..V. i, vy f Li
ELK COUNTY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
VOL II.
RIDGWAY, PA., THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 1873.
NO. 44.
poetr r.
BEAUTIFIJIi 1L1: OF THR BEA.
Wrt walker! by moonlight on 'ho ba:h.
Where dimly white the Upht-honf stood.
And fur m mortal eye could rerun
Behold the Rhop(y vessel e brood. '
At hand the pea, with ip.vce ft eonnd,
Jiit nu t and klud tlto hiltnt shore.
And rippling back Inhl all around
A ewnytriff ninuihysttne floor.
At 1nt th ppfl-fruirj" eiywns Ftniod.
Aud, tave our qnicklv-comiinr breath.
And fli; of waves, tlio nltrht wa filled
Willi silence Intinite ni dtuth.
And hero wo walked nnd fwt-rotn bo
True us tho tranquil Evening St ir
That.yoi.der r tintr. nol'tlr ihrrw
Its inullow. noltinp nfar.
But, while wc pcartl, that beaminc orb,
Fnir n t!ic piuv.'f dream of love,
Pah d (o oir Hh t, until It bnn.cd
Naught but thi mere .4 ppurk above.
With uddun tnrnr wo Khwld .
This woiulrou.i quonchltif? in tho sky,
And, as tho last irlcam flickered out,
Aked of our ftmrs tho roaon whr.
What time thorp name nil awful voice,
Mnkinir cm heart ttinirt ill tho while
11 Why, dura tht blatf?d wick, ll'n dry,
Aud dang it I wo are out of i.e."
Since then we've walked on Watch 11)11 beach,
At various times but always wo
Now take a telescope nlonir.
And likewise an Ar-lronomy.
TJIB STORY-TELLER,
ulryck's house.
Jenn d'Osteamp lived nenr lirnjrc?!, in a
manor or castle which lins now disappeared j
in wlmt manner wo shall presently see. The
bito it occupied afterwards became part of the
city.
Tho events we nro ahout to relate occurred
in 1114, during the reign of B.imloiiin a lu
Ilache, a valiant prince nnd a great lover of
justice. Ahhot'gh he had made severe laws
against the misdeeds of tho lords of the dif
ferent castles, and his lightest chastisement
was to punish poena tnlionis, that is, head for
head and limb for limb, ns OredeRherst ob
serves, there were, nevertheless, many lords
who were petty tyrants in their own domains.
Whenever Baudouin heard of their tyranny,
lio quickly put a stop to it. liut ho did not
know all.
Lord Jean d'Osteamp grievously oppressed
his vassals. Ho did this with impunity, be
lieving himself secure of protection, as his
brother Pierre was one of tho count's knights,
lie was a miser, and so wicked that none dared
bring a complaint against hiin. JIo. had pur
chased many yards of cloth and linen from a
retail merchant of Bruges for the necessities of
liis household. The price of these goods con
stituted half of the merchant's fortune. The
baron refused to pay him, and consequently
the business aft'jirs of the poor merchant were
cramped for want of this money.
This stato of things lasted ttfn years, and
then, in the above-mentioned year lil t, tho
merchant died. la order to pay his debts to
the weavers of tho city, his widow was obliged
' to sell everything, and she found herself left
with two children of tender age and nothing
to depend upon for their support except the
money which was due to her from Jean d'Ost
eamp. Three times she Went to ask him for
it, and three times did he cause her to be turn
ed out of his castle.
If she had been left alone, the poor, grief
stricken woman would havo given up all hope
of ever obtaining her money, and have found
cmploymznt in some weaver's shop, thus sup
porting herself by tho sweat of her brow.
But how could she support her children ? Ma
ternal love determined her- to bravo the terror
with which tho baron inspired her.
The Count of Flanders, Baudouin a la
Ilache, happened to be at Bruges, and she
went to tho door of St. Donat, where he was
hearing mass, nnd waited for him. When he
appeared she threw herself at his feet and told
him all her troubles. Baudouin, while listen
ing to her story, mechanically put "his hand
on his tcrriblo axe. Then reflecting that it
was not a crime, but a misdemeanor, ho re
strained himself and said kindly to the widow:
"Send one of the beadles of Bruges to the
castlo of Jean d'Osteamp immediately, nnd
to-morrow let mo know the result of his mis
fion." Tho good woman went away. But among
all the oflicers appointed bv the count to ad
minister his laws in Bruges, thero was not one
who dared to go to tho cntlo of Jean. The
widow returned tho next day to the door of
St. Donat, and related a'l that had passed to
Baudouin.
" So they fear a man who docs not fear the
laws," said the count ; " I shall send Ulryck,
one of my sergeants, nnd we shall sco what
this fellow will say to him. Tell him of your
troubles, my poor woman."
Tho noble count then addressed a few words
to a litili roan who was in his suite, and then
entered the church.
The little man approached the widow. He
was a native of Flanders, and was calm and
gentle in his manners. Ho was below medium
height; his countenance was pale but anima
ted, and expressive of kindness and good na
ture, nnd his eyes were bright nnd piercing.
Under the title of sergeant, ho was instructed
with the execution of the count's rigorous or
ders; in short, his duties were similar to those
of tho beadles of that time, now called les huis
siers. These duties were little suited to his
character, but circumstances had placed him in
this situation.
" So this man refuses to pay you ?" 6.iid he
gentlv to the woman.
" Yes," replied tho widow, "and none of
the civil officers of Bruges dare present the
note to him."
