Raftsman's journal. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, February 29, 1860, Image 1

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    BY S. B. KOV.
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, FEBRTJAEY 29, 1860,
YOL. G.-NO. 27.
THE LAST GOOD NIGHT.
Cl03 her eyelids press thein gently
O'er the dead and leaden eyes,
Tor the soul that made them lovely
Ilath returned unto the skies:
Wipe the death -drops from her forehead,
Sever one dear golden tress,
Fold her icy hands all meekly,
Smooth the little snowy dress; i
Scatter flowers o'er her pillow
Gentle Cowers, so pure and white
Lay the bud upon her bosom,
There now softly say Good Xight.
Though our tears flow fast and faster,
Yet we would not call her back,
We are glad her feet no longer
Tread life's rough and thorny track,
We are glad our lleavenly Father
Took her while her heart was pure
We are glad he did not leave her
All life's trials to endure ; ;
We are glad and yet the tear drop
Falleth ; for. alas ! wo know
That our fireside will be lonely,
We shall miss our darling so.
While the twilight shadows gather,
We shall wait in rain to feel
Little arms all white and dimpled,
liound our necks so softly steal :
Our wet cheeks will miss the pressure
Of sweet lips so warm and red,
And our bosoms sadly, sadly,
Miss that darling little head
Which was wont to rest there sweetly;
And those golden eyes so bright.
We shall miss their loving glances.
We shall miss their soft Good Night.
When the morrow's sun is shining,
They will take this cherished form.
They will bear it to the churchyard,'
And'consign it to the worm ;
lVell what matter ? It is only
The clay dress our darling wore ;
God hath robed her a an angel t
be bath need of this no nioro ;
Fold her hands, and o'er the pillow
Scatter flowers all pure and white;
Kisstbat marble brow, and whisper,
Cuce again, a last Good Night.
THE LOCKET.
OR, TIIB EACE FOR A 1ICS2AXD.
There never was such a romp as myself, yet
I was a little bit of a thing, ever ready to
vanish into thin air" when the Orthodox
minister called, or Aunt Emma eluded mo for
some misdemeanor, or pa said, "Coma Fan,
stop that mischief and put on a sober face."
1 alwaj s had a strange antipathy to tho "mas
culine gender," which my mother sagely re
marked, would end in my utter ruin, for who
would ever take a fancy to such a fly-away for
a wife. 1 As for pa, he always said I never
could stop long enough to get married.
I always told the folks, however, that I
should le married when I found time, and that
I had my future husband's miniature. A min
iature, in fact, I had. When hut a child, I
was playing in a little grove, when I espied a
chain glittering in the sunbeams. I drew it
lrm its hiding place, and found a locket at
tached to it, which sprang open by my acci
dentally touching tho spiinjr, levealing the
portrait f a little by, about my own age, who
looked a roguish at mo out of his deep blue
eyes, snd such a sweet mischievous smile,
that dinccd with delight, and ran home with
ph-c to show my mother the treasure I had
found. I always wore this miniature nroimd
my neck, and when any one jested with me a
bout getting married,! would laughingly show
them the locket, which I said contained my
iuture husband's miniature.
As I was quite an equestrian, my father
bought me, w hen I was old enough to ride a
3one, a little black pony ; and we, that is, tho
;j)ony and I, used to go racing over the plains.
Fa used to say I looked like some wild gipsy.
Generally I took one particular road, which
seemed more pleasant than all the rest of Fai
Tj'iKMik. There was another, however, run
ning parallel to it -for a mile or two, aud at
ro-6!ig these two met, and then ran otl in
xtiposite directions.
It used t be my favorite route to take one
of it hose until I had reached the crossing, and
tlx-ti the other road and so around home.
One Cue morning I set out, thinking I would
har a good ride before the rest of the family
were awake. Dick was very impatient until I
as fairly seated, when he sped away like
lightning, my hair and Dick's mane flying in
the breeze.
While I wns going at this rate, Dick sud
denly stopped short and turned his head to the
opposite road. I looked up to see what was
the matter, when, to ni3 amazement, 1 saw a
tall, manly figure coming my way, seated on
jet-black horse. Now for a race, thought I.
I knew if I could reach the crossing first I
should win. When I gained it, I glanced be
hind to see that my youth had not come in
sight, then reined in my pony behind a clump
of trees and shrubbery where we always stop
ped to rest in the cool shade. Soon my cham
pion made his appearance, and halted, looked
cp and down the road bewildered, to see what
had became of me; then bending his eyes to
the ground, he vainly tried to discover my po
ny's footprints.
