country roads around here. It is said that the third heaviest rain-fall in the United States is in Mobile county, Alaska having the first. However it is so high and sandy that the rain runs off directly, and in an hour after a shower the ground is dry enough for walking. The trailing arbutus and yellow jessamine are just coming into bloom, and people go poking about among the dead leaves uncovering the struggling blossoms prematurely in their haste to send flowers to the North to delight their snowbound friends. All this may seem very nice, but I presume there are some who would wish to know if there are any shades in the picture. If I wrote simply from my own point of view, I might slightly injure Southern travel, but for the benefit or information of those who may be contemplating a winter residence in the South, I will give some of the disadvantages. Our little party of five left Chicago on the evening of the 15th of First month, taking the Illinois Central R. R. to Cairo, where our car was left off, to be taken across the Ohio river and adjusted to another gauge for the Mobile and Ohio road. We stood three hours on the Illinois and four on the Kentucky side, waiting till they were ready to start. Why is it time seems so much longer when the car is not in motion? It stormed so that we could not see half a block before us. We had often heard that "the sun shines brightly in Kentucky," but that was one of the dark davs. We reached Mississippi by daylight, where the sun did shine in all its splendor, but it was very cold. | Extensive bare fields met our view, reminding us of our prairies. These were the cotton plantations of which we had heard so much, but only a little patch here and there remained ungathered, enough to show us how the plant looked. We breakfasted at Meridien, Miss., where the New Orleans and Chattanooga road crosses the M. and O. Here we were impressed by the unfailing mule, and the colored man and his shanty with open door and generally windowless. White and black people were standing in the sun to get warm, for the houses really seem colder than out doors. There are some brick buildings at Meridien, and the place will compare quite favorably with many of our Northwestern towns, the railroads giving it a business air. We passed on through the pine and cypress swamps into Alabama, the name signifying "place of rest," I believe, and reached Citronelle at 2 o'clock. These particulars are for travelers from the Northwest. We decided upon this place, because it seemed so much nearer our Western home than Georgia or Florida, and we could take the car almost at our own door and step off at Hygeia Hotel without change. We had taken our invalid from a sick bed, hoping to reach a warm balmy air here. But what was our disappointment to find the mercury at 24° above zero and icicles hanging from the eaves. To those who have passed days in the atmosphere of 30° and even 40° below zero that may seem very mild, but one suffers here more at 24° above than at home at 28° below. We had to take a cottage, and my pen would fail to portray the disappointment, the suffering and the anxieties of the following two or three days and nights. Although we kept large fires, the house was so thin and open on all sides and underneath, that the fires seemed to make little or no impression except immediately in front of them, and then one needed to be on a spit and continually turning around to be comfortable. The beds, though ordinarily good, seemed hard to a poor sick body, and the cold came up through the floor and even through the bed, and no amount of cover kept us warm. We remained awake most of the night to keep up the fires and watch that the sparks did not pop out and set us ablaze. Our poor invalid almost cried with the discomfort and fear of consequences. We really feared the exposure would cost her her life, if the rest of us did not suffer serious consequences, but strange to say we survived it all without much injury. After a week of cool, cloudy weather, with not one warm, sunny day, J. left us a homesick party enough to return to our Northern home. Being in a cottage has some advantages, one has greater privacy, and less noise than in the main building, but when one must remain with the invalid while the others go to meals, and meals must be brought nearly a block on a tray, for the sick to find the food chilled, if not cold, and that salt, or butter, or worse still, bread has been omitted from her bill of fare, is not quite like being at "home." Home, that dear word, spoken so often, and so doubly dear to the exiled one. All these things number among the drawbacks, and if one is given to homesickness, the South or North or any other place cannot be very conducive to health. However, we weathered it, and have had many delightful days since, sitting or lying in hammocks out on the porch, watching the tennis players or the children, or the "feathery pines," or the beautiful sunsets. It would not be well for one to imagine there were no sudden changes here. Yesterday noon the mercury stood at 81° and this morning 24° ! There are very pleasant people here, mostly from the State of Illinois, and even representatives from Montana, Nevada and Dakota; there are a few Eastern people, and one lady from Philadelphia. We have no water for boating and no