University of South Carolina Libraries
p? * * ^^BBB8SHfilSSS9SS55555fi5fi55H55!55^5^? rM.,^IST, ^ in |nbc^citl Jfflwfj Ittopaptr: * /or % ^wntotion^n|t fjlifcal, Social, ^grirttlinral ait Commmial |irfcrafs of % Sonljr. ^ J ' ' . . I 1 I II I II il' I [ r | I VOL. 12. - YORKVILLE, S. C., THTJESDAY, MARCH 21, 1867. ' Original foettg. ^ For the Yorkrllle Enquirer. BEAUTIFUL STARS. BY J. FORREST GOWAN. Beautiful stars! where'er I roam I greet thy soft and mellow light; On land or sea, mountain or vale, Thou oomest ever with the night. Summer and Winter, beauteous Spring, E'en in the sad autumnal time, The azure dohae of Heaven is full Of thy bright beauty, so divine! Beautiful stars! the flowers which bloomed In the fair summers of the Past Drooped and decayed when Winter came And smote them with his icy blast; But thou, forever art the same, No Winter snows can quench thy light; Above the ioes of the poles, Or tropic plains thou shinest bright. Beautiful stars! our early friends Have died, or changed, or left our side, And many a fond and cherished hope Has withered in our hearts and died; But ye look down upon us now As brightly as in childhood hours; Thy glow is no lees beautiful, , Than when young hopes and Joy were ours. Beautiful stars 1 how many an eye, That brighter beamed when we were near; | How many a heart that loved us well, And kept our image sweetly there; How many a hand, that pressed our own, And rosy mouth, that called us dear, Have left the life-path long ago, No more our darkened lives to cheer. Beautiful stars! how oft beneath Thy mellow light have hearts communed, And fondly dreamed of future bliss, Feeling their souls with hope attuned I How many of those loving hearts i Look up jo thee through blinding tears, And mourn the absent one, who loved , To roam with them in former years I Beautiful s iars! all, all is change In this low world on which ye shine; And though no speech or language's heard ( From out that holy light of thine? Yet, to the inner ear there comes A whispor, fraught with sweetest cheer, That 'bove the skies on which ye shine, A true, unchanging God is there! 1 ????? i J^n Original ?touiretette. Written for the Yorkville Enquirer. 1 ELINOR WESTVELT; 1 " OR, . 3 The Tory's Niece. A STORY OF THE REVOLUTION OF 1776.! BY CAROLINE F. PRESTON. * CHAPTER XXIV. ATTEMPTED CRIME AND SWIFT RETRIBUTION. In pursuance of the determination announced at the close of the last chapter, Major Amory at once proceeded to the stable and ordered his horse. j "Just as I expected," said the peddler, from his , place of concealment "The skunk looks as mad as foe. I guess he'D find somebody on his track : that he aint thinking of." A moment afterwards, Major Amory reappeared on the back of a powerful horse, which seemed i to be anxious for action. j "The critter looks as if he might be swift," said , the peddler, examining it with the eye of a critic, | but I rayther think *I've got a beast here that'll come up with him." t Major Amory started. At first he seemed to , desire swiftness, and spurred the noble steed tiD ] he fairly flew over the ground. But after a while he checked the horse's speed, and giving him a : loose rein, seemed to be plunged in abstraction. P WeD he might be, for he was even then contemplating an atrocious murder. He was considering how to arrange the details of the deed. The peddler took care to keep him in oonstant view?never approaching near enough to have , the pursuit too marked, never falling too far behind. Major Amory's abstraction rendered :t easier than , it would otherwise have been to elude detection. \ There were watchful eyes that noticed the officer as he rode by?eyes that gleamed with mischief, < but he saw them not These watchers were the brothers Gregson, who observed him from a little distance as he rode by j the end of the foot-path that conducted to their cabin. Dick looked significantly towards his brother. "He's going to see the prisoner," said he, meaningly. " When he comes hack we shall have a chance." He did not mention for what It was not needed. Even then the brothers avoided each other's gaze. Already their guilt shamed them. Unsuspicious of the danger which menaced him, thinking only of the revenge which he designed, i Major Amory rode on. ? ff "I'd like to know where he's goin' to fetch up," K said the peddler to himself. "I'd kinder like to know where he's put the cap'n. If he attempts to hurt a hair of his head, I'D give him a lesson that'U serve him for life." They had now come in sight of the old ice-house. Major Amorv'seyes gleamed with stern triumph. At length, he muttered between his set teeth, ' 'my revenge is at hand. Elinor Westvelt, you shall mourn in bitterness of spirit this day, and its deeds." At a little distance from the ice-house he dismounted and tied his horse to a sapling. The peddler did the same, and creeping stealthily forward, prepared to become a witness of the scene that should foUow. He might have interferred at once, but he wished, in his own words, "to let the critter work for awhile, and see what he would do." Major Amory unbolted the door, and stood in presence of his captive. "I dare say you are not over glad to see me," he said, smiling bitterly. "Unless you have oome to give me deliverance," - x T l? was the reply, "1 cannot say tnai x am. "Perhaps, the deliverance I may give you, is k scarcely what you expect or desire. However, that is neither here nor there. I have something to say to you." "If it is fitting for me to hear, I will hear it If not I cannot help myself," said the prisoner, calmly "You say truly," said the other triumphantly. "You cannot help yourself. But not to delay. I wish to speak of Elinor "Westvelt" "Ha, what of her?" exclaimed Captain Peterson, with earnest attention. "This morning I offered myself for her acceptance, and " "She did not accept you. I knew she would not," said Captain Peterson. "Hold; let me acquaint you with all the circumstances. I told her that you was in my power. I threatened Ur slay you if she refused, and she did not care sufficient for you to preserve your life by * compliance." "Heaven be praised!" said Henry Peterson, fervently. "It appears to me," said Major Amoiy, with a sneer, that it is little enough to be thankful for.? She regards your death as a trifling affair." "And so it is, villian," thundered Captain Peterson, "oompared with the degradation of marrying you. She knew that it would be a greater price than I should wish her to pay." "Enough, enough!" exclaimed Major Amory. "You have goaded me enough. THlts will I revenge myself upon you both." Major Amory drew his pistol and was about to make a deadly aim at the prisoner, who had given himself up for lost, when the pistol was violently knocked out of his hand, and a well known voice was heard? "No you don't, you confounded skunk," said the peddler, aiming a blow at the Englishman.? "No you don't, you bloody villain. The Cap'n's < life ain't to be took yet awhile." I will not sully my pages by recording the profane exclamation which sprang from