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SAILTIEL WRIGHT, Editor and Proprietor.
VOLUME XXX, NUMBER 45.]
iPUSBLIIIED EVERY SATURDAY MORNING
o.fflee in Carpet Iran, North-tmicarrer of
4ront and Locust streets.
'erns of ascription.
Our Copyper anrradm,if paldin advance.
• • • ' •• if not paid within three
.monthafrogn rommeneementofthe rear, 200
Coats as& Copp.
liesubseription received for a leaf time than eix
-ercattrinr; and no paper will be di4eontittued nvetil att
.4rrealage &are paidouilessat theoptienoftbepeb
ishrr.
fcrMoneyeaa yb e - eraitledb ymal! a a bepabllah
*ea rialC.
Bates of Advertising
4 roseerepllnesione week, $039
three weeks. 75
eschgubsequentinsertion, 10
(12: ipes)oneweek. 50
three weeks, 1 00
g g eachsubsequentinsertion. 95
9.argeradvertlsementsin proportion.
Altbera/diseountwill be made to qustrterly,halt:
early orrearlytdeertisers,who are suleti)confined
otheir business.
DE, HOFFER,
Durist.—(lFFlCß, Front Street 4th door
s,. Logan. over Snylor & hie Donald's Hook More
Oolootbbs, Pa. fir Eutrance, between the Rook and
Pr. Steer's Drug Store. [August 21 1859
VHOMAS WELSH.
TIMER fl TIE PEACE, Clinabia,
()me& in Wbipper's New Building, below
Black's Hotel, Front street.
toe Prompt attention given to all busittess =mowed
November 28, 1857.
H. ➢I. NORTH, .1.
A TTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR AT LIZ
coiumbia.r..
'Collecuoue.F romptly made .1 n Lnneastemand Von
"counties.
Columbia
Nay 4,1850
J. W. FISHER,
.Attorney and Counsellor at Laws
co 1-wceilcolea, Pa.
Coiumbiu,september ts, tbso if
S. Atlee Boekius, D. D. S.
1311ACTICKS the Opereciv!, Surgical and Meehan
YY teal Dee.accat.•nl( ofthentistry:
Ornez —Locum street, lietwet le he Franklin linen
end Volt Office, Columbia, Pa
May 7.11159.
GUSTAVUS HEGRIAIV,
Professor of Ancient and Modern Languages.
MADAME HEENAN,
Sect of Vocal and Instrumental Music-
Walnuustreetlove Front, •,outli side.
Columb.u, law d., IMO.
IOMATO PILLS.--ffstraat el Tomatoes; a
cathartic and Tonic. For cols nt
J... DELI.FITT & CO'S
Golden Al prior Smug Sbore.
Dec. 3 '59
1.111,00115.---100 Doz. Brooms, at Ntudesale
or Retst iI. at 11. PFA
Dec. 12, 1557. I.nruo rirret.
SINE'S Compound
for of Syru p
ilie of
cure Tar
ti Wild
ciwrry ord lion rhou rid, of ouglil.
cold., %Vol:loping Couch. Croon. &ii. For wee lit
McCORKI.FI& DELLKTre.
ninely Medicine Store, Odd Fellows' Ilull
Armin- e 23. I .5".4.
Patent Steam Warta Usiterri.
T hand et k"'"
17N r i r t . ie k 1 ' 4 1)
Al; k r l ltt Y
oa
I .ocoo n reet, onportie the Franklin Manse.
Columbia, July 19,1957.
lots for sale bythe bushel or larger quan
%jolly by D. P. APPOI.D.
Cc:lnstil. in Dec. @5, 1853.
JUST in store . n fresh lot of Breinig & Prolificld's
celebrated Vegeta'de Cattle Powder. add for sale by
Front street. Cohan
eept. 17, It+s9
Harrison's Co umbian Ink
n superior ;article, permntientlY black.
Tt mud not corroding the pen, eon be had in any
quantity. at the Vuintly Mettiei•te store, and bluelgeo
Jet ie that Engllnh limnli-h.
COIUMbill. Joule 9.11359
On Hand.
RS.WINSLOW , S Smiting Syrup, whirl; will
111.. greatly btribistie the proem. of teetbiug .b re
•thaettig inhumation. ailuying pain. vpairnodie action,
-Ate., in very short time. For vale by
R. WILLIA P4u.
•Sept.l7, 1859. From vireet.
14IDDING & CO'S Russia Salve! Tins a
tremely popular remedy for the cure oresternal
ailments is now for vale by
H. WILLIAMS. Front it., Columbia.
aept.2l, 1850.
