Georgia Historic Newspapers

    vv.
VOL. V.
THE APPEAL.
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RBMOVAI. r
PLANTERS WAREHOUSE !
WE now have the pleasure of informing
the planters of Randolph nnd adjacent
comities, that E. McDonald lias erected a m w.
large and Commodious Warehouse, on depot.
Stre t, south side of and near the public square.
The location being more central and near the
business part of the city, will enable us to of
fer many more inducements to t lie planting
pnblic Ilian heretofore—where we will be
pleased to meet with our numerous old plant
ing friends and Customers besides many, many
«iew ones.
Wo liave ample arrangements for the recep
tion -and
Stole of Cote and Goods.
Thankful lor past favors, wo hope, with in
creased advantages and personal attention to
give general satisfaction and merit a liberal
patronage. The latest published (.'oinni r. ial
News will at all times he at the service of our
friends and patrons.
Liberal cash advances made on cotton and
■goods in store.
Consignments Solicited.
Personal attention given to the sale of
Cotton, Bagging, Ties, Salt, Guano, Thresh
ing Machines,, Cotton Gins, Wagons,
Buggies, Harness, &c., &c.
Plantation supplies furnished at. lowe t mar
ket prices.
Wagon yard, wi 11, rooms, fire places, fur
nished teamsters free.
We are looking forward with pleasure to
llie speedy completion of two new Kail Road
thoroughfares to onr city, which will doubt
less cause a great reduction in freights, there-
Jiy enhancing tfie value of cotton and making
.our nun ket second to none in the interior.
Planters, look to your iute est atii biiog
•vour cotton to Cuthbcrt.
e. McDonald & co.
augß-4m
ANDREW
Female College,
CUTH BERT GA.
o
THE exercises of this institution will be
resumed on Wednesday, the 20th of Sep
tember next, and clos< on Thursday before the
last Sabbath in June.
The scholastic year will he divided into
Three Terms, beginning 2‘tib 8 -ptember, Ist.
January und Ist of April:
REGULAR COURSE:
PER TERM. PUR ANNUM.
Primary Department sl2 00 S3O 00
gPreparatory “ 15 00 ■ls 00
Collegiate " 20 011 CO,OO
Diploma Fee, (paid on
graduating) $5 CO
Incidentals 100
Board, Washing, Fuel
and Lights, 18 00
Regular tuition of daughters living by the
ministry—no charge
Each hoarding pupil Should be urnisbed
with a Bible, Trunk, one pair of sheets, one
pair of Pillow-cases, one .pair Blankets, four
hand-Towels, over-shoes and umbrella.
EXTRA COURSE:
I'Ml ANNUM.
•Greek andFrench, each S4O t’O
Tuition in Music co On
Use of Piano 8 On
Drawing and Pastel 80 00
Instruction in Oi 1 Painting, 4‘t 00
Calisthenics, conducted by a
lady 5 t o
Singing in Classes Noc.listge
•Extra course pursued at the option o’ P. -
rents and Guardians Payments must be made
in October, January and April.
Each pupil Bhould be present, a* the opening
of the School.
The undersigned having been elected Presi
dent of Andrew Female College, an old and
popular Institution, sends fraternal greetings
to the Colleges of the South, makes Ins b ov
to the public, and solicits sympathy and i- lib
Atral share of patronage.
Summoned to a high and holy w.-rk—that
of preparing the mindsand hearts of ihe you g
for the business and pleasures joys and sor
rows of life—he wii! call to his assistance
•the best educators of the country, amt addr* ss
himself to the task with all the zeal and in
dustry that he can command. Should time
.pi'dae verdict we woo, demonstrate that lie
.caunot preside with dignity and success—
that he is incapable of imparting nstructiou—
that he is is not in the proper place—lhat A.
K. C. does not return a substantial equivalent
ito its patrons- the Pr sidenl will abandon
the enterprise and refund all damages reli
giously assessed.
Parents and guardians wishing to educate
virls 8 lion Id not forget our healthful locality,
refined society, commodious nnd well ventila
ted buildings’ beautiful grounds, magnificent
grove, and reasonable rates.
JOHN B McGEIIEE
President A F. C.
Cutlibert, Ga.. Aug 16th. 1871. ts
VALUABLE LAND
FOR SALE!!
I offer for sale my Plantation lying on the Be
nevolencc road, one and a halt miles fi '-in
(Cnthbert, containing
405 .Ac|*«s,
known as Lots Nos. 227 and 228. Tlmte are
43H acres cleared, ba'auce well timbered.—
•Comfortable dwellings and necessary out
buildings.
Will be sold at a bargain.
