Columbus daily times. (Columbus, Ga.) 1876-1885, September 15, 1878, Image 3

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THE YELLOW LIZZAKD. Once upon a lime, there lived in a hut on the edge of a moot, an old woman, ami her grandson, who had nearly arrived at the age of manhfod. The boy was named Victor, but no one lfnew the name of the old woman. Indeed, no one knew anything about either of them, save thai they had come there about two years before, and had lived apart from neighbors during all that time. The old woman worked industrioualy at knitting, and Victor carried the stockings she made to the village, a mile oft*, from whence he brought the woolen yarn she requited. Nor was Victor himself idle. He earned wages every week in the forest on the edge of the moor, as a wood-cutter, in which business hd was considered expert, though he had been awkward enough at the beginning. On going to or returning ftom his work, he always examined his snares, for he had per mission to catch hares in that way from the warden of the forest, and at nightfall he tooV all that he secured in his gins to his home, where it made an addition to their daily food. Though he was young and hand some, and would have had had no lack of partners in the dance, he never joined any of the merry-making in the village, preferring to remain as much as possible with his old grandmother, to whom he was tenderly at tached. One morning, in going to his work, he stopped to examine his snares, in which he found nothing except a large yellow lizard, which had be?n caught, but seemed not to have been hurt by the noose It was ara ther handsome reptile of its kind, and Victor noticed that tears rolled from its eyes. He was filled with compassion. ‘You are a harmless creature,* he said, aloud; ‘and I should be sorry to injure any thing w ithout need. Go your way then, and be as happy as things of your kind can,’ Thus saying, he placed the lizard gently on the ground, and expected to see it run immediately away. But all at once it dis appeared, and in its stead there stood a beau tiful fairy, clad in yellow silk, and her head covered with a yellow head-dress, that spar* kled with precious stones. ‘Victor,’ she said, *1 am the fairy Topaz. Through my own folly, in violating the command of our gracious queen, I lost a por tion of my power, and thus fell into the power of my deadly enemy, the ogre Male* volento. He changed me into the shape you see. Our queen could not at once deliver me, but she could modify my condition by confirming the change. So she condemned me to remain as you saw, until some mor tal in whose power I might happen to fall, would take compassion upon me, and res tore me to liberty. It is to your kindness of heart that I owe my liberty and recovered power. I desire to show you that I am not ungrateful. I know you and your history, and so I do not give you gold or diamonds, but something to enable you to vindicate the memory of your father, and build up the fortunes of your house. Take this ring. Worn upon your ri-ht fore finger it will al ways secure you audience with any august personage w hom you may desire to speak with. Worn on the second finger, it will give you great eloquence of speech.* Worn on your third finger, it will force every one who talks with you td tell you the secrets of most importance to you. Worn on your little finger, it w ill impart such a keen edge to your sword that the weapon will cut through metal; or stone, or anything that usually turns the best tempered steel edge. And it w ill contract or dilate to suit each linger, Whsn you have sj*c<ieedd in your purposes you must throw the ring in the nearest deep stream of water. Should you have occasion to consult me at any time, all you have to do ie to write my name upon a piece of yellow silk, and burn it in a candle that show s a yellow flame, when I will im mediately appear. Go, and prosper.’ Having said this, and handed him the ring, the fairy disappeared. Without going to work, Wictor immedi* ately returned home, where he told his grandmother of the strange events ot the mofnmg. To test the truth ol the affair, which seemed to his grandmother like a dream, be placed the ring on his little linger, and taking his sword from a recess waere it lay concealed, drew it from its sheath, and struck a blow upon the stone door-step. The result showed the truth of the fairy’s words. The sword cut through the stone with ease, and on examining 'he blade, the edge was found to hear no mark ol the contact. His grandmother desired to go with him to the chiel Cjty of their native land; but having slipped the ring unto his second fin ger, h was able to at once persuade her