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i
BY S. J. ROW.
CLEARFIELD, PA WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1861.
VOL. 7. NO. 33.
I
tsp iKi m m .m m m. m m m
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ii
. SATUBDAY EVENING.
How sweet the evening shadow! fall
Advancing from the West,
As ends the weary week of toil, .
And comes the day of rest! ',.
Bright o'er the earth the star of eve
Ber radiant beauty sheds,
And myriad sistera calmly weave ' " ;
Their lights around our heads. ' -
Rest, man. from labor! rest from tin !
The world's hard contest close !
Tbe holy hours with Qod begin - .
Yield thee to sweet repose.
Bright o'er the earth the morning ray .
Its sacred light will cast;
Fair emblems of the glorious day '
Thatevermore shall last.
ME. WOODBBIDGE'S INVESTMENT. -
The fiery crimson of the stormy November
sunset was staining all the hills with its lurid
glare, the wind murmuring restlessly among
the dead leaves that lay heaped over tbe wood
paths, seemed to mourn, with an almost hu
man voice. But the autumnal melancholy
without only served to heighten the cheerful
ness of the roaring wood fire, whose ruddy
clow danced and quivered over tbe rough
rafters of Farmer Woodbridge's spacious old
kitchen, sparkling on the polished surfaces of
platters and glimmering brasses, and sending
a long stream of radiance through the uncur
tained windows out upon the darkened road.
"Yes as I was sayin' afore," observed tbe
old farmer, rubbing his toil-hardened hands
together, and gazing thoughtfully into the fire,
"it's been a capital harvest this year. 1
wouldn't ask for no better. So, wife, you jist
pick out some o' them yallcr pippin apples,
and put 'em In Jessie's basket again when she
call arter it."
Won't the little red 'uns do as well 1 . 1
calculate to keep tbem pippins for market;
Squire Benson says they're worth "
"I don't keer what, they're worth," inter
rupted the farmer, as his helpmate, a spare,
angular woman, with a lace ploughed with in
numerable little lines of care fingered the yel
low checkered apples dubiously. "I tell you
what it is Ketury, folks never yet lost any
thing by doin' a kind thing. I never could
make you believe that, unless the pay came
right in, in hard cash! Now here's Jessie
Moreton, as likely a gal as ever breathed,
teachln' school day In and day out, and her
marm sewin' to hum, earnin' a livin' by tbe
hardest labor born ladies both on 'em. Don't
jou 8'pose these apples '11 be worth more to
them, if you give 'em with a kind word, than
they would be to that pesky tight-fisted agent,
up to Hardwiche IlalJ, if he gave a dollar a
bushel?" - .
"Charity begins to hum," said Keturab,
jerking out the supper table with an odd twist
of the face. "Not but wjiat Jessie's well e
oiough but you'd a plagued sight better sight
scratch your pennies together to pay up that
mortgage, if you don't want the Uardwiche a
jjeut foreclosing on you. And them pippins
i just as good as so much money. There
they be, anyhow, in the basket one of your
investments, I guess !"
"One of my investments then, if you like to
call it so Ketury," said the farmer with a good
humored laugh, banishing the annoyed ex
pression which had overspread his face when
she alluded to the mortgage. "Come 'long in
Jessie my gal !" he added cheerily, as a light
touch sounded on the door-latch. "Here's
the basket all right, and some o' them golden
pippins tucked into't. Maybe they'll tempt
your mother's appetite."
Jessie Moreton was a slender, graceful girl
of about seventeen, with satiu-smooth bands of
chestnut hair, parted above a low sunny fore
head, large liquid eyes, and cheeks which far
mer Wood bridge always declared "sot him to
thinkin' of them velvet looking peaches, that
Crew on the tree down on the South meddcr!"
She took up the basket with a grateful smile,
that went even to the flinty heart of Mrs. Ke
turah. "O, Mr. Woodbridge, how kind you are al
ways to us ! It I were only rich if I could
only make some return.
"Don't you say a word about that," said the
farmer, rubbing his nose very hard. "Jest
you run home, as fast as ever you can put, for
it's getting most dark, and the November
wind ain't no way healthy as I ever heerd
on. And I say, Jessie, if it rains to-morrow
so you can't get to school handy, just you
stop here, and I'll give you a lift in my wag
gin." "Dear old Mr. Woodbridge," soliloquized i
Jessie Moreton to herself, as her light footstep
pattered along on the fallen leaves, "how
fuany times have 1 had cause to thank bis gen
erous heart. And to think that he should be
o distressed about the mortgage by the agent
at Uardwiche Ilall.
