The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-29

has scar upon his left hand--I win tell you
how il was gained. He was travelling down
the Mississippi, in company with some south
erners. and succeeded in provoking them TO
gamble. One Of them soon became o
heavy loser--he suspected foul play, and mar
rowIy watched the strangers conduct, He
soon discovered that the blackleg secreied the
winning cards Of the pack, and produced them
at his pleasure. The southerner had lost
heavily--more, indeed, than he could afford
when he saw the end Of q card peeping out
| from beneath the others outstretched hand,
that was lying fat on the table. He drew
his spring -back dirk from his pocket. and, with
one jerk, drove ii through the hand Of the gam
bier, deep into the top Of the table. He was
compelled 10 remain, nailed to the place, with
the evidence Of his yillany perfectly visible,
till every body on board of the boat had been
invited to look at him, that they might know
and avoid him for the future. All his winnings
were taken from, him, and he was put ashore
at the first wooding place. But the unblush-
ing scoundrel Is at his dirty work again, as If
no such exposure had ever occurred?
a boy, about six years Of age, was clam
bering up the MEETINGS Of the bul~arks. His
mother called him to her by the name Of
Ahasuerus. The frequent repetition Of this
strange word excited much attention, and
drew the following remarks from the old
Colonel:
/ 1.-THE rage for out. ofthe-way names is
peculiar, believe, to our country--though we
we may not rival the Spanish in tho multiple
city of expectations bestowed upon an indi-
vidual. Many Of our sponsorial titles are
absurd. You have doubtless heard ofthe poor
Il k,J G. Il
bub, because it was scripture name. knew
a man who swore an oath that his first child
should be named Thomas Jefferson--of
course he calculated on having boy but his
first born was female. He kept his oath !;
and the lady owning that masculine nomina-
ton is still alive. An eccentric auctioneer at
New Orleans, christened his twin-daughters
Ibid and Ditto; and a gentleman of tho name
Of Stickney, now living upon the banks Of the
Mama, has designated his children in numeri-
cal rotation, commencing with his frst-born,
as One Stickney, Two Stickney, and SO on,
up to the infant who - called Five Stickney.
No other name or distinguished mark is af-
fixed to male or female
"A well-dressed youth was paradng the
deck with an air Of selEsatisfacti0n, and anus
ing himself by poking large silver tooth-pck
into his mouth. His arrogant bearing Of
Tended the coloners ideas Of propriety, and
he seized the arm Of the youth with such a
jerk, that the dandy's hand nearly followed the
tooth-pick down his throat. Young man, if
your mothers sugar-plums have rotted your
teeth, and you must pick them, 60 below and
and get quill tooth-pick from the steward |;
or. beg pen from the clerk, and cut it into the
required shape. Use it privately. To clean
your teeth in public is sign Of yulgarity-but
TO torment your gums with metal spike,
when you can treat them to the so(tness of a
quill, is sheer stupidity
/" The young fellow stared, and said no.
thing but he put his tooth pick in his pocket
:" The sun was setting with splendor and
a glory unequalled even in the golden skies
Of fair Italia's land Masses Of clouds as
sumed every possible variety Of wondrous form
and gorgeous TENT Dark and mountainous
appearances in the fore part, faded in the cen
| ire, to a clear and sunlit distance. Rocky
sleeps, and castellated crags, frowned over an
extensive valley of uncomfortable loneliness
and streams Of shining silver meandered
through the purple and yellow fields. twas
a most remarkable combination Of effect, and
elected general surprise and admiration. The
whole Of the passengers collected on the after
/
expressions Of delight had passed away, they
gazed in silence upon this striking develop
ment of the beauties Of nature!
Zone Of the passengers, stout farmer
looking man, with his wife and daughter hang
ing on his arms, took off his hat, and said in
loud tone, These are thy works, Parent of
good The heavens declare thy glory, Lord,
and the armament proclams thy handiwork.
1 H. he al I III
"These opposite quotations forcibly struck
the minds Of the standers-by and, with one
accord, the hats of the male passengers were
removed from their heads. A holy feeling
ofreverential awe pervaded our bosoms as we
looked through nature up to natures Cod
." A thin cadaverous- looking fellow took
hymn book from his pocket, and In snuffiing
tone, requested his brethren to assist him in
improving the occasion. He mounted the
top Of the rudder-post, and gave out two lines
Of hymn in canting drawing manner, and
led off the singing at the top Of his voice.
One or two Of the friends joined in the discord,
but the rest put on their hats, and turned jeer-
ingly away.
| a. There said my friend, the colonel,
: you may note the difference between the eff
fects Of genuine mpulsive piety, and the second
hand cant Of the Pharisees--the outward spi-
ritual sign, and the inward spiritual grace. The
righteous over-much thrusts his worldly sane
tity down your throat in disagreeables doses
but the voice Of pure religion emanates
from the heart, and is sure TO find responsive
chord
Passing forward, we overheard one Of the
deck hands thus deliver himself in commu-
MON sweet with the firemen. Them there