1
mm
II
N
IVJ?
t
ptvM to Pulitifj, Hfiw, LflrirBltttrf, Jitfnal .Imjirmrafiits, talnfrrf, rts nut' fifflrrs, aralU flna tlje.aiaUij Ctrrlf.
:: u
VOL. XI.--NEW SERIES.
SALISBURY, N. C., MARCH 22, 1855.
NUMBER XUII
- t. a. BattntCSfc B4lMf ul rrriUr.
j. r. BKU .fr.; AaatMut ESiMr.
A TALE OF THE EAST.
Tito country betwcn th river Tbeiss
and the Danube la ft wide plain or stepe,
containing 15,000 square miles. Thetrav
ellcrs, on entering it, perceives at once
that he Lai rescued a new country. A
serfs of andal4haa, (orated by sswd-blll
roll away like ware, until earth and sky
are blended together. The. expanse, in
trath, resemble the great ocean soli tied.
Mile after mile ft la a dull, depressing
uniformity, unbroken by a villagSia hpnae,
or a tree. ' Indeed, the name" by which
tlie plain ta known the Putztsj meant
empty," or void and it id well de
scribed by Ita name. It la bare, naked,
and desolate; and destitute eyen of
a stream, or water. Mere ana mere
t long pole of draw-well rises against
the aky, hke a apectral arm, or like the
mast of a stranded Aip. Occasionally a
herd of cattle strays along Tn search f
herbage, watched by mounted horsemen.
Th only other sign of life is a solitary
crane or stork, perched on one leg, amid
a bog white with the powder of so -
da; or a vulture wheeling high in the air
ia search of prey. A profound silence
rests on tlie plain ; and when broken by
the hcrdsaaa's voiee, or the bellowing of
jhe eattle, the sound startles tlie ear, a it
speeds, one knows not whence, on tEj
wings of the wind. The drivers of the
dilligonces wliich cross the Puszta, if over
taken by sight, creep into little boles
which they have grubbed in the sand,
sleeping until the light return ; and even
they, though accustomed to the i joute, are
always glad to reach the eoafines of the
waste. Kahl once, when traversing the
Puszta, was aroused by the driver's ex
clamation, M Ah, thank Ood! I see the
gallows of FeToghax! It was the sign
of a town, civilisation, and dinner!
The Passla is the. cradle, or rather tlie
keen, of Hungarian nationality. It den
Jxcns are pure and unadulterated Ilsnga-
rlaos ; the same ntenas the Magyars,
when, a thousand years agu, they wan-.
dered aray in search of M fresli field and 10re, lasso a buffalo, treud a measure, a compatiinii before they were aware of
pastures Dour," from the plain of distant j,;t . pK wit, the best 01 the stepK; ' their danger. Believiug death was incv-
Aiia. Every man ti a horsciuaii, and tmi tICiU wi-rein his eyes tlie let of al.l..tablc, they determined to sell their lives
everyvneable and ready to ttecome asol- learning. Kozsa, moreover, was fond of j dearly, and retreated to a small room.
dier in defence of hie country. Tlie in- going to.th'e Csarla, fonder of it even than j The Pandurs commanded them to suriVn-
habitant of this Puszta are herdsmen, min.lid hid business ; ami what was t-ven ' der. Koza and his coiiipanilu replied
following great droves of horses, buffa- Wllf8i for l,iiu than dancing and drinking, ! by discharging their pistols at the besie
JianoirJwM from tiaaturw to pasture, and remaiuiug dauL'hter. lioxsa. however, had ; returned the shots, and one of them, wlio
the whole year round beneath the canopy
of neavenr Tbewitdert taongKttlietfi"f
are the swineherds, and their greatest dis-
tinctionUto be a redoubtable ngnter. lis .ji )ic ci,a longed tho happy man
They are preeminently the heroes of the j u, scUt t,cir diffcret,ccs, in the ns(i(il way
pUla. Even tlieir very pleasures are war j0ver R j,,,,, ,t ,lltJ cr After dis
lika and sanguinary. The swinehtrdaro !nfttchjng COOplc of bottles, Itozsa desir
very fond of dancing, their favorite TlaticcL'j j, adversary to give up tho girl ; he
being a representation of catching and ffuacd, as in honor bound ; they fought;
killing a pig. The dancer, while pring- g(lj ,lM killed hi man. hove and mar