the lips of M^jor Amory, when he saw himself foiled in his purpose. Disarmed, and consequently unable to cope with ( the peddler, he sprang to the door so quickly, that ] Jock found it impossible to prevent it KTir.ii ix* ?i?i. ? >> . IT Cli) ICt LUC O&UIik gUj UC oaiu puuwv/|/*u cally. "I won't dirty my fingers by touching him. "I'm plaguy glad I got here in time to stop him, j Cap'n." "And I am deeply indebted to you my good j friend," said Captain Peterson. "If you've got a knife with you, I'll thank you to cut these oords. , They chafe me sorely." A moment, and the peddler's sharp knife sever- i ed the cords and Captain Peterson sprang to his feet, a free man. ] "You don't know how I've been s'arching for 1 you cap'n, for the last two days, and I'd about given it up for a bad job, when I thought to follow ] this scamp of a Britisher, and here got just in the f nick of time." "Is it true what he has said of Elinor?" asked j Captain Peterson, with anxiety. "If he said anything'except that she was jest the best gal in the colony ^-excuse me for callin' j her a gal, cap'n ? he's lied like the dickens." "He said Elinor had refused him." i "Oiven him the mitten? Well I reckon she < did that cap'n, and that's what made him so mad.'' 1 "And he dared to threaten my death, unless she t Donsented to marry him, did he?" t "Yes ; he knew that was the only hold he had 1 on her anyway. But she and I had a private ar- 1 rangement about that She knew that I was to < follow him and prevent mischief, and so she give him the mitten in style. But how have they fed 1 pou, Cap'n ? Haven't given you extra fodder, I I reckon." ] Smiling at the peculiar phraseology of his worthy i friend, the captain admitted that he had had noth- i ing but bread and water ever siuoe his imprison- 1 merit bearun. l "That's another of their mean tricks," said the i peddler indignantly. "Well, I thought how it < might be, and I've brought some cake with me." 1 "Let us go," said Captain Peterson, after he had refreshed himself by a little of the cake. 1 ' 'Where ?'' asked Jock. J "To see Elinor." "That might be dangerous. There's a squad of 1 British round here somewhere.'' ] "I don't care for that," said the captain? pos- \ itively, "I must see Elinor and assure her of my f 3afety in person." < "Well," said the peddler, I suppose it's only 1 aat'ral. "I reckon I should like to see Nancy." ? "Who is Nancy?" inquired Captain Peterson. t "She and I are going into partnership, some- i time," said the peddler. "Leastways we shall if < my life is presarved, and some other feller dosen't j cut me out If he does, I'D give him Jessie?that's < jure." i Scarcely had the twain proceeded two miles, than \ they encountered a fearful spectacle. Extended an the green sward, bloody and ghastly, lay a dead ' body. < "Merciful Heavens 1" exclaimed the peddler, 1 3tooping over him, "it's Major Amory. < i CHAPTER XXV. ! CONCLUSION. ' Few words are needed in explanation of the 1 startling scene which has just been referred to. As Major Amory was riding on his way back in 1 ao very enviable state of mind, he suddenly heard 1 the command, "Stop!" . 1 In a moment the speaker emerged from the un- ' lerbrush by the side of the road. It was Dick Gregson! "What do you want?" asked Major Amory ab- 1 ruptly. ,1 "I want your gold," was the short reply. 1 "How, villain, what mean you ?" exclaimed Major Amory surprised and irritated. "I've told you once," said the other doggedly. "I want your gold and I mean to have it" j "Insolent!" thundered Major Amory, "take that for your answer." So saying he struck Dick Gregson across the face with his riding whip. Elinor oould scarcely believe her eyes when^he saw her lover, for whose safety she had entertained so many apprehensions, alive and well in company with the peddler. Without a thought of the stern requirements of conventional propriety, she darted out of the house, and was in a moment in her lover's arms. "0, Henry," she exclaimed, "you c&nnot tell what a wretched time of suspense I have had." It is not necessary to tell what was the reply. If the reader has ever passed through a similar experience he knows. If not, the time will come by and by. But they were not suffered to eqjoy the pleasure of meeting after their separation without interruption. "What does all this mean?" exclaimed a stern voice. Turning around Elinor recognized her guardian. But she did not release her hand, nor exhibit symptoms of confusion. She stood erect in the dig Lilly ill uer wuimmiiwu, auu wiuivuivu aim. "It means," said Captain Peterson, "that your ward is my betrothed wife." "Never!" exclaimed Mr. Westveltangrily. She is to be the bride of Major Amoiy." "That can never be," said Captain Peterson , gravely. "And why not, young man, permit me to aak ?" demanded Mr. Westvelt "Major Amory is dead!" said the young man with impressive solemnity. "Dead!" exclaimed Mr. Westvelt staggering back. Then.recovering himself, he said with'fury, "it is your work villian, I charge you wilh it" i "You charge me wrongly. I know not the per- 1 petrator of the deed. I knew not of its commis- I rion, until I saw his body on my way hither." "Do you speak the truth ?" asked Mr. Westvelt falteringly. j "I swear it," said the young man solemnly. i "How then? Have you not seen him this morniiw?" ! I have. He came to the place where he had J imprisoned me, with the design of killing me, in ( jonsequence, as he told me of your ward's declining < to marry him. But by the mercy of Heaven, and 1 the interposition of this worthy friend,." pointing i to the peddler his purpose was defeated and he [ left me. I soon after followed in his track on my ( way hither when I came upon his corpse bloody and , iisfigured." i Mr. Westvelt seemed to be powerfully impressed with this communication?so much so that he left ;hem and went into the house. He was of a su- I perstitious nature, and looked upon the awful ret* ; ibution which had come upon his late confederate , is a sign from Heaven. In consequence of this < new he not only withdrew his opposition to the narriage of Captain Peterson and his ward, but al- ' jo changed his politics, and from a rabid Tory, be- , tame a warm advocate of the cause of American iberty. The marriage of our heroine and her faithful over took place within a few months. Years were pet to elapse before the end of the war, but Mr. IVestvelt's health was not firm and he desired it During the subsequent battles in which he participated?for Captain Peterson did not leave the army in til the glorious consummation?it was his good brtune to escape without a wound of a serious sharacter. When at length Peace was established, le settled down on the beautiful Westvelt estate, ind the subsequent lives of our hero and heroine vere as peaceful as the former had been disturbed ind unsettled. And in due time, the voices of ihildren and the pattering of their little feet made jlad the rooms of the old mansion, and both Capain Peterson and his wife felt that the happiness vhich they eiy'oyed was worth the price which they paid