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GALLAHERS INDEPENDENT,
PUBLISHED EVEIIV SATURDAY AX
QUITMAN, A,
J. C. GALLAHER,
'TERMS OV BVBSCRIPTIO* I
S VWO DOLLARS per Annum in Advance.
THE UNKNOWN DEATH.
A Ditffllvf’i Story,
Murdof hail been done in Philadelphia
—or, ut lc*t, so it wan supposed—and tliu
impure w,tb full of it Tlie journals were
divided in opinion about tho matter, some
maintaining that it was a ease of simple
suicide, others inclining to the belief tliat
"there had been foul play, and still others
arguing in favor of death from natural
though uuknowu causes. Indeed, it
Would apimar, at first sight, ns if the latter
were tho true supposition, and the majori
ty of superficial renders and thinkers who
talked over the allair at homo or in the
streets the next day, seemed to have very
little trouble in arriving at a like conclu
sion.
All that was known was this: An esteem
ed citizen—a man of wealth and high
standing—had retired to rest tho night
before apparently in sound health and
good spirits, and at two otolock the follow
ing morning had been found dead in bed,
without one visible mark of violence upon
his person. His son, who had returned
hoine from a pleasure party at that hour,
had entered his father's chamber to de
jHisit the front door key there, and had
made the horrible discovery. This young
man, a steady, reliable and devout church
member and .Sabbath school teacher, had
then aroused the house, and communicat
ed the ill tidings to tho terror-stricken
family.
At the coroner’s inquest I was present,
and there the son, after repeating what has
Insen said above, called the attention of the
jury to the following additional and impor
tant facts: that on entering the chamber
be bad found everything undisturbed and
us usual, that tho bod clothes even were
not rumpled, aud that the position of the
deceased as he lay, was so natural and ea
sy that it was not until be had noticed the
abseuee of the deep and regular breathing
of the sleeper that he suspected, for au in
stant, that anything was wrong.
I was not oo the jury, but was there at
the request of the family, in my ollioial ca
pacity of murder detective, aud it is need
loss to say that I subjected the body and
its surroundings to tho closest scrutity; I
could discover nothing, however, that ap
peared in the least suspicious or to war
rant a supposition of foul play. The post
mortem examination failed equally to sat
isfy, aud developed uo indications of poi
son in the system; but one thing it did de
velop, and that was, that up to the time
of death the internal organs of the de
ceased had all been in a state of healthy
and vigorous action.
For once in my life I was at fault, aud
must confess that I did not know how to
proceed; but still, for all the absence of
proof, and tlie seeming regularity of
things, I felt in me a deep mistrust that
murder had been done in the premises and
by no nuskillful hand,
Whilst 1 was deliberating how to net, the
non ourao over, aud began a conversation.
He talked on the all-absorbing topic of the
moment, and was as nervous, restless aud
ugritutod as man could bo. We were walk
tug rapidly up and down the chamber
where lay the corpse, still fresh from the
searching hands of the coroner’s physi
cian, aud as we paused now and then to
gaze in its pale, inanimate face, I remark
ed that my companion shook with a slight
and well-defined tremor. I made a meu
tal note of tiiis, but at the same time did
not attack much inqiortulicn to it, as I con
sidered it but the natural effect of the
trying|and painful sceuos through which
the son so recently passed, and whose re
collection was refreshed by these momen
tary views of the dead. I did not, of
course, for one moment imagine that tlie
man at my elbow was a patricide, but a
murder detective, from habit, is always on
the alert, and as 1 had no clue whatever to
follow in this matter, I was merely search
ing for one everywhere -that was all.
We continued our walk about the room.
‘ ‘This affair jmsscs my comprehension, ”
said L
“And mine also,” said the son.
I was about taking my leave when a
small piece of red.rag on tho floor, just
under the edge of the I *sd, attracted my
attention, sod I stoojfcd and (licked it up.
The sou observed my motions, and said:
“I wonder how that got there ? I have
the rest of that article in my^lrawer—it be
longs to *fie. ” e
4 ‘Do von want the piece ?” I asked.
“Not at all,” he replied; but if you
would like to have the remainder, I will
got it for you. ”
He left me without waiting for say re
ply, and quiekly returned with the rest of
the handkerchief. He handed it to me
and said as he did so:
“I am at a loss to conjecture who could
have torn that for I thought
it was safe in my apadflrent when I went
out early in the evening.”
I put the piece he gave me with the
other I already had, my leave.
Once at home and in wee solitude of my
chamber, I sat down at my table and, with
my face buried in both hands, fell
to thinking and reasoning. I thought of
the scene I hod just left, and could not
doubt that the verdict of the coroner’s ju
ry would be “death from causes un
known. ” I thought of the son and of his
torn handkerchief, and I spread out the
latter before me on the table, and fitted it
to the portion I had found wet and limn
under the bed of the deceased. Then I*
took the wet piece in my fingers and felt
and looked at it. It did not seem to have
been steeped in water, and to the touch it
was just in the slightest way sticky. I
further remarked that it had a very faint
white tinge in spots, as if some kind of
foam had recently been upon it. Just at
that instant I caught sight of a paragraph
in a daily paper lying in front of me, and
mechanically read it.
