u
BY
S. 15. ROW.
SPEAK XO ILL.
Kay speak no ill I a kindly word
Can never leave a sting behind,
And, oh, to breathe each tale we re heard,
Is far beneath a noble mind,
Full oft a better seed is sown
By choosing thus the kinder plan,
lor if but little good be known,
. Still let as epeuk the good we can.
Give me the heart that fain would hide,
Would fain another's faults efface ;
How can it pleasure human pride
To prove humanity but base?
No ! let us reach a "higher inodo, .
A nobler estimate of man ;
But earliest in the search of good,
And speak of all the best we cAn.
Then apeak no ill but lenient bo
To all other's failings as your own;
If you're the first a fault to see,
Be not the first to make it known,
For life is but a. passive day ;
No lip may tell how brief its span;
Then, oh,4he little time we stay,
Let's speak of all the best we can.
TnL POT OF COLD:
OR TUE WIDOW'S STRATAGEM.
Deacon Bancroft, though a very good man
In the main, and looked up to with respect bv
all tbe inhabitants of the little village of Cen
tereville, was rumored to have, in Yankee
parlance, "a pretty sharp eye to the niaiu
chance'" a peculiarity from which even dea
cons are not always exempt.
In worldly matters lie was decidedly well to
do, having inherited a line farm from his father,
wliich was growing yearly more valuable. It
wight be supposed that under these circum
stances, the deacon, who was fully able to do
s, would have found a help-mate to shore his
house and name. Matrimony was to him in
some measure a matter o'money, and it was
his firm resolve not to marry nnless he could
thereby enhance his worldly prosperity. Un
happily, the little village of Centereville and
the towns in the immediate vicinity contained
few who were qualified in this important par
ticular, and of those there were probably none
tih whom tbc deacon's suit would have pros
pered. So it happened that year after year passed
away, until Deacon Bancroft was in the prime
of life forty-five, or thereabouts and still
remained unmarried, and in all human proba
bility likely to remain so. But in all human
calculations cl tUis kind, they reckon ill who
leave widows oufl
Deacon Bancroft's nearest neighbor was a
widow.
The Widow Wells who had passed through
ne matr.monial experience was some three or
Imir years younger than Deacon Bancroft.
She was still quite a buxom, comely woman,
hs widows are apt to be. Unfortunately, vtlie
lite Mr. Wells had not been able to leave her
sufficient to make her independent of the
world. All that she possessed was the small,
oil-fashioned house in which she lived, and a
&ina!I amount of money which was insufficient
to support her and-a little son of seven, like
wise to be enumerated in the schedule of her
property, though hardly to be classed as "pro
ductive" of anything but mischief.
The widow was therefore obliged fo take
three or four boarders, to ckc out her scanty
' Income, which of course imposed upon her
considerable anxiety.
Is it surprising that r.nder these circum
stances she should now and then have be
thought herself of a second marriage, as a
method of bettering her condition 1 Or again,
need we esteem it a special wonder, if, in her
reflections upon this point, she should have
cast her eyes upon her next door neighbor,
Deacon Bancroft ? The deacon, es we have
already said, was in flourishing cirenmstances.
lie would be able to maintain a wife in great
comfort ; and, being one of the chief person
ages in the village, could accord her a promi
nent social position. He was .not especially
handsome, cr calculated to make a profound
impression upon the female heart this wai
true but be was of s good disposition, kind
lieartcd, and won.d no doubt make a very good
sort of a husband. Widows arc, I take it, (if
any shall do me the honor to read this story, I
trust they will forgive the remark,) less dis
posed to weigh sentiment in a second alliance
tf.an a first, and so in the widow's point of
iew, Deacon Bancroft was a very desirable
match.
Some sagacious person, however observed
that it takes two to make a match, a fact to be
seriously considered : for in the present case
it was exceedingly doubtful whether the wor- 1
thy deacon, even if he had known the favora
ble opinion of his next neighbor, would have
been inclined to propose changing her name
to Bancroft, unless indeed, a suitable motive
was brought to bear upon.
Here was a chance for finessing, wherein
widows are said, as a general thing, to be ex
pert. One evening after a day of fatiguing labor,
the Widow Wells sat at the fire in t,he sitting
room, with her feet resting upon the fender.