for it The widow of Dick Gregson, as I came near sayng before the proper time, was comfortably proviied for by Elinor, whose ample means allowed her o follow out the dictates of her benevolent heart A word in conclusion, and that word shall be joncerning Jock the worthy peddler, in whom I rust my readers feel an interest equal to my own. 3oon after the incidents above described he gave ip his trade, and entered Captain Peterson's company as a private soldier. Here he displayed a bravery and shrewdness which entitled him to con- , idence, so that he gradually rose, and when Cap- : tain Peterson became a Colonel he was elevated i to the vacant place. As Captain Jehoachim Steb- ! bins, he redeemed the pledge he gave to the fair Nancy, and the pair lived to a good old age. Years afterwards it was his delight to relate the incidents which have been chronicled in this story, and once a year he paid a visit to Colonel Peterson and his wife at their beautiful residence. TPTF. VNn JAPANESE JUGGLERS. A company of acrobats, conjurers, and jugglers, from Japan, have established themselves at St Martin's Hall, London, where, richly habited in their native costume, they go through a series of feats that mav be accepted as a specimen of the amusements that find favor in a region to which the attention of the public has of late been more than commonly directed. That they are genuine Japanese (saysaLondon journal) there can be no reasonable doubt, inasmuch as their testimonials are plainly inscribed on their features. The juggling tricks of the Japanese are most remarkable,^ two of these being of a kind altogether new to a Europear public. In one of them a large top, spun with a string, on exactly the same principle as the common peg-top used by school boys, is made to display a degree of docility that almost entitles it to be classed among the more intelligent members of the brute creation. The juggler throws it out with a force which enablcs*it to remain spinning for several minutes. Sometimes he sets it loose altogether and compels it to bound from its perpendicular and remain spinning at an angle of fortv-five degrees; sometimes he detains it at the further end of his string, which becomes rigid by the tension, and takes now a horizontal, now a vertical position, the top on one occasion flying up into a box suspended frem the ceiling ana causing a shower of gold leaf to fall upon the juggler. The crowning feat of the "top-spinner," as he called, is to land the top into a sort of wooden trauiroad, that extends from the front to the back of the platform, and to the front again on the opposite side, varied by all sorts of curves and angles and passing through strange miniature edifices built in the Japanese style. Through the force of a single throw the top completes the whole of its journey along this intricate road, going over two vertical semi-circular curves just as it is about to reach him. The performance of this trick constitutes the whole duty of the stop-spinner, and the same may be said of the so-called butterfly trick" which is the other great achievement of the evening. To perform this the juggler tears a piece of paper into small fragments, out of two of which he makes a pair of artificial butterflies, about the size of life. By the aid of two fans he not only keeps them floating in the air, but makes them settle on a large boquet of flowers, and dart in and out of a porcelain vase. For the most part the entertainment is enlivened by the delighted shrieks and shouts of two Japanese children, who encourage the juggler in the discharge^ of his duty, and occupy that sort of mid-position between spectator and performer which belongs to the clown of an equestrian ring. The hilarity thus promoted is qualified by a dismal accompaniment played on the musical instrument of Japan, which endures nearly the whole of the evening. Other members of the troupe go through feats on the tight rope, and do a few conjuring tricks : but in these there is no great novelty, and the deliberate slowness with which the Japanese make their preparations, contrasts disadvantageous^ with the nimble European artists of the same kind. But the "top" ana the "butterfly" are really unique, and should be seen by every one who takes an interest in the quasi-occult arts to which they belong. If there is any deception in the tricks, they are still most ingenious-; if there is none, they are marvellous. 1 It was a fatal indiscretion. Stung with the blow, j and his fierce nature in a blaze of excitement, Dick j drew out his pistol, and, on the impulse of the mo- < ment, fired. The aim was but too accurate. Major Amory fell to the ground and immediately expired. "He brought it on himself," muttered Dick.?' "He has only himself to blame." < Robert Gregson now sprang out of the thicket, and the two soon stripped him of that which had 1 excited their greed. They imprudently took his \ horse also, not thinking that it would serve as a means of identification. "Who can have done this?" said Captain Peterson horror struck. "I can't make out," said the peddler. "He wasn't a friend to either of us, but I cant't cheerish no feelings of resentment here." "Nor I, Jock," said Captain Peterson. "If his wickedness was great, great has been his punishment. It is a pity he should remain here." "It won't do for us to stop and bury him Cap'n," interrupted the peddler. "If I ain't greatly mistaken that ere lootenant is coming along with his men, and he'll be after us hot foot, and may be, charge us with the murder. We'd best be making tracks." In conformity with this sensible advice, the two t ? J Tiroir iiusieneu un lucii noj. Meanwhile, the English came up. They did not fail to recognize the form of their comrade and officer, and vehement was the indignation which they expressed against the unknown murderer. It may be mentioned that two days afterwards they chanced to encounter Dick Gregson riding through the woods on a horse which they recognized as having belonged to Major Amory. This was evidence sufficient in their eyes to condemn him, and accordingly without form of trial they hung him to the branch of a tree overlooking the scene of the murder. Terrified by this act of summary justice, the brother of the elder Gregson, secretly left the country, and it was never known what became of him. As for the widow, her sorrow at first was great, for she loved Dick in spite of his shortcomings.? But Time proved a consoler, and she lived many years in comparative tranquility, her wants being provided for by ? But hold, I was about to anticipate. Solemnized by what they had just seen, Captain Peterson and the peddler continued on their way. They stopped not till they drew up in front of the house of the Westvelt's. jfUisrellaneottS Juries. THE SITUATION IN l&ELAKD. According to the Gable dispatches, the Fenians have risen in ten or eleven of the thirty-two counties in Ireland?in the North, in the 8outh, in the Southwest, and in the centre of the island.? The insurrection, called an agitation by the British authorities, is