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V 'panthers but lions tit mm -path of the reformers of the old worTtt^And, we should ' fee! that our lot is a blessed one, placed as we U? in a land where oityrint has over ruled, end scarce a tingle species of ferocious or poisonous animals is found. A VISIT TO AN BOrTOit. I once paid a visit to an Editor. His! office was just 6 feet by, and having two chairs, besides a table and bookshelves, it 'was very properly looked upon as the -moat capacious and best furnished editorial den in'the city. My friend was sit"ting, scissors in hand, at the table, looking over a mass of newspapers which had been brought by the morning's mail. He rosb to receive me, overturning, as he did co. a bottle of ink upon a quarto dictionary both of which had been left for his inspection and approval. The unoccupied chair was cleared of the books, newspapers and manuscripts which encumbered it, and I was courteously invited to seat myself, and find what amusement 1 could ? during the five minutes that my friend would be occupied in running through the papers. I took from the shelves a hook which I remember to have seen very much praised in the paper of the preceding day, and was somewhat surprised to find the leaves uncut, and thai from all appearances I was the first who had opened it since it came from the binders. I stated the fact to my friend, as soon as he was at leisure. 'Certainly,' he answered, they never cut the leaves of the books they send us.' ' But you must, before you can read them, I should imagine/ 4 Before I read them, but I have not read that nor would I for ten times the price of it, I assure you.' 4 How then could you criticise it? 4 As you sec; upon my word I never saw beyond the title page/ 4 And yet in your yesterday's paper you give something like an analysis of the ivork and strongly recommended it. Have you no rule of criticism beyond your own caprice ? * Rule of Criticism ? oh?ah ! ves ; not exactly, my friend of the has a rule. He always praises nine new works and blows up the tenth/ Further conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Mr. Spec, senior partner of the house of Spec, Gull &, Co. ' Good morning, Mr. Spec,' said the editor rising, 1 take a seat sir.' 41 thank you, I cannot stay. I merely called in to direct your attention to a work, the Boggy swamp and Muddy ftivcr rail road. The subscription lv>oks were opened a week since, and the stock has not been quite taken up ; that is, the number of shares is three thousand, of which four hundred and thirty-one have been subscribed. A word from you would be of immense advantage to us.' The editor drew towards him a sheet of paper and wrote? 4\Vc would particularly direct the attention of all who are looking out for a profitable investment of capital to the railroad intended to connect Boggy Swamp with the waters of Muddy River. This work has been commenced under 'he most favorable auspices. It passes over Sandy PI ains, and other fertile sections of coun- I try, and little doubt can be entertained that it will yield a great profit to the Stockholder*. VVe understand that a lew shores in the stock of this great national work remain unlaken and may he subscribed for at the connting-hou?e of Messrs Spec, Gull Co.* A/C. to the end of the sheet. 4 Will this suit you sir? 4 Exactly,* said Mr. Spec, opening his pocket book, 41 we cannot of course think of occupying your columns for nothing, please accept this for your trouble?good morning, sir * 4 Perhaps,* continued Mr. Spec, turning round while his hand was on the door, 4ii would be as well to say in your next pnner. that several hundred sliar? s had been I * takvn the Jay previous, .mil that ail who wish to subscribe must call railv.* 4 William,* said the editor, opening a door that communicated with ihc printing office, 1 what is the leading article for tomoTinv's paper?' * The article that you si nt in yesterday, on the independence of the press." 4 Well, you must have that for to-rrorrow, and put in its stead this article on the Muddy River and Boggy IS*amp Kail Road.' 4The Independence of the Press is in type, sir, and this article on the tail road ; is too long.' ( 4 Can't help it, William, the rail road' must go in : you can leave out the Terrible Steamboat Accident, or the interesting1 case of distress.' The door opened, and a tall gentleman, with a broathcloth cloak and green spectacles, entered. 44 Ah ! I was just about sending for you,* 1-1 ___! ? I ' ? saiu me editor, mere is a luier arriv. 