Newspaper Page Text
t ‘ f f f * *
ERROR CEASES TO BE DANGEROUS WHEN REASON IS LEFT FREE TO COMBAT IT.”—Jefferson.
VOLUME XXII
ATLANTA, GA., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1870.
NUMBER 4.
HJrtklp JntHligrnrn
PUBLISHED DAILY AND WEEKLY BY
JARED IRWIN WHITAKER,
Proprietor.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA,
Wednesday, January ae, 1870.
Tie* Atleau *»>*»’* mad the An*
(M« • 'Ckreslcle dc Sentinel,” »»,
“UldllKMcer.”
We have thus for remained silent under the
chargee which have been preferred against the
Imtelugehoeb by the "Constitution" and the
* Chronicle d Sentinelin regard to its business
relations with the Stabs Road, cot from any ap
prehension touching their strictly correct nature,
bat with the hope that after the first assaults were
made, consequent upon the publication of an
alleged list of the assets of the State Read Treas
ury, turned over by the late, to the new Treasu
rer, justice would voluntarily be done this
paper, and we would be saved the trouble of a
▼indication of, and repelling the calumnies pnt
afloat concerning it For instance the first pub-
We should state that the in ormation came lrom
a party who bad seen the documents We also
notice tbat the present Treasurer, in bis card,
dated the 12ib, says : “ I have no papers on -J.
L Whitaker, except some $1,800;” but be does
not state that he has had no other papers.”
And thus the Constitution turns lrom its ver
sion of the affair, on “ facts ” communicated to
it, with every opportunity afforded it of investi
gating these tacts for it was invited to do
so—crediting, if not adopting the version of the
Chronicle <fc Sentinel which, with malice afore
thought, was put forth by the editor of tbat pa
per. When this occurs with a fair-minded jour
nalist, what may not the public expect from the
political juggler, having control of the editorial
columns of a newspaper ? And hence the In
telligencer must defend itselL
So far as the Constitution is concerned in this
matter of controversy, we shall have nothing
more to Bay. It is to the Chronicle & Sentinel
and Us malicious articles, its slanderous vitupe
rations and abuse, we shall direct ourself. In
doing bo, we shall first presem our readers
the relation the Intelligences occupied to the
State Road—one it enjoyed under several pre
vious adminslrations of tbat Road. It did the
printing of the Road—a work of do ordinary
lication of the “list of assets” referred to, ap
peared in the evening edition of the Conetitu- I responsibility—as all who are engaged in aimi-
tiort of the 18th instant, and reads as follows: work for railroads will testify. Advances
the contents o» THE statb ROAD TREASURY, upon work done; upon work in progress; and
Treasurer Foster Blodgett, of the State Road,
turned over to Treasurer Harris assets in the
State Road Treasury to the amount of some
$109,000. We give general figures.
Of this amount, about $05,000 were in cash.
until the bills were presented (or final settlement,
have been made to the Intelligencer; this
has been the custom ol the Road; this is the
custom of the State iu regard to its State Print-
Tbe rest, amounting to $54,000, was in the I or; this is customsry with all railroad corpo-
sbape ot divers chips and whetstones, that rations. The only question in regard to
Treasurer Harris, we understand, has been ad- t j, e advances made to Jared I. Whita-
vised not to receipt for aa money. . T , T
We give a specimen of these assets. kbr, the Proprietor of the Intklli-
Five due bills to Foster Blodgett for $300 each, grncer, that concern the public, or even
Warrant No. 812, for $845 ; amount of war- j go email an interest in it as the Chronicle & Sen-
ranlsto deaf and dumb asylum, $2,800; nine
warrants, $8,750; one sealed package marked
“ Hon. Foster Blodgett, from V. A. Gaskil),
$1,000 Private."
Sundry notes from Jared I. Whitaker, to be
paid tor in printing or hereafter returned,
amounting to $7,800.
tinel, is, has the State lost anything in the ad
vances made by the Road to the Intelligen
cer? Its Pkoprirtgr affirms tbat it never
has; nay, more, that on the very day on which
the publication ot the “ assets of the Treas-
The Code o! Georgia, section 4 of par. 685, uteT ” was mad « by tbe Constitution, and Jared
says of the duties of State Hoad Treasurer, tbat I. Whitaker set down as being indebted to it
it is his duty $7 800, he did not owe it a cent nor does
-To pay the State Treasurer monthly all bal- The t nf
ance in bis treasury, after paying all the current now. the so called list ot assets ol
expenses of the Road and other lawful claims Treasurer Blodgett was exhibited to both the
upon it, and to take his receipt for the same, Constitution and the Editor of the Chronicle &
retaining such amount as the Superintendent Sentinel by a certain Banker in this
may direct.”
There is oertainly nothing in this tbat author
izes the State Road Treasurer to loan- State
Road money to parties.
This may account for the fact that no money
has been paid into the State Treasury for three
months. We very much doubt if Treasurer
Angier would receive these papers as cash.
city, who, we have reason to believe, did
it in malice and in ignorance, writh
ing under disappointment, that he had
failed in securing the deposits of the State Road
for his own banking institution under the new
Treasurer ol the road. Had the Constitution
A Letter frost Col.
We notice in the Constitution, of yesterday
morning, the following letter addressed to the
editor of that paper. It will be seen from it that
- nothing is sought to be concealed from the
public in the management of the Road.” Now,
would it not be well for those who charge upon
its conduct, mismanagement, corruption, rob
bery, and so lorth, to organize, upon tbe invi
tation given by Superintendent Blodgett, a
committee to examine and report upon its man
agement. Here is a good chance for Ranse
W right, the editor of the Chronicle & Sentinel.
Perhaps he might be persuaded to bead such a
committee:
Fr m tb* Atlsnia Constitution.
A WORD TO FAIR-MTNDED HEN, REGARDLESS OF
party.
Western and Atlantic Railroad, )
Superintendent’s Office, v
Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 17,1870. )
Editor Constitution-. In consequence ot having
taken an early and active part in the organiza
tion and success of the Republican party in this
State, I am prepared to expect much abuse and
misrepresentation from party newspapers; nor
do I claim or expect any mitigation ot this
abuse and misrepresentation iu virtue of theiact
that I am a native Georgian, and have devoted
the greater part of my hie to the advancement
of what I honestly conceived to be her best in
terest, politically. As a politician, I bave always
been content with politicians’ tare, as awarded
by party usage in this and other Southern
States.
A HORRIBLE CALAMITY.
