BY S. 15. ROW.
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8; 1858.
VOL. 5. NO, 15.
MEMORY.
Lores have fallen, flowers have fadod, ' "
Pays havo gone and yeais hare flail ;
Joys once tweet are now departed, -
Friends are numbered with the dead ;
Sleroory ling -ri yet, unbroken,
While the heart-strings freely play.
Bringing thoughts of words once cpoken ;
Cut the loved ones where are they?
ome hare strayed where Fancy I a red them,
Following up some project wild ;
Some bare gono where duty led them,
To instruct the pagan child ;
Some have bowed at .Mammon's altar;
Some are tossed on Fashiou's sea ; . .
Slany sink beneath the shadow
Of the deadly L'pas tree.
One is sleeping in a valley,
Near the river's winding shore,
Where the trees wave gently o'er him,
Sighing sadly nevermore.
Wind moan sweetly 'mong the tall grass;
Leaves bend lowly 'round his head :
tiuide the dear departed spirit.
In its wanderings through the dead.
AH that's left is but a shadow ;
All that's past is but a dream ;
All to come is but a phantom,
Ucck'ning on the worlds uusecn.
THE BEAUTIFUL DECOY.
It is well known to all in any degree famil
iar with the history of Mexico, that a regular
system of highway robbery exists in every sec
tion of that miserably governed country ; and
that through a want of interference by the
authorities, this has grown up in such a regu
lar and formidable shape, that every traveller
must be prepared to put his life at hazard at
every stage, or be provided -with a suitable
aontribution for los caballeros deloamino (the
knights of the road,) who, in the event of
finding you prepared and willing, will make
their levy with a politeness only equalled by
the smiling landlord, when he receives your
overcharged fare for last night's entertainment.
Why such systematic boldness of robbery is
allowed ii not with the connivance, at least
with rarely any interference of the govern
ment or state authorities is one of those mys
tical matters which among many others so puz
zles and perplexes the intelligent foreigners,
but that such is the disagreeable truth, every
travoller through that wretched country can
bear ample testimony.
Some years ago, having business which first
called me tothe Capital of Mexico, and thence
through the- interior of the country to the
northward, I met with several thrilling adven
tures, which I have recorded lor the benefit
ot whom soever may take an interest therein,
omitting only the dates, they being non essen
tial to theinterest of the narration themselves.
The first of the series occurred on the route
lelween Vera Cruz and the city of Mexico.
In the regular diligencia running between the
places just mentioned, I had taken passage,
ud had passed through tli beautiful city of
Jalapa, and entered the gloomy town of Pe
rote, without meeting with any unusual inci
dent, though being continually warned to be
on my guard agaiust the dangers of the road.
At Perote, where we halted for a relay and re
freshments, all ray fellow-passengers took leave
of me, very solemnly assuring me that, if as
aailed by the ladrones, or robbers, it would be
much better for me to take matters quietly,
and suffer myself to be generally plundered,
than to run the risk of having my" throat cut
Jor resistance, as I had somewhat boldly pro
claimed it was my intention of doing. I
thanked them for their advice, and replied
that I would tako the matter into serious con
sideration. At Perote, I repeat all of my companions
took leave, this being the end of their jour
ney in that direction, but there was ono new
passenger to go forward, whom, to my agreea
ble surprise, I found to be a beautiful lady,
fomc twenty years of age.
Scnorita Paula, as I subsequently ascertain
ed her name to be, was indeed one of those
rare beauties seldom met with except in works
f fiction tall, graceful,1 with a profusion of
long, black hair soft, clear, melting dark
eyes features as perfect as ever came from
the hands ot the sculptor, and with an anima
tion the most fascinating, varying in expres
aion with every changing mood of the intellec
tual possessor. A glance at her bewitching
dark eyes showed me that she was one who
was naturally of a social disposition ; and as
wo rattled away from the gloomy town, I took
the liberty of opening a conversation.
"They tell me," said I, "that the route be
tween here and Mexico is a very dangerous
one to travel."
"There is little to fear," she replied, with a
sweet smile and in a melodious tone, "except
from the professional robbers, and they seldom
harm any one who makes no resistance."
