mon Schools-and against the sale of the public works, although he admits a majority of the people of Pennsylvania are in favor of a sale. His suggestions on this point will not be likely to have much weight with the present Legislature. An act providing for the sale of the main line or for the abolition of the Canal Board will certainly be passed. A bill for the latter object has been already introduced, which provides for the appointment, of a Superintendent of the Public Works by the Governor, the Superintendent having the selection of all subordinate officers. The inaugural address of Governor Pollock, which was looked for with more than ordinary interest, from the fact that he was elected by a fusion of parties, all of whom expected to be pleased with the new administration, gave pretty general satisfaction, altho' an inaugural must be regarded in the light of a mainfesto of general principles. He takes the same ground on the Liquor Question that Gov. Bigler did in his message. He, however, stands pledged, by his letter to the State Temperance Convention of June last, to approve a prohibitory liquor law, in case the Legislature pass it. Several Acts relative to this subject are now on the files of the Senate and House, and there is evidently a disposition among a majority of members to enact a stringent law repealing the present license system. The State Temperance Convention which assembled at Harrisburg on the 17th ult., passed resolutions in favor of a mild and efficient prohibitory law, and called upon the Legislature to enact it, on the ground that the vote in October was not a true indication that public sentiment was opposed to such a measure-one-half the voters of the State not having voted against it. The interests of Humanity imperatively demand that something be done to stay the swelling tide of intemperance-and it should be done at once. Every hour of delay adds new victims to the fearful scourge, and the suffering wife and children of the drunkard, even the drunkard himself, implore PROTECTION at the hands of their Representatives. The sufferings of the Poor in the larger cities during the present winter have been and still are heart-rending, and the entire time of hundreds of benevolent persons is taken up with measures for their relief. A few cases of actual starvation have been made public. One case in New York was peculiarly distressing. A mechanic, who had been thrown out of employment, through the pressure of the times, made repeated and ineffectual attempts to procure work by which to gain bread for his family. He was solicited by a fellow workman to apply to one of the ward committees for relief. This he refused to do. Finally, when his wife saw that their youngest child must die of starvation unless it got speedy relief, she started to seek aid of the committee. During her absence the husband and father, driven to desperation by the distress of himself and family, committed suicide by cutting his throat. The wife and mother returned just in time to behold the sad spectacle of her husband weltering in his own blood by the side of the bed on which their famished child was breathing its last! We trust every reader of THE GUARDIAN will consider the wants of the poor and give liberally of the good things of this life, for "God loves a cheerful giver." OUR NEIGHBORING STATES. We have few items of general interest or importance to note. The annexation of the Sandwich Islands, it is said, has been rendered a question of doubt, by the President regarding the sum asked by the Hawaiian authorities as too far overbalancing the benefits to be derived in return. The government would like to have a coal depot there for our steamers, but not at such a cost. The Mexican troubles still continue. The farce of electing Santa Anna President of the Republic was gone through with much in the manner which resulted in the election of Napoleon IIId to the Presidency of France. voted under the surveilliance of the The people military, and Santa Anna has since been hanging some who voted against him! The revolutionists have generally been worsted in the late battles. Rumors have transpired relative to the acquisition of Cuba and certain fillibustering movements looking thi therward; but the presumption is that while the administration will discountenance the fillibusters it will also hesitate long before venturing upon annexing the "queen of the Antilles," in opposition to popular opinion in the United States, which sets strongly against the measure. Central America is again a point of solicitude with the English and Ameri can governments. Our government has been making inquiry into the motive of Great Britain in recently sending a large naval force to that quarter. The reason returned for so doing is, the report that Captain Hollins, the hero of the bombardment of Greytown, was to be sent back there with an increased force. THE OLD WORLD. The news from the seat of War is confirmatory of the views expressed in our last "Sebastopol is not taken!" There has been no further fighting of any importance in its results. The English army is in a sad condition, suffering from exposure to a Crimean winter and from camp diseases which are carrying off thousands of "England's bravest sons." The alliance which Austria formed with France and England appears to have been a sort of ruse to gain time for further consideration, as it did not meet the approbation of the allied powers, England especially. By the last arrival the hoped-for prospect of peace apparently receives confirmation. Czar accepts the basis of negotiations proposed by the Allies, and a congress to settle the definite terms of peace, or rather to attempt it, is about to meet at Vienna. But, in the meantime, no armistice has been agreed upon, and hostilities still continue. What looks most against the prospect of peace is the fact that the Russians have again invaded the Principalities, capturing Tultscha and Babadagh, after