Newspaper Page Text
PUBLISHED BY
BENJAMIN G. LIDDON.
T. A. BURKE, EDITOR.
MADISON, GA.:
SATURDAY, OCT. 25, 1856. j
Family Visitor Office for Sale.
Hie subscriber having as much as he can
attend to in his Bookstore, offers for sale
the office of the Family Visitor upon ac
commodating terms. The office is one
of the best country papers in the State.
Or he would sell to a person capable of
editing the paper, one half of the office
with an equal interest in the Bookstore
owned by the subscriber.
Address BENJ. G. LIDDON,
Madison, (la.
P. S. If our exchanges will notice the
above, the favor will bo reciprocated
whenever an opportunity shall present it
self.
Onr Weekly Gossip,
With Readers and Correspondents.
Some time ago we published an extract
from the Paris correspondence of the N. Y
Express, giving an account of a singular
lottery project, by which a certain pretty
French girl proposed to get herself a hus
band. Hero is the result of the matter,
from the same correspondent. It is a very
pretty illustration of
Franch Life.
“Your readers may, perhaps, romember
that, some months ago, I gavo them an
aooount of a singular project, originated
by a charming young woman, of putting
herself up at lottery. It is very possible
that this story may have been looked upon
as a pleasant fiction, invented by your cor
respondent, and intended only to excite a
smile. But it was true to the letter, and
I am now enabled to givo you the result
of the affair. The lady’s name was M’lle
Sophie Van Berr, a Frenchwoman. Being
young, lovely and accomplished, though
poor, she conceived the idea of the lottery.
She issued five hundred tickets of a thou
sand francs each, and announced that so
soon as they should all ho sold, the drnw
ing would take place. She required from
every applicant for tickets a personal in
terview, in order to ascertain whether, in
the event of the party drawing the suc
cessful number, he would be acceptable as
A husband upon whom she might bestow
her person and the half million of francs.
A sow weeks ago the Inst of the tickets
was sold and the drawing of the matrimo
nial lottery took place. The fortunnto
nmnber was 499, which belonged to a gen
oral in the service of Tunis. This gentle
man immediately fulfilled all the requisite
formalities, espoused the lady, and put. the
600,000 francs in his pocket. The newly
wedded couple are now prepared to lonve
Franco for Tunis, where they will imme
diately take up their residence. When
she has lived for some time in the harem
of her African possessor, it is possible the
lady may grow' tired of that state of exist -
ence aud return to France, to execute a
project similar to her last. When she
does so, if 1 hear of it, your readers shall
have the earliest intelligence upon the
subject."
The samo correspondent relates the fol
lowing bit. of pleasant gossipry, “concern
ing of"
Two French Widows.
“Two widows —tho “ widdor” Vincent,
and tho “ widder” Rigot—got into the
same omnibus. Widow Rigot bad two
baskets, which she placed at her right and
left, respectively. The widow Vincent.,,
who was at first sentod opposite the widow
Rigot, presently changed her place, and
seated herself beside the latter relict— and
the right band basket. In a short time
the widow Vincent signified to the con
ductor her wish to descend. The omnibus
stopped, the widow Vincent rose, and tak
ing one of tho baskets belonging to the
widow Rigot, was about to leave the
stage. “ I beg your pardon, ma’am," says
widow Rigot; “you are taking my bas
ket." “What!” exclaimed tho other,
“ yonr basket! Isn’t, that it, on your
left?” “But,” replies widow Rigot, “ they
are both mine.” “ Oh," says widow Vin
cent, “you must have two baskets, must
yon?—well, 1 like that!—l shall take
mine, at any rate!”
Hereupon the other passengers in the
omnibus interfere, and inform the conduct
or that both baskets belong to the widow
Rigot; and the conductor invites the wid
ow Vincent to get out, “and not be long
about it.”
“No,” says the lady, “I won't get out!
Go on with your go-cart till you come to
a policeman, and then we shall see!”
