Newspaper Page Text
BV9VMBBMMC 1 n l; " 1 H i fl . i 4 w I v I- I! i , i 5 6 ' . v THE BEE. tfTJHLtSHED EVERY SATURDAY AT 110J ft srnisEr, . w., Washington, d. c. W. 0. CHASE, Editor and Proprietor. 0. C. STEWART, Bnumoao Manager. G. W. STEWART, Assistant Business Mnnnjrer. . 1 titrtsit i lit OSutorbd at the JL'obtofllcu at WaahuigUJU, L !D..taB EGCond-claau matter. BUBscmrnos hates: t6imontba a '" -iBtnglo coLilcn. 100 u r -a 50 -320 A- ADVERTISrXG H.VTWJ: tOrifc linch, one aaoiitfi iiil. nix " 'kcol. " ' -ilcol. " " iltiucb nno roar 'Vf-ccil. ilcol. $1 01; 12 01) 20 i0 40 00 10 00 2' 0 S500 V5.10 V ( Special nolicon, 50 ccnte each. Tcn'lines constitute an inch. Ail communioationa portaining to Dneineea muflt be addressed to the Business Manager Matter for publication and on private business muBt be addressed to the Editor and Froprie- tor. In conjunction with the Bee. the mana gers have established & News Bureau of the ' Colored Pross. W e are prepared to furnish biographies, special correspondence and news items at a reasonable price. The object of the j bureau is to furnish colored journals with I spociai Washington letters when they nave no fipeoial correspondents. We have eoine of the best writers in the country connected with the buroau, which will enable us to furnish truth ful, npicy and concise correspondence. Give the News Bureau a call. We know that such men as Messrs. 3. W. Freeman, Howie, Johnson and ictjhors will send no one to the next (convention who are oppssed to suffrage onitjhc District of Columbia. We have dismissed from our columns ifihis week the demagogues, thieves, Sharks, beats and office brokers who Shavcanadc our city obnoxious. This Uy, as well as the Republican parly, ought ito got rid of such men. Ulhe "Washington Bee, tho leading mqgro stalwart republican journal has an admiration for Bruce and Douglass. iBruce made a record in the Senate- of which the country ought to bo proud. As (Register of the Treasury he will do flikewisc. Bruce is tho coming man. Maid tend Times. OUH SECOND VOLUME. Aamid toils, trials and tribulations, Ito-flay, we enter into our second vol utin c. notwithstanding the many pre dictions or prophereies, we have risen above the foul atmosphere of the crafty and (prejudiced, and thus established icurself upon a basis equal to the avorago journalists of to-day. "While we in ay have erred and caused the iminds to harden its relentless heart (against us, for that which we declared Uxibe right, we have no apologies to ioffer, nor favors to ask at the hands of our enemies. It is hopeful, how sever, that we mav all live in union and work if or two common incerests, n;jjjJ Ov : the amelivation of the colored aace throughout the country, and a ipuiipetuation of the principles enun ciated by the republican party. "We are aware that we have, to an extent, ibeen ignored by some of the parly managers, nevertheless, we believe that vtho majority of tho republican parly (are favorable to tho success of tho colored race. "We should not be un Igratef ul because a few party managers a re opposed to our interests, and as we lhave to-day entered into our second wdlume, let it be hoped that there will ibea mew opening, morally, socially and politically, among the colored people. We lhave causes to be grateful to Tin; MERCHANTS of stihis city, who have rendered this jpaper assistance, since it has been ninder the present management, in the wavor advertising. It can be readilv iseen thal all of our material support Ilia's, and does come from the merchants of Wilis city. "We have" good friends, Ihowcver, among the more unfortunate ioT our ipeoplc, who have done all that (l)CGomes a race. "We, therefore, roc . omnicnd to our people, those mer tdhantts who have, and does render aid to a journal controlled by colored men. We cannot forget to mention the daitlhfulness, fidelity and enterprise o'f our publisher and manager, Mr. C. C. Stewart, who has won the iresjiect and confidence of our people and best business firms in this city. Ujo our ,patrons, friends and fellow citi zens, accept our thanks. The Bee istjill Hives and reigns to oppose honors ttomnmcrrited gain. ii LEAF FROM RECONSTRUC TION. Fobruary 7, 1866, a delegation of (colored men, representatives of the ifferentstal.es of the I nion, then m ltehington, had an interview with iP.resicbMit J ohnson. Mr. G eo. T. Down ting as chairman of the delegation, imade the opening speech, he was fol- flowed by Mr. Douglass who said in substance, "In the order of Divine Providence you are placed in a position whore you have the power to save or (destroy us. to bless or blast us. 1 mean our whole race. Your noble and hu imane predecessor placed in our hands vthe work to assist in saving the nation ,and we do hope that you, his able