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®ljc ilk di In (Constitutionalist.
BY JAMES GARDNER.
Justice to Gen. Crittknpkx.—We had un inter- I
view yesterday with Capt. Henrv Ewing, Aeting
Assistant Adjutant General, nnd aid to Gen. Zolh
coffer in the late battle at Fishing Creek. It will
be remembered that we published on the Bth
■nst„ extracts from a letter which appeared in the
New York Herald, of the Sth, purporting to give
the substance of Capt. Ewing's statements to the
Federate, when be went with a flag of truce to
recover Gen. Zollicoffer's body. We place but
little faith in anything that appears in that men
dactous journal, for its correspondents and editors
generally distort facts to suit their own purposes;
and wo now have Capt. Ewing's assurance that
the account, so far as it reflected upon Gen Crit
tenden, is a sheer fabrication of the writer.
His testimony us well as that of other uflieers
with whom we have conversed proves that Gen.
C. acted a brave and gallant part on the occasion
reserved to, and Wj are gratified to have it in our
power thus to put the seal of contradiction upon
all statements impeaching his courage or his
conduct in the battle. That. Capt. Ewing made
any such admissions to the Federate as the New
York Herald, claims, would be improbable even
in the absence of bis own denial; but justice to
him as well as Gen. Crittenden, demands that we
should disabuse the public mind of any impres
sion th.»t might have bten created by a perusal of
the letter in question.
With regard to the earlier career of Gen. Critten
den, which has recently been a theme of discus
sion, it may be proper to add here, that soon after
the Mexican war he was court-martialed and by
the court martial dismissed. The President approv
ed the sentence, as is usual in such cases, and sent
to the Senate uu appointment to fill the vacancy.
The Senate went into an examination of the record,
and finding that gross injustice had been done
him, he refused to recognize a vacancy ; so he was
retained in nis position. It has been stated that
General Crittenden was dismissed from the old
service; but the above is the only occasion on
which he was ever before a court maitial. It is
understood that be now desires and claims the
fullest investigation of the random charges made
against him since the affair at Fishing Creek.
Richmond Dispatch.
We clip the following paragraphs from
the Richmond (Ya.) Dispatch, of Feb. 18th :
Daring Attempt to Destroy a Railroad Bridge.
We are informed that an attempt was made on
Saturday night to destroy the Weldon Railroad
bridge by some persons as yet unk town. The
structure is a large wooden one, guarded by two
sentinels. The traitors who attempted its de
struction gained access to the bridge by climbing
up from a small island, upon which rests one ot
the main piers. The guard discovered the opera
tions of the party as soon as they had commenced
to cut away the principal beams. They fired ,
upon the assailants, and followed up the volley
so quickly with another, tba* they were glad to
leave their implements behind and made good i
their escape. . I
The cars were detained some fifteen minutes
at the bridge, in order to ascertain whether it was
safe to cross or not. Careful investigation, hows
ever, revealed the fact that the bridge was not (
materially injured, and quite as strong as ever. j
Capture of Virginia Militiamen in Hampshire. (
We understand that a letter was received last 1
evening by a delegate from one of the Valley ,
connties, conveying the intelligence that Colonel <
Baldwin and a portion of his command, the 31st ,
regiment Virginia militia, were captured near <
Bioomey, in Hampshire county, during the tetter ■
part of the past week. The number captured is
stated to be between thirty and forty. The 31st
regiment is from Frederick county.
GEN- TOOMBS.
