Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, September 20, 1874, Page 8

* THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1874. TERMS OF THE TRIBUNE. 2 rts of 3 FeAT at the Sume rat i T ont Guiay £r.d mistaker, bo sure 1nd give Post Gt hadvess in fully sncluding e atishes may ve made o Ofl.ce oicev, Or in registererd le LMY F0 GaT TO-MORROW'S AMI ACADEAMY OF MUSIC—Halsted strent, hetwe =n 3ad- won and Monroe. Engagement of the Lingard Combinz- tion. **Le Sphiax." HOOLEY'S THEATRE—Rzndolnh street, between Clark ana LaSalle. ** The Tangled Chain.” M'VICKER'S TRhaTRE—Madisan strect, hetween Dearborn and State, Xagagomont of Joseph Jefferson. **Rip Van Winkle. 3 ito GRAND OPERA-HUUSE—Clatk _street, opDo Fonrmen Honse. Kelly & Leon's Miastrels. Afternoon #nd escning. EXPOSITION BUILDING—Lskeshore, foot of Adama areet. . EUSINESS NOTICES. CLARK AND e o ot fall st of DR. M Randity 4L fel The Chicagoe Tribune, Sunday Morning, September 20, 1874. THE FALL RIVER CALAMITY. The accounts of the great firo at Fall River vesterday. and of the destruction of human life, ~ill be read with feelings of unmitigated horror. The Granite Mill No. 1 took fire shortly after the 700 operatives bad begun work. The fire sped with such rapidity that all the ordinary means of egress were cut off, and the ounly chance of escape was by leapmg from the windows. It does scem strange that in 3 build- ing where so maay persons were employed there wero no adequate means of egress. The con- struction of stairs on the outsido, and communi- cating with each floor, to be used only in such emergencies as this, would bave been & compar- atively inespensive addition to tho cost’ of the building, but 1t would have saved the lives of all the inmates. At the tima we write this, tho ex- et number of deaths by burning, or of those killed and fatally injured by jumping from the upper stories, Lss not beou ascertained, though the details are most “harrowing. This is another and terrible sacrifice of human life resulting from a wanton disregard of all prudential considerations in the construction of buildings. It is but a fow vears since one of the Lawrence mills actually fell down, owing to its imperfect construction, burring under its burning roios hundreds of operatives. In the Fall River case the mill was strong enough not to fall down, but the mears of exit were 0 few and were to situated inside the building that they were immediaiely engulfed in the flames, leav- ing the hundreds of men, women, and children at work with no mesns of escape. Surely, it will hardly require many more of such calami- ties to satisfy our law-makers that no man has & right thus to trifle with buman life, and that no building should be nsed aud occupied until it has been inspected and found to be provided with all the coaveniences which common pru- dence and ordinary foresight may suggest for the safety of life aud property. THE CODE OF DISHONOR. A certain class of uewspapers and persous throw stones at Theodore Tilton by assorsing that when he proves that Beecher seduced Mrs. Tiltou he establisies his own dishonor. There was a time in the bistory of England when the men of *saciety” considered it the bighest dictinction to have debauched the wives of others, and the highest disgraco to have had their own wives debauched. The novels and plays of that period made successful libertines the heroes, and the deceived husbands objects of- derision and contempt. The term **cuckold” was applied to the husband of the guilsy woman, and has descended to our time ae a term of most dire reproach. In thoee days there wasno re- eeating such ontrages by husbands of the lower classes. As they dared pot resort to open iolence sgainst their superiors, they geverally nccepted the situation. Among the upper clasces, such crimes were avenged by ducls; but even this remedy had o limilation, for a royal paramour was regarded as rather an bonor to the family. Tho only remnant of this atrocious code whneh now remaine is the idea that a husband who is wronged in this macner is necessarily disgraced. In point of fact, no person can be disgraced by any ast but his own. As well insisé that & man can be dizgraced by the acts of Lis parents, kis children, or hus brothers avd sisters, as by that of his wife. To consider & man in any way im- pesched or dishomored by the guilt of the wife in whom he had placed his confidence, is Dot only unjust but barba- rous. If his wiie dies we give him our compassion. If she docs something which pierces his hoart far worse than death, he is aspeiled with epitbets and derision. No one considers the wif2 iu the least degraded by the infidelities of her busband., Nor does any msn, £ave the low-bred and the naturally vulgar, up- braid and ridicule the husband for the infidelity of the wife, unless he had provoked it, or is a consenting party to it. This erime, like all others, directly affects and degrades the persons committing it, and vobody else. The crime of the busband ean no more degrade Lis wifo than can that of the wife degrade the Lusband. To degrade either there must be a knowledge and a consent, or a subscquent approval by the accept- ance of & price or conmderation for the dis- horor. The absurdity of holding Tilion dis- bonored by the act of his wife is illustrated by the fact that Mra. Beecher occupies preciscly the same situation. Both stand in the samo re- lation to the guilty palr, and, if either be dis- honored, the other must be likewiso and in the same degree. There is no pretense that Tilton was anare or the cew until the confession in July, 1870; nor is there any preteneo that since that date Le has knowingly accepted favors, or money, or assist- ace of avy kind fiom Beecher, or that he has had any social relations with him save those re- sulting from the common effort to prevent any such revelation of the matter as would expose Mrs. Tilton and irjurionsly affect ber in tho es- timation of her children. He therefore is free from the repreach of having had any knowledge of the relations between Beecher and Mrs. Til- ton. and was inbo wise consenting thercto be- yond placing the most unbounded confideuce in the mental puiity and personal chastity of the ‘' wife whom he g0 dearly loved. How well she 1sbored to inspire that confidence is witnessed by ber letters written during the two winters that her husband was absent and she