The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Jf > f.K. .',t • -Mj i; -- -- . . . . • » * * " " Pledged butto Truth, to Liberty and Law; No^Favors Win us and no Fear Shali Awe." • ' jlpl f V lit Ml, a* 1 . H • . "M ' • f- .* , : i t I'I 'i!)•• i VOL. 7. M'HENRY, ILLINOIS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1881. NO. 13. Scaler. Pul. bed Every Wednesday by •T. VA> SLYKE, EDITOi iND PUBLISHER. Office in Old P. O. Block, --OPFOSITR HI VERSIDB HOUSE.-- TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. One Year (in Advance) ,.......tf.fl» Tf Hot Pai-t withinThrec Months, 2.00 Subscriptions received for three or six Months in the svnc \>i-oportion. BUSINESS CARDS. 11. T. l iHOWN(M.l) . PHYSICIAN AVI) SITRGEOX. Office over the Post OlTtce, <>m>osite PefryJA Martin s Itoro I I | » S: urs, M cHenry, 111. . C. H. FEGERS, M, D- PHTSlClAN AND StTKUROV. Johnsbargh, Ills.--Offlce hours 8 to 10, k. M. O. J. HOWARD M D.; PHYSICIAN AND StfltOEOV. Office at my residence, opposite M. E. Church, IffcIIcnry, 111. E- V. ANDERSON. M. D. PHYSICIAN unrt Snrsrcon. Office at Besley's Drn r Store, Opposite Parker tfouso, Mcllchry, Illinois. CARL O&RLS. SALOON anfl Boarflin? House, JohnAhnrjrh, 111. Pleasant Rooms for Hunters an«t Fishermen. I< -e for the use of Hunters.-- Choire brands of Wines and Liquors always on hand. Call and see me. » PRATT IfOUSE. J A. PRATT, Proprietor. First class ac­commodations. Good Barn in connection Wnuconda, III. BARBIAN BROS. CIGAR Manufacturers, Mcllenry, 111. Or­ders solicited. Shop.in Old Mcllenry. near the Brid f?e RICHARD COMPTON. JUSTICE of the Peaceanl Conveyancer.-- Will attend promptly to the collection of iebts. Volo, Lake County, 111. E. E. RICHARDS. HAS a •.omplcte Abstract ot Titles to land in M Henrv County, Illinois. Office with Jounty ( lerk, Woodstock, 111. BUSINESS CARDS. A. E. BALDWIN, M. D. PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON. Office and residence at the old Stevers placcj on Clay St. , Woodstock, 111. Prompt attention given to professional calls at all hours. ETERINAKY Illinois." C. S. GREEN. SURGEON, Richmond A V JESSE A. BALDWIN,% TTQRNEY at Law and Solicitor^ Chan- eery. Will practice in State ana in Fed. oral Courts. Office, 3d Floor. New Custom House, Chicago. * CHAS. II. DONNELLY. A TTORNRY AT LAW *nd Notary Public /V Wo.»d«tock, Ill inois. Offlce over Stone"* Drng, Store. ~~ SIDNEY DISBROW, NOTARY PUBLICaud Conveyancer. A den. 111. D DR. C. E. WILLIAMS. ENTTST. Residence Dundee. Will beat Waiu-onilix the 10th and 2Mh of each month Wlion d:ites occur Saturday or Snn. dav I make my visits the followinor' Monday- Als« at Algonijuin, every Tuesday. Office at Hotel. A. M. CHURCH, Watchmaker and Jeweler NO. W7 RANDOLPH STREET, f(Bripgs ITonseJ Obirrten, Til. Special attention pairing Fine watches and Chronometers. #'0"A Full Assortment of Goods in,his l ino. F. J. CROSS, E. M. OWEN. GENERAL Dealer and Manufacturers Agent in Leading Farm Machinery.-- Prices low and Terms favorable./ Me,Henry N. S.COLBY. MCHENRY, Mcllenry Co.. 111. B. eeder of Spanish Merino Sheep, Berki hue and Poland China Swine. A choice lot -f young Buck stock for sale. IMensccall and exanuno before buying elsewhere. ° ALLEN WALSH, "0»ALOON*n»« ttertaurant. f St*rly <nnwt»eri > O the Parker House, Mcllenry, 111 WFirst class Billiard and Pool Tables. D E U T I S T . McHenry,i III. Full Plates made of-the best Jmatcrial and fully wavranted, $8.00. Filling'one-half usual rates. Special attention paid to regulating bad shaped teeth. Teeth extracted without pain and free of charge where Artiitcial TueMi are In­ serted by him. All Work fully warranted. Puve Nitrous Oxide Gas »i«ays on and for the painless extraction of teetli . PETER LHICKEM. RE P A I R S Watche3,C!ocUs and Jewelry of all kinds. Also Repairs Violins in thebest jos si id e manner, on slr>rt notice ami at rea- lonAble rates. Also Violins for Sale. Shop "rst door North of ltiverei<le Block, Mcllenry n. J. A. SHERWOOD AUCTIOI>K ER AND APPRAISER, Algonquin, III. SALESof Stock, Farming Tools and Goods of all kinds promptly attended^ to Mies a specialty. Terms reasonable >*ceaddress Algonquin III Farm Post