rr4 "WE CO WHERE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES POINT THE WAY', WHEN" THEY CEASE TO LEAD, WE CEASE TO FOLLOW. BY JOHN G. GIVEN. EBENSBURG, THURSDAY. JULY IS, 1S50. VOL. 0 NO. 11 A I r r J v v MISCELLANEOUS. WHO IS SHE? BY ELLEN ASIITON. Mary Murray, you say and, pray, who is she?" These words .were addressed by one young lady to another, in reference to an acquaintance to whom one of them had just bowed. "Who? The daughter of Widow Mur ray. A dear, sweet, amiable girl as ever lived la Mary, too you ought to know her." "I'd rather not," said the first speaker, with a toss of the head. "The daughter ot wiaow Murray, who keeps a petty thread and-needle store! Why, the next thing will be to associate with one's kitch en maids." "But, in this country, Emma, it is merit that makes the rank," replied the other. "Here, you know, we have no aristocracy. Mary Murray is more beautiful, more ac complished, and more amiable, too, than half my school mates." "Well, I can tell you one thing, if you keep up your acquaintance with her, you will be cut by all genteel people. Do you think the Livingstons, Harrisons, and Lawrences will come to your parties if they are to meet shop girls there? "They can do as they please," replied Kate Villiers, with spirit. "But one thing is certain, I shall not give up Mary for them, as I like her for herself and not her 'ancestors. Besides, for all I know, she may be as well born as they are; I never thought to inquire." Just at this moment a handsome young man, riding a beautiful horse, passed, and made a bow to the young ladies. The first speaker was all blushes at this public notice from one of the richest and most fashionable men in the city. "Dear me," said she, "how glad I am he did not see you speak to that Miss Murray! He would never have noticed either of us again." Kate Villiers curled her pretty lip in scorn, as she replied. "Fran. Hastings is too sensible to be affect by such a thing, I fancy. But, if his not, he is only the more to be pit ied." And warming with natural indig nation, she continued. "It vexes me be yond patience to see people, in this coun try, talking of the gentility of their fami lies, when, out of a hundred, there is scarcely one that is not descended, and at no great distance, from some honest me chanic or respectable farmer. Take our richest families! A century ago they were poor, while the real old gentry of tnat day are now generally beggared. Who was Astor? A poor German lad. Who was Girard? A French cabin boy. What was Abbot Lawrence once? A Yan kee ivood-diopper. So, too, our great statesmen, Clay, Webster, and Benton, all rose from nothing. We ought to ask, not who a person's ancestors were, but what they are themselves." A few days after, as Kate and her ac quaintance were . walking together, they met Miss Murray, who, unconscious of offence, stopped to converse with Iate. Emma was evidently uneasy, the more so as her keen eye detected Frank Hastings promenading down the street toward them. Politeness, kept her stationary, for a mo ment, but, as he drew nearer, the disgrace of being seen with the daughter of a "thread and needle woman," as Emma called Mrs. Murray, proved too strong for iicr courtesy, and she abruptly broke away and went into a store, pretending a wisn to purchase some ribbon. Frank Hastings, meantime, came saun tering idly down the street, and only per ceived Kate when close upon her. "Good morning," he said, bowing, his ey attracted by Miss Murray's pleasing iace. viu : you take , pity on an idler miss v Uliers, and allow me to accompany you in your walk: ' Kate, who was eagerly engaged, and to a iriena, answered frankly, for she and Hastings' were almost as intimate as brother and sister. "I shall be pleased if you will. Only you must be very agreeable, for my friend and I are used to having sense talked to ys, and, if you don't acquit yourself cred itably, we shall black ball you, as you say at the club, the next time you ask for permission to walk with us." Frank, however, needed no incentive to induce him to talk his best; for the sweet countenance of Mary, ivhich cvery emotion of the heart was reflected, was in spiration enough. They stopped at last, at Mrs. Murray's httle store. Frank looked with some sur prise at the humble appearance of tic swelling; but this did not prevent his w io ftiary being deeply respectful he-walked oft' with her friend. as "And that charming girl," he said, as sists to support her mother, by standing behind the counter. Do you know, Kale, I was half in love with her before, and now I am entirely so? A wife, such as she would make, is worth having, because worth a dozen of the foolish "votaries of fashion gilded, conceited butterflies like your friend Emma. You must take me to Miss Murray's some evening, and in troduce me regularly." Kate had known Frank too well to suppose he would despise -Mary, . because her mother had been reduced to compara tive poverty; but she had not dreamed for an instant, of his falling in love with her. But now, as she hastily though ovei the good qualities of each, she clapped her hands and cried, "That will I, for you are just suited for each other. We will go to-morrow night." And again, and again Frank went, and af ter the first two interviews, always with out