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For the Tempewwfce Crusader.
CONFESSIONS from a BOARDING-HOUSE,
—O
NUMBER IV.
BY MES. XETTLETON.
From the length of time which has elapsed
since my last communication, some of my
friends may have imagined that I had entire
ly given up the “Confessions.” But in that
they are mistaken. At my time of life, in
clination to write is often wanting, when a
suitable opportunity is offered. Domestic
duties, too, and domestic sorrows, alas ! ai e
rarely, if ever so light, that the mind of an
old lady is unburdened with care. Due al
lowance being made for these and many
other intervening difficulties, is it any won
der that three weeks have slipped away be
tween the date of this communication and
my last ?
When about half of the first term of my
new boarding-house experiment was gone,
I discovered a most amusing farce which
was being acted before my eyes. I have al
ready mentioned that the boarders were ac
customed to go unceremoniously into the
parlor, at any hour, when the girls might be
in there at their music. This continued du
ring the whole term, but the number of ha
bitual intruders dwindled down to two. —
The rest, being visited—l suppose—with
some faint dawnings of propriety, began to
view intrusion in the proper light, and if
they sometimes repeated it, the annoyance
only occurred after long intervals. But
there were two individuals whose visits to
the parlor became more numerous in pro
portion as those of the others became less
so. It was soon observed that they sought
long conversations with Sarah muchoftener
than music. One or both of them often in
tercepted her in the passage, or in the por
tico, at times when she never practiced in
the parlor. Not content with intercourse
so frequent even as that, they would pur
posely absent themselves from the first table
in order to meet the family—and among
them Sarah, who rarely came to the first
table—at the second. I was first made
acquainted with the object of their repeated
tardiness, by hearing the boys tease Messrs.
R and N when they happened to
be present with the rest during meals, and
when they were not, by listening to the mys
terious and facetious hints which passed
around the table at their expense. After
this, I observed all parties more closely, and
partly from the remarks of the boarders,
and partly from what Saran told me of the
nature of her frequent interviews with the
two gentlemen, I inferred that each of them
sought her company from different motives.
It was evident to a careless observer, that
Mr. R had conceived an affection for
Sarah ; that was the reason why he obtru
ded himself upon her so frequently. Mr.
N , on the contrary, cherished the ex
traordinary idea that she was passionately
fond of him, and naturally thought it was
charitable in himself to afford her as many
opportunities as possible to contemplate his
manifold attractions. Mr. N not only
entertained this notion, but he also intui
tively arrived at the conclusion that several
other ladies were similarly affected towards
him—in a word, that he was a favorite with
the young ladies.
All this I told to Mrs. Frisk, sitting with
me, one evening, on a neighborly visit. She
smiled a little at first, but at the end of my
narrative, indulged in a hearty laugh.
“Why, my dear Mrs Nettleton,” said she,
“you certainly havn’t suffered that matter
to trouble your mind, have you ? If so, you
may safely dismiss it, in future. Let me
whisper in your ears a few truths about col
lege boys, which one had betler learn
from the experience of others than from
er own. I have had them in my house
for many years, and I ought to know
something about them. Some college boys
are always in love, or they act foolishly
enough to make people think so. I would
venture to assert that, at every boarding
house in town which contains a girl or young
lady, there are two or more young men
sighing, pining, curling their hair, dyeing
their upper lips, and making themselves dis
gusting generally, about that girl—all the
time frisking about her like so many poodles
—barking and capering around her, until to
get rid of the annoyance, §he takes notice of
them, by a kind word, or by praising their
dress, just as she would pat Poodle on the
head, and tell him the ribbon which adorn
ed his neck was lovely, and he was a pretty
little darling ; and, like Poodle, they strut
away pompous and happy, onlv to come
back again presently for the same meaning
less consolation. Why every young lady
who has lived here a few years, could count
up a dozen such lovers. Bless you, they get
used to such, and laugh at them when thev
declare their passion. And as for some
boys thinking that all the girls are fond oi
them and proud of their attention, that’s a
common thing. You would be astonished
to learn how vain they are, and how simple
in their vanity. Every look and tone of
voice, every word and act of a lady in their
presence is construed into an expression of
admiration for them. The girls understand
and humor their vanity, and afterwards dis
card them with scorn, to teach them a little
common sense.”