W. H. SANFORD, Merchant Tailor In the store of C. II. Dickinson, East side of ,*ubllcSquarc, WOODSTOCK, ILL. A good Stock of Fine Cloths for Suit ings al vays on hand. Suits made to order and a l i t warranted - Give me a cal l . W. H. SANFORD. Woodstock III.,Sept. 27th, 1*75. Scott & Co. Hatters to the Great ^ Northwest. flos.135 ail137 iMafan St. NEAR CLARK ST. Ilare a larger stoek and greater variety of stylos for you to choose from, than can be foiind in any other establishment in Chicago sr the West. It will pay von to call and see thein. Pricei the lowest.i 'n the land for^ood goods. BRANCH STORES S. E, Cor. Clark & Lake sts & S. E. Cor. Halsted and Harrison sts., CHICAGO, ILL, M A R C U S ' GERMAN NEW MEAT MARKET, IN HOV^S'S BUILDING, Public NOIS. Southeast Corner Square. £Sg£KBY - - - ;,.s JOSEPH FRETT Would respectfnllv jnnoinicc to the cltl . zens of McHenr" anil the public generally that be lias leased the above building, and will , 011 <;it i irrlav, Jtilv 30th. open it will: the choicest stock of FltEsH AND SALT MEATS ever brought to this town. lie intends at all t imes to keep 011 band a Full stock, and with a neat and well arianged shop hopes to lie able to please the public. Call and see me. JOSEPHFRETT MellsmtT, July|27th, 18S1. M. Engeln, -DEALER IN- Cuns and Revolvers, Gun Material of nil description.-- The linest and best Pocket Cutlery, «ll warranted.-- M Jtr i The lines I Razors, 11 -igftC*.1 V ""fli w a r ran ted tor two \ : year*. Barbers **V. Caps. Brush t ' r ' ' ' i - ' -Yi vv - ' jr 'es, Straps, Eye ill' - ̂ Glasses, spectacle ! Eve Protectors for «nn or Snow. We also keep a full line ot F'nhing Taekle, Minnow Seins, Hammocks, and in fact everything pertaining to Kisliint ' ami Hunting, can be found at my Store at reasonable Prices. Violins. Acordeons, l ' icalas, I lutes. Violin Strings, an'l all other extras for Violihs. My stocks of riNWARE is complete, ( 'all and examine it . I guarantee Prices that defy all competition. ^ KN«ELN, STORE IN HOWE'S BLOCK, NEAR THE BRIDGE. AGENTS WANTED HEROES OF THE PLAINS. BY J, W. Bl'EL. Embracing the l ives and wonderful adven­ tures of Wild Bil l , Buffalo Bi l l , Kit Carson, ("apt. Pavne, ("apt. Jack, Texas Jack. Cali­ fornia Joe, and other celebrated Indian f ighters , Seouls , Hunters and Guides, A l iook of t ini l l iwe adventures on the l ' luins. Fights with Indians! Grand Buffalo hunt! Desperate adventures! Narrow escapes! Wonderful shootinir and ri ' l ing! Wild l i le in the Far West! 100 i l lustrations! IB ful l page colored plates! The grandest books for Agents ̂ ver published. Posit ively outsel ls evervshing el >e. 54S pages, pricy fi. Agents con. | i lete outf i t 50 cents . Outsit , and copy for f2. «»"Write at once tor agency, or terms and i l lustrated circulars , to HISTORICAL PUBLISHING CO., t i t ) . ' N. 4th St . , St Louis Mo. Ujliw. Manufactured by F. MARCUS --DEALER IN-- PURE WINES, LIQUORS AND CIGARS. Woodstock III. The best Tonic in the' world. ' Put "un in tint and Quart Bottles. * - ' F. MARCUS Patentee. JOHN HENDRICKS. BLIVIN'S MILLS, ILL. IS now prepared to sell and repair any kind of a Sowing .Machine as cheap as the cheapest. Will a!.>o nsure your life and property at rcasoi-: 'hie tes .Ple.i40 jiv- 'uio a call • WAITED. Agents for tlie GOLDEN DAWN. -OH- 011 tlu' Great Fiitiire. in this l i fe , through the dark val ley and in •the l i te eternal , a« seen in the be-u t! io>i irht s of leadingr authors and scholars , among whom an 1 Bishop's Simpson, Warren, l lur«t mid Fo»8, Joseph Cook. Bcecher. Talmage, Dr. Curne, Dr. March, Dr. McCosl i , l»r. Cros. by, Dr. Cuyler, Georare D. I 'rentice, Dean stat i lev, Wnitt ier , Longfel low, and others. The subjects treated are Death. Immortal i ty , Mil lenuium and Second Advent, the Resur­ rect ion, Judgment, the Punishment of the Wicket and the Reward of the Kighteoud, A rich feast awaits the reader of t ins book. Is contains the grandest thoughts of the world's greatest authors, on subjects of the most pro. found interest to everyone Not gloomy but bri l l iant . There is not a dull page in the book. It i s absolutely without a rival . Kv- erylxx'y wil l read i t . *SchtH>l Teacher*, «tud cut*, young 1111 11 and ladies , act ing as agents tor this l iook are makinirover { loo a month. »cUs fast . One agent sold 71 the l irst IS days, (mother in S days, another 11 in one day, another 1"> and ."