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THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION, AYLuiNTA, Giu TUESDAY DECEMBER 30 1881, TWELVE PAGES,
7
CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA.
???'Tbt n Bb*??l tbe Lata* Man Lrap as a Heart, nod Taa.
sues of tba Duab Blog, for la th* Wilderness
Shall VS at'i* Break Oat. aad Streams
in tbs Desert**???Bellgtous Point*.
Bkookltn, N. Y., December 28.???Dr. Tal
intgc preached this morning in the Brooklyn
tabernacle on the subject: ???Christinas D.iy
America.'* ??? During service the celebrated Birr,
Clarence Rice* Knox rendered three selections,
1 he regular artists of the church gave especial
music. Dr. Talmage read passages ol Scrip*
tare showing what yet Would be the improved
condition of tho world. The opening hymn
was:
???Hark the sound of jubilee.
Load as mighty thunder???s roar.
Or the violence of the sea
When it breaks upon the shore.???
The text was from Isaiah xxxv, 0: ???Then
shall the lame man leap aa a hart and the
tongue of the dumb sing, for in tho wilderness
shall waters break out and streams in the
desert." Following is the sermon:
For fourteen Christmas times I havo spoken
to you of the spiritual results of Christ's
birth. To-day I speak of the temporal. For*
tility to the Helds, health to tho body, manu-
mifsion to serfs, homes for the shelterless,
good government for the barbaric, blessings
for this life oa well os blessings for tho next.
The cradlo ol Christ was as wonderful as his
cross. Admitted tho first, I am not so sur
prised at the second. The door. by which he
entered was as tremendous in the door by
which ho went out. Through that one stable
gate of Bethlehem camo in for ns more tem
poral advantages than tho world has yet cele
brated in song or sermon or picture or cathe
dral arch. 'fThen shall the lame mau leap as
a hart and the tongue of tho dumb sing, for
in the wilderness shall waters break out and
streams in tbe desert." Banished crutch and
accentuation of speechless tongue and irrigated
Eaharos.
Amid a thousand mercies we give each other
the holiday congratulations, by long-estab
lished custom we exhort each other to beauti
ful merriment, by gifts, by household games,
by Christmas trees that blossom and fruit iu
the same hour, by long lines of candles lit, by
surprises, by children*! procession, by sound
of instruments more blatant than musical we
wsko up tho nights and prolong the days.
A merry Christmas to tho nation 1 No land
has so many happy homes as America, such
varieties of food on tho table, such a
family wardrobe, or such healthful
*iitc??
i tho table, such appropriate
. or such healthful domestic
architecture. At the same timo we recognise
that these holidays find avast multitude ot
peoplo without work and without food anc???
without apparel and without shelter. Some
thing must be awfully wron,
when I put two facts parallel
Dakota and Minnesota and Michigan than
they know what to do with. More cotton at
Iho south than they know what to do with.
In o:her words, a surplus of bread and a sur
plus of clothing has been provided by diviut
goodness, and yet multitudes ol people half-
starved and half-clothod, and to hundreds of
these it Is a shivering and hungry Christmas I
I think all tbe matter with tho nation is an
overdoso of politics. Thd trouble is that
so mofiy public men spend their
timo in keeping the ??? equilibrium
of public a flairs disturbed that business stag
gers and stops. Tho eloquent campaigners
make us believe that everything depends upon
tbe dominance of their party wnon to /the
great masses of the people it makes not two
cents difference for the next four years who is
president. But this superabundance of har
vests in wheat and corn and cotton and rice
must eventually be felt in better supply of all
our national wants. The present national de
pression is not like that which comet from
drought or deluge or plague. ???It is more liko
that oi a man who has plenty of money in a
tafe or liko that of a housewife who has plonty
of food in a pantry but they havo lost the keys
and they are trying to find them and, though
it will be an impatient and irritating leartm-
it will be successful.
But thero are two things for tbo com-
fortablo classes to do???ono to help
those who are holpleis, and the
other to talk cheerfully. This experiment
has been made by medical scientists; -a dozen
men agree to mcot a man at different points
of his journey and tell him how very sick he
looks. By tho timo he has been sccostod with
the fourth melancholy salutation ho is ready
to drop under the impression that his doom
has come, and the twelfth man meets him lust
in time to carry him home on a stretcher.
Now, the nation is only ono man on a largo
scale. All you have to do to prostrate the
business of this country is to talk gloomily
ond to keep on talking in ,tho same tone. Lot
all the merchants sigh and all tho editors
lers groan,
m these w .
those who have
loudest trombones are
,o fullest cellars and those
who have tho most complete wardrobe. They
are med because they have to fill back on tbo
surplus of other years or cannot make as large
investments as they expected. Artists tell
us theft it is impoesib'e to sing
well on a full stomach but there
weeks cxchango the
for tbo exultant songs of David, it would bo
well for the country. ??? I wish a conspiracy
might be formed, and I would like to belong
to it???a conspiracy of all the business men
they would have faith iu God and talk cheer*
fully, and tho revival of prosperity would bo
immediate and glorious. Stop ???Naonie" and
give us "coronation P* Merry Christmas.
I am gta{l that these holidays find us near
ing a righteous solution of a question that has
been dominant in politics and philanthropy
and religion for the last sixty years???what
of the colored man? That was the question
which dug tho grave trench for a million
sobers end has kept our national finances
a-janglo evei since. That question I gave
most of my timo to asking and tnsweriug
during my recent tour of 3,000 miles up end
down the states through the south and south*
west. I have observed that the colored mau
is better treated at tbe couth than at tbe north.
