Raftsman's journal. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, July 04, 1860, Image 1

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    BY S. B. ROW.
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1860.
VOL 6.-NO, 45.
GIVE HE THE PEOPLE.
Some love the glow of outward show,
gome love mere wealth, and try to win it ,
The house to me may lovely be,
If I but like the people in it
that's all the gold that It'rSu?IJ;fti;n
, When linked to hard or haughty feeling f
Whateer weer told, the nobler go d
Is truth of hoart and manly dealing.
Then lot them seek whose minds are weak,
UtrO fashion's smile, and try to win it;
The house to me may lowly be,
II but like the peoplo in it!
A lowly roof may give us proof
That lowly flowers are often fairest ;
And trees whose bark is hard and dark
May yield us fruit, and bloom the rarest.
There's worth as sure 'neath garments poor,
As e'er adorned a loftier station , ,
And minds as just as those, we trust,
Whose claim is but of wealth's creation.
Then let them seek, whose minds aro weak,
.. .Slerefashion's smile, and try to win it;
The House to me may lowly be,
If I but liSe the people in it.
$HE BORROWED GARMENTS.
"Frank, ldhd ale yotit swallow tailed coat."
What for 7"
"Here," and I tossed him a modefato sized
tard bearing the following inscription : "Mr.
and Mrs. Fitzwatcr's compliments, and Won Id
Uts pleased to see Mr. Wilkins on Friday eve,
the thirteenth instant at eight o'clock."
"No doubt of it."
"No doubt ot what?"
"That the sight ot you would please Mr.
and Mrs. Fifzwaters."
"Probably ; will you lend me the coat V
"Fes, certainly."
Frank Barnes and I were dlscsiples of iEs
culapius, and pursuing our studies at the
Medical College. We were chums and fast
friends: we studied together, walked to
gether, ate at the same table, and enjoyed in
common our shuck-mattress and scanty quilts.
We had just finished our mid-day allowance of
"victuals," measured according to tbeboard
liouse rule, and called by courtesy and our
landlady "dinner." and had lit onr pipes for
our post-prandial siesta, when the above card
was sent up to me, and occasioned the remark
that opens this chapter. Frank and I were
the same height and weight,and his coat would
fit me exactly: but here the resemblance
eased entirely. Frank, though not foppish
ii o the least j was always dressed with scrupu
lous neatness, and though he seldom went in
;to society, always had a complete suit ofhand
aorne clothes. On the other hand, while I was
very fond ot society, I was very unfortunate
iin. regard to my wardrobe, and was rarely the
possessor of a respectable outfit. I bad gone
one moonlight nigbt to the suburbs, with the
intention ot serenading my adorable Amelia,
a young lady , educated, refined and polished
according to the most approved style, but
whose father was not at all romantic, had a
lamentably tuneless ear, and "didn't approve
of these here sereycades ; thought young men
ought to be in bed time enough to get up air
ly in the mornin', and not go round howlin
like a pack o painters." Notwithstanding
this prejudice on the part of the parent, I re
solved to woo the fair lady with a song, per
haps with two or three. Having importuned
her to "Wake, lady, wake,' I was respectfully
soliciting her to"Meet me by moonlight.'when
her rather interrupted tho strain in a most in
harmonious manner:
"Look here, young man, pack up that blas
ted fiddle, and leave here! How do yon
ft'poso a man's goin to sleep with such an in
fernal screcchin' goin' on ?"
I did not deign to reply to his interrogatory,
muttering, "I go, but I retnrn," went. Vex
ed at such a termination of the affair.I waited
near by till all was again quiet, then went
back, and taking up tho thread of my song
where it had been broken off', finished it.
Gathering confidence as I went on, I was pro
ceeding to request her to"Come over the bills
with me," and was picturing in glowing colors
the "sweet content ol our humble.happy lot."
when whack ! like a discharge from a catapult,
a body ot unknown shape and dimensions, but
evidently of considerable weight and density,
struck the fence near me. Instinctively divin
ing that this came from the bands of the "en
raged parient," and fearing lest he should fol
low up his salute with a volley, 1 silenced the
vibrating guitar-strings, postponed the "Good
night, song, sine die, (excuse the bull,) and re-
treated. In my hasty and not remarkably
graceful evacuation of the premises, an up
start nail in the fence made an ugly right-angled
rent in my best broad-cloth.
