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;t; r .1 ;. , ..i n. ,n. ii
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher.
, . .". v Two Dollars per, Annum.
: : -' '- - - ...... t ai. lJ. i. ' a- ; ! e -1' - - . - . ' 1 '
' VOL. VII.
'-Zi RIDGWAY;ELK COUNTY;: 'PA., 'THURSD A Y; : MARCHS 15, 1877.
. . ,'..-.!. .-..4 - ' - ' .
f Wait and See.
When my boy, with eager question,
Asking how, and where, and when,
Taxes all my store of wisdom,
Asking o'er and o'er again
Questions oft to which the answers
Give to others still the.key.
I have said, to teach him patience,' -'
Wait, my little boy, and sea."
And the words I taught my darling
Taught to me a lesson sweet ; ,
Once when all the world seemed darkened
And the storm about to beat,
In the " children's room " I heard hltnyV
With a child's sweet ininiicryf.
To the baby brother's questions .
Saying wisely, . " Wit a se.' '
Like an angel's tender chiding
.Came 4he darling's words to me,
Though my Father's ways were hidden.
Bidding me still wait and see.'
What are we but restless children,
Ever asking what shall be 1
And the Father in His wisdom,
Gently bids us, " Wait and see." .
WHAT WALL STREET DID.
A Convict'a Story.
I held a good position as a clerk 'with
a firm in Willium Btreet, which I shall
call Wilson, Carter !k Co. I became a
boarder iu the family of a relative and
continued with him four years, when
some changes iu his business determined
him to remove to San Francisco. I now
took lodgings aud commenced, for the
first time, what is called a bachelor's
life. It was somewhat dull at first, I ad
mit, but by degrees I made acquaint
ances, nnd it offered far greater attrac
tions. Nay, more, I had now secured so
fully the good feeling of the heads of
the firm, that I was frequently a guest at
their tables; aud it is only justice to my
self to assert that if I did n&t gaiu their
confidence, it certainly did not arise,
on my part, from any lack of zeal in
their service. One day when I was din
ing at the house of the senior partner, I
met a certain Mr. Koberj; Thornton, ono
of the principal clerks in a large insur
ance office. He appeared a very gentle
manly, intelligent man, and had evident
ly seen a great deal of life. We left the
house together, and as I found he re-'
sided but a short distance from me, and
the night being fine, he offered me a
cigftr, nnd we walked home together.
On the different subjects we conversed
on during our walk, the one in which he
appeared to take especial interest was
speculating in stocks. Curiously enough,
while employed for nearly five years
within a few blocks of the Stock Ex
change, where I knew fortunes were con
stantly changing hands, I had never felt
tsmpted to try my luck. My employers,
i.dooa, wArA Btron civ opposed to it. and
had heard at least one of them de
nounce stock speculation as gam
bling of the worst kind. But I knew,
too, that other merchants of equally high
standing laughed at them for this, and
Thornton, I soon found, was well stored
with arguments to prove it every whit as
legitimate as the most humdrum dealings
in pork or flour or nails.
It so happened that a sudden and con
tinued rise in Erie had caused a great
flurry in the street, and my companion
named several acquaintances who had
cleared from $5,000 to $15,000 by lucky
invpfttmpnttt .Inviliry fltn lnuf n.aal-
" I could make as much as any of
them," he exclaimed, " if I only had a
thousand or two to start with. I kuow
precisely how to do it, aud if I could
find a man to put in the money I'd make
a small lortuue for us both inside of a
fortnight."
It was impossible to b'sten to him un.
moved, especially as I knew from the re
ports in the newspapers that investors in
Jiine were making extraordinary sums.
Consequently, when he asked if I knew
anyone at all likely to go in with him, I
siini :
" Perhaps I might."
" What ! you !" he cried; " I'm de
lighted. Can you raise a thousand f "
"Yes; two thousand, if necessary."
"Bravo 1 your fortune is made 1"
"But see here," said I; " in the first
J)lace, we must keep this thing quiet, for
! don't care to have my employers know
it, and in the second place, you must
post me up, so I shall know exactly what
' 1 4. II
HO IB UUUUb,
"All right!" - said he; that's easily
managed. And as you put in the funds
I'll bo satisfied with one quarter of what
we make, and if we should lose, which is
impossible, however, I'll stand half the
loss."
By this time we had reached my lodg
, ings and, going in together, I gave him
a check for $1,000 on the bank where my
small patrira&ny was deposited. A mem
orandum of our Agreement as to the di
vision of the certain profits and impossi-
ble losses which we anticipated was then
drawn ' up, and my mere acquaintance
gayly took his leave, saying:
" Mark my prediction I Thornton &
Co. will corner the street yet."
I smiled at this, but I did not realize
its, absurdity so clearly as I have since.
By far the moat interesting part of the
newspaper the next morning was the
financial article, and I bought the ftrst
edition of the Evening Post to see 'the
8 took quotations. I could not leave my
desk during business hours, but I dined
with Thornton and found him in k high
state of excitement. He urged me to in
vest auother thousand but I refused,
tliough greatly tempted by his represen
tations. The next night ho made a pro
digious effort to look cool and unconcern
ed as he laid before me a package of
greenbacks amounting to $1,750.