After turning his horse oronnd at least half
dozen times in a very laughable manner, the
stranger came to the conclusion, I suppose,
that I had not reached the crossing, for he had
turned down my road as if to meet me. I
could see him quite plainly as he passed, and
made the interesting discovery that he was a
tall, handsome man, of about twenty-four.
I also discovered a merry twinkle in his eye
And a roguish smile, that looked extremely
natural to me, and made me almost think that
I had seen him before. I wailed until he was
fairly out of sight, then bounding from my hi
. ding place, I crossed over to his road and
started back with railroad speed. I soon saw
him on the other road and he saw me almost
as quick.
I could not help giving hi ma hearty laugh
at bis astonishment, which he answered by
doffing his hat, with an air that seemed to say,
You've caught me this time, but will hardly
do o again." I now thought I had fnn enough
for one morning, o Dick and I hastened home.
When we arrived father came to help me.
Giving me a glance he burst out into a hearty
laugh at my disordered costume. I ran up
the steps and was soon in my own room, and
taking a peep at the mirror I could not help
laughing at my tvild appearance. My hair was
all over my eyes, my hat on one side, my fin
gers peeping through my gloves, mv collar
unfastened and dangling down my back. As
I met father and mother at breakfast they told
me I mnst sober down a little, for Colonel
Frederick Parkes was going to call, and they
iihed me to be in readiness to welcome him.
I had beard a great deal about Col. Tarkea,
M fcai Barer mtt tiro.
"Welcome a colonel! It's preposterous I"
thought I, and with one of the brightest smiles
in the world, I informed father and mother
thut I had an engagement at cousin Maud's.
"He must be some great, tall, whiskered, long
nosed ogre, enough to scare the wits out of,
me," I said ; and with this very comforting
conclusion I set out for cousin Maud's, where
I remained through the day.
When I arrived at homo Colonel Parker had
taken his departure, regretting very much my
absence. The next da' I set out for another
ride, not expecting a second race, of courser
but turning my eyes to the opposi te road, I
soon discovered the same tall, gentlemanly!
figure, a little ahead. He locked around in a
few moments, and seeing I was behind, waited
until I came opposite, then raising his hat, he
started with full speed for the crossing. I
was soon more than even with him, and reach
ed the crossing first. I quietly rushed behind
the shrubbery. Soon he came up and was
puzzled as before at my disappearance. I
trembled for fear he would discover me, but
he never looked in the direction of my hiding
place. lie soon went on, when I left my con
cealment, and gave him another hearty laugh
as I again passed him.
The next morning I set out again, for I had
become quite interested in this novel acquain
tance ; but to my great disappointment I
could see nothing of him. "For shame, don't
make such a fool of yourself, Fan," I said,
and with this conclusion, cantered on quite
briskly until I reached my hiding place. I
turned round here and was looking at the sce
nery, when I heard a slight noise. Looking
up, what was my astonishuieut to find my ac
quaintance right ifi front of me, and gazing at
me with the most mischievous, roguish eyes
that you ever beheld.,
Dick seemed to have got on terms of inti
macy with his horse, for they had got their
noses together and were carrying on a secret
telegraphic conversation altogether foreign to
me. 1 sat a moment, winding tho lash of my
riding whip around my finger rather too
tightly to be comfortable, I fear and wishing
myself a thousand miles away. I made a des
perate attempt to flee ; but Dick had no no
tion of leaving his new acquaintance; I was
therclore left to my fate. I glanced at tho
stranger after making this fruitless attempt,
lie smiled at t'.ie look of despair pictured on
my countenance, and with a quiet "good mor
ning," ho asked me how I enjoyed my ride.
While I was answering, he started his horse
Dick followed without any trouble. I was at
fi-st annoyed almost angry ; but Dick for
once would have his own way; and at last
making a merit of necessity, I fell into a tete-a-tete
with the horseman. It was n't long be
fore I made the discovery that he was.the same
Col. Parkes that I had so much shunned the
day before.
From that time we used to meet every mor
ning. I do not doubt but there were a good
many silly things said between us. At any
rate, one afternoon who should drive up to the
door but Col. l'arkes, wishing to see my fath
er ! How my heart beat, as, leaning over the
balustrade, I heard his inquiry ! The gentle
men went into the library, and when they
came out, father was rubbing his hands and
looking very much pleased about' something.
I was called immediate'.
"Here you are. you little witch, to answer
for yourself," ho said.
"She has already answered me," said the
Colonel.
Pa laughed and gave me a pinch, and said I
was a "sly puss in boots."
