3 9 UGLSTE
THE ar,lBRi& FREEMMl.
EBENSBURC, PA.,
FrUay Morning, - - July 23, 1875.
Judge Pershing's chance for the
arubcnlatorial nomination r.t the Erie
convention seem
to he ducidwllv ?ol : from pledges, free from sympathy with pul
i .1 , f;, ",i,.. He plunderers, free from all desires for sell
hrm those of any othei aKjJ1.andizcm,.,llt at t,,e expense of the poo
1 and it wnl hardly ; ,j0 f,ce to administer the government in
in fact I Hitter than tf
irintleman named
tusdHc to. defeat liim unless the ,
etmvmtioii should, vm fortunately, find ,
Echo chums to have been the hut pa-
per in th State to name him for that
position. j
1 . j
,
L HF. American rmc team zac Mie.r crajjc principles, ready to speak Ins senti
Usins over the water a lively time at j ,enfs to the people throughout the Com-
fUUs
sduTotitijfc and will come
many Iwmois fairly won.
not allowed to shoot foi
home
Thev
with
were
the Elciio
fh.U'.en're shield or thev would, without
I H k . ..1 I I I 1 I 1 1 1 f 1 I - 1 .... - . 1 1
.- wL.rtMntt n rirtuiir iriiH ifi-ui u:ni t
that inlQ with thetn alo.
' - . ' I
rri, Mnm :
linvK In cwrv wa.y rellecte! credit
on
.-I a ,
thsConnlry awd re entitled loa oc-nt-
titfir welcome njKjn their return.
Jx a recent cape in Klk county, i
iiJiie Wiliiams decideil that a iur-,
r h-i.jr of land at a tax pale took no I
H nt tlie timr; thrt th owuer re- j
tinned his legal title, and tluit the p'nr- .
chafer had noriht n:idr lista, deed j
until tttf efii-ation of the term for re-;
demption. nnd no remedy m law or
la LJ ' ''ii l. h :
althoucrh the owner niiglit re
moe nn u.e iw i .
of value the : , d As '
yecsp.rvd. and lhu it thelnnd was
f no valr.e except for thulxr., compd
the nnhielvV inuclia-er at lax :du to
hiPV tho money lie had paid the County
Trpnsnrer forhe InnJ.
fX)ViixoR Hautuanit may be a ;
very nice man, remarks the IIarri.-burg J
I'utriul, feut lie is a costly executive. I
The per) pe paid jill.OuO more for the ;
clerk liire, messCngerfi and contingent j
expenses of the executive department j
in 1ST, not i.Khuling the governor's ;
salary nor that of the secretary or
uerpiiysptre.firj o! tne cornmonweaiu .
thw they prad Iun.ig democratic ad-
niii.tftiatiwn for the whole expenses .
of thoerccctitivtMlcpnrtmont, n cludmg .
. . . r. . ,
t! governors salary ami tli salaries !
of the secret are and deputy secretary I
of the commonwealth. Adding the!
"salaried to the lUfTereneo in favor ofi
Democratic administration, it will be I
shown that the people pay $-20,l)if ex-!
tra fr.rthe pi ivilrgeofhaTingGovenior .
Jlartranfk a.? their thief executive ofii-!
-'-
No icrnKtt ritsidcuS than Grant I University or lrgmm. 1 he world
woi I Uave retained in his caJjinc-t t)V ! nioves, but I'reston is tmwillinor. in
ivMormblu l.iii'th of .lime snob a man - true spirit of an old French Uour-a-4
Col?iin4.n lU-litio, RecrcUry of the ' "on, vl;o iicwr forgot and never Icarn
Iitt;Tjr. lie rw roc.T.nkU n-J n cor- ; cd anything, to acknowletlge the evi
nqt i.vi wha he wa? appoi.itol, and i dence of his own senses. He is the
tV wtt'pd fonvh tion of thj eountrv ! type of a few men in the South, as
ivfw U that he dminLster h'U depart-1 Wendell Philips is a type of the same
men!, for hia oven pcrvmr.l Inkiest, as i clss in the North, who b lieve, or af
wU -ft. for the pecuniarr profit of thn i fcet to believe, that the civil war is not
IJ;an Hing, of which IeHno himself
Is bdlifiVed tt lrr the had and front. '
Grant onc said that he would not re- j
t)vvc One of Ms offtee-holdrs wldle he i
ris nnder lire." If he adheres to '
thia leclion, Pelano Tilt remain jr.st i
ar long as Grant does, for the former j
is sure to be "under Gre" all the time. :
If he should, however, ' step down irtid .
fmV ho will le certain t carryjwith !
hiJVj to his home in Alt. Vernon. Ohio, !
a tff.rong certificate of good character !
l.rhitrda,,!', ,!m,nirn Tl.o ij;
in mii at i
papei.
ittiirui, a icauinz ueouoiicaii
lit spaUlfl of Delano, risks,
"'How long shall th Republican party t
" - .
routinu'e to Ito put to shamn, and to be : 1"l1Spr leaders in this hind of active pnr
rinl icapp.nl in cwrv oUsctUn contest, ! ) h"U enterpriso and liberal opinion.
. 1P ., . 'j I ho men who control bouth ( arolma,
by a cornip m.in njr the President, t ai,lonuli their strength has never been
at the hea l of tho charf department of fully fctt, are tho men who were young
00 government, who taint; the whole ' when the war began, and went into the
atmosphere with the- odor of corrup- army and stayed there. Of tho older men
tion i there were two c!;sses: thoso who wore
l mm j physically unfitted for the marching and
"" - lasting of active service, ami thn murl.