"If I am ever so situated as not to have to
work so hard." she murmured, "I shall be
. ii.ir.nr. It's a hard life, keeoini boarders. If
. I was only as well off as Deacon Bancroft "
'Still the widow kept tip her thinking, and
bv-and-bv her face brightened up. She had
an idea, which she was resolved lo rut into
execution at the earliest practical moment.
What it was, the reader will discover in the
"Henry," said she to her son the next mor-
nin"' i want vou xo stop i xciituu .mi
s von e-o to 'school, and ask him if he will
call and see me in the course of the morning
or afternoon, just as he finds it most conve-
Deacon Bancroft was a little surprised at
the summons However, aooui c'u v.
Ii In. The widow had got on me am
nor. and had leisure to sit down. She appear-
"Henry told me that you would like to see
mn." ha rommenpd.
"Yes, Deacon Bancroft, I do, but I'm very
much afraid you will think strange of it at
least of what I have to sar to vou."
The deacon very politely promised not to
be surprised, though at the same time bis cu
riosity was visibly excited.
"Suppose," said the widow, casting down
lier eves "mind. I am only sunuosinc a case
supposa a person should find a pot lull of
gold pieces in their cellar, would the law nave
a right to touch it, or would it belong to the
finder"
Tbe deacon pricked up his ears.
; ; "A pot of gold pieces, widow ! Why, on-
, questionably, the law would have nothing to
' "And the one who had formerly owned the
house couldn't come forward and claim it,
could he, deacon ?" inquired the widow, fur.
ther, with apparent anxiety.
N, madam, unquestionably not. When
the house was disposed of, everything went
with it, as a matter of course."
I am glad to hear it, deacon. You won't
think strange of the question, but it happened
to occur to my mind, and I thought 1 would
liko to have it satisfied." t
"Certainly, widow, certainly," said tho dea
con, abstractedly.
"And, deacon, as you are here, I hope you
will stop to dinner with us. It will be ready
punctually, at twelve."
'Well, no," said the deacon, rising; "I'ni
obleeged to ye, but they'll be expecting me
home."
"At any rate, deacon," said the widow, ta
king a steaming mince pie from tbe oven,
you won't object to taking a piece of my
mince-pic. You must know, 1 rather pride
myself on my mince-pics."
The warm pie sent forth such a delicious
odor that the deacon was sorely tempted, and
after saying, "Well, really," with the inten
tion of refusing, he finished by saying, "On
the whole, I guess I will, as it looks so nice."
The widow was really a goid cook, and the
deacon ate with much gusto the generous slice
which the widow cut for him, and after a lit
tle more chatting upon unimportant subjects,
withdrew in some mental perplexity.
"Was it possible," thought he, "that the
widow could really have found a pot of gold
in her cellar f ishe did not say so, to be sure.
but why should she have shown so much anxie
ty to know as to f he proprietorship of treasure
thus found ; if she had not happened upon
some ?" To be sure, so far as his knowledge
extended, there was no one who occupied the
bouse who would be in the least likely to lay
up such an amount of gold ; but then the
house was one hundred and fifty years old, at
least, and undoubtedly had had many occu
pants of which he knew nothing. It might
be, after all. The widow s earnest desire to
have him think it was only curiosity, likewise
gave additional probability to the supposition.
"I will wait and watch,-' tho t the deacon.
It so happened that Deacon Bncroft was
one of the Directors in a Saving's Institution,
situated in the next town, and accordingly
used to rids over there once or twice a month,
to attend meetings of the Board.
On the next occasion of this kind, the Wid
ow Wells sent over to know if he would carry
her over with him, as she had a utile business,
to attend to there.
The request was readily accorded. Arri
ving in the village, Mrs. Wells requested to bo
set down at the Bank.
11a ! ha !" thought the deacon ; "that means
something,"
He said nothing, however, but determined
to come back, and find out, as he could, readi
ly, from the cashier, what business she had at
the bank.
The widow fripped into the office, pretend-
i 1 . a
ing to looX very noncnaiani.
'Can you give me small bills lor a five dol
lar gold piece ?" she enquired.
'With pleasure," was tue reply.
"Bv the way," said she, "the bank is in
quite a flourishing condition, is it not?
"None in the State on a better footing,"
was the prompt response.
" ou receive deposits, (to you noi i"
'Yes, madam, we are receiving them every
y" . ...
"Do vou receive as high as uve icousana
dollars?"
