Camden commercial courier. (Camden, S.C.) 1837-1838, July 01, 1837, Image 1
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L. M. JONES, & Co. Pun lis iiers. "at the public good we aim." M. M. LEVY, Editor.
VOL. I. CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, SATURDAY JULY 1, ISS7. NO. 9.
TMiRJfIS
OF THE
comisRaxAL aouniEfti
Published weekly every Saturday morning J
at 83 per annum if paid in advance, or
8 4 if not paid until the expiration of the
year.
Advertisements inserted"at 81 per square
lor the first insertion, and 50 els. for cyjgny
continuance.
Persons subscribing out of the Stale, arc
required to pay in advance.
(^^Communications must be post paid. =?31!
From the Evenings with Cambaccros.
TIIF. DOUBLE LADY THE SELECTED CHATEAU
4I could relate,' said the Duke ol'Otranto
one evening 'a hundred extraordinary ;
incidents which have come within my '
knowledge. What would you think of n
beautiful young female appearing double?' J
'Double, Monscigncur! Double in character
you mean?'
'No, double in body? Two beings precisely
similar were seen at the same time
in d lire rent parts of her father's house,!
and in other places. The facts rests on i
'hi. ovirlcncn ??f tliirtv individuals of un*
questionable velocity, whose signatures j
are aflixed to the, inexplicable process verbal
of the case. The emperor, after holding
a long conference with Corvisart on !
the subject, desired that the phenomenon
should be enveloped in the utmost possible
secrecy. Ho presented, from his own
private purse, a sum of money to the
young lady, accompanied by the request
that she would retire to an obscure convent.
In that convent she died on the 1st
of Jan. 1813. The optical illusion of
which she was the subject existed for more i
than ten years.'
At this we all laughed, declaring that '
the Duke was taxing our credulity too
far.
Well,* resumed Fouchc, peillnps you !
will be less sccpiiblc respecting the adventures
of robbers. I will relate to you
a history which, at least, has the merit of
novelty, for 1 have never yet communicated
it to any one.'
At the period to which it refers, the
?>-:.? ~r 'i' ?l !
ui l ciiui wad juoi ai nn
About midway between Berry and Sologne
there was an old chateau, the owners of
which had suffered severely in the revolution.
II uving saved from the wreck [
scarcely any thing but their lives, they
were endeavoring, by economical retirement,
to recover from the difficulties in
which they hud been involved hy the ra- J
vages committed upon their property.?
The chateau was consequently visited hy
little company, and it never was the scene
of those entertainments which too often
serve only to allure a crowd of gr? cdy parasites.
On the other hand, hospitallitv
was liberally dispensed to a few chosen
ftiends; the family table was plentifully
simplied, and what was wanting in cere
I t -. ? o
xnony was made up in abundance.
'One evening, on the approach of win
ter, a noise was heard at the outer gate of
the castle. It was a general of. the Republic,
accompanied by his two aids-deeatnp.
He had been appointed to a command
at Chateaurotw, and night had overtaken
him in the dreary plains of Soiognc.
He requested to be provided with a supper
and a night's lodging.
'Show them in,' said the master of the
chateau, 'they shall be made welcome.'
The three travellers alighted; their horses
were led to the stable, and they were
ushered to the salon. Their manners and
conversation denoted them to be persons
ol very low breeding; but this was not j
thought very extraordinary, considering j
the want of refinement which character-|
ized Rosignol Ronsin, Santerrc, Hcnriot I
and other ollicers of high rank in the revolutionary
parly. The mother of the master
of the chateau, a venerable and pious
matron, far advanced in years, conceived
such a strong prejudice against them, that
she immediately retired to her oratory,
and fervently prayed that llcavcn would
not forsake a family which hail always
been distinguished for a devotion and attachment
to the King.