Five Persons
Consumed In
Building-
a Burning
The fire at Detroit, Michigan, on Sunday eve
ning, 9th instant, was a most lamentable affair;
five young children perished in the flames. Tbe
deceased were all children of Henry. DeCaossin,
a Frenchman. The Detroit Post gives the fol
lowing particulars:
On Sunday evening, while the mother and
children were sitting in one of the rooms occu
pied by the family, over their grocery store, they
heard a sound in the store as it something had
fallen from a shelf, but no attention was paid
to the matter until the sound was repeated slew
moments later. Going to tbe door at the head
of the stairway leading to the store, Mrs. De-
Canssin was horrified to find that the lower room
Was nearly filled with flames Giving tbe alarm
to her eldest daughter, sbe seized her babe and
rushed through the flames, followed by her
daughter bearing another young child AJ1 of
these were severely burned, but the heroic daugh
ter, after placing her young cbaige outside the
building, rushed intrepidly into the flames to
rescue the other children Sbe sua^eded in
•Vi
; Cheap Telegraphy.
! Within the last year or two the press of the
United States have had a good deal to say on
the subject of placing the telegraph lines ot the
country under the control ot the government,
upon the same plan as that recently adopted in
England. The discussion has been prompt and
active; but it is apparent tbat while all admit
tbe necessity ot cheapening the cost ot tele
graphing, thgre is a wholesome dread ot adding
to the immense powers already enjoyed by the
body ot dictators who style.tbemselves the Con
gress of the nation.
The magnetic wires are now as important as
the mails. Ooly the details ot important trans
actions are forwarded through tbe post-office.
The business itself, domestic and foreign, is
effected by telegraph, or is controlled by tele
graphic advices, and if tbe rates were lower
commercial writing would soon be unnecessary.
It is to the interest ot every merchant, ot every
business man, to have the rates low; but the
bureau must be absolutely free from espionage
or government interference.
These rates seem very low to an American, in
spite of the fact that tbe chairman of the Com
mittee on Postoffices declares that telegraphing
in this country is the cheapest in tbe world. In
referring to that declaration, Mr. Washburne
Rllaaeellaaeoun.
MttftSSM- Sft!?.1"“ mu.i*»»ce.tio IboHouie,
But as an individual citizen aud-business man,
I do not ieel willing to grant a license to those’
with whom I may differ politically, to wantonly
assail my business and personal character; nor
do I believe any intelligent or fair-minded Dem
ocrat will claim or attempt to exercise any such
license. And as you have upon former occa
sions, expressed a willingness to do me justice,
and to draw tbe proper distinction between the
business and political character of an opponent,
I have presumed to request the publication in
your columns of the following letter, addressed
me by the present Treasurer of the State Road,
Mr. I. P. Harris, my^ucoes-or.
Western and Atlantic Railroad,
Office of Treasurer
»• l
This may explain other matters that bave known these facts, we do not believe it would
been hanging in doubt.
On tbe following evening, the 14th instant,
the Constitution, in u explanation ” of the state
ments made the previous day, publiahcd the fol
lowing, with the avowal of its purpose to do
“ simple justice to all men, both friend and foe,”
extending in behalf of the Superintendent, Aud
itor and Treasurer of the State Road,an invitation
to any gentlemeu to examine the books and
records ol the various offices of tbe road who
might desire to do the administration of it jus
tice. This was fair on the part ol the Constitu
tion, and if it had maintained that position, we
would have nothing more to complain of it.—
But let the readers of the Intelligencer note
in the following what tbe Constitution in its
teoond reference to the matter we are now pre
senting to our readers did say :
“ Iq explanation of the statements made in tbe
editorial columns of tbe Constitution of Wednes
day evening, relative to the assets turned over
by Mr Blodgett to his successor, Mr. Harris, tbe
Superintendent has sent ns the following facts:
*• The due bills mentioned as among the assets,
were given by employees on tbe road for money
advanced upon their wages. When the regular
pay day comes round these due bills are taken
up, and hence are in reality the same as cash
when held against the crclitors ot the road.—
Such has been the custom, more or less, with all
railroad corporations, and of the Western and
Atlantic under former administrations.”
- The warrant No. 812, and notes and other
papers, were turned over to Mr. Blodgett by bis
predecessor, Mr. Clayton, and receipted tor as
cash. They were in the Treasurer’s bands, with
the approval of the lormer Superintendent, at
the time Mr. Clayton was superceded by Mr.
Blodgett; and Mr. Blodgett simply turned them
over to his successor as they had been turned
over to bim.
“ The sundry notes from Jared L Whilaker to
be paid in printing,” etc., and wb>eh the Consti
tutsan represented to amount to ‘$7,800,’ amount
ooly to about $1,800; and these were approved
and ordered by the lormer Superintendent, Mr.
Hulbert, as appears from the following card of
Mr Isaac P. Harris the preseut Treasurer.”
“WeSTABM a ATLIHTin R-ii.road
Tssasubxb's Ornoc,
Atlanta, da., Jan. Is. 1870,
:\
Col. F. Blodgett, Superintendent .-
Dear Sir—I have no papers on J. L Whita
ker, except some $1,800, approved and ordered
by tbe former Superintendent. Yours respect
ably Isaac P. Harris.”
“This money was advanced to Mr. Whitaker
on account of printing done, and not merely in
anticipation tbat work would be given him —
The same thing was done by order of Campbell
Wallace, in 1808, in favor ot all three of the
dally newspapers then published in Atlanta.
Wben final settlemeul was had, those due bills
for money advanced on account of printing
done, were taken up, as these will be, npou final
settlement. And after a final settlement is bad
with Mr. Whitaker, there will still be a small
balance in bis favor.
These advances are claimed to be legitimate
t *ad proper, under that section ot the Code quo
ted by tbe Constitution, and which authorizes the
Treasurer to “ retain such amounts,” in making
his moDtbly payments to the State Treasurer,
**ss tbe Superintendent may direct” The
amounts above noted were retained by or.ier
and direction ot Superintendent Hulbert, and
tbat officer had the precedent of Campbell Wal
lace aud other former Superintendents, no lees
than the usual custom ot all similar corpora
tions, as well as the late of the State to sustain
his action In accepting the trust ot State Road
Treasurer, Mr. Blodgett receipted for such as
sets, or “chips and whetstones,” only as were
ordered aud offered bvthe Superintendent; and,
in turning over the f mds to Mr. Harris, he ot
tered the same kind of assets (and none other)
tbat he had accepted from Mr. Clayton, and re
ceived a clear receipt therelor.”
- The above statements are furnished us as
the farts in this matter. Ot course our purpose
is to do simple justice to all men—both friend
and toe-and w*>, therefore, give these tacts to
our readers ”
“ We have further received word from the
Superintendent, Auditor and Treasurer of tbe
State Road, to say that the books ot the Road,
aud the records ot tbe various offices are open
to the inspection of gentlemen who may deaire
to do them justice in their administration, and
that nothing is sought to ne kept concealed.”
