Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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HOYT &; GO.; Proprietors. ANDERSON. C. H., S. C, THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 6, 1871. VOLUME VIE.?NO. 1, Far the Anderson Intelligencer. loement Exercises of the Kentucky Military Institute* Mr. Editor : *Havin g recently tried to give a sketch of-the Examination of the Kentucky Military Institute, which place it was my for? tune to attend, the writer will proceed to give an account of Commencement Day at this In? stitute ; and as a sort of preface, it may be said that in every college Commencement Day is by ihr the most important day. It is an era. It is important because it is the focus to which nil the interest, hopes, excitement and talk has for some time-tended, and because it-closes, up the old year and commences a new one. It is an era, because on this day a number of young mefi cross the threshold of manhood life, leav? ing in the past their school-boy days and all that belongs to college-lifo and college-boy character. On this da? the endearing relation of pupil and teacher is dissolved,, and on this day another relation, said, of all formed du? ring life, to be the strongest?that of class? mate?is practically ended. Young men and women who, perhaps, for five years have play? ed, talked, rejoiced, grieved, studied, and in efery way associated together as brothers, must now separate and return each one to his distant home. No wonder- that this is a day of the highest interest. This is the day in which the graduating speeches must be delivered and diplomas conferred. Commencement Day at this Institute was no less a day of excitement than similar days usually Jure. Early in the morning of the 8th of June, crowds from the city of Frank jvjort and the surrounding vicinity began to *fe*?hcr in a beautiful grove near the Institute bmMine, prepared for the occasion. After prayer^the exercises of the day were opened ' by a speechs&om one of the society represen? tatives, a younglrrsn from Mississippi. Then began the graduates' speeches, interspersed with music by an excellent band of the U. S. army. There were nine graduates, from awnany dif? ferent Southern States. These speeches mani? fested Southern culture and character; for in nearly every one sentiments? indicative of Southern honor, aspirations and feelings could be detected. During the exercises, we noticed that Col. Wra. P. Breckenridge, who was one of the. orators of the day. and lie v. Wm. Martin, of South Carolina, had stepped npon the the speeches of graduates over, the annual . address to the*Literary Societies was delivered by Rev. Mr. Matthews, of Indiana. His theme was "True Manhood." It was a good tiubject, and was treated in a masterly manner. He first showed what "true manhood" is, deal? ing with the subject so practically, and at the rainatimspMlosophiwuy, as tor-indicate pro? found study 'fljKt- elaborate preparation. In doing this he considered man as a threefold, compound being?physical, intellectual or ? spiritual, and moral: He showed that that | ?ygtem of education is best which develops each one of these, and that man is nearest perfec? tion whose powers of body, mind, conscience, are thus developed. In treating of the devel rient of the intellect, he earnestly exhorted young men to remember the difference be? tween development of mind and acquisition of | knowledge. The object of the college course was to teach the mind how to think, and not to cram with knowledge. He then dwelt at length upon the development of the moral man, making Jesus Christ, and the principles embodied in the Gospel, the true basis of mor? al development, and insisting that all virtuous actions had raspect to the Will of God as a prompting motive. With such training, the mind soon comprehends the dignity of being. Duty stands guard on the habits of the physi? cal man, guides and directs the intellect, and thus, with proper physical, mental and moral . , training, the man grows up into symmetrical manhood. The whole discourse was replete \ with thought. CoL Allen, the Superintendent, next intro? duced Col. Wm. P. Breckinridge, of Lexing? ton, Ky., a cousin of Gen. John C. Breckin? ridge, who delivered an eloquefft and instruc? tive aadressv Some of your readers have, per? haps, heard Gen. J. C. Breckenridge, and remember his powerful eloquence, but Col. Wm. P. is scarcely a whit behind. In a pleasing inanner he introduced the graduating class *ffe> the world of to-day." He introduced these young men about to enter the contest of re? sponsible life, to a world of progress, of ad? vancement, into an heroic age. His thoughts ? were broad .and high, not founded upon narrow views of things, but upon a general survey of j the interests and doings of the world. The speaker deprecated the idea ?f retrogression in the world. Said tho world was becoming no? bler, and wiser, and better, and that he did not fear the materialism charged against the pres? ent age. The future was hright with promises of HiOflf rewards to all who would enter upon * an d reap the golden harvest. This brought him to speak of personal individuality of be? ing, personal activity and personal responsibil? ity. He urged most fiueutly the necessity of | vigorous" and persevering labor. "To-day," "to-day," was the day given to work out the design of their