1 H H A Ecootco to politics, Citcratiivc, ticttlturc, Science, ittornliti), tmi) tBcncrat Jhitciligcurc. Vol. 30. STR0UD3BURG, MONROE COUNTY, PA., -MARCH 27, 1873. NO. 46. Piibiislied by Tiietfdore Schorli. TK!l 1 !! n ycurifi advance nnd iTiint fMef iteihe enl of the year, two dollars and fifty feats will b chared. N- - liOi stlmie I iiiitil all irrearnges are paid, fxeant the H-'n " he E.iitor. rr.V IvenUane.its ..f one square of (right linos') or an. .l ie ottire insertion $1 Each additional hfilt mi, 5 cent. Longer ones lit proportion. JOIt IMtltfTI.G, OF ALL KINDS, jfxecutci IK the lushest Myle of the Art, and on the must reasonable tr rm. DR. J. LANTZ, Surgeon and Mechanical Dentist, Stilt h is his office on M.iin Street, in thr M-cnnd t.iry f Or. S. Walton's brick htu ding, neatly oppo site the Stroiidstiurg House, and be ialfr tiifns.fl f that hy eistilfcn ve.tr i-nii.t;tut poo-tire and the most arnet i car.-bil altentl n to all mailer pertaining to hi iM-cifirsMon, that hei fully .tll to perform ill pera'tnns in the denial line in Hie most careful, Ule tut AXl skillful manner. Special attention given to savin" the Nitura Teeth ; also to the insertion of Artificial Teolh on Rubber. Ortld. Silver or Continuous Gums, and perte.t fii In ll r--s inur il. M .t persons knovr ihe )re:it folly and dancer cn frusunR their . to lite itiexp.neiw ed. or to ihe living at a .lisUiu-e. April 1 IH.I.-iy jQU. GKO W. JACKSOX PHYSICIAN, SURGEON & ACCOUCHER. In the oKl oliiec of Dr. A. Kccvcs Jackson, rasirfcttcein Wyckofi's building STUOUDSBURG, pa. August 8, 187-MV. D R. II. J. IMTTEBSO.V, OPERATING AND XEnUNiCAL DEMIST, Having located in East Stroudsburg, Pa., an nounce that he is now prepared to insert arti ficial teeth in the most beautiful and life-like manner. Also, great attention given to filling and preserving the natural teeth. Teeth ex tracted without pain by use of Nitron Oxide tia. All other work incident to the profession done in the most skillful and approved style. All work attended to promptly and warranted. Charges reasonable, Patronage of the public solicited. Otliee in A. W. Loder's new building, op- JKsite Anulotuink House, East Stroudsburg, a.l.'. July 11, 1872 ly. DR. N. Li. PECK, Surgeon Dentist, Announces ill it l tvins just returned from Dental Collets, he is fully prepared to make artificial te-t!i in tne most beautiful and lite like; manner, and io fill decayed teeth ac cording; to the mot in proved method. Teeth extracted witlio.it pi in. when de ire l, bv the use of Nitrus Oxide G s, which i entirely lunulas. Repairing o: H kinds neatly done. All work warranted. Charges re isonible. (Office in J. G Keller's new Brick build Brjr. Mai S reet, Stroudsbur";, I'a. aur31-if f C. O. IIOFFM.tX, M. I- 1 7 "VouM raspoctfully announce to the npublic tbat he has removed his office from Oakland t Canadensis, Monroe County, Pa. Trusting tint many years of consecutive tpiraetice of Medicine "and Snrsrery will 1 a iffbient grantee for the )ublic confidence. February. 1870. ttl . JAMES II. WILTO.V, Attorney at Kaiv, Office in the building formerly occupied by 1. M. Hurs4,n. and opposite the Strouds l.urg Bank, Main .street, Stroudsburg, Pa. jan 13-tf H'LK IIOL'SE, HONESDALE, PA. Mo?t central location oi any Hotel in town. Tt. W. KIPLE & SON, 369 Main street. Proprietors. January 1S73. y. LACK AW. 4 XX A IIOL'SE. OPPOSITE THE DEPOT, East Stroudsburg, Pa. 13. J. VAN COTT, Proprietor. The BAR contain the choiest Liquors and the TABLE in supplied with the bet the market afford. Charges moderate. may 3 1872-tf. TITATSOX'S Mount Vernon House, 117 and 119 Iforth Second St. ABOVK ARCH, PHILADELPHIA. May 30, 1672- ly. J4RTOXSVIEEE HOTEL. Thin old established Hotel, having recently hinged hands, and beetthronghlv overhauled and repaired, will reopen, for the reception of f truest on Tuesday, May 27lh. The public will always find this house a de sirable place of resort. Everv detrtment will b managed in the best possible manner. The table will be supplied with the best the Market aflbrda, and connoisures will always find none bot the best wine and liquors at the bar. Good BUbling belomng to the Hotel, will be found at all times under the care of careful and obliging attendants. may 23, 1872. ANTHONY H. EOEMER. Found out why people go to McCarty s to ?et their furniture, because he buys it at the Varc Rooms of Lee & Co. and sells it at an advance of only ticenty-tico and fico ninXh per cent. Or in other words, Hocking Chairs that he buys of Lee k Co. (through the runners he don't have) for $4,.0 he sells for S5.50. J'ays him to buy torn rood Fur niturel LEE & CO. Stroudsburg, Aug. 18, 1870. tf. BLANK