Now, the Intelligencer cannot justly be
accused of manifesting over sensitiveness, or of
complaining without cause, at the course of the
Constitution, wben it saw in the columns of that
paper ot Sunday morning last, a third article
upon the same subject, the tenor of which is as
follows:
“ A few days back we gave a statement of the
Superintendent ot tbe Stale Road, correcting
some of our figures ot tbe assets of tbe State
Road Treasury.
“The editor of the Augusta Chronicle thus
slate* to his paper in regard to the correction :
“ With regard to the account tbat I tele
graphed last night ot the money advanced the
proprietor ot the Intelligencer by Foster
Blodgett, Harris, tbe new Treasurer of the road,
denies to-day that Whitaker received sevtn
thousand eieht hundred dollars ($7,800). and
says be uuly got eighie* u hundred dollars
($1831); but there is proof positive that the
first n uaed amounts were correct.”
“ This statement still leaves the matter open.
have given currency to the report it did. We
cannot say so much for the Chronicle & Sentinel
It is sui generis among its Democratic compeers.
It not only “ stoops to conquer,” but it traduces
to conquer. Under its lead, the Democratic
party ot Georgia bave never yet conquered, nor
will it ever, till more of discretion and wisdom ;
more of what is due to a sound public opinion
and to enlighten journalism shall appear in its
editorial columns.
The editor of the Chronicle & Sentinel
audaciously charges, too, among his other men
tal hallucinations, that “Blodgett bought the
Intelligencer with seven thousand eight hun
dred dollars.” Tbe charge is a false one. Iu
every sense it is maliciously wicked and false.
The Intelligencer was doing the printing for
the State Road, aud received advances thereon,
long before tbe late Treasurer Blodgett bad any
connection w hatever with it. It did the work,
and does it still, at tbe sacrifice of no political
principle, or of personal integrity. We know ot
no higher evidence to convict one of mental
depravity than when we find him bringing
false charges against his neighbor,” and this
the editor of the Chronicle & Sentinel has done
against the proprietor ot this journal.
We charge that the editor of the Chronicle d
Sentinel has with malicious intent put a con
struction upon a business transaction which the
Proprietor of the Intelligencer had with
the State Road, not warranted by the facts, and
designed to impair its influence with the De
mocracy of the State. His zeal in this ignoble
work seems recently to bave been stimulated;
and the columns of his paper teem from day to
day with reckless assertions regarding the con
duct ot the Intelligencer and the motives
actuating that conduct. With an affected argas-
eyed scrutiny, he penetrates the sanctum of
this paper, and in bombastes furioso style
tells his readers tbat so aud so dictated
this, and that “ no one believes the editor ot the
Intelligencer wrote that article;” that an ar
ticle printed iu these columns “ ou the 13th
instant,” is the base progeny of what he is
pleased to term a “ Radical robber.” The vilest
assurance on the part of the vilest scribbler for
a prostituted press, cannot go beyond this, and
as such we repel with scorn and contempt the
charges which that quixotic and bombastic edi
tor has brought against this journal. Not one
ol them has even enough ot the semblance of
truth to deceive the most unwary and least in
telligent of the reading public, into whose hands
the Chronicle & Sentinel may fall, and wboknows
anything at all ot the course of the Intelli
gencer.
We might say more; we could uot say less.
Conscious of the rectitnde of our course, we
have, perhaps, given too much importance to
the assaults ot the Chronicle &. Sentinel; to its
misrepresentation ot the Intelligencer ; and
to tbe slander perpetrated upon the Proprietor
of this, bv the editor of that journal. We
might, indeed, iu fewer words have repelled
his charges, and left our defense and vindica
tion with the true-hearted Democracy ot the
State, with whom, shoulder to shoulder,
we have battled in many a hard conflict;
whose cause has ever been our cause, in whose
triumphs aud disasters we have alike shared,
and by whom we expect to stand so lODg as
principle is their guide and qood government their
aim. We might have done this, and said to
Gen. Ranse Wright, as we say to him now,
CEASE, VIPER, YOU BITE AT A PILE ” without
entering upon the lengthy defense we have done,
but we desired to present tacts, which occupy
much ot the space ol this article, and this is
our apology tor its length.
Atlanta, Ga. Jan. 14,1870.
Col. F. Blodgett, Superintendent :
Dear Sir—In reply to your inquiry, I have
tbe honor to state that the amount ot cash turned
over to me by yourself as former Treasurer,
amounted to ninety-two thousand, nine hundred
and nine and thirty-nine one hundredths dollars
($92,909 39) Warrants, notes, e»c., equivalent
to cash, amount to sixteen thousand two hun
dred, twenty-two and forty-three one hun
dredths dollars. Very respectfully,
Isaac P. Harris, Treasurer.
This statement, taken in connection with the
one made by you a lew evenings since, is quite
sufficient, it seems to me, to refute the slander
ous statements and insinuation that had been
set afloat by certain parties in Atlanta and else
where ; and in addition to the above, I will sty
that the records and books of tbe offices of
Superintendent, Anditor aud Treasurer, of the
State Road, are open to the inspection ot any
gentleman who may desire to satisfy his own
mind on this point
Nothing is sought to be conceal d from the
pnblic, in the management ot this road; and I
know it to be the determination ot the officers
named, as well as my ow i, to discharge the
duties imposed by their respective positions, in
such a manner as will effectually refute the
slanderous innuendoes of perrons! enemies and
the prejudicial feelings of reckless and unfair
political opponents. Very respectfully,
Foster Blodgett,
Superintendent W. & A. R. R.
Tbe Situation.
“Captain Scott and Captain Bryant have
formed a coalition ot forces and propose to fight
Captain Grant, Captain Terry, Captain Bullock,
the omnipotent Radical Congress, and “General”
Blodgett, with their myrmidons. The charge
of Captains Scott and Bryant against the over
whelming opposition is something like the
cavalry onset at Balaklava—very fine aud very
futile. Georgia has been handed over to do
mestic knaves by all-powerful tyrants abroad.
The Bryant-Scott coalition may yet save the
State lrom spoil, rapine and insult, because, as
some persons think, miracles are still in vogue.
But while the President and Congress aid and
abet onr home-made riscals, it is not quite clear
how the salvatioo ot Georgia is to be managed.”
“We believe in the People of Georgia, and wc
believe in God and the Future; but our faith in
any mummery of the so called Legislature is
infinitesimal.”
So says the Augusta Constitutionalist of tbe
16th instant. The “ mummery ” of the Legisla
ture “infinitesimal; ” indeed it is 1
bear her little sister Juliana lrmn tii.• building.
Wben found her arms still clasped* the dead
body of the little girl. Several persons attempted
to rescue the little ones wbo a e shrieks sent a
thrill ot horror to all, and one brave man actually
entered the building, but was powei 1< ss to reach
them, and narrowly escaped with his file. The
building was constructed wholly ot wood, and
burned with great rapidity, a barrel of kerosene
oil that was standing near tue stove (where it is
supposed the flames originated) aiding the spread
of the flames.
