Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, August 08, 1867, Image 1
* ~ ?
* - * ' *
* s - > ?
- . - -- .
' ' ??-?- i ii mil
LEWIfro^'et!^RIS,r'' Inbtjnttott Jfsnmljj fWospaptr: jor % promotion of % political, JSoaal, ^gritnlteal anb '(Kommarctal $itferots of % Swtjf,
^ 1 1 ' ' 1 ' . '" > ? <
VOL. 13. YOEKYILLE, S. C., THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 1867. * ? ;v
; ?i -| I, j i 'u?as??
MARRYING A CONVICT.
I had served twenty-five years on board an East
Indiaman, and for the last ten years had commanded
the Belle, one of the finest crafts that ever
floated. I was an old sea-dog, who had dwelt so
long on saft'jvater that I had almost a hatred of
dry land.
On the 30th of October, 1823,1 reoeived orders 1
to pnt myself in readiness to sail for Cayenne. I
was to transport 75 soldiers and a convict I had
orders to treat this individnal well, and the letter
I received from the Directory enclosed another,
with a huge red seal, which I was not to open until ;
between 27 and 28 west longitude; that is, just
before we cross the line.
The letter was a long packet, so well closed upon
every side that it was impossible to catch the slight- }
est glimpse of its contents. I am not naturally su- :
persfcitious, bat there was something in the look of
. , the letter that I did not altogether like, though I
oould give no reason why. However, I carried it j
and ohirtV it under tlifi ?laaa of a '
1UW UUO VOI/Ulj HUM ?* , . m _
little shabby English dock, which was fastened abore
my head. . ..
I was busy fixing the letter under the clook,
when, whoshould oome into my cabin but the convict
and bis wife I This was the first time I had
seen either'of them, and I may say, that a more
prepossessing oouple I never met The woman
was scarcely more than fifteen, and as handsome as
a picture'3, while the husband was an intelligent,
magnificently-formed man, on whose features nature
had never written "villian 1"
His crime, to be plain, was the misfortune of being
a hundred years ahead of his age. He and
others had attempted something which our government
called treason, and which it punished with
death. It, therefore, occasioned me considerable
wonder that he~ should be placed under my charge.
Bnt more of this afterwards.
He had, ais I said, his wife hanging upon his
aim. She was as merry as a bird ; she looked indeed
like a turtle dove, cooing and nestling beneath
his great wing.
Before a month had passed over our heads, I
looked upon them as my own children. Every
morning I used to call them into my cabin. The
young .fellow would sit writing at my table, that is
'
to say as my cnesc, wmcu w? mjr uou. nu^u
often help me at reckoning, and, soon learned to do
better than I oould. I was amazed at his ability. 1
His young wife would sit upon one of the round
stools in my cabin working at her needle. '
One day we were, all three, sitting in this way, 1
when I said:
"Bo you know, my young ones, as it seems to *
me, we make a very pretty family picture. Mind,
I don't mean t# ask questions, but may be you !
- have not much money to spare, and yon are, both 1
Of yon, as I think, too handsome to dig in the 1
burning sun of Cayenne) like many a poor wretch .
of a convict before you. It's a baa country, take
my word for it I, who have roughed through the j
tempest, wind and sunshine, till I have the akin of
a rhinoceros, ought get along there; but you?I'm (
afraid for you. So, if you should chance to have
a bit of foolish friendship for your old captain, 1
why, I'll tell yoirwhat I will da FH get rid of 1
this old brig; she's not much better than an old (
tub after all;' so I'll settle myself down there with
you, if you like. You see I have not a living soul in
the world to care for, or that cares for me. I 1
want relations, I want a home, I want a family. I i
should like to make my home with you, my pretty <
ones! What say ye?" - <
They said nothing at all, but kept looking at
each other, and then at me, as if they doubted 1
whether they understood what I said. t
At last the little bird threw her arms around my '
neck and cried Hke a baby. . 1
"But," said she, suddenly pausing, "you have
not looked at the letter with that big red seal."
I felt a queer creeping come over my flesh as J
she said this.
"Hang it!" I exclaimed, "it had slipped my J
head entirely." I
With a cold, dreaded sensation, I went to my *
chest to see where we were. I found that we had
several days remaining before we should reach the J
proper longitude for opening the letter. 1
Well, there we stood, all three of us, looking up 1
at the letter as if it oould have spoken to us. As i
it happened, the sun was shining full upon the glass
of the clock-case, and fell upon the great staring
red seal of the letter. I could not help fancying ]
it looked like a great big monster, an ogre's face, !
grinning from the middle of the fire; it looked! i
"Could not one fancy," said I, to make them J
laugh, "its great eyes were staring out ofitshead." '
?" wife "if. Innkn litp i
XXII, rnjr IVTV) DWU wuw h**vj
blood."
"Pooh, pooh," said her husband, taking her '
arm under his, "it looks like a letter or invitation
to a wedding. Come, leave the letter alone if it '
troubles you so. Let's to our room and prepare :
for bed." , ^ . 1
And off they went upon deck, and left me with
the beast of a letter. I remember that I kept i
looking at it as I smoked my pipe; it seemed to
fix its great red eye upon mine, fascinating like the
eye of a serpent It was red, wide, raw, staring
like the maw of a fierce wolf. I took my great i
coat and hung it over both clock and letter, and
wentupon deck to finish my pipe.
"We were now in the latitude of the Cape de
Verde Islands?the Belle was running before a fair
wind at the rate of ten knots an hour. It was a
splendid night?the stars large and shining; the
?moon rising above the horizon, as large as a sun of
silver, the line of ocean parting it, and a long
stream of pale, shimmering light, falling upon the
waves, which, as they broke, sparkled like jewels.
I sat upon the deck, smoking my pipe and watching
them.
All was quite still, except the footfall of the
watch, as he paced the deck?gazing, as I did, upon
the shadow of the vessel, stealing over the silent
waters.
I love silence and order?I hate noise and confusion.
