Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

Aji independent Family Journal?Devoted to Politics, Literature and General Intelligence. ' HOTT & CO.. Proprietors. ANDERSON, S. C THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1870. VOLUME 5.---NO. 38, . Are we Democrats, or are we not? And if we ain't Democrats, what are we ? That's the question ? We do not use the pronoun we editorially, hut as upplyiog to the party in the State opposed to the corruptions of the present State government. We say the corruptions of the present State govern? ment ; because we do not suppose that any reasonable man can hope to effect anything by opposition to the State government itself. The Constitution, and the government estab? lished thereunder, we look upon as inevitably * fixed for a generation at least, and all that is left for us to do is to make the administration of that government as free from oppression and corruption as we can. To effect that ob? ject seems to be the central idea of the vari? ous positions assumed by the opposition press of the State. How to effect it, whether by clineiog to the name and principles of the party organization of 18ti8, or by discarding these and taking upon ourselves a new name with new principles, or at least with the old principles materially modified, is the question ' that is now exercising the brains of the think? ing men of the State. The Charleston News, after having ex? hausted Us ingenuity in constructing Demo? cratic platforms, suddenly layi them all aside as rubbish, aud runs up the colors of the Citizens'' Party. The Phoenix, pursuing the even tenor of its way, is tor sticking to the old name and organization; but thinks it best to draw it mild?to have some kind of a pro ?gressive, conservative Democracy. The Lau-1 rensviHe Herald is for a bold, square, stand up fight, under the old organization and old colors. The views of these three able cotem poraries fairly represent the different shades of opiniou expressed by the opposition press of the State. Now we don't agree with any of them. So. far as the proposition of the News is to drop the Democratic name we heartily concur. And the reason this is de? sirable is obvious enough to us. The white people of the State are already nearly a unit in their opposition to the present administra? tion of the State Government. The only source from which any accession to the ranks of the opposition can be looked for is from the body of colored voters. The first political idaa that the uegro drew in when he ceased to be a slave, was that the Democrats were bent on restoring him to slavery. The ne? groes honestly believed this. Hatred of the *very name of Democrat sank' too deep into their bones ever to be eradicated. They are not reasoning creatures ; you may tell them as much as you please abou. that rose that studied the same no matter what you called it, but as long as you call it Democrat they wont smell it at all. They can't be made Democrats. They have a perfect loathing for u Democratic niggers," as they call them. And we might just as well, therefore, abandon the contest altogether as to go into it with the hope of achieving success by drawing the ne? groes over to the party called Democratic. The objection urged against this course is, that we arc all allied vith the National Demo? cratic party, and that we ought not to desert that organization. It would have been a blessing; tor both the National Democratic party and ourselves if we had held aloof from it in 1868. If the defeat of Seymour & Blair can be attributed to any one cause more than another, it is to the part prominent Carolini? ans played in the campaign. And uoless we learn more wisdom by 1872, no doubt the National party will be more than rejoiced to have us; play on a string of our own. But what we will do, or be in favor of doing in 1872, is neither here nor there at this time. There is no question of national importance that our action this year can effect. Our du? ty uow is to forget that there is any pluce but South Carolina, and with an Pye single to her good, to devote all there is of us to her purifi? cation and prosperity. As far then as drop piug the name Democratic is concerned, we are with the News But when it comes to dubbing ourselves the Citizens Party, wo halt. Citizens Party is a very good name for one side or the other in a scrub raio for an Intendant of a town where the question is license or no license, or some other merely lo? cal matter. But as the name of a State or? ganization, it seems to us unsuggestive and lifeless. There is a great deal in a name, Shakspeare to the contrary, nevertheless But lest we may seem hypercritical, and il? lustrate the old truism that it is much easier to pull down than to build up, we frankly own that we are in favor of no organization, and consequently of no name. The policy of the opposition party in our judgment, is to take the platform some time ago proposed by the Union Times?opposision to Official Dis? honesty?and urge a guerilla warfare all over the State against the party in power: ieaving il; to each Couuty to adopt whatever measures may seem best to secure the election of honest men to the Legislature. By this plan the Radicals will be prevented in great measure from consolidating the terrible enginery of their League against us. Fighting them in detail, they will have to fight us in detail. We can bang away at them from behind every rock of principle, we can keep up a running fire from behind all the rascalities and thieve? ries they have committed, we can to a great extent prevent concert of action amontr them, and will thus be enabled to cut off many of their bummers and foraginsr parties. To se? cure one or the other brauch of the Legisla? ture in the hands of hone.