Raftsman's journal. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, December 21, 1859, Image 1

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BY S. B. ROW.
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 18-59.
YOL. 6.-JT0. 17.
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HOME W3EBE'E2 THE XEABT IS.
'Tte home where'er the heart is ;
Where'er its loved ones dwell,
In ciries or in cottages,
Thronged haunts or mossy dell ;
The heart's a rover ever.
And thus on wake or wild,
The maiden and her lover walks :
The mother with her child.
'Tis bright where'er the heart is J
lis fairy spells can bring
Fresh fountains to the wilderness,
And to the desert spring,
There are green isles in ocean,
O'er which affection glides;
And a haven on each rugged shore
"iVhen love's the helm that guides.
'Tis free where'er the heart is ;
Nor chain nor dungeon dim.
May check the mind's aspirings ;
The ypirit's pealing hymn !
The heart gives life its beauty,
Its glory and its power,
?Tis sunlight to its rippling stream,
And soft dew to its flower.
JCCPTBIGIIT SECURED.
CLEARFIELD COUNTY:
OR, REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST.
InlS5o, being the caucus nominee of the
Democratic members of the State Legislature,
Governor Bigler was elected a member ol the
United States Senatej'and. yet occupies that
position. During his occupancy of this post
Mrvera! important questions have arisen, and
he has invariably advocated the Administra
tion vitv of each. He took the initiative
!:fn the question of admitting Kansas under
.he Lecompton Constitution was introduced,
!.:; rted all the measures of the Adrainistra
growing out of that question, and being
:I ; n!;!!ly identified with the Lecompton wing
f t'.:z Domocraticparty, he has become the
lijcLt of much unmerited abascj as well as
fi:'vj::ic adulation.
.Still i. the prime of life, Senator Eiglcr has
devoted mmy years to public avocations, and
U r:;a in hi mark. Tlie bloom of youth adds
j freshness to his fine countenance. His en
trzj and activity havo not yet yielded to the
and measured step of age. Ills manners
.:eij and agreeable his language insinua
He is a good talkr, and has many ex
cellent social qualities which have surrounded
tin with warm friends. As a business man
.l citizen, henjoys the respect and confi
dence of the community. As a statesman, he
A'j promulgated no new ideas nor originated
any new measures. Watching tho current of
I'Ojmlar opinion, he has endeavored to ride
rp .n it, rather than throw himself into the
arena to combat error, and by vigorous
thought, bold speech and determined action,
mould the discordant elements according to
Lis views. Policy is his north star. Perseve
ring, he is timid, and liable to halt between
tv.o opinions. Ready and, fluent in debate, his
M eeches are more admired for their matter
.ac their language. They are tautological,
show themselves to be the offspring of thought,
and are often non-committal or susceptible ol
double interpretation. He is more the politi
:im than the statesman.
The Clearfield Democra.', after a long slum
l ?r, came forth transformed into the Clearfield
Whig. This was early in 1837. It was edited
by Sam'l T. Williams, formerly of Bellcfontc,
assisted by William T.Alexander, then a citi
zen of this county, but for many years since
editor and proprietor of the Clarion Democrat.
It is said that Ellis Irwin, Esq., was connected
with the Whig, and bore tlie loss incident to
its publication. If so, his name did not ap
pear. Mr. Irwin is a native of Centre county.
In 1823 he settled in the Grampian Hills, on
the farm now owned by John Spencer. Find
ing his bodily strergth unequal to the task
w hich ha had undertaken of clearing out a
farm, ho took charge of" the Corner Hotel, at
Curwensville, where lie catered to the wants of
the travelling community until 18CG. He then
removed to Clearfield town to take upon him
self the duties of Protnonotary, he having
been appointed to that office. In 1838 he pur
chased a stock of goods from Richard Shaw,
Esq., who was then retiring from business, and
in connection with his brother William F.,
commenced merchandizing. He was appoint
ed Post Master in 1841, which office he filled
until he was elected Sheriff of the county in
1?13. In 18-30 lie was appointed Prothonotary
to fill the vacancy occasioned by the decease
of William C. Welch, Eq. For the last nine
ten ytars Mr. Irwin has been carrying on a
h;ii.bering and mercantile establishment at
Lick -Run Mills, five miles below town. He
removed his family to this romantic spot about
:o years since. Eeing an excellent pensman
i-.i possessed of correct business habits, our
-cords were fairly and well kept whilst he was
&eir custodian. No officer has better served
.ite people of this county. Order, taste and
care are displayed in his private as well as
itblx matters.