CISTERN PUMPS.
r mut: xuhgertber bar a 'urge stork of Ci•lern I'nmp•
'I. and amnia. to which hr calie the allenlion of the
.rpithlic. Ka in prepared to put them up for tire 111
substantial wad eilduring manner.
H. PPAHLER,
Loru•t Street.
Deerniher 1.4.(857
Just Received and leor hale.
.200 Oround Plaster; 50 Extra Family
Flour; 251.1.1 a. No. I Lard Oil of best quality;
200 but. Ground Alum
B.F. AP FOLD,
No I and 2 Canal
Mardi 26, '5O
aRAIIAM, or, Bond's Boston Crackers, for
Dyxpeptlcs, and Arrow Root Crar kers, for in
valid. and rhildren—new articles in Colombia, at
the Family Medicine Store,
April 10. Mg.
-
NEW CROP SEEDLESS RAISINS.
THE beet for Pies, Pudding, Ste.—a .fresh Rupp!) , ad
H BtPir an. 1.09
'Grocery Store, Corner Pronttutd Gown stn
Now. 19. 1859.
Seedless Raisins!
A LOT of very choice Seedless Raisins. just receivez.
LI at N.F. EttERLEIN'S
N0v.19, le. Grocery Store, No. :I, Locust at.
SHAKER CORN.
JUST received, a first rate lot of Shaker Corn
H. SLIFDAN'S
Grocery Store, corner Front and Union •t.
Nov. 26. tYS9.
SPILDING'S MEMO OLUR.—Tbe want or
such en article is felt in every family. end now
it can be supplied; for mending furniture, chitin
-cram ornament*: work, toy.. Ike, there in nothing
paperior. We have (*and it worn! in repairing many
snide. which have been useless for mambo. You
Jan Win it at the
te.oanA:• FhtILY AIIRDICINP: STORE.
AFIRST•RATS article of Dried Beef, and
of Ham, can be bought at
EISERLEIN'S Grover). Store.
bp...reb 10,1860, 40. 71 Locust meet
ton li
efaIlvTtEAS., Bl ack
anJud. Green,
ed o f
a t d
iffer-
EBERLEJN`d Grocery Stara.
March,llo, WO. No. 71 Lt-curt street.
• Tilt VOWillt JOON FRANKLIN , the so
. thorned edition. McClintock. price, *LAO.
ootfials on me powder) of A natter World.—
, Priee,oll 7 l3.
„Ikterrifirs cersointo. ~plee, 40 cents.
4414 S BARR & CO.,
, Feb, 11. Opposite Coon llou•e.
DIMPIV.PMIE CITARaI very
superior sad 'ermine *nada forpetheinal par-
J. S. DELLEIT,ft. co ,
Agent:lSo Cohanibui.
CO** uptiltißTEßs.—jaware of spi
rthat Oaf. Chifing in the large inereare In.
the eonstuggagis of Coal 00. the market or fall of be
agle oil. tilt prepathartiele eon aleraya be hod at
. P. tomucrr ik. mrs
Golden Manor Drag Store.
reb-11.NKL
FOB Infiff / mpegiar jrtiele or
Soda Asti am 4ipoamdf•T ow kr
IL %%MAO AXIS,
'E r n= tsire. et
March 24, ISCO
grkrtions.
The Japanese
The rdscerpts below are from a volume entitled
"Narrutive ol the Earl of Etgin's ftlitsion to China and
.lapan.in the year The work is from
the üble pen of Leak:nee Oliphant, Eef,privute Secre
tery to Lord Elgin. The commercial treutie• recently
entered into between thee. nations and our country
are °twilit% new worlds to the iiiYeortglitiell of the
traveller.
EEO
TILE COUNCIL OF STAIR
There is a body of men who possess great
influence in t' a state; these are the princes
of the blood. Should the Tycoon and his
council differ upon any Weighty matter of
state iovernment, the question is referred
for arbitration to a tribunal composed of
three of these royal princes. Should they
confirm the opinion of the council, the Ty
coon, to whom is denied the privilege of
hara-kiri, or the "happy dispatch," has no
alternative but to abdicate incontinently in
favor of his nearest heir. Should, on the
other hand, the umpires agree with their
royal relative, which in all probability they
do, unless public:opinion is tuo strong against
them, then the whole of the council
are bound, without farther ceremony, at
ohoe„ to dispatch themselves, in the happy
manner peculiar to Japan, to those Elysian
fields, where they will probably become dis
tinguished as canonized kamis, and the pa•
trun saints of many a Japanese household.
This notorious method of suicide, the only
Japanese custom - with which the western
world has long been familiar, has of late
years assumed a somewhat modified form,
and no longer consists in that unpleasant
process of abdomen ripping, which must
have been nitnost as disagreeable an opera
tion to witness as to perform. My friend
fligo-no-kami presented me with a knife
proper to be used under the old system—an
exceedingly business-like weappn about ten
inches long, sharp as a razor, and made of
steel of the highest temper. Now this knife
is only used to make a. slight incision, signi
ficant of the intention of the victim to put
an end to himself. He has collected his wife
and family to see how a hero can die; his
dearest friend, he who in our own country
would have been his best-man at his wed
ding, stands over him with a drawn sword,
and when he commences to make the afore
said incision, the sword descends, and the
head rolls at the feet of his disconsolate
family.
JAPANE 4 X ACQUAINTANCEq
There were two gentlemen, Otto Bongo
no•kami and another, whose acquaintance
we were now about to mike. Oar tn)rning
had been so much occupied in the tacker and
silk shops that it was late in the afternoon
before we started on a five-mile journey to
the official residence of these dignitaries,
which was just inside the farther gate of
the citadel. ear way, as usual, led us down
the main street. I made my first experience
of a norinson on this occasion, and ob
tained a view of the crowd in a squatting
posture; fur, while the traia of ten noritnons
was passing, the people sat ots their heels to
obtain a view of the occupants. As some of
these wore naval otE;ere in full uniform,
they exhibited signs of unusual satisfaction.
In order not to dirty the mate of our hosts,
we were each provided with a pair of slip
pers is which to scuffle across the yard, for
it is not etiquette in Japan for any but the
owner of the house to go beyond the outer
threshbold in his norimon. At that paint
all guests are put down, and walk to the
next entrance.
MEM
A broad street, similar to alum in the
Princes' qnarter. led us to a handsome gate
way ; this, on one account, at all events, we
were not a little relieved to find, was our
journey's eel, as the pasture during an hour
and a battles(' been a trying one for British
legs. Emerging from our box-like convey
ances; we shuffled after Moriyama, who was
always at his pest. Ascending some steps,
at the top of which we relinquished our slip
pers, we passel through a series of ante
chambers, with walls of paper screens, un
til we were ushered finally into an oblong
apartment, at the farther end of which, on
the left-hand side, stood the two ministers
behind two low square tables and six wax
candles on single stands, for it was by this
time seven P. M. Exactly facing them were
three tabletfand six .more candles, behind
which we took up our position. For some
time we all remained standing, and the
usual complimentary expressions were in
terchanged.- Then, all having left the room
except Lord Elgin, Mr. llewsken, and my
self, we sat down on chairs, (an unexpected
luxury,) and proceeded to business. Mori
you'll, during all this time, was in a prostrate
attitude on the floor between L trtl Elgin
and the ministers, touching the ground
reverentially with his forehead whenever he
was called upon to interpret. Lower down,
and remaining standing, were our friends,
the commissioners ; while in a sort of pas
sage formed by a hanging screen behind the
ministers' were a row of people who ostensi
bly took no part in the ceremony, - but some
of v hom were no doubt spies, while others
[observed occasionally prompting the minis
ters. These latter personages seemed some
what embarrassed by the novelty of their
situation, and pave one the impression of
being very new to office.
Ted/ S%D ORZICTIIZATS
After the ordinary tee, we were supplied
with s leverage peculiar to the upper
classes of Japan : this consists of $ sort of
puce made of tea leaves themselves.. They
are first stewed, then dried and ground in a
hand mill into.' powder; this is mixed with
"NO ENTERTAINMENT IS SO CIIEA.P AS READING, NOR,ANIC PLEASUB:E.SO LASTING."
COLUMBIA, PENNSYLVNIA, SATURDAY M.PRNING;' JUNE,.9; 'lB6O.
(hot water and whipped with a split bamboo
until it creams, 'lt is served up hot, and
looks like physic. Altogether, I thought it
more palatable than seam This delicacy
is called koitscha, or thick tea; it was suet
ceeded by a number of small square wooden
boxes on little ,stands:, they were rather
like toy-boxes, and might be supposed to
contain some description of game. We each
had one of these to ourselves. When the
lids were removed, we discovered a very
tempting assortment of barley-sugar, sponge
cakes, Gibralter rock, and other confection
ary. not to be distinguished in taste from
the manufactures of our own country, ex
cept by school-boys, or those really versed
in the subject. We were not only supposed
to nibble at these sweetmeats during the
visit, but the boxes, with all that remained
in them, were sent after us to our abode, so
that we were enabled, for some days after
wards, to retire to the privacy of our cham
bers whenever we felt moved, and fast mov
ed, and feast in secrecy upon their luscious
contents. Our audience hiving, at last come
to an end, we took leave with many pro
found bows and polite speeches, and re
turned to our norimons, our companions
having, in the meantime, been feasted
with tea and sweetmeats in an adjoining
room.
I=
A train of youths entered, bearing pipes
and tea. They were all dressed simply and
uniformly ; indeed, so exactly did they re
semble one another, that they must have
been selected as good matches. They en
tered with an air of profound respect, the
head slightly bent, the eyes fixed on the
ground, and moved with a shuffling, gait, as
though afraid to lift their feet from the
floor. During the period of our visit, theta
young men were constantly coming in with
refreshments, and as they never looked tip,
it was always a matter of wonder to me how
they found their way, while the monotone's?
regularity of their movements was quite
painful. Notwithstanding which it must
be admitted that the manners of flunkies
in Japan are infinitely more agreeable
than those of the same race in our own
country.
SHOPPING
The representations which we- had fre
quently made to our friend and guardian,
fainoske, and the avidity which we mani
fested in the purchase of all Japanese arti
cles of manufacture, induced that worthy
to collect for our benefit, every morning, a
number hf readers of bicker, china, and
embroidery, who used to spread their wares
in our verandas ; so that, during the earlier
part of the day, they assumed somewhat
the appearance of a bazaar. In the e 'joy
merit of this extravagant, amusement, our
morning.; used to fly rapidly. Each box
contained some specimen we had not yet
seen. The china, in particular, was an end
less source of interest, from the variety of
patterns and devices which it presented.—
On some of the cups were raised lacker
representations of pleasure•boats, with tiny
windows, on opening which a party of ladies
and gentlemen drinking tea were discovered
within, all on the minutest possible scale.—
At the bottom of other cups, a tortoise,
beautifully executed china, might be observ
ed placidly reposing, until the tea was
poured in, when he rose to the surface a
most animated reptile.
DOUG IN JAPAN
The dog peculiar to Japan, and which is
supposed to have been the origin of the King
Charles spaniel, does indeed bear a consi
derable resemblance to that breed ; the ears
are not so long and silky, and the nose is
more of a pug; but the size, shape, and
color of the body are almost identical. The
face is by no means attractive ; the eyes are
usually very prominent, as though starting
from the head ; the forehead is overhang
ing, and the nose so minute that it firms
rather a depression than a projection on the
face; the jaw is somewhat prominent, and
is frequently so much underhung that the
mouth cannot be shut, in consequence of
which the tongue protrudes in a waggish
manner, at variance with the staring eye
which should, fur the sake of consistency,
bei slightly closed, with a tendency to wink.
When the great majority of our party had
furnished themselves with three of four of
these prepossessing animals each, which
wera confined in kennels formed of paper
screens up in our loft, the consequences to
an unhappy victim like myself, who had re
sisted their charms, were most trying;
They used to demolish their paper kennels
with their teeth, quarrel with each other,
howl dismally during the still hours of the
night, or hare spasms. They were subject
to weakness, and violent cramp in the loins
and hind legs, and then their owners used
to devote the small hours of the morning to
fomenting them with hot water, and wrap
ping them in warm flannels. .In. spite of
all their efforts some of these delicate little
creatures died, to the inexpressible grief of
those who had listened so often to their
nocturnal whining.. Even in Yedo, the
price of a handsome pair of these dogs is as
mach as fifty or sixty dollars, so that it is
worth Ails to sit up at night to alleviate
their sufferings.
orrtcum conaus.
The Japanese seldom wear anything on
their. heads eicept when riding. The head
is shaved on the crown, and the side and
back hair brought forward in a roll about
the thickness of a small sausage to the top
of the forehead; here it is firmly gummed
down with a species of banieline, in the
manufacture of which the Japanese are
very proficient. IVigs are common in the
shops, but are only worn as a part - of it mas
querade dress. Not a
_particle' of hair i s
ever allowed to appear on their faces. - The
winter oostume consists in robes cut like
dressing gowns, padded throughout with silk
wadding. These unwieldy articles of attire
are also used on state occasions, and are a
standing item in the list of imperial presents
to a foreign mission. But the mosfsingular
portion of their apparel, are the trousers
which they wear at their audiences with the
Tycoon: they seem to be cat upon a "princi
ple precisely the opposite to that Aids regu
lates our court dress. We consider that when
we hive brought our nether garments down
to the knee/we have not only satisfied de
cency, but reached the highest pitch of re
finement and elegance. The great object of
the Japanese is to create no entire miscon
ception in the mind of the spectator as to
the situation of that iraporte.pt joint; he
wishes it to be supposed that he shuffles into
the royal presence on his knees, but, finding
that process attended with much practical
inconvenience, he compromises the matter
by having his trousers made about eighteen
inches longer then his legs; by these means
his feet are made to represent his knees,
and he is enabled to walk upon them com
fortably, with his sham legs dragging utter
him.
DRAM OF TUC 51115131M1
Many of the streets and roads which we
traversed were lined with peach and plum
trees; at the period of the year when those
are in full blossom they must form a most
charming and fragrant avenue. We were
filled with astonishment and delight at the
exquisite taste displayed in the gardens and
cottages upon the roadside. No model 03-
tate in England can produce "cottages or
nees" comparable to those which adorn the
suburbs of Y9do. We always fail in our
detail; therela a want of that minuteness
which the Chinaman glories in until he be
comes grotesque. The Japanese have hit
the happy medium. With an elaborate del
icacy of detail, they combine the art of
generalization in design, so that the relation
of the parts with the whole is maintained
throughout, and the general effect hi not
sacrificed to minor beauties.' These charm
ing little cottages, raising their thatched
roofs amid the fruit-trees and creepers which
threatened to smother them in their em
braces, wore surrounded by flower-beds
tastefully laid out, resplendent with brilliant
hues, and approached by walks between
carefully clipped hedges. Yew trees, cut
into fantastic shapes, and dwarfed trees, ex
tending their deformed arms as if for assis
tance and support, are favorite garden orna
ments. Here and there, at the end of a
long avenue, we c laid discern a temple em
bowered amid trees, and ancient priests in
gauzy and transparent costume, with broad
embroidered belts and sashes, and enor
mous lackered hats, would hurry to the en
trance to see the strangers psise.
TEA-1100M
At the entrance to this establishment we
dismounted, much to the edification of the
whole population of the village, who assem
bled to stare and wonder at us. IVe found
the tea-house situated on the edge of a brawl.
ing stream, the balconies of the upper rooms
overhanging the water. flanging weeds
and gardens, tastefully laid out with rock
work, and yew-trees cut in quaint shapes,
fringed the bank of the river, to the point
at which it entered the grounds in a pictures
que cascade. Taking possession of a sum
mer-house perched on a projecting point, and
which commanded a charming view of the
surrounding objects, we signified to a group
of young ladies, who came to look at us
under the pretext of waiting fur orders, our
desire to be furnished with some luncheon.
We were not kept long in waiting for our
meal, which consisted of some excellent
vegetable soup and some rice and fish. 33y
way of dessert, we had rnarshmelons,
apricots and pears, so that we had no di&
culty in satisfying the cravings of hunger.
111TANICAL GARDENS
The botonical gardens themselves did not
exactly correspond to, our notions on the
subject. There were neither fine old trees
in great variety, nor a large and curious
collection of all descriptions of plants. The
rage of horticulturists in this country seem
ed to be grasses, mosses and ferns of all
sorts, added to which there was an exten
sive assortment of dwarfed trees. Instead
of glass green-houses, there were long mat•
sheds for the more delicate specimens, while
ranged upon stands, as in England, were
quantities of porcelain pots of various
shapes and colors, but generally blue, with
a piece of rook in the centre, and a root of
grass or tnNts growing around it. A Ja
panese gardener chiefly prides himself upon
his skill in dwarfing. Tue mod venerable
forest trees may here be seen in flower-pots,
their old stems, gnarled and twisted as if
writhing under the torture of distortion,
perhaps scarce two feet high, while their
unnatural branches spread out laterally
like the fingers of a deformed hand. One
.f the Dutch factory told a story of a box
three inches long by two broad, containing
a fir-tree, a bamboo, and a plum tree in fall
blossom, which was sold fur a sum equal to
twelve hundred dollars. There was a pine
.rood behind the gardens, with some pleas
ant retreats in it, and artificial hillocks
crowned with summer-houses. These gar
dens are also a very favorable resort for pic
nics from redo.
A NEW ACQUAINTANCE
He was: properly as "the Senna:-
drel," hut'hisi real name'ives Tanjersim.—
This man' appeared in our gaiden one' eve
ning, and astonished - us , all by apeieing
English without . any perceptible accent, us
ing very Fong wets, furl inforceed as that
he was in the'habit of taking lunar observa
tions. He 'furthei asserted that ho had
never been out of Japan in hie life, and that
he acquired his knowledge of the English
language at a school et Yedo. This school
he described as being - attended - by Japanese
desirous of learning foreigh ' languages;
which they were taught by professors, who
had qualified themselves -by study -for the
purpose. With all "our respect for the in
telligence and advancement of thejapanese,
this was rather more than we could accept,
and we Gould gain no corroborative -testi
mony on the-subject, so that I haire no doubt
it was a pure piece of invention, on the part
of Tanjeram, who had evidently, by some
accident or othei, passed some years of his
life in the United States. He stoutly denied
that such was the case, and he spoke with
a slight nasal twang, making use of expres
sions which he certainly must have acquir
ed from a professor who had studied the
"American" and not the English language.
The expression of his face was totally differ
ent from that of any othei Japanese I ever
saw. There was a mixture of cunning and
insolence in his manner foreign to the na
ture of his countrymen, and which indis
putably proved that he had lived long
enough abroad to substitute the manners of
-western civilization for those of Japanese
barbarism.
=
The Japanese write, like the Chinese, in
columns, from the top to the bottom of the
paper, beginning at the right-hand side. The
character is less fantastic and far more run
ning than the Chinese. There is, indeed,
not the slightest similarity between the
languages, the one being monosyllabic and
the other polosyllabio. The Japanese words
are often of unconscionable length, but the
sounds are musical, and not difficult to imi
tate; whereas the Chinese words, though• of
one syllable, consist generally of a gulp or a
grunt, not attainable by those whose ears
have riot become thoroughly demoralized by
a long residence in the country. We learn.
ad more Japanese words in a week than we
had of Chinese in a year ; and in making a
small, rough vocabulary, I found no diffi
culty in so allocating the letters'of the Eng
lish alphabet as to convey to my memory a
fair representation of the sound I wished
to recollect. In Chinese this is quite impos
sible.
That Dent in the Captain's Head.
You want to know bow Capt ails John
Duncan got that dent in him head : very well,
I'll tell you all I know about it.
I met him at Buenos Ayres, South Amer-
ce, in the year 185—not long ago, you see;
he was in command of a tidy little Scotch
brig, called the "Sandy." Now,John was
an old trader at the port, and well posted up
in the various means of amusement. the
greatest of which was horseback riding. I
am by no means an indifferent horseman—
I rather pride myself on my skill. So John
and I were to be soon nearly every day gal
loping off toward the open country. He also
prided himself considerably on his horse
manship, and an innocent way he had of
showing it; for whenever he met a gaucho,
ho would sit bOld upright in his saddle, as
if he bad been suddenly attacked with stiff
back. But when he chanced to pass a fair
senorita, it was really refreshing to see him.
Then he would twist his hat jauntingly on
one side, twirl his huge moustachios and by
dexterously reining in on the curb bit, and
pricking slightly with the spurred heel, the 1
animal on which he rode would curvet in
the most royal style; and then to see his
melting glances—but I forget ; what yoit
*ant to know is, how Captain John•Dunean
got that dent. Well, I'll tell 'you. Of
course you understand by this time that he
had a dent 1 Now I'll tell where the dent
was. It was in his head, on the right or
left temple-I don't distinctly remember
which, but luckily it's a point of small con
sequence.
The reason I saw the dont at all was, I
suppose,.that it was impiiseible. to look at
his face without seeing it. My curiosity
was early excited to .know 18010 he came by
such a strange misfortune, and I made up
my mind to find it out, sooner or later, by
hook-or crook. flow to do it was the next
thing ; but here circumstances favored what
philosophy could not devise.
The dent was of a very curious look—bow
to describe it I don't know. Sometimes it
looked as if soma one had shot a pea at bins.
out of a . patent pop-gun, and had dank driven
flesh and all right into his right, or left tem
ple, I forget which. It looked as though
some one had punched his bead. But, I keep
forgetting; what you want to hear about is,
how Captain John Duncan got that dent in
his head.
You must bear in mind that this curious
dent was a source of earnest speculation to
me ; that I was forever, that is, it was never
—in short, it puzzled , me. Of course I was
delighted when the mystery was at• last re
solved. The way it came about was some
thing like this : Captain John Duncan said
to me. says be, "Mr. Jones"—he always
called me by stardingandnutsounnon names
—"are you dry?" Now, as it hadn't been
raining, and as I hadn't wet myself in any
way. I said, "Captain John Duncan. I am
dry." In a few more minutes we were quiet
01,50 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE; $2, OIF NOT IN ADVANCE
ly seated at a little table, in a quiet saloon,
doing our very beet to quench our thirst and
moisten our throats.
The more we drank, the thirstier we got;
at last ho turned to me, and says he, "Mr.
Zones—Mr. Jones.'! Says I, "What ?"
"Says be, "I'm very dry," and immediately
commenced to drink again. What with wit
and wine, an hour was not long in passing.
At the end of an hour my eyes were as good
as all the other senses mixed up in a meal
bag and shook together ;. if they were not,
why then they must have deceived me. At
any rate, I happened to look at Captain
John Duncan, after I had taken a good ma
ny tumblers of wine, and,, instead of one
dent, Isaw.at least six or. seven. This rath
er resoled me; so I just steadied,my head
with my two•hands, and brought my eyes
to bear upon,his right or left temple—l for
get which. I then tried to perform an ab
struse mathetgatical calculation ;. but, twist
and turn it as I would, I couldn't deduct
seven from six to save myself; and, what's
more, I have never found any calculus deep
enough to do it for me.
While I was twisting it (not my head,
you know, the calculation,) Captain John
Duncan caught sight of my two eyes look
ing at six or seven dents, and says he, "Mr.
Jones!" (he always called me by heroic
names,) "Mr. Jones I"
Says I, "What ?"
'Says he, "Do you see that dent, Mr.
Jones ?" and he put his finger to his right
or left temple, I forget which, but luekily
that's a point of small consequence.
Says I, "I do."
"Says he, "Doyen known howl got that
dent ?"
"Says I, "I don't."
Says he, "Will you promise me never to
reveal it if I tell you ? Confidence. Mr.
Jones; confidence, you know."
"I am all ears,
s and all_ right, Captain
John Duncan," says 1. And then he just
told me how he got that dent in his head.—
Says he :
"When I was in Marseilles, France, in
the charge of one of the finest, clippers ever
built in Scotland, I spent the major part of
my time and money on shore. As I• had
considerable time, and plenty of money to
help.it along, I was never at a loss .for a
friend; Why, bless your good heart, I was
sometimes annoyed, for they were as thick
as Highlanders at a prayer meeting. I
couldn't go a block without one of my
friends inviting me to - take wine. They
were liberal-hearted fellwoe; fonder of . tak
ing is drink than paying forit. The affec
tion they displayed for me would have drawn
tears from my eyes had it not drawn so much
gold from my pocket. one of the most gen
erous-hearted fellows of the whole lot .bor
rowed a thousand francs from me, and then,
because I asked him for five dollars one day,
greW highly indignantand cut my acquaint.
ante. I demanded an explanation, and ho
demanded satisfaction- 7 coffee and pistols.
I demanded my thousand _francs ; and, in
return, had the pleasure of receiving a gen
tleman, who assured me, in the pleasantest
way possible, that nothing but my death
could heal the wound which his friend's
honor had sustained. This exasperated me,
and I told the gentleman, that were his
friend, new my enemy, present, I should
have the pleasure of kiciiings his honor. He
replied that he was sorry that I should feel
at all annoyed, for he desired the little affair
to be mutually agreeable ; that, personally,
he esteemed me, particularly since he bad
now the 'pleasure of making my acquaint
ance. This so flattered me that I immedi
ately called.for a bottle of champagne, of
which he drank the major part, which, con
sidering that he held that rank in the army,
was very proper. The duel,was immediate
ly arranged.
"In the preliminaries it was agreed that
a champagne breakfast should be ordered
out of town, at. place of meeting; and
that the man who was killed should pay for
it. Of course breakfast was reserved till
after the duel.
"We met 1 We measured out the paces 1
We fired I -And the next I knew I found
myself in bed with this ugly dent in my
head; an enormous bill to pay for a break
fast of which I had never tasted s-morsel.
And that's the way I got that dent."' •
I sat looking at Captain John Duncan for
sometime after he bad finished his yarn,
without saying a. word. Row much longer
I might have said nothing I don't know, bat
he suddenly interrupted me by saying. "Mx.
Jones! Mr. Jones!".
Says I, "What?"
Says he, "Don't you feel dry !"
Says do feel kind of parched in my
throat, Captain.!'
And so we called for more toddy. and I
really.don't know whether we had more
pleasure or toddy. Somehow or other. with
emery glue we turned down, our thoughts
seemed fairly kicking to turn out. At last
Captain John Duncan could hold in no lent.
er, and interrupting me in the midst of. a
laugh which I was enjoying all by myself
—says be :
"Mr. Jones 7"
At first I didn't say anything, sod then
afterwards I didn't say anything :- but. put
ting my right hand to my right side of my
head, and my left-hand to the left lido of
my head, and so steadying it; I looked
straight at hiso and on saying nothing.
flowerer, in the midst of it he again inter
rental me. Says be—
"lie. Jonas!"
Says I, What!"
[WHOLE NUMBER 1,555.
Says he, "Did you ever notice that dent
in my temple?"
Somehow or other his memory seemed to
have grown wonderfully short. So, when
he asked me that question I just looked at
him—l mean at one of hint, for there wore
throe or four of him, and six or urea dents
for each.
Sap I, “Captain, pray tell - me bow it
was you got that dent in year heed r And
then he told me bow it was.
-- Soya he—hut before he commenced he
took another toddy—says he, "Yon see, I
was travellitig in Spain, and being much
pleased with the ancient city of Seville, de
termined to abandon theme and set up my
carriage, marry a rich beiress and settle
down.
"The Senorita—but I cannot mention her
name—honor you know, Mr. Jones; honor,
sir, honor 1" . and be slapped at his breast,
but missing it, knocked his tumble' on the
floor, breaking it in pieces. It cost him in
cluding the liquor, 18 cents. lint here Igo
again I
"Well." says he, "the fair Senorita was
said to be immensely rich, and lo I deter
mined to win her or die in the attempt. Not
that I was so base as to wish to obtain pos
session of her dollars, but her doubloons. I
must say, made my heart go pit-a-pat every
time I thought of her. I found out the
physician by whom her family was attended,
and found out at the same time that be was
principally addicted to rum and money.—
Accordingly I kept him in it . pleasant state
of intoxication as well as in loose change.—
To prove how thoroughly disinterested w&
my friendship for the dootor,, the only return
I expected, or asked, was an introduction to
Senorita—but I must not mention her name,
you know, Mr. Jones. Honor i honor I sir
honor 1 h-i-co-ugh I" At 'this moment he
again essayed to slap his breast, but, as be
fore, be kilned fire, overturning his glass of
whisky so that every drop of it ran down
his throat.
The landlord, who was • very attentive to
our wants,- and to the genuiistinesti of the
money with which we paid'him, kindly filled
"our glasses without waiting to be•a`sked, and
as kindly took therequiirite amount of change
in return. As the glasses - were plaited on
the table, Captain John Duncan—and be
was as polite a man is ever istillined from
a gambler's profession—made a low bold.—
So low did he bow thathis held • rested on
the table, - and he slept. rihoisted to him;
still he dept. I abook 'him; still be, Slept.
As a last resortimbibed his whisky, and
he awokinith stilt. '
"Captain John Duncan!" said I.
"Yes." said he.
"I want to hear the rest of your yarn,"
said I.
So, having twirled the ends , 'of his mous
taches, be again held forth' as folloiwc
"Well, as I hare before said, the doctcr
introduced - me to the senorita, and I got
more and more in love every time I. celled
upon her. She was very rich. SUch eyes!
Such hair! Snob shoulders! Such h-i-co-ngh!
Well, as I was going to say, there was an
awful big Spaniard who always visited the
Houle, it seemed to me, when I was there.
I heard, afterwards,. that he said the same
of me. There was also a little Italian Count
who called occasionally, too seldoin, how
ever, for me to fear him as' a rival. One
day I met mean the big Spaniard—
and as he passed me his spurs (he always
wore spurs) touched one of my corns, which
so affected my honor that I immediately
sent him a challenge.. The challenge was
accepted, and swords were the weapons
chosen. I thirsted for vengeance. Nothing
but his blood Could atone for the m is
which his spurs had touched my worn. Nis
and my mends remonstrated that-the cane
will too slight to necessitate a duel ;* but I
lelt•that. my honor was injured, and that
unless he would apologise for Striking my
corn, nothing Nit a disil conld'appesse my
anger. lie refused to apologise, and accord
ingly we fought.
"Thrust, parry, lunge The first Lknew,
after the duel; was finding sayielfin bed, a
sentinel pacing in front of the doer, ;End this
infernal dent in my-bead."
"Is that a fact?" Raid If "istisatreally the
way in which you got thatdint?"
"That's the way I.got thaVdent -and that
mean little Italian Count. ran off,.with the
lady," replied. -Captain John Danes,, , his
eyes gashing4re at the hatorransendarreace
of the indignity. his corn—lmam boner—
had suffered. .It was but a' moment, how
ever, thuthis . eyes so sparkled; they then
assumed their. common lustre, and more
whisky was called for.
And there we sat drinking toddy. and
feeling-as snug as a frog in a paddle. Cap
tain John bad two naps, and once or twice
time want by without being able te account
for it. Two hours passed in this wayorben.
feeling somewhat curious to know which of
the two stories he bad told me was the true
one, I slapped Captain John on his back so
hard, that be rose to Isis feet as be woke up.
As the Captain was a pretty good singer,
be immediately—but beraigo again! What
you want to hear is, bow CaptainJobn Dun
can got that dent hrhishead. In the first
plate*, you anastituow as I before said, that
lie had a dent, and that it Was situated on
the right or left temple; I - don't remember
which, but luckily it is a point of email im
portance. Well, I said to Captain John
Dimcgan, "Captain Duncan you - promised
tell me how you got that dent in year bead."
"So I will, so I—hi-ec-ugh," skid he.—
"In due first place, you must know thsk I