"There," said he, "I doubled your
thousand in two days, and I could have
done the same if it had been two thou
sand or ten thousand. You mirfit
made $1,500 as easy as $750."
I looked grave as I reflected that this
was undoubtedly the fact.
"What have you done with your
$250 f" Iimquired. ' -
" Bought Erie, of course. ' IU treble
it, sure."
I cross-questioned, him closely, went
over the newspaper reports once more,
and then took my resolution. Calling
for pen and ink I filled up a blank check
and said, handing him the package of
greenbacks;
' Here is $1,750 in cash, and here is a
check for $4,700. Go in and win." J I -
Thornton jumped up aud grasped my
hand, exclaiming: ,
"You're a man of nerve 1 You deserre
to be rich I"
"Well." said I. "it depends a cood
deal on you. See that you make no mis
take." - '
."Never fear," said he, "you'll be
worth $20,000 before you know it. "
After some further conversation we
parted, my occasional misgivings being
speedily dispelled by delightful visions
ot sudden wealth,
Yon will see that I had put into Thorn-
ton's hands the whole of my little inher
itanee together with two years' interest,
which I had allowed to accumulate, my
salary for the last two years having been
amply sufficient for" my wants. I am
satisfied that it would have been a lucky
thing for me if I had lost every cent of
it. But, as it happened, Thornton's in
stinct was not at fault, he sold out at just
the right moment, and I found mvsolf as
he had predicted, worth $20,000, "besides
several odd hundreds with which I in
dulged in champagne, gamo suppers,
and some othor expensive luxuries which
I had hitherto entirely avoided.
I had self-control enough to deposit
my money in bank, keep my secret, aud
attend steadily to my regular business.
Thornton, too, kept "his affairs from his
employers, but continued to speculate
with his share of the profits made off my
capital, nnd with such success that in a
few months he was worth as much as I.
My resolution to be satisfied with what I
had mode, aud tempt fortune no more,
gradually vanished as I noted his con
tinued prosperity, aud when he came to
me with secret information of a projected
movement in leading stock, which prom
ised results of the most flattering charac
ter, and told me he had invested every
cent he had in that stock, I readily agreed
to do the same. At first everything went
well. The stock began to riso slowly,
and at one time we might have made four
or five thousand apiece by selling.though
neither of us thought of that for a mo
ment. Then there came a lull, and then,
without a moment's warning, the stock
tumbled with such frightful rapidity
that, before' we realized it, our little for
tunes were swept away. Thorton made
haste to sell, but wo found ourselvea
each $2,000 in debt, and with no consola-'
tion except that some dozens of fellow
speculators had been cleaned out in the
same style as ourselves.
I shall not soon forget our meeting
after this disaster. I could not reproach
Thornton, for his losses were as heavy as
mine, and it was he who rescued us from
the dilemma of having to pay $4,000 be
tween us at once without funds, or have
our, transactions exposed to our respec
tive employers.
"I have a friend," said he, " who will
shave our joint note for a fair discount,
and before it comes due, we shall have
time to get on our feet again."
I ftaaaiot any I HKea Hie suggestion,
but there was no alternative. Thornton
introduced me t i his friend, the note
shaver, a Mr. Jackson, a cunning, oily
man, witn a awagreeame expression ot
countenance, tnougn 11:3 manner was
smguiariy polite, considering that we
could furnish no security. However,
we had to give him a note for $5,000,
payable in six months, with interest, in
order to get the $4,000 we needed.
This transaction completed, we breath
ed more freely, feeling that we had at
least a six months' reprieve.
The misery I endured during those six
montli, I cannot attempt to describe.
I hardly saw Thornton, who studiously
avoided mo, until ono eveaij toward
the end of the filth month, he called mo
into Mouquin's, aud showed me a release,
signed by Jackson, from all obligation
under our joint note.
"What does this mean ?" I gasped.
" It means that I have paid my half
' with interest," said Thornton.
" And where did you get the money ?"
I cried, amazed.
"Speculating in stocks," was the cool
reply. "Why don't you? I suppose
Wilson, Carter & Co. would lend you
enough to begin with. At any rate you
can borrow it of them, even if they don't
lend it."
With these words Thornton turned
and abruptly walked away. I suppose
he meant to do me a service by this in
fernal suggestion, but he might better
have thrust a dagger into my heart. I
cannot tell how I brooded that night-
over what ho said, or how the next day
I tremblingly acted upon it, employiug
a young broker, to whom Thornton had
introduced me, to invest the purloined
funds. I had some delusive successes,
but the day the note came due I pos
sessed not a cent to meet my share of it,
and was $1,500 behind in my accounts
with my employers. Mustering up all
my courage I called on Jackson, told
him I had not been so fortunate as my
friend Thornton, and ventured to propose
that he accept my note for $3,000 in set
tlement of my present obligation.
"I will do so readily," said he,
" upon one condition, and that is, that
you have a good name at the back If it."
" But I hardly kuow to whom I could
''PPty." I "aid. "I would much rather
givo you a greater discount oa my own
promissory note in fact, any discount
you choose to demand."
" And that's the very reason, jny dear
fellow," said Jackson, " I will not do it,
unless I have a good name at the back.