TllK Teniocr:its of Philadelphia last
week nominated the following count v
!
fitket: Jiidg-.? of tlis Common PInas,
V.. Copp-e Mitclu ll ; Clerk of the
Quarter Sessions. Henry S. ITagcrt;
Kecorder of l)eds, VVilJlatn Ay res;
"'ity Commissioners, John II. Craw-
ford and I hoinS A. Fahy. Th gen-i
tlenien comxiiig this ticket are a:l
mitVd b- t!ie Phil.ailelphia papers to
h" eintni'ii'Jy qualified to fill the posi
tions for which they have been nnmtxl,
and the reat wonderis that they were
pernjittid to come to the front- cneof
anomalies in Democratic politic in
Hral city having heretofore been the
cx.iste.nco vf a corrupt Democratic ring
wlp'se-tsole purposo ha loen to secure
tlia noniinat'u:i. by force and fraud, of
unworthy men, in order that their more
corrupt opponent on the Kadical
ticket might succeed. This was done
fcrr a consideration paid in haud, or
made certain in the future, and the
uniform result has been the continuous
rule o the ring in that city, composed
f hs vile a set of sooiuidrela of both
patties ns ever plundered New York
wheu. Wm. M. Tweed hell supreme
way. The r.otorimis Hill McMuIlin,
a D.'iiiocratic aMermvi. Ins borne 'a
conspicuous part iu this dirty w ork and
was a prominent, hut unsiifrce.ssftil,
ntor iti t.'.jd flame biUlness last wwk.
J.nt William's injlitical ' star, like that
of hi.s coworker in infamy, Sam Jo
spl, h.'is sit, never more to rise.
There nn? other po raUed lending Pem
ocjt m that cit.y. once honored with
S3! anI"rounty ofTinr, who ought to
bo drtren frvm nil connection withth
DrctiiTriU party. Wliun the party
tfMit;, A Vtll as in every part of the
tAt. fcitirgT ilerjf of traifcors to its
W..iKation id its nortiiifltioos, it
vrjl -rommajvl "jHtldi c lldenco nnd
rvrvtf nn4 not until then. The
, )a?in,r:i;y of Philadelphia. i:i pre
rllng o tlie jvople so excellent a.
fjioet, i1e"perT Ruecos, even though
fh tvr rioi achieve it.
I "To .fight ami win this brittle, it must ,
I have a leader thoroughly equipped for the j
' contest, lie must be a man of ability,. in-
. tcgrity and move, llo must not be hani
j pered" by any Ring influences., lie must
: not be weisbed down by any acta r doubt
ful propriety committed in bis political life.
i lie must not have a record which ho will f
! fee! called" upon to defend. On the contra -1
ry, Fie must be a free man in every sense
of the word, free from evil intineiices free
away :n which it has not bcn administered
Tor the list nftcen years. He must not w
y. 1(MW1r,,v h, sympathy with the
new ovanie law of the State, and intently
bent nn working out the reform which it
was designed to accomplish. ithal, i,e
s,onld bran elotjnent champion of Dem-
eallh. so that the offenses of Repnb-
! Jican rule may be exposed and the policy
' of the Domocratic party unfokiJ.
j "Such men are not numerous. There
arc many ab.'e men m tne m.r. men
scviwi ni eT,-neirv Kiiuifii.Mii 101 i lit i""i't"
. I - . - ' V V I . . I .....
- -
r c.rr.,.,, ,., iir Ai-f verv lew men .
1 t.1ll fllllil lufl !.-.- flirt t-indof a canvass that ,
seems TO it le'liuitu iih.i juiiviuct..
((. rreat diflereneo !
i of f minion on this point and eich man may
j think his favorite pccuiiaily qualified for
j the tin.e and place. A little retloction,
however, will di-nrl any such notion."
; Ti)e foregolnp; is taken from an ar-
tide in tLe Viuhy tj-irit (Clinmliers
' Inirir) on the td jcet of t he nomination
hv the Trie convention of the next
I'eniocratic candidate for Governor.
' Althoiigli tlsat paper, as it correctly
statcf. is not committed to the success
f ,. nnvtli-Mil'ir nnndidnt e it. mil hi i
without naminr; lutn, have more
complvtelv t forth the peculiar qual- I
rvrn, , , Jrshin,r tlmn it.
. : , . ,- , - - r. - i
! has done in the alove extract. Any i
m.TKi w ho knows Judge Pershing as the j
people of Cambria count v know him
any man who is familiar Willi his
brilliant ferviecs a? a member of the
lower branch of the Legislature for
fivo successive sessions will be forced
to admit that he possesses in an emi- j
nent degree all the requisites fur an
able, faithful and honest discharge of
the iluties ol overnor, aim will so
tliscia,.gp them in the event of hU be
(n i!t rtajMr,n Hi. (.nn
1 n rt
(luct in U)e ,mst wouU ntrurj an nl)S(V
Jate Iiarantee of nis carorr in the
tnre ,t is ilulcotl trU(J lo of him
f . .. nril;t:0!ll nnto ,v:n nnss anv-
!-
n.. . Kf . without nn r-ndorsr
where in the State without an endorser.
The radical press has been busy of
late in endeavoring to inllame the
Northern mind and make a little cheap
political capital in reference to certain
sentiments recently expressed bv Gen.
John S. Preston, of South Carolina, in
m address delivered by hirn at the
vt ended, and that the slaughter
ought to be stijl going on. Such men
are as harmless as suckinir doves.
whether tliey linger beyond their time j
in South Carolina orm Massachusetts.
Tho Charleston (S. C.) Xarx ,it,,l
Coiirinr repudiates Preston and all his
follies and disposes of him and others
ofithe tame kidnev in the following
piain anl emphatic language:
"(ten. Preston is n lonror a spokesman
r,,r tho r"l'! of this State. With a small
ciass oi equany sincere ami equally mi-
reasonable men his words will have some
.;.,i,t i.r.,- n... tu i i
eheiished oi;nion : liut he. ami s-irb .is l.o.
however venerable or respectable, are no
& 7 " 1
larger clnss who were first in war and
first out of it. Neither class, can mould
pituiic opinion m mis oinic, or in
; any Southern Sl:,te. F.arly in Viiginia,
j Toombs in Coorgia, Preston in South Caio
' lina, cannot arrest tho maich of events.
