VOL. 5. NO. 12.
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 18-58.
BY S. B. ROW.
1
5
3
Selected for the Journal.
TIKE TO ME THIS TRUTH HATH TAUGHT.
r cnARi.r.s rwaix.
Time to mo this truth hath taught,
. ("Tis a truth that's worth revealing.)
More ofiVnd from want of thought
Than from any want of feeling;
If advice we would convey,
. There's a time we nhoukl convey it.
If we're but a word to say.
There's a time in which to jay it.
Oft inlsnow5ngty the tongue
Touches on a cord so aching,
That a word or accent wrong.
Pains the heart almost to breaking;
Many a tear of wounded pride.
Many a fault of human blindness,
Has been soothed or turned aside,
Uy a quiet voice of kindness.
Many a beauteous flower decays.
Though we tend it e'er so much ;
Something secret in it preys,
Which no htimnn aid can touch.
Fo in many a lovely breast
Lies some canker grief concealed.
That if touched is more oppressed;
Left unto itself is healed !
Time to me this truth hath taught,
'Tis a truth that's worth revealing
More offend from want of thought
Than from any want of feeling.
JOHN WOLF'S WIFE.
About live years ago, John Wolfs book
keeper married a nice, pretty little girl, up in
his native village, in Vrermont, brought her
-down to New 1'ork, and started house-keep
ing in a very snug cottage, in Brooklyn. I
Mas invited to the house-warming, and a more
delightful evening does notolten checker the
dull business of life than we passed. There
were not over a dozen of us, male and female,
but we wero all old cronies, and intimate
-nuugh ti be as free and pleasant together, as
v. e would be at home.
The party broke up at twelve, and Mrs. Dick
and invselt trotted home, as well satislied with
i.iir evening's eniovment as need be.
Just one week alter that, my wife told me,
with tears in her eyes, that John AVolf's book
keeper had been quite unwell lor two days
iUi, and not an hour before, had suddenly ex
pired, while sitting by the fire-side, with
.-carcely a spasm or a pang. A disease of the
heart had carried him off thus unexpectedly,
md his wife was in terrible affliction.
I did not lose a moment in running around
to his house, and offering what little sympathi
sed assistance it was in my power to uestow
snd, of course, took upon myself to do what
cvi-r was necessary unon so sad an occasion.
The roung widow was terribly cut down, and,
At such a distance from her own friends ana
relatives, seemed more than usually forlorn.
We did nil we could to relieve her afflictions,
and. after the funeral had taken place, suc
ceeded in Oilciinz her grief to some extent.
I then took the liberty of inquiring a little
into her affairs, and discovered that my poor
friend, with a carelessness which was too char
acteristic of him, had involved himself con
tlderably in debt, to furnish his house for his
mnnff wife7? comfort, having purcnased every
Particle of their household goods upon credit.
This matter I undertook to arrange" for her
and bv troine round among the Various crcd
itors, persuaded the most of them to take their
goods back by my paying incm a 5111:111 pe
rpntace for their trouble in packing and fixing
This, however, required the outlay of a couple
of hiv.-.dred dollars : the Mineral expenses were
.unit tnindri't 1 and fiftv more, and she had not
twenty dollars in the world, toward it.
The next morning, therefore, saw me
at
John Wolfs store; lie had just returned from
a business tour, South, and was quite shocked
to hear of his book-keeper's sudden death
briefly related to Jrm the situation in which
the vnnn? wife had been left, and the arrange
nu TiH I had made with creditors, and awaited
Call as von go home this evening," said
he. "and I will attend to it. I am very busy
Tirtu 5 '
Whnn T enlled in the evening, he handed m
. lottnr fur the widow, and, begging me to le
him know if he could be of any service in the
future, he started for home, and I did likewise.
I left the letter with the widow as I went
bum, and after supper. Mrs. Dick and tnyse
walked over to see her, a little curious, I must
av, to know the contents of John Wolfs letter,
I confess 1 had never enieriamcu a ri. .
rr.l.lp f.n'nmn of John olf : he had aiwa
feemcd to mc, overbearing and proud, and
looked, I thought, as many young men do,
who have never known anything of making a
living for themselves, and Are very apt to think
that thev are made out of rather superiror stuff
to the rest of us, and must be looked up to
end smiled upon by all the rest of the world.