sue - cessor will favorably regard the placing ( fecfc for i)retheren to dwell together tin our hands the ballot with which to in imity, Our bible teaches us that save ourselves. We shall submit no toleration and forbearance are markers jargumeat on that point. The fact that 0 christian love" and charity. To wciare subjects of government and sub. mve great progress we must make Ijeot lo taxation, subject to volunteer . great efforts. But times, circuuistan 'njt.he service of Ihocovmtrv, subjecUu m m$ u0ncl!tIona have all to Q with being drafted, subject to bare the bur dens of the state makes it not improper that we should ask to share in the priv ileges of this condition." The President made a long speech in reply, adhering to what had been an- , nounced would be his policy in the South that policy that he afterwards bent his best energies to make success ful. The interview finally wound up. The President was immoral. The interview closed in this war. The President. "I repeat, 1 merely wanted to indicate my views in reply j to vour address, and not to enter hit'? a general controversy, as 1 would not do j so under the circumstances. Your statement was a frank one and 1 j thought it was due to voti to meet it in i the same spirit." "Mr. Douglass. "I thank you, sir." The President. "I think you will find that so far as the South is con cerned that if you will all inculcate there the idea in connection with the one you urge that the colored people !-.. 1 T . . ! j , , . , . oetier auvanU can uvu aim auvanee in civilization to s elsewhere than crowding right down there in the South, it will be better for them.'' Mr. Douglass, "but the masters have the making of the laws and we can not get from the plantation," The President. "What prvcnls you V" Mr. Douglass. "We have not the single right of locomotion through the Southern States now." The President. "Why not? The government furnishes you with every facility." Mr. Douglass. "There are six davs in the year that the negro is free in the South now, and his master decides for him where he shall go, when he shall work, how much he shall work, in fact he is divested of all political power. He is absolutely in the hands of those men." The President. ''If the master now controls him or his action, would he not control him in his vote?" Mr. Douglass. "Let the negro once understand that he has an organ ic right to vote and he will raise up a party in the Southern States among the poor who will rally with him. There is this conilict that you speak of between the wealthy slave holder and the poor man." The President. "You touch right upon the point there, there is this con ilict, hence 1 suggest emigration. If he cannot get employment in the South, he has it in his power to go where he can get it." In parting the President said, "they were both desirous of accomplishing the same ends but propose to "do so by following different roads. Mr. Douglass on turning to leave, remarked to his fellow delegates, "The President sends us to the people and we go to the peo ple, to which the President replied. "Yes sir, 1 have great faith in the peo ple, I believe they will do what is right." Thus ended the famous Interview. Following this an address was issued to the people of the Viiited States, and a reply made to the President, and upon that address and the reply, was formed the Sherman-Shellabarger re construction bill, then followed the Omnibus bill, admiting the States of the South, save Virginia and Texas, to im mediate repudiation carrying with this the declared principle and statutory law of negro suffrage. The manly patriotic position taken by Mr. Douglass, !Mr. Downing, Mr. lohn P. .Tones, Mr. "William "Whippier and tho others who signed found a loyal greeting and response from the North and the result was unqualified .suffrage for our race. The American people heard us then, tlu-y will hear us now. The .conven tion, when it meets will have no greater question for consideration than the important one of what shall be done to get the colored vote counted in all the South as in Virginia. If the states will send forward their best material for delegates, the convention will be a conspicuous figure for great good and wholesome results. EPISCOPAL. "Why we go to extremes, is hard to explain. "While some are constitu tional grumblers others well stand any tiling, some are doing will but can not appreciate the fact, for them ex perience will be the best teacher, We do not believe that the Church and State ought to be any further con- ! j nected than for the Church to give its I moral and Christian support to that which is right "We do not like to see political trickery brought into the Church, for the assendency of any dike or party. The great hindrance J lo us nmv asa race is