On that condition I have no objection to
make it a year, so as to allow you suffi
cient time to look about you and pav the
money comfortably. Now, think well if
there is any person to whom you could
BPP.ly. You are very thick with the
junior partner in your 'firm, why not get
him to put his name to it ? At any rate
you can but ask him, and the. thing may
tie. done to-morrow.'' Now take in v ad
vice and try. the experiment.". ':
I loft Jackson, hardly knowing what
to do. True, I was on very friendly
terms with the junior partner: son of the
senior partner; and I believe he bore me
great good wilt. Still, it was a very
dangerous experiment to try, for if he
should, refuse and inquire into my ac
counts he would find me a defaulter to
the amount of $1,500. "
And here I must hurry over the par
ticulars of the crime I committed, so
painful are they to think of. Suffice it to
say, instead oi obtaining his signature I
was guilty of forging it. My renewed
note was accepted, but it would be im
possible to describe the terrible state of
my mind. The only method I had of re
lieving myself from the penalty of my
crime would be by perpetrating others;
and this, I felt convinced, would only be
to prolong for a short time the misery I
was in., A feeling-of recklessness theu
came on, and I resolved to let things
take their course. Just before the office
was about to close, one day, Jackson en
tered and told one of the junior clerks
he wished to speak with the senior part
ner. - Although he remained in my room
during the time the youth went with the
message, he took not the slightest notice
of "me. but, with perfect command of
Ic ?nnce' ,lL "
appearance of recognition than if I had
been a total stranger. He was soon after
ushered into the senior partner's office,
and I, closing my desk, put on my Eat,
and, in a state of terror it would be im
possible to describe, returned home.
The state of my mind that night would
baffle all description. I tried to sleep, if
only to close my eyes for a short time to
the danger I. was in. All was useless;
and I turned over in my mind innumer
able schemes of the vaguest description
by which to save myself. When I think
over them now, and can estimate their
utter worthlessness and absurdity, I eon
easily understand I was in the condition
of the drowning man who catches at a
straw. ' ; .
The next morning, entirely forgetting
my breakfast, iu a fit of recklessness I
dressed, and went to the office. Shortly
after my arrival, the senior rjartner enter
ed, and in passing through the office he
looked steadily at me for Borne moments,
and then went on. A few minutes later
a messenger carae to me and told me the
senior partner wished to speak with me.
At that moment a powerful, respectably
attired, common-looking man entered the
office, bearing a letter for the firm. He
glanced at me as I went out of the room,
and I shuddered as I looked at him, for
I felt persuaded he was a detective officer.
On entering the senior partner's office,
he raised his eyes from the desk, and
looked steadily at mo. ' I was surprised
to find there was no sternness nor indig
nation in his countenance.
" J ," he said, in a kind tone, "you
do not look at all well this morning. Is
there anything the matter with you ?"
I caught at the idea, and said I had
not felt well for the last few days.
" I thoucrht not." he said: "and only
"I sent for yon to say, if it were the case,
you had better return home and take a
day or two's rest. You will then be bet
ter, and we can do very well without yon
for that time."
A reception so different from what I
had expected, made such an impression
on me that the tears' came into my eyes
r.nd I felt half inclined to confess the
whole truth. The senior partner, how
ever, putting out his hand, and shakiiijr
mine warmly, said:
J' Now go home, and keep up your
upirits, and you will do very well." .
.-ii ) -onntt one 01 uio cieiW en
tered the room, and I left it and proceed
ed homewards, the man whom I had
imagined to be a detective being no
longer there. For what purpose Jack
sou visited the office the evening before
I know not. Certainly it was not con
nected with my business.
It will be too painful for me to go fur
ther into the matter. I plunged deeper
and deeper into crime. I attempted to
conjure up a reckless frame of mind, and
in the daytime to a considerable extent
succeeded. But then the nights how
can I describe their misery ? I could
not sleep without opium, aud the more I
took of the ding the greaterthe quantity
I required, till at length I 'was obliged'
to take each evening as much as would
have killed any ordinary man. It had
also its effect on my countenance, which
assumed the palid hue of the regular
opium eater. At last the forgery was
discovered, Jackson having sold my
note; I was arrested, my defalcations
came to light, and soon after I found my
self here.
One word more, in jnstice to myself.
I heard that in the newspaper report of
the trial it was . stated that wheu, after
my sentence, I left the bar, it was with a
jaunty step and indifferent expression of
countenance. Never was there a truer
remark. If, indeed, any objection can
be taken to it, it is that it did not go far
enough, for the imprisonment to which I
was condemned, and the utter ruin of
my prospects iu life, were but a feather
in the balance, when compared with the
weight of .horrible mental torture and
doubt I had been laboring under for
months before the termination of my ca
reer of .crime. V . . .
N " Where is Thornton, you ask ?"
He occupies the cell adjoining mine.
Illustrated Weekly.
. Labor aud Capital. ,
A curious case in the struggle between
labor.and capital has. lately, occurred in
one of the coffee houses of "Portland, Me.
The men. employed to turn the cranks
of the mills at the various stores had
formed themselves into a Society for mu
tual -protection against reductions of
wages. A week ago Saturday a man in
one of the stores was informed that his
pay had been reduced. He promptly re
ported the fact to his fellow workmen,
who advised him to strike. Waiting un
til late in the evening, while a customer
was sitting in his carriage until his cof
fee was prepared, the man ground away
for a few moments, and then suddenly
demanded that his wages be placed at the
old amount. ' The proprietor refused,
and employed another man. The striker
held fufet to the crank, and said he had
been told to do so until ten o'clock.
