if
VOL. 3.-NO. 24.
BY S.-BV BOAT.
CLEARFIELD, PA., "WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 18-57.
' -
" A '
A-
cV
- For tho "Raftsman's Jonrnal."
THE BELOVED DEAD.
O, that I could, a littlo while,
Behold her face once more ;
That I could now perceive her smile
As she hag smiled of yore.
And she was dear when first we met,
And dearer now than then :
A heart, like mine, cannot forget,
. Nor love, like mine, can wane.
I cannot make my heart be still,
I can't control its throes ;
'Twill always be foreboding ill,
And brooding o'er its woes.
O. sainted one above the sky,
I'll meet thee here no more,
' My heart, and all my love are thine,
As they werethiuc before.
Thy voice of love, thy smile so gweot,
The glances of thine eye,
ft caused my anxious heart to beat,.
Cut now, to sink and die.
0, that I could, a little while,
Heboid thy face once more :
That I could look upon thee now,
As I have done before.
Hut not to me thou coracst again, ,
Yet I will go to thee.
And in thy Saviour's lovo we'll reign
Through all eternity.
There is no death nor sorrow there,
And there no parting pain ;
Thine absence there no more I'll fear :
We 11 never part again.
THE BACHELOR'S BUTTON;
OR
How a Single Gentleman got into Difficulty,
and bow he got oat of it.
CHAPTER FIRST. WHAT DArPLXF.P AT THE COXCERT.
- Some yars ago, when I was a single man
and dreaming, (as some single men do, of
double biiss, yet destined to arrive, I went to
a concert at the Musical Hall of Boston. Mu
sic is, poetically ond proverbially, "the food
of love," ond in my seotim-.-tita! state I con
sumed a good deal of it ; not that I had any
object in view. Mino was abstract love; I
cultivated it, I increased my stock, so that I
might have a good deal of the tender passion
in hand, whenever I saw an eligible opportuni
ty of investing it. Well, to return to the con
cert; it was crowded to excess, and the rush,
on leaving, to reach cabs and carriages, was
very great. I wore on that memorable night
a blue coat with brass buttons, and I flattered
myself there were worse looking men in tho
room. I tell you candidly I admired myself;
the other party I was most struck with, was a
fine girl, with dark eyes and black hair, who
sat with some young friends a few forms dis
tant. I hoped she noticed mc and my blue
coat, with brass buttons. I looked at her of
ten enough to attract her attention to both ;
and being, as my friends would say, in rather
a spoency state, worked myself, in a towering
passion of ore. But how was I to come at
the object of my admiration, for I was as dif
fident as devoted "as shy as I was vain," as
an over-candid friend once said. "Hail Co
tumbia," which concluded the concert, sur
prised me, as unprepared as on my first glance
to "improve the occasion," and the company
were shoaling out, while I stood mutely gaziug
after the object of my love at first sight. She
and her party eddied for a while at the inner
door of the concert room, and were then drawn
out into the retiring current, and lost to sight.
I followed quickly after, lest I should lose
forever all opportunity of identifying my idol ;
but, alas ! the lights in the outer corridor were
Jew, and so far between that, "no glimpse of
my star could I get." I pushed and elbowed
fiercely through tho crowd, with a view of get
ting to tho outer door before my fair one's
party hid emerged, and thus gaining once
more a sight of my sweeting.
"Hang it 1" I muttered impatiently, as I felt
a tug at my coat-skirt, ond I was instantly
conscious of one of my hind buttons having
hitched to some lady's dress ; my progress was
suddenly arrested. "How provoking," thought
I, as I was brought to a stand, for I could not
push on without losing a button, or tearing a
dress; "how provoking the modem fashions ;
a lady now has as many hoops, as many tenta
cle! about her apparel as a sea anemone. It
was with some irritation I stoppi-d to undo the
button, but my hurry made the task more dif
ficult, and instead of undoing, I only bungled
and more tw isted the loop round the button.
