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About The new Northwest. (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 1879)
A Journal for the People. Devoted to tbe Interests of Humanity. Independent In ToUUes and Religion. Alive to all Live Iaraes, and Thorough !y Radical In Opposing and Expostngthe Wrongs of the Masses. Paoyr A Washington t IN ADVANCE: MS Six: -t si 1 (0 Tke Correspondents writing over assumed sigii i tares mast make known their names to the Editor, or no attention will be given to thi-n communications. AOVKRTISKKKSTiS Insert, I U-a - i,.. Ms Tenia. VOLTJ3IE VIXI. O K.T - PS 13 , OKKGOX, '.rur.XJISlJVY. VXJOXJST 1ST9. elihor nxdr'ton. M&RY 811 A XK surra. iln-sry Winter had passed V- Hpriiu, will, Us blwdUriiis Manh wind's i'm April nhowers am fUMtha, i1 ll frjirrnlit Mav buds mid MuNttwno, had tv.inr and poni ; and no tr 4 one rn-es .re scattering their lovely petals shout ( hospitable door of KSi tor Norton's- new home. Atrs. t'li n na.i given up the nit or tne char itable woik to her since the warm days had cot . tlmuirh die till eared for many who were Dear her, sin! felt R kindly interest in all those whom the Doctor and Elinor visited. The genial Doctor declared tbat KM nor was belter than a regular assistant, and prophesied that when they became partners he woald get nothing to do. She laugh ingly replied that the less be was called upon by the class of patients she usually visited, Uie richer be would be. Elinor had studied faithfully under the Doctor's direction, and between that and work, outside aud at home, she led a busy life yes, and a happy one, though she cherished a dark-eyed, man ly image in her heart, and dally sent earnest petitions heavenward In behalf of the man she lovsni. She would not permit herself to re)iine and grieve, but "tilted all such feelings resolutely, by thinking of the misery about her and striving to alleviate it at far as possible. It waa her constant thought to lighten lier dear old friend's burdens in every way she could, and she was richly re warded by the motherly affection the good lady bestowed upon her so unre servedly. All the tenderness Mrs. Dull had always longed to lavish upon h daughter she now gave to Kllnor; and the latter was scarcely less dear to tbe fatherly heart of the kind Doct r. She proved herself so useful to him as a secretary tbat the Doctor declared he did not see bow be had ever got along without her, and that he certainly never could again. Owing to certain projects in which he was engaged, his corre spondence was quite extensive, and Elinor's quick, comprehensive miud mad her an excellent aid to him. Thus bosily, quietly and cheerfully the Summer days paed by, him I Au tumn came in ail its pomp and splen ' ir, with banners of gorgeous hues float inftaa every tree that had stretched "utajsla' jfmr, ghostly arms when Elinor tin come to the "City of Brotherly Iove." She bad formed some very I isaaant friendships here now among lie roetSr acquaintances, with people who prized her for what she was her self, who eared not in Die least whether be belonged to "one of the first fami lies " or the last, and who admired her fr her determination to make herself lit 'ice useful aud independent as a physician, while ber thoughtful, unself ish kindness made her beloved by all. Skwavlways answered Frank's letters a abe might have done bad she been his slater at least, as far as possible 1 bough sometimes it s hard to refralu from letting him see how she longed for 1 1 is presence. She repressed her feelings firmly, however, knowing what n trial It was for him to endure their separa tion, and to write as calmly as be gen erally did for ber sake. Dr. Dnfl bad been to New York 'but twice since Elinor left there, and tie, trueasing pretty closely how matters stood, made It a poiut to see young Stoddard, of whom tie had a high opin ion, and tell him all about Elinor ; and, when be came home, he made Frank the subject of his conversation. Mrs. Duff, gentle soul, could not believe that Mrs. Stoddard opposed the marriage of tbe two, for abe could imagine uo reason why she should, and she was puzzled a good deal over tbe mailer, for she felt "are tbey loved each other; but, with true delicacy, she forbore to question Elinor, aaying to ber husband : "The dear girl lias good reason for whatever she does, T am certain, and if she doesn't feel like talking about her trouble, I will not worry her with it." But it was from no desire to keep her affairs secret from her kind friends that ISIInor refrained from speaking of tbem Sine-her motber'sdeath she had always een compelled to keep her own coun- except about such matters as she villi discuss with Frank, and now it sarcely entered ber mind that she ul; speak to any one of feeliugs so ! and personal as her love and its -c rnpanying trials. Sometimes, iu r '. ours of lonelioe-s, she felt that If gentle woman near her were her in n lost mother, it would he a relief to ' y i er head on the kind breast and away the pain in her heart and a ' of the past; but she thought it would be selfish weakness to burden Mr. Duff with 'ly 4jii. -!.. virile did : v v run til . tell iti-r "al rae passed on a' e Iay, stor n i irlit Thanks- :t bM ehis-ry j .ill wit; fnui .