Meanwhile the customer became impa
tient, and asked ii coffee could not be
borrowed from another store. No; that
would cause a fctrike in all the coffee
houses. . A policeman was theu sent for;
he refused, to act. Theu a justice was
resorted to, and a ' few moments before
ten o'clock an injunction was granted and
the grasp was released. But the striker,
angered at his failure to gain his point,
mixed the ground with the unground
coffee and departed in disgust. JV". i ',
Tribune. : 1 - . . . ,
. 1 1 - - , 1 r'
A gentleman well known for his parsi
monious habits, having billeted himself
oa his acquaintance in Edinburgh dur-.
ing some royal visit, was talking to a
friend on his return of the great expense
of living. "How much, now, do you
suppose I epent in Edinburgh ?" , " I
do not know," , replied his friend: "I
suppose about a for tnight," ' .
THE mCHUEAL ADDRESS.
The Pniithrrn QticMlnn Civil Servlre Itr.
form A Rf conimcndallnn Tlie Flrmnrr
Natlonnl Arbitration The Hrttlrsient of
' the 1'rrslilrncy. j !
The following is the full text of Tresident
Hayes1 inaugural address 1 , 1
I ..J ' THB ADDRESS.
FKtAow-CrnzEim : We have assembled to re
peat the public ceremonial, begun by Washing
ton, observed by all my predecessors, and
now a time honored custom, which marks
the commencement of a new term of the Presi
dential office. Called to the dtitios of this great
trunt, I procood, in compliance with usage, to
announce some of the loading principles on the
subjects that now chiefly engage the public at
tention by which it is my desire to be gnided in
the discharge of those duties. I shall not un- '
dertake to lay down irrevocablv principles or
measures of administration, but rather to speak
of the motives which should animate us, and to
suggest certain important ends to be attained
in accordance with our institutions and essen
tial to the welfare of our country. i
' HIS LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE REtTElUTKn.
At the outset of the discussions which pre
ceded the recent Presidential election it seemed
to me fitting that I should f nllv make known
my sentiments in regard to several of the im
portant questions which then appeared to do
uiaud the consideration of the country. Fol
lowing the example, aiid in part adopting the
language of one of my predecessors,! wish now,
when every motive for misrepresentation has
passed away, to repent what was said before
the election, trusting that my countrymen will
candidly weigh and understand it, "and that
they will feel assured that the sentiments de
clared in accenting the nomination for the
Tresidcucy will be the standard of my conduct in
the path before me, charged, as I now am,witb,
the grave and difficult task of carrying them
out in the practical administration ot the gov
ernment, so far as depends nndor the Constitu
tion and laws ou the Chief Executive of the na
tion. ....
TIIE SOUTHERN QfESTIOS.
The permanent padfication of the country
upon such principles and bv such measures as
will secure the complete protection of all its
citizens in the free enjoyment of all their con
stitutional rights is now the one subject in our
pnblic affairs which all thoughtful and patriotio
citizens regard asof snpremcimportauce. Many
of the calamitous effects of the tremendous
revolution which has passed over the Routhern
States still remain. The immeasurable bene
tits which will surely follow sooner or later the
hearty and generous acceptance of the legiti
mate results of that revolution have not yet
been realized. Difficult and embarrassing ques
tions meet us at the threshold of this subject.
Tho people of those States are still impoverish
ed, and the inestimable blessing of wise, honest
and peaceful local self government is not fullv
enjoyed. Whatever difference of opinion may
exist as to the cause of this condition of things,
the fact is clear that, in the progress of events,
the time has come when such government is
the imperative necessity required bv all tho va
ried interests, publio and privato, of thoso
States. -...
But it must not be forgotten that only a local
government which recognises and maintains in
violate the rights of all is a true self-government.
With rcBpcct to the two distinct races, whose
peculiar relations to each other have brought
upon ns the deplorable complications and per
plexities which exist in those States, it must be a
government which guards the interests of both
races carefully aud equally. It must be a gov
ernment which submits loyally and heartily to
tho Constitution and the laws the laws of the
the laws of Uietta ihoniselVes
accepting ona ..wyinC faithfUy the whole
Constitution as it is.
Hestiug upon this 6uro and substantial founda
tion, the superstructure of beneficent local gov
ernments can be built up. and notothcrwise. In
furtherance of such obedience to the letter and
the spirit of the Constitution, and iu behalf of all
that its attainment implies, all so-called party
interests lose their apparent importance, and
party lines may well be permitted to fade into
insignificance. The question we have to con
sider for tho immediate welfare of those States
of tho Union is the question of govemmont
or no government s of social order and all the
peaceful industries and happiness that belong
to it, or a return to barbarism. It iu a question
in which every citizen of the nation is deeply
interested, and with respect to which we ought
not to be, in a partisan sense, either Republicans
or Democrats, but follow citizens and fellow
men, to whom the interests of a common coun
try and a common humanity are dear.
