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ESTABLISHED 1709.
WASHINGTON ITEMS.
News and Gossip from the Capital.
Washington, December 23.—As the
Committee on Privileges and Elections
already has authority under Mr. Ed
munds’ resolution, and had commenc
ed the Oregon investigation,the Senate
without a quorum and without a divi
sion, passed resolu
tion. which makes the proceedings or
ihe committee in regard to Oregon
special and pointed.
gThe House was in session only twen
ty minutes. No business was done ex-
C ept by unauimous consent.
Monroe, of Ohio, resigned position on
the Committee on the Privileges,
Rights and Duties of the House in re
gard to counting the electoral vote. A
Resolution was adopted calling for
copies of orders under which the ex
penditures of last sessions appropria
tion for Internal Improvement have
been made. Adjourned to Wednesday
next.
Public Printer Clapp says he must
have $350,000 deficiency, or stop.
Nothing done in the Departments to
day.
The action in Florida has made rep
resentatives of Indiana Democracy
happy. They febi sure now Mr. Hen
dricks will be Vice-President.
FROM NEW YORK.
Investigating the Post Office- A Bold
Robbery, etc., etc.
Nkw Yobk, December 23.—Abram S.
fiewitt testified before the Congres
sional Committee this afternoon that he
had no knowledge that his letters were
opened in the New York Post Office,
and he never so stated in the House or
elsewhere. In consequence of anony
mous letters purporting to be from the
Clerk in the New York Post Office, sta
ting that his letters were tampered
with, he found the flaps of some wrin
kled, as if exposed to steam, and
opened. Several persons, who saw the
letters, said they had been opened. They
were shown to Park Goodwin, who
said lie would see Postmaster James
about the matter. The appearance of
the letters were noticed by Gen. Dick
Taylor, and Will. Hale, of Maine, the
day after he made the remarks in the
House. JHis letters came alright,
which he thought significant. Two en
velopes from Illinois and Tennessee
wore produced, which he al
leged were tampered with. He
regarded Col. James a model
official. He never made any com
plaiut to the postmaster, nor took
any action whatever in the matter.
Witness said a gentleman had written
him a confidential note, saying he
would furnish the name of witness.
Postmaster James declined to ask Mr.
Hewitt any questions. James Gayler,
of the city delivery, who superintended
die postoflice here since 1872, was
sworn. The two envelopes referred to
were given him for examination. One
of them looked suspicious, as the mu
cilage appeared to have been put on
with a brush; tho other appeared all
right. It was difficult to tell whether
tho letters had been opened or not,
there being no uniform system of seal
ing. Witness then explained at length
the duties of the various clerks, and
the precautions taken to prevent inter
ference with mails.
In the afternoon the commlltee ex
amined Ancliew Yonmlitj, superintend
ent of out- jf-towu m til i. 11 5 describ
eJ the manner in which packages were
mado up as to Congressional mail.
He said it passes through no hands
till it reaches the Postmaster of the
House. He does not believe that mails
could be tampered with unless by a
conspiracy between ten or fifteen per
sons. which he thinks impossible. The
only important witness called as to
elections was John J. Allen, supervisor
of elections in Brooklyn. His testi
mony is similar to that of the chief
Rupervisovs in Jersey City and New
York. He says both political parties
combined to pi event fraud and were
successfu l .
At 2:30 this morning five men, with
mask:.;, entered the liou.se of Mr. W. L.
Hiller, oomm s.sioii merchant, of No. 35
Broad street, at Ruveuswood, L. 1.,
iii'il proceeded to the bedside or Mr.
Hiller. The latter awoke to llnd a
pistol against his head. There were
ten iumates of the house—three males
and seven females. Tno robbers com
pelled them to go into one room to
gether, pistols being held to the heads
of the men. The robbers then proceeded
to ransack the house and remove
every portable article, Including money,
jewelry, clothing and ornaments. What
they could not carry away they de
stroyed. The mirrors and other valu
able. articles were smashed. For an
hour and a half the robbers remained
in the house, which they gutted from
attic to cellar. The metuuers of the
family iu the meantime were utterly
unable to give the alarm. Mr. Hiller’s
bouse is close to the water, and
the robbers, when they had collected
fhe valuables, carried them to a
boat and lowed away. They did not
even leave their victims necessary
clothing, and young Hiller was com
pelled to go out this morning coatless,
the value of the stolen articles is
about Sd,ooo. They offered no personal
violence to any member of the family,
except to threaten them with death If
any outcry was made. It is thought
they were Sound pirates.
Hugh MeClellaD, clerk, and Wm. H.
Webb, ship buildor, were arrested for
embezzlement or 330,000.
Edward L. Alexander, while jumping
°u an elevated street car, fell to the
ground, and will die.
The City of Berlin brought two hun
dred thonsand dollars In specie.
Minor Telegrams.
New York, Deceuiucr i.3. John I.
Oaveuport testitied before the House
Committee that local authorities aud
federal oflicers had acted harmoniously
nud successfully to prevent fraud iu
'he New York city election. He ac
counted for the large Democratic rua
jority by saying a largo number of Re
publicans must have gone over.
Salem, Or kg on, December 23.— The
democratic State Central Committee
call meetings for the Bth of January
throughout the State. They endorse
the Governor’s action.
Orleans, December 23. —A dis
patch from Homer repoits twenty busi
ne3B houses burned. Loss $150,00U.
Auburn, N. ¥ December 23.—The
tannery at Newark village was burned,
four men perished. Loss 360,000.
Allentown, Pa., December 23. — Rev.
, E.jßrobst, editor of Lutheran Church
woks, is dead.
A distressing case of destitution was
discovered the other day In Baltimore.
A man and his wife, the latter with a
'‘alf-famished baby at her breast, were
mund prostrated with sickness, and in
ne same room the corpses of three
J' ung children starved to death.
2l)c 2tttattsto Constitutionalist
foreign news.