-!, when all the younger Duffs, ' i:. numb" Eai'iert-i. around theisouled j-ouag mitiisit.r, "a man niter tier ems' board, -au'i ,tt and liltlf!own .leart." Irving truth, wherever '.r t'-e Docfr k i,. vs old Xaw i iirla iu habits, and still loved his ns . Of. . "i . oi n. Wsme aeqoaYilfd 'th - u. -moert f the family ft I.au ' rnen with r force and energy tbatcar ..o. "i'l before, and by every ostthe ( rted conviction to many a heart, and was tre. '-i j;,, greatest eordiSfriy I "HDjudwl tho respect of all who heard and kindness. She though t she bad uever seen a family so uniformly kind, pteaant, intelligent and agreejlile, and respectful and affeetintiate to eoh o'her. ''But it is no uondtT," she Ibouglit, as ttiey epralpd for the night, "when tbe parents are so harmonious ami happy, so rfectly suited to one an other, ami m utterly tinsel tith and de voted to tile good of those about them. Oh, il all ratild ami would live a they do, in such harmony with the laws of our being iht it can scarcely be railed obedience, there would lie little slu, sor row and grief." Tbe usual festivities being over, Charles, tlte eldest, who was, like his father, a physician, hurried back to his patients, in an Inland town, leaving his gentle wife nnJ merry children to enjoy a week's visit at grandpa's. George, the next son, was a comforta bly settled farmer, living not very farj from the city. The luscious Jersey peachos, with many other good things the city family enjoyed every Summer. came from his neat, thrifty, well-ordered home, where flowers, books and music divided the attention of bis sprightly, intelligent wife aud himself with craps, cattle and chicken's, and tbe household enres were lightened by suitable help. as well as needed labor-saving imple ments. His wife laughingly told how his face clouded up with indignation one day when an over-worked neighbor woman, whose husband's farm was per haps twice as large as his, sat down wearily in their bright, cosy sitting room and sighed : "Oh, if I could only have things like you do, I wouldn't mind ; but husband says he can't a fiord it, and don't see how you con, either, it costs so much to live, and prices are so low nowadays." "Well," George said, "if I can allbrd to buy tools for my own sake, I can for my wife's use ton. She needs them juat as mtieh as I do. I have to have help to do my work because there is more than one man can do without killing himself, and my wife has to have help for the same reason. Il doesn't cost any more ior help during the time of year! she needs it than it would cost me for! drinks and cigars during the year. But I don't drink and I don't smoke, so I can afford it, you see." Then Mrs. George, afraid the poor woman's feelings were hurt about her husband, said, quietly : "Ami then we dret-s very plainly, too, and put what we save into pictures and books, because we love tbem, and they do us aud the children good. So you see we don't really spetid any more than our neighbors, for we don't have It to spend." Well, I duutio," said the tired wom an, smoothing down the fold of ber flashy dress. "I s'pose he couldn't get along nohow without his likker ami to back er, and I like to dress up when I go anywhere because I can't at home, with all them children and pigs and chickens to see to, and all the other work to do, and hired iiands, and no body but me tolo It." "Then," said Mrs. George, with a bright look at her husband, "we gave It up, and began the nsual round of In quiries about potatoes, cabbages, etc; at least, I did, for George went oil, and that woman sat anil told about how long it took her to ruffle and flounce the ohlldren's Sunday clothes, and how one fell into the bog-pen when they came home from church the first time the clothes were worn, aud how nil the rest got splashed and spattered In getting her out, am ail tiie fine clothes were ruined, until really I got clear out of pa tience, ami was thankful when it was time to get dinner for the oor, sickly- looking children who have no mother to care for t hem and train them, but only a faithful, ignorant drudge to