The Richmond, Va., correspondent ot the
Charleston Mercury, “Hermes,” in his lettr of
Feb. 17th, says:
Gen. Toombs, one of the elected Senators from
Georgia, has refused to accept ot the election, and
take his seat. HiS place cannot be tilled by the
Governor of Georgia by the appointment of an
other, because it doesnot produce a vacancy. It
is an original appointment. The office has not
yet been filled. The reason why Gen. Toombs
declines the election is, that be does not think it
reflects the opinion of the people of Georgia, or
honors him. It seems that Mr. Hill, who wbs
an oid Union man up to the meeting of the Geor
gia Convention, was elected at the first ballot for
Senator, by a very large majority. Mr. Toombs
was scarcely elected at the second ballot. He had
been toremost in urging the policy of secession,
when Mr. Hill, and <Mher competitors, were on
the other side. Under such circumstances, be
rejects the election, and throws the office again in
the hands of the Legislature of Georgia. If it
calls him to the service of the State, consistent
with his views of political justice, he will servi;
if not, it can appoint another. Unfortunately for
the Confederate States, Mr. Toombs is not the
only instance of the rejection of those who have
done most in the great cause of Southern deliver
ance. The new Congress will prove that it is in
politics as in religion—“the first shall be last, and
the last first.”
ANOTHER LIBER AL DEED.
The good work goes bravely on—and we have
the pleasure of recording another charitable deed
—one that is really munificent, and reflects the
highest credit upon the kind-hearted donor. The
following correspondence will explain itself:
Augusta, Feb. 20,1862.
2b Hon. R- H. May:
Dbab Sir: I band enclosed my c>.eck for SSOO,
which please receive, and distribute to and
amongst the needy soldiers’ wives and families of
Richmond county, at your discretion, and oohge,
Very respecllully, B, H. Warren.
Mayor’s Office. ( ,
Feb. 20, 1862. )
B. H. Warren, Esq.:
Dear Sir: Your note of this rnerning, directed
to Hon. R. H. May, and covering a check for SSOO,
to be distributed “amongst the needy soldiers’
wives and families of Richmond county,” has been
received by me.
It affords me the highest gratification to acs
knowledge this evidence of your patriotic liber
a)ity,and I have no doubt that it will be grate'ully
appreciated by all those whom it is designed 10
relieve. It is another testimonial to the courage
and fidelity of our soldiers, who have left their
firesides and families to roll back the tide of ag
gression which threatens to desolate our land, and
who have trusted the dearest objects of their af
fection to the kindness of their brethren remain
ing at home. Their hearts will testify to you, as
well as to the many others of their fellow-citizens
who have nobly remembered their services and
privations, that time cannot obliterate their grati
tude for such benefactions.
l am, very respectfully, A. Werster,
Mayor proton.
Lookout for bills on the Bank of Whitfield, ana
indeed for bills of all other banks in a simiilar
c<z£-egorv that is, without established repu»
taiion. "Notwithstanding the President of
that Bank glories in the charitable cognomen of
Fullilove, the good people off Dalton have, very
properly we think, been so uncharitable as to h<dd
him to bail, on a criminal charge,Jfor $5,<100. Let
the people beware of wild-cats and their wortu«
less emissions. — Matin Journal A Messenger.
vuwnax positively captured.
A private dispatch received in this city on Fri
day, Bays that the enemy’s gunboats had arrived
at Nashville on Thursday last. Otir army bad
fallen back to Murfreesboro, T-tin.
FROM NASHVILLE.
The Atlanta (Ga.) Cmmum*a>lh, of Feb. 19ih,
says that passengers on the S'aie R i.id report
that Buckner had telegraphed to Nashville that
he and his command had cut their way through
the euetnv’s lines, and were safe. A telegranhir
dispatch, in the Atlanta (Ga.) 'o>uthern CinfKl-r
--ary, says that Gen, Buckner had arrived safely m
Nashville.
Passengers by lust right’s train, on the Geotgta
Railroad, assert ih.i' Gens. Pillow, Floyd, and
Buckner, after fighting gallantly for two days at
Fort Doueteon, were sun. undid by overwhelm
ing numbers of the Fedei<<l.'t», but fought their
way dut, and are now in or near Nashville; that
Gen. Johnston is at Gallatin, Tei.ii , with the re
mainder of his army, and that Nushvdl ■ will be
vigorously defended by our troops.
In addition to this, we have received a pii’a'e
dispatch from a friend in whom we have great
confidence, saying: “The dispatch published in
the Columbus and Augusta papers about the sur
render of Nashville and 13,000 Confederate pi: *ou»
eis taken at Fort Douelsou must have been ob-'
tamed fron thut reliable gentleman who formerly
travelled on the Central cars.” (Arrowsmith is the
“reliable gentleman” referred to by our corres
pondent.