1 from Europe ; here are the papers ; i have saved two-thirds of a column for you, and wish ?o have a letter by eight o'clock. The man took the papers and withdrew. That,' said the editor, ' is my resident correspondent in Europe, lie writes me a letter from England or the Continent every time thai a packet arrives. The} are very much admired, I assure you. The next visiter was a servant, who brought a note from Captain Tompkins, editor of the Democratic Republican Intelligencer, threatening unless the abusive paragraph in yesterday's paper was instantly recanted, to resort to legal redress. Thereupon my friend wrote as follows. I *Wp regret extremely that our ^xcellent friend and cotcmporary of the Democratic Republican Intelligencer should have taken offence in yesterday's paper, in which we called the Intelligencer 44 a polluted vehicle of slander," and its editor 44 a liar and a scoundrel." Our friend mu-.t he aware that in the glow of composition, a word will occasionally escape which had better not have been written. We beg to assure our worthy colemporary that we continue to hold him in the highest esteem, and have the greatest rpspect for the valuable paper over which he presides. Nevertheless, we must be allowed to say, that we think our friend is unnecessarily sensitive upon the subject.* * Here, William, put this in the place of 44 Falsehood and Caluinuy of the Intelligencer Exposed," said my friend handing the paragraph to the compositor. The next applicant for the editorial ear, was a dapper little fellow, who kept a store for the sale of patent medicines. 4 Good morning, sir,' he said?4 I have sent in an advertisement for your paper, sir, fur a new medicine, just invented, sir, wonderful discovery, sir. A small paragraph amongst the editorial matter would help amazingly, sir?just a few lines, sir.' * You are aware that \vc are paid for such notices.'* ' Certainly, sir?whatever you please sir.' * Very well?what is the name of your medicine ? ' The Celebrated Animal and Vegetable and Mineral Royal Anti-mercurial Balsamic Itch Ointment. Here is a box of it, sir. Just give us few lines, sir. If you would say that you had tried it yourself, sir, and found it very beneficial, sir, it would What more he would have said, I know not, for the last was quite too much for' my friend, the editor ? who, catching tip the box, threw it full into the open mouth of the astonished vender of patent medicines. lie made his retreat, with all pos- i sible speed, and I followed his example, wonderfully edified with the exhibition I had just witnessed of the independence? of the press. j THE POLE CAT, OR SHF.l.L DANCE. When I was in New Orleans, la-t May, I met with Captain Fulton and some other friends attached to the 2d Regiment United State* Dragoons, who were temporarily stationed at the barracks, u lew miles below the cilv. near the battle ground. The detachment of d.ngoon-i lia'i in chnrire a number of Creek and Seminole pr?Sonera, or emigrants (as Mr. Cass would li -vp it) on iheii way to the vast wilderness, frontier ol Texas and the United States, j With a number of frien s froin Virginia, I was invi.ed to the quarters of the dra-? go< us on a delightful evening, to admire | the excellent barracks, the lovely scenery i of the It.wrr AUs-issippi, to hear the :nn-l sic of a first rate baud, see the evolutions j of the dragoons on foot, .and stare at the warriors, squaws and children of our red brethren, who were be in if transplanted from their native hunting g-minds to tin w? St. "Wheti wo had partaken of the civilities of our military fiionds, talked of "old Virginia," io-p. c.ed the troops, hca'd ?=ome fine airs executed in iir-t rate s yle, and smoked our scgars, it was announced that the Indians were making preparations to conum tice one of their dances; about 9 ??Yloek at night we were Conducted thro" nws of sentinels to an open lield, in the rrflrol the barracks, wlu re, uudot a str-aig guard, and within a plank enclosure of six or e glu feet heignt, the emigrants were bivouacked. T icnioci'. had risen and added her pale lustre to ihe glare of a nomi ber of fires, around which the Indian children we.e guild nling, and the older 8i)<> heating 01 boding their lioniony. The old .1 en and young women, ar- a\ ing in their he-t ott re, were assembling around a lar_;c and hiigln lire, near lite centr e of the encampment. A bench was pl.iced neat tins lire, cm which two of the o'dest and most venerable men took their seats, one ol them ' old'ng in his hand a -mall drum or tambourine, 01 en at one end. I he aged musicians gave the .