Southern recorder. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1820-1872, May 31, 1859, Image 1

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>\\ tii* -H41i Iwi »<S XL. U.i^ in r o K M E & SON, j.^T0R 5 AND PROPRIETORS. MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, MAY 81, 1859. NUMBER 22. jublished weekly, at the low ,.,t t" | if n" 1 Vo subscription o KC 0RDER is p . , . ' ,),( j, a Its eer annum, when paia m ad- v,! ir ivance, Two Dolt.iks ASD Fifty liiin tlie year, Three BoI.f.ahs in received tor less than six , . \ .,1 v..vsin advance. Remittancesby letters al ourritk. . •• the direction of their paper ; ",i V usfrom what office it is to be trams- kSTS ..mspicnously inserted at $1 00 r! , • ■ lirst insertion, and 50 cents per square if- 1 r . lent iosertinn. Those.sent without a " 1 ' ."Vie mnnbei of insertions, will be pub- ,i mt, and charged accordingly. , ! and Negroes,by Administrators. Exec- ■’ |' v 'are required by iaw to be held on .... r " 11 ,’j • , . ,e month, bet ween the hoars often t I ■ ' ' i ,',, r ,.e in the afternoon, at the Court : ' . oanty in which tile property is situate. No POETRY. i j e „ ^,,,.1 be given in a public gazelle - »' l ' lss Vv*ious to the day of sale. r ' ' , , e * i!e of Personal Property must be giv- VdaYS previous to heday ofsale. St T r in. ,nd Creditors of an Estate inuetbe ill be made to the Court of „ e in sell Land or Negroes, must be ' FORTY OATS. •X , application w far le»ve to sen > ! "'L-'L.-eeklv for TWO MONTHS. _ if >' r f.e;-->f Administration must be pub- , Dismission from Administration, ' ; r' ' ' ’;,’ s Dismission from Guardianship. ,-ire of Mortgage must be publish- : ' ' r _ ,.,_f,,r establishing lost papers. »”: trs« months— for compelling titles l ! ' dr AdinViiistrators, where a bond has : v " .■ ■ ieased , the f nil space of three months. •-•'""'V’’ ’ . i‘ alv.-avs be continued according to ‘ 1 ' ' 1 , j .. i iirements. unless otherwise ordered. V"She line of PRINTING will meet with ’ ‘oenthm atthe R ecordEB Office. liTGROCEEIES. 1859. j ^ffff&GARAKBR, | T q.t VlvFL'L for the increased patronage of the . ‘ vear , be"' leave to inform their friends ; ■ ‘.“mniers thatthey are still at their old stand, j : ,;X the Post Office, where they would he ; TX} jo wait upon them with a full assortment 1',,;.t es usually kept in their line of busi- "V liicli they will sell as low for cash, or on J: " ,'L t)X market will allow,) consisting in part 0 f;be following articles: STEIVAKTS A. B. &. C. SUGARS. Crush’d, Powder’d and Loaf do. ■ v v, COSTA RICA and RIO COFFEE. i : ;;V MOLASSES and N. O. SYRUPS. liiCON'—Hams, Shoulders A Sides—LARD, j,, , r ; a i t Young Hyson and Oolong Teas. ■ Tobacco, 1 Starch, Iron, Nails, Soap, i Cast & Plow Steel, \V, r ling and Garden Hoc?. Axes. Twe and Log Chains. Loi . - an d Short Handle Shovels and Spades. M ai'ire Forks. Wooden and Hollow Ware. Hardware and Cutlery. Lh , Plaster and Cement. ].-j IK Wines, Brandies, Whiskeys,Gin and Rum. p 1 j ];ts (jil s A Varnish, and various other articles. GALL AND SEE!! Mii’.edgeville, May 10,1S59 19 tf Wool Manufactory. tyijt; Miiledgeville Manuiacturing Company t ,'outimies the Manufacture of their ASaXi Fi&hXSSG KSS.SS’SrS, and resN, c hilly soiicites the future patronage ol the M-idiauts and Planters ol Georgia. ”\Vc -di as heretofore pay particular attention to w'T’ding- Wool Halls, and Weaving into Sfsrseys or Jeans. j ii.-iujl recently purchased the wool ractory j i :L vXwned by Mr. D. A Jewell we hive in i',• Ifud'.ities, to attend promptly to all orders j ut the above description. ... > Wool forwarded to us, as well as orders tor oth- ; er kinds of goods of our manufacture, should be j ’..1 to the Miiledgeville Manufacturing Com- ' pane, Miiledgeville, Ga. 1 ' if ,3. Wool constantly bought at full market > F. WAITZFELDER, President, i Hav 17, 1-59 20 3t TOSL SAIiS. * CHOICE lot of BACON, cheap for; -L cadi or approved credit. ’ COMPTON-& CALLOWAY, i U0 tf i THE PRIATEK S EPITAPH. Here lies his form in pi. Beneath tins bank, w : iih briars overgrown; How many cases, far unworthier, lie ’Neath some imposing stone. No column points our loss— No sculptured caps liis history declare. Although he lived a follower of the cross, A member of the bar. The golden rule lie prized, And left it as a token of his love; And all his deeds corrected and revised, Are registered above. Tlie copy of his wrongs— I he proofs of ail his pi-ety are there; And the fair t itle which to truth belongs Wili prove Lis title fair. Though now in death’s em brack, A mouldering heap our luckless brother lies, He’ll re-ajipear on Gabriel's rotal chase, And frisk-it to the skies. THEY TELL ME. They tell me that this world of ours, That seems so bright and fair, Is lull of woe anjjoitterness, Sorrow, and blighting care; And that this cup of life is tilled, With many a bitter draught. That mingles with each sip of joy That weary mortals quaff. Tliev tell me that a smiling face Oft hides a troubled soul, O'er which tlie floods of sorrow In angry billo ws roll; The}' tell me that this heart of mine, That heats so gaily now. May break with grief and shadows fall Upon my sunny brow. But oh! I will not heed, their tales, I will be gay and free; And then if sorrow ever comes. If it must come to me, I will bear it very bravely. And put my trust in God, And though lie smite me sorely, I’ll kiss (he chastening rod. For there is much that’s lovely, lu this fair world of ours; The sunshine, birds, the running streams, The trees, tiie grass, and flowers; And if there was no woe or grief, To mar life’s happy hours, We might forget to seek a home In Heaven's immortal bowers. ;v 17, 1.359 AGRICULTURAL Machinery and Implements. GRAIN CRADLES. owl and Wire braced. 