Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 11, Number 33, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 12 February 1881 — Page 1

Vol1 11.—No.

A PAPER

33'

THE MAIL

FOR THE

PEOPLE.

SECOND EDITION.

Town Talk.

ALCOTT.

Daring last week and a portioa of this one, in a certain circle of thisity, the chief topic of conversation has been the lectures of A. Bronson Alcott. Through the medium of the daily press T. T. learned that this gentleman is the fatiicr of the authoress of "Little Women"" and a number of other interesting books, and also a member of Che Concord school of philosophy, the members of -which call themselves transcendentalists. New transcendentalism is a big word, and T. T. must confess that he lid not know the meaning of it, and if Fits teachings were as mistical as its :name it would be worth devoting a few •eveningH to, even if it should prove insoluble, so he wended Iris way to the

Normal School on the occasion of the first lecture. Mr. Alcott is a gentleman eighty-one years of age, .possessed of all his faculties, and flrmin the belief that lie will complete the century before being called to a higher sphere. He is a very fluent talker and never fails to interest his' audience. His lectures are both entortaining and instructive. Between his explanation and Webster's dictionary T. T. learned that the transcendental school df philosophy is one which claims to have a true knowledge of all things, material and immaterial, human and divine, -so far as the mind is tapable of knowing them. Of course all the literary (and some otherwise) talent of the city was out in force. Many went to gnin information and' did so, but T. T. feels constrained to express the opinion that a select few, very few in fact, wont to show'themselves, and succeeded in doing sotto the amusement of more sensible people. Many .questions wore askod Mr. Alcott which drow from birn valuablo information, while others were asked which only tended to make the propounder ridiculous. Tho meeting genornlly commenced -with a half hour lecture which was 'followed by questions upon the subject, and the exercises took a conversational turn. Part of the entertainment, each evening reminded T. T. very much of the reception which Martin Chiwzlewit attended in this country before returning to his English home: "The entertainments of tho evening Ixsgan. Gentlemen brought ladies up, and brought themselves up, and brought each other up and asked Elijah Pogram what he thought of this political question, and what he thought of that and looked at him, and looked »t ono another, and seemed very tinhappy indeed. The ladies ontthe chairs .looked at Elijah Pogram through their .glasses, and said audibly, 'lavish he'd speak. Why don't h© speak. Oh, do ask him speak And Elijah Pogram looked sometimes -at the ladies, and looked sometimes cQeewhere, delivering senatorial opinions, as ho was asked for thony. But the great end and object of ti»e meeting soeinei to be, not to let Elijah Pogram^out of tho cornor on any aocuutit so thve they kept him hard and fast." Aftir the proceedings had gone along little /urther, Mrs. Hominy, tho hostess of tho evening read from a card which had been handed her as follows: "Two literary ladies present thelrieompliments to the mother of the modem Gracchi and claim her kind introduction, as their talented countrywomen, to the honorable (and distingulshedty Elijah Pogram, whom the two L. L.'« fcave often contemplated in the speaking marble of the soul subduing ('higgle. «On a verbal intimation from the mother of the M. G., tkat she will comply with the request of the two L. L.'s, they will have the immediate pleasure of joining the galaxy assembled to do honor to the patriotic conduct of a Pogram. It may be another bond of union between the two L. L.'s and the mother of the

M. ». to observe, that tho two I* L's are transcendental." Now T. T. dees not wish to be understood as comparing Mr. Alcott to Elijah Pogram, but candor compels him to say that the following in each case had many point# of

resem­

blance, and the proceedings on the part of some were equally as ridiculous in one case as in the other. Take for example the ease of the lady who asked Mr.] Alcott if Ralph Waldo Emerssn hat! ever been accused of imitating Thomas Oarlyle's style of writing or the voluble young man who propounded the same question nearly a score of time* and had it clearly answered aa often, yet failed to understand, and who evidently attended with the expectation that the lecturer would furnish intellect, where it was wanting, as well as entertainment. There are times when it ia eminently proper that children should lie seen and not heard, and there are occasions upon which maturity in years has not brought with it that experience in affairs, human or otherwise, which would enable a person to speak to the

•-,Te .rj/ift: i.-.

enlightenment of his hearers or with credit to himself. Mr. Alcott's lectures have greatly benefitted those who heard him and have caased much earnest thought in fact T. T. understands a number of young gentlemen are seriously considering the propriety of organizing a philosophical class.