-t and capable men is the thing we must lend all oui efforts to. And to accomplish this the plan suggested by us seems the most hopeful of success. We are not however unalterably wedded, to our scheme. These are the days of sugges? tions, and we throw out ours. If the opposi? tion party determine upon a different course of action in Convention assembled, we will give the determination of that Convention at tentivc consideration, and if we find there is nothing radically wrong in it according to our notions, we will give it our wa rnest suyport, even though it may not jump with our ideas of expediency.?Chester Reporter. ? Tho road ambition travols is too nar? row for friendship, too crooked for love, too rugged for honesty, and too dark for conscience, Immigration?A Plan Proposed. Id a leDgthy communication to the Colum? bia Phoenix, Dr. E. B. Turnipseed proposes a plan to encourage immigration as follows : Immigration as now instituted cannot be a success for the present generation. The great difficulty is, that the organizations as now constituted compel every man who wishes to procure emigrant labor, to understand, as weli as undergo, either all, or at least a part of its risks, of losses or gaios. This plan is confining it at once to the leading and intelli? gent minds of the people of the South. The immigrant should be placed at every man's door, so that when ho is in need of labor? the demand fur which is constantly increas? ing?be can employ him, giving to parties such a bonus as would be rem uncrating for the great convenience. My proposition is, that the men of South Carolina, whu compre? hend fully the necessity of moving in tbis matter, form a joint stock company of, say $10, $20, $50 or even $100 per share. Or? ganize a central or distributing bureau at seme central1, point, perhaps Columbia would do; and sub-bureaus at each village in the State; let all arrivals first report at the cen? tral bureau, and be distributed according to the various demands ?f the sub*bureaus throughout the State. Whenever an immi? grant arrives, his name, age and birth-place., as well as his trade or occupation, as well as letters of reference or recommendation, should be duly recorded for future reference. The farmer or planter applying for a laborer, has only to call for the kind of laborer, and the clerks at each bureau, by referring to tin: books, can send him the sort of persons he desires, he, the farmer or planter, paying all expenses incurred by the bureau, as well as a bonys for expenses and profits to stock? holders There might be an experimental farm establisned in the vicinity of each bu? reau, where these immigrant laborers could be profitably employed until called for; aud should any remain on hand during the sum? mer mouths, they could be directed in farm work, so as to make and harvest i full crop. Agents could be sent to England, Ireland, ScotIand,,France, Holland, Sweden and Nor? way, Germany and Italy; and I am told by persons who have recently returned from trans-Atlantic countries,4bat great numbers could be procured by ouly securing them a home and employment. I have seen this system worki ng admirably in Paris, in getting employment for laborors aDd domestics in ev? ery capacity; there it has proven Dot only a success, but of mutual benefit and profit to all parties. I cannot, for one moment, see how it could be managed in those large Eu? ropean cities in any other way. Some ten or twelve years ago the same system was com? menced in New York. The distributing bureau for the great North-western States is Castle Garden, in New York city. We never will succeed to any extent until we adopt the joint stock company pian, and no longer trust to the general intelligence of che people upon this matter. The immigrant desires to come; give him the means; place him at the door of those pleading for labor; secure good labor by references; make their contracts, and all will move on harmoniously, and South Caro? lina and the whole South will no longer dip their color* to haters of law, order and good government. The Art of Thinking.?Oue of the best modes of improving in the art of thinking is to think over some subject before you read upon it, and then to observe after what man? ner it has occurred to the mind of some great master. You will then observe whether you have been too rush or too timid, what you have omitted and in what you have exceeded, and by tbis process you wiil insensibly catch a great manner of viewing a question. It is right in study, not ooly to think whenever any extraordinary incident provokes you to think, but from time to time what has passed; to dwell upon it, and to see what traius uf thought voluntarily present therascl .