HASZARD’S GAZETTE, DECEMBER 22.‘:

COUNTING-ROOM IDUCATION.

In looking over the life of Alexander Hamilton, by Dr. Renwick, says our con- temporary of the Philadelphia Jllercltant, we were struck with a just acknowledgment made by the distinguished writer respecting the inﬂuence of counting-room education. It is seldom that literary men ltave a favo- rable word to say ofthe initiatory depart- ment of mercantile life, and all who have read the introduction to Hawthorn’s ‘Scar- let Letter,’ have met a good specimen of the severity with which day-book and led- ger life can be treated, as though it were adverse to everything dignilying and noble. —But in the Life of Hamilton, by Dr. Ren- wick, we have an admission no less remark- able than just. It appears that in early age Haniilton’s father became embarrassed in his pecuniary matters, and the son looked about him for self-maintenance. A situati- on was secured for him in a commercial house in St. Croix, and he entered the counting-room of an eminent merchant.

He advanced so rapidly in the acquire» ment of the knowledge of business affairs and the tact of good management, that while very young, most important trusts were committed to his keeping. But iner- cantile affairs did not suit him, and those ﬁne abilities which he afterwards displayed

merits he can carry

arrowest conception of mercantile life,

lt is a good sign of the times, that so in-

Commercial institutes and colleges

such an education is im-

of seeing in him the promise of the intelli-it gent, inﬂuential, and honored merchant, you behold almost certain evidence, that he will never attain to anything beyotid the; n and willfllrnish a good model for the sar- tist who hates everything like a Commerce because it suggests the possession of ino- ney, which he has not.

creased and improved have become t|ie,tot11eghm,.g.,{ facilities for preparatory commercial educa- , I tion. are increasing in all our large cities. these, the young man ﬁnds his ideas of} of counting-room life radically changed, He discovers, that the more accomplish-t to the desk, the better the promise oftrue success; and instead of the old notion of coriﬁtiing attention to book-keeping and penmanship, we have now, in these educational establishments, professors and lecturers on commercial geography, commercial law, political sci- ence, &c., and parted as impresses the student with he great fact, that no enlargement of his men- tal acquirentents can fail to be of use to him in the long run of mercantile life. are beginning to bring back the ancient ideas ofthe merchant, when he was deemed

In!

were permitted to ﬁnd a fitting sphere of

classiciil studies were furnished 'tiint, and the world knows that one of the ablest and most influential minds of America was that of Alexander Hamilton.

3 caiitile correspondence without its value in

sayst— ‘ \Ve cannot, however, but consider his early introduction to the business of a coiint- ing-hotise as having a favorable influence on his subsequent career. Tlte liiibits of order and regularity in a well-conducted cominercial establishment are never for-‘ gotten, and are applicable to every pos- sible pursuit. Nor is the exercise of iner-

a literary point of view. To those with little previous education, or who have not -_ - ~ Al I

an ,, ‘ y0 g..._ afterward, this exercise may communicate no elegance ol' style, but where the use of language has once been attained, the com- pression of thought and conciseness of ex- pression. on which merchants pride them- selves, give ll terseness and precision of die- tion which those educated in any other profession can rarely equal.

Now this is high praise, coming as it did from within the walls ofa college. ' It is a broad view of counting-room education, and suggests many ideas that it would be well to dwell upon. Too many minds, es- pecially those inclined to literary pursuits, regard the counting-room merely as a sort of magician’s retreat, where the art of changing the dollar into a double eagle is taught and learned-—where, the faculties ofthe mind are trained into a sort of dray- horse business, and what is learned there has to them no more connection with any other portion of life, than the blotter has with the prayer-book. They see the clerk, his pen and ink, his invoices and his books, his letters, and they deem the copying-press a capital invention to break up the mono- tony ofthe pen-ink life of the poor drudge. As to the training of the faculties, the de- velopeuient of habits of order and regulari- ty, the stern discipline of moral powers, clear, concise expression of what must’ be said, and kindred matters—these are all overlooked, and they must be indebted to some discerning and comprehensive mind far any means of seeing, how a counting- room education may exert a ‘ favorable in- ﬂuence ' on any subsequent career. _e have frequently been struck with the rapid advances made by those who have left mer- cantile life for the bar or the pulpit, attri- butable only to the tact by which they were able to seize opportunities promptly—tact developed in the counting-room, where emergencies sometimes stir a man’s soul as no college examination or trial sermon ever roused up human nature.

Much of the results of which we have been speaking depends on the aims with which the counting-room is entered.--Iftlie young man goes in as to it trotid-mill, a treadmill he will find. He will sliirk every- thing beyond the simplest routine of pre- scribed duties. The boundary of his visi-f on will be exceedingly limited; and instead‘

Probably a portion of it has found i way into the Crimea, another part has found its way into the general circulation of the commercial world, and the remain- der is no doubt boarded in small sums by persons of moderate means.”

the paragon of accomplishment, furnished with all forms of knowledge, and holding himself bound to acquit hiriiself nobly in possessing a comprehensive knowledge of the little world about him, but also of the greater world, with all its diversities, bringing from afar knowledge that poured

the best light on things near.

Every day the ideal of the trite merchant

is increasing in dignity and attraction. The

‘ almighty dollar ’ is no symbol of him; but

treaties, laws, courtesies, and amenities, -biiiding discordant nations and peoples in bands of ainity, making the iritero-.-‘ts of Commerce far better for man's regard than the fortunes of war. hold the confusion of war now impeding the progress of mankind, it is to the mer- c to preserve peace where it is now enjoyed,

And however we be-

liant that we owe most potential influence

and to hasten the end of wars where they are raging.—IIunt’s Mai-chaiit's Jllaga:ine.

The New‘? Shippirtg List says: “ lt,is aremnrkable fact that notwith-

standing the iiiitnense receipts of gold

fro Australia and California within the past year, the great depositories in Europe

and this country are steadily diminishing

their specie reserves. 'l‘lic Bank of France, from September last year to Sep-

tcmber this year, has lost nearly two

hundred millions of francs, equal to 3'2- l-2 millions of dollars; the Bank of Eng-

land, since Jane, has decreased its coin and bullion in both departments from

£l8,l86,000 to £ll,2'20,000, equal to

nearly 35 millions of dollars ; The New

York Banks, since February, have de-

creased from I7 1-2 to ll I-2, a loss of 6 millions ; and the Boston Banks, since June, from $8,600,000 to $‘2.400,000, being a loss of $1,200,-000 ; the aggre- gate decline amounting to over $75,000, 000. The question naturally arises—“

What has become of all this money?” S

on»

MILK Ct.nit.—ln some careful experiments

made by Dr. Anderson, the quantity ofcream ob- tained from the ﬁrst drawn cup of milk was in every case smaller than the last drawn ; and those between afforded loss or more, as they were nearer the beginning or the end. The quantity of‘ cream obtained from the last drawn cap from; some cows, exceeded that from the first in the proportion of sixteen to one. portion was not so great. Anderson, " on an average of a great many cows, i it might be found to run as ten or twelve to one.

ln others, the pro- " Probably," says Dr.

l‘he difference in the quality of thecream was

Man has three friends in this worlil—l how do they conduct themselves in i hour of death, when God suininons him before his tribunal?—Money, his best liiottd leaves him first, and goes not with him. His relations and friends accompany him to the threshold of the grave, and then return to their homes. The third, which ,he often forgets during his life, are his good works. They alone accompany him the Jiidge—they go before , iim, speak, and obtain mercy and pardon i for hint.

I Duringthe year 1854, one hundred atid sixty men were hanged in the United States for murder. Of this number, only seven could read and write. What a lesson.

HANNA]! Mons says—“ Though the arts which embollisli _lifc claim admiration, yet when a titan of sense comes to marry, it is a companion he wants, and not an artist. It is not merely a creature who can dress, and paint, and sing, it is a being who can coin- fort and counsel him; one who cart reason, and reflect, and feel, and judge, and act; one who can assist him in his iiffairs, soothe his sorrows, lighten his cares, purify his joys, and educate his children.” “She should be well versed in the household la- bors of baking, washing, cleaning and sew- ing; otherwise she is unlit to be a wife as a ‘ Shoe-maker would be to navigate a tiiati- of-war across the Atlantic, ”

Seek for substantial as well as artistical excellences in her you would make your wife. She should be frugal, not wasteful; for an extravagant wife will bring embar- ras.-ment; if not poverty itself, into your habitation; her ambition for costly dress, costly furniture, costly living, will empty your piirso, ruin your business, introduce you to the insolvent debtor’.-i court; or worse than all, it will iiistal the demon of discontent by your fireside. She must be industrious, for a lazy woman is always fretful, odious, and disgusting.

It has been eloquently and truly said, that if Cliristianity were compelled to than from the mansions of the great, the acade- mics ol‘pliilosopliers, the halls oflegislators, ' or the llll‘()n_;;S of busy men, we should find . her last retreat with women at the fire-side l Her last atidicnco would be the children gathering round the knee of‘ a mother; the lust sacrifice the secret prayer, escapiiig in silence front her lips, and heard, perhaps, only at the throne ofGod.

Remarks on the Present Timrs, by The Hon, Myron H. Clark, Governor of the Slate of New York.

At a County Temperance Convention, held at Pleasant Valley. Duichess Co., a letter was read from Gov. Clark. After noticing their request for his attendance, he says,~—

H Allow me to say, that we are now in a very important crisis of the temperance reform. The cause is progrns-ing, however amidst all its diﬂi-| culties and opposition ;and it will progress untill I the liquor tr.itl'ic is swept away. lts success, I need not say to you, depends upon the persever- ing efforts of the temperance men throughout the State. acting together in unison and strength.

" It is encouragingto lcain, asl do, from va- rious portions of the tate, that the law passed at the last session of the Legislature is operating with gratifying success. That it would at once triumph over all opposition, or be found entirely perfect, was more than over its friends even, anti- cipated. lts defects must be remedied, and its universal observance secure-l. In this great work I shall evor rejoice to be with you an hum- ble colabourer.”

Extract from a letter, descriptive of a lengthened journey in the United States, by a person for- merly resident in Oxford.

Rs-rimiiito to Boston, I take the ear

land or Maine. and arrive the same night. On

the marrow, after the transaction of business_.l visit the world-renowned Neal Dow, tbs celebra. ted author of the Maine law for prohibiting the sale ofintoxicating liquors. " ' ' I pre-

Port-

:ilso much greater than the dilTerence in quantity.‘ From this it appears, that the person who, by bad

inilking of his cows, loses but half a pint of milk.

loses in fact about as much cream as would be af-

fordrrl by six or eight pints at the beginning, and

loses, besides, that "purl ofthe cream which afone can giro richness and Itigltﬂorour to butter."

guma you are so well posted up that you do not require to be told much about this law ; let it suﬂiee for me to say, that dating a Journey of over 1500 miles, I have seen only two drunken persons. Such is the effect of this law, that peo- ple who will have liquor have a great deal of trouble to get it, and the natural result is, that psiiperism, taxes, and crime, are all wonderfully diminished ; that liquor will be annihilated entire- ly, nobody expects; but the rendering the sale of liquor illegal, is it great step in advance.

BALL IN its At.Msitouss.—The inmates of the almshouse at Bridgewater celebrated Thanksgiv- ing by a ball.

the t

A l\liv.i..i.\'ciiot.v STORY.—Am0ng the welve who were punished on Monday for di'-unkencss was oiie—a femult,-_who3e hip. tory is truly melancholy, though by no means ttnusuul She is not old, was once pretty,coiirtr.-d and admired by all. The was born in the South, of wealthy parents, and her earlier years were ble.-t with all “N blessings Of one in her station. Her ‘3dl_1¢illl0ﬂ W83 tl'i0I‘0ugh, and she early gained a good reputation as a writer. She 500ﬂ_0VIHC'€d a passion for the stage,~—a. passion so uncontrollable, that despite the entreaties of parents and friends she became an actress. In this sphere, she was very successful, and after 1, time made h'er ap- pearance on the boards in this city, where she created no littlefurore. Her appear- ance was always haiicd with enthusiasm, but after a time her fame and fortune be- gun to wane. She fell, as many of her prolession had done before, a victim to drink ! Becoming daily worse, no manager would run the risk of engaging her. For a 11016, She gave evidence of an intention to reform, but the terrible passion predomin- 33811 3 she again fell. The formerly lovely woman, talented autlioress and ﬁne actress Slvep:-‘lo-nl[_'ltl.n Vagabond in the Tombs. —./Veto York Timrs.

Asrouuntxc 'l‘t-:t.scitiii=nic lMI'lti)ViI.'tlESTs.

Wonderful as the achievements of electricity have been up to this date, all that has heretofore been accouiplisheil is now about to be thrown in tho back-groiind by some astonishing improve- ments that had been recently made iq the United States. The details of the principles upon which these are founiled have not yet been given to the world, probably because their discoverers have not yet realized those tirst pmllts which coristi- tute the only. and often the meagre reward of itiind worn out in the service of niankind. A now Telegrapli Company has been formed in the City of New York, composed of some of the most stanncli business innit, who are lllﬂlilllt} pre- parations for the extensive operation of the Elec- iro Magnetic Printing '1‘:-leiirapli; invented by Doctor E. Hughes ol Keiituelty. The prcdigies performed by this instrument appear quite as ini- possible as the most fabulous fzfiry-tale, and yet we have every reason to believe that it is equal to all that is claimed for it. Comparison with any otlnr is absolutely out of the qurstton. ” It will print,” says the New York Herold,“ from three to live hundrtd letters, or from ﬁfty to one hundred words in a minute, without the possibility of error. It will send two messages simultaneous- ly in opposite directions over the same wire. It works with the most perfect secrecy, that is, it will send a coinniuniration from the point of its departure direct to its destination, without the pos- sibility of any way-ofiicc on the route receiving a copy. except at the will ofthe sender. It is very simple in its operation. Any erson who knows a letter of the alphabet when he sees it, can write as correctly with this instruinsnt as the most ex- perienced operator. All that is requisite to insure absolute correctness being, that the copy shall in the ﬁrst instance be written plainly std correct- ly. Tho unichine verifies itself, that is, at each- revolntion the operator can tell,by means ofsn un- erring test in his instrument, whether it is in unison or not with the instrument with which it is coin- municating in a distant city. But its most won- derful feat, and that which will test the reader’: credulity the severest, is its power to start into operation s similar machine in a distant olﬁce, without the help or even the presence of an opera- tor, and compel it to write out whatever messages it chooses to send, in the same perfect manner in which they at first started on their transit. Thus for instance an operator at Washington may, at any time lock up his oﬂiee and go to his meals or to his bed if he chooses, and on his return he may find on his desk it message perhaps from New Orleans, all fairly printed out and ready to be enveloped and sent to its address. It is said also. to be much tnore economical in the mode ofits working than any other machine. With such capabilities it appears, that nothing tnore in the way of per- fection could be aceomplirhed-—thst hnttisii ge- nius has attained its acme——its culminating point

of magic performance ; and yet who knows how long it may be before other prodigies may be achieved that will as far outstrip these, as they do all their predecessors.

The American ivhaler John Henry fell in with

the abandoned British Arctic ship Resolute, of Sir Edward llelcher‘s expedition, in Davis Straits. _ abandoned their own ship.

The crew took possession of her, and

Bores should be lenient enough to

bear in mind this truth—that it is with

I ﬁre—little sticks kindle it, great sticks

put it out.

he the of conversation as with any other