THE STAR OF THE NORTH.
JU W. Proprietor.]
VOLUME 9.
THE STAR OF TIIE NORTH
is PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAT MORNING BY
R. W. tVEAVKR,
O FFICK Up stairs, in the new brick build
ing, on the south side oj Main Street, third
equate below Market.
T 12 R. BI BTwo Dollars per annum, if
paid within six months from the lime of sub
scribing ; two dollars and fifty cents if not
paid within the year. No subscription re
ceived for a less period than six months; no
discontinuance permitted until all arrearages
ere paid, unless at the option of the editor.
AnvERTisEMENTs not exceeding one square
Will be inserted three times for One Dollar,
end twenty-five cents for each additional in
settion. A liberal discount will be made to
those who advertise by the year.
MIDNIGHT IN THE HOUSE UF MUR.
DER
BY ELIZABETH CAKES SMITH.
•'There are more things in heaven and earth,
Horatio,
Than are dreampt of in your philosophy."
[Shakespeare.
"MR. ULLMAN—The hall was very dark—
the gas turned off."
"CORONER—Had it never been so before?"
MR. ULLMAN—Oh, yes; but it SEEMED UNIT
BUALLV PARK." •
[Coroner's Inq't on the Burdell Murder.
Up the staircase—slowly—slowly-
Walked the weary feet that night;
Hollow echoes answer lonely
To ihe foot, however light.
Up the staircase, to the broadstair,
Turns he sharply to the right,
There is anguish in the still air,
There ro shapes athwart the sight.
No, the eye was only treasured,
Diamond-like, a hidden ray;
And by this, the darkness measured,
Shows it darkest ere the day.
Was that sigh a human sighing I
Was that groan from human heart?
Was that sob from lipst ir. dying?
There's a whisper—"We depart."
Murky thick the blackness seemeth',
As iio gropes athrough the gloom,
Like to one, who sleeping dreamed],
Thai he wnkeß within a tomb.
And the baluster he holdeth
Has a cold sepulchral damp,
And tho heavy air ettfoldeih
Gleam and gloom liko dying lamp.
There's s vapor, fmtid, stealing
Over all the shuddering sense,
Like a channel house, revealing
What wo are, Ihe spirit henre.
Sure, the darkness is appalling—
Deeper than all midnight gloom-
Voices muffled, shrieking, calling,
Such as till a haunted room.
Thrills the flesh beneath the fingers
Of a dim and shadowy band,
And a breathing faintly, iingers—•
Now, a touch is on the hand,
Now, a presence slowly gliding
Up the slnirs before his leel,
Without foot I a 11, stilly sliding,
Making darkness more complete.
Sure, the way is very darksome-
Sure, the stillness voice hath lound
For through all the chambers lonesome,
Comes n call as from the ground.
Thus the stranger upward wending,
Marked how deep the deepened night,
Never knowing the wild rending
Of a soul upon us flight.
Unannealed, and ptayerless, driven
To the judgment seat on high—
Unrepented sins nnshriven,
"God be merciful," tbe cry,
Smothered ere it left the portal
Of ihe terror-stricken brs-n
Ob ! the ory, so more than mortal,
May we never bear again.
For Ihe blood of this, our brother,
Cries from out the startled earth,
And unwillingly our nyother
Takes up the monstrous birth;
All her cbildren, where they languish
In her caves and cells profound,
Answer back the ciy of anguish—
"Human blood is on the ground."
And it reached the deep pavilions
Of God's everlasting throne,
Calling forth its many millions,
Startled at the anguish-tone.
High archangels downward bending,
From their crystal walls to know,
What poor human heart is rending
lu its agonized woe.
Gentle spirits, grief-enfolding,
Chant evangels low and sweet,
Hnw God's love is evet holding,
'Mercy nearest to His feet;
"God be pitiful," are chanting,
From their dear, supernal spheres,
With their white wings downward slanting,
Where exhale poor human tears.
Not alone the dear God leaves us,
But with cheering hand and voice-
Thus assuaging all that grieves ns,
Doubling joy when we rejoice.
We are needful each to other,
In tbe battle-field of life—
We are needful, friend and brother,
Household links—the husband, wife.
We must walk with kind endeavor-
Not alone, but linked in love,
That God's angel-bands may never
Fail to see ns from above—
And ihe cherubim all flaming,
As of old at Eden's gate,
In God's book oar record naming,
Round our paradise shall wait.