In the absence of anything pos.tive, these state
ments may itffirrd some consolation, until the
facts in the case can be realised, when it is to be
hoped that they may be fully corroborated.
Arrival of Troops.--The Fifth Georgia Regi
ment arrived here on Sunday night. It is a fine
body of soldiers, well armed and well equip*
ped. It is under the command of Colonel
Mangham. Os its destination we need not speak.
The Yankees will have a personal account of that
in good time.
One thing we could wish, for the credit of this
mil'tary post, that when troops are expected here,
some better and more efficient arrangements
could be made for their comfort and subsidence,
especially in such inclement weather as the pres
sent.— Register, Feb. 17.
The Leesburg Fired on.—About three o’clock
yesterday - afternoon the battery built by the Yan
kees o i Wright’s river opened fire on the steamer
Leesburg, lying at. the narrows of Wilmington
island. Two of the shots passed over tjie upper
deck, one fore and one aft the smoke stack. One
of the shells exploded, and a portion of it was
brought on board; the other did not explode, and
was found and brought, on board by the picket on
duty. The shell found is about thirteen inches
long, and six inches in diameter.
Sav. Rep., Feb. 19.
Gens. Van Dorn and Price. —The Washington
(Ark.) Teleg,- aph learns from a private source that
it is not the intention of Geu. Van Dorn to inter
fere in any peremptory manner with the uiithorte
ty of Geu. Price, of Missouri, whose command is
altogether eeperaie and independent; but, for the
common good to visit Gen. Price in person, confer
with hipa freely, and concert plans of mutual co
operation. If this be so, we look upon the West
as safe-
[For the Southern Field and Fireside.]
' THE MEDDLETON
SOLDIER’S AID ASSOCIATION.
. NO. 111.
TABLEAUX VIVANTS.
A requisition from the ‘Dixie Fire Eaters,’
for clothing, arid fifty dollars only in the treas
ury ! The party has been a success, but it
could not be so soon repeated. Miss Jessaline
Ramsay, the ‘Lydia Languish’ of the village,
had returned from college, and had bestowed
the light of ber countenance on the Society
that morning. She wore the longest possible
ringlets, had the smallest possible waist, and
doted on Byron and Moore, and was a contrib
utor to the ‘ Poet’s (?) Corner’ of the Meddle
ton Chronicle. Wjiile the ladies were discuss
ing the ‘ ways aud means ’ of raising the need
ed funds, Miss Jessaline exclaimed:
“Why should we ever seek to gratify the ap
petite ? Rather let us tune our voices to melo
dious strains, and fill the ether blue with dulcet
melody!”
“We need not attempt a concert,” replied
Mrs. Langston; “ The ladies would require
weeks for practicing trills and tra-las, and we
must raise this money immediately.”
“Tableaux!” suggested Clem.
“The very thing!” said the ladies. So a
committee was appointed to select suitable
scenes, and the members requested to meet on
the next afternoon, to make necessary arrange
ments. Mrs. Callahan, and some others, had
been silent during the discussion, aud, we
thought, seemed quite indifferent, until Clem
suggested that they were ‘ Know-nothings I’—
and, so it proved, they were in this matter.
Mrs. Callahan walked on with Clem and I, and
said:
“ Girls, I wish you would tell me what kind
o’gimcracks you are a-gwine to have. Is they
anything to eat, or do you eat ’em, or do you
drink ’em—or seiu ’em; or is it a show ? If
its anything disrespectable, I can’t go, soldiers
pi - no soldiers I”
We tried to explain, but to little purpose.—
Clem then tried to explain a ‘scene’— The
Parting— a young soldier leaving home for the
wars.
“It looks mighty well in a book, child,” said
the old lady, “ but it ain’t nateral for bis mar
to stand thar, and shet her mouth, and not say
nothin’—ef you put that in atabberloo, or what
ever you call ’em, you’ll have their mouths to
tie up. Don’t you know how wimnaen always
take on, and cry and boiler, when the boys
leave? It won’t be nateral! I can’t lucidity
how you’ll fix it.”
