HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher
Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. IV.
HIDGAVAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, FEMIUAHY 18, 1875.
NO.
52.
The Farmer Fortieth All.
5Iy lord rules through his palace gate,
My lady tra-eons along In utata ;
The sago thinks long on many a thing,
And the maiden uiubos on marrying j
The minstrel harpeth merrily
The sailar plows the foaming Boa,
The lumtHmnu kills the good red deer,
And the soldier wars without eon fear ;
lint full to each, whate'er befall,
The fanner ho must feed them all.
Smith hammercth cherry red the sword,
Priest preacheth pure the Holy Word j
Dame Alice worketh 'broidery well,
Clerk Ilivhard tales of love can toll j
The tap wife sells hor foaming boor,
Dan Fisher fishoth in tho mere j
And courtiers rullle, strut, and shine,
Whilo pages bring tho gascou wino.
lint fall to each, whate'er befall,
The farmer he must feed them all.
Man builds his castles fair and high,
Wherever river runuoth by ;
Great cities rise in cvory land,
(treat churches show the builder's hand ;
(treat nre'jOM, monuments, and towors;
Fair palaces and pleading bowers,
(treat work is done, bo it bore or thcro,
And well man worketh everywhere ;
Pmt work or lest, whate'er befall.
The farmer ho must feed them all.
KESULT OF A STUDENT'S FRANK.
I -was not yet out of my teens, ami a
wihl, harum-scarum fellow, overflowing
with animal sjuiits, always ready for tins
perpetration of any kind of mischief,
without much regard to consequences,
although I never contemplated iutlicting
the slightest injury upon any one. I
was a student of medicine, and probably
there never wasn set of raore rattle-pated
fellows than that with which 1 was asso
ciuted. There, was one exception, how
ever, in the person of Henry Clarges,
the son of a clergyman, who was natu
rally a quiet, iuotl'ensive jierson, who
had been strictly " trained up in the way
lie. should go," and to cause Tiiia to de
part from which was, I am sorry to say,
our constant endeavor. He steadily re
fused, however, to enter into our mis
chievous sports, although he would
sometimes joiu us in our convivial meet
ings, but never indulging to an unrea
sonable ext'iit. Ho possessed great
firmness of ch.iraetor, and appeared to
be quitj unmoved by our taunts so
much so, in fact, that we began to attri
bute his failuro to resent them to a lack
of couranro. When this was hinted to
ly, declared that ho knew not what fear
was, ami expressed tlio hopo that we
would never put his courage to the test.
The firmness with which Henry Clarges
resisted our evil influences, and his quiet
boast of courage,!rather nettled us ; and
it was resolved tohumiliate him if possi
ble, by proving his professed lack of fear
to be mere bravado. He was to be in
vited for this purpose to a supper one
night, and to bo detained as late as pos
sible ; and as ho lodged in an unfre
quented locality in tho suburbs of the
city, he was to bo followed on his way
home by one of tho party, and at a cer
tain portion of tho road was to be
stopped, and, in highwayman style,
made to deliver up his watch and money,
the pretended robber, of course, to have
his fuco covered with a crapo mask, and
be otherwise disguised. A failure was
not even thought of, and it was consid
ered a capital practical joke from which
a good laugh was to be obtained nt tho
expense of the intended victim.
The matter was till very nicely arranged
in theory, but when it came to the prac
tical part, it was not easy, for no one
seemed disposed to undertako the dan
gerous role of the robber, and produce
the startling denouement, I, howover,
removed tho diiliculty by ottering to
play the part myself, and tho oiler was,
of course, received with acclamation. I
was to carry no weapon, but was to pre
sent merely a morocco case containing
my pipe, which might well bo mistaken
for a pistol in tho night, and demand his
" money or his life."
Well, the eventful night arrived, the
party assembled, and a rare jovial time
wo had, so that the hours passed fleetly
by, and it was jast midnight before
Clarges rose to depart. In the con
fusion of breaking up I slipped out im-
Jicrccived by him, enveloped myself in a
argo cloak and a slouched lint, and hur
ried forward to await the victim at the
most lonely part of tho road. I had not
long been there before I heard his ap
proaching footsteps, as I hastily placed
tho mask over my face, and stationed
myself behind a tree, so that ' I might
como upon him suddenly, and throw
him oft' his guard. There was no moon,
but tho stars gleamed brightly, and I
could distinctly see his form as ho drew
near the tree, close to which he must
pass. As tho crisis approached, I was
greatly tempted to forego my purpose,
for I experienced some misgivings and a
presentiment of trouble to result to mo
from this folly. But I had not long to
deliberate, and tho thought of the laugh
being turned against mo instead of
Clarges, in the event of my backing
down, determined mo to carry out tho
joke. Therefore, when he had nearly
reached tho tree, I hastily confronted
him, presented my pipe-caae to his
breast, and, in a voice which souudod
very unfamiliar even to myself, bade him
" stand and deliver." He was evidently
startled, but fora momentonly. "Wliat
do you wish, my friend ?"
