THE POTTER JOURNAL
A.ND
2srE"W"S Trr TP, ivr _
Jno. 8. Mann,
Proprietor.
VOLUME XXIV, NO. 25.
The POTTER JOURNAL
AND
NEWS ITEM.
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY AT
COUDERSPORT, PA.
(Office m Olmsted Block.)
TERMS, 81.75 FKK YEAR is ADVANCE.
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**** M OFFLC * OF JOVJATAI * JRRWB FM
REOMRE PROMPT tewtnum.
gortrii.
Mud Pies.
Under the apple tree, spreading and thick,
Happy with only a pan and a stick,
On the soft grass In the shadow that lies.
Our little Fanny is making mud pies.
On her brown apron and bright drooping head
Showers of pink and white blossoms are shed ; '
Tied to a branch that seems meant just for that,
Dances and iiutters her little straw hat.
Dash, full of Joy in the bright summer day,
Zealously chases the robins away.
Barks at the squirrels, or snaps at the flies,
Al| the while Fanny is making niud pies.
Sunshine and soft summer breezes astir
while she is busy, are busy with her;
Cheeks rosy, glowing, and bright sparkling eyes
Bring they to Faunv, while making mud pies.
I Jollies and playthings are all laid away,
Not to come out till the next rainy day,
Under the blue of these sweet summer skies,
Nothing's so pleasant as making mud pies.
Gravely she stirs, with a serious look
•' Making believe" she's a true pastry-cook:
Sundry brown splashes on forehead and eyes
Show that our Fanny is making mud pies.
But all the soil of her innocent play,
Clean soap and water will soon wash away;
Many a pleasure in daintier guise.
Leaves darker traces Than Fanny's mud pies.
—Petersburg (V.u) Index.
[ HEKE is an old poem, as good as it Is old—We
find it now in the Inde]>endent Republican, but
remember it in an almanac nearly fifty years age.
Can any one tell the author?]— ED.
Meditations of en Old Man.
Days of my youth! ye have gFded away;
Hairs of my youth! ye are frosted and gray;
Eyes of my youth! your keen sight is no more
Cheeks of my youth! ye are furrowed all o'er;
Strength of my youth! all your vigor is gone;
Thoughts of mv youth! your gav visions are
[flown.]
Days of my youth! I wish not your recall;
Hairs of my youth! I'm content you shall fall;
Eyes of my youth! ye much evil have seen ;
Cheeks of my youth! bathed in tears ye have been;
Thoughts of my youth! ye have led me astray;
Strength of my youth! why lament your decay?
Days of my age! ye will shortly be past; ..
l'ains of my age! yet awhile ye can last;
Jots of my in true
Eyes of ray age! be religion your light;
Thoughts of my age! dread ye not the cold sod ;
Hopes of my age! be ye fixed on your God!
Our State Dinner.
The picture of Eve "on hospitable
thoughts intent" is quoted to the eye of
faith in season and out of season. Men
delight in the vision; women take it as
example of their highest duty. To be
sux-e there was Martha "cumbered with
much serving," and lxot especially com
mended on that account, but I suppose
at that late period the world had been
promoted to the dignity of servants and
dish-washing. Doesn't the serving grow
more cumbersome and tiresome every
year?
We were in our little sitting-room one
morning, its lovely bay-window full of
sunshine and flowers. and three land
scape chromos bright as the seasons they
represented. There were some pictures
besides, a bird's nest done in colored
crayon with "1.. S." in the comer, a girl
with a basket of fruit aflW-a playful dog
jumping up to catch the fiiigmentaiy
ends, with "G. S," by which you may
know we had artists in the family.
We were very plain people, neverthe
less. Papa was foreman in the cutting
department of a shoe manufactory, and
had fifteen hundred dollarsayeur. When
grandfather left him two thousand dol
lars he had bought an acre of ground on
the outskirts of the city, and with what
money he had built a small house, which
had received additions since, according
to our jtrosperity. But some whim or
or other had, in the last five or six years,
sent many others out, the city shook
hands cordially with xis, gave us horse
cars water and gas, and byway of being
distinguished from any other suburb we
were called Roselle.
That is how we came to belong to the
aristocracy. Perhaps otherwise we might
have missed our state dinner.