> t iv e It i ides i n 5 days, a lady sold in 1'1 hours. Secure territory <| i i ick. A l s » agents wanted foi the best i l lustrated Revised New Testament, and for the f inest f a i n i l v Bible* ever sold bv agent- , . iend for , ircubirs I*. W. ZILGLEK & CO.. '. l l ."> Arch St . , l ' l i i lai le lphia, I 'e i in. , and 1*' E. Adams St . , Chicago, III . JOSEPH N. FREUND. SALOON AND|RESTAURANT Bpnslett'sf old stand, opposite Bishop's Mill, Mc-f Henrv, 111. The e loicest Wines, Liquors and Oigars to be fonnd in the county, rresh Oysters in their season served up in any shape desired or for sale by the Can. GOOD STABLING FOR HORSES. ANTONY ENGELN, SALOON and Restaurant, Buck's old stand Mcllenry, III.--The choicest Kentucky Whiskies, s ( ,nr Mash, Wines, Cigars, etc., always on hand. We buy none but the best, and sell at Reasonable Prices. Fresh Oysters in their season. Richmond House, RICHMOND, ILL. ' C. N. CULVER, - PROPRIETOR. HAVING recently pnrchafod the above House, I have nut it in thorough repair, ' with new furnitne' throughout; and would respectfully iwVitc the patronnge ot the trav­ eling public, and others. The tables will al­ ways be provided with the best thatr can be procured, and polite and attentive waiters will l>e in readiness at all t imes to attend tb the wants of guests. No p uns will be spaYed to make this a First Class House. L«rg« ami commodious barns on the premise*. Free Omnibus to and from all trains. Sample Rooms on first floor. TAKE NOTICE. ALL ye that are in want of Tuhs in any form, front one bushel to S00; if you want a Tubmade to a buncr-hole, bring it along. I will also take buildings to build and furnish, or otherwise just as we ran agree. Shop work of mil kinds done to order on short no­ tice. F. A. HE BARD, McHENRY, ILL He. W10 HTM AN, Proprietor. First • cla'ss rigs, with or without drivers, fu-iuisbeil at reasonable rates. Teaming ot all kinds done 011 short notice. A. WENDELL, CARPENTER AID JOINER McHenry, III. Will take contracts for putting lip Ituildiiigs ami guarantee tnv work will compare with any tnan in the State. I can and will do work from 15 to 2b per cent cheaper than other carpenters, as 1 have two of my boys who work with me. which makes it possible for me to do 60. , All Jobs in the Carpenter lint promptly attended to. (live me a call. - A. WENDELL. Xi. Bonslett, Kear the Depot, McHENRY - - - ILLINOIS. Keens constantly on baud the f inest brands of Kloi iraml Feed of al l kinds, which ho wil l sel l at Wholesale or Retai l at Bottom Prices. Five different brands of Fiour always OH hand and warranted as represented. «<"Flour del ivered any where In the Cor­ poration. Orders may be given by Postal Card, Box 107, Post Ofl iec . CJIVK MK A CALL. L. BONSLETT. Mclienry, March 8th, 1881. WAUCONDA Agricultural Warehouse. , e?.-- Would respectful ly inform the Farmers of Lake county, that he has opened an Agricul­ tural Warehouse, on Mil l s treet , in the yi l . laae of Waucondrt . where l ie wi l l keep A<>KI CI* LTL* IS AL M ACll I X ICI! V of al l kinds, of the l iest qual i ty ami make, and sel l i t to the farmers at as low l lgures as any other House in the Stale . In Mowers & Reapers I shnll keep the McCovmick, and Buckeye, of Canton, Ohio, which we consider the best in the market . Shall also keep in s^ock the Leader Rake, of Ithica, N.Y., the Tompkins County Im proved Self-Adjustable Cultivator, and a gen­ eral assortment of all; kinds of machinery used on a farm. Call and see tnv stock before purchasing elsewhere and be convinced that I mean business. R C HiLL- Waueonda, May 2d, 1881, F. C. MAYES, n Soldiers' Department. CONDUCTED I»V!DR. S. F.?BKNNETT. Ked River Campaign. (Oifitiuued.) Incidents of tlfts campaign that did not occur in ray Immediate vicinity of observation I shall not attempt ?to re­ late, neither sliall I draw from camp storlep, for my fluid of information.