oranges except as they are brought here. There are a great many colored people. The woman who waits at our table told me she was a slave and had a good master. I asked her if she would be willing to go back to that condition. "Oh no, indeed," she said, 'cause yo' never knowed what might happen to yo'. Yo' might be sold de next day away from yo' chillen.' This uncertainty was no doubt the worst feature of slavery to most of them. I attended their meeting one First-day afternoon. It was held in an old, rickety, unpainted frame house. The minister was a pro tem. from Whistler, a town on the M. and O. road, where the car shops are situated. He told them they had a much better church there, and said they must try and do better here. Said "Yo' are a race of people now, yo' mus' build yo'selves up, become good citizens, make yo country beautiful," etc. "Whatever be right toward yo' fellow-men, do it; whatever be just, do it. "No matter how much yo' profess to be a Chris- | thought it all happened at once," she said; "but then tian, if yo' don't act like one nobody will believe yo', they will say 'prove it by yo' actions.' It was communion service and he extended a general invitation, said "everybody who is converted and has passed from death unto life has a right to come to this table. This is not our table though placed here by our hands." He was evidently college bred, and took a text, though the sermon had no connection with it. He read passages from Scripture and tried to explain them, used theological terms quite freely. Making great oratorical efforts, losing the sense in the effort at fine sound, spoke of the Saviour, having nowhere to lay his head, while the beasts of the fields had their places, and "the birds built their nests in the air." I was a little girl and don't remember much about it. But I have written more at length, perhaps than I ought. I will only add that if people who are simply not strong will come South, and are able to bear with the discomforts of travel, and living in one room, and various little privations, they may benefit by a stay here. But for sick people who need to be within reach of home, friends and luxuries and home physicians, it is a great risk, I think, in any case before the middle of Second month. It is very hard for the care-taker, too, especially one whose home is supplied with all the modern conveniences. One feels very helpless, alone in the night. No kitchen fire to go to, or gas stove, or pantry, or medicine chest, and surrounded by stranSpeaking of the woman who was accused as "re- gers. The patient may have a chill, or a hemorduced, cast out, not recognized by classified people." rhage, or something that requires active attention and Said "there was a voice illuminated the ears of those remedies, and the nurse scarcely knows which way who stood by.' "Jesus wanted to do away with the to turn. The anxiety, and loneliness, and fear of un-union between the Jews and Samaritans." Used death in a strange land, which means a sad joursuch words as "solicitrous," "beneficious," secre-ney homeward with a still, cold companion, is so hard, tarianism," " spaces of immensity," etc. I had often heard of this disposition to use high sounding words in their pulpits, but never heard quite such a discourse. However, when he forget himself and his theology and came down to practical matters he gave them some good counsel. And we did not doubt though they made such vigorous and odd responses, that there were many sincere, humble hearts among those who gathered around their poor communion table, and we joined in their prayers for the right appropriation of the bread and wine of the kingdom, the true food that nourishes the souls of men. that one feels it would be better to do the best one could at home, and if death must come we could say with Whittier : "Be near me, Father, when all else from me is drifting, Earth, sky, home's picture, days of shade and shine, And kindly faces to my own uplifting The love which answers mine." Dr. Michael has a minister come to the hotel twice a month and "conduct a service." The last was an Episcopalian, and though we missed the polished language and the erudition and scholarship of some of our northern clergymen, yet there was evident earnestness and desire to inculcate gospel truths. Among other things which impressed me was this: He said "many people thought they were excused from doing right because they made no profession," "but," he said, "Christian duty was not something we could assume at pleasure, it was incumbent upon every one. Priest and people, men and women, black and white, all are equally subjects of the exhortation, "I"Be ye holy." I hope to be able, while we are here, to attend the colored school. The chief occupation is working in the turpentine distilleries, and cutting and hauling pine lumber. A ten ox team passes our cottage loaded with pine logs. One man drives and another rides. I overheard a funny bit of conversation be tween them the other day. The one riding seemed to have a grudge against Jerry, a black oxen. don l'ak Jerry," he said, not sounding his r's, of course. "O, I know why yo don lok Jerry, 'cause he aint got no hohns," the driver remarked. But they don't always get their pay and that discourages them. The colored women serve in the hotel, and on