lia Somnambnla. . [From the Louisville Journal. J Everybody remembers the pretty story ofAminta, the village maid, who was .betrothed to Elvino, and who warned in her sleep. Everybody remembers her, since she has been made immortal py the genius of Bellini. Well, Aminta, sweet girl, can no longer claim the title of La Lomnambula as her.own peculiar property, for our city can boast of one who is as young and beautiful as the sweet Italian girl could possibly have been, wet whose story is- essentially dit ferent from that of the heroine of the ] opera, save in one particular, that ot somnambulism. ' " ■ .. . „ ■ In the west end of the city dwells a family—as a great many families do —but liie one we allude to belongs to the creme de la creme of Louisville society. The lord of the house iB a gentleman wjxise name is a power on ’Change, three linesfrom whose pen, with his sig dinure attached, would make a bans tremble to the lowest stone in its vaults. The lady was, soma years ago, a belle among belles, the admired of all; “the toast of the county.” Though no longer young, the mother of a grown daughter, time has dealt lightly with her charms, and she is yet the possessor of great beautv, toned down, ’tis true, from the ~ sparkling freshness that distinguished her youtn. If my lord - walks among the moneychangers a very king,; my lady promenades the parlors a very queeu. They have a daughter, whose loveli ness language is too poor to describe. Young—she cannot be more than nine teen; lovely—the rosesdroop their heads through envious shame, when her cheek appears among them, the stars grow pale with anger as they look into her DeamiDg eyes at seeing brighter orbs ou earth than glowin the heavens; the airs catch balmy odors from her breath; the birds addnew and sweeter bars to their melodies after hearing her sing; her form is lithe and willowy and symmet rical as was that of the poet’s Beatrice, and her step is light as a summer zephyr,- that scarce beats the thistle-down to earth. And she is as good as beautiful. Indeed, of all her beauteous sex she’s the very paragon. That this lovely creature is adored by her parents is not to be wondered as, since she is worshiped by all else. Imagine then the grief which has stricken their hearts of late, as they watched the roses fade from her cheek, the glorious eyes begin to sink in their sockets, the rounded form grow thin and angular, and the light, springy step grow heavy and languid. To all their interrogatories she universally declared JSbat fifae W not ill—that she enjoyed her usual health. She acknowledged that she was aware of a great change oc curring, for her glass tola her as much, but it was unaccountable to her. The family physician was called in, but tie could not enlighten them. At length it was suggested to the grief stricken mother that perhaps the fair girl was pining away from hopeless love. The suggestion gave her hope. She flew to her daughter’s chamber, add coDjured her to confess the fact if it were true, at the same time promising that no impediment would be thrown in the way of the accomplishment of her wishes. No, she was not in love. Thank Heaven, her heart was yet whole and fancy free. Sorrowing more than ever, the mother left the daughter’s presence! That night she communicated to her husband the suggestion that had been made to her, as well as the result of her interview with their child. Man Is not so easy to convince as woman,and the denial ot his daughter amounted al most to a confession —he was as satisfied that she loved some one whom she fear ed to introduce into the house, as if he tad seen her, with his own eyes,stealing, out to a midnight tryst. The clouds were now lifted—the scales had fallen that hitherto obscured his vision. It wasloss of rest that was killing the girl. He would watch her that very night and discover the truth. And watch he did, and sure enough, as the night deepened; he saw his child’s door open, aud she emerge therefrom, bearing in her hand a chamber lamp, aud clad only in her night garments. He did not attempt to detain her, as she turned her steps toward the door that opened into the garden, but determined to ascertain who she was going to meet at that unseemly hour and in that unmaid enly guise, followedher a-tiptoe, taking good care to keep himself well iu the backgrounk, beyond the reach of the rays of the lamp. Steadily she moved in the direction of an arbor in the lower part of the garden, which was her favorite resort in summer time. Beaching the arbor she seated herself upon a bench, and, placing the lamp beside her, gazed with wide staring eyes out into the blackness and emptiness, of