TEEMS OP PUBLICATION.
THB BBBFOBB GAZETTE ii published eyery Fri
dy morning by MEYERS 4 MBKOEL, at $2.00 pel
annum, if paid strictly in advance ; $2.50 if paid
wixuin six months; $3.00 if not paid within six
months. All substriptton avcvuntt MUST be
settled annually. No paper will be gent out of
the State unless paid for IN ADVANCE, and nil such
subscriptions will invariably be discontinued at
the expiration ef the time for which they are
paid.
AH ADVERTISEMENTS for a less term than
three months TEN CENTS per line for each in
ertion. Special notices one-half additional All
-©solutions of Associations; eommuniCHtions of
imited or individual interest, and notices of raar
-iages and deaths exceeding five liner, ten cent*
er line. Editorial notices fifteen cents per line.
All legal House* of every hind, and Orphan*'
Court arid Judicial Sales, are required by laic
to it published in both papers published in this
plate.
ty All advertising due after first insertion.
A liberal diacount ii made to persons advertising
by the quarter, half year, er year, as f l!ws :
I months. Bmij|jtb-. '7®"'
•One square - • { 4 ®
skkis.
Quarter solunsa - - M. 1!.
Half eelumn - - 'ls 0® 20 00 4a 00
On. eolumn -..- Jf *45 (.0 80 00
♦One aquare te occupy ene inch of apace.
JOB PRINTING, OT every kind, done with
neatneae and dispatch. THB GAZETTE OFFICE has
just been refitted with a Power Pr<- s and new type,
and everything in the Printing liue can be execu
ted in tb nsost artistia ma iner and at th. lowest
rates.*— TEßMS CASH,
jy All letters should b. addressd te
MEYERS & MENGEL,
Publishers.
at fair.
JOSEPH W. TATE, ATTORNEY
f I AT LAW, BEDFORD. PA., will promptly
attend te collections of bounty, back pay, Ac.,
and all business entrusted to his care in Bedford
and adjoining counties.
Cash advanced en judgments, notes, military
and other claims.
Has for sale Town lots in Tatesville, where a
good Church is ereetcd, and where a large School
House shall be built. Farms, Land and Timber
fceave, from ene acre te 500 acres to suit pur
ehasers.
Office nearly opposite the "Mengel Hotel and
Bank of Reed A Schell.
April 6,1866 —ly
J. MCH. SHARPB. E F. KERR.
SHARPE A KERR, ATTORNEYS
AT LAW. BEDFORD, PA., will practice in
the courts of Bedford and adjoining counties Of
fice on Juliana at., opposite the Banking House of
Reed A Schell. [March 2, '66.
R. BURBORROW. | JOHN LUTZ.
TVURBOREOW LUTZ,
J J ATTORNEYS AT LAW, BEDFORD, PA.,
Will attend promptly to all business intrusted to
their care. Collections made on the shortest no
tice.
They are. also, regularly licensed Claim Agents
and will give special attention to the prosecution
•f claims against the Government for Pensions,
Back Pay. Bounty, Bounty Lands, Ac.
Office on Juliana street, one door South of the
"Mengel and nearly opposite the Inquirer
office.
JOIIN P. R EED, ATTf)RNEY AT
e| LAW, BEDFORD, PA. Respectfully tenders
lis services to the pnblic.
Office second door North of the Mengel House.
Bedford, Aug, 1, 186 L
JOHN PALMER, ATTORNEY AT
LAW, BEDFORD, PA. Will promptly attend
to all business entrusted to his care. '•
Particular attention paid to the collection of
Military claims. Office on Juliana Street, nearly
opposite the Mengel House.
Bedford. Aug. 1, 1861.
ESPY M.ALSIP, ATTORNEY AT
LAW, BEDFORD, PA. Will faithfully and
promptly attend te all business entrusted to his
are in Bedford and adjoining counties. Military
alaima, back pay, bounty, Ac., speedily collected.
Office with Mann A Spang, on Juliana street,
I ,fo doors South of the Mengel House.
Jan. 22, 1864,
If KIMMELL. | J- w. LISGENFELTER.
R/1 MM ELL & LINGENFELTER,
iV ATTORNEYS AT LAW. BEDFORD, PA.,
Hare formed a partnership in the practice of
he Law. Office en Juliana street, two doors South
fthe -'Mengel House,"
G H. SPANG, ATTORNEY AT
. LAW BEDFORD. PA. Will promptly at
tend to collections and all business entrusted to
his care in Bedford and adjoining counties.
Office on Juliana Street, three doors south of the
"Mengel House," opposite the residence of Mrs.
Tate.
May 18, 1864.