Second day mornings we can see gangs of them carrying away washings, in large baskets, invariably on their heads. The people of the South are poor. Even in Mobile, it is said the houses generally are unpainted, and have a dilapidated look, and many of the stores are unoccupied, and the windows broken. Let us hope the Exposition will give a fresh impulse to trade. Having occasion to employ a dressmaker who comes up from Mobile, I asked her in regard to dress goods in that city: Well," she said, we can't get such goods as you do up North, in our poor old South! you'll have to look over our poverty." Said her "father owned a great many slaves, but they all left of course after the surrender." "Why didn't they leave before that, at the time of the proclamation of emancipation," I asked. She looked bewildered. I explained, "that occurred some time before the surrender." "Oh, I We have a neighbor, Mrs. S., in the adjoining cottage who lives in Bismarck, and was the first woman to make the trip in the overland coach to that place, twelve years ago. She told me something of the particulars of the Custer massacre, which were both strange and unutterably sad. Fort Lincoln was situated about four miles from Bismarck, and Mrs. S. was in the habit of interchanging visits with the officers' wives. She was there the day after the massacre, which was two or three hundred miles away from the fort, and of which they could hear nothing for some days. Mrs. Custer re marked during the morning that she never knew their dogs (they had several fine dogs) to behave as they did the night before." They howled all night and were so restless that she had to go out two or three times and try and quiet them, as they disturbed the people in the fort. Said if she was a superstitious woman she should feel alarmed. Mrs. S. said "perhaps they missed the General." No, Mrs. Custer replied, he had been gone for some time, and they had grown accustomed to his absence. Five days after, a scout came in and reported the battle and the Gene ral's death which occurred about the time that the dogs were so disturbed. This seems so well authenticated that it raises a question in psycology, does it not? As one of our neighbors afterward owned one of those dogs, I can testify to the wenderful intelligence of the animal; it seemed almost human. But sadder still was the fact that after that massacre there were twenty-seven widows in the fort the next morning! And yet: แ War, war, war, is the rumor from over the sea, H. A. P. Citronelle, Alabama, Second mo., 11th, 1885. POETRY. For Friends' Intelligencer. TRUST. BY SARAH HUNT. Heaven and earth together blend, As quietly alone I spend Each passing hour; I seem to feel a hand divine, So warm and true, A Father's boundless love Comes to the soul Like the returning dove. 'Tis sweet to know The gentle flow, Of Heaven's dew; To call the soul, The will control, In all we view. Content the highest prize to win, With Him eternally to stand Crowned with the joys of heaven. West Grove, Second mo. 20, 1885. LOVE BRINGS US UNITY. BY E. D. CHENEY. Many in one, our fathers said; Many in one, say we: Of different creeds, of different forms, Let Science scan the open page Let Faith attune the hidden strings And Future, Past, and Present bind Last Tenth month I received a box of bedding, etc., from Mary B. Tilton, New York; in Twelfth month, a barrel of clothing from Chicago Friends (per Thomas W. Woodnutt), and in same month, two barrels of clothing from West Chester, Pa. (per Sarah S. Hall). Packages of Scattered Seeds and of The Tract Repository have been regularly sent by the respective Editors for free distribution; and both have afforded entertainment and useful instruction to the numerous colored people who have thankfully received them. WILMER WALTON. Pursons, Kansas, Second mo. 2d, 1885. LOCAL INFORMATION. ON Seventh-day morning the 21st inst., about 3 o'clock, the Chappaqua Mountain Institute was discovered to be on fire. The fire originated in the girls' bath-room on the second floor, and had attained such headway before its discovery that it was considered impossible to save the building, and every effort was put forth to rescue the inmates. The boys' lodging-rooms, on the third floor, and the servants rooms in the attic, were all above the fire, and the house soon filled with a dense smoke, but all were got safely out of the building-some very sparsely clad, and many lost all their clothes except those they wore. They found shelter at a neighbor's house close by, and most of the children returned to their homes during the day. An overheated chimney flue was probably the cause of the fire. The building, which was of concrete, was erected in the years 1868 to 1870, and the school commenced in the autumn of 1870. It was built and conducted by Purchase Quarterly Meeting of Friends, aided by subscriptions from interested Friends in other quarters. The school has always maintained a good reputation, has been in charge of the same Principal, Mr. Collins, M. A., since its establishment, and was in successful operation at the time of the fire with sixtytwo pupils in attendance. The building was insured for $15,000, and the furniture, $4,000. At a meeting of the Board of Managers held on the 23d inst., it was decided to secure a suitable building at once if possible