There were a great many people at
Rost'lle very much richer than we crew. J
Merchants, real estate dealers, two law- j
yers, a congressman and a number of;
widows in easy circumstances. Many j
of them kept carriages. They were vera* j
nice pleasant people, with a generous:
mingling of the social element.
Now and then some one said to papa:
"I'd sell such a valuable piece of ground
if I were you and buy elsewhere;" but
having had it in the rough we wanted it
it in the smooth as well. "IVe did our
own work, gardened and raised lovely
flowers .and fruit.
Joe, our eldest hopeful, was married
and lived down town. I came next —
twenty-two, if you want to know —Ger-
tie was nearly twenty, Fannie seventeen
and Robert fourteen. I helped to keep
the house and do the sewing. Gertie
was a fine musician and had several pu
pils. Fannie was just through with
school.
We had been discussing a case of mis
fortune in the neighborhood. A Mr.
Austen, a carpenter, had fallen some
weeks before this and broken his leg.
His wife, was in very delicate health,
worn out by poverty, hard work and sick
ness. Emma, the oldest daughter, was
a hopeless invalid, and seldom went out
of the house* huhien'' RAyUrn
hoods, cloaks and shawls for a store.
Nellie did dress-making, and there wee
a boy of thirteen. Tboy were very nJae
COUDERSPORT, PA., FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1873.
everyday people, just on a par with their
position.
Nellie had been making a cheap, showy
dress for some young woman down town.
The color was a very brilliant blue with
a peculiar odor. Before she had finish
ed it her hands began to itch and turn
red, and show every symptom of erysipe
las. In a week or ten days the doctor
decided that it was poison from the ma
terial and a very severe case. A month
or six weeks would be the shortest pe
riod of its duration.
I had been in to see them every few
days, taken them books, jellies, winter
fruits and did what I could toward com
forting them. They were poor people
with no special claim to sympathy. The
gills were not beautiful nor particularly
refined, so the neighborhood interest
soon died away.
We had been wondering if it would
not be possible to make them a "dona
tion party." They must certainly be Lu
great need. Emma's three or four dol
lars a week was not much to take care
of a family of five and cover the inciden
tals necessary to sickness. Nellie's hands
were beginning to mend, and Mr. Aus
ten could go about on crutches.
Gertrude called the donation one of
my wild schemes and thought it would
not answer.
"I rlon't see why it isn't as good or
praiseworthy as giving a minister a do
nation-party," I said, stoutly.
" But, you see, very few would care
to go. It would be wanting in the so
cial element."
" That is not to say it must be want
ing in the charitable element, "I replied.
" And maybe they might not like it.
If we were ]>oor and unfortunate—"
" I think we should be very grateful
for a delicately-managed gift. Ido not
see the great difference between it and
Mrs. Carlyle's wooden wedding. She
was not affronted because Mr. Giles
acut lo* u Vv.irrol of flour."
" But that was so funny, and jusi in
his line."
" She did not disdain any of her gifts."
" But it was the occasion that lent it
a grace."
"I don't see why some one cannot
lend this occasion a grace. It would
be a splendid neighborly charity, say
what you will."
"Laura, you are very obtuse upon
some points," and Gertrude shook out
her bronze-brown curies. " Still, if you
do accomplish anything I'll add a maid
en's mite—a dollar."
" Thank you," I returned.
Mamma approved of my plan. Thus
armed, I went to call on Miss Colby,
an "old maid," truly, for she was nearly
sixty. She kept house herself in the
small part of her brother's house, and
had the cunningest nest you ever saw.
Everybody liked her. She could play
all the old-fashioned dancing music,
painted some in oils, made wonderful
picture scrap-books and all kinds of
fancy work, and was invaluable at fairs.
"A splendid thing!" she said, after
listening to my plan. "The Austens
don't complain—l like them for that;
but I doubt if they know where they
will get their meals from to-morrow.
Now I'll take right hold of it, for I know
some people that you couldn't ask. Mon
ey and provisions. And when will the
'visit' come off?"
"Could we not have it Saturday even
ing?"
"I think so—the sooner the better.
We'll ask all we can to give, but we
will only invite those to go with whom
the Austens would feel at home?"
