Horry news. (Conwayboro, S.C.) 1869-1877, May 29, 1875, Image 1
THE HORRY NEWS,
iutbushet*
Kvery Saturday Morning
T W. BEATY, Editor.
TKK.UH x
Oxk Ykar, $2.00
Six Months, $1.00
All rominniilr.llons teMllnctA Mfrvr
prUntf littfrMi, will Im ehnrfed for a?
'ndvorllftfinrnlN.
dm)
[From th? New York Observer.]
IN SOUTII CAROLINA.
"O winds of March, how soft ye blew
Across this lovely laud o! flowers,
The very winds that toss the snow
On far-ofl Northern hills of ours!
II dw strange to dream of storm "and cold,
Of frosty rights and days of gloom,
When jasmine twines its wreaths of gold
And bright a/ale as ga'.ly bloom!"
So musing, wandering on apart
| Willi idle steps, 1 chanced to stray
To where, against the city's heart.
An ancient chmchyard nestling lay.
A sapphire sky was o'er my head,
Fresh springing grass beneath my feet;
Tlint #mit? <1 wiillt i *rv i?f f lw*
Seemed made for slumber calm and sweet.
Great names of old, their country's pride,
i Were graven here on many a stone;
lint, passing there, I turned aside
To one low cross that stood alone.
"He died at Gettysburg," it said,
"An o ily son. Aged twenty years."
Down 011 the grass 1 laid my head
And wet the grave with bit ter tears;
For at that moment, to my thought
Another cross appeared to rise;
Almost the self-same words are wrought
Upon tlie marble where tic lies:
"At Gettysburg, just twenty-one"?
My boy, my hero, young and brave!
"He was his mother's only son"?
Her heart is buried in his grave.
A voice was sounding in my ears,
A voice that spoke witli cruel tone:
"O foolish woman! Useless tears!
Fat l>etter had you kept your own!
Wlio knows which side the tight doth ltcf
Dispute the question as you may,
Tieo nohle hoys went out to die?
One life was surely Hung awaj!''
'lNo, no!" I cried. "We needs must take
Our journey oft through cloud and night;
Yes, even at the morning's break,
We turn, bewildered, from the light.
The eagle minds, whose steady eyes
Can face the sun, alas! are few;
lint since we cannot all l>e wise,
Thank Cod, wc can at least be true!
4'The gold is mixed with baser ore,
liut. yet the furnace can reline;
In self-devotion, evermore
Some sparks ofheavenly metal shine;
And so tl?e soldier who laid down
His life for what he deemed the right,
lie surely shall not miss die crown
Kept for all licroes in the light. i
4,In years to come, when men shall learn
To view this conflict from afar.
True faith and courage, then will hum.
Amid the darkness like a star.
Perhaps tint children may exclaim,
'Our fufhem stumbled in the night;
Their grand devotion shall not shame
Our better wisdom, wider sight.' "
Tlten, rising from that holy ground,
I plucked a leaf of budding palm
And laid it gently on tbe.mound,
' After the temitesl comes the calm;
Sleep, gallant boy?the life you gave
Its precious fruit one day shall bring,
As, even now, from out your grave.
The flower of sympathy doth spring."
I'ltO 1'ACE.
The Mad Driver.
o
AN OLD MURCK ANT'* STORY.
Many years ago, when a lad about
ten, I was one of tho lowest subordinates
in the large house ol Maxwell
<fc Co, ofT . The duties allotted
to me in that extensive establishment
were of such a menial character as to
deeply wound my pride.
However I labored with untiring
' # # D
energy. I was ambitious, and struggled
(or advancement.
Slowly, step by step, sometimes (altering
and losing heart, I went on until
finally I reached a point which my
boyish fancy, in its wildest flight, had
not surveyed. At the age of twentyone
I became the junior member of the
firm.
In those days Maxwell ?fc Co. had
an extended business, and it became
necessary Iroiu time to time to visit
the various places where the interests
of the firm were located.
These journeys, usually made by me,
taking place before the are of easy
and elegant travel of the present day,
were often tedious and attended by
hardship.
An incident of one of them I am
now about to relate. One of the principal
debtors of our house was a man
named Hraithwaite. living at D ,
Kentucky. He had, by uniform honesty,
secured an almost unlimited
credit.
At lonrvf li li A (irntrot* eiunliMAna si?aaa
a m. ? ivii^viif iivwv>i vi f ovin|i iviuiin ai Vlun;
and it was (eared that lie was about
to make a fraudulent dis|>osition oi his
property. Consequently it was exceedingly
urgent to have a representative
on the ground to guard our interests.
I undertook the journey. Hiding
on horseback day and night, through
a thinly settled, wild country, seldom
stopping, even (or rest, I finally reached
the little village ot P , where I
was to take stage lor my destination.
The only place in P for the
traveler's accommodation was a little
inn standing a lew yards lrora the
highway.
The coach register contained the
names oi four persons to go that day
?two gentlemen beside myself, and
one lady.
Soon 1 heard the rambling noise
^ made by the coacli as it approached.
The particular coach in question, to
which 1 waa about to commit my fortunes
during my trip to D?~?, had no
doubt once been ot superior quality,
and though time had dimmed its colors
and weakened its frame, it was still
staunch and presentable in appearance.
XUo Uvr?u? ?tMvb?d IP it ((oar ia uumr
MO I
VOL.7. CON
ber) were tine, high-spirited, powerful
animals.
The driver was a veteran of twenty
years' experience, well known to all
travelers by that route as "Old Jimmy."
If he ever had a surname, I am
sure I never heard it.
Everything was now ready for the
departure. I took my place in the
coach, and immediately afterward
there followed two gentlemen, and a
few seconds later, a lady.
The door was closed with a bang,
and off w? started.
My companions was as follows: On
the front seat with me was a man ol
about forty-five years of age, sloutlvbuilt,
medium bight, honest, homely
features. One glance at his sunbrowned
face and large, coarse ha mis
satisfied me that he was inured to toil.
No doubt a tarniir. lie was quiet
and unassuming in demeanor, neatly
but coarsely clad. We meet such
men every day, and find nothing about
them peculiarly interesting. It 1 remember
aright, his name was Simpson.
On the middle seat directly faciei/ i
" ?
me, wan a man ot' a very ditlereut
Htainp. Had you mot him ui a crowd
lie would have attracted your especial
attention and into real. Exceedingly
tall, massive, and broad-shouldered;
no doubt possessed ol great strength;
the head large, covered with abundant
hair, iron gray in color, and so
long as to touch his shoulders. Ills
lea Lures were regular, and by the cas11
*1 I aluinr u?aii l.i " 1
i ? viiiu llilt V UCUI1 CUIICll I
handsome. The impression produced
oil me was pu/.zing. It was eerlaiidy
not agreeable, but on the other hand,
I cunnot say that it was exactly disagr
enable.
The controlling feeling was rather
curiosity in one whom 1 at once perceived
was extraordinary. I cannot
lorget a certain contraction ol the
muscles oi his mouth producing an ex- 1
pression alternating between sternness
and pain. His eyes were very large,
cold gray in color, restless, continually
roavmg from one object to another.
1 should add that he was neatly, almost
elegantly dressed. I lis bearing
suggested a man who had seen much
ol Ilie?one rather given to meditation.
His name was Kulus lieyiiolus. Hehind
him, in the remotest corner of
the back seat, apparently shrinking
Ironi observation, was the lady in the
ease. J have deterred a description ot
her, not from any lack of gallantry or
I I ?? I t l?li *j-?vr I-... ?* 1
vhw n'%; u IH VUllItT 0C"
cause she avoided description. She
was so closely veiled tnat only the conlour
ot her lea lures could be discerned.
A stray lock ol her hair escaping iroui
con tine men t was black. Her costume
was a traveling suit ol tho iinest material
and elegant linish. {She wore on
the lirst finger ol her right hand a
beautiful ring ol rare design. Deeply
imbuded, as i was, with llie imagination
and lire of youth, what could I do
but conclude that she must be refined,
lovely and beautiful. She was certainly
young, and there was about her
an indescribable something indicative
ol good breeding. One thing worthy
ol note did not escape in.i m the time,
and that was that her face was turned
continually toward Reynolds, as
though she was intently regarding
him, JIo, on the other hand, seen^d
totally oblivious of her presence. No,
f * *
| i am 1ni8iuk.cn; lie turned once and
I scanned her curiously, and then I saw
her withdraw further into the corner,
and avoid his gaze. There was certainly
some mistenous connection between
these two, but what could it be?
1 was obliged to wait such developments
as would afVord mi explanation.
For the first ten miles not more than
twenty words were spoken, and those
wire dry and common place enough.
Surely not a very communicative party.
This irksome quiet drove me lor
relief to the surrounding scenery.
Some circumstance, 1 forget now of
what nature, led to a conversation on
the ever-fruitful topic of religion. The
farmer, evidently a staunch church
man, expressed his views at some
length, and after a manner strictly orthodox.
While listening to him my attention
was attracted by Reynolds'
manner.
Jiefore a half-dozen words had been
spoken, that roving, restless movement
of the eye, to w/iicfi 1 have already
alluded, partly disappeared, and
his large eyes expanded as lie almost
fastened them on i he farmer. As the
latter progressed, Reynolds' attention
tiii/ihd H vcl. rtu usiiu iiuiilonlltf
tensely interested, and labored under
repressed excitement. The massive
grandeur of bis frame seemed to expand
under the effort to restrain bis
teeliugs. He seemed to desire to say
something, and to be wailing eagerly
for an opportunity. None coming,
his impatience finally overcame hi in,
and he spoke, in a voice trembling
witli emotion:
"Gentlemen, It is my solemn duly
to correct the errori of your faith.
Your religion is 011 a false louodation.
The new must supplant the old. I tell
you I have studied religion lor twenty
years; studied it day and night, without
rest. Hear my judgement: Your
Church is an oppression in the land.
The poor have been robbed to enrich
her. She must be stripped of her J
/
my
_A_u Iridope
WAV?ni?n s. n._
?? J. -awealth
lor the benefit of the abject ami
needy ot the land. 1 am called to
preach the new gospel. The t'hurch
must be leveled and her ministers driven
Irom the land. All who do not accept
the new gospel must be destroyed."
Those words were uttered
with an earnestness truly majestic.
The speaker seemed to leel that he
was indeed sent to carry out the relorn)
he. referred to.
During the delivery of this tirade,
the vaded lady had not escaped my
notice.
.Not lor an instant had she turned
her head lrom the direction of the
speaker, whom she was evidently
watching intently, and as his enthusiasm
increised. 1 lancied shu kIuhv.
ed signs ol alarm. Here recurred the
perplexing question as to what
mysterious relations existed between
them, Devolving tliis question in my
mind, 1 was thoroughly on the qui
vive, and anxiously a wading some
tfenoucmenty when suddenly, and to
my disgust, we stopped lor dinner.
Dinner was linished, and at about
two o'clock in the aiternoon we resumed
our places. 1 say we, I am mistaken?
theie were three ot us onlv.
J '
Ueynolds' place was vacant. I at
once supposed thai lie was riding on
the box, and was continued in this supposition
by hearing his deep voice in
conversation with the driver. There
was now a marked change in Miss Castle's
oi lidiicl. The cause i instantly
attributed to the absence ol Ueynolds,
and yet could not imagine how Ins
presence should act us a restraint on
her. She had removed her vail, ami
disclosed one ol the most attractive,
winsome laces 1 had evel looked upon.
My youihlul instincts were collect.
She was indeed young and beauiilul.
Do 1 not express it, when I say sinwas
a most charming young lady?
it was not long be lore one ol those
pleasant conversations which commence
in nothing and olten cud it;
nothing, and yet beguile the tediousuess
ol travel, hud sprung up between
us. She was well informed, lluent and
entertaining, and 1 soon became much
interested.
At this stage ol our journey we hud
readied a hiuy, almost mountainous,
oart ol the country. The road had
a -j
become wry narrow and contracted,
bounded on one hand hy a lino ol sleep
rugged hills, on ihe oilier hy a deep
ravine, with preoipiuioiis sides. iMany
leet below might be heard the rush ot
water. 1 could not depress a shudder
as I looked down into the abyss, and
thought what an ugly place mis part
of the road would be during a dark,
O /
stormy night.
We were now moving at a rate ol
speed which seemed rather unsafe, considering
the nature ol the country. 1
left no great uneasiness, however, relying,
as 1 did, upon the experience ol
the driver. 1 had occasionally caught
fragments ot the conversation going
on between him and the excenlrio
stranger. Their voices became so loud
that we could distinctly hear Reynolds
insisting, in an angry tone, on Iriving,
and llie firm refusal ol the driver.
This produced a decided elhct on .Miss
Casile. 1 Iere again was directly traceable
the influence which Reynolds
exerted on her. The domiueiit feeling
seemed to bo a sort ot urcad.
Determined lo solve the problem, 1
elieted Irom Miss Castle, by a lew
well-timed (jueslious, the 'following
disclosures, which you may easily imagine
were nounder the circumstances,
either gratifying or soothing.
Reynolds, it appeared, was well
known to Miss Castle. In his youth
he had studied lor the ministry.
Possessed of wealth, his education had
been o! a superior character, and be
had early given promise ot a useful,
distinguished career. Deep, continued
study, however, united with religious
enthusiasm, unsettled his reason, lie
had at first appeared harmless, hut in
time the nature of his malady so
changed that he at intervals became
violent and dangerous, lie was finally
placed under the care of a keeper,
but not before he had twice attempted
to take the life of his friends, during
his periodical attacks ot insanity, lie
was at last placed in an asylum, and
was, no doubt, supposed by his
friends to be in custody at the very
tune when it was my fortune to have
him tor a traveling companion, in it
word, the distinguished-looking gentleman
there on liie driver's box, apparently
so anxious to lake charge ot
our destinies, was none other than an
escaped lunatic.
' IU. .. J . - ? . . - I .1 ...?
i ii(' clangorous nature <tt wu iwau,
ami the no vV accelerated speed ai
which we wove &oing, were grave
causes lor alarm.
A 8eu.se ol iiupctiding petil, pos>eHcd
me. The conversation between Keyii
ol * is and the dlivcr, which had lor a
lime Homewhai lulled, wiu) resumed in
louder, angrier lone* thau before.
1 noticed that "Old Jimmy's" voice
was thick, and his words spoken with
an indistinctness characteristic ot a
man under the intltinnce ol liquor.
What ifReynolds, will.a mad man's
cunning, had plied him with liquor,
the better to accomplish some wild
purpose ?
:NE
indent .1 ournnl.
SATURDAY INLAY 2'
Suddenly wo hoard sound* ol a
struggle, cries and oaths, a thud on
tho coach top, as oi a heavy lull; then
a gasping and choking, as though
r f n o? n
boiiiu one were tiying to get breath.
Now thoroughly alarmed, and reeling
certain that something wrong had
taken place, I leaned as lar as possible
out of the window, and saw something
which is as clear in my memory
to-day as though it hud happened but
yesterday.
Standing on tho loot board was the
driver and Reynolds engaged in a terrible
struggle.
They swayed backward and forward
with vhe motion ol the coach, at limes
almost tailing t'orwaid under the
horses, or to the side under the wheels.
Tho driver's face was red, ami swollen
almost to bursting; his arms were
around the body ol his adversary as
lllOUgll 111 U (UMin gfip. I ll" IH'I'CU*
loan noia of Reynolds was almost
erect; liis hat was off; his Ionhail
streaming; liis eyes Hashing like those
ul a beast ot prey about to spring on
its victim, Uolh ol his hands clasped
the diver's throat, who at length, mi j
able to withstand the vice-like grip,
loosened his hold and lei I heavily, almost
under the wheels.
Our wild ride now commenced.
Reynolds seized the reins and whin
1 ." , . k I
and lashed the horses into madness
not much less than his own. Ai inti'i*vaid
ho uttered a cry, something ot
a yell an?l laugh, thai chilled one to
the heart. Onward wo sped Willi the
rapidity of the wind.
1 turned to my companions. They
had evidently taken in the situation.
The iavnier, though very much
alarmed, was sell-possessed and coinageous.
The young lady was tern lied
to such an extent that her lace was
blanched and Iter ieaturea fairly distorted.
1 he situation was awful. How to
escape was the question. My lirst
thought was that wo could leap Irom
the coach, out one look ai the jugged
rocks ou one side and the deep ravine
on the other, convinced me that such
a course wold lie our certain destruction.
To remain seemed equally hopeless.
We were ihruulcneti with instant
annihilation.
Our mad dmer plied the lash and
i ..i i.to ......i t i 'i t...
. liiuii nb inn niiiiiuviivu Mvrur>, l lie
noise was learlul. The coach rooked
Irom side to side. ami several times
nearly turned over. Our late seemed
to water between death hy bein*:
dashed 10 pieces against the rocks on
the one ??de, and precipitation into
the ravine on the other. The wheels
otteii shaved the edge ol the precipice,
sending the rocks tumbling below.
My acquaintance with all the features
ot the road, uaving traveled it oueo or
twice before, enabled me to decide on
some plan ul escape.
About a mile ahead there was a
lotk m the road. The lelt hand was
the route lorinerly traveled, but being
through a bad part of the country,
and ai ways considered dangerous, it
had long been abandoned, was out ot
repair, us bridges down, Ac. I he
light hand, or new road, was wide,
level and in goud condition. 1 decided
that n the h it was taken it
would be better to l isK death by leaping
lrom tiie coach, than to remain
and lace iucn itablc destruction, lint
u the right was taken our chances
would be altogether better, it being
evident that the horses couId not much
longer keep up their breakneck g.-ot,
aiivl that they would probably run
themselves down to such an extent as
* I. ~ . . A* - - I I I
hj ni.iKu our exit i)oiJi me vehicle com
pa ratively sate.
The decisive moment approached.
Onward! still onward! willi unabated
rapidity. Objects Jlew past without
shape; the heavens tuincd in a circle.
Would the devil who was driving
give us hut one chance t'ur our lives?
i fell relieved when the tune for
action arrived. 1 pushed opou the
coach door, grasped the door post
leaned forward and glanced up the
road. Ahead was a steep descent, at
the loot wi wnieh was the place where
tile roads parted. And yet no slack
in speed; the wild, infuriated animals
dashed on; the merciless driver, now a
demon with blood shot eyes and learning
mouth, still urged iheiu on, and
uttered the ravings oi his madness.
Now wo are. almost there. One
hundred yards ahead!
Titty yards ahead!
I looked at Alias Castle. ?Slie
sccoiwd liteless, I told her lo approach
.?... ...i i - i o i ....
mi it win v? iiviV i. hlUU'I. OUU UIU SU
without a word.
.Now wo are there. Will the tiend
on the box pull Lo ilie right or to the
leu'/
lie seems undecided. lie Hashes
his glance tirst on one aide and then
the o'.her.
lie |<u 11 t-k to the right and we ire
saved. N'ol lie has changed his purpose;
lie pulls lo the Jell.
ilis indecision saved our lives. Tlie
leaders tirnt reined to the right, turned
that way, then immediately afterward
reined to iheleli, endeavored to oboy,
but the change was too sudden.
They halted lor a second. One of
j them was confused; he reared, plunged
j forward, and almost tell, hut recovered
I hiinsell. Then was our tune, it ever.
i), 1875. NO.
I called to Miss Castle; she did not
apnear to hear iiiu, and did not move.
There was no time lor ceremony. 1
tovik her in one arm, and then grasp
ing the door and leaning torward as
far as possible, I gavo one glance
around me, and then leaped blindly
out.
I struck hard; a heavy darkness enveloped
me. I became insensible. A
tew hours afterward, when 1 recovered
consciousness, I was in a farm-house
near by, receiving the very best attention
that could he bestowed. Miss
Castle and the fanner were active in
administering to my wants. The former
was profuse in her expressions <>t
graltilnde to mo for having, as she
claimed, saved her life. Such words,
1 assure you, were balm to my
wounds.
I was happy to hoc that. she and the
tanner had escaped with little injury.
I was severely hat not dangerously
bruised, and, ho well was I at loaded, I
I was able to resume my journey iit a
few days.
As to Reynolds, tin* last seen of him
and his coursers alive was as they
reached the summit ot a high hill on
till' old road lli' ti'siu ml a n. 11 ii <r in-nO
oi?o hand holding the reins, the other
extended lb ward, as though urging
onward to the tragic? doom that awaited
him. It must have been a grand
pic in re.
(teaching a stream, unbridged, running
between steep, rocky hanks, he
doutiesH halted not a moment, hut
drove over the brink, and was probah
ly instantly killed by the crash and
ruin which followed. His body, once
so grand and majestic in its strength
and grace, now scarcely recognizable,
s?> mangled was it, was taken to his
family at I> .
I should not omit to state that "old
Jimmy" was not fatally injured by his
struggle with the madman, and tall
from the coach, lie recovered, and
resumed Sis place on the line.
Several years afterward I met him
<?n the same route, and discussed with
.. !.! - ! *1 ?
u.in uie exciting liiemei.HH ??i our line.
In conelusion, I should add that my
business in I). was satisfactorily
ended.
This journey proved one of the turning
points it: my life.
The acquaintance made with Miss
Castle under such romantic surroundings
concluded in our subsequent engagement
and marriage.
n o o
Reappearance of (he (Irussliopper.
The Chicago Tribune of Wednos-'
day has reports from Kansas and Missouri
showing that the inevitable grasshopper
has already appeared in multitudious
numbers hi some protions of
those States. This year hre comes, according
to report, reduced in si/.e, even
to the diminutive proportions of the
flea, and ranging from that to the ?ir.e
of the common house-fly. Ilis number
does wot seem to have been diminished,
but, on the contrary, he is as solid to
the square foot as during their raid of
last season, and his capacity for des
truction is full as great as when his
bodily bulk accorded with the general
idea of the average hopper. Dispatches
report this troublesome pest as already
swarming and increasing from
Missouri to the Hooky Mountains.?
The Tribune says fuithcr north, in
Nebraska and M iunesota, it is tlirought
that the mission of the grasshopper is
finished, and that the farmers will
1 - - * - -
nave ;iii opportunity to recover their
lost ground.
Tlio Feu-NuL
The pet-nut which is so popular a
commodity, has oho peculiarity ol
growth which distinguishes it fro in all
other known plants. The flowers ami
leaves are produced a? they are in
other plants of the pea ami liean tribe;
but when the flower has withered, the
stem which supports it grows rapidly
in a curved manner, bent toward the
ground, into which it penetrates several
incites. In this po*iibut the fruit
becomes ripened, and front this singular
operation the pea-nut has derived
the name of "earth nut" in Kurope.
This nut is a valuable article of food
in many tropical countries, and is extensively
cultivated. Korujely it was
largely imported; now we depend
chiefly on 111<5 crops from Virginia
ami lite Carolinias. It contains a I
| largo percentage of clear yellow oil,
which it* esteemed for domestic purposes,
eud is frequently used to adulterate
olive oil. I rt Cochin China, and
in India, pea-nut oil is used in lamps.
A I*aiity has been organised by the
engineer bureau of the war department
tor the prosccuUou cl'surveys in Central
New Mexico, southern and southwestern
Colorado and California, under
the immediate charge of Lieutenunt
George \V. Wheeler, Uuited
States engineers. Surveys will also
he made lor the purpose of ascertaining
the practicability of diverting the
waters of the Colorado of the west,
for irrigation and others purposes. A
small party will also bo sent out by
the Smithsonian institution to make
archijuological investigations in the
Santa Catalina islands.
1 L*?- " I 1 !-l C
I A DVKKTISKMENJVJ
1
I Inserted if > 1. m per *qnare for iit?i, uii I
til \ cents I -i each snhHe<|ticnt Insertl >n.
Oiio liicli space will constitute a H'juar*
whetlnf in hrevler or display typo: len? than
an inch will In- clnrged tor an a square.
Mai riagft not icon free. 0
Dentlis and Funeral notice* free.
ItelivloiiH notice* of one square free.
/i 11D8nil qimmiN will ii? mi>v to tlioso
whos?? uUwrlisiouflnU ar? to he kept in f??r
tlinv* months 01
Impure Itpailiug,
Among tlio many influences which
ar? continually operating upon human
chiliacter and life, perhaps there in not
on? morn powerful, more constant,
and more rapidly iworvssing than that
of reading. Once the privilege o1 the
few, it is now the Derogative ol ad;
once iimite I in its range, and un-acp-r
in its amount, it i.s now almost inliniio
in its variety and <inahty; once a r.iv
and expensive luxury, it is -trow *
cheap and universal means of enjoyment.
Its influence is orniiipiiH.u'i,,
and, in one sense unbounded. Tan
companion of lonely hours, it coiiducis
the mine, with more than lightning
rapidity, over every part of the known
world; it ?ty?** it the combined results
of human achievement; it opens up to
its view long \ istas of the past and
jKissibililies <>l the future; it brings it
into elAse contact with other minds,
in their most concentrated forms, and
. : i....1.1.i
vim:* r\ri in Mil tin n i?UMia jiUWl'l ,
At first sight, it might seem th.it
hik'Ii a mighty *'?d increased influence
must. bo purely beneficent in its effect
?expanding the iniud, enlarging the
views, correcting error, diffusing
truth, ami substituting mental pleat**
ure? for merely animal gratification.
We are glail to believe that, to a large
extent, these are its results. Through
the volumes which find their way ho
quickly from the shelves of the publishers
and the public libraries into
every home; through the monthly anil
weekly niuga/.iues which lie on every
table, ami the daily papers, which
come under every eye, our people are
being enlightened, quiokeued, educated;
their 1 acuities are stimulated,
their curosity excited, their tninds enlarged.
Wo can never sutheirntiy
honor an influence at once so power I ul
for good, and so conducive to human
happiness.
And yet it is impossible that, in the
flood ot literature that spreads o\ir
our laud, ti.t'i** should Ik* 110 importtics,
no element tliAt carries jxusoi ,
instead of nourishment, to tbosu wh??
drink indiscriminately of its waters.
It is unhappily too patent that smut
an element exists and it t'lvsrs becomes
a most important duty tor each <uo- to judge
accurately ot the quality of the
literature which he peruses liiihscll <>r
puts iuto the hands of another. For
rending is to the mind very much
what eating is to the body. As U10
food is digested, it becomes assimilated
with the physical system, entering into
the very nerves and tissue*, and
forming ?>ew blood?thus leaving a.
continual impress of its own iiatur *
upon the body. So in reading, we
take another kind ol food, which becomes
equally assimilated with the
mind, entering into uud transforming
its very structure, and leaving traces
which caii never he effaced. Much ot
a ruan's character is formed by Ins
read bur. If it he pure and bracing,
bis energies will Vie invigorated and
his powers strengthened; if it have *
high moral lorn*., he will insens:blv he
come morally elev14 it it be loan
and acute, it will sharpen his intellect;
it it be j?*)(-tic*il and impassioned, it
will develop his imagination and inspire
liis emotions. So it It in
reading be weak and trashy, his wind
will become enteebled; it it be impure
ami sensual, his passion will be inllamed;
il it be vicious and unprincipled,
his lower nature will be stimulated
ami bis mora! sense stilled.?7VoTadt'ljt/tia
Ledynr.
,Search! lift tin; Mails*
It is an n cm need that the Voatmastertieueral
has determined to break wp x
lottery or giti enterprise at Cincinnati
by stopping all money orders sent
through the mails and returning inc.a
to the senders, or by some system id
the Odicu Department en.iUii
the heudcrs to ^et their money back.
To break up ^ifc euterpniee* and
anil lotteries uiay be :v very commendable
thing in itself; but Uow a hunt
the means taken in this iu?i.?*jc<? m
that euil 'i
1( the mails can be search* 1 for o .a
purpose, why not lor another!' tl v
easy it must become to open an 4 n-? I
private < ui lespoudence ou some prte-ooe
iar d liferent lio;u the re*i motive
which prompts the act!
This subject was very ful y Ancussed
iu ihe old auti-slavery limes.
An attempt was made to slop the circulation
of iucemliary matter, as it
was called, tueauing anti-?lavery ptt'?lioatioiis,
in the HlaveholdiH>; States,
by rifling the mails of everything of
the kind; but there was a general ou k.iw,*
.1 imliifiiot ij,i, 'it I In, i 11r. u .r11.
UUI nu v/? ?iiui^ nuvi\/ii iw ^ ?
out the IVee States, ?ud the rignt t??
have mail matter pass uiUratumetle I
and free from espiouage was strougi/
instated upon.
It morality is to be enforced in tkia
way, who shall judge what morality
in? Can even the letters ot clergymen
pass through the mails without lirst
Ixino examined by a ceusor/ The*
who is to keep the censor mtuaeU
straight??Y. A, bun.