NB
RICA
r 1 v . . ,
.A .1 ' :
l'l ,1- Mi n
In f ":.'
t-l i '
II. B. MASSER, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
OFFICE, MARKET STREET, OPPOSITE THE POST OFFICE.
gl jrumfls iUtospapcr-Dcbotrt to jjolftlcs, fi.tcrature, tftornU.B, jrorcUK an Domestic .flutes, Science nntt the arts, auvtcultuvr, iWnrUcts, amusements, c.
New series vol. 3, no. o.
StTXnURY, NOUTIIUMBERLANI) COUNTY, PA., SATURDAY, MAY 4, 18.10.
OL1I SERIES VOL. 10, NO. 3.
N,
RY
AM
E
TEIUHS OF THE AMERICAN
. THE AMERICAN it published every Batnrrtny at TWO j
DOLLARS per annum ti. be paid half year'r '" "dvance, .
A. - .iiL.ti..j ....ill .i.t. arrrnnirrcp are nnin.
AU eommunicnlioii. or Idler, on l'- "t 10 th
Vffieei t. inatlre attention, mint he POr PA1I.
tO CLU119.
JkfM copie. to one iklrew, 0J
Z'll. Do Io "
. Pin dollars in advance will pay for three year', lubecrip.
lion to tlie American.
bw San.r. of IS line., 3 time.,
eir (ubMquent iiwertion,
Square, 3 month.,
An month,
One year,
Bu.inen Card, of Five line, per annum,
Merchant, and other., adverti.inl by the
year, with the privilege of inserting dil-
ferent advettiacment. weekly.
Larger Advcrti.ement, a. per agreement.
tl no
2.".0
nr
6IN)
3 (HI
io on
H. B. 1ASSEP.,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
ECNBURT, PA.
Bushier Heeded to in the Counties of Nor
trumi erlanJ, Union. Lycoming and Columbia,
liefer to I
P. & A. Povouiit,
I, owr.n & UAttnoir,
Somins & SmmoRAM,
Rsisolus, McrHi.nii ev Co.
Srsaisn, Hoou A. Co..
BANK NOTE TABLE.
"corrected weekly.
PENNSYLVANIA. I MASWACAtTSCTT?.
rr-rt or l-HiLi)tU'Ui. All solvent naima
. .. . . . i
di
V. 8. Bank note. 13 dia KIIODK IM.A.MI.
All ..ilveut lawk, nal All solvent hanks J dl
CONNECTICUT.
ll.uk of rhainliarahiirg 1 die
COL'STKT.
All solvent banks di.
NKW YORK.
riTV.
li.nk of Cheater Co. par
Rank of Del. Co. ("heater par
Bank of Uermnnto wn pari-1
i. ... ......t .i;-'r
All solvent banks J di.
r.au. in uciiiiiiiik
Hank of Lewi.town
1 di. ,13 Wk "ntf. under 3 J di.
rorNTBY.
...!. Mfii, .i.ii.i. ...... 1 dia All an vent, hitiik.
1 dl.
Muntgouvrv C Hnnk P"r , y.W
It.nk of N.irtlmmlKitl'ii"!. n Hclvnlwe Umik ! 1 !
Hank -if I'itt.l.rg 1 ilia t'oiimnwinl Itailt j '
UnnW of Dmville .r K'T- ;mk .ml ll dly !
rarliale Hnnk 1 ", " M"MIH..n Pt. pnr
t'.ilnniliin irk A- HV"Co ir .Mwhiinu-a- Ilk. Newnrk Iir
D.,yel.t.vu Hunk par .Mch. Ilk of llnrh;.t..i ir
Karton Hunk ,w,r M.cli. A M. Hk Trent ir
Krie Hank S di" ! ,rn" Co Hunk J "
Kxrhange H'k Piltalmre. I ili Ai-warK ik g a ina.vu i ....
Kxchanire H'k. Hrniich 1 di tninge Umik i d(
Fanner.' H'k, Hock. Co pnr'l'e ple'a Hk Piitlcr...n ilia
V.r...Hra" ItL I Jl.rMl.t..r iiiir!Prinritii Hunk
lnr
tinr
Farmer.' Hk, Reeling piinS dcin Hiinknie C,
Farm. Hk Hcliuvlkill Co rmrlSemerrrt Co Hnnk
F D. Bk Waviundi'g I j.lia !tatc Hunk nt Oiliulen
Franklin Ilk. Waali'ii Ij.lia'f'af Hk KliaiU-iliton
it.r.;.i...r un..k i Hi.'Stnte Hnnk Newnrk
ill.
pnr
3 iln
Honeadale Hnnk i dia'Stntc Bk, N. Hmnawick piir
lncaater Hank unr.fnwx Bniik, Newt"" j di
Lelieiiim Hunk ir
Merch. A Man. Hnnk 1 ili
Miner.' H'k, l'ntt.ville ptr
Moli'mgaheln Hnnk I di.
rH..i..r.i.M l..l Itv (To 15 .tin
Pri'iitnn Hiinklni; Co pnr
I'ni n Bunk, Dov.T dia
Ynrdley v'le A Del l)r Co I3ili.
iS?-Uk note. nmliT ?S J di.