“You don’t mean to say that the girls co
quet and serve such boys in that way ?”
said I.
“Yes, and rightly, too,” she answered.—
“If a man is a fool, he should be cured of his |
folly; and I know of no better means to
cure a yam fool than to mortify his vanity.
But you mustn’t think that all the boys are
such as I have described, Gh, no. Some
don’t visit the-ladies scarcely at all, but at
tend to their studies; and, between us, I
think the girls of good sense prefer them to
those who are called ladies’ men. There is
Mr. Porpus, (you recollect I told you he
was paying his addresses to my daughter
Oliviana, and that we hoped she would get
him,) he is a very nice young man indeed,
and he never suffers his visits to the ladies
to interfere with his duties. I will send
Oliviana over, and she can instruct Sarah
how to manage those troublesome boys.—
She is old enough—ha ! ha!—and has* had
experience enough to be a good instructress.
1 had much more to tell you about the vil
lage folks and college boys, and the way to
make your boarding-house popular. But
not now. If you want any advice or coun
sel on any subject, send for me without hes
itation. Having lived here a long time, I
may be able to assist you ia many things.”
So, Oliviana Frisk came to see Sarah, and,
I suppose, gave her proper instructions, for
she made no more complaint, then, about
the two boys who endeavored to monopo
lize her company. Oliviana, also, talked, in
my presence, an infinite deal of gossip, (for
she seemed to know something about every
body,) and although I was not pleased with
the staple of her conversation, yet I could
not but choose to admit that she was a most
intelligent and agreeable young lady. She
was so piquant, so lively, so original, and
withal, so independent, that Sarah was
charmed with her from the first. She won
dered greatly why Miss Frisk had never
married.
The term wore slowly on, and so readily
do our natures adapt themselves to circum
stances, that my troubles were lessened with
each passing week, and I began to conclude
that my first impressions of boarding-house
life at a college were erroneous. We shall
see, by and by, whether this latter conclu
sion proved true or not.
For the Temperance Crusader.
VISIT TQ OXFORD.
Messrs. Editors: Two weeks ago, at
the invitation of Emory. Lodge, K. of J., a
Delegation from “Rising Star” left the clas
sic groves of Penfield on a bright May
morning to visit the modern Oxford.
The excitements of an “April Vacation,”
however, had so scattered our members,
that only a few of our number could be
collected together, but to those of ns who
were assembled, it was an excursion upon
which we “counted largely,” as we had
heard much of this Institution of learning,
but never been permitted to behold it.
After leaviifg the city of Greenesboro, a
few hours riire landed us at Covington, sit
uated one mile from Oxford. Here we
found a large number of our Emory friends,
to whom we had become strongly attach
ed, in waiting to receive us, and after the
gratulations of mutual friendship had been
passed, we left this place and a few moments
found ourselves before the large Hotel in
Oxford. At the urgent solicitations of our
noble-hearted Brethren, we were soon scat
tered to their several private apartments,
and after a night’s repose, we awoke re
freshed and invigorated, and walked forth
with buoyant spirits into the bright sun
light and salubrious atmosphere, to view
the rising glories of Emory. The first thing
which elicited our admiration .was the
dense groves of oak, springing up pro
miscuously on every hand, and shutting
out the entire view from the distant trav
eller. It reminded us vividly of the simi
lar groves which surround our own Alma
Mater.
The Town is situated upon a compara
tively level plan, laid off in regular squares,
with streets intersecting each other at
proper angles, and running in various di
rections, affording easy facilities with ev
ery portion of the surrounding country.
The groves are interspersed witli many
handsome residences, and though we were
not able to say that we “could not see the
Town for the houses,” yet we were con
vinced that it possessed many peculiar ad
vantages, and to say the least of it is to sav,
it is a beautiful place. But every place is
rendered attractive by the character of its
inhabitants, and it is this which gives Ox
ford its greatest attraction. After viewing
the prospect around us “long and well,”
we visited the College Campus, which is
situated at a convenient distance from the
main-body of the Town, upon an undula
ting surface, abundantly and beautifully
shaded. ‘A graceful belfry, towering a
hove the tallest trees, catches far off the
eye ofthebeholder, and drawing nearer,
he finds that it arises from a magnificent
andspacious Chapel, annually rendered
vocal by the flights of eloquence. We
walked through the building and were
particularly struck with its vast extent.
