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was much surprised to learn that a ceitain gen
tleman, a professed admirer, had her Dagueireo
type. The discovery was accidentally made,
and puzzled her a good deal. She had never had
her likeness taken but once, and then only a sin
gle picture was produced, which was in her own
possession. The Daguerreotypist had taken two
sittings, but in sitting the first time, from some
unknown cause, as was alleged, the impression
on the plate proved to be bad, and was rejected.
It was shown to her, but so very imperfect was
it that only a part of the drapery could be seen.
Had this rejected picture been even a tolerable
one, the lady would have at once supposed that
the Daguerreotypist had framed the plate as a
specimen of his art, and thus brought it in the
way of her admirer; but not a feature of the
face visible, this supposition was not en
tertained.
The fact that the young man was so much
enamored of the lady as to secure her picture
operated favorably upon her mind. The mystery
of the thing, too, had its effect. How had he ob
tained it? That was the ever-recurring question.
When next she met the gentleman, she felt anew
interest in him. He was particularly attentive,
and looked at her in such a wav as to make her
feel some rather indescribable sensations about
the heart. But the mystery of the Daguerreo
type was not explained until after she had given
him her hand. One day, soon after this event,
she said to him—“ You’ve got my Daguerreo
type.”
“Me !” the young husband looked surprised.
“Yes, yes. And what is more, you’ve had it
these six months.”
The gentleman looked a little confused at this
unexpected accusation, but owned to the fact, and
forthwith produced a very handsome picture of
the lady, who looked at it for some moments. —
That it was not the rejected portrait was plainly
enough to be seen, for it was even a more perfect
picture than the one she already possessed.
“ How did you get this ?” interrogated the lady.
“You wouldn’t guess for a month,” replied the
husband, “so I suppose I must tell you. I learn
ed by accident that you were going to a certain
well-known Daguerreotypist to sit for your pic
ture. Happening to know the gentleman verv
well, I told him to secure a likeness forme at the
same time, which he did. That’s the simple ex
planation of the whole mystery.”
“He didn’t take but two, and one of them he
spoiled,” said the lady.
“One of them you thought was spoiled, but in
thatyou were deceived. The plate shown to you
had never received an impression from your form
or features. The real plate was dextrously laid
aside.” J
The bride declared that the whole thing was an
outrage ; but while her pretty lips uttered the
harsh word, a hearty forgiveness of all parties
concerned in the matter, beamed from her loving
eyes. Not a tew likenesses of gentlemen as well
as ladies have been secured in this way.
Incidents more pathetic and painful in their
character than those which are here related, are
of frequent occurrence. Not a great while ago,
one of our Daguerreotypists observed in his
rooms an old lady in deep mourning. She was
a stranger, and was looking with evident eager
ness along the walls at the various portraits that
were exhibited as specimens of the art. All at
once she uttered a low exclamation and then sank
half fainting upon a sofa. Water was brought
to her, and after a little time she was restored to
self-possession. She then stated that news of the
death of her only daughter, a resident in the
west, had been received by her a few days before.
Remembering that a likeness had been taken a
short time previous to her going to the west, the
faint hope had crossed her mind that there might
be a duplicate in the rooms of the Daguerreo
typist. She had found it, and gazed once more
iato the almost speaking face of her child.
Another incident quite as touching occurred at
the same establishment. A mother came with
her first and only child, a bright little boy of four
years, to sit for her likeness. The father was
along, and, at his instance, the child was placed
on his mother’s lap. The image of the little boy
was beautiful, but the mother’s picture was not
good. It was then decided that the mother should
sit alone, and that they would have the child ta
ken when he was a few years older. As they
were going away the operator tried to persuade
them to take the other picture also, the likeness
of the child being such an admirable one. They
hesitated, but finally concluded not to do so, say
ing that aftet he was a little older they would get
his portrait taken ; and so they went away.—
Three months after the mother came again. She
was in deep mourning. Her boy was dead.—
She had come in hopes that the picture of the
child might still be in existence. But alas! it
was not so. Search was made among old and
rejected plates in hopes that it might not have
been rubbed out ; but after looking for a day or
two, the mother coming frequently during the
time, the search was abandoned as hopeless.—
I he shadow, fixed in a wonderful and mysterious
manner by a ray of light, had faded also, and
the only image of the child that remained for the
mother was on the tablet of her memory.