"No " said the cashier, with some surprise,
"or rather we do not allow interest on so large
sum. Oac thousand dollars is our limit.
Did you know of any one who "
"It is of no consequence," sain me wiuow,
huniedly; I only asked for curiosity, liy
the wav, did you say now mucn inierss jou
allowed on such deposits as came within your
limits ?"
"Five per cent, ma'am."
'Thank yon, I only asked for curiosity.
What a beautiful morning it is !"
And the widow tripplcd lightly out. Short
ly afterwards the deacon entered.
"How's business, Mr. Cashier 1 he inqui
red.
"About as usual."
"Had any new deposits lately ?"
"None of any magnitude."
"I brought over a ladv, this morning, who
eemed to have business with you."
"The Widow Wells ?"
"Yes."
"Do vou know." asked tho cashier, .wheth
er she had any money left her, lately V
"None that I know of," said tne aeaeon.
pricking up his ears. "Why 7 Via sne de
posit any 1"
"No; cut she enquired wnciner we receiv
ed deposits as high as five thousand dollars."
"Indeed!" ejaculated the deacon. "Was
that all she came for V he inquired, a moment
afterwards.
No, she exchanged a gold piece for small
bills."
"Ila!" pondered tho deacon, reflectively.
"Did she give any reason for her inquiries ?"
"No; she said she only asKeu ironi curios
ity." The deacon left the bank in deep thought.
He came to the conclusion that this "curiosi
ty" ouly veiled a deeper motive. He no lon-
gcr entertained a aouui mat me m"
actually found a pot of gold in her cellar, and
appearances seemed to indicate that its value
was at least equal to nve mousauu. uouara.
The gold piece which she had exchanged at
the bank appeared to confirm this story.
"I rather think," said the deacon, compla
cently," "I can see into a miil-stone about as
far as most people," a statement the literal
truth of which I defy any one to question,
though as to the prime fact of people's being
able to s ;e into a millstone at all, doubts have
now and then intruded themselves upon my
mind.
The next Sunday the Widow Wells appear
ed at church in a new and stylish bonnet,
which led to some remarks like these
IIow much vanity some people have to be
sure'
.How a woman that has to keep boarders
for a livin" can afford to dash out with such a
bonnet !smore than I can tell! I should
think she was old enough to know better."
This last remark was made-'by a young lady
just six months younger than the widow,
whose attempts to catch a husband had hither
to Droved utterly unavailing. .
I?,,, " continued the same young
l. she is trying to catch a second husband
Lh'w finerv. Before I would condescend
GLEAEFIELD, PA., "WEDNESDAY, MAECH 10, 1858.
to such means I'd I'd drown myself."
In this last amiable speech the young lady
had unwittingly hit upon the true motive.
The widow was intent upon catching Deacon
Bancroft and. she indulged in a costly bonnet
not because he would bo caught with finery,
but because this would strengthen in his mind
the idea that she had stumblo'd upon hidden
wealth.
The widow calculated shrewdly, and the dis
play had the cfiect she anticipated.
Monday afternoon Deacon Bancroft found
an errand that called him over to the widow's.
It chanced to be about tea-time, lie was. im
portuned to stay at tea, and, somewhat to his
own surprise, actually did.
The politic widow who knew the deacon's
weak point, brought on one ofjier best mince
pies, a slice of which her guest partook of
with zest.
"You'll take another piece, I know," said
she, persuasively.
"Keally, I am ashamed," said the deacon,
but he passed his plate. "The fact is," ho
said apologetically, "your pies are so nice I
don't know where to stop."
'Do you call these pies nice ?" said tho
widow, modestly. "I ouly call them common,
I can make mince pies when I set out to, but
this time I didn't have such good luck as
usual."
"I shouldn't want any better," said the dea
con', emphatically.
"Then I hope if you like them, you'll drop
in to tea often. AVe ought to be more neigh
borly, Deacon Bancroft."
Deacon Bancroft assented, and he meant
what he said. The fact is, tho deacon began
to think the widow was a very charming wo
man. She was very comely, and then she
was such an excellent cook ! Besides, he
had no doubt in his own mind that she was
worth a considerable sum of money. What
objection would there be to her becoming Mrs.
Bancroft 1 He brought the subject before her
one evening.
The widow blushed professed to be greatly
surprised in fact she had never thought of
the thing in her life but, on the whole, she
had always thought highly of the deacon, and,
to cut short the matter, accepted him. -
A month afterwards she was installed mis
tress of the deacon's house, somewhat to the
surprise of the village people, who could not
conceive how she brought him over.