On Mr. Williams retiring from the manage
ment of the Clearfield Whig, SaianelJ. Tyson,
young attorney, then recently from Philadel
phia, took charge of the editorial department,
l-tit he f uund it an up-hill business, and in a
Wt time withdrew. Mr. William went to
"California and died there. The paper went
ir.to tho hands of John R. Edic, who was here
teaching school and studying law. For want
necessary bupport, the papervas discon
tinued a few months after Mr. Edie became
uwner of it, and the material was sold to Win.
L. Moore, who by this time had become sole
I f'pf itor and editor of the Pioneer Banner.
Edle then k.ft this connty aDd located in
Somerset. He has since represented that dis
trict in Congress.
During 1838, Daniel W. Moore, a brother of
William, purchased one half of the office, and
shortly afterwards William disposing of his
remaining half to Daniel, dissolved his con
nection with the paper. Whilst Mr. Moore
was connected with the press, he did much to
build up the Democratic organization, and la
bored zealously in the cause. His paper was
liberally supported, and through it he realized
some funds which, judiciously managed in
mercantile and lumbering operations, have ren
dered him comfortable. With the exception
of an appointment as postmaster, and a nomi
nation and election as associate judge, we be
lieve his long service as a partizan editor has
brought him no political preferment.
From 1838 to 1S15, Daniel W. Moore con
ducted the paper. In that year Hardman P.
Thompson, who had learned his trade in the
office, became an equal partner. He only re
mained two years, when, turning his attention
to medicine, he studied under Dr. Loraine,
and after graduating at the University of Penn
sylvania, located in Curwensville, where he"
now practices. In the fall of 1847, A. J.
Hemphill, now deceased, another apprentice of
Mr. Moore, took the place of Dr. Thompson.
Whilst Moore and Hemphill published, the
paper, in 1819, changed its name and was call
ed the Country Dollar. From then until 1852
Mr. Moore published the paper alone. After
1850 it was styled the Clearfield Republican,
the name it now bears. From 1852 to Dec.
1855, Clark Wilson, the present editor and
publisher of the Democratic Messenger, pub
lished in Indiana county, was associated with
Mr. Moore in conducting the paper. Wilson
then withdrew and Moore published until the
summer of 1S57, when Jas. II. Larrimer, Esq.,
and R. F. Ward, Jr., became editors and pub
lishers, Mr. Moore retaining an interest in the
office. During 1858 Mr. Ward withdrew and
left the editorial department in charge of Mr.
Larrimer.
Daniel W. Moore, during his connection
with the paper, was early and earnest in his
advocacy of the various measures of the Dem
ocratic party. His zeal as a partizan occa
sionally made lam write as believing the end
justified the means, but generally his exposi
tions and arguments were candid and fair.
Many of his editorials showed a clear concep-,
tion of his subject and were neatly expressed.
His paper occupied a respectable position.
He was a working man in his part. Not con
tent with his labors in the office, he mingled
with his partizans in their caucuses and their
meetings, and directed part' manceuvers. lie
has acted as justice of the peace, county trea
surer, clerk in the Post Oflice Department,
and is now occupied as mail agent under an
appointment from the present Administration.
His disposition would render him contented
and happy under any circumstances. He is
mild, kind and indulgent; plain, modest and
companionable, yet holds to his opinions with
great pertinacity. Since he has quit giving
the paper his supervision, it has lacked in in
terest and appearance; though latterly it has
improved in these respects. The paper is now
edited by J. II. Larrimer, Esq., a citizen of
Centre county, who studied law under the late
Judge Uurnside, and on his admission to tho
Bar moved to Clearfield and commenced prac
tice. He has a good legal mind, and is a high
toned, honorable gentleman. The paper is
radically Dtrmocratic. Its editorials are all
sound, having more length than depth.
(TO I!E COSTINVHW.)
Itwouid be necessary to go back to the
Biblical times to find the trace of a longevity
so extraordinary as that of Capt. Alexander-Victorian-Narcissus
Viroux of Belgium, who
has just been put on the pension list by a Roy
al command of the lGth September, 1859.
What makes it more wonderful is that Mr.
