THE STAR OF THE NORTH.
R. W. Weaver, ProprieUr.]
VOLUME 9.
THE STAR OF THE WORTH
IS PelllSIIICl) KVSHV WKUNSSIUT MORNINI! BY
• H. W. HKAVRH,
OTfIMT Upstair*, in tkeneir brick fttiiM
tag, on tkt south stde oj Main Street, third
(quaic fte.W Market.
V Kit MS:—Two Dollars per annum, if
paid within six mouths from the lime of sub
scribing ; two dollars and ftfly cents if not
paid within the year. No subscription re
ceived lor a less period than six months ; no
discontinuance permitted until all arrearages
•re paid, unless at tho option of the editor.
Auvkbtiskmkktv not exceeding one square
will be inserted three times for One Dollar,
and twenty-five cents for each additional in
settion. A liberal discount will be made to
those who advertise by the year.
Utile Willi*.
BY GCHAt.D MAPS A V.
I'oor little Willie,
With liis many pretty wiles;
Worlds of wisdom in his-looks,
And quaint, quiet smiles;
Hair of atnher, toucht with
(•old of Heaven so brave ;
All lying darkly hid
In a workhouse grave.
You remember little Willie ;
Fair and funny fellow ! ho
Sprang like a lilly
From the dirt of poverty.
Poor little Willie 1
Not a friend was uigh.
When Irom the oold world,
He eroueht down to die.
In the day we wandered landless,
lattle Willie cried for bread:
In the night wo wandered homeless,
Little Willie cried for bed.
Patted at the workhouse door,
Not a word we said:
Ah, so tired was poor Willie,
And so sweetly sleep the dead.
Twits in the dead of winter
We laid him in the earth;
The world brought in tlto New Year,
On • tide ol mirth;
Hut, lor lost little Willie,
Not a tear we crave ;
H Cold and hunger cannot wake liitu
■j lit lits workhouse grave.
, We thought him beautiful,
Telt it hard to part;
We loved him dutiful;
* Down, down poor heart'
Tito storms they may boat;
The winter winds may rave;
Little Willie feels not,
In his workhouse grave.
No room forjittlc Willie ;
i In the world he had no part;
On him stared thetlorgon eye,
Thro' which looks no heart,
- Come to me, said Heaven ;
And if Heaven will save,
Little matters though the door
He a workhouse grave.
Tlio Infidel's Child.
The following fact, communicated by
foreign correspondent of the America
Spectator, at Albany, shows alike the bles,
ings of Sunday Schools, and the inlluoncd
which even these "little ones'' may exei
upon others for good :
In the city of London there lived a littl
girl, who attended, lor throo years, and b
stealth, the teachings of a Sabbath Sohoo
Coming under the saving intiuence of truth
sho became concerned for her father, a no
ted infidel, and active opposcr to christiani
ty. Sho obtained a Bible, but knew nc
how to put it into his hands ; for she feare
his displeasure, aiid dreaded any prohibi
tion which might doprive her of the prize
advantages of tho Sunday School. She rt
tired to seek divine guidance. Ilcr fathe
passing the door of the apartment, hear
the voice of his child ; it was the voice c
prayer—she prayed for him. Ho becam
affected, agitated, distressed. After a littl
while, the family assembled at the lea-tabU
the beverage was handed around, but h
could not partake.
"Is there a Bible in the house?" h
asked.
"My dear," replied his wife, appreher
sive of the purposed repetition of the act
"Did you not bum every Bible that wo had
not leaving so much as one."
"Is there any other good book, then ?" h
inquired.
His little daughter, thinking that Goi
might be answering her prayer, arose an
took him by the hand, and asked him to g
with he: ; and when they had left the room
looking into his face said, "Father, sureyo
won't be angry with me. Come with m
and I will get you one." And she brough
him and gave hire the Bible which for thi
very purpose she had procured.
He felt deeply, and trembling while h
handed it back to her, said:
"My child, I cannot read litis book ; wi
you read it for me ?"
She did so. And then taking her in hi
arms he kissed her and said, "Tell me, m
child, where did you get this book, and Itov
did you obtain the knowledge of it ?"
She told him all—how she attended thi
Sunday School, the effect upon herself, am
how she becameconcemed forhis salvation
That evening he accompanied her to thi
chapel. As they entered the minister wa
engaged in prayer. His manner and ad
dress made a powerful impression on thi
lather's mind, for he seemed to walk will
God. The sermon aided in deepening thi
impression. It was an interesting sight
when, two or three Sundays afterward, tha
father appeared in the cbapel with his wiii
and nine children, and openly renounce!
his infidelity. That was the Weigh Housi
chapel; the minister, Thomas Binney ; am
that infidel, reclaimed through the inlluenc
lof Sunilay School instruction on the part o
his child, was the celebrated author of "Th
Every Day Book."
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY. PA.. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 9. 1857.
Auecdoic or n sleep Walker.
During tho Revolutionary war there was
a gentleman of largo property residing in
Brooklyn, who was addicted to the habit of
walking in his sleep ; panic-struck at the
invasion of tho enemy, he daily expected
that his dwelling would be ransacked and
pillaged. Under the influence of these fears,
he roso one night, and taking a strong box,
awake, he never attempted to lilt without
assistance, ho proceeded down stairs, fur
nished himself with a lantern and spade,
and in a deep wooden glen about a quarter
of a mile from his house, ho buried his trea
sure, carefully replacing tho sods, so as to
create no suspicion of thoir having boon re
moved. This done, ho returned, undressed,
and went to bed. Next morning he was the
first to discover tho absence of the strong
box, without having the slightost remem
brance of what had passed. Enraged at
his loss, ho immediately accused his do
mestics of robbery, as no traces of violence
wero perceptible on either the looks or
doors of his house, that could induce him
to suspect strangers. Mouth after month
elapsed, and still the mystery was not solved,
and his family began to want the necessa
ries of life, without having the means of
procuring them. At that period of public
calamity, no money could bo raised nit real
estate, and it was at that season of the year
when agricultural labor had ceased, which
lolt him no means of earning a support for
bis family To augment his misery, his
only son lay confined by a violent fever,
without any one of those comforts which
his situation demanded. The dispairtng
father was strongly affected by this melan
choly view of the future ; his rest became
more frequently broken, and ho would often
wander from room to room all night, with
hurried and unequal steps as if pursued by
an enemy. His wife and daughter, who
were accustomed to these nightly wander
ings, never attempted to disturb him, unless
they were fearful some accident would he
fall him; in this case it was necessary to
employ the most violent means to awaken
him, upon which he would exhibit so much
fear and distress, that they usually suffered
hint to recover from the trance, which was
succeeded by drowsiness, after which he
would sink into a light and natural sleep,
which generally continued for several
hours.
One night as his daughter was watching
ut the couch of her sick brother, she hoard
her father descend tho stairs with a quick
step, and immediately followed him. She
perceived he lmd dressed himself,ami light
ing a lantern at the hearth, after which he
unbolted the door and looked out; he then
returned to the kitehed, and taking tho lan
tern and spade, lie left the house. Alarm
ed at the circumstance—which was, not
usual, though it occurred, us above related,
without tho knowledge of his family—she
hastily threw on a cloak and followed him
to tho woods, trembling with apprehension
of she know 1101 what, both for herself and
her father.
Having gained the place where ho had
three months sinco buried the box, ho sot
down the lantern so as to reflect str ngly
upon tho spot; he then removed the sods,
and striking tho spade against its iron cover,
he laughed wildly and exclaimed: "My
treasure is safe, and we shall be happy."
And shouldering his heavy burden with the
strength of a Hercules, he stopped not, as
before, to replace the sods of the earth, but
snatching up his lantern, pursued his way
directly home, to the joy of his daughter,
who could scarcely support herself from the
fears she had experienced, which were that
he was about to dig his own grave and com
mit suicide, or murder some of his defence
less family. Inexpressible, therefore, was
her joy 011 seeing him ascend the stairs, and
place the box in its former recess ; after
which, as usual, ho retired to rest. His wife
and daughter, however, were too anxious to
sleep themselves; the one sat impatiently
watching the dawn of day, and the other
returned to.the apartment of the suffering
brother, to relieve his mind by the joyful
event, and) her consequent hope of liis
speedy recovery.
When the gentleman arose in the morn
ing, his wife observed tho gloom upon his
countenance as he asked about the health
of his son, and expressed Ins sorrow at not
being able to procure those comforts for his
family which were so much needed. Find
ing him perfectly unconscious of all that
had passed the preceding night, slio watch
ed the effect which the restoration of the
box would have upon his mind; and as she
expected, with an astonishment almost
amounting to frenzy, he exclaimed: "Who
has done this?—whence came the box?"
Not until he had listened to his daughter
could he be convinced of the possibility of
his performing such an act while asleep.—
Suffice it to say, that now health, peace and
competence were once more restored to his
dwelling, and the result of his blessing had
a salutary effect upon his mind; and al
though ho still continued his midnight ex
cursions, yet his friends were gratified to
find them less frequent than formerly, and
his future dreams also, to judge by appear
ances, seemed to partake of the mild serene
character of hie waking thoughts.
Nsw MODE OF STOPPINO A HORSE. —A few
days sinco, a fiery young liorso, attachod to
a light carriage in which two young men
were seated, took fright ut the noieo ot 11
locomotive, at the railroad depot ill Lancas
ter, Pa., and started, to run away, wfien one
of the young mon, leaning over the dash
board, and seized tlio animal's tail, which
hud the offect of slopping him instantly.
l'bc Way to bo Happy.
A story is related of two travellers in Lop
land, which throws nioro light on the art of
being happy than a whole volume of pro
verbs and aphorism:
Upon a very cold day in winter they were
driving along in a sledge, wrapped in furs
from head to loot. Even tlioir faces wero
covered, and yon could hardly see anything
but their eyebrows, and these were white
and glistening with frost.
At length ihey saw a poor man who had'
sunken down benumbed and frozen in tho
snow.
"Wo must stop and help him," said one
of the travellers.
"Stop and help I" replied tho olhar, "you
will never think of slopping such a day as
this! We are half-frozen ourselves, and
ought to bo on our journey's end as soon as
poisiblo."
"But 1 cannot lonvo this man to perish,"
rejoined tho more human traveller, "1 must
go to his relief," and he stopped tho sledge.
"Come," said he, "come, and help mo to
raise him."
"Not I," replied tho other, "1 have too
much regard for my own life to expose my
self to this freezing atmosphere morn than
is necessary. I will sit how, and keep my
self as warm as I can till you come hack."
So saying, ho resolutely kept his seat;
while his companion hastened to relievo tho
perishing man, whom they had so provident
ially discovered. Tho ordinary mentis were
used lor restoring consciousness; hut the
traveller wus so intent upon saving tho lilo
of a follow creature, that ho forgot his own j
oxposuro, and what wore tlm consequences?
Why tiio vory efforts which ho made to
warm tho stranger, warmed lumsolf. Ho
had the sweet couciousnoss of doing n be
nevolent act, and ho also foundhirasolt glow
ing from head to foot, hy reason of tho ox
onions which he litis itiitde. And how was
it witli his companion, who was so muclx
afraid of exposing himself ? Ho was almost
ready to freeze, notwithstanding tho ellorls
he had boon making to keep him warm!
Tho less ou to he derived from this littlo
incident is obvious.
English Knowledge of America.
A correspondent of the Utica (N. Y.)
Herald, writing from England, furnishes
some amusing instances of the ideas many
Englishmen form regarding American af
fairs. Wo extract tho following from his
loiter:
A vory respectable gentleman was recent
ly much astonished to learn that the Ameri
can Government had aided an expedition in
search of Sir John Franklin, and innocently
asked who was ils commander? Another
gentleman remarked that ho was very sorry
to learn that (ho American women habitually
indulged in the use of tho most horrid oaths,
and asked mo if there wore no exceptions
to this unseemly practice !
Another gentleman confidentially asked
mo if I hud over been blown up in an
American Steamer, for he understood it was
a common practice for captains to blow up
their boats on purpose as soori us thoy had
collected faro I Another person wanted to
know vf all Americans held slaves? On my
telling him that some millions of "Ameri
cans" were themselves slaves, he gave mo
a look of comic incredulity worthy of Dan
Uico. Another person remarked that he
supposed the different States in America
corresponded to the different parishes in
England A man asked me one day what
progress we were making with the machine
now building in Amorica for flying; while
another wanted to know if tho United
Stales were still under tho dominion of tho
British Government.
An Inkoeper in Lancashire, on learning
that 1 was from America, remarked: "But
theo can talk Henglish 1" "Is that anything
so surprising?" 1 asked. "Thoy doant
speak Henglish in America, doothoy?"—
An old lady down in Wales remarked that
America must be a very horrid place to live
in, for said she, I have been told that tho
country is so filled with snakes that it's no
uncommon thing to find them climbing up
on the roof antl drooping down from the
chimney on the hearth. I met a gentle
man from London, a few evenings since,
who vory much plnmod himself upon his
knowledge of American affairs. "You have
a pretty fine country, sir, (ho remarked,) a
great country, sir—indeed, I might say a
very surprising country, sir ; but you have
some very queer ways!" "Iu what respect?"
I asked. "Why, in the first place, every
body chews tobacco, and spits right and left
upon railroad cars and steamboats, so that
it is not sale to wear fine clothing in travel
ing ; and then, instead of addressing each
other as 'sir,' you say 'old lioss,' and in
stead of saying 'I declare,' you say 'lswow,'
and instead of saying 'I don't know,' you
say '1 don't gather.' 'Now do you call thut
polite, or even gentlemanly talk V 'Deci
dedly not,' I replied. 'And you believe that
this practice you have been citing, aud this
jargon you have been repeating, are com
mon in tho best American circles !' 'Yes.'
'My friend,' 1 repliod, 'your notion of Amer
ican mannors have been evidently derived
from Mrs. Trollope and the brood of ffaliitit
ers who succeodod hor—u brood which
flourished in England at a timo when it was
fashionable to sneer at and lampoon Ameri
ca." But,' doggedly persisted ray compan
ion, 'I huvo read ihe expressions here quo
ted in an American book—a book written
by Judge Halburton, of Philadelphia.' 'Why,
my dear sir." 1 rojoinod, 'you havomistaken
Sam Slick lor an Amoiicau classic—far a
modol of American style 1' 'Ah, now,' ad-
Troth aid Right Clod and our Country.
iled my interlocutor, reluctant to yield tlio
argument, 'I won't deny now that you do
call baggage plunder!' I gave up in dos
puir.
Ami talking of Sam Slick, do you know
that that humorous delineator of Down East
peculiarities is more read among tho En
glish masses than almost any other Ameri
can author! Another vory popular "Ameri
can writer" on ihiseido is Dow Junior, the
droll author of the' Patent Sermons.' Said an
F.nglishmau to mo coo day, 'You Americans
nro a vory smart poople, but somehow yon
don't produce any great writers.' 'But wo
have a few writers whoso namos nro as
familiar as household words, Even to Eng
land,' I ramarkod. 'Very true,' replied my
| critical follow-travelor, 'but beyond Mts.
Stowo, Sam Slick and Dow Junior, whnt
I others have you worth mentioning V I
confess I wus staggered ; but recovering, I
turned to the back part of tho hook I was
reading, and among tho 'Publisher's Adver
tisements, which first my eye, were notices
of reprints by n London hottso of tho works
of Bryant, Longfellow, Brnncroft, Washing
ton Irving and Prescott. I road over tho
names and asked, 'Did you over hoar of
these authors before!' 'Prescott and Irving!
you don't pretend to say that these nro
American authors, do you!'
TIIK WANDERER'S HUMS.—What wander
er's heart will not beat at the mention of
tho word Homo? lie it over so homely it litis
associations that will render it dear to tho
heart of tho wanderer.
I He may wander away from his homo, and
mingle in the bustle and strife of tho world,
and form now ties of friendship, and for 11
time banish from his memory tho homo of
his childhood ; hut at still and lonely hours
as 110 listens perehsnco to tho shrill autumn
winds, tho thoughts of homo will come, and
of thu loved ones there, and luncy will waft
him again to tho that remembered spot, to
greet familiar faces, to roam again in old
familiar lands, and press tho hands of com
panions of former days, now possibly sleep
ing cold and forgotten in the grave.
What place is there like tho homo where
aflbction dwells, where with gentle smiles
and loving words wo are grouted hy ono and
all? There in true beauty tho heart may
bloom, when we are weary of wandering,
and our heurt weary of the world, there may
find rest. There is some kind hand ever ready
to minister to our wants in sickness, to
snioolho the pillow or bathe tho burning
brow. When pain and care have ploughed
deep furrows in the heart, and when deser
ted by ull besides there aro those at home,
who will watcii over the dying couch, ami
with kindly words ol comfort smooth the
pathway to tho grave.
Though angel's feel mav have crossed
tho thresh-hold, and lingering, bore some
loved ones away, we hive tho sweet assur
ance that they are waving to welcome us to
homes more beautiful and bright,—homes
where the flowers never fade; and there
beside life's peaceful river, the friends that
meet will meet forever.
Mud Volcanoes on the Colorado Itivcr.
A correspondent of the San Diego Hera'd,
writing from "Mud Volcanoes," on the Col
orado Desert, in July last says:
Here I am, in the aentre of the Coloiado
Desert, and in the rmJet of the most diaboli
cal hubub and tumult that old mother
Nature ever got up inja small way. It is, in
short, a convention 4f volcanoes, spooling,
sputtering, steaming! puffing and tearing.
A hundred hillocks, prying from four to ten
feot in height, each ope a miniature Chimbo
razo, send forth job Of steam and smoke, and
now aad agaiu vomit volumes of mud and
melted sulphur, (t ie sends up a column of
bittei and scalding water some thirty feet in
the air, falling in hot rain on every side, ren
dering an approach rather hazardous. He is
President of the convention, or, mayhap, the
orator of the occasion ; ha spouts well, any
how. On each side ol him a huge cauldron,
150 feet in diameter, aniHunk about eight
feet below the surface of the plain, polls and
"flops" with thick pasteol mud and water,
like the witches'
"Hell broth, thick and slab."
I imagine Shakspere had been here the
day before he wrote Macbeth. Now and
again these witch kettles boil over, and the
hot slime runs off in a sluggish stream in an
easterly direction, following the slight incli
nation of the plain. On every side the little
mounds vie with eaoh other in throwing mud
and spouting the water upon the unwary vis
iter. You approach a quiet and unpretend
ing little mound ; 110 steam or smoke or any |
fiery indication gives you warning of danger; i
you betid over it to peep into the miniature
crater, when slap goes a hatful of hot mud \
and water into your face, and instantly twen- j
ly other little volcanic devils pitch iu ; and .
while one washes you With slitue the other
plasters you with mud, and you retreat, beat
out, like a poor candidate for office who does
not belong to the party.
The space occupied by these mod-spout
ing poliiiutaus of the desert is about 400
yards long by 250 in width, every fifty teet
square containing one or more of them.
Some seem to be foiever ia action : others
intermittent, bursting out every few hours ;
•nd others again, perhaps, have slept for
months. A hot, sutlooating vapor isuders
breathing difficult, and the smell of sulphur
etted hydrogen can be detected lor several
miles before you reach the apot. The water
ejected ie extremely bitter and sulphurous.
Around the vent of the principal ooe ol these
sufixmi are beautiful atalagmitie oonotetioue,
tipped with lead, and looking like * mass ol
coral. These masse* are ooctoal aud tubular,
aiid'from eauli a little jet ol steam issues with
a whizzing noise. I obtained u specimen
with much difficulty, in consequence of the
hot shower falling like a magic circle around
them. The grouud frequently trembles, and
rumbling, subterraneous noises tell ol fires
down below.
NONU OF TUB FUN,
A PARODY ON MOOD'S "BONO OF TIIK SHIRT."
BY MINNIB MAYriKLD.
With fingers bespattered with ink,
And stumpy, nibbled pen,
Which flew with his thought o'er the paper
while,
And then was nibbled again :
Surrounded with parchment and "proof,"
In his literary den—
An Editor sat in hia easy chair,
And sang the Song of the l'en.
"Scrafoh ! scratch ! scratch !
From dawn till the midnight's chime.
And scratch ! scratch ! scratch !
Till (lie day bursts forth in its prime.
And it's oh ! to drive a quill—
To flourish, and ravo, and rant,
To please ull tastes with a master's skill,
And 10 think lor those that can't.
To wield 11 magic power,
More potent limn sword or spear,
That charms men's minds with us witchery
Or thrills tliein with its fear.
To brcatlio a sigh for tho sad—
A roundelay lor the gay—
And a mournful dirge for the young and glad
That have passed in their bloom awuy.
Think ! think ! think!
Though the fevered artery bent;
And think, and write, and think 1
Weaving a winding sheet!
Write! write ! write !
On the rolling years of time,
A sounding name, for the trump of famo,
To echo from clime to clime.
Scratch! scratch! scratch!
The paper—then the head,
For n stray ideu that i* loitoritm near,
Hot lias to be coaxed ere leil!
And it's—oh, to be a king!
And an inky sceptrn sway!—
While lords of the earth, and tilled ones,
My mystic scratch obey.
To scorch with tho lightning's power,
Or soothe with soil music's skill—
To light the blaze in rebellion's hour,
Or the flickering flame to still.
To role witli u sovereign's might,
'The camp—the court—the grove!'
Make the sword to leap trom its scabbard
bright,
Or attune the heart to love.
To wsvo my fcathory wand
O'er the mighty realms of thought—
And see from the tombs of the past the
blooms
Of forgotten ages brought!
And it's—oh, for a point of fire,
To ttace o'er heaven's blue scroll,
In letters of flame, my well earned lame,
To blazen from pole to pole!"
a bow of "I don't care,"
And a face unlike other men,
The Editer sal in his dusty chair,
And sang his Song of the Pen.
Scratch! scratch! scratch!
There is truth in overy word—
For nine out of ten will own that "the Pen
Is mightier than tho sword."
fear Editors in lowa arc olten placed on
committees at State and county lairs. To
what extent they carry their examinations
may he inferred by the following, which is
contained in the report of a late fair by the
editor of the Davenport Democrat:
' 'The best wollen cloak was worn by a
lady from Muscatine ; also : the best socks
and home made shirt"
fJiT We find the following original wed
ding notice in an exchange :
"Married, in Seymour, on Sunday, the -Ith
inst., by Esquire Carter, Mr. Georre Wolf
rom, (better known as old Wolfrom the tan
| ner,) to Mrs. Frederick Miller, a charming
j widow of twenty-two. Old Wolfrom is the
j ugliest and filthiest man inthe United States
j without any exception. And how, with all
i his ugliness, he got the widow's consent to
' have him is a mystery to us. We can as
sure the bride that she need not be afraid
of any woman running away with Wolfrom,
for she is the only woman that has been
within ten feet of him for twenty years.'
A THEATRICAL PREDICAMENT—A melo
drama was some few years since played in a
certain London thestre. the chief actor iu
which had made himself, by his haughty and
overbearing conduct, disliked by oc.e and ill.
In the last sceue he was supposed to Tie;-, the
tombs of bis ancestors. In the centre of the
stage, upon the marble pedestal, stood the
marble statue of his lather. A heavy fold of
drapery covered the figure. Er.ter Alber—
"Oice again he says," to gaze upon those
features which iu life so often gazed upon
me with tenderest affection. Father, thy
mourning sou now comes to pay thee aJo
ration.-Let me remove the veil watch from the
vulgar gaze shields the beloved image ot a
once dear parent." Off went the drapery,
and behold! the father stood on *is head The
shout of laughter which followed this ' m -
lake on puipose" by the sceuesruan effeciu
aily put an end to the scene The actor roar
ed his rage throughout the rest of the play,
but the audience only laughed at the "tragic
tragedy.'
So vi * BODY av the JVVU is a mean word
any way you can fix it. \ou oaet make a
respectable word of it anyhow Remove
the d and it's evl, transpose the and U te
vile, remove the v aud it is ill, remove the 1
aud it is I itself ui oockey for had
A BASUFVL printer refused a situation iu a
priming office where temehje were sfkiyal,
saying that he uever "set up" with a girl ih
hia lit*.
From the Philadelphia Prat.
TUB BANK OP I'ENNOVLVANI A-
Until a lale period no moneyed inatitution
within the borders 'of
more fully possessed the confidence of our
cilisons than the llank of Pennsylvania. It
was an old e.tubliahed andla favorite .bank.
It maintained n high reputation for a long
aeries of years, and had piasod successfully
and triumphantly, through all the great mon
etary convulsions of the last half century.
It had been the financial agent n( the [Com
monwealth in many of its moneyed IratiHiio
lions. It had at one period branches estab
lished in a number of Ihn towns of the State,
lie capital stock (81,875,000) wn, until re
cently, greater than that of any other hank
ip Pennsylvania, ami but one hnnk now (the
Farmers' and Mechanics' of I'hiladelphin)
has a greater capital. Those circumstances,
and its popular name, had given it such a
prestige, llial generation uflnr generation had
grown up in the belief that it was one of the
safest and best banks in lhe[[Ucinn- Men
distinguished for their sagacity considered
its stock lite most reliable investment they
could make, and wo hear [every day of peo
ple of the most prudent and cautious r.harno
tor who had a lurgo proportion of Ihuir means
in it, and who will lose nearly their all by
its failure. Until within llio Inst few yes:s it
always had the reputation, and no doubt,
deserved it, of being honestly and prudently
managed, ami its stock resddy sold at u high
premium. Within the last month, however,
its notes have been at a discount ol from ten
to forty per cent. Its depositors have been
uneasy about the safety ol their deposites,
and its slock bus been selling lately at 810
per share. Those who have been industri
ously investigating its alfairs find ils condi
tion imbed deplorable. There seems no rea
son to doubt, however, that its circulation
w ill all he fully redeemed, that its depositers
may receive the amounts due them, but
whether the stockholders will receive any
thing or if they do, how much, are matters
of conjecture, ft seems certain that nearly
the entire capital slocks lias been lost.
Whatever may be saved from the wreck will
be only a small portion of the whole.
The censure ol the public for the inconve
niences and losses thus sustained by the
noteholders and depositors of the I'ennsylva
| nla Hank, arid the almost entire destruction
I of its capital stock, fall" most exclusively up
on its late President, Mr. Thomas Alltbone,
and in directly upon some of the directors,
for not having exercised a closer scrutiny up
|on lita management, He was first elected
| its President in February, 1853, and speedily
j became the ruling spirit of the institution, en
| lirelv rvgulating and controlling all its trans
{ actions. Mr. Alliborie was a bold, able, and,
I as the resuit proves, an unscrupulous man.
lie brooked no interference with his man
| agernent. The cashier occupied a much
; more subordinate and miinfloenlial position
■ in the bank that such officers usually do.
' Mr. Albbone's control over a large amount
ol the slock of the bank, united to his fact
! and activity, enabled him to have boards of
1 directors personally friendly to him through
sociable*, business relations, or other influ
ences, elected and a number of these have
h d barely enough stock in the bank to le
gally qualify them to become directors. Men
disposed to distrust him, or to be iticonveni
; ently inquisitive, were removed from the
board at the first opportunity, The sphere
, of independent action which he reserved lor
himself in the bank was almost unlimited
Its true condition was known only to himself.
Of the total business of the bank only a small
portion was done with the knowledge or
sanction of the board. He delighted in "ta
king the responsibility" of doing as ae pleas
i ed. He loaned money without the know
ledge or consent, and without the sanc ioo
of the directors. Those who basked in the
sunshine of his favor were confident of ob
taining such accommodations as they desired
hose who did not, soon leamei that their
chances of obtaining discounts were s. gn.
indeed, The bank had gradually been de
clining in the favor of he business men of
th.s city for several j ears past, uud the sus
picion in genera, that ts means were used
rather to advance the aafcit.oas projects. and
to further the specula Ire designs, aad to ac
commodate the frieuds ot Mr. AUiboce,
than to render any service to general busi
ness interest*, or to benefit its stockhouer*.
Mr. A. lived ia magnificent style—gave
sumptuous entertainments, and was liber*,
to * faun wtta those whose power he drea
ded or whose mdueuce he courted When
the pren;nailery symptoms of me aie crush
flrst appeared, ue crippied condition ot .as
Banc ot Pennsylvania reauered it necessary
for son to appea. to die otner banks o ne
eiiv tor std. At first a comparatively sated
sum—s :ew hundred ihousa.io donors—was
considered necessary to re,.ee the bail* 0
is embarrassments, hut a ancweoge ui us
ncess..es becoming public induced a run
u.-oo 1: by some c 1 us seot esi oeoosi or*,
ecu As grow tig a arm locreoseo :ae amount
of as.sia;'ce • needed wi.n seen new jay
untii the oihe" "Mnks e so become rigmenec.
and retused 10 accede o tiis rem .wo uoiess
he mode e ru'l exhibit at ne sda.rsot the
butk This he reused 10 do. and learning
; that there was iii'ie or no Cfvoaou.iy oi
gaining the aid te required, he resolve* o
precipitate the catastrophe ot * suspeus on
ot specie payments, and o drag oe oxbet
banks Jowa n the position, watch he t iew
t inevitable owe.ted hie own. At on eat*
born he canted a mewing of the .n.ecnww bed
resolutions to nave* of soepensioo pweeo
loi cee 10 u># effect poeiec on toe hoots of
he boa*— sod as he ':o oouot ore***, a
eeuecat tort noon ah the henks or me osy
[Two Dollars per Aunow,
NUMBER 48
wan commenced, which resulted in their o
pension and which eventually led to the gen
eral suspension of nearly all the bank* In the
United Stain* When tho Governor, after
being requested to call the Legislature togeth
er to legalize suspension, visited this city,
Mr. Allibone was on the alert to take him in
charge aud induced him to make certain
conditions favorable to the Hank of Pennsyl
vania binding upon the other banks of the
city before hn would consent to call the Lag.
isla'ure together, lie also warmly enlisted
tho Governor in the project of making our
State banks take the notes of the Pennsylva
nia Hank, a provision of the relief bill. All
this, however, conld not restore the confi
dence of the public. Mr. Allibone lingered
or. lor a lew weeks, avowedly ill, but appa
rently undecided as |o whul policy he ihould
pursue. Thern were loud clamors for bia re
signation, but hn did not lined ihem until the
last moment. The true conditio* of the af
fairs of the hank remained unknown. The
key of the safe in which its principal papers
and accounts wore kept remained in his own
possession, and was only handed over On
thu evu of wbalcaunnt well be regarded now
as aught else but flight from the infamy
which was euro to follow from the exposure
of the condition of tho bank which had been
ruined by his management. He once bad
many warm and zealous friends in this com
munity, but has few apologists or defenders
now. Hy his management of the bank and
his precipitation of suspension, he lias done
more mischief in connection with the late fi
nancial troubles, than any other American
bank officer, anil it is but natural that exe
orations should he heaped upou him by the
many victims of the bank failn-ea, and a
largo portion of the community.
