The mountain Democrat. [volume], April 25, 1863, Image 1

About The mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1863-1943

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VOLUME X.
THE mountain democrat.
PCBLI8HKD er
OBtWIOX. St
m V| w. A. mrtIT.
f IV anvaaca-One Tew. •&; Bie Meatha,
•3- fimBwOl.il 50r one Month (payable to the Car
rtart, ffeeutaj Ik*»e Copies. IlH
IDfllTUllMO—Oa* Square. of IB lines, first Insertion $*;
•safe wbmisrst Insertion. 41 50: Buslnes* r»rt«, of lo lines
•r lass, one year. i*5; Caaltic** Cards, of 10 lines or less.
«tTM madtha. tIC. A liberal discount will be made on the
nOnvc rasas for yearly aad quarterly advertisement* which
eaeeed one square.
JOB PIISTIXO.-Onr OfSre Is replete with all the modem
lnH!ir»r-‘ J for tSssRiir. Cruur ist» a*etr> exeruU«n of
/JhsBkskiif nmtrlf -- 1 Boohs. Pnmph<e*«. Brief*.
Pasters. Handbills. Circulars, Ball Tickets, Programmes. I>r
ttttiMS of Hsaek ar m*p»*lt. Billhead*. Checks. Boeelpt*.
Cards, labels, ete., In plain ar fancy colored Inks.
ilRTICtS' Aflidavits, l odortalincs and Writsof
At inch meat. and- rtb* new law. for sa'eat this Office: alsu,
■lank Declarations of Homestead the most eos»veulent r>rm
la ms. Ja*t printed, a rompb-ic lo'Sief MISKHS DFKD.
VIM. > WMUfsllr «vr.<o) MAllKIAGK CERTIFICATE.
k P. ffJRHKB, So. If 1*4 Washington street, opposite Mojrnire s
BMni Rsse. Is the onlvsntb'clM ttrnt fni the MOCXT \IN
•1M0CHAT. in the city or San Francisco. All orders for
thn Paper or advertising left with him will be promptly at
tended to.
I. L.1I0CEBA I* authorised to receive moneys due this office.
' fhr subscription.
wr h BROWN is thn authorised Agent of the DEMOCRAT st
Quran tilers for the p*»-*r advertising, or for job
week, left with him will lw promptly sltsifM to.
■AIHAB P. JACKHOV Is the euthnrlred tgent of the MOI'V
TAIM DEtflbCRAT at Kl Dorado. Order* left with hiia will
he prasnpUj attended to.
Im m BIDLKMAN la oar authorised *«ent at Sacraasento —
111 erders for adverti-lug. etc., left with hint will wertn? tin
mediate attention.
A. II. L. MAS is agent for the Dewk-*»t at Virginia City,
Nevada Territory.
ifOL. VM. KNOX Is onr anthorlsed a rent at Orirrly flat.—
All ardera given him for the i»«a*ocral will be promptly at
IkMU
OAttf mm CaIbbib
professional ©arts, 1Etr.
'thob. j. oroon,
ATTORNEY - A T - L A W ,
El Dorado, K! Dmado County. (mat7
T. A. HORN BLOWER,
ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR AT LAW,
Witt practice in all lh« C.iuria of the 11th Judicial
Dlautrl. OFFICE—At Pilot Hill, El Dorado Coon
ty [iraylt-dm
Fain Ileuartmn, Trim* II. Willi ta*.
HEREFORD ft WILLIAMS,
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELLORS AT-LAW,
Oder—No. Sit, 1. street, over the St. Nicholas Sa
laaa, Sacramento. ,
WUI practice In the Supremo Court, ami District
.Court of Sucracoouto and adHning countin. (<ki6.
ft W. SAsmana.*, ('.«>. F. Wn.utu*.
SANDERSON ft WILLIAMS,
Aitomrs-AT-uw
Oftrr—Dourla..' Iluddior. neat door to the < »ry
Jlease, Main street, Clai-erviHe. doc C
O. W. GOHDOH,
ATTORNEY - AT-LAW,
City, N T- OIBoe in Collin,' Buildinf,
Jt at reft .
[nov-JIt
A. C. PEARLE,
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
Often Id Doufl
fcb»
i - Building (np ctalra), Main street,
Piaeervdlr.
»m» i
Mat at mu.
h. c. li nt.
HOME ft SLOSS,
ATTORNEYS - AT - I. AW,
Ollier in l it; Block riairrvillc.
Will prartlee l.aw in the Court, of El Dorado and
. a , — ; . t At... r...al a a.,4 I I
Co«nlir»—*iu the t>u|>remcCourt, imi the I
t'tmh Territory. ml9
A- »• HALL. O- VALE.
***** Fr unci
; Psastace Ua in all the Court, of Utah.
< Utica, at Canon and Vir* inia City. jeW)tf
M. K. SHEARED,
ATTORNEY "1nT> COCXSELLoR. AT-LAW, AND,
NOTARY PUBLIC.
Otter. at Residence. Main afreet, three |
ajoar, above Bedford Avenue, Placvrv tile- sold (
E. B. CARSON,
NOTARY PCBLD' AND CONVEYANCER,
Ofl.ee in the Court Ifooae, Placervnle.
(novl tf]
DU. L 8. TITU8.
•ftee—Poutoftce Mock,up-auira.
