fmmtau Ijrahgttim THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1865. THE FINANCES- OF THE AMERICAN ■■BOARD. We learn from a circular dated at the Mission House, Boston, August 30th, that the receipts of the Board for eleven months of the year ending August 31, were but a trifle over §380,000. Other sources of in come (sales of property, interest, etc,) are expected to yield nearly $15,000. In order, therefore, that the disbursements of the year (§530,000) may be fully provided for. $135,000 will be needed in this closing month. This is a very large sum; but the donations and legacies of August, 1864, were $134,815; and surely, if there be a “willing mind,’' an equal amount can be given now. We commend this matter to the prayer ful consideration of our readers. Although it must be regarded as exceedingly unfor tunate that so large a proportion of the contributions is thus delayed until the last moment, yet it is better late than never. Churches and individuals who have already contributed, should contribute again; while those who have given nothing —what can ever reach their consciences and their purses, if this exhibition of great deficien cy in one of the dearest of all causes to every true Christian’s heart fails ? One dollar from every member of our branch of the Church alone, or forty cents from each member of all the churches contributing, would more than meet the necessities of the case. Let not the noble men connected with the American Board, a specimen of whose overtasked yet elastic energies and great services appears in our correspond ence this week, be left to suffer for want of so pitiful a sum. Let not a great cause languish in this our year of national jubi-’ lee. Blessed as never our own or any other nation has been with victory and peace, let our .joy and thankfulness over flow in this as in other worthy channels of beneficence. The priceless blessings we have just secured for ourselves can best be communicated to heathen nations by the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. THE RIGHT 0F SUFFRAGE FOR THE FREEMEN. . The Nation, in replying to a correspon dent, thus disposes of the objection to granting the right of suffrage to the freed men, on the ground that the Northern States are unprepared to grant the same privilege to the colored population residing within their own limits. We can go on a step further than this, however, and affirm that even if there was not one State at the North in which a col ored man was ' allowed to vote, the North would still be justified in asking that all po- persons disfranchised under such a rule at the North would, be, by the census of 1860, 237,218; the total number of those who are disfranchised by this rule at the South is 4,- 201,000. We count in for the sake of sim plicity the whole colored population in each section. Now, looked at in the light of ex pediency, in the light of its effect on public security and tranquility, on the administra tion of justice, or of the national unity, the disfranchisement of 200,000 people in a pop ulation of 19,000,000 is a small matter; looked at in this same light, the disfranchise ment of 4,000,000 in a population of 12,000, 000 is an immense matter —startling, mo mentous, full of danger; and it is still more startling and dangerous when we remember that the barrier which separates them from civil rights is ini passable, can never be sur mounted either by genius or industry or good conduct. In all political questions numbers are the greatest of forces. Nobody can overlook or make light of them. The wrongs or disabilities of one man or a hun bred men may smell as rank before heaven as the wrongs or disabilities of a million ; but in the ear of any human lawgiver the cry of the million must always be the loudest and most impressive, because their griefs threaten the security of the state. Our nat uralization laws, which convert every for eigner who lands into a citizen within five years of his arrival, and which now begin to exercise such marked and, as many think, prejudicial, influence on the elections, are, in our opinion, called for by the public safety. If there were but 200,000 foreigners in the country, their exclusion from a share in the Government would be of little consequence: as there are 5,000,000, and the number is in creasing. it would threaten the very founda tions of the Government. And we confess we do not know how any calm reader of his tory can sit down and contemplate with com placency the future of a democratic country in which one-third of the population is deprived of the rights of citizenship, by those who hate and have injured them, on account of a