For further particulars applv to or address
sep29 ts W. E. WALL.
SNUFF & TOBACCO,
BY THE JAR AND BOX
Very Low,
ALUSQJf & SIMPSON’S.
CUTHBERT |§||f APPEAL.
M Departed Hours.”
Soft visions of departed hours,
Steal gently o’er the soul,
And flowers culled from faded bowers.
Bring tears beyond control,
Our thoughts return to child-hood sports,
Wh n life was full of mirth ;
And mem’rics golden casket floats
O’er parents round the hearth. *
A father dear, long’lost and gone,
No more, his prayers we hear,
A mother’s voice, now hushed its tone,
At eve uo more draws neur.
The little streamlet ’neath the hill,
Where wo were wout to play,
Sends now, no more, it its magic thrill;
Our sisters gone away.
Away above our argel fled,
She was too pure for earth ;
We feel o'. 11 now her spirit shed
ils beauty round the hearth.
That brother, who. in jacket grey,
Now li.ls a soldier’s grave,
Was once the hero of our play—
But now. he’s with the brave.
The school-house near the open lawn,
And school-inaica ever dear ;
They're gone, forever gone,
Their spirits hover near.
The ■■ meeting liousr,” that sacred spot,
Where oft at Sabbath morn,
Our pastor taught, what is the lot,
Os those of grace unborn.
That cherished spot, in milt lies,
Those forms, and faces gone ;
This tenches that times angel flies
And leaves our work undone.
Why should we. in earth’s faded bower.
Sigh for a long delay ?
Since we are taught each fleeting hour,
We 100, must pass away.
II ASSKI.TIMC.
The fiiiiKKiitn Prince.
Ilis Imperial Highness, the Grand
Duke Alexis Alexandrovich, is a
young man oi pleasing features,
with very light hair, light complex
ion, that might he termed florid,
large, light blue eyes, a magnificent
ly built figure, about six feet two
inches high, wilh broad, massive
shoulders. While all around him
were dressed in uniforms blazing
with gold and silver embroidery
and decorations, lie stood in the
simple uniform of a lieutenant of
the Russian navy, without star or
other decoration. In manners the
l’tiuee is unassuming, affable and
winning. He speaks English very
well.
The Duke is the third soil of the
Emperor Alexander 11, of Russia,
aud the Empress Maria Alexandrov
11a, formerly Princess of llesse He
was born January 14, 1850. For a
period of several years after his
birth the young Piiuco was in very
precarious health, and it was scarce
ly hoped that he would live till the
years of maturity. But his slender
health has grown more robust with
each year. In 1856 he accompanied
his parents to Moscow, and was
tlicu—at their coronation —present-
ed for the first time to the assem
bled representatives of the Empire.
Upon the return of the Imperial
family to tit. Petersburg, the Grand
Duke’s education was immediately
commenced, in the year 1862 he
accompanied his uncle, the Grand
Duke Constantine, Grand Admiral
of the Russian navy, on a trip to
the fortress of tiweahorg. During
a terrific storm, which lasted eight
hours the young Duke displayed
so much intrepidity and daring, that
Constantine, 011 his return to St
Petersburg, urgently requested the
Emperor to appoint him to some
position in the navy. This the Em
peror reluctantly did, after delaying
for a long time, being fearful of the
delicate constitution of the Prince.
Since then it has been his passion
to be on shipboard, and he has spent
all the time that his duties would
permit him 011 the water. Ilis ofli
cial positions are Aid-de Camp of
the Emperor, and Chief of the Ekat
therineiibourg Regiment of Infantry,
and of the first squadron of the
fleet of Finland, of none of which
lie is so proud as of a medal of hon
or given him for rescuing a young
lad) from drowning, at the eminent
peril of his own life. His official
title is, Ilis Imperial Highness the
Grand Duke Alexis Alexandrovich,
and liis rank in the Imperial Rus
sian Navy is that ot First Lieuten
ant. His suite is composed of Vice
Admiral Poshuet, General Aide-de-
Camp to the Emperor, and tutor to
the Grand Duke, Counsellor of State
Yessdajo, Count Olsaeifleff and
Count Chowoaloff, Lieutenants of
the Imperial Guard, and Professor
Metohin.
Which do you Prefer? —“If
you prefer the keg of lager or the
bottle of wine to me,” said Mary,
‘•just take the Magistrate, and get
marred to them,”
‘‘ What do you mean ? ” said
John.
“Just what 1 say. I don’t want
a young man to come here of an
evening chewing cloves to cover his
breath, and hide his habits of drink
ing. If y« u like lager more than
you do me just marry it at once, and
don’t divide your affections between
woman and wine—or a woman and
lagar ; love and liquor have no af
finity 7 .”