As soon as tbe fire was extinguished, the work
of removing the debris from above- the dead
bodies was commenced, and they were soon
reached. The bodies were fearfully charred,
and were turned over to the city sexton for in
terment The names ol the dead children were
Clemence, aged 15 years; Edward,* aged 12;
Eugenia, aged 8; Sophia, aged 5, and Juliana,
aged 2 yeais.
Mr. DeCauasin was away from home at the
time of the catastrophe, and knows nothing ot
the origin of the fire, but it is supposed that the
stove tell down, and being situated near the
stairway, (the only egress lrom the dwellmg,)
resulted thus disastrously.
Killed.—On Friday afternoon the out pas
senger train on the Eulaula Road ran over a ne
gro man who was lying on the track partly con
cealed between the ties As soon as the en
gineer saw him the engine was reversed, and
brakes put down, but too late. The wheels
passed over both legs of tbe man mangling them
in a horrid manner. He died within a few
hours after the accident. It appears that he was
lrom Bellville, Conecuh county, and his name
William Fuller. He was drank and bad doubt
less fallen where the accident occurred. A
Coroner’s inquest was held by Coroner Rose
yesterday at the Eulaula depot over the remains
and a verdict found in accordance with the
iacla.—Montgomery Mail.
Mart innocent persons believed that when
Mrs. Stowe edited the Byron mystery the climax
in scandalous literature had beeD reached ; but
it seems not. Dr. Mackay has fully surpassed it
in unfolding the shameless life ot Medora Leigh,
and dow comes another English writer, who
dishes up for modern palates all the fostering
intrigues of George LL’s licentious courts, and
grows particularly eloquent over those ot his own
mother. How much further these literary out
rages upon morality and good taste are to be
carried remains to be seen.
The Litchfield (III.) Monitor tells this spicy
story:
About four years ago, as near as we can learn,
there came to Litchfield from Missouri a man
about sixty years of age, calling himself Cavolt.
Here he engaged in tbe occupation of boarding
house keeper and teamster. With him came a
woman apparently about thirty-five years old,
who presided over the domestic department ol
Cavolt. She represented herself as the widowed
daugbter-in-l&w ot the man, and had two chil
dren who passed as her children and the man’s
grandchildren. She was generally known in
tbe neighborhood as the “ Widow Cavolt.”
Both the man aud the woman represented that
her husband, dying, had commended her and
the children to tbe care of his lather, with the
urgent request that he would always remain
with and protect and care lor them. The fami
ly were considered by those who knew them ae
honest, respectable people, and the fidelity with
which Cavolt fulfilled the trust reposed in bim
by his departed sun was the subject of frequent
eulogium.
As time passed on, the Cavolts made many
acquaintances in the town, and some friends.—
Among the latter was a young man named Reu
ben Akers, an honest and thrifty yonng work
ingman. Mr. Akers became a frequent visitor
at the Calvot house, till friendship ripened into
a kindred and tenderer sentiment. The contem
plation ot the voung widow’s many graces ot
person and domestic virtues was too many for
him. The olt-quoted advice ot old Weller tc
Samiuel to “ bevare ot the vidders," if evei
heard by him, was torgotton in the intoxication
ot “ Love’s young dream,” and—well, last March
he and the widow became man and wife.
At least Reuben thought so, but, doubtless,
tbe law would take another view ot the sub
ject, as, in tact, Reuben does now. Tbe cere
mony over, the first to grasp Reuben’s band and
wish him much joy was Cavolt, the aged and
pious guardian ot his deceased son’s widow and
children The blu-hing bride received the salu
tations and congratulations of her friends, and
everything was as happy as —say twenty or
thirty—marriage belie.
The honeymoon passed —in fact, six months
passed without any apparent diminution of the
honey or its palling on the taste. At the end
ot that time a brother of the bride, who in the
meantime had come to Litchfield, let an im
mense cat out of the bag; otherwise, he re
vealed the astounding fact that Cavolt was dm
husband of his daughter-in law and the lather
of his grandchildren—that is to say, tbat he was
husband and father, and not a father-in-law
and grandfather, the dead son and life dying
charge being l ght and airy creations ot the
playful lancy of Mr. and Mrs. Cavolt.
Naturally Reuben Akers was considerably
excited when he heard the brother’s story, sod
be went immediately to old Cavolt to inquire
as to its truth. The patriarch acknowledged
the com frankly. He said he was old, sod bad
bat a few more years to live, and not willing to
leave a young widow destitute to strqgglelor
herself and a little one in an unfeeling world,
he thought it would be. t«tter to have her
united to a worthy and industrious yonng man
to whose tender care he could safely intrust her
when he should be called to another and better
home.
Instead ot being overcome with emotion, or
soothed and satisfied with this explanation. Ken-
ben flew into a rage, aud immediately aban
doned his half interest in the conjugal claim;
whereupon, shortly alter, the Cavolt, yonng and
old, with bag and baggage, departed lor pans
unknown.
What sticks in Reuben’s craw is the hand
shaking and congratulation of old Cavolt on
the wedding day. “Why,” said he,“theold
scalawag was the first to wish me much joy
The flouneetlng Link Between Men and
Finli.
To believers in tbe Darwin theory, it will be
of interest to know that in the quite bays and
rivers on the Eastern coast of Centra! and South
America, there lives an animal, whiefl might be
rightfully considered as the connecting link be
tween men and fish. It is the manatee, the wa
ter-siren, tbe sea-calt or sea cow, as the strange
aDim&i is sometimes called. It belongs to tbe
onler of the Cetacea, and is altogether herbivor
ous, living on grass which grows u/uler water,
or on herbs which it seeks on shore.’ * The body
is piscifortn, and measures some fourteen or more
feet in length, the skin being very thick, without
hair, and of a dark color. Tbe upper part oi
the body, especially ot the females, much resem
bles that ot a woman, the breasts being ot the
same form. In place of the finsoi the ordinaiy
fish, the manatee has a short arm yt only oue
joint, which terminates in a sort of hand, on
which the nails are distinctly visible, and which
the animal uses with much dexterity, iu moving
about wben ou land, and in carrying its youDg.
This limb has caused this animal.to he called
manatee, from the Latin wjSra minus,
the hand. The writer, who for several years
resided in those countries wgfre three
animals abound, has seen the ault$al, aud has
beeu to'd repeatedly by the utilises, Unit ihe
female holds her cub to suckle as ire mother
does her baby. The tail of the ^atSaite is
shaped like an opeD fau, and the close observer
will perceive ten divisions, which mark the ten
toes. Manatees swim by the help ot this broad
tail, which moves up and down, and not from
right to left like that of the fish. This limb,
which at first appears to be a mere flu or nerve,
melts almost entirely into butter when fried iu a
pan, aud is highly prized hy the natives for
ointuieuls aud lor other medicinal purposes.
