girt punter gidelligeurtr, PUBLISHED LTZBY WEDNESDAY BY COOPER, SAND ERSON & CO J. M. Coo=, G sarH, ALaitz:o SANDERSON WE. A. MORTON, TERMS—Two Dollars and Fifty Cents per annum, payable all cases in advance. CORNER OF CEIiTRE OFFICE--Bo SQUARE. nil- All letters .on business should be ad dressed to COOPER, SANDERSON & CO. itticarg. Price of Two Potatoes In 1808 The following anecdote of Napoleon the First is related in a letter from a correspondent who was a considerable time in the French military service, and who vouches for its authenticity. The evening before the battle of Ulm, when Napoleon the First, in company with Marshal Berthier, was walking through the camp, listening to the talk of his soldiers, he saw, in a group of Grenadiers of the Guard, one who Was roasting potatoes in the ashes. "I should like a roasted potato above all things," said Napoleon to the Marshal ; " Ask the owner of them if he will sell me one." In obedience to the order, Berthier advanced to the group and asked to whom the potatoes belonged. A grena dier stepped forward and claimed them as his. " Will you sell me one?" inquired Berthier. " I have only five," said the grenadier, " and that's hardly enough for myself." I will give you two Napoleons if you will sell me one," said Berthier. " I don't want your gold," said the grenadier, " I shall be killed, perhaps, to-morrow, and I don't want the enemy to find me with an empty stomach." Berthier reported the soldier's answer to the Emperor, who was standing in the back-ground. "Let's see if I shall be luckier than yOu," said the latter; and going up•close to the grenadier, he asked him would he sell him a potato. " Not by a long shot," said the grena dier. " But you may set your own price," said Napoleon. " Come, I'm hungry, and havn't eaten to -day." " I havn't enough for myself," said the grenadier, " besides all that, doyou think that I don't know you, in spite of youndisguise ?" " 'Who am I then ?" inquired 'Napo leon. • " Bah !" said the grenadier, " the ' Little Corporal,' as they call you. Am I right'?" "Well," said Napoleon, "since you know me, will you sell me a potato?" "No," said the grenadier, " but if you will have Inc come and dine with you when you get back to Paris, you may sup with me to-night." " Done !" said Napoleon, word of a ' Little Corporal' word of the Emperor." "Well and good," said the grenadier, our potatoes ought to be done by this time—there are the two largest; the rest I'll eat myself." The Emperor sat down and ate his potatoes, and then returned with Ber tiller to his tent, merely remarking "that rogue is a good soldier,l'll wager." Two months afterwards Napoleon the Great was in the midst of a brilliant court at the palade of the Tuilleries, and was just sitting—down to dine, when word was brought him that a grenadier was without, trying to force the guard at the door, saying that he had been in vited by the Emperor. " Let him come in," said his majesty. " The soldier entered, saluted Napo leon, and said, "Do you remember having supped with me off my roasted potatoes ?" "Oh, is it you? Yes, yes, I remem ber," said the Emperor, and so you have come to dine with me, have you ? Rustan, lay another cover on your table for that brave fellow," he said to one of his household. Again the grenadier saluted Napoleon. ", A grenadier of the Guard does not eat with lackeys. Your Majesty told me I should dine with you ; that was the bar gain ; and trusting to your word, I have come hither." " True, true," said the Emperor, "Lay a cover near me; lay aside your arms, mon ami, and draw up to the table." Dinner over, the grenadier went at his usual place, took up his carbine, and turning to the Emperor, presented arms. "A mere private," he said, " ought not to dine at the table of his Emperor." "Ala, I understand you," said Napo leon. " I name you Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, and lieutenant of my company of guards." " Thank you, heartly," returned the soldier, and amid loud shouts of Vive la Emper cur ! he quietly withdrew. "Little Dam Brook." A clergyman, seeing a little boy play ing in a small stream by the roadside, inquired for his father. " He's over to the little darn brook," exclaimed the lad. "What!" said the reverend gentle man, shocked at the boy's profanity. "Can't you speak without swearing'?" " Well, he is over to the little dam brook, anyhow," persisted the boy, as he went spattering through the water and mud after a butterfly. " He's been over to the little dam brook all day, and if you don't believe it, you can go up to that house and ask mother." The clergyman sought an interview with the mother immediately, and complained of the profanity of her child. After telling her, however, what the lad had said, she laughingly in formed him the " little dam brook," was a title by which the stream was called to distinguish it from a "big dam brook," situated a few miles further to the eastward. He now felt that he had wronged the boy, and therefore owed him an apology. Hurrying back to the spot, he ex claimed : " Boy, I wronged you in accusing you of swearing ; but you should have told me that " little dam brook" was only the name of a stream, and I then would not have scolded you." " Well, 'tain't no matter, said the happy youngster, as he held aloft a struggling frog that he had speared with his mother's clothes stick. " There's a big dam on big dam brook, and a little dam on little dam brook, and we would have had a little dam on this brook, only I'spect it's too small, it ain't worth a dain." MRS. PETROLEUM.-A story is told of a certain Mrs. Petroleum whose hus band had suddenly come into possession of a large fortune, and had erected a house to correspond to the enlargement of his means. Mrs. Petroleum had heard that it was necessary to have a " libery," and accordingly sent to a popular book store and ordered one. A well -assorted library of standard works was sent to her house. Next day down comes my lady in a towering rage at their selec tion. "Choicest works?" cried she, as an explanation was attempted, " bother your' hoicest works ; they were all dif ferent sizes and colors. I wanted them all in. blue and gold, to match my fur- Aiturel" I,lartOttt /Ittettic(c/Itet. VOLUME 66 I Ilavn't a Mother like the Best The weather had been unusuallymild for two or three days before Christmas, so that the face of the big pond was rather rotten; but daring Harry thought he could brave it ; it would be a pity to spoil the fun now, and so many admir ing eyes fixed upon him, too. He made a bold dash—his little figure, upright and graceful, was balanced upon the ice. Then there was a crash ! the dan gerous cake gave way ; and with a loud cry, Harry fell amid the rush of the ice and water. The group at the window seemed for a moment paralyzed with horror. Then there was a scattering for the pond, and a screaming and crying from one and all. "He's under the water! father! father! Harry's going under the ice!" Every particle of color had gone from farmer May's face; he trembled in every limb, and threw up his hands wildly. His strength seemed to have ebbed away in the tide of grief. "Oh, help me!" he cried. "My boy, my boy ! and I can't swim !" " But I can," shouted a voice, brave and clear as an angel's almost ; " I can swim, and I'll save him !"and, dashing past weeping, mother May, Joseph Craig plunged headlong into the freezing water,swimming for dear life. How they shuddered when they saw him grasp once, twice at a dark object under the water, and then rise, with his face gashed and bleeding from contact with the ugly ice corners. He was some way out now, and made a third dive ; then there was a faint hurrah, and, breasting the ice, he had just managed to swim to the bank, with one arm holding uppoor Harry. "My child! my boy!