-ignal I r the dance, one bv : i gmg a piece 01 mtis c that -onmled -ometh iig like one ol Webber's waltzes, the other be,?ti g the time on ins drum. A number of young women and giris, I (about lilt) or sixty} immediately sprang Irom their seats on the grouiio and forming a circle commenced darn ing, or rati.er stamping (like a corps o! militia marking time,) and moved with a very slow pace J -_1 - * - - 1 mil vt-ry sukmiiii coniue-inuces, in singte file, a;omul the tire and musicians. The eyes of the darn ers were scarcely ever misled from th- around as they followed each other aruuid and around the fire. Some j of the females, who appeared to be ladies of quality, were orna . cnted l>\ gaudy trinkets, and what they seemed to prize h glier as marks of distinction?a number of large sea shells, filled witii pebbles and smaller I shells, fastened together and bound about I the leg*, as hi<h as the knee. When they I move in the. d mce (or promenade) th se sh- lls made a great n >i-e. chi ning wito .singular, aid m.t very harnionioii* effect/ with the voice of the s. ger and the heat of the drum. During this lime, the young warriors, and such others of the tribe as were attracted by curiosity, were lying at full lengih on the grits-, near the circle of dancers, wrapped hi their blankets, and in j profound attention to the scene that wus going on before tliem. 'I lie men were only spectators, taking no part whatever in the dance. 1 was informed (bat this was called by the Indians the Polo Cat Dance, though our friends were disposed to distinguish it by the more agreeable, and not less appropriate name, of the Shell Dance. Ai | regular periods this dance is countinued i lor three or four nights successively by the women; when, the women giving way, the warriors enter the ring. They do not restrict themselves to ihe staid and demure gait of ihe women, but leap very high, distorting their countenances and displaying all the agility of which they are masters, and doubtless more grace in the eyes of the tribe, than pigeon wings or balances of our lirst rate fops. One would suppose that this tlance was a religious ceremony, so grave and solemn are all its accomplishments, though it is said to be a mere pastime or amusement. Ti e celebrated corn dance of the Seminoles is *aiJ to be connected with their religion; it takes place regularly on the gathering of the first new corn, and is designed as ? mark of gratitude to the Great Spirit.? The war dance is quite another thing, but Has ocen so often described, Hint ii is familiar to the readers of the Messenger. If the readers of the Messenger would not deem it a trespass on the netnral ground of literature, I would add, that it is impossible to contemplate the immediate and remote effects of our national policy in removing the Indians to the western frontier, without being convinced that it will be necessary to i strengthen the arm of our delence very considerably in thai quarter. This conviction does not imply, by any mean6, a censure of the policy which has been adopted (and which has been almost completed) with regard to one of the m- st embarrassing moral and political dilemmas to which any goverment was ever exposed The danger to be apprehended from the immense hordes of savages that are gathering like an ominious cloud on the frontier of the United Stales and Texas, is common to these countries, and adds another strong link to the chain of dcs.iny which already binds them together.?Southern Litt. Messenger. miscellaneous* John's latist.?The English papers are in the habit of quoting from the journals of this country, the toughest stories that appear therein, and administering them to the craving appetites of their readers or marvels, under the peculiar and specific title of 44 Joimlhans"?the said 44 Jonothans" being put forth as synonymous with '* big lies." Thus the most extravagant of the several snake stories? ? till* lit i\T iho nnli-ifiofl nioti oli) Joicc lie 111?and sundry other remarkable? have been duly served out to the Londoners as " Jouothansand they would f?in have us believe, that English ingenuity cannot compete with that of our country, in the fabrication of these wonderful wonders. They do themselves and their country wicked injustice. The journalists of the fast anchored isle have an uncommon felicity in this line; and we 'are ready to maintain at the point of the sword or