Now, it would never have done for me
to parley with him, nor did I want to
, speak more than was absolutely neces
sary, lest my voice should be recognized,
so I hurriodly jerked out tho words, as
hoarsely as I could " money watch
quick 1"
" Oh, certainly," he said, apparently
quite unmoved, and Lis watch and
iuirse wero quickly placed in my hands,
le evidently remarked my agitation,
and said something about my beiug ap
parently engaged in a new line of busi
ness. I did not, however, stop to listen,
but darted off at the top of my speed.
It seemed to me that I heard a mocking
laugh as I hurried away, but thought
nothing of it ut the time. I soon met
my companions who had followed to
learn the result, and then proceeded to
my lodging, carrying with me the
t property thus recklessly obtained.
If I had felt alarmed at first, the feel
- iag soon passed oil", and I slept as sound
ly as usual, but was aroused from my
slumber by a loud knocking at my
chnmber door early the next morning.
un inquiring what was wanted, the
servant said a man was waiting for me
in the parlor. I certainly thought it
strange, but supposing it to be one of
my fellow-students, I partially dressed
myself and went down stairs. The face
of the man was unknown to me, and I
was by no means favorably impressed
with his appearance. After looking at
me keenly for a moment, he said, as
though ho land some doubt as to the
fact :
" Is your name George Bolton?"
I admitted that it was.
"Well," he continued, " I was told I
should find him hero; but you don't look
much like a highwayman. However,
that's none of my business. I have got
a warrant against you, or leastways
against one George Bolton, who stopped
a gentleman on the highway last night,
and robbed him of his watch and
purse."
"A warrant 1" I exclaimed, "against
me ?"
" Just so," ho replied. " The gentle
man says he recognized the robber, and
traced him to this house. It's odd, I
know very odd; but as I said before,
that's none of my business, and you'll
have to go with me, after I have searched
your room."
I began now to realize the awkward
situation in which I had placed myself,
for the officer would be sure to find the
property, and that would of course afford
presumptive evidence of guilt.
" But it was all a joke," I began.
He promptly stopped me.
" I don't want you to admit or explain
anytliing to me," he said; " that you can
do to the magistrate. I hope it may
turn out to be a joke; but just show me
to your room, if you please."
I did so, and there on my dressing
table were tho watch and purse, which
he quickly transferred to his own
pocket.
" You had better finish dressing," he
said; "and if you want breakfast, I'll
wait for you."
I had littlo appetito for breakfast, how
ever, although I did not feel greatly
alarmed, supposing that when tho affair
was fully explained I should be prompt
ly set at liberty.
I completed my toilet, but dispensed
with breakfast, and was conveyed to the
ofliee of the magistrate, although the
hearing would not take place until to
wards noon. In the meantime, I notified
my fellow-studentsof my situation, who,
when they came, treated tho matter very
lightly, and never for one moment sup
posed that Clarges would proceed to ex
tremities. The magistrate had been
seen, however, by some influential par
ties, and all the particulars imparted to
him. He admitted that it was a hard
case, but said he had no power to inter
fere if the prosecution was prepared.
Clarges was sought for in vain, and was
evidently kee2ing out of the way, which
had rather an unfavorable look, so far as
I was concerned.
At length the hour arrived, and I was
ushered into tho presence of the magis
trates for two or three wero present, at
tracted, probably, by the novelty of the
case, which caused likewise a largo at
tendance of the townspeople. I was sur
rounded by friends for tho lecturers
and others connected with tho hospital
were present to help me, if possible, out
of the difficulty.
The name of the prosecutor was called,
and Clarges walked to the witness-stand
with a firm step, and a vindictive scowl
upon his face which crushed out all hope
from my heart, and I felt that he would
proceed without flinching to tho " bitter
end."
He gave his testimony clearly, and, of
courso, not one fact could be gainsaid.
Tho robbery was fully proved, and how
could it be shown that it was no robbery
at all, but merely tho mischievous taking
of tho property, without any felonious
intent ? There wero, to bo sure, plenty
to swear to the circumstances leading to
the act, but they could not swear away
the fact that the law had been violated,
and that a crime had been committed;
and tlus beiug proved, tho magistrato
had no alternative but to commit me,
and I was accordingly consigned to
prison, to await my trial.
I was consoled as far as possible by
the kindness and sympathy of my friends,
by the unceasing attentions of my af
flicted parents, and I had certainly the
satisfaction of knowing that those whoso
esteem I valued never entertained a
doubt of my entire innocence. Clarges
himself, of course, was assured of it, but
he had a malignant and vindictive spirit
which resisted all attempts at concilia
tion, and it was only as tho trial ap
proached that he softened so far as to
promise to admit his belief, when ex
amined, that I was not guilty of felonious
intent. Eminent counsel were consulted,
and no expeuso was spared in my behalf,
but nothing could save me from tho fear
ful ordeal of a public trial, or, in their
opinion, prevent a verdict of guilty be
ing rendered against me.
