Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-12-22

art
Locke could hardly bring himself to re-
ply to this ridiculous charge. or even TO
answer the particula, question that he had
been thus publicly called on to answer
He did so. however. by briefly stating that
he knew of no such art. He had heard,
indeed. that the faculty Of ioretellng e.
vents, fortunes, and the like, was supposed
to be attainable by figures. And he re-
collected. as he commenced arithmetic
when mere boy, INDUCING a sort OF vague
expectation that lie should come across
this art. if he went far enough. But the
farther he advanced, the more did he see
the rnpossibity Of acquiring any such
faculty bv the use Of figures. which. moro
peculiarly than any other science. dlscar-
dcd all suggestions. and had 10 do only
with certain dcnonstrahe facts And
now. having studied or examined. as he
believed, nearly all ofthat science that had
been published, he was fully prepared to
say that the belief in the faculty in qucs-
ton was wholly deluson.
Il don't blame him for denying it, said
the supcrstitous spokesman before named
IL think ! should if | was wicked enough
10 tamper with SIGH forbidden things
But should like to hear Deacon C'ilchrist
the Moderators, views on this SUBJECT
1.-The Moderator, after sundry hens and
haws. by way Of getting his apparatus OF
speech in motion, assumed look OF wise
so!cmnity. and observed:
1T appears 10 me, my beloved friends,
that there's an awful responsibility on us.
Duty is duty. ! do think so. don I
know, nor wantto much about the hidden
things Of figures. except they are thought
to be the instruments that Satan works by
sometimes We know there were sOr
ccrcrs and workers III hidden mysteries,
in the DAYS Of the Apostles; and the Scrip
ter says they shall be multiplied IN the lat
ter DAYS. which now is. ] once read
book by great and deep Divine-i've
ceny most forgot his name, but think II
was Wooilcn Narthcr, or some sIch on
common crissen name-who had seen,
with his own eyes, a great deal Of the aw-
full doingS of Satan. And he speaks If
the strange looks of those that were buff
fctcd bv the adversary, " the divers mala-
dies and sore evils that bctcll those who
were led bv his cmissaries into awful ways.
And | do think. my friends, there's some
thing very mysterious in this ere school
/, do think we have seen a stroke OF dis
: pleasure that seems to say to US. III loud
voicc-yea. the dice of many thuuderS--
: Come cut. and BE- scparate from TIM thdt
6ringcfhhc crji upon yon.'
This speech was triunIphaitly echoed
by several of the Deacon supporters, as
: an tinan>wcrablc argument for the measure
they were SO intent OH carrying There
were others. however, who were SO obtusc
as not to perceive the force of the argu-
mcut. or the Justice of its application
Among these were the Intended victim OF
this combination. and his newly found
friend. the tall fellow. whose speech had
so scandalizcd his opponents; both OF whom
, made reply to the oracular speech OF
our modern Solomon--the one by deny
inc both premises and conclusions, and
the other by drolly asking pardon OF the
, old boy. the Deacon. or amy OF Their trends;
if he had moderated or offended them III
;, his former speech. and by contcndinS that
the master had cleared himself, 10 his
, mind. ofthe charge of ciphering his schoi-
ars into tevcrs. and their parents INTO nag
cts. These replies led to good deal OF
scattering debate, in which nearly all. by
, spcech. word thrown in. or other MANI
. festation. participated; and by which 1t be-
: came apparent that there were strictly
! three parties in the assembly: first. the
!. Deacon's trained folio Mcrs. who. number
inc about onc-third Of the district. were
for breaking up the school, for reasons be-
, fore given; second. another portion. OF "a
bout the same number. who had been in
duccd 10 come into the plan OF the for
, mer, through their secret fears that some
, CONTAGIOUS disease was about TO break out
in the school. which their children would
, be more likely to take. if the school con-
tinued: and last. the other third, who be-
icved the master in no way chargeable for
, the condition Of the school. which they
, wished might be still continued.
! The Deacon's party. perceivinc. by
: this time. that they could safely count on
I strength enough to carry their measure.
, clamored more loudly than ever for de-
, cision Of the question. Locke gave HIM
, self up as lost. and few minutes more
, would indeed. have been decisive of his
. doom. but for the unexpected arrival of a
!: new parsonage. This was Bunker. who
, having reached home only few hours be-
, fore. had not heard what was in train till
/. The evening was considerably advanced;
i when. accidentally learning something
of the facts, he came post haste TO the
/ scene of action. Thisarrivalvery visi-
5 blv disconnected the Dcacon'S party,
; and produced dead pause in their pro-
n ceedings. during which the former march
n ed boldly up 10 Locke. and gave him one
: Of those hearty and cordial shakes of the
i hand. which send assurance TO the deS-
n ponding heart. and are more gratefully
d tell. on some emergencies. than thous-
e and expressed pledges Of friendship. on
a others After being introduced to DR. Lin
h coin. Bunker. taking conspicuous stand
e before the company. immediately deman.
2 ded the object of the meeting. and. By a
E series of sharp and rapid questions. adj
D dressed first to one. then another. soon sue.
a ceeded in drawing out the whole truth
5 with all that had tran>pired.
n 20 ye miserable thinkers" he eNclaim
2 ed. as soon as he satisfied himself OF the