-- Bnt of the go|i^ral plan, and move­ ments of the a| i»y, ] claim a sort of intuitive knowledge of situation, that wa<5 at once dtie Bn n pr act teal eye and a Yankee ear. Itt uiattur of truth I neither sought ntfr desired official l ight*. Sufficient for me to learn ot thy superi­ ors. what was required^ me to per­ form, and then ntllti l l that require­ ment if In my pfltwer to do it. • When I noted |lic situation, or took personal observations, I treasu ed but one friend as tifly reliable, but one reporter as Ptrlttly correct, and that fast friend, and (tentative reporter, was my rifle. : About the l^Ui dt^ of March 1M54, the clouds of ^di*t ahbnt Alexandria, the fluttering of Signal flags, from near and afar, the quick sharp blasts of bugles, and the roll of the drum, fore­ told work at hand. The cavalry were irown well out on the flank.and their skirmishers and iidcttcs struck a steady gait for Cane rlfer, A heavy Hue »f Confederate skir­ mishers, strenuously opposed the ad­ vance, but ttcy wore steadily and sometimes swiftly borne along, as on the crestlof some mighty wave. The river was reached without serious difficult v. But here the pro­ gramme changed. Confederates Sin considerable fore occupied the opposite shore. The Union cavalry ^halted and rested, n small force attracted and en­ gaged the enemy. Alas for many a noble fellow he took his last rest there. Pontoons, artillery and infan­ try soon arrived, and under a galling fire, tlve bridge was created and moun­ ted men hurried over. When nearly as- crosrthe bridge luy horse was shot un­ der me and careened into the river -- The birth was a cold one, but by the aid of a lariat rope, I reached the shore. I had plenty of miserable com­ pany in the cold icy waters, uud one SI,OOO REWARD- Kor ; inv ̂ a.-se I l l ' . ' . i ' l , l ! let*.I Irer. i te; ' or Pr .tniuni'- ' 1' 11 K•> that PILE KKMKli i 1 j»i ls i„ eure, l ' ivpaiv-1 by .1 . 1*. Mil ler M. 1». , Arch ^t . I ' i i i ladclpl i in. Pa. Xoi ie i /e i iu iuc I i t l h ' tn l / | ' -V x i i .nx jhn-c . send for circular. All drugsrists or general stores have i t or wil l get i t b>i v.>11. ? l . Sold in 3icl icuiy by Colby l i i \>a , Di-ug^ijU. -- AN*I) DEALER IN-- Heady-Made Clothing. Kespectrully invites an inspection of his New Spring Goods J u-t opened, ciii l irueinsr all the variety usually iound in a first- elass Tiii l t) i*iiV- Keudy ado Clothing estali l isl i i i ieii t . Don't fail to oinbraee this op­ portunity before purchasing else­ where as ' all n i U h^ sold at fair prices. Cuttinir done as usual. Store in Old Mcllenry, neai the new Ihid^e. F. C. MAYES. McIIeury, 111. , Apri l lUtl i , 1S81. left hand. He came safely ashore, I helped him to mount « riderless horse and when mounting a mule myself, poor Mike fell dead, pierced by several bails. I left the mule, mounted Mikes horse and joined my command,' then engaged with the enemy in a close and deadly contest 600 yards from the river. Union troops were hurrying over. A battery was already in posi­ tion, and two shells went crashing through the timber over our heads, just as the command was given to draw sabers, and our bugler* sounded a charge. By tquadrou front in splendid order, the 4th brigade supported br­ others bore down upoti the Confeder­ ates. They fought well, and for a tew tnomenU met the rustling onset nobly. They were, however, borne back and broken, by weight of num­ bers. The word was forward, for­ ward, everywhere. Time and again the Confederates strove to stay the rushing tide. Oallantly they would rally and bravely die. This tunning flight continued for 25 miles, making about 34 miles in all tor the day and every moment under lire, These miles ot forest and plain had been dearly bought. The force, in our front was a combination of veterans independent rifles aud home guards. Many were around with fowling pieces, using shot and slugs. Sucli at close range when protected by barricades often done fearful execution. in this running fight I cbserved two gre}' haired old men dead by the road side. They wore red shirts, but neither a coat, vest, nor blouse. By their side lay two globe sighted rifles, aud by the face of one a pair of broken spectacles. Near them lay two more, apparently father