gjawnstw tjtrtelligmw, PUBLISHED EVERT WEDNESDAY BT 11. G. SMITH A CO A. J. Steinman H. G. Smith. TERMS —Two Dollars *>er Annum* payable 1U ail cases in advance. • The Lancaster lntelligenceris published every evening, Sunday excepted, at 6 per Annum in advance. )F r FTOE—SOUTHWEST CORNER OT CJKHTBB a TJABE. , ffiteftHatteoiig. FcnnsylTnnla Unlcli | From the Atlantic Monthly,\ 1 have lived for twenty years in the ■county of Lancaster, where my neigh bors on all sides are Pennsylvania Dutch. In the following pages I Bhall try to give, from my own observation and familiar acquaintance, some ac count of the life of a people who are al most unknown outside of the rural neighborhoods of their own .State, who have much that is peculiar in their lan guage, customs and beliefs, and whom i have learned heartily to esteem for tlieir native good sense, friendly feel" rug, aud religious character. tANdI’AOK. The tongue which these people speak is not German, nor do they expect you to call i t ho. They aud it are “ Dutch.” For the native German who works with them on the farm they entertain some contempt, aud the title “Yankee” is with them a synonyme for,cheat. As must always be the case where the great majority do not read the tongue which they Jspeak, and live hr eon tact with those wlie speak another, t he language has become mixed and corrupt. Keeiug a young neighbor cleaumg a buggy, J tried to talk with him by talking Ger man.' “ Willst du reiten ?” said I (not remembering that rci(< n is to ride on horseback. “ Willst du reitenV” All my ellorts were vain. 1 was going for cider to the house of an apple growing Dutchman,and there 1 asked his daugh ter v/Uatsbe would say, under the cir cumstances, for “Are you going to ride?” “ Vvidilu furry? Buggy forry? wan the answer. MVili.it du lahren ?) Such expression# arc heard as “ Kooch amulto” for “thick ei/mial da,” or "Just look at that!” ami “ Hallvbis- M ei.” for “ Jlult ein lusehen,” or “ Wait a little bit..” “Guieuobil” is always used for “ Guten Abend.” I once ask ed a woman what pie crust is iu Dutch. ” Pykroosht,” she answered. Those who speak Knglish use such uncommon expressions as “That's a werry laat</ banket” (meaning durable;) “ J seen him yet a'ready “ 1 knew u woman that hud a good baby truant;" “ The bread is ail” (all gone.j J have heard the carpenter call bis piano n/ir t and a housekeeper apply the name pro noun to her home made soap. A rich landed proprietor is sometimes called /tittfj. An old Dutchman who was absent from home thus narrated the cause of the journey: “I must go aud sec old Yoke . Jacob) Beidelrnan.— To people calls me te kink ov te manor (township,) aud tuy calls him te kink ov te Oclorara. Now deae UiuUsmust come togedder once.” (\cjouUo'/c/.licr, and pass quickly over our':.) UKI.KJION. I called recently on my friend aud neighbor, Peter S , who is a thrifty farmer, of a good mind, aud a member of the old Mcnui.it or Mennonite So ciety. J once ae anied him and his pleasant wife in iheir religious meeting. *The meeting-house i i a low brick build ing, with neat surroundings, aud re nembles a Friends' meeting house. The Mennists in many outward circum stances very much resemble the Society of Friends, bn', tin not, like the latter, hold that the object of extreme ven eration is the teaching of the Holy .Spirit in the secret stillness of the soul. In the interior of the Mennist meet ing a Quaker-like plainness prevails. The men, with broad -brimmed hats and simple dress, sit on benches ou one side of Hie house, and the women, iu plain caps and black mu bonnets, are ranged on the other. The services are almost always conducted in Dutch, and consist of exhortation and pruyer, and singing j 1 by tlie congregation. The singing is j • without previous training, find i» not j I musical. A pause of about dr? ...mutes' is allowed for private prater. I 1 The piv:i*' ,l .i< - i« r..v not paid, and are : I chosen inllifi u lowing manner: When . • a vacancy occurs ami a new appoiul-j 1 mentis icquired, one of the members ; goes into a small room, appointed for the purpose; aud to him, waiting, enter uliigly the men and women, as many j as choose, who l-li him the name of the j person whom each prefers would lill the vacancy. After this an opportunity is given to any candidate to excuse him- Helf from the service. Those who are not excused, if for instance, six iu num ber, are brought before six books. laaeh candidate takes up a book, and the one within whose book a lot is found is the chosen minister. I asked my friends, who gave me some of these details, whether it was claimed or believed that there-is any especial guidance of the Divine Si>irit in thus choosing a minisr. From the reply I did notlearn that unysueh guid ance is claimed, though they spoke of a man who ir-is h <1 to pass his hand over all the other books, and who selected Ihe last one, hut he did not get | the lot after all. He was thought to be ; ambitious of a place iu the ministry, i The three iprntnineiiL sects of Men* | noniles ail claim to be Non-Resistants, j or irchrl'is. The old Mennists, who are j the most numerous and leastrigid, vote | at elections, and are allowed to hold j such public ollices as school direct* I or aud road supervisor, but not to be) membersof the Legislature. Theminis ters aie expected not to vote. The members of this society cannot bring suit against any one; they can hold mortgages, but not judgment bonds. Like Quakers, they were not allowed to hold slaves ami liny do not take oaths, nor deal in spirituous liquors. My neighbor Deter and I wtre once talking of the general use of the word “Yankee” to denote one who is rather uufair in hisdealings. They sometimes speak of “Dutch Yankee;” aud lVter asked me whether, if going to sell aj horse, I should tell the buyer every fault that I knew of the horse s haviug, jib he maintained, was the proper course. His brother-in-law, who was at Limesa horse dealer, did not agree with him. Titles do not abound among these plain neighbors of outs. Peter's little boh used to call him “Dete,” us lie heard the hired men do. Nevertheless,oueof our New Meuuist acquaintances was quite courtly in his address. This last mentioned sect branched lifsome forty years ago, and claims to be rrfunnirt, or to have returned to an older and riiore excellent standard. They do not vote at all. Their most striking peculiarity is this: if one of the members is dis owned by the church, the other mem bers of his own family wiio are mem bers of the meeting arc not allowed to eat at the same table with him, and his wife withdraws from him. A woman who worked iu such a family told me how uupleosuut it was to her to see that the father did not take his seat at the table, to which she was invited. In the support of this practice they refer to the eleventh verse of the fifth chapter of First Corinthians : “Rut now’ I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a r-tiiler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such an one nol to ca t We have yet another sect among us, called Amish (prouounced Otnmish). In former times these Mennists were sometimes kuowu as “beardly men,” but of late years the beard is not a dis tinguishing trait. It is said that a per son once asked an Amish man the dif ference between themselves and another Mennist sect. "Yy, dey vears puttons, and ve vearsh hook oont eyes;” aud this is,iin fact, a prime difference. All the Mennist sects retain the ordinance of baptism aud the Lord’s bupper, but some also practice feet washing, aud some sectarians “greet one another with a holy kiss.” Uu aSunday moruiug Amish wagons, covered with yellow oil-cloth, may be aeeu moving toward the house of that member whoso turn it is to have the meeting. Great have been the prepara tions there beforehand —tlie whitewash ing, scrubbing, the polishing of tin aud brass. Wooden benches aud other seats are provided for the “meeting-folks,” and the services resemble those already * described. Of course, young mothers do not stay at home, but bring their infants with them. When the meeting is over the congregation remain to din ner. Bean soup was formerly the prin cipal dish on this occasion, but, with the progress of luxury, the farmers of a fat soil no louger confine themselves to so simple a diet. Imagine what a time of social intercourse this must be, tran scending those hospitable gatherings, the quarterly meetings of Friends. 1 have heard that, after meeting is over, the Amish people are all seen going to that store which gives the highest price for butter and eggs—for they have com pared notes. The Amish dress is peculiar; and the children are diminutive men and wo men. The women wear sun-bonnets Stic lancastcr iintdliociud: VOLUME 70 and close-fitting dresses, but often their figures look very trim in brown, with green or bright handkerchiefs meeting over the breast. , . I saw a group of Amish at the railroau station the other day—men women and a little boy. One of the young women wore a pasteboard sun-bonnet covered with black, and tied with narrow blue ribbon among which showed the thick white strings of her amish cap; a gray shawl without fringe; a brown stun dress and a purple apron. One middle aged man, inclined to corpulence, had coarse, brown woolen clothes, and his pantaloons, without suspenders, (in the Amish were unwilling to meet his waistcoat, and showed one or two inches of white shirt. No buttons were on his coat behind, but down the front were hooks and eyes. One young girl wore a bright brown sun-bonnet, a green dress, and a light-blue apron.— The choicest figure, however, was the six-year old, in a jacket, and with pan taloons plentifully plaited into the waistband behind; hair cut straight over the forehead, and hanging to the shoulders ; and a round-crowned, black wool hat, with an astoundingly wide brim. The little girls, down to two years old, wear the plaiu cap, and the handkerchief crossed upon the breast. In Amish the love of orna ment appears in brightly scoured uten sils—how the brass iadJes shine!