She paused for a moment to look up to
where the stately roofs and gables of tho Hall
rose darkly outlined against the crimson that
till burned stormily in tbe sky. On a com
manding height, and nearly hidden in trees,
many of whom still retained their brilliant au
tumn foliage, it seemed almost like an old
Urronial castle.
"There it stands." she mused, "shut iin and
silent, year after year ; its magnificent rooms
untenanted; the flowers blossoming ungather
i in its conservatories. Since Mrs. Hard
wiche died twenty years since, mamma says
t --the family have been away, and now the on
ly surviving heir is traveling, no one knows
herc. I wonder if ho knows how grasping
and cruel his agent is 1 Oh, dear," she ad
ded softly, "money does not always come
where it it most needed. If I were the mis
press ol Uardwiche Hall !"
She started with a slight scream the next in
fant, aa a tall figure rose up from a mossy
,,p r by tLe roadside, directly in front of her.
"Pardon me," said a voice that instantly
reassured her, for it was too gentle to come
'rom any but a gentleman, "but I am not cer-
Maen road I I was waiting for someone to
ome and direct me."
"Tbis is Elden, road," said Jessie, all un
oncious that the last gleams of the fading
with Cre ,5ntiDS P ner ,aIr innocent face
'in an almost angelic beauty as she stood
mere among the fallen leaves.
. Antl can Jou tell me the shortest foot-path
iw Vlrdwlche Hal1 1 1 have not bee" ln this
"ejgnborhood since I was a little child, and I
completely at fault." .
Jessie hesitated a moment. "I could show
nii . Jer than tel1 J0", tor it is rather a com
'cated road," she said, "and if you will ac
eptmy services as guide, It will not be much
out of ray way."
"I shall feel very much honored," said the
stranger, "meantime let me carry your basket.'
It was a wild and lovely walk, winding a
mong moss-garlanded trees and hollows, sweet
with aromatic incense of dying leaves. Jes
sie could not help admiringJIhe chivalric man
ners and polished courtesy of her companion,
and ho was more than pleased with tbe bloom
ing loveliness and girlish dignity of his young
guide. A few adroit questions respecting
Hardwiche Hall and its neighborhood, sufficed
to draw forth a spirited abstract of the charac
ter of the Uardwiche agent, and the imposi
tions he was wont to practice upon the ten
ants and neighbors, as well as an arch descrip
tion of most of the "characters" thereabouts.
Then he contrived to learn all about Jessie's
little school, and ber ailing mother, and he
smiled to himself, in the twilight, to observe
the pride of mien, when she alluded to the
high position from which unforseen reverses
had compelled her mother to descend.
"Then," she said, suddenly pausing with a
feeling as if she had been almost too commu
nicative, "if we could only cross yonder lawn,
the gates are closed by, but we shall have to
go a quarter of a mile around."
"Why ?" asked the stranger.
"Mr. Talcott will not allow travelers to cross
here he says that it is private property."
"I fancy 1 shall dare Mr. Talcott's wrath,"
said the gentleman, laughing as he pushed
open the wire gate that defended the forbid
den space, "it is perfectly absurd to make
people go a quarter of a mile out of their way
for a mere whim." ' '
They had scarcely entered the enclosure
when they met an unlooked for obstacle, Tal
cott . himself, who was prowling over the
grounds on the qui tire for trespassers.
"Hallo, here," growled he: just turn back
if you please. This isn't tbe public thorough
fare." . .
The stranger held Jessie's arm under his
a little tighter, as if to repress her evident in
clination to "beat a retreat." He was dispos
ed to maintain his position.
"I don't see any reasonable cause why we
should'nt go ahead," he said pertinaciously.
"There is a path here, and I suppose it was
made to walk on."
"Not for you," said the agent, contemptu
ously, "so go back as fast as you can !" .
"Is it possible that people are made to trav
el a circuitous and unpleasant route, for no
earthly reason but your caprices, sir ?" asked
the gentleman, from tbe altitude of his feet,
with a kind of laughing scorn. "Did it ever
occur to you, my friend, that others bad
rights and conveniences as well as yourself."
"Can't help their rightsnothing to me,"
snarled tbe agent, planting himself obstinately
in the path. 4 1 forbid all persons passing here I'
"But I suppose Everard Hardwiche may
have the privilege of crossing his own land 1"
persisted ' the stranger, still presenting the
half contemptuous smile that bad from tbe
beginning made the agent so nncornfortable.