And now Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwater want to
see me Friday eve : to day is Thursday i too
late to get a new garment made, to say noth
ing of my own impeenniosity. But as I said
belorc, 1 was very fond of society, especially
that ot Amelia, who would certainly be at the
party, as she was on very intimate terms with
Miss Georgia Fitzwater. So go I must; and
as society bad decreed that a coat is an indis
pensable article of apparel at a party, I bor
rowed Frank's immacculate swallow-tail.
"And Frank, I shall want your gaiters," as
I discovered that one of mine showed a very
ragged abrasion on the side, and the other was
sadly run down at the heel.
"Take 'em along," said he, and quietly
went on "cloud compelling." But I was too
much agitated to smoke. I let my pipe go
out, called Frank Mrs. Fitzwater, and was only
recalled to my senses when bo reminded me
that my "doeskin" needed repairing. So 1
seized a needle and thread, and after many
futile efforts succeeded in passing tho latter
through the eye of the former. I then care-
luuy closed the gapping fissure, not without
tangling the thread several times, and tittering
several adjectives not very complimentary to
Jbe pantaloons and tiie maker thereof.
T were vain to attempt to tell what horrid
dreams racked my brains that night. They
.were an alia podrida of absurd incongruities.
At one time I was making my salaam to
Mrs. Fitzwater, and repeating the well-conned
complimentary Bpeech to Miss Georgia, when
suddenly the needle which I inadvertently had
Jeft in my trowsers, made Its presence known
inja very Insinuating manner. At another,
Mr. Fitawater, was shaking my hand with one
of his, and with the other extracting the pins
with which I had tried to cobble the disinte
grated coat-tail ; while Amelia's father stood
by poising two bricks over my devoted head.
Amelia looked charming in Frank's dresscoat ;
and Miss Temperance Jones, an elderly spin
ster who formerly had taught my young idea,
and administered wholesome correction with
her slipper, (I forget the number, it seemed
Brobdignagian at that time,) appeared at a
sid.9 floor armed with my damaged gaiter.
This last apparition woke me, and I lay fever
ishly tossing till morning. Whett morning
came, I rose, but unrefreshed. The day Was
long ana weary, and enjoyed most miserably.
Evening came at last, and with it the necessity
of preparing for the party. Who that has
ever got ready for a party does not remember
the petty annoyances attendant on the opera
tion 1 How the refractory shirt will not be
buttoned, and the razor will cht your chin!
Your shoestrings get into a hard knot, and
your rebellious scalp-lock will not submit even
to a most copious lubrication with fragrant
Maccassar. All this I suffered and more ; and
Frank complacently sat there langhing at me.
"Wilkins," said be, after 1 bad gone through
the trying ordeal of outward purification, and
donned a clean under garment, " Wilkins, have
you polished those gaiters ?"
"Thunder! No I"
So I bad to divest myself of the clean gar
ment, and go at it. As I sat silently rubbing
the calf-skins, the thought struck me that per
haps I could not get them on. The distress
ing idea bad not entered my brain before, and
now it came upon me with terrific force. I
have said that Frank was about as tall as my
self but as be probably had more aristocratic
blood In him than I have, he wore shoes two
numbers smaller than mine. Though those
before me were too large for him, for me they
Sefre. "a leetle too small by a plaguey sight."
utlhad gone too far to be baffled by this
fact ; and so after a great deal of exertion,
much perspiration, and perhaps a few male
dictions, I succeeded in encasing my extrem
ities in the shoe. 1 performed my ablutions
a second time, and proceeded with my toilet.
"Wilkins," said Frank, xMisS Georgia is
rather sentimental, isn't she f '
"Rather."
'Somewhat given to 'awakedtrig the slum
bering echoes in the caverns of memory V "
"Somewhat." I was too much engaged
with my cravat to make any very extended re
marks. "Well, Wilkins, when she talks to you a
bout the 'hollow-hearted world,' don't spoil
the metaphor by a description of the auricles
and ventricles."
"There's my hat on the floor take It."
"No, 1 thank you yon need it to-night."
By this time I was dressed ; and leaving the
house I started on foot for the Fitzwster man
sion, as it was but a few squares distant. I
had not gono far when I discovered that the
shoes were rather tight j but I trudged boldly
on, and by tho time I reached the house, my
feet were in an anaesthetic state, and 1 was
comparatively comfortable.
I pass over my entrance ; the nervous man
ipulation of my cravat in the cloak room,
while I endeavored to persuade myself that I
was perfectly self possessed ; my salutation of
the host and hostess, and my chat with Miss
Georgia, in which the charming moonlight
evenings and Mrs. Harlan's last novel were
the predominent topics, with a few remarks
on the struggles of unappreciated genius, and
one allusion to the bollow-hearted world.'