our want of unity, uIieil brelheren of the Churchwill j not settie matters amicably, it seta a J:U example for the Slate and the Church looses a part of her good influ ence. The right must win, and when a person or party acts arbitrarily, there must be a way of getting around it, without resorting to law or seperating. ; it is pleasant and has wholesome ef it. Under unfavorable conditions we can expecpect very satisfactory results, we know the uncertainties of human affairs, and'that glorious results some times follow causes where there is little hope of success. But that is the exception, the rule is where chances are against our cause it must lose. We . learn from statistics and experience that the colored Episcop als are weak when copared with other denomina tions in numbers and finance, and have to depend largely on the white Churches of the same denomination. Now il a united congregation cannot pay for one Church without calling for outside aid, how can a divided congregation pay for two Churches? It inlht be done, but it does not seem plausable. Again some advocate that the colored EpiscojKilians form them seives into a separte connection from the whites. But from the discussions and financial short cummings, we are forced to judge either movement hasty and uncertain of success. All who are dissatisfied had better look well before they leap and be sure they are right before thev i?o too far. DR. CROMWELL. We "heartily thank and compliment the Rev. Dr. Alexander Cromwell for his able defence of our race against the who half as or attack of a Mississippi divine charged our race as being heathens, and our. religion being anything but pure true. It seems more than passing strange that a good South ern divine should have the hardi hood to just note so many of our imperfections, when he and his brethren had our moral and religious training in their own hands .10 long. They taught us all of their vices, and none of their virtues, if they had any. By the aid of the North and our own endeavors, we are wiping out the stigma which they (divines and others of the South) left on us. And at this time we stand higher in morals, Christianity and education than we ever did before. It is to be pitied that tho Mississippi divine has so little re gard for tho truth as to make state ments which are unjust and untrue. Since he and his brethren proved un worthy in tho past to teach us the higher inspirations of life, we can get along without them in the present and future. The only favor we ask of them ia to let us alone, and turn the gushing tide of their generosity and Christianity toward their white brethren of the South. There they will find an ample field for their missionary work; there thev can do much, good toward m ak ing this a better country. There seems to be a strange magnetism which draws them to us. They are still haunted by memories of the past. When their interests were wholly ours, then our morals, religion and educa lion was plenty good enough. But, alas! things have sadly changed. But notwithstanding the change, even as thev raised vast revenues from us in the past, so they would in the future, by calling on the ever generous North to send them money to chris tianize the young negro. And that the funds ought to be left entirely to those Christian saints to dispose of, and no Northern colored man be allowed to take any part in the good work. Was 'such generosity ever seen before? It proves to us concluively that that reverend gentlemen, and all like him, are wolves in sheep's clothing, and all thev want is a chance to rend us. And if we were ever foolish enough to trust ourselves 4,o their ten der mercies, our second degradation, if possible, would be worse than the first (Jen. Mahone, like an able com mander, has been strengthening what the soldier boys used to call the "squirmish line," in preparation for the engagement next fall, and the great battle next year. The local elec tions in Virginia show how we 11 he has done it. RapuhUmn. Yes. the Geaerai has been strength ened, and if the colored people will vote wisely next fall, there will be no more force bossism in the State. If the colored fail to vote against their own interest, and thus re-establish force boss supremacy, every negro who voted for such a party ought to be given nine and forty. ( Ed. ) The people of the district of Colum bia enjoyed the right of self-government for upward of seventy years. The capital of the greatest republic on the face of the earth is now about the only place wiihin its limits outside of Indian reservations where a citizen cannot vote. This is home rule with a vengeance. Republimn. It is a disgrace to civilization that a Republican form of government should disfranchize one hundred and eighty thousand people, right