5 and 6 lingers. Price 3^ to 5 dollars. SCYTHE BLADES, English Patent, American Silver Steel. Price 73c. to $1 15. SICKLES’ REAP HOOKS, Lba.-s blades, Scythe Stoues and Rifles. WHEAT FANS, Grant s Patent, Excelsior, Ac. Price 13 to 40 dollars. THRESHING MACHINES, 'own’s Virginia, Wheeler’s and Georgia made, l’rice 33 to 59 dollars. HORSE POWERS, Sinclair’s and Whitman's Lever Powers, one and I* 1 horse idril Road Powers. Price $100 to $ 140. STRA W CUTTERS, ■'W-k and Fodder Cutters. Price 5 to 30 dollars. CORN SHELTERS, -nous sizes and Patterns Price GV to 15 dollars. WEEDING HOES, ‘ v: ; s C.dlins', Weed's Brades' Patent, Clement’s ■j," 11 and \V ood Straw Rakes, Cultivators, Harrows, P us (;. i n Mills, Clmrnes, Wheelbarrows,&c., ■ sale at tlie lowest nrices, by i\AI Ii.i.¥ WEED, Macon Ga. 20 2in AUf iJ ay 17, !c59 meeting, floor oil cloths t _ UPHOLSTERY GOODS. j’J!- subscriber has constantly on hr t i '"^"rtment of the followings goods, and a full to which >n of purchasers is invited. H 3TESTS—English Velvet Medal- jj'X’ k^gh-li 1'ape.stty Velvet, English Tapestry : Wire Brussels, English and America)! f superfine two l*!ys—all wool; and Cut- ‘ UU;, ‘ ,; ' 1 Carpets—Hemp. Wool, Dutch, &e. v 5®AI3. GAEL’S’ETd—Velvet, Brussels, , “ l ' ll:ln and Cotton—yi ail w idths. ^ ® »iT —Wool a ad Linen, from J to J in width. Bordered Cruiab Cloths 01 -'-n sizes. ^ *-'V3ja OIL Ci02?SS T English and , v ' ' * lean, varying in width, from J of a yard to W'' ^and of all qualities. v^soz.ssaa'sr goods —Satin and t ‘.'"''-G clatnasks, Cotton and wool do.—Broca- Sens. L ace and Muslin Curtains. of a vHyVOUS, COS.&ISE3 and fixtures •t-t kinds. i,,' "" a ”'-‘ check Matting of all widths, always “® tore -_ Rugs, door Mat.-" Ac. di ( ‘•‘•nensions of entries and rooms being giv- • “ curbs and carpets wili be cut to fit, without • tra cuarge All A * for ti ® x l J ® n ‘‘ n ced Upholsterer will cut, and prepare t; vvlI| uow, Damask, Lace and Muslin Cur- *' D. LATHKOP. v.„, , „ HOUongress st.57 lit Julian st. umah, Ga., May 10, IS59 19 12m [From the Home Journal.] TALES 0 F T IIE SOUTH. BY A SOUTHERN MAN. The Seminole war in Florida was the longest, if not the bloodiest and most ro mantic contest, waged with the Indians in the South. Some of our best generals, as Scott, Taylor, and Twiggs, and other officers of lesser note, figured in its cam paigns, and won, if not laurels for them selves, at least experience to benefit the country on other and wider fields. Those who blamed our commanders for the tardiness of the war, and the inde cisive issue of its battles, betray ignorance of tlie geography of tlie country where they were fought, and also with the meth od and resources of Indian warfare. Florida, almost a peninsula, and w ashed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, along a line of coast extensive enough to give it very consider able commercial and maritime advanta ges, has been redeemed, say naturalists, from tlie basin of the gulf by the labors of those insignificant marine insects, known as’ tiie coral reef builders of tiio deep.— These little artificers—laboring through tlfe long lapse of centuries, and. in count less numbers, beginning their net-work of cells on the bottom of the gulf, and con structing layer above layer until the ag gregate mass rose above the surface of the waters, ami, repeating their process until the successive lateral laminae of cells had advanced as far out into the basin of the Gulf as the building capacity of the coral insect would permit it to go—have literal- ly founded a state by the diligent masonry of infusorial instinct. Horizontal sections even of the surface soil, betray the cellular origin of the strata, and develop the cause which produces the geographical peculiar ity of the State. The coral laminae lying on ly a small depth below the top earth form an impermeable floor, above which the vege table deposit lias produced the soil adapt ed to agricultural purposes, and below which the waters cannot penetrate; and thus the drainage by percolation being ar rested, they stagnate into marsh and give rise to the everglades—the most striking physical feature of Florida. These are tracts of land covered with grass and oc cupy a considerable portion of the superfi cial area of the State- Within the vegetable and watery fast nesses of the everglades the Seminoles re treated, and long baffled tlie strategy of the generals, and tlie powers of the soldi ery sent to dislodge them. For what could skill or courage accomplish in a combat with enemies gliding and biding like snakes under a covert, whose founda tions quivered beneath the footstep of the soldier, and whose dense vegetable growth bid the foe from the most diligent search? When the full details of tlie Florida war come to be recorded and known—the hiccuuc in the mud and the battle in the grass, with invisible foes—the tedious march, and the more painful delay—the double assault of fever in the blood and marasmus in the brain, produced by the miasm of foetid exhalations—famine