“Stop, conductor!” cries widow Rigot in
her turn. “It’s no use, all this pother!
as the lady wants the basket; why let her
take it!—anything for a quiet life, as the
man said when his wife broke his head
with the poker!”
“No, no!” say the other passengers,
again interrupting. “This business don’t
seem very clear. Let neither of these
women get out, conductor, and call a po
liceman.”
The officer comes, hears the story, takes
charge of the two women and the two
baskets, and conducts all the parties to the
police court, where the following explana
tion was elioited: The two baskets were
Ml of luscious plums, and were exposed
for sale in one of the Paris markets. Wid
ow Rigot, in passing, caught sight of the
fruit and coolly took the baskets away,
ill Mill? ▼!•!!il.
without either asking for the owner or the
price. The widow Vincent happened, al
so, to pass at the moment, and saw the
other a proceedings; followed her and en
tered the same omnibus with her. Here,
the “ dividing” proposition was made, as
we have seen. The widow Rigot, a little
alow of comprehension, was rather too
long in fathoming the widow Vincent’s
meaning, and when slie did at lost under
stand what o’clock it was, tho suspicions
moment had passed. The consequence of
her dullness was a sentence of thirteen
months’ imprisonment, and, as her neigh
bor appeared in the stern eye of the law
equally culpable, ns having betrayed im
proper eagerness to get a shnre of the plun
der—she received the same sentence. The
two widows will now have time to discuss
the affair at their leisure.”
Late Elections.
The New York News publishes the offi
cial voto of Pennsylvania, from which it
appears that the Democratic majority in
that State is 6,630. The delegation to
Congress stands 15 democrats, 10 opposi
tion.
The Republican majority in Ohio is
about 30,000. The Republicans have
elected 14 members of Congress, and the
Democrats 7.
In Indiana, the majority for Willard,
democrat, (for Governor.) will he about
6,000. Congressional representation, C
democrats, 6 opposition.
In Florida, Perry’s (dcm.) majority is
between 200 and 300. Hawkins (dcm.) is
elected to Congress.
The Weather.
The weather has been, for a week
! past, “bright, beautiful and rosy, ns a
! smile upon tho cheek of sweet sixteen.”
j The “melancholy days” may “havecome”
in other quarters, but hereabouts Indian
summer is in tho full tide of its golden glo
ry. The flower-gardens are charming to
behold, and tho air is redolent of odors
which would do credit to Araby the blest.
There is a trifle too much dust, to make it
altogether pleasant; but, in tho language
of Toots, “ that’s of no consequence,” when
our farmers nro having such a lovely time
for picking out, their cotton.
To Correspondents.
Annie of Bellevue—Your poem is in
hand for next week, litany thanks.
Nora —Your reply to Joiinie Jonquil
is compelled to share the fate of several of
our editorials, this week—which aro left
out, not for want of room, blit on account
of an unusual press of job work, which lias
“ U3ed up” our editorial typo. Your ens
tigation of Joiinie will appear next week.
Wo shall be glad to hoar from you on oth
er snbjocta.
Nettie —The article on “Names,” which
you were so kind ns to send ns, is left out
for tho renson above slated. Look for it
next week.
Jenny Woodbinh —Yonr “Soliloquy of
mi Old Maid” was not in time for last week.
Do let us hear from you often.
Annual Fair of tho Planters’
Club of Hancock comity will commence
at Sparta on tho 12th, mid continue on tho
18th, 14th mid 15th of November. James
Thomas is President of tho Club, and
Thomas C. Audas, Secretary.
The premium list can be seen at this
office.
For the Visitor.
An Old Mnid’s Soliloquy.