But I tell yon I got a new sight into the hu
man heart when I read that letter. It was,
without exception, the kindest, most
most consoling letter I ever read so full of
deep svmpathv for her sudden loss, so over
flowing with expressions of esteem and regard
for her husband, and winding up with senti
ments, so divine and heavenly a trust m an
overruling Providence, and the sweet consola
tion of religion, that I declare I could scarce
ly think the letter could have emanated from
a man so wholly engrossed in himself, as he
always seemed to be. The letter, moreover,
contained his individual check for $1000, to
meet, he said, the expenses incident to so sud
4i and unexpected a bereavement.
Well, John Wolf," said I, "after this I will
.t,cver again judge a man from appearances.
The young widow returned to her friends in
Vermont, and what followed, although I did
not get acquainted with the facts unil a very
. short time ago, I shall proceed to tell you m
the order they occurred. .
' Y7.tl.in a week or so after her arrival at her
, old home, John Wolf received a letter from
her father, returning him the thousand dollars
i.;.ii tn his daughter, with a
rwrusion of thanks for his kindness to his be
reaved daughter, and expressing a strong ac-
sircto be able to repay it uy any c
1... ; r. .; nnn., tn nprfmni in return
4. 1 t fa 1 1 . frj.vf fau j - - - . , . ,
lint UlArA xm-i a nnAfliar enclosure, whicn
. John, it seems, thought a great deal more a
' lmnt. th.m llin old nn' Htid the thousand dot
lira, nnd this was a IpHur from the VOUng wid-
. ow terself, so brimful of gratitude that he be
gan to be almost ashamed to think that no nau.
. done so little for so rich a return, and was
nflipr sorrv that he had not found time to
r.omfort her sore affliction.
I do not know exactly how it came about,
,but one letter brought on another, until a pret
ty regular correspondence sprang np between
.them. It happened, also,, mat the wiaow
father, who was a retired lawyer, living on the
frugal savings of a frugal life, was able to con
fer a very considerable favor on John Wolfs
house, by saving them from a severe loss by a
dishonest customer, who had suddenly taken
into his head, after a lifetime of honesty,
to turn rogue, sell his goods to a cash cus
tomer who presented himself just at the right
imc, and ship off to California with the pro
ceeds.
A friend of the old lawyer was employed to
draw up the bill of sale, who mentioned to
him casually, that so and so was selling out
and going to the new land of promise ; and
knowing that this individual was largely in
debted to Wolf's house, he quietlv slipped
limself off to New York, by the first stage,
without mentioning to any one but his wife
and daughter, where he was going. Arrived
n New York, he introduced himself personally
to John Wolf, and then proceeded to inform
lint of the important business which brought
him to the citv. As the rascally creditor was
expected to take the next California Steamer,
no time was lost in getting matters hxeu, ana
list as the gentleman was depositing himself,
carpet-bag and plunder, on board the steamer
or Aspinwall, he found himself rather unex
pectedly obliged to relinquish his journey and
nv a visit to John olt's store, where, alter
ay ing off his full indebtedness. he -as released
only to be carefully attended by the rest of
11s rather urgent creditors.
The whole affair proved a most successful
one, and highly creditable to all parties con
cerned, but most especially to the young
idow's lather.
For all this important service, the old lawyer
would only except his expenses from home
and back said ttic jaunt had been worth some
thing handsome to him in the excitement and
life it had given to his stagnant blood, and
would not take a cent on any account. John
Wolf managed, however, to be upsides with
him for all that. The old gentleman had hard
ly been home a week when a package arrived
by express from New York, duly addressed to
his wife, which, upon being opened, disclosed
a very handsome silver tea service, with an
accompanying letier begging her acceptance
of the same, as a mark of respect and distin
guished service rendered to sundry firms whose
names were all attached, headed ot course by
the respected and respectable house of Wolf,
W aterhouse & Co.
Things went on so for about two rears, per
haps a letter passing between the parties about
once a month, and John Wolf and the young
widow almost liegan courting by letter, with
out either one having yet seen the other.
At last, one warm July, business being some
what slack. John Wolf took 1 trip to the White
Mountains for a week or two, and while there,
became acquainted, as traveling bachelors
will, with a party ot tive young folks three
ladies and two gentlemen.
The two oMest couple were men ami wives,
not a very long time past their honeymoon;
the third lady was called cousin Jane, and like
many other cousins wo can all romemiier. was
about one of the liveliest, most piquant nine
creatures you ever saw. Dark, sparkling eyes
that seemed to dance and laugh ail the time
above tho most blooming cheeks, and darling-
est little nose, and sweetest mouth, and round
est chin that ever belonged to a bewitching
woman.