repulsing the Turk'ish forces left there for their protection. Sardinia has joined the Allies. The NOTES ON LITERATURE. BARNUM AND GREELEY-A CONTRAST. -Two books have recently been published which have been the subject of much criticism and, from the extensive circulation they have acquired, may be considered of more than ordinary importance in their influence for good or evil. We propose to take these books as a text from which to deduce some practical reflections which may be of general interest to the readers of The Guardian, more especially the young men whom we number among our numerous monthly auditors. The one of which we shall speak first is the "Confessions of Barnum the Showman," or The Auto-Biography of Phineas Turnpenny Barnum, Esq. The notoriety which Barnum has attained as generalin-chief of Humbugs, and the immense fortune he has made in that especial line of business, were enough of themeelves to create a great demand for a book in which it was announced, with an unusual flourish of trumpets, that the author would tell the public to what exact extent, and by what particular means, he had been successful in humbugging it. The performance fully redeems the programme. Barnum "makes a clean breast of it," and coolly plumes himself, not on his penitence, but on his stoicism, his absolute indifference to all sense of shame. He 66 tells us very gracefully that Joice Heth never nursed Washington; that the Fejee mermaid was an article of home manufacture, or at least not what he had assured the public it was when placed on exhibition; that the woolly horse, instead of being caught by the gallant Fremont, in the wilds of California, was purchased in Cincinnati; that Tom Thumb was only five years old when he represented him to be eleven; in a word, Barnum admits, without exactly meaning to do so, that the whole business of his life was a cunningly devised system of obtaining money under false pretences. He calls it humbug, business tact, etc., but we regard it as a grand system of varnished fraud, which, if perpetrated by a poor devil on a smaller scale and in a more bungling manner, would have landed him in a penitentiary instead of a palace at Iranistan." Barnum has devoted the best years of his life to what he calls humbugging the people, and made an immense fortune by the operation; and now he gives us the finishing touch in extracting a few more thousands from the capacious pocket of a goodeasy public by selling it a handsome edition of his "confessions"-for the copy-right of which he refused $75,000! We regard this book as calculated to do much harm. It will be read extensively--many thousands having already been thrown on the public. Young men, ever anxious to learn the secret of success in business, and to overleap the mountain difficulties which rise between them and fortune, will be in danger of being captivated by the false glare of Barnum's magnificent achievements. He began the world without a dollar. He is now in possession of a princely fortune, and the lord of the most imposing mansion in the country. The young man, in beginning his struggles with life, may think, if it is right and proper for Barnum to make a fortune under disguised false pretenses, why may not others do so with equal impunity? May not the merchant misrepresent the fabric and quality of his goods-how many do it! and yet be a respected business man? May not the grocer sell sand for sugar and chickory for coffee? What matters it if he becomes respectably rich by these deceptions? Such is the lesson taught in the life of Barnum, and to which he confesses with the most unblushing impudence. True, he gives it the mild title of "humbug," and insists that if the public were willing to be humbugged he had the right to do it. claims to have operated on a respectable as well as extensive scale; and it is to this we wish to enter our demurrer. Barnum's sins should not be forgiven by the public simply because he confesses without repenting. The boldness of his ventures should not excuse him. He merits, and his book should receive, the condemnation of all right-judging minds. The lesson of his life is a bad one. Let all young men who read his book beware of its gilded poison. He We turn to the contemplation of a more pleasing picture. The Life of Horace Greeley is not written by himself; yet it bears within itself the evidence of a true picture of the man. In some respects the history and circumstances of the two men are similar. They are now, in the meridian of life, equally known throughout the length and breadth of the land-they are distinguished among their fellow men -fortune has smiled upon them both, though Mr. Greeley is not the monied lord of a princely palace, and would not boast of it to the world if he were. Yet these two men have lived for very different purposes, and have consequently attained distinction by entirely different paths. Horace Greeley began the career of his fame and fortune as a printer's apprentice. He had neither money nor a liberal education. Compelled from the start to rely upon his own resources, he nerved himself for the battle of life, and bravely has he fought it. The history of his apprenticeship is full of instruction and encouragement for the young men of our country. His first aim was to form habits of temperance, frugality and industry. These have followed him through life and, as the Editor-in-chief of the most influential journal in the United States, he has done much towards implanting these principles in others. We do not wish to be understood as endorsing all the principles of Mr. Greeley or commending the adop tion of many peculiar notions entertained through the columns of his paper, the New York Tribune. Our object is to draw a lesson from his life -to place it in contrast with the one we have just discussed. Whatever may be said of Mr. Greeley's peculiar political, social, or religious views, all who know him must admit his honesty and integrity of