Evening Gazette

              PITTSTON. PA., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, S) 4\ NUMBER 4 79 ( Weekly Established - 1050 \ • TWO OENTP. ] Ten Cant* per Week. WASHINGTON NOTES. HUNTING TON'S LETTERS. MODERN PILGRIMS. SUPERSTITIONS TWO MORE VESSELS MISSING LOTS OF GOODNESS Hie fruit of such government has not been rnch as greatly to charm ma. But If there be any advantage in it, in the name of humanity let us have a commission. A commission, however, is nothing but a mechanical force brought to bedp against the intellectual and moral convictions of a quarter of I million men. I say that this queetion, like every other moral question, has got to be treated by moral means and not by the law of violance. Every man that wants to extirpate any form- of mistaken belief in politics or in religion, tiy law and stricture ind force, is a Puritau pure and simple. Every man that wants to exterminate an ivil, and has such faith la humanity and ip reason ahd conscience that he is willing to take time and to do it by these higher means, is a Pilgrim. (Applause.) lama Pilgrim. (Laughter and ap.ilause.) Now in regard to this matter these two instances aro all that t will give. I could employ a great many more, for the law of violance ■a fn our hearts at every age—we are all tatally depraved, if 1 may take you into partnership (laughter), and we all of us tend Co meet everything with combativenehs and iestructiven as—it is our first impulse. But vhat we want in our timo more than anything else is a Continuous and Increasing faith in moral and intellectual means to accomplish anything that ought to bj done, jnd the glofy of this government is faith in ;ho common people._ It takes timo for S0,- 1011,000 poyplo to turn over a question and look at it cm an tides. Tou can't ride rou h ihod over their faults and follies by the even -•utlijig of the sword of law or any other form of absolute violence. Man can be lifted to a higher plane all over the world by reason and moral suasion. Twelve Veucla and 14U Men Loil In Corrupt Railroad IVIctliods Brooghl to Light. President Arthur and Gon. Grant at a Now England Dinner. Conneotad with the Yule.Log, the the .November Gales. Left in the Heart of the Humaj Animal When We Come to Look Carefully. How the Tariff Will bo l'rcatcd by tho Present Ccngrcs3. 8an Francisco, Dec. 24—If Stanford, Hu itington and Crocker had known of the existonoe of the letters written by Hu ting' ton to Colton during the period from 1874 to 1879, it is likely that they would have compromised with Mrs. Colton rather than have their alleged corrupt practices exposed and risk congressional investigation. The Chronicle publishes the ontire series of letters, numbering about 300 and covering three liages. The correspondence oxposes the fact that for years past the Central Pacific officials have been engaged systematically in debauching senators and representatives here, purchased legislatures, newspapers ami associated press agents, have presented fraudulent reports, declared dividends with borrowed money, gobbled up steamships and railroad lines, and committed all sorts of wickedness. The letters are nearly a complete history of the infamous lobbying which disgraced tho country while the Texas Pacific bill to guarantee the interest of the bonds of the road Was beforo congress, showing conclusively that the methods adopted by Torn Scott were fully as corrupt as Huntington's. The small estimation which Hunt ng'oa entertained for proraiuent politicians in and out of Congress is justified from the fact that he was enabled to brin? a large m. .'.ier over to his side, or, as ho terms it, "s r, ceded in coercing them." Huntington sjieaks of Senator Conover, of Florida, as a man who can be "convinced," and utterwards alludes to him contemptuously ns "not worth spending money on." Senator Gcrdoii, of Georgia, who posed as southern respectability iwrsonified, is alluded to as tho more than eager friend of Central Pacific, and instrumemal in getting up an excursion party to visit the Pacific coast in the interest of the SoJthern Pacific. While in the senate his arguments ag .tust Thurman's sinking fund bill were those emanating from Huntington. The fact is suggested from tho letters that every southern congressman opposed to the Texas Pacific hail been "convinced" by Huutiugton. Gilbert C. Walker, ox-Governor of Virgi iia, a member of the Fortysixth Congress, is spoken of as a ''slippery fellow," and Colton is advised to do the best he can with him, but not to trust him too much. Dr. Gwin, ex-United States senator, or, as he is called on this coast, "Duko" Gwin, another southerner who was hired to go through the south denouncing the Texas Pacific scheme. His employers instructed him to carefully conceal til* fact that he was working in tho intorost of the Central Pacific. Huntington was pleased with Gwin, rebuking but ouce when ho made a mistake in riding over the ground in the same car with one of his masters, Charles Crocker. There is a professional of this coast, one Billy Carr, who was on the most friendly terms with Gorham and Sargent. The latter, referring to Carr as "my personal and political friend Billy Carr," according to those letters was in th employ of the Central Pacific. In the letter of December 2, 1875, Huntington writes about an interview hie had with Sargent and Gorham. Sargent was wildly mad, and Gorham complained that they had been treated shamefully bad; that Carr had not been paiiL Colton replies by a telegram that Carr had been paid $GJ,000 in Southern Pacific bonds, and asking how much Carr's services would bj wortn in the future. Huntington's answer is that it depends upon whether they want him in the future; that il Carr could control his friends such services might be worth $10,OtX) or |-J,- B00 a year. To Jay Gould he pays the compliment of saying: "I thiuk him the worst uian to do an) thing with I ever saw." Mistletoe and tha Holly. Gl-orcEKTER, Mas-., IXv. 19.