We made out our list. After fortify
ing myself with some lunch, I set out—
down town first. I called on some
friends, business gentlemen, who I dare
say were tired of hearing my stories
about a poor woman, an orphan, the
church debt, or a uew carpet. If I
were a rich woman I would not beg, but
give. Then 1 visited soxne benevolent
ladies; our grocexyinan, who promised
something; our butcher; and even per
suaded Mr. Giles to contribute a quar
ter of flour.
I had fifteen dollars in money and a
number of articles promised. Miss Col
by had twelve.
The next day I made my Roselle calls.
I asked six people to come; two de
clined, three accepted, and one said
faintly that she would if she could.
Then I asked several for gifts. Some
thought "the Austens always seemed
to get along very well," others expressed
a great deal of sympathy, "but they
had so many calls."
Then 1 dropped hi at Mrs. Mason's.
Mr. Mason was a lawyer, a very nice,
grave, gentlemanly sort of person. She
was some ten years younger than her
husband, quite stylish, and very cordial.
They kept a horse and light two-seat
wagon, besides her pony phaeton, two
servants; and their house and grounds,
though not at all extravagant, were
prettily kept. An invalid sister lived
with her, but there were no children.
"My dear Miss Sherman!" and Mrs.
Mason swept into the room in an elegant
cashmere wrapper trimmed with bands
of silk, bronze slippers daintily roaetted,
coral jewelry, linen Valenciennes lace
collar and cuffs, and thread lace bar be
in her hair. Everything about tbe room
was in keeping.
I *aat abdot my hartnwfe at mm
"Why I thought Miss Austen was
quite well by this time. Are they so
very poor? She dresses prettily, I am
sure. I wonder if people of that class
are not given to prodigality when they
have anything?"
"Being a dressmaker, I suppose she
knows how to put everything to the
best use," I said. "She always makes
and trims her own hats; and her sister
is very ingenious. But Mr. Austeu has
done nothing for seven weeks; and now
Nellie has lost four weeks."
"They must make considerable when
they are all well, though. I should not
think they would need to be so very
poor."
"Mr. Austen gets eighteen dollars a
week, and, from not being very strong,
loses a good deal of tiuie. Emma aver
ages about three dollars a week the
year round, while Nellie makes from six
to eight."
"But dressmakers charge fearfully,
my dear. I pay Miss McNair two dol
lars and a half a da£ and she seldom
gets here until almost nine, always
leaves at six. Then she doesn't hurt
herself sewing, either; but she is styl
ish."
"Miss Austen works for a dollar a
day; fifty cents more when she has her
machine, and her home charges are
very moderate."
"Of couxse. I suppose she has had
no fashionable experience. But with
all that, my dear, they must have quite
a thousand dollars a year, leaving out
the losses."
"But I do not believe one could pay
rent, take care of a family of five and
save much money on it," I said,
grimly.
"Oil, thoir tastes are not at all like
ours," she returned, with an indescrib
able air. "I am sorry, but I really
cannot give you anything this week. I
sent five dollars to my little nieces fbr
their fair, and the gentlemen are going
to Mr. Browne"—he was our
minister—"a present of a sec oi duuk.,,
and Mr. Mason subscribed five dollars
toward that, so I feel quite poor,"and
she gave a gay little laugh. "But I
tell you what I will do. Sister Mary
has a host of old dresses to be made
over into wrappers, and when Miss
Austen gets better I will have her come
and do it, for it seems so extravagant
to pay a first-class dressmaker for such
dawdling work. And now we will not
talk any more about her, for I have
sometlxing else on my mind. First,
have you and Miss Gerty any particular
engagement for next Wednesday even
ing?"
I colored a little and said: "I did not
think we had."
"Mr. Mason and I were coming over
this evening to see. We axe going to
have a little informal dinner, just ask
ing in a few neighbors. My friend, Mrs.
Wyllis, is to be here."
We had seen Mrs. Percy Wyllis one
Sunday at church. She was tall and
elegant, wrote poems for "our first
magazines,"and read them beautifully.
Both Gertie and I had a penchant for
literary people.
"She has lost her mother-in-law lately,
so it would be in bad taste to give her
a regular party. lam only going to ask
Mr. and Mrs. Ilenry, Mr. aixd Mrs.
