im Mi IB a IB I II Bf W a. SM M I IB It II ,B Bl :b Bl Jk.
BY S. B. KOV.
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1858.
VOL. 5 AT0. 14.-
GOING UP AND COMING DOWN.
This is a siinplo song, 'tis true, ..
And songs liko these are never nice ;
Ami yet we'll try and scatter through
A pinch or two of good advice.
Then listen, pompous friends, and loarn
Uerer to boast of much renown ;
Tor fortune s wheel is on the turn,
And some go up. and some come down.
IV e know a rast amount of stocks
A vast amount of pride insure?;
But fate has picked so many locks.
Wo wouldn't like to warrant your.
'Remember, then, and never spurn
The one whose hand is hard and brown,
For he is likely to go up.
And you are likely to come down.
Another thing you will agree,
(The truth may be as well confessed )
That -Codfish Aristocracy"
Is but a truly thing at best ;
And though the fishes large and strong
May seek the little ones to drown,
Yet fishes all, both great and small.
Are going up and coming down.
Our lives are full of chance and chango,
And chance you know, is never Dure ;
And 'torero a doctrine now and strange
That places high are most secure.
And though the fickle Hod may smile.
And yield the sceptre and the crown,
'Tis only for a little while ;
Then iJ goes up and A comes down.
This world for you and me my friend.
Hath something more than pounds and ponce;
Then let mo humbly recommend
A little u.ie of common sense.
Thus lay ell pride of place aside.
And bare a care on whom you frown,
For fear you'll see him go up hifctt.
When you are only coming down.
THE SURGEON'S KEVENGE.
The following dot-ply interesting story was
related by Dr. Gibson, in one of his lectures
tietoro tins medical class of the University ot
Pennsylvania. The hero of the story is Vesale,
one of the most eminent of Italian surgeons.
Audrew Vesale first saw a light in tho city
of Brussels. His father was ac apothecary,
attached to the servico of tho Princes Mar
garet, aunt of Charles V., and governess of
tho low countries.
Up to the period when Voss'e fi-st rendered
himself conspicuous, the anatomy ol tlm"hu
man body was so imperfectly understood as
scarcely to merit that the terms of science
should bn applied to the dim and confused
Ideas relating to it. Vesale was the lirst to
break through the trammels with which ig
norance and bigotry had crippled thi march of
.nrjj-nee ; surmounting with admirable courage
and constancy the disgust, the terror and the
peril inseperable from this discription of tho
l.bor in which bo had devoted himself, he was
to be seen whole days and nights in thu ceme
teries, surrounded by the festering remains of
mortality, or hovering about the gibbets, and
disputiug with the vulture lor its prey, in or
der to compose a perfect skeleton from the re
mains of executed criminals, left thetc by the
carrion bird.
Jt was during a sojourn at Basic, after his
return from Italy, that Vesale first beheld at
the house of Hans Holbien, the painter, Isa
bella Von Stauwrak, the daughter of a mer
chant at Harl.iem, who was destined to exer
cise some influence over his future life. He
was scarcely twenty eight yoars of age, and
already he had attained tho summit of well
directed ambition.
The family of Van Stanwark, was a wealthy
'and honorable one, far superior to that ot
Vesale in birth and fortune; but the distin
guished position the latter had acquired for
himself, entitled him to aspire to an alliance
even more exalted. The son of the Princess
Margaret's apothecary would havo been reject
ed by the rich ilarlaem burgher, but as the
emperor's first physician, was accepted by
Jiiru as the most eligible son-in-law. The mar
riago solemnized, Vesale, accompanied by
his young bride, set off for Seville, where
Charles then held bis court.
Though she loved her husband, there was
8o much awe mingled with her affection as to
throw an appearance of restraint over her
demeanor towards him, even in the privacy of
domestic life. The very nature of his pro
fession and occupation was calculated to in
crease that awe, and even to create some de
gree of repugnance in a shrinking mind, which
nothing but strong affection could overcome.
Isabella's nature required skillful drawing out
and tender fostering. Vesale, unfortunately,
mistook her timidity for coldness, and resent
ed it accordingly ; this led to estrangement
on her part, which he attributed to dislike ;
Jealous distrust at last took possession of his
soul.
Vesale's house became the resort of all
that was noble and gallant in Seville, and he
for a timo believed his own scientific conver
sation to be the attraction. At tirst the young
wife shoned her usual cslm indifference to the
admiration that followed wherever she was
seen ; but, at last something in her manner
and countenance, whenever ono particular
person appeared, or his name was mentioned,
betrayed that there did exist a being ho had
covered the secret for .-causing the blood to
Yow more tumulttiously through her veins.