The paragraph was as follows:
“A ghastly scientific discovery is report
ed from Turin, where Professor Casturini,
the celebrated ocnlist, has found a way of
killing animals by forcing the air into
their eyes a few seconds, and almost with
ont causing pain. Experiments were re
cently made at the Royal Vetrinary school,
and it is said that they have fully proved
the truth of the Professor’s invention. —•
Within the space of a few minutes four ■
rabbits, three dogs and a goat were killed j
in this manner. The most remarkable
fact is that the operation leaves absolutely
no outward trace. ”
I started up instantly after having read
this, and began rapidly to walk the room.
I was flushed and agitated. Perhaps I had
the key to the mystery I was searching to
solve.
“Gracious!” I thought, “if this para
graph be true, might not the method of
destruction be applied as fatally to man as
to the inferior animals?”
I hurriedly returned to the house of
iSalUiljcr’s 3mVprmVnt.
VOL. 11.
| death and rang the bell.
The son answered the summons in por
son.
He looked not a little surprised at my
sudden return.
“What is tho matter ?” he demanded.
“Nothing,” said I—l was quite cool aud
collected by this time—“l merely wished
to make .-mother oxaminatiou of tho cham
ber of tlie deceased."
He led me to it at onee.
I again scrutinized the body, this time
paying more attention to the face and head
of the dead man.
There whs absolutely nothing to be seen
there that 1 hud not seen before. I then
pressed open the month slightly with my
fingers, and, as I did so, felt, or fancied I
j felt, tlie same slight stickuess I had dntect
ied on the limp piece of handkerchief. I
looked into the mouth, and nearly trem
bled for joy to oeo there the oleany-defin
ed white tinge of dried foam.
For a moment I could hardly contain
myself, slid my heart boat so loudly that I
; was almost afraid my companion would
! hear it and grow alarmed.
However, I did control myself, and as
1 soon as 1 could trust my voice, said:
"Is there uo way by which this house
I might be entered except by the first sto-
I ry ?”
“Oh, yes,” returned the son, as com
! (Kwedly us ever, “there is a door in my
| apartment opening ou an old, unused por
| ttoo, but that has been locked and double
bolted all winter.”
This observation wus just what I want
ed, for it (Knitted out to mo a way to ob-
I tain a view of this man's private room, and
that too, without exciting tho least suspi
cion.
“Will you let me see that door?” I
asked.
"With the greatest of pleasure,” said he;
“I have already examined it myself, and
found it as secure as of old— but perhaps
your more experienced eye muy detect
somosigu there that has escaped me."
I followed him, aud without the slight
est hesitation he led me to his Tied-cham
ber.
There was the door fastened as he Und
said, and 1 made a show of looking at it—
but that was not what fascinated me and
riveted my attention at once.
The walls were full of shelves, and the
shelves were crowded with philosophical
instruments.
1 left the portico door finally, and os I
was going, carelessly remarked:
“You scorn to take au interest in sci
ence.”
“Why, yes,” said he, smiling, “I do,
aud I flatter myself that few men here w
elsewhere have a larger or better collection
of apparatus t.lian I have."
I had touched him on his particular
vanity, and knew now that I might search
unmolested, and not only Unit, but with
his own proper aid, for the instrument of
death.
1 turned back as I spoke and picked up
a pamphlet from the study-table in the
centre of the room.
The book was written in tho Italian lan
guage.
I have some slight knowledge of the
tongue of modern opera, aud I read on
the title page that the work wus one on the
various •modes of the destruction of ani
mal life, and that it. was by Casturini.
And Casturini was tho name of the Pro
fessor spoken of iu the newspaper para
graph.
I felt that I was working on the right
track.
I laid down tho volume and gradually
tnrueil the conversation to the subject of
pneumatics, iu the course of which T asked
if my companion hail Casturiui’s air
pump. He told me uo, but that ho hud
his air-syringe.
I asked to look at it.
For the first time the son turned on me
a hurried glance of alarm.
But 1 managed to appear ns if I suspect
ed nothing—as if nothing morS dangerous
than love of science actuated mo in my in
vestigations.
And my companion was satisfied, for ho
at once produced the air-syi^Jj).
It wus'a strange it
mm like au ordinary ns is
daily employed in larger,
jierliaps twioe us largo as any of the kind
I hail ever seen. It was mounted on a
stood of polished walnut, liko an electrio
machine, and, indeed, looked liko one—
that is, a cyndrical one. It was furnished
with a crank, by which it was worked, and
had two large, funnel shaped mouth-piee
es. These latter were not stationary, but
could be moved—brought nearer together
or more widely separated, as circumstances
required.
This, then, was the instrument of death,
audit performed its dread work silently
and surely, and left no external trace.
I touched it with a feeling akin to hor
ror and asked:
“Has this no other use than to deprive
animals of life ?”
“None," was tho smiling reponse.
“Can you operate it ?”
“Better than any I ever met.”
I was standing facing this man as he
made this boast.
I laid my hand on his shoulder.
He started and seemed not to know
what to make of my conduct.