-es to the mind. It is a most superior habit of some minds to refer all the particular truths which strike them to other truths more general, so that their knowledge is beautifully metho? dized ; and the general truth at any time suggests all the particular exemplifications, or any particular exemplification at once leads to the general truth. This kind of under? standing has an immense and decided superi? ority over those coniused heads in which one fact is piled upon another without the least attempt at classification and arrangement. Some men always read with a pen in their hand, and commit to paper any new thought which strikes them; others trust to chance for its reappearance. Which of these is the best methol in the conduct of the under? standing, must, I suppose, depend a great deal upon the particular understanding in question. Seme men can do nothing without preparation; others little with it; some are fountains, some reservoirs.?Rev. Sidney Smith. The Use of both Hands.?A writer sug? gests that it would be a good thing for men aud women were they taught in childhood to use their left hand equally with their right. The use of the right hand ooly for certain actions, such us writing and working with mechanical tools, is entirely convention? al ; and there does not appoar to be any rea? son why people should not be ambidexter in every kind of manual work. Persons who have lost their right band by accident fre? quently acquire great facility with the left, after some practice; bnt grownup persons have not always the patience to betake them? selves to the necessary practice. By children the thing would be acquired insensibly, if means wore taken to lead thotn to the prac? tice of it. Children living in houses where two languages arc spoken acquire both with great faoility; and what is true of tongues would be equally so of bands. ? "Muggins, what era in the world's history do 3'ou regard with the deepest horror ?" "The cAoi-era," gasped Muggins, with a spasmodic shudder.' An Act To enforce the Provisions of the Civil Mights Bill of the United States Congress, and to secure to the People the Benefits of a Republican Government in this State. Whereas, in this State the Government is a democracy, the people ruling, and the Government is also a republican one, in which all things pertaining to the Government are in common among all the people; and where? as, it follows that no person in entitled to spe? cial privileges, or to be preferred before any other person in public matters, but all per? sons are equal before the law ; and whereas, these propositions lie at the very foundation of our policy, and the American people have embodied the same, in the most emphatic manner possible, in their organic and statute laws, and the same do by their sovereign will and pleasure sustain; and whereas, notwith? standing all these great and glorious facts, there are found some brutal, ill-disposed, and lawless persons in the State who persist in denying and trampling upon the sacred rights of certain of the people; therefore, Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the ?tate of South Caroiina, dow met and sitting in Gen? eral Assembly, and by the authority of the same: It shall not be lawful for any common carriers, or any party or parties engaged in any business, calling, or pursuit, for the car? rying on of which a license or charter is re? quired by any law, m'unieipal, State, or Fed? eral, or by any public rule or regulations, to discriminate between two persons on aocount of race, color, or previous condition, who shall make lawful applicatioo for the benefit uf such business, calliug, or pursuit. Sec. 2. Whoever, being a common carrier, under any public license, charter, rule, or reg? ulation, shall, by himself or another, wilfully assign any special quarters or accommodations whatever to any passenger or persons whom such common carrier may have undertaken to carry, or who shall, under any pretence, deny or refuse to any person lawfully applying for the same, accommodation equal in every re? spect to that furnished by him to any other person for a like compensation or reward, in a liko case, haviug no regard to the persoas per se who may be applicants therefor, shall, on conviction, be punished by a fine of one thou? sand dollars, and also by confinement at hard labor in the Penitentiary for five years; and if such fine be not paid, the convict shall be cuntiued in the Penitentiary at hard labor, as aforesaid, for not Jess than six years. Sec. 3. Whoever, conducting or managing any theatre, or other place of amusement or recreation, by whatever name the same may be recognized, or however called or known, if such theatre or place^be licensed or chartered, or be under any public rule or regulation whatever, shall wilfully make any discrimina? tion against any person lawfully applying for accommodation in, or admission to, any such theatre or