-That person was Don Alva de Soils ; and as he
.'was young, handsome, gay, and the most in
constant gallant in Seville, the suspicions of
'"Vesale were painfully aroused. He took si
lent note of tho unusual emotions that agita
ted Isabella whenever the nobleman was in
bcr presence.
The general conduct of Don Alva was cal
culated to baflle suspicion, being marked by
indifference. This would have misled the
vigilant husband, had he not on ono occasion
.when bis back was turned toward Don Alva,
perceived him in an opposite mirror, fix his
kindling eyes upon Isabella with an expres
sion not to be mistaken, while she grew red
and pale by turns, and then, as though unable
to surmount bcr agitation, rose and left tho
room. Shortly afterwards Vesale received an
anonymous note, sayiDg
"Look to yonr wife and Don Alva de Sons,
and be not deceived by appearances. They
only want a fitting opportunity to dishonor
you. Even now he carries about him the
gloves she dropped for him at mass."
Vesale shut himself up to ponder over the
most effectual means of avenging himself.
His resolution was soon taken. Having estab
lished schools of anatomy at San Lucar and
Cordova, he obtained the Emperor's permis
sion to visit them, quitted Seville ostensibly
for that purpose, but returning the same night
concealed himself in a tenement belonging to
him at some distance from bis abode in Alca
ar, which was devoted to the double purpose
of a laboratory and dissecting room. He had
taken no person into his coufidencc j he was
alone in his own counsel.
At dark on the following evening he issued
forth, muffled to the eyes in a woman's mantle
and hood, and left a note at Don Alva's habi
tation, containing an embroidered glove of
Isabella's and these words
"I have obtained the key to Vesale's labora
tory during his absence; be at the gate an
hour after midnight, and you will be admitted
on pronouncing the name of Isabella."
The assignation was promptly kept by Don
Alva. At an hour past midnight he left his
bouse alone ; but he never returned to it.
Whither he had gone none could say ; nor
could any trace of him be discovered. It wis
supposed he must have missed his footing and
fallen into tho Guadalquiver, near which his
abode was situated ; and that his body had
been swept away by the waves into the ocean.
Such an occurrence was calculated to pro
duce a great sensation in the place where it
happened ; and Vesale, recalled three weeks
after by the illness of his wife, found the dis
appearance of Don Alva the themo of every
tongue. Ihealterea appearance of Isabella
was attributed by Vesale to grief for the mys
terious absence of Don Alva, and that convic
tion took from him all pity for her sufferings.
It chanced to be the festival of Santa Isa
bella, and to fconor her patron saint, as well as
to celebrate the return ot her husband, Isabel
la put on her wedding dress, and seating her
self by an open casement that overlooked the
Alva gardens, she watched for his coming.
But whilst her eyes were vainly fixed upon the
path by which she expected him to appear, a
hand was laid on her shoulder, and turning
round she beheld Vesale standing beside her.
"I have ordered the supper to be laid in my
study," said he ; and taking her hand, he led
her away to tho room iu question, dismissed
the attendaut and closed the door. Every
thing wore a festive air; yet the repast was
cheerless. Perceiving that she had tasted
nothing, Vesale poured a few drops of elixir
in a cup of Malaga wine, aud presenting it to
her :
"Drink this," he said,"it is a sovereign cure
for tho disease you are sullering from."
"Pledge me the draught," she replied, fill
ing up a goblet from tho same Ha.sk, and hand
ing it to him, "and it will bring a quicker
healing to me. Let us driuk to our absent
f riend Andre."
Vesale accepted the offering, and they emp
tied their goblets together.
"Talking of absent friends," said he, and
suddenly fixing his eyes upon her, "you have
not spoken to me of Don Alva dc Sobs. Are
all hopes of hearing from him relinquished J
He was a braggart and a libertine, and boasted
that no woman ever resisted his reductions,
that no husband ever suspected the injury he
was preparing for him."
Then grasping his wife by the hand, he led
her up to tho door at t'i farther end of the
room, and throwing the door wide, open, re
vealed to her view a skeleton, susjeiided with
in, holding in one of his bony hands one of
her embroidered gloves.
"Behold," he said pointing to the ghastly
spectacle, "the gallant and beautiful Don Alva
do Solis, the object ot your guilty love con
template him well, if the sight can render your
few moments any happier, for you are about
to join him in another world the wine I have
given yon was poisoned '."