Soliciting relief of an English la
dy, he gravely said: “ Madame, I
uevaire beg, but dat I have von vifp
vid several small family dat is grow
ing very large, and nosing to make
dere bread out of but de perspira
tion of my own eyebrow.”
CUTHBERT, GEORGIA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1871.
(From Appletoifs Journal.)
The Planet Jupiter.
No planet belonging to the solar
system is more interesting or more
fruitful in speculative theory than
Jupiter. Important and wonderful
discoveries are being made by as
tronomers in the constitution and
habits of this planet, which seem
to be a key to still greater discov
eries remaining for future students
of the science of the stars.
The theory that Jupiter is a mi
nor sun, not self luminous like the
grand central luminary, but giving
out heat, and perhaps a faint light
to the four moons, or worlds, re
volving around him, is now gaining
ground among the most diligent ob
servers of this distant orb.
But, before giving evidence for
this interesting theory, let us first
note some of the well-known facts
in the physical history of this prince
of planets. In bulk lie exceeds all
the other planets of the system
combined. He has a volume more
than twelve hundred times larger
than that of the earth, although
such is his small specific gravity,
that his mass is only three hundred
times heavier than our own. This
great globe sweeps around the sun
in a majestic curve, which it takes
nearly twelve years to complete,
and yet whirls round on his axis in
less than teu hours, so that his day
is less than half of ours. Ho lies
more than five tunes farther from
the sun than we do, and therefore
receives twenty-five times less light
and heat. Ilis axis is perpendicu
lar to his orbit, so that changes of
seasons are unknown in his long
year, which is equal to nearly twelve
of ours. Let us, then, picture to
our mind’s eye this immense planet
pursuing in space his stately course,
rotating with inconceivable velocity
on its axis, nobly swaying his fami
ly of satelites, and forcing comets
and meteor-systems into new orbits
by ltis sovereign will.
The first question which natural
-1) suggests itself to ou>- minds is, in
what points does this planet resem
ble the earth ? Here we find, instead
of the anticipated analogy, a series
of marked contrasts. In density,
bulk, rapidity of rotation, length of
seasons, and in the known peculiar
ities of his complex subordinate
system, there is little accordance
with terrestrial phenomena. The
solar system seems, indeed, to be
divided into two distinct portions
by the zone of the asteroids, the
lour interior worlds resembling each
other, and the four exterior ones in
striking contrast to them, and de
veloping as striking an analogy to
the sun. With the three exterior
planets we have nothing to do in
this article, but for the planet Jupi
ter we claim a physical condition
analogous, though subordinate, to
the great central luminary, and we
hope to prove that all observation
on its surface tends to substantiate
this assertion.
While we find nothing but con
trasts in comparing the earth and
.Jupiter, when we institute a com
parison between the planet and the
sun, we find a remarkable corre
spondcuceof conditions. And, first,
the destiny of the two bodies is very
nearly the same, which leads us to
infer a similarity in physical devel
opment, and suggests a condition
very different from that ot our
globe.
Secondly, the amount of light
received from Jupiter is much great
er than is due from his size and po
sition in the system. Although he
is sometimes seven times as far from
us as the planet Venus, his light is
almost as brilliant. According to
the late Professor Bond, lie gives
out to 11s more light than be receives
from sun. Zollner, the Ger
man photometrician, says that he
sends much more light than a plan
et of equal size, and constituted
like Mars or the earth, could possi
bly" reflect to us if placed where
Jupiter is. While Mars reflects only
one-fourth of the light he receives,
Jupiter reflects more than three
fourths. It seems probable, there
fore, that Jupiter shines partly by
his own light, and we also infer the
existence of great heat.
Thirdly, careful observers have
noted a great change in the form of
this planet at different times, the
outline taking on a rectangular ap
pearance, and indicating great com
motion in the chaotic elements of
which it is composed.
Fourthly, the most interesting re
searches connected with the study of
this planet relate to the rings or
belts, which diversify his surface.—
Ever since the invention of the tel
escope they have formed material
for wonder and speculation. These
belts are not outside the planet,
like the rings of Saturn, but are
lying above the surface of the globe
we see. His telescopic appearance
is that of a disc, and across this
disc bright and dusky belts are
plainly visible lying in parallel lines.
We can watch the changes in these
belts, and the irregularities in their
motion. We see curious streaks
and ovals carried across the disc,
and note their return just as if they
were attached to his surface and
borne onward by his diurnal rota
tion. These belts are bpginning to
attract the attention of astronomers
as among the wonderful phenomena
whose elucidation they have almost
grasped.
