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L.EWISrM. GRIST.' "" ;An |niifptiibfnt jamilgItto^agtr: jar % $mw\m\of % political, iori;^|gritukra^ Crnitmtrfial |ittots of % ?014. VOL. 13. YORKVILLE, S. C., THURSDAY, JJJN1E 2Q, 1867. NO. 8. Original ? For the Yorkville Enquirer. EL DORADO. El Dorado! land of gold ! Wondrous region! from whose shore, Fabled treasures, wealth untold, May be gather'd evermore; Now, as oft in days of yore, Man thy hidden wealth would holdStill thy mysteries explore? Land of fiction?land of gold. El Dorado ! land of gold ! Distant country, from whoss shore, Visions golden, we behold, Glistening, dazzling evermore, Sparkling bright with golden ore, Murmuring streamlets ever flow, Onward to a pearly shore, O'er their diamond beds below. El Dorado! land of gold In thy valleys, choicest flow'rs Bloom perpetual, we are told? Fed alone by vernal show'rs: Giant trees like lofty towers, Grandly rise to heights their own, Sheltering 'mid their leafy bowers Plum'd songsters, yet unknown. El Dorado ! land of gold 'Neath thy water's crystal sheen, * Living myriads here unfold Wonders yet by man unseen; Whilst thy forests, widely teem With its herds of stately gameMore in species, it would seem, Than in numbers, we could name. El Dorado! land of gold ! Tempered mildly by the sun, Summer heat and winter cold Never reach within thy zone; Vemal zephyrs ever borne From the westward, constant bring Scented perfumes to thy home, c 'Still'd from fragrant flow'rs of Spring. El Dorado! land of gold! What are treasures, pleasures, when, Greed and av'rice captive hold Slaves to wealth, the souls of men ? Land of treasures! give men thenEl Dorado, land of gold? 'Stead of selfish greed of gain, El Dorado for the soul. Pixeville, N. C., June 7,1867. , % $tMtA fftarg. THE MINER OF THE HARTZi A TRADITION OF THE RHINE. . BY H. PELICAN. Beyond all other mountains of the Blocksberg range, the wild solitudes of the Hartz have been, from time immemorial, supposed to be the haunts of ghosts, elfins and spectres. The inhabitants of this neighborhood are, for the most part, miners and woodsmen, and are naturally imbued with the local superstition. On many occasions they have attributed to the power of the elfins, those natural phenomena which they have experienced during their subterranean labors. The belief also prevails that a tutelary demon, of the most savage appearance, dwells in the gloomy forests of the Hartz, colossal in height, and his head appears crowned with oak leaves; about his body there is bound a fiery belt, and in his hand he carries an uprooted pine tree. Long ago this demon used to hold frequent communications with the people in that District; he used often to meddle in their affairs, rather for the purpose of doing them good than of injuring them. But it was observed that his kindness generally turned unhappily to those who were the recipients of it The clergymen, in long sermons, frequently exhorted their flocks to cease holding any communication with him. It happened that on one day, the preacher mounted the pulpit in the church of Margenbrodt, for the purpose of expatiating on the perversity of the inhabitants, in still continuing to communicate with fairies, and goblins and demons, but in particular with nim of the Hartz. These superstitious people laughed at the zeal with which their venerable pastor held forth upon this point At last the heat of his discourse augmented , m proportion to the spirit of the opposition which he met; but the congregation could not suffer that a demon, who had been so peaceable for hundreds of years, should be compared to Astaroh and Beelzebub. The fear, also, of the demon punishing them for listening to such sermons, was added to the interest which they felt in him. "A monkish blabber like him,'' they cried, "can say what he pleases with impunity; but we, the inhabitants of this country, who remain at the mercy of this insulted demon, we will be the victims of his just indignation. The peasants did not long restrain their resentment ; pelting him with stones, they hunted the poor priest out of the parish, telling him to go and preacn to others against demons. As three young charcoal-burners?who had taken a part in the pursuit of the priest?were returning home to their cottage, the conversation naturally turned upon the demon of the Hartz, and on their pastor's sermon. Max and George Waldeck, agreeing that the priest's language was indiscreet, maintained, nevertheless, that it was very dangerous to have the slightest communication with the demon, because he was wicked, capricious and powerful, and all those who had any communication with him always experienced misfortune from it. Had he not given to the gallant Chevalier Sybert, the famous black steed, with which he conquered all his competitors at the grand tournament in Bremen? Yes, but that courser plunged with him down a frightful precipice, from which man or horse has never come out Did he not impart to Dame Gertrude Trodden some curious secrets, which were soon after the cause of her being burned as a sorceress, by the command of the grand criminal judge of the electorate? But these proofs and many others, which George and Max related of the evil consequences attend ant on the gilts ot the elhn, made 110 impression on Martin Waldeck. Martin was young, daring and rash, and smiled at the timidity of his brothers. "Cease," he said, all this folly; the demon is a good and kind one. He lives among us as a simple peasant; he frequents the rocks and solitudes of the mountains, sometimes as a hunter, and other times as a shepherd. But how can this demon be so malicious as you say? What power can he have over mortals, who make use of his gifts without submitting themselves to his will? The benefits and gifts of the spirit of the Hartz cannot injure us ; it is the bad use which we make of them, that does." Max replied, that riches, badly acquired, could never profit their possessor. Martin declared, positively, that the possession of all the treasures^ in the Hartz Mountains would not be capable of effecting the least change in his habit, manners or character. This conversation lasted until the brothers reached their lowly hut, which was situated on a height,' in the neighborhood of Brockenberg. They tnen, according to custom, arranged the watches for the night; for one of the brothers kept guard, while the two others slept. In fact, the burning of the charcoal required a continued attention. Max Waldcck, the eldest brother, had watched about an hour, when he saw suddenly, upon the borders of the swamp opposite to the door of his cottage, an immense fire, around which numerous figures danced in the most grotesque attitudes. Max's first thought^ was to call George; but he could not awaken him without Martin hearing.? So upon reflection, in spite of the terror with which this singular phantom filled him, he resolved to watch alone. Besides, the strange fire was gradually disappearing, and he was then quite free from fear. George did not delay in relieving Max,f who retired to bed without saying anything. The vast fire again filled the valley, and tne same phantoms surrounded and danced through the flames: George was more courageous than Max, and resolved to cross the .stream which separated him from the marsh. Climbing u? an eminence, he approached near to where the fire was burning. Among the elfins that bustled about the flames, he recognized i the giant, covered with hair and armed with a