that he should undertake the adrenture alone. The cottage had in it provision and bread for a month, and be promised to send her from the village a little girl to wait upon her during hi> absence. She having acceded to this, he dressed himself in differ ent rotes from the leather jerkin he had hitherto worn, girt his sword to his side, pro ceeded to ihe village, where he bought the best horse he could find, the rustics not knowing him,in his new dress, Si nt the girl to his grandmother, and mounting his horse rode off to the great city ol Dreamburg, the capital of the kingdom of Nomansland He arrived there late at night, and entered the principal inn, the location of w hich he seem ed to know very well. Before he retired, he inquired of the land lord what was the occasion of the c mmo tion he observed in the streets, as he rode into town. ‘That, worshipful sir,’ said the ho6t, ‘is because the great Count Arnuiph, the Grim, has come to town with his waid, the Lady Gtsela. By her father’s will, the young lady is to be married at the age ot seventeen, which 6he will reach in a week, and she is to be married to the knight who shall over throw all comers in the lists the day alter to-morrow,’ ‘ls she beautiful?' inquired Victor. ‘She is the most lovely young lady that was ever seen, and her father left her thou sapds of broad acres, many castles and parks, and large hoards of money, all of which be come the property of her husband. There will be no lack of combatants, 1 promise you.’ 'And is every one admitted to the com bat?’ ‘Every one of gentle birth. It is said, though, that the Count Arnuiph himself will contest for the prize, and although he is past middle age, he is thought to be so expert and powerful in arms, that bis appearance may leter any but the bravest and most accom plished cavaliers from entering the lists.' ‘And where is the iady?’ 'She is at court, under the charge of the ]ueen, wnere she will remain until the day >f the tournament.’ And then Victor retired for the night. Next morning Victor took his wav to the loyal Palace, where, having placed the ing on his lore finger, the king at once or lered the stranger to be admitted to a pri >ate audience to the great astonishment of he court, who could not account for this narf ol sp-c > oto- In pretence of his majes’y, who asked him his business, he replied. ‘Justice to the dead and to the living.’ Thereupon Victor, shifting his ring from the first to the second finger, commenced to plead his cause.' It appeared that ho was the only sou of the Baron Rupert, who had been condemed and executed two years bes fore for treason, and whose wile had died the following week from grief. Hh grand* mother, tho dowager Baroness, hastily gath* ering together some gold, and jewels, had left the court in company with her grand* son, who had been deprived of his inherit ance by royal decree, and had gone with him to a small hut in the moor that belonged to her former steward. He was now in hope to vindicate his father’s memory, and asked permission to remain a week lor that end. The king seemed moved by his pleading, and said ‘We w 11 conditionally revoke the attain der. The estate we can not return, for it has been granted to Lord Ranulph and the Lord Chambeilam But this is provided, within a week s time at the farthest—you bring ev idence that the witnesses were perjured or mlt I eg. In the meanwhile, you had better not take your father’s name, nor his title, but remain as the Sieur Victor, a simple gentleman travelling in Nomansland. I need not tell you that 1 loved your father well, ai.d that it was only on the clearest evidence that I consented to his execution. No one will be better pleased than 1, should you succeed in your pious endeavor to lift the stain ot treason from his memory.’ Then the king took him, and presented him as Sieur Victor to the court, where his handsome face, well*knit figure, and grace-, ful manner, at once won him attention, and created a sensation among the high-horn ladies of the court. The queen received him graciously, and herself presented him to the Lady Giseia, whom he lound to be even more beautiful than she bad described to be by his host at the inn. He fell violently in love with her at once, and felt miserable when other cavalieis approached her to of* fer their homage. No one appeared to know anything about the stranger who was in such masked tavor with the king but the Lord Ranulph, who had scowled at him as he entered, looked curiously at him tor a while, and at length brightened up as though he had solved a problem. He,spoke a while privately to the Lord Chamberlain, and then coming for ward, addressed Victor, in the presence of the king. ‘Seeing you so favored by his majesty, 1 know you to be a gentleman ot unblemished character and high pedigree, and am glad to aid my monarch in making your stay at the court pleasant. You are the very living image ot the late Lord Rupert, who was one of the handsomest men of his day. but I am glad the likeness extends only to the person, for he was a black-hearted traitor, who conspired to compass the death of the king, and he justly suffered the penalty of his crime.’ Victor controlled himself with difficulty, and, after shifting his ring to the third finger, said: ‘Was there no doubt as to his guilt?’ ‘Not in the least,’answered Ranulph; ad ding, w ithout being aware of what he said, ‘to his fools of judges; but l Knew better.’ ‘There was a letter found, in which he spoke of the whole plot; was there not?’ •Of course,’ answered the other; and then added, unconsciously; ‘but it was a forgery, got up by the Lord Chamberlain and my* self,after we had agreed to divide his estates between us in case ol success.' ‘You were his enemy?’ inquired Victor. ‘I am the enemy ot all w ho plot w rong to my sovereign,’ answered Lord Ranulph; and then continued, ‘particularly his enemy since he married the woman I loved, tu)d who had repulsed me.’ ‘Your loyalty is beyond all praise,’ said Victor. ‘And yet,’ said Ranulph, in a dreamy way, as though talking to himself, *1 wish the Lord Chamberlain had destroyed his copy ot our written agreement as I did mine, in* stea't ot placing it in a casket at his very bed head, where, if he should die suddenly, it might be lound. I must see him about it. This is Lord Rupert's son, I am sure.’ He added a few words about the weather, and moved toward the Lord Chamberlain. The king was astounded at the words he had heard, and hastily sent an usher in at tendance to visit the chamber of the Lord Chamberlain, wstft instructions. Then sud denly raising his voice, he called the cour tiers to take their places before him, and said: ‘I have a surprise for my loyal subjects, Lord Ranulph and the Lord Chamberlain.' these two looked surprised, and a ljttle alarmed. ‘I can never forget the zeal they showed m the case ot the late Lord Rupert, never resting until he had been convicted, and showing me clearly that the sentence of ban ishment, which I intended to impose, was ill-judged clemency, and injurious to the realm. Few monarchs have counsellors who are ready to do violence to their own kindly feelings, in order to preserve their king from a scandalous weakness in the way of mercy.’ The king paused, and the courtiers eagerly listened for what was to follow. ‘I never knew until to-day the motives for so much zeal ; but 1 see the usher here has it for the inspection of our Lord Chief Jus tice and the high officers of the law.’ The usher came forward, and presented a small ebony casket to the king The Lord Chamberlain started, and the Lord Rahulph was about to pass out; but at a signal they were stopped by the guards. ‘Give me th key to this casket, my Lord Chamberlain!’ t ‘The box— is not mine—l—have no key,’ stammered'the alarmed functionary. ‘Break open tne box,’ said the king. ‘Since this is not my Lord Chamberlain's property, we will open it, in order to determine its ownership.’ The box was opened, and from it the king took a paper. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘here it is. This is the agree ment by whim an innocent man came to his end. Read this, my Lord Chief Justice, and say what penalty should be inflicted by the laws of the realm upon those whose signa tures it bears. Guards, arrest those two men!’ And in an instant Lord Ranulph and ths Lord Chamberlain were seized and disarmed. The evidence of guilt was conclusive. Not only was the agreement found, but a packet of letters which showed conclusively hovy the forgery had been effected, and the number and names of the false witnesses suborned. Some of these knaves were still to be found, and on being arrested, confessed the truth. The Lord Chamberlain himself owned to his offence, but Lord Ranulph stoutly refused to admit anything. Neither met any mercy. As the crime had been one considered to be beneath the dignity of no blemen, the offenders were not adjudged to die beneath the axe. but were ordered to be hanged. The sentence was carried out the -i.rrif* day amid the fiootin*, and execiatmn of the populace. The Lord Victor was res* tored to the estates and honors of hia father; and the venerable Lady Bethina was recalled from her refuge in the hut upon the moor, and welcomed back warmly to the court. The next day was that for the tournament, which was to decide the fate of the Lady Giseia. The morning came, and the whole