There is usually a bright belt
aerpsp the centre of live disc, called
the equatorial belt. This is qften
pearly white in color, and has, ,qn
either side, twp dark belts, ol'tpn
copper-colored, reddish or purplish
in hue, These alternate light and
dark streaks follow to the poles.—
The dark belts are of a ruddy hue ;
the light zones, yellowish white
near the equator, and gray near the
poles. The common explanation of
the belts has been to consider them
as due to atmospheric clouds, rais
ed by the sun’s influence over the
equatorial regions of Jupiter, and
to attribute their motion and pecu
liar appearance to the influence of
trade-winds, caused by the swift ro
tation of the planet. But recent
observations fail to confirm this
theory, while they strengthen the
belief that it is an inherent force in
the planet that produces the extra
ordinary phenomena.
It is well known to all students
of astronomy that, for the last
twenty or thirty months, the sun
has been passing through a great
physical disturbance, called “The
Solar Epoch, or Magnetic Storm,”
and also that this period occurs in
about eleven years. We say
“about,” for celestial phenomena
are not measured by mathematical
line and plummet, but pass from
maximum to minimum by gradual
change, in obedience to the count
less material forces exerting their
influence at the same time. During
this period, which is just passing
away, immense spots have been vis
ible on his surface, some of them
large enough to be seen by the na
ked eye. They have been so nu
merous, have lasted so long, and
have changed in form so rapidly,
that they have furnished the full
est evidence of great disturbance
of the solar forces. Their influ
ence has been felt upon the earth m
various forms of magnetic disturb
ance. Magnificent auroras have
spanned tfie 6kies, earthquakes,
drouth, furious gales, and raging
storms have manifested the sympa
thy of our little planet in the com
motion agitating the surface of the
sun.
Now, astronomers have not yet
arrived at any conclusion which is
entirely satisfactory in regard to
the cause of this seeming disorder
in the system; but of one thing
they feel sure, and this is, that the
planets, in some unexplained man
ner, influence the sun’s atmospher
ic envelope. Our fair neighbor Ve
nus has some influence, but the dis
tant planet Jupiter, exceeding in
mass the whole family combined,
has much the largest share in pro
ducing the trouble. furiously
enough, this stormy epoch occurs
just after the lapse of a period equal
to one of his revolutions, and when
110 is in that point of his orbit near
est to the sun.
And now we come to the most
trustworthy evidence bearing upon
our theory of the resemblance of
the two globes. At the very time
of the recent epoch of solar storm,
the planet Jupiter manifested a sim
ilar abnormal condition, clearly
shown by the great changes observ
ed in the external appearance of
his belts
The equatorial belt, usually white,
has been ruddy, orange and coppery,
oehreis’n, greenish yellow, and has
passed through numerous tints of
red and yellow, but has not once
exhibited a normal tint. This belt,
and two belts each side, have
changed rapidly in form. Dark
projections ha'"c been flung into
the equatorial belt, making it take
on the appearance of a net-work of
ovals. The whole aspect of the
planet has been indicative of mighty
processes at work, whose origin
must take rise within the planet it
self. We gather these facts from
the evidence of many skillful and
practical observers, including Mr.
Browing, the optician, Mr. Webb,
and others. To Mr. Proctor, whose’
interesting contributions, to astron
omy are so well known, we are also
indebted for facts in a recent arti
cle contributed to St. Paul’s Maga
zine. Mr. Browing, greatly distin
guished in his department of sci
ence, has made a colored drawing of
this noble planet as he saw it
through a twelve and a half inch
telescope with a Browning reflector,
on the 31st of January, 1870. His
careful eye noted the strange color
changes we have already described.
He made his observations on one of
those few fine nights which are the
delight of the telescopist, when
only those exquisite shades and
contrasts of color can be discerned,
lie says, enthusiastically, that there
is a muddiness about all terrestrial
colors when compared with the ob
jects seen in the heavens; and that
these color ß could not be represent
ed in all their brilliaucy and purity,
unless we could dip our pencil in a
rainbow and transfer the prismatic
tints to our paper.
If we go back to the epoch of so
lar storm in iB6O, we find a corres
ponding disturbance in the Jovian
equilibrium. On the 29th of Feb
ruary of that year, Mr. of
Manchester, noticed across a bright
belt, au oblique, dusky streak. The
length of this dark rift was about
ten thousand miles, and its width
at least five hundred miles. But its
extent and position were by no
means its most remarkable features.