Prayer,' pursued Poncho, 'administers ,
case to certain minds. The lady returned
to the drawing room more calm, and
With a less degree ol aversion to the now
guests. She scrutinized their slovenly
dress, their ferocious countenances; and ,
when she heard their conversation, which
was perfectly in harmony with their appearance,
stie thought it prudent to consign
to their use the best chambers in the
manor, lest they should imagine they were
not treated with all the respect that was
due to thein. The visitors withdrew, and
tlicy had no sooner left the room than all
the family agreed that their looks alone
would afford evidence sufficient for hanging
them.
The family in the chateau consisted of
the grandmother, the father, the mother,
a son about 18, two daughters, the one
14 and the other 10, an aunt, two maid
scivants and two lackeys,?in all, eleven
individuals, but they were ill-armed, and
incapable of any effectual resistance.
The officers were informed that supper
was ready. They came and seated themselves
at the table. They maintained on
I
(
arrogant tone of conversation, and were
avidently seeking to pick a quarrel. The
prudence of the lather checked the impetuosity
of the son, who on one occasion
well nigh sufiered his irritation to get die
better of him. During supper, a ringing
was heard at the gate.
The general and his aids-dc-camp smiled,
and exchanged significant looks,
which were observed by some of the fafamily.
The master of the house ordered
that no one should be admitted.
Very likely,' observed the general, 'it
may be two orderly officers, who I expect
will he sent with a message to we.
Possibly they raay have found out where
we are.'
To this no answer could be made; but
the suspicion of the family was aroused,
the two n?en servants were sent to open
the gate. They ushered in, not the two
orderly officers who were expected, but
a man of tall stature and dignified deportment,
and whose countenance expressed
a singular degree of mildness and benevolence.
He was apparently about forty
yeais of age, and his costume was thus
worn by the pilgrims of Saint Jacques;
he had the rocket and the staff, the gourds
the cockle shells, and the large oil-skin
hat; in short nothing was wanting. As
soon as he entered the threshold of the
room door he stopped short, crossed himself,
and said in a firm and grave tone of
voice?
'The grace of God be with you, and
preserve you from the nocturnal ambush
of the wicked!'
The solemnity of these Words, and the
singularity of a garb which, at that time
could not be worn in r ranee without considerable
risk and peril, amazed the inmates
of the chateau. The goad old lady,
delighted at the pious salutation, cordially
welcomed the pilgrim, whilst the
oflioers sneered at him, called'him an importer
and a hypocrite, and said 'remember
the habit does not make the moult/
'True/ replied the pilgrim, 'nor does
the uniform make the officer.'
At these words the aids-de-ramp rose
angrily and were about to strike the pilgrim;
but the others held them back, and
he thus continued:
'Surely Gentlemen, it would be better
if you would employ yourselves in scouring
the country of the brigands who infest
it, than for two of you to attack a
poor wandering sinner. He who threatens
with the sword will perish by the
sword. Heaven is weary of crimes that
are committed, and will speedily take
vengeance on the offenders.
The remarkable expression with which
he uttered these words, whilst it imparled
confidence to the inhabitants of the chateau,
seemed to intimidate the officers.?
The general said, in a more subdued tone
than he had hitherto manlainicd:
'My friend, tr.at term gentleman, which
you make use of, and which is so obnox
ii?us iu us, logeincr wiin tnose emblems
of superstition in which you have arrayed
yourself?all augur ill. To-morrow
it is very probable you may be called
upon to account for your conduct before
the municipality of this district/
'It is certain,'said the pilgrim, 'that tomorrow
you will have to answer for yourself.'
'Villain!' exclaimed the general; 'I will
run my sword through your body!'
The family succeeded in appeasing this
angry ebullition, and supper proceeded.?
The pilgrim eat only a crust of bread and
a dried fior. and mienchcd his thirst with a
O ' *
glass (if water. His conversation, which
was serious and full of the most sublime
sentiments, overawed the officers. fliev
observed a gloomy silence, and retired
when they saw the family preparing for
prayers. They proceeded to their chamber,
swearing, singing, and jesting.
The pilgrim uttered the pious exhortation
to heaven. His improvised prayer
was sublime. All the family expressed
their admiration and gratitude, and tinson
obliged the holy man to accept his
bed, instead of that which had been prepared
for him in the servant's room.