no sooner suppressed in Kerry, than it breaks out afresh in the suburbs of Dublin, where an engagement is reported to have taken place ; in Castiemartyr, in the county of Cork, about 20 miles ftpm the city of that name. _ Castiemartyr is a picturesque little town in the " " * ? ? i .v. i!? _i> it. r\ t ooutn or ireiana, nearly on me uue m uie and Yougal Railroadfa branch of the Great Southern and Western or Cork and Dublin Railway, which is reported to hare been torn up and rendered impassable for travel The Earl of Shannon, an Irish Nobleman of English proclivities, has-a fine estate and residence near the town, about five miles distant from which, at Middleton, is also the seat of another nobleman, Lord Middleton. In view of the disturbed state country, a military garrison of a few hundrMTmen was established at Castlemartyr some time ago, and this or the police station it was, we suppose, against which the demonstration was made on Tuesday last? The Fenians are said to be in strong force in the city of Cork, andf doubtless, wait but a favorable opportunity to rise in that section. In the immediate neighborhood of Cork are the Government powder-mills of Balincolig, on which we may be assured the insurgents have designs. Each of the six oounties of Munster, the Southern provinoe of Ireland, are more or less distil, bed. Thus, at a glance it will be seen that the four principal cities of Ireland, Dulin, Cork, Limerick and Belfast, and a few of the minor ones, are simultaneously threatened. There has been fighting at a point about a dozen miles from Dublin, ana Sir Hugh Rose, the English Indian sleuth hound, who blew the Sepoys from the British Mortars in India, is reported to be in vigorous pursuit Unless there is a stronger force of some kind, it looks a little ridiculous to see such a distinguished Captain scouring across the country. Evidently the General must be in pursuit of something. The South of Ireland is, perhaps, the most ferule "portion of it, and an insurgent force would find little difficulty in sustaining themselves,* particularly when the residents are in sympathy with them.? The country is not quite so mountainous as other portions of the Island, but is, nevertheless, sufficiently rugged to materially hinder the advance of regular troops. Numerous hills, deep valleys, 3mall streams, copse and heavy wood-land are in abundance, all or which would be well calculated bo aid a guerrilla force. Still there is au absence of any high mountain ranees, in whose fastnesses a defeated force might 9ee? shelter in case of defeat The West of Cork is an extremely barren and desolate region, but we have heard of no attempts at insurrection in that quarter yet Should fighting take plaoe in the city it will be a fierce struggle. It is said that the Fenians are adepts in "barricade" fighting, and in the narrow streets of the City of Prout the havoc would no doubt be terrible. Cork is strongly garrisoned, however, the barracks being situated on a hill which overlooks the town. Queenstown, the port of Cork, is almost impregnable. The fortress cf Spike Island commands the mouth of the harbor, and many American travelers will remember the redoubts on the adjacent hills, which are plainly discernible from tne decks of the New York steam ship as she steams up the bay. Mallow, on which the Fenians made a demonstration some weeks ago, is on the line of railway between Cork and Dublin, 17 miles from the former city, and 150 miles Southwest of Dublin. The City of Limerick, in the county of that name, and built on the Shannon, is threatened from Kilmallock, nineteen miles from that city. The population of Kilmallock is a .little over 1,200, situated on the line of the Cork and Dublin Kailway; it is rather an important point. The ground is historic; old castles, moats, fosses, Danish remains &c., are scattered all around it, while the country is peculiarly rich and fertile. In all the towns, with very few exceptions, the "police station," so frequently mentioned in the dispatches, is nothing more than a substantially built stone house, the windows of which are strongly ironed, while generally iron railings run around or in front of it at the distance of six or seven feet In towns they are usually located in the most central and populous streets, and are so constructed, or located, as bo command the adjacent avenues, or rather lanes. The Irish policeman is more of a soldier than the police officer of any other country. He is drilled like the regular soldier of the line, and has target exercise once or twice a month. The police stations are scattered all over the country, being rarely more than ten miles apart, in many cases not over five, in regions which are looked on as disaffected. He is an obnoxious character, regarded as a spy and an informer, who does "the dirty work" of the Castle, meaning the celebrated fortress of Dublin and tne authorities who there hold sway. Ireland, almost unlike any other country in Europe, is a net-work of small towns and villages, as thickly studded as the dots on a crochet collar, the small, fine threads of which piece of feminine attire will give an equally good idea of the numerous hedgerows, stonewalls, and dykes, which cut the surface of the country in all directions, giving it a more picturesque than utilitarian aspect. In such a country all warfare must be in a great measure irregular. No vast plains, except one, the celebrated Curragh of Kildare, no large fields, for they are all of the contracted dimensions of from half to two and a half acres, very rarely exceeding five or six, it is almost impossible for cavalry to act with any efficiency. The nimble mountaineer can jump at a bound the dyke which the heavily accoutred horseman could not think of overleaping, hiding away in the ravines of the adjacent mountains, almost every one of which is associated with some historic memory. Limerick, one of the noted towns in Irish histoSf, associated with innumerable sieges, deeds of aring and recklessness, from the first James and long before, is the third city in Ireland. The population of the city and suburbs is from 45,000 to 50,000, covering an area of about 49.000 acres. It is distant from Dublin about 120 miles, and is connected by railway with Waterford on the sea coast. At Clonmel, one of the intermediate stations on the line of the Limerick and Waterford Railway, and about fifty miles from Waterford, there has been some fighting. Clonmel is 104 miles from Dublin, and built on both sides of the River Suir, and on two islands connected by bridges. Population about 13,000. The country in this region is rather mountainous, the peaks of "Knockmaethoun," Anglice the "Brown Bare Hill," looking down on fertile fields, woodland, copse and river, from their towering heights of 2,500 feet To many an outlaw have their rocky defiles afforded protection, and many are the stories which the Irish peasant tells of the rebel saved and succored within their fastnesses. Holv Cross, a small town about 30 miles from Clonmel, also on the line of the