—and in embroidered towels, one end of the towel showing a quantity of work in colored cottons. When steel or elliptic springs were introduced,sogreata nov elty was Dot patronized by members of the meeting; but an infirm brother, desiring to visit hie friends, directed the blacksmith to put a spring inside his wagoto, under the seat, and since that time steel springs have become com mon. I have even seen a youth with Mowing hair (as is common among the Menuists), and twotrimbodied damsels, raiding in a very plaiu, uncovered bug gy-., , . Gideon Iv--—, too, rode in acommon buggy; but he was a great backslider ; poor man, speculated, and committed suicide! It was an Amish man, not well versed in the English language, from whom 1 bought poultry, and who sent me a bill for “chighans.” Iu mentioning these ludicrous cir cumstances, far be it from me to ignore Lbo virtues of these unpretending peo ple. JIIST'dIY OK TIIK SECT It appears that thissectis named from Himon Menno, a reformer, who died iu 1501, though it is doubtful whether Menno founded the sect. “The prevail ing opinion among church historians, especially those of Holland, is that the origin of the Hutch Baptists may be traced to the Waldenses, and that Meu no merely organized the concealed and scattered congregations as a denomina tion. ”* The freedom of religious opinion which was allowed in Pennsylvania may have had the effect of drawiug hither the Continental Europeans, who established themselves iu the fertile lands of the western part of the county of Chester, now Lancaster. It.was not until the revolution of 1848 that the dif ferent <Jerman States granted full civil rights to the Meunonites. In somecasea this freedom has since been withdrawn. Hanover in 1858 annulled the election of a representative to the second cham ber because he was a Mennouite. Much of this opposition probably is caused by the sects refusing to take oaths. Under those opposing circumstances in the Old World, it is not remarkable that the number of Mennonites in the United States is reported to exceed that in all the rest of the world put together. The Amish are named from Jacob Amen, a Swiss Mennonite preacher of the seventeenth century. As I understand the Mennonites, they endeavor in church government literally to carry out the Injunction of Jeaua, “ Moreover, if thy brother Bhall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone ; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two : more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be establish ed. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church ; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man aud a pub lican.” Besides These sectaries, we have among ue a few of the Dunkers (Ger man tunkcn, to dip), from whom sprang the .Seventh-Day Baptists of Ephratah, with their Brother aud Sister houses of Celibates. " Ro'lnne d<*r Epbrfttnb wlril Kt.eheu A s Jonsfrau’u da In Kelhen gebeu." Also at Litiz we have the Moraviau Church aud Gottesacker, aud a Moravian Church at Lancaster. Here, according to custom, a love-feast was held recent ly, when a cup of coffee aud a rusk (sweet biscuit) were handed to each per son present. POLITICS, Asoureounty was represented in Con gress by Thaddeus Stevens, you have some idea of what our politics are. We have returned about five or six thou sand majority for the Whig, Anti-Ma sonic, and Republican ticket, and the adjoining very Dutch county of Berks invariably us great a majority for the Democratic. Bo striking a difference has furnished much ground for specu lation. The lion. Mr. S says that Berks is Democratic because so mauy Hessians settled there after the Revo lution. “ No,” says the Hon. Mr. B , “ I attribute it to the fact that the peo ; pie are not taught by unpaid ministers, as with us, but are Lutherans and Ger man Reformed, and can be led by their preachers.” “ Why is Berks Demo cratic?" I asked our Democratic post- I master. “I do not know," said he; “but lire people there are iguorant; they do not read a paper on the other side." A former postmaster tells me that he has heard that the people of Berks were greatly in favor of liberty in the time of the elder Adams; that they put up liberty poles, and Adams seut soldiers among them and had the liberty-poles cut down; and “ever since they have been opposed to that political party, under its different names.” FESTIVALS. The greatest festive occasion, or the one which calls the greatest number of persona to eat aud drink together, is the funeral. My friends, Peter and Matty S , have that active benevolence and cor rect principle which prompt care for the sick and dying, and kind offices to ward the mourner. Nor are they alone in this. When a death occurs, our Dutch neighbors enter the house, and, taking possession, relieve the family as far as possible from the labors aud cares of a funeral. Some “redd up" the house, makiDg that which wasneglect ed during the sad trials of afatal disease fit again for the reception of company. Others visit the kitchen, and help to bake great store of bread, pies, aud rusks for the expected gathering. Two young men and two young women generally sit up together over night to watch in a*room adjoining that of the dead. At funerals occurring on Sunday, three hundred carriages have been seen in attendance; and so great at all times is the concourse of people of all stations and all shades of belief, and so many pariook of the entertainment liberally provided, that I may be excused for calling funerals the great festivals of the Dutch. Weddings are also highly fes tive occasions, but they are confined to the “ Freundschaft," and to mueh smaller numbers. Tbe services at funerals are generally conducted in the German language. The preachers must necessarily be able to read German, as the hymns and Scriptures are printed therein An invitation is extended to the per* sons present to return to eat after the funeral, or the meal is provided before leaving for the graveyard. Hospitality, in all rural districts where the guests come afar, seems to require this. The , tables oro sometimes set in a barn, or large wagon*house, and relay of guests succeed one another, until all are done. The neighbors wait upon the table. The entertainment generally consists of meat, frequently cold ; bread and but ter; pipkles or sauces, such as apple butter; pies and rusks; sometimes stewed chickens, mashed potatoes, cheese, etc., and cofFee invariably. All depart after the dish-washing, and the family is left in quiet again. I have said that persons of all shades of belief attend funerals ; but our New Menuists are not permitted to listen to the Bermons of other denominations.— Memorial stones over the dead are more oonspicuoua than among Friends. But Cyclopedia; they are still quite plain, with Bimple inscriptions. Occasionally family grave yards are seen* One on a farm adjoining ours seems cut out of the side of a field. It stands back from the high road, and access to it is To those who are anxiouß to preserve the remains of their relalives, these graveyards are objec tionable, as they will probably be oblit erated after the property has passed into another family. WEDDINGS. Our farmer bad a daughter married lately, and I was invited to see the bride leave home. The groom, in accordance with theearlyhabits of the Hutch folks, reached the bride’s house about six A. M., having previously breakfasted and ridden four miles. As he probably fed and harnessed his horses, besides attir ing himself for the grand occasion, he must have been up betimes of an Octo ber morning. The bride wore purple mousseliue de laine and a blue bonnet. As some of the “ weddingfolks” were dilatory, the bride and groom did not get off before seven. The bridegroom was a mechan ic, and seemed to be a steady man. The whole party was composed of fourcou pies, who rode into Lancaster in buggies where two pairs were married by a minister. In the afternoon the newly married couples went down to Phila delphia for a few days, aad on theeveu ing of their return we hud a reception, or home-coming. Supper consisted of roast turkeys, beef, and stewed chick ens, cakes, pies, and coffee of course.— We had raisin pie, which is a great treat in Hutchlaud Jon festive or soleipn oo casious. ‘‘Niue couples” of the bridal party sat down to supper, aud then the remainingspare seats were occupied by the landlord's wife, the bride’s uucle, etc. We had a fiddler in the evening. He and the dancing would not have been there had the household ** belong ed to meeting,” and, as/it was, some young Methodist girls did not dance. One of my “English” acquaintances was sitting alone on a Sunday evening, when she hea d a rap at the door, and a young Dutchman, an entire stranger, walked in and sat down, “and there he sot, and sot.” Mrs. (J waited to hear his errand, politely making con versation ; aud finally ho asked whether her daughter was at home. “ Which one?” He did not know that did not make much difference, as neither was at home, Mrs. (-1 after wards mentioned the circumstance to a worthy Dutch neighbor, expressing surprise that a young man should calf who had not been introduced, “ How then would they get acquainted ?” said he. She suggested that she did not think that her daughter knew the young man. “ She would not tell you, perhaps, if she did.” The daughter, however, when asked, seemed entirely ignorant of the young man. and did not know that she had ever seen him. He had probably seen her at the rail road station, aud had found out her name and residence. It would seem to indicate much confidence on the part of parents, if, when acquaintances are •formed in such a manner, the father and mother retire at niue o’clock, and leave the young daughter thus to “keep company” until midnight or later. It is no wonder that one of our German sects has declared against the popular manner of ‘‘courting.’