At the next Seeking, a number of ladies
were present, with ‘scenes’ enough to suggest
to have served for a hundred tableaux. Miss
Kittie tried our risibles severely, as she said
she had brought ‘a powerful party pictur, an
other sort to the others.’ She then held up for
our admiration, an old 'fashion-plate,' from one
of Godey’s Ladies’ Books. Miss Araminta had
a pretty picture, called ‘ The .Artist’s Studio,’ a
graceful love scene.
‘ There’s nothing half -o swei-t in life,
As love’s young dreiun!’
sighed Miss Jessaline. “ Behold the devoted
lover, as he seems to be drinking in deep
draughts of life and love from the refulgent
orbs of the beloved one.”
“I wouldn’t have that, if he’s got to drink
anything,” said Mrs. Callahan. “ Supposin’ he
was to git drunk —there’s no tellin’ what be
mout do. Some men jest rip and rare round
like all creation, when they git drunk.”
Clem exhibited a picture that was quite
I charming, from the applause it won— ‘ Grand
mama’s Apples.’ A mischievous little urchin
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 26, 1«62.
was purloining a tempting, rosy-cheeked apple
from a basket in the lap of a nodding grand
mother. I suggested little Willie Anderson as
‘the very one’ for this place, as his merry dark
eyes flashed a dozen laughs in a minute.
’ “Yes,’ said Miss Jessaline, “Willie is a love
ly child, but, unfortunately, he cannot be so
licited to join us—for lie stutters dreadfully.”
Somebody gave mo a sly pinch, but Clem
was looking as demure as a deacon, of course!
Miss Jessaline was left mistress of the field. —
She said:
“ I propose acting in but one tarbloo," (as she
pronounced it) —“ it is this ’’ —producing a pic
tttre entitled, 'The Lover ot Nature.’
* There is a pleasure in the pathless woods ;
There is a rapture on the lonely shore;
There is a society where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music tn itsroar.'
Her sentimentality was almost overpower
ing, judging from the compressed lips and
downeast eyes of part of the group.
Matter-of-fact Miss Araminta took the pic
ture and exclaimed:
"Why, Miss Jessaline! this woman is sit
ting on a great high rock, with the waves of
the sea dashing against it. How on earth
could you arrange it?”
“ Laws-a-me !” interrupted Mrs. Callahan,
“you’d have to git a great big, large bathing
tub, and you set on the table at the fur eeud,
and git somebody to kinder splash about in it.
Leeme see,” continued she, unheeding the
shouts of merriment, or the withering^scorn of
Miss Jessaline—“ what’s this in her hand?
Miss Jessaline, undaunted, replied:
“ That is a representation of a lyre, across
.whose tuneful chords her l»y band must
sweep.”
“ A liar!" rejoined the old lady, who had
heard only a part of the sentence; “ now ain’t
it a mighty pity that sech a purty-’oman as
that will tell lies ? A liar! and she setiin up
thar, lookin’ like butter wouldn’t melt in her
mouth ! I deelar ! Callahan knows—he says
these ’ere soft-talkin’, soft-lookin’, mealy-mouth
wimmin; they’s always got pisenatious tem
pers. Theyr’e jest like cats, for all the world
jest like ’em—have everything smooth, their
own way, and they’re mighty nice—but run
agin the wrong way, and the claws will come
outen the soft fur, quick!’ But, may-bo no
body ain’t never told the poor cretur about An
amirtts and Stefirns, wnat was struck dead for
lying. She wouldn’t have nobody to tote her
out, like they did, nuther. es she was to drop
down dead and git killed and die.’
But I will not detain you longer at the meet
ing Os course, we had a ‘Nun taking the
Veil,’ ‘The Bridal,’ ‘Pocahontas, rescuring
Capt. Smith,’ ‘ The Sultan,’and the other never
to-be-giveii-up, and impossible-to-do-without
’em scenes. What shall we do for gentlemen ?