E n ter “ *i ue3t l°u—Wrecks and
. * LlfC ° n lhe En tflish and
Scotch Coast.
London, December 23.-The Times’
erlm correspondent says no second
rate Power haa beea (oLd wllltag“?o
meddle with the Eastern question to
Ire extent of sending troops to garri
son Turkish provinces. K
Many wrecks are reported on tho
Seottish coast from a gale. Sixty' lives
re P°Fted lost. These make S
Lnd f 1 ? °? ‘f 10 east cost ° r Scotland
and England, during the recent gale
fully one hundred and fifty. b ’
l at;est dispatch concerning the
deposition of the Porte is contradic
tory, and military preparations in Rus
sia and Turkey continue.
Loxvos, December 23.—A dispatch
from Constantinople to the Tall MaU
(jazette statss that Misdat Pasha the
newly appointed Grand Vizier, in a’con
versation with the Marquis of Salis
bury, said: “The Turks have decided
to accept no terms giving exclusive
administration to Bulgaria, Bosnia
or Herzegovina. We intend, he
said, giving large reforms to our
subjects, even to the Turks, who, with
you, don’t count. Europe asks us to
cut our throats. We must trouble Eu
rope to do it for us, if they are to be
cut. We came here a small number; if
we go away we go as we came, leaving
England to cover the graves of those
left behind.”
The Times on the Alabama Claims.
London, December 23.—The Times.
in an editorial article on the Alabama
claims, says: “The United States Con
gress is perfectly within its competence
in considering how the surplus money
of the Geneva award shall be appro
priated. The indemnity was paid for
losses which the United States, as a
whole, were held to have sustained, not
what individuals proved to have sus
tained It would be too much, perhaps,
to expect any conscience in a Congress
sensitive enough to inquire whether
the Geneva award was too high, and
consequently that a portion of the un
appropriated balance might be return
ed. We would be sorry to see such a
delicate question raised, interesting as
it would be.”
Paris, December 23.—The senteuces
of sixty-one more Communists have
been remitted or commuted.
FLORIDA.
The Duties of the Canvassing Board
Ministerial Only.
Washington, December 23.—Specials
from Tallahassee show that the Court
holds the duties of the Canvassing
Board to bo simply' ministerial. Ex
tract from the decree: “We must,
therefore, decide that the general na
ture of the power given by the statute
is ministerial, and that, to the extent
that any strictly and purely judicial
power is grauted, such power cannot
exist.” After a minute enquiry as to
the powers of the Board under the
statute, the Court determined as to
their action in certain counties. In
Jackson the Board had re
jected 557 of the votes cast, on the
ground of irregularity and fraud in the
conduct of the election, there being no
plea on the part of the Board that the
return from this county was in itself
false, fradulent or irregular. The
Court decided it to bo the duty of the
Board to count it. The same minute
instructions are given by the Court iu
respect to other counties and precincts
where the Board exercises judicial
power and ignored the face of the re
turns.
The Board Ordered to Recauvass the
Returns.
Tallahassee, December 23.—The Su
preme Court met at 12 m. to-day. The
counsel for the Board withdrew the
motion made yesterday, that he be al
lowed to answer. The Court made the
writ peremptory, and ordered the
Board to recauvass by the 27th inst.,
aud file a report of their action ou that
day, and then took a recess until four
o’clock to make up its record.
THE WESTERN UNION.
The Company Still Determined to Re
sist the Demand of Congress.
Washington, December 23.— The
Tribune publishes, in substance, the
following; “A special meeting of the
Directors of the Western Union Tele
graph Company unanimously adopted
resolutions authorizing the President
to make all proper resistance to the de
mand of Congress or its committees
for private and confidential papers;
also giving managers of the company
power, and directing them to destroy
all original copies as soon as possible
after auditing accounts.” The Tribune
adds: “Some time ago the managers
here were ordered to destroy originals
after six months instead of two years.
This term may bo reduced to four
months, or, if necessary, from thirty
to sixty days.”
Lamar has Neither Sought nor Re
ceived an Oiler of a Position Under
Hayes.
[Special Dispatch to the N. Y. World.l
Washington, December 18.—A quie
tus has at last beeu given to the ru
mors affecting the political integrity of
the Southern Democrats in Congress ;
and the ingenuity expended in this di
rection must now be directed elsewhere.
The only result has beeu to* knit more
closely together those whom the au
thors of these reports hoped to separ
ate. There are no divisions among
the Democrats hero to-day while the
ame can not be said of the Republi
cans. Mr. Lamar, wheu asked by a
friend why he had not given a prompt
denial to the statements that ho was
seeking a Cabinet position under Mr.
Hayes, or had been offered such a po
sition as the price of his influence, said
he had been subjected to attacks of
this kind ev®r since he had been in pub
lic life, and he did not think It worth
his while to run about contradicting
them, and that ho was only surprised
such ’rumors should have fouud any
credence amoDg his friends.
With regard to the proffer of a seat
in the Cabinet, on the part of Mr.
Hayes, he said no such tender had been
made and that if it should be, he would
decline to receive it. If any proposi
tion should be made to him from that
quarter with regard to the settlement
of the Presidential question, he should
at once submit to a caucus of the party.
It is evident now that the Radicals
have been deluding themselves with
the belief that they could alienate the
Southern Democrats from their North
ern allies, and thus make the Hayes
usurpation programme more certain of
success. They have utterly failed in
thie, however, and are despondent in
oonsequence.
THE WHITE FLAG, AT LAST.
PROPOSITIONS FOR A COMPRO
MISE FROM THE REPUBLICAN
LEADERS.
The Force Scheme Disclaimed and
Possibly Abandoned—Effect of the
Attitude of the Taxpayers—All the
Branches of the Anomalous Legisla
ture Adjourned Sine Die— ls “White
Winged Peace” t® Come with Christ
mas ?
[Special Dispatch to the News and Courier.)
