I A
1
" 5
I i
jOllXSTO, Editor.
HE IS A FREEMAN WHOM THIS THCTII MAKES FREE, AMD ALL ARE SLAVES BESIDE,
U. a. l'lIli.E, Iublisler.
EBENSBURG, PA., THURSDAY, AUGUST 8,' 1867.
3 1.
NUMBER 27.
vi x H 11 v
b
r 1
il'MI
T II E
imbria JTrccrnan
wii.i- rcui.i-'iiEn
Ky THURSDAY MOKNING,
Ebfll4bnrs, Oamtorln. Co., Ia.,
ti'l-vivj raU-s, ya yaMe u-ilhin three
,4hsfioM dole of'subwibiny :
cno year, - - - - - $2 00
mx months. - - - - 1 00
tlwee months, - - - - CO
, uhof.ti! to p.iy their subscriptions
ti.e ex pirn t ion of :x mouths will
-,, at tiie rata of ,$"- G0 per year,
- r. i.u fail to P11' uutil after the ex
, ,f tu-f lvi' months will bo charged at
. iZ.OO pr year.
.... n-.ir..bc-rs constitute a quarter;
;,f, -ix u:'.:it!is; and fifty numbers,
EAT US. OF AtVEKTISlX(.
12 Hue?, cne insertion,
! -.pu ;it insertion,
$1 00
2 00
2 GO
2 GO
1 GO
- Notices, each.
.-'.t"r ' Notices, each,
r-' N'-ticos, each,
..itcs, ca
C );M3.
j 2 GO
5 (TO
7 00
0 SO
U CO
C, mo9.
1 yr
,V2 lines,
-,:t 'ines,
-. lines,
i'. hn.n,
$ 1 CO $ G 00
8 00 1 2 00
10 00 15 00
11 00 25 00
1G 00 2S 00
2 00 0 00
So 00 CO 00
a, 14 (.0
25 00
il ' r B'.isinef Cards, not
S lines, with paper, C 00
v Notices, over six lines, teu cents
,J nud business Notices olght cents
f.r f.rst insertion, ana four cents for
..-'q';e:.t ii.sertion.
::i!is ( f Societies, or communica-
.e:-?'!.xl nature must bo paid for
Jui: rniNTi.vcj.
vj made arrangements by which
Jo or Lavo d.ific all kinds f plain
. y Jnb Printing, such as Hooks,
:s, .S'.k.w C.irU, Bill ami Lettci
Il.-in-lhiib, Circulars, (Src, :u the be.t
tic; r.rt am! at the most m wierate
A!.-', all ki:uhs of Ruling:. LJJank
tLu lest and as cLeap as the
;M FOR SALE. The .stil)-
i-r offers at private Fale his FA KM,
n Cambria township, two miles
LN-r ..ur, on the road leading to
The- Frni ccr.srfcl?-f SO Acres,
V;s, about 61 At rc? of which are
:::: !er pood fence, and in a good
'.;!iivation. The balance of the
ih t-et with 8Uar, chcftfnut, locust
" marketable timber. There is a
e l IlAili: IIOi:."3E and a Frame
tlr remises, and an Orchard of
'. :t Trees that have never 3 et f-tiled
'iVt vt; is also a never-failing Fjrin
w.'.vt ttid other i.ec-s-ary conveni-
.' e j.reuiises. The Farm will be
ii:r tt-rrns and easy payments, and
vimU.' title will I e giver. What
. P.radley's Station, on the E. &
i' 'his located on this land.
ii.f rmntion can be obtained by
- t.. CIIAJILKS DKADLKY.
tT)., Hay 23, 13G7.-tf.
;i vxn: tor a iurlvin.
fAi.I FOR SALE. The Farm
''." oupicd ly the sub.-criber, situ
:i".iter towii-.hip, Cambria county,
' "'uth-east of ELen-burir and one
;';' fr-i. S ir.i-.i.'l Cilara'ti Mill, oon
A'.'liESand allowance, i.-- offered
'; rivs-'tiablc terms and easy pay-''.-h'.y
acics t-f tu above land are
:!. : r o.-.J fence, and in excellent
' i-!.:.-ii. The iuiioveniejit.s con-
t'.' t..,rv Pl.Wk' IIOCSE ar,l 1
ViE ilAKNT, Loth in gnu.1 pjeyer
e.i as u,l other n-'cesary out'
An cxta.Mvo orchard of choice
1 ;i!.d i.cvcr-faiiing springs f exrel-
1. 11 the premises. I orther in-
1 1 i i c ( I f ,i;i '( liv n:iK!r" flnoli-
DANIEL O'llAUA.
rTp., May 80, 18G7.-tf23
I'Al'iLE FARM FOR SALi::
'"tibfr oilers Pr sale bis Farm
'arroil township, (-atnbria cmn
!:.;!cs from Carrolltown borongh,
"i 1 leailing to 1 Iinebaugn's Mid
-1 cr.Dtams over S"J acres, ioot.t of
.ml under (! fence, with a com-
. v i'-.Ntorv l'iar.k IIou?e and Log
r' iti erected. There is a large or
?xV.'cnt fruit and several springs
- t- r on tho primiHL's one of thcr
Co the house as well as a stream
' rU!.i in- throii"h the midillo tl thn
7nis t.ri.Vf'itv will n ti.'AA on fiilr
5" 'crr.is. For further information
' '.i.lersigned at Lilly's Station,
"".uu wnun, on tnc iarm.