In front ot it stands the Monument erected
by the Masons and members of the “Few
Society” to Ignatius A. Few, the first Pre
sident of the College. It is made of
pure marble, and is worthy of all admira
tion. The Dormitories and Halls of the
Literary Societies, constitute the main
buildings of the Campus, and though not
enclosed, it is a most delightful retreat for
the acquisition of learning. Nothing how
ever, so much attracted our attention, as
the sociability and gentlemanly deport
ment ot the Students. They are polite in
their manners, moral in their habits, (two
thirds being “Knights of Jericho”) exceed
ingly kind, courteous, warm-hearted, and
friendly in their dispositions, and we can
truly say of all onr acquaintances, that
they (ire perfect gentlemen. We feel until
.V‘t, grateful for their kindness, and gen
erosity, for without their attentions onr
trip would certainly have been a failure.
We regretted not seeing onr highly es
teemed triend, Leak, and heartily sympa
tlnse with him in his misfortunes. Upon
our return we were summonsed to partici
pate in the celebration of “Emory Lodge,
K. ofj., which we found in Si flourishing
condition. It numbers eighty members,
chiefly young men, all engaged in the glo
nous cause of “Humanity, Temperance,
and chanty.” We were kindly received
aud heartily welcomed by pur Brother
Knights, and m si short tune felt perfectly
at home. After a few hour* deliberation
a large procession was formed at the
Lodge, and marched to the Chapel, where
we were agreeably entertained for an hour
bv Mr. Thomas, the President of the Col
lege. He discoursed us upon the old but
interesting subject of Temperance, which
he handled in an able manner. It will be
useless for us to notice his speech in detail
as it is to be published, hut we will say that
his calculation of the price of a good hus
band was exceedingly spicy, and his advice
to the Ladies in choosing their companions
for life, excellent , and we have no scruples
in saying, that they will do well to follow
his directions by “grapplingto themselves
with hooks of steel” some‘gallant Knight.’
Success to the Knights of Emory. If we
were pleased with the speech generally,
we were more forcibly impressed with the
high toned character of the gentleman, and
we regret the circumstances which pre
vented our accepting his eery polite in
vitation to share his gracious hospitality.
We return him for his kindness our heart
felt thanks. After the exercises were con
cluded the Lodge adjourned to await the
joys of evening.
The day waned, and evening had flown
from earth on the “bright wings of a sum
mer sunset,” and as the twinkling stars ap
peared in the firmament to cheer us by
their presence, the gay and amiable ladies
of Oxford came forth in white robes and
brilliant countenances, to cheer us by their
smiles. The night being favorable, a large
number of “young folks” were soon assem
bled to reap the rich “eeward” given by
the Ladies to the Knights, for their “great
exertions in the cause of humanity.” The
mansion was brilliantly illuminated, and
the bright light stealing into the august
apartments, revealed a band of vigorous
youth, of both sexes, making eloquent ap
peals, chatting at the rate of 2.40, and evi
dently in the very acme, of enjoyment.
For a time we gazed intently upon the
scene, but the attractions of it we could not
long resist. Resolving therefore to com
ply with the old adage, “when in Rome
do as Rome does,” we willingly accepted
the invitation of some kind friend to be in
troduced to a lovely Miss —for which we
are under obligations to him, as we found
her interesting in the highest degree , and
possessed of many redeeming qualities.
We formed many other pleasant acquain
tances, all of whom contributed largely to
our enjoyment. When supper was an
nounced, we marched out with a very
pleasant acquaintance to partake of the
rich repast, and as our eyes fell upon the
luxurious dainties, and towering pyramids,
we stood speechless with admiration. It
was indeed a most splendid affair, and ex
hibited a skill in its preparation that can
not be surpassed. The enjoyment was kept
up till a late hour of the night, and to our
self it was most agreeably spent, and we
left fully satisfied that in point of beauty,
intelligence, and refined taste, the Ladies
of Oxford are, in our judgments, unexcell
ed. The next morning we had intended to
take our departure, but being solicited to
-attend a “Pick Nic” a short distance from
Town, we concluded to remain, and in
company with several friends, walked out
to the appointed place. It was just the
place for the occasion. A large flat rock
of granite, embracing an area of several
acres, bespangled with an occasional group
of trees, covered with the thick foliage of
yellow jessamine, which regale the senses
with their delightful odour. A number of
Lad es and Gentlemen were seen assem
bled, and if the previous night was happi
ly spent, not less so was the day, and we
rejoiced that our stay had been prolonged.