The lights should all have been extinguished
by this time; but when I looked upon the
deck, I thought I saw a little red hue of light just
beneath my feet
At another time and place this would have made
me angry; but knowing the light came from the
cabin of my little deporta, I determined to see
what they were about
I had only to look down?I could see into the
cabin through the sky-light
The young girl was upon her knees; she was
saying her prayers. A lamp swinging from the
ceiling lighted her room. She had on a long white
night dress, and her fair golden shining hair floated
over her shoulders, and almost touched her two
little bare feet, which were peeping from under her
white dress, so pretty. I was turning away; but
pshaw said I, I am an old soldier I What matters
it? So I stayed.
The husband was sitting upon a little trunk, his
head resting between his hands, looking at her as
she prayed. She raised her face to heaven, and
I then saw her large blue eyes filled with tears.?
She looked like a Madaline. As she arose, he
said:
"Ah, my sweet Laurette, as we approach America,
I cannot help being anxious?I do not know
why?but I feel that this voyage has been the happiest
part of our lives."
"So it seems to me," she answered; "Ionly wish
it could last forever.''
Suddenly clasping his hands in a transport of
love and affection, he said :
"And yet, my little angel, I see yon always cry
when you say your prayers, and that I can not
stand, for I know what causes it, and then I fear
you must repent what you haye done.''
"Repent," she replied, in a sad, rebuking tone.
"Repent of having come with you. Do yon think
because I have been yours only such a veiy, very
short time, that I should not love you ? Was I
not your wife? How can you be sorry that I should
be with you, to live with you if you are to live, and
to die with you if you are to die ?"
The young man began to sigh, striking the floor
impatiently with his feet, while he kissed repeatedly
the little hand and arm which she was holding
out
Ah, Lauretta, Lauretta I When I think if our
marriage had only been delayed five days, that then
[ should have been arrested and transported alone,
[ cannot forgive myself."
At this the pretty little one stretched out her
pretty little white arms, clasped his head, pressed
his forehead, his hair, his eyes, smiling like a cherub,
and murmuring all sorts of little woman's fond
things. X was quite affected, and considered it one
of the prettiest soenes I had ever witnessed.
"And besides, we are so very rich?look I" Baid
she, bursting oat laughing. "Look at my purse,
one gold louis d'or?all my worldly wealth."
He began to laugh, too.
"Yes, dear, I have Bpent my last half crown. I
?ave it to the fellow who oarried our trunk on
board."
"Ah, poor," cried she ; "what matters it ?" ?
Nobody so merry as those who have nothing at all;
oesides I have my two diamond rings that my
mother gave me; they are good for something all
lie world over; we can sell them when you like,
md besides I am sure that captain meant kindly
jy us, and I suspect that he knows very well what
s in that letter. It's a recommendation to the
Governor of Cayenne."
"Perhaps so," said he, "who knows?"
"To be sure it is," continued the charming wife,
fou are so good I am sure the Government has
janished you only for a short time?I know they
lave no feeling against you."
It was high time that the light should be atrichia
out, and I now rapped on the deck and called
o them to do so.
They instantly obeyed, and I heard them laughng
and chattering like two innocent school fellows.
One morning when I awoke I was surprised not
q feel the slightest motion of the vessel. Huriyng
on deck I found we were becalmed. Latitude,
L degree north; longitude, between 27 and 28 decrees
west
I waited until night when I desoended into the
stbin. I opened the letter with a dull, awful feeing.
I held my breath while I broke the great red
jeal and read:
"Captain Fontainbleau: The convict Antoine
Hindsclear, stands convicted of high treason ajainsfc
the Republic. The Directory order ^that he
)e shot on mid ocean, and you are hereby instruct}d
to see that these orders are carried into effect''
I read the letter backward and forward. I rubied
my eyes; I could not believe it; my knees
imote together. I rose up with a gasp as if I were
shoking; I hated myself &? my weakness.
Forcing down my emotaqp, I- went on deck.?
fhere they were, she looking upon the ocean and
le gazing at her with an expression of unutterable
bndness. Catching his eye I signed to him to
?me into the cabin. Bidding her good by, he
?me down, his face all smiles.
I was bathed in a cold sweat; I felt as if dcathy
sick; I handed him the order, and he read it,
ogether with the death warrant, which was drawn
lp in due form, and attached. He gathered his
roice as he finished.
He colored slightly, and bowed.
"I ask nothing, Captain I" he said in the same
jentle tone that always characterized his voice;
'no man can be expected to swerve from his duty;
[ only wish to speak a few words to Laurette
md to entreat you to take carex?f her, if she should
jurvive?but I hardly think she will"
"All this is fair, my good fellow," said I. "If
pou request it, I will carry her back to France to
tier family. I won't leave her until she wishes to
3e rid of me, but I do not think she will survive
;i >?
it.
He took my hand and pressed it.
"Most kind captain, I see you suffer more than
[ do in this business?but there is no help tor it
[ trust you will preserve what little property of
mine is left for her sake, and that you will take
sare she gets what her poor old mother may leave
her. I put her life, her honor, in your hands.?
She b (and how fondly low hb voice became) a
delicate little creature?her chest is often affected,
Bhe must keep it warm. And if she could keep
the two diamond rings her mother gave her, I
should be so glad; but, of course, if the money b
needed, they must go. My poor Laurette?how
pretty she looks."
Ib was getting too much for me, and I began to
knit my brow.
"One word b as good as a thousand," said I.?
' "We two understand one another. Go to her."
1 squeezed hb hand; he looked wistfully at me,
and I added : "Stay a moment, let me give you a
word of advice. Don't say a word to her about it.
We will settle the thing for he#; be easy; that's
my business. It shall be managed in the best
manner."
"Ah!" said he, "I did not understand; yes,
much better. Besides thb leave-taking, thb leavetaking
1"
"Yes," said I, "don'tbehave like a child; much
better, much better. No leave-taking, if you can
help it, or you are lost."
I kept my seat; I saw them walking arm in arm
upon the deck for about half an hour.
I called the mate to me, and when he had read
the letter, I said,
"Garley, this b bad business?bad business. I
put it into your hands. I obey the orders, but I
remain in the cabin till it b over."
"How do you wish the thing done ?" he asked
in a nonchalant manner.
"Take him out in a boat; out of sight; do it as
quick as possible ; don't say anything of this till
the time comes."
Garley sat five minutes looking straight at me
without saying a word. He was a strange fellow.