Columbia, S. C., Friday night, Decem
ber 22.—The Senate and both the
Mackey and Wallace houses adjourned
sine die to-day. During the day there
was an evident desire on the part of
Nash and Whittemore, two of the most
influential Senators, to avert, if possi
ble, the adjournment of the Senate and
Mackey House, while on the other
hand Chamberlain has been running
about the lobbies, and in and out < >f the
Senate Chamber and Hall of Represen
tatives, displaying a nervous anxiety
that the two bodies should adjourn at
once.
Since the receipt of the leading
Northern newspapers, taking such
strong ground against Chamberlain’s
insane project of arresting Hampton,
bis fiiends have indignantly denied
that it was his intention to issue a
proclamation on Monday commanding
the Hampcou government to disperse.
Under this pressure, Chamberlain may
have determined to change his tactics,
but his plan, up to yesterday, was
such as was telegraphed last night,
and most likely is still the same.
There is, however, another and a
more peaceful project under discussion.
A meeting was held last night at which
forty odd Republicans were present;
and it was resolved that a proposition
be submitted to the Democrats for the
appointment of a committee of live
Democrats and five Republicans who
should meet at an early day, for a con
ference, to see if a compromise cannot
be effected and peace restored. The
committee is to consist of liberal men
on both sides, aud an eleventh member
wilfcbe elected by the committee.
Two propositions wifi be submitted
to the committee: The first is, to give
the Democrats Hampton for Governor,
Wallace as Speaker of the House of
Representatives and a majority in the
House, Hagood (Dem.), as Comptroller,
aud Thompson (Dem.), as Superintend
ent of Education, and to give Hamp
ton the power to appoint an Attorney
General, who shall be neither Elliott
nor Connor. On the other hand, the
Republicans are to have Chamberlain
for the United States Senate, Gieaves
for Lieutenant Governor and President
of the Senate, their present members
in tho Senate, admitting the Demo
cratic Senators from Laurens and
Abbeville, and ordering anew elec
tion for Senator from Edgefield.
The Republicans shall have their
candidates as State Treasurer, Adju
tant and Inspector General and Secre
tary of State, and Mackey to be Chair
man of the Committee of Ways aud
Means. The General Assembly, when
reconvened, shall be bound to enact no
party legislation beyond the passage of
a registration law, and a law repealing
the act giving the Board of State Can
vassers any right to declare an election.
That, in appointing county officers, the
Governor shall appoint Democrats in
the counties carried by Democrats at
the last election, and Republicans in
the countits carried by them. That in
all State and municipal elections, the
Commissioners of Election shall be
voted for by the people, and the tickets
arranged so that the minority party
shall have a minority on the Board of
Canvassers.
The second proposition is that Cham
berlain be Governor, and Hampton go
to the United Btates Benate; the Dem
ocrats to have Wallace as Speaker and
a majority in the House of Represen
tatives. The arrangement of the Sen
ate to be the same as stated in tho first
proposition. The Democrats to have
Gen. Conner for attorney-general, and
a majority of the State officers, giving
the Republicans only the treasurer aud
the adjutant and inspector-general. \
The same arrangement, as before, to
hold iu regard to county appointments.
In both propositions a condition is that
the laws enacted by the present Legis
lature be declared null and void.
Comptroller-General Dunn, Senator
Whittemore and several other promi
nent Republicans are very anxious that
either one or the other of these propo
sitions be discussed and adopted, and
it is very probable that a committee
wifi be appointed fram both sides. No
formal proposition lias been made by
either party as yet, but even if the
proposed scheme comes to naught the
desire for a compromise is full of sig
nificance.
The determination of the Democrats
to pay no taxes to the Chamberlain
government is a serious stumbling
block to the Chamberlain party. One
of the effects was witnessed to-day
when the members of the Mackey
House and Senate, and all the at
taches, went home without a cent,
notwithstanding the promises they re
ceived yesterday. The Democrats, ou
the other hand were paid all they
would accept, one hundred dollars for
each member and full pay for the at
taches, the pay certificates of Speaker
Wallace being honored at sight by
both the banks here.
FROM COLUMBIA.
Adjournment of Both Houses.
Columbia, December 23.—80th Hous
es have adjourned. Chamberlain made
a great many nominations, which the
Senate confirmed. Hampton, who has
assurances of money, is proceeding to
organize county governments.
i m '
HYDROPHOBIA’S HORRORS.
The Death of a Young Man Bitten by
a Black Spitz Dog.
[N. Y. Snn.l
The dull red frame cottage at 102
Lincoln street, Jersey City Heights, is
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Klemp. Al
bert Klemp, aged 17, was their son.
On the 3d Mr. Klemp noticed that his
black Spitz dog was acting strangely
The dog ran wildly about the yard, or’
seated on his haunches, stared at the
sun, or snapped at imaginary flies.
Food was put beside him, but he did
not, seemingly, see it. Then Mr. Klemp
said that the dog should be drowned.
He threw a noose over the dog’s head,
and told young Kleuip to lead it to the
Hackensack river and drown it. Young
Klemp led the dog into the street. He
trotted at young Klemp’s heels sulkily
for several squares. Then he fastened
his teeth in the bottom of Klemp's
trousers. Klemp kicked him off. Then,
sorry for his roughness to an old play
mate, he stooped down and called the
dog. The dog ran to Klemp, and
caught the forefinger of his right hand
between iis teeth. He held on savage
AUGUSTA, GA., SUNDAY. DECEMBER 24, 1876. .
ly, ana young Klemp had to kick him
into unconsciousness before he could
release his finger. Blood flowed pro
fusely from the bite. Klemp ran to a
pharmacy, and the wound was cauteriz
ed. Meanwhile the dog had recovered
consciousness and gone home. At once
he attacked a white Spitz dog that had
been his companion for years. There
was a fierce fight, that was ended by
the braining of the black dog with an
ax by Mr. Klemp.
Last week the white Spitz manifest
ed the same strange actions that the
black Spitz had. His restlessness,
however, seemed greater, and as he
neither ate nor drank, he died within a
few days. In the last hours of his life
his legs became paralyzed. This
paralysis, scientists say, is an establish
ed symptom of hydrophobia in a quad
ruped.
