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About The Albany register. (Albany, Or.) 1868-18?? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1874)
US? .V SAXTA. MARIA s TG&CSLLO. Some cherry-trees grow here, and here An old, old church, so purely chaste. So honest, of such simple tart ; So quaint yet sacred and severe M Her pictured Hell, with names blown KrgHT In bright mosaics wrought and set When man first knew the mystic art ; Her bearded saints, as black as Jet : Her quaint Madonna, dim with rain And touch of pious lips that I Gazed long, then came and gazed again, And loved, and took her to my heart. Nor monk in black, nor Capuchin, Nor priest of any creed is seen. A sun browned woman, old and tall. And still as any shadow la. Steals forth from out the mossy wall With massive keys to show you this : Comes slowly forth, and following. Three birds and all with drooping wing. Three mute brown babes of hers ; and they O. they are beautiful as sleep. And on the pouting lips of those Sweet birds the everlasting seal Of silence that the Uod has set On this dead Island, sits tor aye. I would forget, yet not forget. Their helpless eloquence. They creep Somehow into your heart, and steal Your coins, as little birds that day Stole fruits from off the cherry-trees. So helpless and so wholly still. So sad, so wrapt in mute surprise. That you do love, despite your will, And cultivate and feed your love. A little maid of ten such eyes, "So large and lovely, so divine Such pouting lips, such folds of hair Stoodby me all that perfect day. And turned her melancholy eyes So constant to my face, that I Did And her little soul and mine Stood very near together there. Yet not one soft word did she say ; What could she have been thinking of? enice, 1874. Joaquin Miller in Oxtriand Monthly. BEATRICE CZHCI. THE BEAUTIFUL AND ARISTOCRATIC ROMAN MAIDEN A SAD STORY OF DEGENERATE AND LICENTIOUS ITALY. Italy bas always been prolific of wonderful women. Nuraa Pompilius worshipping at the rural shrine of rigeria, and Mme. De Stop! evolving the creator of Corinne, are two inci dents separated by centuries of time and a long succession of extraordinary events, yet plainly indicative of a marked characteristic of the land of purple skies and fascinating his tory. Italian atmosphere favors the highest development of the singularities of feminine nature. The line of wonderful Italian women has been almost unbroken for nearly three thousand years. I inter a rude republic and under a powerful empire, under polytheism and under Christianity, in a blaze of political flory and in the depths of social degradation, talian femininity has always been the same ; presenting to the imagination most charming pictures, and to the reason most perplexing " puzzles. History, associated with Italian women, it becomes fascination. Thus, with the story of the Cenci. It has enraptured the painter, the poet, the historian, and the novelist. Guido aided himself to im mortality, imtuortalizingrthe beauty of Bea trice ; Shelley paid his tribute in a tragedy, a fond apology for one whose story had capti vated him, and Guerrazzi has garlanded her memory with some of bis most enchanting word bouquets, Historians have warped facts in order to preserve her, and travelers made the scene of her crimes a shrine of martyred innocence. Byron alone was just. His gen ius was alwavs true, and never more accurate then when he told Shelley that the tale of horror, upon which he had founded his tragedy, was "essentially undramatic," because none of the actors command full sympathy. The fate of De-Custine's drama and Shelley's tragedy justifies Byron's criticism. The painter, however, is the one to whom the heroine of this tale of horror is largely in debted for her popularity. Few old paintings have been copied as often as Guido's portrait of Beatrice CencL Since the days of chronios the face is familiar to all. Shelley speaks of the original potrait as ''a just representation of one of the loveliest specimens of the work manship of nature." Guido represents her head bound with folds of white drajery, from which her golden hair escapes and falls about her neck. The bead-dress is historical, al though the tradition, that accepted byShellt-v, that the artist iainted the portrait from natures. denying the imprisonment of the original, is not true. Guido lieni did not remove to Home until some years had elapsed after death ot Beatrice. The portrait, therefore, is ideal in part at least, although probably not unlike the origiial, since the artist mar have been guided in his representation by ttie description ot per sons who had ?een her. The story of Beatrice Cenci has been told by writers, and varied judgments have been passed upon her. She was condemned and suffered death for the murder of her father, yet she has never been, wanting ot uetenders. lo some she appeared an angel ot beauty and in nocence, while others have been content to urge a sullicient provocation to justify the act of killing. Guerrazzi is one of the former and Shelley one of the latter. The novelist insists upon her entire innocence and purity, while the dramatist maintains bis plot by supposing that the daughter commits parricide to pre vent her father's incestuous purposes. Neither construction is true. Ot lateyears, the records of the trial have been consulted, and the facts gathered t herefrom are sufficient to guide the intelligent inouirer to a fair judgment. The Cenci family was one of the oldest and most aristocratic families of modern Home Its head during the latter part of the sixteenth century was Count Francisco Cenci, the father of Beatrice. Whatever uinerence ot opinion may exist in reference to the daughter, there is none in reference to tire father. He was depraved and demoniacal beyond anything that we can comprehend in these days. He was a man of great will and talent, but all his ability was directed to the com mission of crimes. His victims were many, but the prin cipal ones were members of his own family At that time the laws of ancient Home, giving to the father Ibe complete power over the rest of the family, were still practically in force at least so far as the nobility were concerned. Count Cenci exercised the authority of this parental despotism in the crueiist maimer ios sible. He had a numerous family of sons, all but two of whom were sent to there graves through his instrumentality. He frequently einressed his hanniness over his success in this direction, and the prospect of the early extermination of all his children. His crimes were so outrageous that notwithstanding his high rank, he was constantly entangled in the mesiies ot ttie law, ana was ooiigeu to extricate himself by the payment of heawy hues. It is related that these tines formed so considerable a part of the revenue of the government that the authorities were in no hurry to get rid ot the old villain. In 151)8 his family consisted of his second wife, Madonna Lucrezia. two sons, Giocomo and Bernardo, and his daughter Beatrice. Another daughter was still living, but liad been released from imprisonment to which her father had consigned her, through the intervention of the Pope, and under his protect ion bad married a provincial noble. The two sons were not allowed to enter the paternal borne, where the Count resided with his wife and Beatrice. The latter was treated .more like a prisoner than a daughter. She was at this time between seventeen and twen tW years of age. She bad inherited a large for- tune fnom her mother, but, fearing that she would escape his authority by marriage, her lattier guarded tier with the utmost jealousy Her life alternated between a palace in Rome and a suburban villa belonging to the