I didn't know what to make of him. He then
went out of the cabin without saying another word.
Night came at last. I called Garley: "Man a
boat; go a quarter of a mile; be quick!"
To obey a slip of paper! for it was but a slip after
all. Something in the very air must have
driven me on. I saw him. I saw the young man
kneel down before his Laurette; kiss her knees!
her feet! her gown 1 I cried out like a madman:
"Part them! part them this ifastant! Part
them?curse the Republic?curse the Direotors! I
quit the service 1 curse the lawyers 1 you may tell
them if you will."
She was dragged into her berth, and the boat
rowed away in the darkness.
Some time after, a dull volley came over the sea
to the vessel. It was all over.
Fool, madman, how I paced the deck, and cursed
myself. All night long I paced back and forth,
and all night long I heard the moaning of the pooi
i stricken bird.
Often I halted, and was tempted to throw my
self into the sea, and so end this horrid torture of
the brain and heart.
Days passed. I saw nothing of Laurette. I
would not see her. She avoided me and I was
glad of it. I could not bear the sight of that woesfricken
face.
The mate Garley, how I hated him! He was
as cool and unconcerned as though he had no remembrance
of shooting the poor wretch.
At Cayenne, I resigned my ship. Going to the
city, I made all arrangements, and took the steamer
for New York. Iplaoed ample funds in the
hands of a trusty friend and told him to send Laurette
to nje at the end of six months. I could not
see her until grief had lost its edge. '
Weary, careless of my fate, I wandered into the
interior of the State of New York, and finally purchased
a little place, where I hoped I should lie i
down and die. i
I sent for Laurette. Poor bird, I must see her.
I could wait no longer.
One summer night I sat in the poroh of my 1
house, smoking my pipe and gazing down the road, i
Soon the rumble of wheels was heard, and the i
stage halted. 1
The Dext moment a pair of white arms were a- i
round my neck, and the heart of the sobbing Lau- 1
rette was upon my bosom.
"Oh ! you dear excellent Captain."
UTT _1_ - 9>> 1
neavetia i wuu is tutii. ucuuiu vuu t
There stood the fine manly form of Antoine 1
Hindsolear, the convict *
"What does this mean?" I demanded, hardly
knowing whether I was dreaming or awake.
"Are you glad to see me ?"
"Thank God 1" was all that I could ejaculate.
I soon understood it aH The mate, Garley, had
read my heart better than I did myself. After
leaving the brig in the boat, he arranged the whole
affair. The volley was fired, but no bullet touched
Antoine Hindsclear. He was smuggled into his <
berth again, and took good care to avoid my sight The
whole crew were in the plot, and, thank God,
I Was duped. , .
I sent Garley a thousand dollars as a reward. ^
I am ra old man; but I am happy. My chil- 1
dr?c pud my grand children (I call them nothing <
else) seem to think old Captain Fontainbleau is not f
such a wretch after alL - <
IpiscrMatwflttsi jMicles. !
THE HEROES OF THE LOCOMOTIVE. <
A true manhood cannot be developed without K
the discipline of responsibility. Let the nurse j
carry the child, instead of teaching him to walk, and
he will become an overgrown child, but never 1
a man. He is a wise parent who lays a proper (
and genuine responsibility on. his child, and incites ?
him to meet it '. ?
It is no new remark that persons are transformed (
by the responsibilities they have to discharge. A j
delicate and untried girl suddenly ripens into an 1
extraordinary womanhood, through the agency of ?
sickness or death in the family, laying on her heavy *
burdens to be borne. It may be that she is now 1
the oomforter of the sick mother, and as a mother (
to the younger children. Hence the change; a lit- 1
tie while ago a timid girl, but now a courageous 1
woman. In 1862 a young man from Columbus, J
Ohio, was commissioned as a lieutenant in a regi- '
ment then at Camp Chase. He was small in per- 1
son and almost effeminate in appearance; so much I
so that it affected me to see him go, very much as '
would the sight of a boy of fifteen. He was with 1
his regiment in several severe 'engagements in '
Kentucky, was at Cumberland Gap, retreated un- '
der Morgan to the Ohio, and was afterward in severe
service on the Mississippi He had become *
a captain, and the remark was made by those who |
were with him that he had become a man?not so I'
much in stature as in mien, word, and act He 1
lost his life at Port Gibson, and his men kissed his 1
manly face as fondly as they would a child's. It 1
was responsibility that wrought the change.
It may be an admission of weakness, and yet I 1
confess to a high admiration of a class of men to 1
whom a vast burden of responsibility in the matter
of human life is constantly entrusted: I refer to '
our railroad engineers. The locomotive in itself is
a marvel of ingenuity and power. Compact, per- '
feet in form and adaptation, indispensable to the
wants of civilization, it is one of the finest instru- !
ments. The man tfho controls these thirty tons
of organized iron which we call a locomotive, must
secure both self-respect and self-confidence. I
have sometimes stood beside the track when a train
has come flying along, and have observed with
boundless admiration the man on whose vigilance,
skill, and pluck, the safety of that train so largely
depended. His left hand on the lever, his right
on the reversing lever?if that be its name?his
body bent forward eagerly, and his eye keenly <
scrutinizing the track ahead, lest the tremendous (
momentum of his train, meeting with some obsta- ,
cle, should dash itself in an instant into a horrible ,
wreck. How, now, can a man be weighed down |
with such responsibility and not be a stronger and 1
more self-reliant man ? # I
Some years ago, with a party, it was my fortune 1
to be on the Erie Railroad when the engineers en- ]
gaged in a general strike. I sided with the engi- \
neers, believing them to be wronged. At the ,
Susquehanna station we found a large body of en- ,
ginecrs, more than I had ever seen together at one ]
time. They were not noisy, nor braggart, nor tip- (
sy; but I then said, what I now believe, that they ,
were the finest body of operatives I ever saw. In- ,
telligent, bold, strong, each the manager of such ;
a wonderful machine, they found at least one ar- ,
dent admirer that day. j
Some of the most remarkable exhibitions of cour- i
age have been made by men of this class. A few !
years ago my friend Orsbone, who has driven the i
locomotive for the mail train on the Morris and i
.Essex Kailroad for twenty years at least, witn Taintless
faithfulness, was once delayed by snow on the
track for several hours, but received explicit orders
from the superintendent?not that splendid officer
who has lately resigned his office on that road?