Palmer, and Mrs. James, and two friends
of Mr. Mason's are coming up. I want
you and Miss Gertrude and Mr. Keith.
Mrs. Wyllis is extravagantly fond of
music. Now don't refuse me."
" I will see," I said, gravely.
"Oh, yoxi must come. I will change
it to Tuesday or Thursday if either will
suit you better. Let me see—you will
know by Monday, won't you? I'll be
over in the morning and see."
As there was no possibility of getting
anything, I rose to go, feeling a little
disappointed. Mrs. Mason was always
spoken of as being so charitable and so
sympathetic. The idea of taking in
Nelly Austen because she could get her
at a lower rate than usual!
I stopped to oompare with Miss Col
by. I had twenty dollars, she eighteen;
and together a good stock of provisions.
Rob took ours over Saturday evening
on a wheel-barrow, The flour, some
bread, biscuit and cake, tea. coffee, su
gar, a ham, a pair of chickens and ten
fresh eggs, besides some delicacies.
I don't know as 1 car do justice to the
visiting part of it. Papa and mamma
went —there were about twenty people
in all. Miss Colby headed the proces
sion—she had collected a goodly store as
well—and she introduced everybody,
wbeel-barrows and all.
Mrs. Austin sat down and cried, and
somehow I felt mightily like it myself.
But Miss Colby began with a funny
speech, and we all laughed. Nelly's
color came and went and she looked
really pretty. "We had some hot coffee
and cake, we said all the gay things we
could think of, Gertie and Mr. Keith
Bang—Mr. Keith was Gertie's "young
man," clerk in a bank, and organist of
one of our city ehurches.
I believe I never felt so well repaid
for anything in my life*. Emma drew
me over the aim of her sofa, and con
fessed that they had used their last mon
ey for rent, and had basely enough food
■ to last over Sunday.
"And work at the store stopped on
gbenrtay Zfevswffl not be an^te
two or three weeks. It does seem as if
the Lord sent you. I wouldn't say this
to amother person, but I want you to
know what cause we have for gratit ode."
After all, it was only a pleasant neigh
borly charity. Why not do as much for
the needy as for amusement, " tin " or
"silver" weddings, or those who are in
no need, no want?
Mrs. Mason dropped in Monday morn
ing. We had about half decided to go,
and her coaxing did the rest.
"Oh, yon need not be afraid," she
said, laughingly. "It will be a plain
dinner among friends. Be sure to come
at six, and get a little acquainted with
Mrs. Wyllis."
That was the way our state dinner
came about. We really had no idea of
grandeur or gorging. We supposed we
would sit down to the table about seven
and leave it about eight, having a nice
time afterward with music and reading.
We dressed ourselves in our best.
Mine was a bright brown silk, wonder
fully becoming, with illusion pleating
at the throat and wrists, and blue rib
bon in my hair. Gertie had a lovely
wine-colored empress cloth, and actual
bona fide point lace. But then she was
earning money of her own, and could
squander it as she liked.
Charley Keith was rather late —so It
was half-past six when we reached the
house. We beautified ourselves a little
in the state-chamber, went down with
beating hearts and met Mrs. Wyllis, in
very elegant faint mourning and pearls.
Mrs. Deane, sister of our hostess, was
there also.
Mr. Mason brought in Mr. Gifford,
the Henrys came, and we sat in frag
mentary conversation for ten or fifteen
minutes. By seven Mr. and Mrs. Palm
er and Mrs. James made their appear
ance. Every new comer discussed the
weather, the kind of winter it had been,
and hoped now we had come to some
thing pleasant. Mrs. Wyllis put iu
bright, chatty little sentences. I think
we ;iil limH -a faney that the dinner was
coming so soon it would be no use to
serve up anything beyond fragments of
talk.
Mrs. Mason fluttered In, rosy aixd
smiling.
"Mr. Keith," she said, "can wo not
have some music? "
"It is a momentous question. Can
we? " and he looked up laughingly.
" I mean—will you not favor us? "
" I think I ought to give place to the
ladies, piano not being my forte."
It was unintentional, but they al!
laughed.
" But you, having more courage, must
set them an example," she said, with
winsome grace.
