Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, February 22, 1874, Page 5

e e i l l | nd one may also pass two or three of those rural sotilements so emgularly expres. Bive of countuy life, consisting for the most ‘part ridor the inmates were lying on the floor in.an almost golid humaa mass, but_stepping over .- - MONETARY. - more dolog for April than herotofors. Seller March opened ¢ 8121, advanced to 81.213¢, roceded to #1.90, rose to SLI13, Forelgn Markets. THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1R74 %*—_—*W SUFFERING HUMANITY, each sid : - MARKETS BY TELEGRAPIL A Night at the Cook County Poor-House. bna Compact Mass of Sweltering Paupers, The Horrers of the 0ld Armory Gut- done, attempt to Pack 400 Persons in One i Room. Ko Ventilation, No Bathing, Nothing but Vermin. Women and Men Equelly Squalid and Wretched, The Stek and the Sound Living Side by Side, Toe wretched Beals, and How They Are Eafen. Tt is tho proud boast of the people of the West, that, whatever may be their faults growing out of asudden.successful growth almost immeasar- sile by snything in the world's history, we ‘ave csught no spirit of meanness, and cannot be charged with inhumanity or an ungenerons trait. There are none of us, in fact, but would resent, 38 o personal indignity, sn impatation cpon our common hopor and generosity. It is usasl with ©s to believe that our hearts and bands sro ever open to distress, and that kind- pess, untinged by a critical or suspicrons ro- gairement, is one of the qualities to which we amay justly lay claim. Indeed, as Ohicagosna, =2 bave nccepted benefactions freely, even proudly, in the consciousness timt tho noble rentiment that inspired the doners was one om- ‘mon to our own hearts, and that we wonld re- past towards our fellow-men when occasion effered. Aside from this inferential proof that charity abideth with s, we also have the direct remem- trance of active deeds which noed not be alluded to. The proposition is clsar, howerer, and roc- ognized by all, that, as we aspire to present to tke world a civilizztion as vigorous as young manhood, we boasat that it is fetterod by no small vice or meannees, -and, havinglread the lesson of how the mother countriss have oppressed the poor and indigent. have bound little children to Eves of underground slavery, and bave tortured the limbs of the insane by shackles, and penned the poor fogether like hards of cattle, it has been the common resolve that no such blot zhould mar our fair pioture, or no such shame bo branded upon our history. The manmnmer of treating the desolate and oppressed, and the outcast or nnfortunate, has, on the contrary, been concedod to be the test by which our hu- masity and civilization sy bo messured, sad o Ei:e is felt that, in this particular, this country 86t 30 example to 21l the world. Itisneedless to say that the peopls of this diy have shown an honorable rivalry in the fif“k of benevolence alluded to, and, in giving ¢ particolars which follow, it is believed that the condition im which our most prominent charity—nsmely, the County Poor-House—is found is dus, 0Ot to a0 Intention to nval the daye of the Inquisition ard throw the gloom of the Dark Agos over any man's life, but comes nither from ignorande of the state of affairs ‘which exists, and which need but to be exposed $0 bring au ample reparation and improvement. . THE POLICE-BTATION. Inother yeare, the place where the grestest smount of foul and disgusting misery could bo viewed, was the South Sido Police-Station. In- zocenco did moOt often find its uowllling way there; it was the temporary abode of criminals ; 2od the ropulsive soenes of the Armory did not excite the same horror that we would feel in looking at the sorrows of those who wers pau- pers, and not Jaw-breckers. It is not pleasant %o thik that the discomforts which msde a night's stay at the Armory =0 intolersble should tvexceeded in many respecta by those at the Poor-House, and vet, as the following state- ment will show, such is anhappily the case. Let us compare the two: _ ECENES BY NIGHT. . After tho . fire the South Bide Police- Btation was in a frame addition to the Jones situsted on Harrison streer, near ugh its utter rottenncas and impregnation ~ with _damp this frame Ifliir-iun survived the fire, and was immndinte:fi ccoverted into & police-station. It wassm; and filthy, and fairly swarmed with insect lifo. Tho quarters for the men were miserabie, for the prisoners s little better. The lock-up con- taived four or five cella and a small corxidor, aad into this were compactly squeezed the ac- tumulation of miscreants captured between Baturday at noon and Monday morning. How they managed to live through those wretchod bowrs nobody_can tell but themselves. The practics of raiding houses of ili-fame was then tully in vogue, and sometimes ten or a dozen of these mlch:a dives wonld be *‘pulled,” and the inmates carried off to the station-house, The special-bail system was not working, and Eometimes 28 many as sixty women and seventy- five men wero packed awayin those narrow quartera for thirty-six hours, breathing an at- mosphere whica would have killed most people. Modesty fornade the commingling of the sexes Inthe corridor, and the miserable cbaracter of the accommodations preveated any very comfor- tablo arrangement. - The alternative was that the'one sex should cocupy tho cells, while the other roamed at in the small corridor. Hence the mep, sometimes seventy-five in num- ber, wero densely packed in these five cells whils the womon were loft to gather what sleep they conld outside Here wero men ar- rested; some of them innocent men, for all Borts of crimes, and penned in, twelve or fifteen of themin n cell 9 feet square; the miserable wretch whose detention was csused by the petty malics perhaps of some persecutor, with the man’ whose crime was murder; breathing the tame pestilential air with the filthy drunkard whose” intoxication was too revolting to be drelt upon, and persecuted by the half- dozen young thieves snd loafers whom habit sendered indifferent to their surroundings. To14d to the horrors of the situation, one great fellow would be unding the life out of three or four others, and the open sewer which flomed throngh the line of cells was froquently red Tith blood shed by violence in the cell above. Thisas thirty-six Rours of misery were pubish- ment enongh for any petty offense, sucely, with- out the infliction of ‘a heavy fine. Bat thero were worse horrors yet. The women outeide would fight smong themselves, tear oach atiers clotiung snd hair, bite, Eoratch, swear,and tmeg, till one, peeping through the cranny in s door,would sk that hell jtaelf had vomited it demony into that_parrow corridor. Thers ¥eze sights £o be seen here which cannot be re- corded, but which were worse than any we have mpted to -describe. Sometimes among the Tomen, thus undergoing moral reformation, cne uld see a fair girl not more than 18 years of &ump 28 set to these scenes of depravity, nking in terror to the furthest part of the fomidor, and, petrified with horror, listen to 8 ruvibgs of the demmons around he- ¢ THE POOR-TOTSE. Now to show how the unfortanste sre treatod : 3 recent occasion s reprosentative of this PA%ar was sent 10 investigate the condition and :q 3 of the Poor-House, which it ic well known ocated at Jefferson, some 8 milea northwest- ¥erd of the city, Being thus ont of sight and %t of