estate and in ch she was surrounded by spies or liuiuureu in a, uungeon. iter lather fell des peratery in love with her. and the onlv kind ness she experienced from him was during the rfv...... ..r 1.: l i - rcicr oi ins uouozv passion. But all ins precautions were iinv;iii!n.r Beatrice's marvelous beauty had attracted the nouce 01 a young man 01 noble tamily, who was about entering the priesthood. Guido Guerro is described as being the handsomest young man in Borne. He was tall, of lair complexion, and noble bearing H very wealthy nnri tlu rmlv nn nt i -, J -- Tfjwnw mother. He was peculiarly gifted mentally as wen piiysicsiiy. ae naa nne talents, and was a skillful cultivator of the fin arts w; passion for Beatrice was reciprocated, and the iocra were encouraged Dy Lady Lucrezia i lie count soon discovered the affair, and for bade Guido to enter the house. Clandestine meetings followed, and the amour progressed The vigiliance of the count, intensified by his jealousy of his successful rival, soon reduced the lovers to a desperate extremity. Beatrice was removed to the suburban castle and Mn ly guarded. Throusrh lha of the count's spies and the assistance of the ladies, the lover was enabled to gain access to this retreat. Here a plan was concerted be tween the wife, daughter and lover for their release through the death of the count. Two bravos, named Marzioand Olirupio, were hired to intercept him on the road, and dwrh him. The lovers, waiting anxiously for the return of i" assassins, were dismayed at seeing the in Tieuui return insieau. A second plan was arranged. It was de termined to murder the old man in his bed. I Accordingly, the assassins were admitted by Beatrice, and one-third of the blood money paid them in advance. The daughter admin istered an opiate to her father, and while he was sleeping under its influence the bravos were introduced into the chamber. Again, the two women and the lover awaited to hear of the death of him who opposed their happi ness. Again, they were disappointed. The two assassins returned in haste declaring that they could not kill the old man who slept so peacefully and looked so venerable and helpless. At this Beatrice started toward them in a rage. "Vile braggarts," she ex claimed, "is this the way you rob the people of their money? Since your cowardice will nave it so, I myseit will kill mv father. Strengthened by the girl's determination, the men returned, and completed the murder. The body was thrown from the window into the garden beneath, but m its fall was caught by the limbs of a tree, and there hung sus pended until late the next morning. It was given out that the old man had fallen aeci cidentally. and had been killed by the limbs entering ms body. History leaves it doubtful as to the state of intercourse between the Count and Beatrice. Some authorities say that she was forced to submit to his incetuous embrace, while oth ers say that the murder intervened before bis design was consumated. There appears to be no doubt, however, that he entertained a pas sion for her and made unholy advances to har. It seems that no suspicion of foul play was aroused until the conduct of the assassins gave occasion for it. They received a large reward for their work, and repaired to Naples to en joy it. There imprudent conduct excited suspicion, and inquiries were made in the vil lage near which the castle was situated. A washer-woman told a curious story about some bloody sheets, and other evidence was gathered. The two bravos were arrested and put to the torture. One of them confessed everything. The Cenci family were arrested and imprisoned in Komc. Guido was warned in time, and made his escape. It is related that he cut off his hair, begrimmed his face, and acted the part of a charcoal burner. He bought a donkey and some sacks of coal, and went about the streets selling. In this dis guise, with his mouth stuffed with bread and his hands tilled with onions, he passed the guards wlfb were in search of him, and made his way to the frontier. While in prison Beatrice developed those wonderful traits of character that have made her famous. All the other members of the family, guilty and innocent, confessed when put to the torture. Beatrice alone maintained her Innocence. Again the torture was ap plied, but her fortitude was unshaken. Her wonderful beauty is said to have moved the heart of the executioner, and her heroism aroused the sympathy of all Rome. The udge was suspected of yielding to humane feelings, and was removed and another sub- tituteu. But all in vain, l he girl continued srTT - F a r n 11 n i-ij -ntt r I i - inn i-n 111 1 f Marzio, the bravo who had confessed, was in troduced into her presence in order that his testimony might be confirmed ; the law re- luiring that a confession obtained bv torture must be repeated in the presence of the ac cused in order to iaake it available. When confronted by her he was so dazzled by her beauty and daunted by her courage that he re voked ail he had said, and rather than crim inate her, he expired on the rack. Meantime, public interest in the case became intense. Ibe high rank of the family, the odious reputation of the deceased, and, more than all, the beauty and fortitude of Beatrice combined to increase this feeling. Farinaccio, the most eminent advocate in Koine, volun teered to defend the accused. It is said that the confession of Beatrice was obtained through his influence with her, and that he advised her to make confession and rely upon justifying the act. Other accounts say that it was obtained by bringing ail the other members ot the family iuto the room of torture with her. when her eldest brother exhorted her to confess, whereupon her fortitude eave way. and she exclaimed: "You, the head of our house, wish for its dishonor. It is your will ; then be it so." Notwithstanding the efforts of renowned counsel, the sentence of death was passed upon the two sons, Ladv Luerezia, and Beatrice. The Pope afterward reprieved the youngest son. The people f the city were greatly ex cited when the judgment of the court was made known, apd many petitions for a re hearing of the cao were presented to the Pope. In consideration ot these petitions, lie ordered that the execution be stayed for twenty-one days, but during this interval an event oc curred which precipitated the fate of this un- lortunate tamily. A young nobleman ot the St. Croce family murdered his mother in a most shocking way, and tied. It is said that old Count Cenci had advised that crime. The Pope received the intelligence of this murder with the most impetuous indignation. De claring that parricide was becoming epi demic in bis states, he refused all further in tercession on behalf of the Cenci family. The immediate execution of their-sentence was or dered. At 11 o'clock in the night, it was an nounced to them that thev must die the next morning. They spent the balance of the nistht in dress-making. Upon receiving tiie announcement ot her doom Beatrice ordered the costume and head dress in which she is represented in the famous painting by Guido Rem. All that night the carriages of the nobility were driving rapidly about the city, the occupants eager to obtain a pardon. But all in vain. The next morn ing the two women and the elder son were led to execution. The terrible scene was witnessed by an immense concourse of people. Bea trice's firmness was unshaken to the hist. Standing upon the scaffold she prayed aloud in language so eloquent that the bystanders were melted to tears. A moment later the ex ecutioner held something out in his hand, and cried in a loud voice: "This is the bead of Beatrice Cenci, a Roman maiden." The suburban villa was granted to the car dinal