- I recently attended ji New Mennist wedding, which took place in the frame meeting house. We entered through an adjoining brick dwelling, one room of which served as an ante-room, where the “sisters” left their bonnets and shawls. I was late for the service had begun about nine, on a bitter Sunday morning of’ December. The meeting house was crowded, and in front on the left was a plain of book muslin caps on the head of the sisters. Un shelves aud pegs, along the other side, were placed the huts aud overcoats of the brethren. ’he building was extremely plain— wliite-w«ebe<l without, entirely uti paiuted within, with whitewashed walla. The preacher stood at a small, unpainted desk, and before it was a small table, convenient for the old men “to sit at, and lay their books on.”— Two stoves, a half dozen hanging tin candlesticks, aud the benches, complet ed the furniture. The preacher was speaking extemporaneously iu English, for in this meeting house the services are often performed in this tongue; aud he spoke readily and well, though he now aud then used such expressions as, “It would he,wishfulformen to do their duty;” “Mail cannot separate them to gether;” and “This, Christ done for us.” He spoke at length upon divorce, which he said could not take place be tween Cbristiaus. The preacher spoke especially upon the duty of the wife to submit to the liusbaud, whenever dif ferences of sentiment arose ; of the duty of the husband to love the wife, aud to show his love by his readiness to assist her. He alluded to Paul’s saying that it is better to be unmarried than mar ried, aud he did not scruple to use plain language touching adultery. His dis course ended, lie called upon the pair proposing marriage to come forward; whereupon the man and woman rose from the body of-the congregation on either side, aud, coming out to the middle aisle, stood together before the minister. They had both passed their early youth, but had very good faces. The bride wore a mode colored alpaca, and a black apron ; also a clear-starched cap without a border, after the fashion of the sect. The groom wore a dark green coat, cut “shad-bellied," after the manner of the brethren. This was probably the manner of their acquaintance: If, in spite of Paul’s encouragement to a single life, a brother sees a sister whom he wishes to marry, he mentions the fact to a minis ter, who tells it to the sister. If she agrees in sentiment, the acquaintance continues for a year, during which pri vate interviews can be had, if desired ; but this sect entirely discourages court ing as usually practised amoog the Dutch. The year having in this case elapsed, and the pair haying now met before the preacher, he propounded to them three questions: I, I ask of this brother, as the bride groom, do you believe that this sister in the faith, is allotted to you by God as your helpmeet aud spouse ? And I ask of you, as the bride, do you believe that this, your brother, is allotted to you by God as your husband and head? J. Areyou free In your afiections from all others, and have you them centred alone upon this your brother or sister? 3. Do you receive this person as your lawfully wedded husband [wife], do you promise to be faithful to him [ber], to reverence him [to love her], and that nothing but death shall separate you; that, by the help of God, you will, to the best of your ability, fulfil all the duties which God has enjoined ou be lieving husbands and wives ? In answering this last question, I ob served the bride to lift her eyes to the preacher’s face, as if iu fearless trust. Then the preacher, directiug them to join hands, pronounced them man and wife, and invoked a blessing upon them. This was followed by a short prayer, after which the wedded pair separated, each again taking a place among the congregation. Tkeoccasion was solemn. On resuming his place in the desk, the preacher’s eyes were seen to be suffused, aud pocket handkerchiefs were visible on either side (the sisters’ white, those of the brethren of colored silk). The audience then knelt, while the preacher prayed, aud I heard responses like those of the Methodists, but more subdued. The preacher then made a few remarks to the ellect that, although it would be grievous to break the boud now uniting these two, it would be iufiuitely more grievous to break the tie which unites us to Christ; and then a quaint hymn was sung to a familiar tune. The “Church" does not allow wedding par ties, but a few friends may gather at the house after meeting. < UUILTIXGS. Some ten years ago there came to our neighborhood a pleasant, industrious “Auuty Sally," a mulatto; and the other day she had a quilting, for she had long wished to re-cover two quilts. The first who arrived at Aunt Sally’s was our neighbor from over the “creek," or mill stream, Nancy K , in her black silk, aud Mennist bonnet, formed like a sun bonnet; and at ten came my dear friend Matty 3- , who is tall and fat, and very pleasant; "Whose Heart has a look touthwarJ, and is open To the great noon of nature.” Her name is Magdalena, but we always call her Matty. Aunt Sally had her quilt up in her landlord’s east room, for her own house was too small. However, at about eleven, she called us over to dinner; for people who have breakfasted at five or six have an appetite at eleven. We found on the table beefsteak, LANCASTEB PA. WEDNESDAY MORNING SEPTEMBER 29 1869 boiled Dork, Bweet potatoes, cold-slaw, pickled tomatoes, cucumbers, and red beets (thus theDuteh accent lies), apple butter, preserved peaches, pumpkin and apple-pie, sponge cake, and coffee. After dinner came our next neighbors, “ the maids,” Katy and Mary Groff, who live in single blessedness and great neatness. They wore pretty clear starched Mennist. caps, very plain. Katy Is a sweet looking woman ; and although she is more than sixty years old, her forehead is almost unwrinkled, and her fine fair hair is still brown. It was late when the farmer’s wife came— three o’clock; for she had been to Lan caster. She wore hoops, and was of the “world’s people.” Those women all spoke Dutch; for the maidens, whose ancestors came here one hundred and twenty years ago, do notspeak English with fluency yet. The first subject of conversation was the fall house cleaning, and I heard mention of “ die carpets hinaus an der fence,” and “die fenahter und die porch;” and the exclamation, “My goodness, es war schlimm.” I quilted faster than Katy Groff, who showed me her hands, and said, “ You have not been corn-huskiDg, as I have.” Ho we quilted and rolled, talked and laughed, got one quilt done, aud put in another. The wofk was pot fine; we laid it out by chalking around a small plate. Aunt Hally’s desire was rather together quilting done on this great occasion, than for ps to put in a quan tity of work. About five o’clock we were called to supper. J need not tell you all tbe par ticulars of this plentiful meal. But the stewed chicken was tender, aud we had cofiee again. Nancy K ’a husband now came over the creek in the boat, to take her home, and he warned her against the eveniugdampness. The rest of us quilted awhile by candle and lamp, and got the second quilt done at about seven. At this quilting there was little gossip, and less scandal. I displayed my new alpaca aud my dyed merino, aud the Philadelphia bonnet which exposes the back of my head to the wintry blast. Nancy K , for her part, preferred a black silk sun-bonnet; and so we part ed, with mutual invitations to visit. KAIUII.VO In this fertile limestone district farm ing is very laborious, being entirely by v llage. routine is'once in five years to plough the sod ground for corn, in the next ensuing year the same ground is sowed with oats; and when the oats come off in August, the industriousdutchmen immediately ma nure the stubble land for wheat. 1 have seen them laying down the black heaps when, in August, I have ridden some twelve or fourteen miles down to the hill country in search of blackberries. After the ground is carefully pre pared, wheat and timothy (grass) seed are put in with a drill, aud in the ensu ing spring clover is sowed upon the same ground. By July, when the wheat is taken off the ground, the clover and timothy are growing, and will be ready to mow in tbe next, or fourth summer In the fifth, the same gras3 constitutes agrazing ground, aud then thesod is ready to be broken again for Indian corn, potatoes are seldom planted here in great quantities ; a part of one of the cat fields or corn fields can be put into potatoes, and the ground will be ready by fall to be put into wheat, if it is de sired. A successful farmer puts more than half of his forty acres into wheat: this being considered the best crop. The average crop of wheat is about twenty bushels, of Indian corn about forty. I have heard of one hundred bushels of corn in the Pequea valley, but this is very rare. When the wheat and oats are in the bfjrn or stack, enormous eight-horse threshero, whose owners go about the neighborhood from farm te farm, thresh the crop in two or three days; and thus what was once a great job for winter may all be finished by the first of October. Peter S is a model farmer. His buildings and fences are in good order, and his cattle well kept. He is a little past the prime of life ; his beautiful head of black hair being touched with silver. His wife is dimpled aud smiling, and her two hundred and twenty pounds do not prevent her being actiye, energetic, forehanded, aud “thoroflgh-goiiig.”