DISCRETION.

If there is any one thing more than another which T. T. admires in a man or a woman it is discretion. In women it is not very often found. It is one of the faults of the sex, looked upon as a privilege, to say what she pleases, when she pleases, to whom she pleases and where she pleases. When a woman throws aside discretion in her talk some one ds sure to suffer, and generally suffer wrong. A. woman when she is bound to talk about, or to, her neighbor can preach a very broad and comprehensive sermon from a very short text. She can chatter like a magpie and make her tongue run as smoothly as the most polished piece of machinery in fact her audience has no trouble in being convinced that her unruly member is nicely balanced on a pivot and in good working order at each end. It generally works with the rapidity of thought and the battery of the mind never stops to consider for a moment whether it is doing a good work in dissecting thfc character of a neighbor and, it may be, a friend. These female talks are looked upon by the sterner sex as impetuosities on the part of the daughters of Eve which must be taken as a matter of course and to which no more attention should be paid than to the wind. Among men something better is expected, and he who is continually running around in a state of nervous excitement, indulging in gossip about persons and things which can be of no earthly interest to him, is always set down as an old granny. Of course such men are very scarce nowadays, but occasionally one or two are to be met, and are never welcome anywhere. But it was not this kind of indiscretion of which T. T. intended particularly to speak. There is a class of men, which is by no means small, that always say something out of place. You have all met such a man, and no matter where he is, the company feel uncomfortable while he is present. It may be that he is given to saying disagreeable things, in which case he is sure to torture all he can, whether he means anything by it or not. It often happens that he means no harm by what he says, but that does not make him less disagreeable the conversation may be going along very smoothly, and'everyone having a good time, when the indiscreet individual is Bi4&«to bring up something which hadfeetter have remained unsaid. His judgment is always at sea, and he never was known to say anything at the right time, in the right place, or to the proper person. His social life is one huge blunder from the creation to his death, and if he makes.no mistake when the last trump is sontided it will be owing to the guidance of Providence, and not to his own knowledge of propriety.

ABOUT CIRCULATION. Every Saturday paper that is started in this city publishes, at the first possible opportunity, that it has the largest circulation, and the men who are sent out to harass advertisers unblushingly assert that their publication has as large a circulation as The Mail. This paper is taken as a standard. It seems to be thought only necessary to say that the circulation is equal to that of The Mail, to secure advertising patronage. The latest venture in Saturday journalism is no exception to the rule. Nevertheless, the actual truth is that none of these pajHtra hat« ever reached one-half the circulation of The Mail!

We are gratified at the success of our neighbors. It shows a growing taste for the class of papers of which The Mail was the pioneer in this city. We are not disposed to think we own this field. If there is room for anew paper, there will be one, and if it is worthy, it will succeed. It is not at all necessary for the success of a paper worthy of patronage to make these false statements.

Since the first year of its publication, The Mail has had the largest circulation in Vigo eounty of any paper published in this city, and it will continue in the lead in this respect.

YOU ARE INVITED.

We extend a cordial invitation to our readers—and especially advertisers—to call at the office of the Saturday Evening Mail on any Saturday afternoon— from two to three o'clock is the best time—and witness some] two hundred and fifty newsboys going out to every part of the city and suburbs, and beyond, with armsful of this paper. It is a scene you will greatly enjoy. To control this little army of newsboys and get the papers into their eager and outstretched hands requires no little tact and skillful management. Such a scene of bustling activity is nowhere else to be seen in the city.