But we pressed some of the Home Guard into
service—with Wesley, of course, who was only
too happy to obey Clem’s commands. Madame j
Laßoche, a visitor and friend ot Mrs. Langston,
had agreed to superintend matters. Lieuten
ant Howard, Clem’s handsome fitolher, arrived
in the midst of our preparations, and was just
in time to fill several parts for us. He was on
furlough, or, as Miss Kittie complacently in
forms us :
“I heard he came on a passport, out Clem
says he come on the cars. I didn’t see what
he ricLon.”
Mrs. Callahan would not not have anything
to do with the ‘ tallerblows,’ but promised to
come and see them. She remarked to Mona :
“ I’m swine to set right behind Miss Lang
ston, es I ken get to go, and do egzackly like
she does. She’s quality, and she’s got lots
o’polishtnenf, too. I alters ruther set by them
‘ upper tens,’ and watch how they does. Cal
lahan says, ‘ ole ’omati, es you ken git with the
number tens, don’t you never go with the num-,
ber nines."
“ What kind of a show is this ?’’ inquired a
rough countryman of us, as we raised a Con
federate flag in the balcony. With a mischiev
ous glance at Charleton Howard, and another
soldier near, the saucebox of the group re
plied :
“ It’s an animal show, powder-monkeys, el
ephants, and lions—with very large heads. Be
haven’t seen the tiger, but the gentlemen have.”
Tinkle-tinkle, went Madame Laßoche’s tiny
bell, as the curtain rose on the first scene—
‘ Nun taking the Veil.’ The hall was crowded,
but breathless silence reigned for a few sec
onds—broken then by a voice wondrously like
Mrs. Callahan’s—' L-a-w-S a rn-a-s-s-y.’ follow
ed by a deep-drawn sigh. Madame Laßoche
was enraged, and as the Nun burst into a laugh,
the curtain fell. Madame stepped to the front
of the stage, and said :
“Ze spec—ah! —spectacle?, must not talk.”
“ Spectators, you mean, Mt dame,” suggested
Lieut. Howard.
“Je suis tres oblige—oui, dal is it. bo she
returned. “Ze spee—non ze must
not talk.” , ,
This ‘ brought down the house,’ as, doubt
less, many thought it in the programme. Mean
time Madame had called the scene again, say
ing :
“ Dey stand not in ze right way—dev must
not not stand in ze front—but so—each one on
ze odor side! Clem whispered :
“ Each one in two parts —positively for one
night only.”
The second time, it was to Madame’s entire
satisfaction. It was followed by 1 Grand-ma
ma’s Apples,’ as Madame Laßoche had o ' e
ruled Miss Jessaline’s objection to Willie An
derson. Then ‘ Judith and Hplofernes.’ Moua
was grandly beautiful as the Avenger. Lit
tle Red Riding Hood’ was a gem. -King,
Charleton Howard’s pet dog—a huge black
Newfoundland—was admirable as Grand
mother Wolf,’ as he, with night-cap on, and
through huge spectacles, curiously regarded
his little victim. Sophie Langston, a petite
blonde, with her fair face under the red hood,
was just sufficiently doubtful of King, to wear
the look accompanying the query. ‘
mother, what makes your eyes so big . The
Bridal,’with Miss Araminta as the ‘blushitig
bride,’ was amusing. Miss A. was airaid of
the Frencher, as she called Madame La iloche,
and was so fearful of making some blunder in
acting her part, that she kept her eyes rolling
from the Minister to Madanm, and back again.
“Ah, ciel! zat femme will make me mad,
she wall her eyes so,” said .Madame, as she
gave her bell a touch, as a signal to drop the
curtain. ‘The Country Courtship,’with Wes
ley and Jennie, was greeted with shouts ot ap
plause. • The Artist’s Studio,’ was next—Miss
Jessaline as the Ariist’s love. She sat still a
second, aud then, as she met the devoted gaze
of the Artist, dropped her eyelids, and tittered.
