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About Weekly constitutionalist. (Augusta, Ga.) 185?-1877 | View Entire Issue (July 6, 1870)
THE WEEKLY OOIBXIIIJTIONALIST WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 8,1870 [From the Richmond Dispatch. Colonel Jackass Redivivus. Many of our readers remember, no doubt, one Colonel Jaqness, who came through the lines in 1864 upon a pass from Presi dent Lincoln, and made his appearance here in the assumed character of a peace maker. His appearance and conduct im *ll with the idea that he was in calibre and personal dignity so much be low the standard of one tit to be entrusted with such a mission that he was the gen eral subject of ridicule, and facetiously styled Colonel Jackass. He held the title of Colonel of the Seventythird Illinois Volunteers. This person has risen to the surface once more, as an applicant to Congress for pay for services as a spy for Mr. Lincoln. In support of his application, he makes a story which upon its very face is in great part preposterous—full of lies which could hardly have been inspired save by motives of gam, getting a liberal sum out of the Treasury for absolutely nothing, as we be lieve. He hadn’t sense or force enough to do anything in the role he attempted wor thy of compensation out of the Treasury. The man’s statement and examination by the committee of Congress occupy five col umns in the New York Herald, and the Herald backs up his claim in one of its gassy editorials. So stupid and shallow a story could not deceive any one whose common sense was not overcome by a pleasure derived from all statements casting odium upon the Southern people. Jaquess narrates his in terview with Mr. Davis, and how he ascer tained Mr. Davis’ ultimatum—freedom and independence forjthe Southern Confederacv. This he reported to Mr. Lincoln, who at once concluded that a correspondence go ing on in Canada was likely to involve him in a blunder, and he sent Jaquess to Canada to crack that .nut, and of course that redoubtable gentleman, telling his own story, says he cracked it, and exposed its rottenness to Mr. Lincoln. He beat Clay, and Thomson, and Greeley, and their colleagues in the attempt at peace in Canada, and declares that Mr. Greeley “cursed Mr. Lincoln up and down, and called him a liar.” This is “ high ” for the philosopher of the Tribune, and Colonel Jackass will probably hear from him. But this great tactician got in amongst the Canadian peace-makers, he says, with a letter from Mr. Buchanan, at whose house he spent a day, and drank more liquor than he had done in all his life before, as he would insinuate, to keep up with old Buck, whom he unquestionably slanders by charging him with entertaining the hope that the Confederates would triumph and the Union be dissolved. Mr. BuGhanan satisfied us at least that he wished no such thing; but the jackass can afford to kick the dead lion when he knows it will please, those of whom he is asking a large rick of hay for comfortable subsistence. The great Jaquess was most indomitably active and fleet of foot. He was every where, and saw everybody. He procured Governors to journey from one point to another; paid their expenses (it is import ant they should go into his bill), and inter viewed them. He induced Governor Sey mour to meet Governor Andrew, of Massa chusetts, and, jointly with the latter Gov ernor, prevailed on Governor Seymour to change hte ways and send troops to help the Union cause, and we may almost say, with Falstaff, “ to purge and live clean ” in future 1 What a great man Is Jaquess! How he loves the Union and greenbacks 1 But the greatest cock and bull narrative of this Jaquess is a story he tells of a plan concocted here to burn up all the big cities of the North and their shipping to boot, and how he put an extinguisher upon the plan.* He did this in a second visit to Richmond. He got wind of the grand scheme on the first, and returned to frus trate it. He’ got in with the principal of the Confederate chemical department, and won his confidence, and, he consenting, the two compounded a kind of match and ex plosive material which would make a fuss and soon extinguish itself, or burn brightly for a moment as “ though it would burn the world up and then extinguish itself,” &c., &c. Such a story would not be con sidered as anything but a stupid imposture by any man who was not thinking more of making a little capital against the South ern people than of the probability of the Story itself. Jaquess attempts to prove his claim by asserting that about that time houses were mysteriously fired in New York and else where, and the fires went put most myste riously ; with much more of such stuff. The whole statement on this point is the boldest imposture. The impudence of making it is astonishing. It is well knoWn that hundreds of schemes for retaliation were concocted by all sorts of people and presented to the Confederate Government—not excelling. We are sure, the measures for annoyance and destruc tion invented at the North. But it was known here and in every place with which we held communication that Mr. Davis and the commanding authorities of the Confederacy universally rejected every scheme that was contrary to the usages of honorable warfare. Even while we write we see in John Mitchel’s journal that he had criticised as an editor Mr. Davis’ disinclination to re taliate for outrages committed by the ad versary. If Mr. Davis was especially noted for any one thing above another, it was for his persistent opposition to all expedients not sanctioned by the usages of fair and humane conflict. That there was such a manufacture in this city as that this applicant for money from Congress alleges is incredible. The statement is stupid and preposterous. But we have already given too much space to Colonel Jackass. Gbn. Grant’s English.