I ' e. 7 . '7 I S-
v-
WM J YATES, Editor ard Proprhctor.
term. f Sdlscripiion TilfetE Dollars, in advance.
CHARLOTTE, N. C, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1868. seventeenth tolciie--k v m b e n sso.
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THE
Western Democrat
I'CDLISHBD DT
WILLIAM J, YATES Editor ah4-! Proprietor.
Tkp ms Three IMhrt annum in advance.
Advcflijc'.tteiils will lc inserted at reasonable
fst'c.', cr in accordance with conlract.
Ubituary notices of over five lines in length w ill
be charged for at advertising rates.
Robert Gibbon, M. D.,
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON,
Tryon Street, Charlotte, X. C,
Office and Residence, one door south old State Bank,
(formerly Wm. Johnston's residence).
Jn 1, lWirt. y
J. P. Mc Combs, 3E- D.,
GtfYrs hi ijrufe'iwjA service to lite citizens of
Charlotte uud urrouadiag country. - All culls, both
niht and day, ptomptly attended to.
Office in liroivu's building, up stairs, opposite the
( tarlotte Hotel.
Oct J-.. Mt.
A. W. ALEXANDER,
Surgeon Dentist,
CilAKLOTTE, N. C.
(OUce in the lirawley Building, opposite the Charlotte
Hotel.)
Xfft Can be consulted ou Tuesdays, Wednesdays,
Thin il .!"- and Fridays.
March S, 1SU3.
t
Dr. JOHN H. McADEN,
Wholesale and Retail Druggist,
CHARLOTTE, X. C,
on hand a large and well selected stock of FURE
IiH S, Chemicals, Patent Medicines, Family Mcdi
c.ii' s. Paints, Oils, Yarniskc, Iye Stuff. Fancy and
Toilet Articles, which he in determined to tell .t the
vi-rv lowest prices.
M.iy '2K 1N7.
DENTISTRY.
Traywick & Bland,
Having formed :i co-partnership, tender their ptofes
simial services to the puhlicat large. Their office will
b; open froai S a ni. to l' p. m., and either of them
will visit patients at their residences when called.
Ollice near the Court House, Trade Street.
August 10, ISUvS.
New Firm and
NEW GOODS
The tin lorsign'd having formed a Partnership
un lev the stvle of
s. p:ijm.ip & co.,
fir the purpose of conducting the
Merchant Tailoring:
And Gents FuraisMng Goods Business,
Would respectfully inform their friends and the pub
lic generally, that they are now receiving their stock
ft 'Fall und Winter (ioods, consisting of all grades
of French. Kisjilith und American
t'lath. ra.ofinirrcM & V citing:,
In great variey o'f makes and colors.
Gonis Furnishing Goods :
Shirts, Collars. Cravats. Hosiery, Merino Under
wear, Ties of all kinds. Umbrellas.
Iu fact everything usually found in a FIRST
CLASS .Merchant Tailoring Establishment, all of
which were selected witli great care, and warranted
to give satisfaction.
Special attention will be given to the
TAILORING DEPART M ENT,
ami all goods sold will be made up iu the very best
ft vie, and a fit guaranteed.
TAILORS' TRI.MM1M;S, of aM kiuds, kept con
stantly on hand, aud sold to the Trade at wholesale
prices.
fey I.TTTIM1 AND REPAIRING of nil kinds,
promptly attended to and satisfaction given.
We will lie found at present in the room over the
Express Ollice, where our friends are invited to give
ns a call.
We will occupy the Store at present occupied I y
First National Lank, a soon ax their Ranking House
is completed. J. S. PHILLIPS,
Oct. 1H5S. JAS. If. OUR.
PRACTICAL
Watch and Clock Mik3r,
AXt DEALKIl IX
JEWELRY, FIXE U'ATCIES, CLOCKS,
Watch Material, Speetaete. .jr.
Aug. 19. 18f,7. CHARLOTTE, X. C.
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.
VI iltkowsliy & Kinlels
ave now in store one of the larsrest Stocks of Goods
ii
o
ever brought to tbi market.
They keep a full assortment of all kinds of Goods,
and will sell at remarkably low rates.
JKiST Country Merchant and wholesale buyers
generally, a well as retail purchasers, arc request
ed U examine this magnificent stock of Goods.
Millinery and Dress-Making.
A separate department is devoted to Milliuery and
Jbcss-making. where the Ladies can have work done
joromptly aud iu the latest styles.