Some weeks after the ceremony, the deacon
ventured to enquire about the pot of gold
which she had found in her cellar.
"Pot of gold !" she exclaimed, ia surprise.
'I know of none."
"But," said the deacon, disconcerted, "you
know you asked me about whether the law
could claim it."
"0 lor'! Deacon, I only asked from curi
osity." "And was that tbe reason you made the in
quiries at the bank ?"
"Certainly. What else could it be ?"
The deacon went out to the barn, and for a
botit an hour sat in silent meditation. At the
end of that time he ejaculated, as a closing
consideration, "After all, she makes good
mince-pics !"
It gives me pleasure to state that the union
between the deacon and the widow proved a
vety happy one, although to the end of his
life, he never could quite make up his mind
about "The Pot of Gold."
Oxe of the Bots. Henry Ward Beecher
was taken on a stage sleigh, from the depot in
AY , (a New England .town, where railroad
communication then ended,) to B , a place
fifty miles distant, where be was to lecture
that night. It was a warm, February day,
and the sleighing was splendid. Beecher was
on tho box beside a young driver ; the teams,
of four horses each, were perfection, and the
result was that the fifty miles were got over
in something like four hours pretty good
railroad time on some tracks. But it didn't
do the teams of horses any good ; and when,
some days after, knowledge of their condi
tion came to the proprietor of the line, he
called up that particular driver, (Sam,) and
asked how ho came to drive his horses that
day at such a rate. " Well," said Sam, "I had
one of the "boys" on the box with me he
wanted to see 'em go, and I put 'em through !"
A correspondent says, "I attended a wed
ding a few days since. Wishing to say some
thing becoming the occasion, I approached the
fair young bride in the course of the evening,
and after congratulating her on her departure
from the state of single blessedness, 1 wished
her a pleasant voyage down the river of life.
She said she hoped so, but she beard there
was a good deal of fever on the river now
she hoped they wouldn't catch it on the way
down." p
An old mine containing very rich silver ore
has been discovered in Hancock county, Ala
bama. It is on the lands of a man named
Blake, and a party of Georgians are now at
work at it. It was walled up with solid ma
sonry, which had to be broken up with pow
der, and tlien the mine was opened again. It
must have been worked hundreds of years
ago, as trees are now growing over and a
round it.
The New York Examine- sums up the re
sults of the revivals, ascertained from its cor
respondents and exchanges for the last five
weeks, as over twenty thousand conversions,
which is exclusive of the lafge number not
specified, and other large numbeis not public
ly mentioned at all.
Psyllography is the name of a new branch
of art that has receutly. acquired popularity
in Paris. It consists simply of cutting out
sheets of black paper in such a way as to make
them into a picture figures or landscapes
which has all the finish of an engraving by the
best master.
Among the -articles announced for sale at an
auction, is an article entitled a "mahogany
child's chair." The father of this wonderful
infant must have been of tbe Wood family.
During the session of a county court, a wit
ness was asked if he was not a husbandman,
when he coolly replied, amid the laughter of
the court, "No, sir, I'se not married."
A Hibernian when knocked down, exclaim
ed, 'Do you strike a man when he is down ?"
Q, no," said his anlagonist. ' "Then faith,
an' I'll lay here !" replied Pat,
John Patterson, an Albany printer Is said to
be the best mathematician ia the world. -
SKETCH OF FTAIl TERRITORY.
Utah Terfilory is a portion of what was for
merly called Upper California, and was acquir
ed by our government from Mexico in 1848,
by the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo, at the
close of the war. It is bounded on the north
by Oregon, on tho east by Kansas and Nebras
ka, on the south by New Mexico, and on the
west by California. It is included within the
parallels of 37 degs. and 42 degs. north lati
tude, and 105 degs. and 30 rain., or 106 degs.,
and 120 degs., west longitude, being about six
hundred and fifty miles long from east to west,
and three hundred and fifty miles broad from
north to south. It contains about 225,000
square miles, but the greater portion of this
extensive region is an uninhabited desert, des
titute of water, with but little vegetation, the
average elevation of the land being somewhere
between four thousand and five thousand feet
above the level of the sea.
The general face of the country is that of
an elevated table land, divided Into unequal
portions by the Sierre Madre rnoutains, the
largest portion lying to the west of them.
