Charlotte home and Democrat., 1881-12-02
Home and Democrat
CHARLOTTE, N. q.
Correspondence of the Home and Democrat
NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 1881.

bibit from North Carolina is greater and
of greater variety than that of any other
State. and adds, that it is now daily
experience to meet mining engineers that
are familiar with California, Nevada, New
Mexico and Colorado, who say that this
collection of specimens could not be
duplicated from any other region in the
World. And further, that capital is
going there by the million in quiet way,
hoping to avoid attention.
As to the Naval Store business, he
writes that a Northern Company has
bought $50, 900 acres of pine land in Dodge
county, Georgia, and all along the rail-
road they have saw mills and turpentlne
distilleries in operation. - ..
Another great gift to college. S. W.
Phoenix, late of this city, has left about
5000, 900 to Columbia College, of this city,
to be paid after the death of his brother
and two sisters, who have life estate
1t is said to be already, the most richly
endowed college in the country.
The "city fathers as the Aldermen
were wont to be called before every
mothers son in the city got to be ashamed
of them, are hard set. They are freely
denounced as "blackguards," as "strikers"
who only 60 for money and will vote for
any job that will pay well. At their
meeting on Tuesday one of them spoke of
the Mayor (who is understood to be a
very worthy gentleman) as ga dirty liar." :"
And one Republican Alderman said that
two other Republican Aldermen were
"traitors;'' he "diG not know what the
consideration was," but that a large
amount of money had been made to
bribe them. Doubtless his wrath was ex-
cited because he himself received no part
of the large amount. 1t may seem strange
that better men are not put in Office here !;
but better men are unwilling to 60 to the
ward meetings, and to drink with those
things all its own way. There were in
1873 two thousand five hundred and ten
Federal officers in this city, (probably
more now,) their salaries amounting to
$2,5OO,OOO. And probably there are even
more city and State officers, who receive
another 100000, to say nothing of the
pickings and stealings of both sets. Who
can wonder that the tens of thousands of
men who are unable or unwilling to get
their living in any honest way should
strive to fasten themselves on the general
or State or city government And to do
this they adopt the basest means and
court the lowest and basest men. 1t has
long been a reproach to be known as an
Alderman or other official
We seem to be fast becoming a nation
of beggars. Not only do men, women
and children perambulate the streets and
invade the counting houses and the
kitchens of every city, but the Wander.
bilts and every rich man and woman who
is known to have performed a generous
act, are importuned by letters for con.
tributions. They have even invaded Mrs.
Garfeld's privacy, and it is stated that
she has received bushels of letters, as
many as sixty day, asking for money.
Bishop of the Episcopal Church, in a
recent address, stated that when he was
born not one of all the inventions result.
ing from the application of steam and
electricity was in existence. 1t was the
day of the spinning wheel and the hand
loom. What revolution! Seven days
across the Atlantic; seven minutes or
less for message around the world rail
roads and printing presses; the world
clothed by steam and not by hand, with a
material whose very existence was then
scarcely known. What will the next
generation or two add to all that the past
one or two have conferred upon mankind
Doubtless, like these last, mixture OF
good and evil
"The American Book Exchange" pub.
fishers of cheap books, has collapsed. 1t
had "a short life and merry one" Was
incorporated three and halt years ago
with capital Of $4,000, increased two
years ago to 100000, and again nine
months ago to S25O,OOO. Its sales this
year had amounted to 100000 Its re-
ceipt ofletters ranged from 500 to 1900
day. Its pay roll to employees was
$S,5oO to $4,000 per week. They are said
to have paid $75, 1000 in 1880 for adver
tising. How much they did not pay
doubtless some Southern Editors might
guess. have tried unsuccessfully to col
lect for some of them.
l wonder if / were young would sym
pathize with writer in the N. Y. Oh
server who deplores that "the age ot
homespun has passed away ?" 1t is 81
long since l was young that it is impossi
BILE to tell. But how many scenes are re-
vived IN the memory, and how many old
familiar faces look upon me as of yore, as
read, Everything that was most distinc
tive of the old homespun mode of life will
soon have passed away The spinning
wheels of wool and flax, that used to buzz
T. Il \