WESTERN DEMOCRAT.
gCCHARLOTTE.
HO?T ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.
An occasional Washington correspondent
of the Charleston Courier, furnishes the
following interesting account of a recent
peech made by Mr. S. in the House of
Representatives :
It had been rumored throughout the city
told in the drawing rooms of the hotels j
in the private parlors and in the public sa
loons, thut 'Stephens, of Georgia," was to
f peak on Tuesday of the present week, on
the all absorbing topic of slavery. At an
early hour the galleries were filled to over-
flowing, with the families of our distinguish- I
ed statesmen members of the foreign lega- i
tions dashing belles, with a sprinkling :
here and there of our best residents.
As we passed through the lobbies, we j
were struck with the deep and reventiiil si- j
lence that pervaded the house. Where was (
the power that subdued the htormy confu
sion of this (always) riotous assembly ?
That vast crowd of listening faces were
turned toward a shrunken and attenuated
figure, the shoulders c ontracted and drawn
in the face dead and of the color of ashes.
There was something grand in the mere
spectacle of this shadowy figure, binding
up the very breath of the house in a hu.-h
so silent, that the unsheathing of a stiletto j
might have been heard amid its stillness.
When wc entered, the speaker was pour
ing out a continuous uniiiterrnitted volume
of thought and language to prove the sov
ereignty of the people in the territories.
He went on and on, with unwearied rapidi
ty, arguing, defining, illustrating, repeating
intricate facts, laying down subtile distinc
tions ; prostrating un objection hero seiz
ing upon a fallacy there ; then retracing his
steps, and restating in some original points
of view his general propositions then fly
ing off again to the outskirts of the ques
tion, and dealing his desultory blows with
merciless reiteration wherever an inch of
ground remained to be cleared ; and during
the whole of this, though his face exhibited
signs of great exhaustion, the god like Blind
within did not flag for a single instant, even
pause for a topic, an idea or an expression.
This velocity of creation, arrangement and
delivery astonished us, and what added to
our wonder was, that it appeared to be
achieved without an effort. Mass after mass
of argument was thrown off, in phraseology
vigorous and appropriate, while the speaker
teemed the mere organ of some hidden
power that saved him the cost of laborious
exertion, apparently anxious to impress up
on ethers his own reliance upon the force
of wh.'it seemed to come unsought.
He had little variety of gesture, and
what he used Boomed perfectly unstudied.
He was evidently so thoroughly absorbed
in his subject, as to be quite unconscious
thut he had hand and arms to manage. As
he proceeded, he occasionally raised one
hand, and then suddenly struck it down
with extraordinary force. The strength of
the action atoned for its inelegance. This
Yery di-dain of the externals of oratory
had some thing imposing in it ; one was
made to feel that he was in the presence of
a powerful mind that looked to itself alone,
and we at once surrendered oursehf more com
pletely to its guidance from the conviction
that no hackneyed artifice was employed
to allure our confidence.
Before concluding, his whole manner
changed. Ilis tones grew solemn in their
deep, sonorous swell, as he reviewed his
political life. He spoke of the measures he
had aided to pass of his part in the Com
promise of 1850. Then in a strain of match
less eloquence, he proclaimed his fidelity
to the union of these States.
He soared above the common places of
public speaking he rose above the mere
politician, and declared his faithfulness to
the principles on which our Union is fram
ed ; his faithfulness to the laws on which it
proceeds and operates ; his faithfulness to
the institutions which distribute the validi
ty, while they secure the unity r.f the whole.
As he proceeded his unearthly face seem
ed to brighten into fuller and ghostlier
meaning; his eyes shone like a sunken p;t
of fire suddenly disclosed ; his attenuated
form seemed to dilate to his dilating soul .
his voice seemed exalted to a trumpet tone ;
the word orator (like a transparency flut
tering in the breeze) flamed around his eve
ry look, and gesture, and word, and move
ment. The speaker's hammer descended
in the midst of this impassionated burst,
leaving an impression upon the tingling
ears of his auditors which many will carry
to their graves. This speech is considered
a master piece, pu a lofty, dignified and im
passioned, leaving nn impression on the
public mind of the patriotic motives and
lofty objects of the speaker.
The marked disproportion between the
personnel and the splendid intellect of Mr.
Stephens, is most striking. If Kambrandt
were living in our times, he should paint
the phpisquc of this remarkable man. His
unearthly face would afford an appropriate
subject to the shadowy pencil of that great
artist. There should be no gradual melting
of colors into each other; there should be
no nice variety of hue; no sky no flowers
no drapery no marble ; but a shrunken
and spectral figure should stand upon the
canvas, with the greater proportions of his
form in opacity and shadow, and with a
strong line of light breaking through a
monastic window upon a few locks scatter
ed upon a small and irregular shaped head.
