Raftsman's journal. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, May 23, 1860, Image 1

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    BI S.-B. ROW.
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, O0.
YOL. 6.-JTO. 5
1
THEBE'S WOEK EJTOTJGH TO DO. ,
The blackbird early leaves its rest,
To meet the smiling morn, '.. , . ... ,
' And gather fragments for its neit .
From upland, wood and lawn. r
f The busy bee that wings its way
Mid scenes of varied hue, :
' And every flower would sccra to say .."
f "There's work enough to do." . ,
The cowslip and the spreading vine,
The daisy in the grass,
The snow-drop and the eglantine,
Preach sermons as we pass.
The ant, within its cavern deep,
Would bid us labor too; "
And writes upon his tiny heap
"There's work enough to do."
The planets at their Maker's will,
Move onward in their cars.
For nature's wheel is never still
Progressive as the 6tars '.
The leaves that flutter in the air
', And Summer's breezes woo,
One solemn truth to man declare
"There's work enough to do.".
" Who, then, can sleep, when all around
- Is active, fresh and free ?
- Shall roan creation's lord be found ' ' -Less
busy than the bee ?
Our courts and alleys are the field.
If men would search them through,
That best the sweets of labor yield,
- And "work enough to do."
To have a heart for those who weep,
, The sottish drunkard win.
. To rescue all the children, deep
In ignorance and sin
To help the poor, the hungry feed,
To give him coat and shoe;
To see that all can write and read
Is -'work enough to do."
The time is short the world is wide,
, ' ' Aad much has to be done.
The wondrous earth, and all its pride,
Will vanish with the sun.
The moments fly on lightning's wings.
And life's uncertain too,
We've nono to wa.ste on foolish things
" '-There's work enough to do."
A FORTUNATE MISTAKE.
It VM On lhn PVn!no' nf thn "nrl nf Tinnirr
in 185-, that 1 went to hear the Duchess
Qiciucfujce,Ha,ai mat lime, attracted the
l : a I -14-1 - -
usuionauie worm 10 nor concerts, lor no other
earthly reason, I suppose, than to have it to
. - . ii... I . J :. . j a j
say iiiui. uiey nuu usicueu iu a real uucuess,
while, at the same time, I firmly believe that
superior native-talent "went begging." I
went to hear the Duchess, partly co kill time,
and partly from a desire to hear and see for
myself the marvellous foreigner whose name
was in every body's mouth. When I reached
the concert-room, it was crowded to its ut
most capacity. It was so closely wedged that
one could havo studied anatomy, alter a fash
ion, merely from the impression of your neigh
bor's bones. At the close of the concert, I
wa borne along with the crowd, and jammed
through the doorway at the risk of breaking
every rib in my body. Ere I could escape
from the throng, and while I was shrugging
my shoulders to assure myself that my collar
bone was in its proper position, I felt a hand
clasping my arm, aud a musical voice exclaim
ed : " You good-for-nothing, I thought I had
lost you I What o frightful jam! I do believe
my arm is broken, and my dress I know must
be ruined, and all for the sake of hearing that
Strainervoyce ! I would not give Miss Dwight
or Miss Floyd for a world of Strainervoyces !"
1 was on the point of replying that 1 agreed
with her, but restrained myself, laughing in
wardly at the novel position in which I was
placed, and wondering who my fair companion
could be. Evidently she mistook me for her
brother,' or, possibly, her husband, judging
from the familiarity of her manner. " Why,
Kalph, how forgetful you are ! Here is the
cutter." Then adding, in a sympathizing
tone, " Forgive me, Kalph your poor head !
I am sorry I made you come."
" Pardon rue, madam, but "
" O nonsense, Kalph! Ton have become
half a barbarian sinco you went to China, to
permit ino to seat myself, whilo you stand
there as il I were your wife, and yon ten years
married, instead of your sister, whose ready
assistant and attendant in place of a better
you should be."
" Excuse me, but "
" Kalph, I'll catch my death of cold sitting
here; and such a long ride, too J" Here the
lady gave a perceptible shiver. "Do muffle
rue up closer, Kalph, and sit down, or I will"
What she would have done I did not wait
to hear, but tucking the robes around her
closely, waved my hand to tho driver, and
away wo glided over tho crimp sparkling snow,
to tho.music of the merry sleigh-bells.
" I won't ask you to talk to me, with that
headache, but I want you to listen to me,"
began my companion, the moment wo started.