here at the capi tal of the republic. The people of this city should be careful whom they send to the next national Republican con vention. We v ant men who will see that the Republican platform has this clause in it : "We shall restore to the people of the District of Columbia the right of suffrage' The entertainment given by the Capitol Pleasure Club was a decided success, the grounds and pavillion was brilliantly lighted up with swinging lamps and the excellent music fur nished byProfossorWeber's handmade a very enjoyable affair. Co.A. attended in a body in full uniform with Qapt, T. S, Kelly- commanding! TOO MUCH POWER FOR ONE MAN. One man a diminutive one, too in Virginia and its vicinity is endowed with greater power than any other man, save he, since the political mom ing stars sang together, On his breath as it were, hang the future and welfare of his state and a half a million citizens. He is a "big ger" man than Arthur, or any other Washington man. He is even greater than a department clerk. We assure the World that . Gen. Mahone, so far as dispensing patronage goes, has not done a whit different from Mr. Morton, when he "ruled Indiana. Mr.Fenton, of New York; Mr. Wil son, of Massachusetts, or Mr. Cameron, Sr., of Pennsylvania. But thislie has done made Virginia a free state for the colored people, who up to the time of his reign, were only worse off in many respects than when they had a master. Perhaps you would write dif- lerent it you Knew tnc reai true insuie history of the Virginia political revo lution. timm's hall. Who is Freeman that represents In diana in Washington? There is no appointee of that name from this state. IiuUannjiolis World. He was al out like what all the balance of them, who were there, are misrepresahtatices, thats all. Five men that attended that Ti nun's Hall fiasco, taken aw-Sl'rom it. would have left a body wittiout a aoul. We used to inquire, whom in Indiana does A. Freeman represent? We notice he represents Indiana amongst the anti-convention folks in Washington. Thev must do better than that. World. They cannot, material is scarce, so they must catch on to anything they will "oppose." THE WAYLAND ALUMNI. At the business of the Alumni As sociation of Wayland Seminary, held on Wednesday afternoon, the following officers were elected: Pres. Rev. R. II. Porter; Vice Pres.E. Duncan, treasurer, Miss Maggie A. Washington, record ing S'ecy. J. M. Garris, corresponding Sec'y. P. W. Pulley, Messrs. Willis M. Carter, W. D. Thompson and Mrs. Carrie Waren, and Miss Bell James, executive committee. The following resolution was also adopted; When ever an individual, race or nation has been insulted, unjustly treated and their natural rights interfeared with, beyond endurance, by another individ ual, lace or nation, there would be just grounds for the separation of kindred ties. It is on this principle that some of the greatest revolutions for right and truth have been accomplished. We, the Alumni of Wayland Seminary hold that the principal has insulted, unjussly treated and has trampled upon our most sacred rights. There are in stances in which the principal of Way land has maltreated beyond endurance, students, undergraduates, and even members of the Alumni. The assault upon Miss Mary E. Williams which re sulted in the arrest of of the principal, was but the culmination of a long series of abuses and insults which too frequently mared the peace and happiness of our Alma Mater. We, therefore, resolve not to meet at Way land so long as that institution is un der its present administration. For to meet there would simply be sustain ing the principal in his attitude toward the colored people in this, and by so doing, we would forfeit all claims to moral courage and independence of thought and action. The Anniversary exercises of the Association were held at the 19th St. Baptist Church on last Thursday eve nining. The exercises were of a highly interesting character, and a large at tendance denoted the popularity of the institution from which the essayest had graduated. The following pro gramme was admirably rendered, the music was excellent: invocation, Rev. Walter II. Brooks; instrumental vol untary, Miss Estela Wood of Washing ton, D. C; presidents address, E. B. Brown, Hampton Va.; Alumni history A. Clarence Murphy, Rochester N. Y., missive essay, Influence of woman, Miss Maggie A. Washington Chris tiansburg Va.; Oration, Keep it Before the people, II. A. Wyland, Christians burg Va.; Music, Farewell to the old school-house, Miss Anna M. Mason, Washington D. C; Music benediction, Rev. William Waren. There was also an Alumni meeting at the Wayland Seminary. At their business meeting the following officers were elected; Rev. E. H. Bolden Portsmouth Va., was re-elected