WITTKUWSKY & RIXTELS,
Between the two Drug Stores.
rOct. .", isos.
QUERY
Is receiving, daily, his Fall Stock of
iTtillfiiit ry, Trinunitijs. &c. Ac,
AVhich he asks the Ladies and the puLlic generally,
to call and examine.
13- MRS QUERY i prparcil to serve her
.IrioinU uiih the
LATEST STYLES
in Bonnets, Hats, Dress making, &c.
oct Itio.s.
CITY BANK OF CHARLOTTE,
TI.'AliE ST., SPMXGS' BUILI)1X(1,
CilAKLUTTC, N- C.
W. A. WILLIAMS. Ca.oh.ieU.
W -N. (J. P.I TT, TEI.LKB.
OJiee Hours from S a. m. till 0 ji.
m.
This Bank has enlarged aud refitted its Ranking
JJouse, and with a large, modern improved Fire and
Burglar Proof Safe, offers superior inducements to
D -po-itors. Receives Deposits on Interest or other
wise, htiys and sells Coin. Bullion, Exchange and old
Bank Notes, and draws directly oh nil principal
plav-i in the world at New York rates.
A
Female Ureks. Brighton Yoang does not
want the female Mormon? to wcst long : dresses,
but he docs not wattt thir ganneuta too short,
either.
"Bring them down to the tops of yotrr shocp,
and have them so that you can walk and clear
the dust, and do not expose your person. Have
your dresses neat and comely, una conduct your
self, in the strictest sense of the word, in chas
tity. If you do this, you set a pood example
before the rising generation. Use good lan
guage, wear comely clothing, and act in all things
eo that you can respect yourselves and respect
each other. We wish you to remember and car
ry out these counsels."
ADMINISTRATOR'S SALE.
The undersigned having obtained Letters of Ad
ministration ou the Estate of CoL John BUck, dee'd,
wiireipose at public sale, at the residence of smid
deceased, on Tuesday, 5EM of December next, the
following property, to wit: 2 Wagons, 1 Buggy," 1
Bale of Cotton, Cotton Seed aud Hogs, aud other
articles not here mentioned.
Terms made known on day of sale.
Also, at the same time, will be Rented all the
Lands belonging to the said deceased for the yeir
lbU MARY T. BLACK,
JNO T. DOWNS,
Nov HO, 1808. Administrators.
All persons having claims against the said
deceased will present thim within the time pre
scribed by law, or this notice w ill be pleaded in bar
of their recovery; and those indebted will please
jntike immediate payment. il. T. BLACK,
J. T. DOWNS,
Nov SO, 1808 4w Administrators.
Groceries and Confectioneries.
NISBET & MAXWELL arc tfow receiving a large
and well selected Stock, consisting in part of
ColTec, Bagging, Cigars, Snuff,
Sugar, Ties, Pepper, Spice,
Molussea, Bacou, Leather, Cheese,
Rice, Tobacco, Soda, &c , &.
In fact everything in the Grocery line, cheap for
cash or exchange for country produce.
Nisbet & Maxwell,
Candy Manufacturers and dealers in Confectioneries,
Toys, Musical Instruments, Notions., ic , have a large
stock aud offer thctu low for cash
Nisbet & Maxwell, Bakers.
Parlies supplied with p!in and ornamental Cakes
at short notice Orders promptly attended to
Just Received,
Fresh Buckwheat Flour.
Nov 10, 1808 NISBET & MAXWELL.
McLEOD & STEELE
Have received a new Stock of J
Pall and Winter Goods, j
Which they offer to tire public at greatly reduced
prices. Their stock consists of Ladies' Dress Goods, j
Poplins. Reps, Empress and Abysinia Cloths, black,
white aud colored Mohair Lustres, Merinoes, Delaius, j
&c. ; Ladies' Cloaks and Shawls, best rjuality and (
latest styles; a pretty line of Ladies' Furs; Cloths, ;
Cassimcrcs and Vesttngs. 1
Gents' Furnishing Goods. !
Hock Island Cassimcrcs and .leans, A good stock of
mute uoous, r.morouieries, &c; Domestic ana jmui ,
Goods,
Boots, Shoes, Hats, Caps and Hardware, j
We respectfully ask our customers and friends to
call and examine our Stock before buying If our
goods suit, we will make prices suit. We are deter- j
mined to sell.
Nov 1), 18GS.
McLEOD & STEELE.