EJ-ANSVIUUB longs for a first dass theatre and Drill not be comforted until it obtains it.

MIIII!®

OUR MAIL BAG.

sJ

I

DBOP LETTERS^

tUnder this head we shall be pleased to publish brief and pointed contributed articles—complaints or commendations—(the latter preferred)— of passing local events. Use the fewest possible words. Say what you have to say and stop.}

We must decline the publication of the article signed "Citizen.'7 It would do no good to any one and invite a great deal of criticism. Private affairs should be settled privately.

THAT ALLEY! v' 'f

MR. EDITOR: I wish you would ask the Board of Health to stand at opening of the alley running west from the postoffice to Printing House Square, and inhale the odors arising therefrom. It is disgraceful that such a throughfare should be allowed to exist in the very heart of the city. 7 M. D.

THE BIO LONG POLE, MB. EDITOR :—If some person would invent some way to regulate the ventilation of the churches in this city without one of the members going around with a big long pole on his shoulder, disturbing the pastor and people, it would be a blessing to the congregation.

NERVES.

LIFE INS URANCE.

EDITOR MAIL: Next to the school question, the discusssioil carried on for Some time past through the Express, en Life Insurance, has attracted considerable attention in our city. As an illustration erf the practical work of the "Mutual System" in one of the companies reported "O. K." in all the Insurance Journals, I wish to lay before the public this statement. I hold a Life Polioy— $1,000—on my father's life, on wfciehthe Premiums were paid for ten years, $Mi20 each year. Becoming tired of the burden, I applied for a "Paid-up" Policy, and under that clause in about all Mutual Companies' Policies, saying that an "Equitable Value" will be given for Policies surrendered, in proportion to the Premiums paid, I received a Paid-up Policy of $322, in which the company took care to insert a clause providing that it should never share in pwxtits or dividends —quite a handsome return for' the use of the money invested, to call it by no milder name —but let us trace the matter a little farther. In order to test the real value of the investment, I asked the Company, not long since, how much they would give me in cash for the Paidup Policy of

ad tap baibEy

$$22

and was oflered

than |100. This statement can pro be verified by scores of policy-holders in this city who have gone through the same swindling process. With such facte daily brought to the notice of our Legislators, it is not at all probable that they will pass, or attempt to pass, any measure protecting our people against the gross deceptions and swindles of Life Insurance companies organized in other States. I suppose our Solons look at the mattor as the transaction of a fool and his money parted, and take it for granted that people ought to have better sense than to put their money in such investments, and so will permit the'"Insurance Lobby" always on hand at Indianapolis, to cajole them intodoing nothing to protect our people, who think it advisable and right to provide for their families at death in this way. The result has been that, after many weary years of bitter disappointment in dealing with these high sounding incorporated companies, the middle, and working classes have turned their money into a channel that bids fair to upset the old theories of Life Insurance, and bring it down to actual cost, and within the true principle of Mutual Aid and Co-operation. After going through the severe schooling of the last fifteen years we are just finding out that the business of Insurance can be conducted just as safely, and much eheaper by the various orders in existence by their purely Mutual Co-operative system. Laboring men, especially, who wish to provide something at death, to keep their families from poverty, should investigate the plans offered by the Masons, Odd Fellows, United Workmen, and others—In place of paying a Premium of 930 per thousand at my age to some foreign company, I carried $2,000 last year in the K. of H., for $12, an order now in existence long enough to prove the value of its plan of business, based as it is on a careful examination of applicants, and as complete responsibility for the funds entrusted to its officers for the payment of death claims, as it is possible to provide. I have come to the conclusion that I am quite as capable of taking care of the money needed to pay assessments for death claims, as any company of men I can hire for that purpose located elsewhere, and to me per sonally unknown. C. A. P.

MARIOX GRANGE, NO. 1428, will celebrate the 7th anniversary of its organization on Friday evening, the 18th of Feb, 1881, with a public installation of its officers, music, speeches and an oyster supper. A good time is anticipated and everybody is invited. Installation will commence at 6 o'clock.