being in tho world and their future existence. He closed up by alluding to I the present condition of society, and the state of our government, npolring a stirring appeal to the young men to go into the world and work?work for themselves, for man and for God. Mr. Editor, we wish every young man in the South could have heard the addresses of these two men. After the address of Col. B. the presentation of diplomas to tho graduating class followed. This over, and medals lor good conduct wero awarded. To those who had no demerits against them for three years, golden medals were bestowed. Out of the nine graduates, five received medals. To those who had served, as cadets two years without demerit, silver medals were given. There were nine of these. To those who had no demerit for one year, white metal medals were given. There were tweniy-thrco white medals. You may bo as? sured, it is hard for a cadet to get a medal, even a white one; and to get a golden one is still more difficult, for there are a thousand and one things for which demerits may bo made. .The exercises of the stage were concluded by good old "Home, Sweet Home." Now came what at a military academy is one of the most important parts of commencement exorcises commeneement drill. The pulses of the cadets beat high, and every one had on his best uni? form, best looks and most manly bearing. The drill lasted near an hour, vyituessed by a largo concourse of men, women "and children. The Attorney General of the State was present as inspector. All seemed pleased with the per? formances. I suppose the cadets were pleased to be marched off the field, for it was very hot. Back to the square all were marched, where the arms were delivered up and the corps dis? banded for vacation. This was, in some re? spects, like the dj^bunding o* the soldiers in the late war. The flag was carried out of sight, perhaps to some, forever. The officers gave their last command,?" Break ranks, marrm." Only a few shouts were raised, not? withstanding most of them were glad to return home. Thus ended the commencement exercises of the Kentucky Military Institute. A THEOMENOS. Death of a Great Man. Hon. John Van Lear McMahon, who died at Cumberland, Md., on the 15th inst.?two days before his brother-in-law, Mr. Vallandiugham ?was formerly at the head of the Maryland bar. In old Whig times he was one of the moat eloquent of political oratore, and Presi? dent Harrison is said to have offered him tho choice of any oilico in his gift, save one. The Baltimore American says of him : There was a depth and power in his voice that but few speakers have ever possessed.? Addressing an audience of ten thousand people in the open air. every sentence that fell from his lips could be .distinctly heard. Possessing^ en? thusiasm and humor, and wonderful versatility > of manner and felicity of expression, his cam ; paigu speeches were the ablest and most effec? tive ever delivered. He contributed more than i any other man to build up the Jackson party [ in Maryland, and when he left the party upon the United States Bank question, he dealt it many telling blows. In the campaign of 1840 he took a most conspicuous part. He presided at the great ratification meeting held on the Canton race-course, when Clay and Webster and Preston made speeches. It was upon this occasion that Mr. McMahon began his speech with the famous sentence: ''Every valley has its rill, every mountain its stream, and lo ! the avalanche of the people is here r* He was the author of a history of Maryland, of which only one volume was published.? From 1827 to 1863 he practiced law in Balti? more, but, being afflicted with partial loss of sight, returned to Cumberland, his native place in which and Dayton he spent the remainder of his days. Had he lived ne would have com? pleted Kis seventy-first year the 18th of August next. He was never married. The Baltimore i Sun relates the following incident illustrating I hispopularity: He was, about twenty-five years ago, called upon by a lady of Charles county, in this State, to draw her will, which he did, at he r request leaving a blank for the name -e? the devisee. Ho was greatly astonished at the death of the lady, not long after, to learn that his name had been inserted in the blank place in tho will, and that, in admiration of his talents, she had bequeathed him her property, valued at over-l $25,000. This man was an intimate friend and great admirer of John C. Calhoun. His relations with Reverdy Johnson were confidential and friendly. Over the convention which nomina? ted General W. H. Harrison for President he paesided. It was in Baltimore, Maryland.? The crowd in attendance was immense.. In coiling tfic convention to order he used the memorable words. ''The nation will come to order."