" 1 wanted to talk to you coming in, but that
little chattel-box, Maggie Woodbury, prevent
ed me from saying a word to you. You re
member poor little Milly Walker, Kalph. Her
mother died about two months ago, and poor
Milly has gone to live with the Deans. Mr.
and Mrs. Dean have been very kind to her,
Lut then they are poor, and of course it is im
possible for them to do more than to shelter i
her. How any one can have the heart to
Wound Millv Wnlbpr" fiflinr in a mrstpn .
j - - - - - --"o- j - - j v
me, and yet every occasion that presents itself
f 1 , .... .
J3 acizea upon uy me wares ana jvings to in
sult her, even to commenting upon the poor
girl's father's .actions, as if she could have
prevented that which occurred twenty years
ago; and I havo seen Sarah Ware imitating
htr walk, regardless of poor Milly 's tears."
J could uot restrain an exclamation of disgust
as I listened to this. " I knew it would dis
gust you, Ralph. Well, the doctor says now
that Milly will always be lame there can be
nothing done for her. I have been thinking,
ever since her mother died, that, if she had a
good teacher, sho would not only in time be
independent, but famous as a painter. You
should see some of her attempts. Milly Wal
ker Is a genius, Ralph. But that would re
quire money, and where is the money to come
from J You know I haven't much, Kalph, but
I have determined to do something for our old
playmate. I can save out of my allowance at
least one hundred dollars, and now, if you will
give double that amount, what will that do for
Milly 1 I was counting it op the other day,
nd, if I am correct, it will send her to the
Institute, and pay for the full course, and, at
the end of that time, if Mllljr Walker is alive,
aha will show the world what a woman can do.
v hen I look at that poor girl, with her rare
m,nd Jnd her craving for knowledge, I cannot
help thinking how superior she is to me, a
mere Idler; and I sometimes think that, if
ne cad my place and I hers, there would bo
more justice in the distribution of the world's
good and comforts., Don:t sayl'in silly and
sentimental, Ralph. 1 know you will give
your share towards Milly's education, like a
good brother, as you are. I have been talk
ing to her about it, and I know I can manage
it so as to overrule any scruples she" may have
against receiving anything from us."
Here my companion became quiet, and the
question presented itself to my mind, " How
am I to escape from this awkward position
honorably.? Here I have been guilty of list
ening to a communication intended for the
car of another have been guilty of an inex
cusable deception, practiced upon a stranger
and a lady knowingly. Perhaps tho honest
plan would be to acquaint her at once with the
mistake, and solicit her pardon." I had at
last summoned courage sufficient to clear my
throat, and was about to commence my well
studied speech, when my companion gave a
little laugh, as sho said . ;
" K'eally, Ralph, you are very entertaining
in your own peculiar way ; but if you are as
dumb when you are in the presence of Miss
Vincent as you have been to-night, sho is to
be pitied rather than envied. You are little
better than a barbarian ! But here we are at
Uncle Graham's, and you know I promised to
stop with Carrie to-night, so you will have no
one to bother you the remainder of the road
How singularly you do act, to-night, alph !
w en, l won't tease you any mote."
Suddenly, the driver drew up before an ele
gant residence, and, imagining I perceived a
loop-hole whereby 1 might escape from my
awkward predicament, I sprang out of the
cutter, and assisted tho lady to the ground.
"Is your head still aching, Ralph ? Good
night. Why, you forgot to kiss me." As the
fair face was upturned to mine, with its tempt
ing lips awaiting the kiss, I pressed my shawl
flown trom my mouth suddenly , and let my head
down to receive the most delicious kiss that
ever was bostowed by maiden. ' " You need
not wait ; Carrie is coming I hear her," said
tny companion as he tripped up the steps,while
1 stood irresolutely by the cutter.
Then, my dear fellow," 1 mentally ejacu
lated, it is time you were off." And, seat
ing myself in tho cutter once more, glided
over the sparkling snow, but whithei I knew
not. 1 only knew that I had lost a charming
companion, whoso lips, a moment since, were
pressed against my own, and whom, in all pro
babiuty, I might never meet again. And
when I recalled her generous offer, her sym
pathy for the poor lame girl, and her self-ac
cusing spirit, so unlike that of my acquain
tances in general, I longed to know more of
her. Then, again, my cheeks tingled when I
remembered tho deception I had practiced
And what would she think of me when she as
certained as she most certainly would, soon
er or later tho truth ? .