The Puvement In London-
The pavement of London is one of the
greatest marvels of oar times. It covers
nearly three thousand acres, iwo-lbirds where
of consists of what may be railed mosaic
work, done in plaia style, and the other two
plain flagging. Such a series of works far
transcends in quantity, as it excels in qnality,
Ibe Appian Way, which was the wonder of
ancient Rome, and which would cut but a
poor figure as contrasted with one of our
commonest streets. The anoienl consul's
way was but fifteen feet wide in the main,
and was filled with blocks of all shapes and
aizes, jointed together and paned only on the
aurface; the length of its devious course,
from north to south of Italy, was under three
hundred miles. The paved streets of London
number over SOOO, and exceed 2000 niites
in length.— Rmlding Nmi. * "
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1857.
WILLIAM F. PACKER,
THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR OF
PENNSYLVANIA.
j William F. Packer is above the ordinary
size; his robust frame, with rounded contour;
hi 9 fair complexion, tinged with (he rosy hues
of a healthy and vigorous circulation; his
capacious forehead, indicating great intellect-,
oal power; his intelligent countenance and
agreeable manners, render his personal ap
pearance at once prepossessing and com
manding. In 1846 he was duly elected a
member of tbe House of Representatives from
the district composed of the counties of Ly
coming, Clinton and Potter; but by a mis
take in carrying out the returns of one of the
townships in Clinton county, his opponent
was returned as elected, and actually served
during tbe whole of Ihe session, before the
mistake was discovsred. In 1847, the peo
ple-of his district appeared to be determined
to manifest tbeir views by a vole so decisive
as not to be mistaken or defeated, and he
was accordingly elected to the House of Rep
resentatives by a majority exceeding fifteen
hundred over his cqjnpe'itor. Although this
was his first appearance as a member of a leg
islative body, his knowledge of the publio
interests, his acquaintance with parliamenta
ry rules, and his business capacity were so
universally known and acknowledged, that
ho was at once chosen by his fellow mem
bers lo preside over their deliberations as
Speaker of the House.
The selection of a new member to a post of
such great responsibility, and requiting such
varied and extensive abilities, may be regar
ded ss a high honor, in which Gen. Packer
stands as the solo recipient in his native State.
Such a recognition of pre-eminent abilities,
is of rare occurrence everywhere ; and it is
believed never occurred before in Pennsyl
vania. I" 1848 lie was re elected to the
House. The brilliant achievements of a
brave and successful General, who was a can
didate for tho Presidency had produced dis
astrous results to the Democratic party
throughout the Union, and had given the
Whigs a large majority in the Senate of Penn
sylvania, and reduced tho Democratic mem
bers in the House to a bare equality in num
ber with their opponents. Notwithstanding
this circumstance, and although every mem
ber was in attendance at the organization of
the House, Gen. Packer was again elected
Speaker of that body. Considering his known
attachment to Democratic principles, his
great influence and continual activity as a
' writer and as ft public speaker in sustaining
| the principles and candidates of the D>no-
I cratio parly, his second elevation to the
Speaker's ohair must be regarded as an hon
. orable and magnanimous tributo to his talents
! and integrity, and to the impartiality and abil
ity with which he had discharged the high
duties of the office of the previous session.—
This compliment was in fact richly merited.
General Packer possesses a mind well stored
with useful knowledge. Although self taught
his education has not been neglected. He is
familiar with the current literature, and with
the teachings of history and philosophy. Al
though no: a member of the legal profession,
he is a much better lawyer than many who
belong to it. His thorough acquaintance with
Ihe legal principles, and with constitutional
and parliamentary law,eminently qualify him
for the duties of the chair. And so satisfac
tory were tits decisions upon many difficult
questions which arose during his two official
terms as Speaker, that they have been in no
instance reversed by the House. Indeed if
wo are not mistaken, an appeal was never
taken from any decision pronounced by Gen.