When the last dreadful sentence, and its
most dreadful illustration fell upon her af
frighted senses she became paralyzed with ex
cess of emotion, the scream which had risen
to her throat, died there in strangling mur
murs, and sinking back, she fell as one dead
upon the arms of Vesale.
She was not dead, however, he had not pois
oned her; that crime he had hesitated to com
mit; yet he was none the less her murderer.
Convulsion followed convulsion, and at last
she died ; and, in that supreme moment, the
hour that preceded death, her husband, who
never quittod her, beheld one of those phe
nomena which sometimes attcud the dying.
Awakening from a torpid slumler; conscious
ness and memory returned at once, and with
them a calm and courage she had never pos
sessed in the flesh of life.
"Andre," said the dying woman, fixing her
eyes on her husband, "I am dying by your
hand, yet I am innocent; I never wronged
you by thought or by deed ; "Don Alva pur
sued me with his Live and threats, but I re
pulsed them. I never loved but yon. I fear
ed and honored you as much as I loved, but I
dared not tell you of his pursuit. Oh, Andre,
believe my words, the dying deal not in false
hoods. Should I be thus calm were I guilty "
Vesale, sinking upon his knees, solemnly
protested his faith in the innocence of his
wife, and with choking sobs, abjured her to
believe he only feigned to give her poison,
that he could not nerve bin hand to take her
life; but the terror of death, not death itself
was upon her. And while ho yet spoke, Isa
bella murmured
"Thanks be to heaven for this," and draw
ing his hand towards her, laid it upon her
heart and as she did so it ceased to beat.
Learning and Appetite. It has been well
known, at least 3inco the days of Dr. Johnson,
that nature often furnishes the men of large
brains with a good digestive Apparatus. But
this truth has seldom been more strikingly ex
pressed than it was lately by a celebrated col
ored caterer, who practices his useful profes
sion in one of our sister cities, which is re
nowed for its excellent school of learning. A
lady was about to make a party, and invite a
mong others the faculty of the college. She
therefore held a consultation with the caterer
about the preparations which were necessary.
She was somewhat surprised at tho estimates
which he presented, and ventured to remon
strate with him a little. "Them college folks
is comin' V inquired he. "Yes," she replied.
"Well then, depend on't, I'm right," ho said,
with much emphasis, "for ma'am, the lamed
'ligious people cat awful !"
Thick and Lo.vo. A testy lawyer in court,
found himself bothered with a knotty witness,
who wouldn't explain, as he desired, the dif
ference, between th "thick" and"long" kinds
of whalebone.
"Why, man," said he, "you don't seem to
know the distinction, between thick aud long.
Ya's I dew."
"Explain it, then."
"Wa'al, you're thick-headed, but yon atn t
long-headed, no bow !" said he.
The Atlantic Cable h In no better cenditlon.
HOW SAL AND .ME GOT MARRIED.
Wei, at last, the nite cum, that orful night
as was to fetch me into a new state uv bein,
aud it found me in a dreadful fix, fust I felt
good, then bad, fust proud, and then skcered
like five hundred I went over tho mornin'
afore the eventful nite to see Sal, an' lound
her taking it mlty easy, rather in a hurry for
nite to cum t I thought as for me, I was in a
hurry wun minnit, and the next, I felt like I'd
rather a little it had bin put off.
Arter supper I washed, then put on the
cleanest sort uv a shirt that Aunt Jane had fix
ed mity nice and smooth, then 1 drawed on
about as nice a set uv harness as you ever
seed, tn' arter inarm an' Aunt Jane had prim
ed up and fixed my hair and ciavat, I was red
dy, ho oil I put's to Sal's dad's an I reckon I
done about as much thinking goin over thar
as was ever done by enny tither feller in the
same time. At last I arriv, an was marched
into the presence of Sal she sort a blushed
an then set her head a one side an looked as
sweet as any flower you ever seed. I thought
she was about as putty a crcetur as ever I lade
my ise upon.
Directly Sal's sister says,"the parson's com,
an in we walked where there was about fifty
folks, an I felt mity bad and mity skeered, but
tried my level best to keep a stiff upper lip.
Well, wo took our place, Sal a hangin on my
arm and me a lookin at the floor.
The parson ses : "Du you take this wooman,
(he mite a sed young lady,) as you hold by the
hand too be your lawful wile, too help her an'
keep her, till death dus you part 7"
"I'll du my best," ses I, standin fust on one
leg and then on tothcr, for all the world like
a turkey on a hot rock.
Then he looked at Sal, an ses he.
