BY DAVID OVER. From the Louisville Journal. OTHER DAYS. A dream of tbe past, confused aud dim, Lust night was round my heart, And I saw again the passing years Like a visioo of iove depart; But the stranger-star in its lofty sphere, With its wing spread eastward bright and clear Shone like the son in a brilliant tear. In the midcight dream once more I saw The friends of early days ; Friends that I loved before I knew Life's varied and shadowy ways ; Friends whoso hearts were as real and true To me as the sun to the far off blue, Aud I loved this dream confused and dim As I iove the notes of some half-heard hymn. Aud I heard again tho signing of wind As it signed long; long, ago, When it passad through the yellow leaves in fall Musical, soft and low ; And the r*vea perched on the same dead limb With giisr'ning eye and neck stretched slim, is tbe same 1 saw there in those years When Hope made rainbews o'er our tears. It seems a long and weary path To tread the kills of life. To walk the varied vales of earth With their pleasures and pain* aud strife; But with pleasures now we fain look back, To the Fast life's sunny and shady track 1 , And dreams of the Past make as sweet a spell As tlie music oi waves or an ocean shell. There are none 'hat bavc never felt the touch Of sorrow's dark-hued wing, And there are none but in dark hours Will to some bright hope cling ; And thus with sorrow, joy and strife, We pass through the shade and shine of life Til!, like the sun's last ray at even, Our spirts pass to the far-off heaven. PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF WASHINGTON IRVING AN ESS.4T Head before (be Bedford Lyceum, Jan. 11, 1860. * BT r>R C. N. HICKOK. CORRESPONDENCE. BEDFORD, Jan. 17th, iS6O. Dr. Hickok, Dear Sir : The Bedford Lycum, through their committee, request tbe favor of a copy of the essay, read by you before that body, on the eveniDg of the 14th inst., for publication, being satisfied, that to render it as popular with the community 3s it is among the members of said Lyceum, it is only necessary to lay it before them. Respectfully vours, &c., O. H. GAITHEE. T. LYTT. LYON, J. COMPIIER, Committee. BEDFORD. Jan.l7, 1860. Gentlemen: 1 herewith send you the paper, you have honored me by asking for, Yours trulv, C. N. HICKOK. To O. 11. GatTUER, Esq. Mr. T. L. LYON, J. COMPHER, M. D. 1; was something to have seen rho "Father of Lis country." It is from no weakness, of intellect, neither is it evidence that ago has pissed again into childhood, that the venerable citizen—the relic of a bygone generation, loves to repeat his oft told memory of the "great ard good," and to tell with pride and pleasure of the time when he taiked face to face with Washington. It is an honest pride and does honor to tho veteran patriot's heart. The day has come, when be may deem him. ; 'f fortunate who has seen the "Father of his 4 ountry's literaturewhen be may no: bo ■bought weak nor vain, who rejoices in the honor, that he has conversed with the great analogy of our Washington—our Irving. Wfa> so unfortunate, that he feels not the rtdies for the heritage of glory, bequeathed in common to Columbia's sons, by the great leader of our Country's anus, in that strife which hum bled oar haughty trans-atlantic foe? Shall he be deemed less unfortunate, who sees not, nor ap nreoiates, the honor every American shares, in b.ing tbc countryman of bim, who in the Held o( Literature, has conquered with his immortal pen, and his written there in blazing charac ters, the answer to tbe proud European ques 'too, "what great author has America produ ced ?" Shall any one so dishouor himself as to toy, 1 am not proud to be the coontrymau of Washington Irving ? 'Tis said that when Irving was three or four years of age, bis nurse was one day walking with Lim, on a street in New York, when she saw Washington, then in the zenith of his glory p<ss them and enter the shop of au artizan.— She cooid nut resist the wish that the great Washington should see the child. She waited at the door until be was passing out when she "aid to bitn "your honor this little hoy is called lor you," Washington paused, and asked his name p then with solemnity, such as be longed only to bim, he laid bis band upou the air Laid of the child, and said, "may God A Weekly Paper, Devoted to Literature, Politics, the Arts, Sciences, Agriculture, &c., &c—Terms: Que Dollar and Fifty Cents in Advance. Almighty bless the lad." Washington's bless ing ! What an inheritance ! And who shall say that the good man's benediction, followed not tho toy—the youth—the niau ? Who so sceptical as to hazard the opinion, that the benison uttered by bim from whose lips never passed a trifling word, was not interwoven in the after life of the h ppy child, and passed into the fabric of his destiny, as the warp interlaces with the woof?