Packer as Speaker, oxoept in one solitary
case ; and on that occasion,upon hearing his
reasons and the authorities cited in support
of his decision, the judgment of the chair was
unanimously sustained; the gentleman who
look the appeal, acknowledged his error and voted
against his own appeal to sustain the decision of
the chair ; it is proper to add, in this place,
that General Packer is one of the most pow
erful debaters which our country has produ
ced. In the primary assemblies of the peo
ple, and in their legislative halls, his eminent
abilities in this respect have been frequently
displayed and always acknowledged. In a
government resting upon public opinion, the
discussion, in public assemblies of the peo
ple, of tbe principles and measures to be op
posed as detrimental, or advocated as advan
cing the public interest, is absolutely indis
pensable to success. The freedom of debate
is emphatically the aliment of sell-govern
ment, which goes hand in hand with Iree
discussion in our public journals. The free
dom of speech and the liberty of the press are
the palladiums of public liberty. But the
temple would soon be overthrown by the
strong arm ol tyranny unless its columns were
constantly supported by the power and patri
otism of her writers and orators. In this age
ol progress, the man who is unable lo ex
press his views to his fellow-citizens, and to
discuss the measures of government before
the assemblies ol the people, will be left so
far behind in tbe political race as lo be soon
forgotten. General" Packer's distinguished
abilities as a writer and as an orator, take
him oot of this category and place him in
the front rank of our most useful, influential,
and promising citizens.
The subject of this sketch is thus before
the reader, and wo see what he is now. Let
us look into his past history that we may un
derstand the mesne by which he has acquir
ed his present eminence. He was born in
Howard township, Centre county, on the 2d
of April, 1807. He is descended from a high
ly respectable family who belong to the So
ciety ol Friends; but they were Whigs of
the Revolutionary period, and were attached
1 u> the cause of the country ir. lier elritggle for
' liberty. His grand-fath'r, Jsraee Parker, was
Truth and Right God iid our Country*
boinin 1725, on a farm in New Jersey, where
ihe town of Princeton now stands. Hie fa
ther also named James, was born in Chester
county, Pa. On the maternal side he is con
nected with the Pettits, a large and influen
tial family in Pennsylvania. When Packer
was but seven yeara old Ilia fathsr died leav
. ing a widow and five small children. At this
tender age he was under the necessity of
contributing to bis own support, and that of
the family, by the most severe and exhaust
ing labot; and some yeara after at the age of
twelve years, he traveled from Bellfonte to
Snnbary, for the purpose of learning the print
ing bußines with his cousin, Samuel J. Pack
er, formerly a distinguished Senator,and then
editor ot the Public Inquirer, a paper which
advocated with great ability the re-election
of William Findlay for Governor, in 1620.
Some time after the defeat of Mr. Fintll.y,
the Inquirer was discontinued, and in 1823
General Packer returned to Bellfonte to com
plete his knowledge of the printing business,
in the office of the Bellfonte Patriot, then un
der the control of Henry Petriken, Esq., who
was subsequently distinguished as a Senator.
General Packer completed his apprenticeship
in May, 1825, and was employed as a jour
neyman at the profession of the great Frank
lin, on the public printing in Harrisburg, in
| the years 1825, 1826, and 1827. In the lat
ter year he putchased an interest in the Ly
coming Gazette, at Williamsport, Lycoming
county; and in 1829, upon the decease of
his partner, Mr. Brandon, became the sole
owner of that time honored Democratic jour
nal. Its years already number more than
half a century, and it still carries at its head
the motto: " Be ye just and fear not," &c.,
which was placed there nearly thirty years
ago by the present Judge Lewis, of Lancas
ter, during his editorial control of that paper.
It is alill a flourishing and influential journal,
and is at present conducted by C. D. Eldreil,
K.-q , a gentleman of fine abilities and exalt
led judgment. While the Gazette was under
j the control of General Packer, which was
| about nine years, it supported the election of
j Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, George
' Wolf, and other Democratic standard beareis
| of that period ; and the cause of Democracy
I was greatly indebted, during these contests,
! to the discreet counsels of General Packer,
and to the power of his pen made known
! through the editorial columns of his paper.—
| In 1829, General Packer intermarried with
I the daughter of Peter Vanderbeli, Esq. u re
spectable citizen of Williamsport, who'had
i occupied various ofliciul stations, indicative
I of me puliilc eonnuence or tils lellow-cmzens.
: Miss Vanderbeli was the grand daughter ol
: Michael Boss, Esq., a gentleman distinguish
; ed for his energy of character, and strength
!of mind. He was at one time the owner of
, the land whereon the borough of Williams
j port now stands ; and his descendents contin
ue extensive proprietors of valuable lands ad
• joining the town.
