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A Philosophical Yleir of the Prejudice against Negroes. That the blacks are generally ignorant, bat that they need not remain so, and ought not to be.allowed to remain so. is certainly true. The whites should do something more than co-ope? rate with them for purposes of education?they should take the matter in hand, shape it, and direct it. The sentimental suggestion about stamping out "a mean prejudice/' considered in a matter-of-fact way, is pure fal ial; and the patronizing manner with which we are urged to consider the colored people as "human be ings" recalls the admonition of the cynic in Hoifere/s comedy, who thinks the world would Sec on much bettor if people' would only un erstand that ;*there is nothing in nature so cool as. a cucumber." To be sure, it is the whites, and not the blacks, who set up distinc? tions of race and color, and this is in perfect harmony with the reason and the experience of all mankind. The Tribune might as well argue that it is sinful to discrimi nate against extreme poverty or degradation. Of course it is sinful. Yet the world goes on discriminating not alone against the ignorant, the poor, and the vicious ?providing alms houses instead of ? homes, and. prisons instead of asylums and reformatories? but'against classes and seek, according to its prejudices. The Trib?ne itself wants to do: what the entire Catholic Church regards as ab? solute proscription; and for eighteen hundred years all Christendom, enlightened and unen lightened, has been persecuting, and thatwith? out tne'least oUsdrimination, the whole race of Hebrews. Bearing these things in mind, the sentimental standard which Mr. Greeley lifts up in behalf: of the blacks?no matter how kindly and well intended it may b* and is?is' a romance as visionary and impossible as the most gushing of the Christmas stories of Charles Dickens or Hans Anderson.. It does .not reach much lesa.cbxer Ui?rcas&. 1 '? .1 Hi 2 If? we would really benefit the blacks?sub stantially and permanently?we must consider their exceptional situation and characteristics.' They are slaves no longer. They are citizens. They possess civil rights and suffrage, and are protected- in these by ample constitutional guarantees, which no class?barring a handful of mere demagogues and a huddle of heedless followers?proposes to question. In a word, the blacks are legally secure. But they are proscribed; and the point'aimed at by Mr. Greeley is their emancipation from the ban which, society?not much less in one part of the world than in another?has put upon them. In certain quarters, where there are few black people, and those few of a higher type than the common lot, this ban is less oppressive. It is most marked at the Smith, because the South is full of* black people, who have Just emerged from a state of slavery, and are, from the na? ture of the ease, grossly ignorant and vicious as a class. Nevertheless they are regarded with kindness all over the South; and, where indi? vidual examples of superior quality appear, are treated with distinguished consideration. We have-many such in Ken tuck v. But they grow fewer as the old slave lines deepen into the cot? ton region. This, however, is undoubtedly true,1 that the harsh usage of any portion of them proceeds from the provocation of the General Government and not from any deep seated or ineradicable hatred against the race. The revolution, with; gigantic losses, which war forced upon the Southern people, was enough to let loose^rf overflow of baa blood. But it did not That which the South resists?and in this it is supported by reason and by the ordi? nary instincts of prudence?is the sudden ele? vation of a degraded class into places of the largest responsibility, power, ana favor, and this at the cost of the whites, who are ostracised, . over-awed, and plundered by the agency of their own slaves, JJus policy of revenge?for such it is-^can work but one of two possible results. It may Dahomeyize the Southern States, or it may overthrow our constitutional system. We do not think the former is so probable as the lat? ter of these dangers. The couth is too rich it is too populous?it ? is too contiguous to the outer world?to be turned over to waste and ruin. But our republican fabric has been al? ready shocked; .and the; force which uses the negrutW aV rnnnstersr-'arra -pretexts-for crimes against liberty, passing . under ^ the name .of equality, may, and we think will ultimately be able to push enterprises/ that were originally corrupt and vengeful merely into the stature of that imperialism which has never failed to overtake the republics of < the - world. This, whilst it will do the whites whatever harm the loss of popular government may inflict on a free people, will do the blacks no good. In? deed, its realization, so far from bringing them nearer to the social millennium sketched by such amtimentajists as Mr. Greeley, will place them in serious danger of. a subjection claimed to be necessary to the imperial peace. and or? der, wherein there will be no longer any of the old abolition and patriotic rhetoric to stand in the'way1.''' Mr. Greeley'a party has done much to array the. whites of the South against' the blacks. We readily acquit' Mr. Greeley himself of sharing the