place, on account of the race, color, or previous condition of the applicant, or shall refuse or deny to any person lawfully ap? plying therefor, accommodation equal in every respect to that furnished at such place for a like reward to any other person, on accouut of race, color, or previous condition of the ap? plicant therefor, shall, on conviction, be pun? ished by a fine of one thousand dollars, and also imprisonment at hard labor in the Peni? tentiary for three years. Sec. 4. Whoever, not being the principal oTender under sections two and three of this act, shall aid or abet in or about the commis? sion of any offenses therein mentioned, shall, on conviction, be puuished by imprisonment at hard labor in the Penitentiary for three years, and no such convict shall ever vote, or hold any office, under any law of this State. Sec. 5. Every commander, conductor, man? ager, or other person superintending or hav? ing charge of any vessel or vehicle, or any theatre or other pl're mentioned in this act whatsoever, and as such having authority and power to order and manage affairs in or about the same, who shall suffer or permit to occur any violation of this act, which such com? mander, conductor, manager or person so su? perintending, and having such charge as aforesaid, can possibly prev.nt, shall be con? sidered an aider and abetter in the commis? sion in any such offense, and on conviction shall be subject to the penalties provided in section four of this act. Sec. 6. Every corporation or party what? ever, holding any charter or license under the authority of this State, who shall violate any of the provisions of this act, shall thereupon be deeued and held to have committed an abuse of 'he franchises conferred by or under every such charter or license, and on convic? tion shall forfeit every such charter or license; and any party or parties who having so for? feited any such charter or license aforesaid, shall nevertheless presume to use or operate 1 under or by virtue of the same, as well as every person who shull be found aiding such party or parties thereabout, shall, on convic tiou, be punished by a fine of ooe thousand dollars or imprisonment iu the Penitentiary for ten years. Sec. 7. In every trial for violating any provisions of this act, when it shall be charged that any person has been refused or denied admission to, or due accommodation in an" of the places in this act mentioned, on ac? couut of the race, color, or previous condition of the applicaut is a colored or black person, the burden shall be on the defendant party, or parties, so having refused or denied such admission or accommodation, to show that the same was not done in violation of this act. Sec. 8. Every case arising under the first section of this act, and not provided for spe fically in some succeeding section, shall be prosecuted and decided in accordance with the general provisions of this act. Sec. 9. The several Solicitors of this State are hereby specially charged to take care that this act be p/omptly and vigorously enforced; and every such Solicitor who shall fail in any respect in the performance of his duty under the requirements in this section contained, shall be deemed to have committed a misfeas? ance in office, and on conviction, shall forfeit his office, and be incapable of holding office for five years, and shall also pay a fine of five hundred dollars, and in every case in which any suoh Solicitor shall fail iu his duty, as herein prescribed, the Attorney-General shall make the most effective prosecution possible against hini on behalf of the State; and nei? ther any Solicitor nor the Attorney-General shall settle or enter a nol. pros, in any case arising under this act except by the consent of the Court. Seo. 10. All acts and parts of acts incon? sistent with this act, or supplied by it, arc j hereby repealed. Sec- 11. This act shall take effect from and after its passage, Approved March 1, 1870. ? Mr. Seward's Account op His Trip.? Ex-Secretary Seward and party, us already I announced, safely returned from their ex? tended and protracted journey in the hy? perborean latitudes of Alaska and tropi? cal regions of Mexico, and of course such an event did not escape tho attention of the persistent newspaper "interviewers." The ex-Premier is said to look ten }'ears younger than when he -left the responsi? bilities and harrassments of official life. His face has a florid hue that might be exported in one far younger than himself, produced by a sharp walk on a winter, morning. His oye possessed an unusual lustre. He told the anxious gatherer of the latest news that Alaska was a won? derful country; that he saw the finest rivers teeming with fish, and noble for? ests of the finest lumber in the world, the Indian tribes tractable and peaceable. The temperature never ranges below four? teen above zero, and in summer between seventy and oighty. He considers Alaska the shipyard of the world, and in addi? tion to its lumber it has unparalleled re? sources of fish and furs. He is of opin? ion that 8omethingshould bo done at once to prevent the ruin of her great sources of wealth, the