“.Your crime is discovered sir !’’ said I
s tern 1x... “You are a patricide, and I or
rest'jrou for the murder of the man who
flies in the other chamber 1” 0
His face turned fairly purple with rage
and fear, and then grew inky black.
Ho sat down in the chair without a
word.
His courage, and above all things, his
incomparable audacity, had altogether
abandoned him at this terrible crisis.
I spoke to him again and again several
times, but could get no answer.
Then I rang the bell and sent for the
coroner’s physician.
Ho came, looked at the man, still sitting
on the chair, spedfililess and black in the
face, and shook his head.
“This man has lost his reason," were
his fearful words. “What has caused it?"
I told him, and showed him' Casturini’s
air-syringe. I
We took onr prisoner intovnistody and
conveyed him, in a close carriage, to thd
police station.
The .ride somewhat restored him, but he
was still altogether overwhelmed and
crushed.
We left him in the cell and went our va
rious ways.
In the morning I was the first to call to
see him.
The officer iu charge told me he had
been up the greater part of the night, and
was then sleeping.
I waited half an hour, and then, in com
pany with the doctor, who had by thut
time arrived, went to the cell.
The iuuu wus there eu the bed, lying in
QUITMAN, UA„ SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER IS), 1874.
his shirt aud pantaloons, with hiu fnce
downward and motionless.
The doctor touched him—ho was cold
aud stiff. The patricide was dead.
By his side lay a paper, crushed aud
rumpled, as if in his last agonies ho had
endeavored to tear it up.
1 took it anil road, written in lead pencil,
the tollowing:
The shrewdness of Uio detective has been
too much for me. It was night when I
did it, aud I fancied the means put it be
yond tlie reach of discovery. I was mis
taken, and 1 pay tho penalty of that mis
take freely now. That doctor is a shrewd
practitioner. A man does not counterfeit
madness with him with impenuity. Had
he been us wise iu his way as tho detective
was in his, the law would not have been
cheated of its prey. I bad my reasons for
the deed,‘fully as potent as those I have
for this. ” Here followed the signature of
the suicide, traced in a full, bold hand.
I turned to tho physician and the officer
who were with me, and had read tho let
ter over my shoulder.
I must confess that I think my face
showed triumph—triumph at having suc
ceeded in trucking aud taking a criminal
so adroit aud calculating—anil possibly I
lmd some good ground for being elated.
I did not ask the family of the murder
ed man for a reward, but I carried away
the air-syringe, and I have it to this day.
I have made repeated experiments with it
since it came in my possession, and each
succeeding one but convinces me the more
of its deadly aud dangerous cUuracter.
There is another thing 1 must say before
I close, and that is this: I have solved the
mystery of that limp pioco of handker
chief I found on the day I undertook the
investigation of the affair I have just been
speaking of it; it was employed by the
murderer to repress and keep back the
slight foam that always flies from the
mouth of tho subject whenever submitted
to the action of the syringe.
1 look back upon this adventure now ns
one of the most important events in my
career, and I take pride in telling it over
and over again. It shows what science is
connected with tho detection of crime,
and it also shows from what a slight link a
massive chain of conclusive evidence may
be forged. I say I look back to it with
pride, iuhl I can only liopo that an intel
ligent public will hear auil npprovo my
recital—the story of the Unknown Death.
From the Grave.
A writer, sketching several cases where
people have been buried alive, relates the
following; “Excellent material for a sen
sation story is furnished by the following
well-established facts: “Victorine Lnfour
ciulo, young, beautiful and accomplished,
had a groat number of ndmirers. Among
tlieiu o a journalist named ,iuies !!{*•
souet, whose chances of being tho suc
cessful suitor seamed to bo the best, when
suddenly Victorine, contrary to all expec
tation, acceptedilie hand of a rich banker
named Renelle. Bossouet was inconsola
ble, aud his honest heart ached all the
more when he learned that tho marriage
of his lady-love was unhappy.
neglected his wife iu every (Kissibly way,
und finally began to midtreat her. Jt his
state of tilings lusted two yearsj/wlien
Victorine (lied—at least, so It was thought.
She was entombed in a vault of the ceme
tery of her native town. Jules Bossouet
assisted at the ceremony. Still true to his
love and well-nigh beside himself with
grief, lie conceived the romantic idea of
the vault and .securing a
d's hair, Fl’lmt night,
tljctiHPrwhcn all was still, ho scaled the
wull df the oeinetery, and, by a circuitous
route approached tho vault. When he
had broken open tho door and entered the
vault, he lighted a candle and proceeded
to open the coffin. At the moment ydieu
lie bent over the supposed corpse, scissors
iu hand, Victorine opened her eyes and
stared him full in the face. He uttered a
cry and sprang back; but, immediately re
covering his self-posession, ho returned to
tho coffiu, covered its occupant’s lips with
kisses, lifted her out, and soon had the sat*
infliction of seeing her in the full posses
sion of all her faculties. When Victorine
was sufficiently recovered they left the
churchyard and went to Bossouet’s resi
dence, whore a physician administered
such remedies as were necessary to effect
the complete recovery of tho unfortunate
woman. This proof of Bossouet’s love
naturally made a deep impression on Vic
toriue. She repented of her past fickle
ness, and resolved to fly with tho roman
tic Jules to America. There they lived
happily together, without, however, ever
being able to fully overcome their longings
to return to their-native land. Finally
their desire became so strong to revisit tho
scenes of their youth that they decided to
brave the dangers attendant on a return,
and embarked at New York for Havre,
where they arrived in July, 1880. Victo
rino iu tlie intermin had naturally chang
ed very greatly, and Jules felt confident
that her formor husband wonld not recog
nize her. In this hope he was disappoint
ed. Renelle had the keen eye of a finan
cier and recognised Victorine at tho first
glance. This strange drama ended with a
suit brought by the banker for the recov
ery of his wife, which was decided against
him on the ground that his claim was out
lawed.”
