Arkansas intelligencer., 1844-01-06

yersal rejoicing All nations have their festivals,
ieasls, and carnivals, during which the sober ro-
ai'tes of life, displaced for the time by mrth
ana glee. or some other national innocent renxa'
ton. From tho palmy days Of Rome to the n'ne-
teenth century, enlightened Chrlstenaom nave
looked upon Christmas. season oil rest ana
merrymaking, when fun, and frolic in "Raccha.
nal profusion reeled to earth;' some could hnd
them in tho "nut brown bowl" while tile more
brawny and rugged specimens OF humanity
sought them in the "foam crested egg nogGs Tom
and jerry, or ardent whiskey 2unch-tho girls
and boys found it in their plays Of blind mans
buff, hunt the slipper. kiss quick not at all,
or some other Notwithstanding but harmless jollity
of juvenile amusement. 80
These customs and usnges of "the good old
days of Adam and Eve" have been swept away
by the ruthless hand Of innovation, and a morbid
longing for change and variety, and in their stead.
VIC have nothing but puritancal structures, ice
cold water, Washngtonian Societies and Temper.
ance Clubs. And now, instead Of the broad mel
low smile OF former times, every man you meet
reminds one of hail stone or floating iceberg
Just arrived in our sunny land from the frozen
zone. Should one far break through tho re-
straints Of society as to snatch kiss from bloom
ing girl, charity is certain to be uppormos in the
mind-or from the fraity Of our nature, yield to
mock, creeping sensation is felt, not unlike that
produced when long bouncing icicle is thrus. up
the shirt sleeve.
All this you respond is infinitely more agrcea.
Bile than to see herd of beings, that bear the
impress Of Deity, and wear the '.human face d.
vlne," wasting their time in bacchanaan revels
and expending their substance in drunken frolics,
to the disgrace and utter impoverishment Of them
selves and families: and were all as temperate as
Father Mathew, we would never hear of men
Keeling home at the felon hour of midnight, big
with gin cocktail, Or pungen! bald-face, and
IN that condition chastislng their innocent wives,
and abusing them for no other reason than this,
because they have the brute power, and the fent
Ish disposition TO exercise it tyrancully. We
would boar no more tragcal accounts Of wives
dyelng Of a broken heart on hearing that hus
band in a paroxism Of drunkenness, had found
horrible and untimeIy grave, or that the hogs had
stolen and eaten his uurcular, nasal or other i'm
portdni appendage whilst lying on the highway in
a state Of inloxication. Them's my sentiments,
too, Messrs Editors, and if the times aud manncrs
have changed, doubt not it is for the better.
But truce to this digression; merely took up
my pen, and this soap of paper to tell you, that
the Board of Visitors Of the Far West Seminary,
held a meeting at this place on Christmas day,
which was very respectfully attended, and highly
seasoned with interesting speeches. Mr.. AIRING
ton, the great orator Of the state, there, sur
charged with eloquent bile.
For some two hours the assembly was delight
ed and thrilled with his burning eoquence, falling
into tho soul like n meteor shower. 1t is thought
by some as enc of his happiest efforts which alone
is a sufficient eulogy to pass on any speech. To
hear such speech does not fall to the lot Of eve
ry one, and especially those who reside in Arkan.
sas. and although he run wild moro than once,
and pa rallied extent the effect Of his speech
by ranting, all who hea it, if they are like
myself will look back to it in future life as n
green spot in their history. lie recommended to
the Board as IN original idea, the endow ment of
Professorships of English Literature, and the En-.
g'ish Classics. and stated that to the Woss would
belong the honor and credit for taking the lead in
a matter OF so much importance.
This called out Old Nestor, the guardian genius
OF the Institution, and in few, bu, pointed 70
marks. proved that it was fact of general motto.
riety that every respectable Institution, no: on!y
IN Europe, but in the United States also, had such
Protessorships established He is worthy man
and minute and intelligent observer, and in the
course of his brief remarks peppercd and salted
the young mn eloquent" in that pla yful and sa.
tirical manner that produces the effect wiihou,
giving offence, and which few can hope to com.
pass but men like himself, possessing general
and profound acquaintance with men and books.
no IrlenlS Of inc seminary are SanSuine OF
success, and are making every oxertion to estab.
Iish an Institution that will do honor to the old
mammoth. They have already appointed their
agents to solicit donations, some have already
loft, and others will staff in few days.
Tho most objectionable feature, that have no.
ticed in their proceedings, is the appointment Of
agents, before Obtaining an act of incorporation.
Until a charter is procured, they have no power
to make any binding laws and regulations for
the punishment of delinquent agents; donors have
assurance that their benevolent and liberal in
tentions will ever be efiecuated. 1t is no answer
to this objection to say that tho agents are all hon
est and trustworthy men, oth,rs may hereafter be
appointed who are not so we'll known, and If we
would hearken 10 the teachings of experience, we
would learn that it is always prudent that penal.
tics OF some sort should be suspended in ierrorem
if for nothing more. They allow bcggars ten
per cent. on the amount actually collected. and
this sdoubtlessa more Interesting feature to 50 me-
than any other in the whole SYSTEM But | vet
have to learn Messrs. Editors by what right Trus-
tees pay out money 10 gents, that has been do.
mated for definite and specific purpose,
In the way of politics | only have space to sa
that the discontents and murmurs of the Demo.
Gratis, at the Little Rock nominations, which at
first were vented in low halfsuppressed whispers,
arc at length beginning to deveope themselves, in