Viroux, born at Chimay Nov. 9, 1709,and who
will consequently have attained the age of one
hundred and fifty years the ninth of the last
month, took the strange lancy of entering tho
service the lGth o October, 1S30. But the
independence of his country called him, and,
in spite of his one hundred and twenty-one
years, he did not hesitate to her defense.
The military state pleasing him, as he felt
young and vigorous, ho remained in its ser
vice, and attained the rank of Captain. It is
only in the last few days that he felt the de
sire of retiring to the place wherein he first
saw the light of day.
The Richmond Enquirer so long ago as
1850, two years before Senator Seward made
his famous "irrepressible conflict" speech at
Rochester said;
"Two opposite and conflicting forms of society
cannot, among civilized men, co-exist and endure.
The one must give way and cease to exist
the other become universal. If lrce society be
unnatural, immoral, and unchristian, it must
fail and give way to slave society a social sys
tem as old as the world, universal as man."
Nobody trembled at that utterance, as
threatening the integrity of the Union it was
made by a Southern Democrat, and no harm
could have been meant, O no. It is only when
the universality of Freedom is, perhaps, fore
shadowed that it is deemed necessary to re
sort to Union-saving.
Men sometimes think that the high, dark
clifls of sorrow, will darken their stream of
life forever : but suddenly the green and un
dulating meadows spread faraway in pastoral
beauty, and the daisies bloom along the bants
where the willows hang with bending grace
fulness. . ttr -
non. John C. Breckinridge was on tho 12th
instant elected United States Senator by tho
Kentucky Legislature
THE WIFE'S EXPERIMENT
"Ma, why don't you dress up ?" asked little
Nellie Thomton,as her mother finished brush
ing the child's hair.and tying her clean apron.
There Was a momentary surprise on Mrs.
Thornton's face ; but she answered, careless
ly. "Oh, no one cares how I look."
"Don't Pa love to see you look pretty ?"
persisted the child. The mother did not re
ply, but involuntarily she glanced at her slov
enly attire, the faded and worn calico dress
and dingy apron, both bearing witness to an
intimate acquaintance with the dish-pan and
stove the slip-shod shoes, and soiled stock
Ingsand she could not help remembering
how she had that morning appeared with un
combed hair, and prepared her husband's
breakfast before he left home for the neighbor
ing market town. "Sure enough !" And
then Memory pointed back a few years to a
neatly and tastefully dressed maiden, some
times busy in her father's house, again min
gling with her young companions, but never
untidy in her appearance,1 always flush and
blooming; and this she knew, full well, was
a picture of herself, when Charles Thornton
first won her young heart. Such was the bride
he had taken to his pleasant home how had
matured life fulfilled the prophecy of youth ?
She was still comely in features, graceful
in form, but few would call her handsome or
an accomplished woman ; lor, alas ! all -other
characteristics of the woman were overshad
owed by this repulsive trait. Yet she' loved
to see others neat, and her house and children
did cot seem to belong to her, so well kept
and tidy did they always look. As a house
keeper she excelled and her husband was long
in acknowledging. to .himself the unwelcome
fact be had married an incorrigible sloven.
When, like too many other ytung wives,
she began to grow negligent in regard to her
dress.he readily excused her in his own mind,
and thought she is not well,' or 'she has so
much to do ;' and perceiving no abatement in
his kind attentions, she naturally concluded
he was perfectly satisfied. As her family cares
increased, and she went less into company,
she became still more careless of her personal
appearance, and contented herself with seeing
that nothing was lacking which could contrib
ute to the comfort of her husband and children,
never supposing that so trivial a matter as her
own apparel could possibly affect their happi
ness. All this chain of circumstances hith
erto unthouglit of passed betore her, as the
little prattler by her side repeated the query,
'l)on;t Pa love to see you look pretty "
"Yes, my child," she answered, and her
resolves were taken she would try an experi
ment, and prove whether Mr. Thornton were
really indiflerent on the subject, or not. Giv
ing Nellie a picture book with which to amuse
herself, she went to her own room, mentally
exclaiming at any rate, I'll never put on this
rig again not even washing day. She pro
ceeded to her clothes-press and removed one
dress after another ; some wete ragged, others
faded, all out of style, and some unlit to wear;
at length she found one which had long ago
been laid aside, as 'too light to wear about the
house.' It was a nice French print, rose col
ored and white, and she remembered had once
been a favorite with her husband. The old
adage, 'fashion comes round in seven years,'
seemed true in this case ;-for the dress was
made in the then prevailing style.
