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“GALLAHER’S INDEPENDENT,"
PUBLISHED EVERY SATUBDAY AT
QUITMAN, GA.,
by
J. C. G A L L A H E R.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION I
TWO DOLLARS per Annum in Advance.
THE QOLDGI SIDE.
Thorp ip many a nut in the road of life,
Tf wo would only atop to take It;
And mauv a tone from the bettor land,
If the querulous heart would make it I
To the sunny mnl that is full of hope.
And whose beautiful trust ne'er fkiloth,
The grans is n on and the flowers are bright,
Though the winter storm provailoth.
Better to hope though the clouds hang low.
And to keep the eyes still lifted;
For the sweet blue sky will sisin peep through,
When the ominous clouds are rifted 1
There was never a night without a day,
Or tin evening without a morning;
Aud the darkest hour, as the proverb goes,
Is the hour before the dawning.
There is many a gem in the path of life,
Which we pass in our idllc pleasure,
That ia richer far than the jeweled orown,
Or the miser's hoarded treasure;
It may be the love of a little child,
Or a mother’s prayer to heaven,
Or only a beggar s grateful thanks
For a cup of water given.
Belter to wo*e in the web of life
A bright and golden tilling.
And to do God’s will with a ready heart,
And hands that are ready and willing,
Than to sump the delicate, minute threads
Of onr ennons lives asunder,
And then blame heaven for tin tangled ends
And sit aud grieve and wonder.
IdSOME’S ROM ANCE.
‘‘Murk my words, Leone, your beau
ideal you'll never find; your estimate of
men is too high.”
"No, Arthur, it is but a great estimate, j
*nd you have no right to judge me. harsh .
ly, because I would not throw my life away
upon some society man of to-day. I um
young yet, hut twenty, you kuow, aud
there is time enough yet. '
"Yes, time enough, Leone; hut I agree
with Arthur that yon have too high a,
standard of manhood, a romantic school.
girl admiration of qualities that few, if
any man, possess.
Complimentary, very, to vour husband,
sir; hut I wish for my husband strength
either of sonl or body, mind far above the .
average, and determination and purpose i
sufficient to raise him from the level of the
human herd; mark me, if I -never find such
a one, I will ever remain Leone Lightfoot.
an old maid fond of tea, cats and gossip;
hut I see Charles has brought my horse
around so au rcroir."
The speaker was a woman of twenty, 1
queenly in form, aud whose face, though
possessing character beyond her years
stamped thereon, was radiant with loveli- ’
ness.
Robed in a dark-blue riding habit, which
clung gracefully around her superb form,
and the face half shaded by the drooping
? lumen fulling from her jaunty cap, Leone
lightfoot was indeed what she appeared- j
a surpassing lovely woman; one. who hud
visitors by the score, for she was rich as
well as accomplished and beautiful.
Three rears before she had been left,
by the death of her parents, under the
guardianship of her brother, some ten
rears her senior, and at bis elegant coun
try seat ill New York State she had lived,
the idol of society and the pet of Arthur
Lightfoot and his pretty hut weak little
wife.
Between the three, Arthur Lightfoot,
Leone and Mrs. Lightfoot, was the con
versation held that opens this story, and
the cause thereof was the refusal by Leone
of the heart, hand and fortune of a worthy
bachelor neighbor.
"She is incorrigible, the old judge
would have made her a good husband,”
said Arthur Lightfoot to his w ife, after
they had seen Leone mount and dash away
at full speed down the grand avenue,
"Yes, she’ll never marry, I fear,” sighed
Mrs. Lightfoot, who always echoed the
sentiment of her husband.
In the meantime Leone rode at a pace
that chimed in with her humor, and an
elegant horsewoman, she held her steed
well in rein, und enjoyed the springing,
fleet motion os mile after mile was cast
'behind.
But suddenly her horse shied violently
and gave a tremendous leap, almost, un
seating his fair rider, who, recovering
herself quickly, spoke soothingly to the
frightened animal, and glanced back
ward to note the object that had so startled
him.
The color fled from her face as her eyes
fell upon the form of a man lying by the
roadside, anil apparently lifeless; hut
nerving herself by a linrd-drawn sigh, the
brave girl sprang to the ground and ap
proached the spot, glancing intently down
into the pale upturned face.
The features were moulded with re
markable regularity', the partly opened
mouth displayed even white teeth, and
the dark brown hair and moustache pre
sented a marked contrast, to the white face
from which every tinge of color had faded.
Dressed in a light summer suit, Leone
even then discovered that it was well and
stylishly made, while the gauntlet gloves
aiid riding whip proved that the stranger
bad been on horseback.
“He has been thrown, doubtless, lint
God grant he is not dead 1” exclaimed the
maiden, as she knelt beside the prostrate
form, and drew aside the coat to place her
hand upon his heart.
With a cry of terror she sprang to her
feet, her hand stained with blood, for
from his side a small stream welled up
slowly.