B. f. BITERS - I * w ■ DICKKRBOX.
ME VERS & DICKERSON, AT
TORNEYS AT LAW, Bedford, Pa., office
same as formerly occupied by Hon. W. P. Schell,
two doers east of the GAZETTE office, will practice
in the several courts of Bedford county. Pensions,
bounty and back pay obtained and the purchase
and sal* of real estate attended to. jmayll, 66.
JOHN H. FILLER, Attorney at Law,
Bedford, Pa. Office nearly opposite the Post
Office. [apr.2o,'66. —ly.
ghtisirians and grnttetsi.
D H. PENNSYL, M. D., BLOODY
, Ruk, Pa., • late surgeon 56th P. V. V.,) ten
ders his professional services to the people of that
place and vicinity. Dec. 22. '65-ly*
WT W - JAMISON, M. D., BLOODY
f V a RBN, Pa., tenders his professional servi
ses to the people of that place and vicinity. Office
•ne door west of Richard Langdon s store.
Nov. 24. '6s—ly
T\R. J. L. MARBOURG, Having
I / permanently located, respectfully tenders
his professional services to the citizens ot Bedford
and vicinity.
Office on Juliana street, east side, nearly opposite
the Banking House of Reed A Schell.
Bedford, February 12, 1864.
J.N.HICKOE. I J. ®. MIKKICH. JR.,
DENTISTS,
BEDFORD, PA.
Office in the Bank Building, Juliana St.
All operations pertaining to Surgical or Me
shanical Dentistry carefully performed, and war
ranted. Tooth Powders and mouth Washes, ex
sellent articles, always on hand.
TERMS—CASH.
Bedford. January 6,1865.
DR. GEO. C. DOUGLAS, Respect
fully tenders his professional services to the
people of Bedford and vicinity.
OFFICE—2 doors West of the Bedford Hotel,
above Border's Silver Smith Store.
Residence at Maj. Washabaugh's.
aug.24,'66.
MEIUMPH IN DENTISTRY!
TEETH EXTRACTED WITHOUT PAIN,
by the use of Nitrous Oxide, and is attended with
no danger whatever.
TEETH INSERTED
upon a new style of base, which is a combination
of Gold and Vulcanite; also, upon Vulcanite, Gold,
Platina and Silver. t
TEMPORARY SETS inserted if called for.
Special attention will be made to diseased gums
and a cure warranted or no charge made.
TEETH FILLED to last for life, and all work
in the dental line done to the entire satisfaction of
all or the money refunded. Prices to correspond
with the times. .
IJf I have located permanently in Bedford,
and shall visit Schellsburg the Ist Monday of each
month, remaining one week ; Bloody Run the 3rd
Monday, remaining one week ; the balance ot m y
time I can be found at my office, 3 doors South ot
the Court House, Bedford, Pa.
u0v.16,'66. WM. W. VAN ORMER. Dentist.
gankfrs.
JACOB REED, | J - SCHELL,
T) EED AND SCHELL,
r\j Banters and
DEALERS IN EXCHANGE,
BEDFORD. PA.,
DRAFTS bought and sold, coKeotions made and
money promptly remitted.
Deposits solicited.
W RCPP 0. E. SHAMMOR F. BENEDICT
V)UPP, SHANNON &CO., BANK
|V ERS, BEDFORD, PA.
BANK OF DISCOUNT AND DEPOSIT.
COLLECTIONS made for the East. West, North
and South, and the general business of Exchange
r..nsacted. Notes and Accounts Collected and
££ittan.es ; promptly made. REAL ESTATE
b o ught and sbia. Oct. 20, 1865.
Hht lilcftforb
BY MEYERS & MENGEL. "EgjDA&*MORtfiNG, FEBRUARY 8, 1867 ,
jruflS, PfdirittfS, &r.
TL LEWIS having pturfcaged the
# Drug Store, lately owned by Mr. H. C. Rea
-1 mer takes pleasure in announeing to the eitiiens
of Bedford and vicinity, that he has just returned |
from the cities with a well selected stock of
i DRUGS.
ME DIC INKS.
DYE-STUFFS.
PERFUMERY. !
TOILET A R TICI/ESf
STATIONERY,
COAL OIL. LAMPS
A ND CHr dNEYS.
REST BRANDS OF CIGARS
SMOKING AND CHEWING TOBACCO
FRENCH CONFECTIONS, 4-r.. <J-r
The stoek of Drugs and Medicines consist of the
purest quality, and selected with great care.