1 Wendell Phillips, in Massachusetts, is the
complement of John S. Preston in South
i arotuui. It ni nest lor the olrl leaders
that they remain in honorable privacy.
1 Their words, the words of 1800, ate out of
time ami tune. This is one country, this
; is ono peoplo. Wo know it, and feel it.
Surely, then, wo should pity those who
closed their eyes in the darkness before tho
dawn, and wakens not, though the light
of tho new day makes beautiful tho land."
j A Ttuvoi.viNO Lvxatic. Probably one
of the most remarkable feats of pedestrian
i.mi ever attempted in t ho West is that now
leiiig essayed in this city by a colored man
who calls himself I'.ob Klackhawk. This
individual arrived in this city a few days
ago, and while along the docks claimed
that be was ablo to accomplish tho seem
ingly incredible feat of btauding upon the
bead of an ordinary barrel and constanllv
. ,. . . r. . . . . 1
iiirning nroun-i ior iweuty-iour Hours with-
out i.nnk, f.HHl or sleep. He asserted that account of interest received on the public
be had jK-rformed the feat in Kastern cities , moneys. All that time, however, largo
and ta.ked so confidently that at l.fst he ' amount of Stato funds has Wn in the
succeeded in exciting tlie interest of a few i Treasurer's control, and by him deposited
speculative parties who dctei mined to test I with various banks and bankers through-
, his powers of endurance, blackhawk was I out the State. For these twelve years tho
puiticulaily anxious to make the trial, just ! monthly balance in the hands of the Stato
to KitiKfy the ine.edulows that ho could do Treasiuer, in round numbers, averad
what be claimed, and accordingly it wns j $ 2,100,000.00, varying from tho highest
decided to gratify him. A common bpuor monthly balance of $0,803,1.14.00, August
band was procured and placed in a small j 3st, 1807, to the lowest, 9:5,72!.G;, .lan
rooni inlhethirdstoiyofthellawleybl.Kik, ary Sist, 1809. At five per cent, those
next to the Central Police Station on ' balances would havo netted the receiver
Woodhiidgo street ea-t, and precisely at 0 1 over $1,200,000.00.
o'clock last evening Rlaekhawk mounted I Or had tho money been promntly ned
tho barrel and commenced his task. Two ! to purchase the State sit per cent, bond-
tnistwoithy men were detailed to remain the Stato would have saved ii,ictnn ii.
with htm in the room, which was kept sc- f public debt to the amount of over ifd 400 -cniely
locked to avoid interruption, to see i noo.OO, and the debt would in consequence
that he faithfully carried out hi.s attempt.
They are to relieve each other for needed
rrpoe. Shortly before 1 o'clock t his mo rn
ing a reporter of the Pout gained admission
to the room where the private exhibition
was given, and found I.ob resolutely shnf-
fling around on tho barrel head app.uently '
as fresh as a daisy. At that time he had
iK-en at it nearly seven hours; claimed to
be entirely free from fatigue, and was con-
firiciit. that, he would till out tho whole time
unless some unfoiseen accident occuried.
Dttroit Poxt.
The State Treasury Investigation.
FATVTJ AL RF.rOHT OF THE HOT'PE COMMIT
TER THEY PKTAII. WHAT THEY HAVE
PONE AND HOW THEY HAVE BEEN
Or.STKLCT!.! LOAN ISO FB-
MC FINDS AT J.MMtr-'
.IISTI.Y CONDEMNED.
n.vnnisrriir.. July 17. The following
has been transmitted to the Governor from
the Committee appointed by the House of
Representatives hist winter to inquire into
the condition of the State Treasury :
To Hi E.i-crHenj, John F. 1 hi rf r nfl,
Gorernor of the. i'omaonirelth of Pe an
tilran
nul, and.T. F Temple, Auditor uen-
end :
The Committee of the House appointed
' to investigate the accounts of the Treasury
; of the State, beg leave to report their pro
1 ceeriings todate.
i The committee is composed of members
' of the House of Representatives, alone.
I They were appointed by the Speaker, un
! der a resolution passed in conformity with
1 a well-established parlimentary practice
a system generally followed by legisla
' tivo iodies, and which, in its practical
i workings, has given birth to the most im-
rtant investigating committees of Ihe
!r - .
' . t .1 .. I . . , I . I V. t n I n.: II.
v. 'jiikii'm i mc ij.m ukuv".
hit
lution directed that the Committee should
v , . . . - i t
should have free access of all books aud
pajKM-s in the ottice of the Treasurer of the
Slate, and have the assistance of a clerk
ami an accountant. After organizing,
majority of the Committee, with their ac
countant, called upon the State Treasurer
at his office, in l larrisburg, and stated by
what authority and for what purpose they
had called. The Sfate Treasurer refused
to recognize the Committee, denied that
they had any authority to investigate, and
would not permit, their accountant to even
look at the books or papers. The mem
bers of the Committee, as private citizens
;..,i;,;.i...,i n..i.lura Mm TrrinLitiirn
he said, might examine the Treasury ac-
counts, with the assistance of the clerical
f department. 11ns meagre
rr,.at or privilege tlie tonimiuec ien iney
h-n nr. nVi.t to accent. Tucv were there
an duly authorized representatives of a
branch of the legislativedepai tment of the
povenmient ; that branch in which alone is
vested the power of impeachment, as well
as the sole power of devising methods of
taxation. They felt that they could only
act in this representative capacity, and
that by acceding to the terms of the State
Treasurer, they would divest themselves
of their right to invoke the power of the
House, when in session, to open the books
and pajors to the inspection of themselves
aud theii accountant.
Upon this refusal of the State Treasur
er to permit a full and free investigation,
the Committee might have rcRted, con
scious that the people of t he tate would not
have required 4 he Committee to go further,
until the riouse re assembled, its power
was invoked, its dignity maintained, and
the books and papers of the Treasury open
ed to searching and untrammeled investi
gation. lint the Committee have not given up
the inquiry on which they started. The
best means at their command have been
resorted to. A vast tield, however, is be
fore them, and amassof factsisto be scru
tinized, embracing transactions of many
years, and including innumerable items
amounting to many millions of dollars. If,
as is alleged, frauds were perpetrated, no
monuments have been erected to mark
their existence or aid in their discovery.
JSut the Committee desire to make the in
vestigation thorough, and to lay naked ev
ery fact, that has in it the taint of corrup
tion or dishonesty. To this end they in
voke the aid of any and all who can name
a witness that should bo called, or a trans
action which should be investigated.
In this connection tho Committee call
attention to the following facts :
Tho amendment to the C onstitution of
1S3S, adopted in 1S37, providod that "un
less in ca.ce of war, invasion or insurrec
tion, no part of tho sinking fund shall be
used or applied otherwise than in tho ex
tinguishment of the public debt,- until the
amount of such debt is reduced below the
J sum of rive millions of dollars." A simi
lar provision was Inserted in the Constitu
tion of 187.3.
These would seem to be sufficiently plain
nnd explicit to prevent any inronds upon
that fund. Yet, on pago HI) of tho report
of I lie State Treasurer for 1S73 will be
found this entry :
'I?y credit authorized to ho
made under a resolution of
tli Commissioners of the
Sinking Fund, dated May
!ih, 174, being the whole
amount of fund used for
general purposes si nee the
creation of the fund S2,S(".7,P17.r.2
Tho fust use of any part of the sinking
fund revenues for other purposes than tho
payment of tho publio debt appears to
have boon made about lfCO. From that
ti'e to 174. the largo sum of nearly three
millions of dollars was withdrawn. Had
this money been applied ta tho uses con
templated by the constitution, the State
debt would have been that much less, May
Oth. 1874.
The committee aro aware lhat an act
was approved April 14th, 1S70, authori
zing tho Commissioners of tho Sinking
Fund, in a certain contingency, lo permit
tho State Treasurer to use a part of the
j sinking fund revenues for the current ex
penses of the Government. As to the va
lidity of tho act or its conflict with the
constitutional provisions above quoted,
tho committee will not now express anv
opinion. Hut they do call attention to thfs
fact : The public accounts show that more
than oncb.df of the f 2,807,817.32 was with
drawn from tho fund before tho act of
April 14th, 1870, was passed. And with
drawn, so far as the Committee is ablo
to discover, wit hout the shadow of a legal
sanet ion. Such open disregard of the plain
est constitutional provisions cannot but
have a cinici'nispfl'ecin the morality and
probity of public office. re.
During the period of twelve years, bo
ginning with Decemler 1, 1802, the com
mittee aro unable to find that one dollar
l,n 1e r; if o, fiito. t ..
bo that much less at this dato.
Of course, the State Treasurer
eannot
lawfully appropriatu any interest on the
public money to his own uso. To do so.
would bo to render himself liable to fine,
imprisonment and removal from omen,
(art of March 31, 180U.)orto impeachment
and removal from oflice, (act of May )
1874.) Yet. everyone must realize that it
is not in accordance with tho conduct of
human affairs that this large balanco
should have been deposited with various
banks airJ monetary institutions, uta time,
too, when capital was demanded and re
ceiving large returns, and no interest have
been paid to the deiositor. 15ut if paid,
where has it gone ? The Committeecannot
did that one cent ever reached the coffers
of the State.
A way to utilize the balance in the treas
ury, to the benefit of the State, has been
open since the sinking fund was establish
ed. These balances were a patt of the
sinking fund revenues. The sole purpose
of the creation of that fund was the pay
ment of the public debt, and to that pur
pose all the moneys shuld be appbed as
rapidly as received. Such are the direc
tions of all the acts of assembly relating
thereto. That of May 9th, 1874, however,
is the most explicit iu its terms. It is tltcro
provided that :
"It shall be the duty of the Commission
ers of the Sinking Fund, on the first, busi
ness day of eaeh month, to prepare a state
ment of the total amount of money in said
fund, which having len verified by oath or
affirmation, shall be published in two news
papers in Ilarrisburp, for public informa
tion, The Commissioners of ihe Sinking
Fund shall also, on the first bnsiness day of
the nrmnths of May, August, November and
February, in each anil every year hereafter,
apply all moneys in the sinking fund to the
redemption of an equivalent amount of the
public debt."
This seems a very easily understood law.
But it has not been obeyed. At no time
since its enactment has all money in the
sinking fund, on the first business day of
May, August, November and February
been applied to the redemption of an equiv
alent amount of the public debt. On tho
contrary only a small ortiou of it has been
thus applied.
The official papers prove that, on May f),
1874, the day the act was approved, there
was a balance in the sinking fund of $1,
230,7.VJ.ll, ami there was but $48.0.15.84 of
the debt redeemed during tho balance of
the month of May.
On the 31st of July there was a balance
in tho rund of $.-2G,378.3., and there was
but $00,801.48 of the debt redeemed dur
ing the mon tli of August.
On the 31st, of October, 1874, there was a
balance in the fund of $470,5T!).2G, and
there was but $!)n.G77.."0 of the debt re
deemed during tho month of November.
On the 31st of January, 1875, there was
a balance in the fund of $1.1 r,3, 155.85, and
there was but $0,553.91 of the debt redeem
ed during the month of February.
On the 30th of April, 1875. there was a
balance in the fund of $ 1,427,407.18, jnd
but$432,350.000 of the public debt redeem
ed during the month of May.
Xo excuse can bo offered for a similar
disregard of the act in the future. Tho
first business day of August, 1875, is the
next day on which, according to the pro
visions of the act, all moneys in the sink
ing fund shonld'4)e applied to tlie redemp
tion of an equivalent amount of the public
debt, and the Commissioners must pnblish
in two newspapers in Hanisbnrg a state
ment of the amount in the fund at tho be
ginning of the month, and another at the
end of 'he month, exhibiting the amount
of the debt redeemed. It is certainly im
portant that the act be complied with.
