Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1863-12-02
Diamond wedding and a Dance
OH a Grave.

There are some contrasts in life which
offend against human nature The most
vulgar taste, or the most hardened sensi-
| bility, revolts at them. This nation is
struggling for its existence. Three years
OF war have cost it mountain of debt
and million of lives. The land is in
mourning Almost every household is
bereft of some dear and cherished member
We hear, on all sides, the sad wall of
Rachel, who is weeping for her children,
and Will not be cOmtoFted. And vet in
the midst of this terrible sorrow and trib-
ulation, we are positively boasting that ace
do not reel tins acdr-that the war is, m
deed, source and cause of unprecedented
prosperity, and that, instead of prostra-
ting ourselves before God, in sackcIoth
and ashes, under the crushing weight of
our sins, we have occasion only for a day
of Thanksgiving and laise! And what
awful festivities, like the mad wassailry
of BelshaZZer, are we witnessing, under
the very auspices of the Government
The Empire City of the nation grows in
toXicated with cowardly and dishonest
| admiration of the naval representatives of
the sererest tyrant that rules over the
down-trodden serfs Of Europe The
| wealth of New York is laviShed in paving
homage TO the war marine of the Drs9ot
of Russia, because the toadies at Wash
ington are willing to enlist the friendship
Of the Gar in order to quiet their fears OF
the less sympathetic power of France and
England.
And on the heels of these snobbish hos
pitaitics TO the Russians, came the we'd
ding OF Miss Chase. Ii was a gorgeous
and royal ceremony, if we may credit the
| description of the Court Journal, edited
by & the Presidents dog" We would
not speak of it in any disrespect to the
very excellent and amiable young lady
who was the bride on the occasion. and
the centre of all eyes and sympathies du-
ring that splendid pageant We are told
how superbly she was dressed, how costly
were her presents, how dazzling was the
tiara of diamonds and pearls which graeed
her queenly brow, how voluptuously the
strains Of votive music swelled through
the almost regal halls of the Secretary of
the National Treasury, and how the low
Gus and inspiring movements of the dance
NhO-Ot IiiS SCti1S. All inns was,
no doubt, exceedingly grateful TO the Sc
lect company that was present. But ,cLat
'c1ts outside Of that gag and nartbfm circle /?
Civil war the death struggle of brothers:
the graves and ghosts of more. than mil
lion men, who had fallen in battle the
agonlzed shrek of widows and orphans;
the wild cry of fathers and mothers for
their sons, and sisters for their brothers /:
the equally mad pleading of the poor for
bread that was TO save them from star
wing, and, abore all, tie n,om2atil. hosy7o,c-
ing, despairing SIGH Of .Li5erty-he1aaia 6J-
e'fy, c1e'a hberty-.foa' the ore1zltro,o Of her
last c'tadet--he' last SANCTUARY on the face
Of this broad earth : Were such shockino
incongruities ever exhibited bv anv peo.
pie! We read that Nero fiddled while
Rome was burning. But the rulers of
this land hold high carnival. even in the
Capital, while domestic war is darkcnino,
with is bloody shadows, the festal lamp of
the White House, and the wall of diving
patriots from the ensanguined field of
tratrlcldal strife is drowning the heartless
revelries that ring out, in music and laugh
ter, from the shining saloons of the Treas
ury. Alas. poor country When will
you ever see again the days of your pris-
tine glory and virtue !-.Suadty Ne,cuyu