" I will go to him myself," said the little
man.
The grateful woman raised her eyes to
Tlryck and said, with deep' emotion: " You
ro very good, but you are not strong. )o you
not fear Monsiegncur Jean d'Osteamp ? lie
is a powerful lord."
"Oh! I do not apprehend any danger,"
said Ulryck. " I shall carry my iion's staff,
and the axo of the powerful count is embroider
ed on my sleeve, lie will reaped ma as an
officer of his sovereign, Return home, my
good woman, and after the holy mass 1 wiil
deliver your message, and in three hours at
most you will receive justice."
The widow thanked Ulryck, and went away,
her heart oppressed with many conflicting emo
tions and sentiments.
As soon :is he had heard mass, Ulryck has
tened hack to the count's castle, and going to
the stable he saddled and bridled his little
horse, took his ebony staff, on the top of which
was a silver lion, and set out for the entitle of
Jean d'Osteamp,
Horses of good breed ordinarily have a
quality which, for want of a better name, wc
call instinct, and which often stands them in
better stead than our intelligence does. A
horse will stop at the entrance of a wood in
fested by wolves, and nothing will induce him
to cross a forest if ha scents the presence of a
tiger. Min (this was the name of Ulryck's
little horse) possessed in a maiked degree the
tact or instinct of which wo speak.
Tle poor animal seemed to foresee peril, Lf
not to himself to bis master. Ibe sergeant
had never been able to induce him to go into
battle. This little horse did not like danger,
but he deeply loved Ulryck, who returned af
fection for affection. lie cared for Min him
self, morning and evening, filled his rack,
spread his bed nnd groomed him, anil tho ani
mal, accustomed to the man, recognized him
lro.il far, saluting him by neighing, turning his
head to look after him, and sadly lowering his
ears when Ulryck was out of sight. If the
sergeant was ahtcntand a strango hand brought
hay or ontstohim, the animal seemed atllicted
and would not ent. None but his master ever
mounted him. 1
Min at times took inexplicable whims; for
instance, he would often chooso a longer and
more diflictilt road in preference to the Bhortcr
and easier one. Ulryck, who never had been
able to conquer the obstinacy of his lit tie horse
on this point, usually allowed him to have his
own way. " Min knows what ho is about,"
the sergeant would sny ; "if he wants to carry
mo on the right hand, which is longer, and in
creases bis trouble, it is because he scents dan
ger on the left hand road."
But when duty required, Ulryck had a
means of vanquishing the obstinney of Min.
Mo would dismount and proceed on foot, leav
ing Min to follow or to go back ns sho chose,
and the poor anitnnl never failed to follow his
master like a dog. If any obstaclo sepnrited
them, ns soon as he could overcome it, Min
would find Ulryck and rejoin him. in no mat
ter how great a crowd; nnd if Ulryck ever
started on an excursion alone, and any one
during his absence opened the stable door, Min
would follow on his track to tho distnnce of
half a league from Bruges, for the expeditions
of tho sergeant never extended further than
that. Kvery one in tho city knew the little
horse, and could approach him, but he would
allow no one either to catch or mount him.
We mention nil these details because they
were rcmaikable; let us also add what Ulryck
had often observed, viz. : that on every occa
sion that Min had refused to go, Ulryck had
encountered dangers. Once during a fight
with a rebellious baron, his horse refusing to
march, Ulryck had gone on foot and was se
verely wounded. Many other examples were
cited.
On the occasion of which we write, Min
showed himself more restive than usual. He
pranced in a very unruly manner through the
streets of Bruges, and when they reached the
outskirts of the city the little animal stopped,
refusing so decidedly to take tho road to Jean
d'Ostcnmp's castle that Ulryck became angry.
He had no spurs ; they were then worn ns a
distinctive badge by knights only. But if he
had had ono it would not have availed with
Min. He spoke to him in a threatening tone,
but the horse only lowered his ears. Ulryck
then struck him with his ebony staff, but" he
immediately regretted it. Min only lowered
his head slill more and remained immovable,
" Min," said ho at last, speaking to the ani
mal as if it were endowed with intelligence,
"we go by the order of the Count of Flanders,
and we carry the black star' of tho eilver lion ;
they will respect us."
Min's only response was to turn towards the
city they had just quitted.
" This is very cowardly," said the sergeant ;
"you show very little courage, Min$ we are
under the protection of Bandcuin a la Ilache,"
and so saying, ha dismounted.
" Go back, my poorMin, if you are afraid,"
said he, "as for me, 1 must do my duty."
And he started on foot. Min reluctan ty
followed, with his head lowered to the ground.
On arriving at tho goto of the castle, of which
tho portcullis was down, Ulryck blew a small
horn which hung on a posf: ""v
"Who is there ?" said a soldier, appearing.
" An officer of Monseigneur Baudouin a la
ITache, tho redoubtable Count of Flanders."
The portcullis was instantly raised, and
Ulrych entered the castle. Passing through
the court, which was narrow, and surrounded
by high walls, he almost fancied himself in a
prison. The soldier or servnnt who had
drawn up tho portcullis conducted him into a
largo hall in which was Jean d'Osteamp.
This hall was forty feet long and twenty-five
feet wide, nnd its only ceiling was tho roof,
composed of great tiles, laid on heavy timbers.