‘ ‘He is dead, and has been murdered
*
"No.”
“It was almost a whisper, and the heavy
lids raised from the dark eyes —eyes filled
with angiiish, hut yet strangely dark and
fascinating.
“Thank God, there is yet hope; he
quiet, sir, I implore you and I will aid
yon all in my power,” exclaimed Leone,
and drawing her habit around her, she
ran rapidly a few paces down the road to
where it was crossed by a small stream,
and saturating her handkerchief.returned,
and without hesitation drew aside the
clothing, and placed it upon the wound—
a small bullet wound in the loft side over
the heart.
"You must keep perfectly quiet, and I
will soon return, ” she said softly, hardly
knowing whether she was heard or not,
and then in an instant she was in her
saddle, dashing at her utmost towards the
nearest farm-house.
Dashing like wind up to the door, and
startling quiet Farmer Jessup and his
family nearly out of their wits, Leone
oried:
“Mr. Jessup, let your son ride at once
to Dr. Wells, and” toll him a gentleman
lies dangerously hurt on the road near
Hillside Spring; tell him to come there at
once, and you, Mr. Jessup, please come
on with your carriage, and bring all that
you think necessary. ”
VOL. I.
Every one in the country knew and
loved Leone Lightfoot, and rapidly her
orders were obeyed; observing which, she
wheeled her foaming horse, ami again sped
away on her return to tho wounded
stranger.
There ho lay just as she had left him,
but groaning slightly, and each instant
dampening tho blood-stained handker
chief, the girl awaited the coming of till?
surgeon.
Would they never come? she thought;
but at length, when it seemed hours in
stead of minutes, the sound of wheels
broke on her our, and the next instant tho
surgeon drove up at a rapid pace.
"You are a noble woman. Miss Light
foot, and if this man lives lie owes life to
you,” said the good old physician, as he
approached and knelt beside the prostrate
form.
“But will he live, doctor ?” *
For some minutes no reply was given
|by the man of ss.kmce, who c-nrefully
| probed and examined the wound, but
j then lie said slowly:
“It is a serious injury—ha ! here I have
j the hall; yes. I ho]>e he will live?’ and
Dr. Wi lls’ took from the wound a small
bullet, while he continued:
“Now he needs the most careful nurs
ing.”
“He shall have it. Thank God, here
comes Mr. Jessup,” and immediately after
the damage drove up, and telliug the
doctor to come on with the wounded
stranger to her brother's house, Leone
again mounted her horse and rode on to
have all in readiness fur his arrival.
It was a week before the stianger was
sufficiently recovered to tell his story re
garding the wound that had so nearly
proved fatal to him, and then by careful
nursing, he informed Leone, who lmd
been untiring in her devoted cure of him
that his name was Clarence Ainslit—was
an Englishman, who nearly a year before
had come to America, and purchasing a
few acres of land in the West made it iiis
home.
He also stated that business had eulle 1
him to New York, and that while enjoying
a horseback ride he had been suddenly
final upon, was thrown to tlie ground, and
had an indistinct remembrance that sonic
one was robbing him, for liis watch,
pocket-book and nil tlie valuables he had
about him were gone.
That Clarence Ainslie was no ordinary
man Leone Lightfoot knew when she saw
him lying by the roadside, hut that ho
would ever possess the power to control
her life she had not believed.
But so it wus, for ouch day proved to
her that she liad met tier beau ideal; and
yet was he for her ? Might, lie not already
liave loved? Might he not already have
married ?
The thought chilled her very heart.
And yet when she saw the dark fascinating
eyes turned upon her with admiration,
and read —or hoped she did therein a
deeper, holier feeling, Leone felt happy,
and begged to be a very slave and become
a mere automaton to the euprico of Clarence
Ainslie.
Now Arthur Liglitfoot and his pretty
wife looked upon the matter in a different
light, for, though hospitable in the ex
treme to the stranger guest,, they looked
upon him ns a poor English emigrant, a
petty Western farmer, and did not like
the idea that he should control the heart
of Leone, for they were not blind to her
devotion to the wounded mau.
Still they could not but admire the
courteons'mariner of their stranger guest,
when, after six weeks, lie sufficiently re
covered to join them in the . a lor in 1 at
dinner.
That he had been reared a gentleman
was evident, and that he had traveled and
seen something of the world was also evi
dent, as was also that Mr. and Mrs. Light
foot had never seen a handsomer man,
they were ready to admit; but that Leone,
the hello, the heiress, the most lovely
woman of the day, should marry an un
known and poor Englishman—hah ! the
idea even. Was ridiculous.
When the trunk of Clarence Ainslie ar
rived—for lie had sent for it as soon as hi 1
was able to speak Mrs. Liglitfoot, paced
around it for half an hour in the vam en
deavor to find something plebiun about it;
but the trunk was a good cue, English
make, and bore on it simply the letters
“C. A,, England.”
With a disappointed look the inquisi
tive little woman ordered it sent to the
sick man’s room, and sought her chamber.