But my speculations were cut short by the
abrupt stoppage of the cutter, whereupon I
stepped out leisurely, picking up from the
bed of the cutter, as I -did so, an exquisitely
embroidered handkerchief. Upon looking at
it closely, I perceived the initials " C D." in
one of the corners. I was reminded of mv si
tuation at that moment by the inquirin
glance the'driver bestowed upon me, as he ob
seived my movements. Without vouchsafing
a word of explanation, I turned away from him
and walked homewards. Evidently, I bore a
very strong resemblance to Mr. Ralph D.,
whoever he was. When his own sister and
the servant were deceived by the resemblance,
it must certainly be very great. True, the
cap was drawn down firmly, almost concealing
my eyes, and the lower part of my face was
muffled up in a heavy shawl ; still, taking ev
erything into consideration, I said to myself,
the similarity of dress, feature, manner, must
be wonderful, thus to deceive one's relatives.
The winter air was in that communicative
mood termed " nipping," and, remembering
that a walk of four miles lay between me and
my lodgings, I walked forward briskly, revol
ving in my mind tho different aspects of my
adventure, as they presented themselves, one
after another, and resolving to keep my own
counsel. I walked perhaps a mile, when I ob
served a gentleman approaching at a walk as
rapid as my own. As he drew nearer, I was
struck with his resemblance to me height,
size, manner, and dress, even to the plaid
shawl around his neck, and tho buttons upon
his cap were the exact counterpact of my own.
I think tho resemblance must have struck him
at the same time, for, as we were passing each
other, we involuntarily passed, bade each oth
er a pleasant " Good-night," scanning each
other closely and curiously, then strode on.
" Mr. Kalph D.," I said to myself, as I turned
to look at him. Singularly enough, Mr. Kalph
D. was at that moment looking at me : but the
instant he was detected, he wheeled around and
resumed his walk. Ere I reached my lodg
ings, I resolved to ascertain, if it was possible,
who the young gentleman was who had arriv
ed from China so recently, that I might there
by assure myself to whom I was indebted for
a delicious kiss, and whose acquaintance I was
very desirous of making. .
Early the following morning. I sat down and
wrote a few lines to Milly Walker, the lame
girl, and inclosing one hundred dollars In the
note, sealed it., and depositing it in my pocket,
sallied forth in quest of the information I so
much desired. Wending mv way to a friend's
store, I encountered his errand boy, who was
at that moment entering the door. .
" George," I exclaimed, affecting a careless
manner, " are you acquainted with tho
Road?" t ., .
Yes, sir, very well."
" Can you tell me who lives in the large
house with the brown stone front on the left
going out, about four miles out of town ? It
has three columns I think. The house staads
bak from the road."
"Oh, you mean Mr. Dwight's. But it's
more than four miles out there, sir."
"How far is it?"
" About four and a half ; maybe more." .
" Thank you. That is all Iwant," I replied,
as I passed into the store, where I addressed
my note to " Miss Milly Walker, care of Miss
C. Dwight, Road;" then sauntering out
slowly, called the boy to me. ,
" By the way, George, I have a letter to de
liver out there. Do you think you could do
it for me ? . slf you would call a cab any way
that you get there soon ; and when you deliver
it, don't delay a moment. I don't care about
having you questioned." '
He was a shrewd lad, and . as he listened to
me, I knew by the expression of his face, that
he guessed my motive.
" You don't want them to know where it
came from, if you can help it ?"
" You understand me, I see."
" Well, I can manage it for you, Mr. Clark,
My uncle, Mr. Dean, lives out there." .
" Is Mr. Dean your uncle ?" I inquired has
tily. . - .
" Yes, sir." ,'
There is a lame girl living with him ?" ;
"Yes, Miss Walker."
" Can I trust you, George ?" I inquired. '
" xoa may, sir, if you want to help Miss
alker without knowing who is doing it."
it en, mis letter is tor aiiss w ai&er, as you
win perceive, it is a money letter, and if you
can convey it to ncr, that is all that is requir
ed. lou will keep the matter to yourself?"
I added, as I endeavored to place a small gold
piuoe iu ms nana.
" JNTo, sir, not a cent, Mr. Clark, I only wish
i couia ao twice as much lor Miss Walker,'
exclaimed the manly fellow. " I shall nut the
letter where she will get it, and she will never
Know wnere it came from. 1 will go out there
to-nigut.'; . . ,
" Very well, George," I replied, as I left
him, feeling satisfied thar the note was in safe
hands. .
A few evenings after this adventure, I was
in attendance at a large party, and seeing the
lady in the crowd, I inquired of a friend who
she was. . ; . ,
" That lady in blue ?" said ho. .
; ".No, the lady beside her."
"Have you not. made her acquaintance?
mat is Miss Dwight, and a very particular
iriena ot Miss J: loyd s."
' " Anything to Emma Dwight?"
"STo; they aro quite intimate, however
Let me present you." .