The pallor of the grave should sit upon his
face, the features of which, though destitute
of all symmetry or proportion, yet derive
from the mind within, an expression of
ghostly power.
The following horizontal musings of a
learning tippler, deserve to be perpetuated.
Hear him wail :
Leaves have their time to fall.
And so likewise have I ;
The reason, tho's, the same
It comes of getting dry.
But here's the difference "twixt leaves and
me,
I falhVmore harder" and "more frequently."
THE INTERIOR OP AFRICA.
Two great unsolved geographical prob
lems are now prominently before the world,
baffling, and yet encouraging, the efforts
of travelers and scientific men to unravel
them what surrounds the North Pole ;
and what exists in the interior of Africa.
The impenetrable mystery which, like a
thick veil, shrouds both regions, gives to
each a character of romance, and clothes it
with an interest which stimulates investiga
tion. The North Pole is surrounded by a
barrier of eternal ice, whic h locks its secret
in its frozen embrace, and seems to look
with chilling repulsiveness upon the impoi-
tunate curiosity which seeksto peerthrough j
the adamantine walls and view the jealous
ly guarded mystery within. The interior
of Africa is environed by an equally forbid
ding aridity, redolent of fri-utful diseases
and fearful dangers, and encompassed, also.
by hordes of barbarian, whose bristling
spcares and spikes prohibit the approach
of the white traveler, except at the peril of
his life.
The open Polar See theory of Dr. Kane,
though unconfirmed, as yet, by actual facts,
is so accurately jointed and dovetailed by
scientific reasonings and deduction, as to
be almost a certainty ; and the future dis
covery of such a sea is looked upon with
confidence. The existence of this sea is a
object secondary in importance to the
question, what is in it ? Is it only a waste
of waters, forever heaving wearily around
the pole, with no human eye to look on its
silent majesty ? Or, is it an arehpelogo, a
wilderness of islands, the watery bed of
warm, green gems, grouped within a rim of
ice, inhabited by thousands of happy hu
man beings who have no knowledge, and no
dream, even, of the mighty world without ?
These questions it is which add a charm to
the subject, and will continue to do so, un
til some breach in the icy rampart be dis
covered through which we can look on the
unveiled realities within.
The burning heart of Africa still throbs,
unseen by civilized eyes ; 3-et its secrets is
being gradually revealed. Slowly, but
surely, the circle of terrors which surrounds
it is being narrowed by the efforts of daring
travelers and courageous missionaries, and
every year brings with it some fresh discov
ery made by those brave men. Several
months ago, an English expedition penetrat
ed by boats up the Niger river and its tri
butaries, the Binue and the Tshadda, to a
region never before explored, and brought
bark knowledge of the natives and their
country of a deeply interesting and valua
ble character. And now, scientific circles
are gratified by the return to England of !
Dr. Livingston, after wandering in Africa
a period of sixteen years.
Dr. Livingston went out to Africa ns a
missionary, but availed himself of the op
portunity which a long residence in that
country afforded, of gathering much valua
blo geographical and astronomical knowl
edge. Starting from Cape Town, the brave
missionary went northward beyond Lake
Ngami, and thence westward till he reach
ed the Atlantic coast, at Loanda. Return
ing, partially by the same route, he again
reached the Lake Ngami, whence he direct
ed his steps eastward, and reached the op
posite coast at the mouth of the Zambeze
rivers, having twice traversed the African
continent a feat never before performed.
It was a journey of perils. His body was
torn, and his arm broken on one occasion,
by a lion, which an unoffending Christian
missionary alone saved him from death, a
hundred times, at the hands of barbarians.
The public will await with much anxiety
the report of Dr. Livingston's travels.
m
American Peculiarities. A corres
pondent of the London Athenaeum, writing
from Pompeii, gives the following account
of a conversation with an American, who
was there ut the time, and who seems to
have found credulous auditors :
"The American affirmed that in his coun
try they stood better than in any other
country in the world. He had lately cross
ed the Atlantic, and on board a party of
gentlemen were discussing the character of
a lady, whose fame was of rather a gossa
mer web ; but he had observed that that
lady had twenty cousins who would all be
happy to wait upon any one of them, and
deep silence was the result. Such was the
high courtesy and the advanced civilization ;
of the Americans ! 'Did they carry bowie-
knives in his part of the country ?' 'Well,
bo did not know but what most of the young
Sparks, when they stripped, could turn out
a bowie knife and a revolver it was the
fashion. He had once seen three men laid
dead in a hotel. There was a Judjre who
had come down o be married, and who j
went to his tailor's to try on a coat. The i
Judge did not like it the tailor said it was j
well made so a quarrel arose, and the
tailor and party waylaid the Judge and his
party, and had a shot at them after dinner !
in the public room. The Judge returned
the fire, for he had his knife and revolver, j
and after laying three dead, retreated up
stairs amid a parting volley of shots. It
was the very last case which Judge
tried, and they were all acquitted.' But
I must not prolong these illustrations of
men and maimers ; yet they belong to the
day in which they were sketched so graph
ically by our Yankee friend, and have a
very antique or mediaeval cut."