TERRE HAUTE, IND., SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 12,1881. Eleventh Yu

ABOUT WOMEN.

rV ft

The criticism in St. Louis upon Sarah Bernhardt is that her dresses do not fit her.

The Detroit Free Press wants to know why colored ladies do not w:ear, white court plaster on their chin. "f

Female tramps are so numerous in Wisconsin that a bill has been introduced in the Legislature for their arrest.

A bar for women exclusively has been opened in New York city. England is still ahead of us in this regard, for in London women freely enter the same saloons and drink at the same bars with men.

A woman will work a month to fabricate a delicate protection for a chair and then, when it is in place, an edict is promptly issued forbidding any man sitting in that chair, through fear of spoiling the tidy. It's the best chairprotector that possibly could be desired.

Mrs. Alice Williams, of Alpine, Mich, is a heroic woman. She felt it to be her duty to make a sacrifice to the Lord, and after studying over the matter along time, concluded that the greatest sacrifice a woman could make would be to cut out her tongue. No wonder they call her crazy.

A "stand-up lunch" is the latest New York social invention, for ladies only. As they do not stand up, and as the lunch is in reality an early dinner of many courses, comprising all the dainties and delicacies of the season, "Stand-up" must be a mistake for •"bang-up."

A clergyman's daughter at Napa, Cal went to a circus. On the following Sunday her father preached on sinful amusements, and used her case in illustration. In the Sunday school that afternoon he said that she was impenitent, and moved her expulsion, but a vote being takenf all the pupils voted to retain her.

Keokuk, la., contains many business women. One is in the insurance business another in the real estate and loan business a widow, who is the head of a largo grocery establishment another who manages an extensive stove and furnishing store, to say nothing of the independent women of business in millinery, dressmaking and other lines.

A newly married lady made her first plum pudding the other day. "I aimed to make a good pudding," she said to her husband, who had just returned irom a hunt with his shot gun, ittum the dish waT" served. "You aimed well," he replied, as he inhaled its delicious fragrance, "Yes she said, "the range was just right, and I made a plum scenter."

A clique of young society ladies in Burlington were averse to having their plump and dimpled arms scarred by vaccination during the late small-pox scares in that city. Yet to avoid the likelihood of pits and scars on their faces, to the destruction of their beauty, they felt compelled to be vaccinated. So they held a meeting, and putting their heads together, concluded to summon an old gray haired physician and each was vaccinated on the leg.

Senator Woollen has introduced a bill in the Senate which is intended to protect the modesty of ladies in court. It provides that any female summoned as a witness in any cause, civil or criminal in any court in this State, may apply to such court for an order to have her deposition taken at some convenient place near the court house, and that the court in all proper cases, shall grant such requests. The gallantry of the average legislator will undoubtedly carry tlie measure through.

The wise old fogy who is President of Harvard expresses his fears that the delicacy of womanhood will suffer if the sex enters the arena and contests for a thorough education. He says: "The keen attrition of intellectual life will quite unfit her for occupying that safe, sweet corner which has been assigned as her legitimate place." The Boston Traveller, commenting upon the position of Harvard's President, says: '•There are just now so many other corners in the world for a woman to occupy and so many women have read their title clear to them, that the traditional nine points of possession quite amounts full inheritance." There is no misking the fact that college doors have •t to swing wide open to girls, as to ys. It is only a qaesiion of time. j,

THE FUTURE OF THE HA YES1. Interview with Mrs. Hayes. When" asked if she thought she would attend the inauguration bail, she replied: "At first I thought we should not, but I find it will be impossible for us to get iwav, so I suppose we shall be here. It will be verv nice, indeed, to see Gen. and Mrs. Garfield, and I look forward to the occasion with much pleasure. We intend to return to our home in Ohio as won as possibte, and settle down & our former quiet life." "Do you regret leaving, the White House?" "Yes, I do. Our life has been so very, diffluent from what we expected that we have become verv fond of the old house, is very homelike, and we have eniC very much indeed."

iw

flflllMtSSS

-$•

»v A

••?."#

f-f#

SCRAPS OF STYLE.

