeth Fry. the Tappan's, Gnrney, and Lucretla Mott, and this narrow-minded sect has given birth to such intellects as Cowper, Lamb, William and Mary Howltt, Whittler, and Bayard Taylor. The humble followers of George.Fox hsve a history and a record which they need not be ashamed of, and though tbey do not proclaim their deeds from the house top, and in no wise resemble tbe "sounding braas and tinkling cymbal" spoken of by the Apostle, they have contributed not a little towards making tbe world better for their having l'ved in lt»

About Women.

A Nevada ball report says: "Mlsii wss full of eolat the eclatest lady present."

Tbe Elmira Advertlaer assures us that only girla with warts or blemishes ou their foreheads wear banged hair.

Anew paper called Woman, has been atarted in Paris. Ita male list will undoubtedly be large If ita make up la attraotlve.

Give a girl long eyelashes and small banda and she will put up with No. 6 feet and marry all round a ourly beaded girl wearing oae'a and a half.

A young man who sneers at a girl's faiae teeth hasn't a well balanced bead. Let blm marry a girl who has toothache and neuralgia and he will see where he was lame, *.

French bistooy In the past hundred years exhibits three women who have perhaps experienced more splendor and more bitter grief and mortification than any other three women in the worldMarie Antoinette, Joisephine and Eugenie.

Felicia was going down Tremont street yesterday afternoon with a Derby bat on and carrying her hands in the pockets of her long ulster, when a small boy run up and said, "Say, miss, if yer had a cigar now, you'd be all right, wouldn't yer?"—Boston paper. 1

Not far from the railway station in Hartford, Conn., a druggist draws from a silver faucet under bis counter, in the same manner tbat be drawa bis mineral waters, a liquor whioh he denominates and which is always called for uuder tbe name of "German Tonic," but which, in point of fact, is a New York brewer's beer. The drug* gist's customers for this beverage are almost sll ladies, who aay tbat the tonic must be drunk freah from tbe tap if one is he to it a

THE BETTER WORLD.

CHURCHES, PA8TORH AND PBOPL^.*

The Methodist says that "preachers who do not preach are more or less of a nulsanoa." r''

Dr. Holland calls tbe man wlio runs from cburoh to church and steals his preaching, "a Sunday bummer."

Duluth has three churches which can be turned into grain elevators with but littls expense. She built 'em thst way on purpose.

A wssberwoman, being suoh a regular and attentive listener at church, was commended by ber pastor. "Yes," said she, "after my bard week's work is done, I git so rested to oome to church wad sit and think about notbin'!"

A preacher the other day laid bis patronizingly on tbe shoulder of s. young Democrat, who?is a member of bis church, and said: "I cannot understand bow a Christian can be a Demo-, crat." Tbe young man replied: "So long as Cab Robert Q. Ingersoll, the audacious Infidel of tbe United States, stands out as a conspicuous member of tbe Republican party, I can well understand bow a Christian can be a Democrat." This brought tbe conversation to an abrupt termination.

The churchman asks: "What is tbe secret of Mr. Moody's power?" snd thus answers Its own question: "His sermons, thst are so grateful to tbe masses, are about tbe person of Jesus Christ, wbo fs MI real to Mr. Moody as if be too bad put bis fingers In tbe print of tbe a alls. May we not learn to use tbe same power In abetter way? It is a sad fact tbat tbe people ^re drifting away from all forms of faith. We believe tbe only way ia wbleb they oan be brought back is by tbe story of a personal Savior, not piaeented ss a dogma, as a doctrine, bnt as a living omnipresent person, tbe only helper aad healer af sin -sick sods."

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