[From the Chicago Tribune.]
A DIPLOMATIC SECRET.
How Iloikla Aided the JVoith to Subdue
the South.
♦
Few poople know how deeply indebted
tho United States is to Russia for kindly
services during the war. It has often been
vaguely whispered that Russian influence
presented the armed interference of
France, and perhaps England, in behalf
of the South. We.are enabled to lay be
fore our readers trustworthy information,
never before published, in support of the
truth of this rumor.
When Governor Curtin, on the eye of
his return to this country, went, in liis ca
pacity as minister to Russia, to take for
mal leave of the emperor, the latter clos
ed the conversation substantially in theßO
words: “I wish, sir, that you would, upon
your return, express my hearty thanks to
tho American peoplo for the reception
they have given my son, the grand duke
Alexia” This, it will lie remembered, was
shortly after General Grant had refused to
return Alexis’ cull, and tho hail left
Washington in disgust. Governor Curtin
noticed tho emperor’s failure to send
thanks to the government as well as to the
people. He supposed, however, that it
was a slip of the tongue, until the empress
bade him farewell, in almost precisely the
same words. “I shall bo happy,” oald he,
“to carry your majesty’s thanks to my
government and people," “I sent my
tlmnks, sir,” the empresSretorted, “to the
people—and only the people." Governor
Curtin afterward complained of the slight
that hud tlma been publicly put upon the
government he represented. He was in
vited by Gortschukoff to a conference on
tho subject. Three books were brought
in from the archives of the foreign office.
Tho first contained an autograph letter
from Napoleon 111, asking Russia to join
with England and Franco in breaking up
the federal blockade and guaranteeing the
independence of the Confederacy. Tho
letter asserted that England had already
premised her co-operation, which was
probably a lie. The second book contain
ed the emperor's reply. 11l- flatly declin
ed the alliance proposed by Napoleon, anil
declared that, iu the event of any European
interference in the war. Russia w ould ac
tively aid the North.' The third book lmd
within it copies Of the sealed orders given
to the Russian idi> viral who, as our readers
will remomlier, brought his fleet into New
York luivbor dnring the war. The orders
direoted him to proceed at once, with his
whole available force; to New York city;
to remain at anchorage there for Home
time, and in the event of European inter
ference with the blockade, to put himself
aud his whole force at the command of the
Cabinet at Washing ton, aud premise
abundant and speedy reinforcements.—-
While Gov. Curtin stored, dumbfounded,
at these Unexpected proofs of Russia’s
steadfast, fidelity to the Union cause, Gort
sclmkofl said to him: “Perhaps yon can
appreciate now, sir, why tho emperor and
empress sent their thanks to the people
who have honored the aranikrliike Alexis,
and not to tho government (Milt has insult
ed him. We saved your eoiKitry, aud now
your president insults onr representative.
It iH too much, Chrtin quite agreed with
eudoil, ”
have every reason to trust tho gen
tleman from whom we have received this
story. It will probably bo found substan
tially correct, although there may of
oonrso, be errors in detail.
A Puzzle.
Wo recommend tho following test to
tlioso who pride themselves oMKhuir apt
uess at spelling, [t is cleverly arranged
with a view to presenting as many diffi
cult words in as small space as possible. J
We doubt if there is one person in a tliim
sand who cun Write the whole from dilu
tion without making blunders:
—j’Tliu most skillful gauger I ever Jkiiow
was u maligned cobbler, armed with a
poniard, who drove a peddler’s wagon, us-
uh an instrument of eo
ereHM to over liis pony shod
witiMlhwrTle was a Galilean Siulueec,
a phthisioky catarrh, diphthe
ria find tho bilious intermittent erysipe
las. A certain Sibyl, with thy subriqflet ot
‘Gipsy,’ went into eestaeies of eathimni
tiou at seeing him measure a bushel of
peas, and separate saccharine tomatoes
from a heap of peeled potatoes, without
dyeing or singeing tho Ignitiblo queue
with liowrore, or becoming paralyzed with
a hemorrage. Lifting her eyes to the
coiling of tho cupola of the capitol to con
■eeal her unparalleled embufmssnient,
making a rough courtesy, and not harass
ing him with mystifying, rarefying and
stupefying inuoudoes, she gave him a
couch, a bouquet of lilies, mignonette and
fuchsias, a trektise on mnemonics, a copy
of tho Apocrypha iu liioroglpliicH, daguer
reotypes of Mendelssohn and Kosciusko,
akaleidoscopo, admmphialof ipecacuanha,
a teaapni >;i ful of naptha, for deleblo pur
poses, a ferrule, a clarionet, some licorice,
a surcingle, a curuoliau of symmetrical
proportions, a chronometer with tt mova
ble balance wheel, a bdx of dominoes and
a catechism. Tho gaifger, who was also a
traflikiug rectifier and a parishioner of
mine, preferring a woolen surtout (his
choice was referable to a vacillating, occa
sionally occurring yliosynorasy,) wofnlly
uttered this apothegm: ‘Lifo is checker
ed ; but schism, apostasy, heresy and vil
lainy slmll ho.punished.’ The Sibyl apol
ogizingly answered: ‘There is a ratablo
and alfegeablo difference between a con
ferrable ellipsis and a trisyllabic dimresis.'