LITTLE ITEMS THAT GO TO MAKS THE LADIES ATTRACTIVE.

Bonnets grow larger and larger. Poke bonnets grow in fashionable favor.

The neatest thing in silks—Pretty women. Small coiffures will soon be things of pa

Shirred trains for ball dresses are late novelties. Scotch ginghams will be worn again next summer.

Plush is such a rage that the plushmakers must be amassing riches. A fashion writer predicts that white underwear will pass under a cloud.

Large hats for some faces are more dressy and becoming than small ones. Short waists are coming in style again and will be worn with short skirts or trains.

Wonderful productions in the way of artificial flowers will be \v orn on spring bonnets.

London ladies carry their muffe into the ballroom, and when they dance give the muff to another muff to hold.

French women are adopting the American Fashion of wearing diamonds everywhere when one has them to wear.

As the bonnets grow smaller, the hairpins grow larger, until now every* other woman you see has a brazen croquet arch in her tresses.

ANew York lady has ordered for the inauguration ball a dress of white satin, having the entire front embroidered in sun flowers, pansies and rosebuds.

The young women who keep their mouths partly open because Sara does, will have to carry larger parasols this summer. Sun burned teeth soon crack and fade away.

Lucy H. Hooper, writing in Andrews' Bazaar, asserts that except the splendid and costly brocades now used by the leading dressmakers there is hardly a make of silk from the Lyons' looms that can be relied upon for durability.

They tell us that Boston girls have their arms lathered and shaved before going to parties. Then with their short sleeves they look too sweet for anything. And when they put their arms around their fellows' necks there is no tickling, but a steady, soft, velvety, pulsating circle of comfort, and the young man proposes in less than four weeks, sure.

Some of the dress sleeves are cut to fit the arms so closely that they have to be buttoned or laced from the wrist to the elbow after the dress is pnton. The long Seude Saxe gloves are then in order. They are drawn over the dress sleeves for the promenade, and no cuff or frill of lace is visible. Over the gloves, however, are worn any number of bangles and gold bands, which are now4 de rigueur upon all occasions.

HORRIBLE ACCIDENT!

A BOY INSTANTLY KILLED!

This morning about nine o'clock, at Kidder Bro's., Mill, on west Main street, a boy named Willie White, aged 16 years whose mother lives opposite the mill, was throwing bis handkerchief on one of the belts to see it go over the shafting. It caught on the wheel and in attempting to get it out the boy was drawn over the shaft and instantly killed. The body is a sickening mass of lacerated flesh.

THE ORAIORIO SOCIETY. This organization is now industriously working on Mendelssohn's Hymn of Praise, with the intention of rendering it just before Lent. To make proper preparation for. that event, it will be necessary, however, that every rehearsal should be attended by all members. It is therefore urged that every one of the society should forego all other engagements for Monday evenings and be on hand at the Chapel at 7:30 for work.

SiarrER DKCHAKTAL, Sister of Providence, was thrown from a carriage, at Indianapolis, Tuesday afternoon, her horse taking fright at a drove of hogs passing through the street. A fracture of the skull and concussion of the brain caused death on the following morning. The deceased was an aunt of Mrs. Richard Dunnigan and Mrs. Cookerly. She was the widow of lieutenant Colonel Dufficy, of this city, who was killed in the late civil war. Immediately after his death she took the veil, becoming a member of the sisterhood at St. Mary's, and has ever since devoted her life to missions of mercy and charity, giving especial attention to the sick and afflicted, who will now greatly miss her visits. She was about sixty years of age.