— Who, but lie whose Almighty blessing, was invoked upon the hoy, can tell how that blessing like a guardian angel, all anseen, led tho career of the future man , a career, glorious in the world of letters —in the universe of high and noble thought, as tho caieer of the great tuau for whom ho was named, was sublime and glorious, in the world of arms—iu the uuiverso of great and mighty deeds? Wbo, but Itt who sees the end from the beginning, could have foreseen now those great stars, in their country's tirmanont, would, though set in different fields of glory, shine, the Blessed, with a lustre, so much the coun terpart of the Blessing? How gloriously pure -their light!— Washington, the Hero of many Miles ; unstained with one drop of biood in wautonooss spilt—Washington, the statesman, the ruler ; yet guiltless of tho statesman's and the ruler's ambitions and crimes and intrigues. I Well might the bard of Britain and of Greece, j himself alas, a mighty meteor, flashing, but with baleful light exclaim, e "Where may tbe wearied eye repose When gazing on the great, Where neither guilty glory glows, Nor despicable state, Tea, one, the first, the last, the bast, TheCincinnatns of the west, Whom eovy dated not hate, Bequeathed the name of Washington, To make man blush, there was but one." Well merited was tire tribute, ami how ap propriately eould it be paraphrased to spp'y to •Irving, the author of many books. Who, that has gathered garlands from the fields of secular literature for more thau a half century;, can produce a record so unstained by toy unwhole some (bought, a is his. Pure as his own life were his writing#; not one thought—-did either of bis many volumes contain, that dying, he could have wished unwritten. No covcrtapology for vice; no cavil at truth; no scoff at virtue; oo dangerous opinion; no pernicious, demoral izing sentiment, found auihorship in biin. Oth ers have penned great thoughts; but how often are their great thoughts coupled with the baae ? Others have written beautiful things, but haw often are their beautiful things, stained and shadowed by conceptions of hi-leous deformity? Full many there are who have written, and the world in lrenzy of admiration, has fallen down to worship at tho shrine of their transcendent genius; but of hew few of them cau it he said, "the pearls they gathered from the deeps of the unbounded ocean flood of mitia," were pure, as brilliant? From the "Bard of Avon's" pen, not always flowed au nncorrupted stream. The muse of Ayr, not always brought in puri'y, hor strains to him, who struck immortal notes on Scotia's lyre. The Larp of hitn, who waked the plantive melody of Erio, and sang the impassioned lays of Persia and of Araby the Blest, was notalwuys tuned to virtue; sndoven the King of minstrelsy and of rcmauee—tbe sage of Abbotsford. regretted, dying, that some things be had written could not be recalled. Not so with the author of the "Sketch Book." He was great io genius; but it was tbo simplicity and purity of bis character, more rbiu bis genius, that drew around hiiu at alt times a Lost of loving frieuds. It was the imparution cf that pure and simple character, that gave to his writings thoir greatest charm. How appropriate that he should be compared to Washington; How deserving of Lis name; How worthy of his blessing; and how beauti ful, and still how wonderful, that after a long career of lienor, {to which ho was, providen tially, by early reverses directed) honor not only tn Lis own land, but world-wide; ho should close that career, by linking their two immortal names together, and crown his own fame by recording that of tbe ilius'rious man, whoso name ha bore; and as if to carry the analogy beyond the limit of time, like Wash ington he laid aii his trophies upon the altar of a living faith, and died as he had lived, a "Christian gentleman." But I have digressed from the intention of this paper. Personal recollections are apt to savor too much of the first person singular: Tbe Ego and meus, are geueraliy offensively predominant; yet how otberwiso can they be written ? I'll make tbo venture, for I have seen; 1 have talked with Washington Irving. I ueed not tell, how the generous humor of Diedrick Knickerbocker charmed me; (they who have read him appreciatively will understand me,) nor how 1 pored over tbe " Sketch Book," uutil its author had won my boy heart; (for a boy I first read it, and I'm a boy again when I read it now, and 1 loved Lira for bis fuu first (fuu's the big gate to a boy's heart) and then for bis pathos) nor how 1 dreamed in the dream laud of " Sleepy Hollow ," sympathized with, and laughed at lchabod Crane— imagined each thunder shower, that "old Hendrick Hudson aufi his jolly crew," wero again at their game of nine pins: ilejoioed at the escape, poor, hen pecked Rips Van Winkle's long nap, gave him, from the tongue of his termagant wife.