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An Independent Family Journal?Dcroted to Politics, Literature anfl General Intelligence. VOL. 3. ANDERSON, S. 0., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1867. NO. 2. Jwfyf?ott Mpfi BY HOYT.& WAITEES. -? "" TERMS: TWO DOLLARS ?ND A HALF PER ANNUM, ? IK UKITKD STATES CUItftEXCY. RATES OF ADVERTISING; Advertisements inserted at the rates of One Dol? lar rier square of twelve lines for the first insertion and Fifty Cents for. each subsequent insertion. Liberal deductions made to those who advertise by the year. US?" Eor announcing a candidate, Five Dollars "in advance. ?. _Jo_ Power of Military Commanders. The opinion of Attorney General Stan Berrt as to the power of the military commanders under the Reconstruction Acts is too elaborate, for our columns. .The following oxtraicts embrace the con? clusions, and satisfactorily show the limit of the powers conferred : : I find it impossible, under the provisions of this Act, to comprehend such an official as a Governor of one of these States ap? pointed to office by one of these military commanders; certainly he is not the Gov? ernor recognized by the laws of the State - and clothed as such with the chief execu tive power; nor is he appointed as a mili? tary governor for a State which has no lawful governor, under the pressure of an existing necessity to exercise powers at large. The intention, no doubt, was to - appoint him to fill a vacancy occasioned by a military order, and to put him in the place of the removed governor to execute the-functions of the office as provided by law. The law takes no cognizance of such official, and he is clothed with no authori? ty or color of authority. What is true as to tie governor is equally true as to all the other legislative, executive aud'judicial officers of tire State. If the military com? mander can oust one from his' office, he can oust them all; if he can fill one vacancy, he can fill all vacancies; and thus usurp all civil jurisdiction into his own hands, or -the hands of those who hold their appoint? ments from him, and are subject to his power of removal, and thus frustrate the .very right secured to the people by this Act, Certainly this Act is. rigorous enough in the power which it gives, with all its severity- The right of electing ?their own officers is still left with the peo? ple, and it must be preserved. . I must not be understood as fixing lim . its to the power of the military command? ers iu case of insurrection or riot. It may happen that an insurrection in one of these States may be so orcneral and formidable ??s to require the temporary suspension of all civil governments and the establish? ment of martial law in its place, and the same things may be true as to local disor? der or riot, in reference to the civil gov? ernment of the city or place where it - breaks out. s Whatever power is necessary ?to-meet-such emergency, the military-com? mander, may property exercise. ' I confine myself to the proper authority of the mili? tary commander where peace and order do | -.prevail. It is not allowable to displace the civil officers' and appoint others in their places under .any idea that the military commanders can better perform his duties and carry out the general purposes of the Act by the agencj of civil officers of his choice, rather than by the lawful incum? bents. The Act gives him no right to re? sort to such agency, but does give him the right'to have a sufficient military force to enablt him to perform his duties and en? force his authority within the district to ' "which he is assigned, in the suppression of insurrection and riot. The military com? mander is wholly independent of the civil authority.-. -So, too. in' the trial and punishment of criminals and offenders, he may supercede the civil jurisdiction. His power is to be exercised jiLthese special emergencies, and . the; means are put into his hands by which it is to.be exercised; that is to say, a suffi? cient military force to enable such officer to perform his duties and enforce his au? thority; and military tribunals of his own appoiutment to try and punish offenders? - these arc strictly military powers to be executed by military authority, not by the civil authority, or by civil officers appointed by him to perform ordinary civil duties. If these emergencies do not happen?it civil order is preserved and criminals are duly prosecuted by the regular criminal courts, the military power, though present, must remain passive. Its proper function is to preserve the peace?to act promptly where the peace is brolceu and restore or? der. When that is done, and their authority may again safely resume its function, the military power becomes again passive, but on guard and watchful. This, in my judgment, is the whole scope of the mili itary power conferred by this Act. In ar? riving at this construction of the Act, I have not