L — . ■ 1
[aplil ;
Boohs, Stationers, Etc. |
— - TT’*'*' - — *" I
PLAZA BOOK STORE,
. PLACERTILI, E,
I
Baa yaet reeeised a aplendid aaaortment of
8Usiftrd and Miscellaneous Works,
STATIONERY, SCHOOL BOOKS,
sirr doom, album, cmnr,
to,*, onto ttvi, vimijci,
QUIT A M, AOOOMMiUlHt UlUC U>>U*.' S ,
•oman srustf, rvc.y no.,
BtWeteAexpressly for the Country Trade, and selling
it greatly reduced rates. Also,
# AGENTS
For Sacramento Union, Alta California, Bulletin,
Mirror, etc.
NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS
Kept constantly on hand, and aold anuaually low.
S 8. HERNANDEZ.
S. HARRIS,
Ortaar tf Main Strut and the Plata,
mciiriui,
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALER IN
HdtUM Clgara, Tobacco, Book*, Bta
(lauary, Cutlery, Pitying Carda,
Yankee Notion*, Fruits, Green
udDrled, Nut* and Candles,
AT SAM ISAMCWCO fUt W.
Alan,receives by erery Steamer the latcat Atlantic
od European Newspapers, Misgai'ries and Peril,tli
lU.ahd an flie WEEKLY CALIFORNIA NEW8PA
BB8 and MAGAZINES. maiio
Oroot iuduoementa .to Purchase !
SELLING
OFF AT COST
JtA Has
A TING concluded to change oar buai near loca
dbr tor aulo, at SAN FRANCISCO
WHOLESALE PRICES!
•' "Otk largo and wetl-oetecte d stock of
STATIONERY, BLANK BOOKS
1 >» CIA i ' - '
. I — AMO
MISCELLANEOUS WORKS!
A 1*9, the largest and best assorted stock of
SCHOOL BOOKS I
la thM SkyjMblob os will close out at the same rates.
(A* %*Skates and PupUs wanting School Rooks,
w|HRn4 k to th.tr advantage to call loon and make
thgkgenkuaae, foe wo are bound to clou out wtthtn
thUkjf *tya
at the tame, rate* Dome Bne brand, of
HAVANA AND DOMESTIC CIGARS
MEERSCHAUMS,
PINE CUTLERY,
FANCY GOODS, ETC.
W. M. DRADSHAW A CO.,
RtArtS PoetofBee Block, PlacerviUc.
THE MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT.
— _______________________________________ _j •
PLACER VILLE, EL DORADO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, ISOS.
THE GARNET RING.
During the first year of my practice as
an attorney, clients and cases were so few
with me, that I found it an agreeable
change from the dullness of an almost un
furnished and unfrequented back office,
to visit the Court rooms, where I not only
became familiar with the usages, arts and
means of success employed by skillful
lawyers, but where I could see human ha
ture in its perplexities and struggles, its
feebleness and power, exciting in me an
interest and sympathy ttarf/hedrama has
never done.
One freezing morning during the first
wceV, of L'ccrrA".-?. my office, having been
wholly innocent, for the season, of all ar
lilicial warmth, or means of warmth, was
too cel id arid cheerless to be endured any
longer.
It was enough to quench the light of
hope and tire of courage in the most hot
headed and enthusiastic young man, so I
determined to leave it for awhile. I took
down from its hook my old overcoat, the
ever ready and mitlinehing friend of two
or three winters wliich, regardless of dig
nity as an outsider, has never shrunk from
the duties of frock-coat, dressing gown,
siek-gown and bed clothes. But, alas! on
this tireless, cold morning, when it would
have been so grateful to my poor heart
and poorer purse, to have found if trans
formed into one of the thickest beavers,
fur lined and fur trimmed, invincible to
the fiercest north wester, it looked to me,
spite of my old attaehnient to it, nnd my
gratitude for its services, it looked quite
used up, brown and rusty, threadbare ami
thin ; its collar sadly soiled, its button
holes rent, its buttons-lonesome, no two
standing together.
And worse—t e once friendly garment
was- to my gloomy and suspicious eyes —
a traitor. Would it not tell to every one
w lio should see it, the secret I most wish
ed to hide? that wliich might bring my
filial ruin? Would it not tell that I was
poor and unsuccessful ? that I had rio
business and no immediate prospect of
anv? that I had no acquirements and
abilities w hich the world needed ; not
enough even to enable me to take care of
myself?
The once good friend seemed anything
hut a friend now, ami it must not go wiiti
me this morning. But then, if it stayed
at home, its absence would tell my tale
the same as its presence. 1 was in de
spair.
What could I do? What was therefor
mo but poverty, neglect and mortifies?
tion ? I hurried away to the Police Court
room, where turbulent and uncontrollable
distress makes us forget the suffering (hat
ran he hidden ; where the hopeless and
frantic agony of crime makes us feel for
tunate in our innocence, however else un
foi lunate.
As I entered a gill was put on trial for
larc ny, a eouimuii ease, as that stated;
yet I saw something in my thsi glance at
tier, that made me lorget lack of clients,
cluerless otliee and tell tale overcoat.—
Site was about eighteen; fair and Iresh
looking; with soft, light hair, brushed
m any over tier ears; laige blue eyes, the
lids very much swollen by crying; and
sluail, unmark I features. She was clad
in a dink blue merino dress, and a plain
wbite collar.
i cannot clearly explain what it was in
her that so interested me. The inner file
has an expression outward that is more
easily recognized than described, ami it
wa-- probably tbis.