"This is just the thing," she thought, and
she hastened to perform her toilet, saying to
herself, I must alter my dark gingham to
wear in the mornings, and get it all ready be
fore Charh s comes home.' Then she releasad
her long, dark hair from its imprisonment in
a most ungraceful twist, and carefully brushing
its still glossy waves, she plaited it in tho
broad braids which Charles used so much to
admire in the days ot her girlhood. The un
wonted task brought back many reminiscences
of those vanished years, and tears glistened
in her eyes as she thought of the many chan
ges Time had wrought in those she loved,
butshe murmured, "What hath sadness like
tho change that in ourselves we find." In that
hour she lealized how an apparently trivial
fault had gained the mastery over her, and
imperceptibly had planted a barrier between
her and the one she best loved on earth; true,
he never chided her, never apparently noticed
her altered appearance ; but she well knew he
no longer urged her going into society, nor
did he seem to care about receiving his friends
at his own house.although he was a social man
and had once felt proud to introduce his young
wife to his large circle of acquaintances.
Now,they seldom went out together except
ing to church, and even dressing for that was
generally too much of an effort lor Mrs, Thorn
ton, she would stay at home 'to keep house,'
after preparing her little ones to accompany
their father, and the neighbors soon ceased ex
pecting to meet her at public worship or in
their social gatherings and so, one be one,
they neglected to call on her until but very
few of the number continued to exchange
friendly civilities with her. She had wonder
ed at this, had felt mortified and pained here
tofore ; now she clearly saw it was her own
fault, the veil was removed from her eyes, and
the mistake of her life was revealed in its true
enormity. Sincerely did she repent of her
past error, calmly and seriously resolved on
future and immediate amendment.
Meanwhile her hands were not idle, and nt
length the metamorphosis was complete. The
bright pink drapery hung gracefully about her
form, imparting no unusual brilliancy to her
complexion her best wrought collar was fas
tened with a costly brooch, her' husband's wed
ding gift, which had not seen the light for
many a day. Glancing once moro at her mir
ror, to be certain her toilet needed no more
finishing touches, she. took her sewing, and
went to the sitting-room. Little Nellie had
wearied of her picture book, and was only
plaving with the kitten. As Mrs. Thornton
entered she clasped her hands in childish de
light, exclaiming, 'Oh, Ma, how pretty !' and
running to her, kissed her again and again,
then drew her little chair close to her side,
and eagerly watched her as she plied her nee
dle, repairing the gingham dress. J ust before
it was completed, Nellie's brothers came from
school, and pausing at the half open door,
Willie whispered to Charlie, 'I guess we ve
got company ,for mother's all dressed up. It
was with mingled emotion of pleasure and
pain that Mrs. Thornton observed her children
were unusually docile and obedient, hasten
ing to perform their accustomed duties with
out being even reminded of them. Children
are natural! and unaffected lovers of the
beautiful, and their intuitive perceptions M
not often suffer from comparison with tho o
pinions of mature worldly wisdom. It was
with new feeling of admiration that tbese
children now looked upon their mother, and
seemed to consider it a privilege to do some
thing for her. It was 'let me get the kindlings,-
'I will make the fire,' and 'may I
fill the tea kettle V instead of, as was some
times the case, 'need I do it ?' 'I don't want
to.' why can't Willie ?"
Nellie was too small to render much assist
ance, but she often turned from the frolic with
her kitten to look at her mother, and utter
some childish remark expressive of joy and
love. At last the clock struck the hour when
Mr. Thornton was expected, and his wife pro
ceeded to lay the table with usual care, and to
place thereon several viands of which she knew
he was particularly fond.
Meanwhile let us form tho acquaintance of
the absent husband and father, . whom we
find in the neighboring town, just completing
his day's traffic. He is a fine looking, middle
aged man, with an unmistakable twinkle of
kindly feeling in his eye, and the line of good
humor plainly traced about his mouth we
know at a glance that he is cheerful and indul
gent in his family, and are at once preposses
sed in his favor. As he is leaving the store,
where he has made his last purchase for the
day, he is accosted in a familiar manner by a
tall gentleman just entering the door, lie re
cognizes an old friend, and exclaims: "George
Morton, is it you ?" The greeting is mutual
ly cordial ; they were "friends in boyhood and
early youth, but since Mr. Morton had been
practicing law in a distant city, they had sel
dom met, and this is no place. to exchange
their many answers. Mr. Thornton's fine span
of horses and light "democrat" is standing
near by, and it needs but little persuasion to
induce Mr. Morton to accompany his friend to
his home, which he had never yet visited.