found it necessary to resort to the strict construction which is allowable. The annexed summary as to who arc entitled to registration is appended to the aforesaid opinion of the Attorney Gene? ral, and definitely slates the points deter? mined by his former construction of the law upon this subject. As tho rules laid down in this summary are likely to gov? ern the action of those having charge of registration, they must bo considered of . the highest importance: ? Who Are Entitled to Registration. ?In the oninion heretofore given upon other questions arising under" these laws, I gave at largo for your consideration the grounds upon which my cotielusions were arrived at, intending thereafter to state these conclusions in a concise and cloar summary. I now proceed to execute that purpose, which is made especially neces? sary from the confusion and doubts which have arisen upon that opinion in tho pub? lic mind, caused in part by the errors of the telegraph and tho press in its publi? cation, and in part by the inaptitude of the general reader to follow carefully tho successive and dependent steps of a pro? tracted legal opinion. 1. The oath "prescribed in the supple? mental Act defines all tho qualifications required, and every person who can take the oath'is entitled to have his name en t9rod upon tho list of voters. 2.. TJie board of registration have no authority to adrainistcr any other oath to the person applying for registration than this prescribed oath; nor" to administer any oath to any other person touching the qualifications of the applicant, or the falsity of the oath so taken by him. The Act, to guard against falsity in the oath, provides that, if false, the person taking it shall bo tried and punished lor perjury. .No provision is made for challenging the qualifications of the applicant, or en? tering upon any trial or investigation of his qualifications, either by witnesses or any other form of proof. 3. As to citizenship and residence. The applicant for registration must be a citizen of the State and of tho United States, and must be a resident of a Coun? ty included in the election district. He may be registered if he has been such cit? izen for a period less than twelve months at the time he applies for registration, but he cannot vote at any election unless his citizenship has then extended to the full term of one year. As to such a per? son, the exact length of his citizenship should be noted opposite his name on the list, so that it may appear on the day of election, upon reference to the list, wheth? er the full term has then been accom? plished. 4. An unnaturalized person cannot take this oath, hut an alien who has been nat? uralized can take it, and no other proof of naturalization can be required from him. 5. No one'who is not twenty-one years of age at the time of registration can lake the oath, for he must swear that he has then attained that age. 6. No one who has been disfranchised for participation in any rebellion against the United States, or for fclonj* committed against the laws of any State or of the I United States, can safely take this oath. The actual participation in a rebellion, or the actual commission of felony, does not amount to disfranchisement. The sort of disiranchiseioent here meant is that which is declared by law passed by competent authority, or which has been fixed upon the criminal by the sentence of the court which tried,, him for the cri me. No law of the United States has de? clared ihepenalty of disfranchisement for participation in the rebellion alone. Nor is it known that any such law exists in either of these ten States, except, per? haps, Virginia, as to which State special instructions will be given. 7. As. to disfranchisement arising from having held office followed by participation i?i rebellion. This is the most important part of the I oath, and requires strict attention to ar? rive at its meaning. I deem it proper to give tho exact words. The applicant must swear or affirm as follows : ;iThat 1 have never been a mem her of an}7 Stale Legislature, nor held any exec? utive or judicial olfico in any State, and alter wards engaged in an insurrection or rebellion against tho United States, or given aid or comfort to the enemies there? of ; that. I have never taken an oath as a member of Congress of the United Slates, or as a member of any State Legislature, or as an officer of the United States, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, and afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the Uni? ted Slates, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof." Two elements must concur in order to disqualify a person under these clauses : First, the office and official oath to sup? port the Constitution of the United States; second, engaging afterwards in rebellion. Both must exist to work disqualification, and must happen in the order of time mentioned. A person who has held an office and taken the oath to support the Federal Constitution, and has not afterwards en? gaged in rebellion, is not disqualified. So, too, a person who has engaged in rebel? lion, but has not heretofore held an office and taken that oath, is not disqualified. 