John was quite smitten ; lie danced with
her at the evening ball ; he rle with her up
the steep mountain iaths: he went fishing
for brook trout, and nothing delighted him
more than, when they came into a deeper pool
or more rugged path than common, to lift tne
little thing, in his great brawuy anus,and car
rv her like a child
For three davs and nights, John Wolf was
ina paradise; on the fourth morning he woke
up aud found his happiness gone ; a letter had
been left on his dressing table, stating that the
Pinkertons the name ot his new friends had
been obliged to depart by the stage, at an ear
lv hour in the morning, having received news
sudden illness In their family : should be
mni b.innv to renew acquaintance with him
- --1 i .
at a future day. fcc, &c.
Our friend John had a great mild to start
off for New York, perfectly disgusted with the
whole world : but as one of bis purposes in
coming East, was to pay a long-promised and
often desired visit to the young widow's family
in Vermont, he felt rather jashamed to back
out of his determination, although, all ot a
sudden, the long cherished wish to make her
oersonal acauaintance bad vanished, lor a
certain Jane Pinkerton. as he called her, had
played the very dickens with the platonic af
fection he had been secretly noui isiunjj
flw hist, two vears.
John Wolf was received witn nigu grauuca
tinn hv tlu nhl lawver and his wife, when he
v . J ----- - .
presented himself at their house. If he 1
Immmi the I'resideni nimseii, mev iuu
ly hae been prouder to receive him as a guest
fUin fimv nvm to welcome John Wolf. Tho
ds.ntri.tnr. however, was absent when he arnv
cd, but a message was sent ott to ner uy i.ie
O , ... , 1 . iL .
old ladv, and it was not long before snc maue
lir nnrniilrflncft.
You mav cucss the surprise of our friend
John, when the young widow arrived, for there
stood welcoming him, witn tier dancing cj
nd luaminr smile, no other than ins 1 airy
friend ot tho hite Mountains, Jane 1 inker-
ton as lie called her, because she was with her
i-;..,i. th Pinke-tons. and she. the laughing
lliwmw - I
. 1. . 1. . t. ... I... 1 o nimo Wfll
n llllllir 1 Kill . 1 1 f IV 1JV Hid UUIIIU
enough who he wai, had never revealed her
self to him as his loving correspondent, Jane
Willonirhbv. The women naturally Jove a
little niytery, and so she kept her own secret,
in order to have the pleasure 01 su. (n .;...
him when ho should visit her tamers nouse
according to promise.
John Wolf was a happy man that evening,
as he sat at tea, where the nauasome mici
service was duly displayed in ins nonor ; ami
-;iu7 ni nn hannv as he was, I
lllO JUUlIp ,1 n J - I I -
miH thn f.kther and mother were run
ning over with gratified pride, as they did the
r Himr humble home to the young
Vow York merchant, who had shown himself
such a true gentleman in all their intercourse
with him.
a ..lioht rnl eveniuir was passed by all par
tics: and when John Wolf was ushered by
i.i io.lv to the state bed-room, and had
laid himself between the whi test pair of sheets
tht was ever Weacneu on unuwn oi.v, u
ort full of pleasant fancies and joyous
w . i,.f , nld not go to sleep for hours
ui, toward morning ho dozed off; and,
"rT, no.h times, his day-dreams
turned themselves into night-dreams, and he
l.lV:.if in travelling by tho rugged
,th of the White Mountains, with laughing
Jane Ptnkerton at his side, joking and joying
together, lifting her sometimes over some
rough obstacle in the path, and then again
fairly carrving her across some big dritt of
snow which the summer sun had not been a
ble to penetrate near enough to wake up ; and
bo on and on, until wearied out they stood to
gaze upon the magnificent prospect below and
around them. Suddenly, John thought he
was on his knees before her, pouring out a
torrent of passionate words, declaring that
life and hope, and happiness dwelt where, &c.,
fee, when, before he could get an answer or
know whether the dear girl smiled or frowned,
behold he woke np. Ho was dreadtntiy mor
tified at first, but presently recollecting where
he was, and seeing it was broad daylight he
jumps out of bed, makes bis morning ablu
tions, and dresses himself in great haste, de
termined to wait no longer for an answer than
would take hira to find the object of his dream.
Down stairs he goes and Into the parlor, she
is not there looks into the garden, but aoes
not see her, when, suddenly, bethinking such
a notable little dame might be a good house
wife, he starts for the kitchen where.forsooth,
he finds her singing like a bird, elbow deep in
the bread trough, kneading away for dear life.
Jonn's heavv tread betrayed tho intruder-
she looked up.
"Do you want to know how to make Johnny
cake. Mr. Wolf V she exclaimed merrily.
