Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 24, 1876, Page 10

GOSSIP FOR THE LADIES. Those Christmas_Slippers===Un= reeling a Pullback. Another Candidate---Woman-Suffrage in Wyoming---In & Tunnel. Her Weapons-«-All in the Family-:-A Remedy for Big Earse--The Petticoat. INDIGNANT POLLY WO&G, A tree-tond, dressed in apple-green, £at on a mossy log, Beside a pond, and shrilly sang, * *ieome forth, my Polly Wog,— My Pol—my Ly—my Wog, My pretty Polly Wog; T've somcthing very sweet to egy, My slender Poily Wog!l - ** The air s molst—the moon {s hid Behind a bezvy fog. _ Do stars are ot to wink and hlink fil you, my Polly Wo&—« y Pol—my Ly—my Wog, My graceful Polly Wog; * . Q. tarry not, beloved anel MY precious Polly Wog! "™ Just then away went clonds, and thers + é{,{'\w xtnn the log— . The othe end 1 mean—the moon Showed angry Polly Wog. - Her small eyes flaghed—she swelled until She looked almost 8 frog; <+ How dare yon csll m¢, sir," she asked, . ¢ Your *precious Polly Wog? +¢Why, one wonld think your life was spent In some low muddy bog: I'd have you kuow, {0 strange young toads * My name's Mise diary Wog.™ Ons wild, wild langh that tree-toad gave, And tambled off the lo Ang o%?he’d round he Efckeq and screamed, y A <o Woz! 1 ness '—what 8 jokel nnmhforflz‘ruWo 1 # —Ars. Margaret Eytinge in Scribner for January. prasdshatng THOSE SLIPPERS. As this seasop of the year the average Ameri- can honsewife becomes as mysterious ag a hen with & nest hid In the currant bushes. Her ab- sences from home are frequent, and she avoids giving 4 sccount of them. Her air is as pre- occupied, and her manner ag full of importance, a5 if ghe were & Cabinet Minister with s State scerct, She is apt to neglect trifiing hougehold dutics, and listen to reproof with the benign and kindly smile of one who is sbove petty troubles. She js preparing Christmas presents, 2nd the burning of a beefsteak is & matter of np moment. It is uacless for the man of the house to remonstrate; it is idle for him to grumble. Censure rehpunds from her like ran from the wings of an angel canght in a terres- trial storm. Nothing will disturh her seraphic mood until the Januery thaw. As woman at the bouse<cleaning time of the gur 8 a fury, £o wornan at the approach of the holi- days isa saint. And as no man may withstand ber when she rages abont the house fn the melsncholy days, with a cloud of dust aronnd ber }ike that which an anclent war-chariot gath- cmdh-lssit went, bu-lskimt&:kanp ?lhkombfi girt his garments for & street-brawl, her t1ed away under a hand kerchief, and thé besom of destruction in her hand— “*Her broom thessceptre all who meet obey, ™ —50 10 man may attack hér with impanity in the milder madoess of the Christmas season, ‘when her motions are qh_les and subdued, and the mild light. of bappiness glows in her eye. In her 7olc of Marths, solicitous sbput house- cieaning, and in her role of Mary, who hath chosen @ better part, ghe is alike jncamprehensi- Bls tp the sterner sex, and cvery sensible hus- ‘baugd soon learns to look upon his wife at such times _as one whose ways are mnot his ways, a creature to be humored, like & t, when her eyé s ig fino lwgf rolling. e Christmas manie might, indeed, prove a very pleasant epi- sodein tamilylife, potwithstanding the amonnt of moneéy Wwhich it costs, were it not for one ‘peculiarity inthe madness. We allude to its tendepey 'to menifest and satisfy itself in the febrication of slippers. Lovely ‘Woman scems to be urzed on h{ 4 swoot impnlse to decorate ber spouse, brother, ar lover withher own handiwork, and there appears to be no other ve- hicle for the expressionof her affection, save s{:ppm. Like a painter throngh whose work the influence of & single modclis cver evident, the gentler sex still fashion slippers, and make them serye for every relation of life and its amenities. Slippers of canvas, slippers of mo- Toeen, elippers of velret.‘l slippers of carpeting, €elippers embroidered with roses, sippers adorn- ed with butterflics, slippers decked with rosettes, li re a5 innumerable as the wintry snowdlakes, teach ys the variops mindg of women. Does the dsughter desire to show due reverence to ber father} She gives him - afr of slippers. Dots the wife wish to pledge eternal conjugal ficelity? What symbol for affection can she tipd more potent than slippers? Is the maiden anxous 1o give slg expression to her fopdness for g loveri oW can the tender con- fessiop be so_delicately conveyed asin & pair of slippersi Does the golemn matron think it appropriatd to express to her minister her ap- provat of his sound doctrinal methods and fer- vid eloquence? What eulogy is so expressive as the gilt of a pair of slippers? The man with many female relatives is belpless at sucha time, and can only wish he had as many feet as Briar- cus had havds, so that be might wear all his ¢lippers at once; or that women would devise some little varicty of method in spending his money. But be might as well fight, ‘against the stars in their courses, or against a_setting hen, or 8 perverse mule, as urge objections toa woman intent npon the manufacture of slip- pere. Never but oncc was this propensity of the sex towards sllpge:s turned to zood account, and thereforg bafiled. The admirers of a cele- b rated Jesuit preacher embroidered slippers for him by the thousand, and sent them as pres- eu(.z and as fast as be reccived them they were con! to the common stock of the Order. It s said that a great part af the Society was comfortably supplied h=fore the fair mapufag- turers discovercd how thsir gifts were diverted s slien feet.—New York World. ! UNBEELING A PULLBACK. A most amusing scens was witnessed on K street the-other day. A lady with 2 vizorons pillback ekirt and an eliborate polonaise was walking up K from Fourth street. In that uu- accountable outside pocket which the fashion p.rw;rlbu shall be trained to the rear and hung a5 lowdown as possible upon the last-named cirmeit, she hid a new, fill spool of thresd,— fust purchased, evidently. .Anend of this, es- caping from the open pockct, caught the eye of 2 K street gamin,—a 6 or T-year-old_specimen. He dettly caught the end, and, holding to it, found that it recled off without the promenader being aware of it. - He at once squared him- seli, saflor fachion, i the middle of the walk, a0d'as she prid off ¥ he * hauled in,” hand oyer haud, to the infinite amusement of half a hundred men who witnessed the operation. In 2'brief time the line reached clear up to Fifth street from near Fourth, andas the iadystepped ofit-on the flageings to cross the street the end ran off, and she went on with the empty spool; blis Iy unconscions of the merriment behin hér back at her expense. The cruel men—and by this time 100 had scen the unreeling procest ~then began to epeculate upon the look of blank sstonishment which must have overspread ber ¢ountenance when, on reaching home; she foupd thé spool empts, which she conld assert was full when she purchased it.— Washington CRronicle. . AXOTHER CANDIDATE. One of the City-Hall officials found an dn- known woman parading up and down the lower sorridor yesterdsy noon, and upon. his inquiring 1f she was lookinig for anybody, she replied: 1 zéther guéss Iam. Iwant to be janitor f the City-HalL? 4 But'no woman can secure such a position.” -4 Why not?” she grimly asked. .%¥hy, how would a woman get slong alone smong such a crowd of menl It would be very, embarrassing to say the least.!” 4 They'd sneer 8t me, would they?? 4 Of course they would.” . + And then what would I do#?! “ You could do nothing, madam.” 4T conldn’t, eht AfterIhad taken ane or two of them by the neckim‘kukg\‘.hl.s,:nd jammed ’eza through the wall, like this, I guess shey’d.shut up, wonldn’t they?? , . . Plc.ki:f up his hat, which had been jostled off the shock and hit#ing to the loose ends of collar, he replied: 3 -+ Go for the office, madam, you ehall have all my influence.’