Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-04-20

sentiment and genius; they appear also naturally to possess affectionate and kind dispositions without any tendency to that spirit of profigacy which cha racterizes the sex in many countries of the South
 but what can be expected from the system that is pursued2 As soon girl approaches the age of puberty she sas sudiousy shutup from public sight as catholic nun; in the interior of the gynekaios she is confined but taught nothing beyond the art of embroidery, or few other frivolous accomplish ments; and finer nurse mother should be able to read is instructed in the science ofrelcs, the history of mracle-mongers, and other absurdites which su- perstitiOn has engrafted upon religion: so soon as she arrives at marriageable age, she is aanced by her family, as matter of convenience sordd in- terest, and may be reckoned lucky if she find pari- | ty of age in her partner for life. Rarely indeed is the hymenial torch lighted there at the altar oflove | all preminaries are carried on by the intervention of third party no opportunity is given to young couple of acquiring the knowledge of each others character which is essential to connubial happi- there is nothing to excite those tender anxeties and delicate attentions which interest and refine the soul: the wishes of the parties most concerned are not thought of; the sutor expects nothing from his bride but silent acquiescence in the will of others
 and the girl herself anxious for liberty, gives her consent, without consulting or even knowing the in- cnations of her heart-Very curious surprises take place. when the bridegroom goes to fetch an afanc- ed spouse. The beautiful infant turns out picture of defornity the plain child is transformed into an angelic woman. Nothing can exceed the anxiety of parents and friends in this country to contract
 marriage for the girls. The brothers in.a family make it an invariable rule not to marry until their sisters are disposed of; the proof of which was con- firmed to me by the most respectable authority.- The stongest instance met with of this zeal was in a poor decayed tradesman of Ioannina whom the exactions of the vzer, and failure in commercial spe- cuations had reduced to the last stage of poverty; his still venerable, though melancholy appearance, excited compassion, that we contributed sum nf fnr his raliaf tuhich good management and fortune, have enabed him to obtain toerable livelihood but he chose rather to give It all as dowry with beautiful daughter to
 young Greek, who, according to custom, refused to marry her without one.-Trauets n Greece and Al- bania, by He Reo T. S. Hughes.
 Ancient Derterity.-One of the early kings of Egypt being desirous to his riches, command ed treasure-house to be built: but the architect n- tending to have share the treasure instead of finishing the building completely placed one of the stones in so artful manner that it could be taken | out and put in again by one man.. As he pre- vented by death from accomplishing his design, on his death bed he gave full instructions to his own sons how to execute it. After they had for some time pundered the treasury, and carried off large sums, the king who observed the gradual diminution of his wealth, without being able to discover how the
 thieves had access to it, finding his seal upon the door always whole ordered several strong traps to be left in the treasury. By this means one of the brothers was at last taken; but finding it impossi- b to escape, he pressed his brother to cut off his head, and retire with it to prevent any discovery The king next morning examining the of his ppject, upon finding man without head in the snare, hasened out in the greatest alarm and conu
 son, he ordered the body to be exposed on the out l sde of the wall to the public view, charging the guards placed round 1t to observe the countenance of the spectators and to seize those who appeared sor iowful. The surviving brother, urged by his mo- hpr's and of Inc design ofcarrying off his brothers body. Accord ngy driving his thither laden with skins of wine he found means by the stratagem ofletting his wine run out, to ntoxicate and stupify the guards When
 they were Tn deep sleep, he shaved the right cheek of each of them, by way of dersion, and in the night carried off the body of the asses This action still more astonshed the king who being now more to discover the thief his daughter to receive the addresses of all suitors promscuously condition that each should previously confess to her the most ingenious action he had ever managed. and l the greatest crime he had ever committed. The young man, resolving again to perplex the king, went to the palace of his daughter and confessed to her that he had cut off his brothers head and after wards earned off the body When she then offered to lay hold of him he stretched out to her the arm of a dead man, which he had carried in under his cloak (suspecting the intentions of the king and while she had the culprt, he made his escape The kings resentment being now converted into admiration, he | promised pardon and rewards to the person who had robbed his treasury. fine would discover him. self. The young man, upon this proclamation, inn mediately made himself known; and the king there- upon accounting him superior in dexterty to any man then living, gave him his daughter in marriage. l Welding Iron and Steei.--As iron and steel are compounded more or less with sul- phur, copper, and arsenick, which, if they pre- dominate too much, will prevent their being welded sound, 1t may be of some importance to blacksmiths to know what remedies to ap- 1 ply in such cases. When iron is compounded with sulphur, it is apt to burn before weld ing heat can be raised. In this case a little unslaked stone lime should be pounded up very fine, to be used instead of sand. Lime will absorb the sulphur and enable the smith to weld it sound. If but small quantity of copper enters into the composition of iron, it will render it brittle when hot, and tough when cold. In this case, salt or sal-ammoni- ac, should be used with the sand, which will | cyaDOrate the conner and DreVent the iron