— During the winter months the two sons go to the public school —the oldest one with reluctance ; there they learn to read and write, and “ cipher” a little, and possibly study geography; they speak English at school, and Dutch at home. Much education the Dutch far mer fears, as productive of Jaziuess; aud laziness is a mortal sin here. The S s rarely buy a book. The winter is em ployed partly in preparing material to fertilize the wheat land during the com ing summer. Great drovesof caitleand sheep come down our road from the West, and our farmers buy from these, aud fatten stock during the wiuter mouths for the Philadelphia market. A proper care of his stock will occupy some portion of the farmer’s time. Then he has generally a great “Freund scliaft,” or family connection, both his and his wife’s; and the paying visits within a range of twenty or thirty miles, and receiving visits in return, help to pass away the time. Then Peter and Matty are actively benevolent; they are liable to be called upon, summer and winter, to wait on the sick, and to help bury the bead. Matty was formerly renowned as a baker at funerals, where her services were always freely given. This rich, level land of ours is highly prized by the Dutch for farming pur poses, aud the great demand has en hanced the price. The farms, too, are small, seventy acres being a fair size. When Adam R , the rich preacher, bought his last farm from an “ Enlish mau,” William G said to him : “ Well, Adam, it seems as if you Dutch folks had determined to root us Eng lish out, but thee had to pay pretty dear for thy root this time.” There are some superstitious ideas that still hold sway here regarding the growth of plants. A young girl coming to us for cabbage plants said that it was a good time to set them out, for “it was in the Virgin.” It is very doubtful whether she knew ivhat was the Virgo, but I supposed that it was the moon.— So our farmer’s wife tells me that the Virgin will do very well for cabbages, but not for any ilowering plant like beans, for though they will bloom well they will not mature the fruit. Grain should be sowed in the increase of the moon; meat butchered in the decrease will shrink in the pot. T-’ARMEKs’ WIVES. One of the Dutch neighbors, who, from a shoemaker became the bwner of two farms, said to me, “The woman is more than half;” and his own very la borious wife had indeed been so. The woman (in popular parlance, “the old woman,”) milks, raises the poultry, has charge of the garden— sometimes digging the ground herself, and planting and hoeing with the as sistance of her daughters and the “ maid” (German, mayd). To be sure she does not go extensively into vege table-raising, nor has she a quantity of strawberries and small fruits; neither does she plant a great many peas and beans, that are laborious to “stick.” — She has a quantity of cabbages and of “ red beets,” of onions and of early po tatoes, in her garden, a plenty of cu cumbers for wiuter pickles, and stores ofstriDg-beans and tomatoes, with some sweet potatoes. u Jacob R told me that in one year, oil’of their small farm, they sold “ two hundred dollars’ worth wcdyalle things, not counting the butter." As in that year the clothing foreach mem ber of the family probably cost from ten to fifteen dollars, the two hundred dol lars’ worth of vegetable things was of great importance. Our Dutch never make s/orc cheese. At a county fair only one cheese was exhibited, and that was from Chester county. The farmer’s wife boards all the farm-hauds and the mechanics— the carpenter, mason, &c., who put up the new buildings, and the fence maker. At times she allows the daughters to go out and husk corn. It was a pretty sight /which I saw one fall day—an Amisn man with four sons and daugh ters husking in the field. “We doit all ourseves," said he. In the winter mornings perhaps the farmer’s wife goes out to milk in the stable with a lantern, while her daugh ters get breakfast; has her house “redd up” about eight o’clock, and is prepared for several hours’ sewing before dinner, laying by great piles of shirts for sum mer. We no longer make linen ; but I have heard of one Butch girl who had a good supply of domestic linen made in to shirts and trousers for the future spouse, whose “fair proportions” she had not yet seen. There are, of course, maDy garments , to make in a laige family, but there is l not mucn work put upon them. We ' do not yet patronize the sewing raa l chine very extensively, but a seam stress or tailoress is sometimes called , in. At the spring cleaning the labors of the women folk are increased by whitewashing the picket fences. In March we make soap, before the labors of the garden are great. The for ests are being obliterated from this fer tile tract, and many use what some call “ consecrated ” Jye ; formerly, the ash hopper was filled, and a good lot of egg bearing lye run off to begin the soap | with, while the weaker filled the soft- 1 soap kettle, after the soap had “come.” The chemical operation of soap-making often proved difficult, and, of course, much was said about luck. “We had bad luck, making soap.” A sassafras stick was preferred for stirring, and the soap was stirred always in one direction. In regard to this, and thatotherchemi cal operation, making and keeping vinegar, there are certain ideas about the temporary incapacity of some per sons—ideas only to be alluded to here. If the farmer’s wife never “ ha 9 luck ” ia making soap, sheemploysaomeskil ful womau to come in and help her. It is not a loDg operation here, for the Dutch rush this work speedily. Ifthe lye is well run oft', two tilbs of hard soap and a barrel of soft can be made in a dgy. A very smart housekeeper can make a barrel of soap in the morning, and go visiting in the afternoon. Great are the household labors in harvest; but the cooking and baking in the hot weather are cheerfully done for the men folks, who are toiling in hot sunsumd stiiling barns. Dour mealsare common at this season, for ‘‘a piece” is sent out at nine o'clock. One Dutch girl made some fifty plea a week in harvest; for if you have four meals a day, and pieat each, many are required. We have great faith in pie. Jn the neighboring county of York, au inexperienced (Quaker wife was left in charge of the farm, and during har vest these Important labors were per formed by John Stein, John Stump, and John Stinger. She also had gijesls, welcome perhaps as “ j-aiu in harvest." To conciliate the Johns was very im portant, and shi waited on them first. “ What will thee have, John Stein?" “What shall I give thee, John Stump?” “ And thee, John Stinger?" On one memorable occasion there was mutiny in the field, for John Stein declared that he never worked where there were not “ kickelin ” cakes in harvest, nor would he now, Kulchlein proved to“be cakes fried in fat, and the house wife was ready to appease “Achilles’ wrath,” as soon as she made this discovery. We U3ed to make quantities of apple . butter in the fall, but of late years ap ples are not plentiful. We made in one season six barrels of cider into apple butter, three at a time. Two large cop per kettles were hung under the beech trees, down between the spring house and the smoke house, and the cider wus boiled down the evening before, great stumps of trees being in demand. One hand watched the cider, and the rest of the family gathered in the kitchen'and labored diligently in preparing thr < ut apples, so that in the morning the “schnilz" might be ready to go in.— (Schncidcn. to cut, ycschnittcn.) Two bushels ana a half of cut apples will be enough for a barrel of cider. In a few hours the apples will all be in, and then you will stir, and stir, and stir, for you do not want the apple but ter burn at the bottom, and be obliged to dip it out into tube, and scour the kettle. Snmn limn in th« Afternoon, you will take out a little on a dish, and when you find that the cider no longer “ weeps out," round the edges, but all forms a simple heap, you will dip it out into earthen vessels, and when cold take it “ on" to the garret to keep com pany with the hard soap and the bags of dried apples and cherries, perhaps with the hams and shoulder?. Soap and apple butter are usually made in an open fire-place, where hangs the kettle. At one time, 1 have heard that there was apple butter in the Lancaster Museum which dated from .Revolution ary times; for we do not expect it to ferment in the summer. It dries away but water is stirred in to prepare it for the table. Sometimes peach butter is made, with cider, molasses, or sugar, and, in the present scarcity of apples, cut pumpkiu i 3 often put into the ap ple butter. Soon after apple-butter making comes butchering, for we like an early pig in the fall, when the store of smoked meat has run out. Pork is the staple, aud we smoke the Hitches, not preserviugthem in brine like the Yankees. We our selves use much beef, and do not like smoked Hitch, but I speak for the ma jority. Sausage is a great dish with u--, as in Germany. My sister and I went once on a few days’ trip through the country, aud were treated alternately to ham and mackerel, until, at the last house, we had both. Butchering is one of the many occa sions for the display of friendly feeling, when brother or father steps in to help hang the hogs, or a sister to assist in rendering lard, or in preparing the plentiful meal. An active farmer will have two or three porkers killed, scald ed, and hung up by sunrise, and by night the whole operatiou|of sausage and “scrapple" making,|and lard-reu dering, will be finished, and.the house set in order. The friends who have as sisted receive a portion of the sausage, «&c., which portion is called the “ met zel sup.” The metzel sup is also sent to poor widows, and others. I We make scrapple from the skum, a part of the livers and heads, with the addition of cornmeal; but instead, our Dutch neighbors make hver-wust (‘‘woorsht) or meat pudding, omitting the meal, and this compound, stulfed into large entrals,is very popular in Lan caster market. Some make pawnhaus from the liquor in which the pudding meat was boiled, adding thereto corn meal. I have never seen hogshead cheese in Dutch houses. If the boiling pieces of beef are kept over summer, they are smoked, instead of being pre served in brine. We eat much smear case (Schtnur-ka.sr), or cottage cheese, in these regions. The children, and grown up people, too, fancy it upou bread with molasses; which may be