Young Klemp frequently said that he
was not well. On Sunday morning he
said that he was unable to sit up, and
during the day experienced a constan
tly increasing difficulty in breathing.
When he began to eat and drink he
swallowed laboredly. At midnight a
spasm shook him violently. His mouth
began to fill with saliva almost as white
and thick as cotton. This he spat iu
every direction so strongly that it
reached the ceiling and the walls. In
the endeavor to clear h*s mouth of that
choking saliva lie uttered sounds this
to his horror-stricken relatives seemed
like the growl of a small dog. Ex-
County Physician Stout and Dr. Gil
man exerted their skill almost con
stantly thenceforward, but about four
o’clock ou Monday afternoon Klemp
died.
“Young Klemp,” said Dr. Gilman,
“died of hydrophobia. Wheu I first
saw him lie breathed with great diffi
culty, ejected thick white saliva, re
sulting from the disturbing effect of
the hydrophobic poison upon the nor
vation of the mouth, called out that
the doors must be kept shut, aud had
spasms closely following each other.
Excepting when racked by a spasm, he
was conscious. He had no fever. His
pulse was settled at 150, and he per
spired so as to moisten his clothing.
As soon as we (Dr. Stout and I) learned
that he had been bitten by a dog, we
decided to use woorara. We injected
it beneath tho skin of his left arm. At
once he said that he felt better. We
repeated the injection, and he said that
he felt still more improved. After the
injection again repeated, tho
gathering of saliva in is mouth lessen
ed, and the spasms were less strong
aud frequent. Had been a lad of
much vital force, and nad the woorara
been injected in season, it Is probable
that ho might have lived. But he was
of slight build—unusually slight for
his age—and of little vital force.
Therefore the racking of the spasms
soon exausted what he had.”
ATHENS AMUSEMENT.
Athens, Ga., December 22, 1876.
Mr. Editor— Knowing your univer
sal interest in the affairs of Georgia,
and especially in matters connected
with Georgia society, I feel that it; wiil !
not be inappropriate to write you of a !
recent musical entertainment iu the j
classical city. I refer to the Opera of I
the Bohemian Girl, as rendered by the I
young ladies aud gentlemen of Ath
ens.
Quite a breeze iiad been created in
the social atmosphere, by the news of
this coming event, and last Tuesday
uight your correspoudent, iu response
to an invitation, was happy in attend
ing. Tt.e Opera was given under the
auspices or Prof, and Mrs. H. C. White,
and their elegant and spaeious house
was thrown opeu to the reception of
the guests. At tho door we were wel- i
corned by the Professor, in his usual j
graceful and cordial manner, and were
led into the parlor, which was the |
parquette pro tein. The room was 1
soon crowded with the elite of the city. |
and were anxiously awaiting the rise 1
or the curtain. By way of introduc- I
tion, aud iu order to tune the eurs of
the audience to “concert pitch.” Prof.
Wilcox and Mr. T. A. Burke performed
a beautiful duet ou flute and piano. The
full, clear notes of the flute unmistak
ably indicated that the Professor was
master of his instrument. This con
cluded, the prologue was read and the
curtain rose. Mrs. Burke then per
formed the overture with remarkable
precision and beauty. The exquisite-
Dess of the touch and the perfect ren
dition of every note were certainly cal
culated to please the most fastidious j
hearer; aud her conception of the
music would undoubtedly have grati
fied Balfe himself, could he have heard
her. In the accompaniments through
out tho play (if it may be so called) she
was assisted in a very efficient manner
by Miss Nathalie Hamilton. Together,
they were an orchestra in themselves]
aud their sweet music gave inspiration
to the zest of the performance.
The following was the cast of the
troupo: Arline, in the first act by
Pauline Harris, a beautiful little hazel
eyed fairy of five or six Summers; aud
iu the second and third acts by Miss
Annie Bloomfield, Thaddeus by Prof
White, theCouut by Mr. A. R. Lawton
Jr., Devilshoof, by Mr. Dan Ilill, and
the Gypsy Queen by Miss Sally Nevitt.
The Gypsies and other characters were
filled by Misses Ria Hearing, Gussie
King, Minnie Falligant, Mattie Ban
croft, aud Messrs. Sylvanus Morris
Hebert Jackson, S. Walker, A. Riley
and Robert Coates. The costumes
were all quite elegant and tasty. The
young ladies looked particularly beauti
ful in their Gypsy* outfits—especially
Miss Falligant, who was undoubtedly
the most beautiful person on the stage,
although her companions closely
rivalled her in her beauty. The kuee
pants were becoming to a few of the
gentlemen and the false moustaches,
which they all wore, enhanced their
appearanco in no small degree. The
Gypsy chorus was beautifully sung
and evidenced persistent practice.
Allow me now to notice a few indi
vidual characters. Miss Bloomfield’s
singing was particularly enchanting.
The softness and clearness of her notes,
resulting from cultivation, superadded
to a fine natural gift, were in keeping
with the spirit of her parts; and she
surpassed.herseif in singing “I dreamed
that I dwelt in marble balls,” and in
the soene between Arline and the
Count, Mr. Lawton’s deep bass voice,
admirably controlled and sweetly mod
ulated. was well adapted to the pater
nal tenderness of the Count. His ren
dition of “The Heart Bowed Down,”
was indeed touching. Miss Dearing’s
voice was by all odds the finest in the
opera. Both in compass and distinct
ness it was superb. ‘Being only a pri
vate in the Gypsy baud, she did not
have fair play, but occasionally her
notes would sound forth above the
rest, beautiful in their simplicity and
graceful iu their fullness and powqr.