"to go ahead," for the road was clear, no other
train was on the road. After satisfying himself
that he had not misunderstood the order, he left
the summit on a steep down grade, and, in rounding
a sharp curve came on a train that was ascending
the same grade under full head of steam. In
an instant he whistled down the brakes and reversed
his engine. The noble thing, under such a <
tremendous strain, as if fully aware of the danger,
obeyed, and threw itself back to avert the catas- ;
trophe. Meanwhile the other engineer had done
the same thing with his locomotive; but it was
possible only to modify the shock. Together rushed
those two panting and reluctant giants, their
joint weight not less than sixty tons, with the gath- j
ered momentum of their following trains. They ,
rose like two furious animals in fight, standing on
end, and in a trice the two splendid machines were i
a wreck. The cars behind them were also badly
crushed. Orsbone did not leap from his engine;
but, never moving his hands from the levers which
controlled it, he stood as resolute as a rock at nis
i post until the shock came, and then, quick as
thought, adjusted his valves to allow the steam to
, escape without an explosion. Our war can furnish
no clearer proof of the finest courage than that
At the crossing of the Morris and Essex Railway
and the Orange turnpike, may be seen a flag
man with one leg. The other he lost in the wreck
I have just described. Had he had Orsbone's
' nerve to face danger, he would have escaped also
urihurt Poor fellow! the man who issued the
presumptuous blunder that day tried to buy him
off from prosecuting the company for the sum of
one hundred dollar*?an offer which poor "Bob's"
wife met with this quefry; 1 'Mr. , would you
sal one of your legs for a hundred dollars?"
During the late war an incident occurred on the
Pennsylvania Central, which was related to me by
an eye-witness. My informant was with a regiment
of soldiers going from. Pittsburgh to Harrisburg,
in a special train. Between Johnstown and
the summit, they were delayed by a freight
train off the track, or a part of its cars off. This
they learned at one of the stations, and remained
there until they should be informed that the track
was clear. It was in the night, and most of the
thousand men on the train were asleep, unconscious
of their danger. Four heavily-loaded ooalwirs
belonging to the train ahead had, by accident,
become detached, and began the descent of the
heavy grade at a speed which soon became terrible.
The engineer of the13J>ecial train heard the
roar of the descending cars and surmised what was
the matter. In an instant he ordered his engipe
i. I. -1 -i- -1 J I* a. A !_ J x
DC De aeuicueu iivm uie train, auu put uu bi*k*ui
to meet the runaway cars if possible, to break their
force and save his train. His locomotive was a
>? ;ge freight, and he had mo. ed several rods absad
when the coal-cars struck him like a thunderbolt,
and crashed his engine Lack on the train;
but his heroic courage had saved many lives. His
engine was utterly demolished, and many of his
sure were also crushed; but so had he broken the
foroe of the shock that no lives were lost The
man's name was Story, and his grateful benefiziaries
presented him some elegant silver-plate,
with the deed itself and their names engraved on
them. When aeked why he did not abandon his
train, he replied, "Quick as lightning, 1 thought
[ had better die than to have those runaway cars
rut clean through my train, destroying hundreds!"
[t was a heroic answer. .
Let me relate one more incident in the same
ine. That part of the Marietta and Cincinnati
Railroad, between Athens and the Ohio river, was
formerly made famous by the number of its long
ind high trestle-bridges. With few exceptions,
ihese are now filled up, and the road is beooming
me of the best Atone time the company were
n great straits, and many of their operatives were
jnpaid. Some of the men were desperate, and,
is the fact proved, dangerous. Ou a certain evenQg,
a train was approaohing one of theso high
;restle-bridges. It was known that the directors
)f the road were aboard, and some vilHan had de;ermined
to throw the whole train from that bridge.
I!he engineer, letting bis train move at the ordinay
speed, suddenly discovered that a rail had been
lis placed on the bridge. He seemed to know initinctively
that the momentum was too great to
?Va1a nn/1 L/\ mrmalla/l kl*<llrna
IOYD lUC YTIJUIC uaui | auu uc Oig iih '? n ?|tv WNAVW
[own and reversed his engine, to stop, if possible,
he cars before reaching the chasm. Then, openng
the throttle-valve, his engine sprang forward
o violently as to break the connection with the
rain, and dashed to the awful leap. The bold
nan, as this was going on, ran out of His window
>n the engine and opened his escape-valve. Whilst
itanding there the engine went over with him;
md, marvelous to relate, he, falling under the
luge weight, was preserved from being crushed
)y the engine-be? at his side. The train, for the
escue of which he had exhibited such incredible
pluck, stopped just soon enough to escape the
lorrible leap after the engine. This bold man's
name I have not heard; but he recovered from
his wounds, and is still an honored employee of the
company.
We glorify our heroes of the battle-field and the
sea; we stand all agog with amazed admiration if
some foolish man or more foolish woman ascends
Mt Blanc just for the name of the feat; we talk
ibout Alexander and Bucephalus, and Caesar in
the boat in the tempest; why may not my humble
pen glorify the heroes of the locomotive engine,
irho exhibit as noble and praiseworthy a daring as
my heroes in other fields? And they do this in
the constant service of the thousands of families
who eveiy hour of the twenty-four are represented
en the railways of the world. All honor to the
heroes of the engine, and "ten thousand times ten
thousand," if they could, would respond "Amen!"
Macaulay has a stanza in his "Horatius" which
shows what Borne did for one of its humble but
bold benefactors :
"They gave him of the corn-land,
That waa of the public right,
A* much ai two utrong oxen
Could plow from morn till night;
And they made him a molten image,
And set it up on high,
And there It stands unto this day
To witness if I lie."
THE VOW OF THE SOLDIER.
A TRUE INCIDENT.