It continued as a rift, revolving
with tfiyg planet for at least one hun
dred Jovian days. Finally, it grew,
and, lengthening out, it stretched
across the whole face of the planet
until it reached one hundred thou
sand miles in length, apd moved at
the rate of onp hpndred and titty
miles an bopr, Professor Herehel
and Mr. Browning made observa
tions on this planet simultaneously
in January, 186IK which agreed per
fectly. P ot’. Ilerschel speaks of
the “egg shaped masses” into which
the equatorial belt seepied to be dt
vided. Mr. Webb, observing in
November, 1869, writes of the equa
torial belt that “solid ellipsoids
seemed to stand out of, or be sus
pended in, a depressed channel,
like the modification of the mould
ing known as ‘bead and hollow’ in
architecture.”
We have another analogv be
tween the two bodies we are com
paring. The solar spots do not
move with a uniform rotatorial mo
tion, as a country on the earth is
carried round on her rotation, but
spots travel faster near the sun’s
equator, than spots nearer the poles
Mr. Carrington has shown that a
spot on the suu’s equator is carried
round in four days less time than a
point midway between the equator
and the southern pole. This is al
so true of Jupiter, where the equa
torial parts of the atmosphere trav
el with swifter rotatorial movement
than the other portions, and per
form their circuit in a shorter time,
as in the swift advance of the equa
torial end of the great Jovian rift.
We have thus given all the evi
dence that we can collect in sup
port of the theory that the planet
Jupiter is a subordinate sun, and in
a very different physical condition
from the earth. We base our evi
dence on the following facts: The
solar epochs of magnetic storm
synchronize with periods of great
Jovian disturbance, aud occur when
the two bodies are in their least
distances.
The accelerated motion of open
ings in the equatorial bjlt of the
planet finds a correspondence in the
velocity of the equatorial sun-spots.
The changeable condition of Jupi
ter’s atmospheric envelope, mani
fested in his varying outline, ac
cords with well-known observations
on solar “rosy protuberances.” The
amount of light received from him
is much greater than is due from
his size and distance. Ilis mean
density is very nearly the same as
that of the sun.
We give these thoughts simply as
a suggestive theory". The research
es of the future can alone deter
mine if it must remain as a theory,
or whether more careful study and
clearer light shall substantiate these
facts, and build upon them a noble
illustration of the forces which
sway the material universe, and in
thg long process of ages cool down
a burning sphere to become a fit
habitation for living beings. When
changes on the Jovian planet have
been studied and noted down for
many years, as Carrington and other
astronomers have been doingfor sun
spots, then may we hope for more
light in the elucidation of the un
solved problem. Meantime, a deep
interest is attached to every chang
ing phase of this noblest creation
of the planetary worlds, whether
we watch its radiant glow among
the stars in the soft evening light,
or note its path as co herald with
the dawn, or, with its surrounding
moons and variegated belts, make
it a delightful object of telescopic
study.
Ideas of a Newspaper.
Some people have an idea that
newspapers will lie. Others are so
wise that they will only believe a
newspaper report when they think
it would be easier for the paper to
tell the truth than to tell a lie.—
Others think it the evidence of
flashing wit to reject with a deri
sive laugh any evidence for author
ity coining from “ the papers.” To
such an extent has this thoughtless
judgment of the press been carried,
that much of its share of useful
ness has been circumscribed. It is
true there must be some occasion
for this widespread impression—
“ there must be some fire where
there is so much smoke ” —yet how
many men can show a record for
correctness, accuracy and truthful
ness that will at once compare with
the average newspapers? The edi
tor gathers his news from a thou
sand sources, from acquaintances
aud strangers, from letters and pa
pers. lie sifts and culls, hunts and
details, aud endeavors to get “ the
straight” of every story he publish
es, for it goes to the world over his
own name, and he knows that in a
great measure he will be held re
sponsible. The private individual
hears a piece es gossip, listens care
lessly, tells it to another w T ith equal
carelessness, and if called upon for
details, in nine case3 out of ten,
cannot give enough of them to
make an intelligent item for a pa
per. “ Writing makes an exact
man,” says Lord Bacon ; the news
paper verifies the truth of the state
ment. Let any one who doubts
this, sit down and put on paper some
piece of gossip, with the purpose of
having it printed over his owd name,
and lie will see in a moment how
little he kpows about a matter he
thought himself familiar with. Aud
he will wonder, not that the news
paper should contain occasional in
accuracies and misstatements, but
that it contains so few. And his
wonder will wonderfully increase
when he remembers that the editor
has to depend for much of what he
publishes on the common run of
mankind. — Yonkers Gazette.