pine tree; in a word, it was the demon of the Hartz, i such as the old shepherds had described to him.? Trembling with fear, he commenced reciting the psalm commencing with "Let all the angels praise thee, 0 Lord!" which was looked on, in that country, as a soverign preservative against the influence of bad spirits. He turned his eyes again towards where the fire had been burning, but all had disappeared. The valley was no longer illuminated ; but by the pale rays of the moon, George, in great terror, directed his course to the palace of this extraordinary scene, but he found no trace of fire on the hearth; neither the moss nor wild flowers were scorched or faded?the branches of the oak which had appeared enveloped in flames, were wet with the night dew. George returned to the hut, and reasoning the same way as Max, resolved to say nothing of what he had seen, as he feared to awaken the curiosity of Martin. The night was far advanced when Martin's watch oamc on, and when well awake, his hrst care was to examine the furnace. He saw, to his great astonishment, that George had not.attended to it, and that we k now already why. Very much annoyed, he set about lighting it, but it was useless. It became serious, for the poor fellows risked the loss of their market next day.? Mortified by this accident, Martin had just decided to awaken his brothers, when a gleam of brilliant light suddenly crossed the windows of the cottage. His first idea was, that the Muhlchausers, his rivals in trade had encroached upon his boundaries, and had come to steal his wood. But a moment's observation was sufficient to convince him that the spectacle, which was presented to his view, was a supernatural phenomenon. Be these men or demons," said he, "I will go and ask a firebrand from them, to light my fire." Saying these words, he took his wild boar lance and advanced towards the phantoms. He soon crossed the stream, climbed the hill, and approached sufficiently near this elfin gather- | ing to discern all the peculiarities of the demon of , the Hartz. For the first time in his life, he shud- , dered with fear; but summoning up immediately ' his wavering courage, he advanced firmly towards the fire. At each step he took, the figures became more wild and extravagant in their movements. In a moment he was in the midst of them. They received him with manifestations of applause, 1 and their tumultuous laughter stung his very ears. ' "Who are you?" cried the giant, in a voice of 1 thunder, and frowning gloomily < "Martin Waldeck, a charcoal burner," he re- ! plied: "and who are you yourself?'' "Tne king of chaos and of mines," replied the spectre; "but why have you dared to penetrate < our mysteries?" ^ i "I came here to get a fire-brand, in order to < light my fire," Waldeck answered boldly. "What ' are the mysteries which you celebrate here ?" ] "The marriage of Hernaes and the black dra- 1 goon; but take the fire-brand if you wish, and de- < part, for no mortal can witness our festivities with i impunity." i Martin then stuck the point of his lance in a j large log, and regained his hut, amid the noise of ' the mocking laughter of the phantoms. In spite : of his terror, his first step was to relight the fur- i nnw hv moans of the burning lotr. which lie car- < ried. Strange to say, in spite of all the efforts I which he made, this billet at first all on fire? went < out without kindling the other wood. Martin was ' excessively chagrined at this; the fire still burned 1 on the hill, but those who had surrounded it had < disappeared. Waldeck thought that the spectre I was but trifling with him. He resolved to undertake a new adventure, and set out on his way to < the hill. He arrived, and without encountering ' any opposition, he seized a second log of wood," '< and carried it off as he did the first ;but still without being able to kindle his fire. The ease with ] which Tie obtained the first two brands, increased < his boldness, and he returned for the third time ] and carried away "a great flaming billet. He had ; not gone far, when ne heard the voice of the elfin ] crying aloud to him, not, on any account, to have the temerity to venture back again. The efforts ; which Martin niade to light his furnace with his ; last fire-brand, were just as useless as the prece- J ding. Exhausted with fatigue, he threw himself : on his bed of leaves, fully determined to inform his brothers, the next day, of his strange adventures. Morning had scarcely appeared, when he was awakened from a profound sleep, by # loud cries of joy and surprise. The first thing which Max and George did on rising, was to look at the condition of their furnace. While racking the cinders, they found three metalic lumps, which they knew to be pure gold. Their joy was a little diminished, however, when Martin told them by what meaus he had become master of it The others could not resist the temptation of partaking in the prosperity of their brother. Martin "Waldeck soon took the title of head of the family. He bought lands and woods, and had a splendid mansion erected, and he also obtained letters of nobility, to thegreat scandal and disgust of the ancient nobles. His courage in war enabled him to brave, at all times, the jealousy which his sudden elevation and the arrogance of his manners excited. But the evil inclinations which poverty had repressed, now developed themselves.? In fine, Wadleck rendered himself odious, pot only to the nobles, but also to his inferiors, who supported with pain, the insolence of a man who had sprung from the very dregs of the people. The manner in which he had been enriched was heretofore a profound secret, but by some chance it had transpired, and already the clergy threatened him as a sorcerer. Surrounded by enemies, and tormented on all sides, Martin Waldeck, or rather Baron Waldeck, soon regretted his youthful poverty and contentment, for envy and hatred were around him every where. His courage never nbandoned him at any.time; in fact, on the contrary, he appeared to court danger. But an unforeseen event hastened his fall. ..." The reigning Duke of Brunswick having invited, by proclamation, all the German noblesse to a sol?? - ATnt^m Wol/Jnol- olnfKn/1 in V\ril U 111 11 UlUlUaillUUl) i'Aui uil TV aiuvvn) vxvbuvu ?u liant armor, accompanied by his two brothers, and attended by a superb cortege, had the insolence to appear in the midst of the cavaliers *>f the province, and demanded permission to enter the lists. This was looked on as the height of presumption. A thousand voices cried out: "We will not let this charcoal burner into our ranks." Enflamed with passion, Martin drew his sword, and overthrew the nerald-at-arms, who endeavored to prevent his entering the lists. Swords were raised on all sides to avenge a crime at the time cousidered the most atrocious, except high treason. Wadleck defended himself to desperation, but he was mpde prisoner, and condemned, by the judge of the tourney, to have?according to custom?his right arm cut off, to lose his titles'of nobility, and to be driven ignominiously from the city. They despoiled him of his armor, and having undergone his punishment, lie was delivered up to the populace, who pursued him. heaping menaces, outrages ana insults on his devoted head. He lost so much blood, and was in such a miserable condition, that it. was necessary to place him in a cart, and under him they put some straw. Thus the Waldecks fled. Scarcely had they reached the frmtiers of their native country, when