Prof. White, as Thaddeus, acquitted
himself in a most enviable man
ner, as he does in everything
that he undertakes. He sang
“Then you’ll remember me” with so
muoa feeiiug and expression that we
will remember him for a long time to
come. I must notice especially the du
ets cf Arline and Thaddeus. They can
scarcely be excelled by amateurs. The
duet of Devilshoof and the Gypsy
Quetu was also finely rendered. Dev
ils hoof acquitted himself admirably,
and the Queen’s costume was very
striking. Indeed the modesty of the
peffermers was almost the only feature
by which one oould distinguish them as
amateurs. Upon the whole, the audi
ence was very highly delighted, and
with remarkable unanimity will hail
the day when another opera is an
nounced. They all felt deep gratitude
to the polite and accomplished hostess
for the pleasure of the evening. Mrs.
Whit) has lastingly ingratiated herself
in thfc affections of the young people of
Atheps, and they have learned to feel
that nuy undertaking left in her hands
is destined to meet with glorious suc
cess. . The love and esteem which she
has won from her associates are but
the just rewards of a kind and unsel
fish heart Her accomplishments added
to thd kindness of her nature make her
what she is, a queen of society.
“Max.”
Deacou Ophiltree’s Pew.
[Froh the Burlington (Iowa) Hawk-Eye )
If there is anything Mr. Ophiitree is
particular about, it is his own individ
ual corner in his own particular pew.
He cafi’t half enjoy the sermon if he
has to sit anywhere else than in the in
side corner of No. 52, right hand side
of the middle aisle. For years he has
occupied this seat as regularly as Bun
day rtorning came around. He has
heard)the gospel “dispensed with,” by
one minister after another. From that
seat hs has smiled and nodded encour
agement to the Boanerges who have
preached the gospel after the ideas of
Deacog Ophiitree, and has frowned for
biddiq fly and terriblv at the hapless
prabei dary who has dared to enunciate
doctrines which were disagreeable to
No. 52. No usher or sexton ever so far
forgot himself as to put any one in
that corner because the Deacon was a
little late.
It was always considered sacred.
Imagine, then, the Deacon’s atnuze
ment. last Sunday morning when he en
tered the church, wrapped iu a pro
found study of the doctrine of regen
eration through sanctification, to see a
solemn, important-looking stranger in
bis precious corner. The Deacon
brought up all of a sudden at the
head of his pew and gazed at the I
stranger in open-mouthed, but voice
less wonder. The stranger, never re
turning his gaze, Bat twirliug his
thumbs and looking straight at tho 1
pulpit. Deacou Ophiitree, doubting
the evidence of his souses, backed out
into tho aisle, and took out his specta- j
cles, rubbed them, and placed them on
his nqse. Then he tilted back his
head, £nd looked at the pew No —“52.”
Plain qw ever a “52” was in the world.
There could be no mistake about that.
He advanced to the head of the pew,
and bjUl his head down until bis chin
PouchelT hffi’Jrfcaw, and gazed fixedly
ut the stranger over his spectacles.
There was no mistake about that. Tho
stranger was there. Then the Deacon
stepped back one pace, leaving the en
trance to tho pew unobstructed, so that
the stranger could get out without any
trouble. But the stranger didn’t ap
pear to have any idea of evacuating
his position. He grew a little restless
under the Deacon’s incensed glances,
but he only fidgeted a little in his seat,
and stopped twirling his thumbs to
pick up a hymn-book, which he opened
at “Hold the Fort,” and read that stirr
ing bit of religious military composition
with evident comfort and edification.
The Deocon was amazed. “Possibly,” ho
thought, “the intruder does not see
me.” Then he took out his handker
chief, a red silk standard, which looked
like a pocket edition of a garrison flga,
and burying his nose in this warlike
banner blew atootthat echoed through
the room like a signal of defiance. The
stranger never moved, but he bent his
eyes upon the page before him and
read the line,
"Hear the bugle blow,”
with much mental unction.
The Deacon was more astonished
than he would have been if the end of
the church had fallen out. He crammed
his handkerchief into the crown of his
hat with the defiant air of a man who
meant business, and inflated his lungs,
and called for the stranger's attention
with a stentorian—
“ Ahem !’’
The straDger fidgeted a little, turned
very redin the face, and looked up,
glanced around and saw the congrega
tion tittering and taking it all in, and
ho evidently made up his tniud to “hold
the fort” until Gen. Ruger’s troops
ejected him, if he had to stay there all
winter. Bo ho settled himself again,
and, without looking at the deacon,
turned over to tho hymn,
“A charge to keep I have.”
The minister rose to give out the
opening hymn, but the congregation
had no eyes or ears for anything but
the indignant deacou aud the immova
ble stranger. The deacon was about
to introduce some new tactics, when he
felt a punch upon his arm, and a gen
tlemanly looking church official said:
“I will show you a seat, sir, if you
please.”
“Seat?” said the deacon, in such
wrathful undertones that he was nearly
choked. “Seat? That,” pointing to
the blushing but obstinate stranger,
“that corner is my seat. The seat I
have occupied and paid for, for these
nine years past.”
“You are merely mistaken, said the
placid official, “aud you are interrupt
ing the service and distracting the
minister. The seats in this church
have been free for the past five years.”
The deacon looked around him as
though he expected the ground to
slide from beneath his feet, aud a
gleam of Intelligence and dismay
passed over his face.
“This is—“he gasped, and could get
no further.
“The Church of the Lost Sheep,” ex
plained the official.
The titters of the congregation fol
lowed the mortified deacon to the
door as he bent his stens toward his
own Church of the Ransomed, and
when ho got there, he struck every
body dumb with amazement by drop
ping into the seat nearest the door;
and if a cow or an icthyosaurus had
waltzed in and taken its seat in the in
side corner of No. 52, Deacon Ophiitree
wouldn’t have been in the least bit
surprised, and wouldn’t have raised
one single murmur of objection.
A distinguished author says: “I re
solved, when I was a child, never to
use a word which I could not pronounce
before ray mother without offending
her.” He kept bis resolution, and be
came a pure minded, noble, honored
gentleman. His rule and example are
worthy of imitation.