The sun declined, and onr company were
ready for departure; but ere the time arriv
ed, the delicious sounds of “Sweet Home,”
rolling “at intervals upon the ear,” broke
upon the stillness of the night, causing the
very elements to echo, in strains hanno
nius and enchanting, the soft and gentle
music. It turned our thoughts to the lov-v
ed ones away, and “with easy force opened
all the cells where memory slept.” May the
fair donors long live to bless some noble
lover by the music of their voices. The
coach drove up, and after grasping the
hand ofour friends and waving an “adieu”
to Oxford, we left its shad v groves, perfect
ly delighted with all that we had heard
and seen, and soon found ourselves safely
domiciled in the walls of our own Sanc
tums. • V LACEY.
Penfield, Ga./May 12th, 1856.
For the Temperance Crusader.
BALDWIN RAIFORD DIVISION.
Li the year 1848, Baldwin Raiford Di
vision was organised at Bethany, Jefferson
co., Ga. They (the members) have never
faltered or fired; a grog-shop can’t
breathe in a circumference of many miles.
Some of the noble Sons of the Division
(several of them) were once far gone down
the road to ruin ! They have been true
ever since their connection with the Or
der.
On the first of every returning May,
they celebrate their anniversary, in a beau
tiful grove. I was invited as usual to be
there. Well I went. I will give you the
particulars of my visit in another number.
After dinner ,on Tuesday 22d ult., with
stick and carpet bag in hand, I repaired to
freight cars, at Palmetto. I felt buoyant
and with elastic feelings off I went—l was
reminded of other days, when travelling
tar and nigh I was enabled to plant our
white flag in many places where “Alchy”
reigned before! Arrived at East Point
and got on Macon passenger train and found
that polite, sober, moral young man Huff,
the Conductor on board, no man can know
but to love him—l got off at Griffin and
anticipated a great treat (not in liquor) but
in spending one more night under the roof
of W. Freeman. In this I was disappointed,
but his excellent lady and family seemed
glad to see the “old man,” and treated me
as in former days, when this house was
my home when travelling. What a sweet
retired home for the traveller.—Wednes
day 30th of April, off for Macon; young
Wise, the Conductor, polite and agreeable
I think he is wise in shunning, as no
doubt he does the path of dissipation ; the
road must he fortunate in having such
Conductors as Huff, Wise, and Heydon.
lam not acquainted with the others, no
doubt, meritorious young men—arrived at
Macon, beautiful Macon, Oh! that she had
not one single plague spot in the shape of
drinking saloons to mar her beauty or in
jure her young men! Passing through that,
grand building, the car shed; Dense at
home, conducts me.to the Brown Hotel,
the most superbly furnished house I ever
saw. He showed me into both the gentle
men and ladies parlors, and different parts
of the building. Having but a few min
utes to stay, got on Central care, and off
for Jefferson, and find to my delight,
Charlton aboard, as attentive, as polite,
and friendly as over. He informed me be
has been on the road eleven years. What
a blessing to the road is such a Conductor.
Arrived at Spiers Ttum Out, where I find
horse and buggy in awaiting to convey me
Ito my friend Dr. Houser’s* I was driven
by his little son, who believes in Temper
ance and Uncle Dabney so strong, that ai
ded by such a father, he will never fall into
old Alcohol’s dutches, v; We arrived in
good time ; all glad to see me. His lady
smiled, his children smiled, his daughter
smiled, and playing sweet cold water notes
on the Melodian, made the “old man”
stronger in the Temperance faith. Did
you ever see this man Houser, his high
commanding forehead, his keen black eye;
always pleasant, always cheerful and com
panionable, and with all the talents of the
first order—wielded too in behalf of Tem
perance, morality and religion.