—thank God!" cried the happy parent, folding him in his arms. They bore him to the roaring tire in the sitting room, and rubbed him until he opened his eyes and smiled. Very soon he was able to set up and laugh and talk naturally. And where was Joseph all the time? Sitting on the kitchen floor squeezing his wet clothes, and rubbing the great painful gashes in his arms and face, from which the blood was still stream ing. "Joseph!" He listened; it was farmer Hay's voice, unusually soft and tender. The poor apprentice lad shook like a leaf ; before he was aware a strong arm came round behi 'HI hint, lifting him from the floor. He found himself, as if by magic, sitting beside Harry, and Harry's bright head resting on his bosom, with great tears rolling down the graceful boy's cheeks. "1 f there's anything you wish for now, Joseph," said the farmer huskily, "any- "on the —on the thing you'd like to have, just name it, my boy. You have saved us many a year (a - somw and given us cause to remember this Christmas before all others. Come, speak out, my boy."— How could he speak when he felt so happy '."l'wire he tried to gulp down the sobs rising in his throat—sobs of joy they were. " Only be kind to me sir ;" he gasped out at length, " only drop a kind word now and then, for I havn't a mother like the rest." How was it now with father May? He felt all at once that great lack there had been in his otherwise kindly heart. It quite broke him down, that appeal to his better nature ; so he leaned on mother May's shoulder and sobbed aloud. Joseph set as if in a dream; his beautiful Christmas had came at last ; no more hunger and thirsting of spirit now. How the joyous red sparks of firelight ran up the white wall, the whole room shining! Harry squeezing him tightly with one arm, and Tiny, her cheeks flushed with crying, thrust ing her pretty doll into his lap, whisper ing, " There, there, keep it Joseph. I don't want it, inde6d, and doubledeed, I don't ;" and then running away with her face to the wall, lest by looking back she might repent the immense sacrifice. Well, well, tears cannot always last, and very soon the May family were bright and smiling again, Joseph the happiest of all. And when the Christ mas dinner was set on, and all the friends were gathered about it, they made a place for Joe among the chil_ dren ; and mother May could not head his plate enough with good things ; and the poor lad felt as if he was more ready to cry than to laugh at all the kindly words which every one had for him. Oh, what a blessing there is often in a few kind words. A Gentle Reproof One day, as Zachariah Hodgson was going to his daily avocations after break fast, he purchased a fine large codfish and sent it house, with directions to his wife to have it cooked for dinner. As no particular mode of cooking it was prescribed, the good woman well knew that whether she boiled it or made it into chowder, her husband would scold her when he came home. But she re solved to please him, if possible, and therefore cooked portions of it in several different ways. She also, with some little difficulty, procured an amphibi ous animal from a brook back of the house, and plumped it into the pot. In due time her husband came home; some covered dishes were placed on the table, and, with a frowning, fault-find ing look, the moody man commenced the conversation : " Well, wife, did you get the fish I bought ^." " Yes, my dear." " I will bet anything that you have cooked it. I will bet anythingthat you have spoiled it for my eating. (Taking off the cover) I thought so. What in creation possessed you to fry it? I would as lief eat a boiled frog." "Why, my dear, I thought you loved it best fried." " You didn't any such thing. You knew better—l never loved fried fish— why didn't you boil it ?" "My dear, the last time we had fresh fish, you know I boiled it, and you said you liked it best fried. But I have boiled some also." So saying, she lifted a covert find lo ! the shoulders of the cod, nicely boiled, were neatly deposited in a dish, a sight which would have made an epicure re joice, but which only added to the ill nature of her hue land. " A pretty dish, this !" exclaimed he. " Boiled fish ! Chips and porridge ! If you had not been one of the most stupid of womankind, you would have made it into a chowder." His patient wife, with a smile, im mediately placed a tureen before him containing an excellent chowder. " My dear," said she, " I was resolved to please you. There is your favorite dish." "Favorite dish, indeed," grumbled the discomated husband. " I dare say it is an unpalatable, wishy-washy mess. I would rather have a boiled frog than than the whole of it." This was a common expression of his and had been anticipated by his wife, who, as soon as the preference was ex pressed, uncovered a large dish near her husband, and there was a large bull frog of portentous dimensions and pugna cious aspect, stretched out at full length ! Zachariah sprang from his chair, not a little frightened at the apparition. " My dear," said his wife, in a kind, entreating tone, " I hope you will at length be able to make a dinner." Zachariah could not stand this. His surly mood was finally overcome, and he burst into a heartly laugh. He ac knowledged that his wife was right, and that he was wrong, and declared that she should never have occasion to read him such another lesson, and he Was as good as his word. Tall and Short As regards country and town life, M. Villerme has ascertained, contrary to the generally received notion, that the inhabitants of towns are, on an average, a little taller than those of country dis tricts. M. Quetelet found the same rule to apply in Brabant, where, after near ly ten thousand measurements, he as certained that town people are, on an average, three-quarters of an inch taller than country folks. Much discussion has taken place in connection with the question at what age we cease to grow. M. Quetelet shows that, in Belgium, at any rate, men not only grow between twenty and twenty-five years of age, but even on to thirty. Among nine hundred soldiers and recruits whom he measured, this was perceptibly the ease, although the increase was, of course, but small. Dr. Knox, of Edinburgh, some time ago observed a similar fact; young then leaving the University at twenty or twenty-two years of age, and returning seven or eight years after ward, had increased, not only in breadth but in height. The average height of conscripts, twenty years old taken from the whole of France, for renewing the imperial armies, is found to be five feet three inches and a half. Were it not that the French are very accurate in these mat ters, one might almost doubt whether the average was so low. Only one French soldier in forty is above