—Wept at the heart melting story ot the 44 Widow and her son;" nor how my mirthful and my martial spirit ran mad races with each other, at toe re cital of the valarous deeds of Hard Koppig Prtet end Rising the bold, at the "battle of the Mauhattoes:—nor how I waudered in imagina tion amid the enchantments of the Alhambra. Enough to say, I felt as every one feels, who cau read his genial, noble heart, mirrored in his ; books; —I know huu in spirit, but 1 long wish ed to see the man, and tuy wish wis grati fied. During a few days, io tbe early part of July, eighteen hundred and fift j-eigbt, I was cf a kind New York friend, whose country seat BEDFORD. PA., FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1860 lies adjacent to Irving'* Sunnyside. Tho gen tleman to whom I allude, was an intimate as sociate of Mr. Irving'*, since one of his pall bearers. On Sunday, July fourth, I accompa nied the family of my friend to servico at their place of worship, Christ's Church, Tarrytowo, of which both he and Mr. Irving were vestry men. After the conclusion of the Order of Morning prayer, the venerable rector announc ed a collection for the poor; and as the vestry men were waiting on the congregation, tor their contribution*, the son of my friend directed my attention to one of them, and whispered, "that is Mr. Irving." My eye followed hiui, as he passed up the aisle and laid the day's gifts, witbiu tbe chancel, and turned to go to his pew. I was disappointed; not in the faee; it was the same handsome, intellectual, thought-beaming countenance, I bad seen in nis portraits, taken in bis manhood's prime; though older, and I thought, touched with a shade of sadness. But my fancy had given him a tail, imposing form, wLcreas be was not ahoveluedium height, slight ly bent, and somewhat iuclioed to corpulency; and his mein was not as I had deemed it, ma jestic; but humble, though dignified, and 1 thought beneath the stained light of the sacred place, full of reverence. When next I saw him, it was in a different scene, on the evening of the fifth there was a festive gatheiing, and a display of fire works, at the villa of a New York merchant, resideut iu tho neighborhood. The scene was oue of gaiety and of grandeur. The palace, (for it is a regal edifice,) stands on a high elevation, over looking the Hudson. The lawn in front secured a peifect feu dt joie and in ail direc tions for many miles, on either side of the river for hours, the night was illuminated by rockets and other pygrotecnic displays,sent off from the towns and villages and country scats, and to one unacoustomed to such scenes, it ecciiioJ tbe enchantment of fairy land. It was here i nad the honor of beiug presented to Mr. Irving.— He was surrounded upon all sides, the centre of attraction to in my anxious to couverse with him, and I did little else but look and listen; but, it was something worth, to look and listen there. 1 shall long remember it, neither shall 1 sood forget his warm shake of the baud, aDd his cordial good night, as we parted from hitu to go home. .The next day I visited scenes made classic ground by the touch of his magic pen—tire place of Andre's capture; Sleepy Hollo#; The old dutch church, with its gruve yard and quaiut epitaphs ; —Roamed over the hills, and bathed in the Tappan Zee, and towards even ing of the next, with a friend, strolled over to Sunnysidc. As we approached tho antique edifice, we observed through the opeo window, that tbe family were at dinner ; so wo continu ed our walk, though the grounds, and on to the adjoining grounds, of Mr. txnnDell and whiied away a half hour, looking at the objects of in terest—tbe beautiful vistas ; th 6 rustic bridges, the grotesque statues, the mtuiature lake-, the uiiujtc waterfalls; and returning, found Mr. Irving with his brother and the ladies of his household—his neices, sitting iu the open air ou the veranda mid beneath the trees. Mr. Irving roso to meet us, and in reply to a remark, that we had taken the liberty of trespassing upon bis domain, he said "all, even strangers, feel at liberty to corns here, then oertaioly we should make our friends welcome." Knowing how precious wis his