CHRIBTMAS CAROLS.
Probably no festival has ever given
birth to so much real poetry and pleas
ant rhyme as Christmas. Years ago it
was the custom in old England to sing
carols about the streets late into
Christmas eve and early on Christmas
morn. These carols might seem strange
to modern ears; for while many of
them were charming and graceful,
others were curious and even grotesque.
They were filled with legends concern
ing the Advent, most wonderful event*
being recounted, and yet with a pic
turesque simplicity, just as if one
could think them anything unexpected.
The so-called “manger songs” were of
ten quaintly sweet, and tbey were used
on Christmas day instead of hymns in
churches. Quite different were the
merry Yule songs of the old English
Christmas:
Come, bring with a noise,
My merry, merry boys,
The Christmas log to the firing;
• Wbiie my good dame she
Bids you all be free.
And drink to your hearts desiring.
And the thought of feasting is made
prominent in numberless rhymess, as—-
Lordlings, Christmas loves good drinking;
Wines of Gascoigne, France, Anjou,
English ale, that drives out thinking.
Prince of liquors, old or new.
Be glad, both more and less,
For this hath ordained our steward,
, To cheer you all this Christmas- -
Tho boar's head and mustard !
Christmas carols have not grown un
papular, but they have chaugod, both
in composition and rendering, to cou
tornv to modern ideas of beauty and
refinement. Songs adapted to the com- ]
prehension and tastes of children
abound—songs suited to religious ser
vices appropriate to the day as well as
to the merry household festival. Near
ly every child has heard with infinite
delight,
’Twas the night before Christmas, and all
through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a
mouse,
and scores of other rhymes of like
beauty. The delightful myth of Santa
Claus is one to which juvenile faith
tenaciously clings, and the mystery Is
repeated from eldest to youDgest with
a freshness never sullied :
Hang up tho baby’s stocking;
Be sure you don’t forget—
The dear little dimpled darling !
Bhe never saw Christmas yet;
But I’ve toid her all about it,
Aik! she opened her big blue eyes,
And I’m sura she understands it,
She lixikef so funny and wise.
Dear! what a tiny stocking!
it doesn’t take kiuoh to hold
Such little pink toes as baby’s
Away from tho frost and cold;
But then fur the baby’s Christmas
It never would be at all;
Why, Santa wouldn’t bo looking
For anything half so small I
Everybody, whether young or old,
feels a thrill of pleasure at the return
of this long-observed festival, and
rejoices that the tiuio is at hand
when—
Out in the midnight’s white and starry
splendor
Once moicjJas * lobelia ring,
\\ tiile softer human voices, sweet and ten-’
der.
The songs of Christmas sing,
Christinas is come!
Christmas iu Norway.
The great festival of the year in Nor
way, as among all Germanic nations,
is Christmas. Whether it owes all its
sanctity to its association with the
birth of the Savior is however, an open
question; for many customs still kept
alive in the remoter valleys seem to
point beyond the beginning of the
Christian era, to the time wh6n the
Norsemen ate horse-flesh in honor of
Odin and Thor and Frey. The festi
val, as the retaining of the old name
indicates, is as yet strongly tinctured
with reminiscences of tho old pagan
Yule. Tracing the character of Christ
and his apostles as they appear in
many popular marchen and legends,
the conclusion lies near that the peo
ple have, consciously or not, transfer
red much that was clear to them in the
old gods to tho new deity, and thus,
by a sort of compromise between the
old faith and the now, have produced
a divine type which is, at all events,
sufficiently national to appeal strongly
to their Noise hearts. This nationaliz-'
tug of one’s divinity is, of course, not j
peculiar to Norway; it would have been !
more singular if Norway had shown
no trace of it.
The preparations for the Yule-tide, '
in the way of provisioning the house’ i
would, to American eyes, look perfectly j
enormous. Baking and brewing and
butchering keep the whole household
busy during the last three weeks
preceding tho festival. And the fact
that the process is repeated year after •
year probably proves that it is neces
sary. Every man, woman, or child,
who comes within a stone’s throw of
the house during the holidays (which
last until a week after New-Year) must
be invited in and urged to eat and
drink without regard for comfort.
Even the birds are to have their share
of the Christmas joy, As soon as the
church-bells have “rung in the feast”
at five o’clock in the afternoon of
Christmas Eve, the father of the house
takes his richest sheaf of oats and bar
ley' and attaches it to tho end of a
pole, which is nailed to the gable of
tho barns or the store-house. The
mother and the children stand by en
joying the sight of the happy birds
fluttering around the sheaf, while the
father will perhaps quote the passage
about. God’s care even for the sparrow,
wherefore it is right that the sparrow
too should rejoice on the day when
Christ was born.
Among the many evening visitors
which are sure to drop iu to taste
the Christmas brew, some are apt to
be disguised by grotesque masks, and
otherwise fantastically accoutered.
These are called Yule-bucks, possibly
because the most common mask may
have beeu that of a goat or some other
horned creature. At present Ido not
know that any special kind of disguise
is preferred. The rule seems to be, tho
more grotesque, the better.
The German custom of having poor
children wander about on Christmas
Eve, carrying a large lighted star of
canvas, representing the star of Bethle
ham, prevails also in Norway. No one
can hoar their shrill, tiny voices In the
snow under his window, singing the
dear familiar carols, and refuse them
their well-earned penny.—Scribner for
January.
mm m
Potter Palmer is raising the roof of
the Palmor House at Chicago in the
quietest imaginable rnauner. It is done
by means of jackscrews, and the mam
moth mass of iron, concrete, and brick
to be raised weighs about 3,832 tons.
The object is to give an additional
height of thirty inchos to the rooms
below.
An old Scotch woman recommended
a preacher who arrived at the kirk wet
through to get at once into the pulpit:
“Ye’ll be dry enough here t ”
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.
A small body of troopa is still in the
State House.
The gin-house of Mr. J. N. King. Ab
beville county, was burned last week.
Bad.