folly or bad temper of his party ; but in reaching his conclusions he should con .side- the evil that has been done and the un -happy conditions which exist, and should take -many things?and from Southern men, Con? federates and Democrats?on trust We are as anxious as he can be to elevate the blacks, not because we have any special love for them, more than for masses of other people, but be? cause our domestic system hangs by a black cord which we cannot break or remove. There 'is as little likelihood of our smothering or tolerating brutal ism in the midst of us as there would be of Mr. Groeley's doing the like were he in our place.. He is not in our place, and .therefore, being bat a distant looker on, he is not a competent?judge or witness. We say re? move the bayonets. The Constitution is suffi? cient. Let it enforce itself through its legiti? mate channels^ Leave society to regulate itself according to its needs, if it goes too slow, it will suffer. If it is forced to go too fast, all will suffer. We are governed too m uch. We have too many laws, both local and geac ral, Be-commit to the people concerned their destiny, and leave the work to natural agencies, hoping and believing that there is, after all, a .God in heaven that has something to do with these things?a God whose blessing and grace nre as likely to fall upon the toilers after an imperfect republicanism as upon the followers of a perfect and absolute despotism, such as 'we are drifting to, and such as, for seven years, one section of the country has experienced. The indisposition on the part of the whites to marry with the blacks; to go to school with the blacks; to cultivate intimate social rela? tions with the blacks, mav be "a mean preju? dice," but it is a universal one, and cannot be argued down. This is appreciated by the more intelligent blacks of the South. Now, will the application of force?speaking and writing having failed?be more efficacious in producing the coveted communion f We say that it will ? the rather widen the gap. We say that it will inflame and not allay a condition which is al? ready morbid from the effects of Federal doc toring.?Louisville Qmrier-Journal. _February, this year, has live Thursdays. Amnesty for the South. There is one question awaiting Congress at its coming session, which ought to be courage? ously met and made an end of. There may he no popular clamor to pass it; 'it may be possi? ble again to postpone action on it without im? mediate and visibly ruinous consequences; yet j every consideration of patriotism and states ! manship demands that action be taken. At present, a large number of the Southern I people,?the class who in any way aided the rebellion, after taking the oath to support the National Government,?are excluded from all political office. Whatever necessity may ever nave seemed to exist for this exclusion has passed away. All experience goes to Bhow that it was originally a mistake. The danger which it was aimed against had already ceased to ex? ist.. ; There was never any danger of a new re? bellion after Lee surrendered. It was settled then, and settled finally, that the South was not to go out of the Union. It was wholly needless to provide additional security by dis francbisements and exclusions. And if the idea was ever entertained that these measures would be useful-as enforcing a lesson on the South, events have dissipated any such notion. Resented as an injustice, they have only inten? sified in the class they were aimed at the sense of bei ng a .deeply-wronged people. The whole policy of political punishment of the South has failed to answer one good end. But it has been powerful to work evil. It has been the most effective agent against that union of feeling which become the nation's su? preme need after external union had been won by the sword. It is not enough that the stars and stripes should wave over Richmond and Charleston. The flag ought to be the symbol to all who look upon it there of what they respect and love.? It is not enough that ".he Union asserts its au? thority and gives its protection throughout the South. We need to have the Carolinian and the Louisianian as proud of being Americans as the men of New York and Illinois. And the South itself supremely needs that its differ? ent classes should sincerely respect each other's rights, and feel in their common citizenship a bond of sympathy. How wide of this are the actual facts need no telling. The old white population of the South is in part sullenly indifferent, in part bitterly resentful, toward the rest of the Union. The blacks and the whites are in two hostile camp, mutually distrustful, hurting their common in? terest through malice and through ignorance. On one side we have the Ku Klux, on the oth? er corrupt and demoralized State Governments. The devastations of the war, and the ill-adjust? ments of a new social state, are aggravated in their consequences by these embitterments of | feeling. - The causes of this deplorable state of things lie in part too deep for any treatment but that of time; in part educational agencies are re? moving them; but while the National Govern? ment leaves a grievous wound untended which it might heal, the government, and we whom it represents, are guilty parties in the matter. Realize the position