We had a very quiet wedding. Neither of
us ever regretted tho step. Soon alter our
mariinge I was looking at my little locket and
thought I would show the treasure to my hus
band, telling the story of it, also my little sto
ry of its being my f uture husband's miniature.
As lie took it I saw a look of wonder on his
face. With n mysterious smile he asked me
if I did not think it resembled him.
"It is," said he, "a locket my mother used
to wear which has been lost for many years."
Pa says that after this he will believe any
story I may choose to tell, however preposterous.
Retained for the Snake. The San An
dreas JiidtpendentXtiWs the lollowing anecdote
of Col. J., (Col. Jones, we suspect,) a San
Francisco lawyer, who during the late cam
paign, put up for the night at a hotel in one
of the northern counties- The Colonel went
in to a little game of poker, (now we're cer
tain) and went through, and soon crept off to
bed. Soon after, a brawny specimen of Pikee,
dressed in "jeans" and wolf skin cap, arrived
in search of legal advice. He was taken im
mediately to the Colonel's room, where, after
wolf-skin shaking the legal gentleman into
consciousness, the following conversation oc
curred :
'Are you Squire J ?"
"Yes, what do you want old boy ?"
"Well, Squire, I reckon I shall hev tcr git
a feller o' your sort fur tur plead a lawsuit."
"What's it about, my good man ?"
Bout a boss."
Here the Colonel was all attention and cour
tesy. He raised himself on his elbows, and put
his ear close to the client's hps. Here, he at
once concluded, was a chance to get even on
the night's losses on poker a $300, perhaps
a $000 horse in dispute, and bright visions of
a $100 fee fitted rapidly across his mind.
"State all the circumstances if you please,
my kind friend."
"Wall," said old wolf-skin, "yer see as I
borry'd this 'ere boss uv a fuller named Elip
kins, what keeps a chicken ranch or. Poverty
Slide, (the Colonel drew his head in six inch
es,) an' arter I'd rid the sway-backed moon
eyed old critter till night (here down went the
elbows.) I kerried the wind sucker outen the
yard (Colonel's head struck the pillow,) and
staked his spavined bones on a hill 'ruong the
tall grass, to give his hide-bound carcass a
chance, for good provender. (The Colonel
waved his hand impatiently, but the old wolf I
. v ixr.il ..!.. -i !- 1 , : ? : - . i 1
Weill on. J ail, iiiiic-aunii'; uii mi nil liic
ghtndered snout, an' now the tarnal critter's
got tho big head, an' old Flipkins wants me to
pay damages. Yu've hearn the case, Squire."
"What's the damages ?" roared the Colonel.
"F-i-v-e dollars!"
nis head suddenly popped under the cover,
and the now raving Colonel shouted "Take
yourself out of this Vm retained for the snake"
Subscriptions are being received in Liver
pool lor the widow of Capt. Harrison. Up to
the last advices, the amount had reached $12,
500, Mr. Brassey, of the firm of Erassey,
Peto & Co., gave $2,500, and will contribute
"more If necessary."
A NIGHT IN THE FOREST.
In the year 1852. a naturalist, actuated by
that spirit of adventure which has character
ized this class, made an excursion to Cape Man
abique, in Central America, which separates a
part of Cape Amatique ftom that of Honduras,
at the furthermost end of the Caribbean sea.
Leaving his companions on landing, he started
alone on the line of the coast, the whole of
which is bordered by a dense forest, walking
for several miles through the burning sand, un
til he reached the dwelling of a young English
man named Stevens, who had the direction of
tne gathering of cocoa nuts on the whole terri
tory of Manabique, for which purpose he em
ployed a small gang of Spaniards, negroes,
Tamboos, Indians, Llandinos, &c. the greater
number criminals, who had escaped from the
pursuit of justice by taking refuge in these sol
itudes. Above 150,000 cocoa nuts are annually
collected here. Some idea of the arduous life
Mr. Stevens leads may be gathered from the
fact that he has to traverse, on foot, long tracts
of untrodden forests, and to paddle alone, in
small, leaky canoes, along the coast exposed
to the assaults of his lawless workmen to the
attacks ot wild animals, and to the continual
bites and stings of numerous species of insects.
Our naturalist rested here for a few hours,
and then, alter begging a few roasted plantains,
resumed his peregrinations. How he passed
the night in the forest, we will permit him to'
relate himself.