"'.c DAVID SMITH.
W VP. Q I V Tl, ,l.Cnrh
O.llJlJi l 1 1 j Riiit.- 11-
at I'rivate Sale two valuable
J I Mil til LAND, t-iHiate in Jack
; '''!'. ''aii.brij eountv. and known
l'roperty." Ai.so Four cth
.; t:-sof LAND, situate in Cam-
" 'ii townships, and known as
';:-.! I'roperty." Also TWO
l''j'".i.u.g the borough of Ebcnsbnrg
: T a1. Ll ! 1 1 ol,.,f 1 n A . V., ,!,.
,'. ' . :r,-'s- The buildincrs are all in
J Ur vith never-failing springs of
the houses.
Vr ' t-'S W':n'nff to purchase or fell
liiuber Lands, will do well by
r-ie lefore buying or offering them
r A. SHOEMAKER.
Att'y at Law, Ebcnsbuig.
TOR-S NOTICE. Let-
!lSamcntary having been granted
!;, u" lhu stato of Jeromo A,
4 lJ Ca"oU township, lec'd, all
; ' mg claims ngainst said estate
"Tkmii 111 I""I'eriy auinenu-
uao payment withyiit delay.
Jonr; flick )
J( BUCK Executor,-.
-uiy 4,1667. 0t.
THE JOHNSTOWN
HAS IX STORE TIU LARGEST STOCK OF
DRUGS AND NEDHMES,
CIIEMICAI'
PAINTS,
OirJ and
. VAKNLSIIES,
Glue, Putty, Alcohol,
T38F1TIIE, WHITE LEAD. PAISTS,
Glassware, Druggist' Sundries, t?c,
EVER OFFERED IN THE COUNTY 1
FOR SALE AT
WHOLESALE CITY PRICES !
Agent fon- the tale of all tho
POPULAR PATENT HEDICIKES
1"N THE MAHKKT.
In onr s:tock of
I'ERrrMFJtY.
CVS MKT R?,
TOILET ARTICLES, $c,
WK DCIT COMPETITION I
C. T. FRAZER,
June 20, 13o7.-ly. JOHNSTOWN, FA.
il
I!
Now on liand, a large and well selected
stock of fresh
DRUGS AND MEDICINES,
I'afnt, Oils ntui VaruUliCK,
Pure aud Unadulterated Liquors,
for rnrdieir.al purposes,
TOBACCO AND CIGARS,
IFo Iyawr au-l Wln'loic Shades, all styles,
LAMPS AND CHIMNEYS.
BURNERS AND WICKS,
And a good article of Rkfixku Petroleum
Also, a large supply of
White Lead, Iwtty, Window Gle, iio,
ALWAYS OS nAND,
PERFUMERY &. TOILET ARTICLES,
1KCJCDISO
HAIR, NAIL AND TOOTH BRUSHES,
Coaibs, Toilet and Tooth Preparations,
LUBIN'S AND l'HALON'S EXTRACTS,
Soaps, Fancy Goods, &.c.
A FULL LIWE OF STATIONERY.
As my medicines are warranted of a pnro
quality, I am prepared to fill Frepcription3
with accuracy and di.njulch, at all hours of
the day or nijjht. Open on Sunday for the
sale cl medicine.. A. J. CHRISTY.
Loietto, June 27, 18G7.-8m
o iTtTTdat s li u it a 1
JACOB mTpIRCHER,
FA S II I ON A 1 '. LE
CLOTHIER & TAIL0H,
Has just opened a full assortment of wellse
octed and mot desirable
SPRIXG & SUMMER GOODS.
Gents and Bots furnished with CLOTH
ING, HATS, SHOES, &c, of the latest
si vies and bst material, at the LOWEST
CASH PRICES.
a vakis:ty or ijecx: OODS,
which will b sold by the yard or niado to
order in the ino;,t approved manner.
Having given fall satisfaction to his cus
tomers fr moro than twenty-five y ea r.s,
he guarantees the same to all w ho may favor
lr.m with their patronage in the future.