five feet eight high ; many of them barely reach five feet. It is the opinion of army surgeons that the maintenance of large.standing armies tends to lessen the average height of the population of a country, by various direct and indirect agen6ies. Mr. Cowell, one of the fac tory inspectors, some years ago measured as well as weighed, many of the factory operatives at various ages ; but as Lancashire mill-folk are very prone to wooden shoes of formida ble thickness, and as ‘ i.t. is not stated whether Mr. Cowell i9cluded or exclud ed these substantial understandings, it may be well to pass over his tabulations unnoticed. Young men in a good sta tion of life are rather taller than those who have most privations to' bear. Of eighty Cambridge students, between eighteen and twenty-three years of age, the average height was over five feet nine. It appears to be pretty certain, from the average of a large number of instances, that the height remains constant only from about the age of thirty to that of fifty ; a slight ave rage growth until the former limit, a slight average dimunition after the lat ter. Among all the adults of all classes measured by Mr. Quetelet, he found that fully developed and well formed men varied from four feet ten to six feet two ; with an average of five feet six ; and fully developed and well-fdeined wo men varied from four feet seven to five feet eight, with an average of about five feet two. Mr. Virey says " Tall men are gen erally much more weak and slow than short men, for all exertions both of body and mind. If men of high stature are preferred, for their rine appearance, in the body-guard of princes, and in the service of eminent persons, they are certainly neither the most robust nor the most active; but they are docile, candid, and naive, little prone to con spire for evil, and faithful even to the worst master. In war they are more fitted for defence than attack—whereas an impetuous and brusque action suits better for short and vivacious men. Tall men are mostly tame and insipid, like watery vegetables ; insomuch that we seldom hear of a very tall man becoming a very great man.— Little men manifest a character more firm and decided than those lofty and soft-bodied people, whom we can lead more easily, both morally and phsyical ly." Let all little men rejoice at such an opinion as this, and especially at the following incident : An empress of Germany, in the seventeenth century, to gratify a whim, caused all the giants and dwarfs in the empire to be brought to court. As it was feared that the giants would terrify the dwarfs, means were taken to keep the peace ; but instead of this, the dwarfs teased, insulted, and robbed the giants to such an extent, that the lengthy fellows complained with tears in their eyes, and sentinels had to be posted to protect the giants from the dwarfs.—All the Year Round. zer. Those who imagine that the " nigger " is about to be eliminated from the domain of politics may herein find their mistake : "We have at two several elections struggled for, as we have through life upheld the principle that suffrage should be based on•character, not color. In so far as our State constitution allows white ruffians, pimps and blacklegs to vote, and denies:the franchise to virtu ous and estimable blacks, we condemn and labor to change it. We did our best to have it otherwise when this con stitution was framed and ratified; we tried again and failed in 1860; we mean to keep trying till full justice be done." —New York Tribune. It means to keep trying until the ne gro is invested with equal political privileges with the whites. It means to keep trying . until the prejudice against negroes is banished. It means to keep trying until social equality is established between whites and negroes. In a word, it means to keep trying until the doctrine of miscegenation is made a plank in the Abolition platform. The Tribune is the criterion of " loyalty," and the definition of " loyalty " is a be lief in negro equality, practically exem plified by miscegenation.— Chicag o Times /tar The English people are refined and cultivated, and boast of it. Yet at a fair recently there was exhibited pub licly a being in human shape, wear ing only the savage garb around his waist, who devoured rats for John Bull's delight and edification. A dozen were brought to him alive. He seized one after another in his hand, and placing its head between his teeth, with a sick ening crash of the skull, instantly killed it, and devoured the whole in a little over a minute. Only three or four tails were left whenhe had finished his meal. LANCASTER, PA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH 15, 1865. ioctilantouo. The Inauguration Ball As our lady readers are naturally more or less interested in balls, and events of that character, they . will look for some account of the grand Inauguration Ball, which came off, according to contract, in the Patent Offte building, on Mon day night. The following extracts from the special correspondent of the New York Herald, will give the reader some idea of who were present, and what happened, at the great shoddy show : ARRI VAL OF THE PRESIDE - NTIAL PARTY At half-past ten the Presidential par ty was announced, and as they entered the bands struck up " Hail to the Chief," and the company formed in lines, lead ing to the Presidential platform. The President and Speaker Colfax led the party. Mrs. Lincoln was escorted by Senator Sumner, secretary Seward and Mrs. Fred. Seward, Secretary Usher and Mrs. Usher, Senator Wilson and Mrs. Wilson, and other notables followed. The party proceeded at once to the dais, and bowed to the assemblage. When they were seated dancing was resumed. Immediately an immense crowd of cu rious people gathered in front of the platform, and tried to stare the Presi dential party out of countenance. This crowd was constantly reinforced, until it was almost impossible to get past the middle of the room. THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY. The President occupied his chair but a moment, gallantly relinquishing it to Mrs. Senator Harris, and falling back against the wall with the rest of the gentlemen on the platform. He was dressed in evening costume, but with a black necktie, and looked boyishly de lighted at the charming scene before him. Mrs. Lincoln remained seated in queen ly state. She was dressed in white satin, richly embroidered, and wore a point lace shawl. Her necklace and earrings were of diamonds. Her hair was arranged with a fall of curls and with silver ornaments and with artifi cial flowers. Her rounded arms and dimpled shoulders were displayed, and her face bore an expression which as sured all observers that she was the wife of the President. Nobody could mis take Mrs. Lincoln. She was every inch a Presidentess. Surrounding the President and the 'residentess was a galaxy of noticeable people, the cynosures of all eyes. It was a perfect court picture, and should have been painted by Powell. On Mrs. Lincoln's right sat Mrs. Senator Harris, dressed in an elegant blue satin, with a deep flounce of white lace. At her left was Mrs. Fred. Seward, with a tarletan skirt, with au overdress of pink satin. Near the latter was Mrs. Postmaster Dennison, iu black. At the east end of the platform was Miss Dennison, dressed in a pink satin, with her friend, Miss Neill, at her side. The wife of one of the foreign diplomats, distinguished by her beautiful golden hair, attracted much attention, dressed very simply in white and gay shoulder knots. Miss Jennie Cameron stood leaning on the arm of the son of Secretary \Velles.