The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-01-04
Personal Items.

MAJOR WAYNE, U. S. A., (son of Mr..
Justice Wayne, of the Supreme Court,) has
resigned his commission to become Adjutant
General of his native State Of Geogia. He
graduated at Harvard, then at West Point,
where he was afterwards Professor, marry
ing New York lady while thus engaged.
Brevetted for gallant and meritorious con.
duct at COntreras and at Cherubusco, he
has also used bis pen with distinction, as is
shown by his work On the sword exercise,
and bis reports on the introduction of cam
els into this country.
HE Rev. j. H. Ingraham, Episcopal
minister, and author of "The Pillar of Fire."
accidently shot himself at Holly Springs,
Mississippi, on Saturday of week before last.
lie is now lying in very precarious con-
ditiOn.
ANOTHER Georgian who has resigned his
commission in the army, is Brevet 1t. Col.
VIM. II. L. Walker, who received his first
brevet for good service in the " Bloody
Sixth" when commanded by Col. Zach.
Taylor, at OkeechUbee, where be was thrice
wounded. Receiving wounds and honors
in Mexico, President Pierce appointed him
Major when the Tenth Infantry was formed,
and be has recently been in command ct the
arsenal near Augusta, Georgia. @ -
HUGH HENRY, former President of the
Vermont Valley Railroad, while attending
the recent session of the Legislature at
Montpelier, made remark to friend that
he " was little deaf, but could see as well
as ever" He afterward went to the hotel
for dinner, and after being seated stuck his
fork into doughnut, and commenced to
peal it, supposing it to be potato. Young
Meade, the marlborough sculptor, being
witness of the "optical Illusion" retired
and produced life-like sketch of Mr.. Hen
ry, while in the act of pealing doughnut,
and underneath was the following inscrip
ton; II am little deaf, but can see as
we'll as ever."-Springfeld Republican.
Mr.. j. II. SIDDoNs, whose father was
second son of the great English actress,
has just been appointed Professor of Elocu-
ton to Columbia College, New York. He
is fully master of the art, and has been
very successful in instruction. In this coun-
try, where public speaking is so general, the
cultivation of elocution is of the greatest
importance, and should be attended to much
more than it yet has been.
The New York World says:-"Any more
eloquent example of the futility of ambition
than is afforded by the position to-day of
the President of the United States, need
hardly be sought. Through long, though
comparatively eventless life, be has kept his
eye fixed upon his present place with a
steadiness which has never wavered ; has
directed thither his efforts with cold
adroitness which has rarely been at fault,
till now--having possessed himself of that, to
him, highest object of human attainment
he finds the wand of power turning to SER
pent in his grasp, the garland of rule with
ering upon his brow, and the golden fruit to
which, for lifetime, be has steadily 'been
climbing, but dust and ashes within"
BISHOP MCFARLAND. of the Roman
Catholic Diocese of Hartford, which includes
Rhode Island and Connecticut, has issued
circular letter, addressed to the clergy, and
relating to the dangers which threaten the
Union. He requests all the Catholics to
unite in fervent prayer for the country, to
observe with strictness the fast of this sea-
son, to give aims to the poor, and to turn to
God with their whole hearts. Other Cath
olic prelates have followed this example,
advising their focks to observe the recon.
mendations of the Presidential proclama-
ton for fast day. 'a's- 81. t.' a''''.-