— The completion of the line of telegraphic communication between America and India is an event of uncommon interest, and the messages in terchanged between public dignitaries to commemorate it ought to have at least been done in good English. President Tayor, in one of his messages to Congress, made use of the phrase, “all the world and the rest of mankind,” which excited some amuse ment for its surplusage ; but Old Zack is beaten by President Grant’s congratula tions to the Viceroy of India on “the con nection of your country with the balance of the world.” Os course he meant to say the remainder. The President should reflect that when lie writes a letter or a despatch upon a mat ter of public concern, his language Is the language of the United States, and It is no light thing to make thirty millions of peo ple commit an absurdity In the short space of five lines. The President Is not the only high officer at the capital who offends In this reepset, The General-In Chief of the Army confuses his "shalls'' and ” wills" In a quite hopeless and painful manner Indeed, the English of the Gov ernment is so much at fault that Congress will nest establish a Department of (fruit mar, to be conducted by a Cabinet officer known as the Heoretary of Hyntov. | Assnioy /W [Correspondence Baltimore OueU*. The Pat Woods’ Investigating Committee *~A Confederate General as a Wit ness—Butler Hears of One of Woods’ “Good Acts.” Washington, June 22,1870. r following is a faithful and graphic report of the appearance of Gen. Bradley T. Johnson before the Pat Woods’ com mittee, on Friday last. Butler wUI, per haps, call for an investigating committee whefcares*? 1 h ° W the facts ieaked out; but Butler was attempting to show that the citiams of Richmond approved ot Pat Woods beating Porter, and a witness that a gentleman, on bidding Pat good-bye in the cars, had given him money, and told him *to recollect the First Vir ginia.” The witness was mistaken, however, and Gen. Bradley T. Johnson, who was present as Woods’ counsel, had himself sworn as a witness, in order to explain that he had given the money, and that Moore, Pat’s former Colonel, had told him to recollect the First Virginia. Gen. J. said: “ I had never heard of Pat “ e f° r ® beating, and was applied to to J 1 *™’ be cause my practice was in the Federa l Courts, and I was familiar with the laws of Congress. That finding him about to be carried among strangers, illegally, poor and without money, I gave him what I had about me.” Butler—“ Did you ever hoar of any other act, good or bad, done by Pat Woods be sides this assault on Porter?” The question was objected to by one of the committee. Butler then avowed that his object was to show that the witness, whom he said he believed to be a highly respectable gentle man, sympathized with Pat (of whom Gen. J. had never heard before this event) to such an extent as to have given him money from which he would draw the inference that he (Gen. J., approved of Pat’s act. After a long discussion, the committee ruled that the question should be answered and Butler repeated it as above. Gen. J.—“ Yes, I have heard of one other good act of his.” “What was it?” asked Butler, and he and the others of the committee looked at the witness with great interest. G en - J-—“ He carried the colors of the First Virginia Regiment for four years.” Butler’s face was a study as he received this reply. He fairly gasped for breath. Butler—“ Oh, yes, you were a Brigadier General in the Confederate army, I believe." Gen. J. —“ I was, and I hope the time will never come when I shall not be willing to divide what I have with these men.” [9pecial to the Richmond Dispatch. Another Episode in the House. . Washington, June 24. We have had another episode in the House proceedings to-day, in which Gen. Butler was the principal actor. He was detected in another characteristic trick in the discussion upon the Cuban resolutions: A few days ago a passage between Mr. But ler and Mr. Randall, of Pennsylvania, took place, in which the former in reply to the latter said : “Fools sometimes ask questions which philosophers cannot answer;” to which Randall replied: “Fools are some times honest and that is what you never are.” Mr. Butler, in revising the Congres sional reporter’s manuscript for the Globe, struck out Mr. Randall’s reply, but allow ed his own remarks to remain. Mr. Ran dall sent a note to the publishers of the Globe inquiring how it happened that his reply to Butler was mitted. The Globe publishers replied, exp fa la I ng- that Butler struck it out. To-day Mr. Randall had this correspondence read at the clerk’s desk. Butler attempted to get out of the scrape on the ground that he did not hear Randall’s reply, and not believing Randall knew what he had said, as a matter of ten der regard for that gentleman he struck out his reply. To this explanation, Ran dall responded: “ Now, that you have pro voked me to it, I repeat deliberately and without heated brain what I said the other day, and there leave the case.” He then moved that the Committee on Rules in quire whether Butler had not violated a rule of the House in revising and striking out the remarks of- another member. The motion was carried. Butler was complete ly nonplused, and gave visible evidence of uneasiness at the exposure of his tampering with the record of the House proceedings. Our Excellent Consul at Leith.