LEASKS For Sale at this Office: THE STORY OP A HERMIT. There died, near the village of Riog town, Schuylkill county, near the northern boundury, not long since, a man named Harper, the greater purt ot whose life was passed in voluntary hermit age among the rurks and tuoutitatoa ol Schuylkill and Columbia counties. Ue first appeared about forty yearc ago in West Peuo township, Schuylkill county, where, in a wild and unfrequented spot in the mountains, he built a rude hut and shut himself out from all communication with the outside world. Although hav ing the appearance of a man far advauced in life, it has since been ascertained that he was out yet forty years of age. Who r what he was no one knew. He very rarely left his lonely retreat, and then only to obtain the uecessaries of life. How heMiveJ or what he did were mat ters of which the inhabitants of the town were entirely ignorant. Old residents re member his coming to those parts, and say that be truely "xlwelt with solitude and walked the rocks and forests like a wolf." Young meu grew to old age and died, and I i 1 1 Harper remained in his rude hut. At last, the hermit not having been seen for some time by any of the villagers, it began to be whispered about that he was deaid His hut was visited, but, although it was empty, and evidently had been for some tiuic, nothing was to be found to iudicate that the hermit had died. A shoit time afterward, there appeared in the village of Rmgtowu a queer old man, with long, snowy locks aud beard, bent form aud wrinkled visage. lie was bare beaded, clad iu ragged garments, and walked wilb a loog, smooth staff. Purc bas ing a few groceries in the village, he dis appeared Some months af toward, he aiain came to the village, m ide simil-ir purchases and weut away. This tiiue. the cuiiosity ot the villagers beiug excited to know tuoie of the singular being, he was followed. He took a rough and marrow path, which ran some miles over the mountain, aud led to a deep, rocky jorge, near the boundary of Sihujlktl! aud Columbia counties. Io this gorge was a dark and damp cavern, into which the old man cutered, aud where it was found he dwelt. This was the hermit ol West Peuti township. He had, it was thought, left his former retreat to find more pei feet solitude and isolation. The severi'y of the present winter, and the treat depth-" of suow, a short time since compelled the old man to leave bis mountain fastness, as he was on the verge of starvation. He found au asylum iu the h 'ue f a kiud farmer, whe:e he lied a few days alter he was given shelter On bis death bed lie gave an account of his life, and the causes which led him to put himself bcyoud the pale of a society ol which he had ooce been a bright ornament. His uarrativc was substantial ly as follows : His cam; was J.imos Harper. . When he d ed he was within a few weeks o! reaching the eightieth anniversary of his birth. JJetwceu forty ami ti'ty ago he was the senior partner of Harper & IJro . hardware merchants. Market street. Philadelphia. ' His brother was some years his junior, and their" firm stood among the leading ones of the city. They lived in fine style io Chestnut street, ami. neither of them being married, their only "ister superintended their household a ffa i rs. About the year 1S35 James Harper went to Europe, leaving the business in charge ol his brother, in whom he placed the utmost confidence. He spent two years travelling in the country, during which time he married an . accomplished, beautiful, and wealthy young Knglish lady, a me'uber of one of the leading finiilies. For some months previous to bis departure to London to return home, Mr. Harper had not heard from his brother his letters, which had been regular and cheering, suddeuly ceasing Apprehensive of something wrong, the nior partner determined to forego further sauntering in Europe, and. shoitly after his marriage, embaiked lor Philadelphia, accompanied by bis bride When the voyage was about half over, and the despondency that hud seized .Mr Harper when be left London had been somewhat dispelled, the small pox broke out among the emigrant families in the steerage. The plague spread to the cabin passengers, and among the victims was the youug wife of Mr. Harper, who died iu the greatest agony, and whose body was cas into the sea. This was the first thrust, imo the heart of the returning merchant, and prepared him lor others that awaited him After lying iu quaran tine some time after reaching port, the passengers of the plague stricken khip were permitted to land. A f w hours alterward Mr Harper learn ed that he was a ruined man. His brother, shortly after his senior went