The animal weighs from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds
aud (lie meat is considered a great relish. It
looks and tastes much like pork, and needs a
good deal ot cooking. It is a strange fact that
the flesh keeps longer from decay than any
other,and it is, thereiore, salted and preserved
likepoik. They are caught with harpoons by
the Iudians, who know their haunts aud cus
toms, aud it seems as if they were becoming
more scarce every year. —Scientific American.
Fr m ihe Nashville Union & American.
BLOODY THACEDY.
Two Men Billed on tbe Same Nlsbi—Rid
dled wltb Bnllete by Men lu Hank*—The
Perpetrator* Kaeape.
li btcruea our paimul duty to chronicle an
other one of those chilling honors and deeds of
blood resulting in the takmg of human life, and
the bereaving of Iriends and home, which have
been but too common in some portions ot our
8tate and upon our border for two or three years
past. In this instance it was a double tragedy,
enacted, it would appear, with atrocious pre
meditation and deliberate purpose. By the out
rage two gentlemen ol high standing, of ex
tended aud influential connection, of chivalrous
and manly courage, have been deprived of li«e,
aud their souls, without a moment’s premoni
tion, sent to the presence ot their God. The
scene of the tragedy is near Leightou, between
Courtland and Tuscumbia, in North Alabama,
and the names of the parties tliU3 suddenly de
privedof file were Granville and vViliiaui Pulow,
sons of the late Major G. A. Pillow, of Murrv
county, an I nephews of Msj Gen Gideon J.
Pillow. They had many relatives in this sec
tion, and were well known boih here and
in counties adjoining. The particulars of the
affair, so tar as we have been able to learn
them, are about these: Late in the evening ol
Sunday, two men, masked and in disguise, rode
up to the house oi Granville Pillow,atthe local
ity indicated, and called him to the door Ou
reaching the door, one ot the masqueraders of
death drew his pistol and fired, the ball striking
his victim in a vital part. The wounded man
tell bleeding from the wound William Pillow,
a brother ol Granville, rushed to the d >or ou
beating the flriuii. io the lescue of his brother.
No sooner had he made his appearance than the
disguised fiends commenced firing at him also.
He was soon prostrated by their fatal balls.—
They then took William a short distance from
the house, and in a species of sink left him dying,
ri-'-aied with balls. Thinking that Granville,
tbe eider toother, might not be quite dead, they
then returned to the house, and driving the in
mates away, made sure of tbeii bloody work, by
firing additional balls into the body of their
victim. Assuring themselves that he was dead,
they left the premises, aod up to tbe date ot our
latest information no clue as to who the perpe
trators were or as to their whereabouts had been
discovered.
The two men were closely masked and other
wise disguised, and though it is asserted that
their actions and their words indicated they
were negroes, no positive certainty exists that
they were such. The supposition mat the per
petrators may have been negroes is somewhat
strengthened from th j fact that some negroes,
some yeais since, had quite a serious difficlly
with one of tbe Messrs. Pillow, since which
time an old spite has existed, and threats against
them have been freely indulged in. Be they
black or white, men or devils, the deed is one of
the most melancholy tbat has attracted public
attention tor seme time pash Granville Pillow
was twenty-seven years of age, and leaves a
saddened and bereaved yonng family to mourn
his tragic and untimely death. William, the
mordered brother, was bat twenty-three years
of age and unmarried. By the unknown hand
of an assassin he is thus cut off from his friends
and his uselnlness in the first flush of his man
hood. It is to be hoped that tbe perpetrators of
this dark deed may be ferreted out and brought
to speedy and summary justice.
“Yet he could not have failed to know that,
if he desired to send a dispatch of twcuty words
to his home in Illinois, and was not favored
with a D. H (dead head) pass, he would have
to pay $8 tor a similar message; to the home oi
the Missouri member ot that committee $4
would be charged; tbe Michigan member, $2 80
tbe New Jersey member. $1 25 ; the Massachu
setts member, $125; the Indiana member. $2 50;
the Kentucky member, $2 50; the Nevada
member, $9 28, and the Oregon member, $15 60,
or $5 70 more than it would cost to send a mes
sage of ten words from Washington to Con
stantinople by the Atlantic cable aud continental
lines.”
In England and in almost every country of
Europe, tbe charges for the transmission of mes
sages by telegraph are much lower than in tbe
United States. A Northern paper is assured
that in Great Britain a dispatch ot twenty words
can be sent at a uniform rate of ODe shilling all
over the country—a distance of over 700 miles;
the same dispatch can be sent from one eDd ot
France to the other for one franc; all over Bel
gium and Switzerland for halt a franc, or ten
cents; Denmark, twelve and a half cents; Prus
sia, from twelve aod a half cents to thirty-seven
cents; Sweden and Norway, any distance lor
thirty cents for a message of twenty words, and
one cent for each additional word; from Mar-
seills to the North of Scotland, a distance of
1,400 miles, traversing two dingdoms, and cross
ing the Straits ot DoVtr by submarine t able, for
fifty-five cents.
It will be seen from these figures that, so far
from being the cheapest in the world, telegraph
ing in this country is the most expensive in the
woild. The rates ot charges now paid should
certainly be reduced. Such a reduction would
be a blessing to the public at large, and would
entail no loss on tbe telegraph companies, as
their business would be increased sufficient to
prevent it But the result should not be obtained
through the intervention of government, which
has enough to do with our private affairs already,
but through a wholesome competili n on the
part of numerous rival lines
Competition will briDg down the rates, and
insure more celerity in transmitting and deliver
ing messages An instauce is within our knowl
edge, where an opposition line was established
bi tween two cities and the rates reduced about
two-thirds, and yet the gross receipts ot the
new company, at the reduced price, are as great
as the receipts of the old company, at the high
rates, with no competition. Assuming tbat the
gross receipts of the old company have not di
minished, the reduced rates have caused the
business to increase six-fold. As the puce falls,
the demand must and will increase. The ex
perience ot the cable proved ibis, il it was
thought tbat telegraph companies are exempt
irora the operations ot a general law, At pres
ent the telegraph system ot the South is a mo
nopoly. What we want is not government in
terlerence, hut open aud active competition.—
Charleston News.
Senator Sumner aud (be Finance*.
