The Wabash Courier, Volume 21, Number 48, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 23 July 1853 — Page 1
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VOL. XXI. NO. 48.
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From the Cincinnati Gazette.
Pompeii and Herculaneum. I am inclined to believe with Solomon, that there is nothing new under the sun. I spent half a day in the Museum at at Naples, poring over the relics dug from the above mentioned cities. Arranged in glass cases, and on the floor of four or five rooms, are the implements and utensils of brass, coppor, bronze, and iron, disinterred from those two ancient places. I smiled, as I saw their familiar faces. Being an ex-hardware man, I could better eppreciate [sic] the sight than some others. Standing before me were the articles used in cities buried two thousand years ago, in many cases of the precise shape and pattern of the present day. I saw the same steelyards and scales, the same cow and sheep bells the same fish-hooks, buckles, bridle bits, pots, kettles, sauce pans, porringers, claw hammers, adzes, mattocks, and picks; the identical old Dutch lamp and German compass, tweezers, pincers, keys, backflap, strop and hook and eye hinges. In short a thousand things as we now make them. I could set up a hardware store, again, from this muesum, and its catalogue would read very much like one from a jobber in New York. I confess I was astonished at the similarity of so many articles in my old trade.
The Pompeiians knew a thing or two, and if they could only poke their noses through the cinders and lava, that has entombed them for twenty centuries, they could obtain good journeymen wages in any blacksmith shop, foundry, or tin shop of the present day. They would get the hang of things in four-and-twenty hours, notwithstanding they had been sleeping in the ashes nearly the same number of centuries, and feel quite at home in their old vocations.— Inlaid center tables, folding stools, door handles, &c., &c., &c., down even to the modern case-turner, that I thought, ten years ego, was a new invention, can here be seen. So much for the progress of the present day.
I revisited the burying place of the poor at Naples, not from any morbid curiosity, but because on all the earth, it is in this city alone that such a sight can be seen. I was more horrified the second time than the first. I saw eleven dead naked children taken from a <single box>, where they were promiscously [sic] packed, and sent into the pit as fast as the man could drop them, he keeping tally, with a loud voice, as he chucked them in. Then followed a man and woman—you could hear them fall with a dull squashy sound on the dead below. After that, three more children, of different ages;—and as I came away, other bodies were entering the gate. They throw, at this season of the year, some forty persons in daily. The Priest awaits until a dozen or so are collected about the mouth of the vaults; he then sprinkles them all round, at the same time, blesses them in a lump, and down they go. The whole matter is conducted without the <least affection> of solemnity, and amidst common remark and jests, with a brutality and indifference that passes belief—and yet the Priest seemed a clever old chap, and the men civil fellows. They gave me every opportunity of seeing what was going on, and were very courteous. My descriptions are far short of the truth—I saw more than it is proper to publish, & have only written enough to give some idea of this disgusting spectacle, that occurs every evening in the year. I take a final leave of the revolting subject, and trust my readers will excuse me for having recurred to it—but, as a new phase of humanity, and a disgrace to the nineteenth century, I thought it worth a notice. C. NEAVE.
Naples, June, 1863. ~~~~~~~
OH, MY TEETH !"—Tho Adrian Expositor relates an incident which the .-editor witnessed when the Propel lor
Manhatten sunk the Momicello, two years since, on Lake Superior: Wo were on board the Manhatten and among the passet^ters who were hurried rather uncerimooiousljr Creaa their berths for the vessel was rappidly sinking, was a lady on her wag home, up the lake. When she was first lifted aboard our boat, she was well nigh freightened out of her wits, but after a few moments rest in silence, she at one* jumped from her seat, and in the most exciting accents exclaimed, "Ob, my teeth! I've lost my teeth I've been way down to Massachusetts and got two set of new teeth, end they are in my state-room I Somebody must get my teeth All my goods end lots of new dresses are aboard that boat, but if I can only get my teeth don't care." She got h?r tteth* an^ was
COINCIDENCES.
The following singular coincidences will found interesting: Alexander the Great was born on the 6th of April. On that day he won two of his mos*. important victories, and on that day he died. Onthatday his father, Philipp, conquered Potidsn, and on that day Purmenio, Philipp's general, overcame the illyrians. Pompey the Great was born and died on the 30th of September, and on the same day triumphed on his return from Asia. Augustus was adopted by Julius Caesar on the 19th of August, and on the 19 of August he died. The wife of Henry VII, was born and died on the 11th of February. Sir Kenelm Digby was born and died on the 11th of June. He conquered at Scanderoom on the same day. Ratfaelle was born and died on Good Friday. Shakspere's birthday was also the dsy of his death—April 23J. The 24th of Febua* ry was thrice memorable to Charles V. of Spoin, as the clay of his birth, the day of his victory over Francis, King of France, and the day on which he received the imperial crown at Bonoma. Charles 11. of England was born and restored to the thrope on the 29th of May. The 3J of September was marked in the history of Cromwell as the date of the victory at Dunbar, also of that at Worcester, and as the day of his death. Days of the week have sometimes been sig« nalized in a similar manner. Tuesday was a day of note to Becket, the English saint. On Tuesday the lords passed judgment upon him at Northampton, on Tuesday he went into exile, on Tuesday he had a vision in which his doom was foretold to him, on Tuesday he returned from exile, on Tuesday he died, and on Tuesday was canonized. Wednesday was the lucky day of the celebrated Pope Sixtus V. It was the day of his birth, the day on which he took orders, the dny on which he was made General of his order, the day on which he was created Cardinal, the day on which ho was elected Pope, and the day on which he was inaugurated. Henry VII. called Saturday his fortunate day, as that on which he gained the battle of Bosworth, and that on which he entered London. It is remarkable that four of the Tudors in succession died on Thursday, begin* ning with Henry VIII., th© second, and ending with Elizabeth, the last of the line.— Christian Enquirer.
A LUCK* RAM.
The New York Herald tells a pretty good story ofthe wool speculation among the farmers of New England, in a ram. It seems that a farmer brought up a pet lamb about his house, who being well fed and cared for grew to a large size, and exhibited a splendid fliece of wool. A rumor became current that it was of some extraordinary breed. Finally, a sheep fancier offered him $25 for it, payable with his note and a mortgage on the ram. The fame of the animal rapidly spread, and soon the purchaser was ofiered $100 for his bargan, payable with his bond and a mortgage on the rain. The next dealer which saw him purchased him on bond and mortgage for $500, and he again sold him in the same manner for $1,000, and this pur* chaser again transferred him to the next bidder for $2,000, until tho last buyer took him in at $4,000 or $5,000, each party boasting that he had cleared 100 per cent., on tho lucky ram. A sadden change in the money market came round. Nobody seemed to have any money. The last purchaser failed, and the purchaser before him failed, and so on, until the ram came back to the farmer who had raised him, when a lawsuit arose as to whether he was really a blooded ram at all. Finally in winding up the matter, the lawyer took the ram for his fees.
BLUFFING A WITNESS.—In a Justice's Court down East a trial was under way for trespass, in cutting wood from a neighbor's premises without authority. One of the plantifTs witnesses was a plain old farmer, whose testimony went clearly and directly to prove the charge. The defendant's counsel, a blustering man of brass, after the most approved fashion of country pettifoggers, thought to weaken the force of his evidence by proving idiocy to be a trait af his family. He therefore interrogated him us
N
••Mr. you have a son who is an Idiot, have you not?'* *'Yes, Sir!" "Does he know anything?" ••Very little!" vr "How muck does he know?" •'Well, almost nothing not much more than jro* do!*'
The witness was allowed to retire without further questioning, amidst the most uproarious screams of laughter.
Dobbs says that the Devil is alt allegorical character, and means debt. To debt he traces all the pride, and trouble in the world, and large portion of crime. Running in debt leads to imprudence imprudence to dissipation and dissipation to night brawling, low spirits, ugliness and and assault and bauery. Going on tick has ruined more men than gin and auger. It tolls Industry, and checks economy. The man who peys cash for bis purchases wilt make a dollar go as far again as any other person. Strike ledgers out of existence, and the world would cmce more return to the golden age. There would be no more endorsements, no deputy sheriffs, no sealing wax, no red tape, no self-mur-derers—in abort nothing but Industry and perseverance—»high spirits and re* eeipted
bo*rYbilU, vGrcat
that ctfeh. fh'%%{
invention*
AN ARKANSAS "NOATIS." I a re to wildest and mostsparsely settled regions of Arkansas, (the land made classic by the effusions of that versatile genius •Pete Whetstone,') I arrived at the Ferry on Cache river. A little log-house grocery stood on the near bank, about fifteen steps from where the ferry-boat lay, tied to a snag in the edge of the water. Several bear-skifts. deer-skins, and coon skins, were nailed up to dry against the walls of the grocery, but the door was closed, and no bar-keeper, ferryman, or other person was in sight. I hallooed at the top of my voice some half-a dozen times, but no one answered. Seeing an advertisement on the door, I r^ad as follows:
NOATIS.
ef enny boddy cums hear arter licker, or too git Akross the Rjver They kin get bio This here Home and ef I dont cum when my wife Betsy up at the Hous heres the Home a bloin shell cum down and sell the licker or set em Akross the ruver imeguine a Fishing no creddet when Ime away frum Hoame john
Wil
son NB. them that cant rede will hev too go too the Hous arter Betsey taint but half a mile thar
In obedience to the "noatis," I took tho blowing-horn, which stuck in a crack of the wall close by the door and gave it a "toot" or two, which reverberated far around the cane and swamp, and in a few moments was answered by a voice scarcely less loud and reverberating than that of the horn—it seemed to be about half a mile distant up the river and in about fifteen minutes a stalwart female made her appearance, and asked me if I wanted "licker." "No, madam, I want to cross the river, if you please "Don't you want some licker fust?" "No, madam don't drink—never touch liqunr." "Never letch licktr! Why, ye must be a preacher, then, ain't you?" "No, madam, I'm only a Son of Temperance I wish to get across the river, if you please do you row the boat?" "Oh, yes! I can take ye over in less than no time. Fetch up yer hoss." 1 obeyed, asking, as 1 lead the horse into the boat— "Did your husband write that advertisement on the door, there?" "No, sir ree! Schoolmaster Jones writ that. John hain't got no larr.in'l"
And the good woman rowed the boat safely across the ugly stream and hand ing her the ferriage fee, I bade hergood morning, believeing then, as I still do, that she was one of the happiest women, and best wives, I ever saw—perfectly contented with her lot because she knew no better—Cor. Spirit of the Times.
Anecdote of Pnrrots.
AH animals are jealous and none moreso than the parrot. One belonging to a young friend of mine was miserable when she took charge of a canary for a friend, who was to be absent for some time. From the first time Poll saw her caress tho stranger, she became sulky would not speak, scarcely ate during the first few days, and not only turned her back upon her mistress, but tried to bite her. The canary, one fine morning, was hung up at the window to enjoy the warmth, and in its delight burst forth in one ef its sweetest songs. The parrot listened attentively with her head on one side, till the little warbler paused when,in the most patronizing tone, possible, she exclamed, 'Pretty well! pretty well!' and then, as if in spite, Bhe vociferated the most contemptuous Ha ha ha j'
This same lady's brother had also a parrot who was very jealous of a much smaller bird than himself, on whom his master lavished many caresses. They were placed in a room next to the gentleman's bedchamber. One nignt he was awakened by the screams of the little favorite. He immediately rose and went to the cage with alight oat he was too late the parrot had by some means unfastened the door of his cage, and going to that of the smaller bird, put his daws between the bars, and, dragging it to the side, was tearing it to pieces.
I was told of a pirrot the other day, that had been accustomed to breakfast on oatmeal porridge but on a recent occasion the oatmeal was exhausted, and from negligence had not been renewed. Accordingly, soine soaked bread was pat in the bird's saucer. He looked at it for some time, tasted it once or twice, sat, and apparently considered the matter and then, dashing his bill in, he threw it all out, first on one side and then on the other, saying, between each spluttered mouthful, Nasty mess! nasty mess The same bird heard a lady say, Oh dear! I've lost my purse!' and immediately exclaimed, How very provoking!'—Indmctof Birds.
European Politics.
If ever signs may be said to fail entirely in politics, they do so in regard to the Turkis question. The ordionary premonitions of war aeetn inhis instance to be inter pi ted by the rule of contraries, and pass from the moat satisfactory omens of peace. The Russian army, a hundred thousand strong, ia on its march for the Danube. The Russian fleet is making sail for the Bospborus. The Turkish fleet ia mustering in the waters of that all-important channel. All Turkey is alive with preparation for instant hostilities. The French and British navies, disregarding as they would not, if peace existed, the prohibition against entering the Sea of Marmora, are hastening to the Dardanelles The ultimate ultimautm—its predecessor ought to have been styled the peaukimatum —has been finally rejected by the Torte, at the end of the eight days' probation granted by the Czar. If we can trust the threats of that potentate, that war mast instantly (oi low soch rejection, war actually exists. And yet we bare the most confident assurance* (ram all quarters, that arms will not be reported to that the difficulty will be settled bv negotiation and that BO thought of actoal bostiHtlos has any place among die designs of the Emperor. No coetradicuon between facts and words was ever so irrecon* dlable.-.V. Y. Tim*.
E
TEEKE HAUTE, M)., JULY, 23,1853.
The Steam Fire Engine.
We notice that this engine is a much greater curiosity to strangers than to our own citizens, and that it attracts more attention abroad than at home. It may not be known that there is not in the world another steam fire engine in successful operation. In London and in New York the best mechanics have repeatedly tried to produce one similar in design to ours, and failed. We have reason to be proud of our mechanics for their triumph, which has added brightness from the fact that so many failures have gone before.
They have given additional lustre to the fame of our city, and now a name of which the world is found to take note. Cincinnati has often had cause to boast of the mechanical genious of her sons, and never more than for this achievement.
The engine, aside from its usefulness, is a great curiosity. Unlike anything else in the world, a ponderous mass of beautiful machinery, put together in a most unique and uncouth shape, even whilst it is at rest in its house, it is strikingly remarkable.— But let the alarm of fire be sounded, and in a few minutes its machinery sends up a column of smoke, the horses are hitched, the steam is raised, and away it speeds, with thunderous jarring, to the rescue. At night, rushing along the street, its appearance is absolutely terrific, it leaves a stream of redcoals on the pavement as it moves; the sound of the struggling steam is plainly heard; and when the whistle is let off, the startled sleeper, looking forth, would have reason to imagine that a mammoth locomotive had become mad, and broken away from the depot, and with a horrid shriek was hauling a firey draggon [sic] through the street.—<Cin. Com>. ~~~~~~~
ANCIENT HOSPITALITY.—Says Sir Walter Sqott it was once the universal custom to place ale or some strong liquor in the chamber of an honored guest, to assuage his thirst, should he feel any on awakening in tho night, which, con sidering that the hospitality of that period often reached excess, was by no mens unlikely. It is a current story in Tcviotdale, that in the house of an ancient family of distinction, much addicted to the Presbyterian cause, a Bible was always put into the sleeping apartment of the guests, along with a bottle of strong ale. On one occasion there was a meeting of clergymen in the vicinity of the castle, all of whom were invited to dinner by the worthy baronet, and several abode there that night. According to the fashion of the times, seven of the reverend guests were allotted to one large barrack room, which was used on such occasions of extended hospital ty. The butler took care that the divines were presented, according to custom, each with a bible and a bottle of ale. But after a little consultation among themselves, they are said to have recalled the domestic just as he was leaving the apartment. "My friend." said one ofthe venerable guests, "you must know that when we meet together the youngest minister reads aloud a portion of Scripture to the rest only one Bible therefore is necessary take away the other six, and in their place bring six more bottles of ale!"
Italian Indolence.
Hundreds or men in Itally are employed in painting" Madonnas" for the cottages of the peasants, little daubs of the Virgin Mary, the household gods of a superstitious race. Vast fields of lint and hemp mav be seen in most parts of the peninsula but the laborers, who for ages ought to have been busy converting their produce into garments, rope and sailcloth, have been building palaces, cutting marble and studying paints. Every one ossesses a bad picture, but an ill-furnished ouse ahead of Dante, but scarcely sufficient clothing to appear in open day. While our middle classes enjoy the luxuries which reproductive industry places within their reach, the admirer of aesthetic excellence south of the Alps knows nothing of the comforts of home. During the day he may lounge in the galleries where Guido delights the eye but in the evening he returns to a dreary room in some old palazro, where by the light of a glimmering candle, he groupes his way to a tottering cradle and a crazy bed. He may be able critically to examine the masterpieces of Titian but as a man of business he is on a par with the Chippewa. An English school-boy has more acquaintance with real life, and the backwoodsman cn the Missouri can better appreciate the useful arts. Manufactures, literature and politics are excluded from the thoughts of a people thus unnaturally engrossed with the beauties of design and wheo any unforseen occurrence disarranges the outward harmony of things they rush to extremes, behave like irrational creatures, and rivet their chains. How long will such a state of things last is a question frequently asked by travellers in Italy.
SPECIAL ENVOY FROM THE POPE TO THE UNITED STATES.—We extract the following official announcement from the Freeman's Journal of New York.— Wo presume that the information is derived from Archbishop Hughes, and it may, therefore, be considered as fully entitled to credit:
INTERESTING FRO* ROME.—On the 10th of May, Monseignor Cajetan Bedendi Archbishop of Thebes, former Commissary Extraordinary ef tbe Pontificial government to tbe legations, left Rome as special Envoy of His Holiness to the United States. At our latest advices llonseignor Bedendi was in Paris. He is charged by tbe Holy Father to pay a visit to the government at Washington, and also to bold interviews with the different prelates of the church in the United States, and to acquire the most exact information respecting the interests and condition of the Catholic church In this country.
After making as long a visit as may be of advantage in tbe United States, tionsetgnor Bedendiariii goto Brazil.where ha is to'reside as Apostolic Nando near that government.
»#'».* I F» -S
The Tomb of Franklin.
A dilapidated dark slab of stone, at the southwest corner of Fifth and Arch streets, Philadelphia, marks (or did a few years ago) the spot where rest the remains of BSKJAMIR and DEBORAH FRAHKMH but you cannot see their grave a or read the inscription without scaling a high brick wall, in viola tion ofthe law, or securing a good opportunity and the favor of the sexton, each of which is said to be attended with difficulty. So well hidden is this grave, and so little frequented, that we have known many na tive Philadelphians, of men's and woman's estate, who could not direct one to the locality where it may be found. Yet FRAHKI.IN was a man whose equal is not the produel of every century—a patriot whom hie country should forever revere—a philosopher whose name will live ao long as science shall endure and the wife of his heart was to him more than the woman always proves to the husband of her love—a companion, counseller, and self-sacrificing friend. They should forever repose beneath the old gray stone that canopies their bed—a monument beautiful in its appropriate simplicity but around them should be constructed a beautiful iron fence, through which we might behold their quiet abode and the choicest of flowers and evergreess should richly adorn it.—Washington Republic.
Enforcing the 13th Artlcle.,^if.. The 13th article of the new constitution of Indiana provides, that any person who may employ or otherwise encourage any negro or mulatto coming into the State after the adoption "shall be fined in any sum not less than ten nor more than five hundred dollars.
We understand that a caso is likely to arise in Madison, under this article, that will elicit a considerable degree of interest, if it does not demonstrate the utter fallnc^ of the constitutional provisit If
The case we understand is this The Rev. C. W. Ruter is the Presiding Elder of tho Madison District. As such Presiding Elder he recently employed a colored preacher from Louisville to preach to his colored brethren in Madison. This being a clear violation of the constitution and laws of Indiana, it is said the Rev. Elder will be indicted at the aext term of the Jefferson Circuit Court, and brought before a jury of his country to answer for this violation of law.
We pre curious to see the result of this matter, and if the law is not proven to be wholly inefticeni and farcical in its practical operations, we shall be greatly deceived.—New Albany Tribune.
The eldest daughter of the Queen of Spain the Princess of the Asturias, has received a petition on a matter of life and death. This young lady, you will remember, is one year and nine months and a half old, and though she could hardly be expected, at that early age, to pay much attention to affairs of State, yet the condemned criminal who appealed to her to use her "infant influence" with her august mother, in his behalf, obtained his pardon by his address. He was a cavalry soldier, and had been sentenced to death for the murder of a comrade. The Council of Revision had rejected his request for another hearing. His situaton was a serious one when he bethought himself of the infant influence of the Princess of the Asturias. The Queen looked into the case, and, as it was the first petition her daughter had received, (it had been handed to her while she was in the act of "agooing to herself in the cradle and as the prisoner had murdered his comrade under the Instigations of jealonsy only, she gianted him a full pardon. As he had only asked for a communication of his punishment, he has good to put high value on "infant influence." Such an instance of success can hardly be allowed to pass without imitation, and I am afraid that the cradle of her Incipient Majesty, will be literally buried under the accumalation» of supplicatory parchment, likely to result from ihis happy innovation.—N. Y. Times.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.—The following is an extract from the lecture of tbe Hon. George Bancroft, lately delivered before tbe New York Historical Society. "Not half of Franklin's merits have been told, lie was the true father of the American Union. It was he who went forth to. Isy the foundation of that great design at Albany,and in New York he lifted up his voice. Here among us he appeared as the apostle ofthe Union It was Franklin who suggested the Con gress of 1774 and but for his wisdom, and tbe confidence that wisdom inspired, it is a matter of doubt whether that Congress would have tsken effect. It was Franklin who suggested the bond ofthe Union which binds t{tese States from Florida to Maine. IFranklin was the greatest diplomatist of tbe eighteenth century. He never spoke a word too soon be never spoke a word too much he never failed to speak the right word at the right season." i= 'JJVjE yf i"
SAD.—A melancholy occurrence took place at the Blind Asylum, in consequence of tbe penurious and contemptible policy which closed that establishment until next April, leaving fifty or sixty unfortunate and almost helpless beings to shift, for themselves. A young blind man of this county, who had been in the Poor House previous to being placed into the Asylum, when he heard of tbe intention of the Trustees to close the Institution, declared he would commit suicide rather than go back to the Poor House, and at night actually left the House for the purpose and was discovered just in time to prevent him from hanging himself.—<State Journal>.
PERSEVERANCE.—It is astonishing how much may be done by economizing time, and by using up the spare minutes—the odds and ends of our leisure hours. There are many men who have laid the foundation of their character, and been enabled to bui!d up a distinguished reputation, simply by making a dilligent use of their leisure minutes.--Professor Lee acquired Hebrew and several other languages during his spare time in the evening, while working as a journeyman carpenter. Ferguson learned astronomy from the heavens while herding sheep on the Highland hills.-— Stone learned mathematics while a journeyman gardner. Hugh Miller studied geology while working aslk^ day laborer in a quarry. By using up the oris and effal of their time—the spare bits which so many others would have allowed to run to waste—these and a thousand more men have acquired honor, destinciion, and happiness for themselves, and promoted the well-being and general advancement of the world.
AR SPRINGS.—Where will be the end of mechanical inventions and improvements? Who will believe that a railway car is already constructed and proved, which rests upon <air springs?> Mr. Ellsworth states that just before leaving Washington, he signed a patent for a man who proposed to construct springs for cars so that passengers should be able to read or write without any inconvenience. "Of what do you make your springs—iron?" "No."
"Of wood?" "No." "What then?" "<Air!>" "How?" "Take a strong metalic [sic] cylinder, twelve inches long, set it in perpendicular: force into this thirteen atmospheres, (that is by the use of the forcing air pump, make the air in the cylinder thirteen times as dense or heavy as common air;) on the top of this put oil, and insert a piston which shall fill the cylinder, and this makes the spring!" Mr. Ellsworth rode in a car carrying eighty passengers, which is thus constructed, and it answers fully the expectations and promises of the patentee.—<Rough Notes>. ~~~~~~~
I heard an incident connected with the history of the North Church, in Boston, the facts which are not, I think, generally known, and it may prove interesting to your readers. It appears that towards the close of the revolution, the good people of the North church found it necessary to make some repairs.— Thry sent on to Boston, and purchased some nails, which in due course of time arrived, and upon opening the kegs, lo and behold, one of them was found to contain Spanish dollars. This was a tfo The deacons assembled—held a consultation—and the result was, they wrote on to Boston and informed the merchant who made the gale that there was an error in shipping the goods.— The merchant acting upon the principle of our banks of the present day, wrote back that he could rectify no mistakes—that the nails were bought and sold as they were he bought them of a privateersman, and must let it stand as it was. The silver was melted up and made into a service of plate for the church, and it is in existence, and used at the present day. The above was related to me by a gentleman, in whose family is a large goblet, made from the same silver,and you may rest assured that what I have stated is a fact.—New Haven Registers
ROMANCE IN REAL LiFE.—In Ingharfi county Michigan, it seems that one Mr. C. had courted one of the fair ones residing in Vevay, and all arrangements were made for the consummation of their happiness on Sunday 26th ult. But very much to the surprise of Mr. C., on Saturday he received a note from the fair one, by a special messenger, that she had changed her mind. But he no doubt thinking it a ruse, on her part repaired to her father's house with the necessary means of consummating the bargain when to his utter astonishment, what he supposed might be a ruse, was a stern reality, for she, his intended, the evening before, was actually married to a Mr. B. This was of course a dibmma. But our hero, nothing daunted by this defeat, and probably not intending to have her get too much the start, forth with courted up the younger sister and was married the same day.
THE SAFEST SEAT —In these days of collisions, submersions and derailments generally, it is worth one's while to know where he can expect the greatest security in a railroad train. We expect that if any opinion should be given, that the indicated car will be at once crowded beyond its capacity, but that result had better follow than that the safest car should go nearly or quite empty.
It is very well known that the car nearest the engine is exposed to the least dust, and that the rear car of a train is generally safer than the front car. The safest is probably the last car but one, in a train of more than two cars that is, there are fewer chances of accident to this than any other.
If it is a way train at moderate speed, or any train, standing still, a collision is possible from another train in the rear in which case the last car receives the first shock.— Again, an engine and the front cars of a train will often go over a broken rail, or a
cow, or a stone, without derailment, while
a stone, without derailment, while
the last car, having nothing to draw it into the line of the train, is free to leave the track. Next to the forward car, the rear car is probably the most unsafe in the train. The safest seat is probably near the centre of the last car but one, and in a very long train, in the centers of the last two or three cars next to the last.—<R. R. Journal>. ~~~~~~~
The infant son of Queen Victoria Is to receive the nsme of Lepold Geo. Duncan Albert. Mrs. Psrtington. sfter tending tbe above, broke forth thus:
Hail Co timbia htppv IsnU. If that ain't a name 111 bed—dbfjon.
WHOLE NO. 1088.
SAGACITY OF A GANDER.—A gentleman on whose varacity we can rely, related to us the other day a most singular circumstsnce, illustrative of extraordinary sagacity in one of the feathered tribe. One day last week, a gander was on duty near the Canal Basin, in keeping guard over a flock of goslings, which he did with all the pride imaginable. But presently pugnacious cock attacked the goslings, which led to a reincountre between his roostership and the gander. The contest, however, was of short duration, for the gander seised the cock by the neck, and straightway flew into the canal, where he thrust his antagonist under the water, until he wos dead! VVe have read of wondrous instinctive acts of dogs and horses, but we question if any more summary proceeding was ever adopted by man or beast to vanquish a foe than this.—Dundas Warder.
The Chinese have a method of hatching the spawn of fish, an^ thus protecting it from those accidents which ordinarily destroy so large a portion of it the fishermen collect with care, on the margin and surface of waters, all those gelatinous masses which con« tain the spawn. After they have found a sufficient quantity, they fill with it the shell of afresh hen's egg, which they have previously emptied, stop up the hole, and put it under a sitting fowl. At the expiration of a certain number of days, they break the shell in water warmed by the sun. The young fry are presently hatched, and are kept in pure fresh water till thev are large enough to be thrown into the pond wijth the old fiidi The sale of spawn for this purpose is an important branch of trade in Chiua.
A Chinese Theatrical Company arrived at New York some time since with the intention of giving a series of performances there, and in other cities of the United States. They gave one week's performances, and have ever since been abandoned by their agents, and are left penniloss strangers, without the means of subsistence, their wardrobe having been seized,and themselves possessing no knowledge of our laws or customs which would enable them to conduct their own affairs. In Canton they held a high position as artists, but with the expectation of making their fortunes rapidly, they went to San Francisco, and after performing there for five months, were attracted to the Atlantic States by an agent who has deserted them.
Mr. E. C. Wines, of Philadelphia, thinks the view from the steeple of the Boston State House one of the finest in the world.
I have stood," ho says, upon the keep of Carisbrooke Castle in tho Isle of Wight, on the Leaning Tower of Pisa, on the dome of the Cathedral at Florence, on the summits of Gibraltar, Vesuvius, the Acro-Cor-inthus, and the Acropolis of Sardis, and on many other elevated points in all the four continents of Europe, Asia, Afica, and America and I declare to you that, to the best of my recollection, few of the prospects thus obtained are equal, and fewer still superior. to that enjoyed from the State House at Boston."
The plaguedoes notBimply slay its victims and depopulate countries it eats away the moral energies as well, and often quite destroys them thus, as I have shown in my last public lecture before the Academy, the sudden and complete degeneracy of the Roman world, from the time of Marcus Antoninus onward, may be referred to the Oriental plague which the nentered Europe for the first time just as, six hundred yesrs earlier, the plague, which was, strictly speaking, a yellow fever, coincides too exactly with the termination of the ideal period of antiquity, not to be regarded as a cause of it. In such epidemics the best individuals die, and the rest degenerate morally.—Niebv.hr.
Dr. Royle tells us that the poor native of India smokes upon tho bosom of his mother earth, by digging with his fingers two small holes in a clay soil, and boring a tunnel between them with a piece of stick. He puts tobacco into one hole, lights it, and, lying down upon the ground, applies his mouth over tho other.
Is is estimated that probably one man in every four throughout the human race is more or less, a smoker of tobacco. M. Natalis Rondot calculates—a little hyperbolically—that there are at least a hundred millions of tobacco smokers in China.
An agriculrurai author talking of hen culture, says— "Fowls that are pened up should Kave some kind of amusement—it is essential to their health. The kind of amusement is shelling their own corn." &c.
Upon which the Boston Post remarks, that it is th* same with fair as it is with fowl-~women who are pened up should have some kind of amusement, such as making their own bread, foe.
The streets of London have been for months past, and are now, cut to pieces with trenches for laying down the electric telegraph. London, underground, will soon be one maze of stretching wires, and one gleam of flashing messages. All the public offices are now electrically connected with each other; all the police-offices, a great many of the mercantile houses, with the railway lines, most of the clubs with the House and the Royal Italian Opera, with the House and the central termini. ~~~~~~~
NOVEL PLAGUE.—Fleas are said to abound to an extraordinary extent in the western corner of Chartiers township Allegheny county, over a space of some three miles, filling the houses and driving the inhabitants distracted. Some have succeeded in driving them away by whitewashing evreywhere [sic] about their dwellings, stables, &c., and strewing lime plentifully about—but others are still suffering from the plague. ~~~~~~~
At a greenfinch-show, lately held at Ath, in Belgium, one hundred and sixtythree birds responded to the calls made on them to sing when ordered. The first prize was gained by a bird which repeated its song five hundred snd thif* ty-three times within the hour,