work for them." Elinor listened to this talk with great Interest, and thought that the two rosy, happy children playing with grandpa would never reproach their pleasant mother with neglecting their education and culture for the sake of senseless lluery, though tbey were dressed pret tily and, above all, comfortably. But George Dull" ami his pretty wife have gone back, with their romping children, to their pleasant home, taking with tbem a rromisefrotn "Aunt Eli nor," as Charley and Jamie named her the first time they saw her, to come and make them a visit in strawberry time, for she had never beeu there. The little boys thought almost as much of coming to see "Aunt Elinor" as grandma, and it was not for lack of warm invitations from their parents as well as themselves that she had notgono. It was only that she did not as yet care to go anywhere or interrupt, even for a day, the work and tudy she had undertaken. HtnryDufl was a thriving merchant :T n Vpaiern town he and his fam- v s- .u U u iCimor oaring their b i. f stay to be as good and kind and inteMi- gent ar those of the fainil- r ill s hom ..he wa belter acqua. tiled. Wi 'ter, tbe y3urst was an earnest. enthusiastic, libtral-mindf- !, he found it : bailor cant and hypocrisy as he did vileness and oppression, he apol e out In ringing denunciation of al! forms and niantfe-iaUens of evil in I him. He preached in a plain little j church in an unfashionable art of the city, snd bi pareut", ami JMInor of i Course with them, n--l by imposing edifices with brilliant orators and costly nmic Hanharh after Sabbath, ami lis tened to bis faithful presentation of the gospel of Jesus. Often, as Elinor heaid the soul stirring appeals he made for honesty and purity of life, lor justice ami charity to the oppressed, tiie desti tule and the erring, "ho longed for Frank In he there, tn.'U he might be convinced that mine ministers did not fear to speak the truth In thoe under their rare. Still more did she wish him there, when, as was often the case, the young preacher sjioke of the love and sympathy of our Heavenly Father for all His weak, wandering children, and urged, with power anil feeling, the rea sons for believing in Him, for trusting Him, and for trying to walk In the foot step of the Savior, "who went about doing good." Elinor thought the young minister himself tried to follow the Divine ex ample as much as any one she over knew, for both he aud his young wife were ever laboring fur the welfare of the suffering and tho desti tute, and he was untiring in his efforts to improve the spiritual, mental and physical condition of those who most needed his pastoral care. It Is no won der that n close auJ tender friendship grew up between those three persons, so much alike In their main characteris tics and lu their purposes and alms in life. Xever before had Elinor known one who seemed so truly a sister. Never before had she been acquainted with a man who seemed to her so much what a Christian gentleman and n minister ought to lie. She was no longer iso lated. She could converse with these two friends more freely than she had ever done with anyone else, even her dear, adopted .mother, for there was more complete sympathy between the three younger friends, and a more per fect understanding of each other's tastes ! and mental and spiritual experiences. waiter was a nouie specimen of a man, ami his wife was a lovely, delicate woman, who won all hearts by her grace and sweetness of manner, even more than by hertieauty and cultivated mind. They had been married but it shntt time when Elinor came to I'hiln delphia, and she did not tee them till they removed In the Spring to' the city from the little village where Walter had won his bride, and where she had al ways lived. The cordial kindness with which they met Elinor, and their quick appreciation of her oharaeter, ami con sequent respect and aifeelion, could not but win from her In full measure the same sentiments in return. She keenly enjoyed an occasional visit to their lit tle home, mi simple, but tasteful and charming in all its appointments; ami yet, was It strange she never felt so lonely as when, after these visits, she found herself picturing just such a home, in -which a dark-eyed, dark haired, bearded man was sitting before the cheerltil evening grate, talking in low, deep, musical tones to her, and looking with t ende rest love into her eyes? Thus It happened that Walter and Aunle often wondered why Elinor came i beings, either ns a nation or a commu so seldom, wheu they all enjoyed these nity, will allow the manufacture and visits so well. Aunle asked her day, hut she only said, quietly: "I do not feel so mu oh like work after Indulging in so much pleasure, and so of course I must deny myself." Her friend knew, from the Doctor a ml his wife, a part of herslnry, and Annie's quick intuition divined the rest. So she knew very well what feelings prompted the reply, and her own hap piness made her more tender and loving to her lonely friend. Some natures seem rendered more selfish and exclusive by an absorbing affection, while some are never at their best among their fellows till the heart's fountains are unsealed by tho magic touch that transforms the careless, in different man or woman Into the faith ful, patient, self-denying being that will endure and do anything and everything for the sake of the loved one. Some are selfish to all others while they have the beloved one with them, and are only 1 roused to sympathy with others by the bitter pain of bereavement. Still oth ers, kindly anil gentle in tlietr uany lives, are rendered hard and cold by grief and suffering that seems to them more than they can bear. Hare natures are those which, in sunshine and In storm alike, hold steadily on their way, comforting and cheering those about them in time of trial, rejoicing witii them In hours of gladness, and shedding the tear of sympathy in the dark night of desolation and anguish. Such n nature had Annie, the young minister's wife, ami she waa a blessing to all about her. t.-rron:i.l"d by thete friends, aiul j workh .- ft ith fully day and tr.gl r, JLii i nor passed 'he time tbat yet remained I before she eouhi -nter college with tbe Dr class, which wou'd contain a until t er of laihes. S' e lon.-u forward lo tin iuipnr&fit ' ay win ii ruled feel- i j'c ai ! an tie:;, x. . she was to'tily UDprepan 1 for the announce- men l, which ws t.ien made to ber, and which fell npen her Mke a thunderbolt hurled from a cloaUloss sky. IT.. be gmut.aed.1 One touch of humor makes the whole tvt,rld gria. A TEMPERAHOE ESSAY. lKmKn BV HKs. kat p. wolfarh nrmaaTnr I.r KIKSON CI.PB OP COLFAX. W. ANI rritl.ISHKII HY KKO.VCHT OK TUB NrSKKuCS rKtBNns. I..HIVS It would seem that the temperance theme was well-nigh exhausted; hut mi long us governments permit tiie manufacture ami sale of alcohol ie lie v erages, just so long the tcmperaure ieo ple will talk. Our object iu assembling here this evening Is the aamo that has caused almost countless numhets to congregate in various other pluees the world over; namely, the putting down of an evil which In its disastrous results to mankind is beyond computation. No other lUt of evils can com Hire with it. War, iiestllenre aud famine are cjui pelleil to acknowledge its superior power, for they only hold sway at peri odical times, while this kingnf terrors has constant control over its victims. And yet, It is so shielded and draped In fascinating, harmless appearing forms that those who tamper with It are lost before they realize that they are In danger. The annual drinking bill of the United States is estimated to be seven hundred milllnns of dollars. Just Imagine how many suhool-hnuses this would build, and how many orphans it would edu cate. In twenty years tbe compound Interest on this sum would amount to more than tweuty-flve bullous of dol lars. The amount of money thus ex pended iu these wnre than useless bev erages Is indeed fearful, appalling to! contemplate. But this money bill li the smallest item iu the list. When compared with the sorrow that is en tailed upou tho human family, it sinks into Insignificance. In whom la vented tho right to dese crate our souls aud bodies ? Do parents hold the moral right to allow their minor sons the free use of the streets at night, where impressions are constantly being made on their young minds, which will sooner or later lead them into the dazzling pitfalls located on nearly every corner? Have our older sons n right to frequent these places which lead to physical anil mental death, well knowing their parents are Iu an agony of four for the result? Was the right ever given, and, If so, by whom, to our husband and fathers, to spend their time far into the night, ami money so long as they have It, iu fre quenting places which bring thorn ami us no return but degradation, thereby defrauding the home and the wife and children of tho presence nnd support which they havo promised heforo high heaven to bestow 7 All will admit that the government which allows the manufacture and sale of anient spirits derives a revenue from that source. But this Revenue is can celed a thousand times over In the erec tion of Hnitontiaries, jails, lunatic asy lums, poor-hniiscs, homes for the Ine briate, homes fur the widows and orphan', the endless array of lawsuits for murder and other crimes, the anguish and tears of family aud friends fur fallen loved ones, nil of which are the result of licensed liquor selling and i consequent liquor drinking. The crime lis fearful; whut will the reckoning be? I u does look singular that Intelligent sale of an article which causes the deg radation and sorrow for which ardent spirits arc responsible, but such proms to be the lamentable fact. Tike, for in stance, our own village. Think you that parents who have the future wel fare of their suns constantly in view can , trust them for any length of time in ! this place as they could two or three years ago, before saloons existed among us? I think you will all bear meout In saying, No! Is there no remedy ? Did the Almighty Father create within us this longing desire for stimulants, aud then turn us into beasts if we Indulge iu 11? If so, why do wo not find alco holic trees aud tap them, as wo do maples? or why not find it flowing in our rivulets nnd springs? Alcohol is always a product of decay something must ferment or rot before we can ob tain It. The elements that cause the desire for unnatural stimulants are first formed before birth, through the stimu lated food of the mother. It is contin ued In the infant's fond through the same source, and still further fostered by the first dose of cordial. The process Is then kept up with untiring energy by the use of rich, highly seasoned food, eaten at all hours, and by the u?e of hot drinks, of which ten and coflec drank in large quantities are the stajiles. And then comes tobacco, that curse of our young men, nnd still greater curse of our older men, who, when they would quit the disgusting, unhealthy habit, find themselves almost powerless to do so. From my earliest recollection, I have been constrained to respect a man who Ims the mora' enuraee to abstain frnrti the um of totracco. Let us have an atui-tobaoeo i , ,ige. We read of Its being Mjoecfo!l circulated in othor plaees. There ( doubt In my mind but the use of tobacco In excess is the high road to thuse of, or want of, alco holic drinks. Klght here, I think, lies j the secret of there being so many more ; men who use alcohol than there are women who use It. I was going to soy ! tmU moet women have too much native ! (cleanliness to, contract the. offer- v i h8oH ' 1 cannot Jln- justlce Bay ; I so long asjtheywlU persist in sweeptug : cigar stnmpsaml other street trash with their dresi skirts. In a letter to a temperance friend' not long since, I mentioned as my convic tion that the world needed our legal help in this reformation, but he did not agree with me. He said his olwerva tinns convinced him that women liked and indulged in alcoholic, drinks as much as the men. On that point I do not agree with him. Il may be the case with a certain class, in large towns and cities; hut the more intelligent cl- of women the world over are largely in the majority against alcoholic drinks. And why should they not be? They arc the greater sufferers from its use, and It is not in the nature of women to see a reeling drunkard without a sense of sor row, and a wish that lie were otherwise than drunken. Men will often laugh at such a sight. When it Is discovered iu a family that a beloved young son has fallen into the habit of drinking, the parents grieve deeply, but there is often n marked dif ference iu the manner in which their grief is displayed. The father's pride Is touched; he scolds and perhaps admin isters chastisement. The mother's sor row is too deep for loud utterances; but Ierbaps with bended knee and stream ing eyes she implores her boy to remem ber aud follow tho precepts his mother has taught him. No thought of pride there; love for her boy is the one per vading element of her soul. Oh! if our sous could only realize how deep and how constant is the solisitude we bear for their welfare, how anxious we are to see them become good, noble, temperate citizens, I think they would uever set foot inside a saloon. Think you that mothers, wives, daughters and sisters would not help to vote this traffic down if the had theopiortuuity ? I venture to assert that if u standing vote of all the women preseut to-night was culled for lu favor of abolishing the liquor trallic, scarcely one would keep her seat. Circulate u remonstrance to a petition for license to sell liquor; aud, notwith standing the fact that the women's names have no legal weight, aud are simply thrown lu for good measure, they always will outnumber the voters' names providing some enterprising persou will go to their homes and gather them up. You well remember the zeal displayed by U.e ertiMiders a few years ago, when modest, intelligent, refined women stopped In front of sa loons on dirty pavements, surrounded by jeering roughs of the lowest order, an I there, kneeling, implored high heaven to slay this terrible scourge. Nothing short of sheer desperation ever inaugurated and carried through n cam paign like that. That it amounted to so little was not the women's fault. The great wave rolled off and the trallic for human souls went on. If tbe cru-' sailers, with the teus of thousands of their temperance sisters who did nut approve of that means of reformation, could have deposited their ballots against the trafllc, then would we have been far nearer success. Do not think for a moment that I consider the en franchisement of women as the only remedy. But I do think our temperance brothers staud greatly in ueed of our legal help. While conversing a few days ago with Dr. Atkiusou, I made mention that it was truly discouraging tu temperance workers to feel that the success that should crown our efforts yet seemed so far In the diatauce. But he answered, "Not so; uot so. Nations cannot much longer allord this wholesale slaughter of their people. They must prohibit the manufacture of alcoholic drinks, or be bankrupt. But," said lie, "the temper ance people must continue to work." And now let me ask, what have we been doing In Colfax? I don't mean Good Templars, hut temperance people gen erally, of whom I know there are many here. Judging from tho number of places where whlskv can be had in our town of 500 inhabitants, I am Inclined to think our work has uot been very laborious. It Is my Impression, friends, that, with the combined eflnrt of the temperance element here, we could have kept this almost wholesale trafllc out. Is it not becom ing wholesale? Our public drinking dens remind one of the spider's parlor, where the spider may be seen at all times watching for tbe unwary lly that may be buzzing near ; and they are springing up with toadstool rapidity all over our pleasunCIittle town. Let us hope that In the excess of numbers they will soon starve each other out. But lu the meantime wo must not be Idle. Those of U9 who find it uo hard ship to steer clear of the quicksands of Intemperance must be ever on the alert to lend a helping hand to those who are drifting on that dangerous shore. Let our voices always, and under nil cir cumstances where necessary, be heard ou tbe side of temperance. Do uot think, because we can resi9t tempta tions, that there is nothing for us to do. All the more is Itrequlled of us to be always ready lo help those who are so unfortunate as to have acquired the fatal appetite, unit by all Just means In our power pruveut others from ever in dulging, even under the most grievous circumstances, In the tempting cup. "Ortcf. hanthrl by wlnn. wilt come again. Ami cine witu n dcepeiUade, Iavtne, perchance, on tbesojil a buiId -1'iriiw put1 phv .?t. T!i- 'i . ' -t li .'ilMlur T.K, irs-inu.iiiul. 1 will not r.4; fi. - - -a1 ot'-au we sinful be, 1. ,i:i'ul iKiMise we are nod." LETTER FEOM NEW YORK. FKOM OUR HKGtTI.An COKKESrOXllENT. New York, August 2, 1879. To th k Editor of the bw Nobthwest: New York Is now never quite smi de serted as formerly, even In the midst of the warmest Summer days. It Is more comnmn than it tted to he for very well-to-do people to stay in town, and only go out for short trips, the system of living in Hats, and the opening way of Coney Island as a f ishloiiahle resort being principally responsible for the change. There was always more or less of trouble in leaving town for the Sum mer season, as the household must be broken up, servants discharged aud the members separated, to come together again with habits and ideas modified and perhaps injuriously disturbed by the Summer's experience. The regu larity the fixity upon which the actual performance of family life de pends was thus subject to annual shocks, which some are only too happy to avoid by availing themselves of such mitigations of midsummer heats as are within their reach, and retaining the safety and comfort of their homes. Be sides this class of residents, many Southerners find in New York all the requirements of a watering place, in its nearness to the seashore, and the free dom and convenience of space and prox imity to large stores, which cannot be fouud at the regular Summer resorts. To such an extent Is New York inhab ited, that an eflort is made to maintain a little sort of social life, l'arties are made that do not assemble under the blazing light of a chandelier, but meet nnd dine together at Manhat tan or Brighton Beach, take moonlight sails up the Hudson, or enjoy a prom enade and a cooling glass of lemonade at a Summer garden concert. The young ladles, daughters of professional men principally, who stay in town, find it not so much of u sacrifice after all, for the young men are not at Saratoga, and but In a limited way at Ntwport. They are In city stores and offices, earning their salaries, which they cannot atlord to relinquish, and are only absent for the week or ten days' vacation, which is the limit of the holiday time aflorded them. There- are but few resources, of course, at this season. The theaters are Intolerable, and friends "in town" scarce. It Is, therefore, an agreeable surprise to find young ladies at home, charming in Summer muslins and flut tering ribbons, ready to entertain and be entertained, g''! to show off their accomplishments In concocting cooling drinks, and suggesting an altogether new ideal of home life, with the happy circumstances of which the thermom eter Is not allowed to Interfere. One of the uppermost questions lu ex change circles Is the prospective un precedented demand on this country for food for Europe iu the shape of grain, ll'i'ir and provisions. The damage to and failure of the crops on the European continent, the exodus of farmers from Great Britain, the demand for supplies caused by the war in Africa, and several other causes, have led to an extra call this season on the farm products of Ibis couutry. How much of this large trade Is likely to come to New York is also agitating the minds of many. Hereto fore, calculations could have been made with some degree of certainty as to,the proportion of the export of produce which would pass through the hands of merchants iu this city; hut with the unusual facilities furnished by other ports for the exportation of the products of the United States, and tbe now al most perfect system of trade between Chicago and Cincinnati on the one hand, and Great Britain and the conti nent of Europe ou the other, aud at cheaper rates than can be made by New York dealers, no calculation can be made here uutil the business Is being actually transacted. This condition of affairs not only affects the flour aud grain trade, but also the majority of the provision merchants, many of whom regard the outlook with any thing hut cheerfulness, notwithstanding the increased demand which, it Is ap parent, will be made for American farm products. The Inquiry into the sheriffs ofllce is developing a system of blackmailing that surely must lead to a thorough re form. It is very evident that, when ever a civil arrest has been made, the practice in the office has beeu to squeeze out of the unfortunate prisouer every dollar his poeuulary condition will bear for any privileges extended to him, not to release him from the clulches of au officer until he has been bled as pro fusely as possible. The law provides that the fee shall be thirty-six couts for a bail bond; but any amount from twelvcdollars upward has been extorted from the unfortunate prisoners. A hundred dollars for a day's liberty has beeu exacted from men under arrest by these remorseless sharps, ami where a hundred dollars was not forthcoming, tile privilege could be secured for ten. A panic has been created among the down-town day gamblers by the new crusade of the Society for Ike Preven tion of Crime. At first tbey were In clined to view it as a repetition of former virtuous spasms, but now they admit only the most-approved habitues. Four houses on AntTWti Fultou streets l ave t-ken a ostVut, and their pro- r-netors are playfoWagaiust the races at Brighton BeaahAutl Saratoga. Such a complete picketing of approaches as ii now deemed necessary by the fev honses remaining open, has not bee-l practiced for fifteen years. The queslio t of a general cessation is under considei ntlon by all professionals. The ageuH or the Society for the Prevention tt Crime have lately been keeping a closj surveillance upon the various fan batiks, and followed clerks and other, who have been seen to enter, to their places of business and reported the fact lo their employers. It is said that tha system of espionage will be kept up un til gambling places are closed. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, Jev. -Ish victors to Coney Island nre most numerous. Yesterday, Jewish faces were plentiful among the thousand that thronged the hotel balconies, pa vilion aud plaza surrounding the mash: stand at Manhattan Beach. At first, ft seemed ns though Christians and Israel ites were nearly equally divided; but later In tbe afternoon, either because of a fairer estimate, or because tue Jews had scattered over the island, It was seen that they numbered only about oue-third of the persons in the assem blage. President Corbln says he ob jected only to those Jews whose manner is offensive to nice people. Tbe com pany pays Levy $430 a week, and one of the stock-holders is Julien Meyers Some persons have written threatening letters to Corbiu; but, on the othet hand, he has received letters from many conspicuous and wealthy persons, ap proving his aetion. August. "Our roper, a journal published a.'. Oakland by Mrs. Belle Lynch, launches Into politics as follows: s an indenendent journalist, we shar advocate such measures, support such candidates, and throw our influence on the side of such parties, as in our Judg ment will inure to the best Interests o the State. In the present chaotic stat. of political affairs, oue can hardly be called partisan, which ever side he ma take. Thousands of life-long Democrats disgusted by the cowardice manifested by the Democratic party at this time: disgusted at the political allllation witu the Honorable Bilks, iu tbeendorsemeui of their candidate for Governor by the Democratic Convention, have openly and publicly declared themselves sup porters in this fight of Hon. George C. Perkins and the Republican party, it is the only well-organized party, pre seutiuga bold barrier to the march C the cominuulstic element in this Slate. THEN AND Now. Fred Douglass, in a letter .to the men who placed Ills bust in the University of Rochester, says that it amazes blm to look back over hi life. Hesajs: "It seems only a little while ago, when a child, I might have been seen fighting with old Nep, mj mother's Ig, for a small share of tin few crumbs that fell from the kitehei. table; when I slept on the hearth, cov ering my feet from the cold with warm ashes and my head with a corn bag; only a little while ago dragged to prison to be sold to the highest bidder, exposed for sale like a beast of burden; later ou put out to live with Covey, tbe negro breaker; beaten and almost broken in spirit, having little hope either for my self or my race; and yet here I am, alive nnd active, and with my race enjoying citizenship in tbe freest and prospect ively the most powerful nation on tho globe." Of General Grant ami his wife in their poverty-stricken days of 1881, u. nielurestitie little story is told. He had gone from. Galena to Springfield to get a eaptaiuey iu a regiment tiien being organized, ami in his absence Mrs. Grant went to one of the Galena euopM and asked for a barrel of flour ou credit, as she had no money. Her request was refused, when a bystander, wbo was also a merchant, npproaohed and told her she could have anything she wished from his store. This kindness In tim of need was never forgotten by Grant, and after he became rreslder t, bj be stowed sulistuiithil favors upon ; is good- hearted and patriotic grocer. Blowing into the muzzle of a shot-gun is a standard methedof producing ai paper items. It remains for a yuu lad in Hartford, Conn., to introduce varia tion. The street-hose wouldn't work. The water was turned on at the spiggot all right; but there seemed to be a;i ob struction. He placed his mou'h oom pletely over the end of the no', and Mowed just once. The pre99uie 'A the whole reservoir suddeuly broke loose, concentrated Into that one nortie. The lad let go with his mouth and sat down about fllty feet away, and lie has nut yet been relieved of the impression that bis brain Is water-soaked. An Italian student declares that the fine perfumesof delicate flowers exeittlse a healthy Influence on the atmosphere by converting the oxygen of tbe air Into that pou-erful oxidizing and, therefore, purifying agent, ozone. The eaaenaea found by him to produce tbe most ozone are precisely those which usage has selected as the most Invigoratllg, such as cherry, laurel, cloves, lavender, mint. juniper, lemon, fennel and bergamoL Anise, noun eg, tuyme, narcissus aun hyacinth tlo wers, mignonette, heliotrope and lilies of the valley also develop ozone. A Virginia lady writes: "Ami new a few words to the girls who may read this. Be careful to whom you write and what you write. Many a loving, trusting letter Is sent by a true-hearted girl, and is read by the receiver to V laughing crowd of men, and various re marks are passed about the 'silly girl.' I can conscientiously say, on tbe utber baud, that I have never seen nor heard of a girl showing letters promiscuously, even from a man she did not care for, though they are often shown to tile ooa 'dear friend' in strict coufidence," A Scotch minister, In one of his paro chtal visits, met n cow-boy aud asked what o'clock It was. "About 'welve, sir," was the reply. "Well," 'n"-! the minister, "I certainly thought X was more." "Il'sneveraiy ........ "j said the boy; "it J" ' again." it oa