Georgia was called away by some person to
be presented to Colonel and Mrs. Somebody,
and espying Miss Amelia across the room, I
made my way to her side. With her I forgot
all the tribulations of the day, and was fast
losing consciousness in the intoxication of
love, when I was called back to this world in
a very uncomfortable manner.
"Sir," said the editor of the , with Pick
wickian emphasis and dignity, "I set my foot
down upon such principles !"
The remark was made to Major , one of
the prominent street-corner politicians, and
in reference to some of the Major's principles;
but the foot tho oighteen inches, rather was
set down upon my unoffending member, which
I bad gracefully thrown before me in taking
my favorite attitude. Oh ! it was excrutia
tiug! That ruthless tread sent a thrill through
every filament of my nervous system, and at
the same time awoke me from my elysian
dream. A howl was upon my lips, but I cho
ked it down with a cough and a subdued groan,
and wiping the perspiration from my brow, at
tempted to renew the conversation with Ame
lia. But the charm was broken. - I made a
few disjointed, spasmodic remarks, wiped
more perspiration from my brow, and was a
bout to plead snddea indisposition and retire,
when a gentleman approached and handed mo
a letter, saying 1 had dropped it as I drew my
handkerchief from my pocket. As he was
handing it to me, Amelia snatched it. I trem
bled in my I beg pardon in Frank's shoes,
lest it might be one ot my numerous ddns,
which were just then falling thick and fast up
on me. I begged her not to read it; tried to
seize it; and failing in this, resorted to strat
egic measures with equally poor success. My
anxiety only increased her curiosity, of course;
and opening it she began to read : "Dear
Frank, your sweet, charming, lovely, and
highly prized letter came ." The truth
flashed upon me fo an instant. It was one of
Frank's letters which he bad left in his coat
pocket, having used the envelope to light his
pipe with. I became more anxious than ever,
and entreated her to give it to me and permit
me to explain. For visions of a broken en
gagement, rings and other tokens returned,
blighted hopes, and blasted reputation, passed
quickly through my brain. I bad the letter;
my name was Frank, and it was indisputably
a love letter. Female logic needed no more
definite propositions. Calming myself as well
as x could, I asked Amelia to come with me
out upon the piazza, and I would explain all.
We went out, and I was rapidly giving her the
details, telling her that it was my chum's let
ter from bis cousin up in Vermont, and that I
hoped she would not read it, as he would be
very angry if the contents were known "
"But how did yon get it 7 He would not
let you have such a letter."
"Here was a dilemma. I must either tell
her a falsehood, or acknowledge that I am
wearing borrowed garments. My pride revolts
from the' latter horn, as would hers at the
thought of a coatless lover. If I adopted the
other alternative, I saciiflce my sen so of right;
and besides I bad not time to concoct a res.
pectable lie. Bnt pride prevailed, and 1 did
not mention the coat. I do not know what I
did tell her; it must have been an incoherent
jargon, for I remember that she looked at me
with curious, inquiring eyes, as though she
had suspicions concerning either my veracity
or my sanity. She seemed satisfied, however,
and gave me the letter. The rooms were
warm and crowded ; the guests were . warm,
and many of them very musky ; so we pre
ferred to promenade on the cool piazza, and I
waa again oblivious of all things earthly. I
repeated the choice selections I bad made
from Byron, and what I could remember of
Lalla Rookh. Thus, in full enjoyment of the
calm autumnal night, were onr souls in sweet
commune. As we gazed at the distant stars,
ana seiectea one as our future home, the well-
Known words of the poet rose to my lips I
"Oft In my fancy's wanderings,
I've wished this little isle had wings
And we within its fairy bowers
Were wafted off to"
"the devil I" I cried, as I struck my foot
the bruised one against one of Mrs. Fitzwa-
ier-s nower pots. Amelia withdrew her arm
from mine, and casting a scornful, withering
look upon me, said, in a voice husky with e
motion i
"Sir, you are a brute ! yon are drnnk I
She paused, as though for a reply, and I
was about to say that I wished 1 were both,
when she continued :
"You have insulted me both in your con
duct and your language. You carry on flir
tations with other girls. You have a letter
from one, and when I see it, yon make a mis
erable drunken apology for it. We part for
ever. Never appear in my presence again."