and son. The boy about 13 yea rs old was a drummer. IJ e held hig drumstieks in his hands, but his drum was not there. A ball had entered his right temple, and came out by his left eye. The coior had not left his cheek, but the poor boy had be a; his last reveille. Yonder by a group of cottages, lies a dead mother, still clasping her living babe in her arms. A goat and a mule are dying in the same yard , and c l o s e by leaning against a br>x sits a confed­ erate soldier gasping in death. Many horses were down, and the blue and ttie grey were writhing upon tlie sod. (This sketch is from the ghftice of a moment. As broken squadrons re­ formed.) Forward, U^rwnrd, moved the lines of blue. The Confederates were skillfully handled and although they were beaten at all points, and everywhere. Few prisoners were taken^ and asatule they exhibited a cool courage, that won foi them the gener­ ous admiration of their foes. They were mounted on ponies and for a ^phort run would gain distance on our horses, and thereby, they were often able to rally aud make a stout resis­ tance, when had our horses been of the same material the rebels would have Deen annihilated. But on the long pull, the heavy horse* c losed in , and c t o w d - ed their adversaries, and it was with exceeding difficulty that the Confeder­ ates recrossed the Crane river. At night they halted for a few innmenis on the opposite shore, and then re­ sumed their retreat, A detachment ot cavalery crossed over and bivouack for the night. The exhausted Confederates haulted about one mile ^way. At dawn the next day the 5th brigade took the front, the jaded 4th brigade following next in the order of march. As we passed the Confederate camp of the previotis night A*e saw a ehastly sight. They had been surprised by our advance in the morning. Barrels of corn bread, Bacon and iniscellan- ous camp eqiupage.had been scattered, crushed and tramped under foot.-- Among the ruins were dead Confeder­ ates. horses, negroes, dogs and mules. In the midst of the desolation was a pitiful looking old man, leaning on his elbow, and pleadingly beckoning with his right hand. lie lay in a pool of blood and was bleeding from his inouth. Our column had halted. My young heart was touched at the sight and like a good Samaritan, I dismount­ ed and stepped quickly to the old man's side. A com rail followed me and handed his canteen towards the old man's trembling hand. Quick as thought the old scape-coat drew his revolver ami fired two shots, one clipping my right ear, the other taking cflect in my com­ rades left elbow. In rage and pain lie Instantly split the old sinners head with his saber. We returned to our place In column weaker and wiser, took a fervent damning from a slick looking upstart that had worn the eagles, and from that time hence­ forth. except in case of dlreemergency. I obeyed the prophets teachings "Let the dead bury their dead." Our column moved to the right and near the river and from a swell or mound, we could plainly see for miles below, the cavalry* guidons dancing in the sunlight am] the battle flags of Veteran infantry. Nearly one mi'e away, a squad of negroes were burviug Confederate dead and just across the ri»*er negroes were at work in a field. In a cabin near by, a negro was playing a violin and two darkies were dancing a break­ down. Strange medley, this, the sweets of peace, the mirth of frolic and the bloody presence of war. Tesrs started a*.** ih* b«o«. eotlod to mount Its l»el will weather »o*fe *Wr»llUe Rogers *b»f hfs ^ rXctloTwT^bricTF^va^ Wtyred Chieftain; one* and again ft Wenlusafety. and once more we were moving In the wake of fighting mm. Here and tbere was a dead or wound ed soldier, or perhaps a maimed and bleeding horse. Occasionally a horse could be seen flying in wild terror from among the far oft Jkirtuishers or flankers. The horse has the most un­ bounded confidence In man. Aud when the trooper Is well fixed in his saddle with reins in hand, the noble horse displays a becoming courage, scarcely second to that of his master. But let the rider fall and the whiz o( every musket ball carries terror to the trembling beast Great heaps of cotton on