General assortment of popular Patent Medicines. ;
The attention of the Ladies is particularly invi- i
ted to the stock of PERFUMERY, TOILET and FANCY
ARTICLES, consisting of the best perfumes of the
day. Colognes, Soaps, Preparations for the Hair,
Complexion and Teeth ; Camphor ice for chapped j
hands; Teeth and Hair Brushes. Port Monaies, Ac.
Of Stationery, there is a fine assortment: j
Billet, Note, Letter, Leaf and Mourning Paper.
Envelops. Pens. Pencils, Ink, Blank Deeds, Power ,
of Attorneys, Drafting Paper, Marriage Certifi- i
cates. Ac.. Ac. Also, a large quantity of Books,
which will be sold very cheap.
Coal Oil Lamp Hinge Burner, can be lighted
without removing the chimney—all patterns and
prices. Glass Lanterns, very neat, for burning
Coal Oil. Lamp chimneys of an improved pattern.
aXamp Shades of beautiful pattern*.
Howe's Family Dye Colors, the shades being light
j Fawn, Drab. Snuff and Dark Brown, Light and
! Dark Blue, Light and Dark Green, Yellow, Pink,
I Orange. Royal Purple, Scarlet, Maroon, Magenta, ■
1 Cherry and Black
i Humphrey's Homeopathic Remedies.
Cigars of best brands, smokers can rely on a j
good cigar.
Rose Smoking Tobccro.
Michigan and Solace Fins Cut.
Natural Leaf, Twist and Big Plug,
Finest ana purest French Confections. I
PURE DOMESTIC WINES,
Consisting of Grape. Blackberry and Elderberry
FOR MEDICINAL USE.
attention of physicians is invited to the
stock of Drugs and Medicines, which they can
purchase at reasonable prices.
Country Merchants' orders promptly filled. Goods
put up with neatness and care, and at reasonable
prices.
J. L. LEWIS designs keeping a first class Drug
Store, and having on hand at all times a general
assortment of goods. Being a Druggist of several
years experience, physicians can rely on having
their prescriptions carefully and accurately com
pounded. [Feb 9, '66—tt
(TlotUing, tit.
J) ALLY! RALLY! RALLY!
Come one, come all,
• and examine
THE EXCELLENT STOCK OF GOODS
AT LIPPEL'S
CLOTHING EMPORIUM AND FURNISHING
STORE.
A rare chance is offered to ALL to purchase good
and seasonable goods, at the lowest prices, by cal
ling at Lippel's.
If you would have a good suit of Ready-Made
Clothing call at Lippel's.
If you would have good and cheap
Ladies' Dress Goods,
Calicoes,
Muslins,
Ac.. Ac., Ac.,
Call at Lippel's.
If you would have furnishing goods of all de
scriptions, notions, etc., call at Lippel's.
If you would have the best quality of Groceries,
buy them at Lippel's.
Goods of all kinds, sold at the most reasonable
prices, and country produce of all kinds taken in
exchange for goods, at Lippel's,
5ep.28,'66.
CLOTHING EMPORIUM. —GEO.
REIMUND, Merchant Tailor. Bedford, Pa.,
keeps constantly on hand ready-made clothing,
such as coats, pants, vests, Ac.; also a general as
sortment of cloths, cassimeres, and gents' furnish
ing goods of all kinds; also calicoes, muslins, Ac.,
all of which will be sold low for cash. My room
is a few doors west of Fyan's store and opposite
Rush's marble yard. I invite all to give me a
call. I have just received a stock of new goods.
may25,'66.
JJICHARD LEO,
Manufacturer of
CABINET-WARE, CHAIRS, AC.,
BEDFORD, PA.,
The undersigned being engaged in the Cabinet
making business, will make to order and keep
hand everything in his line of manufacture.
BUREAUS, DRESSING STANDS, PARLOR AND EXTEN
SIGN TABLES, CHAIRS, BEDSTEADS, WASH
STANDS, Ac., AC.,
•will be furbished at all prices, and to suit everv
taste. COFFINS will also be made to order. y
attention paid to all orders for work.
on West Pitt Street, nearly opposite
the residence of George Shuck.
July 10,1863.—tf RICHARD LEO.
DANIEL BORDER,
PITT STREET, TWO DOORS WEST OF THB BED
FORD HOTEL, BEDFORD, PA.
WATCHMAKER AND DEALER IN JEWEL
RY. SPECTACLES, AC.
He keeps on hand a stock of fine Gold and Sil
er Watches, Spectacles of Brilliant Double Re
ined Glasses, also Scotch Pebble Glasses. Gold
Watch Chains, Breast Pins, Finger Rings, best
quality of Gold Pens. He will supply to order
any thing in his line not on hand.