nephew, on condition of making it a garden in which the Roman public might be free to enjoy itself forever. This condition was faithfully kept, and, according to Mr. HiMard. the Villa Borghese is the most perfec t model of the beauty and magnificence of which the Italian garden is susceptible. It was kept open to the public from the begin ning of the seveiiteetitn century till i49 ?ince which time ttie gates have been closed. BOB GIBBONS "BLIND." Judire Servis, the Associate Justice of the First District Territorial Court of Montana, is justly celebrated for bis legal learning, and is greatly oeiovea oy uis irienus. xie;.is siern, upright and honest. But with all his legal at tainments, he is not the greatest man at cards in the Territory. It has been saia that lie uij not know the jack ot hearts irom the ace ol diamonds. In the Uaderaburg mining camp, three per sons were sitting around a table hi one of those log cabin saloons, with a Ditiiaru-tabie at tached, which are so common in mining camps, playing a small game of three hand poker. A quarrel ensued, wmcn resulted in an aggravated case ot assault anu battery. This did not end the affair, for at the next term of the court, at the head of the docket stood the Territory of Montana vs. A. L. Parks, for assault and battery with intent to kill on the body of Andy Anderson. luc trial came on, aud the only witness to the affray was Bob Gibbons, who was the third in the game. Itaving been sworn, he was directed to tell the court and jury every thing he knew about the affair. After clear ing ins throat he commenced by stating that "Me and Parks and Anderson were over at Halbeck's saloon the second dav after tbe election, when Parks proposed that we should have a game of poker. All agreed to it, and we went into the back room and sat down to tne game; did not know t lere was any tiara leeunaa between farts and Anderson, or I would not have played, but heard after ward " Here Bob was interrupted by tbe court. who directed him to keen all hearsavs to him self, and confine himself strictly to the facts of tne case. , The witness continued : "Well, we sat down to the table. Anderson sat there. Parks nere ana j. there (making a diagram on the clerk's table). Parks dealt the cards : I went blind; Anderson went blind over me, and Parka would not see him." The Judge, who is a little deaf, was in the naort ot making an ear-trumpet ot his hand and throwing his head a little forward and sideways. Having rone through this nan tomine, he interrupted the witness by asking him: "What is tbe reason that Parks did not see Anderson T The witness replied : "I don't know, but he wouKt not see him." "Proceed," said the Judge. Well. I saw him, he saw, and just at that minute " "Stop, sir," said the Judge, throwing himself in a hearing attitude, "did I understand yox so say that you want blind?" "Yes, sir", I went blind, and Anderson he went blind, and Parka would not see him ; but I saw Anderson, and then he saw" "Witness," exclaimed the Judge, striking the bench with his clenched fist, "do I hear you right, sir? Do you say that you went blind and then you saw?" "Yes, sir," replied the witness. " 1 saw Anderson, and Anderson saw, and just at hat" "Stop, sir," said the Judge. "Mr. Clerk, fine the witness $50 for contemt of court, and direct the Sheriff to take him to jail, and there . to keep him until he receives further orders j from the court. Call up the next case, Mr. 1 Clerk." Bob Gibbons was dumbfounded, and did not awake to the reality of his condition until the Sheriff had his hands on him, when he ex- ' claimed : "Good gracious, Mr. Judge, what have I done that I must go to jail?" . ! The Judge, who was purple with rage, did not deign to reply to poor Gibbons, but reit erated the order "with increased vehemence, and the members of the Bar, who had been an ticipating tha fix that Bob would eventually be placed iff, were convulsed with laughter, which increased the rage of the Judge to the highest pitch. The Prosecuting Attorney en deavored to enlighten the Judge, and event ually succeeded, but not until he had produced a pack of cards, and, after dealing out three hands, made the blind as clear as day to the .Tndt?e. The line and imprisonment were remitted, and Gibbons was allowed to proceed with his testimony. Brooklyn Sunday Union. A SAD-EYED MAN. HOW HE SQUARED ZACH. CHANDLER'S ACCOUNT WITH CONKL1NO. Crawford writes from Washington to the Pittsburg Leader : I do not care to say that Chandler drinks to excess ; he might arrest me ior criminal libel, but' I think I may venture, with impunity, to the statement that he is not a strictly templ ate man, and that after dinner he inclines) become excessive garrulous. A friend reports me a sample of Chandler's style, as follows : Chandler loves to boast of his strength. Upon this particular occasion he raised his arm over the table. "See my muscle," said he: "I can lick any man of my size anywhere, if I am an old man; that is because I am scienced in the business. But I won't lick a man unless he is a gentle man. Now, when a man tells damlise about me, my way is to go and lick him, if he is a gentleman. Now Took at Don Pott (Piatt); he tells more damlise about me, and I would lick him, but Don Pott is no' gentleman. George Townsend I was going to lick once for telling a dam lie about me and I bunted him for over a week, but before I found him, I learned that he was no gentleman, and so his hide was saved. Chandler's great hobby In his skill as a pugi list. Roscoe Conkling Is also a great boxer. He bas a private gymnasium in his residence at Washington, where after dinner be invites such of his friends as are gymuastically in clined for a friendly little bout with thegioves. Conkling is a very good amateur boxer, and as he is a very large, ixjwerful man, he gener- ! ally hits it his own way with the guests who are bold enough to put the gloves on with him. For some time it was an open dispute between Chandler and Conkling which was the better boxer of the two. Chandler would, after every dinner party of which he was a member, calmly assert that he could lick any man of his weight in the United States. One day last winter Chandler dined with Conkling, ' and the latter inveigled tho great war Senator into his private gymnasium. Thegioves wero donned, and the two doughty champions bo- ' gan to make graceful senatorial passes toward one another, according to tflie most approved i rules of the P. R. The bout, however, was of a very short duration. Chandler suddenly re- i ceived a blow between the eves, which caused the huge senatorial form to go over backward; 1 ns trusty legs lailea mm, ana men ne sat lown so hard that tears came out of bis eyes. It took four men to get the war Senator upon his legs, but he threw up the sponge at once, without anv further effort to punish Conk ling. The only remark he was heard to make was: ' Damn strange," ,and "111 fix him yet." Conkling and Chandler were much together n a social way, and it was not Ions after the above occurrence when Chandler recejved an other invitation to come up to his house and spread his legs under Conkling's social board. Chandler sent "word back that he regretted very much his inability to be present, but he hud a guest at his house, a valued constituent from Michigan, and he could not leave him. Conkling sent back work. "Bring your friend i long." With this form of invitation Chand ler consented to come up. Ho brought his friend with him, and introduced4iim as How ard, of Detroit, Michigan. Howard was a sad- eyed man ot dnhdeut manners, who contented himselt with paying a very close attention to the themes of the bill of fare rather than to join in the general conversation at the dinner table. Conkling was in great glee during tne dinner. He told over and over again the story of Chandler's discomfiture as a boxer, and never seemed to tire of asking him what he thought about his ability to lick any man in the United States. Chandler took ail these re marks in an absent-minded way, as if, sud denly, he had become lifted above any such ambition of considering himself a fine ath lete. After dinner Conkling led ins guests into the gymnasium for a general smoke and chat. 