— Mr. John 8. Flskc seems to be going be yond General Sickles and George H. Butler in his preparatory studies for a diplomatic career. He is now under indictment in England for an offense not only criminal, but in the highest degree disgraceful. In the preliminary examination the following letter of his, written two months ago, was read. It is addressed to Boulton, the com panion of Park, who was Lord Arthur Clinton’s. Alexis. We would suggest to Secretary Fish that it is about time Mr. Fiske should cease to be Consul in Great Britain; Spain or Egypt are better suited to his taste. Here is the letter: Office, Edinboro’, April 20. My Darling Erne : I had a letter last night from Louis, which was charming in every respect, except in the information it bore, that he is to be kept a week or so longer in the North. He tells me that you are “ living in drag ’’—what a wonderful child it is. I have three minds to come up to London to see your magniflcaoce with my own eyes. Would you welcome me ? Probably it is better that I should stay and dream of you. But the thought of you, Venus and Antinous in one, is ravishing. Let me ask your advice. A young lady, whose family are friends of mine, is coming here. She is a charmingly-dressed, beauti ful fool, with £30,000 a year. I have reason to believe that if I go in for her I can marry her. Yon know I should never care for her; but is the bait tempting enough for me to make this further sacrifice to respect ability ? OC-course, after we are married, I could do pretty much as I pleased. People don’t mind what one does on £30,000 a year, and the lady wouldn’t mind much, as she hasn’t brains enough to trouble herself about much beyond her dresses, carriages, &c. What shall Ido ? You see I keep on writing to you, and expect some day an answer to some of my letters. In any case, with all the love in my heart, I am yours, &c., John 8. F (Springfield Republican, lAlh. Avery clever joke was recently perpe trated at the expense of Professor Swallow, of the Missouri Bureau of Mining. A phy sician sends the professor a rare geological specimen, which that functionary exam ines and pronounces to be a bit of calca reous tufs, the cellular structure of which is to be accounted for by aqueous action. By return of util, the doctor explains that the calcareous tufa Is a lump of maple sugar to which ants have bad acceas. • Verily, there Is often nothing In science, except Its terminology. The Belubrldgc Argus, after Investiga tion. Is induced that the farmers In that section have not ululsd enough corn to meet their demands. Humors of the Census. In a lively article on the ceusus, the New York Time* says: *? r the ncxt few weeks the city will be PoiiD merCy of * whole legion of official R»nl Prys armed with huge portfolios and black lead pencils, who will invade the sanctity of the private household, interro gate the inmates on all sorts of impertinent subjects, by authority of the United States, and comport themselves generally in a very inquisitive way. These persons will not even stop at trifling queries in the pursuit of information, but will compel the old maid, who still flatters herself with being possessed of some traits of beauty and youth, to disclose her correct age by cate gorical quizzing in lawyer-like style; will torment the newly-wedded wife until she ovei i *ll her little secrets about her birth, nationality and educational advan tages, together with other facts which con cern nobody but herself, to the custody of her interlocutor, who will claim his right to procure the knowledge under a com mission from the Federal Government. The quizzing will not be confined to the gentle sex alone, for men will also have their full share of it. These inquisitors, so to speak, into domestic affairs are nothing less than assistant United States marshals, temporarjly appointed to take the census of this city, to be published in time in a large book, for the purpose of showing the growth of onr metropolis and of the coun try at large in the past decade. About one hundred and twenty-five respectable and intelligent men have already been sworn into office, and have commenced the per formance of their duties. A few of them have met with slight obstacles in the faith ful execution of their mission, such as the refosal of the obstinate and of the ignorant to answer the questions put to them. In every instauce where this opposition to the law is exhibited, District Attorney Pierrepont and Marshal Sharp have deter mined to prosecute the offenders for mis demeanors under the Federal statutes. Several