It is very pleasant to hear whispered
comments about one’s age, when one’s
first grey hair appears, mid one is on tho
shady sido of thirty. Very pleasant to
hear someone wonder if you “ ever lmd
an offer. Extremely pleasant to have
them say, “ She’s an old maid from neces
sity, not choice.” lint oh! the? nost pleas
ant oi all pleasant things is to have yonr
married sister pay you a visit, with half a
dozen little nephews and nieces. Gra
cious! how they climb on yon, and spoil
yonr curls—how they crumple yonr collar,
and “ make a mess” of your apron with
their muddy shoes. How they gallop
about, the darlings (!) —breaking your mir
rors—upsetting your inkstand—blotting
yonr manuscripts—tearing “the catastro
phe out of your last uovel—besmearing
vour books with preserves—curling flic
leaves at the corners, while engaged in the
intellectual occupation of “looking at the
pictures." Ilow they romp through your
garden—trampling yonr rare exotics under
foot—plucking yonr favorite flowers—
pinching your cat’s ears, the dear crea
tures (!) until the poor thing is ready to
die with fright and pain.
How elegantly, too, they behave at ta
ble—calling for “butter” before “grace”
is over, and “ making mouths” if yon re
fuse. How nicely they pour the soup on
your best table-cloth—stream the gravy
over your new dress; and cap the climax
by kindly feeding the little lap-dog on
your polished floor.
Yonr sister says in her provokingly gui
et voice, “They are such lively children, 1
do like to see them amuse themselves.”
1 on think about tliefrogs in the fable, and
echo “ves with a groan—heartfelt, bitter,
fnll of agony.
But you aro supposed to be “ delighted
with all this. Are they not “little dar
lings,” and are‘you not their “dear old
maiden aunt” ? Os course you are.
It is such a pleasure for you to stay at
home and take care of them, while sister
visits around; and like “ a bride adorned
to meet her bridegroom,” goes to picnics,
and sociables.” Certainly it is—you
have nothing else to do—no indeed. They
are so clever too—these “hopes” of your
old age, and of the nation: one knows the
whole history of “Kapoleon Bonaparte,”
and answers to the same high-sounding ti
tle ; another tells you all about tho crea
tion of the world, and in conclusion asks
yon very innocently, “Who made God?”
and turns away with an angry, disappoint
ed air, having but a low estimate of your
“ stock of information,” because your an
swer is unsatisfactory.
Yet you feel proud of them. Goodness!
you look forward to the future and see
one a Governor—another a President—is
not this an incentive? I Ait them tear
your window curtains and make a play
house of your writing-desk—these are only
the eccentricities of genius —your sister
says so—so docs everybody else, and you
with a sigh are bound to believe it.
One gets sick—who so good a nurse as
the “ old maiden aunt” ? It must be such
a pleasure for you to “ tell tales,” sing
songs, sit up all niglit, and minister to the
wants of “the darling.” An old inaid’s
arms aro always open to “ithcr folks’
bairns.” Ah! she leads a. jolly life —who
doubts it? She is expected to visit all the
poor—-join all tlie Samuritan societies—
make soup for all the sick—bake cake for
every wedding in tho country—assist all
young housekeepers—be a governess gratis
for all her kinfolks—keep sweetmeats for
other people’s children to cat—embroider
two or three skirts for the baby, when its
mother honors her by giving it the same
name—raise, and educate, all tho found
lings—givo several hundred to every be
nevolent institution—support all fortieth
cousins who have wasted their patrimony.
Then, at last, to die and lie hurled in a
pine coffin , leaving all her fortune to rela
tives who don’t care a fig for her.
To bo sure it is a very pleasant thing to
bo an old maid I
Jenny Woodbine.
For the Visitor.
The Woman Question aguin.
Mr. Editor: —lf Johnio Jonquil lias no
higher motive to induce him to write, than
to prevent his being considered a “used
up man,” do you not think he had better
retire?
I did not suppose it would be necessary
for ino to reply to all his prattle; hut if
he persists in his folly, let him beware. 1
am willing for him to place in glowing
language before tho public, every fault that
belongs to any portion of our sex, if lie
will only be just, and not ascribe to all,
the frivolities of a few. lie goes too far,
when lie says “women are nov er punctual,
except by chance.” History is replete with
examples which prove the contrary. The
indifference about keeping watches in or
der, of which lie says so much, is much
more common than any of his other asser
tions; but this is caused by lmbit, and our
kind hearts. Man’s natural avarice gives
him a passionate love of any thing that
glitters; and for tho sake of having our
pretty' gold ornaments in his hands, ho
takes upon himself the task of keeping
them in order: of course we aro willing
to get rid of tho trouble, and if it affords
them any pleasure, they are welcome to it.