J leit that there was undoubtedly some
thing wrong id toe case; that decent look
ing vniltig person, so neil ami proper in
dress, without any taw drn'.'ess or orna
ment, did not belong to a prisoner a dock;
ought not to be there.
I watched her ami watched the trial.
The clerk read tile indictment. The girl
stood up ami heard herself, Selina White,
charged with stealing a shawl and dross,
propeity ot one Mary Wilson. The tears
rolling in streams down her cheeks, and
her voice scarcely audible Irum emotion,
-.he pleaded ‘not guilty.'
Tne first w itness was the policeman who
arrested tier. Ills testimony amounted to
nothing more than that tie had touml the
clothes alleged to have been stolen, ill a
carpet hag marked with the prisoner's
name, and claimed by her. The prisoner
ceased weeping when this witness was
called, and kept her eyes fixed steadily
upon him.
J?he was told by the Judge, whose sym
pathy she had evidently enlisted, thrt it
was proper tor her to ask any questions
be-anng on tiie case, and now I perceived
that she had no one U> defend her, or give
her special advice and aid. She availed
herself ol the privilege with which the
Judge had made her acquai. ted, and en
deavored to draw from the officer the ad
mission that she had shown more surprise
when the stolen articles were found in
her carpet bag than auy one else present,
but in this she failed. He was altogether
uncommunicative and evasive in his an
swers to her.
One Mary Wilson testified to the loss of
some clothes which she described; some
garments were shown her which she iden
tified. In answer to questions she stated
that they had been lying in a trunk; that
she had not laid eyes mi them for three
months, or more, till she found them in
the prisoner's carpet bag, and that one
Mary Murray had suggested her looking
there (or them.
Mary Murray was now called. Shewas
a very bold girl, showy in dress and any
in manners. Her fingers were loaded
with cheap rings, the most conspicuous
of w hich was a large garnet. W hile the
stolen garments were being shown, I had
observed a young man crowd ns far for
ward as he could get, to look at them.—
My eyes happened to be on him when he
first caught sight of the witness’ rings,
and the expression which then covered his
face excited my interest scarcely less than
that of the prisoner had done. 1 approach
ed him and inquired, 'Do you know any
thing of this case?’ —~ - •
‘Not much,’ he answered,coloring deep
ly-
'Do vou know any thing?'
'Well, yes, some things,’ he answered.
'If it is any thing that can be brought
to bear in favor of the prisoner, tell me
forthwith,’ 1 said, 'for she is an innocent
looking girl, and I am afraid things will
go hard with her.'
‘She never stole them things,’ he said.
‘They were found in her possession ;
that is strong legal proof, and 1 am afraid
that it w ill decide the case against her.
‘Are you a lawyer?’ he asked.
I answered that I was.
‘kre yww tse,v '•■W'asJ'
‘I am now going to offer lo defend her,
if yon can tell me any thing, I warn you
that there la not a moment to lose.’
‘Well, then, some of the same furs and
trimmings that's on them stolen clothes
is on this girl here on the stand.'
‘Ik that so ? Are you sure ?’
‘Sure as can be.’
'Well, that’s some thing, or may be.’
‘Then I know that big ring on her fore
finger as well as I know my hand.'
‘Do you ?'
‘I'd swear to it.’
‘Well, wc’M gire you a chance to.—
What is you* name?’
‘Miles Allen.’
‘Keep on hand where you are, and we’ll
take care of this poor girl, if we can.’
I sent up n line to the Judge, in which
I offered to defend the prisoner. He an
nounced this fact. I took a scat behind
her ami the trial went on. The interview
w ith Allen and the note to the Judge had
prevented me from hearing much of Mary
Murray's testimony; but the prisoner
•eemed to have lost nothing of it She
questioned her closely as to their personal
relations, and from the answers she drew
out, it was evident that Selina's pretty
face had excited considerable admiration
on a young man who boarded at Mrs. Wil
son's, and whom Mary Murray choose to
consider her beau ; that Mary bad shown
ill will towards Selina on making this dis
covery,, _and made some slanderous re
marks concerning her, and had even ut
tered a few threats concerning her. I
permitted tile prisoner to elicit these facts
without interruption, and I must acknowl
edge she did it with a tact that surprised
me, and which I could ascribe only to
strong w oman wit, quickened and urged
on by the extremity of her circumstances.
Mary Murray was leaving, when 1 detain
ed her for further examination.
‘Have you any employment ?’ I in
quired.
She answered in the affirmative.
‘What is it ?’
‘Cap making.’
‘Who is your employer ?'
This she told.
‘Do you wotk at the shop, or at your
own lodgings?’
‘Sometimes at the shop, and sometimes
at ray lodgings.’
‘Where have you worked during the
last week r’
‘At my lodgings.'
'What is the work upon which you
hove been employed ?’
•Caps.’
‘Yes ; but what kind of caps ?’
•Plush.'
‘Of what color ?’
'Mostly brown.'
‘Was that bit of brown plush now hang
ing to your shawl fringe, trimmed from
ihe caps?’
The witness did not answer, but impa
tiently catching up the end of her shawl,
shook off tile shred.