Talcott grew, not exactly pule, but yellow
with consternation.
"Mr. Hardwiche sir, I did not know we
did not expect "
No I know you didn't my good man. Be
so kind as to step aside, and allow me to pass
with the lady. Miss Jessie, don't forget tbsit
1 need your services a few minutes yet.
When we reach the bouse, I will prolong my
walk to your cottage. Nay, don't shrink away
from me are we not to be good friends "
The prettiest girl I ever saw in my life,"
was his internal comment, as he at length
parted from her at the little gate, where "burn
ing bushes" and dark green ivy were trained
together with all a woman's taste.
The Christmas snows lay white and deep on
tbe farmhouse eves the Christmas logs crack
led on the hearth, where Mr. Woodbridge still
gazed dreamily into the glowing cinders, and
Mrs. Keturah's knitting needles clicked with
electric speed.
That mortgage bothers me it bothers me,'
he murmured almost plaintively. "Well, I
s'pose it ain't no use frettiri," but I thought
to live and die in the old place where my
father did afore me. The Lord's will be done,
though. . Somehow things hain't prospered
with me I don't seem to get along."
You'd ha' got along well enough, I guess,"
responded Keturah, who belonged super-eminent
ly to that class of people known as "Job's
comforters," "if you'd only looked after your
p's and q's as I tell you. i ou always was too
free handed, and now you see what it's brought
ye tew."
"Well, well, Keturah, we never did think
alike on some things," returned the old man.
"Let's talk upon a pleasanter subject: What
do you think about your school ma'am's mar
rying young Mr. Hardwiche to-morrow ?
Didn't I always tell you that Jessie Moreton
was born to be a lady 7 I may be unlucky
myself, but anyhow, I'm glad to hear of little
Jessie's luck."
You'd a great deal hotter keepyour sympa
thy for yourself," growled Keturah. "What's
other folks luck to you, I'd like to know!
There some one's knocking at the door see
who it is."
It was a little note brought by one of tbe
school boys, under Jessie's care. Where's
my glasses 1 can't see as well as I could
once. Shove the candle this way, will you,
Ketury?" And fitting his brass bowed spec
tacles upon bis nose, tbe old man unfolded
tbe note and read, in Jessie's delicate chirog
raphy :
"Do not let that mortgago disturb your
Christmas Day, to-morrow, dear father Wood
bridge; Uardwiche will send you the papers
soon, to destroy. This is Jessie's Christmas
present. I have not forgotten those -golden
pippins' nor all tbe other kindnesses."
Aha, wife!" said the old man smiling and
trying to brush away, unseen, tbe big tears
that would come, "what do you think of my
investments now ?"
Keturah's reply was neither elegant, nor,
strictly speaking, grammatical, but it was sig
nificant. She said simply
"Well, I never I"
It is s most fearful fact to think of, ihat in
every heart there is some secret spring that
would be weak at the touch of temptation,
and that is liable to be assailed. Fearful and
yet salutary to think of; for the thought may
serve to keep our moral nature braced. It
warns us that we can never stand at ease, or
lie down in this field of life, without sentinels
of watchfulness, and camp-fires of prayer.
In all matters except a little matter of the
tongue, a woman can generally bold ber own.
COFFEE AND ITS CULTURE.
The Coffee tree originated in Arabia, and it
is said, that from a plant brought as a curiosity
to tbe Royal Gardens of France a century and
a half ago, a few offshoots were sent to the
West Indies. Now these islands produce tbe
greater part of the world's supply. About fifty
years ago, a ;Padre," or the priest, obtained
and planted a few coffee seeds in his garden at
Costa Rica, and for twenty years it was only
considered as a curiosity, but now it is so ex
tensively cultivated there that it is the chief
article of export, and constitutes the main
source of individual and national wealth. It
is being rapidly introduced into other Central
American States, indeed, in San Salvador I
saw the finest plantations, though everywhere
its cultivation was of a negligent kind. From
this charge, however, I must except the Amer
ican Consul, Dr. Iline, whose plantation of 200
acres near San Jose de Costa Rica was well
kept, and though youug, was a charming sight.