to Europe, fell into dissolute habits, and in a year and a half had diiveo the firm into bankruptcy, and a fit of desperation blew out his brains in a gambling hell The sister died io a few weeks of grief, and the property of ihe firm was all sold b the Sheriff. Mr. Harper found himself without a dollar or a single relative, and barely a friend, where he had left a prosperous business, a happy home, and hundreds of flattering acquaintances Overwhelmed with misfortune, broken hearted, and deserted, he determined to put hirjjseW forever away from alLcontact with the world and live alone wilb bis bitterness. He kept his vow saeredlv until be knew that death was stealing upon him, when Jio felt that he would like to close his eyes upon the world surrounded, if possible by fellow beings who would minister to his last wants, and give him Christian burial What must have been the weight of the sorrow that sat upon this unfortunate man's soul to induce him to forsake the world and its manifold blessings and live in bitter solitude, alone with his misery, during an ordinary life time f His case certainly has no parallel in the history of our race Areto York Times. THE RATES OF POSTAGE. Complete History of the Letter System. The history of the reduction of post age io this country is comprehensively given in a teport made to the House of llepesentatives by Mr. Farnsworth. In 17U2 the first postage act was passed." It introduced a highly complicated system The lowest postage was six cents to places within thirty miles ; eight cents to places withiu sixty miles ; ten cents to places within one hundred miles; twelve and a hall cents to places withiu one hun dred and fifty miles ; fifteen cents to places within two hundred miles ; seven teen cents to places within two hundred and fifty miles; twenty cents to places within three hundred ami fifty miles ; twenty two cents to places within four hundred and fifty miles ; and twenty five cents to places more than four hundred and fifty miles distant. In 1700 the rates were changed. The lowest rate was raised to eight ceuts, and the lowest distance to forty miles. Instead of uiue rates there was six ; twenty ceuts carried letters five hundred miles, and twenty five cents was still charged for greater distances. In 181(3 the minimum rates were again reduced to six cents, and the distance to thirty miles; only five rates were established ; eighteen aud a hall cents carried letters four hundred miles, and lor longer distances tweuty five cents was charged still. These rates, with a single exception, where the postage was increased, con tiuued until 1S45, when the first material reduction took place. Five cents became the postage for letters carried a distance of less than three hundred miles ; ten ceuts for all greater distance. At the same time the drop letter system was in troduced, such letters being charged two cents. Previous to this time the rule bad been that the above rates were for single letters that is, letters on one sheet of paper, large or small, and without refer encc to weight. Io 1845 the half ounce weight was ui;ide the standard, insteadily the number ot sheets. Io 1851 the sing le rate was made three cents for all dis tances under 3,000 miles and six cents for greater distances, if prepaid, this be iug the first inducement held out to pre pay letters. Unpaid letters were, charg ed five and ten cents, according to the distance. Io 1855 prepayment was re quired, three cents being still the rates tor distances under 3.000 miles, and ten cents charged for greater-distances. In IHG3 the present rate of three ceuts, pre paid by stamp, for all distances, was es tablished. The history of .these reduc tions, shows, also, that no material loss of revenue has been their immediate result, aud that no loss at all has been perman ent. Since 1851, when substantially the present rate was fixed, to revenue of the postofSce has increased from 85.500.000 lor thai year to $22,000,000 in 1872; but we need not go further into details The proposed reduction of the single letter rate to two cents is an exceeding iogly important step. We can estimate very nearly what the effect of the present reduction will be. During the last year there were four hundred and four aud a half millions three cent stamps, and nine ty three millions three cent envelopes. As double rates are almost always paid by additional stamps of this denomina tion,, and as foreign postage is very Ire quently paid with two or more three cent stamps, we may take $15,000,000 the vulue of five hundred millions three cent stamps as the sum to be affected primari ly by the new reduction. Were the num her