"As you please."
He played something brilliant. Mrs.
Wyllis seemed to listen attentively, and
presently whispered that he fingered
beautifully. Then he took up one of
Beethoven's Minor Symphonies, which
Mrs. Wyllis pronounced "lovely beyond
description."
Between while there was a little com
monplace talking.
I began to feel most unronxantically
hungry. I bad eaten nothing since one,
and it was almost eight. A general
uneasiness pervaded the company, I
thought, and the gentlemen appeared
to be on the alert.
Mr. James asked Gertie to sing, which
she did, and Mrs. Wyllis commended
her enthusiastically. If some one only
would ask her to read! Then there was
a lull. Mr. Masonand Mr. Henry talked
politics. Mrs. Mason fluttered into the
room again, spoke to this one and that
one, niiH jjU'ently a bell rang and we
were marshalled out to dinner, Mr.
Gifford attending me, Mr. Palmer was
on the other side, Mr. Keith had Mrs.
Wyllis on one side and- Gertie on the
other.
A quiet little dinner! The room was
in a blaze of light—that, I believe, is
proper. The table was covered with a
snowy cloth, a handsome epergne in the
centre, tastefully arranged with delicate
fruit, purple and white grapes, and a
trailing vine with greeu leaves and
white blossoms. Two very full and
compact hot-house bouquets were on
either hand—flowers enough, indeed, to
ornament the room and give each guest
a dainty nosegay. Some mounds of
jellies, pale-pink, crimson, golden and
dull orange; siiver salt-cellers and gold
en butter-plates containing a little flow
ered pat; cut-glass and siiver in abun
dance, and a square piece of snowy
bread laid carefully on each one's napkin.
After we were seated and a little fa
miliar with our neighbors, soup came
in. As a general thing, I detest it, but
it was half-past eight and I was hungry,
so I crumbed in my bread and ate it
with a relish. There was not much
talking—indeed, I hare a suspicion that
every one else was hungry as well.
Mrs. Mason had a regular waiter, who
was very expert. Tne soup-plates were
removed, and the meats came on—roast
turkey,boiled chicken with oyster sance,
and boiled ham with sauce. Mr. Ma
son at one end and Mr. Henry at the
other began the carving, while the rest
of us blossomed into a sort of weak gos
sip. Mr. Browne's gift was discussed.
Mr. Palmer said there was always some
thing au foot. Charley Keith made
MEAN Bmrtte BkmML, and Ifnr. "Wjt
lis delivered a rather bookish criticism,
while Mr. Gifford told me an anecdote
that was worth it all. Then commenced
the grand business. Who would have
turkey, who would have chicken ?
Light or dark meat? Oyster sauce, of
course. Ham, certainly. You did not
know what you had asked for, nor what
you were going to get. But some way
it all came. Then there were vegetables,
cranberry sauce, jelly, condiments of
various kinds. What a mess it was
when you had it all there' The tuikey
was elegant, but you wanted to taste of
the chicken and the oyster sauce. Mr.
Palmer had beeu ill with the dyspepsia
not a month ago, I knew. Mrs. lleury
was not very strong either—in the doc
tor's hands half the time. But every
body had to eat, or to taste, for it could
not be much more than that. It was
growing very warm in the room, and I
was glad to get hold of some refreshing
celery.
Mr. Gifford's plate was out, and the
waiter carried it up for another helping.
"No, thank you," said Mr. Gifford.
" Yes," said Mr. Mason. "Another
bit of tliis chicken. And you had no
ham before; you must taste it. Those
are Long worth's hams, Palmer, do you
ever try them? Two cents more a
pound; but they are just delicious. We
never use any other. Now send up
your plate."
"Just the merest slice; it is very fine."
Both plates came back nearly full.
The gentlemen minced a little. Every
body was coaxed to take a trifle more;
it was even urged upon those who had
partially emptied their plates. There
began to be some long-drawn sighs, and
a tendency toward conversation. I
think we should all have risen at that
moment and returned to the drawing
room. It would have been healthier,
wiser, more rational. We had eaten
enough, suxely. Or at the utmost one
light dessert would have proved sutli
! cient.
The plates were taken away again.