Cork and Dublin Railroad, celebrated for its old monastery, founded about a century after the Crusaders started for Palestine, was attacked and the arms taken from the police station. The plan of the Fenians seems to he to attack every place where there are arms, seize them if possible, and march on the large cities. The railway between Waterford and Clonmel has been torn up, and before troops can come from the large cities to the succor of the small country towns they will, doubtless, have armed themselves and be better prepared for an attack of the troops of the line. With the railways cut and torn up, rapid transportation of troops becomes impossible. Killelagh, a coastguard station in the County Clare, that most Irish of Irish counties^ was attacked and the arms taken away. Here it is possible they got some small guns, as the coast-guard stations are usually fortified with some lignt cannon, to be used in emergencies, such as chasing smugglers, etc. Eilfinane, where an engagement is reported to have taken place, is about five miles from Kilmallock. Dublin, the capital of Ireland^ appears to have been seriously threatened. Wicklow, celebrated for its grand mountain scenery and adjoining the -4? QATtAnalv V/uuiuy ui i/uuuu, 10 icjiuhw. Here, perhaps, the insurgents have a Setter chance than in any other part of Ireland, the Wicklov mountains Seing a series of almost impassible defiles. Awy near Belfast, in the North, that stronghold of Orangeism, the Rebels are found in fbroe; threatening it, the second city in Ireland: famouf for its linen trade. Belfast is 101 miles North ol Dublin, and has a population of 100,000. Twelve miles from the sea at the mouth of the Lagan, it is 1 a point of considerable importance, ana a few < months ago it \jas supposed that Feniaaism was a thing unknown within its loyal limits. There is a i strong garrison at Belfast, and success in that qu&r- t ter can hardly be hoped for. 1 According to the accounts which have reached ( us, the Fenians are fighting more or less on a line 1 of 260 miles, running right through the heart of 1 Ireland along the principal lines of railways, and i diverging at right angles at Tipperary and Lime- c rick across the country from coast to coast Tip- e penury is, and has been from tame immemorial, a i not-bed of disaffection, and with its sturdy popu- c lation, the Government will have more trouble j than in any other part of Ireland. The simultar c neous rising shows a great deal of concerted ao- 1 tion; and from the meager detank1 which come to I us it is impossible to conjecture how far or how i widespread the movement may become. A new e feature enters into this rebellion in Ireland. The t tearing up of railways, the burning of barracks, r the cutting of telegrapn lines, signifies something c more than a mere faction fight Irish-American I officers are reported to be at the head of the -t movement ana this accounts for the superior in- i telligenoe which appears to direct the movement 1 How far the British army is corrupted we will ? soon have an opportunity of judging ; and, doubt- p less, the strength of Fenianism, if it has any in c the large towns of England, will soon be manifest- 1 ed. Tne attack on Chester, in England, some i days ago, would seem to indicate that it possesses r some vitality in that quarter. "Greek fire" is re- e ported to be stored in large quantities in Ireland, r and in some of the towns of England, and if this v is called into requisition the effect will, in all prob- s ability, be most disastrous. In Ireland, unless t speedily dispersed, the various insurgent bands a will probably coalesce, and a general engagement p is not improbable. In all other Irish movements at insurrection the rebels generally waited to be at- c tacked. In this they have assumed the offensive, b which tells better for their strength. v THE AMENDED REVENUE BILL. The Charleston Mercury publishes this bill in full and furnishes the subjoined synopsis of it We E perceive that the IntCVnal Revenue Bureau has issued instructions to the assessors throughout the f country to begin immediately the assessment for J1 the income tax. The time of assessments is chang- 0 ed from May to March, and the uniform rate of 1 five per cent is fixed on all inoomes, with $1,000 r exempt: c It provides that all acts in relation to the assessment and payment of the income tax, special tax and other taxes, now required to be performed in ? Mav. shall hereafter he rennired to he nerformed k in tLe month of March j and that all acts now required to be performed m the month of June, shall hereafter be performed in March; provided, that on and after the first day of September next, a tax of two and a half cents per pound only shall be levied on raw cotton. The tax is changed or reduced upon a large number of articles, the most important among them, in addition to raw cotton, being segars, engines, distilled spirits, leather, sugar and wools. On butter and cheese no speciaJ tax is required, and no tax is to be imposed upon the dyeing, re-dyeing or reprinting of cloths or other articles, except the pro- ; cess of their manufacture. In relation to stamps, the tax is but little changed ; but a large number of articles, including bar, rod and sheet iron, casks, barrels, machine castings, cast iron hollow-ware, certain articles of clothing, molasses, pottery-ware, salt common soap, cotton gin saws, steel, wagons ana drays, and wire cloth, in condition as enumerated, are added to the free list The income tax is fixed at an uniform rate, and goesinto effect on March 1, 1867. That on inoomes for 1866 is to be levied the day the act goes into effect Upon all incomes derived from gains, property, interest or salaries, or from any profession or employment, amounting to over one thousand dollars, the tax is five per cent. All national, State or municipal taxes paid during the year may be de ducted from such gains: as may also losses arising from fire, shipwreck or Dy trade, the amount paid for labor by any renter of land or. hirer of labor, and the amount paid for rent of residence of family. No deduction shall be made for cost of new buildings or permanent improvements, and only one deduction of $1,000 shall be made from the aggregate income of all the members of any one family of husband and wife, or parents and minor children. Incomes derived from United States securities, profits from sale of real estate, interest received or accrued upon all obligations, whether paid or not, premiums on gold and coupons, the amount of sales on produce and all otner gains whatever, shall be included in estimating the in come of any person?excepting always tne rent of homestead occupied by any person or by his family, in his own right or in that of his wife, and excepting also the share of the gain? of all companies . who would he entitled to the same if dividea, ex cept that portion of salary or pay received in the service of the United States, from which.the tax has been deducted. Amendments have been made in the regulations for making returns; and further rules are specified in relation to distillers, and in relation to penalties and seizures under the whiskey tax. As a provision against bribery, it js enacted that any officer charged with the execution of any portion of the revenue Acts, who shall in any way receive any payment for compromising or settling any charge for violation of the law, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to fine and imprisonment ] No distilled spirits forfeited to the Government shall be sold for less than the amount of tax required by law, and if unsold within ninety days for such amount, such spirits shall be destroyed.? Any person falsely representing himself to bo a j United States revenue officer, demanding or re- t ceiving any money or value for any duty or tax, t shall be subject to fine and imprisonment. ( No oil inflammable at a less temperature than ] , 110 degrees Fahrenheit^ shall be kept or sold, un- j der penalty of fine and imprisonment : and conspi- t nicies to defraud the revenue shall be similarly pun- j ished. 