The inhabitants of the chateau were all
sound asleep, when, about one o'clock in
the morning, the grandmother was awakened
by the glare of a brilliant light,
which dazzled her. She looked around,
arid on recovering from her surprise, she
beheld, standing at the foot of her bed,
the pilgrim, who by signs directed her to
rise, dress herself and follow him. The
good old lady, feeding herself, as she after
wards declared, urged by a supernatural
power, immediately obeyed. At the same
moment, and in the same manner, the pilgrim
awoke the son of the master of the
chateau, and conducted him to the corridor,
where he was met hv his grandmother.
For a moment the pilgrim appeared
to them to assume a twolold form, but the
eflect was so instantaneous that they were
unable to give any accurate account of it.
The stranger, then, without uttering a
word, conducted them to the chamber
where the ofliccrs were reposing. lie
touched the door lightly with his staff; it
flew open, he entered, and the old lady
and her grandson followed him. On the
tables and chairs wore lying rope ladders, I
poignards, pistols, keys, files, iron bars,!
and other things commonly used by robbers.
The three pretended olliccrs appeared
to be in a profound sleep.
They will sleep till to-morrow,' said
the pilgrim, 'thanks to Ilea' en and to the
piety of this excellent family.'
11 aving uttered these words, he vanished?the
light fled with bin?the lady and
her grandson found themselves enveloped
in darkness, and in their respective apart-|<
ment, instead of being, as they supposed,'
in the chamber allotted to their guests. I
The impression left on their minds was so
vivid that they could not imagine it
to be the mere effect of a dream. Being
unable to tail asleep again, they were
tlie first to rise in the morning. When
they met, they relayed to each other their :
supposed dream or vision, and were mutually
struck with the coincidence. The
gallopping of horses were heard approaching
the gate of the chateau. A party of
gendarmerie were in pursuit of three lea- i
ders of a formidable troop of brigands.?
A description of their persons was sent to
the young gentleman, and on perusing it, |
he observed that it precisely corresponded
with that of the three individuals who,;
on the previous evening, had solicited his ',
father's hospitality. Having stated this <
circumstacc, and mentioned the name;
which the pretended general assumed, the
gendarmes felt assured that they were the
men of whom they were in pursuit. Besides.
the gendarmes had ascertained that,
during the night, the chateau was surrounded
by a parly of robbers, apparently \
watching for a signal, which was given, i
The gendarmes proceeded straight to
the chamber occupied by the suspicious
visitors. They found the door open,
though on tiie preceding evening it was
known to have been bolted, and the old ,
lady and Iter grandson, to their great horror,
beheld the rope ladder, pistols, and !
every thing just as it had Itecn pictured in
their dream. The three banditti being
roused from a lethargic sleep, offered no
resistance. They confessed all, a d declared
tliemsi Ives unable to account for
the heavy sleep which had overpowered
them and diverted litem from carrying
their plan into execution.
The family surprised at not seeing the
pilgrim, proceeded to his chamber. lie
was gone, and 110 trace was ever discovered.
On the bod, 011 which he had evidently
not reposod, was fouri I an ivory
crucifix of vast size a..d extpibitc work
nmuship.
'Alt, Monscigneur!' when the Duke of
Otranto had ended litis strange story, 4it
is one of the results of the restoration
that old convent chronicles arc regaining
credit.'
Gentlemen,' replied Fouchc, coolly 'I
nave nan submitted to my perusal the confession
of the three robbers, the evidence
of the whole family corroborated by the
attestations of Ilie gendarmes, and of the
local nud departmental auth irities. It is
certainly more easy to deny than to believe;
but, if we are to withhold credit
from facts supported on good evidence, it
may as well be alleged thutTarquin drove
Publicola from Home, and that Caesar
killed llrutns in the Capitol.' Observing
that the Duke of Otranto was piqued, we
made no further show of our incredulity.
There are acts of apparent concession
which politeness imperatively demands.
the panther's leap.