ludicrous iucidents have oc curred at some of the houses which the enumerators have visited. For instance, a stalwart nationalized German, in one of the most densely populated districts in the Seventeenth Ward, displayed a most pro found ignorance in regard to geographical matters, and to the contrary of his birth. On being asked if he was of American birth, he said, “ Nein, nein; I beese a Penn sylvania Dutchman.” Another sovereign of the soil also answered negatively the question as to his American birthright, saying that he was born in Connecticut. This latter individual was found in the Thirteenth Ward. A mulatto asserted that he was bred in Jamaica, West Indies, in the State of Long Island. A shoemaker up town alleged that he was able to write, and presented the cen sus taker with a specimen of his chlrog raphy, which was too cabalistic, however, for that official to decipher. One pater familias, residing in a brown stone man sion on Murray Hill, was so blissfully ig norant of his family affairs as to be incapa ble of telling the ages of his different child ren. Another man of outwardly comfort able and refined circumstances seemed to have led such a Wandering Jew sort of life as to have forgotten the date of his birth. Several old married couples found it impos sible to state when they became husbands and wives, and were not able to furnish in formation about how many sons and daughters they had who were alive, and how many who were dead, until after a good deal of reckoning, in which they made their fingers represent children. One Irish washerwoman became quite wrothy when the inoffending enumerator who called on her wanted to knew if she had bccu r>u Wcoood aa Ou ha rc had m ocvvinl husband. Numerous attempts were made to deceive’ the assistants, and to escape from their rigid examination by pretending that persons had already called and ob tained the information which they sought. A female who resorted to this subterfuge exposed herself by stating that her visitor was a deputy sheriff. The entire force of enumerators, numbering about 250, will be commissioned during the present week. Are Clothes the Criterion of Merit ? One would think so from a glance at the milliner’s bills in onr large and fashionable cities. A suit was lately hrought by a milliner in Boston against the husband of a fashionable woman forsl,9llll fordresses, etc., from January Ist to April Ist, which was shown to be S9OO more than the other milliners charged for the same. Bat this milliner seems to have claimed a right to make extra charges, on the ground or her reputation for taking a lead in fashions, and manifested a contempt for the niggard ness of the husband, by showing that another fashionable woman of Boston had made a bill with her for $4,000 in the same time, and no objection made by the husband. This, says an exchange, shows the main cause of most of the commercial bankrupt cies of our large cities. Few, indeed, of the young ladies of the present day seem to be aware of the enormous amount of their clothing bills during a year, and how much pecuniary embarrassment they often cause to their fathers, even when they are not thereby bankrupted. When dress is thus made the test of position in society, the personal virtues are deemed of secon dary importonce. The Courier-Journal says: “ It is a notorious fact that the average American girl in comfortable circum stances spends far more money in a year than an English nobleman’s daughter. The Duke of Bucleuch allowed his favorite daughter only £6O ($300) a year for dress and pin money, and one of the Queen’s most valued friends and maids of honor for many years only had £2O ($100) per annum to dress upon; and yet both were the daughters of men of exalted rank, and one of them at court for years. “It is no wonder there is such a difference in the amount a man spends upon his clothes and what his wife and daughters do, but it is passing strange that men of moderate fortune will tolerate such ruin ous folly and continue to * dig and delve, toil and moil,’ that the womankind may outdress a Duke’s daughter. The ass and camel used to be regarded as the embodi ments of patience under grievous burdens, but henceforth the American husband will claim the right to that attribute, and be known to future generations as the Matri riraonial Coolie of the nineteenth century.” ■— I —i ■ A Novel Convention.— ln September a convention of a somewhat novel character will assemble in Philadelphia, being the annual meeting of the National Union of Locomotive Firemen. The object of this union la to advance the social standing and organize the business Interests of the mem bers. The association extends to Canada ae well as the United Btates, and doubtless will bring together a large body of meu. The Hkimjbmcans Losing Ground.