The sweeping revolution' of the entire labor
systemof alarge portion of our country, and the
advance of four millions of people frbm a con
dition of servitude to that of citizenship upon
an equal footing with their former masters,
could not occur without presenting problems of
tho gravest moment to bo dealt with by the
emancipated rabe, by their former masters, and
by the. geueral government, the author of the
act of emancipation. That it was a wise, just
and Providential act, fraught with good for all
concerned, U now generally conceded through
out the country. That a moral obligation rests
upon the national government to employ its con
situtional power and influence to establish the
rights of the peonle it has emancipated, and to
protect thorn iu the enjoyment of those riirhts
when they are infringed or aB.-ailed, is also gen
erally admitted.
The evils which afflict the Southern States can
only be removed or remedied by the united and
harmonious efforts of both races actuated by
motives of mutual sympathy and regard ; and
while in duty bound ond fully determined to
protect the rights of all by every constitutional
means at the disposal it my administration, I am
sincerely anxious to use every legitimate influ
ence in favor of honest and efficient local self
government as tlie true resony e of those States
for the promotion of the contentment and pros
perity of their oitizens. In tlie effort I shall
make to accomplish this purpose I ask the cor
dial co-operation of all who oherish an interest
in the welfare of the country, trusting- that
party ties and the prejudice of race will be free
ly Murroudered in behalf of the great purpose to
be accomplished. .
In the important work of restoring the South
it is not the political situation alone that merits
attention. The material development of that
section of the country has been arrested by the
social and political revolution through which it
has passed, and - now needs and deserves the
considerate care of the national government
within the joint limits prescribed Ev the Con
stitution and wiee publio economy. .' , - .
rams schools.
But at the basis of all prosperity for that as
well as for every other part of the eonntrv, lies
the improvement of the intellectual and moral
condition of the people. Universal suffrage
should rest upon universal education. To this
end liberal and permanent provUion should be
made for tlie support of free schools by the
State governments, and,' if need be, supple
mented by legitimate aid from national author
ity. -.. .-
Let me assure my countrymen of tlie South
ern States that it is my earnest dotire to regard
and promote their truest interests, the interests
of the white and colored people both and equal
ly, and to put forth my best efforts in behalf of
a civil poliey which will forever wi)ie out, in our
political affuirs, the color line, and the distinct
Uuu between North and South, to the end that
we may have not merely a united North or a
uuiteu boutn, uut a united country. . ..
n ClVIl tEBVICl HETOltM. ' '
T ask tbft nttphfum nf TTia nnlilirt'tn t-V.A4v.a..-
mount necessity ' of a reform iu our civil ser
vice , a roiorm,'iiot merely as 10 certain abutes
and practices of . sn-oalled , official patronage
which hftVA rnnm tn lmvA iha unnni.n n
in the several departments of our government.
lil.f aV. ....... j. .V. . .,t..m 1 ;j
. tn wio ."rem ui Biipoiuiiueni list-If
t a rAfnrn ilinf. ftlii.il Vw ..v. i; l
. - ' w uiuiuuu,
and complete 1 a return to the principles ei.d
practices of the found'-rs of the govurmneut.
They neither expected nor desirwl from publio
officers any partisan service. They meant that
public officers sliould owe th: ir whole service to
the government and to the people. They
meint that the officer sh uld be secure in his
tenure as long us his persona charaoler re.
m&uud untarnished, and the performance of
his duties saijsfaotury, They jeld. that appoint
merits to office were not to be made nor expect
ed merely as rewards for partisan services, nor
merely on the noniinntinn of members of Con
gress, as being entitled in any rpspeot to the
control of such appointment i. The fact that
both the great political parties of the country,
in declaring their principles prior to the elec
tion, gave a prominent place to the subject ot
reform of our civil service, Teoognizing and
strongly urging its necessity in terms almost
identical in their specific import with those I
have employed, must be accepted as a Conclu
sive argument in behalf of these measures. It
mnst be regarded as the expression of the
nnitcd voice and will of the whole country upon
this subject, and both political parties are vir
tually pledged to give it their unreserved sup
port. The President of the United Btates of neces
sity owes his .election to the office to the suf
frage and zealous labors of a political party,
the members of which cherish with ardor and
regard as of essential importance the principles
of their party organization. lint he should
strive to be always mindful of tho fact that he
serves his party host who serves the country
best.
In furtherance of the reform we seek and in
other important respects a change of great im
portance, I recommend an amendment to the
Constitution prescribing a term of six years for
the Presidential office and forbidding a re-election,
, THE I IK A'C1LH. -
With respect to the financial condition of tlie
country I shall not attempt at extended history
of the "embarrassment and prostration which we
have suffered during the past three years. The
depression in all our varied- commercial and
manufacturing interests throughout the country
which began in September, 1873, still continues. '
It iB very gratifying, however, to be able to say
that there are indications all around us of a
coming change to prosperous times.
Upon the currency question, intimately con
nected as it is with this topic, I may bo per
mitted to repeat here the statement made in
my letter of acceptance, that in my judgment
the feeling of uncertainty inseparable from an
irredeemable paper currency with its lluctua
tiojis of value is one of the greatest obstacles
to a return to prosperous times. The only safe
paper currency is 0110 which rests upon a coin
basis and is at all timeB and promptly converti
ble into coin. I adhero to the views heretofore
expressed by me in favor of Congressional leg
islation in behalf of an early resumption of
specie payment, and I am satisfied not only that
this is wise, but that the interests as well as the
public sentiment of the country imperatively
demand it.
