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bring this sort of thing about, and who fortify their endeavor by quoting the census and displaying commercial statistics before our dazzled eyes, are the same men who have eviscerated Webster's Dictionary because it traversed their peculiar ways of construing the Constitution, and who have added new glosses to the Bible in order to harmonise its precepts with their Muggletonian muck-maggotry. What good will we be likely to take from compulsory education so furnished us, and the wealth that is to come in at the tail of it? We shall get the same recompense for our knowledge that Pietro Aretino got for his, when he bought luxuries and the means of profligacy by the practice of odious libelling and blackmailing, and by publishing or threatening to publish the scandals he had laboriously raked out of the sewers, or industriously sifted out from the exquisite tittle-tattle of bagnios. Three precepts made men of the old Persians: to ride, to shoot, to speak the truth, and, unless we are ill-advised, neither of these enters into the Radical schemes of national education ventilated by Mr. Hoar of Massachusetts, or by Mr. Perce, sacciperifer, of Mississippi.

These reflections naturally occur to us while reading the accounts which we receive of the "levelling downwards" processes (part of the general scheme of Radicalism) which are now being employed in such of the legislatures of the Southern States as are under Radical control. Thus the University of South Carolina, opened to the negroes, was yet found to be practically out of their reach by reason of the high standard of scholarship required for admission. Homer, Tacitus, Sophocles, Conic Sections, these to the yellow men are naturally stumbling-blocks, and to the black men foolishness, whatever they may be to the more dolichocephalic folks for whom their use was originally devised as the propylaeum to scholarship. But our colored brother must not be neglected; if he can't jump into the white man's clover-lot, and won't climb in, the bars must be let down for him to step in; and so, by recent enactment of Mr. Moses' legislature, the University of South Carolina has been converted into a high-school, where Sambo may get his diploma and witch the world with noble scholarship, without the necessity of scratching his poor head bare while delving for roots, or knocking his white teeth out in the effort to browse the celestial pabulum that matures in classic shades.

The present Legislature of Alabama, new fledged in Radicalism, and emulous of such examples as the above, proposes to "revise the laws." To that end, a committee of the Senate and House was ordered to be appointed, and the Lieutenant-Governor, who is ex-officio President of the Senate, appointed as members of the committee from that body to discharge this important and delicate duty- whom, does the reader imagine? "The only five negroes in the Senate, all of whom are totally uneducated!" Look at this for a moment. When the Maryland code of revised statutes was determined upon, the work was given to some of our most learned and experienced lawyers, and David Dudley Field is but a type of the codifiers who arranged the statutes of New York. It was the life-work of Edward Livingston to construct the great code of Louisiana, and to-day, in England, the leading barristers have been employed for years by Parliament to prepare the preliminaries for a digest of the laws of Great Britain.

But

in Alabama, under Radical auspices, five ignorant negroes are found capable of doing the work.

As a fitting corollary to this, we see Judge Busteed; afraid that he cannot swap offices with Humphreys without showing himself more palpably radical, issuing his mandamus to the Legislature of Alabama to elect an United States Senator forthwith, and have no more nonsense about it. This judge-the Honorable Richard Busteed — who, before he came to decorate the United States Circuit Bench of Alabama, was one of the familiar ornaments of the New York Police Courts has a quick sense of which way the wind blows, and what will be pleasing to the central powers at Washington. He has but one rival in his method of instructing a jury, and if Bond keeps quiet much longer, the Honorable Dick stands a fair chance of going to the head of the class. A recent charge of his, to a mixed jury in a criminal case which he tried in Montgomery, is quite a model in its way. We give it verbatim :

"Gentlemen of the Jury:-I shall not insult your intelligence or tax your patience by making any lengthy charge in this case. The defendants have not offered any testimony whatever. The case for the prosecution has been made out fully and completely, both as to the law and the facts, by unimpeached witnesses. If you believe the evidence, and you have no moral or legal right to disbelieve it, you must find the prisoner guilty. It is true as has been said by the counsel that the United States wants no innocent man convicted; but it is also true that the United States wants no guilty man acquitted. Take the jury, Marshal."