—A mi. i from Ohio, to a Republican evening paper, carefully reviewing the political sit uation in the several Congressional Dl* trials of that Mteto, produces facte allow ing conclusively tint the Itcpuhlluaus will undoubtedly lose three, aud probably four, Members In the Fall, Including Bingham and Hchunclt , A Musical Judge—An Opera Troupe in Court—A Judge’s Musical Criticism. Blanche Ellerman, a young prlma doryia, engaged for the Bernard-Richings troupe, recently sued the latter lor salary. Judge Cooley, of New Orleans, has delivered the following entertaining decision : The plaintiff cultivates that branch of the fine arts called music, and the defendant is the directress of an opera troupe. This opera troupe, it appears by the record, adds to its many sterling qualities in point of musical talent the advantage of constant locomotion—it is always on the wing peripatetic as well as musical; and goes by the high-sounding title of the “ Richlngs English Opera Company.” It appears that the plaintiff was employ ed to act in the capacity of assistant prima donna, obligating herself to sing such parts in the operas to be performed by the troupe as are written for a soprano voice, the direc tress reserving for herself the honors of the premiership as prima donna. The period of her engagement was eight months, begin ning on the 13th of September, 1869, she to sing not less than four days each week, and at one matinee, if so required. And for these services the defendant agreed to pay her the sum of seventy dollars per week, to give her one benefit, and besides, as was necessary, considering the ambulatory character of the Richings English Opera Troupe, to pay all her travelling expenses except hotel bills. There is no contest about the contract alleged by the plaintiff, nor relative to the fact that she complied with all its terms, except that of capacity to sing and perform the part allotted to her. The plaintiff alleges her ability aud willingness at all times, and the defendant, though admitting her Willingness, strenuously denies her ca pacity. The case, therefore, presents simply the question whether Miss Blanch Eller man possessed the voice and the artistic culture required in an assistant prima donna. The defendant offered the testimony of nearly all of the members of her troupe to show natural imperfection in the voice of the plain tiff, as well as entire want of musi cal training aud education. The testimony ot these members of the Richings English Opera Troupe would have received sortie consideration lu determining the question presented by the merits of this case were It not for the fact that a great deal of said testimony forces me to the conclusion that the members of that troupe, in testifying, forgot they were not on the stage. Their opinion of the capacity of Miss Blanche Ellerman is seriously affected by the over weening vanity which they exhibited in estimating their own talents. If wc are to believe these censors of the plaintiff, the Richings English Opera Troupe has the advantage over all -other opera troupes in the world in this, that it has not one mem ber who is not A No. 1, first-class. One of them, particularly, called Dray ton, had the audacity to place the defend ant in the same niche of the musical tem ple as Adelina Patti, the world-renowned prima donna. After having thus vaunted the acquirements of his directress, the wit ness, Drayton, very complacently styles himself ‘ a first-class baritone.’ There may be a grave cause to doubt whether the musical talents of the witness, Drayton, are such that his name will be handed down to posterity as a musical prodigy; but there certainly can be no doubt that, through the judicial archives of this State, he will be known by succeeding ages as one possess ing those peculiar mental traits which en title persons to compulsory and oftentimes protracted residence in the lunatic asylums. The testimony of the other members of - + be*TonDe la.Jb> enhstance., t.he fgsHroonv of Drayton. Each is “ first-class,” and In deed it would appear that with the excep tion’of the unfortunate Blanche Ellerman, the Richings English Opera Troupe was composed exclusively of “first-class artists,” in their own estimation. On the other hand, plaintiff has pro duced the testimony of persons living in this city (professors in different departments of music) who are well known throughout the community in point of their ability, in telligence, and integrity, and the testimony of these gives a high character to the musi cal powers of Miss Blanche Ellerman. Her voice is represented as a pure soprano of great compass, and capable of reaching the highest notes. The praise of such men is sufficient to counteract the testimony of witnesses like those who testified for the defendant—testi mony whose only effect as evidence is to prove the overweening vanity and su premely ridiculous pretensions of most of the singers composing the “ Richings Eng lish Opera Troupe.” The judgment will be entered in favor of ♦he plaintiff. [From the New Orleans Bee. “ Scalawag.” AN INTERESTING JUDICIAL DEFINITION OF THE WORD. Our readers, no doubt, have an idea of the meaning of the word “scalawag,” as well as a knowledge of the character to whom It is applied; but it will, perhaps, be news to them that the term “ scalawag ” has been judiciously defined, or rather that word is recognized by courts of justice os having a well understood meaning. Look ing over a volume of decisions jof the Court of Appeals in New York for 1865, we have come across a case where hogs fed upon beech nnts and acorns, or fattened at a still, are called “scalawags,” in contradis tinction to hogs fed upon corn, which are known to the trade as “ hard fed hogs.” The facts of the case are