population crowded by thousands around the lists, where the king and <uieen, with the high officers of state, and the birds and ladiee of the court, had already taken their places. Before the herald could make proclamation, a cavalcade was seen approaching, escorting the most beautiful princess that the world had ever seen. She was attired in yellow satin, with a head dress covered with tlw* rarest and largest yellow diamonds; and she w as attended by four-and twenty knights all in armor covered with gold, and each with his visor down. Beside her rode twelve damsels, each of surpassing beauty. The king and court rose to welcome the lovely stianger and her train, while every knight and noble present, except Lord Victor, had no eyes for any one except this pearl of prin* cesses. So soon as she was seated the herald made proclamation, the trumpet sounded, and the tilt began. The four-and-twenty knights entered the arena, and avoiding Lord Victor, met and unhorsed opponent after opponent, until no one was lelt to oppose them except the Lord Victor, but when he io'e forth, they imme diately left the lists. Then Victor, waiting for an.antagonist, looked toward the ro\al pair, beside which sat the fair Gisd>i, and tor the first time saw the stranger, whom he recognized at once as the lairy Topsz While he was wondering why she had come, a trumpet sounded in the distance,and a knight appeared, w ho rode straight to the shield of Victor, which he struck with the point of his lace. The unknown, atter be had given his name to the proper person, rode at once to his corner, while Victor sprang to his saddle, and prepared for the attack. At the signal they spurred their horses, and advanced at full gallop. The aim of both was sure, but the stranger knight was most powerful, lie was thrown back in his saddle ; but Victor was undorsed, and though he sprang up im mediately, his helmet lace was broken, and the clasp of his right gauntlet gave way, so that his hand was uncovered. The ring on his third finger hurt him with its sharp point ed stone, and he had barely time to shift it to another, which chanced to be his little finger, when his antagouis pressed upon him. The combat soon closed. The stranger knight fought well, and inflicted several wounds upon Victor; but at length the lat ter was enabled t® deliver one blow. It cut through crest, and helmet, and skull, down to the very shoulder. The stranger knight fell never to rise again. On removing his helmet he was discovered to be the Lord Avmer, a cousin of Lord Ranulph who rarely came to court, but who had made his appearance to seal the fate of Victor, and had met his own. Shortly after the sun went down, and the Lord Victor, after a single combat only, was declared the victor ol the day, and the husband elect ol the Lady Giseia, whose | blushes and smiles showed conclusively that she did not mourn the result. When the king prepared to escort his princess guest to the palace, he found that she and her train had suddenly disappeared. On the day of the wedding Victor threw the ring, ns he had been instructed, into the nearest deep stream, w here it was caught by a female hand and arm, the latter clothed in yellow, which rose out of the water. But Victor never saw the lairy again, though had he chosen lo burn the yellow' silk, no doubt she would have appeared. He named his second child, which was a daughter. Topaz ; and the lords of Phantorfllrey, in Nomansland, carry for arms to this day, a yellow lizard displayed on a black ground. NEW GUINEA. The Great Island Which England is Pre* paring to Annex-Its Probable Gold Mines and its ,Eich Forests. Brisbane (Außtialial Courier. July 0.) It appears now to be certain that within a very short time the British Government will be actually com pelled to extend its authorily over New Guinea. It is true that the dis covery of payable fluid has not yet been reported by any of the prospect ing parties now exploring the coun try. Startling rumors are, however, current respecting their success, and although there is probably a very small foundation of fact to support these exagerated rumors, yet we are inclined to believe that enough has been already discovered to prevent the abandonment of the enterprise, and.secure the permanent occupation of the country by Australian settlers. It a payable gold Held should be discovered, no matter how small it would be, there is reason to fear that a rush to New Guinea would set in on a larger scale than we have seen in Australia for many years. It is useless to argue with miners when once they get into their head the no tion that anew El L> jrado awaits them. Substantial fact and sober reasons are alike dieregaded