'Come." said he, pleasantly, to Chandler, don't you want another bout with the gloves?" and then Conkling laughed again in his most cheerful, turkev-gobblcr style, as he put on a pair of gloves. No, 1 don l want to box, said L handler ; "but perhaps lny friend here would consent to annuse you." Turning to Howard, Chandler remarked, lou box, do you not r Howard still looked sad-eyed and absent- minded. He did oYice know something about it, but it was such a long time ago. Come, come, said uoiiKiing, let us nave a friendly bout. I won't hurt you." Kvidently the great JNew York senator was Din ins to knock some one down. The sad- eyed Howard, evidently flattered at the pros pect of being knocked down by so distinguished i man, oegan siowiy wpiuunapairui giovea. :Vs he was drawing on the gloves. Chandler was observed to walk down a little to the back ground. A contented look was on his face, and every now and then he w-ould raise his huge right foot uplmder his swaving volum- -1 1 1 . - 1 .. ...!.. lllOUS coat-tail ana give luinseu u cuueiaiuia- tory kick, expressive of rapture. The sad-eyea man now came lorwaru, anu the round began. Conkling was for proceed ing at once to kuock his opponent uown, ana ha would have done so had he not found great difficulty in getting anywhere near the sad-eyed man. The affair culminated by the sad-eyed man's suddenly rushing forward and landing a thunderbolt oi a list oetween uoim Hng's eyes. The Senator went over like a great tree, and rolled into the corner oi tne room, wnerene lay lora wuukui uuutu j the concussion. He was heard to say after ward that he thought a house bad fallen on him. ... fVink-lirnr had enouuh of boxing for once. Chandler made several pleasant little remarks about the skull of his friend Conkling, which wero not received in the most cneenui way. T.ir nf Conk lint's feclmea the next aay ivlu'll lift hoard that Chandler had played a joke wpon him by giving Howard $100 tocome up and bounce LxjnKuiig. iuc Hot riot Michigan, was none other than the notorious pugi list, Jem Mace. SHOT HIMSELF FOB LOVE. I.OVHSICK YOUTH ATTEMPTS TO SHUFFLE TIIE COIL, BUT IT WOULDN'T DO. A vonth of eighteen summers, who has unont tnme of his haDDiest days playing mum ble-peg and jaCKH on iiie smwm i,cuiaj of High street, Alleghany, iaieiy imamar n.nnred. He aouubt her borne. She talked tr. tt ratvn wav to the holy pas sion, and in poetic strains be bade her come tn ;,tn.iT,rn,l nrms and pillow her head upon his manly breast. "Be mine, mine for ever, and I'll protect you from tbe chilling i.iout th( ruin. Hie dust on vour pathway. anv " was her cruel reply, as she stood chewing the corner of her gingham "Don't don't say that fatal word ; it will kill me," and he buried his hands in his eyes. "I'm in love I'm desperate I'll die I'll "Go hire a ball and tell us all about it, ana lia l;tl liita btiioV nut n. foot. "Ynn know how I have taken yon to the shows and the theater, and bought you nice things, and .now yon do tins to me. ud, can't stand it, I " . -rL- loll vnnr troubles to a policeman Just then the tapping of her foot on the fender was distinctly liearu. "Oh! my fair and fickle fairy, let me pour out my soul at your feet ; let me tell all that's in my heart; let me" "Write it out, and I'll read it next Sunday. I have to crimp a ruffle to go toyi party to night." "I'll shoot myself, I'l take pizen, you'll kill me, but then you don't care : I'm going to my death. Good-by, apod-by, pet, by-by, I'm go ing, going, go w "It's mighty slow you are," and she busied herself arranging the chairs in the parlor. He went. His first steps were to get a mur derous ancient looking pistol. This he loaded to tbe muzzle, Then with an uncontrollable burst of affectionate stuff he placed the coil shuftler over his watch pocket and sent the murderous missile whizzing to the cardiac re gions of the thorax. Instantly, he weakened, and ordered a physician. That gentleman came and informed the love-sick youth that be had missed the coil, but the dose would certainly cure the malady. This morning the young tained leader. man is better, and no tears are enter- in regard to his recovery. Pittsburg CERTIFICATION OF BANK CHECKS. AN INTERESTING DECISION. A late number of the New York Times gives the following legal decision : Two highly important cases, involving the intent m certincation ot checks Dy names and the obligations imposed thereby, have been " n 1 " V ' j ( decided by the Court of Appeals during the . past week. In one of these cases the Marine National Bank was the plaintiff against the National City Bank, and in the other suit was brought by the Bank or North America against the National Bank of the Commonwealth, all four of the institutions being located in this city. The actions in both cases were brought to recover money paid out on checks certified by the plaintiffs respectively. In the first case it appears that the Marine Bank paid to the City Bank tbe amount of a check which both banks believed to be genuine, and which the Marine Bank had certified at the request of the payees. A fraudulent alteration had been previously made in the body of the check before the Marine Bank certified it, namely, the date was changed, the payee's name erased and others inserted, and the amount for which it was drawn changed, bat the signature of thedrawers was genuine. The check was presented to the pavees in payment for a qnanty of gold ; the man who offered it to them was a stranger to them, and they had never had any business transactions with the urawers: t ne cuecii was indorsed by the payees and deposited in the ' foul, in which case they could not have kept City Bank, where they kept an accoofat, ami t afloat longer than ten minutes, as it was bit was paid to the City Bank by the3Iarine ; terly cold and the ice making very fast, the Bank through the exchanges at the Clearing spray freezing as it struck tbeship. The lines house. The check was dated, certified, and in the boat were frozen stiff, and the Captain deposited Dec. 2. 18fJ9, paid to the City Bank thinks that it was from this cause that the Dec. 3. 1809. and claim tor dilterence between $35 and $4,079 (HI (the sum to which the chock j n was raised) was made by the Marine Bank on d- the City Bank on Dec. 3, istft, upon tne ais coverv of the" alteration. Payment was re fused, and at the same time the plaintiffs ten- 1 dered to the defendants the altered check. The referee to whom the case was sent for examination and report, decided in favor of . i t : ,v 1. -w. T( .. 