The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-10-12

The IScoMPARABLE RUSSIAN. In the
summer of the year 1910, us a lady was
walking with her child upon the banks eff
the Canal of st. Catherine at PETERSBURG
the child suddenly slipped from her hand.
and fell into the Canal. The mother in
despair was going to plunge after her child.
when a young man prevented her, and
promised her immediate assistance. He
took fine large Spaniel that followed him
and threw him into the water, calling ont -
loud as he could Bring him, bring him
the sagacious dog instantly dived /; and
when he came up again, was seen holding
the child by the shirt collar; he quickly
swan to the shore, and laid his precions
burthen down at the feet of the mother
She in an ecstacy of joy, took the child in
her arms, and divided the caresses between
him and the dog. The father of the child
appeared: 81 return you, sir" said the
father, thousand thanks; "vou have
saved the life of my only child" .yonr
thanks, said the young man. "are most
justly due to the kind providence of the Al
mighty, which brought me hither.n "Ac-
cept, said the father, thousand rnbles.
as reward for your humane exertions y
Excuse" said the young man, amy de-
cllnlHg your handsome offer: YOU are in
TACT much more indebted to the exertions
o. my dog than to me-" swell, then" said
the gentleman, 81 will give you thou
sand rubles for your dog.' +" A quarter of
an hour ago." replied the young man, :" |
ula not think him worth thousand rubles ;
nus he mas saved the life of a human beino.
would not take ten thousand for him
Inc young man then rushed into the crowd
OF spectators, and the enraptur ed father and
mother could not by any inquiry find out
who he was. The Emperor Alexander was
informed OF the affair, and was desirous to
discover the young man; but the search he
ordered to be made, although diligently
pursued, was fruitless.
ST. VITus's DANCE. The following is
the description of a patient, a bow. recently
cured of st. Vitus's dance, at st. Thomas;s
Hospital. given by medical gentleman
who had the treatment of the patient.-
The appearance was that of his being
possessed by demon. 1 am sure. if The
BOY mad been seen in ancient times. he
would have been brought forward as an in.
stance OF possession of devil. He made
an sorts OF horrid faces; his head went
ao1ut IN all directions; his mouth opened
anu smut as II he were trying TO snap and
t .new me ar; ne grlnned and CRASHED his
teeth; his arms were flung about in every
way +; he rolled off the bed when his medi,
CINE or food was given to him it required two
PERSONS TO holG HIM while third admins
leteo 1t. He WIS in most horrid state of
perpetual motion. This patient was cured
u doos tnree weeks, by doses of the sub
carbonate of iren.-LOadoa paper.
CURIOUS Custom. In Abyssinia, accord
ing to Pierce's Travels, I" it is the custom
to feed their guests by examining them
and when man invites friend to eat with
himself and his wife, it is reckoned very
impolite il the wife does not feed the guest
with her own hands; the husband will also
at times cram the guest, male or female,
without distinction; and the more voracious-
ly the visitor eats, the better bred he is es-
teemed, except when necessity causes
scanty table, as in camp or on a march
then, the more gluttonously person eats,
the less he ia repardedn