considered as an offset to the Yankee pork and mo* lasses. Wc have also Dutch cheese, which may be made by crumbling the dry smear case, working in butter, salt and chopped sage, forming it into pats, and setting them away to ripen. The sieyer-kasc is made from sweet milk boiled, with sourmilk added,andbeaten eggs, and then setto drain off the whey. “Kchnitz and knep” issaid to be made of dried apples, fat pork, and dough dumplings, cooked together. In the fall our Dutch make saucr kraut. I happened Into the house of my friend Matty, when her husband and son were going to take an hour at noon, to help her with the kraut. Two white tubs stood upon the porch, one with the fair round heads, and the other to receive the cabbage when cut by a knife set in a board (a very con venient thing for cutting cold-slaw and cucumbers). When cut, the cabbage is packed into a “stand” with a sauer kraut staff, resembling the pounder with which NewEnglandersbeatclothea in a barrel. Salt is added during the packiDg. When the cabbage ferments it becomes acid. The kraut stand re mains in the cellar; the contents not being unpalatable when boiled with the chines or ribs of pork and potatoes. But the smell of the boiling traut is very strong, and that stomach is prob ably strong which readily digests the meal. Our Dutch make soup in variety, and pronounce the word short, between soup and sup. Thus there is Dutch sup, po tato sup, and “noodle" ( Nudcl) sup— which last is a treat. Nudels may be called domestic maccaroni, and I have seen a dish called schmclkty nudels, in which bits of fried bread were laid upon the piled up nudels —to me unpalatable from the large quantity of eggs in th£ nudels. We almost always find good bread at our farm houses. In traveling through Pennsylvania to Ohio, I concluded that Pennsylvania furnished good bread makers, New York good butter-makers and that the two best bread-makers that I saw in Ohio were from Lancaster county. We make the pot of “ sots ” (New England “ emptins”) overnight, with boiled, mashed potatoes, scalded flour, and sometimes hops. Friday is baking day, but in the middle of sum mer, when mould abounds, we bake twice a week. The Dutch housewife is very fond of baking in the brick oven, but the scarcity of wood will gradually accustom us to the great coo&ing-stove. We keep one fire in winter. This is in the kitchen, which, with nice house* beepers, is the abode of neatness, with i s rag carpet and brightly polished stove. An adjoining room or building is the wash house, where butchering soap making, etc., are done by the he)D of a great kettle hung in the fireplace P not eel in brick work. ’ Adjoining the kitchen, on another side, is a state apartment, also rag car peted, and called “rag room." The stove pipe from the kitchen sometimes passes through the ceiling, and tempers tlie sleeping room of the parents. These arrangements are not very favorable to bathing in oold weather; indeed, to wash the whole person is not very com mon in summer or winter. In the lat ter season, It is almost never done in town or country by the Dutch. Will you go up stairs in a neat Dutch farm house? Here are rag carpets again. Gay quilts are on the best beds where green and red calico, perhaps in the form of a basket, are displayed on a white ground; or the beds bear brilliant coverlets of red, white and blue, as if to “make the rash gazer wipe his eye.” The common pillow eases are some times of blue check, or of calico In winter, people often sleep under feather covers, not so heavy as a feather bed In the spring there is a great washing of bedclothes, and then the blankets are washed, which, during winter, supplied the place of sheets HOLIDAYS. I was Bitting alone, one Christmas time, when the door opened and there entered some half dozen youths ormen, who frightened mo so that I slipped out at the door. They, beiDg thus alone, and notintending further harm, atonce left. These, I suppose, were Christmas mummers, though I heard them called “ Bellschnickel.” At another time, aal waa sitting with my little boy, Aunt Sally came in smil ing and mysterious, and took her place by the stove. Immediately after, there entered a naan in disguise, who very much alarmed my little Dan. The stranger threw down nuts and cakes, and, when soma one ottered to pick them up, struck at him with a rod. This was the real Bell schnickel, per sonated by the farmer. I presume that he ought to throw down hisstoreofnice things for the good children, and strike the bad ones with his whip. Pelzuickel is the bearded Nicholas who punishes bad ones; whereas Krisskringle is the Christkiudlein, whq rewards good cbil dion. On Christmas morning we cry, “Christmas-gift !” and not as elsewhere, “A merry Christmas!” Christmas is a day when people do not work, but go to meeting, when roast turkey and mince pie are in order, and when the Dutch housewife has store of cakes on hand to give to the little folks. We still hear of barring out Christ mas. The pupils fasten themselves in the school house, and keep the teacher out to obtain presents from him. The first of April, which our neigh bors generally call Aprile, is a great occasion. This is the opening of the farming year. Thetennantfarmerand other “renters” move to their new homes, and interest money and other debts are due; and so much money changes hands in Lancaster, on the first, that pickpockets are attracted thither, and the unsuspicious Dutch farmersometimes finds himself a loser. The movings, on or about the first, are made festive occasions; neighbors young and sld are gathered; some bring wagous to transport farm utensils and furniture, others assist in driving cattle, put furniture in its place, and set up bedsteads; while the women are ready to nelp prepare me bountirul meal. At this feast I have heard a worthy tenant farmer say, “Now help yourselves, as you did out there” (with the goods). The Monday after Whitsuntide, which comes early in June, is a great holiday with the young Dutch folks. It occurs when there is a lull in farm work, between corn planting and hay making. Now the new summer bon nets are all in demand, and the taverns are found full of youths and girls, who sometimes walk the street haud-in haud, eat cakes and drink beer, or visit the “Hying horses.” A.number of seats are arranged around a central pole, and, a pair taking each seat, the whole revolves by the work of a horse, and you can have a circular ride for six cents. On the Fourth of July we are gener ally at work in the harvest field. Sev eral of the festivals of the Church are held here as days of rest, if not of re creatioh. Such are Good Friday, As cension Day, etc. On Faster, eggs colored and otherwise ornamented were formerly much in vogue, but the custom of preparing them is dying out. , Thanksgiving is beginniug to be observed here, but the New Englander would miss the family gatherings, the roast turkeys, the pumpkin pies. Pos sibly we go to church in the morning, and sit quiet for the rest of the day ; aud as for pumpkin pies, we do not greatly fancy them. Baisin pie, or mince pie, we can enjoy. The last night of October is “Hallow eve.” I was in Lancaster last Hallow eve, and the boys were ringing door bells, carrying away door steps, throw ing corn at the windows, or running off with an unguarded wagon. I heard of one or two youngsters who had request ed au afternoon holiday togotochurch, but who had spent their time in goiug out of town to steal corn for this occa sion. In the country, farm gates are taken from their hiDges and removed, and it was formerly a favorite boyish amusement to take a wagon to pieces, and after carrying the parts up to the barn loft, to put it together again, thus obliging the owner to take it apart and bring it down, tiuch tricks as described by Burns in the poem of “Hallow e’en” may be heard of occasionally, perpetrated perhaps by the Scotch Irish element in our population. I*UBLIC SCHOOLS. About twenty years ago, I was circu lating an anti-slavery petition among women. I carried it to the house of a neighboring farmer, a miller to boot, aud well to do. His wife signed the petition {all women did not in those days.) but she signed it with her mark. I have understood that it is about twen ty years since the school law was made universal here, and that our township of Upper Leacock wanted to resist by litigation the establishment of public schools, but finally decided otherwise.* It is the school tax that is ouerous.— Within the last twenty years a great Impetus has been given to education by the establishment of the County Super intendency of Normal Schools and of Teacher’s Institutes. I think it is with in this time that the Board of Directors met, in an adjoining township, anil be ing called upon to vote by ballot, there were afterwards found in the box sev eral dill'erent w r ays of spelling the word “ no.” At the last Institute, a worthy young man at the the blackboard was telling the teachers how to make their pupils pronounce the word “did,” which they inclined to call dit; and a young wo man told me that it is necessary, when teaching in Berks county, to practice speaking Dutch in order to make the pupils understand their lessons. It must be rather bard to hear and talk Datch almost constantly, and then go to a school where the textbooks are English. There is still an effort made to have German taught in our public schools. The reading of German is considered a great accomplishment, and one neces sary in a candidate for the ministry ; but the teacher is generally overbur dened in the winter with the necessary branches in a crowded, ungraded school. Our township generally has school for seven months in the year; some town ships have only five; and in Berks county I have heard of one having only four months. About thirty-five dollars a month is paid to teachers, male and female. My little boy of seven began to go to public school this fall. For a while I would hear him repeating such expres