I turned to the Judge.
‘Will your Honor direct that that shred
be secured ? I have something to do with
it.’
It was lacked up and handed to the
cleik. .
Marv Murray was still on the stand ; I
resumed n.y questions to her.
'You hoard in the same house with Se
lina White?’
Yes.’
‘Is your room near hers?'
‘No: hers is in tile attic, and mine is a
chamber over the back tea-room.'
‘Was Selina ever in your room?'
I had learned one or two facts from Se
lina before I put the last question.
‘No, -fie never was; 1 never had any
iii!"g to do with her ’
•We.-c you ever in Selina's room?’
‘N't wl.iie she had if, except the day
tiie policeman searched it.’
■Did you handle the clothes found in
the carpet bag ?’
‘No ; the policeman allowed no one to
touch them.’
‘When did you last see Mrs. Wilson
wear the delaine dress that has been ex
hibited here?’
‘I cannot tell exactly ; not for some
months.’
‘Has it been in your room among the
plush caps, to your knowledge?’
‘No, sir.’
Mary Murray was dismissed.
I now called Miles Allen. At mention
of this name, the little girl at my side
started forward as if she had received an
e'ectric shock, then sank back and held
her hands tightly tojiether as if she was
struggling with some powerful (eeling.—
She looked steadily at this witness, as she
had done at those who preceded him, hut
her color kept coming and going, she w as
excited and anxious.
Miles Allen answered to his name and
employment; he was a carpenter; came
from New Jersey,and had been here about
six months.
‘Do you know the prisoner?’ I asked.
The girl's eyes were full of tears, but
there was a look of hope, almost of tri
umph, on her face, as he bluntly answer
ed, ‘Yes, sir, 1 do.’
‘Where did you know her?’
‘Where we both came from, in New
Jersey.’
•How long have you known her ?'
‘Ever since she was born ; and I know
her too well to believe myself, or let any
body else believe she’s a thief.’
‘Never mind your opinion of her char
acter just now,' said the Judge. ‘Do
you know any thing about the present
case ?’
‘I know as much as this, that there's
the same fuz on the clothes they say Se
lina stole, as was hanging on that gay
girl’s shawl.*
‘Do you know the witness, Mary Mur
ray ?’ I asked.
‘No ; 1 hope not.’
‘Do yoa know the ring she wee on her
finger this morning?’
'Yes, sir,’ with an emphasis, was the
answer.
‘What do you know about it?'
*1 owned that ring once, myself, and
Selina White owns it now, for ] gave it to
her, and she ain’t the girl to give it away.’
'How did you recognize it?’
'Because I did. I’d know it anywhere
as soon as I’d set my eyes on't; but, if
you’re m mind to, I'll tell you how any
body may know that it don’t belong to
the girl that's got it Inside on’t you’ll
find my name. Miles Allen, pretty plain,
and a little something else besides, per
haps.’
•Have you any thing further to tell us
with resard to tjhi* »’
‘Only that the gay girl proved plain
that she never knowed or loved Selina
enough to make her give her the ring, and
ko I'd like to ask how she got it?—and
then, who’s thief, after all ?'
‘Those points will be settled at the pro
per time,’ said the Judge. At my re
quest he ordered Mary Murray to be re
called; she appeared, quite red with anger.
I examined her as to where she obtained
the garnet ring, and, as I anticipated, re
ceived unsutixfamrf nod contradic
tory answers.
I'lie Judge requested her to remove it
from her finger. She refused. An officer
in attendance soon relieved her of the or
nnnient, which he handed up to the bench.
The Judge looked at it carefully, and then
read from the inside, ‘Miles Allen. To
the girl I love best.’
There was a general titter through the
Courtroom. I glanced at Miles, lie was
smiling and blushing, hut showed no em
barrassment or shame. It w as plain he
thought it no unmanly thing to give a
ring to the girl he loved best, and lie was
not unw illing to have it known that the
pretty, modest looking Selina White was
that girl, though she was now in the pris
oner's dock, on trial as a boarding-house
thief.
’Now,’ said the Judge, turning to the
clerk, ‘I think we will look at thosestolen
clothes again.’ They were produced, and
on being examined, there was found fast
ened to some head trimming which orna
mented the dress, n hit of brown plush,
the same in shade and fabric with tha.
the clerk hail secured. In the meantime
an olliccr had returned from Mary Mur
ray's lodgings (where lie had gone at my
suggestion) with a brown plush cap,which
she had lately finished and, on compari
son, it was found that its material was
the very same w ith the shreds before in
Court.
The testimony was now all in, ami I
rose to make the defense. I went over
the evidence and showed there was no
thing against the prisoner but the one fact
of possession, always a strong one-, I ad
mitted. hut in this case outweighed Itv
the too apparent malice and guilt of t e
girl Murray, w ho had not only hated and
plotted to ruin her, but had stolen from
her herself. In proof of all this 1 alluded
to her jealousy, her threats, and her too
great readiness in throwing suspicion on
Selina. I dwelt on the circumstance that
a bit of plffti, which appeared to be a
cutting from Marv Murray’s work, was
found upon the stolen dress, although it
had been packed away for a long time
previous to being found in the prisoner’s
possession. It bad not been shown that
Selma White ever had any plush, or had
ever been in Mary Murray's room to ob
tain it.