Swift versus Lawyers. The celebrat
ed Dean Swift, in preaching an assize ser
mon, was severe against lawyers for plead
ing agaiust their consciences. After din
ner, a young counsellor said some severe
things against the clergy, and added that
he did not doubt, were the devil to die, a
person might be found to preach his funer
al sermon.
'Yes," said Swift, "I would, and would
give the devil his due, as I did his children
this morning."
The Smile of Love. Holy and beauti
ful indeed is the smile of fathomless and
perfect love ! Too seldom does it live ;
too seldom lighten heavy cares, and earth
ly sorrows. Too seldom does it gladden
burdened hearts, and give refreshing dews
to thirst souls. Too seldom, indeed, does
it hare a birth ; too often and dearly wel
comed there.
THE FUTURE OP MEXICO.
Comonfort has either been untrue to the
revolution which placed him in power, or
unable to work, out cue programme wmcn j
it comprised. It is likely he committed the j
common error of mediocre statesmen, and j
stopped short before the revolution was
complete, compromising the future for the
tranquility of the present, and attempting
to consolidate his power, before he had .
established a principle, by an amalgamation j
of incongruous elements. A failure is the
result. He has effeeted no political or coin- j
mercial reform worth mentioning, though j
the demand for both trenchant and thor
ough was the watchword of the revolution.
The Church defies him : insurrection bris
tles all around him ; he is on a volcano of
reaction and explosion ; England presses
the claims of her citizens upon him ; Spain
bullies him, and talks about the reconquest
of Mexico ; and, altogether, he is, to use an
expressive vernacular phrase, "in a fix.'
What is he to do ? What is Mexico to do
to save the remnant of civilisation left it,
and to secure a future of better things ?
We have, heretofore, pronounced the
civilization of Mexico, as at present organ
ized, (or unorganized,) and resting upon
such social elements as now exist in that
country, to be a failure, and have said that
the only regeneration for it must come
from without. The half million of whites
can do nothing, and are gradually melting
away in the dark tide of niongralism. The
mixed races can do nthing, for they are in
capable of progress, are every day lapsing
further into their original savagery, and
demonstrating that the most fatal blunder
in Mexican politics has been the equaliza
tion of the Caucasian with inferior races.
Regeneration then must come from without
if it come at all. And it will come, for civ
ilization abhors a vacuum, and the com
merce of the nineteenth century will not
leave such an India of the West, so opu
lent in resources, and so admirable in its
geography, to lie unoccupied and undevel
oped. But whence is this kind of regener
ation to come ? It is a sufficient answer to
say that the future of Mexico, like the fu
ture of Cuba, is an American question.
"This is not by any means a new idea
with the people of Mexico. When it was
proposed, after the close of the war, to hold
that country under military sway, with a
perfect organization of the municipial bo
dies, and Gen. Quitman was called home
from his position as Governor of the
city of Mexico, to receive detailed in
structions from our own Government, the
idea found many strong supporters there.
It is well known that after that plan fell
through by the making of the unauthorized
treaty of peace, Gen. Scott was offered a
million of dollars by a body of the promi
nent citizens there, if he would remain and
organize a government. At a late date,
when the Cuban expedition was nearly con
summated by Gen. Quitman, he was ap
proached by parties from Mexico, and an
invitation to turn his organization to that
country was held out to him. Comonfort,
therefore, in seeking the aid of our Gov
ernment, is only following ia the footsteps
of former events.
"It is not at all surprising that Mexico
should look upon our institutions, and our
material progress and welfare under them,
with admiration and desire. There is in her
midst a large party of conservative and order-loving
citizens, who have ever regretted
the day when our army was withdrawn from
her borders, and who would hail with de
light the advent of a Government directed
by, and in close alliance with our own.
Such an event would be to Mexico the
the greatest possible guarantee of a liberal
rule, and the development of her rich re
sources.". O. Delta.
A Shocking Circumstance. The
Columbus correspondent of the Cincinnati
Gazette gives publicity to a shocking event
which recently took place in the Ohio State
Prison, in the following words :
There is current here a shocking storv of
outrage committed in the Penitentiary.