Its cultivation is a beautiful and pleasant
employment. It succeeds best among the fine
airy highlands, where the climate is temperate
and healthy through the year. In itself, it is
remarkably beautiful, having a luxuriance of
dark, glossy, evergreen foliage. ' When the
blossoms, in their seasons, white as the new
fallen snow, cover the whole trees and when
tbe ripened crop loads the branches with dark
red clusters, there is a richness and brilliancy
unparalleled by any cultivated plant. It is
a profitable employment, too. Even as it is
conducted by the Costa Ricans, the returns
from four crops usually repay the whole in
vestment with interest. - : ,
-Almost universally it is raised from seed,
very much as a nurseryman does his apple
trees. When tho plants are six inches high,
they aie removed from the seed bed, and set
out nine inches apart, and kept clear of weeds
for a year. Then they are taken up and plan
ted in their permanant positions, varying from
four to nine feet apart. When two years old,
if very vigorous, they begin to bear; but a
full crop is obtained the fourth year. A plan
tation should, if properly pruned and cultiva
ted, continue in good bearing for twenty five
or thirty years, but in the majority of cases
which 1 saw, tbe trees were ready for the wood
pile when ten years old.
In December and January, the crop is gath
ered. - The wet season is thee passed, and a
uniform dry season may be depended on. Wo
man and children are almost all employed in
the picking, and a busy time it is. The ber
ries are thrown into large vats of water, and
well stirred with paddles moved either by hand
or machinery, until the grains are in part sepa
rated from their external coatings. The mass
is then allowed to stand in the water for a day
or two, until an incipient fermentation takes
place, which decomposes the gluten, etc., and,
it is claimed, improves the flavor of the coffee.
It is then taken from the vats and spread upon
cement floors, which are a permanent and im
portant part of the arrangements of a cotiee
estate, sometimes covering an acre or more of
ground. Here the coffee is frequently stirred,
and in the course of HI teen or twenty days, is
sufficiently dry to be housed. In some cases,
especially among foreign cultivators, I found
kilns in use to facilitate the drying. The next
process is to remove and separate the particles
of bull, etc., which still adhere to the grain.
This is accomplished by a rubbing process.
Various machines are in use for tbis purpose,
more or less efficient, acording to the means
or the intelligence of tbe operators. Yankee
inventions have already been introduced, which
reduces the cost of cleansing from 1 cents to
I of a cent per pound. After this, the refuse
and dust are removed by winnowing, and it is
ready for sale. When, however, it reaches the
warehouse of the merchant it is picked over,
grain by grain, and all the imperfect ones are
bulled out.
Athletic Sports and Exebcises, for a
whole generation past, have gone too much
into disjiso. Our youth lack muscle, vigor
and strength. A pitny race of youth are grow
ing up with spindle shanks, broomstick arms
and sunken chests. Scarcely one of our young
men of the present day could run a spirited
race of fortyods without getting tbe heaves
for life, or jump six feet on a level without
wrenching himself terribly. Spirit and cour
age are not lacking, but it would all be ineffec
tive in the hour of trial for want of muscle and
good wind. The too prevalent bodily weak
ness among the men of our times predisposes
to disease and early decay. The mind is apt
to share the frailty of tbe body and little old
young men, already fallen into "the sere and
yellow leaf," at a time of life when tLey ought
to Le in the prime and glorious strength of
manhood, are a necessary consequence. In
this free, open, unfenccd country ; in tbis land
of spread eagles and fourth of July's, the na
tive American ought to be the most vigorous
and athletic meu in the world. Let them play
cricket, then, and wrestle and pitch quoits and
run races and fence and ride horshack aud
skate ; and let the girls practice archery and
driving hoop, and riding and skating and dan
cing. Nothing is better than dancing if not
carried too far into the "small hours." It is
a natural and delightful exercise and has been
practiced by all nations time immemorial.
Under the exhilarating stimulus of music,
every fibre of the body comes gracefully and
joyously into play in the saltatory art, and is
scarcely wearied with hours of hearty exer
tion. Daneing is vastly more agreeable and
healthful to take than blisters and leeches and
pills. Ho who decries this healthful and in
nocent exercise would switch a gray squirrel
for his nimble antics, and be angry at the bob
olink because be don't sing psalms instead of
his merry, mad roundelay. While the world
is alive, let us be alive with it. When tbe
spring season and the genial sun calls out the
beauties and gaieties of animated Nature, let
us not annul her decrees and veil ourselves In
sackcloth and sprinkle our beads with tbe ash
es of misery and despair; but with gratitude
for all our benefits let us enjoy them while we
may, heartily and thankfully.