‘Then how,’ I asked, Mi I this detective
shred find an opportunity to la.-tcii it-, if
upon a dre-s in a sudden transit from its
owner’s ttur.k to the -ri -.ngi-r’s traveling
bag! Pei liaps,’ I suggested, ‘Mary M n
ray might led us. She* had a similar shred
attached to iier shawl, and it is not possi
ble, nay, probable, that she could tell how
and where its fallow became attached to
the trimming of tiie stolen dress » Might
it not have be* n caught in a temporary
lodgment in her room, or by contact with
tier u ■- n clothes! How else ?' **
In view of all the circumstances proved,
it w as easier to believe that Marv Murray
had stolen the clothes and then put them
in Selina H bite's carpel hag in order to
ruin her and get her out of her way, than
that Selina had stolen them.
1 then touched upon the garnet ring,
show ing that it had undoubtedly belonged
to the prisoner, and had been taken from
her carpet bag wdien the stolen goods had
been deposited there, and ended w ith a
lew words of appeal to the conscience and J
sympathy of the Judge, intended to pro
duce* its effect on tiie spectators rather
than tiie person addressed. The Judge
w hispered a moment with one of the offi
cers near him, tlnn rose and pronounced
Selma \\ iiite innocent of tin* charge pre
ferred against her. There was a loud
hurst ol applause. 1 took Selina’s little
cold hand in mine, and told her she had
better leave with me at once. We had
just reached the door when Milos Allen
joined us, shaking hands and laughing
and tulking so fast that one could hurdly
understand him. I learned ibis, however,
that lie and Selina loved each other* too >
w ell to be far separated ; that Selina had
come to get work near Miles, at his sug
gestion; that owing to a series of blunders
not so easily explained as frequently met
w ith, she had failed to find him on her
arrival, but that certain of meeting him
soon, she had spent tier time in looking
for employment, till she was .arrested and
lodged in jail. Miles declared himself to
have been surprised beyond expression,so
much, even, as to have been suspicions of
his mental state, when on going to the
Court room to make complaint of some
wrong done to himself, he saw the very
‘girl he loved the best’ in the vile dock on
trial.
Hut the lovers were happy now; and so
was I, notwithstanding my old overcoat.
I don’t know whether or not Miles Allen
noticed that I was thinly clad, and that,
spite of a strong effort of will, I showed
great sensitiveness to the cold on reaching
the outer air, but this 1 know, the warm
hearted lellow. gave into my linml (I don’t
say paid, for of course I never charged
him or Selina any tiling), the price of one
of the very best overcoats 1 ever wore,
w ithin a w eek of the time when I first met
him in the police court room.
There may be some who are desirous to
know wliati ver more 1 can tell them about
the garnet ring.
1 will, therefore, add, that soon after
the trial 1 have described, the morning
papers reported Mary Murray to have
been convicted of stealing a ring and fined
twenty dollars, failing to pay which $he
hud been sent to jail.
And this further. No longer ago than
last summer, I met Miles Allen on a pleas
ant Sunday afternoon, leading a fine little
hoy, who looked the very image of Selina
White as when I first saw* her.
Leaning on Miles’right arm was Selina
herself, and what was curious, on her left
hand, which clung to the strong, muscu
lar arm, was the identical garnet ring that
had proved her innocence.
Perhaps she was proud of it. anil desi
rous of having it seen and admired ; per
haps it was so large it might have torn or
misshaped her’ glove. At any rate, w hat
ever her reason for so doing may have
I been, she wore it in plain sight, and I
as Miless Allen swore he
did, long years before.
The Potiah Miner’s Lift.
I was greatly impressed by the pro
found silence of these vast caverns.
When we stood still, the utter absence of
sound was appalling. The falling of a
pin would have been a relief. Not even
the faintest vibration of the air was per
ceptible. No desert could be more si
lent—no solitude more awful, f t-UwAi
apart from the guides and lamp-bearers
in n separate vault, at a distance of a few
hundred feet, in order that. > ni'ifrht fully
appreciate this profound inertiou, and it
really seeincd as if the world were no
more.
From some of these tunnels we emerg
ed into open caverns, where a few work
men were employed at their dreary la
bors. I was surprised that there were
tint more to be seen, but was informed
that they arc scattered in small 'parties
through miles of earth, so that the num
ber is not apparent to the casual visitor.
As we approached the places w here they
were at work the dull clicking of the"
picks and hammers produced a singular
elFcct through the vast solitude ; as if
the gnomes, supposed to inhabit gloom}'
pits, were busily engaged at their diabol
ical arts.
We came suddenly upon one group of
workmen under a shelving ledge who
were occupied in detaching masses of
crystalized salt from a cleft in which they
worked. They were naked to the mid
dle, having nothing on but coarse trow
sets and hoots, and wrought with their
crowbars and picks by the light’ ol a few
greace lamps held by grimy little boys
with shaggy h«a Is—members, no doubt,
of the same subterranean family.
Some of the men were lying on their
hacus punching away with tremendous
toil at the rtigged masses of salt over
head, their heads, faces and bodies glit
tering with the showers of salt grit that
fed upon them ; while others stood op to
their arm pits in dark holes delving into
the lower crevices. Seeing our lights,
they slopped to gaze at us. Was it pos
sible that they were human beings, these
bearded shaggy, grimy looking monsters ?