fur seal; the seal islands of Alaska he considers the finest in tho world, and should be protected by judicious laws. The population there is small, but in the progress of civilization that section will be the scene of wonderful industry. The country needs, in his opinion, some forms of civil government, but it must be very simple?a complicated system is unneces? sary. In brief, he thinks Alaska a valua? ble acquisition of territory, far exceeding his previously formed opinion of its vast wealth. -He also visited Mexico and met all of the notables. Juarez, as President of the Republic, was a man eminently fit? ted for his high station, possessing pro dence, wisdom and foresight. He found tho Mexicans a people frugal in their hab? its and simple in their views, industrious, and, under a permanent and substantial administration, would make tho basis of a firm government.- When questioned upon Cuban affairs he demurred, and with the memory of the genorous hospitality extended him while there, before his cj'es, he choose to reserve his opinions until some future time. The Secretary will re? turn to the shados of his Auburn homo as soon as possible. -?-:? About Fleas.?The smallest aoitual of the brute creation, and the most pesky is the flea. They are about the bigness of an onioo seed, and shine like a bran new 'shot. They spring from low places and can spring further and faster than enny of the big brutes. They bite wus than the muskeetoze for they bite in a run. One flea will go over aud over a maa's suburbs in 2 minus, and leave him az freckled as the m azlej. It is impossible to do ennything well with a flea on you except sware, and fleas ain't afraid of that, the only way is to quit busi? ness of all kinds and hunt for the flea, and when you have found him he ain't there. This in one of the flea mysteries?the fakul iy they have of being entirely lost jiat as you have found them. I don't suppose there iz ever killed on an average, during enny year, more than 16 fleas in the whole of the United States of America, unless there is a casualty of some kind; once in a while a dog gits drowned sudden, and then there may be a few fleas lost. / They are about az hard to kill az a flax seed iz and if you lon't mash 'em az flue az ground peDper they will start bizcjs< on a smaller kapi'al, jist as pestiferous as ever. There is lots of people who never seen a flea, and it takes a pretty smart man to see one ennyhow. They don t stay long in a place. If you ever ketch a flea, kill him before you do cnuything else, for if you do put it off 2 minits it may be too late. Many a flea has passed away forever in less than two minits.?Josh Billings. -* Enforcing the * Amendment.?Con? gress seems to have 6omo idea of enforc? ing tho fifteenth amendment in New York bv "appropriate legislation," striking down her property qualification, and in Massachusetts by putting out the light of her educational qualification for negro suffrage. Mr. Sumner says he wants Con? gress to do whatever it thinks wants do? ing in his State to give it a republican form of government; but ho cither did not know, or did not care, what ho was talking about when ho said that. .Revels, it is said, has boon enforcing the amend? ment on Sumner by sticking closer to that amiable Senator than is agreeable. Sumner says ho revels on negroes, doats on tljom in fact, but docs not wear a tail to his coat for their special convenience. Contrary to all the precedents of his life, he has been, since the advent of Revels, meditating the roundabout policy. -? .? ? "Look hero, boy," said a norvous old gentleman to nn urchin, who was munching sugar-candy at a lecture, "you are annoying mo very much." "No, 1 ain't," replied the urchin, "I'm a-gnawing this sugar-candy." ?" I'll teach you to play pitch and toss; I'll flog y on for an hour.*' " Father," instantly replied the incorrigi? ble, as he balanced a penny on bis thumb and finger, "I'll toss with you to make it two boars or nothing.*' The Fiatform. , The anti-Radical party, in the coming election, must take notice of two impor? tant matters in preparing their platform. The principles enunciated, and adopted as a guide, roust be sufficiently liberal, pro? gressive and comprehensive to meet the approval, and secure the support of all classes of citizens; but, at the same time, they must carefully avoid anything like a spirit of submisr.ion to Republican ideas. We can be liberal in our politics, can offer all rights of citizenship to all classes?can guarantee the right of suffrage to the col? ored man in such a way as that he shall feel secure of the enjoyment or. this real, or imagined privilege for himself and his descendants, can treat him in such a way as to wrest from the hands of bis present leaders the weapons of prejudice and ha? tred, which are now used so effectively against us, and lead him to trust us. All this we can do without any compromise of our self-respect, or principles. Vvhen we consider the problem presented* by the condition of our country, if we would dotermine upon a feasible plan for its so? lution, we must be aureful not to be blin? ded by mere