DKI.A WAKb.
Ve.t Brnn.-li H:ink P:,r!H.ink of lMiiware
par
Wyoming Hk, ilkewe pnr
York Hank. 1 lii-
Hank of Smyrna wr
l)cliinre City Hank pnr
ty Relief note. 1 di
Ilk Wilnnt'n Hmiinyw. mr
I'nrnirra' Hk St Drlawarc iar
i'ni,.n llnuk. Wilniingtun (Mir
fmlcr S.V. J di.
OHIO.
All a ilvont kinka 2 dia
l'y Ilk n .u-a niid'T Va 4 dia
NORTH CAROLINA.
Ml a..lvi'lit lunik tl i'i-a
f 1' mk-rS'a, 2) dia
MAINF..
Hank of Yhclluck 3 di
Mercantile Hk. Bangor 111 ilia
All . .Ircnt Lanka J dia
IV II AM I 1 11 li i".
All aolvcnt lainka j dis
Rink of St llona 9 dia1
V - I.MII.M.
All . Uent lianka i
x A CALL TO IIOTJSEXEEPE?,S
At tlie Calilnct Ware Itooui of
SE1VN 1I0UPT k CO.
Market Square,
jijo at the turner of Fawn street A- thz Railroad,
SUN BURY, PA.
Thankful for the pntronajre of Imk fiicmls and
coatotncM iiurinii the 17 years he Kits Inn-ii in liusi
nrm in tills place, lie Bolicits from the public a con
tinuance of their fnvora. During this period he
has enilravoreil to keep up with the improvements
of th day, anil has accorditiK-y extended his huRt
nana in every hranch anil variety. The public are
therefore invited to the attention of the present
lock of
CABINET WARE AND CHAIRS,
Manufactured Br
SEBASTIAN HOTJPT & CO.
At the Old Stund,
Where in addition to their former stock of tho
c.tahlishnieut tltcy now manufacture
Mahogany, Walnut & Cane-Seat Chairs,
Iirgt Spring Sent Rocking Chairs,
Dressing Bureaus, Centre Tables,
Marble Top Wash Stands,
and a variety of oilier
new style and
Fashionable Furniture.
Havitiff secured a Henrse and nmde the neces
sary arrangements for the purpose, they are now
lircmri"d lor I nilertaKlliR 111 an lis nram nca, in
sjiia vicinity or at any convenient distance.
Ye maida and uliatrc.BC., null hu.lianil. too,
Here', furniture of every .tyle nnd hue,
From aide twarde down to kitchen fciblu.,
From rocking chairs to nicking cradles
Wi.mld yon not have the ready John to pay,
iYe'll wuit awhile f. a brighter hetter dny,
Or take potatoes, out., corn, wheat und rye ;
Bark, hoop poles, aluvea, or lumber wet and dry,
Or any thing but yokes and thrching fl.il.,
From pig. and turkn-a down to little iiiuiils.
Come on then friend., cane one and all,
Keep trude a moving, no "goes on the lft."
tV Orders from a distunce promptly attended
to and work of all kinds delivered with dispatch.
Bunbury, March 9, 1850.tf
"" REFORM YOTJR HABITS.
Corns ys with garments bare ami seedy,
Ye bneh'lors, wido'er. and hu.hands f hi,
If, in the outward mau yoo'r needy,
AV jou can snake yoa as good us new.
THE subscriber respectfully informs his friend1'
and the public, that he will commence in thi
place, on the 8th of April next, the
TAILOUIXGIirSIXESS
in all its branches. He will be careful to see that
his work is made up in the best manner, and he
flatters himself, that he will be able to Rive entire
satisfaction in point of cut, fit and styjc, as well
aa in price. He therefore respectfully solicits his
friends and the public generally to call and give
him a trial.
Hi shop is new building in TaWn atrcet b
low Weaver's Hotel.
JACOB O. DECK.
Sunbury, March 30, 1850. 6ln
r . EDWIN HAXL,
(Lt or ti Fins o WiTxmtn & Hall,)
. .- JVo. 24 South Second Street,
t Philadelphia,
' pESrECTFULLY informs hi old friend and
X customers, as well as the public generally,
that ha ha opened an entire new (tuck of elegant
styles of
J?jring & Summer Cress Goods.
His assortment consist of the latest and most desi-
ibla llyltl of pnu,lub, German, French ox A me
'rican fiuoda. Hucb as l)Uiiw. Tissues, bera-
ges, Bilks, Lawiis,Muri'i,5hawls,HdklT,filovc,
and every variety ol ijuj ami r aucy uooub.
Pbilad. March 16, 1850. Iy
SELECT POETRY.
From Godey'i Ixidy'. Book.
I HEAR THE WINDS WHISTLE."
BT A. T. LKE, CAPTAIN C. 8. i.