Surely, if so, they well represented the
infernal character of the place. Never
upon carlli (the surface ot it, I mean,)
hud I seen such a inoitslVous group ;
shocks of hair all powdered with salt ;
glaring eyeballs overhung by white lash
es Hashing in the titlul blaze of lamps;
braw ny lot ms glitter ing w ith crystal
powder, and marked by dark currents of
sweat! No wonder, 1 staled at them
with something akin t r distrust. They
might tie monsters in reality, and take a
suud- n notion to hurl me into one of their
internal pits by way ol pastime; in which
ease the only consolation would be, that
wln re there was such mi abundance of
salt there would lie no dilliculty in the
preset vation of my lemains.
After ail there was something sad in
the condition of these poor wretches—
shut out Iroin the glorious light ol day,
immured in deep dmk pits hundreds of
feet underground; suiting a- it were for
life, in the bowels ol the larth. Surely
the salt with which other mentlavor their
food is gathered with inlinite toil and min
gled with bitter sweat!
Vet, strange as it may seem, l was in
formed by the guide that these woiknion
are so accustomed to this kind of life
that tilery prefer it to any other. I>y tin
rules of the directory they are divided
into gangs as on board a ship. The
working gang is not permitted to remain
underground more than eight hours ; it
is then relieved. The current belief that
some of them live in the mines is not sus
tained by the facts. In former times it
is quite probable that such w as the case.
At present the administration of affairs is
more humane than it was at an early
period in the history of the mines. The
operatives arc free to quit whenever they
please as in any private establishment.
Plenty of others are always ready to take
their places. The pay is good, averaging
from thirty kreutzers to a tinrin a day.
Whenever it is practicable the work is
done by the piece. Kach man receives
so much for a speciticd result, Good
workmen can make two or three hundred
florins a year. The sa t is gotten out in
various forms, according to the depth of
the stratum. When it is mixed with
an amalgam of hard earth it is cut into
cylindrical blocks and exported in that
lorin to Russia. The liner qualities arc
crushed and packed in barrels,lor expor
tation to various parts of Prussia and
Austria.
How little do we reflect upon the tre
mendous aggregate of toil by which the
commonest article of human food is pro
cured ! Thus, as wo sit at our pleasant
breakfast table—the sunshine shedding
its cheerful glory through the curtains
upon the social circle, the white cloth,
the clean knives, the buttered toast and
boiled eggs, so invitingly spread before
us—with what charming unconsciousness
of labor we dip up a little salt and sprin
kle if upon our eggs and butler! to be
sure there is no good reason why we
should make ourselves miserable because
what we relish so highly cost labor ; but
would it not he instructive to dwell a
moment even upon a pincli of salt ? Not
to go into a history of the silver mines,
which have served to garnish our table;
the iron mines, which have furnished us
with knives and folks or the coal mines
which afford us fuel with which to cook
our food — what a world of salt seas, and
brine springs, and crystal caverns—
what an aggregate of human toil, com
merce and enterprise that pinch of salt
suggests! Vet so common is the use of
this mineral that, like the air we breathe,
we are scarcely conscious of its existence.
We next visited the stables in which
the horses are kept for hauling the salt
on the subterranean railways. Many of
the horses, it is said, never see daylight
from the time they enter the mines. In
the course of a few wei ks they lose their
sight. A Him gradually grows over the
eyes—from what cause l could not ascer
tain. It may lie the effects of the salt or
lung continued darkness—though it does
not appear that the miners suHer any in
convenience- in this respect. I remember
reading of some fish without eyes at all
found in the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky.
Possibly, having but little use for sight,
the horses of Wieliczk go blind from a
natural disposition to accommodate them
selves to circumstances.
SmutriliUu »f 8mt K«k>
Tt is a I rite saying that no man is a he
ro to his valet; and the greatest men that
history records have bad their little
weaknesses, flattering to humanity, be
cause proving them mortals and not demi
gods. Sir Walter Raleigh in his best
days had a strong dash of dandyism.—
When he appeared at court he wore six
thousand dollars’ worth of diamonds in
bis shoes; his armor was solid silver and
his sword-hilt and baldric were studded
with precious stones of incalculable va(<M. 1
Pass on, splendid shadow ! The great
philosopher, Descartes, had a passion for
wigs, and Sir Richard Steel would some
times spend forty guineas fora peruke.—
Goldsmith’s peach-colored coat is immor
tal. According to Samuel Johnson* Pope
had such a high opinion of himself as to
think he was one of the pivots of the sys
tem of the world. Napoleon f. prided
himself on the smallness of bis hands and
feet. Sir Walter Scott was prouder of
being Sheriff of Selkirkshire than author
of Waverly. Kotzebue was so vain and
envious that he could not tolerate any
celebrated personages near him, even
when represented by a portrait or a stat
ue. Byron was vain to excess —vain of
his genius, his rank, his misanthropy,and
even his vices. Spinoza took particular
delight in seeing spiders fight The
Count de Grammont once surprised Car
dinal Richelieu jumping with his servant
to see which could leap highest Salva
tor Rosa often played in impromptu com
edies, and traveled the streets of Rome
dressed ns a mountebank. Antonia Mag
liabccchi, the famous librarian of the
Grand Duke of Tuscany, was passionate
ly fond of spiders, had his room filled
with them, and would not allow hia visit
ors to disturb them. Moses Mendelleohn,
called the Jewish Socrates, sometimes
sought relief from his meditations by sit
ting at the window and counting the tiles
on the opposite roof. Cowper bred rab
hits and made bird-cages. Doctor Jenson
made an especial pet of his cat. Mind,
the famous Swiss painter, always had a
room full of cats, and one perched upon
his hues when lie was drawing. Goethe
had a tame adder, but held dogs in aver
sion. Thomson's greatest delight was to
saunter in his garden and eat ripe peaches
tiff tiie trellises, with his hands in his
pockets. Gray said he would like to pass
liis life on a sofa reading French novels.