I may in my next, give you some more
account of the celebration on Ist of May,
at Bethany Camp-Ground, the place of our
meeting. ‘ Truly, Ac., D. P. JONES.
KISSING NO ROBBERY.
“Oh! quit—get out—now don’t you—
I really wish you wouldn’t!
Oh ! quit—will you ? Oh ! get out—
You know you ought to shouldn’t.
“There now, you’ve got it—oh, be still!
You shan’t have any more !
You’ve got.—oh! take your face away—
What no man has got before.
“Once more—there, that will do—oh, don’t!
You’ve rumpled up my hair ;
If you’ll but quit, I’ll give you one—
Now take it —there—there—there !”
FASHION.
“Come.” said the gay Miss Lightheart to
her friend Miss Easy, one fine Sabbath
morning, “let us go to church and see the
latest styles; the most fashionable class of
society always go there to church. And
then Rev. Mr. is so popular and
preaches such sermons; you will be delight
ed. And sure enough, Paris has exported
her very latest styles and had sent her rep
resentatives to church as advertisements.—
The sanctuary was full of dress and beauty.
And oh, how all the devout creatures did
scrutinize and quiz and scan bonnets, dress
es and furs, until indeed, some of them lost
their places in their prayer books, and even
forgot their prayers in their endeavors to
comprehend person and changes in style
since last Sabbath, and what was most ad
mired. The Rev. Mr. preached an
admirable sermon, but many of his hearers,
during service, were cutting patterns, select
ing samples and getting good fits. After the
sermon, a collection was taken up to aid our
city poor. There was quite a commotion in
the pockets for a few moments—rustling of
paper, jingling of small silver and the dull
chink of copper, constituted quite a money
harmony not at all discordant to the ears of
bearers of the bag. One collector was
obliged to stop some time at one rich slip
until the gentleman could take out his wal
let, and turn over his money to find a levy
for the occasion, and one remarkably gener
ous fellow liked to have knocked the bottom
out of the contribution box by throwing in
a copper coin.
The closing piece by the choir was exqui
site, and several ladies bowed compliments
to members of the orchestra, notwithstand
ing it was Sabbath day. Quite a number
was heard through the house, “how beauti
ful.” And so the choir seemed to think, as
was apparent from their complacent smile.
It was indeed quite fashionable. The bene
diction, and a sort of retreat from the organ,
sent the audience on their way. It was in
teresting to hear the current remarks as
they passed along, mingling with their greet
ings and salutations. “What an awful long
sermon,” said Miss Graceless ; “he preach
ed more than half an hour by my watch !”
“Oh, did you see that lady in hlue silk, in
Squire Wayside's pew ? What a little love
of a bonnet she had on ; she got it at Mrs.
Goodfit’s shop.” “How awful Mrs. Lace
looks in that plaid with such trimmings. I
wonder if Mrs. Sobermind hasn’t lost a
friend; she was dressed in mourning.” Thus
they went on discussing fashion, instead of
preaching, until the pastor’s sermon, text,
and all momentary impressions, ran into
hats, bonnets, dresses and almost every
thing else save religion. Monday began
with a race for the shops, each gay lady in
tent on an outfit, in later style, before anoth
er Sabbath. Merchants could hardly v<
ize what had given such an impulse to ‘
ness, until they learned that several
appeared at church in the very latest ca
tions of Paris.— Balt. Pat.
THE CHARACTER OF A GOOD WIFE.
Old George Talbot thus sketches the wo
man that makes home a paradise :
“A wife is the sweetest part in the har
mony of our being—to the love of which, as
the charms of charms of nature enchant, so
the law of grace, by special privilege, in
vests us. If a good wile—she is so religi
ous, that every day crowns her a martyr,
and her zeal is neither rebellious nor uncivil.
She is such a true friend, that to her the
husband may'’ communicate even his ambi
tions. She is a colleague with him in the
empire of prosperity, and a sale refuge when
adversity exiles him from the world. She
is so chaste, she never understood the lan
guage lust speaks in, nor with a smile ap
plauds it, although wit sparkles in the meta
phor. She is fair only to win on his affec
tions; nor would she be mistress of the most
eloquent beauty, if by it the passionate might
be betrayed into a lascivious thought. She
is inquisitive only of new ways to please her
husband; and her wit sails by no other com
pass than his discretion. His virtues are
her wonder and imitation, and his errors are
no more frailty than brings him to the level
ot a man. Her lair soul is in a tail body.