"It seems strange to me," 1 rejoined, "that
yon Mexicans should take such things as a
matter of course, and deem resistance a very
impolite way of treating the knights of the
r.ad, instead of boldl asserting your rights,
And abating the evil by a manly spirit of resis
tance. For myself, I must consider it the
most cowardly of proceedings, for any respec
table party to set out prepared to quietly grati
. fy the cupidity of the ladrones, and nnptc
pared to treat them to their just deserts."
"Every traveller, Senor," she replied,
"should, before setting out, count the cost of
his journey, and as of course it is natural be
ahould ralue bis lite highly, it seems to me
natural that be should pay a certain sura for
positive safety rather than put his life in jeop
ardy. For instance, in travelling from Vera
Cruz to Mexico, f he will first reckon that so
friuiih isihejare by the diligencia, and that so
Snuch'wiybe required for entertainment on
"the way, and so touch for the contingency you
speak of, he will then have the exact cost be
tween two points ; and if he will look at the
whole as the sura total of bis journey, he will
pot seem to bo robbed by any one party more
than auother."
" "That," I replied, ".may be, I believe is,
Jthe Mexican mode of doing business, but does
not tally with the preconceived idea of us
foreigners." 1
"But every one," replied the fair speaker,
f 'should conform tq t,he pustoins of the coun
try he visits."
"And do you then go prepared for this high
way robber 1 and have you no fear n thus jour
neying by yourself ?"
"Well, Senor, what can I do ? I am, t you
perceive, an unprotected lady ; who, for cer
tain reasons, am required to make the iourney
between Perote and the Capital some twice or
thrice a year, and you could not expect me to
jcro prepared to resist an armed band ! As to
fear, J will not deny that I have my share of
k ' A M V I - .
mat ; uci, so iar, i oars never met wiio any
rough treatment, and of course I trust to the
saints that my fortune will ever be as propi
tious." -
"And have you really been robbed on your
journey back and forth 1 ' I inquired.
"1 think I have paid my share to the la
drones for my transit through their country !"
she laughed.
"And you expect to continue a repitition of
the same for the rest of your life 1"
"Who knows?" she replied. "At least I
hope to be always prepared."
"And your fellow- travellers," said I ; "have
you never seen any disposed to resist these
unlawful acts 1"
"Once, lienor, an American and an English
man, who were in the same diligencia with mc,
fired upon the robbers, killing one and woundO
ing two."
"And did the robbers fire back V
"Yes, buttled immediately, and fortunately
injured none of our party."
"As I should have expected," returned I.
"You were not robbed on that occasion, I sup
pose ?"
"We were not, Senor ; bnt the two foreign
ers subsequently paid dearly for their resis
tance; for in journeying back and forth, both
were killed, separate and at different times,
near the same spot. You see these crosses by
the side of the road, Senor ?"
"I have observed them frequently, but here
thsy seem to be much more numerous," I re
plied, looking forth from the vehicle.
Each stands on the spot where some one
has met a violent death," she rejoined ; "and
as we go along, 1 will call your attention to
those which mark the places where the foreign
ers met theirs."
"Do you know," said I, "that I am resolved
to emulate their example, let the consequences
be what they may ?"
"Holy saints defend us!" she exclaimed;
"you are not in earnest, Senor J"
"Seriously so, I assure you."
"You would only bring certain death upon
us both.-'
"Say, rather, I should lighten the expenses
of the journey for your knights of the road
understand retreat as well asadvance and
you yourself have acknowledged that firm re
sistance put them to flight at onec."
"But there were numbers opposed to them,
Senor, and you are only one."
"But fortunately I have a couple of revol
vers, which, in two good hands, amount to
sotce ten or a dozen shots, and my f riends
have repeatedly told me I am not a bad marks
man." Ah! Santa Maria! you will think better
of this, Senor the very idea of resistance ter
rifies me!" ......
"But not the idea of robbers 7" ' ' . "
'Because I have never met with violence."
Wo continued to converse in a similar strain
for some time longer my fair companion
gradually changing the subject, and seeming
much interested in myself. I learned that
her family name was Valcrde, that she was
unmarried, that her father and brother weie
officers in the army, 'and so forth, and so on ;
and in return I gave her my own name, stated
something of my history, business and pros
pects, and altogether became more communi
cative than I would advise any friend to be
with any stranger of cither sex in a strange
country.
As we continued our journey, the conversa
tion gradually changing from one thing to an
other, Scnorita Paula suddenly brought it back
to the point where it first opened.