"No," said he, rather seriously, for, like a
man ofjdeep and earnest feelings as he was, lie
felt that he approached a crisis in ins io
"no. I do not mv Johnny cake is mixed al
ready I only want to know whether I can get
it."
The widow did not know what to make of it.
"Well," said she, "I do not know any rea-
son whv vou should not."
"That," replied John, "is what I want 10
find out ; and ns you know, my dear friend,
that two heads are better than one, I have
come to consult vou about it."
So, to make the matter plain fo her, he re
lated his dream to its termination.
"And now, Jane," said he. "I am here for
an answer. W ill you De my jounny caue 1
1 es or no."
Jane had held her head down while he spoke,
blushing celestial rosy red as is quite proper,
I believe, on such occasions, liut jane s was
... . 1 1 1 1
an earnest nature HKewise, ana an inmost aim
fun had vanished when, looking up to him, her
bright eves brimming full of joyous tears, she
irave Iiim i 11st one of the sweetest kisses lie
ever had in his life.
"For ever and ever!" sheened; "forever
and ever. John, if yon will have mc-"
Just at this instant, the old lady motner
stepped into the kitchen, and brought them
both to their senses by exciarning
"Whv. Jane!"
"O, mother, mother," said Jane' "I am so
happy !" and she lelt John to embrace her
mother. "He asked me to be his wife, moth--r;
five nie iov I am to be John Wolfs
wife !"
There were iollv times, to bo sure, m the
old lawver's house, that week, and when John
Wolf carried oil his little wife to New lork,
there was the merriest wedding party in that
village that ever drove dull care out of doors.
"Put her Through."
A trentleman had occasien to send his little
dmifrhter m to the garret for some articles
which he wanted. 1 he cnua soon reiunitm
n ' . . ., , . j
crving; and upon being asked what was the
trouble, replied, "that the snow had silted m
upon the garret stairs, and she nad Slipped
. ..... 1
down and hurt herself.
Well, did vou get what I told you 7" in
quired the father.
She replied that she nan not.
"Well, then," he exclaimed, starting up
"I'il iro : I uuess I am t afraid of a little snow.
After he had cone, the child observed that
she hoped papa would fall, just a little, to pay
him for laughing at her.
Soon aftcrwards.a distinct bumping and ron
ing was heard, accompanied with the sound of
Kiim.ressnd wrath. 1 he luninv nsreneu wmi
awakened interest, but the object 01 ineir so
I r - . - .
licitude was heard above whistling quite sober-
lv. as though nothing had happened.
He crossed two rooms above, and as lie ap
proached the head of tho stairs, thundered out
"Open the chamber door ! exi you Know,
you'll have nie tumble down here and break
Inv neck. It is so very dark now " but the
sentence was never finished.
Trip went his heels, and rolling, thumping
nnd swpiirin"'. ho sprawled his six feet of
length upon the kitchen floor, where he was
ted with bursts of merriment from the
collected family. He lay quite still for a mo
mcnt. At last he shouted out :
, "Open the cellar door, I may as well put her
through, clear to the bottom."
Virtues of Milk.
It is a most perfect diet. Nothing like it
it contains curd which is necessary for the
development and formation of muscle butter
for the production of an adequate suppiy 01
a
fut . cnnMr to f.ied the respiration, and tnereoy
adf warmth to the bodv : the phosphates of
lime and magnesia, the peroxide of iron, the
chlorides of potassium and soda, with the free
soda, reauired to give solidity and strength
to the bone together with the saline particles
so essentially necessary for otner parts 01 tne
bodv. It contains the lactic acid, or the acid
of the gastric juice, so requisite for the proper
dissolving of our food in the stomach. It is,
therefore, obvious that mine snouiu oe cneini-
cally correct in all its constituents and snouid
not be neutralized by adulteration, "it is,
Dr. Prout properly states, "the true types ot
food." How necessary, therefore, it is that
it should lo pure ; otherwise this wonderful
and wise provision of providence would bo a
curse rather than a blessing.
Fast Riding. An Englishman boasting of
the superiority of tho horses ot his country,
mentioned that ' the ceienraiea race
called Eclipse had run a mile in one minute.
"Why, my good fellow," exclaimed an Amer
ican present, "that is rather less than the aver
age rate of our common roaasiers.
my country seat near FhiUvysipnia, . wu.-u
I ride in a hurry to town w -
. . ;th hut ren-
own shadow can nwep oK V , r
erally comes into the store to -
minute to a minote and a nan " ";"'
Arnimr the beast was restless, and I rode
i;nc jnvji 1. o
u:m hard s 1 COUld several liuiea Hiraua
large factory, just to take the old harry out of
him. Well, eir. he went so fast that I saw my
own back directly before mo ; ana 1 was wiw
In danger of riding over my sen. .