The day I spent in Montgomery, Ala., tbe leg
islature passed a law for the full and thorough
education of tbe colored people. As roeeban
ica they get ell they can ao. T1
men o.
day. . The colored people havo the prefer
ence as hired nelp at hotels and
bearding houses, and in steamers and
mail trains. They have their raco
represented in tbe legislative halls. Tbe ac
complished and eloquent8enator Brace, whom
I met on my journey, is au illustration of the
possibilities of their political elevation. They
are no better bere than the eo??ored people of
the north. Which ol tha northern legislatures
has black men in them? How many colored
representatives are there in tbe state of New
York? Ten? No. Five? X>. One? No.
Introduce into one of our northern hotels
a group of colored servants and how many of
Ue other servants would remain? Not one..
If I were a black man, with a family to sup-
pert, and I was determined to be industrious
and sober, I would go south. The climate is
more lenient, the feelings of the white people
towards the colored Is more kindly and Cans-
tien thin with us. Knowing well the feeling
toward colored people in this section and in
that, I am persaaded that that race will get
justice done them sooner at tbe south that at
tbe eortb. We cannot teach tho eonth how
better to treat the black man until we treat
him better ourselves. Imagine a scene: fitate-
heutc, Boston, within fire minutes of Fanned
hill and within one aianto of
tbe historical commons. Tbe legislature
???fumbles and white ^members take their
placet. A colored man hat been accidentally
elected. He comes in to take tho oath of
office. As he passes down to his scat what do
I bear his co-legislators say? ???Put that gen
tleman of color near me?' r ???Welcome to tho
balla of legislation?" ???Down*trodden raco
got justice at Inst?" ???Imago of God cut in
ch????y ????* No I They all anufl the breeze; and
back part of the head rises in
i the top,
tbe hair on the
wrath till it covers the bald spot
and ono and all they cry, ???nigger 1???
for myself I am so peculiarly constructed
that I have not a particle of race prejudice in
roy composition, and I declare that I should
fiel perfectly contented seated in a church with
a colored man before me, and ono behind me,
and one on the right hand of me, and one on
tbe leftol me, ana a black minister in the pul
pit, and a black choir to lead tho music. But
we are not all aflko constituted. I find a merr
Christmas thought in this consideration reauf
tint from my recent observations that a thor
ough Christian fooling is to be established be
tween the blaek and white races. Within
a few yesra this scene occurred
the stato house at Atlanta, Georgia* A
colored clergyman standing in that building
said he waa thirsty and was looking around
for a drink. A white gentlomaa standing by
said: ???I will get you a drink.??? Tho gentle-
ms n departed from tho room, and after
while appeared with a glass of water. Son
one said to the black man: ???Do you know
who that is who is getting you a ilass of
water???? ???No,??? said the black man, ???who is
it? ' Tho answer was, ???Governor Colquitt."
When the black minister recoived the water
he said, ???Thank you. governor, but I cannot
drink it." Ho poured it upon the floor, any-
irg, ???I pour this as a libation on tbe altar of
Christian feeling between tho white and black
races. On tho prospect of a bettor feeling
among all nations I say, "Merry Christmas."
Come, now. I make a prophesy. Tho land
is full of prophets, and I have as much right
as any of them to prophesy. Wo are not far
off from the grandest prosperity this country
v hanics wiP
has ever seen. Mechanics Will get larger
wages, capitalists will receive larger dividends
and tbo factories that are now closed will have
to run doy and night to meet the demand and
your storehouses will bo uncomfortablo with
.celling customers tired of waiting for their
tu??n to come, and amid tho misunderstandings
of bargain*makers tho attornoys will all bo
needed to interpret the legalities, aud tho
overworked business men will need more
medical attendance, and tho orders of God
will be thronged wtth men and women
anxious to consecrate their gains to Christian
purposes. You prophesy a midnight. I
prophesy a mid-noon. You pitch your tont
toward general bankruptcy, f pitch mine to
ward national opulence. l>o you want iny rca-
for this prophecy? God???s evident deter
mination to shower this land with prosperity,
five years of unexampled harvest and ol un-
prccedcnt - health and unheard
of amity. Northorn Pacific rail
road apocalypso in ono direction. New
Orleans exhibition apocalypso in tho othor
direction. "When I saw week before last at
iho opening of tho world's exhibition at New
Orleans a dark-skinned Mexican flutist throw
fifteen thousand people into testacy and tram*
???. t ??* * ly playing in
southern re
publics and empire* which are to raiufbrco us
in a march of commercial prosperity such as
tho most optimistic capitalist never got a
glimpse of in tho most excited midsummor
night's dream. Whilo wo sympathize with
tbo present hardship, we prophesy the coming
rescue.
While these holidays find so many out of
cmploy> there is not alandwhero so many
havo work. Whilo many havo their wagos
the reduced figure theso wages
aro higher than the ordinary rates in other
lands. In some parts of Iroland eight cents
a day; in England a dollar a day la good
wages;.in other lands fifty cents a day and
twenty*five cents a day, clear down to starva
tion and squalor. An editor of a prosperous
>spcr in England told mo that his salary was
750 a year. Look at tho great populations
ccming out of the factories of England and ac
company them to their home and soo what
privation tho bard working classes on tho
other side the sea suffer. The laboring classes
here are 10 per cent better off than in any
country under the sun; 20 percent, 40 por
cent, 60 per cent, 76 per cent. Tha stone
masons, and carpenters, and plumbora and
mechanics of all styles in America havo finer
residences than tho majority of professional
men in England. You enter iho laborer's
residence on this side the sea and you find
upholstery and pictures and instrument* of
music, liis children aro educated at the best
schools. His life is insured, so that in caso of
bis sudden decease the family should not be
flung homeless. Let all American workmen
know that while their wages may not be os
high at they would like to have ^hem, Amor-
ica is the paradise of industry.
