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.

HOYT & CO., Proprietors. ANDERSON C. H., S. C, THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL 22, 1875. VOLUME X.?NO. 40. Senator Gordon Expresses his Views on the Philosophy of the Greeley Movement. Senator Gordon, of Georgia, has been inter? viewed by a reporter of the Atlanta Herald, in the course of which he expressed himself in regard to the following among other topics: philosophy of the greeley movement. Now, just at this point, Mr. Greeley, Carl Schurz, Gratz Brown and Gov. Curtiu, repre? senting this disorganized and scattered army, proposed a platform at Cincinnati, on which it was thought all the elements of opposition to the corrupt administration might be united. The movement failed just then; not because the liberals and conservatives did not do their part, but because there was not sufficient time allowed to bring the democratic party to believe that the movement was a sincere and honest ?effort for reconciliation and restoration. The elections of last fall were the legitimate and the necessary results of that coalition. Something like the Greeley movement was ab? solutely necessary. The Northern people had become incrustated with a granite formation of passion, prejudice and ha:e, beneath which their mellower and better feelings were im? prisoned. It seemed impossible to break through this horrid casement that had coffined the kindly Northern and Western heart No plea could penetrate it; no outrage could shiv? er it; no argument could phase it. It was a solid, unfeeling mass, against which all im? pulses fell impotent. But Horace Greeley, with one stroke of his pen, as with a wand, shattered this miserable shell, and threw the words of truth and right and justice, like sun? beams, in upon the soul and the brain'and the heart of the people. To use his own expres? sion, "A chasm yawned between the people of this Republic that must be closed or filled." .Like another Curtius, with as heroic a heart and as high a purpose, I am sure, as moved the ancient Roman, he flung himself as a sacrifice into the abyss. He gave his pen, his speech and his life to the cause of reconciliation. And he did not give them in vain. Through his sacrifice the chasm was closed, and his peo fle stand over his grave united and victorious, opposed the Greeley movement at first, but I - am not one of those who insist now that it was a mistake. I think that it was the wisest political movement in our political history. It was the carrying out of the policy shadowed in Lincoln's mem? orable words?"We have conquered them bv arms; let us wfn them by magnanimity." I heard Senator Bayard, who, you will remem? ber, opposed the coalition bitterly and denoun-^ ced it on the floor of the Baltimore Conven? tion, say in the executive session of the Senate just a few days ago, that after seeing its fruits he estimated the Greeley movement as a wise, politic and patriotic movement. It gave the bouth the ear of the North and West. This was all we wanted. We did not need argu? ments, we only lacked an audience. the platform foe 1876. Reporter? Do you think that we should make the next national campaign on the Cin? cinnati platform ? Gen. Gordon?I think that we should haz? ard nothing on account of prejudice or partisan opinion, for I believe that the perpetuation of our free Institutions depends on the issue of the next national campaign. On its result hangs, in my opinion, the safety of the Repub? lic, which .should be more estimable than any mere party triumph could be. There are four leading ideas that should enter iuto the demo? cratic platform for 1876. These four cardinal principles should be put in our platform to in? sure success, and then adhered to by our party to ensure peace. The first point is, that we shall have economy, purity and fidelity in the administration of the government. All these elements may be included under the one head of honesty. If there is anything that the peo? ple of this country?the whole people, without distinction of party?desire, it IS an honest party ; a party that will oppose fraud and corruption ; that will throttle nugs and cliques; that will denounce and dethrone even its own leaders when they become corrupt; that will command the confidence of home taxpayers and retrieve our reputation abroad. The first and leading principle, then, in the platform should be a promise made?not idly, but earnestly, and as a guarantee?that we will reform the abuses of the present party, and fairly aod honestly run the government and dispose.of its revenues. peace between the section8. The second point that should be incorporated into the platform should be "a restoration of concord. We must have an equilibrium between the sections. We must have a thor? ough good will and harmony. We must learn all men to love the national flag, to guard the national honor and to further the national prosperity. We can solve no question satisfac? torily while we are divided. While sectional prejudice and passion rule men, it is of no use to address them with arguments on public pol? icy or public polity; it is of no use to talk to them of injustice or dishonesty; you cannot penetrate their prejudices; they are swept along by passion almost in spite of themselves. But let them drop and forget all these ques? tions?let them come together as brothers and stand face to face, and looking each other fair? ly in the eyes, seek for the true and the good and the wise, and you will see what, in view of onr miserable hide-bound past, may be esteem? ed a political millennium. There must be unity?aonenes3of feeling and of purpose? an assertion that the people of this Republic seeking a common end, defending a common aright, building up a common country, shall move onward in harmony and peace. ?65ve the negro his rights. The third point in the platform sho"'d be, I think, a definite and unmistakable pie 'ge, that we, the people of the South, will protect the snegro in all his rights of freedom and fran ?chise. Strange as it may seem to us, who year after year have seen the white employer and iiis negro employee voting against each other in peace and kindness, it is believed by a great many people in the North that the first step with which we would mark the democratic re ascendancy would be to deprive the negro not only of his right to vote, but his freedom also; that at any rate we would reduce him to a con-! <3ition of quasi slavery. They are exceedingly jedoas, and naturally so, about the perpetua? tion of what they call "the results of the war." They are afraid to trust the democratic party with power again on the sole account that they fear reactionary legislation. Let us convince them that we accept as final the abolition of slavery and the franchise of the negro, and will defend them as such, and we will have xlone very much toward removing the ouly ob? stacle that stands between the democratic party and an overwhelming national triumph. let us return to the constitution. The fourth point of cardinal importance that I should put in the platform is, a return to the constitutional methods of government, both in the State and in the nation. While we must yield to the general government all the rights it has, or all that the Supreme Court by decis? ions will give to it, we should insist upon the right of the States to manage for themselves I their own internal affairs. Without this right were fully protected and its maintenance guar? anteed, I wouldn't give a cent for any victory. There is an alarming tendency just now to con? solidate this government, to gather all the powerat "Washington, to lessen more and more the liberties of the States and make them de? pendencies upon the great central power. This must be checked, and that, too, promptly and decisively, or the Republic is lost. I have a letter from Mr. William M. Evarts, of New York, one of our purest and wisest men, in which he says:?"I do not think there are 100 men in this country who realize how near we are to a complete change in the form of our government." We are drifting toward a des? potism with a rapidity and directness that can? not fail to alarm the people when it is made plain to them. On this platform, then, with its four cardinal points of honesty, concord, the protection of all citizens in all their legal rights and a constitutional Republic, I thiuk we should "enter the campaign. a straight democrat can be elected. Reporter?Do you think that a straight democrat can be elected on this platform ? Gen. Gordon?I certainly do. I believe that any man who has the confidence of the people, standing upon this platform and pledged to its support, would carry at least two-thirds of the loyal voters of this country. I believe that two-thirds of the people of America are opposed openly to the administra? tion. There is hardly a poiut in this platform to which the radical party is not opposed. It js opposed to honesty in the government, as witness its shameless support of the carpet? bag rascals and its defended record of crime and incompetency. It is opposed to reconcili? ation, because it iives on passion and prejudice ; and because an inquiry into its policy, conduc? ted quietly and peacefully, would overwhelm it. It is opposed to constitutional liberty ; its avowed purpose and its ultimate object being to centralize all power and rob the States of their rights. Any good man in the North of West can be easily elected on this platform. The republicans are hopelessly divided. I do not think I exaggerate the importance of this division when I say that fully half of the pres? ent republican party are to-day ready to follow Schurz, Fenton, Bryant, Evarts, Ferry, or who? soever is irrevocably opposed to a third terra and to the administration wing of the party, which is controlled by Butler, Morton, Conk ling, Logan and Edmunds. the financial question. t Reporter?You have said nothing on the financial question in your remarks. Do you think that issue should be ignored ? Gen. Gordon?I do. I do not think we should let any collateral issue interfere with the success of the four essential principles I have laid down above. I should favor treating the financial question at our national conven? tion just as the tariff issue was treated at Cin? cinnati. Let it be left to the Congress to settle. It need not be made a Presidential issue a't all. will not run for the vice pesidency. Reporter?General Gordon, I have seen your name meutioned daily almos? for the past six months in connection with the Vice Presidency. Will you allow the use of your name in that connection? Gen. Gordon?I will not, under any set of circumstances. Even if I were nominated I should withdraw my name. My reasons for this statement, to-day made public for the first time, are that I believe that a Southern man on the ticket would weaken it. And as much as personal ambition might tempt me to yield to the partial suggestions of my friends, I would not for all the honors in the gift of the Ameri? can people feel that I had been the means of d-:ving one man from the .support of that tick? et on whose success depends the future peace and prosperity of my country. I have but one object?that is the re-establishment of harmo? ny, of good will and of good government. To this end all things also shall be secondary. Mining in the Southern States.?The mining fever which has raged with varying in? tensity, says the Boston Post, all along the route between the two oceans the past year, has also tended to revive mining operations in the Southern States, especially in Georgia. Two years ago hardly anything was done in the gold mining way in that State; now there are a half a dozen good stamp mills in operation and more being erected, several of them run? ning with much profit to the proprietors. The native population operate the mines on the safest principle if they do not make the most immense fortunes. Brought up with gold, they regard digging for it a natural industry, just as raising wheat or quarrying limestone is in other places. They work considerably with the pad, and feel tolerably contented if they average $10 a day. Thus if they make fewer fortunes than Northern men who net up in the business, they also lose less. The citizens have looked upon gold so long that it seems common to them, and they are keeping their eyes open for richer treasures. In several sections of the State the flexible sandstone which accompanies diamond^ has been found, and many are wait? ing expectantly for the discovery of these gems. But the more -common subterranean products of nature will doubtless pay the best. From Raudolph, Ala., about $100,000 worth of copper ore has been shipped during the past year, and iron production continues to reward well directed enterprise. All this is in the face of political discouragements. Give the South a clear field and the mineral wealth of the States would not continue to lie hidden and useless in the bowels of the earth. Driving Fence Posts.?A neighbor told me how to make a board-fence rapidly and cheaply last year. He and his hired man went to the field where the fence posts, with ends slightly sharpened, were lying along the line of the proposed fence. One man stood on a plat? form two and a half feet high, and with a heavy mallet drove the posts as the other held them in position. Eighty posts were thus put down three feet deep in one afternoon. The ground was free from large stones, and the time selected was just after frost had left the ground in the spring. The posts wore white oak, and did not split by being driven. The ground was so soft that severe punding was not necessary, and doubtless softer wood might have been used. The fence stood firmer than where boles had been dug and the poles regularly set. It is possible this method could he adopted on soils where there is some stone by working a crow-bar down through the soft earth to the required depth, shoving aside the stones before the post ia driven down. Two stakes driven down side by side, with room for rails between, and wired at top, make an excellent and cheap temporary fence ; and a post driven or set three feet, with a stake beside and wired to it to hold the rails, make a fence both cheap and dura? ble; by driving the stake into the ground twelve to fifteen inches, only one wire will be needed, and that ator near the top. Such a fence takes little room, and by using old rails need cost but little money. It is less liable to sag than the ordinary bonrd-fence made in the ubHal way.? Cor. New York Times. The Arlington Estate. A correspondent of the New York World gives an interesting account of the Arlington estate, across the Potomac from Washington, and shows how the government got possession of it by illegal means : In 1857 Mr. George Washington Park Custis died at Arlington. Mr. Custis was the favor? ite grandchild of Mrs. Martha Washington, a scion of what is strictly entitled to be called one of the first families of Virginia, and him? self an elcve of the father of his country, who, never the father of a family, was remarkably fond of children, perhaps because it was per? mitted him to unbend sometimes from his aw? ful dignity in their presence. These various honors were somewhat an incumbrance to Mr. Custis, it is probable. At any rate, he did no more in life than attempt, with more or less success, to sustain them, keeping up a labori? ous and garrulous hospitality at Arlington, and painting some immense historical picture*, which not even the all-embracing charity of Mr. Benson J. Lossing can redeem from the suspicion of hideousness. It is probable that Mr. Custis never sought greatness, but if he had done so he would have been debarred by a stroke of fortune similar to that of the insig? nificant but witty Mendelssohn, who was the son of one great Mendelssohn, and the father of a still greater Mendelssohn. Mr. G. W. P. Custis was sandwiched between George Wash? ington and Robert Edmund Lee, and his posi? tion in history is necessarily that of a very small conjunction between two very large sub? stantives. Be this as it may, Mr. Custis had quite a firm sense of his own importance, and a natu? ral desire to transmit the memory of it to fu? ture ages. At the end of his blameless life he bequeathed his "Arlington estate, in the county of Alexandria, containing 1,104 acres," to his "dearly beloved daughter and only child, Mary Ann Randolph Lee, during the term of her natural life." Mary Aon Randolph Lee was the wife of Robert Edmund Lee. Custis' will further provided that, "on the death of my daughter, Mary Ann Randolph Lee, all the property left to her during the term of her natural life I give and bequeath to my eldest grandson, George Washington Custis Lee, to him and his heirs forever, he, my said eldest grandson, taking my name and arms." No matter whether this gave Mrs. Lee's son a vested or contingent right, it is quite apparent that the intention of his venerable and estima? ble grandfather was to transmit, as far as he could, to his descendants for several genera? tions the possession of an estate which was much more valuable in the eyes of its histori? cal associations than for its returns in money. As Mr. Custis died in 1857, it is scarcely possi? ble that even a member of the Philadelphia Union League would endeavor to attach the suspicion of "disloyalty" to his skirts. Mrs. M. A. R. Lee, a femme covert, thus had a life estate in this property in August, 1S61, when Congress passed the bill imposing a di? rect tax upon insurrectionary districts. Under that act Virginia was taxed $937,522, and the tax levied upon the Arlington estate was set at $92.07. Further acts of Congress and regula? tions of the tax commissioners under these acts were promulgated, and finally, in 1864, the Arlington estate, long since, in possession of the government, was sold for this tax bill of $92.07, by order of President Lincoln, bought in for the government for "war, military, char? itable, and educational purposes," under the act of February 6, 1S63, which, however, was never paid nor even tendered to any person. Mrs. Lee, at the time of sale, as also at the time of advertisement, was inside the Confed? erate lines, where her duty as femme covert constrained her to be. Nevertheless, when the Arlington property was offered for sale in de? fault of taxes, a tender of the amount due was made by Mrs. Lee's connections in Baltimore and Washington. This tender the commis? sioners refused to accept, having ruled that no taxes, under the act of August 5, 1864, could be paid unless the tender was made by the immediate owner of the property in persou. So, that, under this preposterous ruling, if a property belongiug to an infant three weeks old was taxed, he could not appear by guardi? an, but must be fetched up mewling and puking in his nurse's arms, with the tax-bill aud the money grasped in his chubby fist. In this way the government got possession of this estate, worth $300,000. It has held pos? session of it ever since. About two huuured acres of the estate has been converted iuto a national cemetery; the remainder has been leased to freedmeu or otherwise used by the government. It is a matter of record that the United States courts have set aside every sale of prop? erty, aud declared every title to be worthless, which was acquired under the rulings of these Virginia tax commissioners. It is certain, and has been so decided by the Supreme Court, that no law is operative (because no law is constitutional,) which requires the entire tract to be sold for taxes when it can be divided and the taxes and the charges realized by the sale of a part of the tract. It is certain, and a matter of record, that po tax title can be made valid where the proof is wauting that the amount of tax due was ten? dered and refused to be received by the com? missioners because not tendered by the owner in person. It is certain that any such ruling as this makes all sales under it null and void. It is certain that the United States cannot acquire title to land in any State and jurisdic? tion over it without first obtaining the consent of that State. It is certain that, even if it were possible for the United States to do all these impossible, because unconstitutional, things, the only thing which the Uuited States could acquire title to, because the only thing vendible, was Mrs. Mary Ann Randolph Lee's life estate in Arlington. But the estate expired with Mrs. Lee's death in November, 1873, and the United States is now, without law, decency or common sense, withholding from Mr. G. W. Custis Lee what was once his remainder of reversion, but is now his absolute property for himself and heirs in the estate of his forefathers. Mr. Lee does not wish to regain the property, but to exchange for a quit-claim title a reason? able sum representing its value at the time of seizure, and this the Judiciary Committee of the Senate, upon facts here presented, has re? fused to allow him. I say this mode of proce? dure lacks the support of decency and common sense, as well as of law, for this reason : Mr. Custis Lee, or his children or grandchildren, are certain to be paid for this property some day or other, and what can now be Bettled for two or three hundred thousand dollars will be certain eventually to cost millions. ? "Hair gettin' a little thin, sir," said the barber. "Young man," said John Henry, looking down upon him from the bight of solemn experience; "young man, when you get married you will never allude in that thoughtless manner to domestic afflictions. No; don't apologize. .My feelings are blunted. Hut is there not some mysterious unguent? some soft, seductive compound?that makes the hair more slippery to the grasp ?" Hard- Times. It may be stated with absolute certainty that, with very few exceptions, all classes of our peo? ple are suffering serious embarrassment from the stringency of the times. In the country the planters complain that they have no mon? ey; but, taking into consideration the fact that their houses belong to them, and that living is much cheaper in rural districts than in cities, the hardships of this portion of the communi? ty are comparatively few. Indeed, we may credit the suggestion that the farmers are bet? ter off than any other class, and incalculably more fortunate than five-eighths, at least, of the dwellers in the town. Here, in Augusta, for example, the struggle for bare subsistence has become a problem of grave consideration, and a stubborn problem not to be evaded by thousands. Many men, in professional and mechanic walks of life, have either lost their places altogether or else submitted to a reduc? tion of salary which scarcely makes two ends meet, from month to month. How to pay rent, servant hire, the butcher, the grocer, the wood dealer, the doctor and the dry goods merchant ?that is the omnipresent conundrum which frets the minds of thousands of perplexed per? sons by day, and harrows their very souls in troubled sleep at night. Bad as the case may be with the man who sees his labor redoubled and his pay cut down to a frazzle, his lot is heaven itself compared with the fate of his brother in misfortune who has lost even the little pittance that came to him from some menial or hap-hazard employment. The only consolation men can have, under such circum? stances, is that the distress now prevalent will be but temporary, and that, when the worst has come to the worst, by Providential means, in the majority of instances, relief of some character unexpectedly arrives to keep the suf? ferer from absolute despair. And yet, there are hundreds among us who have reason to feel desperate. Some are too old to rally from a blow which has shattered their household gods around them, and yet, somehow, even this catastrophe must be endured, with the help of heaven. Without the help of supernatural grace, a poor creature hunted down or all at sea without a spar to cling to, may be persuaded in an evil moment, to end the tragedy here by a plunge, darkly and impulsively, into the dread Hereafter. That such sinister thoughts have crept into the imagination of many indi? viduals, in the hour of disaster, we know too well; but it is to be trusted that the idea has been repelled as soon as harbored, and the better sentiment revealed that neither God nor man has forgotten the demands of mercy and the practice of charity. The world is full of the unlucky; butthe larger member pull through somehow. The world is full of changes; aud the man who is in rags to-day may be clothed in fine raiment to-morrow. All of us should live with a hope of brighter times in the not distant future; and all who have an abundance still of material prosperity should help the most worthy of their afflicted fellow-citizens. While we feel confident that t+ie stress is well nigh universal, we feel equally well assured that good will eventuate from all trials borne in the proper spirit. Many noble deeds will be done in secret by those who acknowledge their wealth to be a trust and stewardship from the Lord, and that, iu parting with a moiety of it to the indigent, they are lending it, with com? pound interest, to the King of Heaven, who has recorded that He is the father of the poor, and that the widow's mite shall weigh against the largess of the opulent, in the day of reck? oning. We recently heard a gentleman?who had enough trouble to weigh him down, God knows ?declare that he would complain no more, because he had had a wonderful lesson taught him that very morning. "I came along the street," he said, "pondering my wretched plight and marveling if any other f>erson, under the canopy of heaven, had a worse burden than mine to stagger under; and, if so, could such a person ever wear a smile upon his face? As if in response to this mental interrogatory, I behold limping up the street an ex-Confederate soldier, clad in the tattered grey habit he had worn in battle and surrendered in at the last ditch. Faded, patched and ragged was that uniform which seemed to be his only refuge from nakedness itself. He had lost an eye, an arm and a leg. Poverty had made its abode in his old garments, and every rent in them had a mouth which spake with more than the eloquence of words. And yet, beneath that rusty garb the stout heart beat, and on that gallant face, grown old in war and tribulation, there was a smile of resignation and content. He even went up Broad street whistling some metry tune and looked the picture of anything but sullen desperation, though he had far more cause than thousands of others to abandon even the memory of a laugh. When I saw that man and remarked his composure and light-heartedness under circumstances of pe? culiar wretchedness, I felt ashamed of my own moral cowardice, and resolved that, rather than again murmur at my lot, I should get down upon my knees, night and morning, and thank God that I was, for no merit of my own, so much more favorably situated than hundreds of others, who had not been cloven down by a fiercer tornado than that which had made me prostrate, but not utterly forlorn." Is there not a saving lesson in that little an? ecdote of the poor Confederate soldier? Let it roll the stone from the sepulchre of too many hearts which become unduly morbid by too much self-contemplation. Let us all do the very best we can to endure the present af? fliction, hoping for more sunshine presently, and impressed with one truth, which is some? times never recognized until earthly props give way?that no matter what fatalities betide us at the hands of man, we can not be thrust from the immortal haven save by our own act, and that the way to heaven is more frequently strewn with thorns than with roses. Let, even the most sorely oppressed soul take courage, therefore, and, perchance the clouds will be suddenly swept away, revealing the supposed unmitigated calamity as a genuine blessing in disguise.?Augusta Constitutionalist. Destruction to Matches.?-The Paris cor? respondent of the London Daily yews writes, "I have just been shown a simple apparatus which will ere long sweep away the match ! trade. It is called the electrical tinder box, j and is small enough to be carried in a cigar j case. On opening this box you see a platinum wire stretched across. Touching a spring, the | wire reddens sufficiently to light a cigar. At | will you can introduce into a tiny sconce a mesh of cotton steeped in spirits of wine or pe? troleum, which, taking fire, does service as a ; vei/frusc, or nurse's lamp. The hidden agency which heats the wire is a very small electrical battery, set in action by the touching of the spring. The trade price of the electrical tin-, dcr-box will be half a franc, or five pence. Its i inventor promises that it will be an economical substitute for the luciier match. This appara- ? tus may perhaps derange the budget, which depends for a heavy sum upon the match tax and monopoly." ? Troubles are like dogs?the smaller they are, the more they annoy you. An Old Soldier of the Cross. Georgia is a great State. Until the admis? sion of Texas?Virginia, Michigan, Missouri, and Georgia were the iargest of our States, each having about sixty thousand square miles. Georgia has had a remarkable history. From the days of Oglethorpe down, she has had a succession of great men. In civil life, her list of worthies is long and brilliant. In her churches, too, she has had many won? derful men who have passed from earth. A long list of such men might easily be made. Some were Baptist, some Presbyterians, some Moravians, some Episcopalians, and some Methodists. The memories of these men are greatly cherished, especially by the neighbor? hoods or denominations to which they special? ly belonged. Some of them are historic char? acters. But my object at present is to speak of a liv? ing man, who has risen to great eminence in one of the churches. You are soon asked if you know him, or have heard him preach. Some say they would rather hear him than any other living man. I have heard him and was again. A friend, who belongs to the same branch of the church with himself, said: "When I hear him, I am satisfied that he is the best preacher I know, until I hear his son ; then I like the sou best until I again hear the father." This remarkable man of God was born in Halifax county, North Carolina, on the 24th of March, 1785. While he was yet a boy his fam? ily removed to Barn well District. South Caro? lina. In his sixteenth year the Lord drew him with the cords of love and the hands of a man, and led him to behold the Lamb of God. His exercise of mind were strongly marked. His conversion was followed by an early profession of religion. Not long after this his family re? moved to Washington county, Ga. In 1SU4 he was regularly authorized to preach. He dis? pensed Go'd's words with much zeal and accept? ance in many parts of South Carolina and Georgia for eight years. The old people on Lynch's Creek, Great Pedee, Oconce, and other places, tell you of having heard him in child? hood, or of hearing their parents talk of him. The cities of Columbia, Milledgeville, and Au? gusta, also have pleasing traditions of his early ministry. Pretty early in the war of 1S12 he became a chaplain in the army. It is seldom that he now meets with any of the heroes of that day. They have generally passed away. During the war he studied medicine, and after the war was over he attended medical lectures in Philadel? phia, took his degree of Doctor of Medicine, settled in Greensboro', Georgia, and practiced the healing art for six years. But it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. God had other and better work for him to do. He re? turned to the pulpit with new zeal, and a de? termination to spend and be spent in proclaim? ing salvation. His labors have been chiefly in Georgia, though often rendering good service to the cause of God in other States, especially in South Carolina. His early education was very imperfect. He went to school not more than six months. But his mind was active, eager and inquiring. He cried after knowledge, and lifted up his voice for understanding. He sought her as silver, and searched for her as for hid treausure. Of course he found the knowledge of God. He has not slighted philosophical studies. At times he has paid much attention to mental science. But his reading through life has been chiefly theological. The fountain of all-saving knowl? edge?the word of God?has claimed most at? tention. In his constituent elements his mind seems to be a rare combination of the poetic and met? aphysical. He has very unusual power of at? tention. For hours he can fix bis thoughts on one subject. He is very happy in incorpora? ting practical remarks with abstract thoughts. He thus makes a dry theme attractive to a pro? miscuous congregation. His style, far re? moved from meretricious ornament, is yet al? ways neat and quite ornate. But he never so wreathes the sword in flowers as to hinder its cutting power. For mere ornament, he seems not to care at all. His fingers are part of his argument. They explain his meaning and deepen the impression he seeks to make. He has had one of the finest voices. It is now a little broken. But still it is pleasant. It is commonly clear, full and sonorous. For hours he speaks without weariness or change. He always gives pleasure and not pain by his manner of speaking. Of course he is natural. At times he says very terrific things in very solemn tones; but commonly his utterances are winning and tender. His early ministry was attended with won? derful effects. At times he expresses concern that his ministry has not the signs following that once accompanied it. In this he is not alone. Others are much of the same mind re? specting their labors. This venerable man's piety is the charm of his character. The Bible, the Church and the Saviour are the themes of his thoughts. Out? side of Christ's kingdom he appears to have no business. From him current events gain but a passing notice; but he will talk by the hour of the Church?past, present and to come. His old age is serene and cheerful, and the mellowed light of his long day promises a clear sunset and a blessed, glorious eternity. His history is blessed ; his person is blessed ; his influence is blessed ; thousands call him blessed. Yet should he read this (but for dates) he would never suspect that it was of himself he was reading. His humility hides his excellences from his own eyes. Perhaps I ought to say that I have been writing of Rev. Dr. Lovick Pierce, the father of Bishop George Foster Pierce, both of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Dr. Pierce has been an active preacher for seventy years, and will, in a few days, be ninety years old. Grace, mercy and peace be unto him al? ways !?Ncto York Observer. ? The present rage for spelling schools revives an anecdote of Gen. Scott. He had drawn np the rough draft of an order, in which the word "wagon" occurred. The Gen? eral inserted one "g" too many, and his clerk, on discovering it, timidly asked on what authority he spelled "wagon" with two "g's. "On the authority of Lieutenant General Scott, commanding the armies of the United States, sir!" thundered the old General, The clerk thought the authority sufficient. ? The modem Damon and Pythias are liv? ing at South Abington, Mass. They are the two oldest living graduates of Brown Univer? sity, it is said, and are both over 90 years old. I They were born in the town, are members of! the same church, were partners in practising! law, served together as Representatives in the Legislature, and are connected by family ties. They are both in good health. ? In Germany, at onetime, the period of mourning was prescribed by law. A widow must drop the "tributary tear" from six months to a year, while the widower was allowed to assuage his grief and solace his loneliness with another spouse after six weeks, or, at the most, 1 six months. Miss Anthony says "it is easy to-I gee which sex made that law." not at all di: inted. I hope to hear him BALTIMORE INDUSTRIES. Wholesale Boot and Slioe Establishment of T. J. Magruder & Co. The hoofs of nearly all quadrupedal animals impressively indicate the wisdom and goodness of the Creator. The cushioned feet of the camel and other animals adapted to the hot and yielding sands of the desert, reveal how wonderful is the contrivance which protects the brute creation from injuries which would otherwise occur and cripple their locomotion. The human being, however, has no such natu? ral provision. The savage goes with his feet bare and his body naked, but civilized man is forced to depend upon his reason and create his resources, and to exhibit his inventive ge? nius. Among the nations of antiquity, sandals were first used to protect the feet, and were made of wood, leather, felt or cloth, and were often shod with iron. They consisted of a simple sole fastened to the foot by thongs. In ^gyptj papyrus and palm leaves were made up into sandals, and various fashions prevailed, some ot them turning up in front, others only protecting the sides and heels of the feet. Among the Jews the wearing of sandals was general, and as with most nations of. the East, they were worn only when walking on the rough and uneven surface of the ground, being removed upon entering their dwellings.? Among the Romans the art of sandal making was carried to a high degree of perfection, ana in the luxurious days of the Empire, the san? dals woru by the women were beautiful and expensively ornamented. During the middle ages the fashions of shoes became 60 extrava? gant and eccentric as to call forth denunciation from the pulpit, and stringent laws were passed for checking the extravagant display and waste? ful expenditure, but it was soon discovered that legislative enactments and priestly anathemas were alike impotent against senseless fashion and extravagance. The manufacture of shoes in the United States began early in colonial times, and Lynn shoe manufacturing dates al? most to the landing of the pilgrims in 1620. The first shoemakers that set foot upon these shores were Thomas Beard and Isaac Riekman, who bore across the ocean with them letters of recommendation, aud upon their arrival agreed with the New England Co. to work for them at shoe making for their dyctte (board) and lodging, and ten pounds sterling per annum. The New England Co. was so sharp, that it re? quired a certificate from under the hand of "whomsoever they shall be so dyetted and lodged, how long a tyme they have remained with them, in case they shall otherwise dispose of themselves before the yeare bee expired, or at leastwise at the end of each yeare, to the end wee may beere receive paym't according to this ad. ngreeme't, and that the said Thomas Beard hath in the shippe May Flower, divers hydes both for soales and vpp leathers, wch. bee intends to make vpp in botes and shes in this country." At that time of day, shoes were made with sharp toes and wooden heels, from one inch to two inches and a half high and covered with leather, and not until 1800 were wooden heels discarded and leather used in? stead. At that period a woman seldom had more than one pair of shoes in a life time, and not until her wedding day, after the ceremony, were they taken off and preserved for genera? tions. In 1670 shoes with straps and buckles began to be worn, and this fashion continued for a long period. The first invention of any importance in shoe making was the pegging machine, and the next great iuvention ?vas the stitching machine, patented in 1845. Then in 1861 came the hardly less important McKay sewing machine for stitching the uppers and bottoms together. In the city of Baltimore are vast shoe indus? tries unsurpassed in excellence of workman? ship, and prominent among them are the wholesale manufacturers aud dealers, T. J. MAGRUDER & CO., NO. 1 HANOVER ST. This firm are truly the pioneers in the boot and shoe business in the United Slates. It was established in 1844, in the city of Washington, and in the early career of this house, the pro? prietors were compelled to travel in the good old stage way, away down East to purchase their stock, and three weeks in its accomplish? ment was considered an expeditious trip. The present firm consists of T. J. Magruder, the senior partner, who is the vice president of the shoe and leather exchange, and the son, Mr. Littleton Magruder. A short time previously, it included the elder son, Mr. Hamline Magru? der, whose sudden death occasioned a bereave? ment, not only poignant to this bouse, but to the business aud social circles of Baltimore city. The present firm carry on a large trade with almost the entire South and Southwest, and in their large warehouse, 25 feet front and 75 feet deep and five stories high, can be found a large and select stock of boots, shoes aud brogaus. The importance of the boot and shoe trade of Baltimore, can be comprehended by a few extracts from the report of the Shoe and Leather Trade, of January, 1S75. It cheerful? ly announces the fact, "that this important branch of business has been making healthful progress toward making Baltimore the great centre for the shoe and leather trade for the South and West, and that there is no reason to doubt, that our foreign commerce, inland trade and manufactures will assume ere long the largest proportions, and are now attracting the attention of the entire country, and that the day is not distant when Baltimore will manu? facture shoes and leather for the entire country South and West of us, aud that during the past year great improvements have been made in "the style and quality of goods manufactured in Baltimore, and this fact is becoming known to bnyers and is being appreciated by them, and Baltimore dealers and manufacturers, under? standing the taste and wants of Southern and Western merchants, gives special attention to their requirements, by which means the largest buyers can be supplied in the Baltimore mar? ket, aud on terms as favorable as in any East? ern city, for with rents and other expenses scarcely one-fourth of those paid in New York, the jobbers and commission merchants can afford to sell at manufacturer's prices. As ev? idence of the progress of this branch of indus? try, in Lc74, the sales of wholesalers and re? tailers of boots and shoes amounted to $S,000, 000, of manufacture, $7.000,000, rubber boots and shoes, Si,000,000, auction sales, $750,000, sales of leather, $4,000,000, sales of hides, $1,375,000, kip, calf-skins and upper leather, $450,000, and we have in our midst, in this department of industry, 30 large shoe factories, using the most improved machinery, giving employment to over -1.000 operatives, and have in active business 30 jobbing, commission and auction houses, and it is an admitted fact that our leather dealers and tanners produce the best sole leather made in this or any other country.?Baltimore Trade Review. ? Mrs. Jane Swisshelm lays down the broad principle that, of the male portion of the hu? man race, "only in the cotiin is it safe for a woman to kiss any one man in a thousand." It is with some diffidence that .we.remark we are that "one man" among a thousand.