sold to be stationary, the consequence Would be a loss to the revenue of one thiid of this sum in other words a loss of $5,000,000. As a matter of fact, how ever, the natural increase in the number of letters is about ten per cent, annually, and this would make the number of two cent stamps, substituted for threes, for the year ending June 30, six hundred millions, with a value of twelve million dollars, and reducing the loss to three million dollars. Experience has uui formly shown that reductions of postage cause an immediate increase of corres pondence, and it would not be at all stir prising if the revenue from stamps and stamped envelopes in 1874 were as large as in 1S72. Accompanying the letter postage relorm is a reduction of one half on the postage ' of newspapers regularly mailed by publishers. The total revenue tn this department last year was not quite a million dollars. It is a part of the pos tal system that does not exhibit as rapid growth as others, and a loss from a quar ter to half a million dollars in this depart incut is inevitable. Broadcloth an Eaemy of Health. Professor Hamilton, in an able address on hygiene to the graduates of the lJufflo medical college, denounces broadcloth as an enemy to exercise, and therefore to health. He says : 'American gentlemen have, adopted, as a national costume, broadcloth a thin, tight fitting black suit of broadcloth.. To foreigners we seem always to be in mourn ing ; wc travel iu black. The priest, the lawyer, the doctor, ihe literary man. the mechanic and even the day laborer, choose always the same black broadcloth a style that never ought to have been adopted out of the drawing-room or the pulpit, because it- is a feeble and ext ensive fabric, because it is at the North no pro tection against the cold, nor is it any more suitable at the South. It is too thin to be warm in winter, and too black to be cool io summer; but especially do we object to it because the wearer is always soiling it by exposure. Young gentle men will not play ball, pitch quoits, or wrestle or tumble, or any other stmiar thing., least their broadcloth should be offended. They will uot go out into the storm because the broadcloth will lose its lustre if rain falls upon it; they will not run. because they have no confidence io the strength of their broadcloth ; they do not dare mount a horse or leap a fence, because broadcloth, as everybody knows, is so faithless. So these young men and these older men, these merchants, mechanics and all, learn to walk, talic and think soberly and carefully: they seldon venture even to laugh to the full extent of their sides." The Rate of Interest The question of the rate of interest will come before the Constitutional Conven tion in a few days. The subject his been thoroughly discussed io the Com mittce on Agriculture, Mining, Manu factures and Commerce, and it has been unanimously agreed to report the follow ing clause : "That, in the absence of special contracts, the legal rate of interest and discount shall be seven per ceut. per annum. All national and. other banks of issue shall be restricted to the legal rates." The principle here asserted is in ac cordance with the best judgment of the leading financial minds of the State While fixing the leal rate at seven per cent., the great objection to it is, that it legalizes special contracts at whatever rate of interest may be previously agreed upon. And by making the question of interest a subject of constitutional enact ment, it protects the community from the risk of sudden legislative changes in the rate. The establishment of a fixed rate has the great advantage over the policy of entire free trade in money, of prevent ing any excessive imposition of interest by the banks ; but the permission to make special contracts at optional rates is en tirely wrong, as it is a measure thnt must work disadvanlageously to the poor man with a corresponding- benefit to the man of wealth. A Funny Mistake. A prominent and fuuloving resident ol New Loudon. Conn., made preparations to attend a firemen's masquerade ball at Stafford, taking with him in his carpet bag a dashing uniform for the festive oc casion. In the cars he sat beside an old gentlemen, both placing their carpet bags in the same rack. The old man left the cars first, taking with him his new found friend's bag. Arriving at his journey's end, the first named gentleman opened his bag to exhibit his costume, aud to his dismay found the following articles : Oue false bhirt bosoaj, one spectacle case resembling a castor oil bean, one bottle of rheumatic medicine, one of "Old Man's Guide to Glory." one ami one half pounds plug tobacco, one