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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