The beach, from this point onwards', presents
a monotonous and dismal aspect it is flat and
sandy, and shows few signs of life. Now and
then a broad pelican, flying heavily over the
boundless ocean, or resting on some wave, and
looking like a distant canoe, or a bird of prey,
soaring high above the neighboring forests, or
a few small sandpipers, trotting along the
pools, are the only moving things which divert
the stranger's attention from the mournful nu
merous remains of wrecks which are strewn
along the whole of this inhospitable coast.
I traveled on for many miles, until tired and
sorrowful at heart, I sat mo down on a pros
trate palm tree. Around me lay scattered the
cut masts of some large merchantman, with
fragments of rope and iron-work still attached
to them, broken barrels, boards honey-combed
by the navy worm, fragments of boats, loose
oars, and even clothes, trunks and water worn
articles of toilet. It was a melancholy picture
of desolation. Before me was spread, far and
wide, the expanse of the ocean ; not a sail was
on it, not a speck blemished its immensity.
Behind me stood the dark and gloomy fortfst,
from whose shade echoed neither the song of
the bird or the chirp of the insect. All around
me was vast and silen. It seemed as if I had
left this merry world of ours, and had aKghted
on some abandoned or fallen planet, I felt so
small, so weak,sncb an atom in creation at this
moment. I was the only human inhabitant on
this coast, the only lord of this domain. I
reigned, as it weie, over the death of nature,
and yet I felt meek and had no pride about me.
For the first time during my travels 1 was
lonely I wished some one were with me. I
longed to be elsewhere. My imagination, ex
alted by the effects of my long exposure to the
tropical sun, would have its own way. I saw
the noble vessel, to which had belonged yon
broken spars, drifting on a stormy sea; 1 saw it
overtaken by the hurricane; I saw the drown
ing mariner clinging to it till he dropped into
eternity ; I heard the distant wailing of the
mother for her son, who had never returned
from sea, and the gnashing of the tueth of the
greedy sharks, as they tore to pieces the lacer
ated body. And then the weeds around me
disappeared and wero replaced by fields of
waving wheat, and the desert ocean was cover
ed by the white sails of pleasure boats, and I
heard the sweet music brought to mo by the
evening breeze. The scene was beautiful and
full of life, and I felt happy. How much lon
ger I continued my revery I know not, but I
was suddenly brought to my real situation by
the distant rumbling of thunder.
There was I, thousands of miles from home
and friends, half savage and half civilized ; my
feet and Iet;s were bleeding, for I had worn out
my last pair of moccasins two days before, and
had now to walk barefooted ; an old red pon
cho was swung acids my shoulders ; tho lags
of my tattered trousers fluttered in the wind;
the skeleton of a Panama hat scarce hid my
uncombed hair; 'my faithful rifle lay on my
knees. Could this be I if No, it was the spirit
of a naturalist.
Strange sounds now began to issue from the
woods; the waves roared on the beach; the
storm was rising fast, and night was coming
on. I felt singularly excited. I laughed and
shouted aloud, for I was free, and a sense of
unrestrained liberty, indefinably pleasant,
buoyed up my hopes and energies. ; I looked
around me for shelter Irom the storm, which
was increasing rapidly. By a wonderful
chance, I discovered at a distance an abandon
ed rancho. A walk of a few minutes brought
me to it. Cocoa-nut gatherers had built this
temporary shed some months previous; it con
sisted ol sticks planted as A's into the ground,
covered with half-decayed leaves of the raana.
co palm. It was open at both extremities and
so low that I had to creep into it on my hands
and knees.
I lighted a pipe, and stretched myself on the
threshold of my wild home, listening to the
distant sound of the rain, which was pourirg
in cataracts over the forest, with constantly in
creasing tropical violence as it neared me.
Thousands and tens of thousands of minute
sand-flies (simulium) the true musquito of the
inhabitants of Guatemala, did not allow a mo
ment's respite from their attacks. Swarms of
them assaulted me on all sides, and made me
half frantic with their painful bites, and by
getting constantly into my eyes, nose and
mouth. 'This plague alone would be sufficient
to render the country uninhabitable to any
white-skinned man.
Darkness came on. I was soon in the midst
of the storm, and was reluctantly forced to
creep into the rancho. The rain battered down
with inconceivable violence. Flash after flash
of the most vivid lightning rent the black sky,
neal after peal of the most terrific thunder deaf
ened the ear and drowned the loud roaring of
the rolling waves, as one after another they
broke, in long phosphorescent streaks of lurid
light, upon the beach. The wind was blowing
a "chubasco," or stiffgale. I was wet through
in less than five minutes, and felt chilly and
weary. Now, did I think- with regret of the
quiet pleasures of the, comfortable fireside of
home, around which, ot a wintry evening I was
wont to sit with those I loved. All was now
gloomy, both pight and my yet darker tho'ts.