physical peculiarity. Mr. J ess up’s Letter. —We have given the letter of Mr. Jessup—well known to most of our readers as the missionary of the American Board at Beirut—long as it is, entire. It will be found upon an inside page. As a faithful, graphic portraiture of the life of a busy mission ary at one of the meeting places of the Eastern and Western civilizations, we do not believe it can be surpassed in interest and value. Those who think foreign missionaries have an easy time of it, will he thoroughly undeceived by reading this journal of one week of Mr. Jessup’s life. Shall such indefatigable aborers be sustained? If they are will ing to “go down into the pit,” shall we not hold on to the rope ? Who will con tribute the eighty dollars in gold, neces sary to keep that promising Syrian girl in the Seminary, whose discharge Mr. Jessup otherwise declares will be inevi table ? 1 In Type., —The letter of another corres pondent at the Saratoga Convention; letter from Rev. E. P. Hammond, &c. THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1865. THE PRICE OF PAPER. A WORD TO MANUFACTURERS. After a brief period of decline, the price of paper has again risen, and that more rapidly than it fell. The sheet on which this is printed cost us fourteen and a half cents a pound ; forthe same quality we are no w asked sixteen and a h alf cents The cause of the rise, from all we can learn, is the most arbitrary and unnatural pos sible. We are credibly informed that three of the largest manufacturers in this vicinity have agreed together to run but half-time for three months, thus creating a scarcity of paper and forcing up the price. Doubtless this agreement is far more extensive, embracing the large manufacturers generally through out the North, else it could not have brought about the desired result, of the sudden and rapid rise in -prices. We could wish that the newspaper interest would promptly meet this combination, by reducing the size of their issues for the corresponding period, and reducing the price accordingly to subscribers; great as would be the inconvenience to ourselves, we would cheerfully agree to publish but half a sheet for the next three months, if our brethren of the double sheet press generally would join with us in the movement. Speculation can only be effectually met by absti nance on the part of consumers. But do unscrupulous manufacturers forget that by such arbitrary courses they are preparing for themselves a most sweeping and terrible retribution ? Do they not know that they are hurling at the people a weapon like that of the Australian warrior, which may come back to the yery spot from which it started ? Are they aware that a great effort for a sweeping reduction of the tariff is in preparation for next Congress, and that the course they are pursuing is the very best possible for multiplying the friends of such a movement ? Those who find themselves at the mercy of the caprice and inordinate covetousness of great manufacturers at home, will not need many arguments to induce them to seek relief in throwing open our markets to the competition o fthe world at large. ■ And we have no doubt that a reduction of the tariff on many articles now vir tually forbidden by the high duties, would be followed by vast gains to the national treasury. The experience of low rates of duties in Great Britain con firms this view. As the rates have been lowered there the- customs receipts have increased. We repeat, manufacturers will have little chance in Congress next winter, if they persist in such arbitrary and irritative courses as the one just de scribed. HOW THE WORLD LOOKS AT IT. The last General Assembly of thb United Presbyterian Church was held in the borough of Washington, in South western Pennsylvania. During its ses sions, the following just notice of a ble- appeared in. the Washington Press, a local secular paper. We are pleased to see it copied, with approbation, in the Presbyterian Witness, the Cincinnati or gan of the U. P. Church. We also copy it, not as applicable especially to the minority of that Church, for it has much wider bearings, but as an admonition of the estimation in which the outside pub lic holds this kind of indulgence. It will not happen often, perhaps, in the history of our village, that we shall see as sembled a body of Christian gentlemen\rep resenting so extended a constituency, and wielding so large an influence, as that now holding its sessions in this place. We think, as a body, they will compare favorably, in point of intellectual development and eminent Christian piety, with any similar convocation in the land. While paying this tribute to the