It is said that Oliver Cromwell sometimes
laid aside his puritanic gravity and play
ed at hlindnian's huff with his attendants.
One of the most innocent amusements of
Charles II., of England, was to stroll in
St. James’ Park, surrounded by a troop
of those diminutive spaniels which bear
his name, and feed the ducks. Beethoven
loved to paddle in cold water, and carried
his passion to such an extent that the
floor of his room was hooded, and the
water would filter through the lower sto
ries. Sometimes, at morning and even
ing he would scamper barefooted through i
the dewy meadows. Shelly was very I
fond of sailing payer boats. It is said
that he came to the Serpentine River
once, and having notiiing in his pocket
hut a fifty-pound note to make a boat,
gave it at once thedesired form, launched
it on the stream, watched his venture
with paternal anxiety, and finally ran
round to the other shore to receive his
money when it came to land. We might
easily extend our list, but have said
enough 10 -pirWfc the proposition with
which he started.
Making Something of the Old Woman
at Last.— “ I had just about one o’ the
laziest and most or’nary wives a poor fel
low ever got stuck on. She wasn’t wuth
shucks. She would work till she shiver
ed, and eat till she sweated. Howsever,
the poor critter’s gone under now, and I
don’t know as I oughter say anything
agin iter. Well, about twenty years ago,
her and me was a travelin’ in a train out
West. 1 was dead broke—hadn’t nary
red, and was dreffully down in the
mouth. Just as I was tryin’ to fix on
some method of raisin’ the wind, suddeiA
Iv the train was brought up all standin’
and the splinters was ftyin’ in every di
rection. In two minits passengers was
hivin' around loose, groanin’ and teller
in' for help, and there was an orful time
generally. As luck would have it, nei
ther me nor the old woman was hurt a
mite, but as I looked at her, the idea sud
denly occurred to me that there was a
chance to make something off of her.
So says I, ‘ Deb,’ says I, ‘you’ve never
bin no 'count to me, and I think it’s time
yer was. I’ve got a chanee to make
somethin’ outo yer now, and I’m agoin’
to do it, and I hope yer won’t make no
fuss about it, but stan’ up to the rack
and take yer fodder like a woman. Here
goes!’ and as I spoke, 1 fetched her an
old socket plum on the nose, and squash
ed it as flat as if a cart-wheel had passed
over it. * Now,’ sez T, • howl Deb.
But remember, yer ’ceived damages from
a livin’ splinter, and not from my fist!’
Site tuk my advice, and that lick fbtehed
us 5*1,000 damages.”
“ But,” he said, heaving a deep drawn
sigh, “ what was the use, after all » The
money’s all gone now, and I’m as dry
as ever. Who’s a goin’ to licker?”
Sublime Sincfkitv. —“ Amelia, for thee j
—yes, thy command, I’d tear this eter
nal firmament in a thousand fragments;
I’d gather the stars one by one, as they
tumble from the regions of etherial space,
and put them in my trowsers pocket;
I'd pluck the sun, that Oriental God of
day, that traverses the blue arch of
heaven in such majestic splendor, I’d tear
him from the sky and quench his bright
effulgence in the fountain ot my eternal
love for thee 1"
“ Don’t, Harry, it would be so very
dark."
Resolction is almost Omnipotent-—
Sheridan was at first very timid, and
obliged to sit down in the midst of a fine
speech. Convinced of, and mortified at
the cause of his failure, he said one day
to a friend : “ It is in me and shall cotne
out.”
From that hour he rose and shone and
triumphed in surpassing and consummate
eloquence.
TnREE Bounties. —Laughter, sleep and
hope, are the three bounties with which
kind Mother Nature compensates us for
the troubles of a life, which few, perhnps,
would accept if they were asked before
hand.
) IHJMBBg fig
Rose Colored “Prohnro.— to
the Home Circle says:— **1 nead jm ilhf
recipe Tor making one of the WmW
erts I here mr men;
fold recommendation of bang* at wflao
beautiful and delicious. The dkjf
you wish to earve the pudiUg, |Mtnt
take aa many sweet apple* a* wMartaar
the bottom of yoor baking dhtb,' tdbMr
should be white ware,) peel ahff"wi>d
them, putting a stick of cinnamon in the
ytoee of the core ; put them in a batttla
| with barely water enough to eoindMiu
add sufficient sugar to make a thin syrup,
and boil until the apples are trartspftrtat
and tender, taking great care to prtMWt
them whole. When done, aOt aside, to'
cool. At night, pour a pint of hqUjag
I water over a large cup of sagb. The'
next morning, place your apples' lathi
baking dish, and pour tbe sago oeer
them. Bake a few minutes, and sa( in a
cool place. Serve cold, with sweetened
cream, flavored with wine for naca" '
Douohsits. —Everybody and bia wife;
and particularly bis little folks, love dHT
good old-fashioned doughnuts, or alt*
cakes, or crullers, or whatever mum yqqt
may call them; but many persona are
I troubled with weak digestion, (dySpib
[sis,) and tbe large amount of greeaawtf
sorbed by the said doughnuta doe* ndi
always set so well, but produces a rising
in the stomach. When this is tbecaa?