when once a rush has commenced, and in the case of New Guiuea the minds of the miners are already prepossessed with a fixed idea that it is a land of gold. For maDy years they have lis tened to reports, drought by discov erers, of specks of gold seen baked in with the clay io the native pottery, of lumps of quartz containing gold, picked up almost on the seashore. Splendid tropical forests, the haunts of gorgeous birds of paradise and pigeons of various kinds, add coloping to the imaginary picture of this digger’s land of promise. The distance, and the fact that less is known about this country than about any otner spot of earth, add the at tractive element of mystery, and make It to the Australian miner what the unknown Empire of the Incas was to the followers of Pizarro. The mining population of both Victoria and New South Wales is at present in a very unsettled mood ; the known alluvial deposits of those colonies are now almost worked out, and re turn mere wages to the comparative ly small number of men who work upon them. The higher levels in the quartz reefs, too are worked out, and gold mining in those colonies is now practically closed against those who have not capital to provide the .machinery re quired for working at great depths. Thousands of men who once were in dependent miners are now working for wages in the large mines, or em ployed in other occupations, waiting impatiently for the next good rush. 12 v u i i G i ■,.ait 11 1. r .i j; > our gold mining Industry Is perhaps more nourishing than that of either of the other colonies, yet many men are only "hanging on,” waiting for the ehanoe which a fresh discovery would open to them. About one thousand men, we are told, have late ly rushed to the Coen, though there has been no discovery reported which would warrant their .goiug there. Wo believe, therefore, that if paya ble gold be discovered in New Guinea, and wo expect to hear of such a dis covery before long, there will, in spite of all the warnings of the press, be such a rush of diggers from all parts of Australian colonies as will remind us of the rushes ot twenty-live years ago. We shall certainly Aose a largo portion of our mining population. The distance from Oooktown to Port Moresby is not great, ami tbo men who have becomo acclimatized on the Palmer and Hodgkinson will not be frightened by the New Gaiuea (ever, it such a (rush takes place, the British Government will be compelled to annex New Guinea, Vr at least the eastern half of the island, which at present Is not claimed by any Power, for we can scarcely believe that even the peaoe at-any price party would permit a foreign Government to take posses sion of a territory which was explor ed ami occupied by British subjects; whilst it is evident that some civiliz ed Power must establish a govern ment there as soon as a white popu lation has taken possession of the country. If, however, there are good reasons for believing that this terri tory must very shortly be brought under British rule, we may go a step further and say that it should be doue at ottoe. It is obvious that it will bo easier and iu every way bttter that a proper goverment shall be establish ed ' before the commencement of a state of anarchy, and possiblo conflicts between the natives and invaders have in creased the diflleulties with which it will have to struggle. At the present time we believe that Great Britain does claim to have some undeliued sort of protectorate over New Guinea, and that the commission of Sir Ar thur Gordon, the Governor of Fiji, covers this territory. Several years ago the Secretary of State for the Colonies proposed to establish a British colony in New Guinea, on condition that Australia should bear the expenses of the new settle ment. The Australian colouies at that time did not care to give such a guarantee and the proposal fell to the ground. New Guinea, or Papua, is the sec ond largest Island in the world, be ing 1,560 miles long, and contains 300,000 square miles, or more than Texas and Louisiana combined. We have up to this, considered this question of the settlement of New Guinea solely with respect to the ex pected influx of gold diggers. We have done so because we believe that a rush is like y to take place; but we are well aware that the country pos sesses many other natural resources which eventually may be more val uable than gold. We hear of the discovery of rich-grassed plains, over which hitherto no cattle have i. ver grazed. Cedar grows in the for ests, and will supplement our supply, which is now almost worked out, Itich agricultural land abounds, and the nuuves would themselves he available hs laborers on the planta tions that might be