3Store on the west side cf Montgomery
Ftrret. below Iilair, next door to Masonic
Hall, JlolliJayshurg, Fa. my23.1y.J
OOKUT FOR RAR( JALNSl
Ri ing desirous of retiring from byi
ncsfl, I offer for sale the Ebcnsburg Foundry,
with all its appurtenances, including all the
real and personal property thereto belong
ing, the engine, patterns, ilasks, &c. Also,
all the stork, manufactured i unmanuf ic
tv.red, consifting of Threshing Machines,
Cooking Stoves, Tarlor Stoves, Plows and
Castings of various kinds. As I am deter
mined to sell, purehaaers'may rely upon get
ting any or all the "above named nrticlea
cheaper thn they cau be had anywhere else
in Pennsylvania. The public are invited to
call and judga for themselves.
July 4, 18G7.-G;n. E. GLASS.
4 UDITOirS NOTICK. The under-
signed yuditor. appx.inted by the Court
of (Vinimon Ple-.s cf Cambria county to dis
tribute! tho fund', iu the hands of the Sheriff,
arising from 'he tale of tho real estate of
Samuel Hippie, in No. CO, Juno Term, 1807,
hereby notifies all persons interested that he
will attend to the duties of said appointment
at his office in Ebensburg, on Wednesday
the 14th of August. 18G7, nt 1 o'clock P.M.
R. L. JOHNSTON, .Auditor.
July 18, 1867.-3 1.
A UDITOIi'S NOTICE. The nmVr--j.
signed Auditor, appointed by the Or
phans' Court of Cambria county to report
the distribution of the funds iu the hands of
George J. Rodgers and William Kittell, Ex
ecutors of Jano Whorrj. dee'd, hereby noti
fies all persons interested that ho will attend
to the duliea of said appointment, at his cfSco
in Ebeusburg, on Thursday tlia 15th day of
August, 1867, at 1 o'clock p. u.
R. L. JOHNSTON, Auditor.
July 13, 18C7.-31.
CERT E. JONKS "
Ebensburg, Cambria co., Ta',"
Dealer in Lumber. The highest prion,
in CW.paid for CHERRY, POPLAR.ASH
aud filND LUMBER.
LORETTO DRUG
I5I.OWIAG IJL BEI.ES,
EY El'GKXB H. MCSDAT.
As I loitered through the village,
I saw children at their plaj.
Blowing bubbles in the sunshine,
From their penny pipes of clay.
I bad passed them with a greeting.
But their gladcess charmed me so,
That I turned to wp.tch their bubbles
Sailing through the summer glow.
.Though they seemed not balf so brilliant
As in boyhood I had blown, ,
When the smallest of my bubbles
Held a rainbow of its own,
Yet my little friends grew merry
As each tinted, air-blown toy
Floated upward, and the baby
Clapped its chubby hands for joy.
And the girl her arms outstretching,
As if begging them to stay
Said "I'm sorry, very sorry,
They so quickly fade away !"
Bat her brother looked quite manly,
As he shouted with delight,
"It is easy, very easy,
To blow others jutt as bright!"
And he Hew with such good fortune
That, btfore his work was done,
Ycu might count a scoro of bubbles
Floating gaily in the sun.
Then her eyes w ith pleasure sparkled,
As the crystal phantoms played.
And she quite forget her sorrow,
Tkit they each so quickly fade.
And she paused where I was resting.
In the shadow of a yew,
And in tones of laughing wonder cried,
"Can't you blow bubbles, too V
And I knew not how to answer ;
So I left them .at their play.
Blowing bubbles in the sunshine,
From a penny pipe of clay.
THE POOR WASHERWOMAN.
'T declare I have half a mind to put
this bed quilt into the wash to-day. It
does not really need to go, either ; but I
think I'll send it down."
"Why will you put it in, Mar', if it
doce not need to go 1" nsked her good old
aunt in her quiet and expressive way.
''W'hy, you see, aunt, we have but a
email wash to-day ; so small that Susan
will get through by one o'clock at the
late?t, and I shall havo to pay her the
eame as though she worked till night, so "
"Stop n moment, dear," eiid: XIio"6Td
lady gently, "stop a moment, and think.
Suppose you were in the same situatioa
ns poor Susan is, obliged, as j'ou tell me,
to toil over the wash-tub six days out of
the f even, for the bare necessaries of life,
would yoa not be glad once in a while to
get through before night, to have a few
hours of daylight to labor for yourself and
family, or better still, a few hours to rest 1
Mary, dear, it is a hard, hard way for a
woman to earn a living; begrudge not the
poor creature an eay day. This is the
fourth day in accession f-he has risen bf
candle light, and plodded through the cold
here and there t her customers' houses,
and toiled away existence, Lfet her go
at noon, if she gets through ; who knows
but she came from' the sick bed of some
loved one, and counts the hours, yes, the
minutes, till she canreturn, fearing that
she may be one too late Put it back on
the bed, and sit down here, while I tell
you what one poor wash-woman endured
because her employer did a you would to
make out the wash," And the old wo
man took off her g!asscs and wiped away
the tears that from somecaufo had gather
ed in her aged eyes, and then with a
tremulous voice related the promised story.