Wo replied iu trochees, not impugning her
suspicion,”
Saorbdness of Tkaiis. —There is ft sa
credness in tears. They are'not the mark of
weakness but of porfer. They speak
moro eloquently than ton thousand
tongues. They aro tho messengers of
overwhelming grief, of deep contrition,
and of unspeakable love. Oh, speak not
harshly of the stricken one—weeping in
silenoo. Break not the deep solemnity by
rudo laughter or intrusive footsteps.,
Scoff not if .tho stern henrt of ma&brtod
is sometimes melted by sympathy; they
are what help to elevate him above the
brute. I love to see tears of affection.
They ore painful tokens, but still most
holy. There is pleasure in jteurs-jui
awful pleasure.* If theraTvepcig/m? <**.
earth to shed a “tear for mo I should bo
loth to live; and if no one might weep
over my grave I oould never die in peace.—
Dr. Juhnsun. ,
A WoNDEnrun Machine. —An eastern
paper says; “A wonderful piece of me
chanism lftis recontlyboen produced by
F. Schroodor, an Amsterdam jeweler. It'
is calledftiib ‘Gfcat Mechanical City,’ and
is twenty feetlpng by fifteen feet wide.
There are houses, castles, churches and
stores in it just as they appear in almoeP
any European city. People walk and ride
about. Horses und wagons and railway
■gars pass through tho streets. Boats pass
up and down tho river, while somo aro
loading apd others unloading at tho docks.
Mills are in motion. A fountain plays -in
the public park and a band of musicians
fills the air with melody. There are alig> (
forts with soldiers 1 parading about them,
blacksmith shops with artisans at work in
them. Other scenes go to make this a
wonderful structure indeed.”
Grant says that!the Federal troops shall
be under the control of the Law Depart
ment. In other words, ho has put the
entire matter in the hands of Attorney
General Williams, tho meanest and most
despicable as well as tho most unscrupu
lous Kudical in the United States.
The St. Louis Republican recognizes tho
fact that there
races in the Sou ft, and dolefully asks what
ought to be dond Let themalono to fight
the battle out. Keep the d—d Radical
authorities at Washington from interfer
ing, and within six months from to-day
the whites and blacks will bo working har
wuviouiily together.
FLORA HARDING.
George C. Harding's Tribute to His Lot Daugh
ter,
On Thursday, the 20th tilt., as we have
already announced iu these columns,
GeorgeC. Harding, editor of tho Indiau
upolis Sunilay Herald, shot Sol Moritz for
seducing his daughter. Moritz will recov
er, but will lose an arm, w hich was shat
tered by one of tlie bulleto. Flora Hard
ing was u brilliant accomplished girl, hav
ing a bright literary future before ber, but
who unfortunately fell u victim to the
wiles of a man who professod to bo her
father’s bosom friend. Slie confessed hor
sins to ber father and then took poison,
her sensitive soul shrinking from tho
sneers of a heartless world, which would for
ever point at her the finger of scorn, anil
speak of her as a lost and wicked woman.
The follow ing tribute to tho memory of
the dead was written by the unfortunate
journalist in tliejirosence of the dead body
of his child. It is a wail of a broken heart,
a crushed spirit, which cannot fail to touch
tho sympathetic chords in every human
bronst:
THE BEREAVED FATUKII’s FAREWELL.
Indianapolis Herald, Adjust 23. ]
UAIUHNG —At tho residence of her
father, No. 20 l’ratt
last, Miss Flora K. H.ikiunu, dutighter of
George C. years.
A noble life, ifulfrof prdmise, Jins gone
out in shame. She loved much aud suffer
ed much.