In the United States Senate yesterday Sena
tor Sumner introduced a bill to issue five hun
dred million dollars in bonds bearing interest at
five per cent. and to provide ior two hundred
million dollars more of bank circulation, and
when gold falls to five per cent, premium the
Uoited States notes to he received at par ior
customs. Senator Sumner is eminently a
scholar and a theorist, and ol course he has a
gnawing desire to dabble in finances, of which
lie knows nothing. He rises to a great height
iu discussing the rights of man, and falls tar
below the average intellect in discussing finance
His plan is visionary and impracticable, and
could only have been conceived by a mind
tilled with metaphysics and abstractions. His
idea ot issuing five hundred millions in bonds at
five per cent, is nonsense; for we can fund the
ht that he would buy up witu ibis new issue
at four and a half per cent., and, if the redemp
tion ot onr bonds in gold were settled, probably
at four per cent. The best plan is to land the
debt at a lower rate of interest and let the cur
rency take care ot itself. It will grow up to par
Id time, and specie payments will be resumed
without any violent disturbance ol commercial
values.—New York Herald
[From the New York Sen.
Rlnsroye, the laie«iNew York. Miser.
Ou last New Year’s Day be gave ihe old ser
vant, m consideration ot her long services, $1 20
a New Year’s present, which amount hap
pened to remain over in change alter she had
made some purchases. Thinking to please him,
he being very sick at the time, the old lady
bought a chicken with the money, cooked it
nicely, with some vegeiables, and gave it to the
old miser. But he would nut touch it, being
driaclfully frightened at first, thinking the wo
man bought it wilh his money. Even when he
learned that she bad not done so, he would not
receive it. He never accepted auy piesents,
however small, lest the giver should expect
something in return.
This servant had been ia Ihe habit of sitting on
an old wooden chair, painted green, and puli mg
her leet on the round Old Hingrove noticed
this one day, and rather than let her wear out
the round in that way, cut down the chair to
the high! ol about six inches. When tbe chaii
was thus reconsiructed,” the housekeeper was
compelled to sit without using the rouud.
Just before he died, he said to her:
“Catharine, you may lake my shirt and draw
ers off, and wash them, and they will be good
enough to be burnt d in.”
The miser’s fortune is estimated at nearly a
hundred and fifty ihoasand dollars. The leases
on the buildings in King street expire next May,
bat most oi the wealth is in Borlem and other
raiiroad stocks, and in United States bonds.—
Large sums ot money are deposited in savings
banks. He left no will.
Death of Aaron Bell.—We regret to an
nounce tbe death ot Aaron Bell, which occurred
at his residence in Banks county on the evening
ot the 9th inst., after a lingering illness of several
months of duration, of dropsy. He was a
brother of Dr. W. R. Bell, representative in the
Legislature from Banka county, and Hon. Madi
son Bell, Comptroller General ot the State. He
was rested ia this county, and continued a citi
zen oi the same until two or three years since,
he sold out the property known as the “ Glade
Mines,” and removed to Banks county. He was
boned in this place on the 11th with the luueral
ceremonies of the Masonic Fraternity.—J.ir-
Lme Ea^le, Jan. lith.
We clip Ihe f blowing from the Americus
Republican of the 15 h rim :
A homicide occurred at B ack’s Mills iu this
county, on the 12lh inai Two negro men, Pe
ter B .vi8 and George Cutis, got into a quarrel
about an axe. A Uifflcuhy ensued and they
were parted. George retired to his house, think
ing that the affair was over, but he had not been
there long before Peter came, aod in a violent
manner, demanded admission. This George re
fused him, bat Peter, nothing daunted, went
under the house and forced an entrance through
the floor. He came in with axe in hand, and
was advancing on George, when George shot
him down. George gave himself up and is now
in jail awaiting bis trial. We have no donbt, if
the facts are as above stated, that the prisoner
will be acquitted.
Arrested.—A white man who had been
traveling in company with John Robinson’s cir
cus, was arrested with two negroes in this place
yesterday, for passing counterfeit money. They
bad a large amount in their possession. They
were lodged in jail.
Accldkkt.—Mr. Amos Jordan, of Marion
county, was accidentally shot in this place, on
Thursday last, by Henry Weaver. Tney were
examining each others pistols, when Weavers
was discharged, the ball lakiug eflectin Jordan s
chin, ranging towards the temple, fracturing the
jaw- bone.
KARRAS.
St. Louis, January 14.—The State Senate
yesterday ratified the Fitieenth Amendment.
The Senate also adopted a resolution asking
Congress to repeal the franking privilege, and
another providing for portraits ior the late Sena
tor Lane and John Brown, to be hung np in tbe
capitol.
Bgignoli is coining money in California.
The Sacramento bootblacks have been uni
formed.
A. T. Stewart gave $5,000 to tjie Stanton
fund.
Athens, Alabama, is to have a ma’e academy.
Edgefield, Tcuncssce, is to have a bucket
manufactory.
Tbe Kingdom ot Bavaria has now a popula
tion of 5 121,304.
Nilsson is said to be as good a business wo
man as she is a singer.
Beecher’s salary has been increased to $20,000
—at, increase ol $7,500.
Brigham Young is cursing Congress fluently
about Cullom’s Utah bill.
There aTe lour Democratic aod nineteen
Radical papeis in Ohio.
Iron works and paper mills are to be put in
operation at Harper’s Ferry.
Henry C. Bergh, philanthropist, is after the
swill milkmen in New York.
Feebler is pronounced F.shter. He has made
a dramatic ten-strike in Now York.
Massachusetis contains twenty-five co-opera
tive manufacturing associations.
“ Six fingered people ” is the odd title of a
seuii-scientific article in Old and New.
Mr. Daly ol the Fifth Avenue Theater, is
adopting Frou-Frou for his establishment.
Ross Browne asks of Congress $12,000 for
extraordinary expenses while Minister to China
They had a missionary meeting in Boston,
recently, at which a hymn was sung in Arabic.
A New York reporter says that ten thousand
people go to bed drunk every night in that city.
The domestics at Laporte, Indiana, get rid ol
ironing,-by leaving tne washing out over night.
Anthony Trollope’s new novel, “ Ralph the
Hair,” is commenced in Appleton's Journal.
The leading Rabbi at the great Berlin Syna
gogue, receives a salary of seven thousand dol
lars.
Walter Sherrod fatally shot a man named
Sewell near Jonesboro, North Alabama, Thurs
day.
Wm. Cullen Bryant presided as usual over
the Century Club, of New York, at its last
meeting.
Mr. Slater Crawford, of the Stevenson (Ala
bama) New Era, was elected Mayor ot Steven
son last week.
The Vaiden Times says Judge Tabor was ac
cidentally killed a few days ago north of Greens
boro, Mississippi.
Wm. Bradford, the Arctic artist, i9 exhibiting
in Boston the photographs of the Arctic Regions,
taken last summer.
Miss Eliza P. Buckley, aged twenty, and
beautiful, is trying to obtain $25,000 from the
St. Louis Republican lor slander.
All (he disposable mounted recruits at Car
lisle, Pennsylvania, have been ordered to Gal
veston and Jefferson, Texas.
Rev James Dolan, pastor of St. Patrick’s
Roman Catholic Church, Baltimore, for the past
twenty-nine yi ars, died Thursday.