— She wore a figured tarletan dress, fes tooned with roses, revealing skirt of white tarletan. Miss Harlan, daughter of Senator Harlan, also formed one of the group ; simple white dress, trimmed with blue cord and tassel. Behind this brillant group of ladies stood Secretaries Seward and Dennison, Senators Sumner and Harris, Mayor Wallach, of Washington, Cap- tain Robert Lincoln in full uniform, Marshal Lanion and Speaker Colfax. THROUGH THE ROOM, wandering about the room, looking as though he was lost, was Secretary Welles with Mrs. Welles upon his arm. No one appeared to pay any attention to him, and everybody seemed, like Andy Johnson, to have forgotten his name. General Halleck, NVi th his lady, hardly knowing what to do, or what in reality was his rank, was also there. He was dressed in full uniform. Mrs. Halleck was very handsomely dressed in white satin. Senator Stewart, of Nevada, was roaming around, solitary and alone, evi dently determined to see all the sights. The Secretary and Mrs. Usher, and As sistant Secretary of 'War Dana and his lady, were constantly on the promenade, first in the ball-room and then strolling through the passages between the cases of models. Mrs. Costan, whose hus band invented the signal lights of the navy, wore a dress of white tulle, with bars of white satin ribbon, and orna mented with a magnificent set of pearls. Ex-Surveyor Andrews, of New York, promenaded with Mrs. E. S. Cleavland, of Hartford, Conn. She was dresged in a corn-colored satin, with a lace circular loosely about her, while Mr. .Cleavland escorted Miss Burns, of New York. The Republican State Central Committee of Connecticut was, represented by its chairman, E. S. Sperry, of New Haven, accompanied by his wife, dressed in a rich crimson vel vet, a white lace shawl, her head tastefully dressed with white flowers. Conspicuous among the promenaders were Mr. and Mrs. Orm., of Philadelphia the latter dressed in a rich blue silk, elegantly trimmed with lace. General Hooker's manly form and fine face were seen everywhere, accompanied by his niece. He was also in full uniform. Vice Admiral Farragut, with his beam ing face, was surrounded by a bevy of beauties. General Banks participated in several quadrilles, each time with a new partner. Mr. Romero, the Mexi can Minister, joined in the festivities. He, as usual, was dressed in a plain black suit. Miss Sarmiento, of Phila delphia, was one of the attractive belles of the evening, dressed in a rich corn colored brocaded silk, with brilliant diamonds. Miss Morgan, of New York, a niece of Secretary Welles, was dressed in a becoming evening dress of tarlatan. The Misses Simpson and Miss Gardiner represented the " Hub of the Universe." Miss Sherman, daughter of the Senator and niece of General Sherman ; Miss Mcßlair, daughter of Paymaster Mc- Blair, of the Navy ; Miss Montgomery, daughter of Captain Montgomery, of the Navy; Miss Whiting, daughter of Captain Whiting; Miss Thole, of Wash ington ; Mrs. and Miss Miller, wife and daughter of Judge Miller, of the Su preme Court, were all universally ad mired. Hon. Augustus Myers, accom panied by four or five ladies, represented the Salt city of the Empire State Census Bureau Kennedy, supported by Mrs. Kennedy and Miss Grant, of New York ; Miss Nourse, daughter of Pro fessor Nourse, of the Naval School ; Lieutenant Simpson, of Gettysburg; Captain Cushing, Colonel and Mrs. Shipman, of St. Louis, and many 'other officers of the army and navy of various grades, added to the brilliancy of the scene. Mayor Senter and lady, of Cleveland, Ohio; Judge Busteed, of Alabama, resting from his fatiguing judicial labors, Zac. Chandler, of Michi gan, dancing like a trooper, and Long John Wentworth, towering like a liberty pole, were surrounded by aston ished thousands. Mrs. George Francis Train was probably the:most gorgeously dressed lady at the ball. ANDY JOHNSON'S PLEBEIANS We have given a description of the aristocracy, and now it is our duty to describe what Andy Johnson would call the plebians. There were numerous outrageous costumes to be seen. The faded "wall flowers" were in very strong force. There was one lady who wore the dress of her grandmother, an old-fashion brocade with big knots of yellow ribbon, without any crinoline; a number of ladies in plain black silks, others in mouslin delaines ; one with a brown merino dress, with a black cloth cloak and black hat; one with a faded calico, evidently from Tennessee ; an other with a carriage cloak. At least a dozen ladies wore bonnets more or less inappropriate to the festive scene. Sev eral gentlemen elbowed their way through the crowd with stove-pipe hats in hand, and wearing their winter over coats, as though they expected a snow storm in the Arctic regions. There were gentlemen with all manner of scarfs, bright and fancy colors, as well as dingy black, displaying glittering pins of id manner of devices. Andy Johnson's plebeians outnumbered the aristocrats at least twenty to one. They threw shod dy and petroleum completely into the shade. The dancing of these people was marvellous. The men threw their legs around like the spokes of a wheel; the women hopped, skippedand jumped about in a manner which would have made a French dancing master commit suicide. They introduced the figures of a quadrille into the Lancers, and a breakdown into a quadrille. They ap peared to think that every other dance was a waltz, and acted accordingly. The galop, the schottische and ,varsou vienne, the Danish and the redowa were all Greek to them. They under stood nothing but a plain waltz and a plain quadrille, and appeared to think that they were exhibiting the greatest science when they were kicking up the most dust. Those of the plebeians who did not dance gathered around the doors of thesupper rooms, and remained there from nine o'clock until the time that the supper room was opened. This gives a pretty accurate idea of their calibre. THE COLORED RACE In spite of the reports to the contrary, not one negro was a guest at the bail. Numbers of them were on hand as waiters, however, and were on view in the outside halls. The retiring rooms of the Presidential party were exclu sively attended by negroes. This was the only concession of the African race. Apropos of this another bit of gossip. A colored delegation once called on the Haytien Minister, who received them very indignantly, assuring them that he was not an African negro, and that a Haytien was quite a different sort of man. The absence of negroes was much remarked. They mere so conspicuous during the inaugtifation ceremonies at the Capitol, and the reception and in the procession, that every one expected to see them dance the Juba or Virginia reel before the President. Nobody could have objected, probably, had they been preSent, for this was a thoroughly abolition ball, all of the old Washington aristocracy refusing to attend. But either the inclination or the ten dollars was wanting, and the colored