Madame was inconsolable, until the ‘ Graces’
appeased her. Mona, Jennie and Clem were
the graceful trio, with clouds of gauze-like tis
sue half concealing them. ‘ The Village Post
mistress’-a scene from Ivanhoe—and ‘ The
Gypsey Fortune-teller,’ followed ip rapidjsuc
cession. 1 Pocahontas, rescuing Capt. Smith,’-
was the last. Pocahontas was dressed in real
Indian costume, with a complexion of olive
tint, or, more properly, of Spanish Brown and
carmine—and looked like a real * child of the
woods.’ Charlton Howard was the Chief, and
so well represented the savage, that I was half
afraid of his war paint and club, Capt. Smith
was to less a personage than Wesley, who had
petitioned so hard for the place, we could not
deny him. We waited until all grew impatient,
and, just then, Wesley appeared, in full Confed
erate uniform, having appropriated Lieutenant
Howard’s entire suit.
“Ah ! horreur !” cried Maclaine. But it‘was
with difficulty Wesley could be persuaded to
doff his military, sword and epaulettes! The
scene was encored once, and again—but it was
the last.
We then had a little dance, in which Pow
hattan led out one of the Graces, while Poca
hontas smiled on Ilolofernes. The Nun
waltzed with the Minister, and forgot her vows
in listening to those of the Brigand. Little,
Red Riding Hood polkad with the Monk, and
all took part in an Old Virginia Reel, in Ahich
Capt. Smith shone conspicuously as partner of
the Gypsey Fortune-teller. The last tableaux
of the evening I must not forget. Just before
we left, however, Mrs. Callahan came and
whispered to me:
Well, Marion, didn’t that ‘ furrin - raise a
upscut when I forgot and talked? She’s a real
eiirus criter, ain’t she? When Callahan just
told me about her, says he, ’Miss Langston’s
got oneo’them ‘ polly-woos to her house,’ and
then he wouldn’t say no more. So I never
knowed, tell to-night, how to tell a polly-woo
from a polly-wog.”
But mamas and sleepy papas grew impatientf
so we left the old hall, and the last tableau of
the evening was ‘ The Last Scrape,’ as ‘ old
Daddy Neptune’ stood in the doorway, his fid
dle bow resting on the strings, and he listening
to the dying echoes of the last strain of ‘Dixie.’
LIFE
OBSERVATIONS OF AN ENGLISH WOMAN.
Au English lady, Miss Rogers, sister of the
British Consul at Damascus, gives some inter
esting-accounts of life in the Eastern Harems.
Here is something about
THE TOILET OF A BRIDE.
On. subsequent and persevering enquiry
among the Arab ladies, I found out bow it was
that the bride’s face looked so lustrous. I
learn that girls are prepared for marriage with
a very great deal of ceremony. There are wo
men who make the beautifying of brides their
especial profession.
A widow woman, named Angelina, is - tile
chief adiste in this department of art in Haifa.
She uses her scissors and tweezers freely and
skillfully, to remove superfluous hair, and
trains the eyebrows to an arched line, perfect
ing it with black pigmenta. She prepares an
adhesive plaster of very strong sweet gum,
and applies it by degrees all over the body,
letting it remain on for a minute or more; then
she teara it off quickly, and it brings away
with it all the soil down or hair, leaving the
skin quite bear, with an unnaturally bright
and polished appearance, much admired by
Orientals. The face requires very careful ma
nipulation. When women have once submitted
to this process, they look frightful, if, from time
to time, they do not repeat it: for the hair nev
er grows so soft and fine again. Perhaps this
is one of the reasons why aged Arab women,
who have quite given up all these arts of adorn
ment, look so haggard and witeb-hke. In some
instances, thio ordeal slightly irritates the skin,
and perfumed sesame or olive oil is applied, or
cooling lotions of elder flower water is used.
The bride invites her friends to accompany
her to the public bath previous to the wedding
day, and sen te to each one a packet of henna,
two or three pic>?o®. of soap, and two wax can
dles. Angelina is generally the bearer of the
message and of these articles, which are always
to be paid for. I have now and then accepted
such invitations.
Bridal parties assemble, and sometimes pass
three successive days in the luxury of the
Turkish bath. Pipes, sherbet, coffee, and other
refreshments are served, and songs are sung in
honor of the bride, who is, of course, attended
by Angelina, and forms the centre of attraction.