of the average South? erner. He Bees all around him men respected and honored by the community, the old leaders in politics and society, marked with a stigma of political disability. They cannot go to the legislature, they cannot sit. as judges on the bench. This, for their supporl of a cause which he himself supported and probably still be? lieves was a good one. This, too, while men just out of the degradation of slavery, and worthless white adventurers, have these places of honor and trust open to them. Is it in hu? man nature that a man who sees and feels these things should not be exasperated by them ? Is it in human nature that he should not be more embittered by such treatment after defeat itself I in the open field ? Can we altogether wonder that he is somewhat careless as to die negro's rights, when the power that maintains the ne? gro inflicts what he considers grievous wrong on him ? We. do not say that this average Southerner is right in all his reasonings; we do not say that his sentiments or actions are according to the highest Christian standard.? But we do say that they are according to the standard of ordinary human nature: and that the government that will not recognize and ad? dress itself to such facts in human nature docs not know how to govern. We say, then, let us hAve done with punish? ing the-South. Let us no longer humiliate those who have had so many humiliations. Is not the nation strong enough to risk the admis? sion of these men to full political privileges? Are we not forgiving enough to have done with the infliction of pains and penalties? Are we not wise enough to cease trying to promote peace by a policy of exasperation ? There is espeual reason for decreeing Uni? versal Amnesty at this time. The control of | the National Government was never so secure to the Republican party. There is no longer | any danger of a reversal of the measures that secure the black man's rights. Towards the other great source of disturbance, the outrages of the whites upon the blacks, Congress and the President have taken every measure of re? pression. Let them now turn to the other half | of the work. They have' struck at the out? cropping evil Weed; now let them deal with the soil whence .the weed springs. We can never get to the root of the Ku Klux trouble, we can never restore the .South to prosperity and wield it in union of heart with the rest of | the nation, simply by measures of repression. There is a work of magnanimity and trust to be done as well, and it is full time that the work was wrought. The great measure should not be marred by any reservations and exactions. If five hun? dred or fifty or five men are singled out to re? main under the ban, the practical benefit of the measure will be greatly impaired. We want it to speak to the Southern people a message of free and fearless good-will. It can only bear that message effectively, as it is unqualified and absolute in its terms.?Henry Ward Beecher in tlie Chr?tian Union. '^- A cynical old bachelor says that it is the privilege of hoops to surround the loveliest of all things, among which are girls and whiskey. ? It was a saying of Guthrie: "If you want to keep a dead man, put him in whiskey; ifl you waut to kill a living man, put the whiskey into him." ? Josh Billings says that, to his own person? al viewrfin the premises, it appears that the best rat afld mice exterminator is a well regulated Thomas cat; beware of base imitations, sold by respectable druggists. The New York Evening Post tells us that "old sailors are never so much at sea as when they are on shore." Upon which the Louisville Courier- Journal remarks that "in this they are somewhat like henpecked husbands, who are never so much at home as when they are abroad." ' ?*A negro woman was relating her experi? ence to a gaping congregation of color, and among other things she said she had been in heaven. One of the ladies asked her. '?Sister, did you see any blacks in heaven?" "Oh, git out! You s'pose I go in tic kitchen when I was dar?" ^ I Remarkable Cure by a Fain Extractor?What will the Doctors say ? The Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel is respon? sible for the following somewhat marvellous and highly improbable story: It appears that on Christmas day a boy about eleven years old, the son of Mr. Spinks, a well known citizen who resides on Walker street, near the Union Passenger Depot, was out in the street celebrating the festival after the fushion of boys, with fire-crackers, gunpowder and other combustibles. In his hands he had a tin can containing half a pound of gunpowder.? Having occasion to stoop down; he placed the the can of powder between his legs and let it remain there for a few minutes. A number of boys were engaged in shooting fire-crackers around him, and one of the ignited mischief ? fell in the can of powder. Before the little boy could move the half pound of powder exploded. The explosion was very powerful, and threw him a considerable distance, besides burning him in the most horrible manner. His eye? brows, eye-lashes, and a large portion of nis hair were, burned away, and his face was liter? ally consumed to a crisp, from his chin to the roots of his hair. His eyes were injured so that he was blind, and his hands, which were hold? ing the can at