race was up-represented, SUPPER READY. Just before twelve o'clock the Presi dent was notified that supper was ready. The Presidential party then retired in the same order as they entered, and a rush was made to follow them. Police- men kept back the crowd and the party got safely out of the ballroom and were ushered in the supper room by a private entrance. Then the doors were thrown open to the guests, who dashed in pell mell in dreadful confusion, ladies being crushed against the walls, or dragged half fainting through the crush. Men tried t' tear down the temporary door way. The table was cleared almost in a minute, and after the first ten minutes the waiters could bring nothing except for a fee. In an hour there was 'loth- log left to bring. At least half the peo ple went away hungry. There was no attempt to keep order. The committee men were not to be found, and the policemen were insolent and inefficient. It was impossible to get in or out of the supper room or near the table. No wines were furnished with the supper, and but little water. The coffee room was shrewdly located at the other end of the building, where nobody could get at it till supper was over. The floor was covered with debris of the supper. All the dresses which escaped spoliation below were spoiled here. The ladies were very angry—so were the non. Some bullied, sonic bribed the wuiters, and sonic ate the re mains of other people's suppers. The mass surged to and fro like a Sea. Plates were broken by dozens. There was a general mess. END OF THE SHOW. The ball did not close, it fizzled out, like a poor piece of fireworks. After two o'clock the people were still eating off of plates which had been used be fore, and drinking from -each other's cups. The end of the inauguration cere monies was not at all creditable to those concerned. Although many distin guished gentlemen and elegant ladies were present during the evening, the majority were of the other stamp, and had never before been seen in Wash ington. The reade'r has a faithful pho tograph of both phases of the affair, and can form his own oonclusions as to the success of the ball. Mexico—Mixed Population---Condition of the Country—Antiquities—Fruits and Flowers, etc. • [From the New York Daily News.] CITY OF MEXICO, Jan. 29, 1863. The Mexicans are exceedingly swar thy—a mixture of the Indians, negroes and Spanish. There is no sang pur here except among the higher classes. The mixture among the common people would satisfy even Mr. Lincoln or Wen dell Phillips. Whether it is the long continued civil war or the mixture of races which has reduced the Mexicans to their present condition, we will leave others to decide; but it is very certain that either must lead to misery and degradation. The road from Vera Cruz to the city passes through as beautiful a country as, perhaps, the eye ever rested upon. A French savant, who traveled with us, and who was sent out by the French government to examine into the works of antiquity in Mexico, says that there ie everything to prove that this is the old est country in the world. If so, we may expect to hear of the discovery of the site of the Garden of Eden right here instead of on the other continent, where it was always supposed to be. The cause of Mother Eve's fall must have greatly degenerated since her time, for I have seen no Mexican apples that would tempt one to eat, even though they were " forbidden fruit." I must, however, do justice to the magnificent fruits that literally lined the roadside, growing there in wild profusion. Im mense orange trees, covered with their golden fruit, and flowers blooming on the same tree—forests of bananas, with the rice fruit ripe and ripening, and pine apples and other tropical fruits, was a sight for January that would amply repay one for all the discomforts of the trip. Flowers, too, were in profusion all along the road until we reached the mountain peaks, covered with eternal snow. I noticed the convolvulus, red and white honey-suckle, double roses, pink and red, and other flowers that were familiar. I saw one tree, about the size of an apple tree, covered all over with red flowers, and not a leaf on it.— From Vera Cruz to Cordovaone is struck by the immense quantity of loose stones of every size and shape lying on the surface of the earth, as though in some fierce convulsion of nature the mighty rocks had been shivered into fragments and scattered broadcast over the land.— For the purpose of macadamizing it is a very convenient arrangement,especially for a people who are not too fond of work. After passing Pdebla, we came in sight of• Popocatpetl, which is 600 feet higher than Orizaba, and alongside of this mountain peak is a lesser one, called the "White Woman," which is supposed to resemble a woman in a re clining attitude, dressed always in white, of course, as the snow never melts, even in midsummer. As we wound along the base of these high peaks, at an alti tude of several thousand feet above the level of the sea, we felt as if in transitu from earth to heaven. The snow lay in patches along the roadside, and had we felt so disposed we might have had a nice game of snow balls." Still the atmos phere was not cold when the sun was shining, but at night we needed all the wrappings we could command. About noon the third day out we began to descend into the fertile Valley of Mexico, which is about eighty miles long and forty wide ; and before dark we reached this city, which is grand and wonderful to behold, and fills the new corner with% dreamy amaze ment. Shut out from all the world, self-supporting and self-sustaining, for seven centuries, its history and its splendor are as wonderful asthe charm ing tales of Scheheraaade. Rebel Account of the Capture of Columbia. The Savannah Republican of the 2d inst., contains a rebel account of Sher man's occupation of Columbia from the Augusta Constitutionalist of February 27, derived from a citizen of Columbia. It appears that the rebel troops in large numbers left on the 17th ult., in the di rection of Charlotte. Governor Magrath left on the 18th for the upper section of the State. Beauregard left the same day for Charlotte. Mayor Goodwin went the same day to meet Sherman and surrendered the city to him at Saluda bridge, three miles out. On the sameday the public stores were thrown open and everybody helped themselves. o stores were burned. Sherman's army entered Columbia in the afternoon. Soon after wards they commenced destroying pub lic,property. The depots and arsenals w&e blown up, and the buildings in the suburbs containing the public stores were fired. Late in the afternoon a pile of cotton in the street, near the Conga ree House, took fire from sparks, and the flames spread to some wooden buildings, which unfortunately were in the vicinity, whence a strong wind drove them furiously down the street on both sides. The scene became ter rific. Loud explosions continually filled the air. The residences and ground were shaken as by an earth quake, and vast columns of smoke and flame rose to the heavens. Nothing of any account was saved. Goods, provisions and furniture, moved to supposed places of safety were burned as the fire progressed. The distance burned in Main street was about a mile and a half. Dr. Reynolds' house is the only one