sions as, “Che, doubleo t.cood” (mean ing good). “P-i-g, pick.” “Kreat A, little A, pouncing P.” “I don’t like chincherpread.” Even among our Dutch people of more culture, etch is heard for aitch (H), and it is a relic of early training. The standard of our county superin tendent is high, and his examinations severe. His salary is about $1,700. Where there is so much wealth as here, it seems almost impossible that learning should not follow as soon as the minds of the people are turned toward it; but the great fear of making their children “lazy” operates against sending them to school. Industrious habits will cer- •In a recent paper I find ibis statement: M West Cocalico did not until recently aocept the provisions of the General School Law of the State.” tunly tend more to the pecuniary buo | cess of a farmer than the art of writ log and speaking the English language correctly. ° I • dearold “ English n friend. Dan* lel 1 had often been asked to stay and eat with John B , and on one occasion he concluded to accept the in vitation. They went to the table, land had a silent pause; then John cue up the meat, and the workmen and mem the family each put in a'fork aud helped himself. The guests was discomfited, and, finding that he was imejy to lose his dinner otherwise, he followed their example. The invitation to eat had covered the whole. When guests are present, many say, “Now help yourselves,” but they do not use Va /V l X e P e^^ onB, Ibe city people do. . Coflee « still drank three times a day in some families, but frequently with out sugar. The sugar bowl stands on the table, with spoons therein for those who want sugar; but at our iate “home comiog” party, I believe that I was the only one at the table who took sugar. The dishes of smear case, molasses, ap ple butter, eto., are not always supplied with spoons. 11 r c dip in our knives, and with the same useful implements con vey the food to our mouths. Does the opposite extreme prevail among the farmers of Massachusetts? Do they al ways eat with their forks, and use nap kins? Those who eat witli John Stein, John Stump, and John Stinger will be likely to accommodate their habits to those of the Johns. Ou many busy farm occasions, the woman of the house will find it more convenient to let the men eat first—to get the burden of the harvest, dinner off her mind and her bailds, and then sit down with her daughters, her ‘‘maid,” and little children, to their own repast. But the allowing to the men the con stant privilege of eating first has passed away, if, indeed, it ever prevailed. At funeral feasts the old men and women ait down first, with the mourning fami ly. Then succeed the second, third, and fourth tables. We Lancaster Dutch are always striv ing to seize Time’s forelock. }Vc rise, even iu the winter, about four, feed the stock, while the women get breakfast, eat breakfast in the short days by coijl oil lamps or tallow candles, and by day light are ready for the operations of the day. The English folks and the baok aliding Dutch cry out when they hear their neighbors blow the horn or tbe bell for dinner. On a recent pleasant October day, the farmer’s wife was churning out of doors, and cried, “Why, there’s the dinner beiis already. Mercy days! ” 1 went in to the clock, and found it at twenty minutes of eleven. The Dutch farmers almost invariably keep their time half an hour or more ahead, like that village of Cornwall, where it was twelve o’clock, but half past eleven to the rest of the world. Our Dutch are not seen running to catch a railroad train. We are not a total-abstinence people. Before these times of high prices, liquor wa9 often furnished to hands in the harvest field. A few years ago a meeting was held in a neighboriDgschool house, to discuss a prohibitory liquor law. After various speeches, the question was put to the vote thus: “All those who want leave to drink whisky will please to rise.!’ “Now, all those who don’t want to drink whisky will rise.” The affirma tive bad a decided majority. Work is a cardinal virtue with the Dutchman. “He is lazy,” is a.very opprobious ’remark. At the quilting, when I waff trying to take out one of the errcwa, Katy OrofT, who is eixty-ilve, exclaimed : “ How lazy I am, not to be belpiDg you !” “ Wie ich bin faul.” Marriages sometimes take place be tween the two nationalities ; but I do uot think the Dutch farmers desire En- glish wives for their sons unless the wives are decidedly rich. On the other haud, I heard of an English farmer’s counselling his son to seek a Dutch wife. When the son had w’ooed aud won his substantial bride, “Now, he will see wbat good cooking is,” said a Dutch girl to me. I was surprsed at the remark, for his mother was an excellent housekeeper. The circus is the favorite amusement of our people. Lancaster papers often complain oT the slender attendance which is bestowed upon lectures, and the Jike. Even theatrical performances are found “slow,” compared with the feats of the ring. freedom of language to the English, and savors of coarseness, no harm by it,” says sh friends. It is difil ierve, where the whole ie heated room. This id in which the Dutch level to an eye trained ' hills make a people more poetical or imaginative ? Perhaps so, but there is vulgarity too among the hills. InnncnrnC< on or Governor Walker—Feel* isilf of the People at the Ctmngerof Ad ministration. Richmond, Sept, 21, 1&19. Gilbert C Walker, Governor elect of Vir ginia, was Installed to day as provisional Governor of the Commonwealth, by virtue of the appointment of General Can by, mili tary commandant of this district. The cere monies were performed in the Governor’s office in the Executive mansion, the oath being administered to him by his warm personal and political friend, J ustice John Bacon Crenshaw,State Senator elect from the district composed of Henrico and Rich mond, in the presence of a few members of tbe press and others. The Governor in a clear voice took the following required oaths of office : First, an oath of fidelity to the Commonwealth of Virginia ; second, to tl\e constitution of the United States ; third, thbantidueling oath; fourth, oath required by the act ofCongressjof July 2.18(32,and gen erally known as tho iron-clud oath; fifth,the oath of office. Governor Wells and General Canby both were present when the oaths were administered. Before the conclusion of tbe ceremony a large numberof political and personal friends and citizens called on and warmly wished the Governor a pleas ant and prosperous administration, though the installation was, as it was designed to be, as quiet and as unostentatious as possi ble. There was throughout the community this morning a deep undercurrent of good will for his new Excellency, that needed but an opportunity to display itself in exu berant manifestations of rejoicing over the glad event of bis accession to the Governor ship. It seems confined to no one class of tbe community, but all looked supremely delighted that Wells was no more Govern or, and ibat one of their choice rulesin his stead. The secretary of Governor Wells— Mr. L. E. Dudley—remained with the Gov ernor during tbe reception that followed th 9 installation, but did not seem to relish the proceedings. Governor Walker will remain for tbe present at the Exchange Hotel, until the Executive mansion can be gotten ready for him. Mrs. Walker will oln hlcn tbe last of this week. Governor Walker, who is just thirty seven years of age, is the youngest Gover nor Virginia ever had, and enters upon tbo duties of the office at a more eventful period than any of her Governors, except, perhaps, Henry Jefferson and Letcher, who occupied the gubernatorial chair amid the more try ing and eventful periods of two bloody revolutions. A committee of the colored conservative clubs of Richmond will call on him this afternoon, and offer him their congratulations on his installation. Gov. Walker will be serenaded to-nigbt. The first appointment made by Governor Walker after assuming the duties of his office was that of C'apt. Wm. E. Cameron, editor of the Petersburg Index, as his Sec retary. Capt. Cameron was an officer in the Confederate army and one of the first and most determined supporters of the Walker Republican ticket in the late cam paign. How the Treaunry of Tennessee Was Cobbed b3* the Radical*. Fraud, corruption and wholesale plunder is tho 'rule wherever the Radicals have power. The Philadelphia Ledger tells bow the State Treasury of Tennessee was robbed. It says: “A correspondent appearing to have ac cess to official sources and to be well informed, writing under date of Knoxville, September 10, Instant, gives the present debt now at about $10,000,000, having been increased to this enormous sum Irom about gIG.O'VJ.OOO, at the begin ning of the war. It was officially re ported at $34,5-10 800 in December last, and has been, in various ways, increased since that time to the round sum of forty millions now named. The* annual interest on the debt is $2,400,000 ; the annual expenses of the State are sl*oo,oo0 —makings yearly ex penditure of $3,300,000. Tho entire revenue of the State for 1808 was $1,205,544, and, in cluding estimated receipts from railroads jn the bonds of the Slate, $877,042, gives a total annualrevenueofs2.o94.BoG. Itisthns seen that there is a yearly deficiency ofsi,- 216,814. That is not the worst featureofthis exhibit. This correspondent says he is in formed, on reliable authority, that there is no record in the Comptroller’s or Treasurer’s office at Nashville to show just how many bonds have been issued since Governor Brownlow’s administration commenced. Irresponsible men were entrusted by him with blank bonds, to which the seal of the State was affixed, and no one knows the number they signed and issued. NUMBER 39 InteroitiDg Interview With Asa Packer. *ho Opinion of tbe Democratic C-antll date on Political Qaetuona —There Should Be a Reform In tbe Han oaementol the State Finances— His Views on Constltatlonal Amendment. A correspondent of the New York Sun has recently had a long interviow with Asa Packer, from which we make as manj ex- tracts this morning as our spaco permits : Mauch Chunk, Pa., Bept 7.