: In 1832, shortly altor the improvement sys
tem had commenced in Pennsylvania, and
j aflor the West Branch Canal hud been adop
, ted as a part of the system, through the votes
I and influance ol the Philadelphia members,
j the West Branch Improvement was left out
j of the Improvement Bill, and thus threatened
with abandonment. Had this decision been
adhered to, the people of that section would
have derived no benefit from the large ex
penditure of the public money for improve
ment purposes. Public meetings were im
mediately held, addresses were delivered,
resolutions adopted, and, among other strong
measures, a direct appeal was mads to the
people of Philadelphia City and County a
gainst the suicidal policy of their own mem
bers. This last measure had the desired ef
fect ; and the Philadelphia members, under
the influences brought to bear upon them
from their own immediate constituency, re
traced their steps, and voted for the West
Branch Improvement, and it was thus saved I
In all these proceedings, General l'actter,
although a very young man, bore a leading
part. To his efforts, more than to any other
individual, are the people of that section of
the country indebted for the construction of
' their valuable canal. As the work progress
ed, the public voice very properly called for
his appointment ns Superintendent, which of
fice he held until the spring of 1835. He
discharged the duties of his station to the sat
isfaction of the people, and disbursed without
a dollar's loss to the State, while he held Ihe
office, more than a million and a quarter of
the public money I His accounts were all
regularly and properly settled. In 1835, Gen.
Packer was the warm friend of Gov. Wolf, j
and received the Democratic nomination for J
the Senate, but as the Democratic party was j
that year distracted by Ihe unfortunateguber
natorial contest between the friends of Wolf
and Muhlenberg, a portion of the friends of
Muhlenberg coalesced with the Whigs in fa
vor of Alexander Irvine, then a Muhlenberg
man, but since United Slates Marshal under
General Taylor, and General Packer was de
feated. In 1836 he united with Messrs.
Parke and Barret, in the publication of the
liarrisbarg Keystone. The paper i:self is the
best evidence of the eminent abilities of those
three gentlemen as editors. This connection
continued untill 1841. Mr. Parke is new en
gaged in Ihe practice of Ihe law, and Mr.
Barret,afteraseasonof retirement from public
life, has again made his appearance in the
editorial chair, and his abilities will, no doubt,
insure him sn appropriate reward. In 1838*
General Packer distinguished himself by his
political tact and the power of his eloquence
as a speaker at the pubho meetings of the
people, in advocating the election of David
R. Porter, then the Demooratio candidate for
Governor. In 1839 he was appointed Canal
Commissioner, in connection with Hon. Jas.
Clarke and Hon. E. B. Hubley, and continued
to discharge with unsurpassed ability the
highly responsible and difficult duties of that
office, until the month of February, 1842, a
period of three years. In May, 1843, Gen.
Packer received the appointment of Auditor
General of the Common wealth. Ha contin
ued to discharge tho duties of this office until
May, 1845, a period of two years. His office
gave him a seat in Ihe Cabinet of the Execu
tive, and thus called info action his knowl
edge of men, of measures, and of tfie diver
sified interests of the Commonwealth. Hold
ing jurisdiction over all the public accounts,
(he large expenditures of money for public
improvements, and the numerous difficult
questions and complicated cases whioh arose
for adjudication, called for the exercise of
the soundest judgment; and no mind, save
one enlightened by an extensive acquaint
ance with common laws and equity princi
ples, as well as with Ihje statutes of the Com
monwealth, could havfe discharged the duties
of this exulted station.' The settlement of the
claims of the domestic creditors, with the
other business of the office arising fiom the
increased public expenditures for improve
ment and other purppses, rendered theduties
of the Auditor General, far mort burdensome
than they have been since, or lad ever been
before, at any period in the listory of the
government. And the ability displayed by
General Packer, his perfect mt tlery of every
question which arose, and his impartiality in
the discharge of his high dates, in the ret
tlement of these questions,areacknowledged
by men of all parties.
It may with great truth be said of General
Packer that he is indebted In his own indus
try for the education and knowledge he has
acquired, and to his own merits for the dis
tinction to which he has attained. Ho is
thoroughly democratic in his principles, and
is always ready to devote his talents and his
means to the success of thos?principles.—
Ho is no empty talker about names and forms,
following the substance and not the shadow.
