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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,