—Way up in the anthracite coal region of Pennsyl vania, where the picturesque Lehigh river forces its way through the narrowest gorge of the Blue mountains, nestles the town of Mauch Chunk. Asa Packer, this favorite of tho Demo cratic party of Pennsylvania, is tbe man of mark who resides in this town. In it, ami yet isolated from it. Asa Packer is a man of the people. Asa Packer's home is thu home of Asa Packer’s family. Theone be longs to the many; the other to the one. While the homo in Mauch Chunk, it is dis tinct from Mauch Chuuk—as distinct from the town as the green oasis on the broad, sandy plains of Sahara, is from the desert itself. Tho home is the abode of elegance, refinement, luxur3’, and ease. It monopo lizes a commanding point on tho hillsides, where wealth has dug out a plain, and built terraces, and planted rare tlowers, and cultivated choice shrubbery, and in tho midst of this gurdeu lias reared u princely mansion and adorned its interior with cost ly furniture, capncious shelves lined with books, elegant pictures, ami frescoes, statu- ary, and other works of art. This is tbe home of Asa Packer, located in tho town of tho coal miners, yet contrasting in every respect so conspicuously with tho homes andjoing and surrounding it. And here Asa Packer’s family lives. THE STORY OF THE MAN OF MARK But who is Asa Pucker? A poor carpenter from Connecticut, leav ing his natiye State in pursuit of employ ment; a busy, bustling, prosperous mer chant in the wilds of Pennsylvania; an entorprising, pushing, adventurous opera tor in new schemes for tho development of bis adopted State; a great und successful coalminer; a founder of bunks ; a railroad king ; a man of untold wealth, tho result of honest toil, prudent living, and u sagacity unsurpassed. Such is Asa Packer. A MAN OF THE PEOPLE. “ Mr. Packer, will you ride down?" said the omnibus driver, reining up to the side walk, as he noticed the great man with his satchel beaded toward the depot. “ No, I thank you ; I can walk,” was the replv. “Better hurry, then,” said tho driver; “ time’s most up. “ Ob, I’ll catch the train ; there’s ten min utes yet.” “ Judge, let me carry your satchol,” said tho pompous country squire, rushing up and clutching the baggage of the great man. “ Oh, no ; I can carry It. It nin’t heavy,” replied Asa Packer ; but the bag, neverthe less, was wrenched from his hand. “Off again, Judge?” said tho affable merchant, as he rushed out from his store to shake hands with the domestic stranger. “Yes; I’ve got to run up the road apiece.” “ Well, good luck to you.” “ Judge Packer,” said I, abandoning all expectation of securing a more favorable opportunity, “I have made a ditligent search for you, and run a long chime after you, but I do not see as I can run you down in private. Here is a note that will both introduce me and explain my visit.” And I handed the great man a letter with which I had been favored by a personal friend of the man of mark. The Judge—why ho is called “ Judgo” I do not know—read tbe letter carefully. lie pondered over it. He studied it. Ho seem ed to be weighing the words of which it was composed. Finally ho seemed to bo satisfied with it, and turning a smiling face upon me he said : “I am in somewhat of a hurry to catch the 12 o’clock train. It lacks ten minutes of tbo tlmo now. If you will walk to tho dopot with me wo can talk on tbo way.” Now, the distance irotn tbe centre of the town of Mauch Chunk to the depot of the Lehigh Valley road is not very great, nor is ten minutes much time in which to dis cuss the great political questions ol the duy. But as “half a loaf is belter than no bread,” I accepted tbe proposition with thanks, de termined to make the most of tbe opportu nity, at tho samo time dispatching a mea* senger to my hotel with if bank note to liquidate my bill, and an order for my satchel, ao as to be prepared to follow up tbe opportunity if it promised well. PERSISTENCE OP TIIE SUN CORRKiPON I> ENT “ How far north are you going, Judge ?" I asked, in breathless haste. "I’m going up into Susquehanna,” he replied. " How far can I go on this train and get back, in time to catch the Now York train to night ?” “ To Wilkesbarro.” " llow long does it take to go to Wilkes barre?” " About three hours.” "Very well; then I’ll gel on the train with you, and we can talk as wo go ulong.” "As you please,” replied the Judge, “ we’ll got aboard at once then,” and suit ing tho action to tho word, we were both soon sealod in a comfortably tilled car, though we were fortunate In securing two vacant seats. Tho engino gave a parting shriek, the breaks were unloosed and the truin sped away. JUDGE packer's TU'SINESS vs. ms poi.i- Judge Packer—For a number of years past, as you are probably aware, my pri vuto affairs and the business of tho com pany with which I am connected have as sumed an extentand importance to monop olize nearly my entiro lime and attention, forbidding me the opportunity to devote to currout political questions the attention 1 would like to have given them ; and now I re-euter public life not by my own wish but at a sacrifice of personal interests, in order to gratify my very partial friends, and in obedience to what I conceive to be the demands of my fellow-citizens nnd the public. For those reasons I must confess myself not fully prepared to discuss the generali ssues involved in national politics, but such opinions as I hold, you and tho public aro welcome to. didn’t wanttitk nomination. Reporter—l)o I understand you to sly, Judge Packer, that you did nut aspire to tho Gubernatorial nomination ? Judge Packer—Distinctly so. I never have changed the position I took in my Chambershurg letter, which whs that, while I had no aspirations for tho office of Gover nor, yet irtbe nomination should bo volun tarily tendered me by my fellow-citizens, I would feel It my duty to accept although at the sacrifice of my personal interests. 1 have always held that tho State and my country have claims paramount to mere personal considerations. THE IJ ITTKRNESS OF THE CANVASS. Reporter—Arjyou devoting much of your time to the cunvass? Judge Packer—But very little. Tho ques tion of my election now rests with my fol low citizens. I suppose that tho party that has placed me in nomination will make all my merits known if I have any, while tho party opposing me will certainly not fail to make my demerits known. I am some what wedded to tho antiquated notion that the office should seek the man, not the man the office. Reporter—l observe that the canvnss opens with something of personal bitterness in it. Judge Packer—lf so, it must be wholly on the other side. So far as I am concerned or my friends who may be influenced by my wishes, everything of a personal nature is and will bo rigorously avoided. We bavo no desire to assail tho character of tho chief executive of the Commonwealth, much leas the reputation of a soldier. But Lie official acts of an administration are legitimate subjects of criticism. THE GROUNDWORK OF TIIE FIOIIT. Reporter—What are tho lending features of Governor Geary’s administration with which you take issue? Judge Packer—Tlie financial policy of that administration has not tended to atrengthen the credit of the State to the ox tent it might have done, as the reports of the State Treasurer during the last three years, in tho item of receipts, show that at least twico the amount of public debt might have been liquidated that has been. The large balance' remaining in the Treasury from year to year, amounting to about two milliong of dollars, should have been ap propriated to the paymeotof so much of tho public debt. All well-conduced and successful private corporations, as for in stance, tho railroad with which I am iden tified, make it a matter of economy to ap propriate promptly all thoir available sur plus/ands to the extinguishment of their indebtedness, thus saving largo sums in interest money, or if that Is not needed, they uso their means in the improvement of their facilities for business. In my opin ion the financial affairs of the Common wealth should be administered by those to whom they are intrusted upon the same principle that they should govern theso pri vate affairs. No individual possessed of large means would be considered wise or sagacious did he allow any considerable portion of his money to lie idlo in his hands. Such a policy is not merely open to censure upon business principles, but is contrary to the injunctions of tho Scripture, that we should make diligent use of the means intrasled to us. Reporter—l understand yon to moan, Judge Packer, that the same rule that has governed you through life in your privato affairs and ministered toyonr success, you would apply to the management of the af fairs of the State were they iutrustod to yon? Judge Packer—Mobl certainly I do. I manage, my railroad affairs precisely the same as if they were wholly my own. I would manage the State affairs upon the same principles. The same rale that has given me personal success in life has made my railroad & success, and would nndonbt ediy make the administration of the State a success. BATE OF ADVERTISING. Bus nr *BB Asvzbtiskxsrts, tis * year per anuo of ten lines; $6 per year for each ad* ttlonal square. Real Estate Advertising, 10 cents a line'for tbeflrat,and 6oente for each subaeqeent in sertion. General Advertising 7 cents a line for the first, and i cents for each subsequent Inser tion. Special Notices inserted in Local Oolcmn 15 cents per line. Special Notices preceding marriages and deaths, 10 cents per line for first lnsertk nf and 6 cents for every subsequent Legal and other Notices— Executors’ ..otif-pa -i,so Administrators' 00ttce5,.....~...-.~-.. 2.50 Assignees' notices, 2.50 Auditors’ notices, 2.00 Other "Notices, ’ten lines, or less, Z throe times, 1....... 