One beautiful Indian summer day, in the Autumn
of 1844, a stranger appeared in the streets
of Hanover, N. H., whose garb bespoke the utmost
poverty and destitution. As he staggered
ilong, he was surrounded by a crowd of villageboys,
who amused themselves by insulting him
with coarse jests and personal indignities. He
bore their abuse with exemplary patience, and
begged them to wait till he felt a little better, and
be would sing them a fine song. His voice was
thick with unnatural excess; and he was too weak
to protect himself from the rude jostling of the
crowd; yet he smiled on his tormentors, and exhibited
no other sense of his helpless and forlorn
condition than a look of grief and shame, .which,
despite his efforts and smiles, would occasionally
overspread his countenance. Late in the afternoon,
the writer, then a student, passed him in
company with a friend, when our attention was directed
by a voice of unusual power and beauty,
singing that favorite national song of France, "La
Parisienne." As he proceeded, a great number
of students from the college gathered around him,
and at the conclusion an involuntary expression of
delight broke from the entire mass. He was en-!
thusiastically encored, and afterwards the Marseillaise
was called for. The same rich, clear voice
rang out that wild melody in the very words which
are wont to arouse the spirit of the French soldier
to frenzy. The admiration of the poor inebriate's
auditory was now raised to the highest pitch.?
Despite his tattered and filthy garments, his squalid
beard and brimless hat, now that the fumes of
liquor had subsided, his form appeared symmetrical
and manly, and his face glowing with the
sentiments of the patriotic song, and flushed with
excitement at the unexpected praise he was winning,
assumed an expression of intelligence and
joy that beautifully set off his really fine features.
"What, and who is the stranger?" was the universal
inquiry. ' 'His singing is incomparable, and
his French and English are both faultless."
"Yes," said he, dropping his eyes, "and I can
give you German, or Spanish, or Italian as well,
or Latin or Greek, either," he added, carelessly.
In reply to the many questions that were showered
upon him, with the coin he so much seemed
to need, he at length said, in a sad tone, and slowly
endeavoring to push his way through the crowd:
"Gentleman, I am a poor vagabond, entirely unworthy
your kind sympathy. Leave me to my
rags and wretchedness, and I will go on my way."
But our curiosity was too much excited to allow
this, and amid loud cheers we escorted him to a
room, where he was furnished with water and an
entire suit of good clothes; the barber's art was
put into requisition, and after aa incredibly short
time he re-appeared upon the college steps, smiling
and bowing gnoefiilly, a man of fine appearanoe
and noble bearing as ever eyes beheld. The
delight of the crowd at this transformation was in
tense, and repeated shouts rent the air: "Give ui
La Parisienne!" echoed from all sides; and ai
soon as silence could be obtained, again that clear
rich voice uttered those inspiring words:
"Peuple Francalie, pfiuple de brave*.
La Liberie t'oavre let bras."
He was conducted to the spacious chapel, anc
there, for two hours, he held an audieflce of on<
thousand people spell-bound by one of the most in
teres ting autobiographies that it was ever our lot
to hear. Born in Paris, of wealthy parents, h<
had in early life been thoroughly educated at th<
University of Wittemberg, and received the mas
tor's degree. He soon after joined the fortunes o1
Napoleon, and, with the rank of lieutenant, was
with him during all the campaigns in Egypt, in Italy,
in Austria, in Russia, and at Waterloo. H<
had been engaged in more than seventy battles.?
His account of the soenes in these battles, and his
description of plaoes and cities, were expressed ii
choice, graphic terms, and on being compared with
history, were found to correspond in every particular.
He related many unwritten and curious incidents
in the life of Napoleon, which had corns
under his observation, and finally closed with s
touching account of his own career after the battle
of Waterloo. Tn the terrihle ront that followed
that memorable event, bis detachment was chasec
by a body of Prussian hussars, and becoming scattered
in the night, he wandered about three dayf
in the woods and by-places without food or drinlc.
The chase being at length given over, the pooi
Frenchman sank down, sick and weary with hu
wounds, and ready to die by the roadside. A humane
Dutch girl, discovering him, brought hini
refreshments and cordials, and among these aflasl
of brandy.
"Here," said the old soldier, "wap the beginning
of my woes. The angel of mercy, with the
best motives, brought me in that flask a deadly foe.
which was to me more potent for evil than all the
burning toils of the Egyptian campaign, or the in
tolerable frosts and snows of the Russian; more
fatal than the cannon of seventy battles, whicl
created in me a thirst more insatiable than thai
which forced me to open my veins on the desert
sands of the East. Till that day I had never tasted
strong drink. I had uttered a vow in my youtl
to abstain from it, and to that vow I owed my life,
for not one of my oomrades who indulged in th(
use of iti survived the horrors of the Egyptiai
campaign. #
"But, as I lay in angnidb, longing for death, anc
momentarily expecting Ids approach, a sweet face
appeared to me, wearing an expression of deep
pity and sympathy for my sufferings, and I conic
but accept^without inquiry, whatever she gave
me. She gently raised my head, and wiped witl
her handkerchief the dampness from my brow,
and administered the oordial to my lips. It re
vived me. I looked around; my courage, my love
of life returned. I poured forth my gratitude ii
burning words, and called down the blessings o:
heaven upon her. Ignorant of what it was that s<
11 1 1 - ? A J
suddenly inspired me, as suuu as my pyiriio ua^a
I called for more. I drank again and again. Foi
three weeks her loved voice soothed me, and hei
kind hands administered to my wants. v
""As soon as my strength was sufficiently rocov
ered, fearing that some enemy might still be lurk
ing near; I bade her adieu, with many.thanks anc
tears, sought the sea-side, and embarked as a com
mou sailor on the first vessel that offered, andhav*
followed the sea over sfhce. My fatal thirst ha
ever accompanied me and cursed me; in port anc
on deck this foe has debased me, and kept m<
from all chance of promotion. Oh I how oftei
have I in the depths of my heart wished I hac
died on the field of Waterloo, or breathed out mj
life in the arms of my gentle preserver I Six weeki
ago I was wrecked on the packet-ship Clyde, of
New Brunswick. I have wandered on foot througl
Canada and New Hampshire, singing for a fev
pennies or begging my bread, till I met your sym
pathy to-day. How do these college halls and thif
noble band of students recall to my recollection the
scenes of former days 1"
The emotions of the stranger, for a moment, overcame
his voice; whou he resumed, the tean
still coursing each other down his checks:
"I know not why God should direct my steps
hither; but, gentlemen, this shall be the beginning
of a new life to me ; and here, in His presence,
apd that of these witnesses, I swear, as I hope tc
meet you in heaven, never to taste a drop of alco
hoi, in any form, again."
