Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-01-08
yEFFERsON.

JEFFEBSON.
Editor ISIeQTGph-
am credibly informed that in the
eventful past. our interests, socially, po-
litically, religiousIy and otherwise, were
carefully guarded, and ably defended by
one whose illustriOus and lamented name
sake acquired some celebrity from being
one of the chosen few, who, in the days
long since buried beneath centuries, was
specially endowed from on High with
authority TO rule over and go vern great
and powerful people; and who not only
had the hardihood TO fasien upon his own
feet the sandals of the great Iaw-giver"
and brother of Aaron, but also. by some
ancient tactics or maneuvering, unknown
at the present day, he battered down the
strong walls Of .fated Jericho, by hurling
against them devastating cyclones which
were forced to emenate from the hidden
depths of the horns of rams, and as we
are told, were accompanied with great
loss of life.
But, according to the old adage, which
has generally been accredited as true
that BLESSINGS brighten as they take
their fight" SO it has been with our mod
ern Joshua" who for so long a time
favored you with the ripe productions of
his fertile brain; and since he has gone
out from among US, and those spontane-
Gus mental effusions of wit and humor are
no longer written out and published for
our perusal and entertainment, but are.
for aught We know, suffered to "waste
their sweetness on desert air,S We cannot
help feeling that our advocate and friend
has deserted the high position of honor
and distinction which he once so well
and faithfully occupied. For we know
that he has gone. and .the places that
knew him once, we fear, will know him
no more, except in cherished, fond re-
membrance of his many virtues.
During the few weeks that your cor
respondent has been sojourning in Jeffer-
son, We have been q constant reader OF
your excellent paper, and have oflen
looked, but always in vain, for letters
from your Hub Correspondent" At
such times we have thought that this was
not as it should be-that we should, if
agreeable to you. ask for place in your
columns, is only very humble position.
Hence, our first Introductory and If,
when we conclude our correspondence
with you, our successor is gracious
enough 10 write US an obituary without
rejecting more Giscredit upon US, than
we have upon our predecessor. we shall
be content to "step down and out" feel
ing that if we have not been an interest
ing or profitable contributor, that our
intentions have always been good, and
we know that our good deeds will be
carefully treasured up, and allowed 10 re-
pose in peace among the records of our
biographers.
We have celebrated the holidays, AM
have now entered upon the duties OF the
New Year with spirits bOuyant, and
hopes bright for the future. Christmas
was well observed by all The churches
of the place reared large Christmas trees,
and old Santa Claus, as usual, put in an
appearance-by proxy, Of course-and
loaded them with beautiful presents for
the little ones, until their bending bOughs
almost broke down beneath the weight
of the plentiful fruitage upon them.
On the night of Dec. 25 h, our enter
prIsing townsman. Albert Warren, flung
wide the doors" of Union Hall, and we.
together with hundreds of other pleasure
seekers, "tripped the light fantastic" and
treated ourselves to many gay whirl in
the may dance, to the delightful music
of Smiths full band.
1t is to be regretted, that in a few cases,
and only few, parties seemed TO have
indulged in a too liberal use of alcoholic
stimulus, and yet it would seem almost
impossible to collect such large assem-
blage of young men, anywhere under the
blue canopy of heaven. without there be-
ing one or more poor untortunates pres
ent, to illustrate by living examples, the
total depravity into which men are
brought through the fearful influences of
the wine cup.
However, with but very few exceptions,
all went merrily, and all things consider
ed, il was as much Of a success as public
dancing parties ever get TO be.
New Years Day was observed in a very
quiet and unostentatious manner. There
were but few New Years calls made, but
perhaps this time honored practice, once
so popular. was not wholly ignored, as
we do not intend to be behind the times
in such matters Twill quote from better
authority. The following is from the
New York GropAsS- =
"The amount of intoxicatlon among
New Years callers, in this city, was
much less than usual. In Chicago, the
wine cup, offered by fair hands, laid its
victims right and left, while in Jeffer-
son, nothing but fine favored cider was
offered as beverage. SpirituOus and
splendid coffee, served with nice, plump,
harmless doughnuts, composed the lunch
in many instances. The young men were
candid when they started out, and sober
upon their return"
This is as IL should be. How long will
Ii be, Oh, wicked city of Chicago how
long before you will see the error of
your ways, and turn from the wrath TO
GOMEZ
The evening Of Jan. LET. 1875. Is one
long TO be cherished in memory by the
young people Of our town, nearly all of
whom attended brilliant reception at
the residence Of Hon. ]. A. Giddings.
The spacious mansion was filled through.
out, and the friends improved the time in
social games, and the waltz, until very
late hour when the happy company took
lsavs Of the tFlsRda who bad 70 kindly