"Please to let me try," said the lady her
self as I bungled over the business; she un
gloved her hand it was a sweet white hand
bo I looked at her face. Stars and gaiters !
but it was the very fair one, black hair ond
dark eyes, I was in pursuit of. As she stoop
ed over the entangled button, a slight blush
tinted tier cheek. Oh, it was delicious. I
hoped she never would undo the loop; nnd,
indeed, she would not, for her fingers were
twitching ncrvousjy, and my heart was beating
audibly, I tried to help her, our fingers met.
"Please to make way there," shouted a gruff
voice behind. We were blocking up the pas
sage ; was there ever such an unlucky spot for
so lucky an entanglement?
"You hinder the people from going out, A
mie," exclaimed one of her companions with
some asperity ; "plague upon the tiresome
loop, break it !" nnd suiting the action to tho
word, the speaker leaned forward, caught tho
sleeve of her beautiful friends dress in one
hand, and my coat tail in the other, ond giv
ing a quick and decided tug, severed us. The
crowd lwshind bore on, and.wo were scperated ;
not. however, bctore I gave iny "star" a look
which I intended to speak volumes. I thought
she did not seem unconscious of my meaning
our cjf s met, I know, and this was tho on
ly consolation left me, for immediately after
wards I lost her and her party to view in the
darkness outside. .
CHAPTER SECOND. II0W THE COURSE OF TRUE
LOVE DIC NOT Ill'S SMOOTH.
That night I hardly closed my eyes, think
ing of my "bright particular star," and what
means I should employ to find her out. I knew
little of the town, which was a large one, and
to expect to know the name of my fair one by
a mere description was hopeless ; there doubt
less must beaa great many with dark eyes and
black hair, within the "bills of mortality,"
there, as elsewhere.
My love fit grew more and more violent in
the ccurse of the day ; but tired out at length
with my search, I returned to the hotel, and
took out my dress coat from my portmanteau
to feed my flame even with the contemplation
of the inanimate business button that had de
tained the "black-eyed divinity" so long. It
was with no littlo delight I now discovered
what did not before catch my eye a fragment
of the silk loop of her dress still adhered to
the button, twisted round the shank." I pres
sed it to my lips ; it was lilac in color and
stooped to gently disentangle it from the bit
of brass as gently as though it were a tress of
my loved one's hair, when something clinked
n the skirt pocket. I supposed I had left
some money there, for in my perturbation and
excitement I omitted to search the coat on
taking it off the night before. I thrust my
hand into the pocket. Gracious me! What
aid I behold, what did I take out a gold
chain bracelet f
You could have "brained" me with my la
dy's fan. I saw at a glance how matters stood
in the excitement and flurry of undoing the
loop from my button, the lady had undone the
clasp of her own bracelet, which had not un
naturally fell into the coat-skirt with which
she was engaged, and doubtless, on missicg it,
instead of regarding mo in a romantic light,
she put it down that I was one of the swell
mob, and had purposely entangled myself in
her dress to rob her of her jewelry.
litre was an anti-heroic position to find
one's self, when I wished to be considered the
most devoted of knights, to be remembered
only as the most expert of pickpockets ! Was
ever an honest lover in such a plight, and tc
make it worse, I could not see how I was to
escape from this inevitable dilemma. I roust
go down to the grave remembered in that dear
one's mind as the nefarious purloincr of her
bracelet. To find her out was impossible : but
a bright idea struck me, as my eyes lighted on
a newspaper lying on the coffee-room table. I
rang the bell, and inquired of tho waiter when
the local paper was published. '-To-morrow,
sir' he answered. I sat down and wrote an
advertisement ; it was in the following words :
"If the lady, whoso dress got cntangicd in
a gentleman's coat button, in leaving tho con
cert last Wednesday, will call at, or send to
the Tremont Hotel, she will hear something
to her advantage."
"There, I thought, as I gave the advertise
ment to the boy, and five shillings to pay for
insertion in the 'Traveller,' there, if that will
not give me a clue to escape from a very un
pleasant dilemma, and nt the same time to
know who my enchanter is, the fates must, in
deed, be very unpropitious."
My plans being thus far adopted, I ordered
diuner, and waited patiently; or rather impa
tiently, the appearance of the newspaper next
morning. It was brought up to my room damp
from the press, and then I read, in all the glo
ry, of large type, my interesting' announce
ment. But, niy stars ! with what an advertise
ment was it followed in the very same column.