presi-' dent; W. F. Graham, Vice President, Samuel Jackson corresponding Sect'y. Rev. W. B. Johnson, treasurer; E. A, Randolph, Rev. Harry Johnson, Mrs. M. Alexander, Executive committee THE MONDAY NIGHT LITERARY SOCIETY. By invitation of Hon. Frederick Douglass, the Monday Night Literary society held its closing me ting Satur day night at Cedar Hill, Union town. Among the guests were Rev. F. J. Grimke and lady; Miss Briggs, of Mi ner normal school; Prof. Bulkley and Miss Bulkley, Prof. Gregory and lady, Prof. Emsley and lady; Profs. Lane and Cook, of Howard University; Miss M. E. Strange, Miss Lawton, Miss M Cook, Mi3sess E. D. and F. A. Barrier, Miss M. P. Shadd, and and Messrs. Howard, Coombs, S. L. Williams, E. R. Bagley,H. E. Baker, Mr. Douglass's sons and their families, Mewlett, and others. From 4 o'lock till 8 was pleasantly spent on the croquet lawn and about the grounds. At 8 o'clock the guests assembled in the parlors at the call of the president, Rer. F. J. Grimke, and listened to a short progainme, consist ing of music by Miss Sprague, Prof. Emseley, and Miss M. E. Strange. The latter lady also recited "The Painter of Seville." A review of the society's work for the year was then given by Prof. G. W. Cook and Mr. E. R. Bag ley. President Grimke made a few remarks relative to the work of the society, following which Mr. Douglass delivered a short address, and closed by extending an invitation to Cedar Hill next year, Supper was then served and the .party, about 10 o'clock, sep arated. ' '" OUR PHILADELPHIA LETTER' THE PKOPLE AWAKENED THINGS NEW SOCIAL NEWS, &C. Philadelphia, Pa., May 28, 153. ) the nast year our citiiens Duniiir have been awakened from the lethargy - that has been an incubus upon them for years. They begin to realise that they have rights the same as any other class of citizens, and are not to be cut's paw to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for somebody else to masticate, meetings have been held to protest against out rages perpetrated against us, and that the civil right's oill be rigidly enforced. Clubs have been organised in the sev eral vfards, which we have either the majority or balance of power, to sec that white men shall not have all the honors in representing these wards in the political conventions, but that the same may be equally shared in by all class??. This is not enough, we need something more than political honors, which at the best, are nothing but a sham. We need employment for hun dreds of young men, who as far as edu cation can give them a fair knowledge to enter mercantile life. If some of our men who are reputed to be wealthy, viz : the McKees, Stills, Pages, Goulds, Shadds and others, would start com mercial shipping houses, or some man ufacturing enterprises, hundreds of which could be named that would not require much capital, thereby giving the unemployed talent that has a brain to do and wi'll to perform.employment would go verv far in solving the negro problem, and show the capacity of the negro for business, and the unfaithful ness of the statement that the negro is but a tit instrument for the most men ial occupations. The week has passed with its accus tomed gaieties, the most prominent of which were those mentioned in my last letter. The United Orand Lodge of Pennsylvania made a very fine street display, settiug at rest many of the croakers who declared that it would be simply a ridiculous burlesque show. There were twenty-seven lodges repre sented, and a membership of over three hundred paraded our principal streets. At night the Grand Lodge with its subordinates repaired to Horticultural Hall, one of the largest in the city, where a complimentary concert and reception more tendered them by the city lodges. This should be an effect ual reason that there is a union in the craft in the Old Keystone Stae. Am ong the prominent persons present from other states were E. L. Jordan, AV. C. Mathews, of G. L. of Delaware ; R.Williams, 8. Trust, J. Tines, G.L. of New York ; C. N. Robinson, A. C. Stevens, Win. Jackson, P. S. Golding of the G. L. of New Jersey. The Progressive Club, on the same evening gave a very enjoyable concert? notwithstanding the festivities at Hor ticultural Hall ; they nevertheless had a fine and select audience drawn by the fame of the Gilbert family, and chorus of the Amphion Association. The first named acquitted themselves as they al ways do ; but I cannot say the same for Amphions, most of the members seem ed to lie out of voice, but I suppose all the defects of the evening will be dis sipated in the forthcoming rehearsal set down for Thursday night. Post 80, G. A. R. entertained their friends on Thursday, in West Philadel phia, and drew a host of their friends with them this is one of the strong est Posts in