One would think juries were of small account in Busteed's court. The jury thus addressed, however, composed of six negroes and six white men, all radicals, presumed to differ with the Honorable Dick, and acquitted one of the prisoners after twenty minutes' deliberation. We are not advised whether the judge sent the jury to jail for contempt of court or not. But, will not Busteed be the very man to interpret the revised statutes of Alabama when they are completed? Can fitness find more exquisite adaptation, even in gloves and old shoes? Can Radicalism devise better means to hasten its progress?

E. S.

A STORY OF NINE TRAVELLERS.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE RIDE TO RICHMOND.

TAKING ADVICE.

Ο

UR readers must now go with us back to Old Virginia, and to the nine-passenger coach as it rumbles away from Holly Tavern, taking the road in the direction of Richmond. There were several strange passengers besides our party of five, and when they were snugly stowed away inside there was little room left for any waypassenger that might chance to seek a ride.

In striking contrast with the stormy night on which they had arrived at Holly Tavern, was this beautiful morning, with its bright sunshine melting the feathery frostwork that covered field and forest until all nature seemed glittering with jewels. The air was so pure and invigorating that all were glad to permit Johnny Conklin to roll up the curtains and let the sunlight and breeze roam at will through the coach, even Mrs. Sparks finding her shawl and furs a sufficient protection, and seeming to delight in all her surroundings and to forget for the time that she was an invalid. Mr. Sparks was in a most cheerful mood, and could be heard crooning in a low tone snatches of an old song, while he kept time by tapping his cane against the floor of the coach. Miss Bettie Flinn, never out of spirits, found food for merriment in watching her young friends Ronald and Elise, now and then playing off upon them some prank that would cause all the passengers to join her in making merry at their expense. Ronald was in fine humor, bore Miss Bettie's teasing with most commendable equanimity, and often succeeded in turning the laugh upon her with such force as to bring a rosy blush to her already florid cheeks.

After one of her most mischievous attacks Ronald turned quickly around, for Miss Bettie was now on the back seat with Mr. and Mrs. Sparks, and with a twinkle in his eye that indicated a lucky thought, he said, "Mr. Sparks, pardon me for interrupting your song, but I wish to ask you if you have any knowledge of palmistry; I do not mean in the common acceptation of the word, but magnetic palmistry, such as is conveyed, for instance, by a gentleman when he tenderly squeezes the hand of a lady." Miss Bettie blushed deep scarlet and began to search on the top of her hat for her veil. "No, no, Miss Bettie, that is not fair; this is an open-field fight - no intrenchments. Stand fire like a brave woman," and coming to Ronald's rescue, Elise quickly caught the veil, removed it out of reach, adding, "Do, dear papa, enlighten us."

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Palmistry," said the old gentleman, "is the so-called art of reading one's fortune by tracing the lines in the palm of the hand; but this, I presume, is not exactly what Mr. Irving means. There is, or was when I was young, a peculiar language conveyed by means of

the hand. Many sentiments were thus silently expressed although no word may have been spoken, and I do not suppose that the young people of to-day are less informed about such matters than we were, my dear," and the old gentleman smiled significantly as he gave a side glance toward his wife. "I should say, Mr. Irving, if I witnessed the tender squeezing of a lady's hand by a gentleman, that he intended to intimate that which he would soon find words to express. I should infer that he was not insensible to her charms; and if it were of frequent occurrence, I should assuredly expect the usual denouement courtship, succeeded by marriage.

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"Unquestionably, Mr. Sparks, your decision is correct. Now for my application, as the preachers say."

Here Ronald was interrupted by Miss Bettie :-"Now, Mr. Irving, if you will only desist I promise to tease you no more during our journey; be generous, and let us play quits.'

"That is a graceful surrender, Miss Bettie, but I cannot lose my application. Did you notice anything remarkably tender in the leave-taking at Holly Tavern, Mr. Sparks?"

"Yes, I did observe that Mr. Crowder and his good lady seemed to be seriously troubled at our departure, and the poor widow and little E'fie were loth to see us go; the Doctor too

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"Ah, Mr. Sparks, now you are touching the tender spot. What of the Doctor?"

"Well, he seemed a little regretful; but we gave him so much to do, I really cannot see why he did not show decided pleasure at bidding us good-bye."