And 1 didn't. With majestic air she disap
peared : I left the house as fast as my crip
pled feet would take me. I reached home
and taking off the coat and shoes which were
the cause of all my misery, deliberately threw
the letter at Frank, who sat deeply immersed
in the 'mysteries of Carpentier. But I was
too much agitated to take aim : one missile
shattered the mirror, the other fractured the
wash-bowl and pitcher.
Frank seized me before I could put the coat
into the fire, held me till I was somewhat
calm, then put me to bed, and went on read
ing, after muttering something about 'drunk
again.' I awoke in the night with a high fe
ver ; roused Frank and sent him for the doc
tor, who came, saw, and blistered me most un
mercifully. Thus did I blight my matrimonial prospects.
suffer & brain fever, and break a looking-glass
ana washing utensils, (exorbitant bill of dam.
ages sent in by our landlady,) all because I
went to a party in borrowed garments.
l nave never seen Amelia since the memo
rable evening ; bnt have learned that she mar
ried a respectable grain dealer out West, and
has an interesting family of Children.'
1 am a bachelor yet and haVo an intensely
interesting farrilly of corns.
A Journey undee pabis.
A correspondent of a Swedish journal fur
nishes an interesting account of a subterra
nean voyage made through One of the admira
bly constructed sewers Of Paris. The boat
which conveyed the party was reached by des
cending a flight of steps to the depth of about
forty-five feet. The boat, a fiat bottom affair,
was lighted by four lamps. The sewer Is an
arch way, 13 feet high, and of equal breadth j
with a ditch or canal about 10 feet wide, where
in all the dirt and filth of Paris is carried away
On the sides are sidewalks, which together are
about four week wide. The whole is built of
beautiful white sandstone, and is kept remark
ably neat and clean. No stench or bad smell
was perceptible. ' The denser portion of the
filth is carried away through large drains be
neath the sieewalks. The sidewalks are ex
cellent and exhibit no signs of dampness,while
the walls of the archway are kept white-wash
ed, and are at all times as white as the driven
snow. . The structuro possesses the properties
of an immense speaking tube, the workmen be
ing able to converse at the distance of 2 miles
from each other. The echo is very strong and
lasting. The fabric is said to be built after
a model of the catacombs of Rome, aided by
all the latest improvements. On both sides,
at about two hundred yards distance from one
another, are openings, through which the
workmen can ascend by means of permanent
iron ladders, in case a sudden rain storm
should cause the water to rise over the side
walks, which is, however, of rare occurrence.
The contents of the sewer, of course, flow
into the river Seine, and the current is suffi
cient to carry the boat used with considerable
velocity. Large reservoirs are constructed
at intervals, into which the water can be turn
ed for a short time in case it should be neces
sary to have the canal dry for a little while.
The whole work was completed in two years.
Besides the main canal there are many minor
ones constrncted under the principal streets
all of which can be made to communicate with
one another. These admirable underground
works are accessible from the Louvre, the Tu
illeries and from all the barracks, and should
the Parisians take a notion to barricade the
streets in any part of the city,. the Imperial
Government might, at short notice and without
any person being aware of it, transport troops,
and if there is time to make use of the reser
voir so can cavalry also be transported the same
way. There is an end to shooting on the sol
diers from the windows, and a revolution in
Paris will only soon be among the things that
have been, never to occur again. Through
these underground passages a prisoner can ea
sily be taken from the Louvre to the Seine,
without attracting attention, and thence sent
off" by railway, which is near at band. This
splendid system of sewerage was one of the
plot schemes of the first Napoleon.
This anecdote is old enough to be allowed
repose, bnt yet it ought not to be buried. Talk
ing of "absence of mind," said the Rev. Sid
ney Smith, "the oddest instance happened to
me once, in forgetting my own name. I knock
ed at a door in London, and asked if Mrs. B.
was at home. Yes, Sir. Pray, what name
shall I say ?' I looked in the man's face as
tonished what is my name ? I believe the
man thought me mad ; but it is literally true,
that during the space of two or three minutes,
I bad no more idea of who I was than if I nev
er existed. I did not know if J was a dissent
er or a layman ; I felt as Sternbold or Hop
kins. At last, to my great relief, it flashed a
cross me that I was Sidney Smith. I heard,
also, of a clergyman who went jogging along
the road until he came to a turnpike gate.
What is to pay ?' 'Pay, Sir, what for? ask
ed the turnpike man. 'Why, my horse, to be
sure:' Your horse, Sir! what horse ! Here
is no horse, Sir I' No horse! God bless me,'
said be, suddenly looking down between his
legs, 1 thought I was on horseback.' "
The ancient cooks carried their art to the
most whimsical perfection. They were able
to serve up a whole pig, boiled on one side,
and roasted on the other.