the night. He waited, and waited,' and waited, but no lover made his ap pearance. At length, fearing that longer exposure to the keen, cold air, thinly clad as She was, might prove fatally in jurious to his already half-dead daugh ter, he concluded to present himself to her, and compel her to return to the house. What was his astonishment to discover that she was in a somnambulic state. Gently he awoke her,lifted her in his arms, and~ bore her to the house. The mystery was explained. She is now under medical treatment, and it is hoped that soon society will be glad dened and adorned by the return of its sweetest and fairest ornament freed from the malady that was fast destroy ing her. An Opera House on Fire. The /grand tableaux entertainment ■which was announced to come offat the Opera House last evening, says the Troy Press, 15th, for the benefit of the Troy Orphan Asylum, was brought to a sud den termination toward theclose by the fearful cry of “fire!” The immense audience which had' assembled com pletely filled every nook and corner of the edifice. Not even standing room was to be obtained in the building soon after the performance had commenced. Everything handsomely, until a few minutes after ten o’clock, when the two last pieces on the evening’s pro gramme were reached. Some person in the street, in front of the Opera House, raised .the. cry of fire—and in a few; minutes after, St. Paul’s belt repeated the alarm. »At this- mo ment some person in the rear the parquette cried out, the fire, is in the hall!” and instantly the truth of his remark was confirmed by volumes of smoke which were seen to emerge from the openings in the heating-apparatus near the stage. AN mofet the entire audience .arose from their seats, and the more nervous and excitable made a hasty start for the door.' Some jumped over the seats, others l DAILYEVENING BULLETIN.-PHILIDEimA, crowded th eir way through the narrow aisles, wbi Je many of those ,in the gal lery, beer ,iniDg utterly “demoralized,” crowded' die passage-ways leading down the stair a.' When the excitement was at its h< fight Chief Engineer Hall as cended the gallery and assured the au dience, that there was no danger. This had fne effect of pacifying the throng for a moment, but the smoke arose from the cellar so rapidly that it filled the dre aging rooms and stage, and was seen by the audience. This caused afresh alarm, and the people began again to Orowd toward the doors. On the stage and in the dressing rooms under and about it, were quite a large number of ladies and gentlemen—all whom had been or were dressed to take part in the different pieces on the programme. Many of the ladies were mostly en dis habille in their rooms, while others were attired as queens, fairies, gipsies, etc. The ladies rushed from the apartments, on the alarm being given, and crowded towards the rear door of the stage lead ing into the alley. In this way many escaped, leaving behind them their wearing apparel, etc. Others followed the audience in front, and found refuge in the American House. The most exciting scene of the evening, was the conduct of a number of Al banians, both ladies and gentlemen, who occupied the upper private box on the left hand side of the hall. Theyoung men jumped from the box to the stage— a to Booth—and the ladies followed their example, alighting in the arms of the young “gallants.” The scene was lu dicrous in the extreme, and, notwith standing the danger which was appa rent, created a “titter” among the audience. One or two of the ladies on the stage fainted, and had to be con veyed home in carriages. The fire orig inated from a defect in thefiue leading from the furnace in the cellar to the ground floor of the building, near the billiard room. A portion of the wood work surrounding the flue was burned, but no other damage was done. The officers and several citizens picked up numerous pieces of wearing apparel— furs, muffs, gloves, shawls, &c. Dentil of a Noted Cbaraeter. A Scottish paper, speaking of the re cent death of Mr. Alexander Macansh, says: Mr. Macansh, though little known to fame beyond the district in whieh he lived the greater part of his life, was in many reispects a remarkable man. He was bom in Doune in 1803, but when he reached the age of eleven years his pa rents removed to Dunfermline,bringing their son with them, and there he was apprenticed to a “heckler” or flax dresser —a trade which he followed till a few ye&i3 ago. In Mr. Macansh’syouth the “ghort-ttSie movement” was a thing of the future; but notwithstanding his long fourteen hour’s hard toil day after day, he, by dint of extraordinary indus try, and inspired by an enthusiastic love for learning for its own sake, con trived to become a capital linguist and mathematician. His love for study continued through life, and in his brief intervals of leisure he acquired an intimate acquaintance with the best ancient and modern authors. He was possessed of a cultivated literary taste, and, while he was yet little more than a boy, became a frequent contri butor to the periodical literature of the the day. His writings at that time were chiefly poetical, but they also included essays and papers on different subjects, and many of them attracted consider able attention. Some fifteen or twenty years ago a volume from his pen ap peared, entitled “The Social Curse and other Poems,” which displayed a good deal of genius; and the production of the work was all the more remarkable when it is considered,as we are told by the au thor, the principal poem was composed in the short period of three months, and that the only spare time he had was before going to his ' labor it. the early morning,and on being released in the eveniDgs from a hard day’s toil. A short time ago a collection of Mr. Mu cansh’s papers appeared, and that book bas bad a considerable sale. Some of the essays contained in it show that tht: author was possessed of a more than re respectable scientific knowledge; but th most interesting portion is a setof pape.s on “The Morals of the' Workshop,” a subject on which Mr. Macansh was oi course well qualified to speak. The essays, too, are written in no partial spirit, and whilst the bright parts of the author’s compeers are held up to commendation, the failings of himself and his fellows are ex posed with an unsparing hand. Mr. Macansh is also known in the we3t of Fife as a lecturer of some reputation. As we have said, his fame was almost entirely local; but he was not unknown in literary circles, and amongst those who took a kindly interest in his welfare were the late Hugh Miller and the Bev. Dr. Guthrie. Mr. Macansh was a bright example of what a workingman may do for himselfin the cultivation of his mind. Few have more difficulties to struggle against than he had. Decrepit in body and with but little time for study, he nevertheless succeeded in acquiring au amount of education and useful know ledge such as few in his grade of life ever aspire to. The Projected Tehuantepec Rail road. —The project of the Transit Compauy for the construction of a railroad and tele graph across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, is attracting more general attention in Wash ington than any other commercial enterpris9 of the day. The route by the Isthmus, from New York to our Paoifio coast, being repre sented as shorter by nearly fifteen hundred miles, than by, the way of Panama, and if the Fernandina road across Florida be adopted as a part of the route, the distance saved will be nearly two thousand miles. The Liberals have throughout been in un disputed possession of the Isthmus of Tehu antepec. The Transit Com pany has an order 1 from President Juarez to the local authori ties to extend all facilities for the immediate commencement and prosecution of the work, and will proceed forthwith to build the road. Its friends confidently expect. that in less than two years the route will be opened and thronged with the commerce of the world . Tennessee Railroads.— The Tennessee House of Representatives on Monday passed the ' Senate bill loaning State bonds to the following; Railroads—Memphis and, Ohio, $2OO/000; Mississippi and Tennessee, $150,000; Knoxville and Charleston, $300,000; Cincin nati,' Cumberland ; Gap and : Charleston. $500,000; Tennessee and Virginia. ’ Knoxville and. Kentucky, $300,000; Nash ville and Northwestern; $200,000: Washing ton and Alabama, $150,000. This bUI goes tp the Senate; for-concurrence in an amend ment appropriating $150,000 to the East Ten . neasee and. Western North Carolina, and $lOO,OOO to the Atlantic,Tennessee and Paci fic Railroads. 7 B£TU£»BT eoom JAMES M C MULL AN, Successor to John V, Cowell & Son, S W, Cor. Seventh & Chestnut NOW: OFFERS One of the largest and moat vailed Stock of Housefarnisfrug Dry Goods To be found In the city, at greatly reduced prices. . Comprising: SHEETING AND SHIRTING LIJfENS. TABLE CLOTHS, from 2 to 6 yua Jourr. DAMASK TABLE LINENS by tile Yard. NAPKINS AND DOYLIES. HECK AND DKIPEB TOWELINGS. ENGLISH AND AMERICAN BLANKETS. MARSEILLES QUILTS, all sizes. PIANO AND TABLE COVERS. BEAL WELSH A AMERICAN FLANNELS. FBBIT AND WINE CLOTHS, by lue y«rlrmg any article In oar line will and It to their advantage to call and examine onr stock belor. purchasing elsewhere. WILLIAM GBANGE & SON, n0221m " "7U'Nonh Second otie;t. FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Ladies’ Skates,. Bent*’ Skates. Parlor .Skates* Tool Cheats . ; Ivory Table Cutlery,, Plated Goods, Pocket'Cutlery, ; i ; | j BUEHLERj "HidWAjlii; delOtfftll FOB g: Comprising; 42? Market Street 166*—TRIPLESHEET, HOIIDAY PBESESTS. Paris Fancy Goods. Paris Fancy Good*. Christmas Presents. Christmas Presents. CHINA. •' HAL L, 529 CHESTNUT STREET. We sri> bow opening per steamer City of Boston and City efWashiDgttn the most elegantassortmentofFaris Fancy GooOb lor Holiday Presents, ever imported to this country, both nsefnl and ornamental, consisting of al) the newefitdesigEpJofVaßes.Card Receivers,Bronzes Coffee Caps,Cigar Holders Match stands, Cologne Sets Fpergnes. Liquor Chesta in Ebony, Walnnt, Oak and Bosewood, withalmgevarlety or other goods too nu melons to mention iu an advertisement. We Invite -the public to inspect oar largeassortment before mak ing their purchasers. 'as onr selection is entirely new and made to salt all parses. Those desiring a choice of selection will do well to call early, dei2-i2t JAMES K. KERB, CHINA HALL., 50.529 CHEBTNUr &TBE B’, HOLIDAY GIFTS OLBY&CQ., No. 9 North Sixth Btreet, Mannfactorera, beg leave to offer WBITXffG DESKB, DRESSING CASES. POBTJOLIOS, POCKET BOOKS. VvOBK EOXBS. JEWEL BOXES. WBITING CASES, , GLOVE BOXES, Back Gammon Boards and other In-door Games. PAPIEB MAOHE GOODS. STBepalrlng done eqnalto new. deu-ioi FANCY GOODS 808 Christmas Presents. MBS. M. A. BINDEB, No. 1031 OJaestzxixt Streets Has jest received a choice assortment of Jet. and Fancy Jewelry. Framed Hanging Portfolios. Real Ivory chains ana crosses, Handsome Buckles and Bells, Fans, Dolls, Commenced Zephyr Cushions and Shippers, AlfiO, Slew S*y e Pen Wipers. A large lot of DKhP.S and CLOAK TRIMMINGS. JETT STUDS, <£e. DRESS AND CLOAK MAKING, *n all Its varieties. And everything new In Trimmed and de!7-« PLAIN PAPER PATTERNS. Beautiful Japanese Ankles, JUST OPENED, AT CUTHBERT’S I3TDIA STORE, 28 Couth Eighth Btreat ab. Chestnut, deu-tnthsetj 55? AND CANES Are acceptable and valuable HOLIDAY PRESENTS. A largeand complete assortment, forsaleatrednced prices, by WM. H. BICHABDSON, deiast No. 500 MABEET Street. A Largo Assortment of BOOKS, CARDS, PICTURES,&C. FOB SUNDAY SOHOOL PRESENTS, Selling at the Lowest Prices. PERKINPINE &.HIGGINS, 56 Kortb Fourth street, deis-6t} • HOLIDAY GOODS TOYS AND FANCY GOODS. DABES, 1406 CHBSTNUS STRBBV. delß-Sti HOLIDAY GOODS Toys. Fancy G-oods and Staple Trimmings. MISSE.KEEEEYS, de!s-Btj . IC6 South ELEVENTH Street; MISS E. CALDWELL, No. 824 ARQH street, . Has just received a targe and . handsome assortment ofDRESS-CAPS and HEADDRESSES lor Christmas Presents. * dels*6t* CHRISTMAS jWtl PRESBNTS-Our celebrated AGRAFFE mITT PIANOS now selling to suit the times. Call, snd examine them at our new Warerooms, 1103 CHESTNUT streeLbef ore purchasing eisewhere.i9-l2t; HYACINTHS. TULIPS, CROCUS AND other Blowet Bulbs, selling off cheap. jKgtSfcl ;H..A, DREER, cei7-6ts . 714 Chestnut street. -H® r, BOUQUETS, MOSS BASKEtS, RUSTIC 'Work Hanging Baskets. Hyacinths Id glasses, Fern Stands, immortelle wreaths. Bouquets ton Crosses. 4 - HENRY A. DREER, \ del? fit? . . 714 Chestnut street*... CLOTHS, CASSIMEBE§, &C. , LOTHB, CASamifiRES and vbwtings. . . JAMJB& LEE Invite the attention of their friends rid otheiß to their large and well assorted stock ol Rods, adapted to men’s and boys’ wear, comprising •r-part Black French Cloths, Bine French Cloths, _ ■l’- Colored French Cloths. OVERCOAT CLOTHS, ■ Black French Beavers, Colored French Beavers. Black Esquimaux Beavers, Colored Esquimaux Beavers, 1 Bine and Black Pilots, Bine and Black Paletots. PANTALOON STUFFS. Black French Casstmeres, ' , . Black French Doeskins,' Fancy Casslmeres, , . Mixed ana Striped Casslmeres, " Plaid and Silk Mixed Casslmeres,. Satinets, all qualities, ■ " At wholesale and retail, by JAMES * Lee, ' No, 11 North Second assign of the. Golden JSIEB'&TO./m EoutiDelawaie aYenae. BESTS' CTRIWSHI I 6 «?OOHS OLIVER PRESS, No. 44 N. Sixth Street, Between Market and Arch streets, Philadelphia, B as a 101 l assortment of PS WBAPPEBS, SHIRTS, COLLARS, GIST’S FURNISHING GOODS. SHIRTS made or NEW YOKE mtt.tji Husllnl only Hoo nsual price {6 50. „ * SHIRTS made of WAMSUTTA Mnslln, only (3 T 5. nsnai price 55. BOY'S ill RTS on hand and made to order. a liberal redaction made to wholesale borers. A foil stock of Welsh, Shaker and Canton Flannel Undershirts and Drawers Also, Scarfs, Necktlm. Qloveß, Suspenders, etc., In great variety. , T. L. JACOBS. no6-2m? No. 1228 CHEBTNyT Street, Phllmda. -pi O HABD BAYBE, TEN TEARS WITH J BURR MOO BE