left standing between the sec- tion known as Cotton Town and the State House. The fire also extended live or ten blocks east of Main street, destroying everything. The entire busi ness portion of the city is in ruins. Both hotels, the Guardian and Carolinan newspaper offices,a number of churches, the Catholic Seminary, and several other public buildings; all the depots, the buildings at Charlotte Junction, and Evans & Cogswell's printing establish ment are among the buildings burned. All cars, engines and railroad stock which the rebels did not succeed hi re moving werealso destroyed. Only three churches are left standing—the Catholic, Episcopalian and Presbyterian. The Female College was uninjured, and is now occupied by houseless women and children. The old State House was blown up, The new State House was not touched, as it contained a statue of Washington. Wade Hampton's house was saved by Federal officers. General Preston's house was also saved, and giv en to the occupants of the Catholic Seminary, whose property was acci dentally destroyed. The railroads about Columbia are all torn up. All the bridges leading to the place are destroyed. All the foundries and machine shops are alsu destroyed. The country around the place is stripped of all eatables and transportion, and all the horses and carriages in the city are taken. 'Pile citizens are said to be in a desti- tute condition. Unless some relief is soon obtained there will be great suffer ing and death from starvation. some twenty-five miles of the Green ville Railroad had been previously damaged by a freshet. Much damage was also done to the road by the enemy. The Treasury Department and banks were removed to Charlotte. Both newspapers moved a portion of their stock to the same place. Many negroes left with Sherman's army. None were taken by force. Large numbers are returning to their masters. Sherman thought he would not visit the country west of Broad river, and advised the Mayor to send the citizens The Union troops seemed to be much incensed against Magrath, and would use him harshly if they get him in their power. Few if any private residences were entered. No outrages are known to have been committed on ladies. The enemy were under strict discipline dur ing their march through the city. Sherman's headquarters in the city were at the residence of Mr. Duncan. It was estimated that his infantry and artillery numbered 70,000. No cavalry were with him. Their rear guard pass ed through on Tuesday afternoon. The troops were in the best condition, well clothed and well shod, and marched as if they had just started on an expedition, instead of having been out for weeks. Fort Mott, St. Matthews and Union Court houses have been destroyed. Some of Sherman's officers said his destination was Raleigh and Salisbury. The General himself appeared in good spirits and confident of success. One corps took the road to Camden and Florence, another corps to Winnsboro, and Sherman with two corps moved on the direct road to Charlotte. Vast Armies and their Movements There have been vast armies and grand movements in ancient times. Here is a record of some of them : Sennacherib, the Bible tells us, lost in a single night 185,000 by the destroying angel. The city of Thebes had a hundred gates, and could send out of each gate 10,000 fighting men and 200 chariots ; in all, 1,000,000 men and 2,000 chariots. The army of Trerah, king of Ethiopia consisted of 1,000,000 men, and 300 char iots of war. Sesostris, king of Egypt, led against his enemies 600,000 men ; 24,000 cavalry, and 27 scythe-armed chariots ; 1491 be fore Christ. Hamilear went from Carthage, and landed near Palermo. He had a fleet of 2,000 ships and 3,000 small vessels, and a land force of 300,000 men. At the battle in which he was defeated, 150,000 were slain. sinus, the Assyrian king, about 2,•300 years before Christ, led against the Ilac trians an army of 1,700,000 f00t,1,700,000 horses, and 16,000 chariots armed with scythes. Semiramis employed 2,000,01)0 men in building Babylon. She took 100,000 prisoners at the Indus and sank 1,000 boats. A short time after the taking of Baby 10n, the forces of Cyrus consisted of 600,000 foot, 120,000 horse, and 2,000 chariots, armed with scythes. Army of Cambyses, 50,000 strong, was buried in the desert sands of Africa by a south wind. When Xerxes arrived at Thermopy he, his land and sea forces amounted to 2,614,510, exclusive of servants, eunchs, women, sutlers, etc., in all numbering 5,283,220. So say Herodotus, Plutarch, and Isocrates. The army of Artaxerxes before the battle of Canuxa amounted to about 1;200,000. Ten thousand horses and 100,000 foo fell on the fatal field of Issus. When Jerusalem was taken by Titus, 1,100,000 perished in various ways. The army of Tamerlane is said to have amounted to 1,600,000, and that of his antagonist, Bajazet, to I,4oo,ooo.—Zion's Herald. —The delicate and dangerous opera tion of excision of he tongue has recent y been successfully performed. The patient was a Manchester man; the operation was performed in Edinburgh by Prof. Syme, without the aid of chloroform, and the unhappy sufferer has since written to the Professor that he never felt better in his life than now. The Scotsman says that as newspaper readers will not fail to remember that two distressing and fatal cases haVe occurred within the last two or three years, it seems only fair to record the fact that a successful operation has taken place. The Memphis and Vicksburg packet James Watson, laden with government freight, a large number of passengers and eighty-six soldiers, sunk twelve miles below Napoleon on the morning of toe 2d. Over thirty lives were lost, including Adams Express messenger, twenty soldiers, several ladies and chil dren. The officers of the boat were mostly saved. The steamer and cargo were total loss. NUMBER 10. Examination of the Exchange Question The following scathing article, on the subject of the exchange of prisoners, is from the New York Tribune, and was written by one of its correspondents who lately escaped from confinement lima rebel prison. He knows whereof he speaks. If anything can move the ad ministration to proper action in this most important matter, the article from which we make the following extracts ought to be sufficient to do it. The writer says : The relatives and friends of prisoners in the South, who place any confidence in the dispatches and letters sent from Washington, even though they come from men in power and position, must be more largely blessed with faith than reason. Again, and again, and again has the story been told, circulated and believed that a general exehangeof our prisoners would soon be made. From May 30, 1863, when the cartel was in terrupted, to the present, this statement has been-put forth, usually just before a draft, or when it was necessary to stifle the natural clamors of the people. And to serve this very needful purpose, some hundreds, and once or twice some thousands, usually the sick and wound ed, have been exchanged by a special arrangement. But nothing like a gen eral exchange has been begun, and 1 am free to say, in my judgment, was ever contemplated at Washington. Since my escape I have made diligent inquiry in military and civil- circles, all the way from Knoxville to Washington, where, in conjunction with my confrere, Mr. Richardson, I spent nearly a week endeavoring to learn who was responsi ble for the fact that our thirty or forty thousand prisoners are neither exchang ed nor relieved from the barbarities practiced upon them by the enemy by a prompt and vigorous retaliation ; and all the information I have been able to gather on the subject puts the dreadful responsibility upon Mr. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. Of course, the rebels and they alone must bear the odium justly excited throughout the world of treating their captives with unprecedented and need less cruelty. That it lay in the power of our authorities to exchange them, whether with or without some sacrifice of principle, is no excuse for the enemy : he cannot avoid the issue; he stands convicted of the charge by overwhelm- ing evidence, and ages and nations will condemn him with a unanimous voice. The question is, when the Rebels agreed to exchange man for man, leav ing a large excess of captives in our hands, and the determination of mooted points for future consideration who pre vented the exchange and why? If there were good and sufficient reasons that the arrangement should not be made—as I believe some of the friends of Mr. Stanton claim—why were not these reasons given? Why was the country kept in ignorance when it had the right to know ? For the refusal to exchange, and for the darkness that enshrouds the entire question of the exchange, we are, to the best of my information, indebted to the Secretary of War. It is, I have under stood, his settled conviction not to ex change at all ; that we can far better af ford to do without our prisoners than the Southerners can without theirs, and that our best policy is to retain all our captives and let the foe retain all of his until the end of the war. Regarded outside of the light of humanity, I think this view correct and wise ; but when the Secretary gives, as has been alleged, as one of his reasons that the time of many of our soldiers held in the South has expired, while those in our hands are enlisted for the war, there must be few who will not be shocked at the gross injustice done to our brave defenders, and at the entire cold bloodedness of the man capable of arriving at such a conclusion. In great struggles, in all national af fairs, individuals are ever made to yield to principles ; and war, too, is so much and so necessarily a barbarism, that, it may seem sentimental to some to talk of our freezing and suffering heroes when hundreds and thousands of them are swept every month into the tomb by the necessary accidents of the mighty contest. Not without a. certain speciousness is this view ; but the enlightened opinion of war is, that there be no unnecessary suffering, and that what cannot be avoided be mitigated as far as possible. When the exchange of man for man was proposed there was no valid reason given why it should not have been accepted, and at least 10,000 lives thus have been saved to the Republic. What we want, what the country demands, and the relatives and friends of the Union prisoners will have, is that the questions at issue between the Gov ernment and the Rebels be fairly sta ted ; that, if those near and dear to them are to be held, the reason of their deten tion be given fully and candidly. Let us have no more double-dealing, chicanery and false promising. Let the Secretary of War tells us what he in tends, and what he will do, and the reasons, so far as prudent, for his course of conduct. We have had far more than enough of trickery and shuffling and charlatanism. We want facts, figures and open avowal of motives, whatever they may be. My feelings have been deeply inter ested ih, and my sympathies largely ex cited in behalf of the Northern and Southern citizen prisoners, whose cap tivity I shared in Castle Thunder and the Salisbury Penitentiary. They are, as I have mentioned, mostly poor men, with large families dependent on them. They have been treated sometimes with barbarous cruelty, as in the Libby prison, where they were not permitted to purchase anything, and were so near ly starved that they often could not stand up long enough for roll-call Many of them have died, leaving their families dependent upon the cold chari ties of the world; and they will all die, unless they are released at an early day; for their situation constantly grows worse, and their capacity to endure diminishes. That an arrangement had been made for the exchange of civilian as well as other prisoners, I read only a few days ago in the public journals. I read it, and my cheek burned with indignation that another of those base attempts to deceive the people should be made. I have no faith in the announcement, and moreover I do not imagine for a moment that Secretary Stanton, or President Lincoln, or General Halleck, or General Grant, or whoever caused it to be made public, believed the statement. A partial exchange may be made, just enough to hoodwink the people ; but more will die in the next month, in my opinion, than will be released. The draft is coming off—somethi❑g must be done to remove from the public mind the horror, worse than death, it has of hopeless captivity and slow torture ; and so the old lie of a general exchange is put offupon the much-abused country. Is this honorable ; is it honest ; is it decent ? When a great Government like ours deems it necessary to cajole the people, to cram them with false promises, to in sult their judgment with oft-repeated falsehoods, there must be some weak and wicked men managing its affairs. The loyal people of the Republic are not children nor fools. They can bear to be fairly dealt with ; they can compre hend matters of policy perhaps as well as some of the members of the Cabinet ; and they certainly have no relish to be blinded and bullied by an incompe tent Secretary, as others high in office are said to be, into measures that are neither apt nor advantageous. Let us have no more shuffling on the subject of the exchange. Let it be un derstood who is responsible for the thousands of deaths of our prisoners. Let Secretary Stanton discharge his duties fitly, or let him resign. Upon him much odium has fallen, and more will fall. If he were as perspicacious as he deems himself, he would, I believe, have surrendered long since an office the public do not deem him competent to fill. He would have understood the opinion of the people to be, that the resignation of Edwin M. Stanton would be of more value to the cause than a glorious victory to the Union arms. Jmens HERE/ Boßwriz. RATES OF ADVERTISING. BuancESa ArrricaTlEUMlENra, 812 a year per square of ten lines; ten per cent. Increase for fractions Of a year. REAL ESTATE, PERSONAL PROPERTY, and GEN ERAL ADVERTISING, 7 cents a Ilne lor the first, and 4 cents for each subsequent Meer tion. rem= MEDICENES and other adver's by the column: One column, 1 year Rail column, 1 year Third column, 1 year Quarter column 13ualtrxsa CARDS, of ten lines or less, one year, Business Cards, five lines or less, one year, LEGA; AND OTHER NOTICES— Executors' notices Administrators' notices, Assignees' notices Auditors' notices Other "Notices," ten lines, or less, three times Items of News. It is understood that the President will