"There was never a more blithesome
bridal than that of Ada 11. None ever
had higher hopes more blissful anticipa
tions. She married the man of her choice,
ona of whom any woman might bo proud.
Few, few, indeed, had a -funnier life in
prospect than the had.
"And for ten years there fell no shadow
on her path. Her home was one of
beauty and real comfort ; her husband tho
same kind, loving man as in the days of
courtship, winning laurels every year in
his profession, adding r.cw comforts to his
heme and new joys to his fireside. And
besido3 these blessings Cod had given
another ; a little crib stood by tho bedside,
its tenant a golden haired baby boy, the
image of its noble father, and dearer than
aught else could offer.
"Hut I must not dwell on those happy
days my story has to do with other days.
It was with them as it has often been
with others ; just when the cup was the
sweetest it was dashed away. A series
of misfortunes and reverses occurred with
startling rapidity, and swept away from
them everything bat love and their babe.
Spared to each other and to that, they
bore a brave heart, and in a distant city
began a new fortune. Well and strongly
did they struggle, and at length began,
once more to see the sunlight of prosperity
shine upon their home. . But a little while
it stayed and then tho shadows fell. Tho
husband sickened and laid for many months
upon a weary couch, languishing not only
with mental and bodily pain, but often
times for food and medicine. All that
sho could do, the wife performed with a
faithful hand. She went from one thing
to another, till at length she who had worn
a satin garment on her bridal day toiled
at the wash-tub for the scantiest living.
In dreary winter, Idng before light, sho
would ri?o morning after morning, and
labor for the dear ones of her lonely homo.
Often sho had to set off through the cold
deep snow, and grope her way to kitchens
which were sometimes amoky and gloomy,
and ioil thcro at rubbing, rinsing, and
starching, not unfrequently -wading kneo
deep into the drifts to hang out the clothes
that froze evn ere she had fastened them
to the lin And, when night camf, with
her scanty earning ehe would grope through
the cold and snow to her oftimes lightless
and tireless heme, for her husband was too
eick to tend even the fire, to strike a
light. And oh, with what a shivering
heart would sho draw ncar"f 'fearing she
would be too late 1 It is a faat that for six
weeks at one time she never saw the face
of her husband or her child, save by the
lamp-light, except on Sunday. How glad
she would have been to have had, once in
a while, a small washing gathered for her.
"One dark winter morning, as sho was
preparing a frugal breakfast, and getting
everything ready before she left, her hus
band called her to his bedside. .
" 'Ada,' said he, almost in a whisper,
'I want you to try and coma home early
to-night; be home before the light goes,
Ada.' .
" Til try,' answered she, with a choked
utterance.
" 'Do try, Ada ; I have a strange de
sire to see your face by day-light. To
day is Friday : I have not seen it since
Sunday. I must look upon it once again.'
" 'Do you feel worse V asked fhe anx
iously, feeling his pulse as she spoke. -
'No, no, I think not, but I want to
see your face once more by sunlight. I
cannot wait till Sunday.' -
"Gladly would she have tarried by his
bedside till the sunlight had stolen through
the little window ; but it might not be.
Money was wanted, and she must go
forth to labor. She left her husband.
She reached the kitchen of her employer,
and with a troubled face, waited for the
basket, to be brought. A smile played on
her wan face a9 she assorted its contents.
She could get through easily by two
o'clock ; 3'es, and, if she hurried, perhaps
by on?. - I.ove and anxiety lent new
strength to her weary arms, and five min
utes after the clock struck one she was just
about emptying tho tub?, when tho . mis
tress came in with a couple of bed guilts,
saying:
" 'As yoTi have a small wash to-day,
Ada, I think you may do these yet.'
After the mistress had turned her back a
cry of agony, wrung from the deepest foun
tain of tnc washter-worrianrslierarT,"gashed
to her lips. Smothering it as best 33 she
could she set to work again, and rubbed,
rinsed and hung out. It was half past
three when she started for home, an hour
too Lite !" and the aged narrator sobbed.
"An hour too late," she continued, after
a pau?e. "Her husband was dying ; yep,
almost gone ! lie had strength to whisper
a few words to his half frantic wife, to
tell her how he longed to look upon her
face ; that he could not see her then, he
lay in the shadow of death. One hour
she pillowed his head upon her suffering
heart, and then he was at rest.
"Mary, Mary, dear," and there was a
soul touching emphasis in' the aged wo
man's words, "bo kind to your washer
woman. Instead of striving to make her
day's work as long as may be, shorten it.
lighten it. Few women will go out wash
ing daily unless their needs are pressing.