KNOX & GILL,
Cotton Factors and
GENERAL COMMISSION MERCHANTS,
Xo. 125 Smith's Wharf,
lauhkxce l. ruixcE. Baltimore.
t5?f Consignments of Cotton respectfully solicited,
and liberal advances made thereon.
Orders will receive prompt attcution,
October o, 1808. Cm
Confectioneries, Fruits, &c.
Confectioneries, Fruits, Canned Goods of all kiuds
just received at D. M. KlULER'S.
Granite Row, opposite the Mansion House.
Oct 1!. lSCS.
Charlotte Female Institute,
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
The next Session will commence ou the 1st October,
1808, and continue until 80th of June. 18(10.
The Sissiou is divided iuto two terms of 20 weeks
each, and pupils can be entered for either the whole
session or for one term.
OFFICERS AND INSTRUCTORS:
Rkv. R. Bckwelu Principal, and Instructor in Mental
and Moral Philosophy and Mathematics
Jons B. Btnwr.LL, A. M., Natural Philosophy,
Chemistry and Ancient Languages.
Mas. M. A. BruwELi., English Branches and Super
intendent of Social Duties.
Mas. Sai.i.y C. White. English Branches.
.Miss Margauet T. Luxe, English Branches and
French.
Mas. A. C. Tattox, English Branches and Music on
Piano.
Pbof A. Bacmaxs, Vocal and Instrumental Music.
Mas. Ji i.i.v C. Pattos. Music on Piano.
Pnor.'R. E. Piartrr, Drawing, Painting and Modern
Languages.
ErfM-use jrr T'-rt of 20 Week:..
Board (with every expense, fuel, lights, wash
ing. &c.) with tuition in English Branches, $lo0.00
Tuition, day scholars. Primary Department, 20.00
Collegiate " 2.J.00
Music, Ancient and Modern Languages, Drawing and
Painting, extra, at usual charges.
For Circular and Catalogue containing full partic
ulars a to terms, Ac, address
Rev. R. BURWELL & SON.
.Tulv 27, ISf.S. Charlotte. N. C.
McMURRAY, DAVIS &
CO.,
( Urge? etr JSuilduifj,)
Have just received a full Stock of Goods consisting of
'Groceries, Dry Goods,
ECar dwaret esso
in their geueral assortment eau be found
Coffee, Sugar. Molasses and Syrups,
Bacon, Lard, Rice, Cheese,
Cotton Tica, Bagging, Rope and Twine.
Salt. Leather, Candles, Crackers, Pickles,
Soda. Soaps, and Wooden-Ware.
Hardware,
Axes, Nails, Shovels, ipade.
Hoes, Trace Chains,
Table Cutlery, &c,
kc.
Boots and Shpes.
Hats. Ready-made Clothing, Notions,
Confection-
cries, &e.
Thankful for past patronage, .ihejr invite their
former customers and ail others jsvho ant to pur
chase cn fair te,tais, to.givc.ltcn ajcalj and examine
Goods and pn ,
lf ProdukC .nd CirfV 4skcn in exchange for
Goods. gfM-TRKAY. DAVIS & CO.
Oct 2. lfWS.
The Freedmen's BureatL
A correspondent writes from Raleigh to the
N. Y. Times as follows :
An article published in the Standard, a feW
days ago, affirmed that there Was no use for anj
of the Bnicau officers in this State. In its pre
sent shape, the Bureau will cost the Government
much outlay, which might be profitably expend
ed in more neceesitous objects. The chief bene
fit of the Bureau is its educational feature. The
Superintendent of Schools in each Southern
State could take charge of this department. At
this time there is not a particle of use for any
officer of the kind in North Carolina. It is
nothing but favoritism and unmitigated trickery
on the part of a few tenacious Commissioners
and ageuts. The continuation of the Bureau for
another year in this State will cost the Govern
ciout over 870,000. This is a moderate calcu
lation. Every, army officer, every intelligent
Rcpnblicaft, and the colored people are opposed
to the further existence of this organization.
Gen. II inks, at present in command of the East
ern part of North Carolina, declares that its use
fulness ended a year ago. This is the undoubted
judgment of every distinguished friend of the
Government in the State. Its friends are a few
clerks, the Assistant Commissioner, Capt. Churr,
and another officer holding a very responsible
position, who, within a few days, has been reeling
w'th drunkenness in the streets of Raleigh.
Administrator's Sale.