time, and how persecuted ho was with admiring visitors, wo tarried but a iittle wltilo in comiuou placed conversation, making no reference to the fact, that he btd even written a book, for my frieud knew, id I had heard, how such allusions annoyed bin.. After bidding tho family good evening, we lingered oo the lawn, to take a last look at the beautiful Tappan Zoo, spread out beneath the setting summer's sun, like a lake of luMteu gold :—ooco more looked at the old mansion of Suunyside (immortalized by its great owner as ■'Wolfert's Roost") with its quaint battlements, and ivy, covered roofs; its arched portal and ancient weathercock ; (the same that of yore graced the old "Stadt Haus" at Albany) stop ped to view the oid English park gateway with its vine covered stone pillars, taking from it as a memento of my visit, a leaf of a scion of the Abbotsford Ivy, brought by Irving from Eng land; and we were beyond the precincts made sacred by the residence and touch of one of America's greatest sous, —oertaiuly her greatest author. It is past, but I shall not be (bought weak nor vaiD, by those who appreciate the groat genius, and great heart of Irving, that I have dwelt with pleasure on the houor 1 enjoyed, in having pressed his band, and listened to his voice. That hand is cold ; that voice is bush ed iu death ; but that voice will never bo silent while tauie lasts—that hand has inscribed his among "The bright, immortal names That were not born to die*" While his own Hudson rolls its mighty tide to the oceau, Lis memory must live ; He dies to earth, but it is to add another star to the bright galaxy of those, who have reached forth and seized an immortality. Tbe cattle of Deacon Johnston's neighbors kept getting into his pasture. The pasture was bad enough for the deacou's cattle, and was mighty poor f :ed for other people's, when they sought to share it. Doaooa Johnson had tried, with his hired man, to keep them out, and couldn't, and at last Fat said, with a scratch of hie head: "I'll tell you, Mr. Johnston, how you can be after getting shut of thim beggarly cows that couio here tbaviug their feed." "And how shall we do that tiling, Pat?" "Why, sir, whin they git in agin, just let [ us go and put up the tinces "and kape them in, j and my word fur it, they'll all starve to death I in a week, sir /" From the .V. Y. Sunday Times. The *!are Wife, or the Sudden Due), At the close of the Mexican war, the city of Browttsyille, on the Tex in bank of the Rio Grand river, and immediately opposito to Mat amoras, sprung op suddenly, as if by magic, and developed the full growth of an urban community within the courso of a few months. This singular flow of emigration and rapid ad vancement in business was the result of this living spirit of American enterprise, the com mercial-passion of a restless people, eager alike for glory and gain. Among the many adventurer* who swarmed to tho Rio Grand in the first prime of its golden promise, was a young lawyer, one Wil liam Parks, recently from South Carolina.— Although descended from an an ancient line of ancestors, and bearing io bis veins the blood of tho Revolution, and having received a classics! education, yet bis father's vices having squandered an iiumenso fortune, the son was left poor, to tight the fiercest battle of life, relying altogether o his own resources, without hope of uid or comfort from kindred or friends. Nature had endowed him with a ban borne person, excellent judguieut and true I courage. On nfriviog at his new sphere of action, j youug Parks encountered an unexpected diffi culty. He discovered that there was very little lucrative business transacted in the court, and this had already Fallen into the hands ( ot a few advocates, who managed adroitly to mo nopolise every case of the smallest importance. It was evidently impossible to sit down and patiently wait uotii matters would mend by tbe doubtful evolutions of time or chance.— The price of board and lodging were dear, and ins wardrobe needed renovation even be !>r he was permitted to appear in the fornm at all. In this crisis of his fate, he conceive 1 a plan thai looked in tb light of reason wild aud visionary. He sold off his books at auc tion, and with tbe proceeds opened a gafden, within a mile of the city, for supplying, the market with vegetables, whiffi h.pffcnej at that period to be extremely scarce, as the na tives of the soil wanted both the will and the wisdom to (urn the rich alluvial of the' Soil to any account. As the experiment flourished, and Mexican labor was very cheap, the Ax-a-t --torney urged bis operations still further, atid tlie Amis gardes soon expanded sate a field.