.... The thunder, however, gradually ceas
ed, bnt tbo rain fell heaTily for some time
longer. Then, for a short time, nothing was
heard but the dripping of water from the
leaves oi tne forest trees, and the hoarse voice
of the billows. One by one the stars peeped
out from behind the receding curtain which
uau venea mem. '1 also ventured out of my
retreat and lay myself on the sandy beach to
eat my supper, for I dared not sleep, through
iear oi oeing picsea up by some roving jaguar
or alligator.
1 was absorbed in reflection, when suddenly
x jjcitcucu out in iue sea, wiinin auout nan a
mile of the coast, a large black mass approach
ing toward me. l strained my eyes to pierce
the darkness which seperated me from it, and
clearly discerned a small light, or lantern, mo
ving regularly up and down. I knew by this
that it must be some ship sailing fast to des
truction. Without losing a minute I set fire
to the rancho, and in a few seconds a column
of flame was towering high up in the air, and
casting a ray ol light throughout the surroun
ding wilderness. My sigual was perceived,
and the vessel soon tacked out of sight. Ma
ny ships have of late years been lost on this
coast among others, two Belgian vessels, the
Constant and the Dylc. I have no doubt the
cause of these disasters is the action of the
marine current before mentioned, and which
is not marked upon the nautical maps in gen
eral use among seamen.
The coast being very low, cannot be seen
from any distance during the night, and altho'
exact observations of latitude and longitude
may have been taken during the' day previous,
the stream causes an unexpected deviation
from the point steered for, and when at last the
danger is apparent, especially if the north-west
wind should chance to blow, the saving of the
vessel is hopeless. When I returned to St.
Thomas, I found there the bark Progress, from
Antwerp. The captain had noticed my signal,
and by the use of his glass distinguished me ;
he had come to the conclusion that I was of
the native Caribbs, camping out for the night.
I had nevertheless preserved him from destruc
tion. : I heaped up some wood on the fire, and
determining on takicg a few hours of repose, I
cocked myjjistols,rol!ed myself up in my blan
ket, and lay down. I had reckoned without
the sand.flien and nocturnal sounds. Every
thing, at first, was still. The beautiful red,
green, and yellow fire-flies were flitting by
thousands through the air. Gradually, a sort
of humming sound reached my ears, proceed
ing from the depths of the forest. It swelled
and waxed louder and louder as it seemed to
approach me. Ten minutes more and I was
in the midst of the most infernal concert that
ever fell on human ears.
The din and uproar was astounding. Thou
sands of tree-frogs occupied every tree in my
vicinity, and probably lor a hundred miles a
round the numbers of enormous toads of va
rious fpecies were crawling everywhere ; gec
kos '(a species of lizard) glided invisibly over
my face and body ; innumerable swarms of
crickets, grasshoppers and cicades covered ev
ery plant of the Manabique territory. All
these creatures seemed striving to outdo the
others in the production of unearthly sounds.
It was one immense accumulation of singular
and inharmonious noises of croakings, pi
pings, bellowings, stridulations, saw-sharpen-ings,
chirpings, squeakings, chatterings. Im
agine to yourselves a million of voices rais
ed simultaneously, with every variety of in
tonation and with increasing perseverencc.
and you will stilr hive but a weak idea of
the discord which that night drove sleep from '
my couch.
From time to time the shrill cry of some
night bird startled me as it silentiy hovered
over me, and several times I distinctly heard
the roar of a jaguar, roaming along the beach
in search of the large turtles which at this sea
son come to spawn in the dry sand. Hosts of
sand-flies and musquitoes assaulted nie all
night, and irritated me, by the hopelessness
of getting rid of them ; scratching and slap
ping were of no avail, as those I thus destroy
ed with a sort of savage satisfaction were im
mediately replaced by new myriads. At last
the long-wished-for dawn appeared ,and the sun
rose rapidly above the hotizon. The howling
monkeys saluted its presence by a terrific cho
rus, which echoed far and wide through the
solitary woods, and crowned the wonderful vo
cal performances of this memorable night.