Oct. 20, 1865-
R. ANDERSON,
Licensed Scrivener and Conveyancer,
CENTREVILLE, BEDFORD COUNTY, PA.,
i will attend to the writing of Deeds, Mortgages,
Leases, Articles of Agreement, and all business
jsually transacted by a Scrivener and Conveyan
cer. The patronage of the public is respectfully
jolicited.
'66-tf-
1Q / —BLACKWELL & Co., have
1(M ) | now ready their revised Catalogue of
1867—Newspapers for 1867, containing all the
1867—principal Publications, for which they re
1867—ceive Subscriptions at the regular rates, and
1867—0n many of them offer the advantage of
1867—subscribing tor 3 months. Send for a copy
1867—containing full details of our admirable
1868—system of operation. We refer to the Pub
1867—lisher of this paper.
BLACKWELL A CO ,
Office, 82 Cedar St., New York.
jan4m3. BOX 4298 p. o.
JJRINTERS' INK has made many a 1
I lrnsitt— map rich We ask yon to try it in
the v>ltrains of THE GAZETTE
[lite gftod
Written for the Bedford Gasette.
"DAS ALT SCHEIE HAl'S,"' JR.
, Vie! yarrahjiiftH do war ich kleiu,
te viel gut,
j Da shftkin si§ ffifen in de schule,
Mit saup-ducTi for ein hut.
' .. • ; * '" *
Ich habgar weid iii schule gehat,
un<lh:Rb^^_
We Ich in schule*
A.r lehret mich rnein aTB. C.,
Es nemt ihn gar net lang.
! Es sch wamp sell ule-haus war alt un kaft,
Es war gar nach am wake,
| Es war aeh nach am grenawald,
Woo spiela bu und maid.
I Das grenawald. is urn gahfickt,
Das haus is week genum',
Un wu qiir unser spiel-grund habt,
Wert now geplucht der grund.
Und viel das in die schule sin gang',
Sin now im ruhegrab,
Viel andere sin now wide von wu
Sie gelernt der erst buchstab'.
i Und andere wohne nach am platz,
Wu's alt sch wamp schule-haus war,
I Und mehen dart das grena gras,
So oft als komint das yar. .
Ich hab net arrich viel galernt,
For Ich war arrich dura,
Und for de uresach ist mein sang
Ein wenig schep und krumm.
LEGISLATIVE REFORM—IT MIST BE
FEN DAMENTAL.
The people can no longer close their
eyes to the fact that the hideous cancer
of legislative corruption has spread its
loathsome pollution over the entire
body politic in Pennsylvania; and in
difference must henceforth be criminal.
For years venality has been entrench
ing itself in the citadel of delegated
power, steadily growing and widening
its ramifications, until its monstrous
sweep lias drawn a legislature into its
seething whirlpool, upon the very
threshhold of its official labors, and
bartered the choicest gift and the most
responsible trust the loyal people have
to confer.
Nor in this crowning wrong alone do
the appliances and fruits of legislative
degradation appear. Around it, in it,
through all its channels of power, and
all its tributaries, the monster sits en
throned supreme. clamorous were
its shameless votaries for plunder, that
the important committees of the pop
ular branch, which control vital and
profitable interests, had to be divided
and subdivided, and even then the
number almost doubled to swell the ,
chances for ill-gotten profits; and the ,
subordinates of the two branches have s
been increased to glut insatiate appe- (
tites until they number within one- ]
fourth of the whole legislature. Sons, ;
fathers and other relatives of legisla- ■
tors crowd around it in idleness, and j
profligacy and venality rule while the \
People have treachery and taxation as j
their reward. . j
"Reform the Legislature by the elec- j
tion of upright men," respond all who, ,
with the affectation of integrity, wish j
corruption to maintain its sway. We <
answer —it cannot be done. It has ■
been tried, time and again, and it has j
signally failed. We have seen, and :
served in, reform legislatures, and the j
only perceptible difference was the in- \
creased license to debauchery
by the reformers because of their sup- ;
posed standing at home. It is idle to <
attempt reform by any such process, <
But few who have the stern integrity ,
for such an effort will undertake the ]
thankless task, and supple reformers, |
who are demoralized by the very hope ]
of contact with peculation, are very ,
to proclaim their own virtues to <
the people, and betray them by a dou- <
ble fraud.
There is one simpie, practical, effect- <
ual remedy, and if the People move in *
earnest they can enforce it. Thereform ]
must be radical—it must be fundamen- s
tal. A Constitutional Convention, and i
that only, can reach the terrible dis- <
ease, and that is attainable at any time <
the legislature shall submit the ques- j
tion of a Convention to popular decis
ion. It should be demanded by peti
tion, by delegations, by mass meetings,
by the manly utterances of an unshaek- 1
led Press, until even the corruptionists i
themselves shall bow to the thunder of j
their masters. Let them demand a <
Convention to incorporate in their or
ganic law provisions substantially as '
follows:
1. That the Senate shall consist of
one hundred members, to be chosen by
single districts.