ing In tlie air inspired by the music of a! rjK0 were t jlt out f ,(,,. question ;
violin or tho bagpipes, whirl a coiiplerf; Wlj nothing remained fi him, but to turn
. axes round his head so rapidly that they U. jMH,r fi;low." He became a famous rob
resemble a pair of wheel; now throw, er, more, however, fnmi necessity than
there away, anon catches them again, j fr,,,,, inclination. He plundered only the
moving his feet, turning himself to the rctf Kavc freely to the oor, among
measure of the music, and finishes the
performance by striking dead a pig plac
ed. ready for thsjr blow. These axes are
fixed to a handle about three feet long,
and serve both a a walking (tick aud as
a pastoral crook. The herdsmen become
So dexterous in the use of their axes, that
ona Las been known to throw his axe iuto
tlie midst of a crowd of persons, where an
- swaged, buffajlo was yjadmgjind oveiv,
throwing everything in its way, aud bit! was his little horse Bogar, that theherds
jflie "anlmalTto
pot. j that, he bore a charmed life that neither
Bat still more singular and pugnacious i sword nor pistol could hurt him ; aud, iYi
is another pastime of the swine-herds of' short, that he was in league with the le
Puaata. The Konasxa is not exactly a vil. On the Steppe, the Devil always
thief, bat robs occasionally for the fun of
the thing. This is the custom of the pas
time. Having determined to eat one of
his neighbor's pigH-he goes aUi&k,khl
five or six rovstering companion, to in
ueighbor' hut, and gives three knocks at
tlie door with his axe. Tlie sleeper know
what this means, being " to the manner
born," it Is a challenge to eome forth
andulefend lis pigs... Out he rushes, he
in which the axes clash, and blood now
sometimes from terrible wounds. If the
defenders are victorious, why, he "saves
his bacon ;" but if the aggressors, as tlie
case generally is, they are entitled to se
lect the fattest of tho herd and carry hiui
off: ' '
Tho axe is, in other cases, the swine
herd's gauntlet If ho is ill for want of a
flgh ho goc to the Csurds, or hedge inn
aud striking Ills' axe into tho crttss-bcaui
of. the coilhig, asks, " Who is the man
lengo they leave the room, tnri the fight
er celebrate the triumph by jotting drunk
iu solitary glory. If be iiietfls Lin match
as generally, he doe, a ring it funned, and
the duel commences, and al vay eixln by
a fight ail round, in tho Irish fashion.
Nor is the axe a plaything, a gage, a mar-
tittl weapon only ; but it is tie rod of jus-
tice among the swineherds. Suppose, for
instance, a man has lost a torse or any
other animal, and suspects that a neigh-
bor has taken it, he invite him to the
Csarda to take wine. After tlie third
or fourth bottle, - Paul .suddenly say.,
M Brother Stephen, have you seen my
grey.
"Not that 4 know of," coolly replies
Stephen. j
Sow-, then, tell me truly, Stephen ;
yon must have seen it. 1 have seen it
stoongst your herd."
' M Yon have mistaken my large grey
dog for your foal," is the answer. $
u I see," said Paul, " that you ar de
termined to know nothing of it ;" and then
suddenly drawing hi axe from beneath
his sheepskin-coat, he strike Stephen a
sharp blow on the head.
"So you have struck !" exclaims Faul,
and drawing his axe returns blow for)
blow. Titer fight on till honor is satis -
fie)J an( thm .,ut guajt.y remember.
that he has got a foal, upo which they
drain another bottle, and leave the house
as good friends as they entered it
' Tbeau rough pastimes and keen-edged
JlJfuitSj,?)!!! i''jnsjJi,,jr!'-
Ur; and then the homicide, instead of
returning Jto his herd, take to the Steppe
for a living ; stealing cattle, robbing tra
vellers, and extorting food and shelter at
the thinly-scattered farm ; nor does the
farmer dare reject his self-invited 'guests,
knowing that if be did, hi dwelling would
Ipoirfal TOllam.'TbegHtetthe-lan
guage of the country tocoiiies a Szegeny
LegenV; that is, "a poor fellow ;" aud
this brings us to our story.