Kate. lie was noble hearted, intel lectual, graceful and refined; and Mary could not long resist the devoted suit he paid to her. Indeed, after some maidenly struggles with her heart, she yielded her self to loving him with all the depth of her pure, yet ardent nature. Frank was too sensible to regard the mere accessories of fortune. Perhaps, indeed, he loved Mary the better for her poverty. He could never have entertained an affection for her, if she had not been amiable and intelligent; nor, perhaps, even if her parents had been unworthy; but all things else he considered comparatively indifferent. Himself accustomed, from his earliest years, to fashionable society, he knew its exact value; and he was ac customed to say that "worth, not wealth was what he sought in a wife.". Mary, on her part, loved Frank for lus frankness, intelligence and generous qual ities, and -not for his fortune. "I would rather remain, single," she said, "than marry for wealth." About three months after the day on which our story opens, Kaie Villiers called on her old school mate Emma. "Who do you think is going to be mar ried?'' she said. "You give it up? Well. Frank Hastings and Mary Murray." "What!'' exclaimed Emma, pale with mortification, for she had herself assidu ously sought Frank's notice, "not Frank Hastings and that "thread and needle wo man's daughter?" "Yes! and a happy couple they will make. Mary will now have the wealth she is so well fitted to adorn." "1 shan't visit her," said Emma pettish ly. "She's a nobody. If Mr. Hastings chooses to disgrace himself, let him; but he'll find out the 'old families' won't rec ognize his acquaintance." "Pshaw!" said Kate contemptuously. "You know better. Mr. Hastings is, himself, a member of one of the few 'old families' we have; and being such, is above all the ridiculous notions of the mere lparveiue.' It happens, too, that Mary has 'good blood, as you would call it. She is the grand-daughter of a signer of the Declaration, an American patent of nobility, I take it, if we have any at all." "Then it is on that account he marries her," was the splenetic reply. "No he never knew it till he asked her to hare him. Her virtues and accom plishments won his heart, and they alone." In due time Frank and Mary were married, Kate being led to the altar on the same day. Emma has learnt a lesson, and since then, inquires less superciliously about a new acquaintance. HOW SMITHERS GOT EVEX WITH THE GIRLS. BY A CORRESPONDENT OF THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES. A friend of mine, rejoicing in the sou briquet of Smithers a quiet, steady, sel dom -Jaughing subject was on terms of in timacy, and had been visitinrr some voun" ladies, who were residing and keening house, in the upper part of the city, just below "upper tendom," and not quite among the plebians of the "the lower ten thousand." These young ladies, three in number, were all bonne vivants, and had their larder always stored with the choicest dainties of the season, they were hospitable and generous, generous to a fault; but, as becoming all good house wives they were wont to economise, not so much with a view of savimr, as from the holy horror that had possession of them of never wasting anything which could be converted into any possible use. I men tion this fact that their actions, which I am about to relate, may not be construed into motives of mcancss. Well, thev had been for the last two! calendar months playing my friend Smith ers every variety ol tricks from the tri fling act of sewing his overcoat sleeves, to the cruel information extended to his washerwoman when she had his full sup ply of linen, "that just to oblige them, to leave word that she had moved, and as Mr. S. had gone outof town, there would be no necesity of taking home, his clothes for two weeks" all of which he had borne with the resignation of a martyr, quietly biding his time to turn the tables, and return some of the favors so lavishly bestowed. The time did come and it was on the evening before the first of April, "All Fool's Day." Ho went up to the young ladies to spend the evening, when as usual, among the variety cf subjects discussed, eating became a topic upon which they "waxed warm," and one of the young ladies jokingly asked S. if he wounldn.t come the next day to help them crack eggs as she had been half the morn ing thus agreeably employed; "for" said she, "we are to have our re-union to-morrow night, and you know we always make our own cake." A sudden idea struck Smithers he saw his way as clear as noon-day, and had his plans laid in an instant. "That reminds me of what I heard a day or two since, pray, what do you do with the shells?" said he, in a somewhat negligent manner. "Do with them? why throw thorn away of course." "That's foolish ? don't you know that you can dispose of them at a very good price?" said S. in as methodistical a man ner as possible. "Indeed!" replied the younger. "Yes; I saw a man a day or two ago who said that he was engaged in the "Egg shell business" that he collected them from many families -y?o saved them for him andfor which 2ie paid either 1G or IS cents a hundred, I now forget which." "Well, well, if this isn't an age of im provement! Nothing is wasted now-a-days I declare, I shouldn't wonder if some Mte' of