and continue the school | sons for their absence, which were satisfactory to the and to rebuild in time to commence the next school year in the new building. Arrangements are in progress by which we hope to reopen the school as early as Third month 9th. R. S. HAVILAND. Chappaqua, Second mo. 24. NINE PARTNERS Quarterly Meeting convened at Nine Partners, 2d of Second month, 1885. Representatives from three of the Monthly Meetings were present except one, who was indisposed. Of the Yearly Meeting's Committee to visit subordinate meetings, Moses Pierce and Alfred Underhill of Purchase Quarterly Meeting, were acceptably in attendance. The condition of the members, as shown in the answers to the first, second, third, fourth and ninth queries, was brought into view, and the other four queries were read, and carefully considered, as well as the advices. From Oblong Monthly Meeting came a proposition, signed by nine of its members, to attach it to Nine Partners Monthly Meeting, which, after due deliberation, was agreed to; but doubtless in the minds of some Friends it is a problem yet to be solved whether it will prove of benefit, as the two meetings are 22 miles apart. At the Quarterly Meeting in Fifth month last the Oblong Preparative Meeting of Ministers and Elders was consolidated with Nine Partners. The Meeting of Ministers and Elders at this time, 31st ult., was smaller than usual on account of the cold. On First day morning Friends assembled in about the usual numbers for this season of year (as many as we could reasonably expect), and by attention thereto manifested their deep interest in the lengthy discourse of James C. Stringham, of Crum Elbow, wherein he gave many beautiful illustrations of the life of the practical Christian, and it is believed all were satisfied and none went empty away, if we may judge from the covering which spread over the meeting. He was followed by Amanda Deyo at some length, on various practical and interesting topics, to which we would do well to take heed. Concluded to meet at Poughkeepsie, if so the Great Father permit, at the usual time. I. C. H. CENTER Quarterly Meeting convened at Bald Eagle, Pa., the 16th of Second month, 1885. The First-day School Quarterly Association was held on the Seventh-day previous, at ten oclock. It was very well attended. Reports and essays were received from all the schools, and the delegates all answered to their names. The reading of the essays gave rise to quite extended expression from Darlington Hoopes, Jos. M. Spencer, Nathan Moore and others, all giving encouragement to persevere in the noble work. The Meeting of Ministers and Elders was held at two P. M. Darlington Hoopes, one of the Yearly Meeting Committee on the state of Society, met with us; his labors of love were very satisfactory and encouraging. Two representatives sent written rea meeting. From the answers to the queries, it appears the meetings are attended generally, and they also encourage their families to the same duty; and those called to administer the word wait for the qualifying power; they are also in unity with each other and with the meeting. First day morning's meeting was quite large-being good sleighing. After a season of quiet waiting, a young woman arose and in a few words expressed her feelings of love for all assembled. Nathan Moore very feelingly quoted the saying of one of the Apostles, "When I am weak then am I strong," showing the necessity of hungering after righteousness. Darlington Hoopes then addressed the meeting at some length. His remarks were concerning Christ's kingdom, where it is established; that it is within us, and nearer to many than they were aware of. At the close, a meeting was announced for the afternoon, at three o'clock. It was not so large as the morning meeting. The same minds were exercised, with the addition of Jos. M. Spencer. The remarks of all were well received, as was evident from the close attention and good order that prevailed. It was felt and expressed by many to be a good meeting. Second day morning the beautiful snow (the emblem of purity) was falling very fast, and continued until near the close of Quarterly Meeting, when it ceased. On this account the meeting was smaller than it would otherwise have been; yet a goodly number was present, particularly young folks. The exercises of ministering friends were varied, and some of our own members, feeling it right, made very appropriate remarks, all encouraging and satisfactory. In the business meeting we had the answering of the first, second and ninth queries. The circular meeting committee reported two meetings held within the limits of West Branch Monthly Meeting, one in Centre and two in Dunning's Creek, all well attended and very satisfactory. Throughout our several meetings it was evident that the Heavenly Father, in His goodness, condescended to meet with us, and fill our hearts with His love, which is the true badge. H. I. THE Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia was held at Race street on the 18th inst., with a good attendance. Samuel J. Levick had a testimony in the first meeting. A memorial concerning Caleb Clothier was approved, and directed to be forwarded to the Quarterly Meeting. Sixty-two Friends were nominated (to whom three more were added) to constitute the committee for