of- times, and pressing want frequently in the camp; caused by tlie delinquency or delay of the commissary department of the ser vice—above all, the unjust and ungrateful criticism of officials, at ease upon fat sala ries, and of tlie public press, whose conduc tors were out of the reach of both bullets and the miasm of the everglades, when these, and more than these details come out- as at no distant future they must, it will he seen what crying injustice lias been done to the bravo generals and valiant sol- diers—citizen and regular, who embarked in the Florida war; that theme for the yet- uuwritten Iliad of our Indian wars. Tiie writer felt constrained to say this much by way of vindicating tiie skill of the generals and the efficiency of the sol diery who went to tiie Florida war, against the flippant crudities of those military sciolists and martinets of the quill and the hustings, who, however valorous with tongue or pen, were all of them, to a man, sohlier" during the jjcace, and c.itizuis dur ing the tear with tlie Seminoles. This grateful task briefly performed, he passes on to relate a thrilling little adventure which occurred in Florida during the pro gress of the war. James Smiley, a brave athletic man, lived near the iine of an extensive ever glade, in a belt of hammock lands, as the Floridians call them, that is, rich uplands, the most productive soil of the State.— Needing some rails to repair bis fences, be went into tbe’woods, lying on the margin of the swamp, to split them. Ho carried bis gun with him, as was the custom with all living in the neighborhood of tiie local ities infested by the savages, when they went abroad. Finding timber to suit liis purpose, he leaned Ills gun, within conve nient reach, against a large tree which stood midway between tlie spot where lie was to labor and the edge of the everglade. He had felled a tree; severed the butt por lion of it and was engaged in a stooping posture, and with bis back to the swamp, in splitting it into rails with liis maul and wedge. A sound like the click of gun- lock, made in springing the trigger, caught bis ear. liaising liis body to an erect pos ture, and turning bis eyes in the direction from which t.lie sound seemed to come, he saw two powerful Seminole warriors stand ing one on each side of the tree against which he had leaned his gun. They were dressed in the ragged warrior costume of tlie tribe, and held each a rifle in his hand levelled at the person of Air. Smiley. Escape, under such circumstances, was, of course, utterly impossible. Even to move was perilous. The savages, con struing the slightest motion into an at tempt to escape, would have slain him -up on the spot. To stiyul perfectly motion less, therefore, and return the exulting glance of his assailants with a look in which more of despair at the hopelessness of resistance than of fear at the imininency of his peril was expressed, was all that lie could do. Still, the warriors delayed to fire.— Knowing the delight of tiie Indian in the torture of his victim, Air. S. felt that the pause before his execution was but tlie re spite, as brief in time; and as certain an issue, which tbo cat gives to the captive mouse, when she fondles it with lier paw before she strikes it with her fang. And yet, so sustaining is true courage, the fear less man stood, calm and unmoved, look ing in the muzzles of the gnus levelled to destroy him. From some signs and guttural sounds exchanged between the warriors, which long residence among tlie Seminoles ena bled Mr. Smiley to comprehend, lie leani- en that it was their purpose to capture and extort from him, doubtless by torture, to be followed by lingering death, such infor mation as be might possess in relation to the numbers and movements of the Amer ican forces, then beginning to concentrate, with a view to a combined attack uppn tlie everglade Indians concealed in the marsh from which the warriors had just emerged. He was not then to be murdered, in cold blood, upon the spot where lie stood. This respite, however it might expose him to pain and death in the end, was at least a momentary reprieve, and might enable him, ultimately, to accomplish an escape. At all events it was preferable to instant death, and whether the captors were to profit by it in the way they proposed’, was a matter yet to be determined. Tint reso lute man felt, indeed, that he had strength of nerve and fidelity of soul sufficient to save his honor from any impeachment and the cause of his country from any detri ment, by unwarrantable disclosures of tlie affairs of liis friends, even if they should be solicited by all the horrid barbarities of In dian torture. Perceiving that Mr. S. understood their dialect enough to comprehend their mean ing when expressed in its rude gutturals, tlie warriors signified to him, that it was their intention to take him with them to a council to be held that night in the ever glade, to deliberate upon tiie now almost desperate state of their affairs. He had no alternative but death or submission, for tlie present to their wishes, and so follow ing the direction to which they pointed he started, with slow and reluctant step to wards the swamp. The still ieveded guns were turned and held in the hands ot the warriors, so as to keep the person of the captive within point blank range of the muzzles. At this moment the warriors caught si : muUaneously, a