“Arthur, Leone really loves that wound
ed man, and wlmt will become of it all ?”
“It is Leone’s romance, little wife; she
will recover from it. A few tears at part
ing, hard riding for her poor horse, u few
sentimental songs, and all will be over.”
“But, Arthur, suppose it should not
be; suppose he should love her; for you
knew he's poor and she’s rich—what
then ?”
“Well, he cannot have her, that’s all."
And Arthur Liglitfoot went out for u
drive.
At length the hour came for Clarence
Ainslie to depart, for no longer could he
impose upon the kindness of liis host and
hostess, and determined to leave that
evening, lie asked to see Leone alone.
With pale face but quiet manner the
young girl entered the room, and stepping
forward Clarence Ainslie said, feelingly:
“Miss Liglitfoot, no longer can I impose
upon your kindness, and to-night I leave
you. Shall it be forever ?”
No answer came, and the Englishman
continued:
‘ ‘To you I owe my life, and to you I
would dedicate the years that yet remain.
I am unknown to you—a stranger in a
strange land—and you have but my word
for it that I offer you a love that never
was offered to woman before, a hand and
heart that has never sinned intentionally
against a fellow-being. Will you accept
what I have to offer ?”
“I will.”
“You will trust me; take me as I am,
and become my wife ?”
“I will.”
No other word was spoken, but their
hearts were perfectly happy.
Of course, Arthur Liglitfoot and his
wife objected and decidedly refused, but
Leone was determined. It was no romance
with her, arid when she flatly told them
that she would marry Clarence without
their consent, they made a virtue of a
necessity and gave it, consoling themselves
with the thought that, after all, he being
a stranger and a poor man were really
the only faults that they could find in
him.
At the request of the parties most inter
ested it was a quiet wedding, just six
months after the meeting of 'the lovers,
and Dr. Wells and Farmer Jessup’s family
were only invited, and to this day the
1 good old’ lady has not ceased to gossip
QUITMAN, GA., SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1574.
' about the magnificent trousseau the bride
i had, and the quiet happiness that slumo
j in tlie eves of the young couple.
I It had been decided that tlie bridal tour
■ should he to Europe, as Clarence Ainslie
, said that business would call him there
'soon; and Mr. and Mrs. Lightfoot had
been persuaded to accompany them; so
the day after the wedding the steamer
Imre a very happy quartotte from our
shores.
Arriving safely in England, a few days
were passed quietly ut the hotel, and then,
by an invitation from Clarence Ainslie,
the party started out to visit the spot
where lie passed his boyhood's dnys.
Through meadow Linds and lovely
country the carriage drove, until suddenly
Clarence, who wus driving, wheeled into
a grand gate-way leading to the superb
country seat of some man of wealth.
A few moments more, and tho carriage
drew up before the marble steps of an ele
gant mansion—one of those old rambling
structures found in England- and sping
ing lightly to the ground, the Englishman
said, while a merry light twinkled in his
eyes:
“Leone, T welcome you to your home.
Mr. and Mrs. Lightfoot, Lord Clarence
Ainslie liegs that yon will accept the
hospitality of Ainslie Castle.”
Tears tilled the beautiful eyes of Leone.
Arthur Lightfoot’s.cheeks colored, hut he
was silent, while, after a second’s hesita
tion, his wife exclaimed:
“Clarence Ainslie, you are a cheat,
Why, I thought you were a Western
farmer—
“ That was all the land I owned in
America. I purchased it and built a
shooting-box thereon, because 1 was fond
of your Western sport, and in America I
was simply Mr. Ainslie; but hero I am
Lord Clarence of Ainslio Castle. Am I
forgiven ?”
Render, w’e all have too much human
nature now a days to for a moment suppose
the deception practised was not pardoned
by one and all; in fact, Mrs. Lightfoot
says she likes to be deceived, and in this
ease Arthur echoes the opinion of his wife.
THE MAD MINER.
BY JOS. E. 11 ADO EH, JB.
|
In tin? year ’59 I found myself, after
two years of leisurely rambling through
the New Dorado, fur down in Mexico, in
the province of Guanajuato, While tar ry
ing for a while at tlie city of the same
name—a not very romantic pile of adobes i
—I heard so niueh talk of the silver mines, j
and especially of Los Rayas, that 1 finally i
concluded to pay the mine a visit, if only 1
for the nonce.
This mine is second in size and wealth |
only to that of Valcnciana, in the State of j
Guanajuato. Its hi-tory presents no new !
feature in the mining system of Mexico, a
hrit f explanation of which is necessary to
a right understanding of tlie operations of
th-- mining code.