The conversation is lively and spirited they
recall the feats or their school days, the expe
rience of after life, and compare their present
position in the world, with the golden future
of which they used to dream. Mr. Morton is a
bachelor very fastidious in his taste as that
class of individuals are prone to be. The re
collection of this flashes on Mr. Thornton's
mind as they drive along to their destination.
At once his zeal in the dialogue abates, he be
comes thoughtful and silent and does nut urge
his team onward, but seems willing to afford
Mr. Morton an opportunity to admire the beau
tiful scenery on either hand the hills and val
leys clad in their iresh verdure of June, while
the lofty mountain ranges look blue in the dis
tance, lie cannot help wondering if they will
find his wife in the same sorry predicament in
which he left her that morning, and involunta
rily shrinks from introducing so slatternly a
personage to his refined and cultivated friend.
But it is now too late to retract his polite
invitation they are nearly at the old home
stead one field more and his fertile farm with
its well kept fences, appears In vfew. Yonder
is his neat white house, surrounded with elms
and maples. They drove through the large
gateway, the man John comes from the barn
to put out the horses, and Mr. Thornton hur
ried up the walk to the piazza, leaving his
friend to follow at his leisure he must sec his
wife first, and if possible hurry her out of
sight before their visitor enters. He rushes
into the sitting-room words cannot express
his amazement there sits the very image of
his lovely bride, and a self-conscious blush
mantles her cheek as he stoops to kiss her
with words of joyful surprise, " Why, Ellen ?"
He has time for no more, George Morton has
followed him, and he exclaims Ha! Char
ley, as lover like as ever hasn't the honey
moon set yet ?" and then h-j is duly presented
to Mrs. Thornton, who under the pleasing ex
citement of the occasiou, appears to far better
advantage than usual. Tea is soon put upon
tho table, and the gentlemen do ample justice
to the tempting repast spread before them. A
happy rneal it is to Charles Thornton, who ga
zes with admiring fondness over his still beau
tiful wife. Supper over, Mr. Morton coaxes
little Nellie to sit on his lap, but she soon
slides down, and climbing her fathers' knee,
whispers confidentially, "Don't mamma look
pretty " He kisses her and answers, "Yes,
my darling."
The evening passed pleasantly and swiftly
away, and many a half-furgotton smile of their
life pilgrimage is recalled by some way-mark
which still gleams bright in the distance.
They both feel better for their interview, and
determined never to become so like strangers
again. Mr. Morton's soliloquy as he retires to
the cosy apartment appropriated to his use,
is "Well this is a happy family! What a
lucky fellow Charley is such a handsome wife
and children and she is so good a housekeep
er too ! May be I'll settle down some day
myself which pleasing idea that night min
gled with his visions.
The next morning Mr. T. watched his wife's
movements with some anxiety ho could not
bear to have her destroy the favorable impres
sion which he was certain she made on his
friend's mind, and yet some irresistable im
pulse forbado his offering any suggestion or
alluding in any way to tho delicate subject so
long unmentioned between them. But Mrs. M.
needed no friendly advicp with true womanly
tact she perceived the advantage she had gain-
ed, and was not at all inclined to relinquish it.
The dark gingham dress, linen collar and
snowy apron formed an appropriate and be
coming morning attire for a housekeeper, and
the table afforded the guest no occasion for al
tering his opinion in regard to the skill or af
fability of his amiable hostess. Early in tho
forenoon Mr. Morton took leave of his hospi
table friends, being called away by pressing
affairs of business.
Mr. and Mrs. Thornton returned to their ac
customed avocations, but it was with renewed
energy, and new sense of quiet happiness, no
less deeply felt because unexpressed. A day
or two afterwards Mr. Thornton invited his
wife to accompany him to town, saying he
thought she might like to do some shopping,
and she, with no apparent surprise, but with
heartfelt pleasure, acceeded to the proposal.
The following Sabbath the village gossips had
ample lood for their hungry eyes, (to be di
gested at the next sewing society,) in the ap
pearance of Mrs. Thornton at church clad in
plain, but rich costume, an entire new outfit,
which they could not deny "made her look
ten years younger."