We ore in better political condition than in
any other land. Every two years in tho state
and four years in tho nation wo clean house.
Aftor tho vohement expression of sentiment
at the ballot box in tho autumnal election tho
people sit down satisfied. An Englishman
said to me in an English rad train: ???How do
you stand it to have a revolution every four
years? It is better to have a quean for life
and all things settled." But iny friends,
England changes government just os certainly
-we do. At some advene vote in ptrlia-
???nt out goes Disraeli and in cornea Gladstone
and after a while there will bo another ad
monitory vote in parliament and out will go
Gladstono and in will come somebody else.
Administrations change there but not as ad-
land, and yet all the soil owned
by about thirty* two thousand. Duki
of Dovenshire owning 06,000 acres in Derby.
Duke of Richmond, 200,000 acres nt Gordon
Castle. Marquis of Breadelboue goes on
journey of a hundred miles in a straight lint
and nil his own property. Duko of Suther
land hat an citato as wide oa Scotland aud
reaching to tho sea on either side. Bad as wo
have it here, it is a thousand times worse
there.
Beside that, if here a few fortunes over
shadow all ctherr, wo must remember there is
a vast throng ot peoplo being enriched, aud
this fact shows the thrifUness ol the country.
Tho most of peoplo here will bo rich them*
selves or their children will be rich. Bosido
that, the domains of Europe aad Asia arc
already full, every* place occupied, unless
it be desert or volcano or condemned
barrenness; while here wo havo plenty
of room: and tbe resources nro only
just opening. In other lands if fortunes fattou
they mtfst fatten on others. But here they
can fatfoh but oi illimitable prairie and out ot
inexhaustible mines. We have only just be
gun to cat tho family table of this country.
We have put on one silver fork, and one salt
cellar, and one loaf of bread, andonesmokin;
8 latter. Wait till tbe fruits come in from al
te orchards, and the meats from all the mar
kets, ond the vegetables from all the gardens,
ond the silver from all tho mines, and the bell
rings cut, saying: ???Como, all tbo people from
between the two oceans! Come from between
the Thousand islands and tho gulf of Mexico I
Como and dinelj ;
This Christmas finds us moro thoroughly at
peace than any other nation of tho glooe. At
least fifteen million men boljng to tho stand
ing oi lilies of Europe. Sinco our war on this
side tbe eca, on the other have occurrod the
Zulu war, tho Afghan war, tho Egyptian war,
the Ruseo-Turkish war, the German-French
war, and they havo no certainty about tho
future. All tbo governments of Europe aro
watching each other lest one of them comes to
much advantage. Diplomacy all tho timo
nervously at work. Four nations wore a long
whilo watching tho Suez canal as carefully as
four cats watch ono rat. In order to h .
intermarriages of royal families; some
princess compelled to marry some for
cign dignitary in order to insure tho political
balanco of powers???tho illy-matched pair
fighting out on a small scale that which would
have been international contest.
Europo crowded, cities crowc ???
mints crowded, learned institutions
crowded. Nations crowded. Tacked between
Pyrenees and the Alps. Packed iu botween
tho Rhine and the Danube. Packod in be
tween English canned and Adriatic, bo closel<
they cannot move without treading on exol
others heels or toee. Sceptres clashing,
chariot wheels colliding. The nations of
Asia and.Europe wondering what next. But
on this continent plenty of room and no ono
to fight with. Eight million square milos in
North America, all but one???seventh capable
of rich cultivation. Implying what fertility
and what commerce, four great basins pcAir-
ing their waters Into tho Atlantic, Pacific,
Artie and Mexican gull. Shore lino nl 29,909
miles. Tho one stato of Texas with moro
square miles than all Franco, than
all Germany. Peace all over
this continent. Sumter and Moultro
and Pulaski, ond Fort Lafayetto, and Fortress
Monroe and all tho other shaggy lions was
asleep on their iron paws. Gunpowder out ot
fashion lave for sporting purposes. The land
struck through and through with
peace. By intermaariago tho north
and the south united, as novor
be/ore. The child of tho coming generation,
halt Missiisippian and half New Englandur,
and to make any division between tho north
and tbe south possiblo, you would havo to do
with the new child as Solomon proposed with
the child brought to him???divide it with tho
ewvrd, giving half to the north and half to
theeouth. No, no I Tbe hardest thing in the
world to split is a cradle. Intermarriage will
n and conaanguincal ties wiir be
multiplied, and tho generations to come will
wonder that wo of this generations could have
got in such an awlul wrangle as that in which
a tew yearn ago wo engaged.
But, whilo we thank Gad that amid so many
levioting circumstances this nation keeps
holiday, Iwish you an especial happy time In
your households. Merry Christmas lor alt
I our homes I Let middle and old ago, during
icee seven holidays, rally all their sprightly
feelings to put themselves in ' accord with the
young. Make such days for thorn a bright
memory. They will soon havo to put their
???boulders to the burdens of lifo
and harncif themselves for
the world's battle. Help them gather up now
life:
_ 1,become as serious for them
has become to us. Prolong their
boyhood and girlhood days ns much as possi
ble clear the way for them as long as you can.
When we aro through with tho struggle and
the holidays of the far future come down, let
not eur children thinker us as gouty and dull,
silting round with tour visage, disoouraging of
our aches and pains, when wo ought to havo
been sympathetic in the merriments of the
holiday. And when these times of household
reunion snd gift bestowment shall havogono
for us snd gone for them and wo no more light
Iho Christmas candles or on earth rejoice in
tho children's glee, msy it bo because.we aro
come in our Father???s houfe, keening eternal
country
Titles! stealing than in other lands. Tho
ffercueo is that in this country almost every
official has a chance to steal, while in other
lands a few people absorb so much that the
others havs no chance at appropriation. The
j vo
royal families are paid
thero Is not so much left to misappropriate,
The emperor of Rum!* has an annual salary
of (8,210,000; the emperor of Austria $1,000,-
000; Victoria, $2,200,000 salary. Tho royal
* St. James??? palace Is worth ten million
Queen's hair dreucrgets $10,000 a year.