thus stated in Tiffany’s Reports, Volume 7, Court of Ap peals, New York: “This action was brought in the New York Common Pleas to recover for a bal ance due on the sale of a quantity of live hogs sold by plaintiffs to defendants. The defense is that the plaintiffs warranted the hogs to be corn fed hogs, and suitable for the New York market; that, on the con trary, many of them were not corn fed hogs, and were unfit for market.” Mr. Justice Potter delivered the opinion of the court in these words: “If the rniings of the Judge on the trial were correct, then, whether or not there was a warranty on the sale of the hogs in question to the defendants, is settled by the verdict of the jury to whom that question was submitted, and whose province It was to decide it. It Is urged that by the Im proper exclusion of certain evidence by the Judge on the trial, which was offered by the defendants, and by the Improper ad mission of certain other evidence offered by the plaintiffs, the pro|>er presentation of the evidence of warranty was prevented. Tbn averment of the terms of warranty, in the answer of the defendants, Is ‘ that the hogs were hard or corn fed, and were suitable and proper for the New York city market. 1 It can hardly tie seriously urged, 1 think, that eo much of this claimed war ranty, as Is In the following words. ' that they were suitable aud proper for the New York oily market,' If used by an Ohio drover to an axiwrleiiced Nuw York oily broker of the same article, who may lie presumed lrest to know toe want* or tiis e|ty In that regard, was understood by iu* latter to*be part of the warranty. It would be but the expression of an opinion upon a subject upon which the purchaser had much the better opportunity of knowledge; and were it otherwise it would not consti tute a warranty in law. The assertion that ‘ they were hard or norn fed hogs ’ might constitute a warranty, as it was shown that hogs fed on com are known In the trade as ‘ hard hogs,’ and are superior in value, and command a higher price in market than such as are distinguished as ‘scalawags,’ ‘shackers,’ ‘soft hogs,’ fed upon mast, such as beech-nuts and acorns; or 1 slop-fed hogs,’ fattened at a still.” ***** Justice Davies concurring, also drew a distinction between the two kinds of hogs. He described “ corn-fed hogs” as hard, and those not fed upon corn to be soft, and in another part of his opinion described hogs slot fed upon comas “ trash, or scalawags.” These definitions describe very accurately the human “ scalawag.” Like the hog who is not fed upon corn, but lives upon what he picks up, that is, what he finds around loose, iu the woods or elsewhere, the human “ scalawag” lives upon what he can pick up in the political avenues, like the chif fonniers of Paris. He is contradistinguish ed from other men who subsist upon honestly-earned gains. The hog “scala wag” is synonymons with “ trash” In the opinion of Justice Davies, of New York.— We accept the definition as applied to the human “scalawag." They exploit rail roads and judgeships, and are not above speculating in fancy stocks on Carondclet street, such as Slaughter-house, Ship Island and other stocks of that character. An Enormous Issue of Florida State Bonds — A Huge Swindle. —The time has passed for surprise at anything that may be done by those who rule in Florida. And yet, a fact leaked out on Friday last which astonished the most Inveterate believer that nothing more can be done than has already been done. The fact tojwhich we refer is the issue by the Governor of three millions of State 8 per cent, gold bearing bonds to Gen. M. S. Littlefield, representing the Florida Central and the Jacksonville, Pen sacola & Mobile Railroad Companies, in exchange for bonds of a similar amount of those corporations. Four mlllious of State bonds have been signed and sealed, but as far as can be learned, for much secresy sur rounds the whole transaction, three mil lions have only as yet been delivered. It is possible that the Governor, who left on Sunday night, as Is supposed for the North, carried with him the remaining million. We have characterized this transaction as “ a huge swindle,” and such it is so far os public expectation was concerned, and, as is believed, so far as the intention of the Legislature can be gathered. [ Tallahassee Floridian. A Family that Die in Their Boots.— In New Orleans, on the 17th ultimo, a shoot ing affair took place between two respect ablo young men, named E. J. Byrd and P. V. Ducros, In which the former was fatally wounded in the left breast. The encounter occured on Commercial alley, near the St. Charles Hotel, and was the result of a feud between the parties, who are brothers-in law. Ducros is Secretary of the Knicker bocker Insurance Company. He surren dered himself to the police. The New Or leans Times says of the Byrd family: Orrin Byrd, father of the young man, alter several bloody affairs, was killed in the year 185—, by Matt. Edwards, a young lawyer, who was pursued across the street by Byrd, with a knife. His dead body was laid out In the broker’s shop of Horace Bean, corner of Common and Camp streets. He was a very handsome and elegant gen ♦lproßti fearless, but nlwavsfoasrht to the death. His appearance was elegant to effeminacy, and when laid ont In the bro ker’s shop was dressed in the.extreme of the fashion. After this, his brother, Dr. Byrd, of Baton Rouge, killed a yonng Dr. Skill man, who attacked in revenge for a wrong done to a member of his family. Skill man fired several times and Byrd closed with him and stabbed him to death. He escaped from Baton Rouge, settled somewhere in Alabama, and being assailed by a man with a cane, ran him through the body with a sword drawn from his cane; was tried, convicted and sentenced to a long impris onment, and took prussic acid and died. Theodore Byrd, the youngest of the family, was killed in the Verandah bar room by a young man who charged him with seducing his wife. He was stabbed to the heart: The Byrds were from Hamburg, South Carolina—parents very respectable—they were all well educated men, of very pleas ing address, &c. Orrin Byrd, the father of the yoang man shot, a few days after his marriage fought a duel with Richard Hagan, on the track of the Mexican Gulf Railroad. Both parties were wounded, Hagan so seriously, that he lost a portion of his foot, and ever afterward had to go on cratches. Tiie Jews in Roumania. —According to official statistics issued by the Government of Roumania, the Jewish population has increased in that principality from 69,000 in 1849 to upward of 400,000 in 1870. The Jews there are said to enjoy all possible freedom, and to possess 176 synagogues, while there arc only 68 Roman Catholic, 12 Protestant and 11 Armenian churches In the country. The Roumanian Government has sent a number of young Jews, at its own expense, to complete their education In Paris, and has conferred a pension upon the widow of Dr. Burache, a Jew, who held the position of professor in the Military Academy, and at whose funeral an 'eloquent address was delivered by one of the most eminent Chris tian prelates of Roumania. The Rouma nian journals caution the world against the false publications of the Alkanee Israelite of Paris, which association is responsible for the hoax recently practiced upon this coun try. The Jews arc as prosperous In Roumania as they are In the United States, and this is saying a good deal. They had better leave well enough alone, and be contented with their advantages as the chief moneyed men of the country, without aspiring at the same time to the laurels of ficticious martyrdom. Wc are glad to perceive that Gen. Grant has withdrawn the nomination of Mr. Wolf Buchner as Consul at Buchar est. We have the highest regard for our Jewish fellow-citizens; bnt there Is no rea son for taxing the American people to es tablish a consular sinecure of $4,000 a year upon the ground of protecting Roumanian Israelites against more or lesß Imaginary persecutions.— -Asm Turk Hun. The Virginia Knltrrprisn summarizes a new pastime In Nevada: “ Our friend Per kins went out yesterday to practice throw ing a boomerlng, sent him by hiz brother In Australia. The physician* think his nose can be patched and atralghtod up, but way his eye*are entirely gone?’ —r- -mi ■i wm »■ The neper* have had a relapse of the story of John Hurl, who was worth sooo,’ DUO In oil lauds, but spent it all, and hadn't uuough Mi to buy him a ” chew" of tobac co. A Western paper add* i “ Hut w* aren't going Ur shed mare about It until wa find out one ihlng—perbep* b* didn't want any towocen" ll*w»tk*AttaaUofc»jßi* j The Alarm-Bell of Atri. NSW POEM BY LONGFELLOW, At Atri, In Abnrno, a small town Os ancient Roman date, bat scant renown. Ono of those little places that have ran Half up the hill, beneath a blazing sun. And then sat down to rest, m if to say, fu l her u P ward - come what may," The Be Giovanni, now unknown to fa me. So many monarch® since have borne the name. Had a great bell bung In the market place Beneath a roof, projecting some small sDaee. By way of shelter from the snn and rain. ’ Then rode he through the streets with all hi. train, And, with the blast of trumpets load and tong. Made proclamation, that whenever wrong Was done to any man, he ahouid but ring The great bell in the square, and he, the king. Would cause the Syndic to decide thereon. Such was the prociamtion of King John. How happily the days in Atri sped, What wrongs were righted, need not hare be said. Suffice it that, as all things must decay, The hempen rope at length was warn awav. Unravelled at the end, and strand by strand Loosened and wasted In the ringer’s hand, ’ Till one, who noted this in passing by, Mended the rope with braids of briony. So that the iapves and tendrils of the vine Hung like a Votive garland at a shrine. By chance it happened that In Atri dwelt A knight, with spur on heel and sword In belt, Who loved to hunt the wild boar in the woods, Who loved his falcons with the crimson hoods. Who loved his bounds and horses, and all sports And prodigalities of camps and courts; Loved, or had loved them ; for at last grown old, His only passion was the love of gold. He sold his horses, sold hawks and hounds. Rented his vineyards aud his garden-grounds, Kept but one steed, bis favorite steed es all, To starve and shiver In a naked stall, And, day by day, sat brooding In his chair. Devising plans how best to hoard and spare. At length he said: " What Is the nse or need To keep at my own cost this lazy steed, Bating his head off in my stables here, When rents are low and provender is dear T Let him go feed upon the public ways; I want him only for the holidays.” So the old steed was turned into the heat Os the long, lonely, silent, sbadowless street! And wandered in suburban lanes forlorn, Barked at by dogs, and torn by brier and thorn. One afternoon, as in that snltry clime It Is the custom in the Summer’s time, With bolted doors, and window-shatters closed, The Inhabitants of Atri slept or dozed; When suddenly upon thrir senses fell The loud alarm of the accusing bell t The Syndic started from his sweet repose, Tnrned on his conch and listened, and then rose And donned bis robes, and with reluctant pace, Went panting forth Into the market place, Where the great bell upon its cross-beam swung, Reiterating with persistent tongue, In half-articnlate jargon, the old song: “ Borne ono bath done a wrong, hath done a wrong 1" Bat ere he reached the belfry’s light arcade, Ho saw, or thought he saw, beneath Us shade, No shape of human form, ot woman born, But a poor steed dejected and fbrlorn, Who, with uplifted head and eager eye, Was tugging at the vines of briony. “ Domenenddlo I” cried the Syndic straight, “ This is the Knight of Atri’s steed of state ( He calls for justice, being sore distressed, And pleads his cause as loudly as the best.” Meanwhile from street and lane a noisy crowd Had rolled together, like a Summer cloud, And told the story of the wretched beast In flve-and-twenty different ways at least, With much gesticulation and appeal To heathen gods, In their excessive seal. The Kpkrbt was called and anestlpned i in reply Via not confess the fact, Old not deny; Treated the matter as a pleasant lest, And set at naught the Syndic and the rest; Maintaining, In an angry undertone, That he should do what pleased him with hia own. And thereupon the Syndic gravely read The proclamation of the King; then said : “Pride gocth forth on horseback grand and gay Bat cometh back on foot, and begs Its way; Fame is the perfume of beroio deeds, Os flowers of chivalry and not of weeds l These are familiar proverbs; but I fear They never yet have reached your knightly ear. What fair renown, what honor, what repate Can come to yon for starving this poor brute T He who serves well and speaks not merits more Than they wbo clamor loudest at the door. Therefore the law decress, that as this steed Served you In yonth, henteforth yon shall take heed To comfort bis old age, and to provide Shelter in stall, and food and field beside.” The Knlgh withdrew abashed ; the people all Led home the steed in triump to bis stall. The King heard and approved, and laughed In Rise. . And cried alond : “ Right well It pleaseth me— Chnrch-bells at best bnt ring ns to the door But go not In to mass; my bell doeth more; It cometh into court and pleads the cause Os creatures dumb and unknown to the laws; And this shall make, In every Christian clime, The Bell of Atri famons for all time.” An Outspoken American Bishop in the Council at Rome.— Writing on the 80th nit., the Roman correspondent of the Pall Afall Gazette says: “The day before yesterday a violent scene took place In the Council, on the delivery of a speech by Monsignor Verot, Bishop of Savannah, United States, the orator of the American Episcopate. This discourse, prononneed in a voice audible through the hall, vehement ly assailed the dogma of lnfalliblty, de claring that all the Bishops who voted in Its favor would be guilty of sacrilege. The majority met this imputation with protest ing cries, and the clamor became so fnrione that the President Legate rang his bell, and called on the speaker to retract his expres sion. Supported by Monsignor Btrossmey er, the Bishop of Savannah refused, main taining that he was entitled to express his conscientious opinion. He said he was the citizen of a country where every opinion was free, and that, trained in freedom, he would preserve his Independence even in the Ecumenical Council. Monslgnor Sen estrer, Bishop of Ratisbon, spoke with equai force, but In more guarded language, against the dogma, affirming that he ex pressed the sentiments of the vast majority of German Catholics. The sitting broke up in great agitation. Several members of the majority have availed themselves of the new regulation to demand an Immediate vote. As there are yet seventy Fathers in scribed to speak on the question, the Car dinal Legates referred for instructions to the Pope; and the Holy Father decided there should be no interference with the de bate. The Bishops of the minority are now acting In concert with the ministers of the Catholic Powers. Conferences have been held both at the Austrian aud French Em bassies, and it was floally arranged that the Bishops should sign a collective note to the Pope protesting against the promo!- gallon of the dogma. But lam persuaded that all opposition will be useless." An lowa paper bavlug Inserted an Item relating tbit a woman or that Htato had helped bsr husband to raise seventy acres of wheal, and noticlug the Item cooled by IU esoliaugee under an evident lulsappM* elation of facto, now explain* that tb* way ahe helped waa to stand In in* door ood shah* a hroom at blm when b* oat dowa to mi, end terrify ing blm In ctbsr way*.