sight of the glitterin wedge which had been driven two-thirds of its length into the tough and adhesive timber. Attracted either by the novelty of the instrument itself or which it perhaps, the more probable supposition, deeming it useful for warlike purposes, they determin ed to secure and carry it with them. He calling Mr. S., and pointing to tlie weilge, they gave him to understand they wished him to draw it out and be the bearer of' it to their retreat in the everglade. The Floridian, as quick witted as he was stout hearted, comprehending the wisli of the warriors, devised, at once, a plan to turn tlie tables upon them. Go ing to the end of the log in which the wedge was driven, he made repeated fail ures to draw it out with his hand. Eacl of the warriors came up in turn, while the other stood sentinel with his still levelled gun, and struggled to withdraw it. The smooth surface, polished, by long use, to brightness and regularity, slipped al most uurestingly through the tightest, grasp. The maul lay upon the ground, near the end of the log, where Mr. S. had dropped it when first surprised by the In dians ; but tlicy did not understand the mode or the necessity of using it to accom plish their purpose. Irritated at the protracted failure to extricate tlio wedge, but losing none of their desire to possess it, the warriors grew restive and menacing in their words and gestures towards their prisoner, Ho saw that their patience was well nigh exhaust ed, and well knew that, maddened by de lay and failure, they would avenge them selves by taking his life. It was full time, therefore, to carry into execution the plan which he hail devised. Fortunately, the position of tiie parties was favorable to im mediate action. Mr. Smiley stood at the end of the severed portion of the prostrate free, close to the maul and wedge; the In dians occupied a position near the middle of it—one on each side of the log—and still kept vigil, with levelled guns, over their captive. With signs and with such words of their language as lie could command for the purpose, he made the warriors understand that by trusting their hands into the gap ing timber, and pulling with all their might, each towards himself, it could be opened sufficiently to permit the withdraw al of the wedge. They comprehended and acted upon the suggestion at once, relaxing their vigil under the powerful solicitation of the temptation to possess the wedge.— Leaving their guns beside them on the log, they bent down, thrust their bands into the fissure of the scarcely half split timber, and pulled with all their might. Tlio alert Floridian seized the maul, and striking the wedge a quick and powerful blow, detach ed it from its hold. The recoil of the un severed parts ftf the log was instantaneous and strong.* The Jiawdar of the Indians were caught and held securely as in a vice of steel. In vain they strove to detach ( them, almost rending their arms and bands asunder, by rapid and alternate jerks and pulls. The powerful grasp of the tough timber relaxed not in tlie least. The bands were becure in the wooden clamp, and the owners effectually captured by the ingenious stratagem. Convinced of their inability to release their bands, and writhing with pain, the Indians broke out into hideous and pro longed yells for help. The captor, seizing a gun, by dint of threats and menacing acts, soon enforced silence, which was quite necessary to be maintained in liis present situation, to prevent a rescue by the com rades of the prisoners, lurking not far off in the everglade. Having placed the guns out of reach. Air. Smiley stripped the Indians of their clothes, which he cut up into strong bands and slips. With these he tied their legs and arms together so effectually, that they could use neither hand nor foot in its prop er office. Then diiving the wedge into the rent fissure or the log, he released the hands of his captives. They stood help less and disarmed before him ; unable ei ther to resist or escape. He drew the hands of each close together, and fastened them securely. Then relaxing the ban dage on their legs enough to permit walk ing without the power to run, lie made them stand side by side, until the right arm of one was firmly tied to the left arm of the other. Thus pinioned, he made them walk before him to a neighboring station of American troops, to the commandant of which he delivered Iris captives, to be held and treated as prisoners of war. The feat was, of course highly lauded by all who heard of it, lived its little day of notoriety in tlie section or Florida where Air. Smiley resided, and is rescued now from fast coming oblivion, by the circum stance of the writer of these talcs having heard .it related ; to a company in a stage coach, by a man who had been a volunteer in the Florida war, and learned the inci dents in the neighborhood where they transpired. Mr. Brown’s Mishaps. Mr. Eliphalet Brown was a bachelor of thirty-five or thereabout; one of those men who seem to be born to pass through the world alone. Save this pccularity, there was nothing to distinguish Mr. Brown from the multitude of other Browns who are born, grow tip and (Tie in this world of ours. It chanced that Mr. Brown had occasion to visit a town some fifty miles distant, on matters of business. It was liis first visit to the place, and he proposed stopping for a day in order to give himself an opportuni ty to look about. Walking leisurely along the street, be was all at once accosted by a child of five, who ran up to him, “exclaiming : “Father !” Was *it possible that he, a bachelor, was addressed by that title ?