Springing from the people, he is always ready
to do battle for their rights. Looking to them
as the legitimate source of all political au
thority, he is ready lo trust them with every
powet consistent with renresenisiive govern
ment. Aware of the nature of the federal
compact, and of the unwillingness of the
early statesmen of democracy to trust the
central government with any but a limited
authority, he is ever ready to stand by the
state sovereignties in confining the General
Government strictly within these powers
a-anted by the Fedotal Constitution. Men
of eminence in rtic pa:;, in which General
Packer belongs, may occasionally differ in
the application of principles :o particular ca
ses, but all politicians, of the genuine Dem
ocratic school, subscribe to the great funda
mental doctrine of the party, that "the pow
ers not delegated lo the United States by the
Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States,
are reserved to the Stales respectively, or to
the people." Upon the steady support of
j this principlo the permanently of the Union
and the liberties of the people depend. Ev
ery extension of territory, and every increase
of the great sisterhood of nations, of which
our glorious confederation is composed, is
but a new demand upon the patriot for a vig
ilant and energetic support of the ancient,
safe and chief principles of ihe Democratic
parly, o strict conshvction of the Federal Con
stitution. So long as this principle of con
struction is adhered to by our public author
ities, and by those who clpttie them with
power, the rights of the pesple and of the
States, will be protected against the usurping
tendencies of a great central government.—
With this principle constantly'before us, and
with our public men able willing to
maintain it either in the legislative hall, or
in the judicial forum, we can have no lears
of nullification or consolidation! but our great
and glorious Union, standing as an illustrious
example of the capacity of tht people for
self government,shall not only sscnro its own
gteatness and perpetuity, but shall light all
the nations of Ihe earth in their onward march
to freedom.
1 he Grape In the East.
The vineyards of Syria abound in the most
luscious grapes imaginable, of which there
1 are different kinds; one called the walnut,
i takes its name from its size, being as large
| as that fruit; another is the long grape, and
' another is small and round. Tbere are oth
| er kinds beside, which it is accessary to
I mention. The English ho'-house grape,
I good as it is, does not bear comparison with
, the Syrian grape. The qnantit' grown is
enormous. Did the Syrians It tow how to
make wine, Syria would soon become the
wine mart ot the whole work'. What are
not used as grapes, the natives dry into rais
ins, and the process is thus: Tie grapes are
gathered in September, washei in a compo
sition of lye, water and oil, alur which they
are spread on a mat to dry, a:d there they
remain for about fortnight in the open sun,
sprinkled once ot twice evrry few days
with this composition; they a'O then gather
ed anil put into sacks ol hair-cloth, and sold
as raisin*. Some grapes are make into a
sort of treacle, called J>ibs, while the reiuse
thereof is made into wine ind arak.
A PEACEABLE LIFE.— Tue more quietly and
peaceably we all gel on, the better—the bet
ter for ourselves, the better for our neighbors.
In nine oases out of ten, the wisest course
is, if a man cheat you, o quit dealing with
him; if he be abusive, quit his company; if
he slander you, to take care to live so that
no body will believe him.
CT No glasses are so bad (or the eyesight
as glasses of brtody.
ESSAY Of 4 LOAFERS.
DV "NEMO NARO."
The title of this may appear strange to
many persons, but we are treating of a queer
class of persons familiarity designated as a
loafer, can be found, in the summer months,
basking his "wearied" limbs on the so'l side
of a white pine board; and in the winter
months lounging around the counters of
stores, or nestling close to the stove, think
ing of the necessity but impossibility ot his
attendance in every place, at all times, while
lie thinks it is absolutely necessary that he
should attend to everybody's business ex
cept his own. These idlers inhabit stores,
and by their apparent drowsy slate would
be taken superficially as not to having the
least idea of what is passing around them,
bat they are wide awake; they notice evpry
gesture, every sale, every customer, and cal
culate the profits and advantages derived
from the articles which are bartered away.
Loafers are divided into two classes.
Ist Class—Tho person belonging lo this
class you may think a great deal of; they
may he particular friends; these are rather
delicate to approach; still he is a "loafer,"
and should be classified as one. But, say
you, it would be very important for me to
consult n chosen friend of mine, oil the pro
priety of removing his person from my prop
erly; that would be preposterous. But he is
a loafer and should be treated ns such. His
continued presence in your store prevents
many lady customers from coming in lo pur
chase. If he does observo such hints as
these and comprehends them, it does not
reform him; for in a few days he is found
occupying the same old place, reclining in
an arm-chair, enveloped in a cloud ot smoke,
gently rising from an immense 'Havana.'
which he carefully removes from his mouth
lo give a clear passage for a volume of to
bacco spit, While enjoying all these com
forts, he would take it as an unpardonable
insult if you should ask him to retire. This
may meet ihe eye of some one who will no
doubt see that it applies to hii case exact
ly-
Xlie second class consists of professional
loafers, who can bear all the reproach that
could possibly be heaped upon them, with
out taking the least insult from your remarks.
