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Hi Rim er tie fahhx
VOLUME 11.
(Driginnl |3netrtj.
A Voice from California, in 1849.
BY MRS R. H. RILEY.
Gold, pure red gold in shinings heaps,
Gleams in these darken’d mines,
where so e’re I turn my eyes,
The yellow tempter shines.
A thousand sicken’d wretches pine,
In hunger b}’ those heaps,
While some not yet quite sickened down.
The sufferer’s labor reaps.
A fearful scourge, a fatal plague,
Is stalking through the land,
Which, like a ruthless Victor slays,
Our brave, but feeble band.
Through watches of the fearful night.
Prayers, groans and cries are heard,
While hungry wolves impatient wail,
As screani3 the carrion bird.
No shelter o’er our burning heads.
But ’nenth the scorching sky,
We stretch our weary limbs at night,
And almost pray to die.
No wife, no child, no mother dear,
Are near to hear our groans,
Nor can they come in future years,
To hide our bleaching bones.
No God but gold is worship*d here
No Sabbath kept no bible read,
No prayers around the sick man’s couch
Nor funeral service o’er the dead !
Some rotted hero in festering heap?,
Uncoffined, and unknelled.
O’er whose foul bodies in mid-day
The beast their banquets held.
Then come not here ! gold cannot pay
You for your friends and home,
Stay, stay, nor from such blessings turn
In this strange land to ro un .
E'en as a child whose clear eye tracks
The sunset ’cross the sea.
Believing that its golden trait
Will next eve brighter be.
So I from my dear home did view
Across the flashing brine,
A bright, but ah delusive trace
I thought would always shine.
But were I back, no golden dreams
Could their delusions fling,
For like a storm beat eagle, 1
At home would fold my wing.
Alas! alas! like some proud oak,
Scathed in its forest strength,
I'm plighted in the morn ot life,
And here must die at length.
Glynn County , Ga.
irlrrtrit Cult.
THE PHILADELPHIA DUN.
One day* no matter when, a stran
ger was seen riding slowly through
the streets of a flourishing town in
Tennessee. He was a well dressed,
good looking young man, mounted
upon what in this country would be
called “ the best kind of a nag.”
His appearance altogether, was re
spectable enough ; it was even, as
respects exteriors, a touch above
“'hat is common ; and he would
have passed along unnoticed, had
it not been for one thing, which ex
cited universal attention. Although
the streets were crowded with peo
ple, and the fronts of the stores
adorned with fine goods and such
fancy articles as usually attract the
e }’e —the stranger’s gaze was fixed
vacancy ; he turned his head nei
ther to the right nor to the left; he
tooved not lip nor eye-lid, but rode
forward, as if apparently uncon
scious, as well of his own existence,
of the presence of his fellow
Matures.
It was court week, and an unu
sUal concourse of people was col
lected. Here was the judge with a
long train of lawyers. The candi
dates for office were here distribu
ting smiles and kindness, and prac
ticing all those popular arts, which
are so well understood in every re
publican country. Here was the
former, clad in his neatest home-
and mounted on his best horse.
the hunter with his rifle.
ere ) in short, were the people ; col
kcted, some for pleasure and some
f° r business, exhibiting that
of feeling which crowds al-
Va ys produce, with a good humor
is only found in countries
Sruntrii tn literature, Irienre unit Slrt, ttje Inns us Cnnprrunrr, <Dhii Hnsnnrt] anil (£enernl Sntelligenre.
where all are free and equal. The
public square exhibited a scene
which would have been amusing to
one unaccustomed io such displays
of character. At one spot were
two neighbors driving a bargain.—
Unlike the people of other coun
tries, who transact such business in
private, they were surrounded by a
host of people, who occasionally
threw in their comments. A stran
ger, judging from the sly jokes, the
loud bantering, and the vociferous
laughter which passed round the
circle, would not have supposed
that any serious business was in
hand ; a resident only would infer
that before this little circle parts, a
horse would be swapped, a crop of
tobacco sold, or a tract of land con
veyed. Not far ofF was a set of
politicians settling the affairs of the
nation. But the most amusing in
dividuals were some two or three
who were cavorting . Now, if any
lady or gentleman, is so ignorant of
the American language as not to
know what cavorting is and if Web
ster’s celebrated quarto does not
furnish the definition, it is necessa
ry that we explain, that it expresses
the conduct of an individual who
fancies himself the smartest and
best man in the world. On the
present occasion a fellow might he
seen, dressed in a hunting shirt
with a rifle on his shoulder, moun
ted, half tipsy, upon a spirited
horse, and dashing through the
crowd. Now he would force his
spurs into his horse’s sides, and put
him at full or rein him up
until he reared on his hinder feet;
and now he would command him to
stop, and the obedient animal would
stand and tremble. All the time
he was ranting and roaring in praise
of himself, his horse, and the Uni
ted States of America. He boasted
that he was horn in the woods ; and
that he could tote a steamboat and
outrun a streak of lightning ; that
his wife was as handsome as a pet
fawn, and his children real roarer.