pen; provided the former he ofj lath, and the latter of any thing but inetal | | ?that for getting up round unvarnished lies, they have no competitors worthy ol the name. I Take iheir accounts of battles, for instance, by sea or land?or, lor a single example, the capture of our frigate Pre-I Wn? tlifrn ouor t*nl nit Ciitrlidil history of that affair, in volume or newspaper. in which the 44 Yankee seventyfour" was not lucnirinently whipped and taken by a single English thirty-two gun ship, without the least aid or encouragement from either of the other vessels com posing the squadron ? Or the cute of the 1 Essex?was not that gallant little frigate < taken solely by the Cherub sloop of war, while tl?p Phehe frigate lay cjutclly at her anchors, some four or five miles distant, wituout firing a gun? If such was not the fact, the English chronicles are not to blame, for so they represent it. Hut we are wandering fr m the immediate | nialtei in hand, wlm-h was th?* newspaper Jonathans. We have turned out some pret- 1 ly hard siories, it E true, hu, none of them a tnatch lor the following, winch we ropy Iroui ?he Liverpool C' rooie'e of Mtiy 27th. It is perfect in all its parts, and may he taken I as a lair set off, for all the snake stories we , have bestowed upon our English editorial jcoul er<-s, for the last ten yea s. The Chronicle very properly introduces it as "Extraordinary if True"?[V Y. Com. A lady who was horn in Gloucestershire, deaf and dumb, spoke three sentences one ! day last week, as follows: "This will be a year of famine, the next a yeai of plenty, ' and the next a year of blood." After uttering the last sentence, she fell from her chuir, a lifeless corpse !!! Ninf. of Diamonds the Curse of Scotland.?In playing cards, the niuo of diamonds is commonly nick-named " the Curse of Scotland," and several reasons have been assigned for this stiaiige d-.norni nation. When the Duke of York, who was shortly after James I/., took up his residence at Edinburgh, and clarged the palace of flolyro d, he and his court introduced a new i! a me there called Comet, in which the nine of diamonds was lite most intpo lam card. The Scots who Imd to learn ihe game, lost trntiirridoils su.ns at it, and from I hat circumstance liie nine of diamonds was tailed the Curse of Scotland. Another derivation is. that the nine of diamonds bore some resemhlam e to the ar ns of the Dairy tuple*. and that Lord Stair, a member of that family, was the real Curse of Scotland. Hut a third derivation is more modern, and much more striking, though we cannot take upon ourselves to decide that it is most correct or the right one. It is said that the night before the fatal battle of Culloden.the Duke of Cumberland sent orders to General Campbell t<> give no quarter to the soldiers of I lie Pretender, that ibis order being despatched in great haste, happened to be wi ten on a card, und that card the nine o diamonds; from which time and circumstance it has gone by the appdation of the Curse ol Scotland. * ( Prsadful Tornado.?Sooth Hanover, Indiana, in ItuiNs.? We have been permitted to make the following extract, from a letter received yesterday from James S. Kemper to his fat her P. H. Kemper, of Cottage Farm, dated South Hanover, JulyG, 1837. j 'I sit down in haste to give you some account of a scene the most terrific and appalling I have ever witnessed! Our village that y esteiday was peaceful and cheerful, is now in ruins. Yesterday evening, about 6 o'clock, the heavens wore the appearance of a coining storm, and indue hour a most fearful tornado burst upon us, swe< ping over our village in devastation, (though praised be a merciful God, not in death.) The scene was terrific beyond my power of description. The hoarding house here has the whole of one gable end torn out. Mr. Young's store, a substaniial brick minding, is a heap of rums? Dr. Matthew's house is taken off at the eves ?the house in which Mr. Bishop lived on the hill, is torn to fragments?one end of Col. Morrbw's house is torn to the ground?Mr. Chever's house is torn to pieces?the college and roof is riddled, and the wing level almost with the ground and about one fourth of the eastern wall of the main building lying scattered over the earth?Professor Miles' house is torn up from its very foundation, the floors and sills are carried away?all the furniture and the Professor's lihrarj are totally lost. Mr. Butler occupied the house, fortunately there weie none of them at home ? The new steam saw mill is destroyed. These