The members of this class can always bo
found inhabiting printing offices and grocery
stores, sitting on Ihe counters, or stretched
at full length oil boxes and barrels, prying
into everything that does not concern
1 nem, and carelolly avoiding ttioso which
| do; dictating to the attendants as if they
I were the supreme ruler of the establishment.
Of such loafers a good kicking out of doors
would be the shortest and most pfficacious
method of getting rid of them; they deserve
such treatment.
Loaferism ranks the lowest of all acts nat
ural to man. There are many genteel loaf
ers who pop in once and a while lo have a
social chat with the proprietors. His occa
sional sittings do seem at first to retard the
business from going about his work; but
gradually his visits become a fixed fact, and
his presence begins to be intolerable. To
such then we would give a little advice, viz:
Stay at home to keep the children quiet; and
if you have none, stay lo keep the siove
warm. Spend your evenings at home, for
you hinder tho merchant from regularly at
tending to his business. In fact, attend lo
your own business, and it will attend to you.
You must take it into consideration that you
are losing all the time you are loafing; this
time is more valuable than gold. Why not
be reading useful books when you have
leisure evenings. Yon are getting your
loafing firmly set in the minds
of those persons whose places of business
you frequently inhabit. Take warning in
time, before you are entered on their books
ns a practical, habitual idler. ' For idlers
destroy character."
CS* DR. X attended a masquerade ball.
In the motly and happy throng he falls in
with a fair pilgrim, in black silk, whose
charming person, snow-white neck, and be
witching coquettish air awaken in his soul
the most rapturous love. She casts upon
him looks of the most languishing tender
ness; he revels in tbe hope of having made
a blisslul conquest. He musters up his cour
age, and ventures to address her:
"Who art thou lovely mask?" asks Dr. X.,
almost melted in the glow of love.
"Is it possible you do not know me, Doc
tor?"
"No, upon my honor I do not know thee."
"Bethink yourself, Doctor."
"Ah! Thou are surely the gracious fairy
who has apposred lo me to day, for the fourth
lime to open lo me the gates of bliss."
"Yon mistake, Doctor; I am no fairy."
"All—who art thou then?"
"I am the well known lady lo whom you
have now these nine weeks been indebted
in the sum of two dollars and seven shillings
for washing and ironing!"
The Doetor stood like a petrified herring.
TENDENCY OF TOBACCO.—Mr. Solly, an em
inent writer on the brain, says, in a late
clinical lecture on that frightful and lormid
ble malady, softening of the brain, "1 would
caution you, as students, from excesses in
the use of tobacco and smoking, and I
would advise you to disabuse your patients'
minds of the idea that it is harmless 1
have had a large experience of brain dis
ease, and 1 ant satisfied now that smoking
is a noxious habit. I know of no other
cause or agents that tends so much to bring
on functional disease, and, through this, in
the end, to lead to organic diseases of the
brain, ae excessive use of tobacco."—Fx
one and Twenty.
With youth no period is looked forward to
with so much impatience ns the hour that
shall end our minority. With manhood none
is looked back to with so much regret.
Freedom appears to the young man as the
brightest star of out existence, snd is never
lost sight of till tho goal to which he has
been so long traveling is reached. When
the mind and the spirit are young, the sea
son of manhood is reflected with a bright
ness from the future, which nothing can dim
but its own cold reality. The busy world is
stretched out before our boyhood like the
exhibition of mechanical automata. We
behold the merchant accumulating wealth—
the scholar planting his foot upon the sum
mit of the temple of fame—the warrior twin
ing his brow with the laurel wreath—and
we vearn lo struggle with them lor supre
macy. In the distance we sea nothing but
Ihe most prominent part of the picture, which
is success—the anguish of disappointment
and delay is hidden from our view. We
see not the pale cheoU of neglected merit or
the broken spirit of unfortunate genius, or
Ihe sufferings of worth. But we gaze not
long, for the season of youth passes away
like tho moon's beam from the still water, or
like a dew drop from the rose in June, or an
hour in the circle of friendship. Youth tie
parts and we find ourselves in tho midst of
that great theatre in which in binding, have
upheld us, are broken, and we step into the
crowd with no guide bat our consciences, to
carry us through the intricate windings of the
path of human life. The beauties of the
prospective have vanished. The merchant's
wealth has furrowed Ins cheek. The ac
quirements of the scholar were purchased
at the price of his health—and the gar'and
of the conqueror is fastened upon his brow
with a thorn, the rankling of which shall
give him no rest on this side of the grave.—
Disappointment damps the ardor of our
first setting out, and misfortune lollows close
ly on our path, to finish the work and close
out career.