_ A Mad Judge.?A Judge ont in Western Pennsylvania went into the river to bathe the other morning, and while he was swimming about, some abandoned scoundrel stele all his clothes, except his high hat and umbrella. We won't undertake to explain how mad the Judge was, because, although the'English lan? guage is copious, its most efficient and vigorous adjectives are entirely unequal to the expres? sion of certain degrees of emotion. But he stayed in the water about four hours experi? menting with the different kinds of impreca tionsk and endeavoring to select two or three of the sturdiest objurgations for application to the thief. At last he came out ana, after mount? ing the high hat, he opened the umbrella, and tried to cover his retreat up street toward his house. It appeared to the Judge that all the female pupils of the boarding schools, and the members of the Dorcas societies, and one Wo? man's Rights Convention, were out promenad? ing that day; and the Judge had an awful time going through the Zouave drill with that um? brella. When he reached home he heard that the thief had been captured. The Judge is new engaged iu writing out his charge to the jury in advance of the trial. Those who have seen the rough draft say it is the most picturesque law paper ever drawn up in that country. The Latest California Sensation.? The latest sensation, comes* from California, or rather from a California newspaper, in the - shape of an account of the d-aath of an old man who had, by dint of long study in the mysteries of chemistry, discovered tho means of setting the ocean on fire, and who, to provo the reality of his discovery, set on fire and burnt up a mountain lake to the last drop, leaving its bed burnt and baked like the hard? est brick. Being poor Und in want, the discov? erer of the wonderful secret threatened to set the Pacific Ocean on fire, and then burn up the world, unless the people of San Francisco ?houldjplace in his hands $1,000,000 within a given time. Notwithstanding the most despe? rate efforts of those who had witnessed the burning of the lake, only half a million of dollars could be raisea, ana they became satis? fied that the only way in which the impending doom could bo averted was to destroy the dis? coverer .md with him the terrible secret. With that purpose in view they induced him to take passage for New York on a Pacific Railroad train in company with one whoin he trusted, who was to watch his opportunity, and at some opportune moment to push liim from the car. This he accomplished to his own satisfaction, and to the great relief of his co-workers. At a particular point in the Rocky Mountains, the narrator tells us, he pushed the great chem? ist from the platform of the car, where he fell down, down, several hundred feet, a shapeless mass upon the jagged rocks below, and thus, according to this California sensation, tho Pa? cific, as well as all other oceans, was saved from being burnt up. - ? The following curious facts are stated by the Cincinnati Enquirer: "Tho anniversary of the battle of the Bunker Hill?17th of June? wa3 an eventful one to Vallandiugham. Had the horoscope of fate cast its influence upon his belief, ho certainly would have regarded this day with superstition and apprehension. It was on the 17th of June, 1863, i;hat he ran the blockade from the South and encountered the dangers of exile, tho sea and death. On the 17th of June, 1864, a year to a day exactly, he reached his old homo and made a speech in Dayton, then laboring under an apprehension of renewed military arrest. On the 17th of Juno, 1871, he died a victim to an unlucky ac? cident from his own hand. It so happened that it was seven years alter his return, and in a year in which the figure seven so prominent? ly appears to mark the date." ? A Michigan editor has just given up the sanctum for the pulpit. He thinks it is easier to fight the one devil at which a minister levels his arrows, than tho thousands which an editor is obliged to contend with. ' From tfie Abbeville Press and Banner. The Recent Robbery of the County Treasury. The great case of tho Term, and the pro? tracted investigation of which has occupied so many days, was that of the State vs. L. L. Guffin, L. P. Guffin, W. 0. Guffin and Albert Hamblin, for the well known robbery upon the County Treasury on the night of the 30th of last March. The case was entered upon, on Thursday last, and occupied the remainder of the week, in bringing out the testimony for tho prosecution and defence. An idea of tho amount of this testimony may be formed from the fact that the Judge's notes cover fifty-five closely written pages. Monday and ono-half of Tuesday of the present week was devoted to the argument, which occupied nearly twelve hours. His Honor gave greater latitude to tho argument, he said, because so little of the time of the Court had been consumed in taking ex? ception to the testimony. During the argu? ment the Court was densely packed, manifes? ting the general interest which had*been exci? ted, and for the first time in our observation, the fair sex honored the temple of justice with their involuntary attendance, whilst its priests were ministering at the altar. Tho attention and interest which were maintained through? out the argument afforded the highest testimony which could be given to the ability and zeal with which the case was argued by tho legal gentlemen engaged. The opening argument tor the State was made by Col. Cothran, who was followed by Col. Thomson and Judge H?ge for the defence?Gen. McGowan replied for tho State, Mr. Burt followed for the De? fence, and the argument was closed by the So? licitor, Mr. Perry, for the State. As the inves? tigation had been most thorough and searching, the argument was elaborate and cogent, and the Judge closed with ;% clear and dispassionate review of the law as applicable to the facts of the case. The testimony, for the prosecution was en? tirely circumstantial, and was remarkable for the number of circumstances relied upon. Tho most prominent of these were?that enquiry had been mado of the Treasurer by ono or more of the Defendants a few days before the robbery, when he was going to Columbia?"