Over the fertile valleys in the vicinity of
Guanajuato the Cordillera rears its metal
liferous crest, whose sides are veined with
lodes of silver and gold, and which de
livers to the barreta of the miner the
j immense treasures of tho vita mndro, or
' mother vein, perhaps the richest, lode of
; silver in all the world. The striking con
: trust that is visible between tho laborer
! and the miner is nowhere so apparent as
jin this portion of the bajio, or bottom of
1 the valley. Humble and submissive, the
Indian husbandman is at every one’s
! mercy; the miner, haughty and independ
j cut. takes a higher rank, aud this claim is
j j notified by the importance of the duty
; which he performs. Prosperity, gene
j rally speaking, is not long in coming to
! him. The slopes of the hills, the ravines,
| and even the summits of the mountains,
! swarm with a dense population, among
| whom the lucky finders of anew lode
(scatter tlieir hard earned money with a
i thoughtless liberality, and squander ill
one day tlie earnings of six months.
From the French miner, Laberde, who
discovered the mother vein and lavished
thousands upon cathedrals, tlie history of
this hold workman has been the same.
Fortune is the only God he worships. He
goes to his dangerous occupation as if
specially sent there by Divine Providence,
and his proud thought is, by the biw* of
the country, highly favored, the privilege
according the title of nobility to the worker
in tlie mines. Even at this day he cannot
be dispossessed of his mine by a creditor,
if lie can still afford to work it. Borne
j times, after tolling for a month, earning
! barely enough to exist upon, in a week, or
! even a day, ho recompenses himself for
! this long privation. The miner then
| thanks Dame Fortuno, and scatters his
■ gold with a lavish hand. When he strikes
a bonanza, as a very rich portion of the
1 mine is called, and works in partylo, or on
shares, what he receives is often a fortune.
Besides the grand shaft (t.rio general)
Los Rayas has two others of less magni
tude, one of which reaches a depth of
nearly eight hundred feet. The trio
general, remarkable for tht; diameter of
its shaft.—thirty-four feet—and for its
frightful depth of nearly twelve hundred
feet, communicates with three principal
galleries, one above the other.. These
shafts and galleries, together with their
accessories, form the most complete set of
gigantic workings that are to be found in
the country. Of its cost and gloomy
grandeur I do not mean to speak; better
pens have described them; nor of the
workings continually going on in their
depths, save such as may be necessary to
explain the adventure I started to relate.
It was about midday when I arrived at
the opening by which visitors obtain ad
mittance to the mine, and here I was fur
nished with a guide, a tall, lithe, yet
snowy-haired man, who led the way with
a torch. We descended many series of
steps, each connecting like a terrace, wind
ing and turning, every minute changing
our temperature und direction. Then we
began to percieve, in the distance, some
slowly moving lights that east huge, gro
tesque shadows upon the walls. A few
minutes later we stood in a square apart
ment, fashioned like a clmpel. In the
centre stood an alter, lighted by wax ta
pers, ranged before the figure of a saint.
Before this knelt a miner,returning thanks
for liis bonanza. In the distance were
miners passing to and fro, a candle stuck
in the hand encircling their grimy fore
heads. reminding one of Hie fabled gnomes
guarding the bidden treasures of tlieir mas
ters. ,
I was soon satisfied with sight-seeing,
for the gallery was cold and damp, and
signified to my guide my desire to ascend
the trio general instead of wearily climb
ing the steps. Even then I remember
feeling’ a little surprised at his eager as-
J sent, when he said that he would aeeom
j puny me, adding that no visitor wus al
| lowed to ascend alone.
We had just been Watching them send up
water in huge ox-skin hags, the ascent and
! return occupying a quarter of an hour,
i The bng was drawn ill the gallery for some
distance and filled. Then the signal was
I given and the huge windlass began to
turn. Upon a narrow space between the
I two pits, in the midst of almost utter
darkness, a stout peon held on to a double
rope passed around thelmgo cable holding
the two ends in his bauds. Then, as he
was pulled with frightful rapidity to tho
very edge of the gulf, he suddenly let go
one end of tlie rope, thus deadening the
force with which the loaded hag struck
the sharp rocks beyond, else the skin
would have been punctured. Yet had he
made a single false step or clung to the
rope a siuglo second too long ho would
Lave been precipitated down an almost
unfat hornless abyss. Yet his wages
amounted to one dollar of our money per
diem.
The signal was given that a visitor
wished to ascend, and 1 hastily donned
the thick woolen sack and trowsers handed
me as the water shot forth in fine spray
at several points ahead. My guide bade
me clasp the cable, and then secured a
plaited rope of nloe hark around both it
and my body, forming a sort of loop for
me to sit in, firmly tying the ends to the
cable. In a similar manner he secured
himself, just above my head. Then with
a stout, leather-covered stick to case the
blows as the cable swayed back and forth, j
the signal was given, and we swung out
over the edge, rapidly whirling around un
til my brain reeled, a million stars seemed
floating across my vision. But tLeu 1 re
covered sufficiently to recognize my guide,
his naked, bronzed body just above me.