from eartli-buJu'iiy has gonßu moot its
God, to W Uafiuv Him the cruel wrongs
for whiclCeiaßi Inis no redress. Poor,
fond heaiT cHi-Htorreil from birth, your
tempesturrtTnrboatings are stilled, your rest
less tijßngs will trouble no morel Hers
was ayiylgsH childhood, warped aud dis-
circumstances. Her
is blasted in the bud. Despite
ami unhappy moods, in
iTnßHßltoeeiiied to move and act as if
•iimli#Bonie weird spell, ber
nature \raa noble, generptArtfelisolfish,
eelf-siicrineiiig, with an "honest pride
wliifh would scorn to do a mean action.—
The unlpippy ■ceumstauees att . nding her
eliilclliood lmiTimpressed her nature with
|iu*ieffacoabli| tinge of melancholy. Sho
was despondent always, rather than san
guine. "I’apn,” slie siuil to me once,
wheiya cherished desire wus thwarted, and
I was eijweavoring to console her, “don’t
distresjr yourself about me. My entire
life ltosboen a disappointment.” Notwith
standing the sombre tints in ber nature,
she wus at times utmost unnatnr. viva
cious. Buleveu iu her mostchoory mqpeuts
an apparent consciousness of tho falseness
and hollowness of earthly things could bo
noted. Her deepest and profouudest
feeling, tho one which was ever present
and was overshadowed by do ibts or
obscured by less worthy sentiments,
was love for her unhappy father. This
love had token root in her infantile
mind ut au age when impressions arc
easily effaced, but it grew without
nurture, and seemed to strike deeper its
roots and grow more luxuriant iu leaf aud
bloom tlie more it was ’deprived of light
and air. It survived absence, apparent
neglect, hostile influences, and so soon ns
she was of ago she camo to the father whose
love she hod never doubted.
In her religious nature slie was peculiar.
She hail the profouudest veneration for the
Diet.y, and a sublime confidence in His
justice, but she hud no sympathy with
creeds or the forms of religion. She be
lieved in tho law of compensation, aud
having known but little save unhappiness,
she believed that the future, either on
earth or in heaven; had recompense in store
for her. She often jested on tho subject
of suicide, and ono occasion, being re
proved and told that Goil frowned on self
murder, she said, “Papa, I am not ufruid
of God.”
There were few brighter intellects than
Flora’s, anil her future was full of promise.
She had a remarkably felicitous command
of language, and was exceedingly versatile.
While she knew nothing of politics, her
familiarity with recondite subjocts was
wonderful. In reasoning she was subtlo,
and in thought she was powerful anil
searching Him had determined ou litera
ture as u profession, and had sho lived
would have made her mark in tho world of
letters.
The oruelst reflection in this hour of bit
terest agony is that her father might have
been less stern and more sympathetic in
his intercourse with her, though he, could
not have loved her more. With two such
natures an estrangement is apt to raise up
an invisible but impassable barrier, and
whilo there may be no spoken word of un
kiuduess, tho reverse is infinitely injure
cruel anil cutting tlmu words could
unhappy secret—the first withholding
of confidence—caused such a feeling, and
this was only broken down the night before
hor death, when, on her father’s breast,
with her arms about his neek, in heart
broken sobs sho told him tho dreadful
• storp, and pleaded for his forgiveness, not
so much for her sin os the want of confi
dence in him. All was forgiven, and father
and daughter once more reconciled. Eyqt
►then sho hqd determined on suicido, and
that last, heartbreaking interview, soswdet
to remember and yet so sail, must be in
vested with ail tho sanctity of u deathbed
revelation. yf
Through that long lost (lay of suffering I
watched with her, alternately cheered by
hope and torn with the anguish of despair,
ymd with the hist gasp, as the suffering
'soul took its tremulous flight, two great
tears came from tho filmy eyes and rolled
over the face, jicross which was stealing
the shadow of the Death Angel.
SBo has gone to her God, who will judgo
her not by tlie iron rule which brings all
natures to a common measurement, but ac
oordfng to Jjer deserts. God could not bo
God without beiDg just, and with Hug I
leave my daughter. But it does seem astf
Ho should have some thunderbolt; red with
uncommon wrath, -.to strike the wretch
who pursues liisvictim, with foul and veno
mous tongne, into tho grave itself. ■
Oh, loving heart daughter—soul
scarred with suffering—sinful, ymtpuregfid
white—farewell 1 G. 0. H.
Grant Wants a Third Term:— New
York, Sept, i, 1874.—The Herald' s cor
respondent from White Sulphur springs,
West Virgina, says, fifithoritatively, that
President Grant, during his recent visit
there, informed Ooloul SWann, a wealthy
citizen, that he was a candidate fora third
term. Trtr 'a recent district Convention,
Swann referred to the term, in a political
speech. At a subsequent caucus, Swann,
speaking with authority, said, the unequi
vocal General Grant was aeandidalo for a
third term. ,
The Ring; Finger.
Swinburne soys in his ‘Treatise of
Hpousals”: "The Huger ou which the wed
ding-ring is to be worn is tho fourth finger
of the left hand, next to the little finger;
because by the received opinion ol the
learned and experienced in npping upanil
anatomizing men’a bodies there is a vein
of blood, which passeth fh>m the fourth
Huger into the heart, called Venu amoris
(Dove’s vein); aud so the wearing of tho
ring ou that linger signifieth that tho love
should not be vain or ieigneil, but that as
they did give hands each to the other, so
likewise they should give hearts also,
wlierounto that vein extendeth.” Com
menting on this, the Gmadiim Monthly
remarks: “This idea seems to have arisen
iu Egypt as early as the second century.