they perceived in a hollow road situated between two mountains, an old man, who advanced to meet them. But shortly after, the limbs and size of this man increased in bulk; his cloak fell from his shoulders, and his pilgrim's staff" was metamorphosed into an enormous pine. In a word, the Demon of the Hartz was presented to their eye in aH his frightful apparel. When he was opposite to the cart in which the sick man lay, he asked of him, with an atrocious grin, if his fire-brands had kindled his furnace. Martin was indignant at these words, but could scarcely raise himself. He pointed to the spectre with a mena cing gesture; hut he disappeared uttering a loud mocking laugh, leaving the unfortunate Waldeck to struggle with death. Max and George, being terrified, directed their course towards the towers of a neighboring convent, which elevated their tops above the dark pine forest by which they were surrounded. At that place they were charitably received by a monk, with a long, venerable beard, and in naked feet Martin lived just loug enough to make a confession of his life, and to receive ablution from the hands of the very priest, whom long ago he had pelted with stones in the village of Margenbrodt. His three years of prosperity mysteriously corresponded with the three visits which he had made to the elfin's hill. The body of Waldeck was interred within the convent, and his two brothers assumed the habit of the order. Both the miners and the woodsmen shun, even to this day, the ruins of Chateau dt Waldedc, for they suppose that it has become the resort of elfins and evil spirits. IpSffllawMiw fUadiug. THE OLD MAN'S REVERIE. I love to look on a scene like this, Of wild and careless play. And persuade myself that I am not old, Ana my locks are not so gray; For it stirs the blood of an old man's heart And makes his pulses fly, To catch the thrill of a happy voice, And the light of a pleasant eye. I have walked the earth for four scoro years, And they say that I am old? That my heart is ripe for the reaper, Death, And my years are well nigh told. It is very true?it is very true? I am old, and I "bide my time But my heart will leap at a scene like this, And I half renew my prime. Play on! play on 11 am with you there, * In the midst of your merry ring; I can feel the thrill of the darling jump, And the rush of the breathless swing. I hide with you in the fragrant hay, And whopo the smothered call, And my feet slip up on the seedy floor, And I care not for the fall. I am willing to die when my time shall como, And I shall be glad to go? For the world, at best, is a weary place, And my pulse is getting low; But the grnve is dark, and the heart will fail, In treading its gloomy way; And it wiles my heart from'its dreariness To seo the young so gay. A SPICY COMMUNICATION. The following letter was addressed by Governor Wells, of Louisiana, to General Sheridan, in acknowledgment of the receipt of the order for his removal: State of Louisiana, Executive Department, ) New Orleans, June 4, 1867. j lo Major-General P. IT. Sheridan, Commanding Fifth Military District: General :?I had the honor to receive at the bands of one of your orderlies this morning, at half-past 3 o'clock, at my residence in Jefferson, a jmtten document, purporting to be "Special Orlers No. 59," in which you promulgate that you have removed me from the office of Governor of Louisiana. For the delicate consideration you displayed in delivering vour order at that early hour, I owe you many thanks, as I suppose.you meant that I should enjoy one good night's sleep before my decapitation. It may appear ungracious in me to disajp point your expectations, but, strange to say, tne effect of your order did not drive deep from my eyelids. I returned to my couch, with a feeling of relief that my fate was no worse. When the moraing paper came, containing a copy of your telegram to the Secretary of War, I again congratulated myself on my merciful sentence, as. knowing pour ideas of the unlimited power you possess, I might have been condemned to the Dry Tortugas, ar been shot by a drum-head court-martial. From the tone and temper of that document it is very evident. General, you were in one of your wrathy aaoods when you penned it, and that I was not banged, shot or banished, appears to me under the circumstances, as if I were indebted for my safety to the'interposition of Divine Providence. In your order removing me, General, you allege is a reason therefor, that I am impeding you in the execution of the law of Congress; but how, ind in what way you do not condescend to state. Now, General, it may appear discourteous in so bumble an individual as anyself to contradict so ixaltcd a functionary as you conceive yourself to ae, yet as there is not a word of truth in the charge >*ou make, you must excuse me if I decline to give you the benefit of so serious an aceusition. To go back to the date of the July riots of last year, your memory cannot fail to serve you that you availed yourself of the occasion, in your telegrams to General Grant relative to the affair, to make a direct personal attack on rnc, impeaching my efficiency as a public officer, and recommending my removal from office. Not conscious of having deserved your severe strictures, I confess I was surprised and pained when I read them in print, the mora so as you were not in the city on the day after the riot, you having found it convenient to be off to Texas several days before, I will not say in anticipation of a riot, nor will I use the word "skulk." I bore your damaging accusations a long while in silence, but finally exercised the right belonging to the humblest individual, of defending mysell publicly against your charges. This I did in a letter addressed to an honorable Senator from Illinois, but couched in language devoid of scurrility and personalities. I spoke of your military services in the highest praise. Ajt that time I did not suppose for a moment that any personal hostility on your part would result from that publication. In fact, I had dismissed the transaction from my mind, and when you received your appointment as commander ol this district, I called on you as if there had been no controversy between us, and tendered you my co-operation in carrying out the law of Congress. You received my visit courteously, and I fully expected there would be harmonious relations betweeu us. ^When, however, the time arrived for you to act, m the appointment of registrars, and in the removal and appointment of officers, I discovered no disposition on vour Dart to consult me in the slightest manner, which, as a loyal Governor, and intimately acquainted with the people ol the State, I did not think unreasonable in me to expect of you. I did not complain, however; rav official intercourse with you was frequent, though about this time I saw published what purported to be an extract of a letter from you to tne Secretary of War or General Grant, hi which you asked foi advice as to your power of removal, as it was probable you would find it necessary to remove me from office. I have seen no denial from you as to the authorship of that letter. Notwithstanding these repeated evidences of an unfriendly spirit on your part, I said nothing, and it was only when you assumed to nullity my appointment of a levee board and to substitute one ot your own, which I think you had no authority under the law of Congress to do, that I referred the question of your right to appoint to the proper officers at Washington to decide. If to remonstrate against the illegal and arbitrary exercise of power by you?having no connection with tire laws of Congress, which specifically define your duties?is an "impedient" to the execution of the law, then your power is supreme, which, in my opinion, was never contemplated by the act of Congress. But, General, you are not content with charring me as an "impediment" to the execution of the law, as your sole reason for removing me from office.? As if conscious that the charge was a mere invention of yours to afford a pretext for doing an act you had predetermined on to gratify an ancient grudge, you come down to your true forte, and pour out the vials of your wrath in a stream of abuse and scurrility on my devoted head. You will pardon me, General, for not imitating your example, by way of retaliation. My education has been sadly deficient in that polite branch of literature, and I am willing to leave the field to you as without an equal. 