Uoxa Saixlur was the son of a wcaltliv
witM-koetKT t the Puzta, and from his ,
earliest bovbood had wandered with the":
icr,.. mt CCMJ father.
magixtrate of j
him a schuW ; i
-
Sieged, wished to "make
'bat Ha preferred the wide ge of
(ttre , IxK.k leariiinr'. He could ride a
a rjyltl jM the girl's fflir,-,(j,,nS o.n,l
iI1ry
sfuT i
S JTOniinWl0jr"; burst bropT;au
K,, i,ro(L tlu liirhtet interference with
whom he was regarded as Iiobbin Hood
The Pandurs, or mounted police, hunted
him from county to county, from farm to
farm ; but so great was his activity, pre
sence of mind, and daring, add so clever
his contrivances, that he always eluded
them. Once, he had concealed himself
L,it.r a pilo.of nets, on which the hatBed
pttMdiir sat down to consult together.
narrow were his escape,' and so swill !
gets the credit of anything wliich people
cannot understand.
One stormy night, a crowd of horse
ferry across the Thciss or C'surgo, jSoirie
gipsy musicians wero playing one ot tlie
melodies of the country. These are so
wild and impassioned that the hearler is
involuntarily carried away; and every
iuiw. and then one of the coiiipauy, in-
seat, beckoned loono.oi me grnnyi ni gins
wishfully in the door way, and joined in
the dance, all giving vent to their pleas
ure iu loud exclamations, each maut at
the end, lifting hi partner , high in the
air. In tho midst of this scene, one of the
company rose, and throwing hi hat upon
the ground, exclaimed to'thd gipy bund,
'tNow follows, stride tip my noteT' He
was a young man slmrt ; and his eyes,
which glowed ljke coals of tiro in his pule,
sad face, glanced restlessly about from
hand the axe of the herdsman. The gip
sies play ed one of the simple and melan
choly Magyar-tunes, which often melt an
assembly into1 tears.. Ttit herdsmen danc-
I ed alone, going through the mazes of the
' dance with such consummate skill, that
a citele of admirers gathered round bira.1
Amongst these were some Paudurs, who
; looked significantly at each other when
j they saw tlie dancer. lie did not notice
J them, however, until he had finished ;
and though his scrutinising glances met
, the eyes of the police, he did not appear
to heed them.
Calling carelessly for a
jug of wine, he sauntered towards the ve
randah which surrounded the house, and
before the Pandar could approach him
had disappeared. In a few moments, the
trampling of horse was heard in the court
yard, and then the report of a gun. A
crowd of gipsies and traders, who were
detained at the ferry by street of weather
rushed out in surprise and alarm, and be
held the graceful dancer, seated on horse
back. ; " Itozsa Sandor wishes the worthy
Pandurs a" very good night 1" he exclaim
ed, and then darted off toward the river.
The Pandurs were soon mounted, and in
pursuit of the redoubtable " poor fellow,"
who, without a moment's hesitation, dash
, ed into the stream, and made for the op
posite shore.
" lie cannot hold out long," cried one
of the traders. " Look, the stream bears
him away," and at that moment the Pan
dim fired heir carbines aUiim, and tlie
horse and rider sunk, liuzsa had only
. . :n 1 if -y-iT- "
dtvea to escape tlie ouiieta oi me ponce.
" Never fear for his life," said a herds
man to some of his comrades. " I rather
think tlii is not tlia first tilne he swim
the river."
lie waa right ; though the struggle was
long and dangerous, it was successful;
and ,ihJum auddridjWfc. Iijudng-gainuji.
the oosite bank,oon diappeared in the
distance.
A love for the Csarda was Kozaa's be
getting weakness, and he indulged in it
in defiance of warning. On one occasion
some Pandurs, who were in pursuit of
. -
hurt, arrived iu a village near Sxalontn,
while lie- was enioVing adanee. Tliey-
Na-'nmmoued a body of the inhabitants to
f Uteir aseitaix-e, aud surprkod liuzsa ami
u-m-jhad been a Hussar, rushing against the
su's companion, who had defended it.-
Hussar was in the act of shooting Itoz
sa, when he was felled himself. The be
leagured bandit was unable to defend
both door end window too; whichever
way he turned, he must soon have been
shot in the back. " At least I will die in
the oen air !' be exclaimed ; and rush
ing out pistol in hand, be. contrived to
reach the stable, untouched. In a few
moments he had saddled his horse; but
the Pandurs surrounded the door of the
stable, though they dared not enter it.