prejudice. Matters of taste and sentiment must not be allowed to as? sert the dignified immovable position of principles. Many things, upon which Democratic orators and writers have in? sisted with great zeal and warmth, ana? lyzed, would be found not to be necessary, and lundamental truth, but only the sug? gestions of fancy, or perhaps the mur? muring of an offended taste.. Practical and common sense views of the situation, and the means of remedy must guide those aspiring to lead, or they must be re? jected, and men must bo chosen who will heed more tho teachings of sound sense, than the promptings of ambition and fas? tidious views of what this government should be. Every white man of decency knows that affairs in this State are not what they should be, and what he would make them, if it were in his power. He knows also, that it will be a long time be? fore, by any possibility, things can be sat? isfactorily arranged. It is, therefore, use? less to tell our people over and over again, that compromise is dangerous?that they must not rest contented until everything done under the Reconstruction Acts is overthrown, and our Stato governments reformed. Things are not going to change until we change them. It wo sit still, re? fusing to use what advantages are affor? ded us, and wait for some special dispen? sation of Providence to sweep the decks of our old State clear of the present oc? cupants, before we try to help ourselves, we may rest assured that deliverance will never come, but that we will sink lower and lower into national ruin. We must assault tho citadel of Radicalism with whatever weapons are most convenient. Wo must try to enter that citadel, howev? er loathsome it may bo with disgusting sights, and repulsive odours. Wo must disregard the filth and corruption, while we drive away the unclean birds. After tho victory is achieved, we can wash, and fumigate and ventilate, until the atmos? phere is healthy. The great desideratum, for which our people must strive in'the coming elections, is to get honest men in? to office. Tho dishonesty and selfishness, which characterize most of the State offi? cials, are displeasing not only to Demo? crats, but also to all Republicans, who have any intelligence, and regard for the respectability and future welfaro of their party. Wo wfll not fight in the coming campaign as Democrats against Republi? cans" for the triumph of purty. Lawless? ness, dishonest}', bribery and other agents of ruin and confusion mujt be unseated. For tho accomplishment of this good end, we invite and beseech the people of the State to co-operate with us.? Cavxdcn Jour? nal. ' Specie Payments.?A prominent peri? odical dealer on King street yesterday in? augurated the new method of advertising one's business, so successfully adopted at tho North?that of "resumingspecio pay? ments" and making change with silver. The plun of tho business firms adopting i this expedient is as lollows: Their present profits enable them to pay tho small pre? mium on silver coin, and the novelty of the thing attracts custom enough to war? rant a much greater sacrifice on tho part of the dealer to secure it. Tho idea is a good ono, and if generally adopted, will force a majority of our retail dealers to follow the examplo of their more enter? prising neighbors. Until silver ceases to i bo a novelty, and its pleasant jingle in palm and pocket no longer calls up agree? able memories of the days before tho war, purchases will go where they can get it in change instead of the .torn and dirt}' 6tamps that have given a new significance to tho time-honored but hitherto meaning loss term of "filthy lucre."? Charleston News. ?-o ? How much is expressed in the fine old scntimont, live and lot livo! How blessed is tho m: n who lives and lets livo! How encoring to sec his fields teeming with tho richest verdure; what a pleasure to look on and see his sleek and plump animals of every age and variety! Where, in tho world besides, can be found such happy faces, such contented spirits and such grateful hearts as can be found on his ostnte? May God forevor bless those Whoso real, heartfelt sentiments are, "Live and let live." ? _The manufacture of superphospahtes in this country was commenced about oigh toon years ago. From thattime it has gradually, increased until now about 70, 000 tons, representing a monoy value of rather loss than four millions of dollars, are annually sold. ? Poultry, to fatten rapidly, must be, like hogs, restricted to a limited space. Freedom and fat are incompatible. General Henry Lee's Memoirs. The London Saturday Iteview, in one of ita periodical notices of American lit? erature, has the following fair and dis? criminating criticism: "The most interesting of the Ameiican works of this month is a new edition of "General Henry Lee's Memoirs of tho War of Independence in the States South of the Potomac" in which be bore an ac? tive and prominent part. Among the Generals of the Bevolution he was by n6 means the least daring, skilful, and suc? cessful; and though unfortunate .incurring unpopularity and censure, which galled his sensitive spirit and eventually