There is a host of attendants, all on salaries,
some of them five snd six thousand dollars.
Master of buckhounds, $8,500; grand falconer.
(6,000, snd so on, and so on, ad Infinitum, ad
museum, until it is said that the queen some
times suffers from thirst because it takes so
much machinery to get her a glass of water.
All this is only s type of the fabulous expense
of foreign governments. All this paid for by
the sweat and blood of tba people. Are the
people satisfied? However much tho Ger
mane like William, and tbe Spaniards like
their young king, end England likes the
queen, these stupendous governmental ex
penses are built on a groan as wide as Europe.
If it were left to the people of Englaad, Spain,
Germany, Austria, Russia whether these ex
pensive establishments should be kept up, do
you doubt what the rote would be? But
these questions arc not left to the ballot box.
Now. m it not better that we be taxed end the
surplus be distributed all over the laud among
legislatures, and congress, end Iobbymen,
than that the people should be taxed and have
It piled all up inside a yard of palaces? In
cor case there is more prospeet that tbe sur
plus will some day get Lack to its lawful
channel. ???
Then, again, I find that we are better off in
regard to monopolistic oppression. Tbe air is
lull of protest because great bouses, great com
panies, great individuals, are building soeh
overtowering fortunes. Stephen Gcfard and
John Jacob Asior of olden times, stared at in
their day for their angnit fortune*, would not
cow be pointed out on the streets of Philadel
phia or New York aa anything remarkable.
These vast fortunes for some Imply pfnebed-
noa of want for others. A great protuberance
on a man's heed implies the illness of the
whole body. These estates of disproportioned
siM weaken ell the body politic, but the evil
is nothing ee compered with monopolistic
oppression abroad. Great ecclesiastic monopo
lies. Tbe pope's income is eight million dol
lars a year. Cathedrals of statuary and
braided areb and walls covered with master
pieces of Reubens ami Raphael aad Michael
Angelo against all their aides duhing seas ot
poverty and crime and filth and abomination.
Ireland one vast monopolistic devastation.
About thirty million people in Eng-
f 'ing t
nnigiMp
be absent, but all' there, safe and blosfod, bo*
cause of tbe birth and death of Him who was
the Bon of Mary, who was tho Son of God.
tom ocmi/riteis talks.
CHRISTMAS CHEER.
Besses cn tha Streets of atlsota-A Qalst D??y
AdKuttft-lJlrmiCRhaiu his a Jolly 1???itae-TUo
ray la London-The Ore cl y Party
Ocltbrato the Day, Bto.
Early in tho evening soveral thousand
stockings jangled convenient to the landing
place ot the reindeer man, and several thou
sand pairs of anxious eyes closed to opon
plump, well-filled stockings.
The scenes on tho streets last night were
spiring. Tho stalls, storm, shops, etc., were
well worth going out to see. The beef stalls
were os pretty os so many pictures. Some
the more IhterprUing butchers had their
meats dressed in the most tempting way im
aginable. There was no dust and the weather
was cold enough to raako tho meats crisp and
bright. Then over the huge pies63
of beef wero fastened evergreens
and fltfwers that made tho
markets exceeding attractive. Thero
was a plenty of fat mutton and beef and pork,
and a good stock of pigs for roasting. The
pigs were dressed and primed for stuffing, aud
looked as dainty aa a man could deiird. Tho
supply of chickens, turkeys, docks, game, etc.,
was abundant and the fruit supply was ex
ceedingly attractive. The toy shops wero
brilliant, so that everything was In excellent
shape for Christmas eve night. The atroota
were thronged with people uutil a late hour,
the multitudes surging along tho sidewalks
and in snd fut of tho stores.
IX TH* CROWDS.
It was a itudy to watch tho crowds. Horo
and there was a man with a red painted wagon,
a little chair, or a long bundle at tho end of
which the golden hair of a doll was visible.
On the edge of the sidewalk a very nervous
looking woman was pulling along
at a five mile-an-hour gait two small boj
who were reluctant to travel away from tf
Christmas scenes so rapidly.
Tho multitude waa made up of oo
rich and poor, high and low. sealskin sacquos
and faded shawls, touching in tho vast Christ
mas crowd that was picking to pieces tho
holiday bouquet that the shopkoopers had
ade.
In the gutter on Whitehall, occasionally
venturing upon the pavement, but uncon
scious of the crowd, moyed a small boy with
???Loggy hair and a general aspect of poverty.
IIo pushed rapidly along, oblivious to the
sharp rattle of tho firecrackers, tho entmon-
ading of tho torpedoes and tho brilliauoy of
tho electric spreaders and tho im
beauty of an occasional rocket. Ho hot
nets somewhere and ho was going thero. His
eyes sought neither tho tempting fruit nor tbo
red-striped esndy as ho prossed forward. His
mission was doubtless n happy one, for iu a
thrill voice, backed by a pair of energetic
lungs, ho was singing:
Wail till tho clouds roll by-y-y, Janie,
Wait till tbo clouds roll by y-y.
The day???s businoia yesterday and tho bus!
-Jis last night was perfectly wonderful. Tho
trains on all the roads brought iu porfect loads
oi people. Beside that tho people of tho city
traded with great liberality, aud the morebants
in all the lines of business reported an unpre
cedented day's sales. The crowd on the streets
oil day was equal to any of the Christmas days
that Atlanta baa ever seen. All in all tho
Christmaawill bo as well observed as it over
wsa before in spito of tbo panicky times that
the country has just passed through.