Her hair is unbraided, she is slowly disrobed,
and then, with her loins slightly girded with
crimson silk, she is mounted on high clogs, and
led through the halls and passages, gradually
increasing in temperature, with fountains over
flowing their marble floors; she is placed on a
marble platform, near to the jet of hot water;
fuller’s earth is rubbed on her head, she is
lathered with soap, and brushed with a hand
ful of tow, then hot water is poured over her
freely, she is swathed in long towels, and by
some degrees conducted back to a more moder
ate temperature, and lastly to a fountain of
cool water. Her companions, in the mean
time, undergo the same process. Then, shroud
ed in muslin, crape or linen, they sit together,
smoking, till they are rested and refreshed.
A HAREM INTERIOR.
Miss Rogers gives a very bright and life
life picture of the interior of the harem of Mo
hammed Bek Abdul, the Governor of Azz.e
bab, whither she was invited.
They ponuced upon me as if I were a new
toy for them. They kissed me one after the
other, and stroked my face. They had never
seen a European, and told me that no daughter
of the Flanks had ever entered the town be
fore.
They said; “Be welcome, oh sister, from a
fair country ; this house is yours, and we are
your servants.” Then they asked me with
whom, and how, and whence I had come ?
The ladies wore full, long tcowsers, made of
cloth or velvet, embroidered with gold; and
flowers aud jewels in their head-dresses. The
servants wore cotton suits, with sleeves of red
cloth. They wondered to see my plain, long,
I dark tiding-aressand hat. J told them I wish
[ ed to change Hiy clothes, as they were wet.
The boys went to order my portmanteau to
be brought to the precincts of the harem, and
then two slaves fetched it. As soon as I had
unlocked it, the ladies, servants and children,
one and all, began examining its contents. In
a minute or two. it was actually almost empty.
VOL. 41,—N0. 9.
Mantles, morning and evening dresses, night
gowns and collars were passing from hand to
hand, and, as the uses of them were not known,
they were put on ip all sorts of fantastic ways.
One of the girls took a little lace collar and
placed it tastefully on het forehead ; she thought
it was part of a head-dress. I was very much
amused, but was obliged to put a slop to their
mischief, by telling them to put everything
back into the box ; they did so directly. I had
already discovered that Arab women are like
children ; they almost always submit immedi
ately to gentle but unhesitating firmness.
Then I dressed in the same room ; for they
said they had not any other for their use. I
fancy it was because it was t<f see all my
clothes, and how I put them on—theirs being
so very different to ours. They told me that I
wore too many dresses at the same time. They
wear only a shirt of thin cotton or crape, made
high to the throat, open at the bosom, and
with long wide - sleeves. Very lull trowsers,
drawn in and tied round the waist and below
the knee, but falling in graceful folds nearly to
the ground; and an open, short jacket, with a
shawl tied round the waist like a sash or gir
dle. They kindly sent away roy wet garments
to be dried at the oven, and made a comforta
ble seat of cushions for me on the floor. One
lady made some sweet sherbet of pomegran
ites, and handed it to me. A second brought
me coffee in a little china cup, without any
handle, held in another one (exactly the shape
and size of a common egg-cup) naade of pretty
embossed and chased silver.
THE WOMAN’S QUESTION IN THE EAST.
I observed that there was a little whisper
ing and consul’ing going on among the women,
and then Helweh came and sat by me, and
said: “ Are you married?” I said “No”.; and
thev answered : “ Why, then, have you left
your father and your mother? are they not
kind to you ?” I told them how good they
were, and how my mother taught me to speak
and read, and write her own language, and
the languages of other people. I tried to make
them understand how English people educate
their children.
Werdeh said : “It is much better to marry,
and stay at home, than to travel about the
country, for the dangers are great now in this
time of war, and the women should stay at
home.”
Sit Sara said : “ Werdeh has spoken wisely ;
why do you not marry ?”
I answered: “Ya, sitti, there are no men of
my country here; how can I marry ? ’
Sara then said : “You speak our language
like a stranger, but sweetly. An Arab would
take you. Why do you not marry an Arab?
1 replied (very much amused) : “ My mother
is not here to find a husband for me. How
can 1 marry ?”
I thought this would settle the question at
once in their estimation; but Sit Sara said :
“ I will be your mother, and bring you to a
husbapd. My brother is a Cadi, a great Judge
of Nabluß-w-iie looks for a wife, and has only
three. He will love you, because you are
white!”
I answered, laughingly: “ Thank you, oh 1
my mother! what preparations must I make
aud when must I be ready ?”
Sit Sara considered for a moment, and thou
said: “How many camels has your father
got?”
I replied: “My father has no camels. In
my country, there are only three or four living
camels, kept as curiosities in a house in a
beautiful garden, with servants to watch over
them and take care of them. We have a few
stuffed camels, also, in a glasshouse.”
At this they all laughed loudly, and cried :
“ Oh, most marvellous!”
Sara continued: “Are your falhei’s olive
trees new and fruitful?”
“My father has no olive trees. ’ At this.,
they were still more surprised.
Sara said: “ Your father has gold, lie will
give you of his gold, and precious stones, and
a rod box full ot clothes and towels, some silk
cushions, a red wooden cradle, and much soap.
My brother has great wealth, and he will give
camels to your father for your portion, and gold
coins.
The News.—The news, this morning, from Ten
nessee, vague and conflicting as it is, includes
enough to assure us that the previous dispatches
in relation to our disasters in that State were gross
exaggerations. Nashville has not fallen, and our
losses at Fort Doneteon have been indefinitely
magnified in the telegrams. Our Generate in
that region of country are on the alert, and we
s’j.l look for some achievemcrt worthy the fame
of Albert Sydney Johnson.
Meantime, we have the assurance that, in an
other quarter, there will soon be warm work—this
time, began by ourselves. For ibe present, we
may not allude in more specific terms to the blow
which is to be struck. We shall hear all about it,
in good time, and the Yankees, too, tve hope, to
their cost.— Charleston. Mercury, Feb. 20.
The City ot Savannah has the following
panies in the field:
Georgia Hussars, Conpauy A; Georgia Hussars,
Company B; Mounted Rifles, Chatham Guerillas,
Ugechee Rifles, Coast Rifles, Blue Caps, Chatham
Artillery, Savannah Artillery, Oglethorpe Siege
Artillery. Savannah Volunteer Guards (two com.-
panies) Capt. Screven; Republican Blues, Company
A; Republican Blues, Company B; Irish Jasper
Greens, Company A; Irish Jasper Greens, Corns
pany B; Phcenix Riflemen, Irish Volunteers, Com
pany A; Irish Volunteers Company B; Washington
Volunteers, Oglethorpe Light Infantry, Company
A; Oglethorpe Light Infantry Compapy B; German
Volunteers, DeKalb Rifles, City Light Guards,
Telfair Greys, Montgomeay Guards, Tattnall
Guards, Olmstead Rifles, Savannah Cadets, Pouls
lain Guard®, Emmet Volunteers.
The Military Draft. —There was much activity
in military affairs yesterday in this city. The
readiness with which volunteers came forward In
the various companies was very cheeriug. A large
number, bowevtj-, consented io a draft, wnich took
place in the Rifle Regiment, Sixteenth and Seven
teenth Regiments ot infantry. In the Rifle Regi*
ment but twenty-nine were drawn, in the Sixteenth
about four hundred, and in the Seventeenth
about three hundred aud fifty. This, so far as we
have been enabled to learn, was the result of a
combinatr/ n with a view of placing all the mem*
bers of various companies on an equal fooling.
Many who were willing to volunteer held back
for this reason. The number enrolled yesterday
is about 1.390 good, effective men, who will at
once be organized and mustered into the Confed
erate service tor twelve months. Some of the
companies have volunteered for the war.
The effective force in the Courier office has'
been reduced by the withdrawal of seven volun
teers from the establishment.
Charleston Courier, Fee. 20.
A buckle manufactory has been established
in Charleston, bv B. Schur.