One halfpenny a day, it is said, will buy
food in China sufficient to enable a manto lire
comfortably.
WHAT MEN TSAT.
It is not long since a distinguished party of
x renen philosophers enjoyed a repast entirely
composed of equine materials. The soup,
the bouilli, the rod, the cutlets, the fricasse,
and a host of other dishes, 'were all horseit
was, in fact a regular horse feed ; and although
the world in general was inclined to treat it
With a borso laugh, the men of science wero
animated by a fit of gastronomic benevolence,
and sought to break through a prejudice which
appeared to them undesirable with a crowded
population and a high price of food. M. l'Ab
be Le Noir has taken up the subject of alimen
tation, and boldly bids Europe learn the les
sons and consult the experience of the Chi
nese. The worthy Abbe considers that our di
etetic prejudices are simply the result of the
fertility of our soil, and the comparative spar
sity of our population ; and if no great catas
trophe like the barbaric invasions and the o
terthrow of the Roman empire should again
reduce our numbers, be anticipated the time
when necessity will conquer daintiness, and
We must be content to waste nothing, but eat
everything that is digestible, excepting, we
suppose, our civilised slaves. French officers
have brought from China and Cochin China
specimens of all kinds of Comestibles unknown
to or unused in Europe, and there tbey stand
in the bottles and cases of the Conservatoire,
suggesting gustative experiments to all fami
lies and cooks. M. Le Noir remarks that
while the flesh of the dog is thought in Eu
rope to be one of the worst kinds of food, in
China it enjoys an excellent reputation, and
is regularly exhibited for sale in the butcher's
shops. Nay more, Chinese farmers breed a
variety of dog with a special view to its culi
nary distinction. It is an animal easy to fat
ten, like a Berkshire pig, and is known as the
meat dog chien de Bouchiere.) It resembles
a wolf dog, but the tongue and interior of the
mouth, are black. A dog of this kind is at
present one of the inhabitants of Paris. . The
commissariat officers bought a lot of fatted
beasts in Cochin China, and among them was
this animal, of whom the sailors made a pet
instead cf a dinner, and so his life was spared
"Some of our restaurants," says tho Abbe,
"aro accused of serving up cat for rabbit, but
the Chinese have no need for this . mystery,
and their provision shops are decorated by e.
normous cat?,suspended either by the head or
tail ! Like their domestic companions the
dogs, cats belong to the agricultural system
of the Celestial Empire, and we find these an
imals attached to small chains, and put up to
fatten on refuse rice."
Alter dogs ahd cats, the mind naturally
turns to rats, and .these, instead of being, as
in England, simply a nuisance on a farm, are
objects of solicitude, and affectionate care.
The Chinese farmer can not only show his
friends the piggery, but also his doggery, his
battery, and even his rattery. In the corners
of walls be places bottles, in which the rats
make their nests, and in due jeason be goes
to the rattery for a supply of young rats, just
in the same manner, says the Abbe, as we go
to our dove-cotes to get pigeons for a pie !
Not only do the Chinese take the frog into
their pantries, but they eat all of him, not
confining themselves to the hind legs ; a'nd e
ven that more repulsive batrachiah, the toad,
is not allowed to escape the omnivorous maw j
"not a single crapaud is lost in China," ex
claims the Abbe, in economic enthusiasm.
The cookery by which these various members
of the animal kingdom are rendered fit for ta
ble, is highly prized. The "Chinese aro the
best roasters in the world ;" they adopt the old
English plan before bottle jacks were invent
ed, and make a twisted thread of worsted turn
their delicacy until it is nicely done. Then,
whatever the material, it is chopped into
small pieces, savored with a national sauce
called sania, and served up with lice, no one
being able to make out what the dish is com
posed of.
A Delightful Legend. There is a charm
ing tradition connected with the site on which
the Temple of Solomon was erected. It is
said to have been occupied in common by two
brothers, one of whom had a family : the oth
er ' none. On this spot was sown a field of
wheat. On the. evening succeeding the har
vest, the wheattiaving been gathered in sepa
rate shocks, the elder brother said to his wife,
"My younger brother is unable to bear the
burden and heat of the day ; I will arise, take
off my shocks and place with his, without his
knowledge." The younger brother, being
actuated by the aamo benevolent motives, said
within himself, "My elder brother has a fami
ly, and I have none ; I will contribute to their
support ; I will arise, take off my shocks and
place with his without his knowledge." Judge
of their mutual astonishment when on the fol
lowing morning, they found their respective
shocks undiminished. This course of events
transpired for several nbrhts, when each re
solved in his own mftu.j stand guard and.
solve the mystery. TtS.-did so; when, on
the following night they met each other half
way between their respective shocks, with
their arms full. Upon ground hallowed with
such associations as this was the temple of
Solomon erected so spacious and magnificent
the wonder and admiration of the world.