One of the convicts, it seems, was afflicted
with weakness or soreness of the eyes, and
after being urgently importuned, allowed a
physician of the institution to operate on
one of them. Blindness of the organ
ensued; and when, some time ago, the
physician desired to experiment upon the
remaining eye, the convict refused to permit
him, believing that he would destroy that
also. Thereupon the physician ordered
his refractory patient to be held, and
against his will performed an operation on
both eyes. The result is that both eyes
are now blind; and the convict, whose term
of imprisonment expired about three
months ago, is still in the Penitentiary,
without friends or money, and deprived of
sight forever. Inquiry into this atrocious
affair is to be made immediately, and
justice done alike to the physician and the
patient.
Members have already taken the matter
in hand, and it will probably come before
the Legtslature early in the week. The
unfortunate victim of this instance of
professional and official violence had been
sentenced to one year's imprisonment for
manslaughter, under circumstances some
what peculiar. He had protected a poor
emigrant girl on a steamboat from the
insults of some wretch, and was followed
to his room by the baffled villain, who.
threatened his life, menacing him with
a drawn knife, until he in self defence,
struck the man upon the head with a
bar of iron, and killed him. lie was i
f
arrested on the charge of manslaughter, 1
and through the stupidity of his attorney, I
induced to plead guilty ; and he was j
accordingly sentenced to the shortest
term of imprisonment, for that offence, :
known to the law.
Theodore Parker preached'on thanksgiv- .
ing day, on "The prosiect for Democratic '
institutions iu America" from the tex, "the
harvest is past, the summer is ended, and j
we are not vet saved." I
TOUCHING INCIDENT.
A correspondent of the Methodist Pro
testant, after alluding to the attacks of the
Northern religious journals on slavery, re
lates the following anecdote :
Being in Surry county, Va., in the fall
of 1840, 1 attended a religious meeting held
in an old colonial church ; one of the relics
of our union with England. After a warm
sermon, an invitation was given to seekers
of religion to approach the altar of prayer.
Among others who availed themselves of
this invitation was a gentleman, I judge, of
frty-five years of age. There seemed to
be much sympathy felt for him by those
present, and I judged him to be a man well
thought of in the neighborhood, which 1
learned was a fact. But I was particular
ly attracted by the manifest sympathy of an
aged negro in the congregation. I judged
him to be a man of eighty years ; his frame,
once athletic and erect, was now bent be
neath the accumulated weight of years. I
learned that the relation of master and
slave subsisted between the penitent at the
altar and the weeping old man at his seat ;
which was near to the end door of the
church. The penitent, truly agonized in
prayer, and old Jeffrey, for this was the
name of the negro, evidently joined with
deep feeling the prayer of the wrestling
mourner. It was not long ere a shout, as
from those victorious in battle, went up and
the walls of the house resounded with the
praises of the victor ; the wrestler had pre
vailed, prayer was answered, and the hap
py convert was now here and now there,
embracing friends and receiving their hear
ty congratulations. But none in that house
were more joyous than old Jeffrey, and
raising himself on his staff which gave him
support, he made his way towards his hap
py young master, (as he called him,) and
the master at the same time making toward
his slave, they met about midway the church
and the convert fell on the neck of his old
servant and wept with joy, in the aisle of
the house of God and in the face of the
congregation. And words like these were
spoken by Jeffrey, 'Bless God, my poor
boy, I have been praying for you this long
time."
There was no dry eye in that assembly ;
and the two, master and slave, were the ob
jects of attraction for the time.
Marriage Extraordinary. - The Pres
byterian General Assemblies have been dis
puting for a long time concerning the pro
priety of a man marrying his deceased wife's
sister. The legality of a nearer and more
delicate relationship being established by
marriage has just been decided by our
Court of Appeals. It is altogether pro
per so says that learned tribunal, the
highest authority of the State for a man
to marry his mother-in-law! The quartette
of Judges came to this decision after this
fashion and, upon the following case :
Ellen Bell married Samuel Bell, her son-in-law.
Mr. B. died, leaving the interest
ing widow, and also several children by his
first wife, whose grand-mother was at the
.-ame time their step-mother. These chil
dren refused to grant the old lady her dow
er, and hence the suit.
The cause was brought before Judge
Pryer, the late learned aud estimable Judge
of the adjoining circuit. He decided that
the marriage was void, as the parties were
within the degrees of relationship fixed by
the statute of 1798.
An appeal was then taken, and the adju
dication of the lower Court was reversed.
The Court of Appeals decided that there
was no prohibition to such a marriage
by the statute of 1798 that marriages
within the Levitical degree are not void,
though voidable.