1- tl... r.L....rt ! IUC f'liXlll till, MIC .uaiiin. I'.uiii, ...... ..... iv was confirmed at special term. An appeal was taken to the general term of the .Superior Court, and, after hearing, the judgment was reversed. From the decision tbe Marine Bank appealed to the Court of Appeals, and received final judgment in its favor, the Oturt deciding that the ceititication oi a cuccK oy a duuk is simply the recognition of the signature thereto, as that of a person or firm having an account with arid funds in the bank to which the check is submitted to be certified ; that the money was obtained under misrepresentation, and that the judgment entered en tho report of the referee, directing that the plaintiffs should be repaid the difference claimed, be af firmed, with costs BEN BUTLER, Gath'f Correspondence Chicago Tribune. Now that Ben Butler is down at last, it may be said of him that, if he had been considerate, to say nothing of scruples, he would have been less of the incarnate Yankee than he has been. Nature never nrodnced since James 1.. such a whimsical and brutal mtermeddler. He na seldom been equalled for ability after his kind a sortot political pugilism, oacKed by metn od, and memory, ami ready f ltics, and also by fair fidelity after he has in friendship, except with persons qualified to educe his em ulouMiess. Vanity of his talent is his weak ness. He leaves behind him a public rather than a personal bat8, and his ability and coarse humor have always softened th feelings of the crowd toward him. The las? acts of his Congressional career were most damaging of all his fraternization with spies and shadows, and strong disposition toward lmjierial black mailing. No public man can fool with in- : formers habitually and be safo. In this city, ' a young man of reputable birth and former good esteem is now on trial in the criminal court for a burglary, committed how, or why, or whence, is still a tangle, but. whatever the measure of his guilt may be, if any, his en forced familiarity with detectives, as County Attorney, led tbe way. Butler was tbugged all round. He undertook to conduct a cam paign against all the reputability of the age, antagonizing it above, while the secret service pierced it below. It is probable thut he will live hi Washing ton city hereafter, as he owns considerable property here, and there is a natural law and lobby business always floating around Gov ernment, which will compensate him better than Boston or Lowell practice. His own house on Capitol Hill, the very next of all dwellings to the Capitol and Court of Claims, is near!y finished a granite edifice with stone bays and stone porch, uniform with two ad joining houses, which he has let to the United States Coasf Survey for the snug income of $i,000 a year. Doubtless be will entertain and keep offices there, and build up practice, as scores of retired public men have , done here Jerry Black, Stanton, Ilobert I J. Walker, FredjBtanton, R. M. Corwin, Gen erals Denver and Crittenden and Governor Bartley. He Is rich, but not thrifty. His lifu lacks the simplicity of aim and method, which gives discipline and method. It works like an old style press, too intricate and loud and self ; shattering for its simple purpose. All tho J Government could not overturn him, but his little home constituency did so without a threat. He retired from Rome victorious, like , uuuiuiius . uuiwcinpieiiuu ..a.j . ci ci him a stranger, struck him down in Autumn, 'Even so As with a man by his own turns empoisoned And with his charity slain." A STRANGE STORY. Davenport (Iowa), Gazette, Nov. 16. Thirteen years ago a young man wooed and won a yonng lady in a village not tar Irom Davenport. The parents of the girl objected. and .there was a deal of trouble: but finally ii.- ........ 1,. . ; 1 .. t i. i . . . r ., bride. Three months after the bridegroom LUG UUUUiC HC1C 1UU111CU Ml WIG IIUIUT. Ul 111. desired to move to California, but the family of his wife opposed her emigration, and the result was that tbe husband started for the Pacific coast without her. After the first six months no tidings from the husband were re ceived and in less than a year news came that he was dead. In 1S53 the widow married a young man who had recently arrived from tiermanv : ana ner secona nusoana was en tirely ignorant ot the fact that his bnae was a widow. But where "hmorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise." Shortly after the marriage the husband purchased a tarm in scon coun ty, and on that form the couple have lived ver since, and several children have blessed their union. Fourweeks ago the first husband nf this woman arrived in Davenport, and making inquiries, learned the history of his wife s marriage, xnen ne roue out to see ner. It was fortunate that her liege lord was away from homo, for she was very much affected. She told hiin that she supposed him dead, and so married another, ana chided him for ne glecting her as he did. He had a long story in tell the real tist of it being that he had de termined never to return until he became rich. And here he was rich ! But his wife wu miserable in bis Dresence and he was miserable, too. The end of the conference wna Hint, the first husband returned to Daven port to consult a lawyei" and tbe end of the consultation was that the husband went to tbe wife and had another long talk with her, and then the two separated never to meet again, for the nian determined to cross the ocean and uwnil the balance of his days in uermany The day that he left the wife entered her suit . - . . . . C J . A I for flivorce. on tne arounu oi iraemuu : ure notice was forthwith served on the defendant and he accepted service. At the next term of tbe Circuit Court the defendant s name will i, railed and there will be no response. There will be default, and decree of divorce granted. And maybe the wire win oe mar riorl n wcnml time to the father of her children and so remain contented in the delightful home in which she now lives in elegance and comfort A WHALING DISASTER. LOSS OF A BOAT'S CREW OF SIX MEN IN A SNOW SQUALL WHILE LOOKING FOR WHALES. From the Hawaiian Gazette, Nov. 12th The James W. Allen reports a melancholy accident which happened near Herald Island on the 1st of October last. Captain Kelley says that on the above mentioned day be lowered his boats for whales close to tbe ship's bow; the mate stood out ahead of the ship about a mile and tacked, standing on the op posite course until he was about three-quarters of a miles from the ship on the weather bow. The weather was rugged, with frequent thick snow-squalls. The mate lowered his sail to have a better chance to see the whales, and was last seen in that position. At this time the Captain saw a whale off the ship's lee-quarter and signaled the boats to go there; he in the meantime wore ship, and be fore the vessel came to the wind looked to see if the boats were coming, when he missed THE CHIEF MATE'S BOAT. He became alarmed at once, as there was a heavy snow-squall coming down, and he im mediately set the recall signals in hopes that if they were all right they would set their sail, so that they could beseem As the approaching squall threw a dark gloom on. tbe water he could not see" them ; no boat could be seen, the snow-squall enveloped the spot where they were. He then made sail for tbe SDOt with the ship where the boat was last seen. When the squall blew over nothing was to be " 1 " " ' " "v seen of the boat. The mastheads were manned . by the sharpest-eyed men on board, as all felt anxious for the safety of the boat's crew. When the ship reached about the place iJaWHERE TIfEV WERE LAST SEEN, She wore round, standing a slaprt distance on the opposite tack, with the jRuerican ensign set at the peak to call the attention of the bark Triton, which was to windward and steerintr down toward them, in hopes they might see j the boat, and if she had struck a whale and ! had been towed to windward to render assist ance. The bark then came down, spoke tho .fumes Allen and luffed to under hor lee. The James Allen wore off to cross to leeward, when they iaw an oar and two hats ; lowered a boat to pick these things up, not knowing but there might be a man. The next moment they saw the boat off the lee quarter, bottom up, with NOT A SOUL TO TF.t.I. THE STORY. Captain Kelley says, from the appearance of the boat, he judged they had struck a whale, anu been drawn down bv the line gettinir line got foul. The names of these unfortunate men wore John Norton, chief mate: Alexan- ( '. .1 ! ; i w hAaLnloAM. . T. .... I . - - - ' ........... ... .u ....... . i i . I ...'ill ti-"l j John Seypan, Charles Ambler, Charles Beyer, seamen. This sad occurrence cast a gloom over the spirits of the whole ship's c mipany, ' and put an end to a promising season's work, i The Debut of Queen Victoria. The King died at twenty minutes after 2 in the morning; : the young Queen met the Council at Kensing- I ton Palace at H. Never wasanything like the first inipres.