We ascended steadily, slowly, the shaft
seeming to he divideiiiuto three distinct
zones. At my feet a thick darkness
dimmed the horrors of that gulf which no
eye could fathom, and yet the very vague-1
ness of the danger rendered it tenfold
more trying, with the tepid vapor mount-1
ing around us. In our immediate vicinity
the torches feebly dispelled the gloom. |
In the upper region a dense column of
thick mist pressed around the circle of I
light, shutting ono completely from the :
light of day.
Suddenly the . rope ceased to ascend. 1 ;
asked the reason of this.
“Beeause I have given the signal that]
you wisli to inspect the walls,” replied the
miner, and I fancied that his voice was
changed, “and I wish to show you some
thing see !” and lie lighted a bunch of j
tow and dropped it,. “That is your life —
see! ’tis gone! Just so will your spirit
vanish --for the Blessed Virgin has re
voided to me that you must he sacrificed.”
I laughed, but ’twos vacantly, for, though
T believed the miner was trying to frighten
me, there was something wild and un
natural in his tones. But the next mo
ment, with another shrill laugh, he pro
duced a long knife, anil bending, drew
it sharply across the cable, below his sent,
above my head. For a moment I felt as
though fainting. I could uit move a
muscle, I seemed bound by a spell
stronger than my own will.
Another sweep of the knife, a id T saw
that one of tlie huge strands was severed.
Trembling jvitli horror, 1 drew up my feet
and tried to rest them upon the ■oop in
which I lmd sat. .lust as I succeeded, tho
second strand parted beneath the huge
blade. Then, shrieking aloud, 1 sprang
madly upward, clutching both ankles of
my intended murderer.
It was a movement totally unexpected
by the miner, and the sudden shock nearly
tore him from liis perch. He dropped
both knife and torch, clutching convul
sively at the cable above to steady himself.
But he had done ljis work, the cable had
parted, and nothing held me from a hor
rible death but my clutch upon his feet,
und knowing this, I compressed my
fingers with the grip of a vice.
The vibration given the cable forced it
to and fro, until cur forms were nearly
dashed against the jagged rocks, to touch
which would be certain death, for the
ascent once more was resumed. The
miner thought to shake me loose, but in
| vain. I knew that if one hand, a finger
: even, should slip, a horrible death was
i inevitable that I would shoot down—
j down through flit; vast tunnel, and if not
I suffocated, ho dashed to pieces upon the
rocks below.
The miner shrieked wildly in liis terror,
imploring me to loose my hold—that the
plaited strap of hark by which alone we
were separated from death was slipping,
slowly slipping down the smooth, hard
cable.
It would bear the weight of one—-of two
it could not. I fully realized my danger,
j hut wliat could Ido to avoid it ? If the
I miner would only allow it, I could climb
up liis body and thus gain the rope abovo.
j But I knew that, were I to loosen one
! hand to grip higher, the liberated foot
j would quickly dash my hand from the
| other ankle. There was nothing for it but
to wait—wait and pray that the outer
j world might bo gained ere tlie slipnoose
dropped over the end of the severe cable.
| I fixed my gaze despairingly upon the
j end of the cable. The gloom was dense,
j yet it stood clear os a wax-light to my
preternatnrally acute vision. Slowly, but
all too rapidly, it crawls away, until to my
j strained eyes it seems like a drop of molten
gold, millions of miles above me.
Now it has vanished. The body of the
miner conceals it from me. Each moment
that passes, it seems that I hear tlie sud
den burr-r-r of the noose slipping over the
end. Ah ! the horror of those few min
utes—so short in time, so long, countlessly
long, in experience ! This hanging sus-
I pended by a frail cord, between life and
death, slowly nearing tho one while yet
j the oilier o.eeps niglier.
I closed my eyes with a shudder. Such
i a death ! Then the mad miner uttered a
I wild, piercing cry—not ono of despair, but
jof hope. The mists above have vanished,
and the blue sky is visible. Ah blessed
sight !
ShrieK after shriek wo send up for help,
] and eager, half-frightened faces peer down
i toward us. Then the crocking of whips
| and loud shoots; the cable glides more
switly up the two. But O !
i not three inches hold the strap.
| With a hoarse .cry I draw my
j self up by the ankles, and then, with a
i desperate spring, unloose the ankles. To
fail is death—to succeed is safety and life,
j I clutched the miner round the waist;
I then by the inch I climbed up liis slippery
1 body despite liis efforts to shove me off,
| swiftly, surely as a monkey. I grasped
; the cable with both hands, resting my feet
upon his shoulders, while ho yelled and
‘ tried to bite ms like a madman. And
then the bark-rope parted 1 It slipped
from the cable, falling upon the miner’s
shoulder, who grasped the cable end with
a death-dutch. A hastily-formed noose
was flung from the mouth of the shaft,
missing me and striking upon tho minor’s
fa ;e.
Crazed with terror lie released one hand
to grasp it, thus sealing his death-warrant.