—Two more Teasels, with crews numbering twenty four persons, which sailed early in November am adrled to tile Ions; roll of tlvise which sank In the terriflo August and November gales which swept over tho fishing banks. The schooner Own-go H. Plfrmn sailed for George's Bank, November 8th. with a crew of twelve inon. Tho lost ure Capt. Patrick O'Neil, who leaves a widow and three children; Cook Jam?; Ryaa and John Keough, who leave widows; John Keough, WiNiain Brennan, John Connors, Abner ICarrabee, Isaac Risen, William Driscoll, Michael Keudy and James Galvin, who al! leave widows, and one unknown. Tho voksol was owued by Cunningham and Tbom[D- S"u and was insured. The schooner Helen M. Dennis sailed on a fishing voyage to the Western Banks NovemlDer 17, with a crew of fourteen men, two ,of'whom, Wesley Brow li und Mayn&rd Hllty, were swamped early on tho trip while out iu a dory Htt nding to the trawls, and were picked lip and safely landed in Halifax, thus leaving twelve who went down with tlie schooner in the gale. Their names nr;C Capt. Archie McDonald, Cook Wilham Natting, Pui can McDonald, Joseph McMnster, Victorious Mc- Donald, Jeffrey Dour.ey,. Jauu s • lurphy, Augustus Hiltz. Alcxnndu' Scntilort, Edward Cotter, Allen McLane tvjd one unknown. Tney were mostly you;g men und natives of Cajio Breton. JShe vessel was owned by George Dennis JStf was insured. The above vessels increase the loss by tho November galos, to nine vessels and 115 men, which, added to the threo vessels lost in the August gale, makes a total of twelve veestls and 1UU men, leaving, as far as yet ascertained, thirty four widows and thirty eight children. The British bark Yarmouth, for whose safely rsoino anxiety was felt, arrived from Japan after the unusually long |Dassage of 115 days, all out of provisions. The American brig Clara Pickens alsD arrived today from Trajoni with 6alt, after a passage of eighty lavs. • Views ol Prominent Beprcscntatlvcs —A Polar Exposition Proposed —A Strange Story of UDe Frozen North. Henry Ward Beecher and Dr. New* man Grow Eloquent Over the Klormon Question Distinguished Guests Present. The Lael^'ot Christmas Candlea-— Bad Luelt at a Christinas Bve Supper—Omens of Good «nCi «T (II. (Gertrude Garrison.] ''There is more brotherly love and r.ptiffr big cf spirit In a good fat turkey than in aS the Christmas stories that ever were penned," •ojd the gruff old gentleman with the fur collar "Holiday literature is not to my taste. It is usually of forced growth. Written to fit the day, it has a ilavor of unuaturalness. The hero of the Christmas story is either translate! on that clay, or he has a streak of perfectly phenomenal luck. It's never so in real life. In fact, pleasure is more evasive en Christmas than at any other time, notwithstanding ail the extravagant sentiment set afloat about the good-will business.1' Washington, Dec. at.—Judge Buckner, of Missouri, in conversa.ion oil tho subject of tariff revision during the present session, .referred to the tariff bill which was passed by the forty-seventh congress as a "botch." He said in his opinion it was a great mistake, in dealing with the tunlT question, to allow local appeals to influence legislation on the subject. "My idea of tariff revision," said Mr. Buckner. "is to treat it in a general way and to make short work of it so as to cause us little friction as possible in the various business interests." Nrw York, Dec. 28.—At the banquet of the New England society, of Brooklyn, at the Academy of music in that city, about 800 persons sat down. Among the specially invited guosts were President Arthur, Gen. Grant, Henry Ward Beecher, Mayor Low, Rev. Dr. Newman, and Hon. Horace Russell. The president of the society, Mr. Benjamin D. Silliman. in his ojioning address, touched upon the leading topics of the day, laying some stress upon the Mormon question, which was later ma le the principle theme in the remarks of Mr. Beecher and Mr. Newman. President Arthur was then introduced aud received with hearty applause. He responded in a few neatly turned  of thanks. Gen. Grant was introduced, and was loudly applauded. He briefly excused himself from speuAnig at anylength. , From the remotest times of the burning of the Yule or Christmas log, It has had all kinds of superstitions connected with it In some parts of Europe the log must be of a certain kind of wood, as in Devonshire it consists of fagots of ash bound together, and an extra gloss from the cider barrel is expected by the guest for evory crack made by the 'jl&zing fagots. One log is the general custom, but we have known a hod of coal selected for that purpose when wood was inaccessible. A bit of the Christmas log must always be saved ro light next year's Christmas £re with, and be sure that the tire does not go out during the night, nor until Christmas day at sundown. Ln many homes music is played during the ceremony of lighting the fire, but on no account must it be lighted before the p to per tiuia. «hich- it at sutMet. Christmas Eve. * ' The Yule or Christmas caudles should oe lit soon after, but for good luck tcs light must be taken from the Christmas fire It is very bad luck to snuff them, and tbey should be set on :he highest shelf cr table in the room. The oldest person present must extinguish them out a bit of each must be saved to relight on Sew Year's eve, to see the old year out and rhe new year iiv It is considered a very bad iimer, for any one tc leave the table during •upper on Christmas Eve until all are through, and set that there is an even number of guests, if you will make friends during the year Be sure and have a cheese and cake untouched in the bouse, and let no one tempt you tc cut them before the proper time. Never refuse to take or give food and shelter at Christmas time. [Harper's Basar.] To which the tnau with the red comfortei replied: "Rut isn't it a good thing to lavs lhe stories come out right! It's la kuow that make-believe people find or.j o.iy In the year joyous. There aresoniauy wet Wankets llnag around on tho other ail." Resjiecting the proposition to