There is no IxHter gunrd against the cor
rupt use of public moneys than an empty
treasury. In this instance it is tho com
mand of tho law that the sinking fund bal
ance be exhausted four times a year. It
is for tho public good that the law bo com
plied with, and the people's money used lo
pay their debt, that the grinding weight f
interest bo lifted and the temptations of a
plethoric parse removed.
The Committee .'would further mention
that tho act of directing these payments
also declare it to be a misdemeanor in of
fice for any of tho commissioners of the
sinking fund to neglect or refuse to per
form any of the duties enjoined upon them
by this act, and for such neglect or refusal
they may be impeached ami removed from
office. Hut while tho law hitherto has
seemed to be a dead letter, and its penal
ties defied, better things are hoped for in
the future.
The Committee feel that they have but
just, entered upon tho work before them.
A full investigation may not be accom
plished until all impediments interposed
by tho Stato Treasurer are removed. The
best efl'orts of the Committee, however,
will be given until every transaction has
been exposed to the test of a searching ex
amination. O. II. TtEicnARD, Chairman.
A. SSMim,
Milton A. KwrncK,
M. It. AVrsK.
July ICth, 1875.
It is common to contrast the educational
system of Ireland with that of Kngland,
and draw from the contrast inferences
favorable to the fniits of tho latter. Even
in tho House of Commons this course is
pursued, ami by men of culture and at
tainments. Not long ago Dr. Playfair, in
the course of a debate upon the proposed
change in the school system of Ireland,
declared that under the Irish system only
eighteen ei cent, of tho pupils could read
and write. From this he argued, with
great earnestness, that the plan was a full
and cntii-e failure, and that the per cent,
would get still lower instead of advancing.
This declaration and statement, made as it
was in the House of Commons, attracted
attention, and was copied iu tho English
press with vaiions comments. Whon the
matter was reached in the House of Lords,
the statements of Dr. Playfair were al
luded to by Lord Cranmore, and put side
by sido with some official facts gathered
from the school statisticsof Ireland. From
these it appears that eighty-six per cent,
of the children in the schools of Ireland
had passed in reading ; in the schools of
England eighty-eight percent, passed dur
ing the same year. In writing eighty-six
per cent, of the pupils of tho Irish schools
passed in 1874 ; in the schools of England
tho per cent, of pupils that passed in this
branch of education was eighty. As a
grand total in all branches of education
the jer cent, in the Irish schools was sixty-two;
in thoso of England, fifty-nino.
It was also shown that Dr. Playfair had
based his calculations and conclusions upon
1,140,000 child ren in the schools of Ireland,
whereas only 400,000 was the average at
tendance, and 300,000 the averaga number
of those who qualified for examination.
This puts an entirely different face upon
tho actual workings and results of the
school systems of England and Ireland.
Tho main fault in both countries seems to
be imperfect training of tonchers. This
should bo corrected. Teachers will either
raise or lower the standard of schools. If
fully equipped for their positions the per
cent, of favorable results will be advanced ;
if not tho downward track will be followed
both by schools and pupils. Instead, there
fore, of introducing heated feelings and
imperfect statements into controversies in
relation to tho schools of England and
Ireland, tho friends of education in both
countries should join hands in an effort to
elevate the character and efficiency of the
schools, and thus confer greater benefits
upon the rising generation. Phtla. Times.
A short time since a baby was born
near Cannonsburg, Hancock county, O.,
which is almost completely covered with
strawberry and blackberry marks, vith tho
exception of the face. They are not merely
red and black spots, but full sized and weil
shaped lerries hang from tho child's limbs
and body in like manner as the beriies
hang on tho vines. The child is quite
healthy. There is a baby in Findlay that
has a line largo oyster ou its arm.
ul Twenty 3Iile' Su iiu.
On Saturday afternoon Captain Webb,
master of the Emerald, of Liverpool, ac
complished the feat of swimming twenty
miles down the Thames. The captain was
a seaman on board the Cunard screw
steamer Itussia on her voyage lrom New
York in April, 1873, when, in mid-ocean, a
man fell overboard. The weather was
very cold and tlie wind blowing half a
gale. Webb leaped ovei board, fortunately
loosing bis boots as be dived, and kept
himself afloat for thirty-five minutes, while
he made ineffectual efforts to save the un
fortunate sailor, who, it was thought, bad
been struck by the propeller. The steamer
was running sixteen knots an hour at the
time and she had to turn and lower a boat,
which searched for some time before Webb
was found. For this brave art the passen
gers subscribed 100 and be was subse
quently presented with the silver medals of
the Liverpool Humane Society and the
Koyal Humane Society. At the lOOtb an
niversary of the Koyal Humane Society,
when the Duke of Edinburgh presided at
the dinner at Freemasons' 1111 in May,
1874, Captain Webb was selected as the
recipient of the first Stanhope gold medal.
Having confidence in his own powers the
captain has several times published a chal
lenge in JiclVa Life to swim i longer dis
tance than anybody else, but his challenge
has never been accepted. Ou Saturday,
having backed himself at 2 to 1 for LH)
that he would swim twenty miles, a small
party embarked on the Falcon steamer at
Westminister pier and proceeded to Elack
wall, where at 2.25 r. M. Captain Webb
took to the water. It was about high
water, so that little assistance was obtained
from the current for the first few miles.
The captain's style of swimming is a slow,
steady stroke of the arms, a vigorous action
of the legs, and the head is kept down, so
that the water flows over the mouth at
every stroke, lie was accompanied by
Professor Beckwith, who from a small boat
directed him in a course along the middle
of the channel, and a rrnall flotilla of toat8
at various points brought curious visitors
to watch tlie swimmer. Vessels leaving
the port of London gave him a cloar course,
so that he was little disturbed by pass
ing craft. The wind was steady and the
weather fair until shortly after passing
Woolwich, when a heavy shower followed
several peals of thunder. Occasionally
Captain W'ebb took some brandy and water,
but no other refreshment. The distance
from Black wall to Oravesend is seventeen
and three-quarter nautical miles over
twenty English miles and the first half
was accomplished in an hour and a half.