J only wondered that my hair did not stand
on end, as I read as follows :
$2 Reward. Lost or stolon, on the night of
tho Concert, at the Hall, a Gold Chain Brace
let. It is thought to have been taken from
the lady's ai m by a pickpocket, of gentleman
ly appearance, who wore a bluo coat with brass
buttons, and kept near the lady on leaving the
hall. Any one giving such information as will
lead to tho recovery of the bracelet, or the
capture of tho thief, (if it was stolen,) w ill re
ceive the above reward, on applying at No. 7,
Cambridge Place.
CHAPTER THIRD. THE EXD OF IT.
Here was a pretty plight to be advertised
in tho public papers as a pickpocket, when
my only crime was like Othello's, that of
Loving, not wisely, but too wall.".
My determination was, however quickly a
dopted. I went up-stairs, put on the very
identical delinquent blue coat, soaccuiately
described and taking the paper in my hand,
proceeded to No. 7 Cambridge Place.
I knocked at the door, aud asked the ser
vanfwho answered tho name of the family.
Having heard it, I said, "is Miss Raymond in V
"Yes, sir," replied the servant woman, "who
shall I say wants her T"
Tell her," I replied, "that the pickpocket,
with a gentlemanly address, and blue coat,with
brass buttons, who stole her bracelet, is here,
and wishes to return it to her."
The woman stared at me as though I wero
mad, but on repeating my request to her, she
went in ond delivered my message.
Soon there came out, not my fair one,
'With all that's best of dark ond bright,
Meeting In a?pcct and eye."
but a stalwart brother.
"That," said I, banding him the bracelet,
is Miss Raymond's property ; and though, as
you perceive, I wear a bluo coat, with brass
buttons, and am flattered to think my manners,
are not ungentlemanly, I am bound in candor
to say I am not a pickpocket.: ..;-
"Then, sir, you Bhall have the reward,"
said the brother, taking out his purse.
"No," I replied, "for strange as it may ap
pear, though I am no pickpocket, I stole the
lady's bracelet." :
The man looked puzzled, but when I told
the truth, and pointed to my advertisement in
the same paper, as a proof that I did not want
to walk, off with the property, he laughed hear
tily at the w hole story, and not the least at his
sister's description of the gentlemanly pick
pocket. .'
"Well," he said, "yon had better walk in
and have tea with us, and ray sister will be a
blc to say whether she en speak to your iden
tity, after which it will be time enough to can
vass the propriety of sending for a constable."
You may be assured I accepted the invita
tion. Need I go further with the story. The
young lady (to uso the words of the advertise
ment,) captured the pickpocket. Tho bache
lor's button no longer adorns my blue coat, and
I new have framed and glazed over the fire
place, the advertisement, in which I am po
litely described by my own wife as a pick
pocket with a gentlemanly address." When
I charge her with the libel, she always does
what she has just this moment done, pay dam
ages for the slander in any amount of kisses,
declaring, tho' not a pickpocket, I was a thief,
and stole her heart and pocketed her bracelet.
So ends the story cf A Bachelor's Bcttox.'
ADDRESS :
Delivered at the opining of the Clearfield Teach
ers' Institute, Jan. 3, 1857, ly Dit. A. T. SciiHY
TES, Count) Superintendent.
JFriesds asd Fellow Teachers : Having
failed in a first meeting to establish a County
Institute, but not discouraged, I have thought
proper to make another effoit for that purpose.
The object of these meetings, or Institutes,
is for the mutual improvement of teachers to
promote the cause of education and the best
interests of our common schools to discuss
the various subjects of education, and the best
practical method of teaching the various bran
ches taught in our common schools. The de
sign is to instrnct the young teachers and to
improve ind enlighten the intellectual power.-;
of the mind. It is a well known fact that ev
ery great enterprise, and the developments in
the principles of government, as well as in the
arts and sciences, have originated from small
beginnings. We must sow before we can reap.
The farmer prepares his soil, sows his seed,
nature matures it, while he waits patiently
to reap the rewards of his labor. So with ed
ucation. Parents must build houses, furnish
hooks and competent teachers send their
children to school in their youthful days if
they would make lasting impressions on their
minds that will render them useful. It is an
old saying, but "not the less true, that
"Tall oaks from little acorns grom,
Large streams from little fountains flow."