This section is known as tho Great Basin, and
is hemmed in by mountains on all sides. Tbe
Blue mountains of Oregon on the north, the
Wasatch mountains on the east, the Sierra Ne
vada on the west, and nameless mountains on
the south. Detached parallel mountain ran
ges, having a northerly and southerly direc
tion, again divide this section into a number
of rallies, imparting an Alpine scenery to the
landscape. The principal range is the Hum
boldt River mountains, near the centre of the
basin, elevated lrom two thousand to five thou
sand feet above tho level of the surrounding
country. The Wasatch mountains attain to an
elevation of from four thousand to seven thou
sand feet above tho neighboring valleys, and
some reach the height of perpetual snow.
As regards the climate of Utah, it has been
said that the great plateau between the Rocky
and Sierra Nevada mountains has many of the
characteristics of the great Tartar Plains of
Asia. On the mountains it is exceedingly
cold ; in the winter the snow falls to many feet
in depth, and fills up the smaller mountain
passes, but seldom lies in the vallies for more
than a few days. In midsummer it is dry and
hot, the beat ranging at midday from ninety
degrees to one hundred and five, with cool
mornings and evenings, refreshed with moun
tain breezes. AVinter commences in the first
half of November and continues until March.
The thermometer seldom falls below zero.
Seed time is from April until the 10th of June.
Harvesting commences about the 4th of July.
Spring and summer, though mild, are subject
to sudden changes, and the wind is very vari
able. Rain seldom falls between April and
October, but when heavy showers do come
they-are generally accompanied by thunder
and hail, and sometimes with very strong
winds. The lightness of the atmosphere in
Great Salt Lake Valley renders breathing a
real luxury, and the inhabitants enjoy gener
ally as good health as those of the most salu
brious climate.
The general products of Utah may be enu
merated as follows : The fine bunch grass of
perennial growth, affording fodder for cattle
during summer and winter; wheat, rye, bar
ley, oats, .buckwheat, Indian corn, beets and
garden vegetables, in which it surpasses most
countries in abundance and quality. Potatoes
are said to be much better there than in the
States. Flax and hemp do well ; the former
in some parts of the Territory, may be seen
growing wild, and is used by the Indians in
making fishing nets. Throughout the whole
Territory timber is scarce, except on the moun
tains, and is composed of pine and fir trees.
In the bottoms of the principal streams groves
of Cottonwood and box elder are found, and in
some of the vallies a scrub cedar. Indian corn
and vines are liable to be caught by early and
late frosts. A wild currant, found extensive
ly on the mountains, is equal to the cultivated
currant in the States. Much exertion has been
made by the leading men in the Territory to
establish nurseries, aultivate .orchards, raise
peaches, plums, grapes.currants, apples, straw
berries, &c, which has been followed with
considerable success.
Animals indigenous to the territory are the
antelope, elk, deer and mountain sheep, which
supply excellent meat for table use ; tho black
and grizzly bears, panthers, foxes, wolves and
wolverines, and smaller animals of prey. A
moug its feathered tribes are numerous peli
cans and gulls, blue herons, cranes and the
brandt. AVater fowl are abundant on the lakes,
some of which, with others of the feathered
tribes, are used for the table. Numerous
quantities of eggs are deposited in early sum
mer among the reeds of the marshy flats, by
the goose, the duck, tho plover and the cur
lew , and on the islands of Salt Lake, by the
pelican, gull, &c. Fine fish abound in moun
tain streams, and perch, pike, bass, chub, &c.
in the lakes and calmer currents of the plains.
In treating of the waters of the territory the
Great Salt Lake claims first attention, both
from its size and other peculiarities. This in
land sea has not inaptly been compared to the
Dead Sea of Palestine, except that it lies about
4,200 feet above the level of the sea, instead
of 1,000 feet below, as is the case with the lat
ter. It lies in a northeast direction from the
centre of the territory, and is about seventy
miles from north to south, and thirty miles
wide from east to west. The water of this
lake, is so calm that nothing can exist in it.
Persons who are engaged in salt-boiling state
that they procure two measures of salt from
three of brine. An analysis of the water made
by Dr. L. D. Gale, attached to Captain Stans
bury's expedition in 1849 and 1850, shows that
it contains full twenty per cent, of pure chlo
ride of sodium, and not more than two per
cent, of other salts, and is one of the purest
and most concentrated brines known in the
world. Its specific gravity is 1.17, but it
slightly varies with the seasons, being doubt
less affected by the immense foods of fresh
water which, In the spring, rush from the melt
ing snows in the mountains. Tbe brine is so
strong that the least part of it getting into the
eyes produces the most acuje pain, and if ac
cidentally swallowed, strangulation must en
sue. This large body of water has no ontlet,
and diminishes only by evaporation, which, in
hot weather, leaves a thick incrustation of salt
on tbe shores. Some of the salt was analyzed
by Col. Fremont, and found to contain in 100
parts 97.80 of chloride of sodium, or common
salt, 1.12 of sulphate of lime, 24 of magnesium
and 23 of sulphate of soda. Tbe lake has a
number of bays, whose shores in summer are
lined with the skeletons of larv of insects,
and the few fish that venture too far from the
mouths of tho river, and these form banks that
fester and ferment, emitting sulphurous gassos
offensive to the smell, but not supposed dele
terious to health, and these, often dispersed
by storms, are at last thrown far up the beach
to dry into hard cakes of various dimensions,
on which horses can travel without breaking
them through; the underside being moist,
the masses are slippery and insecure. The
Uake has several beautiful islands, two of which
Antelope and btansbury's rare oi consider
able magnitude, with a mountain ridge thro'
the centre two thousand feet high, and fresh
springs of water, which have caused them to
be selected by the shepherds and herdsmen
for their occupations.
About thirty-eight miles south of Great Salt
Lake is Utah Lake, connected with tho former
by the Jordon, a beautiful body of water, near
ly thirty miles long and fifteen broad, with a
smooth, uniform bottom, and a depth varying
from seven lo fifteen feet. It abounds with
suckers, salmon trout and various other kinds
ol fish, which are caught in large quantities.
On tho slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains
is pyramid Lake, so named from a rock which
rises from its midst. This lake is said by Col.
Fremont to be seven hundred feet higher than
Great Salt Lake. There are sevcial small
lakes in the interior of the basin, which re
ceive its streams, and are frequently mere
sinks or sloughs. The most important yet
known aro Nicollet or Sevier Lake, and Lake
Ashley, and Pyramid, Carson's and AValker's
Lukes, near tho eastern slope of those moun-
tains. Humboldt's Lake is about fifty miles
east of Pyramid Lake, and is formed by the
Humboldt River. These lakes have no visi
ble outlets.
The rivers of. the basin have no apparent
communication with the ocean, but either dis
charge themselves into the lakes, or are ab
sorbed by the sands of the deserts. The larg
est of these streams is the Humboldt or Ma
ry's river. It has its source in the western de
clivities of the Humboldt mountains, and
flows southwest about 300 miles to the lake of
that name. The Nicollet river rises in the
southern part of the Territory, flows north and
then west, for nearly the same distance as the
Humboldt, and empties itself into the Nicol
let Lake. Bear river, the principal tributary
of Great Salt Lake, enters the Territory from
Oregon in the northeast of the basin. Weber
river and the Timpanogas riso in the AYahsatch
mountains; the former empties into Great
Salt Lake and the latter into Lake Utah. The
Ogden is a tributary of the Weber. East of
tbe Great Basin is Green river, whose source
is in tho southeast of Oregon, and Grand river,
whose source is in the Rocky Mountains.
These two unite near the southern boundary
of Iron county, to form the Colorado, which
flows into thA Gulf of California. Before their
junction, Grand river has a course of about
300 miles, and Green river about 400 miles.
These streams, with their afllueuts, drain the
entire eastern division of Utah.
Objects of interest to tourists, espcchdly to
men of science, abound in the Territory. In
a geographical point of view, it is one of the
most interesting countries in the world. It
has all the characteristics of the Holy Land ;
its Dead Sea, its Jordan, its Sea of Gallilee,
&c. but on an infinitely larger scale, its ex
tremely mountainous character allording
scenes of the wildest and sublimest grandeur.
1 he fastnesses and gorges of the Rocky, Arah
satch, Humboldt, Sierra Nevada and other
mountains reveal scenes, as they are explored,
equal in interest to any that have yet been dis
covered by civilized" eyes. The gorges or
kanyons, some of which have perpendicular
wall's from 900 to 1,500 feet high, present
scenes of the utmost wildness. They are in
some instances nearly half a mile wide, and
in others only a few rods, which would, if
necessary, enable a handful of resolute men to
defend theiu against a host. Echo kanyon, of
which now. so much is said, is 25 miles long,
and terminates on the Weber. . -
The most remarkable object of interest in
the Territory will, perhaps, be considered the
Great Salt Lake. The salineness of its wat
ers, the fact of its having no outlet, and being
fed from another smaller and fresh water lake,
afford to the scientific abundance of material
for reflection. Pyramid Lake, embosomed in
the Sierra Nevada mountains, with its singu
lar pyramidical mount rising from its transpa
rent waters to the height of about 600 feet,
and walled in by almost perpendicular preci
pices, in some places nearly 3,000 feet high,
is said to have nothing similar to it iu the
States. The boiling springs have drawn the
attention of the scientific Col. Fremont des
cribes, them in about 11 degs. 30 ruin, west
longitude, and 30 deg. north latithde, as boil
ing up at irregular intervals with much noise.
He states that the largest basin is several hun
dred feet in circumference, and has a circular
space at one end of fifteen feet in diameter,
entirely filled with .boiling water, whose tem
perature near the edge is'200 degrees. Its
depth near the centre is more than sixteen
feet. The late Captain Gunnison, speaking of
the springs, says : At tho base of the hills a
round tho lake issue numerous warm springs,
Wiat collect in pools and smaller lakes, invit
ing aquatic fowl, during the winter, to resort
to their agreeable temperature, and where in
sect larva; furnish food at all times ; and the
soil is so heated that snow cannot lie in tbe
vicinity. In some places springs of diflercut
temperatures are in close proximity, some so
hot that the hand cannot be thrust into them
without pain ; and near the Bear is a depres
sion, in which issue three fountains between
the trata. within a space of thirty feet, of
which one is hot sulphur, the next tepid and
salt, and the uppermost, cool, delicious drink
ing water. The three currents unite, and flow
off through the plain, a large and bold river.
There are also warm breathing or gas intermit
ting fountains, chalybeate and gypsum springs
of high and low temperatures.
Of the geology and mineralogy j)f the Ter
ritory information is yet necessarily limited.
It is stated in Captain Stanbury's wort that
the specimens collected on the islands and
shores of the Great Salt Lake give a good
idea of the general geological features i. e.,
we presume of the neighborhood of the lake.
Tbe specimens referred to are metamorphic
rock, consisting of talcose and mica slates,
hornblende rocks, and a few specimens of gra
nite and sienic character. In some localities
the metamorphic strata . appear to be overlaid
by a coarse conglomerate of coarse sandstone,
partially altered, and assuming the character
of a quartz rock. The more elevated portions
of tbe shore of tbe Great Salt Lake, and the
mountain ranges consist of carboniferous lime
stone, in some places threaded by calcareous
spar. Fossils particularly corals of the cy-
athephylid, abound in the limestone, which
is said to rest on coarse sandstone. - Near the
YOL. l-W. 29.
Fort nail road from the States, trhere U Inter
sects the road to Great Salt Lake City, there
is said to be a mountain of marble of almost
every hue and color, and equal in quality to
any procured in Italy. A rich mine of coal
has been discovered in San Pete county, and,
excellent coal and iron abound in Iron county.
Other minerals of the Territory are gypsum,
or paris, alum, brimstone, and saleratus and
salt, in great quantities. There is now no
doubt of gold being In Carson county.
The Indian tribes which roam over Utah
may bo classified under two great heads--tue
Utiihs and the Shoshonec (or Snake) Diggers,
subdivided into numerous small bands with
their respective chiefs. Tbe former range
over the country south of Great Salt Lake, .
and from New Mexico to California the lat
ter over the country North of the Lake, es
pecially the vicinity of Humboldt or Mary'
river. Tho two tribes have a deep grained
grudge against each other and scarcely ever
meet without a fight. " The Utihs are united
by a common language and affinities and nu
merous intermarriages. They are a supersti
tious race, and have many cruel customs.
They have likewise many traditionary notions
of almost all prominent events in the Bible
world, snch as tbe creation, tbe flood, Elijah's
being fed by ravens, and the death and resur
rection of Christ, ice. &c. The Diggers have
made very little depredations i pan the white
settlers, while the Utahs have several times
attempted to distroy them and uproot the set
tlements. Some of the bands of the Utahs
are the Utahs proper, trow under Arabeen and
Sun-e-ette ; Yampah Utes, under White Eye ;
Timpanogos Utea, nnder Pe-teet-neet and
AYashear; Pcar-a-wats ; Pau-van-teos, nnder
Kanoshe ; Pah-Utes, and Piedes.
A JERSEY LICENSE
In that benighted territory which has been
accidentally, by some "yearthquake" thrown
up and affixed to the United States, there used
to be a law which required those about per
petrating the awful crime of matrimony to
procure a license aud pay for it.
In one of tho villages of the territory an
eccentric genius still living and reigning, of
ficiated as county clerk. The village was
quite secluded in the sand plains and the
squire pastured his cows on the broad acres
around, bringing them home at night, and let
ting them go to grass and sand in tho morn
ing. He kept a bell on one of them to help
him in finding them ; but one morning as he
was letting them loose, be perceived that tbe
clapper of the bell was lost. Being unable to
find it. he made a substitute by making fast
his office key. Not till he had reached his
office did it occur to him that he should want
the key, but now finding himself locked out,
he betook himself to other matters, proposing
to recover the key at night. About noon a
rough and ready young Jerseymaq, in dress,
came riding into town, inquired for the clerk,
scared him up, and asked for a marriage li
cense. "Soj-ry I can't accommodate you to-day,
but it's no go." .
"AVhy not 7 I'm goi'ng to be spliced to
night, and must have it whether or no."
"But the fact is," said the clerk, my of
fice is locked up, and ray cow has gone away
with the key !"
"The cow ! what does the cow want with
the key."
So the old fellow told the whole story, and
the two set off for sandy plains to find the cows
and get the key. But the more they looked
the less they found, and finally had to give it
up. A bright thought struck the clerk of the
county.
"I'll fix you out I" said he, aud young Jer- .
sey jumped a rod, so tickled was be to know
that he was to be fixed out of the fix he was
in.' They proceeded to a store close by the
office, and there the county scrilie indicted
the following autograph : Territory of New
Jersey, ss :
Toall that may see these presents, greeting :
AVhereas, I the undersigned, clerk of this
county having this morning unthoughtedlj
tied my office key as a clapper into my cow's
bell ; and whereas the said cow has gone as
stray to parts unknown bearing with her the
said key, and therefore the said key, is no
est inventus that is, can't be had : and where
as, one Abner Barnes has made application to
me for a marriage license, and that said Abner
insists that he cannot wait until the cow comes
home with the key, but is compelled by the
violence of his feelings and the arrangements
ajready made to get married : Therefore
these presents are to command any person le
gally authorized o celebrate the rites of mat
rimony, to join the said Abner Barnes to Re
becca Downs, and for doing so, this shall be
your sufficient authority.
Given und,er my hand and private seal, on
the door step of my office the seal of my of
fice being locked up and my cow having gone
off" with the key this 4tb day of October,
A. D-, 18 IIejjrt Osborx, Clerk.
n. Winter Davis, the leading American of
the South, and a man of great ability Is out
strongly and sternly against the aggressions of
the slave power. He votes presistently and
consistently with the American Republican
element in congress, no no doubt represents
in Ibis the American sentiment of the conn
try which is now satisfied that the only way to
carry out its principles effectively, is to unite
all the elements hostile to the Administration.
Av"ith such a feeling, our political future is
most encouraging.
A Lawyer Pi zziep. TheHartford (Conn.,)
Courant states that a few days since in the
course of a suit then progressing in that city,
a woman was testifying in behalf of her son.
and swore that be had worked on a farm ever
since be was born. The lawyer who cross-examined
her, said, You assert that your son
has worked on a farm ever since he was born ?"
"I do." "AYhatdid he do tbe first yearr
"He milked!" The lawyer evaporated. ,
An English Judge, in sentencing a man to
death, added, "You will now have tbe satis
faction of having yonr case transferred to the
tribunal of a higher, and. let me. add, an abler
judge." No doubt ot it.
Bayard Taylor says Sweden and the United
States will in the end, establish the fact that
lager beer is more efficacious in preventing In
temperance than any amonnt of prohibitory
law. ; '-'' ' . .
A Texas paper says that there is not ten days
supply of bread in Austin, and the roads to
the coast were impassable. - - ,
do with, it." ; . . .
a