1 cannot forbear the remark, however, that when a Major General of the United States army has to play the part of a "bugler" in sounding in pei-son his own honesty, it may well excite i curiosity in the community to surmise the i ^ a _ 1 cause tnereior. x\s 10 your cnargt; ui appuiuwuj. rebels to office, if it is a crime, I would like to ask. General, if you are free from the same accusation. Out of a levee board composed of five members, one of your appointees was a member of the Secession Convention, and signed the ordinancelof secession ; another is not a citizen of the United States, but claimed the protection of the British flag on the arrival of Commodore Farragut and his fleet; and a third was a blockade-runner, who was arrested and tried by a military commission. Then is a trite maxim, General, in this connection, which it would be well for you to remember in j'our future personal controversies. Equally faulty anc unfortunate, in point of memory, is vour insinua tion that you amid not find me on the da. * jf h< riot, when I called at your office on my way to th< Mechanics' Institute, and talked over the mattei with you. I did not call on you for a guard, be cause one had been furnished me by Gen. Baird. Having disposed of your misstatements concern ing me, and defended myself from what I conceiv< to be a wanton and malicious attack upon my char j acter on your part, I leave the public to judge bei tweenus. It is with no pleasure I have been forced into i this controversy. My desire was to hold the most amicable relations with you officially; but to silently submit to your arbitrary exercise of power, and your aspersions on my character, would be to prove false to my official trust, and to admit the truth of your slanders. And I now call on you to make good your assertion of dishonesty as charged against me, if you expect to avoid the verdict ofthe people, which is always meted out to the calumniator and slanderer. J. MADISON WELLS, Governor of the 8tate of Louisiana. THE BANKRUPT LAW. The bankrupt law being now (since the 1st inst) in full operation, a summary of its principal provisions will be of use. The act provides for voluntary and involuntiy bankruptcy, for the bankruptcy of partnerships and of corporations, and for the supercedure of the bankrupt proceedings by arrangement Any person may voluntarily obtain the benefit of the act owes debts exceeding $300, by applying by pefftion "to the Judge of the Judicial District in which such person has resided or carried on business for the six months next immediately preceding the time of filing such petition, or for the longest period during such six months, setting forth his place of residence, his inability to pay all his debts in full, his willingness to surrender all his estate and effects for the benefits r.f Vi.a /mulif/nM and Vila dasim fn nVi+flin fViA ViAnA fit of this act; and he must annex to his petition a schedule verified by oath, before the court, or before a Register in bankruptcy, or before one of the Commissioners of the Circuit Court of the U. States, containing a full and true statement of all his deDts, and, as far as possible, to whom due, with place of residence of each creditor, if known to the debtor, and if not known, the fact to be so stated, and tne sum due to each creditor; also the nature of each debt or demand, whether founded on written security, obligation, contract, or otherwise, and also the true cause and consideration of such indebtedness, in each case, and the place where such indebtedness accrued, and a statement of any existing mortgage, pledge, lein, judgment or collateral, or other security given for the payment of the same; and shall also annex to his petition an accurate inventoiy, verified in like manner, of all his estate, both real and personal."? Notice of the proceedings must be given to all creditors, and tne property is to be turned over to ' an assignee for their Denefit. There is excepted from the provisions of the act the "necessary household and kitchen furniture, and such other articles and necessaries of such bankrupt as the said assignee shall designate and set apart, having reference in the amount to the family, condition and circumstances of the bankrupt, but altogether not to exceed in value, in any c;ise, the sum of $500: and also the wearing apparel of the bankrupt, ana ' that of his wife and cnildren, and the uniform, arms, and equipments of any person who is or has been a soldier in the militia or in the service of the United States; and such other property as now is, or hereafter shall be, exempted from attachment seizure, or levy on execution by the laws of the United States, and such other property, not included in the foregoing exceptions, as is exempted from levy and sale upon execution or other process or order of any court, by the laws of the State in which the bankrupt has his domicile at the time of the commencement of the proceedings in bankruptcy, to an amount not exceeding that allowed by such State exemption laws in force in the year 1804." Six months after the adjudication of bankruptcy, after publication in the newspapers, a certificate is given the bankrupt discharging him forever from all his debts, existing at that time. Any person owing debts mav involuntarily be declared a bankrupt who shall depart from tne State, District or Territory of which he is an inhabitant, with intent to defraud his creditors or being absent shall, with such intent, remain absent; or shall conceal himself to avoid the service of legal process in any action for the recovery of a debt or demand provable under this Act; or shall conceal or remove any of his property to avoid its being attached, taken, or sequestered on legal process; or shall make any assignment, gift, sale, convey' ancc; or transfer of his estate, property, rights, or credits, either within the United States or elsewhere, with intent to delay, defraud, or hinder his creditors, or who has been arrested and held in custody under or by virtue of any process of exe[ cution, issued out of any court or any State, disi trict or Territory, within which such debtor resides or has property, founded upon a demand ; in its nature provable against a bankrupt's estate under this act, and for a sum exceeding one hun dred dollars, and such process is remaining in . force and not discharged bv payment, or in any other manner provided by tne law of such State, | district or Territory, applicable thereto, for a period of seven days; or has been actually imprison; ed