2. Thatthe House of Representatives
shall consist of four hundred members,
each to be elected in a single district.
3. That all legislation relating to cor
poration interests shall be by general
laws, and that no special charters or
corporate privileges whatever shall be
! granted but by the courts.
4. That there shall be no special ap
propriation of money from the treasury
to claims except upon a judicial finding.
5. That the members of the Legisla
ture shall be paid five dollars per day,;
for the period of sixty days; and be j
prohibited from appropriating to them
selves any additional sum for protract- j
ed sessions, or for extra or adjourned !
sessions beyond sixty days in the year.!
6. That no subordinate officer shall
be appointed in either branch, or re
ceive any compensation for services,
unless a bill shall have been passed by
both branches creating the office and
defining its duties.
7. That no bill of any kind shall pass
either branch without receiving a ma
jority of the whole vote on a call of
the yeas and nays.
"It would be most expensive reform,"
answer the quibblers who, unwilling
to meet the issue squarely, wish to de-
WK-the (Jay of the effectual reckoning
£osjEnet£eople. We answer thatitwould
he vastly economical. The whole cost
of a legislature consisting of five hun
dred members and the necessary officers,
under the foregoing provisions, would
not be as much as our present legisla
ture costs-with but one hundred and thir
ty-three members, asd there would be
the incalculable advantage of the arrest
of the profligate appropriation of mon
ey for any and every purpose that will
pay the lobby; and in addition to the
ad van tages of saving the jaihlic treasure,
it would secunMionest legislators for
two reasons:
1. It would place the legislature be
yond the control of lobbyists because of
its numbers, and would arrest the
"snaking" through of bills m a slim
house and without a recorrf of each
man's vote. In a few of the New Eng-
each town (corresponding
tolir townships,) sends a member of
the legislature. Th us thepopuktr branch
of the Massachusetts legislature num
bers several hundred, although the
State has not half our population, nora
tithe of our commercial, mineral or ag
ricultural interests to foster or care for.
In such legislatures corruption is un
known. The body is too large for the
lobby to control, and it doeg not blot
the history of that State as it does in our
mighty Commonwealth—still mighty
in spite of the vampyres who batten
upon her in the name of guardians.
2. It would bring the representative
into immediate relations with, and di
rect responsibility to, his constituents.
If Franklin county elected four repre
sentatives instead of half of two, each
district would be composed of several
townships, and the People would have
personal knowledge of the man they
elect, and he could not err in ascertain
ing their wishes upon any question.
He could not plead, as do faithless men
now, that some interests in a remote
part of his district demanded his be
trayal of other interests, and thus cloak
his shame. There would be direct and
positive responsibility from each mem
ber to his own people, and they could
not be deceived, nor would theyexcuse
a disregard of their wishes. It would
call to our Legislature a different class,
of men. Intelligent farmers and busi
ness men could afford to go, as there
would bo only general legislation to
enact, and the sessions could rarely ex
ceed thirty to forty days, instead of
from three to four months, as now, de
voted to passing half a score of general
laws and a thousand of a private char
acter.
Unless the People of Pennsylvania
adopt this remedy they must continue to
be at the mercy of corruptipnists. jvh
■matter what parly is in power, the same
disgraceful history is written. It cannot
be done by proposing constitutional
amendments in the legislature. That
would require two years even if it were
possible to effect the reform through
that channel. But will the votaries of
plunder write their own just history
and open their own tombs ? They may
profess to proffer a reform, but it will
come with all the reservations, most
plausibly covered, that the lobby de
sires. Let the people demand a Con
vention. The Legislature can author
ize a vote in June next, adjourn to meet
after the returns are officially received,
and provide for choosing delegates to
the Convention at the regular election
lin October next. No matter which of
the two great parties should carry the
Convention, substantial Reform would
come, for no man would venture to run
on any ticket in opposition to it. Ad
monished by the People, as they would
be, in the overwhelming success of the
most earliest Reform members, the end
of shameless debauchery in our places
of power would be triumphantly attain
ed.
—Will the press speak? It is the
outer sentinel of popular liberty and
safety, and cannot be silent but by com
plicity with crime. Will the People
speak? It is their cause; it involves
their interests, their honor, their boast
ed fabric of free government, and they
can be indifferent only to become piti
able suicides!