purpose, as well as his talents and influence. He never sacrificed his honest convictions of right or wrong. When Barnum was calculating how much money he could realize by humbugging the public with his "woolly horse," or some cunningly devised deception, Mr. Greeley was evovling such ideas of Social Philosophy or Human Progress as he believed would conduce to the happiness of his fellow men. When an apprentice, he employed all his leisure hours in reading and study. He pursued the same course when a journeyman-and even now, occupying a position in which he might enjoy a life of ease and pleasure, Horace Greeley is never idle for an hour. He takes a view of the duties and responsibilities of an editor which precludes even an approach to idleness-a view which should be taken by every young man who expects to succeed in whatever worthy occupation he may engage. He said not long since that a single lifetime was not sufficient for any one man to acquire the ability to make a popular daily journal what it should be; and while he has sought, by a division of labor, to perfect each department, he esteems it a pleasure as well as a duty to labor himself, in adding to his own stock of knowledge as well as imparting to others. We would commend his example to all young men who must rely upon their exertions to gain for themselves an honorable position, and point them to that essential element of his success, HONESTY, which must be followed as a guiding-star. They should be what they appear, and never be ashamed of an humble position. The effort to deceive must eventually ensnare the deceiver; and even Barnum, with all his wealth and boasted "busines tact," may yet become the victim of the very fortune be has built upon that sandy foundation. VOL. VI.-MARCH, 1855.-No. III. OUR ORCHARD. BY THE EDITOR. "Pictured in memory's mellowing glass how sweet To roam in fancy in each cherish'd scene, "Beloved age of innocence and smiles, Bless'd Childhood, hail!-Thee simply will I sing, Each humble friend, each pleasure now no more, Recalls some fond idea of delight." I have strolled once more through the old orchard that lies directly in front of "our house." How quickly they have passed away, those twenty or more years, since this orchard was so familiar to my boyhood! Well, that is the fashion of years; and we travel as fast, even though we do not finish our work so well. But let that rest, to be thought of, and prayed over some other time. Now I am here once more after so long a time. I have been abroad since then, in the wide, wide world. Have seen, and heard, and learned, and felt many things; have known joys and sorrows; have met friends and parted with them; and what now do I testify? This: It is a glorious struggle in which we are involved on this platform of earth, for ourselves, for all men, and for God. The warfare is nothing compared with the victory and the gain; and every day gives the earnest man new assurance that the issue will be good, and eternally in his favor. This thought and this joy, now come back to me when I look out once more, from the home of childhood, into the world with which I have somewhat mingled. VOL. VI.-5 Even now also I think by what a strange way does God lead us. But let that pass now, to be wondered at, to be grateful for, and to be shouted over forever in heaven. Behold now I am in the old orchard. The trees have grown older-the small trees are larger-the old trees are older, some are dead. See here! nothing but a blacker, richer soil marks the place where they once stood. The soil has a grace because they were there. The grass is greater and greener on the spot which once their branches shaded-it rises up to call them blessed. There is a resurrection from their ashes, which speaks as a prophet, and darkly hints at a hope much greater and better than itself. The lower stretches forth its hands toward the higher, and though it never reaches it, is always pointing it out. We shall-yes, we shall reach it. Though I have no one to speak to of the virtues of these trees, I must nevertheless call them by name for the memories which hang like a sacred savor around their venerable shades. Some have asked. What is there in a name? We answer, nothing to one who can ask such a question. But to one who has loved any object long enough to weave associations with its being, a name is like ointment poured forth. I will call all the names of the dead. There was first of all the "early-apple tree." It stood near the middle of the orchard. Here, I am on the spot where it stood. See! as I now, looking four ways, range with the few that remain in the rows, even so did the tree. Here it stood. In this direction it spread its largest fork, toward the morning sun, and on this side the apples first became red-cheeked and ripe. With what anxiety we watched the increase of coloring on the fruit. To this spot earliest of all did impatient feet wear a well-beaten path. How unwelcome the truth, newly learned from day to day, that the yellow ones which fell were not ripe but wormy! Alas! so I now think, in other ways than this do we find that the first hopes of youth are doomed to disappointment. Many a bud of early hope has a worm in its heart, which causes it to fall before it is ripe. But the worms were not in all. Gradually the fruit ripened; and there was much that became full grown. It did not grow old, the "early-apple tree." It seems as if its capacity of ripening its fruit so early were a kind of precociousness. which exhausts its life by its intensity. We have seen the same in children and youth. When their intellectual and spiritual nature ripens so fast and so early it seems as if the dawn of the eternal summer were bearing over upon them with special warmth and vigor. Out of the bosom of earth's to the life which is from on high. young, so good, they are taken up. faster by its own intensity. cold winter they waken early Such are soon glorified. So Piety, like genius, ripens the |