THB first full slate made np (or the coming city election, is the following prepared by a Democratic Councilman, and it is a pretty strong ticket: •*,

Mayor—Phillip Schloes. Treasurer—W. H. Scudder. Clerk—E. V. Debs. Marshal—Charley Ray. Assessor—Frank Armstrong.^

i,

4

Girls having the dollars of their daddies are wearing the queer looking hats of their grandmothers.

THE BETTER WORLD.

CHURCHES, PASTOR AND PEOPLE.

At the Presbyterian church to-mofr row morning, Rev. Thomas Parry will will speak of "Half Reformations," and his evening subject will be "Like Draws to Like."

At the Christian Church on to-moi* row, the Rev. Mr. Early of Illinois will occupy the pulpit. The |Pastor. R0V. George W. Sweeney is at Atlanta GSOI* gia, where he was summoned thf of the week on account of the severe illness of his younger brother.

A La Crosse minister prayed for those "who are smitten with illness, and those too lazy to dress for chureh."

The editor of a religious paper, which had one month's precarious existence in Chicago, says that It is a good city for a religious paper, provided Satan has three pages of it, and the other page is mixed.

Last Sunday, twenty-nine members were added to the First Presbyterian church, making sixty-one members which have been admitted in the past six months. The working force of tho church is increasing every week.

Through the efforts of Dr. Keane, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Richmond* Va., nearly every Catholic liquor dealer in that city has a signed a pledge not to sell on Sunday. Have we found here the true solution of the temperanoe question, viz: in every church exercising a restraining influence upon the liquor seller in the own ranks?

Rev. J. S. White, of the Greenwood M. E. church, was agreeably surprised last Saturday evening by being presented by members of his church with anew suit of clothes and other presents valued at about thirty-five dollars. Mr. White is yet a student of Asbury University,

#in

his senior year, and is wholly worthy of the appreciation shown by his congregation.

An effort has been made in ttib Legislature of New York to secure tho passage of a bill to legalize lotteries and raffles at church fairs. Should this bill pass, tho next in order will be one authorizing the sale of church oyster stews with no oysters at all in them, instead of one or two, as at present. Following on this would, with similar propriety, be a law permitting the picking of pockets on church steps and in the aisles.

Dr. Talmage sensibly admits that the theatre has not lost its foothold, and he offers apian for dramatic entertainments which religious people need not be afraid to indorse. If other preachers would be equally honest in confessing the truth and endeavoring to make the best of an institution which they can never hojie to destroy they would find theatre managers glad to meet them half way. The preachers will have no trouble in obtaining competent aid and counsel in such a course, for church people in large numbers already patronize the theatre, ministers to the contrary notwithstanding.

Mr. Spurgeon wrote the other day that the most useful members of a church were usually those who would "be doing harm if they were not doing good. They could not be chips in the porridge—they must flavor it one way or tho other." "In my young days he continued, "I feared I said many odd things and made many blunders, but my audiences were not hypocritical, and no newspaper writers dogged my heels and so I had a happy training ground in which, by continual practice I attained such a degree of ready speech as I now possess* There is no way of learning to preach which can be compared to preaching itself. If you want to swim you must get into the water."

WANTED.

A big business boom. Good walking once more. To know what each candidate for postmaster thinks of the others.

An invention that will put every man's advertisement in the most prominent place.

A loaf of bread that a woman's hua band will acknowledge is as good as his mother used to make.

A boy of any size or at any kind of work who can do half as [much as his boss says he didat his age. npnn sort of arrangement that would keep the front corners of a fur-lined circular turned out at all times.

An invention that will coax chickens to lay eggs and bring the price within the reach of people who have only $5,000 a year to live on. ,,

A system of book-keeping that would explain how a man earning nine dollars a week can spend two dollars a night and pay his board and washing bills besides.

A brake by which a man could control his movements when he begins to waltz on the ice, and prevent the threatened collision between himself and the sidewalk.

A pocket telephone by which a man could communicate with his wife, at any moment and ask her what the deuoe it was she told birn to get when she tier] the string on his finger.