boot brush, four soiled collars, &e., &c. . . . A criminal court sparking another man's wife. Serving Oat a Deacon. Deacon D. was very much interested in a revival that was taking place in the neighborhood, and as a consequence, was continually urging his neiyhbors to "come over on the Lord's side," as be expressed it. He bad frequently importuned an old neighbor of Ins who was not parti cularly noted for bis profession of reli gion. but was neverthless highly respee ted by all who knew him to attend one of their meetings. Now, the piety nnt honesty of ihe deacon was a matter ol doubt among his fellow townsmen, ami particularly so with the old man above mentioned, who, for eon venience, we may call Uncle Josh Alter repeated calls. Uncle Josh consented to accompany the deacon to one of the meetings, and accord ingly accompanied him to the "school bouse" one evening, much to the surprise of all present. Iu the course of the even ing the deacon aio-e wiih a penitential countenance to tell bis experience. He was the prince of sinners, he said It be got bis deserts he would be banished for ever from Divine lavor After making out to be all that is vile in man. according to his interpretation of "he that humbletb himself shall be exalted," he set down with the sublime sense of having done his duty, and asked Uncle Josh il he wouldn't tell his experience With some reluctance he meekly rose amid the breath less attentiou of the assembly. It was an unknown occurrence for Uncle Josh to speak in meeting. Ue said he had listened with great interest to the re marks of the deacon, and he co-ild assure the brethren that, from his long icquaiot unce with him. he could fully indorse all the deacon had said concerning his mean ness and vilem-ss, for be certainly was the meanest man he ever knew I be wrath of the deacon was terrific He shook his fist under Uncle Josh's nose and exclaimed, "You are a confounded liar, and 1 11 whip you as soon as you iter out of church !'' Growing Asparagns. One of the vegetables which every farm might have ac very small trouble and cost, and yet which is one not often found in the farmer's garden, is aspara gus. It is at the same time oue of the most desiiable. It is very rare to find a person who docs not like it. It is prob able that the reason it is not more grown is an idea that it is a costly thing to start There is some reason for the prevalence of this id a. Almost all the wotks on gardening would indicate that a great deal of labor and trouble was necssary in order to start an asparagus bed proper, ly. They say the earth must be dug up two feet deep, that load on load of man ure must be incorporated with the earth ; and possibly they will urge the import ance of some rare and costly fertilizer as an essential ingredient iu a proper as paragiis bed. But all these things are unnecessary. Any rich garden soil is goo for aspara gus. It need be planted only as other things are planted. Some say set the roots a foot deep. but. four inches be nenth the surface is plenty. It is not well to plant theai too thick, or the sprouts will be small. Twenty inches or two feet apart is a good distance. Plants oue year old. or two if they can be had, are the best. -If one be at a distance from tores to get roots, seeds may be sown and the beds made the next year. These can be sown in rows, like teas. An asparagus bed once made will last for years, with no trouble but an annual maiiur ng and forking over every year, one or two hocings during the Summer to keep'the bed clear of weeds; but. ex cept on the score of neatness and cleanli ness, this is scarcely necessary where an annual Spring forking over it given Al most all other crops have to be reset and otherwise cared for every year, while this is an, eiduiin crop ; and v are quite sure there is nothing which will give one so much pleasure and satisfaction as a good asparagus bed. 0 . Collecting Lawyer. There is a certain style of legal gentle men, well known to the profession ami to business men as the collecting lawyer very respectable, very industrious and of fen quite successful. One of our leading wholesale houses having an unsettled claim against a Western ' customer (one of the tardy kiud.) sent it dowu to the office of the collecting person with in slrucrions to have it put thrnngh with all the celerity consistent with legal purity The lawyer forwarded it to on attorney who had been recommended to him in the town where the dilatory tradesman re sided, and in due time received the fo lowing reply, which," though sufficiently concise, was not regarded as encouraging: Dear Sir You will never get any spoiidulick from Ebenezer. The