? that application had been made to Messrs. Seal, Sign & Robinson for putty?that files had been procured by the Defendants?that the keys of the Treasury had been twice borrowed during the week of the robberry?that a light on the same night had been seen in the Pro? bate office?that a small piece of iron suitable for making a key had been missed from a black? smith shop?that a vice at one of the Defendant's residence had been brought into requisition, &c., &c, and also great atress was laid upon the i fact that neither the files*, scissors nor vice were produced. The Defence admitted that the putty had been asked for, but stated that it was to be used for glazing?that files had been procured but that they were used, the smaller for cutting the rivet of a pair of scissors, and the others for sharpening the same and some saws, which thoy wore about to use?that the keys had been boraiwed, but only for a few moments during the absence of the Probate clerk who carried the keys of the office?that the light alleged to be seen was produced by the rays of a lamp, kept burning in a neighboring building, which were reflected from the door of the Probate j office?that tho vice in question was out of re? pair, &c., and as to some of the Defendants o lie red testimony to prove an alibi. In- the ar? gument they denied that any robbery had been committed', but boldly charged that the Coun? ty Treasurer had abstracted'his own funds. The case was committed to a jury of six whites and six colored with Mr. James A. Nor? wood as foreman, at a little before two o'clock, and after an absence of several hours they re? turned with a verdict of "not guilty." So ended the great case. The Vengeance of an Indian Girl.? A singular case of jealousy, which recently occurred in Western Texas, is given in tho El Paso Herald. It seems that a man named Chandos, a native of Rochester, .in England, had made love to a beautiful half-breen, six? teen years of age. The girl was half Apache and half French. In addition to her great beauty she was intelligent, vivacious and as active and alert as an antelope. She was gen? tle and affectionate, and no one suspected her of possessing the terrible passion w*hich jeal- j ousv subsequently aroused in her bosom. The English lover unfortunately became ac? quainted with a white girl named Wilson, who was on a visit from a Southern State to her friends in Western Texas. Miss Wilson was beautiful and accomplished, and her civilized traces proved more than a match for tho bar arous attractions of the Apache girl. ? The result was that Chandos deserted the half-breed and becamo engaged to Miss Wilson. The wedding day was se?. On hearing of the faith? lessness of her lover, the hitherto undeveloped instincts of her Apacho blood were roused to all their savage fury in the breast of tho untu? tored belle of the forest. Arming herself with a revolver, she went to the residence of her lover, crept softly to his room, and shot him through the heart as he was writing a note to his betrothed. She was arrested a few hours afterwards, and confined for the night in an old log cabin, in default of a prison. But her friends rescued her, and sho fled to tho wilder? ness, there to take up her abode with her moth? er's wild kindred. Advantages of Crying.-,-A French phy? sician is out in a long dissertation on the ad? vantage of groaning and crying in general, and especially during surgical operations, lie con? tends that groaning and crying are two grand operations by which nature allays anguish ; that those patients who give way to their nat? ural feelings more speedily recover from acci? dents and operations than those who suppose it unworthy a man to betray such symptoms of cowardice as cither to groan or cry. He tells of a man who reduced his pulse from one hun? dred and twenty-six to sixty, in tho course of a few hours, by giving full vent to his emotions. If people are at all unhappy about anything, let them go into their rooms"and comfort them? selves with a loud boo-hoo, and thev will feel a hundred per cent, better afterward. In ac? cordance with the above the crying of children should not be too greatly discouruged. If it is systematically repressed the result may be St. Vitus* dance, epileptic fits, or somo other dis? ease of the nervous system. What is natural is nearly always useful; and nothing can be more natural than the crying of children when anything occurs to give them either physical or mental pain.? Good Health. ? California newspapers have carried the roportorial art to the utmost limits of toleration. In a lato paper one column is devoted to the re? ligious opinions of prominent citizens ; another to the idiosyncrasies of the leading gentlemen of society ; another to the guests attendant at all the fashionable parties of tho previous eve? ning, and yet another to the audiences at the theatres. Names are used with perfect free? dom, and commented upon iu the most careless and critical style. i Party Politics. Wc think we sco the signs of an early and acrimonious agitation on Federal politics by the Southern press. We regret this, and on several accounts. Tho first is, that we consid? er