— He could not believe it! “Who were you speaking to, my dear?” lie inquired of the little girl. “I spoke to you, father,” said the little one, surprised. Iieally, thought Air. Brown, this is em barrassing. “I am not your .father, my dear,” be said ; “what is your name?” The child laughed heartily, evidently thinking it a good joke. “What a funny father you arc,” she said ; “but are you going to buy me some candy !” “Yes, yes, I’ll buy you a pound if you won’t call me father any more,” said Brown, nervously. The little girl clapped her hand with delight. The promise was all she remembered. Mr. Brown proceeded to a confectionary store, and actually bought a pound of can dy, which be placed into the bands of the little girl. “In coming out of tlie store they encoun tered the child’s mother. “Oh, mother !\ said the little girl, “just sec how much candy father has bought for me.” “You shouldn’t have bought her so much at a time, Mr. Jones,” said the lady, “I'm afraid she will make herself sick. But how did you happen to get home so quick? I did not expect you till night.” “Jones—I—madam,” said the embarras sed Mr. Brown, “it’s all a mistake ; I ain’t Jones at all. It isn’t my name, I am Elip halet Brown, of W , and this is the first time I ever came into this city.” “Good Heavens! Mr. Jones, what has put this silly tale into your head? You have concluded to change your name, have you? Perhaps it’s your intention to change your wife?” Mrs. Jones’ tone was now defiant and this tended to increase Air. Brown’s embar rassment. “I haven’t any wife, madam; I never had any. On my word as a gentleman, I never was married.” “And do you intend to palm this talc off upon me?” said Airs. Jones with excite ment. “If you are not married, I’d like to know who I atn?” “I have no doubt yon are a most respec table lady,” said Mr. Brown. “I conjecture from what you have said that your name is Jones ; but mine is Brown, madam, and al ways was.” “Alelinda,” said her mother, suddenly ta king her child by the arm and leading her up to Air. Brown ; “Alelinda, who is that gentleman?” “AYhv, that’s father!” wa3 the child’s im mediate reply, as she confidingly placed lier bauds in his. “You hear that, Air. Jones, do you? You hear what the innocent child says, and yet you have the unblushing impudence tode liy that you are my husband! The voice of nature speaking through the child should overwhelm you. I’d like to know if you are not her father, why you are buying candy for her? I'd like to have vou answer that. But I presume you never saw her before in your life?” “I never did. On my honor I never did, I tobl her I would give, her the candy if she would not call me father any m‘ore.” “You did, did you? Bribed your child not to call yon Father! Oh, Mr. Jones, that is infamous ! Do you intend to desert me, sir, and leave me to the cold charities of the World 1 And is this your first step?” Sirs. Jones was so overcome that, with out any warning, she fell back upon the along with a large val- snid lie sidewalk in a fainting fit. Instantly a number of peisons ran to her assistance. “Is yonr wife subject to fainting in this way ? asked the first comer of Brown. “I don’t know,” said Air. Brown. “She is not my wife. I don’t know anything a- bout her.” “Why, it’s Mrs. Jones, ain’t it!” “Yes, but I’m not Air. Jones.” “Sir,” said the first speaker, sternly, “this is no jest. 1 trust that you are not the cause of the excitement which must have caused your wife’s fainting lit. You had better call a coach aud carry her home di rectly.” Poor Brown was dumfounded. I wonder, thought he, whether it is pos sible that I’m Air. Jones without knowing it. Perhaps I’m really Air. Jones, and have gone crazy, and fancy that my name is Bfowii. And yet I don’t think I’m Jones.' In spite of all, I will insist that my name is Brown.” “Well, sir, what are you waiting for! It is necessary that your wife should be remov ed at once. Will you order a carriage?” Brown saw that there was no use to pro tract the discussion by a denial. He, therefore, without contesting the point, or dered a hackney coacli to the spot. Air. Brown accordingly lent an arm to Airs. Jones, who had somewhat recovered, and was about to close the door upon her. “Why, are you not going yourselt?” “Why, no, why should I ?” “Yonr wife should not go alone ; she has hardly recovered.” Brown gave a desparing glance at the crowd around him, and deeming it useless to make opposition where so many seemed thoroughly convinced that lie was Air. Jones followed the lady in. “Where shall I drive?” said the whip. “I—I—I—don’t know,” said Mr. Brown. “Where would you wish to be carried?” “Home, of course,” murmured Airs. Jones. “I do not know,” said Brown. “No. 19 H street,” said tlie gentle man already introduced, glancing con temptuously at Brown. “Will you help me out. Air. Jones?” said the lady. “I am not fully recovered from the fainting fit into which your cruelty drove me.” “Are you quite sure that I am Mr. Jones? ’ asked Brown with anxiety. “Of course,” said Airs. Jones. “Then,” said he, resignedly, “I suppose I am. But, if you believe me, I was firmly convinced this morning that my name was Brown, and