Prolonged and deafening cheers followed these
words, and I noticed many a moist eye.
A collection was immediately taken, and more
than fifty dollars were put in his hands.
As he ascended the coach to take his departure
he turned to the excited multitude who surround
ed him, and said:
"It is but justice that you should know my name,
t am Lieutenant Lannes, a nephew of the greai
Marshal Lannes. May God bless you all?fare
welL
As these youths thoughtfully returned to thcu
accustomed pursuits, not a few resolved that tem
perance and virtue should ever mark their character,
and that the soldier's vow should be theirs.
HOW TO TAKE A WHIPPING.
The Western Morning Nines, an English journ
al, has the following fresh version of an old story:
Mr. Dickens, in one of his books, is very satiri
cal on American journalists. He represents then:
as turning every incident into a report with a sensation
header, so that even when the editor gol
thrashed for personalities, he at once brought oul
a special edition with the flaming announcement
' 'The Editor Cowhidcd Again." It is not, I think,
generally known that Mr. Dickens was referring tc
an actual case, which is tolerably notorious in A
merica, and is told with great glee by the persor
most deeply interested. That person is no othei
than the notorious James Gordon Bennett, of th(
New York Herald, and it is thus he tells his storj
to his friends. The Herald had for some time via
lently attacked a certain actress. One day the la
dy's husband, himself an actor, came to the Her
aid office, walked up into Bennett's room and said.
' 'Are you Mr. Bennett ?" "I am," was the reply;
"take a seat" "No, sir, I will not take a seat;
you have insulted my wife." "Who is your wife ?'1
Name mentioned. "Never heard of her." "Bui
your dramatic critic has insulted her." "That if
his affair." "But I hold you responsible;" anc
thereupon the angry husband took the proprietoi
of the Herald from his chair, flung him on the
floor, kicked him in the rear, rolled him over, kicked
him again, clutched hold of his throat, and lefi
the office. What did the victim do? He called
upon one of his employees, wrote out an account
of the affair, caused sensation placards to be strucli
off?"Fourth Edition?Attrocious Assault upor
the Editor." "Fifth Edition?Further Particulars
of the Atrocious and Cowardly Assault upor
the Editor;" and soon all New York was buying
the Herald. "But," said Bennett, "I added a lit
tie garnish which was not strictly true." I said:
"We would have pardoned this unmannerly, cowardly
assault upon an unarmed man, but "for one
circumstance. This despicable wretch, not content
with ferocious violence, had the unspeakable meanness
to take up a quarter dollar piece which wae
lying upon our table, and to pocket it'' The next
day when the actor appeared upon the stage, he
was greeted with cries of "Who-stole Bennett's
quarter?" and whenever he appeared the same
cry greeted him, until he and his wife were driver
off the stage and ruined. "That," adds Bennett,
"was my revenge."
A RUSSIAN INCIDENT*, , . 1
s A young Russian recently had the misfortune, 1
i while promenading the streets of St Petersburg, 1
, to step upon a lady's dress which was trailing on i
the walk before him. The woman turned, aud, in 1
language more striking than elegant, applied the <
[ terms "clumsy," "loutish," to the young man.?
, The latter preserved his politeness, and sought, as
. best he could, to appease her wrath, but in vain. ,
i. The beautiful amazon waxed more and more an- ^
, gry, and applied such epithets that he felt at last
, obliged to .reply in her own language, and remark.
ed that if animals persist in dragging their tails up- ,
p on the ground, they must expect to have them trod,
den upon. This inflamed the woman to such an
. extent that she demanded the way to the justioe
, court, and oompelledAhe unwilling criminal to ao.
company her. Once there, she demanded one
, hundred'roubles for the injury done her dress. It
, was observed, however, that the dress was not ve
j iy new, and that fifty roubles would cover the orig- '
inal cost, and this amount the young man was sen.
tenced to pay. The woman was walking off in trinmph,
when doubtless a remembrance of Portia
k and Shylock flitted across the young man's mind,
, and he said: "Wait a moment, young lady; you
[ have my fifty /oubles in payment for your dress,
I but the article itself you have not delivered. Will
you have the goodness to hand over one part or
the other of my property." Blushes of shame now
overspread the countenance of the female Sbylock,
and she turned again to the-justice for advice.?
There was no help for her there; the young man's
claitn was good, and the money or the drees belonged
to him. With a courage worthy of a better
cause, the woman sent for a hackney coach, went
into an adjoining room, removed her dress, and again
attempted to leave amid the shouts of the
spectators. But her opponent was remorseless.?
He now indicted her on the charge of foul and abusive
language on the street; the facts were proved
by witnesses, and the unhappy and mortified crea-,
ture was sentenced to pay a fine of one hundred
roubles. She gave back the fifty lately received in
^1,a mnnAVf ftnrl TTftlnftVvloa ol>A VlO/J
k UlUUljjilj auu Oil tUC UiUllOjr auu t cuuui/iuo ouu uau j
[ with her, and withholding only enough to pay her ?
coach fare home. " '
l WHERE DID THE BOOTS COME FROMf s
A young man of Detroit who did not, up to a y
5 day or two since, have much faith in the superoat- 1
1 ural, has beoome filly satisfied that therefore *
ghosts in existenoe. He is married, and hixtiseljf 1
and wife occupy rooms in the second story of a 1
5 boarding house. The young mart is in the habit 1
J of being out late of nights occasionally, and amus- <
ing himself about town, leaving Mrs. to her *
5 own company. He came the other night quite 1
1 late, and entering his bed room, said nothing; paid (
?* no attention to the bed, and after raising the win- 1
dow fronting on the street, half undressed himself *
9 and sat down in the dark room placidly smoking, j
' watching the passers-by, and thinking, we suppose, 1
1 on his happiness as a married man, well to do, and <
i located on a pleasant street An hour or two slip- 1
ped by, and he was just about going to bed, when 1
r a white object, between five and six feet high, ?
