Year: 1877

M ALTERS ana Ih1ngs In General.
This letter was omitted last week
for want of space, but is neverthe-
less interesting.


NASHVILLE, Jan. l, 1876.


Dame Nature has been cutting up
some fantastic capers this winter,
and she has served the Sunny South
a trick that will never be forgotten.
From a time when the memory of
man runneth not to the contrary,
the people of this latitude have
never witnessed such winter. To
have white tops on the houses,
white branches on the trees and a
white carpet on the earth for more
than a week at a time is some
thing wonderful. 1t was doubtless
conspiracy on the part of Dame
Nature and Old Probabilities in the
interest of domesticity and the gen.
tler sex. 1t is probable that the
epoch will be looked back upon as a
red-letter day in our social annals
an era when home comforts and
home amusements reached their
acme-for it is very certain that
not be obtained anywhere else. 1t
is true, the sleigh-bells are ringing
all day and all night, to the tune of
five dollars an hour, but there are
few who can pay so much for so
little without denying themselves
more solid comforts and at the same
time turning a closed ear to the
appeals of real want that are made
on either hand.


For the first time in more years
than many men can number, the
Cumberland is frozen over, hard,
fast and thick. All day yesterday
SUNDAY as it was) skaters were fly
ing up and down and across the
river, while thousands of men, wo-
men and children stood upon the
banks and upon the suspension
bridge to see the sport.


While so disagreeable an episode
affords theme for congratulation
to some, it is sad to know that the
field is so contracted as to exclude
many. 1t is a hard winter, and
many poor souls are tonight sitting
by their chill hearths hungry and
cold, in poor tenemants, or wander
ing hungry and cold through the
streets. There is fine missionary
field open to all who love humanity,
and who follow the teachings of the
Good Book. The laborers should
not be few.


Despite the inclement weather,
oceans of people have found their
way to the city, among whom there
are more candidates than one could
''shake stick att in "month of
SUNDAYS" 1t is estimated that
each member of the Legislature is
followed by enough candidates to
worry the life and soul out of five
hundred of the most patient and
self possessed men that ever sat in
council. Until both houses are
fully organized and their officers
and servants are chosen, the men,
bers of the Legislature deserve the
commiseration of their constitu-
ents.


Not alone the Legislature but the
Supreme, Criminal, Law and Coun-
ty Courts met to day. There is
much to do in the city in public
way, but it brings precious little to
than on1 hnar6ln
house fleecers.


At the very time when the city
would under ordinary circumstances
be most gay and festive, it is more
cheerless and gloomy than ever.
Everybody is asking when business
will revive, without getting salts
factory answer to the question.
The fact is, the depression of busi-
ness is now more marked than at
any time since the panic began.
Business is Improbable, capital is
unproductive, and people are idle,
because of the uncertainty of the
political future of the country.
This uncertainty can not be pro-
tracted long after the 4th of March,
and indications do not point to its
removal before that time. Until
then the country must, as best it
can, stand this stagnation of trade,
and business men must bear with
each other, and do the best they can
to give work to their employees.
There is every reason to look for a
period of unprecedented prosperity
if the politicians will only give the
business interests a fair chance.
The home supply of nearly all man
ufactured articles is almost exhaust
ed, and there must soon be work
for the idle. The crops in all parts
of the country are heavy and must
be moved, and will put money in
circulation as soon as there is a
business confidence that will justify
transactions with any kind of GER
tainty as to the future. 1t is rea-
sonable to conclude, therefore, that
with the peaceful Inauguration of
Mr.. Tilden as President on the 4th
of March-the consummation of
which / have not the slightest doubt
confidence will return, business
will revive, capital and industry will
have their true reward, and the
country have a new era Of prosper
ity and healthy growth. $50 mote
il be-"