When asked how be was getting on Captain
Webb replied that he was all right, but
very hungry. Hecontinued the same slow,
steady stroke to the end, not once resting
by floating or changing his position, except
that now and then he took a few strokes
on his right side. The entire journey was
accomplished in 4h. 53m., and at 7.18 V. M.
the Captain was lifted out of the watei
into the boat opposite tho Town Pier,
Cravesend, amid the hearty cheers of the
assembled crowd. Captain Webb is a
native of Shropshire, is twenty-seven years
of age, a broad shouldered man of medium
height, and weighs fourteen stono. He
went to sea whon twelve years eld. Lon
don Telegraph.
IoitalJaon, the. JEronaut.
HIS SITPOSED TRAGIC KATE A rotten
11AI.I.OOX, WORTHLESS GAS, AND
A KKCKI.FSS .KUOXACT.
Cmr-Aoo, July 10. The balloon sent up
yesterday evening from Barnnni's Hippo
drome, under tho direction of Prof. Don
aldson, who was accompanied by N. S.
Grimwood, a reporter of the Evening Jour
nal, passed over the lake in the direction
of Michigan during the night at an eleva
tion of a bout 4, 000 feet. Nothing has been
heard of the sernnants as yet. It is sup
posed that they were out in tho storm last
night, anil that they were carried a Inner
distance by the violent wind that prevailed
for a portion of the night.
GRAVE FEARS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE
BALI.OOX.
Various rumors arc afloat as to the con
dition of the balloon which left this city
with Prof. Donaldson and N. S. Grimwood.
Nothing whatever has been seen or heard
of tho aeronauts since early last evening.
When a schooner sighted them at that
time, the basket was dipping in the water
at about thirty miles from this shore. As
the schooner turned to render them assist
ance, the balloon again rose and appeared
to bear away northward. The gravest
fears are entertained by many who profess
to b skilled in such matters, but the
friends of Mr. Donaldson in Barnum's
Hippodrome- express tho greatest confi
dence in the judgment of that gentleman
and in his competency to meet any emer
gency. NOTHIXO HEART) OF THE MTKSIJfO .ERO
SAUT. Chicago, July 19. Nothing has been
seen of Donaldson, tho balloonist, since his
ascension last Thursday. The body of
Grimwood, who accompanied him, and part
rf Donaldson's balloon, were found on Lake
Michigan last evening. Storms have been
prevailing for tho last three days, and the
lake is very rough.
DOXAI.DSOX REPORTED SAFE.
Detroit, Mich., July 19. A special to
the Free Press from Kalamazoo says that
tho employees on a Kalamazoo and South
Haven railroad train this morning bring a
report that Prof. Donaldson alighted be
tween South Haven and Naugatuck on
Sunday in an exhausted condition.
the story doubtfci..
Chicago, July 20, 1S75. Nothing what
ever has been learned to corroborate the
story of tho Donaldson balloon having
landed in the vicinity of South Haven,
Michigan. The operator of that point
knew nothing of it last night, and commu
nications with that section issevered to day.
-The story is generally discredited here.
The rewards, amounting to $700 have
been offered for the recovery of the bodies
of the aeronauts, and tugs are now hunting
the lake for them.
Child Killed bt a Rooster. On
Thursday a "child of Mr. A. Langley,
who lives two miles from town', while
playing in tho yard, was attacked by a
rooster and was knocked down and spurred
several times in the face and head before
the mother could rescue it. Dr. Kwing,
who was called in, found that one stroke
of the spur had penetrated the brain. The
little sufferer eighteen months old lin
gered in great agony until Saturday morn
ing, when death came to its relief. Dr.
tawing says mat during a practice of over
twenty years ho never met with or heard
of such a caso before, and it is perhaps the
first in the history of the world. OaiUden
(Ala.) Timet.
Minooka. near Scranton Ine ,
tion in a "haunted well," located in a little
i grove near the town. Sometimes it ap
pears in a brown garb, at other time in
; white, and when pursued it glides away
among the troea with an airy, swaying
j motion like a toy balloon tied to a string?
It alwavs manages to keep at the same
instance ahead of the parties following it,
hut this is doubtless duo moro to the fear
of the pursuers than tho flectness of tho
spectre.
Jteiv? f.tul rotitiail Items.
Confidence reviving in railway stocks.
The School Board of Benton, Me., is
composed entirely of women.
Three Democratic newspapers in Cali
fornia aro edited by women.
A 23 pound pike was caught in the
Shenano, above Greenville, a few days
ago.
An exchange informs us mat "senator
Morton is jnt as fond of women as ever.
And yet nobody ha projMsed to have h
toll i .r t-'kicrAfl
Brigham Toting has lost his wife Em
maliue. He has gone into Traded mourn
ing for her by having a black button sewed
on Ins night cap.
II. Aud ley Brown, ihe Temperance
candidate for Governor of this State, is
pastor of the First United Presbyterian
church in New Castle.
Donaldson made his first balloon as
cension on August 31st, 1871, from Itead
ing. His last wa his one hundred an.i
thirty-fourth ascension.
The Catholic benevolent societies of
the District of Columbia met last Friday
to make arrangements for celebrating the
centennial or jjaniei u conneu.
unit-mum ui juiiei J tinmen. J ...v ... II, f fr.
As Mr. Beecher has just entered upon desert air at San H ubara
.... ...... . j..v - . . . . .., .
a three months vacation, his remnneration
ior actual services rendered will be over
11,000 per month, or about $370 pcrdiem.
James Bailey, residing at No. 421
West Thirty-fourth street, New York, was
on Saturday last shot in the breast and in
stantly killed by his eldest son, James L.
Bailey.