1.60 DISTRinUTE TIIK SPOILS WITH lUOID ECONOMY. Reporter—But, Judgo, you have no party favorites to reward, or party paupers to pro vide for, in tho management of your own affairs, or those of you railroad. Judge Packer—The public service re quires numerous officers. It is pcrfeciy proper, in lilling those offices, for tho ap pointing power to select its own friends and supporters. But in so doing thero should be do greater number appointed than is absolutely necessary. Why tbe Stole should be called upon to afford sine- cures to political drones more thun a mere corporation surpasses my comprehension. As I said in my letter of acceptance, the exponses of the State government shouldbe reduced to tho lowest practicable point, thereby lessening the burdens and luxa tion of tho people. TUB I* Alt DON INO roWKR—CLASS LECIISLA- Reporter—Are Ibeso tho only questions involved in this canvass? J udge Packer—No. There are two others, which I regard as of paramount importance to the safety of tho citizen ami the virtue of the State. I refer to the indiscriminate nso ot tbo pardoning power aod special orcias3 legislation. While tho one is an Incentive to crime unless cautiously nnd sparingly used, the other engenders corruption in tlio State, whereby tbo name of legislator be comes a reproach. Against these evils, reaching a magnitudo that has cast a dark shadow over the State, every good citlzeu should protest. Reporter—Hosv would you remedy these evils ? Judge Packer—l would exercisoclemen- euey only where deserved, and upon the clearest showing and would not hesitate to exercise the executive prerogative of the veto against all special legislation that is conceived or enacted in a corrupt spirit,or that can bo covered by general laws. In 3’our own of New York you Imvohad sorno experience? of tho evils of this class of legislation, and tho extent to which it can be carried ; and tho present eminent execu tive of that Stale has shown what influence a Governor may exert incounteniclingnmi checking this evil, which is even greater with us than with you. Till-: RMLUOAI> MONOPOLY. Reporter—Do not the vuw\ railroad cor- porations of this Stato virtually create a groat nnd powerful monopoly ; and does not this monopoly exert an undue influenoa upon the legislation of the State?” Judgo Packer—They might crouto a mo nopoly dangerous to tho State but fur tbo spirit ol competition for tbo trade of tho West and tbe Pacific const, as well as that, ol our own Stale, which is so great and steadily increasing, tending to a diffusion rather than a consolidation of power. And to this end tho Statu tnay very properly and safely foster and encourage tho exten sion and completion, by necessary brunch es, ol those iruuk roads. No other influence can be so potential in the development of the resources of the Stato as sucJi linos of improvement. Rich as we ure in our grout mineral deposits, they would avail us little without these ifiouns of transportation.— Being prouruontly indontltied with ono of these lines of road, it may l>o supposed that I speak as a railroad mini, and in tho interests of tho railroads alone. But I uin confident that no consideration growlug out of such a relation could warp my judge ment. the jirncjE down on tick oiunamkn. Reporter—l observe that tbo Philadelphia Press, tho North American, and other jour nals, udvocato the introduction of cooly labor Into this country. What Is your opin ion of tbo prospects of success of nueh a movement, and what would bo itsoffoct? Judge Pucker \Bmiling)—Now you are takiug mo from Pennsylvania over to China. But I have no hesitation in saying that 1 think the introduction of Ibo labor you refer to would pauperize tbo white la bor of tho country. While our white labor is paid ao poorly at tho best, tbo inllux of such a race us tbo Cbinuso would bo most disastrous. The introduction of such a race among our white laborers would deprive labor of its dignity by lessening its lair re muneration, breed political dissensions more serious than those created by tho Af rican race, and set up a religious system utterly at variance with tho prevalent Christian soutiinont of tho country. I do not look upon this (jueHtlon simply as the introduction of Chinamen bore and’ there as ordinary emigrants, but ns a conceited nnd S3'Btematized government to supplnnt tbo white labor of tho country. Against such efforts tho civilized and Christianized white race of this country should unitedly pro test. A UREA K " Wilkesbarro,” shouted tho brnkoman, thrusting his head into tho door of the car.” " Really Judge,” I remarked, " tho lime has passed more rapidly than 1 had sup posed, and I nm not half through the topic 1 had charged my mind with.” " Well, sir,” ho replied. " I bavo some business that will occupy mo hero for a few hours, and then I proceed farther north. I do not seo how I cun spare you more time at present. "But when can 1 seo you again?” 1 asked. " I do not like to leave the inter view half finished.” "I shall bo at home tho middle of tho week, and will meet you thero then and converse wiLli you further with pleasure." "Thank you, sir, I will bo huppy to meet you, and will wait your pleasure.” And so w’e parted. THE MAN OF MARK IN li IS lIOME. It was several days before wo met again. The great man was called hither and thith er in utter disregard of Die own convenience or his appointment with me. At last I found him alone in his convenient library at Mauch Chunk, enjoying u Saturday eve ning with his books und his privatoalfalrs, I hesitated to disturb his unusual quiet ness, but he pleasantly bid me enter and bo seated, apologizing for tho unexpectedly protracted interruption in onr interview. " But,” he added, "I can compensate you for it now by promising mi exclusive eve ning. Ido not know that the *S’un or the world will be greatly bonefltted by any ideas I may have to offer, but if thero aro any other topics you would like to discuss I will join you freely.” I read over to him the commencement of our conversation, as given above, which seemed to meet his approval us correctly reported. "Now, what further questions are thoro in your catechism ?” A VOLLEY AT THE FIFTEENTH AMEND- Reporter—The Republicans do not refer to the Fifteenth Amendment in their plat form for this canvass. Is not that amend ment an issue in the coutost? Judge Pucker—Tho Republican party seem to treat that us a settled question so far us Pennsylvania is concerned, refusing to let it come before tho peoplo for their de termination. I bavo my own opinions us to ibo manner In which tbatjjamendment should have been passed unon. I think any amendment like this, wuich virtually changes tho Constitution of the .Slate, sdould hayo boon presented to the peoplo for their upproval as provided in our Stato organic law, und should have emanated from u con vention called on tho npplienliun of tho legislatures of two-thirds of the several Slates us provided in the Federal Constitu tion. A question of such vital importance should be determined by k tbo people or by their representatives elected for that pur pose. Tho question of suffrage Is one that ibo original founders of tho general Govern ment wisely refrained from delegating to it. jealously retaining It within the control of the several sovereign States thoro pre sented. That control has never been dele gated to the Genoral Government, the as sumption of it by tho National Legislature is an arbitrary exercise of power, subver- the whole principle upon which the Government was founded; and so fearful was the Republican party that the people of tho Northern States, whoso loyalty bad never been questioned, would believe that they intended this gross Innovation on their rights, that in their platform adopted by their National Convention ot Chicago in 1808, they declared that tho question of suf frage in (he Northern States was to be de termined only by the people of the respec tive Stales. And yet they never havo per mitted tho peoplo of any State to pass upon the question, except in the South, wbero they have made the adoption of negro suf frugo a condition precedent to their repre sentation in Congress. A SLIGHT EVASION Reporter—-The Southern States having adopted this amendment, as you intimate under coercion ought tho negroes in thoso States be deprived of the ballot ? Judge Backer—The question of suffrage as I hayo said belongs to tho people of the States respectively ; wbilo Alabama bas no rlirbt to interfere with Pennsylvania in de termining this matter, (Pennsylvania has no more right to Interfere with Alabama. One State has no right to coerce another Into the adoption or the rejection of such a meas ure, either by the opinion of Its peoplo or the votos of its Senators and representative* in Congress. FEMALE HCFFRAOE. Reporter—Ja female suffrage ogitated to any extont in Pennsylvania 7 Judge Packer—But very little, and witlx~ no apparent earnestness. The women of this State, so far hs my knowledge extends abstains onlirely from any action on this question. They prefor to till the measure of Solomon’s description of a virtuous woman, that "Strength and honor are her She openeth her mouth wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindnees. She lookoth well to the ways of her house hold, und eateth not the bread of idlonees. Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband, also, and he pralsoth hor.— Her price Is far above rubies l” THE EIGHT HOUR LAW. Reportor—Are you in favor of the eight hour labor law? Judge Packer—l favor all movements that tend to the amelioration of the condi« tlon of the laboring man, and they have my most cordial co-operation. As I said in my letter of acceptance, "having earned my bread by tho labor of my hands daring £nany,and I may add, the happiest years of my life, and owing whatever I possess (under the providence of God) to patient and Continued on fourth page*
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