I hear tho winds whistle, I hear the loud
wave,
As 1 sit by my hearthstone and think of the
grave
The eyes that are sunken, the brows that are
Cold,
Tho lips that are faded, the shroud and the
mould.
The fagot burns brightly, but deep in my
heart
Dwells a spirit of darkness that will not do
part ;
And it calls up old faces, and looks that they
wort,
Ere the grim robbt'r, Death, cast his shade at
my door.
When bis dark shadow fills on yon threshold
aoain,
I shall smilo in his face as I yii'ld to his
chuiii;
For my old eyes grow dim, and I no longer
care
To bo watching the fngol that's flickering
there.
I hear the winds whistle, I hear tho loud
wave,
As I sit by my hearthstone and think of tho
grave,
The eyes that are sunken, tho brows that are
cold,
The lips that are faded, tho shroud and the
mould.
0f Northumberland. Pa.
tUlcucv Skctcl).
From Tail'. Kdinbnrg Magazine.
THE DOUBLE TRIAL.
A STOUT OF URIVMSTANTIAL. EVIDENCE.
For many years, Sir James Fanshawe,
Bait, of ancient lamily and large estates,
had resided at Abbey, about seven
miles from the county town. He was a
widower, and had but one child, a beauti
ful and accomplished daughter, who, upon
his decease, (she being just 21 year3of ago,)
became sole possessor ol his property, and
also continued to dwell at the same place.
Shortly after her father's death, Miss Fan
shawe benevolently adopted as her com
panion a distant relative a high born Irish
ladv, named Eveleen O'Neill, who had
just been left, not merely fortuneless, but
a totally friendless orphan.
On the day of the Asiizcs at a well
known county town in England, this young
female, Eveleen OVNeill, was brought into
the dock under an accusation of having
murdered Miss Fanshawe. The accused
was tall, gracelul, modest and beautiful,
with large dark eyes, features deadly pale,
quivering lips, and her hands lightly press
ed before her.
It was charged that this orphan cousin,
this dependent, deliberately murdered her
benefactress, tempted by mercenary mo
tives. Miss Fanshawe having previously
made a will, leaving her property to Eve
leen, in case she should die unmarried.
The principal evidence introduced was the
butler named Collins. He stated that "a
few minutes afler four o'clock, on the
morning of the 28th of July, he was
aroused from his sleep by repeated violent
screams, issuing apparently Irom the sleep
ing room of his mistress. In great alarm,
he partially dressed, and hurried as quickly
as he possibly could towards that room.
The door stood slightly ajar, and pushing it
smartly open, he crossed the threshold, and
was horrified by what he immediately saw.
On the carpet, by the side of the bed, lay
the body of bis mistress, in her night-dress,
bathed in blood. Kneeling close to her
was the prisoner at the bar, with her left
hand resting on her mistress' bosom, and
her right uplifted with a small drawn dag
ger, which was apparently about to be
plunged in his mistress' body. Both the
dagger and the hand which held it were
drinpin'i with blood." A shudder of hor
ror agitated the whole court at this part of
the deposition ; and the accused sank her
head between her hands, groaning heavily.
The examination proceeded:
Mr. Collins Will you here describe
the exact nosition in which vour mistress
lav when vou first saw her? Witness-
She was stretched out upon her back, her
knees drawn up some feet from the carpet,
which, being a loose one, was ruffled on a
heap under and around her, as thotigh a
great struggle had taken place. Her head
lay on one side, with the right cheek rest
inz on the carpet, and her hair was torn
Irom underneath her cap, and hung back
ward over her head. Mr. Collins You
say that the prisoner was kneeling by her
side, and holdinz a dagger, which you
thought she was about to plunge in your
mistress' breast 1 Witness Yes. Mr. Col
linsAnd there was quite sufficient day
light for you to see, with perlect distinct
ness, the objects you have described 1 Wit
ness Yes. Mr. Collins Now. sir, on
vour oath, was the point of that dagger di
reeled downwards I tvtin consiaerauie
. ...... -i i ,
hesitation, the witness confessed that he
could not speak positively in this respect
With regard to the chamber, no time
was lost in making a strict and well con
ducted examination of the apartment ; and
the result was, that several most extraordi
nary matters were broucht to light. The
bed in which the ill-fated lady bad slept
was completely saturated with blood, and
the sheets tumbled and twisted in a way
that clearly evidenced that she must have
fought hard with the murderer. By pass
inn: the curtains aside, Miss Fanshawe could
reach the pull of s bell, hanging in her
own maid's room, and so summon her at
any moment she required. This bell-pull
was found carefully tied around the adjoin
I ing bed xji,, completely out of the sleep
er's reachi This apparently indicated two
important facts ; first, that the murder must
have been a deliberately planned aflair;
secondly, that it must have been committed
by some one intimately acquainted with
the apartment. On the victim's body be
ing examined, it was found that she was
stabbed in nine different parts ; and her
hands and arms were also gashed in many
places, in a way that showed how despe
rately she must have fought for life. On
the bed was lound a very large lock of hair
torn up by the roots.