the ensuing year to promote the best interests of our members. Some remarks were made in this connection, showing how much more in earnest were those of other professions in regard to obtaining and retaining members, and Friends might take some useful lessons from them. The desire of those who are connected with Girard Avenue First-day School to have the co-operation of the Monthly Meeting, being introduced, a committee was appointed to attend Green Street Monthly Meeting, and, if there approved, ask them to appoint a committee to join in such oversight. The committee to oversee the library reported that they can claim for the institution a steady growth, careful selection of books, and a watchful oversight lest the high aim of Friends in establishing and fostering this valuable library may be lost sight of." "The number of volumes is over 9,100, and it is believed to be worthy of more appreciation and use than is apparent." A committee was appointed to nominate eight Friends to have the oversight for the next year. Ar Green Street Monthly Meeting, held on the afternoon of the 19th, a communication from the teachers of Girard Avenue First-day School, asking that a committee be appointed to unite with a similar committee appointed by Philadelphia Monthly Meeting in the oversight of their school was read and considered, and, after much expression in both meetings, it was the prevailing sentiment that the time had come for the meeting to take part in the management of all the First-day schools held in meeting-houses belonging to the Monthly Meeting. A large number of Friends were set apart for this service, who are to meet for the consideration of the service, who are to meet for the consideration of the duties of the appointment at the rise of the meeting on Fifth-day next. Not for thy fame's sake, do we weave this crown, And feel thy presence in the sacred air, Forbidding us to weep that thou art gone." This brief tribute of Emma Lazarus expresses the veneration and love for his personal character which animated all who gathered to do reverence to Emerson. One (Dr. Bartol), himself a religious teacher, speaks thus for the religion of Emerson: "He said as the Master bids, Yea, yea, as well as Nay, nay, but his yes is more than his no. Sometimes the Church is composed of the smallest number of persons,' says an ancient father: It may be, as avers the Apostle, in a house, or, let us add, in one breast full of saintly company, like Channing's, standing for the dignity of human nature; or Garrison answering, when reproached with not going to meeting, that he sometimes preached to himself. Emerson, when he felt and celebrated the worldwarming spark, "The axis of the star, The sparkle of the spar,' proclaimed the universal divinity; though he tells us when we are with God we count not the congregation. The muse teaches a living God.' "His doctrine of the access of the Spirit to the pri943 vate soul is not new, but very old. The Montanists maintained that the Holy Ghost had not spent itself on the formulas of belief and worship understood and agreed upon in the society of the faithful, but had left some things still to be said. 227 222 670 397 .... 455 375 380 331 358 Education, Language... 197 Poetry and Drama 184 211 209 Literary History and Miscellany 158 186 Biography, Memoirs.... Social and Political Science.. 106 168 "Emerson came to illustrate and vivify again one of the great texts of Holy Writ from the voice of God to John in Patmos: 'He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches ;' and if 134 not one of the seven churches in Asia escaped then, why should any of the thousand in America be excused now?" 136 81 This book of 447 pages is, in fact, a treasury of many 19 jewels, and will be valued by those who love high thought and who believe the great verity that God, the Universal Father, dwells evermore with man. 4,088 The Genius and Character of Emerson. Lectures at the Concord School of Philosophy. Edited by F. B. Sanborn.-It is well known that the personal affection and reverence for Ralph Waldo Emerson in his later days was very great, and doubtless it was largely the desire of a considerable body of intelligent people to sit at his feet and learn of him the deep things of life and of spiritual experience which originally drew together the beautiful School of Philosophy at Concord, Mass., in 1879. The beloved sage passed away before the School of 1882 assembled for its fifth session in Hillside Chapel, when the heartfelt tributes of many friends gave evidence of his high place in their love and reverence. A COPY of the Miami Gazette, from Waynesville, Ohio, is before us, and, glancing over its columns, we find the third number of an article, by Davis Furnas, on the "Early and Later History of Friends in and around Waynesville, Ohio." This paper is mainly a record of certificates of membership with Friends, brought by emigrants to Waynesville in the first years of the present century. These simple statements have now a historic value, and we may wisely conjecture that among the descendants of these pioneer Friends are many inhabitants of Ohio who have won an honored place among their fellow-citizens. The official records of the meetings of Friends are among the most reliable sources fo history wherever Friends' meetings exist. |