A couple of travelers stopping at tbe Hotel
Francais, in the city of Cordova, tbe capital
of the Argentine Confederation, were surpris
ed and amused by noticing on tbe bill of fare,
"Eggs on horseback." Determined to know
what it meant, they called for tbe equestrian
dish, when it was steak with two eggs on the
top.
' In tbe historical collection at the palace at
Berlin tbere.are two cannon balls, each, with
one side flattened, said to have been fired by
opposite parties at tbe siege of Magdeburgb,
and to bare met together in the air.
APPALLING PHENOMENA AT SEA. .
Old sailors accustomed to ocean life within
the tropics, have many startling stories to tell
of dangers incurred from sudden and unlooked-for
tempests, but we never read anything
quite equal to the following description of a
storm caused by a volcanic eruption. It is
given as a true narrative in the Western Chris
tian Advocate, by D. C. Wright t
It was a night of pitchy darkness. At four
bells in the first watch not a breath of air was
moving, and the drenched rails, wet by the
afternoou aud evening rains, hung. heavily
from the yards or flapped against tbe masts
and rigging as the ship rolled lazily on the
long leaden swells of the Pacific Ocean. A
number of days had passed without an obser
vation of the sun or stars, and they had to run
by "dead reckoning," and were not, therefore,
sure of their latitude or longitude. They
might be nearer danger than they thought.
The captain had gone below at eight bells, but
feeling troubled about the portentous appear
ance of the weather, was unable to sleep, and
was on deck again, walking nervously fore and
aft, now looking on this side and then on the
other side of the quarter deck, looking anx
iously into the darkness; then aft, tht!n at the
compass, and then at the barometer which
hung in the cabingangway. Round and round
went the ship, heedless of her helm, and the
mercury told the same tale it had told for hours
before. In vain did the eyes of anxious men
peer into the darkness ; only inky blackness
met their straining gaze everywhere. Thus
matters stood till six bells, when the mercury
began to fall suddenly. The quick, jerkiug
voice of the captain was then heard. .
"Mr. Smally,you may take in the light sails."
" "Ay, ay, sir ;.' and stepping to the mainmast
he called out, "For'ard, sir. : Stand by the
top-gallant and tbe flying-gib halyards."
In a moment he heard the report, 'Ready,' sir.'
'Let go the halyards and clew down ; let go
the sheet and clew up; that'll do ; belay all;
now jump in and furl them ; be lively, lads."
While this was going on the captain took
another look at the barometer, aud found the
mercury still falling fast. Thoroughly arous
ed now, be caught bis speaking-trumpet from
the beckets, and sung out ''Hold on, there ;
down from aloft, every man of you ; call all
bands." Down came the men again.
All hands ahoy," was called with great
strength of voice at both the cabin and fore
castle gangways, and then followed one of
those scenes which defies such description as
would make it intelligible to a landsman, but
which any sailor readily undeistands. The
top-sails were closereefed, and a reef taken
in tbe main sail, the gib, and flying-gib, and
all the light sails were furled, and the ship
jnade ready for the expected gale. .But yet
no breath of air had been felt moving, while
an unnatural stillness and heaviness of the at
mosphere was observed by all. Several of tbe
seamen saw a dim, purple streak suddenly ap
pear right ahead ot the ship, and called out,
Here it comes, sir." " Where ?" said the
captain. "Right ahead, sir." "Hard a port
your helm." "Hard a port it is, sii ." Braco
round the yards." "Ay, ay, sir."
The yards braced around, and was got ready
to receive the expected blast on the larboard
tack. That dreadful streak of cloud grew al
most crimson, and there was heard what they
thought was the heavy roar of the coming gale,
and every man seemed to hold his breath
awaiting the' shock. Good men and coura
geous sailors were on that ship's deck, but
they shrunk from tho terrible onslaught like
frightened children. When God speaks in
those fearful storms, His voice is awful to the
ear, and many a strongman has quailed be
fore it. And the storm itself is scarcely
more trying to ones nerves than the moment
beforo it strikes', while the men wait in dread
ful suspense. Thus those men waited till the
minutes lengthened into hours, and the only
change perceptible was in the deepening color
of that lowering cloud of crimson light. At
length eight bells told that four o'clock had
arrived, and daylight was looked for as those
men in the ship with Paul looked for it when
they "wished for day." But the struggling
light of the day seemed only to reveal the
thickness of the darkness to the wondering
vision.
