The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-06-19
For the Star.
BLooMsRune. JUNE 10, 1861

urally attending the preparation and prose-
cution of a civil war, it is natural there
should be considerable anxiety felt in re-
gard to the progress and execution of the
plans and intentions of the Government;
and it is likewise natural that the daily pa
pers and telegraphic dispatches should fur
nish the principal information sought after
at least these are the fountains from which
is supposed TO flow the knowledge necessa-
ry 10 supply in part the demand. These
are the two indispensable institutions OF the
nineteenth century. Their value and i'm
ponance stands second 10 none others, and
especially are they appreciated and ac-
knowIedged in times like the present; pro-
vided they are not perverted and degraded
into miserable dispensers of falsehood and
prevarication. This matters but little though
at this time; the daily papers are sought after
with more avidity than was ever known
before-the demand in many instances ex-
ceeding the supply. Every item of news
true or false-is gulphed down with as
much gusto as a gormand would relish
dainty and delicate morsal. Telegraphic
news, of the most contradictory and unreia-
BILE character, is circulated through the
country /; and TO read the contents OF daily
paper with view 10 gain reliable informa-
ton will result as disadvantageously as be-
lieving the telegrams which are floating
constantly over the wires. A person might
as well undertake to correctly inform himself
upon national and military affairs from
Greek testament, he would succeed about
as well as TO read all the sensation dispatch.
es contained in the daily papers. II not
unfrequently happens that some assertion
or announcement in one column is discred-
tied or coniradicted in another of the same
paper; and it is universal fact that three
fourths of what appears in one days paper
issue. 1t is but few days since the news
reached here by telegraph and through the
daily papers, that Col. Kelley was wounded
so severely at Phillippi, Virginia, that he
survived the misfortune but short time
Only one day elapsed, however, until the
| gratifying intelligence reached here that he
still lived, but severely wounded. Another
day later, and we were still greater rejoiced
at learning he vas not badly wounded,
and in fair way of recovery. or course,
no one regretted the last bit of news, but it
was extremely doubted in some minds
whether he was wounded at all, until it was
confirmed by authority not to be questioned
/ This is one item which came under direct
observation, and which, in part, induced
| the writing OF this article, but there is anoth-
or, fully as notorious and ridiculous, oi
which il will not be amiss to speak.
II has been settled without further doub
that Col Ellsworth is dead-shoi while de-
scending from placing the Federal Flas
where Confederate banner had formerly
fioated and that his death was partly re-
venged by staying the villainous assassin
upon the spot. But the inconsistency o
which wish TO speak lies not in this. Fo
| a time his death was the paramount topic
for conversation, and literary eulogizing
and doubtless his name and fame will bC
remembered for generations TO come.
was natural that his personal friends, ant
those who espoused the Union cause witt
him should grieve and lament his untime
ly death. But short time after his desi
letter appeared in public print, signe
with Ellsworth's name, dated the day pre-
vious to his marching into Alexandra, an
said TO be received by his parents in New
York, wherein he tells them of the intend
ed descent on the above named city, an
the supposition that their entrance woul
be holly contested, and what might be th
result of an armed conflict, &c. A ie'
days later an article in the Sundoy DtsPatcj
giving brief history of the early life OF III
} gallant Colonel, and among other point
alluded to, the writer positively affirms tha
} Col. Ellsworlh's parents both died while h
: was yet very young. Another letter in col
nection with his death was published d
rectly after the first of these appeared, vii
the supposed names of the parents sui
scribed TO il, thanking those who so gene
ously took charge of the remains OF the
respected and loved son, and petitione
3 blessings upon all who acted so nobly tov
' ards one they cherished so fondly. He
are several contradictory statements, and
course, it is impossible for the reader
know which approaches nearest the trut
or whether any reliance can be placed
either OF them. Now, it would be excee'
ingy gratifying to the public, if some cap
BILE person, possessed of the necessary ii
formation, would write brief and trutht'
history OF this noble and patriotic youn
mans life. But then the Euthfulness an
candor of this might be denied or unbelie
ed, as the public mind has been so egr
griously deceived of late, that ii is becomir
10th 10 place confidence in anything Pu
: lished, unless backed up by proof OF Il
: most convincing character.
AZ, nnl,, fo of The falsehnnI