Ho missed the rope. The hard cable
slipped through his benumbed lingers,
and as liis body swiftly descended the
ghastly shaft, one wild, pieicing shriek ,
was all; it was his last breath of life 1
Nearly unconscious, hut still clinging to
the cable I was drawn to the mouth mid j
secured. Then I swooned away. For
dnys after I knew nothing; hut I finally j
recovered, and learned the story of the
mud miner.
A year previously, in a fit of delirium |
tremens, he had thrown his only son down j
the iro general, and ever since ho had
been regarded as mad, though in a sub-1
dued, quiet w ay. One of the minora after
wards told me that the mad miner had I
dreamed that the Virgin appeared to him, I
saying that liis crime would he forgiven if j
he sacrificed another life in the same man- ]
ner. And from this dream arose liis ]
attempts to destroy me.
But from that day 1 have never again
entered a mine of any sort.
Old Virginia Courtesy.
We once heard of an old Virginia gen
tleman who had so much State pride, and,
at the same time, so much courtesy that
ho made it a rule never to ask a stranger
where he was horn for fear that he would
he put to the mortification of acknowl
edging that lie was not born in Virginia.
Hut one of the best anecdotes of old Vir
ginia courtesy that we have heard recently
is by John Kollin, who w as, at one time,
a clown in John Robinson’s show. Rollin
was celebrated for his ready wit and quick
repartee, and in answer to a question
whether he was ever at a loss, when in the
ring,to reply to any remark made by a spec
tor, said: "Never but once, and that was
when our company was exhibiting at
Wurrenton, in Farquier county. It was
part of the role to play the drunken man.
I came into the ring as usual, in full clown
costume, with a bottle of whisky in my
hand, and, while acting the various char
acters of intoxication, I noticed an old
fellow standing near the rope which in
closed the ring, occasionally winking and
nodding at me, as much as to sav, "if con
venient, please pass that bottle around
this way.’ His greasy black clotii suit,
high crown hat sligntly mushed in, gold
headed cane and red nose told who he was.
He lmd evidently seen better days, hilt
was a fine illustration of a broken
down Virginia gentleman, whose de
cline could he traced to an o’er
fondness of looking upon the wine
when it is red. Passing around the ring.
I stopped immediately in front of the old
fellow, mid extending the bottle usked
him to drink. With one hand ho took the
big cud of tobacco from his mouth, throw
\ ing it on the ground, liis looks exhibiting
liis desire for a strong pull at the bottle,
while his smiling countenance plainly told
| the intense satisfaction lie enjoyed in an-
I ticipation of so soon satisfying liis appetite
j when, just as lie readied to take the bottle
I suddenly jerked it hack, und, placing my
' thumb to my m, wiggled my fingers at
; him. The old fellow threw himself hark
lon liis dignity with an air of offended
I pride, straightened himself up, and in a
! tone of anger, mingled with mortification
J said: ‘Sir, as an old Virginia gentleman, I
| only proposed taking a drink with you
| through courtesy, and not that I wanted
| your whisky, you infernal spotted-coated
s'll of a gun.’ I was so taken back by
j by the old Virginian’s language anil man
ner, and the yells of laughter from the
i spectators which followed, that I didn't do
! any more good that day. After making
two or three vain efforts to proceed with
my part of the performance I withdrew,
completely vanquished by “old Virginia
courtesy. ”
Opening of Petbaboii’s Tomb.— A sin
gular ceremony took place at Arqua, in
North Italy, where Petrarch lies buried.
On the 7tli of September the tomb of the
poet was opened in the presence of tlie
municipal officers of the town and a few
invited spectators. It appears that the
remains had been enclosed in ail imper
fectly-made coffin, and the bones thus ex
posed to the effects of the atmosphere were
discolored aud moist. Tlie skull, of me
dium size, was entire, the development
of the forehead being yet perceptible,
j Several of the teeth were well preserved,
and the hones of tlie body were but little
decayed. From the size of the skeleton
lit was easy to infer that Petrarch must
! have been u large, robust man. Permis
sion to examine those honored remains
; had been given by the authorities to oer
. tain students of anthropology, and it wus
; to aid in their researches that the coffin
was opened. These gentlemen took ac
tual measurements of tlie remains, which
* were then carefully placed in anew coffin.
The brief exposure to the air, however,
had its effect, and the skull partially fell
in, while some of the bones were resolved
into dust before the eyes of tlie spectators
of this curious exhibition of mortality.
The most magnificent-looking woman
in Washington is Madame Bertiuatti. She'
was Madame Bass,of Mississippi, and mar
ried, the Italian Minister just at the close |
of the war. Her husband is now Minister
at the Hague, and she is passing tlie win
ter in Washington, prosecuting a large |
cotton claim.
A Dubuque hummer went into a prayer- i
meet!rig,professed great contrition for past i
misdeeds, and requested the prayers of the |
assemblage and a pair of boots. The for
mer tendered him, but there being no dis
position to bestow the latter, ho cursed
the horrified brothers and sisters in a most
vigorous manner aud took his departure.