Ho mentions, too, our perverseness. I
wonder if ho ever rend nil old proverb,
about “casting the beam from shine own
eye,” &c. Ask one of these “pieces of
perfection” to return from the club as soon
as possible, and how does ho comply with
the request ? By coming homo after mid
night, aud scolding his wife, because he
can’t light his cigar by the moonbeams
which play on the carpet. Anil woman’s
tears—arc they not frequently called forth
by yonr cruelty ? Deny these charges if
you can. All men, thank heaven, are not
alike; yet the cases I have mentioned are
far moro numerous than those alluded to
by our formidable opponent.
A few words about love, ami I am
through, for the present. Some women
aro devoid of reason on this subject. Were
this not true, they would never bestow
their love on such creatures as you men.
Would to heaven you were moro worthy;
Thebe Penfeather.
Greensboro, Ga.
Peu-nnd-Scissorlngs.
At the late election in Charleston, Hon.
A\ illiam I*. Miles was elected to Congress
over his competitors, Messrs. Gadsden aud
Cunningham. Messrs. Keitt and Boyce
were re-elected from their districts with
out opposition To please everybody,
all that’s necessary is to accommodate eve
rybody. If .Tones wants a loan of ten
thousand dollars, let him have it, and
Jones will speak well of you till you ask
him for it again.... Tho Alexandria Ga
zette says about 600 students are expected
at the University of Virginia, at the ensu
ing session.... If we are such a debilitated,
degenerated and sickly race as the Eng
lish and their admirers pretended to think
we are, “how is it that we always lick
’em?” says Jonathan The Governor of
Maine has appointed Thursday the 20th of
November, as a day of thanksgiving in
that State Joy flutters past us like a
gay and harmless butterfly, but unfortu
nately, often lays eggs which engender
devouring caterpillars The Richmond
Whig is gratified to learn that the effort to
light up the Richmond College with gas
made of pine wood has been entirely suc
cessful ....“ Look here, Clem, can you tell
dis nigger why dat wooly head of yours
an de moon am alike?” “Well, Sambo, I
gess it’s case day am bof round.” “No,
datmn not it; it is case day am bof sposed
to be inhabited.”....Campbell and Gid
dings, of Ohio, have both been re-elected
to Cougrcss, tho former liy the ineagre
majority of 17 votes A female physi
cian in Philadelphia advertisfr that it is
“her particular speciality to cure all af
fections of tho heart.” .A proposal was
made a day or two since in the New York
Board of Aldermen, in favor of taking
measures to divide the city into two sepa
rate municipal governments... .No great
er nuisance exists than the man who is
continually “poking his fun at you.” He
pokes and pokes until he regularly bores
yon through and through.... Rufus Choate
has been nominated for Congress by the
Democrats of the 4th district of Massachu
setts “My dear,” said a gentleman to
a young lady, to whom he thought to be
married, “do you wish to make a fool of
me?” “No,” replied the lady, “natnre
has saved me the trouble.”....Hon. John
P. Kennedy, wife and sister, were among
tho arrivals by the Persia Every
American youth owes his best talents and
services, and should devote them to his
country’s welfare... .During five months
ending with May, one hundred tons of
gold were shipped from Australia to Lon
don and Liverpool....“’Tintion!” ex
claimed an Irish sergeant to his platoon;
“Front face, and tind to rowl call! As
many of ye as is prisint will say ‘Here!”
and as many of ye ns is not present will
say ‘Absent!’”... .The fall trade in hogs
is fairly opening at Cincinnati and other
western points....l never knew but one
person who interfered between man and
wife in their broils with success, (said a
philosopher,) and that was the person who
turned and thrashed them both soundly.