it.unnece&sary. Every man in tho South holds substantially the same sentiments regar? ding the political situation, and therefore it is unnecessary. In the second place, agitation implies that there are material differences of opinion when there are not, and is obliged to result in harm. *Iu the third place the people need quiet, and should be kept free from all excitement on public affairs. There is not the slightest danger of their voting away their lib? erties, unless they arc looked after and kept in a ferment, as some politicians seem to suppose. The people are all rieht, and will remain so if left to themselves. Fourthly, the South can uow influence nobody by political discussion, except against herself. The very fact that we mark out a line for tho government will be sufficient to put the Northern people against it*. Masterly inactivity is our true policy. The memories' of the war have not yot passed away with the Northern people any more than they have with us, and as we arc in a very small minority we cannot expect to dictate, nor to have everything just as wo would like it to be. The great end and aim of every true patriot is to overthrow the present revolutionary fac? tion which has control of the government, and is hurrying it, with all the national interests of the country, to perdition. If be done at all, it must be done at the North, and by a conver? sion of some,of the Northern States 'that now sustain the Radical faction. Wftfi??t that change our bondage will be perpetual; with it tho liberties of a whole people will bo restored and their government saved from overthrow. So far as we are concerned, it matters but lit? tle how this revolution is accomplished. The Northern Democrats may refuse to make issues that will put them on the defensive and per? haps destroy them? if they choose; wc shall not quarrel with them on that account. Wo know they hato Radicalism as ardently as wc do, and that they will do tho South justice when they get into power. With the Demo? crats in possession of the government, ivc have nothing to fear from constitutional amend? ments. There will be no Ku Klux, auti-habcas corpus, bayonet legislation. We feel well as? sured of this. It is this that hurts us, and not the constitution. Whatever tho constitution may have been made to sav by Radical usur? pation and outrage, the Democrats will con? strue it as guaranteeing a federal form of gov? ernment, the integrity of the State as political sovereignties, their absolute right to regulate their own internal affairs, and tho responsibility of Congress tQ the people. We shall have no imperial edicts, no bayonets bristling around the polls, no invasion of the personal liberty of the citizen, no upsetting of State governments at the will of Congress or tho President, be the constitution what it may. There is not a sen? sible man in the South that does not believe tliis. Then, why quarrel with the Northern Democracy about abstract theories and party platforms. The latter may not suit the South, but a Democratic administration will, and that is what wo are after. This much achieved, we certainly should be content, and not wrangle about the road we travel to so glorious a con-1 summation. j This appears to trs to be the common sense ? of the political situation, and however ?orae; few politicians may differ from us, we have a pretty firm conviction that the great mass of j the Southern people are with us. Then, let us i of the South ceas#to dispute about the coming Presidential election. It does no good, and will assuredly do harm both among ourselves and elsewhere. We have full enough bad men in office, and bad laws on our statute books in the Southern States, and poverty and thieving enough to engage all our attention, and com? mand all our energies for the next two years. Let us look after our1 immediate household.? j "Savannah Republican. Soutuekn Sentiment.?With partisan ends in view, the Radical press is continually giving currency to exaggerations concerning the polit? ical sentiment of tho South. We arc tola that the Southern people hate the Government; that their submission is not sincere} that they still cherish hopes for the "Lost Cause" ; that they still look for secession ; and chat, at the first chancp, they will strike again for independence. Every time a Southern man or journal utters a complaint against the illegal manner in which j the carpet-baggers and ignorant negroes cxe- j cute the laws, some Radical newspaper writer magnifies it into an open declaration of rebel? lion, and calls on the Government to interfere. Now, to any one who has watched the progress of Sonthern affairs since the close of the war it must be plain that the South has acted in an honorable manner. They accepted the result of the war in good faith, and they have ac? knowledged the fact that secession is impracti? cable, and that the North is the stronger power, while it is natural to suppose tlioy can but cherish with regard memories of that "Lost Cause" for which they risked their all. The Southern people demand only one thing?that they shall enjoy tho righLs of American citizens. They want to be allowed to manage their own afhtirs, as the people of the North manage theirs, and to be released from the rule of ignorant blacks and thieving white adventurers. When they speak about recovering their rights they do not mean tho