It is often a matter of surprise to some that
two portraits of the same person by different
Daguerreotypists should appear so unlike, it be
ing supposed, at first thought, that nothing more
than mechanical skill was required in the indi
vidual managing the instrument, and that it was
only necessary for the image of the face to enter
the lens and impress itself upon the chemically
prepared plate, to have a correct likeness; but
this is an error. Unless the Daguerreotypist be
an artist, or have the educated eye of an artist,
he cannot take good pictures, except by the merest
accident; for, unless the sitter be so placed as to
throw the shadow on his face in a certain relation
to his prominent features, a distortion will appear,
and the picture, therefore fail to give satisfaction.
The painter can soften the shadows on the face of
his sitter so far as to make them only serve the
purpose for which he uses them, but the Daguer
reotype exercises no discrimination, and reflects
the sitter just as be presents himself. It was ow
ing to bad positions and bad management of light
that the earlier Daguerreotypists made such
strange-looking pictures of faces, one side of
which would be a dark shadow and the other a
white surface, in which features were scarcely
distinguishable. But great improvements have
taken place, and some establishments are turning
out pictures of remarkable beauty and excellence.
In order to obtain a good picture, it is necessary
to go to a Daguerreotypist who has the eye and
taste of an artist, or who employs such a person
in his establishment; and it is also necessary to
dress in colors that do not reflect too much light.
For a lady, a good dress is some dark or figured
material. White, pink or light blue must be
avoided. Lace-work, ora scarf or shawl some
times adds much to the beauty of the picture.—
A gentleman should wear a dark vest and cravat.
For children, a plaid or dark-striped or figured
dress is preferred by some Daguerreotypists. —
Light dresses are always to be avoided.
The strong shadows that appear in Daguerreo
type portraits are a sad anno} r ance to many who
like Queen Elizabeth see no such blemishes on
their faces when they consult their mirrors.—
“ Can’t you take me a likeness without these dark
places?” asks a lady who sees with surprise, a
dirty mark upon her nose, around her eyes, under
her chin, or on the side of her cheek. “ There is
nothing like this on my face.” “ Why is my neck
so black?” asks another; while another would
would like her picture well enough if the face
were “not so smutty.” A lady with a fair skin,
upon which the sun has left some minute brown
marks, which are almost hidden by the warm
flush of health, is startled to find them faithfully
recorded in her picture, and made so dark as to
appear like serious blemishes. “ What are these ?
There is nothing like them on my face ? ” she in
quires, with a look of disappointment. The ar
tist cannot tell her that her face is “ freckled,” and
so makes some evasive excuse, and tries the ex
periment again ; but with no better success, for
the all-discovering light will make no discrimina
tion—the little black specks are still there, and
the lady goes away with a poor conceit of the
Daguerreotypist, who, though he could make the
light work for him, could not force it to record
anything but the truth.
It is curious to hear the various little suggestions
by way of improvement that certain persons will
make when about sitting for a likeness. A stout,
fat lady would like to be made a liltle smaller, as
she is more “fleshy than common ;” while a
lean one, with a low-necked dress and bare arms,
desires a full, handsome bust and round plump
arms, as she is just now rather “ thinner than com
mon.” Delicate hands are particularly desired,
and these the artist who attends the instrument
can give, by placing them so as to receive the
light in a certain way. And, in fact, nearly all
peculiarities of persons that tend to deformity
may be modified by a skillful artist in the arrange
ment of his sitter —though he cannot help cross
eyes nor make a homely person beautiful—w hile
one w r ho does not understand his business will, in
all probability, distort and render them more un
pleasant to look upon.