The Tom Thumb party arrived in Japan
November 80th, and, at last accounts was hold
ing levees in Masonic Hall, Yukahama.
Two rival negro lovers shot each other in
Nashville, Wednesday night. One ot them was
twice wounded in the arm, and the other was
killed outright.
The Decatur (Alabama) Republican says a Mr
Patterson shot and killed James Bim toons m
Somerville, on tbe 10th. Simmons attempted
to draw a pistol on Patterson and the latter shot
him.
There is said t > be in . Paducah a negro chi ! d
that has a Well levtloped tail several inches in
leue'h Its body is extremely hairy, but in
othe.i lespec's it lias no unusual appearance.
Forty families from Patterson and Hahwav,
New Jersey are to settle upon a recently pur
chased tract of seveu thousand acres on Stan
ton river, in Virginia.
Proposition for a National Constitu
tional Convention.
The Washington correspondent of the Balti
more Gazette says:
Tbe Radical leaders confess that the validity
oi the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments
is at least questionable. Nothing ceitainly could
be more disastrous to the public peace thsn a
doubttul tundsmental law. The action of Con
gress (besides) ior the past eight years has t eon
confessedly iu repugnance to the Constitution us
it. stood prior to the war. Under these circum
stances, it is suggested by the Congressional or
gan, as the only means ot response, the assem
bling ot a Constitutional Convention. As it
strikes me as not only an important admission
on the part of ibe Radicals, but, as containing
some grains ot common sense, not often found
Radical newspapers, I append it in the
writer’s own words:
“ It has beeu suggested that, to provide a de
finite quietus iorsuch questions, it may be neces
sary to convoke a Constitutional t onvention,
which should recast the entire Constitution,
with all its amendments, taking advantage ol
tbe occasion to affirm tbe sense ot ti.e country
upon any desirable modification ot that instru
ment.”
It ever tbe Union is again harmoniously re
established, it mast be m.tde a Constitution de
fining and fixing tbe powers of ihe General
Government, recognizing the perfect equality ol
the States. There can be no other Republican
form ot government.
While the conservatism ol the South, exerted
through its controlling influence iu tbe national
councils, was able to preserve intact the Consti
tnlion of tbe founders of the government, tbe
Union was harmonious and prosperous.—
Sectional jealonslies and diversity of insti
tutions led finally to the triumph ot Radi
cal ideas. Innovations upon the Consti
tution were lollowed by disintegration ol
tbe Union and civil war, in which the Constitu
tion was overthrown. All attempts now by a
revolutionary and usurping laction to iorce a
mutilated and changed Constitution upon the
States—all attempts to dictate a Constitution, by
tbe party in possession of the General Govern
ment, must prove ab >rtive. So-called amend
ments to what was once the Constitution
of tbe United States, contrived for party pur
poses, enacted by a Congress in which only a
portion ot tbe States aie represented, ratified by
some States by parlizan majorities, regard fere ot
the will of the people, and forced on otbeis at
the point ot tbe bayonet, ate not worth the pa
per they are written upon, and never will be
respected as tbe organic law of tbe country.
It would be well if Congress could retrace its
steps, undo legally what it has illegally done,
and rettore the Constitution of the Fathers ol
the Repub'ic in its purity. As there is no hopi
ot this, the people, if they would perpetuate tin
Uoiou and preserve tbe rights ol the S ates and
their own liberties, will sooner or later have t>>
lake the matter m their own bands. We lie-
heve, therefore, that a national convention foi
the revision and restoration ol the Constitution
is among tbe probabilities of the not difatan
luture.—Savannah News.
Jealous of a Widow—4 Young Man Be
gins His New Year in the Next World
A young man named James Mullins, aged
twenty-six years, committed suicide on New
Year’s night at the residence of a Mrs. Williams,
in Colonie street. It appears that until quite
recently Mnliins had been living wilh Mra.
Williams, who lost her husband in the war, and
that on Saturday evening he called to pay her
respects to her. As soon as be arrived at bis
domicil he sent out for a pail ot beer, tbat tbey
might bave a social glass together. Before
tbey had an opportunity to drink, a couple ot
young men, boarders at tbe bouse of a sister ot
Mrs. Williams, entered tbe room. As soon as
tbey were seated, Mullins became suddenly
enraged. Tbe “green-eyed monster” appeared
to bave taken possession of bim. He at once
seized the pail of beer and emptied the contents
upon tbe floor, and also kicked over a kettle ol
boiling water which was upon the stove. Be
coming alarmed at his conduct, and being lear-
lal tbat lurtber damage might be done, it, in
fact, personal injury was not inflicted, Mrs.
Williams fled from tbe room, and dispatched a
messenger for an officer. In a tew minutes two
policemen presented themselves. Upon seeing
them Mullins instantly plunged headlong
through one of the rear windows, carrying tbe
sash with bim, and striking upon hia bead,
broke hia neck, producing almost instantaneous
death. Tbe deceased was unmarried, and re
sided with hia mother in Uiinton avenue. It is
said tbat be was sober at the time ot making
tbe fatal leap.—Albany Earning Journal.
From the Hearth and Home
Short Patent Sbetebe* or Prominent
Revolutionists.
SUSAN B. ANTHONY
is the Bismarck ; she plans the campaigns pro
vides the munitions ot war, organizes raw re
cruits, sets the squadrons in the fiefd. Indeed
in the presence ot a timid lieutenant, she some
times heads the charge; but she is most effective
as the directing generalissimo. Her headquarters
were long ago transfered to New York City -
Rochester was a bent-up Utica io her. Miss
Anthony is a quick, bright, nervous, alert wo
man of flity or so—not at all inclined to enibon-
point - sharp-eyed, even behind her spectacles.
She ia a “smart” executive, and is the chief
motive Dower ot the movement. She presides
over tbe treasury ; she cuts the Gordian hard-
knots, and when the noisy, uncontrollahles t
I toy the ears at the conventions, she is the one
who straightway drags them asunder, and turns
chaos to order again. In every dilemma she is
unanimously summoned. As a speaker, she is
angular and rigid, but sharp, trenchant, incisivi
cutting through to the heart of whatever topic
she touches. She would be awkward it tLe
were not a woman ; but as the elder Weller re
marked: “They can’t be ockered if they vants
l °i. a 4 ?? 1 * is DOt what in the nu Paved districts is
called baahiul, but is directed by a singular com
bination ot modesty and audacity. When she
succeeds in coaxing a Governor to preside at
her meetings, she taces him down on tne spot
with the question : “Now, Governor, you wish
the women to vote don’t you ? ’ Before escap
ing from the platform, he is generally compelled
to conleas that he does, and to subscribe lor the
Revolution in presence of the assembly I
The Cleveland Convention was an overt act
of rebellion against Miss Anthony’s leadership
especially against the vagaries ot that incompar
able egotist, Train; bat she showed herself a
shrewd diplomatist, for, instead ot vainly try in
to spike tbe guns of the insubordinate Livermor “,
Stone & Co., she marched into the convention’
and drew tbe harmless Are when she was at the
right end of the battery. The malcontents are
a strong party, and it is not probable that the
revolution against the Revolution will be sup
pressed.