was living in'impure relations with Beecher. Two other things which a certain class of per- sons inaist on as reproaches to Tilton are that ho did not kill Beecher, and that he forgave the wife and again lived with ber. No person can read the late statement of Theodore Tilton with- out admiring the manly, chivalrous, and noble manner in which throughous Lo protects his un- fortunate wife from the dastard blows of those who first degraded and have now abandoned her. His defense of her from the cowardly allegation of Beecher that she had thrust her affections upon him unsought, is one of tho bravest and most magnanimous papers ever written. It stamps its author a8 s man of hovorable im- pulses, braving all things to defend the motber of his children, though ehe deceived him, con- spired against Lim, and finally left Lim to con- gort with s encmies and her own betrayers. Tho mon who reproech him with cowardico in not &hooting Beecher, and with meanncss in forgiving and taking back the reventant wife, are ineapable of appreciating that higher, nobler couraze which maintaived him through four years of dosolstion and poverty to sactifice every- thing, _endure everything, to protect the seemingly brokes-hearted and sorrowful wife. He might bave assassinated DBeech- er as other men bLave assassinated other seducers, and thenceforward, branded with the mark of Cain, pursued by tho tears and sorrows of tyo families, Lave sunk into the contempt of mangiud, e was too bravo morally and physi- calls to murder Beecher without giving the latter an opportunity to be Leard. He Lad that cour- ago which enabled Lim for four sears to accept the scorn and contempt of Lis fellows undeserv- edly rather than disclose tuo shamo of his wife, and teach bis children to despiso their mother. Tio hud the courage, far greater than that of any assassin that ever lived, which enabled him to witness his cuemy and the destroyer of bis once Lapps bome enjoying all tho gloty, and honors, aud emoluments of the world, and to maintain a silence that was deemed cssential to tho peace of the stricken, peniteat, and ountreating wife. At last came the Lour when, in addition to tho agonics of four years, Lis encmies invaded tho bouso which they bad provionely desolated, and carried away, = willing captive, tho woman for whom he had braved and endured so much ; and then, and not till then, did he striko the Dlow which he did strike—a blow whicn, like the last ngony of Samson, will pull down a mighty temple, even though himself be buried in its ruins. THEQDORE TILTON. Theodore Tilton has ehown himself, in the present controversy, to be one of the most pow- erful writers of our time. ‘The flighty brain and eccentric ciaracter commonly escribed to him (a reputation acquired in part by bis albznee with the Woodhull crowd, and in part by the chango in his religious views) nowhere appear in his several communications to the public in tho Beecher case. The circumstances under which these papers were produced might well have shaken a strong man’s intellect. To a seattered family and a ruined home there was added, in a mest sudden and unexpested manner, the nearly unanimous condemuation of the press of his vicinity. Public opinion in New Yoik and Brook- In, to which e looked for support if not for wmpathy, turned upon him with fierce indigna- tion. He was denounced as a liar, & slanderer, a knave, and a dog, on the one hand. and as a cuckold, an unoatural father, and a self-de- stroyer, on the other. Nevertaeless, ho has not only kept his mental balance undisturbed, but has returned the fire of his enemies from time to time with tho mcst point-tlank and deadly effect. His last effort is the crowping achievement of all. For sustained strength, kecn analysis, crushing argument, and glowing sarcasm, it challenges comparison with any effort of Henry Ward Beecherin the most palmy days of his career. If Mr. Tilton does not bear the gword of truth io his band, he has imitated it more wonderfully than any magician of ancient or modern times. Nor can we overlook the fact disclosed by this correspondence that Mrs. Tillon is a woman of more than o:dinary intellecteal gitts. Though ber moal nature has been so undermined and eaten away that nobody can believe anyching she saya, the public cannot have failed to no- tice in her letters the evidences of a mind well worthy to be mated to Tilton’s brilliant parts. And to this quality of bers, as well as to her moral excellencg before sho be- came ensnared by Beecher, does be fiequeutly bear lively testimony. That they lived harmo- uiously and happily together down to tho period of Ler fall {rom virtue, is proved by their cor- respondence. The only criticiem passed upon tlis correspondenco relates to its too sugary character,—its exceesive sweetness,—but whose love-letters, if genuine and unreserved, would not be liable to the same objection and criticism in the eyes of third persons? If anything were wanting to establish tho fineness of Mrs. Tilton's original mental constitution, it is found in the extraordiuaryintercet she excitedin Mr. Beecher, and her capacity to set that great man bounding aud rebounding whenever sho sent him a few lines of what be called “ real inwardness.” Theodore avd Elizabeth Tilton, the parents of four living children and two dead ones, are now cstranged in o manner which males it seemingly impossible that they should ever be united again. Nevertheless, Mr. Tilton defends herin the most chivalrous manner aguinst the attacka of the Plymouth Church Committee, and main- tains that when she first sibned ehe was not consclons of sinbing,—that she was in a state of color-blindness, unable to distingaish black from white. If this defensc of her against theattacks of the Plymouth Cliurch Committee, and of Mr. Deecher himself, cannot penetraze her soul, and tell her on which eide her duty lies, then is she lost indeed. OUR HMUSICAL EEASON, The anuouncement has already been mads in our columus that the local musical season will be inaugurated by Theodore Thomas, with hia superb orchestra, on the 23th inst. It is anan- nouncement which will be hailed with hearty delight, as it promiges not only s brilliant and successful openiug, but is an auspicious omen for the whole scason. The visit of ilr. Thomas is an unexpected pleasure, as it was not antic- ipated he would be ablo to find time, in the midst of his humerous cngagements in Now York, Boston, and Brooklyn, to make s Western tour, and concart-goers will feel all the more gratetnl from the fact that this visit will be contined to Chicago and Milwaukee. In view of this visit, bhis managers will do everything to make it pleasant to the public. They have already pro- pared descriptive programmes in pamphlet form, for gratuitous distribution, and are now making such arrangements with car and "bus lines that the public, even in distant pares of the city, will find no incounveniecce in getling to and fion: the hall. Afr. Thomas has always been famous for the maoner in whick lio makes up his programmes: Thus timo they exzel anything he has ever done before. Thero is something for everyono. The principal works which he will produce are Beetloven's Third (Eroica) Symphony, which ho has never played here; Raft’s *Lenore” Sym- phony entire, two movements of which he has given heretofore; tho ballet music of lleyer- beer's * Prophet ;" the principal music of the third act of “‘Lobengrin;” Vieuxtemps' well- known * Fantasio Caprice,” arranged for orches- tra; Berlioz's overture to * Benvenuto Cellini ;" the music to Beethoven's * Prometheus,” and his Leonora overture, No. 3; the ballet music to * Robert lo Diable ;" the overture to Gounod's “Mireille,” and mary mior picces of great besuty. Thoso who understand and those who do mnot understand classical musie will alike find much ibat is interesting in theso programmes. Without at =il letting down from his high standard, ho Las, neverthe- less, mado them popular, and even in tho clas- sical music Le has made selections which must impress themselves upon every one. He is a dull listeuer who cannot get interested in the dagio of the “ Prometheus™ music, the great TFuneral March of the Third Symphony, and the Deethoveu romances. o has incorporated in his programmes the music of the past by Bec- thoven, Mozart, Handel, Spolr, and Schubert; tho music of tho present by Raff, Gounod, Meyerbeer, and Hoseivi; and the music of tho future by Wagner, Liwzt, and Berlioz. They, therefore, possess universal interest. He has gathered together from his immense ropor- toiro not ouly the old standard works, but many which thus far have ouly been heard in Europe. In this respect, and as far also as per- fect performances zro concerned, we shall have nothing this senson to equal it. Wo have no doubt thst Mr, Thomas will meet with that warm welcome duse to the man who has done more for tpo musical progress of this country than all others combined, ana who has done it without auy blowing of trumpets or scnsational an- uounccments. THAT MOTHER-IN-LAW. For some time past, the oftice of mother-in- law bas not been an enviable ove. | As long us young men and, muaidens will marry, Lowover, 1t is diflicult to seo how tho mother-in-law can be dispensed with. It is a fact therofore which must be recognized. but it has not been recog- nized in gomo cases without vigorous protest, pumful as the assertion may be, for thero are many good mothers-in-law, and evon the wild aud willful Poe bas immortalized his in one of Lis choicest etanzas. Tho humorists have inva- riably singled her out as the target of their jokes. The satirists bave made ler the butt of their ridicule. Even some of the moralists dish her up, well spiced and seasoned, **to poiut a morel and adorn a tale.” It is hard, but it seems to be one of thoso cruel necezsities which beloug to tho eternal fitness of things that there should bo sometimes an antipathy between the daugh- ter’s husband and mother, especiatly when they heppen to bo domiciled under the same roof, and that they can mever ap- pronch each other without at once organizing a Tumpus. The husband ouly sees in the mother- in-law a mischief-malker ; an interferer in such little disciline as he may think it best to estab- lish for the regulation of the partmer of his bosom; a general fermenter of discord in the do- mestic cconomy. The wifc ouly sees in ber a strong tower and buttress of defense, into which she can retreat tor shelter at any time when the bouseliold gale begns to blow. As 1Lere i3 no moderator, no mutual friend between tho tvo, the fight must always bo personally ng- gressive, direet, aud faco to fuce, and sometimes with the odds of two to one. Whatever has been said iv the past, however, about the wenknesses und failings of mothers- in-law ; however much trouble they may have oc- casioned ; and however subtie acd desperato they may heve been in undermining their sons-in-las, none of them seem to have equaled the Hou. Mru. N. B. Morse in the capacity to make a house warm end lively fora man, aud no one has drawn euch = picturo as that furnished by the graplic penof Mr. Tilton, who in one sitting Lias taken Lis rovengo for years of misery, and holds that wother-in-law upon his pen-poivit wriggling liko a beetto on & pin. We have first Mrs. Morse in her little practical dem- onstrations. The venerable Judge, her husband, seeme to have been the earlicse victim. He en- dured the discipliue with commendablo patience, uotil she took bim by the throat one day and choited him until be was black in ihe face. It then occarted to the old gontleman that he had better resiga before ho was made to step down and out, or giet on gome ragged edgo from which cecapo wounid be impossiblg. So ho called his family togettizr and cnacted a legal separation, which he has ¢ver since loyally maintained. De- prived of the judge, Mrs. Mlorse looked about for another victim, and soon found one in Tilton. Hardly dariog (o take the young and vigorous gon-in-law by the throat, her favorite mode of attack scemed to be desperate parasol-thrasts at bim, resuiting in the loss of several sun-shades at odd times. These nttacks wero not dangerous, and, as Mr. Tilton paid littlo at- teution to them, she adopted z more violently- suggestive policy by seizing the carving-knife, striking waslike attitudes, nod expressing the cheerful desira to cut his heart out. This feat of surgers not impressing Mr. Tilton with much admiration, he ordered her out of the house. At this point we have the mother-in-law as the plotter. No longer able to charge upon him Witlt her parasol, or hover over him with carv- ing-kuife in han3, she weaves a subtle plot to prevent Tilton from getting a divorco from hLis wifo (as ebe imagined Le would do), the offense being known to her and all concerned. For this purpose she utilized Bessio,—that interesting balf-idiot, a8 Sosan B. Anthony affectionate- Iy terms her. In this, bhowever, ehe bed mot calculated well, for others were dragged in. Mr. Moulton began fo take an mierest, and Mr. Beecher 2 very lively interest. She was plotting against three instead of one, and the odds thwaried her. She now had no resoureo loft but lotter-yriting, and hero ber abilities shine resplendently, She beging in a quict way, intending to work up a crescendo of epithet. Tilton is at first only an in- fernal villain, whose tongue ought to be taken out by the roots. Havieg struck the key-note, sho rapidly runs the whole gamut—* Shmy,” *tpolluted curse,” * Uriah Heop,” and * your rotten Louse,” ** dinbolical cur.” Having eased Ler mind ic detail, she procceds to do it in gen- eral by writing to Bosen: * I congratulte you upou being id of an Infidel, Liar, Hypocrite, Unbeliever, Free-Lover, Triant, Knave, and FOOL.” This choico collection of epithets being of little avail, she begins to throw Mr. Beecher in lus face, not stopping to think in her blind fury that by sodoing she was accumulaiing evidence for Tilton. At one time she says: My poor, desr child never answered your bestis] ‘want—too religious by pature and grace far such a3 Fou; and this want he answered, Till tafs hourI Gau awear thes the only camfort I have taken had bean in the fact that he wus & comfort wnd did sympathize with her. And ai anotber: You retaliate by exposing the only deod which my martyred child ever @id which was not God-like, and tais was brouglit about by the love and sympathy that miau bad for her wretchedness; and Low sheever came 10 expose Lim or hersel 1o ot s2e kzew 50 well could Tot bo trusted, eternity will 1ot be lung cuough to re- vesl the mystery. These littlo ebullitions of friendly considera~ tion und affection will haraly couvince the read- er tbat she regarded Mr. Tiltoa as her son. In- deed, her affections seem to have been #o far slienated that sho dropped ber filial relations with Tilton 2nd transferred them to Beocher. the latter having tenderly besought her to call him “her sou.” Ho little knew, however, what was in store for him when be made this request. What wonder that he had *a cave of gloom ” in him after he had adopted Mrs. Morse for a mother-in-law ! Could Mr. Tilton have prayed for any dearer revengo? Notwithstanding all the clonds which have ecttled down upon Mr. Tilton, there is this silver lining. He has lost his wother-in-law, aud Mr. Boechpr has found § oue! THE BUNDAY-LECTURE SCCIETY. The Loudon Sunday-Lecture Socicty began ita work in 1569, with a subscniption-list of £182 and & membersbip-list of 156 persons, among whom were Huxley, Tyndall, Darwin, aud Carpenter. It bas ail Loudon to draw upon for lecturers and hearers. Its success Lus maturally been assured from the start. That bugbear of all philanthropic enterpriscs—lack of money—has never Launted its mansgers, The Chicago Sun- day-Lecture Society was started last spring by Lalf-a-dozen persons, who endowed the infant organization with about a dozen dollars. 1t was poor. It was unkmown. It was something on- tiroly new in America. It hada very smail circle of lecturers to draw upon. It met with some slight clerical opposition, although nono of its lec- tures attacked religion in auy way, and although they were delivered in the afternoon for the express purpose of avoiding interference with chureh services. Nevertheless, the Society pros- pored from tho start. It attracted the attention of some of Chicugo’s best citizens, who served a3 its Vice-Presidents. It drew fair audiences for each of the ten lectures in its opening course, und largo sudiences for somoeof them. The Rev. M. J. Savage, Dr. N. W. Abbott. Prof. J. . Clarke, the Rev. Robert Collyer, Miss Kate N. Doggett, and Prof. Nathan Sheppard were among the lecturers. The audiences were drawn from all classes of “tho community. They came to learn, and showed a stoady attontion that finds no parellel in the ordinary lecture-room. The Society was, throughout the spring, a positive and potent power for good. It was a great educator. Tho expenses of tho season were just covered. TLo dericit left by the re- ceipts from the sale of entrance-tickets, whicl were disposed of for 10, 5, and 2 cents, was made up by subkcriptions, the heaviest of which was #4. The cost of the ton lectures was $129.65. All the speakers volunteered, and no persog connected with the Society received a cent from it in auy way. Thissum was absorbed by the three items of rent of hall, mueic, and printing. “This season the Society starts on a broader basis. The managers of the Grand Opera-House, tormerly Kingsbury Hall, have very generously offered it free of rent for the season. This un- expected 2nd most welcome donation will enable the Society to deliver its lectures in one of the pretticst, most central; and most comforiable Dhalls in the city. Abont thirty lectures will be given, from Octobor to May. The most eminent men and women in the country will be invited to speak. The price of admission will not be over 10 cents. Everything betokens a successful season. Chicago has reason to re- joice in this. The Sunday-Lecture Society, in putting ecientific, historical, hterary, and artistic knowledge within the reack of every man, oman, and child in the city, is doing permanent, substantial good. THE SCIENTIFIC TREATMENT OF STRIKES, The British Association for the Advancement of Science has combined theors and practice in an admirable way. Its last meeting, as our read- era scarcely need be told. was at Belfast. Thero wae a strike, seven wecks old, at Belfast. On Tuesday, Aug. 25, the Economic Section of the Asvociation was to diecuss the general subject of strikes. A happy thought led to the invitation of employers and employes toattend tho session. Papers were read on the politico-economic laws affecting the prices of labor and other commodi- ties, on the ecientific view of strikes and lock- outs, and on the economic law of strikes. Then the workingmen present were invited to speak. Two of them did fo. Ono employer replicd. The speeches showed tbat each side, thor- oughly misunderstood the other. The work- ingmen claimod that wages were to be cat down 156 per cent, that the trou- ble was o Jock-out rasher than a strike, and that their efforts to have the question arbitrated bad becn in vain. The masters, through their spokesman, answered that the proposed reduc- tion in wages was only G per cent, that the quar- rel was a etriko, and that they would be only too glad to have it settled by arbitration. This last statement must be put to the credit of the Asso- ciation, for the men's assertion that the einploy- ers had refused to arbitrate was perfectly true. ‘When matters had gone thus far, settlement was easy. The workivgmen's request, that Prof. Huxley, or Prof. Tyndall, or some other eminent man of science should act as arbitrator, was negatived on the ground that it was better that masters and men should come to an agreement, it possible, without the intervention of third parties. On Wednesday, a com- mittee of workingmen met the Coun- cil of the Fiax-Spinners' Association, The men occepted half of the proposed reduc- tion for themselves and their boys, and ungal- lantly secrificed the women operatives by latting the masters cut down their wages us much ag they wished. On Thureday moming, thirty-six Dours after the Association began the discuesion of the questidn, the seven weeks" etrike, whick Lid cost the operatives a million dollars, was at anend, and the linen-mills of Delfast wers at work again. This is a good way to popularize science. The suggestion of the New York Zribune, that tho American Association for the Advancement of Bcience should appoint s standihg committee to arbitrate all strikes enbmtted to it, is worthy of the Association’s attention. Arbitration be- tween masters and men 18 almost un- known on this side of tho Atlan- tic, while in England the Boards of Arbitration suggested by Mr. Antony Mandells, AL P., are permanent institntions in many man- ufecturing towns. We have hitherto described Mr. Mundella’s plan at length. Saffice it to say that it contemplates & standing committes of employers and employes in every industrial cen- tro, to which all questionsof work and wagoes aro referred, Ita docimons have only madsal force to back them, but that proves sufficiently potent in nearly every case. Whero such Boards do not exist, iddividual arbitrators can always bo sccurod. Mr. Mundella and Judge Rupert Kettle Lave saved England and English- men millions of dollars by arbitrating and settling strixes in their wfancy. Great Britsin Las proved the truth of the theory. America can confidently and ecasily adopt it. st Su A POLITICAL HISTORY OF AMERICA. The student of American politics can tind no guide turouglh the labyrinth 1z which he becomes involved. 'The eo-called political histories are mere campaign compendiums. Benton's 4 Thirty Years in the United States Senate ™ fur- nishes a mass of materials for the future histo- nan of our politics, just asSumver's “ His- tory of American Currency” furnishes the raw material for the future writer of our real finaucial history. Yet Benton’s thinly-disguised asitobiography ix really the best book on political bistory which we kave. There are mauy biogra- phies of prominent politicians, but very, very few of them csn bo read with.implicit trast. Too many biographers belong to the Parton-Ab- Dbott school, which rogards a telling portraituro a8 somethivg much better than a truthful ono, Othern are pervaded with such an absorbing ad- miration for their heroes that they can find no room in their minds for anybody else. The re- sult is that in their pages the United States, and, in fact, tho rest of the world, revalve around Adams, or Webster, or Clay, or Jackaon, as tho case may be. Despite all that has been written aud published, the inquirer into any particular epoch of our history, a for jnstance the strug- gle of Jackson with the United States Bank, Lays to read thousands of pages of speeches, and construct from them, slowly and laboriously, a theory of the subject. A curious illustration of this was given by an Eastern university, acouple of years ngo. Its thousand students were in- vited to write fora prize of $250 on any oncof 2 number of given subjects. One of those subjects was *The History of the Whig Party in America.” Of tho many who began work upon this fascinat- ing theme, not one finally wrote. None had time to read and digest the cumbersome masees of material which bad to be studied. A constitu- tional history of America would be & book of absorbing interest,—if there were buta Hallam or aay to write it. Such a Listory is interesting in proportion to the changes which it chronicles and our institutions havo been changing from the start. Tho growth of the President's prerogative is as pgood a theme as that limitation of the King's prerogative of which Muy treats so well Tho gradual, but stendy, abolition of all restrictions upon man- hood suffrage and the consequences that have flowed from it demand a volume by themselves. It is perhaps too early to write of the War and of Recoastruction ; but the century between 1760 aud 1860, to which May confined bis *Constitu- tional Histors of England,” might well be re- viewed ifom an American etandpoint. Our in- stitutions grow into definite shope during that century, and the events at its close marked the close of the first era of our constitutional his- fore ™ cur correspondent, or any other that can be constructed by the hand of man, or of woman, could properly be called perpetual; the per- petual motion is a mathematical absurdity. Inthe midst of the grave political matters now distracting the country, thera is danger that one act of the President's may be overlooked, and ono which is deserving of univorsal and bearty commendation. On the 2d of last Au- gust & committee of prominent Icelanders, forty in number, prepared a memorial to President Grant sotting forth that their people are bent on emigration, and that they hiave settled upon Alaska as the country best fitted for them and nearcst resembling their own land. They far- ther set forth that, being poor, they are unablo to charter a vessel for the purpose of examining Alaska, and therefore have appointed a com- mitteo of three to wait upon the President and ask permission to vsit Alaska ugon some United States vessol not otherwise employed. Con- cluding the report, the memorialists say: Tho region which we desire our agents to_look at is but a small portion of that vast territory, being_only Koliak Island, and the neizhborhood of 'Cook's Tulet, and the lcpg Peninsula of Alaska, We judge that two or three weeks upon the coast of that country will be suflicient for our purposes, which are only to_confirm the report of Dell in resjcs to these portions of the terTitory. We are most desirous to begin this summer, lest Cauzda (3 country whe-e our j eople might perhaps for the preseut thrive, but which does not seems to s a de- sirzble place of seitiement for our race) should secure permancntly the immigration of Icclanders wlich is Just Leginnin The Icelanders are poor, and the voyage to Alaska (oven by way of the Panama Ixthmus)is 3 long one; but we are sure that if a small colony can only b es- tablished there, and if the settlers thrive, they will soon earn money to bring over their relatives, and that the bulk of the population of Jceland will' ulti- mately find its way thitber. The Committce appointed by the memorialists waited upon the President some timo since. und were very kindly received. The result of the interview was an order for a sloop-of-war on tho Pacific Coast to makea trip to Alzska and take the three Icclandic Commissioners. If thoy report favorably to their countrymen, Alaska before long will bo peopled by a hardy, intelli- seat, and industrious race of people. Early in ihe summer o most violent phase of religious fauaticism appeared in the German col- ony at Rio Grande de Sul, in Brazil. It appears that a certaiu quack pamed Mauer and his wife, fiuding medical imposition upremunerative, turned their attestion to the estallishment of & new religion combining the tenets of the Thugs of India and the Woodhullites of the United States. Theylaid down as the first general prin- ciplo community of women and property, and, as the second, the destiuction of all other sects in the world. Incidentally this doctrine probib- ited work further than was neceseary for the maintenance of the community generally. It is a pretty well-established principle that the more extiavagant a religions creed the greater the rendiness with which it is seized, and the tenacity with which it is maintained. The Muckers in this instance accepted the creed announced by the ignorant pair without question, and early in June commenced slaying unbelievers. In less thap & month they had es- tablished themselves very securely, and strength- ened their position by murdering all who came in their way. At the begiuning of August ihey successfully resisted a regiment of Brazilian troops, repulsed them, and enlarged their area of operations. Latest advices represent them as sccurely entrenched, while the surrounding set- tlements are preparing for the exterminaton of these rampant religionists. i R Another Weston has appeared to challenge the wonder and admiration of those who think tory. Tho field liesopen. Can America find & Hallam to enter upon it 2 * ENGLISH SOCIALISM. Robert Owen left England in disgust because his gospel of rocialiem found few believers there. Fourier thought the English mind inca- pable of grasping the lofty conceptions of his sccialistic schemes. Tho two apostles wero un- just. Their teachings have borne fruit, from time to time, in spasmodic undertakings. A few of the faithful think that they sco the causes of disaster hitherto and can avoid them hereafter. They have founded a community on a farm of 31 acres in the New Forest, Hampshire. Thoy secm to have borrowed idess from St. Simon, for their ruler is » woman, whoue title is simply Mother. ler power is absolute. Sie governs, we aro told, “by the Iaw of love,” which is very fortunate. The Bible, as erpounded by her, is the community’s code. There is no marriage. The members, like American Shak- ers, livo together as brothers and eisters. The menmberehip is drawn from all ranks of society, save the vory highest and the very lowest. The majority are poor aad illiterate, but some are wealthy and cultured. As the farm does not puy, it is more than probable that the moneyed., members are being heavily taxed for the sup- portof tho others. The community contains craftemen. agriculturists, shopkeepers, students, etc. Themen do not wear any dietinctive cos- tume, but the women have, of course, introduced anow fashion. It seems to consist of panta- loons and jacket, plus a short skirt. ¢ Nona can realize without actual observation,” rrites &n enthusiastic correspondent, “ the peculiar yet pleasing and attractive effect of ths dress, worn by neariy every female in the family, whether of early or mature years.” Tho community plays as well a8 works. Ausic is its chief delight. ‘Tne proverbinl soothing effect of this may ex- plain the remarkablo statement that the society has the fullest liberty with the most perfect unavimity.” Such a state of things exists no- where else,—and will doubtless cease to exist in Hampshire ere many months have come and gone. — PERPETUAL MOTION. To the Editor of The Chicago Tribune: Stu: Will you please fnform me, through the col- s OF Sour paper OF otliorwied, aboat perpetual maotion 7 If the maanet ia used to overcome gravitation, can the machine be rightfuily ealled perpetusl 7 Is it not ueceasary for such a machine to have the fnherent quality of creating its own_motive-power, without the aid of magnets or of gravitation ? 1 have before mea small machine which i thus propelled. Do you think it woutd be called perpetual 7 1 bave heard of rewards offered to tho first inventor of perpetual motion ; henco my wish for mnformation on these points, Veryrespectfully, 3ow A, 8. V. Ciicado, Sept. 16, 1674, ANSWER. 1. If the magner could be used so that it would perpelually overcome the attraction of gravitation (at reguiar intervals), the machine could rightfully be called ** perpotusl.” But tho ‘magnet canuot be eoused. Its power to attract the moving points in the machine is gradually lost, when it is thus employed ; tho !attractive force even becoming ouc of repulsion, under certain conditiens. y 2. 1t is scarcely fair tc ask us what is necea- sary to the existence of a thing which cannot possibly exist; but we may state what are the conditions imposed at the United States Patent Ofice when application ie made for a patont on * perpetual motion.” Tho applicant ig informed thzt, if be will send a model of the machine to the office, it will be placed under lock and key for twelve months, snd, if found ruoning at the end of that time, o patent will Lo grantedl. If our correspondent has & mu- chine that will angwer this condition, it mattors Dot whether it be propelled hy magnets or gravitation, provided it should be spparent that the machine Wwas not actually ruaping down at the end of the term of probation. Out of several scores of ap- plicants for patents not one haa yet complied with these terms ; and not one of many models which the writer of this reply has examined is capable of standing the proposed test, which is equally fair and simple. B 8 We do oot think that the mechime “Ebo- walking the lighest and noblest aim of fatlen man. His name in addition to Weston is George Washington. In the fall of 1872, Ar. G. W. Weston and family left Brownsville, Neb., for Texas. When they arrived there they found that yellow-fever was provalent, and made their way to New Urleans. Life in New Orleans was no more agreeablo there than it is now, and they determined to return to Brownsville. Posscss- ing but a few dollars, they were compelled to admit thet ordinary modes of travel were closed against them. Mr. Weston expended his capital in a wheelbarrow, a tent, and & fow other arti- cles, and determiged to walk back to Ne- Lraska. He left New Orleans with his wife, three children, and wheelbarrow, in Febraary, and has steadily jogged along townrd Lis destination. He arrived in St. Louis last week and pitched his tent in a vacant lot, waiting to obtain 2 little work and recruit his strength and that of his wife. St. Louis ¢hould not allow that man to leavo the city. Such eturdy independence and enterprise in a fow of herleading citizens would be of great benefit to Ler. George Washington Weston should be provided with work in order to teach St. Louis how pluck and energy may be exerted under the most distressing circumstan- ces. ——— The intervel allowed to elapso between death and the disposal of the remains in India seldom exceeds a few hours. Theclimate, which strong- Iy urges, if itdoes not necessitato, the practice of cremation, forbids the retention of a corpse 28 long as Euwropean and American custom demands. The Zimes of India describes the cremation of Narvan Massedo, & distinguished Hindoo, who was killed by the falling of his building at Malabar Hill The funcral was attended by a very large con- course of people. The natives use no apparatus for burning their dead. The furnace consists of &ix upright posts, half-way up which a rude plat- form is mado to rest the body upon, the posts serving to keep the corpse in position. Blocks of sandal-wood, leaves, and light branches are piled under and above the body, which is com- pletely concealed by the fuel. The Hindoo rite requires that the pyre shonld be lighted with sacred fire, carefully brought from the residence of the deceased, axd tha cidest son applies the torch of sandal-wood which kindles it. In the prasent instance, after applying the torch, the relatives of the dead were led away while the burning was going on, and in three hours not a distinguishable vestige remained of the influen- tial leader of the Hindoo community who at sun- rise was in the enjoyment of perfect health. St e R English betting men have complained bitterly of the temporary cxpatriation which the law has imposed upon them. They have hitherto fonnd in Paris a refuge where book-making counld be carried on without fear of molestation by the police, and have availed themselves of this im- maunity from prosecution. Many Eoglishmen, asd an equal number of Paritians, have succeeded in establishing oftices in the city for the purpose of betting, and these are known as *pari-muatuels.” Previous to the Franco-Prussian war, the busi- ness was moderately carried on, but the exi- gencies of the case put a stop to further trans- actions. Since then, however, the * pari-mu- tuels” have multinlied exceedingly, until the polive authorities have been forced to take cog- nizanco of them. Bix years 5g0 & test case was made by the Imperial Prefect of Police against the inventor of the ‘ pan-mutuel " system. The decision of the Court was that betting w25 not a gamo of chance, and the ofiicials were compelled to act accordingly. But the last attempt made to suppress these offices by law has been more successfal, the Court sustaining the police. The case will be appealed of course. If the Court of Appeals refuses to overrnle the latest deci- eion, the professional betting men of France and Englend will find no place for the practice of their amusemont nearer than Belgium. At the recent great musical festival at Munich, attended by el the singiug socicties of Bavaria, a upecch was made by Dr. Heidenfels, the Vice- Preaident of the New York Liederkranz, before an audience of 74,000 people, in which he said: **Among the 7,000,000 of Germans in Amencs, ‘there is 8 great deal to be improved, They have greater enemies than the French to contend with, namely, Yankeeism, Puritanism, and Tem- perance fools, who wish to prevens the drinking of beer on Bundays." The ungraciousness of this sentiment will ba apparent to every ove. It 18 not only an ineult to the American peopls, bus a worso insuls to the German people thamaalves, Ilf wo are to accept Dr. H then the sole ides of harp;, i the German is, after he has ni;!:&nd, dsinkiog withont protest, to have al 3. % 13 in whic to guzale beor also, -1y )y €250 with some classes of Germans e 4 seo snsthiog bigher than a beergeg 1 15 8 largo class of educated and gags 208 mans, to which we had supposed Dx"l;:d G belonged, who do ot regard begy o 2 the only happiness of which they fim“‘ & g 'ml;li weo arla glad to notice that some of :j:fi ’ indignantly repudiating thi otag & e ly repudisting this Tngracioy, g 8 —_— Gov. Osborn, of Kansa, i Prosident for arme for the. s!:::.‘f:lm o opportunity to remouscrate, He u‘:g‘. A 1564, when Price’s army was marchiog s> F antly through Missouri, Gen. Cartis, corp " B tho Department of Kansas, called apog o} [ eroor of that Siate to pns into the field i militia force of tho Siate. The arms u;e: ) to tho militia are now charged to the mm:g the State, against which Gov. Osborg oo -2 inasmuch as they were of inferior p;\(f:; q: used in tho National servico. Their inferios, ™ I claima, is unpleasnatly domonsteaced i 12 mexta with hostile Indians, who aro b, maans furnished with fire-arms of fhe proved pattern. The Governmant has 500 carbines to the State ; but this sgg s armament is nearly insigoificant. Gor, gt - coneludes with the statamont that siges s migeton into the Union the State of sm,,:' expended moro than €350,000 i proleeisgyes citizens againet hostilo Indians, whoso gonse duct was guarantecd by tho Federl o, ment. If the Uoited States army is top sgg xive that protection it promised, the thinky that Kansas should not be ck fuifiliing ita dutics. S mi S 1t ia any one respect tho City of Nex 1y cojoys an advantage over Chicago, it i f g freedom of the atmosphere from Safiey smoke. The purity and clesniiness cf the gy delicious contrast with the grimy gkere ) cits. The righta of the people are gunisigy ouly in this reapect, but silence is enjoinedg |/ the stesm-whistle owners, who in Chi pear to be commissioned to distarb the peuys the slumberer. The Board of Hedltaofsy York recently ordered that between Grand (s tral Depot and Harlem River mo locomy whistles are to bo used except in cases of sz danger, and train-hands are required to and releaso their Lrakes without a call gy £ engineer. Engineors are required to sveds plenishing their furnaces batween Grand Dy and One Hundredth street. Tho emata uu:.i§ the snowy shirt-bosom all day, and the yeliy locomotive and tug-whistles that starils & eleeper at night, and harass the sick stal by of the day and night, prepare Chicagovictizsty 2 full appracistion of this beneficent arder. i e e aeie A jolir priest has come to grief in Keatosy, § His name is Fatber Carl Exel. Alitlamm than a year ago, Father Carl was sentio ¥z B len’s Station, on the Kentucky Central Railroad, 5/ to presido over the Catholic Charch s st place. Father Carl, being a lover of the good 55 maty, then complained to the Bishop, who basbdd up tho church sud taken possession of @& books ; and jolly Father Carl and tho wikw left lamenting. the Prince of Wales roceived on coming of 3 - £000,721. - come fromiLio Duchy of Cornwall—£720,0091 [§ - 000 a year—£850,000. His wife has reesal eleven years’ aonuity—<110,000; & grand tald £2,310,721, or $11.553,550, in twelve years, ald which bas gone * where the woodbine trinet’ Duko of Edinburg, who his s penchiif things of this world, and Mallen's Stuticn being &5 a lonescme sort of place, he looked out for bin &3 self in such manner as to have things confuts, ble for him. First, he compelled his fiock build him a new honse. Second, he sent ozttt femalo members on begging expeditonawaf? they had accnmulated enough to farnizh ithol, somely. Third, ho took a buxom widow for hff: Sunday to keop him and tho widow in wizsxi beer. The flock stood it as long as possitai A correspondent of the Graphic shomix! Ho has reccived twelve vears' o twenty-two years’ anuuity from the State—fi. i at the rate of $3.780 a day, and thero £3wr debts amonnting to £5,000.000 which Perlismet iy pressed to pay. A curious fact has coms light 1n this connection. It appears thatcud the principal creditors is bis own brother &t [ wsary, Mr. Lawson, tho chief proprietorolts London Telegraph, has been the Duko of I burg’s agent, and bas loaned quite freelyoi¥ Prince, and it is chiefly throgh the jointm sure of Mr. Lawson and the Duke thst Fr¥ % ment is on the eve of paying the Prince’s di A ministerial scsndal was renendysotl_l;: ‘ France in & very summary manner aod i the aid of & mutual friend. A merchantd Chevrense came home one day and fomd B8 wife in suspicions rolations with a prist B immediately locked them in, went for bis® volver, retarned, shot the priest in the eck,s his wife in the leg. Both recovered, andhs3 bronght them before a Court, whero they i guilty, and wero sentenced to six monthf= prisonment each. Toe merchant was hea i §; for attempting to kill the priest, and vis& charged. This was prompt disposition of whole matter, without correspondencs, sl ment or retraction, hypochondris o sand gloom. In roprinting Tilton's last statement 1203 & « Tprguse Extra,” the Chicago papers ™ striking uniformity, omitted to give us tiend ‘usually accorded by newspaper courtesy. ais@ELLANEOUS. The Brookly Argus says that itis suthorizd to state that Geu. Stewart L. Woodford is 5#* candidate for renomination to Congress. e —A now York newsboy who said ‘ Thasl ""d ! to a strangor, was rewarded withs dolat ¥y now all tho boys eay tho same. Howittd they all fail to get the dollar, they add, stingy old cass, you.” At a Into operatic performance st Pan 3! £ “Ernani * was performed, the total recelp@*5 £ under 13 francs; tho Stato claimed 1 {n 5 § the poor's fund, Verdi reccived 6, Hugo 3 the prima donna one-haif of the bilsnce. | 3, & —Chambord has written to Carlos. HOZ 5 the latter's memorandum to the grest # and is satisried that God will make bis WTHL torious, I have no noed to tell sou” b4 i “*how happy your aunt and I will bowbel ‘& nows ' of the triumph of the Legitimist Spain reaches us.” g Vinci had been buzed o i —Leonardo da 1 nag vears, and when they uncovered bis 18, otber day they conld recognize it from 0 traits, and o was not embalmed cither— shut in a stone coffin. i L overal ofiices with_high-soundiag 65 connected with the Englich Chancery xort to be 2bolished. Among these are “Cletke i Petty Ber,” “Pursuivant to the Grest Xy * Purse-Bearer to the Lord Chaull-l:'é’ oo &« Chafe-wax Sealer and Dapnty.l'; Wby ish the ridicalous old Court itself ? —So strong is the horrcrof Vexw'?“"": salary-grabbers that in one or tw0 M’d’b’w st Rochester. a Republican candida:e 0% sentative in the recent election ¥h3 hxdufl’#,' the increase of pay as a member of tb; o tare in 1866, though he did mot vote foF ot defeated on the ground that he was® bber. % o e American chapel in procems o2 . t —The new struction in the new quarter of Rome iy ¥ the present Lumbard and Gothicstyle. ©use terior facinga will all bo travertine, tho e of beautiful Arles stone. The tover, ¥ - peal of bells, will be 140 feet Ligh. includes_lecturo-rooms, school-rovms, and lodging-rooms for the officiating The land cost £25,000, and the buildiog 70,000, of which Iatrer sum 55,000 37! 5 been subscribed. A %hoal of black fish numberizg S855 driven sshoro recently st North Tmar,_g | and killed, bringing to their captors Tho eaptors nurabered st least S0 med, i and children, all of whom shared {0, The fish wore driven into sballow WG & when killed wero 1sid along the Ahc”'uu:u"‘ 1 inaling for half amile. Most of w3 o large, welghiug fram 2,000 to 6,000 ponalé 1 el 2 wp r I ti ¥ a A5 BNz pEBEEENRYS EXBUERE F'4