Appiau, an Alexaudriaii historian, says
that, in tlie opinion of the
Egypt, ‘a certain most delicate
passed from tlie ring-finger to the
But the staunchest upholder of this theory
was Dtovintis Deinnus, a celebrated sago
of Eealaud, who lived iu the sixteenth cen
tury. In his medical practice he had
often taken advantage of tiiis connecting
artery to restore fainting ivouien to cons
ciousness. ‘The small artery is stretched
forth from the heart unto this finger, the
motion whereof you may perceive readily
in all that ullects tho heurt in woman by
tho touch of your forefinger. I used to
raise such as are fallen into a swoon by
piuoliing this joint, and by rubbing the
ring of gold with a little saffron, for by
this u restoring force that is iu it passetii
to the heart, and rofrosheth the fountain
“f unto which this finger is joined.
Wherefore antiquity thought fit to com
pass it about with gold. He also states
that this Huger was called ‘medieus,’
since, if any venom enter it, notice was
given to the heart before it was too late to
use an antidote. Tho gout, also, never
afflicted this finger until the attack lmd
assumed a fatal character. This ho hail
observed in Gallia Belgiea, the land par
pxcelleuoo of podngral sufferers; no Bel
gian, however long his experience of gout
may have been, ever suffering in this lin
ger till death was nigh at hand.”
Youthful Integrity.
A friend sends us tho following. It
reminds one of Oasibianca, but two poiuts
of difference maybe noticed: Casibianea
would not take water, but the Washing
ton youngster did, Oasibianca got
“Mowed up;” this one did not. There is
now-a-days a good deal of complaint
about tho want of obedience to parental
authority on tho part of the rising gener
ation, especially on the part of the boys.
l\ e heard of a case the other day which
proves that there are noble exceptions to
the average “boy of tlie period.” A
young son of one of the principal examin
ers ill tho Patent Office at Washington
went to pass liis school vacation at an
uncle's iu Kentucky, near the Ohio river.
There was but one restriction on tlie scope
of tho boy’s umusemeuts. Horses, dogs,
rifles, shot-guns, etc., etc., were freely
allowed us companions of liis amusements;
but as his cousins were as fond of the
water ns so many ducks, ho was requested
to shun the boat which tlie cousins were
wont to use in their aquatic excursions.
Ho promised faithfully, like tho dutiful
lad lie departed rejoicing. A
recent father graphically de-
excursions and the “good
times’’ ho hod enjoyed, among the heft one
in which the eousins had desired to visit
tho Ohio shore. “They went over iu the
boat,” writes the boy, "but I remembered
your wishes in that respect, and so swam
tho river I” It is understood that the next
mail announced to the youngster that tho
embargo upon tho boat had been removed.
— Harper's Ntnjaiinu.
What ia a Gentleman t
Tho Pall Mall Gazette says; “It is very
difficult in these days to define wliut con
stitutes‘a gentleman. ’ It certainly is not
education, for many gentlemen either ure,
or appear to be, devoid of any educational
attainments beyond those enabling them
to make harmless observations us to the
state of tho weather or to join in a pigeon
shooting match. It oertninly is not good
manners, for there are rnuuy gifted mid
refined persons whose means will not per
mit them to ‘live liko gentlemen,’ und
who demean themselves by toiling for ex
istence with an uiigeiitlcnianlike industry
which would make even a workingman
blusli. Probably the most direct defini
tion of‘a gentleman’in these dtos of nd
vanced civilization is X'-tnan whose wealth
and leisure, and who is what is commonly,
called ‘independent,’ A collier, perhajW
more than most poople; enjoys these jaff
vantages, and more nearly approaches
than any one else the idea of c“a fine old
English gentleman,’one of the modorn
time; yet a curious question has lately aris
en as to wether colliers who take a part
in a boat race can properly be designated
‘gentlemen amateurs. ’ It seems that in a
late regattuat Agecroft, in Lancashire, tho
‘ Maiden I’jjur.OnriHl Race for riate, valuo
X.’iOr WHS won by a crow from the Bolton
and Bingloy Amateur Rowing Club, com
posed of colliers, who, however, rowed
under protest, it being alleged that they
wjht) not gentlemen amateurs. The
was withheld in order that the
committee might investigate the matter,
and it Ims just been resolved that.tho crew
should be disqualified, it being a mistake
that tho colliers were allowed to start.
The prize is to be rowed for again by the
three crews who were beaten by the Bolton
and Bingley 'gentleman amateurs,’ and
tlie colliers who took this name in vain are
to receive £lO as an equivalent to the
prize,”
Practicing What He Preached.
This story is told by tho Rev. Mr. Her
rick, once settled at VVortliiiigton, Muss.:
He collected his own sulary, for which
eveq? voter in tho town was assessed, and
cnlling'bn Mr. D., the blacksmith, one day,
he said: “I have a sinalljbiil against you.”
“And for what ?” “For preaching.” “For
preaching?” said Mr. D., “I have heard
none of your preaching.” “The fault is
your own,” said Mr. H. “Tho doorsliave
been open, aqd you might have come in.”
Not long after, as Mr. H. was one day
passing tho blacksmith shop, Mr. 1).
hailing him, said: “1 have- a small bill
against yon.” “And for what ?” said Mr.
11. “For shoeing your horse,” replied
Mr. D. “For shoeing my horse? I have
had no horse shod here,” said Mr. 11.