FORKIOIC RELATIONS.
Passing from these remarks upon the condi
tion of our own country to consider our rela
tions with other lands, we are rertinded by
the international complications abroad threat
ening the peoce of Europe that our traditional
rule of non-interference in the affairs of foreign
nations has proved of great value in past times
and ought to be strictly observed. The policy
inaugurated by mv honored predecessor, Presi
dent (irant, of submitting to arbitration grave
questions in dispute between ourselves and for
eign powers points to a new, and incomparably
the best, instrumentality for the preservation
of peace, and will, as I believe, become a bene
ficient es ample of the course to be pursued in
similar emergencies by other nations. If, un
happily, questions of difference should, at
any tiine during the period of my administra
tion, arise between the United States and any
foreign government, it will certainly be my dis
position and my hope to aid in their settlement
in the same peaceful and honorable wav, thus
securing to our country the groat blessings of
peace and mutual good ouics with li the
nationB of the world. -
THE SETTLEMENT or THE PRESIDENTIAL QCES
TION.
Fellow-citizens s" Vie have reached the close
of a political contest marked by the excitement
which usually attends the contests between
great political parties whose members espouse
and advocate with earnest faith their respective
creeds. The circumstances were, perhaps, in
no respect extraordinary, save in the closeness
and consequent uncertainty of the result. For
the first time in the history of the country it
has been deemed best, in view of the peculiar
circumstances of tho case, that the objections
and questions in dispute with reference to the
counting of the electoral votes should be re
ferred to tho decision of a tribunal appointed
for this purpose. That tribunal, established
by law for this sole purpose, its members all of
them men of lonir established reputation for
integrity and intelligence, and with the excep
tion 01 tnoso wno are also members or tua
supreme judiciary chosen equally from both
political parties, its deliberation enlightened by
tlie research and the arguments of able coun
sel, was entitled to the fullest confidence of the
American people. Its decisions have been
patiently waited for and accepted as legally
conclusive by the general judgment of the pub
he. For the" present opinion will widely vary as
to the wisdom of the several conclusions an
nounced by that tribunal. This is to be antici
pated in every instance where matters of dis
pute are made the subject of arbitration under
me lornis or law. .tinman judgment is never
unerring, and is rarely regarded as otherwise
than wrong bv tho unsuccessful party in the
contest. The fuel, that two great political parties
have in this way settled a dispute in regard to
which good men differ as to the facts and law,
no less than as to tho proper course to be pur
sued iu solving the question in controversy, is
an occassion for general rejoicing.
Upon one point there is entire unanimity in
public sentiment, that conflicting claims to the
Presidency must be amicable and peaceably ad
justed, and that when so adjusted the general
acquiescence of.t he nation ought surelyto follow.
It had been reserved for a government of people
where the right of sufferage is universal to give
to the world the first example in history of a
great nation in the midst of a struggle of oppos
ing parties for power hushing its party tumults
to yield the issue of the contest ;to adjust
ment according to tho forms of law7
Looking for the guidance of that Divine hand
by which the destinies of nations and individuals
are shaped, I call upon yon, senators, represen
tatives, judges, fellow-citizens, here and every
where, to unite with me iu an earnest effort (0
secure to our country the blessing not only of
material prosperity, but of justice, peace and
union a union depending not upon the con
straint of force, but upon the loving devotion
of a free people ; " ana that all things may be
so ordered and settled upon the best and surest
foundations that peace and happiness, truth
and justice, religion and piety, may be estab
lished among us for all generations.
Not a Folitician.
When the occupant of a business place
in Detroit was asked on the twenty-second
of February why he didn't hang out
a flag in memory of Washington, he re
plied: " What do I know about George
Washington?" "Why, you have read
of him, haven't you? "I suppose I
have, but you don't suppose . I swallow
all I read, do you?" "But -everybody
knows that Washington was a great and
good man," protested the first., "I
don't know about that I've heard a
good deal .against him since I came to
Detroit, and I'm not going to run the
risk of offending some of my best cus
tomers by waving any flags around. I'm
jnst starting in here, and I don't want to
mak any bad moves." - " But, sir, but"
"Please go on," interrupted the
business man. "If people hear yma
jiiwiug around my place they'll think
I'm a politician and keep clear of me.
I'm neutral in politics, and you can't
force me into the .Washington ring no,
eir.'t. . .
. Invested with full authority over the
Soudan and Bed sea coast, Col. Gordon
promises to abolish effectually the slave
trade which has flourished iu these quar
ters. .: His prowess in China during the
rebellion, and his experience in Aijicai
amply qualify him for this task, ;(. . . r
Tlie Elder and the Children.
! The presiding elder of a certain dis
trict of Kentucky, in other yenrs, was a
New England man, named Hawkins. He
was a genial, social, easy going man,
mnking friends wherever he went, and if
he did not display great erudition in his
sermonising, fie at least preached with
spirit and with understanding. On a
certain occasion the elder paid his first
visit to an outlying settlement of his
district, haying been notified that while
there he would find quarters with Broth
er Buford. The day was just closing
when he arrived at the dwelling of
Brother Buford, and his bout, expecting
him, was on hand to receive and wel
come him, which was done right warmly.
His horse was given to the care of a ser
vant, and with his saddle bags upon his
arm, he followed his guide into the
house, where he was presented to Mrs.