No woman on her bridal day expects labor
in that way ; and bo sure, Mary, when
she is constrained to do so, it is the last
resort. That poor woman, laboring now
eo hard for )ou, has seen better days no
doubt, and I know she has passed through
terrible trials, too. I can read her pale
face, lie kind to her, pay her what she
asks, and let her go home as early as
possible."
'
"You have finished in good time to
day, Susan," said Mrs. M., as the washer
woman, with her old cloak and hood on,
entered the pleasant room to get the money
she had earned. r
"Yes, ma'am, I have : and my heart,
ma'am, is relioved of a heavy load. I
was so afraid I should be kept till night,
and I am needed at home."
"Is there sickness there ?" said the aunt.
kindly.
Tears gushed to tho woman's eyes as
she answered : "Ah, ma'am I I left my
baby almost dead thi3 morning; ho will
be quite 60 to-morrow. I know it, I have
seen it too many times ; and none but a
child of nine years to attend to him. Oh,',
I must go, and quickly !"
And, grasping the money she had toiled
for while her baby was dying, she hurried
to her dreary home. Shortly after they
followed her tho young wife who had
never known sorrow and the aged matron
whose hair was whito with trouble fol
lowed her to her homo I She was not too
late. The little dying boy knew his
mother. Hut at midnight he died, and
then kind hands took from the mother the
lifeless form, closed the bright eyes,
straightened the tiny limb3, bathed the
cold clay, and folded about it tho pure
white shroud ; and did more they gave
what the poor so seldom have,time to weep.
"Oh, aunt," said Mrs, M., with tear3
in her eyes, "if my heart blesses you how
much more must poor Susan's. Had it
not been for you sho would have been too
late. It has been a sad but holy lesson.
I shall always be kind to tho poor washer
woman. Uut, aunt, was tho story you
told mo a true one, all truo 1 mean ?"
"The reality of that story whitened this
head when it had ssen but thirty summers,
and the memory of it has been ono of my
keenest sorrows. "It is not strange, there
fore, that I should pity the poor washer
woman." "
FOB THE FREKSTAN.J
THE TEAC-IIE31S' ADVOCATE,
'COMPULSORY ATTEXUASCE."
ARTICLE KCMBEU TnilEE,
In the Teachers' Alro-atc for July I find
ft reply to my article published in tho Free
man of the 4th. I regret to find that my
strictures seem to have hurt tho feelings of
my friends of the Adcocaic. Let mc assure
them that I have no desire to say a word
that might be calculated tr humble their
pride, or bring them into contempt with the
citizens of our county. They havo been un
fortunate in advocating the adoption of an
odious law, and rather than practice the vir
tue of humility by acknowledging their er
rors, they endeavor to sustain their argu
ments by a system of reasoning and evasion
that, to say the least, is not very creditable
to a County Superitendent and a prominent
teacher in our Common Schools. Their ideas
of logic and the meaning of the words rele
vant and irrelevant, seem to bo much con
fused. Of this, however, let the reader judge.
I put five questions to the editors of ihe
Advocate in my first article, which I had sup
posed, if answered, might have some bear
ing on the issue. These I was told in their
reply were entirely irrelevant, and therefore
passed unnoticed. In my second article I
had the temerity to repeat these questions
and insist on answers. Iu their last article
they have condescended to answer my ques
tions, not, however, Hint they deem any of
them relavant. but that the reader might
see how ignorant I am of the Common School
system. I thank them, however, for the
answers, and beg to say that I think it pos
sible I might be able to convince a few read
ers that there is some relevancy to the issue
in these questions, or, rather, in the answers,
now that we have got them. I asked these
questions for information from gentlemen
whom I supposed were in positions to en
lighten me on the subject, and although they
now give merely then assertions, I wilt ac-
ccpt them for
the relevancy.
the argument.
Now
as to
The article in the Advocate for May, I
presume the editors will not deny, was on
"Irregular Atlellddi:e,, and the remedy for
Mar evil. They say iu that article, "We
can see.no remedy short of a judicious com
pulsory attendance law that will have uy
considerable beneficial effect upon this evil."
And, again, "IFc repeat then that ice see nn
remedy by ichich tJiis evil can be arrcsled but
by a law cotje!ling attendance at scitxZ."
What evil ? The evil of irregular attend
ance. Now, it will be seen, the editors of
tha Advocate, in aower-to my questions, ad
mit that it is the duty of the teacher to as
certain the cause of the pupil's absence.
Very well. Then how comes it that the
teacher cannot give us the cause? Why is
he required by the school law to make a
montLIy report to the directors regarding
the number of scholars iu attendance and
the number of days each atteuded ? If ni t
for the purpose of ascertaining the causo ( f
irregular attendance, of what practical ben
efit is this report? Unless you understand
tho cause how can you know the remedy?