Determined, however, to take him dead
or alive, they set fire to the roof, and it
now seemed inevitable that Itozsa must
either be burnt alive or fall by the bul
lets of the police. But Itozsa himself
never despaired. Bursting open the stable-door
favored by a dense cloud of smoke
he vaulted on his horse before the Pan
durs could lay handslipon hiin'l In vain
his punmers discharged their carbines
right in bis face ; the bullets whistled idly
by h i m. " Tie dashed' boldly th rough the
crowd, an3 galloped towards uo gate ;
but it had been shut, and the Court yard
being surrounded by a high wall, escape
seemed impossible. Mot so, however,
Itozsa quick as thought, charged the wall:
his brave horse did not fail him in the des
perate attempt, and Roxsa disappeared
with a suddenness which brightened the
evil reputatiou of both horse and man.
r-jtv- vonldMverf1ia :veT8df;;re---tiirned
to an honest life in tho Puszta, the
wild home to wliich his heart yearned.
I Jo was truly the most miserable man up
on earth, lie felt that he had done wrong.
hut he also felt that " the world and the
.w-udOAlaC
fwrthtke--Iris Wei.Ii
pcror of 'Austria " became a traitor to i
it....... .....t ..M it t. ti, v..t " u tl.n 1
people used to say, and they dethroned
. . ' .
him from their hearts. 1 Tlie cry of Kos-
suth, " Tho Fatherland in danger !" con
verted every denizen of tho Puszta into a
soldier,aiidthe watchword was, "Forward
from tho Thciss Divnubc," to drive back
tlio; advancing t;roats. nozsa tiiiiiKing
advancing Croats.
that even ins lorlcittid me migiii oe oi some
use, -so'ught permissioii to sacrifice it m
dAifmejwsconntry. i yeti-
tion to the Government, praying for an
amnesty, and promising, if it were grant
ed, to raise a body of Hussars from the
Steppe, and lead them ajginst the enemy.
The Government accepted Itozsa s sub
mission, and assistance, and his pardon
. read to him in the market place of
Szeged iu the presence of a large crowd
ot people, lie swore to live aua aie uon
orably for his country and kept his oath.
He appeared at the head of eighty brave
fellows, mounted and armed, aud greatly
distinguished himself during tlie war.
Hi feats of arms, and wonderful escapes
formed quite a romance. His followers,
like bis foes, at length became impressed
with the belief that no bullet could hurt
him, -that he waa impregnable against
every weapon. Instead, however, ot think
iiiir that he was in league with the Devil
they maintained that he possessed a charm
made of peculiar materials, at a certain
tme, which enabled him to set all tlie
world at defiance. The charm had, it
appears, a weak point a counter charm;
but it was known only to Roxaa himself.
The Hungarian patriots having been
overwhelmed, Itozsa retired to the Step
pe. Tlie Austrian Government put a price
of 100 on his head, and the police com
menced an unceasing attempt to capture
him. But it was in vain ; for every man
was his friend ; even the fi
i.i. fnont ! 4tia fimrtlnnnriM nf
the Government either out of sympathy
or for the more solid reasons, gave him
'
notice when a new chase was in the wind,
He organised a body of undaunfced men,
executed his orders with implicit obedi
ence and almost unvarying success. In
aiding patriots to escape from prison in
getting other in danger across the fron
tier, in disconcerting the spy system, and
in other ways, Roxsa coutiuued to serve
the patriot cause long after it was bro-
Jccn In the field. - - r-
Rcftsa, on one occasion, was sent from
Pesth with despatches, of the highest im
Hrtance, to the Turkish frontier. His
wile, during his absence, foolishly show-
led herself in Pesth, so openly that the po
lice had no difficulty in making her a pri
soner .The unhappy woman was tortur-
d by the Austrian, to wring from her
the secrets of her husband. But she de
tied, their cruelties, and at the end of a
fortnight she was shot at Xeugebandc.