“Tho fault is your own," replied Mr. D.—
“The doorsliave been open, and you might
have ooiiis in." Mr, IL paid tho bill,, aud
passed oil,
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS,
A pnlr of spectacles—The Siam**# twins
To learn the value of inoucy-*-To borrow
it.
Tim only industrious loafert kHs Ihetu
kers.
How to find happiness- Look m * dic
tionary.
Quarters for hungry m< u Quartan of
lamb.
An article yoti can always borrow
> Trouble,
Useful material for fancy clogs—Ban
dal wood.
What is never loft till catted tor T—The
right arm.
Au awful swell—Tho cheek after a tooth
ache.
Mrs. Partington likes a man who car
talk fluidly.
Vested interest—Money in tho waist
coat pocket.
Wliut doos a man see in the wild, wild
waves ? —Sea-foam. ~i
Who is tile oldest lunatic ou record t
Time out of mind.
Chicanery—To palm off att old lien as
fricasseed chicken.
I Tho best crow-nometer for early riaen:
—Chanticleer,
Which side of a donkey has the most
lifflr ?—Tho outside.
Tho likeliest flsli to laugh—The trout,
it is so easily tickled,
Wlmt do wo often drop and never atop
to (lick up ?—A hint.
Ear-rings—lf you want your ears pierced,
pinch the baby,
Why Is a mosquito like charity? Be
cause it begins to bum.
When docs the moon take a ride t
When she’s ou tho wane,
When will the laundress most likely
strike ?—When tho iron’s hot.
What would a bird do of
his beak ?—Cull for his bill.
When was Desdemotm like a ship ill
port ?- - W hen slie was Moored.
We have a friend who is so feeling that
he cannot beur to burn his coal.
What are “fancy” goods ?—Often
things that poople don’t fancy.
Why is n dog like a tree t —Because
both lose their bark when dead,
A bachelor compares a shirt button to
life, bi cause it hangs by a thread.
The Lower Courier says that Bing Sing
is the music-box of New York.
NO. 20
Who killed tho most poultry?—Ham l
lot’s uncle, for ho did “murder most foul.’ 1
Why was Appollo tho presiding deity of
falsehood ? —He was tho patrons of lyres,
What is the most dangerous’ kind of
assassin ?—A lnuu who takes life cheer
fully.
Why is the bone of tho arm called tho
funny-bone ? —Becuuse it is the huiueius
bone.
An artificial florist who lives upon the
second floor may bo called a second Flora.
Wliy aro our sidewalks in winter like
music ? If you do not C sharp, yon will
b Hut.
Why has a clock a bashful appearance f
—Because it keeps its hands before its
face.
Why is nature like n baby ? Because
there is generally a squall when its face is
washed.
Tho mariner's compass has done some
of the most important needle work in the
world.
Mock-turtle—Kissing before company
imd fighting afterward.
There ore many bachelors at Sara
toga—bachelors of “arts.”
Tho Paris ladies of fashion ore quar
reling about bonnet strings.
Miss Pride went before Mr. Fall, of La
Crosse, and was married.
Miss-Construction—Whalebone, po&t,
powder and wadding.
The New York Sun assorts that as a rule
marriages are unhappy.
For what port is n man bound daring
courtship ?—Bound to Havre.
It is astonishing how many four year
old boys resemble each other.
Ladies are apt to be troubled this season
with a rush of lace to the head.
Half the Boston mules have palpitation,
owing to be a beautiful lady doctor.
“Ho said that he always would love me;
Don Dieu 1 hew I wish he was dead.”
A female suffragist triumphantly ev
“Women never have the gout."
Tho Virgina Legislature has jnst impos
ed a now tax on bonds—marriage bonds.
*“0, Edith, won't you kiss Dr. M’Clus
ki ?” “I’m so shy, mamma 1 You kiss
him first."
It is a curious fact that the color oflthe
eyes of nowly-born infants is invariably
blue.
The young lady with speaking eyes has
made them quite hoarse by over-nsing
them.
There is nothing half so sweet inHfe os
love’s yonng dream, expecting the lus
cious wutormeJlon.
Lovo mntclies arc often formed by peo
ple who pay for a month of honey withs
life of vinegar.
Teach children to love everything that
is beautiful and yon will teach them to be
beautiful and good.
Why is a grain of sand in tho eye Kke a
schoolmaster’s cane ? Because it hurts the
pupil.
Sir Isaac Newton’s residence in London
is now used as a Sunday school room.
111-Founded enmities are ever the meet
obstinate and bitter.
The jealous man poisons his own ban
quet and then eats of it.
When they tried to force Miss Gay, of
Independence, Missouri, into a marriage
against her will, she kicked the minister’s
hat off, knocked the yosug man down, and
rode off on a mule, with one foot on easli
side of him.
“Look ’ere now, Salnsba,” Tefled a
Clay county, Missouri, woman to the oldest
girl, “don’t bend over that welt so fur.
You’ll full in there some of these days,
und then we’ll have to bring water..”'
An Irishman with a heavy bundle ou
his shoulfler, riding on the front of a horse
car, was usked why he did not set the
bundle on the floor. He replied: Be
jabers, the horses have enough to drag aft
and I will curry tho