Accordingly, if any man desires to mar
ry his mother-in-law, he can go ahead.
The law is on his side. Louisville Journal.
A Loving Blunder. Two young gen
tlemen met a few evenings ago, at the
house of an acquaintance, some young la
dies, for one of whom each gentleman en
tertained tender feelings. In a spirit of
frolic, one of the ladies blew out the lamp,
and our two friends, thinking it a favorable
moment to make known the state of their
feelings to the fair object of their regard,
moved seats at the same instant, and placed
themselves, as they supposed by the lady's
side ; but she had also moved, and the gen
tlemen were, in reality, next to each other.
As our friends could not whisper without
betraying their whereabouts, they both
gently took, as they thought, the soft little
hand of the charmer ; and when, after a
while, they ventured to give a tender pres
sure, each was enraptured to find it return
ed with an unmistakable squeeze.
It may be well imagined that the mo
ments flew rapidly in this silent inter
change of mutual affection. But the ladies,
wondering at the unusual silence of the
gentlemen, one of them noiselessly slipped
out, and suddenly returned with a light.
There sat our friends, most lovingly squeez
ing each others' hands, and supreme delight
beaming in their eyes. Their consterna
tion, and the ecstacy of the ladies may be
imagined, but not described. Both gentle
men bolted, and one was afterwards heard
to say that he "thought all the while Miss
M 's hand felt rather hard.' Illinois
Calumet..
Love Tokens. The ancient English
custom of giving love tokens on the twen
tieth of August was a very wise and far
seeing plan for settling young ladies in life
and would, if revived, enable a mamma
with a large family of girls to get rid of
them as quickly as pineapples at a pen
ny a slice. It was the custom in England,
a long time ago, for "enamorated maydes
and gentil wemon" to give to their favorite
swains, as tokens of their love, little hand
kerchiefs, about three or four inches square,
wrought round about, often in embroidery
with a button or tassel at each corner, and
a small one in the centre. The finest of
these favors were edged with narrow gold
lace or twist ; and then, being folded up in
four cross folds, so that the middle might
be seen, they were worn by the accepted
lovers in their hats or on the breast. These
favors became, at last, so much in vogue,
that they were sold ready made in the
shops, iu Queen Elizabeth's time, from six
pence to sixteen pence a piece.
A FASHIONABLE SERMON.
The Knickerbocker Magazine furnishes
the following burlesque on the dandied
preaching of the day. It is a skeleton of
a fashionable sermon :
Text. "And he kdled the fatted Calf."
Introduction. Not necessary to say
much about the Prodigal Son, for nearly
every wealthy family has a specimen of its
own, and needs no enlightenment on the sub
ject. Divide the subject into five beads :
1st. Speak of the calf, and inform your
hearers how a calf should be fattened. Give
him all tho milk of two cows, except a tin
cup full now and then for the bady. Here
you can make some learned remarks about
the milky way, the belt of Jupiter, and
Lord Ross's telescope.
2d. He killed the fatted calf, but not
only the Scriptures, but Josephus and the
Fathers are profoundly silent on the ques
tion how he killed it. As this was more
than a thousand years before the invention
of gunpowder firearms, the presumption is
that the old man didn't shoot the critter,
but pitched into him with a club for clubs
are very ancient institutions.
3d. Explain why the old gentleman,
instead of a calf, didn't kill a shote make
a oue-horse barbecue and have a real time
ofit.
4th. Inform your hearers what the word
calf means, when used in Hebrew, Greek,
Latin, Choctaw or Lockjaw.
5th. Dwell pathetically upon the melan
cholly degeneracy of the present age, evin
ced by the fact that fathers, now-a-days,
instead of treating a runaway son to a "fatn
ted calf," are pretty apt to treat him to a
"hasty plate of soup," made from the hide
of the calf s maternal projenitor.
Conclusion. Throw in a little geology;
talk learnedly about " grapewake" and
"transition conglomerate." Win up the
discourse with a most eloquent, affecting
appeal to the consciences of your hearers
on, Durham breed of cattle.
Novel Meeting. Dr. X. attended a
masquerade ball. In the motley and hap
py throng he falls in with a fair pilgrim in
black silk, whose charming person, snow
white neck, and bewitchingly coquettish
airs waken in his soul the most rapturous
love. She casts upon him looks of the most
languishing tenderness ; he revels in the
hope of having made a blissful conquest
He musters up his courage, and ventures
to address her :
"Who art thou, lovely mask ?" asks Dr.
X., almost melted in the glow of love.
"Is it possible you do not know me, Doc
tor?" lisps the lady in black silk.