After several consultations, it was
finally decidod by the lawyers, as tho
only mode to avoid as far as possible a
painful publicity, that I should bo taken
into court early in the morning, imme
diately after it opened, and plead guilty,
the court consenting to receive tho affi
davits of the prosecutor and witnesses as
to the extenuating circumstances. This
arrangement was carried out. I was
placed at the bar ulone, my plea recorded,
and I was then quietly taken back to the
infirmary, in which I had been permitted
to pass my imprisonment.
The jailor came to mo one morning to
say that sentence was to be pronounced,
and to be prepared in half an hour. At
the expiration of the time, I was, with
some half dozen other prisoners, placed
at the bar. The judge made oidy a few
preliminary remarks, and then pro
nounced the sentence of seven years'
transportation upon each of us; but
looking at me, he added, I thought
somewhat kindly, that we should not all
be sent to the pemd colony.
I was that night plaoed in the ward
with the other prisoners, with whom I
was to bo conveyed the following morn
ing to the convict hulks at Chatham
dockyard. It was midsummer, and we
were aroused about four o'clock, and
provided with a good breakfast, of which
most of them partook very heartily.
Soon the blacksmith appeared, and
placing us in couples, we wero thus con
nected, by means of an iron ring passed
round a leg of each, which was passed
over au iron rod in front of tho seats, ex
tending the length of tho prison van;
and when the prisoners were thussecurod,
padlocks " made assurance doubly sure.'
When we reached Chatham, the van
stopped at a public house in the principal
street, where it was the custom to per
mit tho prisoners to alight for a brief
period, ami indulge in ono good meal,
with accompanying stimulants, before
commencing their penal sorvitude, dur
ing which they must put up with only
coarse but wholesome fare, and of ne
cessity suffer all sorts of privations. My
spirits wero terribly depressed, and I in
stinctively Bhruuk from the gazo of tho
curious crowd that had collected at the
door of the public house to look at us.
Being better dressed than tho rest, I, of
course, attracted particular attention,and
the more so, probably, as tho fellow who
was linked to me was' miserably clad,and
presented a most repulsive appearance.
The remarks made by the bystanders
were by no means complimentary, and I
was evidently set down as one of the
swell-mob, and certainly not an object of
sympathy, or considered deserving any.
My companions seemed to be utterly de
void of feeling, and entirely unconscious
of their degraded position. Transporta
tion had apparently no terror for them,
nor did they permit its contemplation to
interfere with their present enjoyment.
The feast nt the public house was pro
longed to the extreme verge of indul
gence, and a farewell chorus was then
proposed, one of the party improvising
the words. The last note was given just
as tho door of the van closed. We wero
soon within tho gates of the dockyard,
and proceeded rapidly to the hulk,
which was lashed to the wharf, leaving
a considerable space, however, between
the wall and her side. Over this a
bridge was thrown, extending to the
gangway, which was drawn up at night,
so that there was no connection between
the ship and tho shore. We alighted at
the foot of this bridge, and walked over
it as well as the short chain would per
mit, and wero placed in a line on tho
quarter-deck to await the inspection of
the surgeon. When ho arrived, we were
desired to extend one arm at a right
angle with the body, and ho used it like
a pump-handle; but what the object of
this operation was I never could divine,
for that was the extent of the inspection.
We were then relieved of our shackles
and a great relief it was aud conducted
to an office in the forward part of the
ship, where sat a keen-eyed man at the
desk, with a large book open before him.
In this was entered tho personal de
scription of tho prisoner, color of his
hair and eyes, his height, complexion,
and any other particulars which might
lead to his recognition should he chance
to escape.
Another person entered the convict's
name, age, place of birth, where brought
up, and the names and residences of
your relatives. This last information, I
confess, it greatly pained me to give,
and it seemed to me cruol to exact it,
though I suppose it was deemed neces
sary for the ends of justice. These for
malities completed, we were taken to
another department, in which was an
immense bath-tub. Hero we were told
to strip and give ourselves a good wash
ing ; and whilo doing so, our clothes
wero removed, aud each man was fur
nished with tho convict uniform a pair
of gray worsted stockings, a check shirt,
and a coarse gray jacket, vest, and knee
breeches, together with thick shoes as
near the size as possible. Having dressed
oiu-selves, a convict appeared with a
large pair of scissors, a comb, and shav
ing apparatus. Having rendered our
faces completely smooth, anil cut our
hair as short as possible, he then took
the razor aud marked tho letter C dis
tinctly just above the forehead.
A still further degradation was, how
ever, yet to be undergone, in the rivet
ing on of my chains. To an iron ring
placed on each leg, just above the ankle,
was a long, ' heavy chain reaching to the
waist, where it was fastened to a belt
passed around the waist. Believe me, it
was an attachment of an exceedingly
troublesome character, and the rattling
of the chain with every movement made
me shudder. This was, indeed, "the
iron that entered the soul." Tho con
victs wero compelled for a time to per
form tho most laborious work wearing
this chain, such as carrying heavy tim
ber, excavating aud wheeling dirt, etc.,
while even walking was a most paiuful
operation with the hands at liberty to
partially relieve one of the weight. By
a course of good conduct, however, the
convict was gradually relieved of this in
cumbrance ; one-half would first bo re
moved, then a short chain extending to
ono knee would be substituted, and
finally only the riug would bo left.
Tho day after my arrival I was sent
out with a gang to work, und we were
employed carrying heavy ships' beams,
as much as three men could stagger
under. As may be imagined, my strength
was unequal to the task, but no shirking
was permitted, for the keeper regarded
all alike, as felons who were to be pun
ished, aud knew that he was appointed
to see that it was duly inflicted. To ex
hibit favoritism would, in all probability,
have got him into trouble. He no doubt
saw, however, my inability to perforin
tho work, and possibly reported the fact;
or it may be that there was some secret
influence at work in my behalf, for after
tho second day, I was ordered from
the gang, and desired to go below,
where those who were ill, or pretended
to bo (for there was a great deid of that
kind of thing), had to wait an examina
tion by the surgeon. I don't think I
could possibly have undergone the labor
that day, for my shoulders were literally
skinned by tho chafing of the timbers,
and my limbs was so sore aud stiff, that
I could scarcely move.
The surgeon on entering the place
camo at once to me, and after two or
three questions, told me to stand aside.
Most of the others were ordered to their
work with a tlireat of punishment, and
only two of us received papers for the
hospital-ship, which lay iu close prox
imity to the hulk. My irons were
knocked oft', a light ring riveted on one
leg, and I was soon placed in compara
tively comfortable, quarters. How wel
come was the quiet of that hospital-ship,
after the fearful scenes tlirough which I
had passed ! With a heart overflowing
with thankfulness, I lay down that night
on my mattress, and the consciousness of
i.inocence was then a token to my wound
ed spirit, ti-anquilizing my feelings, and
rendering my sleep peaceful.
My relatives and friends had not neg
lected mo all this time; they had cheered
me with their presence, and with the
prospect of speedy restoration to liberty.
They could not, of course, accompany
me to the hulks, nor were prisoners per
mitted to see their friends there, I be
lieve, oftener than once in three months;
but I had letters almost daily, and always
hopeful and full of regrets that the riles
forbade my receiving tho many good
things they were so anxious to send. My
health continued good, and although my
spirits were depressed, I kept as stout a
heart as possible, and in endeavoring to
assuage the anguish of those aroimd me,
found a solaco for my own woe.
Iu the meantime tho necessary steps
for obtaining my pardon had boon taken,
and one evening, after tho expiration of
a month, I was informed that I was want
ed on board tho hulk. When I reached
the quarter-deck tho superintendent, or
chief officer, was there, aud kindly taking
my hand, warmly congratulated me on
my pardon, which ho had just received.
" I hope," he said, " that yon have not
much to complain of. We tried to ren
der you as comfortable as the circum
stances admitted, for your case was fully
explained to me, even before you ar
rived, and you have had my sincere
sympathy." He again shook my hand,
and then told me to go into his cabin,
where I found my entiro wardrobe, just
as it had been taken from me, and soon,
little of the convict could be detected in
my appearance, except the excessive
shortness of my hair. On returning to
the deck, I was delightfully surprised to
see my dear mother, and, on her loving
breast, man as I was, I wept like a child.
A carriage was waiting for us at a short
distance from the hulk, and inside the
dock-yard gates I was completely over
whelmed with the congratulations of my
fellow-students and a large number of
friends.
I was a sort of hero for the time, and
every one sought, by unceasing kind
ness, to repair the wrong that I had suf
fered. It was years, however, before
my spirits experienced a rebound, but I
was never the same gay, light-hearted
being I had been before, nor indeed has
the gloom tho event cast over it been en
tirely removed.
Hunting for Diamonds.
A letter from the South African dia
mond fields tells us how the diamonds
are found, as follows: Tho diamond
earth, transported by the carts to tho
plaeo where it is to be picked over, is at
first roughly crushed by men seated in a
circle around it, armed with sticks, who
beat it as it is thrown by shovelfuls iu
tho midst of them; this first operation is
for the purpose of separating it from the
stones. It is then passed through a
coarse sieve, that retains the wortliless
portions, and afterward through a liner
sieve, to free it from dust, and to put it
in a condition to be picked over. It is
then poured upon tables, around which
men are arranged with scrapers niado of
tin, or tho remains of old buckets; each
one plunges his scraper into the mass,
and draws out a large handful, which,
with tho same movement, he spreads in
such a way as to see with a glance if
there are any diamonds. The skill ac
quired by tho eye from constant practice
renders the work less minute than it ap
pears at first, so that tho new-comers,
seeing the continual movement of the
arm back and forth, cannot believe in the
possibility of assorting so quickly made.
It is difficult for i diamond to escape at
tention unless it is very small, for this
crystal, though giving out no radiance
in its rough state, and having no color,
leaps to the eyes in an astonishing man
ner in the midst of tho earth and gravel.
It is always pure, even in the dust,
which never touches, and seems to re
spect it.
In spito of the favorable conditions,
tho rejected earth still contains many
diamonds, for the Kaffres employed ill
this work are often more occupied in
chattering than in looking at the table ;
and, from idleness or native depravity,
sort in beds so thick that the diamonds
are buried in tho other materials, and es
cape the eye. As au illustration of the
negligence with which these men per
form their task, ono of my associates,
astonished to see that our three united
claims, worked together by all our Kaf
fres, gave us hardly eight or ten dia
monds a day, when we had a right to ex
pect twenty-five or thirty, concealed in
the earth on tho tablo a diamond of thirty-six
carats larger than a hazel-nut.
Ho did this to test the fidelity of the
workmen ; and, although ho watched
them attentively, all the earth was sorted
before him without tho diamond being
perceived. It had been thrown under
tho tablo, where it was afterward found.
This negligence was confirmed by an
other circumstance ; in displacing the
table to transport it to a less encumbered
Elaee, wo found, among the sand that
ad been sorted, a diamond of thirteen
aud one-half carats, which would have
been lost for us like the others.
It has become a new industry at the
mines, for those who cannot purchase a
claim, to re-examine the abandoned earth,
which is sometimes very productive.
One of my friends made in this manner,
without nskiug any capital, fifty dollars
a week. Many children, and young
Dutch girls, pass whole days digging at
hazard in tho sand, and are sometimes
largely recompensed. In tho street
where I worked a child found, iu earth
already sorted, a diamond of seventy
three carats.
A Moss of It.
A Washington correspondent of the
Chicago Jntcr-(Jeean writes: Not only
is it slippery outsido, but indoors too,
and at one of the swell germans a few
nights ago three couples fell on the
floor, polished not wisely but too well.
One of tho six was tho belle of the ball
the belle of every ball she graces tall
and stately and haughty. What a fall
was there 1 She was leading; she was
the best dressed woman there; she was
the focus of admiration; she caught her
dainty foot in another girl's flounce, and
while the women were envying and the
men adoring her she tumbled, in a con
fused heap of laces and ribbons and
flounces, and her partner, iu the middle
of the room ! She was up iu a moment,
shaking out hor ruffled plumage and
swallowing the mortification with lovely
smiles. But she turned and looked at
the gill who tripped her; and, merciful
heavens, what ft look t
THE CONFEDERATE TREASURE.
A Story from a Cnliroriila Pnncr About a
l.nrRC Lot nf(.oll.
A San Francisco paper says that when
tho Confederate army under Gen. Leo
was forced back from the trenches at
Petersburg President Davis hurriedly
ordered about fourteen millions of dol
lars, the property of the banks
of Virginia and of the Confederate
States, to be placed on trains at Rich
mond and sent South, intending to com
vey it to the trans-Mississippi depart
ment, if possible, there to make a final
Btand. The treasure was carried down
to Charlotte, N. C, where tho railroad
ended. At this place it was decided to
leave the money belonging to the banks
of Virginia, in keeping of their officers.
The rest of the money, belonging to the
Confederate States, was placed in wag
ons, and the retreat continued. The
brigades of Gens. Basil Duke and
Vaughan, who had succeeded in escaping
from East Tennessee, and had arrived at
Charlotte a few days lefore, were placed
under the orders of Gen. John C.
Breckeuridge to act as an escort to the
treasure, and the command proceeded
south until Greensboro, Washington
county, Ga., was reached. At this point
information was received that tho Fed
eral general, Wilson, had captured Ma
con, a few miles distant, and in the lino
of retreat to the trans-Mississippi de
partment. The news soon got among
the men. They became demoralized, and
a rush was made for the wagons con
taining the treasure. It was speedily
divided upamongthem,theoflieers being
unable to restrain the men. Among the
lucky ones were two soldiers belonging
to Company B, Third Tennessee Mounted
Infantry, of Vaughau's brigade, from
Munro county, Teuu. One of them was
named Albert Stevens, and the other
we will call J. T. Jones. They had
charge of the wagon containing $150,000
in gold; and when the panic spread
among the soldiers, and the cry was
" mure rjui jeut, they retained their
presence of mind, and drove off in the
woods, where they divided the money,
making some 875,000 apiece, and sep
arated, Stevens taking his to his home
iu Tennessee, where lie buried it, con
fiding its hiding place to his mother, a
very old lady. Finding that it would be
dangerous for him to remain iu Tennessee,
owing to tho unsettled condition of
things there, tho people being equally
divided on tho questions of the war, he
went to Georgia, where he found Jones,
who had bought a small place and was
quietly waiting until it would be safe
for him to return home. Stevens stayed
awhile with Jones, aud then went off to
another part of Georgia to visit some
relatives. Before going, however, he
informed Jones about the hiding of his
money and his mother's knowledge of
its whereabouts. As soon as Stevens
was gone Jones mounted his horse aud
made a bee line for Tennessee, to the
place where Stevens lived. Arriving
there he presented his comrade's mother
with a forged letter, purporting to come
from her son, directing her to deliver
the money to Jones, which the old lady
did. Jones then started direct for Cali
fornia. Arriving here he purchased a
large tract of land in Mendocino county,
laud being very low at that at that time,
and has sinca amassed a large fortune in
addition to his ill-gotten gains, and is
now highly respected and a member of
the church.
In the course of time Stevens, having
ascertained that it would be safe, started
for home, possibly dreaming of a future
life of ease and comfort on some blue
grass farm, raising fat cattle and blooded
horses, this being your average Ken
tuckian's or Tennesseean's idea of an
earthly paradise. On reaching home he
soon fouud out his loss. Buckling on
his revolver, he scoured the entire South
and West in search of his faithless
friend, vowing to shoot him on sight,
and only recently ascertained his where
abouts. Ho is now in correspondence
with a prominent lawyer of this city,
and an attempt will shortly be made to
bring Jones to account through the
courts.
Monomania.
Edward Patterson read a paper before
the Medical Society of New York on
" Monomauia as Affecting Testamentary
Capacity." Ho said that the courts were
daily committing errors in questions of
insanity by clinging to the theories
which tho medical profession has long
since exploded. It is important to know
how justice can be best administered in
the cases of criminals whoso mental fac
ulties are seriously impaired, and the
law has been manifestly unjust in many
instances. There is also serious evil in
tho current decisions of the courts ou
the testamentary capacity of certain per
sons. In former times it was held tliat
only total insanity could break a will. In
1725 it was decided that only total de
pravity or complete insanity was a de
fense to an indictment. In 1756 the
question of unsound mind simply was
firnt raised to invalidate a will. Until
then the distinction between total and
partial insanity was not recognized. The
speaker said that melancholia and mono
mania belong to partial insanity, which
was that condition of the mind in which
the patient is intelligent and rational as
to most subjects, but is the victim of a
delusion or illusion on ono or more sub
jects. Ho said that general insanity was
that aberration of the mind which pre
vents the subject from exercising his
reason. He cited cases to show that par
tial insanity had been declared to invali
date a will. In American cases it seems
to be tho rule that where a monomania
exists iu the shape of a delusion, which
has no real existence, against a person
who should receive bounty at tho hands
of a testator, and if the will be the pro
duct of such delusion, it is invalid. The
mere holding of erratic or strange be
liefs is not evidence of partial insanity,
and no matter with what tenacity they
are held it does not. disprove testamen
tary capacity.
Girls should be warned of the danger
they run in marrying railroad brakenier
An enthusiastic member of that fraterni
ty, on being awakened the other night
from a dream of an impending crash by
a traiu, found himself sitting up in bed,
holding liis wife by the eurs, having
nearly twisted her heud off in his fruutio
efforts to " down brakes,"
WHAT WILL SHE DO WITH IT.
An Elcnhnnt In the House tlint will Iteuiilre
Cnnstnnt Watching and Jinny Hour of
Anxiety.
There is at present stored in this city,
says the New York Time, for safo-keep-ing
we need not say where a diamond
necklace of such splendor and value that
it would bo worthy of public notice,
even were it not on other considerations.
It is a double necklace, and each of
those consists of three rows of diamonds,
any one of which a lady might with
pleasure see upon her finger. But in
each necklace, both inner aud outer,
there is, at intervals of ' about an inch
and a half, a largo diamond, so large
that no lady could wear it on her finger,
and of a size that few of the fair ven
ture even if they can afford to wear
as solitaire ear-rings. In tho middle of
the inner necklace is a stone of great
size, the worth of which must be fully
teu thousand dollars, and from the outer
one depend seven pearl-shaped stones
of very unusual size, tho middle one,
which hangs just below the largo one of
the inner necklace, being of even greater
sise and value than that. The necklace
is uot alone. It is accompanied by ear
rings of corresponding value and design
a union of round stones above with
pear-shaped pendants below, all within
borders of smaller stones which, how
ever, are small only by comparison with
the great ones to winch they are satel
lites. This magnificent decoration, the
value of which cannot be less than ouo
hundred and fifty thousand dollars, aud
which, if all the stones wero of the very
first water, would command more nearly
two hundred thousaud, is merely an ad
dition to tho long list of rich presents
received by Miss Sherman on her mar
riage. It is a compliment from tho
Khedive of Egypt to the soldier who
made the great march to the sea.
The question presents itself, WThat
will she do with it ? What does any
lady, who does not wear a crown, or at
least a coronet, when she is in full dress,
do with such a stupendous ornament as
this ? She may keep it kicked up, and
on proper and rare occasions feast her
eyes by looking at it, or provoke the envy
of her dearest friends by exhibiting it to
them. But think of the anxiety accom
panying such a possession ! A guard
ought to be set over it night and day.
As to wearing it, tho owner would, if
sho had any taste or sense of congruity,
be utterly at a loss to find any good
reason for so doing. We liave no occa
sions hero when such ornaments are iu
place. Even in Europo they aro worn
very rarely only on state occasions or
at some very grand festivity. The no
tion that the noblewomen tho "female
Markisses," and such like of the old
world go about blazing with diamonds,
eveu in the evening, is as absurd and
unfounded as tho belief formerly enter
tained that kings and queens wore their
crowns as other people wore hats. Dia
monds or jewels of any kind, except a
modest brooch, a seal ring, or some
thing of the kind, are scarcely ever seen
upon ladies of rank in Europe, except
on full dress occasions, and then they
wear not a great deal, although what
they do wear is apt to be of tho very
highest value and quality of the kind.
But diamonds or fine jewels of any kind
on other occasions would be regarded
among such people as evidences of bad
taste, and even of inferior breeding.
It is undoubtedly true that much 0f
tho European misapprehensions of the
genuine American character that, for
instance, which comes of long New Eng
land, or Knickerbocker, or Southern
descent is produced by traveling Ameri
cana who have suddenly acquired wealth,
who have not had tho advantage of tho
best training at home, and who suppose
that to produce a good impression and
get among the best people they must
make a display of their possessions.
This duty is committed to the ladies ol
the party, nud by them it must be con
fessed, it is generally performed with a
thoroughucFS and a dash which are
quite startling. The diamonds in which
thy are occasionally seen at tahlen
d'tote, even in the morning, actually
frighten some of the very people upon
whom they are seeking to make a fa
vorable impression. They would be as
tonished to learn that tho rather dowdy
looking person in a dingy wrapper,
whom they passed in the corridor, was
the wife of one noblemau and the de
scendant of a coroneted line of ancestors.
This new diamond necklace may be very
pretty to look at; but the young lady
who has received it ought not to bo
trusted out with it unless she is accom
panied by two or three sharp policemen
in plain clothes and well armed.
A Sea Story.
The crew of an English man-of-war
was down with scurvy, and, there being
none of tho usual remedies at hand, an
old sailor suggested the trying of one
which had saved a ship's crew iu some
land of the tropics. This was simply to
bmy lue meu upright as far as their
chius, until tho earth drew the poison
out of their bodies.
Six pits were quickly dug in the warm
alluvial soil, and when the sun went
down, the men wero placed iu them, and
tho earth shoveled in around them. It
was a beautiful moonlight night; and the
operation completed, the invalids chatted
gayly together; their shaggy heads just
bursting through tho earth, iu the fitful
moonlight, made them look like men
coming up to judgment; their voices
sounding weird and ghostly, as of an
other world. After awliile, one by one
they fell asleep, and all was still. Their
comrades then stole a way and sought
their cabins. When they rose iu the
morning, and went to see how the
buried men fared, they found that the
wolves had come down m the night, aud
eaten off every heud level with tho
ground !
How He Heaud Of It. This is the
way Serrano heard of it. At seven
o'clock a. M an officer wont to his quar
ters and found him taking his chocolate.
He said: " I bring Your Highness bad
news." " Do you come to arrest me !"
said Serrano. "No," said the officer,
"but to inform you that the Army of
tho North will proclaim Alfonso king."
"It will do well," answered the marshal,
calmly, " and far from opposing myself
to such a proceeding l accept it person'
ally aa the only possible solution, '
Items of Interest.
Brigham Young is still able to sit tip
and bo married occasionally.
During the last year the Boston banks
paid $1,024,819 taxes to the city.
We mount to fortune by several steps,
but require only ono stop to come down.
It has been estimated that the great
American nation smokes 5,168,000 cigars
a day.
The California State prison has 1,000
inmates. Of these 1G0 are under twenty
one, and 241 under twonty-Bix years of
age.
A man may be properly said to have
been drinking like a fish when he finds
that ho has taken enough to make hi3
head swim.
Learn, to be economical when you are
prosperous, that you may know how to
live without spending money when you
have none.
Never trust with a secret a married man
who loves his wife, for ho will tell her,
and she will toll her sister, and her sis
ter will tell everybody.
A convicted criminal never objects to
the grammar of the judge, but ho
doesn't like to have him show it off in
court by passing a long sentence.
It is estimated that one hundred young
women stand ready to do copying at two
dollars per week where ouo is willing to
do plain cooking at double that sum.
A vessel has just left San Francisco
for Liverpool with a cargo of 150,000
bushels of wheat. This is the largest
cargo of that grain that has ever crossed
the ocean.
A horse who is in the habit of gnawing
his crib can be cured of the practice by
applying a strong wash of cayenne
pepper and hot water, or a coating of
tar, to the crib.
" Now, then, children," said a parish
schoolmistress, showing her children off
ou examination day, " who loves nil
men ?" " You, missus," was tho unex
pected reply.
"Where a woman," says Mrs. Parting
ton, " has been married with a congeal
ing heart, and one that beats desponding
to her own, she will never want to enter
the maritime state again."
While on the stand testifying in tho
Beecher-Tilton case, Moulton, a leading
witness, received news of tho sudden
death of his mother. Ho did not know
sho was ill until the news of her death
came.
Truth rhymes with youth. We heard
little Elsie exclaim, rapturously: " Oh,
oo dear lion ! Ob, oo booful lion ! Oh,
oo nice lion Oh, oollove, doloveooso !"
Then she added, iu a whisper, " But he
mells awful !"
An Indianapolis widow made her lover
deposit 3,000 in the hands of a trustee
on the morning of the wedding day,.tho
money to be at her order for divorce
purposes should she ever desire to tako
such action.
It is reported that a somewhat juvenile
dandy said to a fair partner at a ball :
" Miss, don't you think my mustaches aro
becoming ?" to which Miss replied :
"Well, sir, they may bo coming, but
they haven't yet arrived."
Lewis, the wit of the Detroit Free,
I'nux, is a youth of about twenty-nine,
with a dark and a rolling eye, and a
moustache like the shadow of a great
He is engaged to a lady whoso
papa is worth half a million,
I " i'ou in the Dost-ollice?" said a father
to his son. "Nice party you'd be in
the post-office. What could you do in
the post-office except stand in the door
way with your mouth open for folks to
wet postage Rtunips on your tongue '!"
It is said that the aggregate cost ex
clusive of jewels of the dresses worn by
tho ladies of a certain household (four in
number) to a charity ball was $12,500;
while their tickets cost 20. Oh, charity,
what extravagance is committed in thy
name!
In Oregon tho canning of salmon has
been overdone, and prices havo deterio
ated to such nu extent that the canuers
have gone to canning beef instead. As
they can buy cattle in Oregon for two
aud a half cents a pound, there is a mar
gin to work on in the business.
A man was recently fonnd lying in
sensible iu the street by to police of
Baltimore. He has since been claimed
by a woman who positively identified
him as her husband, aud by a young
man, a stranger to the woman, who is
just as positive that tho man is his
father.
The last King of Spain, before the one
just proclaimed, bearing the name of Al
fonso, was Alfonso XL, historically
known as the Avenger, who reigned from
1321 until his death before Gibraltar in
1350, so that between Alfonso XI. and
Alfonso XII. there is only the little pe
riod of 525 years.
A business man in one of our Eastern
cities asserts that during the past year
he and another man made $500 each by
reading one little advertisement in the
local newspaper. It opened to them a
chance for a trade which otherwise they
would not have heard of. Moral but
everybody can eeo tho moral by readiug
the item.
The growth of the Granger order
tliroughout the South is remarkable
In Alabama there are now reported to be
641 granges, with 32,000 members; in
Florida, 108 granges, with 5,500 members ;
iu Arkansas, 521 granges, with 21,000
members; while in the other States there
are also numerous lodges with largo
membership.
A former Indian agent states that the
tribes under liis charge observed a cus
tom of making Now Year's calls the
squaws culling on the warriors. All tho
American savages formerly observed tho
same custom. The Dutch settlers of New
York adopted the custom from them, with
a slight modification tuo gentleman
calling on the ladies.
A busy housewife was sitting in a
doorway plying her needle. Her hus
band was lounging on the rail, when Ids
foot slipped, and he bruised his knee on
tho door-step. " Oh,"saidhe, groaning,
" I have broken the bone, I am sure !"
" Well, then," said she, holding up her
needle with its eye broken out, "you
and I have done very nearly the same
tiling." "How bo t" Why, don't you
see '(" said she ; " I have broken the eye
of the needle, man and you have broken,
the knee of the idle man,"
i