SIGHTS IS PARIS.
John Matthews, writing to the N. Y. Scalpel,
gives some vivid pictures 01 x-arisian me,
from which we make a tew extracts :
The shops of Paris, for the sale of fancy ar
ticles and every variety of alimentary pro
duce, exceed in variety of contents any simi
lar establishments in the world. A. lamny can
buy at one of these establishments, a complete
dinner, ready for the table, including every
thing from a pickle to a roast turkey, in tne
pastry shops, which are separate establish
ments from those retailing confectionery or
bread, the nnmber of cakes Is almost infinite.
1 was astonished to see the operation of cook
ing poultry carried on in shops open to the
street, where the public who were curious
could have a fair chance to see the mystery.
The novel manner of cooking the birds, was
indeed well worthy of a moment's inspection ;
the cooks, who were dressed in snow-white
caps and aprons, presided over a large pan of
boiling tat in which they Jried the poultry, in
the same manner that doughnuts are cooked
at home. The baking of cakes, the frying of
potatoes, and the manufacture of confection
ery r may here be seen accomplished in the
streets by numbers of itinerant cooks. Some
of the female cooks are conspicuous for their
lingo caps of muslin, several feet in height,
which are furnished with white wings stiffened
with wires.
Nearly all the boot-blaeks here are men ; I
havo not yet seen a boy at this occupation.
Contrary to the custom in London and New
lork, neither this class nor the hack-drivers
solicit customers. Several women who black
boots havo their stations on the bridges. On
the first week ot my arrival I saw a woman
stop and have her boots blacked at one of their
establishments, and it seemed to attract no
notice.
During my search for rooms, I saw several
of the largo hall-doors of dwellings draped
with black ; in the hall was a bier covered with
a pall by which stood lighted caudles and a ba
sin of holy water; all tho passers-by in the
street raised their hats as they passed, and
many entered to sprinkle holy water on the
bier and utter a short prayer for the soul of
the departed.
I was passing up the it tie itivienne witn a
young friend, when, set ing the crowds which
pressed thro' the narrow gates of the Bourse,
he proposed to enter and get a sight of the
moneyed men of Paris, to which I agreed ; so
we each paid the franc demanded ai me gie
and passed in with the crowd. As we entered
the tine hall, the yells of five hundred voices
sainted our ears, and for a moment we were
stunned and confused with the incessant din
which was kept up. At first we thought it
mnst be some extraordinary occasion, but
found it was only an ordinary business day.
Within a railing moved about twenty members,
attended by a number of police, who in a dis
ordered manner carried messages to and from
the persons who were crowded on the outside
of the railing. The extravagant gestures and
grimaces in which these persons indulged, ror
vivacity and intensity threw oven the contor
tions of the inhabitants of the wire cage in
the Jardin des Plants, in the shade. These
excited beings, bulls, bears, rstock-gamblers
and brokers some pale with anxiety, otners
flushed w ith excitement, were continually yel
ling as loud as possible, and exhibited in their
faces all tho worst passions whicn agitate tne
human soul. I have yet seen no place where
the anatomy of expression could be studied to
such advantage. It Is little wonder that women
should be excluded from such a scene ; a par
ticipation iu its excitement could scarcely fail
to deprive anv woman who possessed any iem
inine qualities, or retained any of the sensi
tiveness of the sex, of reason, and to create a
frenzy by which I am sure many of the indi
viduals we saw at the great gamming-nouse
would not obiect to profit. We both shouted
as loudly as we could, but the confusion was
so great that our voices were lost amid tho
prices, fractions, and units of the boisterous
and excited crowd.
I attended the balls at the Grand Opera du
ring the Carnival, on Mardl and Jendi Gras.
On the former occasion it was a 11111 dress as
sembly for men, and masks and dominoes for
women. On the latter occasion, fancy cos
tumes were permitted. The freedom practised
on thesrt occasions would astonish any one who
had been accustomed to the frigid atmosphere
of a New-York ball room ; and the converse
tion if the women would shock a person who
expected to find the same propriety as is usual
in the higher class balls in America. The wo
men were better dressed than at St. Barthelmy
or the Prado, but" their virtue appeared to bo
worth only fifty francs more than at the balls
of the grisettes and students. The spasmodic
motions, the contortions and grimace, togeth
er with the gymnastics introduced in thodance.
were at times carried to such an extent as to
inrlncff a spectator to imagine they had lost
their reason : even decency was at times for
gotten, and more than oncethe police, who
are present at all the balls in large numbers.
were obliged to remind the forgetful panics
Hit ther were in a public assembly. . . . No
formalities were indulged in : any lady, how
ever elegantly attired, appeared to consider as
a eomnl ment the remarks any stranger nngu
be pleased to make; An introduction was not
at all necessary to obtain a partner for. the
dance.
It was mv good fortune while in Paris, to at
tend a fancv dress ball at which children alone
participated in the pleasure of the dance
, ,
have rarely looked npon a more lairyime
scene, when the hundreds of tiny feet beat 1
innocent accord to the music at the theatre of
the Port St. Martin. The ball was held in tho
davtime. and concluded before six o clock
Tin r.ostnmea exhibited were numerous and
rie.hlv varied. One of the most amusing fea
tures was a distribution of confectionery and
bon bons, which produced the wildest confu
sion among tho little dancers. Soon, stately
knights of tho olden time, incipient Charle
niagnes, and jewelled queens might be seen,
sucking away on a stick of candy with as much
interest as the persons they represented ever
took in the most urgent affairs of state.
If a stranger should stroll through Paris, I
think he could not fail to conclude that it was
a city where sensual pleasure had built her
restand that all that is great and good was
too often sacrificed to it. Modesty is appa
rently banished. . . lie will notice the absence
of the higher qsalities in the faces of the men.
Voluptuousness, degenerating into bestiality,
is tho predominant expression on the faces of
the crowd . . The number of illegitimate con
nections here is astonishing. Since I na
been id Paris I Jure known several instances
where three persons have lived together in
this relationship. One married woman told
me it was a very agreeable kind of housekeep
ing. Great numbers of married women have
their iovers, and by some it is considered a
testimony of their value. Most of the light
literature here tehds to increase this state of
thiags. The heroes and heroines generally
scoff' at marriage, and offer a thousand sophis
tries to excuse any violation of its bonds. Of
course this state of things is attended with its
punishment. Exhaustion and disease conse
quent upon these excesses already prevent any
increase of the population. London, with all
its external vice, is pure and virtuous when
compared with glittering Paris.
Do yon imagine that Sunday in Taris is a
day of rest, of quietness, and repose T If you
do, you are mistaken. Paris, on Sunday, re
joices, perhaps, more in life and gayety than
on any other day of the week. Crowds of
workmen in their white blouses, which, altho'
they may be old, are neatly mended and scru
pulously clean, form a larger portion of the
busy throng which couises through tne sireeis,
which throng the Boulevards, and fill the mu
seums of the Louvre m the day-time and the
theatres at night. Some of their brethren do
not even make it a holiday, for the building of
houses proceeds, and even many public works,
such as the repairs and alteration of bridges,
go on without attracting any special attention.
Go to the Janlin des Plauts and look at the
laughing crowd around the monkey-cage, more
interesting to them than all the osteological
and fossil specimens in the wonderful collec
tion of Cuvier or Buflbn ; stand by the wagons
of the mountebank who, dressed in a glitter
ing helmet and spingled dress, sells crayons,
or cures the toothache gratis to sell his crim
son mixture for ten cents a bottle to the crowd.
His servant on the summit of Ins wagon,
dressed like one of the warrior supes at a
country theatre, grinds out dolorous music to
fill up a hiatus in tho speech of his master,
whenever it occurs. Watch in the evening
the theatres, (covered with tragic painting, to
tell of the interior horrors on which tho audi
ence may regale,) which are improvised at the
open spaces near the Canal St. Martin or the
Pont St. Michel. See how tne crowus now in
n fill im nit. box. and callcrv at prices from
five to ten sous, or walk to the more pretend-
ng establishments where vice is tricucd np in
its most attractive forms, and seduction and a
dultery are performed to applauding specta
tors. When yon nave seen mese iinngs, you
will think that Paris is not a godly city.
ONE OF TIIE TIMBER OPERATIONS.
WASuisoros. October 9. 188. According
to the accounts which have reached this place,
your "Democratic" State Central Committee
must have had a lively time at the ot. i icno-
Ias on Wednesday last. An attempt on tno
part of Mr. Buchanan to, reward one ot his po
litical friends for financial services renuereu
in Pennsylvania in the Presidential campaign
of 185G. bv giving him, against the establish
ed rules of the Navy Department, contracts to
supply a quantity of live oak timber, was the
subject of discussion, and was censured in the
strongest terms ; and it was agreed upon that
certain gentlemen should visitWashington,and
wait upon the President and secretary 01 tne
Navy, and demand an explanation, inasmuch
as parties from New York and Maine, who fair
ly and legally obtained the contracts to mrnisn
the timber, by bids under the proposals issued
by the thief of the bureau ot construction,
have been unceremoniously set aside 10 give
place to Mr. Buchanan's favorite. The New
York and Maine contractors were the lowest
bidders, while Mr. Buchanan's friend was the
highest bidder. The fact alone is considered
sufficient to warrant an investigation into the
sublet. Tho details are as follows, and not
without interest, especially to those who are
ignorant of the modus operandi of President
making :
During the Presidential campaign of 1S-V5,
a gentleman from Massachusetts, heretofore
unknown in the political world, entered the
contest in Pennsylvania, in favor of Mr. Bu
chanan. He was actuated, it was said, by "pure j
and patriotic motives." He contributed lib
erally, very liberally for a disinterested per
son, as he was declared to be. He soon became
popular with the leading "Democrats" of the
State. He frequented Wheatland as the guest
of Mr. Buchanan. After, however, realizing
his hopes in Mr. Buchanan's election, it was
observed that he frequented Wheatland less
and Washington more.
Within one month after the inauguration of
Mr. Buchanan, we find him in the Navy De
partment, with a schedule of dimensions of
live oak, which lie offered to sell to the Gov
ernment, amounting to one hundred and fifty
thousand cubic feet. Ho procured an intro
duction from Mr. Buchanan to the Secretary
of the Navy, also to the Chief of the Bureau
of Construction. The latter officer deciding
favorably to the purchase of the timber, the
Secretary of the Navy was about to seal the
contract, when he was informed that he could
not legally buy on open purchase unless the
timber was wanted for immediate use. Such
was not the fact, the timber was not wanted.
To advertise for sealed proposals would pro
voke competition, and perhaps defeat the sale,
as other parties, with less patriotism,' might
have the audacity to bid for tho contract. Ad
vertising, however, was finally resorted to as
the only means of settling the matter; but the
advertisement, singular to say, described al
most exactly the kind of timber wfticn Ifte con
ti actor offered the Government at prirate tale!
The time for receiving proposals expired, and
after an unusual delay, for some unexplained
reason, tho President s Massachusetts friend
and supporter was declared successful, and the
contracts were made with him, dated. July 1,
1857, for 150,000 cubic feet of live oak, at pn
ces ranging from SI 25 to $1 75 per cubic foot,
amounting to $225,840, and on the 30th ot tne
same month, without advertisement or chance of
competition, another contract was made with
him for an additional quantity, at prices rang
ing frm $1 50 to $2 per cubic foot. The time
allowed for the delivery of this timber extends
to July 1st 1853 two years iroiu mo
the contract. Contrast this fact with another
about to bo stated. The contractor proceeded
at once to fit out an expedition to procure tbe
timber which be had previously represented
on paper as already cut. In the Spring of the
present year he commenced delivering the
timber, when he was notified that the timber
he was delivering did not answer the descrip
tion advertised for and which he contracted to
furnish. This condemned timber, however,
was allowed to remain in the yard, when, to the
utter astonishment of ereiy one acquainted
with the business, an advertisement appeared
under date of June 14, 1858, for sealed propo
sals for live oak, describing this very turpi
condemned timber which our patriot had left
upon his hands. On the 14th of July, the day
w hen the bids were opened it was discovered,
that other gentlemen a ere bidders, and at low
er rates than the Massachusetts man. The un
precedented short time fixed npon in the pro
posal of the Chief of the Bureau or Construc
tion for supplying the timber only from the
14th of July to the 1st of September was
thought sufficient to stave off any competitors.
A way was discovered by which the time could
be made still shorter, which would compel the
lowest bidders to be ruled out for want of time
to deliver the timber and thus fnlfll their con
tracts. This was done by a refusal to notify
the tucccstful bidders of the acceptance of their
offers until about the 11th of .liigvst, instead of
giving tbe notice on the 15th of July within,
twenty-four hours after tbe bids were opened,
according to the usual practice. This man
agement shortened the time one month, leav
ing only about sixtetu any to cut and aenver
12,000 cubic feet of live-oak timber! forth
accomplishment of which from one to three
years is usually given. This is the record.
Comment upon it is unnecessary. Suffice it
to say, that when the 1st ot September arrived
the successf ul bidders, ot course, failed to de
liver the full quota ot timber required, altho
nearly all of it had been delivered, some of
the parties having had the material on hand.
Promptly to an hour, on the 1st of September,
the Chief of the Bureau of Construction ad
vised them in the following language : "That
as you have not complied with the terms of
your contract for live oak, a new one has been
made with other parties." This was the first
official information which any of the contrac
tors received a course without precedent,
and adopted for the benefit of a delinquent
upon the terms of his contract under the pro
posals of 1857. Yet this individual, who gave
about $15,000 to aid the election of Mr. Bu
chanan, is the "other parties" alluded to in
the note of the Chief ot the Bureau.
There is another fact connected with this af
fair quite as surprising as any related above.
It is that the lice oak advertised for in the pro
posal of June 1858, was not wanted in tbe na
val yards of the United States, either for im
mediate or prospective nse, as it is a well
known fact that the sloops of war ordered by
the last session of Congress, are now construc
ted of white oak ; which our patriot agreed to
furnish under the proposal of May, 1857, is not
all delivered yet ; but such quantity as baa
been delivered is placed away in the sheds,
subject to decay, and cannot be used until de
manded by some future action of Congress.
It is impossible to state precisely the total
amount that this contractor has been aid bj
the Government for timber condemned, re
ceived and not received, but I presume the
different sums which he has received will not
differ much from his offers. Upon that basis
his new contract, which he will fulfil with Ins
condemned surplus timber in the yards, will
amount to $195,000. The contract of Jnly 1st
will reach $225,840, making $420,840. Be
sides, he obtained a contract -without advertis
ing or competition, for supplying the Brooklyn
Yard with timber at S2 per cubic foot, which
will amount to $25,000 mor?, making a total
on face of contracts of $44.i,&iO. This entire
expenditure, it can hardly be doubted, was
made for a single article not wanted, and for
tho purpose of reimbursing a politician who
risked a few thousand dollars to elect Mr. Bu
chanan. Cor. of X. Y. Evening Post.
Agricultural Science.
The labors of chemists to discovsr positive
ly all the causes of the fertility of soils have
not yet met with conclusive success. Tho
mechanical structure of soil is of primary im
portance. Naked rock crows lichen the
same rock crushed into coarse grains, grows
a much higher order of vegetable pulverized
fine, the cereals grow in it. ; Geology, chem
istry, botany, physiology, meteorology, me
chanics, hydrodynamics, heat, light and elec
tricity, are all intimately combined in the
grand process vegetation. There are sandy-
soils in onr Eastern States, which, without,
roannre, yield meagre crops of rye and buck
wheat ; but there are sandy soils in Ohio,
which, without manure, yield on an average
eighty bushels of Indian corn an acre, and
have yielded it for twentj to nny years in un
broken succession, the ingredients of tneso
soils being, by chemical analysis, the came.
At present no dtfference is known between
them, except the coarseness of the particles
the first being coarse, while the unio Sana IS
an exceedingly fine powder. The power of
soils to attract and imbibe moisture and oxy.
gen was well shown by Schnbler, of lloflen,
40 years ago. Of 13 different soils qnartr
sand absorbed in thirty days over 1-1000 parts
of oxygen and no moist re, while humus ab
sorbed 13 of oxygen and 120 of moisture,
SciEXTirrc The usually grare and discreet
Scientific .imerican of last week opens Its edi
torial page with a notice of tbe latest new idea
for preventing tbe sad effects of collision on
railroads, which is to have a track laid across
the tops of the cars, with inclined tracks npoa
long cow-catchers placed at the front and rear
of the train. The approaching train upon the
same track, moving in whichever direction,
instead of coming in collision, would ron up
the inclined tracks, pass safely over the top,
or the cars that stood in the way, and dowa
upon the main track in the twinkling of an eyfc;
Neither tbe inventer nor the Scientific imtri
can informs us what would be the consequence
of a collision between two approaching trains,
each having the "new idea" attached ; we ar
left to speculate which would go over, or
which would go under, or w hetber they would
not both go over, and under, and through, aoxi
every other way. - j . .
AnorT Giris. The kest thing abontagnl
mm 1ST A S B'
is cheerrumess. w e aon i care now rnaay
her cheeks may be, or how Telvety her lips, if
she wears a scowl, even her friends will con
sider her ill-looking 1 while the young lady
who illuminates her countenance with smiles,
will be regarded as handsome, though her
complexion is coarse enough to grate nutmegs
on. As perfume is to tbe rose, o is good na
ture to the lovely. Girls,' think of this. ,
Gamk. The Pern (Ind.) Republican reports
a huge squirrel hunt at that place a tew days,
ago, in which two parties of six killed exact
ly three hundred squirrels each. That sort of
gams must be abundant out there.- Wild tur
keys, too, are said W be rather "omneroua. :
i