"We are coming upon a dangerous part of
the road," she said ; "are you still resolved
to defend yourself if assailed ?"
"With your permission, Senorita 7"
"1 don't think it advisable," she replied,
"but still if such is your intention, I think it
no more than right that you should give rac
a chance to take a part in -my defence, since
my risk of danger will be as great as yours."
" And have you really the nerre, after all, to
defond yourself 7" I inquired.
If I had the means, Senor."
"I have two pistols," said I; "if yon will
accept one of them, it is at your service."
"You are very kind Senor but Can I fire itV
"With ease, Scnorita;" and producing one
of my revolvers, I explained to her the manner
in which it was to be used.
"And this you say, will shoot some half a
dozen times V
"I think it safe to calculate that five charges
out of six will explode, Senorita."
"A veiy formidable weapon, indeed !" she
replied ; "and with such 1 can almost fancy
we are safe. You havo another, you say, like
this?"
I produced it.
'What a beautiful invention V she observed
reaching over and taking it from my band.
Then extending her hands, one of the revol
vers in each, she continued : "Armed like this
one might almost count himself safe against a
host ! You say this is fired in this manner 7"
she proceeded, cocking one of the weapons as
she spoke, and pointing it toward the road.
"Have a care, Senorita; or you will dis
charge it." .
The words were scarcely uttered, when her
fingers pressed the trigger, and one of the
barrels exploded with a sharp report. A min
ute after, and while I was gently chiding her,
we heard a loud, quick tramp of horses, and
several sharp, rapid exclamations. The next
moment our conveyance was stopped suddenly
and we saw ourselves surrounded by some
eight or ten mounted men, one of whom, in a
loud voice exclaimed t
"Yield, you prisoners, or die !"
"Quiak, Senorita !" said I, extending my
hand : "quiefc J in lleaven s name: give me
one of those veapons, for now is the time for
decisive action !"
"Nay," she replied, putting tho weapons be
hind her, "you w ill be too hasty. Let tnem
suppose 'we yield let them open the door.
"O. no ! it will then be too late !"
As I spoke, the door was suddenly thrown
Open, and three or four swarthy, heavily-
bearded men presented themselves to my
view.
"Quick, Senorita, for the love of God 7" I
cried. errasping at her arm.
IIold !' she exclaimed, presenting one of
my own revolvers at my head. "Resistance
i useless vou are our prisoner !"
,. "Good God !" I exclaimed, perfectly as
tounded ; our prisoner, did you say ? It is
not possible that one so fair and lovely as your
self is in any manner connected with these
banditti!" .. ' f , . . ...
It Is even so, Senor," she replied with
r h most bewitchine smiles, still keep
ing one of my own weapons turned against
myself, aaa $ uiacaauy jivimw v
to the door. "You will oblige us by stepping
forth and giving 3'oursclf into the care of
these gentlemen, who will see that you are
treated as a brave man should be,' but who
will trouble you mean time for any little
change and valuables you might have to
spare !" ' ,
There seemed to be no help for it the
beautiful Senorita Paula Valerde was a spy
and accomplice of the ladrones. She had en
tered the diligencia at Perote for no other
purpose than to ascertain the exact condition
of things inside, and be able to signalize her
associates as she passed along, so that they
might know exactly in what manner to conduct
themselves, and make their work sure, with
out risk. By a simple stratagem she had ob
tained my arms, just at the point where she
knew the attack would be made ; ana ner
discbarge of a pistol as if by accident, was
the sign to show them that all was secure.
"I acknowledge myself conquerea ny oeing
outwitted 7" said I, bowing to la Senerita..
Then turning to the robbers, who bad now
collected in a body, in front of the door of
the diligencia, I continued : '?
"Gentlemen, will you permit me to alight
and make you some valuable presents 7 In
the language ot your country, all I have is
yuors."
The leader of the party bowed politely in re
turn, and said with a grim smile :
'Sir Senor, we would be most happy to re
ceive anything which so distinguished a trav
eller may have to bestow."
With this I quietlv stepped from the vehi
cle ; and one quick, searching glance, put me
n possession of the whole state of atlirs.