1 The illegal use of stamps and labels is to be pun- t ished with fine and imprisonment: and the ton- ( nage duty now imposed upon all snips or vessels t engaged in foreign or domestic commerce shall be y levied but once within one year, and, when paid, t no further tonnage tax shall be collected within t one year from the date of such payment. i WESTERN TEXAS. r A correspondent writes from Western Texas to 1 the Wilmington Dispatch as follows: The main peculiarities of the character of West- t ern Texas are the sterility of its soil, the dryness of its climate, its want of water, and the sanguine nucnacitv of its inhabitants. The entire country') . West and South of the river San Antonio, is al- V most a desert; the only difference between it and the sandy wastes of Arabia, being that the region ? of the Nueces possesses a little water and plenty of grass. On the streams, the San Antonio for in- j stance, the soil is good enough; yielding when there is a good season, from thirty to fifty Jbushels . of corn to the acre; but on the great prairies, and \ away from the rivers, it is very poor. In some : places it is light and sandy, as that of Sampson or 1 Cumberland counties, North Carolina. But the climate is most salubriously and delightfully diy. ? It very seldom rains in Western Texas; and when 1 it does, its a mere drizzle. Cloudy days are un- j frequent; yet it is foggy occasionally; and when ' the sky is overcast, it is, in a majority of cases, ( with what are known to Texans as the "Gulf 1 Clouds," which have a great velocity and usually J pass off the face of the sky entirely by ten or elev- 1 en o'clock in the forenoon. The skies of Western I Texas, owing to the absence of atmospheric hu- ! midity, are exceedingly beautiful and bright, clear 1 and serene; nor could they lack much of comparing favorably with those of Italy. The winters i here are mila; and the Northers, so fierce in other t Iiarts of Texas, are not only of less frequency, but i ess severity. This is because the region is west- i I ward of the meridian of the western shore of the 1 i Gulf. At Christmas a great Norther occurred, i with snow, in which poultry and birds perished; : i but during the whole month of January following, 1 r it was not cold, enough to set to a fire but one or i two days, when there was a slight Norther.? The entire month has been very much like May i with you. To-day, the first of February, I am in , my shirt sleeves; whilst the farmers are planting < ? corn, and ladies attending to their gardens. < f Western Texas is not an agricultural district, i for the want of rain principally; and so little is the land valued for farming purposes that the best if it can be had for one dollar per acre. The * chief business in Western Texas is stockraising and there are instances where persons from ;he old States have in a few years and with very ittle capital, accumulated large amounts of property. All you have to do is to go to some man s anche away down on the Neuces; buy up a few lundred head; steal as many as possible from your text neighbor; put your brand and mark on all sattle you find without these evidences of ownerhip, and you will get along. This is the fashion n Texas. If you are a stock raiser, and steal a lozen head or so from your bosom friend, even rour daddy, it is deemra a capital joke. It will lo to tell at your favorite drinking or gambling' 'ear oon." I repeat, it you must steal. A profitable >ranch of the stock-raising business is the breedng of horses, large numbers of which are driven ivery year into 'the old States for sale. But, atTinncdi an monv ftrA mi and T Tift v A nAVfir seen a eal line horse in Texas. liose not of pure Mexian blood are mostly half-breeds, and, though anterior to the Mexican pony, are still inferior to the American horse. You can buy the best of Spansh ponies in Western Texas at fifteen specie dolars per head; and, having bought, if prudent, you rill look out for your neck. Nearly all Spanish lonies are addicted to "pitching," and have a speial contempt for timid or inexperienced riders.? ^0 Spanish horse is fit for the cart or wagon. He s only suited for hunting cattle, and cantering aound your ranche. This is* hut of upright oakn posts driven into the gM0d, and covered with aw cowhides, away out in the prairie; located, rhen practicable, in a clump or trees and near ome watering place. Hie ranche is head guarers for the stockraiser. Here are his provisions; ,nd hence are despatched his orders to his emiloyees having ca^e of the cattle. In Western Texas, your wealth is estimated acording to the number of cattle you own; just as, lefore the late revolution, a man having no slaves, ras considered poor. TRADE WITH CHARLESTON. The Winnsboro' (S.* C.) Nam publishes a comnunication upon the subject of trade with Charleson. This communication is too long for either e-publication or detailed reply; but its whole obset is to assert and attempt to prove thatthe trade f the upper districts is diverted from this city by he injudicious policy of the South Carolina Raiload and by the iliiberality of Charleston merhants or factors. For so much of the communication as refers to he policy of the South Carolina B&ilroad, the wrier is referred to an article on the Charlotte and South Carolina and South Carolina Railroads, rhich was .published in the Mercury of the 31st fanuary last This article will clear up his doubts in many points, and will also enlighten him upon everal matters which he now appears to totally nisapprehend. It may, however, be stated, in iddition, that it does not cost twenty-five to fif^y tercent more to ship freight via Charleston than t costs to ship freight by the Northern route;? hat the freight on Cottou from Chester to New fork via Charleston, is five dollars and no more; md that, while one package of freight may have teen "from twenty to thirty days, ' on the way rom New York to Winnsboro' it may be proved in the other side that a large quantity of freight ett JNew lorx in tne