The hair was first thought to be Miss
Fanshawe's own; but, on examination,
none was torn from her head ; neither did
the lock correspond in the least with hers,
either in color or in length. This was also
the case with Eveleen ; and, after the most
patient investigation at the inquest, all con
cerned unanimously admitted the inexpli
cable fact, that this lock of woman's
hair was neither the murdered lady's nor
that of the accused. Eveleen herself gave
the following voluntary explanation ot the
position in which she was found.
I w as aroused from my sleep, by hearing
what I conceived to be a struggle, mingled
with smothered screams, going on in the
sleeping apartment of Miss Fanshawe. I
listened and hearing a scream still more
distinctly, and also whnt I thought to be a
cry for help, I hesitated not a moment in
hurrying towards the room. As I ap
proached the door, which was at the end of
a long corridor, and at a considerable dis
tance from the sleeping room of any one
else, my own chamber being the nearest
to it, I heard what I thought to be the voi
ces of individuals hurriedly conversing;
but when I reached the door, which Miss
Fanshawe never locked, I found it slightly
open, and, on entering, I found her lifeless
body on the floor, in a pool of blood.
There were no persons visible in the room.
I screamed repeatedly at the sight, and in
dreadful agitation sank on my knees, and
then fell across the body, by which I be
came besmeared with the blood of my dear
murdered friend, whom I loved as myself.
On arising, I happened to see a dagger, and
lilted it up by the end of the blade, hardly
knowing what I did. At this moment the
butler entered the room.
The defence of counsel was unavailing, a
sentence of guilty was rendered, and Eve
leen although subsequently found to be
innocent was executed.
At the very next Assizes, a man, who
was surrounded by an appalling mystery,
was accused of being the sole perpetrator
of tho deetl. Circumstantial evidence
brought the act home to him, with convic
tion to the n:ind of all men, and he was
also sentenced, but anticipated his doom,
and poisoned himself in prison, by the aid
I a lemale accomplice, leaving the lollow-
ing cenfession behind him :
"In a few moments I shall be dead, and
now write all I wish to say, and, what
ever my life has been, or whatever my re
ligious notions are, all men may believe
every word I here write to be the solemn
truth. I am innocent of tho murder of
Miss Fanshawe, and I have not the re
motest idea who murdered her. The night
he was murdered I was manv miles distant,
and this 1 could have proved 'on my trial,
but 1 could not have done so, without con
fessing that I was engaged that night in
committing a murder, but where or on
whom will never be known. My hands
were cut in the death grapple, and my
clothes smeared with blood. As to the
witnesses who asserted they saw me lurk
ing about the Abbey grounds, they either
wilfully lied or were mistaken by my re
semblance to another. The dagger with
which Miss Fanshawe was murdered really
was mine, although I denied it on my trial,
being desirous to make the best of my
chance of acquittal. As deposed on my
trial, I was in the habit of carrying it about
me, but 1 lost it a weel: before the murder
was committed, near to i'ne Abbey, and I
have no doubt the real murderer picked it
up, and used it as the instrument of the
ed. i hat my real name, rank, or coun
try is who I am, or what I have been I
will never tell. 1 hat secret, and many
others, perish with me."
It appears, then, that the latter was not
guilty, from the death-bed confession made
by an old woman, the substance of which
is as follows :
"She said, that 41 years by-gone, she had
lived as huly's maid with Miss Fanshawe,
of Abbey, and that lady having seve
ral times scolded and threatened to dis
charge her for gross neglect of her duties,
an awful spirit of revenge took possession.
of her, and she determined to murder her
mistress. While pondering the matter
over, she happened to find a dagger (that
left by Roderick Madden) near to the. park
palings. About a week afterwards, she
murdered her mistress with this very dag
ger, and being disturbed by the approach
ing footsteps of Eveleen O'Neill, who heard
her death-struggle, she hurried back to her
own chamber, leaving tho dagger behind
her. She had on at the time only a thin
night dress, which being sprinkled with
blood, she hid, and hastily washing her
hands and face, put on a clean one. 1 hen,
when the alarm was given by the butler,
she joined the rest of the family in rushing:
to the apartment of the murdered lady, and
was loudest ot any in her outcries and lam
entations. She said, that when she saw
the turn the aflair had taken by shifting all
suspicion from herself to Eveleen, she no
longer felt any loar ot detection, she
availed herself of an eafly opportunity to
burn her gory night dress, which she easily
effected at the kitchen fire during the great
confusion of the morning."
She actually had the hardihood to attend
the trial of Eveleen, aud when the counsel
for the latter uttered the remarkable ex-
pression, that perhaps the real murderer
was then present, she felt ready to die
away, but soon recovered and sue niter
wards beheld the execution of F.vrleen
without experiencing an atom of remorse,
either lor her death, or that of the first vic
tim. From that time forward, she, in her
own words, became and continued emphat
ically "a child of Hell !" Very soon after
Eveleen's execution, she married a soldier,
and accompanied him to India. Subse
quently she travelled over various parts of
the world, and committed sin upon sin, and
wicked deed upon wicked deed, beyond the
capability of her memory to sum up. At
length she felt an irresistable prompting to
drag her worn out frame to the locality of
her first fearful crime, and therp, finding
herself nigh unto death, she determined to
unburthen herself of a relation of that deed,
and accordingly did so as related.
