The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-12-08
Letter from Manch Chunk.

dullness. What little life the recent sessions
of the teachers institute infused, vanished
with its close on last Friday, and the only
market the average Chunker can now find
for his time is TO tell and gather tales. In
deed gossip is always in order here, but the
gossip now in vogue is of such an ordinary,
trashy nature that it will hardly bear re-
petition.
Ifit was dull yesterday, it is more so this
rainy Wednesday, and everything wears a
woe -begone aspect--hotels are empty, bar
rooms deserted, the basins no longer full of
stately craft, all is silent, and the proverbial
leech at the law office vainly peers out into
the storm for victim to bleed.
Since the adjournment of the institute,
the candidacy for the County superintend-
ency of Messrs. Hofford, Kline, Hollinger
and Rowland is being actively discussed,
and from what l can learn, have no hesi-
fancy in declaring that Mr.. HofTord appears
to have the inside track, with Kline and
Hollinger next, while Rowland is scarcely
ever named. This may not be a very pleas
ing statement to the last named aspirant,
but he will find it SO in May. What obiec-
tions there should be,,to Mr.. Rowland have
not learnt, only know that he is not
favorite either with the directors with whom
havs conversed upon the subject nor with
the general public. But what is this to us}
You too, no doubt, have heard of the re-
cent wholesale discharge of workmen from
the Packerton shops, a fact hailed by Labor
Reformers as just the thing that will give
them the ascendancy in this county at next
falls election.
Judging from what l can learn, the num-
Der of delinquents in the various Building
and Loan Associations hereabouts is rapidly
multiplying and numerous sheriff's sales
may be anticipated from that source. On
the Whole it is greatly to be doubted whether
another buildng-loan project would ever be
received with favor here. They may do in
prosperity, but in adverse times they tend
only to increase the general embarrassment.
The Lehigh Valley folks are highly elated
at the business done this year by their line.
The more sanguine ones among them even
go SO far as to predict the declaration of the
regular II fef cent. dividend for the closing
quarter. hope this may be so, just for the
sake of those holding Valley stock.
In consideration of the fact that so far but
two criminal cases grace the Criminal Dock
ct for January term, feel like compliment
ing the community on this real or fancied
improvement of public morals, were it not
that the four or five weeks to elapse before
Court, may yet bring Heaven knows what.
The fact is, nevertheless, a pleasing one, and
well deserving of notice. The cases referred
to are Com. u.s. Joseph and John Otto, ac-
cused of assault and battery, with intent to
kill and and rob, and Com. Us. Geo. Ludwig,
held on a charge of larceny.
After the late splurge, all is quiet in the
matrimonial market; hence know of but
one couple of whom it is said that they have.
the hardihood to contemplate splice.
Mauch Chunks pet society the Atheneum,
on last Tuesday evening, gave a representa-
tion of Dickens" Pickwck." The affair, as
my informant expressed himself, was Eek
quisite," complete success; and, by the
way, did you ever hear of anything that
took place here that was not exquisite " or
has been a failure?
On Saturday, the 14th inst, navigation is
set down to close for the season. Had it
closed shortly after the break at Durham
Creek, our hardy navigators, would, no
doubt, have been the better of. This has
been the most disastrous season boatmen
have had slice the great freshet in 1862, and
how they have managed to keep themselves
and their teams from starvation is q riddle.
Rev. .Edsall Ferrier, certainly tile most
noted speaker hereabouts, announces free
lecture, in the lecture-room of the lst Pres
byterian church, for this Saturday evening
He will be greeted with full house, of
course, and next week the Mauch Chunk |
papers will be filled with glowing account |
of the lecture.
Having already stated that business gem
orally speaking, is extremely dull here, |
must in justice add, that the Sheriff and |
Prothonotary are about the only individuals
who have no reason to complain on that
score. "'Tis an ill wind that blows nobody |
good"
l was just going to attempt writing you
a number of items, but what is one to do |
when there is really nothing to write about.
If any have shufiled off the mortal coil,"I |
don't know it, and they have probably died
as happily for all that. A record of goers
and comers, or the departure of this or that
Miss Flora McFlimsey, you don't want,
hence what am I towrite about from place
as stale as the pool of Bethesda without its
redeeming virtues?
Chance would have it that few days ago
I should find myself in company of dozen
or more of some of the most substantial men
in the Democratic party. Politics was the
theme of conversation, and the merits or de-
merits of this and that prominent indi-
vidual were talked about. At last the sub
ject of the future judgeship was touched up