We must make a beginning if we wish to keep
pace with other counties in education. From
this Hall may spring up little plants and foun
tains of knowledge, whose branches and gent
ly gliding streams and rivulets will become
large streams, sending fortb showers of light
and knowledge to drive ignorance, supersti
tion and bigotry from the land to expand the
intellectual powers of mac to arouse the
slumbering to inquire the road to knowledge,
rational liberty and mental improvement.
Look -at the character and enterprise of the
people in the eastern States, where the school
system is in high repute. There agriculture,
commerce nnd manufactures flourish through
educated and well directed talent and enter
prise. Their ships convey tho "stripes and
star" to every harbor in the world. Their in
ventive genius' is proverbial to all nations.
They stand a living example, first in morality,
first in domestic tranquility, first in agricul
ture, sobriety and universal education. And
why ? Because first in common schools ! It
is the duty of every patriot, every f ruo citizen
of our glorious Republic, to encourago the
common school system, on which in a great
measure depends its existence and perpetuity.
Teacheis should be induced to form societies
or associations for the sake of the literary nnd
scientific knowledge acquired by them. It is
often dillicult to effect a change in old estab
lished customs, and do away with old theories.
Therefore we must expect opposition, and be
ready to meet it with that energy, industry and
perseverance that will overcome and remove
every impediment to success and land us on
the sunny side of the hill of science, to stand
unmoved by the storms of adversity nnd com
bined efforts of ignorance and opposition.
Teachers it is lor you to will and to do, and
thereby give dignity and respect to your call
ing to elevate and ennoble tho character of
your profession.
This meeting has heen called, as I said at
first, to ndvanco tho interest of common
schools. Now, what can those present, and
the ffriends of education in Clearfield, do to
accomplish this object? Tho first and most
important object is to establish a County Insti
tute for the purpose of training teachers for
the profession. The second is the formation
of township societies by tho teachers and oth
ers, for mutual improvement. Third, to se
cure tho aid of all the friends of education,
and the co-operation of parents and directors
to derive tho advantages resulting from such a
course. In the absence of State normal
schools, a county institute of three months, or
even one month yearly, and township meetings
monthly or weekly during the school months,
would be a fountain of instruction for the teach
ers to drink deep and long of without being
exhausted. If the directors, teachers and
friends of education would bo more active and
persevering, meet together in council for an
interchange of sentiment, and work together
in harmony, it will elevate the cause of educa
tion and produce the most beneficial results.
These meetings will bring together the teach
ers of the county and townships, before un
known to each other, so as to have an inter-'
change of views on the subject of teaching
the various modes and principles of govern
ment, so as to combine and have uniform ac
tion in all the schools of the connty. In this
way each one will have the benefit of the oth
ers experience in the art in this way they
learn lessons of practical knowledge and ele
vate the standard of the profession. The first
and great object of these associations is the
acquisition of useful knowledge for all who
intend to engage in the business of teaching,
and arouse the drowsy powers of all who feel
interested. It gives young men and women a
chance to improve themselves in the theory
and practice and advance in the branches
tanght, as well as to develope and expand the
montal powers. Therefore it must result ben
eficially to the common sceools.
School government is a subject that should
be well pondered in the minds of teachers, so
as to establish a judicious, impartial and effec
tive system in regard to rules of restraint, re
proof and punishment in our schools. Educa
tion is acquired, not hereditary. Titles and
honors may lie hereditary, hut learning never.
No one was ever born a poet, a statesman, or
philosopher. Man in a state of nature without
the aid of reason to guide his mental powers,
may be compared to a stone or rough block of
marble in its primitive state. There is a fig
ure, form and features in it, but it r .quires the
sculptor's chisel to bring forth symetry, pro
portion and beauty to produce that which so
much resembles animated life itself that the
image seems as if it could really speak, and
possessed the powers of life and motion. The
massive and noble buildings in Philadelphia
and other places, which are built of brick,
granite, marble, &c, wero once a heap of dirt
and stones, but now tranformed into order,
beauty and use, stand as living monuments to
herald the immortal fame of the artisans who
projected them. "The sculptured image of
the beautiful Greek Slave" has all the order,
beauty, symetry and proportion of sentient
beings. If mind has so great an effect on in
animate matter, what will he the effects of
mind upon mind, when applied to sentient be
ings and animated nature ? If tho meed of
praise is due to the artist who gives form and
beauty to the insentient stone, marble or wood,
how much greater praise should be given to
the instructor who takes the child in infancy
with its rough nature and unshaped intellect,
and after weeks, months and years of faithful
labor, so forms the immortal mind as to bring
out a perfect man in intellect, one who with
honor would fill any station in life from that of
a privote citizen to chief magistrate of a free
and enlightened people. Then, let Progress
be our watchword and motto our flight on
ward and upward with patience and perseve
rance. In a few years at most, all now living
ninst pass away. The rising youth will take
our places to govern and rule the destiny of
our nation. How important is it, then, that
they should receive the right kind of knowl
edge. The glory of the United States and
the sheet anchor and palladium of our repub
lican government and independence, is a na
tional education for the masses of the people,
giving all an equal chance to ascend the hill
of science. Knowledge is wealth and power,
and can bo obtained by means of common
schools. Then let us labor for their success.
Asciest Caxoe Discovered. Three fisher
men at Ansicres, France, have discovered an
ancient canoe buried beneath a sandbank in
the river. From its form it is supposed that
it was used by the Normans iu their invasion
of Palis. It is an immense trunk of oak,
about eighty feet long, hollowed out, and ca
pable of holding sixty men. It is well known
that the Normans, in addition to tbeYr large
wicker boats, had other very long ones for pur
poses of war, formed of hardwood, and it is
supposed that this is one of them. There is
a striking resemblance between this and the
barks ol tho pirates of the ninth century.
Mrs. Bloomer says she never could see any
thing pretty in women swelling out from their
hips to their feet, like a hogshead, or a big
bottomed churn. Snooks thinks that since
they hoop themselves, they resemble those ar
ticles more than ever. Shouldn't wonder if
he'd get into a scrape for making such remarks.
"Do you mean to challenge the jury ?"
whispered a lawyer to his Irish client in Cali
fornia. "Yes, bejabers," was tho answer, "if
they don't acquit me, I mean to challenge ev
ery spalpeen of 'em ; I wants ye to give 'cm a
hint of it, too."
Pride of position in society causes more
anxiety, more heart-aches, and more severe
toil tbaa the necessaries of lift
A "CHILLING" ADVENTURE.
As a specimen of the adventures with which
Dr. Kane's Narative of Explorations in tho
Arctic regions abounds we give the following.
Dr. Kane and his Esquimaux hunter named
Hans take a trip after seals s
I started with Hans and five dogs, all we
could muster from our disabled pack, and
reached the 'Pinnacly Berg' in a single hour's
run. But where was the water? whero the
seal ? The floes had cl sed, and the crushed
ice was all that told of our intended hunting
ground.
Ascending the berg, however, we could sec
to the north and west the dark clouds tratus
which betokens water. It ran through our old
battle ground, the Gergy Belt the labyrinth
of our wandering after the frozen party of last
winter. I had not been over it since, and tho
feeling it gave mo was anything but joyous.
In a couple of hours we emerged upon a
plain, unlimited to the eye, and smooth os a
billiard table. Feathers of young treating
gave a plush like nap to its surface, and the
horizon dark columns of frost smoke which
pointed clearly to the open water. The ice
was firm enough ; our experience satisfied us
that it was not very recent freezing. We push
ed on without hesitation, cheering ourselves
with the expectation of coming every minute
to the seals. We passed a second ice growth,
it was not so strong as the one we had just
come over, but still safe for a party like ours.
On we went at a brisker gallop, may be for a
nothcr mile, when Hans sung out at the top of
his voice, 'Tusey ! puscymut ! seal, seal !' At
tho same instant the dogs bounded lorward,
and, as I looked up, I saw crowds of gray net
sic, the rough or hispid seal of the whalers,
disporting in an open sea of water.
1 had hardly welcomed the spectacle, when
I saw that we had passed upon a new bell of
ice that was obviously unsafe. To the right,
and left, and front, was one great expanse of
snow flowered ice. The nearest solid floe was
a mere lump, which stood like an island in the
wdiite level. To turn was impossible ; we had
to keep up our gallop. We urged on the dogs
with whip and voice, the ice rolling like leath
er beneath the sledges runners ; it was more
than a mile to the lump of solid ice. Fear
gave to tho poor beasts their utmost speed,
and our voices were soon bushed in silence.
The suspense, unrelieved by action or effort,
was intolerable. We knew that there was no
remedy but to reach tho floe, and that every
thing depended upon our dogs, and out dogs
alone. A moment's check would plunge the
whole concern into the rapid tide way. No
presence of mind or resource, bodily or men
tal could avail us. The seals for we were
now near enough to see their expressive faces
were looking at us with that strange curios
ity which seems to be their characteristic ex
pression. We must have passed some fifty of
them, breast high out of water, mocking us
by their self complacency.
The desperate race against fate could not
last. The rolling of the tough salt water ice
terrified our dogs, and w hen within fifty paces
from the floe they paused. The left runner
went through : our leader "Toodlamik," fol
lowed; and in one second the entire left was
submerged. My first thonght was to liberate
the dogs. I leaned forward to cut poor Tood's
traces, and the next instant was swimming in
a little circle of pesty ice and water alongside
him. Hans, dear good fellow, drew near to
help me, uttering piteous expressions in bro
ken English ;'but I ordered him to throw him
self on his belly, with his hands and legs ex
tended, and to make for the island by cogging
himself forward with his jack-knife. Iu the
meantime a mere instant I was floundering
about with sledge, dogs, and lines, in confus
ed puddle around mc.
I succeeded in cutting poor Tood's lines,
and letting him scramble to the ice for the
poor fellow was drowning mo with his piteous
caresses and made my way for the sledge ;
but I found that it would not buoy me, and
that I had no resource but to try the circum
ference of the hole. Around this I paddled
faithfully, the miserable ice always yielding
when my hopes of a lodgment were greatest.
During this process I enlarged my circle of
operations to a very uncomfortable diameter,
and was beginning to feel weaker after every
effort. Hans, meanwhile, had reached the
firm ice, and was on his knees, like a good
Moravian, praying incoherently in English and
Esquimaux! at every fresh crushing in of tht
ice he would ejaculate 'God !' and when I re
comronced my paddling, he recommenced
his prayers.
I was nearly gone. My'knife had been lost
in cutting out the dags, and a spare one which
I carried In my trousers pocket was so envel
oped in the wet skins that I could not reach it.
I owed my extrication at last to a newly bro
ken team dog,w ho was still fast to the sledge ;
and in struggling carried one of the runners
chock against the edge of the circle. All my
previous attempts to use the sledges as a
bridge had failed, for it broke through to the
much greater injury of the ice. I felt that it
was a last chance. I threw myself on my
back, so as to lessen as much as possible my
Veigbt and placed the nape of my neck against
the rim of the ertgo oi tne ice, ami Ucn with
caution, slowly bent my leg, and placing the
ball of my moccasined foot against the sledge,
I pressed steadily against the rnnner, listening
to tho half yielding crunch of the ice beneath
Presently I felt my head was pillowed by
the ice, and that my wet fur jumper was slid
ing up the surface. Next came my shoulders ;
they were fairly on. One more decided push,
and I was launched upon the ice and safe. I
reached the icefloe, and was frictioncd. ly
Ilans with frightful zeal. We saved all tho
dogs, but the sledge, kayack, tent, guns, snow
shoes, and everything besides was left behind.
The thermometer at eight degrees will keep
them frozen fast in the sledge till we can como
and cut them out."
Oxe or. the Wonders or the World.
There was a good deal said about the "Victo
ria Bridge" at the late- Canada celebration,
and a story is afloat that her nice littlo Majesty
will come over the seas to celebrate its com
pletion. This stincliire across the St. Law
rencc, a short way above Montreal, tho Cana
da papers tell us, will bo one of the greatest
wonders of the world. It was commenced in
June, 18-34, and is under contract to Le com
pleted in 1?G0. The total estimated cost was
originally about 7,000,000 ; but recently tho
plans have been amended so as to reduce it to
a littlo over 0,000,000. The extreme length
of the bridge, including the abutment at each
side, will be 7,000 feet, or rather more than a
mile and a quarter. There will be 2G piers of
solid masoniy supporting the iron superstruc--turo
of the bridge. The centre will span 330
fet, and the other span each 243 feet wide.
The height of the centre of the bridge is CO
feet above the water level. The weight of
iron in the tubes will . be 8,000 tons, and con
teuts of the masonry 30,000,000 cubic feet,
when the whole structure is finished. Tho
famous Britannia Tubular Suspeusion Bridge,
crossing the Menai Straits, and now one of the
curiosities of the world, will scarcely be a cir
cumstance to it. Including the embankments
at each side, tho total length of the bridge,
from river bank tc river bank, will be 10.2S4
feet, or very nearly two miles. Nine piers
of the bridge are now completed, but arc, as
yet, unconnected by any road way. They pre
sent a plain surface on the two sides and low
er end ; the side facing tho current being of
wedge shape in order to break and turn aside
the blocks of ice ; to provide against whoso
destructive powers has been the great engin
eering difliculty of the enterprise. Boston
Post.
Sipposed Discovert op the Tower of Ba
bel. A letter in the Boston Traveller, from
Beirout, dated Dec. 8, after givjng an account
of a visit by Mr. Flace, French consul at Mo
sul, to the plains ef Arbcla, has the following
account of a discovery, supposed to be the vcr
itable Towor of Babel :
"Passing on, Mr. Place and his party at
length discovered what they believed to be
nothing less than the veritable remains of the
Tower of Babel the wonder of wonders, and
the grandest spectacle which the eyes of man
can contemplate in this age of the world.
This proud tower, which was built in defiance
of Heaven, and aimed to pierce the very skies,
has lost in the course of ages its cloud-reaching
elevation. Six or eight stories have fallen
and crumbled into dust; but the two which
remain are so high that they may be seen fifty
or sixty miles around. The base of the tower
is quadrangular, and each side about COO feet
long. The tower is made of bricks and of the
purest clay, and of a white color, which is a
little shaded with a yellow tiut. Under a clear
sun, and ns whole, this ancient roonumci.t of
human skill and daring, presents a fine blend
ing of colors, which sets the paiutcr'a pallet
at defiance. Bolore leing baked, the bricks
had been covered with characters traced with
the accuracy of the hand of a writing master.
Near the top of the letters the straight strokes
were adorned with flout ishes resembling tho
heads of nails. All was neat, regular and se
vere ; and, indeed, those who saw these speci
mens of ancient caligraphy affirm that the
fathers of the human race wrote a better baud
than their children."
TAvon BuorGHT bt Kissing. The Kcoknk
Gaie City relates an adventure of Mr. Ed. II.,
who was lying in wait to see his love qr.ecn
one dark night. Ha was disliked by the "Cru
el parents" of Miss Rosa, and had to wait till
they went to bod. Rosa thought her parents
never would rise. But after a while the Dr
sought his night-cap, and Rosa slipped ofS'iiifn
the back parlor and sat down in the dark.
Her mother, thinking all others h; d gone to
bed, lighted a lamp, turned off the gas, and
went tp stairs to bed. But while she was
standing in the hall, at the head cf the stairs,
she heard a gentle rap on the door. Fearii g
that tho wind would Mow out her only light,
she thoughtfully sat it down in the hall, and
descended to the door by its uncertain light.
As she threw open the door, in rushed Ed.,
and seizing her in his arms, began such a
siege of kicsing as prevented her crj ins out
for aid. Poor Ed., did not discover his error
until he had called her his darling Rosa about
ninety times, and received upon his face a blow
in exchange for each kiss. But hearing him
self called in impertinent villain, he inconti
nently fled the house, as greatly chagrined as
Mrs. P., was argry. Whether his devotion or
persistency wm tho mother to his favor, is so
stated, but Ed. tnd Rosa were shortly msrrved,
with the full consent oi ttia parents.
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