the city, numbering about 500 members memorial day they will decorate the graves of the fallen heroes of the republic at Woodland and O'ive cemeteries, the orators of the occasion being Messrs, Josiah Wear and W. F. Powell. Messrs. Warrich, C. H. Edwards and A. F. Stevens, left bust week to pay a visit to pav a visit to the Monumental City and Washington. D. S. Alexan der and Miss Eliza Green of Baltimore, were united in wedlock by the Rev. J. Thompson. Howard Gould and W. J. Johnson, have opened a printing es tablishment at 922 Lombard street. These young typo's will no doubt do well. 1). P. Adger has brought suit sgainst a saloon-keeper on 13th street, for refusing to accommodate himself and lady with refreshments. In the debate of last week Messrs. Robertson, Brown and Wobb carried off the honors for producing the best argument War, being their side. The Alumnia o" Lincoln University held their annual session in Central Church Alumnia oration by Rev. Jos. Thompson, June Gth Commence ment exercises at the Univeritv, June 5th. Much displeasure is evidenced here that your committee should heed the clamor of a few malcontents and sore heads, and change the place of meeting of the convention, when it is consid ered that it is the colored voters in the Nor hern States that the result of the next election will mainly depend. Such States as New York, Pennsylvavia, New Jersey and Connecticut may be considered the pivotal States. Unless the Republican party carry these States, they are doomed to be defeated, but as the"case now stands, no Northern State will be represented in the convention. Wallace King is now in the city with the Callendar troupe. He informs me that he will leave the troupe in the fall to join an opera company about to be formed, of which Madam Williams (Zelika) will be the star. Others mentioned in the troupe are the livers sisters. Operas to be produced, La Africani, Bohemian Girl, Trovatore, and other well-known operas. Occasional. Time. The folio ving inscription i8 said to have been found engrossedon an old watch: " Time is tho present moment well employ; Time was is past thou canst not it ecjoy; Time future is not, and may never he; Time present is the only time for theo." A cure for rheumatism an Encrlish doctor has found in total abstinence j irom ioou. lie declares that many cases of acute articular rheumatism have been cured by fasting from four to eight days, while chromic rheums tism was also alleviated. The pins used in this country are made by fourteen factories, chiefly ioeated in New England. The annual production for sevoral years past has been about 7,000,000 pins. This num ber has not varied much for some years, the dernandjouiaining about the frtUUPj DPJLL OF THE WASHINGTON CADET CORPS. Yesterday, the 2Sth., by invitation, I had the pleasure of witnessing a drill by the Washington Cadet Corps at their armory in this city. I do not de sire to appear partial, but I must say I was delighted at their performance. It was almost perfection, and the mem bers could hardly have shown greater proficiency had they been "born to the work," Their execution of the various evolutions, their prrficieney in the manual of arms, and their quick and ready attention to orders, and to all the minuteat necessary for their discipline, was gratifying in the extreme, and re flects credit upon them and their cap tain, who has exerted himself to ren der them an honor to the Capital City. After the drill was concluded, Mr. M. M. Holland was called upon, and addressed the Corps in reference to their Commander. Mr. Holland had the good fortune during the war to be associated with Captain Fleetwood, and could; therefore, speak from a personal knowledge of his many high and enobling qualities, and of his heroic acts upon the battlefield. It is not generally known, but it is a fact, nevertheless, thi.t this noble specimen of manhood was examined and recom mended for a commission in the arm; . The recommendation was most heartily indorsed by the regimental and corps commanders, and the well merited pro motion would undoubtedly have been received with the liveliest satisfaction by the entire coqjs ; but it was de feated in Washington, because the time had not yet arrived -when the na tion was ready to place the colored man on a full equality with his white brother. I mention this matter now. simply to give one more reason why Captain Fleetwood should be loved and cher ished by all who know him. An Old Soi.iii-:k. Mav 29, 1883. GRADUATES IN LAW. rOM.MKNCE.MEKT EXEUCISKS OF AIU rNIVKKKITV. HOW- The Congregational Church was filled last Monday with an interested and appreciative audience to witness the graduating exercises of I he law department of Howard Cniversity. The church platform was banked deeply with