Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-02-13
FRANKLIN PIERCE.

acter OF the late ex-President Pierce, aud par
italy rights the memory>of much slaudcre'
statesman 1t appeared recently 10 the columu
of the Christian at Work:
Il first saw Washington city IN September
1852. 1t had been my desire from childhood
The city appeared like the debris which hur-
ricaue had dropped along the way as 1t went
screaming and writhDg down the Potomac.
But it was the capital, the seat of power that
is to sway the destinies Of coo;ioeut
1t was here first saw President Pierce He
behaved in his social habits aud private con-
duct like Christian. He was more orthodox
aud devout than most OF our public meu.
For example, he would have 40 unnecessary
work or visitiug done at the White House on
the Christian Sabbath His notions iu this
respect were quite purtanica and on the
morning Of the Christian Sabbath, all the in
mates of his household, (some thirty or forty, J
the humblest and the highest, were gathered
in the library, and there the President read
the Scriptures and offered up "a prayer. He
was toud of meetings for prayer; he was, witha,
4 great church goer. Always once. generally
twice, and not untrequently three times, would
he be found 10 the sanctuaries of the city on
the same day. He was liberal, and visited the
different churches, thus by his presence sup
ror,ipg public worship, and by his example
u,muating others to do likewise. For, 10
Washington, it must be said, that wherever
the President goes there follows the crowd Of
those who are always hanging about the skirts
OF power.
In the early period of his public life be
had unfortunately contracted drinking habits,
which had made him bad renown. And
after he got to be President, though sober as
Judge, fused to be,) his adversarlss very cru
ely revived the story, charging him with the
faprant repetition of his old offeuse. He spoke
Of this frankly and freely, and always said:
This is the penalty of former indlscretlon. l
bear it patiently, for | have once given occa.
sion that 1t could be said. He would have
,houghr himself disgraced forever if he bad
yielded to this n6rmity while in the Preslden.
lal office. He could not drink at all without
making public exposition Of himself, and |
believe he was as free from chicanery in this
matter as the purest Nazarite that ever lived!
He was an elegant speaker, one of the fuest
ever heard He delivered his inaugural with
out notes. He was fond Of philosophy and the
illogical discussion. His views on topics OF this
sort were siugularly clear and generally sound
Bu, he could not be persuaded to make pub
he profession of his belief by putting himself
10 connection with any Protestant Christian
Church, aud think it was but comparative
y short time before his death that he was final
" confirmed in the Episcopal Church.
How far shall we pry into the secret story OF
this mans life2 He told me things in conf
deuce-suatches of his childhood-his think
ugs and aspiriugs when boy, his college days,
hs study of the law, his practice in his native
town, his impressions at certain revival
meeting heo in the winter OF 1921; how he
was elected to Congress at the age of twenty
nne his Journey to New York, aud the dip.aer
there with political friends. That vas t,,e sad
polut of his divergence from the path. of tenn
perauce New York was the trap that caught
the young Soon from the Granite Hills. He
repeuted of this in dust and asnes. But what
does the world, who sees tie fall, care for the
repentance which comes siter2''
NORTHERN Ice The schooner Isaac Keene,
arrived at this port on Monday last from Bel
last, Maine, With the first cargo of Northern
ice received here this season. Another vessel,
with 600 tons, is expected to-day, and several
more vessels are known to be on the way. Ooe
Ice dealer Of the ciry has ordered 5000 tons of
kenucbec river ice to be brought here for his
trade alone. The new ice is fourteen inches
III thickness, and is 10 every respect trst-class
article Two Baltimore ice dealers have just
returned from prospecting tour in Maine, ,and
they report that the crop will be tull one.
The gentlemen took sleigh ride on the
hennebec from Gardinef, Maine, to Belfast,
aud they found the greatest activity prevailing
among the ice gatherers, thousands OF men be-
lns employed cutting aud storing the article
Around Belfast the ice is gathered from ponds
'arying from ten to one thousand acres 10 ex-
ieut, aud is sold to vessels on the spot at a
much OwSr figure than is asked when the ice is
purchased at the immense storage houses 10
Boston. The Knickerbocker Company, of
fhlIaiepha, are gathering 100000 tons Of ice
on the keuuebec at this time. The New York
supply, 1t is believed, will be secured from the
hudson riser, and when the New York and
FAliadelp phia demand is filled, there will be
uuch More than enough left for the Baltimore
aud southern markets. A first class article is
ooS sold on the kenuebec at 81. so per ton, to
'Mch is added the cost of handling and storing
N >hlpboard. The same article is sold here
q Ne present for SIS per ton, wholesale, or one
ourth cent per pound. This is not a criterion
s' the price that will prevail next Summer,
BECAUSE then much of the Ice consumed here
VIII be obtained at higher rates In the Boston
market. Enough is known, however, TO en-
ace the Tact to be stated positively that there
VII &c no dearth of ice uext Summer; but that
% the contrary, the supply will be large aud
.f'ces reasonable. The Baltimore butchers,
a,'Gort time back, were fearful of not being
aOe to secure enough ice to meet their re-
44'emeuts and they we're seriously discussing
.Is PROJECT OF charterlng large vessels aud pur-
,SSaN1s their supplies abroad Since then
lucy W have nearly all filled their houses with ice
Mh.rGd s.;Gd upon the ponds around the city,
s.'eh have been frozen to thickness of from
.' ITO four inches. This ice is quite suitable
~'nel' needs, and it is stated that all that is
sQaired will be gathered this week. A vessel
~ ~ beng loaded on Saturday at one of the
s"s, Falls avenue houses with northern ice
WI sn, hieuoD and Plymouth, North Carolina,
>, a"c1 ~ Is intended for paekiug fish for mark
!; lhe North Carolina fishery will soon be
h. luIl operation, few shad having already
SSeo sent North. Baltimore American.
II ANDKERCHIEFs-A large assor,men,
s'ss'ly reduced prices.