—2f, Quad. B 4 i WOMANBUFFRAGE IN WYOMING. ACheyenne young lady had expressed & desire ¢ vote. Her young inan was more than willing she shonid be gratified, and he sent for & buggy to take her to the polis. While on their way he asked to soe her- ticket. It -was -showsn him. Jows: “I am about to mary Mr, J— THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24,-1S76—SIXTEEN PAGES s, ‘While she was looking in another direction he put ber ticket, whicll was for Corlett, in his t and gave her one in its place for Stecle. e raddest part is yet to be told She mever knew how she had voted for dsys after- ward. He was in the habit of takinz candy to her every Friday night. Last Friday be failed. Bnt when he told lier so she could not belicve bim. * 80 she "4 ned to search hig pocket. Horrors! The first thing she discovered was her ticket, written in her own hand. When the younzman woke toa proper realization of his situation he was lying doubled up on the floor, hile tufts of Lisauburn locks were scatterc in rich profusion about the room. As be open- his eves a vase filled with water and an orna- ‘mental gea-shell cimé crashing ipto his face, followed by invectives of apyiaing bot @ loving nature from her whom he had de- exit’ thiough &, Window, 4nd la i\'mldcdili,eg house.. He secured & vote for his favorite candidate, but lost his girl.—San Fran- L —— + - FUNNEL HILL, GA. The train on the Western & Atlantic Raflroad bad stopped 2t a small station ‘and = beautiful yoing gentleman; with a linen duster, a mus- tache, & gold-héaded stick, a pair of tight boots, and s smile, had. led. into the car a blfishing damsel -of 18, with s ravishing lmri and 4 plece of court-pl: un@ernéath her _o;ely mouth.” " They too] t5, 2 ther, the D: ‘while she looked ont, the. window. nz) Hill, Ga., in sight. The train dashed tlirongh a section of inner darkness: When the crend of the tunnel was reached she was looking out of the window, while bie was twning the pages. But the court-plaster wason his chin,—uo0t hers; the edges turned up and the center not smooth- ed down; it u’:;cm:fi to have bcen hgstily de- ited. "All the old gossips made a note on’t. She lookea at him, sa% thecourt-plaster, rubbed lier 6wn chin, biushed and whhgered to him. He put, his hand up to his chin, brought down the court-plaster, took outa cigarsud flcd to the smokingcar. In the distance roge the grim defiles and solemn curves of Tunnel Hill, Ga. The conductoy entered the' car with his new steel punch. The car-boy shouted ¢ Lozenges!” A BRIEF LOVE-STORY. This is & Christmas love-story 2s told by the Utica Herald: “‘Nellie Grege, aged 10 years, came into the Herald office and wanted to know the price of printing a love-story, When asked to show the story slie said it was not written, ‘bnt she could tell it. The little one was given a seat, and told ber love-story very prettily as follows: ‘Now, my name is Nellie Gregg, and, Iwant this putin the Moraning Heraid, aud sign my name to it. Now, I went to El Dorado County, Cal., with my- father a year ago, and showed Edward Slater a picture of & real nice girl. Now, hefl éel] in lc;nva I\'il‘lil %l;%gdrl In% commenped writing to her, an 3y of last week he cfier on to Utica and_married her, and he never gaw her, before, and now he promises me a present and he hasn't given it to me yet, and don’t you think heotight to? That’s all the story, and X told him I wonld put it in the Morning Herald. Pleass do it forme!’ As that tras the shortest and best love-story we have heard for many a day, we told Nellie we would publish it, and have &;cpt our yord. Nel- He is & nright ligtle 1, and evidently has been & good angel e Californian. He bas got bis wife, and Nellie should have the promised present without delay.” HER WEAPONS. A very heavy woman about 40 years old was making some purchases in a8 Woodward avende store yesterday, and, while moving across the store, her spectade case fell from her pocket to the floor. It was picked ip by a cash-boy, who handed it to h¢r with the remark: * Here's your revolver.” ¢74s, eh?” she remarked as she received the case—** well, that's my hand!" The * box " received by the lad on the ear echoed all over the smrci]anfl, ‘when he rose up on the other side of the counter, the canvass seemed to have been settled in fayor of the old lady. She looked after him, pawed over the calivoes, ang mused: g “T wasn’t brought up to stand sass from children, and I don't believe I can ever get used to it.”—Detroit Free Press. — ,ALL IN THE FAMILY, An amusing Btory is told of the Baron X—, amomber of one of the oldest and_proudest families of France, who hdd liad * arranged for him,” as the saying is here, & marriage with an English lady of immense wealth. A few weeks before the day appointed for the wedding, the lover found out that his betrothed, instead of being of a good family, as had been reported to him, was the daughter of & quack doctor, her golden eas having been derived from the sale of patent pills. He troke off the match, whereat his father, Count X—, who chancéd tobe awidower, was sorély distressed. * 8o many millions—and all Jost to the famijly. Rath- er than that should occur he would marry the lady himself.”” Which he did forthwith.—Paris AREMEDY FOR BIG EARS. ‘We learn from Saratoga Springs that one of the belles of that place has had a difficnlt opera- tion perfortned upon her egrs for the purpose of reducing them to the ordinary size of such ap- vendages. The lady is accomplished and pleas- ing to all who meet her, but up to this time she has suffered great annoyance from the fact that her ears were tar beyond the proper dimensions. No art of the hair-dresser or milliner conld be employed successfully in biding_this deformity, and she resolved to go fo New York and have them cut down. She consulted with a skilled eon, and, refusing to take chloroform, fered bravely while undergoing the opera- tion. The surgeon believes that the ears will be all right again within a few weeks.— Utica Herald. . . THE PETTICOAT. “The lorgnettes of fashion,” says the New York Herald’s Paris correspondent, “are still mainly directéd to that grave article of dress, the petticoat. The flat abolishing it has gone forth, and inmany cases it has disappeared utterly; but in 4 great many other instances it clings to its time-honored place. Fashion, aghast at the stubbornness with which these females refuse to doff the petticoat and don the hitherto distinctively male ent, has compromised on a middle course. For the bene- fit of her conservative or reactionary sisters she has inyented s hybrid garment called the jupon sac. This is confined (here I cover my face with one hand and write blindiy with the other) at the ankies by loose rubber bands.”? A LOVER’S LOCUM TENENS. John Staub was engaged to Mary Emma Da- vis, in New Orleans. His business required his absence from the city for three months, and he delegated to bjs intimate friend, Willlam Wib- ley, the duty of attemi.tni on Miss D. th’;'t time. yThe ‘understanding wa:“:hgfigi substitute should take the girl to entertain~ ments and to church, and to have general super- vision of her; but be went further than that by in love with her. And she fell in-love with him. Staub returned, learned what had cgm: to pass; and killed Wibley with s pistol- sho FEMININE NOTES. Vassar has 885 giris—the fairest count you ever heard of. ‘Women i politics!" Bugarinslops! It may improve the slops; but, on; what a waste of sugar. -Ezchange. 5 They were talking of ai actress. Sald ome: “ Yes, ahe has great talent. What age is she?” “I don’t kmow, but she looks‘every day of it! A man out West who offered bal for a friend weg asked by the Judgeifhe had any incam- ‘brance on his farm.” * O, yes,” said he, ¢ my wife. A wife whose home is uncongenial will not tamely ;nhmlc tosee her husband happy—not ‘while she has ent enongh left to detelop his ‘*.get up and k":’!’gy 5 T It is & harrowing spectacle to see a man whe %{hbee_n m:_rr@eg sg;t a ;eg.rwtmdg;:g n.long 3 an thmurpe ba‘gxmy.mnm rells, en route to Normich Bulletin: Only a fow days more of Jeap year remain, and we shall be glad when it isover. - This having to refect girl after girl is & cruel strain upon a sensitive man. Rochester Democrat: Reaching home at 2 late hour and percelying there was medicine about, he inquired what {t meant. “It means,” she sald sternly, ‘that I ought to have camphor you an hour ago.” Detrolt Fres Press: There are . 7,000 mors ‘women than mea in the District of Columbia, and yet, if one woman falls into the canal and is drowned, a great hullabaloo is made abont it in tlie papers- e A female Justice of the Peace of Wyoming was_married last week, and, true to her pro- fessional training, she pteviously notified her {friends to be present by a. prints !ombu iol; l— o this'county, and he will be qualified and sworn it at my office on Wednesday morning next at 10 o'clock. You are invited fo attend.” A man who jumped overboard repently to Ve his wife from drowning, has explained his action sauunqor!l{ to his friends. He said she Fiad & good deal of jewelry on her person and gold was high. i A 3-year-old happened to have a want to be attended to just ashis mother was busy with the baby. “Go away; I can’t be bothered with you now.” “What did “you have so many chil- en for, if you can’t bother With 'em?” he in- quired. * A maiden lady said to her little nephew: “Nov, Johnny, you go to bed early, and always do 80, 2nd _vpu'h be rosy-cheeked and handsome you grow up.” Johnny thought oyer this 4 few minutes, .and ‘then observed: *+Well, gpnty, you i heve set up a good deal when you el Ll Norrisf Herald: A young man who was paying his’ eszes to twa yqu&zg Tadies during the summer coriciuded to confine his visits to oné this winter, but found much difficulty in declditg which one to discard: Haying on cye to comiort, he finally resolved to visit the one wbé?se-lather had put in the largest stock of coal. A lady of Sevres has advertised for a nurse, and is walted on by s handmaid, evidently di- rect from Paris. After the usual prelimingries ng colloauy takes place: Mistress— et ¢ your charac- at heayens, do k Tor a place at Vrea?—Paris papér, The juvenile of the company was maling des- gzmte love to the leading lady, with whose usband he was o the best of terms. One day as they were sitting together the hugband said philosophically: *‘Sechere, my desr boy, you're making love to'my wife. I'm sorry for it, and T’ll give you {air warning that you’il havé your ‘1abor for your pains. = You won’t succeéd fn making her love youany more—than 1 did.—New York World. The paternal author of an helress was ap- proached by & youth who requested 2 few: mo- ments’ conversation in private, and began, *I WS {;qu,estw to sce.you, sir, by your lovely daughter, Our_ attachment—-" - Young man,” interrupted the parent; briskly, I don't know what that girl ot mine i§ about. You are the fourth gentleman Who has approached me this morn’ifiiou the subject. I have given my consent to the others, and I give it to you; God bless you.' % A young man was teaching in a district school when one day the following conversation took place: Teacher (to a little g‘lfl whom he sees weeping violently)—*“What is the matter, Faopy?” Fanoy— Je—Je—Je—Johnny's try- i’ t-—t—to kiss~— Teacher (interrupting)— “Johnny, were you trying to kiss Fanny?” Johnuy—*“No, sir.”’ Teacher—*But she s3] that you were.” Fanny—‘‘No—n—no, sir. He W—W——Was t-—t—t—t—tryin’ to kiss M—M— Maggie J—Jackson.” ———— IS MOODY [N FAVOR OF DRUNKENNESS ? Tv the Editor of The Tribune, CmigaGo, Dec. 28.—In your issue of Friday, Dec. 15, I find the following in the report of Mr. Moody’s Bible-reading of the previous afternoon. Hehad been speaking ahout secret organizations: He [Moody] did not except temperance lodges; he would nnyt] yoke hl_mselrvwizu T anbellever i snything; a mau rescued from intemperance by a society not working on Gospel nnd%l!ea was apt to boast about his ability to_reform himaelf, and such 8 man was worse than a drunkard. In regard to the first part of the above gfate- ment, I would say that I am not & member of any such secrot organizatiou,:but I believe, and facts I think v{&l bear me out in the assertion, that, provious to the ‘women’s crussde” such secret organizations were the only conservators of temperance in the country, gnd had heen for the thirty years previous. Statistics also prove that, they Rave introduced more members to the Church of Christ in this State than any other organization excepting the Slm%?'—sdlovl- g But it is not so much Mr. Moody’s statement as to secret temperanceorzanizationsthat Itake such serfous cxception to as to the one “that a man rescued from intemperance by & soclety not working on Gospel ,prln_clples . e . WDS worse than a drunkard.”” Can it be that Mr., Moody, who appears to be so large-hearted and “practical in ever{thlng, made : the above . statement ' Wil ue considera- tiont Can it be that he means'. {t? Does he mean to soy that a man is better drunk than soher if not a Christian, for that is the only inferenco to be drawn from his language I sbould hope not. . € 4 1 thought at first that your reporter bad mis- conceived his Jariguage, but I find on consulting the Times of thesamo date that its report is substantially the sgme 28 yours, and I am also informed by. persons who were })ment thatyour report is correct. Iam therefore compelled to believe that he made the statement, and must ‘brand it as cruel, false; and pernicious doctrine. Let Mr. Moody. ask the wife and family of the drunkprd, reformed hy sny means, whether he is worse now. than. when he was and let . him hear their answer. Let him ask the community in which he lives whether he is not a_better neighbar, a better citizen, 3 better friend, and a better man. Let him ask the men with whom he.does business if_his credit ismot. hetfer and his rs more mxpcm:i. The answers will_he emphatically, “Yes.” Let Mr. Moody ask the Leepers of our jails, brideyells, and penitentigries how many men came there through the influence of drink, and the answer will be: Nine out of ten; an yet Mr. Moody says that a man is better drunk than sober unless.he obtains his sobriety by his particular methods. I presume it will be sald that the statement was made only in a religious point of view. But ovenif.it was; will it stand? Is not o man more capable of receiving religious instruction when his brain is clear and steady than when his vemefmom are clouded and his reasoning facul- ties blunted with the fumes of alcohol? When & man_ has freed himself from the shackles of drink, is he not more capable of looking after hig soul’s well-being? . P A,? 1, ho says that it :_nakcs_h_ivs “ proud.” ‘Well, hes he not cause to be proud} 1s there anything so very wrong in the fact that a man who has emancipated himself irom the most pernicious hablt that curses the human race should be proud? It.is a very harmless kind of pride, indeed, that has for jis object the con- sclousness of ~ right-dolng. even in one particular, _and it would be the atest thing ~ that could possibly ippen to this country if every drinking man in it was infiated with jusy such’pride. The ques- tion of druukenness and “bflet{ is a soclal and . political question, and only a religious onel so ar a8 sobriety i a branch of morality, for so- briety is just’ as essential as honesty or any other virtue, for it undoubtedly makes 8 man a better member of community and a better citi- zom. - - ; WhileI9m on this subject I would like to speak on another point. It is said that no tem- erance reformation, is permanent that is not ased on Christianity. Now, I claim, first, that reformation obtained by any means is based on Christian _principles, for the Beripture saith, “Do thygelf no ,"&ndamnu is most as- suredly harming himsclf by drunkenness; and secondly, that such reformation is.permancnt 28 lopg 8s the . _man abstains from intoxicants, and that isall that can'be claimed for any method of reformation, for any man that has ever been addicted to this enshviné habit; if he drinks at all, will ‘get drank, what ever his faith or religious belief. Mr. Moody's dictum also pars out all classes of persons but his u:flgm of Christians, and those who are will- ing to become o, from any possibility of refor- mation. What ‘is to become of the drunken Catholic, or the Mahometan, the Jew, or the Bpiritualist; who may be, and doubtless fre- x‘uenuy are, perfectly conscientious in their be- lef? Are they f:.n be barred from all means of relief from ihe habit? Is it utterly imipossible for epch ‘men to reform? Or perhaps Mr. Moody thinks that a sober Catholic i3 no better than a drunken Catholic, or a sober Jew no bet- terthana ken Jew. But are they not bet~ ter? v Either Mr. Moody’s theory is true or it is not. true. If it is not true, then.{t should be disre- garded. If it is true, ther every man who has ccased drinking, and has not done .50 by Mr. Moody's £roeus, had better. immediately get drunk. Let all other methods of tcmperance salvation be sbolished! . Disband all temperance societies! Close the doors of all the Washing- tonian Homes and. reformatory institutions! Pay a premium to every man that will promote drunkenness among believers, and look upon the saloon-keeper aud the. peddier of 28 benefactors o!ltz.nek Tace. ectfully, e oHN COLLIER. ————— The following stunning advertisement of Richi "I\'qnne nppear§ in an Augusn.& paper: ‘First apfiueamnce of the world-re. nowned Caroline Rich Bernard Grand En- flb}h Opera Company. irty-two artists. Ac- owledged to contdin the finest musical talent in the country. The following are the artists of this famous combination: . Caroling Rich- in; , prima doana sssoluto (acknowl- iged by press, public, artists, 4nd mmagers to be the finest living American dramatic and Iyric exponent of English opera); Mrs. Henrl Dray- ton (the best operatic actressin America), mezzo- pranoy Miss Hattie Moore (the benautifal and accomplished), contralto; Mr. Harry Gates called the American Waghtel), primo tenorc} 3 e . Ben] e voiced), bagso ¢ . R nk ot o excellent), basko profando:® the ) ganfursé; My Frack Hovast (e, EUROPEAN GOSSIP. The Match=Monopoly in Frances=== A Financial Scandal. How the Duchess of Aosta Was Treated While @Queen of Spain. Bevival of 0ld Lace-Work---A German Sleeping Car-==Valuable Cracked ) China, A MATCH MONOPOLY. A Paris letter to the New York Times says: e havé here one of the’ most singular fhan- cial scandals that has been seen in the present century. It shows what the country has to pay for a bad tax, based upon false fiscal theorles and calculations, In 1871, when M. Thiers was so_ambitious to pay the Germans out of Frince at once, and to get moriey by any mm?, M. Pouyer-Quertier imagined s tax upon lucifer-matches. It was estimated: that the country consumed 18,000,000,000 of matches each yegr, With large idcas upon this subject, the Finance Committee estimated the annual consumption at 120,000,000,000. The difference between 18,000;000,000 and 120,000,000,000 is'so great that one fecls nstonished st it. and dis- posed to ask upon what bases the two estimates can rest. But in order-to be prudent, it was modestly declared, the Commission counted upon onc-half of this only, or upon 60,000,000,- . A tax of three times was then.put upon each box of 100 matches, and five cent- iines, or oné cent; upon cach box contalning 125 matches. As soon as this report was read, be- fore any law upon the subject was passed, the dealers raised the price of their matches from two to three sous per box —Sgg 100, . M, Pouyer- Quertier thought thdt the State oughit to share with the grocers in this sum_ drawn f{rom the public; ‘and hence Taised the tax- to four centimes, and announced that this produced 15,000,000 of francs m to the State. But the first few duced only 400,- 000 franes, ove after tha other, leaving o dofieit of 10,000,000 of francs fa the estimates of the Finsnce Minister. Evidently some- thing had to 'be dope to save the sitna- tion, and_at that moment MM. Roche and Caussemille, the manufacturers of the famous wax tapers; offered to pay the State 18,000,000 francs o year if they were allowed a complete menopoly of the match trade in France. The offer was tempting, but guatanties were asked. It scems that some bold speculators had mount~ ed a compariy with & capital of 40,000,000 franes, and had inanaged to Reraunde some of our larg- est. .bankers—Pillet, Will, Vernes, Hattirzuer, and others—that the company was sure of mak- ing millions. The money ygs raised,—the State accepted the offer,—th¢ new mdtch company got out its stock, and had its bonds quoted upon the Bourse at 150 francs premium. All the small mateh factories were bought out by the Stato at 2 valuation, the new- companv paying some 200,000,000 francs to sccure its monopoly. When, r.hln,yms done, and the monopoly created by law, the price of matches was fixed. In a klln%mm e—two pounds—there were 8,500 wood matches, the l?.wn pounds being sold for two francs. It cost the Comgnny one franc ninety-six centimes to manufacture them, and counting interest and the 15 per cent to be taken off for tho trade, the Company loses twenty-four centimes, or nearly five sous, on every box containing two pounds af wood matches. This difference was made u% g&) ab- stracting a number of matches, sclling 2,709 for two pounds instcad -of 8,500, the public thus losing 800 matches in each large box by the mo- nopoly. But this was pot enough, and the Company made its matehes so cheap and poor that four or five were wasted for gyery one that produced a light. The Regicalumetter became a sundlnfigake in Paris, but to the poor it was no Joke. c people began to complain and to 1ind other means for striking a light. 4 The. first year the Match Company paid its 16,000,000 of francs to the State and distributed a dividend of 10 per cent, gained, be it noted, b; speculations upon the Bourse with the hundre and odd mill{ons of caution money. The second year it was found that, instead of sellne sixty inflliards of matches,or forty, or thirty milliards, it was impossible to count upon the sale of more than from twentyto twenty-twomilliards, Then came clamors and recrimi ns, with charzes of fraud and contraband manufacture. The m’unulpqu then obtained six laws from the As- sembly ~ to protect its rights, and a large force of inspectors and detectives was organized to stop the smuggling and the contraband manufacture, and they ‘ware given the police power of entering houses, of entering uo::fl)lalnt against individuals, of seizing at once all matches which did not. bear the maqopolg stamp. This finally became vexatious. everal persons resisted these agents; denying their pretended rights, and con- stant quarrels were the result. d meautime the matches became 80 poor and so dear thatno one would use them when it could be helped. Smokers had their briguets, bfl which a fire could be easily obtained without haying one’s hand burned by & bjt of sulphur flying from the end of a match, while the country people went back to flint and steel with o wisp of tow steeped ina solution of sulphur. Ina year’s time matches ‘went out of fashion, and the great Match Com- ‘pany suspended payment. K ‘“The _question now comes as to what is to be done with this monstrous monopoly, evidently born of miscalculation, $o uge the mildest term that can be npglied. The Minister of Finance ;pmpases o reduce the sum to be paid the State rom 16,000,000 to 6,000,000 a year, that is, a Te- duction of 10,000,000. But what an outrage upon the public this %yould be! The peoplahad t0 pay 40,000,000 for the uplpmprhtiugs neces- sary’ to establish a monopol [y which wus to pro- duce 16,000,000 a year, and the whole schéme_to fall through after 16,000,000 bave becn paid. Be- yond question, if the State will reduce the an- nual sum to, say 5,000,000 francs, the mopopoly could succeed and pay handsome dividends; but some person miglit as well come forward to rob the public, or some official thief plungehis hand elbow-doep in the public Treasury. TheBudget Comumittee refuses the pMposition of the Minis- ter, and with reason. The mnuofloljy ought to be allowed to live until its capital Is used up, and no longer. It has forty millions; it loses eight millions a year; in five years it can grace- fally retire and leave the match irdustry once more free. But some goso faras to say that thie Company ought to be prosecuted, for fraud and damages demand it. The specifications are that it hns forced the means of making and ‘palming off—because the law prohibits all others —the worst matches cverscen; hem?sc it cheat~ ed the public by putting only 2,700 /matches in each bor, instead of 3,500; bccause its Directors induced pérsons to pay 650 francs for shares which cost only 500, and which were nearly valueless; and, finally, because they have been engaged in perpetrating one of the worst frauds from which & people ever suffered.” —_— . THE DUCHESS OF AOSTA. The London correspondent of the New York Graphic says: ‘The Duke and Diichess d’Aosta ‘were an Italian Prince and his wife, who were passed over to Madrid, and made King and Queen of Spain just as easy! The Bogardus Kicker at once began its function. There {8 in the Spanish character the most extraordinary yein of fiercepees, both in love and hate. They hated the Duke d"Aosta 2nd his wife, and would not tolerate them as King and Queen of Spain. A lady of the Court who was instructed to hold their infant at the baptismal font received the child in hor arms, and then actually let it fall with a crash upon the marble floor.” ‘I am the wife of a grandee of Spain,’ she safd. viciously, ‘and this brat has not one drop of Castilian blood.” Other outrages, if not more cruel, at least equally insulting, were inflicted upon the reigning couple whenever they went abroad. It was no_infrequent occurrence for their car- riage to be 5top%ud, nnt.hfv ruffiaus, footpads, Communists, but by men of high birth, gentle- men, noblemen, so-called, and linguistic vile- ness o which Bug_xlx‘%s ate is Tennysonian poured, in their horrifled ears. They did not stand it long. They recognized the forcs of the arguments of the Bogardus. The King sent in his resignation, saying, in effect, if not in de- tail, that as long as thers were boots to be blacked or street cars necding conductors he'd rather not earn his living as King of 8pain. So far it was farcical enough, but tragedy was played before the season was closed. The young Queen was 60 {ll when her husband re- signed, and the Spaniards were s0 merciless in their determination to turn them out at once, that the unfortunate lady had to be carried in a litter from the palace to” the wharf where lay the ship which was to bear her frompthose ghores. The excitement, the_anxiety, the ex- r::ure, brought, about a lingering illness which ‘minated in her death last week at the early Bge of 29, — . " LACE. The Rome correspondent of the New York World says: *“‘Thers is a revival of the old laco work at Barano; onte of the Venetian fslands,— of the old potsite @ Alericon 4nid potite de Venlse. Over & hundred girls are employed there. I visited the place a year ago; and was charmed wlptx;t'.:e sight. The estabiishment is under the eépecial patronage of the Princess Marguerite,” the Oountess Mngaudo; and some flmflu lred | of tiié Empress of | Venetian ladles. When I' of the girls were makmg 4 superb’ broad’ pol @ .Alencon for the Princess Marzuerite, at 300 lire the metre. The girls looked healthy, zay, &nd bright, and their aves were not affected by the pretty fine work, o all take a great inter- est in thi3 Venetian lace school of Burano. The Princess Marguerite recommends it to all her by friends.” But the last_news is the best for tlie prosperity of the pretty Burdnolacé-workors. Worth, the famous Parisian mantus-iaker, as we old-fashfoned swomen say, has taken hold of ‘the Venetian lace. Hg orders any quantity of it} his last order s fora marvelous number of vards at 90 lire the metre. He says it is beauti- ful and he intends to use it altogether; so the fortdae of the school is made and henceforth Burano lace will be g3 difficult for outsiders t‘g obtain as the ancient poinfes it has revived. and ali the pretty Burdno girls will be mal ex- quisite pointes for American women. The. £ not made clul;!an% foritis apointe and made with_a needle. The pattérns,—old ones,—ire traced on’ paper and worked; after’ they are done the exqulsitely fine little meshés aro added alsa with the needle. I sat aown by some of the girls and_made them show me tha varlous Stitehes. In tho lbraryaf St. Mark’s, at Venice, ol s hdve becn hunted out, containing anclent: patterns, and last year some rare old tterns-books were found in the expropriated Fl?:mries at Rome and-sont to the Burano School. o8t lucrative employment vs_ue?- 3 r girls of Burang, a revenue’ to State, and all'but of Woman’s chiffons.” ——— A MODERN MIRACLE. . The correspondent of an English Roman Catholic paper at Naples says of the miraculous liquefaction of the blood of 8t. Januarlus: #You cannot imagine the cries and the almost shricks and screams of the people that were go- tog on all this time. And when the priest held it up. and cried out, ‘E duro’—*‘It is hard’— there was stich a cry of ‘San Gennaro, nostro protettore, nostro padrone! fate cf il miracolo,’ and they began to weep and wail on all sides in the truc Neapolitan style. The reliquary is an old-fashioned silver one, of an oval shape, sur- mounted by a silver cross about fouror five inches long, by which the priest holds ft. Thick {;luss islet into the sides, so that yon see the nterior plainly when held ug 1o the light; and to.show you more clearly the bottles inside a riest holds a small lighted taper be- hind, Dy ald of which "you see’ two small ‘ampullge,’ ur cruets, the larze one con- talning about an oiincé and & half of some obscure, congealéd Bubistauce .of @ brownish tlut, not unlike to that of clotted blood when it s been exposed a long time to the air. It is quite hard, for the priest reverses the reli unx‘-y, and not the slightest motlon is visible 1% the dark matter which fills about two-thirds of the hial. Both bottles n%palred ta be hermetical- y sealed. The pricst laid the reliquary down on thealtar, He had taken it all round, had shown it to the many kneeling there, when he orice more lowered it and pnfic before my eyes. 1 was not certain, but it scemed to xgs that as he held the rau?[mry upside down the straight line which was formed across the bottle Wwas vreaking on one side, and that the substance commeuced to move slowly. I am sure my ex- cited face and the paleness I felt coming “over me must have shown the Canon ‘hat had hap- pened. ~ Yes, there it was, slowly nioving down on one side of the bottle, a few reddish-brown drops. He held it aloft to the g;eu%lc and crled, *E squagliato,’ *It is liqiéfied.” T cannot ex~ press to you the strange fecling “which crept over me when the Canon again showed me the reliq and slowly turned it round. Isaw the blntod go“'lng inside the larger phisl as freely as ‘water, ) A GERMAN SLEEPING-CAR. A correspondent of the London Teegraph writes: “ Leaviog Berlin at 10:45 p. m. Satur- day we plodded on our dreary rallroad "way throngh Sunday until about 4 p. m. There was comfort ciough, of its kind, to bs had in the train, which was provided with ¢ boudair’ sleep- ing-cars, terribly.stuffy and overheated, but, fu the way of -decoration, superb. In the coupe ‘which I'occupled the arrangements for convert- ing the vehicle into an oven were indeed 50, am- ple that I was induced to think that Prof. Sie- meps must haye had something to do withthem, and that the sleeping-car conductor was an agent in disguisc of some North German Cremation Society. There was a neat, little apfmtm of iron fixed in .the wall of the cell—I mean the sleping apartment—which I at first imagined to :’;: 2 penal_crank on which you .were. bound bel d out go many thousands of revolutions cfore vou resched Konigsberg.. On the con- trary, the twp iron bandles pnly engbled you. to turn on bot or cld ir at your pleasure. Iam afrald tnst, in my inexvulenceg turned the Swarm’ handle instead of the ‘kalt’one;: or, perchange, the ‘kalt’ stuck fast. In any case, I found the temperature growing hotter and hot- tep. Now, I fancied myself a salamander girt with fire; now I rcelled, with rucful distinct- pess, Sam Slick’s description of the agonigs of 8y amatour fireman _in . the stoke-bole of the Great Western; now I figured to myself that, o for a8 I was personally _concerned, tho Enst- ern question was about to be golved by my beiug jmmured for the brief remainder of my exist- ence in the sudatorium of a Turkish bath, un- provided with any tepidarium; and at length I fell into a slecp of stupor, to wake up In a fiery pightmare, and under the hallucination that was a parish loaf with the crust baked black by order ot the relieving ofilcer, to make tho out- door paupeis’.dole distasteful to them.” CRACKED CHINA. A paragraph appeared recently in the White- hall (England) Review about an extraordinary pricé which bad been given for some Sevros china. The details of the purchase were not given. The Marquis de Durfort had in his chatesu at Le Ferte, Saint Oyr, two very small covered vases In old rose Scvres. One day abat flew into the room where the vases were and broke one of the covers. The pieces were fast- ened together as well 28 possible. The vases Lad not attracted much notice before, but this accident drew attention to them, especially of a §entlem.1n who was staying at the chateau. ome days atter that visitor's departare another arrived with a letter of introduction from the first, and a request that he might see the Mar- quis’ china. The second visitor examined the two vases very carcfully, and asked the Mar- quis if he would sell theii.. *C ly not,” was the answer- . Not if I give: you a good price?” ¢ No, I am not s dealer in china,’ was the curt reply. . The visitor took his lr:aveT but a few days latér the Marquis recelved a_letter urgently pressing him tosell, and telling him to name auy price. * Howshall I get rid of-this fellow?! said the Margnis to his. steward. “ Ask an impossible price; say 60,000 francs,” whs the suggestion.. The Marguis aid so, and received a telegram saying, * The vases are mine. Iam coming with the money.” The pur- chaser speedily arrived and produced the right amount. The Marquis said, **1 never go from my word; but I should like to know for whom you are buylng.” ¢ For Sir Richard Wallace. His collection of old Sevres was incomplete. He badnornse color. He will give me 80,000 {rancs.” Three thousand two hundred pounds is a long price to give for cracked china. A MIRACLE-PLAY IN WALES. Some excitement has been occasioned In South Wales by the production on a recent Sun- day, at the Baptist Chapel, Briton Ferry, of what may fairly be termed a dramatic perform- ance, entitled ** Joseph and His Brethren.” The Western Mail, having obtained & printed copy of the work, publishes extrdcts from it, showing & regular dialoguc for several persons, stige- directions, and the familiar “enter?” and *exit” used procsely a8 in the acting cditions of theat- riéal literature. The author of *Joscph and His Brethren? remarks in a prefatory note: “The difficulty and objection to Fr:semmg or performiug such a Sunday-school dialogue 8s ‘Joseph and His Brethren is its great length. To avoid this objcction and prevent tedlousness, the dialogue has heen arranged in six parts, in order that singing, recitations, etc., on the gencral programme, may be introduced between the parts. Theeffect will bé very fine.” T%erc 13 also o caution that the recitation is *‘to be performed without change of apparel or cos- time,” qualified by the statement, however, that “Joscph may be designated by a coat o many colors.” A correspondent of the Western Alail thus describes some of the obscrvations of thie Sunday audlénce in the chapel: ‘A grown- up woman, packed in the crowd, exclaimed, in oue breath, ‘Don’t shove there—and where’s his coat of many colors? And where’s the sacks? Another repliés, ‘Don’t I want to sec Joseph as well as you A yuunfi:lcr close by, after the sentence was passed on fhe baker to be lnm%ed, called out to those mear him, *Look there, how g!‘flnet that chap is taking it what’s going to be 8¢ ANTONELLI’S TREASURES, Cardina! Antonelli has lcft a large fortune, which is reckoned by millions in francs. His collections of gems and - antlquities he has left to the muscum of ths Vat- fch, 86 that tho - pablic “Will ~piobably have the privilege of sceinz them before long. Arong thé gems was 2 large triangalar yellow diamdnd, mounted as ating; and representing a Cardinal’s hat; the long golden tassel falling oyer and covering the fl?é: Russti; “Another ring, con- | taining an immense sap] b . elther by the Republic of Costa Rica or Nicdra- i gua. Among his treasures was a variouscollec- This tras the gift" e, was presented tion of ambers of the sixtecenth century, many objects of crystal dimonte, richly mounted; many vases and pictures cut in relief, besides a great number of loose gems, and many paint- ingsin oll and in water colors of great value. In bis last years he devoted much of his time and his attention to acquiring these objects, in which he took great pride, and which he showed tohis friends with great satisfaction. But he was not an artist in_the true sensc of the word, for although he had this mania for collectang rare and curious objeets, thev were arranges without design or artistic order. SECRET SOCIETIES. MASONIC. * A COMMUNICATION. To the Editor of The Tribune. Cmcago, Dec. 23.—Reading the remarks un- der the above head, which Were started by Mr. Moody'and have been followed up by others, oné whois on the outside and Kiows what he is talking about cxpericnces a variety of emo- tions Tunning all the way from a sense of the lndicrous to that of profound pity. Does it never oceur to.these gentlemen how supremely ridiculous they must appear, striking around frantically in the dark, growing red in the face, and working themselves into a perspiraticn, trying to hit a fancied enemy which has no ex- istence except in thefr own fertile imaginations; only now and then knocking down a man of straw, all of their awn sétting up? Orhow contemptible the opinions of persons entirely ignornant of their subject, must appear to those who know all about {t7 Has it never dawned upon their dul} visions how wonder- fully absurd it is for professing Christians who kuow nothing of D>Masonry to lec- ture and reform their equally worthy and earnest Christian bréthren, who, know- ing what it is, . give fo it their hearty support and conscientious approval, as one of the means of human progress? Why is it that Masons never argue ‘with thelr opponents? Oie reason is that an argument presupposes two sides to a question; and these would-be oppo- nents have never made a point on their side; hence there 1s nothing to reply to, ‘Why is it that in all this “striking éut from the shoulder,” trying to hit something, these men mévér hit the thing itself? Becaude the thing itself is what no man desires to hit, espe- clally if hie bé a Christian. No man who under stands Mdsonry éver pretends that it is religion, nor docs he who professes religion pretend that it can fill jts place. But all Masons kmow that it runs parallel and in harmonfous accord with all that is good in an{rn!lg{on, or_that is good in man, whether he have any religion or not. Summed up in three words, Masonry is ** Mo- rality, Brotherhood, Charity.” Let him assail thesc who has the heart to do so. One writer seems surprised to learn that there is a minister * who is a Mason.” He might be more surprised to learn that about one-third of the clergymen of this city, and some of the most_active, efficient. and Influential clergymen connected with the Moody revival, mJ ns. .ENIGHTS TEMPLAR. . CHICAGO COMMANDERY. At the annual conclave of Chicage "Com mandery No.19, K, T., held Monday evening, Dee. 18, the following named Sir Knights were etected offlcers for the ensuing year: Sir John H. Sanborn, Em. Com.; Sir Richard T. Flour noy, Uenetalissimo; Sir Alexander White, Cap- tain General; ‘Sir Norman F. Ravlin, Prelate; Bir Grenville A. Willlams, Senior Warden; Sir Williach ' Amerson, Jurior Warden; Sir Mal- comb McDonald, Treasarer; Sir James E. Me- ginn, Recorder; Sir Walter Macdonald, Stand- ard Bearer; Sir Henry Baker, Sword Bearer; 8fr David W. Clark,’ Jr., Warden; Sir Isaac P. Hatfield, Captain of Guards. After election these officers were installed by Past Em. Com: John McLaren, acting as A. E. Grand Commander, assjsted by Past Em, Com. Ammi M. Bennett, acting as Grand Marshal. LAFAYETTE CHAPIER. At the annual convocation of LaFayette Chapter No. , R. A. M., held Monday evening, Dec. 11, the followinz officers were elected for tlie ensning Masonic year: William H. Reld, H. P.; B. 8. Butterworth, K. ; E. Borneman, 8.; M. E.' 8mith, C. H.; James G. Miller, P, 8.} George H. Laflin, Treastirer; E. N. Tuck- er, Sceretary—who, with the following a Euhned officers, James H. DeLuce, R. . R. Catlin, M. 3d V., James Tonkin, M. 24 V., H. G. Martin, M. 1st V., M. N. Fualler, Sentinel, H. M. Kinsley, C. R. Vandercook, M. N, Fulle Stewards, were installed Dee. 18, by M. C. Cregler, a3 G. H. P.; assisted by M.-. Jong O'Nell, as . Marshal. . * ELECTION OF OFFICERS. At the 2npual communication of Dearborn Lodge No. 810, A. F. & A. M:; held Friday even- ing, the following officers’ were elected: John Sutton, W. M.; C. F. Hart, S. W.; R. C. Grif- fith, J. W.; W. K. Forsjth, Treasurer; J. D. McKay,. Secretary; W. 3. Thexton, 8. D.; James Mif , J. 5 K At the annual communication of Thomas J. Turner Lodge, No. 409; A. F. and A. M., held Thursday eyening, the following officers were duly clected for the following Masonic year: John E. Pettibone, W. M. ; Prentiss M. Nichols, §. W.; R. 8, Hilton, J. W.; G. Charles Smith, Treasurer; William M. Stanton, Secretary. At g regular meeting of Lumberman’s Lodze No. 717, A. F. and A. ML, the following were tlected officers for the ensuing Masonic year: Heury Pratt, W. M.; Frank Bowes, 8. W.; James Turner, J. W.;. C. F. L. Docroer, Treas- urer; S. S. Buffum, Secretary; E. Ashley, S. D.; R Parkins, J. D.; Frank Crowiey, Tyler. At the eighteenth annual communieation of Kilwinning Lodge, No. 311, A. F. and A. 3., held at Corinthian Hall Thursday evening, the fol- lowl{nig officers were diily elected for the ensu- ing 3 n'sonicgw: George D. Eddy, W. M.; Dr. R. Thjbodo, 8. W.; John Buvcswah, J. W.; Le Roy Grant, Treasurer; Louis 8. Charlette, Sec- rewéy; J. W. Davis, 8. D.; Philip Kastler, J. D.; 8. M. Richardson, Txler. At the annual convocation of Fairview Cha ter No. 161, R. A. M., the followinz-named of cers were elected for the ensuing: Ma.sonhgw: Peter D , M. E. R. P.; Leslle Lewis; E. K.; Amazigh Hayner, $.; Francis G..DeGolyer, C. H.; Thomas C. Cl,m'kc?v,l’. S.; Danfel W. Mason, R. A. C.; Asa D. Waldron, Treasurer; Alyron Harris, Secref William B. Webb, M. 8dV.; William J. G , M. 24 V.; Richard R. Daken, M. 1st V. ; Willard W. Grant, S. 8.3 Edwin W. Fobes, J. S.; and George M. Odom, Sentinel. At thé annual communication of Lincoln Park Lodge No. 611, A. F. & A. M., held Dec. 15, the following officers were elected for the ensning year: arles E. Bimmons, W. M.; C. S. G. Fuller, 8. W:; W. L. Martin, J. W.; W. H. Hnmnfl;y, S.D.; . 8. Martin, J. D.; Carl Laux, Jr., Treasurer; George W. Reynolds, Sec- retary; H.J. Howland, Chaplain; George G. Holtand W. H. C. brose, Stewards, and George Macauley, Tyler. At a. regular communication of Lakeside Lodge, No. 730, A.F. & A. M., held Monday evening, Dec. 18, the following officers were duly elected and installed for the ensuing year: George Howisou, W. AL.; Wellman M. “Bur- banlk, 8. W.; Marcellus Decker, J. W.; Oscar D. Wetherell, Tressurer; Fred W. Croft, Sec- retary; C. Marlon Hotehkin, 8. D.; Charles L. Seymour, J.. D.; Charles B. Burrows, 8. 8.3 Arthur - W. Bryant, J.-8.; Hugh Robertson, Tyler. At_a_regular communication of Chicago Lodge, No. 437, A. F. & A. ML, held at Oriental Falf, No. 123 LaSalle street, Monday evening,, the 18th ‘inst., the following officers were clected for the ensulng year, viz.: Adolph Shire, W. M.; Edward Rubowits, 8. W.; David Simon, J. W.; Tobias Goldschm{dt, Treasurer; 3 Jasey . 8, J. D.; Jacob Bernstei 8.5 Whliam H. Sqatr i F&A. R. A. M., at their lall, corner North Centre streets, Thursday evening, members and friénds ‘of “the ‘Order and their lsdies are invited. District Depaty G Xlaster John O*Nefl will install the of cers” of iineSthobe. of i chipter. St o kins those of thé chapter. : ¢ Oriental Quartette. y uals by the OF GENERAL INTEREST. Probably the oldest Freemason in the United S‘;}:;es H’B Capt. H&n{u‘xl Em;r‘!’s, of Forid dt Lac, . _He was initiated at Whi ton County, N. T.. 1a 1615, and has throas: 15, and Tas therefors beena Mason sixty-or . Lol y-one years. He isnow 83 . At the September session of the G: of France, says the Chaine d Union, t?:%gg;;? tion to strike out the first article of the consti- tation. ¢ Fréemasonry Tias for its priticiple the - existence of God and-the immomlltg of the r No. 177, Clakic and to which soul,” was takenup bya voteof II This largo vote issign!{imhti althiough 1t decs not prejudge the question whish will in Beptember, ]B‘F{ ¥ o b ikt ODD-FELLOWS. EASTERN STAR. At the annusl meeting of Butler Chapter, No, 88, Order of the Eastern Star, held at Cashman Hall Wedresday evening last, the following officer’s :wére chosen: . Worthy Matron, Mres Elizabeth Butler; Worthy Patron, Thomas H. Gregorle; Assistant Matron, Mrs. Lydia 3f Hathaway; Treasarer, Mrs: Sarah M, Boss; Sec- retary, Mrs. M. A.. Brown; Conductress, Mrs. M. E. Deal; Associate Condugtress, Miss Annjp Butler; Warder, Mrs. G. Gunderson; Ada, Ms J.J. Magpole; ‘Ruth, Miss O M. Wheaton; Martha, Mrs. A. W. Adcock; Esther, Miss Fran. ces Kaltenbach. o At the same meeting Mrs. Batler, as V. W, Grand Matron of the Supreme Grand Chapter of the United States, instalied the Rev. Brather N. F. Ravlin as V. W. Grand Chaplain. The preliminary steps toward - the forms of Butler Chaptar were heldl 15 Janiary fet oy informal meeting for that purpose Leing held at bman Hall on the 16tK of that month, At the first arfim&znflou there were eighteen mem- bers, to_which forty have since “been added, makinga present membership of fifty-oight. Durisg the year several sociables and dime-par- ties have been held, resulting in _substantial re- plenishing of the treasury, as well as the gratifi- cation of “all who attended them. The Chapter enters npon the new year with abundant promise of fature progress and usefulness, A public in- stallation the afficers-clect will be held ‘Wednesday evening. ITEMS. The Ellis Lodge No: 447, I O. O. F.. elected the following officers, and they will be installled the first meeting in agaay:” J. B, Ferrl X, G.: V. W. Danklee, V. G.; Thomas Hutchinson, 8cretary; George Stevenson, P. S.; Calvin De Wolt, Treasurer; Trustes, Albért Kentett, C. L. Wight, Peter Lundburg, Thomas Grogan, Joseph W. Brown. 'Temg’h‘u‘ Lodge 440, 1. 0. O.F., will move from the hall which they at present occupy to Fort Dearbora Hall. corner of Madison and Hn]i;ed atr:: e :é.\d ;;ill occupy c_heir;ew ball on the firsf nesday evening in Junuary. The members of 'I‘::mplz¥Lod e‘a;gr. hereby :é—i'l- fied that the evening of meeting will be changed from Thursday to Wednesday after the present ¢, J. §.5 D. F. Brand Tyler. Trustoes: Charles Kozminski; L A Welnberg, H. ¥. Hahn. At the first annaal conyocation of Lincoln Park Chapter-No. 177, R. A. M.; held Dec. 19, the following officers were elected and appoint- ed for the ensuing year: L. A. Beebe, H.P.; Charles E. 8immons, K:: 8. G. Pitkin, 8.; C. S. S i St T B 2 iwallow, Chaplain; Jol . Farrar, R. A, €.; A W. Redner, G..3d V.: J. D. Mackin® tosh, G.M.2d V.; Jobn Gee, G- M. 1st V.; J. G. fiolt, Treasurer; H. 8. Streat, Secretary; A. Bchultze and J. T. Russell, 8tewards; and H. Spatholt, Tyler. - G > At the annual convocation of York Chapter No. 148, R, A. 3L, held Thursday evenisg, the following officers wera elected InrJthe ensuing 8. it Een - C. Cluett, M. E. H. P. . K.; F. F. Cuddebeck, E. 8. C. H.; H. G. Thompion, P. 8.; W.C. .5 G. W. Memli, Secretary; Alex. Blair, Treasurer; E. Murray, Tyler; G. T. Gould, M. 8d Vail; L. J. Vansaud, 3L 2d Vail; v. T. Per- 8ons, M. st Vail; John A. Oliver, (‘}htplfln; A de Anguers, Orzanizt. .Installstion of.officers will take place Thursday evening, Dec. 23. 3 ANNOUNCEMENTS. g There will be a_public installation of the officers-tlect of Lincola Park Lodze No. 811, A- week. This lodge is now in 2 flourishine condi- tiow. - Although young, it has over $700 in its am, and duoring: ‘{Lhc;zzs: month initiated members, an ive Very encouraging proapects for the ensning yeax-.mr OTHER SOOCEETIES. Rising Star Lodge, No. 30, Indeperident Order of the Free Sons of Israel, will hold their third annusl ball at the Standard Hatl this evening. The entrance is on Michigan avenue- and Thir- teenth street. A good time is expected. = At a fegular meeting of Phenix Lodge No. M, L 0. F. 8. of L, the following officers were elected for the ensuing term: President, Ja- cob Mayer; Vice-President; Benjamin S. Mayer; Recording Smhmmes Haas; Financial Secretary, Sol 8] ; Treasurer, U. Perlin- %fi'y; 0. T., A. Abrahams; Trustees, eil, Abe Cohen, and I. Goldstein. _ At 2 regular meeting of Dlinois Lodee, No I O. B. B., the following officers wero elected for the ensuing term: President, Charles Livingston; Vice-President, H. €. Mitchell: Recording Secretary, Jacob Mayer; Financial Secretary, M. Rosenbaum; Treasurer, ;Simon Livingston; 1. G., H. Silber; O. G, L. Rosen- baum; ces, R. Wolfsan, L. nbaum, Abe Coben; Representatives tothe Grand Lodge, Charles Kozminski and L. Rosenbaum. * At a regular communication of Lady Wash- ington Chjl)ptet No. 138 O. E. 8., held Tucsday evening, Dec, 19, the following officers wera elected for the ensuing Masonic year: Mrs. Eva Mcfiufih. W. M.; Mrs. Maggie Lantin, rs. Jacoh st AL Caroline Squires, Treasurar; A Hek Nty Secr:qmiyl; Srs, Louisy Patterson, Cond.; Mrs. Addie McDopald, Asst. Cond. ; Mr. Orrin Jenks, W. P. Open instalis- tion Tuesday evening at their hall, corner Blue Island avenue and Fourteenth street, Masons and thefr families and all friends of the Order are cordially invited. SILVER MINING IN NEVADA, ZEzlract from o Pricate Letter. Vmarsia Ciry, Nev,, Dec. 3.—Since last July I have been roving again. This time I am & silver miner. I suppose you heard of this place while you wers in California. This is a little the damnedest country above ground that yom ever read about,—not a tres orabush, mo grass, not a single green thing,—only a few stunted sage brush, alkali Jakes, and salt beds; and underground can be found everything but death itself, and sometimes even that. ; Icamehere the 7th of July, and at first worked above ground, but after a while got work in' s mine called the Gould & Carry. They sént me dovwn 1,500 feét perpendicular fo start on, and into the hottest place this side of hell. You eannot imagine what a man wilt suffer in getting used to the heat. It was o hot that we could work only balf the time,—work an hour and rest an hour. In about three or four daj Ehe bappgftlte will fail; the grub has- o be 5 rln:;;, m;thi in .:ndwcfi one can scarcel anything; : course any one mfvl get.weak at that rate. In about ten dayssleep will fail, and by that time & man will get so dispirited, and tired, and list- less, that he won’t care whether he lives or dles. In sbout three weeks, more or less, according 10 one’s constitution, the change comes,—appetits and dmfi“‘me their wonted occupations, and by this e your.body has become used to the intense heat and you don’t care a muc-a-lie how much you sweat.~ Sweat! I shonid think Em did, and by the on, too. Of course, ina hot climate like that 2 man does not wear much clothing,—a pair of coarse shoes, an old of dnvzem’m‘ overalls, and 2 muslin cap, is. qu;u want. . ‘Well, after I had suffered everything but death for five weeks, we droks ik, L ey made connection with the Consolidated Virginis, a mine adjoining uson the north, and now thers is a carrent of air strong encugh to almost take your hat off, and correspondingly cool. The drift or tunnel on our side of the questionm, at thetima we broke through, was between1,600 and 1,700 feet lon; Of course greenhorns in suchs- loog, hot very often faint and have tobe sent on top; greennorns are putin the very worst places first, and if they show grit and pluck, in the course of time they will get some- thing better. I have gotas good s thinzas anybody wants, and I am getting $4 aday for eight hours’ work, and no disconnt. I have been carman since I have been in the mines; the carsare made of boiler-iron, and" hold about halr a common wagon-load. Virginia City and Gold Hill are adfolni towns, and (;.&gether havea population esum: at from 15,000 to 18,000, Ev’uybndy hereis de- pendent on the mines in one way or another; if there were no mines here, there would beno people. There 18 no Sunday bere,—Wwork seven days in the week, and goto the theatre every night, if s0' inclined. Somebody gets shot or ed every day, and sometimes more. If for- tune should ever bringyou here, you will find Virginia City a pretty d—d wild ptace.” If you want to know just how hot it is in these mines, Just crawl into your mother’s oven some bd?ifi day for about fifteen minutes, snd you have & pretty fairidea of it. ———————— + The «0f” Side. Detrofs Fyea Press. “De family dat I b'longs to mever taxess dare, explained a colored man at the Central Market when a stall-keeper offered to bet him 2 quarter that he wouldn't tako off his boots and run to the City-Hall and back. The money was pntr:glnthehmdncfi Brother Gmi;yzer, the colored philosopher; boots and stockings came off, and away the man trot ted in the snow. I believe I takes dat currency,” he remarkes 28 he returned fn Zallant style. «De stakeholder desires to call the sitenshun of dis crowd to de followin’ mu-zgra h inde daily paper,”” remarked Brother er, ex- hibiting & paper and_placing his finger on the gmcen:fnt that John Morrissey had declared all ets ofl, “Dat settled dls queshun at once,” he con- tinged. *Ireturns all de money ceg'. 3 .fi: N cent, and de_ case is just do same as SRR ooteT T avoan ia o smow