— To sum up the general result in a single sen tence, the end of three years found him uot enly independent, but wealthy. Having .-.massed sufficient fortuue *o satisfy bis desires, he thought of selling out, and re turning agaiu to tbe profession which ho had been forced to abandon, when an incident oc curred to change his purpose. A family by the name of Garcia, assumed to he of Fpaui.>i Origin, arrived iu Brownsville, from New Or ' 'cans. 'J'hey were apparently in affluent cir i outuatanoes, intelligent, polished ia their uiati ! ut-rs, and remarkably handsome in their per sons. They were all dark featured, as is Com monly the fact with the race from which they claimed their descent, indeed, they made it a matter of boast that a slight tincMic,; of Moor ish blood colored the current in tio.ir veins.— Wealth possesses a golden key to unlock the most exclusive doors, and beauty has the force of fire to uielt the hardest heart —so that tho new addition to the society of the Rio Grande, a s one might well imagine, caused tbe utmost enthusiasm, and was hailed as an era in the bistorv of frontier life. ' There was one member of this eoutely bousc- I hold who immediately became an especial fa i vorite in the community, and drew tho adrni , ring attention of every observer by the powers 'of her unspeakable loveliness. May Garcia ; was one of those rare combinations of gracc : ful form, luminous features, and spiritual ex : pression, that resembles the faultless ideas of ' imagination, or the radiant pictures of perfec tion which glitter ia tho bright dreams of early < youth, rather than tho shapes of flesh ar.d ! blood that breathed common air and mingled with the things of earth. Her small, regular | exquisite face, revealed a complexiou some- I what dark in its tiuts, but literally translucent, where the warm blood could be seen spreading I its rich, rosy suffusion-like unfading blush of uuiden modesty. Iler eyes of the deepest ; jot, appeared to swim in a sea of light—wild, waving and mixed with liquid fire, lier long, j dark bair flowed freely arouud a bust and bos ! otn of indescribable symmetry. Bother voice I possessed Ibe most marvellous fascination of all. It was clear, silvery and ringing, with a gontlo cadence in its tone, at the fall of each i sentence, like the lisping murmur of soft wiDds ■ among the pine lop 9. Females of any description were scarce in , the community, and this beautiful creature, who seemed to have dropped from the clouds, before the end of six mouths, had refused half a hun . drcd offers. However the little boy called Cu , pid, who searches out every fair form as a mark i for his flaming arrows, found this beautiful one ! at last. In company with a number of young persons she paid a visit of mere curiosity to the famous flower garden, and fell in love, at first sight, with the handsome proprietor, who responded to her affection with equal ardor. The fruits of their union within three years were a son and a daughter, who, as a matter of oourse, became tlje idols of their fond mother and father —for it sceius to he-trgeneral, if not psycholo gies! law thafchuman parents love thair children in proportion to their passionate tenderness for eaeb other. A charming white cottage w8 tLeir home in the flower garden, and the busi ness of the bappy agriculturist prospered mere than ever, so that with the addition of the am ple fortune brongbt iuto matffiinpnial partner ship by bis beautiful companion he might well be considered, for that country a niau ot wealth. , One bright morning of mid summer, upon his return from a neighboring city, the gardener was astonished to find bis lovely wife in a par oxysm of tears, and evincing other tokens of the utmost terror and anguish. But all his cn troaties failed to eliott aoy explanation from his lips, except the assurance that she felt oppress ed with the dark fore shadowing of some un known aDd mysterious but dreadful danger.— However, after she became a degree more tran quil, having an affair of importance to arrange, he went to town. On hi j arrival he was accosted in tho street by a person he did (jiot recollect to have seen before. The stranger was a man of middle age, j with coarse, sinister* features, gleaming black ■ eyes, raven hair streaked with silver, and a ; massive form revealing the appearance of her-■ culean strength and agility. He was dressed in rich black cloth, cut in the latest fashion, aud profusely disfigured, rather than adorned, with gems and precious ornaments. A huge golden seal, caclosiug a costly stone, dangled i from iiis heavy watch chain, which lie twirled j incessantly with his fiugers. He spoke with a loud, brusque tone. "Mr. Parka—they say that is your name— allow me to introduce my self. lam 001. Powers, of New Ui leans, and t have visited Texas iu search of runaway slaves. 