Boston Globe: “A Detroit Justice of the
Peace recently told a girl who appeared
beforo him that she had an artless way j
about her that reminded him of a hen j
balanced on the top of a picket fence, but
he sentenced her to ‘ninety days,’ never- ■
theless.”
Chicago boasts of having the heaviest,
cattle dealers in the world. One man
bought 197,4117 head last year, aud paid I
therefore $13,130,071 14.
The public debt of the United States is
only about sixty thousand times greater
than it was in 1836, less than forty years
• go.
GRANGE SECRETS REVEALED.
Xlow Initiations are Conducted.
[From tlie Randolph Enterprise.]
On being brought into the ante room of
the lodge (Greengrocer Temple, No. 101),
! I was told that 1. had been ballottod for
j atul accepted. My informant, who was
j securely masked by what 1 afterwards
[ learned was a large burdock leaf, perfora
, ted with holes for the eyes, told mo that if
I valued my life it would lie liect asary for
|me to strip. As I did consider that of
j considerable worth to me, and as ho itali
cised his wishes by carelessly playing with
a seven shooter, I withdrew from my
| garments with eagerness. My masked
friend then furnished me with the regalia
of th ■ first degree—called “The Festive
Floughboy"— which consisted of merely
I one large cabbage leaf attached to a waist,-
I hand of potatoe vines. In this airy
t .me I was conducted to the door, where
my companion gave three distinct raps.
(1 was securely blindfolded by binding
a slice of rutabega over each eye.) A
sepulchral voice from within asked: “Who
comes ?”
Mv guide answered: “A youthful agri
culturalist who desil’ses to heeome u gran
ger.”
Sepulchral Voice—Have you looked him
carefully over?
Guide—l have, noble gate-keeper.
8, V.—Do you find any ngrcultural
marks about liis person ?
Guide—l do.
8. V. What are they ?
Guide—The candidate lias carroty liair,
reddish whiskers, and a turnup nose.
8, V.— Tis well. Why do you desire to
become a granger ?
Guide (answering for candidate) —That
I may be thereby the better enabled to
harrow up the feelings of the rascally poli
ticians.
8. V.—You w ill bring in the candidate.
My worthy stripling, as you cannot see, 1
will cause you to feel that you are received
at the door on the three points of a pitch
fork, piercing the region of the stomach,
which is to teach you the three great vir
tues—faith, hope and charity. Faith in
yourself, hope for cheaper farm machinery,
aud charity for the lightning-rod peddler.
You will now be harnessed and in repre
sentation of tlie horse, Pegasus, will be
tested as to endurance and wind.
The candidate is here attached to a
small imitation plow, by means of hempen
harness, A dried pumpkin vine is pul
in liis mouth for a bit aud bridle—he is
made to get down upon all fours, the
guide seizes the bridle, and urged on by
a Granger armed with a Canada thistle,
which lie vigorously applies at the termi
nus of the spine, the candidate isgalloped
three times around the room. While
making the circuit the members arise and
sing:
' Get up nail dust von Lully bov—
VIIII wouldn't Li- a (lianacr?
If the thistle’s priek don’t einisu you joy.
To feeling you must be estranged, ah!
After Ibis violent exercise he is rubbed
dry with corn-cobs, beeswaxed where
thistled, and brought standing up before
the great chief—the most worshipful
pumpkin head.
M. W. P. H. —Why do you desire to bo
a granger ?
Candidate (answering for himself)—
That I may learn to extinguish sewitffe
machine agents.
M. W. I’ H.—Have your hands been
hardened with toil?
Candidate—Not extensively, but then I
am not running for office.
M. AY. P. II. —’Tis well, for our lodges
contain several who are supposed to be
ready to sacrifice themselves for the good
of their constituents. Do you feel pretty
smart this evening?
Candidate —Yes, where tho bustle goes
on.
M. W. P. H,—(Savagely)—Give, me a
chaw of tobaeker !
Candidate searches himself thoroughly,
but as there is uo place about him to stick
a pocket, tries to explain, bqt the must
worshipful pumpkin-head interrupts him
with:
“Nevermind, my dear young friend—l
am well aware that in your present condi
tion you can no more furnish your friends
with the weed than Adam could becomfor
tablo in a plug liat and tight boots. It is
merely to teach you the great lesson of
economy—doing to others as you’d like to
have them do to you. Y’ou will now be
conducted to tho most eminent squash
producer, who will teach you tho grand
hailing sign of distress. The sign, my
worthy brother, will insure you against
many of tho ills of the agriculturist—
amongst others, against drouths and be
ing bit by the ferocious grasshopper.”
The candidate is now' conducted to the
most eminent squash producer, who thus
says: “My worthy brother, I will now in
vest you with the order of tlie Festive
Ploughboy, which you have well won by
your heroic achievement while harnessed
and may you ever wear it with pleasure to
yourself, and may it boa means of terror
to your enemies.”
(The M. E. 8. P. then prooeeds to in
vest the candidate with the regalia of the
Festive Ploughboy, which consists of a
long tomato necklace.) “The grand
hailing sign of distress is made by gently
closing the left eye, laying the right fore
finger alongside the nose, and violently
wagging the ears. It requires practice,
but the advantages are intense. It also
hak an important signification, which you
will do well to heed. The closing of the
eye signifies that in all your dealings with
mankind you are bound to have an eye
to business. Laying the finger alongside
the no.ss is emblematical of wisdom, and
places you at once among the “knowing
ones.” This is extremely handy in prog
nosticating the weather, and saves the
wear and tear of almanacs. Wagging
tlie ears signifies sublimity of purpose,
arid is thought to bo emblematical of
childhood’s happy hours. It is also sup
posed Viy some profound scholars to have
a distinct reference to apple dumplings,
but this fact is somewhat obscured by the
dust of ages. In token that you are one
of us, you will now be branded. This cere
mony is very impressive, and consists of
two brands. They are both applied ‘while
the iron is hot,’ aud consist of one letter
of the alphabet each. The first is a large
letter 8, on which you will please sit
while tlie other letter is applied to the
stomach. The letter 8, my worthy chick
en, signifies scooped, aud refers to rail
road monopolies. It is also supposed to
indicate tho sent of learning—the spot
where the old-time teacher hunted for
brains with the fertile. The second is C,
and is applied, as I said before, to tho
■tointteh. It has a double meaning. First,
the application Is an. ngrieitltmul Otic
"corn crib,” and has reference to tin
stomach ust being the gH'Ht receptacle fo.
Bourlxm whisky. But, brother, do no
be diligent in finding a home market foi
your coni. Tho second application o;
t.lm letter 0, my distruted infant, is got
hold of as follows! When one granger de*
sires to ascertain “for sitre" if there Is an
other of tho order in the room, he ruiset
himself gently liy the slack of hif—-of hie
unmentionables—scratches his off thigh
with his near hoof, and remarks in a voice
of thunder: “Are there any grangers
about y” The answer is • Moese wax.”
The] inquirer then says, “let Us see”
(letter O), and the other party must im
mediately pull out his stomach and dis
close the brand,
NO. 41.
These brands are applied in such a man
ner that lam enabled to assure you that
they will wash.
I was hero interrupted, Mr. Editor, tsy r
a volley fired into the open window, evi
dently intended for me. Fortunately I es
caped without a scratch, Mid which is of
more consequence, succeeded in fetching
off my precious manuscript. This is ul out
all there is in the ceremony of any impor
tance. I must leave the country ,ut
once—armed men are at my heels—they
know that T am writing to expose them.
You may hear from tfle again by mail, if I
should deem it best to expose the other
degrees—until theb—adieu.
From your snored friend,
11. Four!.
Notice.—This ceremony of initiation
is used during the absence of the lady
members. Tlieir initiatory ceremonies
are entirely different, being much simpli
fied, as they should be.
B USINESS CA RDS.
JAS. IIIIUNTEK
ATT Olt KEY AT LA W ,
QIIITMAN,
BROOKS COVE TV, GEORGIA.
Will practice ip tlie Counties of the Southern
Circuit. Echols and Clinch of the Brunswick rind
Mitchell of the Albany. 4*roffice at the Court'
Houno.-s* juiieSS-ff
J. S. N. SNO \Y,
DENTIST,
Quitman, ..... Georgia,
Office Up Stairs, Finch’s Corner.
uiig23-4m
W. li. BENNETT. 8. T. KINGSUERItY
BENNETT & KINGSBERRY,
Attorneys at Law
Q UITMA X,
llroolis County, - Georgia.
EDWARD R. HARDEN,
.Yll oj*n e y at Law,
(JUIT M A N ,
BROOKS COUNTY, - - GEORGIA.
Late an Asßoeiate Justice Supreme Court U.
S. for Utah ami Nebranka Territories; now
County Court, Brooks County, Ga.
muv‘24-K!nio '
DR. E. A. JELKS,
PRACTISING PHYSICIAN,
CQiiitrna n, Ga.
OFFICE—Brick building adjoining the store ot
Messrs. Briggs, Jelks fc Cos., Her even street.
nun Mpf
CURRIER; SHERWOOD & CO.,
WHOLESALE DEALERS IN
BOOTS AND SHOES
Thin is ono of the Oldest and Largest
Hoot and Shoe Jobbing Houses
IN THE CITY.
AU their Supplies are obtainedfrom
THE VERY BEET MANUFACTORIES,
And Sold to Customers on the
MOST 4 CCOMMODA TING TERMS.
476 & 478 Broome Street, New York.
A. IVY. WATKINS, Traveling Agent.
Jv2!Mf
GREECE & NEWSOM,
DEALERS IN
r
I) E Y GOO D.S,
GROCERIES,
Liquors, Flour, Bucon, etc.
QUITMAN, GA.
VjUHG-tf