r flashed by him, disappeared through the window, J
with an exclamation that sounded like vulgar Eng- J
' lish, and lit on the side walk with an audible 'thud.' 1
' It disappeared in the darkness, and was heard pat'
tering down the street with its garments fluttering
in the wind. A search was instituted in the dim '
' light, and the wife was awakened and told of the 1
3 circumstances. She couldn't explain, of course, 1
* but the inquisitive young man struck a light and 1
1 hunted his room over and over without finding (
J anything to lead to the discovery of his unceremo- j
' nious visitor. The belief began to take possession '
7 of him that he lived in a haunted house. Sudden- 1
3 ly he espied on a chair, in a dark corner, a suit of 1
' men's clothes that he knew never belonged to him. 1
1 A further search revealed a pair of boots, a hand- J
' some necktie, and other little trifles he hadn't seen 1
" before. He can't believe that some mysterious '
3 spirit has made him a present, and don't think 1
5 burglars are inclined to have valuable dry goods, 1
and sail out of windqws like white bats, and would,
" therefore, like to know "Whos'h been here since '
3 ish been gone ?" Will some savan tell him what '
it was? *
i ? ? , t
r Our Colored Fellow-Citizens?How they t
, are Sworn in.?Meantime, however, the work i
> of registration is going on throughout the whole t
. State, and to-day I had an opportunity of seeing i
the process in practical operation at the Atlanta
> Courthouse. The Board is composed of two white
men and one black, and during my stay I saw sev- ?
; eral scores of both races made into voters. After t
several white men had been sworn individually, a i
? ill ii.J ! i T> r
, batch ot seven Diacxs was caiiea up, auu r umpcy, .
Caesar, and Crassus, were made citizens in the 1
lump. It was a curious spectacle, and one oalcn- 1
, latcd to stir many reflections. Standing in a row, 1
t they listened very attentively to the reading of the t
. oath, some bending forward and others with hand 1,
to the ear, the better to catch each word. The f
r reader threw in for their benefit a running exege- j
. sis of the oath, causing them to guffaw by a droll f
. look when he recited that part of it which makes t
them swear that they never held "executive or ju- t
dicial office in any State," while, when he came to j
read the prohibition against registering by those f
who have been disfranchised for felony, and explain- t
' ed "felony" by the gloss, "such as cow stealing," s
they were so struck by the drollery of the interpre- t
1 tation, that their bodies swayed in uncontrollable 1
" merriment 1
Throughout all the recital their countenances c
showed a desperate mental effort to keep their
1 "holt" of the meaning, and during the reading of
1 the main body of the oath, the effort was measur- (
' ably successful; but when the registering officer t
came to where the formula speaks of "an act supple- (
' mentray to an act," the poor fellows became per- <
[ fectly flabbergasted. Like Twemlow, they found i
J their intellects giving way under the severe strain, 1
7 and they lapsed into mere outer darkness and col- 1
lapse. When I afterwards talked with them on <
the Courthouse steps, I could not find one who 1
had the faintest idea of the meaning or purpose of ^
; the thing, and the brightest of them all only knew i
| that it was something?he knew not what?that ?
| was "de best forde oountay."?From Svrintoria t
Atlanta Letter to the New York Times. t
r. vr:? - . i 8 ^ ^ ^
i Ex-C<nwn??WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT.?Gen- g
I eral Braxton Bragg, President of the New Orleans t
r "Water Workft oonfines himself closely to business, t
! has nothing to do with politics, and bears the ap
pearance of a man of iron. General Hood is mer!;
chandising. General Longstreet, of the firm of I
I Longstreet, Owen & Co., remarked the other day \
i that he was disgusted with politics. It seems that 1
: generals with whom he used to associate have giv- c
i en him the "cold shoulder," and now when seen t
on the street he is generally alone. Personally he I
i is thought as much of as ever, and spoken of in c
; extolling terms, but his political course isuniver- c
sally condemned in the South. Jeff. Thompson is c
not worth mentioning; he has a store here. I un- f
derstand that General Loring left a few days ago L
! on a visit to some friends in the West General o
; Beauregard, President of the Carrolton Eailroad t
Company, is up to his eyes in business, and al- a
i ways appears to be in a hurry. Gen. Dick Taylor o
; is chief direotor of affairs pertaining to the new e
s Basin Canal, but I am told most of his time is ooi
cupied in visiting and driving. Gen. Wheeler is
i a successful lawyer of the New OrleAna bar. Gen. I
i Buckner has been connected with the Craceni in 1<
, an editorial capacity, is President of the St Louis y
Mutual Life Insurance Company and also a prao- e
icing lawyer, He left here fbry<^cfty a Aort
ime ago on bashes. There are hftbi oity afotit
lumber of Colonels and subordinate, officers o^the
ate Confederate army.?N. 0. Cor. LauuviSe
Courier. . ' . , J c
, ',1,, v v
A Reminiscence of the ChabjJbbtom CohyinriON
OF I860.?The Charleston Cburier relates>r
'Wc recollect on one ooc^son^hhg, with Mr.
^allandigham, daring-the session of the THliw
ratio Convention of 1860, in this*afy. ItmSfr Mt
he period when the delegates from' the Sonth
lad intimated their intention to witfidhwfrom hi
leliberations. Secession, although often broached
is a contingency, had not yet assumed the shlpe
vhich forced itself upon the conviction as a leafey.
knd even by those, who spojte most unreservedly
if it as a remedy, it was always acooftpanied with
he remark that it would be peaceful, and woqfrl
lither result in the security, by constitutional anendment,
of the rights of the South, or that the
icparation of these States would be witho<>'?toGet.