the time of the explosion, were frightfully burned?each one being reduced to an enormous blister. He suffered the most in? tense agony, and his piteous screams alarmed the entire neighborhood. With assistance he was removed from the scene of the accident and carried to his father's house. Medical aid was at once summoned, and an experienced physician visited the unfortunate child. All that science could suggest was done to alleviate the pains of the patient, but appa? rently without any result. After the physician left the agony of the boy was something fright? ful to witness. He was unable to lie down, but, impelled and goaded by the fiery torture, ran screaming through the house, from one room to another. At last the anguish became greater than he could bear, it was apprehended that he would go into convulsions, ana his parents knew not what to do. And now comes the singular part of the sto rv. His father was informed by some one that there was a "fire extractor" in the city, named J. H. Stallings, who could cure the worst cases f of burning, and more in desperation than from any belief in what he had heard, the afflicted father went off in search of the "extractor." He found him, and he at once stated that he had no doubt out that he could effect a cure.? The Fire Extractor then went with Mr. Spinks to the house of ihe latter. There the boy was found apparently upon the verge of convul? sions, and suffering the most exquisite pain. The" Fire Extractor brought with him no case of medicine, no case of instruments. Those who were present say that he merely went up to the child and put his hands upon the burned places. He let them remain there about five minutes and then removed them. The child immediately began to experience relief, and in about twenty minutes declared that he was en? tirely free from pain. Shortly after that time he was entirely at his ease, his sight was re? stored, he sat down in a chair and sat by the fire, his burns being exposed to the heat of the blaze. In the afternoon he was so well that he went out into the street and resumed the sport with his playmates which the explosion in the morning nod so suddenly interrupted. Since that time he has been free from pain, and has continued to improve steadily. The above is certainly a wonderful story, and some of our readers imagine that we are draw? ing a pretty heavy draft upon their credulity. But facts speak for themselves, and evidence is within reach which will sustain every assertion made in the statement. The burned boy can be seen at any time at his father's house, near the Union depot, and Mr. Spinks will state to any inquirer what he has already stated to us. Nay, more; he will be glad to see any visitor who may call for the purpose of investigating the affair. The Fire Extractor is employed at the Forest City Foundry, and may be found there: to speak for himself. We can give no explanation of the power pos8<!ssed by the Extractor, nor have we heard any offered. It is said that he is what is termed a "healing medium," and the term would seem to imply that hie cares are wrought by means of spiritual influences. He charges nothing for, his services, and heals without money ana without price. Who can solve the mystery of his method ? A Singular Turn of Fortune's Wheel. ?A few years ago a lady living in South Bos? ton was left a widow with five small children and nothing in the world with which to supply them save the labor of her hands. For two or three years her struggle with poverty was hard, and to add to her unhappiness two of her chil? dren were taken from her by death. About a year ago she applied at a real estate agency in that city for a tenement, and the gentleman with whom she transacted her business was much pleased with her appearance and desired further acquaintance with her. The desire be? ing expressed, she favored it, and they met again, when the acquaintance was improved, she looking upou him with favor, as he appeared, to be a man of religious and other commenda? ble attributes. In a short time he declared his love for her and offered her his heart, hand and fortune.-? The acquaintance having been comparatively short, the lady suggested that, as a proof of his sincerity, he should make over to her a por? tion of his fortuue. To this proposition he readily acceded, and, before she left the office, he handed her a deed of one-half of his prop? erty, which was in real estate, located near Bangor, Me. The next morning she weut and had the deed recorded in due form, and was then ready to accept the "heart and hand" which her new found acquaintance had proffer? ed her. But, alas I ere she could make known to him her readiness to be a party to theBpeedy marriage which he had urged, she was accosted by a lady who claimed and proved to be the wife of the gentleman she had been negotiating with. Fired with indignation at the deceit which had been practiced upon her, the South Boston lady hurried to the man's office for an explana? tion. He admitted all, and confessed that marriage with her would bo impossible, but, as a proof of his regard for her, he insisted upon her keeping the property, and forthwith ap? pointed an agent to Bell it for her benefit, which that agent has recently done. The prop? erty deeded to the lady was worth about seven? ty-five