This wmnderful art is yet in its infancy, and
those engaged in it are so busily employed as to
have little leisure for experiment and improve
ment; but ere long w*e shall, doubtless, haVe a
higher and more perfect order of pictures than
have yet been given. The art of preparing the
plates, which is b3 r depositing silver by galvanism
ou a thin copperplate and then polishing it so ex
quisitely as to look almost like a mirror, has at
tained great perfection; but even here there is
room for improvements that will be made. Still
more artistic skill is needed by those who manage
the instrument and arrange the sitter’** position,
for no matter howgood the plate may be, nor how r
perfect the manipulations, if the sitter be placed
in a bad relation to the light, the picture cannot
be good. All this is now understood by our best
Daguerreotypists; and those who give most at
tention to the improvement of their art will, in the
end, reap the richest reward.
The whole number of houses destro} r ed at St.
Louis is four hundred and eighteen. The num
ber of lives lost is supposed to be twenty. The
loss of property will not fall short of six millions
of dollars. The insurance companies will, gen
erally speaking, pay all their liabilities. The
bankers and brokers have resumed business.
Mrs. McAndrew, who murdered her sister-in
law, lately, at Madison, Mississippi, was convic
ted of murder in the first degree.
Puzzle.*— What part of the number 6, is one
third and the half of a third.
A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY,
SAVANNAH, THURSDAY MAY 31,1849.
AGENTS.
Mr. J. M. Boardman is our Agent for Macon.
Mr. S. S. Box for Rome.
Mr. Robt. E. Seyle for the State ot South Carolina.
James O’Conner, Travelling Agent.
TO CLUBS.
Any person obtaining the names of five new Subscribers,
and sending us Ten Dollars, shall receive a sixth copy gratis
for one year. Upon all subscriptions over five, the person
sending the names and money may retain fifty cents as his
commission. Payments invariably in advance.
Postmasters are authorized to remit money to Publishers,
and all money mailed in presence of the Postmaster, and duly
forwarded by him, is at our risk.
GODEY'S LADYS BOOK—EXQUISITE AS EVER.
The wide spread circulation of this periodical is sufficient
proof of its goodness, as in this discriminating age, such ex
tended and increasing popularity could not be attained without
corresponding excellence.
We are fully aware there are some who affect to think
lightly of this, and other similar productions, and turn up their
intellectual probosis,—they would have us fancy —fct the pro
ductions they enshrine; for our part, we pity such! Minds
really capable of delight in the productions of our great mas
ter authors, will certainly be gratified —although perchance,
no positive Milton or Shakspeare grace the page—with the
varied and exceeding beauty of the contents of our chiel
magazines, and we strongly suspect, that if closely pressed,
but few of them, who, whenever the living writers of our
country are mentioned, answer with the names of the illus.
trious landmarks in our literature, could point out excellencies
in these authors, they profess to admire, aside from the stereo
typed passages they conned for school exercises.
That tasto which appreciates the pages of acknowledged
greatness cannot but be gratified by the general beauties of our
periodicals, among which Godey’s is pre-eminent—a single
tale, to say nothing of its frequent exquisite poetical contri
butions, from the pen of some writer such as the amiable,
though truth searching, and inevitable heart-analysist —Ar-
thur, is itself worth the price of the number.
INJUSTICE TO THE SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF
IN DEPENDENCE.
The 4th of July approaches—and, among other modes by
which the anniversary of this, our National birthday, usually
is observed, we presume will be the reprint in the various jour
nals, and viva voce delivery of the Declaration of Indepen
dence. Such a course is good and true, for it is well to familiar
ize ourselves with this paper; and no fitting opportunity should
be neglected of giving it utterance. But, whilst this is so uni
versally admitted, that no comment is required, we respectfully
submit, that by some strange oversight, iujustice is done to the
MEN who gave birth to this immortal scroll—unwarrantable
as unaccountable/we allude to the very general omission both
in the daily and oral delivery of the names of its signers.
This obviously is wrong! when they should be as familiar
as household names, whilst the burning words of that manifest
—that “Magna Charta” of humanity—are written on each
true American heart, how strange that its sponsers should be
unmentioned. Let this no longer be —but hereafter, when
ever and wherever the Declaration is published, let the full
names and States they represent, be appended.