A married gentleman of Eliza
beth, New Jersey, lost a valuable
diamond pin, which he advertised
in the Herald, leaving fifteen dol
lars with the bookkeeper as a re
ward to the finder, Ilis wife was
the lucky person. She took the
pin to the Herald office and got
thp money.
A three-acre field of bapapas in
Florida produced $125 per month
all the year round,
The Loaded Dice.
It was in the fall of 1830 that the
w r riter of this sketch, while detain
ed at Louisville awaiting the rise
of the Ohio river to begin his jour
ney" to New Orleans, first made the
acquaintance of Mr. Harris, a weal
thy young merchant of the above
named city, who had been spending
the summer in Cincinnati, where
he had gone to settle up some ac
counts of long standing. He was
now on his way heme, carrying
w th him a large amount of money
which ho had collected for the firm
of which he was a junior member.
The season had been remarkably
dry, and in consequence the river
was lower than could be recollected
by the oldest settler; but as the au
tuinn advanced, when the semi-an
nual rise of water might be confi
dently expected many travelers ar
rived at Louisville to take advan
tage of the earliest boats for the
lower country.
After many disappointments the
river began to swell in good earnest,
and all hurried on board of their
respective steamers to secure their
passage home.
Mr. Harris and I, after having se
lected our state-room and seen to
the safety" of our baggage, had leis
ure to look around us and make the
acquaintance of our fellow travel
ers. We found, to our intense dis
gust, that it had been our misfortune
to take passage with as large and
as accomplished a set of gamblers
as ever disgraced decent society.—
They were bound down the river,
on a “ professional tour” through
the Southern States.
As soon as we were WeU under
way the implements of their nefa
rious trade were brought forth
Faro, rouge et noir and various oth
er games were exhibited to tempt
the unwary" to risk their money.
At first many of the gentlemen on
board objected to having the cabin
turned into a gambling hell; but
the professionals loudly protested
that they played only on the square,
and furthermore declared ( thatshould
one of their number be caught
cheating the stakes should be for
feited, and he put on shore at the
nearest landing. After this no
more was said, and the numerous
games went on without interrup
tion.
For some time Harris, who was
known to have a large amount of
money in his possession, and who
was an object of the gamblers espe
cial regard, firmly declined all invi
tations to “try his luck.” But
one evening, after the supper table
had been cleared, he, weary of their
importunity, ot yielding, as he after
wards told me, to a natural love for
the excitement of play, consented
to make one of a party of four who
were about to sit down to a game
of carls for small stakes, just to
pass away the time.
For a while my interest in the
fortunes of Harris induced me to
remain at his side and watcji the
chances of the game; but as the
sums staked were small, and as the
parties seemed evenly matched in
point of skill, I soon tired of such
uninteresting employment, and re
tired to a distant part of the cabin
to amuse myself with a book—in
the contents of which I almost im
mediately became absorbed. I read
on for some time, probably an hour
and a half : but while pausing to
cut the leaves (the book was anew
one) I became conscious that an un
usual stillness pervaded the room.
There was no longer to be heard
the rattle of dice, the sharp click
of the ivory “ faro check,” or the
subdued murmur of the players.
Raising my eyes to see what could
be the cause of the .subdued stillness,
1 saw that all the V banks ” had ;
been deserted, and the players were
standing motiouless around the ta
ble at which I had left Harris and
his companion engaged at eucre.
Wondering what would induct
men who were accustomed to risk
ing the largest stakes on the turn
of a card to take such an interest
in so small a game, I threw down
my book, and, approaching the
party, soo*j made my way to the,
table. I saw at once that a great
change had taken place since I had
been a looker on. The stakes were
largely increased, aud two of the
party, either unable or too timid to
risk such large amounts, had with
drawn from the table. Harris and
one of the gamblers, however, st 11
retained their seats, and with eager
faces ar.d shaking hands, shuffled
the .cards. Fortune seemed to have
favored Harris, for just as I reached
the spot he marked the last point
in a closely contested game, while
the professional, with a fierce oath,
dashed down the cards and chal
lenged him to give him his revenge
with dice, to which proposition, af
ter a moment’s hesitation, Harris
assented.
The dice and cups were produced,
and the excited gamesters again
bet their money, but no longer with
the same result Harris’ good luck
seemed to haye deserted him, and
his antagonist won stake afterstake.
Harris seemed now wild with ex
citement. lie doubled every time,
until at last no less than ten thou
sand dollars jay qppfl jjie table, to
be won or lost at a single throw of
the dice. Again the gambler was
successful. Harris now sprang
from his cjjair, and oalling on his
antagonist to remain where he was,
repaired to his stateroom, and re
turning in a tew minutes, he dashed
down upon the table a large roll o|
bank notps, saying at the same time
tq the gamble} - i
“ You have already won fropq me
over fifteen thousand dqllars. The
bank bills represent double that
sum ; dare you risk a like amount,
and let the ownership of the whole
be decided by a single cast? ”
The gambler at once expressed
his perfect willingness to do so, but
declared he had not so much money
in his possession. The deficiency
was, however, made up by" others
of the fraternity, and they prepar
ed to resume the game. There was
a large carving fork lying near Har
ris which the waiter had neglected
to remove w’lien he had cleared the
table that evening. This, Harris,
with a careless and apparent (as lie
took his seafi accidental movement
ot liis arm, drew close to his side.
All now drew near in eager ex:
peotation. Harris seized the cup,
and shaking the dice violently fqr a
moment, dashed them before him.
I could scarcely suppress a cry of
exultation when I saw he had
thrown double fives, within one of
the highest number that it is possi
ble to make.
The professionals cast uneasy
glances upon each other, but Har
ris’ antagonist only smiled scornfully,
andthrew the ivory cubes toward him
Just, however, as he was placing
them in the box, they slipped thro’
his fingers and fell upon the floor.
lie stooped and recovered them
in an instant, butffs he reaccd forth
his hand to take the cup, Harris
whose eyes had a fixed, determined
look, and \yhich had never for a mo
ment been off him, suddenly seized
the fork, and with a movement
quick as that of the deadly rattle
snake, stuck the sharp prongs
through his wrist, literally pin
ning it to the table, at the same
time presenting a cocked pistol full
at his head. There was a yell from
the wounded man, and a volley of
imprecations burst from his associ
ates. A dozen weapons were plant
ed at the breast of Harris He,
however, was equal to the occasion.
Not a muscle of his fac,e moved,
and his voice was not raised the
least when he spoke.
“ One moment, gentlemen,” said
ho ; “ y-ou yourselves have declared
that, should one of your number be
detected in foul play, the stakes
should be forfeited and he summa
rily pypjshod. If the dice under
the hand I now hold imprisoned be
not false, then do with me as you
will. If, however, I prove correct
in my assertion, I demand the ful
fillment of your threat.”
By this time every male passen
ger had collected around the table,
and the gamblers saw by their looks
and drawn weapons that they were
not to be trifled with. So they
were forced, reluctantly, to admit
the truth of what Harris had said.
The gambler vra3 held secure in
his chair, the fork withdrawn, the
dice examined, found to beloaded—
the true pair were concealed in his
sleeve. Ilis fate was sealed in spite
of desperate resistance. Strong
arms stripped him ot his weapons,
forced him jnto a boat and row-ed
him to the nearest land,, a low sand
bank entirely surrounded by the
river, and whose rapidly rising wa
tors promised soon to submerge it.
Upon this island deaf to his piteous
appeals, they foiced him and the
steamer resumed her course down
the river.
But long after we Joad lost sight
ot him in the darkness there came
to us, out of the black night, wild
cries, that sounded in our ears high
above the dash of our ponderous
wheels and the rush of the mighty
river, screams for mercy, fearful im
precations and chilling blasphe>
mies.
Harris hid his face in his hands
and wept like a child. Strong men
turned pale, and the very gambjers
.looked at each other with whitened
cheeks and trembling lips.
Ot bis fate there could be no
doubt. The strongest swimmer
could not for a moment stem that
fearful torrent, and to remain upon
the bank was but to choose a linger
ing and more fearful death.
There was no more playing on
board the boat that trip, and at the
first landing most of the passengers
left her, fleeing from it as a place
accursed. Among those who left
was Harris.
Years had passed when we met
again, but he trembled when be
spoke of that fearful night on the
Ohio, and said he had never touched
a card since.
Gossipers are the ljice and itch of
society, and most communities are
infested by them. To tell all they
do would be almost impossible. To
tell all they know, and much more
than they know, is their chief de
light. They have an aptness in
gathering the history of every oc
currence and person that is aston
ishing. They never tell anything
they know, save to one ot their
kind, and then after an oath of eter
nal secrecy ; they ask the oath only
to have tho pleasure of spreading
the plague themselves, and-ape yery
apt to be very angry at any qne
who violates the oath. Gossipcis
never know anything but what “they
say.” These vermin are of ail
kinds, ages, sexes and conditions,
and are found in all walks of life,
and vermin like, befoul all wborq
they come in contact with. They
are the itch which constantly keeps
society and communities active in
investigating each other’s business
and doings. Asa blessing, they are
not desired ; as a curse they are ab
horred, of all abhorrenecs.
The National Labor Party will
hold a convention in Washington,
December 0.
NO. 50
VARIETY,
A bowl’d undertaking—Making
a tep-gtrike.
Henry Clay’s old home, Ashland,
has been purchased by thp Universi
ty of Kentucky for §90,000,
Why is a young lawyer like a na
tional currency ? Because ho is a
legal tender and somewhat green.
Why is a drunkard, hesitating to
sign the pledge, like a half-convert
ed Hindoo? Because he is in
doubt whether to give up the jug
or not (Juggernaut,)
Here is the pithicst sermon ever
preached :
‘‘ Our ingress in life is naked and
bare; our progress through life }«
trouble and pare ; our egress out of
it we know not where; but, doing
well here, we shall do well there.” 3
A New England spinster, who
went out to Nevada about a year
ago, writes home that she has al
ready a husband, a pair of twins,
and hasn’t got much acquainted
yet.
“ You don’t love mo—l know
you don’t! ” said a young married
lady" to her husband.
“ I give you credit, my dear, for
a keen penetration,” was his con
soling reply.
A poet says, “Oh, she was fair
but sorrow came and left its traces
there.” What became of the re
mainder of the harness 110 does
not state.
A cynical man says the reason
women are so fond of writing let
ters is that they rejoice in the op
portunity of saying all they wish
without the possibility of au inter
l’liption.
A Boston business man remarks
to a native poet:
He is one of those men who
have soarings after the infinite pip!
divings after the unfathomable, but
wlji.o never pays cash.”
Mrs. H. B. Stowe say3: “ Men
need wives who are in lovo with
them. Simple tolerance is not
enough to stand the strain of mar
ried life; and to marry when yog
cannot trujy lovo, is to commit an
act of dishonesty and injustice.”
Little girl (inquiringly)—“ Manjr
nut, who are you making all of those
nice little clothes for?” Mamma
(feelingly)—“ I am making them
for a poor little baby whp Hasn’t 9
rag to its name.” Little girl (sym
pathetically)—“ Mamma, was it
burned out in Chicago ? ”
A citizen of Chicago recently
shot himself on the Kansas Pacific
railroad. “He had been playing
three cprd monte op the train.” He
was right. A man who will play
three-card inoute when it is just as
easy to play poker, ought to shoqt
himself.
A paper published in Paris, Ky.,
states that sixteen ladies in that
town sat together in a private room,
without restraint, and never spoke
a word for two hours. The only
explanation that can be given of
this extraordinary circumstance is
that the ladies were inmates of a
deal aud dumb asylum.
4. clergyman passing a boy weep
ing bitterlv, halted and asked,
‘•f JYbat’s the matter, my Jjtt)e fel
low ? ” The boy replied : “Before,
we could hardly get enough to eat
of anything, and now what shall
we do, for ther’s another one ? ”
“Hush thy mourning and wipe off
those tears,” said the clergyman,
“aud remember that God never
sends mouths without he sends vict
uals to put in them.” I know that,”
said the boy, “ but then he sends
all the bjouMis to our house, and all
the victuals to yours.”
Didn’t See a Hat,
Elliot, the well-known portrait
painter of New York, like maijy
other erratic children of genius, had
perennial attacks of what they term
spreeing, At such times he would
go over to Brooklyn, and be invis
ible for a week or two, coming back
the ghost of his former self, unnerv
ed and exhausted.
Upon one occasion, after his re
turn from such a jaynl, several of
his friends determined if possible, to
put a Stop to this procedure, and so
went down to his studio, carrying
in a pocket a big rat, for purposes
which will be seen.
Elliot sat. painting lazily, returning
to his work after he had greeted his
visitors.
They took him to task roundly
for his dissipation, declaring that
his health was utterly ruined, and
that another such turn would njriye
hitt) into (snakes, 1 iffheyiyjse called
delirium tremens.
They pressed the topic, when
finally he rose ui a passion, and as he
did so, the rat was slipped loose,
and went flying among the bftlfr
finished pictures.
Elliot gave chase with a cane calling
loudly for assistance, knowing that,
if uncaught, the animal would work
mischief with his canvass.
Not hearing the others move, he
looked around with astonishment,
and shuddered visibly a? he saw
them looking at him with faces of
sadness and pity.
They tried to get bin} to sit fjown,
saying that he would get ovqj? R in
a lew moments; hut heshaqlj then)
qff, aud went back to his paintjpg
Aft r a few touches he stopped
apd turned aropnd, and with au
attempt to laugh that was inexpress
ibly painful, broke out;
“T.taps a good joke on you fejltys,
I didn't see ang rat !’•