While the table was being cleared the
gentlemen told jokes in a mellow after
dinner niood. Gertie and Mrs. Wyllis
began to discuss Parepa and music, and
I wished I were beside them, for Mrs.
Henry was not much of a talker, except
upon two fruitful topics—dress and
servants.
Then followed the next course. Snowy
white stems of macaroni floating in
cream gravy, oysters fried to the most
delicious crisu and shade of brown,
pressed beef in delicate slices and wine
jelly. One and another declined; but
Mr. Mason insisted, Mrs. Mason insist
ed, and the plates were passed. Every
body minced and dawdled, laughed,
talked, made a pretence of eating, and
presently these plates were sent away.
I thought of the old injunction about
"gathering up the fragments that noth
ing might be wasted." No well-bred
servant condescexxds to fragments now
a-days. And all that delightful maca
roni, those crisp, lovely oyaters to be
thx'own out as waste, when hundreds of
poor and sick were perishing for food,
or getting barely enough to keep soul
aixd body togethei'. It frightened me.
Oranges sliced with a powdering of
eocoanut and sugar, and canned pears,
luscious, tempting. A beautiful pyra
mid of cream to be dished out in elegant
china. Oh, how could we eat it all.
Of course we did nut We sipped a
little of this and a little of that, spoiled
the symmetry of the beautiful pear,
played with the cream. Then the or*
anges and the jellies were whisked off,
pretty colored napkins, fruit-knives and
nut-picks brought on. Two lovely sil
ver filagree baskets of nuts of various
kinds were placed at either end of the
table and dished out. Then the fruit
was passed.
"Ob, you must try those grapes—pre
served by a new process. And these
figs are fresh, delightful. A cluster of
raisins then—no? An apple then?—-
they are very small. Some of this pre
sorted Italian fruit then?" and down,
something came on your plate.
I was dreadfully tired. I felt Sure
that Mr. Gifford was getting sleepy.
Gertie looked as if she could drop down
anywhere. Mrs. Wyllis seemed the
brightest of all, I thought.
At length we rose and returned to the
drawing-room. The cooler air felt very
agreeable, but we were too much ex
hausted to talk brilliantly. We lounged
and yawned a little, I am afraid. It
was eleven, and our dinner had occupied
two hours and a half.
Did we feel the better for the feast
ing? lam afraid net. I for one wished
myself home and in bed, being convinced
that I was not made for stylish living.
Mr. Keith played again, Gertie sang
once, but her voice was no longer clear
and fresh. Then everybody besieged
Mrs. Wyllis to read.
"I really havent any voiee,"shs said,
laughingly. "It is cruel to ask me."
"But I sang without any voise," re
turned Gertie.
After considerable coaxing she assent
ed. The truth was, she had eaten alto
gether too much, and felt lary and
sleepy. What she might have been un
der other circumstances, I cannot tell.
but this was no remarkable performance.
She had a smooth, musical voice, but
IhmrmHomrwtfs tea* toe did no*
6. P. Hamilton,
$1.15 kYEift
appear interested in what she was doing.
Mrs. Calmer declared that they must
go. It was getting late.
"Oh, no," said Mrs. Mason, with a
pretty, imperious air. "Indeed you
must not."
There was a gentle rustle in the hall.
Plates again—l was beginning to hale
the sight of them—napkins and cups of
fragrant coffee. Then was passed,
around a basket of lancy cake, over which
I shook my head disdainfully.
It was after twelve then, and we rose
with oue voice, insisting that we must
go home. We went up-stairs and put
on our wraps.
"It has been a delightful evening,"
said Mis. Henry. "How charming Mis.
Wyilis is I Gertie, your singing was
lovely!"
I suppose she thought she must say it.
She looked utterly fagged out, and bar
eyes closed wearily.
We were glad to get in the open a>.
"Oh, dear 1" I said, taking Charley
Keith's arm. "1 feel as if i should not
want another mouthful for a mouth."
fie laughed.
"I suppose we were invited expressly
to eat, and we have eaten," said Gertie,
with a wailing sound in her voice. "But
1 can't help wisibng it had been sums
other kind of entertainment. We spent
two hours and a half stuihng ourselves,
and shall feel uncomfortable lor the next
two hours and a half. Aud yet 1 tried
to eat just as little as 1 could, consist
ently with politeuess."
it was not at all intellectual," was
my disappointed comment. "And iu a
poet's honor!"