- Just at daylight their ears were stunned by
successive, quick reports, louder than whole
broadsides from a hundred-gun ship ; the
whole heavens were lighted up with a fiery
red light ; the ocean was stirred from her pro
found depth ; great waves, without any visible
cause, ran in the most awful commotion, now
striking together and throwing the white foam
and spray high in the air, then parting, to
meet again in fearful embrace as before ; a
school of sperm whales ran athwart the ship's
bows, making every exertion to escape from
the strangely troubled water; within a few ca
ble lengths of the ship an immense column of
water was thrown mast-head high, and fell i
back again with a roar like Niagara ; a deep,
mournful noise, like the echo of thunder
among mountain caverns, was instantly heard,
and none could tell whence it came ; the noble
ship was tossed and shaken like a plaything.
Great God, have mercy upon us!" cried
officers and men. r "What is this? What is
coming next 1 Is it the day .of judgment ?"
Tbe royal Psalmist described them accurate- !
ly : "They reel to and fro and stagger like
a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.'-,
Soon the mystery was solved," when fight
before their eyes, about one league from them,
there arose therough sides of a mountain out
of the yielding water, and reared its head in j
the air ; then from its summit flames burst
forth, and melted lava ran like a river down
the declivity, and fell like a flame into tbe
seething ocean. It was a birth throe of na
ture, and an island was born which was miles
in circumference.
Two years afterward I sailed right over that
place, but the placid water gave no intimation
that an island had been there ; yet no man has
said that he saw the death and burial of that
land whose birth' I have thus chronicled.
"They that go down to the sea in ships, that
do business in the great waters ; these see tbe
works of the Lord,and his wonders in the deep.'
We see it stated that a liquid which will
color tbe human bair black, and not stain the
skin, may be made by taking one part of bay
rum, three parts of olive oil, and one part of
good brandy, by measure. Tbe bair must be
washed by this mixture every morning, and
in a short time the use of it will make the bair
a beautiful black, without injuring it in tbe
least. The articles must be of tbe best quali
ty, mixed in a bottlo, and always shaken well
before being applied. - '
MESS AGE FROM THE GOVERNOR.
The following message was delivered to tbe
Legislature on Tuesday the 9th of April. Af
ter being read in both houses, committees of
conference were appointed with instructions
to report by bill on the subject as early as
practicable:
To the Senate and lloust of Representative of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania :
Gentlemen : As the period fixed for the
adjournment of the Legislature is approaching,
I feel constrained by a sense of duty to call
your attention to the condition of the military
organization of the State. ,
It is scarcely necessary to say more than that
the milita system of the State, during a long
period distinguished by tbe pursuits of peace
ful industry exclusively, has become wholly
inefficient, and the interference of the Legisla
ture is required to remove its deficits, and to
render it useful and available to tho public
.service. .
Many of our volunteer companies do not
possess the number of men required by our
militia law, and steps should be forthwith ta
ken to supply these dificiencies. There are
numerous companies, too, that are without
the necessary arms ; and of the arms that are
distributed, but few are provided with the
more modern appliances to render them ser
viceable. .
. , I recommend, therefore, that tbe Legisla
ture "make immediate provision for the remov
al of these capital defects ; that arms be pro
cured and distributed to those of our citizens
who may enter into the military service of the
State ; and that steps be taken to change the
guns already distributed, by the adoption ot
such well known and tried improvements as
will render them effective in tbe event of their
employment in actual service.
In tbis connection I recommend the estab
lishment of a Military Bureau at the capital ;
and that the militia law of the Commonwealth
be so modified and amended as to impart to the
military organization of the State, the vitality
and energy essential to its practical value and
usefulness. , ,
Precautions, such as I have snggested, are
wise and proper at all times, in a Government
like ours ; but special and momentous consid
erations, arising from the condition of public
affairs outside of the limits, yet of incalculable
consequence to the people, and demanding
the gravest attention of the Legislature of
Pennsylvania, invest the subject to which
your action is invited by this communication,
with extraordinary interest and importance.