I fancied that Miss Dwight bestowed a look
of more than ordinary curiosity upon me as
my cousin presentea me; but 1 I had the
effroutery to meet her inquiring look, as
unconscious of the fact that I had met those
eyes before, and had received from those lips
a sisterly Kiss. As I seatea myself beside her.
I overheard the words, " Taking everything
into consideration, I think very little blame
can be attached to the gentleman," uttered
in a merry tone by a gentleman who was at my
elbow, but whose lace was turned trom me.
"Pray, have donc,Ralph !". said Miss Dwight,
as she tapped his shouldnr lightly with her
fan, a faint blush suSusing her cheeks. ,
"But the coolness of the whole proceed
ing !" continued tho gentleman, heedless of
her remonstrances. "The fellow even gave
uer a oroineriy kiss."
"Ralph !" exclaimed Miss Dwight, energeti
cally, as the blood mounted to her forehead,
aying her face and neck crimson.
' "Conie,come, Dwight ! Don't ask us to be
lieve that !" exclaimed one of the croup.
' "Well, she cannot deny having complained
to me, the next day, that he .was exceedingly
stupid thinking I was the offender all the
while and scarcely uttering a word ; thatin.
tact, she bad to do all the talking."
"We ..will take that with considerable allow
ance, too," replied one of the listeners.
"I met the fellow on the road," continued
tne goniiemen ; "ana l must say i never en
countered a man so like myself in all my
travels."
"In truth, you are a barbarian, Mr. Dwight,
to tell such a thing upon your sister," exclaim
ed Miss i loyd, with a merry laugh.
"As if I did not owe her ten times the a
mount ! Ever since my return, she has been
teasing me in every conceivable manner," he
replied, turning around suddenly towards her,
and, in doing so, encountered my steady gase.
"S'death!" ho ejaculated, with a perceptible
start, upon lacing me.
Miss Dwight flashed a meaning glance upon
him, then suddenly turned towards me, as if
to observe the effect his exclamation and man
ner would produce upon me," but I was equal
to the emergency, and maintained an unruffled
composure.
"I did not hear the first of that. Miss
Dwight," I said, as I cast a careless clance
over the wondering group, and another of pre
tended astonishment upon Mr. Dwight, who
evidently felt no little annoyance.
".Perhaps it is just as well," was the reply,
as she glanced at her brother. "Kalph is re
ally unmerciful when ho begins. I am glad
that you didpot hear the whole ; but now that
it is out, I may as well give a correct verson
of the affair. Like an attentive brother, he
permitted the crowd to separate us at the close
of the Duchess Strainervoyce's last concert,
and I was so unfortunate as to mistake a stran
ger for him, who accompanied mo home with
my error. Thinking that it was Ralph and
that his headache prevented him from con
versing, I did perform rather more than a fair
share."
"Then all the blame must be laid upon Mr.
Dwight. He should be the last one to mention
it. His want of proper feeling is very much
to be deprecated ; but we will hope that ho
will change for the better," said Miss Floyd.
"I think even now he exhibits sings of repen
tance." "And have you no idea who the gentleman
was, Miss Dwight ?" I Inquired.
"Until lately" placing an emphasis upon
the word "1 had not the slightest cue to the
gentleman," she replied.
"Does she know the truth ?" I asked myself.
"Have I betrayed myself? I might have
known her woman's instinct would detect me."
While these and similar thoughts occupied my
mind, I became engaged iu an interesting
conversation with Miss Dwight. In the course
of it, allusion was made to the Duchess Strain-
ervoyce. . . . . -
"Did I attend her last concert ?"
Really, was it the last, or the one preceding
it, or the second? Certainly, I attended one
of them, but which of them ? My memory
was so treacherous ! Perhaps it was the last;
at least there was a suffocating jam ! .
And the conversation went on as before.
The digression removed all doubts from her
mind. I at least had known nothing of her
adventure prior to that evening, when her
mischief-loving brother made it public.
I do not think I was romantic at that time,
and yet I must confess that, from the begin
ning of our acquaintance, I entertained the
hope that Miss Dwight would one day become
my wife. ; I was not disappointed.
It was perhaps six months after we were mar
ried that I carried home in my pocket a news
paper containing a flattering notice of Mrs.
flark's protege, Milly Walker. As Mrs. Clark
employed herself with her work, I drew forth
this paper and read to her the notice. Milly
was in Rome, pursuing her studies and making
for herself a great reputation. As she listeu-
ed to the flattering comments paid to. her pro
tege, Mrs. Clark's face lit up . with a glow of
pleasure. - . : - , . : , i
"Kalph used to laugh at me when I told him
mat atilly would one day make a great name
lor herself,'? she said, musingly. "But she
made a greater reputation for herself than
evenev4;r dreamed of. How glad she will
be to bring back to me some of these rare
periormances ! I have so often wondered,"
she continced, as she resumed her work, "who
it was that gave her the money ?"