Silver Mines in California. Information
has been received from unquestionable sour
ces in San Francisco, that large quantities of
very rich silver ore have begun to come in
from the eastern slope of the Sierra, where it
abounds, apparently, In iuexhaustible quanti
ties. The ore is described as of far more su
perior richness to any ever obtained from Mex
ico or Peru, and improving in quality as it is
dug from a greater depth. A specimen of the
ore received, shows that the mines are very
finely granulated and intermingled with iron
pyrites. The silver is not visible to the eye;
but yet, as is well known, that is no argument
against its abundance. All lead ore of that
kind (Galena, or sulphuret of lead) contains
silver; and often in considerable proportions.
This from tho accounts received, is richer than
any other known. The ore is said to abound
on the surface, cropping out in rocks over a
considerable extent of country. The place is
only three or four days' journey eastward from
San Francisco, at Washee ; and a great ex
citement is expected to be the result of the
discovery.
Snake is a Lady's Dress. The London
Court Journal says : "A lady who had return
ed from India three years ago, and was the
other day opening a drawer in what is termed
a bullock trunk, to fcer amazement and horror
a snake rered up his head ; her first impulse
was to push the drawer to, but it was stiff and
heavy. She ran, screaming, down stairs for
help. , Her brother, who was in the drawing
room, went to her assistance, and preceded
her again up stairs. - The snake was not to be
seen, and the gentleman thought it must have
been his sister's imagination; so after some
little time, the search was given up. The
lollowing morning, a canary that always hung
in the lady's room was missing, and looking
into tho cage, the snake lay curled up at the
bottom of it, and all that remained of the bird
by his side. There was no difficulty in des
troying the snake, and it was discovered to be
what is termed a green snake, whose nature it
is to make a spring at the eye, when death im
mediately ensues. The marvel is how the rep
tile lived so long and the lady escaped."
A witty fellow slipped down on the icy pave
ment. While sitting be murmured, "I have
no desire to see the town burn down, bet I
sincerelr wish the streets were laid in ashes."
SENATORIAL PORTRAITS.
Cowan, of the Warren Mail, draws the fol
low ing portraits of the new members of tho
I ennsylvania Senate, in a recent letter from
Harrisburg :
First on the voting list comes our Senator,
Isaac Benson. He was raised in Waterford,
Erie County, read law with Johnson and Brown
in Warren, and commenced ', practice inCou
dersport, Potter County, in 1845, where he
soon acquired a heavy and lucrative business.
He is an earnest, matter-of-fact Speaker, a
safe counseller and an energetic, straight for
ward business man, whose word is as good as
his bond. In politics he was a Whig. Now
he is a Republican of the straightest sect,
running as near to radicalism as bis sound,
practical, common sense will allow. These
qualities, added to his untiring industry and
sobriety, his abhorrence of cliques and clap
trap, log-rolling legislation, with his thorough
devocation to principle, will make him one ol
the most reliable and creditable representa
tives in the Senate. He served in the House in
1857 and 1858,being the first Republican mem
ber irom sturdy little Potter. His teuacity
of purpose and party zeal were, exhibited fair
ly in 1857 when, barely convalescent, he left
his room, at the peril of his life, to come here
by forced stages in time to vote for Cameron
and defeat a Democratic U. S. Senator. Of
just such mettle is the Senator from Tioga,
Potter, McKean and Warren.
Dr. E. D. Crawford represents Jnniatta,
Cumberland, Perry and Mifflin, ne is the
only Democrat of all the Pennsylvania eleven
who escaped to tell the tale of his party's loss
in the last campaign. This is his first year in
the Legislature. He is a youngerly man, of
middle hight, with slight figure, dark hair,
pleasant face and reserved manner. In politics
he is said to be Anti-Lecompton and Anti
Bigler, which probably saved his bacon last
fall. He has not yet claimed the floor, and I
do not therefore know anything of his talking
power.
The next is De Lormalmbrie, representing
Beaver and Butler. He served in tho House
in 1850, 1857 and 1858 with credit to himself
and satisfaction to his constituents, with whom
he is deservedly popular. He, too, is a young
middling sized man, slightly stooping, with
brown hair and whiskers, a serious, thoughtful
face and qniet manner. He is always ready to
vote but seldom speaks. He is a thorough
Republican and a reliable, high-minded repre
sentative.
E. n. Irish Is a young lawyer from Pittsburgh-
His first legislative experience was
in the House last winter. Politically he is
very strongly Anti-Slavery, having originated
the Congressional resolutions this winter, and
the Personal Liberty Bill last. He is a fair
speaker and : an industrious and successful
worker. He is one of the youngest men in
the Senate and the ladies say the handsomest,
having a fine figure, very black hair and whis
kers and an easy graceful action. lie succeeds
Dr. Gazzan and will make a faithful and able
representative.