thousand dollars. So much for "love at sight." ? A Western newspaper, criticising certain loems, observes that "they lack the divine nf latus of the true bard?the redolent ichor of genuine poesy." We have often sought fitting terms with which to express our opinion of the poetry sent to this ofhee, and at last we have found' them. Very little of the poetry Bent to us contains ichor, and what ichor thorc is, hardly ever is redolent. It is scarcely necessary for us to say what we think of a man who is so j utterly depraved, so hopelessly abandoned as to write verses without ichor! J For the Anderson Intelligencer. Woman's Influence. A drunkard's gravel how sad the sight t A gloom exceeding darkest night Rests o'er the spot, the mart of sin, . Tho' silence dwells around, within. We sadly trace the well-known name, Imprinted on the rusty frame, J While Memory slowly leads us back Through ten short years, a fearful track. But now! one night, a well-known night, Shuts every other far from sight. We seem to move amid a throng, Where f?igneth merry laugh and song; But one bright face eclipses all, 'Tis his! but why this fearful fall ? Ah, yes! we see it plainly now, She placed tho seal upon his brow. As then, we see her at his side, This one so soon to be his bride; To us he seemed a very brother, But she I we knew they loved each other. Their future seemed to brightly glow, (Who thought that it could fall so low ?) While blessings showored on their heads Were such as friendship ever sheds. Oh! that a brow so free from care Should fall. But then the tempting snare May artless seem; for woman's wiles . . Are often covered o'er with smiles, And then, she does not know that he Was once a slave, who now so free And joyous seems; for, having ceased To' drink, his bonds are now released. His thoughts, and feelings now are pure, He firmly stands and feels secure; Escaped that living, death-like doom, He ne'er again will court its gloom. The wine is passed, he does not shrink, But firmly says be cannot drink; Then turns to meet the pleading eyes, That gaze on him in sweet surprise. "Not drink this sparkling wine with me? You fear it then"?a laugh of glee? "Oh, yes!" her voice is changed and low, A look she only can bestow; (How sad that looks should have the power To crush a soul in one brief hour!) "Oh, yes! you'll drink this harmless wine To prove your love is wholly mine." To weigh tho cost he does not stop, But while he drinks each sparkling drop, The vision vanishes from sight, With all its throng of faces bright. Again a gloomy grave we see, That seems to tell the misery Of life to one who darkly gropes His way in sin, with blasted hopes. The downward steps we follow not, 'Tis best that all should bo forgot. Enough to know he fell, and all ' Hie hopes were crushed beneath tho fall. And this! oh, this! is woman's work, The dreadful truth we cannot shirk; She held the cup, he madly drank, The rest is but a fearful blank/ LULA. Williameton, & C. A Glance at the Newspaper Business. Few enterprises arc as expensive as newspa? pers, and few are so laborious, troublesome and unremunerative. Great as was the cost of pub? lishing them before the war, it is much greater since. Except in large cities, where the almost infinite small profit on each issue counts up by means of an extended circulation and liberal advertising, the publication of newspapers en? tails a loss upon the publishers, and every year adds to the expense of publishing city newspa? pers. At the North, in the dense population of the great cities, where enterprises of all sorts are eagerly pushed by advertisiug, many news? papers realize large fortunes by means of the aggregation of small profits; but in the less crowded cities of the South few newspapers can do more than barely sustain themselves under the augmented pressure of expense.? Few people have any conception of the vast expense and infinite trouble connected with the publication of newspapers, of the number of persons employed in the different departments, and of the vigilance, unremitting labor, per? plexity and wear and tear of feeling entailed. Every week the bills have to be paid. There is no rest day or night. When other people are abed and asleep newspaper people are at work. Those who every morning get their newspapers and see them looking so fresh and full, little dream of the labor, care and money that have been expended upon them. For a few cents they have the world in miniature pre? sented to them every morning. All the news of the previous day has been gathered from all quarters, far and near, carefully collated, and attractively printed. There is the foreign news intelligeuce from every quarter of the country, and relating to all conceivable subjects, and the local and domestic news. The business man finds the information he needs, the politician finds chronicled all the events in the political world, the literary man, the general reader and the lover of gossip, each finds waiting for him the dish adapted to his taste. All this varied mass of matter has beeu gathered, arranged, and printed and distributed within twenty-four hours. One would suppose that the public would bear almost any amount of expense to have every morning such a diversified and interest? ing mass of news and reading matter served up to them, bnt strange to say the public are so unreasonable as to complain oftentimes of the little expense they are put to, to secure so many advantages. Nothing is more prevalent than unreasonable complaints about the price of newspaper subscriptions. Many persons, in? deed, appear to think that they not only ought to have the privilege of directing the course of tho newspaper they take, but that it ought to be furnished to them for nothing. A long observation and experience have sat? isfied us that there is .no class who confer so many benefits upon the public and are so poor? ly rewarded as newspaper men.?Richmond (To.) Whig. ? A party of wits once stopped at a tavern. When the feast was over one of the members called to the hostess. "Angelique," he said, "I am going to give you a lesjon in astronomy. Have you not heard of the great Platonic year, when every thing must return to its former con? dition ? Know, then, that in sixteen thousand years we shall be here again, on the same day and at the same hour. Will you give us credit till then ?" The hostess, however, had her re? ply. "I am perfectly willing," she retorted, "but it is just sixteen thousand years since you were here before, and you left without paying; settle the old score and I will trust you on the new." ? An agreeable person is one who agrees with you. i Start Manufactories* That the people of the South have long neg? lected some of the moat profitable pursuits of commerce, is a well known fact; that they have depended and are still dependent on the North for almost all the implements with which she tills the soil, for her reapers, mowers, heat ? ers and threshing machines; for the iron which lines the track of our railroads, for the rolling stock, for the engines, and for almost every? thing else used in railroading, is an incontro? vertible and disgraceful fact; and when the self-same people are reaping so rich a harvest from our inactivity, our lack of energy, and our want of enterprise, visit us, and see the natu? ral resources of our country for all manufactu? ring purposes; see the vast mines of minerals scattered throughout the length and breadth of our land, lying undeveloped for the want of a little energy, a little enterprise, a little "push;" see the untold water power of our streams go? ing to waste; see the millions of acres of land that are lying idle, bringing no revenue to the country, but a source of expense, for taxes have to be paid on them; is it at all remarka? ble that when they return home, they should say the people of the South were the most fa? vored, and at the same time, the most indolent and thriftless people on the earth. Tennessee pays out annually in: the neigh? borhood of $50,000,000 for manufactured goals, the raw material for the most of them being produced in the South. These goods can be manufactured as cheaply here as at the North. People of Tennessee, stop and think for one moment of the amount oi good that could be done, if this vast amount were distributed among our people, to be by them invested amongst us, to odd to the material wealth of our country, so that all might be benefitted thereby, instead of being sent away never to return. It is folly to say we cannot help it; we have no capital. Commence small, and increase yopr capacity as rapidly as you are justified in doing so by your trade. Awake from this "Eip Van Winkle slumber" that you have been indulging for the post three-quarters of a century, and go to work. If men of capital will not invest their money for their own pro? fit, the development of the country, and the good of their fellowmen, we call on our work? ing men to take hold and show* these croakers and old fogies what can be accomplished by energy, skill and well directed labor. Let them form co-operative unions?unite their mites, their labor, their brains and their skill, and put the ball in motion. Two such instan? ces have come under our observation, and have proven a decided success. In one of our wes? tern cities, the proprietors of a large iron foun? dry proved to be bankrupt, and were to be sold out at sheriff's sale. Before the day of sale, their former employees formed themselves into a joint stock company, or co-operative union, united their capital, bought the foundry with its machinery, stock on hand, etc, selected their business managers, their foremen, and all went to work with a will, and to-day it is one of the most flourishing foundries in that city. Another was a co-operative printing office. A party of journeymen printers that had been thrown out of employment on a "strike," uni? ted their little capital, bought material, partly on time, selected men to manage the business, and have declared from one and a half to two and a half per cent, monthly dividends on the entire capital invested, after paying themselves the weekly wages which they demanded from their former employers. We cite these two in? stances to show the laboring men that they can start in business for themselves, and that by so doing they will advance their own interest and the interest of the whole country, and prove to "old money bags" that he has missed a good investment by his old fogy ism. Let all work 1 ?The Enterprise. Look to Your Homes.?The study of agri? culture may be very interesting, but the busi? ness of farming can never be pleasant and at? tractive until more of our people learn to make their homes in the country more agreeable.? Bide through the State and see the ordinary farm houses; if pretentious, they are painted a glaring white with two windows ranged on each side oi the hall, above and below, that: look as prim and precise as a Quakeress, and as grini as a Puritan. The front yards are destitute of flowers and shrubbery. There are no pleasant I verandas, that captivate the eye, as much as j they add to the pleasantness of the bouse.? j Books are scarce, so that, during rainy days or bad weather, the boys nave to retire to the j barn and catch rats for instruction, or shell corn for amusemeut. In the house are no pic? tures, no attention paid to taste or comfort. There is no flower garden without doors, to lend a fascination to the scene by its fragrance and j beauty; no shade trees, no swings, no croquet grounds, no anything to relieve toil of its hard? ships or make leisure hours profitable. Stingy ana penurious are many such farmeis. They complain of an inability to do these things, and yet permit their hirelings to go forty or a hundred yards from the house to get drinking water from a rickety old well, and so lose time enough during the year to work a flower gar? den. Their cribs are placed on one part of the farm, their stables on the other. With no tool house?the tools are left where the work is ended, and when wanted again must be vcxati ously hunted up. No wood-house holds its wealth of fuel during wintry days and snowy weather, but the fuel must be dragged up drip? ping and saturated with water, making the paradox possible that before making a fire you must put it out. No wonder there is a distaste for agriculture when such thingn are permitted. It is the promptings of nature to seek pleasant places. England's glory rests in her country homes.? There, of all the world, you will find the great? est number of comforts, with the least preten? sions ; and it Is always a scene of lasting regret to an Englishman to be compelled to leave the country to live in town. Let onr people make their homes pleasant and beautiful, set out trees and shrubs, vines and flower-beds. Buy a book to-day, and a picture to-morrow, and without visibly entrenching upon their income, their homes will soou be arrayed in beauty ana make the hearts of the children rejoice.?Nash? ville Union and American, ? A negro boy of eight has a picture prim? er to teach him his letters. One of the pic? tures is that of a bull chasing a boy, which the little darkey watches from day to day, gleeful? ly exclaiming: "He hasn't cotch'd him yet." ? A soldier, telling his mother of the terri? ble fire at Chickamauga, was asked by her whv he did not get behind a tree. "Tree!" said he; "there wasn't enough for the officers." ? Among the competitors for the darning prize lately offered in the Georgia State Fair, one lady presented a stocking so neatly mended that the judges couldn't find the mark of a nee? dle about the darned thing. ? A Connecticut paper tells of a lawyer who "hung out his shingle" for a whole year in that State, and had but one case in all that time, and that was a caso of inflammatory rheuma? tism. We know nothing personally of the young man, but we've no doubt that the case was a well-merited compliment. i The Bowen and De Large Contest. The Washington correspondent of the New York Tribune sends to that paper the following interesting items in regard to the contested election case in the House of Representatives from South Carolina: Mr. Charles W. Buttz, the attorney for the Hon. Robert C. De Large, in the contested case of Bowen against De Large, from the 2d Con fressional District-of South Carolina, says that e has not, as it has been alleged, suppressed the testimony taken by him for his client in or? der to advance the interests of Mr. Bowen, but as a possible means of forcing payment for his services, and for the expenses he has in? curred in the case. Mr. Buttz says that he was engaged for five months taking testimony, for which he charged a fee of $1,000, and that there is an additional sum of $600 which he spent for his client. According to Mr. Buttz's statement, De Large deceived him several times with promises to pay, which he failed to keep, and Buttz, suspecting that his client despaired of succeeding in the contest, and meant to throw up the case, finally informed De Large that if he would give him an order for his Jan? uary pay, upon the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House, the testimony taken would be at once filed with the Elections Committee. De Large refused to do this, and did not come on when Congress met. Buttz informed the committee of these facts, and declined to file the evidence. He says that the committee sustains him in hi i course. If all the facts connected with the election m the Charleston District were brought to light, a curious chapter of political history would be furnished. De Large's candidacy in that dis? trict, it is said, was the result of a quarrel be? tween Governor Scott and C. C. Bowen. Bow? en was very strong in Charleston city and coun? ty, where he had been. Freedmau's Bureau agent, the negroes belie ving that everything the Bureau did for thera was done by Bowen per? sonally. He got 7,000 majority in that coun? ty. Ihere are three other counties in the dis? trict?Barn well, Colle ton, and Beaufort. The first two gave majorities for De Large, which left Bowen with about 4,400 majority, with Beaufort to hear from. The vote of this coun? ty was kept back purposely, it is alleged, until the others could be heard from, the election law allowing the County Commissioners to keep the ballot boxes in their houses for ten days.? When it was found how many votes were wan? ted from Beaufort, a messenger was dispatche 1 from Charleston ; and Beaufort promptly re? turned 5,000 majority for De Large, which elec? ted him by 600.majority. The Commissioners were tried for this fraud, and are now serving out a term of two years in jail. Frauds were also committed in Colleton county. One of the Commissioners of Election, who had acted as census-taker, and had returned the number of voters at one precinct as 600, certified to a ma? jority of 1,800 for De Large at the same pre? cinct ; and afterward, when arrested, acknowl? edged that he and his confederate Commission? er had put 650 De Large votes into the box be? fore opening the poll. These men were not tried. The District Attorney, who was a friend of Bowen, entered a nol. pros., after getting their evidence to file in the contest before Con? gress. These facts are instructive, as illustra? ting how elections are held in South Carolina under a law that facilitates fraud. Death of Rev. Robert J. Beeckinbidge. ?Rev. Dr. Robert Jp Breckinridge died at his home, in Danville, Kentucky, Wednesday evening, after a protracted illness. Dr. Breck? inridge was a distinguished Presbyterian cler? gyman, and was ordained as the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, in Baltimore, in 1832, in which position he remained thirteen years, and rose to eminence for his eloquence and power in the pulpit. He was born at Ca bell's Dale, Kentucky, March 8th, 1800, and was consequently nearly seventy-two years of age. He was the uncle of Hou. John C. Breck? inridge. His family had been Presbyterians since the time of the reformation, and included a number of distinguished men. In 1845 Mr. Breckinridge became presidents of Jefferson College, Pa., where he remained two years, and then removed to Kentucky and assumed the pastorate of the First Presbyteri? an church in Lexington. He was superintcn , dent of public instruction in that State, but re? signed that office and his pastoral charge in 1853, when lie was elected a professor in the j seminary at Danville, Ky., continuing in that I position several years. . He participated large ; Iy in the religious movements and controversies j of the last thirty-five or forty years. While in 1 Baltimore he was conspicuous for his contro? versial ability, and as the editor of the Litera? ry and Religious Magazine and Spirit of the Nineteenth Century. He exerted a commanding influence in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church, in which he often bad a seat, "in the slavery discussion' which agitated the country before the late war, he took a decided course in oppo? sition to extreme opinions on cither side, and for his services to the free blacks of Maryland he received a piece of gold plate from more than one thousand of them. On the threshold of tho war he was conspicuous in the peace convention which assembled at Washington to avert the calamity, but, that failing, he earnest? ly maintained during the war the cause of the Union. A Railway Blessing.?An experiment of interest to all travellers has recently been tried on one of the English railroads. This experi? ment consists in what is known as the "lunch basket system," devised by a well .'mown firm of public caterers, for the accommodation of the traveling public who have no opportunity to obtain refreshments on long journeys. The contractors furnish baskets of an easily porta? ble and compact size and form, well stocked with material for a comfortable luncheon, that is to say, half a fowl, ham, bread and butter, cheese, salad, a pint of claret or other light beverage, '/lates, knives and forks, glasses and napkins, iie price being three shillings. The basket*, which are made for the purpose, are provided with every necessity and convenience, and inside the lid is affixed a printed card re? questing, that, as no deposit is required nor charge made for the use of conveniences in the basket, all of the articles will be replaced in proper positions, and the basket delivered up at the end of the journey. American road managers would do well to follow this excellent example. Lunch baskets furnished with the materials for a comfortable meal will be accep? ted as a most agreeable substitute for the saloon "system" which is satisfactory to nobody but the conscienceless proprietors. ? A curious observer has discovered that men and boys invariably run the heels of their boots and shoes over outwardly, while women and girls always run theirs over inwardly.? Out of one hundred and forty-seven men and bovs that passed the observer at a given point, this fact was true in every instance; out of six? ty-seven women that passed, it was true in ev? ery instance bot one. ? Why are fashionable young ladies like letters? Because, unless they have stamps, the males reject them.