mind, no doakt much of the misery and fTeting that attaches to it arises from this fac o, onder dady public inspeotion, it woul ::mely Temain an hour asit is. The day chosen w THE TRIP THITHER 1124 Plessant one, and aa the omnibus, sasying fsdof Lrom one'to a dozen subjecis,—rarely vathan ten, —zoss ont aaily in the afiernoon, it T4 concluded to make the jonrney in that way. b:g' Toad over the prairie 18 usually a good one. vio o this sesson of tho year, when spring aud ster alternnte in thawing and froezing, it I8 {oY Jompy, and, thersfore, tedious, Thoss who <! interested, fowever, wonld bo repaid by the focursion, and, by choosing the early morning (b visit, wouid avoid many dieadvantages. s 518000 at he country outside gives an_excel- ufl- Yiew of an Hlinois prairie, brown and level A bam-floor, and stretcliing away for miles on of a Post-Offico and notion-store combined, ‘and 3 comer road groggery, where the drinking of anything less strong than whisky is looged upon 28 an effeminate rolapse from menliness, Passing over suc's a country and through !such ecenes as theeo, at about 5 p. m. the Insano Asylum and its near neighbor, the Poor-Hous, showed fromiclves plpon ihe outatratched prairie. ¢ former ding is & somowhat im- posiog and gracofal ove, but> H THE COUNTY HOUSE, being tho mosaic work of & quarter of a centary of Commissioners and Superintendents, is a shambling, helter-skelter series of wooden build- ings, hidden behind a decent brick front, ludicrously reminding one of the newly-washed {ace of o ragged newsboy. It looks out toward the passer-by on tho country rosd with all the brazen impudenco of "a long success: fal deception, but, upon f{nvestigation, it is at onco discovered that it is altogether too much after tho fashion of the apples of tho Dead E:i?kn.nd chat all is rotten inside the articlo of Back of the smart facing extend the wings and ontbuildings, which are built of wood, and ars not unlike tho nhanties of fire days, except that they are coverod with a thin vencering of hite- wash, which is a chesp mothod of hiding de— formty. § The Tacade of the main building extends abont 100 feot. It is usod a5 tho women's quarters, and will decently sccommodate about 150 persons. The 1ear part is of wood. Immediately back of this, 88 8 right wing, & ehabby frame, twostorica high,extonds in agort of helf-aquare; unattached, but to the right of this, is a lon; , low shed, which is used for » bospital, ‘It would sell for abont $200, and possivly cost $1,000 10 war timos. Ouve hundred and eevonty patients sy inside its paper walls. Clioging around these central ob- Jects are other shantiea of the same general ap- pearance and character, all of them, with the ex- ception of the main front and sides,—and these ars liko an overcoat with no back,—being of balloon construction, and_offering aa littlo re- sistance to the prairis winds as pine clapboards usually do; indeed, not 8o mucl, for docay has worn upon them for years. Back of the guarters about 50 rods is located the Potter's Field, or burying-ground, dotted over with wooden headboards, and affording & cheerful sad suggestive offering of rolease for the unfortunato to contemplate whon they can walk out or look from the hospital windows, TIE JAX. Into theso various buildings, which would shelter—not accommodate—something liko 350 porsons, are crowded and herded togethor e shoep in the shambles, or hoga in the slaughtering-pens st DBridgeport, near 850 human beingw (the number has latoly beon reduced from 1,000 by the discharge of soma who might earn a living outside). Among those are 170 patients in the hospital, all that can be crowded in, and, to the shame of humanity be it ssid, fitty or sixfy more, suffering from disoases and complaints that require attention, are ob- liged to herd with tho main mass and sproad their contagion among the unfortunate healthy ones. THE SCENE AT NIGET. This nest presents s scene at night which boggars description. Entering the department known 25 the womsn's ward, and passing through successively the divislon sot aside for a lying-in room aud that used by the very old women, of whom thero are twenty or more, the main femalo department is entezed. A narrow hall formsn part of it, and off from this hall are a numbar of chambers with grated doors, simitaz to |those to be seenin tho old County Jail. The victims of poverty aro spared the indiguity of beiog locked in thess cells, howover, amd the_explanation of their being there 18 that this buildiug was for- morly used for the inesne, sod the daugerous were locked in these dens. Being in the central part of the building, aud baving no opening but the door, there is absolutely no ventilation. THE WOMEN'S CELLS. i 8Lill thoy are luxurions as compared to some of the chambers, and five or six women find them 1o be excellent slespinz-apartments, alittls close porhaps, but better than tho bleak flelds with- out,—nltogether better. In £ize they are possibly T feet by 10, and aro fitted umilh Tude cots, on which straw mattresses are thrown. Fortunate- 1y, it is warm enough inside them not to requiro bed-clothing. Human flosh generatea almost as much Loat &3 s bed-quilt, if it is packed com- pactly enough. THE CHILDREN. ‘This corrodor leads into the main room, in which, with tie outlying balls ana other con- nected apartments, but mostly in this one room, 200 woroen and eighty children find & lodging- place. For the accommodation and use of this throng, there i8 a beth-room, in one corner, to which water may be brought by hand, and once in four or fivo wecks tho juxury of s wash may bo indulged ip, if the woman is not too frail and feeble to assort her rights. This room is rough- 1y estimated to be about fifty by thirty feet. Tho bods are pilzd on the floor and slong the walls, somewhat indiscriminately, 80 s to use all the ace. Running about the spartment, half essed or entirely naked. were the eighty little Ones, in the various pursuits to which children are addicted, crying, playing, or screaming with Inughter. Tho women wers seated upon the floor, in deop dejection, and chowing the cud of bitter thought, or else gathered in knots of two or three, hugging their knoes and chattering in dolefal ‘sympathy. - There Wwas DO jOy 820D them, but the common orrow seomed all the more marked by the mirth and carelessness of the childron. There were no emiles a8 tho at- tendants passed along, but only a blank stare of rige or a scowl as of dread rather than ex- poctation was inspired by the sight of & strange face. ‘An incident that occurred Iast weok will illus- trate the crowded and shamefal condition of the fomalo department better than any words can do. A-woman complained of being sick, but, thero being no bed for her in the hospital, she was allowed to lie on a cot in one of the wards, and here, in tho presence of a number of other omen, who were making quilts, sewing, snd doing other work, while children and female at- tendants were running in and out, a child was born to her, the physician in_attendance dis- charging his duties while the others were in tho room, there being no place to zend them, sod no place in whick to secure a decent privacy for the mother. THE MALE PAUPERS. . Paseing out of - this apartment and standing for a few moments in the open air_ontside, to rid the lungw and clothing of the sickening at- ‘Tosphere of the place, the Superintendent, who bad shown every courtesy snd spparently com- ‘miserated the condition of hia _charge in the deepest degreo, suggested that the visitor should next visit the anmem of the male paupers, who would be found up stairs. 1t was then about 9 o'clock, and the bell was ringing whic eigoaled all to propare for bed. At hflipwfi 9 all the lights are put out, except one which hangs in Ak wain cisibar. " Thinis allowed to burn an hour later. - Taking & long breath of fresh air, which had never scemed #o great 8 luxury beforo, the per- sons comprising the party asconded the stairway. They had need to have purified themselves, for, ‘apon opening the door, the fetid and poisonous atmosphere, emanating from 400 beings in all stages of uncleanliness and disesse, rushed out and fairly staggered them. It waa at once dis- covered that TOE ONLY MEANS OF YENTILATION ‘was to open & window and let the cold airin. This conld not be done, 28 all the space was nsed for aleeping room, sad the windows, in fact, were closed by the wooden famework which encircled the apartment, snd formed the structare on which the elevated beds were made, or thrown. There was, therafore, no chance of renewing the air or expelling the foul sud sickly odor. o sdd to the intensity of this, inthe centre of theroom a large stove, which is tha only means of beating that 1s available, was fired up o & scorching warmth. BURBOUNDING THE SIOVE on all sides were » number of wooden benches, upon which were sealed s score or more of tat- tered and uncouth vlgmhnh!, ‘with d{flblucl\ed] m% dejected appearance, who wera s fair sample of tha rest. oy werd attired for the most part— though an occasional semi-respectable _articlo ‘would relieve the monotony—in such bedraggled rags and tatters 85 are thrown into the streets. ‘Theso were tied on, or'rudely patched together apon their gaant’ forma with littlo effort to do moro thau cover exposed parts and shield them from the wind. They were also unshaven, and with matted hair and lowor- ing visage looked as ncar akin to beaten and desperato animsls as humanity need approach. Thera were others, however, who aroused pity instesd of torror, and no doubt many were there who bad seen days when a cheerful “and happy home, and children's fove, or the fondaess of & wife, walcomea them to the evening fireside. The great God, ooly, seems to know the history andthe sorrows of the poor. That it may bo known that their nncleanliness is not their osn orthe Wardew's fault, it should be stated that thero in only one bath-tab for all the males in tho inatitation, and, a8 this s ic continual nse for the newly-received, an {omate has only one bath daring tho timo of his sojourn, snd ihis is given him the dzy be is recoived. 0 luxury is 10 were M, 8 Besond thess T ¥ 0 e Were, moting eS8, Ugbt ehowed & e approaching, these were dusky forms. d to be men prepanng for rest, and many :rfiflnadyinthait_ bunks. In'the large cor- them and between them, way was made back eomo distance, and there the reeding stmosplicre becoming overpowaring, the sttondant held the b over his head and sud: ‘“‘Look around.” The ‘sight from this spot was like nothivg 8o much as the startling of a nest of rats in the docks, or in Bome warehouso collar, In every direction dusky forms could be scen clambering up the frame-work, or in the act of disrobing, half recliving, or in some other attis tude of preparation for the night. THE DUNES. The wide bunks, which aro built like the sec- tions in & steamboat-cabin, except that they aro of unplaned . timber and plank, are made about seven feet in width and probably eight fect high, thus giving two compartments or borths, the lower and upper, In size they are about 12 foot by 7. and stand closely sido by sido. “ How mauy elecp in one of those bunks?" aaked the reporter. ¢ Oh about twelve or thirteen.” *Twelvo or thirtcon! How do they got in 7" ‘; Cvny they sleep with thoir heads nexi to the wall” “Dothey? Thon they circle all around tho room.” . One man's elbow touches tho noxt,” #And on the floor ¢ Yos, on the floor the samo way.” # And no windows open. No light, no air, the same smell, tho same hest, the same noise 7 ++ Just tho samo.” + And you say.that thero are fifty or sixty sick inhere?” - “Yes; and that i not all. ‘For the rooms swarm with vermin. The cots and bed-clothing aro liverslly alive with thom. We cannot keep the men clean, and wo cannot drivo the parasites away unless they aro clean. It is a hopoless task. It will alweys result {rom the crowding so meny together. Wo have had more in here. There are now anly about 400.” * For Heaven's sake let us get out; thisstench is nnbearable. g THE EARLY MORNING. 1t was a resolution firmly wakeu, however, that 00 personal discomfort shuuld_doter him from seeing this pitifol and shameful scens at its worst, snd the reporter accordingly repaired to the quarters again at 4 o'clock in the morning, this time being alons. Ascending the_staircase as tho groy morning light was boginning to ap- pear, he opened tho door and stopved inside. Tao inmstes, with two or tlroe exceptions, were buried in a deep slumber. The deep, sonorous breathiog and tho unquict starts of the deapens were plainly audible, The bLorrible odor of the human poison was intensified a hundred fold by tho nccretions of the night, snd it was aimost more than could be borne fo endureit, It soemod, indeed, n fit place to realizo the droam of Dante or to repicture the Courts of Hell. But ono step, surely, mtervened. Hero wero men in thoir lowest 'easthly estate, tho wrocks of men. hopeless, either for pity or grace, come $0 dotpair ‘and to batno, kil Ol enelog to Iifo from » dumb iustingt, or & hozriolo fear, and finally, their fingers yiolding their clutch’ and falling, falling, ah! who knows whera? Dos- perate, indced, must bo the lifo_that would en- dare this condition for lifo's sake, and © that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns,” sud which no sin-laden man aver yot darod fenrlessly to enter, cannot be worso than this. With such, and kindred roflec tions, tho hour that interveved between tho wak- ing of tho paupers waa passed in and around the building. BREAEFAST. At T o'clock tho bell was rung for breakfast. This meal (?) is served in the basement of tho building. Thero are thrce rows of tables mado of rough boards, with wooden benches for seats, extending the wiole length of the room. Near the centro_is & furrace upon which a large iron tankk or boiler is se, and zilled with water. Into this s substance, composed of burnt bread, poas, and chickory is thrown, thus producing the com- pound called coffee, which costs tho county 16 cents apound. There is a rule which requires it to be bought in the berry, bat thia 18 ignored by the Commissioner. A Liunk of broad is then cut oft, and, with s tin-capfal of the mixture alluded to, and a spoonful of syrup, which has been con- demned by the Board of lleaith, the vagrant is provided with bis repast. He needs no speon or Enifo to eatit with, as there is nothing to st or spread. If he happons to be a sick man, tos, which costs nominally 23 centa s ponnd, but roally 16, is made up and served to him. But ons cannot alwaye bo sick and bavo these delightful condiments. In orderto sccommodata the 750 guests all tha tables are set five times and loaded down with the luxurics epoken of. Dinner con- sists of soup and the soup-meat, wita turnips, Potatoes are not furnished, as they cost too much. -Only two meals per dsy are given. THE HOEPITAL. The littlo wooden building in which the sick and maimed are placed has siready been attend- edto. Itcontsins at the prosent time 170 pa- tients, of whom half aro women. ltis divided into two wards, and in these some of the most tornible forms of diseaso known to afllict the human family may bo seen. Thereis po valuo or interest attaching to_& description of any of these, but that the stricken inmates aro herded togother without any sanitary accommodations, in » building that is no protection agaiust the cold westher, and with 1o shield agsinst person. al infection, having only ono bath-tub for tho whole numbor, argues either that “ pity has fled o brutish beaits," or that tho people of Chicage and tho rich County of Cook have Jong suffercd 2n outrago to cxist because they knew it not. Soma may claim that the able-bodied poor should find » means to live, but nono surely willdemand thata human being crushed under afliction should lie by the rondside and die like a dog. In conelusion, to obligo & human being to live in such a placo s the County Poor-House and its varions departments is shown to be, ia to offer Lim a premium to become a criminal. | There is Do jail or prison-pen in tho country tnat can compare with it in indecency, filth, diecase- breoding qualities, or in depriving lifo of every incentive to reform, indastry, and purity. Once becoming 21 inmate, tho peapor must feel that forever after his hand is ngaunet Lis fellow, and nothing he can do, or man can do in return, will surpass tho horror that ho experienced when ho Lecamo tho object of charity in this place, where Hope nevcr comes ‘That comes to all. That innozent men and women, unfortunste persons who have seen better days and have nothing but kindness in their hearts, or arc, ‘perhaps, too weak'to cope with the world, an wonld craw] away into somo corner and live tho residue of their lives; or that old people, hiks hundreds that are to bo scon at this place,should have to submit to such an indignity and ehame asis put mpon them is enough to make them turn with horror from the humsn race, lift ap their voices, curse God, and die. The Poor-House fas ever been s rank and neglected weed in thegarden of life. Tero are not wanting hoarts to commiserato the condition of the poverty-stricken, but there ate few who visit them, or do not turn awsy.in disgust at the sight of the abject .and _.wo-begone wretch. t entire forgotfulness of their atate, and the inadeqnato_preparntion - made for: them in the rapid growth of this city from & villaga o a me- tropolis, should result, is not, therefors, so strange, _Thoy have mot beea under di- rect notice, and ths. natural repugmance of the mind to contemplate depravity and vrretchedness is an universal trait. Thero is littlo doubt that our poor have been thus for- otten. Stony-heartod xud grinding men, who ve seen in their condition only an_wnmanli- ness, or despair, for which thoy could acconnt on no hypothesis bat that of lazincss, have used their places and power to “ coin thoir blood into drachmas,” There are evidences of this most inhumen of speculations &l over tho prequses. The ™ food, or alop, that is doled ont to -them: the condition of their bods and bodics, of their shabby stalls in which they are penned like human cattle, and which to the casual outward gaze zre of respect- sblo appearance,—asido from tho abusos, whict bave been pointed out, load most clearly to the conclusion that. the inmates of the County-Houss, sunk foo low in tho scale of humanily to raise their voices this xido of the grave, are plunged togetber in s foul and fetid maes on which some mmen- gloat and fatten, and continue their petty spoculations at 'the cost of human misery and despair. That this wealthy county, which =ssesses but s comp-nhvally emall tax for such charities, should longer negleot to re- move this stain from its fair ame must seem incredible to those humanitarians who bave looked upon us as_the model of modern enter- prise and modern liborality. —————— 2 A Mahommedan Legend. According to the orthodox creed of Islam, women will bo ssved with men and sll be made young_again—all except ono woman. Joseph, Fhea Viceroy of Egvpt, was riding .one dav, when an old womansgeized his reins aod demand- ed alms. He turned to look at her, and was so her appearance that he iovoluntaril “How terriblys bomely you are! “Then,” #aid the old woman, * Why don't yon pray toGod, who answers all your prayers, and B5E him to make me besutiful?” _Whercapon Joseph lifted up his hands and prayed for her, ana instantly beheld her standing by him young and lovely, 2o lovely that he loved her and made her his wife. Bho lived long after him, and died very sged, and_went to_Heaven, and is an old woman thers now, and th only old woman there, for God makes all good women young asgiln once. and she can never be made young azain. BATURDAY EvINTNG, Feb, 21, . In the local money market, business continues dall snd money sbundaat. The aaily clearings of the banks now avernge only about two-thirds as much 28 they did » month ago. The rates of interest in the open market aré nominally main- tained at 10 per cent for thirty and mixty-day loans, and 8 per cent on call, though there is & good deal more money offered at these rates than finds borrowers. New York exchenge was quotable at 50c per 81,000 discount to-day. The movement on the part of some of the banks to bave Mondsy, the 23d, kept as & holi- , becauso some of the banks did not ed in making such an sgreement. Tho "Clearing-House will, therefore, be open for business at the usual bour on Mon- day, and itis to be prosumed that the backs iil alse. Tho banks have no legal right to de~ mand the payment .to-day (Snturdsy) of notes maturing on Mondsy, as they would if Monday were s logal holiday, and as they probably would 10t consent to defer the payment of snch notes unotil Tuesday, thers is mo way but for them to keep open. ~ The 22d of February is, however, o oifl Loliday in New York, snditis understood that Monday, the 23d, will be ob- served 85 a holiday in tbat city. “The clearings of the ‘Chicago banks for the ‘weel were : Balances. $197,5%0,80 20,378.01 163,215,240 221,246.19 240,225.47 197,430.25 $1,248,034.96.« LTBETLES 1,652,200.49 Messrs. Preston, Kean & Co. quoto Govern- ounty, and city bonds as follows this United States 65 of 81, Thnited States 5208 of ‘Ga. “United States 5-40s of '64. United States 5-208 of %5 Tnitod_States 6-206 of '65—Jani- ary and Jaly. .. 1195 Untied States 5206 and July, Thited United States currunoy Gs. Gold (full weight) Gold coupona. Gold exchiangs. .-, ... Sterling ... $4.85@4.58; 98 & int. Yol kint. 98 &int. 99% &int. Town, county, and_ city 10 per cent bonds : K@K a Buying. Selting. 1608 war 1812 100 18 120w war 1812 125 187 155 18 120 197 asane 118 The following quotations of local stocks are farniehed by Messra. Hammond & Gage: Bid. Asked. 135 15 140 5 100 National Bank of Iilinols. 105 Hational Bonk of Commer 10 1% 110 LATEST. New Yonr, Feb, 31— 3oney closed easy at 4@5 ver cent on call. Fxcnange dull this afternoon, zod somewhat nominal at $4.84 for privato bunkers' 60 days, and £4.875¢@4.88 for demand. Gold opened st 11254, advazced to 113%, snd closed at 1123, Rates paid for carrying wero 834, 5, and 2 por oént, and for borrowing fat. Clearings $51,000,000. Treas operations for the week at New York included disburaemonts of $844,000,0n account of intorest in the redemption of 5-20 bonds, and receipts of $2,774,905 for cus- toms. Spocie exporta for the wook, $447,00 $232,000 being goid, principally Amaticav, ' I ports, same time—dry goods, £349,000 ; me: chan- dise, 86,166,000, Governmenta stosdy, and considerablo done, State bonds steady, with the excoption of “Tennessacs, old and néw, which ware active and higher, } " Stocks opened dull, with a slight advance; but at the first Board declined 3{ to 1 per cent. Coy C., C. & L. was an exception, sdvancing to 86, subsequently declining to 83. Toward the closs thor was & partial Tecovery, and the mar. ket left off steady. The sales botween 10 and 2 were 86,000 sharos, of which 21,000 wero Western Union, 10,000 Union Pacific, 8,500 Ohios, 3,000 BL. I'atil, 16,000 fako Snoro, 8,000 Northwost- ern, and 8,000 Atinntic & Pacic preferred. a0 Coupens, 81 Coupons, 6: Coupons, Coupons, 65, Coupons, 65 Missourls .. Tenncescos, Tennesscos, new., Virginias, new. £ ieginiss, old 36 943" Inf old.. . 03I Nouh Creoliass, oid. 29 E}i (North Carolinss, new.19 Quicksilver;, Adams; Exgress. Wells Farga ... Americen Bxpress. United States Ex. Pacific Alsil, .+ 58%) - 5% [Central Pacific bonds. 96X |Del., Lack. & Western.1113; 2 07K New Jersey Central..107 |Boston, Hart, & Erie. 5t Pa - 48%| Losne, increase, Specle, decresse. Zegal-ieaders, increase. Deposita, increase.. Circulation, inczeas COMMERCIAL. BATURDAY EvENTNG, Feb, 21, The following were the receipts and shipments of the leading acticles of produce in Chicago during the past twenty-four hours. The eorre- sponding date one year ago was s boliday : RECKIFTE. SHIPMENTS, 1874, s Dressed b No...| Live hoge, %o Cattle, No. ‘Withdrawn from store on Friday, for city con- sumption : 700 bu wheat, 5,252 bu corn, 1,210 bu oate, 3,930 burye, 338 bu barloy. Withdrawn for do during the week: 3,170 bu wheat, 8,398 bu corn, 11,216 bu oats, 13,607 bu rye, 9,878 bu barley. The following grain has been inspected into store this morning, up to 10 o'clock : 134 cars wheat, 40 cars corn, 14 cars osts, 5 cars rye, 10 cars barley. Total, 203 cars, or 75,000 bo. The following were the receipts and shipmenta of breadstuffs and live steck at this point during the past week, and for the corresponding weeks ending =5 date: Yeb.2, Febl, Feb.m, U7 7 ST 72, 3,97 20,418 . 803018 TIIW 208,410 199,380 3WSIS BAT,856 166573 10270 224,9%0 24195 SaBL 17,984 0% sen - em X 5T 14,260 51028 B1,94 96,7135 11T 1,800 13528 " 8,377 .Tho Board of Trade of thia city has adjourned Tuesday morning, in honor of tha memo; ©f Georgo Washington. It was proposed to cal provisions and grain in the small hall on Mon- day, but that probobly will not be_done, as tho ard docs not_undertake to enforce bargains which aro made daring holidays. 'There may bo a little curbatone talk on Monday, but proba- bly nothing more. ‘Tnore wasa good denl of talk on 'Change to- day about lower rates of freight by rail to tho East. It was whisperod that 40c had boen ac- cepted in one case, but several parties who ought to know strenuously insisted that there had been 1o reduction made from the publishod rates. The lezding produce markets were genarally to-day, but very quiet, except in wfienl 2nd corn. Sacurday is usually a quiet day, and this Was 00 excoption to tho rulo. The business transacted was chiefly speculative. Tho ship- Ping movement was slow, ua shippors were hold- 1og_Off for lower rates; but the expectation mado holders firm in their views, 88 s reduction in tbe cost of trausportation would enhance prices hera, other things being equal. The demand for staplo grocarics was of a lib~ gral charactor and_ sido goods were also dis- tributed to n fair eegregato, with little or no variation in prices, the markos being steady st Jesterday's quotations. Sugars were a tritlo less firmy beld, owing to reports of easier prices at the East. In the dry-goods market the volumo of business waa smaller than on the proceding davs of the week, but eslea made & very rospectable sggregata after all, and the guoted prices were very genorally sdhered to. Batter continues in active request and solls read- ily at tho quotations. Receipts though larger than in former seagons do not equal the curront wants of the trade. There was a fair inquiry for checse at firm prices. Canned fruits met with & ¥oad demand at unchanged rates. In the market or dried fruita thore was s reasonablo degree of activity, and dealers were firm in their views, The only article showing woskuess was dried apples, “which, at tho moment, are neglected. Fish wore firm aa previouslv quoted. Leather, Pig iron, painte, and tolncoo wero quoted quiot aud steady, No new features wero developed in connection with the oil market, trade continuing ood at gencrally steady prices. Lumber continues to meot with an active in- terior demand, the movement bemg confined maialy to the common grades, the supply of which is considerably reduced, and the sssort- ment broken in consoquence ; prices are advanc- ing. Bhingles on track aro aluo firm, undor an sctivo demand. No change of imporiance was notice in the metal, nail, or iron markete. All iry, and the volume are meeting with a fair inquiry, of business in metals m”udwnm is, it is stated, 50 per cent greater than for the corresponding poriod a year ago, Nails are snd iron uochanged. " oy Building material and cooperage were quiet and unchanged. A fair business was transacted in sceds st former prices, though timothy waa leas active and easy, owing to the Liberai receipts. Flax was tirm. The broom-corn market relains ite firm tone, with moderate stocks and a fair Iocal demand Wool, hay, sad hops were in limited request. Hides wers in request and steady ; sclected lots brought outside prices. Potatoes wore tn Iarger supply and easier. Ponl- try was in moderato demsud; chickens being mustlv inquired for. Turkeys were in liber supply and lower. Highvines were quict and weak. A sale of 100 brls was made early ot 95¢ per gallon, which was Friday's quotation, but towards 1 o'clock Now York was reported waak at 99c, and then wines were offored here at 94l¢c, without takern. The market closed nominal at 93@94)4c. Dreased hogs were dulland 10c per 100 Ma lower, with a very small demand at any price. The weather ia too warm for proper hsndling, and the offerings coneisted largoly of uafrozen Iots, which woro slow of eale uniess at conces- sions. Refuse lots eold at £5.00 por 100 Ibs; good but soft lots were dull at $5.50, while choice met with oolv a liited demand at anvthing over £6.00, though one lot of extra changed hands ot kS Sales were reportod of 40 (rofuse lot) at 5,60 salt at £5.50; 20 good shipping atock at $6.00 ; 90 choico light at $6.12}4. Provisions were quiet, but firmer on’ pork and lard, a shado easier on moata, There woro rels- tively few orders on the matket, and the spec- ulative element differed 1o their views relative to tho proapective value of the property, but neither side was willing to meet the other's views, hence the transactions were limited. Moss pork ad- vanced 214@5c per brl. Lard advanced 5@10c per 100 1w, while meats £old freely at yesterday's inside prices. The market closed dull at tho following range of prices: Mess pork, cash or seller February, £13.00@14.05; do seller March, 814.05@14.0734: do sollor April. £14.30@14.97}¢ do seller May, $14.60@14.65; prime mess pork, $12.70@12.80; extra prime do, $11.75@11.80. Lard, caeh or seller March, $5.80@8.823¢ ; do seller April, $8.95@8.97}¢; do_scller May, $9.13%@9.15. Groen hams st 9@9}{c for 16 and 15 b averages; eweot-pickied bams, 94@105¢c; dry ealted meats, loose, at bifc for shoulders, " 73(c for Cumberlands, 7X@ T3{e for 1oup clear, 75 forshort ribs, T35@724¢ for short clear; the same boxed at ¢ per Ib above theso prices. Green meats 3@ 5c lower than salted do. Moata for April delivery Xe highor, and for May 3¢c higher, than cash prices. Bacon meats,” 6}e for shoulders, 8o for short wbs, 8%c for ehori cfc;;,a’ul acked ;‘Jn buhxzu; the same in o higher. Bscon bams, 11}{@13%c. Mess Leof, $8.15@9.00; extra mess do, $0.75@10.00: beef hams, $20.00@23.50. City tallow, €3(@6)c; grcazo quoisble at 437 @7c. Bales were reported of 100 brls cash mees pork at $1410; 150 brls do at 214.20; 250 brls do at £13.971; 500 b, sellor March, at 814.05@15.00; 500 fhs, seller May, at $14.60; 750 tcs lard, seller March, at 58.80; 250 tes do do at 3,824} 250 tea dodo at 89,85 250 tes do. seller April, at $3.97 ; 500 tes, sellor 3Iay, at 89.15; 250 tcs do do at $9.171¢ ; 51 toa country, cash, at 88.65 per 100 Iba; 90,000 Ibs drv ealted shoulders, caeh, at 53¢¢, loase ; 250,000 fbe short rib middles, cash, dry salted, at 73¢c, looso; 250,000 Ibs do, seller May, at 80; 400,000 1bs country, at 7ic, cash; 50,000 b, scller March, at 3¢c; 20,000 s long clecr at $7.323¢ ; 100,000 Ibs short clear, cash, at 7340, looee, at country points; 100 ics swoct picklod bams, country, at 93¢e. The Daily' Commercial Ieport gives th fol- Jowing a4 the sbipmeuts of provisiops from this city for the week onding on Thursdsy last, and sinco Nov. 1, as compared with corresponding periods : Tork | Lard " ~Shoulds [T Aiidies, e, | Ger. T, | b, W'ek snd'gFeb. 19, 164, 5! ] 520,463 6,775,124 Bame weok 1833, | 3,54 415| 2,595,910, 533, SincoNov. 1, 73. | £9. 2 122 127, 0l 120,16, 175 Same time'72-3. | 144, 077 Ill.'fil.fl 95,4%,53 *Greon_hams shipped durlng the woek, 3,81 pes, oit, 2,234 pes tho corresponding week laat sear; afice o', €25,9% pes, againat 763,013 pes th sate timo 1t tincludes all cut meats except shoulders and 8. P. ndes all cut meats except shot The packing of this city to dato is reported at 1,503,437 hogs, againat 1,291,600 to same date & year ‘sgo. Tha following are the stocks of pro- Fisions in Cincinnati and St. Lonis : Cinainnati, St. Lg% ess pork, brls. Haras, 28 25,000 S, e 10,000,000 Flour was again very dull, though tho aggre- gate of ealen was & litilo larger than on Friday, there being s slight improvement in the demand by city dealers. Shippers Were out of the mar- ket. Thero was no chango in prices, as dealers would not make further concessions, in view of the stronger feeling in wheat. Bran was higher. Bales were reported of 100 brla upfing oxtras at $6.75; 300 brls do (Minvesots), and 200 brls do 85.75; 200 bris do at $5.50; 100 bris do at 85,3734 ; 450 brls do on private terms ; 100 brls rye (Beloit City) at $4.80; 100 brisdo at $4.373¢. Total, 1,550 bris. Also, 10 tons brax at 818.00 on track. The following were the quotations at the close: Patent do.. .o Fair to choice spring, superfine. Common do. ‘Wheat was active, and averaged 13{@2c high- er, but not very varisble. The market was very stroug in the fizet balf of the seeaion, under the receipt of advices of greater firmness in Liver- pool and New York, though neither of those points was quoted materially bigher. A good deal of wheat changed hands. Bat abont noon it was found, or surmised, that certain New York arties were selling out, and then the market Broke badly, but recovered, as the short iaterest continued fo take hold freely. A good many operators on that side of the house filled in to- day, Lhinking it probable that the foreign mar- kets are on the turn, and that the receipts will fall off o s low point with continued soft weather in the country. Thers was no material demand for shipment, snd tha speculstive tading] seemed ~ be chiefly local with and_fell back to 81.20%¢ at the close. Beller April sold at §1.22)(@1.533%, closing at $1.23%. Beller May sold at 8$1.39@1.29%. Cash No. 3 epring sold at $1.20@1.21 ; closing at $1.20, and nominally at 81.20X for Northwestern. No. 1 spring clored at $1:325¢ for straight, and $1.23 for Norihwestern, No. 8 spring closed at $1.16, sud rojected do st 91.03. Cash males were re- ported of 400 bu No. 1 Northwestern at $1.24 ; 4,000 bu do at $1.23L55 4,400 ba No. 1 spring at ex.mi’; 4,000 bu No. 2 spring (N.W.) at SLOLIG; ;fi,’;g‘u’hn :ih -: sl 23‘,/8 600 ba do at $1.20%; u do at £1.20; ; 9, $L20%4 3 580 budoar & £710%00 oo orat S350 1,600 bn . 0,‘{;32,;2% bn dgaoli’jl.‘lu; i . 3 spring at S1.163¢ do at flJG; 2,400 bu rejocted at sx%ga, "Tom, 95,200 Corn was active, and strong, averagi © highor, ander 2 vory ood dermand :hmg:;:gm’:‘:. though foreign markets were quoted easier, The Teceipts were ratherlight, and two or throe brokers scemed to be almost loaded down with orders to bay, s they took all that was offered. sud then iollowed the example of * Lattle Oliver,” by asking for * more.” ~ This made tho market very strong, though thers was not much improvement in the demand for cash lots, Seller March. oponed st 583fc, roceded to 58ige, ad- vancod o 53j¢e, and closod at 583e. Saller Apnil sold at G93@30%ec, bein 2 erally at & premiom of 1}{5 Gver Mosch, and closed st G930, Seller My mold - at 63@G3%(c, closing at 6315c. No. 2 corn sold at 58@5834c, closing at 553gc. Naw No. 2 closod 8¢ 5210 ; 'old rejected ut 53@53)(c; and new do at 5c. ' Cash sales wero roported of 5,000 bu No. 2 old st 68%¢c: 11,600 bu do at 584(c: 13,400 bu do at 58¢; 1,600 bu do, now, st 53s40; 2,400 budo at 520; 3,200 ba rojected, old, at 53)ze ; ‘Z$ bu do at 3o 1600 bu do, now, at 50igo u do at 50c ; 1 by sampla’at track. Tota), 48,000 ba. I B0 Oats ruled quiet under s limited domand, but as tho offeringa wore somewhat light, the feeling was rather firm, and prices undorwent no chianges of importance. Bpot No. 2 old at 42@423c, elos- ing at 431{@12%c. Rejected eold sparingly a 384c. Sellor Aarch No. 3 sold at 4214¢, and Apnl st 3% @1)gc. May was dull st 463¢c. Cash salea ‘Wero reported of 1,200 bu No. 2 at 425c; 2,400 bu do 5 42iges 6000 ba do at d2c; u rejectod at 333ce ; 600 bu bysample, white, at 46c, on track. Total, 9,800 ba. L o1 e 1ye was in good domand, and firm at the sd- ¥anco noted yesterday, the receipts being light.- There was no reguiar No. 2 in the market. It was nominal at 82)¢@83c. ~ Bales were limited to 1,200 bu No. 2, fresh receipts, at 850; 800 bu do at Bil¢c; 400 bu by sample st 88c; and 400 bu do 870, Total, 2,800 bu. Barley was duil and weak st s farther drop of 3@5e por bu, with nobiody earing to buy, even a4 the concession offered. ~For the presont the trado is in an unheaithy and nncertain condition ; hence legitrmate oparators aro disposed to let it severely alono. No. 2ruled at $1.712@L75, but closed st $1.70@L73. There was nothing doing in options. No. $ was dull at 1.55 @L56 and rejectod st $1.40. Cash sales were reported of 800 bu No. 2 at $1.75; 5,000 ba do 8t 31.72; 400 bu No. 3 at .56; 400 budoat $1.55; 800 bu rejected at $1.40; 400 bu by sample at $1.80; 400 bu do at B1.687 400 bu do st 31.55, on track; 400 buat 3172, delivered. Total, 9,000 bu, EUROPEAN MARKETS. Tho following advices were received on *Change to-day, 1n _addition to those given in our telegraphic columns : . Feb, 21—London—Cargoes off eoast, whest contin- wes {o Continental demand. Liverpool—Wheat unal- tered. Corn rather easler. American mixed, $Ta, CALL BOARD. Provisions were in fair demand, mess pork ruling higer. Lard and meats were unchanged. Meus pork, cash or sclier the month, closed at 814.00@14.10 ; seller March, S4.13K@14.15; sollor Apni, $14.40@14.423¢ ; soller May, $14.70 @4.72¢. Lard, cash or seller the month, $3.773¢@88.65 ; seller March,88.775@8.80 ; soll- er April, 28.9734@9.00; seller May. 20.17%@ 9.20. Bhort clear, cash, offerod at $7.60 ; sallor March, 87.62}4@7.70; soller April, ST.90 of- fered ; short ribs, cash, 37.375@7.75 bid; soll- er March at $7.373@7.473 bid ; seller April at $7.75@7.80 bid ; seller May, €8.05; shouldern cash, offered at €5.20; soller March af %5.00@5.205; smeller April at 85.40@ 5.60. Wheat, seller March, $1.204@1.20%. Sal08 Include'1,000 brls mers pork soller Marc at $14.10; 750 brls do at $14.12¢; 500 brls do eelicr April at 8143734 ; 750 brls do at $14.40; 750 brls sclier May at 814.70; 250 brls doat 814723 ; 250 tos lard seller March at §8.82i{; 250 tes do at 28.80; 1,250 tes do seller Apui at $9.005 500 tew do seller May at $9.1714 ; 100.000 ibs short ribe seller April at73{c; 5,000 bu wheat scller March at $1.203. LATEST. = Wheat was rather quiet, and closed easier, solling at 31.20@1.20%¢ sellor March, closin, at$1.90}4. Also at €1.23@1.23% seller Ap: closing at #1.23. Cotn was in moderato requeat and steady at 53}6@58%{c seller March, closing at 581ge, and at SUX@593{c seller April. CHICAGO LIVE-STOCX MARKET. Sutunpax EveNixo, Feb, 21, The receipta of live stock during the week have bsen as follows : 63T CATTLE—The cattle market has been moderately sctive duriug the week just ciosed, but the prices cur- Tent on the dato of onr last weekly review have mot Deen sustaiued, except for choice shipping beeves, and for stockers. These two clasacs of stock, comprising, a8 they did, only a small percentage of the supply, have ruled firm from the opening to the close, the former sl £.35@6.00, and the latter at $3.00@4.25, Common butchers” stuff and medfam to good ronghish slock Lave been in excoisive supply, snd, svenat 3 re- duction of 15@25x, ecllers found it impossible to pre- on, the number remalning falling little vent steady sccum! ‘unsold at the close of trade this evewnin short of 1,500, Although we have had s better class of cattlo than for the two or ihree proceding wooks, the «quality was not 24 good 8 1-cived during the corre- sponding period Last year, {he number of well fattened, well matured steers belng_comparatively small. Only a limited number of iransfers wers effected at over $5.75. In & faw instances $5,00@0.40 was obtained, while for 10 premiur cattle, sveraging 1,065 e, buyer was found at $6.75, but the ruling prices were $4.50@5.50 for common to choice ahipping beaves; $3.50@4.00 for buicherw’ stuff, and $3.25@4.00 for stockers. ‘To-day business waa dull and values wers without materiai change. Buyers operated very sparingly, most of them having their orders well filled carlier in the woeek, Themarket closed quiet and easy, with rather a downward tendency. QuoTATIONS, Extra Deeves—Graded steers, aversging1,400 to 1,350 Ioa. . .15 oS yoal i sictrn, wvernging h3% o t0 5 year o av X 1,450 Ta... S .. 5.30045.65 Good Beeves—Well-fattened, finely formed steers, averaging 1,200 to 1,350 is.. . 15,35 Medium Grades—Stecrs in fair flesh, aver- T 1,150 to 1,200 Da. . sging ) ol Butchers® § ommon 75, and good 10 extra cows, for city slaughter, averaging 860 to 1,100 s Btock Cattle~Common cal flesh. ave 700 to 1,050 s, 3.00@425 Inferior—Light sad thin cows, beifers. stags, bulls, and scalawag stecrs. . 175@2.50 Cattle—Tezzs, cholcs corn-fed. -, £00@4.c0 Cattle—Texas, wintered North. 3.00(43.50 Cattlo—Texas, througn droves. 175@275 T0GS—Our receipts have been some 22,000 less than Inst wosk, but the demand hag fallen off correspond- ingly, and scllers have found it impossible 1o do mors than sustain prices. The C., P., P. k P, Co. still keop theiz house open, and are taking & fow car iosds from day today, but of the woek's receipta all but sbout 15.000 were taken on Pastern sccount. The quality of the hogs offcred was much the same as for the previons 40 O thre we T 10 me- yereno rales “-‘fl scg; }’6.!6. while most of was doneat 3 ‘0-day a reasonably sctive demand exisied, ao: 'with.a light supply o sale, there was a firm tona to the market. The rocaipts amounted to sbout 3,600, which were eamly of at $4.00@4.25 for stock piga; 1t $4.50@5.26 for inferior to common; at $3,30@3.40 for mecaum, and at $5.50@6.00 for good to extra, Too market closed firm and steady at $4.50@5.85 for poor oice. 200 saLes. Yo, Av. Price.iNo. Av. Prics. iz 163 540 43 213 60 18 20 50 |4 170 515 8 1 425 |57 131 &80 36 273 510 |38 385 B35 5 180 580 |70 178 545 0 245 510 (40 TS 515 ©2 2 465 |36 AT 505 57 231 680 |05 2U 515 3 113 s |43 17T L3k x 570 |83 26 535 SHEEP—This market has oeen sctive rom the open- lngwlh.d.nu.wd.kmllh-"bm&hl rO- cerp's, the pens_wero kept preity well cleaned up. Early in the week prices 3d bud toward thi ‘CIoes the market cased off 10 about lut week's closing quotations, whers it closes steady and drm. We quote o ¢ $5.25@6.00; modium st $4.7565,%0, 2nd poor te COmIMED A% $4.00@L 50, 2 Lrxpox, Feb, 21,—Cargoes off coast, the demand for wrliat for the continent continues. Market naltered. Corn rather 29, Wine a —Flour, “%@128 6.1 ; spring, 11 M@l'f? = ;?;x‘.’umg b, 13s F Feer, @133 ; club, 138 64, Cor 368 94, Pos! . Dord, s g, e 5 xD0x, 1'cb. 21.—Amount of bullion gons into the Bank of Ebgland to-day is £9,000. Consols for money, R on account, 934 @925, 2 of 65, 2093 3 do of 67, 1093 ; 10-40s, 104:¢; New York Central, 93; Erie, 4437 1033 ; new 5. preferred, 643, Tailow, 405, Panzs, Fob, 21.—Renta, 591 10c. Lavenecor, Feb. 31.—Cotton dull and essier ; mid- dling upland, 57;d ; Orlesns, 81,@8%d. Bales 10,008 balea; America, 5,000 ; speculation and export, 2,000, Breadstutfa—Quict and unchangol. Tallow, 378 9d. New York Produce Markets, Nxw Yonx, Feb. 21,.—CorroN—Dull; middling upe lands, 16c; futuree closea steady. BreApsTUFFS—Flour quiet; recpts, 14,000 bris; superfine Western and State, $5.90@6.25 ; common to good extra, 36.55@0.88 : good to choice, $0.90:27.00; white wheat extes, $7.00@7,63; extra Obio, $6.60% 8t. Louls, $6,70@11.00. Rye flour anc curnmesl un- chinged. Wheat in modersta demand: recelpts, 147,000 bu; No. 2_Chicago, $1.53@1.55; do Milwsu: Xee, §1.56@1.58; Tows and Minnesots spring, $1.52G 15 T Milwaukee, $1.61(3162. Rye qulet at £1.07 and §1.03. Barley dull, Malt quiet. Corn in faix demand sud higher ; receipta, 52,000 bu; new mixed Weatern, 725@jsc. ; bigh mized 30d yellow, 77@80c: glrdmmixld, BUS5c i new ;mxu, T4@7%¢. Oals a shade roceipia, 20,000 bu; mized Westorn, 60@63c ;- whits, Glatab. " s Grocenizs—Coffes quict. Sugar doll and lower; fair to good refiaing, T4 @7}, Ric quict, PETROLEUM—Moderately active ; crude, TXc spot; 730 April ; refined, 13@15'v Ecos—Heavy ; Western, icg3de. Lrazuzn—Firm at 273@d0c. WooL—TFirm ; domestic fisoce, 40@T0c ; pulled, 35@ 52%c; tnwashed, 15@35c. VISI0NS—Pork frmer ; now mmess, $15.70, spot; $15.62 May. Deef and cut meats unchin T‘filgu";f?” long dlear, Bga; short clear, 8:ic © sho )y 8lge. ) rme; prime steam, 9536 @3¢ wpot ; 9'{@Y 5~16¢ March, BUrria—1irm ; Western, 25@38c, Cuzzsz—Firm 2t 11@16Ke, Mrrars—Manufectured copper steady ; ingot, HiGHYc, Fig iron firm d:)hc. Bar unchange . Take atals —n The Court of Napoicon . Parisian socicty was still heterogeneons ; the scythoof Time hadnot, yet smoothed its. esttie quake-rent surface, and strango uncouth dobris, cast up from great social depths, was found in the most inappropriste positions, and every~ whero mingling ssrangely with splendor avd sl-* egance. In the Faubourg St. Germain there was alittlo colony of tho old noblesse, mummi- fiod specimons of the Court of the -Fifteenth aud Bixtceath Louis, among others Madama d'Houdetot and her now aatiquo lover, St. Lam- bert, names fawiliar to the rosders of Rossoau's *“ Confessions,” who lived in an old world that seemed cenlurios away, and _who mercilessiy mocked aud satirizod that parvenu worid thsk was in perpetual quarantine o it. In the sa- lons of Josaphine was absorbed the old society of the Directory ; the pure Republicsn patriota bad pocketed Napoleon's gold, and wers now tly most slavish of his adulaiors; but there the prevailing element was militery, na it was, throughout the land. Franco wss & huge camp, and the Tuilerios a toot, under which gathered' soldiers aud soldiers' wives ; the former, brave men, who bad won their apaulotten by brave decds, but whose coarse unpolished manners to- - tally unfitted them for a Court; the Iatter, wo- mot who had sprung from all couditions ofi: Jife—some from the palace, some from the gut~ ter, and from all intormediate stages of the so-' cial laddor. _With these were intermingled = epnnkiing of vulgar Louryeoisis, grown rich' upan the plunderiug of the aristocrats, and m few of the lesa stil-necked of tho noblesse. Tho manuers of such aszemblies may be imag- ined; tho inen, at case ouly upon the fied of Dattlo, talked camp language, whilo their part- ners, decked in_splondid costumnea and pricolesa jewels, tlie spoila of war, in which thoy could - Bearcely wslk or &it, were yot moro objeotionable by their ridiculous swkwardnoss and sttompted fine-Iadyism. How thoy looked in their huge, hideous turbans, foreheads covered with bull'a curls, nasrow-skirted, shori-waistod dressen— the {set remuants of tho Classicism _of the Di- roctory—may bo gathered from tho pictures and- caricatureaof the time of our own Regency. Trau- is and Vestria,tho leaders of fashion and tho goni of the dance, Were thoir divinities, sad the Parp- sichorcan the only art they could appreciste. The masquerado’ ball was s spacies of amase- mont mucy fuvored by Napoleon, as it affordod: great facilities to thy spy system. Tho police took caco Lo mform thewsclves of the costame which each person would asaume, 80 that each mask was kiiown to them Foucho and hus myr- midons were ubiquitous ; no word was lost to them, aud even tho Emperor humself wandered through the rooms playing tho exalted part of spy. Yothing mors splendid, hawovor, than this arveau Court, gorgeous in spleador and crubel- ished with all that was oxquusite in picturesand statuary, the spoils of lhb‘hbfim;umpsign. can be conceived. Upon being created Consul for life, Napolcon restored all the Court ofices, giv- ing'thom, however, now names; for examplo, the chamberlains were called prefets du palais - ho hiad bus pelifes levces and his graud recéptions, sud days fixed for receiving cach order of society. Tuo costumo of each was ngidly proseribed. Sonators must be habited in veivot embroidered with gold, “Uribunes in volvet embroidered withs silver, Councilors of State 1n bright blug velvet, whilo the Cousnla wero aitired in scarlet em. broidered with gold. Upon tho establishment of the Empire the coromonials wero fized with equal rimdity. Every petson, updn entering tinet reverences to tha Emperor aod to tha Empress and to =ll members of the Bonaparta family, nous of whom must be sddrossed withe ont permission. During tho tleatrical reprosent- atione frequently given at the Tuilorios, o pec- sou was permitted to laughorge applaud. David, the savage Terxutifl.!bnflmf!r of Marat,he who offered to drink the nomlock with Lotespierrs, the sublime Republican, debased his genins ta painit the formulary of these coromonies, whils ia the album of Isabey, still to bo found in tae Bibliotheque du Rol, are preserved picturcs of all the costumes. A mixture of coarseness zud slavish obsoquiouaness to the Emperor zad his belongings were tho distinguishing trats of Court manners. Napoleon modelsd himseit ;;]mxy upon Augustus, par:ly upon Lows X1YV. o catsed trinmpal arches to be raised, bunted st Fontamnsbleau, and gavo maguificent fetes at Versailles; but_even these wero military, rep— resantations of Marengo and other great battles being thour principal features, Upcn his mar- risge with Marie Louiso he was more anxioas than ever to restore the traditions of the old Court, aud many of the old arisocrats, who had uatil now held aloof, gathered around the Aus- trisn luminary. From that time officers were not permittedto attend tho assemblies in_uni- form; Court cortume was de rigueur. Indated titlea' woro cast about in wholesale profusion; Cambeceres, the old rogicide Jacobin, was now His Serens Highnous the Prince Da Parme, aud that spawn of the gutter, the vila Terroriat, Fonche, His Excellonca the Duke D'Otrani Even the very Sana culottes jeered at this gul ter aristocracy sprung out of itzelf; and Lugland, the only power that dared, held it up to tha ecorn of Europe in ceasoless caricatures.— Tem~ ple Bar. e A Buog Exterminator. Hot alum water is & recent suggestion 38 aa insecticide. It will destroy red and black ants, cockroaches, spiders. chintz-bug, and alifrewl- ing pests which infest our houscs. TzJa tao pounds of alum and dissolsa it In thres or four Quarts of boiling water ; le: it stand on tho firy “until the alum dissppears; then spply it with a brash while nearly boiling hot, to every joiut and cravice in your closots, bedstoads, pantry ehelves, and the like. Brush the crevices in tie floor of the skirting or mop-boards, if you sug. that they harbor vermin. If, in whitowash- T & seiling, plenty of alum is ‘sdded to the limo, it will dgamololesp insects ata dis. tance, Cockrosches will fles tho paint which bas been washed in cool alum water. Bugar barrels and boxos can bo freed feea ants by drawing » wide chalk-mark just sround tho edge of the top of them. The mark must be Tnbroken o they will creey over it, bute con- tinnous chalk-fine balf an inch in width will act their depredstions st naught.—Sri Ameri- 1 ean. Tho Story of o Dismond. Everybody at all interesied in dismonds hns heard of the great Saucy diamond. Itis & germ - of purest ray serene, and of great sge. Centu- ries 830 it bolonged to Charles the Bold. from whom it passed into the possesmon of the famdy of Bancy, whence it 100k its name. Soon after it became ono of the crown jewels of Franca aad wes worn at the_coronation of Lonis XIVZ and Louis XV. I 1790 it was taken from ths Tuileries, and passed into the hands of tha thea Queen of Hpaio, wife of Ferdinand VIL, who gave it to her lover, Gokoy, well known under the name of the “Prince of Pesce.” We mext hear of the gem as among the treasures of tho wealthy Ruseian family Demidoff. From them it bas Iately been bougbt for 81,000,000 by the rich Indisa nabob, Six Jamsetjes Jejoebhoy, wha has placed it in the hands of ‘some Londoa jow- -, elers for resetting. Such is tuo history af a Jewel second oaly in » fow others. and quitting tho pressuce, murt maka three dis- - yalue to the Kob-i-aour aad -