are but some of the principal losses: some ten or fiften other buildings, dwellings, out houses, shops, &c. arc destroyed. Trees of all sizes and kinds are torn up and dashed to atoms,?There arc but few buildings in the place especially in the northern and central parts of it, where all the most important buldmgs are, that are not racked and seriously injured. The streets are covered with fragments, This was the work of cer tainly less than five minutes?yet wonderful as it appaars, amidst the crash of falling buildings, the lury of the bursting tempest, the peals of thunder and the lived glare of lightning, not a soul in Hanover or its vicinity was either killed or seriously injured.? Cincinnati Oaz. Ladif.s' Celebration of the Fourth.? The Ladies of Bane, a flourishing town in M assnchusetts, spent a pirtof the 4th of July in a national tea-drinking. 4< The ladies of the town," says the Barre Gazette, I.** I -.4' ft A II itf i:n- llillllinT Ul V ,U" 0|(| .111(1 \Oling, married and singl . without distinction of party,"' celebrated Independence on Tuesday afternoon iast, under a bower upon tlie common. An appropriate eulevlaiunm nt was provided b)' Mr. heeh-ck, suited to the I list id I Us tastes of il?e 'f-m i enures '? and we are right glid ?o learn that they ninducted nidi great propriety, and bad a very social, happy time; notwithstanding, not t he smallest part of their jollity resulted front the sell-satisfac.lion <>f having sarcastically toasted the Old Bachelors, without fear, favor or friendship, until those of them present had become fairly brown." We subjoin a few of the sentiments given on the joyous occasion: Old Bachelors ? May ihey lie alone on a b? d of nettles, sit alone on a wooden stool, eat alone on a wooden trencher, and be their awn kitchen maids. Industry of iho Young Ladies of Barro? always want to be engaged. Matrimony ? The truth and essence of life ; love at home, unity abroad, and consistency at all times and in all conditions. The Old Bachelor like the Thorn Hedge? neither bloss 'ins nor fruit r??i?tl**r it u-elul or ornamental, but it is a scourge to all creatures. A True Story.?The following story of 'Love and Prudence,' first appeared in th? New York (Pa.) Recorder, a d the fact which it records, occurred in a neighboring county, beyond the Susquehanna. The way this beautiful and sprightly heiress trea'ed her fortune homing I \er, shonld be a 'caution' to the whole order;? IjOvc and Prudence.?A young gentleman who was desirous of entering the holy state of matrimony, and had turned his attention to the gilded beauties of the day ? selected at length, for particular address, a young laday who was reported rich, as well in the matter of 'lucre* as in mental and personal accomplishments. lie felt the charm of h.s lair one stealing over his senses a 'witching speli' upon his (amities But he wanted to make assurance doubly sure, and to leave no 'loop whereon to hang a doubt,* touching the worldly possession* of bis beloved. Fame, it is true, ha- spoken her wealthy?but Fame has a cruel fashi" of exaggeration in tl ese matters In a word, il the truth u !> old, our lover was not so madly in Ion*, but be was able to preserve some 'method* in it. Ami before the glori ?u - passion bad reached its c?isis, he had the singular prudence to examine records ? Mid io obtain an exact knowledge of the wealth oi bis charmer ! How hnppv was lie id find that her estate was clear; and lor once even more valuable (ban rumor had proclaimed it. Flying then on the wings of love, to the dwelling of I.is fair one in good set phrase he declared his affection for her?made a tender of bis heart and hand?and besought|i her to smile upon bis passion, agti make bin) < happy. But the "flattering tale" of hope was not to be realized. The star of our lover's happy fortune, had, alas! not yet cast its silver above the horizon! By some means, it hap|>eiied the young lady had been apprised of toe extent of her lover's curiosity?and in the midst of his descant upon flames, a.nl darts, and Cupid?she very composedly drew from her reticule a small piece of money, and approaching him, made this reply.?"Although! may profit by your very favorable sentiments towards me, stUl I cannot think of your being a loser on my account. As yi<u h.ve been at the expense of a Seari h* 1 thus insist on being allowed to replace the amount so expended." So saying, she put an eight penny piece in her lover's hand, und he?went his way. Romantic Fscape from Prison.?Yesterday