As Administrator of the late John M. Springs, I
will sell on Monday the 28th of December, at the
Public Square, '20 shares of Stock in the First Na
tional Bank of Charlotte; $100 of Preferred Stock in
the Charlotte Female Institute; and one $500 Bond
of the-A., Teun. & Ohio Railroad Company, endorsed
by the Char &S C. R. It. Co. Terms made known
on day of sale. , S. P. ALEXANDER, ,
Dec. 7, 18G8 4w Adiur.
ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE.
As Administrator of Nancy McQuay, dee'd, I will
sell at her late residence on the Tuckaseege road, on
Tuesday the 29th inst., one Mule, Cattle, Hogs, Corn,
Roughness, Household and Kitchen Furniture, Farm
ing Tools, &c. Terms made known on day of sale.
W. V. DUNN, Adm'r.
All persons indebted to the deceased arc re
quested to come forward and settle, and those having
claims against her must present them within the time
prescribed by law or tiiis notice will be pleaded in
bar of their recovery.
Dec 7, 1808 3wpd W. V. DUNN, Adm'r.
Selling out to Close Business.
GREAT BARGAINS!
$70,000 worth of Goods must be Sold ! !
H. & B. EMANUEL
Offer their immense Stock, for
the next CO day
at
and below cost price.
' Mnst be Fold by 1st Jnmm ry next
Clothing, Dry Goods, Hardware,
GrOCeriCS, Hats, BOOtS and Sh06S,
Crockery, and 1,000 different articles,
AT AND BELOW COST 1TJCE.
ggg Wholesale and Retail Buyers, now is the time
for Bargains.
We .are determined to close out, .and will sell.
Now is the time to buy.
H. & B. EMANUEL,
Next door to (he Mansiou House.
Nov 2, 18C8. 2m
OLIN MALE COLLEGE,
Iredell County, N. C.
This Institution will be re-opened under entirely
new auspices on the loth day of January, 18G0.
The College property is now clear of debt, and all
previous disadvantages arising from its being in
volved, are now removed.
A separate building will be appropriated for a
female school, and parents may be assured that this
College will no longer be operated as a mixed school.
Term per Session of 1'utnty Weeks:
Board per month of 4 weeks, $10.(K)
Lights and towels extra.
Tuitiou iu Preparatory Department, 10.00
Collegiate " 12.,"0 to 2.",.00
Music on Piano, 25.00
Use of Instrument, 2.50
Contingent Fee, 1.00
Payments Board ona-half in advance. Tuition
invariably in advance.
Produce taken in lieu of Board and Tuition.
For Circular, address
JAMES SOUTIIGATE.
Olin, N. C., Nov 30, 18G8 2m President.
S. GROSE &ca,
Respectfully call the attention of the Wholesale and
Retail buyers to their complete Stock of GROCERIES
which they offer on low terms, consisting in part of
25 Barrels New Orleans Molasses,
50 Sugar House Syrup,
5 " Bee Hive Syrup,
2 44 Maryland Golden Syrup,
100 44 Sugars, all grades,
25 Sacks Coffee,
100 Ihn. Gun Towdcr Tea,
100 " Imperial Green Tea,
100 4 English Breakfast Tea,
100 44 Sonchong Tea,
50 44 Baker's Cocoa,
100 Sacks Salt,
50 44 Shot, all sizes,
50 Kegs Rifle Powder.
100 44 Blasting Powder,
10,000 Feet Safety Fuse,
1,000 Yards Best Bagging,
1,000 Cotton Ties,
15 Boxes Passaic Soap,
10 44 extra No. 1 Soap,
5 44 German Erasivc,
00 44 Candles. Adamantine,
25 Boxes Clarified Candles, 20 Boxes Candy,
10 44 Starch. 25 44 Raisns,
oO 44 Cheshire Cheese, 00 44 Sardines,
50 44 State 44 15 44 Soda,
All of which we are determined to sell very low.
Call and see us before you buy.
S. GROSE A CO..
Trade Street, opposite the Tost Office.
Nov 30, 1808.
LOOk to Your Interest
As I am now selling Dress Goods, Ready-made
Clothing, Boots, Shoes, Hata, in short everything
found in a first class Dry Gooda' House. AT COST,
in order to close out business, the public can buy
Goods of me cheaper than in any house in Charlotte.
Country Merchants, who are cash bnyers, will
find it pajsto buy of A. SINCLAIR,
Nov 10, 18tii. Springs Cr,THtr.
WANTED,
Beef Cattle, Miloh Cqws. Mntton and ;ro?l:, and
Green and Drv Hides. The highest market price
will be paid. W. A. COOK,
Oct 2G, 1SC8. . Town Butcher.:
I can be found at the Store next to the Democrat
Office.