abolish the internal revenue tux Mr. Buckner said: "In my opinion, that cannot be done. I think it would lie far better to reduce the tax on articles of home production and increa-e tho special taxes. Tlus vvid probably be the result of the projiositioii to abolish the entire internal revenue tax." ' I would rather have my sljoo of .goud-v. ill cut up and given to nic every now and rht»c than to have a big chunk of it on Chris! m D-.' con Anted the fur collar. "'All tiji* bhisiC-i" isn't siu.ere. Pieuty of fieople give pre- '.h.? Rev. Henry Waru Beecher, speaking to tluD toast, "Pilgrim attd Portion,3' said the difference between the Pilgrim and the Puritan was about the same as that between the leaves and tho blossoms of the su.ino plant. Both had their sprout and start in that period of the history of the mind in middle £urope, in which men was found to be worth something. Man had always been considered valuable if he was at the top of society. If he was a prince, philosopher, poet, genius, or discoverer, he a.ways was thought well of, but if ho was nothing but a plain mechanic, laborer or drudge, he w as worth nothing. That was the • loctrine that reigned, aud they received it from antiquity. Plato would have refused to ullow a mechanic to have citizenship in the imaginary ideal republic. All the way down labor was lielu inconsistent with manhood, with the exception of husbandry. A farmer might bo an eminent citizen, but in all other avocations a laborer was au inferior animal and coufd not rise abovo it. Aud I do not know how it may be in German and French literature, but until you pass the time of Pope aud Dryden, aud up to the timo of Cowper, tho English literature is contemptuous of the common people—the luob. Now in the reformation there was developed a profounder sense of what a man is without regard to his accidents. He was the child of God, su ceptibie of development—of evolution. All that was required was to give him time, and tho Puritans started off on that. The Puritan undertook to give to the common people education, both secular and religious. In this respect tho Puritan und the Pilgrim walked together, but the Puritan sympathized with all that had gene before him. It was necessary where man occupied the degraded position of au animal that he should be tiwated as an animal, that is by force or fear, and his government dictated to him, temporal and spiritual; the ■word was held in the hand of the magistrate and in the hand of the hierarch. Force and fear were' the great motors by which the under classes of men were restrained; held in their proper place. But tho Puritan believed that by proper nppl.cation you could evolve a rational moral lieing out of the animal man, and he weut into that work. AU that has been urged agaiost the Purita—that he forbade ainus-nnents and art and all that, means simp.y that amusements were the mess of pottage by which had been bought the common people, and left .Liem laden with the superstitions of antiquity that the Puritan set himself against. He believed the lowest man, being stimulated aud educated, could be elevated iuto true power. He came to New England for the sate of the experiment, but he brought the ignorance that belonged to his age, aud of all the ages, as to the methods of experiment, and he usee the meaus of his day to create morality, force and law. He had not yet been educated to uuderstand that a* man who was susceptiblo of being elevated should be elevated by moral and intellectual means, and not simply by coercion of laws. Laws are restrictive or directive. In regard to the [Missions of men, restrictive; in regard to everything higher they are,, merely exponents of the experience of mankind, painting men to what is the best and safest path. Now the Puritans did not make this distinction. They held that all laws should be restrictive. They undertook to do by restrictive law what the Pilgrijn first eminently aud gloriously came to udderstand could Im dono only by mtral suasion and intellectual instruction. For tho Pilgrim stood as the blossom stands, higher than the leaf that gave him birth. He was the Puritan - goue to blossom, not to fruit. Tbey were a small section of the settlers of New England. They did not persecute. They were the ones who believed that character could by mpral suasion be brought higher. The application nf this to our own time is not far to seek. We are trying to make men temperate by applying the Puritan standard, not the Pilgrim standard. In so far as intemperance inflames the passions of men and works obviously and openly against the public weal it falls under the domain of restrictive law, but you can't raise men out of the degradation of intemperance unless you cau raise their understanding, their social purity and t heir morul sense, and you can never raise these by law (applause). The law cau do a good deal but it can't do that. Tou can not raise any large section of a large community higher than you can raise their understanding and moral sense. It is a longer work but it is indispensable. No man can govern himself who is yet an animal, and in whose head the center of authority has not gone up from the passions to reside m the moral sense aud spiritual nature. (Applause). Meanwhile we are confronted with another matter, which is like briars and thorns at the present day. We are called upon to eleminate in some way the moral leprosy of Mormonism. God forbid that I should say one word that should encourage that practice. It is not a question tonight of tho moral character of the system. It is substantially a priestly aristocracy of the most compact kind, and there can be no doubt after &,000 years experience that polygomy is not the outcome of civilization—not the revelation of the experience of tli" human race. But how are you going to i.D lp i) By restrictive lawl If there be any la»D that without doing violence to higher laws can give us a fair foundation on which to staud, iu the name of humanity let us enact such a law. I know not what they may be. But let mo tell you that you can't lift a great community of a quarter of a million of men who believe a* firmly in their religion as you do in yours—a little more firmly I suppose—you can't lift . Iiera out of the slough by the mere beverage f law. It is proposed that polygamy Bhould be made a crime—as it Is already a vicebut bow are you going to couviot f It has xDen tried, with sigual failure. How are you Judge Buckner added that the only practical way to t r.ut with the tariff question is to do il systematically and at a time when the party ill power has a majority large enough to insure a prompt passngo of any measure agreed upon in committee. because it's expected of lliern, not because they have a feeling gf tenderness toward* iheir fellow mortals. And how is humanity benefited by a -piirt of generosity?" ''It isn't perfection, thi.i u\.l'Ui isn't." implied the red comforter musingly, "buttk r. i Representative Hewitt, of New York, who expects to hold a prominent position on the committee on ways and means, says there will certainly lie considerable work done upon the tariff this winter. The bill paused during the last session, Mr. Hewitt says, contains numerous errors which it is absolutely necessary to He does not think, however, that a general revision will bo attempted but that tho house will confine itself to special cas"s with n view to making the present Jaw more effective. To a United Press reporter liepreseutative Hoar, ot Michigan, talked of the proliablo policy of the presont lower, bouse of congress iu dealing with the tariff and river and hartior improvements, with both of which ho has been many yeai-s prominently identified. "It is niy opinion," uaid Mr. Hoar, "that the tariff will bo very thoroughly revised this winter, and that it will be done by piece meal, that is, special subjects will be treated, and severely treated too, and that no attempt will be made to go over the wliolo list as was done by the last house." Rev. Dr. Newman, who followod Mr. Beeclior, arguj l iu a dilfereut strain. He believed iu education aud moral suasion; but these; without tho third unity in tho trinity, a.nnely executive force, had often failed He advocated the plan which he assorted was favored by President Arthur, of abolishing the territorial government of Utah, und making Mormonism, not polygamy, a crime. This would avoid the difficulty in proving the offense, and would not be in violation of the principle of non-interference by government with religion, because a teuel Df Mormonism is to disregard tho laws wher hey conflict with the creed. This makes the Mormons ameuabio to governmental suppression. Schoolmasters, if sent to Utau. would only be exiled or converted. Mr. Newman caused some amusement by recaii ing the fact that Jo Smith was orignally ti New Englander and a Congregationalism lots of goodness in ilie human animal ut'tsr all Nobody but the babies oares for pres. wits particularly, but it's a pretty custom !« five tliom. We're likely to grow so despicably selfish if there was uo Christinas to ivmin t u« that we could make somebody dsn glad And when you come right down lo soli J facts. the dear, grotesque old myth. Santa Claus, has don* more toward expanding the human heait and keeping it teuier toward the children and the poor than all the sermons. What would we do without this gsod genius of liabvland who fills the stockings while their owuers arc away in the " Beautiful Land of Nod?" The simple, unquestioning faith they have in him is worth more than the crowns of kings There is no danger of the earth being made too good by n gush oD generosity. We still have all the old scourges mil a few new ones. The Russian exile* still toil in agony ih the Siberian mines. The gaunt wolf of famine still prowls through the streets of great cities aud on lonely country roads. The forked tongue of the bydraheaded devil of slander strikes here and there doing its blasting work. The north winds sting through the beggar's rags. Tha hot breath of disease still leaves its olden track of sorrow in the houses of th? rich and the hovels of the poor. And the old, old marplot, Death, is as formidable as ever. Oh, no, there is no danger of the grim old world getting too good nven for a day, bnt through the leaden sky there gleam such stars of promise that one can almost forget that Christmas trees are sawed oil at the base and have sticks for roots." One of the earliest customs is the decorating of our homes and churches with evergreens at Christmas time, for our forefathers believed that the decoration of hrivate dwellings in recognition of the incarnation of the divinity would, by marking the bomes of the believers, preserve them from the intrusion and evil auspices of fiends. THE OLD AND NEW Ire Blended In the Happy Festival or Hnraanlty The earliest observance of Christmas is in volved in obscurity, partly because same ob served the nativity in connection with the Epiphany, a feast which had already found a place in the sacred calendar, aud partly be causa of the uncertainty as to tho date of the oirth of the Christ. Owing, it may be, to some tradition, tho Western church finally Axed that date as the 25th of December, and from the latter half of the fourth ccntury this date has been kept. It is regarded as a very unlucky circumstance if any leaves or sprigs are dropped or remain behind on the removal of the church or home decorations, and all must be cleared away before Candlemas-day (February 2); and on no account should the sacred mistletoe bough—the standing symbol of roughand-ready flirtation, without consciousness or necessity of harm—be cast into the street or carelessly thrown aside; for love luck it must be bnrned by the oldest unmarried member ot the family, male or female. Hon. Horace Russell, who represented the New Eugland society of New York, responded to the toast to that society. Mayor Low and others also responded to toasts aud the speaking was continued to a late hour. "What effoct will this tampering with the tariff have on tho business interesti of the country?" A Railway Agreement. The manner of the observance of the Christmas festival was derived from ancient pagan festivals, and comes to us dressed in Roman, Druidical and Teutonic ideas. The custom of giving presents is a contribution from the Roman Saturnalia; the use of the mistletoe is the survival of an ancien' custom of the Druids, who held it in especial reverence, and of the Teutons, with the significance of whose custom of kissing under the mistletoe all are familiar. "Paralyzing," he replied, "for no'oco will feel,secure in his business, and no interest will be safe, and lightning rods will be run up everywhere. The result will bs great distress. This piece meal business or mincing of the tariff meaus that a few articles must stand the great reduction that is promised which in urn means ruination to the industries tampered with." Boston, Dec XI.—li,e toiiowing are th« important ar-ides of agreement made between the Union Pacific railway company, the Chicago, Rock Island' aud Pacific railway companies aud the Chicago, Milwauke, and St. Paul railway company. It is de ciared to be the burpose of the fMTtieetoe* tablish and operate through UaesoC radwaj which shall connect, when the same caa be done, by a reasonably direct line through Council Bluffs, all points on the system of the Unioa Pacific with all points on the several systems of the other roads, with a few exceptions. The Union Pacific agrees to deliver to the railways of the other parties, at Council Bluffs, all eastward bound through traffic wh.ch may be received for transportation. It will divide all competitive through traffic which shnll be conferred from its own railways to those of the other parties into two equal parts. The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific and the Chicago, Missouri and St. Paul railways agree to deliver to tho Union Pacific, at Council Bluffs, all westward bound through traffic aud tk receive all east bound through traffic. Ol all through rates east bouud traffic, from or to Chicago points the Union Pacific shall re« ceive 40 per cent, the other railway by whom such traffic shall be received from or delivered to the Union Pacific 60 per cent. Of all east bouud traffic from and to Missippi river points the Union Pacific shall receive 47 per oeut. and the other railways 58 per cent. If any diflerence shall arise as tc the construction of the articles or in reference to the performance of any of the agreements, auy part/ affected may demand a decision of the mine by referees. If one wishes to revive an old Roman custom, let bim send a holly branch to his friends as typical of good wishes, and it may have a doublo meaning by adding a sprig of mistletoe, the gleaming berries conveying a message of hope, for if the holly carries good wishes and foresight or forethought, the mis "What industries do you think will be assailed f" tletoe is an culties," and many a wife has been won by this little token of assurance. of "I surmount diffi- The use of holly ia a remnant from the religion of the Northmen, who hung it up on the occasion of their feasts to invite and protect sylvan spirits. The "Yule" (Norse Jol, or wheel) log is the symbol which these old Teutons used at their annual Yule festival, to signify tho turning or wheeling of the sun at the winter solstice, when the days having begun to grow longer the return of warm weather was predicted. "Well, I now think of salt, lumber, wood and iron. Of courso there are others that will come in. If. tho southerners attack our luniber and salt interests we of the north will put sugar on tho tree list. Whilo we mine more salt than we consume in this country, and it is dirt cheap and growing cheaper, we can never produce enougli sugar for home consumption, and it Is growing higher priced. Then there is just as much need of protecting either the salt or lumber interests as there is iu protecting Louisiana's sugar plantations." He smiled and then sighed as he added in conclusion: "But there is some good will among us, some generosity, some unselfishness, some almost perfect love, and soma hope for the future of the race. Wo can't all have full Christmas trees any more than wa can all have continual joy and riches and contentment It isn't in the plan; but it's something for a few to have pleasure. It has been said that if you make children happy while they are children you make tbam happy twenty years later by the memory of ib Th« rain of sorrow will fall upon them soon enough. Care and grief, old aye and death are waiting for them down the road." It is very lucky for a child to be born on Christmas day. especially if the day falls on a Sunday. And the girl who is a bride on the 25th of December is said to have nothing to fear. . At no ether time is a black cat- -a strange black cat—thought to be lucky but ct Christmas. If one comes into the house, it 1 C a sure sign of money. Somo authorities deny that Christmas is wholly of European origin, but declare tliat the Christmas tree is from Egypt, and its origin dates from a period long anterior to the Christian era. The palm-tree is known to put forth a branch every month, and a spray of this tree, with twelve shoot* on it, was used in Iij/pt a". tUe time of the winter solstice as a symbol of tlu year completed. THE EFFORTS FOR O'DONNELL. No person but the boys must presume t*D go out-of-doors on Christmas morning until the threshold has been consecrated by the incoming footsteps of a man. "What will be done with the internal revenue f Correspondence Between the United "It is probable that the tax on tobacco will be abolished and that the tax on whisky will be reduced probably to fifty cents on a gallon." States and England. "Dem folks what bab short talking [quai ■els] on Christmas day or night won't hab no luck in friendship, love, or pocket," said an old colored mammy; and be sure you wish some one a "Merry Christmas" before you put your shoes and stockings on; and for real good Inck kiss the oldest person in the house first on Christmas morning, and the youngest on New Year's morning. London, Dec. 24.—iThe communications exchanged between Lord Granville, tho British ioreiga secretary, aud Mr. Ljwell, the American minister, on the case of Patrick O'Donueil, the siuyer of Jama Carey, were brief. Lord Granville limited his replies to the barest statements customary in casus of examinations into sentences involving capital punishment. The opinion of the American colouies in Loudon an.l Paris was strongly adverse to tho interference of the Secretary of State. The American Register says that Amorican citizens have no carte blanche to commit murder on tho high seas, not even iu case of their being both Irishmen and Americans. The absurdity of tho claim of double nationality was never, it siys, more strikingly illustrated than in the appeal on behalf of O'Donueil. How Lather Kept Christmas Eve. [George William Curtis.] "Does the creation of a special committee on improvements of rivers and harbors menu more liberality in that direction or greater economy, Mr. Hoar?" Picture* in the Vole-1.ox fire. (Eastern Exchange. ] "Oh, Beckie! seol in the lire! There's a regular Christmas tree; and there's lota of things on it. And seel There's old Santa Claus himself—" Ouo of the most significant and characteristic pictures of him represents him sitting on Christmas Eve at the family table, with hii wife, the beautiful Catharine Bora, at his gibe, holding tier infant, while the other children stand delighted around him. The old mother sits by the great German stove, and two of his friends are with him. Luther himself holds his lute, and his bands are playing witli the strings. But he, and his wife and mother, ind all the children, and the guests, an •oking happily upon the Christmas tree thai iands upon the table, glittering with lights Abo re the gifts which are profusely heaped around it "It means greater liberality of course. When a committee is made to look after a special interest it indicates more attention— und that means more money. Tho river.- and harbors will have more expenditures now and more attention and that may mean better navigation and it may not." The Pint Christmas In America. The chronicles of the Pilgrims, describing their arrival in Cape Cod bay, in Det ember, 1620, refer thus bnefiy to the first Chi istinas spent by them in America: "Oh, what a story I If Santa Claus was in the Bra he'd get bis gray whiskers burned, wouldn't hei" Arrest of a Cane of Counterfeiters. "Oh, pshaw, Beckie! You ain't got no magcrnation. I can s.o him, and lio is bringin' me a new p:«r of skates—uo, it is another one of those mean little story books." Vincinnks, lnd., Dec. 22.—Chief of Police McBride aud Sheriff Kackley arrested s gang of counterfeiters here at an early hour this morning. James Summers, the leader of the gang belongs in Sullivan county, where he manufactures spurious coin. He came here with a pretty young woman named M. E. Sanders, ostensibly to marry her. He failed to get a license, but they were bound to be made man and wife, license or no license, and registered at the hotel and took a bed together. Duriug the day John Kilfort, democratic ex-officer, and James Hart, ex-convict, both of this city, were arrested in the act of passing counterfeit money. Wheu arrested they let the cat out of the bag, stating that they had obtained the money from Summers. Officers went immediately to the hotel and arrested Summers and the woman, who were in bed. Summers met the officers with revolver iu hand, but hy strategy was overcome. Bum mere bad KKH on his person, put up iu $2S packages. He disposed of several (lure at fifty cents on the doll.tr. He will he arraigned before United States CommMNtW Chaa Ch McCord. "Monday, the 25th, being Christmas Day, we began to drink water aboard. But at night the master caused us to have some beer; and so en board we bad divers times now aud then sonic beer, but oil shore none at alL" Proposing an Expedition to the North Pole. "Oh, Bunn! let's have pa;Da put out the fire Christmas, so Santa Claus can come down and not got himself all burned—" Washington, Dec. 21.—Capt. George E. Tyson, of Polaris fame, has received a letter from A. Synimes, dated at Symmzonia, Ky., December 7, on the subject of going north in command of au expedition next Juno or May, to be gotteu up by subscription for the purpose of finding the country that Nordenskj )ld, Wiggins ai d Capt. Tuttle found after passing the magnetic po e at eighty degree of north latitude (as laid down in the Synimes theory of the writer's father), and running south after getting into the open polar scu uutil they found a country and a people never before heard of, and reported to the Art Society of London by Captains Wiggius and Beabaum. And—what is this?—a huge tankard stands before Father Luthor amidst fruit and bread. The blessing of domestic peace and joy rente upon the scene. Yet that is the sturdy aspcct which all the devils, were they as many ae the tiles upon the roofs, could not daunt nor dismay. That is the steady hand which burned the bull of Rome, defying death hero and hereafter, and which hurled the inkstand at the mocking fiend. O, stout heart, clear brain, indomitable will, that lifted the world out of the deepening rut and sent it sariftly forward on a smoother way! Lord Lyons has replie : to the letter of Victor Hugo to the queen asking for the respilo of O'Donnell. iiis lordsbip expresses the regret of the queen's government that it could not reprieve O'Donueil, and says that the queen in such matters always acts upon (he advice of her ministers. It is reported that tho queen was much distressed on receiving Vic tcr Hugo's message, but she observed the precedents by referring it without counnoiit to the home secretary. What was done in Plymouth village the next Christmas is mora fully described in the quaint language of Gov. Bradford: "On ye day called Christmas-day, ye Govr called them out to Worke (as was used), but ye most of ihis new company excused themselves and said it went against their-consciences to worke on ye day. So ye Govr told them that if tbey made it mater of conscience. ho would spare thein till tbey were better informed. So be led away ye rest aud left them, but when they came home at uoone from their worke, he found them in ye streete at play, openly; some pitching ye oaiT, and some at stooie-ball, and sbuch like sports. So he went to tbenr aud took away Lheir implements and told them that was against his conscience, that tbey should play aud others worke. If tbey made ye keeping of it mater of devotion, let them kepe their bouses, but ther should be no gamiugor revelling in ye streets." "You're just like all the rest o' little girls, alwaysf fraid somebody'sgoin' to get hurt,"and be turned his back towards her indignantly and sat for a long timo gazing steadily into the firelight and forming its flickering flame" into tho brightest pictures, and all with Chrismas for a foreground. Pretty soon Bookie began to speak slowly. "Bunn, I b'lieve there be pictures in the fire. I see a little old woman; I guess it's Santa Claus' wife, and she's got—oh, dear, I'm so sleepy—a tea set, and—I wish mamma would come home—a big wax doll, that—every— lime—it—lies down—it—shuts its eyes—and goes—right—to—slee—" There she was, and there was Bunn opposite, both fast asleep, the ruddy glow from tho grato lighting up their faces and bringing out their clear rounded contour as if by magic. Yes, there the two "chicks" were an hour after when father and mother oame in softly from their shopping tour. Gen. Pry or, O'Donneil's American counsel, is credited with having received £:j,(MXl and Mr. Charles Russell, queen's counsel. 500 guineas of the amount contributed for the defense of O'Donueil, the balunce of tho fund going to the maintenance of the deserted wife of the executed man. The amount she receives, however, cannot be large. The "Green Christmas" Fallacy. [Medical Journal.] Captain Tuttle also reported having found the same country und people, aud describes the people as being very large, with black hair and whiskers, roman noses, and speaking Hebrew. Tho writer says: "I find no difficulty in finding people willing to subscribe money enough to buy a steamer like the Polaris and go in search of the people aud country that Wiggins, Seabauin and Tuttle found, where they said they rode oil horseback through the new country and saw heinp, flux, wheat, hides, wool, ivory, iron ore, and were told of ten or twelve gold mines that yield from five to seven tons each yearly. Capt. Hall said that if there were a peoploup there they must be giants, as the atmosphere was so life giving; and now they are found and reported to be seven or eight feet high and woll proportioned. An old proverb says that "a greet) Christ mas makes a fat churchyard," and as most people accept a provei b as if it wero indisputably true, it should be said that there it 110 truth whatever in this particular saying. No warraut is found for it in statistics, aud the very fact that people whose health is bolow the average are advised by physicians to seek a mild climate in winter should show others that when the Christmas holidays are mild and pleasant they should not be oppressed with any unusual dread of impending death. It is much and more likely that oil ladies who dwell in a world of proverbs will come to gr.ef than that undertakers will have any sjiecial reason to rejoice. War Between Two Ballroada. Montbeax,, Dec. 24.—The Graud Trunk railroad controls by purchase the North Shore line from here to Quebec, anil has built a branch seven miies long from Lachine to connect with the North Shore. Under the sale of the North Shore, by tho government, it was understood tnat the new purchaser hail the right of wuy over soma three miles of Canadiun Pacific road fur its through freights. The officials of the latter road let its rival go on with its connection to its completion, but tho moment the first train of forty cars of freight for the west attempted to pass over the stretch going on the Canadian Pacific road, the snitch waa locked ugainst their entrance. No notice hud been given and there is a blockade uow of several hundreds of cars at tho junction of few miles from the city. The obstruction has given rise to great exciteiueut, and tho matter is appealed to the Dominion SPORTING MATTERa Be Bappy In the Present. [T. De Witt Talmage.) "Aren't they sweet!" said the mother, with a look for approval to the "other side of Udb house." One more turn to the kaleidoscope, and you see your early struggles. You now realize what were your early blessings . your elaborate and prolonged decision as to whether it should be a new hat or a new coat, for it could not he.hotb at the same seasou, your effort to make do the work of #20. the snubbing you got when you attempted higher position; the tkiBful buttoning up of the coat to hide patches; your subordinate place to those who had not half your ability or morals; the endurance of those who swished about oig with brief authority; at last your triumph, your raised salary, your advanced position; yonr affiancing: your marriage, your two rooms that were a-plenty; the cradle miracle of dimpled beauty; the high chair at the table, pounding with spoou and rattle; the hardships of life widening into a comfortable livelihood,and perhaps a competency; the gravai covered with chaplete of consolation; the creases with crowns bunr m tbe top of them; the whole struggle and mvmcry of your life adjusted for your welfare here aud hereafter. Enough I Put down the kaleidoscope of reminiscence and take op the palm branch of thanksgiving! Men Who Want to Wreatle, Bacr and Bow. "Pictures by tho firelight. Bettor frnine 'em and put 'em to bed." New York, Dec. 19.—A meeting ol the various delegates of the American colleges will be held at the Fifth Avenjie hotel on Thursday, December 27, when arrangements will be made for some of the big regattas. Th? rumor that George Smith, the "Pittaburg Sprinter," is to go to England to participate in some of the Sheffield handicaps is denied. Feeding the Birds in Norway [YouthV Companion.] In moat of the provinces of Norway there is a pretty custom of feeding' tfc(y*wiW*?hirrt» on Christmas day. All the animals belqny. ing to a family hare double their usual dinner, and share in the great festival. Tor the Tear Round. [Harper's " Drawer."] LATEST FROM WASHINGTON It has come about that at Christmas time nearly everybody is a practical preacher of charity, so completely does the divine contagion of it transform the so called Christian world for the time being. If only the world would not so quickly lay it aside, and send in its bills for it on the 1st of January! Christmas is in fact a sort of electric accumulator, and we sometimes think there is enough of it condensed into a week to last the year round if it were properly distributed. Why should all the turkeys and the geese die in one holo cautt I Why make a fashion of divine charity* Why not seek to diffuse geniality and good-fellowship throughout the twelv.i months l The kind-hearted peasants also fasten up wisps of oat straw all about their houses for the birds, who are quick at telling each other the news, and flocking down in great numbers to peck at Uie grain Washington. Dec. 24.—Speaker Carlisle announced lii» committees this aftornoon. Thero is the usual diversity of opinion touching the composition of tho same, but credit is giveu the Speaker for fairness and impartiality.Speaker Carlisle's Committees. Owing to some delay of the boat builders Wallace Ross, the single scull oarsman, will not leave for England until next week. He will not return to Amei ica until next March. Arthur Chambers says he will accept Bibby's challenge to wrestle with Joe Astou, but the match must be for a fair coudderation.In the towns great bunches of untlireshed oats are brought to the market place, and 110 matter how poor the people arc, they will bv Hire to have one bit of money saved to buy ll .e birds a feast. The Ways and Means Committee, on which there was lunch solicitude is a9 follows: government. A Sea .Tlonsiter og Long Branch. Bob Farrell and Joe McDonald have been matched to fight with hard gloves for $230 a side. The little sheaves are seen fastened on the house-to|)s aud outside the windows, and nobod)' in Norway would frighten a bird that day, if he could help it. Messrs. Morrison, of Illinois; Mills, of Texas; Blount, of Georgia; Blackburn, of Kentucsv; Hewitt, of New York; Herbert; of Alabama: Hurd, of Ohio: Jones, nf Arkansas; Kelley, of Pennsylvania; K as son. ot Tiwti; MeKinley, of Ohio; Hiscock, of New York; aud Russell, of Massachusetts. Lung Branch, Doc. 34.—A Very lai-ge Be* monster, evidently a species of whale, was sighted abou. iiaif a mile south-east of the iron pier, ami continued to sport arouud for almost an hour. He would disappear for a few minutes at a time, and then l iso to the surtaee, occasionally blowing aad spouting tin- water in the air. Many supposed it wo* same monster that was seen by tuj crew of the life station, and reported to the authorities at Washington by Capt. Walter Ureeu some W001C3 ago, but one of the crew of the statiju says that the one reported at Washington was not a whale, but an unuumaablo George the brother of Duncan C. Roes, makes au offer to wrestle for the world's championship, Cumberland and Weetraoreland style. Fred Sogers has reqasstad the National associatiaa to make a tula whioh will give him oae yard stai'i of the amateur champion, in a 100, yard race. -%one but the Brave." [New York Sun. j A Welsh Day. [Chicago Herald.] Mr. Randall is chairman of Appropriations. Iloagati. of Texas. on ooiumerce; purlin, of Pennsylvania, on Foreiirn Affair*; Hopkins, of PeniisylTauia, on Labor; Mlitclilcr, of Pennsylvania, on Civil Service Reform; Hill, of Ohio; on Alcol olic Liquor Trnffio. Pennsylvania has been well t-»ken care of by the Speaker. Adoration ar the Oxen. INew York Journal.] The mistletoe has never been popular in New Vork, partly because it seldom arrive* ■ n good condition, but chiefly on account of n subtle danger that lurks beneath its leaves. Tin- peril was well illustrated by Punch tome yeain ago. The caricature showed au officer of die guards, handsome, youo„- and languid. who had thoughtlessly strolled uuder u mistletoe bcugh, and found sittiug there a I'ldy of doubtful age and angular proportions, -tatting for something The inscription was: "England expects every man to do bis duty I" On Christmas day, a few years ago, they hail au "Eisteddfod" in Chickering hall. New Vork, at which one man read an "Euglyuion," and another recited an "Awdl," and auother the "Cwydd y Farn Pawr," and then the whole crowd stood up and saui( "Hen wlud fy nliadliau." And then the roof of the hall fell iu. It was an old English superstition that «a Christmas Eve the oxen were always to be found ou their knee* at midnight, that the oocks craw; that the cabbage seeded, etc. The devotion of the oxen wu derived from an eld ftory that aa ox and ass, which were id the stable at the birth of Christ, fell on tfaeir knees ui a suppliant position, and that aoooboraw. oing to get hold of it. Did you aver see a at trying to eat a waspf That represent* A Mrs. Ann Schock, of Chicago, connected with a house for the care of children whoar mothers were unable to attend them, has been arrested for starving and cruelly treating the children entrusted to inr can, The'r principal di.-d was corn meal without nil, and potatoes occasionally. le government trying to eat the Mormons. monitor, such as never was seen in tiles* waters before. Ho showod a large part ot bis body, a .d all ttiat saw him were satisfied that ho was not a whale. he cat catches her, to her entire satiefao.ion, but she dont swallow it (Laughter). It is proposed to send ther% Mr. Simon Weriz, Mnleiaville. says "Brown's Iron Bitters did am- more go d than all other medicine 1 ever took." A St. Louis belle is very proud of a find horse she onus Her lover is going to put a Me of hay in her stocking this Christina?.