We have deemed it proper to give
place to the aboye excellent article
from the pen of Mr. McClure, that our
readers may learn what a leading and
influential opponent thinks of the dan
gers which beset us in our State Gov
ernment. Many of theargumentswill
strike the reader as unanswerable, and
the earnestness with Wffich they are
enforced, show that the writer feels
keenly the necessity of a radical re
form.
Whether Mr. McClure is jult the
proper person to conduct to success the
sweeping reform that he proposes,
there are some matters in his political
career that may well raise a doubt.
When a man assumes the lofty role of
a political reformer, certain rare moral
traits are requisite. He should possess,
above all things, an enthusiasm that
reverses and defeat can only stimulate.
He should be a man incapable of sacri
ficing the rights of a minority for the
sake of a partizan triumph. There
should linger about him no suspicion
that under a pretended zeal for the
public, he is cloaking disappointed am
bition or wounded self love. He who
would a great popular reform
movement, should be as pure, unselfish
and chivalrous as one of the middle
age knights who, wltn#n>
his mistress woven in his sword knot,
i
defended her to the death. §uch a he
ro is sadly needed to drive off the har
, pies that hover atfout the capitol at
! Harrisburg.
For several years, rumor with her
i thousand tongues, has associated the
name, of the author of the article in
, question with much of the evil which
i has existed at Harrisburg since the ad
vent of the Know Nothing Legisla
ture of 1800. We know how easy a
matter it is for slahder and the envy of
defeated rivals to make the accusations
of which Mr. McClure has been so fre
quently the victim. In the tainted at
mosphere that has for years surround
ed the capital, it was impossible that a
man of his mark should escape detrac
tion, the cry being often started by the
gang that infested the lobby after find
ing that their victim was proof against
their blandishments or their bribes.
But this irrelevancy apart, there is
another accusation against him, which
resting upon more substantial founda
tions affects more nearly his character
as a reformer. no other man in the
State are the Democracy more indebt
ed for the unjust and grossly partial
apportionment that has been made in
Pennsylvania. While thoughtful and
earnest men in America, as well as in
England, were anxiously seeking for
remedies to protect the minority,
while these efforts of statesmen can
not have failed to attract the attention
of so watchful an observer, we find him
in the Pennsylvania Legislature, using
j all the means that partizan ingenuity
I could devise and the unscrupulous
power of the majority could apply, to
deprive the Democratic party of the
rights to which their numbers entitled
them and in which they were guaran
teed by the Constitution. By bis in
fluence Bedford county is defrauded of
a separate representation, being tied to
Somerset to give the party to which
he belongs two members. Instances
can be multiplied all over the State,
to show the utter wantonness with
which, under the lead of Mr. McClure,
the rights of the minority were tram
pled upon, so that in Pennsylvania,
with a popular vote standing, in round
numbers, 300,000 Republican and 285,-
000 Democratic (the scale so evenly
balanced that it might readily decline
either way) the Republicans have man
aged to secure nearly two-thirds of the
Legislature. To him, then, belongs
the grievous fault that so much of the
bad material of which he complains,
lias been precipitated upon the Legis
lature ; and we must say that it is a
had start for a political reformer. No
wonder that he shrinks back appalled
from the consequences of his own work;
Like the bewildered magician in East
ern legend, who released the genie
from the vase sealed with the seal of
Solomon, in which he was confined, he
now calls upon the people to drive from
the Capital the harpies whom he had
let loose. Had he and those who fol
lowed him, maintained the Constitu
tion, and had they shown a proper re
gard for the rights of a minority, they
would not now be red uced to this ex-
tremity.
The author of that paper must not
complain, then, if people manifestsome
caution in accepting his propositions,
no matter how plausible they may
seem. They have some reasonable
ground for making inquiry whether
his present course is dictated by a zeal
ous, sincere and patriotic desire for re
form, or whether it is inspired in the
heart of a partizan suffeiing the pangs
of baffled ambition and wounded self
love. In the very paper which we
quote, he cannot conceal the track of
the demagogue, in telling the farmers
and business men that his scheme will
send them to the Legislature, instead
of the kind of men that have been
heretofore elected! There must be
some reform wrought in the constitu
encies before it can have q very saluta
ry effect upon the Legislature. And
there are some people who thi ik that
under Mr. McClure's plan, those who
ply the trade of bribery will only have
to get smaller change for their bills!
If the Convention is to be called, it is
not likely that the representation will
be upon a different basis than that of
the Legislature, and the Democracy
will not have the influence to which
they are entitled. We hope that Mr.