u Frenchman, co fined in the debtor's prison, effected his escape, through the ingenious connivance of his wife and a? i* 1 M-irr. ft-HMii nve o'clock in the afternoon they wore admitted to tlic prison, as usual, ihc sister having a large basket on her arm, supposed to contain female attire; Shortly afterwards, the prisoner was supposed to go up to his room, when the two others departed. Sometime after their departure, the keeper, to his astonishment discovered tlrat the debtor had escaped, by disguis ng himself in the female attire brought in the basket, a la Sir Robert Wilson, at the time of the French revolution. A reward of one hundred dollars is offered for his apprehension.?N. Y. Times. Fatal Accident.?A youth, named William Moutmyer, wat instahtly killed yesterday morning, in .Market-street, near Meeting-street, in attempting to stop a span of llorses from running away. We learn that the lad and an elder brather had been left ui charge of a Market Wagon and horses, by the owner, (their Uncle,) when a dog fight occurred near them, and frightened the horses, caused them to start. The deceased raised the reins in order to check their flight; I il?- - nnu iu'Hi on lor some moments, until liis strength became exhausted, ween lie dropped upon the ground, and the horses and wagon |?a--ed ..ver his body. On being taken up, life was extinct, a large wound having been received on the temple, either from the kick of the horses, or the wheels of the wagon The public authorities, it is hoped, will take some measures to relieve the community from the nuisance that has become a subj'Cl of general complaint, the number of d->gs thai infest the streets. At this season of the year, they are not only a nuisance, hut become dangerous, on account of their liability to be afflicted with hydrophobia. In the instance abovo related, they ivere the primaiy cause of the l<>ss of life, and although we are not desirous of giving them a bid name on this account, it affords an opportunity to remark thai some means should be taken to r duce the quantity of these useless animals?the owners of such as estimate highly the qualities of their dogs, will of co rse keep thein out of danger.? [Char. C.mr Dead Men's Thoughts.?It is recorded in the Boston Medical Journal of April, .nut soinc oi 111e most eminent physiologies of Germany and France are now pertinaciously arguing the very curious question as to whether a man feels after uis head is otf. In support of this unpleasant theory many facts arc adduced, with grave vouchers for their authenticity. Among others is the most unfortunate Maty, Qaieen of rfcots, whose lips continued to move in prayer for at least a quarter of an hour after the executioner had performed his duty. VVindt stales that after having put his mouth to the ear a departed criminal's head, and calling him by name, the ryes turned to the side from whence the voice came; and this is attested by Fontenelle, Mogoro, Guillitinc, Nauche, and Aidini. On the word murder being called in the ear of a criminal .t~.l C..~ .1--. ir-i i i < Ainm ii HM inai emtio III V^OOIClllZ, UlC half closed eyes opened wiih an expressi n of reproach on those who stocd around. Caution in small matters is at all times commendable, and will naturally lead to caution in alfairs of greater import. An exception to this corollary, however, was recently given by a fellow in England, who, on the morning of his execution particularly requested that a clean shirt n ight he well aired for him, and that he might be allowed a silk handkerchief to tic round his head, as he was so liable to take cold ! A nfw ARRIVAL OF EMIGRANTS. TIlC ship Edward, lately arrived from Calcutta and Madras brought sixenormous serpents of the Anaconda and B >ii Constrictor species, which are now on exhibition in Philadelphia. Prince Pierre Bonaparte, son of Lucien , 1 I. _ i r \t 1/--1 r ii.la ? 'iiu.II nru irowi new x otk lor ^anada. 11 e is the one who was concerned ih lie affray with nir Tope's guards near Koine, which term na.ed in the death of lie or more, and for which he was banished. lie will reside with his father ue.ir London, and may possibly return and purchase his uncle's place near Borden town. Percussion Capi .?We have noticed several instances of idem by the use of these cups. The Wellsburg Transcript relates nnotlier. A young man was drying a quantity of them that had become wet; and after sufficient exposure to tho sun, as he was removing them they exploded, injuring consideiably his face and eyes,