Lewis W. Hall represents Clearfield, Cam
bria and Blair the famous Bigler district.
He is a young man, new in legislative life and
popular at home, as his success proves. He
practices law m Altoona ; has a heavy voice
and fair powers as a spcaker,though they have
not yet been much exhibited in the Senate.
In person he is tall and slim, having an acqui-
hve nose, sandy hair and whiskers and an in
telligent expression. .
W. W . Ketcham represents Luzerne. lie
served in the House last year where he took a
high rank lor a new member, lie is a lawyer
by profession and is said to be an able speaker,
lie is about the average stature, rather thick
set with a restless eye, lull face and florid
complexion. All his movements remind you
of the earnest, go-ahead, out spoken man of
businessand the determined Republican which
you would expect to represent the constituen
cy of Luzerne. They are not mistaken in
their man.
George London comes into the Legislature
for the first time from the district composed of
Bradford, Susquehanna, Wyoming and Sulli
van. A constituency so true to Freedom
should send a true man, and they have. A
Methodist clergyman formerly, he comes to
his place with more than an average reputation
for eloquence and ability. Whether he will
fill the expectations of his friends in this new
sphere, remains to be seen, as he is no wise
anxious to claim the floor. He is in middle
life, nearly the average size, with sandy hair
and whiskers, a musical voice and quiet man
ner with an under current of good humor and
a strongly knit frame capable of almost any
fatigue. He is one of your straight out, en
energetic, earnest men, and I suspect that,
once buckled into the legislative harness, he
will be a hard customer to handle.
" J. E. Meredith represents Indiana and Arm
strong. This is his first year in the Legisla
ture. He is a Surveyor by profession and a
pleasant, upright, quiet, industrious man, al
ways in his place though he seldom or never
speaks. He is in middle life with silver-gray
hair, tall, well formed and dignified, looking
much more like a Senator than some of his
younger companions.
A. K. McClure is another of the young Sen
ators, though he comes with two years experi
ence in the House, where he served in 1858
and 1859. lie represents Adams, Franklin
and Fulton, is a lawyer by profession and a
politician of the old Whig school. He stood
in the lront rank in the House, and, if he
chooses to exert himself, be will 1 ave very
few superiors in the Senate. He has a tenor
voice but speaks with more than ordinary
eloquence and electrical force. Tall, well
formed and commanding, you do nothing but
listen when his big head and broad shoulders
rise at a front desk in the Senate. With strong
partizan likes and dislikes, ho always has a
bitter fight when he runs, and is always trium
phantly sustained by his constituents. The
people of the North-west remember and ad
mire him for his valuable services in behalf of
the Sunbury and Erie Railroad.
George Co"nnall hails from the Germantown
section of Philadelphia. lie1 has no legisla
tive experience, this being his first year. He
is known as a successful, industrious; business
man in the real estate line.and an active work
er in the Opposition party of that city. He
will doubtless make a quiet, reliable and in
dustrious member. He is of nearly medium
size, with brown bair. a pleasant face and ner
vous activity. He speaks readily and to tne
point, but neither olten nor at length.
George B Smith also bails from Philadel
phia. He has bad considerable legislative ex
perience tad a varied fortune. He vaa in the
Houso in 1811, 1818 and 1855, having been de
feated two or three times for the same place.
He is well versed in the rules.speaks often and
with considerable force and earnestness, and
is indefatigable in whatever he undertakes.
Formerly he was a member of the American
order, but has latterly been strongly enlisted
in the movements of the People's party tn
that city, being an untiring politician. In
person he is in middle life,tall and among the
heaviest men in tho Senate, stooping some
what and having black hair, a full face and a
donbtful expression, fond of fun and never
fails to make a party or personal hit when
chance turns up.
The Dakcino Girls or Java. The Elmlra
Advertiser is publishing a series of letters from
China, written by Hon. Frank Hall, in one of
which he speaks of the dancing girls of Java i
At evening came a troupe of dancing girls to
the hotel, under the supervision of the inde
fatigable Paul, accompanied by a native band.
1 he dancing girls, three In number, were from
the interior of the island, of small stature and
slight forms, eighteen or twenty years old.
Their dress was like that of other females,
though gay in color, the satang being mad
of red and blue. The sash was drawn tightly
around the body, that the rounded outlines of
the lorm might not lie lost. Around the waist
was a cincture, overlaid with silver leaf.tinsel
bracelets on their arms, and wreaths of fra
grant leaves entwined with their dark hair.
Lights were brought from the house, and the
dancers began their evolutions on the crushed
coral avenue in front. The dance was little
else than a forward and backward movement
with the feet, accompanied by a swaying mo
tion of the body, in accord with tho music.
Each dancer carried a fan, which was kept in
constant motion, not so much for cooling pur
poses as a graceful adjunct of this Javanese
ballet, bach one sang in turn unknown words '
to indescribable tunes, covering her face as
she sang with her fan, and marking the time
with her little feet and swaying body. These
Javanese men and women have small hands
and feet of symmetrical shape. The band was
led by a native of solemn countenance, ,wito
his one-stringed fiddle; a brazen gong, did
good dnty in lieu of a bass drum; another
beat an oblong wooden drum, and yet another
had before him three symbals, which be beat
with a wooden mallet. Both songs and musio
were for the most part rude enough, though at
times they succeeded in producing strains of
pleasant melody. The soft, flowing Maylayan
tongue has been very aptly called "The Italian
of the East,''- but these girls sang in a native
Javanese dialect.
now to take Life Take life like a man.:
Take it just as though it was as it is an ear
nest, vital, essential affair. Take it just as
though you personally were born to the task ot
performing a merry part in it as though the
world had waited for your coming. Take ii
as though it was a grand opportunity, to do
and to achieve,' to carry forward great' and
good schemes; to help and cheer a suffering,
weary, and it may be heart-broken brother.
The lact is, life is undervalued by great ma
jority of mankind. It is not made halt as much
of as should be the case. Where is the man,
or woman, who accomplishas one tithe of what
might be done ? Who cannot look back upon
opportunities lost, plans unachieved, thoughts
crushed, aspirations unfulfilled, and all caused
from the lack of the necessary and possible
effort! If wo knew better how to take and
make the most of life, it would be far greater
than it is. Now and then a man stands aside
from the crowd, labors earnestly, steadfastly,
confidently, and straightway becomes famous
for wisdom, intellect, skill, greatness of some
sort. The world wonders, admires, idolizes)
and yet it only illustrates what each may do,
if he takes hold of life with a purpose. If a
man but say he will, and follows it up, there
is nothing in reason he may not expect to ac
complish. There is no magic, no miracle, no
secret to him who is brave in heart and deter-'
mined in spirit. r.
Old Ossawatomie has been heard from thro
a spiritual communication in New York. He
says: In the light of the spirit world, I also '
discern that though most of those with whom
I associated were hypocrItes,and I cannot have ,
hope, yet some are but infatuated, and I wish,
to warn all such that if they would have th
slightest chance of heaven, they must turn
from their Abolitionism and Republicanism
and become Democrats at once. Exchange, .
We were in hopes that that last rope would im
prove old John Brown's politics, but he seems
to be about as bad in the other world as he wag
in this.' We presume.however, that the Dem
ocrats will now cheerfully unite with the Abc
litionists in canonizing him.
Ricn. The editor of a Mississippi paper
thus lets ofT on somebody who called him poort
"We poor! No sir-ce, not by a jug full. Why,
we have a library made up, lor the most part,
of patent-office reportsnd Kansas speeches
a double-barrelled pistol that won't stand rear
ed back ; a good watch ; six suits of clothes ;
fourteen shirts; a cat; a bull pup; seventy
five ceqts in cash, and no poor kin ; and are
going to haye a pretty wife ; and, as soon as
possible, a town lot ! Talk about beiDg poor.'
The New Orleans Picayune notices the large
increase of the Japan plum tree in that city.
The tree is very handsome , in itself, and the
fruit, ripening when no other fruit, is in season,
the plums appearing in market as early
February, a most valuable addition to the pro
ducts" of the garden. One orchard, in th
neighborhood of that city, of about 300 trees,
brought, last sprmg, nearly $4,000.
Severe. A Mississippi editor lately declar
ed that no hnmarr power could break the bonds
of the slaves in that State. To which Pren-
tice returned that he had no idea that the
blacks of Mississippi could as easily get rid of
their bonds as tho whites of that State got rid
of theirs a few years ago. It will be remem
bered that Mississipp went into bankruptcy t
sew years ago. - "' -
A Pennsylvania Shaker, while engaged In
selling seeds, was expelled from Virginia a
short .time since. The excuse assigned . is,
that he proved himself to be ah abolitionist by
offering for sale an improved white bean ! ,
The terra of Mr. Ilickock, State Superinten
dent of Common Schools, expires on the 1st,
of June next. It Is said that Mr. H-wiU de
cline a re-notsinat!on. and that the Hon. H:
L. Dieflenbtugn will be bis successor.
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