William IT. Putcher completed ft walk
of 500 miles in 5 day, 23 hours, and 25
minutes in a hall in North Adams, Maas.,
on Saturday, walking the last mile in ten
minutes.
The Portland (Me.) Argus makes the
number of United States officer-holders
80,000, and thinks it must cost something
to keep so many. The inference is entirely
rational.
Patrick Broderick, in a fit of dmnVen
devilishness, threw his own child, A bbc
six months old, out of a third story window,
causing its death, in the city of Philadelphia
on Saturday l3st.
Inspired by the success of tho Ameri-
c;m iu;in at i-Fojiymounr, me liailimore
Schnetzen Corps have sent over three German-American
delegates to Stuttgart, to
shoot in the grand International Schuet
zenfest. The Savannah. Ga., JVnw rather likes
the late speech of Fred Douglass,and thinks
it was made none too soon, and that the
negroes of the South will find far better
friends in their "old masters" than their
carpet-bag cajolers have proved.
Two brothers, one of whom fought on
the Union side and tho other on the reltel,
met in Columbia, Pa., the other dav, after
a separation of fifteen years. With them
tho bloody chasm bad not been closed, and
they separated without speaking.
A terrible riot took place at San
Miguel, a town or 40.000 inhabitants in the
southern part of the State of alvadore,
Central Ameiica, on the 20th ult., cuod
by the action of the Government. The
rioters Kinen Generals Cuartel and Castro
The Worlingman says John Siney's ' door, to hold her infant f ri
defense at the trial for conspiracy, to take
placo in Clearfield in Sertemle- ;n K
nco at tlm f i . I I ... .. : .... . i lA d... . - . .
conducted by F. W. I Inches, Lin Bartholo
mew, Judge Barrett and B. F. Butler, of
Massachusetts, the latter gentleman being
a volunteer in the case. "
A funny incident is related of a con
stable in Adrian, Mich., who arrested a
prisoner in a distant town. He handcuTed
the prisoner and himself together and laid
down to sleep. In the morning tho hand
cuffs were on the constable's wrist, tho
prisoner gone, and so w as tho pocket book,
mony and watch of the ofdeer.
Tho Louisville Courier-Journal thinks
Captain Cook would bo sui prised if lie
knew that fho Japan Mail lately reached
that city Trom Yokohama traveling half
way around t he world in thirty tl.rredays.
Kven the people of the rapid present may
venture to bo somewhat surprised at this
improvement upon the recent past.
Tho terrible floods in Toulouse could
not fail to bring with them burlesque as
wei as rrageoy. finme soldiers passing j
throurrh some ruins in the. Allee BnnaTvu I havi:n reherf Fntrio.i ,Vi I
heard faint cries of "Papa." They soon country as to his fate led t
tracked the sound, but worked for onm of several exreditiMis in
hours before they succeeded in rescuing' Ldy Franklin placed her
.i . . .... ... . .
inc rnromww victim, wlneli nrnwd tn lv. J
a fine gray pnrrot-
They have a heart in the Georgia
Medical College that was taken from a
man who tried to commit suicide, lie
stabbed himself with & knife, and the point
scratched the heart. He lived for thirty
days, and might have recovered, if he had
not got out of bed for a drink of whiskey.
He got drtmk, and tho next morning he
was dead.
The testimony of John D. Lee. in the
.'iiniiuaui .iieauow massacre, as we
mat oi oilier important inncuu
entirely refuto all the charges which have
been made against Brigham Young and
tho leaders of the Mormon Church in Salt
Lake. It will be proven that Brigham
sent an emphatic command that tho ded
should not be committed.
Tho simplest remedy for the ravages
of tho potato bug is said to have been dis
covered by a man in New Haven, Conn.,
who finds that wood ashes, sprinkled on
tho vinos, answer every purpose of Paris
crecn and other noi Ti. j.. i
cheap and easily applied, and we would be
glad to publish the experionce of some of
our farmers on the subject.
An Albany gentleman was, a few days
ago, annoyed by the noise of four sparrows
that had built their nests over ono of
his window copings. He accordingly tore
down the nests and threw them into the
streets when, much to bis surprise, a flock
of sparrows immediately gathered on the
spot, and with much chattering restored
to their old places the habitation of the
homeless birds.
An I rout on (Ohio") dispatch savs Tay
lor Partner, a desperato character residing
at Bear Creek, Ky., three miles from Iron-
un, quarreled w ith lus wire yesterday, and
after nearly chopping her in pieces Uok to
the woods. Ho was pursued, and captured
after desperato resistance while attempting
to cross the Ohio river, and is now in tho
Greenup jail. Tho woman is still livine.
but cannot recover.
lr. Beecher has made a contract with
a Western agent to deliver fourteen lec
tures at various points in the West during
the coming season. The price is 500
night and expenses which will help him
to eke out his scanty salary. The subjects
or tho lectures are not yet announced, but
there are a great many inteiesting topics
on which Mr. Beecher could tell much that
people would like to know.
A few nights ago, Mrs. Cassidv, living
nine miles south of Cantril, Iowa, was
struck by lightning and instantly killed.
She was sitting at a table, and her husband
was lighting a lamp. The shaft tore a
hole through tho logs of the bouso. Mrs.
Cassidy was not maiked a particle by the
electricity, and her husband felt no shock.
Tho light was put out, and when it was rd
lit the wife was found to lie dead.
Lightning played some very remark
able freaks in the bouse of Mrs. Philbrick,
at Alton, Me., Tuesday evening. It en
tered one end, passed between Mrs. Phil
brick, and her son into the pantry, where
it pierced holes in the top and bottom ot a
cotreopot, jarred a dipper into a tin w ater
pad, and soldered them firmlv toe-ether
. , - - r-
e." " " "'ir.mjr lllOllll I Uli " " , ill' i.
she had been dinned, without ntl,ei-Mo I not a man of "'" i
.v f,tt wa Kiiigfit as smoothly as though
injuring her. KevuMican.
