Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-14
DEPARTURES
From the New York Sunday Mercury
Letter from OrPneus &. Kerr.

EDITOR Z. T.:-Everything in this dsloca-
ted city, my boy, from the venerable patriarch
of the Navy Department to the emancipated
and ivory sons of Africa wears such an exces-
sively sleepy look, that the very potatoes on
the dinner table close their eyes for want of
excitement. Society droops like sick oyster,
and but for the fashionable animation of the
First Circles otherwise known as ~. u. Will
lis, all things, even to Government stocks,
might 90 into hasty decline. The Scrptural
poet, my boy, is popular everywhere; and
when he returns from any one of his numer-
Gus trips to celebrated and aristocratic battle
fields, and am told that the favorite parlor
song Is:
80 Willis, We have missed you,
Welcome, welcome home"
Speaking of the patriarch of the Navy De-
partment, my boy, they say that the respected
Ancient has under consideration new and
admirable plan for making the blockade eff
cent The idea is, to furnish all the naval
captains spectacles made of looking glass, so
that when they are asleep, on the quarter
deck, their glasses will reflect the figure of
apy rebel craft that NAV be trying to slip by.
Those spectacles could all be ready in twenty
years; and when the Secretary told Congress
udn Ol lUt DldD. idlitl tuOuUhb
over the suggestion, as dripping with cool
ness it rose from the Welles," and says he:
MY dear madam, the idea lacks but one
thing-the looking-glass spectacles ought to be
supplied with comb and brush so that the
captain could fix himself up after capturing
the pirate" .'Ah. madam" says the Congress
man, hastily picking up the Jack of Clubs,
which he had accidentally pulled out with his
l.. L
Mary, the mother of Washington, in the af-
fections of future generations"
The mother of Washington, my boy!-the
MOTHER of Washington why, the Secretary
is already celebrated as she grandmother of
WashIngton-city.
On the occasion Of nv last visit to York
town, my boy, / found the Mackercl Brigade
so well up in animal spirits that each chap
was equal to pony of brandy, and capable
of capturing any amount of glass artillery.
At the present time, my boy, the brigade is
formed in the shape of clam shell, with the
right resting on beer wagon, and the left on
a travelling free lunch saloon. | was examin-
ing the new battery OF the Orange County
lIowitzers-whose guns have such large touch
holes that the chaps keep their crackers and
cheese in them when not in action, and was
also overhearing the remarks of melancholy
Mackerel concerning what he wished to be
done with his effects in case he should perish
OF old age before the battle commenced
when l beheld Captain William Brown APP
preaching me on the most geometrical beast
ever saw-an animal even richer in sharp
corners, my boy. than my own gothic steed,
Pegasus.
"Har saws William hastily swallowing some
thing that brought tears to his eyes, and te king
a bit of lemon peel to clear his voice, .you are
admiring my Arabian courSer, and wonder
ing whether il Is one of the three presented
TO Secretary Seward by the Emperor OF
Egypt"
You speak truly" SAYS /; "that superb
piece of horsefiesh looks like the original plan
of the city of Boston-there's 50 many bisect.
ing angles about him."
All" SAYS William. with an agreeable
smile. lin the words of the anthem of child.
hood
The angels told me 30
Williams idea of angels. nv boy. constitute.
I theory of theology in itself
What call YOU the charger?" saws l.
Euclid" saws William. pausing for a mo-
ment, to catch the gurgle of a canteen iusr
reversed. All" SAYS William. recovering hi.
presence of mind, this here marvel of natu,
raj history is guaranteed 2:40."
No" says |.
Yes" SAYS William. calculatingly, "this SUI
/ perb animal Is sure 2:40-he cost me ius
two dollars and forty cents. But come Will
me-" saws William. proudly. land see the sharp
shooter contingent have just organized to aic
in the suppression OF this here unnatural re
bellion."
followed the splendidly mounted warrior
my boy, TO spot not far from the neares
point of the enemy's lines. where | found 1
lengthy Western chap polishing rifle with
powerful telescope on the end Of il. He haC