- Female Heroism.
,.' We ask to record an incident illustrative of fe
male heroism of the loftiest kind, during the
revolutionary struggle, which we have never
seen in print, only in an address delivered by the
late Gov. Swain before the New York Historical
Society, and which cannot fail to be read with
interest Among those who formed a part of the
settlement of Western Carolina was a poor widow,
who, having buried her husband, was left in
poverty, with the task upon her hands of rearing
three sons. Of these the two eldest, ere long,
fell in the cause of their country, and she strug
gled on with the youngest the best she could.
After the fall of Charleston, and the disastrous
defeat of Col. Buford, of Vi rginia, by Tarleton,
permission, was granted to some four or,' five
American families to carry necessaries and pro-
fyl&lutia. and administer somo relief to tho prison,.
ers confined in the jails at Charleston. This
widow, was one of the volunteers on this errand
of mercy. Braving the horrors of pestileuce, she
employed, herself to the extent of her humble
means in alleviating the deplorable sufferings of
her countrymen. Her mission of humanity
having been fulfilled, she left on her return; but
alas! her exposure to the pestilential atmosphere
she had been obliged to breathe, had planted in
her sy&tem the seeds of fatal disease, and ere she
reached her home, sank under an attack of prison
fever, abrave martyr to the cause of humanity
aud patriotism. . That dying mother, who now
rests iu an unknown grave, thus left her only,
son, the sole survivor of his family, to the world's
charity. Little did she dream the future of the
orphan boy; that widow was the mother of
Andrew Jackson, thes President of these Uuited
States.
.
The Indian Wars.
Official records, it is asserted, prove that the
various wars with the Indians during the last
forty years have cost the Government over five
hundred millions of dollars, besides a large loss
of life. The calculation is made as follows :
The Black Hawk war four hundred lives and
5,000,000; the Seminole war, fifteen hundred
lives and 3100,000,000. only fifteen hundred of
the Indians being warriors; a war with the
Greeks and Cherokecs about the same time cost
SI, 000 .000; the Sioux war of 1852, three hun
dred lives and 640,000,000; the war of 18G4,
on thousand lives and $00,000,000; the Chey
enne war of 1807, three hundred lives and
about 012,000,000; the Indian troubles ou the
Pacific slope for the ' last twenty years, about
$300,000,000; three campaigns against the
Xarajocs, $30,000,000. The "whole trouble in
New Mexico, of which the best item forms a
part, $150,000,000.
LAND FOR SALE.
On Tuesday, the 5th of January next, I will sell,
as ..Administrator, the Tract of Land, containing
.about seventy acres, upon whicli Wm. Black formerly
livctl, eight miles nox-th of Charlotte. Terms made
known on day of sale.
DAVID HENDERSON, Adm'jr.
Dec 14, 18C8 3wpd
1
SALE OP CITY PBOPERTY.
iln accordant
Mecklenburj
iblic Square
accordance .with a Decree obtained at Fall Term
g Superior Court, I will sell at the
Cm.aua t Olio.lnlt. nn T,m-A..v tl.n ) V,
ity of December, inst., three unimproved City Lots
on College Street, (in rear of Miller & Black's Store,)
being a portion of the property belonging to the
est ate. of thevlate John Harfry, dcl.
fTermsi, 12 months credit with approved security.
T. H. BREM, Commissioner..
Dec 7, 18G8 4w
j WEST G&EEN NURSERY.
Fruit and Oriental Trees.
10,000 Apple, 10,000 Peach, 10,000 Strawberry,!
Cwrants, Gooscbcrwcs and Green House Plants.
Catalogues sent on application..
C. P. MENDENHALL, Proprietor. .
S.tML J. TuruLKY, Superintendent.
Vlreensboro, X. C, Dec ,7, 18(i3 Cm
j NOTICE.
I will sell at the Post Office, in Statcsville, ou the
25th day of December inst., the following valuable
property belonging to the Estate of Jos. W.Stockton,
Bankrupt :
Two Store Houses, Town Hall and Four Offices,
known as 4,Stocktou's Corner.' The building is
three stories high with basement, brick and tin roof,
and is the best business location in the place.
Also, the Family Mansion, a large and elegant
building, with all necessary out-buildings, iu good
repair. The grounds arc well improved.
Also, the Summers' Place, one and a half miles
from Town, containing 2H0 acres ; one-third of which
is good Bottom and Meadow Lands, well improved.
