The Draft Resumes in New York
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HARPER'S WEEKLY. [SEPTEMBER 5, 1863. 574 (Previous Page) touching the efficiency of the Government, and its ability to protect well-conducted citizens against the atrocious violence of what are now appropriately designated as the "dangerous classes." Every loyal citizen felt that the majesty of the Government was at stake; and the general sentiment among good Union men was that the draft should be effected at once—peaceably, if possible; forcibly, if necessary. Well, one morning, when nearly five weeks had elapsed since the first attempt at carrying out the conscription in the city, the order arrived for immediately proceeding with the draft as first contemplated. There was a slight gleaming of bayonets visible through the wording of the official documents; and, as if to crown the odious tyranny inflicted upon the "dangerous classes," General Dix comes out with an Address to the People, in which, after hoping and trusting, and being quite confident that the conscription would go on peaceably, he winds up by saying that it would have to go on at any rate! Nothing could be more striking than the contrast between the city as it raved upon the four black days of July and as it smiled during the 19th day of August and the subsequent days of the resumed draft. Men who were gorillas when the black days were upon us, appeared, by comparison, to have become converted into very affable gentlemen. If you walked the highways and by-ways of the city on the morning of Wednesday, the 19th of August, it was at no peril of life or limb, as it most certainly would have been on Wednesday, the 15th of July. The gorilla appeared to have gone out of town. The swift and even-handed justice that has lately presided over affairs in the Recorder's Court had certainly some little influence in bringing about this reform. So had the suggestive howitzer. The house No. 185 Sixth Avenue, a portion of which is occupied officially by the Provost Marshal of the Sixth District, has now a historical interest attaching to it as the premises upon which was settled the great test question of August, 1863, viz.: whether the land was to be ruled by the Government or by the mob of New York. Inside the railing that intersects the Provost Marshal's room several officers were employed in making preparations for the draft. The "wheel," which is simply a hollow box of wood with an axle through it, mounted on a perpendicular frame, and about three feet in diameter, was hoisted upon a table, and great anxiety was now evinced by the spectators for the commencement of the proceedings. While the officers were charging the wheel with the 7000 scrolls containing the enrolled names, many mirthful exhortations were addressed to them by certain funny men, who appeared to have been specially detailed from some hall of Ethiopian minstrelsy to keep the crowd outside the railing in good humor. Presently the two officials so eagerly looked for made their appearance and took their station upon the table. One of them a tall, big-boned, blind man, whose well-accredited blindness was secured in its proper place by a rather superfluous red handkerchief bound tightly over his eyes. His duty was to stand on the left of the wheel, and grope out therefrom the successive scrolls as it slowly revolved. He now became a target for the funny men in the crowd. "I'm watching you," cried one. "I saw you trying to peep from under the handkercher that time; that's not fair!" a sally at which the blind man laughed as heartily as any body else. "Now then, blind man!" shouted another, "what makes you so slow with that 'ere draft?" "He doesn't see it!" rejoined a voice from the other end of the room. The hilarity of the outsiders was now checked by the stern voice of the Provost Marshal. The necessary documents were read. "Hats off in front!" was the word, and, amidst a breathless silence, the creaking wheel made its first revolution, and the name of the conscript was announced. And thus the draft in New York became an accomplished fact. Not a finger was raised in defiance of the authorities. There was no "revolution" save that of the dull, hollow wheel, which continues to go steadily its rounds while these lines are being written. Mob law has found more than its match in New York. THE CHURCH-YARD LILY.SLOWLY out of a summer grave A pure white lily grew, Its root was red in the heart of the dead, Its cup held tears of dew.
Blanched as white as a first day's snow, It sprang by a mossy stone, An angel's smile turned into a flower, And it blossomed there alone.
It was prisoned round with iron rails, Cankering red with rust; And it rose like a blessing upon a mound, That covered poor human dust.
It sprang from a maiden's broken heart— 'Twas the purest thing on earth; Yet its fibrous roots were deep in a grave, And Death had given it birth.
It fed on sunshine and on showers, It drank the warm bright air; There was never a flower at Eden's gate Grew yet more pure or fair.
White and pure as a virgin's soul, Soft as an angel's wing, It rose to hear the birds above Of heaven in raptures sing.
The flower was as white as the maiden's shroud, And graciously it grew; And its offering of dewy tears On the grave below it threw.
I could not think but it was a sign Of happiness and rest, For it seemed to whisper to us who're left: "Your Alice is with the blest." HUMORS OF THE DAY.SERVANTGALISM. THE following letter from "MISS DRAKE" is a rich specimen of the fine-ladyism of the kitchen, and is printed verbatim et literatim: 20 July, 1863. "SIR—Miss Drake as ford you the a mount of her Bill and is very sory that she is not able to duth it before but she as been hill evre sent she as been up in New York as not been able to go to her sutuhane that she was go in to but I ham gut much better now I ham very sory that I have give you so much Trubble it was not my intensh to rong you of a pen harfter be so kind to me and I thorght it was no use right letter with out send you the money I have send you a greenback to day if you will be so kind to reseat my hill and send it to me "from your Humbler survant "KATE DRAKE. "Sir will you be kind enoft to reseat my bill the same day as I ham order to go down by the seeside and I ham gone on Therday sen it to me." ASTONISHING DISCOVERY.—It is reported to us, on the very best authority, that a lady of great wealth invariably finds her servants in tea and sugar. In the present dearth of good servants, we are glad to be able to tell our readers where to look for them. THE TRUTH SEEN THROUGH A PORT-HOLE.—When a ship goes into port, she usually steadies; but when port gets into a man, he usually reels. A TRIVIAL ACCIDENT. A turnstile stood in Fanny's way; She tried to pass it through: A lot of boys, hard by at play, Had Fanny in their view. Her skirts she sought in vain to press Those narrow bounds between; When lo! the hoops escaped her dress Of steel-ribbed Crinoline!
The little wretches raised a shout, A loud and joyous noise; They leapt aloft, and danced about, And laughed—those horrid boys! Police, that should have been ashamed, Stood smiling on the scene, While those rude boys "Ho ho!" exclaimed "Out pops the Crinoline!" ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Lushy.—Praising a person while proposing his health is, of course, a buttered toast; but Welsh rabbits are not generally shot, though very often peppered. Veritas.—Of course, if you will persist in telling the naked truth, how can you expect any thing but a bare existence? Hubby.—May I throw my wife out of a second-floor window on to the area spikes? Certainly; but it does not look well, and appearances should be consulted. Teaser says his sister is much annoyed with him because, having tied her to a lamp-post, he shaved her head and eyebrows, and painted her a bright blue. Well, well, T. must try again; he meant well, and little kindnesses of that sort strengthen friendship. Smellie.—You ask us for the best kind of scent? Being sent to the bank with a check for $100, and receiving orders to keep it yourself. Mercator.—The chief exports from Athens are perfumery and lies. Among the former are the celebrated "Iles of Greece." The following pithy story is told of Hallam and Rogers: "How do you do, Hallam?" said the poet. "Do what?" said the other. "Why, how do you find yourself?" "I never lose myself." "Well, how have you been?" "Been where?" "Pshaw! How do you feel?" "Feel me and see." "Good-morning, Hallam!" "It's not a good morning." Rogers could say no more. ALARMING ACCIDENT.—A commercial gentleman, while traveling from New York to Boston, opened the carriage-window, and immediately fell out with another gentleman who was sitting opposite. We are informed that both leave wives and large families to lament them—whenever they are absent on business. VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.—The Metropolitan Pawnbrokers are about to organize a corps. They are to be armed with Pop-guns. CONVIVIAL MOTTO FOR THE COMPANY OF SPECTACLE-MAKERS.—"Glasses Round." "Massa," said Sembo, "one of your oxen is dead; t'oder too. 'Fraid to tell you of boff at once for fear you couldn't bore it." YACHTING.—"Is it more expensive to keep one's self on board ship than on land?" asks a would-be Nautical Correspondent. Our answer will put the matter in a nautilus' shell. If you want to be economical, stop on shore; for it is is matter of great difficulty even to keep your legs for a moment at sea. A QUERY FROM A QUART-ERMASTER.—Why is a publican twice as good as any other man? Because he double X-cells any body. REAL BOON TO NERVOUS SUFFERERS.—Itinerant organists going out of town. A PLEA FOR PRUSSIAN POLICY.—The best apology that can be made for the King of Prussia's conduct touching the Polish question is, that he must be puzzled how to act, because his position in respect to it is peculiarly Posen. EPIGRAM. BY A FARMER OF THE OLD SCHOOL. Them little games to Tiptree Hall is no use, really, is 'em? You can't expect as we shall grow our crops by Mechinism. MOTTO FOR EXCURSIONISTS.—A short train and a merry one. NO SOONER ASKED THAN TOLD.—What type ought the Act abolishing the Metropolitan Turnpikes to have been published in?—Pica. Why is a noose like a box with nothing in it?—Because it's hemp-tie. CLASSICAL.—It is a fact not mentioned in Lempriere, that in ancient times "plowing the ocean" produced Cecrops. THE LION OF THE Season.—PEPPER. DO YOU GIVE IT UP? Why is a short negro like a white man? Because he not a tall black. Ye sages profound, for enigmas renown'd, Though I never exist in the light, In the day I am found, in the dark do abound, But never am seen in the night? Letter D. A lady asked a gentleman how old he was? He answered, "My age is what you do in every thing (XL)." ADVERTISEMENTS.ASOLUTION of Pure Iodine in Pure Water. It acts upon the HEART,
LIVER, KIDNEYS,
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