1
4
8
III. A. MTIKC, Editor and Publisher.
"K 18 A FMHM" WHOM THE TUUTH HAKES FUHUC, AXD AM. ASB BLATHS B8SIDH,
Terms, $2 per year in advance.
- --- ' s
YT HI I V 1 1 I W I IWM 1
(VOLUME 3.
i TTjENTISTKY. The undersigned,
I Jf eradimte
J '
of
J 111"!
J nt' Penuil iir-
innre LOiifuc
I rry, rc-poct-j
filly offors his
PKUKK-SIONAL
fprvite? to the
j ...i.j of Eh-
Mi-urg ami vicinity, which place he will visit
I (in ilie'roi rth MoxDir of each month, to re-
I "7"' SAM'L BELFORD, D. D. S.
DR. H.B.MILLER,
I Altooua, Pa.,
Operative and Mechanical DENTIST.
Office removed to Virginia Btreet, opposite
i tha Lutheran church. Persons from Cambria
1 county or ekcwliero whs get work done by me
i tu the amount of Ten Dollars nnd upward, will
I luve the railroad fare deducted from their bills.
A t.t "'okk H ABinNHD. Jan. 21, lr-'GO.-tf.
i
d I). . ZlhtiLlJK, JSurjreon Den
ti.-t.will visit hhenshurg pro-
iDT ot c.ton mourn, aim remaiiiuvyyy.
Yoi'S work, auring wiucn time ne
lju.iv he found at the Mountain House.
I JTeeth extracted without pain by the use
o! iUite Oxide, or Laughing Gab.
"rAMKsTT. OATMAN", 31. IX,
tenders his professional services as Phy--!"iftii
and Surn to the citizens of Carroll
;tjwn and vicinity. Office in rear of build-'y-.-z
occupied by J. Buck & Co. as & store.
p'i-:l:t calls can be made at his residence, one
i!'or south of A. llau'o tin and hardware
sure. May 0, 1S67.
DEVEREAUX, M. D., Vhy-
k mciaji awd SuaonoH, Summit, Pa.
C'fica end i f Mansioi. House, on Rail
Jinad tret. Night calls may be made ct
thsoffioe. fmy23.tf.
J. LLOYD, Buccessor to R. S.
Bcnx, Uealer in Dnujs, Midicinet,
A.
faints, kc. Store on Main street, oppotite
th "Mansion House," ELeiiisburg, Pa.
v October 17. lS67.-gm.
I A) YD &. CO., UuuKvr,
J KliENSBl RfJ, Pa.
Gold, Silver, Government Loan, and
Othar Securitien, bought and BrlJ. Interest
fcilowed on Time i.epobita. Oillections made
u all accessible jwiinta in the United States,
and a geueral Banking btiijiness transacted.
P.AKKIR8. ALTOOJTA. Pa.
i Drafts on tho principal cities and Silver
tnd Gold fur bale. Collections made.
id oueys received on deposit, payable on de
fcind, without interest, or upon time, with
iit?st at fair rates. an31.
i FliANK W. HAY.
.TOLLS ALE and RETAIL Manufacturer,
of TIN. COPPER and SlIEET-IIION
Ahh, Caiij street, below Clinton, Johns
kcn. Pa. A large stock constantly
band.
T
A. BHOKMAKKR C UO. W . O ATM A X.
SHOEMAKER & O ATM AN, Aitor
niis at Law, Ebensburg, Ta. Offices ou
Biph street, immediately oust of Huntley's
Wdware store. ap.8,'&9.
I). M LAUGIILIN
ITTORNEY AT LAW, Johnstown, To..
R Ofiice in tVio Exchange building, on the
C' rnerof Clinton and Locunt streets up
Stairs. Will attend to all businebS connect
pd with his profession.
Jan. 81 . 18C7.-tf.
ft. t. JOHNSTOX, 1 B. 6CANLAN.
JOHNSTON : 60ANLAX.
f Attorneys at Law,
' Ebensburg, Cambria co., Pa.
Office opposite the Court House.
'I Ebensburg, Jan. 81. lSGT.-tf.
I JOHN P. LINTON,
ITTORNEY AT LAW, Jvhnsiutcn, Fa.
Office ia building on corner of Main and
franklin street, opposite Mansion House,
econd floor. Entrance on Franklia street.
i JuliGBtown. Jan. Si. 1867.-tf.