The rcsth ss spirit of gain and love of
novelty, which chara< terisi s so many of their
countrymen, had induced Josiali Katoii and >
Hannah his wife to migrate from the plea-1
sant and fertile oanks on the Connecticut,
to one of the ridges on the Allegany moun-i
tains?a chain that has often been called j
the hack hone of Uncle Sam's huge b -dy. j
Mistress Hannah l-i a ton was the party'
dominant in the email household of the;
honest and easy Josiah; and it had been
through her faculties of argumentation that
he had been induced (or rather forced) to
"pull up stakes," leaving his comfortable
homestead ajjd paternal acres, t ? seek gam
westward with the march of empire. The j
earthly tahernicle of Mrs. K's spirit, was of
that kind with which we arc apt to appreciate
ideas of strength and the wearing of
those mysterious insignia of matrimonial
power, yclept 'breeches.' And in truth, ever
since her husband won her, as a 'strapping
gal,' in the land of pumpkins, she had made
it her duty to 'see to things;' or in otln r
wnriU tn l?r? linlli nmclor mid IIIIStrf>s<i Shu
was noi destitute of affection for what the'
world called her lord; and as his ltip Van
Winkleish habits asked no more than to pursue
the'even tenor of their way,' kindness
alone answered as good a purpose to him as
the hottest love. Tall he was, and uncouth
in his appearance, yet immense strength was
stowed away amongst his great bones, and a
warm heart beat in his big bosom.
Hannah had caused throe large 'kivcrcd'
wagons and a score of 'critters,' biped and
quadruped, to come to a halt at the foot of
one of the finest summitts of the above
named ridge; and near the mouth of a ravine
through which ran a small tributary to the
Potomac. After preparations had been
made to 'camp' for the night' .she called a divan
of her 'followers,' to consider the propriety
of a permanent location. I would
not have the reader to believe that it was any
part of her intention to do as they might
suggest; oh 110. Like the Cirund Sultan,
she heard their opinions, to he sure, but had
determined long before, what course should
he pursued. Josiah had said 'jist so,'to all
she had advanced, and two hired men and
women, hy way of amen, had also said 'jist
so,' when she declared it to be the opinion !
of the whole council, 'to settle right down.' .
Accordingly, they settled right down, and
commenced turning the wilderness into the
ploughed field,
Our worthy couple had been man and
wife seven h?ng years, and yet no infant
voice had cheered them with its music.?
'I'lloV wnni II. . IT. .ft ' .l.\..f ' 'Plin . ??.?>
m II< j ?? v. * ? * IIV "UW.lb. J III; U II IUOU .
and set on as fertil fields as ever forwarded
the labors of tlic husbandman; and heaven
scorned to smile upon them The breeze I
rippled the waters of the biook that ran before
their door in 'quiet mu murine;' the!
aroma of beautiful flowers scented the air,)
and the whole landscape seemed the picture
of inert happiness; but still they were alone.
They felt the need of some dear object on
whom to place their best affections.
Mrs. IS. with the piety of Connecticut,
whose amiable dungliters, when married !
have caused so many to to bless their 'h one
?f gentle voices and kind eyes,' knelt to her
Uod, like her namesake of old, and in bitterness
of soul 'wept sore,' praying that she
might not be childless. 'The Lord remembered
her.'
'Ttvas a fino morning in August, when
little Samuel Laton was about seven yeais
old, that lie was making n dam in 'lie brook
that ran before his father's door . lie was
an only and petted child?his mother almost
idolizing him. Til re he was. with his trowscrs
tucked np above his knees, working
like a beaver?his mothers, bold eye gleam-j
ing out from beneath his sunburnt hair, and
with some of his father's strength, tugging
:it llw> l;irnrp nlnnr? 111 l>rwt 'S?iii.
my, you'd better c ome in, had'ut ye?' said i
Hannah, hi a tone half mother and half:
mate. 'No-o o, I giss not yit,' said Sain.
An acorn came floating down the water.