....Savannah exports during the year
ending the Ist. inst., were 5,200 tons cop
per ore, 38,791 barrels flour, 483,040 bush
els wheat, 7,668,000 feet lumber, 383,936
bags upland cotton, 16,950 bags Sea Island
cotton, 24,624 casks of rice. ...It is with
ideas as witli pieces of money—those of
the least value generally circulate tho
most....We believe no medicine has ever
given stronger proof of its efficacy than
the Oxygenated Bitters. In cases of I)ys
pepsia and General Debility, restoring
health anil cheerfulness, when all other
remedies have failed.... “ Johny, my son,
do yon know you have broken the Sab
bath?” “ Yes, daddy,” said liis little sis
ter,’“and mother’s big iron pot too, in five
or six pieces!” J. W. Barker, a
prominent American politician of New
York, and former candidate for Mayor,
has commenced a libel suit for $20,000
against the New York Tribune for person
al reflections on liis character... .The Cin
cinnati Evening Nonpareil says of the
I’orr}’ Davis Pain Killer—it removes pain
as if by magic from any part of the body,
anil no one who knows its virtue would
willingly ho without it A dancing
master, in renewing his solicitation for
patronage, wished to express his oViga
tions for past favors, when tho printer
made him say, “ Most respectfully offers
liis shanks." Tho steamship Arago
sailed from New York last Saturday witli
$750,000 in specio Tho mail who
thought ho coaxed a lawyer to take a dol
lar less, is now trying to set fire to an ice
berg with a cigar.
Lato from Europe.
Bai.timoue, Oct. 23.—Tho Arabia lias
arrived with three days later news from
Liverpool—to Oct. 11th.
Cotton has advanced l-16d.
Weather in England unfavorable for
harvest operations.
Breadstuffs unchanged.
Provisions dull.
Consols quoted at 93J.
Political news unimportant.
Lato from Kansas.
A gentleman direct from Kansas has
furnished us a copy of the Independence
(Missouri) Messenger, from which we
transfer to our columns two interesting
letters on late transactions in Kansas.—
One is from Gen. Reid who command
tho forces that went from Missouri to
expel Lano and his marauders. The
other is from Gov. Gearv, in which he
shows tho object of that expedition, and
testifies to the readiness with which the
Missouri troops yielded to his appeal in
behalf of the supremacy of tho law and
order. Whilst these letters relieve Gen.
Reid and his men of the odium sought
to be heaped upon them by (lie grossest
misrepresentation of their objects, they
also show the energy, decision, and
promptness with which Gov. Geary has
entered upon his delicate and responsible
duties. We commend the letters to the
attontiqn of our readers.— Union.
The Election in Kansas.
We learn from a gentleman who was
in Kansas at the election, and who reach
ed Washington yesterday, that tho elec
tions went off quietly, and that Governor
Geary had made every necessary arrange
ment to secure to every voter the unmo
lested exercise of his privilege. The
anti slavery voters, however, declined to
avail themselves of their rights, and al
lowed their opponents to carry the elec
tion without a contest. General Whit
field was voted for by the pro-slavery
party, and is elected. It turns out, as
has been generally predicted, that the
Black Republicans in Kansas have listen
ed to the councils of their leaders in the
Eastern States, and have permitted the
election to go by default, when their
strength was claimed to boas six to
one over their opponents. This shows
that they value fanatical agitation more
than the elective franchise.— Union.
SIST Win. Appleton, has been nomina
ted for Congress, by the Fillmore men, in
Mr. Burlingame’s district, in Massachu
setts.
The Next Congress. —The result of
the elections held on the 14th is im
portant in reference to the political char
acter of the next Congress. It is be
lieved that the democrats have gained
from five to seven members in Ohio, six
or eight in Pennsylvania, and from three
to five in Indiana. A change of such a
number from the republican to the dem
ocratic side, will give the democrats a
majority in the new Congress, unless
counteracted by republican gains in the
States yet to elect, which is improbable-
Snow. —lt is stated that the summits
of the Blue Ridge and the highlands in
Virginia, within sight of the Alexandria
and Orange railroad, were covered with
snow on tho 15th inst.