Buford, a pleasant faced, smiling wo
man, in the prime of life, who welcomed
him in a manner that made him feel at
home at once. She took his saddle bags,
and gave him a sent, and shortly, with
her husband, sot down for a chat.
The day was declining, ond the night
creeping on, and as the caiuiies Jiau 1101
yet been ughted, the low studded room,
shaded by the broad roof of the piazza,
grew to be quite gloomy as the conversa
tion progressed. They had talked of
the weather, of the crops, of the pro
gress of civilization, and of the spread of
the Gospel, when a door was opened,
letting in the grateful aroma of broiling
chicken ond griddle cakes, and also, giv
ing ingress to a bevy of children six of
them. The elder, a little near sighted at
best, in the gathering gloom could only
distinguish that the children were all
young, port boys, and pnrt girls. The
foremost was a boy, who came boldly
forward, and whom the elder caught by
the nrm.
"Aha, my little one, what is your
name ?"
" Johnny Buford, sir."
"A fine boy, I declare!" And he
kissed the sturdy shaver upon the cheek.
He knew Buch things were pleasing to
parents, and then he was fond of chil
dren. The next was a girl.
o "Now, my little lady, what is your
name ?"
"I'm Sissy Buford, sir."
" And I hope you try to be n good
little girl." And he gave her a hearty
smuck.
And so he - went through with the lot.
Ho heard the host and the hostess titter,
and he fancied that the good woman held
her handkerchief over her month, and
that the chair in which Mr. Buford sat
shook as though its occupant had an ague
fit.
"A fine lot of cluldren," declared the
elder. " What trea'sures fhey nro in a
household. Ah I how I pity the man and
wife who ore condemned to live on, year
after year, without blessed children.
You must be -proud of your family,
Brother Buford."
At this point Mrs. Buford could con
tain herself no longer. The compressed
handkerchief was of no avail. She burst
into a laugh, long ond hearty, and her
husband uproariously followed suit.
Tho elder was astounded. What could
it mean ?
Just then two servants entered, ono to
bring lighted caudles, and the other to
nnnounce.that supper was ready.
And then the good elder saw. There
stood the six children beautiful chil
dren! their ebony faces gleaming
in the candlelight like so many
aces of spndes ! little, woolly
headed babies, every one 1 Mr. and Mrs.
Buford had never had children of their
own, and they had petted these juvenile
darkeys until the Jetty little rascals had
become as irrepressible on the premises
as so many favorite cats and dogs.
Mrs. Buford laughed again when she
saw the elder vigorously wiping his
lips; but over the well filled supper
table tne tide or leeimg was soon turned
toforgetfulness of the ludicrous faux pas-
. Paylny for his Whistle.
Not many years ago, when a lofty
building was on the point of completion,
the mason who was finishing tho highest
portion was in the habit of whistling to
the laborer who attended him whenever
he wanted a fresh supply of lime, and,
as the scaffold on which he wrought was
rather small, this occurred very often
during a day's work. A joiner who was
fitting in a window immediately under
neath, noticing Pat answer dutifully to
every whistle from the mason, thought
of playing a trick on him by imitating
tho whistle, and thus brought him up
with a hodf ul of lime when there was no
room for it. The mason told Put that
he had not whistled, so he had no other
alternative than to trudge back with his
load. This haviueoccurred for the third
time during one day, Pat thought he
would watch to hear where the whistle
come from. He had not waited long
with the hod on his shoulder when he
heard the identical whistle directly un
derneath, where he stood, and, leaning
over, he saw the head of the joiner pro
truding out of the window immedia'tely
below. Pat, without more ado, emptied
the hod right over the whistler's head.
The joiner yelled and spluttered while
attempting to clear himself from the ad
hesive mass, and, in the midst offus
confusion, heard Paddy above shouting
at the top of his voice : ' Whistle when
you want more mortar 1"
A Pleasant Adventure.
There was a husking bee down near
Mt. Pleasant the other night. One of
the young ladies present rammed her
hands into the husks and hauled out a
snake as long as a whip lash, and too
cold to take much interest iu the festivi
ties. She fell . over on her back and
shrieked and screamed until she whs
black m the face, but everybody thought
she had only found a red ear, end tl ey
laughed at her while the snake got inside
of her ruffle and crawled painfully and
rheuniatiealJy down her back. She was
understood at last, and the snake was
dragged out and killed, but she says if
Bhe was to live a thousand years she
couldn't scream half as much - as she
wants to. Vounvil Bluffs Iowa) Non
pariel. r ''. ; , '' '. .' . f ,
i A rural editor, in describing the ora
torio of "Esther," beautifully fays
" The swell died-away in delicious suffo'
cation, like, one singing a swee B(?og uu
der the bedclothes, "
-A Faithful Dog.
1 Vom-naatla iV.nO I nBTer SttyS. TllO
road from Cornpoy to Tow Law passes
oyer neaiey nopo iu --o---of
the rond the boundary wall, known as
tt.ii.. ir. o-rtrniila tho whole
distance, and on the left is the unin-
cloBed common. One ttununy iuuiujuB
at about nine O'clock two young uieu
nrt.a vollrililT nl 111 A rnAll when tllCir llt
tention was attracted by the barking of
a dog. Prompted by curiosity iney ue
termincd to ascertain the cause, and on
rinKinff llio l.rnw rvf ft steet Vfilley
which, at the distance of about one hun
dred yards, runs parallel witn tne romi,
they discovered in a marshy hollow a
cart overturned, h pony in the harness,
and underneath the upset cart was what
appeared to be the dead body of a man.