for more than seven days in a civil action, founded on contract for the sum of one hundred : dollars or upward; or who, being bankrupt or [ insolvent, or in contemplation of bankruptcy or i insolvency, shall make anv payment, gift, grant, sale, conveyance, or transfer of money or other i property, estate, rights or credits, or give any - warrant to confess judgment, or procure or suffer his property to be taken on legal process, with intent to give a preference to one or more of his creditors or to any person or persons who are or may be liable for him as indorsers, bail sureties, [ or otherwise, or with the intent, by such disposition of his property, to defeat or delay the ope~v ! tion of this act; or who, being a banker, merchant or trader, has fraudulently stopped or suspended ? and not resumed payment of his commercial pai per, within a period of fourteen days." The duties of registers in bankruptcy are, "To make adjudication of bankruptcy, to receive the surrender i of any bankrupt; to administer oaths in all proceedings before him, to hold and preside at nieet ings of creditors, to take proof or debts, to make . all computations of dividends and all orders of disi tribution, and to furnish the assignee with a certi! fied copy of such orders; and ot the schedules of t creditors and assets filed in each case, to audit and pass accounts of assignee, to grant protection, to pass the last examination of any bankrupt in cases [ whenever the assignee or a creditor do not oppose, ; and to sit in chambers and dispatch there such i part of the administrative business of the Court and such uncontested matters as shall be defined in general rules and orders, or as the District Judge shall in any particular matter direct; and he shall also make short memoranda of his proceedings in each case in which he shall act, in a docket to be . kepti)y-him for-fhotpurpose.'' BEHIND TIME. A rail road train was rushing along at almost ; lightning speed. A curve was just ahead beyond which was a station at which the cars usually pass ed each other. The conductor was late, so late that the period during which the down train was i to wait had nearly elapsed ; but he hoped yet to Sass the curve safely. Suddenly a locomotive ashed into sight right ahead. In an inrtlnt there was confusion, a shriek, and fifty souls were in eternity; and all because an engineer had been behind time. _ i A great battle was going on. Column after column had been precipitated for eight mortal hours on the enemy posted along the ridge of a hill. The summer sun was sinking to the west; reinI forcements for the obstinate defenders were alreai dv in sight; it was necessary to carry the position 1 with one final charge, or everything would be lost i A powerful corps had been summoned from across ; the country, and if it came up in season all would , yet be right The great conqueror, certain of its arrival, formed his reserve into an attacking col, utnn, and led them down the hill. The whole world knows the result Grouchly failed to appear, the imperial guard was beaten back and Waterloo I was lost. Napoleon died a prisoner at St Helana i because one of his marshals was behind time. 5 A leading firm in commercial circles had long 5 struggled against bankruptcy. As it had enormous - assets in California, it expected remittances by a i certain day, and if the sums promised arrived, its credit, its honor, and its future prosperity would I be preserved. But week after week elapsed with out bringing the gold. At last came the fatal day J on which the firm had bills maturing to enormous ' amounts. The steamer was telegraphed at day r break: but it was found on enquiiy that she brought no funds,, and the house failed. The next arrival brought nearly half a million to the - insolvent, but it was too late; they were ruined bc} cause their agent in remitting, had been behind time. A condemned man was led out for execution.? He had taken human life, hut under circumstances of the greatest provocation, and public sympathy was active in his behalf. Thousands had signed petitions for his reprieve; a favorable answer had been expected the night before, and though it had notcome, even the sherifffelt confident that it would yet arrive in season. Thus the morning passed without the appearance of the messenger. The last moment was up. The prisoner took his place on the drop, the cap was drawn over his eyes, the bolt drawn, and a lifeless body swung revolving in the wind. Just at that moment a horseman came into sight, galloping down the hill, his steed white with foam. He carried a packet in his right hand, which he waived partially to the crowd. He was the express rider with the reprieve; but he had come too late. A comparatively innocent man had died an ignominious death, because a watch had been five minutes too slow, making its bearer arrive behind time. It is continually so in life. The best laid plans, the most important affars, the fortunes of individuals, the wear of nations, honor, happiness, life itself, are dailv sacrificed because somebody is 'behind time.' There are men, who always fail in whatever they undertake, simply becasue they are 'behind time.' There are others who put off reformation vear by year, till death seizes them, and they perish unrepenant, because forever 'behind time. Five minutes in a crisis is worth years.? It is but a little period, yet it has often saved a a fortune or redeemed a people. If there is one rriwim arki/iV, olinnU Kn mnrA thftn An other by him who would succeed in life, it is punctuality ; if there is one error which should be avoided, it is being behind time. THE ARMIES* OF EUROPE. The following statement of changes and modifications which various European countries are about to introduce into their armies, will be found very interesting at this time. It is from the Philadelphia Press of the 23d ultimo: PRUSSIA. The actual effective force of the Prussian army is based upon the peace footing of two hundred thousand men, which can be increased to three hundred thousand, or one per cent of the population, but the organization of the force is not changed. It is proper here to rectify a very general and popular error, that every Prussian is held to service. Such is not the case. Of one hundred and seventy thousand young men who reach the age of twenty-one years, one hundred thousand arc exempted by law. Of the remainder, sixty-three thousand are drafted into the service; the rest return to their homes, but subject to the call of the government GERMANY. ' The four States of the South, Bavaria, Wurtemburg, Baden, and Hesse, have abandoned conscription for obligatory service with exemption for cause. The effectives are so organized as to have one per cent of the population under arms in time of peace. The States of the North have adopted the Prussian system. .AUSTRIA. Obligatory service is to supersede recruiting by conscription. Every Austrian who has attained the age of twenty years will serve six years, three of which he is with his regiment He is then transferred to the reserve for six years, of which half is passed in the first ban and the rest in the second Dan. The landsturm (militia) will be composed of men from thirty-two to forty-five years of age. There will be no replacement by substitutes. The former effective force was about 639,000 men on a war footing, and 256,000 on a peace footing. The annual contingent was from eignty thousand to ninety thousand men. For the future there will be each year an