-lou she producod, or the cboras of praise aud admiration which is raised about ht,r manner and behavior and certainly not without justice. It wa3 very extraordinary and something far beyond what was looked for. Her extreme youth and inexperience, ami ignorance of the world concerning her, naturally excited intense curiosity to see how she would act on this trying occasion. The doors were thrown open . and tbe Queen entered, accompanied by her two uncles, who advanced to meet her. She bowed to the lords, took her seat and then read her speech in a clear, distinct and audible vdRce and with out any appearance of fear or embarrassment. She was quite plainly dressed and in mourn ing. After Mie had read her speech the Privy Councillors were sworn, the two royal dukes first, by themselves; and as these two old men, her uncles, knelt before her, swearing allegiance and kiss ing her hand, 1 saw her blush up to the , .. e .1 i- i . .i . . t . i . i . . 'eves, as u sue ten. me contrast ueiween uieir l.t . . i, - , . i viii aim i in u iiuiui.ii ivinwiiiio, unu ,1110 .1. I the only sij;n of emotion which she evinced. Her manner was very grreeful and engaging. . She kissed them both, and rose from her chair 1 and moved toward the Duke of Sussex, who was farthest from her and too infirm to reach ' her. I particularly watched her when Mel I bourne and the Ministers and the Duke of j Wellington and Peel appraached her. She went through the whole ceremony, occaiaon ally looking at Melbourne foi instructions j when she had any doubt what to do, which ! hardly evei occurred, and with perfect calm I neiis and self-possession;, but at the same time i.with perfect modesty and propriety, particu larly interesting and ingratiating. The young Queen, who might well be either dismayed or i confounded with the niundeur and novelty of her situation, seemed neither the one nor the i other, and behaved with a decorum and pro 1 priety beyond her years, and with all the se- (lateness and dignity, the want of which was i so conspicuous in her uncle. Proposed Hailhoak from Boston to the West. Boston, Nov. 21. The project of a new and direct railroad from BoSlon to the West is receiving the general attention of business i men here at the present time. The route ro I posed includes New York and New England ! road, from the city to Willimantic ; the Hart ! ford, Providence and Fish kill Road to Hart I ford. Conn.; the Western and Poughkeepsie and Eastern lines to Poughkeepsie, and, cross- ing the Hudson, a line of eighteen miles to i Pine liush, yet unbuilt. At this point direct ' connections will be made with the Pennsylva nia and Erie Roads west, and with an entire ' system of roads to the coal and iron field3, and ; a line to Washington and the South, some i twenty miles shorter than any now existing. It is stated that the Pennsylvania road will bridge the Hudson river if eighteen miles west be completed, and will guarantee that 700 car loads ol treiaht shall be sent aauy over tiie line to Boston as soon as the road is built. It is proposed to cross the Hudson river in floats carrying an entire train until the bridge is completed. The friends of the scheme say that in six months' time, and for $500,000, the direct route can be established. II,...- ....... ... ,,- . 11 -T- U L- "Tll.lV 1T.1IJP ' ' ajy , Verdi was putting the last touches to 11 Trovatore, he was visited in his study by a privileged friend. That friend was one of the ublest of living musicians aud critics. He was permitted to look at the score, and ran over the Anvil Ononis on tue piano-iorte. wnai do you think of that?" 'said the master. "Trash !" said the connoisseur. Verdi rubbed his hands and chuckled. " Now look at this, and this," he went on. "Rubbish !" said the other, rolling a cigarette. The composer rose and embraced him with a burst of joy. "What do you mean ?" cried the critic. " My dear iriend, " replied Verdi, I have been malting a popular opera. In it I resolved to please everybody except the purists, tho judges, the classicists, like you. Had I pleased you, I should have pleased no one else, What you aay assures me of success. In three months II Trovatore will be sung, and roared, ana whis tled, and barrel-organed all over Italy. erai was right, and we all (except ttie ltuskins) wish that he would give us some more barrel organ music. Stockmen Caught Napping. The recent ex traordinary change in tho weather caught a great many stockmen napping. A good num ber of horses and cattle are reportea snowoa in at different pasture grounds, unable to get out. 1 here was quite a number ol Keliet about eighteen miles above Strawberry, circling round a buckeye bush protruding from the snow quite down, also the manes and tails of many of them eaten ott trom sneer hunger. Many of the stock will perish without the possibility of aid the snow being three and one half to four feet deep, nnd trails can only be made for them on snow-shoes, iseverthe less an effort is now being made to rescue them. Tuolumne Independent, Nov. 14. The Timet Washington letter of Nov. 21, has the following : The Attorney General has decided that a person whose connection with the anny as a coninMssioned officer has been severed by re signation or legal dismissal, cannot be legally returned to his former rank, or commissioned by reappointment to fill a vacancy in a regi ment or corps of the army, when, by such re appointment, he will become superior in rank and position to another officer who holds a commission in the same regiment prior to such appointment. It is said that a Philadelphia boy stole $700 and presented it to an orphan asylum. The boy who thus expends his whole fortune' to assuage the orphan's grief and wipe his weep ing eye, exhibits a degree of disinterested be nevolence that is rarely to be met with 1n this unfriendly world. CHICAGO'S BIF VAH WIJfKLE. AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF EPILEPSY A PA TIENT WHO HAS BEEN UNCONSCIOUS FOR 70 DAYS HE WILL NEITHER BURN NOR SCARE OUT OF HIS SNOOZE. From the Chicago Times, Nov. 25. A very singular case has recently come un der the eye of a Times reporter. It is undoubt edly a case of true catalepsy, and so rare are the instances of this disease, that it has caused a decided sensation among the medical fra ternity of this city. The man who furnishes the cause of all the speculations that are rife, and all the learned investigations that are daily taking place over his unconscious, insensible body, is one Michael Finnegan, a true Celt, as his name implies. Mike alive, well, and about his hum ble business, if he had any at all, excited no interest whatever, and never succeeded in es tablishing himself as the centre of a coterie of wise and scientific gentlemen, but prone on his back, prostrated by a disease almost un known, and when he can possibly derive no satisfaction from so doing, he at once becomes the object of the most ABSTRUSE DISQUISITIONS, and the exciting cause of lofty efforts to ex pound the various aspects of -his condition. His case has been the subject of essays and communications to medical journals, and he is in a fair way to unconsciously immortalize