This was the beginning of the reform, and
it was the dawning of a brighter day for trm
husband and wife of our story. True, hjyfe,
of long standing are not conquered in.fhom
or a month ; and very often was r tolerated
ton tempted to yield to theirfinst their ic
sway.but she fought violent them: 'An air
fluence, and in time vang"g(ore unknown, "now
of taste and elegartfj' and year after year
pervaded their''' ...
the liuks of affection whiah united them as a
family grew brighter and purer, even radiating
the holy spirit of a Christian home.
But it was not until many years had passed
away, and our little Nellie a . lovely maiden,
was about to resign her place as pet in her fa
ther's household, and assume a new dignity
in another's home, that her mother imparted
to her the story of her own early errors, and
earnestly warned her to beware of that insidi
ous foe to domestic happiness disregard of
little things and kissing her daughter with
maternal pride and fondness, she thanked her
for those simple, child-like words,which chang
ed the whole current of her destiny "Don't
Pa like to see you look pretty ?"
WHO'S TO DO IT 1
Mariners always anticipate stotmy weather
in passing the Great Capes. It is alike true
of Ilattems and the Horn. The Ship of State
has similar perils to encounter. We were
launched upon the stormy Atlantic of our
present voyage, and plunged into its billows,
by those two renowned political navigators,
Commander Pierce and Pilot Douglas. We
have had a stormy, but on the whole a suc
cessful passage thus far. We'bave passed our
Ilatteras, and are now facing the" gales and
braving the storms of our Horn. There is
commotion among the passengers, and a little
threatened mutiny ; but the good ship is tight,
staunch, and strong, and the voices of a vali
ant alid indomitable crew ring loud and clear
above the tempest, "Cheery, boys !" "Cheery,
boys!" "All's right, all's well!" We 'are
rapidly passing on to the broad Pacific, where
the mists and snows, the winds and tlie storms
of onr voyage will be forgotten in pbcid and
peaceful waters. We cannot hearken to voi
ces that exaggerate our perils, nor to counsels
that bid us turn back. With loins girded and
spirits high, and a craft that has hitherto borne
the brunt of every conflict, without opening a
seam or shivering a spar, we confidently count
upon a successful and happy termination to
our present enterprise.
This figurative exposition of the condition
of public affairs needs no interpretation. In
our political concerns, there are always plenty
of people to magnify small national disorders
and to create imaginary ones. Just now, the
effort to do this is in very busy hands. But,
as heretofore, it will soon die out. John
Brown's ghost will soon be laid, and then all
will be quiet again. So soon as our more
youthful and ardent members of Congress get
lairly warm in their seats, and begin to feel the
sedative physical influences that flow from
luxurious eating and drinking, when the Christ
mas holidays shall come, we shall witness a
marked abatement of the existing flurry of
speech at Washington. And when the Union
saving meetinss in our large cities shall be
over, our agitated respectabilities and quiver
ing devotees of Trade will subside into their
usual dull routine. People profess to be fright
ened, and to see portents in the sky, and to
tremble for some imaginary future of insur
rection, and rebellion, and disunion, and civil
war, and we do not know what other extrava
gance. But it is the tremor of chronic timid
ity, the apprehension of very dull minds and
very weak netves. Who is to be the authors
of these calamities", whence they are to come,
how they are to come, nobody can tell, nobody
knows. Certain it is, the fifteen millions of
people in the North propose nothing, abso
lutely nothing, but to mind their own busi
ness. There is not a bomb, nor a shell, nor a
pike, (except intellectual ones.) preparing in
all our borders for any illegal or improper pur
pose whatever. People have said John Brown
was a brave man, and exhibited moral quali
ties that were an omament to human nature.
This is the head and front of i"orAem offend
ing no more. How is it with the nine mil
lions of the South ? Are they going to pro
voke or bring on a conflict, to cry havoc, and
let slip tlie dogs of war? Do they want any
more agitation at home than they have got ?
Is not all niggerdoni sufficiently excited alrea
dy ? Does not Mr. Wise say that neither life
nor property is worth having in Virginia in
the existing state of alarm and trepidation ?
Docs not Mr. Senator Chesnut say that the
South Iks bleeding aud powerless? Who,
then, is to bring on these imaginary honors
that torment the imagination' of our terror
struck old women in pantaloons ?