How often, amid the cares and troubles of
rr.ar.hood, do we look back to that sonny
spot in our memory, the season of our youth;
and tiow often a wish to recall it escapes
j from the bosoms of those who once prayed
I fervently that it might pass away.
From this feeling we do not believe 'hat
! living man was ever exempt. It is twined
I around the very soul—it is incorporated in
| our very nature, and will cling lo us even
I when parental emhratmeut is broken, and
. when the law acknowledges the intellect (o
, be full grown, may, al the lime, be con-iJer
, ed one of rejoicing, yet sfier life will hang
1 around it the emblems of sorrow, while it is
ha/lowed as the last bright hour of happy
' youth.
Kissing n llnclielor.
A correspondent relates the following inci
dent:—"We have a friend—a bachelor friend
very fond of the society of the ladies, but
! extremely modest and diffident withal. A
few evenings since lie went lo make a call
upon an acquaintance, who bad recently
taken lo himself a wife, young and beautiful,
i and as a matter of course, overflowing with
j affection for her husband. Now this lovely
' wife for a week, like all other wives, could
scarcely survive the brief absence of her
' husband for the discharge of his business,
| and always upon his return met him upon
the threshold, and smothered him with kiss
es. li so happened when our friend called,
that the husband was absent, but was mo
mentarily expected by Ihe for.d and anxious
j wile. She heard his footfall upon Ihe step,
and supposing it lo be her husband, rushed
forth to meet him; and he had scarcely laid
his tiar.d on the bell-pull before the door flew
open, and his neck was encircled by n pair
of while arms, and burning kisses fell thick
I and last upon his lips and cheeks—while a
I full and throboing breast was sirained to his!
There was a trying situation lor a diffident
man, and our friend came near faiuting on
the spot: but fortunately, the lady discovered
her mistake in season to prevent such a mel
-1 ancholy event, and he escaped from the
j house more dead then alive. The last we
. saw of him, he was leaning against a tree,
; fanning himself with his sombrero, in order
to recover strength to regain bis lodgings."
t nwritton Kisses.
A sensible cotemporary says : " The wom
en ought to make a pledge not to kiss a man
| who uses tobacco "
So they had ! but the deuce of it is, all the
, handsome men use it in some shape ! And
: kissing is a little luxury not to be dispensed
j with ! A* to a female kiss, faugh! there is
I no effervescence in it —it's as flat as unmixed
I soda powder! If I'm victimized that way, I
■ always take an eariy application of soap and
water! Vou will see women practice it some
i times just lo keep their hand in, (lips 1 mean)
! but is a miserable substitute—a sham article!
j done half the lime to tantalize some ol the
male audience! 1 hope to be pardoned lor
; turning "Slate's evidence,' but 1 doat care a
pin if 1 ain't. Now, kissing is a natural gift,
not to be acquired by any bungler: when you
meet a gifted brother, ' take note ot it," as
Captain Cuttle says—"There's your universal
kisser, who cant distinguish between your kiss
•ud your grandmother's, faugh! There's
your philosophical tiancidental kisser, who
goes through the motion in the ait! There's
oh ! my senses! they say there's such a thing
as "unwritten music,'' and "unwritten poe
trj," I have my private suspicions that there
are "unwritten kisees * ■
FAXST FEB*
[Two Dollars per Anara.
NUMBER 12.
'lke youth of our Age.