himself. Of the early history of Finnegan's disease. v . v-- VMI1J lOVUl J JK tij Ul'gul t T UlJVUO i but little is known. About Sept. 15 be was found on the railway track near the Michigan Southern depot. He was standing in an al most rigid, unconscious conditfbn. to all ap pearance contemplating what the result might be if a train should suddenly insist upon occu pying his portion of the track. The police man who arrested him, and took him to the Harrison street station, said it was the queer est case of drunk he ever saw, and in all his 22Bnil& "S? a"d nu?"n? Aher people, he had never known whisky to thus ; aneci a numan creature. I Michael, in the police court, exhibited symptoms of insanity, and a day or two sub , sequeuUy was REMOVES TO ELGIN. Here he relapsed into a condition of uncon - sciousntss and insensibility, his muscles be I came rigid, and he lost all power of voluntary j motion. It was not a case that came within the province of the KIgin institution, and he , was removed to the county hospital. Here he remained until the 3d of November, there be ! ing little or no change in his 'condition, when he was brought to the Mercy hospital, where i he now is. He has been in this singular state for 70 days, speechless, senseless, helpless. He has been visited by a great many of tbe physicians and surgeons of this city, to all of whom he is a veritable sphinx. I There are divers and different opinions about bis case, which exhibits a complication of symptoms which none of them have wit nessed before. A large number of them hold that it is A TRUE CA8E OF CATALEPSY, while others maintain that it is hysteria with assimilated catalepsy. The man's condition has as yet shown no cnange, ana yesteraay, save a tailing oil in flesh, he appeared as he did when fir&t brought to the institution. Various experiments have been made iu an effort to arouse him from this o verpowering stupor, but without success. At some times there has been reason to suppose him conscious, at others all expedients have failed to prove either sensibility or conscious ness. His limbs are perfectly rigid, and are moved with great difficulty, and at times he seems to exert a decided opposition to being thus rudely handled. For instance, tho re porter raised his arm. Apparently he resisted with much force, as if perfectly conscious of t he iierformanee. But when the arm was raised it REMAINED IN TUtS ELEVATED POSITION, and was only replaced . with the same effort required to raise it, which apparently contra dicts the impression that he is conscious, and seems to prove that the apparent resistance is simply the result of muscular rigidity. At times, when thus moved about, his face twitches, as if in pain. But this, too, can scarcely indicate a co'iscious state. On the contrary, he is apparently insensible. An iron heated so hot that none of the physicians could bear their bands upon it, was applied to ins ooiy, wituout exciting any demon st ra tions of pain. His eves are closed, and it takes some effort to open tliem, though he winks sometimes voluntarily. At limes he slightly change hi.s position, more often lur- iny titu night than in the day tun MEDICAL WORKS record a case of catalepsy where the patient was cured iiv being mguteneu out ot it. Act ing upon this idea, the physicians have at tempted to scare Finnegan. They have talked at his bed-side about cutting his jugular, as his case was hopeless, and have scratched his neck with a tooth-pick, but the patient failed to scare any. He is daily fed by forcing food into his throat through a large-sized catheter. He eats in this way 50 ounces of milk and four eggs each day. But little is done in the medical treatment of tho case. A relaxation of the muscular sys tem has been obtained by an administration of ether, but it was only temporary. Quinine and strychine have been given as tonics. The physicians arc discussing the effect of a trans fusion of blood. It is thought that be will come out of this singular state, but with a LOSS OF REASON, I The case is of the greatest interest to medical men on account of its extreme rarity. But few have ever been seen. Hammond, a very voluminous medical writer, records but three, and Flint, whose medical researches have been very extensive, has observed but one. But three have been known in Europe. PACIFIC BAILR0AD LANDS. From the records of the General Land Office if annpnra tliar ftiA immlipr of jiiTPs of lnnil actually patented to the Pacific Railroad Com nies under the Congressional land grants, is as follows : Union Pacific Railroad, 709,954 acres ; Central Pacific Railroad, 672,611 acres ; Kansas Pacific Railroad, 413,000 acres. The number of acres selected but withheld from patent by the order of Secretary Cox Nov. 3, 1869, to await the completion of the roads in accordance with the report of the " Commis sion of Five Eminent Citizens," was 183,222 acres by the Union Pacific, and 61,436 by the Central Pacific Company. These two roads having been now accepted as properiy com pleted, are entitled to demand and receive pat ents for the remainder of their land agents, which the general land office estimates will amount to 12,000,000 acres for Union Pacificand 9,100,000 acres for the Central Pacific Company. The estimated Quantity which tbe Kansas l'a cilic Railroad Company may receive under its erant is 6.000.000 acres. The law of July 2, 1864, however, forbids the issuance of patents for lands to anv Pacific Railroad Company un til the cost of survevintr. selecting and convey ing the lands applied for shall have been first paid into the United States Treasury ; and, as there is no law reouiring tho Companies to apply for patents unless they wish to, and no machinery has been provided for enforcing the provision of the act of 1864. that lands not sold by tbe railroads within three years after the completion of their roads shall be liable to be sold under ttie nre-emption laws, tor their benefit, at $1 25 per acre, the Pacific Railroad Companies may indefinitely delay the issuance of patents for these lands, and thus keep them exempt from taxation, although still reserved from general settlement and sua ceptible ot sale by said corporations. A Sequel to a Divorce Suit. Daniel Byrnes has brought an action in the Nine teenth District Court against his wife. Ellen Byrnes, J. S. Waters and Jennie P. Jackson to declare a tmst. Byrnes, who hail been married for. a decade at least, and had acquired some s,uuu worth ot property in this city went to Ireland on a visit in 1SJSJ, leaving his wife full power of attorney, and did not return until June Ian. When he once more reached San Francisco he found that Waters bad stepped into his connubial shoes and was in possession of his property .uj In July, 1873. Ellen got a divorce from hinai the ground Of desertion, of which proceeding her husband was quite ignorant, and he declares the whole thing a fraud. In September last Waters deeded the property to Jennie Jackson. Judc ment is asked that Jennie be adjudged to hoH tho property In trust for Byrnes, and that she be compelled to turn tne same over to mm & F. Ckronide. Some very serious disorder seems to have affected some of the horses in Washington county. They first lose the use of the right hind leg and then become perfectly neipiess The Presidency, we believe, is the only office in tbe country that has not been held by & niamhiw of ths WMllhurlli fklllilv. -kH I City Times. GEHEBAh NOTES. The soliloquy of Hamlet contains eighty one words, of which all but three are Anglo Saxon. The difference between a dishonest debtor and an importunant creditor is that one is a "do" and the other a dun. The Sbah frightens his wives into- submis sion by wearing an European