the school does not in vent some process by which beach sand may be converted into a healthy and fat tening nutriment but tell me what use can possibly be made of egg shells?" "Necessity" that respected "parent of invention," came to Smithers relief, and he gravely replied "That was the peculiarity that struck me, and I asked him the same question. Why, said he, it is quite a common busi ness in Ireland, where 1 came from. I use them for manufacturing purposes, but gs yet have not been able to collect suffi cient for my wants, and I would thank you to save for mo all you use at your house, and I will call around for them." "Did you ever!" they ejaculated, like so many Aminidab Sleeks. Their imaginations were 'maleable' and S.,took the opportunity to shape them to ' suit himself. J "I told him I was no housekeeper, but if he would leave his address I would men tion to my friends he did so, and pro- ! mised to call on me .again in a day or two. Now, girls if you wish, I will tell him to call on you." "Thank you, wc can just as well 'save' them as throw them away. You would scarce believe how many we use. Six teen cents a hundred! Why, girls, quite an accession to our pin money." The girls of course concurred, and El len, the house maid was forthwith' direc ted to consecrate a barrel for the purpose. The next day S. wrote as Irish a look ing note as can be imagined, purporting to come from one "James Farnly, of Blumming dale' to state that he was "cumming doon in a foughtnite, or there about, and would do himself the plashur of waithn on the ladies for their shells." Two weeks passed, aye, three weeks had gone by three full barrels of ew shells had been the rich harvest, yetno e shell dealer .nade his appearance! The weather was growing warm, and they began to create an cflluvia that could not possibly be mistaken for "mille flour," when Smithers drew up a document pur porting to come from the Health Warden of the Ward, giving them an official notice "that in accordance with an affidavit filed in this (II. W.'s) office" a copy of which, duly attested, was annexed, "their pre mises had become a nuisance to their neighbors, & that if the cause be not remo. ved immediately it wo'd be done by the ci ty officers, and chargedto them, together with a penalty of fifty dollars by law made and provided." The affidavit was to the effect that the 'deponent living next to, and adjoining the premises occupied by the Misses , is annoyed by a gross ly offensive odor arising from their cellar, which this deponent believes is produced by a large deposit of egg shells, : and if not removed, disease of a violent charac ter will be the inevitable result." Added to this, several signatures and an enormous seal, gave the document a decidedly formidable appearance; it struck to their young hcatts. It was passed from one to tho other, and each read with j trembling voice that they had been com plained of as a "nuisance" tothe neigbor hood. What was to be done? The 'com mittee of the whole," after mature delibe ra tion finally decided that a cartman be hirc4to take thcin away by night, and dump them in the dock; the eldest of the young ladies was appointed a committee to wait on the Heealth Warden, and en deavor to convince him of the mistake made. Down she wended her way to the City Hall; got into cvery office but the one in search of. The right one finally reached, the much dreaded "official" mildly replied to her polite invitation "to come and see, and smell for himself." that he was'ignorant of it all, and that "no such paper as the one described ever came from his office." In an instant the glaring truth flashed across her mind; she and her sisters in simplicity had been the vic tims of a cruel hoax, and that too, by that smooth-face, methodistical Smithers! Feeling somewhat confused, she made an apology for the intrusion, and, as the door closed behind her, she fancied she heard a roar oriaughter proceed from the office; who was the cause of the mirth did not occur toher at the moment it might have been her but the thought was too lacera ting to lolerate. When she came home, all the girls came running down stairs to know the re sult. The "committee of one" reported in words to wit: "Girls, we have been regularly taken in and done for, it's all a shameful houx!" All wossoon explained and too easily un derstood; but they were determined not to let Smithers know to what "extent" they had contributed to humbug them selves, so concluded to tell him that they had understood the ruse from the com mencement, and didn't even keep a shell. They told him this, but it was no go; like a good general he had his spies out, and knew their every move, and had the in humanity to tell them all they had ever done from the beginning. There was no resisting it.it was too palpable, they had to laugh with him, and at t hemselves, un fortunately but the worst of the joke was, that rascal 'Smithers told it to all their acquaintance, who whenever they met them, burst out irao such a sidesplit ting La! ha! ha! that the poor girls wished, from the bottom of their hearts, that all feminine roosters had emigrated the pre ceding year to California, where they couid have "shelled out," to the tune of a dozen, thus leaving three products beyond their reach and annoyance. ME