There will bo no firoworks on tno street* if
tho police can help U. Chief Connolly has is
sued nil order for tho arrest of all persons who
fire crackers on tbo streets. Of courso tho po
lice will be unoolo to fully entorco the order.
Persons firing crackers and caudles ou prlvato
property will not bo Intorferod with.
Washington, Dcccrabor 24.???The National
Repijhii^qp f>f this city will print to-morrow
extracts from tho diary of Lieutenant Look-
wood, oj tho Greely Arctic colony, describing
the manner in which tho starring party spent
the last Christina* at Cape Sabine, in tho Arctio
region. Lieutenant Lockwood kept the diary
in shorthand, which hat been transcribed by
member of his family, and ho appears to
have made a full record of everything of im-
pdrtance which ???happened in the daily life of
iho party. Tbo extracts which tho Republi
can will print shows how, as Christmas drew
near, tho officers and men joined in a talk of
reaoh tho civilized
they mado preparations for
world, ana how they mado pretm
tbo feast on tho approachiug Christmas by
setting apart a small portion of their daily
rations. On DecebberSlst Lockwood writesi
By great effort I was ablo to savo one ounco
* my bread and about two ounnos of butter
Christmas. I shall make a vigorous effort
abstain from eating it until then."
He adds that he ???put It in charge of Binder-
deck, as an additional safeguard." On De
cember 22d ho writes: ???Wo look forward to-
A Sound Sleeper Who Ifns Shaken Two Con
tinents hj Ilfs Snores,
Washington Correspondence Baltimore Herald.
The noted Texas congressman,. Colonel Thomas
Ochiltree, sst In an easy chair at Chamberlain's
yesterday afternoon discussing tbe great political
topics of the day. ???I see," said he, "that Repre
sentative Hewitt cannot sleep on account of tbs
barking of dogs, and that he will Introduce a bill
to abate the nuisances. I hardly know how to
sympathize with the distlnsaUhod gentleman
from New York, for all tbe dogs In Christendom,
and Constantinople aa well, could
not keep me awake Jf I wanted
to sleep. Why, sir, at the siege of
Petersburg I slept soundly for eight hours rieht
under the carrlcxc of a 40 pound gun that waa be
ing fired every five minutes. Yea, sir, and the
gunner raid that l snored ao loudly he could scar*
???t t-iy htar the orders that were given him between
the shots. Why. sir. on one occasion {when 1 was
traveling through Guadaloupo county, Texas, I
stopped in a piece of thick woods at dark, staked
my horse, built a fire and lay down. That's a bad
wolf country, and by ten o'clock thero were 2 000
of the savage devils bowling around me, within
fifty feet of my osmp fire. I spread
my blanket on the gra??, my
raddle for a pillow, and fay down
with a navy revolver in each band. In two min*
utra 1 wsz asleep. When I woke next morning tho
ran waa high in the heavens, a neighboring
rsuchero told me that the wolves bad howled till
daylight Kixty of them were found dead In the
they bad died front prolonged howling,
while I had slumbered gently, like a babe, on the
breast of my mother earth. Think of that, ao *
a congressman whose nightmans are Interra
by the mldnlifot whining* of a green grocer's ???
???Why, Tctoj Benton used to sleep so long that
hotel keepers bad to bretk In his door to see If ho
warn???kdeaff. [Jfcn Butler can???t ride in a atrastcar
without dortqg. In allying ride down the She-
nandoab valley, Htont-wall Jackson, strapped to a
saddle, .Sifnt ???" *
sweeping gan
Napoleon im
cavalrythunu
Ansterlitx. Y??t bere fa a lordly statesman wh->
cannot even ??joy a catnap because a sad and
lonely cur around tho next corner crawls out Of
bia kennel and Uja tbe moon.
* ??? ???tl I have driven an ox wagon from
o El Paso. I have ridden a steer from
Tor six hours with bia horse at a
slept
Withu __ _ ???
and the'rattlesnakra bhsingIn mjeari bat if I
have ever lost fifteen minute*??? sleep since f quit
teething, then, by tbe eternal homed frog of Tex
as, I donv know ft!
g "Why gentIrmen, there is not a capital In all
I'uroge in which I am not famed aa a sound
sleeper. On my last visit to Farce, my friend the
window-pane at tbe Hotel de Vendmne, where i
B wledacd scratched at Jtfce window none for
am. Well, sir, what do you suppose? I hope
that f-inf.i Ann* may rise up and mukeacon'iueat
cf Texas If that sheet Iron cat didn???t get
be ground, ran arrmnd tbe corner aod ha
never teen heard of since:???
single dog biscuit now, but found no takers."
Ho says on tho next day: ???I saved
nearly all my hard bread for
Christmas, though I need it sorely, and to
mako tha Christmas dinner grander. I made
a tremendous effort and went without my rum,
in order to havo it for Christmas too. and tbe
punch," and on Christmas eve he added to his
icantywrings for tha next day???s feast half of
his bread amt his piece oi lemon, aud ho wroto
in liis book: ???Kialingbury was man enough to
make for each of tho party a cigarette. Many
of vs are now out of tobacco entirely." On
tbo day after Christmas be writes aa follows:
Yesterday ho* passed, but I find my notes of
yuteidsy very Impcr/cct. The day waa a gre.it
moots We ail had enough,
I had eight ounces extra, w!
entt ounce of batter besides,.
f undsy before, it was agioed eafly In tho morn ???
ing that nothing iliouid be raid to mar the pleat-
nits of the day. Many kindly thoughts wero ex*
nrrsitd for thoae at home. and oh,
bow often we spoke of what wza going on at
our several borne*. Aftor dinner wa had song* In
all languages, including French, German, Danish
and innuit. Ihe punch waa extremely fine.