The hoy took it ii|>?looked at it?was
pleased, and *re< koneci' in hi* mind there
were more up the'gully:1 and when his mother's
bttck was turned, off he started after
acorns* The gorge of the mountain into
which he was about to enter, had been
formed (the work of centuries) by the attri
tion of the stream he had just been playing
in, and walking on a narrow level that bordered
each side of the water, he b ?I 1!y cm
tored the ravine. An almost perpendicular
wall or bank ascended on each side to'the
height of an hundred feet, composed of crags
and rocks, frittered by decay and hesforut :nto
fantastic shape aed position. A few scattered
busnes and trees sought nnnrtslm; nt
from the earth that had f 1c > from th
level above: and excepting then* assistance
and the uneven surface of the r?ek, this natural
parap t seemed inaccessible hut to bird
and beast. About an eighth of a mtle from
the entrance, a cataract closed the gor^e,
throwing up lis white veil of mist, in seeming
guardian-hip of the spirit of the waters
The verdant bougln hanging over ihe bank
cast a deep gloom upon the bed below;
while so lofily was the distance, they seemed
to grow *oul of tho sky? blue patches of
which were to be sicu peeping between
them.
Hannah Eaton soon missed her hoy; but
as he had often wandered t the fields where
his father was at work, she conch tied he
must be there, and checked coining fears
with the hope that lie w odd return at (lie
hour of dinner When lie came, and fosiah
nor any of his men knew wh re her son
was, then the agitated mother ex< laimod,
lie's lost!?he's lost! -and my poor boy ?ili
starve and die in the woods!' Gathering
courage, she hastily summoned Iter family
around In r, and despatched them till hut her
husband, to search in different directions i'i
-1. _ . rn i t
iue neignooruig loresi. i o Dim sue sum,
'scour every field you call your wn, and if
you can't find him, join me in the gorge.'?
'lie would'nt go to the gorge, Hannah.' 'lie
would go any where.' She i,new not why,
but a presentiment that lite hoy had followed
the course of the stream dwelt strongly on
her mind.
An eagle flew past the mother as she entered
the ravine. She thought to herself the
dreadful birds are tearing my child to pieces;
and frantic, she hastened on, making the
walls of the cavern echo with screams for
her offspring Her only answer was the
eternal thunder of the cataract, raging on
as if morkery of her woe, and flinging its
cold spray upon her hot and tin hbing te ??pies.
'Fool thai I am, how can he hear tin !'
She strained her eyes along the dizzy height
and peered through the mist till she could
look 110 longer, and her eyes filled with tears.
'1 can't find him, Hannah,' said her husband,
as he rejoined her not far from the I
mou.h of the irorffe.
Who but a mother may tell the feelings
of a mother's heart? Fear comes thick and
fast upon the r* cling bruins of Hannah.?
'Oh, my boy; my brave boy will die!' and
writhing her hands in agony, she sunk at her
husband's feet. The pain of'hope deferred'
had strained hor heart strings to the severest j
tension, and it seemed as tf the rude hand of
despair, had broken them all!
The terrified husband threw water upon
her pale face, and strove by all the arts he
knew to win her back to lite. At last she
opened her languid eyes, stared wildly around
land rose trembling to her feet. As thus she
I stood, like a heart broken Niobe, 'all tears,1
| a fragment of rock came tumbling down the
j opposite bank. She looked up; a wild
i scream of joy bust from her lips. She was
| herself once more; for half way up the ascent
stood her own dear boy!
But even while the glad cry was issuing
from her lips it turned into a note of horror;
'O God, mercy, mercy!'
The crag on which the boy stood projected
from the solid rock in such a way as to hang
about twelve feci above the bank. Right
below one of the edges of this crag, partly
concealed among some low bushes crouched
a panther!