He bestowed similar encomiums on
his horse; and finally avowed him
self to he a friend to the Lnited
Slates of America —and then he
commenced again and went over
the same round, flourishing his rifle
all the time, and exerting his lungs
to the utmost. Although he often
declared that he could whip any
man in the world, except Col. C.
that he fit under at New Orleans,
nobody accepted the challenge, or
took offence; the whole being con
sidered as a matter of course, and
as the natural effect of stimulating
potations upon an illiterate man ot
ardent temperament, who ; when du
ly sober, was an honest, quiet and
inoffensive citizen.
While the people were amused at
the vagaries of this wild hunter, or
engaged in conversation, the sun
o o
had gone down, and it was nearly
dusk when the moving automa
ton described in the commence
ment of this story, rode solemnly
into town. It is customary in this
country for persons who meet, al
though unacquainted, to salute each
other, and this courtesy is especial
ly practiced towards strangers;
and although the new comer on
this occasion, would not have been
expected to address each individu
al in a crowded street, yet, when
those who were nearest nodded or
spoke as they civilly opened the
way, they were surprised to see the
horseman’s gaze fixed on vacancy,
and his body remaining as erect as
if tied to a stake.
“ That man’s asleep,” said one.
“He’s as blind as a bat,” said
another.
“I reckon he’s sort o’dead,” ex
claimed a third.
SAVANNAH, GA.. SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1850.
“He rides an elegant nag,” re-
fourth ; and all were sur
prised that a man, who was appa
rently so good a judge of a horse,
had not wit enough to see where he
was going, or to know who were
around him.
In the mean while our traveller
moved proudly on, until he reached
the best inn ; a fine brick building,
presenting every indication of neat
ness, comfort, and even luxury.—
Ashe rode up, two well fed, ath
letic negroes, with visages like pol
ished ebony, and teeth as white as
snow, rushed forth, and while one
seized his bridle the other held his
stirrup as he dismounted. Still the
automaton relaxed not a muscle;
hut drawing up his body, moved
majestically towards the house.—
At the door he was met by the
landlord, a portly well dressed man,
with a fine open countenance, who
had been honored by his fellow cit
izens with several civil appoint
ments, and had even commanded
some of them in the field, in times
of peril. He touched his hat as he
welcomed the stranger, and invited
him into his house with an air of
dignity and hospitality. A servant
took his surtout, and several gen
tlemen who were seated round the
fire, pushed hack their chairs to
make room for the stranger. But
all these tilings moved not the au
tomaton ; the glazed eye and com
pressed lip were still fixed, and the
chin remained in the cushion of an
immense cravat. After a momen
tary pause the gentlemen in the
room resumed their conversation,
the landlord applied himself to the
business of his house, and the si
lent traveller was consigned to the
oblivion which he seemed to covet;
and excited no more attention ex
cept from an honest backwoods
man, who strolled in to take a peep,
and after gazing at him for a quarter
of an hour, suddenly clapped his
hands, and exclaimed, “ it moves,
Bill, if it ain’t alive, I’ll agree to go
afoot as long as 1 live ! ”
By this time candles were lighted,
and the silent gentleman seemed to
grow weary of silence. lie now
rose and strutted across the apart
ment, with a very important stride.
He was a young man of about two
and twenty; of ordinary height,
and less than ordinary thickness.—
His person seemed to he compressed
with corsets, and his head was sup
ported h} T the ears upon a semicircle
of stiffened linen, which occupied
the place of shirt collar; and all his
habiliments announced him to the
eyes of the curious, as a genuine
specimen of that singular genus , the
dandy. After taking several turns
through the apartment, he drew
forth his gold repeater, and open
ing his mouth for the first time, ex
claimed in a peremptory tone,“land
lord ! I want supper!”
“You shall have it, sir,” said the
landlord, with a bow, and winking
at the same time at the other guests,
“ we had supped when you arrived
hut will not detain you many min
utes.”