We cannot be insensible to tbe fact that seri
ous jealousies and divisions distract the pub
lic mind, and that, in portions of this Union,
the peace of the country, if not the safety of
the Government itself, is endangered. Mili
tary organizations of a formidable character,
and which seem not to be demanded by any
existing public exigency, have been formed in
certain of the States. On whatever pretexts
these extraordinary military preparations may
have been made, no purpose that may contem
plate resistance to the enforcement of the laws,
will meet sympathy or encouiagement from
the people of this Commonwealth. Pennsyl
vania yields to no State in her respect for, and
her willingness to protect, by all needful guar
antees, tbe constitutional rights and constitu
tional independence, of her sister States, nor
in fidelity to that constitutional Union whose
unexampled benefits have been showered a
like upon herself and tbem.
Tbe most exalted public policy and the
clearest obligations ofjtrue patriotism, there
fore, admonish us, in the existing deplorable
and dangerous crisis of affairs, that our militia
system should receive from the Legislature
that prompt attention which public exigencies,
either of the State 8r the Nation, may appear
to demand and which may seem, in your wis
dom, best adapted to preserve and secure to
the people of Pennsylvania and the Union tbe
blessing of peace and tbe integrity and stabil
ity of our unrivalled constitutional govern
ment. Tbe government of this great State was es
tablished by its illustrious founder "in deeds
of peace ;" our people have been trained and
disciplined in those arts which lead to the
promotion of their own moral and physical de
velopment and progress, and with the highest
regard for the rights of others, have always
cultivated fraternal relations with the people
of all the States devoted to the Constitution
and the Union, and always recognizing tbe
spirit of concession and compromise that un
derlies the foundation of the government,
Pennsylvania offers no counsel, and takes no
action In the nature of a menace ; ber desire
is for peace, and her object, the preservation
of the personal and political rights of citizens,
of tbe true sovereignty of States, and the su
premacy of law and order.
Animated by these sentiments, and indulg
ing an earnest hope of tbe speedy restoration
of those harmonious and friendly relations be
tween the various members of this Confedera
cy Which have brought our beloved country
to a condition of unequalled power and pros
perity, I commit the grave subject of this
communication to your deliberation.
Ilarrisbnrg, April 9, 1861. A. G. Curtain.
A Model Community. The Choctaw nation
would seem to be a model community, and
one furnishing an example which should excite
all emulation. All lands, it is said, are held
in common, and each Indian, or those con
nected with him by affinity or consanguinity,
settles down, and nobody is allowed to come
nearer than a quarter of a mile of this enclo
sure; that is bis claim, and be is protected in
his possession by the laws of tbe nation, as
though it were his in fee simple. Merchants,
mechanics, professional men, machinists, &c,
are allowed to live there by permit from the
Council, but no one is allowed to produce any
thing more than is necessary for the use of
himself and family outside of his trade or pro
fession. Not a drop-of spirituous liquors is
allowed to be given away, or transported
through the Nation ; and all that is found by
the officer is poured out, and if found in any
wagon, water-craft, or on horse back, the
whole establishment is confiscated to the use
of the nation.
On one of tho ferry-boats that ply between
Newport and Cincinnati, are two Irish labor
ers. One of them, Pat, is humpbacked. Tbe
other day, Mickey ,'after eyeing Pat's deformi
ty awhile, said, "Pat, if yer bead wur turned
round tbe other way, begorra an'- what a fine
full chest ye'd bav I"
Tbe Ducbess of 'Kent, motber of Queen Vic
toria, died on tbo 16th ultimo.
A STRANGE STOET.
"A young gentleman resided with bis wid
owed mother and two sisters in the near neigh
borhood of Bristol, England. He was in easy
circumstances, respected, well, in fact, to do
in the world and moreover engaged to be
married very shortly. Under such a state of
things, there was nothing likely to be preying
upon bis mind, but be was of rather delicate
health and nervous temperament. One mor
ning he came down to breakfast, looking pale,
ill, and altogether much agitated. His moth
er and sisters anxiously and eagerly inquired
the Cause. At first he assured them that noth
ing was tbe matter, but upon bis mother and
sisters more urgently pressing him, be con
fessed that be had a dream which disturbed
and troubled him. I ought to have stated bo
held some position in tbe cathedral was a
minor cannon,'or something of that sort and
he said that he had dreamed be was in the ves
try there, and looking over tbe register, when,
latest among tho entries of bmial. be bad read
liia own name, age, aud all correct. There
was no mistake ; the writing was all clear,
fresh and legible. Well, they laughed at him,
and rallied him, and though he was evidently
much impressed with what he had seen, after
the lapse of day or two he shook off bis dejec
tion, and was the same as ever. Then again
he appeared a second time at the breakfast-table
in the same style of nervousness only this
time worse than before. ' Again he was pres
sed, and again it was a dream that troubled
him. He bad been walking, he said, over tbo
cathedral with some one, and they had been
surprised by the sight of a new monument in
a most out-of-the-way and unusual place over
the vestry door : they stopped to read it it
was his own I This time it was a worse matter
than before to conquer his nervous anxiety
but just as the family thought him shaking off
the effects of bis second dream, be one evening
rushed into tbe bouse in a state bordering up
on frenzy, and calling out, "Where is it f
Where are they 1 What have they done with
it ?" dropped down in sheer exhaustion and
terror. As soon as he could answer their ques
tions, be told them that they were at that mo
ment in the house with two men with a coffin
a most remarkable one, covered with red mo
rocco, thickly studded vith brass nails, and
with bis name on it that they had entered the
door the moment before himself, and brushed
by him in the lane as he stood against the wall
to allow them and their ghastly burden to pass,
when he bad distinctly seen that the coffin was
meant for himself, and so pursued tbem into
the house. No such person could be seen or
beard of. No snch coffin bad been made. It
was quite light in a summer evening, and a.