addition of 120,000 men capable of bearing arms, which, at the end of twelve years, will be 1,440,000 men. Allowing for the regular losses of an army, there will remain 1,080,060 men, without counting the frontier divisions of the Empire, which will contribute 52,000 men. The general total will then be 1,132,069 men. RUSSIA. Recruiting is earned on at regular intervals, sufficient to retain the army on a peace footing of 680,000 men. The war footing, to which the army can be increased in six weeks, amounts to 1,600,000 men. The term of service is fifteen-' Hars, twelve of which the soldier is under arms. No change is contemplated in the organization. ENGLAND. The government is engaged in discussing proposed changes in the military system. The appropriation for the war office for 1367-68 has been increased ?412,200 or $2,061,000. The army on a war footing, numbers 346,000 men, of which 136,000 are in the militia. Besides these there are the volunteers, the yeomanry, (or militia cavalry), the veterans and the navy. SPAIN. After the organization now in progress shall hade been finished, the effective peace footing will be increased from 150,000 to 200,000 men. The troops will be divided into three classes ; the first, a permanent army, the second, an active reserve, and the third, an inactive reserve. SWEDEN. The Swedish Army is composed first of enrolled troops (voerfvade) or volunteers for six years; second, of troops in the cantons (indelba), who are called out a few weeks each year for instruction; and third, conscripts (bevovring), composed of able-bodiea men between the ages of twenty and twenty-five years. A bill, however, has been submitted to the Legislature to suppress the first two divisions, and render service in tne army obligatory on every Swedish subject The duration of service will then be twenty-five years, divided as follows: From 21 to 25 years of age in the first ban, 26 to 30 years in the second ban, and from 31 to 45 years of age in the landstrum. The first ban (bevoering), will then give a contingent of 125,000 men; the second ban, 120,000, and the landstrum, 300,000. Thus the government will have five hundred thousand men at its disposal in place of the standing army of 125,000 men. SWITZERLAND. The Federal anny is thus divided: 1. Regular Army, composed of men between the ages of twenty and thirty years?three per cent of the population. 2. The reserve, formed of men who nave completed their term of service in the regular army, and between the ages of thirty and forty years, and making one-half per cent of the population. 3. The landwehr, composed of able men to bear arms, aged not more than forty-four years, who do not serve in the regular army, nor in the reserves. Every Swiss is thus obliged to serve.? The Federal army numbers about 198,000 men, of which 185,000 can be concentrated when needed. The organization of the forces will not be modified, but the government projected measures calculated to unite the troops in time of war, and to perfect the instruction of the landwehr. Holland and Belgium are likewise engaged in considering how they may increase the effective force of their armies. THE HOLY LAND IN 1867. The Chicago Journal has a correspondent who is strolling through the Holy Laud and Palestine. He is not particularly impressed with its present state, whatever its past may have been. He says: "I have not seen a wagon-road in Palestine. Even the stones and timber for building the houses of Jerusalem must be brought in the city upon the backs of camels and donkeys; and the roads over which Abraham, David, Christ and the Apostles once traveled are but paths winding over rocks and around the base of sterile mountains. In fact this whole land, said to have been once so beauti tiful, is now but a rocky barren waste. 1 tbink 1 have seen more good laud in one square mile in Iowa or Illinois than in all Palestine. "Much of the country is occupied by the Bedouin Arak\ and for the privilege of visiting the river Jordan and Dead Sea their Shiek requires $2.50 from each person. For this amount he sends a guard of Arabswith you. "The poulation of Jerusalem is now said to be but 14,000. The correspondent, upon this fact, moralizes thus : "while looking at the city as it now stands, with the narrow streets filled with dogs, Arabs and filth, it is hard to realize that it was once the home of more than one million human beings, and the proud metropolis of a mighty nation. While looking out of the window at the Mosque of Omar, where the Turk bears rule, I can but ask myself the question. Is it possible that on that spot stood the temple of Solomon? Is it there that David held his court? The pages of histoiy answer, Yes. That spot is Mount Moriah. Upon that ground stood that Temple whose glory filled the wnole earth. THE KIND HEARTED TANNER. The following incident is so beautiful and touching, that it should be read to every household in the country. It developes the true, active principle of kindness. How many an erring mortal, making his first step in crime, might be redeemed by the exercise of this sublime trait in the character of the kind-hearted Quaker: William Savery, an eminent minister among the Quakers, was a tanner by trade. One night a a quantity of hides were stolen from his tannery, and he had reason to believe that the thief was a quarrelsome, drunken neighbor, called John Smith. Next week the following advertisement appeared in the country newspaper: "Whoever stole a quantity of hides on the fifth of this month, is hereby informed that the owner has a sincere wish to be his friend. If poverty tempted him to this false step, the owner will keep the whole transaction secret, and will gladly put him in the way of obtaining money by means more likely to bring him peace of mind." This singular advertisement attracted considerable attention; but the culprit alone knew who had made the kind offer. Wnon he read it his heart melted within him, and he was filled with sorrow for what he had done. A few nights afterwords, as the tanner's family were about retiring to rest, thotr heard a timid IrnneV. And when the door Was opened there stood John Smith, with a load of hides on his shoulder. Without looking up, he said: "I have brought these back, Mr. Savery, where shall I put them?" "Wait till 1 can get a lantern, and I will go to the barn with thee, he replied, "then, perhaps, thou wilt come in, and tell me how this happened. We will see what can be done for thee." As soon as they were gone out, his wife prepared some hot coffee, and placed pies and meat on the table. When they returned from the bam, she said: "Neighbor Smith, I thought some good hot supper would be good for thee.'' He turned his back towards her, and did not speak. After leaning against the fire-piece in silence a few moments, he said in a choked voice: "It is the first time I ever stole anything, and I hdve felt very bad about it. I am sure I didn't once think that I should ever come to what I am. But I took to drinking, and then to quarelling.? Since I began to go down hill eveiybody gives me a kick. \ ou are the first man that has ever offered me a helping hand. My wife is sickly and my children starving. You have sent them many a meal, God bless youl but yet I stole the hides.? But. I tell you the truth when I say it is the first "time I was ever a thief." "Let it be the last, my friend," replied William Savery. "The secret lies between ourselves!? Thou art still young, and it is in thy power to make up