In a short time supper was an
nounced and the stranger was shown
into a back room, handsomely fur
nished, where a neat, elderty mat
ron presided at the head of a table,
spread with tea, coffee, bread, cakes,
beef, pork, bacon, venison, fowls
and all that profusion of eatables,
with which western ladies delight to
entertain theirguests. Near her sat
a young lady, modestly attired, in
the bloom of youth and beauty,—
whose easy manners and engaging
appearance might have warmed any
heart not callous to the charms of
native elegance. Now indeed, our
dandy opened both mouth and eye*?
to some purpose. Scarcely deign
ing to return the salutations of his
hostess, he commencdd the work of
havoc—fish, flesh and fowl vanished
from before him ; his eves roved
trom dish to dish, and then wan
dered off’ to the young lady ; now
he gazed at a broiled chicken, and
at the fair niece of the landlord—
but which he liked best, I am una
ble to say ; the chicken seemed to
gooff very well, but on the subject
of the damsel, he never opened his
mouth.
Returning again to the sitting
apartment, he found the same set of
gentlemen whom lie had left there,
still engaged in conversation. They
were the judge, the lawyers, and
other intelligent men of the coun
try, who were not a little amused at
the airs of our dandy* Again they
opened their .circle to receive him,
hut his ey r es, his mouth, and his
heart, if he had one, were closed
against everything hut the contem
plation of his own important self.
After drawing his boots, picking his
teeth, and puffing a cigar, he again
opened his mouth, with, “Landlord !
1 want to go to bed !”
“ Whenever you please sir.”
“I want a room to myself sir.”
“ I do not know how that will be,”
replied the landlord, “ my house is
full, and I shall be compelled to put
3’ou in the room with some of these
gentlemen.”
“I can’t go it, sir!” replied the
dandy strutting up and down : “nev
er slept in the room with any body
in my life, sir ! and never will, must
have a room sir!”
The landlord laughed outright at
the airs of the coxcomb, and then
said, very good humoredJy, “well,
I’ll go and talk with my wife, and
see what we can do.”
“ My dear,” said the landlord as
he entered the supper-room, “here’s
a man who says he must have a room
to himself.”
“ What, that greedy man in cor
sets ?”
“ The same.”
“Set him up with a room,” ex
claimed the landlady.
“ He is a trifling fellow,” said the
landlord, “hut if vve can accom
modate the poor little man, we had
better do so.”
The lady professed her readiness
to discharge the rites of hospitality,
but declared that there was not a
vacant apartment in the house.
“ Give him my room aunt,” said
the pretty niece, “I will sleep with
the children, or any where N r ou
please.” The 3 r oung lady was a
visitor, and a great favorite, and the
elder lady was altogether opposed
to putting her to any discomfort,
particularly on account of such a
rude man. But the niece carried
the point, and arrangements were
made accordingly.
In a few minutes, the silent man
was conducted by the landlord to a
v er3 r handsomely furnished apart
ment in the hack part of the house.
Everything here was of the best
and neatest kind. A suit of cur
tains hungaround the bed, the,coun
terpane was white as snow, and the
bed-linen was fresh and fragrant.—
The dandy walked around the
room, examining every thing with
the air of a man who fancied his
lire in danger from some contagi
ous disease, or venomous reptile.—
He then threw open the bed clothes
and after inspecting them exclaim
ed, “ I can’t sleep in that bed !”
“ Why not sir ?” exclaimed the
astonished landlord.
“ It’s not clean ! I can’t sleep in
it!” replied the dandy, strutting up
and down with the most amusing
air of self importance, “ I wouldn’t
sleep in that bed for a thousand dol
lars!”
“ Take care what \ou sav,” said
the landlord, “ you are not aware
that I keep the best house in the
country, and that my wife is famed
for the cleanliness of her house and
beds!”
“ Can’t help it,” replied the dan
dy, very deliberately surveying
himself in a mirror, “very sorry sir,
awkward business to be sure—but
to be plain with you, I won’t sleep
in a dirty bed to please any man.”
“You won’t, won’t you?”
“ No sir, I will not.”
“ Then I shall make you !” said
the landlord, and seizing the aston
iseed dandy’ by the back of the neck
he led him to the bed, and forced
his face down upon it—“ look at it,”
continued the enraged Tennessean,
“ examine it—smell it—do you call
that bed dirty, you puppy ?” Then
going to the door, he called to a
servant to bring a horsewhip ; and
informed the terrified dandy that
unless lie undressed and went to
bed instantly, he should order his
negro to horsewhip him. In vain
the mortified youngster promised to
do all that was required of him ;
the landlord would trust nothing to
his word, but remained until his
guest was disrobed, corsets and all,
and snugly nestled under the snow
white counterpane.
It was nearly breakfast time when
the crest-fallen stranger made his
appearance in the morning. To
his surprise, his steed, who had evi
dently fared as well as himself,
stood ready saddled at the door. —
“ Pray, sir,” said he to his host, in
a very humble tone, and in a man
ner which showed him at a loss how
to begin a conversation, “ pray, sir,
at what hour do you breakfast?”