Chocolate about 7 o???clock, and by this lime mo??t
of us were too full for ntt^ranoe, and the onvor-
sation gradually slacked off, and with tbeaonn
tbe day ended* To-day we heve ail
been feeling extremely well ell day,
nice and warm, and comfortable In
the extreme. Borne of ns ate too much yesterday,
bn only to much as to feel a little unoomforubio
at times, but we alk-slept well.'??? ???Our talk tola
morning was of home and our families.??? I have
extended a general invitation to ail the members
ct tbe expedition to vUlt my
fat bet???s bouse. I spoke this morning of tbe r*
onions of my family, and how enjoyable they are.
My ii marks about my father brought tors, tho
fir??t tlmef have abed tears since I bare bowUn
this country. .
Cbrlstmaa Glee In Texas.
Bam Axrogfo, December 21.???Yesterday
.evening, as the east-bound passenger train on
tbe Southern Pacific railroad waa nearing tba
bridge croaaing tha Pccoa river, a number of
torpedos exploded on the track, earning the
engineer to atop the train. Six cowboys
hoarded tha train and with drawn revolvers
compelled tha conductor to stop at
Langt ry, the next small station. At
Langtry twenty more cowboys boarded
and look possession of the train. They were
all more or less under tha Influence of liquor#
and amused themselves by shooting out all tho
window lights and lamps and terroising tha
passengers generally. As tbe train passed the
small stations the cowboys would shove their
heads ant of tba broken windows, shoot
and yal), and a passing freight
train waa tainted In a similar manner. Several
hundred shots were fired, and the roofs of tha
cars were riddled. They robbed tha train boy
of bia stock of peanuts aad candieq, but so far
as known nobody was ihot. Jodge Taylor.
United States District Attorney Evans and
Blftrifl While were among tba passengers, but
thought it t^ett not to make their identity
* nown. Tbe gang left tho train at Avatda,
tier riding over sixty miles.
A Bow af?? Christmas Fes Aval.
CifAiTsRooos,Tetn. t December 25.???iHpecIsI.}???
A crowd of drunken roughs got into s din mlty at
a Christmas tree entertainment at Daisy, ten
miles from this city, lost night. Knives aud club,
were freely used at??d many wero Injured. John
fifultz was stabbed several times by Jim Boo and
wss almost disemboweled. HU Injuries are fatal
John Davidson received severe cuts from a kutfo
In the hands of Jt-ffPsckctts. The latter was badly
used up by frltuds of tbe former.
ChTlstmna in Augusta.
Augusta, Go., Decembers:*.???[Special.]???Augusta
celebrated the quietest Christmas ou record to-dsy.
Not a drunken man was seen on the streets. Very
little fireworks. Everybody happy and tbe street!
deserted at 11 o'clock, when the tiro alarm brought
out tho bojs again. The flro waa on Broad street
In the centeroi the city, in the hair atom ot Arnold
berger.and waa insured for $3,200 in thefrJoiitheru
Mutual. The flro was dangerous, became hard to
reach, and because of tbo risk and damage to ad-
TKE EXP031TION.
Christmas nt lllrmlngbam.
UntwiNciiAM, Ala., December 23.???(Special.|
Jolly Christmas day In this dashing city, though
duller than usual. No deaths or wounds, aud
few drunks, and everybody Is happy. A fancy
drew german, the event of the season, is tbe at
traction tonight. Large number of visiting
young ladles are here. Urrat preparations are bo
Ing made for Mr. KsndnU's vftlt and reception.
The rowmiitm ol the board of trado.tho workluz
men and the several political clubs, will go to
Nashville in a special train to meet him. Many
vhit ora enroute for New Orleans, are passing
tlirougb.
Christmas Day in Foreign Cities,
ioxuo.v, December'25.???The weather to-day
In Paris and London was cold but fine. In
Paris, owing to tbo nbsonce of rich people, tho
day was rather dull for Christmas, except
i ntong tho German residents. Itinerants were
rolling political toys representing Prince Bis
march and Premier Ferry embracing with tin
cry, ???Vnila Lea Deux Prussians." In Vienno
the doy was uuusually gloomy, owing to the
bid condition of trade and tho damp weather.
Booths for selling Christmas presents wero al
most deserted.
AN OLD ItttFllOlSATE
Tells ol the Trick lie Flayed upon nis
Anxious HIff,
From tbe Chicago Tribune.
'You sec, Martha-got into the habit of sitting up
for me at an early age, and sho cv?????t break It ofi
I couldn't punuade her to f o to bed aud mtad
her own business, so I studied on the matter. We
Uto In one of the ceuter houses of a block of firo-
story and*nttle buildings. Thero???f scuttlei In
the roofs of them all, and I pursuadod Mr.
Greenup, who llres in the adjoining house, to
let me ip bis house last night about 1 o'clock, and
I .went np through his scuttle and over to
mine, and so down Into our bed room. 1 could
sec Martha, from tbe head of the stairs, sluing in
the front room eyeing the dock with a look that
wss a very tart chromo. But I undressed and
quietly got Iu bed, and thero I lay waiting de
velopments. Every now and then I???d hear Mar
tha g I vb a short, fidgety cough. Then I'd hear
her get up and pranoo around tho room a little,
and by and by go to tbe front windows and slam
the shutters.