for lost time. Promise mc that tnou wilt not drink any intoxicating liquor for a year, and I will employ thee to-morrow on good wages. The little boy can pick up stones. But eat a bit now, and drink some hot coffee; perhaps it will prevent thee from craving anything stronger to-night? Doubtless thou wut find it hard to abstain at first; but keep up a brave heart for the sake of thy wife and children, and it will soon become easy. When thou hast need of coffee, tell Mary, and she will give it thee." The poor fellow tried to eat and drink, but the food seemed to choke him. After vainly trying to compose his feelings, he bowed his head on the table and wept like a child. After awhile he ate and drank, and his host parted with him for the night with the friendly words, "Try to do wellj Joim, ana tnou wilt always nna a mena in me. John entered into his employ the next day, and remained with him many years, a sober, honest and steady man. The secret of the theft was kept between them; bit after John's death William Saveiy sometimes told the story to prove that evil might be overcome with good. PROFESSOR TYNDALL ON THE SUN. Professor Tyndall recently delivered the last of the series of Christmas juvenile lectures at 'the Royal Institution, London, choosing for his subject the phenomena of "Spectrum Analysis." The object of the lecture and experiments was to explain the principles which of late years have enabled men to ascertain the metals and other substances contained in the sun. There was a crowded attendance. Professor Tyndall began by explaining that light travels in waves. He obtained a slice of white light, by means of a slit in front of the electric lamp, and decomposed, or "unrolled," this ray of light by passing it through a prism. He further took a small glass wheel, painted with all the colors of the spectrum, and threw a magnified image of it upon the screen. When the wheel was made to revolve rapidly, all the colors disappeared, because they were thrown into the eve all at once, and a white circle of light apparently occupied their place. The lecturer then explained that the only difference between the colors is the rapidity of their waves, the red being the slowest, yellow, green, and blue coming next, and the violet the quickest. Colors of objects depend, therefore, not so much upon the substuces as upon the lignt which falls upon them. Professor Tyndal then showed how different ignited vapors threw off different rays. Silver was placed-between the carbon points of the electric lamp, and the rays of the ignited metal, when decomposed by a prism, threw brilliant bands of green light upon the screen. Zinc produced red and blue bands, and it was proved that each metal, when ignited, always throws out its own rays, and none other. These facts having been clearly proved, Professor Tyndall threw the spec truin of the electric light upon the screen, ana interposed the flame of ourning sodium in the path of the ' rays. The flame cut a black band out of the yellow part of the spectrum on the screen, leaving all the other-oolprB untouched. This simple experiment gives (herclue to the method by which the substances in the sun are ascertained. The sun, a vast molted mass, represents the electric light in the experiment. The photosphere, or burning luminous atmosphere of the sun, represents the ignited vapors placed in the path of the rays. As the sodium experiment proves tnai ignnea vapors "tend to absorb the rays which they themselves emit" the vapors in the photosphere of the sun absorb certain rays. Consequently, by the aid of ?ood prisms and a screen upon the the "surface of le earth, numerous black bands are seen in the solar spectrum, and those black bands correspond exactly with tne spectra of many known metals. Hence it is known with certainty, as Prof. Tyndall stated, "by us poor crawling insects upon the surface of the earth," that iron and seven or eight other metals exist in the sun. In spectrum analysis proper, a screen is not employed, but a slice of light is thrown upon a prism, and decomposed rays are examined by the aid of a telescope pointed at the prism; by good instruments maae in this way, several thousand dark lines in the spectrum of the rays of the sun have been seen and mapped. The sodium experiment closed the lecture, which was listened to with attention, and warmly applauded throughout FOREIGN BEDS. It is curious to notice the habits of different nations in regard to beds. However dress, food, manners, cooking, political conditions may vary in other countries, the beds differ as notably as anything docs. In Eastern nations the bed is often nothing but a carpet, and is carried about and spread in any convenient spot and the tired native lies down in his clothes. We remember a child who used to be puzzled with those miracles of our Saviour, who, in restoring an impotent man, directed him to take up his hed and walk?his idea of a bed consisting of a four-post bedstead, with its pallaisse mattress and feathered bed, besides blankets, sheets and pillows. But even in very cold countries, the beds are closely allied to the /?rnpt. Tn fjikinir a furnished house in I^OOI^IU ^ o Russia, on inquiring for the servant's bed-rooras and beds, which did not appear in the inventory on our surveying the apartments, it comes out that the Russian servants are in the habit of lying anywhere?in the-passages, on the floona, on the mats at the room-door, or even on the carpets in the sitting-rooms?generally as near aspossible to the stoves in the winter season. The Emperor himself sleeps on a leathern sofa, in a sitting room, lying down in a dressing gown, but not removing his underclothing. But in Russia the houses are kept so warm by tne system of stoves through the walls that much bed covering is no more required in winter than during the heats of summer. In Germany the construction of the beds gives one the impression that the Germans do not know what it is to lie down. The bedstead is a short wooden case; there is a mattress extended from head to foot, but so formed that at the half way the upper end is mode to slope at an angle of considerable elevation, and upon this are two enormous down pillows, which reach from the top of the bed to naif-way down to the feet; consequently the occupant of the bed lies at an angle or at least 45 degrees, and is nearly in a sitting position all night In some parts of Germany there are no blankets; there is a sheet to lie on, and another over it which is tacked to a quilt wadded with down; ana this is the entire covering, with the exception of a sort of bed, a thick eider down quilt, but not quilted, which is placed on the top, and which, unless the sleeper is veryauietin his sleep, is usually found od the floor in the morning. Innot weather there is no medium; either a sheet is the only covering, or one of those over-warm eider-downs. Qodey't Lady't Book. INDUSTRIAL RECONSTRUCTION. There is danger that our people, in their anpreI m'gfinn ftf Via arilo vkirth tJiorr cnffnr Anm mfiflnl annoyances and disturbances, may forget that those are not the sole or most pressing disadvantages of our condition. There is danger that, in regarding "reconstruction," on whatever terms, as the kingcure-all of our troubles, we may neglect due attention to-that without which even a proper reconstruction would avail but little. Reconstruction will not feed us. It will not fill our corn-houses with grain. It will not give us wheat and corn and cotton to sell. Without these