A massive table occupied the centre, and on
each side of it were deal benches. The bare
brick walls were garnished with arms, nets and
wolf skins. On a rude platform at one end of
tlie hall was a complete suit of iron armor for
a knight, which was supported by a wooden
mannikin. At the other end of the hall, be
fore a large chimney, in which burned the
trunk of a tree, was Lord Jean d'Osteamp,
seated on a stool, which was painted black,
and surrounded by three servants. He wore a
cap roado of the skin of a hare, small clothes
of coarse green cloth, and wooden shoes, and
for a coat he wore a sort of tunic or blouse,
confined by a black belt, from which depended
on the right, a great knife,and on the left a
short hut heavy nxe.
A pot of beer and some slices of buttered
bread were placed before him on a block,
which served as a portable table. Tho floor
not being paved was strewed with fresh Btraw.
Under the table were two largo dogs, which
growled at the approach of Ulryck, but became
quiet at a word from their master.
This description may give the reader some
idea of a seignoral manor at the beginning of
the twelfth century. Tho luxury introduced
by the crusades was just commencing to be
adopted by a few privilged houses.
When tho sergeant appeared, Jean d'Ost
eamp, without saying a word, rtlered him a
pot of beer and a slice of bread, for it was
the usual custom.
"I cannot accept anything, my Load," said
Ulryck, " until my message is delivered."
" You come from Count Baudouin," said
Jean d"Ostcamp, " what do you want ?"
" I am hare," replied the sergeant, " as a
public officer of justice of my lord, to demand
payment of your debt to a certain merchant of
Bruges. .None of the officers of the city daring
to come, it is to me that Monseigneur the very
redoubtable Count of Flanders has referred
the widow of the said merchant."
"These things do not concern the count,"
said the baron, roughly.
" All justice concerns him, my lord," re
plied the sergeant, " end by the stafT of the
lion, in the name of God and of justice, I sum
man you to immediately pay into my hands
the sum due, or to follow me before the city
judge, to be condemned for tho said sum, and
to remain in prison until fully paid, for such is
the law."
Ulryck had no time to say more, for the
face of the baron became purple with rage at
the first words of the summons. He arose,
stammering with anger :
" Miserable slave 1 put ire into prison !"
He sprang at the sergeant, and pushing him
violently out of the ball, shut the door and sat
down on bis stool, nearly beside himself with
rage.
Ulryck felt that he was performing a stern
duty, and not wishing to return until he had
fully discharged it, he placed his ebony staff
in a pocket made for the purpose in the hous
ing of Min, who was waiting for him. He
then took out an inkstand, a pen and a sheet
of parchment, and proceeded to -write out a
summons, for he knew how to write, which
was a rare accomplishment in those days
among the officers of justice.
Beiore nailing it to Jean d'Ostcarap's door,
he read it aloud in a slightly tremulous but
solemn voice, calling, in the name of the very
redoubtable Count of Flanders, on all the ser
vants, vassals and peasants of the castle to as
sist in enforcing justice ; to apprehend the said
baron and conduct him to prison, under pen
alty of being treated as felons and rebels.
At the moment that he finished his bold un
dertaking, Jean d'Osteamp, utterly beside
himself with rage, rushed out of the door, axe
in hand, and seeing Ulryck preparing to nail
the summons to his door, he split bis head.
Ulryck staggered, but he had strength enough
left to drag himself to his little horse, and put
the summons, all stained with his blood, into
the pocket, and then he fell and breathed his
last sigh.
Seeing the fall of the count's officer checked
the fury of Jean d'Osteamp, he ordered his
servnnt -to lower the portcullis, and to take
Min to the stables. But the littlo horse, ns if
understanding all that had passed, suddenly
dashed out of tho castle before the portcullis
fell. The gates were closed, and in order to
obliterate all traces of the crime which had
been committed, the baron's servants hastily
dug a grave and buried Ulryck.
In the mean time, Min reached Bruges nnd
stopped at the Count's door. Baudouin was
dining with some of his knights when a ser
vnnt informed him th.it Ulryck's horse had
returned alone, bring luck the ebony staff nnd
a bloody parchment in the pocket of his "Hous
ing. The Count of Flanders, with much
nnxictv took the parchment, and hoping to
lind Ulryck only wounded, he mounted bis
horse, and attended bv his knights, set out for
tho castlo of Jenn d'Osteamp. So deeply was
ho absorbed in thought of his scrjennt, that he
did not observe that Min was following the
cortege
In less than two hours after the murder had
taken place, the Count, of Flanders was nt. the
gales of the castle. The portcullis was drawn
up ; all trace of tho crime had disappeared.
Jean d'Osteamp, who bad forsecn that visit,
was prepared tor it ; ho had nssumed a
serene countenance.
" I come," said Baudouin, sternly, to de
mand my sergeant Ulryck of you."
" Xo one has been here." said tho baron
holdlv ; "your attendants may search the cas
tle."' "What!" cried the Count, "did not Ul
ryck write yon this summons and order you to
make restitution to the widow ?"
Jenn d'Osteamp coolly took the parchment,
and seeing thnt it was stained with blood,
calmly remarked :
"This summons is certainly intended for
me, but you see, my lord, that it is stained
with blood. It is possible that your Ulryck
has been assassinated on his way hither."
" And who would dare do it if not yon ?''
said Baudouin ; " he carried the lion's 'staff,'
nnd he was under my protection. Knights,
senrch the castle nnd question the servants and
all whom you may find."
While theuite of the Count were executing
the rdcrs, Jean d'Ostcnmp remained with his
sovereign, excusing himself, protesting thnt he
meant to pay the widow, and-speaking with so
mueh assurance that Baudouin began to believe
him innocent. This belief was strenghened
when the knights reappeared without having
discovered or learned anything. Bnudouin,
deeply perplexed at the commission of a crime
of which he had lost all trace, was about .to re
tire. Ho cast a last scrutinizing glance on
Jean d'Osteamp, when he saw the baron sud
denly change countenance and become deadly
pale, while he seemed incapable of withdraw
his eyes from tho most distant angle of the
court-yard. Following their direction, Bau
douin beheld Min, that he supposed nt Bm
ger, busily engaged in scraping up tho soil
with his forefeet ; it had evidently been freshly
turned. He approached and saw great tears
in the eyes of the little animal. He ordered'
his attendants to dig there, and they soon.,
found the body of Ulryck.-
Jean d'Osteamp, seeing that hts crime was
discovered, sought to escape, but he was seized
by the count s attendants. :Ie then feu on
his knees and begged for mercy. But the jus
tice of Baudouin a la Ilache was inexorable.
He ordered him to be led out of the castle, and
there on tho public highway he condemned
him to die. Then seizing the bridle of the lit
tle horse he said :
" Be comforted, my poor Min ; thou shalt
avenge thy master."
Two knights, immediately comprehending
the count's intention, took Jean d'Ostcnmp's
axe and poignnrd away from him, while two
others tied his hands and feet, after which
they tied him to the tail of the little horse, which
for the first time in his lifo began to kick ;
then rushing through brambles and bushes,
soon tore the murderer of his master in pieces,
and returned to tho city the same evening,
bringing only some hideous fragments.
The castle was destroyed by order of the
count; the widow's debt was paid ; and a mass
for 100 years was instituted at St. Donat for
the repose of Ulryck's soul.
Bandouin had the little horse placed in his
stable", intending to take care of him for the
sake of his master ; but the fatigues of the day
proved too much for him, and tho next morn
ing they found hiin dead. Kansas Monthly.
Edwin. Forrest's Will.
Mr. C. Edwards Lester, a friend of
Mr. Forrest, being requested by that
actor a short time since to call upon him,
had occasion to know that Mr. Forrest
hud made a final disposition of his estate
and effects in the following manner :
Mr. Forrest, this gentleman avers, then
stated that he had left all ho possesed
in tho world, even to his library and his
wardrobe, for an actor's home as a 1 yceuni
of art, which should be sustained in
Philadelphia as a perpetual theatre ; that
he had made over to the Corporation of
Philadelphia sixty acres of ground with
in the limits of that city for tho benefit
of decayed and disabled actors and ac
tresses ; that this perpetual school of art
should bo maintained for the education
of the American people in elocution, and
that tho ground in question was free
from all claims, debts aud mortgages.
Mr. Forrest showed Mrt Lester the will,
explained the conditions of it, and stated
that there should be a few millions of
dollars set apart for the support of the
institution which he intended to endow.
Mr. Forrest further declared that he had
been thinking of this project for a long
.time, and had been making provision for
it for more than thirty-five years j that
ho had chosen proper trustees for the
execution of the will ; that the idea was
not a new thing with him, but an old
love of his life ; that there should be in
America a home for those who had re
tired from the stage after having honor
ed the profession. Mr. Forrest's desire
was that, the institution should be so
amply endowed that there could be no
question before the Courts about the
title, nor by anybody in reference to the
motive that prompted this life-long feel
ing of our great actor.
Did not Like it. A party of China
men in San Francisco on the first of this
month, apparently disgusted with the
uncertainty attending the results of
prosecutions in the 'Melican courts, or
ganized a tribunal for the trial of ono
of their compatriots who had been ac
cused of stealing $300 in coin. The
court was held in a wask house, and the
prisoner was examined by twisting a
towel about his throat. No testimony
was elicited throwing any light on the
disposition of the missing coin ; but the
culprit was pronounced guilty and sen
tenced to be drowned. The sentence
was promptly carried into execution, as
the court thought, in broad daylight ;
but the proceeding was witnessed by a
boatman who paddled out and with
some difficulty saved the drowsing
wretch. The uelf-constituted court is
now in custody charged with attempt to
murder.
A toinnne In Ileal Life,
REArTEAKANCE OF A MAN STJITOSED TO
HAVE BEEN MURDERED.
Never has anything occurred in On
nndago Co., N, Y., to attract such gen
eral attention in the vicinity a tho re
turn to hta homo in the town of Da Witt,
near tho village of Collamer, of an old
farmer named Blodgett, who, it was sup
posed on strong circumstantial evidenco,
had been brutally murdered by unknown
assassins one night about five years ago.
The circumstances nstenmng this case
are extraordinary, and seem more like a
fictitious tale than ungarnishod truth.
Llodgclt, who has suddenly appeared
nniwng his old neighbors, for many years
owned and lived on afino farm of about
one hundred end fifty ncres a milo or so
from Collamer. lie was generally con
sidered wealthy, and had the entire con
fidence of tho whole community, Having
held offices of trust in the town, being
Assessor at the time of his disappearance.
Five years ago he left home one Friday
evening to go to Collamer, where he was
to get n considerable sum of money to
pay a number of workmen iho next
night who were constructing a building
for him. IIo did not return that night
nor the next day, and his family became
alarmed ; a messenger was sent to Col
lamer to ascertain if possible his where
nbouts. The mpsstngcr went to the
place where Mr. Blodgett was to get his
money, and was informed that the old
farmer had drawn tho money and de
parted, apparently for home. This news
was carried to the family of tho missing
roan, and it was at once sur.pected that
he had been murdered. Tho supposition
that he was murdered became almost a
certainty by the story of Mrs. Joseph
Breed, livmar'nearthe village of Collamer,
on tho road to Blodgett' s, and at a lonely
point. Mrs. Breed, when she heard a
day or so afterwards of the disappear
ance of Mr. Blodgett, stated to the
family that somewhere about ten or
eleven o'clock on Friday night, about
the time the old man would naturally be
passing her house on his way home, he
having left Collamer at a late hour, she
was awakened by a noise in tlie road di
rectly in front of her house. Listening,
she became convinced that it was caused
by a party of men struggling m the
road. She heard a voice which she did
net recognize say, " Knock him iii the
head ; quick !" She then heard a shrill,
loud cry of " Murder !" ending in a sort
of gurgle, as if some one was being
strangled. Shortly afterwards the foot
steps of two or three men as if running
in the direction of Collamer, were heard,
and then all was silent. Mrs. Breed was
Ltoo much frightened to make any at
tempt to see what was being done in the
road, but after the men had gone she
looked out of the window, but it was too
dark for her tp see anything. She was
afraid to go out to the scene of the
struggle at the time, b.ut wjpt out- In
the morning and discovered e vidence of
a severe contest. There was no blood on
the ground nor anything to lead to a
knowledgo of who tho contestants were.
Sho was confident, however, that a mur
der had been committed, and when she
heard of the sudden disappearance of
Mr. Blodgett, there was no doubt in her
mind that he was the victim. Diligent
search was made for the body of the
murdered man, and traces of the mur
derers were sought on every hand, but
all to no purpose.
One of the men who was suspected as
being a leader in the supposed murder
of Mr. Blodgett was a . bad character
named Carey. Some time after the dis
appearance of Mr. Blodgett, Carey was
arrested on suspicion of being the mur
derer of one Johnson, in Collamer. He
was convicted of the crime, nnd sen
tenced to be hanged, which sentence was
commuted to fapprisonuient for l'15 n
tho Penitentiary at Auburn. This
strengthened the belief that he was the
murderer of the old farmer.
A year or two after the supposed mur
der the skull and other parts of a human
skeleton were found ou the shore of
Oneida Lake, on the upper boundary of
the county. This was believed to be a
part of the remains of Mr. Blodgett, it
being thought that, ho had been thrown
into that body of water, or a stream
emptying into it, in order that his mur
derers might bailie detection. If there
ramained tho shadow of a doubt that
Blodgett was dead this dispelled it, and
the heirs of tho old farmer petitioned
tho courts for the appointment ot ad
ministrators of his estate. They were
appointed, and the property remaining
after the Rpftloment of the old man's
affairs was divided among the children.
Tho astonishment of tho Blodgett
family may be imagined when they re
ceived a letter some two weeks ago from
a man in the oil regions purporting to
be the supposed murdered man, detail
ing the circumstances of his disappear
ance, and requesting a sum of money to
be sent him in order that ho might re
turn home, as he was penniless and did
not wisli to die away from home. One
of the sons was sent to Pennsylvania to
make a personal investigation, and alter
considerable search found the writer,
and he turned out to be Mr. Elodgett.
Although he wi s greatly changed the
Bi-n found no difficulty in recognizing
him, and he last wejk returned with the
old man to the farm. Blodgett says that
no attempt was ever made on his life,
bu4 gives no reasonfor his unceremonious
going away, or no account of his life
during the five years ho was absent.
The affairs of the family are somewhat
mixed up by the appearance of the old
farmer. His property has been divided
among the heirs, and they were in pos
session of their respective shares. An
amicable adjustment will probably be
made, as the Blodgetts are all warmly
attached to each other, and overjoyed at
the return of their father.
Evening Suits. Polonaises '- form
parts of some of the reception and din
ner dresses lately imported, hence these
costumes are called evening suits. The
polonaise is usually of some dark shade
of velvet, while the sleeves and demi
train are of faille of a far lighter shade.
The vest-polonaise is in favor for suits,
aud a quantity of white lace is the very
effective trimming. A superb costume
of this description has the skirt and
oleeves of faintest sky blue faille, while
the polonaise is velvet .of the darkest
sapphire hue. The trimming is shell
like jabots of white Valenciennes lace.
Another suit is Bilk of the pale, creamy
Ophelia tint, with a polonaise of golden
brown velvet. White point ducheese
lace flounces, with crimson rosea and
brown foliage, are the garniture.
The Argonauts of '49.
Bret Ilarto, in his lecture describins
the early days of California, tells many
interesting anecdotes. The laws against
dishonesty were so strict thatdisbonesties
were punished with death. A horse
thief was tried, nnd tho jury having re
tired to deliberate upon their verdict
were slow on returning into court. Tho
J udge pushed his head through the door
of their room, and found they had not
agreed. " Take your time, gontlemen,"
ho said, "but remember wo are waiting
for this room to lay out the corpse in."
A gentleman replied once to the query
of a parishioner of Eev. Thomns King,
that as a preacher ho won every trick.
An engineer on the Faciho Ilailroad told
of a comrade who died of consumption.
" Poor Jim," ho said, " got a running
slower aud slower, until one day he
stopped on his centre." What a picture
of the helpless hitch of this weary hu
man mac nine, a teamster met a sur
veyor and farmer angrily discussing
Siding with the surveyor, he Faid, " If I
were you I would just theodolite that
fellow out of camp. Another teamster
was rebuked for his profanity by a young
girl returning from camp-meeting.
" Why, Miss," said he, " you don't call
that swearing, do you ? Why, vou ought
to hear Bill Jones exhort the impenitent
mule," Tho names of places wore ex
pressive. A letter dated from "Dead
Broke was not calculated to induce
credit, and a stranger would hesitate to
accept an invitation to " Murderer s Bar.
A stage in California whs run from
Happy Valley to Mount Dolores, and
from Blazes to Purissima. Adverting to
the recent Spanish colonists, he minutely
described how the Argonauts at first
pretended friendship and afterward com
pletely robbed nnd despoiled them.
They joined their fandangoes and bull
fights, but were decidedly anxious to
give the bull a show. On one or two
occasions they substituted a grizzly bear,
that cleared the ring end effectually
wiped out the first two rows of benchos.
But with experience the Spaniard became
wise and ullied himself with his oppres
sors. Being the earliest inhabitant, his
evidence on the question of titles was so
valuabla that he knew everything that
whs wanted to supply a deficiency ou
either side of a case. This extended so
far as eventually to destroy all ownership
of property in California. The advent
ot the Heathen Chinee imparted a new
life, a new conservatism to the character
of the Argonaut. He tngendered clean
liness, attended to all domestic necessi
ties, and acted at tablo like a man who,
knowing his superiority, could never
jeopardize his position by condescending
to speak, lie worshiped the devil in
your household with a frankness that
shamed your own attempts in that direc
tion. Uppressed by a cruel statute, he
had an innocont way of defrauding the
e.tistotua hy conversing -niLU CUStOlU-
orHcers, while seated on a chair stuffed
with smuggled opium. . He avoided the
State tax by taking the name and as
suming the racial expression ot some
other brother who had paid the taxes.
Knowing the character of his Christian
brethren, he established doctor's effices
at every street corner of San Francisco,
distributed medicines, the mention of
which would bring on sea sickness, and
when finally discovered retired with dig
nity to his native race, the happy pos
sessor of half a million dollars.
A Ji arrow Escape.
The Prof. West affair of Dover, Del., is
creating a wide observed sensation.
West's life being insured for $25,000, it
is said the Insurance Companies will try
to have uim acquitted ot murder, as, it
he is hung, they must pay the policy to
his widow.
On the day after tho murder West was
standing at the door ot the new store
under his office. A Mr. Cullen passed
and spoke to him.
" You have often asked me to drop
into your office and try your gas ; if you
don t object 1 will go now, Mr. Uullen
said.
West turned the conversation, and, on
Mr. Oullen's again proposing to visit
the office, said, with a very dignified
air : " There are times, Mr. Cullen, when
I don t admit my dearest mends to my
room.
A short time ago a gentleman who
was on intimate terms with West, called
at his office at his request. V est had
frequently remarked to this gentleman
that they were of much tho same height
and build, and had urged mm to pay
him a visit. When the gentleman en
tered West's office the latter turned the
key.
" I felt kind of queer," the gentleman
said, "but I took a seat noar the window.
On looking round the room I saw a bi
knifo and a revolver lying on the desk.
We talked tor some time about tua gas
which West was manufacturing. He
asked mo to' inhalo some, but I declined.
At last West put his hand on the revol
ver and said, ' Do you go armed Y I felt
queer again, but I put on a bold front
and said, lifting up my fist and shaking
it : ' No, but I carry this, and I ain't
afraid of any man.' Now, after the
murder of this man, Turner, the thing
comts up all fresh to me, and I believe
that the idea crossed West's mind of
serving me as he did tho unfortunate
man whom he murdered."
The i'ikes of Holland.
Holland, in past times, was subjected
to terrible inundations. In 1289, eighty
thousand people lost their lives. The
improved system of dikes, introduced by
the Spanish Governor Bobles, wag the
means of much good, as of late years the
disastrous consequences ot an inunda
tion have been somewhat mitigated.
What constitutes a dike is unknown to
many, A solid foundation is necessary
first, which is accomplished by either
driving down piles, ramming the soil, or
laying a substratum of clay. The depth
of toundation tor a sea dike averages
from one hundred and twenty to one
hundred and fifty feet. The face is of
clay, and the inner of sand or earth, the
whole sloped from one to thirteen feet.
A description of wicker-work filled with
puddled clay, to close the interstices and
render them compact, is placed as a kind
of thatch to protect the dike. This
wicker-work is rene.wed every three or
four years, and its construction gives
employment to many people. The upper
part of the dike rises from twenty-five
to forty feet: and when covered with
turf, forms a very good road. The dikes
of Holland are the most wonderful of
the national statistics
Open Windows nt Mglit.
Very much has ben written on this
subject and very unwisely J the facts are
that whosoever sleeps unconitortably
cool will get sick. To hoist a window
sky-high when tho mercury is at zero is
an absurdity. Tho colder a sleeping
apartment is, the more unhealthy docs
it become, because cold condenses the
carbonic acid formed by the breathing
of the sleeper. It settles near the floor
and is rebreathed, and if in a very con
densed form, he will die before the
morning. Hence he must bo governed
by circumstances. The first thing is,
you must bo comfortably warm during
sleep otherwise you are not refreshed,
and inflammation of the lungs may be
engendered, and lifo destroyed within a
tew nays. An open door and an open
fire-place are sufficient for ordinary pur
poses in very cold weather. When outer
windows are opened, it is well to have
them down at the top two or three
Inches, and up at tho bottom tho same
space. In miasmatio localities and
these are along water-dourses, beside
mill-ponds, marshes, bayous, river bot
toms, fiat lands, and the like it is most
important from the first of August
until several severe irosts have been no
ticed, to sleep with all external doors
and windows closed, because the cool air
of sunset causes the condensation of
poisonous emanations which were caused
by the heat ot the noonday sun to rise
far above tho earth ; this condensation
makes the air " heavy " at sundown,
made heavy by the greater solidification
of the emanations by cold ; and resting
on the surface of the earth in their more
concentrated malignant form, they are
breathed into the lungs and swallowed
into the stomach, corrupting and poison
ing the blood with great rapidity. By
daylight, these condensations are made
so compact by the protracted coolness of
the night that they are too near the sur
face of the earth to be breathed into the
system ; but as the sun begins to ascc-nd,
these heavy condensations, miasms, begin
to rise again to tho height of several
feet above the ground and are freely
taken into the system by every breath
and swallow ; hence the hours of sun
riso and sunset are the most unhealthful
of all the hours of the twenty-four in
the localities named : and noontide,
when the sun is hottest, is tho most
healthful portion of tho day, because
tho miasm is so much more rarified that
it ascends rapidly to tho upper regions.
Tho general lessons are : Avoid exposure
to the out-door air in miasmatic locali
ties for the hours including sunrise and
sunset. Have a blazing fire on the
hearth of the family room at those hours,
to rarity and send the miasm' upward.
Take breakfast before going out of doors
in the morning, and take tea before sun
down ; then being out alter night is not
injurious. .
An Indian's Encounter With a Bear.
The sheep-ralsora in the lower Califor
nia country are waging au incessant war
against their ancient enemy, the grizzly,
and endeavoring; to make him see the
propriety of keeping to his mountain
fastnesses and not interfering with their
nocks in the valley. Some days ago, a
rancher, whose property lies about eigh
ty miles south f Monterey, found tracks
of a big boar in a canyon near his house,
and as lor several weeks past he had
missed a number of his sheen, he deter
mined to pursue the robber. He set out,
therefore, wild, a couple ot Indians, one
of whom, name Jose Marko, has the
reputation of being tho strongest man
in that portion of the country. They
soon struck Bruin's tracks, and followed
them up a sido hill thickly covered with
chaparral. The Indians were riding a
short distance ahead of the rancher,
when one of them cried out that he saw
the bear. Jose Marko dashed into the
chaparral, and for a few minutes his
companions lost s:b.t of him. They
rode further up the hill, and, to their
horror, saw Marko apparently in the
very clutches of a huge grizzly. The
ranchero leveled his rifie, but was afraid
to fire lest his bullet should strike the
man. As they came nearer the struggle,
they saw that Jose had drawn his long
knife with his right hand, while he had
pushed his left so far into the bear's
mouth that, although the wrist was be
ing terribly lacerated, still the animal
could not use the full force of his pow
erfnl jaws. At last a straight thrust
reached Bruin's heart, and man and brute
rolled over on the ground. Tho Indian
was badly lacerated, and fainted the
minute his enemy succumbed. The bear
was one of the largest of tho kind ever
killed in that section of the country.
Marko was carried home, and a Mexican
woman bound up his wounds with her
poultices, which seemed to heal them
rapidly. It is doubtful whether ho will
ever be able to use his left haud again.
Practical Joking.
Norwood, and other of tho pretty vil
lages which lie round Sydenham, writes
the London correspondent ot the bicixs
Tunes, have, during tho past tow weeks,
becomo most objectionable places of res
idence to ladies and children, and even
to nervous men, in consequence of cer
tain freaks of a set of ruffians, who call
themselves gentlemen. These lads,
wrapped in large cloaks, wander about
the highways and byways, sometimes
singly, sometimes in couples, but always
having accomplices near. On tlie ap
proach of ladies they suddenly fling open
the cloak and reveal their breast, wholly
covered with blazing phosphorus. The
shock to any one would be great, but to
women and children it is overpowering,
and in consequence the cowar"ds who as
sail them have hitherto always been able
to make off before assistance can be pro
cured. I am told thaf children are now
lying dangerously ill in more than one
bouse at Beckenham from frights given
them by this new class of ghosts. The
gentlemen in the neighborhood have
taken the matter up in the proper spirit,
and their first step has been the issue of
a notice announcing to ladies in general
that if a pocket revolver is used when
these ruffians make their appearance, it
is justifiable by the law to ahoot them
dead.
Held Cheaply. A pretty correct
idea of the ftstimatinn in wbinVi PVtineua
I Coolies are held by the slave traders in
Cuba may be arrived at by the perusal
01 tne totiowing emcial entry at the
port of Havana: "Deo. 1. Spanish
steamer Fatchoy, Capt. Daraja, 1,800
tons, in ballast to Ibanez, brings 931
Asiauo colonists ; passengers, ,"
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
During the strokers strike iu London,
people go back to candles and oil lamps.
A State Convention of Frohibitonists
is to meet in Syracuse on the 15th of
January, 1873.
One of the proprietors of a gambling
house at Baden Baden hag won over $4,
000,000 in the last fiftoen years.
A well-informed Western paper sayg
"Franco is a-tinder box, and President
Thiers is sitting ou the safety valve."
A Syracuse man has turned up, who
was supposed to be dead five years ago,
and found his heirs camly enjoying his
property.
Land which was sold in Springfield,
Mass., tor $200 an acre ten years ago,
has just been bought back by the same
parlies for $3,090 an acre.
The bail to secure th release of Mr.
Robert Bowles, the defaulting London
banker, not having been furnished, he
has been sent to Newgate Prison to await
trial orf the charges against him.
From July 1 to December 6 no less
than 1j7 vessels cleared from San Fran
cisco for foreign countries, loaded with
wheat. Their cargoes represented an
aggregate value of $7,297,515. As much
more wheat remains to be shipped.
On the occasion of a dinner party at
Delnionico's, New York, a young blood
got drunk, and began scratching (he
mirrors with a diamond ring. He min
ed three mirrors, valued at $500, and
then escaped. He was captured by two
detectives, and locked up in the Tombs
for trial.
A man in Baltimore was rushing along
the other day with the handle of his
umbrella projecting a long way behind
at a dangerous angle, when it caught in
the headgear of a lady, and took away
not only her bonnet, but her curls, puffs
and other elaborate adornments of the
head, leaving her covered only with con
fusion. Fourteen years ago, an old lady in
Portland, Me., fell dead from heart dis
ease while winding up an old-fashioned
clock. The time wag ten minutes before
ten in the morning. Kver since that the
clock has stopped at 10 o'clook on the
anniversary of her death. It has never
once failed in the fourteen years that
have passed.
The Titusville Pietn says; "One of
our city confectioners wishes us to in
form his juvenile patrons that he cannot
give thirty days' time on five cents'
worth of chewing-gum, but that he will
take first mortgage on skates and hand
sleds from parties whoso parents are on
a substantial basis."
' Be avaricious of time ; do not give
any moment without twwv"" V '
oi,,, ..i UoW tne hours to go from
you with as much regret aB you give to
your gold ; do not allow a single day to
pass without increasing tho treasure of
your knowledge and virtue. The use of
time is a debt we contract from birth,
and it should only be paid with the in
terest that our life has accumulated.
Letournetir.
An act passed by the Legislature of
Vermont provides that freight wagons
carrying more than three tons in weight,
and less than four, shall have the rimi
of their wheels at least four inches wide,
and if carrying more than four tons, five
inches. The law does not apply to wag
ons used for farming purposes exclusive
ly, nor to stage coaches or pleasure wag
ons ; and the selectmen of every town
may allow the use of felloes of less width,
provided, m their opinion, the highways
will not be greatly injured.
Providing for a Party.
Pierre Brot gives us some advice as to
how to provide for an evening party.
He says :
Flowers are also used for decorations.
Petals of red roses put here and there
on certain dishes look well, and may be
eaten.
Judgment and tact may be used to ad
vantage in making a bill for a supper.
For instance, if there are more ladies
than gentlemen, have more ice-cream,
Charlotte-Russe, chicken-salads, eclairs,
small cakes, candies, bavaroises, milk,
and lemonade ; while if the gentlemen
are more numerous, more lister-8alad,
ham, roast beef, sandwiches, boned birds,
tongues, punch, bischof, wines and li
auors are needed.
The more numerous the dishes, the
smaller they may be. Instead of having
enough boned turkey for fifty persons,
have ham for fifteen, turkey for fifteen,
tongue for fifteen, roast beef for fifteen,
thus catering to every taste. The other
dishes are served in the same propor
tion. It is the duty of the mistress of the
house, he tells us, to give proper orders
about bread, butter, crackers, coffee, tea,
chocolate, lemonade, orgoat, groseille,
etc., all of which must be plentiful and
at the disposition of the guests whenever
wanted or asked for. It is tht- duty of
the host to see to the bischof, punch,
wines, and liquors, which must also be
at, the disposition of the guests that de
siro them.
8UPPER8 FOE TWELVE PERSONS.
0 Fried oystcrc.
60 Stewed oystcri.
40 Fried oysterH.
."in steweu oyster.
25 SaiidwicKcs.
1 Roned turkey.
1 bod' tongue.
Ire-cream tor twelve.
Charlotte-Ruse for S
Assorted cake..
Aborted caudiei.
1 B mket of Fruit.
ti Sinidwlcbu..
1 11: m.
I Honed chicken.
leo-creirm tor eurot.
Cliurlotte Ruste fur 4.
1 Uiiket ul cak".
Platen ot candle?.
Platen of fruit.
Mottoc, corupotei.
.Mwiuei, wine Jelly.
With a large party the same propor
tions to be carried out.
TriE Presidential Office General
Banks appeared before the House Judici
ary Committee at Washington and made
an impressive argument on behalf of his
bill to increase the salary of the Presi
dent to f oO.OOU per annum, and also in
bebalt ot bis proposition to elect the
President and Vice-President by a di.
rect vote of the people, instead of the
intervention of the Electoral College;
to increase the term ot omce to six years,
and to make the incumbent ineligible
for a second term. The members of the
Committee generally, while admitting
the iorce of all that General Banks ad
vanced, are not inclined, however, to
give this latter subject any serious at
tention the present session. On the pro
position to increase the President's salary
to double the amount now paid, the Com
mittee are much more harmonious, and
have generally agreed, to report in favor
of the advance.