???After I'd isfn there about an hour I noirJ her
get up and go stand out on tho front steps fora
good fire minutes. Then she camo in and slammed
the door and locked it aud commenood coming
upstairs. Every other step she'd ssy: 'Oh, tho
wretch. Won???t I give It to him! Ikuowwhcro
ho 1st He necdu't think to dccotve mot Oh, tha
vlllsinl??? Tout tho time she had nearly got to tho
landing 1* think alio must Itnvo seen t-'io light
streaming out of tho door that I'd left oJa* 1 . I
could hear her jftop, and'then I commoncjd
to snore. I was afraid to look, you know,
lut I could feel her cautiously coma up to tho
door ond look in. Well, sir, I'd given my pensfon
from the war of 1776 to havo sCcu her about tho
UraoshosAW It wasmo. I'll bet it wax fuu. But
waa afraid to do anything but snore. Thou sba
camo Into tho room, and, by tho way wire broathod
and stood around, I had to nearly bite my toaguo
off to keep a straight faco on mo. I could feel
that tho sat down in a chair, and was dumb
founded. I never let on, but kept on snoring
liko thunder; but when aho kicked over a chair I
turned and pretended to wake up, kind of dazod
like, and iajs:*
Why, Martha, dear, ain???t you come to bed
jet?"
???Jarphly,??? raid she, awful slow aud solomu
like, "when did youcotno hit'
???Why, must bo four or five hours ago. Don't
you remember when I told you not to go to sleep
again In tho rocker, but to como up to bed?'aod I
turned over and professed to go to sleep again,
???8hc never mado any roply, but acted Iu a dazod,
I cwlldercd sort of way, and when she got to bed I
could tell she didn???t sloop a wink for throo hours.
"ThlsmornlPgltwasfun to watch Martha,
could bsrdly keep a straight faco. At tho break
fast table, and all the timo I wnx about tho house,
sho???d eye me when she thought 1 wasn???t looking;
then when I???d notice her ahe'd tun: away and bo
awfully busy at something. 8ho caught mo kind
grinning once, and by George, I thought
the explosion was about to come. But it
didn???t, though the look of blank unfathom
able suspicion iho wore on bor face all tho time
was the greatest show on earth. It nosrly broke
me up, and I've laughed till my rlbj ache over
since. I know it won???t last. I know there???s a day
of repenting a coming, snd tho thermometer is
going up dear out oi sight In the Jarphly family,
But who's going after troublo? It'll ooino soon
enough without hunting ft, and I'm going fo en
joy that scuttle la tho roof until tho oxploshn
comes.??? _
START YOU A LIBRARY.
Nothing Is so delightful In a home ss a library
Nothing so much bespeaks refinement annd intel
ligence. Good books have saved as many boys
from vicious ways as schools havo ever done.
Every father snd every mother should provl lo
their home with a library.
We oiler a cheap and good way into which to
begin a library. Tbelbooks offered in Tnr Oowsnru*
tion library for 60 cents each over our counter, or
70 cents postpaid, are standard and classic books.
The ten books costing $6 over our counter or (7 by
post, will make a library of never ending pfouuro
and entertainment. Buy one of these books and
???tart you a library. You wilt nevsr regret ill
Everything Nearing Can plotbm???Facilities
for Placing Exhibits.
Niw Orleans, December 22.-???The weather wsa
worm today and visitors to the exposition
grounds were not so numerous as yesterday.
There aro manv strangers in tho city, bat the
number is not increasing, as the departures aro
about equal to the arrivals. Work on tbe grounds
and placing of exhibits is progressing with rapid
ity. Tho art gallery snd tho Mexican building
arc nearing completion. The former is oxpested
to be In readiness iu a few days. To f Militate
operations, ond to insure tho rapid transmission
to the several buildings of exhibits arriving via
the river route, the French company to day com
menced tbo construction of a lino of portable rail
way. Their tracks will run from tho river to the
routh entrance of the grounds, diverging tho
tricks to any desired point*. They can be placed
or removed as quickly os tbo exigencies may de
mand. thus conveying an oxhiblt to its damna
tion without delay. Ground was broken to-day
for an electric railway on tho west embankment
of the rroall lake.
Among the exhibits in the government building,
Connecticut is well advanoed. This is the sixth
exposition at which Connecticut has had repre
sentation, and Assistant Commissioner Pickering
thinks it will excel all other previous efforts.
Consricuoua in this exhibit are wood
specimens which have been so care
fully handled that moss - and
vcgotstlon (till adhere to tbe. barks and look as
frcih as the day the tree was cat. Among the ex
hibitors a feeling of content towards tho manage
ment prevails, aa against the discontent at tho dU-
atorincss of tho railroads. Exhibitors whose names
can be given, claim that goods ship; ??? 1 weoks ago
are side tracked some where en rou ti, thui caus
ing unexpected and sor' delay.
Tho Uniteo States treasury depi tiuont to-day
extensively distributed circulars *UJrested to tho
nreresntJl* public of New Orleans, giving a de
tailed description of counterfeit coin, treasury
snd national hank notes, which have been put lu
circulation. It Is undemtood that somo of tho
counterfeit! have been circulated over tho grounds
hence tho precautionary measures.
t Tho workmen Injured by falling of the Exposi
tion hotel structure, are doing well, and both men
will recover.
Nxw Orleans, December 23???Today, at tho
world???s exposition, was a repetition oi yesterday
In point of attendance and generally favonvblo
atmospheric condition*. On the grounds tho
work of Improvement lx being pushed os rapidly
as an army of workmen can prosecute tholr ta
bors. Within tho building the exhibitors are
covering tbo space .with great rapidity. Every
thing has settled down in a syste
matic groove, and as a natural result not
moment Is lost. Whilo tho aUsndanoo
Is good, very llttlo business has been dono in tbo
way of sties direct or by sample. Tho exhibitors,
however, aro cheerful, claiming that tho investing
community havo yet to come. To-morrow will
day, aa info
boa fiuo
information bos l>ccu roselrt
wm
that tho flr*T party of eiiaiilzed oxcuraioiijiit"will
anivc. Tbo expected visitor? are from Nebraska,
Minnesota and Indiana, and will number about
6,000 In nil, among the number a largo percentage
Indiana, and
_ t _ Dg f !
of school u ocher*.