“ We breakfast at eight,” was the
reply. “ but the question is one in
which you can have little interest:—
for you must seek a meal elsewhere.”
‘‘Surely, my dear sir, y r ou would
not treat a gentleman with such in
dignity—”
“ March ?” said the landlord.
“ My bill ”
“You owe me nothing ; 1 should
think myself degraded by recei
ving vour monev.”
O y y
In another moment, the self im
portant mortal; who had the evening
before ridden through the town
with such a consciousness of his
own dignity, was galloping away,
degraded, vexed and humbled.
“As he passed along, the same
backwoodsman, who had gone to
ascertain the fact of his vitality, on
his first arrival, met him, and put
off his hat, said, very civilly, “ stran
ger, your girth is under your horse!”
The dandy reigned up his steed,
jumped off, and found that his girth
was indeed under his horse—where
it ought to be.
“ Do you mean to insult me ?” —
exclaimed he turning fiercely upon
the backwoodsman ; but the latter,
instead of replying, cooly remarked
to bis companion, “if it ain’t alive
I’ll agree to be shot,” and walked
on.
“Who is tliat young man ?” in
quired the judge of the circuit court,
as the stranger rode off.
“He is a Philadelphia Dun,” re
plied the landlord.
“ I am no wiser than before,” said
his honor.
“Have you lived in this country
so long, and not know this race of
men? They are collectors, sent
out by eastern merchants to collect
their debts. Although they come
from different cities, they all go un
der the general denomination ; but
too many are like yonder chap.”
“ But how do you know this to be
one of them ?”
“Oh, bless you, I know them well.
I read the history of that youth in
his motions, before he was in the
house five minutes. One year ago
he could bow and smile like a French
dancing master, skip over a coun
ter and play as many tricks as a
pet monkey. He is just out of his
apprenticeship, promoted to the
dignity of a dun, and mounted on a
fine horse, and you know the old
proverb, ‘set a beggar on horse
back—’ ”
l understand the whole matter,”
replied the judge, and very gravely
walked into the house, while the
other members of the bar were roar
ing with laughter at this adventure
of the Phildaelphia Dun.
A BARGAIN.
A celebrated essence pedlar, who
had perambulated the streets of
Newbury port nearly the whole of a
long summer’s day without selling
a single phial of his wares, called
in upon a hatter near the market
place, and told him he could pay
tor it in essences. Trade had been
rather dull with the hatter also, that
day; so he was not backward for
an ‘operation,’ and in a short time
a bargain was struck up for a ‘tile,*
the price of which was fixed at five
dollars , to be paid in essences.
4 There, by thunder!’ exclaimed
the man of extracts, 4 I’ve made
one trade to-day, anyhow.’
•It’s the first bargain l've closed
to-day,’ returned the hatter.
4 Now,’ continued the pedlar man,
4 1 don’t want this hat; it is too nice
for this business, exposed as I am
to all weathers —sun, dust and rain.
What will you give me for it cash?*
4 1 sell, but do not buy hats,’ re
turned the man of ‘tiles.’
‘ You shall have it cheap,’ said
the pedlar: ‘ I’ll sell it to you for
three dollars .’
4 No, you will not,’ replied the
hatter.
‘ Well,’ importuned the vender
of tinctures, what will you give for
it?’
‘ I tell you I sell, and do not buy,
at anv rate,’ returned the dealer in
‘castors.*
4 But,’ comin ued the indefatigable
vender of peppermint and laven
der, ‘it certainly must be worth
something t.oyou ; it must have cost
you something for stock and labor ;
now please make me an offer, and
I’ll not ask you further. -
The hatter wearied with his cus
tomer, took out a dollar and a half,
threw it upon the counter, and said,
4 if you want that for the hat, take
it and be off’, for it’s all you’ll get
from me.’
The essence man took the money,
and coolly put it in his pocket and
started for the street. Just as he
was closing the door he said to the
hatter.
4 Well old cockalorum, I’ve made
seventy-fire cents out of you, anyhow!’
lltalfh Undervalued . —Such is the
power ol health, that, without its co
operation, every other comfort is tor
pid and lifeless, as the powers of ve
getation without the sun. And yet
this bliss is commonly thrown away
in thoughiless negligence, or in fool
ish experiments on our own strength
we let it perish without remember
ing its value, or waste it to show how
much we have to spare —it is some
times given up to the management of
levity and chance and sometimes
sold for the applause of jollity and
debauchery.
It is curious that some learned
dunces, because they can write non*
sence in languages that are dead,
should despise those that talk sense
in languages that are living. ‘To
acquire a few tongues,’ says a French
writer, ‘is the task of a few year*,
but to be eloquent, in one is. the labor
of a life,’
NUMBER 13