Uozsa did not return 'until the atrocious
deed had been done ; but though he deep
ly loved his wife, he manifested no, out
ward sign of affliction, lie became, per
haps, more solitary, but in no way betrayed-
the paiu.. .which- waa eating his very
heart. Shortly afterwards, he and a cho
sen hand of followers left the camp in the
of a few days, dashed into the camp again,
Itoz$a, carrying before him a large bun
dle, while a gendarme was bound to one
of his followers. Their horses were cov
ered with foam, they were exhausted with
fatigue, and iiirht was far advanced ; but
Itozsa ordered hi men to mount, and ride
for the reeds which line tlie banks of the
Theiss. For three hours they galloped
in ailence, and then dismounting, Itozsa
ordered a fire to be lighted. Then open
ing the bundle, his followers were thrill
ed with horror at beholding the corpse of
his wife. The flickering flame falling on
the ghastly countenance, the lips seemed
to move, and animation return. Itozsa
knelt by tho side of the corpse, sobbing
and weeping piteously, nor could his rude
followers refrain from tears. Itozsa had
braved death to rescue the corpse from
tho Austrians, that it might rest in free
ground, and to capture the gendarme who
bad seized his wife.. A grave was dug,
and one of his troopers, an outlawed Pro
testant minister, performed -the Service
lor the Dead. And then tho mourner
sung the Nationol Autlieui of Hungary ;
a solemn plaintive melody, varied by
martial strains.- Scarcely had the corpse
been laid in its grave, than Uozsa sud
denly seizing his axe, aimed a blow at
the prisoner, who was already more dead
than alive from fright But as sudden
ly his spirit changed; his raised arm fell
here intending to sacrifice you
on tho very mound under which the hap
piness of my life now lies buried. But
as the wrong you have perpetrated touch
es mv nerson and not mv country. Lwill
worth "of .myself.
upon me, and in exchange, I bestow ont
vou the I'huitest b essuiL' I Lnve vou
... ... . ,.i
vour life!-' Tho man's eves wero their!
c
a! "
bouiul, ly IWsus orJers ; ho was coo
ducted back to the neighborhood of Pesth,
and then set at liberty.
Itozsa Sandor stiltlive, hoping alas !
against hope that the flag of Hungary
may again bo raised. MWHiur inat come
to pass, no may be Heard oi again.
Honesty is al way the best policy.
Be Franklin tad (he Goreraor.
a TSKT .urnauaiTmo stokt.
Ben had just returned from assisting
.Collins to bed,, when the captain of the
Y5 wn,cu "u SU' u,m
York, stepped up and in a very respect
ful manner put a note into his hand, lien
opened it, not without considerable agita
tion, and read as follows ;
"O. Burnet compliments await young
Mr. Franklin, and should be glad to have
half aa hour's chat with him over a glass
of wirie." i.
" G. Burnet," said Ben, " who can that
fte!"
Why, 'tis the Governor," replied the
captain with a smile, "I have iut been
to see him, with some letters I brought
for him from Boston. And when I told
hi in what a world of Books you have, he
expressed a curiosity to see you, and begg
ed I would return with you to his pal
ace." Ben instantly set off with the captain,
but not without grief, as he cast a look at
the door of poot Collins' bed-room, to
think what an honor that wretched young
man had lost for the sake of two or three
gulps of filthy grog
The U
Governor's looks at tho approach
of Ben, showed somewhat a disappoint
ment. He had, it seems, expected con
siderable entertainment from Ben's con
versation. But bis fresh and ruddy coun
tenance showed him so much voungcr
: 1,18,1 ue naa countea on, mat ne gave up
1 nttnisoA I ., t ad last
Oil UIO 1 't ...111 liJT.'. 1 1 1 lti n llll Ml o -
nope, lie received lien, however, witu
great politeness, and fter pressing him
to a manA of wine, took In in into an ad-
I joining room which was his library, con
lection.
Seeing the pleasure which sparkled in
Ben's eyes, as he 'surveyed so many ele
gant authors, and thought of rich stores
of knowledge they contained, the govern
or, with a smile of complacency, as on a
yonng pupil of science, said to him :
" Well, Mr. Franklin, I am told by the
captain here, that yo have a fine collec
tion too
" Onlv a trunk full, sir," said Ben.
" A trunk full !" replied the governor,
" why what use canyou have for so many
books f Young people of your age have
seldom read beyond the tenth chapter of
eheiniali.
" I can boast," replied Ben, " of hav
ing read a great deal beyond that myself;
but Btttt 1 should be .sorry it 1 couid not
get a trunk full to read every six months."
" At this the governor, regarding him
with a look of surprise, said :
" You must then, though so yonng, be
a scholar ; perhaps a teacher of the lan
guages." "JN'o sir," answered Ben, "I know no
language but mv own."
" What, not tatin or Greek I"
" No sir, not a word of either."