"Du you take this man (like he didn't know
my naiin) as you hold by the hand, to be your
lawful husband, too nus him an to help him,
till death dus you part ?"
"Yes sir," ses Sal.
"Then," ses he, "I pronounce you both
man an wife, saluto your bride." With that I
clenched Sal, and gave her about as hearty a
buss as you ever heard ; then the fellers all
cum around an kissed Sal like all blazes ; you
could see that it dim 'em good, lrom the way
they pitched in I thought Sal orter a stopped
it, but she never sed a wurd ; as fur me, 1
kissed right and left an cum very near kissin
a nigger gal as was fetchin in some water,
when every one begun a gigglin an I begun to
feel mity mean.
Arter a while the kissin' an' foolin' was over
and we all pitched into the goodies and if I
ever saw sweetmeats fly it was then, I eat till
I liked to have dropped an' everybody else
dun thar best.
At ten o'clock they all left an' sum of the
b'jys ses, "Peter Won't you go home with us,"
an' all sech things. Arter they lelt there I
sot by myself until a nigger girl came in to me
an ses.
"Massa Peter, Miss Sal's awaiting for you."
"Whar is she?" says I.
"She's in her room," ses she.
'Well, tell her to come down," scsl,"I
am reddy to go anywhar she wants."
"But," ses she, she's in bed."
"Oh yes," ses I, "I forgot, but," sesl, "it's
early yet, ain't it ?"
She seed I was skeered, and begun a snig
gcrin, till I picked up my hat and followed
her, till she cum to a dore, an' ses, "that's
ynre room." My hart jumped up to my throat
as I 'nocked at the dore, but nobody answered :
I knocked agin, and then a gettin despirrit I
opened it and jewhillikins, the cold chills run
over me. till I felt like somebody was apullin'
a cedur bush up and down my back thar was
Sal fast asleep, or pretendin' like, as I found
ont, and Ihe candle a sAint' asjight as day !
I stood some time looking mity foolish, and
then puts my hat on a cheer next I draw my
cote off ; it was mighty hard to get oir then I
shed my jacket and the balance of my harness,
till I cum to my boots, an if ever I saw a pare
of tight boots, them was tho wnns, I pulled, I
tugged, I jerked, but they would not cum off,
and happenin' to look around, I thought I seed
Sal a peepiu' at me outer one eye, so I blose
the light out, gits my boots off, and then
but it ain't nobody's business, so I shunt tell
any more.
Well, I've trido marryin' sum time, an must
say that arter a feller gets used to it, it ain't a
bad thing.
Horses and Stables.
Blindness is very common among horses in
our cities. This is caused in a great measure
by keeping them in dark confined stables, and
shading their eyes with harness blinders.
Dark, ill-ventilated cellar stables arc quite
common. This stupid practice should be a
bolished, because such stables are very detri
mental to the health of these noble animals.
All stables should be dry, roomy structures,
provided with windows to afford abundant
light, and should also be frequently whitewash
ed. The horse is a native of dry, sunny re
gions, and requires to be kept dry and warm
in order to attain to the greatest perfection.
Close and confined stables, just like those
which are so common, are the frequent cause
of that violent disease called glandcr. A few
years since, great ravages were committed a
m ong the cavalry horses of France by this
disease, but it is now almost unknown in that
country. This result has been brought about
by simply making larger stabtesf doubling the
size of the stalls, and securing good ventila
tion. In proportion to their bulk, horses need
more fresh air than men, in order to perform
the function of respiration, yet they are com
monly cooped up in narrow stalls, which are
not large enough to keep a dormouse's lungs
at work. As the season is now approaching
when, owing to inclement weather, horses will
be more confined indoors, those who possess
such animals should now devote some attention
to provide them with stables suitable to their
nature and wants, and by so doing they will
greatly increase their health and longevity.
AnItem for the Ladies. Tho red petticoat
is to be the style this winter. The fashion,
however, is not red with black stripes, which
have become . so common, but the fine drab
with variegated stripes, or rich black with
crimson stripes, the upper part being black.
A nice little contrivance for looping np the
dress over the Balmoral is imported, and called
"my lady's page." It is composed of elastic
silk cord, with a jet hook and admirably aerves
its purpose, relieving tho wearer from all the
necessities of adjusting her skirts, or securing
them from contact with the dirt and debris of
the street. With this new arrangement the
ladies can now triumphantly exclaim, "my
skirts are clear!"
A GAMBLING HEEL.
The wealthy keeper of the roost fashionable,
and magnificent gambling "bell" in this coun
try, died a few weeks since at Washington
City. His "house" being the most elegant,
and his bank the most weighty and substan
tial in tho country, it has been for years the
fashionable and lascinating resort of wealthy
planters, fast congressmen, aspiring diplomats,
and ambitious sportsmen from every part of
the world. For many years past he has lived
in the most luxuriant style. In person he
was about the medium size, fat and sleek, of
pleasing address, and a generous disposition ;
exhibiting in his general deportment to stran
gers the characteristics of a well-fed, good
natured clergyman, rather than those of a
beartlesss unrelenting gambler. His wife,
now a widow, was of good parentage; a wo
man of rare beauty and accomplishments, pos
sessing social qualities which, combined with
the dazzling allurements of wealth, insured
her troops of admirers and courtezans. Rol
ling along the avenue in her magnificent e
quipage, which far exceeds in richness and
stylo that of the President of the United
States, or that of. any other gentleman in
Washington, she looked a very queen being
quite undisturbed by any thought that her
presence sent a dagger to scores of hearts,
whose patrimony, unlawfully obtained, had
contributed to her enjoyment, in the same
proportion that its loss had added to the woes
and wretchedness of the beholder.
- His "establishment" was upon Pennsylva
nia Avenue, between tho National Hotel and
the Capitol. Let us approach and look at it :
You enter by a door of variegated stained
glass, which, by gas light reflects all the col
ors of a rainbow. Ascending a flight of stairs
you reach a door, pull the bell, and instantly
a small aperture opens and you are greeted
with a pair of red eyes and a double row of
ivory, set in black, which nominally belong to
Sambo, but which in fact are the property of
the proprietor. A glance suffices. Y'ouhave
filled Sambo's eye and are deemed passable.
The door is at once opened and you are usher
ed into the ante-room the vestibule of hell !
This room is not large but elegantly appoint
ed the chief attraction being the side-board,
which is of marble, nnd white as Diana's breast.
Here are arranged in long and glistening
columns decanters of cut glass, sparkling like
brilliants, filled with the choicest nectar, and
blushing to the very necks with the glowing
vintage of the olden time. If you pass this
rubicon without tasting its sparkling but dan
gerous waters, it is not from any dearth of
hospitality on tho part of your persuasive
host. The spacious "Sporting hall" is now
visible. The floor is covered with carpeting
from the Orient, of immense cost and marvel
lous beauty. The walls are adorned with su
perb paintings of the old masters and the new,
while pendant from the windows hang cur
tains of embroidered lace, covered with gold
en tapestry of Oriental magnificence, with
mirrors of mammoth size reflecting your form
and features from a score of gleaming em
brasures. Along the hall, at convenient dis
tances, are ranged circular tables of polished
rose-wood, around which arc seated numbers
of thoughtlul, anxious, dark-visaged men,
who heed you not their eyes have another
and stronger attraction. One would naturally
snppose this to le a theater for jests, drollery
and song, or bachanalian revelings, or pugilis
tic encounters. Far from it. On the contra
ry, all is hushed, silent, sepulchral.
'No real voice or sonnd
Within those cheerless walls are found."
You are opposed with the fearful stillness
and awful silence which pervades the place.
A langh, a joke, or even a curse, would be a
sensil le relief. But yon hear nothing of this.
An occasional long breath or halt subdued
sigh is nil that tells the ear that these mad
devotees are possessed of lungs and life.
An hour's inspection satisfies your curiosity,
and you are about taking your departure when
a soft hand taps you on the shoulder, and a
low voice : "Please don't leave, sir, supper
will be ready in a few minutes." At precise
ly half-past ten o'clock the doors of the di
ning hall are thrown open and "snpper's
ready," proclaims an immediate armistice be
tween the combatants, and invites you to a
more healthy and rational duty. The long
tables groan beneath their burden of gold and
silver plate, and the heaps of delicacies which
adorn them. Here are venison from the
brown forests of Maine, turkeys from the broad
savanahs of the West, canvas-backs from the
placid Potomac, trout from Superior, and
salmon from St. Johns, together with fruits,
flowers and wines for every taste and from ev
ery clime. The repast over, you are permit
ted, with a patronizing invitation, to "call a
gain," to make your retreat to the open air,
there to thank heaven that you are not a wor
shiper within this magnificent yet cheerless a
bode. One uight's wok a few days previous
to the close ol the last session, made sad
havoc among the coffers of this den. It is
said that a distinguished Senator won on that
night one hundred and eighty thousand dol
lars, which broke the bank and caused a tem
porary suspension. A new house, however,
was soon purchased by bim, and was magnifi
cently decorated, when the "king of terrors,"
the great unbeaten and unchallenged, stept in
and closed the game of life forever.
Physicians is America. In New York
there is one physician to every 610 inhabi
tants ; in Massachusetts, one to every 6C5; in
Pennsylvania, one to every 661 ; in North Car
olina, one to every 802 ; in Ohio, one to every
4C5 ; in Maine, one to every 884 ; and in Cali
fornia, one to every 147. We can envy Maine
and pity California, for some must swallow
physic at a frightful rate in the Golden State.
The whofc number of physicians in the Uni
ted States is 40,481.
A city merchant, not remarkably conversant
with geography, picked up a newspaper and
sat down to read. He had not proceeded far
before he came to a passage stating that one
of his vessels was in jeopardy. "Jeopardy !
Jeopardy ! Jeopardy 1" said tho astonished
merchant, who had previously heard that bis
vessel was lost ; "let me see, that is sume
whre in the Mediterranean. Well, I am glad
she has got into port, as I thought it was all
over with her."
An Irish gentleman at Doncaster observing
in the list of horses one called Botherem, took
such a fancy to the name that he bet consider
able odds in his favor.. Toward tho conclusion
of the race, bis favorite was, in the rear; but
not at all put out, ha shouted so as to drown
every other voice : . vBotherem forever ! . Sea
how be drlres them all before Mm'!'
CLAY AND ITS USES.
There are lew substances more useful than
bumble clay. It is emplo;. ed to construct our
houses, in the form of bricks; and, under the
names of china and stone-ware, it assumes the
most varied and beautiful configurations in ves
sels and articles employed in every household.
When we reflect on the varied uses of clay, it
becomes an exalted material in our estimation,
because it is indispensable to tbc supply of so
many wants. Yet although it has been employ
ed in the arts from time immemorial, its com
position and qualities are not very generally
known. Clay is tho product of several kinds
of rocks ; its character being determined by
that from which it is derived. It is generally
found as a sedimentary deposit, having been
disintegrated from rocks by the action of wa
ter and the atmosphere. Common blue clay
is the product of slafjr rocks, and is a mixture
of the oxyd of the raeral aluminum and Impal
pable silica or sand. It is the aluminous oxyd
which renders it unctuous and plastic when
moist, and capable, in that state, of being
molded into any form. The common clay used
in making bricks contains a little oxyd ot
iron ; this, when burned, imparts to them
their peculiar red color.
The manufacture of bricks in our country
is carried on very extensively, involving tho
investment of an immense aggregate capital,
and the employment of many thousand oper
atives. Within tho past fifteen years, machines
have superseded hand-molding in brick -making,
in largo yards. All art icles made of clay,
when exposed to a very high temperature:such
as burning in a kiln, acquire the hardness of
the rock 8 of which their materials once form
ed a part. C!as which contain an alkali and
iron, readily fuse at a high tetuperature,where
as neither alumina nor silica fuse, when un
mixed with other substances. Burnt bricks
are simple cubes of clay submitted to pressure
iu molds, and gradually dried, to evaporate the
moisture slowly; then they ore exposed to a
high heat in the burniug process. As clay
shrinks greatly when it is being dried and
burned, articles made of it must bejired very
carefully, or they will break to pieces or be
come distorted in form. For this reason,
bricks, when molded, arc first dried slowly in
the sun, before they are burned ; during wet
weather, therelore, this business cannot bo
carried on in our country in the common way.
Porter's clay for atone-ware contains 43.5
parts of silica; alumina, 32.2 ; lime, 0.C3; i
ron, 1 ; water, 18. This clay is infusible in a
porcelain kiln ; it only indurates in firing.
The glazed face of stone-ware is made by a
fusible composition put on the surface.
Kaolin or porcelain clays are generally found
4 ri beds or seams among granitic rocks, from
which they have been disintegrated. They
contain no iron feldspar is their base. Most
of the stone-ware and fine porcelain which
come into our country from abroad are manu
factured in Stafforshire, England, where $10,
000,000 worth of articles arc made annually,
three-fourths of which are exported mostly
to America. English porcelain is cheaper, but
it is inferior to the French. As the gilding
and ornamenting of china-ware greatly enhance
its value, and, of course, increase the tariff dues
on it, much plain porcelain is now imported
into, and afterwards decorated in, New-York.
Fire clay is composed of alumina and silica;
and bricks made of it are very refractory.
Those made for our household stoves are cx
horbitant in price, and are generally inferior
in quality, as they are liable to fuse in burning
what is called "red ash" anthracite coal,which
contains a little iron. A stove can be lined in
a more durable manner with potter's clay than
with fire-brick, at one-third the cost. It is ap
plied by plastering it on the metal, and allow
ing it to dry slowly afterwards. This infor
mation may be useful to many of our readers,
who can readily obtain such clay.
A Little Difficulty In the "Way.
An enterprising travelling agent for a well
known Cleveland Tombstone Manufactory late
ly made a business visit to a small town in an
adjoining county. Hearing in the village that
a man in a remote part of the township had
lost his wife, he thought he would go and see
him, and offer him, by way of consolation, a
grave stone, on his usual reasonable terms.
He started. The road was a horribly frightful
one, but the agent persevered, and finally ar
rived at tho bereave! man's house. Bereaved
man's hired girl told the agent that the be
reaved man was splitting rails "over in the
pastur about two miles." The indefatigable
agent hitched his horse, and started for the
pastur." After falling into all manner of
mudholes, scratching himself with briars, and
tumbling over decayed logs, the agent at
length found Ihe bereaved man. In a subdued
voice he asked the man if he had lost his wife.
The man said he had. The agent was very
sorry to hear it and sympathized with the mau
very deeply in his great affliction ; but death,
be said, was an insatiate archer, and shot down
all, both of high and low degree. Informed
tho man that what was her loss was his gain,'
and he would be glad to sell him a grave stono
to mark the spot where the beloved one slept
marble or common stone, as he chose, at
prices defying competition. Tho bereaved
man said there was "a little difficulty in the
way." "Haven't you lost your wife T" in
quired the agent. "Why, yes, I have," said
the man, "hut no grave stnn ain't necessary ;
for you see the cussed critter ain't dead r sAe'
scooted with another man .'" The agent retired.
'Deadheads" on the Press. Talking of
Vead-tieaamg, or availing ones-self of privi
leges gratis, sombody remarks that "the press
endures the infliction of dead-headism from
the pulpit, the bar and the stage, from corpo
rations, societies, aud individuals. It is ex
pected to yield its interest it is required to
give strength to weak institutions eyes to
the blind, clothes to the naked, and bread to
the hungry it is asked to cover up infirmities,
bide weakness, and wink at its improprieties
it is expected to herald quacks, bolster np
dull authors, and flatter the vain; it is, in
short, to be all things to all men and if it
looks for pay or reward, . it is denounced as
mean and sordid. There is no interest under
the whole heavens that is expected to give so
much to society, without pay or thanks, as
the press."
Death from Fright. The wife of Thomas
Roper of Hartford was frightened to death fin
Wednesday night by the fire which was near
her dwelliug.; When the fire broke out she
was standing in the sink room, and the sudden
flash of tho flames upon the window of her
bouse frightened her so that she fell dead npoa
the floor.
AN ESCAPED LOCOMOTIVE.
A few days since, two passenger locomotives
going in opposite direction oa the Little Mi
oraa Road, camo in collision near the new tarn
table, a ruilo or fo above the Front street de
pot, Cincinnati. The engineers saw each oth
er in time to 'reverse,' and one, or both sprang
to the ground in anticipation of the shock,
which, however, was not great, as neither was
encumbered by the momentum of s train. But
the force of the collision jerked the throttle)
valve of the upward engine wide open, and
before tho engineer could retain his footing,
it leaped backward with a frightful bound and
disappeared, city-ward, in the thick fog. Hor
ror seized the men gathered at the spot, for
the escaped monster was fired up for the ex
press run to Chilocothe, and roaring under a
full head of steam right in its path a mile be
low were a hundred passengers settled o their
cushioned seats in the Columbia Expreas,soom .
to leave the depot, and beyond these an nna
larmed city of two hundred thousand souls.
It was all with God. No power could fol
low after, and the doomed people were hardly
warned by the trembling ground and the clank
of insane machinery, before the visitation was
upon them.
- Fortunately, should we not say providential
ly, a switch under the arch of the depot that
should have been open to the outgoing train,
had been left shut by a negligent watchman,
and the fiery iron comet, going at seventy
miles an hour, swept through the building ml'
most singing the faces of the horror stricKon
subjects ot a Passover in the crowded passen
ger cars on the parallel track on, right on,
through the eastern wall of the depot, and
now, leaving the track, out upon the city.
Fortunately, again the direction of tke enginw
was aside from the crowded street, and led
straight into one of those hnge piles of stono
coal, that at this season fill the yards of our
fuel merchants. Into this nearly fifty feci
lrom the depot the engine sailed, absolutly
without touching tho intermediate ground.
Here it buried itself and wallowed ia its owa
wreck until its fires had gone down and its
steam was quite spent.
The Ticket Agent of the Little Miami, in at
tempting to describe the appearance of the lo
comotive as it came through the depot, uses
the most expressive paradox, "I saw a sodden
noise go by, and all was still again."
People in Newport beard the unusual noise
made by the clang of the flying engine, and
came over on the ferry boat to learn the cause.
The exact circumstances of the collision waa
not easily learned. Tho Little Miami locomo
tive, John Kugler,was backing down from Pen
dleton shop to take out the C A. M. Express
that followed the Columbus train with an in
terval of fifteen minutes. The Sutler might
have been a little in advance of its tiaae, as it
should Lave left the shop three miles above)
the depot, at 5.30, and the majority of the tcs
tinrcny makes the time of collision 5.23io5.30.
Onthee:her hand, it was incumbent on th
Marietta engineer to keep oct ot the Kugler'a -way,
and moreover, the apparent force of tke
collision' did not justify him in jumping from
his engine. But it is not true that the latter
gave his machmo team after he reversed, nor
that he was inexperienced on a locomotive. He
(Waterman) was the regular engineer of the"
yard, or switching engine. It is likely that both,
engines were going too fast, consider! ug the
circumstances of the time, and the thick fog.
BatGHAX Y"otso's Bovs is Trouble. Th
editor ot the St. Joseph Journal has been shown
a letter trora David II. Burr.esq., late Surveyor
General of Utah, to Mr. Hockaday, dated Oc
tober 22, from which we make the following
extract to show how matters aro progressing- "
in the Holy Valley : '
" 'The Mormons are tolerably qniet at pres- '
ent, though occasionally they show the cloveo
foot. Yesterday, Joe and Brigham Young,
(sons of the Prophet) went into Gilbert & Ger- '
rish's store and were impudent to Gilbert,
when he collared them and summarily ejected
them from his store. Joe got on bis horso, -and,
drawing his revolver, attempted to rid
in and shoot Gilbert, but Brigham being a lit
tle more discreet, prevented him. A crowd 1
gathered around, revolvers were drawn, and a ..
trifle then would have produced a collision.
If Joe had not been stopped he wonld certain
ly have been shot. Some Mormons went tbea
and arrested them both, pretending to takt
them to the calaboose.' "
Six Generations. On Wednesday a week,
at West Koxbury, Mass., a boy was born, who
can count probably more liTing ancestors thaa j
any other person in Massachusetts. He has,
of course, a mother ; but he also possesses th
care of the following : A grandmother, aged
40 ; a great grandmother, aged 58 ; a great- '
great grandmother, aged 79; and a great-
gteat-great-grandlather, aged 97. But th .
most singular of all is, that all but the old gen
tleman were born iu the same bouse and tamo
room, and be says he himself wonld have been,
bad it not been for. a visit his parents were
making near Boston. Mr. Prescott, the old -gentleman
referred to, is now looking finely,
and says if he lives long enongh to see his last '
hero married, and a father, he will beat the
world, and be satisfied.
Plating "Tag" with a Bear. The Detroit
Advertiser tells tho fallowing bear, story:
"Last Sadurday morning, while laborer liv- : -ing
at Fort Gratiot, was proceefWg in a boat ,
to Port Huron, he came np with a huge bear,;
swimming across. - He struck bis bearship -blow
over the head with his oar, when the en-. ;
raged animal made for him, and climbing into
the boat he compelled the man to take the
water. The bear then followed him, and the .
man contrived to get into the boat again. A
neighbor seeing bis predicament came to his
relief with an axe, and broke up this pleasant- :
little game of "tag" between the man and -bear,
by breaking in tbe latter's head. He ,
was killed and brought ashore. lie is said to '
be of the largest size, and will doubtless weigh -somewhere
in the neighborhood of 800 pounds.''
A Skrzwd Old Rat. An .old rat la B
A. Morey's apothecary shop, Lee, Mass., bad. '.
long defied all modern Inventions for bis cap
ture. The clerk then baited him on dinners 1
of bntter crackers, which the rat relished ex--"
ceedingly, but when at last a little t trychnioe
was sprinkled on ono aide, b knowing var
mint turned the cracker over, and scraped hi
meal off the other side. . .
Sale or Ash Last. The Memphis Jletlanch
ftates that James B. Clay ha aold the resi-r,
dence of Henry Clay, Ashland, fo 200,000'
acrei of Tent land.