character and worth of the members of the General Assembly, it is not pleasant to observe a prac tice amongst some of them, which it strikes us does not accord very well with the position they occupy as conservators of public morals. We refer to the use of tobacco, a practice of such doubtful morality, that very many good people outside of the clergy, or even any re ligious profession, find reason to condemn it. But we have met many of these ministers of the Gospel, on the streets and in public places, puffing a pipe or cigar in a very worldly sort of way, and setting an exam ple which parents would regret to have their children follow. They would have been shocked to have been seen touching glasses in a drinking saloon, and yet they would have found among the frequenters of such places perfect social equality in respect to the prac tice to which we allude. We do not make these remarks in any in vidious spirit, nor because the ministers of the U. P. Church are singular in this dere liction, but because the body now in session is the proper one to check such inconsisten cies, and recommend that the practice of its members accord with the precepts of a pure Gospel and the requirements of a pure life. We sincerely believe that the use of tobac co is a crying national sin, second only to slavery and drunkenness, and that it will not be abated while the religion of the land toler ates such uncleanness. THE WEEKLY REVIEW, The London Weekly Eeview, Presby terian, under the editorship of Peter Bayne, has become the London and Edinburgh Weekly Beview, and devotes a large space to the discussion of Scot tish topics. In the number for July 22, we notice editorials on* the Elected and Rejected at Edinburgh, The Upper Classes in Scotland and Evangelical Religion, Scotch Constituencies in 1865, and “The Wallace Monument” from a Scotch correspondent. We presume the plan of a Presbyterian journal of high character and price (a guinea a year) dependent upon English Presbyterian support exclusively, has been found at’ least premature. The Beview of July 22, copies our article on Presbyterian ism and Pepublicanism. ANOTHER REBUKE TO SABBATH DE SECRATION. It is a fact which seems to have been generally overlooked, that the laying of the new Atlantic Cable was commenced by the Great Eastern on the Sabbath. The Great Eastern herself, the most marked failure in the great commercial and mechanical enterprises of the day, as our readers will remember, was launched on the Sabbath, and now having started on a Sabbath with the new Atlantic cable, whose structure has vaunted as so perfect and success re garded as so certain, the very next Sab bath brings word of failure. The fol lowing are the Yalentia telegrams an nouncing the commencement of the Great Eastern’s work.. Sunday J uly 23—Evening. The paying out of the heavy shore cable, twenty-seven miles in length, was completed at 11:30 P. M. last evening by the Caroline. The splice with the main cable on board the Great Eastern was completed at 4:25 P. M. to-day, and the paying out then commenced from the Great Eastern. Testing through the whole length is perfect. The weather is very fine. Her Majesty’s Terrible and Sphinx are in company with the Great Eastern. \ Yalentia, Sunday, July 23. The Great Eastern is now (1 o’clock) about) twenty-fivfe miles off Bray Head, and has just picked _up her shore end of the cable. Aid king and testing the splice are likely to occu py at least six hours, so that it will be sixbr seven o’cloek this evening before she starts. The weather is wonderfully fine, and thqj sea is smooth as glass. Barometer very ligh, and still rising. / Here is the announcement of the first break from one of our dailies:— On Sunday, the 30th, the day on which the Cuba called at Queenstown, a brief ,dis patch was received, announcing tjlat, after 700 miles had been paid out—lso beinglthe work of Saturday, the 20th —insilation torn lost. The closing words of the dispatebjare these: “ Cause unknown. Further particu lars have not transpired.” * f, f |]teta Df n« ®{ratt| Rev. Dr. Scudder.— The Hoto Presbyterian church of this c 1 crowded last Sunday morning '/ ning, to hear the Rev. Dr. Scy his first appearance in publi Doctor is easy, fluent, and earn delivery; preaches without no j his proof-texts out of a smaU'Rl .he holds constantly in hand English custom. He is easil all parts of the house, is ' illustrations, simple in sty] the attention of the audieu ginning to end. The new pastor has bee very hand somely received and welt imed by his people, and we cannot but opd.that the noble church, which has s > >oig strug gled and patiently waited 1 fir fts time, enters to-day upon a career of te great est prosperity and power.