PHILADELPHIA CONFLAGRATION. Philadelphia, July 10, 11 A.bM. One ol the most destructive fires that has ever occurred in this city was witness ed yesterday afternoon and evening. It first broke out at 21 o'clock P. M., in the 1th Avenue, occupied for storage purposes. When discovered it had made consid erable headway. The flames soon spread in every direction. In a very short time it extended westward to Water street, and spreading north and south from near Race to Callowhill. Three terrific explosions originated, as is supposed' from 1000 bags of saltpetre, stored in Brook's Warehouse in Delaware Avenue. . Delaware" Avenue was completely filled with a mass human beings, among whom were several hundred firemen. The first explosion did not seem to cause much excitement or fear with the mass, nor did the second, except some slight fears of saftty, when they moved towards the castermost edge o f the wharves. The third explosion, however, was fatal in many cases, and proved the death of men, women and children. On Delaware Avenue and Water street, the scene was frightful. When the third and last explosion of saltpetre occurred, the rush for life was terrific. Men, boys, firemen and bystand ers rushed away from the ruinous confla gration, and endeavored to get beyond the reach of danger. Hundreds rolled over each other while running and jumping up on the large quantity of merchandize on the wharf. SeveraPpersons were knocked down as if dead, and hundreds ran over them, causing legs and arms to be broken, in the fright some of them were thrown into the Delaware, and a large number jumped in voluntarily, to shield themslvcs from the bricks and cinders thrown from the burning stores. The three stores above mentioned, wore owned by John 'Brock, and were occupied by Ridgeway & Budd, Flour merchants. From Delaware Avenue, property has been destroyed, the enumeration of which occupies a column of the morning papers, ami the details of suffering and "sickness are distressing. Amongst them are the following: The remains of a woman, two boys :uid two gills, were taken to the N. E. Polite tta tion house. They were r ho kin:: speeti- clcs. One of the girls, 1 1 years old, was recognized as a Miss Drake. A woman, burnt almost to a eiisp, was taken to a drug store and died soon alter, in the greatest agony. Wc learn that a daughter of James Al exander had her head blown oil. A little girl was picked up from the gut ter with her arm blown off. A number of infants, sonic of them not 3 mouths old, was shockingly burnt. We saw one of these children, with the moth er, pulled by the firemen from the ruins of a building partially demolished. There are supposed to be at least thirty' killed. Some ten more will 'probablv number of wounded about one hundred. Judging from the extent of the ground covered by the conflagration and the value of the property consnmcd, wc venture to compute the losses at FOUR MILLIONS. At-all events, it is the most extensive fire that ever happened in our city. No praise can do justice to the conduct of the firemen. Their feats of daring eli cited bursts of applause. The arms of the Vigilant, which at the time held a most perilious position, were knocked off. and the Southwark hose was nearly buried. A member of the United Stales Engine saved his life by a bold feat at Knight's iron store. We might go on filling a column with incidents. m The fire companies of Camdan, West Philadelphia, Frankfort, Manayunk and ticrmantown responded to the alarm, and reached the conflagration in time to render important services. The U. S. Marines from the navy yard were on the ground and rendered good service. - The city and county police were very efficient. Houses were set on fire at the distance f six squares, and it was only by the constant wetting of the roofs that they were saved. The firemen deserve credit for prevent ing the flames from crossing Second street. At 1 o'clock this morning, when wc left the scene, the fire had been got com pletely under control by the firemen, and there appeared no danger of the flames making further progress. 3 o'clock, A. M. The firemen are still at work. No fur ther spread is anticipated. Further from riiilauclpliia. Philadelphia, July 10, l.i P. M. The Coroner this morning held an in quest over 15 dead bodies, and is still en gaged. Many are so, mangled and charred that their nearest iclatives cannot identify them. A number of persons arc still missing. The scene of the conflagration presents one of the most sickening aspects. The surrounding ruins and the wholly and partially destroyed dwellings, &c, for squares around; the distressed appearance of the sufferers, many of whom have lost cvery thing; the frenzied inquiries for the missing relatives and friends, to say noth ing of the anguish depicted on the counte nances of the bericved, force upon the mind the most melancholy emotions. The City Councils held a melting at noon, and appropriated 810,000 for re lief. No less than 400 houses are destroyed. The several Insurance Companies held a consultation this morning, when it was found their total losses would not exceed half a million. A delegation .of New -York Firemen reached here at noon and are now hard at work. Men qrc engaged in every direction dig ging for dead bodies. THE VERY LATEST. Philadelphia, July 