Will a physician prescribe for his patient
before he learns his disease ? Will a lawyer
institute an action , for his client before he
understands the character cf the injury or
wrong complained of? Ridiculous! And
yet the editors of tho Teachers Advocate
unite with Jesse Newlin, ESQ., in advocat
ing a compulsory attendance law, when it
is clear they are ignorant of tho causes of ir
regular attendance. It is acknowledged
that truancy is one cause, although denied
by them that it is the principal cause. They
acknowledge, in answer to my fifth question,
that teaches have the right to punish for
truancy. I respectfully submit then to the
readers of the Freeman the relevancy of my
questions. Tho reader will perceive that
my questions were so put as to have relation
one to another, so that no matter how the
editors of the Advocate answered, if answer
at all, I had them caught. So far as truan
cy, then, is a cause, it mast be acknowledged
there is no legislation Tequired. What,
then, are the ether causes? They tell us in
their first article on this subject that one of
the principal causes of bad attendance in
country districts is that the schools arc kept
open in winter. This is unquestionably cor
rect. It is acknowledged, however, that the
directors, who are the representatives of the
people, havo control of this, and it is to he
presumed they arc the best judges as to what
is for their interest. I find, however, that
in mary of the country districts, reported in
the May number of the Advocate, tho at
tendance has been over 70 and in some as
high as 80 per cent. Now, for districts
where schools are kept open only in winter.
think this remarkably good, and I doubt
if any coinptdsory attendance law, if constitu-
tionararid otherwise unobjectionable, would
do anything to increase the attendance in
these schools. Do tho editors of tho Advo
cate desire that their law should apply to
children who are kept home through the in
clemency of the weather? I think not.
Now, then, we have truancy as one and tho
inclemency of the weather as another cause
for irregular attendance. The first unjusti
able, the other justifiable. I might add con
siderably to tho number of justifiable and
excusable causes, but how mauy can bo add- 1
cd to the number of unjustifiable causes ?
n unjustifiable cause must bo attributed
either to the parent or child, or perhaps
sometimes to both. 1 f attributed to the fault
of- the child, that has been dispored of. If
to the fauit of the parents, we want,proot
of it. Is it not as easy to get that proof
now, as the law stands, as it would bo under
the provisions of tho compulsory attendance
law.? Let us then see how the parents
might be at fault. Should they send their
child to school, and afterwards permit it to
go and stay whero it pleased, and protest
against its being punished by the teacher,
theu it would be their fault. Uut, let us
remember, if tho teacher and directors have
not sufficient power to apply tho remedy in
a cso of this kind, additional legislation
could bo had for that case without violating
the constitution or the natural rights of pa
rent:?. Now I do not, as tho editors of the Advo
cate seem to imply, desire to cast the whole
blame on the teachers. I thick that whilst
tho teachers, directors, parents and children
may all be moro or les3 to blame, that the
chief blame, perhaps, should rcit on tho
General Superintendent, and not a little cf
it oa the d.unty Superintendent.
The editors of the Advocate give their read
ers rather an amusing proof of the irrele
vancy of my questions. They say it was
not en irregular attendance I took ispne with
them, but oc tho right of tho Legislature to
pass a compulsory attendance law. It might
be interesting to know whether this is a de
fect cf memory or wilful. Lt the reader
judg'i by a quotation or two from my first
nrtie'e: "Jhjre discussing this question 1
would respectfully ask the iditors a fcc ques
tions.' Then follow the questions. Before
discussing what suljct? VVhj the subject
of irregular attendance, which headed their
article. I could quote more from this arti
cle to the same effect were it necessary. Our
fiiinds of the Advocate are as unfortunate in
their assertions as they are in their reason
ing on the whole subject- Why did I put
those questions if not for the purpose of tak
ing issue ou the question of irregular attend
ance? They said they could see no remedy
for the evil short of a compulsory attendance
law. 1 intimated by my questions that they
were mistaken. Hence the relevancy of the
questions and theiranswers prove that, so
far as the evil of irregular attendance is con
cerned, the remedy is clear.
I gave them an Illustration of what could
be done in this way by calling their atten
tion to a school in Courmaugh borough. 1
could give them another tho German Lu
theran school in Juhnstown. I might add
many others. Surely it is not bad logic to
show that what can be done iu that way In
these schools it is jxmiWc to do in others.
It devolved on thm to show that it would
be impossible to have such attendance iu the
Common Schools. Until they succeed in do
ing so this illnstration, without any other
arguincut, would, as 1 said, put the whole
controversy on irrrgiS'tr attendance in a nut
shell, and be conclusive against them. Un
less their little school boy' reasoning (?)
would extricate them, I see no escape. That
was tho very essence of logic ; henco I will
not be expected to controvert it. It is too
profound for my limited capacity. But they
do make an attempt to give a reason fur the
extraordinary good attendance at that school.