RicnT Password bit Wro.vo Smell. A
high officer of the Sons of Temperance pre
senting himself with the smell of grog he had
been drinking, upon him, at the door of a
Division' for admission, was waited upon by
an Irish sentinel, to whom he gave the pass
word, when the following passed :
"Sir'r," saiij he,"an' ye's Mister O' Wright
the Ghrand Worthy Pathriarch of the State of
Khaintucky, I do be after belavin."
"Yes," said Jim, "yon are perfectly right
my friend, but why do you ask the question !"
"To tell yez the truth, then sir, and shame
the devil," slid Pat, "yez do be having the
right password for a Son of Timperance, en
tirely, but by the Howly Virgin,and the bless
ed Saint Patherick.yez got tho wrong smell."
Jews in the Uxited States. The Israelite
population in the UnitedStates is estimated at
about two hundred thousand sonls, who have
established one hundred and seventy syna
gogues. Of these, forty thousand dwell in the
city of New York, and alone outnumber the
the entire Hebrew population risident in tho
British Isles. Of this aggregate about three
fourths is derived from the immigration of the
preceding twenty years.'
In Europe the ladies of the first circles who
attend church, dress in common cheap calico. - -
The idea is to encourage the poor.who can" i
dress
j in "purple and fine linen," to go-ay i
.' . . . .
vine worship who are oftentimes us those
because their clothes are not as "
of their neighbors. . .
, ,t1 on on trial forthe
IlenryJumpctrs.whoJe murder of Sophia
last twenty days .tiated remains were found
Warner (whoso, Hudson River Railroad de-
in a barrel atuk, in the Spring or 18-38,) was
pot, at Nat Chicago, on the 12th inst.
acqn'
if is noticed as a somewhat curious coinci-
.. . .1 J. . 1 . f i f.rklIIrtfT ttm
. m. -.:r...A.; n rharlnston. '
the22d if 'April, is the birthday of Mr. Bu- i
cnanan ana aenaior uuugi.
, c- a-T 1 ' 1
, "In union there is strength," as the land
lady taid when she mixed lard with butter for
her boarders.
WASHINGTON IEVIira.
We publish below an interesting and amns
ing letter in regard to the ancestors of tho
well-known and popular writer, Washington
Irving, w ho died a few weeks since. It is sta
ted that full researches made a few years since
prove that the father of Irving was born in
Shapinshay, one of the Orkney Islands, emi
grated to New York in 17C0, and died in 1798i "
that the family from which Washington Irving
descended can be traced back as far as 1422. -and
that the Irving Clan is mentioned in the
history of Scotland during the reign of James
I, and in the ballads of Sir David Lindsay, ono
of Scotland's earliest poets.
The Sir Robert Strange, to whom allusion -is
made in the letter, was an eminent engraver, -the
founder of the branch of the art called his- -torical
engraving. He was born in the Ork-
ney Islands, and leaned engraving in Edin
bnrg. He joined the pretender in the rebel-"
lion of 1745, and after th? defeat and ront of
tlie Pretender's army, wandered a fugitive in '
the Highlands. He was finally pardoned, and
then went to London. He visited France and1
Italy, and was made a member of the Royal :
Academy of Painting in Paris,and of the learn
ed schools of Florence, Rome and Bologna.
He returned to England, made valuable im- '
provements In the art of engraving, rose to dis- '
tinction, and was created a Knight by Georgo
the Third. It is said that he and Irving's fa
ther were blood relations.
The Irvings of Orkney were cadets, or youn
ger biothers of the Irvings of Drum, which is "
prt;ven by coats of arms appended to old Char- "
ters. Coats of arms are not held in high es-"
timation in the United States, and yet, in tho '
Old World, when well authenticated, they are
useful and instructive, for they are good evi
dence in regard to property and familes. They
were first invented ai.d used at a period when '
reading and writing were confined to the cler
gy and a few of the highest class of society.
The coat of arms was the cognizance, or badge,
by which a person or family could be distinct
ly marked and known. The illustrious author
ol that exquisite book, "B-acebridge Hall,"
has a right to emblazon all the stars of our Na
tional Flag on his escutcheon, lor he has in
structed, humanized and refined his own coun
trymen, and elevated American character in
the estimation of the enlightened world.