: WILLIAM KITTELL,
iTTORNEY AT LAW, Elcnslurg, Pa.
Office in Colonade Row, Ceutre street.
L Jan- 8L !867.-tf.
CL. PERSUING, Attokxet-at-
Law, Johnstown,J'a. Office on Frank
lin street, upstairs, over John Benton's
Hardware Store. Jan. 81, 18G7.
W M. II. SECHLEII, Attoeney-at-
Law, Ebensburg, Pa. Office ia rooms
'ntlv occupied by Geo. M. Reade. Efq , in
f olonade Row, Centre street. aug.27.
GEO. M. KKADE, Altorneg-atLaw,
Ebensburg, Pa. Office in new building
tcosntl? erected on Centre street, two door
High Btreet. aug.27.
JJAMES C. E.1SLY, Attoesey-
at-Law, CarroUtwm, Cambria Co., Pa.
vuhections and all legal business promptly
gfrofoj to. Jan 81. 1867.
f KOr-sr.m, . . - . x. w. Dick,
Johnstown. Ebensburg.
ITOPELIN & DICK, Attornets-at-Law,
Ebensburg. Pa. Office with WTm.
dJlttll, Esq., Oolonade Row. oct.22.-tf.
F- p- TIERNEY.
ITTORNEY AT LAW, Ebensburg, Pa.
A Office in Colonade Bow.
'" 8. 1867tf.
TmTi0SEl11 DONALD,
l Om AT LAW, Ebensburg. Pa.
iiotll 011 Ceotr0 8treet. opposite Linton's
. Ja. 81. I867tf.
iTTnuvri0lIN FENLON,
Lcf Q Clfih rtroet' adjoining his red
t Jan 81. 1867.-tf.
J. ?; STJUrEK, Justice of the
- oroer Jfli J2haBtown. V- Office on the
JJKINKEAD, J mure of the Peace
rrrand,aa'm AJt Office removed to
i otace formerly occupied by M. Uasfion,
J Wd, on lH-h S t.. Ebensburg. jl3
LTOONA NOT YET IN RUINS I
CLOTHING BAZAAR ! !
STILL RIGHT SIDE UP I
SPflllG AID SUMMER CMWI
IN IMMENSE PROFUSION!
ALL WANTS SUPPLIED !
ALL TASTES SUITED !
ALL BUYERS PLEASED!
SUITS FOR OLD PEOPLE!
SUITS FOR MIDDLE AGED I
SUITS FOR YOUNG AMERICA!
CLOTHING! CLOTHING!
TO KIT KVKIIT AI AM AND BUY I
GENT'S FURNISHING GOODS
Or JtVEBY DES';aiPTIOW.
BOOTS &LSH0ES," HATS & CAPS,
OF ALL 8TTLES AKD 8IJ5E8.
Trunks, Valises, Traveling Bags,
L'mbrellas, &c, &.C
STOCK THE LARGEST!
. GOODS THE VERY BEST!
. STYLES THE NEATEST!
PRICES THE LOWEST!
CT.OTI1IXG 3I4E3G TO ORDER
of any goods or atyle dealrad.
CALL and SEE I j CALL and SEE ! J.
cAN SUIT YOU GOODS & rRICES.j
5TrSiSTOKB OS A.NS1B STREET. CM
elL door north of the Post Office.
Don't mistake the place and there will be no
mistake about you getting good bargains.
GODFREY WOLFF.
Altoona, April 2, lG9.-tl.
T PACIFIC RAILROAD
IS FIX ISUED !
First Mortgage Bonds
or xns
UNION AND CENTRAL
PACIFIC RAILROADS
BOUGHT ANQ SOLO.
BE HAVEN & BROTHER,
Bankers and Dealers In Governments,
lit. 40 g. Third geree,
PHILADELPHIA.
'7'OOD, MORRELL. &: CO.,
WASHINGTON STREET,
Near Pa. R. R. Depot, Johnstown, Pa.,
Whclcscle and Retail Dealer a in
FSaii&IASDBOMESTIC DRY ROODS.
M! LUXURY GOODS,
HARDWARE,
QUE ENS WARE,
BOOTS AND SHOES,
HATS AND CAPS.
IRON AND KAILS.
CARPETS AND OIL CLOTHS,
READY-MADE CLOTBTNG,
GLASS WARE. YELLOW WARE.
WOODEN AND WILLOW WARE,
PROVISIONS and FEED, ALL KINDS,
Together with all manner of Weftrn Produce,
uch as FLOUR. BACON, FISH, SALT,
CARBON OIL, kc, Ac.
tST" Wholesale and retail orders solicited
and promptly filled on the shortest notice and
most reasonable terms
WOOD. MORRELL k CO.
Johnotown, April 255, It69.-Iy.
jjAYVSON & BAKER,
FRANKLIN STREET,
In the Old POST OFFICE BUILDING,
Jobnstovrn, Pa.,
WHOLESALE GROCERS
ASD EKALEES IX
WESTCRX PRODUCE!
TIltrnntT 0 niFtn keen constantlr on
,m Hfl W MU.W handalarresnor.lv
SUGARS. SYRUPS, MOLASSES, TEA8,
nnvvwvM Fi.nTTR RAf!f pnTimifw
DRIED and GREES FRUITS, TOBACCO.
UlliAKS, S.C., SC.
Orders solicited from retail dealers, and sat
isfaction in goods and prices guaranteed.
JohnstownApril 88, 1869.
jJEYY CHEAP CASH STORE
BUCK'S MILLS. AlleehanvTownshin.
. , f
to his fViead aid Cfa pnblie ip general that he
nas Just opened ac tnwi'i jams large ana
snperb stock of season abl taerchantise, con
siatiDr of all kinds of DKT OOODS, DRESS
QOOD8, FOTIORS, GROCKKIBt JTUR.
HITURE, HARDWARE, and aU okher arti
clee'niaally kept (a a country store.
rzT"TTTinir n&id rRVi for mr jrooda 1 am de
termined to dispose of them either for ORbh,
lumber or ceontry produce at as low prices as
like geous van be Long tit irom any aeaier in
tbe ooanty. A liberal patrenage is rsspectfally
OMiiciteu. HI . J , Jt Li JA
JJaok's AT'.ns, April 2S, 16C3. tf,
EBENSBURG,
jc )aet's gtpariment.
A JIOTIiEIl'H TIIOITCIITS.
IT MRS. rBAKCKS T. QAOB.
Silent and lone, silent and lone,
Where, tell ine where, are my little ones gone.
That used to be playing about my knee.
With their noisy mirth and boisterous glee?
V?ho littered the carpets and misplaced the
chairs,
And scattered their playthings all unawares;
Who called for their suppers with eager shout,
And while they were getting, ran iu and out;
Who kept all the apples and nats from spoiling,
And never saved jackets or pants from soiling;
Had ever a want and ever a will.
That added a care to my heart until
I sometimes sighed for the time to come
When they'd all be big and ge out from home.
Si!entnd lone, silent and lone.
Where, tell me where, are my little ones gone?
There's no littlo faces to wash to night.
No little troubles for mother to riht,
No little blue eyes to be sung to sleep.
No little playthings to be put np to keep.
No little garments to be hung on the rack,
No lirtle tales to tell, no nuts to crack.
No little trundle-bed full of rolick,
Calling for mamma to settle the frolic.
No little soft lips to press me with kisses
(Oh ! such a sad, lonely evening as this is 1)
No little voices to shout with delight :
"Goodnight, dear mamma, good night, good
night I
Silent the house is no little ones here
To startle a smile or chaea back a tear.
Silent and lone, silent and lone.
Where, tell me where, are my little ones gone?
It scemcth but yesterday since they wei e young,
How they're all scattered the world's paths
among,
Out where the great rolling trade-streaaa is
nowing ,
Out where new firesides with love-lights are
clowinz :
Out where the graves of their life-hopes are
Bleeping,
Not to be comforted wecpine. still weer"iD :
Out where the high hills of science are blend
ing. Up 'mid tho cloud rifts, np, up, still aseendii;g;
aeeitiDg tn a sunshine that rests on the moun
tain.
Drinking and thirsting still, still at the foun
tain ;
Out in life's thoroughfares all of them motling;
Out in the wide, wide world, striving and toil
ing, Little ones, loving ones, playful ones, all.
That went when I bade, and came at my call,
Have ye deserted me 7 Will ye not come
Buck to your mother's arms back to tke
liome (
Silent and lone, silent and lone,
Y here, tell me where, are my little ores gone?
Useless my crv is. Why da I complain ?
They'll be my little ones never tgaia 1
Uan tbe great oaks to tbe acorns return 7
The broA rolling stream flow back to the
byroe ?
The mother call childhood again to her knee
mat in manbood went lortu, the strong and
the free If
Nay! nay! no true mother would wish for thera
back :
Her work nobly done, their firm trfiad on life's
track
Will come like an organ-note lofty and clear.
io lilt up her soul and her spirit to creer,
And though her tears tall When abe a silent
and lone.
She'll know ic is beat thev are scattered and
gone.
Silent and lone ! silent anJ lone I
Thy will, O Father 1 not my will be done !
nits, gluteus, ncr&otcs, t.
TEE CATHARrIOHICON.
An Original Concert Western Hmle
Forty Years Ago.
The St. Louis Democrat pays: While
lha St. Louis Philharmonic and other sims
ilar societies are doing mach to improve
musical taste and skill, it may be well to
collect and preserre records of efforts in
the eame line by the past generation?, to
show the struggle of? musical genius in
the earlier days of the West, and to prove
that long before the Dutch, with their
brass bands, conquered the country, there
were untutored Americans who were
filled with musical aspiration, and who
only lacked the opportunity to astonish
the world with their achievements. We
will, therefore try to rescue from obliv
ion the history of one of tho most original"
attempts ever maae in the musical line
one that produced a remarkable sensation
from Pittsburg to New Orleans, at least
in steamboat circles.
Among the citizens of Cincinnati, come
forty years ago, there was one named
Curtis we forget las initials a gilder
by trade, and a genius in his way, but
that way ran in the line of mirthfulness
rather than money-making. Of course,
he was poor. Did tho reader ever eee a
merry rich man f But ho was none the
less popular among his special friends,
the Eteamboatmen, who never employed
any other to gild their picture-frames or
"horns," which the fastest boat was
always allowed to carry on her pilot
house. Oar hero was not at all contented with
his poverty, and many and original were
the plans he formed to mend his fortune.
He was an observing man, too, and, bad
not failed to notice how often fortunes
were made out of things apparently tri
fling. Ue noticed particularly how easy
money was acquired by musicians, sing
ers, concerts and all that sort of thing,
and he believed he could get up something
of the kind that would please the public
and pay well, though in troth he knew no
more than a mule about flats and sharps,
minims and quavers. He had a big crotch
et in his head, and determined to work it
out.
laving near "Western Row." where
cats abounded, Curtis did not lack oppor
tunities to study the musical capacity of
the feline race. They had kept him
awake many a warm moonlight night
when he preferred sleep to their infernal
PA., THURSDAY,
serenades. So he determined to get up a
grand Philharmonic concert, In which cats
should take a prominent part, and if he
failed to make either music or money, he
would at least have the satisfaction of
having some fun out of it.
Taking a few cats to experiment on he
tried various modes cf bringing oat tho
notes they were addicted to, or excelled in.
He pinched their ears, twisted their legs,
stuck pins in their their rotundities, and
used other pleasant devices to develope the
music But he found no way so certain
of bringing out the sound as the applica
tion of the back of a case knife across tho
tail. This never failed to elicit the note
if there was any talent at all in the ani
mal the modulations, piano and forte,
being easily obtained by making the blow
light or heavy.
This remarkable discovery Curtis be
lieved might be so managed as to make
him a fortune equal to Nick Longworth'3
cr any other man's. So up he goes next
morning, after he had matured his plan,
to Columbia market, and inquired of ev
ery man, woman and boy ho met if they
had any cats at homo to spare. Of course
they had lots of them, and before long
he had more brought to him than he sup
posed could be found in Hamilten county.
He had employed an Englishman named
Johnson, a drinking fellow, but musical
withal, and who could build organs, to
make one to serve as an accompaniment
to the cat voices. Johnson informed him
that one of six octaves would do, at least
for the experiment. Cartis reckoned up
$h$ octaves and found that four dozen
bats would fill the till. But he ordered
two dozen more, for fear that some might
have defective voices, or prove obstinate
or capricious, like the operatic tribe gen
erally. Six dozen then were ordered,
and accommodations prepared for them
iu sundry boxes, barrels, kegs, etc., in
the back yard. But, b'ss your soul I six
dozen were nowhere. All the boys in
all the counties around, in Kentucky as
well as Ohio, heard of the nnprecedented
demand fer tbe animals, and tvery mar
ket day lots of them might be seen with
baskets an bags wending their way to
Western Kow, to get the "quarter" or
"half dollar," tho price Curtis established
for kit3 and cats, as per Bizo. In a month
or le88 his six dozen was made up, com
prising cvtry age, size, 6ex and color.
Curtis then published that he had his full
complement, he could not buy any more,
had no room for them. But still tho boys
came on, in almost unbroken file, and
finding "na sale," incontinently duaiped
the cats down at his door, whence they
scattered up alleys, down cellars, over
fences, and into doors, as Curtis often as
serted, "to the number of ix hundred and
fifty," he sometimes added thousands.
Johnson went on with (he buildirs of
the organ and the adaptation of the extra
blade keys to tho cat's tails. He arrang
ed that the fcingers fdiould be confined in
narrow boxes, which, while they allowed
free play to the lungs, guarded against
clawing by having four holes in the bot
tom through which the legs protruded.
The tails wero enclosed in tubes provided
with longitudinal slots we like to be sci
entific and precise in description across
which the blade keys worked. These
extra keys were connected Eomehow with
those of tho organ, so that the keys and
their appropriate voices should be in per
fect unison, and thus produce, as tho in
ventor expected, that "concord of eweet
sounds," that rapturous harmony which
ia said to constitute th language of an
gels and so forth.
Curtis, on his part, proceeded with the
musical education of the cats, aided occa
eionally by Johnson, and in a month or
so had a complete choir, from the kitten
of two months his trebles and falsettos, and
his pussy sopranos, up to the venerable
toms, who growled out doublo bass equal
to Carl Formes.
His greatest trouble arosa from the
prodigious number of torn cats turned
loose by those reckless boys. As might
have been expected in that immortal city,
they Eoon becamo dissipated vagabonds,
keeping late hours, visiting Curtis' musical
family without leave, and drawing away
the thoughts of the younger ones from
their professional studies.
Bnt at length the organ was completed,
and the six octaves of cats arranged in due
order. A few rehearsals were given bo
fore a select audience of critics mates, pi
lots, etc., from the steamboats in port,
and these wero willing to make affidavit,
if necessary, that such a concert had nev
er been arranged sinco the days of Han
del, Orpheus, or Tubal Cain.
The second story of a warehouse near the
landing was rented a stage, drop scene,
and tiers of seats provided the whole in
tended to accommodate four or fivo hun
dred people. The organ and cats were
safely transported to the place of exhibi
tion or performance without accident, save
that the two principal bassos, being accU
dentally put in the same box, had an aw
ful fight all the way up from Western
Row, and were obliged to appear before
the public with very rueful faces and
bloody noses, vhich, however, did not at
all detract from their popularity.
Everything being in readiness, Curtis
bad flaming- posters stuck op all about
tbe levee, displaying in huge letters :
CURTIS' CATnAKMONICON I
Grand Vocal and Jmtruumcntal Concert.
POUTY-EIGHT CATS, ETC., ETC.
The house was crowded at an early
hour by the jolly boatmen, tha spaces
JUNE 10, 1869.
not big enough for men being filled, as
usual, by boys, the omnipresent imp?, who
are always on hand when there is prom
ise of noise, fun or mischief. After the
usual delay, which elicited from the au
dience any amount of stamping, whistling
and imitation caterwauling, the curtain
rose, and the grand catharmonioon was
disclosed to view. Two. rows of cat
heads, two dozen each, glared with their
lustrous green and yellow eyes straight at
the audience. Little ruffles were around
their necks ; miniature music stands, with
books and candles were placed before
them ; the aforesaid two bassos, whose
beauty was spoiled by the Eght, being
provided with muslin bands, which added
to the gravity of their countenanc
Tho whole was indescribably comic,
and was received with due ap
plaus. Seated at the organ was John
son, in a clean shirt, and as sober as he
could afford to be on so grand an occa
sion. As soon as he could bo heard,
Curtis advanced and stated to the audi
ence that the first song of the evening
would bo "Auld Lsns Syne," or. as he
pronounced it, "Old Lang Zion," which
would bo followed by "Hail Columbia,"
"Clar de Kitchen," and other patriotic
and devotional songs. Johnson squared
himself for the task, ran his fingers ten
derly over the keys by way of prelude,
and then dashed boldly and vigorously
into Old Lang Zion. producing such a
burst of music as waa never heard on this
continent before, nor ever will be again
till another Curtis arises to carry Into
more successful execution his brilliant ex
perimcnt. The cats were excited to fury
in the presence of the new and uproarious
audience, and still more under the unusu
ally severe pounding of their tails. They
forgot all tho lessons they had been
taught, they paid no attention to their
parts, to either time or tune, rhyme or
reason, bat squalled and mewed, yelled,
spit, and phizzed in the very madness of
pain and terror, drowning the sound of
the organ, which could be heard occasion
ally droning out Old Lang Zion, in tho
roar of the uneartly tornado of caterwaul
ing. Never was an audience so complete
ly enchanted never was delight so unu
sual bo abounded, and so vigorously ex
pressed. Shouts, roars, yells of laughter,
such as Western men alone can give, burst
from tha crowd, shaking the building
from roof to foundation. Curtis was de
lighted the cats were furious Johnson
was beside himself with joy, and ham
mered away at the keys with all his
strength, making with the aid of tho choir,
and the plaudits of the audience, a "con
cord" of diabolical sounds never heard
before on this side of the infernal regions.
Unfortunately in his doliritim Le forgot
the strength or weakness of the bellows
which supplied the organ with wind, and
which he worked with his foot. lie had
not reached tho end of tho soo? when tho
leather gave way and brought tho perform
ance to a sudden clo.se, the cats alone
continuing the song or noise till one after
another they became silent, and stood
winking and blinking at the spectators,
in mute fear of a recommmencement of
tho torture.
Curtis now approached, and ufter ex
amining tho extent of the catastrophe,
adJrcsscd tho audience :
"Gentlemen," said he, "the biler I
mean tho bellows is busted, and the con
cert can't go ahead to-night. To-morrow
I'll havo the bellows mended and give an
other concert, introducing choice classical
songs, melodies, etc. Anybody that wants
his money returned to-night" here he was
interrupted with "No, no 1" "Hurrah
for Curtis!" "Never mind the organ!"
"Go ahead on the catsl" "Give us Old
Hundred with the variations 1" and a
storm of similar exclamations, accompa
nied with shouting, stamping, whistling
and catcalling, Curtis all the time stand
ing, twirling hia hat and trying to be
beard. A stentorian voice shouted "Three
cheers for Curtis," which were given in
earnest, and literally, brought down the
house, or rather the staging on which the
andiencesat and stood. It fell with a
crash, luckily doing no further harm than
tbe breaking of a few shins. A moment's
silence followed find then another outburst
of laughter, mingled with swearing and
blows, which soon became one of those
free fights such as ended most public
gatherings, camp meetings, etc., in theso
primitive and happy times. Tho boys
now began to pelt the cats with pieces of
broken benches, and Curtis, fearing the
safety of his pets, and unable to get them
bodily from the 6cene of danger, lifted off
tho upper planks which confined their
necks in their place, and set them at lib-'
erty. The terror-stricken crea tares dart
ed away in every direction, mostly among
the feet of the spectators, adding to the
confusion. Whoops, yells, hurrahs, and
shouts were followed by a general smash
op of benches and windows. The boys
running down tho 6tairs raised the cry of
"fire 1" Citizens and watchmen crowded
the street to learn the cause of the uproar,
and the engines found difficulty in getting
near enough to do their part'of the work.
There was no sign of fire or smoke, bat
the old "Liberty No. 2". could not afford
to come all the way down'there for nothing,
eoi she poured a deluge of fresh water
through the front window, drenching tho
whole crowd insido to the skin in half
a minute. Peace was restored instantly,
and the late belligerents came rushing and
tumbling pell mell down the tair. The
watchme n, finding there was more laugh
ing, than eursing, and that bo one had re
ceived any worse hurt than a black eye
or a bloody nose, let them all go without
making any arreats.
Thus ended Curtis grand cat concert,
an event that was talked of and laughed
over for many years by the jolly boatmen
of the Ohio. Its projector was ordered
to appear before the Mayor next morning
and explain the cause of the riot, and it is
said his Honor burst off some of Ids but
tons laughing at Curtis' description of tha
same. He was let off with the admoni
tion to do so no core, and be didn't. He
went back to his work-shop next day a
wiser man, and soon forgot hia disap
pointment In some now scheme which bii
active brain hatched out a flying ma
chine or something of the kind. But to
his dying day he avowed that, but for
the bursting of his bellows, hia cathar
monioon wonld have made him the richest
man in Cincinnati.
THE DARE DAY.
The 12th day of May, 1780, was a
memorable ono in the annals of New
England, on account of a thick darkness
that overspread the land, like a funeral
pall. It was a day long to be remembered
and talked of by those who witnessed the
strange, and at that time fearful phenom
enon. There was much writing upon, and
discussion of the subject at the time, and
afterwards, but I believe no satisfactory
conclusion was ever arrived at as to its
cause. There were some who thought it
must have proceeded from a total eclipse
of the sun that had, from somo cause,
escaped the calculations of the mathema
ticians and astronomers, but that was
easily shown to be impossible by facts and
figures. Public sentiment at that time
was strongly tinctured with the supersti
tions that were so common in times pre
vious, which, theugh considerably modi- j
ficd, had not by any means disappeared,
and thus, every phenomenal occurrence
that could not be at once demonstrated,
was by many behoved to bo a direct and
special manifestation of divine or diaboli
cal power giving warnings, omens, and
"portents dire," but it is not strange that
this occurrence, this "day of dietres and
gloominess, a day of eloada and thick
darkness," should have made a strong
impression. There were many who firm
ly believed that it was the beginning of
the end of all things, that "tho sun had
withdrawn his light, and tho stars had
ceased their shininp," that "tho reign of
chaos and old night" had begun in earn
est. It was then the darkest and most
hopeless period of the war of the revolu
tion, and it was thought by many of tho
desponding and discouraged to bo signifi
cant of the end of that which then ap
peared to them a hopeless strnIe. Somo
of the moro sanguine insist d that as the
hour before the dawn was always the
darkest, so this strange and portenliou
ploom was but the prelude to the bright
dawn of Liberty and Independence that
was soon to follow.
The father of the writer w.ns then a
bny of but thirteen years, and was at
work in tlio ill with his father and
brothers, planting or preparing the ground.
It was a dull, hazy morning, and as the
time passed, gradually thickened, and by
10 o'clock the increasing darkness began
to be quite apparent. They kept on with
their work, and as the gloom increased
they observed that he would pauso once
in a while, and look intently all around
the horizon nnd overhead, but made no
remark untilhe directed the oldest boy to
go to the barn and turn the horse and all
tho cattle that were insido, out into an
open lot, and to close and secure every
door and window. It appeared that he
was apprehensive that some sudden and
furious gust or squall would soon mani
fest itself, and though! that the animals
would be in less danger out in the field
than insido of the building. Still the
darkness grew thicker and deeper, till
presently be said they might as well quit
work for the present. On reaching the
house the mother and sisters were about
their usual duties, pale and Bilent, and
little was said except an occasional re
mark or direction, in a low tone. No
one seemed inclined to conversation or
demonstration of any kind. Soon dinnsr
was ready and candles lighted the same ai
at night, but not a morsel was eaten. A
doad silence seemed to pervade all nature,
broken only by the occasional bleating of
a lamb or the distant lowing of the kine,
which wandered about restless and nnen
sy. The domestic Towls seemed to bo
inclined to come to the conclusion that it
was now night, they could put no other
construction upon it, so, after clucking
over the matter for a while, they went to
rooBt. And thus tho long and dreary
hours passed away. Along in the after
noon tho veil was lifted in some degree,
and at the time of sunset it was about
the same as in an ordinary dull and
cloudy day.
The night followed. Dark as was the
day, it was the perfect blackness of
darkness." Not the faintest outline of any
object could be discerned against the sky.
A light would penetrate it but a little
way, and then seemed to disclose but a
solid wall of blackness around. . Many
persons who were out became bewildered
and lost for the time. It was an anxious
night of watching in many a household,
but the dawn at length broke bright and
beautiful, and never wu the face of the
NUMBER 20.
broad bright sun more joyfully greetoJ.
My mother, then a child of nine years,
had a perfect recollection of many of the
incidents of that memorable day, particu
larly that of the sudden appearance in
their midst of two venerable maiden sis
ters, Susan and Mary Stevens, better
known as Aunt Susie and Sister Mollis,
who lived by themselves in the "old
house" near by. Solitary and alone they
had endured the pcriLs of the hour, until
they could bear it no longer, when they
"cut and run," seemingly impressed with
the idea that if safety, comfort and con
eolation could anywhere be found amid
the impending "wreck of matter and crush
of worlds," it must be in the presence and
under the roof of their kind friend and
good neighbor Proctor, and his family. I
doubt not there are soma readers of the
Advertiser who remember tho venerable
mansion f the sisters, with its dilapida
ted roof and shattered casemeuts, where
'Winter's snow and autumn's driving rain, .
Gained free admission thro' each bi okta pane."
It stood for many years abandoned,
desolate, in the niidat of Sushi's Geld at
the "hut."
The Dai k Day has parsed into history,
and the world has contiuuej to wag on as
before, as it probably will for an indefiVita
time to come. Cape Ann Advertiser.
One ok the Doos. A year or two
since a small farmer in the upper part of
Maine, one morning found a homely
looking sorrel -colored dog hanging around
his house. His tail had recently been
chopped off, and the at.imal altogether
presented a sorry appearance. The farm
er paid little attention to the animal, not
wishing to bo troubled with him. For
two or threo days the friendless dog hung
around tho premises, wjth a piteous look,
until at length the farmer, moved with
compassion, called the dog to him and ted
him. He was almost famished. That
settled the whole thing ; the dog overflow
ing with joy and gratitude in having bc
curcd a new friend, stuck to his benefac
tor like a courtier. He woulj not leave
him. Tho farmer soon after ascertained
that the dog's former master had cut off
hfs tail, and the animal immediately left
him in disgust and dudgeon. Tho new
master did not wish to keep him, and
a friend who lived some seven miles away
carried the animal home in the box of his
chaise. But fhe dog found his way back,
again as Boon as he got released. Tho
farmer then made up his mind to keep
him. He turned out to be an excellent
watch dog and hunter. Ono night after
tea the farmer mit-sed hia dog. "Whet a
is Skip t" No ono had Been him eino
ho started with hia master to the woods
that morning. At last the farmer be
thought him of his gun, which he had
laid down on the ground whilst he loaded
his sled with wood. lie Lad come off
and forgotten it. It was then enowing.
If he left it'all night it would be covered
up, and it would be difficult to find it..
He returned to the woods for his gun,
and there found it with Iho faithful dog
besid?, watching it. On Sunday Skip
would go to meeting with the family.
When they rode tho dog would stay in
the wagon and walch it ; but if they went
on foot he would go into church with
them, which they could not well prevent,
and by which they were annoyed. One
Sunday, when tho family were going Kr
meeting on foot, tho farmer shut the dig
up in tho house. Skip did not fancy such
treatment, and every Sunday morning
afterwards ho would invariably get upoir
a little knoll near the house and there
await the departure of tho family for
church, and then cross lots r.t full bound,
always keeping ahead of the family untik
they arrived at tho meeting house. How
did the dog know when Sunday came ?
He must havo kept the record of the timor
somehow. Otir Dumb Anfm ik.
Traveling Stosks They have walk-'
ing stones in Australia, and, as we are
informod, they have traveling stone m
Nevada. Hero is a description: Tly
ar almost perfectly round, tho majority'
of them as largo aa a walnut, and of aiv
irony naturo. When distributed about
upon tho floor, table, or any other lova
surface, within two or threo feet of eaclt
other, they immediately bei n traveling
towards a common centre, and there hud
dle up in n bunch, like a lot of c-jtji in a.'
nest. A single stone removed to a distance)
of three and a half Vel, npon being re
leased, at onco started olf with wonderfuf
and somewhat comical celerity to join it
fellows; taken away fotir or five feet il
remained motionless. They are found, in
a region that, although comparatively
level, ia nothing but barren rock. Scat
tered over this barren region ere little ba-.
sins, from a few feet to a rod iu diameter
and it is in tha bottom of these that lim
rolling stones are found. They are froni
the size of a pea to five or ix inches io
diamoler. The causo of these stonci:'
rolling together is doubtless to be found ioi
the material of which they are compoMitl, ;
which appears to be loadstone, or magnetic
iron ore.
A nest of rats in Dubuque, Iowa,
have raised an important interna! revenue:
question. Some 200 worth of stamps
were pasted upon a lot of whiskey barrels
stored in a distillery warehouse. The v
rats having taRte for tho paste, ate thera
off. The distiller refuses to pay for moro
stamps, and the whiskey cannot be Bohi.
An opinion on rata i expected from, rev
eaue headquarters.
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