not sign the bill regulating trade between the loyal and revolted States, and repealing the act authorizing the appointment of cotton agents. In the organization of Senate com mittees, Mr. Fessenden will be chair man of the Committee on Finance, but few other changes will be made. The annual rate of mortality in Bos ton is 1 to every 41 of the population ; London, 1 to 45 ; Philadelphia, 1 to 50 ; New York, 1 to 35. A negro, covered with scales and warts, has been exhibited in Dayton, Ohio, as having been " chewed up " by bloodhounds. There is no bound to the credulity of some people, where the negro is concerned. A Catholic Orphan Asylum, to cost $40,000, is to be built the present year at Fort Wayne. The Governors of nine States have united in a petition to the President for the appointment of Judge Edmunds as Secretary of the Interior. Large numbers of Union prisoners from the Wilmington exchange are daily arriving at Annapolis, their wretchedness sadly augmented by the tempestuous seas of the past week. An extra session of the Arkansas Le gislature has been called by Governor Murphy for the 4th of April, to act upon the Constitutional amendthent. The Missouri State Convention, on Monday, declared the seat of T. B. Har ris, of Calloway county, Mo., vacant, in consequence of disloyalty. General Butler is said to be strongly pressed by nearly all the officials, for the position of Chief of the Freedmen's Bureau. There area couple of tenement .houses in Cherry street, New York, which con tain an aggregate of 900souls-440 adults and 460 children. The buildings are each eighteen feet wide and five stories high. It is estimated that the sugar crop in Vermont last spring was 15,000,000 lbs., worth $2,250,000, enough to pay the war expenses of the State twice over, and have enough to sweeten the tea besides. There is every prospect of the expe dition proposed by Sir Henry James, to run a line of levels between the Medi terranean and Dead Sea, being carried into effect. The policy of the new Secretary of the Treasury will he to contract rather than expand the currency. Like his predecessors, however, lie will be gov erned by the reception the National Government loans meet with. With the balance sheet against him, the de ficiency must be supplied by loans or re-issues Arguelles, who was some time ago extradited from New York and taken to Cuba, where he was tried and con victed of having been engaged in the slave trade, has been sentenced to eight years' imprisonment in the chain gang. Zulueta, a wealthy Cuban, convicted of the same offence, has been sentenced to pay a fine of live thousand dollars, and to be banished from Cuba for the space of five years. John C. Heenan, the noted American pugilist, is now residing in a reduced state of health, and is but a shadow of his former self. One of his lungs is al most, if not entirely, gone, and the man that stood six feet two in his boots, and weighed two hundred and thirt . pounds, now weighs but one hundred and sixty five pounds. A New York contemporary remarks that the country is upside down, for while Mr. Beecher makes political speeches, Mr. Lincoln delivers a ser mon. John C. Fremont was fined twenty five dollars the other day by Judge Mul lin, of the Supreme Court, circuit, for non-attendance as a juror. There seems to be a general freshet in all the rivers of Kentucky and Tennes see. Considerable damage has been done to bridges and other property. The election in New Brunswick will probably result in the indefinite post ponement of the Confederation scheme. Captain Kennedy, one of the hotel burners, was, on Saturday last, convey ed to Fort Lafayette, by order of Gen. Dix. It came out in debate in Congress, the other day, on a motion to prohibit the importation of statuary in leac & that the . Republican house of Phelps, D odge Co., in New York, have been in the habit of importing lead negroes, lead statues of liberty, and other lead dodges, in order to dodge the duty on " lead in pigs." One of the members of the firm was the Lincoln candidate for Congress against Hon. James Brooks, and is a " trooly loyal" and patriotic gentleman, and loves the colored man with his whole heart. Some of the tax-gatherers under the internal revenue law appear to be mak ing a good thing of it. Senator Wilson says that collectors hold at present more than twenty millions of dollars which should have been handed over to the Treasury, but which they use for specu lation in whiskey and other commodi ties:. The practice should be stopped at once. The immense property forming the royal patrimony of Spain will be sold for the benefit of the Spanish nation. It is expected that the sale will produce 600,000,000 reals. The bill whit has been drawn up at the instance of the Queen, was received by the Chamber of Deputies with indescribable enthusiasm. One of Garibaldi's generals has been arrested in New Haven for keeping a barber shop open on Sunday, and was discharged because he did nut talk Eng-0 lish. The Funeral of Cardinal Wiseman [From the London Times, 24th I Yesterday the body of Cardinal Wise man was solemnly buried at the Roman Catholic Cemetery of St. Mary, at Ken sail Green, amid such circuwstancess of of ritual pomp as, since the Reformation at least, have never been seen in this country, and, we may add, amid such tokens of public interest, and almost of sorrow, as do not often mark the funer als even of our most illustrious dead.— Not since the state funeral of the great Duke of Wellington has the same in terest been evinced to behold what, it was thought, would be the superb reli gious pageant of yesterday. Since the death of Cardinal Wolsey, we believe, no English Cardinal has been buried in this country, and the funeral obsequies were looked forward to as likely to afford a splendid ceremonial of the most im pressive kind. Those, indeed, who were present in the pro-cathedral of Moorfields were not disappointed in this expectation. In the streets, however, the procession was re markable only for its enormous length. It soon, too, got broken and disarranged and mixed up with vehicles of all kinds; and this made the whole out-door por tion of the ceremonial ineffective, ex cept as regards the immense crowd it attracted along the whole seven miles of road it had to traverse from Moor field's to the cemetery. Every where, however, the cortege was re ceived with marks of profound respect. At least three-fourths of the shops along the line of route were closed ; the streets were lined with spectators, and everywindow and balcony was thronged. Altogether the feeling among the public seemed deeper than one of there curiosity—a wish perhaps to forget old differences with the late Cardinal and render respect to his memory as an eminent Englishman, and one of the most learned men of his time:: ger' The papers tell a st-ory of a Rua sian nobleman, whose wife, an Italian woman, died; but his love for her could not brook the thought of separation.— So the dear body of the departed was entrusted to a chemist of remarkable skill in his profession, who, by the em ployment of dissolvents and compres sions, reduced and solidified it until it could be worn as a setting in a ring, in which shape he preserves and wears it.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers