Raftsman's journal. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, April 14, 1858, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    "'
: -. BY- S. B EOW.
CLEAEFIELD, PA, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, ' 1858.;
VOL. 4.-JTO. 33.
-1
.1
3
FADELESS IS A LOVING HEAET.
Sunny lines may Jose their brightness,
Nimble feet forge their lightness,-
Pearly teeth may know decay,
Raven tresses turn to gray.
Cheeks be pale, and eyes be dim.
Faint the voice, and weak the limb.
Eut, though youth and strength depart,
; Fadeless is a loving heart.
.Like tuo little mountain flower,
-r. Peeping forth in wintry hour,
. i .When the summer's breath ia fled.
And the gaudier flow'rets dead ;
So, when outward charms are gone,
'. Brighter still doth Mossoin on,
Despite Time's destroying dart,
Tho gentle, kindly, loving heart.-
Wealth and talents will avail,
When in Life's rough sea we sail, '
Yet the wealth may melt like mow,
-Andrwith wit no longer glow ;
Uut more smooth we'll find thesea,
- And our course the fairer be,
If our pilot, when we start,
He a kindly, loving heart.
. Ye in worldly wisdom old.
Ye who bow the knee to gold,
Does this earth as lovely seem
As it did in life's young dream,
Ere the world had crusted o'er s
feelings good and pure before?
I re yc sold, at Mammon's mart.
Too best yearnings of the heart?
Grant mc, Heaven ! my earnest prayer)
Whether life of ease or care
Ee the one to me asigued.
That eaeh coining year may find
living thoughts aud gentle words
Twined within my lsoin chords,
And that age may bat impart
P.ipcr freshness to niy heart.
LIFE AMONG TI1E HILLS.
"Who is George M'MulIen 1 Ask any oM
settler up in Wayne county, Pa., and he will
tell you that he is one who pitched his taber
nacle in that wilderness a long time ago. I
like him, and it seems to me that .your read
ers would like him if they knew him. I have
eaten of his savory meat, and blessed him, but
not of his venison, lor George is not now what
he once was. A man who has passed his six
tieth year, is not as sprightly as at twenty.
. lie cannot bring his ride down to as true an
tt!n, nor as actively pursue the deer, as when
in the vigor and strength of manhood. But
he had a comfortable fireside, a plentiful table,
m and a warm heatt.
I took a fancy one pleasant winter's day to
visit bin), having heard of his f.ime as a.Niw
. rod. In company with a friend we sot out for
his mountain home, eleven miles distant. We
followed up the valley of the Lackawanna for
eight miles and then made a turn to the left,
pushing towards the Moosic mountain. Did
. your reader ever hear of the Lackawanna ?
It ia a be utiftil stream, pure and cold from
its mountain springs, which sparkles as it
dashes along the mountain's side, to commin
gle with the Delaware. Paradise did not con
tain a more lovely river. It was lull of trout
while the trees of its native forests stood upon
its hanks, and before the invention ot man had
found out so many ways to dam its current,
and by means ot vile substances cast in it
from saw-mills and tanneries, to drive out and
destroy Its spotted inhabitants. I knew it
when it flowed in its pristine beauty, and
w hen in every deep eddy lay the speckled trout
waiting to make a dash at the fiy, and many a
fine one has my own line drawn forth in days
that are past, and a great bloss'u:g they were
to all wb were skilful enough to take them.
It is sufficient to s;y lor the credit of these
waters that trout lay there, for this dainty fish
never inhabits anybut the purest streams;
imd nothing can exceed in beauty of natural
scenery, the valley- which contains the Laeka
wann.i. For eighteen miles up that valley
there' is" a gentle descenl,.wiih hih grounds
upon either side. On the east a range of
mighty hills skirt the stream; on the west
the foot of tiie Moosic mountain. Dee, elk,
bears, panthers, wolves, end Other wild game
were once in abundance here and tilled the un
broken forest. ,
It was up in a mountain glen about four
miles west, that George M'Mullin took up his
abode. lie is a man ot commanding aspect,
more than six feet in height; and, having en
joyed the benefits of a goyd education, he
cleared himself a little farm in the wilderness
and occasionally instructed a winter school,
lie not only taught the young idea how to
shoot," hut was himself a good shot, the best
in all that region. The young looked up to
him with admiration when they saw the bears
and panthers which his ride laid low ; and he
kept a mighty good school. The young learn
ed a great many things of him. I hope none
learned t swear; for occasionally George would
pwear a little when things did not go right
with him, but he has, I hope, repented and
1-roken otr this wicked habit a long time ago.
But the young ideas did learn to shoot, and
- any one who could put a bullet near that which
George had shot into the ring was privileged
to be on very good terms with him. George
loved a fearless and brave heart as he loved
his child. "
But he was not fond of having neighbors,
lie preferred a solitary home far up in the
mountain and away from all human habitations.
So np the moun;ain we went. The beaten
road extended only to within a mile of his
'home, and we had to push our way through a
kind of wood road till we came to an open
tpace, and there we beheld one of the most
beautiful and commanding bites which the
taste of an old hunter could have Selected.
The barn was by the road, an.l forty or fifty
rods off in an open field, stood the house. We
saw a man chopping wood in front and hailed
him to know if Mr. Geo. M'Muliin lived there.
Yes," was the reply, what's your will 7"
"Ur will," I said, "is to put Kate Into the
stable and then go into your house." So in
we went and foind a very hospitable welcome.
Among the numerous incident's of his life
tha old hunter related the following : He had
jnst recovered lrom illness, when he took his
gun and started down iaAee woods, thinking
that he might porhaps see a deer and thus se
cure a saddle of veuison. lie did not put on
- his belt, containing his tomahawk and knife,
for he was not bent cpon a hunt ; though it
as the usual custom of the hunters to go
thus armed and equipped. He depended on
his gun and a small pocket knife with which
he might bleed his gaaie if he should prove
successful.
After proceeding a littlo war bo heard a
one like the crashing of a treo which had
li,f JD.v th? CJ0tc of "other and was sha
V. L .ie ,nd- Pre9e? he distinguished
i to be tU screech of some animal, tod ad
vancing nearer, ho discovered a hear and a
panther fighting; and with curious eyes watch
ed the duel. - A panther is sometimes rather
au ugly customer and so is a bear.. "When
Greek uieets Greek, then comes the tug of
war." It was so in this instance. The pan
ther made his attack bv springing about twen
ty feet upon the bear and putting his claws
ana teeth into i s neck and back. Brum had
no means to repel this attack but to lie down,
bring the panther over her, and with hei hind
feet to rake the panther down with powerful
ciaws; wnereupon the panther screeched and
sprung off, beating a sudden retreat to a little
distance. Then old Bruin would right herself
up again, and the panther would .make anoth
er spring cpon her back, and repeat the pro
ceas as before. A panther has been known to
spring twenty-four feet at a single bound, and
at the same time leap to strike a tree twenty
feet from the ground ; and, like the cat, it
always takes its prey with a spring. The
old bear was quite in commotion while dealing
with such, an adversary, and stood her ground
the best w iy sho could. How the combat
would have terminated is more than we cau
tell. Whether, like some who discharge sev
eral rounds of blank cartridge at each other
and then shake hands and retire from the field
with honor bright, these duellists would have
thus separated, is a mere matter of conjecture.
Another force interposed to change the natu
ral order of events, and that was a bullet lrom
the rillc of George Mc.Mullen, Much struck
the panther in the body just behind hc vital
part, and therefore only gave hira a severe
wound.
No sooner did the panther receive the shot
than he left the bear, and thought he would
try George. lie, rushed upon him with eyes
glistening with rage and was met with a club
bed rifle, the steady gaze, and the terrible
voice of George who yelled, and the ueigh
bors say, swore at the wild beast to keep him
at bay. The panther to escape the eye of his
adversary, kept coursing around him s;baut
ten feet off, to gain hisb;ick lor the purpose of
making a spring. - But the. hunter stood his
ground and wheeled at every turn. It seem
ed a long time and yet was probably but a
short period, when the bear came to his relief,
and drove lull at the panther. Well done
bear, thought George. I'll now load my riile.
Un!oitti.iaiely in his haste, he put in the ball
without having first charged with iowder,
though ho thought at the time that "all was
right, lie had no sooner primed his piece,
than the bear, having driven- away the panther,
came at him. His gun flashed; and ho then
clubbed it and yelled, as in the former case,
till hearing a noise, he looKed in another di
rection and saw the bear's cubs descend from
a tree near at hand and make oil'; and then
bruin took her leave.
The secret was out. The panther wanted a
young b'.-ar lor his dinner, and the old bear
was defending her young ; and when the ene
my panther fled, she ' thought it her duty to
pitch into her enemy man. The brave, old
hunter who had gone into brittle without his
side weapons, was quite astonished ; and he
thought that either his sickness, or that terri
ble encounter, had caused some of his hair to
assume raSier a whitish aspect. In fact, he
was never so scared in his life. I!e began to
think that he had lived throi gh the measles
only to be ea'en by a panther, and his bones
picked by a bear. But he escaped ; as he did
on several other occasions, which it might
weary the reader lor iuu now to relate. I re
joice to say that he is still living, a hale old
man.
Dad Morton-. There is an old chap in the
State of Vermont, who is known as "Dad"
Morton, and is famous as a story-teller, lie
relates a great many yams, some of which are
of a Munchaiisenish character, though by fre
quently narrating them ho has brought himself
to believe that they are indisputable facts. I
had been talking with the old man of the sen
sible maimers and customs of our forefathers,
and their success in doing the busiuess cf
life, when he broke out:
I'll tell ye, them ancestors of onr'n didn't
do nothin' hallways. But there's an awful
fa'.lin' oil sense them times. Why in my time
when I was a hoy, things went on more eco
nomical than now. We all work'd. My work
was to take care of the hens and ehickings,
and I'll tell yer how I raised 'cm. You know
fc'se a very fhinkin' child, a I Pas a thinkiu'
'cept wheu I'sj asleep. Well, it came on me
one night to raise a big lot of duckings from
one lien ; and I'll till ye how I did it. .1 took
an old whiskey barrel and rilled it up with
fresh eggs, and then put it on the south side
of the barn, with some horse manure around
the bung-hole. The old critter kept her set
tin' and in three weeks I heard a little peep.'
The:f I put my ear to the spigot, when the
peeping growed like a swarm of bees. I didn't
s:iy anything ti the folks about the hatching,
for t'.iey'd all the time told me I was a fool,
but the next mcrnin' I knocked the head out
of 'the barrel and covered the barn floor, two
deep, ah over, with little ehickings. Xow,
yottmay laugh as much as you please, but it's
true. That's so."
Axecdote of Audubon-. The great natural
ist was on the look-out for the red-headed
wood-pecker, and was very anxious to obtain a
specimen. Seeing one fly into a hole in a
tree a long way up, he pulled off his coat and
climbed up w ith that energy of his which nev
er failed him. Pulling and sweating he reach
ed it at last, and putting in his hand to seize
the bird, to his great dismay a snake stuck his
head out of the hole and hissed in his face.
This was so unexpected and frightful, that
Audubon let go his hold, and tumbled to the
ground more dead than alive. His compan
ion came running up to him, and seeing the
naturalist was not hurt but was dreadfully
frightened, said to him : "Ah ! you are very
much frightened, doctor -
"No, sah," replied the doctor, qnite offend
ed ; "but if you want to see von badly scared
snake, just go np dare !"
Freaks of Cold. While our past winter
was one of the mildest within the memory of
man, it was very different in Southern Europe
and some other countries, where frost and
snow are seldom seen. In Italy, the river Po
was frozen over at Ferrara, the first time in
the present century. At Constantinople snow
fell lor 14 successive days, and in all the Isles
of Greece snow and frost were common. Snow
also fell in the Island of Malta for the first
time since "1812 ; and on tho shores of the
Mediterranean and throughout various parts of
Asia Minor, enow was seen for the first time
in half a century.
A TALL JUMP.
"Hclloa, Charley !" shouted Ned, as he hurst
into my room, in the attic of a 2,50 boarding
house In the Bowery, on the first day of April,
about an hour before the bell was expected to
ring for dinner.
"Well Ned, whats the row ?" .
'Nothin'. How much money have you got?'
'Only about firty. Why?"
'Nothin'. Lend it to me, Charley." "
Thunder! I lerit-yor. thirty last night." .
I know it I've got thirteen of it yet
"I'll t II you what it is, Ned, I've only got
this fifty, and if yon get i one of your ben
ders, and spend it, I shall fie hard up here till
"What in the name of stewed catharpen legs
are you talking about 1 Give mo the pictures
and you shall have haif. Come fist over, and
come along," said Ned.
I gave Ned my wallet, and followed him
down into the street. "Which way, Ned ?
Where are you bound f " But ho went off down
towards Chatham Square like a locomotive on
trial. I followed in his wake about two rods
astern. On he went through Chatham street,
along Park Row, down Bowery, till he came
opposite Trinity Church, w hen he stopped,
and, after gazing up at tho tall steeple for a
bout five minutes, he deliberately pulled off
his coat, and handed it to me to hold for him.
Next off came his hat and vest. I- thought Le
was crazy. He pulled off his boots, and a
crowd began to gather about us. Ned took
out Lis watch and handed it tome.
The rush to the spot was such that in three
minutes Broadway was blocked up.
'What's all this? What's going on V in
quired a dozen eager voices.
"Gentlemen," said Ned, 'you see that o
pen place up there in that steeple right
where the bell hangs ?"
"Yes f yes !" screamed fifty of the crowd ia
auswer to the question.
"Well, gentlemen, I'm going to jump up
there !" - -
"You cin't do it," instantly came from
twenty ol the bystanders. . ,
"I'll bet he can," said an old gentleman be
hind Ned, whom half of the crowd Knew as one
of the richest merchants in Pearl street.
Ned looked over his shoulder in astonish
ment. The old merchant smiled and nodded
his head.' .
Good !" shouted Ned ; "I've got one back
er. I thought I'd have-to go my small pile a
lone," and lie pulled out his wallet.
"I'll bet two to one that you cau't jump up
there," taid a man coming close up to Ned,
with his fist full of -bills.
Three to one !" chirped another.
'i-our to one!" shouted a third nerson.
Five !" "Six !" "Seven !" and fifty
sporting men crowded around Ned.
"I'll tell yon what it is gentlemen," said
Ned quietly, ! haven't got much money, but
I'll go it as long as it lasts ; so iust choose
your stake-holders, and let's be at it."
lhat matter Was soon arranged, and the bet
ting went on, from two to seven to one, till
Ned's wallet and mine were drained.
"Thunder!" yelled Ned, "I wish I had a
thousand. - Here, Charley, giWo mo my watch
I'll put that in. Give me my hat ! coat!
vest ! boots ! I'll bet"
"Hold on !" snid the old merchant, "hero's
two thousand dollars, put it up. If you win,
we'll divide."
The two thousand was put np and covered,
and the crowd began to be impatient to see
the jump.
'Gentlemen," said Ned, very gravely, "I
have never been up in that steeple, and you
know I might go slap into some confounded
iron thing that would hurt me. N ow I should
like if a halt dozen of you would be kind e-
noug'.i to po up with me before 1 jump, so that
I can see where I'm going to lijrht." -
That's fair," shouted the crowd, and off
went Ned, with a committee of eight, over, a
cross, and np into the steeple. The crowd was
watching the open space by tho bell, and in a-
bout three minutes after the party entered the
church, Ned's cocoa nut .was seen bobbing up
and down in the beltry like a dandy jack. It
was evident to all that he jumped np there !
"Sold, by thunder!'? said the two-to-ono
gentleman, and sloped.
Taken in and done for! exclaimed sport
ing gentlemtn number two.
"Give it up !" v eiled four-tp-one, and cut
stick.
"Fairly won !" sung out everybody, in cho
rus; and as Ned made his appearance in the
street, the crowd gave iiita three cheers and
dispersed.
The stake-holders handed over the money to
Neil, and we-adjourned with the old merchant
to his store, where he made a fair division of
the winnings all round, after which the old
fox told us that he had an idea in his head
once of trying that very game.
American Inventors in Aistria. Of the
European nations who have paid particular at
tention to the progress of the American peo
ple in aits, sciences and manufactures, we
must certainly place tho Austrians amongst
the first and foremost. Since 1S42, we find
the American-railway car almost exclusively
on Austrian railways. The. outside connec
tion oh locomotives has been extensively adrpt-
eu in mat country, long oeiore the prejudices
in favor of the inside cylinders were removed.
In 1853, the first river steamboat for the Old
World on American principles was construct
ed for the Danube. Since that, two immense
boats, of fifty feet beam, and eighty-two feet
outside the paddle wheels, have been built for
that river, on the model of our lamented
Steers, and engines furnished from New York.
Morse's electric telegraph has from the very
start monopolized the Austrian telegraph
wires, and there is scarcely a large farm in
that extensive empire or a large manufactory
tbat cannot show some evidence of American
ingenuity. At this moment a balance dry
'dock of the largest description, on'the Amer
ican principle, is constructing at v enice.
The timber lor that dock is furnished entirely
from this country, and almost all the mills on
the North river which have been standing Still
for months, are now busily employed in the
sawing and shipping of that timber. The
main part of the machinery for that dock is
also being constructed in New York. There
seems to bo hardly an American invention of
importance that has not found its way into
Austria, and it is a matter of surprise and grat
ification to the American traveler visiting Aus
tria that the home talent is so much appreciat
ed in a conntry which has been almost a stran
ger to us, and of which, as a general thing, we
have so imperfect a knowledge. Jvu York
Herald. -
A GLANCE INTO TIIE U. S. SENATE.
- From Life Illustrated.
Did it ever occur those wiseacres at home,
wbx nod approvingly, over Congressional
speeches, and cast in their votes for patriotic
"Smith," or "Jones," at election time, how
easy it was to be a Senator? Why, who
couldn't assume an. air of diplomatic' dignity
if he were comfortably seated in a big arm
chair, with a pile of ."documents" under his
nose, a pen behind his ear, and a big inkstand
yawning at his elbow J ; : , .-.
Don't I wish a grateful public would send
me to tho Senate!, Wouldn't I astonish the
Speaker, and. horrify tho Sergcant-at-arms t
Wouldn't I throw all the musty old papers un
der the table, establish a vase of roses on tho
desk, among the ponderous State records, and
sketch the bald pates in my immediate vicinity
all over the blank margin of the Globe, when
some prosy old orator was talking everybody
else to sleep.
And then, nothing easier than to make a
"star" of yourself in the national halls.
Bring in a glaringly impossible bill, say some
thing personal, wear your haif on your should
ers, and turn down your shirt collar a la Byron,
and you will te sure to succeed ! As for the
speech making, thatjs simple enough. Stare
through an eye glass at the "Ladies' Gallery"
until some girl comes in lovely enough to in
spire a hickory log. then iumn tin and rattle
off something spirited, no matter what, so that
the "great American nation," "giant of the
West," "march of civilization," and "patri
otic spirit," come in often enough. Shade cf
Cicero! wo already hear the applause that
would be sure to ensue.
Good gracious ! what a pity it is we belong
to the crinoline department, instead of being
privileged to wear w hiskers and patent leather?
Does the Union know what a loss it has sus
tained ?
However, we came here for the purpose of
commenting, not upon what mi'g.'i have been,
but upon what is. And it is a fact that the
Senate gallery is crowded to suffocation this
morning. We look despairingly at the dense
ly packed masses of humanity, and are about
hopelessly to retreat, when the polite usher
darts forward with
"I can get the lady a place, sir, in a minute.
This way, please." '
How he does it we haven't the least idea,
but in a moment we- are engineered into the
front ranks, and a' six-footed Vermonter is
ousted from his seat to make room for our
multifarious skirts. Poor fellow! how vexed
and disappointed ne looks! but, then, isn't it
his bouuden duty to make way for the ladies ?
Well, upon our word, this same Senate is a
cosy, comfortable place. How handsome that
row of variegated marble pillars are, and how
benignantly that full length portrait of Wash
ington gazes down on the scene below. W bat
a prejty carpet the nation has a ground of
viv id crimson dotted with a shower of golden
itars and what a graceful festoon that would
be above the chair, if somebody would only
dust the huge gilt eagle at the terminus cf the
folds!
That is Vice President Breckinridgo occu
pying the Speaker's chair. He scarcely looks
old enough to be the second officer of the Re
public ; there is hardly a silver thread in his
dark, luxuriant hair, and the furrows have not
yet begun to plow bis massive forehead and
fine square face..
At yonder desk, to the right of the chair,
sits brave old Sam Houston, the hero of count
less battle-fields. You would recognize him
almost anywhere by his outlandish style of
dress and eccentric appearance. Every gray
hair on his head is at war with Its next neigh
bor. A neckerchief of scarlet silk is tied
carelessly about his throat, with the bow some
where under his ear,while a gay blue silk vest,
spotted with ye!ow, entirely hides his linen.
Ilis fingers are blazing with huge rings of every
hue and pattern, and he is whittling away at a
slip of piue-wood with an immense jack-knife,
while another Senator talks to him in a low,
anxious voice. Sturdy old. Sam Houston!
w'ouM there were many like thee in our na
tional councils !
Leaning against one of the richly veined
pillars is tho portly figure of John P. Hale,
the acknowledged wit of the Senate. He is a
favorite with every one ; even the fiery South
erner can not but smile at his genial jokes,
and yield to the charm of his perfect good
humor. The snowy harvest of years is already
gathering on his head, bul the fire of his eye
and the flexible play of his lips still retain the
energy of youth. -
There's nothing like laughing at people in
a good natured way ; and the profoundest de
hater in Congress doesn't receive haif the at
tention tbat is accorded to Hale when the
floodgates of his iaillery are opened, and his
ban viols fly like sparks all over the Senate
Chamber !
Mp.s. George Washington Wtllts.
The Atlantic Cable The preparations for
the new expedition to lay the transatlantic tel
egraph cable are now completed. In the dock
yark at Plymouth, England, tho main bulk of
tho cable, to the length of 2,200 miles, has
been stowed away in gigantic coils during the
winter, and a full staff of electricians, under
the direction of Mr. Whitehousc, have been
engaged in working messages throughout its
entire length, and generally proving the elect
rical fitness of the cable to the fullest extent.
The result of these experiments has been in
the fullest degree satisfactory. It has been
ascertained that cigTM words per minute can
be accurately transmitted through the whole
length of be cable. To many unacquainted
with the practical working of submarine lines,
only eight words per minute may appear to be
but a poor result after all, though it is such an
improvement" in the rate of transmission as
not many ventured to anticipate who saw the
cable worked for the first time last summer.
DisTi.vcuisntD Dkatu. Dr. J. K. Mitchell,
Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free
Masons in the State of Pennsylvania, died on
Sunday night, April 4th, at twelve o'clock, of
pneumonia, in the city of Philadelphia. This
is, we believe, tho only case, in the United
States, where a Grand Master, whilst in the
active duties of his station, has died. The
event is one of deep interest to the members
of the fraternity.
Female Hobse-Thief. A few days since,
Mrs. Julia M. Dewey, was tried at Oswego,
New York, for horse-stealing. She was con
victed and sentenced to three years and two
months imprisonment in Sing-Sing Prison.
The beauty of the fair criminal bad no effect
nponth stony hearts of ;th jury, -
CELIBACY.
. "Single blessedness" is rapidly on the in-
crease. It threatens to become an estaiuisucu
"institution." Marriage, and the family re
lation, are in danger of being superseded.
These and similar ntterances bare become one
of the prominent topics of the newspaper
press.
In all our large cities the disinclination to
marry on the part of young men is frequently
spoken of, and written about. And it is said,
truthfully too, that just in the ratio that men
incline to batchelorism, rowdy ism,debauchery,
and crime become rampant in the land.
This is a subject of great importance to all,
and of fearful interest to generations to come.
It requires no extraordinary reach of thought
to comprehend that the natural and inevitable
result must be, sooner or later, the genetal de
moralization of both male and female, and tho
ntterdisorganization of human society. With
out the maintainance of those domestic asso
ciations and duties, which are known only
where the marriage institution is made sacred,
no society ever did or ever can exist above
barbarism or savagism.
To arrest this downward tendency of tho
race, two causes must he corrected. Y'oung
men must be trained to live, move, and have
their being, without those blood-inflaming and
soul-palsying poisons, liquor and tobacco, and
young ladies must learn to be useful as well
as showy. On this latter clause of our text
we purpose to expatiate very briefly, and then
leave the matter, for the present, to the reflec
tion of those whom it may concern.
It is notorious, all over the civilized world,
that American females are unhealthy, and
that the tendency to disease and infirmity is
constantly- increasing. The daughters, as a
general rule, are more infirm than their moth
ers, as their mothers compare unfavorably
with their grandmothers. There is no theuic
so much written about, talked about, lectured
about, as sickly American women' and girls.
Even the medical journals and daily newspa
pers of Europe are frequently comparing the
health and stamina of American females wiih
those of the females of Great Britain, France,
Germany, &c, and always to the disadvantage
of the former. And they seem to aee, not
without reason, one of the leading causes of
the ultimate degeneracy of the American peo
ple, and the final overthrow of our Republi
can government, in the fact that the vitality
of our females is running down. ' .
Young men cannot be ignorant of those
things. They are, and must he fond of the
societv of voung ladies. Nature and instinct,
and reason, and custom incline them to mar
ry. But with the thought of a matrimonial
alliance comes the thought of everything ex
cept beds of roses and domestic joys. So far
as courting goes, all is pleasant euough ; but
with marriage is associated . the idea of doc
tors, nurses and a greater or less nnuiber of
Bridgets and Katys and Marys and Ellens.
Instead of a helpmate, a wife to cheer him in
the arduous pathway of life, and take charge
ot the houshold affairs, he dreams of delicate
nerves, tender stomachs, falling hair, decay
ing teeth, and spinal irritation. He anticipa
tes, as well he may, a constant monologue a
bout pains, aches, bad feelings, morbid sensa
tions, as the prevailing music of the fireside,
lie thinks of ever-recurring bills to pay. He
knows the chances are against him of marry
ing a patient to take care of, instead of a wife
to enjoy.
Now men are just as selfish as women are.
On the whole, we think they are more so.
The young lady who supposes that any young
man "on the face of the earth wishes-to marry
her for the sake of nursing her through life,
makes a great mistake. There have been,
indeed, "marriages of sympathy." But Hea
ven sanctions not,and nature abhors such alli
ances. If young ladies advertise themselves as pret
ty play-things, young gentlemen will take
them at their word. If in their actions, and
by their manners and accomplishments they
declare themselves -3irtable and courtable, but
unmanageable, young men will so understand
the matter and act accordingly. They will be
ready enough to dance and frolic with those
they do not respect. They will make them
selves agreeable to those they cannot love.
They will play court where they cannot think
of marrying. Whenever they find their at
tentions are beginning to be taken in earnest,
they will seek other society. They will not,
of course, give -the reason for this, and the
young ladies will of course wonder 'why don't
the man propose ?"
Young men, we repeat, will sport and amuse
themselves with young ladies vhom they
neither love nor respect. But if they do re
spect them and could love them, they are
frightened from a . proposal to marry by tho
sad evidence of infirmity, which cosmetics,
false hair, artificial teeth, and expansive skirts
are unable to conceal. Hence they rather
avoid all approaches to intimacy, and often
abandon the company of those that could be
healthy, and who would be good wives, and
seek amusement in less respectable society
amid more del asing associations.
The young ladies of America have it en
tirely in their power to arrest this giowing
evil. Let them make themselves healthy, and
prove their capacity to be useful as well as
ornamental, and they will not ho long in the
matrimonial market. Let them snap their
fingers at the fashions ot London and the fol
lies ot Paris, and act like sensible human be
ings. Otherwise, they are neither fit lor wives
nor mothers.
The "State of Matrimony" is one of the Ig
nited States. It is bounded by a ring on one
side, and a cradle on the other. The climate
is sultry till you pass the tropics of housekeep
ing, when squally weather sets in with such
powers as to keep all hands as cool as cucum
bers. For the principal roads leading to this
interesting state, consult the first pair of bright
eyes you run against.
Thomas Allibone and Thomas A. Newhall j
;T,,i;f,i Ut- th Jl.i!:irli-!ihia Grand
Jury, on tho charge of conspiracy to defraud j
the stockholders of the UanK 01 renro) nama.
Mr. ChailesMcKeone entered bail for the for
mer, and Mc. John Welsh for the latter. The
suit is prosecuted by foreign holders of a bill
of exchange lought of Newhall by Allibone,
and which proved worthless.
Old Mrs. Darnly is a pattern of household
economy. She says she has made a pair of
iubi l:it for fifteen vpara hv onlv knittinw
new feet to them every winter and new legs j
to them every ther wintsr.
i LECOMPTOXO.NCE MORE.
' A correspondent of the New York Tribune
gives a graphic description of the scene in the
House at Washington, just before the great
vote was taken by which Lccompton was kill
ed. He says :
Active among the throng were the leading
Senators on both sides, of whom Mr. Bigler
was particularly conspicuous in his efforts to
strengthen the wavering and reclaim tho err
ing. I did not notice any Cabinet officers on
the floortthis morning. Their inteaferenco on
previous occasions has been so much noticed
by the press that I suppose they have grown
shy of showing themselves. The Shaker's
nerves or his temper were evidently out of or
der, lie rapped with uncommon vehemence,
in his efforts to subdue the buzz in the House.
'Gentlemen w ill come to order I Gentlemen
will take their seats ! Conversation Is too
loud in tho hall ! The Chair will call gentle
men by their names il tuey do not take their
seats!' Still the buzz continued. Groups
gathered around Stephens, and around Mont
gomery, Grow, Gilrnerand other leading men.
Again the Speaker rapped and eluded Lis un
ruly flock. Nothing could keep down the
excitement. Some ordinary business was hur
ried over until the hour of 1 rrrived, the hour
for taking up the Lecompton question. All
eyes were turned to the centre of the hall, to
the scat of Stephens, who was already on bis
feet, looking at a distance like one of the pa
ges a little taller than his fellows. He paused
a moment as Col. Harris of Illinois, his death
ly pale, corpse-like countenance looking still
whiter and more ghastly from the blackness of
his beard and hair, was brought into the ball
and placed reclining in his seat, a striking
speotaele of energy a id resolution triumphant
over disease and suffering."
A noble Democrat truly, is Harris! Well
may his friends be proud of him ; well may all
true friends of Republican Liberty be proud of
him. We hope his life may be spared. He
deserves the crown of laurel from the world, a
crown of glory, should he bo called home.
Certainly patriotism, when pure and lofty, like
that cf II an is, must go far in making up a
claim to celestial bounties.
The responsibility of keeping open the Kan
sas excitement now lies w ith the friends of the
President in the Senate. As Mr. Douglas said
in his speech, on Friday, when the Crittenden
amendment was before the upper house cf
Congress: "The House had amended tho
bill in such wise that it now accomplishes two
great points one, that it settles this Kansas
excitement; another that it recognizes tho
right of the people of Kansas to lrame their
own institutions. Why, then, not all nnito
arid vote lor the amended bill, and thus settle
the Kansas question ? Vote for it, and tho
right of the people is recognized ; vote for it,
and State rights and sovereignty are preserved;
vote for it, and there is peace in the country."
We shall see now who are the agitators who
desire to keep a sectional issue in the field.
The Americans, Arti-Lecompton Democrats,
and Republicans. say with one accord, let Kan
sas settle the matter, legally, equitably, peace
fully; one hundred and twenty votes spoke
thus, in the House, when they declared in fa
vor of tho Crittenden-Montgomery amend
ment. Nobody says nay but the President
and his friends. They must shoulder the res
ponsibility, the people will it thus. When
asked hereafter who are the oppressors that
tried to fasten upon the people of Kansas, in
stitutions that they repudiated, the answer will
be. Buchanan and his supporters! When
asked who are the factionisti that keep alive .
sectional issues, arraying the North against
the .South, endangering the peace and perpe
tuity of the Union, the reply will be, Buchan
an and his supporters.
Little people are very much given to imita
tion. Some boys have a fancy for hens, and
take a delight in clucking and crowing hen
fashion. Others imitate the barking of dogs,
the grunting of hogs, &c. Down under our
window is an old case, belonging to Van Ara
burgh, we l'licve, bearing upon its sides the
words, "Trained Animals." We were some
what surprised, yesterday, to discover in that
cage two young gentlemen, aged, perhaps,
seven years each. They were playing "Daniel
in the lion's den" one boy taking the part of
Daniel and the other ot an "orful lion." Dan
iel was brave ; notwithstanding the roaring of
the lion, he walked bravely np to him, and, af
ter a scuffle, snccccded in reducing him to sub
mission. Lion played Well until his conqner
or commenced the jaw-stretching operation,
and then he gave in. "Ho-ho!d on, Daniel,"
he made out to exclaim, "I won't play any
more oh ah oh !". Scene closed with lion
club in "paw," driving Daniel out ot the den.
It was decidedly rich. Exchange.
Three eminent Western cities--Cincinnati,
the largest inland town in the United States;
St. Louis, the emporium of the Far West ; and
Dubuque, the chief city of Iowa and the bus
iest place on the Upper Mississippi held
their Charter Elections on Monday. Each of
these is usually "Democratic" in politics, and
usually gives a large majorrty on that side at
each Presidential Election. Yet Cincinnati
has now gone anti-Lecompton by some 3.000
majority a clean sweep ; St. Lot:is (in a
Slave State) has chosen tho siraight-out Free
Soil ticket by about 1,000; while Dubuque,
usually two to one "Democratic," has elected
a "People's Ticket" over the regular "Demo
cratic" by 500. Dubuque never failed to swal
low anything laleled "Democrat," before, and
lick her chops for "more of the same sort."
We respectfully submit to Mr. Buchanan that
Cincinnati has given an authentic cxpositioa
of the Cincinnati Platform, and that it sus
tains Judge Douglas to the letter. Xev York
Tribune, Jlpril 7.
The Great Revival. There U not a city
in the United States, excepting perhaps New
Orleans and the Pacific cities, where daily
prayer meetings are not held and the religious '
interest expending. Tho nnmler of converts
are counted by thousands. Since the day of
Peniicost, no such simultaneous and extensive
an awakening has occurred. Tho secular pa
pers are full of accounts of the meetings, while
the religious press occupy column in merely
aggregating the result of the good work. The
revival originated among laymen tlu: meet- .
ings are conducted by them and the masses
are attracted to them. It is notable that ec
tarianism has disappeared alraostj an intense
universality of feeling and sympathy having
i. j , . . .... ,
meirca aoun toe parui;ou wtu-, uu rusea
church organization into one vital, glowing
mass. ... --. .