From the rVnlpel.
DINNER AND DESERT:
PRACTICE AND PRECEPT.
"The dinner awaila y.n, air."
'"OiIiIf, bk-aacd, I'il not he aliaent at the grace !"
The rational mode, according to the best
authorities, is most unquestionably to eat
when hungry. To think first, that as the
body is composed of various materials, va
rious articles of food are necessary to sus
tain it. That "strong meats are for strong
men," and that an admixture which may be
determined by the observation of the party,
is necessary to the protection of the health.
"Bulk," saj-s Dr. Beaumont, "is nearly as
necessary to the articles of diet, as the nu
trient principle. TRe articles taken should
be so apportioned, that one will counteract
the other. Too highly nutritive diet is
probably as fatal to the prolongation of
life and health as that which contains an
insufficient quantity of nourishment. And
Combe says, "In civilized society, bread,
potatoes and vegetables are useful, not less
by giving the requisite bulk and consistence
to the rest of the food, than by the nutri
ment which they contain. Soups, jellies,
arrow-root, and similar substances are, for
the same reason, more easily digested when
eaten with bread, or some bulkier aliment,
than when taken alone."
Then, after having adjusted the variety
and quantity, the appetite should regulate
the time. "Being in health," says Walker,
"it is easy to keep so, where there are fa
cilities of living rationally. My care is
neither to anticipate my appetite, nor to
overload it, nor to disappoint it : in fact, to
keep it in the best possible humor." "In
da nip weather, when the digestion is weak,
the diet ought to he moderate, but r.ith'T of
a warm and stimulating nature. In bracing
weather, plain substantial fo'id is the most
appropriate. No f'aintness or craving, but
a pleasurable keenness told me. when to
eat." Bulwer says, "an appetite once
thrown away, can never, till the cruel pro
lixity of the gastric agents is over, be re
gained : it must be supplied at tlie time
with what the stomach calls for." Seneca
says, "Rise from the table with an appe
tite, and you will not be in danger of sitt
ing dnwn without one." Burton says, "As
long as we nre ruled by reason, correct our
inordinate appetites, and conform ourselves
to Cod's words, we are so many living
saints; but if we give reins to lust, anger,
ambition, pride, and follow our own ways,
we degenerate into beasts, transform our
selves, overthrow our constitutions, provoke
Cod to anger, and heap upon us the melan
choly, and all kinds of incurable diseases."
And Shenstone says
'We give each apietite t0 loose a rein,
Puah every pleasure to the verge of pain ;
IniielU'iit. follow where the patioii. cull,
And live in rapture, or uot live at all."
These principles having been establish
ed, we are further required to look into the
manner in which we place the food in our
stomachs, or in other words, in which we
stow it away. The bolilng principle we
have previously discussed, and have the
vanity to think that our readers, if they re
call their own sensations, will not require a
repetition of the evidence against it. They
who believe the stomach capable of redu
cing to the proper consistence, food thus
tnrown into it, may recognise us eiiecis in
the admonition of Combe, who says, "the
smoothest nnd most nccnratelv formed
wheel, running along the most level and
nnlished road, mils with w nortion of
. ;t8 g,,t,stance at every revolution, ami in
j proceM 0f time is worn out." If this be
.-., :. nnt .,.,. , l,,,,!. -t ii, r,-..
' ,i;,lin nr ,u -rnmneb. nml cm,;,l,.r tho fvic-
tion to w)ith ;t s cverv lav sui,j(.ct,.l.
Abernethy says, "the stomach that is
loaded, as a Devonshire man does his cart,
as full as it can be filled with a fork, can
not be expected to endure 6uch loads of
compost," nor is it reasonable for the own
er to look for comlort, or to expect from
such abuse even a reasonable duration of
life." Bulwer savs, "it is the last degree
of ingratitude to the great source of enjoy
ment, to overload the stomach with a
weight which would oppress it with lan-
gour, or harass it with pain ; and finally to
drench away the effects of our impurity
with some nauseous potation, which revolts
it, tortures it, convulses, irritates, ahd en
feebles it through every particle of its sys
tem.' And Hunter says "Were we to see the
stomach and intestines busily employed In
the cottcoction of our food by a certain un
dulatory motion the heart, working day
and night, like a forcing pump the lungs
blowing alternate blasts the humors filtra
ting through Innumerable strainers, to
gether with an incomprehensible assemblage
ot tubes, valves, and currents, all actually
and unceasingly employed in support of
our existence, we could hardly be induced
to stir from our places, and yet we U3e these
organs as though we had borrowed them, to
be renewed at pleasure."
Remember, also, that we ore neither the
medical or spiritual adviser of the commu
nity, but having an indirect interest in the
prolongation of life, we venture upon pla.
ting these facts in a position in which they
may be looked at. Like the htlrick Wic,
herJ, We have a kind of feeling "111 ,t it is
the duty of all men, to the best o' their
abilities, to enlighten ane anither's under
standing. And if I see my brethren o'
mankind fa' into a' sort o' sin and supersti
tion, is't nae business o' mine, think ye, to
set thetn richt, and enable them to act ac
cordin' to the dictates o' reason and nature?
I hae no notion o' that creed that tells me
leave a dour doited devil to go daunderin'
wi' his een shut his ane way to perdition."
We believe, however, that old habits
and old associations are not easily broken
up, and that advice, os it is much easier
given than followed, may prevent in some
instances the effect, if it cannot correct the
evils when contracted. Dr. Channing
says that to minds plunged in a midnight of
error, truth must fp-udttally open like the
dawning day ; that old views will mingle
with the new ; that old ideas w hich we
wish to banish, will adhere to the old
words to which they were formerly at
tached ; and that the sudden and entire
eradication of long rooted errors, would be
equivalent to the creation of a new intel
lect. Consequently we say to the reader, if
what we have advanced is not in accordance
with his previous habits, notions and re
flections; if what we have quoted is not of
a convincing character, the field is open,
and to our mind the authorities are abundant
to prove the necessity ol reform. In this
country, all travellers say we tat too fast
we eat too much we eat to often we
cook badly we provide badly, and we
eventually kill ourselves by not adhering to
the dictates of our natural instincts.
Therefore, according to our notion, the
grand secret is to live rationally: to eat
when hungry, and to take especial care
that the quality of the article, the cooking,
the serving and the various little appoint
ments, be as near perfection as popsible, and
let the mind and the stomach be in a con
dition to receive the supply. J. S.
MYSTEItlOI S OC'C t RRENCES.
We copy tho following more mysterious
even than the "knocking." which have claim
ed so much attention of late from the edi
torial column, of the New York Sun, of the
23d till., nnd which wilt claim the more at
tention fiom the matter of fact character of
that paper. We do not say we believe it.
We copy the account as we find it, leaving
all to form their own estimate of the circum
stances Muled, and 1 ho Sun's eiul.nsemcnl of
them. We may, however, add. that a curies
p.iiitlent of the Trilt),u't a resident of Stratford
narrates the nuc facts, Slating iho family to
bo that of ' Dr. P., an eminent physician,"
and that lilt; yoiinir lady particularly concern
ed, l:lias moved in Uk' best circles of Phila
delphia, is setiMtive, educated and refined."
We append to the Sit as itilicle, a pait of lite
statement by lite Tribune's correspondent:
'We have been aware, for some six weeks
past of occurrences in the family of a well
known nnd highly respected gentleman, re
siding in the town nf Slralford, Comi., a short
distance from lliidgepnrt, a simple, authen
ticated nirrativtj of which has already stag
gered the incredulity of some of the boldest
disbelievers in supernatural agency, and in
spired the timid, to a considerable degree,
with terror. We have not felt at liberty'
however, to make publio mention of them,
from a regard to lhe feelings aud withes of
the family , but that restiaiutis now removed
by tho appearance of a garbled statement
in tho columns of a cotemporaiy, and we shall
proceed to detail a few facts; which are so
well vouched for to us, that we endorse them
as freely us we could do had they passed un
der our own eyes, and in our own dwelling.
There is in them, to say the least, a mystery
which has not yet been solved, and which,
from the unsuccessful endeavors mado to dis
cover it, seem iriic.iitiiiKitVe by any supposi
tion of Iti'man aeney.
Six weeks ago last Sunday morning, on their
return from church, tho family were alarm
ed nt finding the outside doors, which they
locked an hour or two previously, open; and
a piece of black crapo lied lo tho handle of
the fi oi it door. Supposing tho house had
been broken into for lho sake ol rubbery, they
immediately searched to see if they misled
anything. They found all the chamber and
inner doors, niuuy of which thay had left
locked, wide open, but nothing was missing.
The next day on entering the room occupied
by the eldest daughter, they found the win
dow ami looking glass covered ovui by sheets
and on the bed a f'gtue laid out to repicseut
a corpse.
This discovery was followed, in the course
of a few days, by strango noises about tho
house, and by various articles boiug thrown
about apparently by invisible hands, most
ol which seemed directed at the young lady.
She became very much alarmed and eventu
ally was taken ill, aud seized with coiivul
siuus, from hich, lor some period, il was
fearetl she would not recover. Notwithstand
ing the close guaid which was kept over her
during her sickness, strings, handkerchiefs,
and other articles, wore at times found tied
lightly about her neck, and pillows, from
another bed in tho same room, placed over
and pie.sed upon her face. Many such
thing occurred which it was impossible for
her to effect, without attracting the notice of
those who were watching by, and tukingcare
offier. After some days she recovered and
was sunt to a neighboring village. A day or
two after her depurture, things began lobe
thrown about the hnuso os before. They
consisted chiefly of small articles, such as
nails, screws, pebbles, pools of thread, &c.
During the young lady's sickness, neighbors
were called in, mid became eye-wiitiesses to
many of the strange things which were oc
curring about the honsa. Thearlicles which
weie thrown about began lo be of laiger di
mensions .poon, knife, fork) book or pokbr
being occasionally moved. Tho disturbance
was neither constant nor regular. ..At limes
nothing at all would hnppen for hours, and
again a succession of fulling) or throwing in
cidents would becur within a few minutes of
each olherj and indifferent parts of the house.
The gentleman's son, a lad of some twelve
or fourteen years of age, far from alarmed,
found great amusement in chasing and pick
ing up the moving articles.
One evening he thus ran into a room ad
joining that in which the family was sitting,
from whence had proceeded the noise of
something falling to the floor, and immedi
ately uttered a piercing scream. 1 1 is friends
going in found him on the floor, writhing in
a fit. Ho was taken tip and cared for, nnd
recovered from it tho next day, when ho
said that tbo cause of his screaming was that
somebody caught him around tho body just
above tho hips, and was lifting him tip, as ho
feared, through lho ceiling. Of lho fit ho
was not conscious. The next evening nnd
every evening for some ten days thereafter,
at the same hour, and occasionally during lho
day time, the boy was seized with similar
fits, which would last one or more hours, and
then pass otT.
To enumerate tho articles thrown and the
manner nnd appearance of them, anil, above
all, the impressions made upon neighbors and
strangers who frequently wero witnesses,
would require not only whole columns, but
whole newspapers. Wo thall have room for
but few, aud, in selecting them, we shall uot
refer to what wo have already narrated.
They are vouched for in the most unequivo
cal manner by gentlemen who are in no way
connected with the family, and who could
not for n moment bo suspected ol the least
collusion, and are tho result of examinations
made by them at the request of tho family.
On one occasion, two gentlemen of our ac
quaintance made a thorough examination of
the upper part of the house, leaving the w hole
of the family below stairs. Having looked
through the different rooms without observing
anything unusual, they were retiring down
s' . iis when a fire-poker, which they had no
ticed hanging on a nail in one of the chambers,
passed near their heads and stuck into the
floor before them near the foot of the stairs!
They returned and or.ee more re-examined
the premises. Nothing, and no person could
be found. The door of the chamber in w hich
the poker had hung was closed, just as they
had left ii, but tho pokor was not in iis place.
Moi cover, the door was so situated that it
could nut well be opened without attracting
their attention, until they had passed further
down the s'.niis than they had done wlun
the poker whizzed by
A gentleman and his wife vlu reside in
the vicinity, anil had been with lhe family
frequently while theso slrango things were
going on found, at another lime, i:i a room
into which they, as well as the family, were
passing and repassing every few minutes,
nine figures represcntiii3 females in a kneel
ing posture, before each of which was a Bible,
opened, and a passage therein marked by
the turning down of a leaf to it, or by a small
piece of paper laid upon it. These figures
wero dressed with great precision, every
hook and every button was fully adjusted,
and their preparation would be tlie woik of
many hours if attempted by human hands.
The dresses belonged to tlw young lady nnd
her mother, nnd were hanging up in closets
within a short timo of the discovery. The
passages in scripture were chiefly in the pro
phecies of the Old Testament, nnd were
very appropriate lo the mystery which ap
parently existed in the house.
Not the least wonderful of these things
was the discovery in different parts of the
house, generally in tho morning, of a species
of hieroglyphic characteisupiai lho walls, a'ld
on the floor of the piazza, and also on oiled
paper. One of those on paper as of exceed
ingly high finish, fully equalling engraving
on steel. Across tho top wero charactuis in
Hebrew, and below, in up and down columns,
others similar in appearance lo Chinese. The
Hebrew characters were deciphered by in
lelligent neighbors, nnd found lo bo "The
Key to the Mystery." Of the Chinese, or
other characters, nothing bus yet been dis
covered, but they have been, orsuon-uill bo
submitted to gentlemen in this city, who are
acquainted villi the Chinese, Arabic and
other languages.
Up to lho 15lh Instant these manifestations
invariably occurred in lho day time. On tho
night of that day they were maintained with
increased violence, and without cessation,
until about four o'clock in lho morning. Du
ring that time cotisidei able damage was done
to various articles of furniture, and several
panes of glass were brukon from the windows
all Under the eye of another gentleman
from those previously mentioned, who, at the
request of the family, was endeavoring, by
all means and ingenuity at his command, to
solve the mystery. The particulars of ail the
unaccountable things which took place du
ring that night We must pass over, at least
for the present confining ourselves, aa we
have hitherto done, to tho more jfriit'iig and
extraordinary ones.
While at the supper table the previous
evening, ho was amazed more than once at
the falling upon the table of a knife, or fork,
or spoon apparently from tho ceiling over
head ; and while seated near the fire, after
tea, books, daguerreotype rases, and other
article, would full from tables and shelves
tthich were distant six to tun foot from any
poison in tho room. In tho same way a pair
of candlo-snufTera which wero on lhe mantel
piece, nnd which the gentleman we cpenk of
had jtial examined, (they bein of cuiiuii.
woikmanship,) seemed to jump from the she"
and fall to the floor near his feet he being,
the while, the only person hear therm
He retired, with the family, soon aftet left
o'clock, and just as he was getting into bed
he heard a loud clatter and screami Slip
ping on a portion of his clothing and running"
into tho hall ho found it came from thel
young lady's room. Ho called to her to know
what was tho matter. She told him the
noise was in the closets in her room, and
retpiested him to come in. Ho went in, the
noise nnd screaming being Continued at in.
terv.'tlH. The young lady was 111 bed and thel
closet door shut. A light was burning in that
as also in other rooms of the house. The
noise seemed to bo a series of knocks upon
the door, as though with a person's knucklea
from the inside, succeeded by a blow like a
kick against the bottom of the door. He)
could distinctly sue tho door vibrate as he)
ran to it. On opening it nothing likely to
produce such a noise was to bo found 1
The chamber spoken of was located simi'
lar to the usual second story hall bedrooms
in our city dwellings. The door to the hall
was locked. Aftor his unsatisfactory Search
in the closet, the gentleman stationed himself
in the doorway leading to the large chamber,
lho door being wide open, and the door front
that chamber to tho hall being shut tight.
The scream had ceased, and the knocking
in the closet stopped. Presently the dodf
from the hull to the large chamber teas'
knocked upon in a similar manner to that
of the closet, from the side hall a succes
siou of raps and then a kick near the bottOrtii
Ho went to it, and taking the knob in bi
hand, awaited a repetition of the knock : it
came, and opening the door instantly, (thers
being it light also in the hall,) ho saw
nothing. He was more disconcerted thatt
before.
Considerably nmnzod at bis discomfiture!)
but more determined than ever lo ascertain
its origin, ho again took his position in thd
doorway. The knocking ceased, and he
was on the point of reiiring again when lie
distinctly saw the broken leg of a stand
which had been lying on a buteati in the'
young lady's room, fly, as it were, across the
room and strike the window, breaking two
panes of glass and then falling to the fldbfi
On being made acquainted with this, the tho
ther came ui lo assist the gentleman In co'
veiir.g the broken windows, on accrJuhl of
the cold air. with a blanket; and while do
in'' si, he saw a hair brush which had also
en upon the bureau, coming towards hei1
aad fim.lly strike upon her head. All thiol
lime the young lady remained in the bedj
a I nut less than six feet from the bureau.
Having seen, or fancied ho had teen; the"
middle ot three small drawers in the top of
the bureau niovo in and out, the gentleman
took it out and examined il thoroughly. Soon
alter a cessation of these things Occurred; he)
left the loom, but hardly had ho done' so '
when, on hearing another noise, and break
ing of wood, he ran back and found pieces'
of the little drawer, previously examined by
him, falling upon the floor from the bed; and
the front piece of it falling from the TlndWj
where a pane of glass had evidently been
broken by it. The occurrence, whatever it
was, frightened tho young lady so that shej
bad left her bed, and was running into her'
parents' room. She afterwards stated thai
the drawer had boaten itself, or been beaten,
against the headboard of her bed, until it
was completely broken in pieces and the in
dentations in the headboard and the scattered
fragment were conclusive proof that such
was the fact.
Shortly after this the chamber occupied by
the parents became the scene of knocking
similar to those which have been described
as having occurred at Rochester: They seem
ed to come from the head-board of the bed
The gentleman was called in there and, with
the closesf scrutiny he could make, was fair
ly bothered. At his request the occupants
of the bed moved as far from the head-board
as possible, but still he heard the gentle rapj
lap, nip, now on this s'de and now on thatj
and again diiectly under his nose. Having
studied the accounts of the Rochester knocks
nigs he set about eudeavoiing to open a com4
muuication with tho spirit in, tho way pur
sued at that place. In this he Was, after
spending considerable lime, partially success
fid The revelations mado wore, however(
sttic'.ly of a family nature, and for their bene
fit, and among them many by-gone facts sta
ted and also some things or falsity of which
lho lapse of a short lime will determine.
The next day more stuffed figures were)
found in another room and several ef tho
neighbors were called in to look at taem.
While there, one of those present, a gentle
man, received a blow fiom the top of a eaa
dlcstick, on tho back part of his head, in
way w hich could not be explained by him
self or any one else. Subsequently the aam
gentleman, while walking up stair with lb
boy above spoken of, suddenly found hhti
choking by his side the effect of a hanker
chief lied lightly around his throat. From the
lie and from its tightness ho was convinced
the boy did not do it himself, and no one els
was near them. It seemed to have been effec
ted instantaneously while the gentleman's
eyes were for an instant, averted.
At other limes the boy's clothe kave been
torn almost oil' fiom him, and he tumbled
into a cistern near lhe house w hile it was
full of water ; books thrown from a boek-cam
about the house, Mat-iron and ether kouaex
hold implement thrown hither and t bilker
about lhe house, of which it was impossible;
lo give any thing like a connected aocauur.
The family hue, thus far, rendcied rcijr