Bf Terms: G and 12 months credit.
11. F. SIMOXTON,
Assignee of Joseph W. Stockton, Bankrupt.
Dec 7, 1868 3w
Important Fashionable - Arrivals,
FOR WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.
CHRIS TMA S A XV XE IT I EA R.
i W. RICHARDS & CO.,
('HOUSE OF ALL XATI0X8,n)
Respectfully beg to acquaint their numerous friends
and the public generally that they have on hand and
are daily receiving Goods for the occasion, such as
Liquors.
French Brandies, Jamaica Ruin, Holland Gin, Old
Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey, Tort Wine, Sherry,
Madeira, Claret, Champaigue, &c, Scotch Irifh
Whiskey.
Groceries Family and Fancy.
Rio, Java and other Coffees; Towdercd, Crushed
A. B. C- Sugars; Moia?aca, Syrups, Oysters, Sar
dines, a good assortmt n of Cheese, Salmons, and
1,000 other articles.
. Their extensive stock of Dry Goods, Cloth
ing, Hats, Hoots, Shoes, ic, Ac, are all new and
selected at the best and cheapest market by one of
the Partner S. BAUMANN.
Bk A complete 6tock of Hardware, Stationery
and various other goods.
Thev offer these Goods at prices suitable to the
capacity of those who purchase.
ONE CALL WILL SUFFICE.
WE HAVE XO PRC MM ERS.
We manage b uuneM economically, and purchasers
will derive the AeneJit. -. . . . r
Mining Goods-
complete Stock of Miner's Implements Rope,
Hemp, Jlhsting end FFEO Powder, &c.
Cf, Mr RAUMAXN deems it unnecessary to make
any comment about himself. . His friends can testify
as to his fair dealing. Charlotte. X. C,
House of .nil Xation4', opposite tr. Scarr's Drug Stcre.
Dee 7, ISCS.
Horrible Wickedness.
Several cases have latelj occured in the North
ern States, in which people believed to be entire
ly sane have beeniaken and immared in lunatic
asylums. As this has been done at the instance
of persons interested in having them out of .the
"way, a good deal of stir has been made in. tho
papers abont it. It seems that in some of these
States all that is necessary to authorize the
spiriting away of a man or woman is to obtain
the certificate of one physician. While this pro
fession can poiut with pride to its members all
over the country, as gentlemen of unquestioned
honor, yet in those deep sinks of iniquity, our
great cities, it is not impossible to find a very few
men who dishonor their profession, and who for
a few dollars will thus swear away the liberty of
their fellow men. Upon the evidence of one of
theso villains a justice o the peao issues. a writ,
in Yirtuaof wlfich the party interested in careera
tioghis victim, takes a squad of policemen, binds
him haud and foot, places him in a carriage, and
a few minutes he is in a mad-house. When he
hears the bolts of his cell grate behind him, he
bids farewell to hope; for he. may be kept there
by law to his dying day; and no doubt many have
been.
The cases that have been lately discovered of
this horrible practice will no doubt cause appro
priate laws to be enacted so as to prevent such
atrocities in future.
Dead Letters.
Of all the efficient work done at Washington,
none is regarded with more interest by the tran
sient visitor than the Dead Letter Ollice. Here
sit some fifteen or twenty gentlemen for it is a
fact disgraceful to humanity that females cannot
be employed, so many obscene letters poisou the
mails continually engaged in opening the four
or five millions of letters that annually find their
way there. Wore than fifteen thousand letters
are daily emptied on their desks, askiug to be
opened. W hen a letter is found to have valuable
contents, those contents are indorsed upon it,
and the letter returned to the envelope. A re
cord is made of all such letters, and they are at
once returned to their writer, without return
postage. So perfect are the arrangements that
it is hardly possible that a valuable dead letter,
which has once reached the office, should fail of
revitiitiiig the writer if it is in the jxwer of the
Department to discover him. During the past
year thirty-five thousand letters, inclosing $124,
234, were received at this office, aud nearly 29,
000 of them, containing 6120,920, were restored
to their owners. But besides these money let
ters, there were 21,000 dead letters, containing
bills of exchange and other valuable matter ap
praised at over $5,000,000; over 49,000 con
taining photographs, jewelry, S:c.; and 97,000
containing stamps and articles of small value;
nearly all of them were returned to the original
writers, who cither send an unsigned letter, or
who will subscribe herself "your loving b'ttsie,"
or "your affectionate Adie;" and as the Govern
ment knows no first nanies. -all such letters arc
consigned to the chopping box and then to the
paper mill to appear as white paper.