The bold youth was aware of the proximity
of his parents, and the presence of his
dangerous enemy at about the same time.?
lie had rolled down the stone, in exultation,
to convince his parents of the high
station he had attained; and lie now stood
with another in his hand, drawing his arm
back and looking at them, as if to ask whether
lie should throw at the terrible animal
before him. Till then, the mother seemed
immoveable in her stispencc: but conscious
of the great danger of her son if he irritated
the beast, she rushed sonr.c distance up
the rock, and motioned with her hatitis and
head that he should not throw. Yet with
the feeling mind of childhood, and a temper
little used to control, he fearlessly throw the
fragment with all his might at the ferocious
savage. It struck him on one of his feet.?
lie gave a sullen growl, and lashed iiis tail
with fury, seemed about to spring.
'Get your rifle, Josiah.* The poor man
stirred not; his glazed eye was fixed with a
look of death upon the panther, and he appeared
paralyzed with fear. His wife leaped
frnm lif?r st.md and nlacirux her hands Oil
her husband's shoulders, looked in his face,
and cried 'are you a man, Josiah Eaton; do
you love your child?' lie started as if from
sleep, and ran with furious haste from tlio
ravine.
A train the mother looked towards her son.
: He had fallen upon his knees, and was whispering
the little prayers she had taught him,
not in toward fear, but an indefinite thought
came across Ins mind that he must die. The
j panther was upon his feet: lie stooped to
spring. The distracted mother could keep
j still no longer. She rushed up to the steep
ascent with the eneigy of despair, reckles of
all danger, thinkingly only of her son. The
roc:ts crumbled and slipped beneath tier feet,
| yet she fell not; the sharp crags tore her
i flesh, but she heeded it not. On, on, she
siruggh d in Iter agony!
Toe feroci.ms creature paused for a moioent
when he hca : the wretched uiotlitliei's
approach; true his nature, he sprang
at the hoy; he barely touch the crag, and
I Cell bark ward, as il.mnuh ascended the
>PjM?site -idt-.
' A J !' said she, laughing delirously, 'the
paniliei must ., v it a aiu before he parts
us, in) boy; but we won't part!' and sinking
on her knees beside him, she fondly
folded Iiiin to her breast, bathing his
young forehead with her tears.
Unalterable in bis ferocity,and the manner
of gratifying it, the panther again
sprang from his former situation. This
time he was more successful; his fore
feet struck the cilge of the crag. 'He will
ivi I us. mother, he will kill us!' and the
| boy nestled closer to bis mother's bosom.
' I'he animal struggled to bring his body on
llie crag; his savage features but a step
Irom the mother's face. 'Go awav/go
away!' shrieked Hannah, hoarse with hor
! row. 'V'?:i shan't have my child.* Glo' or
still closer he came; his red eyes flashing
fury; and the thick pantings of his
br atli corning in her face!
She hears the faint report of firearms,
from the gulf below. The panther's loothold
fails; his sharo claws loosen from the
rock; and the baffled beast rolled howling
down the precipice, stopping at the feet
of Josiah Eaton.
The sun's last rays gleamed brightly on
a little group at the mouth of the gorge.
They were on their knees?the mother's
bleeding hands over the head of her son,
and the voice of prayer going up to the
Guardian of all for his mercy in thwarting
the panther's leap.
New Meth >i> oe Propagating Arm
Trees.?A new plan for increasing plantations
of apple trees has keen carried into
extensive practice by the horticulturists
of Bohemiah. Neither seeds nor grafting
is required. The process is to take
shoots from the choicest sorts, insert
them in a potaloe, and plunge both into
the ground, leaving but an inch or two of
the shoot above the surface. The potaloe
nourishes the shoot, while it pushes
out roots, and the shoot gradually grows
up and becomes a beautiful tree* bearing
the best fruit, without requiring to be
grafted.
YVI mfntfAl* 1 XT 1*n f Kn c n/?/*occ rv f 111 />
? ? ? ? ?% wva iiiu v i/v< iiiv oui'Vi'Hii i/i m v
undertaking its novelty at least is an inducement
to give it a idir tria!.?Parker 4$~
Gardener.
Delaware I'ana Tolls.?The Collector
at Raston, Penn. re'ports the whole
amount collected since the 31st Oct. last,
at $13,774