THE OVERFLOW AT NEW ORLEANS.
The Bee of the 25th inst., received by the extra train, says:
u The water rose slightly yesterday, and is steadily encroach
ing towards the river, though we believe that it has now very
nearly reached its level, The only thing we have to fear is a
heavy rain, in which event the entire city would be flooded
tor several hours. Thus far, we have every reason to be
thankful for clear skies.”
THE SAVANNAH GEORGIAN.
Wm. H. Bulloch, Esq., the amiable and accomplished
Editor has retired, and Col. Samuel S. Sibley, former editor
of the Tallahassee Floridian, has taken his place among the
Editorial Corps of this paper.
A young gentlemen, a friend of Judge S., of this State
(who is a warm patron of Temperance Societies,) related to
him the following anecdote : He had stopped to the bar to take
a drink, as he usnally did at that time of day, when he chanced
to overhear two lads conversing. “I’m sure Bill it can’t be
wrong to drink a glass of Brandy, when Mr.B., who is so much
respected, does so.” The gentleman was thunderstruck, he
had never immagined his couduct would be an exemplar, and
was so touched by the circumstance that he put down his un
tasted glass, and immediately went and joined the Sons op
Temperance.
The WorJcs of Washington Irving. New Edition,
Revised. \ol. JX. Grayon Miscellany. Putnam.
The author’s “Astoria,” the last monthly publication of the
series, has, from its timely issue, when men’s eyes are directed
to the “California Trail,” met with the most distinguished suc
cess, It is appropriately followed by the Tour to the Prai
lies, included in the present volume. The next, we under
stand, will be a republication of Captain Bonneville’s, which
will complete the volumes through which Irving has so happi
ly connected his name with the History of the Great West.
The charm of the Tour to the Prairies is its unique finished
character. It is a little episode of the author’s life, in w hich
he has condensed the sentiment and fresh spirit of adventure
consequent on his return to American life, after long familiar
ity w r ith the over-cultivation of Europe. It will propnbly be
read as long as any of his writings. The sketch of Abbots
ford and its Master is one of the most graceful and truthful of
the many reminiscesces of Scott. How admirably the charac
ter of Sir Walter’s conversation is conveyed in a line—“ The
conversation of Scott was frank, hearty, picturesque, and dra
matic.” The anecdotes and traits of the great Master
charmingly told in this narrative, are all to the point. The
paper which concludes this volume of the Miscellany on
Newstead Abbey, reminds us of the best of the Sketch Book
or Bracebridge Hall.
THE CHOLERA.
A few cases have occurred at New York. In the West ths
disease has assumed a mild form and is on the decline.
THE CAM ELI N A SATIVA.
We call the attention of planters to the advertisement 0 f
Mr. Win. Humphreys, Jr., who is the agent for a North
ern Company for the sale and purchase of this seed.
It is thought by some that its cultivation will pay better than
Cotton. We hope that some Farmer may test it, and let u g
know the result.
I3T We commend to the attention of our readers the com
tnunication of the Chairman of the Board of Health, for ag
the old saw runs an ounce of preventative is worth a pound f
cure.
Passengers and Exports per steamer Cherokee, Lyons, f or
New York, May 30, 1849.
Messrs. N Benacui, S Marrogodato, P Lutrnri, W P Tefft
R W Hamilton, L J Guilinartin, E II Sargent, T T Wilmor*
Thos Lochart, Wm F Hamiltop, Henry Coricklin, F B Allen
E Allen, Rev Jno W Parsons, Jus F Nutting. W W Russell
L Pressncacui, W Webb, H Leopold, Jno Shultz, Jose Leon
Garcia, Y gul Fellacue, Wm H Hanley, R D Kellogg, A Ben
ham, Jas Magee, Jon M’Cortney, H W Abbott, J L Abbott
Denman and lady, Wm F Mason and lady, B Wells, Indy and
4 children, A Willivnan and lady, Elbert and lady, Daniel John
son and lady, D W Clark and lady, Mrs S C Ensign, Misse*
Thatcher, Lovell, Padelford, R Minis, Wells, M L Holt, J C
Clement, F J Whitney, Merrill, J F Woodhull and lady, Mrs
Scranton, Mrs Veader, Mrs Padelford and servant, Mrs Wil
der, child and servant, Mrs Parsons, Mrs Johnston, Mrs Rug
glesand daughter, Mrs Fox and 2 children, Mrs J M Denn,
Capt Cobb, and 21 steerage.
