Manufacture of Postage Stamps.

THE New York Tribune describes the process

that might turn their thoughts away from one long introspection of themselves? The sects of anachorets were, in the beginning, a token of present evil in the world that they had quitted; by which postage stamps are manufactured as they soon became a nuisance in themselves.

follows:

Politics are said to be so demoralizing, so "The designs for the stamps are first engravcontaminating, that many honorable men, from ed on dies, taken up on rolls and then transferhigh motives, have resolved to have nothing to red to a large steel-plate by the process of muldo with them. The consequence has been that tiplication, the hardened roll being applied sucin some of our large cities the control of all of- cessively to every portion of the surface, until fices of trust, all expenditures and taxes, all the dies of two hundred stamps are made. The great public measures, has passed entirely in- plate being now hardened goes to the printingto the hands of the worst demagogues and room. The process of printing is very simple, ruffians. In San Francisco a few years ago, the plate being inked, then laid in the press, the so apparent to all good citizens were the evils moistened sheet placed on it, the roll passed of this let-alone policy, so flagrant the viola- once over it, and two hundred postage stamps tions of trust and of justice, and so difficult are printed at one operation. A weak oil is was it to restore the government into the hands used, so that the stamp may not be saturated, of law-abiding citizens, that a means really re- as the paper is not so highly sized as that used volutionary in itself, but one, I think, justified for bank-notes. Carmine gives the red color to by the motive and the result, was resorted to, the three-cent stamp, pale ultra-marine the blue and safety for life and property was obtained to the penny stamp, chrome green the tint to through the action of that tribunal, unknown the ten-cent stamp, while the five-cent denomito our laws, the irresponsible Vigilance Com- nation is printed in brown, the twelve-cent in mittee. It will not do to try to escape the evils black, and twenty-four-cent in purple, thirtyof society by running away to caves and deserts; cent in orange, and the ninety-cent in intense neither to live within a society and ignore its ultra-marine. From the press the sheets of evils and its tendencies. How vast the field of stamps go to the drying-room, where they are duties and obligations this imposes upon us, piled in canvas covered frames, or racks, so arwhat things there are in the community that we ranged that each day's work, and even each still persist in not seeing, what are the tenden-man's task is kept by itself. They go next to cies of this country, as a commurity, I cannot be gummed, labor which is entirely performed even touch upon. by girls. The sheets are laid in piles, face down; Caspar Hauser is one of the saddest instances each girl has a copper basin of gum and a soft, that I know of, of the evils incident to a priva- flat brush, with which she finishes a sheet with Each girl gums one thousand tion of society even from earliest infancy. That a few strokes. there was in him, when first he was known to sheets or two hundred thousand stamps in a mankind, no noble trait of character, no beauty day. The gum used for this purpose is prepared of form or of expression, that intellect was nearly by one man only, who keeps the formula of its gone, and hardly a glimmering of a soul was left, manufacture a profound secret. The gummed pains a sensitive mind fur more than Pellico's sto-sheets are placed in racks similar to those used ry; his soul came out of its conflic sorely tried in the drying-room, and piled up in the room and worn, but angelic in its beauty; this was a for half a day, or a day and a half, as the atmere wreck of humanity, so deformed and scarmosphere may be more or less dry, and when red, as scarcely to be distinguishable from a thoroughly dried are laid between pasteboard leaves and subjected to powerful pressure. The brute. This tendency to deteriorate has often been sheets are now cut in halves so as to leave one seen in nuneries and in monasteries, where one hundred on a sheet, and are then taken to ansex leaves the society of another. It would other room, where the holes between the stamps seem that God has formed us to live together, are perforated by machinery. This operation is male and female, old men and babes, the strong performed by passing the sheets, first in one diand the weak, the merry and the sad, and that rection and then across, between an upper and any departure from this organic form of society lower set of narrow brass cylinders on shafts, entails its own evils, some of which we at this the upper set being furnished with small steel day experience.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

K.

punches, and the other perforated with holes or dies to correspond. The operation is instanta

neous, the whole eleven rows of holes being charging well the duties of the situation that punched at once. The cylinders are adjustable the individual commands the high consideration on their shafts, so that stamps of any size can of his fellow citizens. The work which the be perforated by the same machine.

physician does for society is a substantial beneThe stamps are now finished, the only re- fit, in relieving suffering in sickness and conmaining duty of the attendants being to count tributing to the general health. These benefits and inspect them, after which they are placed have so often been conferred and have been rein the safe and sent in packages wherever Gov-ceived in so many cases, that the class is held ernment directs. Each machine, worked by a in high estimation. The cases are not rare of girl for twelve hours, perforates ten thousand persons who consider themselves indebted to stamps a day, one way, or half that number if the physician for recovery from alarming sickthe holes are made in both directions. Last ness or serious accident. A merchant is conyear the Post-Office Department used two hun-sidered as contributing to physical comfort and dred and sixteen millions postage stamps of all to the general acquisition of wealth by furnishdenominations, while this year the increase will ing good commodities at a reasonable price and not fall far short of twenty millions. by a fair exchange of commodities. So in other Of all the denominations of stamps, the red, callings, the benefits conferred are apparent. or three-cent ones, are most in demand, about Taking a similar view of a teacher's work, three times as many of them being used as of we shall see that, as a class, they are doing for the penny stamps. Next to the penny, the ten-society what is of immense value. They are cent denomination is most in request, next the contributing the principal supplies to the genertwelve-cent, then the twenty-four-cent, and so al fund of knowledge. This alone is of vast on; the ninety-cent ones, of course, being re-importance, but this is only part of their work. quired less than any others. Stamps being They are, to an important extent, manufacturreally the representatives of so much money, ing the tools by which the intellectual work of the greatest care is taken to guard against dis- the community is to be performed. Just as honesty on the part of the workmen, and so thinking and planning are works of wide influperfect is the system of checks, that the loss of ence, and when well directed, of a most benefia single penny stamp can be detected with ab- cial influence, so the class of persons who set solute certainty." these thinking powers into motion and give, in a great degree, the direction to them, is a very important class, and deserves a high rank in the community.

For the Schoolmaster.

Teachers Should Have a Rank.

THIS is necessary to their having a due influTeachers have the mind of the community ence. The three learned professions are each for the material on which they work. Their larecognized as holding an honorable rank in so-bors develop it, enlarge and strengthen it, culticiety. Their opinions are heard with deference, vate its powers and prepare it to act upon socieand their influence is felt with a force corres-ty. As a class, the teacher holds a position at ponding to the elevation of the position which the side of the clergyman, and must necessarithey hold. Other classes of persons hold a ly precede him. The mind must have a degree rank. Merchants, manufacturers and farmers of cultivation before the heart can be highly hold a rank. Each class is considered as hav- cultivated. The one works on the intellect, the ing a claim to the respect of society, and each other on the moral powers, but both are aiming class exerts a manifest influence from the posi- at the improvement of the highest of the human Let them both hold a high rank as In these cases, the consideration of merit gives they deserve, and not exalt one and degrade the rise to the standing which is accorded to each other. class. There is a conviction that society reaps

tion which it holds.

powers.

Every true teacher will aim to rise to the poa benefit from the legitimate influence which sition to which he is entitled, and the class will each exerts in his sphere. Clergymen, physi- then become a profession, and command the cians, lawyers, merchants, &c., are regarded as high esteem of the community. This position doing something for the general welfare. No should be conceded by the community, and it one, in any of these classes, who did not come will then receive in return a high benefit. As up to the requirements of his position, would they give countenance to the teacher and raise have a reputable standing in it. It is in dis- his sphere, he will do an amount of good cor

respondingly larger. As he is held in high es- Emma. The physician has administered at teem by the parents, so the children will be to various periods of time a conglomeration of a greater extent influenced by him, and he can nauseating beverages and compounds which I therefore do a greater amount for their improve- am unablo to designate by their legitimate cogment. If he is regarded merely as a common nomens. laborer, as performing a work which is a mere drudgery, he is held in such low estimation this way? that his opinions will have little weight, and his influence will be consequently small.

For the Schoolmaster.

Big Dictionary.

W. G. A..

Ellen. How long have you been afflicted in

Emma. If the faculties of memory are unimpaired and capable of exercising their proper functions, it is now some three days that I have been necessitated to continue in this habitation, however much I desired to perambulate abroad. Ellen. But you think now that you are better, do you?

SOME people evidently take great pleasure in Emma. I am enthusiastically applying the being able to use lengthy and, to their hearers, remedies which the physician deposited in my (and not unfrequently to themselves) unintellig- care, feeling hopefully encouraged to employ ible words. Their conversation is much after these attributes or concomitants of a restoration the style of the young lady in the following to healthfulness by the momentary cessation of dialogue: pain this afternoon.

Ellen. Come Emma, will you take a walk with me this afternoon?

Ellen. How do you think it was caused?
Emma. I am not adequate to the task of ex-

Emma. No. You exceedingly oblige me by plicitly expounding the operations by which thus impeding your own progress in pursuing the disarrangements of the physical organs was your ambulatory exercise, for the purpose of effected, but I apprehend that it must have been extending an invitation to your most unworthy occasioned by my venturing out upon the puband at present indisposed friend; and it excites lic thoroughfare unprotected by the impervious in the organ of vitality an exceeding enormous coverings which are designed to exclude that degree of dissatisfaction that the appendages to moisture of oxygen and hydrogen fluid which my corporal system are in such an unfavorable is vulgarly denominated water, and the consecondition for exercising their proper functions. quence was moisture accumulated on the inteEllen. What seems to be the trouble with rior of my leathern protectors, undoubtedly imyour limbs ? parting, imperceptibly, to the respiratory, arteEmma. There appears to be some disarrange-rial and muscular mechanisms of the corporal ment of the muscular combination that participates in the formation of these instruments of locomotion.

Ellen. Is it any like rheumatism? Emma. Undoubtedly pertaining to rheumatic affection; however I should not unhesitatingly denominate it as rheumatism.

system germs of disease.

Ellen. Well, I must be going, I am sorry you cannot go with me.

Emma. I am inexpressibly overcome with painful emotions in consequence of my inability.

Ellen. Well, good day. (Aside.) I declare, I really believe she has swallowed one of Webster's Unabridged Dictionaries recently. It fairly makes my head ache to think of it.

UNUS.

Ellen. Does it give you much pain? Emma. It is scarcely within the comprehensibility of fallible creatures of earth. To use vulgar phraseology, I am in constant racking A HINT TO THE GIRLS.-Our girls will have pains. to take care hereafter to paint their cheeks with Ellen. As you are so seldom unwell, I should nature's "blooms" only; to take heed and not think it would be rather hard to bear.

Emma. Inexpressibly severe. I endure the excruciating agonies of the irrepressible twinges of the nervous organizations from the ascending of the magnificent luminary in the oriental skies to its withdrawal from our gaze behind the stupendous elevations in the majestic west, with scarcely an interval of rest.

Ellen. What are you doing for this?

rinse the windows of the soul with the tincture of belladonna, and to guard against looking interestingly pale. The highest court of England has ruled that want of health in one of two engaged to be married, justifies the other in a breach of his or her promise; and as the ruling of the English courts is often adopted in our own, it is very probable this will become a principle with our judges. So, young ladies look to your calisthenics. Do not paint your cheeks, dawdle too long over a novel, or omit to take your morning walk.

The way to heaven is narrow,

And its blessed entrance strait;
But how safe the little pilgrims
Who get within the gate!
The sunbeams of the morning
Make the narrow path so fair;
And these early little pilgrims

Find dewy blessings there.

They pass o'er rugged mountains,
But they climb them with a song;
For these early little pilgrims

Have sandals new and strong.
They do not greatly tremble
When the shadows night foretell;
For these early little pilgrims
Have tried the path so well.
They know it leads to heaven,
With its bright and open gates,
Where for happy little pilgrims
A Saviour's welcome waits.

Sorrows of Childhood.

heart, the pure and kindly religion of the Blessed Redeemer! These are the folk who inflict systematic and ingenious torment on their children; and, unhappily, a very contemptible parent can inflict much suffering on a sensitive child.

You may find parents who, having started from a humble origin, have attained wealth, and who instead of being glad to think that their children are better off than they themselves were, exhibit a diabolical jealousy of their children. You will find such wretched beings insisting that their children shall go through needless trials and mortifications, because they themselves went through the like. Why, I do not hesitate to say that one of the thoughts which would most powerfully lead a worthy man to value material prosperity would be the thought that his boys would have a fairer and happier start in life than he had, and would be saved the many difficulties on which he still looks back with pain. You will find parents, especially parents of the pharisaical and wrongheadedly religious class, who seem to hold it a sacred duty to make the little things unhappy; who systematically endeavor to render life as IN the March number of the Atlantic Month- bare, ugly and wretched as possible; who nevly the "Country Parson" has a charming little er praise their children when they do right, but essay on "The Sorrows of Childhood," in the punish them with great severity when they do course of which he makes these remarks: wrong; who seem to hate to see their children "There are parents who deliberately lay them- lively or cheerful in their presence; who thorselves out to torment their children. There oughly repel all sympathy or confidence on the are two classes of parents who are the most in- part of their children, and then mention as a exorably cruel and malignant: it is hard to say proof that their children are possessed by the which class excels, but it is certain that both devil, that their children always like to get classes exceed all ordinary mortals. One is away from them; who rejoice to cut off any litthe utterly blackguard-the parents about tle enjoyment-rigidly carrying into practice whom there is no good or pretence of good. the fundamental principle of their creed, which The other is the wrong-headedly conscientious undoubtedly is, that "nobody should ever and religious; probably, after all, there is please Limself, neither should anybody ever greater rancor and malice about these last than please anybody else, because in either case he about any other. These act upon a system of is sure to displease God." No doubt, Mr. unnatural repression, and systematized weed- Buckle, in his second volume, caricatured and ing out of all enjoyment from life. These are misrepresented the religion of Scotland as a the people who, if their children complain of country; but he did not in the least degree cartheir bare and joyless life, say that such com- icature or misrepresent the religion of some peoplaints indicate a wicked heart, or Satanic pos-ple in Scotland. The great doctrine underlysession; and have recourse to further persecu- ing all other doctrines, is, that God is spitefully tion to bring about a happier frame of mind. angry to see his creatures happy-and of course Yes, the wrong-headed and wrong-hearted re- the practical lesson follows, that they are folligionist is probably the very worst type of lowing the best example, when they are spiteman or woman on whom the sun looks down. fully angry to see their children happy. And, O! how sad to think of the fashion in Then a great trouble, always pressing heaviwhich stupid, conceited, malicious blockheads ly on many a little mind is, that it is overtaskset up their own worst passions as the fruits of ed with lessons. You will still see here and the working of the blessed Spirit, and carica- there idiotic parents striving to make infant ture, to the lasting injury of many a young phenomena of their children, and recording

with much pride how their children could read Nobody ever supposed that this walk was a triand write at an unnaturally early age. Such al to a boy of twelve years old, so little are the parents are fools; not necessarily malicious thoughts of children understood. And chilfools, but fools beyond question. The great use dren are reticent! I am now telling about that to which the first six or seven years of life dismal walk for the very first time. And in the should be given is the laying the foundation of illness of childhood children sometimes get very a healthful constitution in body and mind; and close and real views of death. I remember, the instilling the first principles of duty and when I was nine years old, how every evening religion which do not need to be taught out of when I lay down to sleep, I used for about a any books. Even if you do not permanently year to picture myself lying dead, till I felt as injure the young brain and mind by premature- though the coffin were closing round me. I used ly overtasking them-even if you do not per- to read at that period, with a curious feeling of manently blight the bodily health and break fascination, Blair's poem, "The Grave.' But I the mind's cheerful spring, you gain nothing. never dreamed of telling anybody about these Your child at fourteen years old is not a bit thoughts. I believe that thoughtful children farther advanced in his education than a child keep most of their thoughts to themselves, and who began for years after him; and the entire in this respect of the things of which they think result of your stupid driving has been to over- most are as profoundly alone as the Ancient Macloud rome days which should have been the riner in the Pacific. I have heard of a parent, happiest of his life. an important member of a very strait sect of

I believe that real depression of spirits, usu- the Pharisees, whose child, when dying, begged ally the sad heritage of after years, is often felt to be buried not in a certain foul old hideous in very early youth. It sometimes comes of church yard, but in a certain cheerful cemetery. the child's belief that he must be very bad, be- This request the poor little creature made with cause he is so frequently told that he is so. It all the energy of terror and despair. But the sometimes comes of the child's fears, early felt, strait Pharisee refused the dying request, and as to what is to become of him. His parents, pointed out with polemical bitterness to the possibly, with the good sense and kind feeling child that he must be very wicked indeed to which distinguish various parents, have taken care at such a time where he was to be buried, pains to drive it into the child, that if his fa- or what might be done with his body after ther should die, he will certainly starve, and death. How I should enjoy the spectacle of may very probably have to become a beggar. that unnatural, heartless, stupid wretch tarred And these sayings have sunk deep into his lit- and feathered. The dying child was caring for tle heart. I remember how a friend told me a thing about which Shakespeare cared; and it that his constant wonder, when he was twelve was not in mere human weakness, but by or thirteen years old, was this: If life was such faith,' that 'Joseph, when he was a-dying, gave a burden already, and so miserable to look back commandment concerning his bones.'" upon, how could he ever bear it when he had grown older.

PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN.

BETTER THAN A MAN.-It is well known that all ladies have an intense admiration for a sewing machine, and that their delight in the "An extremely wicked way of punishing possession of one calls out enthusiastic terms of children is by shutting them up in a dark place. praise. A lady called at a sewing machine Darkness is naturally fearful to human beings, agency to purchase, and inquiring for some one and the stupid ghost stories of many nurses who had a machine of whom she could learn of make it especially fearful to a child. It is a its merits, was, among others, referred to a lady stupid and wicked thing to send a child on an then present, a quiet, demure-looking maiden errand in a dark night. I do not remember lady. Upon being questioned, this individual passing through a greater trial in my youth at first replied with modest reserve, but finally than once walking three miles alone (it was not the absorbing delight every sewing machine going on an errand) in the dark, along a road proprietoress invariably feels got the better of thichly shaded with trees. I was a little felher diffidence, and she warmly eulogized the low; but I got over the distance in half an hour. object of the inquiry, and finally her eyes Part of the way was along the wall of a churchbrightened, her cheeks grew rosy, and she yard-one of those ghastly, weedy, neglected, accursed-looking spots where stupidity has sprang to her feet, and with an energetic voice said: "Like my sewing machine? To be sure done what it can to add circumstances of dis- I do! Why, I wouldn't begin to exchange it gust and horror to the Christian's long sleep. for a man !”—Portage County Democrat.