The diligencia had been stopped in a wild,
gloomy place, and the driver was sitting care-
lesslv on his box, taking everything as a mat
ter of course. He might also be ah accom
plice Of the robbers, or be might not, but in
cither case, there was little hope for assistance
from him any attempt of the kind would
certainly bring npon him a severe punishment,
sooner or later. -1 glanced up and down the
road, where it wound between dark,- overshadowing-trees,
but discovered nothing to
give me any hope. ' The roblicrs, some eight
or ten in number, and all wed armed, were
collecting. around me, part of them mounted
and the others standing on their leet, holding
their mustangs by the bridle. Looking upon
my case as a desperate one, so far as being
plundered was. concerned, 1 still retained my
presence of mind, and 'now stood singly be
tween numbers; but the Idea of yielding
tamely to this outrage was repugnant to my
very nature, and I resolved to put the least
favorable opportunity for defense and retalia
tion to tho strongest test. - ' " i .
-' "Wirryou accept this' purse V said I, pro
ducing one that had several gold coins, and
handing it to the chief of the ladronet.
"Thank you, Senor! you are very kind,"
he said, as he took it in his hand, with a po
lite bow, and chinked the money.
"This diamond pin may prove acceptable
to your friend," I added, as I quietly remov
ed it from the bosom ot my shirt and handed
it to the gentleman on his left, who received
it in the same polite manner. 'This diamond
ring I trust you will retain as a keepsake," I
continued, drawing the jewel from my finger
and presenting it to a third. "I beg your par
don, Senores," I pursued, glancing at the
Senorita Paula, who, with my pistols still in
litr possession, was quietly standing within
the diligencia, regarding the whole proceed
ings withone ol her sweetest smiles. "I
must not forget this beautiful lady! I have
Jiere," I went on, at the same time producing
the article, "a very beautiful gold snuil box
set, as you perceive, with diamonds will your
ladyship honor me by accepting this, as a
slight token of my regard for the pleasure
atlbrdcd mo by your company and conver
sation f"
"You aro a very gallant gentleman, Senor,"
she laughed, taking the two revolvers in ono
fair hand, and presenting the other.
I reached the box toward her but my hand
trembled a little, and just as the present was
about to touch her fingers, it slipped and fell
between us.
"A thousand pardons, Senorita tor awkward
ness," I said, as I bent down to pick it up.
Xow was the all important moment the
moment ! of life and death ! All were in a
measure off their guard ; and one quick, fur
tive glance showed me that the girl still held
my weapons carelessly in one hand, with the
other remaining extended for the prize. I
lifted the box carefully ; but as I raised my
self, I gave a wild, startling yell ; and as the
Senorita started back, I, with the quickness
of lightning, seized both weapons,and wrench
ed them from her.
To wheel and commence firing upon the
party was not the work of a moment. The
first shot fortunately stretched out the chief ;
the second took effect on the one nearest to
him ; and by the time the third had been sent
to its mission, there arose ono simultaneous
yell of dismay, and the astounded robbers be
gan to scatter in every direction. I had no
disposition to follow them, however ; another
minute, they might rally and turn upon me;
and springing lorward I graspod the reins of a
freed mustang, and vaulted into tho saddle.
One more glance around me showed me the
Senorita Paula upon the body of the chief,
her laughter .changed to grief, and some of
the scattered cowards bringing their weapons
to bear upon mv
"Adois, Senorita and Senors!" said I, bit
terly, "he laughs best who laughs last."
The next moment I was dashing away down
the road, the half-rallied robbers pouring af
ter me a volley, but fortunately not touching
their mark. They would doubtless have fol
lowed tue m hot pursuit, but for the whole
some dread they had of my still undischarged
weapon. As it was I escaped, and entered
the town of Pucbla in triumph ; where, it is
almost needless to add, a narrative of my ex
ploit made me a hero and a lion for the time
Here I sold mv captured mustang and trap
pings, for enough to indemnify me for what
T had disnosed of in the wav of presents, and
the next day saw me an inside passenger of
the same diligencia, en ronte lor Mexico,
where I arrived in safety, without any fur
ther event worthv of note.
What herame of the robbers and their beau
fifnl ncnomtilice I never learned: but the les
son taught me on that journey I have never
forcotten ; ana aunng me rciuumucr mj
stay in that country no pretty woman ever
had the honor to be my business confidante,
or ot getting possession of my trusty and un
failing revolvers. .
As the wind btows, you must sot your sail.
SALT AS A FERTILIZER. : '
A correspondent writing from Kanawha.Ya.,
where the Salt Springs are located, requests
some information regarding common salt as a
fertilizing agent.' He says in reference to it,
"that it is no doubt a valuable agent,when pro
perly applied, and were the facts generally
known, they would be prized by a urge ciass
of your readers.
Plants, like human beings, require for their
sustenance and growth a certain amount of the
constituents of common salt, and these must
be furnished from the soil, in order to be ta
ken uu bv the roots. If tho soil in any dis
trict contains a sufficient supply of these sub
stances, of course the addition of more salt
would be of no avail. Fields a!ong the sea
coast generally receive a sufficient quantity of
salt from the rain clouds which carry saline
matter, and deposite it near the source whence
they originate ; the lighter rains being free
from saline matter are carried to a greater hight
and " wafted far inland. In localities remote
from the sea, salt applied in moderate quanti
ties to the soil is generally benebctai. Agri
cultural chemists, however.are not fully agreed
as to the soils for which salt is most applicable,
only that all soils should contain a certain a
mount ot the constituents of salt, for the heal
thy growth of plants, snch as about five hun
dred pounds to every acre, taken at a depth of
six inches. To determine the amount of salt
in the soil, the following will be found suffi
ciently accurate for all common purposes.
Take half a pound of dry soil, and wash it with
two pints of cold distilled water, then filter it
through paper. Now, take a weak solution of
nitrate of silver, and pour it into the niterea
liqnid. . If there is salt in it, a white precipi
tate will be thrown down, which will acquire a
ptrple color on exposure to the light. Dry
this precipitate in an oven, and in every ten
grains of it there will be four of common salt.
If half a pound of dry soil yield one grain of
salt it wili contain 5U0 pounds in every acre,
six inches deep. On inland meadow lands, es
pecially those which are somewhat old, salt
supplied as a top dressing, at the rate of fifty
pounds to tho acre has been lound very bene
ficial. All farm yard manures contain consid
erable quantities of common salt, and where
these are applied as a top dressing, salt is not
grerally required. " Heavy saline rains from
the Atlantic do not generally reach beyond
the Appalachian chain of mountains, therefore
common salt as a fertilizing" agent, wo think,
way be used with advantage1 on all lands west
ot these elevations until we come to the Eocky
Mountains. " ; . , ' , .
f - Sleeping with the Landlord's "Wife. "
M A friend iu Stockbridge, Mass., relates the
fuffowing anecdote of "Reverend ZebTwichell,
a Methodist clergyman in full and regular stan
ding, and a member of the Vermont conference.
At one time he represented istockbriage in
the State Legislature. "Zeb," says the nar
rator, "is a man of fair talents, both as a
preacher and a musician. In the pulpit he is
grave, solemn, dignified ; a thorough systema
tic serruomzer; but out of it there is no man
living who is more full of fun and drollery."
On one occasion he was wending his way to
wards tho seat of the Annual Conference of
ministers, in company with another clergy
roan. Passing a country inn, he remarked to
his companion :
The last time I stopped at that tavern, I
slept with the landlord's wife."
In utter amazement his clerical friend want
ed to know what he meant.
"I mean just what I say," replied Zeb ; and
on went the two travellers in unbroken silence,
until they reached the Conference. In the
early part of the session, the Conference sat
with the doors closed for the purpose of trans
acting some private business, and especially
to attend to the annual examination of each
member's private character, or rather conduct,
during the past year. For this purpose the
clerk called Zeb's name.
'Does any one know aught against the con
duct of brother Twitchell during the past
year 7" asked the Bishop, who was the pre
siding officer.
After a moment's silence, Zeb's traveling
companion rose up, and with a heavy heart
and grave countenance, said "he had a duty to
perform, one that ho owed to his Clod, to the
church, and to himself. lie must, therefore,
discharge it fearlessly, though trembling."
He then related what Zeb had told him while
passing the tavern, how he slept with the land
lord's wife, &c.
The grave body of ministers were struck as
with a thunderbolt ; although a few smiled, and
looked first at Zeb, then upon the Bishop,
knowingly, for they knew better than others,
tho character of the accused.
The Bishop called npon brother T. and ask
ed him what he bad to say in relation to so se
rious a charge. Zeb arose and said :
"I did the deed ! I never lie !"
Then pausing with an awful seriousness, he
proceeded with slow and solemn deliberation.
"There was one little circumstance, howev
er, connected with the affair, I did not name
to the brother. It may not have much weight
with the Conference, but althongh it may be
deemed of trifling importance, 1 will state it.
When I slept with the landlord's wife, as I
told the brother, kept the tavern myself!"
The long and tronblee countenance relaxed ;
a titter followed, and the next name on the
roll was called.
Large Bells. Bayard Taylor, in an ex
ceedingly interesting letter from Moscow,
gives an account of the great bells of that
city tho largest and most costly in the world.
The Russians have a peculiar penchant for
large bells. The largest among them, which
is on the Tower of the Kremlin, was cast by
order of tho Empress Anne, in 1730, and
weighs one hundred and twenty tons. It is
twenty-ono feet high, and twenty-two feet in
diameter at the bottom. It cost one million
and a half of dollars. There is another bell
near it which weighs sixty-four tons. It takes
three men to awing its tongue. It is only rung
three times a year and then all the other bells
are silent. It is said the vibration of the air
which it causes when rung, is like the simul
taneous discharge of a hundred cannons.
Indian all Over. Shortly after the great
earthquake of 1812, which destroyed JSew
Madrid, and wrought such striking effects in
the Mississppi country, a white man observed
an Indian standing with his arms folded, and
countenance contemplating the devastation..
"Well Indian" asked, the wiii'te.man, "What
do you think all this means"
. "Great Spirit nrblsky too macb,"- replied
TI1E MORTARA AFFAIR AGAIN.
Pope Pius Ninth, who was, ten years ago,
looked upon as a sort of apostle of liberty in
Europe, and the hope of the world, has an
swered the demands of the various European
governments on the subject of the restitution
to his parents of Edgar Mortara, now in the
hands of the Inquisition authorities. lie tells
them that the boy's restoration to bis parents
is impossible. A brief statement of this very
remarkable case will serve to put this decision
of the head of the Roman Church in a strong
er light. Edgir Mortara Levi is about seven
years old. lio is the son of Momola Mortara
Levi, a Jewish resident of Bologna. In 13o2,
when he was about one year old, he was ill, and
a Roman Catholic nurse, about fourteen years
old, thinking he might die, administered the
rite of baptism, lay baptism, under such cir
cumstances, being tolerated and recognized as
all sufficient by the Roman ecclesiastical au
thorities. The child recovered, but the girl
kept her secret. Yet she was sensible of the
wrong she had done in deceiving her master
and mistress, and communicated her uneasi
ness to arotber Raman Catholic woman, ex
pressing great regret at the act she had done,
and declaring that she would not have done it
had she been older. The woman wanted ber
to tell the matter to a priest, but this she re
fused, and the other one then went and com
municated the whole affair to a priest. The
girl was immediately summoned before the In
quisition, and made to swear to say nothing a
bout the matter. In the middle of theVight,
officers or the Church were sent to the house
or Signor Mortara, and to the amazement and
grief of the family, the child Edgar was vio
lently carried off", weeping in terror at what
was done. He was taken to Rome and put in
charge of the Catechumens, who still retain
him. Remarkable stories are told of his be
ing a sincere and even an inspired convert to
Christianity ,talking words of wisdom and truth
very astonishing in a child of seven years. It
is even said that he refuses to go back to his
parents. But all of these reports want verifi
cation. Indeed, when the boy's faher was ad
mitted to see him, he is said to have wept bit
terly and to have begged to be allowed to go
home. Even if it be true that the child talks
sound Christian doctrine, and even if he refu
ses to go back to his parents, it may easily be
seen how one of such tender years, secluded
from all other influences for many weeks.could
be trained, either by tenderness or by fear, to
deny, not only his religion, but his parents al
so. , But leaving out of the question the wis
dom or the inclination of the child, and put
ting aside also the question of religion, look-ing-imply
at the act of depriving parents of a
child, it is the most monstrous thing done, un
der sanction of a civilized government, since
the worst days of the Spanish Inquisition.
The Papal Government, in sanctioning the act,
fairly presents itself to the world as a kidnap
ping institution. The abduction of the child
is not only an un-Christian act : it is an Inhu
man act, the parallel of which is only to be
found among certain wild Indian tribes of our
Western wilderness, who are in the habit of
stealing children from white settlers on the
frontier, and forcibly making them members
of their own community. So long as the act
was only that of subalterns in the Roman
Church, and there was a chance of its disa
vowal by the higher powers and the restoration
of the child to its parents, it was not quite so
bad as i: now is. The determination of the
Pope to sustian the Inquisition, and not to per
mit the parents io have their child, makes it
the boldest wronj perpetrated by any despot
ism, in this century at least. The leading Eu
ropean governments, Roman Catholic as well
as Protestant, have remonstrated Kith the
Pope on the subject." In refusing to listen to
them, and declaring that the boy Edgar Mor
tara cannot be restored, he sets them all at de
fiance, and insults Emperors and Kings, as he
has already insulted all humanity. From a
smaller spark than this a great fire has often
been kindled. It will not be surprising If Eu
rope should yet be convulsed and thrones sha
ken, as a consequence of the superstitious act
of a Roman servant girl of fourteen in the
year 1852. Philadelphia Bulletin.
The Tele Poctkixe. Our praying, singing
and Bible reading will not help us heavenward,
unless we are just between man and man. The
Christian profession is nothing without the
Christian life. Our religion, in order to change
us radically, must descend into all the com
monest duties. It belongs as much to the
shop as to the family, and as much to the fam
ily as to tho sanctuary. "No man can be a
Christian who is not faithful in bis common,
daily life pursuits. The judge must adminis
ter justice and equity, and not from favor or
the lure of bribes. . The physician must re
gard the life and health of his patient above
all other considerations. .The merchant must
deal justly, and the mechanic execute his work
and all things faithfully. It will not answer to
disregard theso things.
Bloody Dcll. Two gamblers, named Ruck
er and Peel, who were camp-followers of the
army of Utah, recently quarreled over a game
of cards, and agreed to fight It out. They went
to the ground, and, taking their stations about
ten yards apart, drew their revolvers and fired.
Both fell at the same shot Rucker shot in the
breast and Peel in the shoulder. One of Peel's
fingers was taken olT by the shot. The second
shot took ellect on both. Rucker then rose
upon bis knees and fired twice, both balls hit
ting Peel. The latter, bleeding from the six
wounds, struggled up from the ground and
resting his revolver npon his arm, and taking
deliberate aim, shot Rucker in the heart.
Trltu Simply Expressed. It is not what
people eat, but what they digest, that makes
them strong. It is not what they gain, but
what they save, that makes them rich. It is
not what they read, but what they remember,
that makes them learned. It is not what they
profess, but what they practice, that makes
them righteous. These are veary plain and
important truths, too little heeded by gluttons,
spendthrifts, bookworms and hypocrites.
I know I am a perfect bear in my man
ners " said a young fellow to his sweetheart.
"No, indeed, you are not John ; you have nev
er hugged me yet. - You are more sheep thau
bear." . '? -v- -:-
Why are ladies the biggest thieves in exis
tence 7 Because they steel the petticoats,
bone the stays, and crib the babies. '
I . You had better- find out - one of your - Own
weiiaeijeSithan tea ot yoax neighbor's,
, WASHINGTON CITY.
A correspondent of the Nashyilie Patriot,
gives the annexed description of Washington
city, which it will be acknowledged contains
a deal "more truth than poetry :" - -
"Washington city, the capitol of the nation,
the home during the term-time ot the Presi
dent, (and also the temporary residence of
five hundred and ten men who confidently ex
pect to be Presidents,) and the seat of the
United States Gas Works, (technically called
Congress,) is situated in the District of Colum
bia a territory covering a horizontal surfac
of ten miles square, and extending perpendic
ularly all the way through. As every place in.
the city is three-quartera of a mile to a mil
and three-quarters from everywhere ele, Wash
ington is called, in Fourth pf July orations
and that style of literature generally, tho
city of magnificent distances." '
Jt derives its r,ame of Washington from
celebrated continential officer who built tho
pine huts and forced his way through a very
hard winter at Valley Forge, and made Corn
wall's acknowledge the corn at Yorktown.
The principal public buildings ot the city are
the Patent Office, where -the Yankees -are
granted the exclusive right, tq manufacture)
and sell India rubber baby-jumper, doubled
geared rat-traps, Rad way's Ready Relief
which is warranted to relieve you of your
money, if nothing else and other valuable in
ventions of the age ; the General Post Office,
where they superintend the mismanagement
ol the various mail routes of the country ; the
National Treasury, an institution of learning,
which has graduated more men in the art of
swindling the government than any ten similar
or dissimilar institutions in the world;-and
the City Jail ; which is the only public build
ing in Washington which is really devoted t
honest purposes, and that is devoted to no pur
poses at all, both the permanent and tempora
ry residents of the city being too deeply en
gaged So their own rascalities to think of puu
iihing other people for theirs. ' " '
There are two monuments In Washington
one of red granite, erected to the memory of
Smithson, at his own expense, and a monu
ment to the folly, penuriousness, and gratitude
ot the American people. The Utter is about
sixty feet high, with (though hopeless) expec
tations of five or six hundred feet. It Js com
monly called the Washington or National Mon
ument. General Taylor caught his death ia
1S50 at the laying of the corner-atone ,o this
structure. It is hardly probable that any of
his successors will perish at the laying of tho
cap-stone. It is much more probable that
Presidents will be done away with at least six
weeks before that event. - - .
The imports of Washington consist princi
pally of office-seekers and pick-pockets, (both
of which are frequently combined in one,)
and fast women, who indirectly make half the
laws that are put through Congress. Its ex
ports are disappointed politicians and whis
key. Tho latter is generally bottled in mem
bers of Congress for transportation. - -
Taking it altogether,' Washington is an ex
ceedingly hard place. The public men there
are all very honest and upright, however
that is, until they go home and turn against
the administration, when, of course, they be
come like Stephen A. Douglas and John W.
Forney, the most consummate scoundrels un
hung. We nave the authority of a number
or administration papers for saying so. Du
ring the sitting of Congress, inanmerablo
rourders and robberies are commitiied ia tb
city, bnt as everybody there is above ausp)
cion, and wouldn't hurt a hair ot your head,
nor take the smallest coin from the treasury
under the most favorable circumstances, tke
perpetrators invariably escape detection. Un
der these benign auspices, it is no wonder that
it cannot, and has not, been said ot Washing
ton, as was recently said of a one horse town
in Kentucky, that if, at the last day, Gabriel
should happen to light there first, the resur
rection would be indefinitely postpone? for
some one of the inhabitants would awwlet
him out of bis horn before ha ould tnako a,
single toot.
1
Who does it Hit I . :)
A writer, probably conversant with the lit
tle faults and foibles of people, says, w ith tell
ing irony : "Keep your eye on your neigh
bors. Take care of them. Don't let thenx
stir without watching. They may do some
thing wrong if you do. To be sure, you nev
er knew them to do anything very bad, but ic
may be on your account they did not. Per
haps if it had not been Tor yonr kind care,
they might havedisgraccd themselves and fam
ilies, a long time ago. Therefore don't relax
any effort to keep them where they ought to
be ; never mind your own ' business, that will
take care of itself. There is a man passing a
long ; be is looking over the fence be auspi
cious of him, perhaps he contemplates steal
ing something, some of these dark nights ;
there's no knowing what queer fancies lie may
have got into his head. If you aee any symp
toms of any one passing out of tbe path of du
ty, tell every one else that you can see, and be
particular to see a great many It is a good
way to circulate such things, and though It
may not benefit yourself, or any one else par
ticularly, it will be something important about
some one else. Do keep something going
silence is a dreadful thing ; though it is said
there was silence in Heaven lor the space of"
half an hour, don't let any such a thing occur
on earth ; it would be too much like Heaven,
for the inhabitants of this mundane sphere.
If, after all your watchful care, you can't see,
anything out of the way in any one, you may
be snre it is not becanse they have not done-.
anything bad ; perhaps in an unguarded mo
ment, you lost sight of them throw out hiuts.
that they are no. better than they should be
that you should not wonder if people found,
out what they were after a while, and then
they may not carry their bead so high. Keep.,
it going and some will take tbe hint and begin,
to help you after a while then there will be
music, and everything will work to a charm."
Arizona, axd Dacot ah. There will be an
effort made at the coming session of Congress),
for tbe admission of the Territory of Arizona,
and also of Dacotah. . One of these represents
the South the other the North, and n the dis
cussions touching. their admission, there will,
be room for an examination of the political,
history of tbe government, and the status ot
political men. We shall see what we shall see 1
. What is the difference between an attempted
homicide and hog killing , Oue ia an afcsaolU
with intent toiilL aadie iiber is a kill witb