try the following invention: Tbe dougHv
nuts being prepared as usual, just beford
immersing them into tbe hot fat plump!
them into a well-beaten egg. This wiU
give a thin, coating of albumen, which!
will keep out the greese effectually,—
Futhermore, this coating retains M
moisture, and keeps them in gaud aMfci
dition much longer. . // _ Tl .
Gingerbread.—This is said to beon*
of the most ancient forma of cakes, and!
is universally liked. Thera are various
modes of making it. A good rule is ttf
take one cup of butter, one cup of water, •
two of molasses, one tablespoonfol of gjn
ger, six of dissolved saleratus, and flduF
enough to roll them into cookies ortakeS-
A good rule for saleratus is to dusabn*.
half a pound in a pint of water, and kuap ;
it in a corked bottle for use. Hard girt-,
gerbread is better for being kept V» •
cool place, after it is mixed, and not
baked for a day or two.
Loaf Cake.— One pound and « half of
flour, one pound of sugar, four eggs#•
tbree-fourths of a pint of milk, one table
spoonful of cinnamon, one teaspoonful of
saleratus, one cup of home-made ytost, of
a tablespoonful of brewer’s yeast 'Tree
part of the butter and warm it with the
milk ; stir in a part of the flour and the
yeast and let it rise; then add the other
ingredients and let it rise. If preferred,
add half a pound of citron, *
■“V i
Mirrnss.—Take one auart of flour, taro
teaspoonsful of cream 0/ tarter and one of
soda. Mix these into the flour «td rwb
in a teaspoonful of battar. Mix with half
a pint of milk, and tbe same of water, .
and two eggs. Bake in cups, half
for fifteen or twenty minutes. Wtim
muffins have eggs mixed in, an allSWaiWO
must be made for tbeir swelling, sad lean
flour used.
Curb for a Srverb Cold. —At this
season of the year there are many com
plaining of coughs and severe colds.
One of the best remedies for a cough is
strong tomato cat9up. Take a large t ok*'
spoonful on going to bed, and another
oariy in the morning, and use it on ypoi*
meat table. This wilt speedily effect k
cure in any ordinary case, and will fre
quently, if taken in tbe start, prevent th*
Consumption. u
To Preserve Rons.—The Way to pr#» *
serve eggs through the summer of wfcM '
tar is simply this i Dip them in -boiBnff--
water for the space of five or six aegoodx,
then wipe them dry, and they wfll keep
good and fresh from one year to the
other. The water shuts the pores of the
shell, and consequently keeps the air
from the egg, which is all that spoil*
them.
Baked Ricb Pubdino.— Boil a quarts*
of a pound of rice in a quart of new milks
and stir it that it may not burp; whan ft
begins to thicken take It off, let It stand
till cool, then adr in a hmp of butt* |
sugar to taste, and some grated Butmeg |
butter the dish; put it in and bake It
Raisins, currants or sliced apples may bp
stirred in if liked,
Black Cake.— One pound of sugar,
one pound of flour, two and* half pound*
of raisins, two and a half pounds of cur
rants, one pound of citron, mac*, nut
megs, cinamon, cloves and bitter almond*;
one wine glass of brandy, one of wine,
one of molases, and twelve eggs.
Almond Cake.— One coffee-cup of but
ter, two cups of sugar, one cup of sweet
milk, two teaspoonsful of cream tarter,
one teaspoonful of soda, one teacup of
blanched almonds, one teaspoonful of ex
tract of bitter alrnons, the whites of
eight eggs, and three cups of floftr.
White Cake. —Whites of twelve eggs,
three cups of sugar, one cup of butter,
and one of sweet milk; a teaspoonful of
soda, two of cream tarter, and five cup*
of flour. Flavor, if desired, with bitter
almonds.
Soda Cake. —One egg, three teaspoon
fills of melted butter, one cop of sugar,
two teaspoonsful of cream tarter, on*
teaspoonful of soda, one pint of sifted
flour, and one cup of sweet milk,
Measure Cake.—Whites of six eggs,
teacup of butter, two cups of sugar, om
cup of sweet milk, five cops of flour, two
teaspoonsful of cream tarter and ean
of soda.
Cookies.—take one pound of butter.
one ®f .9*0*1 four eggs, Half a grated
nutmeg ana floor enough to roH tinpn In
sheets. Cut into forms and halm |ilnh
ly. They are very nice.
Kinds ess is a language which not aadp
the dumb can apeak, but the deal ega a*-
derstand.
—— i m m • ■ ' 1 '
To roBfl an estimate of the beauty of a
bonnet, put a face in it
, ,, _ ■ JT'o# <.
A Loves, writing to hi# sdrtflhirt.
said—“ Delectable Dear:—Tot, SB* aa
sweet that honev would Mask la year
presence, and molasses stand appalled."