The name of Irving appears to havo been
also spelled Irvine, Irven, Irwyn and Erving.
We presume that the Im ins and Irvings, scat
tered over Pennsylvania, are descended lrom
the same original stock or clan as Washington
Irving. The Irwms, of.the North of Ireland,
are of the same Scotch origion. The ances- -tors
of many of them settled in Ireland du- -ring
the time of Cromwell, and obtained -grants
of land from the Protector.
WASniXGTON IRVING'S ASCKSTOa.
Dear Sir : I see, from a paragraph now go--ing
the rounds, copied from the Xorthe n Kn
sig.i. that Mr. Petiie, county clerk of Orkney,
has discovered that Washington Irving," tho -celebrated
writer, is an Orkney man by. des
cent. Mr. Petrie says
"Along with other gentlemen, I have been
engaged for the last six or eight months in
tracing the pedigree of Washington Irving;
and we have iound.from the manuscripts (most
of them in my possession) and other sources;
that his father was born in Shapinshay, emi
grated to New-York about 17G0, and died in
1798, leaving a large fortune. The Rev. P. P.
Irving was here about three weeks, and car
ried away with him a table of the family des
cent, tracing I hem back to 1122, and subscrib
ed by Sheriff Robertson and myself. Tho
Orkney Irvings are descendants of the Irvings
of Drum, as appears from the coat of arras,
appended to charters, &c."
Some years ago, a weather-beaten old Shields
sailor gave me the following particulars :
William and Peter Irven or Irvine, brothers, -wore
born in Shapinshay, Orkney, about the
middle of last century. William took to the
sea ; Peter was bred a tailor. The former got
on rapidly, and, having acquired a great for
tune, while yet a young man, settled in New- .
York seventy or eighty year3 ago. Peter,who
remained in his native island, niar:iod,! -and
had five daughters, of whom the youngest; Sa
rah, the onl one of the lot who entered ;the
married state, w as named after her uncle's wife
in America. She espoused George Fowles;
mariner, belonging to Durness, and had seven
children, of whom the oldest. Thomas, my in
formant, now living in Shield, is about sixty
years old. The rich American uncle had a
son, whom be named after tho illustrious pa
triot Washington ; and this individual is the
world re nowned author of the '-Sketch Book"
and "Bracebridge Hall."
In Dennistf n's Memoirs of Sir R; Strange,
some additional facts are given : "John of Ir
wyn had landed possessions of Holm, in Ork
ney, in 1338, when tho country was still an ap
pendage of the crown of Denmark and Nor
way. The Irvines of Sebay are very frequent-.
ly mentioned in the times of 'Robert and Pat- t
rick Stewart, Earls of Orkney, "and' suffered
very severely from the outrages of these ra-
pacious nobles. -They became extinct in the
direct male line tempore Charles. I ; but ono
collateral branch had immediately betore set--tled
in the island of Sandy, and another, th
Irvines of Gairstay, in the island of Sh"''
shay. They lett the estate of Gairstay cn"
generations back, and sank down J"U ? e
dition of nitre peasants, tenar . as
where some of them" reside " the Proprietor
there latelv with Mr. out thT oU "n.d
or Shapinshay, who-? here was born Wil
modest house of Washington Irving. I,
liam Irvine singular that Sir Robert
it not !- ihe aUthor of "Bracebridge Hall"
5traP.most clemonsiraiea oi wie same uiuuu i
C:4.w!s, if Irving knew his pedigree could be
p"& Q ! jonn iVwyn of lisT.
0 ualm and vindicate his Or.
,. , "
wuun itweui.
Tho Irvinps. Ir
The Irvines, Irvins, or Irwins, though seem
ing to derive their appellation from a place in
Ayrshire, are connected with the old moss
trooping Eurewings. of the southwestern Scot
tish march. The latter are enumerated by Sir
David Lindsay among tho Border clans:
Taylors, Eurewings, and Ellwands,
Speedy of foot and light of Lands.
A branch of them settled early in the North
and we find that the Irvines, along with t
Keiths, Leslvs, Forbcses, aud other clanj
ing at ennutv wiin liunuey ana -crro'-ia ,
James I., in his expedition to the iJ
(Robertson's History Sco b,ndjlfBa0'CK1E.
II I
South Shields, October-
ve others, breaks
He that cannotfc must paM WmseV.
idae over wm
bridge oTcr Trhl
the ' j''
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