—Pacfc. ok Hrp v ‘ttegrt icfc. ,Aid”— We iimunion . fiabbath, Amende. —Rev. Francis Ra. against whom some reports of intempeU, e ha bits have been circulated in VVstern New York, is believed to be whay in nocent of such charges by thosefah have investigated the matter, and pe . now settled among an intelligent plople who thoroughly satisfied themselis ' his innocence before employing hiiv “In the midst of the Ye*. are glad to state that at the coi season in Tabor church, last to say he was not a Christian, though he was thankful he had been brought up under religious training Still it seemed strange to him that he should attempt - to touch, with his unholy hands, these (° precious services. He had refused to 13 speak when requested by the commit lee ; but had been induced to attempt it by the. hope that he might be the means 6 of accomplishing some good. s " He said it was a beautiful sight to see children and parents thus assembled n- from all parts of the land, by the side of he the ocean, to hold this religious service. ■W It appeared to him that all religious wor ;o- ship was divided into two classes, that nt included in Prayer and that in Thanks — giving. When he spoke of prayer the memory of the great Chief-Justice Mar te shall came before him, how, when an id infant, his mother had taught him to a- say, “Now I lay me down to sleep.” k- How that great man had said, that he hever, in all his life, laid down to >e sleep without repeating that simple i- prayer, or never rose in the morning • e without thanking his Heavenly Father. . What an influence that prayer had upon that man’s life! After alluding to the fact that prayer Recent Arrivals inform us vhat l e *° * S “ P Tr ? e “ 8 T friends of Dr. Colenso, Bishop of Nal l il iif° L g ’ had presented him with a sum of £3 3»I ° Ut , worid ’ P a f ed on to the raised by about six hundred subseribT BeC ° nd dl ™ lon ’ B T g ’ Whlch partly tS make up for the loss of s B ° n * Episcopal income and partly to tesv d 6 to his services to the cause of free! than * s f ™g- The music is all lost to pression of opinion within the Churcbf ™ aVe thell \ soul-inspim^ England. The Bishqp was about o J 8 ’ , In th ™ S™ ad old feast of proceed to Natal. According to e pi °™ f WSC \ me Guardian, Bishop Colenso his c t - P f to menced an action against Mr. Glads! e g™ thanks for their harvert, when and Mr. Hubbard, as trustees of Vhe a- Ttl u lonial Bishopric Fund, for the psn it the * be.hills and through of his salary, and the Attorney cUI Je rallies of Palestine towards the has been retained for their defence* )■ H ° ly T 6 When ™ I salem became so great that they dwelt / in booths, made of boughs of trees, those booths built all along the roads I and streets in and near the city;—how on i | the last day of the feast the High Priests ascended the altar, and from a vessel poured out water, in sight of the assembled thousands, proclaiming to the multitudes, “With joy we draw water from the wells of salvation.” The peo ple took up the shout, and gloriously it ran through the vast assemblage: “ With joy we draw water from the wells of salvation.” It was echoed through every street in the crowded city, and thus they rendered thanksgiving to God for the bounties of the year. We here to-day are drawing water from the wells of salvation; swelling in the chorus of our sacred songs our thankfulness to Almighty God. These beautiful tunes that you children sing, how they will is considered an able and faithful : Ini ter, and a strict temperance: 1 man. \ Rev. Austin P. Stookwell, a leu ber of the late graduating class ( tl Union Theological Seminary of le’ York, has acceepted and taken the; st< ral charge of the church of Pit >ar Plains, Dutchess County, New Yc Evangelist. N . Rev. J.,M. Alexander, a licei iat of Maui, Sandwich Islands, .was ord nei by San Jose Presbytery, at San ’ ar dro, Cal. Sermon by Rev. E. G, Icl with. ; Rev. G. L. Poster has given n ici to the Presbyterian Church in Cole-a ter, Michigan, of his design to soon'< his labors among them, giving as a their failure to build a new church Correction :—ln the list of cole tions for the Ministerial Relief Pm published in our last number, the chu| at Cherry Valley, New York, shoj have been credited with $l9 40— stead of $lO 40. At Alexandria the cholera had dined, not, however, before carrying Mrs. LansiDg, wife of the Amerii missionary, Rev. Julian Lansing of U. P. mission to Egypt. „ Rev. Dr. Gurley, of Washingt announced to his congregation that had declined to accept the Secretarys of the Presbyterian Board of Publi tion, and would