Prohibit w..,:. .
h.-ive. niitnlhiu.l i: ." 18 f'l P,
-- urtKt .
v. i't; jMuueii lor.in.i "nrk-
- am,.
or Cleric vr laneVsn
Haines for IteconK-r ..r Vr
The Center Ilali
chicken or rather a 'cr I
wing, saw its first day i' ,S
yard about four weeks 11 V
hamv a anr .. v M .
who pay in advance can
lis : liviug curiosity fie of t!,nZ,h
llilU(nv...f:. 1 -"ldll(
,T'V""",.iW '-vine i
Ind.. found tlnV..i.
1 M WIN I tra llA tl.n ... -.
ear
It weighs ci-h . , .. .
inches from the tip , f tl,l -of
the skull, six and a Wr .T ?
jaw to the top of the hk",;., s
half inches from the
One half of the face U -
but the other has i
wlu.e turning to yni
nfaction. lrJei,.
Tll llirrirncf . ; )
1 v, " "-:-e ' the lrv !
ably that now int i?,7 !
1 1
iiiui! !i h m larm :
a..
tint, of delightful pc.fW Y
in circumference, it, st,.,'- f
inches, and the measarem-'nt 'i
rectiotis from tip to tip f .
inches. Another f
tor's garden is a rhxar of p
rose truss of Le Marque
mon felt hut covered the V I
were counted the ate r.nl,u I
A ba-r-rarsing r.ise f '.
occurred at Spriug Lake, v-" 1 1
recent right, the victim beif
named Hobert, son 0f fW 'l
Eso.. who. at ahr.i.t .;.!. .
covered by a neighbor climlX'.
ning-roa on lug father's h'm r
to the roof, explored tho i ..'.
oftbe building, which, lKin?1';"
w.. uneven, aria rotting-
in the second story, cliinhit, V
window, without a
ing he remembered withinnf.it
stance w hatever. I
A pood deal of Trian... t
in Luther, Canada, last
port that a little son of one of
had been carried oft" by
seems that a servmt gii!. act t
a little Iniy, went for the r.Vt
in a piece of buh a sli .it(it,..
bouse, when they can.e ar
which seized the little fdlnwt.r
Tho girl heroically came t li.
shouts and sticks, when B.v
alarmed, let go bis hold nf ths
and retreated a short dints:
bush. Several parties s!artj
with gnus and dogs, but failed
shot at the bear.
A little advice is pivp?) y .
readers, and that is never h J
baby. An instance of this k 1
trated in New York lat k -i
woman came tripping a'or.et!
an infant in her arms a:nl at
w ho happened to be stvidn.j;
" "no -inr viriu 1I11U llie Sll
in, but, the unhappy ma rv
come out, for the store 1 -i i
and by that the fair deceivr
escape. The Kor man waiiK.
and when the horrid th-vy.
him that he had been d:iped.i
i an throtigh him, which v
when he remembered tlie j
tion of his wife. A poliecn.v
he soucht comfort. re!iivp,i.
charpo.
Lady Jane GrifTn rrv.V'-f-Sir
John Franklin, died f
London. Lady Franklin (
beginning of Ihe present rfir:
she married Sir John, wkics I
she accompanied to Van D j
whither ho went as Govern
this oflice until 1945. In t
appointed to the command i-.'.
tion to discover the north we.r4
consisted of the ships Krebu j
Franklin's ordfrs were tn f f
airl in 1S4. rn ti;;n-. f
i" me a;sposai t tne v.v
win) from time to time harp:.-
to find traces of her husbvd i
A CANIKF. TvLErTOM ANi!
Island man has a won.lt if;
by patient teaching or ty u
he steals whatever he en :
from home. He will sneak :
store, and suddenly db c:
between his teeth or a cru:
broom, or anvthimr ,f I.-1
The
as well as 'any one places a pack.ic? ;
,A.na II . .1.... 1 . . ...
ok iii cuveitiy gray ii ai
taking his booty home and
be encouraged in his y.St
patently takes great pride :
. . l : . i, . i :,i . .....
l'iiiiiiieiiL, auu w in inn av i i
docs but keens studi '! f
selt. and isoften found .::-.
as if maturing a maraud"!
concocting a daring mer
times bd absent from the K
and in the morning thef '
household will find him f"
rear 6loop invariably wi :
kind, and generally of
possession. The d 13?
ally known, and his h'?;::
that store-keepers will r -
i i . K t
lounge near xncir ii.-v
away on his first api3r
stories ae tohf of his str--4
theft of a half quintal f t
groceryman, a bag 1
iiard ware store, and a "U-'
blacksmith shop. Tl.e
achievement was the n -i '
thirty-pound fnkiu of I'-'
mer's wagon. How tlie
home is not known, hut
master's lionse and rech'" j
is a mongrel, quick a:H' I
awkward and uiigai'i'j li
Tims. , !
The Champion Baft.-
r t t .. . i. ..... lit 1'
...1
in i. .1. cue, w " , ji
was weighed immfdiatr?
by Dr. Hice, in the
witnesses with balance'
twenty pounds and t-.
weight can be relied up .. I
fied" bv measnrenii'i!'s 11 i f
f
yesterday m.wniiiir, s:':-f
I'll III. HIP "5
head is 11 inches; tW'k.
- -. Lac a
cumference.
22 inches; ditai'ce i ,
shoulder over the cb(
short, the child is a ,
b1rt a vdir old. and f '
That these "Curw ;',
proved by medical t
stances ei iiii.iw--
at biith. but goner
of a still boi n i'fc,ae;,,i
scarcely authentic rt .
over 1! ponmR l
maximum weight,
the average wembt oi ?
is tlio nrsi " i 4.1
whom aro of In".au'1
- ... ... 1ilCl ' . I
is .1 Teet 4 inci' -'it
, i. . i rii"
old. weigns !-' i, co l
health, and tear ' 'f ,: - I
ti. r..n,r U tne'1' , ,