under signed called upon hitu . yesterday, anil found him with nary tile, his Itct upon the naked earth, and not clothes enough upon him to wad a gun He was whist . ing and so may you. Affectionately yours. Aristides Cobb How to Reproduce Pine Forests. I noticed in tbe Rural i timely arti cle on the Propagation of Forest Trees " The great increase in-the pti-ce of pioe lumber for the l.it few years, and the growing scarcity of the pine forests, as they never sprout again- under ordinaiy circumstauces, leads' us fiv inquire- itt there is no practical wav of avoiding ffvrs-roui iiig scarcity. We ure already l-M ihii withm five years Willinmspoi t the ref Pennsylvania lumber nm ket. will as-sii. h, be no more. The pine foTef will all have been cut down and sawed into film ber If has occuired to mc that a lact which accidentally canie to . my intii-e might be of use to yoir A party f hunters from Morristown, while on an- escursbm to Pike county. Pa., few feck ago. were idling n,, the history of their exploits, and among other thing one of then, worker in wkk). mentioned ihe fact that in all instances where pine forests had been cut ilown and tilled if but on e. a new growlh pines immediately sprang up. and in the ordinary course of time forests of pine, equal to the ol I origin:!? growth. C'-vcre-l ihe ground Now. if ihe- pine forets can all be icnewed by once plowing, it seems to me a thing which should be generally known and recommended. I' you de sire, 1 can ascertain the n nines patties in Pike couirty wht pcrsonnllv will v.ut h tor these facts- MiwtRiS'rtiurx Our own ohsevatiotr on pine l indscou finu this statement. Do any of our read ers know to the con'iry 'i An Experiment in Feeding Horses. , . The London'- Omnibus Company use six thousand horses To economize in feed is an important matter, and has led to several testsr the icsult of which is recorded as1 billows: To each of three thousand of their horses they gave a daily allowance of ground oats sixteen pounds, ground hay seven and one half pounds, and cut straw one and one eighth pnttuds the hay aud straw being cut iit preees about hall an inch bug, and well mixed up with- outs in a little water, aud so mak ing twenty-six pounds leed fr each hore. And to each of their other three thousand horses they gave a daily allowance of whole or unhruised mils nineteen pounds and uncut or whole hay or straw thirteen pounds, with iut any water, in. our old lashioned- wayf making ihirty two pounds of this food for each horse. And what . was the lesult t Why. it was soon dis covered that the hor.-e who was fed on the twenty-six pnaud of ground uats remained iu as gmnl coaditiuu. and could perform justs as much work and do it just as well, too, a-s- the horse did who consumed thirty two pounds ol food as. aforesaid thus showing a saving of six pounds of ftx! per day iu favor of bruised oats and cut hy. Mr. Ilufus G. Christiau, ol North Fcuton, reports that a woodeu pal! con taining about four inches of wafer was, left standing, during one of the recent cold night, iu his kitchen, and, it was found in the morning th.it the water had frozen in a very peculiar maimer, an icicle having formed iu the centre aud iscu tapeiingly to an even height with the rim ol the pail, being about half an inch in diameter at the top, and about three inches in diameter at the bottom.. The Mucuiu of the Agricultural De partment iu Washington has received through Dr. Henry Erni, C"Usul t B-isle, Switzerland, a box of silk ribbons, com prising specimens manufactured during each year since about IS H. The collec tion is designed to Illustrate the progress in silk manufactures, and al-o cxlnb Is ihe comparative results in coloring from the use of ihe aniline ued other dys Some of the specimens are marvellously rich in color, and exquisite in design and mauuiacture. The collection will add greatly to the attraetivcuess of the silk case iu the museum. t The following is said to be a sure test of a horse's age : Alter a horse is nino years old, a wrinkle comes over his eye lid at t he upper corner of the lower lid every every year uhei ward, he has a well defined wriukle for each year of his age over nine. It lor instance, a horse has three wrinkles, he is twelve years Id Add the number of wrinkles to nine, nd you will always obtain his ex act age. "Ma. has your tongue got les H 4 Got what, child " "Got legs, ma." "Certainly not ; but why do you ask that silly question ?" . "Oh, nothing! Only I heard pn say that it runs from morning till niht, and I was wondering how it coulj ruu with out legs; that's ull, ma." i .i i- n
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers