mi
m t Vl i 1 1:1 Y
IB III! 1 I s I ' I
Y3I J Y.lTESj Editor and Proprietor.
Terms of Subscription Three Dollars, in advance.
CHARLOTTE, N. C, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 1868.
SEVENTEENTH VOLUME N U BI B E R 828.
r ;- v v S3
THE
"Western Democrat
PUBLISHED BY -
WILLIAM J. YATES, Editor and Proprietor.
o
Terms Three Dollars per annum in advance.
o
Advertisements will be inserted at reasonable
rates, or in accordance with contract.
Obituary' notices of over five lines in length will
be charged for at advertising rates.
CHARLOTTE HOTEL,
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
This first class and well known House, formerly
kept by Maj. J. B. KERR, having been recently re
paired and refurnished in every department, is now
open and ready to receive guests
The Table is unsurpassed, and in point of conve
nience and comfort the Jlous i not excelled by any
ia the City. W. W. HART,
February 17, 1808. Proprietor.
Robert Gibbon, M. D.,
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON,
T.yon Street, Charlotte, N. C,
Office and Residence, one door south old State- Rank,
(formerly Win. Johnston's residence).
Jan ClS08. y
J. P. McCombs, M. D.,
OTers his professional services to the citizens of
Charlotte and surrounding country. All calls, both
night and day, promptly attended to.
Office No. 5 Granite Row, up stairs, opposite the
Mansion House.
January 27, 18G8.
DENTISTRY.
pr. B. S. Traywick,
OJJice in Brick Buildinj uest 0 Charlotte Hotel,)
I prepared to do all work in the line of h"i3 Profes
sion. He guarantees rarisfaction in every respect
He has had thirteen years practice.
M-iy 1. 180S y
A. W. ALEXANDER,
Surgeon Dentist,
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
(OJice in the Brauley Building, opposite I he Charlotte
Hotel.)
ETX-Can be consulted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays,
Thursdays and Fridays.
March 25, 1808.
Dr. JOHN H. McADEN,
Wholesale and Retail Druggist,
CHARLOTTE, X. C,
H;i! on hand a large and well selected stock of PURE
DUU!.S, Chemicals, Patent Medicines, family Medi
cines, Taints. Oils, Varninhes, Dye' Stulls, Fancy and
Toilet Articles, which he is determined 10 sell it the
very lowest prices.
May 20, lb07.
rnACTiciL
Watch and Clock Maker,
AND DEALER IS
JEWELRY, FIXE MATCHES, CLOCKS,
Watch Materials, Spectacle, jc.
Aug. 10, 1807. CHARLOTTE, X. C.
ANOTHER NEW STORE.
McMUllli A Y, DAVIS & CO.,
Have opened a new Grocery Store in Rryce's Luild
ing, and invite attention to their
Stock of Groceries.
They keep a supply of everything usually found in
a Grocery Siore and wanted by furniers, tuch as
ugar. Coffee, Salt and Iron,
Cotton Yarn, Molasses, Fish,
Shovels, Spades, Forks. &c,
Crockery and Wooden Ware,
Irish Potatoes, Meal and Corn.
Purchasers are requested to call and examine this
etock and prices.
JS"Produce will be bought or taken in exchange
for Uroceries, or received on consignment for pale.
Particular attention will be. paid to the sale of Cotton.
Corn, Flour, 4c, that may be sent to our care.
J. W. Mc MURRAY,
March 16, 1808. J. N. DAVIS k CO.
A. HALES,
Watchmaker Ox and Jeweler,
Xcxt Door to the Mansion House, Charlotte, N. C.
If your Watch needs Repairing,
Don't get mad and go to swearing;
Just take it into HALES' shop,
He will fix it so it will not stop.
He warrants his work all for a year,
When it is usee! with proper care.
He will do it as low as it can be elone,
And do it so well it's sure to run.
January 1, 1808. y
NEW ARRIVALS
At J. Kuck & Co's Grocery Store.
5,000 UNDSMOUNTA.N
1,000 Pouuds Baltimore Racon,
2" Sacks of Rio Coffee,
i"0 Sacks Salt, common to fine,
60 Boxes of superior Star Candles,
6 Tierces of Sugar Cured Hams,
2o Barrels of Sugar, all grades,
10 Hogsheads of Molasses,
10 Barrels of Svrup.
March 30, 1808. At j. KUCK & CO S.
Blacksmithing and Wood Work.
The undersigned are carrying on the Blacksmith
business at the old stand of Charles Wilson near
thj Grave Yard.
Il rse-Shoeing and all kinds of Iron Work elone in
tho Lest manner at short notice, on reasonable terms.
CHARLES WILSON,
WM. ROSS.
I will attend to any Wood Work that may be de
sired. CHAS. WILSON.
Mav 11. 1S08 ?m
Just Received at S. Grose & Go's
!
1
BARRELS EXTKA C SUGAR,
o " C Sugar,
10 Yellow coffee Sugar,
5 " Sola Crackers,
2 " Butter "
2 " Cream "
103 Tounds Turkish Prunes,
5 Dozen Brooms,
5 " Painted Buckets,
10 Sacks Rio Coffee,
100 " Family Flour,
10 Boxes Cheshire CheeBe,
10 " Best State "
April 20, 1868
o
Killing the Cotton Worm.
In 1864 millions of dollars' worth of cotton
was destroyed by the worm, and men who sup
posed they were sure of fortune were impoverish
ed by the unexpected loss of almost entire crops.
Experiments since then have demonstrated that
tli worms can be killed and their destructive
ravages prevented. A correspondent of the
Natchitochee Times says, relating the result of
his experiments last year:
Now that the cotton is small, the worms,
moths, and chrysales can be easily found and
destroyed. By gently striking each stalk of
cotton with a switch or paddle, the caterpillar
can be km eked off. A laborer can thus go over
u"bcut ten acres of cotton per day. The pupae
can at the same time be easily detected, folded
up in the leaves. Going over the cotton once
every two or three weeks would te sufficient to
nearly annihilate the caterpillars. " Fires kiudlcd
about dusk would be very beneficial in destroying
the moths. It takes twenty-eight days for the
caterpillar to go through its different changes of
exi.-te-nce. The planters need not be discouraged.
If they are energetic in their attempt to destroy
the caterpillars, they will greatly check their
rnvasros.
WHEAT !
Wheat Wanted.
The highest cash price will be paid for good Wheat,
in any quantity, by
May 18, 1SG3. J. Y. BRYCE & CO.
PRESERVING POWDERS.
The "American Fruit-Preserving Powders" are
for sale at the Drug Store of Kilgore & Cureton.
These Powders are perfect antiseptics, are warran
ted healthful, and will effectually prevent fermenta
tion and subsequent decay in all kiuds of Fruits.
Juices and Syrups of Fruits, Tomatoes, Vegetables
(such as Corn, Be:ms, Peas, Asparagus,) Cider, Milk,
Cream, Butter, Lard, etc., and preserve them in as
good and healthful condition as the best "canned or
preserved"' fruits, etc.. without the trouble and ex
pense of hermetically sealing or air-tighting the jars
or cans, and with or without the use of sugar in fruits.
They are at least fifty per cent, cheaper than any
other known method for preserving Fruits, Vegeta
bles, etc.
For sale at the City Drug Score opposiie the Man
sion House.
KILGORE & CURETON.
June 22, 1803.
NEW STOCK.
JUST RECEIVED AT NISCET & MAXWELL'S,
A choice lot of Tobacco, Cigars and Snuff,
Sugar. Coffee and Molassevs all grades,
Choice Green and Black Tea,
Brandy Peaches, Pickles, Preserves, Jellies,
Canned Fruit, Salmon, Lobsters and Oysters,
Toilet Soaps. Perfumery, Flavoring Extracts, &c.
A fresh supply of Egg and Soda Biscuits.
At NISBLT & MAXWELL'S
June 1, 1SG8.
Concord Mills.
Jravicg" epened a ' House in" Cbaffctic," near the
Tost Oliice, lor the sale of our own mauufactureel
goods, wo invite the attention of merchants and
01 lurs to our YARNS, SHEETINGS, SHlhTINGS,
OSN ABEKGS, CARPET CHAIN, STOCKING
YARNS, &e., &c.
Cotton taken in exchange for Good3. We
sell low for Cash.
j. Mcdonald & sons,
August 12, 1S67. Concord, N. C.
SPRING AND SUMMER GOODS.
3E3C . H2C - 2 II ELFS,
(Next floor to Stenhuuse, Macaulay Co.)
Is now receiving a general assortment of
Dry Goods,
Selected at the North expressly for this market,
which will be sold at as lair prices as can be ob
tained anywhere.
Hia assortment of
Ladies' Dress Goods
Comprise many new styles and patterns. The ladies
are respectfully invited to call and examine the new
fashions.
Gentlemen's Furnishing Goods,
Of every description and quality, at low prices.
Ready-made Clothing
For Summer wear at reduced figures.
Give me a call and I will give satisfaction in goods
and prices. II . M. PHELPS,
Mayll, 1SCS.
NEW GROCERIES.
Hammond & McLaughlin
Have received a new Stock of Groceries of every
description, among which are the following:
15,000 rounds Bacon,
1,000 " Lard,
1,000 Gallons Molasses,
2,000 Sacks Salt,
150 Sacks best Family Flour;
00 Bushels Corn,
10 Barrels best Mess Pork,
50 Sacks Coffee,
40 Barrels Sugar,
300 Bunches Yarn,
1,(XX Pounds best Soda,
2o Boxes Layer Raisins,
f0 Kegs Nails.
5 Half Barrels White Fish,
A large lot No. 1 Mackerel,
Cheese, best Carolina Rice, a large lot of Green Tea,
large lot of Candles and Candy, Chewing and Smok
ing Tobacco, Buckets. Pails. Churns and Tubs.
HAMMOND &. McLAUGHLIN.
April 27, 1SCS.
Fresh Arrivals
AT THE ELEPHANT STORE.
Just received a full and complete assortment ol
Groceries,
embracing every article in that line, together with
an assortment of
TIlOMASVILLE MADE SHOES
for Men, Boys, Women and Misses. Also, Tlow
Moulds, superior lion and a splendid lot of
Wilson's Family Flour,
And the whitest Meal in the City.
deliver all articles purchased from me free of
charge at any place within the corporate limits.
March :J0, 10. B. M. FRESSON.
Great Inducement to Farmers.
We have made arrangements by which we can fur
nish Loose Lime by the Ton at $11. Certainly every
Farmer will not fail to use it at this low price.
HUTCHISON, BUPJIOUGHS & CO.,
April 20, 1808. Agents.
Blasting Powder.
Tt ifKlfK
KEGS BLASTING POWDER, for sale
1L WW by
MILLER & BLACK.
May 25, 1868
Droughts.
From the Statesville American.
How are we to account for the many and pro
tracted drouths of the present age in this portion
of the country? Can they be prevented? To
answer these questions definitely or accurately,
may be beyond human ken, but may we not con
jecture? It is well known that rain is produced by va
por, which arises from the seas, lakes and rivers,
and also from the earth when moist. It is also
well known, that the section bordering on these
large bodies of water do not suffer from drought
as the middle country. The mountain region is
also more favored with showers of rain in sum
mer than intermediate hill country not because
of the proximity of large water courses, but be
cause of the numerous small ones and the im
mense bodies of forest, covered with foliage,
which keeps up a state of moisture and creates
vapor to form clouds. When this section, or
rather when the whole country was in timber or
forest, our fathers knew nothing in comparison
to what we know of the frequent and protracted
drouths which almost annually injure or destroy
our crops; even when the country was new and
freshly cleared, before the humors of the soil were
exhausted, drouths were not so frequent or des
tructive as at the present.
Then, if these are facts, and not mere specula
tions, it becomes the duty of every intelligent in
dividual to look for and apply a remedy. Let
the millions of dry, sterile acres of land, to be
seen in the country, be converted into luxuriant
pastures and grassy meadows, and, we venture
the assertion that, in the future, drouths will be
less frequent, the land more productive, farming
more remunerative, and the wealth of our people
greatly increased. If, by simply converting this
into a grazing country, the number and dura
tion of the drouths can be lessened or diminished,
by all means it should be done.
Olin, Iredell Co., 18C8. CAROLINA.
Young men contemplating a trip to the "West
for bettering their condition, should treasure up
the following advice of Superintendent Snyder,
of the Union Pacific Railroad :
"Young men from the East with good re
commendations that come here, must not be
afraid of their scalps, must be content with rude
fare, be willing to sleep on the prairie, and work
hard."
The Cotton Tax. The exact phraseology
of the law repealing the cotton tax having be
come a matter of dispute, a certified copy of the
act has been procured from Washington by the
Journal of Commerce. The law reads, all cotton
grown in the United States after the year 1S67
shall be exempt from internal tax, and cotton
imported from foreign countries, on and after
November 1st, 1S6S, shall be exempt from duty.
Mebanevillo, N. C.
The Fall Term opens July 22d Address
Col. WM. BINGHAM.
June 22, 1 863 6v
VARIETY STORE.
Dry Goods and Groceries.
JAMES II. HENDERSON,
(One door Idoio B. Koopmanri st Trade Street,)
Takes pleasure in informing the citizens of Charlotte
and surrounding country that he is now carrying on
the Dry Goods and Grocery business in his own name,
and asks a share of public patronage.
He has on hand
Dry Goods, Boots and Shoes, Hats and Caps,
And indeed everything that can be found in a first
class Dry Goods Store.
He is thankful for the very liberal patronage which
has been bestowed upon him in former days, and
hopes by fair and honest dealing, and strict attention
to business, to merit a continuance of the same.
Groceries.
In the Grocery line he has a good supply of every
thing needed for family use, such as Flour, Meal,
Bacon, Lard, Coffee, Sugar, Molasses, &c., &c.
Give me a call as I am determined to sell as cheap
as any house in the City.
To Farmers.
I am now prepared to pay the highest cash price,
or exchange Goods, for Country Produce.
JAS. II. HENDERSON.
Notice.
The Notes and Accounts of A. Aschkinass & Co.,
having been transferred to me for collection, all those
indebted will please come forward and settle imme
diately. March 30, 18C8. JAS. II. HENDERSON.
CITY BOOK STORE.
Johnston & Elliott,
3 doors above T. W. Dtwey & Co's BanJc.
BOOKS! BOOKS ! ! BOOKS!!!
We are daily receiving additions to our stock of
Books of the latest publications, to which we invite
the attention of the public.
NOVELS.
We keep the latest and most interesting.
: School Books,
Of til kinds, and as cheap as the "cheapest.
PHOTOGRAPH ALBUMS,
A new assortment beautiful and cheap.
Hymn Books and Bibles,
A good assortment all kinds and prices.
Wholesale buyers and Teachers buying Books,
xc, and all persons needing anything in our line,
will do well to give us a call before purchasing else
where, as we are determined to sell as cheap as the
cheapest.
STATIONERY.
Wo invite special attention to our Btock of Paper
(Writing, Printing, Drawing and Tissue), Envelopes,
Pens, Inks, &c.
CARDS,
Printing and Visiting Cards all prices.
Sewing Machines.
We are the Agents for the sale of Wilcox & Gibbs'
Sewing Machine the best in use. Call early and
examine it.
Music.
Remember our Catalogue of Music; any piece se
lected will be ordered and sold at Catalogue prices.
JOHNSTON & ELLIOTT.
RAGS WANTED.
1,000,000 poundo of RAGS wanted by
June 29, 1868. JOHNSTON & ELLIOTT.
Kleptomania.
New York Correspondent Cincinnati Times.
Few persons, even residents of the city, have
any idea how common thi3 peculiar mania is.
Many persons laugh at the emphamistic term used
to express a habit of stealing, and say it is em
ployed only by the rich. But I am confident it
is a mania from the numerous instances I have
recently become acquainted with. ,
At least a dozen women, tbe wives of mer
chants and professional men of wealth and posi
tion, have been discovered in the last year in
taking things that did not belong to them.
Things of trifle value they were, too, for the most
part, such as no one of sane mind would be apt to
take when the articles of more worth might as
readily be had.
I know of girls reared in the most exem
Py manner, who have been- caught stealing
trinkets, handkerchiefs, gloves and sweetmeats
when they had abundance of money in their
purse, to buy again and again what they had
taken.
Two clergymen's wives, represented to be very
gentle, amiable women, have been detected re
recently, it is said, in shop-lifting at Stewart's.
They had been indulging iu petty thefts for sev
eral years; but when accused of pilfering, denied
the accusation with indignation, and were over
whelmed with mortification when it was proved
upon them.
It is supposed that this disposition to steal is
inherited, like the appetite for liquor or proclivity
to consumption, and can hardly be resisted or con
trolled. A girl of eighteen, whom her parents
discovered addicted to pilfering, was found merely
to have imitated her grandmother, several times
arrested in New England for theft.
No one of the cases thus named has been made
public. But the police hear of new instances
ivery day or two; and all the circumstances that
surround them compel one to believe them in
dependent of moral responsibility.
nwm
Remarkable Invention.
A Northern paper describes a remarkable in
vention of two young students of the French
Polytechnic School. It is a lamp which burns
under water without any accessory machinery,
and carries within itself the requisite supply of
gas. On the 18th of June last, at night, a man
in the costume of a diver descended into the sluice
opposite the Mint (Paris), to the depth of eight
feet, and carried with him the lighted lamp. It
continued to burn beneath the water, and at the
distance of two yards the diver was able to mark
with a diamond on a piece of glass the date aud
hour of the experiment. The lamp burned for
threequarters of an hour in the water, and when
it was brought up to the surface it was still
burning with a flame as bright as ever.
A miniature locomotive fifteen inches long,
inade of one hundred and eighty-eight ounces of
siler and thirty-seven and one-half ounces of
5r4,wcrtlt vour thousand five ' hundred'dollSfsTl
and a steamship modeled after the steamship
Vaoderbilt, made of one hundred and forty-nine
ounces of silver, aud twenty-eight ounces of gold,
worth three thousand five hundred dollars, are
on exhibition in a store window in Chestnut
street Philadelphia. ' v
Josh Billings says he don't -care how much a
mti talks, if he will only say it in a few words.
4 professional beggar, ignorant of the art of
reading, bought a card to place on his breast, and
appeared in the public streets as "a poor widow
witi eight children."
f NOTICE.
The partnership heretofore existing between J.
Xuxbaum, S. Anathan and J. Roessler, known as the
frm of "J BUXBAUM & CO," was dissolved by
o.utual consent on the 23d ivtt. J. Rcessler with
drawing from the said firm.
i Claims due to and by the late firm at Charlotte
vAlI be settled by J. Buxbaum.
J. BUXBAUM,
. S ANATHAN,
June 29, 18G8. J. ItOESSLER.
R. H. COWAN & CO.,
fieneral Coininission and Shipping Merchants,
AND .
Wholesale Grocers.
Agents for M. Davis 4 Son's (Liberty, Va.,) celebra
ted Virginia Chewing Tobacco.
Agents for Lister Bro's Superphosphate of Lime.
Agents for Vulcan Iron Works, Richmond, Va.
WILMINGTON, If. C,
No. 32 North Water Street.
E. H. COWAN,
June 29, 18C8
JSOv W. CAMERON,
JAS. H. HILL.
CONCORD FEMALE COLLEGE,
At Statesville.
The exercises of thia Institution will be resumed
on the first Monday of September next. A corps of
Teachers will be provided equal to those of ; the best
Colleges in the country. The rates of Board, Tuition,
&c, will be given to the public in due time.
E. F. ROCKWELL, President.
' Jurfi!29, 18G8. . - lmpd , . j , . .U v
CITY BANK OF, -CHARLOTTE,
TRADE ST JSPRINGS BUILDING, ,
CHARLOTTE; N. C.
W. A. WILLIAMS, Cashier.
C. N. G. BUTT, Texxbs.
Office Hours from 8 a. m. till 6 p. m.
This Bank has enlarged and refitted its Banking
Hoaae, and with a large, modern improved Fire and
Burglar Proof Safei" offers superior inducements to
Depositors. Receives Deposits on Interest or other
wise, buys and sells Coin, Bullion,' Exchange nd old
Bank JS'otes, and draws directly on -all principal
places in the world at New York rates. :
-July 6, I8G8. ,
Deposits.
f" Deposits of Coin and. Currency received in any
amount and interest allowed per agreement, and if
preferred certificates of deposit issued bearing in
terest at rates stipulated, at the City Bank of Char
lotte. -W. A. WILLIAMS, Caehier.
Jaly 6, 18C8. .
s Revenue Stamps.
BevenueStamps, of every denomination, conetant
ly on hand and a discount allowed on sums amount
ing to $25, at the City Bank of Charlotte.
July 6, 18G8. , W. A. WILLIAMS, Caahier.
H Mutilated r Currency.
-Bagged and defaced Greenbacks, National Bank
Currency anil Shinplasters bought at a small discount,
at the City Bank of Charlotte. '
July 6 1868. W. A. WILLIAMS, Caskier
A Cause of Poor Crops.
From the Baltimore Methodist.
We closed our lecture of last week by sug
gesting that God takes away from us by destruc
tive agencies, what we withhold from religious
uses, and that the inanimate messengers of air
and flood, the vegetable intruders, of parasite
aud weed, and the remorseless invaders with
beak and tooth and augur, waste vastly more in
their inconsiderate way of collecting, than would
keep all the clergy in homes like the St. Nicholas
and clothe their wives and daughters in the ut
most ugliness of fashion. This consideration
may possibly lead to a solution of the otherwise
unaccountable facts that are puzzling and tor
menting farmers and political economists, and
distressing the people with high prices, high
wages, bad trade, and general bad humor.
- With ever extending lines of railroad pene
trating ever extending regions of wonderfully
fertile soil; with rapid and extraordinary devel
opment of Providential reserves of phosphatic
elements for renewal of exhausted soil; with
multiplication of ingenious contrivances for
lengthening and strengthening the laborer's
arms and giving to each natural hand the power
of ten ; with great increase of money applied to
agricultural uses; with wonderful augmentation
of agricultural knowledge diffused by innumerable
journals; with all this increase of means of pro-
J A. ! r 11" 1
uucuou we are every year lulling oenina in our
crops of every kind. Look at fruit. It is food
of a most nutritious and beneficial kind. There
was a time when peaches and apples grew every
where. We can remember when on this old
worn out farm which our ancestors found in
cane and left in sedge (? mortuis nil nisi
honum; so we only express a devout trust that
when they went to the other world the agricul
tural works of none but our immediate predeces
sor were inquired into) on this old farm, those
same injurious old people, gathered perennial
and abundant crops of apples and the trees
came down from our grandfather to our juvenile
days. The trees bore as long as they lived and
bore abundantly. The ground under them was
deep in great cheese-apples, Robinsons, Pippins,
Deals and we do not remember how many other
kiuds. Tenants made cider enough to pay rent
with ; hauling eighteen miles for a dollar a Bar
rel, (rent was not very large.) Peach trees did
not want any atteution. If they did, they did
not get it. There were no cvrcvJios, no yellows,
no borers, in those days. Now ice have the worst
fruit climate in the xcorlJ ; that is, of any part of
the world where iruit is producible. In Mary
land, where peach trees grow like willows, and
where thousands of acres are carefully tilled to
produce them, a fair crop is an accident. Apple
orchards are not worth planting. Pears get
cracked and the trees blighted. Cherries rot or
are destroyed by curculios. Plums are only pos
sible iu cities. Quinces are all knotted as if
they had vegetable elephantiasis. Grapes ripen
only now and then, and rot as if that was what
tKeyVeYa expeef6d to do: Of atrvexatiousTa ti
nny ing, humiliating, hopeless pursuits of man
here, there is scarcely any innocent thing more
unsut;styuig to soul aud b'-uy than
trvmf
to
raise fruit, except under Lrhiss. Yet when we
were young everybody who could command
ground enough to plant the trees, had abuudance
pf apples and pears and peaches: and as to cher
ries, they were as plenty and open to the public
-as blackberries.-;
" liut.from the loss of the luxuries of fru't, we
seem to be going on to rapid diminution of the
production of food. Wheat is the bread of the
civilized world, and has been from time imme
morial. From some cause or others or fro;i
many different causes, the production of thia
staff of life has been remarkably reduced both
here aud in Europe. The average production to
the acre in this State is little more than half
what it was, when we began to reconstruct this
hereditary desert. The production of New York,
Ohio, and all of the older Western States has
also fallen off heavily. We have not the statis
tics at hand,, but the fact is unquestionable.
The midge or red weevil is continually gaining
on us. This insect nearly drove wheat out : of
Genessee, and only the ( high price enables far
mers to raise it in the Middle States'. I Our
fields now are covered with thick, prolific looking
wheat. Yet the weevUhas come; and day after
day the destruction will go on; and we arc ut
terly helpless against a tiny orange-colored mag
got. Potatoes were once produced in twice the
quantity we can get now. Vines were never
more vigorous, but blight and rot keep down pro
duction. Iu the West the Colorado bug eats
the vines; and this destroyer is on his way East
ward. Potatoes were sent from New York to
Illinois last year. Oats produce little more than
half they once did. God, by drought or flood,
or blight or bug, continually makes our hope of
abundance fail.
i Men of science are busy in trying to find out
the causes of these things. But what for ? Sup
pose the Gulf stream has changed its course, can
we set it right ? Suppose new climatic cause
of any Jund arc at work, can we change thctil?
Whatdaa'we do Against God's armies $f Insects."
Either-' there is a God, or there is not. If
nature be God; if attraction and rotation and
electricity and the Gulf Stream be attributes of
God; if bugs are parts of God; if midges and
army worms and curculios arc ultimate govereigu
powers, owning no superior control; if all mate
rials are thinjs and God only a thought; then we
see no help for ns but to accept nature a3 we
find it outside of us, and fight it as we best may
with the nature that is in us; then our only re
source is in sci-hce that is, pretty much in
knowing how bad and how inevitable nature is,
and how little we can avoid or control it.
But if there be a God. If there be a Being
who made, who fiustains and who pervades and
governs material things, according to intelligent
purpose, and by unlimited will; if this God be
our God, then it is the euggestion of common
sense to consider why lie is thus afflicting the
land and multiplying His scourges year after
year. It is all idle to expect relief, if lie is not
willing ta relieve us. If these troubles come
from Him, lie has a reason for them. That
reason is in some evil way of ours. And until
we shall ascertain what it is and turn from it.
we may expect that "His hand will be stretched
out still." God cannot now talk to men except
by these signs. We are so stupid that we listen
to no other kinds: of speech; and though we
hear this we have taken little heed of it. Our
fauk is that we confound the sound of the trum
pet with the intelligent message it brings. If
the 6ound is harsh, wo will not take the alarm it
gives, but think only of mending the instrument.
The fruits of the earth are God's speech. The
harvest is His yearly trumpet. The loss of crvpa
is nothing compared to the anger of Jehovah.
Good harvests are no blessing unless sent to us
in His love. Why do we use our increasing
knowledge of His works to hide from us the
knowledge of Himself? Why are we practical
Atheists in material matters, while to religious
with regard to things not material f Is our God
Lord only of the hills, and another of the Tallies?
Is Jehovah only a remote possibility of eternity;
and leeks and onions wheat and potatoes
electricity and gulf streams and potato bugs, aud
breech loaders, aud universal suffrage and Ben.
Butler and Bishop Simpson the gods of time?
the only things to be sought or avoided, feared
and considered ? Depend upon it we are nearer
to God than to any creature." In JJ.'w, not in
nature, we live and .move and have our being.
He has more to do with our earthly affairs than
we are in the habit of thinking; aud to seek the
kingdom of God and His righteousness is the
only way to have all other things added.) :-
Now there is no necessity to look far for the
sins that bring God's judgments. There can be
no doubt that we are wickedly neglecting to pro
vide for the ministry. Even the members of
rich churches who pay good salaries are not ne
cessarily clear of this charge. Rich men ao
bound to help the poor to maintain the gospel.
It is nothing creditable to a wealthy city congre
gation to give ten or fifteen thousand dollars to a
preacher and several more to singers, and enor
mous sums for carved stone churches and da
mask pew cushions. All this is luxurious self
indulgence that at most can only hope to be ex
cused on account of the hardness of human hearts.
It does not exonerate them from the duty of help
ing poorer men to hear the gospel. Let us then
begin with this dereliction. Our Lord forbade
His deciples to take a purse or change of clothes
when they went to preach. He considered a
call even to repentance abundantly worth the
preacher's support, and pronounced a dreadful
woe upon the people who should not give tempo
ral for spiritual food. The preachers now bring
much better tidings, and as we have not valued
them, and as much dust from the feet of God's
embassadors has gathered on us, we may well set
ourselves to the work of reformation. Preach
ing will not do us much good unless we pay for
it. We will not get to heaven at tho expense of
other people, if able to pay our own.
Who will seriously consider these things?
Professions and Trades.
There never was a period when energy mot a
better reward than at present; if directed in tho
proper chanels. We should remember, however,
that the times have changed, and that our young
men should not be all striving to become lawyers
or doctors now.- Wc have enough in those pro
ietisIucT'affd to f'Sparo. Formerly the young gen
tleman who was able to get a thorough legal or
meutal cducatiou, had some other property in
land or negroes. upon which he could in great
part 1 cly for a support. If ho received but few
fees for the first five years, it was but what he
expected, and he could afford to wait. Now ho
can do no such thing, and tho lawyer or doctor
not established in life has generally a hard time.
Wc advise parents to bring up their children
to look towards something else than the pro
fessions, or indeed any other calling that is not
remunerative. There is but little chance of a
youth doing much now-a-days at clerking -for
this is overdone also. Clerks on an average oarely
receive enough for many years to keep soul and
body together, and if they engage in businees
without a fair start, their chances of success are
but slim. :
One great cause of young men not doing well
iu the commercial line is that but few are prop
erly educated for it. A lad that goes into
counting room without proper preparation, should .
no more expect to succeed than that an aspirant
to the law tho aid expect a run of businet with
out having read Blacketone. Reading, writing
and arithmetic, constitute the most essential parts
of every education; but they make up but a small
portion ot what every merchant should know,
lie should be well acquainted with the geography
of the whole earth and with the productions of '
every country, and especially with" those of his
own.- He should know something of at least one '
or two modern languages, and should be a fair
mathematician. So far from a limited education
being sufficient for the mercantile profession,
thero is no line in life to excel in which requires I
more varied information. '
What we wonder at is, that more of our youth
do not learn trades. A good mechanic can, at
twenty-five years of age, make more in cne day
than the most of clerks can in three, and his chan
ces of success in life are infinitely greater. In
the mechanic arts there are many prizes and
no blanks; for every young man who works hard
is sure to obtain, a. handsome support., which
cannot b affirmed cf any other calling whatever.
. ? gain -a'grjovl living in any trade, all that if
i jahcd is a fair English education and industry
To reach tho highest point, however, scientific
instruction is absolutely required for blacksmiths
and carpenters, as much as for any of the other;
vocations of life. .w
In former days there was a general distaste
in tho youth of the South to go to, tradea. vThe
causes of this fact are plain enough, and need
not be referred to. They exist no longer, and
labor will be far more honorable now in the esti
mation of all than it was under our former condi
tion of society.
It is absolutely eseenthl to the material wel
fare of the State that more of ber .(sons should
devote themselves to the mechanic arts. , It is
the mechanic that makes tbe prosperity of the
city, and without him it cannot be great or per
manent. At no period in our history did these
pursuit's pay better, and the young man of edu
cation and of steady habits that engages in them
now, has a fairer chance of becoming wealthy
than were he to devote his energies to any other
calling.
We advise our people to place more of their
sons at trades. The old order of things has de
parted, and people will have henceforth to work
hard to get their living. Every one wishes his
son to become a useful member of society and to
accumulate a competency, and the best means of
accomplishing this is to learn a good trade and to
stick to it
-.