1 I am told that you harbor cheui." "Y'ou have been misinformed," replied tbe gardener, sternly. "Theie is not a slave or even a colored person on my plant ition," "No, sir, lam not mistaken. The wodisd that yu call your wife is a slave, aud was actually born iu my kitchen. Here is a bill of sale, containing the names of her father and tcother, for whose bodies I paid down tbreo thousand dollars. Tkere, you behold the se! of tbe recorder's court!" I'iie other reeled as if bo had beeu struck a terrible blow with an ifon hammer, and gasped out— "Merciful God! it cannot be so. This man must he insane, or I am dreaming!" "if you doubt my word," said he, twirling his watch chain angrily, "yonder comes old Judge Rise, who is familiar with the circumj stances, and can prove every item of my asser tions." Tlie individual alluded to, who had a member of tbe New Orleans bar for mauy years, confirmed the stranger's story in al! its partic ulars. It would be imposaibie fo give the faintest TTeaojf' Ito ifttWilY'tfwbie Agony depictured in the countenance of Mr. Parks, as the astound ing troth, with its horrible consequences, burst up-m his soul, like a flash of lurid lightning.— He turned pile a* death and staggered, as if about to fall to tbe earth; but, by a great effort: he wrestled for a minute or more with his grief, aud, conquering, became evi-leotly calm, but still pallid as a piece of white paper. "Why bas this matter been kept a secret so long?" the gardener demanded iu tones of ter rible meaning. "Was it a cunniog device to wiu gold out of iiuui.n te- rs and the blood of iunoeect hearts 1 " The Colonel, laughing with delight at the re membrance of his craff, boldiy avowed his own infamy. "Yes," he said, "I was smart. I noted how beautiful tbe slave.; were; 1 determined to make it pay to the highest figure. I had them well educated, aud made them, poor fools, think they were free. Under this impression they remov ed to tho Rio Grande. I gave them money, which ibey have increased, wi'.h more tbaa com pound inierest, and now I havoeome to get my pay for ail my trouble.'* And the unblushing villain twirled his watch chain joyously. "How much do you expect mo to pay for my wife aud children?" inquired Parks, with an awful smile. "1 must havo ten thousand dollars, besides the return of hei fortuue, aiuouutiug to as much more!" answered the Colonel, with the most business-like coolness. "Scouudrel,coward, thief, assassin! you shall never own one cent from the earnings of my years of toil!" exclaimed Parks, in a voice ot uncontrollable fury. "Mind what you sy, for 1 wili have bloody satisfaction for every insulting word you em ploy," said the Colonel, growing white with rage. "Then take it now?" shouted Parks, striking the other with such force in tbe face that he rolled on the ground. But Powers suddenly regained bis feet, and wiping the crimson streams from his mouth and nose, vociferated— "l claim motla satisfaction ou this veiv spot"' "Yes, you shall have it—here !" replied the gardner, in a vuice that resembled the wrathful yell ola deuion. Some accommodating bystanders, who had collected around the scene, proffered their services as seconds, and the terms of the duel were immediately arranged. It was settled that the two principals should each be armed with a pistol, and assuming their stations tweu ty yards apart, at the signal might stand or advance and fire, which they pleased. At the word, Parks moved calmly and stead ily, with moderate steps, towards his enemy.— The latter remained fixed as a marble statue in his position, with his arm elevated firmly, tiud his dark eye gleamed through the sights with deadly aim at his mortal tuaik. \y,hen the other arrived at the distance of ten paces, the pistol pointed at his heart, exploded with a loud roar. But lie faltered not—paused not shauged not his tturuh. Tha bullet had hit a stiver coin,which happened to be in the pocket of his vest, and that alone had saved bis life. He never stopped until bo was withiu three feet of his foe, when for the first time raising his weapon, blew out the Colonel's brains. Parks, with his family, and ail the Garcias, tha next day removed into Mexico whero they yet reside. VOL. 33, NO. 5. SCHOOL HATTERS. SATURDAY TEACHING. Walls of brass resist Dot A noble in. 1 ertiking*nor can vjce Haise any bulwark to make good a placa Where virtue