Vsi.tr E OF A TESTAMENT. —I know at least
one instance of a shilling testament pur
chased at New Orleans previous to the Mex
ican war, which not only saved the life of
the possessor, lei was the means of saving
his soul. It was in this way:—A young Il
linois girl purchased a small Testament for
four dozen of eggs at three rents per dozen ;
and when brother was about to start to Mex
ico as a volunteer she put into his veil poc
ket. There it remained, wrapped in the
same paper and in the same pocket, until
the battle of Buena Vista, when the owner
received a wound through the Testament,
which broke the force of the bullet, which
lodged in Lis breast and ent him to the
hospital. There he read his book; and the
last time I saw him he was in an Illinois
college, preparing for the pulpit, or rather
for a missionary field ia the Methodist
Church.
BAD ADVICC —The newspapers of the prin
cipal Eastern cities are urging upon the
poor arid those out of employment, to leave
the cities for the country. It is very improp
er for our city friends to g'rve this kind of
ad7ice. The people in the country districts,
at this season of the year, have help enough
to do a,! the labor required. We have oar
own poor among us, and our duty is to see
that they do no: suffer. There is a much
m re extensive field tor employment in the
city than in the country a; the present time,
and the means of providing tor tnoae La strai
tened circumstances are much more ample
in the former than in the -utter We advtse
persons out of employment, to remain just
wnere they are, and not go to places where
they are entirely unknown.
THX Tmsts or Lrvi—Life is entirely %ade
! n P ot " evils or heavy tr.als. but the per
peiual recurrence of petty evus and small
tnais in the ordinary and appointed exercise
,o: the Christian graces. To bear with the
.uiiir.rs of those about is—with 'neir rfirmi
ties, tueir bud judgment, their iU-creeding.
their perverse temper? —to endure negusct
when vi feei reserved attention, and . lgrat
haJe wuer. we expected thanks—to bear
w.tn :ne company of disagreeable peopie
•v torn Providence has pernaps provided or
purposed for e na of our virtue—these
are tile best exerc ses of patience and seil
denua.. and :ne better because not .-hoeee oy
ourselves. To bear ..h vexattou ia bos>
ness. v.:h u_>appoLntmeai in iur expecta
i.ocs. w-.tn uiterrupuoas ci jur retirement,
wttn tody. „i rus.on, hstttrbance—m snort
wnatever .-proses rur wil.—contradicts uur
humor—h.j habitual acquiescence appears
to be mere of the essence at jeit-demai to an
any ntue rigors or huiuruoiis it our own un
pesmg These cuostant Aiev-.uadie but .nte
nor evils. property .mpruved, .urrusa x good
mora, discipline, and might, m ate nays of
gno ranee. aa*e superseded p. ig milage and
i penance.
CP" Beauty and wit w J tie—.earning and
weeita w. arish a v-ay—ai! die arts it 'ifi
w . re -vrgottee—rut virtue *i : emmn or
ever Blunted ju earth, in a rei. incottae
:: il clime, a will jiocua and bivwuo in
tea *eu.
rP" M a.,as was so great mm mat s*e
•i wt Je oucaev. .unteu to gout.
rase - L'crevi now—nmcu i mau with goad
anc. le wu. mange alto aoy tmag.
tr Hoo 'iheooore Freiuighuyseo, in 19-
44, Hhi . Aauiciue or Vice '.'-esauaot, new
i'usAiteiit at '.Lagers s Cadugw. was: 11 arrteu
m nie i9th at -hit , :o Miss Hamoi dona
pei>. ci Owego. >. Y
IP I'he Methodists have uteauy ifiitfjt
n.iscaais sad -eem. ooa. vnise MW 4k
v.uisas. sad metr caai.t-twiawinge mis. ait
lave been very sucveessui. The H*hh
, clses lave luo M Oaiuiatioo A aiuv net}
I Palmy m, ca.t*i nle Jaiter- aavemty stfcK
ttoehop Muter.