10,9 P. M. After a most diligent enquiry wc have been unable to obtain a complete list of the killed, wounded and missing. From all the information in regard to the most mcl ancholly part of the story of yesterday's disaster, we feel safe in stating the number as follows: Killed 30 Wounded 100 Drowned 9 Missing 17 Total 150 A most painful spectacle was presented at the Cherry street Station House cslcr day evening. A large woman was lying upon the floor in t lie cold embrace of death; he r clothes had been burned oil", and her body bore the horrid marks of the fire, her limbs were drawn up as from ago ny, ami tue painful expression oi her lace told of the suffering which she had experi enced. Bv her side, on a scorched mat tress, three boys were lying, terribly burned. In iTino' iii" 'h.in iliey h;d been rolled together, and in attempting to icp aruto them the chaired fleth ft 11 fioni thru bodies. THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS. Washington, July 10. The Rev. Mr. Butler, Chaplain of th Senate, delivered a most solemn and ap propriate prayer in the House. The II all was filled with sad and anxious faces. After an interval of five minute?, th Speaker took the chair. A Message was then received from Hon. Millard Fillmore, President of th' Senate, which was as follows: "Washington, July 10, 1850. "Fellow cilizeiis of I lie Senate and House, of Representatives: "I have to perform the melancholy duty of announcing to you that it has pleased Almighty Cod to remove from this lil" Zaciiauy Taylok, late President of the United States. He died last evening at the hour of 10 A, in the midst of his fami ly, anJ surrounded by affectionate friend s calmly and in full possession of all his faculties. Among his last words were these, which he uttered with emphatic distinctness: ' have always thac my du ty; I am ready to die. My only regret is for the friends I have behind ;ic.' Having announced to you, fellow-eilizcns, this most afflicting bereavement, and as suring you that it has penetrated no heart with deeper grief than mine, it remain i for mc to say that I propose this day, in the Hall of the House of Representatives, in the presence of both Houses of Con gress, to take the oath prescribed by the Constitution; to enable mc to enter on the . . . . : r.i. .. n- L-.ti.uuua oi me uuiius 01 mc oiuce wiuui lhis event has devolved on me. MILLARD FILLMORE." Mr. Morse, in obedience to the sugges tion contained in the above, moved that the House take a recess till 12 o'clock, at which time the House will be in readiness to receive the Senate and President, who will then take the oath ot office. Mr. Winthrop said it seemed to him that the President having expressed his purpose to be here at 12 o'clock, it would hardly be more than respectful to send a message by a Committee, informing him that the House is ready to receive him. Mr. Morse accepted ihe modification. Mr. Winthrop moved the appointment of a Committee of three to co-operate with such as may be appointed by the Senate. Agreed to. Messrs. Winthrop, Morse and Moor hcad, were appointed the Committee. Recess till 12 o'clock. The. House was called to order at 12 o'clock. A message was received from the Senate, that they had appointed a Committee to wait on the President. On motion of Mr. Ashmun, as the House had previously passed a similai resolution, it was laid on the table. Judge Cranch came into the House, accompanied by Mr. Morse, and took a scat at the Clerk's desk. In a few minutes the Senators entered. The members of the House received them standing. Tho Senators were sealed in the area fronting the Speaker's chair. Every part of the House was crowded. The President of the United States and Cabinet next came in, and were received standing. Mr. Fillmore took a scat at the Cleik's desk, and the Cabinet immediately in front. The Speaker said that the oath of office would now be administered. Accordingly Judge Cranch administered it as laid down in tlic Constitution, and the President, Senate and Cabinet retired. The Message from the President was read as follows: Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives A great man has fallen amongst us, and a whole com munity is called to an occasion of unex pected, deep and general mourning. I recommend to the two Houses of Congress to adopt such measures as in their discretion may seem proper, to per form with due solemnities the funeral ob sequies of Z. Taylor, late President of the United States, and thereby to signify the great and affectionate regard of the American "people for memory of one whose life has boon devoted to the public service; whose career of arms has not been surpassed in usefulness or brilliancy ; who has been so recently raised by the unsolicited voice of the people to the high est civil authority in the government, which he administered with so much hon or and advantage to his country; and by whose sudden . death so many hopes of future usefulness have been blighted for ever. To you, Sen -.1 tors and Representatives of the nation, in tears 1 can sav nothing will alleviate the sorrow with which you are oppressed. I appeal to you to aid mc under the trvini circumstances which ur I'Mind me, in 'lie di-ch uj- ol the du'ie-.
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