8. Officers of the United States. As to these, the language is without limitation. The person who has at any time prior to the rebellion held any office, civil or military, under the United States, and has taken an official oath to support the Constitution of the United States, is subject to disqualification. 9. Military officers of any State, prior to the rebellion, are not subject to dis? qualification. . Municipal officers?that is to say, offi? cers of incorporated cities, towns and villages, such as mayors, aldermen, town council, police anil other city or town offi? cers?are not subject to disqualification. 11. Persons who have, prior to the re? bellion, been members ot the Congress of the United States, or members of a State Legislature, are subject to disqualification. But those who have been members of con? ventions framing or amending the consti? tution of a State, prior to the rebellion, aro not subject to disqualification. 12. All the executive or judicial officers of any State who took an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, arc subject to disqualification, and in these I include county officers, as to whom I made a reservation in tho. opinion hereto? fore given. After full consideration, I have arrived at the conclusion that they are subject to disqualification if they were required to take, as a part of their official oath, the oath to support the Constitution of the United States. 13. Persons who exercised mere agen? cies or employments'under State authori? ty, are not disqualified; such as commis? sioners to lay out roads, commissioners ot public works, visitors of State institutions, directors of State banks or Other State in? stitutions, examiners of banks, notaries public,' commissioners to toko acknowl? edgments of doods, and lawyers. Having specified what offices held by any one prior to the rebellion come within the meaning of the law, it is nccessary ncxt to set forth what subsequent con? duct fixes upon such person the offence of engaging in rebellion. I repeat that two things must exist as to any person to dis? qualify him from voting; first, the office held prior to rebellion, and, afterwards, participation in the rebellion. 14. An act to fix upon a person the of? fence of engaging in rebellion under this law, must be an overt and voluntary act, done with the intent of aiding or further? ing the common unlawful purpose. A person forced into rebel service by con? scription, or under a paramount authority which he could not safely disobey, and who would not have entered such service if left free to the exercise of his own will, cannot be held to bo disqualified fr.om voting. 15. Mere acts of charity, where the in? tent is to relieve the wants of the object of such charity, and not done in aid of the cause in which he ma}' have been engaged, do not disqualify. But organized contri? butions of food and.clothing for the gen? eral relief of persons engaged in the re? bellion, and not of a merely sanitary char? acter, but contributed to enable them to perform their unlawful object, may be classed with acts which do disqualify. Forced contributions to the rebel cause, in the form of taxes or military assess? ments, which a person may be compelled to pay or contribute, do not disqualify. But voluntary contributions to the rebel cause, even such indirect contributions as arise from the voluntary loan of money to rebel authorities, or purchase of bonds or securities created to a fiord the means of carrying on the rebellion, will work disqualification. ](>. All those who, in legislative or other official capacity, were engaged in the fur? therance of the common unlawful purpose, where the duties of the office necessarily had relation to the support of the rebel? lion, such as members of the rebel conven? tions, congresses and legislatures, diplo? matic agents of the rebel Confederacy, and other officials whose offices were created for the purpose of more effectually carrying on hostilities, or whose duties appertained to the support of the rebel cause, must be held to be disqualified. But officers who, during the rebellion, discharged official duties not incident to war, but only such duties as belong even to a state of peace, and were necessary to the preservation of order and the adminis? tration of law, arc not to be considered as thereby engaging in rebellion or aa dis? qualified. Disloyal sentiments, opinions or sympathies would not disqualify, but where a person has, by speech or by wri? ting, incited others to engage in rebel? lion, he must come under the disqualifica? tion. 17. The ditties of the board appointed to super in lend elect in ns. This