" Whv, don't you think them necessa
5f "I; - " -; -;
"I don't set myself up as a judge but
I should not suppose them necessary."
trAyel Atxlt, rstrontd liketo hearyotir
reasons."
" Whv, sir, I am not competent to give
reasons that may satisfy a gentleman of
learning, but the following are the reasons
with which I satisfy myself. I look on
language, sir, merely as arbitrary sounds
of characters, whereby men communicate
their idea to each other. Mow 1 already
possess a language which is more capable
of conveying more ideas than I shall ever
acquire; were it not wiser for me to im
prove my time in sense, through that one
language, than waste it in gutting more
soutuh through fifty different languages,
even if I could learn so many I"
Here the governor paused a moment,
though not without a little red on his
checks, for having a few moments before
put Ben and chapter X of Nehemiali so
close together. However, catching a new
idea, he took another start .
" Well, but my dear sir, you certainly
differ from the learned world, which is,
you know, decidedly in favor of the lan
guages." " I would not wish wantonlv to differ
with the learned world," said lien, "es
pecially when they maintain opinions that
seem to- me founded in truth. But when
thatia uot the case, to differ from them 1
have ever thought my duty ; and espe
cially since I studied Locke."
Locke 1" cried the govornor with sur
prise, u you stuJUd IsOcire !"
" Ye sir, I studied Locke on the Un
derstanding at thirteen."
" You amaze me, sir. You study Locke
on the Understanding at thirteen I"
" Yes sir, I did."
" Well, and pray al what college did
vou study Locke at thirteen ! At Cam-
bKdge coilpge m old EMglaitd; where! gwtjw
my education, they never allowed the sen
ior class to look at Locke till eighteen.
"Why, sir, it was my misfortune never
to bo at a college, or even a grammar
seh.vl. exccut nine months when I was. a
: !
ctiiid. .
"Never a a College !well, w
iftorawsnf
wlierj wnere aid you get yoni
where where did you get your Wuca ,
. "
...
on, pray i
lion urnv ?"
At home, sir, in a tallow-chandler's '
shop !
" In a tall'.w-cbandler s s
iop !
ed the goyemor.
Yes sir, my father was a poor tallow-
chandler with sixteen children, and I was !
the youngojt of all ; at eight-years of age
10 put gfliool ,lmt linJiu"h
e cv.uni .
not spare the money lrom the rest oi the
children to keep mo there-, ho took me
home in the shopy where I assisted him
by twisting the candle wicks and filling
moulds all day, and at night I read by my
self. - At twelve, my father bound me to
my .brother, a printer in Boston, and with
him I worked there all day at case and
press, and again read by myself at night"
Here rhe governor clapped his bands
together, and put up a loud whistle, while
his eyes, wild with surprise, rolled about
in their sockets as if in a mighty mind
to hop out I k
, " Impossible, young man !" he exclaim
ed. u vou are onlv soundintr uiv creduli
ty, lean never believe tlie one-balf of
this. Then turning to the captain, ho said :
" Captain you are an intelligent man and
from Boston; pray tell me, can this
young man here be aiming at anything
but to qnix me V ;
"no indeed, please vour Jfc.xcellency,
replied the Captain, " Mr. Franklin i not
quizzing vou ; he is saying what is really
true, tor I am acquainted with his father
and family."
Tlie governor then turning to Ben, said
more moderately, M Well, my dear won
derful boy, I ask your pardon for doubt
ing your word ; and now pray tell me,
for 1 feel a stronger desire than ever to
hear your objection to learning the dead
languages," ...
" Why, sir, I object to it principally
on account of the suortuess of bumau
life. Taking them one with another, men
do not live above forty years. Plutarch
indeed, only puts it at thirty-five. But
say forty. Well, of this, full ten years
are lost in ciiuaiioou, betore any hoy
thinks or a mnn grammar, ibis brings
WJC IUIIJ UUHII IU lUlllT. xUW Ul BUtJ
. I. I . .1 A !.:. X- e 1.
a moment as this to spend five or six years
in learning the dead languages, especial
ly wuen ail ine oesi dooks in inose lan
guages are translated into ours, besides,
we already have more books on every sub-
jecrfhan such short-nved "creainreican r
ever acquire seems preposterous.
Well, what are you to do with their
great poets. Viriril and Homer for exam
ple; I suppose yon would not think of
translating Homer ont of bis rich native
ureek into our poor homespun r.ngiun
would you I" i
"Why not, sir T I
" Why I should as soon think of trans
planting a pine apple from Jamaica to
Boston."