Since writing thus far, I have once more visi
ted the Dead Letter office, a visit that always
gives pleasure and gratifies curiosity. Here 1
saw clerks taking about 500. a day out of the
letters so profusely scattered over their desks,
and among the various articles recently taken
out of their envelopes, I noticed the following :
Slippers, valentines, a duck's head, thermome
ters, false pistols, mittens, fern leaves, false hair,
laces, paper collars, epaulets, horns, pipes, watch
cases, hoops, dolls, (one of them two feet high
it must have required a monster envelope.) but
terflies, .mats, medicines, silver goblets of full
size, car-rings, butter-knives, spoons, gold and
silver watches, (very little gold and silver about
them, however,) shells, purses, soap, s::gar, tea,
coffee, bows and arrows, books, pictures, a box of
cigars, a bottle of Jamaica ginger; a squirrel's
tail, prisms, combs, boxes, &c.
An Example.
We know a young mail, a native of -Mississippi,
who was born to affluence, as his great
grandfather, a Virginia gentleman, had been be
fore him. lie was about seventeen years old
when the war ended; up to which time he had
lived in a luxurious home, his father bef.r the
war having a yearly income of not less than
thirty thousand dollars in gold, all of which he
spent ou his home and its in mates. His children
never had a wish fur anything that money ould
buy that it was not anticipated. The war left
the father with nothing but his land ; for both
armies had passed near his plantation, and his
stock and household furniture had disappeared
passed, what was left, uuder the auctioneer'
hammer Tor Confederate money. . And even the
land was not his, for old security debts claimed
and obtained a mortgage on that.
What did our young hero, for he is worthy of
,the name, under such circumstances? lie took
his hands out of his jwekets aud put them to the
plow. , By his individual labor he planted and
cultivated five acres of cotton and fifteen of corn,
besides an aere or two in popcorn and peanuts.
Work was hard for him at first very hard. As
he told the writer : "I thought I never would
learn to hoc. My hands would pain mc so that
1 would almost weep, but before the summer was
out 1 could hoc a row. with the best hand iu
M ississippi." . He had good land, bringing a full
bale of cotton or thirty or thirty-five bushels of
corn to the acre, aud his year's work has netted
him from 800 to $1,000. He is now going to
school in Virginia on the proceeds.
Were the example of that young man followed
generally by our Southern youth, how rapidly
this country would recuperate and enjoy a mate
rial prosperity unknown to it iu the past.
Mobile 7'nbuue.
NOTICE.
On Tuesday, the 22d of December, 188, 1 will sell
at Public Auction, at 12 o'clock, A. M., on the public
square in-Charlotte, for cash, all the uncollected
Notes and Account belonging to the Estates of
Sidney Reading. O. TV. Williamson and L. II. Smith,
Bankrupts. ForScheduleseeadvertieemcBt at Court
House door . E. A. OSBORNE,
, Dee 14, 186. .Assignee.
For Rent,
The Duelling now occupied by Dr. Pritcl ard, for the
year 1869. The premises are comfortable and in
good condition. Apply at C. Railroad Jepot.
J)ec. U. em
Fireballs.
We read an account a few days since in out
of our Northern exchanges of a Bailor, who was
sitting at the tiller of his vessel, when a fireball
struck him and killed him on the spot.
There are many well-authenticated examples
of this form of electricity, in which the appear
ance of this great and universal agent is far dif
ferent from that in which it ordinarily exhibit
itselfit is always round, advances without
any noise, and travels sometimes very ilowly
never with any very great velocity.
Ah officer of the United States Navy once
told ns that when off Newfoundland he saw
one of these fireballs approach the ship from a
vast distance. It moved slowly over the ocean
about fifteen or twenty fect above the surface.
It came right up to the ship and struck some
object on the. forecastle, exploded like a cannon,
tfnd stunned errty man on that part tf the deck;
no one however was killed v There was a strong
smell of sulphur after the explosion. The ball
was about three feet in diameter; for it came on
slowly enough to make a guess at its site.
A gentleman once told us that he was travel
ling in Rockbridge county, in Virginia. His
way lay across a low mountain, along the top of
which was a 'ridge-road" for about half a mile
the road by which our informant was traveling
traversed this ridge nearly at right angles. When
he got to the top of the mountain he looked
along the ridge-road, and at the distance of about
a hundred yards he beheld a fireball coming to
wards him; as he expressed it, its size was that
of "the head of a flour-barrel." He was awfully
frightened, and whipped his horse rapidly down
the cross-road. - He had descended about a hun
dred yards on the other side when the ball struck
a tree at the intersection of the roads and ex
ploded with a tremendous report.