That is, that the parents are chiefly German,
and having been accustomed to the Prussian
system of compulsory education, they expe
rienced Its benefits! " Then is it cot etrange
that they prefer private to Common Schools.2
I am pleased to find, however, that there
is at least one point on which they take ia-
sne with me that they endeavor to contro
vert by some show of reasoning, although I
will have occasion to stow tht by o domg
they unwittingly dug a pit into which they
blindly fell. This la regarding the following
question 1 put them : "But when yon atlmit
the government has the power to muks tho
sentence one rear or hps, by what right do
you deny its authority to make it ten or
more years ?" In reply to this they quote
Art. 8, Sec. 13 of tho Comtitution. which
forbids cruel pnnisnments to be ivficted. This
Is just the very section I reserved for their
benefit. Will any one say that to tend a
chili to a house if correction for one year or
less, when guilty of uo crime, would not be
a cruel punishment? This section of itself
proves that the law they propose would be
a clear and express violation of the Constitu
tion. Hence tho relevancy and pertinency
of my question in asking by what authority
do you deny the light of the Legislature to
make the punishment in this case ten years
or more. If it can make it one j-car or less?
But. they must remember, this is not the
only clause that forbids this cruel puuish
ment for no crime. Art. 9, Sec. 1 in the
Declaration f Rights" says: "All men
are born equally free and independent, and
have certain inherent and indefeasible rights,
among which are those of enjoying and de
fending life and liberty, of acquiring, pos
sessing and protecting propeity and reputa
tion, and pursuing their eicn happiness." I
quoted part of this section in uiy last letter,
but for purposes w hich are not difficult for
the reader to divine they evaded it. 1 showed
that the right of parents to educate their
children is an inherent and indefeasible right
which no Government had the riht to des
troy, even if it was not expressed in it3 Con
stitution. I also showed that tho barbarous
and inhuman law they advocate would not
only destroy this right, but would also, in
express violation of the Constitution, destroy
tho liberty t-f the citizen. In addition to
this, 1 showed that this liberty, which is ne t
only inherent and indefeasible, but guaran
teed to every one by this clause, cannot be
interfered with by the Legislature, unless it
is abused by crime, an attempt to commit
crime, or in case of absolute necessity, when
public good demands it- To this they make
no reply. Hence they evade tho important
points at issue as regards the right of the
Legislative to prss the law they recommend.
Now, if the Legislature can violate these
two sections of the Constitution, on the
grounds that this law would bo beneficial to
individuals and society, by what method of
reasoning, let mc ask, will they deny its right
to compel attendance at a particular church
or Sabbath school, cr make the punishment
for anv rrimo as severe as it pleases? If it
can violate one or moro clauses of the Con
stitution, where is to he umnu mo nuns 10
its power ? Certainly not in the Constitu
tion. But theso gentlemen tell me that my fal
lacies in my last article arc so numerous that
they can only find space to uotice a few of
them. What a pity ! Here, theu, arc somo
of my fallacies repeated : But they make
an attempt at another argument. They re
mind us that the object of tho Constitution
was not to grant legislative power but to re
strain it. Granted. They then proceed to
quote for my benefit a charge of Judge
Black's on this subiect, with every word of
which I coincide. That was a controversj'
on tho right of tho Legislature to tax the
people for the support oS schools fur any but
the poor. Tho Constitution provides for a
system of Common Schools, ichcrcin tho poor
shall be taught gratis. 11ns is surely clear.
The poor shall be taught gratis in these
seined, whilst tho rich arc compelled by a
system of taxation to support them for tho
bcucfit of their own children and for thoso of
the poor. Judc Black says that tho Legis
lature can pass any law not prohibited by
the Constitution. This is admitted. Where,
then, is the point after so much labor ? If
they had paid any attention to, and not wil
fully evaded, my argument jn my last article,
they would have fouud oue on this very point.
I showed that the Legislature was not only
specially prohibited by the Constitution from
passing such a law as they urge, bat was also
prohibited by the fact that the parents right
is inherent aud indefeasible, existing by nat
ural and divine law, and necessarily beforo
every municipal government. But becausQ
the Constitution provides for a system of ed
ucation they apply their logic and insist that
the Legislature has the power to pass laws
compelling every one to embrace it benefits.
In this connection let me qaote one of thoir
ulrong arguments, which thev no donbt con
sidered unanswerable: "Will R.' fehow a
Constitutional provision forbidding compul
sory attendance at school ?" I h&re shown
two. But it appears they consider that tho
Constitution must forbid it In those Terr
words. Profound logicians ! I ask them if
they can find a Constitutional provision for
bidding the Legislature to pass a law requir
ing every one to learn some trade? They
cannot in those words, yet such a law, altho
there could be as good reasons urged for.ita
enactment as th.9 one they propose, would
bo clearly unconstitutional. The Prussians
havo just such a law. I might cite numbers
of cases, but I doubt if our friends would
comprehend the relevancy of any illustration.