to tell the truth I liavu’t any recollection of this house.” Brown helped Airs, Jones into the par lor, but, good heavens, conceive the aston ishment of all when a man was discovered seated in an arm chair, who was the ver}* fac simile of Air. Brown, in form, feature, and every other respect! “Gracious!” exclaimed the lady, “which —which is my husband?” An explanation wa-s given, the mystery cleared up; and Mr. Brown’s pardon sought j for the embarrassing mistake. It was freely accorded by Air. Brown, wlio was quite delighted to think that after all be ! was not Air. Jones, with a wife and child to i boot. Air. Brown lias not since visited the place : where this “Comedy of Errors” happened, He is afraid of losing his identity. Tiie Mysterious Gambler. BY AN OLD STAGER. I have made several passages up the Alississippi and Ohio rivers, and never without seeing on hoard the steamers more or less professional gamblers. It is a thriving business on the boats where time hangs heavily on the bands of tlie passen gers, and the black-legs carry off" large sums of iffoney. They usually remain on board but a day or two—long enough to have their true character exposed. These gentry had become such an intol erable nuisance the captains of the boats do not knowingly permit one to come, on board, and not unfrequently a brace of black legs was landed in the woods when tlieiv profession was discovered. During one of my trips the boat put in at the mouth of the Arkansas river, and as usual, I took a stroll on the shore. I heard the bell for tlie departure of the ' steamer, and hastened back to the land ing. As I was on my way, I was over taken by a gentleman with a broad brim med bat, green goggles, and a white neck cloth, tuggir ise. “I am rather late, am I not ?” as lie- joined me. “True enough, sir,” I replied, respect fully, for the gentleman was a clergyman, a Aiethodist itinerant I supposed. “AIv valise is rather heavy, and I fear ed I should lose the boat.” “ Let me help you carry it sir.” He accepted my civil offer, and I took : hold of the valise, which was certainly j loaded very heavily for a Aiethodist par I son. In a few moments we reached the . steamer and I passed on board, but my j new acquaintance had accomplished but half the distance when the plunk canted, and he .was thrown into the river. For- } tumtely for him, I was prompt in my j efforts to rescue, and he was immediately ! drawn on board, with no other detriment ! than a thorough ducking. Aly friend, whom, as I never learned bis name, I shall have to call tlie Rev. Mr. Goggles, retired to a vacant state-room.— It was neaily dark, and I did not see him again that night. As usual, in the evening there was a table in the cabin devoted to cards ; in a word, there was gambling without stiut.— No one objected to the practice, so long as it was done not by professional black-legs I never played, but I often stood bv the table to observe tlie progress of the game, and study the looks of the players, as they were agitated by the fickle changes of a moment. While I sat watching them I observed on the opposite side of the table a well dressed gentleman, who was regarding with eager interest the plays of the gam biers. He manifested a desire to engage in the place of one who bad been cleaned out. It was soon apparant that the new comer was a skillful player, and time af ter time" be swept the board of all that had been staked. In a short time his com panions had enough of it and withdrew.— He had won a large suin of money, and was evidently satisfied with bis evening’s work. He smoked on the boiler deck until all the passengers bad retired, aud then left. Much curiosity bad been manifested to know who and what be* was. Nobody bad seen him before, andvnobody remem bered when be came on board, and what seemed most singular of all, bo was not seen next clay, though the boat bad not stopped during the night. The next day was Sunday, and at break fast time my Methodist friend made bis appearance. “Ary good friend, I have to thank you for the good services you did me last even ing. I am poor. I have none of this world’s goods. I trust that all my treasu res are laid up in heaven. But the Lord will reward you if I cannot.” “Don’t mention it, my- dear sir, I am happy to have been the means of saving you.” 0 We conversed a while upon the matter, ami my friend then spoke of having ser vice on board, if agreeable to the passen gers. Of course it was agreeable and the parson prayed and exhorted with a zeal that would have done lioner to the most celebrated of the revivalists. The impression produced by the service. I am sorry to say, w as not so permanent for when evening came, the gaming table was spread out as usual, and the games commenced. The mysterious gambler ap peared again, and much to tlie surprise of all, for it was believed fhat he bad landed, or been lost overboard. He played aud swept the board as before. Some of the weaker ones thought lie was tbo devil in disguise, and their belief was almost con firmed, when the next day nothing could be found of him. The passengers made him the subject of their conversation, and quite an excite ment was kindled. The captain swore that if he appeared again, he would throw him into the river. A thorough search was made lor him, but vain. Aly Aiethodist friend was especially indignant, and believed it would be- a good plan to bang every gambler, as soon as Iris true character was discovered, I agreed with liiin entirely. One young man from Cincinnati was particularly distressed in the sudden dis appearance oftlie black-leg, for be Lad, under tlie influence of an overdose of bran dy, staked and lost a half-eagle which Jris mother had given him just before her death. It was not the loss of the money that 3is- tressed him, for he had plenty of that, but it was the associations connected w ith the coin itself. There was a history con nected with it, lie said, and be would give double the value of it if* lie would re turn it with the little ring attached to it. That evening to the disappointment of all onboard, who w ere prepared to deal with him in a summary manner, the Llack-Ieg did not appear. Alan or devil, lie bad the means of knowing oftlie indignation liis acts had caused. There was a strange mystery about him. Every part of the steamer was again searched in vain for him ; and it seem ed certain that he could not have gone a- sliore. The next dny I was talking with the Rev. Air. Goggles, not about the gam bier, but on general topics. Of course, liis life, as a%itinerant, was full of inter est to me. He tobl bow cheaply be lived and traveled from place to place, that he was often hungry, and never had more than one dollar at the time. “I have only five now,” he said ; and to verify his statement, he took from his pocket a half-eagle. I glanced at it. There was a hole in it with a ring attached ! It w as certainly the property of the young man from Ciu- cinnati. “What is the ring for ?” I asked. “This was given to me by a woman in Arkansas, who was converted under my preaching.” The liar, I bad already made up my mind that he was an impostor, in short, that he was the mysterious gambler. Be fore dinner time I had an opportunity to whisper my views to the captain, aud while we were at dinner, his state room was searched. A large sum of money was found there and many of the gambler’ tools as well as the dress the “unkown.” had worn. “Parson can you swim ?” asked the captain as the Reverend Mr. Goggles came upon the boiler deck. “A little,” be replied with a demure smile. A ou will have a chance to try, I ain go ing to throw' you over board.” The captain took him by the collar, and explained the matter to the aston islied passengers who were quite ready to assist in emptying his pockets and then throwing him overboard. The money taken from him was paid over to bis vic tims. The last we saw of him, he w’as swim- ing vigorously towards the shore, cursing the captain with quite as much zeal as he had used in praying and exhorting. The young man trom Cincinnati got his cherished coin, and I trust, learned a useful lesson. Wuadets of the Mississippi. The difference of level between high and low water mark at Cairo is fifty feet; at New Orleans, the difference is btit twelve feet. The width and depth of the river from Cairo and Alemphis to New Or leans is not materially increased yet im mense additions are made to the quantify of w ater in the channel by large streams from both the eastern and western sides of the Alississippi. The question naturally arises : What becomes of this vast added volume of water 1 It certainly never reaches New Orleans and certainly does not evaporate ; and of course.it is not con fined to the channel of the liver, for it would rise far above the entire region south of us. If a well is sunk anywhere in the Ar kansas bottom, water is ferand as soon as the water level of the Alississippi is reach ed. When the Alississippi goes down, the water sinks accordingly in the well.— The owner of a saw mill, some twenty miles from the Alississippi, in Arkansas, dug a well to supply the boilers of liis en engine, during the late flood. When the waters receded his well went down, liis hose would no longer reach the water, and finally bis well was dry. He dug a ditch to an adjacent lake to let water into b;s well ; tbo lake was drained and the well was dry again-*—having literally drank ten acres of water in less than a w r eck. The inference is, that the whole valley of the Mississippi, from its banks to the highlands on either side, rests on a porous, snbstratnm which absorbs the redundant waters, and thus prevents that degree of aecnniolatioH which would long since have ewept New Orleans into the Golf, but for |h»s P* 0 *! sion of nature, to which alone her safety is attributable. It fact, if the alluvial bottoms of the Aiis- sisippi, were like the shore of Ohio, the vast plain from Cairo to New Orleans would to-day be part and parcel of the Gulf of Mexico, and this whole valley a vast fresh water arm of the sea. Were the geological character of the valley differ ent, the construction of levees, confining the water of tlie Alississippi to its channel, would cause the rise in the river to be come so great at tlie-riSouth, that there no sufficient levee couI.fCkbe built. The current would bo stronger ind the accu mulation ol water greater as the levees are extended north of ns. Such results were reasonably enough anticipated ; hut the water, instead of breaking the levees, permeates the po rous soil, and the overflow is really be neath the surface of the swamps. Such it seems to ns, are the wise provisions of natural laws for the safety and ultimate reclamation of the rich country south of U3. [Mcrbplih AccdamTie. Smoking a OaIiseof Iksanitt.— 1 The ter rible ravages which tobacco is making on the minds and bodies of the young seems to bo attracting the attention of medical men in various parts of the world. In a pamphlet inst issued by Di. Seymour, of London, on Private Lunatic Asylums, and the causes of insanity of late years, tho Doctor denounces with emphasis as one of the producing causes the practice of im moderate smoking indulged in by boys and young men at the universities and “larger schools, now called colleges.” The Doc tor’s remarks are as applicable to the youths of this country ns those of Europe. No one- conversant with disease can doubt that excessive smoking, especially in the case of young people, must be highly injurious to both mind and body. Its effects to de press tlie circulation—the heart becomes weak, irregular in its action; and the pulse is scarcely to be felt. The victim becomes irresolute and nervous, his appetite fails, and his mind fills with imaginary evils. This may continue for years, but at length the smoker dies often suddenly ; then ex amination has shown that the muscular structure of the heart is imperfect in its ac tion ; the left side i3 thin, and in some cas es, in which sudden death has occurred, there has been found little more than a strip of muscular fibre left on that side. The question of restraining boys from smoking is rather a difficult one to deal with, but the grave interests at stake seem to demand that some action should be tak en iu the premises. Cancer Cure.—The Alilwankie Demo crat recently noticed the case of Mr. Alat- son, proprietor of a musie- store in this city (brother to Lowell Alatson,) who was cured ot a cancer upon his face, al ter the removal by knife and reappearance of the disease. He was treated by a Cincinnati physician after the process of Dr. Fell, cl' London, described asiollows : A piece of sticking plaster was put over the cancer, with a circular piece cut out of the centre, a little larger than the cancer so that the cancer had a small circular rim of healthy skin next to it where expo sed. Then a plaster made of chloride of zinc, blood root and v. beat flour, was spread on a piece of this circular opening aud applied to the cancer for twenty four hours. On removing it, the cancer was found burnt into, and appeared of the color and harduess of an old shoe sole, and the cir cular rim outside of it appeared white parboiled, as if scalded lty a hot steam.— The wound was now dfessed, and the can cer came ont in a hard lump, and the place healed up. The plaster kills tbo cancer, so that it sloughs ont like dead flesh, and never grows in again. The remedy lias been used in this city success fully. We h ave seen a cancer which wns removed entire from the face of aruesteem- cd lady of this city by Dr. Dolly. The afflicted should know that there is a reme dy which is near infallible.—Rochester Democrat. An Unexpected Finish.—Speaking of the tendency of temperance orators to set forward themselves as previous examples of the blighting effects of drink, the Lon don correspondent oftlie Liverpool Ad err- iiset says : “This predilection was smartly satirized the other evening at a temperance meeting. A person in the hall got up and said : “Aly friends, three months ago I signed the pledge. (Clapping of bands and approving cheers.) In a month after wards, my friends, 1 had a sovereign iu my poeket—a tiling I never bad before.— (Clapping and lontl cheering ) In another mouth, my friends, I had a good coat on my back—a thing I have never bad before. (Cheers and clapping much louder.) A fortnight after that, my friends, I bought a coffin.” The audience' was going to cheer here, but stopped and looked serious.— “You wonder,” continued the lecture, “whv I bought a coffin.” Well, my friends, I bought a coffin because I felt pretty certain that if I kept the pledge another fortnigbt, I should want one. \ Loud John Russell on Wasiiinoton.— The first volume of “The Life and Times ol Charles James Fox,” by Lord John Rus sell, has just appeared in England. The Loudon papers say his lordship has dealt writh his subject in a fragmentary, almost incoherent manner. Ilis first volume is a commentary, and little more. As a com mentary, however it is characteristic, and tlie conclnding passage is, perhaps, the most characteristic of all: “Before taking leave of the American war, a few words may be allowed on a top ic where there can be little difference of opinion. George Washington, withont tlie genius of Julius Cresar or Napoleon Bona parte, has a far purer fame, as his ambition was of a higher and holier nature. Instead of seeking to raise his own name or seize supreme power, he devoted his whole tal ents, military and civil, to the establish ment of the independence and perpetuity of the liberties of bis own country. In mod ern history no man has done such great things withont the soil of selfishness or the stain of a grovelling ambition. Caesar, Cromwell, Napoleon, attained a higher ele vation ; but the love of dominion was the spur that drove them on. John Hampden, William Russell, Algernon Sydney may have had motives aa-puro and an ambi tion as unstained - hit they fell. To George Washington, nearly alone in mod ern times, ham it been given to accomplish a wonderful rdvolarioa, and yet to remain to all fiatnie time theme of a people’s grat itude and an example of virtuous end ben eficent of power-’*