fiowers, and floral tokens presented the graduates, many and elegant. The order of exercises was opened with music, after which Dr. Rankin led in prayer. The essays of the graduates and jiost graduates were then delivered in the following order, interspersed with music : . Thesis, "Stare Decisis," Emma M. Gillett ; Thesis, ''Abuses of the Jury Svstem," J. G Hutchins ; Thesis, "Libel," Robert J. Smith: Thesis. "Popular Study of the Law," Ruth G. D. Havens ; valedictory, " Influence of Law on Civilization," James Dean : B. F. Leighton,, Esq., then delivered the address to the graduating class. The degress were then conferred by President Patton, and the audience dismissed. The graduates were James Dean, Florida: Robert J. Smith, Wash ington, D. C; James F. Carle, New York; Jacob G. Hutchins, Georgia: Louis V. Bryant, Colorado; Mary A. S. Gary, Michigan. r" The post graduates were Emma M. Gillett, Pennsylvania: Henry E.Baker. Mississippi; Lawrence O. Posey, South Carolina; Ruth G. D. Havens, Con necticut; Reuben S. Smith, Florida. On the platform were President Patton, Hon. Blanche K. Bruce, Bishop Payne, Bishop Brown, Rev. F. J. Grimke, Frederick Doughiss, Judge Allen, and Messrs. J. II. Smith and John D. Smith. The success of the law department is due to our voung citizen and busi ness man, Mr. J. G. Smith. The ad dress of Mrs. Ruth G. D. Havens was enthusiastically applauded. Fashionable Opium Bens. In an article on the raid of Chinese opium dens in New York, the World. of that city, says:, The atrocities of Mott street will not surprise those who are aware of the prodigious incr. aseof opium-smoking in the United States during th3 last few years, not only among Chinamen but als among Americans. The chief of fie bureau of statistics has prepare i the folio win" table, which shows a startling an J continuous increase: Pounds imported. Year. Gum opium. Opium Prepared. 1872 15b,H5t 187n 183,233 1877 230,i:J2 1880 2 13,211 Gl'.77t 47,127 77,1UG The Chinese population in the United States has remained nearly stationary since lS7b but since 1877 26,7G8 more pounds of smoking opium have been importel than would have been con sume I by the Chinese. -The habit was, of course, unknown in An erica until a few years ago; but in New York as well as in Western cities it has stea lily gained devotees. A rei e.itly publishe I confession of a woman who kept a fashionable smoking-parlor uptown, And which is trustworthy, shows that ladies of good society were her regular customers. Her parlor was abandoned only because one of the victims tol I the ae-jret, and la lies were ashamed after ward to be seen entering the " millin ery establish nent." There is every reason to believe that opium is regularly smoked elsewhere Mian in Mott and Pell streets, and though it may not lead to such revolt ing crimes among fashionable and rich victims, it none the less deserves the condemnation of society and the in vestigation of the police. Defining: "Distributed." A visitor to a Brooklyn public school asked a class of boy's to define the word " distributed," which had oc curred in their reading lesson. One said: "It's something you give away," and others similarly missed the mark. "Now," said the visitor, "if I should give one of you an oyster soup, another some salmon, another some roast beef, another some salad, and another some pie and strawber ries, what would you say I had done with the dinner?" Several gave answers imperfectly, but at length an overgrown boy, with a husky voice, raised his hand. "Well what would you say? "I should say it wan a bully din A CATERS OP CURIOSITIES. TlicScpuIcbcrof Shawnco Brave, WhrrrU Befcatbcrcd Ghosts Dance at Midnight. One of the most remarkable caves on the continent is to be found seven miles southwest of Equality, in Galla tin county, 111. It has long enjoved a local fame, but strange to say its in terior wonders have never been de scribed in print. Absolute darkness reigns within, and explorer are pro vided with lighted ramlffiLiair.pi going out too easily. Froirffcffihc open ing there is a passageway forty fe t long and six feet wide. The walls are of sandstone that appear to have be:n subjected to intense heat. The ceiling is not over eight feet overhead, but in the second passageway, running at right angles to the first, it is fully twenty-five feet to the top. Here aru a series of corridors, laid oil with the regularity of city thoroughfares and leading to-all points of tho compass. The iloor is of dirt mainly, but hero and there long slabs of burnt sand stone make a secure and easy path. A distance of 500 feet is traversed be fore the first capacious apartment is reached. Here a natural grotto about seventy feet in length and Jrearltii presints a wild and weird appearance. The ceiling, forty