cither hand set 011 tire by tho Confederates, burn­ ing houses and sugar mills, women and children flying for their lives, fright­ ened animals, pattering musket shots like drops of rain on a roof, all blended in one entertainment never to be for­ gotten. The country of itself was un inviting but mingled with wars desola­ tion, all of beauty bestowed by nature had vanished and many sarcastic con trasts were indulged iu by the boys, as they refered to Gods country, Tho North Laud, The home of their child­ hood A long train of white caped wagons followed -vitli and near the first two brigades of cavalry, some of tho 111 were laden with poor whiskey, Louisana rum. Each evening a small ration of this slop was issued to each soldier.-- Not having a stray appetite for the beverage I gave my ration to one weaker than I. Later 1 stood by that comrades grave, and I believe to-daj', that from my own hand, was innocent­ ly given the poison, that made death certain. M. M. C COLONKL J. G. I'AUU.--I. G. Parr, lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Thir ty-ninth regime-i t , P . V. , d ied s o m e days ago a t Leech burg. Pa. His name is wel l known in the annuals of surgical science. At the bat t le of Cold Harbor he had one.of his arms shot of l and ever af terward was pecul iar ly af­ fected. Tl ie muscles of his arm kept up a cont inual twitching, which caused the arm to always be in motion. All the resources of surgical science were brought his re l ief , bnt proved unavai l ­ ing. The s ingular aff l ic t ion f inal ly de­ throned his reason, and he was for pome t ime previous to hi? death an Inmate of Kirkbridge 's . He was a man of es t imable qual i t ies , aud leaves many friends to regret his end.--Labor Tribune. TIIK CKATKR GAGE. EDITOR PLAINDRALKR:--There Is * deal of cant indulged in just now in the papers relative to the dark ways of Providence, so called, iu view of the death of our Chief Magistrate. I11 specious editorials men affect to won­ der why It was that a vile wretch like Guiteau should be permitted by a ben­ eficent Providence to strike down a great and good man, in the zenith of his usefulness, the hope fnd comfort of an Interesting family, and the pillar of the State. The absurdity of this thing is that death by assassination is spoken of as Providential--that God has used the arm of an assassin to ac­ complish some mysterious purpose.-- Even men who are evidently sincere fall into this style of comment, and speak of our national calamity as a Divine dispensation. They hope it is all for the best, and try to believe that it is. and to be resigned. But they are not resigned. From the aching hearts of mourning millions go up the cry: Why Is It? Why is it? There is something strangely, mel­ ancholy and humiliating in the spec­ tacle, presented by a stricken people in their utter helplessness, imploring the aid of a Being, who, In the serene consciousness of Ills own omnipotence apparently takes no notice of the sup­ plication. Whence catne wt, why are we here ? Ar^we, indeed, the sport of an implacable destiny, and are we drifting we 110 not whither? These are questions which come up again and again in our experience as Individuals, and in tills our experience as a Nation they come up with tenfold solemnity aud demand solution. But the solu­ tion does not come. Our philosophy is inadequate for the task. Our relig­ ion does not satisfy the demands of our intelligence. We a9k for light and we are reminded of the dark ways of Providence. Wo are enjoined to pray, but our petitions are not heeded. We cry for help, and a lioaveu of brass echos back our unavailing prayer,-- Abashed and confounded we smother our doubts iu the hope that it is all for the best. We are not In harmony with ourselves. Onr reason rebels against the unpenetrable mystery of our crecd. Tlie head and the heart are at feud. The crecd of one mocks the wail of the other. Once and again DKATII Ol < 'ATTAIN* K. l i . IlltKICSK.-- Captain K. l i . Urecse, of the IT. S. Navy, died a t hi* res idence in Boston* Mass. . 