" Well sir a skillful gardener, with his
hot-house, would give nearly as nue a pine
anplo as any in Jamaica. And so, Mr.
1 one with his fine imagination has given
u Homer in English, with more of his
beauties than ordinary scholars would
find in- him after forty years study of the
Greek. Ami besides sir,- if Homer were
not translated, I am far from thinking it
wontd be worth spending five or six years
to learn to readhim in his own language."
You differ from the critics Mr. Frank
lin, for they toll us that his beauties are
inimitable."
" Yes sir, and the naturalist tells that
the beauties of the basilisk are inimitable,
top."
"The basilisk, sir! Homer compared
with the basilisk t I really don't under
stand you, sir.
" Why, I mean, sir, that s the basilisk
is more to be dreaded from tho beatitifiit
skin (hat covers his poison, so is Homer ;
tor the bright coloring be throws over bad
characters and passions. Now as I don't
think the beauties of poetry are compar
able to those of philanthropy, nor a thou
sandth part so important to human happi
ness, 1 must confess that 1 dread Homer.
especially as tlie companion of youth.
The humane and gentle virtues are cer
tainly the greatest charmers and sweeten
ers ot lite. And l suppose, sir, you wonld
hardly think of sending your sou to
Achilles to learn these." 1
" I agree he has too much revenge in
bis composition."
l es sir, and when painted in tho co
lors which Homer's glowing fancy lends,
what youth but must run tho most immi
nent risk of catching a spark of bad tire
from such a blaze as he throws upon hi
pictures."
W by this, though an uncommon view
of the subject, is I confess an ingenious j
one. Mr. Franklin : but surely it is over-
strained."
"Not at all, sir, we are told from good
autnonty, tuat it was tbe reading oi ik-
mer that first put it into the head of Alex- j
ander the Great to become a hero ; and af-,
tw him of CharieAjL
of creatures have been slaughtered by
these two butchers is not known ; but still
pn.bal.ly not a tithe of what have perish-1
ed induels between individuals from pride
and revenge nursed from reading tiomer.- I
" Well sir, replied tbe governor, " I
never heard the prince of bards treated
in this way before. ou must certainly
be singular in your charges agaiust Ho-
mer.
" Ask your pardon, sir ; Ihave Ae hon-f
to tfaink-tromgr'exartly did thavjfyg
great pbiioeopner ot amiquiiv; i '
Plato, who strictly forbade the reading
of Homer tohis ltl'public. And yet Pla-1
to Was a heathen. I don't boast myself
las a Christian rand vet I a.fth.ked at'.
. .
uie inconsisieiic
jnev ot our Latin and ureek
.-n' i ii i:..:
W IU- Villi VMW v.... ,'K. a. ...v
their recitation can stop them .hort to
. .... - - .... ....
u huu laiiranuusiDi:
it.koit nut tfitttii httiul.
which tho poet gives to hi
l... ;.. .1...
bl.Kdv work of slanghteringthe inx.rTrv- i
ians;-a..d the uexC day take them to
VV illlia IU 1119 111 1 VI 111 111C
church to boar a discourse lrom I lirist on
the blessedness of meekness and forgive-
nes-s. No wonder-.that h4 liverevl yoking
men thus educated, should despise meek-;
uesivnd forgiveness as a cowai-d s virtues,
and nothing so glorious as fighting duels
jam! hlowintj." '"'
) Hero the governor came to a pause,
like a gamester at his last trump. But
perceiving Ben past his eyes on a splen
did copy of Pope, be suddenly seized that .
as a fine opportunity to turn Uie conversa
tion. So stepping np he placed his hand
on his shoulder and in a vey familliar man
ner said :
" Well, Mr. Franklin, there's an author
that I am sure von will not quarrel with ;
an author that I think you will pronounce
" Why, sir," replied Ben, " I entertain
a most exalted idea of Pope ; but still sir,
I think he is not without his faults."
" It would puzzle yon, I sospset, Mr.
Franklin, keen a critic as yon are, to point
out one.
u Well sir," said Ben, hastily taming to
the place, " what do yon think of this fa
mous couplet of Pope's T
' Iua.jMt ni timit f SaSHH.
Tor nil at SeeaMjr mat mt Mil' "
" I see no fault there."