plug hat drawn threateningly over his right eye. A stranger in New York wires to the Jferuld: "I came into your great city, yesterday, an en tire stranger. I stopped on the corner of I j-iouuway auu yanai streets, as i was lost, i asKeu oi a pouceman die Shortest route to South street. "His generous answer was : 'Don't know ; never measured it.' " A protest against Sunday theatricals, ad dressed to the New York Police Commission ers, asking an enforcement of the laws prohib iting such amusements, is published. It is signed by Edwin D. Morgan. John J. Cisco. Jonathan Sturgiss, Thurlow Weed, William E. Dodge and several other prominent citi zens. Young man, never aspire. Remember what happened to tbe fellow who hallooed, "Excel sior" so. He was a nice young man, and had wealthy connections. But he wouldn't mind the old man. nor heed the maiden who asked him to call on her.' Natuarlly he was found frozen stiff, still shouting Excelsior." Boilon Transcript. A Washington lady, unon the marriaae of her daughter, cave her intended son-in-law three dollars in a sealed envelope with which to fee the minister. The enterprising youth ab stracted two thirds of tbe amount and deliv ered the remaining one dollar to the preacher. HOW, with a commencement like this, what chance bas that mother-in-law. The Northerner says : Two nrivate citizens. l-ewiston, being somewhat ambitious, and that. too, for military fame, went to Fort l.apwai a few nights since, and by way of showing their fitness for the army, each took a hand in the draw" drill with some of the hrrrs in bine. Not being able to atrree in all respects with the aforesaid boys, they were promoted. They got into the guard house. It is related that Chester W. Cbanin. ReDre- sentative in the Eleventh Massachusetts Dis trict, received a silver quarter for hold ing Major Morgan's horses, at Westfield. when Chapin was a boy attendimr school and the Major was driving a stage. It is said that Mr. Chapin has kept that quarter ever since, and that a few days ago he figured up the in terest, which, when compounded, amounted to more than $100, and with this amount bought Mrs. Morgan a carpet. HUMOROUS. What is that which, bv losintr an eve. baa only a nose left? A noise. Public spirit Readiness to do anvthiin? which is likely to prove lucrative. The London Saturday Review cynically savs: "It may be hoiied that even under a municipal corporation London will not sink to the level ew York. It is pretty generally recotmized. savs the Saturday Review, that few ties in life are more trying than that which unites a couple of trav eling companions. On election day a Leavenworth man was shot in the check. It is unnecessary to sav that the ball glanced off without doing any in jury. St. Jsjuis Veinocrat. The Duke of Northumberland savs the rumor that he has become a Roman Catholic is a false and baseless calumny. He sympa thizes with General Sherman. Those who have not read the details of the Beecher-Tiltoii-Moulton mutual scandal should subscribe for a paper published in New Mexico. They have just heard of itdown there. Baruum had better look after his laurel. Way down South "The Oreat Roman Hippo drome" is said to be traveling through the country with a counterfeit Baruum at the head of it. Douglas Jerroldsays, in his Hedge-hoy Letters, that '"respectability is all very well for folks who can have it for ready money ; but to be obliged to run in debt for it, is enough to break the heart of an angel." Now that the Centennial Commissioners have abandoned all intention of asking Con gress for an appropriation, they can appeal to the public with a better grace "and prospect of securing a favorable response. The Boston merchants have taken the matter in hand with their accustomed energy, and at a public meeting held recently the proposed plan for celebrating the national centenary was delib erately indorsed, and by resolution a pledge was given that the quota of the State should be speedily subscribed. Freddy's Prater. A bright-eyed boy of four years was saying his prayers the other night to his mother, and with his hands folded ami eyes closed, he sweetly said : "Sow I lay me down to sleep, I pray the" Lord my soul to keep; If 1 should die before I wake, I prny the Lord my soul to take. ;-id bless paji, mamma and " He stopped all at once, opening his eyes, and exclaimed: Mother, mother, what shall I say if I have been a bad boy?" You .should not stop to ask questions, my son. while you are saying your prayers, re plied his mother. liut motuer, l nave been baa ; what shall I say ? Ask Go I to forgive you ; but you should say your prayers ail through when you begin, without stopping. His question answered, he reverently touted lis hand?, ami closing his eves, continued : 'And will Cod forgive me for killing a hop toad witii a big stick, and throwing it down; big hole .' Amen. Children ot u larger growtn will uo wen to copy- Wealth of Two Foreign Universities. The universities of Oxford and Cambridge are among the largest land owners in Britain. They own 319,718 acres, scattered through England and Wales, and this 1-ind, as a rule. ot admirable quality. i uere are time charges which bring them m a yearly in come of L4,&70 ; tney get -jiu,ia enrlv- from houses, and S30G.69O from tocksfand shares. Taken together, the income of these two great universities m 183 was $3,722,025 a sum which may well make our chief American colleges unhappy to contem plate. A large proportion of this sum joes to the heads of bouses, fellows and exhibitioners. The chapels absorb twenty times as much as the libranes. unty itiesumsoi ,waiui- ford, and $5,355 at Cambndge go to the pay ment of professors. Stanley's Kxpedition Heard from. Ixn- don, Nov. 16. Advices have been received from Mr. H. M. Stanley, the Herald Commis sioner in Africa, from Zanzibar, dated October 19. which state that he had surveyed the delta of the Rufigi river and had found two navig able mouths and aistmct cnanneis inio tue interior of Africa. The route of the slave trade crosses this river. 1 he result oi tne ex ploration suggests means of effectually crush ing the slave traffic. A steam launch, a steel gun and a few marines stationed along the river wouui easnv accuuipusu i.uc wuir. wi. Stanley while ascending the river gathered valuable information and establishett a traa ing station for the exchange of goods and na tive proauce. ons, gums uu uiuga. Dulutii. Duluth is dead just now, finan cially and in a business way. Hotels are closed: no new houses are building; many old ones are for rent, and the windows of numerous shops and stores are coverea witn dust and cobwebs. The elevators and ware houses are al most empty : the steamers come in and go out with freights that hardly pay running expenses ; but all live on credit and hope for a brighter day. The present collapse of the Northern Pacific Railroad has demoral ized Duluth ; the price of wheat is so low that the elevators stand idle, and everything and cverybodv at the head of I.ake Superior looks seedy and forlorn. Corr. rrovidenc;. R. I., Journal. An anxious mother in Allegheny, Penn., latelv sent a note to the teacher of her little boy .'which read : "Dear Sir : My IRtle boy is looken so bad aud he dont complene of beein sick i am afred the large boys plays so ruf with him will you please see that they dont stand him on his hed and dont let them be ruf with him he cride all nite before last with his hed i cant git him to one that enay of them hirts him he wont tell me enay thing they dooe to hinmwill you pleese lit bim play witn the little girtels as he is so small you can see yourself that his eys looks baifl and 1 am onkneesy about him pleese knotise and take caer of him be is so young."