"No, upon my honor I do not know
thee?"
"Bethink yourself, Doctor."
'Ah ! thou art surely the gracious fairy
who has appeared to me to day, for the
fourth time, to open to me the gates of
bliss."
"You mistake, Doctor ; I am no fairy."
"Ah who art thou, then !"
"I am the well known lady to whom ou
have these nine weeks been indebted in the
sum of two dollars and seven shillings for
washing and ironing ?"
The Doctor stood like a petrified herring.
Dr. Kane. A letter has been received
by a friend of Dr. Kane, in this city, which
gives information direct from his family,
and confirms the unfavorable statement re
cently made public One of his brothers,
on receiving news of his departure from
England, left to meet him in Cuba, although
he was not then thought to be dangerously
ill. But on the 5th instant such alarming
intelligence arrived that his mother left im
mediately for Havana. His disease is in
flammatory rheumatism, contracted in his
first Arctic voyage, and from which he was
suffering severely when he sailed the second
time. His indomitable perseverance and
untiring energy would not yield to a foe
which combatted him during the whole of
his last expedition, and was more terrible
than the horrors of a Polar winter. It has
now attacked tho heai-t, and those who love
him best have but little hope that he will
be spared to them and to the country. The
brave spirit which struggled so manfully,
when all around him was gloom and des
pondency, and who forgot his own infirmi
ties to sustain and encourage his followers,
is at last overcome ; and it is to feared that
we shall soon hear his name is added to
those who have sacrificed themselves to
science and humanity, and have cheerfully
given up their lives to promote knowledge
among men. Boston Transcript.
Speed of Railways. The policy of
running railway trains at a high rate of
speed is being seriously discussed by rail
road men north of us. The Virginia Board
of Public Works has recommended to rail
road companies in that State "to adopt
regulations for such lower rates of speed
as will eventually diminish the cost of re
pairs, and furnish greater security for pas
sengers." In accordance with this sug
gestion, the directors of the Virginia Cen
tral Railroad Company have passed a reso
lution looking to a reduction of speed. The
railroad commissioners of New York state
that a speed of forty miles per hour cause
an increase of fifty per cent, of expense
over a speed of twenty miles. The mag
nitude of the interests related to this sub-
j ject invest it with much importance. In
dependent of any increased profits to be
deriveed from reducing the rate of speed,
the diminished risk of accident to passen
gers is worthy of consideration.
Outrageous. A wretch of a husband
and father writes thus to an editor in
Providence, Rhode Island:
"If women were turned out of doors in
Kansas, with no more clothes on than my
wife and daughters wore when they went
to a party one cold night last week, it would
have been an 'outrage,' and the Journal
would have had two leaders about it."
Unostentatious Charity. A wealthy
lady of Boston, with the aid of a few friend,
prepared a bountiful feast for fifteen hun
dred poor children in Boston, and spread it
for them in Fenuil Hall, on New Year's
day. At the close of the feast each child
was presented with a comfortable garment
and a pair of shoes.
SOME EXPERIMENTS ON THE USE
OF TOBACCO.
In Florseip's Journal, of a recent date,
an interesting article has been published on
the habit of tobacco smoking, and poison
ing nicotin. Among the facts mentioned
are experiments instituted by M. Malapert,
a pharmacien of Poiters. His intention
was to ascertain the exact quautity of nico
tin absorbed by smokers, in proportion to
the weight of tobacco consumed. The ap
paratus used consists of a second jar, in
which the tobacco was made to burn, con
nected with series of bottles communicating
bv tubes : the bottles were either empty, or
contained some water, mixed or not with a
little sulphuric acid. From a few experi
ments it was found that, in the smoke of
tobacco extracted by inspiration, there was
ten per cent, nicotin. Thus a man who
smokes a cigar of the weight of seventy
grains, receives into his mouth seven grains
of nicotin, mixed with a little watery vapor,
tar, empyreumatic oil, etc Although a
large portion of this nicotin is rejected both
by the smoke puffed from the mouth, and
by the saliva, a portion ofit is, nevertheless,
taken up by the vessels of the local and
laryngeal mucus membrane, circulated with
the blood, and acts with the brain. With
those unaccustomed to the use of tobacco,
the nicotin, when in contact with the latter
organ, produces vertigo, nausea, headache
and sommolense, while habitual smokers
are merely thrown into a state of excitement
similar to that produced by moderate quan
tities of wine or tea. From further inves
tigation it was found that the drier tobacco
the less reaches the mouth. A very dry
cigar, while burning yields a very small
amount of watery vapor ; the smoke cools
rapidly, and allows the condensation of the
nicotin before it reaches the mouth. Hence
it comes that the first half of a cigar smokes
more mildly than the second, in which a
certain amount of condensed watery vapor
and nicotin, freed by the first half are de
posited. The same remark applies to to
bacco smoking in pipes, and if smokers
were prudent they would never consume
but half a cigar or pipe, and throw away
the other. Smoking through the water or
with long tubes and small bowls, is also a
precaution which should not be neglected.