"1 liked Airs. Wyllis a good deal, if
the dinner had been an hour ioug, with
about half as many varieties, anu i! wo
hud talked on some entertaining topics,
and there had heen some more read
ing—"
Gertie ended with a fearful yawn,
"let, as a dinner merely; it was a suo
j cess," said Charley Keith. "in fact,
mere was little besides dinner."
"The silver, and glass, and Dowers
were beautiful, but we couid have gone
in and admired them without running
the risk of uidigestion. And then to
think oi the luxuries that must be wast
ed, thrown away 1 i couid not help re
membering the Austens and others, who
couid hardly get enough to eat."
"i tuougut of them too,"said Gertie.
"It seems a sill. And what useful, mor
al or lutellectual purpose did it serve ?
Charley, i warn you beforehand that i
shah never give a state diuuer."
"1 snail not ask you to until I am for
ty, and have both gout and dyspepsia.
Gertie laugiied gaily, and said he
should have tueui, tuen.
Is it true and elegant hospitality ?
Eating is very well hi its way, ami vay
necessary, but is it the great aim of our
social lne ? Old-fashioned afternoon
visiting has gone out of date, but are
our evening dinners any improvement?
Go they improve our intellects, clear our
judgments and conduce to our iutercst
iu our neighbor ? And because we can
not return in kind, we content ourselves
with formal carls, thinking thereby we
have done our duty by society; but is
there not something better, loiuei and
wiser for the eouung men and women f
The Vienna Exhibition.
In a letter to General Thomas 13.
Van iiurcn, United suites Commis
sioner to the Vienna Exhibition, air.
Jay, (American Aimister at Vienna),
inas.es the loilowiug suggestions:
"I uad a long visit rroui the Karon
Schwatz Seaborn day before yesterday,
lie is delighted at tue vigor with which
yon have pushed the school matter, and
the prospect of a complete exposition of
our system, aud said that tue publica
tion of the particulars of the meeting
at Washington had produced the Happi
est lynpression at V' leuua, especially on
the part of the government. There
will be, he said, also, a complete expo
sition of the German school system.
iis is very anxious that there snouid
be a full collection ot our fruits and
vegetables, and will even permit the
vegetables to be raised here, lie also
wfiuts some American pines, especially
the Washington, to add to a g.oup of
Ayaenuan trees now growing In re,
which he pi opuses to transplant to the
Tratel. Aiy impression is that if wo
have sucp an exhibition in all respects
as America ougnt to make, it will gi\ e a
great impulse to emigration on the part
of the better class—skilled workmen,
small fanners with money, aud gradually
I ofnienof cuitureaud science. And tnere
i can be nothing more suggestive of a
tei trie soil and pleasant noiue than a
generous supply of fruits und vege
tables. The Karon hopes for rich as
sorUhchts of ores from the different
states. aud as the lime is so short for
individual contribution, why * should
libt each State and each city contribute
something on itsown account? A sug
gestion from you to this effect would
probably secure a general acquiescence
in the plan, especially if it were under
stood that the plan would be generally
adopted. From the city of New York,
tor instance, what couid be more appro
priate than a raised plan of the Central
Folk, showing the bridges, statues, Ac.?
And the Karon said that the models of
our meat engineering works, aud es
pecially of our notable public buildings,
would be most effective in adding inter
est to our department and educating the
people in regard to America. He has
just sent me some copies of the pro
grammes, which I have addressed
through the State Department to the
governors of the States and Territories,
and to the Mayors of twenty-Dve of our
cities of the largest population as given
in the last census. A model of the
Capitol at Washington would be de
sirable.
Under group twenty we should cer
tainly have a Western farm-1 iouse, and
perhaps the log cabin first occupied by
the new settler. A model of the lew
part of Chicago would be immei sely
interesting. Our machinists, espc< ially
the builders of boilers, engines, agri
cultural machines and others of all
sorts, may expect to meet the most ear
nest competition from the large firms
of England, France, Germany and Bel
gium, and on our success depends a
vast deal in the future, particularly in
view of the probability of a decline in
the ooal supply at England.