drove him to resign bis Command, bo appears to have been thoroughly true to the republi? can cause, and to have enjoyed through? out the confidence and esteem of Wash? ington. This edition is revised and pro faced with a memoir of the writer by the present representative ot his family, who, on the same field and in the same cause of national independence, has achieved a fame yet more brilliant and enduring, and who, like his father, has retired into pri? vate life a fallen and defeated man. It is true that calumny itself has, spared the spotless character of General K. E. Lee, and that even the bitterest enemies of his cause have paid a tribute of enforced re? spect to the honor, the gentleness, the genius, and the heroism of the great chief of the Confederate armies. Neverthe? less, there is in the fate of the son so much resemblance to that of the father as to lend a special pathos to the brief biog? raphy hi which the hero of the Confeder ato struggle has endeavored to exalt and to vindicate the memory of the soldier of the RevolutiOT. Any work from tho pen of General Lee would command atten? tion, and there are features about the pres? ent volume which are of peculiar interest. The author keeps his own personality carefully in the background; and the -rea? der, while he admires, cannot but regret the dignified reserve which disappoints his hope of learning from the biography of the father any particulars regarding the son, in whom many who cared com? paratively little about the merits of bis quarrel feel a deep personal interest, which the years spent since the close of the war in honorable and useful obscurity bave in no way blunted or diminished. But the honest family pride displayed in tho account of the ancestry of the Lees, with which tho memoir commences, and which incidentally vindicates against Northern sneers the claims of the leading families of Virginia to an illustrious ori- . gin, is an interesting trait in a native character so perfectly free from personal vanity or ambition; and the narrative of the elder Lee derives a present value from the manner in which k illustrates and ex? plains some of 'the peculiarities in which the latter and the earlier struggle resem? ble each other. Among these are the com? parative usclcssncss of cavalry in pitched fields and in the line- of battle, and its brilliant exploits in detached service and in predatory and exploring expeditions. Henry Lee commanded a force of cavalry, to which some companies of foot were added, somewhat resembling that organ? ized by Mosby in Northern Virginia du? ring the later years of the Confederacy, but of a loss markedly irregular and gue? rilla character, and he might be called tho Stuart or Ashby, as Marion and Sumter were the Morgan and Forrest, of tho Revolutionary war. Such comparisons will bave interest for others besides mili? tary readers, and this volume will famish abundant material for them.'' Hoop Statistics.?The question of hoops has been before the public for some time now, and it still seems a question in the minds of most people whether they aro fashionable or not. One thing is cer? tain ; they are moro generally worn this winter than last, and from information re? ceived from one of the largest manufac? turers, it would appear that the hoops lately ordered by the ladies of fashion and tho retail dealers, are much larger in cir? cumference than those worn for the last five years. It is claimed also by manu? facturers that tho trade is comparatively brisk. By going into the statistics it is discovered that never, since the creation, has the fashion of wearing hoops when once adopted, lasted less than fifty years, and judging the future by the past, we havo according to that, some forty years of hoops, more or less, in storo for us. However, if the ladies of olden times could stand the ungainly, stiff, poky ar? rangements of their day for fifty years, we ought with tho light, flexible, graceful little articles manufacturers have been to so much trouble and expense to perfect for us, to submit to tho infliction (if it can bo so called) a thousand years at least. ? A school visitor lately gave a teacher tho following sentence to spell: Roborfc Wright, the beautiful writer of Wright ville, down in Torrington, claims the ex? clusive right to write rites and ceremo? nies of his church, and has secured a copy? right for his writings; but Henry Wright, tho writing-master, also writes those rites ; now it is honorable lor tho Right Honor? able flfcnry Wright boldly to write him? self upright in the presence of the right handed wheel-right, Robert Wright Vx ? Murk Twain was married tho other evening to Miss Olivia L. Langdsafe of Elmira, N. Y. No cards, exceptj$fi3?cfc with which the bridegroom todj^l^pimo or too of* freezoout poker with his father in-law and the parson after the eeremony.. ? Tho best cure for dirt, ? the water cure. ? The Chicago Times says that in that city "they will cut a man's throat for five dollars." This* of course, is the' price o? the job among tho aristocracy. In tho. lower grades of societ}' you can havo 8? dozen throats cut for half the money.