feet above, is studded with. stalactites, many of them pend ant like icicles and reflecting a brilliant light where the rays from the candles fell. The walls are of a light yellow sandstone. Further on, in an apartment nearly as large as the foregoing, the viM tors' attention was directed to a large in scription on the wall, cut deep Si tho rock, which read : "epuleher of .Shaw nee Braves." The guid in explain ing this inscription, said that tho Shawnee Indians once inhabited thn region surrounding the cave, and .fc was a legend that this nurticiiLir cavern was used as a burial-place fr the great chieis or the tribe. X() mounds were visible on the surface of the floor, but it was re lated that an "early settler once brought a spade, and on digging a foot below found a regular ehYini.l house, and the guide said tin re could be no doubt tlutf tlr's partieuhv par1 of the cave was full of huiiuui bones. The guide related the adventures of a man who had gotten lost in tbe cae and spent two nights near the burial spot of the Shawnees. Th. man, who lived in the neighborhood many years ago, went to the cavo alen.' and de termined upon an exploration by him self:. After he had proceeded a feu hundred yards his cand e went out. He did net have any matches, and Int his bearings while attempting to re- turn. It was then 10 o clock in morning, and for three davs thi and nights he wandered through the cav ernous corridors, being finally res mil by a party of explorers, who cauin uuon him and found him exhaustel from hunger and fright. The m 'ii gave a thrilling account of the horrors that he had seen and heard in tho Shawnee catacomb. AVhile sitting on a stone in this apartment the walls were suddenly illuminated as if ly lightning, and 100 ghostly wnnw. painted and befeathered, flashed into view and began a war-dance in thp middle of the cave. They dancvd ami relied like so many fierce li -ink and brandished tomahawks thaf :emied to run with hiynangore. Their whoons souaaedBtHejJjbmgrv of ennmetl l raBfis, andfapiuwred different wall nnswereHvfth wild e hoes. This frantic revel was kept up for hours, when the light was suddenly extin guished, and a stygian darkness fell upon the cave. To substantiate this stoiy the guide said that during the war men u ho wanted to escape the draft made the cave a place of refuge, but many of them retreated with terror after spending a night within, declaring that they would rather go to the u ar and get "killed than stay a weik in such a den of horror.--. Three m n who l'ved on the Saline creek li: d, however, remained in the cave o it six months, only stealing ut occasion ally to obtain supplies of tood. About fifteen years ago a young man wan dered into the cave-and got lo:4. He was many days Without food, and when found was so weak that lie could not speak. He died within a few hours after being taken out. Practical Hints About Glasses. Persons finding their eyes buo-nins day and itching on reading, a well a- those who find it necessary to pl;r. an object nearer than fourteen inc!i-s from their face to read, need spec tacles. Persons under forty ytars of :vi. should not wear gla scs until the ac commodating rower of the eye- has been suspended and the exact state f refraction determined by a eompct nt ophthalmic surgeon. The spectacle glasses sold by pe' dlers and by jewelers generally ar hurtful to the eyes of tho.-ie who rad much, as the lenses are made of in cerior sheet glass and are not symm t rically ground. No matter how perfectly the lensrs may be made, unless they are mounted in a suitable frame and prrorlv placed before the eye, disc-mfort w.ll arise from their prolonged use. There f,re three systems o grading spectacle lenses, the English, the on iric and the Prussian. Those mad t supply tho demands of the tr;ul- n this country are carelessly made, and are poor imitations of either the Kag lish or th m.trical syst:n. 'ff) metrical scale ha; no Kngish cqmvi alent, is not graded by any ur. frm rule of dividing tlw inter foeaA spa -. and is therefore unsuited to ihe evad ing demands of j-cerve. Persons holding objects loo-near the face endanger the safety of thr ey- and incur the risk of b"CEmmg nvvr sighted. "The near-sighted -ye is an uns un l e e, and should 1' fully eorrreWd v. .th a" glass, notwiihfita uiing th ftt't it mav need no aid f r reading. The proper, time to h -gini wearing glares is jist as 3. on as tfar e;.e tiro on being subje-ted t roio" 1 ' ' " Jle'li'jfil fremiti. It is said that the temple f Belus, which some choose to consider as the original Tower of IJabel, was orna mented with statues of pure gold. The first abbey founded in England was built at Bangor in 560; in France atPoictiersin360; in Iralnml' in W fifth century; in SgqUpM to w &w century,