public road. No soul but himself bad seen
the men or the coffin much less touched it
it seemed a delusion of the brain. However
as he pressed it, every means were taken by
his family, and large rewards offered for any
information, as they rightly thought reason
and life depended upon dispelling tbe halluci
nation. It was not to be ! From the bed to
which they carried him he never rose again.
A few days only of feverous excitement elaps
ed, and he was dead ! The family in their
deep distress could attend to no matters of
business or money. The undertaker, to whom
tbe funeral was entrusted, sent home the most
expensive coffin for bis own sordid ends but
it was, 8 1 range to say, covered with red morocco,
and studded all over with brass nails, the name
of course being conspicuous among tbem.
This might have been the working but of tha
delusion, from its coming to the ears of those
among whom previous inquiry bad been
made. But, the fact of the monument needed
further interpretation, for, the clergy belong
ing to the cathedral, wishing to show every
respect, without consulting the family of the
deceased, resolved to put up a tablet to bis
memory, and to their intense surprise bit
friends most unexpectedly found a monument
erected in the very unusual place be bad da
scribed as its situation in bis dream."
Too Shaep for him. Professor Johnson, of
Middleton University, was one day lecturing
before the students of Mineralogy. He had
before him a number of specimens of various
sorts to illustrate his subject. A roguish stu
dent, by sport, sly!' slipped a piece of brick
among the stones. The Professor was taking
up the stones one after another and naming
them.
"This," said he, "is a piece of granite ; this
is a piece of feldspar,"
Presently he came to the bickbat. With
out betraying any surprise, or even changing
bis tone of voice,
. "This." said he, holding in up, "is a piece
of impudence."
There was a shout of laughter, and the stu
dent concluded he had made little by the trick.
An English paper says that a young damsel
who is engaged and will shortly be united to a
gallant son of Neptune, lately visited the Mar
iners Church. During tbe sermon the parson
discoursed eloquently and with much earnest
ness of the dangers and temptations of tbe
sailor. He concluded by asking, "Is there
ono who thinks anything of him who wears a
tarpaulin bat and blue jacket, or a pair of
trowsers, made of duck 7 In short, is there
one who cares aught for the poor sailor?" . A
little girl, a sister of tbe damsel, jumped np,
and looked archly at ber sister, said, in a tone
loud enough for all to hear, "Yes, sir, our
Becky does."
The prettiest female equestrian in New
York is A gambler's daughter. She rides
well, "behaves" modestly, and sometimes
"goes it alone." She can be seen any Wed
nesday or Saturday now in the Park, and, tbe
N. Y. iTir says, may be known as easily
from all competitors as diamonds can from
brass rings. .
The following is the inaugural message of
Mayor Moody, of Belfast Maine: "Gentlemen
of the City Council, I presume that those who
voted for me on Monday last, knew that I was
not a talking man but a working man, and now,
gentlemen, I am here ready to go to work.
They tell a story abont a Yankee tailor dun
ning a man for the amount of h,is bill. The
man replied "I am sorry, very sorry, Indeed,
that I can't pay it." "Well," said the tailor,
I took you for a man that would be very sor
sy but if you are sorrier than I am, I'll quit."
If you have gTeat talents, industry will
prove them, If moderate abilities, industry
will supply their deficiencies. Nothing is
denied to well-directed labor ; nothing is ever
to be attained without It.
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