The ball must have travelled just about as
fast as the man did, which was at a more rapid
rate than the one seen off Newfoundland.
This phenomenon is a stumbli tig-block to nat
ural philosophers, who all notice it, but canuot
account for such a manifestation of tho electric
"fluid" for want of a better term though a
"fluid ball" is somewhat a contradiction of terms.
Humbolt in his "Cosmos" speaks of it; but ad
mils his utter inability to give a reason for the
peculiar shape assumed by this natural agent, so
different from that in which it generally appears
to us.
-
The Siamese Twins.
The London Lancet, a good medical authority,
discusses the question of tho separation of the
Siamese twins. It says:
"Articles-have been appearing of late'about
the above persons and their visit to laria, with
the object, as has been asserted, of securing the
surgical skill of M. Nclatou in making an arti
ujial separation of that bond by which nature has
joined them together in a way which no divorce
court -can overcome. The subject was a good
one on which to hang a little sensational writing;
and the mysterious nature of the union of Messrs.
Chang and Kug, the Siamese iu question, as
well as the intensely iutercHtiiig nature of the
operation, have .been dwelt upon. We gather,
however, from a short and interesting article by
Dr. Eve, the late Professor of Surgery in the
University of Nashville, in tho number of the
Richmond aud Naohville Medical Journal for
this month, that the twins have probably no in
tention of the kind, aud that ajl the accounts
about the physical, moral and mental unity be
tween thcai are incorrect; the twins are two be
ings, jvitscssiiig as separate and complete organi
zations as any t-ther two individuals, tho only
connection being a short cartilaginous and in
teguiucutal band common to both, the sevcranco
of which would, iu all probability, be perfectly
harmless.
"It has never bceu the opinion among medical
men iu America or Europe that the death of one
! of the brothers would be instantly followed by
that of the other, or th it their separation was
surrounded by any fearful difficulty, or that the
link between them is a means of perfect physical
union by which actuations or impressions are
conveyed from one to tkc other. So far from
it, the baud is almost iucofcibIc, aud on ship
board they were pulled about by a rope tied to
it. Dr. Kvc tells us that no pulsating vessel has
ever been detected iu it, though, undoubtedly,
it is just iu the centre of this cord, mado of
gristle aud skin, aud for about au inch on either
side, that there arc vessels aud nerves communi
cating from one to thc other. Here, but no
where else, a touch on thecpacc indicated is felt
by both. J'xecisely here, and here aWnoiolhe
baud uniting them, there is sensation, and noth
ing else whatever common to both. The de
cision of the profession thirty-cipbt years ag,
when this case was first exhibited, was that the
ligament was cartilaginous, probably a prolonga
tion of the cusiform cartilage of the sternum ;
and the chief,. if not the only objection to its
division has been that the peritoucuni might be
involved in the ojtcratiou. Tho question of
separation was with themselves or their guar
dians, and not with the profession. In 1630 we
declared that the case was more rare than curi
ous. If one of them died, it would ccrtainly.be
the duty of Nine one to make the attempt,
taking care to divide the Kirts nearer .the one
deceased." -
Nkw Counties. One of the present cvilsj in
the South is the rage for new counties. It is
proposed to mauufacturc a number of them in
this State. The object f this is plain. It is
simply for the purpose of increasing the cumber
of office holders. For example, 'Squire Jones,
who lives in the county of Mammoth, wants to
be a Superior Court Clerk, and as Corporal Smith
has that position in his county, 'Squire Jones
suddenly conceives the idea that the county of
.Mammoth is entirely tod large -plenty big for
two counties. So 'Squire Jones immediately
begins to agitate the question. He allows Mug
gins what a nice thing it will be for Muffgiaatt
become a sheriff, which fully convinces Muggins
that the county of Mammoth is twice as large as
Texas and must be divided. But 'Squire Jones
doesn't stop here. He finds five men who wast
to be County. Commissioners; and they, too, con
clude that nothing will be so conducive to the
interests of .the jKojAe as the division of the
county of Mammoth. Thus the circle gradually
enlarges until we find enough office-seekers to get
up a petitioe fc Afi Legislature. Wilmington
Star. - - - -,
V