The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-09

$3.50
with American ladies. Even now the first
thing young miss not In her teens looks for
in, or hanging by, her stocking in the chimney
corner, about Christmas or New Year time, is
pair of skates. Then comes the eagerness
with which she views the bright sheen Of the
sun upon the newly formed ice. And how her
little eyes beam with joy as, with the assistance
of big brother, she glides over the surface.
Surely the pastime of skating is and will con-
tinue to be one of the most agreeable and
most healthful institutions ever introduced for
the benefit Of American ladies.
The COLLECTION OF INTERNAL REvBNuA At
THE SoUfu.-It is stated in our Washington
dispatches that the receipts from internal
revenue last week amounted to nine millions
Of dollars. This vast sum came from the work.
ing people Of the North. The South has no
money to pay taxes, and not much Of anything.
at present, to pay taxes upon. The difficulties
about collecting the internal revenue there re-
solve themselves into this brief statement:
Although the Southerners who come to this
city manage to put up at our best hotels, drink
expensive liquors, smoke the costliest oigarS
and fight the tiger with something of their old
spirit, they leave poverty and restitution Of
home. But it IL not fair that the North should
continue to pay all the national expenses, In.
Guiding the interest on the national debt. The
South is back again In the Union, and enjoys
its protection and the most Of its privileges, and
should be made to pay share Of the funds.
Southerners are willing to do this; but the
radicals in Congress object They will not
give the South chance to renew her former
prosperity. The argument drawn from the
relative proportion Of the internal revenue
which the two sections now pay is one Of the
strongest that can be urged in favor of imme-
date restoration on the plan of the President
Practical RETRENcHMENr.-Gsneral Grant
has sent three members of his staff to the De-
partments Of the East, West and Southwest to
ascertain if further reductions cannot be
safely made in the military forces and ex-
penses. This is movement toward practical
retrenchment of which the tax-burdened peo-
pie will most heartily approve. The Lieuten-
ant General began his reduction Of the military
expenses the moment that Lee surrendered.
Instead of proceeding in triumph, like q con-
queror, to inspect the city he had captured
after SO long and bloody siege, he hurried to
Washington, like a sensible man, to cut down
the enormous armies which were no longer
necessary. Since then he has dismissed our
soldiers to their homes and brought nearly
every department Of his command TO q, peace
footing. It would be well for the country II
we had practical, common sense man like
Grant in every bureau Of the government
The TRADE OF The CoUNrRY.-We publish In
another column the annual circular Of tho
Mercantile Agency Of Dun q Co., to which We
would call the attention Of the public - Al
interesting statement Of the condition oftrads
and commerce in the country for the past year.
II appears that the number Of failures in 1866
vvas aue hundred md thirty. and tho liabilities
over seventeen millions and half-sn excess
over tho years 1868 and 1864 Of nearly double
but considerably less than In any other year
since the panic of 1857. The general condition
of trade 10 represented TO be remarkably
healthy, and the future prospects most suspi-
cious. The reasons, therefore, are very fully
set forth in the circular, which will be POUNDS
document Of considerable interest TO To Vhols
community.