011 September 13. He was f i f ty- o n e years of age, and was one of the best off icers of the Navy. Captain Kreese wa« born iu Pennsylvania and appointed to the Mil i rary Academy from t l ie State of Rhode Is land. He entered the Navy on the 0th of Novem­ ber . IMiT , and had seen twenty year* of sea service out of . the thir ty-four years l ie held a commission as a naval off icer . has been on its kuoes beseeching Al­ mighty Power for help; failiug which, it has striven to bow in humble sub­ mission to the Will It could not influ­ ence. Evidently there in a wrong somewhere. It may be worth our while to pause a moment and see if we cannot ascertain where tiiat wrong is. There are a multitude of crude no­ tions afloat concerning Providence that And expression at such a time as tiiis, which will not bear examination iu the light of reason and common sense. Let us glance at one or two of them. In an editorial of tlie Chicago Weekly Tribune, Sept. 21, we have this "Why was this noble life allowed to be extinguished by the infamous assass­ in? What was the mysterous purpose of Divine Providence in permitting this awful calamity?. Such are the. questions that crowd upon the think­ ing person in these g oomy hours.-- What may be the purpose of God it is not for finite beings to question. It is enough that He requires this great sacrifice and that His will is irrestible. Now. granting that the sacrifice was thus required, aud that his will is Ir­ resistible. then it follows that the sac­ rifice was inevitable, and that some one had to offer it up. Why then are we thirsting for that one's blood? Tak­ ing this view of the ease, Guiteau did no more than he was required to do.-- God's will being irresistible, Guiteau could not avoid doing what he did.-- The New York Tribune of the sauie date expresses itself thus: "How strange is it that Providence which takes from tlie people the very man who seems to human eyes to have both the will aud the power to do the most good!" Here we have a repetition of the same idea, namely, that Providence took the Presidsnt away. Henco, as a logical consequence. Providence be­ comes privy to assassination. There is no escaping tills inference, If words have any meaning. F.qually proposteroue in our judg­ ment are the current views concerning prayer. The editorial last quoted has the following: "We have prayed that this cup might pass from us. Never has the whole Nation bowed in prayer so fervent. On its knees the Nation has been stricken. Bnt God reigns, and lie is good. He knows what we need and what the world needs. To us it seemed we needed the life of this pure and noble hero. To Infinite Wis­ dom. perhaps, it was clear that we needed still more his death, to .'hasten us, to knit us together as one people.' It is here plainly implied that we do not know what to pray for. I his be­ ing admitted, had we not better cease praying until we find out? Are we not presuming upon an unwarrantable license thus iu onr ignorance impcrtun- iiitr for a line of conduct inteifering with tho purposes of Infinite Wisdom? Would notour humility appear to bet­ t e r advantage if vie would meekly and • in let |v wait i«>r t !* :• bit- ->si . ;r * l 'at f -en- offieions in this matter, and that th6 significance of our repeated failure* hitherto, has not been properly under­ stood. If we rer.lly believe that Infin­ ite Goodness does all things well, why are we constantly importuning for some special favor, concerning onr need of which, we are nor the suitable judge? It Is a serious business nn« would think, lliis prefering petition^ implying that tlie Buler* of the wnl- verse needs prompting. It i* pntimbtjr certain there is a flaw In our rreeil or in our practice. We go o«i praying day after day am! rear after year for half a life time, and perlta|is nevrr re­ ceive anything:, except In a general way, that might be called an answer.-- We stnllify ourselves because we think we are in the line of duty, and we tak«* no note of tho absurdity of our con­ duct. notwi tlistr.nding it is obtruded upon our notice every day. We follow a routine because it is a routine, and because we have beeti taught It, with­ out. observing its inadequacy to aocooi* plish the objcct sought. Such Is the power of education and fixed habit* of thought to stifle reflection, that ad­ verse evidence fails to arrest attenthm and proof goes for nothing. We glide along iu the old groveseereuely, uncon­ scious that the foundations are crumb­ ling beneath our feet. We appoint days for National supplication with the overwhelming evidence before na of the utter futility of our eflorta.