"Look at Miss Bettie, Mr. Sparks, and you will read the answer to your question. Could you only have seen as I did the tender pressure of her hand as he assisted her into the coach: it was a lesson I shall not forget."

"O ho! the Doctor and Miss Bettie! Well, it would not be a bad match," and with a quiet twinkle of humor in his eye, the old gentleman shook with laughter as he turned toward Miss Bettie, who, thoroughly discomfited, now took refuge in one corner of the coach, while she exclaimed, "It is ungenerous in you, Mr. Irving, to tease me so, and it is foolish in me to be so annoyed by such nonsense; but a trifle will sometimes annoy one more than a serious trouble, and the absurdity of all this is what worries me."

"Wait until you get to Richmond, Miss Bettie, and see how absurd it will be when the Doctor makes his appearance in search of one Mr. Flinn who lives on Marshall Street. I only hope I shall not leave for the university before he comes; it will be rare fun to see the grave and imperturbable Doctor really in love and going about a diagnosis of his disease in his most professional style."

"May I be there to see!" sung Elise, cheerily. "The Doctor was an easy prey, Miss Bettie, and how many of our fellow-travellers might have capitulated who can tell, had we been interrupted in our journey to Richmond?”

"Nonsense, child! I make no conquests, nor do I think of such things now. My sentimental days are over, and my time is taken up with practical every-day matters: my dairy, my garden, my weaving

room, and the busy home-life that gives me all the occupation I desire. Dr. Sawkins is as practical as I am, and is more in love with his books, his horse, and the skeleton in his office than with any other objects. I should as soon expect to see the evil spirit that haunts Holly Tavern visit Richmond as the Doctor."

"Should he come, Miss Bettie?" questioned Ronald, provokingly. "Should he visit Richmond while I am there, I should be glad to see him; he is very agreeable, and not so grave as you young people suppose. When he chooses to give play to his humor he can be jolly enough, and under a quiet exterior I am sure he hides rare social qualities."

"Pray tell us, Miss Betty, how you found out so much about the Doctor?" asked Elise. "He may be very good, and all that, but who would ever think such a dry old bachelor had any fun in him?"

"I use my eyes, child, and if there is any humor to be found in an individual I am sure to discover it. I hope the Doctor will come to Richmond; I should be willing to submit to Mr. Irving's teasing for the pleasure of bringing the old bachelor out."

The afternoon of the next day brought our travellers in sight of the ancient town of Manchester, with its quiet country-village look, as it rested half-asleep on the hills overlooking the south bank of James River. Along the main street the coach rumbled, the sound bringing shopkeepers and idlers to their doors and windows that they might take a peep at the travellers, or give a familiar nod to Johnny Conklin, who seemed to know every man, woman, and child in the place.

At the post-office, where Johnny paused long enough to deliver the mail, a crowd soon gathered to question him as to the latest country news, the weather, crops, wayside gossip, and especial inquiry was made by the old postmaster in relation to recent tidings from the Holly Tavern mystery. "Caught him!" exclaimed Johnny. "Divil a bit, Sir; he is niver to be caught any more than lightnin'! He is gone; but whist! I've got the very gintleman aboard that fought him in a dark room somethin' less than half the night, and only let him go when he put a knife into him so deep," and Johnny, dropping his reins on the dashboard, measured with his right the length of his left hand. At this announcement all eyes were turned in wonder towards the coach windows, and those standing nearest ventured to draw still nearer, some even peeping in to see if they could not at a glance discover the hero of such an adventure.

"And I've got aboard the very lady, too," continued Johnny, "who was rescued from the river that stormy night I telled ye of, by this same gintleman; and her father and mother too are here- charming old couple!" Johnny made each announcement in a most emphatic stage-whisper, loud enough to be heard by his audience, but not so loud as to be intelligible to his passengers, and having wrought up the curiosity of the crowd to its highest pitch, he gathered up the reins, exclaiming: "I could talk to ye, gintlemen, about it all for hours, but the time fails me," and, with a crack of his whip and a succession of nods, winks, and smiles, he bade them good-afternoon, and urged his horses into a brisk trot, leaving his friends to discuss at their leisure the bits of news he had given them.

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