seeks to outer. — Fletcher. "Saturday Teaching'?" Yes, Saturday Teaching. lam loth to resume it. Jt is not the first time that I have felt my best feelings revolt at it. It soon shall be thß last time! Saturday Teaching! "Flee from the wrath to come," and shun it, as the evil and misguided wretch shuns justice ! "Flee from the wrath to come," for come it must, if Saturday Teach ing is persisted iu. Dot us see ! "A bow always fcont, is never 5t for use." Never was wisd>m and philosophy couched in less words. The mind, like the muscular de velopment of man, must have rest, must have recreation, llow soon does the physical force of youth become exhausted. The least possi ble exertion, persisted in, incapacitates it, and brings pain the most excruciating, to the ex erted physical power. The mind partakes of the same nature as tic body. When exerted to any material extent, and the exertion main tained, it becomes weak and dull, and the matter which it is required to infuse, becomes stale and insipid. Many persons experience this doctrine so palpably, that they endeavor to dispose of all metaphysical exertions, im mediately after risiag in the morning, while "tba head," as they assert, "is clear, and not encumbered aud weakened by over taxation. Put the pupil into a schoolroom on Monday morning, continuo Lim six hours, which con sumes almost the entire day, at least withiu two or ibree hours of it, and these six hours, in connection with the labor which he has to perform, reduces the amount cf time allowed for recreation within the slight cotnpess of one aud a half hotrr3 per nay; let this system ba practised until the close of the week, or Satur day evening, and tLe tyhole anicuDt of time allowed for recreation, would ba reduced to nine, or In nine cut of efeby ten esses, to less than uine hours. There is not one man in fifty, but experi ences in ore recreation than is allowed by our system for the child. We know the playful disposition of youth. It must have vent, no one will pretend to deny this; and no oae will pretend to dcCy that it is essential to health ouJ happiness. Happiness should bo as much consulte iID the pupil's behalf as health.— Who will undertake to deny, that one week's constant attendance in a school room will ex- haust every f .cult?, and weaken the system to such an extent as to miku a visible impression. If this can be done iu one week, what conse quences will be produced by a persistence in this evil? Why, peor, weak, decrepid, emaci ated creatures, that, under proper drill, might be induced to crawl through a greased whistle, are the result. But says a friend :o Saturday teaching, "I am sure they have Sunday to themselves." Bah! Sunday is the Lord's Day, ond children with their parents attend CLurch or Sabbath School, thus miking seven days in a week at school. Sunday is not the day to play at ball, catcher, aud the thousand end one other ways which youth has invented to pass life in the happiest mood. No wonder, then, ''The whining schoolboy, with his satchel, And shining morning face, creeps like snail Unwillingly to school," Out cf fourteen days, the pupil has actual ly only one day for recreation, the alternate Saturday. Many other reasons might be given on this subject, but I only desire to give one more, and 1 shall no doubt dismiss tho sub ject from all further consideration. Estab lish the uo Saturday system, and ycur schools will boast of a much more regular attendance, for then ail such chorea as can be shifted un til Siturday will bo postponed until that dread day, and relieve the schools of the great curse, iarcgular attendance, and allow, not tho requisite time, but tuueh more tbau is now al lowed for recreation an 1 healthy development. J.R. Dur borrow. WOODKCRY, Pu. .REDUCTION OF THE STATE DEBT. —The sale of the State Works has now fairly exhibitoJ the wisdom of tho measure in the condition of the Treasury. During the year closing on the Ist of December last, the amount of eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars of State loans was purchased for tho sinking fund and the Treasurer, Hon. Eli Slifcr, estimates that the present year will witness a funher re duction of tho debt to au amount exceeding one million of dollars. AUVIOM have bo.u received by Qerrit Smith's friends that thai gentlemm continues to im prove; and that as soon as his physicians deem it prudent he will make a voyage to Europe, and spend some time in travel and sight-seeing. The difference between an oyster and a chicken is, that one is best just oul of tbe shell, and the Other isn't,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers