1
i.
VOL. 5. NO. 36.
BY S. 13. 110.
CLEARFIELD, PA;, WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1859.
, " . i i - i ' " - A.
I
WHATS. TRUMPS?
There are so many cards to play,
So many ways to choose,
In love, and politics, and war.
That forwarding your views
With ladies' airs and statesmen
1 WHO,
Or men of lesser bnmos.
Before we lead our strongest suit,
. 'Tis well to know what trumps.
Once worshipping at beauty's shrine,
I knelt in bondage sweet.
And breathed my vows with eagerness,
And offered at her feet
My soul, well stored with Cupid"i wealth
A love-cemented lump.
A king ot diamonds won the trick,
My heart was not a trump.
Raving to see my rival win.
Upon a single rub,
As he played the deuce with me,
I followed with a club!
Two days within a station house ;
Reflecting on my sin,
I found as others may have done',
Clubs very seldom win.
Grown wise with sad experience,
I ceased to deal with maids;
I suSed youthful follies off.
And turned up jack of spades;
Yet still I find as dnt is scarce.
And smaller grow the lumps.
That thoagh the spade ' an honest-card,
It is not always tramps.
But in this world of outside show,
Where mammon rules the throng,
To case the little jolts of life,
And smoothly pass along.
To find an antidote for care,
And stern misfortune's bumps,
One card is very sure to win
Diamonds are always trumps '.
ORIGINAL.
CLEARFIELD COrSTV:
OR. REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST.
The history of Clearfield County remains un
written. The dangers, privations, toils, and
Interesting events in the lives of its early set
tlers, arc now known to but few, who, in the
order of things, must in a brief period be gath
ered to their fathers. Doubt, then, and un
certainty will surround and destroy tho forco
of the traditions of circumstances connected
with the first settlement of this part of the val
ley of the West Branch. Pleased with the
narration of incidents in the lives of the hardy
pioneers, as related by those who witnessed or
were parties to them, and related with so
much of feeling and expression that the reci
tal seemed to infuse new lite in the speakers,
aud reaew the vigor of their youth, a listen
ing ear was lent to many of the details con
tained in this sketch j the interest they crea
ted caused a desire for more- information,
which led to a correspondence on the subject,
and now a wish to preserve some of the rem
iniscences of the past from oblivion, induces
the present publication. A few years ago, ere
time in its flight had visited some ot our ear
ly homes, removing from the hearth-stones the
venerable sires and matrons whose thoughts
dwelt pleasantly on the past, or before old age
had dimmed tlioso pictures of stirring scenes
which were vividly impressed on the memory
of their cotcmporarics, would have been a more
oppoitune time to have gathered the material
for this undertaking. Now many of those
things which would have ointed a moral, il
lustrated character, or added interest to the
sketch, are lust.
To the man of contemplation, tired of the
frivolities and hollowness of conventional life,
there may be a pleasure in the pathless woods;
but it required iron will, indomitable courage
and fixedness of purpose, prompted by a stern
sense of duty, in the early settlers, to impel
them to sever youthful associations, desert
' those spots endeared to tbcm by the recollec
tions of childhood, abandon thoso convenien
ces to be found in old settlements, and pene
trate fur into this, then, trackless wilderness,
here to consecrate their lives to toil, in felling
single-handed the pridd of the forest, and
wresting from mother earth a subsistence for
themselves, and their offspring. With such
men, to will was to do. That they possessed
the nerve and perseverance which, under oth
er circumstances, might have earned for them
the laurels of the victor, or procured them a
niche in the temple of fame, their works a
bundantly testify. That their aim was noble,
their efforts untiring and their objects attain
ed, the reverence in which their memories are
held, tho conveniences which are now enjoyed
by their children who "rise up and call them
blessed," ,and the confidence reposed in their
progeny by the community in calling them to
fill honorable and responsible posts, can leave
no room for doubt. Peace be with those who
rest from their labors..
Clearfield County lies to the north-west of
the Allegheny Mountains, occupying a central
position in tho State It is washed along its
eouih eastern boundary by the Mushannon
creek, a tributary of the West Branch of the
Susquehanna Kiver. This latter beautiful
mountain stream rises in Indiana county, en
ters Clearfield at ita south-west corner, mean
ders through it, receiving the waters of Cush,
.Chest, Anderson, Clearfield, Sinnamahoning
and several other large tributaries, and leaves
. the county near its north-east corner. The
country is hilly, though its', valleys contain
much rich bottom land. Wbefe it has not yet
been tilled, it is covered with a dense growth
of pino and other timber, the everlasting ver-
" dare and variegated foliage f which arrest
the eye of the beholder, presenting scenes of
grandeur and beauty worthy of being trans
furred to canvass. Here on some elevated
spot, one may cast bis eye around, overlook
ing majestic, pines destined to furnish spars
s'or noblo exalts i ia the iim distance be may
perceive the crest of the Alleghcnys, from
which seems to spring the etherial arch ; be
low him flows the West Branch, alive with jol
ly raftsmen hugging a point, running a bend,
or experiencing the risks of navigation in
transporting the products of the winter's labor
of the woolsmen to market ; on one side he
observes a village so surrounded with hills he
can scarce believe its inhabitants are ever dis
turbed by the anxieties and troubles of the
busy world, and hero and there he discovers a
few deadened trees, the rude beginning of
some stout-hearted youth, or broad fields cov
ered wih grain just awakening from its lethar
gy, near which are those evidences of comfort
that display the owper's wealth and taste.
The county contains 1250 square miles of
territory, is generally tillable aud has a gener
ous soil yielding to the husbandman a reward
for his labor. Tho West Branch and Us trib
utaries ramify throughout the county, offering
advantages for the erection of water-works un
surpassed in the State. Possessed of a salu
brious climate, untold wealth in her forests,
and inexhaustible stores of iron ore, limestone,
bituminous coal and other minerals, she must
som day support a largo and thriving com
munity and take rank among the most impor
tant counties in Pennsylvania.
On the 20th of March, 1804, the provisional
county of Clearfield was erected. It included
in its boundaries all that part of Lycoming
and Huntingdon counties, "beginning where
the line dividing-Carman and Broadhcad's dis
trict strikes the West Branch of the Susque
hanna river, thence north along tho said dis
trict line until a due west course from thence
will strike the south-east corner ot McKean
county, thence west along "the southern boun
dary ot McKean to the line of Jefferson coud
ty, thence southwestwardly along the line of
Jefferson county to where Hunter's district
line crosses Sandy Lick creek, thence south
along the district line to the Canoe place on
tho Susquehanna river, thence an easterly
conrse to tho south-west corner of Centre
county on the heads of Mushannon creek,
thence down the Musoannon creek tho several
courses thereof to the mouth, thence down the)
4
West Branch of the Susquehanna river to th
place of beginning." Some ef this- territory
has been taken off and forms a part of Elk
county. The county was . united to Centre
county for judicial purposes until 1S22, when
it was regularly organized and the same priv
ileges conferred on it as was enjoyed by its
sister counties. Its name was derived from
an old Indian town at or near the present seat
of justice and called by the Indians Chincha
clamoose. The "Canoe place," mentioned in
the boundary, and also known as the Cherry
Tree, from the fact that a Cherry tree stand
ing near the bank of the river where it re
mained until a few years since, was marked as
a monument of a line - run from the Susque
hanna river to Kittanning about the year 1770,
deserves a passing notice. The Canoo place
was tho highest point at, which the river was
then navigable by that species. of vessel, tho
now, sinco obstructions havo been removed,
rafts are "navigated from a higher point. . It
was, until Cherry-tree vill.ige was erected in
to a borough, the corner of four counties In
diana, Cambria, Jefl'crson and Clearfield. The
Canoe place is memorable because it formed a
point in tho boundary line of the last purchase
which the proprietaries of Pennsylvania made
from the Indians at Fort Stanwix, November
5th, 1768, by which a largo scope of country,
embracing that part of Clearfield county to the
south-east of the West Branch, was acquired,
and the title of tho Indians to the soil extin
guished ; and also being a corner of the pur
chase made by the Commonwealth at the trea
ty of Fort Stanwix, October 3d, 178 1, by which
the Six Nations ceded their whole right to
the residue of tho Indian lands contained with
in the charter bounds of Pennsylvania, which
purchase included that portion of Clearfield to
the north-west of tho West Branch.
Doubts having been entertained of the au
thority of the Commissioners of Centre coun
ty to levy and assess taxes in Clearfield, in
March 1805 tho Legislature conferred on them
that power, but they were to keep thti accounts
of tha two counties seoerate and distinct. At
the same time, Clearfield county was mado an
election District and the general elections or
dered to be held at the house of Benjamin Jor
dan, known familiarly as "(5 rand-dad Jordan,"
who then lived on tho south-east side of tho
River, on the farm now owned by Benjamin
S packman, and near where the State road from
Milesburg to Le Bocuff crossed. The citizens
of Centre and Clearfield united in selecting
the same officers, and with the exception that
the jurisdiction of the justices of the peace of
Centre county did not extend 10 uiearuem
county in civir-cascs, the territory of theso
two counties and the nniuhabited country
known as McKean county, were to all intents
nrt nnrnosea ' one political division. The
xr r
eastern part of the county gaining some popu
lation, wo find that a new election district was
forme4 in 1808 out of Bradford and Beccaria
townships and that part of Half-moon town
ship in Centre county west of tho Allegheny
...ntaint. which held its elections at tha
house of John Gearhart, the progenitor .ot
large and worthy family, who still resido
tha same neighborhood , near. Philjipsburg.
1815 pailot Cbincbaclamooso township was
authorized to hol4 ita election at tho bouse of
Andrew Overdorf at tho forks of Sinnamaho
ning. A remodelling of the election districts
took placn in IS17, when old Chinchaclamoose
had her place of holding elections changed
from Jordan's to tho house of Wni. Bloom,
Jr., who at the second election for county offi
cers was elected Sheriff. That part of Brad
lord township north of the mouth of Wheat
land run, was directed to bold its elections at
the house of George Smeal, and the balance
of Bradford and Bcccaria township were to
hold their elections at the house of John Crce.
LThe county seat had been fixed at an early
date. Commissioners had been appointed by
the Governor, under an act passed in 1S05.
The Commissioners were authorized to receive
grants of money or land for the benefit of the
county, either for the erection of public build
ings, the support of an Academy, or other
public use. The Commissioners, Roland Cur
tin, James -Fleraming and James Smith, met
at the house of Benjamin Patfon in Bellefonte,
on the 20th of May, 1S05, received several pro
posals, and afterwards made a visit to Clear
field county to determine the most eligible
site. They found the lands claimed by Clo
ver near Curwensvillc, and also the land at
"the point" tho confluence of the Clearfield
creek and West Branch claimed by Samuel
Boyd, a colored man, to bo disputed territory.
The piece of bottom land then owned by Mar
tin Hoover, and now occupied by Andrew Ad
dlctnan, was considered the most dcsirablo lo
cation, but the owner believing it too good a
farm to be spoiled by tho ereetion of county
buildings, it could not be obtained. They
laid out the town of Clearfield on the site of
tho old town ot Chinchaclamoose, on the prop
erty of Abraham Whitmcr of Lancaster coun
ty, it being the most eligible situation, and he
donating one town lot for a court house,, one
for the jail, one for a market lot, and three for
an academy, also three thousand dollars in
money, one half of which was to be applied to
the purpose of ejecting an academy, and the
balance to erecting county buildings in the
town of Clearfield. . No change was made In
tho manner of conducting -the affairs of the
county until in 1812 tho citizens of Clearfield
were authorized to elect County Commission.
er,4klicu-aobert.MaxweU,nugIi Jrd-iVlon?
8 Samuel Fulton ve,ro selected the latter for
ono year, Jordan for two and Maxwell for three
years and Arthur Boll, Sr., was by them ap
pointed Treasurer. The Commissioners of
Centre still selected jurors, and matters con
tinued thus nntil in 1822, when tha embryo
county of Clearfield was cut loose from "Mo
ther Centre." This union, which existed for
some years, brought about the more rapid set
tlement of Clearfield county, and strengthened
the social, political and commercial bonds be
tween tho two counties, which still leaves in
the breasts of our citizens a strong attachment
for Centre and her people.
(to be cosTixrEn.)
DREADFUL EARTHQUAKE.
A recent arrival brings accounts of a dread
ful earthquake in the province of Eqtiador,
South America. On the 22d day of March, at
half-past eight in tho morning, the earthquake
shook the mountain range oi tue L,nimoorazo
for tho space of four minutes, destroyed al
most entirely tho city of Quito, and killed
from 2,000 to 5,000 persons. Tho churches,
monasteries, convents and State edifices are
nearly all rent to fragments. The Convent of
San Angustin, the labernaclo ue la Oapilla,
tho Temple of the Scgrano, tho Cathedral, the
Convent of Santa Catalina, the 1 alacia del O
bispo, the Chapel of la Merced, the Chapels of
the Cathedral, of tho Hospital, of Urnicn Ya-
jo, too cloisters oi me uionveni oi oama uo-
mmgo, a part oi uonvictoria or ban r crnanao,
arc all partially or wholly in ruins; also tho
convents of San Diego, Santa Clara and Santa
Barbara. There is scarcely a house in tho city
that is not badlv damazed. That portion of
the Palace occupied by the Minister of the In
terior, a great part of the College at Luis, and
the splendid mansion of Dr. Albnja, have also
fallen. All tho principal - buildings or tne
neighboring towns of San Antonio, Cotocolla,
Machacha. Chillogallo and Alagdaiena nave
been destroyed. The loss of property is esti
mated at three millions of dollars; and from
tho poverty of the people it will bo impossible
to repair and rebuild any great number of the
better class edifices destroyed, i no suocks
were felt simultaneously in Tacunga, Anibato
and Alausi, and in Tinpullo the earth opened
in various places. The earthquake was also
felt at Guayaquil, but did no damage there.
The temples of San Francisco, del Sagrario
and Santa Clara were of beautmu architecture;
the temples and convents of Santa Domingo,
la Merced and San Angustin, all bad fine stone
facades and towers ; the temples of Santa Ca
talina and Concepcion, and the Hospital, also
had stone facades. Quito is said to contain a
bout 50,000 inhabitants. It is bnilt on an ex
tensive plain, against the mountains of Pane
cilia and Pichincha, and is about 9,500 feet a
bove the level of tho sea. Most of the houses
are two stories, some three, and a part one sto
ry. Many are built of burnt brick, with hand
some facades, but the greatest portion are un
burn cd brick or adobe. "
The Washington Union thinks that the de
cay of the Democratic party is owing to its
excess of great men. . A more general im
pression is that it is owing to its lack of them.
Tbe excess of great men may be a cause of tho
deeay of parties ; but, if it is, we think there
never las been a time in tbe history ot the
Democratic party when it had so little to fear
lrom (his quarter. " ' -,
A School Teacher had been explaining to
his class the points of the compass, and all
were drawn up fronting toward tho north.
"Now what ia before you, John I' -
"The north, sir."
"And what behind you, Tommy I
"My coat tail, air," said he, trying at the
same time to get a glimpse of it. -
A SWIM FOB LIFE.
About twenty years ago, s man-of-war was
lying at anchor in the principal harbor ot
Antigua, which as most people know, forms
one ot tho group called the West India islands.
It was a hot sultry day in tho beginning of j
June. The heavy fog, which at that time of
year occasionally hangs like a curtain over
everything, had been dispersed by the heat of
the sun's ray, and HKe a retreating enemy,
waa rolling slowly back to tho horizon. Not
a breath of wind stirred the water, not a sea
gull flapped its wing round the ship. The
long pennon drooped laz'ily from the mast, as
though sharing in the general langor of nature.
The surface of the sea was like a mirror, only
disturbed by an occasional black fin that rip
pled lazily through the water lor a little dis
tance, and disappeared as its possessor sunk
again into the depths beneath. As the sun,
however, rose . towards the meridian a Dreeze
began to spring np not cool and steady, but
coming now and then in irregnlar pufls, and
hot as the breath of an oven. Notwithstand
ing the suspicious appearance of the weather
and the rapid fall of tho thermometer, a party
of midshipmen asked permission to take the
pinnace for a few hours' sail, and obtained it,
but on the condition that they should not go
far from the ship. Tho party, consisting of
six middies and two mates, started according
ingly in great spirits.notwithstanding the wat
ning.growls of some of the old tars. Thought
less and fearless as sailors generally are, they
paid little attention to the freshening wind,
and tho fast altering appearance of the sky.
The tide was running out with great force, and
they were soon outsido t'.ie raoutu of the har
bor, and slipping down the side of the island
with a fair wind, and v. ICi th- full strength of
the ebb. One of the mates v.-as at the helm , a
middy with the sheets, Oie rest stretched lazi
ly about the boat, smosting and talking, when
liko a thunderbolt, a violent squall struck
them.and the light boat capsized in an instant.
All its crew, were immersed, but soon made
their appearance again, swimming like corks
on the surface, and tn a short time were col
lected like a flock of water-fowls on the keel
of their upturned boat. ' When they had sha-
a
ken the water out or their eyes, looKea auout
them a little, and found their number undi
minished, they held a consultation on their
condition, and tho chances for and against
their rescue. Tho prospect ot auairs was
certainlv not inspiriting, and to people pos
sessed of less buoyant dispositions than them
selves, would have appeared hopeless. They
were dincrine to the wreck of a small boat.
their ship was hidden from sight by clouds of
rain for the storm nad now come on iu u m
furv and iho land was invisible from the same
. Dcrfcct hurricanc. and worse than
cause. The sea was rising last, mo wmu
'all, they were drifting with Juii- torce o wica
and tide into tho Caribbean bea; once lucre,
font of the track of vessels and far from any
land, their fate would be certain. Such bcin
the state of thines. many hopes were express
ed that tho ship would send boats in search of
them. Comfortable suggestions, but with too
littlo foundation. At last the two eldest de
termined upon a plan, which nothing but tho
desnerato emerffencv of the caso could have
suggested. It was to attempt to swim ashore.
The land was about three miles from them ;
thev were both first-rate swimmers, and as tar
as the distance was concerned, might have at
tempted it on a calm day without much fear of
fa lure : but in a heavv sea the caso was aiuer
ent, and both wind and tide, though not dead
against them, combined to sweep them down
under tho leo of the island. Above all the
place swarmed with sharks. Nothing daunted
however, these two brave fellows stripped to
the skin, and after a short eood-byo and
hurried exhortation to the big onca to hold
the little ones on and all to keep up their
pluck, they leaped into tho sea
They had both resolved to stick to one an
other as lone as they lasted, both lor mntnal
encouragement and as some sort of protection
against the much dreaded sharks. For nearly
an hour thev swam on. sometimes lying on
their ' backs to rest, sometimes striking out
again for dear life. Up to this timo, although
much fatigued, they had seen no sharks; and
they wero encouraged by a glimpso, through j
a break in the gale, of the land, as it rose dark i
and forbidding above its white fringe of break
ers. But all at once, without a moment's :
notice, hey wero surrounded on all sides by
the black fins. An exclamation of despair j
forced itself from them at this sight, and both
waited in agony of suspense for tho moments
of pain which were to end their existence ;
still they mechanically swam on, and to their
surprise", tho sharks although playing around
them, did not touch Uiem. They made con
tinual short rushes at them, and when the
poor fellows closed their eyes in all tho agony
of death, passed by them ; or, turning on their
backs they would open their monstrous jaws
and close their teeth with a loud clash within
a few inches of their victim's body. One of
theso men said afterwards that be felt at times
like a mouse in tho power of a cat that plays
with the poor wretch beforo sh makes her
supper off it. Still however, they swam on,
the thunder roaring, the lightning flashing a
bove them, struggling against a heavy sea,
terrific wind, and strong tide, tired and ex
hausted, with these horrid monsters swimming
round them. Ono often reads of nights of
terror that turns a man's hair gray. Many ol
these may be considered peaceful when com
pared with the horrors of . that five hours'
swim. At last however, they succeeded in
nearing the extreme end of the island ; the
sharks one by ono left them. The last howev
er, made a farewell plunge at tha lad nearest
him; and though he missed him with his teeth,
struck him a violent blow in tbe stomach with
his strong tail. The poor fellow called out ;
aud his companion, who was swimming a few
yards in advance, though thoroughly exhaus
ted, returned to his friend's assistance." He
supported him until he recovered sufficiently
to proceed, and at last they onco more touched
the firm ground. They struggled up the
beach, and lay down for a few minutes, utter
ly worn out ; but the thought of their com
rades clinging to that upturned boat roused
them to fresh exertions. After staggering on
for about half a milo in the direction of some
houses they met a number of negroes, who as
our heroes were entirely naked, attacked them
with stones and they would in all probalulity
have fallen victims to this "nigger" sense f
decency, had not an officer fortunately passed
bj at the moment and recognissd them. "
In a few minutes their story was told, aud
prompt measures wero adopted to rescue, the
remainder of the party. Boats were quickly
launched under the lee of the island ; and tho
two mates although nearly dead from
tion, persisted in embarking in them. The
danger was not yet over, for tne sea i was ruu-
ning mountain nign ; ine guio- " .
ted. and the night was coniiug on fast. After
a long and bard pull, nothing could be seen
of tbe miasms ones. It had neconiequiiuuai.,
and they .were beginning to despair. One
boat bad already mrneu lowarus ura
when by tho light ot a vivid nasn. u.ey aw
on the crest or a nuge macs wave mo
tied boat with its knot of half drowned boj .
They soon pulled up to it, and tound to tneir
groat joy the numoer compieic. xucjr
had beguu to despair ; bad feared their two
brave comrades had perished ; were wearied
aud half suffocated by the constant seas tnai
were continually breaking over them; and
some were talking of loosing their hold when
tho timely relief arrived.
On reaching the shore, tne iwo uravu mwa
. ... . : v. rtUwAil thoip
iiva m. rn reaction nuicu
exertions and exposure was great and danger
ous. One died, a victim 10 ms ueruiam ,
other lived, but his health was seriously in
jured, and his powers or mina anecieu uy
all that ho nad gone lurougu , i """
terwards he would stagjuprtn bis bed with a
shriek of terror as he saw, in alt the vivid re
ality of dreamland, those monstrous snarKS
glaring at him, and heart tne gnasti ei mcir
sharp teeth , ,
This wonderful escape can only ue accoun
ted for by the fact, that the spot wnere mey
landed was the site ot the klaughter house for
the troops, and that tho snarss were o mibu
with the offal thrown into tne sea ai muk nine,
that even tho unusual delicacy of "white
man" could not tempt them. If however,
only a few drops of blood had tinged the wa
ter, the case would have been very diflerent ;
fox sharks, lilte beasts oi prey, are arou i
fury at the sight of it, and in tho condition
of these two poor fellows, the slightest scratch
would have been instantly Jatal to them.
CUTTING FE3TCE TIMBER.
A practical farmer in a communication to
the Germautown( Pa.) TWegrupMdvances Pe
culiar theory in regard to the period for cut
ting timber intended Tor lences, especially
for posts. The prevalent opinion in regard to
the best time, is when the timber is most free
from san. and the very worst time is when it
contains the most sap. j.ius ptwiiwi iwuwi
refered to entertains the very opposite opinion
On one occasion he cut down some excellent
white oak in the month of February and set
it out in fence posts, and alter this he cut
down the sime kind of timber in the month
of May (when it contained most free sap) and
set it out into posts also. The former posts
lasted only six year ; th latter endured twen-
tv-two vearn. . v . - -
Thiscoirespondent also advocates tho cut-
tini of t mbcr for rails about tne moniu oi
May when it contains most sap. He 'says if
timber is cut for rails when tho sap is running,
the bark then stripped ofT and the rails made
immediately, they will last one fourth longer
than if cut at any other time and have the
bark left on. The insido bark of the wood
is the first to decay and rot; being of a porous
nature it contains air and water which carry
the process of decay into the wood. When
the bark is peeled off, tho sap soon dries and
prevents decay." All experience goes to
prove that the lark shonld always be peeled
from chestnut or other rails in order to render
them more durable; this is well known to
every farmer, but It will hardly be conceded
that tha best time for cutting rail timber is
when it contains most freo sap. This is a
practical qucstiou however which can ouly be
decided by experiments, and it is one ot no
smIl importance, as a vast outlay is caused
annually for repair of decayed fences.
A enrions phenomenon was observed during
the recent volcanic ernption at the bandwich
Islands. A correspondent of a California pa
per says : "unco wmie standing upon a rocs:
with several others, perhaps two hundred feet
from tho stream, a loud, ringing noiso was
heard, as if the rock had been struck by an
immense sledge-hammer. We started, not
knowing but I'elo was nndcr and after us, but
soon found our alarm groundless, though the
noise was probably caused by the liquid lava
running under tho ground, and singularly fil
ling np a cave beneath ns. A little after a sin
gular scene presented itself the appearance
of a man sitting upon a rock and riding along
on the top of the fiery lava stream. So de
ceptive was this .illns ion that several of the
party, when it was first observed, looked a
round to see if one of their number had not
by accident got on the stream. The life-liko
image moved slowly along, till suddenly his
bead tumbled off, and the whole image soon
disappeared." " ,
A Youthfci Father Matthsw. A youth,
IS years of age, by tho name of C. Langdon
Davies, is creating a great sensation in tbe
provincial towns of England. To judge from
the enthusiasm be aeenis to create, the man
tle of a Father Matthew appears to have fallen
npon him. Mr. Davies has just delivered two
orations in Wigan. He spoke in such a way
that alternately tho tears ran down the cheeks
of his younjr. audience, or their merry laugh
ter drowned his voice- Ho poured forth ar
guments, illustrations, metaphors, allegories
and perorations, speaking as if he were those
of whom ho spoke, and working np bis audi-
enco to an intensity or sympathy rarely
quailed. One hundred and fifty signed the
pledge of abstinence in tho two eveninzs.
When the hall was entirely elear, Mr. Davies
left with tho committee, but outsida were
hundreds waiting to see him depart, which hs
did in a closed carriage, amidst cries of "God
tsiesayou."
Wc knew an old man : who believed that
what was to be would be. Ho Jived in Mis
souri, and was ono day going out several miles
through a region infested in early times by
very savage Indians. . He always tok his gun
with him, but this time found that some of the
ramily had it ont. As he would not go with
out it, some of bis friends tantalised hiia by
saying there was no danger of the Indians,
that bo would not die until his time had como
anyhow.
"Tea," said Iho old fellow, "but suppose I
was to meet an Indian,and his time had come,
H wouldn't do to not have my gun." '- -.
; It is said that this old fellow was first cous
in to "Bob Logic."., ........ ,;., j-:
' The worst feature on a man's face is Lis tcse
stuck ia other people Luiioeas, ; - 4
CLOSING SCENES OF THE EICXXES TRIAL.
The closing scenes of the Sickle trial, on
Tuesday the 26th April, were esceedingly im
pressive and excitin?. The JurT retired at
precisely ten minutes before 2 o'clock. The
room was crowded with spectators, and in
stinctively every eye was turned toward tho
clock. Every minute that passed by was set
down as fresh proof presumptive of a disagree
ment.' The crowd gradually broke np into
groups. TM counsel oi air. aicaies gaiucrvu
around the dock.. Mr. S. himself was as calm
and sell-poseessed as usual, and conversed
with his friends, most of whom spoke only
words of hope and eneouragement while
few ventured to warn him of the chances of an
adverse result. . His only reply was-. "Iam
prepared for the worst," though his manner
indicated that hope was completely dominant.
For a time silence had prevailed in tne uourt
room, but as timo wore on ims gvo j i
the buzz ot whispering voices. Col. Seldon,
the Marshall, had taken possession ot the witness-box
and kept up a steady cenveraation
with the Judge. The appearance of a knob
by little policeman, who came in and ordered
out chairs for the Jury, made the assurance
doubly sure of those who expected a disagree
ment. The jury were evidently "seiung o
their work." Then .came further confirma
tion. The Jury bad asked for a fire. Clearly
tbey were to make a night of it.
The hot, uneasy, jammed and nervons crowd
was rapidly working itself np to a pitch of
most unnecessary but very natural excitement,
and like all crowds in such a state, grew eve
ry moment more open-mouthed, credulous and
greedy of the very worst possible conjectures.
The prisoner, meanwhile, let it be said to bis
credit, bore himself with perfectly unaffected
calmness and seir-posseasion j , mougn me
anxiety and the suggestions of his friends were
eminently calculated to upset any man's com
posure. " '
At length, just as the clock struck three,
there was a rap beard from the inside of the
door ot the Marshall's room. It was not a ve
ry loud rap, but it electrified the crowd, bro't
the lounging reporters np to tbeif bearings,
roused the wearied Judge, silenced the bus
zing groups. The news, in the usual myste
rious way of all news, bad come out before
the jury. Nobody brought it ; but the little
white door of tho jury room had hardly swung
half-way open before there ran through the
Court room tho ill-suppressed murmur, " II e
it acquitltd !"
The jury followed their verdict, and it seem,
ed an age before they had all filed, one by one,
back into their box, their venerable foreman,
Mr. Arnold, at their head. "Gentlemen of
tho Jury," said the Clerk, inhisdry, official
tone, "have you agreed npon your verdict V
"We have," replied Mr. Arnold, in a soft, low
voice. "Stand np, Daniel E. Sickles," aaid
the Clerk. The prisoner rose. "How say
you, gentlemen of the Jury, do you find tbe
prisoner at the bar, as indicted, guilty of not
guilty t" "Not Gritrr." -
If anybody had still persisted in doubting
which way ran the sympathies of the Washing
ton people in this case, I think his skepticism
must have given way beforo tho scene which
followed. The decorum of the Court went off
at once in a most irregular but irrepressible
cheering. The Judge and the Marshall did
their best in a quiet way to repress this out
burst of enthusiasm, but they were merely do
ing a formal duty, and the moment was ratner
informal for all concerned, and so the judicial
accents wero lost in the general clamor. X
do not think, however, that either the Jurigw
or Marshall took this misconduct very seri
ously to heart, or that it was felt to be a very
dangerous assault npon the dignity of the
Bench and the Conrt, '
It rettortd ilself to order as soon as its first
flush was over, aud sutlercd Mr. Stanton to ask
of his Honor "the dischargo of the prisoner."
That his Honor H-l order the dischargo of tbe
prisoner is presumable, though it was not easy
lor anybody to hear his reply, or to mako out
anything very clearly that followed, till Mr.
Sickles was seen thanking the jury for fits
"safe deliverance." There were a few "car
riages drawn np in front ol the court bo so,
and into one of these, through a dense mass
of shouting and cheering men, Mr. Sickles
was hurried, not without difficulty, by his
friends, and driven rapidly off to the hoeeeof
his friend, Mr. M 'Blair, on President's square.
There be was received with a genuine wel
come by the ladies of the family, but could
not so easily escajKj from tbe congratulations
ol the hundreds of persons,- officers of both
services, clergymen of various denominations,
lawyers and citizens generally, who insisted
upon testifving their belief that, in the ac
quittal of Mr. Sickles, the jury had simply
vindicated the natural sanctities of the fami
ly and tho home. - - ;
Messrs. Brady, Chilton, Stanton, Philips and
the rest of Mr. Sickle's counsel were not for
gotten in this outburst of popular feeling, but
were felicited at the National Hotel on tbe
happy result of their labors by a succession
of enthusiastic crowds. -
Mkmoet. Tbe Count St. Germain had
wonderful memory . Any newspaper be rent
once he knew by memory, and was furnished
with such a gigantic comprehensive pewer of
numbering that be retained a aeries ol a thou
sand numbers, which he could reoits forward,
backward, and pushed out from' ffte middle.
From the Court of Henry III- i Cracow, be
demanded one hundred packs of picked cards,
mixed them together in disorder, let bin tell
all the succession of tbe card, ordered it to
be noted down exactly, and repeated their fol
lowing, one after tbe other, without being
wrong once.' II played almost every musics I
instrument of tbe world, waa an excellent
painter, and imitated any band-writing is the
most illusive manner. He had bnt one pas
sion playing all games with absolute mastery.
In chess no mortal had vanquished him, and
in faro be could break every bank by calcu
lation. - :...., .
"When we're married, Julia, you'll ree bow
I'll drive yon to the Csfttle in a carriage."
"But, Dennis, where ia tbe; money to come
from 1" "Oh, we don't want any money ; peo
ple do these things cow-a-days on quite s new
principle, I assure you." indeed!" said Ju
lia, "res," replied JV-oni. "and often tbey
do them without any I'ttnrtpat at alL" ' -
, " Vtbo may that ba I ' asked an Irishman or
a bystander, m tbey stood looking at a fe'Icw
who waa aUggethig along in the street. "
rJis name is Cobb,w waa the reply. '; - -'5
"Cobb r", repltrrt Paij fhc nxmtfiqi 5.
itcua i-j ut i retvy ell coraed, k-J ; v
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