board, having the custody of the list of registered voters in I he district for which it is constituted, must see that the name of the person offering to vote is found upon the registration list, and if such proves to be the fact, it is the duty of the board to receive his vote. They cannot receive the vote of any person whoso name is not upon the list, though he may be ready to take the registration oath, and although he may satisfy them that he was unable to have his name reg? istered at the proper time, in consequence of absence, sickness, or other causes. The board cannot enter into any in? quiry as to tho qualification of any per? son whose name is not on the list, or as to the qualifications of any person whoso name is on the list. 18. The mode of voting is provided in the Act to be by ballot. The board will keep a record and poll-book of the elec? tion, showing the votes, list ot voters, and the persons elected by a plurality of the votes oast at the election, and make re? turns of these to the commanding genoral of the district. 19. The board appointed for registra? tion and for superintending the elections must take the oath prescribed by tho Act of Congress approved July 2, 1862, en? titled "An Act to prescribe an oath of office.''' -?. Falsehood.?This is a vice totally un? worthy in the individual who would main? tain a respectable standing in society. A great moralist has observed: "It is easy and apparently so natural, to deny what you cannot be so easily convicted 'of, that a savage, as well as a child, lies to excuse himself, almost as instinctvely as he raises his hand to protect his head." Parents should be most particular in correctino their children for breaches of truth. No vice fructifies more than falsehood. It is the rank weed that earliest takes root in the human mind, and as it increases in growth it spreads like the upas tree, every brunch becomes a fresh vice, until the en? tire soul is poisoned with the obscure shade. Virtue. Virtue is not a mushroom that spriugeth up of itself in one night when all arc asleep or regard it not, hut a delicate plant thatgroweth slowly and ten? derly, needing much pains to cultivate it. Neither is vice a spirit that will be con? jured away with a charm, slain by a single blow or dispatched by one stab. Who, then, will be so foolish as to leave erad? icating of vice and planting ot virtue in its place for a few years or weeks? Yet he who procrastinates his repentance and amendment grossly does so ; with his eyes open he abridges the time allotted tor the longest and most important work he lias to perform; he is a fool. -- ? An Irishman took the train from London to Gravesend. On jumping from the carriage he remarked, that ' if he had known he coukl have made the journey in so short a time ho would have Avalked afoot." i Country Papers. An article entitled "Country Papers," which appears in the Bound Tahie of the 8th instant, contains much truth and so many practical hints concerning country papers or the provincial press, that it is worthy of entire reproduction. This, however, is impracticable, and the only course now open is to endeavor to give in as brief; a'space as possible its principal ideas and suggestions. ..The now'spapors of .the country, in the article to which reference is made, arc divided into two classes;?the Metropoli? tan and the Provincial. The first class includes only those newspapers which are published in New York, and the second all that are published out of that city.? This is, of course, an arbitrary division, for such cities as Chicago, Sacramento. Cincinnati and New Orleans arc the me tropoli of their several geographical di? visions, and the criticisms upon the pro? vincial press really apply most forcibly to those publications Which are generally known as country papers. As the space at the disposal of such papers lor original and selected matter is very limited, their news must be unsatis? factory, and incomplete. This, however, can lie best avoided by condensation, and S3'stematic arrangement. It is not suffi? cient simply to fill up the columns of a paper,?filling up is not needed,?but the desideratum is to select all news of general or local importance from the largo pro? vincial or metropolitan papers, and then, by striking out every superfluous word and expression, so condense it that it may be crowded into the paper, while system? atic arrangement will enable tho reader to know where he must look for the dif? ferent classes of news. It is not sufficient to make up copy enough to fill up the pa? per andomit the rest; in one shape or another, the news should be inserted.? This entails great labor and patience; but in the end it will certainly tell upon the readers, and give the paper which carries the plan out patiently, a steady and in? creasing importance. Of the live thousand papers in the United States' which come under the head of provincial, about twenty-five