Where is now our youth?—where our old
age} Where ere our boys'—where our
men'? We heve men-boys end boy-men.-*
Bui where re ihe veritable boyg—the boye
wiih eager heart, throbbing pulsee, buoyant
spirits, gay hopes, giowing fancier, unrea
soning beliift, end ready faith—the boye
with the young thoughts and the young feel
ings gushing through i'<era like the juices of
young life—the boys who hail their etage of
existence joyfully, gathering ita pleasure*,
battling its sorrows, and venting ita impulses;
not striving and straining after an
knowledge and a forced maturity? Where
are now our veritable gtay beards—the old
men who calmly, and of course enter on
their stage of life assuming its dignities,
claiming ita privileges, and tulfiUing ita func
tions; separating themselves from the turbid
action, trio toil and strife of the world, and
reposing honorably in the retirement of ex
perience and counsel; not clinging to the
semblance of foregone periods, not envying
the energies of youth or the prime of man
hood, but keeping alive the memories and
feelings of both to ray their declining day
with mellow light—tbe old man who rejoic
ed to wear their go.ry hairs as a crown of
glory, and stood amid their fellowaMpith
their hoary heads, their wise hearts and
brows engraven with the lines of thought
like
! "Tlie while almond trees full of good days."
Such men may still exist, scattered like
I old pollards over Itio leveled face of society;
j but they are nni thy products, not the result
,of thy materialism, O Age! The youth
which opens trader thy auspices, and rune
I by tho creed, cannot sow the seeds of such
j n harvest. The youth formed under thy
j influences and action will have no growth,
I will not ktioty the natural process of maturi
j lion—"First the blacfe, then the ear, after
; that the full corn in tho ear." Thy youth
' will be put up and fashioned like a piece of
j mechanism, set to work like a steam engine,
j moving ever by the same hard heavy mate
rial laws— so much speed from so much
I power, so much knowledge from so much
I pleasure.— lilackwoaJ.
WHITE PAPER AND WEAK Ere*.—Thosa
! who arc habitually writing, particularly in
the evening, are familiar with the fact that
[ the eyes sutler considerably from looking
down ott a white sheet of paper, honr after
hour, it is not uncommon to have slight
inflammations, together with an apparent
I haziness of the room, when the sitting has
' been a long otic.
! A wise suggestion was circulating awhiie
| since, that all writing paper, whether for
I correspondence, commercial entry-books,
I ledger", or that used by editors ai'd authors
! generally, should have a blue tinge, because
'it would so mncli favor vision. It was &
! philosophical intimation, and were those
! who are constantly at work with the pen,
careful to procure paper that is not a dead
white, they would avoid the contingencies
' that await them by writing on a light, re-
fleeting surface.
Even .1 slight shade of blue, which is the
most agreeable to the eye, is a sufficient
relief to be very perceptible. A clear white
paper reflects all the rays, back upon tho
retina, which is in that way made irritable,
—and the visual power is consequently di
minished. On the other hand, the introduc
tion of blue or green, or indeed any dark
coloring material, modifies the surface, M
then certain rays are absorbed, instead of
bring sent, by reflection, into the interior
of the organ.
The eyes arc too precious to be neglect*
cd. If any one who happens to fall upon
these observations, is suffering from any
form of discomfiture as the result of over
taxine his visual apparatus, will take cam
hereafter to write on paper that is sof eced
by a darkish shading, in the manufacture,
the relief will be apparent.
Were a long dissertation given upon the
ways and wherefores very manv have im
paired their vision, beyond recovery, it
would not be read: but as this statement
embraces all that is necessary to be ob
served to preserve the eyes, we hope the
hint may be cbserveJ.— Zbd World.
Ovcß-WORKRVG THK BRATN OF CHILDRS* —'
An exchange says that Dr. Bobinson is the
author of the accompanying remarks, on
over-taxing the youthful brain. It is a
misfortune not to know what Dr. Robinson,
among the hundreds of that name, to ex
press our convictions of the Talue of bis
philcsophting.
The minds of children ought to be little,
it at ad. taxed till the brain's development is
nearly completed, or until the age of six or
seven years. And wid those years be wast
ed : or will the future man be more likely
to be deficient in mental power than one
who is differently treated I These years
will no: be wasted. The gTeat book or na*
ture is opened to the infant's and the child's
prying investigation: and from nature's
page may be learned more cseful informa
tion than is contained in alt the children's
books that have ever been published. Bar
even supposing those years to have bees
absolutely lost, which i< anything bet the
case, will the chid be sveuteaUy a loser
thereby 1 We contend, with our author.
that he will not. Task the mind during the
earlier years, and yon only expose the child
to a greater rtsk of a disordered brain— e
only, it may be, lay the foundation for a
morbid excitability of brain, that may one
day end in insanity—-but yea debditais •
bodily powers, and by JO datag. to ait >*
teota and purpose#, the miad wfil aeaineec
in its powsrs aad capabilities