McClure and those whoagree with him
in the Legisluture, will demand such an
apportionment of delegates as shall
give to every county in the State at
least one member, so that there may be
the fullest and freest deliberation in re
gard to important and organic changes
in the government. If thisis not done
we shall have little hope of any good
VOL „i.—WHOLE No. 5,379.
f i results mi this Convention; for, it
, will then remain in thesame hands and
. be manipulated by the same men who
. control the Legislature.
; I There Is no' reason why the reform
movement should halt at the point ip
■ dicated in this article. Let the Con
i vention, when it shall meet, make a
I clean sweep of all the offices 011 "the
i Hill." The Attorney General, State
Treasurer and Secretary of State should
be elected by the people. The office of
Surveyor General, (which is only a ref
uge for political rats) should be abol
ished, and, with a clerk and draftsman,
attached to the State Department . The
people can better select an office to take
of the public funds than the Leg
islature, which makes a mere job of it;
and the people can select a cabinet for
the Governor as judiciously as that of
ficial can do it. Some of these reforms
can be made, we are aware, without
the action of a Convention. But let
the reform be sweeping and thorough,
and in that hope we are prepared to
second the call for a Convention.
'* .
A DEFEASE OF CRISiOLISF.
The London Court Journal recently
published the following observations on
crinoline which shows, although there
has been a reduction in size, the good
qualities of the style are still acknowl
edged :
"No beauty of form or splendor of
material in costume can compensate for
manifest inconvenience to the wearer.
No dress is sanctioned by good taste
which does not permit, and seem to
permit, tne easy performance of any
movement proper to the wearer's age
and condition in life; for it defies the
very first law of the mixed arts—fitness.
Form is the most important element of
the absolute beauty of dress, as it is of
all arts that appeal to the eye. The lines
of costume should in every part conform
to those of nature, or be in harmony
with them. We must, therefore, regard
as the elementary requisites of all dress,
that it be comfortable and decent, con
venient and suitable, beautiful in form
and color, simple, harmonious
with nature and itself. The taste for
the very wide, full skirts and large ju
pons, which has so long prevailed, is
now beginning to decline; and ladies
distinguished for their good taste are
adopting a moderate style of crinoline.
Many persons are apt to run into ex
tremes at the least indication ofa change
in fashion, but nothing can be a greater
error. Fashion, as we have hinted,
changes by almost imperceptible de
grees, in accordance with the progress
of public taste; and every new style
which is introduced must, to become
successful, be an improvement on those
which preceded it. It is, therefore, lu
dicrous to see a few ladies who have
quite discarded the jupon without mod
ifying the form of their skirt, thus leav
ing the dress to trail on the ground,
and form very ungraceful folds. Obser- j
rations on Crinoline, Adley Bourne, No. j _
117 Piccadilly. The following remarks !'
on the subject of crinoline are extracted
from various French periodicals; 'ls j<
the reign of crinoline over? No —de- > 1
cidedly no; it has only changed its ; 1
form. More elegant and moderate in j
its proportions, it is now more than ev- ! (
er indispensable to an elegant toilet. '
—La Revue des modes , September 1866.
'Crinoline is not dead; it is modified.—
Figuro , October, 1866. 'Crinoline re
tains its proportions, having, in an im- (
proved form, obtained a new lease from
fashion.' — La Revue des Salons de Paris, '
October, 1866. 'Even muslin skirts '
must be upheld by crinoline; the new s
shape, though hardly noticeable, must 1
form the basis of all tasteful toilets. If s
some of the old forms of crinoline were 1
absurd, how much more absurd to rush *
into the opposite extreme of limp, in
elegant discomfort.'— J [usee des Fam- (
illes, October, 1866. "'Tomorrow,' - we
are always told, "crinoline goes out of *
fashion ;" that to-morrow will be long A
coming.'— Petit Courrier des Dames , Oc- .
tober 6, 1866. 'No modest woman 1
should venture into the streets of Paris
on foot without crinoline.'— Revue Illus
tree, October 8, 1866. \
You CAN'T CATCH IT.—YOU can't
catch it, boys or girls. You may be as
fleet of foot as the antelope, or you may
fly as on the wings of an eagle, but you
can't overtake it.
Cannot overtake what?
The bad word which has passed your
lips! It has fled to heaven, and writ
ten itself upon the book of God. You
can't catch it.
The wicked deed you performed! It
soared to the judgment, and wa# stere
otyped on the memory of the Judge.
You can't catch it.
The sinful thought you indulged! Its
image was caught by the light of God's
eye, and photographed on the roll of
your history. You can't catch it.
Beware, then, O my children, what
you think, what you do, what you
say.
WHEN you see a man on a corner on
a moonlight night, trying to convince
his own shadow that it is improper to
follow a gentleman, you ihay set him
down as a sign for a whiskey shop.