established. They are already cultivators of the soil, anil understand working for wages. Nowhere in the world, prob ably, would the sugar planter find greater advantages for his industry. Port Moresby, as we have before stated, is ho great distance from Oooktown. It., with Its subsidiary inlets, forms a splendid harbor, at the back or which lies the gap by which the road to the northern coast and to the interior of the island must pass the Owen Stanley range. The position of the ports is central with regard to that portion of the island which Is most suitable for occupa tion by Europeans, aud which is now being explored by our prospectors. Asa harbor alone it is most valuable since on the northwest coast no har bors have yet been found, A settle ment is already formed there bv Eu ropeans, who live on good terms wit lithe natives and t ho native chiefs, and who, understanding the danger to which they would be subjected by an incursion of European minors be fore any government had been es tablished, have appealed to us to take them under our protection. WANTED. A SITUATION as Housekeeper, by an elderly lady. Address, HOUSEKEEPER, septll tf Turns Office. Miss Mitchell's School, WILL be reopened the first of Oc tober for boarding and day pupils. Course of instruction cumpre hensixe. Particulars furnished on appUca- w tion to <ggzJF MISS 8. MITCHELL, sept 12 dim Columbus, Ga. Public Attention IS NOW INVITED TO OUR LARGE STOCK Piece Goods, Cloths, Cassimeres and Trim mings, including French, English, and American Makes. Also a good supply of the various Makes of HOME GOODS; all of which we g.;t up to order in the beat style on the shortest notice. Au exten*ive and choice lot of TEXAS CASSIMERES Ju.t in, to which wo call particular tiotice. a. J. PE ACOCK, Clothing Manufactory, 61 Broad St. In onr ready-made stock we have a lot of “GOT TI j.N'A DE SUITS” wo will close ont at price rurjtritmolu low. ,epß eodtf OFfc. S. B. LAW, Ophc* at A. M. Brannon's Drug Stove, Office hoar* from 12:50 to 2, and from o to tf. THE GEEAT GEORGIA STATE FAIR! 1878. AT MACON, GA., * From Oct. 28th to Nov. 2d. $9,000 IN MONEY PREMIUMS. An interesting Racing Programs each day for premiums covering over 12,500. The beat rfrrauged, moat commodious and moat beautiful Grounds and tlie beat Mile Track in the South. Liberal Premium* l'or every department of Husbandry, Manufacture*, Ma chinery, aud works of Art. Scud lor Cata logue of complete lint of Premiums, Rules and Regulation*, which will be mai.od, postage paid, on applica tion to the Secretary. COUNTV PREMIUMS: To tho County which (through tho Societies or Club a) shall furnish the largest and finest dis play, in merit and variety of product* and results of Home Industries, (except stock, which aro excluded), all raised or produced iu the couuty |3<X) 00 Second Premium 150 00 MILITARY COMPANIES: For the best drilled volunteer military company—to have not leas than twenty-five men,rank and file 250 0U At least three entries required. THOS. HARDEMAN. Jr., Pren’t. MALCOLM JOHNSTON. Sec’y, M. J. HATCHER, General Snp’t. SCpltf REDUCED PRICES. THE LUMMUS GIN. FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE TAYLOII OJTY. riMIESE OINR aro selling at s'2 to $2.50 per saw. They are fully guaranteed. We have also for L sale the Celebrated QOLLKTT PLAIN AND STEEL BRUSH GINS. Feeders and Condensers for each of these Gins. Extract From Letter of Dr. N. J, Bussey, President E. &P. Manufacturing Cos. "Dkak Sir:—Tho two Gins I purchased of you last season have given entire satisfaction. They aro all that any ouccovld wish, and I must say do more and better work than any Gina I have ever used. There may be a* good Gins as your®, but none better. It ha* not been my fortune in the past to strike one, iuau experience of twenty-five years, to give the satisfaction yours does.” The Southwest Georgia Industrial Association, May 224, lt}7B, awarded F. H. Lummus a Diploma for the best Gin. Send for Circulars, or call oil Wm. BEACH <fc CO., july2.it.. OO Ttrnn.l Street,Columbus.Gn, COLUMBUS SASH, DOOR MB BUI EMPORIUM ! W. A. WILLINGHAM, DEALER IN Sash, Doors, Blinds and White Pine Mouldings, LUMBER, LATHS. PLASTERER’S IIAIR, PAINTS, OILS, PUTTY AND WINDOW GLASS. CHEWACLA LIME by the barrel or in car load lots. AGENTS FOR THE BEST DSL TINT USE. Anyone wanting anything in MY LINE BY CORRESPONDING WITH ME shall have prompt attention, the best Goods* and Tit BOTTOM FIGURES my2G s&v*ty* DRY GOODS. Pay IN"o -A-ttentioxi TO PRICES ON PAPER; THEY ARE DECEIVING BXJT See the Goods. AS THE PRICES ARE GIVEN ' Always See and Price My Goods Before you Bn 0 s “A Dime Saved is a Dime Made.” J. ALBERT KIRVEN, ■VO. 1M ItltOAO HTIIEET.