"You mean the centleman who accomtn!
ed you to your Uncle Graham's from the Con
cert ?"
"Yea
It was very singular, his giving the
money m the way he did."
"Doubtless he did it to secure your good
opinion."
"Ihen be has r ever had the satisfaction ot
knowing how it was received." .
"Ur as a kind of penance, to atone for the
deception practised."
"Certainly his gift has accomplished much
more than he has any idea of ; he would, tho',
very likely remember her, and doubtless ere
this has heard the many flattering things iaid
oi ner." . .
"Of eoursehe has."
"How do you know ?" inquired Mrs. Clark,
looking up from her work. "He may be dead."
"uut ne is living, Caroline ?",
. "IPAo isliviDg?" , I. .
, "The gentleman you so often think about
who gave Milly Walker a hundred dollars, and
whom you kissed.".
"Mr. Clark !" exclaimed my. wife, as the
work fell from her hands into her lap."
"Mrs. Clark !" I retorted.
"You don't think ! How can you say such
a thing ?" And a puzzled expression rested
on my wife's face that, in spite of all my pow
ers of resistance, forced me to laugh aloud.
"Oh ! I remember now," she said ; "Ralph
said something like that once at Miss Floyd's."
Then you deny having kissed him ?"
She then threw down her work suddenly and
arose, "Harry is it possible that it was you ?" '
"And very probable, certainly !"
"And you have concealed ft all this time.
You are the most deceptive ot men!" she ex
claimed. : , ., . . .
"Don't blame me for doing what neither
you nor any other woman can do, and that is,
keep a secret." ....
"I will not believe it." . . .
"Because you tried to surprise me into a
confession, and failed," I replied. "Then
let this be the proof." And I drew from my
pocket (T was prepared for this scene) the
embroidered handkerchief, and pointed out to
her, her initials, hereupon she boxed my ears.
T A Difficult Question Answered.
"Can anybodi tell whv, when Eve was manufac
tured from one of Adam's ribs, a hired girl wasn't
made at tho same time to wait on her?"
n e can, easy f - Because Adam never came whi
ning to Eve with a. ragged stocking to be darned,
a collar-string to be sewed oh, or a glove to be
mended "right away, quick now !" Because he
never read the newspaper until the sun irot down
behind tho palm trees, and then stretched him
self, yawning out, "Ain't supper most ready, my
dear V Not he. He made the fire and hunsr over
the tea-kettle himself, we'll venture to s a v. and
pulled tho radishes, and peered the bananas, and
did everything else that he ought to ! He milked
the cows, and fed the chickens, and looked after
the pigs himself. : He never brought home halt a
dozen friends to dinner, when JKve hadn't any
fresh pomegranates and the mango season was
over ! He never staved out until eleven o'clock to
attend a "ward mealing." hurrahing for the out-and-out
candidate, and then scolded because poor
dear Eve was sitting up and crying inside the
gates. To be sure he acted rather cowardly about
applc-gatherinz time, but then that don't denro-
ciato his general helpfulness about the garden !
no never played Dilliards, nor drove fast horses.
ncr choked Eve with cigar smoke. He never loaf
ed around corner groceries, while solitary Eve was
didn't think sho was specially created for the pur
pose oi waning on nim, ana wasn t under, the im
pression that it disgraced a man to lighten his
wife's cares a little. That's the reason Eve didn't
need a hired girl, and wo wish it was tho rcasou
that nene of her fair descendants did !
Capture or A Slaver The U. S. steamer Mo
hawk, Lieut. Commander Craven, arrived at Key
West on the 30th nit., with a slaver, an American
clipper-built barque, called the Wildfire, about
ed from New York on the 16th of last December,.
v wvm.w ...... .... U J iu a A U 1 1 ALUUi U VlCUi
jtanno)ie, master, lor fct. ibomas. bhe had on
board about 500 Africans, all quite young and in
very good condition. She has a Spanish crew of
lo men. I he epamsh captain calls himself Man
uel. She has also an American captain, Rath born,
and eight men, Americans. The latter pretended
to be passengers, but are probably the American
crow oi tne vessel, the barque having a Spanish
crew and an American crew. The Africans were
taken onboard the A ildfire at the Coneo river.
Tho crew was to receive S800 for their portion of
me proceeds ot the sale jot the negroes. They
were out 30 days, and would havo landed their
cargo before had thev not been becalmed four
days where they were at the time of capture. A
majority of the Africans are children of from 8 to
lo years of age. The females amount to about
70. The crew of the vessel made no resistance,
and were taken and sent on board the Mohawk.
and since her arrival, have been delivered up to
the United States marshal. The negroes will be
anded as soon as a place can be built for their ac
commodation. Many of them have been confined
in the hold of the vessel so long that they are not
aoio to waiK... ADeut BO died on the passage.
l'hiladelphia is a moral city in the daytime. A
young man the other night complained to the po-
l : i. .. . - i i . , i i i i , . ,
"to miii n uuiorcn gin u wnom ne uau lavisucu
some street gallantry, going so far as to offer her
an oyster supper, had run away with his watch
and purse. The police pursued and caught the
depredator, who had on woman's garb, it is true,
but it was a man, an undeniable male negro. It
appears that possessing an effeminate face, Parry
Urown has been in the nisrhtly habit of clothine
niseii in the habiliments ot the other sex, and
coming out to prowl about the town. Whenever
he succeeded in catching the eye f a well-dressed
but immoral man, youne or old, he would exert all
his fascinations, and lure the victim into an un
frequented lane, then he would steal all he could.
and make off. . If tie defrauded man was noisily
disposed, Parry Brown had only to reveal his true
sex, and the victim would become so ashamed of
his share in the drama that he would willingly
give all he possessed to forgot it forever. It is
even now supposed that the black Brown will go
free, because the grew white youth will not ap
pear against him. - '.--
The new celebrated pony express, ty which
nteiiigence is obtained from San Francisco in
ten days, traverses 1800 miIes.of a wild and
unbroken country, infested by powerful tribes
ot warlike Indians, Nearly one hundred hor
ses are employed, and only thirty-six couriers,
eacu riding about fifty miles, i ?. ,
The great wigwura at Chicago to accommo
date the National Convention, is one hundred.
and eighty feet long by one hundred broad,
and capable ot ho-ding ten thousand persons.
THE JAPANESE EMBASSY.
The United States steam frigate Roanoke,
44 guns, Captain Wm. H. Gardner, command
ing, bearing the flag of Flag Oflicer, William
J. McCIuney, Commander-in-Chief of the
Home and Gulf Squadron, having on board
the Japanese Embassy, arrived at the entrance
to New York harbor on Wednesday evening,
May 9th. Dispatches from the Secretary of
the Navy were immediately taken oc board,
ordering the flag officer not to enter this port,
but to return at once to Hampton Koads, Va.,
in order that the strange guests of the nation,
who have come so far to make us a visit at
our invitation, may bo received first at the
Capitol, before they take their view of the
commercial metropolis.
Two years ago, at a great Are in Japan, the
English copy of the treaty between this coun
try and the empire was burned, and Consul
Harris, who has shown such remarkable ability
in dealing with these people, had. the address
to induce the government to send an embassy
to this country to get a new copy signed by
the President. Two embassadors were accor
dingly appointed, attended by 18 subordinate
officers, and 52 servants, making 72 persons
in all. One of these was taken ill at San
Francisco,and sent on board the Candinmarruh,
the Japanese man-of-war which had preceded
the embassy to that port. -
The first ambassador is Prince of Bujen,
and Chamberlain to the Tycoon one of the
highest officers of the government. He is
small, delicate, olive complexion, and rather
good-looking something of the Hebrew type.
He is 41 years old. He dresses in a sort of
loose dressing-gown, talma, pijama, and white
gaiters. His under-dress is of white silk and
linen, which comes up around the neck, instead
of collar and necktie.
The Japanese wear a great variety of colors
a custom among the servants as well as the
upper classes the favorite color seems to be
SKy-blue. The gown generally worn is a sort
of slate color purple, the talma of sky-blue,
and the pijama of crape silk of the most beau
tiful figure and texture. The shape of the
pijama Is a sort of loose trowsers, fastened a
round the waist by a silk cord tassel, which
hangs down by, the side like that of a sword
belt. The back part is drawn over a flat hoop
or thin board, about two inches wide that fits
close around the small of the back. The
sides on the hip are scolloped out,showing the
gown down as lar as the knee. - This dress is
not worn by servants. The style of . wearing
the hair is the same with all classes. The
front part of the head is shaved, the hair
which is quite long, is combed from the side
and back part of the head, upon the part shav
ed, and tied up in a knot. The hair is jet
black, very stift and glossy, made so bv "obe
oil" and other ingredients which they use.
His Excellency wears white cotton gaiters,
which are only worn by princes and those of
high rank ; the lower classes are not allowed
to wear them. He wears two swords, but no
jewelry, and usually carries a fan ; hats are
seldom worn. They make beautiful papier
mache hats, but they seldom wear them. Up
on the sleeves, back and breast of the talma
are round white marks, about the size of
dollar, which indicate their rank, and are used
in signing their name instead of writing
They are family or master's marks; when of
the former, they are only worn by the eldest
son. -
Though their traveling expenses are all borne
by our government, they bring $80,000 m com
for purchases. Their baggage amounts to 80
tuns ; and in crossing the Panama Railroad it
filled four cars. Some of their more valuable
baggage such as the "treaty box," contain
ing the treaty was taken along with the Com
missioners. They never allow it out of their
sight. One of the official's special duty is to
look after the treaty box. It is about three
feet long, two feet in depth, and eighteen in
ches wide. This is covered with red morocco
leather, handsomely stitched about the edges
The box is inclosed in a light frame, made of
slats about two inches wide and half an inch
thick, resembling very much the frame about
Herring's safes. This box is carried by two
poles, about ten feet long borne on the shoul
ders of four men. There, aro in fact, three
boxes which form the one covered by leather.
One box contains the letter from the Emperor
(or Tycoon), to the President ; one, the Japa
nese treaty in their own language ; the other
a copy of the treaty in English, which they
bring to have signed by the President.
When the cars started from the depot at
Panama they showed not the least surprise, as
they never do on any occasion ; but expressed
their delight by jumping up, laughing, talking,
clapping their bands, smoking and all kinds
of gestures. At the half-way station whilst
the train was stopping, the Japanese were out
making sketches of the locomotive, cars, station-house,
birds, trees, plants, flowers, and
almost everything they saw. There are some
dozen or more artists, some who take draw
ings of animals, birds, &c; somo landscape
sketches, &c, each having a distinct and se
parate department assigned him. The rapid
ity and correctness with which they sketch
would astonish even a Yankee.
They have articles of their own manufacture
of every description, somo of which will as
tonish our people when they see them. They
have a beautiful specimen of Sharp's rifle (one
of their own manufacture) and one of those
presented by Commodore Perry, made by
Sharp himself. The one made by the Japan
ese is a decided improvement upon the origi
nal, as pronounced by all who have seen it.
The improvement consists in cocking, priming
and cutting-off the cartridges at the same time.
The original does not cock on putting down
the guard, which cuts off the cartridges but
has to be cocked by the thumb. The Japanese
rifle can be cocked or not on cutting-ofl the
cartridge, according to will. The barrel is
beautifully rifled, and is a fac-similo of the
original. The workmanship and finish are
equal, if not superior, to the original Sharp,
or any other fire-arm ever seen.
They have a large quantity of beautiful silks,
brocatels, linen, crape, silk, pongees, &c, of
every conceivable style and pattern. It would
require an experienced dry-goods clerk to give
the proper names to hundreds of articles which
they have in the dry-goods line
It is not likely that they will visit any other
city but New York, as their time for returning
is limited to the 1st of October. Their great
desire appears to be to visit "Ni Fork," Wash
ington aad America. Everything is either
("America " or " Ni York.'.' v
. Japan is supposed to contain as many inha
bitants as the United States. It consists of.
three principal islands, and about 3,500 small
ones, which no oa tae eastern coasts of Asia,
from latitude 26 degrees to 52 degrees, extend
ing from the latitude of Florida to that of La
brador. The Japanese enjoy an old aud com
plicated, but not very high civilization. Some
of their mercantile establishments are of im
mense extent. A man may buy a piece of dry
goods, and if, on taking it homo a thousand
miles from the place of purchase, he Is not sat
isfied with it, he may take it into a branch es
tablishment of the concern of which he pur
chased, and receive his money back, deliver
ing up the cloth. Their religion forbids them
to eat any meat or eveo milk, butter or cheese.
One of their most singular customs is that of
suicide, which, under many circumstances, is
inexorably demanded by public opinion. It is
always aflected by ripping-up the bowels, and
is called the harri-karri, or " happy passage."
The exclusion ot foreigners from Japan is a
comparatively modern measure, having been
adopted in the early part of tho 17th century
(just about the time of the settlement of this
country) from jealousy on the part of the gov-
ernment towards the Portuguese and other
Christian missionaries.
On Tuesday the 15th inst., the Japanese
reached Washington City, where they excito
a great deal of interest. Ou Thursday the ,
President's reception took place, after which
they were to respond to other invitations.
Rooms have been fitted np in splendid style
for their occupation, at Willard's Hotel, in
cluding thirty handsomely lurnished bed cham
bers, twenty parlors, two dining rooms, a kit
chen and laundry, for the use ot their own ser
vants, bath rooms, etc., entirely separate from
the rest of the tymse. Provisions havo also
been made of fowls, birds, fish, rice, vegeta
bles, and a profusion of sugar ornaments. Hot
tea is to be in readiness at all hours, and side
boards are supplied with champagne. For
smoking their little pipes, a balcony has been
built, overlooking a court yard, in which thera
is a fountain.
An immense amount of etiquette is involved
in the exact rank of these new cwners, and tho
Ministers, who have always insisted on taking
precedence of the Cabinet and the Senate, will
not, if they can avoid u, yield tho pas to tho
gentlemen with two swords.
The persons composing this embassy are re
puted to be men of more than ordinary intelli- ,
gence. A correspondent in noticing their ar
rival, says :
" It is fair to assume that they are of tho
class ot whom, bolomon wrote when he enunci
ated the aphorism, " The wiso man's eyes are
in his head." They will be men of observation,
and they cannot fail to ofcserve the rapid pro
gress which the United States have made in
commerce and its adjuncts. They are familur
with our history, as Commodore Perry very
soon found in his intercourse with thera. They
know that as an independent people we are but
two generations old, and seeing what we have
already accomplished, they cannot fail to see
that a future is before usin commerce and in
arts, that will make their treaty with us of value
to themselves, and a contract which it will bo
to their interest to carry out effectually and in
the most liberal spirit. And to impress tho
embassy with this truth should be the great
aim of this country. . Of course it is desirable
that they should know that the secret of our
prosperity is in the popular nature of our gov
ernment and institutions, but it. is still more
expedient, so far as our commercial interests
are concerned, (and, practically, they are of tho
first importance,) to induce them to visit our
large cities, our larger seaports, and our mann-
facturing districts, and convince them that we
can supply what they need, and find a market
for what they produce."
The embassy, it appears, was much aston
ished to learn that their expenses were to be
defrayed by the United States. They came
all prepared to pay their way, and with ample
funds to do so. This they regard as tho hand
somest compliment they have received.
Singular Cause of Death, Benjamin F.
Thompson, a child of ten months, whose par
ents reside in the rear of Jefferson street, Pro
vidence, Rhode Island, was left asleep on a
bed by his mother, on the afternoon of the
8th May, while she made a call at the house of
a neighbor. When she returned, after tho
lapse of an hour or so. the child was dead.
The explanation of the cause of this- sudden
death is sought in the fact that two dogs be
longing to the family were left in tte room
with the sleeping child, ono of which, it is
said, mounted the bed, placed its paws upon
the litlle lellow's shoulders, and then drew his
breath until he was suffocated. The child was
in feeble health, and it is impossible that tho
weight of the animal upon its body may have
induced a spasm that proved fatal. We un
derstand that when the child was found the
dog was resting its head upon its body.
Dcx. Almost evry person has had occasion
to use the word "dun," and all know what it
means, as now rendered, yet fow we venture
lo say, know its origin. It owes its paternity,
it is said, to one Joe Dun, a famous bailiff of
Lincoln, England, in the time of Henry VII.
He was so extremely shrewd in the manage
ment of his rough business, acd so dexteroua
in the collection of dues, that his name became
proverbial; and whenever a man refused to
pay his debts, it grew into a prevalent custom
to say, "Why don't you Dun him J"
A lad was recently called upon to testify in
a New York Court, whose tender years raised
doubts as to his competency as a witness, by
not understanding the nature and obligation
of an oath. The question put was : "Are
you a son of the plaintiff ?" The little fellow.
crossing his legs and deliberately putting a
bout half a paper of tobacco into his mouth.
with the utmost sangfroid replied: "Well,
it's so reported."
Ixcombcsti3LE Dbesres. By putting an
ounce of alum or salammoniac in. the last wa
ter in which muslius or cottons are rinsed, or
a smaller quantity in the starch with which
they are stiffened, they will be rendered al
most inflammable, or at least will with diffi
culty take fire, and if they do, will burn with
out flame. It is astonishing that this simple
precaution is so rarely adopted.
A lawyer, of New York, whose professional
services are usually confined to cases at the
Toombs, recently helped a client out of the
meshers ol the law, and afterwards found that
the rascal bad picked his pocket while tak
ih? counsel " with him.
A' Louisana. . Court has mulcted the New
Orleans and Jackson Railroad Company, out
of $2200 for landing a passenger 50 miles
below his point of. destination in a marsh -
1