New Orleans, December 26.???Tho exposition
grows more attractive each'day, and the attend
ance Is Increasing. Tlirco hundred school to ichors
from tbo lene star state took potucsslon of tiro
Texas headquarters in the government building
to day and wero tho center of attraction. Largo
numbers of visitors arc reported en routo. Regis
ters for names and addresses aro kept at each stato
will bo In
yrrfrct o
r two weeks heue
$165ING0LD!
PRIZES TO OUR AGENTS.
A Coufadarate ???100 Dili,
Washington, December 22.???Tbo secretary ot
tbs treasury bas received a letter from a resident
of Bigs, Rursta, inclosing a f ICO note of the con-
rato states, which he asys be Inherited from
uncle, sr.d which be wants exchange! for
Her Watting.
The (onbeams dimpled all tho azure ocean,
Tbe robins raroled vow* of sweet devotion.
And proudly dipped and roM tbe snug ship Star
ling,
When )oung nuh. whUp.red, "Good-hye, <l,ir.
11::,!
???Twill hot ho long lo W.U.'*
loutthoblneh. .
???inn
Mila,
The urn threw fleeting itudowi Vro:i the'mow-
The brr???kl.t gurgled Kill, la IU flowing???
Aad II wu luag to wilt.
Through gijr.atamiutl wood, tb.wlad wentilgh*
For .11 'his summer sweethearts lav a-dyfng;
Bine prattan* fringed the tiny upland rivw.
Borne Isle bird-note set oneiid heart a-qnlver???
And it was long to wait.
And out among the rocks, from du??k to dawning,
Branded the fog-- bell???s wildest cry oi warning???
And tt wss long to wait.
And lo! tbe htii rttng Into harbor * win* Ing,
While from each hedge and tree the buds wsrt
singing.
M lt wax not long to wsft.???
???KmmaC. Dowd In Century ???Briva-Brac.???
We hereby Oder tbo following prlr.es to agents at
work for tho Weekly Constitution.
1st. ffiO In Gold for tho largest number of sub
scribers sent in to tho Weekly Constitution by
tbo let ol June, 1583.
2d. (3A in Gold for tho second largest
number rent In by Juno 1st, 18??3.
. 113 In Gold for the third larged number
sent in by Juno 1st, 1883.
4lli. (to in Gold for tbo fourth largest number
scut In by Juno 1st, 1883.
Any man or woman living any where, can enter
for these prises by simply dropping us h powtal,
and giving nnmo and ndrirotn and stating that
they wish tocompctu for the prison. Every nnmo
sent In, will bo credited to the party Mending It???
and oa Judo 1st, tbo prlzos will be awarded to
thoso having tbo largest lists.
Our. Special Prizes for Out of
Georgia Agents.
Wc also offer the following prfzro for agent! who
aro living out*Ido of the stato of Georgia???consid
ering it probabta that Georgia clubs may bo larger
than tbrsofrom any other state.
1st. ISA in Gold for tho largest number of sub
scribers rent in by Juno 1st, 1AM.
2d. (IS In Gold for tbo largest number of sub
scribers rent in by Juno 1st. 138S.
3d. 9IO In Gold for tho largont Hat sent In by
June b.t, 1KS5.
Agents who compete for theso prim will alno bo
permitted to compete for tho prizes open to all
agents.
Our- Special January Prizes.
Wo also offer the following prizes for tho month
ol January.
1st. |10.00 In Gold for the Urgent number of
subscribe:! sent In during tho month of Jauuary.
2d. (A In Gold for tho next largest list sent In
during January.
3. lie, ao In Gold for the thirl largest number
of lultcrlbcTiscnt in during January.
Kamc*;of subscribers for tba January prizes
must bo scut In so as to reach Ibis office by tho
last day of Jannsry. Parties who contest for
the January prizes can also contest for tho gen
eral prltts, all suUcribcrssent will bo credited on
tho gcneral.llit.
specmlnoticeTo competitors.
1st* Your name will nut ?>??? entered for
the prizes unless you write in* todoao*
3d, Nnines can besentln nt nny timo nad
innny number nml will bo added coy our
list.
Sd. You can compete far the monthly
prize*, nid also for the general prl/.ea. We
shall offer prizes for each month. Write ???I
want to try for the December prizes (or
wIiHtcyer month It nmy be) and for the gen
eral prizes. If you live out of the state odd,
and also for the out Of Georgia prise."
4th. Our travelling agents will -not he al
lowed to compete for nny prize. They will all
be Iqft entirely to our local agents.
Ath, The prizes will be paid immediately
at the close of each month, and the general
prizes on Jane 1st 188A.
6th. Keep a list of the names yon send as
so that If there Is any mistake la your
amount it can be made plain. It will be
ellnlsoto put opposite each name the date
tt Was sent.
NOW WON???T YOU TAKE HOLD?
You oaf ht to get one of these prizes!
(They will bo offered monthly, and *ma!I this
frequently get them. Wo have so many agents
that cone can send in very large lists. Your
chances are as good as anybody???s.
We fnnilrb yeti a paper that it is a ptaminrs to
work for. It ii the cheapest, largest and best paper
in America. Every subscriber you Induce to take
it will thank you for do lag so.
Wc distributed several hundred dollar. In gold
last year, r t d to the satisfaction ot all concerned.
Wc will do the same next year.
Come in snd get one of these prizes. Bend tor
???ur agent's circulars. Hend for specimen coptca
It is pb-assnt, light work for m*-n or women. Bend
in your names. Ad 1ms Tbe Constitution.
tlNOISTlNCT^gglNTy