The Presidential efectionhsd' not oommep^
Tlifl WAmtwAAfl maim nA^ nnt #1nk>?uitft)wk
ivvu xug uvuiujggo vveio uuv/cv voivio iuo j^uwih
Mr. Vallandighanrfbse at the table, and with
nreat depth of feeling and earnestness of manner,
aid to thoee around : "Gentlemen, if tho Bfji
undelegates withdraw from the Convention, the
)emocratio party, the onty stay of -the Union, wffl
? disrupted, a sectional President will be elected,
he accession of the Southern States wffl follow,
nd there will ensae one of the most terrible and
iloody civil ware on record" Geo. M^eraaad,
rha was at the table, said ?, "Sit down VaBfimar'
mm, you are always prophesying." Upon jftfctpl
le responded: "I speak earnestly, becauseX feel
arnestly, and if we live you wffl bearwUoess
ts fulfilment" _ M
; - ?i _: ii .V-W
Cost or a Pound-o? Tka.?It is'instrtcfl^e
ind sometimes profitable, as wdl is anions, "to
imine the way in whioh the oost of a" commodity is
oiled up between producer and consumer by
reights, handling, duties, exchange, and ttaoofenisfflons
and profits of middle-men.. .-Teajflfci^imple,
is sold by the grower in China and Japan
it various prices, from about fifteen- to thirty cents
i pound. With freights dSded, it is said to cost,
vhen laid down in any of our principal seaports, an
iverage of fifty cents in gold, a pound, for superfor
jrands or "(hops." Taking this as a starting
mint,' the additional charges before it rea^WN^e
able of the consumer are said to accumulate
tsfollowB:. Original oost of tea, imporfed/60aK;
liscount on currency to pay for it, "20 oentSf "4iity
n gold, 25 cents; discount on cnrreUeytemakSTg)
he gold, 15cents; contingencies 10 cents; profit
>f importer, 12 cents; profit of jobber, 13 cents;
jrofit of retailer, 29 cents. Total, $1 T4?. Oftlus,
illy tour cents are comprised in three profttMhfry-fivo
cents in exchange for gold, - twenty-five eta.
n duties, and-ten cents in eontingenoiee; is ill,
me dollar and twenty-four cents, in addition tothe
soast on board ship at our wharves. Before the
rar the cost would have been as fbllows: Origxnd
cost, imported, 50 oents; ten,per.cent for-coningencies;
profit of importer, 5.cents; profit-of
obber, 6 cents; profit to the retailer, 14 cents. Seal,
80 cents. a ; ?
Co-operation in ohe. South.--Jhe editor sof
he New York Boating Rxt says he hasconvezsed
vith a planter from the Lower Misnsarot, who,
ifter trying foirly last year the wages system upotf
\ Cotton plantation of several thousand acres, has .
?me to the conclusion that a system of shareis^ or
^-operation between the workmen and-the capfcniat,
promises, if fairly administered, the best and
nost certain results to both. This system he4ha
idopted the present year, and with satisfactory
rnccess so far. He gives each workman a fHJtire
jo live in, a garden phd small field for his own fQage;
he hauls the fhjhrood and furnishes the food;
his much represents the monthly wages; then he /
jives them one-fourth of the crop beside*. The
workmen and women are divided into gangs of"
;wenty, each with a negro foreman, who is Qflfcof
he twenty^. This foreman reports to the^eneral
>verseer the cases of absence-or idleDjgg- ^ an
iccount being kept of these fhulte^g^^pj or Absentees
lose at "five end of thes^n a certain potion
of their share of the J^otton; but this share
s divided among the rtfSfeder if tha gang,*)
hat there is no teaqpQian-fir the capitalist to
nake wrong de<iu^k?ns. v '
. ' I > V ' ???
Story with a MoraiI General Jack- -' J
son was moving on to strik.e MoClellen's flank on
he Chickahominy, he cam A/to a Stre&m trhjch had
10 bridge, and oould not hrfVcroesed without ope.
the General had brought wify ^ fi^m the valey,
a rough uneducated man, VuD of energy, who
lad served him in emergencies, Jq ufam he
lad the utmost confidence. Howp^+in'n man,
aU htm fhaf ofwoom wtnof hn hwJ/I i '
Uliu wu?w ouvout iiiuov w ITTlTTlftniHJB7;
the regular engineers were also a^y^ of ^
act In a short time the rough carpenter and Jhe
jolished men of science were at the efcreiiw- the
ormer had his plan, the latter theirs; he wu^ed
0 go at the work at onoe without drawings, bu^t
hey objected until they could perfect'the phuns" on >aper.
The engineers retired to their tent toper- ..
ect a paper bridge; the carpenter took his men
rnd went to work at onoe to make a real one. In
1 very short time he appeared at the General's
cut, and reported briefly thus: "General, that
nidge is done, but them piatnres ain't oome yet"
[his story has a moral that &11 our readers can disiover.?Christian
Advocate.
???"*'. .
A Beautiful Thought.?I was reading the
)ther day, that on the shores of the Adriatio Sea,
;he wives of the fishermen, whose husbands have
jone fhr off upon the deep, are in the habit, at
sventide, of going down to the seashore, and singng,
as female voices only can, the first &ntfc of a
>eautifal hymn; after tbey have sung it they will
isten till they hear, borne by the wind acroeathe
lesert sea, the second stanza sung by their gallant
lusbands, as they are tossed by the gale upon the
vaves, and both are happy. Perhaps, if we listen,
ve, too, might hear on this deserl world ofours,
iome whisper borne from afar, to remind us that - '
here is a heaveu and a home; and when we sing *
.he hymn upon the shores ot eartn, perhaps we
ihall hear its echo breaking in the music upon the
ands of time, and cheering the hearts of those
hat are pilgrims and strangers, and look for a city
hat hath foundation.?Dr. John Oummingi.'
Composition of Com.?The gold coin of the
Jnited States is formed of gold, ninety parts; siler,
two and a half; oopper, seven and a half?
Che silver coin is composed of si fag, ninety, and
opper ten parts. A new alloy, wfjfth promisqMto
>e useful for small coin, is just announced by M.
kL de Roulz and de Fontenay, of .Paris, and is
ailed by them Tiers-argent or tri&tifBt. ?It is
omposed of S3 per cent, silver, 2$ to 30jfer oent
f nickel, and 37 to 52 per oerMof copper. j The
hree metals when melted form a oompdund which
i not homogenous, and it is only by a secret proess
that a malleable metal is produced. In oolor
he alloy resembles platinum, it takes a high polish
nd is not affected by exposure to the atmosphere,
r by any but the roost powerful re-agents, and is
167* Susan a Eodsa, the de?|^| wood* of
Kentucky, has never been known teremain awake
anger than ten minutes at a time&t the last ten h
ears. If some of the Radicals would follow her ;
xaaple, th? oouafcy would soon be at peace.
'1