WHEN Sheridan taught school,- he
had in one class a boy who always read
partridges for patriarchs. "Stop," ex
claimed Sheridan, "you shall not make
game of the patriarch?."
HOI)EBX DICTIONARY.
Witter—A-clear fluid, once used as a
! drinkj
Honesty—An excellent joke.
Rural Felicity—Potatoes and turn
ips.
Tongue—A little that is contin
ually running awayf^V
Dentist—One who finds work for his
own teeth by taking out those of other
people.
My Dear—An expression used by
man and wife aHfcpt*Wmm<*ficeraentof
a quarrel.
Policem^— A man employed by the
corporation 1o in the open air.
Bargain—A ludicrous transaction, in
which each party thinks he cheated the
other.
Doctor—A man who kills you to-day
to save you from dying to-morrow.
Author—A dealer in words, who of
ten gets paid in his own coin.
Friend—A person who will not assist
you before he knows your love will ex
cuse him.
Editor —A poor wretch who empties
his brains in order to till his stomach.
Wealth—the most respectable quality
of men.
Bonnet—The female head dress for
the front seats of the opera.
Esquire—Everybody yet nobody,
equal to Colonel.
Wisdom ami Wit. —A representa
tive, in his maiden speech on the floor
of Congress, in reply to an opponent,
by his telling hits and witty speeches
and puns, kept the house in a roar of
laughter for nearly halfanhour,closing
amid quite a demonstration of appro
bation, and, as he thought, with great
success. What was his astonishment,
after having received the congratula
tions of several friends at the close of
the day's proceedings, to be greeted by
Mr. Benton, who, taking him aside,
said:
"Sir, I have your speech. I
have been here This is
your first session. Will you permit me
to give you a bit of advice?"
"Certainly, sir," was the
shall feel honored by your coun^^kf'
"Well, sir," said Mr.
speech was exceedingly brilliapt; it
sparkled with wit; it was
laughed heartily at it; but never do
such a thing here again if you wish to
advance as a statesman or a politi
cian."
"What!" said the astonished debu
tant, "never make a speech?"
"No, sir, but don't make people
laugh," replied Benton.
"Not make people laugh, Mr. Benton!
Why it requires some genius to make a
witty speech."
"True, sir, but the public has a poor
appreciation of genius. Youraustgain
a reputation for wisdom, not wit. You
can gain a refutation for wisdom .in
Congress by not speaking a single word
during the session."
"A reputation for wisdom?"
"Certainly. Sit still and look wise.
Mankind is prone to reverence the sol
emn ass!"
Jury—Twelve prisoners in a box to
try one or more at the bar.
State's Evidence—A wretch who is
pardoned for being baser than his com
rades.
Public Abuse—The mud with which
every traveler is spattered on the road
to destruction.
Modest—A beautiful flower that
flourishes in secret places.
Lawyer—A learned gentleman who
rescues your estate from your enemy
and keeps it himself.
The Grave—An ugly hole in the
ground which lovers and poets wish
they were in, but take uncommon
means to keep out of.
Money—The god of the nineteenth
century.
OUR little four-year old Carrie went
with her aunt to a revival meeting.—
The preacher was very earnest in his
delivery, and she was much interested.
"Mother," said she, when she came
home, "I heard such a smart minister,
he stamped and pounded, and made
such a noise! and by-and-by, he got so
mad he came out of the pulpit and
shook his fist at the folks, and there
wasn't anybody dared to go up and
fight him."
- i .
"WHY, doctor," said hjjpdck lady,
"you are giving me the samCfmedicine
that you are giving to my husband—
why is that?" "All right," replied
the doctor, "what is sauce for the goose
is sauce for the gander."
WE once heard of a very rich man
who was badly injured by his being
run over. "It isn't the accident," said
he, "that 1 mind, that isn't the thing,
but the idea of being run over with an
infernal swill cart makes me mad."
"FIGGERS won't lie, will they?"
muttered a seedy genius, holding on to
a lamp-post.
"Well, perhaps they won't; but I's a
figgeras won't stand, anyhow."
IT has been discovered that Othello
had a legal as well as a military office
in Venice. He wasa-tawny.general.
DON'T argue with a man who has
been in the penitentiary. He is past
conviction.
WHEN have married people passed
through the alphabetoflove? When
they reach the ba-be.
FARMERS say they cannot well do
without a fine rain now and then, be
i-ause it is so much mist.
THE speaker who took the floor,
has since been arrested for stealing lum
ber.
W IIEN is a vessel smaller than a bon
net? When it is cap-sized.
A wife's farewell to her husband on
his going out—Buy, by.