we should be hnngry and poor, if we had a thousand reconstructions. We cannot prosper until we create wealth by labor, until we produce an abundance for use, and a surplus for sale. If, therefore, those who are looking for "reconstruction" to pay their debts, and fill their pockets, would go to work?if they would reconstruct their fences, and plough their fields?they would proceed far more sensibly. It was the blight of the last harvest more than the SheOabarger Dill, which makes our farmers poor to-day. We would not underrate the distress due to the hostile ^ legislation which we suffer. It dampens ardor, it cnills enterprise, and it is an excuse for laziness. Its chief evil is in inspiring capital with distrust, and in repelling immigration. But even these effects may he exaggerated. It is non-production North and South, that makes capital timid. Immigration, too, is a thing of gradual growth. The tendency of emigrants is to go where emigrants have gone. One attracts another. The social sentiment has as much to do in determining an emigrant's destination, as material advantage. The Northwest teems with Yankees and with foreigners of all nations; and to the Northwest, for that reason, the tide of emigrants still flows. It is this, more than non-reconstruction, that has deprived us of a share. In order to get them, we shall have to devise means for turning the current. We must be content with small results at -first? The great difficulty is in making the die ttart? As tor said his first thousand dollars were harder to acquire than his subsequent millions. So it is with immigrants. Get a few thousand in tome way. Make them contented,?help them to prosper,?and the rest will cost but little trouble. If we pay proper attention to the considerations wc have suggested, it will he far more to die point than to be restless about reconstruction. If reconstructed to-morrow, it would not tend to keep rust out of the wheat, or crows from plucking the corn. Let us be at work, diligently and hopefully. Let us encourage immigration, and be content with thousands or with hundreds as a beginning, if we cannot get more, Uver these things we have a control)?over political matters we have none Industry in our business affairs will give us bread to eat,?political activity little besides "dirt" Do not defer industay until after "reconstruction." Do cot delay to work your lands, until a tide of immigrants shall make them command a higher price. If we wait for immigrants to bring capital, they willl wait until we are obliged to sell at a song. To make our farms sought after, we must make thomLproductive.?Richmond Enquirer. * THE NICHOLSON PAVEMENT. As the Common Council of this city, through the Board offAldermen, have taken initiatory measures for the introduction of a new wooden pavement, a description may not prove uninteresting. The old stone having been removed, the ground is first broken up ana pulverized, and to insure evenness and smoothness of surface is then thoroughly raked, the preparation being similar to that adopted by gardeners in making garden walks. The substructure is of white or yellow pine planks two inches in thickness, laia compactly together lengthwise of the street and completely covering it Over the upper sid^ of the planks is then spread a coating or asphaltum and coal tar, after which the planks are turned over and the other side similarly treated. The upper stratum consists of white or allow pine blocks, cut in parallel form; in lengtn they are eight inches, (with the grain of the wood,) in thickness three inches, and in width from six to ten inches. Besides these blocks are strip* of pine board cut some five feet long, four inches wide, and three-quarters of an inch m thickness. The workmen begin, say at one end of the street which has been prepared as described,, and set up a row of blocks on end. putting them across the street from curb to curb, with their broad faces fronting up and down the street The first lipe ' of blocks having been thus placed, the long strips are laid against them and each block is securely fastened to the strip by nails. Now another row of blocks and mOro strips are laid and fastened together in like manner, and so row after row is fin' ished to the end. Before being put down, all the material used is thoroughly soaked in a similar preparation with which the planking beneath is covered. The strips, when laid against the blocks, are rested on the ground, and being four inches shorter than the blocks, a groove is left between each row of them, three quarters of an inch in +V10+ Knincr fVi a fliinlrnoQa afnno OA YT1ULU} UU?U h/VAXJ? VUV ?WVaUVO0 V& VUV tiw?yw) already stated. What is called the filling comes next, and consists of clean gravel, whicn, having been heated very hot, is poured into the grooves to which attention has.Deen called, filling them to a level with the surface. Boiling asphaltnm is next ponred into the grooves, completely filling all remaining in' terstices. Before these substances become cod, ' the filling is well rammed with an iron instrument, so as to insure a more perfect compact Lastly, comes the dressing, as it is technically called, and is a layer of sand and fine gravel which is spread over the surface, one and a half inches in thickness. This is allowed to remain, and, becoming pulverized, is ground into the fibres of the wood. For the pavement as thus constructed the patentees claim innumerable advantages over the old style of stone pavement That the city fathers think it a much bigger thing" than the Belgian and other pavements, may be inferred from the ' manner in which they have dropped all othere in favor of this wooden, one. Not only are streets which need repaving, to be covered with these planks, blocks, strips, tars, gravels, and other sabstances, but streets, in good repair are to be rooted up, and repaved, as the Common Council term this flooring over of the streets.?N. Y. World. Be a Gentleman at Home.?There are few families, we imagine, anyvhere, in which love is not abused as furnishing a license for impoliteness. A husband, or father, or brother* will speak harsh words to those that he loves the beet, and to those that love him the best, simply because the security of love and family pride keeps him from getting his head broken, it is a shame that a will speak more impolitely at times to his wife or aster than he would dare to any other female, except a low and vicious one. Things ought not so to be. The man who, because it will not be resented, inflicts his spleen and bad temper upon those of bis hearth, is a small coward ana a veiy mean mm ? Kind words are the circulating medium between true fifmfJfimen and true ladies at home: and no polish exhibited in society can atone for the harsh language and disrespectful treatment too often indulged in between those bound together by God's own ties of blood, and the still more sacred bonds of conjugal love. In a very severe winter when wood began to be scarce in Sostont Gov. Winthrop received information that a neighbor was wont to help himself from the pile at nis door. "Does he ? ' said the Governor, "call him to me, and I will take a course with him that shall cure him of stealing.'' The man appeared, and the Governor addressed him thus. Friend^ it is aoold winter, and I hear yon are meanly provided with wood; you are welcome to help yourself at my pile till the winter is over." Ana then merrily asked his friend wheth- _ er he bad not put a stop to the man's stealing?