LUCY STONE
is still pre-eminently the orator of the movement
—readiest in debate, most fertile in illustration,
most eloquent in appeal. She will move an au
dience till they forget her sex, and remembur
only the cause. She has an oval and ruddy, bur.
thoughtful lace; a compact head, towering in
the moral regions, and wide at the organs of
force; a clear mild eye, and a voice that is all
melody. She is the wife ol Henry B. Blackwell,
also somewhat famous in the field ot reform;
and is not only one ot the mothers of this cause,’
but motber, also, of an interesting family of chi) -
dren.
“Mrs. Blackwell,” I said one day, desiring to
question her about the organization.
“Mrs. Stone, if you please,” she smilingly cor
rected me.
When I expressed a desire to be enlightened
farther, sbe continued: -
“My husband’s name is Balackwel!—mine is
Stone. When we married I told bim I did not
wish to assume his name, as by doing so I should
lose my social identity. He Baid I was clearly
right—be should not wish to be called • Mr.
Stone.’ So I have retained my maiden-name,
and when I meet my old friends on the street,
they don’t say: * Mrs.—a—Mrs.—a—a—lets see,
I’ve forgotten your new name.’ Even mv hus
band calls me Mrs. Stone. I think I see,” she
proceeded, “in the retention ot the maiden-
name, as Beecher Stowe, a growing tendency to
assert this individuality. I expect that, by and
by, women will cease to be called by their hus
bands’name; and lam sure that in the world
to come, each soul will be known hy its own
name and not another’s.”
ELIZABETH CADY STANTON,
wife ol Hon. Henry B. Stanton, an - . 1 , daughter
ot tbe late Judge Cady, came bravely, at an
early day, and brought wealth and social posi
tion to the side of an unpopular cause. She is u
stalely and strictly handsome woman ot sixty,
her white hair carted into an aurcoie around her
forehead, a round face, free lrom the lines of
care, a serious voice, and open blue eyes, with a
twinkle of merriment in them—a sign of the
everflowing humor which sometimes turns tbe
serious voice to badinage. Mrs. Stanton always
appears upon the platform well dressed. She
does not ignore silk, nor anathematize velvet,
>nd does not pretend to have a soul above a
point-lace. Thus arrayed, she doeB not give the
“ poor white male ” much peace. She prepares
her speeches as carefully as Sumner does, and
they are methodical, logical, forcible, running
from irony to grave argument. Her impressive
personal appearance is the vis a tergo-, and though
she is not by any means a mere figure-head, site
would be surprised to know how potently her
face backs up her words.
HRS. MARY A. LIVERMORE, OF CHICAGO,
is the Western Head Center of tbe Soroses, and
her journal, the Agitator, is the ablest, calm.- st,
strongest advocate of their course. Not only is
her editorial piquancy and force quite unique,
but she is equally able before an audience. The
triends of equal suffrage have no more effective
champion. Some ot her characteristics are un-
mistakeably masculine; physically, she is large
and commanding in stature; mentally, she is
apt in illustration, >ond of paradoxes and apho
risms, and quick, sharp, and delicate in repartee.
Her active indentification was as powertul an
aid to the cause as the pronounced support of
Mrs. Stowe and Jolia Ward in the East.
THERE 18 ONE MORE NOTABLE AGITATOR
who will hot flinch under my pencil, or any
body’s— Mrs. Jane G. Swisshelm, of Washing
ton. She has a very large head, high over firm
ness and self-confidence, wide at combativeness
massive in the intellectual moral regions, and a
forehead as square as a marble block—casually
jutting out m a most defiant manner. Add to
this a lace full of self-assertion, a pair of sharp
eyes, an inquisitive nose, and a controversial
month, wbicn plainly says, “ No compromise.”
Twenty five years ago sbe was editor ol the
Pittsburg Saturday Visitor, and the most widely
read and popular woman writer in this country-
Her recent miscellaneous articles show the same
genial spirit as her “ Letters to American Girls; ”
but party warfare has wearied and worried her
and on political subjects tbe ink flows acrid
from her pen. As an opponent she is disagreeably
witty, and in debate utterly unrelenting. In re
ligion, sbe maintains the doctrine ot the old
Scotch Covenanters, and she makes a zealous
champion. I am sure she would make au ad
mirable martyr. She stands in an unfriendly
attitude toward tbe Indians, and when she lived
iu Minnesoto insisted that they ought to be
packed away in gunny bags and thrown into ‘be
Mississippi like superfluous cats. Her decision,
courage and self reliance, the availability ot her
knowledge, and the power of her personal mag
netism, endow her with the qualities of a leader,
and, it, with five hundred other American wo
men, she should become cast away on a desolate
island in the Pacific, Mrs. Swisshelm would be
elected queen in fitteen minutes and have a pro
visional government organized before dinner.
But she belongs to the early day of Frances
D. Gage and Lucretia Mott; and she insists on
i.er privilege of passive acquiescence while “the
g.rls” go to the front and do the work. Like
many others, she is looking serenely forward,
wondering what will be the end of the agitation,
and where will be the field of peace and rest.
Elopements.—The irequency with which
* unfortunates rashly importunate ” rush into
matrimony through the surreptitious means of
an elopementis becoming dignified with tbe rep
utation ol “sinaituess.” Ills considered a huge
joke for young iovers to practice on old folks.—
A certain romance and daring is supposed to be
attached to eloping. Tbe gallantry and devo
tion of tbe youngster, suffering with his fiist at
tack of calf-fove, is extolled, and the girls all
think him a tine fellow—a man of spirit. The
giggling, simpering young thiDg who steals out
ot her lather’s house and rides miles away, often
with a mere boy, who is about as capable ot
taking care ot her as most boys, thinks it splen
did fun, and tbe happy pair in their wild hunt
tor somebody to go before and tie a knot with
tongues they can never undo with their teeth,
imagine that in outwitting the old man they are
distinguishing themselves; but if these poor
silly children only knew what an example tbey
are setting, and bow, instead of being happy
they bave taken tbe first step to unhappiness,
there would be no more runaway matches. For
a i«»«n to offer or tempt a girl to runaway with
him, is of itself a proof often ot bis nnwortbi-
ness snd but a poor return for her love; and for
a girl to leave her home clandestinely is in
wretchedly bad taste to say tbe least of lL A
runaway couple may be very interesting and ro
mantic, but sober folks will think them a pur ot
tools.