hun? dred belong to that class which circulate only in two or more counties of thcH* re? spective States.. These papers should, of course, give full aecounts of all local events, such as courts, meetings, societies, crops, internal improvements, transac tions-in real estate, and should, besides, keep their hrme readers informed upon all matters of State interest and impor? tance. They should provide market news, and general reading; neither be? coming too heavy nor "descending to?the sentimental sensationalism of the flash weeklies or the records of crime of the police gazettes." .Finally, they should give one or two columns of general news, ?not in disconnected 6craps, but as a co? herent narrative without comment. - The great cause of the melancholy con? dition of tho country press, particularly that of the North, is found in tho unfit ness of tho persons to edit them. Men Who lave failed in everything else are thought able to take charge of a country papcr; and many, too, but make- their newspapers tenders to their "job printing establishments." But it must always be borne in mind that, under the most fa? vorably circumstances, the country edi? tor has'difticultics to contend with which would not be dreamed of by tho editors and managers of a city paper. An in convenient office; an incomplete and scanty exchango list; a proprietor acting in turn as editor, reporter, compositor, distributor, pressman, mailing clerk, and carrier;?surely, these will account, as they do, for most short-comings. Then again the office of the editor is a general lounging place. He has not one moment of time to spare, }-ct thoughtless busy bodies are continually dropping into read exchanges, to see how he is getting on, and to addle his brain with advice as to what ho should and should not do. His paper is expected to contain everj* scrap of intelligence that is interesting to every single one of his readers; hois required to be liberal and large minded, while all with whom he has to deal are close fisted and narrow ; he is forced, indeed, in a hundred ways, to givo something for nothing. The sum of it all is, that every subscriber to his paper, particularly if he has not paid his subscription, thinks that tho editor's mind, soul and body belong to him, and that they have a right to dis? pose of or criticise everything that he possesses, from his blank paper to his composition rollers. It is. after all. in the matter of their advertising patronage that local papers are most surrounded with troubles. The local paper receives but little advertising, and each advertisement charged one dol? lar is expected to be accompanied with a puff worth five dollars ; while it is sup? posed to give tho advertiser the constant ri?ht to?complain or feel aggrieved, if anything unpleasant is said concerning him or Iiis affairs. Other advertisements come from tho lower classes of adverti? sing agents, and in many cases button do Mars in cash has been recoived for an advertisement charged originally at ten times that amount. Of course, a good papor will always command patronage in timcdmt the papers of the country can never take and main? tain their proper position until hey shall demand lair rates for the work that they do insist upon the value of their tnncand leisure, and be thoroughly independent in" their wholo course of action. This can best be done by co-operation and or? ganization, for while one or half-a-dozen papers havo the power to do exactly as they please, unchecked by public opinion, there l.s but little- hope of improvement. In this State, the evils of which we have complained are not so great as elsewhere. Ihere are in South Carolina country pa? pers of marked ability, intelligence, use? fulness and high principle - but the'effort Of each and every one should be to main? tain the independence of the press and to do all that in him lies to uphold its proverbial reputation.?Cliar. Mercury. -?-o-?--? Interesting Letter. The following communication appeared in the Xcwbcrry Herald last week, over the signature of ?B.,;' and we take pleas? ure in transferring the same to our col? umns. "We recognize the writer as a gentleman of intelligence and solid char? acter : Messrs. Editors : For the first time in many days, I recently took a ride on tho Greenville and Columbia Railroad, travel? ing up as far as Anderson C. IL, where I passed a few days most agreeably with my kindred, and old friends, some of whom I had not seen for many years, and made the acquaintance of others, whose kindness I wish long to remember. Nineteen years have elapsed since I first visited Anderson. At that time, I was a participant in the ceremonies used in the dedication and opening of Hiram Lod"-c of A. F, M. It was in the month of June, on a day which I well remember wns most beautiful. The town was tilled with citizens of its own and of the surround? ing districts. There were men, young and old, and maidens and matrons in great numbers. There was a large and grand procession of?and a fine address delivered to, tho masons on that occasion. After which, they sat down to a magnifi? cent dinner, that had been prepared for them at Benson's Hotel, a place prover? bial iu those days for its canvas back ducks, and delicious mince pies. Oh ! the recollection of the good things enjoyed thenthe peace and plenty seen every? where Tho remembrance of the joy and happiness seen beaming from the eyes of all who assembled on tho evening ot that gala day, to close it with mirth, dancing and music, fills mo with sadness, while contrasting it with tho present. Alas ! how many of both old and young, who participated in the festivities of that day. have passed away and literally returned to dust. How many who lived in the en? joyment of homes, of comforts, and in affluence, then and since, have been hurl? ed b}- fate and foul wrong, into the lowest depths of sorrow, misery and poverty. And yet, we arc told to kiss the hands that placed us there. May God forgive them, and save us from tho-humiliation. Anderson, of course, kept pace with tho most flourishing towns of tho State, and is greatly enlarged and improved, com? pared with what it was at the time of my first visit. The people there, as every? where throughout the Southern country, are intimidated?business paralyzed. A spirit of gloom and uncertainty hangs ' heavily upon many, if not all, and so it will remain, until God in his goodness lifts the burdens that oppress us. Which I pray He may do, ere the feather is added that may crush us forever. In looking over my letter, I rind that I have left out a matter which alone prompt? ed me to write?jyjz: a new feature, fash-, ion or wrinkle, adopted by those who travel on railroads in these days. I found nothing now or unusual on tho part of the conductors of the G. & C trains, who have alwa}-s been, and ever will be kind and courteous gentlemen, but it was of the curious conduct of a majority of the passengers found in the car as I walked in to take my seat, on arrival of the train at Belton. 1 don't think there wore more than six or eight passengers in the car when I en? tered, but each one had reversed the back of a scat, so that they could occupy four, sitting upon one?i. c. two?with their feet resting upon the two opposite. This did not startle me much, for I had seen the same thing done before, but imagine my surprise, when, after walking from ono of tho cars to the other, I found a bundle, package or band-box, stick, valise or umbrella upon nearly, if not quite, ev? ery one of the scats not otherwise occu? pied. I at once concluded tho train had a full load, and that most of the passen? gers had gone over to the breakfast house. So I watched rather impatiently for their return. Now, how many do you think came from that house and claimed a scat ? Well, just two; two and no more. You can imagine with what "phealir.gs," as a celebrated author wrote. I removed the obstacle, in the shape of a bundle, and took a seat. Soon after, the train moved on, and I looked over to my opposite neighbor, who occupied four seats with bis person as aforesaid, with his valise on the seat immediately behind him, and his overcoat on the one in front, thus taking up eight seats. Now, at the next station, I saw this individual deliberately direct an old gentleman?who had entered the car, and was about to take one of these oMit scats?to a scat some distance oft, that had upon it a package belonging to another individual occupying four scats, who in his turn asks tho old man to seek one elsewhere. I felt very much pro? voked and quite indignant, and felt just then that if tho conductor had been pres? ent I would have asked him aloud if the company, by new rules, provided a car for each passenger. But the conductor was not in just then, and I permitted my indignation to cool down, after looking again at the huge operations of my neigh? bor. The old gentleman had found a seat and seemed comfortable, too, so I conclu? ded to let the matter drop, which [ will do for the second time, having called.it to your attention. I will add but a word more and say, that 'tis a pity that peoplo who are go selfish and hogioh, could not The Intelligencer Job Office. Having recently made considerable additions (o (his department, we are prepared lo execute In the neatest style and on the mosi-reasonablo terms. Legal Blanks, Bill Heads, Posters, Cards, Handbills. Pamphlets, Labels, and in fact every stylc of work usually done in a country Printing Office. JSS?