• Mr. 0. T. Lattimer, an old citizen of
Lowndesville, Abbeville county, died
on Friday last.
Mr. A. C. Hawthorne, an old and re
spected citizen of Due West, died on
Thursday, the 14th instant.
The Abbeville Medium has reduced
its size, but is as staunch and as good
a paper as it ever was.
The and welling of Mrs. Finley, in White
Lick. Abbeville county, was burned last
week. Accident. Total loss.
The cotton house, warehouse and
stables of Mr. J. J. Dale, on Coosaw
river, were destroyed by Are on Friday
evening last.
Th new Board of County Commis
sioners of Marion met on Monday, and
organized by electing J. M. Johnson,
Esq, Chairman.
The dwelling of Mr. Bailey, the fer
ryman, of Gallivant’s Ferry, Marion
county, was destroyed by fire on Mon
day night. Accident.
Pat Kirkland was arrested to-day as
accessory to the killing of Dent. He
was takeu before a trial justice and re
leased on bail.
G. W. Anderson’s gin house and line
mills, at Wilson’s Bridge, An the Saluda
river, wt ro burned bu Friday. Loss
heavy. Accident.
The uM “Miller Homestead,” recent
ly occupied and owned by Mr. B. P.
Neill, near Fail’s Bridge, Abbeville
county, was burned a few nights ago.
The gin-house of Dr. E J. Bembert,
about eleven miles below Cam Jen, con
taining eleven bales of cotton, was
burned ou Monday morning before
daylight.
In the Supreme Court to-day District-
Attorney Corbin submitted an amend
ed return on the contempt cose, and
the argument on both sides was sub
mitted in printed briefs.
Mr. Daniel Brown, former County
Treasurer of Anderson, aged seventy
eight years, and, save one, the last of
the first settlers of Anderson, died on
Friday night and was buried on Sun
day.
The barn, stables, and two mules of
Mr. Asa Godboid, on Lamb’s planta
tion, Marion county, were destroyed
by Are on Sunday night. It was evi
dently the work of an incendiary, as
no fire had been used about the barn.
Capt. A. H. Caughman, aorell known
and popular citizen of Lexington
county, died on Wednesday last. Capt.
Caughman has resided in Lexington
Court House for a number of years,
and has held several responsible pub
lic positions.
On Saturday morning last a colored
man was shot by Mr. R. B. C. J. You
mans on his place, near Cainpbleton.
The wounded man died on the eveniug
of tha aama day. It is aaid-that the
man was shot while in the act of steal
ing. Mr. Youmans at last accounts had
not been arrested.
The Democratic Senators, before the
Senate adjourned to-day, arose in their
seats and announced that as they did
not recognize Gleaves as the lawful
President of the Senate, they would re
turn to him the pay certificates given
them and signed by him. This they
did.
The Augusta Constitutionalist.—The
prospectus of this excellent paper, to
which we ask attention, appears else
where. We look upon the Constitu
tionalist as one of the most valued of
our exchanges, and under its present
management it will commend itself to
every right-thinking mau in the land.
—Barnwell Sentinel.
DuriDg the freshet of last Juno Sa
vannah river swelled beyond its banka
and swept over some low lands on the
plantations of Dr. J. A. Gilbert, Dr. W.
Tennant and Mr. W. H. Peake in Ab
beville county, and in one place washed
awhy the soil to a sufficient depth to
expose the bodies of a number of In
dians, who had beeu buried in a hither
to unknown graveyard.
The Congreesional committee did not.
as was expected, arrive at any result
to-day in the matter or the electoral
vote, and will not reach the conclusion
of its labors until early next week.
Seveial witnesses were examined iu re
lation to Allen, of Barnwell, (colored), ,
who testified before the committee that
lie was a manager of election at Bob
bin’s. Their testimony showed that
Allen was not present on election day
•at the Bobbin’s box, and did not act as
a manager.
A party of armed negroes went to
the premises of Capt M. E. L. Peeples,
in the upper portion or Sumter county,
Monday night, and fired about twenty
shots into his house, two of which en
tered his bedroom and one came very
near hitting him in the face, pieces of
shattered glass wounding him in the
left eye. Ho returned the fire but
missed his aim. He then called a white
man on his place to his assistance,
when his house was also fired into.
The desperadoes then seized a bale of
cotton and made off with it.
Journal of Commerce: The grand
and overflowing assemblage or the
solid men of Charleston, which met at
the Hibernian Hall last evening, shows
the entire devotion of tho people of
Charleston to tho great cause of
“Hampton and Reform,” and the unan
imous determination of our people to
sustain it with all the means in their
power. It -gives the coup de grace to
Chamberlain’s usurpation, and admon
ishes him and his sans culottes at Co
lumbia that their rations are short and
that their time for voluntary disper
sion is at hand and iminent. As the
coon came down without the burning
of powder when he fouud Captain
Beott was there, so let our Chamber
lain exercise sound discretion in the
presence of Governor Hampton and
the people of South Carolina. Animis
opibus que parati!
The Banquet Speech .
(B. H Hill Interviewed—Jan. 19, 1871.)
Reporter—You are reported as say
ing in that speeoh, you “did not go to
be a Democrat,” or’ words to this ef
fect ?
Mr. Hill—Yes, I said so. I never was
a Democrat per se. I always said so.
I never expect to say otherwise. Since
the war and the insults and oppressions
of the Republicans have driven me to
act with the Democratic party, and I
shall act with it so long as those iu
suits and oppressions continue. The
real truth is I am no partisan, and
have but little respect for any man who
is. The South has paid dearly enough
for this blind party worship. It is time
for the South to subordinate party to
her interest. This is now her best
platform ; and, therefore, it is mine.
SIX DOLLARS A YEAR
GEORGIA NEWS.
Mr. J. C. Xelmes, of Elbert countv, is
dead. -’
Greensboro refuses to lecture tho
wheel of fortune man.
Dr. J. S. Turner and family, of Hart
well, has moved to Athens.