' No iodeed f replied " Ben, - why
now to rriv mind a man can nae no better
excuse for anything that he does wrong
uian las want oi sense.
"How sol"
" Well sir, if I might presume to alter
a line in this great poet, I would do it in
this way. ,
" IanMd wot wfaut at tnUn,
That urt at sVcraer m will at ni'
Here tlie governor caught Ben in his
arms, as a delighted father wonld his son,
calling out at the same time to the cap
tain :
" How greatly I am obliged to yon, air,
for bringing me to an aeanaintanee with
rthis charming youth I Oh what a delight-
mi ming ii wouw oe ior ns to convene
with such a sprightly youth asbiin. But
the worst of it is that most persona art)
blind as bats to the true glory and happi
ness of their children. Most parents nev
. .... --1-
er iook nigner ior their sons than to
them like jay birds, in fine feathers. ,
Hence their conversation is no better than I
froth or nonsense."
Aler several other compliment on Ben.
and the captain expressed a wish to b
going, the governor shook hands with
Ben, bogging at the same tia that he .
would forever consider him as ona of his
fastest friends; and also never come to 1
New l ork without coming to tee him. '
IXTEKESTUIO IlBTOklCAL DoCTMKjrTS.
Tlie Magistrates of the County Court on
Thursday last passed a vote, of thanks to
James Banks, Esq., for his antiquarian
researches, and hi services in exhuming
ffrTmr-heTirbbTsrr-f- th Ctmtrty Goert -
ouice, tue Minnie lxtcxel irom IJ93 10
80. .
Tlx T'lfwhlrof I) na luAn fwhmmf in JC ola
marked A, B, C, D, and EMr.-Banl-statcd,
in presenting them, that they were
nearly com pletcexcept from 1T63 to 1773.
That they contained evidence of the fact
that J ustices, who had acted as Magis
trates of the King, became Magistrates
of the State, as soon as the Congress which
sat at Ilalifax declared against the Crown.
That these records .prove that during the .
whole ar, tbe administration or justice
was-iH-Whig hand at Cross Greek i-that
the Court had never been molested or
prevented from meeting ; and except on
one occasion, had not called in the aid or
the Militia, and in that instance it was oc
casioned by a prevailing rumor, that all
those who were notified to come in and
take the oath of allegiance to the State,
meant to do so npon the same day. .At
the close of that Court, the Militia receiv- '
ed the thanks of tlie Court no disturb
ance having arisen. "
lie stated further, that among the Vol'- .
nines would be found, the oath of alle
giance to the State, numerously signed, as
well as an oath against a beliefof ".Trans-
substantiation ;" likewise evidence of the
interest manifested by the Court, in hav
ing clothes made for the use of the Whig
army. ' "
The preservation of the records, he said.
had been to him a labor of love. There
was much interesting historical informa-
V0" co.nt1tt,nea ,,n ,?em wb.lcu ".om
d?7 ' plJ h pen of some future
Historian of Cumberland some one who
m S"1 no? "fP1 "ory, ont
-
0 k' '
Histowcai. Rbmi vncsicccs or Cixbiklaihv
Chsosicles or Caoss CaKM.
. -.in ....
. Tlie Umrt appennted a i Committee to
" - . , '"i ", p8
o " '
ToColob Black aoAEna. An appliance
! (ot blackboard can be made br boiUng
of loWOO(, ia water enough
(to ni it. nH ililinc half an innu nf
, TitrioL u,UDerior to
0ff,. dries in a few minutes, and bears no
.
6 . . . -
sAaflwiiMi
a - r a. a . .
,r - . . ' . e " r
hftol-A Rlinrl.. tl.m tnnrninor a Mm
was
OISCOV
ered in an out-house on tbe South
I . I , , - -r . , . ..
'it i t i .r,rrf.W(a,
"eiefntou.
it wa. ilidin-irnvil atk.1 Kt . tliA tim&.
'J uiscovery, would lnoviiaoiy nave aes-
t 1: ri ; i I I
- . r. .. . .
'lrK' 1 ,F u 7w puimmgs.
'''f H,c ' n ery effort to
r ,, ' " . . ' ,
faijnmvxua voterwr.
A cotetuiKrary, in noticing the propo-
sill to light the streets of a villaife with
red headed girls, savs ; " If wO lived there
jAt vfd play tipsy every uigbr. and hng the.
' lamp-posts."
at