Exports.—4l6 bales Cotton,'6 bales Wool, 84 baleg Do
mestics, and sundry Packages.
TO THE INHABITANTS OF SAVANNAH.
In conformity with a Resolution recently passed by the
Board of Health I would call your remembrance to the good
state of health enjoyed by our fellow citizens for years past
and to urge upon you the necessity, if you desire a continu
ance of that blessing during the approaching season, to keep
under these local causes, by a prompt removal of all animal
and vegitable decomposition, beyond the corporate limits of
Savannah. Cleanliness is an indispensable ingredient of
health; it ought to be observed by nil, otherwise you invite
disease and the consequences that necessarily follow in its
train. We your Board of Health, earnestly entreat you, to
whitewash your fences, cellars, out houses, and freely use the
{Sulphate Ferri) Copperas, in proportion of two pounds to
three gallons of water in your sinks and other places emitting
unpleasant effluvia. For the better advancement of health,
we would suggest, that each citizen adopt a feeling that he
also is a member of this Board, by giving his attention to the
cleanliness of his premises, and those around him. The Board
of Health, expect their fellow citizens will afford them aid in
their weekly visits, to enable them to effect strict examination,
and faithful reports. Your Board of Health requests that
you make known through the medium of its Chairman, Ward
Committees, City Marshall, or by letter through the Poi*
Office, of any nuisance or deposit, that may be calculated to
produce disease. The duty assigned to us is an arduous one.
If we meet with a cordial and approving support, then shall
we feel that our labours have not been without effect.
SOLOMON SHEFTALL,
m ay 31 Chairman Board of Health.
it ii &&&s:s @® s,
THE PAINTED WINDOW.
A FREE TRANSLATION FROM THE GERMAN, BY MRS. GOODWIIf.
A poor hermit once dwelt alone in his cell,
mourning over the iniquities of the world, and
almost murmuring against the ways of Providence,
because innocence and virtue, according to his
views, were so often wronged and oppressed,
while sons of violence and blood were rxalted to
places of wealth and power. So much did these
things disturb his mind, that he could no longer
meditate upon heavenly things, and his very de
votions were disturbed by bitter thoughts. At
length he determined to take the pilgrim’s staff,
and wander through the world, in search of Truth.
“ 1 ruth,” said he, “will shed light into my
mind, and make all these things Dlain.”
The poor pilgrim wandered from land to land,
till his sandals were worn out, and his frame
weary, yet he gained no light. One day as he
vvas passing through a deep and lonely forest, a
furious tempest arose suddenly, and beat upon
his unprotected head. Thunder roared, lightning
glared, and rain poured down in torrents. The
pilgrim looked around for some place of shelter,
and at length espied, at a distance among the
trees, a small chapel. With a thankful heart he
hastened toward it, and tried the door. It yield
ed easily to the hand ; and, reverently taking off
his hat, the pilgrim entered.
The chapel looked dismal and dreary. It was
built of dark stone and black oak, without orna
ment. A dark stone altar stood at one end, and
at the other was a Gothic window—the only one
in the chapel. This only window seemed so de
faced with various stains, that the light it admit
ted, so far from making the place more cheerful,
only added to its gloom.
“I ie ! what a filthy window disgraces this holy
place,” said the pilgrim ; “it looks as if some
madman had amused himself by daubing it over
with soot and blood. It is only stain on stain.—
But, alas ! this window is a picture of the world.
It truly sets forth the chaos of unseemly things
which one sees around him, at every §J;ep.”
While the pilgrim yet looked, and complained,
the sun broke forth from the clouds, and stream
ed his full radiance through the painted window.
In a moment, the whole kindled into life and
beauty, and every corner of the dark chapel was