The memory of the editors of the Advocate,
I fear, is bad. Do they forget that they
ha 0 said children may be educated at home?
If the Legislature has the power to make a
law compelling them to attend the Common
Schools, becar..-o it has the right to provide
for a system of education and tax the people
for th support of thesschools, which Is the
point In their argument, then it would only
bo by the permission or toleration of the Le
gislaturc that any child could bo taught at
home, or f.n where but In tha commou
Schools. Where will wo find yon next, gen
tlemen ? Out of the mud and Into the mireJ
a-ain ! They first etarted out with an arti
cle complaining of irregular attendance in
Common Schools. When I press them some
what severely on the remedy they propose
for that evil, then they are only in faTor of
education, no matter where. They lastly
admit th right of the parent to educate
their children, and all tho legislation they
ak is to ptevent parents from depriving
their children ef an education!
They conclude their argument by telling
mo th&t 1 am bonna to snow inv pareuia
have a right to deprive their children of an
education. I will refrain from ridiculing
their artrnment as it deserves, bnt beg.ieavo
to'tell the gentlemen that I hold no such doc
trine, nor am I by any logical system of rea
soning compelled to hold it. Parents, no
more than any one else, have no right to do
wronc. Yet the gentlemen should under
stand sufficient law to know that it is -not
every wrone, nor even every crime, that i&
committed by parents or others that the Le
gislature or Conrts can take cognizance of
and direct the party who Is guilty to be pun
ished. Drunkenness Is a crime; yet a man
may get drunk in private, and in Euch case
the law cannot interfere. 60 it is with re
jrard to hnndreds of crimes. If they are pri
vate they must be accounted for to God
alone, lie-r.ee one ot my reasons in my
article for kindly and sincerely recommend
ing these gentlemen to study some good work
on elementary law and the principles of gov
ernment. I was sorry to find it hurt their
feelings, but can assure them I did not bo
intend it.
I would now most respectfully challenge
them to give me Ihe names of any parents
in Cambria county, not Idiotic, insane, or
their reason besotted hy drunkenness or oth
er crimes, that wilfully deprive their chil
dren of education. Give me one name. It
devolves on them to show it. They seem to
have overlooked the teachers' reports in their
May number. Here are one hundred chil
dren sert to school by their parents. Out
of this number say but sixty attend regular
ly. Now, Is this any proof that parents
whose children do not regularly attend are
disposed to deprive tkem cf an eelccation 1
If it were, why send Ihem at all? Thepre
sumptitm is the Tever:e.
I called the editors of tho Advocate to task
iu my last article for a flagrant misrepresen
tation that I was opposed to education. I
challenged them to fiud one word even that
would implyjsuch to be theTact. To this they
did not reply. I bail always supposed it to
be the duty cf gentlemen to make an spology
for anything of this kind when their atten
tion was called to it. They surely have too
much respect for their characters to permit
me or the readers of the Freeman to believe
it to have been wilful. If they are satisfied,
however, that this imputation should rest oa
them, so be it. Pride, it is true, ia a stub
born vice, and few there are -can master it.
I bid them adieu for the present. R.
A Makttr Hied. Tfce following beau
tiful incident is recorded in the Pittsburgh
Diqiaich :
'i he noble deeds of robln-red-braast
have been celebrated for generations in
both song and story, and the tenderjsympa
thy which thia bird is supposed to feel for
stray babes has gained for it tha highest
opinion of the occupants of tho nursery.
A painful little circumstance, which will
interest our young readers, and at the
samo time servo to confirm their regard
for the robin, wa3 brought to light after
the fire at the residence of Mr. McCallum,
a week or two ago. Iu a tree near by, a
robin had built her nest, and hatched her
brood- The birdiings were too young lo
fly, and although tbo flames progressed,,
and tho heat became more and more in
tense, the mother bird refused to forsako
her ue6t, and perished in her efforts to
protect her littlo ones from barm. Tha
nest was nftcrwards discovered, and tho
parent bird was fouud, with her little
brood still under her, but all were dead.
What a wonderful instinct has the Crea
tor bestowed upon this littlo creature, that
would impel it thus to sacrifice its own
life, in a manner so peculiarly painful, in ;
is efforts to shield the Lelplesd littlo enea
committed to it charge! Surely, many,
men and women might learn a lesson of
wisdom from this martyr bird.-
Wuat fowls nro likely to havo no here
after ! ...Those that have their necks tuirtd
in this. '
fl
J
If?
1
ii
V
4 i
:r.
1
in
it- .-
?sV 1
ar
New
njie.
1
V!
I
11
1.1
s,
; ,
1??
v.:
Ill
I
n n