principles involved in the struggle with the North, but the rights to which the people of every State and section are enti? tled under the Constitution. They gave up the struggle on a direct assurance that when ihoy did give it up they should stand on an equality [ with the people of the North. The pledge was immediately broken by the stronger party, and for six years the South has been cursed with a despotism as intolerable as any conquered country has suffered from in modem times. Radicals say that Southerners are anxious to renew the fight. The only fight that they arc willing to take a hand in is the peaceful one of politics. They purpose to fight at the ballot box for the restoration of Constitutional liberty all over the country, and tho Democracy of the North mean to fight side by side with them for this cause all through-.?Chicago Democrat. Frf.pare to Dry Fruit.?A-s a matter of course our pcoplo will not be ablo to destroy one-fourth of what will be produced, and if taken to market, peaches, apples, pears etc., will be almost valueless. What must bo done to turu this immense fruit crop to our pecuni? ary advantage? Evidently, save it by drying nnd preserving. We see the idea suggested in the papers that kilns or furnaces bo built for this purpose, as the old scaffold process is too slow to meet the emergency. It is estimated that a good fruit crop is equal to a good coin crop, as the dried nrticlo js capital for subsis? tence, and always sells readily at from $3 to $10 per bushel, according to the supply. If farmers are cautious they can make enough in this way to counter-balance their losses by cot? ton. Let extensive preparations bo made at once for drying peaches, apples, pears, quinces, blackberries, whortleberries, etc. There is no doubt but that the necessary trouble taken in this direction will yield a very large compen? sation. Narrow-Gauge Railroads. . Many of our readers doubtless remember the great contest waged in England twenty years : or more ago over what were then called respec j tivcly the broad and narrow gauges for rail? roads. The broad gauge roads were built with their rails six and seven feet apart, while the narrow-gauge roads, following the ordinary width of wagons in use when railroads were first introduced, had them but four feet eight and a half inches apart. Inasmuch as cars and locomotives adopted to the one gauge could not bo used on the "other, there could be no transfer of trains from one to the other; and conse? quently it was important, in order to avoid un? loading and loading again at connecting points, that as far as possible one of the two gauges should give way'to the other. The result was that the narrower gauge was victorious, not? withstanding the strenuous opposition of groat engineers, such as the late lamented Brunei ; and now, with slight variations, it prevails al? most universally wherever railroads are known. Latterly, howover, a new rival to this old narrow gauge 'has arisen in the form of a still narrower one. The experiment has been tried, in Europe of constructing railroads with their rails as close together as one foot eleven and one-half inches, and from that up to three feet, and the results have been so encouraging as to secure for this principle of extreme narrowness many advocates among both engineers and cap? italists. Besides those in use in Europe, a road with a gauge of two and one-half feet has been for some time in operation near Cleveland, Ohio ; and one eight hundred and soventy-five miles long, from Denver, in Colorada Territory, to and along the Rio Grande river, to El Paso, on the Mexican boundary, is now building with a gauge of threo feet. The English Govern? ment in .India, after spending millions in build? ing railroads of the old gauge, have adopted three feet three inches as the standard gauge for the whole Indian railway system; Indeed, it is confidently predicted that the new gauge will eventually drive tho old one out of use for all but passenger traffic. The advautage claimed for the new gauge is the important one of vastly greater cheapness. In mountainous regions, especially, it has been shown that a road of two feet gauge can be built for one-eighth of the cost of a road four feet eight and one-half inches gauge. This is owing both to the diminished width required for cuttings, embankments and bridges, and to the fact that much shorter .curves are practica? ble, permitting tho road to follow more nearly the natural conformation of the country. On level plains, even, the cost is only one-half; so that the same expenditure of money will build there two miles of the new gauge for ono of the old. The same difference extends, of course, to the locomotives and cars. Furthermore, this saving does not stop with tho construction and equipment of the road, but is found in its operation. It is well known to persons connected with railroad affairs, that one of the most serious causes of expense in transporting both freight and passengers on railroads, is the excessive weight of the cars as compared with the loads they carry, In freight trains for every ton of paying weight two tons of non-paying or dead weight have to be moved, in the form of the iron and timber of which the cars are composed; while in passenger trains the proportion of paying weight to dtjpd weight is as twenty-nine to one. On the new narrow gauge roads all