continue his ministe. labors as heretofore. GREAT OPEN AIR MEETING AT CAPE* MAY. What would you think of a religious gathering of two thousand perpons on a Sabbath afternoon to hear addresses and sing hymns on the lawn of Congress Hall ? We attended such a gathering on last Sabbath afternoon, and it did our hearts good to seethe wide spread interest Which was awakened. A committee of some twenty church-going sojourners at the seaside arranged to have all the Sabbath-school children invited, with all the children then staying on the Island. With them came many of their parents,- and to the throng were added many hun dreds of those who “ care for none of those things,” but on whose hands time hangs heavy on a Sabbath afternoon; for, be it said, to the praise of the au thorities of Cape May, not a carriage is allowed to be hired on the Sabbath, and thus extensive and expensive means of killing time as on the week day, riding out, &c., can not be enjoyed. At 5 o’clock Mr. A. G. Cattell, the worthy President of the Corn Exchange Bank of Philadelphia, called Rev. Alex. Henry to the chair, who commenced the exercises by reading the first hymn on the programme. A neatly printed pro gramme containing the hymns to be sung, with the order of exercises had been distributed far and wide. The band of Congress Hall, seven brass in struments, most exquisitely played, struck up the tune “ Marching along.” They had been supplied with the notes by that admirable leader of children’s singing, Mr. Thomas H. Rawlings. He mounted the platform and at the proper moment, had the audience join in that stirring melody. It was led with spirit, and sung with a will, the fine accompaniment of the brass instruments blending richly with the swell of song. An army chaplain then led in prayer, and in the hush of the mo ment, the heavy bass of old ocean’s rear, seemed as the voice of God him self. Then came the second hymn, “ Jesus loves me! this I know,” which was also sung inspiringly. Then an address by the Hon. Mr. Caseby, of Newark, N. J. He was no novice in speaking, but said he was better used to facing a jury, than a crowd of Sabbath-school children and their friends. He dwelt upon the fact that the children of the land are soon to be the rulers, and the destiny of the nation is now wrapped up in the souls of its children, hence the import ance or training the rising generation to piety and virtue. Then came the hymn “ I want to be an Angel,” which was followed by an address by—would you believe it ?—. Benj. H. Brewster, Esq., one of the prominent leaders of the Philadelphia bar. He said frankly this was new business for him. He was used to ad-, dressing grown up children; had never tried to speak to such a throng as-this, and what he should say would perhaps be better understood by the adults before thflTi ■— , !rd St. fy was ad eve der. on The ist in his fes; reads Me, which after the heard in randant in 1 and holds Se from be- last in your memory when you are) grown up men and women. Let me tell you an incident that occurred in one of the smaller streets of Boston, in one of those allies where the vicious and the poor are crowded—not vicious because they are poor, but rather poor because they are vicious—an organ man was playing his tunes, when a poor woman with a bucket on her arm stopped, and listened, and wept. Forget ting her errand, she stood weeping and spell-bound. The tune was that grand old anthem of the American people, and the American church, Old Hundred. The tqne carried her back to her child hood days when she was an innocent girl among the hills of Massachusetts, and she wept as she contrasted what she now was with what she had been long before, when she used to hear and sing that dear old tune, which she never sang now. This music that you sing refines and elevates your souls. I have heard every variety and style of music, all that can be heard in the old world and the new Two years ago to-day I stood in the great St. Isaac’s chapel in St. Petersbugh and listened to the grand chants of the Russian church. I have heard the Gregorian .chants in the ca thedrals of Italy; but, grander than all I have stood in Westminster Abbey at midnight, and listened, with rapt devo tion, to the glorious- chants of the Church of England, rendered in the very highest style of art. The refining, awe-inspiring effect of sacred song, this thanksgiving of the heart sent upwards to its Maker is precious to all of us, and helps to direct us to the better life above. Hundreds of Philadelphians were there, who rejoiced that so talented and gifted a man as the speaker should be employed in such an effort. Next came an inspiring