....
Awful Thoughts. "This had from the
very beginning of their acquaintance induc
ed in her that awe which is the most deli
cious feeling a wife can have toward a
husband." "Awe !" said I, on hearing the
above remark "awe of a man whose whis
kers you have trimmed, whose hair you
have cut, whose cravats you have 'put into
the wash ;' whose boots and shoes you have
kicked into the closet, whose dressing-gown
you have worn while combing your hair ;
who has been down into the kitchen with
you at eleven o'clock at night, to hunt for
a chicken bone, who has hooked your dress
es, unlaced your boots, fastened your brace
lets, and tied on your bonnet ; who has
stood before your looking-glass, with thumb
and finger on his proboscis, scraping his
chin ; whom you have buttered, and sugar
ed, and toasted, and tea-ed ; whom you
have seen asleep with his mouth wide open !
Ri-diculous !" Fanny Fern.
W Mormonism in Utah. John Hyde, an
elder in the church of the Latter Day
Saints at Utah, having been sent to the
Sandwich Islands on a mission to convert
the people there, has renounced the Mor
mon faith, and is engaged in exposing its
fallacies. Polygamy comes in for a share
in his denunciations, and it must be con
fessed that it does not look remarkably well
as he paints it, although there is little doubt
that the picture is true to the life.
Among other charges, that of falsifying
the census of the territory is made. The
ex-elder says that there are not much over
half as many inhabitants in Utah as the
census returns would indicate. Names of
deceased persons, names of disciples who
never came there, and of those who have
long since gone away, have been retained,
to swell the aggregate to the required sev
enty thousand.
B
Sydny Smith said he heard of a clergy
man who went jogging along the road till
he came to a turnpike.
"What is to pay f
"Pay, sir, for what ?" asked the turnpike
man.
"Why, for my horse, to be sure."
"Your horse, sir, what horse ? There is
no horse, sir."
"No horse?" said he, suddenly looking
down between his legs, "God bless me !
I thought I was on horseback!"
An exchange, in puffing a soap, says it
is the "best ever used for cleaning a dirty
man's face. We have tried it and therefore
know." This is hardly as pointed as the
hit of Dean Swift's "Stella," who, when a
gentleman lamented his inability to keep
clean finger nails, naively suggested "he
was in the habit of scratching himself."
"Bonaparte's English Letter. Count
las Casas has, in his collection at Paris, a
curious document, said to be the first and
only attempt of Napoleon to write in
English, of which the following is given as
a transcript; "Count las Casas since sixt
week I learn the English and I do not any
progress, six week do fourty and two day it
might have lern fivty word for day, I could
know it two thousands and two hundred.
It is in the dictionary more of fourty thou
sand even he could must twenty bout much
oftcen for know it ov hundred and twenty
which do more two years, after this you
shall agree that to study one tongue is a
great labor, who it must do in the young
aged. Lorwood (Longwood) this morning
the seven March thursday, one thousand
eight hundred sixteen after nativity the
year Jesus Christ."
A NAME IN THE SAND.
Alone I walked the ocean strand,
A pearly shell was in my hand ;
I stooped and wrote upon the sand
My name the year the day.
As onward from the spot I passed,
One lingering look behind I cast
A wave came rolling high and fast
And washed my lines away.
And so, methought, 'twill shortly be
With every mark on earth from me ;
A wave of dark oblivion's sea
Will sweep across the place
Where I have trod the sandy shore.
Of Time, and been, to be no more ;
Of me, my frame, the name I bore,
To leave no track nor case.
And yet with Him who counts the sands,
And holds the waters in His hands,
I know a lasting record stands
Inscribed against my name.
Of all this mortal part has wrought,
Of all this thinking soul has thought,
And from these fleeting moment caught
For glory or for shame !
A Gem. An eminent modern writer
beautifully says : "The foundation of do
mestic happiness is faith in the virtue of
women ; the foundation of all political hap.
piness is confidence in the integrity of men
and the foundation of all happiness, tem
poral and eternal reliance on the goodness
of God.
Gardiner, Me., June 22, 1854.
Wm. H. Dter Dear Sir: I have used two bot.
ties of Prof. Wood's Hair Restorative, and can tru!
ly say it is the greatest discovery of the age lor
restoring and changing the Hair. Before using it
I was as gray as a man of seventy . My hair hai
now attained its original color. You can recom.
mend it to tht world without the least fear, ag n?
case was one o( the worst kind.