this is reversed. Only one ton of dead weight has to be moved for threo tons of paying weight, and the running expenses arc reduced accordingly. To put the comparison in a more striking light, the Lon? don and Northwestern Railway, with a gauge of four feet eight and one-half inches, moves one hundred and sixty million tons annually, of which but seventeen millions pay; wliile the Festiuiog railway, in "Wales, with a gauge of one foot eleven and one-half inches, moves two hundred and fifty thousand tons annually, of which one hundred and seventy-five thou? sand pay. That is, in the former case the gross weight carried is to tho paying weight as nine to one, while in the latter it is as ten to seven. Should these results bo verified by the work? ings of the Denver and Rio Grande road, it would seem that a new era in railroad building is opening upon us. If by reducing the gauge railroads can bo built which will answer even' practical purpose for $7,0110 per mile instead of $20,000, and after they arc built can be run for one-third the cost of the present usual gauge, we may look for a ramification of tracks over the entire country compared with which those now in existence will bo as nothing. ? Tho reason we don't hear of girls giving the mitten nowadays?they don't learn to knit. ? The waiter is an irresistible person; he carries everything bofore him. ? Why should young ladies sot good exam? ples? Because young men arc so apt to follow thorn. ? A lady writer lays it down as a fundamen? tal principle of morals,. that unmarried men should always live up to their engagements. ? A recent writer says that the fences of the I United States have cost more than all the craft I ? that fioat in our waters, salt or fresh ; more, indeed, than auy other class of property except1 railroads. ? "Why did he not die?7' is tho title of a now novel. We have not read the conundrum, but believe the answer to be?Because he re: fused to take his medicine ? It is said that a little coarsely-cut gentian root, well masticated, (the saliva being swal? lowed,) taken after each meal, will soon cure ono of all desire for tobacco chewing. Gentian is the basis of most of the tobacco antidotes advertised. ? A lady who had a great horror of tobacco got into a railroad carriage the other day, and inquired of a male neighbor: "Do you chew tobacco, sir?'' "No, madam, I don't," was the reply, "but I can get you a chew if you want one" . ? For a specimen of logieal consecution of ideas we venture to commend this, from a schoolboy's composition: "Tobacco was invent? ed by a man named Walter Raleigh. When the people first saw him smoking they thought he was a steamboat, and, us they had never seen a steamboat, they were frightened." ? In the execution of a recent deed by a man and his wife, the wife was taken aside before the acknowledgment was made, by a commis? sioner, who, in the usual form, asked, "Do you execute this deed freely, and without any fear or compulsion of your husband?" "Fear of my husband!" exclaimed the wife, "I've had five husbands, and never was afraid of ai.y of them I" ? At a certain college tho senior class was under examination for degrees. The professor of natural philosophy was badgering in optics. Tho point under illustration was that, strictly and scientifically speaking, wo fee uo object. Tho worthy professor, in order to make tho matter plainor said to the wag of the class: "Mr. Jackson, did >ni ever ac tually see your father?" Bill replied promptly: "No, "sir." "Please to explain why you never saw your lather." "Because,"' replied Mr. Jackson, gravely, "he died before I was born sir." The Custom of Band-Shaking. How did people first get into the habit of shakiug hands 'I The answer is not far to sect; In early and barbarous times, when ever/ savage or semi-savage was his own lawyer* judge, soldier aud policeman, and in default of all other protection, two friends or acquaintan? ces, or two strangers desiring to be friends of acquaintances, when they chanced to meet, o tie red each to the other the right hand?the baud alike of offence and defence, the hand that wields the sword, the dagger, the club, the tomahawk, or other weapon of war. Each did this to show that the hand was empty, and that neither war nor treachery was intended. A man cannot well stab another while he is en? gaged in. the act of shaking hands with him; unless he be a double-dyed traitor and villain, and strives to aim a cowardly blow with tho left, while giving the right and pretending to be on good terms with his victim. The custom of liund-shaking prevails, more or less, among all civilized nations, and is the tacit avowal of friendship and good-will, just as the kiss is of a warmer passion. Ladies, as every one must have remarked, seldom or never shake hands with the cordiali* ty of gentlemen; uuleas it be with each other* The reason is obvious. It is for them to re* ceive homage, not to give it. They cannot bo expected to show to persons of the other sex a warmth of greeting, which might be misinter? preted; unless such persons are very closely related to them by family, or affection; in which cases, hand-shaking is not needed, and the lips do more agreeable duty. Every man shakes hands according to his nature, whether it be timid or aggressive, prowl or humble, courteous or churlish, vulgar or ft* fined, sincere or hypocritical, enthusiastic