* In ail cases, the money will be required upon delivery of the work. Orders, accompanied with the cash, will receive prompt atleniion. have a cattle ear set apart on each train for their especial bcuefit. -<> Sum Pills. ?Barnabas Bassett, M. D. (much doctor) chuck lull of faith, bloze his horn and bi thes presents duz bio his bom about hiz "Lightning Express and Serio Sensation Pill," a cumfort and a joy to man. These pills rutes-ruty-and kost the au? thor 4 years in the wilderness, besides sleepless nights and anxious days, to get I them down to a spot without blemish, and filled \vith sun. These pills will cure deftness, dipthcra and dandriff? are good for baldness, bron keeters and backsliding?are sertin to heel hedake, hifulutin and hangnales?will re? move warts, windguals and wens?destroy all longins, lassitudes and laziness?will soth the soirowful, cam the crazy and kure the common size in 2 minits. ' They are closs packed in little roaund boxes, and each litte box kontanes 2 doz? en and 2 or no sail. Each box is dun up in a trakt, which sez they are sure to kurc. as hghtning is to strike what it starts for. On the top of the box is a lull sized ' painting of the author, with a grub hoe in hand, and a knapsack on his" back, and mountains in the distance, to which he is pinting with grub hoe; them is the moun? tains where he gits the rules. On the top of each litttle round box iz ? thczc words, in a furrin tung; "Honcus Focus quod eonstaltns," which being biled down, means "purely vegitable." -*?i Highly Important Decision.?His Honor the Chief Justice (Chase) delivered yesterday, a very important opinion, in which his associate, Judge Brooks, con? curred, to the effect that citizens of the pretended Confederate States who paid debts due Northern citizens into the hands of Confederate receivers are not thereby discharged from the debt. The result is all such debts are now collectable,. and parties who voluntarily paid, or who were forced to pay over to receivers, have their remedy at law against the receivers, who are bound for funds thus uulawfuily ob? tained.?Halcigk "Standard: -, "Dad's Dyi>-V'?As a remarkable in? stance of filial affection and juvenile phil? osophy, we present the following: On Tuesday, a lad of twelve or thirteen years of age visited Caledonia for a doc tor. - He found Riddlo at heme taking his siesta, and woke him up with, "Doctor, I want you to come and see dad?he's dyin'." "Well," says the doctor, "if he's dying I can't do him any good." "That's so,'' rejoined the hoy; "he'll be dead in less than an hour;" and turning on'his heel, added ; "Well, by jing we've all got to die some time or other, ond dad might as well die now as any time.1' ? On the banks of a rivulet in the north of Ireland is a stone with the foll? owing inscription which was no doubt in? tended for the information of strangers traveling that road: Take notice? that when this stone is out of sight, it is not safe to ford the riv? er. The above inscription is something sim? ilar to the famous finger-post, which was erected by order ot the surveyor -pf the roads, some years ago, in Kent England: This is a bndle path to Fevcrsham. If you can't read this, you had better-keep the main road. -<?>--.-r ? It is one of the beautiful things in life this hovering of affectionate. remem? brance and solicitude around those from whom distance divides us. Not a single taint of selfishness sullies such devoted-' ness; not a stain of the earth rests on its snow-like purity; but hallo wed by the sorrowful ordeal of separation, thought follows the pathway of the absent with angelic guardianship, and there is holiness in the watchfulness which looks upwards to the sky, and whose only audible utter? ance is a supplication or a prayer. ?.--o ? "Sir," said a sturdy beggar to a benev? olent man, "please give mo a quarter; I am hungry and unable to procure food." The quarter was given, when the beggar said: "You have done me a noble deed. You have saved me from something which I feared I would have to come to." " What is that said the benefactor. "Work," was the mournful answer. -.-.v ? A Lawyer, who was pleading the cause of an infant plaintiff, took the child in his arms and presented it to the jury suffused with tears. This had a great effect, till the opposite lawyer asked" him what made him cry. "He lunched me," answered lit? tle innocent. The whole court was con? vulsed with laughter. ? A number of clergymen and others have petitioned the Connecticut legislature to adopt some more stringent laws to pre? vent divorces. They base- their applica? tion on the doctrine that "marriage is a divine institution, aud that its laws and the laws of divorce arc ordained of God aud are not left to human regulation." -o-.-? ? Public feeling in the great metropo? lis of England is demanding a prohibitory lawfor-the Sabbath. A crowded meeting was recently held at Guild Hall, the Lord Mayor presiding, at which it was resolved unanimously to petition Parliament for tho entire prohibition of Sunday traffic in liquors. ? "What is the best attitude for self-de? fence ?" asked a pupil of a well known pugilist. "Keep a civil tongue in your head," was the reply. --o--? ? Why is an author the most peculiar of animals ? Because his tale comes out of his head.