A HOMESTEAD FOR $10!
$310,000 worth of Farms and
Building Lots,
IN the gold regiou of Culpepper county, Va.
to be. divided amongst 10,200 subscribers, un the
13th of April, 1857. Subscriptions only teu dol
larseach; one half down, the rest on the delive.
ry of the Deed. Every subscriber will pet a
Building Lot or a Farm, ranging in value iicui
$10 to $25,000. These Farias aud Lots are sold
so cheap to induce settlements, a sufficient num.
ber being reserved, the increase in the value of
which will compensate for the apparent low jiric
now askea.
A company of settlers, called "The Rappahan.
nock P ioneer Association," is now forming anil
will commence a settlement in the spring. Am
pie security will be given for the faithful per
formance of contracts and promises.
Ci?" More Agents are wanted to obtain sub
scribers, to whom the most liberal inducement!
will b given. Some Agents write that they are
making $200 per month. Advertising will be
done tor every Agent w here possible. For full
particulars, Subscriptions, Agencies, &c,
Apply to E. BALDKR,
Port Roval, Caroline Co., Va.
Jan. 18, 1857. Sra
The Copartnership of FISHES, lil'R
ROUGH8 & CO. was dissolved by mutual
consent on the first of January, l')7.
All persons indebted to the said firm are re
quested to make "IMMEDIATE" pavnu nt to
FISHER & BURROUGHS.
January 13th, 1857.
HIW HI
The undersigned having purchased Mr N. A.
Hoxie's interest in the tirm of F., B. A Co.,
will continue business at their OLD STAND.
In returning thanks fur the liberal patrouage
bestowed upou the old firm, they hope, by con
stant attention to (he wants of their customer!
to merit a continuance of the same.
JOHN FISHER,
JOHN C. BURROUGHS.
CharlottP, January 13, 1857. 2 m
WE TOLD VOl SO.
VL have just roewfed a second supply ot
Ready Made Clothing,
BOOTS AND SHOES,
and a great many other goods, which together
with what we had on hand, maki s our fc'tock
large and complete. And we will sell at a smalk
advance on cost to close out our stock of Fall aud '
Winter Goods by the first of March.
Wo have a large stock of
Eadics Dres Goods,
which we will sell at cost for CASH.
All those wishing to buy goods for cash, should i0
call and examine our stock before buying else- ft
whore, as we will sell them goods lowi r than
they can buy thern in the place.
All those indebted to us will please call and I
settle by cash if possible as we must have money. I
Wo feel very grateful for (he patronage we have I
received for the last vear.
BROWN, STITT fc CO. I
Jan. 13, 1857. 28-5t
GARDEN SEE PS
Scarr & Go.
Have received a fresh snpply of
LANDKETH'S GARDEN SEEDS,
consisting of every variety suitable to this ch
mate. Also, an assortment of
FLOWER SEEDS. '
Jan. 13th
tf
Charlotte Drug Store.
CHEAP SOAP,
Key Stone Slate SaponiAtr
OR CONCENTRATED LEY.
One pound of the Ley with five pounds (t
Fat will make twenty-five pounds of Hard Soap,
or one hundred pounds of soft soap.
It ia admirably adapted for rendering hard
water soft, and is fit for household purposes.
For sale in one pound tins 25 cents each t
SCARE di CO'S
January l.'itb. tf Drug Store.
Charlotte and Taylomille
FOR SALE.
In accordance with a resolution of the Stock
holders of the C. & T. Plank Road Company
the undersigned, Directors, w ill expose said
Road to public sale on Tuesday of the Count
Court, 27th OF JANUARY, it the Court Hou
in Charlotte. The Road extends from CbarlotW
via Davidson College to Mt. Mourne, In--County,
a distance of 24 miles. The To"
Houses with four acres of land near 11m To8
line will be included in the sale. The Road a
at present in good condition, and by a reci
act ot the Legislature u can oe cuutiwu
Turnpike when the plank wear ovi and T
charged on it as such.
TERMS: The purchaser will be required if
give a Note negotiable and payable in the Bn
of Charlotte or the Branch Bank of the State.
A. SPRINGS.
O. V mVIDBON.
J. P. HENDERSON,
And others, Director
Jan. 13. 1857. 28-3t.
l.iffi Insurance.
Are"'
for the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurant
Company for Charlotte and vicinity. .
Persons wishing to insure their own live "
lires of their slaves wi'J please call on
THOS. W. DEWEY, Agent
Jan. 13, 1857. 98-6t
t