American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-01-13
BUTLER BUTLER COUNTY Pa WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9 1864

DIALoGUEoNSu SuPPLIEs-SeENE: RICH-
MoNp.-The Richmond Wig, of Deceu-
Der 2l has the following dialogue:
Mem of Cong.-iow do you supply
yourselves with fuel ?
Clerk-Go withoutit, forthc most part
Mem Of Cong.-What, in this cold
weather?
Clerk-Yes, we and our families suffer
equally from hunger and cold.
Editor-Why don't youtake your fam
lily to hotel or boarding house
Clerk-Because the boarding houses
are broken up, or charge from So to 10 u
day.
Mem of Cong.-lIow, then, do you live?
Clerk-A gentleman with a family rents
one or two funishedrooms at from $50 to
500 per month. and if he does not live on
bread, hires a cook from $40 to $40 per
month"; .aundress at IS to So per doz-
en-, while the doctors bills depend upon
the number chat have porishod from cold,
hunger, insufficient clothing ana other
causes. That is the usual mode of living
among the clerks, ifliving it can be called.
Mem Ccng.-Well, we must.do some
thing for you; raise your salaries-say %
per cent.
Clorll-What a gratuity Enough to
purchase, once a month, a decent break
fast We're you to double our present
pay, you would only give usa fifth Of what
the Government promised us.
Mem. Cong,-But that would be 49,
600!
Clcrk-In Confederate currency worth,
say S250--a mighty income, but the least
that you should give till the currency is
restored to the specie standard; and as
most of us have run in debt thonllowancc
should look back and commence its opc.
ration from the first Of July last.
THE HEALTH OF Our AARluEs-Thc
Army of the Potomac correspondence OF
the New York TrjJme, inspeakmgo of the
health aud intelligence Of our armies
says:
The health of our troops at the present
time is excellent, many OF the regimental
hospitals being without single patient
A more cheerful, willing and uncomplain
ing army never listened to the sound oI
the ''tattoo." People at home can form
no conception of the vast amount of inmate
"Yankee" ingenuity, which military dis
cipline and army life have developed. II
one visiting the army for the first time
the evidences of perseverance, industry
and ingenuity that surround him are the
strongest proofs Of the material and mar
aie of the Potomac Army You should
visit the humble and primitive winteI
quarters of the priyates, if youwould Learn
what necessity is the parent Of What {
perfect exhibition Of the hcterogeneou
tastes ofthe occupants The useful, beau
tiful and comical are blended, and often
times curiously huddlcd together regard
less Of all artistical eiicctsor rules ofarch
itecture.
1t is not my purpose to attempt to ente
into any minute description Of the quain
interiors of these martial habitations, bu
suffice it to say each table, stool and bed
stead indicated plainly the mechanical ge
MUS Of the indweller. You can tell tn,
slothful, untidy man by glance at hi
quarters. quicker than in any other way
and m the Same way one can easily dctec
the neat and refined by the air of porfcc
cleanliness that invariably surrounds thei
log huts. As-air illustration Of the skill
abounding in our ranks,'T saw seyera
meerschaum pipes which were carved il
the mostelaborate and artistic icmannerwitl
the emblems of our Union and the name
Of the owners cut in raised letters ON th'
bowls, the entire work executed with Al
old iack-knife and nail These pipe
were wrought in a style of workmanship
which any Broadway artizan might fee
proud. 1t is cxhilaratiug to the heart o
a true American to know that such intel
ligence is fighting our battles, but mourn
full to contemplate thestroams Of such pre-
cious blood that stain our beloved land
| ---sf >. CD '---s-S--------