Monenaat6 r. in., on neulesday, the 6th instant, arrived in Charleston on Saturday, and was delivered at Augusta, Ga., on Sunday evening, the 10th instant It seems to be imply nonsensical to state that freight is habitualy fifteen days on the way from Baltimore, or tweny or thirty days from New York, to any point on he Carolina road. The proper reply to the charges made against he merchants or factors of Charleston is a very timple one. Regular and old established factors n this city do not charge "for buying" ;?nor do hey charge more as interest upon their advances han the regular bank rates, which are about onetnd-a-half per cent, a month ;?nor is it customa y for factors to require a mortgage on the planta10ns to secure the advances that they have made. Money is of course particularly hard to obtain at his time, and Northern money lenders, for this eason, require a mortgage security, and a-share of he crop or a high rate of interest. In Charleston, tiowever, this is not the rule; and in the excepional cases, either unusual advances have been equired or there was an extraordinary risk to be ncurred, which rendered a special arrangement lecessary. The assertion of the write^ of the communicaion referred to, that "We need not anticipate any hange for the better in a trading or commercial x>int of view, between the City of Charleston and he citizens of the back country, until Charleston icknowledges that she is not the whole State of South Carolina; that all the concentrated wisdom )f the State is not to be found in Broadstreet: that here are other railroads and other stockholders vhose interests are to be consulted, as well as those >f the City of Charleston, and that those "who are row toiling and laboring for a living at the plough landle, are not to be Shylocked out of their estates jy gentlemen of ease behind the counter/'?needs lot one word of comment from us. Charleston las shared the ruin which the war I. ought upon O'-'- l 1- * J Liu dnriA all )UT Oiaie , aeriJluruuuuus ttnu iouiamo uarg uuuv 0U| hat could be done with the means that they pos- j sessed to encourage the general trade of the coun-' ay j thev know that their prosperity, and the prosperity of this city, depend on the prosperity of the Deople of South Carolina, and they mil continue :o do all that is in their power to aid and assist the planting and agricutnral interests of the State. Charlatan Mercury. PUTTING PITCH IN THEIR BOOTS. I have heard of a companrof hunters who caught i number of monkeys in the forests of Brazil in ;he following amusing way: They had a lot of litJe boots made just large enough to be drawn easi>ver a monkey's foot, and filled the bottoms with pitch. With these they set out for the woods, ind soon found themselves under the trees, where he monkev's went rattling on over their heads, )ut never for a moment removing their eyes from hem. Then thffp placed the little boots where hey could be seen; and commenced taking off their iwn boots. Having done this thev let them stand Lwhile near the little boots. All this the monkeys . ery carefully noticed. The hunters were too wise o attempt to catch them by climbing the trees; hey might as well have expected to snatch the noon as to lay hands upon one of these little felows. They had an easier way than this, and one nuch more effectual; thev simply sat down under he trees while the little chatterboxes were rattling >n over their heads, but never for a moment renoving their eyes from them. The hunters now aking up their own boots, having carefullv looked >ver them, drew them slowly on one after the other ipon their feet. Not a motion escaped the observation of the monkeys. Having replaced their loots they hurried away into the thicket of undergrowth not far off, where they were hidden from the ight of the monkeys, but where they could see ivery thing that happened under the trees. They eft the small boots all-standing in a row. The monkeys soon descended from the trees, and mitating the motions of the hunters, thrust their eet into the boots set as a trap for them, chatterng and gesticulating all the time in groat glee. As soon as they, were fairly in the boots out prang the hunters from their hiding places and ?1?j TVio mnnlrOM ftflmchted at LUJX1UU ULLIUIIK lUtui. uv /%?V"? V >nce started tor the trees, but only to find that they ind destroyed their power of climbing by putting in boots. So they fell an easy prey to their cunling enemies. This is the way the monkeys were aught, and how many young persons are caught n the same way. In their .desire to do what they see other persons doing, they fall into serious trouile, and often bring upon themselves ruinous habts that follow them to the grave. Congressional Chaplains. ?Congress, like he elder Pendennis, patronizes religion because it s respectable. It pays a parson to do its praying, ind ne pays them back oy making his pravers harmonize exactly with the spirit ana polity of the majority who elect him. Mr. Raymond, of the New York Time*, who has been a witness to the business for the last two years, gives impressions is follows: 1 Religion, like everything else in Washington, is shamelessly prostituted to the neoesities and convenience of partisan politics. Chaplains are elected just as door-keepers and tide-waiters are appointed, on account of their political opinions, and they are expected to pray and preach in the service and for the profit of the party that elect them. s Encounter Between an EiJMLAJfp aw'a Bat.?A very extraordinary encounter "between a rat and an elephant has recently'taken place uLtjbe Garden of Plants, London, which was witnessed irith interest by hundreds of persona The keepers were engaged in destroying a great number of ,x rats, when oneof them escaped ana ran to tie spot allotted to the elephant peeing no other refuge, in the twinkling or an eye the rat snugly ensconsw himself in the trunk of the elephant .va&kraeh to the elephant's dissatisfaction. He stamped his foot and twisted his trunk around Hkb the jpt'of ' a windmill. After these evolutions he stooAhddenly .stilL evidently reflecting on what wasThesS to do. He then ran to the trouj^ at which he. is accustomed to drink, and plunged his trun^ into the water, thdn returned to his den. and raising his trunk, with the water he absorbed, he dashed out the unfortunate rat, which was in a sheet qf water like that issuing from a fire engine. t When the rat fell to the ground the elephant seized Mam and made him undergo the immersion andprojfectibn four times. At tne fourth tone it fell dead. Hie elephant, with a majestic air, but oooland placid, crushed his enemy with his foot, and theft wdht round to the spectators to make his usualoollectionof cakes, sugar and (ftherdaiatie* - Sfibcfaat was received with vociferous appfauae?, which the elephant seemed fully to understand ami appreciate. The Gamblibs in Convention.?An exchange gives the following account of a convention held at Chicago: A strange convention was held at Chicago recently. It was that of the gamblers of the umted States, in which every State was represented. Although a gathering of "hardcases, morally, the appearanoe of the delegates is described as having been highly respectable. The Chicago Democrat said ofthem: "A finer looking- set Of meftifo V? o trn fioirow tuurn lha n iltAtf Aaa' * iwlpiUk mWm> ^Iia uarc uotci oocu tuau uao/ i?nil uw-nuc average! They are all fat and vefl, very weldraeed, with jeweby in abundance :and some of than are said to be what their looks indicate, . mea of talents" . . ,> Two important matters came op before the convention. One'was the revision of the Grilles and the adoption of new ones for the various games It was found that these roles wereoonstraed differently in different States, and that several lives had been lost in broils arising from this difference in their interpretation. Uniformity of eoUBtrpotfon was demanded by all the delegates. The other subject of discussion was the the non-interference of professional gamblers in politics, whkh led to a very warm derate, and was final}? laid Upon the table. ' :u:^' ;->.?<:i'~ V ifti. ?' -Thx Old Suit of Grby.?What thepiaid ia.to the Highlander the grey is to the Southern heart It is the sacred color of the South. It awakens the tenderest emotions of oar people^ andtau&e % to them, in all time, aoolor identified . Vkh that which is noble, self-sacrificing and patriotic _ In tens of thousands of SauthenLhomes the old grey uniform of ares and sons lien a relic, folded and laid carefully away. Rusted and ruined, and spotted with blood, and the mud of many a toiling march they may be, bat the gold of the Urfifced States Treasury could not buy one of them. a.. No! that old grey uniform, seem dimly in the surging smoke of victorious battiel is preserved for our children, and our children's children. j Removed tenderly upon the eve of glorious anniversaries, looked upon as we look upon the face of the dear dead, those suits of grey shall ever pass in review before the mind's eye of a sympathizing poodle.? And the flag of "stare and bare," gone down fortver, shall enwrap and entwine them?those old cast off suits. -"a We have laid them away?tenderly,, earefajjy ?as those who put away jewels and precious things. We have not buried them pot of sighv as we bury the dead. Welove to look at them?those v_i2?: _ i e j 1 X ?1_ nauuameuie ui grey??uu uiuauuivi^ BBuwfw/u I though it he, it is all that is left ua.?Frederidt*burg Herald. ^ A ^ . ..i Eligible Men.?The Richmond Ditpatch says on this subject: "Should the worsthappen Tor this State, and a. portion of our citiaens who have served in public offices be rendered ineligible, it becomes a matter of interest to cohsftfer who are'eligible and how the important offices are likely'to be filled. Having looked about somewhat, we feel quite cheered to find so many capable persons still left to take charge of public affairs." We think, ourselves, that when the proper time arrives for selection, if we only manage rightly, there will be no want of representative men for the State. We may be troubled about Congress, iffWe ever get the privilege of representation there. We think, with the Dispatch, that one advantage whichmay grow out of disfranchisement will be the bringing into action a number of men, who may have both energy and hope to take the places of some who have little of either hope or energy. The men.we need now are men of spirit and confidence in their ability to work out a prosperous future for their country.?Charleston Newt. . 1 p )m'jw vv * * -v A New Ticket.?The New Tc*k Herald has started a new hobby. It impreneS, with considerable force, upon the Southern people, the necessity of heartily acquiescing in. ana oo-operetinf with, the action of Congress is the work of re-construction. It predicts speedy admission to Congress, and the most auspicious results, generally, as oartain to flow from such a course. It suggests to the Southern press, to show that they are in earnest, that they would make a decided hit by. proclaiming, as their reunion national ticket for 1866, the following: For President, General U.. 8. Grant; For v ice President, General Bobeg e. Lee. The Herald adds: "', r _ "The nomination of this ticket in the South would operate so powerfully Upon the Northern mind, in behalf of general amnesty, that this Fortieth Congress, by a two-thirds vote in each house, would proclaim it, in order tq ratify this Southern proposed treaty of peace, harmony, fraternity and re-union, in the names of Grant and Lee." The Last Surrender.?We are told, that a Federal officer belonging to the garrison of this place was met a few days ago, while riding about * y the suburbs by a rusty looking specimen, who came forward and offered to "surrender." Ihe officer asked if he had killed anybody, or done any mischief of any kind. The specimen said he had de. 1 .1 - AI C-J lOAl ImtLa/lltMwl i aeriea me uuucuuau; <uuijr ui imi, - ? 1 of General Lee's amnesty proclamation while hiding about in the mountains, and had come 'forward to give himself up, and be returned to service. Great surprise and consternation seized upon the specimen when he learned now no Southern army, no Southern cause, and that all the battle-flags had been folded and putaside. The specimen wad treated" W a dose at amnesty oath and a pair of blue breeches, and went on his way rejoicing, to North Carolina, in which "District'' was his nome when he left it six years agone.?Lynchburg Republican. Party zeal is often quite as apparent in the opening prayer of the Congressional Chaplain, as in the ward harangue of the Treastoy Cletx. The Chaplain is expected to pray for his party friends, and at his party foes. Usually his petition is a:summary of the proceedings oi the preceding day, and a statement of what oughtto-be done, da the day at hand. Every Bill passed and TOte grten in accordance with party purposes and plans, devout thanks (if anything of that land can be called devout) are returned tQ the Almighty who is earnestly exhorted to open the eyes and change thu.votes of everybody who stands on the other side. 3%e irreverence of some of these so-called arayan often borders on blasphemy. They are smdma anfI fitiner mnra than Rhimn speeches. wiada with,closed O ?? -- eyes and addressed only ostensibly to tb& Father of all; while in sentiment, language and general style they would shock any intelligent ana cultivated audience. ... .?.?;? , ? .J. . . Not Leonq to be prayed At.?The Senate of Massachusetts considered a resolution & few days ago to prevent the chaplain from making personal .allusions to members in his prayers. It seems the chaplain is an enemy of lijuor selling in every.form, and greatly exercised at tneproepect of tie substitution of a Koenae law for the present prohibitory system. So he Isyu sins of the mends of the license law befory:.the I^ord, and prays that members and mmistere ahpjfovor a license law may be induced to ask fomveneas pn their knees. Senfttore fieely ^ress thecr yiews, and are of opinion that the chaplain should abstain from expressing his pasap|l yiQW|f) his payers. *