The dog, one of the bull and terrier spe
cies, was lying on his breast. The young
men attempted to approach the cart,
but the too faithful dog would not allow
them to come near to extricate his mas
ter. To Hedley Hill Cottages, about
half a mile off, they went fer assistance,
and numbers were soon on the spot,
wlion Avar? mnnlia TPna Uflpd to induce
tho dog to desert his charge, but without
effect. In the meantime tlie uniornuiiue
man was recognized to be William Nut
utoII df Tnw T.nw wlio liiul visited Corn-
say for the purpose of selling fruit and
confectionery. A messenger was uieu
dispatched to Tow Law, and in a.short
time friends arrived to give their assist
ance. To remove the dog they tried
every allurement, but in vain, and his
angry eye and snarling mouth betokened
danger to any who might interfere with
his charge. At length a long rope with
a noose was thrown over his head, and
he was dragged from off tho body. That
accomplished, the cart was lifted, when
it was found that the man still breathed;
but after a few convulsive movements of
the eyes and arms life became extinct.
The track of the cart has been traced,
and from its devious course there can be
no doubt that Nutwell had missed his
way, aud after wandering ou the fell
amidst the darkness that prevailed, hod
been with his horse ond cart upset. .
New Black Silk Dresses.
Among the new models for black silk
dresses that are always largely imported
for the intermediate sensons, tho Bazar
says, Worth sends some handsome de
signs, partly of brocade and partly gros
grain. The front breadths are of plain
gros grain laid across a foundation in folds
and wrinkles,and edged with fringe.which
falls over a knife plaiting. Across the
top of these breadths is a short apron of
brocade, fringed with brocade revers ex
tending down the side gores their whole
length. The three back breadths are
made abruptly longer on the sides to givo
a square train, and are bordered across
the bottom and up the sides to the belt
with a knife plaiting of plain silk lined
with plaited Valenciennes lace, and hold
iu position by floods of looped ends of
gros groin ribbon. The square habit
basque,- made like those already describ
ed, is of brocade, with tight sleeves of the
some. Bows ore set on the back seams
of the basque, and it is piped all along
the edge. The pointed front is made to
look short woisted by a wide Josephine
belt of four silk folds, beginning under
the arms, and sloping narrower toward
the front, where it is fastened by a buckle
of mother-of-pearl. The squnre neck has
a revers and tolils of silk at the bottom,
and is filled in with white crepe lisse,
while plnitings of lisse and luce sur
round the square. At the back tho neck
is not very high, and a standing collar is
added on the back only. The tight
sleeves are slashed above the wrist, and
there are two puffs of white tulle on tho
outside of the arm; Valenciennes lace
frills fall on the hand. A bunch of vio
lets and migonette is stuck in the comer
of the square neck on the left side.
In these new dresses the shoulders are
very short, the neck is cut very high be
hind, and the tight sleeves hove the up
per half slightly gathered on the elbows
to nt the arms more perfectly.
A second black silk costume designed
for the street has a princesse polonaise,
with the apron front draped like a scarf,
and kilt-pliated behind. The trimming
is black and white galloon and fringe.
A Wonderful Gorilla.
A gorilla has " so endearea himself "
to the people of Berlin, as Mr. Moncure
Conway explains it, that "the other day,
when he fell ill, the whole capital was in
a state of alarm and sorrow quite equal
to that which this country suffered when
the Prince of Wales was ill. Bulletins
of the gorilla's condition were printed
and eagorly sought." This wonderful
animal enters a company leaning on the
arm of his attached custodian, and gives
entire satisfaction to those who are curi
ous concerning his intellectual ability.
His intelligence in almost human, but
his large heartedness is what most
touches those around him. He is affec
tionate, courteous and polite; is never .
greedy or grasping, and responds to
every kindness. Mr. Conway relates
the following of the chimpanzee that
lately died in London: Having seen its
keeper turning a key in a padlock, it
gave indications of a desire to have the
lock, and, on receiving it, tried vainly to
turn the key; it could not, with its im-
Eerfect hand, get the exact twist. But
aving seen the tiling done, it appeared
to set its heart on achieving the same re
sult. Failure only stimulated its anxiety
to manipulate the podlock; it would si
for hours trying, and trying, until at
lust its wind seemed to give way under
the effort and exoitement; it could not
be induced to give up the task, and it is
believed that the mental agitation
brought on disease and death.
Late Love.
The Hon. Mrs. Norton, the poetess
and novelist, was married ui London to
Sir William Sterling Maxwell, Bait.,
member of Parliament for Perthshire.
The ceremony was performed at the
bride's residence. The bride's oge is
seventy years, and Bhe is confined to heij
chair with chronic rheumatism. Mrs,
Norton is the second daughter of tlie
lute Mr. Thomas Sheridan, and grand
daughter of the Right Hon. Richard
Brinsley Sheridan.
The editor of the Now London Tela-
If
jam asks General Pleasanton to inform
im whether blue glass will cure buns,