hymn to the tune of “ Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom,” “We are Marching to Heaven the Home of the Blessed, Singing the Praises of Zion.” Then a fine address by Rev. Mr. Sewell, of Baltimore. He spoke of the importance of early reli gious instruction, of his three children buried in the cemetery of Baltimore, for whose happiness he had no fears; then of his four living children, whom he was trying to train in the way of righteous ness. He told, with much humor, how he had sent their old family cradle, in which three generations had been rocked, to the Sanitary Fair of Baltimore, hav ing written upon it a verse of Oliver Wendell Homes’, “From the same cradle side, From the same mother’s knee.' The idea was how from the same Sabbath-school some went out to accom plish no good in the world, while others would grow to be the hope of the nation and the church. Mr. Heiskell, of Philadelphia, a vete ran in the Sabbath-school cause, next delivered a short address: After an ex planationby Mr. Barclay Harding, editor l» »1 II . ■ n *—- a collection was taken up in aid of the “ Northern Home for Friendless Chil dren,” especially of the department for the children of soldiers and sailors killed in the war. The people gave liberally, the twenty hats of the committee being well filled.' After singing “My Country. ’tis of Thee,” and the doxology “ Praise God from whom all Blessings flow,” and a benediction by Rev. Dr. Dickey of Penn sylvania, the crowd dispersed. The meeting was a grand success, bringing many in contact with religion who never see nor hear anything about it. It was the second of the kind, and it is proposed to continue them through out the season. I have never seen Cape May so crowded nor so gay. Imagine one thou sand persons on a fine afternoon, many of them gorgeously dressed, sitting in the lawn of “ the Columbia,” listening to the mnsic of the band, and thousands bathing every day. Probably $25,000 per day is spent for board alone, while for carriage hire, boat hire, &e., &c., sums almost incalculable slip away so easily that we almost begin to believe that the chief end of man at Cape May is to spend money. The bathing is certainly delightful and invigorating. This is the only attraction to Yours, G. W. M. THE SYNOD OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE LOWER I'ROVISCES. This body met at Halifax, June 27th, and took unanimous and decisive action on the proposed union with the Presby terian Synod of New Brunswick, as fol lows Approve of the report and subsequent proceedings of the Committee on union with the Synod of New Brunswick, and adhere to our previously expressed desire that the union be consummated without unnecessary delay; instruct ministers to bring the matter before their congregations as they may see cause; invite expressions of opinion from Presbyteries and Sessions, and appoint next meeting of the Synod on the of June, at the City of St. _ John, N. 8., in the expec tation that we will then be prepared to ar range for the consummation of the union.” ■ There are ninety-two ministers and ninety-seven charges, many of them em bracing two churches, in the Synod of the Lower Provinces. The contribu tions of the churches for Foreign Mis sions during the past year, were £l5BO Home Missions £457, Education £194 There are vested funds for the latter object amounting to £BOOO, within a fraction. * The. Synod unanimously passed the following resolution on American af fairs : This Synod thankfully recognize the mercy of Almighty God in the restoration o peace in the United States, and adore the heavenly wisdom which has so controlled and restrained the wrath of man and the horrors of war, as to furnish the occasion for the abolition of African slavery, and for most noble manifestations of Christian liberality and beneficence. The Synod express their profound sympathy with their Christian brethren in their sorrow over the death of President Lincoln, and their deep abhorrence of the atrocious crime which caused it; and it is their hope and earnest prayer that the great and sore trials of the past few years, culminating in this deplorable event, may lead to the establishment of true liberty and order, and to the glory of God in the further ance of the Gospel of his Son. This Synod rejoice in the friendly relations existing be tween Great Britain and the United States, and fervently pray for the continuance of such relations. Acknowledging with grati tude to the Head of the Church the high at tainments in love and good works_ of sister churches in the United States, this Synod implore for them the continued grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit in going forth to occupy the vast fields of usefulness now open before them. REV. A. M. STEWART IN THE OIL REGIONS. Petroleum Centre, Venango Co., Pa. \ August, 1865. i Dear Brother Mears: Health, pleasure, curiosity and on benevolent schemes intent, have brought me for a ten days’ sojourn to this new centre for human assemblage, hopes, cupidities, successes, and sore disappointments. Not half a score of years since this region, at present so full of human life and energy, was a forlorn, barren place, as it remains a very rugged one. Land surrounding Oil City might have been purchased for a dime an acre. No one wanted, or would pay taxes for such un promising possessions. Now, the value set upon many a lot exceeds that of a similar sized one in the centre of Phila delphia. Treasures of oil have been kept hid den away in- this most unlikely place, until fully needed ia the world’s ad- vancement. Such has been the Lord’s plan to hide away treasures in unlikely places until the times demanded their use, when they are developed by prop erly directed human skill and energy. There are no accidents, chances, or mistakes in God’s government of the world. Not one of the Generals, on whom we depended at the outset of our late terrible struggle to lead our armies to victory, proved adequate to the task. Men heretofore unknown to literary, sci entific, political, or military fame, and hid away among the masses, were thrown by the convulsions to the sur face just when needed, and fitted for the whole emergency. The gold of Califor nia was kept hidden away in her almost inaccessible mountains, until fairly need ed as a basis for trafie and to balance the world’s commerce, when it was un bosomed, and a great State has been organized as an offshoot of the enterprise. As the whale-fishery languished, tallow and lard oil proved insufficient for new and enlarging demands. As the inte rests of earth moved faster and faster, a -now- lubricator, as well as illuminator, was needed; when the earth in this hitherto unproductive place was bored into and petroleum flowed out in quanti ties sufficient for all the demands. Many things here remind me of long familiarities in camp-life—the rude, hasty, irregular structures for dwellings and business, crowds of men, modes of living, with unsettled conditions gene rally. No one yet conversed with has come to this region with any thought or desire of making here a permanent home. To obtain the everlasting dollar, in a more speedy manner and in larger quantities than hitherto, has brought hither this army of adventurers; and when the treasure is obtained, if at all, to spend it elsewhere. Here is the gen uine adventurer, making claims and selling leases; oil brokers and oil sel lers; oil hunters and borers for oil; teamsters innumerable ; engineers, black smiths, masons, carpenters, storekeepers, grocers, boarding house keepers, rum sellers, idlers, loafers, gamblers, et id omne genus, all busy plying their voca tions, and jostling against each other. If business ever deserved the appella- tion “ Lottery,” it is that of the oil proper. One man, or company of men, sinks his shaft five hundred feet, and the pent up gases beneath immense rock strata, throw out his tools to the surface and after them a stream of oil, yielding from one hundred to a thousand barrels per day. The successful per sonage is a millionaire in an hour Nineteen other persons or companies sink as many wells in the same neigh borhood, deeper perhaps than the first, and get neither gas, nor paying amount of oil. Five to eight thousand dollars are required for engine, fixtures, and sinking each well. If a failure, as is the rule, the proprietor loses his entire investment and often his all. Unable or unwilling to go further, he disappears from Oildom and in some other locality joins a less hopeful yet perchance more paying business. An occasional grand success still maintains a constant and feverish' excitement, causing thousands to adventure and lose their all. Here men think, nor speak, nor dream, nor act of ought save oil. “ Good show of oil.” “Rich territory.” “Payingwells.” “ Profitable stocks,” constitute the mo ther tongue. Even excited speculators will laugh at the exploit of a companion, who becoming too fevered suddenly leaped into a great tank of the element, when a thousand barrels of the greasy liquid had to be run out and lost in or der to rescue the adventurer. The yield of petroleum along Oil Creek is undoubtedly fast decreasing; and from the sudden failure of the most famous wells, may ere long, cease altogether.
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