It is like a river that windingly creepeth
with many wavy turnings within the ena
mel of a beautiful meadow, and ravisheth
the whole world with the admiration of its
excellency.”
never loose sight of appear
ances. No matter how violent may be a
widow’s grief she never enjoys weeping
with adequate gusto, unless her tears are
dried with a perfumed handkerchief. If
Mrs. Muggins wears Mechlin borders to her
night-caps, it isn’t because her slumber will
thereby be enhanced in sweetness, but that
■she might make a taking appearance in case
es fire during the night. Mrs. Muggins is
cousin to the old maid, who, when asked
why she wore gold fringed garters, said she
didn’t know “what might happen.”
THE DAHLIA PLANT.
To be able to select the best and choicest
dahlia is a nice point, and some experience
is required to make an individual fully con
versant with the names of the varieties, so
as to distinguish one from the other. They
are divided into classes, according to their
peculiar characters —as to being tipped, stri
ped, or, what is termed by a florist, self-col
ored. A self-colored is of a uniform shade
—not tipped, or striped; a tip has the petal,
from the middle to the point, of different
shade from the other portion ; a stripe has
the petals striped from their insertion on the
receptacle to the point. There are also sev
eral styles of mottling, which vary somewhat
om the distinctions. In each of these class
es there are hundreds ol varieties. Among
the select sorts, highly recommended, are
the Plantagenet—a good self-colored dahlia,
large size, fair form, lilac-purple color; Em
peror of Morocco—one of the most admired
and best known tipped varieties, dark pur
ple, tipped with white; the Baron Alder
son is a showy orange, tipped with white,
large and attractive ; the Niger is a dark,
velvety, purple variety; the Madame Zah
der is large, of an orange or bronzy shade;
of the white sorts—Bragg’s Antagonist, and
Indispensable are very good.
COURTESY.
No man is a gentleman, who without pro
vocation, would treat with incivility the
humblest of his species. It is a vulgarity
for which no accomplishments nor dress can
ever atone. Show me the man who de
sires to make every one happy around him,
and whose greatest solicitude is never to
give just cause of offence to any one, and
I will show you a gentleman by nature and
practice, although he may never have worn
a suit of broad-cloth, nor ever have heard of
a lexicon.
DCpHave you made one happy heart to
day ? How sweetly you can sleep on the
pillow—how sweetly sleep. In all this
world there is nothing so sweet as giving
comfort to the distressed, as getting a sun
ray into a gloomy heart. Children of sor
row meet us wherever we turn ; there is
not a moment that tears are not shed and
sighs uttered. Yet how many of those sighs
are caused by our own thoughtlessness ?
How many a daughter wrings the very soul
of a fond mother by acts of ingratitude.—
How many brothers and sisters meet to vex
and injure each other, making wounds that
no human art can heal. Ah ! if each one
worked upon this maxim day by day—strive
to make some heart happy—jealousy, re
venge, madness and hatred, with their kin
dred associates, would forever leave the
earth.
Cjre Cmjjarmta (fasakt.
PENFIELD, GEORGIA.
Saturday Morning, May 17, 1856.
|3F“ltev. Claiborn Trussell, of Atlanta, is a duly
authorized Agent for the Crusader.
Liberal Offer.
Any person sending us five new Subscribers, ac
companied with the “rhino,” shall be entitled to an
extra copy of the Crusader for one year. Orders for
our Paper must invariably he accompanied with the
cash to receive attention.
_
Stop Papers.—Settle Arrearages.
Persons ordering their papers discontinued, must
invariably pay up all their dues. We shall not strike
off any subscriber’s name who is in arrears.
Politics and Temperance.
Again has the caldron of political agitation began
to boil and bubble. Throughout every portion of
our country, the heated ebulition increases and ex
pands. Over it the ambitious demagogue, and wire
working politician, bends, zealously practising his
mcantations, and gloating with deep inward delight
. ‘ the success of his spells. Soon each party will
have chosen their standard-bearer, and arranged
them..elves rank and file under hisbanner. To pro
mote the election of their candidate nothing will be
left undone, which labor can accomplish, or intrigue
effect. A great crisis will soon arrive; one in which
the prosperity, safety, nay the very existence of our
government will be endangered. Political speakers
of every shade of opinion will canvass the land, de
claring that if the people do not vote as they say,
the country will bo eternally ruined. And what do
they strive for in all this? Any great good which
will be of lasting benefit to the country and place its
interests on a firmer basis? No; thep strive for a
more nominal triumph for their party, and appoint
ments to offices in which they can do as they please
while their party is in power. And to gain these
little, petty, pitiful ends, they strain every nerve, ex
ert every muscle, leaving nothing untried which
could assist or pro.note their cause. What part or
interest can the philanthropist take in these move
ments? Can he give his aid to increase convulsions,
which are perilous to the safety and fatal to the in
terest of society ? lie should rather seek to still the
tumult, to cast his influence like oil upon the raging
waters, and induce men to think without passion or
prejudice of the subjects presented for their consid
eration. He cannot, without the greatest inconsis
tency, raise the hosanna of praise in the Temple of
the demagogue. He should stand aloof from the
popular excitement, nor let his voice be heard, save
in warning and expostulation.
If such be the only consistent course left for phi
lanthropists generally, it is so in a still higher de
gree with Temperance men, who have banded them
selves together for a work of humanity and love.—
It matters not to them which party triumphs in the
contest; both are equally opposed to them. There is
nought which they can expect to gain from the
wiles of political intrigue. As Americans, it is their
privilege and duty to vote as they think best upon
all issues which are presented to them ; as Temper
ance men, they should labor without ceasing for the
advancement of their cause. It is a deceptive soph
ism th ,t they should remain inactive, while political
agitation is extant. Tho interest of the cause de
mands a continued and ceaseless vigilance on the
part of its friends. We confidently believe, that
were they to cast all other considerations aside, and
labor with energy and perseverance at all times, we
would triumph, and that right speedily. *
•
Flowers.
Flowers are the most delicate specimens of artis
tic skill left by God upon earth to attest His crea
ting presence. The firmament bespangled with
myriads of resplendent orbs, speaks of sublimity •
the fantastic wreaths of sun-dyed clouds which
cover the skies, speak of grandeur; but no object in
Nature is so replete with poetic beauty as flowers.
They fir transcend all inanimate beanty, and ap
proach nearest that which clothes woman’s angelic
mould. Other objects may address themselves to
one sense only; but these by their splendid colors
and refreshing fragrance, possess a double power to
please. Without them, the world would be con
verted into a gloomy waste, with nought to charm
the fancy, or gratify the sight.
From the earliest ages, the care and cultivation of
flowers has been assigned co woman as her peculiar
province. And it is fitting that it should he thus.
There is no out-door occupation in which she can
so appropriately engage. While the exercises at
tendant upon it brings the glow of health to her
cheeks, it is eminently calculated to cherish gentle
ness, innocence and purity. And how expressive
are they of woman’s character and condition. The
slender vine clings by its soft tendrils to its support,
and braves the storm, by which the loftiest oaks are
riven. So woman, though feeble in her strength,
acquires from her confiding nature, a power to with
stand shocks of adversity, before which prouder
natures quail.
“In Eastern lands they talk in flowers,” and how
fraught with meaning must be the messages which
they convey. They form one long-continued, never
ending poem, clothed in the rich imagery of fresh
ness and purity. They are but the outer emblems
of those brighter flowers of affection, which ahould
ever bloom in the heart, and as such, they speak
not to the head in glowing eloquence, or to the ear
in “concord of sweet sounds,” but to the inmost
soul, gaining a quick response in the mantling blush,
the smiling lips, or the beaming eye. They speak
all tongues, and require no media through which
to hold communion with the soul. Evary sentiment
which man hath conceived may be expressai in
their significant languigo. Who loves not sweet
flowers? Like bright seraphs from another sphere,
they cluster around the faint, care-worn soul, and
drive far away the dark forms of sorrow and des
pair. Who hath not entered the flowery grove with
angusihed heart and aching brow, wandering amid
its bowers, until each anxious thought was lulled
to rest-, and quietness jnd peace once more reigned
over the troubled spirit? Thank God for flowers!
We hafl with joy their rich fragrance which scents
the morning air, or perfumes the breeze with dis
tilled sweetness at the decline of day. We love to
see them blooming around the humblest cottage, or
the stateliest structure; for they impart new at
tractions, and give us an assurance of woman’s
presence, a hope to be greeted by her endearing
smile. Plant flowers around your dwellings. They
are the cheapest adornings by which you can ren
der your homes beautiful. And while they adorn
your yards and gardens, they will teach you lessons
of humility, faith, and love, which if duly learned
and practiced, will fit you to become bright flow
ers, blooming in perpetual verdure amid the Para
dise of God. *
Maine.
The opponents of Prohibition from one end cf the
land to the other, have been chuckling over the re
peal of the law in Maine. Let them not rejoice too
soon ; their triumph may be as brief as it is inglo
rious. We take the following from the Journal of
the Temperance Union:
The overthrow of the blessed law which has ele
vatod this State and made it glorious in the eyes of
all nations is complete. The liquor dealers have it
all their own way. Well, this has been a beautiful
interregnum of five years for the world too look at
in .11 future generations. Its history and its opera
tions should be carefully written out by the men
who have been most active in the field. *We cannot
believe that in the State of Maine, the pendulum of
moralily and soberness will swing to the other ex
treme as it did in England when royalty succeeded
the Puritan Commonwealth. The friends of the
law feel confident that the reign of rum will be
short. They are stout of heart and of good cour
age. The following is their language in the Port
land Advocate :
Our whole State is to he deluged with rum, to the
destruction of virtue and good order; and ruin and
distress are everywhere to abound to suit this band
of conspirators who would clutch the offices of trust
. and emolument. It is a long lane that has no turn,
and we very much mistake the people of Maine it
they do not hurl these men from power, and hi
out the vile thing which they have enactad.
We raise the cry of REPEAL, and we will agitate
agitate, Agitate, till the disgrace which has been
brought upon the State by the passage of tt'is law,
is removed. We throw the banner of REPEAL to
the breeze, and vve call upon the temperance men @f
the State to rally, and overthrow the party, that
have thus disgraced us, and put our dearest inter
ests in jeopardy.
Shall we not have a grand CONVENTION that
the friends of prohibition may take counsel togeth
er? We would like a response from our friends in
different parts of the State, to this question. Shall
we have a CONVENTION ?
“ ‘You bachelors ought to be taxed,’ said a lady
to a resolute evader of the noose matrimonial.
“ ‘I agree with you ma’am,’ was the re
ply, ‘bachelorism certainly is a luxury.’”
We think, too, that it is a great luxury; one
I which gives man an exemption from a multitude of
the ills “which flesh is heir to.” Wc are, however,
opposed to any tax, deeming it a sufficient punish
ment to be made a standing subject upon which ev
ery “College Miss” exhausts all the wit and sarcasm
(not to say spleen) which she can collect and com
press into her “graduating composition.” But rid
icule from that or any other source, can never in
duce us to insert our neck in the “noose matrimo
nial,” for though it is long, we fear it would be in
rather a confined position. We become more at
tached to our single blessedness every time we see
a newly married couple. “How do you enjoy marri
ed life,” said we recently to a friend who about six
months since immolated himself at the altar of Hy
men. “Ah!” said he, (heaving a sigh like Virgils
hero, l ab\imo pectwe') “the cares of married life are
many and various.” So we thought, as we looked
at his pale, wan face, so different from tho young
man full of life and hope from whom wchad parted
a few months before. Bachelorism is surely a great
luxury. At least, we will try it a few years, and if
wc find that we are mistaken, we will give up—if
we can. *
er The Phi Delta Society of Mercer University,
will celebrate its 21st Anniversary on Thursday, the
22d inst., on which occasion, an Address will be
delivered by M. N. Dyer, a regular member of the
Society. The public generally are invited to attand.
<.♦•
We are indebted to Hon. A. G. Brown, for
a copy of his Speech in Congress, delivered on the
28 th of April.