At Richmond, Va., early on Wednes
day morning, 15th inst., there was a
snow. Considerable hail fell the night
before. Passengers by the bay route
report a fall of snow at Weldon, N. C.
also on Wednesday morning. At Char
lottesville, Va., the tops of the houses
were covered with snow.
It appears by the pamphlet, en
titled “ Col. Fremont not a Roman Cath
olic,” which is published to day at the
Tribune office, that there are two Frc
monts, both of whom have belonged to
the army ; both resided in Washington •
that they resemble each other, and that
that Fremont who is the candidate for
President is not that Fremont who was
in the habit of attending the Catholic
Church.— Tribune.
Oh! Oh! Oh! Our contemporary
must have been taking a lesson from
Toodlcs—“l knew a man, not that man,
but another inan,” Ac. But are cur
friends of the Tribune really reduced to
such an alternative, in order to reconcile
current statements. We shall incline to
think the truth is on the side of those who
assort that Col. Fremont has professed
Catholicism, in spite of his dcelaimer, if
bis defenders adopt such a line of de
fence after all that has been written on
the subject.— N. Y Com. Adv.
RfY About sixty-eight thousand votes
were polled in Philadelphia on Tuesday,
the 14th inst., being nearly twelve thou
sand more than were ever polled before.
Since the Mayor’s election in May last,
the Democratic voto has increased over
five thousand, and the opposition over
six thousand votes. The total vote of
Philadelphia now exceeds that of New
York.
jC-f?" Ole Bull, the distinguished vio
linist, it is stated, has not taken tho stump
for any one of the Presidential candi
dates. He is now in Illinois, and since
the last of August, he has been unable
to move about, having had a severe at
tack of billious fever.
A North Carolina ProfessohTi rn
f.d Abolitionist.— The last Raleigh
Standard contains a letter from a Pro
fessor in thv. University of North Caro
lina, a Mr. Iledriek, in which said Hed
rick avows himrelf a Fremont man, a
Black Republican.
Theatricals is New York.—The
Daily Heirs says:—
The “nigger” drama has continued
to run at several of our theatres, having
no other effect, that we can see, than to
excite the fanaticism of one portion of
our population, and the reg-et of the
more sensible. Still, these wild and
unreal pictures of slavery have succeeded
in filling the houses of the managers,
which we presume is the great desider
atum to them, and we have no disposi
tion to find fault on that score. Politi
cal excitements which are generally so
fatal totheatrical entertainments,have had
little effect thus far in thinning the at
tendance at the various places of amuse
ment.
Had Enough of it. — The Atlanta
Intelligencer states that the last winter,
a family of free negroes left that city for
Chicago, and a slave woman of Mr. D.
Young desiring to go with them, he gave
her permission. She returned alone
last Friday, having seen enough of “frost
snow, ice, and free negroes.”
The Vigilance Committee of Cali
fornia. —A letter from California in re
gard to the San Francisco Vigilance
Committee, evidently written by one be
hind the scenes, says that the committee
would remain in a state of perfect quiet
ude until the termination of the trial
Messers. Durkee and Rand for piracy, in
seizing U. S. arms, when, should it be
found that a packed jury had been obtain
ed for the trial, the same as is alleged to
have been the case in the jury which
found the indictment, the committee
would be again called into life, aud in that
event, adds the writer, a war of extermi
nation will ensue.
JS’* The Sumter Republican, of the
15th inst., records the death of Hon. E.
R. Brown, of Amerious, in the 47th year
of his ago.
California Justice.
A correspondent of Porter is the
voucher for this amusing story :
The following occurred in California
in its palmy days, when alcaldes, elected
by the miners of the district, dispensed
equal and exact justice to all.
An individual by tlie name of Green
had borrowed some forty dollars of an
other of the soubriquet of Skortes.
Now Shortez could not obtain the
money, though Green had struck a lead
and was known to have dust. Green
was a large powerful man, but no grit,
and Shortez offered to fight him for the
money , but Green backed water.
Well, the claim was brought before
the Alcalde on a cold, rainy, dismal even
ing, and as there was considerable talk
about it, the boys gathered in to see the
fun—rather a motley appearing crowd
with long beards and hair, patched pants
rimless hats, toeless boots, &c. The
honorable Judge was unwell, but sat up
in his bunk, with a red bandana tied
round bis head. The caso was clearly
proven. The alcalde decided that Green
must pay, and if he would not, a com
mittee of three were to search him or his
cabin, and get the money, and also the
court costs. Upon this, Shortez delibe
rately rose and said, “ Yourlionor, I will
forgive him the debt and pay the costs
besides, if be will only give me a figlit
so that I can whale him.”
Green, when he heard this, squared
himself, thinking that the court room
would be sacred, but Shortez pitched in
at once they and clinched. Several, my
self included, sprang in to separate them,
when, in deep tones, and waving the
bandana, the Judge exclaimed : “ Gentle
men, gentlemen, stand back! If the
parties wish to effect a compromise, don’t
And we stood back. Saw
Green whipped in a few seconds, and
after that obliged to pay the funds.
The abovo was California justice, as
true as the Gospel of St. John.
The Pistol Plant.
In the mountains of Brazil there is a
hot house plant, Philea Cnllitricboides,
of tender, brittle and juicy aspect, which
looks as if it would be good to eat in a
cooling salad, blit which is really of so
explosive a temperament that it might
fairly be called the pistol plant. When
near flowering, and with its tiny buds
ready to open, if the plant is either dip
ped in water, or abundantly watered,
each bud will explode successively, keep
ing up a mimic Sebastopolitan bombard
ment, sending forth a puff of gunpowder
smoke—or a little cloud of dusty pollen
—as its stamens suddenly start forth to
take their place and form a cross. It is
an amusing toy, which produces a
plentiful supply of pop-guns.
There exists between the living plant
and tire soil supporting it an electric
current which always moves in the same
direction ; that is, the soil is constantly
positive, the plant continually negative.
Tli s fa t was first observed by Bi c juerel,
Sen., and for several years it lias been
pointed out by him as one of the causes
of atmospheric electricity. On repeat
ing his experiments, lately, he was
struck by certain anomalies in operation
on the bank of a stream, and at certain
distances from plants. He discovered
that electrical currents change their di
rection and intensity with the chemical
composition of the water in the soil ;
alkaline waters being negative, and acid
waters positive.
A Church for Ladies Alone.—
Thero is a Presbyterian Church in
Northampton county, Virginia, com
posed cut'rely of ladies. They are
twenty two in number. There is not a
single male member among them ; and
of course as they have no eldership, thev
are not properly an organized church;
but the ladies, hoping almost against
hope, have preserved in their sisterhood
and they have actually increased in
numbers, more than many churches
with a settled pastor and the regular ad
ministrations of the sanctuary. The
church is called the “ Holmes Church,”
after the late Dr. Holmes, of Philadel
phia, who was a liberal contributor to
wards its erection,
A New View of Niagara.— The
Ohio State Journal tells a story of an
Irishman, of the better class, who
thought he must conform to the fashion
able mania in paying a visit to Niagara
Falls. Paddy arrives at the Falls, and
taking a look at the surrounding won
ders, addresses himself to a gentleman :
“ and this is Niagara Falls ?” “ Yes,”
was the reply. “ And what is there
here to make such a bother about ?”
“ Why,” said the gentleman, “do you
not see the mighty river, the deep abyss,
the great sheet of water pouring down ?”
Pat, looking at the water, repiles, hesi
tatingly, “ And what's to hinder it *"
Opera dancers wear “ dock’d’
stockings—so that they oan keep time.
So says Dobbs, and he knows what flan
nel is if any body does.
A Lovely Character.
Miss Nightingale. —“ Mrs. and
Miss Smith, from Scutari to Derysbire.”
These were the fellow passengers of
voyagers from the East, who little knew
that Florence Nightingale was at their
elbow, under cover of the name of the
good aunt who accoinpained her. The
simple incognito answered perfectly; and
the long absent daughter entered her
father’s house as quietly as she left it.
What a meeting with parents and sister !
What a waking next morning in the old
country home ! Florence Nightingale
is not ill; hut she is fatigued. She needs
a long and complete rest. Let no one
intrude upon her, with praise or pro
jects, or under pretence of any sort
whatever.— London Daily News.
There is something inexpressibly love
ly in the character of Miss Nightingale,
which shines out from even the ordinary
acts of her daily life. She appears to
be the realization of the ideal beauty
which has charmed the dreams of many
a poet, and she is a noble combination
of all the graces that can adorn the
character of woman. She has won a
fame that shall be as broad as the wide
world and as enduring as time. The
wounded soldier, far from his native
land, mentions her name with gratitude
and devotion. At home in England,
she is the queen of all hearts. All classes
turn aside from their ordinary avocations
to do her honor, and her virtues are the
theme of eulogy at every fireside. She
appears amidst the horrors of the war in
the Crimea like a soothing spirit from a
happier sphere. In England, she finds
work for her hands in the wretched lanes
and alleys of the great metropolis. Let
Lucy Stone an.l her disciples ponder
such a career, and learn the true “ mit
sion of women.”
The Price of a Brigand’s Head in
Greece.— A letter from Athens of the
25th August, in the Constitutionnel,
says:
“On the 21st ult., there arrived at
the Piraeus two brigands’ heads of the
second class. You will, perhaps, feel
some surprise at the idea of a classifi
cation of the heads of two desparadoes,
but this has been found necessary in
order the bettor to lead to the extermin
ation of this scorge of the country. The
brigands are, therefore, divided into
three class; 3,001> drachmas (the drach
ma is 16 cents) are offered for each head
of the first class; 2,000 for the second
class ; and 1,000 for the third class.—
lhey are paid for on delivery, and on
the identity being established, and are
afterwards buried in the cemetery at a
distance from the bodies to which they
belonged. This is a circumstance which
makes a great impression on brigands,
for, convinced as they are that they will
all go to hell, they do not iclLsh the idea
of going there without their heads.—
The two brigands, of whose heads I havo
spoken above, bad assassinated a pub
lic functionary near l’oros, after having
put out bis eves, cut off his ears, <fec.; and
their heads would certainly havo come
into the first category but for the penury
of the treasury.’’
A Grateful Negro. —When Mr.
Jonathan Cross, Superintendent of Cul
portage, was at the North, collecting
fui ds for the Tract Society, lie was
publicly catechised in various places on
the condition of the slaves in the South,
On one occasion, he was asked, among
other questions, what the negroes thought
of their own position. He replied by
mentioning an old servant in North
Carolina, more than a hundred years oM,
who had been brought from Africa iu
bis youth and converted to the Christian
religion, and who, every time he said his
prayers, poured forth his devout grati- .
tudo that he had been stolen away from
a heathen land, and prayed God to
revive the slave trade.
L aug hable Mistake. —A contempo
rary tells a good ioko about a verdant
limb of the law, wbo resided upon Nan
ticoke Creek, and in the absence of tbs
pastor acted as clerk. He had a strange
way of manufacturing words when- at a
loss for the right one. Well, upon a
oertain oooasion, when he deemed his
service in request, he undertook to give
out a hymn, in which the word ‘doxologj 1
occurred ; as he could not get hold of
the word, he requested the congregation
to sing four verses and a sockdologer.’
A Gocd Example. —The Port Gibson
(Miss) Herald says the people of Claiborne
county this season havo put up about
sixteen thousand air-tight cans of finis,
besides what has been put in glass and
earthen jars. This is a good examplo
which should be followed extensively
in the South.
£W The individual who tried to clout
his conscience with an egg, is now en
deavoring to raise his spirits with yeast.
If he fails in this, it is his deliberate to’
tention to blow out bis brains with a.
bellows, and sink camly into the aruw
of—a young lady.