Alas ! in these days, bow many would sooner
steal their neighbor's whole shock rather than
add to it a single, shearf !
The Tornado. The Iowa City Reporter has
the following summary of the great storm :
Hardin County Killed, 7 ; wounded, 27 ;
bouses destroyed, 87; estimated loss, $75,000.
Linn county Killed, 18 ; wounded 35 ;
houses destroyed, 18 ; estimated loss, $150,
000. Cedar County Killed, 3 ; wounded 13 ;
houses destroyed, 8 ; estimated loss, $15,000.
Clinton County Killed, 75; wounded, 150;
estimated loss, $400,000.
Jones County Killed, 9 ; wounded, 30 ;
houses destroyed, 18 ; estimated loss,$30,000.
. Besides the above there is to be counted the
loss of life and property at Albany and other
places in Illinois. . . . .
In order to amuse the children on the Sab
bath, a lady in Brooklyn was engaged in read
ing to them from the Bible the story of David
and Goliah, and coming to that passage in
which Goliah so boastingly and defiantly dar
ed the young stripling, a little chap, almost
in his first trowsers, said, "Sister, skip that
skip that he's only blowing ! I want to
know who licked !" : . '
The self-opinionated man, i like a bat in a
barrel, for it makes a great noise about nOth
ing, and is continually flying round arid round.
HOTEL SCENE-
If we take it first and last all through life,
It's really amusing what a raft of people we've
beard and never seen. Especially in hotels.
It has been Mace Sloper's luck to be fre
quently quartered in rooms with nothing but
a door betwixt his room and his neighbors ;
and whenever this happened be bss been pret
ty generally about as certain to hear,willingor
unwilling, considerable that wasn't Bpoken to
bim. . Particularly when girls were In the
next room ! Not giving myself credit for any
especial 'cuteness, I can't brag of ever having
got up any wise theory on the subject ; but it
does seem to me that the queerest, wildest,
and most amazing speeches I ever heard in
all my lite from mortal Hps, always came from
people I couldn't see. Moi cover and every
body'U agree with me if he'll rake out his own
experience a little I maintain that no two
people can talk in the dark to one another as
they do in the light. Report such a talk, and
read it to them, and they'll as soon believe
that they've been talking Injun. That's so!
Which reminds Mace Sloper of a talk he
once heard in a New Jersey hotel. I had
quietly smoked myself into a regular nap such
as the good alone enjoy, when I was awoke
by hearing somebody enter the next room.
Apparently he woke somebody else up too,
Who was sleeping there in advance of him.
"Hollo thar 7" says the man a-bed.
"Hul-lo and behold!" answered the one
entering.
"Wait for your welcome afore you come
In," said No. I.
"In-comes are welcome," answered No. II.
- "The mixologist of tlpulars directorised me
to apartment iC, which being exceedingly
weary, I did uncandelized. Yet if you desire
illuminosity ."
- "Stranger!" cried No. I; "hold thar ! don't
light a match, for the love of God ! I know
adzackly what you look like without goin' fud
der. You're five feet 'Ieven inches high, got
gray eyes and a coon-colored vest, short-cropped
ha'r and a loose over-coat, nose like a
razorhandle, and scar over your left eye.
That's the stripe!"
"How do you cognovit that?" was thea
mazed reply.
"Cog thunder!' was the response.
"How do I know bow you look? Why, who
the d 1 ever heard of a man's coming to bed
in the dark, and calling a bar keeper a mixol
ogist ot tlpular fixins, unless he had gray eyes,
razor-handled nose, short ha'r an' a coon-colored
vest 7 Don't light a match, stranger on
my account. Drummon lights would be dark
ness on your face arter such a blaze of language
as that. "Illuminosity" and "cognovit!"
That shows you've got a ca'pet bag in your
hand and a whiskey bottle in It. Shot"
There was a sound like the pop of a cork,
and a clear case of drinking to better acquaint
anceship going on as I fell to sleep. We hear
queer things in the dark. That Western man
rather knocks me whenever I think of him.
RoARtad Mountains 15 Missouri. A corres
pondent writing from Ironton, Missouri, says :
"Since my last, I have had the pleasure of
making a trip to old Madison county, just for
the purpose of seeing the much talked of gold
mines, and it was there that I came across the
above mentioned natural curiosity. This moun
tain is in Madison county, 14 miles south-west
of Fredericktown, the county seat. On the
east of it is Trace creek, on the west side the
waters of Can tain's creek form a semi-circle.
On the right bank of the last mentioned creek
is a ravine, which is the bed of the newly dis
covered gold and platina veips,where the Roar
ing Mountain Company is about erecting ex
tensive works. The mountain has a hight of
some four hundred feet, is one mile in diame
ter, chiefly of solid rocks, more or less inter
spersed with quarts. It derives its name from
a peculiar roaring, something like the sound
of distant thunder, which generally lasts about
fifteen minutes, and which sounds have a sin
gular effect when mingled with the howling of
the wolves, who are still to be found in res
pectable numbers in the adjoining forests. It
is thonght that the mountain, or rather the
whole ridge of mountains, originated by great
volcanic eruptions, to which the roar, which
sounds as coming from the bowels of the earth,
must be attributed. The sound may be heard
sometimes to the distance of two miles. Ta
king an easterly direction from the gold mines,
and walking a distance of one mile, there is
an opening of two feet in diameter, which is
apparently connected with a cave, filled with
water a good part of the year. It is believed
that this cave may reach a greater depth, and
that the peculiar sound is caused by gasses
formed by the water playing with the metals,
and then seeking an exit.
Veto or the Homestead Bill. Mr. Buchan
an must be a near relative of him whom the
Yankee characterized as having "remarkably
winning ways to make people bate him." The
North-west was already so unanimously averse
to him that he could only intensify its dislike
into hatred , bnt that seems an object worthy
of his ambition. The bill which he vetoed on
Saturday was not the Republican or House
Free Homestead bill, but that of the Senate,
which nearly every Republican voted against
on its first passage, and only acquiesced in at
tho last moment, in deference to the tens of
thonsands in Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, &c,
who are liable to be ejected from their rude
homes at any moment, because in their pres
ent pecuniary condition of the North-west it
is morally impossible that they should pay $1J
per acre for the quarter section each which is
or contains their all. . The bill for their relief
finally passed the Senate with but two oppo
sing votes ; in the House it had about two to
one ; and this bill Mr. Buchanan vetoes, for
reasons which apply to the Graduation- and
other bills which he or his party have sanc
tioned, but not to this. So the last hope of
obtaining any good from this Congress or this
administration has vanished. Shall we ever
see their like again ? N. Y. Trib.
Horace Walpole tells a story of the Lord
Mayor of London in his time, who having
heard that a friend of bis had the small pox
twice, and died of it, inquired if he died the
first time or second.
A Yankee, according to the latest authority,
Is a driving man. "He sees aqueducts in
pudding springs, buildings in stones, and cash
in everything."
A little boy asked the razor-strop man if he
could sharpen his appetite ? The razor-strop
man at once stropped bim so severely that the
urchin cut oft,
CORNELITS WENDELL.
The Washington correspondent of the Phil
adelphia Press writes as follows of one of the
leading characters of Washington society.
Having referred to the prominent individuals
who appeared before the Covode Investigating
Committee, he says :
But probably the most extraordinary of all
characters who have figured before these inves
tigating committees, in both branches, is Mr.
Cornelius Wendell. He is in fact, oue of the
curiosities of the capital. I have heard it al
leged that he has appeared beforo every in
vestigating committee except the judiciary,
that has been raised during the present and
last sessions, and while nearly everybody else
gets into trouble, Wendell manages to keep
his head above water. Openly against the Ad
ministration of Mr. Buchauan, after having
borne the most confidential relations to it, he
is still on intimate terms with Mr. Appleton,
and others of the leading spirits of the con
cern. Denounced by Judge Douglas from the
stump during his Illinois campaign, Wendell
is at this moment one of the Judge's most ar
dent and liberal friends. A Democrat in all
his feeling, it is interesting to see how many
of the Republicans are his friends. He tells
everybody that ho is poor, and it is told of
him, as a good joke, that he .borrows money
when he is rich, and lends it when he is out of
pocket. Apparently reckless in the manage
ment of his own affairs, his printing establish
ment is a model of regularity and complete
ness, and is conducted with an tfrder,- a care
and economy which have rendered it the' won
der ol all observers. He seems to keep no
secrets, to tell all he knows, whenever sum
moned before the Investigating committees,
and yet contrives to protect those with whom
he has had certain mysterious dealings. Char
itable and kind to a fault, bis appetite for ma
king money seems to increase as he grows
older. Such is Cornelius Wendell, a man
more feared by tho - President, and at tho
same time more beloved by a host of friends
than almost any other man 1 Could name.
A Horse Getting Himself Shod. A borso
having been turned into a field by its owner,
Mr. Joseph Lane, of Fascombe, in the parish
of Ashelworth, was missed therefrom the next
morning, and the usual inquiries set afoot, as
to what could have become of him.- He had,
it seems, been shod (all fours,) a feW days be
fore, and as usual got pinched in a foot. Feel
ing, no doubt a lively sense of proper shoeing
and desirous of relieving the cause of pain, he
contrived ro unhang the gate of his pasture
with his mouth, and make the best of bis way
to the smithy, a distance of a mile and a halt
from Fascombe, -waiting respectfully at the
door till the bungling artist got up. The
Smith relates that he found him there on open
ing his shed ; that the borse advanced to the
forge and beld up his ailing foot ; and that ho
himself upon examination, discoveted the in
jury, took off the shoe, and replaced it more
carefully, which having been done, tho saga
cious creature set off at a merry pace home
ward. Soon after, Mr. Lane's servant passed
by the forge in quest of the animal, and upon
inquiry, received for answer "Oh, he has
been here and got shod, and has gone homo
again."
Lrscots on Military Heroes. the follow
ing amusing paragraph concerning his own and
Gen. Cass' military exploits, occurs in one of
Mr. Lincoln's speeches in Congress, in 1848 :
"By the way, Mr. Speaker, did you know I
was a military bero 7 Yes, sir in tbe days of
the Black Ilawk war I fought, bled) and came
away. Speaking of Gen. Cass' career, re
minds of my own. I was not at Sullivan's de
feat, but was about as near it as Cass was to
Hull's surrender, and like him I saw tbe place
soon alter. It is quite certain that I did not
break my sword, for I had none to break ; but
I bent my musket pretty badly on one occa
sion. If Cass broke bis sword the idea is, he
broke it in desperation. 1 bent the mnsket
by accident. If Gen. Cass went in advance of
me in picking whortleberries, I guess I sur
passed him in charges upon the wild onions.
If he saw any livo fighting Indians, it was
more than I did, but 1 had a good many bloo
dy struggles with the mosquitoes ; and altho'
1 never fainted from the loss of blood, I cer
tainly can say I was often very hungry."
noEiNG Potatoes when WETi A corres
pondent of the Prairie Farmer states that hav
ing noticed how potatoes were interrupted in
their growth, invariably pined away and died,
if disturbed and bruised when wet with rain,
he tried the following experiment! Ite select
ed a patch in his potato field, had iIoughed
only once, and then loosed the soil with tho
boe when tbe stalk was above ground, and in
the heat of the day when they were dry. Jle
never touched them afterward till they were
dug in October. These stalks kept green,
and tbe yield of the potatoes was very large.
The other portion of the patch was workod
three times, and when the stalks were wet
with dew. These blighted early, did not pro
duce half a crop, and that of an inferior qual
ity. The ground, seed, and time of planting
in both patches was the same.
A Hard Blow. The recent tornado, exten
ding up the Holstcn river, in Tennessee, was
very violent. A letter from Freedom, Tenn.,
dated the 16th inst., says that the plonghed
earth was carried into the air by cartsrull. It
adds :
"At Hall's there was a quantity of bar iron ;
it was picked up and carried a distance of a
mile, and some bars twisted aronnd stumps of
trees so tight that they had to be pryed off
with handspikes. Mr. Dayvalt bad over 200
bushels of wheat In his barn, which was car
ried of! and has not been heard of as yet. Ba
con, flour-in short, everything in tbe range,
were carried up in tbe air. Sheep and stock
were seen away up in the air."
The human mind has a much greater talent
at asking questions than at answering them ;
and many minds have a greater propensity to
raise doubt and start difficulties, than to re
pose In that measure of truth which is already
ascertained and infallible.
The leading men in the oyster business, in
Baltimore, assert that there are more oysters
in Chesapeake Bay at present than there were,
twenty yeafS ago, notwithstanding millions
upon millions ot bushels have been removed, f
One of the best explanations of good farm?
ing was by an old farmer at an agricultural
fair in England. He" said be fed his iand be
fore it was hungry, weeded it before fool, and
rested it before overworked.