Of indifferente The nicest refinements and idio? syncrasies of character may not perhaps be discoverable in this fashion, but tho more sali-? cut parts of temperament and individuality may doubtless be made clear to the understand4 ing of most people by a better study of what I shall call the physiology or tho philosophy of hand-shaking. To present the left hand for the purpose of a friendly greeting is a picco of discourtesy? sometimes intentional on the part of superiors in rank to their inferiors, and an act that no* true gentleman will commit. There is no rea? son why it should be considered more discour? teous than it would be to kiss the left chceJf instead of the right, but, doubtless, the custom that makes the right hand imperative in all sincere salutions dates from those early times when hand-shaking first begun; and tho hand that shook or was shaken in friendship was of necessity weaponless, The poor left hand the* one would think ought to be of as much value and strength as the right, just ?s the left foot or leg, because they are both used equally,- hm fallen into disrepute, as well as into comparfcV tive disuse, until it has become an accepted phrase to say of any proceeding that is inaus? picious, artful, sly, or secretly malicious, thai it is "sinister"?that it is left-handed. To shake hands without removing the glote I is an act of discourtesy, which, if unintentional and thoughtless, requires an apology for the hurry or madvertance which led to it. This idea would also seem to be an occult remnant of the old notion that the glove might conceal a weapon. Hence, true courtesy and friend? ship required that the hand should be naked* as a proof of good faith. To refuse pointedly to shake hands with one who offers you the opportunity in a friendly manner amounts to a declaration of hostility. And after a quarrel?or act of open hostility? the acceptance of the hand offered is alike the sign and ratification of peace.?All the Year Bound. Henry Ward Beeeher's Opinion of Caters Marriage. There is no record of Cain's courtship or wedding. However interesting to the parties themselves, it is of no interest to us, except upon the supposition that the account in Gen? esis of the creation of Adam was designed to exclude the supposition that any other people had been created. If Adam and Eve were the sole progenitors of the race, Cain and Abel, it is iuferred, must have married their own sis? ters?a connection which is shocking to the sensibilities of the whole race, at a subsequent stage of development. But many of tho fathers of the church do* nicd that Adam and Eve and their children were the only people on tho globe. They affirmed that the text in Genesis very j:lair>* ly implies that there were other inhabitants besides Adam's family. They allege that verse 14, chapter 4, of Genesis plainly implies that tho world was already widely popula? ted. For when God declared that Cain should be driven from his family, and made a vaga? bond in the earth, Cain deprecated the sentence* and replied "that every one that findeth me shall slay me." It was plainly not his family connections that he feared, for ho desired not to be driven forth from them. It was the peo? ple that he should meet when a wanderer in the earth. Who, then, were tho people that Cain should fear to meet when he should have gone forth into the earth ? It is also reasoned by scholars that tho most natural method of soothing his fears would have been to tell him "there are no other peo? ple on the earth except your father's children." Instead of that, the Lord is represented as fei? ling in with Cain's impression respecting the population .of the world, and that He set a mark on Cain, lest any one finding him should slay him. (Gen. iv: 15.) Still further,, it is said that Cain, separating himself from his kindred, went to the land of Nod, cast of Odom, "he built a city, and called the name of tho city after tho name of his son Enoch." The fathers very pertinently asked, where did the people come from that lived in the city ? That would be an extraordinary state of things that would have enabled Cain to fill up a city, how? ever small, with his own children! And it is inferred, therefore,'there were other peoplekv the land beside the immediate posterity of Adam. If Adam was the only ^progenitor, Cain must have married his sister. If there were lines of people, other Adams, as it were, ho might have married into another stock. Wc do not express any judgment in the mat? ter. Wc give our correspondent opinions that have been held in the early days of the church, but with the statement that almost all modern Christain writers have rejected them. But as the origin of races has in our day as seined an important scientific development,, and as very many able scientists hold to a va? riety of original stocks, it is interesting to* know that those views have been held before, and upon supposed Biblical ground)?. But are there no moro questions about Caul f Does nobody wish to know what the mark was which the Lord affixed to Cain ? Docs no one wish to kuow how Cain died? Questions must be scarce to leave such points nntouched. If Cuin is to bo raised, he surely ought to be thoroughly dealt with. ? A Troy editor lately returned a tailor's bill with the following memorandum on the* margin : "Your manuscript is lesnectfrdlf efct> clined."