-- There Is obviously something wrotif in our way of looking at this matter we call Providence. We have failed hitherto to recognize the fact that we aro In a world governed by fixed, un- changable and immutable laws. No uiani acting singly, or iu concert with his fellows, has been able since lite dawn of authentic history to cause ill- recti)'or indirectly one of these law* to swerve a single iota from the fixed, uualtcrable purpose of the Law Giver, as established in the constitution of thiugs. No matter how unsullied your character, how pure and unselfish your purpose--you may be on au errand of mercy--you may be cur try'tig the glad tidings ol the gospel to heathen lauds-- if you embark on a rickety unseawor- thy vessel and encounter a tempest in uiid-oceau, you will founder and go dowu to a watery grave, under circt|U|- stances where pirates. In a sound vea- lel will weather the storm and reach Facts unaiog'ooa this are happening every day. on wa­ ter or ou land, ou the cars, in the miues everywhere, where human beings come in collision with the indexible law# of nature. And yet. with an infatua­ tion akin to iv&auity we shut our eye* to the lesions they are intended to im­ part. We talk about Providential es­ capes aud Providential calamities with no rational idoas attached to these terms. If there is an extraordinary escape under circumstances of iiuini- ncut peril, it Is because Providence baa singled us out for special favor. If we fall under the merciless wheels of the iron horse and are severed limb from limb, mourning friends coisole then- selves with the thought that it le Providential, aud all for the best. As we have said, we are in a world governed by fixed and imidntable laws. This world, with possibly some exceptions, is admirably adapted t»» our requirements, iu a way which con­ tributes to our happiness. We are in­ vited to study these laws, and conform to them. If we fail to do this, we must take the consequence*. The author of these laws evidently can not aflord to suspend them in a single in­ stance to gratify tlie selfish, aud often capricious and conflicting wishes of man. If these laws are to be interfered witli iu any way by supernatural in­ tervention or extra natural mean*, whenever trouble is brought upon our­ selves through our short comings or our ignorance, or through the wicked­ ness of others, the beautiful harmony which now reigns, will give peace to dis cord and chaos. Throughout the relmu of nature, causes are counteract­ ed, and effects neutralized strictly by natural means--if they are interfered with at all. If a natural cause fails of its legitimate eflect, it is because an­ other natural cans'? is euterposed, one natural force comes In collisiou wltti another natural force, and the most .ef­ ficient dominates. Eflect follows it* appropriate cause as a necessary sequence, unless another natural cause intervenes. To attempt to iriter this arrainginent in any given C.IM through a petition got up or enforced by all the praying men in Christen­ dom, would be like wiiUtlinjE against the wind The editor of the Richmond De­ partment of the PLAINDKALBR. in treating this subject of prayer recent­ ly. was essentially correct in his view*. Ilin error consisted in laying his pre­ mise too broad, i.e. without sutlicieat qualification, liis deduction was pre­ dicted upon a jjtate ot things whioU was uot distinctly aud fully stated* hence, if critically construed was evi­ dently untenable. We presume thi* was a mere iuadv«rteiiee on his part, arising from undue haste iu ills article for the pres*. The principal i-sio-a discussed lyf "Felo t ie St " can be shown, i f ueed be» to be wholly i r re levant . Free ! cuts no ti^cce iu this of prayer preparing elicciit Heaven i» pleased to bestow up- | Admitting all that he clatfM on us? It may be wo are a trifle too' +.a*t iVfiK.J