Mr. Forbes Bradly, of Columbus was
married to Miss Sallie F. Boykins of
Eufaula.
The Union Point Methodists will
have a Christmas tree atltbeir churoh
Monday night
Professor Everett, who was here, is
fooling the people of Columbus with
bis spiritual manifestations.
On Monday last, the house of Mr
Tom Atwaters, of Upson county, was
burned, with all its contedts.
Mr. Robert Wright, of Oxrcrd. Is to
pull the reins over the Andrew Male
High School here another year.
The West Point minstrels gave an
exhibition in LaGrange the other night
which the lie porter pronouncos a fail
ure.
Corn is abundant in Georgia at sev
enty-five cents per bushel. The only
difficulty is in getting the seventy-five
cents.
On Wednesday, in a shooting affray,
at Cochrane, Mr. W. T. McVay was
killed, and Mr. Sol Moses seriously
wounded.
The young ladies of the C.Uisthenlc
Society of tho LaGrauge Frmale Col
lege, won the prize over the Light
Guards iu a contest the other evening.
Macon Telegraph: Mr. Phillip L.
Koho, father of Mr. Henry Kohn and
Mrs. Charh s Wucbtel, died yestetdav
at tlie advanced ago of seventy-one
years.
jJMr. Gaines Chisolm, a well-known
sportsman of Atlanta, was married on
Thursday, in Macon, to Miss McAlpin.
Dr. Spalding, of Atlanta, performed
the ceremony.
A negro boy, aged about fourteen
years, deliberately shot aud killed two
colored children near West Point. The
boy is in the LaGrange jail, and will
probably be hung.
There is quite a noticeable increase
of wheat sowed in Murray couuty, and
while the weather has been extremely
cold, it has been nevertheless dry and
wheat is as yet uninjured.
Married, on the evening of Novem
ber 30, 1876, at the residence of the
bride’s mother, by Rev. Geo. W. Col
quitt, Mr. A. J. Cooley, to Miss Sallie
Johnson, all of Troupe county.
At the Baptist church in the town of
White Plains, on the 14th instant by
Rev. J. H. Kilpatrick, Mr. William £.
rap pan and Miss Willie Jernfgan,
youngest daughter of S. J. Jemiirau
Esq., all of White Plains.
Dr. E. A. Perkins, who has had
charge of the Lawtonviile department
of the Waynesboro Fqpositor, bows
himself out gracefully and introduces
B. W. Hext, Esq., who for the future
will run that department of uur
sprightly exchange.
Married—Ou Thursday evening, the
14th inst., in the Methodist Church, at
Grantville, Mr. John F. Lovejoy was
married to Miss Mary L. Cotter, the
daughter of Rev. W. J. Cotter, all of
Grautville, Rev. Geo. G. Smith, of
LaGrange, officiating.— LaGrange lie
porter.
Marriod, on Wednesday, the 20th
Inst., at tho residence of the bride’s
mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Render, in
Merriwether county, Mr. William V.
Gray, of LaGrange, was married to
Miss Ella W. Render. Rev.'M. B. Har
din, of LaGrange, officiating.
Greensboro Herald: A strolling Ger
man has been baDging around our
town for several days soliciting charity.
He is unworthy and we warn the pub
lic, especially Odd Fellows and Masons
against him. [The same man was
dodging about this city a week ago.—
Ed. Con. |
In Lumpkin county, where tho recent
weather was very severe, apprehen
sions were felt as to the fate of the
small grain crop. Wo are pleased to
learn, however, that though much has
been killed and has been replanted, the
damage is not so extensive as was first
feared, the subsequent warm weather
bunging out much of the grain that
was thought killed.
The Sumter Republican thus calls at
tion to three staunch Democratic pa
papers. When the word “staunch” is
used, the Morning News is sure to bo
there, for that’s “exactly what’s tin*
matter with Hannah “Attention Is
directed to the prospectuses of three
staunch Democratic papers to be
found in our columns this morniug the
New York Sun, Savannah News, and
Augusta Constitutionalist.”
A negro woman from near West Point
thought to surprise her sister and
brother-in-law by coming to see them
in LaGrange, a few nights ago. Sho
rapped at the door and would meet
with answer to the call made upon her
from within, “Who’s dat ?” The broth
er-in-law put the muzzle of a gun un
der the door and fired. A load of shot
took effect in her leg, and the Reporter
says she will likely spend the entire
month at her sister’s house.
Macon Telegraph: Mr. E. Balfour
purchased by telegraph order, yester
day, from this place to Atlanta, 3 000
bales of cotton, amounting to over
8150,000. The cotton will be ship oil
to Liverpool direct. This purchase is
tfie largest ever made in one lot in
any interior market in the Stato The
enterprise of direct trade goes bravely
on. May it continue to flourish and
foreign vessels find a cargo always in
Southern ports. J
Columbus Enquirer: “Yesterday Mr
George Y. Pond, Deputy Clerk of tho
Superior Court and Clerk of tho Coun
ty Court, showed us a letter from a
mercantile agency in Baltimore offer
ing him twenty-five cents for the name
of every person recorded for the three
months preceding December 25th in
this Coivt, against whom are mort
gages jungments. bills of sale, etc*
01 getting these is to
publish them in a statistical report
January i. 1877. as a guU |„ £ P ° b "
wholesale trade that Is to know to
whom it would be safe to sell.”
Constitution: Governor A H Pni
quitt. Governor-elect of Georgia
tablished his headquarters It ’ the
Kimball House yesterday, where he is
now busily employed in preparing
Tor his forthcoming inaugurating in
view of the great rush of office-seekers
MeGinley has secured an additioi *
flrßt-class barkeeper, reconstructed
his billiard tables and re-opened tho
saloon, and provided himself with a
small army of bell boys. Applicant!
can have cards by the to
Gen. Colquitt without delay, to enter
tain him in regard to an appointment
can pass the time in taking a drink lid
tlagS.* * anw 01 they ,r,